Relating to or containing bile, or characterized by an excess of bile in the body.
From Greek 'chole' (bile) + Latin '-ate' (suffix indicating a state or condition). The word evolved in medical terminology to describe conditions related to bile production and function.
Medieval doctors believed that too much 'choler' (yellow bile) made people angry and irritable—that's where we get the word 'choleric' for grumpy people! The connection between bile and temperament shows how ancient medicine mixed biology with personality theory.
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