Middle English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Old French melancolie, from Late Latin melancholia, from Ancient Greek μελαγχολία (melankholía). Many forms of this word show influence from Old French mal (bad).

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /malənˈkɔːliː(ə)/, /maˈlɛnkɔliː(ə)/, /mɛlənˈkɔːliː(ə)/, /mɛˈlɛnkɔliː(ə)/

Noun

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malencolie (uncountable)

  1. Black bile as one of the four cardinal humours believed to influence health and mood.
  2. The mood or psychological state believed to result from the influence of black bile:
    1. Ire, wroth, fury: the state of being or feeling angry or ireful.
    2. (Late Middle English) Melancholy, sadness, depression, or gloominess; the state of feeling sad.
  3. A supposed affliction caused by an excessive amount or quantity of black bile.
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Descendants

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  • English: melancholy (remodelled after Latin)

References

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Adjective

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malencolie

  1. Tending to be under the influence of black bile.
  2. Made of or containing black bile or melancholy.
  3. Having one's mood changed by black bile; depressed or raging.
  4. (rare) Due to the influence of black bile.

Descendants

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References

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See also

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