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An American Dictionary of the English Language

by Noah Webster

Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)

Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865

Entries
95,912
Pages
1,538
Illustrations
2,133

Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.

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  1. Spān'-lŏng, a.p. 1265Of the length of a span.
  2. Spăn'ner, n.p. 1265One who spans. 2. The lock of a fusee or carbine; also, the fusee itself. [Obs.] 3. An iron instrument used in the manner of a lever to tighten the nuts upon screws; also, a hose-wrench. 4. (pl.) A…
  3. Spān'-new, a.p. 1265Quite new; brand-new; fire-new. “A span-new archbishop’s chairs.” Fuller.
  4. Spăn'/nish-ing, n.p. 1265The full blooming of a flower. [Obs.] Chaucer.
  5. Spān'-pīḗce, n.p. 1265(Arch.) The collar-beam of a roof.
  6. Spān'-rōof, n.p. 1265A common roof, having eaves on two sides. Gavit.
  7. Spăn'-shăck/le, n.p. 1265(Naut.) A large bolt driven through the forecastle, and forelocked under the forecastle beam, both under and upon the upper-deck beam. Ogilvie.
  8. Spăn'-worm, n.p. 1265(Entom.) The canker-worm;—so called from its peculiar mode of progression, in which it spans or measures the distance over which it passes. See CANKER-WORM.
  9. Spār, n.p. 1265(Min.) Any earthy mineral that breaks with regular surfaces, and has some degree of luster; a crystallized earthy mineral of a shining luster. Dana.
  10. Spār, n.p. 1265(Naut.) A long beam;—a general term for mast, yard, boom, and gaff. Totten. 2. (Arch.) Formerly, a piece of timber of various kinds;—still applied locally to rafters. 3. The bar of a gate or door.…
  11. Spār, v. t.p. 1265To shut close, or fasten with a bar; to bar. [Obs.] Chaucer.
  12. Spār, v. i.p. 1265To fight with prelusive strokes; to contend or combat with the fists for exercise or amusement; to box. “Made believe to spar at Paul with great science.” Dickens. 2. To dispute; to quarrel in words…
  13. Spār, n.p. 1265A feigned blow; as, to make a spar at a person. Dickens. 2. A contention with the fists; a contest at sparring or boxing.
  14. Spār'a-ble, n.p. 1265A small nail used by shoemakers.
  15. Spār'a-drāp, n.p. 1265A cere-cloth. [Obs.] Wiseman.
  16. Spār'age, n.p. 1265Asparagus. See ASPARAGUS.
  17. Spār'a-gāsp. 1265Bp. Taylor.
  18. Spār'ble, v. t.p. 1265To scatter; to disperse; to rout. [Obs.] The king's host was sparbled and chased. Fabyan.
  19. Spär'-dĕck, n.p. 1265(Naut.) The upper deck of a vessel; especially, in a frigate, the deck which is continued in a straight line from the quarter-deck to the forecastle, and on which spare spars are usually placed.…
  20. Spāre, v. t.p. 1265To hold as scarce or valuable; to retain as precious; to use frugally; to dispense cautiously; to save. Thou thy Father's thunder didst not spare. Milton. 2. To part with reluctantly; to suffer to…
  21. Spāre, v. i.p. 1265To be frugal; not to be profuse. 2. To live frugally; to be parsimonious. Who at some times spend, at others spare, Divided between carelessness and care. Pope. 3. To forbear; to be scrupulous. To…
  22. Spāre, a.p. 1265Scanty; not abundant or plentiful; as, a spare diet. 2. Parsimonious; chary; sparing. He was spare, but discreet of speech. Carew. 3. Over and above what is necessary, or which may be dispensed with…
  23. Spāre, n.p. 1265Parsimony; frugal use. [Obs.] Bacon. 2. An opening in a petticoat or similar garment; a placket. [Obs.] 3. The act of sparing; moderation. [Obs.] “Killing for sacrifice, without any spare.” Holland.…
  24. Spāre'ful, a.p. 1265Sparing; chary. [Obs.] Fairfax.
  25. Spāre'ful-ness, n.p. 1265The quality of being spareful; sparingness. [Obs.]
  26. Spāre'ly, adv.p. 1265In a spare manner; sparingly.
  27. Spāre'ness, n.p. 1265The state of being lean or thin; leanness.
  28. Spār'er, n.p. 1265One who spares, or avoids unnecessary expense.
  29. Spāre'-rib, n.p. 1265The piece of a hog taken from the side, consisting of the ribs with little flesh on them.
  30. Spar'ge-fäc'tion, n.p. 1265The act of sprinkling. [Obs.] Swift.
  31. Spar'ger, n.p. 1265A copper cylinder used by brewers for dashing or sprinkling. Simmonds.
  32. Spär'-hawk, n.p. 1265See SPARROW-HAWK.
  33. Spăr'-hŭng, a.p. 1265Hung with spar, as a cave.
  34. Spār'ing, a.p. 1265Scarce; little. Of this there is with you sparing memory, or none. Bacon. 2. Scanty; not plentiful; not abundant; as, a sparing diet. 3. Saving; parsimonious; chary. Virgil, being so very sparing of…
  35. Spar'ing-ly, adv.p. 1265In a sparing manner; not abundantly; frugally; parsimoniously; abstinently; moderately; seldom; cautiously; tenderly.
  36. Spā'ring-ness, n.p. 1265The quality of being sparing; parsimony; want of liberality; caution.
  37. Spärk, n.p. 1265A small particle of fire or ignited substance which is emitted from bodies in combustion. Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward. Job v. 7. 2. A small, shining body, or transient light; a…
  38. Spärk, v. i.p. 1265To emit particles of fire; to sparkle. [Obs.] Spenser. 2. To play the spark or lover. “A sure sign that his master was courting, or, as it is termed, sparking, within.” W. Irving.
  39. Spark'-ar-rest'er or Spark'er, n.p. 1265A contrivance to prevent the escape of sparks, while it allows the passage of gas;— chiefly used in the chimney of a wood-burning locomotive. [U. S.]
  40. Spärk'-eyed, a.p. 1265Bright-eyed.
  41. Spärk'ful, a.p. 1265Lively; brisk; gay. [Obs.] Camden.
  42. Spärk'ish, a.p. 1265Like a spark; airy; gay. Welsh. 2. Showy; well-dressed; fine.
  43. Spärk'le, n.p. 1265A little spark; a scintillation. The shock was sufficiently strong to strike out some sparkles, of his fiery temper. Prescott.
  44. Spark'le, v. i.p. 1265To emit sparks; to send off small ignited particles, as burning fuel, and the like. 2. To appear like sparks; to glitter; to glisten; as, a brilliant sparkles; sparkling colors. 3. To twinkle; to…
  45. Spark'le, v. t.p. 1265To shine with; to emit, as light or fire. “Eyes that sparkle fire.” Dryden. 2. To throw about; to scatter. [Obs.] Sackville. 3. To spread abroad as a report; to divulge.
  46. Spärk'ler, n.p. 1266One who, or that which, sparkles; one whose eyes sparkle.
  47. Spärk'let, n.p. 1266A small spark. [Obs.] Cotton.
  48. Spärk'li-ness, n.p. 1266Vivacity. [Obs.] Aubrey.
  49. Spärk'ling, p. a.p. 1266Emitting sparks; glittering; lively; as, sparkling wine; sparkling eyes. See SHINING.
  50. Spärk'ling-ly, adv.p. 1266In a sparkling manner; with twinkling or vivid brilliancy.
  51. Spärk'ling-ness, n.p. 1266The quality of being sparkling; vivid and twinkling luster.
  52. Spär'ling, n.p. 1266A smelt. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Cotgrave.
  53. Spär'lyre, n.p. 1266The hinder part or calf of the leg. [Obs.] Wycliffe.
  54. Spä'roid, a.p. 1266(Ichth.) Belonging to a family of spinous-finned fishes which includes the gilt-head, sea-bream, and porgee.
  55. Spär'-piēce, n.p. 1266(Arch.) The collar-beam of a roof; span-piece. Gwilt.
  56. Spär'poil, v. t.p. 1266To scatter; to spread abroad; to disperse. [Obs.]
  57. Spär'rōw, n.p. 1266(Ornith.) One of several species of small passerine birds, having conical bills, and feeding on insects and seeds. The common sparrow, or house-sparrow of Europe (Passer [or Fringilla] domestica), is…
  58. Spăr'rōw-bĭll, n.p. 1266A small nail; a cast-iron shoe-nail; a sparable.
  59. Spăr'rōw-grāss, n.p. 1266Asparagus. [Vulgar.] See AS-PARAGUS.
  60. Spăr'rōw-hawk, n.p. 1266(Ornith.) A small species of short-winged hawk. [Written also spar-hawk.] The Falco (or Astur) nisus is called sparrow-hawk, by way of eminence, in England. The American sparrow-hawk is the Falco (or…