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downbeat (n.)
also down-beat, 1876, "the first note of a measure of music" (as indicated by the downward stroke of a conductor's baton or hand). It is attested by 1952 as an adjective in the figurative sense of "pessimistic," but that is probably via associations of the word down (adv.), because the beat itself is no more pessimistic than the upbeat is optimistic.
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Definitions of downbeat from WordNet
Dictionary entries near downbeat
dowdy
dowel
dower
down
Down's Syndrome
downbeat
downcast
downer
downfall
downgrade
down-hearted