Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
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.
Speech'i-fi-cā'tion, n. p. 1269The act of speechifying;—used humorously or in contempt.Speech'i-fy, v. i. p. 1269To make a speech; to harangue;—used derisively or humorously.Speech'ing, n. p. 1269The act of making a speech. [Obs.]Speech'less, a. p. 1269Destitute or deprived of the faculty of speech. 2. Not speaking for a time; dumb; mute; silent. “Speechless with wonder, and half dead with fear.” Addison.Speech'less-ness, n. p. 1269The state of being speechless; muteness.Speech'-mak'er, n. p. 1269One who makes speeches; one who is accustomed to speak in a public assembly.Speed, v. i. p. 1269To make haste; to move with celerity. Shak. 2. To attain what one seeks for; to advance in one's enterprise; to prosper; to succeed. He that's once denied will hardly speed. Shak. 3. To have any…Speed, v. t. p. 1269To cause to make haste; to dispatch with celerity; to send forth as a messenger; hence, to hasten; to hurry. He sped him thence home to his habitation. Fairfax. 2. To help forward; to assist onward…Speed, n. p. 1269The moving or causing to move forward with celerity; swiftness; quickness. 2. Prosperity in an undertaking; favorable issue, that is, advance to the desired end; success. O Lord God of my master…Speed'er, n. p. 1269One who, or that which, speeds. 2. A kind of machine for forwarding things in manufacture.Speed'fŭl, a. p. 1269Full of speed; hasty. [Obs.]Speed'ful-ly, adv. p. 1269In a speedful manner; speedily.Speed'i-ly, adv. p. 1269In a speedy manner; quickly; with haste.Speed'i-ness, n. p. 1269The quality of being speedy; quickness; celerity; haste; dispatch.Speed'well, n. p. 1269(Bot.) A plant of the genus Veronica, one species of which has sometimes been used as a substitute for tea. London.Speed'y, a. p. 1269Not dilatory or slow; quick; swift; nimble; hasty; rapid in motion; as, a speedy flight; on speedy foot. I will wish her speedy strength. Shak.Speer, v. t. p. 1269To ask. See SPERE.Speet, v. t. p. 1269To stab. [Obs.]Speight, n. p. 1269(Ornith.) A kind of large woodpecker. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]Speiss, n. p. 1269(Min.) Copper nickel, consisting of nickel and arsenic. Ure.Spĕl'ding, n. p. 1269A dried haddock. Simmonds.Spēlk, n. p. 1269A small stick or rod used in thatching; a splinter. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.Spĕll, n. p. 1269A spelk or splinter. [Obs.] Holland.Spĕll, n. p. 1269The relief of one person by another in any piece of work; a turn of work; a change; as, a spell at the pumps. Their toil is so extreme that they can not endure it above four hours in a day, but are…Spĕll, v. t. p. 1269To supply the place of; to take the turn of, at work; to relieve; to help.Spĕll, n. p. 1269A story; a tale. [Obs.] Chaucer. 2. A verse or phrase repeated for its magical power; hence, any charm. Start not; her actions shall be holy; You hear my spell is lawful. Shak. Begin, begin; the…Spĕll, v. t. p. 1269To tell; to relate; to teach. [Obs.] Wotton. 2. To discover by characters or marks; to read; — with out; as, to spell out the sense of an author. A rude, unwritten blank, sent into the world only to…Spĕll, v. i. p. 1269To read, or learn to read. [R.] Milton. 2. To form words with the proper letters, either in reading or writing.Spĕll'-bound, a. p. 1269Arrested or locked up by a spell or charm.Spëll'er, n. p. 1269One who spells; one skilled in spelling. 2. A book containing exercises in spelling; a spelling-book. [U. S.]Spëll'ful, a. p. 1269Abounding in spells or charms. Here, while his eyes the learned leaves peruse, Each spellful mystery explained he views. Hoole.Spĕll'ing, n. p. 1269The act of naming the letters of a word, or the act of writing or printing words with their proper letters. 2. The manner of forming words with letters; orthography; as, bad spelling is disreputable.Spëll'ing-böök, n. p. 1269A book for teaching children to spell and read; a speller.Spĕll'-länd, n. p. 1269A land of spells or charms.Spĕll'-work, n. p. 1269Power of magic; that which is wrought by magic. Like those Peri isles of light That hang by spell-work in the air. T. Moore.Spĕlt, n. p. 1269(Bot.) A species of grain (the Triticum spelta), much cultivated for food in Germany and Switzerland;—called also German wheat.Spëlt, n. p. 1269A mineral used to promote fusion of metals. See SPALT.Spĕlt, v. t. & i. p. 1269To split; to spalt. [Obs.] Mortimer.Spël'ter, n. p. 1269Zinc.Spe-lūnge', n. p. 1269A cavern; a cave. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.Spēnçe, n. p. 1269A place where provisions are kept; a buttery; a larder; a pantry. In one large aperture, . . . called his spence, or “pantry,” were hung the carcasses of a sheep or ewe, and two cows lately…Spēn'cer, n. p. 1269One who has the care of the spence or buttery. [Obs.] Promptorium Parvulorum. 2. [From Lord Spencer, who first wore it, or brought it into fashion.] A short over-jacket worn by men or women. 3.…Spencer-mast p. 1269a small mast just abaft the fore and main masts, for hoisting the spencer. Dana.Spēnd, v. t. p. 1269To weigh or lay out; to dispose of; to part with; as, to spend money for clothing. Why do ye spend money for that which is not bread? Isa. lv. 2. Spend thou that in town. Shak. 2. To bestow for any…Spent ball p. 1269a ball shot from a fire-arm, which reaches an object without having sufficient force to penetrate it. Crabb.Spēnd, v. i. p. 1269To make expense; to make disposition of money; as, he spends like a prudent man. 2. To be lost or wasted; to vanish; to be dissipated; to be consumed. The vines they use for wine are so often cut…Spēnd'er, n. p. 1269One who spends. 2. A prodigal; a lavisher; a spendthrift.Spēnd'thrift, n. p. 1269One who spends money profusely or improvidently; a prodigal; one who lavishes his estate.Spēnd'thrift-y, a. p. 1269Like a spendthrift; prodigal; extravagant. [Obs.]Spēr, v. t. p. 1269To shut in; to support; to inclose; to fasten. [Obs.] “To sper the gate.” Spenser.Spē'ra-ble, a. p. 1269Within the range of hope; proper to be hoped for; possible. [Obs.] Bacon.Spēr'a-ble, n. p. 1269The same as SPARABLE, q. v.Spēr'age, n. p. 1269Asparagus; sparage. [Obs. or vulgar.] Sylvester.Spē'rate, a. p. 1269Hoped for, or to be hoped for. [Rare.] Bouhier.Spēre, v. t. p. 1269To ask; to inquire; to speer. [Scot. and the north of Ireland.] Halliwell.Spĕrm, n. p. 1269Animal seed, especially that of the male. 2. Spermaceti. [A colloquial contraction.] 3. Spawn of fishes or frogs.Spĕrm'a-cē'ti, n. p. 1269A fatty matter obtained chiefly from the head of the cachalot, or spermaceti whale. When separated from the oil and purified, it is a white, semi-transparent, brittle, lamellar, crystalline mass, and…Spĕrm'a-cē'ti-whāle, n. p. 1269(Zoöl.) The cachalot, or species of whale from which spermaceti is obtained;—called also sperm-whale. See CACHALOT.Spĕrm'a-phōre, n. p. 1269(Bot.) That part of the ovary from which the ovules arise; the placenta.Spĕrm'a-ry, n. p. 1269(Anat.) The spermatic gland or glands of the male. Dana.