Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun The character of being doleful; melancholy; gloominess; dismalness.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun The characteristic of being
doleful ;sadness .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun sadness caused by grief or affliction
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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The howling continued for a long while, filling the air of that sombre night with a new kind of dolefulness and horror.
The Knights of the Cross or, Krzyzacy Henryk Sienkiewicz 1881
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The last part of the drive on a road causewayed through the endless mangrove swamp impresses the imagination strongly by its dolefulness.
The Golden Chersonese and the way thither Isabella Lucy 2004
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Not that nature was reinforcing the dolefulness, that old pathetic fallacy; no, the haze was man-made, for thousands of small fires were burning in England, consuming the clothes and the homes and the bodies of the stricken.
Up The Line Silverberg, Robert 1969
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Sébalt sat with legs across, and his elbow resting on his knee, gazing into the fire with unspeakable dolefulness.
The Man-Wolf and Other Tales Erckmann-Chatrian
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It seems therefore to be understood that certain persons are condemned to be _always_ serious, that we should approach them in a serious frame of mind, and talk to them only of serious things: so, too, when we visit the sick or unfortunate; we should leave our smiles at the door, compose our face and manner to dolefulness, and talk of anything heartrending.
The Simple Life Charles Wagner
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A life-size dummy stood in one corner of the room, the expression on its face being almost human in its dolefulness.
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There was a certain accent of dolefulness in the way he said it.
Young People's Pride Stephen Vincent Ben��t 1920
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This dolefulness of yours has something to do with your son, eh?
Amphitryo, Asinaria, Aulularia, Bacchides, Captivi Amphitryon, The Comedy of Asses, The Pot of Gold, The Two Bacchises, The Captives Titus Maccius Plautus 1919
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A life-size dummy stood in one corner of the room, the expression on its face being almost human in its dolefulness.
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"And yet wouldst deliver me over into the hands of mine enemies," he said with increased dolefulness, "and not raise a finger to save me."
"Unto Caesar" Emmuska Orczy Orczy 1906
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