Melancholy

B2 16+

Pronunciation: /ˈmɛl.ən.kɑ.li/

Definitions of melancholy

noun a feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause

Example Sentences

A1 She felt a sense of melancholy after saying goodbye to her friends.

A2 The rainy weather added to his melancholy mood.

B1 The novel was filled with a deep sense of melancholy that resonated with the readers.

B2 The music had a hauntingly beautiful melancholy to it.

C1 His melancholy demeanor masked a deep inner turmoil.

C2 The artist's paintings captured the essence of melancholy in a profound way.

adjective having a feeling of melancholy; sad and pensive

Example Sentences

A1 The rainy weather made her feel melancholy.

A2 He listened to melancholy music to match his mood.

B1 The old abandoned house had a melancholy atmosphere.

B2 The protagonist's melancholy past haunted him throughout the story.

C1 Her melancholy disposition often led her to overthink situations.

C2 The artist's paintings captured the essence of melancholy in every brushstroke.

Examples of melancholy in a Sentence

formal The melancholy atmosphere of the funeral was palpable.

informal She couldn't shake off the feeling of melancholy after watching a sad movie.

slang I'm feeling so down and melancholy today, I just want to stay in bed.

figurative The abandoned house had a melancholy air about it, as if it held onto memories of the past.

Grammatical Forms of melancholy

past tense

melancholied

plural

melancholies

comparative

more melancholy

superlative

most melancholy

present tense

melancholies

future tense

will be melancholy

perfect tense

has been melancholy

continuous tense

is being melancholy

singular

melancholy

positive degree

melancholy

infinitive

to be melancholy

gerund

melancholizing

participle

melancholyed

Origin and Evolution of melancholy

First Known Use: 1303 year
Language of Origin: Greek
Story behind the word: The word 'melancholy' originated from the ancient Greek word 'melan' meaning black, and 'kholē' meaning bile. It was believed in ancient times that an excess of black bile in the body caused a state of sadness or depression.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the meaning of 'melancholy' has evolved from its original medical connotation to a more general sense of deep sadness or gloominess.