[f. SOB v.1 + -ING2.]
1. Uttering, giving vent to, sobs. Also, of the voice: Broken by sobs.
a. 1200. Vices & Virtues, 85. Þohtes of soðe bereusinge, ðe makieð ðe herte sari and sobbiende.
1451. Capgrave, Life St. Aug., 22. With ful sobbyng voys uttirryng all þese wordes.
a. 1586. Sidney, Ps. VI. vii. God hath heard the weeping sobbing voice Of my complayning.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., II. i. 66. Weeping and commenting Vpon the sobbing Deere.
1820. Shelley, Prometh. Unb., I. 455. Some struck and sobbing fawn.
1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., III. i. With a sobbing gaslight in the counting-house window.
1895. Westm. Gaz., 14 May, 2/2. There were sobbing sides amongst the best when we reached the foot of the Pass.
2. Of the nature of a sob or sobs.
1871. Standard, 24 Jan., 5/6. She gave a sobbing sigh, and fell on the stone pavement insensible.
1894. A. Robertson, Nuggets, etc. 209. A low sobbing sound caught my ear.
