Definition

1. Noun:

   • A deep, persistent feeling of sadness or gloom: A state of thoughtful, often pensive sadness that is not necessarily tied to a specific event.
   • A historical medical concept: In ancient and medieval medicine, one of the four bodily humors (black bile) believed to cause sadness and depression.

2. Adjective:

   • Characterized by, expressing, or causing sadness: Having a quality of gentle, thoughtful sorrow.
   • Solemn or gloomy in character: Having a grave, somber, or depressing atmosphere.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • A feeling of melancholy came over her as she watched the sunset.
  • The poet's work is filled with a deep sense of melancholy.

• Adjective:

  • She has a melancholy expression on her face.
  • The melancholy sound of the cello filled the empty hall.

Advanced Usage

• "to be cast into melancholy": to fall into a state of sadness.

  • The bad news cast him into a deep melancholy.

• "a melancholy thought/mood": a sad thought or state of mind.

  • He was in a melancholy mood all afternoon.

Variants and Related Words

• Melancholic (adj/n): Pertaining to or suffering from melancholy. Can also be a noun for a person prone to melancholy.

  • His melancholic nature made him appreciate quiet, reflective music.

• Melancholia (n): A more clinical or archaic term for a severe form of depression or melancholy.

  • The old texts described the patient's condition as melancholia.

Synonyms

• Sadness: A general feeling of sorrow.
• Gloom: Partial or total darkness; a state of depression or despondency.
• Sorrow: A feeling of deep distress caused by loss or disappointment.
• Despondency: A state of low spirits caused by loss of hope or courage.

Antonyms

• Joy: A feeling of great pleasure and happiness.
• Cheerfulness: The quality or state of being noticeably happy and optimistic.
• Elation: Great happiness and exhilaration.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Melancholy as a gib cat" (archaic/literary): Extremely sad or sorrowful. (A "gib cat" is an old term for a tomcat.)

  • After his friend left, he was as melancholy as a gib cat.

• "To have a fit of melancholy": To experience a temporary period of deep sadness.

  • She was prone to having fits of melancholy on rainy days.

Adjective

1. grave or even gloomy in character
   • solemn and mournful music
   • a suit of somber black
   • a somber mood
2. characterized by or causing or expressing sadness
   • growing more melancholy every hour
   • her melancholic smile
   • we acquainted him with the melancholy truth

Noun

1. a humor that was once believed to be secreted by the kidneys or spleen and to cause sadness and melancholy
2. a constitutional tendency to be gloomy and depressed
3. a feeling of thoughtful sadness