Definitions for: Melancholy


[n] a humor that was once believed to be secreted by the kidneys or spleen and to cause sadness and melancholy
[n] a feeling of thoughtful sadness
[n] a constitutional tendency to be gloomy and depressed
[adj] characterized by or causing or expressing sadness; "growing more melancholy every hour"; "her melancholic smile"; "we acquainted him with the melancholy truth"



Webster (1913) Definition: Mel"an*chol*y, n. [OE. melancolie, F.
m['e]lancolie, L. melancholia, fr. Gr. ?; me`las, -anos,
black + ? gall, bile. See Malice, and 1st Gall.]
1. Depression of spirits; a gloomy state continuing a
considerable time; deep dejection; gloominess. --Shak.

2. Great and continued depression of spirits, amounting to
mental unsoundness; melancholia.

3. Pensive maditation; serious thoughtfulness. [Obs.] ``Hail,
divinest Melancholy !'' --Milton.

4. Ill nature. [Obs.] --Chaucer.


Mel"an*chol*y, a.
1. Depressed in spirits; dejected; gloomy dismal. --Shak.

2. Producing great evil and grief; causing dejection;
calamitous; afflictive; as, a melancholy event.

3. Somewhat deranged in mind; having the jugment impaired.
[Obs.] --Bp. Reynolds.

4. Favorable to meditation; somber.

A pretty, melancholy seat, well wooded and watered.
--Evelin.

Syn: Gloomy; sad; dispirited; low-spirited; downhearted;
unhappy; hypochondriac; disconsolate; heavy, doleful;
dismal; calamitous; afflictive.

Synonyms: black bile, melancholic, sad

See Also: bodily fluid, body fluid, brooding, depression, gloom, gloominess, heavyheartedness, humor, humour, liquid body substance, pensiveness, sadness, somberness, unhappiness, Weltschmerz, world-weariness

 Try our:
Scrabble Word Finder

Scrabble Cheat

Words With Friends Cheat

Hanging With Friends Cheat

Scramble With Friends Cheat

Ruzzle Cheat



Related Resources:
please visit
animals beginning with s