WORD·MELANCHOLY

mel·an·chol·y (mĕl'ən-kŏl'ē)
n.

1. Sadness or depression of the spirits; gloom: “There is melancholy in the wind and sorrow in the grass” (Charles Kuralt).
2. Pensive reflection or contemplation.
3. Archaic.
   1. Black bile.
   2. An emotional state characterized by sullenness and outbreaks of violent anger, believed to arise from black bile.

adj.

1. Affected with or marked by depression of the spirits; sad.
2. Tending to promote sadness or gloom: a letter with some melancholy news.
3. Pensive; thoughtful.

[Middle English melancolie, from Old French, from Late Latin melancholia, from Greek melankholiā : melās, melan-, black + kholē, bile.]

melancholily mel'an·chol'i·ly adv.
melancholiness mel'an·chol'i·ness n.