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Dour vs Downcast - What's the difference?

dour | downcast |

As adjectives the difference between dour and downcast

is that dour is stern, harsh and forbidding while downcast is (of eyes) looking downwards.

As a noun downcast is

(computing) a cast from supertype to subtype.

As a verb downcast is

(obsolete) to cast or throw up; to turn upward.

dour

English

Adjective

(en-adj)
  • Stern, harsh and forbidding.
  • Unyielding and obstinate.
  • Expressing gloom or melancholy; sullenly unhappy.

    • Synonyms

    * forbidding, harsh, severe, stern * (unyielding) obstinate, stubborn, unyielding * (expressing gloom) dejected, gloomy, melancholic, sullen

    Derived terms

    * dourly * dourness

    downcast

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (of eyes) Looking downwards.
  • * Dryden
    • 'Tis love, said she; and then my downcast eyes, / And guilty dumbness, witnessed my surprise.
  • (of a person) Feeling despondent.

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • (computing) A cast from supertype to subtype.
  • (obsolete) A melancholy look.
  • * Beaumont and Fletcher
    • That downcast of thine eye.
  • (mining) A ventilating shaft down which the air passes in circulating through a mine.

    • Verb

  • (obsolete) To cast or throw up; to turn upward.
  • (Scotland) To taunt; to reproach; to upbraid.
  • (computing) To cast from supertype to subtype.