SOBERING
sobering
(adjective) tending to make sober or more serious; “the news had a sobering effect”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Adjective
sobering
Causing more sober thought or concern.
Verb
sobering
present participle of sober
Anagrams
• Giberson, Gisborne
Source: Wiktionary
SOBER
Sober, a. [Compar. Soberer; superl. Soberest.] Etym: [OE. sobre, F.
sobre, from L. sobrius, probably from a prefix so- expressing
separation + ebrius drunken. Cf. Ebriety.]
1. Temperate in the use of spirituous liquors; habitually temperate;
as, a sober man.
That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the
glory of Thy holy name. Bk. of Com. Prayer.
2. Not intoxicated or excited by spirituous liquors; as, the sot may
at times be sober.
3. Not mad or insane; not wild, visionary, or heated with passion;
exercising cool, dispassionate reason; self-controlled; self-
possessed.
There was not a sober person to be had; all was tempestuous and
blustering. Druden.
No sober man would put himself into danger for the applause of
escaping without breaking his neck. Dryden.
4. Not proceeding from, or attended with, passion; calm; as, sober
judgment; a man in his sober senses.
5. Serious or subdued in demeanor, habit, appearance, or color;
solemn; grave; sedate.
What parts gay France from sober Spain Prior.
See her sober over a sampler, or gay over a jointed baby. Pope.
Twilight gray Had in her sober livery all things clad. Milton.
Syn.
– Grave; temperate; abstinent; abstemious; moderate; regular;
steady; calm; quiet; cool; collected; dispassionate; unimpassioned;
sedate; staid; serious; solemn; somber. See Grave.
So"ber, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sobered; p. pr. & vb. n. Sobering.]
Definition: To make sober.
There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, And drinking largely
sobers us again. Pope.
So"ber, v. i.
Definition: To become sober; -- often with down.
Vance gradually sobered down. Ld. Lytton.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition