DEJECTION

Definition of DEJECTION

DEJECTION Noun

Dejection is a noun that refers to a state of being sad, downhearted, or disheartened, often resulting from disappointment, loss, or a sense of hopelessness. It represents a feeling of emotional low or a lack of enthusiasm, energy, or morale, often accompanied by a sense of gloom or despair.

As a noun, dejection refers to the emotional or mental condition of feeling depressed or low-spirited. For example, “After hearing the bad news, he was filled with dejection,” or “The team’s poor performance led to a sense of dejection among the players.” In these instances, dejection conveys a sense of profound sadness or disappointment, often resulting from a setback or unfortunate event.

Loss of Hope or Spirit: Dejection can also describe a loss of hope, motivation, or enthusiasm. It reflects a lack of energy or drive, often due to an inability to change an undesirable situation. For example, “The ongoing failures caused a deep sense of dejection,” or “Her dejection was evident after the rejection.” In these cases, dejection conveys the emotional result of discouragement, leading to a lack of optimism or forward motion.

Physical Manifestation of Sadness: In some contexts, dejection can be used to describe the physical manifestations of sadness, such as a drooping posture, lack of energy, or downcast expression. For example, “He walked away with his shoulders slumped in dejection,” or “The room was filled with a sense of dejection, reflected in the silence of the crowd.” Here, dejection reflects both the emotional state and the outward signs of that emotional downturn.

Dejection vs. Depression: While dejection and depression both describe emotional low points, dejection tends to be used to refer to a temporary or situational sadness, often tied to specific events or circumstances. Depression, on the other hand, is a more prolonged and intense emotional condition that may require clinical attention. For example, “He felt a moment of dejection after losing the match, but he quickly recovered,” versus “She suffered from depression that lasted for months.” In these comparisons, dejection tends to imply a less severe, more transient emotional response.

Dejection in Literature and Art: In literature and art, dejection is often used to express characters’ emotional struggles, providing depth to their experiences of loss, disappointment, or unfulfilled desires. For example, “The protagonist’s dejection after losing his loved one was a key theme in the novel,” or “The painting captured the artist’s dejection in vivid, somber tones.” In these instances, dejection serves as a way to explore emotional depth, providing a framework for understanding characters’ internal conflicts.

In conclusion, dejection is a noun that signifies a state of emotional low, sadness, or hopelessness, typically resulting from disappointment, failure, or loss. It describes both an internal feeling of despair or discouragement and, in some cases, the outward physical manifestations of that emotional state. Whether experienced as a temporary emotional response or used to explore deeper emotional struggles in literature, dejection conveys the idea of being weighed down by sadness, loss of spirit, or a lack of hope.

Examples of DEJECTION in a sentence

• After losing the match, he sat in dejection and didn’t speak for hours.
• The team’s dejection was visible after their unexpected defeat.
• She felt a deep sense of dejection when her plans fell through.
• The movie captured the character’s dejection perfectly through his expressions.
• His failure led to a period of intense dejection and self-doubt.
• Despite her dejection, she continued to work hard toward her goals.
• The silence in the room reflected everyone’s dejection after the bad news.
• Artists often express dejection through melancholic music and poetry.

Origin of DEJECTION

The term dejection has a clear etymological background and a well-defined semantic evolution, reflecting its roots in Latin and its development into a word that expresses emotional states of sadness and discouragement.

Semantic Context: Dejection refers to a state of low spirits, sadness, or depression. It denotes a feeling of being cast down, disheartened, or dispirited, often following disappointment or failure. The term is primarily used to describe an emotional or psychological condition.

• Etymological Roots: The word dejection comes from the Latin dejectio, meaning “a throwing down” or “a casting down.” It derives from the verb deicere (de- “down” + iacere “to throw”), which literally means “to throw down” or “to cast away.” The Latin noun dejectio was used figuratively to denote a state of depression or low spirits.
• Historical Development: Dejection entered English in the late Middle Ages (14th–15th century), initially retaining the physical sense of something being thrown down or cast off. Gradually, it acquired its figurative psychological meaning of feeling cast down or depressed. The term has been used in literature and philosophy to describe deep sadness, melancholy, or despondency.
• Cultural and Scientific Applications: In literature and psychology, dejection is used to describe moods of sorrow or emotional downturn, often as a response to external events or internal struggles. It may appear in philosophical discussions about human emotions, motivation, or existential conditions. While primarily literary and psychological, it also finds use in everyday language to express feelings of discouragement.
• Current Usage: Today, dejection is less commonly used in everyday speech but remains prevalent in literary, psychological, and formal contexts to describe a profound state of sadness or gloom. It conveys more depth and formality than casual words like “sad” or “down,” emphasizing a lasting or significant emotional low.

The word dejection has preserved its original metaphor of “being cast down” to vividly capture emotional states of sadness, discouragement, and low spirits, making it a powerful term in both literary and psychological discourse.