Definition of: melancholy

(mel′ən·kol′ē) adjective
1. Morbidly gloomy; sad; dejected.
2. Suggesting or promoting sadness.
3. Somberly thoughtful; pensive.
—noun
1. Low spirits; despondency; depression.
2. Melancholia.
3. Pensive contemplation; serious and sober reflection.
4. Archaic The dark, acrid, and viscous substance once believed to be secreted by the kidneys and to be responsible for gloomy dejection of spirits; one of the humors. [<F melancolie <L melancholia <Gk. <melas, -anos black + cholē bile]
—mel′an·chol′ic adjective
—mel′an·chol′i·cal·ly adverb