[mel.an.choly] n, pl -chol.ies [ME malencolie, fr. MF melancolie, fr. LL melancholia, fr. Gk, fr. melan- + chole bile--more at gall] (14c) 1 a: an abnormal state attributed to an excess of black bile and characterized by irascibility or depression b: black bile c: melancholia
2. a: depression of spirits: dejection b: a pensive mood
[2]melancholy adj (14c) 1 a: suggestive or expressive of melancholy "sang in a ~ voice" b: causing or tending to cause sadness or depression of mind or spirit: dismal "a ~ thought"
2. a: depressed in spirits: dejected, sad b: pensive