sot: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 (Very low frequency; archaic/ literary)Archaic, Literary, Formal
Quick answer
What does “sot” mean?
A person who is habitually drunk.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who is habitually drunk.
Archaic or literary term for a foolish or stupid person, particularly one made foolish by drink.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant usage difference. Equally archaic in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical connotations of chronic drunkenness and associated foolishness.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary speech for both. More likely encountered in British literature due to its age.
Grammar
How to Use “sot” in a Sentence
[determiner] + sotbe + [determiner] + sotVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sot” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Archaic/obsolete) He would sot himself with cheap gin every night.
American English
- (Archaic/obsolete) The man sot himself into a stupor.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Never used.
Academic
Rare, only in historical or literary analysis (e.g., studying Shakespeare).
Everyday
Not used in modern conversation; would sound archaic or deliberately old-fashioned.
Technical
Not used in clinical contexts (terms like 'alcohol use disorder' are standard).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sot”
- Using it in modern contexts. Mispronouncing it to rhyme with 'hot' in American English (it uses the 'father' vowel).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is very archaic. Modern insults for a drunk person would be terms like 'lush', 'wino', or 'alcoholic', though the latter is clinical.
Very rarely and archaically. Historically, it meant 'to make or become foolishly drunk'. This usage is now obsolete.
They are synonyms, but 'sot' is an older, more literary word that often implies a foolish or weak-willed character beyond just the drinking habit.
Not specifically. 'Sot' was historically applied to men. Archaic terms like 'drunkard' or 'tippler' were used for women, but often with additional gendered insults (e.g., 'hag').
A person who is habitually drunk.
Sot is usually archaic, literary, formal in register.
Sot: in British English it is pronounced /sɒt/, and in American English it is pronounced /sɑːt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to 'sot'; the word itself is often used in descriptive phrases.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SOT sitting on a SPOT, too drunk to move. SOT = Staggering Old Tippler.
Conceptual Metaphor
DRUNKENNESS IS A PERSON (the condition is embodied by the individual).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'sot' be MOST appropriately used today?