Sō'ber1, a.
a. [compar. SOBERER; superl. SOBEREST.] [Fr. sobre, It. & Sp. sobrio, Lat. sobrius; O. H. Ger. sûbar, pure, sober, D. sober, poor, mean, sober, A-S. syfer, sifer, sober, pure.]
Sense 1. Temperate in the use of spirituous liquors; habitually temperate; as, a sober man. “Live a sober, righteous, and godly life.” Com. Prayer.
Sense 2. Not intoxicated or overpowered by spirituous liquors; as, the sot may at times be sober.
Sense 3. Not mad or insane; not wild, visionary, or heated with passion; exercising cool, dispassionate reason; self-controlled; self-possessed.
There was not a sober person to be had; all was tempestuous and blustering. Dryden.
No sober man would put himself in danger for the applause of escaping without breaking his neck. Dryden.
Sense 4. Not proceeding from, or attended with, passion; regular; calm; as, sober judgment; a man in his sober senses.
Sense 5. Serious in demeanor, habit, or appearance; solemn; grave; sedate.
What parts gay France from sober Spain? Prior.
See her sober over a sampler, or gay over a jointed baby. Pope.
Synonyms— Grave; temperate; abstinent; abstemious; moderate; regular; steady; calm; cool; collected; dispassionate; unimpassioned; sedate; staid; serious; solemn; somber. See GRAVE.