Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

black bile

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.21 in modern English

Syllables: black- -bile
IPA

19

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

One of the four humours of ancient and mediaeval physiology, that was believed to be secreted by the kidneys and spleen and to cause melancholy and sadness when present in excess.

Uncountable

Example Sentences

"But these various pursuits did not banish all her cares, or carry off all her constitutional black bile."
"The problem with treating cancer surgically, Galen suggested, was that black bile was everywhere, as inevitable and pervasive as any fluid."

Etymology

Calque of Latin ātra bīlis, itself a calque of Ancient Greek μελαγχολία (melankholía).

Origin

Source language: Ancient Greek

Word Breakdown

Root: μελαγχολία

Usage

Uncountable

Frequently Paired Words

yellow bile phlegm blood

Synonyms

melancholy

Questions

What does black bile mean?: One of the four humours of ancient and mediaeval physiology, that was believed to be secreted by the kidneys and spleen and to cause melancholy and sadness when present in excess.
Where does black bile come from?: It is traced to Ancient Greek.

How to pronounce black bile

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