Word Direct Answers

What does "spleen" mean?

Spleen: Anger; latent spite; ill humor; malice; as, to vent one's spleen. In noble minds some dregs remain, Not yet purged off, of spleen and sour disdain. Pope.

Additional senses

  1. 2.A fit of anger; choler. Shak.
  2. 3.A sudden motion or action; a fit; a freak; a whim. [Obs. or R.] A thousand spleens bear her a thousand ways. Shak.
  3. 4.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 spleen a grateful feast. Wordsworth.
  4. 5.A fit of immoderate laughter or merriment. [Obs.] Thy silly thought enforces my spleen. Shak.
  5. 6.To dislke. [Obs.] Bp. Hacket.

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