dolorous, a.
(ˈdɒlərəs)
Also 5–6 dolerous(e, dolorouse, dolourous, 6 Sc. dolorus.
[a. OF. doleros, -eus, doulour-, dulur-, -eus, -ous (11th. c. in Hatz.-Darm.) mod.F. douloureux:—late L. dolōrōs-us painful, full of sorrow, f. dolor dolour.]
1. Causing, attended by, or affected with physical pain; painful; severe, acute.
| c 1400 Rom. Rose 5474 [Fortune] leieth a plastre dolorous Unto her hertis wounded egre. 1578 Banister Hist. Man i. 14 No Medicin may preuayle..till the same dolorous tooth be..plucked up by the rootes. 1620 Venner Via Recta viii. 166 Dolorous Gouts..are not apt to be bred by parsimony. 1731 Medley Kolben's Cape G. Hope II. 165 A very dolorous thirst. 1865 W. Roberts Treat. Urin. & Renal Dis. ii. ii. (1885) 301 The dolorous sensations and irritability which constantly torment diabetic patients. |
2. Causing or giving rise to grief or sorrow; grievous, distressful; doleful, dismal.
| c 1450 Merlin 116 The archbishop gaf this scentence full dolerouse. 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VI (an. 6) 105 b, Although the death of therle wer dolorous to all Englishmen. 1641 Milton Ch. Govt. ii. (1851) 140 When God commands to take the trumpet and blow a dolorous or a jarring blast. a 1711 Ken Christophil Poet. Wks. 1721 I. 492 Faint he sank amidst the dol'rous way. 1877 Black Green Past. xxix. (1878) 234 We had a dolorous day of rain. |
3. Of persons, their feelings, state, etc.: Full of or expressing sorrow; sorrowful, sad, distressed.
| 1513 Douglas æneis xii. ii. 149 Syne confortis he his feris dolorous. a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon lii. 174, I am ryght dolorous for the newes that I brynge you. 1667 Milton P.L. vi. 658 Thir armor..wrought them pain Implacable, and many a dolorous groan. 1854 Thackeray Newcomes I. 40 [His] countenance assumed an appearance of the most dolorous sympathy. 1871 R. Ellis Catullus ii. 10 Might I..my dolorous heart awhile deliver. |
Hence doloˈrosity, dolorousness.
| 1835 Tait's Mag. II. 784, I really do not wonder at your dolorosity. |