sullenadj.adv.n.
/ˈsʌlən/, U.S. /ˈsələn/ A. adj.† 2. Solemn, serious. Obsolete.
1. † c. Holding aloof. Obsolete.† d. figurative. Baleful, malignant. Obsolete.
a. Of persons, their attributes, aspect, actions: Characterized by, or indicative of, gloomy ill-humour or moody silence.In early use there is often implication of obstinacy or stubbornness.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > irascibility > ill humour > [adjective]
moodyc1300
distemprec1374
melancholiana1393
solein1399
darkc1440
gloomingc1440
girning1447
melancholyc1450
tetrical1528
tetric1533
distemperate1548
morose1565
sullen1570
stunt1581
humorous1590
gloomya1593
muddy1592
clum1599
dortya1605
humoursome1607
distempereda1616
musty1620
grum1640
agelastic1666
fusty1668
purdy1668
ill-humoured1693
gurly1721
mumpish1721
sunking1724
tetricous1727
sumphish1728
stunkard1737
sulky1744
muggard1746
farouche1765
sombrea1767
glumpy1780
glumpish1800
tiffy1810
splenitive1815
stuffy1825
liverish1828
troglodytish1866
glummy1884
humpy1889
scowly1951
1570 T. Tusser Hundreth Good Pointes Husbandry (new ed.) f. 35v Be lowly not solen if ought go amisse.
1592 Arden of Feversham i. i. 510 Who would haue thought the ciuill sir so sollen?
1641 ‘Smectymnuus’ Vindic. Answer Hvmble Remonstr. To Rdr. Wee are called..sullen and crabbed peices.
1668 in Extracts State Papers (Friends' Hist. Soc.) (1912) 3rd Ser. 279 Their Saint Penn..is divelishly cryed vp amongest that pervers sullen Faction.
1680 C. Ness Compl. Church-hist. 55 Because they might not have what they would, grew sullain, and would have nothing.
1713 R. Steele Guardian No. 18. ⁋2 These contemplations have made me serious but not sullen.
1719 Free-thinker No. 149. 2 In the Middle, sits Cato, with a sullen Brow.
1795 E. Burke Let. 18 May in Corr. (1969) VIII. 248 If the better part lies by in a sullen silence, they still cannot hinder the more factious part both from speaking and from writing.
1814 W. Wordsworth Excursion vi. 270 Here..they met,..flaming Jacobite And sullen Hanoverian! View more context for this quotation
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. vi. 28 The answer of James was a cold and sullen reprimand.
1879 J. A. Froude Cæsar xxvi. 438 Some were still sullen, and refused to sue for a forgiveness.
b. transferred. Of animals and inanimate things: Obstinate, refractory; stubborn, unyielding.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > by nature > [adjective] > obstinate
sullen1577
society > authority > lack of subjection > [adjective] > intractable or recalcitrant
unbuxoma1250
unbowsomec1290
sturdy13..
wildc1350
stubbornc1386
unbaina1400
stoutc1410
kimeta1450
staffish?a1513
untractable1538
intractable1545
sullen1577
restiff1578
indocile1603
resty1603
hot-mouthed1609
immorigerous1623
intractive1623
uncompliable1626
restivea1628
non-complying1649
uncompliant1659
incompliant1706
unobliging1707
recalcitrant1797
unbiddable1825
stocky1836
recalcitrary1861
calcitrant1866
non-cooperative1867
recalcitrating1870
ropeable1870
non-cooperating1895
bolshie1918
the world > action or operation > difficulty > types of difficulty > [adjective] > difficult or intractable (of things)
wickc1330
riotous1340
wickeda1352
untreatablec1374
frowarda1400
inobedient1495
stubborn?1518
unwieldya1538
unruly1548
wieldlessa1560
hard1560
untoward1566
tickle1570
churlish1577
unwieldsome1579
rebellious1587
disobedient1588
unframeable1593
unwilling1593
untractable1601
unmanageable1606
intractable1607
surly1609
unwedgeablea1616
dogged1627
uncontrollable1648
obdurate1651
morose1652
uncompliant1659
sullen1678
unpliant1716
ungovernable1773
sulky1867
intractile1880
unwieldly1881
bunglesome1915
1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry iii. f. 128*v Which being well punished with hunger, and thyrst, wyll teache him [sc. a plough-ox] to leaue that sullen tricke.
1648 T. Gage Eng.-Amer. 89 I got up again and spurred my sullen jade.
1678 R. Cudworth True Intellect. Syst. Universe i. v. 888 Things are Sullen, and will be as they are, what ever we Think them, or Wish them to be.
1692 J. Ray Wisdom of God (ed. 2) i. 38 The stupid Matter..would be as sullen as the Mountain was that Mahomet commanded to come down to him.
1725 D. Defoe New Voy. round World ii. 185 The other [bull] prov'd untractable, sullen and outragious.
1859 Ld. Tennyson Enid in Idylls of King 91 As sullen as a beast new-caged.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social relations > lack of social communication or relations > separation or isolation > [adjective] > detached or non-participating
partlessa1400
sullen1629
aloof1639
remote1775
unparticipate1824
unparticipant1829
non-participating1876
detached1913
1629 J. Earle Micro-cosmogr. (ed. 5) xxi. sig. E5v Friendship is a sullener thing, as a contracter and taker vp of our affections to some few.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > ill-will > [adjective]
hateleOE
swartOE
ill-willinga1300
illc1330
ill-willeda1340
evil-willya1382
hatefula1400
malignc1429
malicea1500
maltalentivea1500
ill-willy15..
malevolent1509
malevolous1531
ill asposit1535
ill-givena1568
stomaching1579
malignant1592
gall-ful1596
gall-wet1597
ill-affecteda1599
unpleasant1603
evil-affected1611
gallsome1633
ill-meaning1633
ill-natured1645
unbenign1651
sullen1676
unbenevolent1694
reptilian1855
unbenignant1856
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > unkindness > ill will, malevolence > [adjective]
hateleOE
balefulOE
swartOE
hatelyOE
ill-willinga1300
illc1330
ill-willeda1340
evil-willya1382
hatefula1400
malignc1429
malicea1500
maltalentivea1500
malevolent1509
malevolous1531
fiendisha1535
ill asposit1535
ill-givena1568
malignant1592
ill-affecteda1599
unpleasant1603
manless?1609
evil-affected1611
ill-willy1611
ill-meaning1633
ill-natured1645
swarthy1651
unbenign1651
reptile1653
sullen1676
maligning1687
unbenevolent1694
reptilian1855
unbenignant1856
1676 J. Dryden Aureng-Zebe i. 11 Such sullen Planets at my Birth did shine, They threaten every Fortune mixt with mine.
1679 J. Dryden & N. Lee Oedipus iii. 39 Ye sullen Pow'rs below.
1703 N. Rowe Fair Penitent ii. i Some sullen Influence, a Foe to both.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > dejection > melancholy > seriousness or solemnity > [adjective]
seinec1330
sober1362
unfeastlyc1386
murec1390
unlaughter-milda1400
sadc1400
solemnyc1420
solemned1423
serious1440
solemnc1449
solenc1460
solemnel?1473
moy1487
demure1523
grave1549
staid1557
sage1564
sullen1583
weighty1602
solid1632
censoriousa1637
(as) grave (also solemn, etc.) as a judge1650
untriumphant1659
setc1660
agelastic1666
austere1667
humourless1671
unlaughing1737
smileless1740
untriflinga1743
untittering1749
steady1759
dun1797
antithalian1818
dreich1819
laughterless1825
unsmiling1826
laughless1827
unfestive1844
sober-sided1847
gleeless1850
unfarcical1850
mome1855
deedy1895
button-down1959
buttoned-down1960
straight-faced1975
1583 B. Melbancke Philotimus (new ed.) sig. Miij v So was he free from sulleyne sterne seuerity.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Apol. Poetrie (1595) sig. D1 Morrall Philosophers, whom me thinketh, I see comming towards mee with a sullen grauity.
1640 E. Reynolds Treat. Passions iv Some plausible Fancy doth more prevail with tender Wills than a severe and sullen argument.
1719 E. Young Busiris i. 2 In sullen Majesty they stalk along, With Eyes of Indignation, and Despair.
3.
a. Of immaterial things, actions, conditions: Gloomy, dismal, melancholy; sometimes with the notion of ‘passing heavily, moving sluggishly’.
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
the world > action or operation > inaction > disinclination to act or listlessness > [adjective] > sluggish or heavy > of things
sullen1597
sluggish1640
sulky1889
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II i. iii. 254 The sullen passage of thy weary steps. View more context for this quotation
1605 S. Daniel Trag. Philotas Ep. 59 To sound The deepe reports of sullen Tragedies.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) iii. iv. 51 A salt and sullen rhume.
1673 J. Milton Sonnets xvii, in Poems (new ed.) 60 Where shall we sometimes meet, and by the fire Help wast a sullen day.
1714 A. Pope Rape of Lock (new ed.) iv. 31 No cheerful Breeze this sullen Region knows.
1775 S. Johnson Let. 1 Aug. (1992) II. 260 Oxford..is now a sullen solitude.
1816 Ld. Byron Prisoner of Chillon xiv With spiders I had friendship made, And watch'd them in their sullen trade.
1858 C. Kingsley Lett. (1878) I. 21 It was an afternoon of sullen Autumn rain.
a1864 N. Hawthorne Amer. Note-bks. (1879) II. 52 A bleak, sullen day.
b. Of a sound or an object producing a sound: Of a deep, dull, or mournful tone. Chiefly poetic.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > non-resonance > [adjective]
deada1533
sullen1599
wooden1609
flat1626
shallow1626
lumpish1742
dowf1768
toneless1773
deadish1783
insonorous1795
tubby1807
veiled1816
puffy1832
narrow-toned1865
woolly1872
woody1875
dull1878
irresonant1899
1599 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet iv. iv. 115 Our solemne himnes to sullen dyrges change. View more context for this quotation
1645 J. Milton Il Penseroso in Poems 40 I hear the far-off Curfeu sound,..Swinging slow with sullen roar.
1747 W. Collins Odes 36 Where the Beetle winds His small but sullen Horn.
1819 W. Scott Ivanhoe III. xiii. 328 The heavy bell..broke short their argument. One by one the sullen sounds fell successively on the ear.
1849 C. Kingsley N. Devon: Pt. II in Misc. (1860) II. 264 The sullen thunder of the unseen surge.
4. † b. sullen lady n. Obsolete ? Fritillaria nigra.
a. Of sombre hue; of a dull colour; hence, of gloomy or dismal aspect. (Also qualifying an adjective of colour = dull-.) Cf. sad adj. 10.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > state or mode of having colour > [adjective] > dull coloured
wannish?a1412
colourless1557
sullena1586
sober1603
dingy1665
dunduckety1818
duckety1841
drabbish1842
neutral-tinted1844
drabby1862
drab1880
drably-tinted1891
terne1901
a1586 [implied in: Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) iii. x. sig. Nn6 The colours for the grounde were so well chosen, neither sullenly darke, nor glaringly lightsome. (at sullenly adv. 2)].
1592 Arden of Feversham iii. i. 45 Now will he shake his care oppressed head, Then fix his sad eis on the sollen earth.
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 i. ii. 209 Like bright mettal on a sullein ground. View more context for this quotation
1647 C. Harvey Schola Cordis xxi. i Take sullen lead for silver, sounding brass Instead of solid gold.
1665 J. Rea Flora 130 A dark sullen violet purple colour.
1710 R. Steele Tatler No. 266. ⁋3 Two apples that were roasting by a sullen sea coal fire.
1714 Philos. Trans. 1713 (Royal Soc.) 28 224 A sort of sullen greenish Wood-like rust.
1785 W. Cowper Task ii. 212 I would not yet exchange thy sullen skies..for warmer France With all her vines.
1811 W. Scott Don Roderick i. 13 All sleeps in sullen shade, or silver glow.
1818 J. Keats Sonn. Ben Nevis 6 I look o'erhead, And there is sullen mist.
1855 Ld. Tennyson Maud x. i, in Maud & Other Poems 36 The sullen-purple moor.
1894 H. Caine Manxman v. iii. 286 The sky to the north-west was dark and sullen.
ΚΠ
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory ii. iv. 74/1 The sullen Lady, hangeth her head down..and is of an umberish dark hair colour, without any checker or spots. Some call it the black Fritillary.
5. Of water, etc.: Flowing sluggishly. poetic.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > flow or flowing > [adjective] > slowly or gently
gentle1555
unspeedy1615
sullen1622
subrepent1650
lapsinga1771
1622 M. Drayton 2nd Pt. Poly-olbion xxviii. 141 Small Cock, a sullen Brooke comes to her succour then.
1673 J. Milton At Vacation Exercise in Poems (new ed.) 68 Sullen Mole that runneth underneath.
1814 W. Scott Waverley I. xxii. 334 The larger [stream] was placid, and even sullen in its course. View more context for this quotation
1819 P. B. Shelley Rosalind & Helen 23 Each one lay Sucking the sullen milk away About my frozen heart.
B. adv.
= sullenly adv. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > irascibility > ill humour > [adverb]
distemperatelya1398
thraftlya1578
darkly1597
moodily1611
mustily1620
distemperedlya1639
sullenly1650
morosely1654
sullen1718
grumly1727
ill-humouredly1795
sulkily1796
sumphishly1850
biliously1865
glumpily1865
farouchely1931
frumpily1934
1718 M. Prior Solomon on Vanity ii, in Poems Several Occasions (new ed.) 439 Sullen I forsook th' Imperfect Feast.
1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake ii. 90 Sullen and slowly, they unclasp.
C. n.
(in plural, usually the sullens; rarely singular) A state of gloomy ill-humour; sullenness, sulks. in the sullens, sick of the sullens.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > irascibility > ill humour > [noun] > fit of
gloominga1400
terret1515
momurdotesc1540
the sullens1580
pirr1581
pet1590
snuff1592
mulligrubs1599
mumps1599
geea1605
mood1609
miff1623
tetch1623
frumps1671
strunt1721
hump1727
tiff1727
tift1751
huff1757
tig1773
tout1787
sulk1792
twita1825
fantigue1825
fuff1834
grumps1844
spell1856
the grumbles1861
grouch1895
snit1939
mardy1968
moody1969
strop1970
sull1972
cream puff1985
mard1998
1580 J. Lyly Euphues & his Eng. (new ed.) f. 31v She was solytarily walking with hir frowning cloth as sick lately of the sullens.
1631 S. Jerome Arraignem. Whole Creature xvi. 280 So long he is sicke in the suds, and diseas'd in the sullens.
1633 S. Marmion Fine Compan. i. iii. B 2 They can doe no more good upon me, then a young pittifull Lover upon a Mistresse, that has the sullens.
1662 H. Hibbert Syntagma Theologicum 142 Its a dangerous thing to sit sick of the sullens, or be discontented.
a1670 J. Hacket Scrinia Reserata (1693) i. 84 If his Majesty were moody..he would fetch him out of that Sullen with a pleasant Jest.
1671 A. Wood Life & Times (1892) II. 215 When William Lenthall was troubled with the sullins.
1679 J. Dryden Troilus & Cressida iv. ii. 54 I'le e'en go home, and shut up my doors; and dye o' the sullens like an old bird in a Cage.
1747 S. Richardson Clarissa I. xviii. 122 No sullens, my mamma: No perverseness.
1819 W. Scott Legend of Montrose xv, in Tales of my Landlord 3rd Ser. IV. 312 Annot Lyle could always charm Allan out of the sullens.
1864 T. Carlyle Hist. Friedrich II of Prussia IV. xvi. viii. 362 Russian Czarina evidently in the sullens against Friedrich.
1868 ‘H. Lee’ Basil Godfrey's Caprice xxxvi Gerrard was in a fit of sullens.
Compounds
C1. Compounds of the adjective.
a. Parasynthetic adjectives.
sullen-browed adj.
ΚΠ
1831 W. Scott Castle Dangerous ii, in Tales of my Landlord 4th Ser. III. 248 This sullen-browed Thomas Dickson.
sullen-eyed adj.
ΚΠ
1961 R. S. Thomas Tares 47 And given to watching, sullen-eyed, Love still-born, as it was then.
sullen-faced adj.
ΚΠ
1914 J. Joyce Dubliners 117 A very sullen-faced man.
sullen-hearted adj.
ΚΠ
1909 R. Bridges Paraphr. Virgil's Æneid 434 The sullen-hearted, who..Their own life did-away.
b. Complementary.
sullen-blooming adj.
ΚΠ
1879 O. Wilde in Time July 402 No sullen-blooming poppies stain thy hair.
sullen-looking adj.
sullen-seeming adj.
ΚΠ
1855 Ld. Tennyson Maud xviii. vi, in Maud & Other Poems 59 Sullen-seeming Death.
sullen-smiling adj.
ΚΠ
1919 J. Masefield Reynard the Fox i. 29 Surly, Tall, shifty, sullen-smiling.
c. With other adjectives.
sullen-sour adj.
ΚΠ
1849 J. A. Carlyle in tr. Dante Divine Comedy: Inferno p. xliv The Sullen-sour or Gloomy-sluggish.
sullen-wise adj.
ΚΠ
1710 R. Steele Tatler No. 149. ⁋5 A sullen-wise Man is as bad as a good-natured Fool.
C2. Compounds of the noun.† sullen-sick adj. Obsolete ‘sick of the sullens’, ill from ill-humour.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > mental health > mental illness > degree or type of mental illness > [adjective] > melancholic
melancholya1393
hypochondrical1586
hypochondriac1599
sullen-sick1614
hypochondriacal1620
mirachial1621
hypochondriatic1658
hipped1712
melancholic1809
hypochondric1871
melancholiac1906
the mind > emotion > anger > irascibility > ill humour > [adjective] > in an ill humour
maltalenta1578
in a jeer1579
in suds1611
sullen-sick1614
in the pouts1615
out of sorts1621
cross1639
off the hooks1662
huff1714
sulkinga1777
as cross as a bear1838
sore-headed1844
sore-head1862
baity1921
1614 T. Adams Diuells Banket v. 206 If the state..lye sullen-sicke of Naboths Vineyard.
1650 T. Fuller Pisgah-sight of Palestine ii. vii. 158 On the denyall Ahab falls sullen-sick.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
sullenv.
/ˈsʌlən/, U.S. /ˈsələn/ rare.† 2. intransitive. To be sullen; to sulk. Obsolete.
1. transitive. To make sullen or sluggish.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > dejection > make dejected [verb (transitive)]
drearya1300
discomfortc1325
batec1380
to cast downa1382
to throw downa1382
dullc1386
faintc1386
discomfita1425
discourage1436
sinkc1440
mischeera1450
discheerc1454
amatea1500
bedowa1522
damp1548
quail1548
dash1550
exanimate1552
afflict1561
dank1565
disanimate1565
sadden1565
languish1566
deject1581
dumpc1585
unheart1593
mope1596
chill1597
sour1600
disgallant1601
disheart1603
dishearten1606
fainten1620
depress1624
sullen1628
tristitiate1628
disliven1631
dampen1633
weigh1640
out-spirit1643
dispirit1647
flat1649
funeralize1654
hearta1658
disencourage1659
attrist1680
flatten1683
dismalizec1735
blue-devil1812
out-heart1845
downweigh1851
to get down1861
frigidize1868
languor1891
downcast1914
neg1987
the world > action or operation > inaction > disinclination to act or listlessness > pass (time) listlessly or lethargically [verb (transitive)] > make listless or lethargic > make sluggish or heavy
slug1600
sullen1628
the mind > emotion > anger > irascibility > ill humour > make ill-humoured [verb (transitive)]
hump1840
sullen1894
1628 O. Felltham Resolves: 2nd Cent. xlviii. sig. Q6v The Idle man..like a member out of joynt, sullens the whole Body, with an ill disturbing lazinesse.
1894 ‘A. Amyand’ Only a Drummer Boy iv. 47 [They] prevented Douglas's happy nature getting completely crushed and sullened.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > irascibility > ill humour > be ill-humoured [verb (intransitive)]
to have pissed on a nettle1546
mumpc1610
to sell souse1611
sullena1652
sumpha1689
frump1693
hatch1694
sunk1724
mug?c1730
purt1746
sulk1781
to get up or out of bed (on) the wrong side1801
strum1804
boody1857
sull1869
grump1875
to hump the back1889
to have (also pull, throw, etc.) a moody1969
a1652 R. Brome Weeding of Covent-Garden i. i. 6 in Five New Playes (1659) Keeping her chamber whole weeks together, sullenning upon her Samplery breech-work.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.adv.n.1570
v.1628