antibilious
|an-ti-bil-i-ous|
/ˌæn.tɪˈbɪl.i.əs/
against bile / not bilious
Etymology
'antibilious' originates from Greek, specifically the prefix 'anti-' meaning 'against', combined with the English adjective 'bilious', which ultimately derives from Latin 'bilis' meaning 'bile'.
'bilious' entered English from Latin 'biliosus' (via Old French/Medieval Latin forms) and became 'bilious' in Middle English; 'antibilious' was formed in English by prefixing Greek 'anti-' to 'bilious' to denote opposition to biliousness.
Initially it referred mainly to substances or treatments that opposed or relieved biliousness; over time it has also been used figuratively to describe a person who is not irritable or peevish.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
counteracting or preventing biliousness; acting against excessive bile or the symptoms caused by it (medical, archaic).
The physician recommended antibilious remedies to relieve the patient's digestive complaints.
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Adjective 2
not bilious; not peevish or irritable — calm or even-tempered (figurative, rare).
Her antibilious manner made her easy to work with even during stressful deadlines.
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Last updated: 2025/08/27 22:49