WWWW!
(Word for Word's Word of the Week)
Pronunciation: sêf (or sau)
Noun meaning: A pleasant rushing or whispering
sound such as that made by wind on leaves or the surf; a sigh; a drain
or small pool of water; a rumour (Scotland).
This word also functions as a verb, as in arrows soughing
through the sky. If you sough words of disappointment about someone, you
have spoken with a sigh.
Etymology: This week's word is an inherited
Germanic word. It devolved from Middle English verb "swowen"
or "soughen" from Old English "swogan." Akin to Old
Icelandic sugr "a rushing sound," e.g. arn-sugr "eagle
swoosh." Also related to swough "strong movement" or "swoon"
and, probably, "sound."
Thought: This is a word which is unfortunately
seldom used and, as such, no-one seems to know exactly how it is pronounced:
like "tough" or like "sow"? We prefer a rhyme with
"tough" since it has been (mis) spelled "suff" and
"suffe" historically.
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