Everyone gets the doldrums - a feeling of low spirits and lack of energy - every once in a while. ... The exact etymology of doldrums is not certain, though it is believed to be related to the Old English dol, meaning "foolish" - a history it shares with our adjective "dull."

Is doldrum a noun?

doldrums Add to list Share. Doldrums aren't drums that you can play like the tom-toms. Rather people use this noun to describe a period of time that is boring, depressing, or characterized by inactivity. The noun doldrums is derived from the word dull.

What does a doldrum mean?

a : a spell of listlessness or despondency : blues. b : a state of bafflement : quandary. 2 archaic : a sluggish or slow-witted person. 3 doldrums plural. a : a region over the ocean near the equator abounding in calms, squalls, and light baffling winds.

Can doldrums be singular?

Singularly “inspired” by a recent, and maliciously stubborn, head cold, this columnist has been enduring a bit of a doldrum (yes, singular), of his own, which brings us not-so-coincidentally to this week's word.

How do you use the word doldrum in a sentence?

Doldrums in a Sentence ?

1. The psychiatrist said the antidepressant might help me come out of the doldrums so I can enjoy my life again.
2. After Jane underwent a painful divorce, she was in the doldrums for quite a while.
3. The widow was so deep in the doldrums she refused to eat and eventually had to be hospitalized.

Doldrum Meaning

25 related questions found

What are doldrums examples?

Doldrums is defined as a gloomy feeling, low spirits or a time of inactivity. An example of doldrums is being stuck in the house during a week long snow storm.

What are doldrums characterized by?

Doldrums are the calms of the Intertropical Convergence Zone. The regions are characterized by low atmospheric pressure, high humidity, and thunderstorms. They are often associated with the source of tropical hurricanes, the sites of water spouts, and windlessness, sometimes alternating with sharp squalls.

What are the summer doldrums?

The summer doldrums refers to the perception that the period between July and Labor Day is particularly dangerous for investors because many are away on vacation and, as a result, volatility is higher because liquidity is lower than it otherwise would have been.

Why do doldrums occur?

The Doldrums are caused by solar radiation from the sun, as sunlight beams down directly on area around the equator. This heating causes the air to warm and rise straight up rather than blow horizontally. ... The trade winds border the Doldrums both to the north and south.

What is the meaning Ofpseudonyms?

The word pseudonym can refer to a fake or false name used by anyone, not just writers. It's typically used so a person can remain anonymous. In legal proceedings, the pseudonyms John Doe, Jane Doe, Richard Roe, and Jane Roe are used in​ when a person's name is being kept anonymous.

What is the etymology of the word doldrums?

ETYMOLOGY: In the olden days when a sail-powered vessel hit a calm region of the ocean, it could be stuck there for days. Sailors called that area the doldrums. The word is from Old English dol (dull, stupid), the ending influenced by the word tantrum.

What is the unfamiliar words of doldrums?

Words related to doldrums

gloom, stagnation, malaise, slump, stupor, letdown, torpor, blues, disinterest, bummer, dullness, downer, tedium, dejection, listlessness, yawn, boredom, inertia, funk, inactivity.

What are doldrums in geography?

The "doldrums" is a popular nautical term that refers to the belt around the Earth near the equator where sailing ships sometimes get stuck on windless waters. ... The rising air mass finally subsides in what is known as the horse latitudes, where the air moves downward toward Earth's surface.

What is the synonym of doldrums?

1'a fit of the winter doldrums' depression, melancholy, gloom, gloominess, glumness, downheartedness, dejection, despondency, dispiritedness, heavy-heartedness, heartache, unhappiness, sadness, misery, woe, dismalness, despair, pessimism, hopelessness. inertia, apathy, listlessness, malaise, boredom, tedium, ennui.

How long can the doldrums last?

This is designated as the 'ITCZ/Doldrums Corridor'. Within this corridor a Skipper and crew can elect to motor-sail for exactly 6° of latitude and for a maximum of 60 hours.

What is a doldrums kid definition?

Kids Definition of doldrums

1 : a spell of sadness I tried to cheer her of her doldrums. 2 : a period of no activity or improvement Her business was in the doldrums. 3 : a part of the ocean near the equator known for its calms.

What latitude are the doldrums?

The doldrums are usually located between 5 degrees south and north of the equator; this area is also known as the Intertropical Convergence Zone. Depending on the season, and the amount of solar energy received, the zone can move 30 degrees north or south of the Equator.

What does down in the doldrums mean?

Depressed; dull and listless. For example, Dean's in the doldrums for most of every winter. This expression alludes to the maritime doldrums, a belt of calms and light winds north of the equator in which sailing ships were often becalmed. [Early 1800s] Also see down in the dumps.

Is in the doldrums an idiom?

1. Depressed or in low spirits; lethargic, sluggish, or lacking energy. I've been in the doldrums ever since my grandfather died last month.

What do cowed mean?

/kaʊ/ us. /kaʊ/ to frighten someone into doing something, using threats or violence: The protesters refused to be cowed into submission by the army.

What does eked out mean?

transitive verb. 1 : to make up for the deficiencies of : supplement eked out his income by getting a second job. 2 : to make (a supply) last by economy.

Who named the doldrums?

The earliest known reference to the region's name in print is Matthew Maury's The physical geography of the sea, 1855: "The 'equatorial doldrums' is another of these calm places.

What do you mean by doldrums in disaster management?

Doldrums is a natural phenomenon that happens near the equator. In addition, it is an oceanic belt that circles around the globe. The region has low atmospheric pressure and lack of a significant amount of wind. ... This zone or region is often known as the convergence zone or ITCZ (Intertropical Convergence Zone).

What is a secret name called?

A pseudonym (soo-do-nim) or alias is a fake name a person uses instead of their real name. Many people use pseudonyms, including authors (pen names) and performers (stage names). People use pseudonyms for several different reasons: to hide identity, gender, and/or race.