sigh
UK[saɪ]US[saɪ]
v
To let out a long, deep, audible breath expressing sadness, tiredness, relief, or longing.
n
An act or the sound of sighing.
Etymology
The word 'sigh' is a Middle English creation, derived from the Old English verb 'sīcan', meaning to sigh or lament. Its ultimate origin is Proto-Indo-European, likely from the root seikw-, meaning to pour out or let flow, which conceptually connects to the release of breath. The word's form and meaning have been consistently shaped by its onomatopoeic nature, directly mimicking the sound of a deep, often sorrowful, exhalation. This direct sensory link explains its stable meaning and unsegmentable form in modern English.
Analysis
The word is a simplex form. It is an onomatopoeic word, imitating the sound of a deep breath.
Examples
She sighed with disappointment when she saw the rain.
He gave a deep sigh of relief after finishing the exam.
The old house seemed to sigh in the wind.