humdrum
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English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Possible reduplication of hum, 1550s.
Pronunciation[edit]
Adjective[edit]
humdrum (comparative more humdrum, superlative most humdrum)
- Lacking variety or excitement; dull; boring.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:boring
- 1952, Daphne Du Maurier, “Monte Verità”, in The Apple Tree:
- In the valley there would have been feasting and celebration, and then dancing at the wedding, and afterwards the turmoil of a brief romance turning to humdrum married life, the cares of her house, the cares of children, anxiety, fret, illness, trouble, the day-by-day routine of growing old.
- 1999, Lucy Honig, The Truly Needy And Other Stories, University of Pittsburgh Press, →ISBN, page 89:
- He suggested cusk, because he knew they would have it. She had never heard of cusk. “Doesn't it sound exotic!” she said. “Exotic indeed!” he laughed, and almost told her what a humdrum fish it really was, but stopped himself.
- 2017 November 10, Daniel Taylor, “Youthful England earn draw with Germany but Lingard rues late miss”, in The Guardian (London)[1]:
- With that kind of line-up it was probably inevitable that there would be a few spells when England looked what they were: a team that was trying to find some rhythm, unbeaten for eight years in humdrum qualifying groups but still not entirely sure about whether that makes them any good.
Translations[edit]
lacking variety or excitement; dull; boring
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Noun[edit]
humdrum (countable and uncountable, plural humdrums)
- (uncountable) The quality of lacking variety or excitement.
- 2010, Clare Vanderpool, Moon Over Manifest:
- I think it helped distract us from the dry, humdrum, and heat of the here and now.
- (countable, dated) A stupid fellow.
- 1834, Elizabeth Frances Dagley, The Young Seer, Or Early Searches Into Futurity, page 103:
- So, after settling it that Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were complete country humdrums, the daughters hoydens, the sons awkward half-dandies, and the company altogether any thing but agreeable, she came to a conclusion she had done fifty times before, that the country was not like London.
Translations[edit]
The quality of lacking variety or excitement; dullness
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