saddishadj.
/ˈsadɪʃ/, U.S. /ˈsædɪʃ/ Somewhat sad (in various senses); rather sad.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > dejection > [adjective] > somewhat
saddisha1645
downish1677
subtrist1820
a1645 W. Browne tr. M. Le Roy Hist. Polexander (1647) v. i. 265 Our Heroe..put off aswell all his saddish Ornaments [Fr. tous ses ornemens funestes], as his triumphant.
1848 J. H. Newman Loss & Gain 336 His companion..in a hesitating, saddish voice, said that he was an Englishman.
1863 C. Reade Hard Cash I. iii. 80 One drizzly afternoon they were sitting silent and saddish in the drawing-room.
1926 W. De la Mare Connoisseur 97 From claw to crest it reared itself about eighteen inches.., and in plumage was of a uniform saddish green.
1969 Times 15 Feb. 22 That saddish figure, the solitary drinker.
2005 Sunday Tel. (Nexis) 23 Jan. (Books section) 16 It's a saddish story, and Lord Truscott tells it here with authority and panache.
Compounds
Forming parasynthetic adjectives, as saddish-coloured, saddish-eyed, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > quality of colour > [adjective] > dull
fadec1290
wannish?a1412
obscure1490
sada1539
dull1552
smoky1576
sober1603
dead1640
dirty1665
invivid1669
dusty1676
saddisha1678
austere1680
worn-out1731
sombrous1792
sombre1805
toneless1833
lacklustre1843
a1678 R. Kilburne Choice Presidents Acts of Parl. (1680) 164 He suspecteth a person..of a middle stature..in saddish-coloured Cloaths, to have stoln this Gelding.
1686 London Gaz. No. 2192/4 A saddish coloured stuff Sute.
1918 G. F. Gibbs Golden Bough vi. 78 Chaps in cowls and cassocks pottering about a saddish-looking tree.
1964 W. Sansom Away to it All 141 Your saddish-eyed passer-by will walk a couple of streets with you.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.a1645