I.the gall-bladder, gall, bile (cf. bilis): “jecur a dextra parte sub praecordiis: ex inferiore parte ei fel inhaeret,” Cels. 4, 1; cf. Plin. 11, 37, 74, § 191; 31, 10, 46, § 119; Ov. M. 2, 777: “gallinaceum,” Cic. Div. 2, 12, 29: “nigrum,” Plin. 11, 37, 75, § 193: “piscis,” Vulg. Tobiae, 6, 5.—In plur.: “fella,” Ser. Samm. 19, 333; Cael. Aur. Acut. 3, 19; id. Tard. 1, 4 fin. al.—Poet.: “hic vero Alcidae furiis exarserat atro Felle dolor, because the bile was regarded as the seat of rage,” Verg. A. 8, 220.—
B. Transf.
1. Poisonous liquid, poison (poet.): “vipereum,” Ov. Tr. 5, 7, 16; id. P. 1, 2, 18: “sagitta armata felle veneni,” Verg. A. 12, 857.—
2. Fel terrae, a plant, the lesser centaury, the fumitory (Fumaria officinalis, Linn.), Plin. 25, 6, 31, § 68.—
II. Trop. (only in poets, whereas bilis is used in the trop. signif. also in good prose), bitterness, acrimony, animosity (syn.: bilis, stomachus, invidia, livor; “odium): amor et melle et felle est fecundissimus,” Plaut. Cist. 1, 1, 70; cf.: “corda felle sunt lita,” id. Truc. 1, 2, 77: “omnia jam tristi tempora felle madent,” Tib. 2, 4, 11; Mart. 7, 25.
