SPIN, spin, _v.t._ to draw out and twist into threads: to draw out a thread
as spiders do: to draw out tediously: to cause to whirl rapidly: to fish
with a swivel or spoon-bait: to reject at an examination.--_v.i._ to
practise the art or trade of spinning, to perform the act of spinning: to
issue in a small or thread-like current: to whirl, to go fast:--_pr.p._
spin'ning; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ spun.--_n._ a rapid revolving motion, a
spurt at high speed.--_ns._ SPIN'NER, one who spins: (_Shak._) a spider: a
spinneret;
SPIN'NERET, an organ, or one of the organs, with which insects form their
webs.--_adj._ SPINNER'ULAR.--_ns._ SPIN'NERULE, one of the tubules of a
spinneret; SPIN'NERY, a spinning-mill.--_adj._ SPIN'NING, used in
spinning.--_ns._ SPIN'NING-HOUSE, a place of correction where lewd and
incorrigible women were made to spin; SPIN'NING-JENN'Y, a machine by which
a number of threads can be spun at the same time; SPIN'NING-MILL, a factory
where thread is spun; SPIN'NING-WHEEL, a machine for spinning yarn,
consisting of a wheel driven by the hand or by a treadle, which drives one
or two spindles.--SPIN A YARN, to tell a long story; SPIN OUT, to prolong
tediously. [A.S. _spinnan_; Ger. _spinnen_.]
SPINACH, SPINAGE, spin'[=a]j, _n._ an esculent vegetable whose thick
succulent young leaves are boiled and seasoned, or fried with butter,
forming a wholesome dish.--_adj._ SPIN[=A]'CEOUS. [It. _spinace_--Low L.
_spin[=a]ceus_--_spina_, a thorn.]
SPINAL, sp[=i]n'al, _adj._ pertaining to the spine or backbone.--_n._
SP[=I]'NA, a spine, the backbone: one of the quills of a spinet: a barrier
dividing the Roman hippodrome longitudinally.--_adj._ SPIN'[=A]TE, covered
with spines or spine-like processes.--SPINAL COLUMN, the backbone; SPINAL
CORD, MARROW, the main neural axis of every vertebrate.
SPINDLE, spin'dl, _n._ the pin from which the thread is twisted: a pin on
which anything turns: the fusee of a watch: anything very slender.--_v.i._
to grow long and slender.--_adjs._ SPIN'DLE-LEGGED, -SHANKED, having long
slender legs, like spindles.--_ns.pl._ SPIN'DLE-LEGS, -SHANKS, long slim
legs--hence an over-long and slender person.--_adj._ SPIN'DLE-SHAPED,
shaped like a spindle: thickest in the middle and tapering to both
ends.--_ns._ SPIN'DLE-SHELL, a spindle-shaped shell; SPIN'DLE-TREE, a shrub
whose hard-grained wood was formerly used for making musical instruments
and for spindles, and is now for skewers, &c.; SPIN'DLING, a person or
thing too long and slender: a slender shoot.--_adj._ long and
slender.--_adj._ SPIN'DLY, disproportionally long and slender. [A.S.
_spinl_--_spinnan_, to spin; Ger. _spindel_.]
SPINDRIFT, spin'drift, _n._ the spray blown from the crests of waves.--Also
SPOON'DRIFT.
SPINE, sp[=i]n, _n._ a thorn: a thin, pointed spike, esp. in fishes: the
backbone of an animal: any ridge extending lengthways: the heart-wood of
trees.--_adjs._ SPINED, having spines; SPINE'LESS, having no spine, weak;
SPINES'CENT, somewhat spiny; SP[=I]NIF EROUS, bearing spines or thorns;
SP[=I]'NIFORM, shaped like a spine or thorn; SP[=I]NIG'EROUS, bearing
spines, as a hedgehog; SP[=I]'NIGRADE, moving by means of spines, as an
echinoderm.--_n._ SP[=I]'NINESS.--_adjs._ SP[=I]NIREC'TOR, erecting the
spine of the muscles of the back; SP[=I]NISPIR'ULAR, spiny and somewhat
spiral.--_ns._ SP[=I]N[=I]'TIS, inflammation of the spinal cord in the
horse, &c; SPIN'NEY, SPIN'NY, a small thicket with underwood.--_adjs._
SP[=I]'NOSE, SP[=I]'NOUS, full of spines: thorny.--_ns._ SPINOS'ITY,
thorniness; SPIN'[=U]LA, SPIN'[=U]LE, a minute spine.--_adjs._
SPIN'[=U]L[=A]TE, SPIN'[=U]L[=O]SE, SPIN'[=U]LOUS, covered with spinules or
minute spines; SP[=I]'NY, full of spines: thorny: troublesome: perplexed.
[O. Fr. _espine_ (Fr. _épine_)--L. _spina_, a thorn.]
SPINEL, spin'el, or spi-nel', _n._ a mineral composed chiefly of magnesia
and alumina, and crystallising in octahedra--_ruby_, or _magnesia spinel_,
reddish; _pleonaste_, dark green to black; _picotite_, or _chrome spinel_,
black; _gahnite_, or _zinc spinel_, green to brown; _hercynite_, or _iron
spinel_, black. [Low L. _spinellus_, dim. of _spina_, a thorn.]
SPINET, spin'et, _n._ (_mus._) an old-fashioned keyed instrument like the
harpsichord. [O. Fr. _espinette_--It. _spinetta_, dim. of _spina_--L.
_spina_, a thorn.]
SPINIFEX, spin'i-feks, _n._ porcupine-grass, a very coarse, hard, and spiny
grass which grows in tussocks, and in some interior parts of Australia
covers hundreds of square miles together.
SPINK, spingk, _n._ the chaffinch.
SPINK, spingk, _n._ the primrose, the lady's-smock.
SPINNAKER, spin'[=a]-k[.e]r, _n._ a jib-headed sail sometimes carried on
the side opposite the mainsail by racing yachts. [Prob. formed from
_spin_.]
SPINNEY. See under SPINE.
SPINODE, sp[=i]'n[=o]d, _n._ (_geom._) a cusp or stationary point of a
curve.
SPINOZISM, spi-n[=o]z'izm, _n._ the doctrine of Benedict _Spinoza_
(1632-1677), who taught that God is not only the creator, but also the
original matter of the universe, which consists of and is a development of
Himself.--_n._ SPIN[=O]'ZIST, a follower of Spinoza.--_adj._
SPIN[=O]ZIS'TIC.
SPINSTER, spin'st[.e]r, _n._ an unmarried female: an old maid: (_obs._) a
woman of loose character, fit for the spinning-house.--_ns._ SPIN'STERDOM,
the world of old maids collectively; SPIN'STERHOOD, SPIN'STERSHIP, the
state of being a spinster; SPIN'STRESS, one who spins. [Orig. one who
_spins_.]
SPINTEXT, spin'tekst, _n._ a lengthy preacher.
SPIRACLE, spir'a-kl, _n._ a breathing-hole: any minute passage.--_adjs._
SPIRAC'ULAR; SPIRAC'ULATE; SPIRACULIF'EROUS; SPIRAC'ULIFORM.--_n._
SPIRAC'ULUM:--_pl._ SPIRAC'ULA. [L. _spiraculum_, formed as a double dim.
from _spir[=a]re_, to breathe.]
SPIRÆA, sp[=i]-r[=e]'a, _n._ a genus of plants of the natural order
_Rosaceæ_, containing many species of herbaceous plants and low deciduous
shrubs--_Dropwort_, _Meadow-sweet_, &c. [L.,--Gr. _speiraia_,
meadow-sweet--_speira_, a coil.]
SPIRAL, sp[=i]'ral, _adj._ pertaining to, or like, a spire: winding like
the thread of a screw.--_n._ a spiral line: a curve which continually
recedes from a centre about which it revolves: a screw.--_n._
SPIRAL'ITY.--_adv._ SP[=I]'RALLY, in a spiral form or direction.--_adj._
SPIR[=A]'TED, spiral, whorled.
SPIRANT, sp[=i]'rant, _n._ a consonant which is fricative or
continuable--opp. to explosive, esp. _v_ and _f_, _th_, _dh_; by others
made to include the sibilants, and the semi-vowels _w_ and _y_.
SPIRANTHY, sp[=i]-ranth'i, _n._ the spiral distortion sometimes occurring
in the parts of a flower.--_adj._ SPIRANTH'IC. [Gr. _speira_, a spire,
_anthos_, a flower.]
SPIRASTER, sp[=i]-ras't[.e]r, _n._ in sponges, a short curved axial
rod-like spicule with thick spines. [Gr. _speira_, spire, _ast[=e]r_,
star.]
SPIRATION, sp[=i]-r[=a]'shun, _n._ a breathing: (_theol._) the procession
of the Holy Ghost.
SPIRE, sp[=i]r, _n._ a winding line like the threads of a screw: a curl: a
wreath: a tapering body, a slender stalk, a shoot or sprout: any one of
various tall grasses, rushes, or sedges--the _Marram_, _Reed canary-grass_,
&c.: the top or summit of anything: a very acute pyramidal roof in common
use over the towers of churches.--_v.i._ to sprout, shoot up.--_v.t._ to
furnish with a spire.--_adjs._ SP[=I]RED, having a spire; SPIR'ULATE,
spiral in form or arrangement; SP[=I]'RY, of a spiral form: wreathed:
tapering like a spire or a pyramid: abounding in spires. [Fr.,--L. _spira_;
Gr. _speira_, anything wound round or upon a thing; akin to _eirein_, to
fasten together in rows.]
SPIRIC, sp[=i]'rik, _adj._ like a tore or anchor-ring.--_n._ a curve, the
plane section of a tore.--_n._ SPIR'ICLE, one of those threads in the hairs
on the surface of certain seeds and achenes which uncoil when wet.
SPIRIFER, spir'i-f[.e]r, _n._ a brachiopod of the Carboniferous
system.--_adjs._ SP[=I]RIF'ERINE; SP[=I]RIF'EROID; SP[=I]RIF'EROUS. [L.
_spira_, a spire, _ferre_, to bear.]
SPIRILLUM, sp[=i]-ril'um, _n._ a genus of bacteria with cylindrical
spirally twisted cells:--_pl._ SPIRILL'A.
SPIRIT, spir'it, _n._ vital force: the soul: a ghost: mental disposition:
enthusiasm, animation, courage, mettle: real meaning: essence, chief
quality: a very lively person: any volatile, inflammable liquid obtained by
distillation, as brandy: (_pl._) intellectual activity: liveliness: persons
with particular qualities of mind: mental excitement: spirituous
liquors.--_v.t._ to inspirit, encourage, cheer: to convey away secretly, to
kidnap.--_ns._ SPIR'IT-BLUE, an aniline blue obtained from coal-tar;
SPIR'IT-DUCK, the buffle-head, from its rapid diving.--_adj._ SPIR'ITED,
full of spirit, life, or fire: animated.--_adv._ SPIR'ITEDLY.--_n._
SPIR'ITEDNESS.--_adj._ SPIR'ITFUL.--_n._ SPIR'ITING, the office of a spirit
or sprite; SPIR'ITISM=_Spiritualism_; SPIR'ITIST=_Spiritualist_;
SPIR'IT-LAMP, a lamp in which alcohol is burned, generally used for
heating.--_adj._ SPIR'ITLESS, without spirit, cheerfulness, or courage:
dejected: dead.--_adv._ SPIR'ITLESSLY.--_ns._ SPIR'ITLESSNESS, the state of
being spiritless: want of animation or energy; SPIR'IT-LEV'EL, in
surveying, a cylindrical glass tube, slightly convex on one side, and so
nearly filled with alcohol that only a small bubble of air remains
inside--from the position of the bubble the amount of variation from
perfect levelness is determined.--_adj._ SPIR'ITOUS, of the nature of
spirit, pure: ardent, spirituous.--_ns._ SPIR'ITOUSNESS; SPIR'IT-RAP'PER,
one to whom spirits convey intelligence by raps or knocks;
SPIR'IT-RAP'PING.--_adjs._ SPIR'IT-STIR'RING, rousing the spirit;
SPIR'IT[=U]AL, consisting of spirit: having the nature of a spirit:
immaterial: relating to the mind: intellectual: pertaining to the soul:
holy: divine: relating to sacred things: not lay or temporal.--_n._
SPIRITUALIS[=A]'TION.--_v.t._ SPIR'IT[=U]ALISE, to make spiritual: to imbue
with spirituality: to refine: to free from sensuality: to give a spiritual
meaning to.--_ns._ SPIR'ITUALISER; SPIR'ITUALISM, a being spiritual: the
philosophical doctrine that nothing is real but soul or spirit: the
doctrine that spirit has a real existence apart from matter: the name
applied to a varied series of abnormal phenomena purporting to be for the
most part caused by spiritual beings acting upon specially sensitive
persons or mediums; SPIR'IT[=U]ALIST, one who has a regard only to
spiritual things: one who holds the doctrine of spiritualism or
spiritism.--_adj._ SPIRIT[=U]ALIST'IC, relating to, or connected with,
spiritualism.--_n._ SPIRIT[=U]AL'ITY, state of being spiritual: essence
distinct from matter.--_adv._ SPIR'IT[=U]ALLY.--_ns._
SPIR'IT[=U]AL-MIND'EDNESS, the state of having holy affections;
SPIR'IT[=U]ALNESS, the state or quality of being spiritual.--_adj._
SPI'RIT[=U]ELLE, showing great grace and delicacy.--_n._ SPIRIT[=U]OS'ITY,
spirituous character: immateriality.--_advs._ SPIRIT-U[=O]'SO,
SPIRIT[=O]'SO (_mus._), with spirit or animation.--_adj._ SPIR'IT[=U]OUS,
possessing the qualities of spirit: containing much alcohol:
volatile.--_ns._ SPIR'IT[=U]OUSNESS, the quality of being spirituous:
stimulating quality: ardour: activity; SPIR'ITUS, a breathing, an aspirate:
any spirituous preparation; SPIR'ITWORLD, the world of disembodied
spirits.--_adj._ SPIR'ITY (_Scot._), full of spirit, spirited.--SPIRIT OF
WINE, alcohol; SPIRITUAL COURT, an ecclesiastical court; SPIRITUS ASPER, a
rough breathing; SPIRITUS LENIS, a soft or smooth breathing.--ANIMAL
SPIRITS, constitutional liveliness of spirits; HOLY SPIRIT (see under
HOLY); THE SPIRIT, the Holy Spirit: the human spirit under the influence of
the Holy Spirit. [L. _spiritus_, a breath--_spir[=a]re_, to breathe.]
SPIRKET, spir'ket, _n._ a space forward and aft between
floor-timbers.--_n._ SPIR'KETTING, quick-work.
SPIROMETER, sp[=i]-rom'e-t[.e]r, _n._ an instrument for measuring the
capacity of the lungs, or the quantity of air that one can breathe out
after a forced inspiration.--_n._ SP[=I]'ROGRAPH, an instrument for marking
down the breathing movement.--_adj._ SP[=I]ROMET'RIC.--_ns._
SP[=I]ROM'ETRY; SP[=I]'ROPHORE, an apparatus for inducing artificial
respiration by means of an air-tight case for the body and an air-pump;
SP[=I]ROPH'YTON, a genus of fossil algæ found in the Devonian in New York
state; SP[=I]ROZ[=O]'OID, the filamentous defensive zooid of certain
hydroids, coiled spirally when not in action. [L. _spir[=a]re_, to breathe,
Gr. _metron_, a measure.]
SPIRT, sp[.e]rt. Same as SPURT.
SPIRTLE=_Spurtle_ (q.v.).
SPIRULA, spir'[=u]-la, _n._ a genus of sepioid cuttle-fishes. [L.
_sp[=i]ra_, a spire.]
SPIRULATE, SPIRY. See under SPIRE.
SPISSATED, spis'[=a]-ted, _adj._ inspissated, thickened.--_n._
SPISS'IT[=U]DE, density. [L. _spiss[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_, thicken.]
SPIT, spit, _n._ an iron prong on which meat is roasted: a long piece of
land or a narrow shoal running into the sea: a wire or spindle holding a
spool in a shuttle.--_v.t._ to pierce with a spit: to string on a stick and
hang up to dry:--_pr.p._ spit'ting; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ spit'ted.--_p.adj._
SPIT'TED, put upon a spit, impaled: shot out to a point.--_n._ SPIT'TER,
one who puts meat on a spit: a young deer whose antlers have shot out but
not branched. [A.S. _spitu_; Dut. _spit_, Ger. _spitze_.]
SPIT, spit, _v.t._ to throw out from the mouth: to eject with
violence.--_v.i._ to throw out saliva from the mouth: to fall in scattered
drops, as rain at the beginning of a shower: to make a spitting sound, like
an angry cat:--_pr.p._ spit'ting; _pa.t._ spit, spat; _pa.p._ spit.--_n._
saliva, spume: a light fall of rain or snow.--_ns._ SPIT'-BOX, a spittoon;
SPIT'-CURL (_coll._), a soap-lock; SPIT'FIRE, a hot-tempered person;
SPIT'POISON, a venomous calumniator.--_pa.p._ SPIT'TED (_B._), thrown out
from the mouth.--_ns._ SPIT'TER, one who spits; SPIT'TING, the act of one
who or that which spits: an appearance on the surface of melted silver or
platinum allowed to cool slowly, jets of oxygen forming small cones and
sometimes throwing up drops of molten metal--also called SPROUT'ING;
SPIT'TLE, the moist matter thrown from the mouth: saliva; SPITTOON', a
vessel for the convenience of such smokers as spit. [A.S. _spittan_, also
_sp['æ]tan_; Ice. _spýta_, Ger. _spützen_.]
SPITAL, spit'al, _n._ Same as HOSPITAL.
SPITCH-COCK, spich'-kok, _n._ an eel split and broiled.--_v.t._ to split
and broil, as an eel. [_Spatch-cock_.]
SPITE, sp[=i]t, _n._ grudge: lasting ill-will: hatred.--_v.t._ to vex: to
thwart: to hate.--_adj._ SPITE'FUL, full of spite: desirous to vex or
injure: malignant.--_adv._ SPITE'FULLY.--_n._ SPITE'FULNESS.--IN SPITE OF,
in opposition to all efforts of, in defiance of, in contempt of. [Short for
despite.]