1539 Elyot Cast. Helthe (1541) 22 The splene or mylte is of yl juice, for it is the chamber of melancholy.
1605 1st Pt. Ieronimo iii. i, Not one little thought..But should raise spleens big as a cannon bullet Within your bosomes.
Ibid. iii. ii, Why, this would vex The resolution of a suffering spleene.
1665 Boyle Occas. Refl. ii. xiv. (1848) 142 Those petty Chilnesses that formerly I..was apt to impute to nothing but Fumes of the Spleen, or Melancholy Vapours.
<dag> c. Regarded as the seat of laughter or mirth. Obs. (Freq. c 1600.)

1547 Boorde Brev. Health ccvii. 71 A splene, the whiche.. doth make a manne to laughe.
1598 Bp. Hall Sat. iv. i. 74 Now laugh I loud, and breake my splene to see This pleasing pastime of my poesie.
1610 Holland Camden<cq>s Brit. (1637) 464 Such matter as will make you laugh your fill, if you have a laughing spleene.
<Edh>1500 Nut-brown Maid in Arnolde<cq>s Chron. (1811) 203 When men wyl breke promyse, they speke the wordis on the splene.
<dag> b. from the spleen, from the heart. Sc. Obs.
<Ntilde>1480 Henryson Poems (S.T.S.) III. 148 This prayer fra my splene is.1500<min>20 Dunbar Poems xlvi. 70 God bad eik lufe thy nychtbour fro the splene.
1571 Satir. Poems Reform. xxv. 79 When synneris repentis from <Th>e splene.
<
1588 Shakes. L.L.L. v. ii. 117 With such a zelous laughter so profound, That in this spleene ridiculous appeares, To checke their folly, passions solemne teares.
1596 <em><em> Tam. Shr. Induct. i. 137 Haply my presence May well abate the ouer-merrie spleene, Which otherwise would grow into extreames.
<dag> 4. a. A sudden impulse; a whim or caprice.

<dag> b. Caprice; changeable temper. Obs.
1596 Shakes. Tam. Shr. iii. ii. 10, I must forsooth be forst To giue my hand..Vnto a mad-braine rudesby, full of spleene.
<dag> 5. a. Hot or proud temper; high spirit, courage, resolute mind. Obs.

1600 Heywood 1st Pt. Edw. IV, Wks. 1874 I. 34 That I shrunk back, that I was neuer seene To show my manly spleen but with a whip.
1605 Play of Stucley in Simpson Sch. Shaks. (1878) I. 213 Your kind submission might have wrought What your high spleen and courage cannot do.
<dag> b. Impetuosity, eagerness. Obs.
1595 Shakes. John ii. i. 448 With swifter spleene then powder can enforce The mouth of passage shall we fling wide ope.
Ibid. v. vii. 50 Oh, I am scalded with my violent motion And spleene of speede, to see your Maiesty.
6. Violent ill-nature or ill-humour; irritable or peevish temper:a. With possessive pronouns, etc.
1594 Shakes. Rich. III, ii. iv. 64 O prepostorous And franticke outrage, end thy damned spleene.
1608 Chapman Dk. of Byron v. i. 136 Let others learn by him to curb their spleens, Before they be curb<cq>d, and to cease their grudges.

7. With a:
a. A fit of temper; a passion. Also transf. Obs. exc. arch.
1590 Shakes. Mids. N. i. i. 146 Briefe as the lightning in the collied night, That (in a spleene) vnfolds both heauen and earth.
1609 R. Barnerd Faithf. Shepheard 74 Neuer speake with partiall affection against any in a spleene, euill will seldome speaks well.

<dag> b. A grudge; a spite or ill-will. Obs.
1616 Min. Archd. Colchester (MS.) fol. 110 There is a spleene betwixt one of the Churchwardens..and this partie.
<dag> a. Amusement, delight. Obs.1
1601 Shakes. Twel. N. iii. ii. 72 If you desire the spleene, and will laughe your selues into stitches, follow me.
<dag> b. Indignation, ill-humour. to bear (one) upon the spleen, to bear resentment against. Obs.
1600 W. Watson Decacordon (1602) 101 Howsoeuer vpon the spleene they sought for it at that time: he acquainted the Pope Clement with it.
1623 Bingham Xenophon 36 The <Ae>gyptians, whom you principally beare vpon the spleen.