noun
a humor that was once believed to be secreted by the kidneys or spleen and to cause sadness and melancholy
• Syn: ↑melancholy
• Hypernyms: ↑liquid body substance, ↑bodily fluid, ↑body fluid, ↑humor, ↑humour
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nounEtymology: translation of Latin atra bilis, probably translation of Greek melaina cholē
in medieval physiology and natural philosophy : a humor (sense 1b(1)) believed to be secreted by the kidneys or spleen and to cause gloominess
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one of the four elemental bodily humors of medieval physiology, regarded as causing gloominess.
[1790-1800]
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black bile,
(in ancient and medieval physiology) the one of the four humors, thought to cause melancholy.
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n. (in medieval science and medicine) one of the four bodily humors, believed to be associated with a melancholy temperament. Also called melancholy
Origin:
late 18th cent.: translation of Greek melankholia (see ). Compare with atrabilious
Useful english dictionary. 2012.