bīlis, is (abl. bili, Plaut. Am. 2, 2, 95; Lucr. 4, 664; Cic. Tusc. 3, 5, 11; bile, Hor. C. 1, 13, 4; Petr. 124, 2; Plin. 22, 20, 23, § 49; Suet. Tib. 59; Pers. 2, 14; Juv. 13, 143; Inscr. Grut. 1040, 3), f. [kindr. with galbus, gilbus; Germ. gelb].
- I. Lit., bile (the bilious fluid secreted by the liver, jecur, while fel is the vessel in which the fluid is contained): rufa, viridis, nigra, Ceis. 7, 18; Lucr. 4, 664; Cato, R. R. 156, 4; Cic. N. D. 2, 55, 137; id. Tusc. 4, 10, 23: bilem pellere, Plin. 23, 8, 74, § 142: trahere, id. 27, 4, 10, § 27: detrahere, id. 27, 12, 93, § 119.
In plur. biles, the yellow and black bile, Plin. 20, 9, 34, § 84: purgare, Scrib. Comp. 136 (cf. poet.: purgor bilem, Hor. A. P. 302).
- B. Esp.: bilis suffusa, the overflowing of bile, i.e. the jaundice, Plin. 22, 21, 26, § 54 (in Sen. Ep. 95, 16, called subfusio luridae bilis).
And so, bile suffusus, having the jaundice, jaundiced, Plin. 22, 20, 23, § 49.
- II. Trop.
- A. Anger, wrath, choler, ire, displeasure, indignation (v. jecur): non placet mihi cena, quae bilem movet, Plaut. Bacch. 3, 6, 8; so Hor. Ep. 1, 19, 20: bilem alicui commovere, to stir up, excite, Cic. Att. 2, 7, 2: bile tumet jecur, Hor. C. 1, 13, 4: meum jecur urere bilis, id. S. 1, 9, 66: bilis inaestuat praecordiis, id. Epod. 11, 16: jussit quod splendida bilis, id. S. 2, 3, 141: expulit bilem meraco, id. Ep. 2, 2, 137: bilem effundere, to vent, Juv. 5, 159: turgescit vitrea bilis, Pers. 3, 8: cui sententiae tantum bilis, tantum amaritudinis inest, ut, etc., Plin. Ep. 4, 11, 2: videte metuendam inimici et hostis bilem et licentiam, Cic. Fragm. Clod. et Cur. 4, 4 B. and K.
- B. Atra (or nigra) bilis, black bile, for melancholy, sadness, dejection, μελαγχολία, Cic. Tusc. 3, 5, 11: bilem atram generantes, quos μελαγχολικοὺς vocant, Scrib. Comp. 104.
Also as in Gr., = furor, rage, fury, madness: Am. Delirat uxor. So. Atra bili percita est, Plaut. Am. 2, 2, 95; id. Capt. 3, 4, 64: bilis nigra curanda est, et ipsa furoris causa removenda, Sen. Ep. 94, 17.