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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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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.Spē′ciōus, a. p. 1268Obvious; showy; manifest; open. The rest, far greater part, Will deem in outward rites and specious forms Religion satisfied. Milton. 2. Apparently right; superficially fair, just, or correct…Spē·cioús·ly, adv. p. 1268In a specious manner; with a fair appearance; with show of right; as, to reason speciously.Spē'ciōus-ness, n. p. 1268The quality of being specious; plausible appearance; fair external show; as, the speciousness of an argument.Speck, n. p. 1268A small place in any thing that is discolored by foreign matter, or is of a color different from that of the main substance; a spot; a stain; as, a speck on paper or cloth. “Gray sand, with black…Spĕck, v. t. p. 1268To stain in spots or drops; to spot.Spĕck, n. p. 1268The same as SPECK. Speck and span new, spick and span new. See SPICK.Spĕck'le, n. p. 1268A little spot in any thing, of a different substance or color from that of the thing itself; a speck.Spĕck'le, v. t. p. 1268To mark with small spots of a different color; to variegate with spots of a different color from the ground or surface of. The diction is still too much speckled with strange words. Jeffrey. Speckled…Spĕck'led-ness, n. p. 1268The state of being speckled.Speck'sion-eer', n. p. 1268The man who directs in cutting up the speck or blubber;—so called among whale-fishers.Spēckt, n. p. 1268A woodpecker. See SPEIGHT. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]Spĕc'ta-cle (-kl), n. p. 1268Something exhibited to view; usually, something presented to view as extraordinary, or as unusual and worthy of special notice; a remarkable or noteworthy sight; a show. O, piteous spectacle! O…Spĕc'ta-cled, a. p. 1268Furnished with spectacles; wearing spectacles. “As spectacled she sits in chimney nook.” Keats.Spec-tăc'ū-lar, a. p. 1268Pertaining to shows; of the nature of a show. 2. Of, or pertaining to, spectacles, or glasses for the eyes. Hickes.Spēctant, a. p. 1268Looking forward.Spec-tā'tion, n. p. 1268Regard; respect. [Obs.] Harvey.