bilious
pronunciation
How to pronounce bilious in British English:
UK [ˈbɪliəs]
How to pronounce bilious in American English:
US [ˈbɪljəs]
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- Adjective:
- relating to or containing bile
- suffering from or suggesting a liver disorder or gastric distress
- irritable as if suffering from indigestion
Word Origin
- 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.
Example
- 1. Fatty food makes some people bilious .
- 2. He was a bilious old gentleman .
- 3. A nitpicking tax system , and bilious attitudes towards the expatriate rich , have made some feel unwanted in britain .
- 4. She suffered from bilious attacks .
- 5. I feel a little bilious after last night 's dinner .