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.
Sprite'li-ness, n. p. 1279See SPRIGHTLINESS.Sprite'ly, a. p. 1279See SPRIGHTLY.Sprit'ing, n. p. 1279The office of a sprite. Shak.Sprit'-sāil, n. p. 1279(Naut.) (a.) The sail extended by a sprit. (b.) A sail attached to a yard which hangs under the bowsprit. Totten.Spröck'et-wheel, n. p. 1279(Mach.) The same as RAG-WHEEL, q. v.Spröd, n. p. 1279A salmon in its second year. [Prov. Eng.] Chambers.Sprŏng, imp. p. 1279of spring. Sprung. [Obs.] See SPRUNG.Sprout, v. i. p. 1279To shoot, as the seed of a plant; to germinate; to push out new shoots; hence, to grow like shoots of plants. 2. To shoot into ramifications. Vitriol is apt to sprout with moisture. Bacon.Sprout, n. p. 1279The shoot of a plant; a shoot from the seed, or from the stump, or from the root of a plant or tree; more rarely, a shoot from the stem of a plant, or the end of a branch. 2. (pl.) Young coleworts.…Spruce, a. p. 1279Neat, without elegance or dignity;—formerly applied to things with a serious meaning, now chiefly applied to persons. “Now, my spruce companions.” Shak. He is so spruce that he never can be genteel.…Spruce, v. t. p. 1279To dress with affected neatness; to trim; to make spruce.Spruce, v. i. p. 1279To dress one's self with affected neatness.Spruce, n. p. 1279(Bot.) A coniferous tree of the genus Abies, especially the species Abies excelsa, or Norway spruce, a native of the north of Europe;—applied in the United States to A. Canadensis, the hemlock…Spruce'-beer, n. p. 1279A kind of beer which is tinctured or flavored with spruce, either by means of the extract or by decoction.Spruce'-leath'er, n. p. 1279See SPRUCE.Spruce'ly, adv. p. 1279In a spruce manner; with affected neatness.Spruce'ness, n. p. 1279The state or quality of being spruce; trimness; fineness.Sprue, n. p. 1279(Founding.) (a.) Strictly, the hole through which melted metal is poured into the gate, and thence into the mold. (b.) The waste piece of metal cast in this hole; hence, dross or scoria. 2. (Med.)…Sprüg, v. t. p. 1279To make smart. [Obs.]Sprŭng, imp. & p. p. p. 1279of spring. See SPRING.Sprŭnt, v. i. p. 1279To spring up; to germinate; to spring forward or outward. [Obs.] To sprunt up, to draw one's self up suddenly as in anger or defiance; to bristle up; to show sudden resentment. [Colloq. Local U. S.]…Sprŭnt, n. p. 1279Any thing short and stiff; something short and not easily bent. [Obs.] 2. A leap; a spring. [Obs.] 3. A steep ascent in a road. [Prov. Eng.]Sprŭnt, a. p. 1279Active; vigorous; strong; becoming strong. [Obs.] Kersay.Sprŭnt'ly, adv. p. 1279In a sprunt manner; smartly; vigorously; youthfully. [Obs.] B. Jonson.Sprȳ, a. p. 1279Having great power of leaping or running; nimble; active; vigorous. [Prov. Eng. Colloq. U. S.] Halliwell. Forby.Spūd, n. p. 1279An implement somewhat like a chisel, with a long handle, used by farmers for destroying weeds. My spud these nettles from the stone can part. Swift. 2. Any short and thick thing; and specifically, a…Spüe, v. t. & i. p. 1279To spew. See SPEW.Spūl'zie, n. p. 1279See SPULZIE.Spūke, n. p. 1279A spirit; a spectre. See SPOOK.Spūl'ler, n. p. 1279One employed to inspect yarn, to see that it is well spun, and fit for the loom. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]Spūl'zĭe, n. p. 1279Plunder or booty. [Written also spulzie.] W. Scott.Spūme, n. p. 1279Frothy matter raised on liquors or fluid substances by boiling, effervescence, or agitation; froth; foam; scum. Materials dark Of spirituous and fiery spume. Milton.Spūme, v. i. p. 1279To froth; to foam.Spūme'ous, a. p. 1279Spumous. [Obs.]Spu-mēs'cence, n. p. 1279The state of being foamy; frothiness.Spu-mēs'cent, a. p. 1279Resembling froth or foam.Spūm'id, a. p. 1279Spumous; frothy. [Obs.]Spu-mif'er-oŭs, a. p. 1279Producing foam.Spūm'ī-ness, n. p. 1279The quality of being spumy or frothy.Spūm'ōŭs or Spūm'y, a. p. 1279Consisting of froth or scum; foamy. “The spumous and florid state of the blood.” Arbuthnot. The spumy waves proclaim the watery war. Dryden.Spŭn, imp. & p. p. p. 1279of spin. See SPIN. Spun hay, hay twisted into ropes for convenient carriage, as on a military expedition.Spūn'ge, n. p. 1279See SPONGE.Spūn’ging-house, n. p. 1279See SPONGING-HOUSE.Spŭnk, n. p. 1279Wood that readily takes fire; touchwood; also, a kind of tinder made from a species of fungus; punk; amadou. 2. An inflammable temper; spirit; pluck; as, a man of spunk. “A lawless and dangerous set…Spŭnk'y, a. p. 1279Full of spunk; quick; spirited. [Colloq.]Spŭn'-yärn, n. p. 1279(Naut.) A line or cord formed of two or three rope-yarns twisted.Spûr, n. p. 1279An instrument having a rowel or little wheel, with sharp points, worn on a horseman's heels, to prick a horse in order to hasten his pace. 2. Incitement; instigation. Fame is the spur that the clear…Spûr, v. t. p. 1279To prick with spurs; to incite to a more hasty pace; as, to spur a horse. 2. To urge or encourage to action, or to a more vigorous pursuit of an object; to incite; to instigate; to impel; to drive.…Spūr, v. i. p. 1279To travel with great expedition; to hasten. The Parthians shall be there, And, spurring from the fight, confess their fear. Dryden. The roads leading to the capital were covered with multitudes of…Spūr'-clād, a. p. 1280Wearing spurs.Spûr'-gall, v. t. p. 1280To gall or wound with a spur.Spûr'-gall, n. p. 1280A place galled or excoriated by much using of the spur.Spûrge, v. t. p. 1280To emit foam; to froth;—said properly of the emission of yeast from beer in course of fermentation. [Obs.] Curtright.Spûrge, n. p. 1280(Bot.) A plant (the Euphorbia polygonifolia) having an acrid, milky juice. This name is applied to various species of Euphorbia, and by some to the whole genus, which is very numerous.Spûr'-gēar'ing, n. p. 1280Gearing in which spur-wheels are used.Spûrge'-flâx, n. p. 1280(Bot.) An evergreen shrub (Daphne gnidium), a native of Spain.Spûrge'-lâu'rel, n. p. 1280(Bot.) The Daphne laureola, an evergreen shrub, a native of Europe.Spûrge'-ôl'ive, n. p. 1280(Bot.) An evergreen shrub (the Daphne oleoides), a native of Crete. London.Spūrge'-wort, n. p. 1280A certain plant.Spûr'ging, n. p. 1280Purging. [Obs.] B. Jonson.