Saddening

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Sadden \Sad"den\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Saddened}; p. pr. & vb.
     n. {Saddening}.]
     To make sad. Specifically:
     (a) To render heavy or cohesive. [Obs.]
         [1913 Webster]
  


               Marl is binding, and saddening of land is the great
               prejudice it doth to clay lands.     --Mortimer.
         [1913 Webster]
     (b) To make dull- or sad-colored, as cloth.
     (c) To make grave or serious; to make melancholy or
         sorrowful.
         [1913 Webster]
  
               Her gloomy presence saddens all the scene. --Pope.
         [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  saddening
       adj : causing or suggestive of sorrow or gloom; "a gloomy
             outlook"; "gloomy news" [syn: {depressing}, {depressive},
              {gloomy}]