Melancholy
/ˈmelənkɒli/
Definitions
2 meaningsA deep, pensive sadness, often with no obvious cause.
/ˈmelənkɒli/
A feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause.
A pervasive sense of melancholy settled over her as the autumn days grew shorter.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're sitting by the window on a rainy day, looking out at the world feeling a bit blue for no specific reason. That feeling of pensive sadness? That's melancholy. It’s like a quiet, gentle sadness that lingers.
👶 For kids: It means feeling a little bit sad and thoughtful, like when you're looking at the rain outside and feeling a little bit quiet inside.
More Examples
The old photographs stirred a feeling of melancholy within him.
The artist captured the melancholy of the city in his paintings.
How It's Used
"The poem evokes a sense of melancholy."
"She was diagnosed with a prolonged period of melancholy."
Feeling or expressing pensive sadness.
/ˈmelənkɒli/
The film's melancholy soundtrack perfectly matched the mood of the story.
💡 Simply: When someone or something seems to have a gentle, quiet sadness about them – like a sad song, a pensive look, or a rainy day – that's melancholy. It’s like a gentle, sad feeling hanging in the air.
👶 For kids: It means feeling a little bit sad and thoughtful, like when you're looking at the rain outside and feeling a little bit quiet inside. A 'melancholy' song is a sad song.
More Examples
She wrote a melancholy letter reflecting on her lost childhood.
His melancholy eyes revealed a deep sorrow.
How It's Used
"The poem's melancholy tone captivated the audience."
"The artist's paintings often depict melancholy scenes."
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
melancholy days
A period of sadness or gloomy days.
"The rainy season brought on many melancholy days."
a touch of melancholy
A slight feeling of sadness.
"There was a touch of melancholy in her voice as she remembered her childhood."
From Middle English *melancolie*, from Old French *melancolie*, from Late Latin *melancholia*, from Ancient Greek *μελαγχολία* (melankholía, "black bile"), from *μέλας* (mélas, "black") + *χολή* (kholḗ, "bile"). Originally referred to a medical condition.
Historically, 'melancholy' was associated with an excess of black bile, a medical concept.
Memory tip
Think of a melancholic person as someone with 'black bile,' a concept from ancient medicine indicating sadness.