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spleen

noun

a highly vascular, glandular, ductless organ, situated in humans at the cardiac end of the stomach, serving chiefly in the formation of mature lymphocytes, in the destruction of worn-out red blood cells, and as a reservoir for blood.
Obsolete. this organ conceived of as the seat of spirit and courage or of such emotions as mirth, ill humor, melancholy,
etc.
ill humor, peevish temper, or spite.
Synonyms: acrimoniousness, anger, ire, wrath, rancor, petulance

/ spliːn /

noun

a spongy highly vascular organ situated near the stomach in man. It forms lymphocytes, produces antibodies, aids in destroying worn-out red blood cells, and filters bacteria and foreign particles from the blood
lienalspleneticsplenic
the corresponding organ in other animals
spitefulness or ill humour; peevishness
to vent one's spleen
archaic.
the organ in the human body considered to be the seat of the emotions
archaic.
obsolete.

/ splēn /

An organ in vertebrate animals that in humans is located on the left side of the abdomen near the stomach. The spleen is mainly composed of lymph nodes and blood vessels. It filters the blood, stores red blood cells (erythrocytes) and destroys old ones, and produces white blood cells (lymphocytes).

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Derived Forms

ˈspleenish, adjective

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Other Words From

spleenish adjective
un·spleenish adjective
un·spleenish·ly adverb

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Word History and Origins

Origin of spleen1

1250–1300; Middle English < Latin splēn < Greek splḗn; akin to Sanskrit plīhan, Latin liēn spleen

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Word History and Origins

Origin of spleen1

C13: from Old French esplen, from Latin splēn, from Greek; related to Latin lien spleen

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Example Sentences

She is keeping her children home because their father does not have a spleen, which makes him more vulnerable to the virus.

We’ve seen the abuses, heard all the excuses, And don’t care if you vent your spleen.

There’s some evidence that SARS-CoV-2 can interfere with immune processes in the lymph nodes and spleen in ways that might prevent the immune system from “remembering” the virus if it sees it again.

Once inside a cell, the parasite produces proteins that dock on the cell’s exterior and make it stick to blood vessels so that it won’t be carried to the spleen, where it would otherwise get removed from the body.

Back in the 90s, scientists found that pinching this spot can activate nerves that lead to the spleen, which produces immune cells and is a major regulator of inflammation.

Internal organs like the spleen swell up and become as hard as sausages.

As with pretty much everything the former governor does, this is all about Venting the Spleen of Sarah.

Not that Cheney, even at his frailest, ever failed to vent his spleen with impressive vigor.

The shot damaged his liver, lungs, pancreas and spleen and has left him paralyzed from the waist down.

The internal injuries cost him his spleen and part of his pancreas, but he could skate without those.

Large mononuclear leukocytes probably originate in the bone-marrow or spleen.

Would you mind telling me what made you so confident that the spleen had nothing to do with the complication?

And really when one hath the Spleen, every thing is to be excusd by a Friend.

If they could make all the pleasures of life into one cordial they would swallow it at a draught in a fit of sentimental spleen.

There was the surly old curmudgeon in whom the author vents his spleen, and who draws up eccentric wills.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023