Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Spăt'tle, n. p. 1266Spittle. [Obs.] Bale.Spăt'tle, n. p. 1266A spatula. See SPATULA.Spăt'tling-pŏp'py, n. p. 1266(Bot.) A plant; Silene inflata.Spătts, n. pl. p. 1266A kind of small spatterdashes, reaching only a little above the ankle. Crabb.Spăt'ū-la, n. p. 1266A thin, broad-bladed knife, having both of its edges somewhat sharp, used for spreading plasters, and for various other purposes.Spăt'ū-late, a. p. 1266(Nat. Hist.) Shaped like a spatula, or like a battledoor, being roundish, with a long, narrow, linear base.Spăv'in, n. p. 1266(Far.) A swelling in or near some of the joints of a horse, by which lameness is produced. Blood or bog spavin, a distention of one of the small mucous sacs on the inside of the hock, occasioned by a…Spăv'ined, a. p. 1266Affected with spavin.Spaw, n. p. 1266The same as SPA. See SPA.Spawl, v. i. p. 1266To throw saliva from the mouth in a scattering form; to disperse spittle in a careless, dirty manner. Why must he sputter, spawl, and slaver it? Swift.Spawl, n. p. 1266Saliva or spittle thrown out carelessly. 2. [See SPALL.] A splinter or fragment, as of wood or stone.Spawl'ing, n. p. 1266Saliva thrown out carelessly; spawl.Spawn, n. p. 1266The eggs of fish or frogs when ejected. 2. Any product or offspring; — used contemptuously. Roscommon. 3. (Gardening.) The buds or branches produced from underground stems. 4. (Bot.) The white…Spawn, v. t. p. 1266To produce or deposit, as fishes do their eggs. 2. To bring forth; to generate; — used contemptuously. These orders have spawned much since our last civil wars. Fuller.Spawn, v. i. p. 1266To deposit eggs, as fish or frogs. 2. To issue, as offspring; — used contemptuously.Spawn'er, n. p. 1266The female fish. The spawner and the milter of the barbel cover their spawn with sand. Walton.Spāy, v. t. p. 1266To extirpate the ovaries of; to castrate; — said only of female animals.Spāy, n. p. 1266The male of the red deer in his third year.Spāy'ade, n. p. 1266(Her.) A stag in his third year; a spay.Spēak, v. i. p. 1266To utter words or articulate sounds, as human beings; to express thoughts by words; as, the organs may be so obstructed, that a man may not be able to speak. Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. 1…Spēak, v. t. p. 1267To utter with the mouth; to pronounce; to utter articulately, as human beings. They sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spoke a word unto him. Job ii. 13. Speak…Spēak'ā-ble, a. p. 1267Capable of being spoken. 2. Having the power of speech; able to speak. [Rare.] Milton.Spēak'er, n. p. 1267One who speaks. No other speaker of my living actions. Shak. 2. Especially, one who utters or pronounces a discourse; usually, one who utters a speech in public; as, the man is a good speaker, or a…Spēak'er-ship, n. p. 1267The office of speaker.Spēak'ing, n. p. 1267The act of uttering words; discourse. 2. Public declamation.Spēak'ing-trŭmp'et, n. p. 1267An instrument somewhat resembling a trumpet, by which the sound of the human voice may be so intensified as to be conveyed to a great distance.Spēak'ing-tūbe, n. p. 1267A tube within the walls of a building for communicating from one room to another.Spēar, n. p. 1267A long, pointed weapon, used in war and hunting, by thrusting or throwing; a lance. They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks. Micah iv. 3. 2. A sharp-pointed…Spēar, v. t. p. 1267To pierce with a spear; to kill with a spear; as, to spear a fish.Spēar, v. i. p. 1267To shoot into a long stem, as some plants. See SPIRE. Mortimer.Spēar'er, n. p. 1267One who uses a spear; a spearman. [Obs.]Spēar'-foot, n. p. 1267The off foot behind;—said of a horse's foot.Spēar'-grass, n. p. 1267A long, stiff grass. Shak. 2. (Bot.) A species of Poa, a large, smooth-stalked meadow grass. [U. S.]Spēar'-hānd, n. p. 1267The hand in which a horseman holds a spear; the right hand. Crabb.Spēar'-hĕad, n. p. 1267The pointed end of a spear.Spēar'man, n. p. 1267One who is armed with a spear.Spēar'mint, n. p. 1267(Bot.) A plant; Mentha viridis; a species of mint.Spēar'-thistle, n. p. 1267A certain plant.Spēar'wort, n. p. 1267(Bot.) A certain plant; the popular name of the Ranunculus flammula.Spēcht, n. p. 1267A woodpecker. See SPEIGHT. [Obs. or local.] Sherwood.Spĕ'cial, a. p. 1267Pertaining to, or constituting, a species or sort. A special idea is called by the schools a “species.” Watts. 2. Particular; peculiar; different from others; extraordinary; uncommon. Our Savior is…Spĕ'cial, n. p. 1267A particular. [Obs.] Hammond. 2. One especially appointed. [Rare.]Spĕ'cial-ist, n. p. 1267One who devotes himself to a specialty.Spĕ'ci-ăl'i-ty, n. p. 1267A particular or peculiar case; a particularity. 2. The special or peculiar mark or characteristic of a person or thing; that for which a person is specially distinguished; an object of special…Spē'cial-i-zā'tion, n. p. 1267The act of specializing, or making special; particularization.Spĕ'cial-īze, v. t. p. 1267To mention specially; to particularize. [Obs.] 2. To apply to some specialty or limited object; as, specialized knowledge.Spĕ'cial-ly, adv. p. 1267In a special manner; particularly; especially. 2. For a particular purpose; as, a meeting of the legislature is specially summoned.Spĕ'cial-ty, n. p. 1267Particularity. Specialty of rule hath been neglected. Shak. 2. A particular or peculiar case. 3. (Law.) A contract, or obligation, under seal; a contract by deed; a writing, under seal, given as…Spē'cie, n. p. 1267Copper, silver, or gold, coined, and used as a circulating medium of commerce; hard money; coin.Spē'ciēs, n. sing. & pl. p. 1267Visible or sensible presentation; appearance; a sensible percept received by the imagination; an image. [Rare.] The species of letters illuminated with indigo and violet. Newton. Wit, . . . the…Spe-cif'ic or Spe-cif'ic-al, a. p. 1267Pertaining to, characterizing, or constituting a species; possessing the peculiar property or properties of a thing, which constitute its species, and distinguish it from other things; as, the…Spe-cif'ic, n. p. 1267(Med.) A remedy which exerts a special action in the prevention or cure of a disease; an infallible remedy, or one supposed to be infallible. His parents were weak enough to believe that the royal…Spe-cif'ic-al-ly, adv. p. 1267In a specific manner; according to the nature of the species; definitely; particularly. “Those several virtues that are specifically requisite to a due performance of duty.” South. Human reason . . .…Spe-cif'ic-al-ness, n. p. 1268The state or quality of being specific.Spe-cĭf'i-cāte, v. t. p. 1268To show, mark, or designate the species, or the distinguishing particulars of; to specify. [Obs.]Spĕc/i-fi-cā'tion, n. p. 1268The act of specifying, or determining, by a mark or limit; notation of limits. This specification or limitation of the question hinders the disputers from wandering away from the precise point of…Spe-cif'ic-ness, n. p. 1268The state or quality of being specific; particular mark of distinction.Spĕc'i-fy, v. t. p. 1268To mention or name, as a particular thing; to designate in words, so as to distinguish from other things; as, to specify the uses of a plant; to specify the articles one wants to purchase. He has…Spĕ'ci-men, n. p. 1268A part, or small portion, of any thing, or number of things, intended to exhibit the kind and quality of the whole, or of what is not exhibited; a sample; as, a specimen of a man's handwriting; a…Spē'ci-ŏs'i-ty, n. p. 1268The state of being specious. [Rare.] “Professions built so largely on speciosity, instead of performance.” Carlyle.