Sigh
/saɪ/noun
To exhale audibly in relief, sadness, fatigue, or longing; also, an audible breath of this kind.
Did you know?English sigh is one of those rare words that traces back through Old English, Old Saxon, and Old High German to a Proto-Germanic root meaning simply “to sigh,” showing how primal and universal the act is.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*sīhan / *sēh-
“to sigh, to breathe out audibly”
Old English
OE
sīcan
“to sigh, breathe heavily”
Old Saxon
OS
sīhan
“to sigh”
Old High German
OHG
sīhhan
“to sigh, draw breath”
Middle English
ME
sighen
“to sigh”
Modern English
English
sigh
“to exhale audibly in grief, relief, or fatigue”