phlegm

Meaning

1. One of the four humors making up the body in ancient and mediaeval medicine; said to be cold and moist, and often identified with mucus.
2. Viscid mucus produced by the body, later especially mucus expelled from the bronchial passages by coughing.
3. A watery distillation, especially one obtained from plant matter; an aqueous solution.
4. Calmness of temperament, composure; also seen negatively, sluggishness, indifference.

Synonyms

mucus

sputum

spittle

snot

slime

emotionlessness

indifference

impassiveness

impassivity

sluggishness

languor

lethargy

mucilage

apathy

stolidity

unemotionality

coolness

flatness

laissez faire

listlessness

lymph

neglect

negligence

nonchalance

phlegmy

pus

remissness

saliva

salivation

unconcern

unmindfulness

unresponsiveness

unseemliness

phlegmon

viscous liquid

pituita

humour

unhelpfulness

aloofness

willful neglect

bile

blandness

calm

coldness

composure

detachment

disinterest

equanimity

glair

goop

guck

heedlessness

imperturbability

imperturbableness

inadvertence

inadvertency

insensitiveness

Pronounced as (IPA)

/flɛm/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: flewme

Cognate with French: flegme

In summary

From Middle English flewme, fleume, fleme, from Old French fleume, Middle French flemme (French flegme), and their source, Latin phlegma, from Ancient Greek φλέγμα (phlégma, “flame; inflammation; clammy humor in the body”), from φλέγειν (phlégein, “to burn”). Compare phlox, flagrant, flame, bleak (adjective), fulminate. Spelling later altered to resemble the word's Latin and Greek roots.