Definition of splenetic

The word "splenetic" originally came from the medical term "splenism," which referred to an enlarged spleen. The spleen is an organ situated in the upper left region of the abdomen that is part of the lymphatic system. Its primary functions include filtering the blood, producing lymphocytes (white blood cells), and responding to infections. When the spleen becomes overly enlarged, it can lead to symptoms such as fatigue, unexplained weight loss, and frequent infections, a condition known as splenomegaly. The word "splenetic" took on a broader application in the late 1700s when medical writers like Dr. Charles Laskey and Dr. Thomas Beddoes began using it to describe personality traits rather than exclusively physical symptoms. They used "splenetic" to describe individuals with a foul temperament, irritable disposition, or a sour mood, which some experts interpreted as being related to the spleen's role in regulating emotions and impulses. Over time, the meaning of "splenetic" evolved to include people who exhibit melancholic, angry, or resentful behavior, especially when they do not have any underlying physical cause for their moods. However, modern medical knowledge suggests that there is little connection between the spleen and a person's mood or temperament, and "splenetic" is now used primarily as a figurative description of someone's temperament or humorous disposition.