Emily Dickinson Lexicon

speech, n. [OE, see speak, v.]

1. Verbal expression.
2. Verbal utterance; articulation of sounds.
3. Individual manner of speaking; word usage.
4. Mode of expression.
5. Expressions of ideas.

speechless, adj. [see speech, n.]

1. Dumb; lacking the faculty of verbal expression.
2. Silent.

speechless, adv. [see speech, n.]

Silently; without verbal expression.

speed (sped), v. [OE 'to prosper, succeed'.] (webplay: mightiest).

1. Leave; hurry away; go with haste; move quickly.
2. Succeed; accomplish; carry out; provide one with something.
3. Discharge; give speed; provide motion.

speedily, adv. [see speed, v.]

Quickly; hastily; hurriedly; rapidly.

spell, n. [OE 'gossip, recital, tale'.] (webplay: syllable, tell, word).

1. Mysterious power; fascinating charm; Magically powerful formula of words.
2. Way of spelling a word.

spell (-ed), v. [OE 'talk, discourse'.] (webplay: cant, God, know, orthography, place, tell, time, word).

1. Enunciate or write letter by letter; form (a word).
2. Utter; declare; state; recite; repeat; [fig.] understand by study.

spend (-ing, -s, spent), v. [OE < L. expenděre. weigh out, pay out, dispense.] (webplay: fatigue, pass, waste, wealth).

1. Pay; expend (money, goods, etc.).
2. Exhaust; consume; deplete; use up; wear out; lose through expenditure.
3. Use; employ; utilize; make use of.
4. Occupy; pass (time).

sperm, n. [OFr < L. < Gk. 'to sow'.]

Spermaceti; a white, fatty, waxlike substance taken from the oil in the head of a sperm whale or related cetacean, consisting principally of cetyl palmitate and other esters of fatty acids, and used in making ointments, cosmetics, and candles.

sphere (-s), n. [OFr < Gk. 'ball'.] (webplay: earth, sun).

1. Globe; ball; orb; round form.
2. [Fig.] celestial body; star; planet.
3. Domain; area of activity; home.
4. Standard of comparison; difference in rank, intelligence, etc.