Search Result for "melancholy": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (3)

1. a feeling of thoughtful sadness;

2. a constitutional tendency to be gloomy and depressed;

3. a humor that was once believed to be secreted by the kidneys or spleen and to cause sadness and melancholy;
[syn: black bile, melancholy]


ADJECTIVE (2)

1. characterized by or causing or expressing sadness;
- Example: "growing more melancholy every hour"
- Example: "her melancholic smile"
- Example: "we acquainted him with the melancholy truth"
[syn: melancholy, melancholic]

2. grave or even gloomy in character;
- Example: "solemn and mournful music"
- Example: "a suit of somber black"
- Example: "a somber mood"
[syn: somber, sombre, melancholy]



The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

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

   2. Great and continued depression of spirits, amounting to
      mental unsoundness; melancholia.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Pensive maditation; serious thoughtfulness. [Obs.] "Hail,
      divinest Melancholy !" --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. Ill nature. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
      [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Melancholy \Mel"an*chol*y\, a.
   1. Depressed in spirits; dejected; gloomy dismal. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Producing great evil and grief; causing dejection;
      calamitous; afflictive; as, a melancholy event.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Somewhat deranged in mind; having the jugment impaired.
      [Obs.] --Bp. Reynolds.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. Favorable to meditation; somber.
      [1913 Webster]

            A pretty, melancholy seat, well wooded and watered.
                                                  --Evelin.
      [1913 Webster]

   Syn: Gloomy; sad; dispirited; low-spirited; downhearted;
        unhappy; hypochondriac; disconsolate; heavy, doleful;
        dismal; calamitous; afflictive.
        [1913 Webster]


WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

melancholy
    adj 1: characterized by or causing or expressing sadness;
           "growing more melancholy every hour"; "her melancholic
           smile"; "we acquainted him with the melancholy truth"
           [syn: melancholy, melancholic]
    2: grave or even gloomy in character; "solemn and mournful
       music"; "a suit of somber black"; "a somber mood" [syn:
       somber, sombre, melancholy]
    n 1: a feeling of thoughtful sadness
    2: a constitutional tendency to be gloomy and depressed
    3: a humor that was once believed to be secreted by the kidneys
       or spleen and to cause sadness and melancholy [syn: black
       bile, melancholy]