Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SPHRAG'ID, n.

A species of ocherous clay which falls to pieces in water with the emission of many bubbles; called also earth of Lemnos.

SPHRA-GIS'TICS, n. [Gr. σφραγις, a seal.]

The science of seals, their history, age, distinctions; a branch of diplomatics. Brande.

SPHYG-MOM'E-TER, n. [Gr. σφυγμος, pulse, and μετρον.]

An instrument for exposing to the eye the action of the pulse, the strength of which it measures.

SPI'AL, n.

A spy; a scout. [Not in use.] – Bacon.

SPI'CATE, a. [L. spicatus, from spica, a spike.]

Having a spike or ear. – Lee.

SPICE, n. [Fr. epice; It. spezie; Sp. especia.]

1. A vegetable production, fragrant or aromatic to the smell and pungent to the taste; used in sauces and in cookery.
2. A small quantity; something that enriches or alters the quality of thing in a small degree, as spice alters the taste of a thing.
3. A sample. [Fr. espèce.]

SPICE, v.t.

1. To season with spice; to mix aromatic substances with; as, to spice wine.
2. To tincture; as, the spiced Indian air. – Shak.
3. To render nice; to season with scruples. – Chaucer.

SPIC'ED, pp.

Seasoned with spice.

SPIC'ER, n.

1. One that seasons with spice.
2. One that deals in spice. – Camden.

SPICE'RY, n. [Fr. epicerie.]

1. Spices in general; fragrant and aromatic vegetable substances used in seasoning.
2. A repository of spices. Addison.

SPI'CI-NESS, n.

Quality of being spicy.

SPIC'ING, ppr.

Seasoning with spice.

SPICK-AND-SPAN, a. [Spick and span.]

Bright; shining; as, a garment spick and span new, or span-new. Spick is from the root of the It. spicco, brightness; spiccare, to shine; spiccar le parole, to speak distinctly; spicciare, to rush out, the radical sense of which is to shoot or dart. Span is probably from the root of spangle, Gr. φεγγω, G. spiegel, a mirror.

SPICK'NEL, or SPIG'NEL, n.

The herb maldroony or bear-wort, (Dict.) the Meum Athamanticum, which, when eaten by cows, gives the same flavor to their milk and butter, as that of schab-ziege cheese.

SPI-COS'I-TY, n. [L. spica.]

The state of having or being full of ears, like corn. [Not in use.] – Dict.

SPIC'U-LAR, a. [L. spiculum, a dart.]

Resembling a dart; having sharp points.

SPIC'U-LATE, v.t. [L. spiculo, to sharpen, from spiculum, a dart, from spica, or its root. See Spike.]

To sharpen to a point. – Mason.

SPI'CY, a. [from spice.]

1. Producing spice; abounding with spices; as, the spicy shore of Arabia.
2. Having the qualities of spice; fragrant; aromatic; as, spicy plants. Led by new stars and borne by spicy gales. – Pope.

SPI'DER, n. [I know not from what source this word is derived.]

1. The common name of the animals of the family Araneids, of the class Arachnids, some of which are remarkable for spinning webs for taking their prey and forming a convenient habitation, and for the deposit of their food. The spider's touch, how exquisitely fine! – Pope.
2. A kitchen utensil, somewhat resembling a spider.
3. A trevet to support vessels over a fire.

SPI'DER-CATCH-ER, n.

A bird so called.

SPI'DER-LIKE, a.

Resembling a spider. – Shak.

SPI'DER-WORT, n.

A plant of the genus Anthericom, or of the genus Tradescantia.

SPIG'NEL, n. [See SPICKNEL.]

SPIG'OT, n. [W. yspigawd, from yspig, Eng. spike; from pig, Eng. pike; Dan. spiger, a nail. See Spike and Pike.]

A pin or peg used to stop a faucet, or to stop a small hole in a cask of liquor. – Swift.

SPIKE, n.¹ [W. yspig, supra; D. spyk, spyker; G. speiche; Dan. spiger, Sw. spik, a nail; L. spica, an ear of corn. It signifies a shoot or point. Class Bg. See Pike.]

1. A large nail; always in America applied to a nail or pin of metal. A similar thing made of wood is called a peg or pin. In England, it is sometimes used for a sharp point of wood.
2. An ear of corn or grain. It is applied to the ears of maiz.
3. A shoot. – Addison.
4. [L. spica.] In botany, a species of inflorescence, in which sessile flowers are alternate on a common simple peduncle, as lavender, &c. – Martyn.