melancholy

[mel-uhn-kol-ee]

noun

plural

melancholies 

1. a gloomy state of mind, especially when habitual or prolonged; depression.

   Synonyms: despondency, dejection, sadness
   Antonyms: happiness, cheer

2. sober thoughtfulness; pensiveness.

   Synonyms: seriousness

3. Archaic.

   1. the condition of having too much black bile, considered in ancient and medieval medicine to cause gloominess and depression.

   2. black bile.

adjective

1. affected with, characterized by, or showing melancholy; mournful; depressed.

   a melancholy mood.

   Synonyms: downcast, glum, doleful, dismal, sorrowful, dispirited, blue, despondent, gloomy

2. causing melancholy or sadness; saddening.

   a melancholy occasion.

   Antonyms: happy

3. soberly thoughtful; pensive.

   Synonyms: serious, serious

melancholy

/ ˈmɛlənˌkɒlɪlɪ, ˈmɛlənkəlɪ /

noun

1. a constitutional tendency to gloominess or depression

2. a sad thoughtful state of mind; pensiveness

3. archaic

   1. a gloomy character, thought to be caused by too much black bile

   2. one of the four bodily humours; black bile See humour

adjective

1. characterized by, causing, or expressing sadness, dejection, etc

Other Word Forms

• melancholily adverb
• melancholiness noun
• unmelancholy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of melancholy¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English melancholie, from Late Latin melancholia, from Greek melancholía ”condition of having black bile,” equivalent to melan- “black” + chol(ḗ) “bile, gall” + -ia noun suffix; melan(o)-, chol-, -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of melancholy¹

C14: via Old French from Late Latin melancholia, from Greek melankholia, from melas black + kholē bile

Example Sentences

The band immediately followed it with the score for Sofia Coppola’s debut feature, “The Virgin Suicides,” and those two albums locked in Air as the ultimate turn-of-the-century band for tasteful European melancholy.

From Los Angeles Times

The band’s haunting tribute to the Carpenters, “Downey CA,” appeared on 2000’s “Sound of Water” — an icy, melancholy confection, possibly the most fully realized album of its career.

From Los Angeles Times

Other songs are more straightforward – Just Two Girls is a warm and nostalgic reflection on friendship, and Passenger Seat is all pillowy melancholy as Rowsell recalls a road trip with an ex.

From BBC

A tender city romance about about gentrification and Black melancholy, “Love, Brooklyn” brings together appealing actors and the charms of New York’s ever-changing borough into soft focus.

From Los Angeles Times

The drink was a Laphroaig whisky - a smoky, peaty Scottish malt, like pouring a wistful but rather melancholy highland walk into a tumbler.

From BBC

Related Words

• boredom 
• despair 
• desperation 
• despondency 
• ennui 
• gloom 
• grief 
• sorrow 
• wistfulness