lonesome
UK: ˈləʊn.səm | US: ˈloʊn.səm
adj. feeling sad or isolated due to lack of companionship
adj. (of a place) remote, desolate, or unfrequented
lonesome = lone<solitary> + some<adjective suffix>
- lone: Derived from Middle English lone, a shortened form of alone (itself from all + one), meaning "solitary" or "without others."
- some: An Old English suffix -sum, used to form adjectives indicating a quality or state (e.g., handsome, tiresome).
Etymology Origin:
The word lonesome emerged in the 17th century by combining lone (emphasizing solitude) with the suffix -some (denoting a characteristic). It reflects a poetic intensification of loneliness, originally describing both emotional states and physical remoteness. The suffix softens the starkness of lone, giving it a more nuanced, often melancholic tone.
After moving to a new city, she felt lonesome without her friends.
The lonesome howl of a wolf echoed through the valley.
He walked down the lonesome road, lost in thought.
The old house stood lonesome on the hill, untouched for years.
Despite the crowd, his heart remained lonesome.