Downcast
/ˈdaʊn.kæst/noun
Feeling despondent or disheartened; also refers to something directed downward.
Did you know?The term 'cast down' has roots in medieval English, suggesting a connection to the act of throwing away or discarding one's spirit, much like a spell of despair.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
Old English
dūne
“down, lower, or downward”
Old English
Old English
castian
“to throw or to hurl”
Middle English
Middle English
downcast
“to throw down, to lower or diminish in spirit”
17th Century
English
downcast
“describing a mood of dejection, suggesting a loss of vitality or hope”
Modern English
English
downcast
“now primarily used to describe feelings of sorrow or disheartenment, retaining its directional sense of being directed downward.”