Dolesome

Although I agree with Alan Kaufman that for longer works the paper-based book remains a perfectly adequate purveyor of text -- I don't own a Kindle and still can see no reason why I should, given my habits as a reader -- and that Google Books, so far at least, is more annoying than useful, his lament over the demise of "book culture" nevertheless seems excessively dolesome. ❋ Unknown (2009)

Therefore will God enlighten and gather and set the kings and nations against him, that both he and his may be buried, and have their dolesome withdrawing-rooms from the world in the sides of the pit's mouth. ❋ Jeremiah Rev. Chaplin (N/A)

In this vicinity was passed a dolesome time, the country being wild and rugged, affording handsome scenery under different circumstances, but for us it had no enchantment. ❋ John R. Kinnear (N/A)

And, to account for the semi-privacy surrounding the little work, must be set forth the dolesome incident of a printing-house fire burning, ❋ Edward Prime-Stevenson (1905)

But her mother expressed an ardent desire to hear my _vivâ voce_ corroboration of this statement, informing me that she was but a poor weak widow-woman, but that, if it should appear that I was merely the giddy trifler of her daughter's young, artless affections, it would be her dolesome duty to summon instantaneously every male able-bodied inmate of her establishment, and request them to inflict deserved corporal chastisement upon my person! ❋ F. Anstey (1895)

Ah! it's a dolesome change from Sir Murray to Sir Brian yonder at the end, and worse still, to your father, as wouldn't put nothing on but a breast-piece and back-piece and ❋ George Manville Fenn (1870)

I was thoroughly drenched, but I knew at the outset it would never do to appear to mind such an accident before an "old swamper," like Mr. C--, and therefore joined him in his hearty laugh at the dolesome plight of myself and horse. ❋ Unknown (1858)

The dolesome howlings of tie prairie-wolf, and hootings of the midnight owl, borne upon the listening air, kept sad condolence with our musings, and gave increased momentum to the pressure that crushed our spirits. ❋ Unknown (1841)

Therefore shall he die the death of the uncircumcised, both in the soul, spirit, body, or flesh of Antichrist; therefore will God enlighten, and gather, and set the kings and nations against him, that both he and his may be buried, and have their dolesome withdrawing-rooms from the world in the sides of the pit's mouth. ❋ John Bunyan (1658)

The state of possessing adequate skill or knowledge for the performance of a duty. dolesome adj. ❋ Unknown (2009)

"A dolesome thing," he said; "but my mother was wont to sing it to the virginals. ❋ Walter De La Mare (1914)

Waking at the critical time our hellish cortege approached, he gazed a moment, with eyes stretched to their utmost capacity, upon the rapidly nearing volume of fire; then springing from the roof, he ran shrieking his dolesome summons to the camp: "White folks riz! ❋ Unknown (1858)