English Explanatory Dictionary

Weltschmerz

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An apathetic or pessimistic view of life; depression concerning or discomfort with the human condition or state of the world; mal du siècle, world-weariness.
noun
  1. Alternative letter-case form of Weltschmerz.

Pronunciation

/ˈvɛltˌʃmɛːts/ /-ˌʃmɜːts/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-weltschmerz.wav /ˈvɛltˌʃmɝts/

Word forms

Weltschmerz

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *weyh₁-? Proto-Indo-European *wiHrós Proto-Germanic *weraz Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- Proto-Indo-European *h₂életi Proto-Germanic *alaną Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Germanic *-þiz Proto-Germanic *aldiz Proto-Germanic *weraldiz Proto-West Germanic *weraldi Old High German wëralt Middle High German wërlt German Welt Proto-Indo-European *(s)merd-der. Proto-Germanic *smertaną Proto-West Germanic *smertan Old High German smerza Middle High German smerze German Schmerz German Weltschmerzbor. English Weltschmerz Borrowed from German Weltschmerz, from Welt (“world”) + Schmerz (“physical ache, pain; emotional pain, heartache, sorrow”). The German word was coined by the author Jean Paul (1763–1825) in his novel Selina (posthumously published in 1827).

Synonyms

acedia ennui

Related words

weight of the world
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