melancholy

[mel-uhn-kol-ee]

noun

plural

melancholies 

1. a gloomy state of mind, especially when habitual or prolonged; depression.

   Synonyms: despondency, dejection, sadness
   Antonyms: happiness, cheer

2. sober thoughtfulness; pensiveness.

   Synonyms: seriousness

3. Archaic.

   1. the condition of having too much black bile, considered in ancient and medieval medicine to cause gloominess and depression.

   2. black bile.

adjective

1. affected with, characterized by, or showing melancholy; mournful; depressed.

   a melancholy mood.

   Synonyms: downcast, glum, doleful, dismal, sorrowful, dispirited, blue, despondent, gloomy

2. causing melancholy or sadness; saddening.

   a melancholy occasion.

   Antonyms: happy

3. soberly thoughtful; pensive.

   Synonyms: serious, serious

melancholy

/ ˈmɛlənˌkɒlɪlɪ, ˈmɛlənkəlɪ /

noun

1. a constitutional tendency to gloominess or depression

2. a sad thoughtful state of mind; pensiveness

3. archaic

   1. a gloomy character, thought to be caused by too much black bile

   2. one of the four bodily humours; black bile See humour

adjective

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

Other Word Forms

• melancholily adverb
• melancholiness noun
• unmelancholy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of melancholy¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English melancholie, from Late Latin melancholia, from Greek melancholía ”condition of having black bile,” equivalent to melan- “black” + chol(ḗ) “bile, gall” + -ia noun suffix; melan(o)-, chol-, -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of melancholy¹

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

Example Sentences

“Your grandmother would have hated having some melancholy American-style funeral. So we will celebrate her life and all she’s done—and hopefully we can make her smile.”

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Penelope sighed with such deep melancholy one might have easily mistaken her for a native.

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Alas, the only books Penelope had close at hand were the cannibal book, her own book of melancholy German poetry in translation, Alexander’s book of Shakespeare sonnets, and Mr. Gibbon’s tome about the Roman Empire.

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One was her favorite book of melancholy German poetry in translation, which she always carried with her when she felt in need of reassurance.

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“Not really. Just enough to read bits of melancholy poetry here and there. Always had a taste for it, for some reason.”

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Related Words

• boredom 
• despair 
• desperation 
• despondency 
• ennui 
• gloom 
• grief 
• sorrow 
• wistfulness