sullen

English

Etymology

From Middle English solein, from Anglo-Norman solein (“alone”), from sole (“single, sole, alone”), from Latin sōlus (“by oneself alone”). The change in meaning from "single" to morose occurred in Middle English.

Pronunciation

• enPR: sŭl'ən

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ʌlən

Adjective

sullen (comparative sullener, superlative sullenest)

1. Having a brooding ill temper; sulky.
2. Dismal; somber.
3. Sluggish; slow.

Synonyms

• sulky, morose

Antonyms

• cheerful
• content
• lighthearted
• pleased

Translations

having a brooding ill temper

• Armenian: խոժոռ (hy) (xožoṙ)
• Danish: vrangvillig, mut
• Dutch: gemelijk, nors
• Finnish: nyreä (fi), yrmeä (fi), ynseä (fi), juro (fi)
• French: maussade (fr), morose (fr)

• Galician: túzaro (gl)
• Italian: afflitto (it) m
• Maori: whakamokeke (mi)
• Russian: угрюмый (ru) (ugrjúmyj)
• Scottish Gaelic: gruamach (gd)
• Serbo-Croatian: mrzovoljan (sh)

dismal

• Armenian: մռայլ (hy) (mṙayl)
• Danish: mørk (da), dyster (da)
• Dutch: somber (nl)
• Finnish: synkeä (fi)
• French: morne (fr)

• Norwegian: muggen (no), utilfreds (no), trist (no)
• Russian: печальный (ru) (pečalʹnyj)
• Scottish Gaelic: gruamach (gd)
• Serbo-Croatian: sumoran (sh)

sluggish

• Danish: treven
• Dutch: traag (nl)

• French: lent (fr)
• Italian: lento (it) m

Noun

sullen (plural sullens)

1. (obsolete) One who is solitary, or lives alone; a hermit.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Piers Plowman to this entry?)

2. Sullen feelings or manners; sulks; moroseness.

   to have the sullens

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Shakespeare to this entry?)