adjective
choleric
KAH-luh-rik/ˈkɑːlərɪk/
Bad-tempered or easily angered.
The choleric man becomes angry over a pencil falling to the floor.
Etymology
The disease name kholera was associated with bile, and choleric first described a bilious temperament. Its bad-tempered sense reflects the old belief that excess bile made people easily angered.
In context
for Abbot John was choleric but easily appeased. Whatever the cause, the result was that a white plump hand
More examples
- His choleric outburst silenced the room.
- She dreaded the captain's choleric moods.
- A calm reply softened his choleric tone.
Forms
choleric
Similar words
- irritable
- Irritable suggests easy annoyance; choleric implies a notably angry or hot-tempered disposition.