bilious

the word 'bilious' originates from the latin term 'bilis', meaning bile, one of the four bodily humors in ancient and medieval physiology. the suffix '-ous', derived from latin '-osus', denotes 'full of' or 'characterized by'. historically, an excess of bile was believed to cause not only physical symptoms like vomiting but also irritability and bad temper. thus, the literal meaning 'full of bile' evolved into its modern dual sense, describing both a physical condition related to digestion and a peevish, irritable disposition.

Structure: bili (bile) + ous (adjective suffix) bili (from latin 'bilis', meaning 'bile'); ous (english adjective-forming suffix, from latin '-osus', meaning 'full of' or 'characterized by')