Word: choleric Part of Speech: noun 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 sense 2.1 (“of or relating to cholera; affected by cholera”) and 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”). Pronunciation: /ˈkɒləɹɪk/, /ˈkɒlɹɪk/, /kɒˈlɛɹɪk/, /ˈkɑləɹɪk/, /kəˈlɛɹɪk/ 1. Senses relating to choler. Labels: historical Example: 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? Example: According as one or other of these fluids or "humours" got the upper hand in the body, did the person belong to one or other of the four recognized temperaments—the sanguine, the phlegmatic (or lymphatic), the choleric, the melancholic. Certain qualities were assumed to belong to each of these temperaments. […] The cholerics show ambition, stubbornness, love of work, courage; […] 2. Senses relating to choler. Labels: broadly Example: [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. Example: [W]e ſhall produce one great group of orators, in vvhich vvill be exhibited ſpecimens of every branch of the art. You vvill have at one vievv, the choleric, the placid, the voluble, the frigid, the frothy, the turgid, the calm, and the clamorous; […] 3. Senses relating to cholera. 4. Senses relating to cholera. Labels: obsolete Example: Persons laboring under pulmonary affections appear to be less liable than others, though I have found softened tubercles in some cholerics.