yellow bile
Noun
Meaning
yellow bile (uncountable)
One of the four humours of ancient and mediaeval physiology, that was believed to be secreted by the liver and to cause irascibility, anger, and bad temper when present in excess.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Examples
Each substance is known for having a corresponding humour: black bile, phlegm, blood and yellow bile, respectively.
The theory stated that within every individual there were four humours, or principal fluids - black bile, yellow bile, phlegm, and blood, these were produced by various organs in the body, and they had to be in balance for a person to remain healthy.
Under Hippocrates’ bodily humors theory, differences in human moods come as a consequence of imbalances in one of the four bodily fluids: blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm.
In the case of psychosis, symptoms are thought to be caused by an excess of both blood and yellow bile.