sough
English
Etymology 1
From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Middle English *sough, swough, swogh, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Middle English swoȝen, swowen, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Old English swōgan (“to make a sound; move with noise; rush; roar”), from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Proto-Germanic *swōganą from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Proto-Indo-European *(s)weh₂gʰ-, same source as Latin vāgiō. Cognate with Scots souch (“sough”), Icelandic súgur (“a rushing sound, rustle”). Noun replaced Middle English swei, sweȝ from Old English swēg. More at swoon.
Pronunciation
Verb
sough (third-person singular simple present soughs, present participle soughing, simple past and past participle soughed)
- To make a soft rustling or murmuring sound.
- 1963, Sterling North, Rascal, Avon Books (softcover), p 101:
- I lay awake for a while that evening, listening to the soughing of the wind high in the pines, realizing sadly that we must now return to civilization.
- 1963, Sterling North, Rascal, Avon Books (softcover), p 101:
Synonyms
- See also Thesaurus:sough
Translations
Noun
sough (plural soughs)
- A murmuring sound; rushing, rustling, or whistling sound.
- W. Howitt
- The whispering leaves or solemn sough of the forest.
- 1829, John Carne, Stratton Hill: A Tale of the Civil Wars - Volume 1 - Page 131:
- [...] Arthur; a fearful night it was: there was a sough in the air, a sound drawing nigh like that of a host marching:- — but you're looking pale and forwrought, man; is any thing ailing ye?
- 2015, N. K. Jemisin, The Fifth Season - chapter 16:
- Syenite hears the distant sough of waves rolling against rocks, somewhere below the slope on which they lie.
- W. Howitt
- A gentle breeze; a waft; a breath.
- A (deep) sigh.
- (Scotland, obsolete) A vague rumour.
- (Scotland, obsolete) A cant or whining mode of speaking, especially in preaching or praying.
Derived terms
Translations
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See also
Etymology 2
From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Middle English (whence also Scots sheuch (“ditch”)); compare dialectal Dutch zoeg (“ditch”).
Noun
sough (plural soughs)
- A small drain; an adit.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of W. M. Buchanan to this entry?)
Verb
sough (third-person singular simple present soughs, present participle soughing, simple past and past participle soughed)
- To drain.
Derived terms
Anagrams
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms derived from Old English
- English terms derived from Proto-Germanic
- English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- English 1-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- Rhymes:English/aʊ
- Rhymes:English/ʌf
- English lemmas
- English verbs
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- Scottish English
- English terms with obsolete senses
- Requests for quotations/W. M. Buchanan