moody

See also: Moody

English

Alternative forms

• moodie (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English mody, modi, from Old English mōdiġ (“brave”), from Proto-Germanic *mōdagaz (“courageous”). By surface analysis, mood +‎ -y.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmuːdi/

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -uːdi

Adjective

moody (comparative moodier, superlative moodiest)

1. Given to sudden or frequent changes of mind; temperamental.

   Synonyms: capricious, fickle

   • 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], page 4:

     How now? moodie? / What is't thou canſt demand?

2. Sulky or depressed.

   Synonyms: miserable, unhappy; see also Thesaurus:sad, Thesaurus:sullen

3. Dour, gloomy or brooding.

   Synonyms: joyless, sombre; see also Thesaurus:cheerless

   • 2020 December 2, Paul Bigland, “My weirdest and wackiest Rover yet”, in Rail, page 65:

     There's something special about tidal estuaries, due to the abundance of wildlife and the ever-changing scenes as the water ebbs or rises. Throw in some moody skies and filtered sunlight, and the views can resemble a painting by Turner - only you don't have to go to the National Gallery to see this, it's brought to your seat on a train.

4. (UK, slang) Of dubious origin; counterfeit or stolen.

   Synonym: dodgy

   • 2023, Garry McCarthy, Paula Harding, Tribute to a Hero, page 131:

     Both Garry and Wally were dressed in dodgy suits and looked ready to hit the streets of Peckham to sell moody goods.

Translations

Given to sudden or frequent changes of mind; temperamental

Czech: náladový, vrtošivý Danish: lunefuld, humørsyg Finnish: ailahteleva (fi), oikukas (fi) French: lunatique (fr) German: launisch (de) Greek: κυκλοθυμικός (el) (kyklothymikós) Hungarian: mísz (hu) Italian: umorale (it) Norman: leuné Slovak: náladový, vrtošivý Spanish: temperamental

sulky or depressed

Bulgarian: унил (bg) (unil) Danish: melankolsk, vemodig Finnish: synkkä (fi), apea (fi) French: mélancolique (fr) German: mürrisch (de) Hebrew: מְצֻבְרָח m (m'tzuvráẖ) Indonesian: murung (id) Maori: haumaruru Scottish Gaelic: dubhach, gruamach Spanish: melancólico (es), triste (es) Sundanese: angluh

dour, gloomy or brooding

Finnish: synkkä (fi) French: lugubre (fr), taciturne (fr), mélancolique (fr) German: schwermütig (de) Indonesian: murung (id) Japanese: 根暗 (ja) (nekura) Maori: haumaruru Russian: не в духе (ne v dúxe) (literally: not in a mood) Scottish Gaelic: dubhach, gruamach Spanish: please add this translation if you can Sundanese: angluh

Anagrams

• doomy