splenetic

• splenetick (obsolete)

The adjective form of spleen, borrowed from Late Latin spleneticus, from Latin splen. Anger was traditionally believed to originate from the fluids of the spleen.

• (US) IPA^(key): /spləˈnɛtɪk/

  Rhymes: -ɛtɪk

splenetic (comparative more splenetic, superlative most splenetic)

1. Bad-tempered, irritable, peevish, spiteful, habitually angry.
   • 1678, Samuel Butler, Hudibras

     A sect, whose chief devotion lies / In odd perverse antipathies; / ... / More peevish, cross, and splenetick, / Than dog distract, or monkey sick.

   • 1876, George Eliot, Daniel Deronda

     In fact, Gwendolen, not intending it, but intending the contrary, had offended her hostess, who, though not a splenetic or vindictive woman, had her susceptibilities.

2. (biology) Related to the spleen.
   • 1879, Sir Samuel White Baker, Cyprus, as I Saw it in 1879

     I have already described the general protuberance of the abdomen among the children throughout the Messaria and the Carpas districts, all of whom are more or less affected by splenetic diseases.

• splenetically (adv)
• splenetical

• lienal
• spleenful
• spleeny
• splenic
• splenitive

splenetic (plural splenetics)

1. (archaic) A person affected with spleen.