- sober (adj.)
- c.1300, "grave, serious, solemn," from Old French sobre, from Latin sobrius "not drunk, temperate," from se- "without" + ebrius "drunk," of unknown origin. Sense of "moderate, temperate," especially "abstaining from strong drink" is first attested mid-14c.; meaning "not drunk at the moment" is from late 14c. The verb meaning "to become sober" is attested from 1820 (usually with up). Sobersides "sedate, serious-minded person" is recorded from 1705.