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melancholy

[ mel-uhn-kol-ee ]

/ ˈmɛl ənˌkɒl i /

||

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR melancholy ON THESAURUS.COM

WATCH NOW: The Bizarre Origin Of The Word "Melancholy"

WATCH NOW: The Bizarre Origin Of The Word "Melancholy"

The meaning of melancholy was never a good thing, but it was way worse in medieval times … kind of like everything else back then when I think about it, actually.

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noun, plural mel·an·chol·ies.

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.

adjective

affected with, characterized by, or showing melancholy; mournful; depressed: a melancholy mood.

causing melancholy or sadness; saddening: a melancholy occasion.

soberly thoughtful; pensive.

Nearby words

melan-, melancholia, melancholia attonita, melancholiac, melancholic, melancholy, melanchthon, melanedema, melanesia, melanesian, melanesian pidgin english

Origin of melancholy

1275–1325; Middle English melancholie < Late Latin melancholia < Greek melancholía condition of having black bile, equivalent to melan- melan- + chol(ḗ) bile + -ia -ia

SYNONYMS FOR melancholy

1 sadness, dejection, despondency.

4 gloomy, despondent, blue, dispirited, sorrowful, dismal, doleful, glum, downcast.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR melancholy ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR melancholy

1 cheer, happiness.

SEE MORE ANTONYMS FOR melancholy ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsmel·an·chol·i·ly, adverbmel·an·chol·i·ness, nounun·mel·an·chol·y, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for melancholy

I found their melancholy inviting and I appreciated their contemplative, lonely world.
The Stacks: Edward Hopper’s X-Ray Vision|Hilton Kramer|October 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the first chapter, rebellious Holly Sykes runs away from home and headlong into the melancholy perils of first love.
David Mitchell’s ‘The Bone Clocks’ Is Fun But Mostly Empty Calories|William O’Connor|September 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The slurring of relationships and transactions has effects ranging from the gruesome to the melancholy.
Meet The Former Call Girl Saving Hookers For Jesus|Elizabeth Stoker Bruenig|July 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Young and gracious faces, somewhat remote and proud, but with a melancholy and sweet kindness.
The Real Memorial Day: Oliver Wendell Holmes's Salute To A Momentous American Anniversary|Malcolm Jones|May 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST

You know, Ack, the melancholy of it all is that we grew up there.
War Nostalgia Is Leading Veterans to Places Like Syria. One Went Missing There.|Elliot Ackerman|May 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The capital of the kingdom of Lilliput appeared to be partially surrounded by a vast and melancholy campagna of turnips.
The Catholic World; Volume I, Issues 1-6|E. Rameur
Lincoln's melancholy was evident to them all, nor did he, indeed, attempt to disguise it.
McClure's Magazine, Vol. 6, No. 5, April, 1896|Various
Yet persons who by melancholy are cast into diseased fears and scrupulosities, are uncapable of this way of trial.
A Christian Directory (Volume 1 of 4)|Richard Baxter
The merino dominates the bush, and gives to Australian literature its melancholy tinge, its despairing pathos.
Three Elephant Power|Andrew Barton 'Banjo' Paterson
The voice of Vance was charged with melancholy and delicate regret.
The Tysons|May Sinclair

British Dictionary definitions for melancholy

melancholy

/ (ˈmɛlənkəlɪ) /

noun plural -cholies

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 bileSee humour (def. 8)

adjective

characterized by, causing, or expressing sadness, dejection, etc

Derived Formsmelancholily (ˈmɛlənˌkɒlɪlɪ), adverbmelancholiness, noun

Word Origin for melancholy

C14: via Old French from Late Latin melancholia, from Greek melankholia, from melas black + kholē bile

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

Word Origin and History for melancholy (1 of 2)

melancholy

n.

c.1300, "condition characterized by sullenness, gloom, irritability," from Old French melancolie "black bile, ill disposition, anger, annoyance" (13c.), from Late Latin melancholia, from Greek melankholia "sadness," literally (excess of) "black bile," from melas (genitive melanos) "black" (see melanin) + khole "bile" (see Chloe). Medieval physiology attributed depression to excess of "black bile," a secretion of the spleen and one of the body's four "humors."

The Latin word also is the source of Spanish melancolia, Italian melancolia, German Melancholie, Danish melankoli, etc. Old French variant malencolie (also in Middle English) is by false association with mal "sickness."

Word Origin and History for melancholy (1 of 2)

melancholy

adj.

late 14c., "with or caused by black bile; sullen, gloomy, sad," from melancholy (n.); sense of "deplorable" (of a fact or state of things) is from 1710.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Medicine definitions for melancholy

melancholy

[ mĕl′ən-kŏl′ē ]

n.

Sadness or depression of the spirits; gloom.

Melancholia.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.