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melancholy |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Melancholy \Mel"an*chol*y\, n. [OE. melancolie F. m['e]lancolie, L. melancholia, fr Gr ?; me`las, -anos, black + ? gall, bile. See {Malice}, and 1st {Gall}.] 1. Depression of spirits; a gloomy state continuing a considerable time; deep dejection; gloominess. --Shak. 2. Great and continued depression of spirits, amounting to mental unsoundness; melancholia. 3. Pensive maditation; serious thoughtfulness. [Obs.] ``Hail, divinest Melancholy !'' --Milton. 4. Ill nature. [Obs.] --Chaucer. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Melancholy \Mel"an*chol*y\, a. 1. Depressed in spirits; dejected; gloomy dismal. --Shak. 2. Producing great evil and grief; causing dejection; calamitous; afflictive; as a melancholy event. 3. Somewhat deranged in mind; having the jugment impaired. [Obs.] --Bp. Reynolds. 4. Favorable to meditation; somber. A pretty, melancholy seat, well wooded and watered. --Evelin. Syn: Gloomy; sad; dispirited; low-spirited; downhearted; unhappy; hypochondriac; disconsolate; heavy, doleful; dismal; calamitous; afflictive. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: melancholy adj : characterized by or causing or expressing sadness; "growing more melancholy every hour"; "her melancholic smile"; "we acquainted him with the melancholy truth" [syn: {melancholic}] 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}]
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