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lugubrious

American  
[loo-goo-bree-uhs, -gyoo-] / lʊˈgu bri əs, -ˈgyu- /

adjective

  1. mournful, dismal, or gloomy, especially in an affected, exaggerated, or unrelieved manner.

    lugubrious songs of lost love.

    Synonyms:
    melancholy, sorrowful
    Antonyms:
    cheerful

lugubrious British  
/ lʊˈɡuːbrɪəs /

adjective

  1. excessively mournful; doleful

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Etymology

Origin of lugubrious

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin lūgubri(s) “mournful” (akin to lūgēre “to mourn”) + -ous

Explanation

Funerals are lugubrious. So are rainy days and Mondays. Anything that makes you sad, gloomy, or mournful can be called lugubrious. Lugubrious comes from the Latin verb lūgēre, "to mourn." You can also listen to the sound of the word: lugubrious sounds slow, heavy, and sad. Sometimes, just the "feel" of a word is enough to clue you in to its meaning, and lugubrious is one of those words. I was feeling great when I got to the concert, but the lugubrious music left me in a terrible mood.

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