sullenness en · NOUN
Pronunciation
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Etymology
Etymology tree English sullen Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English sullenness From sullen + -ness.
Meanings
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(uncountable) The state or quality of being sullen.
’Twas sunset: when the sun will part There comes a sullenness of heart To him who still would look upon The glory of the summer sun.
1829, Edgar Allan Poe, “Tamerlane”, in Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane and Minor Poems:The detectives were still wrapped in sullenness, remembering the grieving woman and a lead that had led nowhere.
1970, Wally Ferris, Across 110th, page 176:“Marry come up—are you there with your bears?” muttered the dragon, with a draconic sullenness, which was in good keeping with his character, “we had as good have been Romans still, if we are to have no freedom in our pastimes!”
1820, [Walter Scott], chapter XV, in The Abbot. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne & Co.] for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […]; and for Archibald Constable and Company, and John Ballantyne, […], →OCLC, page 323:
- (countable, rare) The result or product of being sullen.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| sullennesses | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Synonyms
Translations (15)
es murria (state or quality of being sullen) · fi nyreys (state or quality of being sullen) · de Verdrossenheit (state or quality of being sullen) · mi mūmū (state or quality of being sullen) · grc σκυθρωπότης (state or quality of being sullen) · de Überdruss (state or quality of being sullen) · ro ursuzenie (state or quality of being sullen) · fi yrmeys (state or quality of being sullen) · fi jurous (state or quality of being sullen) · fi ynseys (state or quality of being sullen) · grc βαρυθυμία (state or quality of being sullen) · mia aahkwiteeheeyoni (state or quality of being sullen) · de Verdruss (state or quality of being sullen) · es hosquedad (state or quality of being sullen) · es hastío (state or quality of being sullen)