Monday, April 4, 2011

saturnine

saturnine [ˈsætərˌnaɪn] a.

1.) [Astrol.] Born under or affected by the influence of the planet Saturn.
2.) Hence (in later use without allusion to the primary sense), sluggish, cold, and gloomy in temperament.
3.) Of appearance or mien: dark, grim, louring.
4.) [Rare] Pertaining to the planet Saturn.
5.) Of or pertaining to lead.
6.) [Path.] Of disorders: Caused by absorption of lead. Of a patient: Suffering from lead-poisoning.

saturnine n.

1.) A person born under the planet Saturn; a gloomy person (Oxford English Dictionary 2nd Edition).

Etymology: adaptation of the Medieval Latin Saturninus, from Saturnus, Saturn. Cf. French saturnin, and Spanish, Portugese, and Italian saturnino.

"What of George Willoughby, with his powdered hair and fantastic patches? How evil he looked! The face was saturnine and swarthy, and the sensual lips seemed to be twisted with disdain" (The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde, 1890).

5 comments:

Andrew said...

I will set myself a goal to try and use this word in a sentence before I die haha. Great Stuff!

Lemmiwinks said...

i like your blog. keep up the good work

Flames said...

I don't think I can use this word.

consuela bananahammoc said...

that...is hard one to use ^^

Anonymous said...

I like that word! Remind me of Sheldon and Saturnalia.

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