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Definition of "melancholia" [‖Mel•an•cho•li•a]

  • A mental disorder characterized by severe depression, guilt, hopelessness, and withdrawal. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "melancholia" in a sentence
  • "At least since the twelfth century, the term melancholia has been used to identify depressive illness."
  • "Since the seventeenth century, the term melancholia has been used to in a stricter, modern meaning."
  • "They're not for our benefit after all: the pleasure we get from them, the sweeter form of melancholia, is a bonus."