dolesome, a. Now rare.
(ˈdəʊlsəm)
[f. dole n.2 + -some.]
= doleful a.1
| 1533 Bellenden Livy ii. (1822) 155 All thingis apperit richt doulsum. 1567 Satir. Poems Reform. iii. 173 Hir duilsum deith be wars than Jesabell. 1586 W. Webbe Eng. Poetrie (Arb.) 77 In beechen groues, and dolesome shaddowy places. 1656 S. Holland Zara (1719) 17 The most part of the dolesom Night. 1725 Pope Odyss. xi. 191 The dolesome realms of darkness and of death. a 1849 J. C. Mangan Poems (1859) 135 Soon will the death-bell's knelling A dolesome tale be telling. |
Hence ˈdolesomely adv.; ˈdolesomeness.
| 1591 Horsey Trav. (Hakl. Soc.) 208, 30 great..bells..ringinge all together..and verie dolsomlye. 1608–11 Bp. Hall Medit. & Vows, Death (R.) The dolesomnesse of the grave. 1894 J. E. Vaux Ch. Folk Lore 119 The dolesomeness of this portion of my book. |