melancholy

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Jump to: navigation, search

Contents

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

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

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Adjective

melancholy (comparative more melancholy, superlative most melancholy)

Positive
melancholy

Comparative
more melancholy

Superlative
most melancholy

  1. Affected with great sadness or depression.

[edit] Synonyms

[edit] Translations

[edit] Noun

Singular
melancholy

Plural
melancholies

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.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Related terms