melancholy

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Adjective 1.3.1 Synonyms 1.3.2 Translations 1.4 Noun 1.4.1 Translations 1.5 Related terms

[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

• (US) IPA: /ˈmɛl.ənˌkɑl.i/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Adjective

melancholy (comparative more melancholy, superlative most melancholy)

1. Affected with great sadness or depression.

[edit] Synonyms

• (thoughtful sadness): wistful
• See also Wikisaurus:sad

[edit] Translations

[edit] Noun

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

• melancholic
• sadness