coleric

Coleric is an adjective that is rarely used in modern English and is typically considered an archaic or historical variant of choleric. It is associated with the concept of choler, or yellow bile, in older medical and philosophical systems that linked bodily humors to temperament.

In the framework of humoral theory, a coleric or choleric temperament was described as one characterized by heat, irritability, and a tendency toward anger or decisiveness. Individuals believed to have a coleric disposition were thought to be ambitious and leadership-oriented, but also easily provoked or quarrelsome. The term appears in older medical texts, classical literature, and some early modern writings, often alongside other temperament labels such as sanguine, melancholic, and phlegmatic.

In contemporary usage, coleric is largely supplanted by choleric, and there is no recognized medical or psychological category named “coleric.” When encountered today, coleric is typically used as an archaic, stylistic, or literary variant that conveys the same sense of a choleric temperament.

Etymology and related terms are tied to the historical concept of bile (choler). The standard, widely used term in both historical and modern contexts remains choleric, with coleric serving mainly as a historical footnote or stylistic alternative. See also choleric temperament; humoral theory.