Word Direct Answers

What does "sad" mean?

Sad: Heavy; weighty; ponderous; close; hard. [Obs., except in a few phrases; as, sad bread.] His hand, more sad than lump of lead. Spenser. Chalky lands are naturally cold and sad. Mortimer.

Additional senses

  1. 2.Dull; grave; dark; somber; -- said of colors. "Sad-colored clothes." Walton. Woad, or wade, is used by the dyers to lay the foundation of all sad colors. Mortimer.
  2. 3.Serious; grave; sober; steadfast; not light or frivolous. [Obs.] "Ripe and sad courage." Bacon. Which treaty was wisely handled by sad and discrete counsel of both parties. Ld. Berners.
  3. 4.Affected with grief or unhappiness; cast down with affliction; downcast; gloomy; mournful. First were we sad, fearing you would not come; Now sadder, that you come so unprovided. Shak. The angelic guards ascended, mute and sad. Milton.
  4. 5.Afflictive; calamitous; causing sorrow; as, a sad accident; a sad misfortune.
  5. 6.Hence, bad; naughty; troublesome; wicked. [Colloq.] "Sad tipsy fellows, both of them." I. Taylor. Note: Sad is sometimes used in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, sad-colored, sad-eyed, sad-hearted, sad-looking, and the like. Sad bread, heavy bread. [Scot. & Local, U.S.] Bartlett.
  6. 7.To make sorrowful; to sadden. [Obs.] How it sadded the minister's spirits! H. Peters.

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