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Bile vs Spleen - What's the difference?

bile | spleen | Related terms |

Spleen is a synonym of bile.



In obsolete terms the difference between bile and spleen

is that bile is a boil (kind of swelling) while spleen is melancholy; hypochondriacal affections.

As nouns the difference between bile and spleen

is that bile is a bitter brownish-yellow or greenish-yellow secretion produced by the liver, stored in the gall bladder, and discharged into the duodenum where it aids the process of digestion while spleen is in vertebrates, including humans, a ductless vascular gland, located in the left upper abdomen near the stomach, which destroys old red blood cells, removes debris from the bloodstream, acts as a reservoir of blood, and produces lymphocytes.

As a verb spleen is

to dislike.

bile

English

(wikipedia bile)

Etymology 1

Mid 16th century, via (etyl), from (etyl) .

Noun

(en-noun)
  • (biochemistry) A bitter brownish-yellow or greenish-yellow secretion produced by the liver, stored in the gall bladder, and discharged into the duodenum where it aids the process of digestion.
  • bitterness of temper; ill humour; irascibility.
  • Two of the four humours, black bile or yellow bile, in ancient and medieval physiology.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1890, author=Walter Scott, title=The Journal of Sir Walter Scott, chapter=, edition= citation
  • , passage=I shall tire of my Journal if it is to contain nothing but biles and plasters and unguents. }}
  • * {{quote-book, year=1616, author=Alexander Roberts, title=A Treatise of Witchcraft, chapter=, edition= citation
  • , passage=He spake out of the Pythonesse'', ''Act. 16. 17.'' brought downe fire from heauen, and consumed ''Iobs sheepe 7000. and his seruants, raised a storme, strooke the house wherein his sonnes and daughters feasted with their elder brother, smote the foure corners of it, with the ruine whereof they all were destroyed, and perished: and ouerspread the body of that holy Saint their father with botches[t] and biles from the sole of his foot to the crowne of his head. }}
    Synonyms
    * gall
    Derived terms
    * bile duct * biliary * biliary tract * bilirubin * bilious * atrabilious * black bile * yellow bile

    Etymology 2

    Akin to (etyl) buil and (etyl) Beule.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) A boil (kind of swelling).
  • (Webster 1913) ----

    spleen

    English

    (wikipedia spleen)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (anatomy, immunology) In vertebrates, including humans, a ductless vascular gland, located in the left upper abdomen near the stomach, which destroys old red blood cells, removes debris from the bloodstream, acts as a reservoir of blood, and produces lymphocytes.
  • A bad mood; spitefulness.
  • * Alexander Pope
  • In noble minds some dregs remain, / Not yet purged off, of spleen and sour disdain.
  • (obsolete, rare) A sudden motion or action; a fit; a freak; a whim.
  • * Shakespeare
  • A thousand spleens bear her a thousand ways.
  • (obsolete) Melancholy; hypochondriacal affections.
  • * Alexander Pope
  • Bodies changed to various forms by spleen .
  • * Wordsworth
  • There is a luxury in self-dispraise: / And inward self-disparagement affords / To meditative spleen a grateful feast.
  • A fit of immoderate laughter or merriment.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Thy silly thought enforces my spleen .

    Synonyms

    * milt

    Derived terms

    * spleenful * spleenless * spleenlike * spleeny * splenectomy * splenetic * splenic * vent one's spleen

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To dislike.
  • (Bishop Hacket)
    ----