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Definition of melancholy adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

melancholy

adjective
 
/ˈmelənkəli/,
 
/ˈmelənkɒli/
 
/ˈmelənkɑːli/
(literary)
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  1. very sad or making you feel very sad synonym mournful, sombre
    • melancholy thoughts/memories
    • The melancholy song died away.
    Extra Examples
    • I grew very melancholy and weary.
    • He was a tall man with a long, melancholy face.
    • She was in a melancholy mood.
    Topics Feelingsc2
    Oxford Collocations DictionaryMelancholy is used with these nouns:
    • disposition
    • expression
    • melody
    See full entry
    Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French melancolie, via late Latin from Greek melankholia, from melas, melan- ‘black’ + kholē ‘bile’, an excess of which was formerly believed to cause depression.
See melancholy in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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