melancholize

English

Alternative forms

• melancholise

Etymology

From melancholy +‎ -ize, probably after French méancoliser.

Verb

melancholize (third-person singular simple present melancholizes, present participle melancholizing, simple past and past participle melancholized)

1. (obsolete, transitive) To make melancholy.
2. (obsolete, intransitive) To be melancholy; to be consumed by sad thoughts.
   • 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed by John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, page 88:

     Many men […] are ſo deiected many times for ſome publike iniury, […] that they dare not come abroad all their liues after, but melancholiſe in corners, and keepe in holes.

   • a. 1678 (date written), Isaac Barrow, “(please specify the chapter name or sermon number). Of Contentment”, in The Works of Dr. Isaac Barrow. […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: A[braham] J[ohn] Valpy, […], published 1830–1831, →OCLC:

     if we be not otherwise well employed, we shall be apt, in our thoughts, to melancholize, and dote upon our mischances.