a. Now rare. Also 6–7 splenish. [f. SPLEEN sb.]
† 1. Apt to disorder the spleen. Obs.–1
1598. Bp. Hall, Sat., IV. iv. 20. When splenish morsels cram the gaping maw.
2. Somewhat spleenful or splenetic.
1610. Bp. Hall, Apol. Brownists, 3. [They] are ofttentimes moued, to shoote … the bitter arrowes of spightfull and splenish discourses.
1649. Arnway, Tablet (1661), 8. The common and known fruits of fiery and spleenish tempers.
1651. Baxter, Lett. to Ch. Kederminster, 5. They will … think them spleenish or ungodly that will not offer a sacrifice to Mars.
1890. H. M. Stanley, Darkest Africa, I. xii. 321. They … sought by other means to gratify their spleenish hate.
Hence Spleenishly adv.; Spleenishness.
1775. S. J. Pratt, Liberal Opin., lxxxiv. (1783), III. 116. To shut the book in a passion, or spleenishly tear out the leaf.
1847. Webster, Spleenishness, state of being spleenish.
