phlegmatic etymology

1. Etymology:

  • Greek: φλεγματικός (phlegmatikos)
  • Root: φλέγμα (phlegma)

2. Meaning:

  • Having or showing a calm, placid, or sluggish temperament
  • Emotionally unresponsive or indifferent

3. Origin:

The word "phlegmatic" originates from the Greek term "phlegma," which refers to mucus, phlegm, or bodily fluid. In ancient Greek medicine, the "humors" theory proposed that the balance of four bodily fluids (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile) determined a person's health and temperament.

  • Phlegmatic temperament: According to this theory, individuals with an excess of phlegm exhibited a calm, sluggish, and unemotional demeanor. This temperament was associated with the element of water and was considered to be the opposite of the choleric (hot, impulsive) and sanguine (optimistic, lively) temperaments.

Over time, the term "phlegmatic" came to be used more broadly to describe anyone who exhibited these traits, regardless of their actual bodily composition.

phlegmatic relate terms

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  • blanch

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  • blank

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  • blanket

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  • blaze

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  • bleach

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  • blench

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  • blende

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  • blend

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  • blind

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  • blindfold

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  • blitzkrieg

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  • blond

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  • blue

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  • blush

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  • conflagration

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  • deflagration

    Etymology From French déflagration from Latin deflagrāre to burn down from de

  • effulgence

    Etymology From Latin effulgentia from effulgens present participle of effulgere to s

  • effulgent

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  • flagrant

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  • flambe

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  • flambeau

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  • flamboyant

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  • flame

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  • flamingo

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  • flammable

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  • Flavian

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  • Flavius

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  • fulgent

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  • fulminate

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  • inflame

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  • phlegm

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  • phlegmatic

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