Melancholy

Quick meaning: Melancholy is a noun meaning Great sadness or depression, especially of a thoughtful or introspective nature.

Meaning

Great sadness or depression, especially of a thoughtful or introspective nature.

More Meanings

1. (literary) Affected with great sadness or depression.
2. Suggestive of wistfulness or subdued emotion.
3. (historical) Black bile, formerly thought to be one of the four "cardinal humours" of animal bodies.

Example Sentences

Melancholy people don't talk much.

My mind was troubled with deep melancholy.

[…] he is melancholy without cause, and merry against the hair: […]

"The ancients referred melancholy to the mind, the moderns make it matter of digestion—to either case my plan applies," said Lady Mandeville.

Word Forms

• melancholies
• melancholly
• melancholie
• melancholious

Synonyms for melancholy

Depending on context, synonyms include despondency, misery, blueness, tristesse, mirthless, blues.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include melancholic, sad, gloomy, depressed, woe, acute.

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