sobrietyn.
/səʊˈbrʌɪɪti/ 1. The quality of being sober or moderate in the indulgence of appetite; spec. moderation in the use of strong drink.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > moderation in sensuous gratification > [noun]
sobernessa1300
temperance1340
sobriety1401
the world > food and drink > drink > thirst > moderation in drinking > [noun] > sobriety
sobriety1401
1401 Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 32 The freer beleeveth..chastitie, meeknesse, and sobrietie.
1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour iii. xxi. sig. fiv The auncient temperaunce and moderation in diete called sobrietie; or in a more general terme frugalite.
1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique 19 b Sobrietie is a bridelyng by discrecion the wilfulnesse of desire.
1609 S. Rowlands Famous Hist. Guy Earle of Warwick 69 Unto licentious life they teach us run, And with sobriety associate never.
1655 S. Ashe Funeral Serm. Gataker 32 Let the sad consequences of Noah his intemperance give caution for sobriety unto all ancient persons whatsoever.
1782 W. Cowper Conversation in Poems 252 Sobriety perhaps may now be found, Where once intoxication press'd the ground.
1836 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece II. xiv. 205 Sobriety was not one of the Persian virtues.
1861 ‘G. Eliot’ Silas Marner iii. 58 The voice of the good angel, inviting to industry, sobriety, and peace.
2.
a. Moderation in any respect; avoidance of excess or extravagance.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > restrained or moderate behaviour > [noun]
i-metOE
hovec1175
metc1175
methec1175
measurec1225
measure?c1225
temperancea1340
methefulnessc1350
temperurec1380
mannera1382
mannernessa1382
sobernessc1384
attemperancec1386
measurablenessa1400
amesingc1400
meanheada1425
mediocrity?a1425
moderation?a1425
moderancea1460
temperancy1526
mean1531
modesty1531
temperature1536
measure-keeping1556
moderateness1571
moderature1574
sobriety1582
mediety1583
moderacy1601
temperateness1609
reserve1660
medium1693
soft pedal1899
met1932
1582 Bible (Rheims) Rom. xii. 3 Not to be more wise then behoueth.., but to be wise vnto sobrietie.
1653 H. Binning Serm. (1845) 646 There is also sobriety in the affections, when they are moderate.
a1716 O. Blackall Wks. (1723) I. ix. 80 Thoughts evil in themselves, are such as..are contrary to Sobriety.
1779 Mirror No. 25 The sobriety of manners which home exhibited.
1794 R. J. Sulivan View of Nature II. 358 Some have imputed this to the sobriety and simplicity of living.
1852 W. M. Thackeray Henry Esmond I. ii. 46 Misfortune had not taught those exiles sobriety of life.
1884 19th Cent. Mar. 406 Sobriety of dress must be enforced.
b. In plural. Sober qualities.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > reality or real existence or actuality > [noun] > reality or quality of being real > real qualities
actuals1602
sobrieties1826
1826 C. Lamb in New Monthly Mag. 16 520 The other to the wildest dreams gives the sobrieties of every day occurrences.
3. Staidness, gravity, seriousness; soundness or saneness of judgement, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > other specific behaviour > [noun] > staidness
sobernessc1384
sobriety1548
sobermood1556
staidness1561
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > discernment, discrimination > [noun] > good or sound judgement > quality of
sobriety1548
soundnessa1600
solidity1727
the mind > emotion > suffering > dejection > melancholy > seriousness or solemnity > [noun]
earnestOE
sadnessc1350
serious1440
seriouste1440
demurity1483
seriosity?a1505
gravity1509
demureness?1518
seriousness1530
solemness1530
sobriety1548
staidness1561
graveness1577
gravidad1641
earnestness1670
substantialness1683
solemnity1712
smilelessness1844
unsmilingness1873
humourlessness1890
straightfacedness1982
1548 Hall's Vnion: Richard III f. lvv Of suche sobrietie that it coulde neuer be iudged whyther he ware more dull then quicke in speakynge.
1589 R. Greene Menaphon sig. E2v Curteous countrey Swaines shake off this sobrietie.
1647 N. Bacon Hist. Disc. Govt. 2 Others of more sobriety account them no better then Lords.
1675 R. Baxter Catholick Theol. ii. ii. 33 Now whether any man should deny all our Religion,..let sobriety be judge.
1774 J. Reynolds Disc. Royal Acad. (1876) vi. 384 To bring us entirely to reason and sobriety, let it be observed [etc.].
1790 E. Burke Refl. Revol. in France 60 To secure any degree of sobriety in the propositions made by the leaders in any public assembly. View more context for this quotation
1841 W. Spalding Italy & Ital. Islands II. 366 He was quite unapproached in that delicacy of feeling and sobriety of judgment, which he added to his learning and invention.
1879 J. R. Green Readings Eng. Hist. x. 48 He could trust his good sense and wise sobriety of mind.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1913; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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