Sound

[compar. SOUNDER; superl. SOUNDEST.] [A-S. sund, gesund, L. Ger., Dan., & Sw. sund, D. gezond, O. H. Ger. gisunt, N. H. Ger. gesund, allied to Lat. sanus.]

1Sense 1. Entire; unbroken; free from imperfection, defect, or decay; perfect of the kind; as, sound timber; sound fruit; a sound apple or melon; a sound tooth; a sound ship; a sound body.

2Sense 2. Healthy; not diseased; not being in a morbid state; — said of body or mind; as, a sound body; sound health; a sound constitution; a sound man; a sound understanding.

3Sense 3. Firm; strong; vigorous.

The brass work here, how rich it is in beams, And how, besides, it makes the whole house sound! Chapman.

4Sense 4. Founded in truth; supported by justice or law; weighty; solid; not to be overthrown or refuted; as, sound argument or reasoning; a sound objection; sound doctrine; sound principles.

5Sense 5. Heavy; laid on with force; as, sound strokes; a sound beating.

6Sense 6. Fast; profound; unbroken; undisturbed; as, sound sleep.

7Sense 7. Free from error; correct; orthodox.

Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me. 2 Tim. i. 13.

8Sense 8. Founded in right and law; legal; valid; not defective; that can not be overthrown; as, a sound title to land; sound justice.

☞ Sound is sometimes used in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, sound-headed, sound-hearted, sound-timbered, and the like.

Sound currency (Com.), a currency whose actual value is the same as its nominal value; and, if in bank notes or other substitute for silver and gold, a currency which is so sustained by funds that it is at any time convertible into gold and silver, and of course of equal value.

Soundly; heartily.

So sound he slept that naught might him awake. Spenser.

n. [A-S. & Icel. sund, a swimming. Cf. Eng. swimm, Ger. schwimmblase, the air-bladder of a fish. See infra.] The air-bladder of a fish.

n. [A-S. & Icel. sund, a narrow sea or strait, Sw., Dan., & Ger. sund, O. D. sond, sund, from Icel. synda, A-S. swimman, to swim; A-S. sund, for swumd.] (Geog.) A narrow passage of water, or a strait between the main land and an isle; or a strait connecting two seas, or connecting a sea or lake with the ocean; as, the sound which connects the Baltic with the German Ocean; Long Island Sound.

Sound dues, tolls imposed by Denmark on vessels passing through the Baltic Sound, which forms part of her waters. Their origin is unknown, but they are presumed to be relics of the exactions made by the Norman pirates of the dark ages. They are now abolished, in consideration of a gross sum to be paid to Denmark as an indemnity by the nations whose commerce is affected.

n. [Fr. sonde, Sp. & Pg. sonda; A-S. sund-gerd, sundline, a sounding line.] (Surg.) Any elongated instrument, usually metallic, by which cavities of the body are sounded or explored; especially, an instrument which surgeons introduce into the bladder, in order to discover whether there is a stone in that organ.

[imp. & p. p. SOUNDED; p. pr. & vb. n. SOUNDING.] [Fr. sonder, Sp. sondar, sondear. See supra.]

1Sense 1. To measure the depth of; to fathom; especially, to ascertain the depth of by means of a line and plummet.

2Sense 2. To seek to interpret or discern the intentions or secret wishes of; to examine; to try; to test.

I was in jest, And by that offer meant to sound your breast. Dryden.

I've sounded my Numidians man by man. Addison.

3Sense 3. (Surg.) To introduce a sound into the bladder of, as a patient, in order to ascertain whether a stone is there or not; to examine by means of a sound. “When a patient is to be sounded.” Cooper.

To use the line and lead in searching the depth of water. The shipmen . . . sounded, and found it twenty fathoms. Acts xxvii. 27, 28.

n. [O. Eng. soun, A-S. sôn, Fr. & Sp. son, O. Fr. son, sun, Pr. son, sô, It. suono, Lat. sonus, from sonare, to sound.]

1Sense 1. The perceived object occasioned by the impulse or vibration of a material substance affecting the ear; a sensation or perception of the mind received through the ear, and produced by the impulse or vibration of the air or other medium with which the ear is in contact; the effect of an impression made on the organs of hearing by an impulse or vibration of the air caused by a collision of bodies, or by other means; noise; report; as, the sound of a drum; the sound of the human voice; a horrid sound; a charming sound; a sharp sound; a high or shrill sound. “The warlike sound of trumpets loud.” Milton.

2Sense 2. The occasion of sound; the impulse or vibration which would occasion sound to a percipient if present with unimpaired organs.

☞ In this sense, sounds are spoken of as audible and inaudible.

3Sense 3. Noise without signification; empty noise; noise and nothing else.

It is the “sense,” and not the sound, that must be the principle. Locke.

v. i. [O. Eng. sounen, Fr. sonner, O. Fr. soner, suner, Pr. & Sp. sonar, It. suonare, Lat. sonare.] 1. To make a noise; to utter a voice; to make an impulse of the air that shall strike the organs of hearing with a perceptible effect. “And first taught speaking trumpets how to sound.” Dryden. How silver sweet sound lovers’ tongues! Shak. 2. To be conveyed in sound; to be spread or published; to convey intelligence through the organ of hearing. From you sounded out the word of the Lord. 1 Thess. i. 8. 3. Hence, to signify; to mean; to import. [Obs. and rare.] “The cause of divorce mentioned in the law is translated ‘some uncleanness,’ but in the Hebrew it sounds ‘nakedness of aught, or any real nakedness.’” Milton. To sound in damages (Law), to have the essential quality of damages. This is said of an action brought, not for the recovery of a specific thing, as replevin, debt, &c., but for damages only, as trespass, &c.

v. t. 1. To cause to make a noise; to play on; as, to sound a trumpet or a horn.

2Sense 2. To utter audibly; to cause to exist as a sound; as, to sound a note with the voice, or with an instrument.

3Sense 3. To order or direct by a sound; to give a signal for by a certain sound; as, to sound a retreat.

4Sense 4. To celebrate or honor by sounds; to cause to be reported; as, to sound one's name or deeds.

5Sense 5. To spread by sound or report; to publish or proclaim; as, to sound the praises or fame of a great man, or a great exploit.

The same as Swoon. [Obs.] Spenser.