Chapter 1603

4. To render useless by injury; to injure fatally; to ruin; to destroy; as, to spoil paper; to have the crops spoiled by insects; to spoil the eyes by reading.

Spoil <Xpage=1390>

Spoil (?) , v. i. 1. To practice plunder or robbery.

Outlaws, which, lurking in woods, used to break forth to rob and spoil . Spenser.

2. To lose the valuable qualities; to be corrupted; to decay; as, fruit will soon spoil in warm weather .

Spoil <Xpage=1390>

Spoil , n. [Cf. OF. espoille , L. spolium .] 1. That which is taken from another by violence; especially, the plunder taken from an enemy; pillage; booty.

Gentle gales, Fanning their odoriferous wings, dispense Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole Those balmy spoils . Milton.

2. Public offices and their emoluments regarded as the peculiar property of a successful party or faction, to be bestowed for its own advantage; -- commonly in the plural; as to the victor belong the spoils .

From a principle of gratitude I adhered to the coalition; my vote was counted in the day of battle, but I was overlooked in the division of the spoil . Gibbon.

3. That which is gained by strength or effort.

each science and each art his spoil . Bentley.

4. The act or practice of plundering; robbery; aste.

The man that hath no music in himself, Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, Is fit for treason, stratagems, and spoil . Shak.

5. Corruption; cause of corruption. [Archaic]

Villainous company hath been the spoil of me. Shak.

6. The slough, or cast skin, of a serpent or other animal. [Obs.]

Bacon.

Spoil bank , a bank formed by the earth taken from an excavation, as of a canal. -- The spoils system , the theory or practice of regarding public and their emoluments as so much plunder to be distributed among their active partisans by those who are chosen to responsible offices of administration.

Spoilable <Xpage=1390>

Spoil"a*ble (?) , a. Capable of being spoiled.

Spoiler <Xpage=1390>

Spoil"er (?) , n. 1. One who spoils; a plunderer; a pillager; a robber; a despoiler.

2. One who corrupts, mars, or renders useless.

Spoilfive <Xpage=1390>

Spoil"five` (?) , n. A certain game at cards in which, if no player wins three of the five tricks possible on any deal, the game is said to be spoiled .

Spoilful <Xpage=1390>

Spoil"ful (?) , a. Wasteful; rapacious. [Poetic]

Spoilsman <Xpage=1390>

Spoils"man (?) , n. ; pl. Spoilsmen (<?/) . One who serves a cause or a party for a share of the spoils; in United States politics, one who makes or recognizes a demand for public office on the ground of partisan service; also, one who sanctions such a policy in appointments to the public service.

Spoilsmonger <Xpage=1390>

Spoils"mon`ger (?) , n. One who promises or distributes public offices and their emoluments as the price of services to a party or its leaders.

Spoke <Xpage=1390>

Spoke (?) , imp. of Speak .

Spoke <Xpage=1390>

Spoke , n. [OE. spoke , spake , AS, sp\'beca ; akin to D. speek , LG. speke , OHG. speihha , G. speiche . &root;170. Cf. Spike a nail.] 1. The radius or ray of a wheel; one of the small bars which are inserted in the hub, or nave, and which serve to support the rim or felly.

2. (Naut.) A projecting handle of a steering wheel.

3. A rung, or round, of a ladder.

4. A contrivance for fastening the wheel of a vehicle, to prevent it from turning in going down a hill.

To put a spoke in one's wheel , to thwart or obstruct one in the execution of some design.

Spoke <Xpage=1390>

Spoke , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Spoked (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Spoking .] To furnish with spokes, as a wheel.

Spoken <Xpage=1390>

Spo"ken (?) , a. [p.p. of Speak .] 1. Uttered in speech; delivered by word of mouth; oral; as, a spoken narrative; the spoken word .

2. Characterized by a certain manner or style in speaking; -- often in composition; as, a pleasant- spoken man .

Methinks you 're better spoken . Shak.

Spokeshave <Xpage=1390>

Spoke"shave` (?) , n. A kind of drawing knife or planing tool for dressing the spokes of wheels, the shells of blocks, and other curved work.

Spokesman <Xpage=1390>

Spokes"man (?) , n. ; pl. Spokesmen (#) . [ Speak , spoke + man .] One who speaks for another.

He shall be thy spokesman unto the people. Ex. iv. 16.

Spoliate <Xpage=1390>

Spo"li*ate (?) , v. t. & i. [ imp. & p. p. Spoliated (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Spoliating (?) .] [L. spoliatus , p.p. of spoliare spoil. See Spoil , v. t. ] To plunder; to pillage; to despoil; to rob.

Spoliation <Xpage=1390>

Spo`li*a"tion (?) , n. [L. spoliatio ; cf. F. spoliation . See Spoil , v. t. ] 1. The act of plundering; robbery; deprivation; despoliation.

Legal spoliation , which will impoverish one part of the community in order to corrupt the remainder. Sir G. C. Lewis.

2. Robbery or plunder in war; especially, the authorized act or practice of plundering neutrals at sea.

3. (Eccl. Law) (a) The act of an incumbent in taking the fruits of his benefice without right, but under a pretended title.

Blackstone.

(b) A process for possession of a church in a spiritual court .

4. (Law) Injury done to a document.

Spoliative <Xpage=1390>

Spo"li*a*tive (?) , a. [Cf. F. spoliatif .] Serving to take away, diminish, or rob; esp. (Med.) , serving to diminish sensibily the amount of blood in the body; as, spoliative bloodletting .

Spoliator <Xpage=1390>

Spo"li*a`tor (?) , n. One who spoliates; a spoiler.

Spoliatory <Xpage=1390>

Spo"li*a*to*ry (?) , a. Tending to spoil; destructive; spoliative.

Spondaic, Spondaical <Xpage=1390>

Spon*da"ic (?) , Spon*da"ic*al (?) , a. [L. spondaicus , spondiacus , Gr. <?/: cf. F. sponda\'8bque .] 1. Or of pertaining to a spondee; consisting of spondees.

2. Containing spondees in excess; marked by spondees; as, a spondaic hexameter, i. e. , one which has a spondee instead of a dactyl in the fifth foot.

Spondee <Xpage=1390>

Spon"dee (?) , n. [L. spondeus , Gr. <?/ (sc. <?/), fr. <?/ a drink offering, libation, fr. <?/ to pour out, make a libation: cf. F. spond\'82e . So called because at libations slow, solemn melodies were used, chiefly in this meter.] (pros.) A poetic foot of two long syllables, as in the Latin word l\'c7g\'c7s .

Spondulics <Xpage=1390>

Spon*du"lics (?) , n. Money. [Slang, U.S.]

Bartlett.

Spondyl, Spondyle <Xpage=1390>

Spon"dyl , Spon"dyle (?) , n. [L. spondylus , Gr. <?/, <?/: cf. F. spondyle .] (Anat.) A joint of the backbone; a vertebra.

Spong <Xpage=1390>

Spong (?) , n. [Etymol. uncertain.] An irregular, narrow, projecting part of a field. [Prov. Eng.]

Sponge <Xpage=1390>

Sponge (?) , n. [OF. esponge , F. \'82ponge , L. spongia , Gr. <?/, <?/. Cf. Fungus , Spunk .] [Formerly written also spunge .] 1. (Zo\'94l.) Any one of numerous species of Spongi\'91, or Porifera. See Illust . and Note under Spongi\'91 .

2. The elastic fibrous skeleton of many species of horny Spongi\'91 (keratosa), used for many purposes, especially the varieties of the genus Spongia . The most valuable sponges are found in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, and on the coasts of Florida and the West Indies.

3. Fig.: One who lives upon others; a pertinaceous and indolent dependent; a parasite; a sponger.

4. Any spongelike substance. Specifically: (a) Dough before it is kneaded and formed into loaves, and after it is converted into a light, spongy mass by the agency of the yeast or leaven . (b) Iron from the puddling furnace, in a pasty condition . (c) Iron ore, in masses, reduced but not melted or worked.

5. (Gun.) A mop for cleaning the bore of a cannon after a discharge. It consists of a cylinder of wood, covered with sheepskin with the wool on, or cloth with a heavy looped nap, and having a handle, or staff.

6. (Far.) The extremity, or point, of a horseshoe, answering to the heel.

Bath sponge , any one of several varieties of coarse commercial sponges, especially Spongia equina . -- Cup sponge , a toilet sponge growing in a cup-shaped form. -- Glass sponge . See Glass-sponge , in the Vocabulary. -- Glove sponge , a variety of commercial sponge ( Spongia officinalis , variety tubulufera ), having very fine fibers, native of Florida, and the West Indies. -- Grass sponge , any one of several varieties of coarse commercial sponges having the surface irregularly tufted, as Spongia graminea , and S. equina , variety cerebriformis , of Florida and the West Indies. -- Horse sponge , a coarse commercial sponge, especially Spongia equina . -- Platinum sponge . (Chem.) See under Platinum . -- Pyrotechnical sponge , a substance made of mushrooms or fungi, which are boiled in water, dried, and beaten, then put in a strong lye prepared with saltpeter, and again dried in an oven. This makes the black match, or tinder, brought from Germany. -- Sheep's-wool sponge , a fine and durable commercial sponge ( Spongia equina , variety gossypina ) found in Florida and the West Indies. The surface is covered with larger and smaller tufts, having the oscula between them. -- Sponge cake , a kind of sweet cake which is light and spongy. -- Sponge lead , &or; Spongy lead (Chem.) , metallic lead brought to a spongy form by reduction of lead salts, or by compressing finely divided lead; -- used in secondary batteries and otherwise. -- Sponge tree (Bot.) , a tropical leguminous tree ( Acacia Farnesiana ), with deliciously fragrant flowers, which are used in perfumery. -- Toilet sponge , a very fine and superior variety of Mediterranean sponge ( Spongia officinalis , variety Mediterranea ); -- called also turkish sponge . -- To set a sponge (Cookery) , to leaven a small mass of flour, to be used in leavening a larger quantity. -- To throw up the sponge , to give up a contest; to acknowledge defeat; -- from a custom of the prize ring, the person employed to sponge a pugilist between rounds throwing his sponge in the air in token of defeat. [Cant or Slang] "He was too brave a man to throw up the sponge to fate." Lowell. <-- now, through in the towel is more common, and has the same origin and meaning. --> -- Vegetable sponge . (Bot.) See Loof . -- Velvet sponge , a fine, soft commercial sponge ( Spongia equina , variety meandriniformis ) found in Florida and the West Indies. -- Vitreous sponge . See Glass-sponge . -- Yellow sponge , a common and valuable commercial sponge ( Spongia agaricina , variety corlosia ) found in Florida and the West Indies.

Sponge <Xpage=1390>

Sponge , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Sponged (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Sponging (?) .] 1. To cleanse or wipe with a sponge; as, to sponge a slate or a cannon ; to wet with a sponge; as, to sponge cloth .

2. To wipe out with a sponge, as letters or writing; to efface; to destroy all trace of.

Hooker.

3. Fig.: To deprive of something by imposition. "How came such multitudes of our nation . . . to be sponged of their plate and their money?"

South.

4. Fig.: To get by imposition or mean arts without cost; as, to sponge a breakfast .

Swift.

Sponge <Xpage=1390>

Sponge , v. i. 1. To suck in, or imbile, as a sponge.

2. Fig.: To gain by mean arts, by intrusion, or hanging on; as, an idler sponges on his neighbor .

E. Eggleston.

The fly is an intruder, and a common smell-feast, that sponges upon other people's trenchers. L'Estrange.

3. To be converted, as dough, into a light, spongy mass by the agency of yeast, or leaven.

Spongelet <Xpage=1390>

Sponge"let (?) , n. See Spongiole .

Spongeous <Xpage=1390>

Spon"geous (?) , a. [See Spongious .] Resembling sponge; having the nature or qualities of sponge.

Sponger <Xpage=1390>

Spon"ger (?) , n. 1. One who sponges, or uses a sponge.

2. One employed in gathering sponges.

3. Fig.: A parasitical dependent; a hanger-on.

<page="1391"> Page 1391

Spongi\'91 <Xpage=1391>

Spon"gi*\'91 (?) , n. pl. [See Sponge .] (Zo\'94l.) The grand division of the animal kingdom which includes the sponges; -- called also Spongida , Spongiaria , Spongiozoa , and Porifera .

&hand; In the Spongi\'91, the soft sarcode of the body is usually supported by a skeleton consisting of horny fibers, or of silleceous or calcareous spicules. The common sponges contain larger and smaller cavities and canals, and numerous small ampull\'91 which which are lined with ciliated cells capable of taking in solid food. The outer surface usually has minute pores through which water enters, and large openings for its exit. Sponges produce eggs and spermatozoa, and the egg when fertilized undergoes segmentation to form a ciliated embryo.

Spongida <Xpage=1391>

Spon"gi*da (?) , n. pl. [NL.] Spongi\'91.

Spongiform <Xpage=1391>

Spon"gi*form (?) , a. Resembling a sponge; soft and porous; porous.

Spongilla <Xpage=1391>

Spon*gil"la (?) , n. [NL., dim. of spongia a sponge.] (Zo\'94l.) A genus of siliceous spongea found in fresh water.

Spongin <Xpage=1391>

Spon"gin (?) , n. (Physiol. Chem.) The chemical basis of sponge tissue, a nitrogenous, hornlike substance which on decomposition with sulphuric acid yields leucin and glycocoll.

Sponginess <Xpage=1391>

Spon"gi*ness (?) , n. The quality or state of being spongy.

Dr. H. More.

Sponging <Xpage=1391>

Spon"ging (?) , a. & n. from Sponge , v.

Sponging house (Eng. Law) , a bailiff's or other house in which debtors are put before being taken to jail, or until they compromise with their creditors. At these houses extortionate charges are commonly made for food, lodging, etc.

Spongiole <Xpage=1391>

Spon"gi*ole (?; 277) , n. [L. spongiola a rose gall, small roots, dim. of spongia : cf. F. spongiole .] (Bot.) A supposed spongelike expansion of the tip of a rootlet for absorbing water; -- called also spongelet .

Spongiolite <Xpage=1391>

Spon"gi*o*lite (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ sponge + -lite .] (Paleon.) One of the microsporic siliceous spicules which occur abundantly in the texture of sponges, and are sometimes found fossil, as in flints.

Spongiopilin <Xpage=1391>

Spon`gi*o*pi"lin (?) , n. [Gr. <?/, dim. of <?/ a sponge + <?/ felt.] (Med.) A kind of cloth interwoven with small pieces of sponge and rendered waterproof on one side by a covering of rubber. When moistend with hot water it is used as a poultice.

Spongiose, Spongious <Xpage=1391>

Spon"gi*ose` (?) , Spon"gi*ous (?) , a. [L. spongious , spongeosus : cf. F. spongieux . See Sponge .] Somewhat spongy; spongelike; full of small cavities like sponge; as, spongious bones .

Spongiozoa <Xpage=1391>

Spon`gi*o*zo"a (?) , n. pl. [NL., Gr. <?/ sponge + <?/ an animal.] (Zo\'94l.) See Spongl\'91 .

Spongoblast <Xpage=1391>

Spon"go*blast (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ sponge + -blast .] (Zo\'94l.) One of the cells which, in sponges, secrete the spongin, or the material of the horny fibers.

Spongoid <Xpage=1391>

Spon"goid (?; 277) , a. [Gr. <?/ sponge + -oid .] Resembling sponge; like sponge.

Spongy <Xpage=1391>

Spon"gy (?) , a. 1. Soft, and full of cavities; of an open, loose, pliable texture; as, a spongy excrescence; spongy earth; spongy cake; spongy bones.

2. Wet; drenched; soaked and soft, like sponge; rainy. " Spongy April."

Shak.

3. Having the quality of imbibing fluids, like a sponge.

Spongy lead (Chem.) , sponge lead. See under Sponge . -- Spongy platinum . See under Platinum .

Sponk <Xpage=1391>

Sponk (?) , n. See Spunk .

Sponsal <Xpage=1391>

Spon"sal (?) , a. [L. sponsalis , fr. sponsus a betrothal, fr. spondere , sponsum , to betroth. See Spouse , and cf. Esousal , Spousal .] Relating to marriage, or to a spouse; spousal.

Sponsible <Xpage=1391>

Spon"si*ble (?) , a. [Abbrev. from responsible .] responsible; worthy of credit. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

Sponsion <Xpage=1391>

Spon"sion (?) , n. [L. sonsio , fr. spondere , sponsum , to promise solemnly.] 1. The act of becoming surety for another.

2. (Internat. Law) An act or engagement on behalf of a state, by an agent not specially authorized for the purpose, or by one who exceeds the limits of authority.

Sponsional <Xpage=1391>

Spon"sion*al (?) , a. Of or pertaining to a pledge or agreement; responsible. [R.]

He is righteous even in that representative and sponsional person he put on. Abp. Leighton.

Sponson <Xpage=1391>

Spon"son (?) , n. (Shipbuilding) (a) One of the triangular platforms in front of, and abaft, the paddle boxes of a steamboat. (b) One of the slanting supports under the guards of a steamboat. (c) One of the armored projections fitted with gun ports, used on modern war vessels.

Sponsor <Xpage=1391>

Spon"sor (?) , n. [L., from spondere , sponsum , to engage one's self. See Spose .] 1. One who binds himself to answer for another, and is responsible for his default; a surety.

2. One who at the baptism of an infant professore the christian faith in its name, and guarantees its religious education; a godfather or godmother.

Spnsorial <Xpage=1391>

Spn*so"ri*al (?) , a. Pertaining to a sponsor.

Sponsorship <Xpage=1391>

Spon"sor*ship (?) , n. State of being a sponsor.

Spontaneity <Xpage=1391>

Spon`ta*ne"i*ty (?) , n. ; pl. Spontaneities (#) . [Cf. F. spontan\'82it\'82 .] 1. The quality or state of being spontaneous, or acting from native feeling, proneness, or temperament, without constraint or external force.