Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Spleen
Spleen
,Noun.
[L.
splen
, Gr. [GREEK][GREEK][GREEK][GREEK] the milt or spleen, affection of the spleen; cf. L. lien
, plihan
, plīhan
.] 1.
(Anat.)
A peculiar glandlike but ductless organ found near the stomach or intestine of most vertebrates and connected with the vascular system; the milt. Its exact function in not known.
2.
Anger; latent spite; ill humor; malice;
as, to vent one’s
. spleen
In noble minds some dregs remain,
Not yet purged off, of
Not yet purged off, of
spleen
and sour disdain. Pope.
3.
A fit of anger; choler.
Shak.
4.
A sudden motion or action; a fit; a freak; a whim.
[Obs. or R.]
A thousand
spleens
bear her a thousand ways. Shakespeare
5.
Melancholy; hypochondriacal affections.
Bodies changed to various forms by
spleen
. Pope.
There is a luxury in self-dispraise:
And inward self-disparagement affords
To meditative
And inward self-disparagement affords
To meditative
spleen
a grateful feast. Wordsworth.
6.
A fit of immoderate laughter or merriment.
[Obs.]
Thy silly thought enforces my
spleen
. Shakespeare
Spleen
,Verb.
T.
To dislke.
[Obs.]
Bp. Hacket.
Webster 1828 Edition
Spleen
SPLEEN
,Noun.
1.
The milt; a soft part of the viscera of animals, whose use is not well understood. The ancients supposed this to be the seat of melancholy, anger or vexation. Hence, 2.
Anger; latent spite; ill humor. Thus we say, to vent ones spleen.In noble minds some dregs remain, Not yet purged off, of spleen and sour disdain.
3.
A fit of anger.4.
A fit; a sudden motion. [Not used.]5.
Melancholy; hypochondriacal affections.--Bodies changd to recent forms by spleen.
6.
Immoderate merriment. [Not in use.]