The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
Chapter 1601
Spir"it*u*al*ty (?) , n. [See Spirituality .] (Eccl.) An ecclesiastical body; a spirituality.
Shak.
Spiritielle <Xpage=1388>
Spi`ri`ti`elle" (?) , a. [F.] Of the nature, or having the appearance, of a spirit; pure; refined; ethereal.
Spirituosity <Xpage=1388>
Spir`it*u*os"i*ty (?) , n. The quality or state of being spirituous; spirituousness. [R.]
Spirituous <Xpage=1388>
Spir"it*u*ous (?) , a. [Cf. (for sense 2) F. spiritueux . Cf. Spiritous .] 1. Having the quality of spirit; tenuous in substance, and having active powers or properties; ethereal; immaterial; spiritual; pure.
2. Containing, or of the nature of, alcoholic (esp. distilled) spirit; consisting of refined spirit; alcoholic; ardent; as, spirituous liquors .
3. Lively; gay; vivid; airy. [Obs.]
Sir H. Wotton.
The mind of man is of that spirituous , stirring nature, that it is perpetually at work. South.
Spirituousness <Xpage=1388>
Spir"it*u*ous*ness , n. The quality or state of being spirituous. [R.]
Boyle.
Spirketing <Xpage=1388>
Spirk"et*ing (?) , n. (Naut.) The planking from the waterways up to the port sills.
Totten.
Spirling <Xpage=1388>
Spirl"ing (?) , n. Sparling. [Prov. Eng.]
Spirobacteria <Xpage=1388>
Spi`ro*bac*te"ri*a (?) , n. pl. ; sing. Spirobacterium (<?/) . [NL. See 4th Spire , and Bacterium .] (Biol.) See the Note under Microbacteria .
Spiroch\'91ta, Spiroch\'91te <Xpage=1388>
Spi`ro*ch\'91"ta (?) , Spi`ro*ch\'91"te (?) , n. [L. spira a coil + Gr. <?/<?/<?/ hair.] (Biol.) A genus of Spirobacteria similar to Spirillum, but distinguished by its motility. One species, the Spiroch\'91te Obermeyeri , is supposed to be the cause of relapsing fever.
Spirograph <Xpage=1388>
Spi"ro*graph (?) , n. [L. spirare to breathe + -graph .] (Physiol.) An instrument for recording the respiratory movements, as the sphygmograph does those of the pulse.
Spirometer <Xpage=1388>
Spi*rom"e*ter (?) , n. [L. spirare to breathe + -meter .] An instrument for measuring the vital capacity of the lungs, or the volume of air which can be expelled from the chest after the deepest possible inspiration. Cf. Pneumatometer .
Spirometry <Xpage=1388>
Spi*rom"e*try (?) , n. The act or process of measuring the chest capacity by means of a spirometer.
Spiroscope <Xpage=1388>
Spi"ro*scope (?) , n. [L. spirare to breathe + -scope .] (Physiol.) A wet meter used to determine the breathing capacity of the lungs.
Spiroylic, Spiroylous <Xpage=1388>
Spi*royl"ic (?) , Spi*royl"ous (?) , a. [NL. Spir<?/ meadowsweet (a source of salicylal) + -yl + -ic , -ous .] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, a substance now called salicylal . [Obs.]
Spirt <Xpage=1388>
Spirt (?) , v. & n. Same as Spurt .
Spirtle <Xpage=1388>
Spir"tle (?) , v. t. To spirt in a scattering manner.
Spirula <Xpage=1388>
Spir"u*la (?) , n. [NL., dim. of L. spira a coil.] (Zo\'94l.) A genus of cephalopods having a multilocular, internal, siphunculated shell in the form of a flat spiral, the coils of which are not in contact.
Spirulate <Xpage=1388>
Spir"u*late (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) Having the color spots, or structural parts, arranged spirally.
Spiry <Xpage=1388>
Spir"y (?) , a. [From Spire a winding line.] Of a spiral form; wreathed; curled; serpentine.
Hid in the spiry volumes of the snake. Dryden.
Spiry <Xpage=1388>
Spir"y , a. [FR. Spire a steeple.] Of or pertaining to a spire; like a spire, tall, slender, and tapering; abounding in spires; as, spiry turrets . " Spiry towns."
Thomson.
Spiss <Xpage=1388>
Spiss (?) , a. [L. spissus .] Thick; crowded; compact; dense . [Obs.]
This spiss and . . . copious, yet concise, treatise. Brerewood.
Spissated <Xpage=1388>
Spis"sa*ted (?) , a. Rendered dense or compact, as by evaporation; inspissated; thickened. [R.]
The spissated juice of the poppy. Bp. Warburton.
Spissitude <Xpage=1388>
Spis"si*tude (?) , n. [L. spissitudo .] The quality or state of being spissated; as, the spissitude of coagulated blood, or of any coagulum .
Arbuthnot.
Spit <Xpage=1388>
Spit (?) , n. [OE. spite , AS. spitu ; akin to D. spit , G. spiess , OHG. spiz , Dan. spid . Sw. spett , and to G. spitz pointed. &root;170.] 1. A long, slender, pointed rod, usually of iron, for holding meat while roasting.
2. A small point of land running into the sea, or a long, narrow shoal extending from the shore into the sea; as, a spit of sand .
Cook.
3. The depth to which a spade goes in digging; a spade; a spadeful. [Prov. Eng.]
Halliwell.
Spit <Xpage=1388>
Spit , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Spitted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Spitting .] [From Spit , n .; cf. Speet .] 1. To thrust a spit through; to fix upon a spit; hence, to thrust through or impale; as, to spit a loin of veal . "Infants spitted upon pikes."
Shak.
2. To spade; to dig. [Prov. Eng.]
Spit <Xpage=1388>
Spit , v. i. To attend to a spit; to use a spit. [Obs.]
She's spitting in the kitchen. Old Play.
Spit <Xpage=1388>
Spit , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Spit ( Spat , archaic ); p. pr. & vb. n. Spitting .] [AS. spittan ; akin to G. sp\'81tzen , Dan. spytte , Sw. spotta ,Icel. sp<?/ta , and prob. E. spew . The past tense spat is due to AS. sp<?/tte , from sp<?/tan to spit. Cf. Spat , n. , Spew , Spawl , Spot , n. ] 1. To eject from the mouth; to throw out, as saliva or other matter, from the mouth. "Thus spit I out my venom." <-- spat is a common pp and not archaic -->
Chaucer.
2. To eject; to throw out; to belch.
&hand; Spitted was sometimes used as the preterit and the past participle. "He . . . shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on."
Luke xviii. 32.
Spit <Xpage=1388>
Spit , n. The secretion formed by the glands of the mouth; spitle; saliva; sputum.
Spit <Xpage=1388>
Spit , v. i. 1. To throw out saliva from the mouth.
2. To rain or snow slightly, or with sprinkles.
It had been spitting with rain. Dickens.
To spit on ∨ upon , to insult grossly; to treat with contempt. " Spitting upon all antiquity."
South.
Spital <Xpage=1388>
Spit"al (?) , n. [Abbreviated from hospital .] [Written also spittle .] A hospital. [Obs.]
Shak.
Spitalhouse <Xpage=1388>
Spit"al*house` (?) , n. A hospital. [Obs.]
Spitball <Xpage=1388>
Spit"ball` (?) , n. Paper chewed, and rolled into a ball, to be thrown as a missile.
Spitbox <Xpage=1388>
Spit"box` (?) , n. A vessel to receive spittle.
Spitchcock <Xpage=1388>
Spitch"cock` (?) , v. t. [1st spit + cock .] (Cookery) To split (as an eel) lengthwise, and broil it, or fry it in hot fat.
Spitchcock <Xpage=1388>
Spitch"cock` , n. (Cookery) An eel split and broiled.
Spitchcocked <Xpage=1388>
Spitch"cocked` (?) , a. (Cookery) Broiled or fried after being split lengthwise; -- said of eels.
Spit curl <Xpage=1388>
Spit" curl` (?) . A little lock of hair, plastered in a spiral form on the temple or forehead with spittle, or other adhesive substance. [Colloq.]
Spite <Xpage=1388>
Spite (?) , n. [Abbreviated fr. despite .] 1. Ill-will or hatred toward another, accompanied with the disposition to irritate, annoy, or thwart; petty malice; grudge; rancor; despite.
Pope.
This is the deadly spite that angers. Shak.
2. Vexation; chargrin; mortification. [R.]
Shak.
In spite of , ∨ Spite of , in opposition to all efforts of; in defiance or contempt of; notwithstanding. "Continuing, spite of pain, to use a knee after it had been slightly ibnjured." H. Spenser . "And saved me in spite of the world, the devil, and myself." South . " In spite of all applications, the patient grew worse every day." Arbuthnot . See Syn. under Notwithstanding . -- To owe one a spite , to entertain a mean hatred for him.
Syn. -- Pique, rancor; malevolence; grudge. -- Spite , Malice . Malice has more reference to the disposition, and spite to the manifestation of it in words and actions. It is, therefore, meaner than malice , thought not always more criminal. " Malice . . . is more frequently employed to express the dispositions of inferior minds to execute every purpose of mischief within the more limited circle of their abilities." Cogan . "Consider eke, that spite availeth naught." Wyatt . See Pique .
Spite <Xpage=1388>
Spite , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Spited ; p. pr. & vb. n. Spiting .] 1. To be angry at; to hate. [Obs.]
The Danes, then . . . pagans, spited places of religion. Fuller.
2. To treat maliciously; to try to injure or thwart.
3. To fill with spite; to offend; to vex. [R.]
Darius, spited at the Magi, endeavored to abolish not only their learning, but their language. Sir. W. Temple.
<page="1389"> Page 1389
Spiteful <Xpage=1389>
Spite"ful (?) , a. Filled with, or showing, spite; having a desire to vex, annoy, or injure; malignant; malicious; as, a spiteful person or act . Shak. -- Spite"ful*ly , adv. Spite"ful*ness , n.
Spitfire <Xpage=1389>
Spit"fire` (?) , n. A violent, irascible, or passionate person. [Colloq.]
Grose.
Spitful <Xpage=1389>
Spit"ful (?) , n. ; pl. Spitfuls (<?/) . A spadeful. [Prov. Eng.]
Spitous <Xpage=1389>
Spit"ous (?) , a. Having spite; spiteful. [Obs.]
Spitously <Xpage=1389>
Spit"ous*ly , adv. Spitefully. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Spitscocked <Xpage=1389>
Spits"cocked` (?) , a. Spitchcocked.
Spitted <Xpage=1389>
Spit"ted (?) , a. [From Spit .] 1. Put upon a spit; pierced as if by a spit.
2. Shot out long; -- said of antlers.
Bacon.
Spitted <Xpage=1389>
Spit"ted , p. p. of Spit , v. i. , to eject, to spit. [Obs.]
Spitter <Xpage=1389>
Spit"ter (?) , n. [See Spit to eject from the mouth.] One who ejects saliva from the mouth.
Spitter <Xpage=1389>
Spit"ter , n. [See Spit an iron prong.] 1. One who puts meat on a spit.
2. (Zo\'94l.) A young deer whose antlers begin to shoot or become sharp; a brocket, or pricket.
Spittle <Xpage=1389>
Spit"tle (?) , n. See Spital . [Obs.]
B. Jonson.
Spittle <Xpage=1389>
Spit"tle , v. t. [See Spit to spade.] To dig or stir with a small spade. [Prov. Eng.]
Spittle <Xpage=1389>
Spit"tle , n. A small sort of spade. [Prov. Eng.]
Spittle <Xpage=1389>
Spit"tle , n. [From Spit to eject from the mouth: cf. Spattle , and AS. sp\'betl .] The thick, moist matter which is secreted by the salivary glands; saliva; spit.
Spittle insect . (Zo\'94l.) See Cuckoo spit (b) , under Cuckoo .
Spittly <Xpage=1389>
Spit"tly (?) , a. Like spittle; slimy. [Obs.]
Spittoon <Xpage=1389>
Spit*toon" (?) , n. A spitbox; a cuspidor.
Spit-venom <Xpage=1389>
Spit"-ven"om (?) , n. Poison spittle; poison ejected from the mouth. [R.]
Hooker.
Spitz dog <Xpage=1389>
Spitz" dog" (?) . [G. spitz , spitzhund .] (Zo\'94l.) A breed of dogs having erect ears and long silky hair, usually white; -- called also Pomeranian dog , and louploup .
Spitzenburgh <Xpage=1389>
Spitz"en*burgh (?) , n. A kind of red and yellow apple, of medium size and spicy flavor. It originated at Newtown, on Long Island.
Splanchnapophysis <Xpage=1389>
Splanch`napoph"y*sis (?) , n. ; pl. Splanchnapophyses (#) . [NL. See Splanchnic , and Apophysis .] (Anat.) Any element of the skeleton in relation with the alimentary canal, as the jaws and hyoidean apparatus. -- Splanch`nap`o*phys"i*al (#) , a.
Mivart.
Splanchnic <Xpage=1389>
Splanch"nic (?) , a. [Gr. <?/<?/<?/ an entrail.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the viscera; visceral.
Splanchnography <Xpage=1389>
Splanch*nog"ra*phy (?) , n. [Gr. <?/<?/<?/<?/<?/ an entrail + -graphy .] Splanchnology.
Splanchnology <Xpage=1389>
Splanch*nol"o*gy (?) , n. [Gr. <?/<?/<?/<?/ an entrail + -logy .] That part of anatomy which treats of the viscera; also, a treatise on the viscera.
Splanchnopleure <Xpage=1389>
Splanch"no*pleure (?) , n. [Gr. <?/<?/<?/<?/ an entrail + <?/<?/<?/<?/ side.] (Anat.) The inner, or visceral, one of the two lamell\'91 into which the vertebrate blastoderm divides on either side of the notochord, and from which the walls of the enteric canal and the umbilical vesicle are developed. See Somatopleure .
-- Splanch`no*pleu"ric (#) , a.
Splanchno-skeleton <Xpage=1389>
Splanch`no-skel"e*ton (?) , n. [Gr. <?/<?/<?/<?/ an entrail + E. skeleton .] (Anat.) That part of the skeleton connected with the sense organs and the viscera.
Owen.
Splanchnotomy <Xpage=1389>
Splanch*not"o*my (?) , n. [Gr. <?/<?/<?/<?/<?/ an entrail + <?/<?/<?/<?/ to cut.] The dissection, or anatomy, of the viscera.
Splandrel <Xpage=1389>
Splan"drel (?) , n. See Spandrel . [R.]
Splash <Xpage=1389>
Splash (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Splashed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Splashing .] [Akin to plash .] 1. To strike and dash about, as water, mud, etc.; to plash.
2. To spatter water, mud, etc., upon; to wet.
Splash <Xpage=1389>
Splash , v. i. To strike and dash about water, mud, etc.; to dash in such a way as to spatter.
Splash <Xpage=1389>
Splash , n. 1. Water, or water and dirt, thrown upon anything, or thrown from a puddle or the like; also, a spot or daub, as of matter which wets or disfigures.
2. A noise made by striking upon or in a liquid.
Splashboard <Xpage=1389>
Splash"board` (?) , n. A guard in the front part of vehicle, to prevent splashing by a mud or water from the horse's heels; -- in the United States commonly called dashboard .
Splasher <Xpage=1389>
Splash"er (?) , n. 1. One who, or that which, splashes.
2. One of the guarde over the wheels, as of a carriage, locomotive, etc.
Weale.
3. A guard to keep off splashes from anything.
Splashy <Xpage=1389>
Splash"y (?) , a. Full of dirty water; wet and muddy, so as be easily splashed about; slushy.
Splatter <Xpage=1389>
Splat"ter (?) , v. i. & t. To spatter; to splash.
Splatterdash <Xpage=1389>
Splat"ter*dash` (?) , n . Uproar.
Jamieson.
Splay <Xpage=1389>
Splay (?) , v. t. [Abbrev. of display .] 1. To display; to spread. [Obs.] "Our ensigns splayed ."
Gascoigne.
2. To dislocate, as a shoulder bone.
3. To spay; to castrate. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
4. To turn on one side; to render oblique; to slope or slant, as the side of a door, window, etc.
Oxf. Gloss.
Splay <Xpage=1389>
Splay , a. Displayed; spread out; turned outward; hence, flat; ungainly; as, splay shoulders .
Sonwthing splay , something blunt-edged, unhandy, and infelicitous. M. Arnold.
Splay <Xpage=1389>
Splay , a. (Arch.) A slope or bevel, especially of the sides of a door or window, by which the opening is made larged at one face of the wall than at the other, or larger at each of the faces than it is between them.
Splayfoot <Xpage=1389>
Splay"foot` (?) , n. ; pl. Splayfeet (<?/) . A foot that is abnormally flattened and spread out; flat foot.
Splayfoot, Splayfooted <Xpage=1389>
Splay"foot` , Splay"foot`ed a. Having a splayfoot or splayfeet.
Splaymouth <Xpage=1389>
Splay"mouth` (?) , n. ; pl. Splaymouths (<?/) . A wide mouth; a mouth stretched in derision.
Dryden.
Splaymouthed <Xpage=1389>
Splay`mouthed" (?) , a. Having a splaymouth.
T. Brown.
Spleen <Xpage=1389>
Spleen (?) , n. [L. splen , Gr. <?/<?/<?/<?/ the milt or spleen, affection of the spleen; cf. L. lien , plihan , pl\'c6han .] 1. (Anat.) A peculiar glandlike but ductless organ found near the stomach or intestine of most vertebrates and connected with the vascular system; the milt. Its exact function in not known.
2. Anger; latent spite; ill humor; malice; as, to vent one's spleen .
In noble minds some dregs remain, Not yet purged off, of spleen and sour disdain. Pope.
3. A fit of anger; choler.
Shak.
4. A sudden motion or action; a fit; a freak; a whim. [Obs. or R.]
A thousand spleens bear her a thousand ways. Shak.
5. Melancholy; hypochondriacal affections.
Bodies changed to various forms by spleen . Pope.
There is a luxury in self-dispraise: And inward self-disparagement affords To meditative spleen a grateful feast. Wordsworth.
6. A fit of immoderate laughter or merriment. [Obs.]
Thy silly thought enforces my spleen . Shak.
Spleen <Xpage=1389>
Spleen , v. t. To dislke. [Obs.]
Bp. Hacket.
Spleened <Xpage=1389>
Spleened (?) , a. 1. Deprived of the spleen.