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bilious

[bil-yuh s]
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adjective
  1. Physiology, Pathology. pertaining to bile or to an excess secretion of bile.
  2. Pathology. suffering from, caused by, or attended by trouble with the bile or liver.
  3. peevish; irritable; cranky.
  4. extremely unpleasant or distasteful: a long scarf of bright, bilious green.
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Origin of bilious

From the Latin word bīliōsus, dating back to 1535–45. See bile, -ous
Related formsbil·ious·ly, adverbbil·ious·ness, nounnon·bil·ious, adjectivenon·bil·ious·ly, adverbnon·bil·ious·ness, nounun·bil·ious, adjectiveun·bil·ious·ly, adverbun·bil·ious·ness, noun

Synonyms

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3. grumpy, crabby, cross, grouchy, dyspeptic.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for biliousness

Historical Examples

  • There are children with whom eggs do not agree; these children are disposed to "biliousness."

    The Eugenic Marriage, Vol 2 (of 4)

    W. Grant Hague

  • Hot baths are an excellent remedy for nausea or biliousness.

  • Fats, when freely used, give rise to indigestion and 'biliousness.'

    Science in the Kitchen.

    Mrs. E. E. Kellogg

  • There is more yellow in life from biliousness, than from the state of the atmosphere.

  • It is of special service in dyspepsia, biliousness, rheumatism, etc.

British Dictionary definitions for biliousness

bilious

adjective
  1. of or relating to bile
  2. affected with or denoting any disorder related to excess secretion of bile
  3. informal (esp of colours) extremely distasteful; nauseatinga bilious green
  4. informal bad-tempered; irritable
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Derived Formsbiliousness, noun

Word Origin

C16: from Latin bīliōsus full of bile 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for biliousness

bilious

adj.

1540s, "pertaining to bile, biliary," from French bilieux, from Latin biliosus "pertaining to bile," from bilis (see bile). Meaning "wrathful, peevish, ill-tempered" (as people afflicted with an excess of bile were believed to be) is attested from 1560s. This is the main modern sense in English and French; the more literal meaning being taken up by biliary. Related: Biliousness.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
biliousness in Medicine

bilious

(bĭl′yəs)
adj.
  1. Of, relating to, or containing bile; biliary.
  2. Characterized by an excess secretion of bile.
  3. Relating to, characterized by, or experiencing gastric distress caused by a disorder of the liver or gallbladder.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.