Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “dolesome” come from?

dolesome (English) comes from English dole, from Middle English dole, from Old French doel, from Latin dolus, from Latin dolor, from Latin -or, from Proto-Italic -ōs, from Proto-Indo-European -ōs — Creates action nouns or result nouns from verbs;...

dolesome (English): doleful; dismal; gloomy

Definitions

  1. doleful; dismal; gloomy

Ancestry of “dolesome”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishdoleTo distribute in small amounts; to share out...
2Middle Englishdole—
3Old Frenchdoelpain; suffering; anguish
4Latindolustrickery, deception, deceit, guile; evil intent;...
5Latindolorpain, ache, hurt; anguish, grief, sorrow;...
6Latin-orused to form a third-declension masculine...
7Proto-Italic-ōsCreates masculine action nouns or result nouns...
8Proto-Indo-European-ōsCreates masculine and feminine action nouns or...
9Proto-Indo-European-oss—
10Proto-Indo-European-osCreates action nouns or result nouns from verbs;...

Words derived from “dolesome”

  • dolesomeness
  • dolesomely
Every word from Proto-Indo-European -os →