melancholic
This term describes a specific quality of sadness that is reflective and lingering rather than acute or hysterical. It suggests a quiet, pensive state where the individual is absorbed in their own sorrow, often associating the feeling with a sense of poetic beauty or intellectual depth. When used as a noun, it refers to a person defined by this temperament. Unlike "depressed," which often implies a clinical or debilitating condition, "melancholic" frequently carries a connotation of a personality trait or a philosophical disposition toward gloom.
Meanings
Feeling or expressing a deep, pensive, and long-lasting sadness, often without an obvious cause.
"The rainy weather left him in a melancholic state of mind."
Having a personality characterized by a tendency toward sadness, introspection, and gloominess.
"She has always had a melancholic disposition, preferring solitude to loud parties."
A person who is chronically depressed or prone to melancholy.
"The poet was described as a melancholic who found beauty in sorrow."