Chapter 1606

4. To propagate; to cause to affect great numbers; as, to spread a disease .

5. To diffuse, as emanations or effluvia; to emit; as, odoriferous plants spread their fragrance .

6. To strew; to scatter over a surface; as, to spread manure; to spread lime on the ground .

7. To prepare; to set and furnish with provisions; as, to spread a table .

Boiled the flesh, and spread the board. Tennyson.

To sprad cloth , to unfurl sail. [Obs.]

Evelyn.

Syn. -- To diffuse; propogate; disperse; publish; distribute; scatter; circulate; disseminate; dispense.

Spread <Xpage=1393>

Spread , v. i. 1. To extend in length and breadth in all directions, or in breadth only; to be extended or stretched; to expand.

Plants, if they spread much, are seldom tall. Bacon.

Govrnor Winthrop, and his associates at Charlestown, had for a church a large, spreading tree. B. Trumbull.

2. To be extended by drawing or beating; as, some metals spread with difficulty .

3. To be made known more extensively, as news.

4. To be propagated from one to another; as, the disease spread into all parts of the city .

Shak.

Spread <Xpage=1393>

Spread , n. 1. Extent; compass.

I have got a fine spread of improvable land. Addison.

2. Expansion of parts.

No flower hath spread like that of the woodbine. Bacon.

3. A cloth used as a cover for a table or a bed. <-- bedspread -->

4. A table, as spread or furnished with a meal; hence, an entertainment of food; a feast. [Colloq.]

5. A privilege which one person buys of another, of demanding certain shares of stock at a certain price, or of delivering the same shares of stock at another price, within a time agreed upon. [Broker's Cant]

6. (Geom.) An unlimited expanse of discontinuous points.

Spread <Xpage=1393>

Spread , imp. & p. p. of Spread , v.

Spread eagle . (a) An eagle with outspread wings, the national emblem of the United States. (b) The figure of an eagle, with its wings elevated and its legs extended; often met as a device upon military ornaments, and the like . (c) (Her.) An eagle displayed; an eagle with the wings and legs extended on each side of the body, as in the double-headed eagle of Austria and Russia . See Displayed , 2.

Spread-eagle <Xpage=1393>

Spread"-ea`gle (?) , a. Characterized by a pretentious, boastful, exaggerated style; defiantly or extravagantly bombastic; as, a spread-eagle orator; a spread-eagle speech . [Colloq.& Humorous] <-- [MW10] "esp. of the greatnes of the U.S." -->

<-- Spread-eagle <Xpage=1393>

Spread"-ea`gle v. i. To assume a spread-eagled position; -- it may be done reclining, for relaxation, or momentarily, as an exhibitionary maneuver in a sport.

Spread-eagled <Xpage=1393>

Spread"-ea`gled 2. being in a position with the arms and legs extended fully. -->

Spreader <Xpage=1393>

Spread"er (?) , n. 1. One who, or that which, spreads, expands, or propogates.

2. A machine for combining and drawing fibers of flax to form a sliver preparatory to spinning.

Spreadingly <Xpage=1393>

Spread"ing*ly , adv. Increasingly.

The best times were spreadingly infected. Milton.

Sprechery <Xpage=1393>

Sprech"er*y (?) , n. [Cf. Gael. spreidh catle.] Movables of an inferior description; especially, such as have been collected by depredation. [Scot]

Spree <Xpage=1393>

Spree (?) , n. [Cf. Ir. spre a spark, animation, spirit, Gael. spraic . Cf. Sprack .] A merry frolic; especially, a drinking frolic; a carousal. [Colloq.]

Sprenge <Xpage=1393>

Sprenge (?) , v. t. [OE. sprengen , p.p. sprent , spreint , from AS. sprengen to sprinkle. See Sprinkle .] To sprinkle; to scatter. [Obs.]

Wyclif (1 Pet. i. 2).

Sprengel pump <Xpage=1393>

Spreng"el pump` (?) . (Physics) A form of air pump in which exhaustion is produced by a stream of mercury running down a narrow tube, in the manner of an aspirator; -- named from the inventor.

Sprent <Xpage=1393>

Sprent (?) , obs. p. p. of Sprenge . Sprinkled.

All the ground with purple blood was sprent . Spenser.

Sprew <Xpage=1393>

Sprew (?) , n. [Cf. D. sprouw , spruw .] (Med.) Thrush. [Local, U.S.]

Spreynd <Xpage=1393>

Spreynd (?) , obs. p. p. of Sprenge . Sprinkled.

When spreynd was holy water. Chaucer.

Sprig <Xpage=1393>

Sprig (?) , n. [AS. sprec ; akin to Icel. sprek a stick. Cf. Spray a branch.] 1. A small shoot or twig of a tree or other plant; a spray; as, a sprig of laurel or of parsley .

2. A youth; a lad; -- used humorously or in slight disparagement.

A sprig whom I remember, with a whey-face and a satchel, not so many years ago. Sir W. Scott.

3. A brad, or nail without a head.

4. (Naut.) A small eyebolt ragged or barbed at the point.

Sprig <Xpage=1393>

Sprig , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Sprigged (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Sprigging (?) .] To mark or adorn with the representation of small branches; to work with sprigs; as, to sprig muslin .

Sprigged <Xpage=1393>

Sprigged (?) , a. Having sprigs.

Spriggy <Xpage=1393>

Sprig"gy (?) , a. Full of sprigs or small branches.

Spright <Xpage=1393>

Spright (?) , n. [See Sprite .] 1. Spirit; mind; soul; state of mind; mood. [Obs.] "The high heroic spright ." <-- similar to sprite, now most often used. Any difference? -->

Spenser.

Wondrous great grief groweth in my spright . Spenser.

2. A supernatural being; a spirit; a shade; an apparition; a ghost.

Forth he called, out of deep darkness dread, Legions of sprights . Spenser.

To thee, O Father, Son, and Sacred Spright . Fairfax.

3. A kind of short arrow. [Obs.]

Bacon.

Spright <Xpage=1393>

Spright , v. t. To haunt, as a spright. [Obs.]

Shak.

Sprightful <Xpage=1393>

Spright"ful (?) , a. [ Spright sprite + full .] Full of spirit or of life; earnest; vivacious; lively; brisk; nimble; gay. [Obs.] -- Spright"ful*ly , adv. [Obs.] <-- = spirited, now most common. This word sounds too much like "frightful" -->

Shak.

-- Spright"ful*ness , n. [Obs.]

Spoke like a sprightful gentlemen. Shak.

Steeds sprightful as the light. Cowley.

Sprightless <Xpage=1393>

Spright"less , a. Destitute of life; dull; sluggish.

Sprightliness <Xpage=1393>

Spright"li*ness (?) , n. The quality or state of being sprightly; liveliness; life; briskness; vigor; activity; gayety; vivacity.

In dreams, observe with what a sprightliness and alacrity does she [the soul] exert herself! Addison.

Sprightly <Xpage=1393>

Spright"ly (?) , a. [ Compar. Sprightlier (?) ; superl. Sprightliest .] [See Sprite .] Sprightlike, or spiritlike; lively; brisk; animated; vigorous; airy; gay; as, a sprightly youth; a sprightly air; a sprightly dance. " Sprightly wit and love inspires."

Dryden.

The sprightly Sylvia trips along the green. Pope.

Sprigtail <Xpage=1393>

Sprig"tail` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) (a) The pintail duck; -- called also sprig , and spreet-tail . [Local, U.S.] (b) The sharp-tailed grouse. [Local, U.S.]

Spring <Xpage=1393>

Spring (?) , v. i. [ imp. Sprang (?) or Sprung (<?/) ; p. p. Sprung ; p. pr. & vb. n. Springing .] [AS. springan ; akin to D. & G. springen , OS. & OHG. springan , Icel. & Sw. springa , Dan. springe ; cf. Gr. <?/ to hasten. Cf. Springe , Sprinkle .]

1. To leap; to bound; to jump.

The mountain stag that springs From height to height, and bounds along the plains. Philips.

2. To issue with speed and violence; to move with activity; to dart; to shoot.

And sudden light Sprung through the vaulted roof. Dryden.

3. To start or rise suddenly, as from a covert.

Watchful as fowlers when their game will spring . Otway.

4. To fly back; as, a bow, when bent, springs back by its elastic power .

5. To bend from a straight direction or plane surface; to become warped; as, a piece of timber, or a plank, sometimes springs in seasoning .

6. To shoot up, out, or forth; to come to the light; to begin to appear; to emerge; as a plant from its seed, as streams from their source, and the like; -often followed by up , forth , or out .

Till well nigh the day began to spring . Chaucer.

To satisfy the desolate and waste ground, and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth. Job xxxviii. 27.

Do not blast my springing hopes. Rowe.

O, spring to light; auspicious Babe, be born. Pope.

7. To issue or proceed, as from a parent or ancestor; to result, as from a cause, motive, reason, or principle.

[They found] new hope to spring Out of despair, joy, but with fear yet linked. Milton.

8. To grow; to prosper.

What makes all this, but Jupiter the king, At whose command we perish, and we spring ? Dryden.

To spring at , to leap toward; to attempt to reach by a leap. -- To spring forth , to leap out; to rush out. -- To spring in , to rush in; to enter with a leap or in haste. -- To spring on &or; upon , to leap on; to rush on with haste or violence; to assault.

Spring <Xpage=1393>

Spring (?) , v. t. 1. To cause to spring up; to start or rouse, as game; to cause to rise from the earth, or from a covert; as, to spring a pheasant .

2. To produce or disclose suddenly or unexpectedly. <-- to spring a surprise on s.o. -->

She starts, and leaves her bed, amd springs a light. Dryden.

The friends to the cause sprang a new project. Swift.

3. To cause to explode; as, to spring a mine .

4. To crack or split; to bend or strain so as to weaken; as, to spring a mast or a yard .

5. To cause to close suddenly, as the parts of a trap operated by a spring; as, to spring a trap .

6. To bend by force, as something stiff or strong; to force or put by bending, as a beam into its sockets, and allowing it to straighten when in place; -- often with in , out , etc.; as, to spring in a slat or a bar .

7. To pass over by leaping; as, to spring a fence .

To spring a butt (Naut.) , to loosen the end of a plank in a ship's bottom. -- To spring a leak (Naut.) , to begin to leak. -- To spring an arch (Arch.) , to build an arch; -- a common term among masons; as, to spring an arcg over a lintel . -- To spring a rattle , to cause a rattle to sound. See Watchman's rattle , under Watchman . -- To spring the luff (Naut.) , to ease the helm, and sail nearer to the wind than before; -- said of a vessel. Mar. Dict. -- To spring a mast &or; spar (Naut.) , to strain it so that it is unserviceable.

Spring <Xpage=1393>

Spring , n. [AS. spring a fountain, a leap. See Spring , v. i. ] 1. A leap; a bound; a jump.

The prisoner, with a spring , from prison broke. Dryden.

2. A flying back; the resilience of a body recovering its former state by elasticity; as, the spring of a bow .

3. Elastic power or force.

Heavens! what a spring was in his arm! Dryden.

4. An elastic body of any kind, as steel, India rubber, tough wood, or compressed air, used for various mechanical purposes, as receiving and imparting power, diminishing concussion, regulating motion, measuring weight or other force.

&hand; The principal varieties of springs used in mechanisms are the spiral spring (Fig. a ), the coil spring (Fig. b ), the elliptic spring (Fig. c ), the half-elliptic spring (Fig. d ), the volute spring , the India-rubber spring , the atmospheric spring , etc.

5. Any source of supply; especially, the source from which a stream proceeds; as issue of water from the earth; a natural fountain. "All my springs are in thee." Ps. lxxxvii. 7. "A secret spring of spiritual joy." Bentley. "The sacred spring whence and honor streams."

Sir J. Davies.

6. Any active power; that by which action, or motion, is produced or propagated; cause; origin; motive.

Our author shuns by vulgar springs to move The hero's glory, or the virgin's love. Pope.

7. That which springs, or is originated, from a source; as: (a) A race; lineage. [Obs.] Chapman. (b) A youth; a springal . [Obs.] Spenser. (c) A shoot; a plant; a young tree; also, a grove of trees; woodland . [Obs.] Spenser. Milton.

8. That which causes one to spring; specifically, a lively tune. [Obs.]

Beau. & Fl.

9. The season of the year when plants begin to vegetate and grow; the vernal season, usually comprehending the months of March, April, and May, in the middle latitudes north of the equator. "The green lap of the new-come spring ."

Shak.

&hand; Spring of the astronomical year begins with the vernal equinox, about March 21st, and ends with the summer solstice, about June 21st.

10. The time of growth and progress; early portion; first stage. "The spring of the day."

1 Sam. ix. 26.

O how this spring of love resembleth The uncertain glory of an April day. Shak.

11. (Naut.) (a) A crack or fissure in a mast or yard, running obliquely or transversely. (b) A line led from a vessel's quarter to her cable so that by tightening or slacking it she can be made to lie in any desired position; a line led diagonally from the bow or stern of a vessel to some point upon the wharf to which she is moored.

Air spring , Boiling spring , etc. See under Air , Boiling , etc. -- Spring back (Bookbinding) , a back with a curved piece of thin sheet iron or of stiff pasteboard fastened to the inside, the effect of which is to make the leaves of a book thus bound (as a ledger or other account or blank book) spring up and lie flat. -- Spring balance , a contrivance for measuring weight or force by the elasticity of a spiral spring of steel. -- Spring beam , a beam that supports the side of a paddle box. See Paddle beam , under Paddle , n. -- Spring beauty . (a) (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Claytonia , delicate herbs with somewhat fleshy leaves and pretty blossoms, appearing in springtime . (b) (Zo\'94l.) A small, elegant American butterfly ( Erora l\'91ta ) which appears in spring. The hind wings of the male are brown, bordered with deep blue; those of the female are mostly blue. -- Spring bed , a mattress, under bed, or bed bottom, in which springs, as of metal, are employed to give the required elasticity. -- Spring beetle (Zo\'94l.) , a snapping beetle; an elater. -- Spring box , the box or barrel in a watch, or other piece of mechanism, in which the spring is contained. -- Spring fly (Zo\'94l.) , a caddice fly; -- so called because it appears in the spring. -- Spring grass (Bot.) , a vernal grass. See under Vernal . -- Spring gun , a firearm disharged by a spring, when this is trodden upon or is otherwise moved. -- Spring hook (Locomotive Engines) , one of the hooks which fix the driving-wheel spring to the frame. -- Spring latch , a latch that fastens with a spring. <page="1394"> Page 1394 -- Spring lock , a lock that fastens with a spring. -- Spring mattress , a spring bed. -- Spring of an arch (Arch.) See Springing line of an arch , under Springing . -- Spring of pork , the lower part of a fore quarter, which is divided from the neck, and has the leg and foot without the shoulder. [Obs.] Nares.

Sir, pray hand the spring of pork to me. Gayton.

-- Spring pin (Locomotive Engines) , an iron rod fitted between the springs and the axle boxes, to sustain and regulate the pressure on the axles. -- Spring rye , a kind of rye sown in the spring; -- in distinction from winter rye , sown in autumn. -- Spring stay (Naut.) , a preventer stay, to assist the regular one. R. H. Dana, Jr. -- Spring tide , the tide which happens at, or soon after, the new and the full moon, and which rises higher than common tides. See Tide . -- Spring wagon , a wagon in which springs are interposed between the body and the axles to form elastic supports. -- Spring wheat , any kind of wheat sown in the spring; -- in distinction from winter wheat , which is sown in autumn.