phlegmatic en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /flɛɡˈmætɪk/
Etymology
From Middle English fleumatik, flewmatik, flematik, fleumatyke, flewmatyk, from Old French fleumatique, from Latin phlegmaticus, from Ancient Greek φλεγματικός (phlegmatikós), from φλέγμα (phlégma), referring to the humour which ancient Hippocratic and later Galenic medicine associated with mildness, coldness, sluggishness, and indifference. Spelling later altered to resemble the word's Latin and Greek roots, with modern pronunciation following this new spelling.
Meanings
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Not easily excited to action or passion; calm; sluggish.
2013, A.O. Scott, “How It Looks to Think: Watch Her,” Rev. of Hannah Arendt, 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.
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.
1873, Jules Verne, chapter 2, in Around the World in 80 Days, archived from the original on 12 Apr 2012:His head was bare, and though he moved with the speed we have mentioned, the Knight of the Sorrowful Face saw and noted all these details; he tried to follow him but could not because it was beyond the strength of Rocinante to travel that rugged ground, especially since he was by nature slow-paced and phlegmatic.
Part 1 published in 1605, Part 2 in 1615, translated in 2003, Miguel de Cervantes and translated by Edith Grossman, Don Quixote, page 178:
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Generating, causing, or full of phlegm.
a phlegmatic constitution
phlegmatic humors
cold and phlegmatic bodies
1650, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC:Near-synonyms: phlegmish, phlegmy
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| more phlegmatic | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| phlegmaticke | alternative | lexicographic | |
| phlegmatique | alternative | lexicographic | |
| most phlegmatic | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| phlegmatick | alternative | lexicographic |
Coordinates
choleric · sanguine · melancholic
Deriveds
apophlegmatic · unphlegmatic · leucophlegmatic · sanguineophlegmatic
Relateds
phlegm · phlegmish · phlegmatically · phlegmy
Synonyms
lotophagous · phlegmatic · untumultuous · unperturbable · cold-blooded · meh · unlively · otiose · impassive · unenthusiastic · unfazed · unmoved · peaceful · blithe · level-headed · languid · nonplussed · relaxed · dispassionate · laid-back · languorous · blasé · apathistical · cool-headed · spiritless · even-keeled · untouched · roolie · unexcited · unflustered · supine · equanimitable · unconcerned · sedate · dull · unimpressible · even-minded · calm · apathetic · world-weary · quiescent · jaded · unflappable · uninterested · placid · deaf · serene · pococurante · phlegmish · halfhearted · equable · collected · steady · torpid · lackadaisical · stoic · phlegmy · peaceable · tranquil · insensible · ineffervescible · lethargic · imperturbable · gallionic · even-tempered · unflappable · still · listless · apathetic · insouciant · pacific · cool · uncaring · quiet · phlegmatic · lukewarm · phlegmatous · tepid · equanimous · nonchalant · adiaphroistic · heartless · Laodicean · enervated · mellow · phlegmish · unaroused · indifferent · pacate · torpedinous · mopey · shiftless · unruffled · unruffable · unzealous · composed
Translations (45)
bg муден (not easily excited to action) · ru флегмати́чный (not easily excited to action) · da flegmatisk (not easily excited to action) · it flemmatico (not easily excited to action) · es flemático (generating, causing, or full of phlegm) · de phlegmatisch (not easily excited to action) · uk флегмати́чний (not easily excited to action) · pt fleumático (not easily excited to action) · sv sävlig (not easily excited to action) · el φλεγματικός (not easily excited to action) · ca flegmàtic (not easily excited to action) · sv flegmatisk (generating, causing, or full of phlegm) · pl wodnisty (watery) · nl flegmatisch (not easily excited to action) · ro aposi (watery) · de phlegmatisch (generating, causing, or full of phlegm) · ro apos (watery) · bg слузест (generating, causing, or full of phlegm) · ga fuarchúiseach (not easily excited to action) · tr balgamlı (generating, causing, or full of phlegm) · cs flegmatický (not easily excited to action) · he פלגמטי (not easily excited to action) · mk рамно́душен (not easily excited to action) · bg флегматичен (not easily excited to action) · es flegmático (disused) (generating, causing, or full of phlegm) · ro apoase (watery) · ru флегмати́ческий (not easily excited to action) · ca flegmàtic (generating, causing, or full of phlegm) · fi flegmaattinen (not easily excited to action) · sv flegmatisk (not easily excited to action) · ia phlegmatic (not easily excited to action) · gl bacento (not easily excited to action) · ro apoasa (watery) · pl flegmatyczny (not easily excited to action) · bo ངང་རྒྱུད་དལ་པོ (not easily excited to action) · uk флегматик (not easily excited to action) · gl flegmático (not easily excited to action) · mk флегма́тичен (not easily excited to action) · eo flegma (not easily excited to action) · es flegmático (disused) (not easily excited to action) · pl flegmatyczny (generating, causing, or full of phlegm) · mk слу́зест (generating, causing, or full of phlegm) · fr flegmatique (not easily excited to action) · bo ཉོབ་ཏོ (not easily excited to action) · es flemático (not easily excited to action)