WordWeb Online

1. A feeling of thoughtful sadness
    
2. A constitutional tendency to be gloomy and depressed
    
3. [archaic] A humour that was once believed to be secreted by the kidneys or spleen and to cause sadness and melancholy
   - black bile

1. Characterized by, causing or expressing sadness
   "growing more melancholy every hour"; "we acquainted him with the melancholy truth";
   - melancholic
    
2. Grave or even gloomy in character
   "a suit of melancholy black";
   - somber [US], sombre [Brit, Cdn]

Derived forms: melancholies

See also: cheerless, depressing, sad, uncheerful

Type of: bodily fluid, body fluid, depression, humor [US], humour [Brit, Cdn], liquid body substance, sadness, unhappiness

Encyclopedia: Melancholy