Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “gloomy” come from?

Gloomy comes from Middle English gloomy, influenced by Middle French -ie and Latin -ia suffixes derived ultimately from Proto-Indo-European -kos, a formative element used to create adjectives.

gloomy (English): Not very illuminated; dim because of darkness,...

Definitions

  1. Not very illuminated; dim because of darkness,...

Ancestry of “gloomy”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishgloomDarkness, dimness, or obscurity; A depressing,...
2Middle Englishgloom—
3Old Englishglōmgloaming, twilight; darkness; gloom, gloaming;...
4Proto-West Germanicglōm—
5Proto-Germanicglōmazgleam, shimmer, sheen
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰley-to shine
7Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰel-to shine, glimmer, glow; to shimmer, gleam;...

Words derived from “gloomy”

  • gloomily
  • gloominess
  • ungloomy
  • gloomyish
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰel- →