ennui

Meanings

• noun

  A feeling of listlessness, boredom, or dissatisfaction, often with the inability to experience any excitement or enthusiasm.

  - "He felt an overwhelming sense of ennui during his long vacation."
  - "The novel explores the theme of ennui and the emptiness of modern life."

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Pronunciation

1. /ɑnˈwi/
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1505928"

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Synonyms

acedia , boredom , weltschmerz

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with ennui
none

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Variants

List of all variants of ennui that leads to same result
ennui , ennuis

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From the French word 'ennuyer,' meaning 'to annoy' or 'to bore.'

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The French word 'ennui' has no direct English translation, making it a popular word in English literature and art.

2. Ennui was a common theme in the works of French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre and American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. boredom: A feeling of listlessness and lack of interest in one's surroundings or activities.

2. melancholia: A state of sadness and introspection, often accompanied by a sense of hopelessness or despair.

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Quotes

Quotes by authors and personalities

1. The attendant outside was standing on tennis balls, exercising the soles of her feet, her body swaying back and forth with the "ennui" of jelly.

   - Edna O'Brien,{it}New Yorker{/it},17 June 1991

2. Thus the days of life are consumed, one by one, without an object beyond the present moment; ever flying from the "ennui" of that, yet carrying it with us …

   - Thomas Jefferson,in a letter dated 7 Feb. 1787,{"source"=>"{it}Thomas Jefferson: Writings{/it}", "aqdate"=>"1984"}

3. When the antiproton was discovered … it sent a wave of "ennui" through the physics community. Not that its discovery was unimportant, but on the basis of Dirac's theory, everybody expected it.

   - Roger G. Newton,{it}The Truth of Science{/it},1997

4. Chauncey and I were keen enough about our aesthetic solution to the "ennui" of war to try to proselytize others. He organized discussion groups with the crew; I took volunteers to visit landmarks …

   - Louis Auchincloss,"Atlantic War",{"source"=>"in {it}Authors at Sea{/it}, ed. Robert Shenk", "aqdate"=>"1997"}

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

Ennui has been a common theme in literature and art, particularly in the modernist period, as a reflection of the disillusionment and malaise of urban life.

How to Memorize "ennui"

1. visualize
   

   - Imagine a person sitting in a dimly lit room, staring blankly at a wall, with a look of emptiness and dissatisfaction on their face.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the word 'ennui' with the feeling of being stuck in a rut or feeling unfulfilled.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Remember that 'ennui' starts with the letter 'e,' which can help you recall the feeling of emptiness or lack of excitement.

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