Definition of MELANCHOLIA

melancholia

Meanings

Plural: melancholias

Noun

  • extreme depression characterized by tearful sadness and irrational fears
  • Deep sadness or gloom; melancholy
  • depression, characterised by irrational fears, guilt and apathy

Origin / Etymology

From Late Latin melancholia, which was in turn borrowed from the Ancient Greek medical term μελαγχολία (melankholía, “blackness of the bile”), from μέλας (mélas), μελαν- (melan-, “black, dark, murky”) + χολή (kholḗ, “bile”). Doublet of melancholy.

Scrabble Score: 18

melancholia is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
melancholia is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
melancholia is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 22

melancholia is a valid Words With Friends word