pensive C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities US /ˈpɛnsɪv/ UK /ˈpɛnsɪv/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 adj engaged in deep, often wistful or melancholy thought She grew pensive as the train left the old town behind. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 adj · engaged in deep, often... thoughtfulreflectivecontemplativewistfulmeditativemusingruminative ↔ Opposites carefreeheedlessthoughtless Word family Forms pensively Derived forms pensivelypensiveness Related forms pensionpensant Etymology AI details From Old French pensif ('thoughtful'), from penser ('to think'), from Latin pensare ('to weigh, ponder'), frequentative of pendere ('to weigh'). pensif Old French pensare Latin pendere Latin View etymology graph -> Topics Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # pensive **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** adj **IPA (US):** /ˈpɛnsɪv/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈpɛnsɪv/ ## Meanings 1. engaged in deep, often wistful or melancholy thought ## Examples - She grew pensive as the train left the old town behind. ## Synonyms - thoughtful - reflective - contemplative - wistful - meditative - musing - ruminative ## Antonyms - carefree - heedless - thoughtless ## Derived Forms - pensively - pensiveness ## Related Forms - pension - pensant ## Roots and Affixes - Root: pensif - Root: pensare - Root: pendere ## Etymology From Old French pensif ('thoughtful'), from penser ('to think'), from Latin pensare ('to weigh, ponder'), frequentative of pendere ('to weigh'). ## AI Etymology Pensive comes from Old French pensif ('thoughtful'), from penser ('to think'), from Latin pensare ('to weigh, ponder'), frequentative of pendere ('to weigh'). The historical trail runs through Old French pensif, Latin pensare and Latin pendere. In modern use it means engaged in deep, often wistful or melancholy thought. Derived formations include pensively, pensiveness; related forms include pension, pensant. ## Topics - Describing Qualities - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown