melancholy

Where does the word "melancholy" come from? It comes from Greek melankholia, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Melancholy’s story begins in Greek: melankholia meant “black bile.” Literally black bile, one of the four bodily humors believed to cause sadness. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as melancholie. Carried into French medical and emotional vocabulary. It reached English by 1300s as melancholy. Settled as the English word for a pensive, sorrowful mood. Today, melancholy means a deep, thoughtful sadness, often without an obvious cause.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient melankholia "black bile", literally black bile, one of the four bodily humors believed to cause sadness.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval melancholie "a state of deep sadness", carried into French medical and emotional vocabulary.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s melancholy "a pensive, thoughtful sadness", settled as the English word for a pensive, sorrowful mood.