Forms: α. 4 sune, 4–5 sone, sovne, 4–6 soun(e, sown(e. β. 5–6 sounde, 5–7 sownd(e, 5– sound. [ad. OF. suner, soner (mod.F. sonner), = Prov. and Sp. sonar, Pg. soar, It. sonare:—L. sonāre, f. sonus sound.]
I. intr. 1. Of things: To make or emit a sound. Frequently with adverbial or adjectival complement.
α. a. 1325. Prose Psalter xlv[i]. 3. Þe waters souned, and ben trubled.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. Prol. 10. As I … lokede on þe watres, I slumberde in a slepyng, hit sownede so murie.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VII. 73. Water organs þat sowneþ by ayer and water.
c. 1450. Merlin, x. 154. Where as thei herde the trompe sowne.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, d iij. And thay be brokyn thay wyll sowne full dulli.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, liii. 181. Trompettes & taboures began to sowne.
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Lituus, Strepunt litui, the trumpettes sowne.
β. 1483. Cath. Angl., 350/1. To sownde, strepere.
1530. Palsgr., 726/1. This bell soundeth a mys. Ibid. This horne sowndeth meryly.
1579. Poore Knights Palace, E iij. Whose harpe did sound almost the silent night.
1662. J. Davies, trans. Olearius’ Voy. Ambass., 33. The Trumpet alwaies sounding when the meat was carried up.
1749. Gray, Installat. Ode, 35. But hark! the portals sound.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xxxiii. Presently the castle-clock struck twelve, and then a trumpet sounded.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., iii. note. No other drum but theirs was allowed to sound on the High Street.
1845. J. Coulter, Adv. in Pacific, xiv. 193. In still weather, you will hear them [war-conches] for miles, they sound so loudly.
1877. Froude, Short Stud. (1883), IV. I. x. 120. From the cathedral tower the vesper bell was beginning to sound.
b. To resound (to, with, or † of something); to be filled with sound.
13[?]. Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS., xxiii. 515. Of whos herying sounen … Heuene, Erþe and See.
c. 1475. Partenay, 4718. A meruelus cry vp he cast þat stound, All the toure souned when he fill to ground.
1577. Hanmer, Anc. Eccl. Hist. (1619), 177. All sounded of lamentation throughout every narrow lane.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xxxi. The great hall of the Castle … sounding to strains of soft and delicious music.
a. 1854. H. Reed, Lect. Eng. Lit., iii. (1878), 117. It is one of the noblest languages that the earth has ever sounded with.
1896. A. E. Housman, Shropshire Lad, xxii. The street sounds to the soldiers’ tread.
c. Of instruments: To give a call or summons to arms, battle, etc. Also without subject.
1705. J. Robins, Hero of Age, II. ii. 3. Now first is beat the General Alarm, Now sounds to Horse.
1724. De Foe, Mem. Cavalier (1840), 68. The trumpets sounded to horse.
1825. Scott, Talism., vii. When the trumpet sounds to arms, my foot is in the stirrup as soon as any.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xiv. III. 419. The peal of a trumpet sounding to battle.
2. Of persons: a. To make a sound by blowing, or playing upon, some instrument.
1382. Wyclif, Lev. xxv. 9. Thow shalt sowne with trompe the seuenthe moneth.
1485. Caxton, Paris & V. (1868), 4. The mynstrellys … that sowned at the feste.
1576. Gascoigne, Kenelworth Castle, Wks. 1910, II. 92. Sixe Trumpetters … who had … Trumpettes counterfetted, wherein they seemed to sound.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., III. i. 69 b. They doe sound vpon a thing very like vnto a Cittern.
1609. Bible (Douay), 1 Chron. ii. 55. The kinredes also of the scribes … singing and sounding [L. resonantes].
1687. Wood, Life, 2 Nov. Soldiers and trumpeters … drinking healths, and every health they sounded.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Siticines,… those who sounded upon a sort of Trumpet … at their Funeral Solemnities.
1819. Scott, Ivanhoe, xl. ‘What! sound for aid,’ exclaimed the Knight, ‘against a score of such rascaille as these.’
1859. Tennyson, Geraint & Enid, 382. Enid … thought she heard the wild Earl … Sound on a dreadful trumpet.
fig. 1567. Maplet, Gr. Forest, Introd. A iij b. The verie Instrument which I nowe sound of, is not as I would it were.
† b. To utter vocal sounds; to speak, cry or sing. Obs.
c. 1340. Hampole, Psalter lxxvi. 16. Many men þat first sownyd, gaynsaiand til goed lare, sithen ware broght till sothfastnes.
c. 1500. Lancelot, 1811. ‘Welcum be he!’ and so the puple soundith.
1577. Hanmer, Anc. Eccl. Hist. (1619), 185. Let us honour him (sounding continually with mouth and mind).
1595. Spenser, Col. Clout, 20. Sith thy Muse … Was heard to sound as she was wont on hye.
3. To strike the ears, to be heard, as a sound. Also with in (one’s) ears and with adjs. or advs.
α. 13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1670. Er þenne þe souerayn saȝe souned in his eres.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), III. 275. ‘What have I to doo þerwiþ,’ quod he, ‘wheþer þis noyse sowne upward oþer dounward.’
a. 1450. trans. De Imitatione, III. i. 64. Pleinly þo eres are blessid, þat takiþ non hede to þe voice sounyng outwarde.
1485. St. Wenefryde (Caxton), 9. A voys from heuen souned in his eres.
1548. Elyot, Assono,… to sowne … agayn lyke to an Ecco.
1568. Interl. Jacob & Esau, IV. ix. The voice of Jacob sowneth in mine eare.
β. 1530. Palsgr., 726/1. Harke howe her voyce sowndeth scyrle in the ayer.
1586. Ferne, Blaz. Gentrie, 229. Names consisting vpon two or three sillables (especially sounding vpon the french) be most honourable.
1632. Milton, Il Pens., 74. I hear the far-off Curfeu sound.
1640. in Verney Mem. (1907), I. 109. This is the newes that sounds merrily in our eares.
1818. Scott, Br. Lamm., xii. A din, proceeding from the revels…, sounded half-way down the street. Ibid. (1823), Quentin D., xxx. As if the words of an oracle sounded in his ears.
1862. Miss Braddon, Lady Audley, i. The strange passion … making her voice sound shrill and piercing.
b. To issue out as, or with, a sound.
1526. Tindale, 1 Thess. i. 8. From you sounded out the worde of the lorde.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. IV. ii. For always, as it sounds out ‘at the market-cross,’ accompanied with trumpet-blast.
c. To be mentioned or spoken of.
1635. J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Banish’d Virg., 7. Now the daily newes of the future bridegroome began to sound.
1832. Disraeli, Cont. Fleming, I. vii. (1853), 26. Wherever I went my name sounded, whatever was done my opinion was quoted.
1842. Borrow, Bible in Spain, xxxiv. The name of Flinter had long sounded amongst the Carlist ranks.
4. To convey a certain impression or idea by the sound; to appear to have a certain signification when heard (or read).
α. c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, V. 678. In non other place … Feele I no wynde that souneth so lyke peyne; It seith ‘Allas! why twynned be we tweyne?’
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., I. v. 27. My feeling in thilk mater is other wise than the speche sowneth.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 1554. Þai … red þe text als it sounes.
1533. Tindale, Supper of the Lord, D iij b. They so vnderstode hym, and he so ment as his wordes sowned.
1538. Starkey, England, I. ii. 63. Hyt sounyth veray yl … to gyue such powar to blynd fortune in mannys felycyte.
β. 1445. in Anglia, XXVIII. 273. Of ripe thyngis which sounde sadly thou techist men right aged.
1530[?]. Tindale, Exp. Matt. v. 43. To turne ye other cheke is a maner of spekynge and not to be vnderstand as the words sound.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., IV. iv. 7. I tell you ’twill sound harshly in her eares.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, I. ix. (1840), 14. Whose entreaties in this case sounded commands in the ears of such as were piously disposed.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., III. xxxviii. 239. Which soundeth as if they had said, he should come down [etc.].
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., 314. This may the better be believed … because Diodorus himself hath some Passages sounding that way.
1789. T. Twining, Aristotle’s Treatise on Poetry, 216. To call them a slip, would indeed sound strangely.
1815. Scott, Guy M., ix. That sounds like nonsense, my dear. Ibid. (1825), Betrothed, xiv. Their very names sound pagan and diabolical.
1851. Landor, Popery, 47. This sounds oddly to unmitred ears; but much may depend upon the sounding-board.
1874. Blackie, Self-Cult., 71. That sort of talk sounds big, but is in fact puerile.
b. To have a sound suggestive of something.
1646. Fuller, Good Th. in Worse T., Pref. Controversial writings (sounding somewhat of drums and trumpets).
† 5. To have a suggestion or touch of, a tendency towards, some connection or association with, a specified thing. Obs. Used with a variety of constructions: a. With in (see also 6), into, to (or unto), towards, etc.
The use with to is very common in the 15–16th centuries.
(a) c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 6079. Þat day, sal na man be excused Of nathyng … Þat sounes in ille on any manere.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 307. Sownynge in moral vertu was his speche.
1399. Rolls of Parlt., III. 451/2. The Answers of thes Lordes … souned in her entent in excusation of hem.
(b) c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, I. 1036. Me were lever to dy, Than she of me oght ellis understode, But that that myghte sownyn into good.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. II. 226. Whatever þei speken or don it sounneþ in to pees and charite.
c. 1412. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 1947. Write him no thyng þat sowneth in-to vice.
c. 1456. Pecock, Bk. of Faith (1909), 137. Bi a meene sownyng into this, that God never revelid thilk article.
(c) c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 306. Gabbyngis & other iapis þat sounen not to charite.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. X. 216. To meschief hit souneþ.
1440. in Wars English in France (Rolls), II. 452. He ne hath nought so doen … withoute notable causes sownyng to the wele of him and of his people.
1451. Capgrave, Life St. Gilbert, 96. All þat he spak was soundyng on-to grete profit of vertuous gouernauns.
1530. Palsgr., 726/1. I promise you that this matter sowndeth moche to your dishonour.
1558. G. Cavendish, Poems (1825), II. 5. Most men have no pleasour or delight In any history, without it sownd to vice.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, III. vi. (Arb.), 164. The meane matters … which sound neither to matters of state nor of warre.
1602. Fulbecke, 1st Pt. Parall., 75. When the action soundeth to disceit.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, Chester (1662), 291. If the Testators Will were not justly performed, it soundeth to the shame and blame of his Executors.
(d) 1513. Douglas, Æneid, XI. Prol. 49. The first soundis towart virteu sum deyll.
1535. in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. III. II. 343. Certayne words … sowndinge towards thavauncement of the Bysshoppe of Rome.
1614. Brerewood, Lang. & Relig., 65. In all the Hebrew writings of the Bible, that countrey is never termed by any name sounding toward Phænicia, but in the Greek only.
a. 1643. Ld. Falkland, etc. Infallibility (1646), 90. This surely sounds somewhat toward a testimony of Apostolick Tradition.
(e) 1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. ii. § 1. It is their endeavour to banish … from their cogitation whatsoever may sound that way.
† b. With simple objective, or of. Obs.
(a) c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 353. Þis sownes not charite but luciferes pride.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 275. Hise resons he spak ful solempnely, Sownynge alway thencrees of his wynnyng.
1482. Monk of Evesham, xxxi. (Arb.), 74. They that spake wordis of reboudye the whiche sounned onclenesse.
(b) 1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XII. 79. Is no wit worth now bote hit of wynnynge soune.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VI., 13. Odious billes and language,… sounyng of insurreccion and rebellion against the kinges peace.
† c. With against, with, or for. Obs.
(a) c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., I. xiii. 71. Therfore it is no nede me forto … encerche the writingis of Doctouris sownyng aȝens mi present entent.
1471. Sir J. Fortescue, in Wks. (1869). 531. It sownyth gretly ayen the kinges old title to his roialme of Fraunce.
1502. Arnolde, Chron. (1811), 88. Examyne all such thingis as sowne wyth or ayenst the comon wele.
1581. Lambarde, Eiren., II. ii. (1602), 112. Not meerelie a spiritual offence, but mixed, and sounding somewhat against the Peace of the lande.
(b) 1502. [see prec.].
1578. Banister, Hist. Man, I. 24. He alloweth this to sound with truth.
1639. Ld. Digby, Lett. conc. Relig. (1651), 36. How this will sound with that place of St. Austin upon the 98. Psalm.
(c) 1563. Homilies, II. Agst. Idol., II. ii. 56. No sentence in the old doctours and fathers soundyng for Images, ought to be of any aucthoritie.
1578–9. Reg. Privy Council Scot., Ser. I. III. 84. A new consait, not altogidder sounding for the necessitie of the caus.
6. To sound in damages, in legal use, to be concerned only with damages.
1780. M. Madan, Thelyphthora, II. 153. There is not one [change] which does not sound in damages, as our lawyers speak.
1798. Bay’s Reports (1809), I. 16. The discount law only extended to liquidated accounts and not to matters sounding in damages.
1885. Law Rep. 30 Chanc. Div. 21. This covenant did not create a specifically ascertained debt, but only a claim which sounded in damages.
transf. 1865. Pall Mall Gaz., 16 May, 1/1. His conclusion seems to us … to ‘sound in’ morality.
1865. Fraser’s Mag., Nov., 539. It is that the whole book ‘sounds,’ as the lawyer would say, in persuasion, not in conviction.
II. trans. 7. To cause (an instrument, etc.) to make a sound; to blow, strike, or play on.
a. 1300. K. Horn, 209 (C.). Horn þu lude sune Bi dales & bi dune.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 565. A baggepipe wel koude he blowe and sowne.
c. 1440. Partonope, 3755. The mynstrallys here Trumpes gan sowne.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, II. iv. (1883), 53. Therfore Joab ordeyned whan absalon was slayn he sowned a trompette.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, xciii. 299. He sowned the watch belle.
1554. in Vicary’s Anat. (1888), App. III. 176. That no maner of person … sounde eny drume for the gatheringe of eny people within the said Citie.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., III. xv. 99 b. [They] afterwardes doe sounde all their belles togeather.
1586. Marlowe, 1st Pt. Tamburl., I. i. Sound vp the trumpets then.
c. 1614. Sir W. Mure, Dido & Æneas, I. 184. Mariners … Their chearful whisles meryly do sownd.
1741–2. Gray, Agrippina, 121. Or say we sound The trump of liberty.
1794. A. Russell’s Aleppo (ed. 2), II. ii. I. 155. Very few of the performers [on the syrinx] can sound it tolerably well.
1806. Wordsw., Horn Egremont Castle, 112. A long posterity … Sounded the Horn which they alone could sound.
1862. Ansted, Channel Isl., I. ii. 33. A bell is sounded in foggy weather.
1896. Law Times Rep., LXXIII. 615/1. The driver of the approaching train began to sound his whistle.
transf. 1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. xii. 5. Whom farre before did march a goodly band Of tall young men, all hable armes to sownd.
8. To utter in an audible tone; to pronounce or repeat. Sometimes implying loudness of voice. Also with forth or out.
α. a. 1300. Cursor M., 22485. Na word þai sal þo queþer sune, Til þat þai be all fallen dune.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, II. 573. To yow rehercyn al his speche, Or alle his woful wordis for to sowne.
c. 1407. Lydg., Reson & Sens., 4413. Wher hys fate was … openly to him declaryd, In greke and hebrew tonge sovnyd.
c. 1477. Caxton, Jason, 38 b. Alle the maronners tremblid for drede in suche wyse that they durste not sowne a worde.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 250 b. She could soune the salutacion so often recited unto hir.
1593. Nashe, Christ’s T., 89. Hearing these tearmes of hell and eternall, so often souned in our eares.
β. c. 1450. trans. De Imitatione, III. xv. 83. Lorde, þou sowndyst [L. intonas] thi domes upon me.
1509. Barclay, Shyp of Folys (1570), 69. This man malicious which troubled is with wrath, Nought els soundeth but the hoorse letter R.
1570. Foxe, A. & M. (ed. 2), I. 9/1. He commaundeth all bishops and priestes to sounde out their seruice … with a loud voice.
1579. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 185. Thou giuest as it were a sigh, which all thy companions … seeme by thee to sounde also.
1684. Contempl. St. Man, II. v. (1692), 173. Those Millions of Angels, which will be sounding forth their Hallelujahs.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., xx. Hearken … to one note of reason, ere it is sounded into your ear by the death-shot of ruin.
b. To reproduce or express in words. rare.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Squire’s T., 105. Al be that I kan nat sowne his stile.
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., III. ii. 126. No words can that woe sound.
c. To utter or pronounce in a certain way.
1542. Recorde, Gr. Artes, B iv b. Augrym for Algorisme, as Arabians sound it.
1611. Cotgr., Appendix, E, when it is thus accented, é,… is called é Masculine, and sounded out, as in the Latine word docére.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 16. Their words are sounded rather like that of Apes, then men, whereby its very hard to sound their Dialect.
1736. Ainsworth, Latin Dict., II. s.v. C, Neither ought it [the letter c] to be sounded with an aspirate, as the modern Italians do.
1844. Kinglake, Eöthen, vii. I suppose it is scarcely now to be doubted that they were so sounded in ancient times.
9. To give intimation of, a signal or order for, (something) by the sound of a trumpet or other instrument; to announce, order or direct by such means. Also fig. or in fig. context.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 326. The watchmen … perceyued well howe that the Castell was scaled and betrayed, and so sowned in a Trumpet Trahey, Trahey.
1582. Stanyhurst, Æneis, III. (Arb.), 77. With shril brasse trumpet Misenus sowned alarum.
1631. Gouge, God’s Arrows, III. § 56. 288. They at their discretion cause alarms or retraits to be sounded.
1673. S’ too him Bayes, 11. All this is but hanging forth a Picture, and sounding a Call.
1697. Dryden, Dedic. Æneid, Ess. (Ker), II. 237. Our author seems to sound a charge, and begins like the clangour of a trumpet.
1734. trans. Rollin’s Anc. Hist., I. 392. The besieged sounded a retreat.
1789. J. Williams, Min. Kingd., I. 160. I feel in myself a strong reluctance against sounding the alarm to my country in a matter of so much importance.
1825. J. Neal, Bro. Jonathan, I. 90. As if he were sounding a charge with a tin whistle.
1853. Kingsley, Hypatia, II. vii. 174. The trumpets sounded the attack.
1893. Forbes-Mitchell, Remin. Gt. Mutiny, 260. Bugles were sounding the assembly.
b. To blow (a blast).
1806. Wordsw., Horn Egremont Castle, 16. The blast, Which good Sir Eustace sounded, was the last.
1817. Shelley, Pr. Athanase, 186. When winter’s roar Sounded o’er earth and sea its blast of war.
10. To declare, announce, proclaim; to make known or famous; to celebrate.
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, I. 2815. Whan þat þe cok … Þe mydnyȝt hour … Be-gan to sowne.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., III. iv. 295. Also this present processe sowneth … that Crist here clepid this ȝong man into apostilhode.
1576. Gascoigne, Kenelworth Castle, Wks. 1910, II. 115. O Muses sound the praise of Jove his mighty name.
1590. Greene, Orl. Fur., Wks. (Rtldg.), 90. Swift fame hath sounded to our western seas The matchless beauty of Angelica.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., IX. vii. (1623), 531. In pulpits and priuate conferences, sounding nothing but the Crosse and Passion of Christ.
1659. Hammond, On Ps. 2. But David … sounds Christ upon the harp.
1709. Pope, Ess. Crit., 193. Nations unborn your mighty names shall sound. Ibid. (1725), Odyss., IX. 20. Earth sounds my wisdom, and high heav’n my fame.
1777. Johnson, Lett. to Mrs. Thrale, 27 Oct. Of this great truth sounded by the knowing to the ignorant,… what evidence have you now before you.
1804. J. Grahame, Sabbath, 306. To him The Sabbath bell sounds peace.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., ii. I. 155. The Tories still continued … to sound the praise of a national militia.
† 11. Of words: To signify or mean; to import or imply. Obs.
c. 1391. Chaucer, Astrol., I. § 21. Zodia in langage of grek sownyth ‘bestes’ in latyn tonge.
1422. Capgrave, in Life S. Aug., etc. 147. The vij son of Iacob,… hite Simeon, whech soundith in our tonge heuynesse or pencifnesse.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), II. 63. For caer, after the langage of Britones, sowndethe a cite.
a. 1470. H. Parker, Dives & Pauper (W. de W., 1496), VII. lxvi. 283. Stelynge sowneth comonly theeft and robbery, and somtyme it sowneth preuely takynge without wyttynge of the lorde.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 279 b. For sapere in latyn tonge, soundeth as moche in englysshe as to sauour taste or fele.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 32 b. Lenocinium, whiche souneth in englishe enticyng & alluryng.
1627. W. Sclater, Exp. 2 Thess. (1629), 134. Mysterium commonly sounds a Religious secret.
1654. trans. Martini’s Conq. China, 106. The Sirname of Pingsi, which sounds as much as ‘Pacifier of the Western world.’
1671. H. M., trans. Erasm. Colloq., 200. Among the Latines discere to learn, sounds not as much as doctrinam accipere, to receive learning.
12. To examine (a person, etc.) by auscultation; to subject to medical examination.
1887. in Cassell’s Encycl. Dict.
