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brown study. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
brown study, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
brown study in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
brown study you have here. The definition of the word
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brown study, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From obsolete brown (“gloomy”) and study.
Pronunciation
Noun
brown study (plural brown studies)
- (idiomatic, dated) A melancholy mood accompanied by deep thought; a moody daydream.
1690, Dryden, Amphitryon; or, The Two Sosia’s. , London: J Tonson, ; and M. Tonson , published 1691, →OCLC, Act III, pages 29–30:Phædra. [...] Why Soſia! What, in a brown Study? / Soſia. A little cogitabund, or ſo; concerning this diſmal Revolution in our Family!
1851, Herman Melville, Moby-Dick:So gathering up the shavings with another grin, and throwing them into the great stove in the middle of the room, he went about his business, and left me in a brown study.
1893, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventure of the Cardboard Box:Finding that Holmes was too absorbed for conversation, I had tossed aside the barren paper, and leaning back in my chair, I fell into a brown study. Suddenly my companion's voice broke in upon my thoughts.
1893, Stanley J. Weyman, “Chapter II. The King of Navarre”, in A Gentleman of France:After that he kept such a silence, falling as it seemed to me into a brown study, that he went away without so much as bidding me farewell, or being conscious, as far as I could tell, of my presence.
1894, Stanley J. Weyman, “Chapter IV”, in Under the Red Robe:Once or twice she spoke harshly to Louis; she fell at other times into a brown study; and when she thought that I was not watching her, her face wore a look of deep anxiety.
1978, Lawrence Durrell, Livia (Avignon Quintet), Faber & Faber, published 1992, page 428:But Quatrefages glared at his plate in a brown study.
Usage notes
Usually said as “somebody is in a brown study”.
Translations
melancholy mood accompanied by deep thought