spleenwort 
Any fern of the genus Axplcninni. The ebony 
spleenwort is A, ebeneum; the maidenhair spleenwort is 
A. Trichoniant'S ; the wall-rue spleenwort is A. lluta-mu- 
raria, 
spleeny (sple'ni), . [< spleen + -i/l.] Full of 
or characterized by spleen. () Angry; peevish; 
fretful ; ill-tempered ; irritable ; fiery ; impetuous. 
The heart and harbour'd thoughts of ill make traitors, 
Mot spleeny speeches. Fletcher, Valentinian, li. 3. 
(b) Melancholy, or subject to fits of melancholy ; affected 
with nervous complaints. 
splegett, a. [Appar. an erroneous form of 
pledget?] A wet cloth for washing a sore. Imp. 
Diet. 
splenadenoma (sple-nad-e-no'ma), . [NL., < 
Gr. ox'/.i/v, spleen, + NL. adenoma, i q. v.] Hyper- 
plasia of the spleen-pulp. 
splenalgia (sple-nal'ji-a), n. [NL., < Gr. oirtyv, 
spleen, + a?,jof, pain.] Pain in the spleen or 
its region. 
splenalgic (sple-nal'jik), a. [< gpleitalgia + 
-/t.] Affected with splenalgia; having pain in 
the spleen or splenic region. 
splenalgy (sple-nal'ji), u. Same as splenalgia. 
splenativet, See splenitive. 
splenauxe (sple-nak'se), n. [< Gr. a^t/v, the 
spleen, + aif?/ = a'ufyats, increase, amplifica- 
tion : see aiixesis.] Enlargement of the spleen. 
splencular (spleng'ku-lar), a. [< splencule + 
-ar 3 .] Having the character of a splenculus; 
pertaining to a splenculus. 
splencule (spleng'kul), . [< NL. splenculus.} 
A splenculus or splenule. 
splenculus (spleng'ku-lus), n. ; pi. splenculi (-11). 
[NL., dim. of L. splen, < Gr. av^i/v, spleen : see 
spleen.'] A little spleen; an accessory or sup- 
plementary spleen; a splenule; a henculus. 
Such splenic bodies are frequently found in as- 
sociation or connection with the spleen proper. 
splendencyt (splen 'den-si), . [< splenden(t) 
+ -ey.] Splendor. Hackm, Dumb Knight, i. 
(Davits.) 
splendent (splen'dent), a. [Formerly also splen- 
dant; = OF. esplendent = Sp. Pg. esplendente = 
It. splendente, < L. splenden(t-)s, ppr. of splen- 
dere. Hence (< L. splendere) also splendor, 
splendid,resplendent,eto.] 1. Shining; resplen- 
dent; beaming with light ; specifically, in en- 
torn., mineral., etc., having a very bright me- 
tallic luster; reflecting light intensely, as the 
elytra of some beetles, or the luster of galena. 
Compare iridescent. 
But what talke I of these, when brighter starres 
Darken their splendant beauty with the scarres 
Of this insatiate sinne? 
Times' Whistle (E. E. T. 8.), p. 90. 
A splendent sun shall never set. 
B. Jonson, Entertainment at Theobalds. 
2. Very conspicuous; illustrious. 
Divers great and splendent fortunes. 
Sir U. WoUon, Reliquiae, p. 66. 
splendid (splen'did), a. [< F. splendide = Sp. 
espUndido = Pg. esplendido = It. splendido, < L. 
splendidus, shining, brilliant, < splendere, shine : 
see splendent.] 1. Shining; brilliant; specifi- 
cally, in eto/*iSaving brilliant metallic col- 
ors; splendent. 2. Brilliant; dazzling; gor- 
geous; sumptuous: as, a splendid palace; a 
splendid procession. 
Our state of splendid vassalage. Milton, P. L., ii. 262. 
Indeede the entertainment is very splendid, and not un- 
reasonable, considering the excellent manner of dressing 
their meate, and of the service. 
Evelyn, Diary, Feb. 27, 1644. 
3. Conspicuous; illustrious; grand; heroic; 
brilliant; noble; glorious: as, a splendid vic- 
tory; a splendid reputation. 
But man is a noble animal, splendid in ashes, and pom- 
pous in the grave. Sir T. Browne, Urn-burial, v. 
We hold that the most wonderful and xplttulid proof of 
genius is a great poem produced in a civilised age. 
Mataulay, Milton. 
4. Very fine; excellent; extremely good: as, 
a splendid chance to make a fortune. [Colloq.] 
Mr. Zach distinguished himself in Astronomy at Gotha, 
where I saw his splendid Observatory lately constructed 
by the Duke. Abbe Mann, in Ellis's Letters, p. 446. 
The dessert was splendid. . . . Oh ! Todgers could do it, 
when it chose. Mind that. 
Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, ix. 
=Syn. 2. Magnificent, Superb, etc. See grand. 3. Emi- 
nent, remarkable, distinguished, famous. 
splendidioust (splen-did'i-us), a. [< splendid 
+ -i-ous.] Splendid; magnificent. [Bare.] 
A right exquisite and splendidious lady. 
B. Jonson, Cynthia's Revels, v. 3. 
splendidly (splen'did-li), adv. In a splendid 
manner, (o) Brilliantly; gorgeously; magnificently ; 
sumptuously ; showily ; gloriously. (6) Excellently ; ex- 
ceedingly well ; finely. [Colloq.] 
splendidness (splen'did-nes), M. The charac- 
ter of being splendid; splendor; magnificence. 
Boyle. 
splendiferous (splen -dif' e-rus), a. [Irreg. < 
L. splendor, brightness, +' ferre = E. bear 1 .] 
Splendor-bearing; splendid; brilliant; gor- 
geous. [Obsolete or colloq.] 
O tyme most ioyfull, daye most splend\ferus ! 
The clerenesse of heaven now apereth vnto vs. 
Bp. Bale, Enterlude of Johan Bapt. (1538). 
Where is all your goi-geous attire from Oriental climes? 
I see the splendiferous articles arrive, and then they van- 
ish forever. C. Reade, Hard Cash, xxviii. 
splendor, splendour (splen'dor), n. [< OF. 
splendeur, splendor, F. splendeur = Pr. plfii<lor 
= Sp. Pg. esplendor = It. splendore, < L. splen- 
dor, brightness, < splcndere, shine: see splen- 
dent.] 1. Great brightness; brilliant luster: 
as, the splendor of the sun. 
A sudden splendour from behind 
Flush'd all the leaves with rich gold-green. 
Tennyson, Arabian Nights. 
2. Great show of richness and elegance ; mag- 
nificence; pomp; parade; grandeur; eminence: 
as, the splendor of a victory. 
Romulus, being to give laws to his new Romans, found 
no better way to procure an esteem and reverence to 
them than by first procuring it to himself by splendour of 
habit and retinue. South. 
A splendour of diction which more than satisfied the 
highly raised expectation of the audience. 
Macaulay, Warren Hastings. 
3. In her. See sun in splendor, under sun. =Syn 
1. ne/vltjence, Brilliance, etc. See radiance, n. Z. Gor- 
geousness, display, showiness, renown. See grand. 
splendorous, splendrous (splen'dor-us, -drus), 
a. [< splendor + -ous.] Having splendor; 
bright; dazzling. 
Your beauty is the hot and splendrous sun. 
Drayton, Idea, xvi. 
splenectomist (sple-nek'to-mist), n. [< sple- 
nectomy + -ist.] One who has excised the 
spleen. 
splenectomy (sple-nek'to-mi), n. [< Gr. air?j/v, 
spleen, + curour/, a cutting out.] In sura., ex- 
cision of the spleen. 
splenectopia (sple-nek-to'pi-a), . [NL., < Gr. 
air^r/v, spleen, + eKTimof, away from a place : 
see ectopia.] Displacement of the spleen, 
splenetic (sple-uet'ik or spleu'e-tik), a. and . 
[< ME. splenetyk, < OF. splenetique, F. splenetique 
= Sp. esplenetico = It. splenetico,< LL. spleneti- 
ciis, < L. splen, spleen : see spleen.] I. a. 1. Of 
or pertaining to the spleen; splenic. 2. Affect- 
ed with spleen ; ill-humored; peevish; fretful; 
spiteful. 
You humour me when I am sick, 
Why not when I am splenetic' 
Pope, Imit. of Horace, I. vii. B. 
=Syn, 2. Sulky, Morose, etc. (see sullen), irritable, pettish, 
waspish, snappish, cross, crusty, testy. 
II. n. It. The spleen. 
It solveth flevme, and helpeth splenetyk ; 
Digestion it maketh, and een quyk. 
Palladim, Husbondrie (E. E. T. S.), p. 168. 
2. A person affected with spleen. 
The Spleneticks speak just as the Weather lets 'em 
They are mere talking Barometers. 
Steele, Tender Husbapd, iii. 1. 
splenetical (sple-net'i-kal), a. [< splenetic + 
-al.] Same as splenetic. ' Sir H. Wotton. 
splenetically (sple-net'i-kal-i), adv. In a mo- 
rose, ill-humored, or splenetic manner. 
splenetivet, a. An obsolete form of splenitive. 
splenia, . Plural of splenium. 
splenial (sple'ni-al), a. and . [< Gr. mrZqviov, 
a bandage, compress.] I. a. In 2067. and anat. : 
(a) Acting like a splint or clasp; having the 
character of a splenial : noting one of the pieces 
of the compound ramus of the lower jaw of many 
vertebrates below mammals. (6) Of or per- 
taining to the splenium of the brain : as, the 
splenial border of the corpus callosum. See 
splenium. (c) Of or pertaining to a splenius: 
as, the splenial muscles of the neck. 
II. H. The splenial element of the compound 
mandible of a vertebrate below a mammal, it 
is a bone of various shape in different animals, as birds, 
reptiles, and fishes applied like a splint to the inner side 
of each ramus of the mandible, between the articular and 
the dentary elements. See cut under Gattina. 
splenic (splen'ik), a. [< OF. splenique, F. sple- 
nique = Sp. esplenico = Pg. esplenico, splenico = 
It. splenico,<. L. splenicus,<. Gr. airfaputfy, pertain- 
ing to the spleen, affected in the spleen, hypo- 
chondriac, < ffir/t^v, spleen : seespleen.] Of orper- 
tainingto the spleen: as, splenic vessels, nerves, 
tissue, etc.; splenic disease Splenic apoplexy. 
(a) Very rapid malignant anthrax. (6) Hemorrhage into 
the substance of the spleen. Splenic artery, the main 
source of arterial blood*supply of the spleen, in man the 
splenological 
largest out- of three branches of the celiac axis. See cut 
under pancreas. Splenic corpuscles. See Malpvjhian 
rnrfiiixrleit, mule!' frim*-lt'. Splenic fever. Same as 
mattpnant anthrax (which sec, under anthrax). Splenic 
flexure, see flexure. Splenic hernia, protrusion of 
the spleen, or s>i in 1 |i;irt nf it, through an opening in the ab- 
dominal walls or the diaphragm. Splenic lymphatics, 
the absorbent vessels of the spleen, originating in the ar- 
terial sheaths and trabecula? of that <i]<ran, passing through 
the lymphatic glands at the hilum, and ending in the tho- 
racic duct. Splenic nerves, nerves of the spleen derived 
from the solar plexus and the pncumogastric neive. - 
Splenic plexus. See plexus. Splenic pulp or tissue. 
Same as spleen-pulp. Splenic veins, veins which con- 
vey from the spleen to the portal vein the blood which has 
been modified in character in the spleen. 
splenical (spleu'i-kal), a. [< xpU'tiic + -al.] 
Same as splenic. [Kare.] 
spleniculus (sple-nik'u-lus), .; pi. splenic a It 
(-11). [NL.,dim. of li. splen, spleen: see spleen.] 
A splenculus. 
splenii, n. Plural of xjih-niiis. 
splenisation, n. See tsplenization. 
spleniserrate (sple-ni-ser'at), a. [< NL. spleni- 
us + terratus.] Consisting of, represented by, 
or pertaining to the splenii and serrati muscles 
of the back: as, the spleniserrate group of mus- 
cles. Cones and Shute, 1887. 
spleniserrator (sple"ni-se-ra'tqr), n. ; pi. sple- 
iiiscn-(itnres(-ser-aj-td'iez). [NL.: see spleniser- 
rate.] The spleniserrate muscles, collectively 
considered as a muscular group, forming the so- 
called " third layer" of the muscles of the back, 
composed of the splenius capitis, splenius cplli, 
serratus posticus superior, and serratusposticus 
inferior. Coues and Shute, 1887. 
splenisht, a. An obsolete erroneous spelling 
of spleenish. 
selenitic (sple-nit'ik), a. [< splenitis + -ic.] 
Inflamed, as the spleen ; affected with splenitis. 
splenitis (sple-ni'tis), n. [NL., < L. splen, < Gr. 
aiMiv, spleen, + -itis. Cf. Gr. airt.r/viTit;, fern, 
adj., of the spleen.] Inflammation of the 
spleen. 
splenitive (splen'i-tiv), a. [Also splenative, 
and formerly spleenative, spleenitive, splenetive; 
irreg. < L. splen, spleen, + -it-ive.] If. That 
acts or is fitted to act on the spleen. 
Whereby my two cunning philosophers were driuen to 
studie Galen anew, and seeke splfnatiue simples to purge 
their popular patients of the opinion of their olde tradi- 
tions and customes. Nashe, Pierce Penilesse, p. 73. 
2. Splenetic; fiery; passionate; irritable. 
For, though I am not splenitive and rash, 
Yet have I something in me dangerous, 
Which let thy wiseuess fear. 
Shak., Hamlet, v. 1. 284. 
splenium (sple'ni-um), .; pi. splenia (-a). 
[NL., < Gr. mr'h.r/viov, a bandage, compress.] In 
anat., the thickened and rounded free border in 
which the corpus callosum ends behind. Also 
called pad. See cut I. under cerebral. 
splenius (sple'ni-us), n. ; pi. splenii (-i). [NL. 
(sc. tmisculus), < Gr. a^nviov, a bandage, com- 
press.] A broad muscle, extending from the 
upper part of the thorax, on the back and side 
of the neck, beneath the trapezius. In man the 
splenius arises from the nuchal ligament and from the 
spinous processes of the seventh cervical and of the first 
six dorsal vertebra). In ascending the neck, it is divided 
into two sections (a) the splenius capitis, inserted into 
the occipital bone beneath the superior curved line, and 
partly into the mastoid process, and (6) the splenius colli, 
inserted into the transverse processes of some of the upper 
cervical vertebrae. The splenius of each side is separated 
from its fellow by a triangular interval, in which the corn- 
plexus appears. The splenii together draw the head back- 
ward, and separately turn it a little to one side. See cut 
under musclel. 
splenization (sple-ni-za'shon), n. [< L. splen, 
spleen, + -ize + -ation.] In pathol., a change 
produced in the lungs by inflammation, in which 
they resemble the substance of the spleen. 
Compare hepatization. Also spelled splenisa- 
tion. 
splenocele (sple'no-sel), n. [< Gr. anM/u, spleen, 
+ Kfy.ri, a tumor.] A splenic tumor ; a hernia 
or protrusion of the spleen. 
splenodynia (sple-no-din'i-a), n. [NL., < Gr. 
mr/.i/v, spleen, + bdlvrj, pain.] Pain in the spleen. 
splenographical (sple-no-graf'i-kal),rt. [< splc- 
nograph-y + -ic-al.] Descriptive of the spleen ; 
relating to splenography. 
splenography (sple-nog'ra-fi), n. [< Gr. cmljr*, 
spleen, + -y/ia^ia, < ypdfyeiv, write.] The de- 
scriptive anatomy of the spleen ; a treatise on 
the spleen. 
splenoid (sple'noid), a. [< Gr. "a'K'knvociSi^, 
an'/.irnu6r/f, like the spleen, < rt'K'krfv, spleen, + 
(Hoc, form.] Like the spleen; having the ap- 
pearance of a spleen, or of splenic tissue or sub- 
stance. 
splenological (sple-no-loj'i-kal), a. [< splenol- 
iiii-y + -ic-al.] Of or pertaining to splenology; 
