melancholy
a gloomy state of mind, especially when habitual or prolonged; depression.
sober thoughtfulness; pensiveness.
Archaic.
the condition of having too much black bile, considered in ancient and medieval medicine to cause gloominess and depression.
black bile.
Origin of melancholy
1Other words for melancholy
Opposites for melancholy
Other words from melancholy
- mel·an·chol·i·ly, adverb
- mel·an·chol·i·ness, noun
- un·mel·an·chol·y, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use melancholy in a sentence
The days came and went, and after a few months of melancholiness he grew a little bit better.
The Silver Lining | John Roussel
British Dictionary definitions for melancholy
/ (ˈmɛlənkəlɪ) /
a constitutional tendency to gloominess or depression
a sad thoughtful state of mind; pensiveness
archaic
a gloomy character, thought to be caused by too much black bile
one of the four bodily humours; black bile: See humour (def. 8)
characterized by, causing, or expressing sadness, dejection, etc
Origin of melancholy
1Derived forms of melancholy
- melancholily (ˈmɛlənˌkɒlɪlɪ), adverb
- melancholiness, noun
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
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