bilious, a.
(ˈbɪlɪəs)
Also 6 bilius, bylyous, 7 bileous, 8 biliose.
[ad. F. bilieux:—L. bīliōs-us, f. bīli-s bile: see -ous.]
† 1. Of, pertaining to, or connected with, the bile; = biliary. Obs.
| 1541 R. Copland Gaylen's Terap. 2 G ij b, Cankers cometh of bylyous excrementes. 1651 Culpepper Astrol. Judgem. Dis. (1658) 133 Caused by cholerick or bilious matter. 1697 Downing Disord. Horned Cattle 35 This medicine..cleanses the bilious passages. |
2. Of diseases and temperament: Affected by, or arising from, too great a secretion of bile, or from bilious derangement.
| 1651 Biggs New Disp. 74 Bilious diseases. 1671 H. Stubbe Def. Phlebot. 36 His natural habit, be it bilious, melancholy, or phlegmatick. 1732 Arbuthnot Rules of Diet i. 245 An excellent Drink in bilious Fevers. 1826 Disraeli Viv. Grey iv. v. 159 Rise in the morning as bilious as a Bengal general. 1842 Dickens Lett. (1880) I. 67. |
3. Choleric, wrathful, peevish, ill-tempered.
| 1561 T. Fortescue Forest (1571) 52 A great note of temperancie is it not to waxe or bilius or angrie for the injurie that is done us. 1662 Fuller Worthies (1840) III. 374 Here bilious Bale lets fly without fear. 1866 Sat. Rev. 20 Jan. 76/1 The outpouring of a bilious cynicism. |