Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun Sadness over the evils of the world, especially as an expression of romantic pessimism.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun Literally, world-pain, or world-woe; weariness of life in general; in particular, a sentimental melancholy or pessimism; Wertherism.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun sadness on thinking about the evils of the world
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word Weltschmerz.
Examples
-
Shaking off what in more amusing circumstances could be called Weltschmerz, I heaved myself into a sitting posture and said, 'Big animal, just behind right ear.
A Rude Awakening Aldiss, Brian 1978
-
This poet was the Russian spokesman of the so-called Weltschmerz (world-sorrow) which had come into vogue with the
A History of the Nineteenth Century, Year by Year Volume Two (of Three) Edwin Emerson 1914
-
Goethe has called the Weltschmerz, and in which the concentrated sorrow of the world seemed suddenly to lie heavy upon him.
Miscellaneous Studies; a series of essays Walter Pater 1866
-
Disenchantment of life, or "Weltschmerz," became a fashionable malady.
A History of the Nineteenth Century, Year by Year Volume Two (of Three) Edwin Emerson 1914
-
For two years in the midst of my distress over the poverty which, thus suddenly driven into my consciousness, had become to me the "Weltschmerz," there was mingled a sense of futility, of misdirected energy, the belief that the pursuit of cultivation would not in the end bring either solace or relief.
Twenty Years at Hull-House, With Autobiographical Notes 1910
-
The troubles confided to these private pages were not due to compunction for anything she had done, nor were they caused by any particular event; they expressed simply a general discontent with herself and a kind of Weltschmerz not uncommon in a young and thoughtful mind.
Lady John Russell Ed 1910
-
Over on ITV, presenter Adrian Chiles was full of it; Schadenfreude, that is, with a touch of Angst and a sprinkling of Weltschmerz thrown in.
Sky, ITV and my daughter all agree: Barcelona are quite good | Martin Kelner 2011
-
This one makes gets me feeling the Weltschmerz all over again: a battle (to the death?) for second place.
-
Clearly, González Iñárritu knows his Weltschmerz, and he burrows deep into the existential loneliness of each character to create a kaleidoscope of cumulative human sadness and grief over the state of the world.
-
Weltschmerz lovers get a treat today - Gareth just posted a new strip.
Great Guelph Photos and Cool Blog Links by Creative Guelphites 2008
Comments
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.