Oh my word Sober, Sombre (Somber)

Politicians’ attire is usually sober: they do not venture in bright colours even in sombre conditions. Music and movie stars do not hesitate to wear flashy colours and could venture out in sombre moods though could have been under the influence of alcohol.

Sober is an adjective meaning not under the influence of alcohol, not drinking or consuming excessive alcohol, moderate; being sedate or in a state of tranquil or moderation; serious, practical, realistic; that which is not fancy or who is not fanciful or exaggerating; referring to colours, sober means quiet and inconspicuous.

Sober as verb means to be in one’s senses followed usually by ‘up’, to clear one’s head: The father advised the son to sober up (as he has to prepare for an interview, and be sober). The couple went out to party, and they drove back because they came out soberly (not being drunk). Having restriction on the opening and closing times of bars and pubs that serve alcohol will indirectly help the drinkers to be sober in some ways.

In spite of umpteen issues bothering him, he presents a sobering (tranquil) face. With his sober attitude (not fanciful), he endears to his family and friends. The sober truth is that we could get carried away with advertisements to buy something. Do you prefer sober clothes or peachy ones? The superlative forms of sober are soberer, and soberest. Sobriety means the state of being sober.

He dressed soberly but looked not-so sober because he was tipsy. Sombre means dark, gloomy; dismal, melancholic; oppressively solemn, or sober (not flashy, not fanciful, not colourful enough); dismal, foreboding. Sombre comes from the Old French word, and its other grammatical variants are sombrely, and sombreness.

In one sense, sombre and sober have a common meaning: grave, or oppressively solemn. The US spelling is somber, somberly, somberness. Sombre skies are not uncommon during the rainy season in the Indian subcontinent. Riddled with sombre prospects in his current position, he decided to try another.

For some people colours play an important role in their lives, if they were heading to a somber scene such as a funeral they could wear sober colours, but if they are heading to a glitzy or partying spot, they could dress up in bright colours. “It was a somber place, haunted by old jokes and lost laughter. Life, as I discovered, holds no more wretched occupation than trying to make the English laugh.” –Malcolm Muggeridge

Kovuuri G Reddy