From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]: Sober \Sober\, a. [Compar. Soberer; superl. Soberest.] [OE. sobre, F. sobre, from L. sobrius, probably from a prefix so- expressing separation + ebrius drunken. Cf. Ebriety.] 1. Temperate in the use of spirituous liquors; habitually temperate; as, a sober man. [1913 Webster] That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of Thy holy name. --Bk. of Com. Prayer. [1913 Webster] 2. Not intoxicated or excited by spirituous liquors; as, the sot may at times be sober. [1913 Webster] 3. Not mad or insane; not wild, visionary, or heated with passion; exercising cool, dispassionate reason; self-controlled; self-possessed. [1913 Webster] There was not a sober person to be had; all was tempestuous and blustering. --Druden. [1913 Webster] No sober man would put himself into danger for the applause of escaping without breaking his neck. --Dryden. [1913 Webster] 4. Not proceeding from, or attended with, passion; calm; as, sober judgment; a man in his sober senses. [1913 Webster] 5. Serious or subdued in demeanor, habit, appearance, or color; solemn; grave; sedate. [1913 Webster] What parts gay France from sober Spain? --Prior. [1913 Webster] See her sober over a sampler, or gay over a jointed baby. --Pope. [1913 Webster] Twilight gray Had in her sober livery all things clad. --Milton. [1913 Webster] Syn: Grave; temperate; abstinent; abstemious; moderate; regular; steady; calm; quiet; cool; collected; dispassionate; unimpassioned; sedate; staid; serious; solemn; somber. See Grave. [1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]: Sober \So"ber\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sobered; p. pr. & vb. n. Sobering.] To make sober. [1913 Webster] There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, And drinking largely sobers us again. --Pope. [1913 Webster] From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]: Sober \So"ber\, v. i. To become sober; -- often with down. [1913 Webster] Vance gradually sobered down. --Ld. Lytton. [1913 Webster] From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: sober adj 1: not affected by a chemical substance (especially alcohol) [ant: drunk, inebriated, intoxicated] 2: dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises; "a grave God-fearing man"; "a quiet sedate nature"; "as sober as a judge"; "a solemn promise"; "the judge was solemn as he pronounced sentence" [syn: grave, sedate, sober, solemn] 3: lacking brightness or color; dull; "drab faded curtains"; "sober Puritan grey"; "children in somber brown clothes" [syn: drab, sober, somber, sombre] 4: completely lacking in playfulness [syn: unplayful, serious, sober] [ant: playful] v 1: cause to become sober; "A sobering thought" 2: become more realistic; "After thinking about the potential consequences of his plan, he sobered up" [syn: sober up, sober] 3: become sober after excessive alcohol consumption; "Keep him in bed until he sobers up" [syn: sober up, sober]