dreary etymology

Etymology

The word "dreary" is derived from the Middle English word "drey," which means "dreary, dull, or gloomy." The word "drey" is in turn derived from the Old English word "dréag," which means "sad, sorrowful, or gloomy."

Root: Indo-European *dʰregh- ("to be long, slow, dull")

Semantic Evolution:

• Long > Slow > Dull > Sad > Gloomy

Meaning

The term "dreary" refers to a state of being characterized by:

• Gloominess
• Dullness
• Depression
• Melancholy
• Lack of cheerfulness or excitement

It can describe various aspects of life, including:

• Weather conditions (e.g., a dreary rainy day)
• Landscapes (e.g., a dreary wasteland)
• Emotions (e.g., a dreary mood)
• Situations (e.g., a dreary existence)

Origin

The word "dreary" originated in the 13th century. It was first used to describe the weather, specifically a dull, overcast day. Over time, the meaning of the word expanded to include other aspects of life, such as emotions and situations.

First Known Use:

• Early 13th century, in the phrase "dreory weder" (dreary weather) in the Ancrene Wisse

dreary relate terms

• drip

  Etymology The word drip is onomatopoeic derived from the sound of liquid falling drop

• droop

  Etymology The word droop is derived from the Middle English word droupen which in tu

• drop

  Etymology From Middle English droppe from Old English dropa ddropa drop small porti

• drear

  Etymology The word drear comes from the Middle English word drery which means sorr

• dreary

  Etymology The word dreary is derived from the Middle English word drey which means

• drizzle

  Etymology The word drizzle comes from the Old English word dryge which means to sp

• blue

  Etymology The word blue originates from the Middle English blewe which in turn is de

• dark

  Etymology The word dark originates from the Proto Indo European root derḱ meaning

• grim

  Etymology The word grim has its origins in the Old English word grima meaning fierc

• nineties

  Etymology The term nineties is an abbreviation of the 1890s decade Meaning Nineti

• dismal

  Etymology The word dismal originates from the Old French word dismaler meaning to s

• gloomy

  Etymology Middle English glomien Old English glōmian Meaning Filled with or cau

• sorry

  Etymology From Middle English sori from Old English sārig meaning sorrowful sa

• disconsolate

  Etymology Latin disconsolatus meaning deprived of consolation From dis meaning ap

• bard

  Etymology and Origin The word bard is derived from the Old Irish word bardd which i