cloudyadj.
/ˈklaʊdi/, U.S. /ˈklaʊdi/ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > landscape > high land > hill > [adjective] > characterized by
cloudyc893
hilly?a1475
hillous1550
downy1671
knobby1834
c893 tr. Orosius Hist. i. i Norþmanna land..is on sumum stowum swyðe cludig.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 2734 I cludiȝ landess munntess.
a1400–50 Alexander 4863 Cloȝes at was cloude, he clynterand torres, Rochis & rogh stanes, rokkis vnfaire.
2.
a. Of cloud; of the nature of cloud.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > cloud > [adjective] > of the nature of cloud
cloudyc1300
cloudena1400
c1300 St. Brandan 495 Cloudi and berninge smoke.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms xcix. 7 He spake vnto them out of the cloudy piler.
1625 N. Carpenter Geogr. Delineated ii. iii. 47 By reason of raine and clowdy vapours.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ii. 930 Thence..As in a cloudy Chair ascending rides. View more context for this quotation
1747 W. Collins Odes 7 Wrapt in thy cloudy Veil.
1844 E. B. Barrett Poems II. 223 I would build a cloudy House For my thoughts to live in.
b. Of or pertaining to the clouds.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > cloud > [adjective]
cloudy1626
sulphureous1751
1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §663 The Moisture of Snow is the finest Moisture; For it is the Froth of the Cloudy Waters.
1635 J. Swan Speculum Mundi iv. §2. 62 The out-spread firmament either is ended [L. Expansio in nubium regione aut finitur] in the cloudie region, or is further extended.
1818 Ld. Byron Childe Harold: Canto IV i. 3 A thousand years their cloudy wings expand.
a1854 H. Reed Lect. Brit. Poets (1857) II. xv. 202 That tradition which has come down..upon the cloudy wings of three thousand years.
3. Characterized by the presence of clouds; abounding in or full of clouds.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > cloud > [adjective] > cloudy or overcast
cloudya1387
nebulousc1386
nubilousc1540
dulla1616
overcast1616
claggy1621
moky1706
nubilose1730
nimbose1737
skyless1846
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1871) III. 467 Whan þe day is dym and clowdy.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 84 Clowdy, or fulle of clowdys, nubidus.
1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue ii. ix. sig. Liii Cloudy mornyngs turne to clere after noones.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 105 Like Boreas..when..He sweeps the Skies, and clears the cloudy North. View more context for this quotation
1849 H. W. Longfellow Twilight in Seaside & Fireside 35 The twilight is sad and cloudy.
4. † c. Dim, obscure, faint. Obsolete. rare.
a. Not transparent or clear.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > transparency or translucence > opacity > [adjective]
troublea1327
nebulous?a1425
cloudy1587
shady1605
untransparent1605
untransparablea1618
opacous1625
opaque1631
opacious1643
non-transparent1653
adiaphanous1658
undiaphanous1666
opacular1761
intransparent1842
opacious1953
1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay Trewnesse Christian Relig. xiv. 246 This Mynd..one day shal..see cleerely, and not by these dimme and clowdie spectacles.
1679 Confinement, a Poem 18 Cloudy Ale goes round.
a1691 R. Boyle Wks. (1772) I. 452 I saw a clowdy diamond.
1738 G. Smith tr. Laboratory ii. 64 The Paste would be cloudy, and full of Blisters.
1878 T. H. Huxley Physiography (ed. 2) 82 Pour a little vinegar into the cloudy liquid.
b. Having cloud-like markings, clouded.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > variegation > patch of colour > [adjective] > having cloudy markings
cloudy1676
clouded1682
nebulous1805
nebulose1826
random1874
1676 London Gaz. No. 1131/4 A large grizle gray Gelding..has a cloudy face.
1718 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad IV. xiii. 767 An Olive's cloudy Grain the Handle made.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > darkness or absence of light > dimness or absence of brightness > [adjective]
dima1000
darkOE
troublea1327
palec1385
dullc1430
unclearc1440
unbright1534
cloudy1556
unlight1570
muddy1600
wan1601
opacous1616
filmy1642
illuminous1656
crepuscular1668
dumb1720
rayless1754
opaque1794
veilya1802
turbid1811
unlucent1819
ineffulgent1824
blear1830
unrefulgent1856
subluminous1860
subaqueous1875
shineless1882
the world > the universe > star > kind of star > by light > [adjective] > dim
cloudy1556
1556 R. Record Castle of Knowl. 272 The first greatnes, the seconde..the syxte, vnder whiche they are that be called Cloudy starres.
1594 T. Blundeville Exercises iii.i. xxiii. f. 157 14. [stars]..whereof 5. be called clowdy and the other darke, because they are not to be seene but of a very quicke and sharpe sight.
5. figurative. Darkened or clouded by ignorance, etc.; (of ideas, perception, language) dim, obscure, indistinct; not clear.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > unintelligibility > depth, obscurity > [adjective]
higheOE
dighela1000
deepc1000
darkOE
starkOE
dusk?c1225
subtle1340
dimc1350
subtilea1393
covert1393
mystica1398
murka1400
cloudyc1400
hard?c1400
mistyc1400
unclearc1400
diffuse1430
abstractc1450
diffused?1456
exquisitec1460
obnubilous?a1475
obscure?a1475
covered1484
intricate?a1500
nice?a1500
perplexeda1500
difficilea1513
difficult1530
privy1532
smoky1533
secret1535
abstruse?1549
difficul1552
entangled1561
confounded1572
darksome1574
obnubilate1575
enigmatical1576
confuse1577
mysteriousa1586
Delphic1598
obfuscatea1600
enfumed1601
Delphicala1603
obstruse1604
abstracted1605
confused1611
questionable1611
inevident1614
recondite1619
cryptic1620
obfuscated1620
transcendent1624
Delphian1625
oraculous1625
enigmatic1628
recluse1629
abdite1635
undilucidated1635
clouded1641
benighted1647
oblite1650
researched1653
obnubilated1658
obscurative1664
tenebrose1677
hyperbyssal1691
condite1695
diffusive1709
profound1710
tenebricose1730
oracular1749
opaque1761
unenlightening1768
darkling1795
offuscating1798
unrecognizable1817
tough1820
abstrusive1848
obscurant1878
out-of-focus1891
unplumbable1895
inenubilable1903
non-transparent1939
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > insecure knowledge, uncertainty > [adjective] > obscure, vague
cloudyc1400
indeterminatec1400
diffuse1430
diffused?1456
obscure?a1475
infinite1520
ambiguous1529
indistincta1530
nubilous1533
dark1557
undetermined1588
undefinite1589
undeterminate1603
indetermined1611
undefined1611
suspense1624
umbrageous1635
clouded1641
undeterminated1641
fuliginous1646
implicit1660
vague1690
diffusive1709
nubilose1730
foggy1737
unliquidated1780
hazy1781
indecisive1815
nebulous1817
penumbral1819
aoristic1846
scumbled1868
nubiform1873
out-of-focus1891
fuzzy1937
soft focus1938
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > obscurity > [adjective]
darkOE
murka1400
cloudyc1400
mistyc1400
unclearc1400
obturate?a1425
obscure?a1439
unplain?c1535
obumbilatec1540
abstruse?1549
darksome1574
mysteriousa1586
obstruse1604
muddy1611
unperspicuous1634
clouded1641
imperspicuous1654
cramp1674
unlucid1711
abstract1725
opaque1761
obumbratory1799
darkling1813
sludgy1901
c1400 Test. Love (1560) Prol. 272/2 That I so unwoorthely clothed all togither in the cloudie cloude of unconning.
1509 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure Introd. v With cloudy fygures He [Lydgate] cloked the trouth of all his scryptures.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Apol. Poetrie (1595) sig. G4v The Historian..can in the cloudy knowledge of mankinde, hardly escape from many lyes.
1649 A. Ascham Bounds Publique Obed. 57 That Oath is Cloudy..and so cannot be justly called it's owne interpreter.
1724 I. Watts Logick ii. iii. §3 Their thoughts..have something confused and cloudy in them.
1846 G. H. Lewes Biogr. Hist. Philos. III. 214 Locke..is neither an audacious speculator, nor a cloudy writer.
6. † b. Of persons. Obsolete.
a. figurative. Darkened by misfortune, grief, anger, forebodings, etc.; full of gloom or trouble; gloomy, sullen, frowning.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > dejection > [adjective] > gloomy or depressing
darkOE
unmerryOE
deathlyc1225
dolefulc1275
elengec1275
dreicha1300
coolc1350
cloudyc1374
sada1375
colda1400
deadlya1400
joylessc1400
unjoyful?c1400
disconsolatea1413
mournfula1425
funeralc1425
uncheerfulc1449
dolent1489
dolesome1533
heavy-hearted1555
glum1558
ungladsome1558
black1562
pleasureless1567
dern1570
plaintive?1570
glummish1573
cheerless1575
comfortless1576
wintry1579
glummy1580
funebral1581
discouraging1584
dernful?1591
murk1596
recomfortless1596
sullen1597
amating1600
lugubrious1601
dusky1602
sable1603
funebrial1604
damping1607
mortifying1611
tearful?1611
uncouth1611
dulsome1613
luctual1613
dismal1617
winterous1617
unked1620
mopish1621
godforsaken?1623
uncheerly1627
funebrious1630
lugubrous1632
drearisome1633
unheartsome1637
feral1641
drear1645
darksome1649
sadding1649
saddening1650
disheartening1654
funebrous1654
luctiferous1656
mestifical1656
tristifical1656
sooty1657
dreary1667
tenebrose1677
clouded1682
tragicala1700
funereal1707
gloomy1710
sepulchrala1711
dumpishc1717
bleaka1719
depressive1727
lugubre1727
muzzy1728
dispiriting1733
uncheery1760
unconsolatory1760
unjolly1764
Decemberly1765
sombre1768
uncouthie1768
depressing1772
unmirthful1782
sombrous1789
disanimating1791
Decemberish1793
grey1794
uncheering1796
ungenial1796
uncomforting1798
disencouraginga1806
stern1812
chilling1815
uncheered1817
dejecting1818
mopey1821
desponding1828
wisht1829
leadening1835
unsportful1837
demoralizing1840
Novemberish1840
frigid1844
morne1844
tragic1848
wet-blanketty1848
morgue1850
ungladdeneda1851
adusk1856
smileless1858
soul-sick1858
Novemberya1864
saturnine1863
down1873
lacklustre1883
Heaven-abandoneda1907
downbeat1952
doomy1967
c1374 G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. i. i. 4 Fortune clowdy haþ chaunged hir disceyuable chere to mewarde.
1561 T. Hoby tr. B. Castiglione Courtyer ii. sig. K.iiijv Cloudy and troublous heauinesse.
1650 J. Bulwer Anthropometamorphosis 64 The Scithians..have all cloudy foreheads.
1670 C. Cotton tr. G. Girard Hist. Life Duke of Espernon iii. xii. 593 The Battel of Fontarabie..prov'd cloudy, and malevolent to the French Renown.
1726 R. Wodrow Corr. (1843) III. 331 The state of things with us is very cloudy.
1859 Ld. Tennyson Merlin & Vivien 154 in Idylls of King Vivien..Would fain have wrought upon his cloudy mood.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > dejection > [adjective]
ungladc888
wearyc888
drearyc1000
dreary-moodOE
heavyc1000
unmerryOE
droopy?c1225
mournc1275
sada1300
languishinga1325
amayedc1330
matec1330
unlightc1330
unblissful1340
lowa1382
mishappyc1390
dullc1393
elengely1393
droopinga1400
heavy-hearteda1400
joylessa1400
sytefula1400
mornifc1400
tristy?c1400
lightless?1406
heartlessa1413
tristc1420
amatec1425
languoring?c1425
mirthlessc1430
heavisome1435
darkc1440
gloomingc1440
comfortlessc1460
amateda1470
chermatc1475
tristfula1492
lustless?1507
dolorous1513
ruthful1513
downcast1521
deject1528
heartsicka1529
lumpisha1535
coolc1540
dowlyc1540
glum1547
discouraged1548
uncheerfulc1555
dumpish1560
out of heart1565
sadded1566
amoped1573
tristive1578
desolated1580
dejected1581
à la mort1586
delightless1589
afflicted1590
gladless1590
groanful1590
gloomya1593
muddy1592
sitheful1592
cloudy1594
leaden-hearted1596
disconsolated1598
clum1599
life-weary1599
spiritless1600
dusky1602
chop-fallen1604
flat1604
disanimated1605
jaw-fallen1605
moped1606
chap-fallen1608
decheerful1608
uncheerful1612
lacklustrea1616
pulled1616
dumpya1618
depressed1621
head-hung1632
grum1640
downa1644
dispirited1647
down-at-mouth1649
down in (rarely of) the mouth1649
unhearted1650
sunlessa1658
sadful1658
unlightened1659
chagrin1665
saddened1665
damp1667
moping1674
desponding1688
tristitious1694
unenjoying1697
unraised1697
unheartya1699
unked1698
despondent1699
dismal1705
unjoyful1709
unrejoiced1714
dreara1717
disheartened1720
mumpish1721
unrejoicing1726
downhearted1742
out of spirits1745
chagrineda1754
low-spirited1753
sombrea1767
black-blooded1771
glumpy1780
oorie1787
sombrous1789
morose1791
Novemberish1793
glumpish1800
mopeful1800
die-away1802
blue-devilish1804
blue-devilled1807
malagrugrous1818
down in the hip1826
yonderly1828
sunshineless1831
downfaced1832
broody1851
in a (or the) trough1856
blue-devilly1871
drooped1873
glummy1884
pippy1886
humpy1889
pipped1914
lousy1933
pissed1943
crappy1956
doomy1961
bummed1970
1594 W. Shakespeare Lucrece sig. H2v Cloudie Lvcrece shames her selfe to see. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) iii. vi. 42 The clowdy Messenger turnes me his backe. View more context for this quotation
1706 J. Logan in Mem. Hist. Soc. Pennsylvania (1872) X. 132 Yet the Govr. went out very cloudy.
1708 Ld. Shaftesbury Let. conc. Enthusiasm 45 The Jews were naturally a very cloudy People, and wou'd endure little Raillery in any thing.
7. Under a cloud of disgrace or disrepute; ‘shady.’ colloquial.
ΚΠ
1886 R. L. Stevenson Prince Otto ii. ii. 87 A..lady of a dishevelled reputation, wife..of a cloudy count.
Compounds
cloudy-eyed, cloudy-headed, cloudy-topped, adjs.
ΚΠ
1596 C. Fitzgeffry Sir Francis Drake sig. C5v The Pyrenean cloudy-topped mountaines.
1676 London Gaz. No. 1117/4 A bright dun Mare..cloudy headed.
1710 London Gaz. No. 4719/4 A middle sized thin and cloudy-ey'd Woman.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adj.c893