choler

Choler is a term with several related meanings in historical and medical contexts. In anatomy and physiology, choler refers to bile, the digestive fluid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, which is released into the small intestine to aid digestion. In modern medical terminology, the term bile is used instead of choler, and choler is largely considered archaic.

In humoral theory, choler was one of the four humors that, according to ancient and medieval medicine, governed health and temperament. Yellow bile, or choler, was thought to be produced in the liver and to influence physical and mental traits. Individuals with an excess of choler were described as choleric, characterized by irritability, ambition, and a quick temper.

In language and culture, choler is commonly used as a synonym for anger or wrath in older literature. The adjective choleric survives in modern English as a descriptor for someone prone to anger, though it does not reflect current medical understanding of digestion.

Today, choler is mostly encountered in historical, literary, or linguistic contexts. It remains a useful word for discussing early medical theories and classical texts, as well as for describing a temperament associated with expressiveness and irritability.