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glum

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glum

[gluhm]
–adjective, glum⋅mer, glum⋅mest.
sullenly or silently gloomy; dejected.

Origin:
1425–75; late ME; var. of gloom


glumly, adverb
glumness, noun


moody, sulky; despondent, melancholy. Glum, morose, sullen, dour, surly all are adjectives describing a gloomy, unsociable attitude. Glum describes a depressed, spiritless condition or manner, usually temporary rather than habitual: a glum shrug of the shoulders; a glum, hopeless look in his eye. Morose, which adds to glum a sense of bitterness, implies a habitual and pervasive gloominess: a sour, morose manner; morose withdrawal from human contact. Sullen usually implies reluctance or refusal to speak accompanied by glowering looks expressing anger or a sense of injury: a sullen manner, silence, look. Dour refers to a stern and forbidding aspect, stony and unresponsive: dour rejection of friendly overtures. Surly implies gruffness of speech and manner, usually accompanied by an air of injury and ill temper: a surly reply.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To glum
glum   (glŭm)   
adj.   glum·mer, glum·mest
  1. Moody and melancholy; dejected.

  2. Gloomy; dismal.

n.  
  1. The quality or state of being moody, melancholy, and gloomy or an instance of it: "He was a charming mixture of glum and glee" (Lillian Hellman).

  2. glums Chiefly British The blues. Often used with the: "Most other publications have got the glums" (Tina Brown).


[Probably akin to Middle English gloumen, to become dark; see gloom.]
glum'ly adv., glum'ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

glum 
1547, from M.E. gloumen (v.) "become dark" (c.1300), later gloumben "look gloomy or sullen" (c.1380); see gloom.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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