brooding
UK: ˈbruːdɪŋ | US: ˈbruːdɪŋ
adj. 1. Deeply or seriously thoughtful, often with a sense of gloom.
adj. 2. (Of a bird) Sitting on eggs to incubate them.
v. (present participle of brood) 3. To dwell on a subject persistently, especially with resentment or anxiety.
The word brooding originates from the Old English brōdan, meaning "to sit on eggs" or "to cherish warmth." Over time, it evolved metaphorically to describe deep, often melancholic contemplation, mirroring the patient, inward-focused nature of a bird incubating its eggs. The suffix -ing marks its adjectival or participial form, preserving the original spelling while extending its meaning.
She sat in a brooding silence, lost in her thoughts.
The hen was brooding over her eggs in the coop.
His brooding demeanor made the room feel tense.
Avoid brooding over past mistakes; focus on solutions.
The dark clouds cast a brooding shadow over the landscape.