melancholiac

/,melən'kouliæk/

Thân thiện

A melancholiac sits quietly by the window, watching the rain.

Definition

Noun: A person who is subject to or suffers from melancholia; a melancholic individual. Melancholia is a historical term for a condition characterized by persistent sadness, depression, and dejection.

Usage

The term "melancholiac" is used to describe a person prone to or afflicted with a state of deep, often prolonged sadness or depression. It is a somewhat dated and formal clinical term.

Examples

• The poet was described by his biographers as a lifelong melancholiac, his work infused with a sense of profound sorrow.
• In older medical texts, a melancholiac might be prescribed rest and a change of air.

Advanced Usage

• The term is primarily used in historical, literary, or formal psychological contexts. In modern clinical language, terms like "person with depression" or "depressive" are more common.
• It can sometimes be used in a literary sense to describe a character archetype—the brooding, thoughtful individual consumed by sadness.

Variants and Related Words

• Melancholia (noun): The condition itself; a state of deep, persistent gloom.
• Melancholic (adjective): Characterized by or tending toward melancholia. (e.g., a mood).
• Melancholy (noun/adjective): As a noun, a feeling of thoughtful sadness. As an adjective, sad, gloomy, or depressing.

Synonyms

• Depressive
• Pessimist (in a general, non-clinical sense)
• Brooder

Antonyms

• Optimist
• Euphoric person

Học thuật

Noun

1. someone subject to melancholia

Từ đồng nghĩa

• melancholic