pensive

English
WOTD – 15 December 2009
A pensive expression

Etymology

From French pensif (“thoughtful”), from the verb penser (“to think”) by adding suffix -if (English -ive), from Latin pēnsō.

Pronunciation
  • (UK, US) IPA(key): /ˈpɛn.sɪv/
  • Audio (US)(file)
  • Audio (AU)(file)

Adjective

pensive (comparative more pensive, superlative most pensive)

  1. Having the appearance of deep, often melancholic, thinking.
  2. Looking thoughtful, especially from sadness.
    • 1748. David Hume. Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral. London: Oxford University Press, 1973. § 4.
      Abstruse thought and profound researches I prohibit, and will severely punish, by the pensive melancholy which they introduce
    • 1979, J.G. Ballard, The Unlimited Dream Company, chapter 21:
      Through the deep grass the faces of the three children glowed like pensive moons.

Derived terms

Translations

Anagrams

French

Adjective

pensive

  1. feminine singular of pensif

Old French

Adjective

pensive f

  1. Nominative feminine singular of pensif
  2. Oblique feminine singular of pensif
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