Spleenful is a rarely used word, which means someone who is spitefully angry or full of malice. The IPA phonetic transcription of this word is "splĭn-fŭl". It is pronounced with a short vowel "i" sound in the first syllable and "u" sound in the second syllable. The ending "ful" is pronounced as "fɔl" and is used to form adjectives meaning "full of". Despite not commonly used, spleenful is an expressive word that can add more color to one's vocabulary.
Spleenful can be defined as an adjective that describes an individual or a particular action characterized by a strong sense of anger, irritability, or ill-temper. It is derived from the noun "spleen," which in a figurative sense refers to a person's temperament, especially when displaying a tendency for negative emotions or feelings.
This term is commonly used to depict someone who is constantly irritable, easily provoked to anger, or frequently exudes a sour or bad-tempered disposition. It denotes an individual who tends to be easily annoyed or displeased, often reacting with a distasteful attitude or rudeness. The word "spleenful" encapsulates the idea of a person embodying these negative emotions and consistently displaying a lack of patience or tolerance towards others.
Furthermore, "spleenful" can also describe any action or behavior that is indicative of ill-temperament or discontentment. It suggests the presence of resentment, frustration, or hostility in one's actions or expressions. For example, one might use this term to describe a spleenful comment or a spleenful reaction, referring to a retort or response that is snappy or aggressive in nature.
In summary, "spleenful" refers to an individual's temperament or an action marked by anger, irritability, or ill-temper. It implies a sour or bad-tempered disposition, and it portrays someone who consistently displays negativity, annoyance, or rudeness towards others.
Angry; peevish.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "spleenful" does not have a clear etymology as it is not commonly used. However, it seems to be derived from the noun "spleen", which originally referred to one of the four bodily humors, believed in ancient and medieval medicine to control one's disposition or temper. Over time, "spleen" also came to be associated with irritability, ill humor, or anger. Therefore, the term "spleenful" likely derives from this association and refers to an amount or state of being full of spleen, more literally meaning full of anger or irritability.