melancholic

/,melən'/

Thân thiện

A melancholic melody plays softly on the old piano.

Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Characterized by or expressing sadness: Describes a person, mood, or thing that is deeply and thoughtfully sad, often in a way that is prolonged or reflective.
   • Causing sadness: Describes something that induces a feeling of sorrow or gloom.

2. Noun:

   • Someone subject to melancholia: A person who is habitually or constitutionally sad, gloomy, or depressed; a person suffering from melancholia (a historical term for a severe form of depression).

Usage and Examples

• Adjective:

  • She had a melancholic disposition, often lost in thought.
  • The melancholic melody of the cello brought tears to his eyes.
  • The end of summer always gives the garden a melancholic beauty.

• Noun:

  • In the old texts, the poet was described as a melancholic, forever writing about loss.
  • He was considered a melancholic, prone to long periods of silence and sorrow.

Advanced Usage

• In Psychology/History: The term "melancholic" is rooted in the ancient concept of the four temperaments, where it described one of the fundamental human personality types, associated with introspection, creativity, and sadness.
  • The melancholic temperament was once linked to an excess of black bile.

Variants and Related Words

• Melancholia (n): A state of deep, persistent sadness or depression; an old term for a severe depressive condition.
  • He sank into a state of profound melancholia.
• Melancholy (n/adj): Can be used as a noun for a feeling of pensive sadness, or as an adjective very similar to "melancholic."
  • A feeling of melancholy descended upon the group. (n)
  • He was in a melancholy mood. (adj)

Synonyms

• Adjective: Sad, sorrowful, gloomy, mournful, pensive, despondent, blue, woeful.
• Noun: Pessimist, brooder.

Antonyms

• Adjective: Cheerful, happy, joyful, lighthearted, buoyant.
• Noun: Optimist.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• A melancholic streak: A persistent tendency toward sadness within one's character.
  • Despite his jokes, he had a deep melancholic streak.
• Melancholic air/aura: A quality or atmosphere that suggests sadness.
  • The abandoned mansion had a melancholic air about it.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. characterized by or causing or expressing sadness
   • growing more melancholy every hour
   • her melancholic smile
   • we acquainted him with the melancholy truth

Noun

1. someone subject to melancholia

Từ đồng nghĩa

• melancholy
• melancholiac