mel·an·chol·y
[mel-uhn-kol-ee]
–noun
1. a gloomy state of mind, esp. when habitual or prolonged; depression.
2. sober thoughtfulness; pensiveness.
The word melancholy is not used much these days. Not to say it doesn't exist. In ancient times, though, it was thought that the human body was filled with four basic substances -the four humors -black bile, yellow bile, phlegm, and blood. When our health is good they are all in balance but, depending on diet and activity, these humors wax and wane in the body. An excess or deficit of one results in disease or disability; too much black bile was thought to cause melancholy. Nowadays a little blue pill eliminates the excess.
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