Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Dispirited and depressed; dejected.
from The Century Dictionary.
- Dejected; bowed; chagrined; dispirited; spiritless.
- In the manège, having the upper part of the neck hanging to one side: said of a horse.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective With hanging head; hence, dispirited; dejected; cowed.
- adjective Having the crest, or upper part of the neck, hanging to one side; -- said of a horse.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective
Sad because of a recentdisappointment . - adjective
Depressed . - adjective obsolete, of a horse Having the crest, or upper part of the neck, hanging to one side.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective brought low in spirit
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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The little man crept crestfallen from the tent, his lingering steps quickened by a threatening gesture on the part of the Chief.
Hauff's Fairy Tales, Translated and Adapted Cicely Hauff McDonnell 1903
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For me personally, this abundance of shoes makes me instantly recall the crestfallen shock Carrie Bradshaw feels when she realizes she has spent $40,000 on shoes and still rents an apartment.
Kimberly Brooks: First Person Artist Willie Cole: An Art Installation Carrie Bradshaw would Love 2008
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"Mr. Pulikovsky wrote, recalling crestfallen faces on the Siberian hosts at the arrival of the Russian meat dumplings."
Total WonKerr 2008
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His first "crestfallen" reaction to the exit poll was to say: "That can't be right."
Nick Clegg interview: 'We're not going to do it the way we did in the 80s' chief political commentator 2010
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I also believe Johnson was crestfallen about leaving the presidency.
The Good Fight Walter F. Mondale 2010
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I also believe Johnson was crestfallen about leaving the presidency.
The Good Fight Walter F. Mondale 2010
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I also believe Johnson was crestfallen about leaving the presidency.
The Good Fight Walter F. Mondale 2010
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I struggle my way back outside and breathe the crisp night air, crestfallen.
Down and Delirious in Mexico City Daniel Hernandez 2011
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Ferran looks simultaneously annoyed and crestfallen.
The Sorcerer’s Apprentices Lisa Abend 2011
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The parents were mere bystanders and they were crestfallen, while the kids who actually did battle, the winners and the losers, were already over it.
Parents Behaving Badly Scott Gummer 2011
slumry commented on the word crestfallen
Dear S always says chestfallen. We need a list of words that are comically mispronounced, whether accidentally or on purpose.
July 26, 2007
reesetee commented on the word crestfallen
I think we have a few of them already!
July 26, 2007
slumry commented on the word crestfallen
I've seen many references to individual words and reflected on how common the phenomenon is. I will have to dig to find the lists. However, as always, reality intrudes. ;-)
July 26, 2007
jennarenn commented on the word crestfallen
"Dear S" refers to Mr. Slumry?
July 26, 2007
slumry commented on the word crestfallen
Indeed. But don't tell him I told you so! :)
July 26, 2007
sionnach commented on the word crestfallen
"I dropped the toothpaste," signaled Tom, crestfallen.
December 14, 2007
reesetee commented on the word crestfallen
Classic.
December 14, 2007
bilby commented on the word crestfallen
"I wish I'd been reincarnated as a rooster," said Tom, crestfallen.
August 1, 2009
ruzuzu commented on the word crestfallen
"2. In the manège, having the upper part of the neck hanging to one side: said of a horse." -- Cent. Dict.
May 31, 2011