sigh

views updated May 21 2018

sigh / / • v. [intr.] emit a long, deep, audible breath expressing sadness, relief, tiredness, or a similar feeling: Harry sank into a chair and sighed with relief| [with direct speech] “I'm in a bit of a mess,” Elaine sighed. ∎ fig. (of the wind or something through which the wind blows) make a sound resembling this: a breeze made the treetops sigh. ∎  (sigh for) poetic/lit. feel a deep yearning for (someone or something lost, unattainable, or distant): he sighed for days gone by.• n. a long, deep, audible exhalation expressing sadness, relief, tiredness, or a similar feeling: she let out a long sigh of despair| fig. when the aircraft touched down I breathed a sigh of relief. ∎ fig. a gentle sound resembling this, esp. one made by the wind.

Si̇gh

views updated Jun 11 2018

Siṅgh (Skt., simha, ‘lion’). Second name of male Sikhs. According to tradition, Gurū Gobind Siṅgh (hitherto Gobind Rāi) took this surname on Baisākhī Day 1699 CE. He gave to the pañj pyāre and to all males subsequently initiated into the khālsā the name Siṅgh, to emphasize their equality, regardless of caste, and their courage in battle. See also KAUR.

sigh

views updated May 14 2018

sigh vb. First in ME. pt. sīʒide, syhid, sighed, gerund syʒing, sighing (XIII), based on the stem of sihte, sīʒte, wk. pt. of †siche :- OE. sīćan (orig. str.); of unkn. orig.
Hence sb. XIV.

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