Where does “dreariness” come from?
Dreariness comes from Middle English drerinesse, from Old English drēoriġnys, a noun formed from an adjective meaning sorrowful or melancholy.
dreariness (English): The characteristic of being dreary
Definitions
- The characteristic of being dreary
Ancestry of “dreariness”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | drerinesse | Alternative form of drerynesse |
| 2 | Old English | drēoriġnys | dreariness, sadness |