Sphinx baboon (Zoöl.), a large West African baboon (Cynocephalus
sphinx), often kept in menageries. -- Sphinx moth. (Zoöl.) Same as
Sphinx, 3.
Sphrag"ide (?), n.[L. sphragis, -idis, Lemnian earth, fr. Gr.
&?;&?;&?;, &?;&?;&?;, a seal; -- so called because sold in sealed
packets.] (Min.) Lemnian earth.
Sphra*gis"tics (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?; of or for sealing, fr.
&?;&?;&?; a seal.] The science of seals, their history, age,
distinctions, etc., esp. as verifying the age and genuiness of
documents.
||Sphri*go"sis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;&?;&?; to be full of strength.]
||(Bot.) A condition of vegetation in which there is too abundant
||growth of the stem and leaves, accompanied by deficiency of flowers
||and fruit.
Sphyg"mic (?), a. [Gr. &?;&?;&?; the pulse.] (Physiol.) Of or
pertaining to the pulse.
Sphyg"mo*gram (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?; pulse + -gram.] (Physiol.) A
tracing, called a pulse tracing, consisting of a series of curves
corresponding with the beats of the heart, obtained by the application
of the sphygmograph.
Sphyg"mo*graph (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?; the pulse + -graph.] (Physiol.)
An instrument which, when applied over an artery, indicates graphically
the movements or character of the pulse. See Sphygmogram.
Sphyg`mo*graph"ic (?), a. (Phusiol.) Relating to, or produced by, a
sphygmograph; as, a sphygmographic tracing.
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Sphyg*mom"e*ter (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?; pulse + -meter.] (Physiol.)
An instrument for measuring the strength of the pulse beat; a
sphygmograph.
Sphyg"mo*phone (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?; the pulse + &?;&?;&?; sound.]
(Physiol.) An electrical instrument for determining by the ear the
rhythm of the pulse of a person at a distance.
Sphyg"mo*scope (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?; the pulse + -scope.] (Physiol.)
Same as Sphygmograph.
Sphy*ræ"noid (?), a.[L. sphyraena a kind of sea fish (Gr. sfy`raina) +
- oid.] (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Sphyrænidæ, a family of marine
fishes including the barracudas.
Spi"al (?), n. A spy; a scout. [Obs.] Bacon.
||Spi"ca (?), n.; pl. Spicæ (#). [L., an ear, as of corn.] 1. (Med.) A
||kind of bandage passing, by successive turns and crosses, from an
||extremity to the trunk; -- so called from its resemblance to a spike
||of a barley.
2. (Astron.) A star of the first magnitude situated in the
constellation Virgo.
{ Spi"cate (?), Spi"ca*ted (?), } a. [L. spicatus, p. p. of spicare
furnish with spikes, or ears, fr. spica a spike, or ear.] (Bot.) Having
the form of a spike, or ear; arranged in a spike or spikes. Lee.
||Spic*ca"to (?), a. [It., p. p. of spicare to detach, to separate.]
||(Mus.) Detached; separated; -- a term indicating that every note is
||to be performed in a distinct and pointed manner.
Spice (?), n. [OE. spice, spece, spice, species, OF. espice, espece, F.
épice spice, espèce species, fr. L. species particular sort or kind, a
species, a sight, appearance, show, LL., spices, drugs, etc., of the
same sort, fr. L. specere to look. See Spy, and cf. Species.] 1.
Species; kind. [Obs.]
The spices of penance ben three.
Chaucer.
Abstain you from all evil spice.
Wyclif (1. Thess,v. 22).
Justice, although it be but one entire virtue, yet is described in
two kinds of spices. The one is named justice distributive, the
other is called commutative.
Sir T. Elyot.
2. A vegetable production of many kinds, fragrant or aromatic and
pungent to the taste, as pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, allspice,
ginger, cloves, etc., which are used in cookery and to flavor sauces,
pickles, etc.
Hast thou aught in thy purse [bag] any hot spices?
Piers Plowman.
3. Figuratively, that which enriches or alters the quality of a thing
in a small degree, as spice alters the taste of food; that which gives
zest or pungency; a slight flavoring; a relish; hence, a small quantity
or admixture; a sprinkling; as, a spice of mischief.
So much of the will, with a spice of the willful.
Coleridge.
Spice, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spiced (?); p. p. & vb. n. Spicing (?).] 1.
To season with spice, or as with spice; to mix aromatic or pungent
substances with; to flavor; to season; as, to spice wine; to spice
one's words with wit.
She 'll receive thee, but will spice thy bread With flowery
poisons.
Chapman.