atrabilarian

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Latin ātra bīlis (black bile).

Adjective[edit]

atrabilarian (comparative more atrabilarian, superlative most atrabilarian)

  1. Characterized by melancholy or glum; atrabilarious; atrabilious.
    • 1731, John Arbuthnot, An Essay Concerning the Nature of Aliments, and the Choice of Them, According to the Different Constitutions of Human Bodies. [], 1st Irish edition, Dublin: [] S. Powell, for George Risk, [], George Ewing, [], and William Smith, [], →OCLC:
      We come now to what we call the earthy or atrabilarian Constitution , where the spirituous and most fluid Parts of the Blood are dissipated
    • 1924, Ford Madox Ford, “Some Do Not”, in Parade's End, volume 1:
      He stopped, he directed upon her his atrabilarian eyes, biting his umbrella handle; he was extremely nervous.

Related terms[edit]