v. Obs. Forms: 3 suhhȝhenn (Ormin), sugge, suwie, 4 soghe, 5 sugh, sewe. [Prob. an onomatopœic formation; cf. SOUGH v.1]
1. intr. To sigh.
c. 1200. Ormin, 7924. Forr iwhillc mann birrþ wepenn her, & sikenn sare & suhhȝhenn.
c. 1220. Bestiary, in Rel. Ant., I. 224. He suggeden and sorȝeden.
14[?]. R. Glouc. Chron., 6966 (MS. β). He sewede [MS. γ sighede] ful sore.
c. 1475. Partenay, 5024. Raymounde At the departson sughed sore in breste. [Cf. 1944 sowghid, 6164 sogheth.]
2. impers. To be distressing.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 306. & hat þet seoruwe þreosche him wiðinne þe heorte mid sore bireousunge, so þet him [MS. Vernon hire] suwie, & pinie þet flesch mid festen.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., C. 391. He Sesez childer of her sok, soghe hem so neuer.
Hence † Sughend (suwinde) ppl. a., distressing, painful.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 428. More of þe softe eolie þen of þe bitinde wine; þet is, more of liðe wordes þen of suwinde.