humoral

[ hyoo-mer-uhlor, often, yoo- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

, Physiology.

humoral

/ ˈhjuːmərəl /

immunol denoting or relating to a type of immunity caused by free antibodies circulating in the blood
obsolete.
of or relating to the four bodily fluids (humours)

Origin of humoral¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English word from Medieval Latin word hūmōrālis. See humor, -al ¹

He explained putrid fevers as specific vital diseases,—in which view, of course, he embodied humoral ideas.

The humoral theory of Sydenham, and the threefold action supposed by Broussais, were further advances in the right direction.

Soon after that, Behring discovered antitoxins, and this seemed to favour the chemical or humoral theory of immunity.

These results having been established, it seemed as if the last rampart of the humoral theory had been taken by storm.

Humoral theories, less easy to test, preserved an appearance of generality and were easily admitted.

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