First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1melancholy
noun mel·an·choly \ˈme-lən-ˌkä-lē\
: a sad mood or feeling
plural mel·an·chol·ies
Full Definition of MELANCHOLY
1
a : an abnormal state attributed to an excess of black bile and characterized by irascibility or depression b : black bile c : melancholia
See melancholy defined for English-language learners
See melancholy defined for kids
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Origin of MELANCHOLY
Middle English malencolie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin melancholia, from Greek, from melan- + cholē bile — more at gall
Related to MELANCHOLY
- Synonyms
- blue devils, blues, dejection, depression, desolation, despond, despondence, despondency, disconsolateness, dispiritedness, doldrums, dolefulness, downheartedness, dreariness, dumps, forlornness, gloom, gloominess, glumness, heartsickness, joylessness, sadness, miserableness, mopes, mournfulness, oppression, sorrowfulness, unhappiness
- Antonyms
- bliss, blissfulness, ecstasy, elatedness, elation, euphoria, exhilaration, exuberance, exultation, felicity, gladness, gladsomeness, happiness, heaven, intoxication, joy, joyfulness, joyousness, jubilation, rapture, rapturousness
Other Psychology Terms
Rhymes with MELANCHOLY
2melancholy
adjective mel·an·choly \ˈme-lən-ˌkä-lē\
: feeling or showing sadness : very unhappy
Full Definition of MELANCHOLY
1
a : suggestive or expressive of sadness or depression of mind or spirit <sang in a melancholy voice> b : causing or tending to cause sadness or depression of mind or spirit : dismal <a melancholy thought>
See melancholy defined for English-language learners
Examples of MELANCHOLY
- A melancholy lesson of advancing years is the realization that you can't make old friends. —Christopher Hitchens, Harper's, June 1999
- He has a snarled mop of spiky black hair, melancholy circles around his eyes, and a tiny Cupid's-bow mouth. —Pauline Kael, New Yorker, 17 Dec. 1990
- I see your mournful party in my mind's eye under every varying circumstance of the day; … the efforts to talk, the frequent summons to melancholy orders and cares, and poor Edward, restless in misery, going from one room to the other … —Jane Austen, letter, 24 Oct. 1808
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Origin of MELANCHOLY
(see 1melancholy)
First Known Use: 14th century
Related to MELANCHOLY
Other Psychology Terms
Rhymes with MELANCHOLY
MELANCHOLY Defined for Kids
1melancholy
adjective mel·an·choly \ˈme-lən-ˌkä-lē\
Definition of MELANCHOLY for Kids
: sad 1 <I'll be melancholy if you go.>
2melancholy
noun
Definition of MELANCHOLY for Kids
: a sad or gloomy mood
Medical Dictionary
melancholy
noun mel·an·choly \ˈmel-ən-ˌkäl-ē\
plural mel·an·chol·ies
Medical Definition of MELANCHOLY
1
a : an abnormal state attributed to an excess of black bile and characterized by irascibility or depression b : black bile c : melancholia
2
: depression or dejection of spirits
—melancholy adjective
Learn More About MELANCHOLY
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