mel·an·chol·y
(mĕĺən-kŏĺē)
[Middle English melancolie, from Old French, from Late Latin melancholia, from Greek melankholiā, melās, melan-, black, + kholē, bile.]
noun
- Sadness or depression of the spirits; gloom: “There is melancholy in the wind and sorrow in the grass” (Charles Kuralt)
- Pensive reflection or contemplation.
- Archaic
- Black bile.
- An emotional state characterized by sullenness and outbreaks of violent anger, believed to arise from black bile.
adjective
- Affected with or marked by depression of the spirits; sad. See synonyms at sad
- Tending to promote sadness or gloom: a letter with some melancholy news.
- Pensive; thoughtful.
derivatives
- meĺan·choĺi·ly
- adverb
- meĺan·choĺi·ness
- noun