atrabilious adjective. [atrǝ'bɪlɪǝs] M17.
[from Latin atra bilis choler adust, black bile, translating Greek melankholia MELANCHOLY noun: see -IOUS.]
Orig., affected by choler adust, one of the four supposed cardinal humours of the body. Now only gen.: melancholy, hypochondriac; acrimonious, splenetic.
■ R. Graves He broke school bounds, he dared defy The Master's atrabilious eye.
■ T. H. White There were atrabilious hawk-masters..quarrelling with their assistants.

■ atrabiliar adjective (rare) = ATRABILIOUS M19.

■ atrabiliary adjective (now rare or obsolete) = ATRABILARIOUS E18.

■ atrabiliousness noun L19.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲