melancholy

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Contents

English [edit]

Etymology [edit]

From Ancient Greek μελαγχολία (melancholia, atrabiliousness), from μέλας (melas), μελαν- (melan-, black, dark, murky) + χολή (chole, bile). Compare the Latin ātra bīlis (black bile).

Pronunciation [edit]

  • (UK) IPA: /ˈmelənkəli/
  • (US) IPA: /ˈmɛl.ənˌkɑl.i/
  • (file)

Adjective [edit]

melancholy (comparative more melancholy, superlative most melancholy)

  1. Affected with great sadness or depression.

Synonyms [edit]

Translations [edit]

Noun [edit]

melancholy (plural melancholies)

  1. (historical) Black bile, formerly thought to be one of the four "cardinal humours" of animal bodies.
    • 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, Book I, New York 2001, p. 148:
      Melancholy, cold and dry, thick, black, and sour, [...] is a bridle to the other two hot humours, blood and choler, preserving them in the blood, and nourishing the bones.
  2. Great sadness or depression, especially of a thoughtful or introspective nature.

Translations [edit]

Related terms [edit]