sober

adj

Etymology: Inherited from Middle English sober, from Old French sobre, from Latin sōbrius, from se- (“without”) + ebrius (“intoxicated”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁egʷʰ- (“drink”). In the sense "not drunk," displaced native undrunken, from Old English undruncen.

1. Not drunk; not intoxicated.
2. Not under the influence of any recreational drug.

   “Ten months sober, I must admit Just because you're clean, don't mean you don't miss it”

3. Not given to excessive drinking of alcohol.

   “Amid all the confusion and disorder that sin has introduced into the world, the Christian in union with God has a grace or Divine help that enables him to live the sober, self-restrained life.”

   “After eliminating alcohol from their lives, some sober individuals exclusively date nondrinkers.”

4. Moderate; realistic; serious; not playful; not passionate; cool; self-controlled.

   “God help me to watch and to be sober.”

   “[N]o ſober man vvould put himſelf into a danger for the Applauſe of ſcaping vvithout breaking his Neck.”

5. Dull; not bright or colorful.

   “Twilight grey / Had in her sober livery all things clad.”

6. Subdued; solemn; grave.

   “See her sober over a sampler, or gay over a jointed baby.”

   “What parts gay France from sober Spain? A little rising rocky chain.”

7. Poor; feeble.

name

1. A surname.

verb

Etymology: Inherited from Middle English sober, from Old French sobre, from Latin sōbrius, from se- (“without”) + ebrius (“intoxicated”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁egʷʰ- (“drink”). In the sense "not drunk," displaced native undrunken, from Old English undruncen.

1. To make or become sober.

   “There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, / And drinking largely sobers us again.”

   “The night air may have sobered him a bit by the time they got back to Beattock.”

2. To overcome or lose a state of intoxication.

   “It took him hours to sober up.”

3. To moderate one's feelings; to accept a disappointing reality after losing one's ability to believe in a fantastic goal.

   “Losing his job was a sobering experience.”