sober
    adj 1: not affected by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)
           [ant: drunk, inebriated, intoxicated]
    2: dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to
       keeping promises; "a grave God-fearing man"; "a quiet sedate
       nature"; "as sober as a judge"; "a solemn promise"; "the
       judge was solemn as he pronounced sentence" [syn: grave,
       sedate, sober, solemn]
    3: lacking brightness or color; dull; "drab faded curtains";
       "sober Puritan grey"; "children in somber brown clothes"
       [syn: drab, sober, somber, sombre]
    4: completely lacking in playfulness [syn: unplayful,
       serious, sober] [ant: playful]
    v 1: cause to become sober; "A sobering thought"
    2: become more realistic; "After thinking about the potential
       consequences of his plan, he sobered up" [syn: sober up,
       sober]
    3: become sober after excessive alcohol consumption; "Keep him
       in bed until he sobers up" [syn: sober up, sober]

Sober \Sober\, a. [Compar. Soberer; superl. Soberest.] [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.
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            That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and
            sober life, to the glory of Thy holy name. --Bk. of
                                                  Com. Prayer.
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   2. Not intoxicated or excited by spirituous liquors; as, the
      sot may at times be sober.
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   3. Not mad or insane; not wild, visionary, or heated with
      passion; exercising cool, dispassionate reason;
      self-controlled; self-possessed.
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            There was not a sober person to be had; all was
            tempestuous and blustering. --Druden.
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            No sober man would put himself into danger for the
            applause of escaping without breaking his neck.
                                                  --Dryden.
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   4. Not proceeding from, or attended with, passion; calm; as,
      sober judgment; a man in his sober senses.
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   5. Serious or subdued in demeanor, habit, appearance, or
      color; solemn; grave; sedate.
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            What parts gay France from sober Spain? --Prior.
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            See her sober over a sampler, or gay over a jointed
            baby.                                 --Pope.
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            Twilight gray
            Had in her sober livery all things clad. --Milton.
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   Syn: Grave; temperate; abstinent; abstemious; moderate;
        regular; steady; calm; quiet; cool; collected;
        dispassionate; unimpassioned; sedate; staid; serious;
        solemn; somber. See Grave.
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Sober \So"ber\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sobered; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Sobering.]
   To make sober.
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         There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
         And drinking largely sobers us again.    --Pope.
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Sober \So"ber\, v. i.
   To become sober; -- often with down.
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         Vance gradually sobered down.            --Ld. Lytton.
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