Leaden: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ง๏ธ
leaden
[ หlษd.ษn ]
heavy feeling
Leaden describes something that is very heavy, often giving a sense of sluggishness or dullness. It can also refer to a gray color, reminiscent of lead, evoking feelings of gloom or weightiness. In emotional contexts, it can symbolize a heavy or oppressive atmosphere, as if the air itself is dense and burdensome. The term can be applied to various scenarios, from describing the sky on a gloomy day to a person's mood when feeling downcast.
Synonyms
dull, gloomy, heavy, oppressive, sluggish
Examples of usage
- The leaden clouds threatened to pour rain at any moment.
- She felt a leaden weight in her chest from the sadness.
- The room was filled with a leaden silence after the news was announced.
- His leaden footsteps echoed in the empty hallway.
Translations
Translations of the word "leaden" in other languages:
๐ต๐น pesado
๐ฎ๐ณ เคญเคพเคฐเฅ
๐ฉ๐ช bleisch
๐ฎ๐ฉ berat
๐บ๐ฆ ะฒะฐะถะบะธะน
๐ต๐ฑ oลowiany
๐ฏ๐ต ้ใฎใใใช
๐ซ๐ท lourd
๐ช๐ธ plomo
๐น๐ท kurลunlu
๐ฐ๐ท ๋ฉ์
๐ธ๐ฆ ุซููู
๐จ๐ฟ olovฤnรฝ
๐ธ๐ฐ olovenรฝ
๐จ๐ณ ้ ็
๐ธ๐ฎ svinฤen
๐ฎ๐ธ blรฝsnar
๐ฐ๐ฟ าะพัาะฐััะฝะดั
๐ฌ๐ช แ แแแแแก
๐ฆ๐ฟ daล
๐ฒ๐ฝ plomo
Word origin
The word 'leaden' originates from the Old English term 'leadian,' which is related to the word 'lead,' a heavy metal. Historically, lead was known for its weight and was often associated with lead pipes and bullets, which contributed to its connotation of heaviness. The term evolved in its usage over the centuries, commonly describing physical weight or the color gray, connecting the physical attributes of lead with emotional states. By the late Middle Ages, 'leaden' was used metaphorically to describe feelings of gloom or lethargy, mirroring the heavy, somber qualities of the metal itself. The transition from a literal to a metaphorical meaning allowed 'leaden' to gain prominence in the English language as a descriptor for both tangible objects and intangible feelings.