Your ShelfYour Projects
Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Melancholy

Mĕl'an-chōl'y, n.

noun

n. [Fr. mélancolie, Pr., Sp., & Pg. melancolia, It. melancolia, melanconia, malinconia, Gr. μέλας χολή, fr. μέλας, μέλαν, black, and χολή, χόλος, gall, bile.]

Sense 1. A gloomy state of mind, often a gloomy state that is of some continuance, or habitual; depression of spirits induced by grief; dejection of spirits.

Sense 2. Hence, gloom of mind; great and continued depression of spirits; dejection.

Moon-struck madness, moping melancholy. Milton.

Mĕl'an-chŏl'y, a.

adjective

a. 1. Depressed in spirits; dejected; gloomy; dismal.

  1. Producing great evil and grief; causing dejection; calamitous; afflictive.
  2. Grave looking; somber. [Obs.] “A pretty, melancholy seat, well wooded and watered.” Evelyn.

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