sough

Meaning

Verb

To make a soft rustling or murmuring sound.

Noun

1. A murmuring sound; rushing, rustling, or whistling sound.
2. A gentle breeze; a waft; a breath.
3. A (deep) sigh.
4. (obsolete) A vague rumour.
5. (obsolete) A cant or whining mode of speaking, especially in preaching or praying.

Noun

A small drain; an adit.

Synonyms

purl

howl

hum

sow

roar

moan

groan

growl

plant

🌱

resound

rumour

rustle

rustling

seed

sigh

sizzle

wail

whir

whisper

whistle

whiz

whizz

zip

make a noise

swoosh

a boggy place

babble

a small pool

bellow

buzz

drain

draught

hiss

murmur

pipe

Pronounced as (IPA)

/saʊ/

Etymology

From Middle English *sough, swough, swogh, from Middle English swoȝen, swowen, from Old English swōgan (“to make a sound; move with noise; rush; roar”), from Proto-West Germanic *swōgan, from Proto-Germanic *swōganą from Proto-Indo-European *(s)weh₂gʰ-, same source as Latin vāgiō and likely English echo (via Ancient Greek). Cognate with Scots souch (“sough”), Icelandic súgur (“a rushing sound, rustle”). Noun replaced Middle English swei, sweȝ from Old English swēg. More at swoon.