melancholy

Meanings

Noun

• Black bile, formerly thought to be one of the four "cardinal humours" of animal bodies.
• Great sadness or depression, especially of a thoughtful or introspective nature.

Adjective

• Affected with great sadness or depression.

Related

Similar words

• melancholic

Origin

• From Middle English malencolie, from Old French melancolie, from Ancient Greek μελαγχολία, from μέλας, μελαν- + χολή. Compare the Latin ātra bīlis ("black bile"). The adjectival use is a Middle English innovation, perhaps influenced by the suffixes -y, -ly.