black bile

black bile
noun
a humor that was once believed to be secreted by the kidneys or spleen and to cause sadness and melancholy
Syn: ↑melancholy
Hypernyms: ↑liquid body substance, ↑bodily fluid, ↑body fluid, ↑humor, ↑humour

* * *

noun
Etymology: translation of Latin atra bilis, probably translation of Greek melaina cholē
in medieval physiology and natural philosophy : a humor (sense 1b(1)) believed to be secreted by the kidneys or spleen and to cause gloominess

* * *

one of the four elemental bodily humors of medieval physiology, regarded as causing gloominess.
[1790-1800]

* * *

black bile,
(in ancient and medieval physiology) the one of the four humors, thought to cause melancholy.

* * *

n. (in medieval science and medicine) one of the four bodily humors, believed to be associated with a melancholy temperament. Also called melancholy
Origin:
late 18th cent.: translation of Greek melankholia (see ). Compare with atrabilious

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • black bile — n the one of the four humors of ancient and medieval physiology that was believed to be secreted by the kidneys and spleen and to cause melancholy …   Medical dictionary

  • black bile — black′ bile′ n. phl one of the four elemental bodily humors of medieval physiology, regarded as causing gloominess • Etymology: 1790–1800 …   From formal English to slang

  • black bile — noun Date: 1681 a humor of medieval physiology believed to be secreted by the kidneys or spleen and to cause melancholy …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • black bile — one of the four elemental bodily humors of medieval physiology, regarded as causing gloominess. [1790 1800] * * * …   Universalium

  • black bile — 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. Syn: atrabile, ātra bīlis, melancholy …   Wiktionary

  • black bile — noun (in medieval science and medicine) one of the four bodily humours, believed to be associated with a melancholy temperament. Origin C18: translation of Gk melankholia (see melancholy) …   English new terms dictionary

  • Hard Tar & Black Bile — Infobox Album Name = Hard Tar Black Bile Type = studio Longtype = Artist = Atish Raj Released = 1994 Recorded = Genre = Length = Label = Producer = Reviews = Last album = This album = Next album = Hard Tar Black Bile is a predominantly… …   Wikipedia

  • Bile — or gall is a bitter yellow or green alkaline fluid secreted by hepatocytes from the liver of most vertebrates. In many species, bile is stored in the gallbladder between meals and upon eating is discharged into the duodenum where the bile aids… …   Wikipedia

  • bile — (n.) 1660s, from Fr. bile (17c.) bile, also, informally, anger, from L. bilis fluid secreted by the liver, also one of the four humors (also known as choler), thus anger, peevishness (especially as black bile, 1797) …   Etymology dictionary

  • bile — [bīl] n. [Fr < L bilis] 1. the bitter, alkaline, yellow brown or greenish fluid secreted by the liver and stored in the gallbladder: it is discharged into the duodenum and helps in digestion, esp. of fats 2. a) either of two bodily humors… …   English World dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”