biliousness
- Noun:
- A disposition to exhibit uncontrolled anger; irritability: A state or quality of being easily annoyed or prone to anger.
- Gastric distress caused by a disorder of the liver or gall bladder: A physical condition involving nausea, indigestion, or discomfort, historically associated with excess bile.
Noun (Irritability): His constant biliousness made him difficult to work with.The manager's biliousness was evident in his sharp replies to simple questions.
Noun (Physical Distress): After the rich meal, she suffered from biliousness and had to lie down.The doctor attributed his nausea and discomfort to biliousness.
- "to be in a state of biliousness": to be experiencing either irritability or physical digestive upset.
- Bilious (adj):
- Pertaining to bile.
- Suffering from or causing nausea; relating to biliousness.
- Bad-tempered; irritable. He was feeling bilious after the boat ride. (nauseated) She gave a bilious critique of the new policy. (irritable, harsh)
- Irritability: The quality of being easily annoyed.
- Testiness: The state of being impatient or easily irritated.
- Dyspepsia: Indigestion (for the physical sense).
- Queasiness: A feeling of nausea.
The word "biliousness" has two distinct meanings. The first is a psychological or temperamental trait (irritability). The second is an older, more medical term for a physical ailment (digestive upset linked to bile). In modern usage, the temperamental meaning is more common, while the physical meaning is often found in historical or literary contexts. The connection stems from the ancient belief that an excess of the bodily humor "bile" (choler) caused both anger and stomach ailments.
- a disposition to exhibit uncontrolled anger
- his temper was well known to all his employees
- gastric distress caused by a disorder of the liver or gall bladder