Words / C2

DOL-uh-r-uh-s/ˈdɒlərəs/

Dolorous means feeling or expressing great sorrow (literary): a dolorous cry, dolorous news. Sad (already in the dictionary) is everyday; doleful (this batch) is mournful of look or sound, and elegiac (this batch) is wistful for something past. Lamentable (already in the dictionary) is regrettably poor — the mix-up of quality with grief. Ebullient (already in the dictionary) is bubbling with energy — the contrast. A hymn to “care” is not a named first-aider.

Meaning

Feeling or expressing great sorrow (literary).

Examples

• “A dolorous hymn to “care” is not a named first-aider.”
• “Sad is everyday (already in A1). Doleful is mournful in look (this batch). Elegiac is wistfully mournful (this batch). Lamentable is deplorably poor (already in C2) — the mix-up. Ebullient is bubbling with energy (already in C2) — the contrast. Atmosphere on the night can be exact. Atmosphere instead of a named post is a hole. Write the rota; then the dirge.”

Good to know

Sorrowful (literary). Everyday: sad (already in this dictionary). This batch: doleful / elegiac. Mix-up: lamentable (poor — already in C2). Contrast: ebullient (already in C2). A hymn ≠ a first-aider.

Near in meaning

sorrowful, mournful, grievous, doleful

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