Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Sigh?

\Sigh\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Sighed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Sighing}.] [OE. sighen, si?en; cf. also OE. siken, AS. s[=i]can, and OE. sighten, si?ten, sichten, AS. siccettan; all, perhaps, of imitative origin.] 1. To inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it; to make a deep single audible respiration, especially as the result or involuntary expression of fatigue, exhaustion, grief, sorrow, or the like. 2. Hence, to lament; to grieve. He sighed deeply in his spirit. --Mark viii. 12. 3. To make a sound like sighing. And the coming wind did roar more loud, And the sails did sigh like sedge. --Coleridge. The winter winds are wearily sighing. --Tennyson. Note: An extraordinary pronunciation of this word as s[=i]th is still heard in England and among the illiterate in the United States.
\Sigh\, v. t. 1. To exhale (the breath) in sighs. Never man sighed truer breath. --Shak. 2. To utter sighs over; to lament or mourn over. Ages to come, and men unborn, Shall bless her name, and sigh her fate. --Pior. 3. To express by sighs; to utter in or with sighs. They . . . sighed forth proverbs. --Shak. The gentle swain . . . sighs back her grief. --Hoole.
\Sigh\, n. [OE. sigh; cf. OE. sik. See {Sigh}, v. i.] 1. A deep and prolonged audible inspiration or respiration of air, as when fatigued or grieved; the act of sighing. I could drive the boat with my sighs. --Shak. 2. Figuratively, a manifestation of grief; a lan?ent. With their sighs the air Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite. --Milton.