Where does “melancholia” come from?
Melancholia comes from Latin melancholia, from Ancient Greek μελαγχολία, combining μέλας (black) and χολή (bile), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots relating to darkness and flow.
melancholia (English): Deep sadness or gloom; melancholy; Clinical...
Definitions
- Deep sadness or gloom; melancholy; Clinical...
Ancestry of “melancholia”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Late Latin | melancholia | — |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | μελαγχολία | melancholy, atrabiliousness |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | μελάγχολος | dipped in black bile |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | χόλος | gall, bile |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | χολή | gall, bile; gall bladder; bitterness, wrath,... |
| 6 | Proto-Hellenic | kʰolā́ | gall, bile |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵʰolh₃-éh₂ | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵʰelh₃- | to flourish; green, yellow |