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Webster 1913 Edition


Phlegmatic

Phleg-mat′ic

,
Adj.
[L.
phlegmaticus
, Gr. [GREEK]: cf. F.
phlegmatique
.]
1.
Watery.
[Obs.]
“Aqueous and phlegmatic.”
Sir I. Newton.
2.
Abounding in phlegm;
as,
phlegmatic
humors; a
phlegmatic
constitution.
Harvey.
3.
Generating or causing phlegm.
“Cold and phlegmatic habitations.”
Sir T. Browne.
4.
Not easily excited to action or passion; cold; dull; sluggish; heavy;
as, a
phlegmatic
person
.
Addison.
Phlegmatic temperament
(Old Physiol.)
,
lymphatic temperament. See under
Lymphatic
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Phlegmatic

PHLEGMAT'IC

,
Adj.
[Gr.]
1.
Abounding in phlegm; as phlegmatic humors; a phlegmatic constitution.
2.
Generating phlegm; as phlegmatic meat.
3.
Watery.
4.
Cold; dull; sluggish; heavy; not easily excited into action or passion; as a phlegmatic temper or temperament.

Definition 2024


phlegmatic

phlegmatic

English

Alternative forms

Adjective

phlegmatic (comparative more phlegmatic, superlative most phlegmatic)

  1. Not easily excited to action or passion; calm; sluggish.
    • 1873, Jules Verne, chapter 2, in Around the World in 80 Days:
      Calm and phlegmatic, with a clear eye, Mr. Fogg seemed a perfect type of that English composure which Angelica Kauffmann has so skilfully represented on canvas.
    • 2013, A.O. Scott, “How It Looks to Think: Watch Her,” Rev. of Hannah Arendt, dir. by Margarethe von Trotta, New York Times 29 May 2013: C1. Print.
      Their friendship (immortalized in a splendid volume of letters that has clearly served as one of Ms. von Trotta's sources) is a fascinating study in cultural and temperamental contrast, an impulsive and witty American paired with a steady, phlegmatic German.
  2. (archaic) Abounding in phlegm; as, phlegmatic humors; a phlegmatic constitution.
  3. Generating, causing, or full of phlegm.
    • Sir Thomas Browne
      cold and phlegmatic habitations
  4. Watery (clarification of this English definition is being sought).

Synonyms

Related terms

Translations

Noun

phlegmatic (plural phlegmatics)

  1. One who has a phlegmatic disposition.

Translations