ˈdolefulness
[f. doleful a.1 + -ness.]
The quality or state of being doleful; grief, sadness, sorrowfulness; dreariness, melancholy.
| c 1450 Cov. Myst. (1841) 227 Ther had nevyr woman more doolfulness. 1530 Palsgr. 214/2 Dolefulnesse, tristesse. 1586 W. Webbe Eng. Poetrie (Arb.) 65 Wordes..expressing wonderfully the dolefulnesse of the song. 1887 M. E. Braddon Like & Unlike i, Sir Adrian offered no reason for dolefulness. |