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What is "splenetic"

Crossword clues for splenetic

splenetic
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
splenetic
adjective
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ Dennis Jarrett replies: A somewhat splenetic reaction, Mr Francis, to be sure.
▪ The crude and splenetic expression and presentation of such views suggested irrational pathological prejudice rather than a coherent ideology.
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Splenetic

Splenetic \Splen"e*tic\, a. [L. spleneticus: cf. F. spl['e]n['e]tique. See Spleen.] Affected with spleen; malicious; spiteful; peevish; fretful. ``Splenetic guffaw.''
--G. Eliot.

You humor me when I am sick; Why not when I am splenetic?
--Pope.

Syn: Morese; gloomy; sullen; peevish; fretful.

Splenetic

Splenetic \Splen"e*tic\, n. A person affected with spleen.

Related phrases:
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
splenetic

1540s, "pertaining to the spleen," from Late Latin spleneticus, from splen (see spleen). Meaning "irritably morose" is from 1590s. Alternative splenic (1610s) is from French splénique (16c.).\n\nGloomy, Sullen, Sulky, Morose, Splenetic. These words are arranged in the order of their intensity and of their degree of activity toward others.

[Century Dictionary]

Wiktionary
splenetic

a. 1 bad-tempered, irritable, peevish, spiteful, habitually angry 2 (context biology English) relating to the spleen n. (context archaic English) A person affected with spleen.

WordNet
splenetic

  1. adj. of or relating to the spleen [syn: splenic, lienal]

  2. very irritable; "bristly exchanges between the White House and the press"; "he became prickly and spiteful"; "witty and waspish about his colleagues" [syn: bristly, prickly, waspish]

Usage examples of "splenetic".

Marcoline was depressed, I as gloomy as a splenetic Englishman, and between us we made the feast more like a funeral than a meeting of friends.

The king's splenetic shufflings to find a champion to fight his Welsh war in his stead, his gift to various cousins of the house of Gwynedd of cantrefs he did not possess, and promises of yet other cantrefs if they could win them, while the Welsh laughed at his promises and threats alike, all these spiteful and ludicrous expedients by which he sought to buy off destiny passed by the builders like withered leaves blown in the wind.