Spiranthy noun [ Greek ......... a coil + ......... flower.] (Botany) The occasional twisted growth of the parts of a flower.

Spiration noun [ Latin spiratio , from spirare to breathe.] The act of breathing. [ Obsolete] Barrow.

Spire intransitive verb [ Latin spirare to breathe. See Spirit .] To breathe. [ Obsolete] Shenstone.

Spire noun [ Middle English spire , spir , a blade of grass, a young shoot, Anglo-Saxon spīr ; akin to German spier a blade of grass, Danish spire a sprout, sprig, Swedish spira a spar, Icelandic spīra .]
1. A slender stalk or blade in vegetation; as, a spire grass or of wheat.

An oak cometh up a little spire .

Chaucer.

2. A tapering body that shoots up or out to a point in a conical or pyramidal form. Specifically (Architecture) , the roof of a tower when of a pyramidal form and high in proportion to its width; also, the pyramidal or aspiring termination of a tower which can not be said to have a roof, such as that of Strasburg cathedral; the tapering part of a steeple, or the steeple itself. "With glistering spires and pinnacles adorned." Milton.

A spire of land that stand apart,
Cleft from the main.

Tennyson.

Tall spire from which the sound of cheerful bells
Just undulates upon the listening ear.

Cowper.

3. (Mining) A tube or fuse for communicating fire to the chargen in blasting.

4. The top, or uppermost point, of anything; the summit.

The spire and top of praises.

Shak.

Spire intransitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Spired ; present participle & verbal noun Spiring .] To shoot forth, or up in, or as if in, a spire. Emerson.

It is not so apt to spire up as the other sorts, being more inclined to branch into arms.

Mortimer.

Spire noun [ Latin spira coil, twist; akin to Greek .........: confer French spire .]
1. A spiral; a curl; a whorl; a twist. Dryden.

2. (Geom.) The part of a spiral generated in one revolution of the straight line about the pole. See Spiral , noun

Spire bearer . (Paleon.) Same as Spirifer .

Spired adjective Having a spire; being in the form of a spire; as, a spired steeple. Mason.

Spiricle noun [ Dim., from Latin spira a coil.] (Botany) One of certain minute coiled threads in the coating of some seeds. When moistened these threads protrude in great numbers. Gray.

Spirifer noun [ New Latin , from Latin spira a coil + ferre to bear.] (Paleon.) Any one of numerous species of fossil brachipods of the genus Spirifer , or Delthyris , and allied genera, in which the long calcareous supports of the arms form a large spiral, or helix, on each side.

Spirillum noun [ New Latin , dim. of Latin spira a coil.] (Biol.) A genus of common motile microörganisms ( Spirobacteria ) having the form of spiral- shaped filaments. One species is said to be the cause of relapsing fever.

Spiring adjective Shooting up in a spire or spires. "The spiring grass." Dryton.

Spirit noun [ Old French espirit , esperit , French esprit , Latin spiritus , from spirare to breathe, to blow. Confer Conspire , Expire , Esprit , Sprite .]
1. Air set in motion by breathing; breath; hence, sometimes, life itself. [ Obsolete] "All of spirit would deprive." Spenser.

The mild air, with season moderate,
Gently attempered, and disposed eo well,
That still it breathed foorth sweet spirit .

Spenser.

2. A rough breathing; an aspirate, as the letter h ; also, a mark to denote aspiration; a breathing. [ Obsolete]

Be it a letter or spirit , we have great use for it.

B. Jonson.

3. Life, or living substance, considered independently of corporeal existence; an intelligence conceived of apart from any physical organization or embodiment; vital essence, force, or energy, as distinct from matter.

4. The intelligent, immaterial and immortal part of man; the soul, in distinction from the body in which it resides; the agent or subject of vital and spiritual functions, whether spiritual or material.

There is a spirit in man; and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

Job xxxii. 8.

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

James ii. 26.

Spirit is a substance wherein thinking, knowing, doubting, and a power of moving, do subsist.

Locke.

5. Specifically, a disembodied soul; the human soul after it has left the body.

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Eccl. xii. 7.

Ye gentle spirits far away,
With whom we shared the cup of grace.

Keble.

6. Any supernatural being, good or bad; an apparition; a specter; a ghost; also, sometimes, a sprite,; a fairy; an elf.

Whilst young, preserve his tender mind from all impressions of spirits and goblins in the dark.

Locke.

7. Energy, vivacity, ardor, enthusiasm, courage, etc.

"Write it then, quickly," replied Bede; and summoning all his spirits together, like the last blaze of a candle going out, he indited it, and expired.

Fuller.

8. One who is vivacious or lively; one who evinces great activity or peculiar characteristics of mind or temper; as, a ruling spirit ; a schismatic spirit .

Such spirits as he desired to please, such would I choose for my judges.

Dryden.

9. Temper or disposition of mind; mental condition or disposition; intellectual or moral state; -- often in the plural; as, to be cheerful, or in good spirits ; to be downhearted, or in bad spirits .

God has . . . made a spirit of building succeed a spirit of pulling down.

South.

A perfect judge will read each work of wit
With the same spirit that its author writ.

Pope.

10. Intent; real meaning; -- opposed to the letter , or to formal statement ; also, characteristic quality, especially such as is derived from the individual genius or the personal character; as, the spirit of an enterprise, of a document, or the like.

11. Tenuous, volatile, airy, or vapory substance, possessed of active qualities.

All bodies have spirits . . . within them.

Bacon.

12. Any liquid produced by distillation; especially, alcohol, the spirits , or spirit , of wine (it having been first distilled from wine): -- often in the plural.

13. plural Rum, whisky, brandy, gin, and other distilled liquors having much alcohol, in distinction from wine and malt liquors.

14. (Medicine) A solution in alcohol of a volatile principle. Confer Tincture . U. S. Disp.

15. (Alchemy) Any one of the four substances, sulphur, sal ammoniac, quicksilver, or arsenic (or, according to some, orpiment).

The four spirits and the bodies seven.

Chaucer.

16. (Dyeing) Stannic chloride. See under Stannic .

» Spirit is sometimes joined with other words, forming compounds, generally of obvious signification; as, spirit - moving, spirit -searching, spirit -stirring, etc.

Astral spirits , Familiar spirits , etc. See under Astral , Familiar , etc. -- Animal spirits . (a) (Physiol.) The fluid which at one time was supposed to circulate through the nerves and was regarded as the agent of sensation and motion; -- called also the nervous fluid , or nervous principle . (b) Physical health and energy; frolicsomeness; sportiveness. -- Ardent spirits , strong alcoholic liquors, as brandy, rum, whisky, etc., obtained by distillation. -- Holy Spirit , or The Spirit (Theol.) , the Spirit of God, or the third person of the Trinity; the Holy Ghost. The spirit also signifies the human spirit as influenced or animated by the Divine Spirit. -- Proof spirit . (Chemistry) See under Proof . -- Rectified spirit (Chemistry) , spirit rendered purer or more concentrated by redistillation, so as to increase the percentage of absolute alcohol. -- Spirit butterfly (Zoology) , any one of numerous species of delicate butterflies of tropical America belonging to the genus Ithomia . The wings are gauzy and nearly destitute of scales. -- Spirit duck . (Zoology) (a) The buffle-headed duck . (b) The golden-eye. -- Spirit lamp (Art) , a lamp in which alcohol or methylated spirit is burned. -- Spirit level . See under Level . -- Spirit of hartshorn . (Old Chem.) See under Hartshorn . -- Spirit of Mindererus (Medicine) , an aqueous solution of acetate of ammonium; -- named after R. Minderer , physician of Augsburg. -- Spirit of nitrous ether (Med. Chem.) , a pale yellow liquid, of a sweetish taste and a pleasant ethereal odor. It is obtained by the distillation of alcohol with nitric and sulphuric acids, and consists essentially of ethyl nitrite with a little acetic aldehyde. It is used as a diaphoretic, diuretic, antispasmodic, etc. Called also sweet spirit of niter . -- Spirit of salt (Chemistry) , hydrochloric acid; -- so called because obtained from salt and sulphuric acid. [ Obsolete] -- Spirit of sense , the utmost refinement of sensation. [ Obsolete] Shak. -- Spirits , or Spirit , of turpentine (Chemistry) , rectified oil of turpentine, a transparent, colorless, volatile, and very inflammable liquid, distilled from the turpentine of the various species of pine; camphine. See Camphine . -- Spirit of vitriol (Chemistry) , sulphuric acid; -- so called because formerly obtained by the distillation of green vitriol. [ Obsolete] -- Spirit of vitriolic ether (Chemistry) ether; -- often but incorrectly called sulphuric ether . See Ether . [ Obsolete] -- Spirits , or Spirit , of wine (Chemistry) , alcohol; -- so called because formerly obtained by the distillation of wine. -- Spirit rapper , one who practices spirit rapping; a "medium" so called. -- Spirit rapping , an alleged form of communication with the spirits of the dead by raps. See Spiritualism , 3. -- Sweet spirit of niter . See Spirit of nitrous ether , above.

Syn. -- Life; ardor; energy; fire; courage; animatioon; cheerfulness; vivacity; enterprise.

Spirit transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Spirited ; present participle & verbal noun Spiriting .]
1. To animate with vigor; to excite; to encourage; to inspirit; as, civil dissensions often spirit the ambition of private men; -- sometimes followed by up .

Many officers and private men spirit up and assist those obstinate people to continue in their rebellion.

Swift.

2. To convey rapidly and secretly, or mysteriously, as if by the agency of a spirit; to kidnap; -- often with away , or off .

The ministry had him spirited away, and carried abroad as a dangerous person.

Arbuthnot & Pope.

I felt as if I had been spirited into some castle of antiquity.

Willis.

Spiriting away (Law) , causing to leave; the offense of inducing a witness to leave a jurisdiction so as to evade process requiring attendance at trial.

Spiritally adverb [ Latin spiritalis belonging to breathing.] By means of the breath. [ Obsolete] Holder.

Spirited adjective
1. Animated or possessed by a spirit. [ Obsolete] "So talked the spirited , sly snake." Milton.

2. Animated; full of life or vigor; lively; full of spirit or fire; as, a spirited oration; a spirited answer.

» Spirited is much used in composition; as in high- spirited , low- spirited , mean- spirited , etc.

Syn. -- Lively; vivacious; animated; ardent; active; bold; courageous.

-- Spir"it*ed*ly , adverb -- Spir"it*ed*ness , noun

Spiritful adjective Full of spirit; spirited. [ R.]

The spiritful and orderly life of our own grown men.

Milton.

-- Spir"it*ful*ly , adverb -- Spir"it*ful*ness , noun

Spiritism noun Spiritualsm.

Spiritist noun A spiritualist.

Spiritless adjective
1. Destitute of spirit; wanting animation; wanting cheerfulness; dejected; depressed.

2. Destitute of vigor; wanting life, courage, or fire.

A men so faint, so spiritless ,
So dull, so dead in lock, so woebegone.

Shak.

3. Having no breath; extinct; dead. "The spiritless body." Greenhill.

-- Spir"it*less*ly , adverb -- Spir"it*less*ness , noun

Spiritoso adjective & adverb [ Italian ] (Mus.) Spirited; spiritedly; -- a direction to perform a passage in an animated, lively manner.

Spiritous adjective [ Confer Spirituous .]
1. Like spirit; refined; defecated; pure. [ R.]

More refined, more spirituous and pure.

Milton.

2. Ardent; active. [ R.]

Spiritousness noun Quality of being spiritous. [ R.]

Spiritual adjective [ Latin spiritualis : confer French spirituel . See Spirit .]
1. Consisting of spirit; not material; incorporeal; as, a spiritual substance or being.

It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

1 Cor. xv. 44.

2. Of or pertaining to the intellectual and higher endowments of the mind; mental; intellectual.

3. Of or pertaining to the moral feelings or states of the soul, as distinguished from the external actions; reaching and affecting the spirits.

God's law is spiritual ; it is a transcript of the divine nature, and extends its authority to the acts of the soul of man.

Sir T. Browne.

4. Of or pertaining to the soul or its affections as influenced by the Spirit; controlled and inspired by the divine Spirit; proceeding from the Holy Spirit; pure; holy; divine; heavenly-minded; -- opposed to carnal .

That I may impart unto you some spiritual gift.

Rom. i. ll.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings.

Eph. i. 3.

If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual , restore such an one.

Gal. vi. 1.

5. Not lay or temporal; relating to sacred things; ecclesiastical; as, the spiritual functions of the clergy; lords spiritual and temporal; a spiritual corporation.

Spiritual coadjuctor . (Eccl.) See the Note under Jesuit . -- Spiritual court (Eccl. Law) , an ecclesiastical court, or a court having jurisdiction in ecclesiastical affairs; a court held by a bishop or other ecclesiastic.

Spiritual noun A spiritual function, office, or affair. See Spirituality , 2.

He assigns supremacy to the pope in spirituals , and to the emperor in temporals.

Lowell.

Spiritual-minded adjective Having the mind set on spiritual things, or filled with holy desires and affections. -- Spir"it*u*al-mind`ed*ness , noun

Spiritualism noun
1. The quality or state of being spiritual.

2. (Physiol.) The doctrine, in opposition to the materialists, that all which exists is spirit, or soul -- that what is called the external world is either a succession of notions impressed on the mind by the Deity, as maintained by Berkeley, or else the mere educt of the mind itself, as taught by Fichte.

3. A belief that departed spirits hold intercourse with mortals by means of physical phenomena, as by rappng, or during abnormal mental states, as in trances, or the like, commonly manifested through a person of special susceptibility, called a medium ; spiritism; the doctrines and practices of spiritualists.

What is called spiritualism should, I think, be called a mental species of materialism.

R. H. Hutton.

Spiritualist noun
1. One who professes a regard for spiritual things only; one whose employment is of a spiritual character; an ecclesiastic.

2. One who maintains the doctrine of spiritualism.

3. One who believes in direct intercourse with departed spirits, through the agency of persons commonly called mediums , by means of physical phenomena; one who attempts to maintain such intercourse; a spiritist.

Spiritualist adjective Spiritualistic. Taylor.

Spiritualistic adjective Relating to, or connected with, spiritualism.

Spirituality noun ; plural Spiritualities . [ Latin spiritualitas : confer French spiritualité .]
1. The quality or state of being spiritual; incorporeality; heavenly- mindedness.

A pleasure made for the soul, suitable to its spirituality .

South.

If this light be not spiritual, yet it approacheth nearest to spirituality .

Sir W. Raleigh.

Much of our spirituality and comfort in public worship depends on the state of mind in which we come.

Bickersteth.

2. (Eccl.) That which belongs to the church, or to a person as an ecclesiastic, or to religion, as distinct from temporalities.

During the vacancy of a see, the archbishop is guardian of the spiritualities thereof.

Blackstone.

3. An ecclesiastical body; the whole body of the clergy, as distinct from, or opposed to, the temporality. [ Obsolete]

Five entire subsidies were granted to the king by the spirituality .

Fuller.

Spiritualization noun The act of spiritualizing, or the state of being spiritualized.

Spiritualize transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Spiritualized ; present participle & verbal noun Spiritualizing .] [ Confer French spiritualiser .]
1. To refine intellectiually or morally; to purify from the corrupting influence of the world; to give a spiritual character or tendency to; as, to spiritualize soul.

This seen in the clear air, and the whole spiritualized by endless recollections, fills the eye and the heart more forcibly than I can find words to say.

Carlyle.

2. To give a spiritual meaning to; to take in a spiritual sense; -- opposed to literalize .

3. (Old Chem.) To extract spirit from; also, to convert into, or impregnate with, spirit.

Spiritualizer noun One who spiritualizes.

Spiritually adverb In a spiritual manner; with purity of spirit; like a spirit.

Spiritualness noun The quality or state of being spiritual or spiritual-minded; spirituality.

Spiritualty noun [ See Spirituality .] (Eccl.) An ecclesiastical body; a spirituality. Shak.

Spirituelle adjective [ French] Of the nature, or having the appearance, of a spirit; pure; refined; ethereal.

Spirituosity noun The quality or state of being spirituous; spirituousness. [ R.]

Spirituous adjective [ Confer (for sense 2) French spiritueux . Confer Spiritous .]
1. Having the quality of spirit; tenuous in substance, and having active powers or properties; ethereal; immaterial; spiritual; pure.

2. Containing, or of the nature of, alcoholic (esp. distilled) spirit; consisting of refined spirit; alcoholic; ardent; as, spirituous liquors.

3. Lively; gay; vivid; airy. [ Obsolete] Sir H. Wotton.

The mind of man is of that spirituous , stirring nature, that it is perpetually at work.

South.

Spirituousness noun The quality or state of being spirituous. [ R.] Boyle.

Spirketing noun (Nautical) The planking from the waterways up to the port sills. Totten.

Spirling noun Sparling. [ Prov. Eng.]

Spirobacteria noun plural ; sing. Spirobacterium [ New Latin See 4th Spire , and Bacterium .] (Biol.) See the Note under Microbacteria .

Spirochæta Spi`ro*chæ"te noun [ Latin spira a coil + Greek ......... hair.] (Biol.) A genus of Spirobacteria similar to Spirillum, but distinguished by its motility. One species, the Spirochæte Obermeyeri , is supposed to be the cause of relapsing fever.

Spirograph noun [ Latin spirare to breathe + -graph .] (Physiol.) An instrument for recording the respiratory movements, as the sphygmograph does those of the pulse.

Spirometer noun [ Latin spirare to breathe + -meter .] An instrument for measuring the vital capacity of the lungs, or the volume of air which can be expelled from the chest after the deepest possible inspiration. Confer Pneumatometer .

Spirometry noun The act or process of measuring the chest capacity by means of a spirometer.

Spiroscope noun [ Latin spirare to breathe + -scope .] (Physiol.) A wet meter used to determine the breathing capacity of the lungs.

Spiroylic, Spiroylous adjective [ New Latin Spir... meadowsweet (a source of salicylal) + -yl + -ic , -ous .] (Chemistry) Pertaining to, or designating, a substance now called salicylal . [ Obsolete]

Spirt v. & noun Same as Spurt .