spleen

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See also: Spleen

English

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Etymology

From Middle English splene, splen, borrowed from Anglo-Norman espleen and Old French esplein, esplen, from Latin splēn (“milt”), from Ancient Greek σπλήν (splḗn, “the spleen”). Partially displaced the native English term milt.

Pronunciation

Noun

spleen (countable and uncountable, plural spleens)

  1. (anatomy, immunology) In vertebrates, including humans, a ductless vascular gland, located in the left upper abdomen near the stomach, which destroys old red blood cells, removes debris from the bloodstream, acts as a reservoir of blood, and produces lymphocytes.
  2. (archaic, except in the set phrase "to vent one's spleen") A bad mood; spitefulness.
    • (Can we date this quote by Alexander Pope and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      In noble minds some dregs remain, / Not yet purged off, of spleen and sour disdain.
    • 1843, “A Voice from Trinidad”, in Colonial Magazine and Commercial-maritime Journal, page 465:
      Too many, however, who might take an honourable stand, fear the petty spleen of the plantocracy; preferring the most disgusting adulation, to the blessing of him ready to perish.
  3. (obsolete, rare) A sudden motion or action; a fit; a freak; a whim.
    • (Can we date this quote by Shakespeare and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      A thousand spleens bear her a thousand ways.
      Brief as the lightning in the collied night; That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and Earth
  4. (obsolete) Melancholy; hypochondriacal affections.
    • (Can we date this quote by Alexander Pope and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      Bodies changed to various forms by spleen.
    • (Can we date this quote by Wordsworth and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      There is a luxury in self-dispraise: / And inward self-disparagement affords / To meditative spleen a grateful feast.
  5. A fit of immoderate laughter or merriment.
    • (Can we date this quote by Shakespeare and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      Thy silly thought enforces my spleen.

Synonyms

  • milt (now chiefly of animals); lien (uncommon)

Derived terms

Descendants

  • → French: spleen
  • → German: Spleen

Translations

Verb

spleen (third-person singular simple present spleens, present participle spleening, simple past and past participle spleened)

  1. (obsolete, transitive) To dislike.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Bishop Hacket to this entry?)

Anagrams

French

Etymology

Borrowed from English spleen in the 19th century.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /splin/
  • Audio:(file)

Noun

spleen m (plural spleens)

  1. bad mood, melancholy
    J’ai le spleen.
    (please add an English translation of this usage example)

Synonyms

Further reading

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