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.
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.Spec-tā'tor, n. p. 1268One who looks on; one who sees or beholds; a beholder; one personally present at any exhibition; as, the spectators of a show. Syn. — Looker-on; beholder; observer; witness.Spĕc'/ta-tō'ri-al, a. p. 1268Of, or pertaining to, a spectator. [Rare.] Addison.Spec-tā'tor-shĭp, n. p. 1268The act of beholding. Shak. 2. The office or quality of a spectator. Addison.Spec-tā'tress or Spec-tā'trix p. 1268A female beholder or looker-on. “A spectatress of the whole scene.” Jeffrey.Spēc'ter or Spēc'tre, n. p. 1268An apparition; a ghost. The ghosts of traitors from the bridge descend, With bold, fanatic specters to rejoice. Dryden. 2. Something made preternaturally visible.Spĕc'tral, a. p. 1268Pertaining to a specter; ghostly. He that feels timid at the spectral form of evil, is not the man to spread light. F. W. Robertson. 2. Pertaining to a spectrum; as, spectral colors.Spec-trōl'o-gy, n. p. 1268The science of chemical analysis, by means of the lines of spectra as modified by the volatilization of different elements. Am. Journal of Science.Spĕc'tro-scōpe, n. p. 1268An optical instrument for forming and examining spectra, particularly those produced by flames in which different substances are volatilized, so as to determine, from the position of the spectral…Spĕc'trum, n. p. 1268A visible form; something seen. Darwin. 2. (Opt.) The several colored and other rays of which light is composed, separated by the refraction of a prism or other means, and exhibited either as spread…Spĕc'ū-lar, a. p. 1268Having the qualities of a speculum or mirror; having a smooth, reflecting surface; as, a specular metal; a specular surface. 2. Assisting sight. [Obs.] Thy specular orb Apply to well-directed…Spēc'ū-lāte, v. i. p. 1268To consider by turning an object in the mind, and viewing it in its different aspects and relations; to meditate; to contemplate; as, to speculate on political events. 2. (Com.) To purchase with the…Spēc'ū-lāte, v. t. p. 1268To consider attentively; as, to speculate the nature of a thing. [Obs.] Browne.Spĕc/ū-lā'tion, n. p. 1268The act of speculating; as, (a.) Examination by the eye; view. [Obs.] (b.) Mental view of any thing in its various aspects and relations; contemplation; intellectual examination. Thenceforth to…Spēc'ū-la-tīst, n. p. 1268One who speculates or forms theories; a speculator; a theorist. “The very ingenious speculatist, Mr. Hume.” Knox.Spĕc'ū-lā-tīve, a. p. 1268Given to, or concerning, speculation; involving, or formed by, speculation; ideal; theoretical; not established by reason; imaginary. “The mind of man being by nature speculative.” Hooker. 2.…Spēc'ū-la-tīve-ly, adv. p. 1268In a speculative manner; in contemplation; ideally; theoretically; in theory only, not in practice. 2. In the way of speculation in lands, goods, and the like.Spĕc'ū-lā-tīve-ness, n. p. 1268The state of being speculative, or of consisting in speculation only.Spĕc'ū-lā'tor, n. p. 1268One who speculates or forms theories. In the earlier part of the seventeenth century, a speculator who had dared to affirm that the human soul is by nature immortal. Macaulay. 2. An observer; a…Spēc/ū-la-tō'ri-al, a. p. 1268Speculatory; speculative. [Obs.]Spēc'ū-la-to-ry, a. p. 1268Exercising speculation; speculative. Carew. 2. Intended or adapted for viewing or espying.Spēc'ū-list, n. p. 1268One who observes or considers; an observer. [Rare.] Goldsmith.