saturnine
UK: ˈsætənaɪn | US: ˈsætərnaɪn
adj. gloomy, sluggish, or morose in temperament
adj. (archaic) relating to or influenced by the planet Saturn
The word "saturnine" derives from the Latin Saturninus, meaning "of Saturn." In medieval astrology, Saturn was associated with cold, melancholy, and sluggishness due to its distant and slow-moving nature in the sky. Alchemists later linked Saturn (and its metal, lead) to dullness and heaviness, reinforcing the word's modern sense of gloominess. The suffix -ine (from Latin -inus) forms adjectives denoting "pertaining to."
His saturnine demeanor made him seem unapproachable at parties.
The artist's saturnine paintings reflected his inner turmoil.
Medieval doctors believed saturnine traits were caused by an excess of black bile.
She dismissed his saturnine predictions as mere pessimism.
The old library had a saturnine atmosphere, quiet and shadowy.