crestfallen
pronunciation
How to pronounce crestfallen in British English:
UK [ˈkrestfɔ:lən]
How to pronounce crestfallen in American English:
US [ˈkrɛstˌfɔlən]
-
- Adjective:
- brought low in spirit
Word Origin
- crestfallen (adj.)
- 1580s, past participle adjective, but the verb crestfall is recorded only from 1610s, in reference to diseased horses, and is rare. It's possible that the image behind this use of the word is not cocks, as often is asserted, but horses.
Synonym
Example
- 1. Cain greatly resents this and is crestfallen .
- 2. As liu was wheeled out of olympic stadium , he looked visibly crestfallen .
- 3. Vidal politely doffed his cap and opened the door for his crestfallen mother .
- 4. Parvati set off for divination five minutes later looking slightly crestfallen .
- 5. Over the channel in paris , the french , who for so long had been favourite to win the games , were left crestfallen .