Lachrymose

Pronunciation

Origin

From Latin lacrimōsus, from lacrima ("tear"), + -osus ("-ful"), from Old Latin dacruma, from Proto-Indo-European *dakru-, cognate with English tear.

Full definition of lachrymose

Adjective

1. Tearful, sorrowful, sad, pertaining to tears, weeping, causing tears or crying.
• 1927, Thornton Wilder, The Bridge of San Luis Rey, It is true that Limeans were given to interpolating trivial songs into the most exquisite comedies and some lachrymose effects into the austerest music; but at least they never submitted to the boredom of a misplaced veneration.

Derived terms

• lachrymatory
• lachrymosely
• lachrymosity
• unlachrymose