Dour: meaning, definitions and examples

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dour

 

[ dʊər ]

Adjective / Noun
Context #1 | Adjective

serious

Relentlessly severe, stern, or gloomy in manner or appearance.

Synonyms

gloomy, grim, morose, sullen

Examples of usage

  • The dour expression on his face never seemed to change.
  • She gave him a dour look that made him feel uncomfortable.
  • The dour weather matched his mood perfectly.
Context #2 | Noun

Scottish

A Scottish term for a feeling of ill humor or sullenness.

Synonyms

gloom, melancholy, sullenness

Examples of usage

  • He was in a dour after losing the game.
  • The dour in the room was palpable.

Translations

Translations of the word "dour" in other languages:

🇵🇹 sombrio

🇮🇳 उदास

🇩🇪 mürrisch

🇮🇩 muram

🇺🇦 похмурий

🇵🇱 ponury

🇯🇵 陰気な (inki na)

🇫🇷 sombre

🇪🇸 sombrío

🇹🇷 kasvetli

🇰🇷 음침한 (eumchimhan)

🇸🇦 كئيب

🇨🇿 mračný

🇸🇰 ponurý

🇨🇳 阴郁的 (yīnyù de)

🇸🇮 mračen

🇮🇸 dapur

🇰🇿 көңілсіз

🇬🇪 მოღრუბლული

🇦🇿 məyus

🇲🇽 sombrío

Etymology

The word 'dour' originated from the Middle English word 'dure', meaning 'severe', 'stern', or 'hard'. Over time, it came to be associated with a serious and gloomy demeanor. The Scottish use of 'dour' to describe ill humor or sullenness reflects its enduring presence in the language.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #25,993, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.