Words / C2

SAT-uh-nyn/ˈsætənaɪn/

Saturnine means gloomy, slow, and dark in look or temper (literary): a saturnine expression, saturnine humour. Gloomy is everyday; sullen is sulky. Sanguine (already in the dictionary) is the old opposite temperament — cheerfully confident. Do not file a numbered flame risk as saturnine mood.

Meaning

Gloomy, slow, and dark in temperament or appearance (literary).

Examples

• “A saturnine silence in the minutes is not a decision.”
• “Gloomy is everyday. Sullen is sulky. Sanguine is hopeful (already in C2) — the humoral opposite. A dark joke can be saturnine. “Noted” with no owner is not a temperament; it is an empty minute. Name the date; leave the humour for the dinner.”

Good to know

Gloomy and heavy (literary). Everyday: gloomy. Opposite flavour: sanguine (already in C2). Mood ≠ a missing decision.

Near in meaning

gloomy

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