melancholy Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a feeling of thoughtful sadness
  2. noun a constitutional tendency to be gloomy and depressed
  3. noun a humor that was once believed to be secreted by the kidneys or spleen and to cause sadness and melancholy
    black bile.
  4. adjective satellite characterized by or causing or expressing sadness
    melancholic.
    • growing more melancholy every hour
    • her melancholic smile
    • we acquainted him with the melancholy truth
  5. adjective satellite grave or even gloomy in character
    somber; sombre.
    • solemn and mournful music
    • a suit of somber black
    • a somber mood

WordNet

Mel"an*chol*y noun
Etymology
OE. melancolie, F. mélancolie, L. melancholia, fr. Gr. , -, black + gall, bile. See Malice, and 1st Gall.
Definitions
  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 adjective
Definitions
  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.

Webster 1913