choler: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareLiterary / Historical / Archaic
Quick answer
What does “choler” mean?
One of the four bodily humours in medieval physiology, believed to cause anger and a bilious temperament.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
One of the four bodily humours in medieval physiology, believed to cause anger and a bilious temperament.
Proneness to anger or irritability; a state of intense anger or rage. An archaic, literary term for anger.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in contemporary usage, as the word is equally rare in both varieties. Historically, the spelling and pronunciation have been consistent.
Connotations
In both regions, the word carries connotations of archaic, formal, or Shakespearean language.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in modern speech and writing for both. Might be encountered slightly more in British texts due to the preservation of older literature in education.
Grammar
How to Use “choler” in a Sentence
to be full of + cholerto vent + choler + (on/upon someone)to rouse/stir + possessive + cholerVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “choler” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No standard verb form for 'choler']
American English
- [No standard verb form for 'choler']
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverb form for 'choler']
American English
- [No standard adverb form for 'choler']
adjective
British English
- His choleric outburst was legendary in the club.
American English
- The debate left him in a choleric mood for days.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used only in historical, literary, or history-of-medicine texts.
Everyday
Virtually never used; would sound archaic or pretentious.
Technical
Used in historical discussions of humoural theory in medicine.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “choler”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “choler”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “choler”
- Using it in modern contexts; confusing it with 'cholera'; mispronouncing it as /tʃəʊlə/ (like 'chole-' in cholesterol).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is extremely rare and considered archaic or literary. The adjective 'choleric' is slightly more common but still formal.
'Choler' is an archaic, specific term historically linked to bodily humour theory, implying a bilious, irascible temperament. 'Anger' is the general, modern term for the emotion.
No, they are false friends. 'Choler' comes from Greek 'kholē' (bile). 'Cholera' comes from Greek 'kholera' (a flow of bile), but refers to a specific infectious disease. They share an etymological root but are not semantically related in modern use.
For most learners, no. It is a word for passive recognition when reading older literature (e.g., Shakespeare, Marlowe). Use 'anger', 'rage', or 'fury' for active vocabulary.
One of the four bodily humours in medieval physiology, believed to cause anger and a bilious temperament.
Choler is usually literary / historical / archaic in register.
Choler: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒlə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːlər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms with 'choler' alone; 'choleric' is used in 'a choleric temper']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'choler' as the 'colour' of anger (yellow bile) in old medicine. It sounds like 'collar' – imagine someone so angry their face turns red up to their collar.
Conceptual Metaphor
ANGER IS A HOT FLUID IN A CONTAINER (e.g., 'boiling with choler').
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'choler' be MOST appropriately used?