Melancholia Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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melancholia
[หmษlษnหkoสliษ ]
Definition
emotional state
Melancholia is a deep, persistent sadness or depression, often characterized by a lack of interest in daily activities and a sense of hopelessness. It can be a reaction to various emotional or physical traumas, or may arise without apparent cause. This condition may affect an individual's ability to function normally in society.
Synonyms
depression, gloom, sadness, sorrow.
Examples of usage
- She felt a wave of melancholia wash over her during the rainy afternoon.
- His melancholia was evident in his art, which often depicted dark and brooding themes.
- Despite the festivities around him, he could not shake off the melancholia that had settled in his heart.
Translations
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Interesting Facts
Psychology
- Melancholia can be associated with depression but describes a specific type of profound sadness that often feels heavy and unchangeable.
- Psychologists note that melancholia may lead to deep introspection and can foster creativity in some individuals.
Art and Literature
- Many famous artists, including Van Gogh and Edvard Munch, painted scenes that evoke a sense of melancholia, exploring the beauty of sadness through their art.
- In literature, authors like John Keats and Virginia Woolf often reflected melancholic themes, showing how sadness can inspire depth in writing.
Pop Culture
- Melancholia is not just a feeling; it's also the title of a well-known film by Lars von Trier that explores the themes of depression and the end of the world.
- Many music genres, especially blues and sad ballads, capture the essence of melancholia, resonating with listeners who relate to the feelings expressed.
Historical Perspectives
- Throughout history, melancholia has been seen as both a curse and a source of artistic inspiration, reflecting humanity's complex relationship with sadness.
- The Romantic movement in the 18th and 19th centuries celebrated melancholia as a path to deeper emotions and understanding of the human condition.
Origin of 'melancholia'
Main points about word origin
- The word 'melancholia' comes from the Greek words for 'black bile,' which was once thought to be a cause of sadness.
- In ancient medicine, it was believed that an imbalance of bodily fluids could lead to emotional states, including deep sadness.
The word 'melancholia' originates from the ancient Greek term 'melankholรญa', which is composed of 'melas' (meaning 'black') and 'cholรฉ' (meaning 'bile'). This term was historically associated with the concept of the four humors in ancient medicine, where an excess of black bile was thought to cause a melancholic temperament. The connection of black bile to sadness and gloom was prevalent in ancient medical theories, influencing thinkers such as Hippocrates and Galen. Throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, melancholia was often romanticized as a condition of creative genius, famously linked to figures like Shakespeare and Beethoven. As psychology evolved, the term melded into contemporary discussions of mood disorders and has since been adopted in various cultural contexts to describe profound sadness or emotional distress.