melancholy has definitions from the fields of biology,psychology
1
[ noun ] a feeling of thoughtful sadness

Used in print

(Howard Nemerov, "Themes and Methods: The Early...)

`` Gladius_Dei '' ( 1902 ) resembles `` The_Way_to_the_Churchyard '' in its representation of a conflict between light and dark , between `` Life '' and a spirit of criticism , negation , melancholy , but it goes considerably further in characterizing the elements of this conflict .

(Tristram Coffin, Not to the Swift....)

Like Mrs._Dalloway , with her regrets about Peter_Walsh , he had his moments of melancholy over a youth too well spent .

(Whit Masterson, Evil Come, Evil Go....)

Eliminating the patter and the upbeat numbers left little but blues and other songs of equal melancholy .

2
[ adjective ] characterized by or causing or expressing sadness

Synonyms

melancholic

Examples

"growing more melancholy every hour" "her melancholic smile" "we acquainted him with the melancholy truth"

Related terms

sad

3
[ noun ] (psychology) a constitutional tendency to be gloomy and depressed

Related terms

depression

4
[ noun ] (biology) a humor that was once believed to be secreted by the kidneys or spleen and to cause sadness and melancholy

Synonyms

black_bile

*