phlegmatic, a. (n.)
(flɛgˈmætɪk)
Forms: see phlegm; also 4–6 flum-, 6–7 flugm-; 4–6 -etyke, -ytyck(e, -ytek.
[ME. fleumatike, a. OF. fleumatique (12–13th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), ad. L. phlegmatic-us, a. Gr. ϕλεγµατικός, f. ϕλέγµα, ϕλεγµατ-: see phlegm.]
1. Of the nature of or abounding in phlegm. a. (In sense pertaining to phlegm 1.) Of the nature of the ‘humour’ or secretion called phlegm; mucous. Of the human body, its organs, etc.: Having a predominance of phlegm in the constitution or ‘temperament’ (see also 2). Of diseases, etc.: Characterized or caused by excess of phlegm. Now rare or Obs.
| 1340 Ayenb. 157 Þe dyevel..asayleþ stranglakest þane colrik mid ire and mid discord..þane fleumatike: mid glotonye and be sleauþe. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. iv. ix. (Tollem. MS.) A verry flewmatike man is in the body lustles, heuy and slow. Ibid. vii. lix. (Bodl. MS.), As þe brayne dischargeþ hym silfe of flewmatike humoures and of fumosite. c 1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 86 If it be yn tokenynge ffleumetyke. 1527 Andrew Brunswyke's Distyll. Waters F ij, To spette and putte oute the flegmatyke matter. 1542 Boorde Dyetary viii. (1870) 245 A flemytycke man may slepe .ix. houres or more. 1562 W. Bullein Bulwark, Bk. Simples 3 b, It is good in the meates of them whiche be Flugmatike. 1563 T. Gale Antid. ii. 84 In phlegmaticke bodyes they maye forbeare their supper. 1741 Betterton Eng. Stage v. 63 Persons of a flegmatic Constitution are slow in turning of their Eyes. 1875 H. C. Wood Therap. (1879) 22 The phlegmatic person is no more easily moved by medicinal than by other agencies. |
† b. (In sense pertaining to
phlegm 2.) Of the nature of the ‘principle’ called phlegm; watery and insipid. Of bodies in general: Abounding in ‘phlegm’; and hence, producing phlegm (
phlegm 1 a or b) when taken as food, etc.
Obs.| 1502 Arnolde Chron. (1811) 172 For as mych as all fisshes aftir water ben flewmatike therfore they be better rost than soden. 1533 Elyot Cast. Helthe (1541) 2 b, Where colde with moysture preuayleth, that body is called Fleumatike, wherein water hath preeminence. 1567 J. Maplet Gr. Forest 77 She [the Carp] is of very soft flesh and phlegmatike. 1669 Worlidge Syst. Agric. (1681) 5 Standing Waters..by reason of the constant waste of the Phlegmatique vapour that constantly rises from it. 1747 Langrish in Phil. Trans. (1748) XLIV. ii. [4] The watery or phlegmatic Principle abounds so much as to be nearly 13/16 Parts of the whole Mass. |
2. Having or showing the mental character or disposition formerly supposed to result from predominance of phlegm among the bodily ‘humours’; not easily excited to feeling or action; lacking enthusiasm; cold, dull, sluggish, apathetic; cool, calm, self-possessed.
| 1574 Hellowes Gueuara's Fam. Ep. 30 The Numantines of their naturall condition, were more flegmatike than cholerike. 1622 Massinger Virg. Mart. iv. i, Cold, phlegmatike bastard, th'art no brat of mine. 1756–82 J. Warton Ess. Pope (ed. 4) I. v. 276 Raphael never received a more flegmatic Eulogy. 1825 Waterton Wand. S. Amer. iv. i. (1879) 288 Cold and phlegmatic must he be who is not warmed into admiration by the surrounding scenery. 1888 F. Hume Mme. Midas i. iv, Selina resumed her knitting in a most phlegmatic manner. |
† B. n. A phlegmatic person.
Obs. rare.
| 1541 R. Copland Guydon's Quest. Chirurg. M iij, The fleumatykes, & them that are wont to diseases of colde maladyes. 1629 Maxwell tr. Herodian (1635) 120 He contemned Iulian, as an abject Fellow: and Niger as a dull Flegmaticke. |
So
† phlegˈmatical a. = phlegmatic;
phlegˈmatically,
† phlegˈmaticly adv., in a phlegmatic manner;
phlegˈmaticness, the quality of being phlegmatic.
| 1586 Queen Elizabeth in Leycester Corresp. (Camden) 243 What *flegmaticall reasons soever were made you. 1684 tr. Bonet's Merc. Compit. vi. 235 They that have a phlegmatical Ague. |
| 1828–32 Webster, *Phlegmatically. 1838–9 Hallam Hist. Lit. iv. iv. §76 The most phlegmatically impudent of the whole school. 1870 Daily News 5 Oct., The videttes phlegmatically continued their circling. |
| 1673 S' too him Bayes 56 This is..so hal'd in, and so *phlegmatickly apply'd. 1727 Warburton Prodigies 80 All the rest [of the story] is phlegmatickly past over. |
| 1659 Feltham Low-Countries 42 Being full of humours, that is her cradle, which luls and rocks her to a dull *phlegmatickness. |