DR Big One

[Ruff-Diamond]

73d Sobbed - GREETED has to be the answer to this as all the letters are part of other words but how in the name of everything that's sane can this possibly relate to the clue?

To Greet is a slang expression for to Sob, but come on!

[kettledrum]

I don't think it's a slang word, Ruff-Diamond, but probably out-of-date, although I think it's still fairly standard usage in rural Scotland (and poss Ireland?)

[atsgran]

|Can't think of anything else that would fit, but i've never said " She greeted into her hankie"

[gen2]

Certainly not slang and not just used in rural areas either.
All kids up here will know the following:

The third craw wis greeting for his maw,
Greeting for his maw,
Greeting for his maw.
The third craw wis greeting for his maw
On a cold and frosty morning.

[atsgran]

Yes we use greeting, gret, but can't say i've used greeted (as in crying)

[douglas9401]

Wheesht now afore the sassenachs hink wur a bletherin skites!

[granny grump]

I can remember my dear old dad saying 'yer like a wee christmas card - aye greetin'

[ladyalex]

Totally agree that people definitely say 'greetin' for crying.
ALso, however, agree that the past tense would be 'gret' or possibly even 'grat'. I don't think I have ever heard 'greeted' meaning 'cried'.