noun pl. melancholies -·chol′·ies

1. Obsolete
   1. black bile: in medieval times considered to be one of the four humors of the body, to come from the spleen or kidneys, and to cause gloominess, irritability, or depression
   2. the condition of having, or the disorder supposed to result from having, too much black bile
2. 1. sadness and depression of spirits
   2. a tendency to be sad, gloomy, or depressed
3. sad, sober musing; pensiveness

Etymology: ME malencoli < OFr melancolie < LL melancholia < Gr < melas, black (see melano-) + cholē, bile, gall: see yellow

adjective

1. sad and depressed; gloomy
2. 1. causing sadness, gloom, or depression
   2. lamentable; deplorable
3. sadly or soberly musing; pensive
4. Obsolete having the disorder of melancholy