What is the meaning of phlegm?
1 : the one of the four humors in early physiology that was considered to be cold and moist and to cause sluggishness. 2 : viscid mucus secreted in abnormal quantity in the respiratory passages. 3a : dull or apathetic coldness or indifference.
How do you pronounce the word phlegm?
Why is phlegm spelled phlegm?
Middle English fleem, fleume, from Old French fleume, from late Latin phlegma ‘clammy moisture (of the body)’, from Greek phlegma ‘inflammation’, from phlegein ‘to burn’. The spelling change in the 16th century was due to association with the Latin and Greek.
Which is the silent letter in phlegm?
In a few words of Greek origin, digraph ⟨gm⟩ is pronounced /m/, with the (g) being silent, such as in “phlegm”, “paradigm” and “diaphragm”.