Толковый словарь английского языка Oxford English Reference - sob

v. & n. --v. (sobbed, sobbing) 1 intr. draw breath in convulsive gasps usu. with weeping under mental distress or physical exhaustion. 2 tr. (usu. foll. by out) utter with sobs. 3 tr. bring (oneself) to a specified state by sobbing (sobbed themselves to sleep). --n. a convulsive drawing of breath, esp. in weeping. Phrases and idioms sob story a story or explanation appealing mainly to the emotions. sob-stuff colloq. sentimental talk or writing. Derivatives sobber n. sobbingly adv. Etymology: ME sobbe (prob. imit.)