melancholia

[ mel-uhn-koh-lee-uh, -kohl-yuh ]

noun

1. a mental condition characterized by great depression of spirits and gloomy forebodings.
2. Psychiatry. endogenous depression.

melancholia

/ ˌmɛlənˈkəʊlɪə /

noun

1. a former name for depression

Derived Forms

• ˌmelanˈcholiˌac, adjectivenoun

Word History and Origins

Origin of melancholia¹

From Late Latin, dating back to 1685–95; melancholy

Example Sentences

He has such a sparkle in his eye, and a joyful face, but he had a lot of melancholia.

From Salon

And people looking for a dose of introspective melancholia at the end of the festival will have to choose between The National on the Other Stage, and James Blake, who plays in the Woodsies tent.

From BBC

As they await a ruling, he said, “there’s a feeling of melancholia mixed with solidarity.”

From Los Angeles Times

“McBride mixes American history with speculative fiction to dissect melancholia and political anxiety for young people who are living through uncertain times — in the future and today,” wrote the judges.

From Los Angeles Times

With only a handful of characters populating this spare tale — led by Baker’s compassionate cowboy melancholia and Wanganeen’s hardened loneliness — “Limbo” is as much last-chance western as it is crime story.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• depression
• seasonal depression