Middle English Dictionary Entry
splēn(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | splēn(e n. Also (error) splenee. |
| Etymology | L splēn & OF esplein, AF espleen. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The spleen of a human or an animal; also, the spleen as the seat of melancholy; of the ~, ?in ill humor; on the ~, ?in a melancholy way [last quot.]; lien on ~, ?to be out of humor; (b) a disease of the spleen; (c) the spleen as the seat of laughter; of (on) the ~, in jest; ?cheerfully; (d) ?the spleen as the seat of courage.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1300 Fox & W.(Dgb 86)47 : Þine hennen..weren seke ounder þe ribe..Þou hauest þat ilke ounder þe splen [rime: ten].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.449 : The Splen is to Malencolie Assigned for herbergerie.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)268b/b : In serpentes þe splen is litel and round.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)27/15 : Þe membris þat ben incensible..bi þe panniclis þat wrieþ hem velen bi accident, as þe lungis, þe lyuere, & þe splene.
- (c1422) Hoccl.JWife (Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)941 : Thogh his wyf lengere had been him fro, No kus, but if it had been of the spleene, Shee sholde han had.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)37b/b : Lyen: splen.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)17a/b : Þe splene is receptorie of melancolious superfluitee gendred in þe lyuer.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)469 : Splene, or mylte: Splen.
- ?a1450 Macer (Stockh Med.10.91)94 : For þe splenee [read: splene]..lelye rotes soden in wyn and drunken purgeþ evel blode..and so it profitiþ to þe splene.
- c1400 Veynes þer be (Wel 406)p.190 : There is no veyne that clansyt so clene Stoppynge of lyver ne of splene.
- c1460 My fayr lady (Hrl 2255)p.201 : Wheer ovir many an hed hath ake, In skorn whan she lyth on the splene, [etc.].
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)41a/a : The splene is sett in þe liftside of þe stomak bitwene him & þe ribbis twoward þe rigge. And þe splene or þe mylte is schapen lijk vnto þe splene of a swyne.
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)162/12 : Poole watrys..make þe splene to growe, and þe longis to gret hurt.
- a1500 I ne haue (RwlPoet 36)5 : What other men thynk Ioy or disportt, To me it nys butt angyr or tene; Yff þat I lawgh, yt ys butt on þe splene; thus mak I a gladfull sory chere.
b
- c1450 Med.Bk.(2) (Add 33996)115 : Let him þat hathe þe splene [vr. þe sekenes of splene] drinke þis drinke: Take þe rotes of ȝonge asshes, [etc.].
- a1475 Bk.Quint.(Sln 73)18/8 : Brennynge watir in þe which gold is fixid heeliþ hem, wiþ a litil of þo þingis þat..casten out blak coler superflue, & heliþ þe splene.
c
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.473 : The livere makth him forto love..The Splen doth him to lawhe and pleie Whan al unclennesse is aweie.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)57b/b : Þe mylte is cause of lauȝenge, for by þe splene we lauȝen.
- (1460) Paston2.332 : He..drank to me and made me good chere, half on the splene.
- a1500 ?Ros Belle Dame (Cmb Ff.1.6)327 : Ladyes beth not so symple..That, for wordes which said ben of þe splene, In fayr langage, paynted ful plesantlye.
d
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5054 : Þar logis he..With sare sighingis..Costreynes him with his contenance to with his kniȝtis play, Bot þat bot sprang of þe splene, þe sprite was vn-esid.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. spleen.