I. (ˈ) ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English douncasten, from doun down + casten to cast — more at down , cast
archaic : overthrow , demolish ; also : deject
II. ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun
Etymology: Middle English douncast, from douncasten, v.
1. : a casting down : overthrow
2. : a downcast or melancholy glance or appearance
3. : a ventilating shaft down which fresh air passes in circulating (as through a mine or the hold of a ship) ; also : the current of air through the shaft
III. ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ adjective
Etymology: from past participle of downcast (I)
1. : low in spirit : depressed , dispirited , dejected
2. of looks : cast downward : directed to the ground (as from bashfulness modesty, dejection, or guilt)
3. : having a downward draft
a downcast mine shaft
Synonyms:
dispirited , dejected , depressed , disconsolate , woebegone : downcast suggests utter lack of cheer, confidence, and hope, perhaps accompanied by shame, chagrin, or bashfulness
their smiling faces became downcast, their eyes held a look of furtiveness and uneasiness — Francis Birtles
dispirited indicates low-spiritedness and discouragement, usually after failure or disappointment
they could make no impression, and fell back at daybreak beaten and dispirited — J.A.Froude
a fragile, dispirited gentlewoman who appeared to find everything in the world immeasurably sad and who spoke mostly in the past tense — Jean Stafford
dejected may imply more utter lowering of spirits and remarkable loss of hope, courage, and strength
timorous and dejected, apprehending themselves to be haunted and possessed with vengeful spirits — William Bartram
depressed implies a sinking under heavy burdens, often economic ones; it may describe chronic underprivilege or indicate psychological incapacity for hope, gladness, or even purposive activity
the depressed populations of the ghettos of the Middle East and North Africa — John Hersey
depressed by his failures and contemplating suicide
depressed and stolid after the manic phase
disconsolate describes one so utterly dispirited that he cannot be consoled, comforted, or encouraged
the Jews sat disconsolate on the poop; they complained much of the cold they had suffered — George Borrow
the disconsolate frown of a hunter who has seen nothing but warblers all day — James Thurber
woebegone describes the appearance of dejection and defeat, sometimes lugubrious
officers, seamen, and prisoners alike, we were as gaunt and woebegone a crowd as had even been cast ashore from a shipwrecked vessel — C.B.Nordhoff & J.N.Hall