sigh English · revision 15183

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=back-formation|attested=c. 1250}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /saɪ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|sighen]], probably a back-formation from [[m|enm|sighte]], the past tense of [[m|enm|siche]], [[inh|ang|sīcan|t=to sigh]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) Merriam-Webster sees an alteration after pairs such as [[m|enm|techen|t=to teach]] and [[m|enm|tahte|t=taught]].^(MWU 2024) The Old English verb is of unknown origin,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Collins 2023) perhaps imitating the sound.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To breathe out long and audibly, expressing some emotion: about 1250, in The Story of Genesis and Exodus.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ By the 13th century sighing expressed grief or trouble of mind.^(Etymonline) To long or yearn for something is from 1549,^(OED 1989) to feel sorrow from 1642,^(OED 1989) and of the wind or trees from 1757.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The noun is from before 1325, in Cursor Mundi;^(Barnhart 1988) an earlier noun was sight (about 1300).^(Etymonline) In Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire a boil was said to sigh when it went down.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1250 – to sigh.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1325 – a sigh (noun).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1549 – to long for.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1642 – to feel sorrow.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1757 – of the wind.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To breathe out audibly in a long, deep breath, as from weariness, sadness or relief.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To make a sound like this: ''trees sighing in the wind''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To [[yearn]] or long, often with ''for''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To say or express something with a sigh.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act or sound of sighing.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sigher]]

+ * [[outsigh]]

+ * [[sighful]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}