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