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Webster 1913 Edition

Sigh

Sigh

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Sighed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Sighing
.]
[OE.
sighen
,
si[GREEK]en
; cf. also OE.
siken
, AS.
sīcan
, and OE.
sighten
,
si[GREEK]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.
☞ An extraordinary pronunciation of this word as sīth is still heard in England and among the illiterate in the United States.

Sigh

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To exhale (the breath) in sighs.
Never man
sighed
truer breath.
Shakespeare
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.
Shakespeare
The gentle swain . . .
sighs
back her grief.
Hoole.

Sigh

,
Noun.
[OE.
sigh
; cf. OE.
sik
. See
Sigh
,
Verb.
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
.
Shakespeare
2.
Figuratively, a manifestation of grief; a lan[GREEK]ent.
With their
sighs
the air
Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite.
Milton.

Webster 1828 Edition

Sigh

SIGH

,
Verb.
I.
To inhale a larger quantity of air than usual and immediately expel it; to suffer a single deep respiration. He sighed deeply in his spirit. Mark 8.

SIGH

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To lament; to mourn. Ages to come and men unborn Shall bless her name and sigh her fate.
2.
To express by sighs. The gentle swain-sighs back her grief.

SIGH

,
Noun.
A single deep respiration; a long breath; the inhaling of larger quantity of air than usual, and the sudden emission of it. This is an effort of nature to dilate the lungs and give vigor to the circulation of the blood, when the action of the heart and arteries is languid from grief, depression of spirits, weakness or want of exercise. Hence sighs are indications of grief of debility.

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