lonesome, a.
(ˈləʊnsəm)
Also 7 loansome, 8–9 Sc. lanesome.
[f. lone a. + -some.]
1. a. Of persons, their condition, feelings, etc.: Solitary, lonely. In later use, chiefly in emotional sense: Having a feeling of solitude or loneliness; feeling lonely or forlorn.
| 1647 H. More Song of Soul iii. lxxvi, Where he with him the loansome night did passe. 1700 Blackmore Paraphr. Isa. xiv. 257 The lonesome Bittern shall possess This fenny seat. 1719 D'Urfey Pills (1872) III. 348 Again his Harp the lonesome Poet strung. 1767–95 Macneill Will & Jean vi, Light the lanesome hours gae round. 1840 Dickens Old C. Shop xxii, You must keep up your spirits, mother, and not be lonesome because I'm not at home. 1876 Smiles Sc. Natur. iv. (ed. 4) 71 The boy began to feel very weary and lonesome. |
b. by (or on) one's lonesome, all alone, without company or assistance. (Cf. lone a. 6 b). colloq.
| 1899 C. J. C. Hyne Further Adventures Capt. Kettle ii. 31 No, Kettle, if I'm to get well, some white man will have to go up by his lonesome for me, and square that witch doctor by some trick of the tongue. 1908 Daily Chron. 13 Aug. 5/7 Then, parting from him,..I went, all by my lonesome, along the Madeira Walk. 1920 B. Cronin Timber Wolves 125 ‘When I marry Amelia Peters,’ says George, ‘you can hit the trail on your lonesome.’ 1953 H. Miller Plexus (1963) xii. 442 That evening I wandered off by my lonesome. 1973 G. Beare Snake on Grave ii. 10 One of Rommel's 88's had taken care of his old man somewhere in the Western Desert, and that had left Latch on his lonesome. |
c. lonesome for.
| 1905 Smart Set Sept. 74 [He]..had become exceedingly lonesome for the nice young man. 1935 M. de la Roche Young Renny xi. 98 Bob has gone in to see Lizzie. She's feeling a bit lonesome for a sight of him. |
2. Of localities, etc.: Solitary, unfrequented, desolate. In later use, chiefly with emotional sense: Causing feelings of loneliness, making one feel forlorn.
| 1647 H. More Song of Soul iii. App. Præexistency of Soul xlix, [They] dance..Around an huge black Goat, in loansome wood. a 1677 Barrow Serm. Wks. 1687 I. viii. 97 Neither shall we content our selves in lonesome tunes, and private soliloquies, to whisper out the Divine praises. 1683 Tryon Way to Health 495 If a man walk into loansome Fields amongst the Beasts. 1703 Rowe Fair Penit. ii. i, An unfrequented Vale,..within whose lonesome Shade, Ravens and Birds ill omen'd, only dwell. 1798 Coleridge Anc. Mar. vi. 37 Like one that on a lonesome road Doth walk in fear and dread. 1799 Wordsw. Infl. Nat. Objects 18 In November days When vapours rolling down the valleys made A lonely scene more lonesome. 1850 Hawthorne Scarlet L. xiii. (1879) 186 In her lonesome cottage. 1901 Blackw. Mag. Jan. 60/2 This is the lonesomest place on earth. |
Hence ˈlonesomely adv., ˈlonesomeness.
| 1702 C. Mather Magn. Chr. vi. i. (1852) 345 His lonesomeness was now become as much as any hermit could have wished for. 1771 E. Griffith Hist. Lady Barton II. 275 Honest old Saunders,..wonders mightily at my lordship, for passing my time so lonesomely, as he phrases it. 1822 W. Taylor in Monthly Mag. LIV. 310 A shy lonesomeness of disposition. 1857 Tait's Mag. XXIV. 41 The gas lamps..gleam lonesomely. 1884 Century Mag. XXIX. 268 We would watch the lonesomeness of the river. |