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Phlegmatic vs Hebetude - What's the difference?

phlegmatic | hebetude |

As nouns the difference between phlegmatic and hebetude

is that phlegmatic is one who has a phlegmatic disposition while hebetude is stupor, stupefaction.

As an adjective phlegmatic

is not easily excited to action or passion; calm; sluggish.

phlegmatic

English

Alternative forms

* phlegmatick * phlegmaticke * phlegmatique

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Not easily excited to action or passion; calm; sluggish.
  • * {{quote-book
    • , year=1873 , author=Jules Verne , title=Around the World in 80 Days , chapter=2 citation , passage=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 , 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.
  • (archaic) Abounding in phlegm; as, phlegmatic humors; a phlegmatic constitution.
  • Generating, causing, or full of phlegm.
  • * Sir Thomas Browne
    • cold and phlegmatic habitations
  • Watery (en).

    • Synonyms

    * apathetic, sluggish, cold-blooded, unflappable, stoic

    Related terms

    * phlegm * phlegmatically

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who has a phlegmatic disposition.

    • hebetude

    English

    Noun

    (-)
  • Mental lethargy or dullness.
  • * 1926 , T. E. Lawrence, Seven Pillars of Wisdom :
    • Incuriousness was the most potent ally of our imposed order; for Eastern government rested not so much on consent or force, as on the common supinity, hebetude , lack-a-daisiness, which gave a minority undue effect.
  • * 1985? , (Oliver Sacks), “The Lost Mariner”, chapter 2 in (The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat) (Reset 2007 edition), page 33, footnote 2:
    • This dwelling on the past and relative hebetude towards the present – this emotional dulling of current feeling and memory – is nothing like Jimmie’s organic amnesia.

    Derived terms

    * hebetudinous

    Related terms

    * hebetate