ˈmelənkəlɪ n. & adj. --n. (pl. -ies) 1 a
pensive sadness. 2 a
mental depression. b a
habitual or
constitutional tendency to
this. 3
hist.
one of
the four humours;
black bile (see
HUMOUR n. 5). --adj. (of a person)
sad,
gloomy; (of a thing) saddening, depressing; (of words, a
tune, etc.) expressing sadness. øømelancholic adj. melancholically adv. [ME f. OF melancolie f. LL
melancholia f. Gk melagkholia f. melas melanos black + khole bile]