Hypertext Webster Gateway: "sobbing"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Sobbing \Sob"bing\, n.
A series of short, convulsive inspirations, the glottis being
suddenly closed so that little or no air enters into the
lungs.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Sob \Sob\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Sobbed}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Sobbing}.] [OE. sobben; akin to AS. se['o]fian, si['o]fian,
to complain, bewail, se['o]fung, si['o]fung, sobbing,
lamentation; cf. OHG. s?ft["o]n, s?ft?n, to sigh, MHG.
siuften, siufzen, G. seufzen, MHG. s?ft a sigh, properly, a
drawing in of breath, from s?fen to drink, OHG. s?fan. Cf.
{Sup}.]
To sigh with a sudden heaving of the breast, or with a kind
of convulsive motion; to sigh with tears, and with a
convulsive drawing in of the breath.

Sobbing is the same thing [as sighing], stronger.
--Bacon.

She sighed, she sobbed, and, furious with despair. She
rent her garments, and she tore her hair. --Dryden.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

sobbing
n : convulsive gasp made while weeping [syn: {sob}]


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