leaden en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- /ˈlɛdən/
- (Southern-England) audio
Etymology
From Middle English leden, leaden, from Old English lēaden (“leaden, of lead”). Cognate with West Frisian leaden (“leaden”), Dutch loden (“leaden”). By surface analysis, lead + -en.
Meanings
- (archaic) Of or related to the metal lead, particularly ▸ Made of lead.
-
(figuratively) Of or related to the metal lead, particularly ▸ Resembling the color of lead, metallic or dark gray; (of daylight) dim, overcast.
It was at the end of February..., when the world was cold..., when icy rains fell from the leaden skies in continual drizzling showers.
1999, Neil Gaiman, Stardust, page 31 (2001 Perennial paperback edition)The sky was dark and overcast, a leaden pall producing a deep gloom.
-
(figuratively) Of or related to the metal lead, particularly ▸ Resembling the density of lead, heavy.
Where but to think is to be full of sorrow And leaden-eyed despairs, Where Beauty cannot keep her lustrous eyes, Or new Love pine at them beyond to-morrow.
1819, John Keats, “Ode to a Nightingale”, in Lamia, Isabella, the Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems, London: […] [Thomas Davison] for Taylor and Hessey, […], published 1820, →OCLC, stanza 3, page 109:Which break a teachless nature to the yoke.
1818-1819, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Julian and Maddalo … if man be The passive thing you say, I should not see Much harm in the religions and old saws (Tho' I may never own such leaden laws)
- (figuratively) Of or related to the metal lead, particularly ▸ Resembling the ponderousness of lead, sluggish.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| more leaden | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most leaden | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |
Deriveds
with leaden wings · leaden-hearted · leadenly · leaden flycatcher · leadenness · fly with leaden wings
Synonyms
plumbic · dingy · plumbic · plumbic · plumbous · plumbous · plumbic · lackluster · muddy · saturnine · wan · leady · leady · dull · leady · bland · lead · faint · lead · colourless · sober · saturnine · sad · leady · uncolorful · saturnine · saturnine · plumbous · dim · plumbous · lead · leaden · unholiday · lead
Translations (43)
be валавя́ны (made of lead) · sk olovený (made of lead) · uk оли́в'яний (made of lead) · gd luaidheach (made of lead) · bg оловносив (pertaining to or resembling lead) · it plumbeo (made of lead) · yi בלײַען (made of lead) · uk свинце́вий (made of lead) · fi lyijyinen (pertaining to or resembling lead) · pt plúmbeo (pertaining to or resembling lead) · mk оловен (made of lead) · fi lyijyinen (made of lead) · es plomizo (made of lead) · es nublado (dull) · sh ȍlōvan (made of lead) · cs olověný (pertaining to or resembling lead) · nl loden (made of lead) · pt plúmbeo (dull) · sh о̏ло̄ван (made of lead) · gd luaidheach (pertaining to or resembling lead) · pt plúmbeo (made of lead) · pl ołowiany (made of lead) · es plúmbeo (pertaining to or resembling lead) · ru свинцо́вый (made of lead) · de bleiern (made of lead) · es plúmbeo (made of lead) · ar رَصَاصِيّ (made of lead) · bg оло́вен (made of lead) · it plumbeo (dull) · bg оловно сив (pertaining to or resembling lead) · es plomizo (pertaining to or resembling lead) · fi lyijynharmaa (dull) · la plumbeus (pertaining to or resembling lead) · cs olověný (made of lead) · la plumbeus (made of lead) · hu ólomszürke (dull) · be свінцо́вы (made of lead) · la plumbārius (pertaining to or resembling lead) · tr kurşun (made of lead) · es cubierto (dull) · be алавя́ны (made of lead) · pt plúmbico (pertaining to or resembling lead) · sl svinčen (made of lead)