[syn: irascibility, short temper, spleen, quick temper]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Spleen \Spleen\, v. t.
To dislke. [Obs.] --Bp. Hacket.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Spleen \Spleen\, n. [L. splen, Gr. ???? the milt or spleen,
affection of the spleen; cf. L. lien, plihan, pl[imac]han.]
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.
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2. Anger; latent spite; ill humor; malice; as, to vent one's
spleen.
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In noble minds some dregs remain,
Not yet purged off, of spleen and sour disdain.
--Pope.
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3. A fit of anger; choler. --Shak.
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4. A sudden motion or action; a fit; a freak; a whim. [Obs.
or R.]
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A thousand spleens bear her a thousand ways. --Shak.
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5. Melancholy; hypochondriacal affections.
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Bodies changed to various forms by spleen. --Pope.
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There is a luxury in self-dispraise:
And inward self-disparagement affords
To meditative spleen a grateful feast. --Wordsworth.
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6. A fit of immoderate laughter or merriment. [Obs.]
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Thy silly thought enforces my spleen. --Shak.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
spleen
n 1: a large dark-red oval organ on the left side of the body
between the stomach and the diaphragm; produces cells
involved in immune responses [syn: spleen, lien]
2: a feeling of resentful anger [syn: irascibility, short
temper, spleen, quick temper]