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Vinony

downcast

adjective

No English definition recorded for this entry.

L311845 on Wikidata ↗

noun

No English definition recorded for this entry.

L319741 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈdaʊnkɑːst/ / /-kæst/ / /ˈdaʊnˌkæst/ / /daʊnˈkɑːst/

adj

Etymology: The adjective is derived from Middle English doun-casten, *adoun-casten (“(adjective) cast down, dejected; (verb) to break down (something); to overcome (someone); to overturn (something)”), from down (“in a downward direction; (figurative) to destruction”), adoun (“downward”) + casten (“to throw (something), fling, hurl; to overcome (someone), defeat, overpower; [etc.]”) (from Old Norse kasta (“to cast, throw”), from Proto-Germanic *kastōną (“to throw”), from *kas- (“to throw, toss; to bring up”); further etymology uncertain), modelled similarly to other constructions in Middle English such as adoun-throwen (“to throw down”) and adoun-werpen (“to throw down”)). The English word is analysable as down- (prefix meaning ‘lower direction or position’) + cast (“that has been thrown”, adjective). The noun is derived from the adjective.

  1. Of the eyes, a facial expression, etc.: looking downwards, usually as a sign of discouragement, sadness, etc., or sometimes modesty.

    “Briefly then heere Dido, with downe caſt phiſnomie, parled.”

    “[A]s before Empire and Arts made vvay, / (For no leſſe Harbingers vvould ſerve then they) / So they might ſtill, and point us out the place / VVhere firſt the Church ſhould raiſe her dovvn-caſt face.”

  2. Of a person or thing: cast or thrown to the ground.

    “VVhere liues all vvoe? conduct him to vs three, / The dovvne-caſt ruines of calamitie.”

    “[…] Dovvncaſt Lucifer revolves his State, / VVith his fall'n Angels ſits in Dark Debate, / And from This Conſtellation bodes his Fate.”

  3. Of a thing: directed downwards.
  4. Of a person: feeling despondent or discouraged.

    “His fine and lovely eyes were now lighted up with indignation, now subdued to downcast sorrow and quenched in infinite wretchedness.”

  5. Of a person or thing: defeated, overthrown; also, destroyed, ruined.

noun

Etymology: From Middle English downcast (“misfortune”), adoun-cast (“destruction, overthrow”), from adoun (“downward”) + cast (“a throw, a cast”) (from Old Norse kast (“a throw”), from kasten (“to cast, throw”)), from Middle English casten adoun: see etymology 1. The English word is analysable as down- (prefix meaning ‘lower direction or position’) + cast (“act of throwing”, noun).

  1. An act of looking downwards, usually as a sign of discouragement, sadness, etc., or sometimes modesty; hence (uncountable, archaic), dejection, melancholy.

    “[C]ome lets be ſad my girles, / That dovvne caſt of thine eye Olimpias, / Shovves a faind ſorrovv; […]”

    “I ſavv the reſpectful Dovvncaſt of his Eye, vvhen you catcht him gazing at you during the Muſick: He, I vvarrant, vvas ſurpriz'd, as if he had been taken ſtealing your VVatch. O! the undiſſembled Guilty Look!”

  2. An act, or the situation, of being cast or thrown to the ground.
  3. A defeat, an overthrow; also, an act of destruction or ruin.
  4. A cast (“change of expression of a data type”) from supertype to subtype.
  5. A ventilating shaft down which air passes in circulating through a mine.

verb

Etymology: From Middle English doun-casten, *adoun-casten (“to cast or throw (something) downwards; to break down (something); to overcome (someone); to overturn (something)”), from down (“in a downward direction; (figurative) to destruction”), adoun (“downward”) + casten (“to throw (something), fling, hurl; to overcome (someone), defeat, overpower; [etc.]”): see etymology 1. The English word is analysable as down- (prefix meaning ‘lower direction or position’) + cast (“to throw”, verb).

  1. To turn (the eyes) downwards, usually as a sign of discouragement, sadness, etc., or sometimes modesty.
  2. To cast or throw (something) downwards; also, to drop or lower (something).

    “For there shall come a mightier blast, / There shall be a darker day; / And the stars, from heaven down-cast, / Like red leaves be swept away!”

  3. To demolish or tear down (a building, etc.).
  4. To make (someone) feel despondent or discouraged; to discourage, to sadden.
  5. To cast (“change the expression of”) (a data type) from supertype to subtype.
  6. To reproach or upbraid (someone); also, to taunt (someone).
  7. To depose or overthrow (a leader, an institution, etc.); also (sometimes reflexive), to bring down (oneself or someone) from an exalted position; to humble.