The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
Chapter 1594
2. (Med.) Of or pertaining to a speculum; conducted with the aid of a speculum; as, a specular examination .
3. Assisting sight, as a lens or the like. [Obs.]
Thy specular orb Apply to well-dissected kernels; lo! In each observe the slender threads Of first-beginning trees. J. Philips.
4. Affording view. [R.] "Look once more, ere we leave this specular mount."
Milton.
Specular iron . (Min.) See Hematite .
Speculate <Xpage=1381>
Spec"u*late (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Speculated (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Speculating .] [L. speculatus , p.p. of speculari to spy out, observe, fr. specula a lookout, fr. specere to look. See Spy .] 1. To consider by turning a subject in the mind, and viewing it in its different aspects and relations; to meditate; to contemplate; to theorize; as, to speculate on questions in religion; to speculate on political events.
It is remarkable that persons who speculate the most boldly often conform with the most pefect quietude to the external regulations of society. Hawthorne.
2. (Philos.) To view subjects from certain premises given or assumed, and infer conclusions respecting them a priori .
3. (Com.) To purchase with the expectation of a contingent advance in value, and a consequent sale at a profit; -- often, in a somewhat depreciative sense, of unsound or hazardous transactions; as, to speculate in coffee, in sugar, or in bank stock . <-- (finance) -->
Speculate <Xpage=1381>
Spec"u*late , v. t. To consider attentively; as, to speculate the nature of a thing . [R.]
Sir W. Hamilton.
Speculation <Xpage=1381>
Spec`u*la"tion (?) , n. [L. speculatio a spying out, observation: cf. F. sp\'82culation .] 1. The act of speculating. Specifically: --
(a) Examination by the eye; view . [Obs.]
(b) Mental view of anything in its various aspects and relations; contemplation; intellectual examination .
Thenceforth to speculations high or deep I turned my thoughts. Milton.
(c) (Philos.) The act or process of reasoning a priori from premises given or assumed .
(d) (Com.) The act or practice of buying land, goods, shares, etc., in expectation of selling at a higher price, or of selling with the expectation of repurchasing at a lower price; a trading on anticipated fluctuations in price, as distinguished from trading in which the profit expected is the difference between the retail and wholesale prices, or the difference of price in different markets. <-- buying long is considered speculation only when the time of holding the object is short. Longer-term trading (> 1 year) is considered investment. -->
Sudden fortunes, indeed, are sometimes made in such places, by what is called the trade of speculation . A. Smith.
Speculation , while confined within moderate limits, is the agent for equalizing supply and demand, and rendering the fluctuations of price less sudden and abrupt than they would otherwise be. F. A. Walker.
(e) Any business venture in involving unusual risks, with a chance for large profits .
2. A conclusion to which the mind comes by speculating; mere theory; view; notion; conjecture.
From him Socrates derived the principles of morality, and most part of his natural speculations . Sir W. temple.
To his speculations on these subjects he gave the lofty name of the "Oracles of Reason." Macaulay.
3. Power of sight. [Obs.]
Thou hast no speculation in those eyes. Shak.
4. A game at cards in which the players buy from one another trumps or whole hands, upon a chance of getting the highest trump dealt, which entitles the holder to the pool of stakes.
Speculatist <Xpage=1381>
Spec"u*la*tist (?) , n. One who speculates, or forms theories; a speculator; a theorist.
The very ingenious speculatist , Mr. Hume. V. Knox.
Speculative <Xpage=1381>
Spec"u*la*tive (?) , a. [Cf. F. sp\'82culatif , L. speculativus .] 1. Given to speculation; contemplative.
The mind of man being by nature speculative . Hooker.
2. Involving, or formed by, speculation; ideal; theoretical; not established by demonstration.
Cudworth.
3. Of or pertaining to vision; also, prying; inquisitive; curious. [R.]
Bacon.
4. Of or pertaining to speculation in land, goods, shares, etc.; as, a speculative dealer or enterprise .
<-- 5. (Finance) More risky than typical investments; not investment grade. -->
The speculative merchant exercises no one regular, established, or well-known branch of business. A. Smith.
-- Spec"u*la*tive*ly , adv. -- Spec"u*la*tive*ness , n.
Speculator <Xpage=1381>
Spec"u*la`tor (?) , n. [L., a spy, explorer, investigator: cf. F. sp\'82culateur .] One who speculates. Specifically: (a) An observer; a contemplator; hence, a spy; a watcher. [Obs.]
Sir T. Browne.
(b) One who forms theories; a theorist .
A speculator who had dared to affirm that the human soul is by nature mortal. Macaulay.
(c) (Com.) One who engages in speculation; one who buys and sells goods, land, etc., with the expectation of deriving profit from fluctuations in price.
<page="1382"> Page 1382
Speculatorial <Xpage=1382>
Spec`u*la*to"ri*al (?) , a. Speculatory; speculative. [Obs.]
Speculatory <Xpage=1382>
Spec"u*la*to*ry (?) , a. [L. speculatorius belonging to spies or scouts.] 1. Intended or adapted for viewing or espying; having oversight.
T. Warton.
2. Exercising speculation; speculative.
T. Carew.
Speculist <Xpage=1382>
Spec"u*list (?) , n. One who observes or considers; an observer. [R.]
Goldsmith.
Speculum <Xpage=1382>
Spec"u*lum (?) , n. ; pl. L. Specula (#) , E. Speculum (#) . [L., fr. specere to look, behold. See Spy .] 1. A mirror, or looking-glass; especially, a metal mirror, as in Greek and Roman arch\'91ology.
2. A reflector of polished metal, especially one used in reflecting telescopes. See Speculum metal , below.
3. (Surg.) An instrument for dilating certain passages of the body, and throwing light within them, thus facilitating examination or surgical operations.
4. (Zo\'94l.)/fld> A bright and lustrous patch of color found on the wings of ducks and some other birds. It is usually situated on the distal portions of the secondary quills, and is much more brilliant in the adult male than in the female.
Speculum metal , a hard, brittle alloy used for making the reflectors of telescopes and other instruments, usually consisting of copper and tin in various proportions, one of the best being that in which there are 126.4 parts of copper to 58.9 parts of tin, with sometimes a small proportion of arsenic, antimony, or zinc added to improve the whiteness.
Sped <Xpage=1382>
Sped (?) , imp. & p. p. of Speed .
Speece <Xpage=1382>
Speece (?) , n. Species; sort. [Obs.]
Speech <Xpage=1382>
Speech (?) , n. [OE. speche , AS. sp<?/c , spr<?/ , fr. specan , sprecan , to speak; akin to D. spraak speech, OHG. spr\'behha , G. sprache , Sw. spr<?/k , Dan. sprog . See Speak .] 1. The faculty of uttering articulate sounds or words; the faculty of expressing thoughts by words or articulate sounds; the power of speaking.
There is none comparable to the variety of instructive expressions by speech , wherewith man alone is endowed for the communication of his thoughts. Holder.
2. he act of speaking; that which is spoken; words, as expressing ideas; language; conversation.
&hand; Speech is voice modulated by the throat, tongue, lips, etc., the modulation being accomplished by changing the form of the cavity of the mouth and nose through the action of muscles which move their walls.
O goode God! how gentle and how kind Ye seemed by your speech and your visage The day that maked was our marriage. Chaucer.
The acts of God . . . to human ears Can nort without process of speech be told. Milton.
3. A particular language, as distinct from others; a tongue; a dialect.
People of a strange speech and of an hard language. Ezek. iii. 6.
4. Talk; mention; common saying.
The duke . . . did of me demand What was the speech among the Londoners Concerning the French journey. Shak.
5. formal discourse in public; oration; harangue.
The constant design of these orators, in all their speeches , was to drive some one particular point. Swift.
6. ny declaration of thoughts.
I. with leave of speech implored, . . . replied. Milton.
Syn. Harangue; language; address; oration. See Harangue , and Language .
Speech <Xpage=1382>
Speech , v. i. & t. To make a speech; to harangue. [R.]
Speechful <Xpage=1382>
Speech"ful (?) , a. Full of speech or words; voluble; loquacious. [R.]
Speechification <Xpage=1382>
Speech`i*fi*ca"tion (?) , n. [See Spechify .] The act of speechifying. [Used humorously or in contempt.]
Speechifier <Xpage=1382>
Speech"i*fi`er (?) , n. One who makes a speech or speeches; an orator; a declaimer. [Used humorously or in contempt.]
G. Eliot.
Speechify <Xpage=1382>
Speech"i*fy (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Speechified (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Speechifying (?) .] [ Speech + -fy .] To make a speech; to harangue. [Used derisively or humorously.]
Speechifying <Xpage=1382>
Speech"i*fy`ing , n. The act of making a speech or speeches. [Used derisively or humorously.]
The dinner and speechifying . . . at the opening of the annual season for the buckhounds. M. Arnold.
Speeching <Xpage=1382>
Speech"ing , n. The act of making a speech. [R.]
Speechless <Xpage=1382>
Speech"less , a. 1. Destitute or deprived of the faculty of speech.
2. Not speaking for a time; dumb; mute; silent.
Speechless with wonder, and half dead with fear. Addison.
-- Speech"less*ly , adv. -- Speech"less*ness , n.
Speechmaker <Xpage=1382>
Speech"mak`er (?) , n. One who makes speeches; one accustomed to speak in a public assembly.
Speed <Xpage=1382>
Speed (?) , n. [AS. sp<?/d success, swiftness, from sp<?/wan to succeed; akin to D. spoed d, OHG. spuot success, spuot to succees, Skr. sph\'be to increase, grow fat. &root;170 b. ] 1. Prosperity in an undertaking; favorable issue; success. "For common speed ."
Chaucer.
O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day. Gen. xxiv. 12.
2. The act or state of moving swiftly; swiftness; velocity; rapidly; rate of motion; dispatch; as, the speed a horse or a vessel .
Speed , to describe whose swiftness number fails. Milton.
&hand; In kinematics, speed is sometimes used to denote the amount of velocity without regard to direction of motion, while velocity is not regarded as known unless both the direction and the amount are known.
3. One who, or that which, causes or promotes speed or success. [Obs.] "Hercules be thy speed !"
Shak.
God speed , Good speed; prosperity. See Godspeed . -- Speed gauge , Speed indicator , ∧ Speed recorder (Mach.) , devices for indicating or recording the rate of a body's motion, as the number of revolutions of a shaft in a given time. -- Speed lathe (Mach.) , a power lathe with a rapidly revolving spindle, for turning small objects, for polishing, etc.; a hand lathe. -- Speed pulley , a cone pulley with steps.
Syn. -- Haste; swiftness; celerity; quickness; dispatch; expedition; hurry; acceleration. See Haste .
Speed <Xpage=1382>
Speed (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Sped (?) , Speeded ; p. pr. & vb. n. Speeding .] [AS. sp<?/dan , fr. sp<?/d , n.; akin to D. spoeden , G. sich sputen . See Speed , n. ] 1. To go; to fare. [Obs.]
To warn him now he is too farre sped . Remedy of Love.
2. To experience in going; to have any condition, good or ill; to fare.
Shak.
Ships heretofore in seas lke fishes sped ; The mightiest still upon the smallest fed. Waller.
3. To fare well; to have success; to prosper.
Save London, and send true lawyers their meed! For whoso wants money with them shall not speed ! Lydgate.
I told ye then he should prevail, and speed On his bad errand. Milton.
4. To make haste; to move with celerity.
I have speeded hither with the very extremest inch of possibility. Shak.
5. To be expedient. [Obs.]
Wyclif (2 Cor. xii. 1.)
Speed <Xpage=1382>
Speed , v. t. 1. To cause to be successful, or to prosper; hence, to aid; to favor. "Fortune speed us!"
Shak.
With rising gales that speed their happy flight. Dryden.
2. To cause to make haste; to dispatch with celerity; to drive at full speed; hence, to hasten; to hurry.
He sped him thence home to his habitation. Fairfax.
3. To hasten to a conclusion; to expedite.
Judicial acts . . . are sped in open court at the instance of one or both of the parties. Ayliffe.
4. To hurry to destruction; to put an end to; to ruin; to undo. " Sped with spavins."
Shak.
A dire dilemma! either way I 'm sped . If foes, they write, if friends, they read, me dead. Pope.
5. To wish success or god fortune to, in any undertaking, especially in setting out upon a journey.
Welkome the coming, speed the parting guest. Pope.
God speed you , them , etc., may God speed you; or, may you have good speed.
Syn. -- To depatch; hasten; expedite; accelerate; hurry.
Speeder <Xpage=1382>
Speed"er (?) , n. 1. One who, or that which, speeds.
2. (Spinning) A machine for drawing and twisting slivers to form rovings.
Speedful <Xpage=1382>
Speed"ful (?) , a. Full of speed (in any sense). [Obs.]
Speedfully <Xpage=1382>
Speed"ful*ly , adv. In a speedful manner. [Obs.]
Speedily <Xpage=1382>
Speed"i*ly (?) , adv. In a speedy manner.
Speediness <Xpage=1382>
Speed"i*ness , n. The quality or state of being speedy.
Speedless <Xpage=1382>
Speed"less , a. Being without speed.
Speedwell <Xpage=1382>
Speed"well (?) , n. (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Veronica , mostly low herbs with pale blue corollas, which quickly fall off.
Speedy <Xpage=1382>
Speed"y (?) , a. [ Compar. Speedier (?) ; superl. Speediest .] [AS. sp<?/dyg .] Not dilatory or slow; quick; swift; nimble; hasty; rapid in motion or performance; as, a speedy flight; on speedy foot.
I will wish her speedy strength. Shak.
Darts, which not the good could shun, The speedy ould outfly. Dryden.
Speer <Xpage=1382>
Speer (?) , n. A sphere. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Speer <Xpage=1382>
Speer , v. t. To ask. [Scot.] See Spere .
Speet <Xpage=1382>
Speet (?) , v. t. [Cf. D. speten . See Spit an iron prong.] To stab. [Obs.]
Gammer Gurton's Needle.
Speight <Xpage=1382>
Speight (?) , n. [G. specht , probably akin to L. picus : cf. D. specht . &root;169. See Pie a magpie.] (Zo\'94l.) A woodpecker; -- called also specht , spekt , spight . [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
Speir <Xpage=1382>
Speir (?) , v. i. To ask. See Spere .
Sir W. Scott.
Speiskobalt <Xpage=1382>
Speis`ko"balt (?) , n. [G.] Smaltite.
Speiss <Xpage=1382>
Speiss (?) , n. [Cf. G. speise food, mixed metal for bells, etc.] (Metal.) A regulus consisting essentially of nickel, obtained as a residue in fusing cobalt and nickel ores with silica and sodium carbonate to make smalt.
Spekboom <Xpage=1382>
Spek"boom (?) , n. [D., lit. fat tree.] (Bot.) The purslane tree of South Africa, -- said to be the favorite food of elephants.
Balfour (Cyc. of India).
Speke <Xpage=1382>
Speke (?) , v. i. & t. To speak. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Spekehouse <Xpage=1382>
Speke"house` (?) , n. The parlor or reception room of a convent. [Obs.]
Spelding <Xpage=1382>
Spel"ding (?) , n. [Scot. speld to spread out, spelder to split. spread open; cf. G. spalten split.] A haddock or other small fish split open and dried in the sun; -- called also speldron . [Scot.]
Spelicans <Xpage=1382>
Spel"i*cans (?) , n. pl. See Spilikin .
Spelk <Xpage=1382>
Spelk (?) , n. [AS. spelc , spilc , a little rod by which a thing is kept straight, a splint for binding up broken bones, akin to Icel. spelkur , pl., a splint. Cf. Spell a splinter.] A small stick or rod used as a spike in thatching; a splinter. [Prov. Eng.]
Grose.
Spell <Xpage=1382>
Spell (?) , n. [OE. speld , AS. speld a spill to light a candle with; akin to D. speld a pin, OD. spelle , G. spalten to split, OHG. spaltan , MHG. spelte a splinter, Icel. spjald a square tablet, Goth. spilda a writing tablet. Cf. Spill splinter, roll of paper, Spell to tell the letters of.] A spelk, or splinter. [Obs.]
Holland.
Spell <Xpage=1382>
Spell , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Spelled (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Spelling .] [AS. spelian to supply another's place.] To supply the place of for a time; to take the turn of, at work; to relieve; as, to spell the helmsman .
Spell <Xpage=1382>
Spell , n. 1. The relief of one person by another in any piece of work or wathing; also, a turn at work which is carried on by one person or gang relieving another; as, a spell at the pumps; a spell at the masthead .
A spell at the wheel isc called a trick. Ham. Nav. Encyc.
2. The time during which one person or gang works until relieved; hence, any relatively short period of time, whether a few hours, days, or weeks.