SPELLKENSpell"ken, n.
Defn: A theater. [Slang] Byron.
SPELLWORKSpell"work`, n.
Defn: Power or effect of magic; that which is wrought by magic;enchantment.Like those Peri isles of light That hang by spellwork in the air.Moore.
SPELTSpelt,
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Spell. Spelled.
SPELTSpelt, n. Etym: [AS. spelt, fr. L. spelta.] (Bot.)
Defn: A species of grain (Triticum Spelta) much cultivated for food in Germany and Switzerland; — called also German wheat.
SPELTSpelt, n. Etym: [See Spalt.] (Metal.)
Defn: Spelter. [Colloq.]
SPELTSpelt, v. t. & i. Etym: [See Spell a splinter.]
Defn: To split; to break; to spalt. [Obs.] Mortimer.
SPELTERSpel"ter, n. Etym: [Cf. LG. spialter, G. & D. spiauter. Cf. Pewter.](Metal.)
Defn: Zinc; — especially so called in commerce and arts.
SPELUNCSpe*lunc", n. Etym: [L. spelunca cave.]
Defn: A cavern; a cave. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.
SPENCESpence, n. Etym: [OF. despense, F. dépense, buffet, buttery, fr. OF.despendre to spend, distribute, L. dispendere, dispensum. SeeDispense, Spend.]
1. A place where provisions are kept; a buttery; a larder; a pantry. Chiefly Brit. dial. [MW10] In . . . his spence, or "pantry" were hung the carcasses of a sheep or ewe, and two cows lately slaughtered. Sir W. Scott. Bluff Harry broke into the spence, And turned the cowls adrift. Tennyson.
2. The inner apartment of a country house; also, the place where the family sit and eat. [Scot.] Jamieson.
SPENCERSpen"cer, n. Etym: [OF. despensier. See Spence, and cf. Dispenser.]
Defn: One who has the care of the spence, or buttery. [Obs.]Promptorium Parvulorum.
SPENCER Spen"cer, n. Etym: [From the third Earl Spencer, who first wore it, or brought it into fashion.]
Defn: A short jacket worn by men and by women. Ld. Lutton.
SPENCERSpen"cer, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A fore-and-aft sail, abaft the foremast or the mainmast, hoisted upon a small supplementary mast and set with a gaff and no boom; a trysail carried at the foremast or mainmast; — named after its inventor, Knight Spencer, of England [1802]. Spencer mast, a small mast just abaft the foremast or mainmast, for hoisting the spencer. R. H. Dana, Jr.
SPENDSpend, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spent; p. pr. & vb. n. Spending.] Etym:[AS. spendan (in comp.), fr. L. expendere or dispendere to weigh out,to expend, dispense. See Pendant, and cf. Dispend, Expend, Spence,Spencer.]
1. To weigh or lay out; to dispose of; to part with; as, to spendmoney for clothing.Spend thou that in the town. Shak.Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread Isa. lv. 2.
2. To bestow; to employ; — often with on or upon. I . . . am never loath To spend my judgment. Herbert.
3. To consume; to waste; to squander; to exhaust; as, to spend an estate in gaming or other vices.
4. To pass, as time; to suffer to pass away; as, to spend a day idly; to spend winter abroad. We spend our years as a tale that is told. Ps. xc. 9.
5. To exhaust of force or strength; to waste; to wear away; as, the violence of the waves was spent. Their bodies spent with long labor and thirst. Knolles.
SPENDSpend, v. i.
1. To expend money or any other possession; to consume, use, waste, or part with, anything; as, he who gets easily spends freely. He spends as a person who knows that he must come to a reckoning. South.
2. To waste or wear away; to be consumed; to lose force or strength; to vanish; as, energy spends in the using of it. The sound spendeth and is dissipated in the open air. Bacon.
3. To be diffused; to spread. The vines that they use for wine are so often cut, that their sap spendeth into the grapes. Bacon.
4. (Mining)
Defn: To break ground; to continue working.
SPENDERSpen"der, n.
Defn: One who spends; esp., one who spends lavishly; a prodigal; a spendthrift.
SPENDINGSpend"ing, n.
Defn: The act of expending; expenditure. Spending money, money set apart for extra (not necessary) personal expenses; pocket money. [Colloq.]
SPENDTHRIFTSpend"thrift`, n.
Defn: One who spends money profusely or improvidently; a prodigal; one who lavishes or wastes his estate. Also used figuratively. A woman who was a generous spendthrift of life. Mrs. R. H. Davis.
SPENDTHRIFTSpend"thrift, a.
Defn: Prodigal; extravagant; wasteful.
SPENDTHRIFTYSpend"thrift`y, a.
Defn: Spendthrift; prodigal. [R.]
SPENSERIANSpen*se"ri*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the English poet Spenser; — specifically applied to the stanza used in his poem "The Faërie Queene."
SPENTSpent, a.
1. Exhausted; worn out; having lost energy or motive force. Now thou seest me Spent, overpowered, despairing of success. Addison. Heaps of spent arrows fall and strew the ground. Dryden.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Exhausted of spawn or sperm; — said especially of fishes. Spent ball, a ball shot from a firearm, which reaches an object without having sufficient force to penetrate it.
SPER; SPERRESper, Sperre, v. t. Etym: [See Spar bar.]
Defn: To shut in; to support; to inclose; to fasten. [Obs.] "To sperre the gate." Spenser.
SPERABLESpe"ra*ble, a. Etym: [L. spearabilis, fr. sperare to hope.]
Defn: Within the range of hpe; proper to be hoped for. [Obs.] Bacon.
SPERABLESper"a*ble, n.
Defn: See Sperable.
SPERAGESper"age, n.
Defn: Asperagus. [Obs.] Sylvester.
SPERATESpe"rate, a. Etym: [L. speratus, p. p. of sperare to hope.]
Defn: Hoped for, or to be hoped for. [R.] Bouvier.
SPERESpere, v. i. Etym: [AS. spyrian to inquire, properly, to follow thetrack; akin to D. speuren, G. spüren, Icel. spyrja. sq. root171. SeeSpoor.]
Defn: To search; to pry; to ask; to inquire. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.][Written also speer, speir.] Jamieson.
SPERESpere, n. Etym: [See Sphere.]
Defn: A sphere. [Obs.] Chaucer.
SPERGESperge, n. (Distilling)
Defn: A charge of wash for the still. Knight.
SPERLING Sper"ling, n. Etym: [See Sparling.] (Zoöl.) (a) A smelt; a sparling. [Prov. Eng.] (b) A young herring. [Local, U.S.]
SPERMSperm, n.Etym: [F. sperme, L. sperma, Gr. Spore.] (Physiol.)
Defn: The male fecundating fluid; semen. See Semen. Sperm cell(Physiol.), one of the cells from which the spermatozoids aredeveloped.— Sperm morula. (Biol.) Same as Spermosphere.
SPERMSperm, n.Etym: [Contr. fr. spermaceti.]
Defn: Spermaceti. Sperm oil, a fatty oil found as a liquid, with spermaceti, in the head cavities of the sperm whale. — Sperm whale. (Zoöl.) See in the Vocabulary.
SPERMACETI Sper`ma*ce"ti, n. Etym: [L. sperma sperm + cetus,gen. ceti, any large sea animal, a whale, Gr. Sperm, Cetaceous.]
Defn: A white waxy substance obtained from cavities in the head of the sperm whale, and used making candles, oilments, cosmetics, etc. It consists essentially of ethereal salts of palmitic acid with ethal and other hydrocarbon bases. The substance of spermaceti after the removal of certain impurities is sometimes called cetin. Spermaceti whale (Zoöl.), the sperm whale.
SPERMALISTSper"mal*ist, n. (Biol.)
Defn: See Spermist.
SPERMAPHORESper"ma*phore, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: That part of the ovary from which the ovules arise; the placenta.
SPERMARYSper"ma*ry, n. (Anat.)
Defn: An organ in which spermatozoa are developed; a sperm gland; a testicle.
SPERMATHECASper`ma*the"ca, n.; pl. Spermathecæ. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small sac connected with the female reproductive organs of insects and many other invertebrates, serving to receive and retain the spermatozoa.
SPERMATICSper*mat"ic, a. Etym: [L. spermaticus, Gr. spermatique. See Sperm.](Physiol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to semen; as, the spermatic fluid, the spermatic vessels, etc. Spermatic cord (Anat.), the cord which suspends the testicle within the scrotum. It is made up of a connective tissue sheath inclosing the spermatic duct and accompanying vessels and nerves.
SPERMATICALSper"mat"ic*al, a.
Defn: Spermatic.
SPERMATINSper"ma*tin, n. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A substance allied to alkali albumin and to mucin, present in semen, to which it is said to impart the mucilaginous character.
SPERMATISMSper"ma*tism, n. (Physiol.)
Defn: The emission of sperm, or semen.
SPERMATIUMSper*ma"ti*um, n.; pl. Spermatia. Etym: [NL.] (Bot.)
Defn: One of the motionless spermatozoids in the conceptacles of certain fungi. J. H. Balfour.
SPERMATIZESper"ma*tize, v. i. Etym: [Gr. Sperm.]
Defn: To yield seed; to emit seed, or sperm. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
SPERMATO-; SPERMO-Sper"ma*to-, Sper"mo-.
Defn: Combining forms from Gr. seed, sperm, semen (of plants or animals); as, spermatoblast, spermoblast.
SPERMATOBLASTSper"ma*to*blast, n.
Defn: Same as Spermoblast.
SPERMATOCYTESper"ma*to*cyte, n. Etym: [Spermato- + Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: Same as Spermoblast.
SPERMATOGEMMASper`ma*to*gem"ma, n. Etym: [NL. See Spermato-, and Gemma.](Physiol.)
Defn: Same as Spermosphere.
SPERMATOGENESISSper`ma*to*gen"e*sis, n. Etym: [Spermato- + genesis.] (Biol.)
Defn: The development of the spermatozoids.
SPERMATOGENETICSper`ma*to*ge*net"ic, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Relating to, or connected with, spermatogenesis; as, spermatogenetic function.
SPERMATOGENOUSSper`ma*tog"e*nous, a. Etym: [Spermato- + -genous.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Sperm-producing.
SPERMATOGONIUMSper`ma*to*go"ni*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: A primitive seminal cell, occuring in masses in the seminal tubules. It divides into a mass (spermosphere) of small cells (spermoblast), which in turn give rise to spermatozoids.
SPERMATOIDSper"ma*toid, a. Etym: [Spermato- + -oid.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Spermlike; resembling sperm, or semen.
SPERMATOON; SPERMATOOENSper`ma*to"ön, n.; pl. Spermatoa. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: A spermoblast.— Sper`ma*to"al, a. Owen.
SPERMATOPHORESper"ma*to*phore, n. Etym: [Spermato- + Gr.
1. (Physiol.)
Defn: Same as Spermospore.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A capsule or pocket inclosing a number of spermatozoa. They are present in many annelids, brachiopods, mollusks, and crustaceans. In cephalopods the structure of the capsule is very complex.
SPERMATOPHOROUSSper`ma*toph"o*rous, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Producing seed, or sperm; seminiferous; as, the so-called spermatophorous cells.
SPERMATOPHYTASper`ma*toph"y*ta, n. pl. [NL.; spermato- + Gr. plant.] (Bot.)
Defn: A phylum embracing the highest plants, or those that produce seeds; the seed plants, or flowering plants. They form the most numerous group, including over 120,000 species. In general, the group is characterized by the marked development of the sporophyte, with great differentiation of its parts (root, stem, leaves, flowers, etc.); by the extreme reduction of the gametophyte; and by the development of seeds. All the Spermatophyta are heterosporous; fertilization of the egg cell is either through a pollen tube emitted by the microspore or (in a few gymnosperms) by spermatozoids. The phrase "flowering plants" is less distinctive than "seed plants," since the conifers, grasses, sedges, oaks, etc., do not produce flowers in the popular sense. For this reason the terms Anthrophyta, Phænogamia, and Panerogamia have been superseded as names of the phylum by Spermatophyta.
SPERMATOPHYTESper"ma*to"phyte`, n.
Defn: Any plant of the phylum Spermatophyta. — Sper`ma*to*phyt"ic (#), a.
SPERMATORRHEA; SPERMATORRHOEASper`ma*tor*rhe"a, Sper`ma*tor*rhoe"a, (, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.(Med.)
Defn: Abnormally frequent involuntary emission of the semen without copulation.
SPERMATOSPORESper"ma*to*spore, n.
Defn: Same as Spermospore.
SPERMATOZOIDSper`ma*to*zo"id, n. Etym: [Spermatozoön + Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: The male germ cell in animals and plants, the essential element in fertilization; a microscopic animalcule-like particle, usually provided with one or more cilia by which it is capable of active motion. In animals, the familiar type is that of a small, more or less ovoid head, with a delicate threadlike cilium, or tail. Called also spermatozoön. In plants the more usual term is antherozoid.
SPERMATOZOOIDSper`ma*to*zo"oid n. (Biol.)
Defn: A spermatozoid.
SPERMATOZOON; SPERMATOZOOENSper`ma*to*zo"ön, n.; pl. Spermatozoa. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Same as Spermatozoid.
SPERMICSper"mic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to sperm, or semen.
SPERMIDIUMSper*mid"i*um, n.; pl. Spermidia. Etym: [Nl., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: An achenium.
SPERMISMSperm"ism, n. [Gr. seed, sperm + -ism.] (Biol.)
Defn: The theory, formerly held by many, that the sperm or spermatozoön contains the germ of the future embryo; animalculism.
SPERMISTSperm"ist, n. (Biol.)
Defn: A believer in the doctrine, formerly current, of encasement in the male (see Encasement), in which the seminal thread, or spermatozoid, was considered as the real animal germ, the head being the true animal head and the tail the body.
SPERMOBLASTSper"mo*blast, n. Etym: [Spermo- + -blast.] (Physiol.)
Defn: One of the cells formed by the diivision of the spermospore, each of which is destined to become a spermatozoid; a spermatocyte; a spermatoblast.
SPERMOCOCCUSSper`mo*coc"cus, n. Etym: [NL. See Spermo-, and Coccus.] (Physiol.)
Defn: The nucleus of the sperm cell.
SPERMODERMSper"mo*derm, n. Etym: [Spermo- + derm: cf. F. spermoderme.] (Bot.)
Defn: The covering of a seed; — sometimes limited to the outer coat or testa. Lindley.
SPERMOGONIUMSper`mo*go"ni*um, n. Etym: [NL.; spermo- + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A conceptacle of certain lichens, which contains spermatia.
SPERMOLOGISTSper*mol"o*gist, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: One who treats of, or collects, seeds. Bailey.
SPERMOPHILESper"mo*phile, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any ground squirrel of the genus Spermophilus; gopher. SeeIllust. under Gopher.
SPERMOPHORESper"mo*phore, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A spermatophore.
SPERMOPHYTASper*moph"y*ta, n. pl. Etym: [Nl., from Gr.
Defn: Plants which produce seed; phænogamia. These plants constitute the highest grand division of the vegetable kingdom.
SPERMOPHYTESper"mo*phyte, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Any plant which produces true seeds; — a term recently proposed to replace phænogam.
SPERMOPHYTICSper`mo*phyt"ic, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Capable of producing seeds; phænogamic.
SPERMOPLASMASper`mo*plas"ma, n. Etym: [NL. See Spermo-, and Plasma.] (Physiol.)
Defn: The protoplasm of the sperm cell. Haeckel.
SPERMOSPHERESper"mo*sphere, n. Etym: [Spermo- + sphere.] (Physiol.)
Defn: A mass or ball of cells formed by the repeated division of a male germinal cell (spermospore), each constituent cell (spermoblast) of which is converted into a spermatozoid; a spermatogemma.
SPERMOSPORESper"mo*spore, n. Etym: [Spermo- + spore.] (Physiol.)
Defn: The male germinal or seminal cell, from the breaking up of which the spermoblasts are formed and ultimately the spermatozoids; a spermatospore. Balfour.
SPERMULESper"mule, n. Etym: [Dim. fr. sperm.] (Physiol.)
Defn: A sperm cell. Haeckel.
SPERM WHALESperm" whale`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A very large toothed whale (Physeter macrocephalus), having a head of enormous size. The upper jaw is destitute of teeth. In the upper part of the head, above the skull, there is a large cavity, or case, filled with oil and spermaceti. This whale sometimes grows to the length of more than eighty feet. It is found in the warmer parts of all the oceans. Called also cachalot, and spermaceti whale. Pygmy sperm whale (Zoöl.), a small whale (Kogia breviceps), seldom twenty feet long, native of tropical seas, but occasionally found on the American coast. Called also snub-nosed cachalot. — Sperm-whale porpoise (Zoöl.), a toothed cetacean (Hyperoödon bidens), found on both sides of the Atlantic and valued for its oil. The adult becomes about twenty-five feet long, and its head is very large and thick. Called also bottle-nosed whale.
SPERRYLITESper"ry*lite, n.Etym: [Named after F. L. Sperry, who discovered it.](Min.)
Defn: An arsenide of platinum occuring in grains and minute isometric crystals of tin-white color. It is found near Sudbury, Ontario Canada, and is the only known compound of platinum occuring in nature.
SPERSESperse, v. t.
Defn: To disperse. [Obs.] Spenser.
SPESSARTITESpes"sart*ite, n.Etym: [From Spessart, in Germany.] (Min.)
Defn: A manganesian variety of garnet.
SPETSpet, v. t. Etym: [AS. sp. See Spit.]
Defn: To spit; to throw out. [Obs.]
SPETSpet, n.
Defn: Spittle. [Obs.]
SPETCHESSpetch"es, n. pl.
Defn: Parings and refuse of hides, skins, etc., from which glue is made.
SPEW Spew, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spewed; p. pr.& vb. n. Spewing.] Etym: [OE. spewen, speowen, AS. spiwan;n to D. spuwen to spit. OS & OHG. spiwan, G. speien, Icel. sp to spew, Sw. spy, Dan. spye, Goth. spiewan, th. spjauti, L. spuere to split, Gr. shtiv, shthiv. Cf. Pyke, Spit.] [Written also spue.]
1. To eject from the stomach; to vomit.
2. To cast forth with abhorrence or disgust; to eject. Because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Rev. ii. 16.
SPEWSpew, v. i.
1. To vomit. Chaucer.
2. To eject seed, as wet land swollen with frost.
SPEWSpew, n.
Defn: That which is vomited; vomit.
SPEWERSpew"er, n.
Defn: One who spews.
SPEWINESSSpew"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being spewy.
SPEWYSpew"y, a.
Defn: Wet; soggy; inclined to spew.
SPHACELSphac"el, n. Etym: [Gr. sphacèle.] (Med.)
Defn: Gangrene.
SPHACELATESphac"e*late, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sphacelated; p. pr. & vb. n.Sphacelating.] Etym: [NL. sphacelare, sphacelatum, mortify: cf. F.sphacéler. See Sphacelus.] (Med.)
Defn: To die, decay, or become gangrenous, as flesh or bone; to mortify.
SPHACELATESphac"e*late, v. t. (Med.)
Defn: To affect with gangrene.
SPHACELATE; SPHACELATEDSphac"e*late, Sphac"e*la`ted, a. (Med.)
Defn: Affected with gangrene; mortified.
SPHACELATIONSphac`e*la"tion, n. (Med.)
Defn: The process of becoming or making gangrenous; mortification.
SPHACELUSSphac"e*lus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Gangrenous part; gangrene; slough.
SPHAERENCHYMASphæ*ren"chy*ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -enchyma as in parenchima.](Bot.)
Defn: Vegetable tissue composed of thin-walled rounded cells, — a modification of parenchyma.
SPHAERIDIUMSphæ*rid"i*um, n.; pl. Sphæridia. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A peculiar sense organ found upon the exterior of most kinds of sea urchins, and consisting of an oval or sherical head surmounting a short pedicel. It is generally supposed to be an olfactory organ.
SPHAEROSPORESphæ"ro*spore, n. Etym: [Gr. spore.] (Bot.)
Defn: One of the nonsexual spores found in red algæ; a tetraspore.
SPHAERULITESphær"u*lite, n. (Min.)
Defn: Same as Spherulite.
SPHAGNICOLOUSSphag*nic"o*lous, a. Etym: [Sphagnum + L. colere to inhabit.] (Bot.)
Defn: Growing in moss of the genus Sphagnum.
SPHAGNOUSSphag"nous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Pertaining to moss of the genus Sphagnum, or bog moss; abounding in peat or bog moss.
SPHAGNUMSphag"num, n. Etym: [NL., fr/ Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of mosses having white leaves slightly tinged with red or green and found growing in marshy places; bog moss; peat moss.
SPHALERITESphal"er*ite, n. Etym: [Gr. Blende.] (Min.)
Defn: Zinc sulphide; — called also blende, black-jack, false galena, etc. See Blende (a).
SPHENESphene, n. Etym: [F. sphène, fr. Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A mineral found usually in thin, wedge-shaped crystals of a yellow or green to black color. It is a silicate of titanium and calcium; titanite.
SPHENETHMOIDSphe*neth"moid, a. Etym: [Sphenoid + ethmoid.] (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to both the sphenoidal and the ethmoidal regions of the skull, or the sphenethmoid bone; sphenethmoidal. Sphenethmoid bone (Anat.), a bone of the skull which surrounds the anterior end of the brain in many amphibia; the girdle bone.
SPHENETHMOIDSphe*neth"moid, n. (Anat.)
Defn: The sphenethmoid bone.
SPHENETHMOIDALSphe`neth*moid"al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Relating to the sphenoethmoid bone; sphenoethmoid.
SPHENISCANSphe*nis"can, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any species of penguin.
SPHENO-Sphe"no-.
Defn: A combining form used in anatomy to indicate connection with, or relation to, the sphenoid bone; as in sphenomaxillary, sphenopalatine.
SPHENODONSphe"no*don, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Hatteria.
SPHENOETHMOIDALSphe"no*eth*moid`al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Sphenethmoid.
SPHENOGRAMSphe"no*gram, n. Etym: [Gr. -gram.]
Defn: A cuneiform, or arrow-headed, character.
SPHENOGRAPHERSphe*nog"ra*pher, n.
Defn: One skilled in sphenography; a sphenographist.
SPHENOGRAPHICSphe`no*graph"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to sphenography.
SPHENOGRAPHISTSphe*nog"ra*phist, n.
Defn: A sphenographer.
SPHENOGRAPHYSphe*nog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy.]
Defn: The art of writing in cuneiform characters, or of deciphering inscriptions made in such characters.
SPHENOIDSphe"noid, a. Etym: [Gr. sphénoïde.]
1. Wedge-shaped; as, a sphenoid crystal.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the sphenoid bone. Sphenoid bone (Anat.), an irregularly shaped bone in front of the occipital in the base of the skull of the higher vertebrates. It is composed of several fetal bones which become united the adult. See Alisphenoid, Basisphenoid, Orbitosphenoid, Presphenoid.
SPHENOIDSphe"noid, n.
1. (Crystallog.)
Defn: A wedge-shaped crystal bounded by four equal isosceles triangles. It is the hemihedral form of a square pyramid.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: The sphenoid bone.
SPHENOIDALSphe*noid"al, a.
1. Sphenoid.
2. (Crystalloq.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, a sphenoid.
SPHENOTICSphe*not"ic, a. Etym: [Spheno- + (Anat.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or designating, the sphenotic bone. Sphenotic bone (Anat.), a bone on the anterior side of the auditory capsule of many fishes, and connected with, or adjoining, the sphenoid bone.
SPHENOTICSphe*not"ic, n. (Anat.)
Defn: The sphenotic bone.
SPHERALSpher"al, a.
1. Of or pertaining to a sphere or the spheres.
2. Rounded like a sphere; sphere-shaped; hence, symmetrical; complete; perfect.
SPHERESphere, n. Etym: [OE. spere, OF. espere, F. sphère, L. sphaera,. Gr.
1. (Geom.)
Defn: A body or space contained under a single surface, which in every part is equally distant from a point within called its center.
2. Hence, any globe or globular body, especially a celestial one, as the sun, a planet, or the earth. Of celestial bodies, first the sun, A mighty sphere, he framed. Milton.
3. (Astron.) (a) The apparent surface of the heavens, which is assumed to be spherical and everywhere equally distant, in which the heavenly bodies appear to have their places, and on which the various astronomical circles, as of right ascension and declination, the equator, ecliptic, etc., are conceived to be drawn; an ideal geometrical sphere, with the astronomical and geographical circles in their proper positions on it. (b) In ancient astronomy, one of the concentric and eccentric revolving spherical transparent shells in which the stars, sun, planets, and moon were supposed to be set, and by which they were carried, in such a manner as to produce their apparent motions.
4. (Logic)
Defn: The extension of a general conception, or the totality of the individuals or species to which it may be applied.
5. Circuit or range of action, knowledge, or influence; compass; province; employment; place of existence. To be called into a huge sphere, and not to be seen to move in 't. Shak. Taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity, and inclosing her in a sphere by herself. Hawthorne. Each in his hidden sphere of joy or woe Our hermit spirits dwell. Keble.
6. Rank; order of society; social positions.
7. An orbit, as of a star; a socket. [R.] Shak. Armillary sphere, Crystalline sphere, Oblique sphere,. See under Armillary, Crystalline,. — Doctrine of the sphere, applications of the principles of spherical trigonometry to the properties and relations of the circles of the sphere, and the problems connected with them, in astronomy and geography, as to the latitudes and longitudes, distance and bearing, of places on the earth, and the right ascension and declination, altitude and azimuth, rising and setting, etc., of the heavenly bodies; spherical geometry. — Music of the spheres. See under Music.
Syn.— Globe; orb; circle. See Globe.
SPHERESphere, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sphered; p. pr. & vb. n. Sphering.]
1. To place in a sphere, or among the spheres; to insphere. The glorious planet Sol In noble eminence enthroned and sphered Amidst the other. Shak.
2. To form into roundness; to make spherical, or spheral; to perfect. Tennyson.
SPHERICAL; SPHERICSpher"ic*al, Spher"ic, a. Etym: [L. sphaericus, Gr. sphérique.]
1. Having the form of a sphere; like a sphere; globular; orbicular; as, a spherical body.
2. Of or pertaining to a sphere.
3. Of or pertaining to the heavenly orbs, or to the sphere or spheres in which, according to ancient astronomy and astrology, they were set. Knaves, thieves, and treachers by spherical predominance. Shak. Though the stars were suns, and overburned Their spheric limitations. Mrs. Browning. Spherical angle, Spherical coördinate, Spherical excess, etc. See under Angle, Coordinate, etc. — Spherical geometry, that branch of geometry which treats of spherical magnitudes; the doctrine of the sphere, especially of the circles described on its surface. — Spherical harmonic analysis. See under Harmonic, a. — Spherical lune,portion of the surface of a sphere included between two great semicircles having a common diameter. — Spherical opening, the magnitude of a solid angle. It is measured by the portion within the solid angle of the surface of any sphere whose center is the angular point. — Spherical polygon,portion of the surface of a sphere bounded by the arcs of three or more great circles. — Spherical projection, the projection of the circles of the sphere upon a plane. See Projection. — Spherical sector. See under Sector. — Spherical segment, the segment of a sphere. See under Segment. — Spherical triangle,re on the surface of a sphere, bounded by the arcs of three great circles which intersect each other. — Spherical trigonometry. See Trigonometry. — Spher"ic*al*ly, adv. — Spher"ic*al*ness, n.
SPHERICITYSphe*ric"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. sphéricité.]
Defn: The quality or state of being spherial; roundness; as, the sphericity of the planets, or of a drop of water.
SPHERICLESpher"i*cle, n.
Defn: A small sphere.
SPHERICSSpher"ics, n. (Math.)
Defn: The 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 trigonometry.
SPHEROBACTERIASphe`ro*bac*te"ri*a, n. pl.; sing. Spherobacterium (. Etym: [NL. SeeSphere, and Bacterium.] (Biol.)
Defn: See the Note under Microbacteria.
SPHEROCONICSphe`ro*con"ic, n. (Geom.)
Defn: A nonplane curve formed by the intersection of the surface of an oblique cone with the surface of a sphere whose center is at the vertex of the cone.
SPHEROGRAPHSpher"o*graph, n. Etym: [Sphere + -graph.]
Defn: An instrument for facilitating the practical use of spherics in navigation and astronomy, being constructed of two cardboards containing various circles, and turning upon each other in such a manner that any possible spherical triangle may be readily found, and the measures of the parts read off by inspection.
SPHEROID Sphe"roid, n. Etym: [L. spheroides ball-like, spherical, Gr. sphéroïde.]
Defn: A body or figure approaching to a sphere, but not perfectly spherical; esp., a solid generated by the revolution of an ellipse about one of its axes. Oblate spheroid, Prolate spheroid. See Oblate, Prolate, and Ellipsoid.
SPHEROIDALSphe*roid"al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. sphéroïdal.]
Defn: Having the form of a spheroid. — Sphe*roid"al*ly, adv. Spheroidal state (Physics.), the 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 without actual contact with the heated surface, — a phenomenon due to the repulsive force of heat, the intervention of a cushion of nonconducting vapor, and the cooling effect of evaporation.
SPHEROIDIC; SPHEROIDICALSphe*roid"ic, Sphe*roid"ic*al, a.
Defn: See Spheroidal. Cheyne.
SPHEROIDICITY; SPHEROIDITYSphe`roi*dic"i*ty, Sphe*roid"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being spheroidal.
SPHEROMERESphe"ro*mere, n. Etym: [Sphere + -mere.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of the several symmetrical segments arranged around the central axis and composing the body of a radiate anmal.
SPHEROMETERSphe*rom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Sphere + -meter: cf. F. sphéromètre.](Physics)
Defn: An instrument for measuring the curvature of spherical surface, as of lenses for telescope, etc.
SPHEROSIDERITESpher`o*sid"er*ite, n. Etym: [Sphere + siderite.] (Min.)
Defn: Siderite occuring in spheroidal masses.
SPHEROSOMESphe"ro*some, n. Etym: [Sphere + -some body.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The body wall of any radiate animal.
SPHERULATESpher"u*late, a.
Defn: Covered or set with spherules; having one or more rows of spherules, or minute tubercles.
SPHERULESpher"ule, n. Etym: [L. spherula: cf. F. sphérule.]
Defn: A little sphere or spherical body; as, quicksilver, when poured upon a plane, divides itself into a great number of minute spherules.
SPHERULITESpher"u*lite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. sphérulite.] (Min.)
Defn: A minute spherical crystalline body having a radiated structure, observed in some vitreous volcanic rocks, as obsidian and pearlstone.
SPHERULITICSpher`u*lit"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a spherulite; characterized by the presence of spherulites.
SPHERYSpher"y, a.
1. Round; spherical; starlike. [R.] "Hermia's sphery eyne." Shak.
2. Of or pertaining to the spheres. [R.] She can teach ye how to climb Higher than the sphery chime. Milton.
SPHEXSphex, n.Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of numerous species of sand wasps of the genus Sphex and allied genera. These wasps have the abdomen attached to the thorax by a slender pedicel. See Illust. of Sand wasp, under Sand. Sphex fly (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of small dipterous flies of the genus Conops and allied genera. The form of the body is similar to that of a sphex.
SPHIGMOMETERSphig*mom"e*ter, n.
Defn: See Sphygmometer.
SPHINCTERSphinc"ter, n. Etym: [NL., fr. (Anat.)
Defn: A muscle which surrounds, and by its contraction tends to close, a natural opening; as, the sphincter of the bladder.
SPHINCTERSphinc"ter, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or designating, a sphincter; as, a sphincter muscle.
SPHINGIDSphin"gid, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A sphinx.
SPHINGIDSphin"gid, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a sphinx, or the family Sphingidæ.
SPHINX Sphinx, n. Etym: [L., from Gr. sfi`gx, usually derived from sfi`ggein to bind tight or together, as if the Throttler.]
1. (a) In Egyptian art, an image of granite or porphyry, having a human head, or the head of a ram or of a hawk, upon the wingless body of a lion. The awful ruins of the days of old . . . Or jasper tomb, or mutilated sphinx. Shelley.
(b) On Greek art and mythology, a she-monster, usually represented as having the winged body of a lion, and the face and breast of a young woman.
Note: The most famous Grecian sphinx, that of Thebes in Boeotia, is said to have proposed a riddle to the Thebans, and killed those who were unable to guess it. The enigma was solved by "Subtle as sphinx." Shak.
2. Hence: A person of enigmatical character and purposes, especially in politics and diplomacy.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of numerous species of large moths of the familySphingidæ; — called also hawk moth.
Note: The larva is a stout naked caterpillar which, when at rest, often assumes a position suggesting the Egyptian sphinx, whence the name.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Guinea, or sphinx, baboon (Cynocephalus sphinx). Sphinxbaboon (Zoöl.), a large West African baboon (Cynocephalus sphinx),often kept in menageries.— Sphinx moth. (Zoöl.) Same as Sphinx, 3.
SPHRAGIDESphrag"ide, n.Etym: [L. sphragis, -idis, Lemnian earth, fr. Gr.(Min.)
Defn: Lemnian earth.
SPHRAGISTICSSphra*gis"tics, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The science of seals, their history, age, distinctions, etc., esp. as verifying the age and genuiness of documents.
SPHRIGOSISSphri*go"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A condition of vegetation in which there is too abundant growth of the stem and leaves, accompanied by deficiency of flowers and fruit.
SPHYGMICSphyg"mic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the pulse.
SPHYGMOGRAMSphyg"mo*gram, n. Etym: [Gr. -gram.] (Physiol.)
Defn: A tracing, called a pulse tracing, consisting of a series of curves corresponding with the beats of the heart, obtained by the application of the sphygmograph.
SPHYGMOGRAPHSphyg"mo*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. -graph.] (Physiol.)
Defn: An instrument which, when applied over an artery, indicates graphically the movements or character of the pulse. See Sphygmogram.
SPHYGMOGRAPHICSphyg`mo*graph"ic, a. (Phusiol.)
Defn: Relating to, or produced by, a sphygmograph; as, a sphygmographic tracing.
SPHYGMOMETERSphyg*mom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.] (Physiol.)
Defn: An instrument for measuring the strength of the pulse beat; a sphygmograph.
SPHYGMOPHONESphyg"mo*phone, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: An electrical instrument for determining by the ear the rhythm of the pulse of a person at a distance.
SPHYGMOSCOPESphyg"mo*scope, n. Etym: [Gr. -scope.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Same as Sphygmograph.
SPHYRAENOID Sphy*ræ"noid, a.Etym: [L. sphyraena a kind of sea fish (Gr. sfy`raina) + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Sphyrænidæ, a family of marine fishes including the barracudas.
SPIALSpi"al, n.
Defn: A spy; a scout. [Obs.] Bacon.
SPICASpi"ca, n.; pl. Spicæ. Etym: [L., an ear, as of corn.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: A kind of bandage passing, by successive turns and crosses, from an extremity to the trunk; — so called from its resemblance to a spike of a barley.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: A star of the first magnitude situated in the constellationVirgo.
SPICATE; SPICATED Spi"cate, Spi"ca*ted, a. Etym: [L. spicatus, p. p. of spicare furnish with spikes, or ears, fr. spica a spike, or ear.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having the form of a spike, or ear; arranged in a spike or spikes. Lee.
SPICCATOSpic*ca"to, a. Etym: [It., p. p. of spicare to detach, to separate.](Mus.)
Defn: Detached; separated; — a term indicating that every note is to be performed in a distinct and pointed manner.
SPICE Spice, n. Etym: [OE. spice, spece, spice, species, OF. espice, espece, F. épice spice, espèce species, fr. L. species particular sort or kind, a species, a sight, appearance, show, LL., spices, drugs, etc., of the same sort, fr. L. specere to look. See Spy, and cf. Species.]
1. Species; kind. [Obs.] The spices of penance ben three. Chaucer. Abstain you from all evil spice. Wyclif (1. Thess,v. 22). Justice, although it be but one entire virtue, yet is described in two kinds of spices. The one is named justice distributive, the other is called commutative. Sir T. Elyot.
2. A vegetable production of many kinds, fragrant or aromatic and pungent to the taste, as pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, allspice, ginger, cloves, etc., which are used in cookery and to flavor sauces, pickles, etc. Hast thou aught in thy purse [bag] any hot spices Piers Plowman.
3. Figuratively, that which enriches or alters the quality of a thing in a small degree, as spice alters the taste of food; that which gives zest or pungency; a slight flavoring; a relish; hence, a small quantity or admixture; a sprinkling; as, a spice of mischief. So much of the will, with a spice of the willful. Coleridge.
SPICESpice, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spiced; p. p. & vb. n. Spicing.]
1. To season with spice, or as with spice; to mix aromatic or pungent substances with; to flavor; to season; as, to spice wine; to spice one's words with wit. She 'll receive thee, but will spice thy bread With flowery poisons. Chapman.
2. To fill or impregnate with the odor of spices. In the spiced Indian air, by night. Shak.
3. To render nice or dainty; hence, to render scrupulous. [Obs.] "A spiced conscience." Chaucer.
SPICEBUSHSpice"bush`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Spicewood.
SPICENUTSpice"nut`.
Defn: A small crisp cake, highly spiced.
SPICERSpi"cer, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. espicier, F. épicier.]
1. One who seasons with spice.
2. One who deals in spice. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.
SPICERYSpi"cer*y, n. Etym: [OF. espicerie, F. épicerie.]
1. Spices, in general. Chaucer.
2. A repository of spices. Addison.
SPICEWOODSpice"wood`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: An American shrub (Lindera Benzoin), the bark of which has a spicy taste and odor; — called also Benjamin, wild allspice, and fever bush.
SPICIFEROUS Spi*cif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. spicifer bearing spikes, or ears; spica ear + ferre to bear.]
Defn: Bearing ears, or spikes; spicate. [Obs.] Bailey.
SPICIFORMSpi"ci*form, a. Etym: [L. spica a spike, ear + -form.] (Bot.)
Defn: Spike-shaped. Gray.
SPICILYSpi"ci*ly, adv.
Defn: In a spicy manner.
SPICINESSSpi"ci*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being spicy.
SPICKSpick, n. Etym: [Cf. Sw. spik. See Spike a nail.]
Defn: A spike or nail. [Prov. Eng.] Spick and span, quite new; that is, as new as a spike or nail just made and a chip just split; brand- new; as, a spick and span novelty. See Span-new. Howell.
SPICKNEL Spick"nel, n. Etym: [Contr. from spike nail a large, long nail; — so called in allusion to the shape of its capillary leaves.] (Bot.)
Defn: An umbelliferous herb (Meum Athamanticum) having finely divided leaves, common in Europe; — called also baldmoney, mew, and bearwort. [Written also spignel.]
SPICOSESpi*cose", a. Etym: [L. spica a spike, or ear.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having spikes, or ears, like corn spikes.
SPICOSITYSpi*cos"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state of having, or being full of, ears like corn. [R.]Bailey.
SPICOUSSpi"cous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: See Spicose.
SPICULA Spic"u*la, n.; pl. Spiculæ. Etym: [NL., dim. of L. spica a spike, ear.] (Bot.) (a) A little spike; a spikelet. (b) A pointed fleshy appendage.
SPICULARSpic"u*lar, a. Etym: [L. spiculum a dart: cf. F. spiculaire.]
Defn: Resembling a dart; having sharp points.
SPICULATE Spic"u*late, a. Etym: [L. spiculatus, p. p. of spiculare to sharpen, to point, fr. spiculum a dart.]
1. Covered with, or having, spicules.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Covered with minute spiculæ, or pointed fleshy appendages; divided into small spikelets.
SPICULATESpic"u*late, v. t.
Defn: To sharpen to a point. [R.] "With spiculated paling." Mason.
SPICULESpic"ule, n. Etym: [L. spiculum a little point, a dart.]
1. A minute, slender granule, or point.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Spicula.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any small calcareous or siliceous body found in the tissues of various invertebrate animals, especially in sponges and in most Alcyonaria.
Note: Spicules vary exceedingly in size and shape, and some of those found in siliceous sponges are very complex in structure and elegant in form. They are of great use in classification. Description of the Illustration: a Acerate; b Tricurvate, or Bowshaped; c d Hamate; e Broomshaped; f Scepterellate; g Spinispirulate; h Inequi-anchorate; i Sexradiate; j A Trichite Sheaf; k Six-rayed Capitate; l Rosette of Esperia; m Equi- anchorate.
SPICULIFORMSpi*cu"li*form, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the shape of a spicule.
SPICULIGENOUSSpic`u*lig"e*nous, a. Etym: [L. spiculum + -genous.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Producing or containing spicules.
SPICULISPONGIAESpic`u*li*spon"gi*æ, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of sponges including those which have independent siliceous spicules.
SPICULUMSpic"u*lum, n.; pl. Spicula. Etym: [L., a little point.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Spicule.
SPICYSpi"cy, a. [Compar. Spicier; superl. Spiciest.] Etym: [From Spice.]
1. Flavored with, or containing, spice or spices; fragrant; aromatic; as, spicy breezes. "The spicy nut-brown ale." Milton. Led by new stars, and borne by spicy gales. Pope.
2. Producing, or abounding with, spices. In hot Ceylon spicy forests grew. Dryden.
3. Fig.: Piquant; racy; as, a spicy debate.
Syn.— Aromatic; fragrant; smart; pungent; pointed; keen. See Racy.
SPIDERSpi"der, n.Etym: [OE. spi, fr. AS. spinnan to spin; — so named fromspinning its web; cf. D. spin a spider, G. spinne, Sw. spindel. SeeeSpin.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of numerous species of arachnids comprising the order Araneina. Spiders have the mandibles converted into poison fangs, or falcers. The abdomen is large and not segmented, with two or three pairs of spinnerets near the end, by means of which they spin threads of silk to form cocoons, or nests, to protect their eggs and young. Many species spin also complex webs to entrap the insects upon which they prey. The eyes are usually eight in number (rarely six), and are situated on the back of the cephalothorax. See Illust. under Araneina.
Note: Spiders are divided into two principal groups: the Dipneumona, having two lungs: and the Tetrapneumona, having four lungs. See Mygale. The former group includes several tribes; as, the jumping spiders (see Saltigradæ), the wolf spiders, or Citigradæ (see under Wolf), the crab spiders, or Laterigradæ (see under Crab), the garden, or geometric, spiders, or Orbitellæ (see under Geometrical, and Garden), and others. See Bird spider, under Bird, Grass spider, under Grass, House spider, under House, Silk spider, under Silk.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of various other arachnids resembling the true spiders, especially certain mites, as the red spider (see under Red).
3. An iron pan with a long handle, used as a kitchen utensil in frying food. Originally, it had long legs, and was used over coals on the hearth.
4. A trevet to support pans or pots over a fire.
5. (Mach.)
Defn: A skeleton, or frame, having radiating arms or members, often connected by crosspieces; as, a casting forming the hub and spokes to which the rim of a fly wheel or large gear is bolted; the body of a piston head; a frame for strengthening a core or mold for a casting, etc. Spider ant. (Zoöl.) Same as Solitary ant, under Solitary. — Spider crab (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of maioid crabs having a more or less triangular body and ten long legs. Some of the species grow to great size, as the great Japanese spider crab (Macrocheira Kempferi), measuring sometimes more than fifteen feet across the legs when they are extended. — Spider fly (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of parasitic dipterous insects of the family Hippoboscidæ. They are mostly destitute of wings, and live among the feathers of birds and the hair of bats. Called also bird tick, and bat tick. — Spider hunter (Zoöl.), any one of several species of East Indian sunbirds of the genus Arachnothera. — Spider lines, filaments of a spider's web crossing the field of vision in optical instruments; — used for determining the exact position of objects and making delicate measurements. Fine wires, silk fibers, or lines on glass similarly placed, are called spider lines. — Spider mite. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of several species of parasitic mites of the genus Argas and allied genera. See Argas. (b) Any one of numerous small mites injurious to plants. — Spider monkey (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of South American monkeys of the genus Ateles, having very long legs and a long prehensile tail. — Spider orchis (Bot.), a European orchidaceous plant (Ophrys aranifera), having flowers which resemble spiders. — Spider shell (Zoöl.), any shell of the genus Pteroceras. See Pteroceras.
SPIDEREDSpi"dered, a.
Defn: Infested by spiders; cobwebbed. Wolcott.
SPIDERLIKESpi"der*like`, a.
Defn: Like a spider. Shak.
SPIDER STITCHSpi"der stitch.
Defn: A stitch in lace making used to fill in open spaces with threads resembling a cobweb.
SPIDER WEB; SPIDER'S WEBSpi"der web", or Spi"der's web". (Zoöl.)
Defn: The silken web which is formed by most kinds of spiders, particularly the web spun to entrap their prey. See Geometric spider, Triangle spider, under Geometric, and Triangle.
SPIDERWORTSpi"der*wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: An American endogenous plant (Tradescantia Virginica), with long linear leaves and ephemeral blue flowers. The name is sometimes extended to other species of the same genus.
SPIEDSpied,
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Spy.
SPIEGELEISENSpie"gel*ei`sen, n. Etym: [G. spiegel mirror + eisen iron.]
Defn: See Spiegel iron.
SPIEGEL IRONSpie"gel i`ron. Etym: [G. spiegel mirror + E. iron.] (Metal.)
Defn: A fusible white cast iron containing a large amount of carbon (from three and a half to six per cent) and some manganese. When the manganese reaches twenty-five per cent and upwards it has a granular structure, and constitutes the alloy ferro manganese, largely used in the manufacture of Bessemer steel. Called also specular pig iron, spiegel, and spiegeleisen.
SPIGHTSpight, n. & v.
Defn: Spite. [Obs.] Spenser.
SPIGHTSpight, n.
Defn: A woodpecker. See Speight. [Obs.]
SPIGNELSpig"nel, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Spickenel.
SPIGNETSpig"net, n. Etym: [Corrupted fr. spikenard.] (Bot.)
Defn: An aromatic plant of America. See Spikenard.
SPIGOT Spig"ot, n. Etym: [From spick,or spike; cf. Ir. & Gael. spiocaid a spigot, Ir. spice a spike. See Spike.]
Defn: A pin or peg used to stop the vent in a cask; also, the plug of a faucet or cock. Spigot and faucet joint, a joint for uniting pipes, formed by the insertion of the end of one pipe, or pipe fitting, into a socket at the end of another.
SPIGURNELSpi*gur"nel, n. (Eng. Law)
Defn: Formerly the title of the sealer of writs in chancery. Mozley &W.
SPIKE Spike, n. Etym: [Akin to LG. spiker, spieker, a large nail, D. spijker, Sw. spik, Dan. spiger, Icel. spik; all perhaps from L. spica a point, an ear of grain; but in the sense of nail more likely akin to E. spoke of a wheel. Cf. Spine.]
1. A sort of very large nail; also, a piece of pointed iron set with points upward or outward.
2. Anything resembling such a nail in shape. He wears on his head the corona radiata . . . ; the spikes that shoot out represent the rays of the sun. Addison.
3. An ear of corn or grain.
4. (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of flower cluster in which sessile flowers are arranged on an unbranched elongated axis. Spike grass (Bot.), either of two tall perennial American grasses (Uniola paniculata, and U. latifolia) having broad leaves and large flattened spikelets. — Spike rush. (Bot.) See under Rush. — Spike shell (Zoöl.), any pteropod of the genus Styliola having a slender conical shell. — Spike team, three horses, or a horse and a yoke of oxen, harnessed together, a horse leading the oxen or the span. [U.S.]
SPIKESpike, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spiked; p. pr. & vb. n. Spiking.]
1. To fasten with spikes, or long, large nails; as, to spike down planks.
2. To set or furnish with spikes.
3. To fix on a spike. [R.] Young.
4. To stop the vent of (a gun or cannon) by driving a spike nail, or the like into it.
SPIKESpike, n. Etym: [Cf. G. spieke, L. spica an ear of grain. SeeSpikenard.] (Bot.)
Defn: Spike lavender. See Lavender. Oil of spike (Chem.), a colorless or yellowish aromatic oil extracted from the European broad-leaved lavender, or aspic (Lavendula Spica), used in artist's varnish and in veterinary medicine. It is often adulterated with oil of turpentine, which it much resembles.
SPIKEBILL Spike"bill`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) The hooded merganser. (b) The marbled godwit (Limosa fedoa).
SPIKEDSpiked, a.
Defn: Furnished or set with spikes, as corn; fastened with spikes;stopped with spikes.A youth, leaping over the spiked pales, . . . was caught by thosespikes. Wiseman.
SPIKEFISHSpike"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Sailfish (a)
SPIKELETSpike"let, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A small or secondary spike; especially, one of the ultimate parts of the in florescence of grasses. See Illust. of Quaking grass.
SPIKENARD Spike"nard, n.Etym: [For spiked nard; cf. G. spieknarde, NL. spica nardi. See Spike an ear, and Nard.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: An aromatic plant. In the United States it is the Aralia racemosa, often called spignet, and used as a medicine. The spikenard of the ancients is the Nardostachys Jatamansi, a native of the Himalayan region. From its blackish roots a perfume for the hair is still prepared in India.
2. A fragrant essential oil, as that from the Nardostachys Jatamansi.
SPIKETAILSpike"tail`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The pintail duck. [Local, U.S.]
SPIKYSpik"y, a.
1. Like a spike; spikelike. These spiky, vivid outbursts of metallic vapors. C. A. Young.
2. Having a sharp point, or sharp points; furnished or armed withspikes.Or by the spiky harrow cleared away. Dyer.The spiky wheels through heaps of carnage tore. Pope.