'melancholic' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'melankholikos,' where 'melan-' meant 'black' and 'kholē' meant 'bile.'

'melankholikos' transformed into the Latin word 'melancholicus,' and eventually became the modern English word 'melancholic' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'pertaining to black bile,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'characterized by sadness or gloom.'