♄ine

Adjective

saturnine (comparative more saturnine, superlative most saturnine)

1. (comparable) Of a person: having a tendency to be cold and gloomy.
   • Alſo amongſt the aforeſaid living creatures, ſome are Solar, [...] the contrary, are ſuch as are Lunar, Saturnine, and Martiall, &c. [...] The Saturnine, are the ſolitary, nocturnall and ſad: as the Aſſe, camel, cat, ape, hare, mule, mouſe, mole, bear, toad, and wolfe.[1661, Robert Lovell, “Isagoge Zoologicomineralogica. Or An Introduction to the History of Animals and Minerals, or Panzoographie, and Pammineralogie.”, in ΠΑΝΖΩΟΡΥΚΤΟΛΟΓΙΑ [PANZŌORYKTOLOGIA]. Sive...

   Synonyms:

   solemn, somber, atrabiliary, atrabilious, blitheless, dispirited, blue, bummed out, chapfallen, cheerless

   Antonyms:

   cheerful, jovial, berserk, blissed out, blithe, buoyant, chirpy, blithesome, bonnie, bright

2. (comparable) Of a setting: depressing, dull, gloomy.
   • All the Herbs which delight moſt to grow in Saturnine places, are Saturnine Herbs. But Henbane delights moſt to grow in Saturnine places, and whol Cart loads of it may be found neer the places where they empty the common Jakes, and ſcarce a ſtinking Ditch to be found without, it growing by it. Ergo...1652, Nich[olas] Culpeper, “Henbane”, in The English Physitian: Or An Astrologo-physical Discourse of the Vulgar Herbs of This Nation. […], London: […] Peter Cole, […], →OCLC, page 67

   Synonyms:

   dark, grim, cheerless, comfortless, bleak, morose, depressing, desolate, dire, disconsolate

   Antonyms:

   bright, cheery, pleasant

3. (archaic, comparable) Synonym of leaden, of or related to the metal lead, associated with the planet Saturn in European alchemy.
   • The ſwelled teſticles frequently accompanying a gonorrhea will very well illuſtrate the effects of emollient, ſaturnine, and common aſtringent and ſtimulant topics. [...] Saturnine applications have been uſed in theſe caſes with great ſucceſs. I have ſeen that the ſaturnine water made pretty...1772, John Aikin, “Section I. On Inflammations.”, in Observations on the External Use of Preparations of Lead, with Some General Remarks on Topical Medicines. […], 2nd corrected edition, London...

   Synonyms:

   leaden, of or related to the metal lead, associated with the planet Saturn in European alchemy

4. (not comparable) Caused or affected by lead poisoning (saturnism).
   • The slow saturation of the animal economy by the metal renders the individual saturnine, and prepares in him a fresh ground, containing a reserve of lead, which, under the influence of accidental causes, may pass back in a notable quantity into the blood and bring on accidents analogous to those of...1875 August 16, “Renaut on Chronic Lead-poisoning”, in The London Medical Record: A Review of the Progress of the Medical Sciences and of Subjects Relating to Public Health, volume III, London...
5. (not comparable, obsolete) Pertaining to the astrological influence of the planet Saturn; having the characteristics of a person under such influence (see sense 1).
   • Chiromancy hath theſe Aphoriſmes to foretell melancholy. [...] Tricaſſus, Corvinus, and others, in his book, thus hath it: The Saturnine line going from the Raſcetta through the hand, to Saturnes mount, and there interſected by certain little lines, argues melancholy: [...]1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], “Starres a Cause. Signes from Physiognomy, Metoposcopy, Chiromancy.”, in The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John...
6. Belonging to or resembling butterflies of the family Saturnidae.

See all 7 meanings of saturnine