melancholy
a feeling of thoughtful sadness
How often you will meet it
Rank 1,737 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 10,456 times across 175,113 chapters — 0.005% of every word in the library.
What it means
noun
- a feeling of thoughtful sadness
- a constitutional tendency to be gloomy and depressed
- a humor that was once believed to be secreted by the kidneys or spleen and to cause sadness and melancholy also: black bile
adjective
- characterized by or causing or expressing sadness also: melancholic growing more melancholy every hourher melancholic smile
- grave or even gloomy in character also: somber, sombre solemn and mournful musica suit of somber black
melancholy in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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Every year her melancholy increased, her means diminished.
Our Nig · Harriet E. Wilson · Chapter 1
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He looked about forty, very dark with a melancholy clean-shaven face.
The Mysterious Affair at Styles · Agatha Christie · Chapter 1
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He spoke in so very melancholy a tone, that it quite melted Gluck's heart.
Famous Stories Every Child Should Know · Hamilton Wright [Editor] Mabie · Chapter 1
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The two melancholy ones thought, ‘That won’t save us!’ and they remained where they were.
The Yellow Fairy Book: The Grateful Beasts · World Traditions (Celtic, Norse, Asian & Persian) · Chapter 1
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Every one she knew would have gone somewhere, and Mortimer Street in August was a melancholy thing.
Emily Fox-Seton · Frances Hodgson Burnett · Chapter 1