Lugubrious

Definition: Excessively mournful; Doleful

Pronunciation: [loo-goo-bree-uh s]

Origin

The word lugubrious can be broken into several different words compiled from several different languages including Latin and Greek, but they all essentially mean the same thing. The word itself is thought to have first been used starting around the 1600’s.

Why this Word?

I love how this word fills my entire mouth as I say it. It’s drawn out and gooey like a bite of melted cheese drawn from a slice of pizza. It seems slow and droopy and I love words that inspire feeling without need of a definition.

When I think of someone who is mournful or sad, particularly excessively mournful or sad, I think of none other than Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh.

Eeyore is the epitome of depression and gloom. Although he lacks the sharp pain of sadness, which is good since he’s in a kids show, he maintains an air of despondency that’s obvious at just a glance. He’s a dull blue-grey, has mopey ears and eyes and constantly has his head drooped down. Even Eeyore’s name is an onomatopoeic representation of the somber braying sound that donkeys make.

It is also interesting to think that the original base word of Lugubrious, “Leug”, means “To break or torment”, and Eeyore’s tail is always broken making it a constant torment to him.

How would you the word lugubrious in a sentence?

“This lost love song is so lugubrious that I’m getting depressed.”