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morne

dreary

adjective MORN Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Appearance

Origin: From Latin maura, 'dark, dull'.

Also means

gloomy

Usage Note

Morne describes something joylessly dull or bleak — a paysage morne (dreary landscape), a regard morne (vacant stare), or a journée morne (grey, lifeless day). It also functions as a noun in Antillean French: un morne is a rounded hill or knoll in Martinique and Guadeloupe, which is why the word appears in some place names. The adjective is invariable for gender in its literary use.

Examples

"Il regardait par la fenêtre d'un air morne."

Natural Translation

He looked out the window with a dreary expression.

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