atra bilis

From ātra the nominative feminine of āter (“dark, black”) + bīlis (“bile”). Calque of Ancient Greek μελαγχολία (melankholía, “atrabiliousness”), from μέλας (mélas, “black, dark, murky”) and χολή (kholḗ, “bile”) since according to early physiology, the excess of black bile in the human body was to result in melancholy. Compare English melancholy.

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈaː.tra ˈbiː.lis/, [ˈaː.tra ˈbiː.lɪs]

ātra bīlis f (genitive ātrae bīlis); third declension

1. black bile, meaning melancholy, sadness, dejection

   Bilem atram generantes, quos μελαγχολικοὺς vocant.

   Generating a black bile which they call μελαγχολία.

   Delirat uxor. - Ātrā bīlī percita est.

   My wife is deranged! - It's caused by the black bile.

   Atra bilis agitat hominem.

   Melancholy makes men mad.

• (black bile): nigra bīlis

• English: atrabilarious
• Spanish: atrabiliario