Cacochymic

/ˌkækoʊˈkɪmɪk/ adjective

Definition

Relating to or having cacochymia, an old medical condition believed to be caused by the body having bad or imbalanced humors.

Etymology

From Greek 'kakos' (bad) + 'chymos' (humor/juice), combining ancient Greek medical terminology. This term was common in medieval and Renaissance medicine but is now considered obsolete.

Kelly Says

Cacochymic is a perfect example of how medical language shifts—doctors once believed disease came from imbalanced 'humors' (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, black bile), so they had dozens of words describing bad humors!

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