Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Spār'age, n. p. 1265Asparagus. See ASPARAGUS.Spār'a-gās p. 1265Bp. Taylor.Spār'ble, v. t. p. 1265To scatter; to disperse; to rout. [Obs.] The king's host was sparbled and chased. Fabyan.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.…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…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…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…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.…Spāre'ful, a. p. 1265Sparing; chary. [Obs.] Fairfax.Spāre'ful-ness, n. p. 1265The quality of being spareful; sparingness. [Obs.]Spāre'ly, adv. p. 1265In a spare manner; sparingly.Spāre'ness, n. p. 1265The state of being lean or thin; leanness.Spār'er, n. p. 1265One who spares, or avoids unnecessary expense.Spāre'-rib, n. p. 1265The piece of a hog taken from the side, consisting of the ribs with little flesh on them.Spar'ge-fäc'tion, n. p. 1265The act of sprinkling. [Obs.] Swift.Spar'ger, n. p. 1265A copper cylinder used by brewers for dashing or sprinkling. Simmonds.Spär'-hawk, n. p. 1265See SPARROW-HAWK.Spăr'-hŭng, a. p. 1265Hung with spar, as a cave.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…Spar'ing-ly, adv. p. 1265In a sparing manner; not abundantly; frugally; parsimoniously; abstinently; moderately; seldom; cautiously; tenderly.Spā'ring-ness, n. p. 1265The quality of being sparing; parsimony; want of liberality; caution.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…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.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.]Spärk'-eyed, a. p. 1265Bright-eyed.Spärk'ful, a. p. 1265Lively; brisk; gay. [Obs.] Camden.Spärk'ish, a. p. 1265Like a spark; airy; gay. Welsh. 2. Showy; well-dressed; fine.Spärk'le, n. p. 1265A little spark; a scintillation. The shock was sufficiently strong to strike out some sparkles, of his fiery temper. Prescott.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…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.Spärk'ler, n. p. 1266One who, or that which, sparkles; one whose eyes sparkle.Spärk'let, n. p. 1266A small spark. [Obs.] Cotton.Spärk'li-ness, n. p. 1266Vivacity. [Obs.] Aubrey.Spärk'ling, p. a. p. 1266Emitting sparks; glittering; lively; as, sparkling wine; sparkling eyes. See SHINING.Spärk'ling-ly, adv. p. 1266In a sparkling manner; with twinkling or vivid brilliancy.Spärk'ling-ness, n. p. 1266The quality of being sparkling; vivid and twinkling luster.Spär'ling, n. p. 1266A smelt. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Cotgrave.Spär'lyre, n. p. 1266The hinder part or calf of the leg. [Obs.] Wycliffe.Spä'roid, a. p. 1266(Ichth.) Belonging to a family of spinous-finned fishes which includes the gilt-head, sea-bream, and porgee.Spär'-piēce, n. p. 1266(Arch.) The collar-beam of a roof; span-piece. Gwilt.Spär'poil, v. t. p. 1266To scatter; to spread abroad; to disperse. [Obs.]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…Spăr'rōw-bĭll, n. p. 1266A small nail; a cast-iron shoe-nail; a sparable.Spăr'rōw-grāss, n. p. 1266Asparagus. [Vulgar.] See AS-PARAGUS.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…Spăr'rōw-wort, n. p. 1266(Bot.) An evergreen shrub of the genus Erica (E. passerina).Spär'ry, a. p. 1266Resembling spar, or consisting of spar; having a confused crystalline structure; spathose. Sparry iron (Min.), carbonate of iron, or spathic iron.Spärse, a. p. 1266Thinly scattered; set or planted here and there; as, a sparse population. 2. (Bot.) Not opposite, nor alternate, nor in any apparent regular order; scattered; —applied to branches, leaves, peduncles…Spärse, v. t. p. 1266To disperse. [Obs.] Spenser.Spärs'ed-ly, adv. p. 1266In a scattered manner. [Obs.]Spärse'ness, n. p. 1266The state of being sparse; thinness: scattered state; as, sparseness of population.Spär'sim, adv. p. 1266Sparsely; scatteredly; here and there.Spar'tan, a. p. 1266(Geog.) Of, or pertaining to, Sparta, especially to ancient Sparta; hence, hardy; undaunted; as, Spartan souls; Spartan bravery.Spär'ter-iē, n. p. 1266A kind of woven work made of the blades of the Lygeum Spartum and Stipa tenacissima, kinds of grass used in Spain, Provence, and other countries for making ropes, mats, baskets, nets, and mattresses.…Spâr'y, a. p. 1266Sparing; parsimonious. [Obs.]Spăsm, n. p. 1266(Med.) An involuntary and morbid contraction of one or more muscles or muscular fibers. ☞ Spasms are either clonic or tonic. In clonic spasms, the muscles or muscular fibers contract and relax…Spas-măt'ic-al, a. p. 1266Spasmodical. [Obs.] Blount.Spas-mŏd'ic or Spas-mŏd'ic-al, a. p. 1266Relating to spasm; consisting in spasm; as, a spasmodic affection. 2. Soon relaxed or exhausted; convulsive; as, spasmodic industry.Spas-mōd'ic, n. p. 1266(Med.) A medicine good for removing spasm; an anti-spasmodic.Spas-mōl'o-gy, n. p. 1266A discourse on spasms. Dunglison.