English Explanatory Dictionary

dour

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Stern, harsh and forbidding.
  2. Unyielding and obstinate.
  3. Expressing gloom or melancholy.
noun
  1. Alternative form of daur.

Pronunciation

/ˈdʊə/ /ˈdaʊə/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-dour.wav /ˈdʊɹ/ /ˈdaʊɚ/ /ˈdaʊ.ɚ/ /ˈdur/

Word forms

dour dourer more dour dourest most dour dours

Etymology

Borrowed from Scots dour, possibly from Latin dūrus (“hard, stern”), via Middle Irish dúr. Compare French dur, Catalan dur, Italian duro, Portuguese duro, Romanian dur, Spanish duro. Doublet of dure.

Synonyms

forbidding harsh severe stern stubborn dejected gloomy melancholic sullen

Derived words

dourly dourness
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