Feeling dejected, disappointed, or humiliated, especially after a failure or setback. The emotion involves a visible drooping of spirits and confidence.
From Middle English, literally meaning 'with fallen crest' — referring to a bird or rooster whose crest droops when defeated or dejected. The metaphor transferred to humans by the 16th century, capturing the physical manifestation of emotional defeat.
This word beautifully captures how our body language mirrors our emotional state! When we're crestfallen, we literally embody the defeated posture — shoulders slumped, head down — just like that dejected rooster. It's a perfect example of how emotions aren't just mental experiences but whole-body phenomena.
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