Archaic term meaning melancholic, gloomy, or of a temperament caused by excess black bile according to medieval humoral theory.
From French atrabilaire (Latin atra bilis 'black bile'). Based on ancient medical theory that excessive black bile caused dark moods.
Medieval doctors actually believed moods were caused by four bodily fluids called 'humors'—too much black bile made you atrabilaire, which is why 'melancholic' literally means 'black-biled'.
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