Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Sprāy, n. p. 1277A small shoot or branch; a branch of a tree; a twig. “Two foot-growing sprays.” Shak. 2. A collective body of small branches; as, the tree has a beautiful spray.Sprāy, n. p. 1277Water flying in small drops or particles, as by the force of wind, or the dashing of waves, or of a waterfall, and the like. 2. (Founding.) A side channel of the runner of a flask, made to distribute…Spray-drain p. 1277a drain made by laying under earth the spray or small branches of trees, which keep passages open.Sprĕad, v. t. p. 1277To extend in length and breadth, or in breadth only; to stretch or expand to a broader surface or extent; to open; to unfurl; as, to spread a carpet or a table-cloth; to spread a tent or sail. Here…Sprēad, v. i. p. 1277To extend in length and breadth in all directions, or in breadth only; to be extended or stretched. Plants, if they spread much, are seldom tall. Bacon. Governor Winthrop, and his associates at…Sprēad, n. p. 1277Extent; compass. I have a fine spread of improvable land. Addison. 2. Expansion of parts. No flower has that spread of the woodbine. Bacon. 3. A cloth used as a cover for a table or a bed; a table…Sprēad'-ēa'gle, n. p. 1277(Her.) An eagle, or the figure of an eagle, with its wings elevated and its legs extended;—often met as a device in heraldry, upon military ornaments, and the like.Sprēad'-ēa'gle, a. p. 1277Characterized by a pretentious, boastful, exaggerating style; defiantly or extravagantly bombastic; as, a spread-eagle orator; a spread-eagle speech. [Colloq. U. S.]Sprēad'-ēa'gle, n. p. 1277(Com.) The operation of one who buys an amount of stock on time, and then bargains to sell the same stock within the same time at a higher rate, expecting to receive a profit from the difference…Sprēad'er, n. p. 1277One who, or that which, spreads, extends, expands, or propagates.Sprēad'ing-ly, adv. p. 1277Increasingly. The best times were spreadingly infected. Milton.Sprēch'er-y, n. p. 1277Movables of an inferior description; especially, such as have been collected by depredation. [Scot.] “The quantity of useless sprechery which they have collected on their march.” W. Scott.Spree, n. p. 1277A merry frolic; especially, a drinking frolic; a carousal. [Collog.]Sprĕnt, p. p. p. 1278Sprinkled. [Obs.] See SPRINKLE. Spenser.Sprew, n. p. 1278(Med.) A disease of the mucous membrane, confined to the mouth and alimentary canal, and terminating in curd-like sloughs; thrush. [Obs. or local.]Sprey, a. p. 1278Spry. [Obs.]Sprig, n. p. 1278A small shoot or twig of a tree or other plant; a spray; as, a sprig of laurel or of parsley. 2. A youth; a lad;—used as a term of slight disparagement. “A sprig whom I remember, with a whey-face and…Sprig, v. t. p. 1278To mark or adorn with the representation of small branches; to work with sprigs; as, to sprig muslin.Sprig'-crŷs'tal, n. p. 1278(Min.) A cluster of pointed, prismatic crystals of quartz, adhering by one extremity to the rock.Sprig'gy, a. p. 1278Full of sprigs or small branches.Spright, n. p. 1278The same as SPIRIT. [Obs.] See SPIRIT. Hold thou my heart; establish thou my sprights. Sidney. Wondrous great grief groweth in my spright. Spenser. To thee, O Father, Son, and Sacred Spright.…Spright, v. t. p. 1278To haunt, as a spright. [Obs.]Spright'ful, a. p. 1278Full of spirit or of life; earnest; vivacious; lively; brisk; nimble; gay. [Obs.] “Spoke like a sprightful noble gentleman.” Shak. “Steeds sprightful as the light.” Cowley.Spright'ful-ly, adv. p. 1278In a sprightful manner; briskly; vigorously. [Obs.] Shak.Spright'ful-ness, n. p. 1278The quality of being sprightful; briskness; liveliness; vivacity. [Obs.]Spright'less, a. p. 1278Destitute of life; dull; sluggish.Spright'li-ness, n. p. 1278The quality of being sprightly; liveliness; life; briskness; vigor; activity; gayety; vivacity. In dreams, with what sprightliness and alacrity does the soul exert herself! Addison.Spright'ly, a. p. 1278Spirit-like, or spright-like; lively; brisk; animated; vigorous; airy; gay; as, a sprightly youth; a sprightly air; a sprightly dance. “Sprightly wit and love inspires.” Dryden. The sprightly Sylvia…Spring, v. i. p. 1278To leap; to bound; to jump. The mountain stag that springs From height to height, and bounds along the plains. Philips. 2. To issue with speed and violence; to move with activity. And sudden light…Spring, v. t. p. 1278To cause to spring up; to start or rouse, as game; to cause to rise from the earth, or from a covert; as, to spring a pheasant. 2. To produce quickly or unexpectedly. The nurse, surprised with…Sprĭng, n. p. 1278A leap; a bound; a jump, as of an animal. The prisoner, with a spring, from prison broke. Dryden. 2. A flying back; the resilience of a body recovering its former state by its elasticity; as, the…Sprĭng'al or Sprĭng'ald or Sprĭng'all, n. p. 1278An active, springy young man. [Obs.] Joseph when he was sold to Potiphar, he was a fair young springald. Latimer. 2. [O. Fr. espringale, a kind of dance, an engine for throwing stones, from A-S. & O.…Spring'-băck, n. p. 1278(Book-binding.) A back with a curved piece of thin sheet-iron or of stiff pasteboard fastened to the inside, the effect of which is to make the leaves of a book thus bound (as a ledger or other…Spring'-bāl'ance, n. p. 1278A contrivance for measuring weight, or force, by the elasticity of a spiral spring of steel. Simmonds. Weele.Spring'-bee/tle, n. p. 1278(Entom.) An insect which springs to a considerable height when placed upon its back; a skip-jack; a snap, or snap-bug.Spring'-bōard, n. p. 1278An elastic board, secured at the ends, often by elastic supports, used in performing feats of agility or for exercise.Spring'-bök or Spring'-bück, n. p. 1278(Zoöl.) A species of antelope (Antilope Euchore, or springer antelope), which inhabits the plains of South Africa. It is of an exceedingly light and graceful form, and is so called from a habit of…Springe, n. p. 1278A noose, which, being fastened to an elastic body, is drawn close with a sudden spring, by which means it catches a bird or other animal; a gin. “As a woodcock to my own springe.” Shak.Springe, v. t. p. 1278To catch in a springe; to insnare. [Rare.] Bern. & Fl.Sprĭng’er, n. p. 1278One who springs; one who rouses game. 2. A young plant. Evelyn. 3. A kind of dog nearly resembling the setter. 4. The grampus. 5. (Arch.) (a.) The impost, or point at which an arch unites with its…Sprĭng'-gär'den, n. p. 1278A garden where concealed springs were made to spout jets of water on the visitors. [Obs.] Nares.Spring'-gŭn, n. p. 1278A fire-arm discharged by a spring, when this is trodden upon, or otherwise moved. Dickens.Spring'-grāss, n. p. 1278(Bot.) A kind of grass of the genus Anthoxanthum, which flowers early in the season.Spring'-halt, n. p. 1278(Far.) A kind of lameness in which a horse suddenly twitches up his legs. Shak.Spring'-hēad, n. p. 1278A fountain or source.Spring'i-ness, n. p. 1278The state of being springy; elasticity; also, the power of springing. 2. The state of abounding with springs; wetness; sponginess; as of land.Spring'ing, n. p. 1278The act or process of leaping, arising, issuing, or proceeding. 2. Growth; increase. 3. (Arch.) The side of an arch contiguous to the part on which it rests.Spring'gle, n. p. 1278A springe; a noose. [Obs.] Carew.Spring'-lă tch, n. p. 1278A latch that fastens with a spring.Spring'let, n. p. 1278A little spring; a small stream. But yet from out the little hill Oozes the slender springlet still. W. Scott.Sprĭng'-lŏck, n. p. 1278A lock that fastens with a spring. Rogers.Spring'-rȳe, n. p. 1278A kind of rye sown, or to be sown, in the spring, in distinction from winter-rye, sown in autumn.Spring'-stāy, n. p. 1278(Naut.) A preventer-stay, to assist the regular one. Dana.Spring'-tail, n. p. 1278(Entom.) One of a genus of apterous insects, or appendage to the abdomen. This tail is folded under the abdomen, when at rest, but by suddenly extending it, the insect is enabled to spring and leap…Spring'-tide, n. p. 1279The tide which happens at, or soon after, the new and full moon, which rises higher than common tides. 2. The time of spring; spring-time. Thomson.Spring'-time, n. p. 1279The season of spring.Spring'-wheat, n. p. 1279A species of wheat to be sown in the spring;—so called in distinction from winter-wheat.Spring'y, a. p. 1279Resembling, or pertaining to, a spring; elastic; light; nimble; as, springy steel; a springy step. Though her little frame was light, it was firm and springy. W. Scott. 2. Abounding with springs or…Sprĭnk'le, v. t. p. 1279To scatter, or disperse, in small drops or particles, as water, seed, and the like. 2. To scatter on; to disperse over in small drops or particles; to besprinkle; as, to sprinkle the earth with…Sprĭnk'le, v. i. p. 1279To perform the act of scattering a liquid, or any fine substance, so that it may fall in small particles. And the priest shall . . . sprinkle of the oil with his finger seven times before the Lord.…