sigh

Pronunciation

• IPA: /saɪ/^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English sighen, probably a back-formation from sighte, the past tense of siche, inherited from Old English sīcan (“to sigh”).^[2][3][4][5] Merriam-Webster sees an alteration after pairs such as techen (“to teach”) and tahte (“taught”).^[6] The Old English verb is of unknown origin,^[2][4][7] perhaps imitating the sound.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

To breathe out long and audibly, expressing some emotion: about 1250, in The Story of Genesis and Exodus.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

By the 13th century sighing expressed grief or trouble of mind.^[3] To long or yearn for something is from 1549,^[8] to feel sorrow from 1642,^[8] and of the wind or trees from 1757.^[8][3] The noun is from before 1325, in Cursor Mundi;^[2] an earlier noun was sight (about 1300).^[3] In Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire a boil was said to sigh when it went down.^[9]

Timeline

• c. 1250 – to sigh.^[2]
• before 1325 – a sigh (noun).^[2]
• 1549 – to long for.^[8]
• 1642 – to feel sorrow.^[8]
• 1757 – of the wind.^[8][3]

Modern meaning

Verb

1. To breathe out audibly in a long, deep breath, as from weariness, sadness or relief.
2. To make a sound like this: trees sighing in the wind.
3. To yearn or long, often with for.
4. To say or express something with a sigh.

Noun

1. The act or sound of sighing.

Word family

• sigher
• outsigh
• sighful

References

1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
2. ^ a b c d e f Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
3. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
7. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins
8. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
9. ^ Wright, Joseph, ed. (1898–1905), The English Dialect Dictionary, 6 vols., Oxford: Henry Frowde; via EDD Online 4.0, University of Innsbruck (CC BY 4.0)