dolesome

American  

[dohl-suhm] / ˈdoʊl səm /

adjective

Literary.

1. doleful.

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Etymology

Origin of dolesome

First recorded in 1525–35; dole ² + -some ¹

Example Sentences

Ah! it’s a dolesome change from Sir Murray to Sir Brian yonder at the end, and worse still, to your father, as wouldn’t put nothing on but a breast-piece and back-piece and a steel cap.”

From The Young Castellan A Tale of the English Civil War by Fenn, George Manville

In this vicinity was passed a dolesome time, the country being wild and rugged, affording handsome scenery under different circumstances, but for us it had no enchantment.

From History of the Eighty-sixth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, during its term of service by Kinnear, John R.

His eyes cast down, his forehead shorn had he   Of all its boldness, and he said, with sighs,   "Who has denied to me the dolesome houses?"

From Divine Comedy, Longfellow's Translation, Complete by Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth

And now begin the dolesome notes to grow   Audible unto me; now am I come   There where much lamentation strikes upon me.

From Divine Comedy, Longfellow's Translation, Complete by Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth

A dolesome thing," he said; "but my mother was wont to sing it to the virginals.

From Henry Brocken His Travels and Adventures in the Rich, Strange, Scarce-Imaginable Regions of Romance by De la Mare, Walter