Sphyrænoid Sphy·ræ"noid adjective [ Latin sphyraena a kind of sea fish (Gr. sfy`raina ) + - oid .] (Zoology) Of or pertaining to the Sphyrænidæ , a family of marine fishes including the barracudas.

Sphærenchyma Sphæ·ren"chy·ma noun [ New Latin , from Greek ......... sphere + -enchyma as in parenchima .] (Botany) Vegetable tissue composed of thin-walled rounded cells, -- a modification of parenchyma.

Sphæridium Sphæ·rid"i·um noun ; plural Sphæridia . [ New Latin , from Greek ......... a sphere.] (Zoology) A peculiar sense organ found upon the exterior of most kinds of sea urchins, and consisting of an oval or sherical head surmounting a short pedicel. It is generally supposed to be an olfactory organ.

Sphærospore Sphæ"ro·spore noun [ Greek ............ sphere + English spore .] (Botany) One of the nonsexual spores found in red algæ; a tetraspore.

Sphærulite Sphær"u·lite noun (Min.) Same as Spherulite .

Spial Spi"al noun A spy; a scout. [ Obsolete] Bacon.

Spica Spi"ca noun ; plural Spicæ . [ Latin , an ear, as of corn.] 1. (Medicine) 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.

Spicate, Spicated Spi"cate, Spi"ca·ted adjective [ Latin spicatus , past participle of spicare furnish with spikes, or ears, from spica a spike, or ear.] (Botany) Having the form of a spike, or ear; arranged in a spike or spikes. Lee.

Spiccato Spic·ca"to adjective [ Italian , past participle 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 Spice noun [ Middle English spice , spece , spice, species, Old French espice , espece , French épice spice, espèce species, from Latin species particular sort or kind, a species, a sight, appearance, show, Late Latin , spices, drugs, etc., of the same sort, from Latin specere to look. See Spy , and confer Species .] 1. Species; kind. [ Obsolete]

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 Spice transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Spiced ; past participle & verbal noun 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.

2. To fill or impregnate with the odor of spices.

In the spiced Indian air, by night.

Shak.

3. To render nice or dainty; hence, to render scrupulous. [ Obsolete] "A spiced conscience." Chaucer.

Spicebush Spice"bush` noun (Botany) Spicewood.

Spicenut Spice"nut` A small crisp cake, highly spiced.

Spicer Spi"cer noun [ Confer Old French espicier , French épicier .] 1. One who seasons with spice.

2. One who deals in spice. [ Obsolete] Piers Plowman.

Spicery Spi"cer·y noun [ Old French espicerie , French épicerie .] 1. Spices, in general. Chaucer.

2. A repository of spices. Addison.

Spicewood Spice"wood` noun (Botany) An American shrub ( Lindera Benzoin ), the bark of which has a spicy taste and odor; -- called also Benjamin , wild allspice , and fever bush .

Spiciferous Spi·cif"er·ous adjective [ Latin spicifer bearing spikes, or ears; spica ear + ferre to bear.] Bearing ears, or spikes; spicate. [ Obsolete] Bailey.

Spiciform Spi"ci·form adjective [ Latin spica a spike, ear + -form .] (Botany) Spike-shaped. Gray.

Spicily Spi"ci·ly adverb In a spicy manner.

Spiciness Spi"ci·ness noun The quality or state of being spicy.

Spick Spick noun [ Confer Swedish spik . See Spike a nail.] A spike or nail. [ Prov. Eng.]

Spick and span , quite new; that is, as new as a spike or nail just made and a chip just split; brand-new; as, a spick and span novelty. See Span-new . Howell.

Spicknel Spick"nel noun [ Contr. from spike nail a large, long nail; -- so called in allusion to the shape of its capillary leaves.] (Botany) An umbelliferous herb ( Meum Athamanticum ) having finely divided leaves, common in Europe; -- called also baldmoney , mew , and bearwort . [ Written also spignel .]

Spicose Spi·cose" adjective [ Latin spica a spike, or ear.] (Botany) Having spikes, or ears, like corn spikes.

Spicosity Spi·cos"i·ty noun The state of having, or being full of, ears like corn. [ R.] Bailey.

Spicous Spi"cous adjective (Botany) See Spicose .

Spicula Spic"u·la noun ; plural Spiculæ . [ New Latin , dim. of Latin spica a spike, ear.] (Botany) (a) A little spike; a spikelet. (b) A pointed fleshy appendage.

Spicular Spic"u·lar adjective [ Latin spiculum a dart: confer French spiculaire .] Resembling a dart; having sharp points.

Spiculate Spic"u·late adjective [ Latin spiculatus , past participle of spiculare to sharpen, to point, from spiculum a dart.] 1. Covered with, or having, spicules.

2. (Botany) Covered with minute spiculæ, or pointed fleshy appendages; divided into small spikelets.

Spiculate Spic"u·late transitive verb To sharpen to a point. [ R.] "With spiculated paling." Mason.

Spicule Spic"ule noun [ Latin spiculum a little point, a dart.] 1. A minute, slender granule, or point.

2. (Botany) Same as Spicula .

3. (Zoology) Any small calcareous or siliceous body found in the tissues of various invertebrate animals, especially in sponges and in most Alcyonaria.

» Spicules vary exceedingly in size and shape, and some of those found in siliceous sponges are very complex in structure and elegant in form. They are of great use in classification.

Description of the Illustration :

a Acerate; b Tricurvate, or Bowshaped; c d Hamate; e Broomshaped; f Scepterellate; g Spinispirulate; h Inequi-anchorate; i Sexradiate; j A Trichite Sheaf; k Six-rayed Capitate; l Rosette of Esperia ; m Equi- anchorate.

Spiculiform Spi·cu"li·form adjective (Zoology) Having the shape of a spicule.

Spiculigenous Spic`u·lig"e·nous adjective [ Latin spiculum + -genous .] (Zoology) Producing or containing spicules.

Spiculispongiæ Spic`u·li·spon"gi·æ noun plural [ New Latin ] (Zoology) A division of sponges including those which have independent siliceous spicules.

Spiculum Spic"u·lum noun ; plural Spicula . [ Latin , a little point.] (Zoology) Same as Spicule .

Spicy Spi"cy adjective [ Compar. Spicier ; superl. Spiciest .] [ From Spice .] 1. Flavored with, or containing, spice or spices; fragrant; aromatic; as, spicy breezes. "The spicy nut-brown ale." Milton.

Led by new stars, and borne by spicy gales.

Pope.

2. Producing, or abounding with, spices.

In hot Ceylon spicy forests grew.

Dryden.

3. Fig.: Piquant; racy; as, a spicy debate.

Syn. -- Aromatic; fragrant; smart; pungent; pointed; keen. See Racy .

Spider Spi"der noun [ Middle English spiþre , from Anglo-Saxon spinnan to spin; -- so named from spinning its web; confer Dutch spin a spider, German spinne , Swedish spindel . Seee Spin .] 1. (Zoology) Any one of numerous species of arachnids comprising the order Araneina. Spiders have the mandibles converted into poison fangs, or falcers. The abdomen is large and not segmented, with two or three pairs of spinnerets near the end, by means of which they spin threads of silk to form cocoons, or nests, to protect their eggs and young. Many species spin also complex webs to entrap the insects upon which they prey. The eyes are usually eight in number (rarely six), and are situated on the back of the cephalothorax. See Illust. under Araneina .

» Spiders are divided into two principal groups: the Dipneumona, having two lungs: and the Tetrapneumona, having four lungs. See Mygale . The former group includes several tribes; as, the jumping spiders (see Saltigradæ ), the wolf spiders, or Citigradæ (see under Wolf ), the crab spiders, or Laterigradæ (see under Crab ), the garden, or geometric, spiders, or Orbitellæ (see under Geometrical , and Garden ), and others. See Bird spider , under Bird , Grass spider , under Grass , House spider , under House , Silk spider , under Silk .

2. (Zoology) Any one of various other arachnids resembling the true spiders, especially certain mites, as the red spider (see under Red ).

3. An iron pan with a long handle, used as a kitchen utensil in frying food. Originally, it had long legs, and was used over coals on the hearth.

4. A trevet to support pans or pots over a fire.

5. (Machinery) A skeleton, or frame, having radiating arms or members, often connected by crosspieces; as, a casting forming the hub and spokes to which the rim of a fly wheel or large gear is bolted; the body of a piston head; a frame for strengthening a core or mold for a casting, etc.

Spider ant . (Zoology) Same as Solitary ant , under Solitary . -- Spider crab (Zoology) , any one of numerous species of maioid crabs having a more or less triangular body and ten long legs. Some of the species grow to great size, as the great Japanese spider crab ( Macrocheira Kempferi ), measuring sometimes more than fifteen feet across the legs when they are extended. -- Spider fly (Zoology) , any one of numerous species of parasitic dipterous insects of the family Hippoboscidæ . They are mostly destitute of wings, and live among the feathers of birds and the hair of bats. Called also bird tick , and bat tick . -- Spider hunter (Zoology) , any one of several species of East Indian sunbirds of the genus Arachnothera . -- Spider lines , filaments of a spider's web crossing the field of vision in optical instruments; -- used for determining the exact position of objects and making delicate measurements. Fine wires, silk fibers, or lines on glass similarly placed, are called spider lines . -- Spider mite . (Zoology) (a) Any one of several species of parasitic mites of the genus Argas and allied genera. See Argas . (b) Any one of numerous small mites injurious to plants. -- Spider monkey (Zoology) , any one of numerous species of South American monkeys of the genus Ateles , having very long legs and a long prehensile tail. -- Spider orchis (Botany) , a European orchidaceous plant ( Ophrys aranifera ), having flowers which resemble spiders. -- Spider shell (Zoology) , any shell of the genus Pteroceras . See Pteroceras .

Spider stitch Spi"der stitch A stitch in lace making used to fill in open spaces with threads resembling a cobweb.

Spider web, Spider's web Spi"der web", Spi"der's web" (Zoology) The silken web which is formed by most kinds of spiders, particularly the web spun to entrap their prey. See Geometric spider , Triangle spider , under Geometric , and Triangle .

Spidered Spi"dered adjective Infested by spiders; cobwebbed. Wolcott.

Spiderlike Spi"der·like` adjective Like a spider. Shak.

Spiderwort Spi"der·wort` noun (Botany) An American endogenous plant ( Tradescantia Virginica ), with long linear leaves and ephemeral blue flowers. The name is sometimes extended to other species of the same genus.

Spied Spied imperfect & past participle of Spy .

Spiegel iron Spie"gel i`ron [ German spiegel mirror + English iron .] (Metal.) A fusible white cast iron containing a large amount of carbon (from three and a half to six per cent) and some manganese. When the manganese reaches twenty-five per cent and upwards it has a granular structure, and constitutes the alloy ferro manganese , largely used in the manufacture of Bessemer steel. Called also specular pig iron , spiegel , and spiegeleisen .

Spiegeleisen Spie"gel·ei`sen noun [ German spiegel mirror + eisen iron.] See Spiegel iron .

Spight Spight noun & v. Spite. [ Obsolete] Spenser.

Spight Spight noun A woodpecker. See Speight . [ Obsolete]

Spignel Spig"nel noun (Botany) Same as Spickenel .

Spignet Spig"net noun [ Corrupted from spikenard .] (Botany) An aromatic plant of America. See Spikenard .

Spigot Spig"ot noun [ From spick ,or spike ; confer Ir. & Gael. spiocaid a spigot, Ir. spice a spike. See Spike .] A pin or peg used to stop the vent in a cask; also, the plug of a faucet or cock.

Spigot and faucet joint , a joint for uniting pipes, formed by the insertion of the end of one pipe, or pipe fitting, into a socket at the end of another.

Spigurnel Spi·gur"nel noun (Eng. Law) Formerly the title of the sealer of writs in chancery. Mozley & W.

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