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.
Sphăc'e-lāte, v. i. p. 1270To mortify; to become gangrenous, as flesh. 2. To decay or become carious, as a bone.Sphă'ce-lāte, v. t. p. 1270To affect with gangrene.Sphăc'e-late or Sphăc'e-lā'ted, a. p. 1270Affected with gangrene; mortified.Sphăc'e-lā'tion, n. p. 1270(Med.) The process of becoming, or making, gangrenous; mortification.Sphā'ce-lūs, n. p. 1270(Med. & Surg.) The gangrenous part in a case of mortification, as of a limb; gangrene. 2. Death of a bone. Coxe.Sphær'ū-lite, n. p. 1270(Min.) The same as SPHERULITE, q. v.Sphăg'noŭs, a. p. 1270(Bot.) Of, or pertaining to, plants of the genus Sphagnum, or to bog-moss; mossy. Bigelow.Sphāg'num, n. p. 1270(Bot.) A genus of plants belonging to the family of the mosses, having white leaves slightly tinged with red or green, and found growing in marshy places, where they form masses of turf which are…Sphène, n. p. 1270(Min.) A mineral composed of silica, titanic acid, and lime. Its colors are dull yellow, green, gray, brown, and black. It is found usually in thin, wedge-shaped crystals.Sphē'no-grām, n. p. 1270A cuneiform or arrow-headed character. See CUNEIFORM.Sphē'noid or Sphē-noid'al, a. p. 1270Resembling a wedge. Sphenoid bone (Anat.), an irregularly shaped bone situated at the base of the skull on the median line;—called also pterygoid bone. ☞ Sphenoid, abbreviated to spheno, is sometimes…Sphé'noid, n. p. 1270(Crystallog.) A wedge-shaped crystal contained under four equal isosceles triangles. Dana. 2. (Anat.) A wedge-shaped compound bone; the sphenoid bone. Dunglison.Sphē'r'al, a. p. 1270Rounded like a sphere; hence, symmetrical; complete; perfect.Sphēre, n. p. 1270(Geom.) A body contained under a single surface, which, in every part, is equally distant from a point within, called its center. 2. Hence, any orb or star. First the sun, a mighty sphere, he framed.…Sphēre, v. t. p. 1270To place in a sphere. The glorious planet Sol, In noble eminence, enthroned and sphered Amidst the rest. Shak. 2. To form into roundness. “Light . . . sphered in a radiant cloud.” Milton.Sphère'-mél'o-dy, n. p. 1270Melody or music of the spheres. Carlyle.Sphère'-mū'sic, n. p. 1270The music or harmony of the spheres. Ed. Rev.Sphér'ic or Sphér'ic-al, a. p. 1270Having the form of a sphere; like a sphere; globular; orbicular; as, a spherical body. 2. Pertaining to a sphere. 3. Relating to the heavenly orbs; planetary. We make guilty of our disasters the sun…Sphèr'ic-al-ly, adv. p. 1270In the form of a sphere.Sphē'rie-al-ness or Sphē-ric'i-ty, n. p. 1270The state or quality of being spherical; roundness; as, the sphericity of a drop of water.Sphēr'ĭ-cle, n. p. 1270A small sphere.Sphē'rics, n. sing. p. 1270The doctrine of the sphere; the science of the properties and relations of the circles, figures, and other magnitudes of a sphere, produced by planes intersecting it; spherical geometry and…Sphĕr'o-grāph, n. p. 1270An instrument for facilitating the practical use of spheres in navigation and astronomy, being constructed of two card-boards containing various circles, and turning upon each other in such a manner…Sphē'roid, n. p. 1270A body or figure approaching to a sphere, but not perfectly spherical; especially, a solid generated by the revolution of an ellipse about one of its axes. Oblate spheroid. See OBLATE.—Prolate…Sphe-roid'al or Sphe-roid'ic, a. p. 1270Sphe-roid'ie-al, a. p. 1270Having the form of a spheroid. Cheyne. 2. (Crystallog.) Bounded by several convex faces.Spheroidal state p. 1270the state of a liquid, as water, when, on being thrown on a surface of highly heated metal, it rolls about in spheroidal drops or masses, at a temperature several degrees below ebullition, and…Sphe-roid'i-ty, n. p. 1270The state or quality of being spheroidal. [Rare.]Sphe-rōm'e-ter, n. p. 1270An instrument for measuring the thickness of small bodies, the curvature of optical glasses, and the like.Sphĕr'/o-sĭd'er-īte, n. p. 1270(Min.) Carbonate of iron in spheroidal masses, occurring in trap. Dana.Sphēr'u-late, a. p. 1270Covered or set with spherules; having one or more rows of spherules or minute tubercles.Sphèr'ule, n. p. 1270A little sphere or spherical body; as, quicksilver, when poured upon a plane, divides itself into a great number of minute spherules.Sphĕr'u-lite, n. p. 1270(Min.) A variety of obsidian or pearl-stone, found in rounded grains.Sphē'r'y, a. p. 1270Round; spherical. Shak. 2. Belonging to the spheres. She can teach ye how to climb Higher than the sphery chime. Milton.Sphig-mōm'e-ter, n. p. 1270The same as SPHYGMOMETER, q. v.Sphinc'ter, n. p. 1270(Anat.) A muscle that contracts or shuts the opening of an organ. It is more generally applied to such as naturally and without volition maintain soft openings closed; as, the sphincter of the mouth.Sphinx, n. p. 1270(Myth.) A monster usually represented as having the winged body of a lion, and the face and breast of a young woman; — represented also in other forms. 2. (Entom.) A genus of lepidopterous insects…Sphrăg'īde, n. p. 1270(Min.) A species of ocherous clay which falls to pieces in water, with the emission of many bubbles; — called also earth of Lemnos and Lemnian earth.Sphra-gis'tics, n. sing. p. 1271The science of seals, their history, age, distinctions; a branch of diplomatics. [See Note under MATHEMATICS.]Sphyg'mic, a. p. 1271Of, or pertaining to the pulse. Dunglison.Sphyg'mo-grāph, n. p. 1271(Med.) A contrivance for indicating the character of the pulse as to force and extent of undulations. Dunglison.Sphyg-mŏm'e-ter, n. p. 1271A sphygmograph.Spī'al, n. p. 1271A spy; a scout. [Obs.] Bacon.Spī'cā, n. p. 1271(Surg.) A kind of bandage;—so called from its resemblance to a spike of barley. 2. (Astron.) A star of the first magnitude situated in the constellation Virgo.Spī'cate or Spī'cā-ted, a. p. 1271(Bot.) Having the form of a spike or ear; arranged in a spike. Lee.Spic-cā'to, p. a. p. 1271(Mus.) Detached; separated;—a term indicating that every note is to be performed in a distinct and pointed manner. [Obs. or rare.]Spīce, n. p. 1271A vegetable production, fragrant or aromatic to the smell and pungent to the taste;—used in sauces and in cookery. 2. Hence, that which resembles spice, or enriches or alters the quality of a thing…Spīce, v. t. p. 1271To season with spice, or that which resembles spice; to mix aromatic substances with; as, to spice wine. 2. To fill or impregnate with the odor of spices. “In the spiced Indian air, by night.” Shak.…Spīce'-bush, n. p. 1271(Bot.) Spice-wood.Spīce'-nŭt, n. p. 1271A gingerbread nut. [Eng.]Spī'cer, n. p. 1271One who seasons with spice. 2. One who deals in spice.Spī'cer-y, n. p. 1271Spices in general; fragrant and aromatic vegetable substances used in seasoning. 2. A repository of spices. Addison.Spice'-wood, n. p. 1271(Bot.) An American shrub, the bark of which has a spicy taste and odor; the Benzoin odoriferum (Laurus benzoin of Linnæus);—called also Benjamin, wild allspice, and fever-bush.Spī·cif'er-ous, a. p. 1271Bearing ears, as corn; producing spikes, as some plants; spicate. [Obs.] Bailey.Spī'ci-fōrm, a. p. 1271(Bot.) Spike-shaped. Gray.Spī'ci-ly, adv. p. 1271In a spicy manner.Spī'ci-ness, n. p. 1271The state or quality of being spicy.Spĭck, n. p. 1271A spike or nail. [Prov. Eng.] Spick and span new, quite new; that is, as new as a spike or nail just made and a chip just split. See SPAN-NEW.Spĭck'nel, n. p. 1271(Bot.) A plant of the genus Athemantium; — called also, provincially, maldmony, and bearwort.Spī-cōse', a. p. 1271(Bot.) Having spikes or ears, like corn-spikes. Wright.