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.
Spōon'bill, n. p. 1276(Or-nith.) A certain wading bird of the grallie order, and genus Platalea, so named from the shape of the bill, which is long, large, much flattened, dilated and rounded at the extremity into the…Spōōn'-drift, n. p. 1276(Naut.) A showery sprinkling of sea-water, swept from the tops of the waves, and driven upon the surface in a tempest. Totten.Spōōn'ey, n. p. 1276One who is half-witted or foolish; a weak-minded or silly person; —used contemptuously. [Low.] Thackeray. There is no doubt, whatever, that I was a lackadaisical young spooner. Dickens.Spōōn'ey, a. p. 1276Weak-minded; silly. [Low.] Kingsley.Spōōn'ful, n. p. 1276The quantity which a spoon contains, or is able to contain; as, a tea-spoonful; a table-spoonful. 2. Hence, a small quantity. Arbuthnot.Spōōn'i-ly, adv. p. 1276In a weak or foolish manner; as, to behave spoonily.Spōōn'-meat, n. p. 1276Food that is or must be taken with a spoon; liquid food. “Diet most upon spoon-meats.” Harvey.Spōōn'-worm, n. p. 1276(Zoöl.) A radiate animal of the genus Thalassema, having a spoon-like proboscis.Spōōn’wört, n. p. 1276(Bot.) A plant of the genus Cochlearia; scurvy-grass.Spōor, n. p. 1276The track or trail of an animal, especially of one pursued as game; as, the spoor of an elephant. Anderson. G. Cummings.Spōr'a-dēs, n. pl. p. 1276(Geog.) A group of scattered islands; — applied especially to a group in the Egean Sea. 2. (Astron.) Stars not included in any constellation; — now called informed or uninformed stars.Spo-rā'di·al, a. p. 1276Sporadic. [Rare.]Spo-răd'ie or Spo-răd'ie-al, a. p. 1276Occurring singly or apart from other things of the same kind; separate; single; as, a sporadic fire-ball; a sporadic case of disease; a sporadic example of a flower. Sporadic disease (Med.), a…Spo-rād'ic-al-ly, adv. p. 1276In a sporadic manner.Spo-rān'jē-ŭm, n. p. 1276A spore-case in the cryptogams. Gray.Spōre, n. p. 1276(Bot.) One of the minute grains in flowerless plants which performs the function of seeds.Spō'rid, n. p. 1276(Bot.) The same as SPORE. Lindley.Spō-rīd'i-um, n. p. 1276A compound spore, or one which contains two or more germinating cells.Spō'ro-cērp, n. p. 1276(Bot.) The same as SPORANGIUM. Gray.Spō'ro-cyst, n. p. 1276(Physiol.) A spore-case; an organized body possessing more or less the character of an individual animal, but never having sexual distinctions, and containing germs that become individuals of the…Spōr'ran, n. p. 1276A leather pouch worn in front of the kilt by Highlanders when in full dress. W. Scott.Spōrt, n. p. 1276That which diverts and makes mirth; game; diversion; mirth. Her sports were such as carried riches of knowledge upon the stream of delight. Sidney. Think it but a minute spent in sport. Shak. 2.…Spōrt, v. t. p. 1276To divert; to make merry;—used with the reciprocal pronoun. Against whom do ye sport yourselves? Is. lvii. 4. 2. To represent by any kind of play. “Now sporting on thy lyre the love of youth.”…Spōrt, v. i. p. 1276To play; to frolic; to wanton. They, sporting with quick glance, Show to the sun their waved coats dropt with gold. Milton. 2. To practice the diversions of the field. 3. To trifle. “Because he…Spōrt'/a-bĭl'/i-ty, n. p. 1276Sportiveness. [Obs.]Spōrt'al, a. p. 1276Of, or pertaining to, sports; used in sports. [Rare.] “Sportal arms.” Dryden.Spōrt'er, n. p. 1276One who sports; a sportsman. As this gentleman and I have been old fellow-sporters, I have a friendship for him. Goldsmith.Spōrt'ful, a. p. 1276Full of sport; merry; frolicsome; full of jesting; indulging in mirth or play; as, a sportful companion. Down he alights among the sportful herd. Milton. 2. Done in jest, or for mere play; ludicrous…Spōrt'ful-ly, adv. p. 1276In a sportful manner; in mirth; in jest; for the sake of diversion; playfully.Spōrt'ful-ness, n. p. 1276The state of being sportful; a playful disposition; playfulness; as, the sportfulness of kids and lambs.Spōrt'ing, p. a. p. 1276Pertaining or relating to, or engaging in, sport or sports, or the act of one who, or that which, sports. Sporting-book, a book containing a record of bets, &c. C. Kingsley.—Sporting-house, a house…Spōrt'ing-ly, adv. p. 1276In a sporting manner; in sport; sportively. The question you put, you do it, I suppose, but sportingly. Hammond.Spōrt'īve, a. p. 1276Tending to, or provocative of, sport; gay, frolicsome; playful. Is it I That drive thee from the sportive court? Shak.Spōrt'ive-ly, adv. p. 1277In a sportive manner; gayly; merrily; playfully.Spōrt'ive-ness, n. p. 1277The state of being sportive; playfulness; mirth; merriment.Spōrt'less, a. p. 1277Without sport or mirth; joyless.Spört'ling, n. p. 1277A little person or creature engaged in sports. When again the lambkins play— Pretty sportlings, full of May. Philips.Spōrts’man, n. p. 1277One who pursues the sports of the field; one who hunts, fishes, and fowls. 2. One skilled in the sports of the field.Spōrts'man-ship, n. p. 1277The practice of sportsmen; skill in field sports.Spōr'tū-lā, n. p. 1277A gift; a present; a prize; hence, an alms. “To feed luxuriously, to frequent sports and theaters, to run for the sportula.” South.Spōrt'ū-la·ry, a. p. 1277Subsisting on, or receiving, sportules, or alms. [Obs.]Spŏrt'ūle, n. p. 1277A charitable gift or contribution; a gift; an alms; a dole. [Obs.] Ayliffe.Spōr'ule, n. p. 1277(Bot.) A small spore. Gray.Spōr'ū-lif'er-ōus, a. p. 1277(Bot.) Producing sporules. Craig.Spōr'y-ar, n. p. 1277A spurrier. [Obs. and rare.]Spŏt, n. p. 1277A mark on a substance made by foreign matter; a speck; a blot; a place discolored. Out! damned spot. Out! I say. Shak. 2. Hence, a stain on character or reputation; something that soils purity…Spŏt, v. t. p. 1277To make visible marks upon with some foreign matter; to discolor; to stain; as, to spot a garment; to spot paper. 2. To mark or note so as to insure recognition; as, to spot a criminal. [Colloq.] 3.…Spŏt'less, a. p. 1277Without a spot; especially, free from reproach or impurity; pure; untainted; innocent; as, a spotless mind; spotless behavior. “A spotless virgin, and a faultless wife.” Waller. Syn. — Blameless…Spöt'less-ly, adv. p. 1277In a spotless manner.Spŏt'less-ness, n. p. 1277The state or quality of being spotless; freedom from spot or stain; freedom from reproach.Spöt'ted, a. p. 1277Marked with spots. “The spotted panther.” Spencer.Spöt'ted-ness, n. p. 1277The state or quality of being spotted.Spöt'ter, n. p. 1277One who makes spots.Spŏt'ti-ness, n. p. 1277State or quality of being spotty.Spöt'ty, a. p. 1277Full of spots; marked with discolored places.Spous'age, n. p. 1277The act of espousing. [Obs.]Spous'al, a. p. 1277Pertaining to a spouse, or to a marriage; nuptial; matrimonial; conjugal; connubial; bridal; as, spousal rites; spousal ornaments. I, long before the blissful hour arrives, Would chant, in lonely…Spous'al, n. p. 1277Marriage; nuptials; — generally used in the plural; as, the spousals of Hippolita.Spouse, n. p. 1277A man or woman engaged or joined in wedlock; a married person, husband or wife. At last such grace I found, and means I wrought, That I that lady to my spouse had won. Spencer. 2. A married man, in…Spouse, v. t. p. 1277To wed; to espouse. [Rare.] She was found again, and spoused to Marinell. Spencer.