Saturnine

Pronunciation: /ˈsætərˌnaɪn/

Definitions of saturnine

adjective having a gloomy or morose temperament; cold and steady in mood

Example Sentences

A1 She had a saturnine expression on her face.

A2 His saturnine personality made it difficult for others to approach him.

B1 The character in the novel had a saturnine demeanor that added depth to the story.

B2 Despite his saturnine appearance, he was actually quite friendly once you got to know him.

C1 The actor's saturnine portrayal of the villain was chilling and unforgettable.

C2 Her saturnine gaze seemed to pierce through your soul, leaving you feeling uneasy.

Examples of saturnine in a Sentence

formal His saturnine demeanor often made others feel uncomfortable in social settings.

informal She always had a saturnine expression on her face whenever she was in a bad mood.

slang I can't stand hanging out with him when he's in one of his saturnine moods.

figurative The dark clouds and gloomy weather seemed to mirror his saturnine mood.

Grammatical Forms of saturnine

• past tense: saturnined
• plural: saturnines
• comparative: more saturnine
• superlative: most saturnine
• present tense: saturnines
• future tense: will be saturnine
• perfect tense: have saturnined
• continuous tense: is saturnining
• singular: saturnine
• positive degree: saturnine
• infinitive: to be saturnine
• gerund: saturnining
• participle: saturnined

Origin and Evolution of saturnine

First Known Use: 0015 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'saturnine' originated from the belief in ancient astrology that people born under the influence of the planet Saturn were melancholic and gloomy.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the meaning of 'saturnine' has evolved to refer to a person who is gloomy, morose, or sullen, without necessarily being associated with astrology or the planet Saturn.