doleful Definition
dole·ful (dōl′fəl)
adjective
full of or causing sorrow or sadness; mournful; melancholy
Etymology: ME dolful < dol, grief (< OFr doel < VL dolus, grief, pain < L dolere, to suffer < IE base *del-, *dol-, to split, cut) + -ful, -ful
doleful Related Forms
dole′·fully adverb
dole′·ful·ness noun
doleful Synonyms
doleful Usage Examples
Modifies a noun
- eye: And there was a gentle old dog roaming about with doleful eyes.
- knell: Toll on, thou passing bell; Ring out my doleful knell; Let thy sound my death tell.
- tune: The caption beneath it read: ' BIG DAVE IS WATCHING YOU ' as the doleful tune of the great BELL rang out.
- sound: He went on, not without misgivings, and as he drew near he heard the doleful sound of painful moans.
- hymn: I am the cygnet to this pale, faint swan, Who chants a doleful hymn to his own death.
- expression: There is Jesus - silent, with a doleful expression on his concrete face, hovering incongruously over the modern world.
Modifying Another Word
- rather: If they mistakenly selected a pair of numbers which did not total 10, it was met with a rather doleful ' moo ' !
- suitably: In wealthy households ceremonial mourners would be hired to look suitably doleful.
Used with adjective complement
look: In wealthy households ceremonial mourners would be hired to look suitably doleful.
Browse dictionary entries near doleful
- ‹ dole out
- ‹ dole
- ‹ doldrums
- ‹ dolce vita
- ‹ dolce far niente
- ‹ dolce
- ‹ Dolby
- ‹ dolabriform
- ‹ dojo
- ‹ doit

