What does "choleric" mean?
Senses relating to choler.; A person having an excess of choler, and thus having a tendency to become angry easily; preceded by the: such people collectively.
Choleric
/ˈkɒləɹɪk/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Senses relating to choler.; A person having an excess of choler, and thus having a tendency to become angry easily; preceded by the: such people collectively.
- Grammar: choleric is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: irascible, short-tempered, acerb, acerbate.
- Useful contrasts: calm, even-tempered, nonbilious.
- Usage evidence: It isn't easy to live with a choleric person.
How to use "choleric"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "choleric" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
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- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "choleric" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "choleric" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
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Final meaning check
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Definitions
Noun
- 1 Senses relating to choler.; A person having an excess of choler, and thus having a tendency to become angry easily; preceded by the: such people collectively. historical
"According to the difference of Mens Conſtitutions, ſo they have choſen various VVays, that did moſt ſute vvith their Tempers, […] The Sanguine love Pageantry; the Flegmatick, the dull return of their Forms; the Melancholy affect Severities; and the Cholerick are peeviſh and paſſionate, and think thoſe Heats that are natural to them, are Sacrifices of great value vvith God. But vvill he accept of theſe from ſuch defiled hands?"
- 2 Senses relating to choler.; A person having a tendency to become angry easily; preceded by the: such people collectively. broadly
"[A]s Plutarch ſaith, Men are not vvoont to dravv a freſh cheeſe vvith a hooke: but as for the cholericke, they dravv not, but brooze, breake and ſhatter in peeces; and in ſtead of dravving, do thruſt off children from comming to learning."
- 3 Senses relating to cholera.
- 4 Senses relating to cholera.; Synonym of choleraic (“a person suffering from cholera”). obsolete
"Persons laboring under pulmonary affections appear to be less liable than others, though I have found softened tubercles in some cholerics."
Adjective
- 1 Senses relating to choler or yellow bile (“one of the four humours formerly believed to be secreted by the liver”).; Of or relating to choler. historical
- 2 Senses relating to choler or yellow bile (“one of the four humours formerly believed to be secreted by the liver”).; Of a person: having an excess of choler, and thus having a tendency to become angry easily; also, of a person's complexion or temperament: dominated by choler. historical
"Alway remember, that in wynter fleume increaſeth by reaſon of rayne and moyſtneſſe of that ſeaſon, alſo the length of nyghtes and moche reſte. And therfore in that tyme cholerike perſons, are beſt at eaſe, ſemblably are yonge men, but to olde men wynter is ennemye."
- 3 Senses relating to choler or yellow bile (“one of the four humours formerly believed to be secreted by the liver”).; Of a person: having an excess of choler, and thus having a tendency to become angry easily; also, of a person's complexion or temperament: dominated by choler.; Of a planet or zodiac sign, season, etc.: affecting people having an excess of choler, causing anger or irritability. historical
- 4 Senses relating to choler or yellow bile (“one of the four humours formerly believed to be secreted by the liver”).; Of a body organ: affected by or containing choler, especially when abnormal or excessive. historical, obsolete
"[T]he cholerike ſtomake, doth not deſyre ſo much as he may digeſte, the melancholye ſtomake may not digeſte ſo moche as he deſyreth: for colde maketh appetyte, but naturall heate concocteth or boyleth."
- 5 Senses relating to choler or yellow bile (“one of the four humours formerly believed to be secreted by the liver”).; Of a disease or symptom: caused by choler, especially when abnormal or excessive. historical, obsolete
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 Senses relating to choler or yellow bile (“one of the four humours formerly believed to be secreted by the liver”).; Of food: causing an excess of choler in the body. historical, obsolete
"Gru[mio]. VVhat ſay you to a Neats foote? / Kate [Katherina Minola]. 'Tis paſsing good, I prethee let me haue it. / Gru. I feare it is too chollericke a meate. / Hovv ſay you to a fat Tripe finely broyl'd? / Kate. I like it vvell, good Grumio fetch it me. / Gru. I cannot tell, I feare 'tis chollericke. / VVhat ſay you to a peece of Beefe and Muſtard?"
- 7 Senses relating to choler or yellow bile (“one of the four humours formerly believed to be secreted by the liver”).; Of a person: having a tendency to become angry easily; bad-tempered, irritable; also, feeling or showing anger; angry, enraged. broadly
"[…] Moſes might ſeem to bee the ſharpeſt, the rougheſt, and the cholorickeſt man yͭ euer vvas: and that vvas againſt his nature."
- 8 Senses relating to choler or yellow bile (“one of the four humours formerly believed to be secreted by the liver”).; Of an act, feeling, words, etc.: arising from or showing anger. broadly
"Though that he were poſting in fatal iourney to deaths doore, / Yeet this quick cholerick challenge hee could not abandon."
- 9 Senses relating to choler or yellow bile (“one of the four humours formerly believed to be secreted by the liver”).; hot; also, hot and dry. broadly, obsolete
"[T]he common opinion is (though long ſince exploded by Columella) that all hot, and choleric grounds, are red or brovvn; cold and dry, blackiſh; cold and moiſt, vvhitiſh; hot and moiſt, ruddy; […]"
- 10 Senses relating to cholera (“any of several acute infectious diseases caused by certain strains of the Vibrio cholerae bacterium”).
- 11 Senses relating to cholera (“any of several acute infectious diseases caused by certain strains of the Vibrio cholerae bacterium”).; Synonym of choleraic (“of or relating to cholera; also, affected by cholera”).
"I now proceed to enumerate those lesions and morbid changes found in the bodies of those cut off by cholera, which must have preceded the appearance of the disease, and which, existing, as they did, in very different organs, had no connection with the choleric symptoms, but nevertheless rendered the chance of recovery much less likely."
Adjective
- 1 characterized by anger wordnet
- 2 quickly aroused to anger wordnet
- 3 easily moved to anger wordnet
Example
"It isn't easy to live with a choleric person."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "choleric"?
Common synonyms include: irascible, short-tempered, acerb, acerbate, acerbic, acid.
How do you use "choleric" in a sentence?
It isn't easy to live with a choleric person.
How do you pronounce "choleric"?
Pronounced /ˈkɒləɹɪk/.
Etymology
From Middle English colerik (“(adjective) of or relating to, or dominated by, choler; of diseases: caused by excessive or toxic choler; of persons or their temperament: dominated by choler, irascible, quick to anger, choleric; of weather or zodiac signs: favourable to choler; (noun) person dominated by choler, person who is irascible or quick to anger; etc.”), from Anglo-Norman coleric, colerik, colerique, Middle French colerique, and Old French colerique (“(adjective) of or relating to choler; of persons or their temperament: dominated by choler, irascible, quick to anger; angry, enraged; (noun) person dominated by choler; person who is irascible”) (modern French cholérique), and from their etymon Late Latin cholericus (“quick to anger”), Latin cholericus (“person having cholera”), from Ancient Greek χολερικός (kholerikós, “of or relating to cholera”), from χολέρᾰ (kholéră, “cholera”) + -ῐκός (-ĭkós, suffix meaning ‘of or relating to’). Χολέρᾰ (Kholéră) is possibly from Pre-Greek, or from χολή (kholḗ, “bile; gall”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰelh₃- (“green; yellow”). By surface analysis, choler + -ic (suffix meaning ‘of or relating to’). Piecewise doublet of choleraic. Adjective adjective sense 2.1 (“of or relating to cholera; affected by cholera”) and noun noun sense 2.1 (“person suffering from cholera”) are probably influenced by French cholérique (“(adjective) of or relating to cholera; affected by cholera; (noun) person with cholera”).