mal du siècle

English

Etymology

From French mal du siècle (“disease of the century”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌmæl.duˈsjɛk.l(ə)/

Noun

mal du siècle (uncountable)

1. Apathy and world-weariness, involving pessimism towards the current state of the world, often along with nostalgia for the past; Weltschmerz.

French

Etymology

Coined by Alfred de Musset in 1836 in La Confession d'un enfant du siècle.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mal dy sjɛkl/

Noun

mal du siècle m (usually uncountable, plural maux du siècle)

1. mal du siècle: apathy and world-weariness, involving pessimism towards the current state of the world, often along with nostalgia for the past; Weltschmerz

See also

• du siècle