Complexion (humorism)

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In pre-modern physiology and natural philosophy, or humorism, complexion was the temperature, habitude, or natural disposition of a body, as determined by a combination of supposed qualities, such as cold, hot, moist, or dry, within the body; the term also specifically referred to the combination of the four humours in certain proportions, which was believed to determine an individual's temperament.

Some philosophers distinguished four general and principal complexions in humans, based on which of the four humours was in a larger proportion than the others. For example, the sanguine complexion answered to the air, and had the qualities of being hot and moist; it's name came from sanguis, because the blood was supposed to be predominant. The phlegmatic complexion refers to phlegm, in which it abounds, and corresponds to water; being cold, and moist. The bilious or choleric complexion takes its name from the bile, or choler; it was supposedly of the nature of fire, hot and dry. Lastly, the melancholy complexion partook of the nature of the earth, being cold and dry.

[edit] References

• This article incorporates content from the 1728 Cyclopaedia, a publication in the public domain.
• "Complexion". Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. 2nd ed. 1989.