Also 5–7 sobrietie, 6 sobritie (?). [ad. F. sobriété (= It. sobrietà, Sp. sobriedad, Pg. sobriedade), or L. sōbrietas, f. sōbrius SOBER a.]
1. The quality of being sober or moderate in the indulgence of appetite; spec. moderation in the use of strong drink.
1401. Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 32. The freer beleeveth … chastitie, meeknesse, and sobrietie.
1531. Elyot, Gov., III. xxii. (1880), II. 336. The auncient temperaunce and moderation in diete, called sobrietie, or, in a more general terme, frugalite.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet., 19 b. Sobrietie is a bridelyng by discrecion the wilfulnesse of desire.
1607. Rowlands, Earl of Warw., 69. Unto licentious life they teach us run, And with sobriety associate never.
1655. S. Ashe, Fun. Serm. Gataker, 32. Let the sad consequences of Noah his intemperance give caution for sobriety unto all ancient persons whatsoever.
1781. Cowper, Conversat., 807. Sobriety, perhaps, may now be found, Where once intoxication press’d the ground.
1836. Thirlwall, Greece, II. xiv. 205. Sobriety was not one of the Persian virtues.
1861. Geo. Eliot, Silas M., iii. 58. The voice of the good angel, inviting to industry, sobriety, and peace.
2. Moderation in any respect; avoidance of excess or extravagance.
1582. N. T. (Rheims), Romans xii. 3. Not to be more wise then behoueth…, but to be wise vnto sobrietie.
1653. Binning, Serm. (1845), 646. There is also sobriety in the affections, when they are moderate.
a. 1716. Blackall, Wks. (1723), I. 80. Thoughts evil in themselves, are such as … are contrary to Sobriety.
1779. Mirror, No. 25. 97. The sobriety of manners which home exhibited.
1794. R. J. Sulivan, View Nat., II. 358. Some have imputed this to the sobriety and simplicity of living.
1852. Thackeray, Esmond, I. ii. Misfortune had not taught those exiles sobriety of life.
1884. A. Jessopp, in 19th Cent., March, 406. Sobriety of dress must be enforced.
b. In pl. Sober qualities.
1826. Lamb, Elia, Ser. II. Sanity true Genius. The other to the wildest dreams gives the sobrieties of every-day occurrences.
3. Staidness, gravity, seriousness; soundness or saneness of judgment, etc.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Rich. III., 55 b. Of suche sobrietie that it coulde never be judged whyther he ware more dull then quicke in speakynge.
1589. Greene, Menaphon (Arb.), 46. Curteous country Swaines shake off this sobrietie.
1647. N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., I. i. (1739), 1. Others of more sobriety account them no better than Lords.
1675. Baxter, Cath. Theol., II. ii. 33. Now whether any man should deny all our Religion,… let sobriety be judge.
1774. Reynolds, Disc., vi. (1876), 384. To bring us entirely to reason and sobriety, let it be observed [etc.].
1790. Burke, Fr. Rev., 60. To secure any degree of sobriety in the propositions made by the leaders in any publick assembly.
1841. W. Spalding, Italy & It. Isl., II. 366. He [Palladio] was quite unapproached in that delicacy of feeling and sobriety of judgment, which he added to his learning and invention.
1879. Green, Readings fr. Eng. Hist., x. 48. He could trust his good sense and wise sobriety of mind.
