HOW TO PRONOUNCE
melancholy
/ˈmɛl.ənˌkɑ.li/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:33
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What does melancholy mean?
noun
- Great sadness or depression, especially of a thoughtful or introspective nature.
adjective
- (literary) Affected with great sadness or depression.
- Suggestive of wistfulness or subdued emotion.
More meanings (1)
noun
- (historical) Black bile, formerly thought to be one of the four "cardinal humours" of animal bodies.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/ˈmɛl.ənˌkɑ.li/
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
The corpse was dressed in a uniform that had once been blue, but was now faded to a melancholy shade of green.
Then arose a slim, melancholy girl, whose face had the “interesting” paleness that comes of pills and indigestion, and read a “poem.”
More book examples (3)
Their melancholy is soothing, and their joy elevating, to a degree I never experienced in studying the authors of any other country.
A trusty villain, sir, that very oft, When I am dull with care and melancholy, Lightens my humour with his merry jests.
The breeze swayed a few dry weeds on the crest of the wall, and they gave out a faint, sweet, melancholy sound.