Sobering
/ˈsoʊ.bər.ɪŋ/noun
Making someone more serious, realistic, or aware of consequences, or causing someone to become sober.
Did you know?The English word traces to Latin sobrius, traditionally analyzed as meaning “not drunk,” though the deeper relationship to ebrius, “drunk,” remains linguistically debated.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Latin
Latin
sobrius
“Sober; not drunk; temperate”
Late Latin
Latin
sobriare
“To make sober or bring back from intoxication”
12th–13th Century
Old French
sobre
“Sober, temperate, restrained”
14th Century
Middle English
sobre
“Sober, serious, moderate, or not intoxicated”
16th Century
English
sober
“Not drunk; restrained or serious”
Modern English
English
sobering
“Making someone sober, serious, or newly aware of reality”
Explore more surprising origins