sebak

Etymology

From Malay roots; possibly from Proto-Malayic *sebak (“to choke up, to be overcome with emotion”). (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /sə.baʔ/

Adjective

sebak (Jawi spelling سبق, comparative lebih sebak, superlative paling sebak)

flooded, inundated
Synonyms: banjir, tergenang
(of eyes) to well up with tears
Synonym: bergenang
short of breath, gasping
Synonyms: sesak, tercungap, termengah
(figurative) choked up; overcome with emotion; unable to speak because of strong feeling.
Dia sebak ketika mengenang ibunya yang telah tiada. ― He was choked up remembering his late mother.
(figurative) tight; constricted (of the chest or throat due to emotion or crying).
Dadanya terasa sebak menahan tangis. ― His chest felt tight as he held back tears.

Noun

sebak (Jawi spelling سبق, plural sebak-sebak or sebak ²)

inundation, flooding of streams
Synonym: genangan
(figurative) feeling of choking up or emotional heaviness.
Rasa sebak itu sukar digambarkan. ― That feeling of choking up is hard to describe.

Verb

sebak (Jawi spelling سبق)

(rare) to gasp
Synonyms: mencungap, mengah

Derived terms

Affixations

kesebakan
tersebak

Synonyms

terharu
sedih
pilus (archaic)

Antonyms

tenang
lega

References

Pijnappel, Jan (1875), “سبق sĕbak”, in Maleisch-Hollandsch woordenboek, John Enschede en Zonen, Frederik Muller, page 19
Wilkinson, Richard James (1901), “سبق sebak”, in A Malay-English dictionary, Hong Kong: Kelly & Walsh limited, page 370
Wilkinson, Richard James (1932), “sĕbak”, in A Malay-English dictionary (romanised), volume II, Mytilene, Greece: Salavopoulos & Kinderlis, page 396