Phlegmatic
/flɛɡˈmætɪk/noun
Having a calm, sluggish, or unemotional temperament.
Did you know?In medieval medicine, phlegm was one of the four bodily humors, so being “phlegmatic” once meant your temperament was literally thought to be ruled by a cold, watery fluid.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
phlegma
“A flame or burning; later, bodily inflammation or mucus-like matter.”
Late Latin
Latin
phlegma
“Phlegm, mucus; in humoral medicine, one of the bodily fluids.”
Old French
Old French
phlegmatique
“Having a phlegm-like temperament; sluggish, calm.”
14th Century
English
phlegmatik
“Slow-moving, cold in temperament, governed by phlegm.”
Modern English
English
phlegmatic
“Calm, unemotional, and not easily excited.”
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