Middle English Dictionary Entry
sobben v.
Entry Info
| Forms | sobben v. Also sob(be; ppl. sobbing(e, etc. & (early) sobbiende; p. sobbed(e, sobbete. |
| Etymology | Perh. from MDu. or MLG: cp. MLG sabben drivel, slaver & WFris. sobje, Du. dial. sabben to suck. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To sob as a result of sorrow or gladness; weep in contrition or as a result of spiritual fervor; ~ and sighen (wepen), sighen (wepen) and (or) ~, etc.; (b) to weep (to have sth.); ~ for, weep in longing for (sb.); ~ oute, sob out (a narrative); (c) ppl. sobbinge as adj.: full of or accompanied by sobs; also, fig. grieved, sorrowful.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)57/16 : Al swo ðe woreld-mann lihtliche leicheð of ydelnesse ðe he isieð oðer iherð, al swa ðe gastliche mann..lihtliche wepð oðer sobbeð.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.5729 : In worschipe of hir Sostres mynde Sche made a riche enterement, For sche fond non amendement To syghen or to sobbe more.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)14.326 : He..weyled þe tyme Þat euere he dede dede þat dere god displesed, Swowed and sobbed and syked ful ofte.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.5521 : Ȝonge maydenes & matrones olde Sobbe and siȝe..And loude crie.
- a1425(a1349) Rolle MPass.(2) (Upps C.494)58/17 : A swete Ihesu, þan was þi modir ful woo..she siȝghide, she sobbide, she falliþ doun.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.742 : Thus she spak, sobbyng in hire compleynte.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)111/13 : Þe fyer of lofe kyndelyd so ȝern in hir hert þat..it cawsyd hir to brekyn owte wyth a lowde voys & cryen merueylowslyche & wepyn & sobbyn ful hedowslyche.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)1751 : She þes wordes..seyd, sobbynge for very wo And sykynge for hertys byttyrnesse.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1299 : What, mans Aungel, good and trewe, Why syest þou and sobbyst sore?
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1866 : Þou hast me rappyd wyth rewly rowtys; I snowre, I sobbe, I sye sore.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3249 : Þis saȝe, sobband, he said.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)14/2 : All þat nyth lay sche praying and sobbing, desiring of our Lord þat þei schulde no wynd haue til þat sche cam.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1046/34 : She sobbed and awepte a grete whyle.
- c1475 Abbrev.Trip.SSecr.(UC 85)378/14 : Yf thou see a man, whan thou blamest him for som-what, that he looke vpon thee in fere and shamefastnesse, that waxeth rede in the face, that sobbeth, and his yien watir, that man loueth and dreedith thy persoone.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Add 9066)406 : When he was on lyve agayne, he sorowed, he sobbete, he wepte.
- a1500 Add.37075 Gloss (Add 37075)106/351a : Singulto: sobbe.
b
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.5.2 : I hadde, with a contynuel sorwe, sobbyd or borken out thise thynges.
- a1450(?a1349) ?Rolle Luf es lyf (Cmb Dd.5.64)69 : Sygh and sob bath day and nyght for ane sa fayre of hew.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)90/19 : Þogh þou wepe and sobbe for to haue þin axinges, as..to be faire, semly, wordly wise, and such oþer, oure lord wille not here þe for it is not for þin helth.
c
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)85/13 : Manifealde þohtes of soðe bereusinge..makieð ðe herte sari and sobbiende, and ðe eiȝene wæte mid teares ierninde.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3912 : Ful ofte a day hir song was weylaway, With sobbyng vois, þat sche so fer a-way Departid is from hir Menelaus.
- a1450(?1420) Lydg.TG (Tan 346)197 : Anon I herd oþir crie With sobbing teris & with ful pitous soune.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)22/6 : He lay þus with grete contricion of hert and with ful sobbyng voys uttirryng all þese wordes.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Guy (LdMisc 683)346 : For verray gladnesse he took Guy by þe hond, Besekyng hym in moost louly wyse With sobbyng cheer, that routhe was to see, To vnderfonge this knyhtly hih empryse.