pensive
pen·sive (pen′siv)
adjective
- thinking deeply or seriously, often of sad or melancholy things
- expressing deep thoughtfulness, often with some sadness
Etymology: ME pensif < OFr < penser, to think, reflect < L pensare, to weigh, consider, freq. of pendere, to ponder, weigh, hang: see pendant
pensive
modif.
pensive suggests a dreamy, often somewhat sad or melancholy concentration of thought the pensive look in her eye; contemplative implies intent concentration of thought, as on some abstract matter, often connoting this as a habitual practice a contemplative scholar; reflective suggests an orderly, often analytical turning over in the mind, as of past events, usually with the aim of reaching some definite understanding after a reflective pause he answered; meditative implies a quiet and sustained musing, without necessarily having a definite intention of understanding or reaching a conclusion a meditative walk in the cloister
Modifying Another Word
- slightly: Being in such a controversial UFO ' Hot Spot ' area made one feel slightly pensive ( well it did me!
- rather: But SP does one of his surprise attacks and Pierre is reunited with his rather pensive mother.
- so: I had spoken the truth, yet I had not told her all my reasons for being so pensive.
Modifies a noun
- mood: Neil in pensive mood, entering Spike Island Lock, West Bank.
- face: He glanced from time to time at her sad and pensive face.
- look: Beware the cult of Bar Vinyl for many have entered and returned with a wayward, pensive look in their eyes.
- man: Sven Goran Eriksson is a quiet, composed and pensive man.
- pause: Hmmm [ pensive pause, possibly irritated at Small Talk implicitly ruling out any comparison with Keane ] .
- thought: His forehead pursed in pensive thought, the young man contemplated Life.
Used with adjective complement
- look: Pupil BW: * pauses and looks pensive * Are you going to shoot them BW?
Browse dictionary entries near pensive
- pensioner
- pensione
- pensionary
- pension reversion
- pension fund
- Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp.
- pension
- pensile
- Pensacola
- pensée
- penstemon
- penstock
- pent
- pent-up
- penta-
- pentachlorophenol
- pentacle
- pentad
- pentadactyl
- pentaerythritol
