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brown study

See more synonyms for brown study on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. deep, serious absorption in thought: Lost in a brown study, she was oblivious to the noise.
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Origin of brown study

First recorded in 1525–35
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for brown study

Historical Examples

  • "And more people to do it, too," muttered Tom Trefethen, as he sank into a brown-study.

    The Copper Princess

    Kirk Munroe

  • After all, employment, next to a clear conscience, is the best antidote to a brown-study.

    Hildebrand

    Anonymous

  • By the help of brown-study from the interior of our brain, from revelation, or from experience?

  • Next came a long procession composed of high numbers, all of the "brown-study color."

    The Monikins

    J. Fenimore Cooper

  • Toby put another doughnut in the outstretched hand, and then sat silently, as if in a brown-study over some difficult problem.

British Dictionary definitions for brown study

brown study

noun
  1. a mood of deep absorption or thoughtfulness; reverie
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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