dolorous

[ dol-er-uhs, doh-ler- ]

adjective

1. full of, expressing, or causing pain or sorrow; grievous; mournful:

   a dolorous melody; dolorous news.

dolorous

/ ˈdɒlərəs /

adjective

1. causing or involving pain or sorrow

Derived Forms

• ˈdolorously, adverb
• ˈdolorousness, noun

Other Words From

• dolor·ous·ly adverb
• dolor·ous·ness noun
• un·dolor·ous adjective
• un·dolor·ous·ly adverb
• un·dolor·ous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of dolorous¹

1375–1425; Middle English dolorous, dolerous < Anglo-French, Old French; dolor, -ous

Example Sentences

Obama himself shows the dolorous dangers of unalloyed ideology, making transformation a higher priority than repair.

From The Daily Beast

For a time the Eastern Counties Railway had a somewhat dolorous career.

From Project Gutenberg

The farmer, half frightened by Anthony's dolorous shake of his head, exclaimed: "What's the matter, man?"

From Project Gutenberg

Meanwhile he utters the most dolorous cries, and vents his impotent rage upon the tree which serves him for a refuge.

From Project Gutenberg

She has come just in time to lull our dolorous philosophy, to show incarnate in woman the victim and the instrument of destiny.

From Project Gutenberg

This seems dolorous enough to me, whose only real satisfaction just now is some hope that I am not sowing the wind.

From Project Gutenberg