Pronunciation: [mˌɛlənkˈə͡ʊlɪˌak] (IPA) 
Melancholia is a noun which refers to a feeling of sadness that doesn't go away. Melancholiac is the adjective form and is pronounced /ˌmel.ənˈkəʊ.li.æk/. It is spelled with a "ch" which represents the voiceless postalveolar affricate sound /tʃ/. The "ia" at the end of the word indicates that it is an adjective formed from the noun melancholia. Someone who tends to be melancholic is referred to as a melancholiac.
Melancholiac is a term used to describe an individual who experiences prolonged and intense feelings of sadness, sorrow, and gloom without a discernible cause or provocation. The term is primarily used in a psychological and historical context to denote a person who exhibits symptoms of melancholia, a depressive state characterized by deep and brooding sadness, insomnia, lack of appetite, and sometimes physical ailments.
Melancholiacs tend to have a particular disposition marked by a perpetual sense of melancholy, desolation, and despair. These individuals often harbor a deep sense of reflective introspection and may appear excessively thoughtful or withdrawn. They may exhibit a lack of interest or pleasure in activities they previously enjoyed, experience difficulty concentrating, and struggle to exert energy or motivation in daily tasks.
Historically, melancholia was believed to arise from an imbalance of the four humors, particularly an excess of black bile. However, in modern psychology, the term melancholiac is typically applied in a broader sense to individuals who exhibit symptoms of major depressive disorder or dysthymia. It is important to note that individuals who identify as melancholiacs should seek professional help to properly diagnose and treat their condition, as depression can significantly impair one's quality of life.
In summary, a melancholiac is an individual who experiences intense and prolonged feelings of sadness, desolation, and gloom, often without an identifiable cause, and may exhibit various symptoms of depression.
A person suffering from melancholia.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "melancholiac" is derived from the Greek word "melankholia", which combines "melas" meaning "black" or "dark" with "kholē" meaning "bile". In ancient Greek medicine, it was believed that an imbalance of bodily fluids, specifically an excess of black bile, known as "melancholia", caused a melancholic temperament or disposition. Over time, the term "melancholiac" emerged as a noun referring to a person suffering from melancholia, a chronic state of sadness or depression.
