Category:Sullen

Sul"len, a. Etym: [oe. solein, solain, lonely, sullen; through old French fr. (assumed) ll. solanus solitary, fr. L. solus alone. See Sole, a.]

1. Lonely; solitary; desolate. [obs.] Wyclif (job iii. 14).

2. Gloomy; dismal; foreboding. Milton. Solemn hymns so sullen dirges change. Shak.

3. Mischievous; malignant; unpropitious. Such sullen planets at my birth did shine. Dryden.

4. Gloomily angry and silent; cross; sour; affected with ill humor; Morose. And sullen i forsook the imperfect feast. Prior.

5. Obstinate; intractable. Things are as sullen as we are. Tillotson.

6. Heavy; dull; sluggish. "the larger stream was placid, and even Sullen, in its course." Sir w. Scott.

Syn. -- sulky; sour; cross; ill-natured; morose; peevish; fretful; ill- Humored; petulant; gloomy; malign; intractable. -- sullen, sulky. Both sullen and sulky show themselves in the Demeanor. Sullenness seems to be an habitual sulkiness, and sulkiness A temporary sullenness. The former may be an innate disposition; the Latter, a disposition occasioned by recent injury. Thus we are in a Sullen mood, and in a sulky fit. No cheerful breeze this sullen region knows; the dreaded east is all The wind that blows. Pope. -- sul"len*ly, adv. -- sul"len*ness, n.

Sullen Sul"len, n.

1. One who is solitary, or lives alone; a hermit. [obs.] Piers Plowman.

2. pl.

Defn: sullen feelings or manners; sulks; moroseness; as, to have the Sullens. [obs.] Shak.

Sullen Sul"len, v. t.

Defn: to make sullen or sluggish. [obs.] Sullens the whole body with. . . laziness. Feltham.