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dolefulexpressing sorrow; mournful

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: expressing sorrow; mournful

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈdoʊlfəl/

Example Sentences

  • The dog gave me such a doleful look when I said 'no more treats' that I almost caved in.
  • His doleful confession about eating all the cookies made everyone laugh instead of getting angry.
  • The doleful melody of the violin echoed through the empty concert hall.

doleful

ADJECTIVE

[/ˈdoʊlfəl/]

expressing sorrow; mournful

The doleful violinist plays alone in the empty train station at midnight.
💡 Concept

The doleful violinist plays alone in the empty train station at midnight.

DOLE(grief) + FUL(full of) — becoming completely FUL(full of) dark DOLE(grief), the boy stared at his broken toy with a doleful face.
🧠 Mnemonic

DOLE(grief) + FUL(full of) — becoming completely FUL(full of) dark DOLE(grief), the boy stared at his broken toy with a doleful face.

Singing a deeply soulful melody, the musician brought the entire audience to tears with his doleful voice.
🎵 Rhyme

Singing a deeply soulful melody, the musician brought the entire audience to tears with his doleful voice.

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈdoʊlfəl/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈdəʊlfʊl/

🌳Etymology

Rootdole
Suffix--ful

Origin

From Middle English 'doleful', derived from Old French 'dol' (sorrow, grief) combined with the suffix '-ful' (full of). The French 'dol' comes from Latin 'dolus' meaning grief or sorrow.

Breakdown

dole (sorrow, grief) + -ful (full of) = doleful (full of sorrow; mournful)

🎵Rhyme

soulfulbowlful
soulful
bowlful

🔗Collocations

doleful expression
doleful voice
doleful eyes
doleful cry
doleful countenance
doleful manner

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

The dog gave me such a doleful look when I said 'no more treats' that I almost caved in.

😄 Fun example

His doleful confession about eating all the cookies made everyone laugh instead of getting angry.

The doleful melody of the violin echoed through the empty concert hall.

She spoke in a doleful tone about having to work on Sunday.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

mournfulsorrowfulmelancholywoefulplaintive

Antonyms

cheerfuljoyfulhappy

Related

dolorousdolegrieflament

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