Forms: 4 (6–7) splen; 4–7 splene; 5–7 spleene, 6– spleen. [ad. OF. esplen (esplien, esplene, etc.), or L. splēn, a. Gr. σπλήν, related to Skr. plīhan, L. liēn. In Romanic the word has survived in many Italian dialects, and in Roumanian splină, but It. splene is of learned origin, while mod.F. spleen († spline) and Sp. esplin have been adopted from English in sense 8 c.]
1. Anat. An abdominal organ consisting of a ductless gland of irregular form, which in mammals is situated at the cardiac end of the stomach and serves to produce certain changes in the blood; the milt or melt.
α. a. 1300. Vox & Wolf, in MS. Digby 86, lf. 138 b/1. Þou hauest þat ilke ounder þe splen, Þou nestes neuere daies ten.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 100. As it is in Phisique write Of livere, of lunge, of galle, of splen, Thei alle unto the herte ben Servantz.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., III. (1586), 151. Swine … do woonderously labor with the abundance of the splen.
1650. B., Discolliminium, 46. A … lumpe, compounded of … Satyres Splens, Polcatts Lites.
β. c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 80. If þe lyuere eiþer þe splene ben I-greued,… þou muste rectifien hem.
1460–70. Book of Quintessence, 18. Brennynge watir in þe which gold is fixid … heliþ þe splene.
1530. Palsgr., 274. The splene in a man, in a beest the melte.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, 25. It is good against … the hardnesse and stopping of the Milte or Splene.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 343. Vnto this Cawle, is fastned the Splene on the left side of the belly just over-against the liver.
1619. [see SPLENIC a. 1].
γ. a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 2061. The comlyche kynge … cowpez fulle evene … emange the schortte rybbys, That the splent and the spleene on the spere lengez!
c. 1623. Lodge, Poor Mans Talent, G iij. The spleene is a member longe, softe, and rare, like vnto a spounge, and is scituated on the lefte side.
1661. Lovell, Hist. Anim. & Min., 37. The Spleen [of a cow] eaten with honey … helpeth the paine of the spleen.
1707. Floyer, Physic. Pulse-Watch, 116. In this Fever the Spleen is affected.
1767. Gooch, Treat. Wounds, I. 411. The Spleen is an oblong, flat body of a livid color; its substance is soft, and texture very loose.
1802. Med. Jrnl., VIII. 277. A propulsion of blood from the exterior parts to some of the viscera, particularly the spleen and liver.
1851. Carpenter, Man. Phys. (ed. 2), 300. The structure and functions of the Spleen … have been among the most obscure subjects in Anatomy and Physiology.
1884. Day, Fishes Gt. Brit., I. p. lvi. The spleen among fishes is found … as a dull reddish body of a rounded form.
† b. Regarded as the seat of melancholy or morose feelings. Obs.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 99. The Splen is to Malencolie Assigned for herbergerie.
a. 1425. trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc. 60. Bot þe splene haþ no vertu of gendryng anyþing, siþe it is noþing bot a receptakle of malencolie.
c. 1430. Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 201. Wheer ovir many an hed hath ake, In skorn whan she lyth on the splene.
1539. Elyot, Cast. Helthe (1541), 22. The splene or mylte is of yl iuice, for it is the chamber of melancholy.
1605. 1st Pt. Jeronimo, III. i. Not one little thought … But should raise spleens big as a cannon bullet Within your bosomes. Ibid., III. ii. Why, this would vex The resolution of a suffering spleene.
1665. Boyle, Occas. Refl., II. xiv. (1848), 142. Those petty Chilnesses that formerly I … was apt to impute to nothing but Fumes of the Spleen, or Melancholy Vapours.
† c. Regarded as the seat of laughter or mirth. Obs. (Freq. c. 1600.)
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 100. The galle serveth to do wreche, The Splen doth him to lawhe and pleie, Whan al unclennesse is aweie.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. xli. (Bodl. MS.). Some men menyn þat þe melte is cause of laugȝhing, for by þe splene we laugȝhen.
14[?]. Pol., Rel., & L. Poems (1866), 37. The mynde is in the Brayne…. Gladnes in the splene.
1547. Boorde, Brev. Health, ccvii. 71. A splene, the whiche … doth make a manne to laughe.
1598. Bp. Hall, Sat., IV. i. 74. Now laugh I loud, and breake my splene to see This pleasing pastime of my poesie.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit. (1637), 464. Such matter as will make you laugh your fill, if you have a laughing spleene.
1635. Quarles, Embl., II. iv. (1718), 77. Come burst your spleens with laughter to behold A new found vanity.
1681. Colvil, Whigs Supplic. (1751), 91. Some for laughter burst their reins, And other some did split their spleens.
† 2. In various phrases: † a. Of or on the spleen, in jest or play. Obs.
c. 1460. Sir R. Ros, La Belle Dame, 327. For wordes which said ben of þe splene, In fayr langage, paynted ful plesantlye.
a. 1500. Nut-brown Maid, in Arnolde’s Chron. (1811), 203. When men wyl breke promyse, they speke the wordis on the splene.
† b. From the spleen, from the heart. Sc. Obs.
c. 1480. Henryson, Poems (S.T.S.), III. 148. This prayer fra my splene is.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xlvi. 70. God bad eik lufe thy nychtbour fro the splene.
1571. Satir. Poems Reform., xxv. 79. When synneris repentis from þe splene.
† c. To the spleen, to the heart. Sc. Obs.
a. 1568. A. Scott, Poems (S.T.S.), xiii. 17. I thoill rycht grit distress, Bayth nycht & day, hard persit to þe splene.
† 3. Merriment, gaiety, sport. Obs.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., V. ii. 117. With such a zelous laughter so profound, That in this spleene ridiculous appeares, To checke their folly, passions solemne teares. Ibid. (1596), Tam. Shr., Induct. i. 137. Haply my presence May well abate the ouer-merrie spleene, Which otherwise would grow into extreames.
† 4. a. A sudden impulse; a whim or caprice.
1592. Shaks., Ven. & Ad., 907. A thousand spleens bear her a thousand ways. Ibid. (1596), 1 Hen. IV., V. ii. 19. A haire-brain’d Hotspurre, gouern’d by a Spleene.
a. 1625. Fletcher, Wom. Pleas’d, I. ii. Not wandring after every toy comes cross ye, Nor struck with every spleen.
† b. Caprice; changeable temper. Obs.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., III. ii. 10. I must forsooth be forst To giue my hand … Vnto a mad-braine rudesby, full of spleene. Ibid. (1596), 1 Hen. IV., II. iii. 81. Out you mad-headed Ape, a Weazell hath not such a deale of Spleene, as you are tost with.
† 5. Hot or proud temper; high spirit, courage, resolute mind. Obs.
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., III. i. 163. All this … Could not take truce with the vnruly spleene Of Tybalts deafe to peace.
1598. B. Jonson, Ev. Man in Hum., III. i. She [= beauty] will infuse true motion in a stone,… Stuffe peasants bosoms with proud Cæsars spleene.
1600. Heywood, 1st Pt. Edw. IV., Wks. 1874, I. 34. That I shrunk backe, that I was neuer seene To show my manly spleen but with a whip?
1605. Play of Stucley, in Simpson, Sch. Shaks. (1878), I. 213. Your kind submission might have wrought What your high spleen and courage cannot do.
† b. Impetuosity, eagerness. Obs.
1595. Shaks., John, II. i. 448. With swifter spleene then powder can enforce The mouth of passage shall we fling wide ope. Ibid., V. vii. 50. Oh, I am scalded with my violent motion And spleene of speede, to see your Maiesty.
6. Violent ill-nature or ill-humor; irritable or peevish temper: a. With possessive pronouns, etc.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., II. iv. 64. O prepostorous And franticke outrage, end thy damned spleene.
1608. Chapman, Dk. of Byron, V. i. 136. Let others learn by him to curb their spleens, Before they be curb’d, and to cease their grudges.
1642–4. Vicars, God in Mount (1844), 64. The poysonous malice and incorrigible spight and splene of the malignant partie.
1710. Steele, Tatler, No. 4, ¶ 3. His spleen is so extremely moved on this Occasion that he is going to publish a Treatise against Opera’s.
1781. Wesley, Wks. (1872), XIII. 462. I impute this to his [Locke’s] violent spleen against logic.
1824. Dibdin, Libr. Comp., II. 345. The spleen and sophistry that marked the notes of the earlier Cantos of Child Harold.
1885. Rawlinson, Egypt. & Bab., II. xii. 425. This time he … vented his spleen on the Jews by renewed attacks and oppressions.
b. Without limiting word.
1604. Dekker, King’s Entertainm., H iv b. Iustice in causes, Fortitude gainst foes, Temprance in spleene.
1662. Playford, Skill Mus., Pref. (1674), 5. It abateth Spleen and Hatred.
1728. Young, Love of Fame, IV. 16. Vex’d at a public fame, so justly won, The jealous Chremes is with spleen undone.
1752. Hume, Pol. Disc., v. 81. An author, who has … more spleen, prejudice and passion than any of these qualities.
1822. Hazlitt, Table-t., Ser. II. xviii. (1869), 381. This may be very well as an ebullition of spleen or vanity.
1859. Tennyson, Marriage of Geraint, 273. Whereat Geraint flash’d into sudden spleen.
7. With a: a. A fit of temper; a passion. Also transf. Obs. exc. arch.
1589. R. Harvey, Pl. Perc. (1860), 13. Fie, fie, will you vpon a spleen run vpon a Christen body with full cry and open mouth?
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., I. i. 146. Briefe as the lightning in the collied night, That (in a spleene) vnfolds both heauen and earth.
1609. R. Barnerd, Faithf. Shepheard, 74. Neuer speake with partiall affection against any in a spleene, euill will seldome speaks well.
[1814. Cary, Dante, Par., XXX. 47. As when the lightning, in a sudden spleen Unfolded, dashes from the blinding eyes The visive spirits.]
† b. A grudge; a spite or ill-will. Obs.
1616. Min. Archd. Colchester (MS.), fol. 110. There is a spleene betwixt one of the Churchwardens, and this partie.
1665. Manley, Grotius’ Low C. Wars, 825. The Duke having a spleen to the City.
1692. R. L’Estrange, Josephus, Wars Jews, VII. xxx. (1733), 802. Onias did not do all this … for God’s sake … but out of a Spleen he bore to the Jerusalem Jews.
1722. De Foe, Col. Jack (1840), 201. The devil owing me a spleen ever since I refused being a thief.
8. With the: † a. Amusement, delight. Obs.–1
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., III. ii. 72. If you desire the spleene, and will laughe your selues into stitches, follow me.
† b. Indignation, ill-humor, To bear (one) upon the spleen, to bear resentment against. Obs.
1600. W. Watson, Decacordon (1602), 101. Howsoeuer vpon the spleene they sought for it at that time: he acquainted the Pope Clement with it.
1623. Bingham, Xenophon, 36. The Ægyptians, whom you principally beare vpon the spleen.
1629. J. Maxwell, trans. Herodian, I. 32. Diuers that … bore Perennius vpon the spleene, for his intolerable haughty and disdainfull Carriage.
c. Excessive dejection or depression of spirits; gloominess and irritability; moroseness; melancholia. Now arch.
1664. Killigrew, Pandora, II. Onely some fumes from his heart, Madam, makes his head addle. ’Tis call’d the spleen of late, and much in fashion.
1673. Temple, Observ. United Prov., Wks. 1720, I. 54. Strangers among them are apt to complain of the Spleen, but those of the Country seldom or never.
1711. Shaftesb., Charac. (1737), II. I. 199. At first, I look’d on you as deeply in the Spleen.
1726. Swift, Gulliver, IV. vii. Yet here I could discover the true seeds of the spleen, which only seizeth on the lazy, the luxurious, and the rich.
1838. Lytton, Alice, I. 153. This quiet room gives me the spleen, I fancy.
d. Without article in the same sense.
1690. Temple, Ess., Poetry, Wks. 1720, I. 248. Our Country must be confess’d to be what a great foreign Physician called it, the Region of Spleen.
1718. Lady M. W. Montagu, Lett. to Mrs. Thistlethwayte, 25 Sept. [I have] a mind weakened by sickness, [and] a head muddled with spleen.
a. 1763. Shenstone, Ess., Wks. 1765, II. 205. Spleen is often little else than obstructed perspiration.
1811. Miss L. M. Hawkins, C’tess & Gertr., I. 25. Professing that he knew not now in whom to place confidence, he gave himself up to spleen and seclusion.
1860. W. Collins, Wom. in White, II. ii. 179. He is the victim of English spleen.
personif. 1712–4. Pope, Rape Lock, IV. 26. The gloomy Cave of Spleen.
9. attrib. a. In sense 1, as spleen artery, blood, -lymph, -mixture, -powder, -pulp, side, vein, etc.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 146. When hee hath drunke it, [let him] lie vpon the spleene side.
1611. Cotgr., Artere splenitique, the spleene arterie. Ibid., s.v. Veine, La petite gastrique … is the first branch of the spleene veine.
1834. Good’s Study Med. (ed. 4), I. 367. The spleen-powder and spleen-mixture of Bengal.
1847–9. Todd’s Cycl. Anat., IV. 778/2. He [Gerlach] altogether denies the existence of these granule-cells … in the spleen-pulp. Ibid., 796/2. In calves and sheep a reddish spleen-lymph is often found.
1897. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., IV. 536. Caseous masses … loosely embedded in the spleen substance.
b. In transf. senses, as spleen-fit, -fog, etc.
a. 1653. G. Daniel, Idyll, iii. 75. All the world Trades in this magicke; though the foole be hurl’d Spleen-Shittle-Cocke.
1737. M. Green, Spleen, 8. If spleen-fogs rise at close of day, I clear my ev’ning with a play.
1878. Browning, Poets Croisic, 28. Song’s remedies for spleen-fits.
10. Comb., as spleen-born, -devoured, -pained, -piercing, -shaped, -sick, -struck, -swollen adjs.
1570. Levins, Manip., 121. Splensicke, spleneticus.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. Index s.v., For the Spleene pained, swelled, hard, obstructed, or otherwise diseased.
1609. Ev. Woman in Hum., I. i. in Bullen, O. Pl., IV. 307. Another, with a spleene-devoured face, Her eies as hollow as Anatomy.
1649. G. Daniel, Trinarch., To Rdr. A fine Spleen-peirceing Witt.
1677. Miége, Fr. Dict., II. Splenetick, Spleen-sick, or troubled with the Spleen.
1763–5. Churchill, Gotham, I. 14. A gloom thro’ which to spleen-struck minds, Religion, horror-stamp’d, a passage finds.
1775. Sheridan, Rivals, Pref. They are usually spleen-swoln from a vain idea of increasing their consequence.
1859. Tennyson, Merlin & V., 552. You breathe but accusation vast and vague, Spleen-born, I think, and proofless.
1888. Rolleston & Jackson, Anim. Life, 113–4. A spleen-shaped body, the albuminiparous gland.
