首页

morose

UK[məˈrəʊs]US[məˈroʊs]
adj

Unhappy, bad-tempered, and not talking very much

adj

Sullenly melancholy; gloomy

Etymology

The word 'morose' entered English in the 16th century from the Latin adjective 'morosus', meaning "peevish, fretful, or fastidious." This Latin term was itself derived from 'mos, mor-', meaning "custom, habit, or manner." The semantic connection lies in the idea of someone being stubbornly attached to their own particular habit or manner, to the point of being difficult to please and sullen. Thus, the modern meaning of sullenness and gloominess evolved from this ancient concept of a rigid, self-willed disposition.

Analysis

The word is a simplex loanword from Latin. It cannot be meaningfully segmented into smaller, independent morphemes using its modern English spelling.

Examples

He became increasingly morose after the team's loss.

She gave a morose shrug when asked about her plans.

The rainy weather put everyone in a morose mood.

morose – Meaning, Etymology & Word Origin | OpenEtymology