Definition of "black bile" [black bile]

• One of the four humors of ancient and medieval physiology, supposed to cause melancholy when present in excess. (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.

• "“Saudá,” feminine of aswad (black), and meaning black bile (melancholia) as opposed to leucocholia,"
• "Said the Caliph; “Speak, O damsel,” whereupon said she, “Copulation hath in it many and exceeding virtues and praiseworthy qualities, amongst which are, that it lighteneth a body full of black bile and calmeth the heat of love and induceth affection and dilateth the heart and dispelleth the sadness of solitude; and the excess of it is more harmful in summer and autumn than in spring and winter.”"
• "Four “diseases” are con - nected with the kidneys; there is a dropsy coming from the spleen; the disease “hepatitis” is attributed to the black bile flowing into the liver."