phlegm
English
Etymology
From Middle English flewme, fleume, fleme, from Old French fleume, Middle French flemme (French flegme), and their source, Latin phlegma, from Ancient Greek φλέγμα (phlégma, “flame; inflammation; clammy humor in the body”), from φλέγειν (phlégein, “to burn”). Compare phlox, flagrant, flame, bleak (adjective), fulminate. Spelling later altered to resemble the word's Latin and Greek roots.
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 333: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "UK" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /flɛm/
Audio (UK): (file) - Rhymes: -ɛm
Noun
phlegm (usually uncountable, plural phlegms)
- (historical) One of the four humors making up the body in ancient and mediaeval medicine; said to be cold and moist, and often identified with mucus. [from 13th c.]
- 1993, William Dalrymple, City of Djinns, HarperCollins 1993:
- Each person's unique mixture of these substances determines his temperament: a predominance of blood gives a sanguine temperament; a predominance of phlegm makes one phlegmatic; yellow bile, bilious (or choleric); and black bile, melancholic.
- 1993, William Dalrymple, City of Djinns, HarperCollins 1993:
- Viscid mucus produced by the body, later especially mucus expelled from the bronchial passages by coughing. [from 14th c.]
- 2005, "Endangered Species?" Hannah Beech, Time, 14 Nov 2005:
- "Even some members of the new bourgeoisie indulge in conspicuously boorish behavior, like hawking phlegm onto the pavement or picking their noses at business meetings."
- 2005, "Endangered Species?" Hannah Beech, Time, 14 Nov 2005:
- (historical, chemistry, alchemy) A watery distillation, especially one obtained from plant matter; an aqueous solution. [from 16th c.]
- Calmness of temperament, composure; also seen negatively, sluggishness, indifference. [from 16th c.]
- 1942, "Warning to Sweden", Time, 5 Oct 1942:
- But Swedish Nazis also talked of the necessity of saving Sweden from Bolshevism, and with the menacing Berlin radio gnawing in their ears many Swedes lost their Scandinavian phlegm.
- 1942, "Warning to Sweden", Time, 5 Oct 1942:
Related terms
Derived terms
Translations
historical: humour
mucus secreted in the bronchial passages
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calmness, composure
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Translations to be checked
References
- Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “phlegm”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
- “phlegm”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.
Categories:
- English terms inherited from Middle English
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms derived from Old French
- English terms derived from Middle French
- English terms derived from Latin
- English terms derived from Ancient Greek
- English 1-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- Rhymes:English/ɛm
- English lemmas
- English nouns
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- English terms with historical senses
- en:Chemistry
- en:Alchemy
- en:Bodily fluids