I. ˈsplēn noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English splen, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French esplen, from Latin splen, from Greek splēn; akin to Latin lien spleen, Old Irish selg, Old Slavic slĕzena, Sanskrit plīhan
1.
a. : a highly vascular ductless abdominal organ of vertebrates that resembles a gland in organization but is closely associated with the circulatory system playing a role in the maintenance of blood volume, production of some types of blood cells, recovery of material from worn-out red blood cells, and probably in the production of antibodies and that in man is a dark purplish flattened oblong object of a soft fragile consistency lying near the cardiac end of the stomach and consisting largely of reticuloendothelial and lymphoid tissue enclosed in a fibroelastic capsule from which trabeculae ramify through the tissue of the organ which is divisible into a loose friable red pulp in intimate connection with the blood supply and with red blood cells free in its interstices and a denser white pulp chiefly of lymphoid tissue condensed in masses about the small arteries
b. archaic : the seat of emotions and passions : the source of laughter
2. : any of various passions or emotions or their manifestations:
a. obsolete : violent mirth or merriment ; also : laughter
haply my presence may well abate thy overmerry spleen — Shakespeare
b. archaic : a fit of anger, malice, or bad temper
c.
(1) obsolete : a sudden impulse : whim , caprice
a thousand spleens bear her a thousand ways — Shakespeare
(2) obsolete : a capricious temper
d. obsolete : a proud courageous impetuous temper : manly spirit
leaden age, quicken'd with youthful spleen and warlike rage — Shakespeare
also : impetuosity , high-spiritedness
e.
(1) : latent malevolence or spite : violent feelings of anger or spite especially when suddenly and explosively released
his countrymen vented their spleen at his failure … by sending the unfortunate naval commander into exile — A.J.Toynbee
(2) obsolete : a feeling of ill will : grudge
I have no spleen against you — Shakespeare
f. : extreme lowness of spirits : melancholy , depression
Synonyms: see malice
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to arouse the wrath of : anger