brown study

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word 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 brown study will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofbrown study, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

English

WOTD – 4 January 2012

Etymology

From obsolete brown (“gloomy”) and study.

Pronunciation

  • Audio (AU)(file)

Noun

brown study (plural brown studies)

  1. (idiomatic, dated) A melancholy mood accompanied by deep thought; a moody daydream.
    • 1690, [John] 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.
    • 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

Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia