His atrabilious nature made him difficult to be around, especially during the dreary winter months.
synonyms
melancholymoroseirritable
word origin — from Latin 'atrabiliousus', meaning 'black bile', derived from 'atrabilis', which refers to a humoral theory of temperament
atrabilious, oleaginous, nyctalopic, pantagruelian, combinatorial: meanings and examples
Learn these 5 words from Word Ultra set 181. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.
atrabilious · adjective/ˌætrəˈbɪlɪəs/
marked by a gloomy or irritable temperament
His atrabilious nature made him difficult to be around, especially during the dreary winter months.
Synonyms: melancholy, morose, irritable
Origin: from Latin 'atrabiliousus', meaning 'black bile', derived from 'atrabilis', which refers to a humoral theory of temperament
oleaginous · adjective/oʊˈliːədʒɪnəs/
excessively flattering or ingratiating
His oleaginous compliments seemed insincere and were clearly meant to win him favor with the boss.
Synonyms: sycophantic, insincere, fawning
Origin: Derived from the Latin 'oleaginus', meaning 'oily', which in turn comes from 'olea', meaning 'oil'. It reflects a sense of slipperiness or grease, metaphorically relating to flattery.
nyctalopic · adjective/nɪkˈtæl.ə.pɪk/
relating to or having the ability to see in dim light
Many animals are nyctalopic, allowing them to hunt effectively during the twilight hours when light is low.
Synonyms: nocturnal, scotopic, night-vision
Origin: The term 'nyctalopic' comes from the Greek words 'nyx' meaning 'night' and 'opolus,' meaning 'sight,' indicating the ability to see in low light conditions.
pantagruelian · adjective/ˌpæn.təˈɡruː.əl.jən/
of enormous size or quantity
The buffet offered a pantagruelian feast, with an endless array of dishes that could satisfy any appetite.
Synonyms: gigantic, colossal, immense
Origin: The term 'pantagruelian' derives from the character Pantagruel in Rabelais' novels, who was described as being extraordinarily large and gluttonous.
combinatorial · adjective/kəmˈbɪnəˌtɔːrəl/
relating to the combination of items or elements in specific arrangements or selections
The combinatorial analysis of different patterns in the data revealed new insights into consumer behavior.
Synonyms: combinative, combinatory, collective
Origin: from the Latin 'combinatorius', from 'combinare' meaning 'to combine'