Chapter 1592

To speak of , to take account of, to make mention of. Robynson (More's Utopia). -- To speak out , to speak loudly and distinctly; also, to speak unreservedly. -- To speak well for , to commend; to be favorable to. -- To speak with , to converse with. "Would you speak with me?" Shak.

Syn. -- To say; tell; talk; converse; discourse; articulate; pronounce; utter.

Speak <Xpage=1379>

Speak (?) , v. t. 1. To utter with the mouth; to pronounce; to utter articulately, as human beings.

They sat down with him upn ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him. Job. ii. 13.

2. To utter in a word or words; to say; to tell; to declare orally; as, to speak the truth; to speak sense .

3. To declare; to proclaim; to publish; to make known; to exhibit; to express in any way.

It is my father;s muste To speak your deeds. Shak.

Speaking a still good morrow with her eyes. Tennyson.

And for the heaven's wide circuit, let it speak The maker's high magnificence. Milton.

Report speaks you a bonny monk. Sir W. Scott.

4. To talk or converse in; to utter or pronounce, as in conversation; as, to speak Latin .

And French she spake full fair and fetisely. Chaucer.

5. To address; to accost; to speak to.

[He will] thee in hope; he will speak thee fair. Ecclus. xiii. 6.

each village senior paused to scan And speak the lovely caravan. Emerson.

To speak a ship (Naut.) , to hail and speak to her captain or commander.

Speakable <Xpage=1379>

Speak"a*ble (?) , a. 1. Capable of being spoken; fit to be spoken.

Ascham.

2. Able to speak.

Milton.

<-- Speakeasy, n. An establishment where alcoholic beverages were sold illegally, during the prohibition era in the U.S. (1920-1932) -->

Speaker <Xpage=1379>

Speak"er (?) , n. 1. One who speaks. Specifically: (a) One who utters or pronounces a discourse; usually, one who utters a speech in public; as, the man is a good speaker , or a bad speaker . (b) One who is the mouthpiece of others; especially, one who presides over, or speaks for, a delibrative assembly, preserving order and regulating the debates; as, the Speaker of the House of Commons, originally, the mouthpiece of the House to address the king; the Speaker of a House of Representatives.

2. A book of selections for declamation. [U. S.]

Speakership <Xpage=1379>

Speak"er*ship , n. The office of speaker; as, the speakership of the House of Representatives .

Speaking <Xpage=1379>

Speak"ing , a. 1. Uttering speech; used for conveying speech; as, man is a speaking animal; a speaking tube.

2. Seeming to be capable of speech; hence, lifelike; as, a speaking likeness .

A speaking acquaintance , a slight acquaintance with a person, or one which merely permits the exchange of salutations and remarks on indifferent subjects. -- Speaking trumpet , an instrument somewhat resembling a trumpet, by which the sound of the human voice may be so intensified as to be conveyed to a great distance. -- Speaking tube , a tube for conveying speech, especially from one room to another at a distance. -- To be on speaking terms , to be slightly acquainted.

Speking <Xpage=1379>

Spek"ing , n. 1. The act of uttering words.

2. Public declamation; oratory.

Spear <Xpage=1379>

Spear (?) , n. [OE. spere , AS. spere ; akin to D. & G. speer , OS. & OHS. sper , Icel. spj\'94r, pl., Dan. sp\'91r , L. sparus .] 1. A long, pointed weapon, used in war and hunting, by thrusting or throwing; a weapon with a long shaft and a sharp head or blade; a lance. [See Illust . of Spearhead .] "A sharp ground spear ."

Chaucer.

They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Micah iv. 3.

2. Fig.: A spearman.

Sir W. Scott.

3. A sharp-pointed instrument with barbs, used for stabbing fish and other animals.

4. A shoot, as of grass; a spire.

5. The feather of a horse. See Feather , n. , 4.

6. The rod to which the bucket, or plunger, of a pump is attached; a pump rod.

Spear foot , the off hind foot of a horse. -- Spear grass . (Bot.) (a) The common reed . See Reed , n. , 1. (b) meadow grass. See under Meadow . -- Spear hand , the hand in which a horseman holds a spear; the right hand. Crabb. -- Spear side , the male line of a family. Lowell. -- Spear thistle (Bot.) , the common thistle ( Cnicus lanceolatus ).

Spear <Xpage=1379>

Spear , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Speared (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Spearing .] To pierce with a spear; to kill with a spear; as, to spear a fish .

Spear <Xpage=1379>

Spear , v. i. To shoot into a long stem, as some plants. See Spire .

Mortimer.

Spearer <Xpage=1379>

Spear"er (?) , n. One who uses a spear; as, a spearer of fish .

Spearfish <Xpage=1379>

Spear"fish` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) (a) A large and powerful fish ( Tetrapturus albidus ) related to the swordfish, but having scales and ventral fins. It is found on the American coast and the Mediterranean. (b) The carp sucker.

<page="1380"> Page 1380

Spearhead <Xpage=1380>

Spear"head` (?) , n. The pointed head, or end, of a spear.

Spearman <Xpage=1380>

Spear"man (?) , n. ; pl. Spearmen (<?/) . One who is armed with a spear.

Acts xxiii. 23.

Spearmint <Xpage=1380>

Spear"mint` (?) , n. [So named from its spiry , not capitate, inflorescence. Dr. Prior. ] (Bot.) A species of mint ( Mentha viridis ) growing in moist soil. It vields an aromatic oil. See Mint , and Mentha .

Spearwood <Xpage=1380>

Spear"wood` (?) , n. (Bot.) An Australian tree ( Acacia Doratoxylon ), and its tough wood, used by the natives for spears.

Spearwort <Xpage=1380>

Spear"wort` (?) , n. [AS. sperewyrt .] (Bot.) A name given to several species of crowfoot ( Ranunculus ) which have spear-shaped leaves.

Speary <Xpage=1380>

Spear"y (?) , a. Having the form of a spear.

Spece <Xpage=1380>

Spece (?) , n. Species; kind. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Specht <Xpage=1380>

Specht (?) , n. [See Speight .] (Zo\'94l.) A woodpecker. [Obs. or prov. Eng.]

Sherwood.

Special <Xpage=1380>

Spe"cial (?) , a. [L. specialis , fr. species a particular sort, kind, or quality: cf. F. sp\'82cial . See Species , and cf. Especial .] 1. Of or pertaining to a species; constituting a species or sort.

A special is called by the schools a "species". I. Watts.

2. Particular; peculiar; different from others; extraordinary; uncommon.

Our Savior is represented everywhere in Scripture as the special patron of the poor and the afficted. Atterbury.

To this special evil an improvement of style would apply a special redress. De Quincey.

3. Appropriate; designed for a particular purpose, occasion, or person; as, a special act of Parliament or of Congress; a special sermon .

4. Limited in range; confined to a definite field of action, investigation, or discussion; as, a special dictionary of commercial terms; a special branch of study .

5. Chief in excellence. [Obs.]

The king hath drawn The special head of all the land together. Shak.

Special administration (Law) , an administration limited to certain specified effects or acts, or one granted during a particular time or the existence of a special cause, as during a controversy respecting the probate of a will, or the right of administration, etc. -- Special agency , an agency confined to some particular matter. -- Special bail , Bail above , &or; Bail to the action (Law) , sureties who undertake that, if the defendant is convicted, he shall satisfy the plaintiff, or surrender himself into custody. Tomlins. Wharton (Law Dict.). -- Special constable . See under Constable . Bouvier. -- Special damage (Law) , a damage resulting from the act complained of, as a natural, but not the necessary, consequence of it. -- Special demurrer (Law) , a demurrer for some defect of form in the opposite party pleading, in which the cause of demurrer is particularly stated. -- Special deposit , a deposit made of a specific thing to be kept distinct from others. -- Special homology . (Biol.) See under Homology . -- Special injuction (Law) , an injuction granted on special grounds, arising of the circumstances of the case. Daniell. -- Special issue (Law) , an issue produced upon a special plea. Stephen. -- Special jury (Law) , a jury consisting of persons of some particular calling, station, or qualification, which is called upon motion of either party when the cause is supposed to require it; a struck jury. -- Special orders (Mil.) , orders which do not concern, and are not published to, the whole command, such as those relating to the movement of a particular corps, a detail, a temporary camp, etc. -- Special partner , a limited partner; a partner with a limited or restricted responsibility; -- unknown at common law. -- Special partnership , a limited or particular partnership; -- a term sometimes applied to a partnership in a particular business, operation, or adventure. -- Special plea in bar (Law) , a plea setting forth particular and new matter, distinguished from the general issue. Bouvier. -- Special pleader (Law) , originally, a counsel who devoted himself to drawing special counts and pleas; in a wider sense, a lawyer who draws pleadings. -- Special pleading (Law) , the allegation of special or new matter, as distingiushed from a direct denial of matter previously alleged on the side. Bouvier. The popular denomination of the whole science of pleading. Stephen. The phrase is sometimes popularly applied to the specious, but unsound, argumentation of one whose aim is victory, and not truth. Burrill. -- Special property (Law) , a qualified or limited ownership possession, as in wild animals, things found or bailed. -- Special session , an extraordinary session; a session at an unusual time or for an unusual purpose; as, a special session of Congress or of a legislature . -- Special statute , &or; Special law , an act of the legislature which has reference to a particular person, place, or interest; -- in distinction from a general law . -- Special verdict (Law) , a special finding of the facts of the case, leaving to the court the application of the law to them. Wharton (Law Dict.).

Syn. -- Peculiar; appropriate; specific; dictinctive; particular; exceptional; singular. See Peculiar .

Special <Xpage=1380>

Spe"cial , n. 1. A particular. [Obs.]

Hammond.

2. One appointed for a special service or occasion.

In special , specially; in particular. Chaucer.

Specialism <Xpage=1380>

Spe"cial*ism (?) , n. Devotion to a particular and restricted part or branch of knowledge, art, or science; as, medical specialism .

Specialist <Xpage=1380>

Spe"cial*ist (?) , n. One who devotes himself to some specialty; as, a medical specialist , one who devotes himself to diseases of particular parts of the body, as the eye, the ear, the nerves, etc.

Speciality <Xpage=1380>

Spe`ci*al"i*ty (?) , n. ; pl. Specialities (#) . [See Special , and Specialty .] 1. A particular or peculiar case; a particularity.

Sir M. Hale.

2. (Law) See Specialty , 3.

3. The special or peculiar mark or characteristic of a person or thing; that for which a person is specially distinguished; an object of special attention; a special occupation or object of attention; a specialty.

On these two general heads all other specialities are depedent. Hooker.

Strive, while improving your one talent, to enrich your whole capital as a man. It is in this way that you escape from the wretched narrow-mindedness which is the characteristic of every one who cultivates his speciality . Ld. Lytton.

We 'll say, instead, the inconsequent creature man, - For that'a his speciality . Mrs. Browning.

Think of this, sir, . . . remote from the impulses of passion, and apart from the specialities -- if I may use that strong remark -- of prejudice. Dickens.

4. An attribute or quality peculiar to a species.

Specialization <Xpage=1380>

Spe`cial*i*za"tion (?) , n. 1. The act of specializing, or the state of being spezialized.

2. (Biol.) The setting spart of a particular organ for the performance of a particular function.

Darwin.

Specialize <Xpage=1380>

Spe"cial*ize (?) , v. t. 1. To mention specialy; to particularize.

2. To apply to some specialty or limited object; to assign to a specific use; as, specialized knowledge .

3. (Biol.) To supply with an organ or organs having a special function or functions.

Specially <Xpage=1380>

Spe"cial*ly , adv. 1. In a special manner; partcularly; especially.

Chaucer.

2. For a particular purpose; as, a meeting of the legislature is specially summoned .

Specialty <Xpage=1380>

Spe"cial*ty (?) , n. ; pl. Specialties (#) . [F. sp\'82cialit \'82. Cf. Speciality .] 1. Particularity.

Specialty of rule hath been neglected. Shak.

2. A particular or peculiar case. [Obs.]

3. (Law) A contract or obligation under seal; a contract by deed; a writing, under seal, given as security for a debt particularly specified.

Chitty. Bouvier. Wharton (Law Dict.).

Let specialties be therefore drawn between us. Shak.

4. That for which a person is distinguished, in which he is specially versed, or which he makes an object of special attention; a speciality.

Men of boundless knowledge, like Humbold, must have had once their specialty , their pet subject. C. Kingsley.

Specie <Xpage=1380>

Spe"ci*e (?) , abl. of L. species sort, kind. Used in the phrase in specie , that is, in sort, in kind, in (its own) form.

"[The king] expects a return in specie from them" [ i. e. , kindness for kindness]. Dryden.

In specie (Law) , in precise or definite form; specifically; according to the exact terms; of the very thing.

Specie <Xpage=1380>

Spe"cie (?) , n. [Formed as a singular from species , in sense 5.] Coin; hard money.

Species <Xpage=1380>

Spe"cies (?) , n. sing. & pl. [L., a sight, outward appearance, shape, form, a particular sort, kind, or quality, a species. See Spice , n. , and cf. Specie , Special .] 1. Visible or sensible presentation; appearance; a sensible percept received by the imagination; an image. [R.] "The species of the letters illuminated with indigo and violet."

Sir I. Newton.

Wit, . . . the faculty of imagination in the writer, which searches over all the memory for the species or ideas of those things which it designs to represent. Dryden.

&hand; In the scholastic philosophy, the species was sensible and intelligible . The sensible species was that in any material, object which was in fact discerned by the mind through the organ of perception, or that in any object which rendered it possible that it should be perceived. The sensible species, as apprehended by the understanding in any of the relations of thought, was called an intelligible species. "An apparent diversity between the species visible and audible is, that the visible doth not mingle in the medium, but the audible doth."

Bacon.

2. (Logic) A group of individuals agreeing in common attributes, and designated by a common name; a conception subordinated to another conception, called a genus, or generic conception, from which it differs in containing or comprehending more attributes, and extending to fewer individuals. Thus, man is a species , under animal as a genus ; and man , in its turn, may be regarded as a genus with respect to European , American , or the like, as species .

3. In science, a more or less permanent group of existing things or beings, associated according to attributes, or properties determined by scientific observation.

&hand; In mineralogy and chemistry, objects which possess the same definite chemical structure, and are fundamentally the same in crystallization and physical characters, are classed as belonging to a species . In zo\'94logy and botany, a species is an ideal group of individuals which are believed to have descended from common ancestors, which agree in essential characteristics, and are capable of indefinitely continued fertile reproduction through the sexes. A species , as thus defined, differs from a variety or subspecies only in the greater stability of its characters and in the absence of individuals intermediate between the related groups.

4. A sort; a kind; a variety; as, a species of low cunning; a species of generosity; a species of cloth.

5. Coin, or coined silver, gold, ot other metal, used as a circulating medium; specie. [Obs.]

There was, in the splendor of the Roman empire, a less quantity of current species in Europe than there is now. Arbuthnot.

6. A public spectacle or exhibition. [Obs.]

Bacon.

7. (Pharmacy) (a) A component part of compound medicine; a simple. (b) (Med.) An officinal mixture or compound powder of any kind; esp., one used for making an aromatic tea or tisane; a tea mixture.

Quincy.

8. (Civil Law) The form or shape given to materials; fashion or shape; form; figure.

Burill.

Incipient species (Zo\'94l.) , a subspecies, or variety, which is in process of becoming permanent, and thus changing to a true species, usually by isolation in localities from which other varieties are excluded.

Specifiable <Xpage=1380>

Spec"i*fi`a*ble (?) , a. Admitting specification; capable of being specified.

Specific <Xpage=1380>

Spe*cif"ic (?) , a. [F. sp\'82cifique , or NL. cpesificus ; L. species a particular sort or kind + facere to make. Cf. Specify .] 1. Of or pertaining to a species; characterizing or constituting a species; possessing the peculiar property or properties of a thing which constitute its species, and distinguish it from other things; as, the specific form of an animal or a plant; the specific qualities of a drug; the specific distinction between virtue and vice.

Specific difference is that primary attribute which distinguishes each species from one another. I. Watts.

2. Specifying; definite, or making definite; limited; precise; discriminating; as, a specific statement .