sober

The definition of sober is not intoxicated or subdued in personality or color.

(adjective)

An example of sober is a person with a blood alcohol level of .0.
An example of sober is a person who always seems to have self-control of their feelings regardless of the situation.

See sober in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

temperate or sparing in the use of alcoholic liquor
not drunk
temperate in any way; not extreme or extravagant
serious, solemn, grave, or sedate
not bright, garish, or flashy; quiet; plain: said of color, clothes, etc.
not exaggerated or distorted: the sober truth
characterized by reason, sanity, or self-control; showing mental and emotional balance

Origin: ME sobre < OFr < L sobrius < so(d)-, var. of se(d)-, without + ebrius, drunk

transitive verb, intransitive verb

to make or become sober: often with up or down

Related Forms:

See sober in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective so·ber·er, so·ber·est

Habitually abstemious in the use of alcoholic liquors or drugs; temperate.
Not intoxicated or affected by the use of drugs.
Plain or subdued: sober attire.
Devoid of frivolity, excess, exaggeration, or speculative imagination; straightforward: gave a sober assessment of the situation.
Marked by seriousness, gravity, or solemnity of conduct or character. See Synonyms at serious.
Marked by circumspection and self-restraint.

tr. & intr.v. so·bered, so·ber·ing, so·bers

To make or become sober.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old French sobre

Origin: , from Latin sōbrius; see s(w)e- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: