Humorism is a term that originated from ancient medical theory which posits that the body has four fluids or humors that govern its physiological and psychological functions. The spelling of this word follows standard English spelling rules. IPA phonetic transcription of humorism /ˈhjuː.mər.ɪ.zᵊm/ reveals that the "h" is silent, and the "u" is pronounced as "yu". The second syllable "mor" is pronounced as "mur", while "ism" is pronounced as "izᵊm". This word is often used in literature to describe characters with specific temperaments or personalities.
Humorism, also known as the theory of the four humors, is an ancient medical concept that dates back to ancient Greece and Rome. It is a system that attempts to explain human health and behavior based on the balance and imbalance of four bodily fluids or humors: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile.
According to humorism, the body's state of health and temperament are influenced by the levels and quality of these bodily fluids. It suggests that an optimal balance between the four humors is required for good health and well-being, and any deviation from this balance could lead to physical or psychological disorders.
Each humor is associated with specific qualities. Blood is considered warm and moist, phlegm is cold and moist, yellow bile is warm and dry, and black bile is cold and dry. Imbalances are believed to result in different temperaments. For instance, excess blood may cause a person to be sanguine or cheerful, while too much yellow bile may lead to a choleric or irritable disposition.
Humorism influenced medical practices for centuries, with medical practitioners using various methods to restore the balance of humors in the body, such as bloodletting, purging, and diet adjustments. However, the theory gradually fell out of favor as scientific advancements and a deeper understanding of human physiology emerged.
Although modern medicine no longer adheres to the concept of humorism, it holds historical significance as a foundation of medical knowledge and a representation of the evolution of medical thought throughout history.
Humoralism.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "Humorism" is derived from the Latin term "humor", which means "liquid" or "fluid". In ancient Greek and Roman medicine, humorism was a theory about the balance and interplay of bodily fluids or humors. It was believed that an individual's physical and mental health depended on the proper proportion of four humors: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. The word humorism thus refers to this ancient medical doctrine of bodily fluids and their influence on human health and temperament.