lachrymose

[ lak-ruh-mohs ]

adjective

1. suggestive of or tending to cause tears; mournful.
2. given to shedding tears readily; tearful.

lachrymose

/ -ˌməʊz; ˈlækrɪˌməʊs; ˌlækrɪˈmɒsɪtɪ /

adjective

1. given to weeping; tearful
2. mournful; sad

Derived Forms

• lachrymosity, noun
• ˈlachryˌmosely, adverb

Other Words From

• lachry·mosely adverb
• lach·ry·mos·i·ty [lak-r, uh, -, mos, -i-tee], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of lachrymose¹

First recorded in 1655–65; from Latin lacrimōsus, equivalent to lacrim(a) “tear” ( lachrymal ) + -ōsus -ose ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of lachrymose¹

C17: from Latin lacrimōsus, from lacrima a tear

Example Sentences

Several days after this lachrymose dinner, a carnival-level event delighted Angelenos of either political persuasion.

From Los Angeles Times

Chappell is actually the alter-ego of the much quieter and self-effacing Kayleigh Amstuzt, whose fragile heart is exposed on lachrymose ballads like Kaleidoscope and California.

From BBC

And all of this is somehow glommed on to the lachrymose story of a grieving parent and a dying world.

From Washington Post

“He had this drawing that, without calling attention to itself, without being lachrymose, but with a set of Boothisms that the reader understood, just moved me. So that, I could do,” Remnick adds.

From Washington Post

In 1912, Edith Maida Lessing wrote the lyrics to a lachrymose ballad about the sinking of the Titanic.

From Los Angeles Times