melancholy
/ˈmɛlənkəli/
noun
Origin
Ancient Greek
melas + chole — black bile
Overview
Meaning Now
- A feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause.
- A state of deep or profound sadness.
Literal older meaning
black bile
Language path
Ancient Greek → Latin → Old French → Middle English
Earliest form
melancholía
Earliest period
Classical Antiquity
Journey
The term originates from the ancient Greek medical theory of the four humors, which posited that an excess of 'black bile' (melaina chole) caused a temperament of sadness and introspection.
Evolution
- Ancient Greek (Classical Period)
melancholía
“black bile; a temperament”
Part of the four humors theory.
- Latin
melancholia
“melancholy; black bile”
Adopted from Greek medical terminology.
- Old French
melancolie
“melancholy”
- Middle English
melancolie
“sadness or a bodily humor”
Connections
Word parts
melan-
root
black
-choly
root
bile
Related across languages
English
melanoma
a dark-pigmented tumor (using the 'melan-' root)
Explore next
Related to melancholy
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.