The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section S (part 5 of 7)

The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section S (part 5 of 7)

Spie"gel i`ron (?). [G. spiegel mirror + E. 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.

Spight (?), n. & v. Spite. [Obs.] Spenser.

Spight, n. A woodpecker. See Speight. [Obs.]

Spig"nel (?), n. (Bot.) Same as Spickenel.

Spig"net (?), n. [Corrupted fr. spikenard.] (Bot.) An aromatic plant of America. See Spikenard.

Spig"ot (?), n. [From spick,or spike; cf. 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.

Spi*gur"nel (?), n. (Eng. Law) Formerly the title of the sealer of writs in chancery. Mozley & W.

Spike (?), n. [Akin to LG. spiker, spieker, a large nail, D. spijker, Sw. spik, Dan. spiger, Icel. spk; all perhaps from L. spica a point, an ear of grain; but in the sense of nail more likely akin to E. spoke of a wheel. Cf. Spine.] 1. A sort of very large nail; also, a piece of pointed iron set with points upward or outward.

2. Anything resembling such a nail in shape.

He wears on his head the corona radiata . . . ; the spikes that shoot out represent the rays of the sun.

Addison.

3. An ear of corn or grain.

4. (Bot.) A kind of flower cluster in which sessile flowers are arranged on an unbranched elongated axis.

Spike grass (Bot.), either of two tall perennial American grasses (Uniola paniculata, and U. latifolia) having broad leaves and large flattened spikelets. -- Spike rush. (Bot.) See under Rush. -- Spike shell (Zoöl.), any pteropod of the genus Styliola having a slender conical shell. -- Spike team, three horses, or a horse and a yoke of oxen, harnessed together, a horse leading the oxen or the span. [U.S.]

Spike, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spiked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spiking.] 1. To fasten with spikes, or long, large nails; as, to spike down planks.

2. To set or furnish with spikes.

3. To fix on a spike. [R.] Young.

4. To stop the vent of (a gun or cannon) by driving a spike nail, or the like into it.

Spike, n. [Cf. G. spieke, L. spica an ear of grain. See Spikenard.] (Bot.) Spike lavender. See Lavender.

Oil of spike (Chem.), a colorless or yellowish aromatic oil extracted from the European broad-leaved lavender, or aspic (Lavendula Spica), used in artist's varnish and in veterinary medicine. It is often adulterated with oil of turpentine, which it much resembles.

Spike"bill` (?), n. (Zoöl.) (a) The hooded merganser. (b) The marbled godwit (Limosa fedoa).

Spiked (?), a. Furnished or set with spikes, as corn; fastened with spikes; stopped with spikes.

A youth, leaping over the spiked pales, . . . was caught by those spikes.

Wiseman.

Spike"fish` (?), n. (Zoöl.) See Sailfish (a)

Spike"let (?), n. (Bot.) A small or secondary spike; especially, one of the ultimate parts of the in florescence of grasses. See Illust. of Quaking grass.

Spike"nard (?), n.[For spiked nard; cf. G. spieknarde, NL. spica nardi. See Spike an ear, and Nard.] 1. (Bot.) An aromatic plant. In the United States it is the Aralia racemosa, often called spignet, and used as a medicine. The spikenard of the ancients is the Nardostachys Jatamansi, a native of the Himalayan region. From its blackish roots a perfume for the hair is still prepared in India.

2. A fragrant essential oil, as that from the Nardostachys Jatamansi.

Spike"tail` (?), n. (Zoöl.) The pintail duck. [Local, U.S.]

Spik"y (?), a. 1. Like a spike; spikelike.

These spiky, vivid outbursts of metallic vapors.

C. A. Young.

2. Having a sharp point, or sharp points; furnished or armed with spikes.

Or by the spiky harrow cleared away.

Dyer.

The spiky wheels through heaps of carnage tore.

Pope.

Spile (?), n. [Cf. LG. spile, dial. G. speil, speiler, D. spijl. √170.] 1. A small plug or wooden pin, used to stop a vent, as in a cask.

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2. A small tube or spout inserted in a tree for conducting sap, as from a sugar maple.

3. A large stake driven into the ground as a support for some superstructure; a pile.

Spile hole, a small air hole in a cask; a vent.

Spile (?), v. t. To supply with a spile or a spigot; to make a small vent in, as a cask.

Spil"i*kin (?), n. [OD. spelleken a small pin. See Spill a splinter.] One of a number of small pieces or pegs of wood, ivory, bone, or other material, for playing a game, or for counting the score in a game, as in cribbage. In the plural (spilikins), a game played with such pieces; pushpin. [Written also spillikin, spilliken.]

Spill (?), n. [&radic;170. Cf. Spell a splinter.] 1. A bit of wood split off; a splinter. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

2. A slender piece of anything. Specifically: --

(a) A peg or pin for plugging a hole, as in a cask; a spile.

(b) A metallic rod or pin.

(c) A small roll of paper, or slip of wood, used as a lamplighter, etc.

(d) (Mining) One of the thick laths or poles driven horizontally ahead of the main timbering in advancing a level in loose ground.

3. A little sum of money. [Obs.] Ayliffe.

Spill, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spilt (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spilling.] To cover or decorate with slender pieces of wood, metal, ivory, etc.; to inlay. [Obs.] Spenser.

Spill (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spilled (?), or Spilt (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Spilling.] [OE. spillen,sually, to destroy, AS. spillan, spildan, to destroy; akin to Icel. spilla to destroy, Sw. spilla to spill, Dan. spilde,G. & D. spillen to squander, OHG. spildan.] 1. To destroy; to kill; to put an end to. [Obs.]

And gave him to the queen, all at her will To choose whether she would him save or spill.

Chaucer.

Greater glory think [it] to save than spill.

Spenser.

2. To mar; to injure; to deface; hence, to destroy by misuse; to waste. [Obs.]

They [the colors] disfigure the stuff and spill the whole workmanship.

Puttenham.

Spill not the morning, the quintessence of day, in recreations.

Fuller.

3. To suffer to fall or run out of a vessel; to lose, or suffer to be scattered; -- applied to fluids and to substances whose particles are small and loose; as, to spill water from a pail; to spill quicksilver from a vessel; to spill powder from a paper; to spill sand or flour.

Spill differs from pour in expressing accidental loss, -- a loss or waste contrary to purpose.

4. To cause to flow out and be lost or wasted; to shed, or suffer to be shed, as in battle or in manslaughter; as, a man spills another's blood, or his own blood.

And to revenge his blood so justly spilt.

Dryden.

5. (Naut.) To relieve a sail from the pressure of the wind, so that it can be more easily reefed or furled, or to lessen the strain.

Spilling line (Naut.), a rope used for spilling, or dislodging, the wind from the belly of a sail. Totten.

Spill, v. i. 1. To be destroyed, ruined, or wasted; to come to ruin; to perish; to waste. [Obs.]

That thou wilt suffer innocents to spill.

Chaucer.

2. To be shed; to run over; to fall out, and be lost or wasted. "He was so topful of himself, that he let it spill on all the company." I. Watts.

Spill"er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, spills.

2. A kind of fishing line with many hooks; a boulter.

{ Spil"let fish`ing (?), Spil"liard fish`ing (?), } A system or method of fishing by means of a number of hooks set on snoods all on one line; -- in North America, called trawl fishing, bultow, or bultow fishing, and long-line fishing.

Spil"li*kin (?), n. See Spilikin.

Spill"way` (?), n. A sluiceway or passage for superfluous water in a reservoir, to prevent too great pressure on the dam.

Spilt (?), imp. & p. p. of Spill. Spilled.

Spil"ter (?), n. [From Spill, n.] Any one of the small branches on a stag's head. [Obs.] Howell.

Spilth (?), n. [From Spill.] Anything spilt, or freely poured out; slop; effusion. [Archaic] "With drunken spilth of wine." Shak.

Choicest cates, and the flagon's best spilth.

R. Browning.

Spin (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spun (?) (Archaic imp. Span (&?;)); p. pr. & vb. n. Spinning.] [AS. spinnan; akin to D. & G. spinnen, Icel. & Sw. spinna, Dan. spinde, Goth. spinnan, and probably to E. span. &radic;170. Cf. Span, v. t., Spider.] 1. To draw out, and twist into threads, either by the hand or machinery; as, to spin wool, cotton, or flax; to spin goat's hair; to produce by drawing out and twisting a fibrous material.

All the yarn she [Penelope] spun in Ulysses' absence did but fill Ithaca full of moths.

Shak.

2. To draw out tediously; to form by a slow process, or by degrees; to extend to a great length; -- with out; as, to spin out large volumes on a subject.

Do you mean that story is tediously spun out?

Sheridan.

3. To protract; to spend by delays; as, to spin out the day in idleness.

By one delay after another they spin out their whole lives.

L'Estrange.

4. To cause to turn round rapidly; to whirl; to twirl; as, to spin a top.

5. To form (a web, a cocoon, silk, or the like) from threads produced by the extrusion of a viscid, transparent liquid, which hardens on coming into contact with the air; -- said of the spider, the silkworm, etc.

6. (Mech.) To shape, as malleable sheet metal, into a hollow form, by bending or buckling it by pressing against it with a smooth hand tool or roller while the metal revolves, as in a lathe.

To spin a yarn (Naut.), to tell a story, esp. a long or fabulous tale. -- To spin hay (Mil.), to twist it into ropes for convenient carriage on an expedition. -- To spin street yarn, to gad about gossiping. [Collog.]

Spin (?), v. i. 1. To practice spinning; to work at drawing and twisting threads; to make yarn or thread from fiber; as, the woman knows how to spin; a machine or jenny spins with great exactness.

They neither know to spin, nor care to toll.

Prior.

2. To move round rapidly; to whirl; to revolve, as a top or a spindle, about its axis.

Round about him spun the landscape, Sky and forest reeled together.

Longfellow.

With a whirligig of jubilant mosquitoes spinning about each head.

G. W. Cable.

3. To stream or issue in a thread or a small current or jet; as, blood spinsfrom a vein. Shak.

4. To move swifty; as, to spin along the road in a carriage, on a bicycle, etc. [Colloq.]

Spin, n. 1. The act of spinning; as, the spin of a top; a spin a bicycle. [Colloq.]

2. (Kinematics) Velocity of rotation about some specified axis.

||Spi"na bif"i*da (?). (Med.) [L., cleft spine.] A congenital ||malformation in which the spinal column is cleft at its lower ||portion, and the membranes of the spinal cord project as an elastic ||swelling from the gap thus formed.

Spi*na"ceous (?), a. (Bot.) Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the plant spinach, or the family of plants to which it belongs.

{ Spin"ach, Spin"age } (?), n. [OF. espinache, espinoche, F. épinard; cf. F. spinace, Sp. espinaca; all fr. Ar. isfnj, isfinj, aspankh, probably of Persian origin.] (Bot.) A common pot herb (Spinacia oleracea) belonging to the Goosefoot family.

Mountain spinach. See Garden orache, under Orache. -- New Zealand spinach (Bot.), a coarse herb (Tetragonia expansa), a poor substitute for spinach.

Various other pot herbs are locally called spinach.

Spi"nal (?), a. [L. spinalis, fr. spina the spine: cf. F. spinal. See Spine.] 1. (Anat.) Of, pertaining to, or in the region of, the backbone, or vertebral column; rachidian; vertebral.

2. Of or pertaining to a spine or spines.

Spinal accessory nerves, the eleventh pair of cranial nerves in the higher vertebrates. They originate from the spinal cord and pass forward into the skull, from which they emerge in company with the pneumogastrics. -- Spinal column, the backbone, or connected series or vertebræ which forms the axis of the vertebrate skeleton; the spine; rachis; vertebral column. -- Spinal cord, the great nervous cord extending backward from the brain along the dorsal side of the spinal column of a vertebrate animal, and usually terminating in a threadlike appendage called the filum terminale; the spinal, or vertebral, marrow; the myelon. The nervous tissue consists of nerve fibers and nerve cells, the latter being confined to the so-called gray matter of the central portions of the cord, while the peripheral white matter is composed of nerve fibers only. The center of the cord is traversed by a slender canal connecting with the ventricles of the brain.

Spi"nate (?), a. Bearing a spine; spiniform.

Spin"dle (?), n. [AS. spinal, fr. spinnan to spin; akin to D. spil, G. spille, spindel, OHG. spinnala. &radic;170. See Spin.] 1. The long, round, slender rod or pin in spinning wheels by which the thread is twisted, and on which, when twisted, it is wound; also, the pin on which the bobbin is held in a spinning machine, or in the shuttle of a loom.

2. A slender rod or pin on which anything turns; an axis; as, the spindle of a vane. Specifically: --

(a) (Mach.) The shaft, mandrel, or arbor, in a machine tool, as a lathe or drilling machine, etc., which causes the work to revolve, or carries a tool or center, etc.

(b) (Mach.) The vertical rod on which the runner of a grinding mill turns.

(c) (Founding) A shaft or pipe on which a core of sand is formed.

3. The fusee of a watch.

4. A long and slender stalk resembling a spindle.

5. A yarn measure containing, in cotton yarn, 15,120 yards; in linen yarn, 14,400 yards.

6. (Geom.) A solid generated by the revolution of a curved line about its base or double ordinate or chord.

7. (Zoöl.) (a) Any marine univalve shell of the genus Rostellaria; -- called also spindle stromb. (b) Any marine gastropod of the genus Fusus.

Dead spindle (Mach.), a spindle in a machine tool that does not revolve; the spindle of the tailstock of a lathe. -- Live spindle (Mach.), the revolving spindle of a machine tool; the spindle of the headstock of a turning lathe. -- Spindle shell. (Zoöl.) See Spindle, 7. above. -- Spindle side, the female side in descent; in the female line; opposed to spear side. Ld. Lytton. [R.] "King Lycaon, grandson, by the spindle side, of Oceanus." Lowell. -- Spindle tree (Bot.), any shrub or tree of the genus Eunymus. The wood of E. Europæus was used for spindles and skewers. See Prickwood.

Spin"dle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Spindled(?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spindling (?).] To shoot or grow into a long, slender stalk or body; to become disproportionately tall and slender.

It has begun to spindle into overintellectuality.

Lowell.

Spin"dle-legged` (?), a. Having long, slender legs.

Spin"dle*legs` (?), n. A spindleshanks.

Spin"dle-shanked` (?), a. Having long, slender legs. Addison.

Spin"dle*shanks` (?), n. A person with slender shanks, or legs; -- used humorously or in contempt.

Spin"dle-shaped` (?), a. 1. Having the shape of a spindle.

2. (Bot.) Thickest in the middle, and tapering to both ends; fusiform; -- applied chiefly to roots.

Spin"dle*tail` (?), n. (Zoöl.) The pintail duck. [Local, U.S.]

Spin"dle*worm` (?), n. (Zoöl.) The larva of a noctuid mmoth (Achatodes zeæ) which feeds inside the stalks of corn (maize), sometimes causing much damage. It is smooth, with a black head and tail and a row of black dots across each segment.

Spin"dling (?), a. Long and slender, or disproportionately tall and slender; as, a spindling tree; a spindling boy.

Spine (?), n. [L. spina thorn, the spine; akin to spica a point: cf. OF. espine, F. épine. Cf. Spike, Spinet a musical instrument, Spinny.] 1. (Bot.) A sharp appendage to any of a plant; a thorn.

2. (Zoöl.) (a) A rigid and sharp projection upon any part of an animal. (b) One of the rigid and undivided fin rays of a fish.

3. (Anat.) The backbone, or spinal column, of an animal; -- so called from the projecting processes upon the vertebræ.

4. Anything resembling the spine or backbone; a ridge.

Spine"back` (?), n. (Zoöl.) A fish having spines in, or in front of, the dorsal fins.

Spine"bill` (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any species of Australian birds of the genus Acanthorhynchus. They are related to the honey eaters.

Spined (?), a. Furnished with spines; spiny.

Spine"-finned` (?), a. (Zoöl.) Having fine supported by spinous fin rays; -- said of certain fishes.

{ Spi*nel" (?), Spi*nelle" (?), } n. [F. spinelle, or LL. spinellus, perhaps from L. spina a thorn, a prickle, in allusion to its pointed crystals.] (Min.) A mineral occuring in octahedrons of great hardness and various colors, as red, green, blue, brown, and black, the red variety being the gem spinel ruby. It consist essentially of alumina and magnesia, but commonly contains iron and sometimes also chromium.

The spinel group includes spinel proper, also magnetite, chromite, franklinite, gahnite, etc., all of which may be regarded as composed of a sesquioxide and a protoxide in equal proportions.

Spin"el (?), n. Bleached yarn in making the linen tape called inkle; unwrought inkle. Knight.

Spine"less (?), a. Having no spine.

Spi*nes"cent (?), a.[L. spinescens, -entis, p. pr. of spinescere to know to grow thorny, fr. spina a thorn: cf. F. spinescent.] (Bot.) Becoming hard and thorny; tapering gradually to a rigid, leafless point; armed with spines. Gray.

Spin"et (?), n. [OF. espinete, F. épinette (cf. It. spinetta), fr. L. spina a thorn; -- so called because its quills resemble thorns. See Spine.] (Mus.) A keyed instrument of music resembling a harpsichord, but smaller, with one string of brass or steel wire to each note, sounded by means of leather or quill plectrums or jacks. It was formerly much used.

Dumb spinet. (Mus.) See Manichordon.

Spi"net (?), n. [L. spinetum. See Spinny.] A spinny. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Spine"tail` (?), n. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one or several species of swifts of the genus Acanthylis, or Chætura, and allied genera, in which the shafts of the tail feathers terminate in rigid spines. (b) Any one of several species of South American and Central American clamatorial birds belonging to Synallaxis and allied genera of the family Dendrocolaptidæ. They are allied to the ovenbirds. (c) The ruddy duck. [Local, U.S.]

Spine"-tailed (?), a. (Zoöl.) Having the tail quills ending in sharp, naked tips.

Spine-tailed swift. (Zoöl.) See Spinetail (a).

Spin"et*ed (?), a. Slit; cleft. [Obs. & R.]

Spi*nif"er*ous (?), a. [L. spinifer; spina thorn + ferre to produce.] Producing spines; bearing thorns or spines; thorny; spiny.

Spin"i*form (?), a. Shaped like a spine.

Spi*nig"er*ous (?), a. [L. spiniger; spina spine + gerere to bear.] Bearing a spine or spines; thorn-bearing.

Spin"i*ness (?), n. Quality of being spiny.

Spin`i-spir"u*late (?), a. (Zoöl.) Having spines arranged spirally. See Spicule.

Spink (spk), n. [Cf. dial. Sw. spink a kind of small bird, Gr. spi`ggos, and E. finch.] (Zoöl.) The chaffinch.

Spin"na*ker (?), n. (Naut.) A large triangular sail set upon a boom, -- used when running before the wind.

Spin"ner (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, spins one skilled in spinning; a spinning machine.

2. A spider. "Long-legged spinners." Shak.

3. (Zoöl.) A goatsucker; -- so called from the peculiar noise it makes when darting through the air.

4. (Zoöl.) A spinneret.

Ring spinner, a machine for spinning, in which the twist, given to the yarn by a revolving bobbin, is regulated by the drag of a small metal loop which slides around a ring encircling the bobbin, instead of by a throstle.

Spin"ner*et (?), n. (Zoöl.) One of the special jointed organs situated on the under side, and near the end, of the abdomen of spiders, by means of which they spin their webs. Most spiders have three pairs of spinnerets, but some have only two pairs. The ordinary silk line of the spider is composed of numerous smaller lines jointed after issuing from the spinnerets.

Spin"ner*ule (?), n. (Zoöl.) One of the numerous small spinning tubes on the spinnerets of spiders.

Spin"ney (?), n.; pl. Spinneys (&?;). Same as Spinny. T. Hughes.

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Spin"ning (?), a. & n. from Spin.

Spinning gland (Zoöl.), one of the glands which form the material for spinning the silk of silkworms and other larvæ. -- Spinning house, formerly a common name for a house of correction in England, the women confined therein being employed in spinning. -- Spinning jenny (Mach.), an engine or machine for spinning wool or cotton, by means of a large number of spindles revolving simultaneously. -- Spinning mite (Zoöl.), the red spider. -- Spinning wheel, a machine for spinning yarn or thread, in which a wheel drives a single spindle, and is itself driven by the hand, or by the foot acting on a treadle.

Spin"ny (?), n.; pl. Spinnies (#). [OF. espinaye,espinoye, espinei, espanoi, F. épinaie, from L. spinetum a thicket of thorns, fr. spina a thorn. See Spine.] A small thicket or grove with undergrowth; a clump of trees. [Written also spinney, and spinny.]

The downs rise steep, crowned with black fir spinnies.

C. Kingsley.

Spin"ny, a. [Cf. Spiny, a.] Thin and long; slim; slender. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

Spi*nose" (?), a.[L. spinosus, from spina a thorn.] Full of spines; armed with thorns; thorny.

Spi*nos"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being spiny or thorny; spininess.

Spi"nous (?), a. 1. Spinose; thorny.

2. Having the form of a spine or thorn; spinelike.

Spinous process of a vertebra (Anat.), the dorsal process of the neural arch of a vertebra; a neurapophysis.

Spi*no"zism (?), n. The form of Pantheism taught by Benedict Spinoza, that there is but one substance, or infinite essence, in the universe, of which the so- called material and spiritual beings and phenomena are only modes, and that one this one substance is God. [Written also Spinosism.]

Spi*no"zist (?), n. A believer in Spinozism.

Spin"ster (?), n. [Spin + - ster.] 1. A woman who spins, or whose occupation is to spin.

She spake to spinster to spin it out.

Piers Plowman.

The spinsters and the knitters in the sun.

Shak.

2. A man who spins. [Obs.] Shak.

3. (Law) An unmarried or single woman; -- used in legal proceedings as a title, or addition to the surname.

If a gentlewoman be termed a spinster, she may abate the writ.

Coke.

4. A woman of evil life and character; -- so called from being forced to spin in a house of correction. [Obs.]

Spin"stress (?), n. A woman who spins. T. Brown.

Spin"stry (?), n. The business of one who spins; spinning. [Obs.] Milton.

Spin"ule (?), n. [L. spinula, dim. of spina a spine: cf. F. spinule.] A minute spine. Dana.

Spin`u*les"cent (?), a. (Bot.) Having small spines; somewhat thorny.

{ Spin"u*lose` (?), Spin"u*lous (?) }, a. [Cf. F. spinuleux.] Covered with small spines.

Spin"y (?), a. [From Spine.] 1. Full of spines; thorny; as, a spiny tree.

2. Like a spine in shape; slender. "Spiny grasshoppers sit chirping." Chapman.

3. Fig.: Abounding with difficulties or annoyances.

The spiny deserts of scholastic philosophy.

Bp. Warburton.

Spiny lobster. (Zoöl.) Same as Rock lobster, under Rock. See also Lobster.

Spin"y, n. See Spinny.

||Spi*o"de*a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Spio the typical genus.] (Zoöl.) An ||extensive division of marine Annelida, including those that are ||without oral tentacles or cirri, and have the gills, when present, ||mostly arranged along the sides of the body. They generally live in ||burrows or tubes.

Spi"ra*ble (?), a. [L. spirabilis.] Capable of being breathed; respirable. [Obs.] Nash.

Spir"a*cle (?), n.[L. spiraculum, fr. spirare to breathe: cf. F. spiracule. See Spirit.] 1. (Anat.) The nostril, or one of the nostrils, of whales, porpoises, and allied animals.

2. (Zoöl.) (a) One of the external openings communicating with the air tubes or tracheæ of insects, myriapods, and arachnids. They are variable in number, and are usually situated on the sides of the thorax and abdomen, a pair to a segment. These openings are usually elliptical, and capable of being closed. See Illust. under Coleoptera. (a) A tubular orifice communicating with the gill cavity of certain ganoid and all elasmobranch fishes. It is the modified first gill cleft.

3. Any small aperture or vent for air or other fluid.

Spi*rac"u*lar (?), a. Of or pertaining to a spiracle.

Spi*ræ"a (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;&?;&?;, fr. &?;&?;&?; a coil.] (Bot.) A genus of shrubs or perennial herbs including the meadowsweet and the hardhack.

Spi*ræ"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or derived from, the meadowsweet (Spiræa); formerly, designating an acid which is now called salicylic acid.

Spi"ral (?), a. [Cf. F. spiral. See Spire a winding line.] 1. Winding or circling round a center or pole and gradually receding from it; as, the spiral curve of a watch spring.

2. Winding round a cylinder or imaginary axis, and at the same time rising or advancing forward; winding like the thread of a screw; helical.

3. (Geom.) Of or pertaining to a spiral; like a spiral.

Spiral gear, or Spiral wheel (Mach.), a gear resembling in general a spur gear, but having its teeth cut at an angle with its axis, or so that they form small portions of screws or spirals. -- Spiral gearing, a kind of gearing sometimes used in light machinery, in which spiral gears, instead of bevel gears, are used to transmit motion between shafts that are not parallel. -- Spiral operculum, an operculum whih has spiral lines of growth. -- Spiral shell, any shell in which the whorls form a spiral or helix. -- Spiral spring. See the Note under Spring, n., 4.

Spi"ral (?), n. [Cf. F. spirale. See Spiral, a.] 1. (Geom.) A plane curve, not reëntrant, described by a point, called the generatrix, moving along a straight line according to a mathematical law, while the line is revolving about a fixed point called the pole. Cf. Helix.

2. Anything which has a spiral form, as a spiral shell.

Equiangular spiral,a plane curve which cuts all its generatrices at the same angle. Same as Logarithmic spiral, under Logarithmic. -- Spiral of Archimedes, a spiral the law of which is that the generatrix moves uniformly along the revolving line, which also moves uniformly.

Spi*ral"i*ty (?), n. The quality or states of being spiral.

Spi"ral*ly (?), adv. In a spiral form, manner, or direction.

Spi*ra`lo*zo"oid (?), n. [Spiral + zooid. So called because they often have a spiral form when contracted.] (Zoöl.) One of the special defensive zooids of certain hydroids. They have the form of long, slender tentacles, and bear lasso cells.

Spi"rant (?), n. [L. spirans, -antis, p. pr. of spirare to breathe. See Spirit.] (Phon.) A term used differently by different authorities; -- by some as equivalent to fricative, - - that is, as including all the continuous consonants, except the nasals m, n, ng; with the further exception, by others, of the liquids r, l, and the semivowels w, y; by others limited to f, v, th surd and sonant, and the sound of German ch, -- thus excluding the sibilants, as well as the nasals, liquids, and semivowels. See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 197-208.

Spi*ran"thy (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?; a coil + &?;&?;&?; flower.] (Bot.) The occasional twisted growth of the parts of a flower.

Spi*ra"tion (?), n. [L. spiratio, fr. spirare to breathe.] The act of breathing. [Obs.] Barrow.

Spire (?), v. i. [L. spirare to breathe. See Spirit.] To breathe. [Obs.] Shenstone.

Spire, n. [OE. spire, spir, a blade of grass, a young shoot, AS. spr; akin to G. spier a blade of grass, Dan. spire a sprout, sprig, Sw. spira a spar, Icel. spra.] 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 (Arch.), 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, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Spired (?); p. pr. & vb. n. 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, n. [L. spira coil, twist; akin to Gr. &?;&?;&?;: cf. F. 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, n.

Spire bearer. (Paleon.) Same as Spirifer.

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

Spi"ri*cle (?), n. [Dim., fr. L. spira a coil.] (Bot.) One of certain minute coiled threads in the coating of some seeds. When moistened these threads protrude in great numbers. Gray.

Spi"ri*fer (?), n. [NL., fr. L. spira a coil + ferreto 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.

||Spi*ril"lum (?), n. [NL., dim. of L. 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.

Spir"ing (?), a. Shooting up in a spire or spires. "The spiring grass." Dryton.

Spir"it (?), n. [OF. espirit, esperit, F. esprit, L. spiritus, from spirare to breathe, to blow. Cf. Conspire, Expire, Esprit, Sprite.] 1. Air set in motion by breathing; breath; hence, sometimes, life itself. [Obs.] "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. [Obs.]

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

14. (Med.) A solution in alcohol of a volatile principle. Cf. 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. (Chem.) See under Proof. -- Rectified spirit (Chem.), spirit rendered purer or more concentrated by redistillation, so as to increase the percentage of absolute alcohol. -- Spirit butterfly (Zoöl.), 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. (Zoöl.) (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 (Med.), 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 (Chem.), hydrochloric acid; -- so called because obtained from salt and sulphuric acid. [Obs.] -- Spirit of sense, the utmost refinement of sensation. [Obs.] Shak. -- Spirits, or Spirit, of turpentine (Chem.), 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 (Chem.), sulphuric acid; -- so called because formerly obtained by the distillation of green vitriol. [Obs.] -- Spirit of vitriolic ether (Chem.) ether; -- often but incorrectly called sulphuric ether. See Ether. [Obs.] -- Spirits, or Spirit, of wine (Chem.), 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.

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

Spir"it (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spirited; p. pr. & vb. n. 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.

Spir"it*al*ly (?), adv.[L. spiritalis belonging to breathing.] By means of the breath. [Obs.] Holder.

Spir"it*ed, a. 1. Animated or possessed by a spirit. [Obs.] "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, adv. -- Spir"it*ed*ness, n.

Spir"it*ful (?), a. Full of spirit; spirited. [R.]

The spiritful and orderly life of our own grown men.

Milton.

-- Spir"it*ful*ly, adv. -- Spir"it*ful*ness, n.

Spir"it*ism (?), n. Spiritualsm.

Spir"it*ist, n. A spiritualist.

Spir"it*less, a. 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, adv. -- Spir"it*less*ness, n.

||Spi`ri*to"so (?), a. & adv. [It.] (Mus.) Spirited; spiritedly; -- a ||direction to perform a passage in an animated, lively manner.

Spir"it*ous (?), a. [Cf. Spirituous.] 1. Like spirit; refined; defecated; pure. [R.]

More refined, more spirituous and pure.

Milton.

2. Ardent; active. [R.]

Spir"it*ous*ness, n. Quality of being spiritous. [R.]

Spir"it*u*al (?), a. [L. spiritualis: cf. F. 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.

Spir"it*u*al, n. A spiritual function, office, or affair. See Spirituality, 2.

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

Lowell.

Spir"it*u*al*ism (?), n. 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.

Spir"it*u*al*ist (?), n. 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.

Spir"it*u*al*ist, a. Spiritualistic. Taylor.

Spir`it*u*al*is"tic (?), a. Relating to, or connected with, spiritualism.

Spir`it*u*al"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Spiritualities (#). [L. spiritualitas: cf. F. 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. [Obs.]

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

Fuller.

Spir`it*u*al*i*za"tion (?), n. The act of spiritualizing, or the state of being spiritualized.

Spir"it*u*al*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spiritualized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spiritualizing (?).] [Cf. F. 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.

Spir"it*u*al*i`zer (?), n. One who spiritualizes.

Spir"it*u*al*ly, adv. In a spiritual manner; with purity of spirit; like a spirit.

Spir"it*u*al-mind`ed (?), a. Having the mind set on spiritual things, or filled with holy desires and affections. -- Spir"it*u*al-mind`ed*ness, n.

Spir"it*u*al*ness, n. The quality or state of being spiritual or spiritual-minded; spirituality.

Spir"it*u*al*ty (?), n. [See Spirituality.] (Eccl.) An ecclesiastical body; a spirituality. Shak.

||Spi`ri`tu`elle" (?), a. [F.] Of the nature, or having the appearance, ||of a spirit; pure; refined; ethereal.

Spir`it*u*os"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being spirituous; spirituousness. [R.]

Spir"it*u*ous (?), a. [Cf. (for sense 2) F. spiritueux. Cf. 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. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.

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

South.

Spir"it*u*ous*ness, n. The quality or state of being spirituous. [R.] Boyle.

Spirk"et*ing (?), n. (Naut.) The planking from the waterways up to the port sills. Totten.

Spirl"ing (?), n. Sparling. [Prov. Eng.]

||Spi`ro*bac*te"ri*a (?), n. pl.; sing. Spirobacterium (&?;). [NL. See ||4th Spire, and Bacterium.] (Biol.) See the Note under Microbacteria.

{ ||Spi`ro*chæ"ta (?), ||Spi`ro*chæ"te (?), } n. [L. spira a coil + Gr. &?;&?;&?; 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.

Spi"ro*graph (?), n. [L. spirare to breathe + -graph.] (Physiol.) An instrument for recording the respiratory movements, as the sphygmograph does those of the pulse.

Spi*rom"e*ter (?), n. [L. 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. Cf. Pneumatometer.

Spi*rom"e*try (?), n. The act or process of measuring the chest capacity by means of a spirometer.

Spi"ro*scope (?), n. [L. spirare to breathe + -scope.] (Physiol.) A wet meter used to determine the breathing capacity of the lungs.

{ Spi*royl"ic (?), Spi*royl"ous (?), } a. [NL. Spir&?; meadowsweet (a source of salicylal) + -yl + -ic, -ous.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, a substance now called salicylal. [Obs.]

Spirt (?), v. & n. Same as Spurt.

Spir"tle (?), v. t. To spirt in a scattering manner.

||Spir"u*la (?), n. [NL., dim. of L. spira a coil.] (Zoöl.) A genus of ||cephalopods having a multilocular, internal, siphunculated shell in ||the form of a flat spiral, the coils of which are not in contact.

Spir"u*late (?), n. (Zoöl.) Having the color spots, or structural parts, arranged spirally.

Spir"y (?), a. [From Spire a winding line.] Of a spiral form; wreathed; curled; serpentine.

Hid in the spiry volumes of the snake.

Dryden.

Spir"y, a. [FR. Spire a steeple.] Of or pertaining to a spire; like a spire, tall, slender, and tapering; abounding in spires; as, spiry turrets. "Spiry towns." Thomson.

Spiss (?), a. [L. spissus.] Thick; crowded; compact; dense. [Obs.]

This spiss and . . . copious, yet concise, treatise.

Brerewood.

Spis"sa*ted (?), a. Rendered dense or compact, as by evaporation; inspissated; thickened. [R.]

The spissated juice of the poppy.

Bp. Warburton.

Spis"si*tude (?), n. [L. spissitudo.] The quality or state of being spissated; as, the spissitude of coagulated blood, or of any coagulum. Arbuthnot.

Spit (?), n. [OE. spite, AS. spitu; akin to D. spit, G. spiess, OHG. spiz, Dan. spid. Sw. spett, and to G. spitz pointed. &radic;170.] 1. A long, slender, pointed rod, usually of iron, for holding meat while roasting.

2. A small point of land running into the sea, or a long, narrow shoal extending from the shore into the sea; as, a spit of sand. Cook.

3. The depth to which a spade goes in digging; a spade; a spadeful. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Spit, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Spitting.] [From Spit, n.; cf. Speet.] 1. To thrust a spit through; to fix upon a spit; hence, to thrust through or impale; as, to spit a loin of veal. "Infants spitted upon pikes." Shak.

2. To spade; to dig. [Prov. Eng.]

Spit, v. i. To attend to a spit; to use a spit. [Obs.]

She's spitting in the kitchen.

Old Play.

Spit, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spit (Spat, archaic); p. pr. & vb. n. Spitting.] [AS. spittan; akin to G. spützen, Dan. spytte, Sw. spotta,Icel. sp&?;ta, and prob. E. spew. The past tense spat is due to AS. sp&?;tte, from sp&?;tan to spit. Cf. Spat, n., Spew, Spawl, Spot, n.] 1. To eject from the mouth; to throw out, as saliva or other matter, from the mouth. "Thus spit I out my venom." Chaucer.

2. To eject; to throw out; to belch.

Spitted was sometimes used as the preterit and the past participle. "He . . . shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on." Luke xviii. 32.

Spit, n. The secretion formed by the glands of the mouth; spitle; saliva; sputum.

Spit, v. i. 1. To throw out saliva from the mouth.

2. To rain or snow slightly, or with sprinkles.

It had been spitting with rain.

Dickens.

To spit on or upon, to insult grossly; to treat with contempt. "Spitting upon all antiquity." South.

Spit"al (?), n. [Abbreviated from hospital.] [Written also spittle.] A hospital. [Obs.] Shak.

Spit"al*house` (?), n. A hospital. [Obs.]

Spit"ball` (?), n. Paper chewed, and rolled into a ball, to be thrown as a missile.

Spit"box` (?), n. A vessel to receive spittle.

Spitch"cock` (?), v. t. [1st spit + cock.] (Cookery) To split (as an eel) lengthwise, and broil it, or fry it in hot fat.

Spitch"cock`, n. (Cookery) An eel split and broiled.

Spitch"cocked` (?), a. (Cookery) Broiled or fried after being split lengthwise; -- said of eels.

Spit" curl` (?). A little lock of hair, plastered in a spiral form on the temple or forehead with spittle, or other adhesive substance. [Colloq.]

Spite (?), n. [Abbreviated fr. despite.] 1. Ill-will or hatred toward another, accompanied with the disposition to irritate, annoy, or thwart; petty malice; grudge; rancor; despite. Pope.

This is the deadly spite that angers.

Shak.

2. Vexation; chargrin; mortification. [R.] Shak.

In spite of, or Spite of, in opposition to all efforts of; in defiance or contempt of; notwithstanding. "Continuing, spite of pain, to use a knee after it had been slightly ibnjured." H. Spenser. "And saved me in spite of the world, the devil, and myself." South. "In spite of all applications, the patient grew worse every day." Arbuthnot. See Syn. under Notwithstanding. -- To owe one a spite, to entertain a mean hatred for him.

Syn. -- Pique, rancor; malevolence; grudge. -- Spite, Malice. Malice has more reference to the disposition, and spite to the manifestation of it in words and actions. It is, therefore, meaner than malice, thought not always more criminal. " Malice . . . is more frequently employed to express the dispositions of inferior minds to execute every purpose of mischief within the more limited circle of their abilities." Cogan. "Consider eke, that spite availeth naught." Wyatt. See Pique.

Spite, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spited; p. pr. & vb. n. Spiting.] 1. To be angry at; to hate. [Obs.]

The Danes, then . . . pagans, spited places of religion.

Fuller.

2. To treat maliciously; to try to injure or thwart.

3. To fill with spite; to offend; to vex. [R.]

Darius, spited at the Magi, endeavored to abolish not only their learning, but their language.

Sir. W. Temple.

<! p. 1389 !>

Spite"ful (?), a. Filled with, or showing, spite; having a desire to vex, annoy, or injure; malignant; malicious; as, a spiteful person or act. Shak. -- Spite"ful*ly, adv. Spite"ful*ness, n.

Spit"fire` (?), n. A violent, irascible, or passionate person. [Colloq.] Grose.

Spit"ful (?), n.; pl. Spitfuls (&?;). A spadeful. [Prov. Eng.]

Spit"ous (?), a. Having spite; spiteful. [Obs.]

Spit"ous*ly, adv. Spitefully. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Spits"cocked` (?), a. Spitchcocked.

Spit"ted (?), a. [From Spit.] 1. Put upon a spit; pierced as if by a spit.

2. Shot out long; -- said of antlers. Bacon.

Spit"ted, p. p. of Spit, v. i., to eject, to spit. [Obs.]

Spit"ter (?), n. [See Spit to eject from the mouth.] One who ejects saliva from the mouth.

Spit"ter, n. [See Spit an iron prong.] 1. One who puts meat on a spit.

2. (Zoöl.) A young deer whose antlers begin to shoot or become sharp; a brocket, or pricket.

Spit"tle (?), n. See Spital. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Spit"tle, v. t. [See Spit to spade.] To dig or stir with a small spade. [Prov. Eng.]

Spit"tle, n. A small sort of spade. [Prov. Eng.]

Spit"tle, n. [From Spit to eject from the mouth: cf. Spattle, and AS. sptl.] The thick, moist matter which is secreted by the salivary glands; saliva; spit.

Spittle insect. (Zoöl.) See Cuckoo spit (b), under Cuckoo.

Spit"tly (?), a. Like spittle; slimy. [Obs.]

Spit*toon" (?), n. A spitbox; a cuspidor.

Spit"-ven"om (?), n. Poison spittle; poison ejected from the mouth. [R.] Hooker.

Spitz" dog" (?). [G. spitz, spitzhund.] (Zoöl.) A breed of dogs having erect ears and long silky hair, usually white; -- called also Pomeranian dog, and louploup.

Spitz"en*burgh (?), n. A kind of red and yellow apple, of medium size and spicy flavor. It originated at Newtown, on Long Island.

||Splanch`napoph"y*sis (?), n.; pl. Splanchnapophyses (#). [NL. See ||Splanchnic, and Apophysis.] (Anat.) Any element of the skeleton in ||relation with the alimentary canal, as the jaws and hyoidean ||apparatus. -- Splanch`nap`o*phys"i*al (#), a. Mivart.

Splanch"nic (?), a. [Gr. &?;&?;&?; an entrail.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the viscera; visceral.

Splanch*nog"ra*phy (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?;&?; an entrail + -graphy.] Splanchnology.

Splanch*nol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?; an entrail + -logy.] That part of anatomy which treats of the viscera; also, a treatise on the viscera.

Splanch"no*pleure (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?; an entrail + &?;&?;&?;&?; side.] (Anat.) The inner, or visceral, one of the two lamellæ into which the vertebrate blastoderm divides on either side of the notochord, and from which the walls of the enteric canal and the umbilical vesicle are developed. See Somatopleure.

-- Splanch`no*pleu"ric (#), a.

Splanch`no-skel"e*ton (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?; an entrail + E. skeleton.] (Anat.) That part of the skeleton connected with the sense organs and the viscera. Owen.

Splanch*not"o*my (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?;&?; an entrail + &?;&?;&?;&?; to cut.] The dissection, or anatomy, of the viscera.

Splan"drel (?), n. See Spandrel. [R.]

Splash (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Splashed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Splashing.] [Akin to plash.] 1. To strike and dash about, as water, mud, etc.; to plash.

2. To spatter water, mud, etc., upon; to wet.

Splash, v. i. To strike and dash about water, mud, etc.; to dash in such a way as to spatter.

Splash, n. 1. Water, or water and dirt, thrown upon anything, or thrown from a puddle or the like; also, a spot or daub, as of matter which wets or disfigures.

2. A noise made by striking upon or in a liquid.

Splash"board` (?), n. A guard in the front part of vehicle, to prevent splashing by a mud or water from the horse's heels; -- in the United States commonly called dashboard.

Splash"er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, splashes.

2. One of the guarde over the wheels, as of a carriage, locomotive, etc. Weale.

3. A guard to keep off splashes from anything.

Splash"y (?), a. Full of dirty water; wet and muddy, so as be easily splashed about; slushy.

Splat"ter (?), v. i. & t. To spatter; to splash.

Splat"ter*dash` (?), n . Uproar. Jamieson.

Splay (?), v. t. [Abbrev. of display.] 1. To display; to spread. [Obs.] "Our ensigns splayed." Gascoigne.

2. To dislocate, as a shoulder bone.

3. To spay; to castrate. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

4. To turn on one side; to render oblique; to slope or slant, as the side of a door, window, etc. Oxf. Gloss.

Splay, a. Displayed; spread out; turned outward; hence, flat; ungainly; as, splay shoulders.

Sonwthing splay, something blunt-edged, unhandy, and infelicitous.

M. Arnold.

Splay, a. (Arch.) A slope or bevel, especially of the sides of a door or window, by which the opening is made larged at one face of the wall than at the other, or larger at each of the faces than it is between them.

Splay"foot` (?), n.; pl. Splayfeet (&?;). A foot that is abnormally flattened and spread out; flat foot.

{ Splay"foot`, Splay"foot`ed } a. Having a splayfoot or splayfeet.

Splay"mouth` (?), n.; pl. Splaymouths (&?;). A wide mouth; a mouth stretched in derision. Dryden.

Splay`mouthed" (?), a. Having a splaymouth. T. Brown.

Spleen (?), n. [L. splen, Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?; the milt or spleen, affection of the spleen; cf. L. lien, plihan, plhan.] 1. (Anat.) A peculiar glandlike but ductless organ found near the stomach or intestine of most vertebrates and connected with the vascular system; the milt. Its exact function in not known.

2. Anger; latent spite; ill humor; malice; as, to vent one's spleen.

In noble minds some dregs remain, Not yet purged off, of spleen and sour disdain.

Pope.

3. A fit of anger; choler. Shak.

4. A sudden motion or action; a fit; a freak; a whim. [Obs. or R.]

A thousand spleens bear her a thousand ways.

Shak.

5. Melancholy; hypochondriacal affections.

Bodies changed to various forms by spleen.

Pope.

There is a luxury in self-dispraise: And inward self-disparagement affords To meditative spleen a grateful feast.

Wordsworth.

6. A fit of immoderate laughter or merriment. [Obs.]

Thy silly thought enforces my spleen.

Shak.

Spleen, v. t. To dislke. [Obs.] Bp. Hacket.

Spleened (?), a. 1. Deprived of the spleen.

2. Angered; annoyed. [Obs.] R. North.

Spleen"ful (?), a. Displaying, or affected with, spleen; angry; fretful; melancholy.

Myself have calmed their spleenful mutiny.

Shak.

Then rode Geraint, a little spleenful yet, Across the bridge that spann'd the dry ravine.

Tennyson.

Spleen"ish, a. Spleeny; affected with spleen; fretful. -- Spleen"ish*ly, adv. -- Spleen"ish*ness, n.

Spleen"less, a. Having no spleen; hence, kind; gentle; mild. [Obs.] Chapman.

Spleen"wort` (?), n. [Spleen + wort; cf. L. splenium, asplenium, Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?;, &?;&?;&?;&?;, &?;&?;&?;. ] (Bot.) Any fern of the genus Asplenium, some species of which were anciently used as remedies for disorders of the spleen.

Spleen"y (?), a. 1. Irritable; peevish; fretful.

Spleeny Lutheran, and not wholesome to Our cause.

Shak.

2. Affected with nervous complaints; melancholy.

Spleg"et (?), n. [Cf. Pledget.] (Med.) A cloth dipped in a liquid for washing a sore. Crabb.

||Sple*nal"gi*a (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;&?;&?; spleen + &?;&?;&?; ||pain.] (Med.) Pain over the region of the spleen.

||Splen"cu*lus (?), n.; pl. Splenculi (#). [NL., dim. of L. splen.] ||(Anat.) A lienculus.

Splen"dent (?), a. [L. splendens, -entis, p. pr. of splendere to shine.] 1. Shining; glossy; beaming with light; lustrous; as, splendent planets; splendent metals. See the Note under 3d Luster, 4.

2. Very conspicuous; illustrious. "Great and splendent fortunes." Sir H. Wotton.

Splen"did (?), a. [L. splendidus, fr. splendere shine; cf. Lith. splendëti: cf. F. splendide.] 1. Possessing or displaying splendor; shining; very bright; as, a splendid sun.

2. Showy; magnificent; sumptuous; pompous; as, a splendid palace; a splendid procession or pageant.

3. Illustrious; heroic; brilliant; celebrated; famous; as, a splendid victory or reputation.

Splen*did"i*ous (?), a. Splendid. [Obs.]

Splen"did*ly (?), adv. In a splendid manner; magnificently.

Splen"did*ness, n. The quality of being splendid.

Splen"did*ous (?), a. Splendid. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Splen*dif"er*ous (?), a. Splendor- bearing; splendid. Bale (1538). "A splendiferous woman." Haliburton. [Now used humorously.]

Splen"dor (?), n.[L. fr. splendere to shine: cf. F. splendeur.] 1. Great brightness; brilliant luster; brilliancy; as, the splendor ot the sun. B. Jonson.

2. Magnifience; pomp; parade; as, the splendor of equipage, ceremonies, processions, and the like. "Rejoice in splendor of mine own." Shak.

3. Brilliancy; glory; as, the splendor of a victory.

Syn. -- Luster; brilliancy; magnifience; gorgeousness; display; showiness; pomp; parade; grandeur.

{ Splen"drous (?), Splen"dor*ous (?) }, a. Splendid. Drayton.

Splen"e*tic (?), a. [L. spleneticus: cf. F. splénétique. See Spleen.] Affected with spleen; malicious; spiteful; peevish; fretful. "Splenetic guffaw." G. Eliot.

You humor me when I am sick; Why not when I am splenetic?

Pope.

Syn. -- Morese; gloomy; sullen; peevish; fretful.

Splen"e*tic, n. A person affected with spleen.

Sple*net"ic*al (?), a. Splenetic.

Sple*net"ic*al*ly, adv. In a splenetical manner.

Sple"ni*al (?), a. [L. splenium a plaster, a patch, Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?; a bandage.] (Anat.) (a) Designating the splenial bone. (b) Of or pertaining to the splenial bone or splenius muscle.

Splenial bone (Anat.), a thin splintlike bone on the inner side of the proximal portion of the mandible of many vertebrates.

Sple"ni*al, n. (Anat.) The splenial bone.

Splen"ic (?), a. [L. splenicus, Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?;; cf. F. splénique.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the spleen; lienal; as, the splenic vein.

Splenic apoplexy or fever. (Med.) See Anthrax, n., 3.

Splen"ic*al (?), a. Splenic.

Splen"ish, a. Spleenish. [Obs.] Drayton.

||Sple*ni"tis (?), n.[NL., fr. Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?; of the spleen.] (Med.) ||Inflammation of the spleen.

Splen"i*tive (?), a. Splenetic. Shak.

Even and smooth as seemed the temperament of the nonchalant, languid Virginian -- not splenitive or rash.

T. N. Page.

||Sple"ni*um (?), n.[L., a plaster, a patch, from Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?; a ||bandage, compress.] (Anat.) The thickened posterior border of the ||corpus callosum; -- so called in allusion to its shape.

||Sple"ni*us (?), n. [NL.] (Anat.) A flat muscle of the back of the ||neck.

Splen`i*za"tion (?), n. (Med.) A morbid state of the lung produced by inflammation, in which its tissue resembles that of the spleen.

Splen"o*cele (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?; spleen + &?;&?;&?; a tumor.] (Med.) Hernia formed by the spleen.

Sple*nog"ra*phy (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?; spleen + -graphy.] A description of the spleen.

Sple"noid (?), a.[Gr. &?;&?;&?; spleeen + -oid.] (Anat.) Resembling the spleen; spleenlike.

Sple*nol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?; spleen + -logy.] The branch of science which treats of the spleen.

Sple*not"o*my (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?; spleen + &?;&?;&?; to cut.] (a) (Anat.) Dissection or anatomy of the spleen. (b) (Med.) An incision into the spleen; removal of the spleen by incision.

Splent (?), n. 1. See Splent.

2. See Splent coal, below.

Splent coal, an inferior kind of cannel coal from Scotch collieries; -- called also splent, splint, and splint coal.

Spleu"chan (?), n. [Gael. spliuchan.] A pouch, as for tobacco. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

Splice (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spliced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Splicing (?).] [D. splitsen, splitten; akin to G. splissen, Sw. splissa, Dan. splisse, and E. split; -- from the dividing or splitting the ends into separate strands. See Split, v. t.] 1. To unite, as two ropes, or parts of a rope, by a particular manner of interweaving the strands, -- the union being between two ends, or between an end and the body of a rope.

2. To unite, as spars, timbers, rails, etc., by lapping the two ends together, or by applying a piece which laps upon the two ends, and then binding, or in any way making fast.

3. To unite in marrige. [Slang]

Splice grafting.ee under Grafting. -- To splice the main brace (Naut.), to give out, or drink, an extra allowance of spirits on occasion of special exposure to wet or cold, or to severe fatigue; hence, to take a dram.

Splice, n. A junction or joining made by splicing.

Spline (?), n. 1. A rectangular piece fitting grooves like key seats in a hub and a shaft, so that while the one may slide endwise on the other, both must revolve together; a feather; also, sometimes, a groove to receive such a rectangular piece.

2. A long, flexble piece of wood sometimes used as a ruler.

Splin"ing, a. Of or pertaining to a spline.

Splining machine, a machine tool for cutting grooves, key seats, or slots; a slotting machine.

Splint (?), n. [Akin to D. splinter,G. splinter, splitter, Dan. splint, Sw. splint a kind of spike, a forelock (in nautical use), Sw. splintato splint, splinter, Dan. splinte, and E. split. See Split, v. t., and cf. Splent.] 1. A piece split off; a splinter.

2. (Surg.) A thin piece of wood, or other substance, used to keep in place, or protect, an injured part, especially a broken bone when set.

3. (Anat.) A splint bone.

4. (Far.) A disease affecting the splint bones, as a callosity or hard excrescence.

5. (Anc. Armor.) One of the small plates of metal used in making splint armor. See Splint armor, below.

The knees and feet were defended by splints, or thin plates of steel.

Sir. W. Scott.

6. Splint, or splent, coal. See Splent coal, under Splent.

Splint armor,a kind of ancient armor formed of thin plates of metal, usually overlapping each other and allowing the limbs to move freely. -- Splint bone (Anat.), one of the rudimentary, splintlike metacarpal or metatarsal bones on either side of the cannon bone in the limbs of the horse and allied animals. -- Splint coal. See Splent coal, under Splent.

Splint, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Splinted; p. pr. & vb. n. Splinting.] To split into splints, or thin, slender pieces; to splinter; to shiver. [Obs. or R.] Florio.

2. To fasten or confine with splints, as a broken limb. See Splint, n., 2. [R.] Shak.

Splin"ter (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Splintered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Splintering.] [Cf. LG. splittern, splinteren. See Splint, n., Split.] 1. To split or rend into long, thin pieces; to shiver; as, the lightning splinters a tree.

After splintering their lances, they wheeled about, and . . . abandoned the field to the enemy.

Prescott.

2. To fasten or confine with splinters, or splints, as a broken limb. Bp. Wren.

Splin"ter, v. i. To become split into long pieces.

Splin"ter, n. [See Splinter, v., or Splint, n.] A thin piece split or rent off lengthwise, as from wood, bone, or other solid substance; a thin piece; a sliver; as, splinters of a ship's mast rent off by a shot.

<! p. 1390 !>

Splinter bar. (a) A crossbar in a coach, which supports the springs. (b) The bar to which the traces are attached; a roller bolt; a whiffletree.

Splin"ter*proof` (spln"tr*prf`), a. (Mil.) Proof against the splinters, or fragments, of bursting shells.

Splin"ter*y (-), a. Consisting of splinters; resembling splinters; as, the splintery fracture of a mineral.

Split (splt), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Split (Splitted, R.); p. pr. & vb. n. Splitting.] [Probably of Scand. or Low german origin; cf. Dan. splitte, LG. splitten, OD. splitten, spletten, D. splijten, G. spleissen, MHG. splzen. Cf. Splice, Splint, Splinter.] 1. To divide lengthwise; to separate from end to end, esp. by force; to divide in the direction of the grain layers; to rive; to cleave; as, to split a piece of timber or a board; to split a gem; to split a sheepskin.

Cold winter split the rocks in twain.

Dryden.

2. To burst; to rupture; to rend; to tear asunder.

A huge vessel of exceeding hard marble split asunder by congealed water.

Boyle.

3. To divide or break up into parts or divisions, as by discord; to separate into parts or parties, as a political party; to disunite. [Colloq.] South.

4. (Chem.) To divide or separate into components; -- often used with up; as, to split up sugar into alcohol and carbonic acid.

To split hairs, to make distinctions of useless nicety.

Split, v. i. 1. To part asunder; to be rent; to burst; as, vessels split by the freezing of water in them.

2. To be broken; to be dashed to pieces.

The ship splits on the rock.

Shak.

3. To separate into parties or factions. [Colloq.]

4. To burst with laughter. [Colloq.]

Each had a gravity would make you split.

Pope.

5. To divulge a secret; to betray confidence; to peach. [Slang] Thackeray.

6. (Blackjack) to divide one hand of blackjack into two hands, allowed when the first two cards dealt to a player have the same value.

To split on a rock, to err fatally; to have the hopes and designs frustrated.

Split, n. A crack, or longitudinal fissure.

2. A breach or separation, as in a political party; a division. [Colloq.]

3. A piece that is split off, or made thin, by splitting; a splinter; a fragment.

4. Specif (Leather Manuf.), one of the sections of a skin made by dividing it into two or more thicknesses.

5. (Faro) A division of a stake happening when two cards of the kind on which the stake is laid are dealt in the same turn.

6. (Finance) the substitution of more than one share of a corporation's stock for one share. The market price of the stock usually drops in proportion to the increase in outstanding shares of stock. The split may be in any ratio, as a two-for-one split; a three-for-two split.

7. (Blackjack) the division by a player of one hand of blackjack into two hands, allowed when the first two cards dealt to a player have the same value; the player is usually obliged to increase the amount wagered by placing a sum equal to the original bet on the new hand thus created.

Split, a. 1. Divided; cleft.

2. (Bot.) Divided deeply; cleft.

Split pease, hulled pease split for making soup, etc. -- Split pin (Mach.), a pin with one end split so that it may be spread open to secure it in its place. -- Split pulley, a parting pulley. See under Pulley. -- Split ring, a ring with overlapped or interlocked ends which may be sprung apart so that objects, as keys, may be strung upon the ring or removed from it. -- Split ticket, a ballot containing the names of only a portion of the candidates regularly nominated by one party, other names being substituted for those omitted. [U.S.]

Split"feet` (?), n. pl. (Zoöl.) The Fissipedia.

Split"-tail` (?), n. (Zoöl.) (a) A california market fish (Pogonichthys macrolepidotus) belonging to the Carp family. (b) The pintail duck.

Split"ter (?), n. One who, or that which, splits.

Split"-tongued` (?), a. (Zoöl.) Having a forked tongue, as that of snakes and some lizards.

Splotch (?), n. [Cf. Splash.] A spot; a stain; a daub. R. Browning.

Splotch"y (?), a. Covered or marked with splotches.

Splurge (?), n. A blustering demonstration, or great effort; a great display. [Slang, U.S.] Bartlett.

Splurge, v. i. To make a great display in any way, especially in oratory. [Slang, U.S.]

Splut"ter (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Spluttered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spluttering.] [Prov. E. splutter, eqivalent to sputter. Cf. Sputter.] To speak hastily and confusedly; to sputter. [Colloq.] Carleton.

Splut"ter, n. A confused noise, as of hasty speaking. [Colloq.]

Splut"ter*er (?), n. One who splutters.

Spod"o*man`cy (?), n. [Gr. spodo`s ashes + -mancy.] Divination by means of ashes.

Spod`o*man"tic (?), a. Relating to spodomancy, or divination by means of ashes. C. Kingsley.

Spod"u*mene (?; 135), n. [Gr. &?;, p. pr. pass. from &?; to burn to ashes, from spodo`s ashes; cf. F. spodumène.] (Min.) A mineral of a white to yellowish, purplish, or emerald-green color, occuring in prismatic crystals, often of great size. It is a silicate of aluminia and lithia. See Hiddenite.

Spof"fish (?), a. [probably from Prov. E. spoffle to be spoffish.] Earnest and active in matters of no moment; bustling. [Colloq. Eng.] Dickens.

Spoil (?) (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spoiled (#) or Spoilt (#); p. pr. & vb. n. Spoiling.] [F. spolier, OF. espoilelier, fr. L. spoliare, fr. spolium spoil. Cf. Despoil, Spoliation.] 1. To plunder; to strip by violence; to pillage; to rob; -- with of before the name of the thing taken; as, to spoil one of his goods or possession. "Ye shall spoil the Egyptians." Ex. iii. 22.

My sons their old, unhappy sire despise, Spoiled of his kingdom, and deprived of eues.

Pope.

2. To seize by violence;; to take by force; to plunder.

No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man.

Mark iii. 27.

3. To cause to decay and perish; to corrput; to vitiate; to mar.

Spiritual pride spoils many graces.

Jer. Taylor.

4. To render useless by injury; to injure fatally; to ruin; to destroy; as, to spoil paper; to have the crops spoiled by insects; to spoil the eyes by reading.

Spoil (?), v. i. 1. To practice plunder or robbery.

Outlaws, which, lurking in woods, used to break forth to rob and spoil.

Spenser.

2. To lose the valuable qualities; to be corrupted; to decay; as, fruit will soon spoil in warm weather.

Spoil, n. [Cf. OF. espoille, L. spolium.] 1. That which is taken from another by violence; especially, the plunder taken from an enemy; pillage; booty.

Gentle gales, Fanning their odoriferous wings, dispense Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole Those balmy spoils.

Milton.

2. Public offices and their emoluments regarded as the peculiar property of a successful party or faction, to be bestowed for its own advantage; -- commonly in the plural; as to the victor belong the spoils.

From a principle of gratitude I adhered to the coalition; my vote was counted in the day of battle, but I was overlooked in the division of the spoil.

Gibbon.

3. That which is gained by strength or effort.

each science and each art his spoil.

Bentley.

4. The act or practice of plundering; robbery; aste.

The man that hath no music in himself, Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, Is fit for treason, stratagems, and spoil.

Shak.

5. Corruption; cause of corruption. [Archaic]

Villainous company hath been the spoil of me.

Shak.

6. The slough, or cast skin, of a serpent or other animal. [Obs.] Bacon.

Spoil bank, a bank formed by the earth taken from an excavation, as of a canal. -- The spoils system, the theory or practice of regarding public and their emoluments as so much plunder to be distributed among their active partisans by those who are chosen to responsible offices of administration.

Spoil"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being spoiled.

Spoil"er (?), n. 1. One who spoils; a plunderer; a pillager; a robber; a despoiler.

2. One who corrupts, mars, or renders useless.

Spoil"five` (?), n. A certain game at cards in which, if no player wins three of the five tricks possible on any deal, the game is said to be spoiled.

Spoil"ful (?), a. Wasteful; rapacious. [Poetic]

Spoils"man (?), n.; pl. Spoilsmen (&?;). One who serves a cause or a party for a share of the spoils; in United States politics, one who makes or recognizes a demand for public office on the ground of partisan service; also, one who sanctions such a policy in appointments to the public service.

Spoils"mon`ger (?), n. One who promises or distributes public offices and their emoluments as the price of services to a party or its leaders.

Spoke (?), imp. of Speak.

Spoke, n. [OE. spoke, spake, AS, spca; akin to D. speek, LG. speke, OHG. speihha, G. speiche. &radic;170. Cf. Spike a nail.] 1. The radius or ray of a wheel; one of the small bars which are inserted in the hub, or nave, and which serve to support the rim or felly.

2. (Naut.) A projecting handle of a steering wheel.

3. A rung, or round, of a ladder.

4. A contrivance for fastening the wheel of a vehicle, to prevent it from turning in going down a hill.

To put a spoke in one's wheel, to thwart or obstruct one in the execution of some design.

Spoke, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spoked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spoking.] To furnish with spokes, as a wheel.

Spo"ken (?), a. [p. p. of Speak.] 1. Uttered in speech; delivered by word of mouth; oral; as, a spoken narrative; the spoken word.

2. Characterized by a certain manner or style in speaking; -- often in composition; as, a pleasant-spoken man.

Methinks you 're better spoken.

Shak.

Spoke"shave` (?), n. A kind of drawing knife or planing tool for dressing the spokes of wheels, the shells of blocks, and other curved work.

Spokes"man (?), n.; pl. Spokesmen (#). [Speak, spoke + man.] One who speaks for another.

He shall be thy spokesman unto the people.

Ex. iv. 16.

Spo"li*ate (?), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Spoliated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spoliating (?).] [L. spoliatus, p. p. of spoliare spoil. See Spoil, v. t.] To plunder; to pillage; to despoil; to rob.

Spo`li*a"tion (?), n. [L. spoliatio; cf. F. spoliation. See Spoil, v. t.] 1. The act of plundering; robbery; deprivation; despoliation.

Legal spoliation, which will impoverish one part of the community in order to corrupt the remainder.

Sir G. C. Lewis.

2. Robbery or plunder in war; especially, the authorized act or practice of plundering neutrals at sea.

3. (Eccl. Law) (a) The act of an incumbent in taking the fruits of his benefice without right, but under a pretended title. Blackstone.

(b) A process for possession of a church in a spiritual court.

4. (Law) Injury done to a document.

Spo"li*a*tive (?), a. [Cf. F. spoliatif.] Serving to take away, diminish, or rob; esp. (Med.), serving to diminish sensibily the amount of blood in the body; as, spoliative bloodletting.

Spo"li*a`tor (?), n. One who spoliates; a spoiler.

Spo"li*a*to*ry (?), a. Tending to spoil; destructive; spoliative.

{ Spon*da"ic (?), Spon*da"ic*al (?) }, a. [L. spondaicus, spondiacus, Gr. &?;: cf. F. spondaïque.] 1. Or of pertaining to a spondee; consisting of spondees.

2. Containing spondees in excess; marked by spondees; as, a spondaic hexameter, i. e., one which has a spondee instead of a dactyl in the fifth foot.

Spon"dee (?), n. [L. spondeus, Gr. &?; (sc. &?;), fr. &?; a drink offering, libation, fr. &?; to pour out, make a libation: cf. F. spondée. So called because at libations slow, solemn melodies were used, chiefly in this meter.] (pros.) A poetic foot of two long syllables, as in the Latin word lgs.

Spon*du"lics (?), n. Money. [Slang, U.S.] Bartlett.

{ Spon"dyl, Spon"dyle } (?), n. [L. spondylus, Gr. &?;, &?;: cf. F. spondyle.] (Anat.) A joint of the backbone; a vertebra.

Spong (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] An irregular, narrow, projecting part of a field. [Prov. Eng.]

Sponge (?), n. [OF. esponge, F. éponge, L. spongia, Gr. &?;, &?;. Cf. Fungus, Spunk.] [Formerly written also spunge.] 1. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of Spongiæ, or Porifera. See Illust. and Note under Spongiæ.

2. The elastic fibrous skeleton of many species of horny Spongiæ (keratosa), used for many purposes, especially the varieties of the genus Spongia. The most valuable sponges are found in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, and on the coasts of Florida and the West Indies.

3. Fig.: One who lives upon others; a pertinaceous and indolent dependent; a parasite; a sponger.

4. Any spongelike substance. Specifically: (a) Dough before it is kneaded and formed into loaves, and after it is converted into a light, spongy mass by the agency of the yeast or leaven. (b) Iron from the puddling furnace, in a pasty condition. (c) Iron ore, in masses, reduced but not melted or worked.

5. (Gun.) A mop for cleaning the bore of a cannon after a discharge. It consists of a cylinder of wood, covered with sheepskin with the wool on, or cloth with a heavy looped nap, and having a handle, or staff.

6. (Far.) The extremity, or point, of a horseshoe, answering to the heel.

Bath sponge, any one of several varieties of coarse commercial sponges, especially Spongia equina. -- Cup sponge, a toilet sponge growing in a cup- shaped form. -- Glass sponge. See Glass- sponge, in the Vocabulary. -- Glove sponge, a variety of commercial sponge (Spongia officinalis, variety tubulufera), having very fine fibers, native of Florida, and the West Indies. -- Grass sponge, any one of several varieties of coarse commercial sponges having the surface irregularly tufted, as Spongia graminea, and S. equina, variety cerebriformis, of Florida and the West Indies. -- Horse sponge, a coarse commercial sponge, especially Spongia equina. -- Platinum sponge. (Chem.) See under Platinum. -- Pyrotechnical sponge, a substance made of mushrooms or fungi, which are boiled in water, dried, and beaten, then put in a strong lye prepared with saltpeter, and again dried in an oven. This makes the black match, or tinder, brought from Germany. -- Sheep's-wool sponge, a fine and durable commercial sponge (Spongia equina, variety gossypina) found in Florida and the West Indies. The surface is covered with larger and smaller tufts, having the oscula between them. -- Sponge cake, a kind of sweet cake which is light and spongy. -- Sponge lead, or Spongy lead (Chem.), metallic lead brought to a spongy form by reduction of lead salts, or by compressing finely divided lead; -- used in secondary batteries and otherwise. -- Sponge tree (Bot.), a tropical leguminous tree (Acacia Farnesiana), with deliciously fragrant flowers, which are used in perfumery. -- Toilet sponge, a very fine and superior variety of Mediterranean sponge (Spongia officinalis, variety Mediterranea); -- called also turkish sponge. -- To set a sponge (Cookery), to leaven a small mass of flour, to be used in leavening a larger quantity. - - To throw up the sponge, to give up a contest; to acknowledge defeat; -- from a custom of the prize ring, the person employed to sponge a pugilist between rounds throwing his sponge in the air in token of defeat. [Cant or Slang] "He was too brave a man to throw up the sponge to fate." Lowell. -- Vegetable sponge. (Bot.) See Loof. -- Velvet sponge, a fine, soft commercial sponge (Spongia equina, variety meandriniformis) found in Florida and the West Indies. -- Vitreous sponge. See Glass-sponge. - - Yellow sponge, a common and valuable commercial sponge (Spongia agaricina, variety corlosia) found in Florida and the West Indies.

Sponge, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sponged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sponging (?).] 1. To cleanse or wipe with a sponge; as, to sponge a slate or a cannon; to wet with a sponge; as, to sponge cloth.

2. To wipe out with a sponge, as letters or writing; to efface; to destroy all trace of. Hooker.

3. Fig.: To deprive of something by imposition. "How came such multitudes of our nation . . . to be sponged of their plate and their money?" South.

4. Fig.: To get by imposition or mean arts without cost; as, to sponge a breakfast. Swift.

Sponge, v. i. 1. To suck in, or imbile, as a sponge.

2. Fig.: To gain by mean arts, by intrusion, or hanging on; as, an idler sponges on his neighbor. E. Eggleston.

The fly is an intruder, and a common smell-feast, that sponges upon other people's trenchers.

L'Estrange.

3. To be converted, as dough, into a light, spongy mass by the agency of yeast, or leaven.

Sponge"let (?), n. See Spongiole.

Spon"geous (?), a. [See Spongious.] Resembling sponge; having the nature or qualities of sponge.

Spon"ger (?), n. 1. One who sponges, or uses a sponge.

2. One employed in gathering sponges.

3. Fig.: A parasitical dependent; a hanger- on.

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||Spon"gi*æ (?), n. pl. [See Sponge.] (Zoöl.) The grand division of the ||animal kingdom which includes the sponges; -- called also Spongida, ||Spongiaria, Spongiozoa, and Porifera.

In the Spongiæ, the soft sarcode of the body is usually supported by a skeleton consisting of horny fibers, or of silleceous or calcareous spicules. The common sponges contain larger and smaller cavities and canals, and numerous small ampullæ which which are lined with ciliated cells capable of taking in solid food. The outer surface usually has minute pores through which water enters, and large openings for its exit. Sponges produce eggs and spermatozoa, and the egg when fertilized undergoes segmentation to form a ciliated embryo.

||Spon"gi*da (?), n. pl. [NL.] Spongiæ.

Spon"gi*form (?), a. Resembling a sponge; soft and porous; porous.

||Spon*gil"la (?), n. [NL., dim. of spongia a sponge.] (Zoöl.) A genus ||of siliceous spongea found in fresh water.

Spon"gin (?), n. (Physiol. Chem.) The chemical basis of sponge tissue, a nitrogenous, hornlike substance which on decomposition with sulphuric acid yields leucin and glycocoll.

Spon"gi*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being spongy. Dr. H. More.

Spon"ging (?), a. & n. from Sponge, v.

Sponging house (Eng. Law), a bailiff's or other house in which debtors are put before being taken to jail, or until they compromise with their creditors. At these houses extortionate charges are commonly made for food, lodging, etc.

Spon"gi*ole (?; 277), n. [L. spongiola a rose gall, small roots, dim. of spongia: cf. F. spongiole.] (Bot.) A supposed spongelike expansion of the tip of a rootlet for absorbing water; -- called also spongelet.

Spon"gi*o*lite (?), n. [Gr. &?; sponge + -lite.] (Paleon.) One of the microsporic siliceous spicules which occur abundantly in the texture of sponges, and are sometimes found fossil, as in flints.

Spon`gi*o*pi"lin (?), n. [Gr. &?;, dim. of &?; a sponge + &?; felt.] (Med.) A kind of cloth interwoven with small pieces of sponge and rendered waterproof on one side by a covering of rubber. When moistend with hot water it is used as a poultice.

{ Spon"gi*ose` (?), Spon"gi*ous (?) }, a. [L. spongious, spongeosus: cf. F. spongieux. See Sponge.] Somewhat spongy; spongelike; full of small cavities like sponge; as, spongious bones.

||Spon`gi*o*zo"a (?), n. pl. [NL., Gr. &?; sponge + &?; an animal.] ||(Zoöl.) See Sponglæ.

Spon"go*blast (?), n. [Gr. &?; sponge + -blast.] (Zoöl.) One of the cells which, in sponges, secrete the spongin, or the material of the horny fibers.

Spon"goid (?; 277), a. [Gr. &?; sponge + -oid.] Resembling sponge; like sponge.

Spon"gy (?), a. 1. Soft, and full of cavities; of an open, loose, pliable texture; as, a spongy excrescence; spongy earth; spongy cake; spongy bones.

2. Wet; drenched; soaked and soft, like sponge; rainy. "Spongy April." Shak.

3. Having the quality of imbibing fluids, like a sponge.

Spongy lead (Chem.), sponge lead. See under Sponge. -- Spongy platinum. See under Platinum.

Sponk (?), n. See Spunk.

Spon"sal (?), a. [L. sponsalis, fr. sponsus a betrothal, fr. spondere, sponsum, to betroth. See Spouse, and cf. Esousal, Spousal.] Relating to marriage, or to a spouse; spousal.

Spon"si*ble (?), a. [Abbrev. from responsible.] responsible; worthy of credit. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

Spon"sion (?), n. [L. sonsio, fr. spondere, sponsum, to promise solemnly.] 1. The act of becoming surety for another.

2. (Internat. Law) An act or engagement on behalf of a state, by an agent not specially authorized for the purpose, or by one who exceeds the limits of authority.

Spon"sion*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to a pledge or agreement; responsible. [R.]

He is righteous even in that representative and sponsional person he put on.

Abp. Leighton.

Spon"son (?), n. (Shipbuilding) (a) One of the triangular platforms in front of, and abaft, the paddle boxes of a steamboat. (b) One of the slanting supports under the guards of a steamboat. (c) One of the armored projections fitted with gun ports, used on modern war vessels.

Spon"sor (?), n. [L., from spondere, sponsum, to engage one's self. See Spose.] 1. One who binds himself to answer for another, and is responsible for his default; a surety.

2. One who at the baptism of an infant professes the Christian faith in its name, and guarantees its religious education; a godfather or godmother.

Spon*so"ri*al (?), a. Pertaining to a sponsor.

Spon"sor*ship (?), n. State of being a sponsor.

Spon`ta*ne"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Spontaneities (#). [Cf. F. spontanéité.] 1. The quality or state of being spontaneous, or acting from native feeling, proneness, or temperament, without constraint or external force.

Romney Leigh, who lives by diagrams, And crosses not the spontaneities Of all his individual, personal life With formal universals.

Mrs. Browning.

2. (Biol.) (a) The tendency to undergo change, characteristic of both animal and vegetable organisms, and not restrained or cheked by the environment. (b) The tendency to activity of muscular tissue, including the voluntary muscles, when in a state of healthful vigor and refreshment.

Spon*ta"ne*ous (?), a. [L. spontaneus, fr. sponte of free will, voluntarily.] 1. Proceding from natural feeling, temperament, or disposition, or from a native internal proneness, readiness, or tendency, without constraint; as, a spontaneous gift or proportion.

2. Proceeding from, or acting by, internal impulse, energy, or natural law, without external force; as, spontaneous motion; spontaneous growth.

3. Produced without being planted, or without human labor; as, a spontaneous growth of wood.

Spontaneous combustion, combustion produced in a substance by the evolution of heat through the chemical action of its own elements; as, the spontaneous combustion of waste matter saturated with oil. -- Spontaneous generation. (Biol.) See under Generation.

Syn. -- Voluntary; uncompelled; willing. -- Spontaneous, Voluntary. What is voluntary is the result of a volition, or act of choice; it therefore implies some degree of consideration, and may be the result of mere reason without excited feeling. What is spontaneous springs wholly from feeling, or a sudden impulse which admits of no reflection; as, a spontaneous burst of applause. Hence, the term is also applied to things inanimate when they are produced without the determinate purpose or care of man. "Abstinence which is but voluntary fasting, and . . . exercise which is but voluntary labor." J. Seed.

Spontaneous joys, where nature has its play, The soul adopts, and owns their firstborn away.

Goldsmith.

-- Spon*ta"ne*ous*ly, adv. -- Spon*ta"ne*ous*ness, n.

Spon*toon" (?), n. [F. sponton, esponton, it. spontone, spuntone.] (Mil.) A kind of half-pike, or halberd, formerly borne by inferior officers of the British infantry, and used in giving signals to the soldiers.

Spook (?), n. [D. spook; akin to G. spuk, Sw. spöke, Dan. spögelse a specter, spöge to play, sport, joke, spög a play, joke.] 1. A spirit; a ghost; an apparition; a hobgoblin. [Written also spuke.] Ld. Lytton.

2. (Zoöl.) The chimæra.

Spool (?), n. [OE. spole, OD. spoele, D. spoel; akin to G. spule, OHG. spuola, Dan. & Sw. spole.] A piece of cane or red with a knot at each end, or a hollow cylinder of wood with a ridge at each end, used to wind thread or yarn upon.

Spool stand, an article holding spools of thread, turning on pins, -- used by women at their work.

Spool, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spooled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spooling.] To wind on a spool or spools.

Spool"er (?), n. One who, or that which, spools.

Spoom (?), v. i. [Probably fr. spum foam. See Spume.] (Naut.) To be driven steadily and swiftly, as before a strong wind; to be driven before the wind without any sail, or with only a part of the sails spread; to scud under bare poles. [Written also spoon.]

When virtue spooms before a prosperous gale, My heaving wishes help to fill the sail.

Dryden.

Spoon (spn), v. i. (Naut.) See Spoom. [Obs.]

We might have spooned before the wind as well as they.

Pepys.

Spoon, n. [OE. spon, AS. spn, a chip; akin to D. spaan, G. span, Dan. spaan, Sw. spån, Icel. spánn, spónn, a chip, a spoon. &radic;170. Cf. Span- new.] 1. An implement consisting of a small bowl (usually a shallow oval) with a handle, used especially in preparing or eating food.

"Therefore behoveth him a full long spoon That shall eat with a fiend," thus heard I say.

Chaucer.

He must have a long spoon that must eat with the devil.

Shak.

2. Anything which resembles a spoon in shape; esp. (Fishing), a spoon bait.

3. Fig.: A simpleton; a spooney. [Slang] Hood.

Spoon bait (Fishing), a lure used in trolling, consisting of a glistening metallic plate shaped like the bowl of a spoon with a fishhook attached. -- Spoon bit, a bit for boring, hollowed or furrowed along one side. -- Spoon net, a net for landing fish. -- Spoon oar. see under Oar.

Spoon, v. t. To take up in, or as in, a spoon.

Spoon, v. i. To act with demonstrative or foolish fondness, as one in love. [Colloq.]

Spoon"bill` (?), n. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of several species of wading birds of the genera Ajaja and Platalea, and allied genera, in which the long bill is broadly expanded and flattened at the tip.

The roseate spoonbill of America (Ajaja ajaja), and the European spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) are the best known. The royal spoonbill (P. regia) of Australia is white, with the skin in front of the eyes naked and black. The male in the breeding season has a fine crest.

(b) The shoveler. See Shoveler, 2. (c) The ruddy duck. See under Ruddy. (d) The paddlefish.

Spoon"-billed` (?), a. (Zoöl.) Having the bill expanded and spatulate at the end.

Spoon"drift (?), n. [Spoom + drift.] Spray blown from the tops waves during a gale at sea; also, snow driven in the wind at sea; -- written also spindrift.

Spoon"ey (?), a. Weak-minded; demonstratively fond; as, spooney lovers. [Spelt also spoony.] [Colloq.]

Spoon"ey, n.; pl. Spooneye (&?;). A weak-minded or silly person; one who is foolishly fond. [Colloq.]

There is no doubt, whatever, that I was a lackadaisical young spooney.

Dickens.

Spoon"ful (?), n.; pl. Spoonfuls (&?;). 1. The quantity which a spoon contains, or is able to contain; as, a teaspoonful; a tablespoonful.

2. Hence, a small quantity. Arbuthnot.

Spoon"i*ly (?), adv. In a spoony manner.

Spoon"-meat` (?), n. Food that is, or must be, taken with a spoon; liquid food. "Diet most upon spoon-meats." Harvey.

Spoon"wood` (?), n. (Bot.) The mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia).

Spoon"worm` (?), n. (Zoöl.) A gephyrean worm of the genus Thalassema, having a spoonlike probiscis.

Spoon"wort` (?), n. (Bot.) Scurvy grass.

Spoon"y (?), a. & n. Same as Spooney.

Spoor (?), n. [D. spoor; akin to AS. spor, G. spur, and from the root of E. spur. &radic;171. See Spur.] The track or trail of any wild animal; as, the spoor of an elephant; -- used originally by travelers in South Africa.

Spoor, v. i. To follow a spoor or trail. [R.]

||Spor"a*des (?), n. pl. [L., fr. Gr. spora`des. Cf. Sporadic.] ||(Astron.) Stars not included in any constellation; -- called also ||informed, or unformed, stars.

Spo*ra"di*al (?), a. Sporadic. [R.]

Spo*rad"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?; scattered, fr. &?;, &?;, scattered, fr. &?; to sow seed, to scatter like seed: cf. F. sporadique. See Spore.] Occuring singly, or apart from other things of the same kind, or in scattered instances; separate; single; as, a sporadic fireball; a sporadic case of disease; a sporadic example of a flower.

Sporadic disease (Med.), a disease which occurs in single and scattered cases. See the Note under Endemic, a.

Spo*rad"ic*al (?), a. Sporadic.

Spo*rad"ic*al*ly, adv. In a sporadic manner.

Spo*ran"gi*o*phore (?), n. [Sporangium + Gr. &?; to bear.] (Bot.) The axis or receptacle in certain ferns (as Trichomanes), which bears the sporangia.

||Spo*ran"gi*um (?), n.; pl. Sporangia (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a sowing, ||seed + &?; a receptacle.] (Bot.) A spore case in the cryptogamous ||plants, as in ferns, etc.

Spore (?), n. [Gr. &?; a sowing, seed, from &?; to sow. Cf. Sperm.] 1. (Bot.) (a) One of the minute grains in flowerless plants, which are analogous to seeds, as serving to reproduce the species.

Spores are produced differently in the different classes of cryptogamous plants, and as regards their nature are often so unlike that they have only their minuteness in common. The peculiar spores of diatoms (called auxospores) increase in size, and at length acquire a siliceous coating, thus becoming new diatoms of full size. Compare Macrospore, Microspore, Oöspore, Restingspore, Sphærospore, Swarmspore, Tetraspore, Zoöspore, and Zygospore.

(b) An embryo sac or embryonal vesicle in the ovules of flowering plants.

2. (Biol.) (a) A minute grain or germ; a small, round or ovoid body, formed in certain organisms, and by germination giving rise to a new organism; as, the reproductive spores of bacteria, etc. (b) One of the parts formed by fission in certain Protozoa. See Spore formation, belw.

Spore formation. (a) (Biol) A mode of reproduction resembling multitude fission, common among Protozoa, in which the organism breaks up into a number of pieces, or spores, each of which eventually develops into an organism like the parent form. Balfour. (b) The formation of reproductive cells or spores, as in the growth of bacilli.

Spo"rid (?), n. (Bot.) A sporidium. Lindley.

Spo`ri*dif"er*ous (?), a. [Sporidium + -ferous.] (Bot.) Bearing sporidia.

||Spo*rid"i*um (?), n.; pl. Sporidia (#). [NL. See Spore.] (Bot.) (a) A ||secondary spore, or a filament produced from a spore, in certain ||kinds of minute fungi. (b) A spore.

Spo*rif"er*ous (?), a. [Spore + -ferous.] (Biol.) Bearing or producing spores.

Spo`ri*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [Spore + L. -ficare (in comp.) to make. See -fy.] (Biol.) Spore formation. See Spore formation (b), under Spore.

Spo"ro*carp (?), n. [Spore + Gr. &?; fruit.] (Bot.) (a) A closed body or conceptacle containing one or more masses of spores or sporangia. (b) A sporangium.

Spo"ro*cyst (?), n. [Gr. &?; seed + &?; bladder.] 1. (Zoöl.) An asexual zooid, usually forming one of a series of larval forms in the agamic reproduction of various trematodes and other parasitic worms. The sporocyst generally develops from an egg, but in its turn produces other larvæ by internal budding, or by the subdivision of a part or all of its contents into a number of minute germs. See Redia.

2. (Zoöl.) Any protozoan when it becomes encysted produces germs by sporulation.

Spo`ro*gen"e*sis (?), n. [Spore + genesis.] (Biol.) reproduction by spores.

Spo*rog"o*ny (?), n. [Spore + root of Gr. &?; to be born.] (Zoöl.) The growth or development of an animal or a zooid from a nonsexual germ.

Spo"ro*phore (?), n. [Spore + Gr. &?; to bear.] (Bot.) (a) A placenta. (b) That alternately produced form of certain cryptogamous plants, as ferns, mosses, and the like, which is nonsexual, but produces spores in countless numbers. In ferns it is the leafy plant, in mosses the capsule. Cf. Oöphore.

Spo`ro*phor"ic (?), a. (Bot.) Having the nature of a sporophore.

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Spo"ro*sac (?), n. [Spore + sac.] (Zoöl.) (a) A hydrozoan reproductive zooid or gonophore which does not become medusoid in form or structure. See Illust. under Athecata. (b) An early or simple larval stage of trematode worms and some other invertebrates, which is capable or reproducing other germs by asexual generation; a nurse; a redia.

||Spo`ro*zo"a (?), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. spo`ros a spore + zo^,on an ||animal.] (Zoöl.) An extensive division of parasitic Protozoa, which ||increase by sporulation. It includes the Gregarinida.

Spo`ro*zo"id (?), n. [Spore + Gr. &?; an animal.] (Bot.) Same as Zoöspore.

Spor"ran (spr"ran), n. [Gael. sporan.] A large purse or pouch made of skin with the hair or fur on, worn in front of the kilt by Highlanders when in full dress.

Sport (sprt), n. [Abbreviated frm disport.] 1. That which diverts, and makes mirth; pastime; amusement.

It is as sport a fool do mischief.

prov. x. 23.

Her sports were such as carried riches of knowledge upon the stream of delight.

Sir P. Sidney.

Think it but a minute spent in sport.

Shak.

2. Mock; mockery; contemptuous mirth; derision.

Then make sport at me; then let me be your jest.Shak.

3. That with which one plays, or which is driven about in play; a toy; a plaything; an object of mockery.

Flitting leaves, the sport of every wind.

Dryden.

Never does man appear to greater disadvantage than when he is the sport of his own ungoverned pasions.

John Clarke.

4. Play; idle jingle.

An author who should introduce such a sport of words upon our stage would meet with small applause.

Broome.

5. Diversion of the field, as fowling, hunting, fishing, racing, games, and the like, esp. when money is staked.

6. (Bot. & Zoöl.) A plant or an animal, or part of a plant or animal, which has some peculiarity not usually seen in the species; an abnormal variety or growth. See Sporting plant, under Sporting.

7. A sportsman; a gambler. [Slang]

In sport, in jest; for play or diversion. "So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor, and saith, Am not I in sport?" Prov. xxvi. 19.

Syn. -- Play; game; diversion; frolic; mirth; mock; mockery; jeer.

Sport, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sported; p. pr. & vb. n. Sporting.] 1. To play; to frolic; to wanton.

[Fish], sporting with quick glance, Show to the sun their waved coats dropt with gold.

Milton.

2. To practice the diversions of the field or the turf; to be given to betting, as upon races.

3. To trifle. "He sports with his own life." Tillotson.

4. (Bot. & Zoöl.) To assume suddenly a new and different character from the rest of the plant or from the type of the species; -- said of a bud, shoot, plant, or animal. See Sport, n., 6. Darwin.

Syn. -- To play; frolic; game; wanton.

Sport, v. t. 1. To divert; to amuse; to make merry; -- used with the reciprocal pronoun.

Against whom do ye sport yourselves?

Isa. lvii. 4.

2. To represent by any knd of play.

Now sporting on thy lyre the loves of youth.

Dryden.

3. To exhibit, or bring out, in public; to use or wear; as, to sport a new equipage. [Colloq.] Grose.

4. To give utterance to in a sportive manner; to throw out in an easy and copious manner; -- with off; as, to sport off epigrams. Addison.

To sport one's oak. See under Oak, n.

Sport`a*bil"i*ty (?), n. Sportiveness. [Obs.]

Sport"al (?), a. Of or pertaining to sports; used in sports. [R.] "Sportal arms." Dryden.

Sport"er (?), n. One who sports; a sportsman.

As this gentleman and I have been old fellow sporters, I have a frienship for him.

Goldsmith.

Sport"ful (?), a. 1. Full of sport; merry; frolicsome; full of jesting; indulging in mirth or play; playful; wanton; as, a sportful companion.

Down he alights among the sportful herd.

Milton.

2. Done in jest, or for mere play; sportive.

They are no sportful productions of the soil.

Bentley.

-- Sport"ful*ly, adv. -- Sport"ful*ness, n.

Sport"ing, a. Of pertaining to, or engaging in, sport or sporrts; exhibiting the character or conduct of one who, or that which, sports.

Sporting book, a book containing a record of bets, gambling operations, and the like. C. Kingsley. -- Sporting house, a house frequented by sportsmen, gamblers, and the like. -- Sporting man, one who practices field sports; also, a horse racer, a pugilist, a gambler, or the like. -- Sporting plant (Bot.), a plant in which a single bud or offset suddenly assumes a new, and sometimes very different, character from that of the rest of the plant. Darwin.

Sport"ing*ly, adv. In sport; sportively.

The question you there put, you do it, I suppose, but sportingly.

Hammond.

Sport"ive (?), a. Tending to, engaged in, or provocate of, sport; gay; froliscome; playful; merry.

Is it I That drive thee from the sportive court?

Shak.

-- Sport"ive*ly, adv. -- Sport"ive*ness, n.

Sport"less, a. Without sport or mirth; joyless.

Sport"ling (?), n. A little person or creature engaged in sports or in play.

When again the lambkins play -- Pretty sportlings, full of May.

Philips.

Sports"man (?), n.;pl. Sportsmen (&?;). One who pursues the sports of the field; one who hunts, fishes, etc.

Sports"man*ship, n. The practice of sportsmen; skill in field sports.

||Spor"tu*la (?), n.; pl. Sportulæ (&?;). [L.] A gift; a present; a ||prize; hence, an alms; a largess.

To feed luxuriously, to frequent sports and theaters, to run for the sportula.

South.

Spor"tu*la*ry (?), a. Subsisting on alms or charitable contributions. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Spor"tule (?), n. [L. sportula a little basket, a gift, dim. of sporta a basket: cf. F. sortule.] A charitable gift or contribution; a gift; an alms; a dole; a largess; a sportula. [Obs.] Ayliffe.

Spor`u*la"tion (?), n. (Biol.) The act or process of forming spores; spore formation. See Illust. of Bacillus, b.

Spor"ule (?), n. [Dim. of spore.] (Biol.) A small spore; a spore.

Spor`u*lif"er*ous (?), a. [Sporule + -ferous.] (Biol.) Producing sporules.

Spot (?), n. [Cf. Scot. & D. spat, Dan. spette, Sw. spott spittle, slaver; from the root of E. spit. See Spit to eject from the mouth, and cf. Spatter.] 1. A mark on a substance or body made by foreign matter; a blot; a place discolored.

Out, damned spot! Out, I say!

Shak.

2. A stain on character or reputation; something that soils purity; disgrace; reproach; fault; blemish.

Yet Chloe, sure, was formed without a spot.

Pope.

3. A small part of a different color from the main part, or from the ground upon which it is; as, the spots of a leopard; the spots on a playing card.

4. A small extent of space; a place; any particular place. "Fixed to one spot." Otway.

That spot to which I point is Paradise.

Milton.

"A jolly place," said he, "in times of old! But something ails it now: the spot is cursed."

Wordsworth.

5. (Zoöl.) A variety of the common domestic pigeon, so called from a spot on its head just above its beak.

6. (Zoöl.) (a) A sciænoid food fish (Liostomus xanthurus) of the Atlantic coast of the United States. It has a black spot behind the shoulders and fifteen oblique dark bars on the sides. Called also goody, Lafayette, masooka, and old wife. (b) The southern redfish, or red horse, which has a spot on each side at the base of the tail. See Redfish.

7. pl. Commodities, as merchandise and cotton, sold for immediate delivery. [Broker's Cant]

Crescent spot (Zoöl.), any butterfly of the family Melitæidæ having crescent- shaped white spots along the margins of the red or brown wings. - - Spot lens (Microscopy), a condensing lens in which the light is confined to an annular pencil by means of a small, round diaphragm (the spot), and used in dark-field ilumination; -- called also spotted lens. -- Spot rump (Zoöl.), the Hudsonian godwit (Limosa hæmastica). -- Spots on the sun. (Astron.) See Sun spot, ander Sun. -- On, or Upon, the spot, immediately; before moving; without changing place.

It was determined upon the spot.

Swift. Syn. -- Stain; flaw; speck; blot; disgrace; reproach; fault; blemish; place; site; locality.

Spot, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spotted; p. pr. & vb. n. Spotting.] 1. To make visible marks upon with some foreign matter; to discolor in or with spots; to stain; to cover with spots or figures; as, to spot a garnment; to spot paper.

2. To mark or note so as to insure recognition; to recognize; to detect; as, to spot a criminal. [Cant]

3. To stain; to blemish; to taint; to disgrace; to tarnish, as reputation; to asperse.

My virgin life no spotted thoughts shall stain.

Sir P. Sidney.

If ever I shall close these eyes but once, May I live spotted for my perjury.

Beau. & Fl.

To spot timber, to cut or chip it, in preparation for hewing.

Spot, v. i. To become stained with spots.

Spot"less, a. Without a spot; especially, free from reproach or impurity; pure; untainted; innocent; as, a spotless mind; spotless behavior.

A spotless virgin, and a faultless wife.

Waller.

Syn. -- Blameless; unspotted; unblemished; pure; immaculate; irreproachable. See Blameless.

-- Spot"less*ly, adv. -- Spot"less*ness, n.

Spot"ted, a. Marked with spots; as, a spotted garment or character. "The spotted panther." Spenser.

Spotted fever (Med.), a name applied to various eruptive fevers, esp. to typhus fever and cerebro-spinal meningitis. -- Spotted tree (Bot.), an Australian tree (Flindersia maculosa); -- so called because its bark falls off in spots.

Spot"ted*ness, n. State or quality of being spotted.

Spot"ter (?), n. One who spots.

Spot"ti*ness (?), n. The state or quality of being spotty.

Spot"ty (?), a. Full of spots; marked with spots.

Spous"age (?; 48), n. [OF. espousaige, from espouser. See Spouse, v. t.] Espousal. [Obs.] Bale.

Spous"al (?), a. [See Espousal, Sponsal, and Spouse.] Of or pertaining to a spouse or marriage; nuptial; matrimonial; conjugal; bridal; as, spousal rites; spousal ornaments. Wordsworth.

Spous"al, n. [See Espousal, Spouse.] Marriage; nuptials; espousal; -- generally used in the plural; as, the spousals of Hippolita. Dryden.

Boweth your head under that blissful yoke . . . Which that men clepeth spousal or wedlock.

Chaucer.

the spousals of the newborn year.

Emerson.

Spouse (?), n. [OF. espous, espos, fem. espouse, F. époux, épouse, fr. L. sponsus, sponsa, prop. p. p. of spondere, sponsum, to promise solemnly, to engage one's self. Cf. Despond, Espouse, respond, Sponsor.] 1. A man or woman engaged or joined in wedlock; a married person, husband or wife.

At last such grace I found, and means I wrought, That that lady to my spouse had won.

Spenser.

2. A married man, in distinct from a spousess or married woman; a bridegroom or husband. [Obs.]

At which marriage was [were] no person present but the spouse, the spousess, the Duchess of Bedford her mother, the priest, two gentlewomen, and a young man.

Fabyan.

Spouse (?), v. t. [See Espouse, and Spouse, n.] To wed; to espouse. [Obs.]

This markis hath her spoused with a ring.

Chaucer.

Though spoused, yet wanting wedlock's solemnize.

Spenser.

She was found again, and spoused to Marinell.

Spenser.

Spouse"-breach` (?), n. Adultery. [Obs.]

Spouse"less, a. Destitute of a spouse; unmarried.

Spous"ess, n. A wife or bride. [Obs.] Fabyan.

Spout (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spouted; p. pr. & vb. n. Spouting.] [Cf. Sw. sputa, spruta, to spout, D. spuit a spout, spuiten to spout, and E. spurt, sprit, v., sprout, sputter; or perhaps akin to E. spit to eject from the mouth.] 1. To throw out forcibly and abudantly, as liquids through an office or a pipe; to eject in a jet; as, an elephant spouts water from his trunk.

Who kept Jonas in the fish's maw Till he was spouted up at Ninivee?

Chaucer.

Next on his belly floats the mighty whale . . . He spouts the tide.

Creech.

2. To utter magniloquently; to recite in an oratorical or pompous manner.

Pray, spout some French, son.

Beau. & Fl.

3. To pawn; to pledge; as, spout a watch. [Cant]

Spout, v. i. 1. To issue with with violence, or in a jet, as a liquid through a narrow orifice, or from a spout; as, water spouts from a hole; blood spouts from an artery.

All the glittering hill Is bright with spouting rills.

Thomson.

2. To eject water or liquid in a jet.

3. To utter a speech, especially in a pompous manner.

Spout, n. [Cf. Sw. spruta a squirt, a syringe. See Spout, v. t.] 1. That through which anything spouts; a discharging lip, pipe, or orifice; a tube, pipe, or conductor of any kind through which a liquid is poured, or by which it is conveyed in a stream from one place to another; as, the spout of a teapot; a spout for conducting water from the roof of a building. Addison. "A conduit with three issuing spouts." Shak.

In whales . . . an ejection thereof [water] is contrived by a fistula, or spout, at the head.

Sir T. Browne.

From silver spouts the grateful liquors glide.

Pope.

2. A trough for conducting grain, flour, etc., into a receptacle.

3. A discharge or jet of water or other liquid, esp. when rising in a column; also, a waterspout.

To put, shove, or pop, up the spout, to pawn or pledge at a pawnbroker's; -- in allusion to the spout up which the pawnbroker sent the ticketed articles. [Cant]

Spout"er (?), n. One who, or that which, spouts.

Spout"fish (?), n. (Zoöl.) A marine animal that spouts water; -- applied especially to certain bivalve mollusks, like the long clams (Mya), which spout, or squirt out, water when retiring into their holes.

Spout"less, a. Having no spout. Cowper.

Spout"shell` (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any marine gastropod shell of the genus Apporhais having an elongated siphon. See Illust. under Rostrifera.

Sprack (?), a. [Cf. Icel. sprækr sprightly, dial. Sw. spräk, spräg, spirited, mettlesome; or Gael. spraic vigor.] Quick; lively; alert. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

Sprad (?), obs. p. p. of Spread. Chaucer.

Sprad"de (?), obs. imp. of Spread. Chaucer.

Sprag (?), n. [Cf. Icel. spraka a small flounder.] (Zoöl.) A young salmon. [Prov. Eng.]

Sprag, n. [See Spray a branch.] A billet of wood; a piece of timber used as a prop.

Sprag, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spragged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spragging (?).] 1. To check the motion of, as a carriage on a steep grade, by putting a sprag between the spokes of the wheel. R. S. Poole.

2. To prop or sustain with a sprag.

Sprag, a. See Sprack, a. Shak.

Sprain (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sprained (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spraining.] [OF. espreindreto press, to force out, F. épreindre, fr. L. exprimere. See Express, v. t., and cf. Spraints.] To weaken, as a joint, ligament, or muscle, by sudden and excessive exertion, as by wrenching; to overstrain, or stretch injuriously, but without luxation; as, to sprain one's ankle.

Sprain, n. The act or result of spraining; lameness caused by spraining; as, a bad sprain of the wrist.

Sprain fracture (Med.), the separation of a tendon from its point of insertion, with the detachment of a shell of bone to which the tendon is attached.

Spraints (?), n. pl. [OF. espraintes, espreintes, F. épreintes from espreinte a desire to go to stool, from espreindre. See Sprain, v. t.] The dung of an otter.

Sprang (?), imp. of Spring.

Sprat (?), n. [OE. sprot, sprotte, D. sprot; akin to G. sprotte.] (Zoöl.) (a) A small European herring (Clupea sprattus) closely allied to the common herring and the pilchard; -- called also garvie. The name is also applied to small herring of different kinds. (b) A California surf-fish (Rhacochilus toxotes); -- called also alfione, and perch.

Sprat borer (Zoöl.), the red- throated diver; -- so called from its fondness for sprats. See Diver. -- Sprat loon. (Zoöl.) (a) The young of the great northern diver. [Prov. Eng.] (b) The red- throated diver. See Diver. -- Sprat mew (Zoöl.), the kittiwake gull.

<! p. 1393 !>

Sprawl (sprl), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sprawled (sprld); p. pr. & vb. n. Sprawling.] [OE. spraulen; cf. Sw. sprattla to sprawl, dial. Sw. spralla, Dan. spælle, sprælde, D. spartelen, spertelen, to flounder, to struggle.] 1. To spread and stretch the body or limbs carelessly in a horizontal position; to lie with the limbs stretched out ungracefully.

2. To spread irregularly, as vines, plants, or tress; to spread ungracefully, as chirography.

3. To move, when lying down, with awkward extension and motions of the limbs; to scramble in creeping.

The birds were not fledged; but upon sprawling and struggling to get clear of the flame, down they tumbled.

L'Estrange.

Sprawls (?), n. pl. Small branches of a tree; twigs; sprays. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Spray (spr), n. [Cf. Dan. sprag. See Sprig.] 1. A small shoot or branch; a twig. Chaucer.

The painted birds, companions of the spring, Hopping from spray, were heard to sing.

Dryden.

2. A collective body of small branches; as, the tree has a beautiful spray.

And from the trees did lop the needless spray.

Spenser.

3. (Founding) (a) A side channel or branch of the runner of a flask, made to distribute the metal in all parts of the mold. (b) A group of castings made in the same mold and connected by sprues formed in the runner and its branches. Knight.

Spray drain (Agric.), a drain made by laying under earth the sprays or small branches of trees, which keep passages open.

Spray, n. [probably from a Dutch or Low German form akin to E. spread. See Spread, v. t.] 1. Water flying in small drops or particles, as by the force of wind, or the dashing of waves, or from a waterfall, and the like.

2. (Med.) (a) A jet of fine medicated vapor, used either as an application to a diseased part or to charge the air of a room with a disinfectant or a deodorizer. (b) An instrument for applying such a spray; an atomizer.

Spray condenser (Steam Engine) an injection condenser in which the steam is condensed by a spray of water which mingles with it.

Spray, v. t. 1. To let fall in the form of spray. [Poetic] M. Arnold.

2. To throw spray upon; to treat with a liquid in the form of spray; as, to spray a wound, or a surgical instrument, with carbolic acid.

Spray`board (?), n. (Naut.) See Dashboard, n., 2 (b).

Spread (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spread; p. pr. & vb. n. Spreading.] [OE. spreden, AS. sprædan; akin to D. spreiden, spreijen, LG. spreden, spreen, spreien, G. spreiten, Dan. sprede, Sw. sprida. Cf. Spray water flying in drops.] 1. To extend in length and breadth, or in breadth only; to stretch or expand to a broad or broader surface or extent; to open; to unfurl; as, to spread a carpet; to spread a tent or a sail.

He bought a parcel of a field where he had spread his tent.

Gen. xxxiii. 19.

Here the Rhone Hath spread himself a couch.

Byron.

2. To extend so as to cover something; to extend to a great or grater extent in every direction; to cause to fill or cover a wide or wider space.

Rose, as in a dance, the stately trees, and spread Their branches hung with copious fruit.

Milton.

3. To divulge; to publish, as news or fame; to cause to be more extensively known; to disseminate; to make known fully; as, to spread a report; -- often acompanied by abroad.

They, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.

Matt. ix. 31.

4. To propagate; to cause to affect great numbers; as, to spread a disease.

5. To diffuse, as emanations or effluvia; to emit; as, odoriferous plants spread their fragrance.

6. To strew; to scatter over a surface; as, to spread manure; to spread lime on the ground.

7. To prepare; to set and furnish with provisions; as, to spread a table.

Boiled the flesh, and spread the board.

Tennyson.

To spread cloth, to unfurl sail. [Obs.] Evelyn.

Syn. -- To diffuse; propogate; disperse; publish; distribute; scatter; circulate; disseminate; dispense.

Spread, v. i. 1. To extend in length and breadth in all directions, or in breadth only; to be extended or stretched; to expand.

Plants, if they spread much, are seldom tall.

Bacon.

Governor Winthrop, and his associates at Charlestown, had for a church a large, spreading tree.

B. Trumbull.

2. To be extended by drawing or beating; as, some metals spread with difficulty.

3. To be made known more extensively, as news.

4. To be propagated from one to another; as, the disease spread into all parts of the city. Shak.

Spread, n. 1. Extent; compass.

I have got a fine spread of improvable land.

Addison.

2. Expansion of parts.

No flower hath spread like that of the woodbine.

Bacon.

3. A cloth used as a cover for a table or a bed.

4. A table, as spread or furnished with a meal; hence, an entertainment of food; a feast. [Colloq.]

5. A privilege which one person buys of another, of demanding certain shares of stock at a certain price, or of delivering the same shares of stock at another price, within a time agreed upon. [Broker's Cant]

6. (Geom.) An unlimited expanse of discontinuous points.

Spread, imp. & p. p. of Spread, v.

Spread eagle. (a) An eagle with outspread wings, the national emblem of the United States. (b) The figure of an eagle, with its wings elevated and its legs extended; often met as a device upon military ornaments, and the like. (c) (Her.) An eagle displayed; an eagle with the wings and legs extended on each side of the body, as in the double-headed eagle of Austria and Russia. See Displayed, 2.

Spread"-ea`gle (?), a. Characterized by a pretentious, boastful, exaggerated style; defiantly or extravagantly bombastic; as, a spread-eagle orator; a spread-eagle speech. [Colloq.& Humorous]

Spread"er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, spreads, expands, or propogates.

2. A machine for combining and drawing fibers of flax to form a sliver preparatory to spinning.

Spread"ing*ly, adv. Increasingly.

The best times were spreadingly infected.

Milton.

Sprech"er*y (?), n. [Cf. Gael. spreidh cattle.] Movables of an inferior description; especially, such as have been collected by depredation. [Scot.]

Spree (?), n. [Cf. Ir. spre a spark, animation, spirit, Gael. spraic. Cf. Sprack.] A merry frolic; especially, a drinking frolic; a carousal. [Colloq.]

Sprenge (?), v. t. [OE. sprengen, p. p. sprent, spreint, from AS. sprengen to sprinkle. See Sprinkle.] To sprinkle; to scatter. [Obs.] Wyclif (1 Pet. i. 2).

Spreng"el pump` (?). (Physics) A form of air pump in which exhaustion is produced by a stream of mercury running down a narrow tube, in the manner of an aspirator; -- named from the inventor.

Sprent (?), obs. p. p. of Sprenge. Sprinkled.

All the ground with purple blood was sprent.

Spenser.

Sprew (?), n. [Cf. D. sprouw, spruw.] (Med.) Thrush. [Local, U.S.]

Spreynd (?), obs. p. p. of Sprenge. Sprinkled.

When spreynd was holy water.

Chaucer.

Sprig (?), n. [AS. sprec; akin to Icel. sprek a stick. Cf. Spray a branch.] 1. A small shoot or twig of a tree or other plant; a spray; as, a sprig of laurel or of parsley.

2. A youth; a lad; -- used humorously or in slight disparagement.

A sprig whom I remember, with a whey-face and a satchel, not so many years ago.

Sir W. Scott.

3. A brad, or nail without a head.

4. (Naut.) A small eyebolt ragged or barbed at the point.

Sprig, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sprigged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sprigging (?).] To mark or adorn with the representation of small branches; to work with sprigs; as, to sprig muslin.

Sprigged (?), a. Having sprigs.

Sprig"gy (?), a. Full of sprigs or small branches.

Spright (?), n. [See Sprite.] 1. Spirit; mind; soul; state of mind; mood. [Obs.] "The high heroic spright." Spenser.

Wondrous great grief groweth in my spright.

Spenser.

2. A supernatural being; a spirit; a shade; an apparition; a ghost.

Forth he called, out of deep darkness dread, Legions of sprights.

Spenser.

To thee, O Father, Son, and Sacred Spright.

Fairfax.

3. A kind of short arrow. [Obs.] Bacon.

Spright, v. t. To haunt, as a spright. [Obs.] Shak.

Spright"ful (?), a. [Spright sprite + full.] Full of spirit or of life; earnest; vivacious; lively; brisk; nimble; gay. [Obs.] -- Spright"ful*ly, adv. [Obs.] Shak.

-- Spright"ful*ness, n. [Obs.]

Spoke like a sprightful gentlemen.

Shak.

Steeds sprightful as the light.

Cowley.

Spright"less, a. Destitute of life; dull; sluggish.

Spright"li*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being sprightly; liveliness; life; briskness; vigor; activity; gayety; vivacity.

In dreams, observe with what a sprightliness and alacrity does she [the soul] exert herself!

Addison.

Spright"ly (?), a. [Compar. Sprightlier (?); superl. Sprightliest.] [See Sprite.] Sprightlike, or spiritlike; lively; brisk; animated; vigorous; airy; gay; as, a sprightly youth; a sprightly air; a sprightly dance. "Sprightly wit and love inspires." Dryden.

The sprightly Sylvia trips along the green.

Pope.

Sprig"tail` (?), n. (Zoöl.) (a) The pintail duck; -- called also sprig, and spreet-tail. [Local, U.S.] (b) The sharp-tailed grouse. [Local, U.S.]

Spring (?), v. i. [imp. Sprang (?) or Sprung (&?;); p. p. Sprung; p. pr. & vb. n. Springing.] [AS. springan; akin to D. & G. springen, OS. & OHG. springan, Icel. & Sw. springa, Dan. springe; cf. Gr. &?; to hasten. Cf. Springe, Sprinkle.]

1. To leap; to bound; to jump.

The mountain stag that springs From height to height, and bounds along the plains.

Philips.

2. To issue with speed and violence; to move with activity; to dart; to shoot.

And sudden light Sprung through the vaulted roof.

Dryden.

3. To start or rise suddenly, as from a covert.

Watchful as fowlers when their game will spring.

Otway.

4. To fly back; as, a bow, when bent, springs back by its elastic power.

5. To bend from a straight direction or plane surface; to become warped; as, a piece of timber, or a plank, sometimes springs in seasoning.

6. To shoot up, out, or forth; to come to the light; to begin to appear; to emerge; as a plant from its seed, as streams from their source, and the like; -often followed by up, forth, or out.

Till well nigh the day began to spring.

Chaucer.

To satisfy the desolate and waste ground, and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth.

Job xxxviii. 27.

Do not blast my springing hopes.

Rowe.

O, spring to light; auspicious Babe, be born.

Pope.

7. To issue or proceed, as from a parent or ancestor; to result, as from a cause, motive, reason, or principle.

[They found] new hope to spring Out of despair, joy, but with fear yet linked.

Milton.

8. To grow; to prosper.

What makes all this, but Jupiter the king, At whose command we perish, and we spring?

Dryden.

To spring at, to leap toward; to attempt to reach by a leap. -- To spring forth, to leap out; to rush out. -- To spring in, to rush in; to enter with a leap or in haste. -- To spring on or upon, to leap on; to rush on with haste or violence; to assault.

Spring (?), v. t. 1. To cause to spring up; to start or rouse, as game; to cause to rise from the earth, or from a covert; as, to spring a pheasant.

2. To produce or disclose suddenly or unexpectedly.

She starts, and leaves her bed, amd springs a light.

Dryden.

The friends to the cause sprang a new project.

Swift.

3. To cause to explode; as, to spring a mine.

4. To crack or split; to bend or strain so as to weaken; as, to spring a mast or a yard.

5. To cause to close suddenly, as the parts of a trap operated by a spring; as, to spring a trap.

6. To bend by force, as something stiff or strong; to force or put by bending, as a beam into its sockets, and allowing it to straighten when in place; -- often with in, out, etc.; as, to spring in a slat or a bar.

7. To pass over by leaping; as, to spring a fence.

To spring a butt (Naut.), to loosen the end of a plank in a ship's bottom. -- To spring a leak (Naut.), to begin to leak. -- To spring an arch (Arch.), to build an arch; -- a common term among masons; as, to spring an arch over a lintel. -- To spring a rattle, to cause a rattle to sound. See Watchman's rattle, under Watchman. -- To spring the luff (Naut.), to ease the helm, and sail nearer to the wind than before; -- said of a vessel. Mar. Dict. -- To spring a mast or spar (Naut.), to strain it so that it is unserviceable.

Spring, n. [AS. spring a fountain, a leap. See Spring, v. i.] 1. A leap; a bound; a jump.

The prisoner, with a spring, from prison broke.

Dryden.

2. A flying back; the resilience of a body recovering its former state by elasticity; as, the spring of a bow.

3. Elastic power or force.

Heavens! what a spring was in his arm!

Dryden.

4. An elastic body of any kind, as steel, India rubber, tough wood, or compressed air, used for various mechanical purposes, as receiving and imparting power, diminishing concussion, regulating motion, measuring weight or other force.

The principal varieties of springs used in mechanisms are the spiral spring (Fig. a), the coil spring (Fig. b), the elliptic spring (Fig. c), the half- elliptic spring (Fig. d), the volute spring, the India-rubber spring, the atmospheric spring, etc.

5. Any source of supply; especially, the source from which a stream proceeds; as issue of water from the earth; a natural fountain. "All my springs are in thee." Ps. lxxxvii. 7. "A secret spring of spiritual joy." Bentley. "The sacred spring whence and honor streams." Sir J. Davies.

6. Any active power; that by which action, or motion, is produced or propagated; cause; origin; motive.

Our author shuns by vulgar springs to move The hero's glory, or the virgin's love.

Pope.

7. That which springs, or is originated, from a source; as: (a) A race; lineage. [Obs.] Chapman. (b) A youth; a springal. [Obs.] Spenser. (c) A shoot; a plant; a young tree; also, a grove of trees; woodland. [Obs.] Spenser. Milton.

8. That which causes one to spring; specifically, a lively tune. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

9. The season of the year when plants begin to vegetate and grow; the vernal season, usually comprehending the months of March, April, and May, in the middle latitudes north of the equator. "The green lap of the new-come spring." Shak.

Spring of the astronomical year begins with the vernal equinox, about March 21st, and ends with the summer solstice, about June 21st.

10. The time of growth and progress; early portion; first stage. "The spring of the day." 1 Sam. ix. 26.

O how this spring of love resembleth The uncertain glory of an April day.

Shak.

11. (Naut.) (a) A crack or fissure in a mast or yard, running obliquely or transversely. (b) A line led from a vessel's quarter to her cable so that by tightening or slacking it she can be made to lie in any desired position; a line led diagonally from the bow or stern of a vessel to some point upon the wharf to which she is moored.

Air spring, Boiling spring, etc. See under Air, Boiling, etc. -- Spring back (Bookbinding), a back with a curved piece of thin sheet iron or of stiff pasteboard fastened to the inside, the effect of which is to make the leaves of a book thus bound (as a ledger or other account or blank book) spring up and lie flat. -- Spring balance, a contrivance for measuring weight or force by the elasticity of a spiral spring of steel. -- Spring beam, a beam that supports the side of a paddle box. See Paddle beam, under Paddle, n. -- Spring beauty. (a) (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Claytonia, delicate herbs with somewhat fleshy leaves and pretty blossoms, appearing in springtime. (b) (Zoöl.) A small, elegant American butterfly (Erora læta) which appears in spring. The hind wings of the male are brown, bordered with deep blue; those of the female are mostly blue. -- Spring bed, a mattress, under bed, or bed bottom, in which springs, as of metal, are employed to give the required elasticity. -- Spring beetle (Zoöl.), a snapping beetle; an elater. -- Spring box, the box or barrel in a watch, or other piece of mechanism, in which the spring is contained. -- Spring fly (Zoöl.), a caddice fly; - - so called because it appears in the spring. -- Spring grass (Bot.), a vernal grass. See under Vernal. -- Spring gun, a firearm disharged by a spring, when this is trodden upon or is otherwise moved. -- Spring hook (Locomotive Engines), one of the hooks which fix the driving-wheel spring to the frame. -- Spring latch, a latch that fastens with a spring. <! p. 1394 !> -- Spring lock, a lock that fastens with a spring. -- Spring mattress, a spring bed. -- Spring of an arch (Arch.) See Springing line of an arch, under Springing. -- Spring of pork, the lower part of a fore quarter, which is divided from the neck, and has the leg and foot without the shoulder. [Obs.] Nares.

Sir, pray hand the spring of pork to me.

Gayton.

-- Spring pin (Locomotive Engines), an iron rod fitted between the springs and the axle boxes, to sustain and regulate the pressure on the axles. -- Spring rye, a kind of rye sown in the spring; -- in distinction from winter rye, sown in autumn. -- Spring stay (Naut.), a preventer stay, to assist the regular one. R. H. Dana, Jr. -- Spring tide, the tide which happens at, or soon after, the new and the full moon, and which rises higher than common tides. See Tide. -- Spring wagon, a wagon in which springs are interposed between the body and the axles to form elastic supports. -- Spring wheat, any kind of wheat sown in the spring; -- in distinction from winter wheat, which is sown in autumn.

{ Spring"al (?), Spring"ald (?), Spring"all (?) }, a. [Scot. springald, springel, fr. Scot. & E. spring.] An active, springly young man. [Obs.] "There came two springals of full tender years." Spenser.

Joseph, when he was sold to Potiphar, that great man, was a fair young springall.

Latimer.

Spring"al, n. [OF. espringale; of Teutonic origin, akin to E. spring.] An ancient military engine for casting stones and arrows by means of a spring.

Spring"board` (?), n. An elastic board, secured at the ends, or at one end, often by elastic supports, used in performing feats of agility or in exercising.

{ ||Spring"bok` (?), Spring"buck` (?) }, n. [D. springbok; springen to spring, leap + bok a he-goat, buck.] (Zoöl.) A South African gazelle (Gazella euchore) noted for its graceful form and swiftness, and for its peculiar habit of springing lighty and suddenly into the air. It has a white dorsal stripe, expanding into a broad patch of white on the rump and tail. Called also springer. [Written also springboc, and springbock.]

Springe (?), n. [From Spring, v. i.: cf. G. sprenkel, Prov. E. springle.] A noose fastened to an elastic body, and drawn close with a sudden spring, whereby it catches a bird or other animal; a gin; a snare.

As a woodcock to mine own springe.

Shak.

Springe, v. t. To catch in a springe; to insnare. [R.]

Spring"e (? or ?), v. t. [OE. sprengen. See Sprinkle.] To sprinkle; to scatter. [Obs.]

He would sowen some difficulty, Or springen cockle in our cleane corn.

Chaucer.

Spring"er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, springs; specifically, one who rouses game.

2. A young plant. [Obs.] Evelyn.

3. (Arch.) (a) The impost, or point at which an arch rests upon its support, and from which it seems to spring. Hence: (b) The bottom stone of an arch, which lies on the impost. The skew back is one form of springer. (c) The rib of a groined vault, as being the solid abutment for each section of vaulting.

4. (Zoöl.) The grampus.

5. (Zoöl.) A variety of the field spaniel. See Spaniel.

6. (Zoöl.) A species of antelope; the sprinkbok.

Spring"halt` (?), n. (Far.) A kind of lameness in horse. See Stringhalt. Shak.

Spring"head` (?), n. A fountain or source.

Spring"i*ness (?), n. The state or quality of being springly. Boyle.

Spring"ing, n. 1. The act or process of one who, or that which, springs.

2. Growth; increase; also, that which springs up; a shoot; a plant.

Thou blessest the springing thereof.

Ps. lxv. 10.

Springing line of an arch (Arch.), the horizontal line drawn through the junction of the vertical face of the impost with the curve of the intrados; -- called also spring of an arch.

Sprin"gle (?), n. A springe. [Prov. Eng.]

Spring"let (?), n. A little spring.

But yet from out the little hill Oozes the slender springlet still.

Sir W. Scott.

Spring"tail` (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of small apterous insects belonging to the order Thysanura. They have two elastic caudal stylets which can be bent under the abdomen and then suddenly extended like a spring, thus enabling them to leap to a considerable distance. See Collembola, and Podura.

Spring"tide (?), n. The time of spring; springtime. Thomson.

Spring"time` (?), n. The season of spring; springtide.

Spring"y (?), a. [Compar. Springier (?); superl. Springiest.] [From Spring.] 1. Resembling, having the qualities of, or pertaining to, a spring; elastic; as, springy steel; a springy step.

Though her little frame was slight, it was firm and springy.

Sir W. Scott.

2. Abounding with springs or fountains; wet; spongy; as, springy land.

Sprin"kle (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sprinkled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sprinkling (?).] [OE. sprenkelen, freq. of sprengen to sprinkle, to scatter, AS. sprengan, properly, to make to spring, causative of springan to spring; akin to D. sprenkelen to sprinkle, G. sprengen. See Spring, v. i., and cf. Sprent.] 1. To scatter in small drops or particles, as water, seed, etc.

2. To scatter on; to disperse something over in small drops or particles; to besprinkle; as, to sprinkle the earth with water; to sprinkle a floor with sand.

3. To baptize by the application of a few drops, or a small quantity, of water; hence, to cleanse; to purify.

Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience.

Heb. x. 22.

Sprin"kle, v. i. 1. To scatter a liquid, or any fine substance, so that it may fall in particles.

And the priest shall . . . sprinkle of the oil with his finger seven times before the Lord.

Lev. xiv. 16.

2. To rain moderately, or with scattered drops falling now and then; as, it sprinkles.

3. To fly or be scattered in small drops or particles.

Sprin"kle, n. 1. A small quantity scattered, or sparsely distributed; a sprinkling.

2. A utensil for sprinkling; a sprinkler. [Obs.]

Sprin"kler (?), n. 1. One who sprinkles.

2. An instrument or vessel used in sprinkling; specifically, a watering pot.

Sprin"kling (?), n. 1. The act of one who, or that which, sprinkles.

Baptism may well enough be performed by sprinkling or effusion of water.

Ayliffe.

2. A small quantity falling in distinct drops or particles; as, a sprinkling of rain or snow.

3. Hence, a moderate number or quantity distributed like drops. Craik.

Sprint (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sprinted; p. pr. & vb. n. Sprinting.] [Cf. Sprunt.] To run very rapidly; to run at full speed.

A runner [in a quarter-mile race] should be able to sprint the whole way.

Encyc. Brit.

Sprint, n. The act of sprinting; a run of a short distance at full speed.

Sprint race, a foot race at the highest running speed; -- usually limited to distance under a quarter of a mile.

Sprint"er (?), n. One who sprints; one who runs in sprint races; as, a champion sprinter.

Sprit (?), v. t. [Akin to G. spritzen, sprützen. See Sprit, v. i.] To throw out with force from a narrow orifice; to eject; to spurt out. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Sprit, v. i. [AS. spryttan to sprout, but. See Sprout, v. i., and cf. Spurt, v. t., Sprit a spar.] To sprout; to bud; to germinate, as barley steeped for malt.

Sprit, n. A shoot; a sprout. [Obs.] Mortimer.

Sprit, n. [OE. spret, AS. spreót a sprit; spear; akin to D. spriet, and E. sprout, sprit, v.t. & i. See Sprout, v. i.] (Naut.) A small boom, pole, or spar, which crosses the sail of a boat diagonally from the mast to the upper aftmost corner, which it is used to extend and elevate.

Sprite (?), n. [OE. sprit, F. esprit, fr. L. spiritus. See Spirit, and cf. Sprightly.] 1. A spirit; a soul; a shade; also, an apparition. See Spright.

Gaping graves received the wandering, guilty sprite.

Dryden.

2. An elf; a fairy; a goblin.

3. (Zoöl.) The green woodpecker, or yaffle.

Sprite"ful (?), a. Sprite"ful*ly, adv., Sprite"li*ness (&?;), n., Sprite"ly, a., etc. See Sprightful, Sprightfully, Sprightliness, Sprightly, etc.

Sprit"sail (? or ?), n. (Naut.) (a) A sail extended by a sprit. (b) A sail formerly hung under the bowsprit, from the spritsail yard.

Sprock"et wheel` (?). [Etymology of sprocket is uncertain.] (Mach.) Same as Chain wheel.

Sprod (?), n. [Cf. Gael. & Ir. bradan a salmon.] (Zoöl.) A salmon in its second year. [Prov. Eng.]

Sprong (?), obs. imp. of Spring. Sprung.

Sprout (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sprouted; p. pr. & vb. n. Sprouting.] [OE. sprouten, spruten; akin to OFries. spr&?;ta, AS. spreótan, D. spruiten, G. spriessen, Sw. spruta to squirt, to spout. Cf. Sprit, v. t. & i., Sprit a spar, Spout, v. t., Spurt.] 1. To shoot, as the seed of a plant; to germinate; to push out new shoots; hence, to grow like shoots of plants.

2. To shoot into ramifications. [Obs.] Bacon.

Sprout, v. t. 1. To cause to sprout; as, the rain will sprout the seed.

2. To deprive of sprouts; as, to sprout potatoes.

Sprout, n. [Cf. AS. sprote a sprout, sprig; akin to Icel. sproti, G. sprosse. See Sprout, v. i.] 1. The shoot of a plant; a shoot from the seed, from the stump, or from the root or tuber, of a plant or tree; more rarely, a shoot from the stem of a plant, or the end of a branch.

2. pl. Young coleworts; Brussels sprouts. Johnson.

Brussels sprouts (Bot.) See under Brussels.

Spruce (?), n. [OE. Spruce or Pruse, Prussia, Prussian. So named because it was first known as a native of Prussia, or because its sprouts were used for making, spruce beer. Cf. Spruce beer, below, Spruce, a.] 1. (Bot.) Any coniferous tree of the genus Picea, as the Norway spruce (P. excelsa), and the white and black spruces of America (P. alba and P. nigra), besides several others in the far Northwest. See Picea.

2. The wood or timber of the spruce tree.

3. Prussia leather; pruce. [Obs.]

Spruce, a sort of leather corruptly so called for Prussia leather.

E. Phillips.

Douglas spruce (Bot.), a valuable timber tree (Pseudotsuga Douglasii) of Northwestern America. -- Essence of spruce, a thick, dark-colored, bitterish, and acidulous liquid made by evaporating a decoction of the young branches of spruce. -- Hemlock spruce (Bot.), a graceful coniferous tree (Tsuga Canadensis) of North America. Its timber is valuable, and the bark is largely used in tanning leather. -- Spruce beer. [G. sprossenbier; sprosse sprout, shoot (akin to E. sprout, n.) + bier beer. The word was changed into spruce because the beer came from Prussia (OE. Spruce), or because it was made from the sprouts of the spruce. See Sprout, n., Beer, and cf. Spruce, n.] A kind of beer which is tinctured or flavored with spruce, either by means of the extract or by decoction. -- Spruce grouse. (Zoöl.) Same as Spruce partridge, below. - - Spruce leather. See Spruce, n., 3. -- Spruce partridge (Zoöl.), a handsome American grouse (Dendragapus Canadensis) found in Canada and the Northern United States; -- called also Canada grouse.

Spruce (?), a. [Compar. Sprucer (?); superl. Sprucest] [Perhaps fr. spruce a sort of leather from Prussia, which was an article of finery. See Spruce, n.] 1. Neat, without elegance or dignity; -- formerly applied to things with a serious meaning; now chiefly applied to persons. "Neat and spruce array." Remedy of Love.

2. Sprightly; dashing. [Obs.] "Now, my spruce companions." Shak.

He is so spruce that he can never be genteel.

Tatler.

Syn. -- Finical; neat; trim. See Finical.

-- Sruce"ly, adv. -- Spruce"ness, n.

Spruce, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spruced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sprucing (?).] To dress with affected neatness; to trim; to make spruce.

Spruce, v. i. To dress one's self with affected neatness; as, to spruce up.

Sprue (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] 1. (Founding) (a) Strictly, the hole through which melted metal is poured into the gate, and thence into the mold. (b) The waste piece of metal cast in this hole; hence, dross.

2. (Med.) Same as Sprew.

Sprug (?), v. t. [Cf. Prov. E. sprug up to dress neatly, sprag to prop, a., lively.] To make smart. [Obs.]

Sprung (?), imp. & p. p. of Spring.

Sprung, a. (Naut.) Said of a spar that has been cracked or strained.

Sprunt (?), v. i. [Cf. Sprout, v. i.] To spring up; to germinate; to spring forward or outward. [Obs.]

To sprunt up, to draw one's self up suddenly, as in anger or defiance; to bristle up. [Local, U.S.]

Sprunt, n. 1. Anything short and stiff. [Obs.]

2. A leap; a spring. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

3. A steep ascent in a road. [Prov. Eng.]

Sprunt, a. Active; lively; vigorous. [Obs.] Kersey.

Sprunt"ly, adv. In a sprunt manner; smartly; vigorously; youthfully. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Spry (?), a. [Compar. Sprier or Spryer (&?;); superl. Spriest or Spryest.] [Cf. dial. Sw. sprygg lively, skittish, and E. sprag.] Having great power of leaping or running; nimble; active. [U.S. & Local Eng.]

She is as spry as a cricket.

S. Judd (Margaret).

If I'm not so large as you, You are not so small as I, And not half so spry.

Emerson.

Spud (?), n. [Cf. Dan. spyd a spear.] 1. A sharp, narrow spade, usually with a long handle, used by farmers for digging up large-rooted weeds; a similarly shaped implement used for various purposes.

My spud these nettles from the stone can part.

Swyft.

2. A dagger. [Obs.] olland.

3. Anything short and thick; specifically, a piece of dough boiled in fat. [Local, U.S.]

Spue (?), v. t. & i. See Spew.

Spuil"zie (?), n. See Spulzie.

Spuke (?), n. See Spook.

Spul"ler (&?;), n. [For spooler.] [See Spool.] One employed to inspect yarn, to see that it is well spun, and fit for the loom. [Prov. Eng.]

Spul"zie (?), n. [Cf. Spoil.] Plunder, or booty. [Written also spuilzie, and spulye.] Sir W. Scott.

Spume (?), n. [L. spuma. Cf. Pumice, Spoom.] Frothy matter raised on liquids by boiling, effervescence, or agitation; froth; foam; scum.

Materials dark and crude, Of spiritous and fiery spume.

Milton.

Spume, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Spumed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spuming.] [L. spumare.] To froth; to foam.

Spume"ous (?), a. Spumous. [Obs.] r. H. More.

Spu*mes"cence (?), n. [See Spumescent.] The state of being foamy; frothiness.

Spu*mes"cent (?), a. [L. spumescens, p. pr. of spumescere to grow foamy, from spuma foam.] Resembling froth or foam; foaming.

Spum"id (?), a. [L. spumidis.] Spumous; frothy. [Obs.]

Spu*mif"er*ous (?), a. [L. spumifier; spuma foam + ferra bear.] Producing foam.

Spum"i*ness (?), n. The quality or condition of being spumy; spumescence.

<! p. 1395 !>

{ Spum"ous (?), Spum"y (?) }, a. [L. spumosus, &?; spuma foam: cf. F. spumeux.] Consisting of, containing, or covered with, froth, scum, or foam; frothy; foamy.

The spumous and florid state of the blood.

Arbuthnot.

The spumy waves proclaim the watery war.

Dryden.

Spun (?), imp. & p. p. of Spin.

Spun hay, hay twisted into ropes for convenient carriage, as on a military expedition. -- Spun silk, a cheap article produced from floss, or short- fibered, broken, and waste silk, carded and spun, in distinction from the long filaments wound from the cocoon. It is often mixed with cotton. -- Spun yarn (Naut.), a line formed of two or more rope-yarns loosely twisted.

Spunge (spnj), n. A sponge. [Obs.]

Spunk (spk), n. [Gael. spong, or Ir. sponc, tinder, sponge; cf. AS. sponge a sponge (L. spongia), spn a chip. Cf. Sponge, Punk.] [Written also sponk.] 1. Wood that readily takes fire; touchwood; also, a kind of tinder made from a species of fungus; punk; amadou. Sir T. Browne.

2. An inflammable temper; spirit; mettle; pluck; as, a man of spunk. [Colloq.]

A lawless and dangerous set, men of spunk, and spirit, and power, both of mind and body.

Prof. Wilson.

Spunk"y (?), a. [Compar. Spunkier (?); superl. Spunkiest.] Full of spunk; quick; spirited. [Colloq.]

Spur (?), n. [See Sparrow.] (Zoöl.) (a) A sparrow. [Scot.] (b) A tern. [Prov. Eng.]

Spur, n. [OE. spure, AS. spura, spora; akin to D. spoor, G. sporn, OHG. sporo, Icel. spori, Dan. spore, Sw. sporre, and to AS. spor a trace, footstep, spyrian to trace, track, examine, and E. spurn. &radic;171. Cf. Sparrow, Spere, Spoor, Spurn.] 1. An implement secured to the heel, or above the heel, of a horseman, to urge the horse by its pressure. Modern spurs have a small wheel, or rowel, with short points. Spurs were the badge of knighthood.

And on her feet a pair of spurs large.

Chaucer.

2. That which goads to action; an incitement.

Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise (That last infirmity of noble mind) To scorn delights and live laborious days.

Milton.

3. Something that projects; a snag.

4. One of the large or principal roots of a tree. Shak.

5. (Zoöl.) Any stiff, sharp spine, as on the wings and legs of certain burds, on the legs of insects, etc.; especially, the spine on a cock's leg.

6. A mountain that shoots from any other mountain, or range of mountains, and extends to some distance in a lateral direction, or at right angles.

7. A spiked iron worn by seamen upon the bottom of the boot, to enable them to stand upon the carcass of a whale, to strip off the blubber.

8. (Carp.) A brace strengthening a post and some connected part, as a rafter or crossbeam; a strut.

9. (Arch.) (a) The short wooden buttress of a post. (b) A projection from the round base of a column, occupying the angle of a square plinth upon which the base rests, or bringing the bottom bed of the base to a nearly square form. It is generally carved in leafage.

10. (Bot.) (a) Any projecting appendage of a flower looking like a spur. Gray. (b) Ergotized rye or other grain. [R.]

11. (Fort.) A wall that crosses a part of a rampart and joins to an inner wall.

12. (Shipbuilding) (a) A piece of timber fixed on the bilge ways before launching, having the upper ends bolted to the vessel's side. (b) A curved piece of timber serving as a half to support the deck where a whole beam can not be placed.

Spur fowl (Zoöl.), any one of several species of Asiatic gallinaceous birds of the genus Galloperdix, allied to the jungle fowl. The males have two or more spurs on each leg. -- Spur gear (Mach.), a cogwheel having teeth which project radially and stand parallel to the axis; a spur wheel. -- Spur gearing, gearing in which spur gears are used. See under Gearing. -- Spur pepper. (Bot.) See the Note under Capsicum. -- Spur wheel. Same as Spur gear, above.

Spur, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spurred (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spurring.] 1. To prick with spurs; to incite to a more hasty pace; to urge or goad; as, to spur a horse.

2. To urge or encourage to action, or to a more vigorous pursuit of an object; to incite; to stimulate; to instigate; to impel; to drive.

Love will not be spurred to what it loathes.

Shak.

3. To put spurs on; as, a spurred boot.

Spur, v. i. To spur on one' horse; to travel with great expedition; to hasten; hence, to press forward in any pursuit. "Now spurs the lated traveler." Shak.

The Parthians shall be there, And, spurring from the fight, confess their fear.

Dryden.

The roads leading to the capital were covered with multitudes of yeomen, spurring hard to Westminster.

Macaulay.

Some bold men, . . . by spurring on, refine themselves.

Grew.

Spur"gall` (?), n. A place galled or excoriated by much using of the spur.

Spur"gall`, v. t. To gall or wound with a spur.

Spurge (?), v. t. [Etymol. uncertain.] To emit foam; to froth; -- said of the emission of yeast from beer in course of fermentation. [Obs.] W. Cartright.

Spurge, n. [OF. espurge, F. épurge, from OF. espurgier to purge, L. expurgare. See Expurgate, Purge.] (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Euphorbia. See Euphorbia.

Spurge flax, an evergreen shrub (Daphne Gnidium) with crowded narrow leaves. It is native of Southern Europe. -- Spurge laurel, a European shrub (Daphne Laureola) with oblong evergreen leaves. -- Spurge nettle. See under Nettle. -- Spurge olive, an evergreen shrub (Daphne oleoides) found in the Mediterranean region.

Spurge"wort` (?), n. (Bot.) Any euphorbiaceous plant. Lindley.

Spur"ging (?), n. [See 2d Spurge.] A purging. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Spu"ri*ous (?), a. [L. spurius.] 1. Not proceeding from the true source, or from the source pretended; not genuine; false; adulterate.

2. Not legitimate; bastard; as, spurious issue. "Her spurious firstborn." Milton.

Spurious primary, or Spurious quill (Zoöl.), the first, or outer, primary quill when rudimentary or much reduced in size, as in certain singing birds. -- Spurious wing (Zoöl.), the bastard wing, or alula.

Syn. -- Counterfeit; false; adulterate; supposititious; fictitious; bastard.

-- Spu"ri*ous*ly, adv. -- Spu"ri*ous*ness, n.

Spur"less (?), a. Having no spurs.

Spur"ling (?), n. [See Sparling.] (Zoöl.) A tern. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Tusser.

Spur"ling-line` (?), n. [Cf. Prov. E. spurling the rut of a wheel, a cart rut, AS. spor a track, trace, E. spoor. Scot. spurl to sprawl.] (Naut.) The line which forms the communication between the steering wheel and the telltale.

Spurn (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spurned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spurning.] [OE. spurnen to kick against, to stumble over, AS. spurnan to kick, offend; akin to spura spur, OS. & OHG. spurnan to kick, Icel. spyrna, L. spernere to despise, Skr. sphur to jerk, to push. &radic;171. See Spur.] 1. To drive back or away, as with the foot; to kick.

[The bird] with his foot will spurn adown his cup.

Chaucer.

I spurn thee like a cur out of my way.

Shak.

2. To reject with disdain; to scorn to receive or accept; to treat with contempt.

What safe and nicely I might well delay By rule of knighthood, I disdain and spurn.

Shak.

Domestics will pay a more cheerful service when they find themselves not spurned because fortune has laid them at their master's feet.

Locke.

Spurn, v. i. 1. To kick or toss up the heels.

The miller spurned at a stone.

Chaucer.

The drunken chairman in the kennel spurns.

Gay.

2. To manifest disdain in rejecting anything; to make contemptuous opposition or resistance.

Nay, more, to spurn at your most royal image.

Shak.

Spurn, n. 1. A kick; a blow with the foot. [R.]

What defence can properly be used in such a despicable encounter as this but either the slap or the spurn?

Milton.

2. Disdainful rejection; contemptuous tratment.

The insolence of office and the spurns That patient merit of the unworthy takes.

Shak.

3. (Mining) A body of coal left to sustain an overhanding mass.

Spurn"er (?), n. One who spurns.

Spurn"-wa`ter (?), n. (Naut.) A channel at the end of a deck to restrain the water.

Spurred (?), a. 1. Wearing spurs; furnished with a spur or spurs; having shoots like spurs.

2. Affected with spur, or ergot; as, spurred rye.

Spurred corolla (Bot.), a corolla in which there are one or more petals with a spur.

Spur"rer (?), n. One who spurs.

Spur"rey (?), n. (Bot.) See Spurry.

Spur"ri*er (?), n. One whose occupation is to make spurs. B. Jonson. "The saddlers and spurriers would be ruined by thousands." Macaulay.

Spur"-roy`al (?), n. A gold coin, first made in the reign of Edward IV., having a star on the reverse resembling the rowel of a spur. In the reigns of Elizabeth and of James I., its value was fifteen shillings. [Written also spur-rial, and spur-ryal.]

Spur"ry (?), n. [D. or OF. spurrie; cf. G. spergel, NL. spergula.] (Bot.) An annual herb (Spergula arvensis) with whorled filiform leaves, sometimes grown in Europe for fodder. [Written also spurrey.]

Sand spurry (Bot.), any low herb of the genus Lepigonum, mostly found in sandy places.

Spur"-shell` (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of handsome gastropod shells of the genus Trochus, or Imperator. The shell is conical, with the margin toothed somewhat like the rowel of a spur.

Spurt (?), v. i. [Written also spirt, and originally the same word as sprit; OE. sprutten to sprout, AS. spryttan. See Sprit, v. i., Sprout, v. i.] To gush or issue suddenly or violently out in a stream, as liquor from a cask; to rush from a confined place in a small stream or jet; to spirt.

Thus the small jet, which hasty hands unlock, Spurts in the gardener's eyes who turns the cock.

Pope.

Spurt, v. t. To throw out, as a liquid, in a stream or jet; to drive or force out with violence, as a liquid from a pipe or small orifice; as, to spurt water from the mouth.

Spurt, n. 1. A sudden or violent ejection or gushing of a liquid, as of water from a tube, orifice, or other confined place, or of blood from a wound; a jet; a spirt.

2. A shoot; a bud. [Obs.] Holland.

3. Fig.: A sudden outbreak; as, a spurt of jealousy.

Spurt grass (Bot.), a rush fit for basket work. Dr. Prior.

Spurt (?), n. [Cf. Icel. sprette a spurt, spring, run, spretta to sprit, spring.] A sudden and energetic effort, as in an emergency; an increased exertion for a brief space.

The long, steady sweep of the so-called "paddle" tried him almost as much as the breathless strain of the spurt.

T. Hughes.

Spurt, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Spurted; p. pr. & vb. n. Spurting.] To make a sudden and violent exertion, as in an emergency.

Spur"tle (?), v. t. [Freq. of spurt.] To spurt or shoot in a scattering manner. [Obs.] Drayton.

Spur"way` (?), n. [Prov. E. spoor a track, trace (AS. spor) + way.] A bridle path. [R.]

Spur"-winged` (?), a. (Zoöl.) Having one or more spurs on the bend of the wings.

Spur-winged goose (Zoöl.), any one of several species of long-legged African geese of the genus Plectropterus and allied genera, having a strong spur on the bend of the wing, as the Gambo goose (P. Gambensis) and the Egyptian, or Nile, goose (Alopochen Ægyptiaca). -- Spur-winged plover (Zoöl.), an Old World plover (Hoplopterus spinosus) having a sharp spur on the bend of the wing. It inhabits Northern Africa and the adjacent parts of Asia and Europe.

Sput (?), n. (Steam Boiler) An annular reënforce, to strengthen a place where a hole is made.

Spu*ta"tion (?), n. [L. sputare to spit, v. intens. fr. spuere to spit: cf. F. sputation.] The act of spitting; expectoration. Harvey.

Spu"ta*tive (?), a. Inclined to spit; spitting much. Sir H. Wotton.

Spute (?), v. t. [Abbrev. from dispute.] To dispute; to discuss. [Obs.] Wyclif.

Sput"ter (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sputtered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sputtering.] [From the root of spout or spit to eject from the mputh. Cf. Splutter.] 1. To spit, or to emit saliva from the mouth in small, scattered portions, as in rapid speaking.

2. To utter words hastily and indistinctly; to speak so rapidly as to emit saliva.

They could neither of them speak their rage, and so fell a sputtering at one another, like two roasting apples.

Congreve.

3. To throw out anything, as little jets of steam, with a noise like that made by one sputtering.

Like the green wood . . . sputtering in the flame.

Dryden.

Sput"ter, v. t. To spit out hastily by quick, successive efforts, with a spluttering sound; to utter hastily and confusedly, without control over the organs of speech.

In the midst of caresses, and without the last pretend incitement, to sputter out the basest accusations.

Swift.

Sput"ter, n. Moist matter thrown out in small detached particles; also, confused and hasty speech.

Sput"ter*er (?), n. One who sputters.

||Spu"tum (?), n.; pl. Sputa (#). [L., from spuere, sputum, to spit.] ||That which is expectorated; a salival discharge; spittle; saliva.

Spy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spied (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spying.] [OE. spien, espien, OF. espier, F. épier, OHG. speh&?;n, G. spähen; akin to L. specere to see, Skr. spa(&?;). &?; 169. Cf. Espy, v.t., Aspect, Auspice, Circumspect, Conspicuouc, Despise, Frontispiece, Inspect, Prospect, Respite, Scope, Scecimen, Spectacle, Specter, Speculate, Spice, Spite, Suspicion.] To gain sight of; to discover at a distance, or in a state of concealment; to espy; to see.

One in reading, skipped over all sentences where he spied a note of admiration.

Swift.

2. To discover by close search or examination.

Look about with yout eyes; spy what things are to be reformed in the church of England.

Latimer.

3. To explore; to view; inspect; and examine secretly, as a country; -- usually with out.

Moses sent to spy Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof.

Num. xxi. 32.

Spy, v. i. To search narrowly; to scrutinize.

It is my nature's plague To spy into abuses.

Shak.

Spy, n.; pl. Spies (#). [See Spy, v., and cf. Espy, n.] 1. One who keeps a constant watch of the conduct of others. "These wretched spies of wit." Dryden.

2. (Mil.) A person sent secretly into an enemy's camp, territory, or fortifications, to inspect his works, ascertain his strength, movements, or designs, and to communicate such intelligence to the proper officer.

Spy money, money paid to a spy; the reward for private or secret intelligence regarding the enemy. -- Spy Wednesday (Eccl.), the Wednesday immediately preceding the festival of Easter; -- so called in allusion to the betrayal of Christ by Judas Iscariot.

Syn. -- See Emissary, and Scout.

Spy"boat` (?), n. A boat sent to make discoveries and bring intelligence. Arbuthnot.

Spy"glass (?), n. A small telescope for viewing distant terrestrial objects.

Spy"ism (?), n. Act or business of spying. [R.]

{ Spy"nace (?; 48), Spyne (?) }, n. (Naut.) See Pinnace, n., 1 (a).

Squab (?), a. [Cf. dial. Sw. sqvabb a soft and fat body, sqvabba a fat woman, Icel. kvap jelly, jellylike things, and and E. quab.] 1. Fat; thick; plump; bulky.

Nor the squab daughter nor the wife were nice.

Betterton.

2. Unfledged; unfeathered; as, a squab pigeon. King.

Squab, n. 1. (Zoöl.) A neatling of a pigeon or other similar bird, esp. when very fat and not fully fledged.

2. A person of a short, fat figure.

Gorgonious sits abdominous and wan, Like a fat squab upon a Chinese fan.

Cowper.

3. A thickly stuffed cushion; especially, one used for the seat of a sofa, couch, or chair; also, a sofa.

Punching the squab of chairs and sofas.

Dickens.

On her large squab you find her spread.

Pope.

Squab, adv. [Cf. dial. Sw. squapp, a word imitative of a splash, and E. squab fat, unfledged.] With a heavy fall; plump. [Vulgar]

The eagle took the tortoise up into the air, and dropped him down, squab, upon a rock.

L'Estrange.

Squab, v. i. To fall plump; to strike at one dash, or with a heavy stroke. [Obs.]

Squa*bash" (?), v. t. To crush; to quash; to squash. [Colloq. or Slang, Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

Squab"bish (?), a. Thick; fat; heavy.

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Squab"ble (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Squabbled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Squabbling (?).] [Cf. dial. Sw. skvabbel a dispute, skvappa to chide.] 1. To contend for superiority in an unseemly maner; to scuffle; to struggle; to wrangle; to quarrel.

2. To debate peevishly; to dispute.

The sense of these propositions is very plain, though logicians might squabble a whole day whether they should rank them under negative or affirmative.

I. Watts.

Syn. -- To dispute; contend; scuffle; wrangle; quarrel; struggle.

Squab"ble, v. t. (Print.) To disarrange, so that the letters or lines stand awry or are mixed and need careful readjustment; -- said of type that has been set up.

Squab"ble, n. A scuffle; a wrangle; a brawl.

Squab"bler (?), n. One who squabbles; a contentious person; a brawler.

Squab"by (?), a. Short and thick; suqabbish.

Squab"-chick` (?), n. (Zoöl.) A young chicken before it is fully fledged. [Prov. Eng.]

Squac"co (?), n.; pl. Squaccos (&?;). (Zoöl.) A heron (Ardea comata) found in Asia, Northern Africa, and Southern Europe.

Squad (?), n. [F. escouade, fr. Sp. escuadra, or It. squadra, (assumed) LL. exquadrare to square; L. ex + quadra a square. See Square.] 1. (Mil.) A small party of men assembled for drill, inspection, or other purposes.

2. Hence, any small party.

Squad, n. Sloppy mud. [Prov. Eng.] Tennyson.

Squad"ron (?), n. [F. escadron, formerly also esquadron, or It. squadrone. See Squad.] 1. Primarily, a square; hence, a square body of troops; a body of troops drawn up in a square. [R.]

Those half-rounding quards Just met, and, closing, stood in squadron joined.

Milton.

2. (Mil.) A body of cavarly comparising two companies or troops, and averging from one hundred and twenty to two hundred men.

3. (Naut.) A detachment of vessels employed on any particular service or station, under the command of the senior officer; as, the North Atlantic Squadron. Totten.

Flying squadron, a squadron of observation or practice, that cruises rapidly about from place to place. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

Squad"roned (?), a. Formed into squadrons, or squares. [R.] Milton.

Squail (?), v. i. To throw sticls at cocks; to throw anything about awkwardly or irregularly. [Prov. Eng.] Southey.

Squai"mous (?), a. Squeamish. [Obs.]

||Squa"li (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. L. squalus a kind of sea fish.] (Zoöl.) ||The suborder of elasmobranch fishes which comprises the sharks.

Squal"id (?), a. [L. squalidus, fr. squalere to be foul or filthy.] Dirty through neglect; foul; filthy; extremely dirty.

Uncomed his locks, and squalid his attrie.

Dryden.

Those squalid dens, which are the reproach of large capitals.

Macaulay.

Squa*lid"i*ty (?), n. [L. squaliditas.] The quality or state of being squalid; foulness; filthiness.

Squal"id*ly (?), adv. In a squalid manner.

Squal"id*ness, n. Quality or state of being squalid.

Squall (?), n. [Cf. Sw. sqval an impetuous running of water, sqvalregn a violent shower of rain, sqala to stream, to gush.] A sudden violent gust of wind often attended with rain or snow.

The gray skirts of a lifting squall.

Tennyson.

Black squall, a squall attended with dark, heavy clouds. -- Thick squall, a black squall accompanied by rain, hail, sleet, or snow. Totten. -- White squall, a squall which comes unexpectedly, without being marked in its approach by the clouds. Totten.

Squall, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Squalled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Squalling.] [Icel. skvala. Cf. Squeal.] To cry out; to scream or cry violently, as a woman frightened, or a child in anger or distress; as, the infant squalled.

Squall, n. A loud scream; a harsh cry.

There oft are heard the notes of infant woe, - The short, thick sob, loud scream, and shriller squall.

Pope.

Squall"er (?), n. One who squalls; a screamer.

Squall"y (?), a. 1. Abounding with squalls; disturbed often with sudden and violent gusts of wind; gusty; as, squally weather.

2. (Agric.) Interrupted by unproductive spots; -- said of a flied of turnips or grain. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

3. (Weaving) Not equally good throughout; not uniform; uneven; faulty; -- said of cloth.

Squa"lo*don (?), n. [NL. Squalus a genus of sharks + Gr. &?;, &?;, a tooth.] (Paleon.) A genus of fossil whales belonging to the Phocodontia; -- so called because their are serrated, like a shark's.

Squa"lo*dont (?), a. (Zoöl.) Pertaining to Squalodon.

Squa"loid (?), a. [NL. Squalus a genus of sharks (fr. L. squalus a kind of sea fish) + - oid.] (Zoöl.) Like or pertaining to a shark or sharks.

Squa"lor (?), n. [L., fr. squalere to be foul or filthy.] Squalidness; foulness; filthness; squalidity.

The heterogenous indigent multitude, everywhere wearing nearly the same aspect of squalor.

Taylor.

To bring this sort of squalor among the upper classes.

Dickens.

||Squa"ma (?), n.; pl. Squamæ (#). [L. a scale.] (Med.) A scale cast ||off from the skin; a thin dry shred consisting of epithelium.

Squa*ma"ceous (?), a. Squamose.

||Squa*ma"ta (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. L. squamatus scaly.] (Zoöl.) A ||division of edentates having the body covered with large, imbricated ||horny scales. It includes the pangolins.

{ Squa"mate (?), Squa"ma*ted (?) }, a. [L. squamatus.] Same as Squamose.

Squam"duck` (?). (Zoöl.) The American eider duck. [Local, U.S.]

Squame (?), n. [L. squama scale.] 1. A scale. [Obs.] "iron squames." Chaucer.

2. (Zoöl.) The scale, or exopodite, of an antenna of a crustacean.

||Squa*mel"la (?), n.; pl. Squamellæ (#). [NL., dim. fr. L. squama a ||scale.] (Bot.) A diminutive scale or bractlet, such as those found on ||the receptacle in many composite plants; a palea.

Squa*mel"late (?), a. Furnished or covered with little scales; squamulose.

Squa"mi*form (?), a.[L. squama a scale + -form.] Having the shape of a scale.

Squa*mig"er*ous (?), a. [L. squamiger; squama a scale + gerere to bear.] (Zoöl.) Bearing scales.

Squam"i*pen (? or ?), n. ;pl. Squamipennes (#). [L. squama a scale + penna a fin: cf. F. squamipenne.] (Zoöl.) Any one of a group of fishes having the dorsal and anal fins partially covered with scales.

They are compressed and mostly, bright-colored tropical fishes, belonging to Chætodon and allied genera. Many of them are called soral fishes, and angel fishes.

Squa"moid (?), a. [L. squama scale + -oid.] Resembling a scale; also, covered with scales; scaly.

Squa*mo"sal (?), a. (Anat.) (a) Scalelike; squamous; as, the squamosal bone. (b) Of or pertaining to the squamosal bone. -- n. The squamous part of the temporal bone, or a bone correspondending to it, under Temporal.

{ Squa*mose" (? or &?;), Squa"mous (?) }, [L. squamosus, fr. squama a scale: cf. F. squameux.] 1. Covered with, or consisting of, scales; resembling a scale; scaly; as, the squamose cones of the pine; squamous epithelial cells; the squamous portion of the temporal bone, which is so called from a fancied resemblance to a scale.

2. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the squamosal bone; squamosal.

Squa`mo*zyg`o*mat"ic (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to both the squamosal and zygomatic bones; -- applied to a bone, or a center of ossification, in some fetal skulls. -- n. A squamozygomatic bone.

||Squam"u*la (? or ?), n.; pl. Squamulæ (#). [L., dim. of squama a ||scale.] (Bot.) One of the little hypogynous scales found in the ||flowers of grasses; a lodicule.

Squam"u*late (?), a. Same as Squamulose.

Squam"ule (?), n. (Bot.) Same as Squamula.

Squam"u*lose` (?; 277), a. Having little scales; squamellate; squamulate.

Squan"der (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Squandered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Squandering.] [Cf. Scot. squatter to splash water about, to scatter, to squander, Prov. E. swatter, Dan. sqvatte, Sw. sqvätta to squirt, sqvättra to squander, Icel. skvetta to squirt out, to throw out water.] 1. To scatter; to disperse. [Obs.]

Our squandered troops he rallies.

Dryden.

2. To spend lavishly or profusely; to spend prodigally or wastefully; to use without economy or judgment; to dissipate; as, to squander an estate.

The crime of squandering health is equal to the folly.

Rambler.

Syn. -- To spend; expend; waste; scatter; dissipate.

Squan"der, v. i. 1. To spend lavishly; to be wasteful.

They often squandered, but they never gave.

Savage.

2. To wander at random; to scatter. [R.]

The wise man's folly is anatomized Even by squandering glances of the fool.

Shak.

Squan"der, n. The act of squandering; waste.

Squan"der*er (?), n. One who squanders.

Squan"der*ing*ly, adv. In a squandering manner.

Square (?), n. [OF. esquarre, esquierre, F. équerre a carpenter's square (cf. It. squadra), fr. (assumed) LL. exquadrare to make square; L. ex + quadrus a square, fr. quattuor four. See Four, and cf. Quadrant, Squad, Squer a square.] 1. (Geom.) (a) The corner, or angle, of a figure. [Obs.] (b) A parallelogram having four equal sides and four right angles.

2. Hence, anything which is square, or nearly so; as: (a) A square piece or fragment.

He bolted his food down his capacious throat in squares of three inches.

Sir W. Scott.

(b) A pane of glass. (c) (Print.) A certain number of lines, forming a portion of a column, nearly square; -- used chiefly in reckoning the prices of advertisements in newspapers. (d) (Carp.) One hundred superficial feet.

3. An area of four sides, generally with houses on each side; sometimes, a solid block of houses; also, an open place or area for public use, as at the meeting or intersection of two or more streets.

The statue of Alexander VII. stands in the large square of the town.

Addison.

4. (Mech. & Joinery) An instrument having at least one right angle and two or more straight edges, used to lay out or test square work. It is of several forms, as the T square, the carpenter's square, the try-square., etc.

5. Hence, a pattern or rule. [Obs.]

6. (Arith. & Alg.) The product of a number or quantity multiplied by itself; thus, 64 is the square of 8, for 8 × 8 = 64; the square of a + b is a2 + 2ab + b2.

7. Exact proportion; justness of workmanship and conduct; regularity; rule. [Obs.]

They of Galatia [were] much more out of square.

Hooker.

I have not kept my square.

Shak.

8. (Mil.) A body of troops formed in a square, esp. one formed to resist a charge of cavalry; a squadron. "The brave squares of war." Shak.

9. Fig.: The relation of harmony, or exact agreement; equality; level.

We live not on the square with such as these.

Dryden.

10. (Astrol.) The position of planets distant ninety degrees from each other; a quadrate. [Obs.]

11. The act of squaring, or quarreling; a quarrel. [R.]

12. The front of a woman's dress over the bosom, usually worked or embroidered. [Obs.] Shak.

Geometrical square. See Quadrat, n., 2. -- Hollow square (Mil.), a formation of troops in the shape of a square, each side consisting of four or five ranks, and the colors, officers, horses, etc., occupying the middle. -- Least square, Magic square, etc. See under Least, Magic, etc. -- On the square, or Upon the square, in an open, fair manner; honestly, or upon honor. [Obs. or Colloq.] -- On, or Upon, the square with, upon equality with; even with. Nares. -- To be all squares, to be all settled. [Colloq.] Dickens. -- To be at square, to be in a state of quarreling. [Obs.] Nares. -- To break no square, to give no offense; to make no difference. [Obs.] -- To break squares, to depart from an accustomed order. -- To see how the squares go, to see how the game proceeds; -- a phrase taken from the game of chess, the chessboard being formed with squares. [Obs.] L'Estrange.

Square (?), a. 1. (Geom.) Having four equal sides and four right angles; as, a square figure.

2. Forming a right angle; as, a square corner.

3. Having a shape broad for the height, with rectilineal and angular rather than curving outlines; as, a man of a square frame.

4. Exactly suitable or correspondent; true; just.

She's a most truimphant lady, if report be square to her.

Shak.

5. Rendering equal justice; exact; fair; honest, as square dealing.

6. Even; leaving no balance; as, to make or leave the accounts square.

7. Leaving nothing; hearty; vigorous.

By Heaven, square eaters. More meat, I say.

Beau. & Fl.

8. (Naut.) At right angles with the mast or the keel, and parallel to the horizon; -- said of the yards of a square-rigged vessel when they are so braced.

Square is often used in self-explaining compounds or combination, as in square-built, square-cornered, square-cut, square-nosed, etc.

Square foot, an area equal to that of a square the sides of which are twelwe inches; 144 square inches. - - Square knot, a knot in which the terminal and standing parts are parallel to each other; a reef knot. See Illust. under Knot. -- Square measure, the measure of a superficies or surface which depends on the length and breadth taken conjointly. The units of square measure are squares whose sides are the linear measures; as, square inches, square feet, square meters, etc. -- Square number. See square, n., 6. -- Square root of a number or quantity (Math.), that number or quantity which, multiplied by itself produces the given number or quantity. -- Square sail (Naut.), a four-sided sail extended upon a yard suspended by the middle; sometimes, the foresail of a schooner set upon a yard; also, a cutter's or sloop's sail boomed out. See Illust. of Sail. -- Square stern (Naut.), a stern having a transom and joining the counter timbers at an angle, as distinguished from a round stern, which has no transom. -- Three-square, Five- square, etc., having three, five, etc., equal sides; as, a three-square file. -- To get square with, to get even with; to pay off. [Colloq.]

Square, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Squared (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Squaring.] [Cf. OF. escarrer, esquarrer. See Square, n.] 1. To form with four sides and four right angles. Spenser.

2. To form with right angles and straight lines, or flat surfaces; as, to square mason's work.

3. To compare with, or reduce to, any given measure or standard. Shak.

4. To adjust; to regulate; to mold; to shape; to fit; as, to square our actions by the opinions of others.

Square my trial To my proportioned strength.

Milton.

5. To make even, so as leave no remainder of difference; to balance; as, to square accounts.

6. (Math.) To multiply by itself; as, to square a number or a quantity.

7. (Astrol.) To hold a quartile position respecting.

The icy Goat and Crab that square the Scales.

Creech.

8. (Naut.) To place at right angles with the keel; as, to square the yards.

To square one's shoulders, to raise the shoulders so as to give them a square appearance, -- a movement expressing contempt or dislike. Sir W. Scott. -- To square the circle (Math.), to determine the exact contents of a circle in square measure. The solution of this famous problem is now generally admitted to be impossible.

Square, v. i. 1. To accord or agree exactly; to be consistent with; to conform or agree; to suit; to fit.

No works shall find acceptamce . . . That square not truly with the Scripture plan.

Cowper.

2. To go to opposite sides; to take an attitude of offense or defense, or of defiance; to quarrel. [Obs.]

Are you such fools To square for this?

Shak.

3. To take a boxing attitude; -- often with up, sometimes with off. [Colloq.] Dickens.

Square"ly, adv. In a square form or manner.

Square"ness, n. The quality of being square; as, an instrument to try the squareness of work.

Squar"er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, squares.

2. One who squares, or quarrels; a hot-headed, contentious fellow. [Obs.] Shak.

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Square"-rigged` (skwâr"rgd`), a. (Naut.) Having the sails extended upon yards suspended horizontally by the middle, as distinguished from fore-and-aft sails; thus, a ship and a brig are square-rigged vessels.

Square"-toed` (-td`), n. Having the toe square.

Obsolete as fardingales, ruffs, and square-toed shoes.

V. Knox.

Square"-toes` (?), n. A precise person; -- used contemptuously or jocularly. Thackeray.

Squar"ish, a. Nearly square. Pennant.

Squar*rose" (? or ?; 277), a. [L. squarrosus (perhaps) scurfy, scabby.] Ragged or full of lose scales or projecting parts; rough; jagged; as: (a) (Bot. & Zoöl.) Consisting of scales widely divaricating; having scales, small leaves, or other bodies, spreading widely from the axis on which they are crowded; -- said of a calyx or stem. (b) (Bot.) Divided into shreds or jags, raised above the plane of the leaf, and not parallel to it; said of a leaf. (c) (Zoöl.) Having scales spreading every way, or standing upright, or at right angles to the surface; -- said of a shell.

Squarrose-slashed (Bot.), doubly slashed, with the smaller divisions at right angles to the others, as a leaf. Landley.

Squar*ro`so-den"tate (?), a. (Bot.) Having the teeth bent out of the plane of the lamina; -- said of a leaf.

Squar"rous (? or ?), a. Squarrose.

Squar"ru*lose` (?), a. [Dim. of squarrose.] (Bot.) Somewhat squarrose; slightly squarrose. Gray.

Squash (?), n. [Cf. Musquash.] (Zoöl.) An American animal allied to the weasel. [Obs.] Goldsmith.

Squash, n. [Massachusetts Indian asq, pl. asquash, raw, green, immaturate, applied to fruit and vegetables which were used when green, or without cooking; askutasquash vine apple.] (Bot.) A plant and its fruit of the genus Cucurbita, or gourd kind.

The species are much confused. The long-neck squash is called Cucurbita verrucosa, the Barbary or China squash, C. moschata, and the great winter squash, C. maxima, but the distinctions are not clear.

Squash beetle (Zoöl.), a small American beetle (Diabrotica, or Galeruca vittata) which is often abundant and very injurious to the leaves of squash, cucumber, etc. It is striped with yellow and black. The name is applied also to other allied species. -- Squash bug (Zoöl.), a large black American hemipterous insect (Coreus, or Anasa, tristis) injurious to squash vines.

Squash, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Squashed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Squashing.] [OE. squashen, OF. escachier, esquachier, to squash, to crush, F. écacher, perhaps from (assumed) LL. excoacticare, fr. L. ex + coactare to constrain, from cogere, coactum, to compel. Cf. Cogent, Squat, v. i.] To beat or press into pulp or a flat mass; to crush.

Squash, n. 1. Something soft and easily crushed; especially, an unripe pod of pease.

Not yet old enough for a man, nor young enough for a boy; as a squash is before 't is a peascod.

Shak.

2. Hence, something unripe or soft; -- used in contempt. "This squash, this gentleman." Shak.

3. A sudden fall of a heavy, soft body; also, a shock of soft bodies. Arbuthnot.

My fall was stopped by a terrible squash.

Swift.

Squash"er (?), n. One who, or that which, squashes.

Squash"i*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being squashy, or soft.

Squash"y (?), a. Easily squashed; soft.

Squat (?), n. (Zoöl.) The angel fish (Squatina angelus).

Squat, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Squatted; p. pr. & vb. n. Squatting.] [OE. squatten to crush, OF. esquater, esquatir (cf. It. quatto squat, cowering), perhaps fr. L. ex + coactus, p. p. cogere to drive or urge together. See Cogent, Squash, v. t.] 1. To sit down upon the hams or heels; as, the savages squatted near the fire.

2. To sit close to the ground; to cower; to stoop, or lie close, to escape observation, as a partridge or rabbit.

3. To settle on another's land without title; also, to settle on common or public lands.

Squat, v. t. To bruise or make flat by a fall. [Obs.]

Squat, a. 1. Sitting on the hams or heels; sitting close to the ground; cowering; crouching.

Him there they found, Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve.

Milton.

2. Short and thick, like the figure of an animal squatting. "The round, squat turret." R. Browning.

The head [of the squill insect] is broad and squat.

Grew.

Squat, n. 1. The posture of one that sits on his heels or hams, or close to the ground.

2. A sudden or crushing fall. [Obs.] erbert.

3. (Mining) (a) A small vein of ore. (b) A mineral consisting of tin ore and spar. Halliwell. Woodward.

Squat snipe (Zoöl.), the jacksnipe; -- called also squatter. [Local, U.S.]

Squat"er*ole (?), n. (Zoöl.) The black-bellied plover.

Squat"ter (?), n. 1. One who squats; specifically, one who settles unlawfully upon land without a title. In the United States and Australia the term is sometimes applied also to a person who settles lawfully upon government land under permission and restrictions, before acquiring title.

In such a tract, squatters and trespassers were tolerated to an extent now unknown.

Macaulay.

2. (Zoöl.) See Squat snipe, under Squat.

Squatter sovereignty, the right claimed by the squatters, or actual residents, of a Territory of the United States to make their own laws. [Local, U.S.] Bartlett.

Squat"ty (?), a. Squat; dumpy. J. Burroughs.

Squaw (?), n. [Massachusetts Indian squa, eshqua; Narragansett squâws; Delaware ochqueu, and khqueu; used also in compound words (as the names of animals) in the sense of female.] A female; a woman; -- in the language of Indian tribes of the Algonquin family, correlative of sannup.

Old squaw. (Zoöl.) See under Old.

Squaw"ber`ry (?), n. (Bot.) A local name for the partridge berry; also, for the deerberry. [U. S.]

Squawk (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Squawked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Squawking.] [See Squeak.] To utter a shrill, abrupt scream; to squeak harshly.

Squawking thrush (Zoöl.), the missel turush; -- so called from its note when alarmed. [Prov. Eng.]

Squawk, n. 1. Act of squawking; a harsh squeak.

2. (Zoöl.) The American night heron. See under Night.

Squawk duck (Zoöl.), the bimaculate duck (Anas glocitans). It has patches of reddish brown behind, and in front of, each eye. [Prov. Eng.]

Squawl (?), v. i. See Squall.

Squaw"root` (?), n. (Bot.) A scaly parasitic plant (Conopholis Americana) found in oak woods in the United States; -- called also cancer root.

Squaw"weed` (?), n. (Bot.) The golden ragwort. See under Ragwort.

Squeak (?), v. i. [imp.& p. p. Squaked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Squeaking.] [Probably of imitative origin; cf. Sw. sqväka to croak, Icel. skvakka to give a sound as of water shaken in a bottle.] 1. To utter a sharp, shrill cry, usually of short duration; to cry with an acute tone, as an animal; or, to make a sharp, disagreeable noise, as a pipe or quill, a wagon wheel, a door; to creak.

Who can endure to hear one of the rough old Romans squeaking through the mouth of an eunuch?

Addison.

Zoilus calls the companions of Ulysses the "squeaking pigs" of Homer.

Pope.

2. To break silence or secrecy for fear of pain or punishment; to speak; to confess. [Colloq.]

If he be obstinate, put a civil question to him upon the rack, and he squeaks, I warrant him.

Dryden.

Squeak, n. A sharp, shrill, disagreeable sound suddenly utered, either of the human voice or of any animal or instrument, such as is made by carriage wheels when dry, by the soles of leather shoes, or by a pipe or reed.

Squeak"er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, squeaks.

2. (Zoöl.) The Australian gray crow shrile (Strepera anaphonesis); -- so called from its note.

Squeak"ing*ly, adv. In a squeaking manner.

Squeal (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Squealed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Squealing.] [Of Scand. origin; cf. Sw. sqväla, Norw. skvella. Cf. Squeak, Squall.] 1. To cry with a sharp, shrill, prolonged sound, as certain animals do, indicating want, displeasure, or pain.

2. To turn informer; to betray a secret. [Slang]

Squeal, n. A shrill, somewhat prolonged cry.

Squeal"er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, squeals.

2. (Zoöl.) (a) The European swift. (b) The harlequin duck. (c) The American golden plover.

Squeam"ish (?), a. [OE. squaimous, sweymous, probably from OE. sweem, swem, dizziness, a swimming in the head; cf. Icel. svemr a bustle, a stir, Norw. sveim a hovering about, a sickness that comes upon one, Icel. svimi a giddiness, AS. swmi. The word has been perhaps confused witrh qualmish. Cf. Swim to be dizzy.] Having a stomach that is easily or nauseated; hence, nice to excess in taste; fastidious; easily disgusted; apt to be offended at trifling improprieties.

Quoth he, that honor's very squeamish That takes a basting for a blemish.

Hudibras.

His muse is rustic, and perhaps too plain The men of squeamish taste to entertain.

Southern.

So ye grow squeamish, Gods, and sniff at heaven.

M. Arnold.

Syn. -- Fastidious; dainty; overnice; scrupulous. See Fastidious.

-- Squeam"ish*ly, adv. -- Squeam"ish*ness, n.

Squeam"ous (?), a. Squeamish. [Obs.]

Squea"si*ness (?), n. Queasiness. [Obs.]

Squea"sy (?), a. Queasy; nice; squeamish; fastidious; scrupulous. [Obs.] Bp. Earle.

Squee"gee (?), n. Same as Squilgee.

Squeeze (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Squeezed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Squeezing.] [OE. queisen, AS. cwsan, cwsan, cwsan, of uncertain origin. The s- was probably prefixed through the influence of squash, v.t.] 1. To press between two bodies; to press together closely; to compress; often, to compress so as to expel juice, moisture, etc.; as, to squeeze an orange with the fingers; to squeeze the hand in friendship.

2. Fig.: To oppress with hardships, burdens, or taxes; to harass; to crush.

In a civil war, people must expect to be crushed and squeezed toward the burden.

L'Estrange.

3. To force, or cause to pass, by compression; often with out, through, etc.; as, to squeeze water through felt.

Syn. -- To compress; hug; pinch; gripe; crowd.

Squeeze, v. i. To press; to urge one's way, or to pass, by pressing; to crowd; -- often with through, into, etc.; as, to squeeze hard to get through a crowd.

Squeeze, n. 1. The act of one who squeezes; compression between bodies; pressure.

2. A facsimile impression taken in some soft substance, as pulp, from an inscription on stone.

Squeez"er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, squeezes; as, a lemon squeezer.

2. (Forging) (a) A machine like a large pair of pliers, for shingling, or squeezing, the balls of metal when puddled; -- used only in the plural. (b) A machine of several forms for the same purpose; -- used in the singular.

Squeez"ing, n. 1. The act of pressing; compression; oppression.

2. pl. That which is forced out by pressure; dregs.

3. Same as Squeeze, n., 2.

Squelch (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Squelched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Squelching.] [Cf. prov. E. quelch a blow, and quel to crush, to kill.] To quell; to crush; to silence or put down. [Colloq.]

Oh 't was your luck and mine to be squelched.

Beau. & Fl.

If you deceive us you will be squelched.

Carlyle.

Squelch, n. A heavy fall, as of something flat; hence, also, a crushing reply. [Colloq.] Hudibras.

Sque*teague" (skw*tg"), n. [from the North American Indian name.] (Zoöl.) An American sciænoid fish (Cynoscion regalis), abundant on the Atlantic coast of the United States, and much valued as a food fish. It is of a bright silvery color, with iridescent reflections. Called also weakfish, squitee, chickwit, and sea trout. The spotted squeteague (C. nebulosus) of the Southern United States is a similar fish, but the back and upper fins are spotted with black. It is called also spotted weakfish, and, locally, sea trout, and sea salmon.

Squib (skwb), n. [OE. squippen, swippen, to move swiftly, Icel. svipa to swoop, flash, dart, whip; akin to AS. swipian to whip, and E. swift, a. See Swift, a.] 1. A little pipe, or hollow cylinder of paper, filled with powder or combustible matter, to be thrown into the air while burning, so as to burst there with a crack.

Lampoons, like squibs, may make a present blaze.

Waller.

The making and selling of fireworks, and squibs . . . is punishable.

Blackstone.

2. (Mining) A kind of slow match or safety fuse.

3. A sarcastic speech or publication; a petty lampoon; a brief, witty essay.

Who copied his squibs, and reëchoed his jokes.

Goldsmith.

4. A writer of lampoons. [Obs.]

The squibs are those who in the common phrase of the world are called libelers, lampooners, and pamphleteers.

Tatler.

5. A paltry fellow. [Obs.] Spenser.

Squib, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Squibbed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Squibbing.] To throw squibs; to utter sarcastic or severe reflections; to contend in petty dispute; as, to squib a little debate. [Colloq.]

Squid (skwd), n. [Cf. Squirt.] 1. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of ten-armed cephalopods having a long, tapered body, and a caudal fin on each side; especially, any species of Loligo, Ommastrephes, and related genera. See Calamary, Decacerata, Dibranchiata.

Some of these squids are very abundant on the Atlantic coast of North America, and are used in large quantities for bait, especially in the cod fishery. The most abundant of the American squids are the northern squid (Ommastrephes illecebrosus), ranging from Southern New England to Newfoundland, and the southern squid (Loligo Pealii), ranging from Virginia to Massachusetts.

2. A fishhook with a piece of bright lead, bone, or other substance, fastened on its shank to imitate a squid.

Flying squid, Giant squid. (Zoöl.) See under Flying, and Giant. -- Squid hound (Zoöl.), the striped bass.

Squier (?), n. A square. See 1st Squire. [Obs.]

Not the worst of the three but jumps twelve foot and a half by the squier.

Shak.

{ Squi"er*ie, Squi"er*y }, (&?;), n. [OF. escuiere. See Esquire.] A company of squires; the whole body of squires.

This word is found in Tyrwhitt's Chaucer, but is not in the modern editions.

Squig"gle (?), v. i. [Cf. Prov. E. swiggle to drink greedily, to shake liquor in a close vessel, and E. sqig.] To shake and wash a fluid about in the mouth with the lips closed. [Prov. Eng.] Forby.

Squig"gle, v. i. [Cf. Squirm, Wiggle.] To move about like an eel; to squirm. [Low, U.S.] Bartlett.

<! p. 1398 !>

Squil"gee (?), n. Formerly, a small swab for drying a vessel's deck; now, a kind of scraper having a blade or edge of rubber or of leather, -- used for removing superfluous, water or other liquids, as from a vessel's deck after washing, from window panes, photographer's plates, etc. [Written also squillgee, squillagee, squeegee.]

Squill (?), n. [F. squille (also scille a squill, in sense 1), L. squilla, scilla, Gr. &?;.] 1. (Bot.) (a) A European bulbous liliaceous plant (Urginea, formerly Scilla, maritima), of acrid, expectorant, diuretic, and emetic properties used in medicine. Called also sea onion. (b) Any bulbous plant of the genus Scilla; as, the bluebell squill (S. mutans).

2. (Zoöl.) (a) A squilla. (b) A mantis.

||Squil"la (?), n.; pl. E. Squillas (#), L. Squillæ (#). [L., a sea ||onion, also, a prawn or shrimp. See Squill.] (Zoöl.) Any one of ||numerous stomapod crustaceans of the genus Squilla and allied genera. ||They make burrows in mud or beneath stones on the seashore. Called ||also mantis shrimp. See Illust. under Stomapoda.

Squill*it"ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to squills. [R.] "Squillitic vinegar." Holland.

{ Squin"ance (?), Squin"an*cy (?) }, n. [F. esquinancie, OF. squinance, esquinance. See Quinsy.] 1. (Med.) The quinsy. See Quinsy. [Obs.]

2. (Bot.) A European perennial herb (Asperula cynanchica) with narrowly linear whorled leaves; -- formerly thought to cure the quinsy. Also called quincewort.

Squinancy berries, black currants; -- so called because used to cure the quinsy. Dr. Prior.

Squinch (?), n. [Corrupted fr. sconce.] (Arch.) A small arch thrown across the corner of a square room to support a superimposed mass, as where an octagonal spire or drum rests upon a square tower; -- called also sconce, and sconcheon.

Squin"sy (?), n. (Med.) See Quinsy. [Obs.]

Squint (?), a. [Cf. D. schuinte a slope, schuin, schuinisch, sloping, oblique, schuins slopingly. Cf. Askant, Askance, Asquint.] 1. Looking obliquely. Specifically (Med.), not having the optic axes coincident; -- said of the eyes. See Squint, n., 2.

2. Fig.: Looking askance. "Squint suspicion." Milton.

Squint, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Squinted; p. pr. & vb. n. Squinting.] 1. To see or look obliquely, asquint, or awry, or with a furtive glance.

Some can squint when they will.

Bacon.

2. (Med.) To have the axes of the eyes not coincident; -- to be cross-eyed.

3. To deviate from a true line; to run obliquely.

Squint, v. t. 1. To turn to an oblique position; to direct obliquely; as, to squint an eye.

2. To cause to look with noncoincident optic axes.

He . . . squints the eye, and makes the harelid.

Shak.

Squint, n. 1. The act or habit of squinting.

2. (Med.) A want of coincidence of the axes of the eyes; strabismus.

3. (Arch.) Same as Hagioscope.

Squint"er (?), n. One who squints.

Squint"-eye` (?), n. An eye that squints. Spenser.

Squint"-eyed` (?), a. 1. Having eyes that quint; having eyes with axes not coincident; cross-eyed.

2. Looking obliquely, or asquint; malignant; as, squint-eyed praise; squint-eyed jealousy.

Squint`i*fe"go (?), a. Squinting. [Obs. & R.]

Squint"ing (?), a. & n. from Squint, v. -- Squint"ing*ly, adv.

Squin"y (?), v. i. To squint. [Obs.] Shak.

Squin"zey (?), n. (Med.) See Quinsy. [Obs.]

Squir (skwr), v. t. To throw with a jerk; to throw edge foremost. [Obs.] [Written also squirr.] Addison.

Squir"al*ty (?), n. Same as Squirarchy.

That such weight and influence be put thereby into the hands of the squiralty of my kingdom.

Sterne.

Squir"arch (?), n. [Squire + - arch.] One who belongs to the squirarchy. -- Squir"arch*al (#), a.

Squir"arch*y (?), n. [Squire + -archy.] The gentlemen, or gentry, of a country, collectively. [Written also squirearchy.]

Squire (?), n. [OF. esquierre, F. équerre. See Square, n.] A square; a measure; a rule. [Obs.] "With golden squire." Spenser.

Squire, n. [Aphetic form of esquire.] 1. A shield-bearer or armor- bearer who attended a knight.

2. A title of dignity next in degree below knight, and above gentleman. See Esquire. [Eng.] "His privy knights and squires." Chaucer.

3. A male attendant on a great personage; also (Colloq.), a devoted attendant or follower of a lady; a beau.

4. A title of office and courtesy. See under Esquire.

Squire, v. t. [imp. & p. p. squired (?); p. pr. & vb. n. squiring.] 1. To attend as a squire. Chaucer.

2. To attend as a beau, or gallant, for aid and protection; as, to squire a lady. [Colloq.] Goldsmith.

Squir*een" (?), n. One who is half squire and half farmer; -- used humorously. [Eng.] C. Kingsley.

Squire"hood (?), n. The rank or state of a squire; squireship. Swift.

squire"ling (?), n. A petty squire. Tennyson.

Squire"ly, a. & adv. Becoming a squire; like a squire.

squire"ship, n. Squirehood.

Squirm (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Squirmed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Squirming.] [Cf. Swarm to climb a tree.] To twist about briskly with contor&?;ions like an eel or a worm; to wriggle; to writhe.

Squirr (?), v. t. See Squir.

Squir"rel (skwr"rl or skwr"-; 277), n. [OE. squirel, OF. esquirel, escurel, F. écureuil, LL. squirelus, squirolus, scuriolus, dim. of L. sciurus, Gr. si`oyros; skia` shade + o'yra` tail. Cf. Shine, v. i.] 1. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of small rodents belonging to the genus Sciurus and several allied genera of the family Sciuridæ. Squirrels generally have a bushy tail, large erect ears, and strong hind legs. They are commonly arboreal in their habits, but many species live in burrows.

Among the common North American squirrels are the gray squirrel (Scirius Carolinensis) and its black variety; the fox, or cat, sqirrel (S. cinereus, or S. niger) which is a large species, and variable in color, the southern variety being frequently black, while the northern and western varieties are usually gray or rusty brown; the red squirrel (see Chickaree); the striped, or chipping, squirrel (see Chipmunk); and the California gray squirrel (S. fossor). Several other species inhabit Mexico and Central America. The common European species (Sciurus vulgaris) has a long tuft of hair on each ear. the so- called Australian squirrels are marsupials. See Petaurist, and Phalanger.

2. One of the small rollers of a carding machine which work with the large cylinder.

Barking squirrel (Zoöl.), the prairie dog. -- Federation squirrel (Zoöl.), the striped gopher. See Gopher, 2. -- Flying squirrel (Zoöl.). See Flying squirrel, in the Vocabulary. -- Java squirrel (Zoöl.). See Jelerang. -- Squirrel corn (Bot.), a North American herb (Dicantra Canadensis) bearing little yellow tubers. -- Squirrel cup (Bot.), the blossom of the Hepatica triloba, a low perennial herb with cup-shaped flowers varying from purplish blue to pink or even white. It is one of the earliest flowers of spring. -- Squirrel fish (Zoöl.) (a) A sea bass (Serranus fascicularis) of the Southern United States. (b) The sailor's choice (Diplodus rhomboides). (c) The redmouth, or grunt. (d) A market fish of Bermuda (Holocentrum Ascensione). -- Squirrel grass (Bot.), a pestiferous grass (Hordeum murinum) related to barley. In California the stiffly awned spiklets work into the wool of sheep, and into the throat, flesh, and eyes of animals, sometimes even producing death. -- Squirrel hake (Zoöl.), a common American hake (Phycis tenuis); -- called also white hake. -- Squirrel hawk (Zoöl.), any rough-legged hawk; especially, the California species Archibuteo ferrugineus. -- Squirrel monkey. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of several species of small, soft-haired South American monkeys of the genus Calithrix. They are noted for their graceful form and agility. See Teetee. (b) A marmoset. -- Squirrel petaurus (Zoöl.), a flying phalanger of Australia. See Phalanger, Petaurist, and Flying phalanger under Flying. -- Squirrel shrew (Zoöl.), any one of several species of East Indian and Asiatic insectivores of the genus Tupaia. They are allied to the shrews, but have a bushy tail, like that of a squirrel. -- Squirrel-tail grass (Bot.), a grass (Hordeum jubatum) found in salt marshes and along the Great Lakes, having a dense spike beset with long awns.

Squirt (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Squirted; p. pr. & vb. n. Squirting.] [Cf. LG. swirtjen to squirt, OSw. sqvätta, E. squander.] To drive or eject in a stream out of a narrow pipe or orifice; as, to squirt water.

The hard-featured miscreant coolly rolled his tobacco in his cheek, and squirted the juice into the fire grate.

Sir W. Scott.

Squirting cucumber. (Bot.) See Ecballium.

Squirt, v. i. 1. To be thrown out, or ejected, in a rapid stream, from a narrow orifice; - - said of liquids.

2. Hence, to throw out or utter words rapidly; to prate. [Low] L'Estrange.

Squirt, n. 1. An instrument out of which a liquid is ejected in a small stream with force. Young.

2. A small, quick stream; a jet. Bacon.

Squirt"er (?), n. One who, or that which, squirts.

Squir"y (?), n. [See Squiery.] The body of squires, collectively considered; squirarchy. [Obs.]

The flower of chivalry and squiry.

Ld. Berbers.

Squitch" grass` (?). (Bot.) Quitch grass.

Squi*tee" (?), n. [From the N. American Indian name.] (Zoöl.) The squeteague; -- called also squit.

Stab (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stabbed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Stabbing.] [Cf. OD. staven to fix, fasten, fr. stave, staff, a staff, rod; akin to G. stab a staff, stick, E. staff; also Gael. stob to stab, as n., a stake, a stub. Cf. Staff.] 1. To pierce with a pointed weapon; to wound or kill by the thrust of a pointed instrument; as, to stab a man with a dagger; also, to thrust; as, to stab a dagger into a person.

2. Fig.: To injure secretly or by malicious falsehood or slander; as, to stab a person's reputation.

Stab, v. i. 1. To give a wound with a pointed weapon; to pierce; to thrust with a pointed weapon.

None shall dare With shortened sword to stab in closer war.

Dryden.

2. To wound or pain, as if with a pointed weapon.

She speaks poniards, and every word stabs.

Shak.

To stab at, to offer or threaten to stab; to thrust a pointed weapon at.

Stab, n. 1. The thrust of a pointed weapon.

2. A wound with a sharp-pointed weapon; as, to fall by the stab an assassin. Shak.

3. Fig.: An injury inflicted covertly or suddenly; as, a stab given to character.

||Sta"bat Ma"ter (?). [L., the mother was standing.] A celebrated Latin ||hymn, beginning with these words, commemorating the sorrows of the ||mother of our Lord at the foot of the cross. It is read in the Mass ||of the Sorrows of the Virgin Mary, and is sung by Catholics when ||making "the way of the cross" (Via Crucis). See Station, 7 (c).

Stab"ber (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, stabs; a privy murderer.

2. (Naut.) A small marline spike; a pricker.

Stab"bing*ly (?), adv. By stabbing; with intent to injure covertly. Bp. Parker.

Sta*bil"i*ment (?), n. [L. stabilimentum, fr. stabilire to make firm ir stable, fr. stabilis. See Stable, a.] The act of making firm; firm support; establishment. [R.] Jer. taylor.

They serve for stabiliment, propagation, and shade.

Derham.

Sta*bil"i*tate (?), v. t. [LL. stabilitatus, p. p. of stabilitare to make stable.] To make stable; to establish. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Sta*bil"i*ty (?), n. [L. stabilitas; cf. F. stabilité. See Stable, a.] 1. The state or quality of being stable, or firm; steadiness; firmness; strength to stand without being moved or overthrown; as, the stability of a structure; the stability of a throne or a constitution.

2. Steadiness or firmness of character, firmness of resolution or purpose; the quality opposite to fickleness, irresolution, or inconstancy; constancy; steadfastness; as, a man of little stability, or of unusual stability.

3. Fixedness; -- as opposed to fluidity.

Since fluidness and stability are contary qualities.

Boyle.

Syn. -- Steadiness; stableness; constancy; immovability; firmness.

Sta"ble (?), a. [OE. estable, F. stable, fr. L. stabilis, fr. stare to stand. See Stand, v. i. and cf. Establish.] 1. Firmly established; not easily moved, shaken, or overthrown; fixed; as, a stable government.

In this region of chance, . . . where nothing is stable.

Rogers.

2. Steady in purpose; constant; firm in resolution; not easily diverted from a purpose; not fickle or wavering; as, a man of stable character.

And to her husband ever meek and stable.

Chaucer.

3. Durable; not subject to overthrow or change; firm; as, a stable foundation; a stable position.

Stable equibrium (Mech.), the kind of equilibrium of a body so placed that if disturbed it returns to its former position, as in the case when the center of gravity is below the point or axis of support; -- opposed to unstable equilibrium, in which the body if disturbed does not tend to return to its former position, but to move farther away from it, as in the case of a body supported at a point below the center of gravity. Cf. Neutral equilibrium, under Neutral.

Syn. -- Fixed; steady; constant; abiding; strong; durable; firm.

Sta"ble, v. t. To fix; to establish. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Sta"ble, n. [OF. estable, F. étable, from L. stabulum, fr. stare to stand. See Stand, v. i.] A house, shed, or building, for beasts to lodge and feed in; esp., a building or apartment with stalls, for horses; as, a horse stable; a cow stable. Milton.

Stable fly (Zoöl.), a common dipterous fly (Stomoxys calcitrans) which is abundant about stables and often enters dwellings, especially in autumn. These files, unlike the common house files, which they resemble, bite severely, and are troublesome to horses and cattle.

Sta"ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stabled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Stabling (?).] To put or keep in a stable.

Sta"ble, v. i. To dwell or lodge in a stable; to dwell in an inclosed place; to kennel. Milton.

{ Sta"ble*boy` (?), Sta"ble*man (?) }, n. A boy or man who attends in a stable; a groom; a hostler.

Sta"ble*ness, n. The quality or state of being stable, or firmly established; stability.

Sta"bler (?), n. A stable keeper. De Foe.

Sta"ble stand` (?). (O.Eng. Law) The position of a man who is found at his standing in the forest, with a crossbow or a longbow bent, ready to shoot at a deer, or close by a tree with greyhounds in a leash ready to slip; -- one of the four presumptions that a man intends stealing the king's deer. Wharton.

Sta"bling (?), n. 1. The act or practice of keeping horses and cattle in a stable.

2. A building, shed, or room for horses and cattle.

Stab"lish (?), v. t. [Aphetic form of establish.] To settle permanently in a state; to make firm; to establish; to fix. [Obs.] 2 Sam. vii. 13.

Stab"lish*ment (?), n. Establishment. [Obs.]

Sta"bly (?), adv. In a stable manner; firmly; fixedly; steadily; as, a government stably settled.

Stab`u*la"tion (?), n. [L. stabulatio, fr. stabulari to stable cattle, fr. stabulum. See Stable, n.] 1. The act of stabling or housing beasts.

2. A place for lodging beasts; a stable. [Obs.]

||Stac*ca"to (?), a. [It., p. p. of staccere, equivalent to distaccare. ||See Detach.] 1. (Mus.) Disconnected; separated; distinct; -- a ||direction to perform the notes of a passage in a short, distinct, and ||pointed manner. It is opposed to legato, and often indicated by heavy ||accents written over or under the notes, or by dots when the ||performance is to be less distinct and emphatic.

2. Expressed in a brief, pointed manner.

Staccato and peremptory [literary criticism].

G. Eliot.

Stack (?), a. [Icel. stakkr; akin to Sw. stack, Dan. stak. Sf. Stake.] 1. A large pile of hay, grain, straw, or the like, usually of a nearly conical form, but sometimes rectangular or oblong, contracted at the top to a point or ridge, and sometimes covered with thatch.

But corn was housed, and beans were in the stack.

Cowper.

2. A pile of poles or wood, indefinite in quantity.

Against every pillar was a stack of billets above a man's height.

Bacon.

3. A pile of wood containing 108 cubic feet. [Eng.]

4. (Arch.) (a) A number of flues embodied in one structure, rising above the roof. Hence: (b) Any single insulated and prominent structure, or upright pipe, which affords a conduit for smoke; as, the brick smokestack of a factory; the smokestack of a steam vessel.

Stack of arms (Mil.), a number of muskets or rifles set up together, with the bayonets crossing one another, forming a sort of conical self-supporting pile.

Stack, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stacked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Stacking.] [Cf. Sw. stacka, Dan. stakke. See Stack, n.] To lay in a conical or other pile; to make into a large pile; as, to stack hay, cornstalks, or grain; to stack or place wood.

To stack arms (Mil.), to set up a number of muskets or rifles together, with the bayonets crossing one another, and forming a sort of conical pile.

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Stack"age (?), n. 1. Hay, gray, or the like, in stacks; things stacked. [R.]

2. A tax on things stacked. [R.] Holinshed.

Stack"et (?), n. [Cf. F. estacade and E. stockade.] (Mil.) A stockade. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

Stack"-guard` (?), n. A covering or protection, as a canvas, for a stack.

Stack"ing, a. & n. from Stack.

Stacking band, Stacking belt, a band or rope used in binding thatch or straw upon a stack. -- Stacking stage, a stage used in building stacks.

Stack"stand` (?), n. A staging for supporting a stack of hay or grain; a rickstand.

Stack"yard` (?), n. A yard or inclosure for stacks of hay or grain. A. Smith.

Stac"te (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;, strictly fem. of &?; cozing out in drops, fr. &?; to drop.] One of the sweet spices used by the ancient Jews in the preparation of incense. It was perhaps an oil or other form of myrrh or cinnamon, or a kind of storax. Ex. xxx. 34.

Stad"dle (?), n. [AS. staðol, sraðul, a foundation, firm seat; akin to E. stand. &radic;163. See Stand, v. i.] [Formerly written stadle.] 1. Anything which serves for support; a staff; a prop; a crutch; a cane.

His weak steps governing And aged limbs on cypress stadle stout.

Spenser.

2. The frame of a stack of hay or grain. [Eng.]

3. A row of dried or drying hay, etc. [Eng.]

4. A small tree of any kind, especially a forest tree.

In America, trees are called staddles from the time that they are three or four years old till they are six or eight inches in diameter, or more. This is also the sense in which the word is used by Bacon and Tusser.

Stad"dle, v. t. 1. To leave the staddles, or saplings, of, as a wood when it is cut. [R.] Tusser.

2. To form into staddles, as hay. [Eng.]

Stade (?), n. [Cf. F. stade.] A stadium. Donne.

Stade, n. [Cf. G. gestade shore.] A landing place or wharf. Knight.

Sta*dim"e*ter (?), n. [Stadium + -meter.] A horizontal graduated bar mounted on a staff, used as a stadium, or telemeter, for measuring distances.

||Sta"di*um (?), n.; pl. Stadia (#). [L., a stadium (in sense 1), from ||Gr. &?;.] 1. A Greek measure of length, being the chief one used for ||itinerary distances, also adopted by the Romans for nautical and ||astronomical measurements. It was equal to 600 Greek or 625 Roman ||feet, or 125 Roman paces, or to 606 feet 9 inches English. This was ||also called the Olympic stadium, as being the exact length of the ||foot-race course at Olympia. Dr. W. Smith.

2. Hence, a race course; especially, the Olympic course for foot races.

3. A kind of telemeter for measuring the distance of an object of known dimensions, by observing the angle it subtends; especially (Surveying), a graduated rod used to measure the distance of the place where it stands from an instrument having a telescope, by observing the number of the graduations of the rod that are seen between certain parallel wires (stadia wires) in the field of view of the telescope; -- also called stadia, and stadia rod.

Stadt"hold`er (?), n. [D. stadhouder; stad a city, a town + houder a holder.] Formerly, the chief magistrate of the United Provinces of Holland; also, the governor or lieutenant governor of a province.

{ Stadt"hold`er*ate (?), Stadt"hold`er*ship (?) }, n. The office or position of a stadtholder.

Sta*fette" (?), n. [Cf. G. stafette. See Estafet.] An estafet. [R.] arlyle.

Staff (?), n.; pl. Staves (&?; or &?;; 277) or Staffs (#) in senses 1-9, Staffs in senses 10, 11. [AS. stæf a staff; akin to LG. & D. staf, OFries stef, G. stab, Icel. stafr, Sw. staf, Dan. stav, Goth. stabs element, rudiment, Skr. sthpay to cause to stand, to place. See Stand, and cf. Stab, Stave, n.] 1. A long piece of wood; a stick; the long handle of an instrument or weapon; a pole or srick, used for many purposes; as, a surveyor's staff; the staff of a spear or pike.

And he put the staves into the rings on the sides of the altar to bear it withal.

Ex. xxxviii. 7.

With forks and staves the felon to pursue.

Dryden.

2. A stick carried in the hand for support or defense by a person walking; hence, a support; that which props or upholds. "Hooked staves." Piers Plowman.

The boy was the very staff of my age.

Shak.

He spoke of it [beer] in "The Earnest Cry," and likewise in the "Scotch Drink," as one of the staffs of life which had been struck from the poor man's hand.

Prof. Wilson.

3. A pole, stick, or wand borne as an ensign of authority; a badge of office; as, a constable's staff.

Methought this staff, mine office badge in court, Was broke in twain.

Shak.

All his officers brake their staves; but at their return new staves were delivered unto them.

Hayward.

4. A pole upon which a flag is supported and displayed.

5. The round of a ladder. [R.]

I ascend at one [ladder] of six hundred and thirty-nine staves.

Dr. J. Campbell (E. Brown's Travels).

6. A series of verses so disposed that, when it is concluded, the same order begins again; a stanza; a stave.

Cowley found out that no kind of staff is proper for an heroic poem, as being all too lyrical.

Dryden.

7. (Mus.) The five lines and the spaces on which music is written; -- formerly called stave.

8. (Mech.) An arbor, as of a wheel or a pinion of a watch.

9. (Surg.) The grooved director for the gorget, or knife, used in cutting for stone in the bladder.

10. [From Staff, 3, a badge of office.] (Mil.) An establishment of officers in various departments attached to an army, to a section of an army, or to the commander of an army. The general's staff consists of those officers about his person who are employed in carrying his commands into execution. See État Major.

11. Hence: A body of assistants serving to carry into effect the plans of a superintendant or manager; as, the staff of a newspaper.

Jacob's staff (Surv.), a single straight rod or staff, pointed and iron-shod at the bottom, for penetrating the ground, and having a socket joint at the top, used, instead of a tripod, for supporting a compass. -- Staff angle (Arch.), a square rod of wood standing flush with the wall on each of its sides, at the external angles of plastering, to prevent their being damaged. -- The staff of life, bread. "Bread is the staff of life." Swift. -- Staff tree (Bot.), any plant of the genus Celastrus, mostly climbing shrubs of the northern hemisphere. The American species (C. scandens) is commonly called bittersweet. See 2d Bittersweet, 3 (b). -- To set, or To put, up, or down, one's staff, to take up one's residence; to lodge. [Obs.]

Staf"fi*er (?), n. An attendant bearing a staff. [Obs.] "Staffiers on foot." Hudibras.

Staff"ish (?), a. Stiff; harsh. [Obs.] Ascham.

Staff"man (?), n.; pl. Staffmen (&?;). A workman employed in silk throwing.

Stag (?), n. [Icel. steggr the male of several animals; or a doubtful AS. stagga. Cf. Steg.] 1. (Zoöl.) (a) The adult male of the red deer (Cervus elaphus), a large European species closely related to the American elk, or wapiti. (b) The male of certain other species of large deer.

2. A colt, or filly; also, a romping girl. [Prov. Eng.]

3. A castrated bull; -- called also bull stag, and bull seg. See the Note under Ox.

4. (Stock Exchange) (a) An outside irregular dealer in stocks, who is not a member of the exchange. [Cant] (b) One who applies for the allotment of shares in new projects, with a view to sell immediately at a premium, and not to hold the stock. [Cant]

5. (Zoöl.) The European wren. [Prov. Eng.]

Stag beetle (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of lamellicorn beetles belonging to Lucanus and allied genera, especially L. cervus of Europe and L. dama of the United States. The mandibles are large and branched, or forked, whence the name. The lava feeds on the rotten wood of dead trees. Called also horned bug, and horse beetle. -- Stag dance, a dance by men only. [slang, U.S.] -- Stag hog (Zoöl.), the babiroussa. -- Stag-horn coral (Zoöl.), any one of several species of large branching corals of the genus Madrepora, which somewhat resemble the antlers of the stag, especially Madrepora cervicornis, and M. palmata, of Florida and the West Indies. -- Stag-horn fern (Bot.), an Australian and West African fern (Platycerium alcicorne) having the large fronds branched like a stag's horns; also, any species of the same genus. -- Stag-horn sumac (Bot.), a common American shrub (Rhus typhina) having densely velvety branchlets. See Sumac. -- Stag party, a party consisting of men only. [Slang, U. S.] -- Stag tick (Zoöl.), a parasitic dipterous insect of the family Hippoboscidæ, which lives upon the stag and in usually wingless. The same species lives also upon the European grouse, but in that case has wings.

Stag, v. i. (Com.) To act as a "stag", or irregular dealer in stocks. [Cant]

Stag, v. t. To watch; to dog, or keep track of. [Prov. Eng. or Slang] H. Kingsley.

Stage (?), n. [OF. estage, F. étage, (assumed) LL. staticum, from L. stare to stand. See Stand, and cf. Static.] 1. A floor or story of a house. [Obs.] Wyclif.

2. An elevated platform on which an orator may speak, a play be performed, an exhibition be presented, or the like.

3. A floor elevated for the convenience of mechanical work, or the like; a scaffold; a staging.

4. A platform, often floating, serving as a kind of wharf.

5. The floor for scenic performances; hence, the theater; the playhouse; hence, also, the profession of representing dramatic compositions; the drama, as acted or exhibited.

Knights, squires, and steeds, must enter on the stage.

Pope.

Lo! Where the stage, the poor, degraded stage, Holds its warped mirror to a gaping age.

C. Sprague.

6. A place where anything is publicly exhibited; the scene of any noted action or carrer; the spot where any remarkable affair occurs.

When we are born, we cry that we are come To this stage of fools.

Shak.

Music and ethereal mirth Wherewith the stage of air and earth did ring.

Miton.

7. The platform of a microscope, upon which an object is placed to be viewed. See Illust. of Microscope.

8. A place of rest on a regularly traveled road; a stage house; a station; a place appointed for a relay of horses.

9. A degree of advancement in a journey; one of several portions into which a road or course is marked off; the distance between two places of rest on a road; as, a stage of ten miles.

A stage . . . signifies a certain distance on a road.

Jeffrey.

He traveled by gig, with his wife, his favorite horse performing the journey by easy stages.

Smiles.

10. A degree of advancement in any pursuit, or of progress toward an end or result.

Such a polity is suited only to a particular stage in the progress of society.

Macaulay.

11. A large vehicle running from station to station for the accomodation of the public; a stagecoach; an omnibus. "A parcel sent you by the stage." Cowper.

I went in the sixpenny stage.

Swift.

12. (Biol.) One of several marked phases or periods in the development and growth of many animals and plants; as, the larval stage; pupa stage; zœa stage.

Stage box, a box close to the stage in a theater. -- Stage carriage, a stagecoach. -- Stage door, the actor's and workmen's entrance to a theater. -- Stage lights, the lights by which the stage in a theater is illuminated. -- Stage micrometer, a graduated device applied to the stage of a microscope for measuring the size of an object. -- Stage wagon, a wagon which runs between two places for conveying passengers or goods. -- Stage whisper, a loud whisper, as by an actor in a theater, supposed, for dramatic effect, to be unheard by one or more of his fellow actors, yet audible to the audience; an aside.

Stage (?), v. t. To exhibit upon a stage, or as upon a stage; to display publicly. Shak.

Stage"coach` (?), n. A coach that runs regularly from one stage, station, or place to another, for the conveyance of passengers.

Stage"coach`man (?), n.; pl. Stagecoachmen (&?;). One who drives a stagecoach.

Stage"house` (?), n. A house where a stage regularly stops for passengers or a relay of horses.

Stage"ly, a. Pertaining to a stage; becoming the theater; theatrical. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.

Stage"play` (?), n. A dramatic or theatrical entertainment. Dryden.

Stage"play`er (?), n. An actor on the stage; one whose occupation is to represent characters on the stage; as, Garrick was a celebrated stageplayer.

Sta"ger (?), n. 1. A player. [R.] B. Jonson.

2. One who has long acted on the stage of life; a practitioner; a person of experience, or of skill derived from long experience. "You will find most of the old stagers still stationary there." Sir W. Scott.

3. A horse used in drawing a stage. [Colloq.]

Sta"ger*y (?), n. Exhibition on the stage. [Obs.]

Stage"-struck` (?), a. Fascinated by the stage; seized by a passionate desire to become an actor.

Stag"-e`vil (?), n. (Far.) A kind of palsy affecting the jaw of a horse. Crabb.

Stag"gard (?), n. [From Stag.] (Zoöl.) The male red deer when four years old.

Stag"ger (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Staggered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Staggering.] [OE. stakeren, Icel. stakra to push, to stagger, fr. staka to punt, push, stagger; cf. OD. staggeren to stagger. Cf. Stake, n.] 1. To move to one side and the other, as if about to fall, in standing or walking; not to stand or walk with steadiness; to sway; to reel or totter.

Deep was the wound; he staggered with the blow.

Dryden.

2. To cease to stand firm; to begin to give way; to fail. "The enemy staggers." Addison.

3. To begin to doubt and waver in purposes; to become less confident or determined; to hesitate.

He [Abraham] staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief.

Rom. iv. 20.

Stag"ger, v. t. 1. To cause to reel or totter.

That hand shall burn in never-quenching fire That staggers thus my person.

Shak.

2. To cause to doubt and waver; to make to hesitate; to make less steady or confident; to shock.

Whosoever will read the story of this war will find himself much stagered.

Howell.

Grants to the house of Russell were so enormous, as not only to outrage economy, but even to stagger credibility.

Burke.

3. To arrange (a series of parts) on each side of a median line alternately, as the spokes of a wheel or the rivets of a boiler seam.

Stag"ger, n. 1. An unsteady movement of the body in walking or standing, as if one were about to fall; a reeling motion; vertigo; -- often in the plural; as, the stagger of a drunken man.

2. pl. (Far.) A disease of horses and other animals, attended by reeling, unsteady gait or sudden falling; as, parasitic staggers; appopletic or sleepy staggers.

3. pl. Bewilderment; perplexity. [R.] Shak.

Stomach staggers (Far.), distention of the stomach with food or gas, resulting in indigestion, frequently in death.

Stag"ger*bush` (?), n. (Bot.) An American shrub (Andromeda Mariana) having clusters of nodding white flowers. It grows in low, sandy places, and is said to poison lambs and calves. Gray.

Stag"ger*ing*ly, adv. In a staggering manner.

Stag"ger*wort` (?), n. (Bot.) A kind of ragwort (Senecio Jacobæa).

{ Stag"-horn` co"ral (?), Stag"-horn` fern` (?), etc.} See under Stag.

Stag"-horned` (?), a. (Zoöl.) Having the mandibles large and palmate, or branched somewhat like the antlers of a stag; -- said of certain beetles.

Stag"hound` (?), n. (Zoöl.) A large and powerful hound formerly used in hunting the stag, the wolf, and other large animals. The breed is nearly extinct.

Sta"ging (?), n. A structure of posts and boards for supporting workmen, etc., as in building.

2. The business of running stagecoaches; also, the act of journeying in stagecoaches.

Stag"i*rite (?), n. A native of, or resident in, Stagira, in ancient Macedonia; especially, Aristotle. [Written also Stagyrite.]

Stag"nan*cy (?), n. State of being stagnant.

Stag"nant (?), a. [L. stagnans, -antis, p. pr. of stagnare. See Stagnate.] 1. That stagnates; not flowing; not running in a current or steam; motionless; hence, impure or foul from want of motion; as, a stagnant lake or pond; stagnant blood in the veins.

2. Not active or brisk; dull; as, business in stagnant.

That gloomy slumber of the stagnant soul.

Johnson.

For him a stagnant life was not worth living.

Palfrey.

Stag"nant*ly, adv. In a stagnant manner.

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Stag"nate (stg"nt), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Stagnated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Stagnating.] [L. stagnatus, p. p. of stagnare to stagnate, make stagnant, from stagnum a piece of standing water. See Stank a pool, and cf. Stanch, v. t.] 1. To cease to flow; to be motionless; as, blood stagnates in the veins of an animal; hence, to become impure or foul by want of motion; as, air stagnates in a close room.

2. To cease to be brisk or active; to become dull or inactive; as, commerce stagnates; business stagnates.

Ready-witted tenderness . . . never stagnates in vain lamentations while there is any room for hope.

Sir W. Scott.

Stag"nate (?), a. Stagnant. [Obs.] "A stagnate mass of vapors." Young.

Stag*na"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. stagnation.] 1. The condition of being stagnant; cessation of flowing or circulation, as of a fluid; the state of being motionless; as, the stagnation of the blood; the stagnation of water or air; the stagnation of vapors.

2. The cessation of action, or of brisk action; the state of being dull; as, the stagnation of business.

Stag"worm (?), n. (Zoöl.) The larve of any species of botfly which is parasitic upon the stag, as Œstrus, or Hypoderma, actæon, which burrows beneath the skin, and Cephalomyia auribarbis, which lives in the nostrils.

Stahl"ian (?), a. Pertaining to, or taught by, Stahl, a German physician and chemist of the 17th century; as, the Stahlian theory of phlogiston.

Stahl"ian, n. A believer in, or advocate of, Stahlism.

{ Stahl"ism (?), Stahl"ian*ism (?) }, n. The Stahlian theory, that every vital action is function or operation of the soul.

Staid (std), imp. & p. p. of Stay.

Staid, a. [From Stay to stop.] Sober; grave; steady; sedate; composed; regular; not wild, volatile, or fanciful. "Sober and staid persons." Addison.

O'erlaid with black, staid Wisdom's hue.

Milton.

Syn. -- Sober; grave; steady; steadfast; composed; regular; sedate.

Staid"ly, adv. In a staid manner, sedately.

Staid"ness, n. The quality or state of being staid; seriousness; steadiness; sedateness; regularity; -- the opposite of wildness, or levity.

If sometimes he appears too gray, yet a secret gracefulness of youth accompanies his writings, though the staidness and sobriety of age wanting.

Dryden.

Syn. -- Sobriety; gravity; steadiness; regularity; constancy; firmness; stability; sedateness.

Stail (?), n. A handle, as of a mop; a stale. [Eng.]

Stain (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stained (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Staining.] [Abbrev. fr. distain.] 1. To discolor by the application of foreign matter; to make foul; to spot; as, to stain the hand with dye; armor stained with blood.

2. To color, as wood, glass, paper, cloth, or the like, by processess affecting, chemically or otherwise, the material itself; to tinge with a color or colors combining with, or penetrating, the substance; to dye; as, to stain wood with acids, colored washes, paint rubbed in, etc.; to stain glass.

3. To spot with guilt or infamy; to bring reproach on; to blot; to soil; to tarnish.

Of honor void, Of innocence, of faith, of purity, Our wonted ornaments now soiled and stained.

Milton.

4. To cause to seem inferior or soiled by comparison.

She stains the ripest virgins of her age.

Beau. & Fl.

That did all other beasts in beauty stain.

Spenser.

Stained glass, glass colored or stained by certain metallic pigments fused into its substance, -- often used for making ornament windows.

Syn. -- To paint; dye; blot; soil; sully; discolor; disgrace; taint. -- Paint, Stain, Dye. These denote three different processes; the first mechanical, the other two, chiefly chemical. To paint a thing is so spread a coat of coloring matter over it; to stain or dye a thing is to impart color to its substance. To stain is said chiefly of solids, as wood, glass, paper; to dye, of fibrous substances, textile fabrics, etc.; the one, commonly, a simple process, as applying a wash; the other more complex, as fixing colors by mordants.

Stain, v. i. To give or receive a stain; to grow dim.

Stain, n. 1. A discoloration by foreign matter; a spot; as, a stain on a garment or cloth. Shak.

2. A natural spot of a color different from the gound.

Swift trouts, diversified with crimson stains.

Pope.

3. Taint of guilt; tarnish; disgrace; reproach.

Nor death itself can wholly wash their stains.

Dryden.

Our opinion . . . is, I trust, without any blemish or stain of heresy.

Hooker.

4. Cause of reproach; shame. Sir P. Sidney.

5. A tincture; a tinge. [R.]

You have some stain of soldier in you.

Shak.

Syn. -- Blot; spot; taint; pollution; blemish; tarnish; color; disgrace; infamy; shame.

Stain"er (?), n. 1. One who stains or tarnishes.

2. A workman who stains; as, a stainer of wood.

Stain"less, a. Free from stain; immaculate. Shak.

The veery care he took to keep his name Stainless, with some was evidence of shame.

Crabbe.

Syn. -- Blameless; spotless; faultless. See Blameless.

Stain"less*ly, adv. In a stainless manner.

Stair (?), n. [OE. steir, steyer, AS. st&?;ger, from &?;igan to ascend, rise. &radic;164. See Sty to ascend.] 1. One step of a series for ascending or descending to a different level; -- commonly applied to those within a building.

2. A series of steps, as for passing from one story of a house to another; -- commonly used in the plural; but originally used in the singular only. "I a winding stair found." Chaucer's Dream.

Below stairs, in the basement or lower part of a house, where the servants are. -- Flight of stairs, the stairs which make the whole ascent of a story. -- Pair of stairs, a set or flight of stairs. -- pair, in this phrase, having its old meaning of a set. See Pair, n., 1. -- Run of stars (Arch.), a single set of stairs, or section of a stairway, from one platform to the next. -- Stair rod, a rod, usually of metal, for holding a stair carpet to its place. -- Up stairs. See Upstairs in the Vocabulary.

Stair"case` (?), n. A flight of stairs with their supporting framework, casing, balusters, etc.

To make a complete staircase is a curious piece of architecture.

Sir H. Wotton.

Staircase shell. (Zoöl.) (a) Any scalaria, or wentletrap. (b) Any species of Solarium, or perspective shell.

Stair"head` (?), n. The head or top of a staircase.

Stair"way` (?), n. A flight of stairs or steps; a staircase. "A rude and narrow stairway." Moore.

Staith (?), n. [AS. stæ&?; a bank, shore, from the root of E. stead.] A landing place; an elevated staging upon a wharf for discharging coal, etc., as from railway cars, into vessels.

Staith"man (?), n. A man employed in weighing and shipping at a staith. [Eng.]

Stake (?), n. [AS. staca, from the root of E. stick; akin to OFries. & LG. stake, D. staak, Sw. stake, Dan. stage. See Stick, v. t., and cf. Estacade, Stockade.] 1. A piece of wood, usually long and slender, pointed at one end so as to be easily driven into the ground as a support or stay; as, a stake to support vines, fences, hedges, etc.

A sharpened stake strong Dryas found.

Dryden.

2. A stick inserted upright in a lop, eye, or mortise, at the side or end of a cart, a flat car, or the like, to prevent goods from falling off.

3. The piece of timber to which a martyr was affixed to be burned; hence, martyrdom by fire.

4. A small anvil usually furnished with a tang to enter a hole in a bench top, -- used by tinsmiths, blacksmiths, etc., for light work, punching upon, etc.

5. That which is laid down as a wager; that which is staked or hazarded; a pledge.

At stake, in danger; hazarded; pledged. "I see my reputation is at stake." Shak.

Stake, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Staked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Staking.] 1. To fasten, support, or defend with stakes; as, to stake vines or plants.

2. To mark the limits of by stakes; -- with out; as, to stake out land; to stake out a new road.

3. To put at hazard upon the issue of competition, or upon a future contingency; to wager; to pledge.

I'll stake yon lamb, that near the fountain plays.

Pope.

4. To pierce or wound with a stake. Spectator.

Stake"-driv`er (?), n. (Zoöl.) The common American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus); -- so called because one of its notes resembles the sound made in driving a stake into the mud. Called also meadow hen, and Indian hen.

Stake"head` (?), n. (Rope making) A horizontal bar on a stake, used for supporting the yarns which are kept apart by pins in the bar.

Stake"hold`er (?), n. The holder of a stake; one with whom the bets are deposited when a wager is laid.

Stak*tom"e*ter (?), n. [Gr. &?; falling by drops + -meter.] A drop measurer; a glass tube tapering to a small orifice at the point, and having a bulb in the middle, used for finding the number of drops in equal quantities of different liquids. See Pipette. Sir D. Brewster.

Stal (?), obs. imp. of Steal. Stole.

{ Sta*lac"tic (?), Sta*lac"tic*al (?) }, a. (Geol.) Stalactitic.

Sta*lac"ti*form (?), a. Like a stalactite; resembling a stalactite.

Sta*lac"tite (?), n.; pl. Stalactites (#). [Gr. &?; oozing out in drops, dropping, fr. &?; to drop: cf. F. stalactite.] (Geol.) (a) A pendent cone or cylinder of calcium carbonate resembling an icicle in form and mode of attachment. Stalactites are found depending from the roof or sides of caverns, and are produced by deposition from waters which have percolated through, and partially dissolved, the overlying limestone rocks. (b) In an extended sense, any mineral or rock of similar form and origin; as, a stalactite of lava.

||Stal`ac*ti"tes (?), n. [NL.] A stalactite. [Obs.] Woodward.

{ Stal`ac*tit"ic (?), Stal`ac*tit"ic*al (?) }, a. [Cf. F. stalactitique.] (Geol.) Of or pertaining to a stalactite; having the form or characters of a stalactite; stalactic.

Stal`ac*tit"i*form (?), a. Having the form of a stalactite; stalactiform.

Sta*lag"mite (?), n. [Gr. &?; that which drops, a drop, fr. &?; to drop; cf. F. stalagmite.] (Geol.) A deposit more or less resembling an inverted stalactite, formed by calcareous water dropping on the floors of caverns; hence, a similar deposit of other material.

{ Stal`ag*mit"ic (?), Stal`ag*mit"ic*al (?) }, a. Having the form or structure of stalagmites. -- Stal`ag*mit"ic*al*ly, adv.

Stal"der (?), n. [From the root of stall.] A wooden frame to set casks on. [Prov. Eng.]

Stale (?), n. [OE. stale, stele, AS. stæl, stel; akin to LG. & D. steel, G. stiel; cf. L. stilus stake, stalk, stem, Gr. &?; a handle, and E. stall, stalk, n.] The stock or handle of anything; as, the stale of a rake. [Written also steal, stele, etc.]

But seeling the arrow's stale without, and that the head did go No further than it might be seen.

Chapman.

Stale, a. [Akin to stale urine, and to stall, n.; probably from Low German or Scandinavian. Cf. Stale, v. i.] 1. Vapid or tasteless from age; having lost its life, spirit, and flavor, from being long kept; as, stale beer.

2. Not new; not freshly made; as, stele bread.

3. Having lost the life or graces of youth; worn out; decayed. "A stale virgin." Spectator.

4. Worn out by use or familiarity; having lost its novelty and power of pleasing; trite; common. Swift.

Wit itself, if stale is less pleasing.

Grew.

How weary, stale flat, and unprofitable Seem to me all the uses of this world!

Shak.

Stale affidavit (Law), an affidavit held above a year. Craig. -- Stale demand (Law), a claim or demand which has not been pressed or demanded for a long time.

Stale, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Staled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Staling.] To make vapid or tasteless; to destroy the life, beauty, or use of; to wear out.

Age can not wither her, nor custom stale Her infinite variety.

Shak.

Stale, v. i. [Akin to D. & G. stallen, Dan. stalle, Sw. stalla, and E. stall a stable. &?; 163. See Stall, n., and cf. Stale, a.] To make water; to discharge urine; -- said especially of horses and cattle. Hudibras.

Stale, n. [See Stale, a. & v. i.] 1. That which is stale or worn out by long keeping, or by use. [Obs.]

2. A prostitute. [Obs.] Shak.

3. Urine, esp. that of beasts. "Stale of horses." Shak.

Stale, n. [Cf. OF. estal place, position, abode, market, F. étal a butcher's stall, OHG. stal station, place, stable, G. stall (see Stall, n.); or from OE. stale theft, AS. stalu (see Steal, v. t.)] 1. Something set, or offered to view, as an allurement to draw others to any place or purpose; a decoy; a stool pigeon. [Obs.]

Still, as he went, he crafty stales did lay.

Spenser.

2. A stalking-horse. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

3. (Chess) A stalemate. [Obs.] Bacon.

4. A laughingstock; a dupe. [Obs.] Shak.

Stale"ly, adv. 1. In a state stale manner.

2. Of old; long since. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Stale"mate` (?), n. (Chess) The position of the king when he can not move without being placed on check and there is no other piece which can be moved.

Stale"mate`, v. t. (Chess) To subject to a stalemate; hence, to bring to a stand.

Stale"ness, n. The quality or state of being stale.

Stalk (?), n. [OE. stalke, fr. AS. stæl, stel, a stalk. See Stale a handle, Stall.] 1. (Bot.) (a) The stem or main axis of a plant; as, a stalk of wheat, rye, or oats; the stalks of maize or hemp. (b) The petiole, pedicel, or peduncle, of a plant.

2. That which resembes the stalk of a plant, as the stem of a quill. Grew.

3. (Arch.) An ornament in the Corinthian capital resembling the stalk of a plant, from which the volutes and helices spring.

4. One of the two upright pieces of a ladder. [Obs.]

To climd by the rungs and the stalks.

Chaucer.

5. (Zoöl.) (a) A stem or peduncle, as of certain barnacles and crinoids. (b) The narrow basal portion of the abdomen of a hymenopterous insect. (c) The peduncle of the eyes of decapod crustaceans.

6. (Founding) An iron bar with projections inserted in a core to strengthen it; a core arbor.

Stalk borer (Zoöl.), the larva of a noctuid moth (Gortyna nitela), which bores in the stalks of the raspberry, strawberry, tomato, asters, and many other garden plants, often doing much injury.

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Stalk, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Stalked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Stalking.] [AS. stælcan, stealcian to go slowly; cf. stels high, elevated, Dan. stalke to stalk; probably akin to 1st stalk.] 1. To walk slowly and cautiously; to walk in a stealthy, noiseless manner; -- sometimes used with a reflexive pronoun. Shak.

Into the chamber he stalked him full still.

Chaucer.

[Bertran] stalks close behind her, like a witch's fiend, Pressing to be employed.

Dryden.

2. To walk behind something as a screen, for the purpose of approaching game; to proceed under clover.

The king . . . crept under the shoulder of his led horse; . . . "I must stalk," said he.

Bacon.

One underneath his horse, to get a shoot doth stalk.

Drayton.

3. To walk with high and proud steps; usually implying the affectation of dignity, and indicating dislike. The word is used, however, especially by the poets, to express dignity of step.

With manly mien he stalked along the ground.

Dryden.

Then stalking through the deep, He fords the ocean.

Addison.

I forbear myself from entering the lists in which he has long stalked alone and unchallenged.

Mericale.

Stalk (?), v. t. To approach under cover of a screen, or by stealth, for the purpose of killing, as game.

As for shooting a man from behind a wall, it is cruelly like to stalking a deer.

Sir W. Scott.

Stalk, n. A high, proud, stately step or walk.

Thus twice before, . . . With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch.

Shak.

The which with monstrous stalk behind him stepped.

Spenser.

Stalked (?), a. Having a stalk or stem; borne upon a stem.

Stalked barnacle (Zoöl.), a goose barnacle, or anatifer; -- called also stalk barnacle. -- Stalked crinoid (Zoöl.), any crinoid having a jointed stem.

Stalk"er (?), n. 1. One who stalks.

2. A kind of fishing net.

Stalk"-eyed` (?), a. (Zoöl.) Having the eyes raised on a stalk, or peduncle; -- opposed to sessile-eyed. Said especially of podophthalmous crustaceans.

Stalk-eyed crustaceans. (Zoöl.) See Podophthalmia.

Stalk"ing-horse (?), n. 1. A horse, or a figure resembling a horse, behind which a hunter conceals himself from the game he is aiming to kill.

2. Fig.: Something used to cover up a secret project; a mask; a pretense.

Hypocrisy is the devil's stalking-horse under an affectation of simplicity and religion.

L'Estrange.

How much more abominable is it to make of him [Christ] and religion a stalking-horse, to get and enjoy the world!

Bunyan.

Stalk"less, a. Having no stalk.

Stalk"y (?), a. Hard as a stalk; resembling a stalk.

At the top [it] bears a great stalky head.

Mortimer.

Stall (stl), n. [OE. stal, AS. steall, stall, a place, seat, or station, a stable; akin to D. & OHG. stal, G. & Sw. stall, Icel. stallr, Dan. stald, originally, a standing place; akin to G. stelle a place, stellen to place, Gr. ste`llein to set, place, send, and E. stand. &radic;163. See Stand, and cf. Apostle, Epistle, Forestall, Install, Stale, a. & v. i., 1st Stalk, Stallion, Still.] 1. A stand; a station; a fixed spot; hence, the stand or place where a horse or an ox is kept and fed; the division of a stable, or the compartment, for one horse, ox, or other animal. "In an oxes stall." Chaucer.

2. A stable; a place for cattle.

At last he found a stall where oxen stood.

Dryden.

3. A small apartment or shed in which merchandise is exposed for sale; as, a butcher's stall; a bookstall.

4. A bench or table on which small articles of merchandise are exposed for sale.

How peddlers' stalls with glittering toys are laid.

Gay.

5. A seat in the choir of a church, for one of the officiating clergy. It is inclosed, either wholly or partially, at the back and sides. The stalls are frequently very rich, with canopies and elaborate carving.

The dignified clergy, out of humility, have called their thrones by the names of stalls.

Bp. Warburton.

Loud the monks sang in their stalls.

Longfellow.

6. In the theater, a seat with arms or otherwise partly inclosed, as distinguished from the benches, sofas, etc.

7. (Mining) The space left by excavation between pillars. See Post and stall, under Post.

Stall reader, one who reads books at a stall where they are exposed for sale.

Cries the stall reader, "Bless us! what a word on A titlepage is this!"

Milton.

Stall, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stalled (stld); p. pr. & vb. n. Stalling.] [Cf. Sw. stalla, Dan. stalde.] 1. To put into a stall or stable; to keep in a stall or stalls; as, to stall an ox.

Where King Latinus then his oxen stalled.

Dryden.

2. To fatten; as, to stall cattle. [Prov. Eng.]

3. To place in an office with the customary formalities; to install. Shak.

4. To plunge into mire or snow so as not to be able to get on; to set; to fix; as, to stall a cart. Burton.

His horses had been stalled in the snow.

E. E. Hale.

5. To forestall; to anticipitate. [Obs.]

This not to be stall'd by my report.

Massinger.

6. To keep close; to keep secret. [Obs.]

Stall this in your bosom.

Shak.

Stall, v. i. [AS. steallian to have room. See Stall, n.] 1. To live in, or as in, a stall; to dwell. [Obs.]

We could not stall together In the whole world.

Shak.

2. To kennel, as dogs. Johnson.

3. To be set, as in mire or snow; to stick fast.

4. To be tired of eating, as cattle. [Prov. Eng.]

Stall"age (stl"j), n. [Cf. OF. estallage, of German origin. See Stall, n.] 1. (Eng. Law) The right of erecting a stalls in fairs; rent paid for a stall.

2. Dung of cattle or horses, mixed with straw. [Obs.]

Stal*la"tion (?), n. Installation. [Obs.]

Stalled (stld or stl"d), a. Put or kept in a stall; hence, fatted. "A stalled ox." Prov. xv. 17.

Stall"er (?), n. A standard bearer. Fuller.

Stall"-feed (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stall-fed (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Stall-feeding.] To feed and fatten in a stall or on dry fodder; as, to stall-feed an ox.

Stall"ing (?), n. Stabling. Tennyson.

Stal"lion (?), n. [OE. stalon, OF. estalon, F. étalon, fr. OHG. stal a stable. See Stall, n.] A male horse not castrated; a male horse kept for breeding.

Stall"man (stl"man), n.; pl. Stallmen (-men). One who keeps a stall for the sale of merchandise, especially books. Sterne.

Stal"lon (?), n. A slip from a plant; a scion; a cutting. [R.] Holinshed.

{ Stal"wart (?), Stal"worth (?) }, a. [OE. stalworth, AS. stælwyrð serviceable, probably originally, good at stealing, or worth stealing or taking, and afterwards extended to other causes of estimation. See Steal, v. t., Worth, a.] Brave; bold; strong; redoubted; daring; vehement; violent. "A stalwart tiller of the soil." Prof. Wilson.

Fair man be was and wise, stalworth and bold.

R. of Brunne.

Stalworth is now disused, or bur little used, stalwart having taken its place.

Stal"wart*ly (?), adv. In a stalwart manner.

Stal"wart*ness, n. The quality of being stalwart.

{ Stal"worth*hood (?), Stal"worth*ness (&?;)}, n. The quality or state of being stalworth; stalwartness; boldness; daring. [Obs.]

Sta"men (?), n.; pl. E. Stamens (#) (used only in the second sense); L. Stamina (#) (in the first sense). [L. stamen the warp, a thread, fiber, akin to Gr. &?; the warp, fr. &?; to stand, akin to E. stand. See Stand, and cf. Stamin, Stamina.] 1. A thread; especially, a warp thread.

2. (pl. Stamens, rarely Stamina.) (Bot.) The male organ of flowers for secreting and furnishing the pollen or fecundating dust. It consists of the anther and filament.

Sta"mened (?), a. Furnished with stamens.

Sta"min (?), n. [OF. estamine, F. étamine, LL. staminea, stamineum, fr. L. stamineus consisting of threads, fr. stamen a thread. See Stamen, and cf. Stamineous, 2d Stammel, Tamine.] A kind of woolen cloth. [Written also stamine.] [Obs.]

Stam"i*na (?), n. pl. See Stamen.

Stam"i*na, n. pl. 1. The fixed, firm part of a body, which supports it or gives it strength and solidity; as, the bones are the stamina of animal bodies; the ligneous parts of trees are the stamina which constitute their strength.

2. Whatever constitutes the principal strength or support of anything; power of endurance; backbone; vigor; as, the stamina of a constitution or of life; the stamina of a State.

He succeeded to great captains who had sapped the whole stamina and resistance of the contest.

De Quincey.

Stam"i*nal (?), a. [Cf. F. staminal.] Of or pertaining to stamens or stamina; consisting in stamens.

Stam"i*nate (?), a. [L. staminatus consisting of threads, fr. stamen thread: cf. F. staminé.] (Bot.) (a) Furnished with stamens; producing stamens. (b) Having stamens, but lacking pistils.

Stam"i*nate (?), v. t. To indue with stamina. [R.]

{ Sta*min"e*al (?), Sta*min"e*ous (?) }, a. [L. stamineus, from stamen thread.] 1. Consisting of stamens or threads.

2. (Bot.) Of or pertaining to the stamens; possessing stamens; also, attached to the stamens; as, a stamineous nectary.

Stam`i*nif"er*ous (?), a. [Stamen + -ferous.] Bearing or having stamens.

Stam"i*node (?), n. (Bot.) A staminodium.

||Stam`i*no"di*um (?), n.; pl. Staminodia (#). [NL. See Stamen, and - ||oid.] (Bot.) An abortive stamen, or any organ modified from an ||abortive stamen.

Stam"mel (?), n. A large, clumsy horse. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.

Stam"mel, n. [OF. estamel; cf. OF. estamet a coarse woolen cloth, LL. stameta a kind of cloth, the same as staminea, and OF. estame a woolen stuff. See Stamin.] 1. A kind of woolen cloth formerly in use. It seems to have been often of a red color. [Obs.]

2. A red dye, used in England in the 15th and 16th centuries. B. Jonson.

Stam"mel, a. Of the color of stammel; having a red color, thought inferior to scarlet.

Stam"mer (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Stammered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Stammering.] [OE. stameren, fr. AS. stamur, stamer, stammering; akin to D. & LG. stameren to stammer, G. stammeln, OHG. stammal&?;n, stamm&?;n, Dan. stamme, Sw. stamma, Icel. stama, stamma, OHG. & Dan. stam stammering, Icel. stamr, Goth. stamms, and to G. stemmen to bear against, stumm dumb, D. stom. Cf. Stem to resist, Stumble.] To make involuntary stops in uttering syllables or words; to hesitate or falter in speaking; to speak with stops and diffivulty; to stutter.

I would thou couldst stammer, that thou mightest pour this conclead man out of thy mouth, as wine comes out of a narrow-mouthed bottle, either too much at once, or none at all.

Shak.

Stam"mer (?), v. t. To utter or pronounce with hesitation or imperfectly; -- sometimes with out.

Stam"mer, n. Defective utterance, or involuntary interruption of utterance; a stutter.

Stam"mer*er (?), n. One who stammers.

Stam"mer*ing, a. Apt to stammer; hesitating in speech; stuttering. -- Stam"mer*ing*ly, adv.

Stam"mer*ing, n. (Physiol.) A disturbance in the formation of sounds. It is due essentially to long-continued spasmodic contraction of the diaphragm, by which expiration is preented, and hence it may be considered as a spasmodic inspiration.

Stamp (?) v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stamped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Stamping.] [OE. stampen; akin to LG. & D. stampen, G. stampfen, OHG. stanpf&?;n, Dan. stampe, Sw. stampa, Icel. stappa, G. stampf a pestle and E. step. See Step, v. i., and cf. Stampede.] 1. To strike beat, or press forcibly with the bottom of the foot, or by thrusting the foot downward. Shak.

He frets, he fumes, he stares, he stamps the ground.

Dryden.

2. To bring down (the foot) forcibly on the ground or floor; as, he stamped his foot with rage.

3. To crush; to pulverize; specifically (Metal.), to crush by the blow of a heavy stamp, as ore in a mill.

I took your sin, the calf which ye had made, and burnt it with fire, and stamped it, and ground it very small.

Deut. ix. 21.

4. To impress with some mark or figure; as, to stamp a plate with arms or initials.

5. Fig.: To impress; to imprint; to fix deeply; as, to stamp virtuous principles on the heart.

God . . . has stamped no original characters on our minds wherein we may read his being.

Locke.

6. To cut out, bend, or indent, as paper, sheet metal, etc., into various forms, by a blow or suddenly applied pressure with a stamp or die, etc.; to mint; to coin.

7. To put a stamp on, as for postage; as, to stamp a letter; to stamp a legal document.

To stamp out, to put an end to by sudden and energetic action; to extinguish; as, to stamp out a rebellion.

Stamp, v. i. 1. To strike; to beat; to crush.

These cooks how they stamp and strain and grind.

Chaucer.

2. To strike the foot forcibly downward.

But starts, exclaims, and stamps, and raves, and dies.

dennis.

Stamp, n. 1. The act of stamping, as with the foot.

2. The which stamps; any instrument for making impressions on other bodies, as a die.

'T is gold so pure It can not bear the stamp without alloy.

Dryden.

3. The mark made by stamping; a mark imprinted; an impression.

That sacred name gives ornament and grace, And, like his stamp, makes basest metals pass.

Dryden.

4. that which is marked; a thing stamped.

hanging a golden stamp about their necks.

Shak.

5. [F. estampe, of german origin. See Stamp, v. t.] A picture cut in wood or metal, or made by impression; a cut; a plate. [Obs.]

At Venice they put out very curious stamps of the several edifices which are most famous for their beauty and magnificence.

Addison.

6. An offical mark set upon things chargeable with a duty or tax to government, as evidence that the duty or tax is paid; as, the stamp on a bill of exchange.

7. Hence, a stamped or printed device, issued by the government at a fixed price, and required by law to be affixed to, or stamped on, certain papers, as evidence that the government dues are paid; as, a postage stamp; a receipt stamp, etc.

8. An instrument for cutting out, or shaping, materials, as paper, leather, etc., by a downward pressure.

9. A character or reputation, good or bad, fixed on anything as if by an imprinted mark; current value; authority; as, these persons have the stamp of dishonesty; the Scriptures bear the stamp of a divine origin.

Of the same stamp is that which is obtruded on us, that an adamant suspends the attraction of the loadstone.

Sir T. Browne.

10. Make; cast; form; character; as, a man of the same stamp, or of a different stamp.

A soldier of this season's stamp.

Shak.

11. A kind of heavy hammer, or pestle, raised by water or steam power, for beating ores to powder; anything like a pestle, used for pounding or bathing.

12. A half-penny. [Obs.] au. & Fl.

13. pl. Money, esp. paper money. [Slang, U.S.]

Stamp act, an act of the British Parliament [1765] imposing a duty on all paper, vellum, and parchment used in the American colonies, and declaring all writings on unstamped materials to be null an void. -- Stamp collector, an officer who receives or collects stamp duties; one who collects postage or other stamps. -- Stamp duty, a duty, or tax, imposed on paper and parchment used for certain writings, as deeds, conveyances, etc., the evidence of the payment of the duty or tax being a stamp. [Eng.] -- Stamp hammer, a hammer, worked by power, which rises and falls vertically, like a stamp in a stamp mill. -- Stamp head, a heavy mass of metal, forming the head or lower end of a bar, which is lifted and let fall, in a stamp mill. -- Stamp mill (Mining), a mill in which ore is crushed with stamps; also, a machine for stamping ore. -- Stamp note, a stamped certificate from a customhouse officer, which allows goods to be received by the captain of a ship as freight. [Eng.] -- Stamp office, an office for the issue of stamps and the reception of stamp duties.

Stam*pede" (?), n. [Sp. estampida (in America) a stampede, estampido a crackling, akin to estampar to stamp, of German origin. See Stamp, v. t.] A wild, headlong scamper, or running away, of a number of animals; usually caused by fright; hence, any sudden flight or dispersion, as of a crowd or an army in consequence of a panic.

She and her husband would join in the general stampede.

W. Black.

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Stam*pede" (?), v. i. To run away in a panic; -- said droves of cattle, horses, etc., also of armies.

Stam*pede", v. t. To disperse by causing sudden fright, as a herd or drove of animals.

Stamp"er (?), n. 1. One who stamps.

2. An instrument for pounding or stamping.

Stamp"ing, a. & n. from Stamp, v.

Stamping ground, a place frequented, and much trodden, by animals, wild or domesticated; hence (Colloq.), the scene of one's labors or exploits; also, one's favorite resort. [U.S.] -- Stamping machine, a machine for forming metallic articles or impressions by stamping. -- Stamping mill (Mining), a stamp mill.

Stance (?), n. [OF. estance. See Stanza.] 1. A stanza. [Obs.] Chapman.

2. A station; a position; a site. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

Stanch (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stanched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Stanching.] [OF. estanchier, F. étancher to stpo a liquid from flowing; akin to Pr., Sp., & Pg. estancar, It. stancare to weary, LL. stancare, stagnare, to stanch, fr. L. stagnare to be or make stagnant. See Stagnate.] 1. To stop the flowing of, as blood; to check; also, to stop the flowing of blood from; as, to stanch a wound. [Written also staunch.]

Iron or a stone laid to the neck doth stanch the bleeding of the nose.

Bacon.

2. To extinguish; to quench, as fire or thirst. [Obs.]

Stanch, v. i. To cease, as the flowing of blood.

Immediately her issue of blood stanched.

Luke viii. 44.

Stanch, n. 1. That which stanches or checks. [Obs.]

2. A flood gate by which water is accumulated, for floating a boat over a shallow part of a stream by its release. Knight.

Stanch, a. [Compar. Stancher (?); superl. Stanchest.] [From Stanch, v. t., and hence literally signifying, stopped or stayed; cf. Sp. estanco stopped, tight, not leaky, as a ship. See Stanch, v. t.] [Written also staunch.] 1. Strong and tight; sound; firm; as, a stanch ship.

One of the closets is parqueted with plain deal, set in diamond, exceeding stanch and pretty.

Evelyn.

2. Firm in principle; constant and zealous; loyal; hearty; steady; steadfast; as, a stanch churchman; a stanch friend or adherent. V. Knox.

In politics I hear you 're stanch.

Prior.

3. Close; secret; private. [Obs.]

This to be kept stanch.

Locke.

Stanch, v. t. To prop; to make stanch, or strong.

His gathered sticks to stanch the wall Of the snow tower when snow should fall.

Emerson.

Stan"chel (?), n. A stanchion.

Stanch"er (?), n. One who, or that which, stanches, or stops, the flowing, as of blood.

Stan"chion (?), n. [OF. estanson, estançon, F. étançon, from OF. estance a stay, a prop, from L. stans, stantis, standing, p. pr. of stare to stand. See Stand, and cf. Stanza.] [Written also stanchel.] 1. (Arch.) A prop or support; a piece of timber in the form of a stake or post, used for a support or stay.

2. (Naut.) Any upright post or beam used as a support, as for the deck, the quarter rails, awnings, etc.

3. A vertical bar for confining cattle in a stall.

Stanch"less (?), a. 1. Incapable of being stanched, or stopped.

2. Unquenchable; insatiable. [Obs.] Shak.

Stanch"ly, adv. In a stanch manner.

Stanch"ness, n. The quality or state of being stanch.

Stand (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Stood (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Standing.] [OE. standen; AS. standan; akin to OFries. stonda, stn, D. staan, OS. standan, stn, G. stehen, Icel. standa, Dan. staae, Sw. stå, Goth. standan, Russ. stoiate, L. stare, Gr. &?; to cause to stand, &?; to stand, Skr. sth. &radic;163. Cf. Assist, Constant, Contrast, Desist, Destine, Ecstasy, Exist, Interstice, Obstacle, Obstinate, Prest, n., Rest remainder, Soltice, Stable, a. & n., State, n., Statute, Stead, Steed, Stool, Stud of horses, Substance, System.] 1. To be at rest in an erect position; to be fixed in an upright or firm position; as: (a) To be supported on the feet, in an erect or nearly erect position; -- opposed to lie, sit, kneel, etc. "I pray you all, stand up!" Shak. (b) To continue upright in a certain locality, as a tree fixed by the roots, or a building resting on its foundation.

It stands as it were to the ground yglued.

Chaucer.

The ruined wall Stands when its wind worn battlements are gone.

Byron.

2. To occupy or hold a place; to have a situation; to be situated or located; as, Paris stands on the Seine.

Wite ye not where there stands a little town?

Chaucer.

3. To cease from progress; not to proceed; to stop; to pause; to halt; to remain stationary.

I charge thee, stand, And tell thy name.

Dryden.

The star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

Matt. ii. 9.

4. To remain without ruin or injury; to hold good against tendencies to impair or injure; to be permanent; to endure; to last; hence, to find endurance, strength, or resources.

My mind on its own center stands unmoved.

Dryden.

5. To maintain one's ground; to be acquitted; not to fail or yield; to be safe.

Readers by whose judgment I would stand or fall.

Spectator.

6. To maintain an invincible or permanent attitude; to be fixed, steady, or firm; to take a position in resistance or opposition. "The standing pattern of their imitation." South.

The king granted the Jews . . . to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life.

Esther viii. 11.

7. To adhere to fixed principles; to maintain moral rectitude; to keep from falling into error or vice.

We must labor so as to stand with godliness, according to his appointment.

Latimer.

8. To have or maintain a position, order, or rank; to be in a particular relation; as, Christian charity, or love, stands first in the rank of gifts.

9. To be in some particular state; to have essence or being; to be; to consist. "Sacrifices . . . which stood only in meats and drinks." Heb. ix. 10.

Accomplish what your signs foreshow; I stand resigned, and am prepared to go.

Dryden.

Thou seest how it stands with me, and that I may not tarry.

Sir W. Scott.

10. To be consistent; to agree; to accord.

Doubt me not; by heaven, I will do nothing But what may stand with honor.

Massinger.

11. (Naut.) To hold a course at sea; as, to stand from the shore; to stand for the harbor.

From the same parts of heaven his navy stands.

Dryden.

12. To offer one's self, or to be offered, as a candidate.

He stood to be elected one of the proctors of the university.

Walton.

13. To stagnate; not to flow; to be motionless.

Or the black water of Pomptina stands.

Dryden.

14. To measure when erect on the feet.

Six feet two, as I think, he stands.

Tennyson.

15. (Law) (a) To be or remain as it is; to continue in force; to have efficacy or validity; to abide. Bouvier. (b) To appear in court. Burrill.

Stand by (Naut.), a preparatory order, equivalent to Be ready. -- To stand against, to opposite; to resist. -- To stand by. (a) To be near; to be a spectator; to be present. (b) To be aside; to be aside with disregard. "In the interim [we] let the commands stand by neglected." Dr. H. More. (c) To maintain; to defend; to support; not to desert; as, to stand by one's principles or party. (d) To rest on for support; to be supported by. Whitgift. -- To stand corrected, to be set right, as after an error in a statement of fact. Wycherley. -- To stand fast, to be fixed; to be unshaken or immovable. -- To stand firmly on, to be satisfied or convinced of. "Though Page be a secure fool, and stands so firmly on his wife's frailty." Shak. -- To stand for. (a) To side with; to espouse the cause of; to support; to maintain, or to profess or attempt to maintain; to defend. "I stand wholly for you." Shak. (b) To be in the place of; to be the substitute or to represent; as, a cipher at the left hand of a figure stands for nothing. "I will not trouble myself, whether these names stand for the same thing, or really include one another." Locke. -- To stand in, to cost. "The same standeth them in much less cost." Robynson (More's Utopia).

The Punic wars could not have stood the human race in less than three millions of the species.

Burke.

-- To stand in hand, to conduce to one's interest; to be serviceable or advantageous. -- To stand off. (a) To keep at a distance. (b) Not to comply. (c) To keep at a distance in friendship, social intercourse, or acquaintance. (d) To appear prominent; to have relief. "Picture is best when it standeth off, as if it were carved." Sir H. Wotton. -- To stand off and on (Naut.), to remain near a coast by sailing toward land and then from it. -- To stand on (Naut.), to continue on the same tack or course. -- To stand out. (a) To project; to be prominent. "Their eyes stand out with fatness." Psalm lxxiii. 7. (b) To persist in opposition or resistance; not to yield or comply; not to give way or recede.

His spirit is come in, That so stood out against the holy church.

Shak.

-- To stand to. (a) To ply; to urge; to persevere in using. "Stand to your tackles, mates, and stretch your oars." Dryden. (b) To remain fixed in a purpose or opinion. "I will stand to it, that this is his sense." Bp. Stillingfleet. (c) To abide by; to adhere to; as to a contrast, assertion, promise, etc.; as, to stand to an award; to stand to one's word. (d) Not to yield; not to fly; to maintain, as one's ground. "Their lives and fortunes were put in safety, whether they stood to it or ran away." Bacon. (e) To be consistent with; to agree with; as, it stands to reason that he could not have done so. (f) To support; to uphold. "Stand to me in this cause." Shak. -- To stand together, to be consistent; to agree. -- To stand to sea (Naut.), to direct the course from land. -- To stand under, to undergo; to withstand. Shak. -- To stand up. (a) To rise from sitting; to be on the feet. (b) To arise in order to speak or act. "Against whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed." Acts xxv. 18. (c) To rise and stand on end, as the hair. (d) To put one's self in opposition; to contend. "Once we stood up about the corn." Shak. - - To stand up for, to defend; to justify; to support, or attempt to support; as, to stand up for the administration. -- To stand upon. (a) To concern; to interest. (b) To value; to esteem. "We highly esteem and stand much upon our birth." Ray. (c) To insist on; to attach much importance to; as, to stand upon security; to stand upon ceremony. (d) To attack; to assault. [A Hebraism] "So I stood upon him, and slew him." 2 Sam. i. 10. -- To stand with, to be consistent with. "It stands with reason that they should be rewarded liberally." Sir J. Davies.

Stand (?), v. t. 1. To endure; to sustain; to bear; as, I can not stand the cold or the heat.

2. To resist, without yielding or receding; to withstand. "Love stood the siege." Dryden.

He stood the furious foe.

Pope.

3. To abide by; to submit to; to suffer.

Bid him disband his legions, . . . And stand the judgment of a Roman senate.

Addison.

4. To set upright; to cause to stand; as, to stand a book on the shelf; to stand a man on his feet.

5. To be at the expense of; to pay for; as, to stand a treat. [Colloq.] Thackeray.

To stand fire, to receive the fire of arms from an enemy without giving way. -- To stand one's ground, to keep the ground or station one has taken; to maintain one's position. "Peasants and burghers, however brave, are unable to stand their ground against veteran soldiers." Macaulay. -- To stand trial, to sustain the trial or examination of a cause; not to give up without trial.

Stand (?), n. [As. stand. See Stand, v. i.] 1. The act of standing.

I took my stand upon an eminence . . . to look into thier several ladings.

Spectator.

2. A halt or stop for the purpose of defense, resistance, or opposition; as, to come to, or to make, a stand.

Vice is at stand, and at the highest flow.

Dryden.

3. A place or post where one stands; a place where one may stand while observing or waiting for something.

I have found you out a stand most fit, Where you may have such vantage on the duke, He shall not pass you.

Shak.

4. A station in a city or town where carriages or wagons stand for hire; as, a cab stand. Dickens.

5. A raised platform or station where a race or other outdoor spectacle may be viewed; as, the judge's or the grand stand at a race course.

6. A small table; also, something on or in which anything may be laid, hung, or placed upright; as, a hat stand; an umbrella stand; a music stand.

7. A place where a witness stands to testify in court.

8. The situation of a shop, store, hotel, etc.; as, a good, bad, or convenient stand for business. [U. S.]

9. Rank; post; station; standing.

Father, since your fortune did attain So high a stand, I mean not to descend.

Daniel.

10. A state of perplexity or embarrassment; as, to be at a stand what to do. L'Estrange.

11. A young tree, usually reserved when other trees are cut; also, a tree growing or standing upon its own root, in distinction from one produced from a scion set in a stock, either of the same or another kind of tree.

12. (Com.) A weight of from two hundred and fifty to three hundred pounds, -- used in weighing pitch.

Microscope stand, the instrument, excepting the eyepiece, objective, and other removable optical parts. -- Stand of ammunition, the projectile, cartridge, and sabot connected together. -- Stand of arms. (Mil.) See under Arms. -- Stand of colors (Mil.), a single color, or flag. Wilhelm (Mil. Dict.) -- To be at a stand, to be stationary or motionless; to be at a standstill; hence, to be perplexed; to be embarrassed. -- To make a stand, to halt for the purpose of offering resistance to a pursuing enemy.

Syn. -- Stop; halt; rest; interruption; obstruction; perplexity; difficulty; embarrassment; hesitation.

Stand"age (?), n. (Mining) A reservior in which water accumulates at the bottom of a mine.

Stand"ard (?), n. [OF. estendart, F. étendard, probably fr. L. extendere to spread out, extend, but influenced by E. stand. See Extend.] 1. A flag; colors; a banner; especially, a national or other ensign.

His armies, in the following day, On those fair plains their standards proud display.

Fairfax.

2. That which is established by authority as a rule for the measure of quantity, extent, value, or quality; esp., the original specimen weight or measure sanctioned by government, as the standard pound, gallon, or yard.

3. That which is established as a rule or model by authority, custom, or general consent; criterion; test.

The court, which used to be the standard of property and correctness of speech.

Swift.

A disposition to preserve, and an ability to improve, taken together, would be my standard of a statesman.

Burke.

4. (Coinage) The proportion of weights of fine metal and alloy established by authority.

By the present standard of the coinage, sixty- two shillings is coined out of one pound weight of silver.

Arbuthnot.

5. (Hort.) A tree of natural size supported by its own stem, and not dwarfed by grafting on the stock of a smaller species nor trained upon a wall or trellis.

In France part of their gardens is laid out for flowers, others for fruits; some standards, some against walls.

Sir W. Temple.

6. (Bot.) The upper petal or banner of a papilionaceous corolla.

7. (Mech. & Carp.) An upright support, as one of the poles of a scaffold; any upright in framing.

8. (Shipbuilding) An inverted knee timber placed upon the deck instead of beneath it, with its vertical branch turned upward from that which lies horizontally.

9. The sheth of a plow.

10. A large drinking cup. Greene.

Standard bearer, an officer of an army, company, or troop, who bears a standard; -- commonly called color sergeantor color bearer; hence, the leader of any organization; as, the standard bearer of a political party.

Stand"ard, a. 1. Being, affording, or according with, a standard for comparison and judgment; as, standard time; standard weights and measures; a standard authority as to nautical terms; standard gold or silver.

2. Hence: Having a recognized and permanent value; as, standard works in history; standard authors.

3. (Hort.) (a) Not supported by, or fastened to, a wall; as, standard fruit trees. (b) Not of the dwarf kind; as, a standard pear tree.

Standard candle, Standard gauge. See under Candle, and Gauge. - - Standard solution. (Chem.) See Standardized solution, under Solution.

Stand"ard-bred`, a. Bred in conformity to a standard. Specif., applied to a registered trotting horse which comes up to the standard adopted by the National Association of Trotting-horse Breeders. [U. S.]

Stand"ard*ize (?), v. t. (Chem.) To reduce to a normal standard; to calculate or adjust the strength of, by means of, and for uses in, analysis.

Stand"ard-wing` (?), n. (Zoöl.) A curious paradise bird (Semioptera Wallacii) which has two long special feathers standing erect on each wing.

<! p. 1403 !>

Stand"-by` (?), n. One who, or that which, stands by one in need; something upon which one relies for constant use or in an emergency.

Stand"el (?), n. A young tree, especially one reserved when others are cut. [Obs.] Fuller.

Stand"er (?), n. 1. One who stands.

2. Same as Standel. [Obs.] Ascham.

Stand"er-by` (?), n. One who stands near; one who is present; a bystander.

Stand"er*grass` (?), n. (Bot.) A plant (Orchis mascula); -- called also standerwort, and long purple. See Long purple, under Long.

Stand"gale` (?), n. See Stannel. [Prov. Eng.]

Stand"ing, a. 1. Remaining erect; not cut down; as, standing corn.

2. Not flowing; stagnant; as, standing water.

3. Not transitory; not liable to fade or vanish; lasting; as, a standing color.

4. Established by law, custom, or the like; settled; continually existing; permanent; not temporary; as, a standing army; legislative bodies have standing rules of proceeding and standing committees.

5. Not movable; fixed; as, a standing bed (distinguished from a trundle-bed).

Standing army. See Standing army, under Army. -- Standing bolt. See Stud bolt, under Stud, a stem. -- Standing committee, in legislative bodies, etc., a committee appointed for the consideration of all subjects of a particular class which shall arise during the session or a stated period. -- Standing cup, a tall goblet, with a foot and a cover. -- Standing finish (Arch.), that part of the interior fittings, esp. of a dwelling house, which is permanent and fixed in its place, as distinguished from doors, sashes, etc. -- Standing order (Eccl.), the denomination (Congregiational) established by law; -- a term formerly used in Connecticut. See also under Order. -- Standing part. (Naut.) (a) That part of a tackle which is made fast to a block, point, or other object. (b) That part of a rope around which turns are taken with the running part in making a knot of the like. -- Standing rigging (Naut.), the cordage or rope which sustain the masts and remain fixed in their position, as the shrouds and stays, -- distinguished from running rigging.

Stand"ing, n. 1. The act of stopping, or coming to a stand; the state of being erect upon the feet; stand.

2. Maintenance of position; duration; duration or existence in the same place or condition; continuance; as, a custom of long standing; an officer of long standing.

An ancient thing of long standing.

Bunyan.

3. Place to stand in; station; stand.

I will provide you a good standing to see his entry.

Bacon.

I think in deep mire, where there is no standing.

Ps. lxix. 2.

4. Condition in society; relative position; reputation; rank; as, a man of good standing, or of high standing.

Standing off (Naut.), sailing from the land. -- Standing on (Naut.), sailing toward land.

Stand"ish, n. [Stand + dish.] A stand, or case, for pen and ink.

I bequeath to Dean Swift, Esq., my large silver standish.

Swift.

Stand"pipe` (?), n. 1. (Engin.) A vertical pipe, open at the top, between a hydrant and a reservoir, to equalize the flow of water; also, a large vertical pipe, near a pumping engine, into which water is forced up, so as to give it sufficient head to rise to the required level at a distance.

2. (Steam Boiler) A supply pipe of sufficient elevation to enable the water to flow into the boiler, notwithstanding the pressure of the steam. Knight.

Stand"point` (?), n. [Cf. G. standpunkt.] A fixed point or station; a basis or fundamental principle; a position from which objects or principles are viewed, and according to which they are compared and judged.

Stand"still` (?), n. A standing without moving forward or backward; a stop; a state or rest.

Stane (?), n. A stone. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]

Stang (?), imp. of Sting. [Archaic]

Stang, n. [OE. stange, of Scand. or Dutch origin; cf. Icel. stöng, akin to Dan. stang, Sw. stång, D. stang, G. stange, OHG. stanga, AS. steng; from the root of E. sting.] 1. A long bar; a pole; a shaft; a stake.

2. In land measure, a pole, rod, or perch. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Swift.

Stang ball, a projectile consisting of two half balls united by a bar; a bar shot. See Illust. of Bar shot, under Bar. -- To ride the stang, to be carried on a pole on men's shoulders. This method of punishing wife beaters, etc., was once in vogue in some parts of England.

Stang, v. i. [Akin to sting; cf. Icel. stanga to prick, to goad.] To shoot with pain. [Prov. Eng.]

Stan"hope (?), n. A light two- wheeled, or sometimes four-wheeled, carriage, without a top; -- so called from Lord Stanhope, for whom it was contrived.

Stan"iel (?), n. (Zoöl.) See Stannel.

Stan"iel*ry (?), n. Hawking with staniels, -- a base kind of falconry. [Obs.]

Stank (?), a. [OF. estanc, or It. stanco. See Stanch, a.] Weak; worn out. [Obs.] Spenser.

Stank, v. i. [Cf. Sw. stånka to pant. &radic;165.] To sigh. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

Stank, imp. of Stink. Stunk.

Stank, n. [OF. estang, F. étang, from L. stagnum a pool. Cf. Stagnate, Tank a cistern.] 1. Water retained by an embankment; a pool water. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Robert of Brunne.

2. A dam or mound to stop water. [Prov. Eng.]

Stank hen (Zoöl.), the moor hen; -- called also stankie. [Prov. Eng.]

Stan"na*ry (?), a. [L. stannum tin, an alloy of silver and lead.] Of or pertaining to tin mines, or tin works.

The stannary courts of Devonshire and Cornwall, for the administration of justice among the tinners therein, are also courts of record.

Blackstone.

Stan"na*ry, n.; pl. Stannaries (#). [LL. stannaria.] A tin mine; tin works. Bp. Hall.

Stan"nate (?), n. [Cf. F. stannate.] (Chem.) A salt of stannic acid.

Stan"nel (?), n. [AS. stngella, stangilla; properly, stone yeller, i. e., a bird that yells from the rocks. See Stone, and Yell, and cf. Stonegall.] (Zoöl.) The kestrel; -- called also standgale, standgall, stanchel, stand hawk, stannel hawk, steingale, stonegall. [Written also staniel, stannyel, and stanyel.]

With what wing the staniel checks at it.

Shak.

Stan"nic (?), a. [L. stannum tin: cf. F. stannique.] (Chem.) Of or pertaining to tin; derived from or containing tin; specifically, designating those compounds in which the element has a higher valence as contrasted with stannous compounds.

Stannic acid. (a) A hypothetical substance, Sn(OH)4, analogous to silic acid, and called also normal stannic acid. (b) Metastannic acid. -- Stannic chloride, a thin, colorless, fuming liquid, SnCl4, used as a mordant in calico printing and dyeing; -- formerly called spirit of tin, or fuming liquor of Libavius. -- Stannic oxide, tin oxide, SnO2, produced artificially as a white amorphous powder, and occurring naturally in the mineral cassiterite. It is used in the manufacture of white enamels, and, under the name of putty powder, for polishing glass, etc.

Stan*nif"er*ous (?), a. [L. stannum tin + -ferous.] Containing or affording tin.

{ Stan"nine (?), Stan"nite (?), } n. (Min.) A mineral of a steel-gray or iron-black color; tin pyrites. It is a sulphide of tin, copper, and iron.

Stan"no- (?). [L. stannum tin.] (Chem.) A combining form (also used adjectively) denoting relation to, or connection with, tin, or including tin as an ingredient.

Stan`no*flu"or*ide (-fl"r*d or -d), n. (Chem.) Any one of a series of double fluorides of tin (stannum) and some other element.

Stan*no"so- (stn*n"s-), a. (Chem.) A combining form (also used adjectively) denoting relation to, or connection with, certain stannnous compounds.

Stan"no*type (stn"n*tp), n. [Stanno- + -type.] (Photog.) A photograph taken upon a tin plate; a tintype.

Stan"nous (-ns), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or containing, tin; specifically, designating those compounds in which the element has a lower valence as contrasted with stannic compounds.

Stannous chloride (Chem.), a white crystalline substance, SnCl2.(H2O)2, obtained by dissolving tin in hydrochloric acid. It is used as a mordant in dyeing.

||Stan"num (?), n. [L., alloy of silver and lead; later, tin.] (Chem.) ||The technical name of tin. See Tin.

{ Stann"yel, Stan"yel } (?), n. (Zoöl.) See Stannel.

{ Stant (?), Stont (?), } obs. 3d pers. sing. pres. of Stand, for standeth. Stands. Chaucer.

Stan"za (?), n.; pl. Stanzas (#). [It. stanza a room, habitation, a stanza, i. e., a stop, fr. L. stans, p. pr. of stare to stand. See Stand, and cf. Estancia, Stance, Stanchion.] 1. A number of lines or verses forming a division of a song or poem, and agreeing in meter, rhyme, number of lines, etc., with other divisions; a part of a poem, ordinarily containing every variation of measure in that poem; a combination or arrangement of lines usually recurring; whether like or unlike, in measure.

Horace confines himself strictly to one sort of verse, or stanza, in every ode.

Dryden.

2. (Arch.) An apartment or division in a building; a room or chamber.

Stan*za"ic (?), a. Pertaining to, or consisting of, stanzas; as, a couplet in stanzaic form.

Sta*pe"di*al (?), a. [LL. stapes stirrup.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to stapes.

||Sta*pe"li*a (?), n. [NL. So named after John Bodæus a Stapel, a ||physician of Amsterdam.] (Bot.) An extensive and curious genus of ||African plants of the natural order Asclepiadaceæ (Milkweed family). ||They are succulent plants without leaves, frequently covered with ||dark tubercles giving them a very grotesque appearance. The odor of ||the blossoms is like that of carrion.

||Sta"pes (?), n. [LL., a stirrup.] (Anat.) The innermost of the ||ossicles of the ear; the stirrup, or stirrup bone; -- so called from ||its form. See Illust. of Ear.

Staph"y*line (?), a. [Gr. &?; botryodial, from &?; a bunch of grapes.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the uvula or the palate.

Staph`y*li"nid (?), n. [Gr. &?; a kind of insect.] (Zoöl.) Any rove beetle.

||Staph`y*lo"ma (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; a bunch of grapes.] ||(Med.) A protrusion of any part of the globe of the eye; as, a ||staphyloma of the cornea.

Staph`y*lo"ma*tous (?), a. (Med.) Of or pertaining to staphyloma; affected with staphyloma.

Staph"y*lo*plas`ty (?), n. [Gr. &?; a bunch of grapes, also, the uvula when swollen at the lower end + - plasty.] (Surg.) The operation for restoring or replacing the soft palate when it has been lost. Dunglison. -- Staph`y*lo*plas"tic (#), a.

{ Staph`y*lor"a*phy, Staph`y*lor"rha*phy } (?), n. [Gr. &?; the uvula when swollen + &?; to sew: cf. F. staphylorraphie.] The operation of uniting a cleft palate, consisting in paring and bringing together the edges of the cleft. -- Staph`y*lo*raph"ic (#), Staph`y*lor*rhaph"ic (#), a.

Staph`y*lot"o*my (?), n. [Gr. &?; the uvula when swollen + &?; to cut.] (Surg.) The operation of removing a staphyloma by cutting.

Sta"ple (?), n. [AS. stapul, stapol, stapel, a step, a prop, post, table, fr. stapan to step, go, raise; akin to D. stapel a pile, stocks, emporium, G. stapela heap, mart, stake, staffel step of a ladder, Sw. stapel, Dan. stabel, and E. step cf. OF. estaple a mart, F. étape. See Step.] 1. A settled mart; an emporium; a city or town to which merchants brought commodities for sale or exportation in bulk; a place for wholesale traffic.

The customs of Alexandria were very great, it having been the staple of the Indian trade.

Arbuthnot.

For the increase of trade and the encouragement of the worthy burgesses of Woodstock, her majesty was minded to erect the town into a staple for wool.

Sir W. Scott.

In England, formerly, the king's staple was established in certain ports or towns, and certain goods could not be exported without being first brought to these places to be rated and charged with the duty payable of the king or the public. The principal commodities on which customs were lived were wool, skins, and leather; and these were originally the staple commodities.

2. Hence: Place of supply; source; fountain head.

Whitehall naturally became the chief staple of news. Whenever there was a rumor that any thing important had happened or was about to happen, people hastened thither to obtain intelligence from the fountain head.

Macaulay.

3. The principal commodity of traffic in a market; a principal commodity or production of a country or district; as, wheat, maize, and cotton are great staples of the United States.

We should now say, Cotton is the great staple, that is, the established merchandize, of Manchester.

Trench.

4. The principal constituent in anything; chief item.

5. Unmanufactured material; raw material.

6. The fiber of wool, cotton, flax, or the like; as, a coarse staple; a fine staple; a long or short staple.

7. A loop of iron, or a bar or wire, bent and formed with two points to be driven into wood, to hold a hook, pin, or the like.

8. (Mining) (a) A shaft, smaller and shorter than the principal one, joining different levels. (b) A small pit.

9. A district granted to an abbey. [Obs.] Camden.

Sta"ple, a. 1. Pertaining to, or being market of staple for, commodities; as, a staple town. [R.]

2. Established in commerce; occupying the markets; settled; as, a staple trade. Dryden.

3. Fit to be sold; marketable. [R.] Swift.

4. Regularly produced or manufactured in large quantities; belonging to wholesale traffic; principal; chief.

Wool, the great staple commodity of England.

H&?;&?;&?;om.

Sta"ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. stapled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. stapling.] To sort according to its staple; as, to staple cotton.

Sta"pler (?), n. 1. A dealer in staple goods.

2. One employed to assort wool according to its staple.

Star (stär), n. [OE. sterre, AS. steorra; akin to OFries. stera, OS. sterro, D. ster, OHG. sterno, sterro, G. stern, Icel. stjarna, Sw. stjerna, Dan. stierne, Goth. staírn, Armor. & Corn. steren, L. stella, Gr. 'asth`r, 'a`stron, Skr. star; perhaps from a root meaning, to scatter, Skr. st, L. sternere (cf. Stratum), and originally applied to the stars as being strewn over the sky, or as being scatterers or spreaders of light. &radic;296. Cf. Aster, Asteroid, Constellation, Disaster, Stellar.] 1. One of the innumerable luminous bodies seen in the heavens; any heavenly body other than the sun, moon, comets, and nebulæ.

His eyen twinkled in his head aright, As do the stars in the frosty night.

Chaucer.

The stars are distinguished as planets, and fixed stars. See Planet, Fixed stars under Fixed, and Magnitude of a star under Magnitude.

2. The polestar; the north star. Shak.

3. (Astrol.) A planet supposed to influence one's destiny; (usually pl.) a configuration of the planets, supposed to influence fortune.

O malignant and ill-brooding stars.

Shak.

Blesses his stars, and thinks it luxury.

Addison.

4. That which resembles the figure of a star, as an ornament worn on the breast to indicate rank or honor.

On whom . . . Lavish Honor showered all her stars.

Tennyson.

5. Specifically, a radiated mark in writing or printing; an asterisk [thus, *]; -- used as a reference to a note, or to fill a blank where something is omitted, etc.

6. (Pyrotechny) A composition of combustible matter used in the heading of rockets, in mines, etc., which, exploding in the air, presents a starlike appearance.

7. A person of brilliant and attractive qualities, especially on public occasions, as a distinguished orator, a leading theatrical performer, etc.

Star is used in the formation of compound words generally of obvious signification: as, star-aspiring, star-bespangled, star-bestudded, star-blasting, star-bright, star-crowned, star-directed, star-eyed, star-headed, star-paved, star- roofed; star-sprinkled, star-wreathed.

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Blazing star, Double star, Multiple star, Shooting star, etc. See under Blazing, Double, etc. -- Nebulous star (Astron.), a small well- defined circular nebula, having a bright nucleus at its center like a star. -- Star anise (Bot.), any plant of the genus Illicium; -- so called from its star-shaped capsules. -- Star apple (Bot.), a tropical American tree (Chrysophyllum Cainito), having a milky juice and oblong leaves with a silky-golden pubescence beneath. It bears an applelike fruit, the carpels of which present a starlike figure when cut across. The name is extended to the whole genus of about sixty species, and the natural order (Sapotaceæ) to which it belongs is called the Star-apple family. -- Star conner, one who cons, or studies, the stars; an astronomer or an astrologer. Gascoigne. -- Star coral (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of stony corals belonging to Astræa, Orbicella, and allied genera, in which the calicles are round or polygonal and contain conspicuous radiating septa. -- Star cucumber. (Bot.) See under Cucumber. -- Star flower. (Bot.) (a) A plant of the genus Ornithogalum; star-of-Bethlehem. (b) See Starwort (b). (c) An American plant of the genus Trientalis (Trientalis Americana). Gray. -- Star fort (Fort.), a fort surrounded on the exterior with projecting angles; -- whence the name. -- Star gauge (Ordnance), a long rod, with adjustable points projecting radially at its end, for measuring the size of different parts of the bore of a gun. -- Star grass. (Bot.) (a) A small grasslike plant (Hypoxis erecta) having star-shaped yellow flowers. (b) The colicroot. See Colicroot. -- Star hyacinth (Bot.), a bulbous plant of the genus Scilla (S. autumnalis); -- called also star-headed hyacinth. -- Star jelly (Bot.), any one of several gelatinous plants (Nostoc commune, N. edule, etc.). See Nostoc. -- Star lizard. (Zoöl.) Same as Stellion. -- Star- of-Bethlehem (Bot.), a bulbous liliaceous plant (Ornithogalum umbellatum) having a small white starlike flower. -- Star-of-the-earth (Bot.), a plant of the genus Plantago (P. coronopus), growing upon the seashore. -- Star polygon (Geom.), a polygon whose sides cut each other so as to form a star-shaped figure. -- Stars and Stripes, a popular name for the flag of the United States, which consists of thirteen horizontal stripes, alternately red and white, and a union having, in a blue field, white stars to represent the several States, one for each.

With the old flag, the true American flag, the Eagle, and the Stars and Stripes, waving over the chamber in which we sit.

D. Webster.

-- Star showers. See Shooting star, under Shooting. -- Star thistle (Bot.), an annual composite plant (Centaurea solstitialis) having the involucre armed with radiating spines. -- Star wheel (Mach.), a star-shaped disk, used as a kind of ratchet wheel, in repeating watches and the feed motions of some machines. -- Star worm (Zoöl.), a gephyrean. -- Temporary star (Astron.), a star which appears suddenly, shines for a period, and then nearly or quite disappears. These stars are supposed by some astronometers to be variable stars of long and undetermined periods. -- Variable star (Astron.), a star whose brilliancy varies periodically, generally with regularity, but sometimes irregularly; -- called periodical star when its changes occur at fixed periods. -- Water star grass (Bot.), an aquatic plant (Schollera graminea) with small yellow starlike blossoms.

Star (stär), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Starred (stärd); p. pr. & vb. n. Starring.] To set or adorn with stars, or bright, radiating bodies; to bespangle; as, a robe starred with gems. "A sable curtain starred with gold." Young.

Star, v. i. To be bright, or attract attention, as a star; to shine like a star; to be brilliant or prominent; to play a part as a theatrical star. W. Irving.

Star"-blind` (?), a. Half blind.

Star"board` (?), n. [OE. sterbord, AS. steórbord, i.e., steer board. See Steer, v. t., Board of a vessel, and cf. Larboard.] (Naut.) That side of a vessel which is on the right hand of a person who stands on board facing the bow; - - opposed to larboard, or port.

Star"board`, a. (Naut.) Pertaining to the right-hand side of a ship; being or lying on the right side; as, the starboard quarter; starboard tack.

Star"board`, v. t. (Naut.) To put to the right, or starboard, side of a vessel; as, to starboard the helm.

Star"-bow`lines (?), n. pl. (Naut.) The men in the starboard watch. [Obs.] R. H. Dana, Jr.

Starch (stärch), a. [AS. stearc stark, strong, rough. See Stark.] Stiff; precise; rigid. [R.] Killingbeck.

Starch, n. [From starch stiff, cf. G. stärke, fr. stark strong.] 1. (Chem.) A widely diffused vegetable substance found especially in seeds, bulbs, and tubers, and extracted (as from potatoes, corn, rice, etc.) as a white, glistening, granular or powdery substance, without taste or smell, and giving a very peculiar creaking sound when rubbed between the fingers. It is used as a food, in the production of commercial grape sugar, for stiffening linen in laundries, in making paste, etc.

Starch is a carbohydrate, being the typical amylose, C6H10O5, and is detected by the fine blue color given to it by free iodine. It is not fermentable as such, but is changed by diastase into dextrin and maltose, and by heating with dilute acids into dextrose. Cf. Sugar, Inulin, and Lichenin.

2. Fig.: A stiff, formal manner; formality. Addison.

Starch hyacinth (Bot.), the grape hyacinth; -- so called because the flowers have the smell of boiled starch. See under Grape.

Starch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Starched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Starching.] To stiffen with starch.

Star"-cham`ber (?), n. [So called (as conjectured by Blackstone) from being held in a room at the Exchequer where the chests containing certain Jewish comtracts and obligations called starrs (from the Heb. shetar, pron. shtar) were kept; or from the stars with which the ceiling is supposed to have been decorated.] (Eng. Hist.) An ancient high court exercising jurisdiction in certain cases, mainly criminal, which sat without the intervention of a jury. It consisted of the king's council, or of the privy council only with the addition of certain judges. It could proceed on mere rumor or examine witnesses; it could apply torture. It was abolished by the Long Parliament in 1641. Encyc. Brit.

Starched (?), a. 1. Stiffened with starch.

2. Stiff; precise; formal. Swift.

Starch"ed*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being starched; stiffness in manners; formality.

Starch"er (?), n. One who starches.

Starch"ly, adv. In a starched or starch manner.

Starch"ness, n. Of or pertaining to starched or starch; stiffness of manner; preciseness.

Starch"wort` (?), n. (Bot.) The cuckoopint, the tubers of which yield a fine quality of starch.

Starch"y (?), a. Consisting of starch; resembling starch; stiff; precise.

Star"craft (?), n. Astrology. [R.] Tennyson.

Star"-crossed` (?), a. Not favored by the stars; ill-fated. [Poetic] Shak.

Such in my star-crossed destiny.

Massinger.

Stare (?), n. [AS. stær. See Starling.] (Zoöl.) The starling. [Obs.]

Stare, v. i. [imp. & p. p. stared (?); p. pr. & vb. n. staring.] [AS. starian; akin to LG. & D. staren, OHG. starn, G. starren, Icel. stara; cf. Icel. stira, Dan. stirre, Sw. stirra, and G. starr stiff, rigid, fixed, Gr. &?; solid (E. stereo-), Skr. sthira firm, strong. &radic;166. Cf. Sterile.] 1. To look with fixed eyes wide open, as through fear, wonder, surprise, impudence, etc.; to fasten an earnest and prolonged gaze on some object.

For ever upon the ground I see thee stare.

Chaucer.

Look not big, nor stamp, nor stare, nor fret.

Shak.

2. To be very conspicuous on account of size, prominence, color, or brilliancy; as, staring windows or colors.

3. To stand out; to project; to bristle. [Obs.]

Makest my blood cold, and my hair to stare.

Shak.

Take off all the staring straws and jags in the hive.

Mortimer.

Syn. -- To gaze; to look earnestly. See Gaze.

Stare (?), v. t. To look earnestly at; to gaze at.

I will stare him out of his wits.

Shak.

To stare in the face, to be before the eyes, or to be undeniably evident. "The law . . . stares them in the face whilst they are breaking it." Locke.

Stare, n. The act of staring; a fixed look with eyes wide open. "A dull and stupid stare." Churchill.

Star"er (?), n. One who stares, or gazes.

Starf (?), obs. imp. of Starve. Starved. Chaucer.

Star"finch` (?), n. (Zoöl.) The European redstart.

Star"fish (?), n. 1. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of echinoderms belonging to the class Asterioidea, in which the body is star-shaped and usually has five rays, though the number of rays varies from five to forty or more. The rays are often long, but are sometimes so short as to appear only as angles to the disklike body. Called also sea star, five-finger, and stellerid.

The ophiuroids are also sometimes called starfishes. See Brittle star, and Ophiuroidea.

2. (Zoöl.) The dollar fish, or butterfish.

Star"gas`er (?), n. 1. One who gazes at the stars; an astrologer; sometimes, in derision or contempt, an astronomer.

2. (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of spiny-rayed marine fishes belonging to Uranoscopus, Astroscopus, and allied genera, of the family Uranoscopidæ. The common species of the Eastern United States are Astroscopus anoplus, and A. guttatus. So called from the position of the eyes, which look directly upward.

Star"gas`ing, n. 1. The act or practice of observing the stars with attention; contemplation of the stars as connected with astrology or astronomy. Swift.

2. Hence, absent-mindedness; abstraction.

Star"ing*ly (?), adv. With a staring look.

Stark (?), a. [Compar. Starker (?); superl. Starkest.] [OE. stark stiff, strong, AS. stearc; akin to OS. starc strong, D. sterk, OHG. starc, starah, G. & Sw. stark, Dan. stærk, Icel. sterkr, Goth. gastaúrknan to become dried up, Lith. strëgti to stiffen, to freeze. Cf. Starch, a. & n.] 1. Stiff; rigid. Chaucer.

Whose senses all were straight benumbed and stark.

Spenser.

His heart gan wax as stark as marble stone.

Spenser.

Many a nobleman lies stark and stiff Under the hoofs of vaunting enemies.

Shak.

The north is not so stark and cold.

B. Jonson.

2. Complete; absolute; full; perfect; entire. [Obs.]

Consider the stark security The common wealth is in now.

B. Jonson.

3. Strong; vigorous; powerful.

A stark, moss-trooping Scot.

Sir W. Scott.

Stark beer, boy, stout and strong beer.

Beau. & Fl.

4. Severe; violent; fierce. [Obs.] "In starke stours." [i. e., in fierce combats]. Chaucer.

5. Mere; sheer; gross; entire; downright.

He pronounces the citation stark nonsense.

Collier.

Rhetoric is very good or stark naught; there's no medium in rhetoric.

Selden.

Stark (?), adv. Wholly; entirely; absolutely; quite; as, stark mind. Shak.

Held him strangled in his arms till he was stark dead.

Fuller.

Stark naked, wholly naked; quite bare.

Strip your sword stark naked.

Shak.

According to Professor Skeat, "stark-naked" is derived from steort-naked, or start-naked, literally tail-naked, and hence wholly naked. If this etymology be true the preferable form is stark-naked.

Stark, v. t. To stiffen. [R.]

If horror have not starked your limbs.

H. Taylor.

Stark"ly, adv. In a stark manner; stiffly; strongly.

Its onward force too starky pent In figure, bone, and lineament.

Emerson.

Stark"ness, n. The quality or state of being stark.

Star"less (?), a. Being without stars; having no stars visible; as, a starless night. Milton.

Star"light` (?), n. The light given by the stars.

Nor walk by moon, Or glittering starlight, without thee is sweet.

Milton.

Star"light`, a. Lighted by the stars, or by the stars only; as, a starlight night.

A starlight evening and a morning fair.

Dryden.

Star"like` (?), a. 1. Resembling a star; stellated; radiated like a star; as, starlike flowers.

2. Shining; bright; illustrious. Dryden.

The having turned many to righteousness shall confer a starlike and immortal brightness.

Boyle.

Star"ling (?), n. [OE. sterlyng, a dim. of OE. stare, AS. stær; akin to AS. stearn, G. star, staar, OHG. stara, Icel. starri, stari, Sw. stare, Dan. stær, L. sturnus. Cf. Stare a starling.] 1. (Zoöl.) Any passerine bird belonging to Sturnus and allied genera. The European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is dark brown or greenish black, with a metallic gloss, and spotted with yellowish white. It is a sociable bird, and builds about houses, old towers, etc. Called also stare, and starred. The pied starling of India is Sternopastor contra.

2. (Zoöl.) A California fish; the rock trout.

3. A structure of piles driven round the piers of a bridge for protection and support; -- called also sterling.

Rose-colored starling. (Zoöl.) See Pastor.

Star"lit` (?), a. Lighted by the stars; starlight.

Star"mon`ger (?), n. A fortune teller; an astrologer; -- used in contempt. B. Jonson.

Starn (?), n. (Zoöl.) The European starling. [Prov. Eng.]

Star"nose` (?), n. (Zoöl.) A curious American mole (Condylura cristata) having the nose expanded at the end into a stellate disk; -- called also star- nosed mole.

Star"ost (?), n. [Pol. starosta, from stary old.] A nobleman who possessed a starosty. [Poland]

Star"os*ty (?), n. A castle and domain conferred on a nobleman for life. [Poland] Brande & C.

Star"proof` (?), a. Impervious to the light of the stars; as, a starproof elm. [Poetic] Milton.

Star"-read` (?), n. Doctrine or knowledge of the stars; star lore; astrology; astronomy. [Obs.]

Which in star-read were wont have best insight.

Spenser.

Starred (?), a. [From Star.] 1. Adorned or studded with stars; bespangled.

2. Influenced in fortune by the stars. [Obs.]

My third comfort, Starred most unluckily.

Shak.

Star"ri*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being starry; as, the starriness of the heavens.

Star"ry (?), a. 1. Abounding with stars; adorned with stars. "Above the starry sky." Pope.

2. Consisting of, or proceeding from, the stars; stellar; stellary; as, starry light; starry flame.

Do not Christians and Heathens, Jews and Gentiles, poets and philosophers, unite in allowing the starry influence?

Sir W. Scott.

3. Shining like stars; sparkling; as, starry eyes.

4. Arranged in rays like those of a star; stellate.

Starry ray (Zoöl.), a European skate (Raita radiata); -- so called from the stellate bases of the dorsal spines.

Star"shine` (?), n. The light of the stars. [R.]

The starshine lights upon our heads.

R. L. Stevenson.

Star"shoot` (?), n. See Nostoc.

Star"-span`gled (?), a. Spangled or studded with stars.

Star-spangled banner, the popular name for the national ensign of the United States. F. S. Key.

Star"stone` (?), n. (Min.) Asteriated sapphire.

Start (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. started; p. pr. & vb. n. starting.] [OE. sterten; akin to D. storten 8hurl, rush, fall, G. stürzen, OHG. sturzen to turn over, to fall, Sw. störa to cast down, to fall, Dan. styrte, and probably also to E. start a tail; the original sense being, perhaps, to show the tail, to tumble over suddenly. &radic;166. Cf. Start a tail.] 1. To leap; to jump. [Obs.]

2. To move suddenly, as with a spring or leap, from surprise, pain, or other sudden feeling or emotion, or by a voluntary act.

And maketh him out of his sleep to start.

Chaucer.

I start as from some dreadful dream.

Dryden.

Keep your soul to the work when ready to start aside.

I. Watts.

But if he start, It is the flesh of a corrupted heart.

Shak.

3. To set out; to commence a course, as a race or journey; to begin; as, to start business.

At once they start, advancing in a line.

Dryden.

At intervals some bird from out the brakes Starts into voice a moment, then is still.

Byron.

4. To become somewhat displaced or loosened; as, a rivet or a seam may start under strain or pressure.

To start after, to set out after; to follow; to pursue. -- To start against, to act as a rival candidate against. -- To start for, to be a candidate for, as an office. -- To start up, to rise suddenly, as from a seat or couch; to come suddenly into notice or importance.

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Start (?), v. t. 1. To cause to move suddenly; to disturb suddenly; to startle; to alarm; to rouse; to cause to flee or fly; as, the hounds started a fox.

Upon malicious bravery dost thou come To start my quiet?

Shak.

Brutus will start a spirit as soon as Cæsar.

Shak.

2. To bring onto being or into view; to originate; to invent.

Sensual men agree in the pursuit of every pleasure they can start.

Sir W. Temple.

3. To cause to move or act; to set going, running, or flowing; as, to start a railway train; to start a mill; to start a stream of water; to start a rumor; to start a business.

I was engaged in conversation upon a subject which the people love to start in discourse.

Addison.

4. To move suddenly from its place or position; to displace or loosen; to dislocate; as, to start a bone; the storm started the bolts in the vessel.

One, by a fall in wrestling, started the end of the clavicle from the sternum.

Wiseman.

5. [Perh. from D. storten, which has this meaning also.] (Naut.) To pour out; to empty; to tap and begin drawing from; as, to start a water cask.

Start, n. 1. The act of starting; a sudden spring, leap, or motion, caused by surprise, fear, pain, or the like; any sudden motion, or beginning of motion.

The fright awakened Arcite with a start.

Dryden.

2. A convulsive motion, twitch, or spasm; a spasmodic effort.

For she did speak in starts distractedly.

Shak.

Nature does nothing by starts and leaps, or in a hurry.

L'Estrange.

3. A sudden, unexpected movement; a sudden and capricious impulse; a sally; as, starts of fancy.

To check the starts and sallies of the soul.

Addison.

4. The beginning, as of a journey or a course of action; first motion from a place; act of setting out; the outset; -- opposed to finish.

The start of first performance is all.

Bacon.

I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips, Straining upon the start.

Shak.

At a start, at once; in an instant. [Obs.]

At a start he was betwixt them two.

Chaucer.

To get, or have, the start, to before another; to gain or have the advantage in a similar undertaking; -- usually with of. "Get the start of the majestic world." Shak. "She might have forsaken him if he had not got the start of her." Dryden.

Start, n. [OE. stert a tail, AS. steort; akin to LG. stert, steert, D. staart, G. sterz, Icel. stertr, Dan. stiert, Sw. stjert. &radic;166. Cf. Stark naked, under Stark, Start, v. i.] 1. A tail, or anything projecting like a tail.

2. The handle, or tail, of a plow; also, any long handle. [Prov. Eng.]

3. The curved or inclined front and bottom of a water-wheel bucket.

4. (Mining) The arm, or level, of a gin, drawn around by a horse.

Start"er, n. 1. One who, or that which, starts; as, a starter on a journey; the starter of a race.

2. A dog that rouses game.

Start"ful (?), a. Apt to start; skittish. [R.]

Start"ful*ness, n. Aptness to start. [R.]

Star"throat` (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any humming bird of the genus Heliomaster. The feathers of the throat have a brilliant metallic luster.

Start"ing (?), a. & n. from Start, v.

Starting bar (Steam Eng.), a hand lever for working the values in starting an engine. -- Starting hole, a loophole; evasion. [Obs.] -- Starting point, the point from which motion begins, or from which anything starts. -- Starting post, a post, stake, barrier, or place from which competitors in a race start, or begin the race.

Start"ing*ly, adv. By sudden fits or starts; spasmodically. Shak.

Start"ish, a. Apt to start; skittish; shy; -- said especially of a horse. [Colloq.]

Star"tle (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Startled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Startling (?).] [Freq. of start.] To move suddenly, or be excited, on feeling alarm; to start.

Why shrinks the soul Back on herself, and startles at destruction?

Addison.

Star"tle (?), v. t. 1. To excite by sudden alarm, surprise, or apprehension; to frighten suddenly and not seriously; to alarm; to surprise.

The supposition, at least, that angels do sometimes assume bodies need not startle us.

Locke.

2. To deter; to cause to deviate. [R.] Clarendon.

Syn. -- To start; shock; fright; frighten; alarm.

Star"tle, n. A sudden motion or shock caused by an unexpected alarm, surprise, or apprehension of danger.

After having recovered from my first startle, I was very well pleased with the accident.

Spectator.

Star"tling*ly (?), adv. In a startling manner.

Star"tlish (?), a. Easily startled; apt to start; startish; skittish; -- said especially of a hourse. [Colloq.]

Start"-up` (?), n. 1. One who comes suddenly into notice; an upstart. [Obs.] Shak.

2. A kind of high rustic shoe. [Obs.] Drayton.

A startuppe, or clownish shoe.

Spenser.

Start"-up`, a. Upstart. [R.] Walpole.

Star*va"tion (?), n. The act of starving, or the state of being starved.

This word was first used, according to Horace Walpole, by Henry Dundas, the first Lord Melville, in a speech on American affairs in 1775, which obtained for him the nickname of Starvation Dundas. "Starvation, we are also told, belongs to the class of 'vile compounds' from being a mongrel; as if English were not full of mongrels, and if it would not be in distressing straits without them." Fitzed. Hall.

Starve (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Starved (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Starving.] [OE. sterven to die, AS. steorfan; akin to D. sterven, G. sterben, OHG. sterban, Icel. starf labor, toil.] 1. To die; to perish. [Obs., except in the sense of perishing with cold or hunger.] Lydgate.

In hot coals he hath himself raked . . . Thus starved this worthy mighty Hercules.

Chaucer.

2. To perish with hunger; to suffer extreme hunger or want; to be very indigent.

Sometimes virtue starves, while vice is fed.

Pope.

3. To perish or die with cold. Spenser.

Have I seen the naked starve for cold?

Sandys.

Starving with cold as well as hunger.

W. Irving.

In this sense, still common in England, but rarely used of the United States.

Starve, v. t. 1. To destroy with cold. [Eng.]

From beds of raging fire, to starve in ice Their soft ethereal warmth.

Milton.

2. To kill with hunger; as, maliciously to starve a man is, in law, murder.

3. To distress or subdue by famine; as, to starvea garrison into a surrender.

Attalus endeavored to starve Italy by stopping their convoy of provisions from Africa.

Arbuthnot.

4. To destroy by want of any kind; as, to starve plans by depriving them of proper light and air.

5. To deprive of force or vigor; to disable.

The pens of historians, writing thereof, seemed starved for matter in an age so fruitful of memorable actions.

Fuller.

The powers of their minds are starved by disuse.

Locke.

Starv"ed*ly (?), adv. In the condition of one starved or starving; parsimoniously.

Some boasting housekeeper which keepth open doors for one day, . . . and lives starvedly all the year after.

Bp. Hall.

Starve"ling (?), n. [Starve + -ling.] One who, or that which, pines from lack or food, or nutriment.

Old Sir John hangs with me, and thou knowest he is no starveling.

Shak.

Starve"ling, a. Hungry; lean; pining with want.

Star"wort` (?), n. (Bot.) (a) Any plant of the genus Aster. See Aster. (b) A small plant of the genus Stellaria, having star-shaped flowers; star flower; chickweed. Gray.

Water starwort, an aquatic plant (Callitriche verna) having some resemblance to chickweed. -- Yellow starwort, a plant of the genus Inula; elecampane.

||Stas"i*mon (?), n.; pl. Stasmia (#). [NL., from Gr. sta`simon, neut. ||of sta`simos stationary, steadfast.] In the Greek tragedy, a song of ||the chorus, continued without the interruption of dialogue or ||anapæstics. Liddell & Scott.

||Sta"sis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a standing still.] (Physiol.) A ||slackening or arrest of the blood current in the vessels, due not to ||a lessening of the heart's beat, but presumably to some abnormal ||resistance of the capillary walls. It is one of the phenomena ||observed in the capillaries in inflammation.

Stat"a*ble (?), a. That can be stated; as, a statablegrievance; the question at issue is statable.

Sta"tal (?), a. Of, pertaining to, or existing with reference to, a State of the American Union, as distinguished from the general government. [R.]

I have no knowledge of any other kind of political citizenship, higher or lower, statal or national.

Edward Bates.

Sta"tant (?), a. [L. stare to stand.] (Her.) In a standing position; as, a lion statant.

Sta*ta"ri*an (?), a. Fixed; settled; steady; statary. [Obs.]

Sta*ta"ri*an*ly, adv. Fixedly; steadly. [Obs.]

Sta"ta*ry (?), a. [L. statarius standing fast, fr. stare to stand.] Fixed; settled. [Obs.] "The set and statary times of paring of nails and cutting hair." Sir T. Browne.

State (?), n. [OE. stat, OF. estat, F. état, fr. L. status a standing, position, fr. stare, statum, to stand. See Stand, and cf. Estate, Status.] 1. The circumstances or condition of a being or thing at any given time.

State is a term nearly synonymous with "mode," but of a meaning more extensive, and is not exclusively limited to the mutable and contingent.

Sir W. Hamilton.

Declare the past and present state of things.

Dryden.

Keep the state of the question in your eye.

Boyle.

2. Rank; condition; quality; as, the state of honor.

Thy honor, state, and seat is due to me.

Shak.

3. Condition of prosperity or grandeur; wealthy or prosperous circumstances; social importance.

She instructed him how he should keep state, and yet with a modest sense of his misfortunes.

Bacon.

Can this imperious lord forget to reign, Quit all his state, descend, and serve again?

Pope.

4. Appearance of grandeur or dignity; pomp.

Where least og state there most of love is shown.

Dryden.

5. A chair with a canopy above it, often standing on a dais; a seat of dignity; also, the canopy itself. [Obs.]

His high throne, . . . under state Of richest texture spread.

Milton.

When he went to court, he used to kick away the state, and sit down by his prince cheek by jowl.

Swift.

6. Estate, possession. [Obs.] Daniel.

Your state, my lord, again in yours.

Massinger.

7. A person of high rank. [Obs.] Latimer.

8. Any body of men united by profession, or constituting a community of a particular character; as, the civil and ecclesiastical states, or the lords spiritual and temporal and the commons, in Great Britain. Cf. Estate, n., 6.

9. The principal persons in a government.

The bold design Pleased highly those infernal states.

Milton.

10. The bodies that constitute the legislature of a country; as, the States-general of Holland.

11. A form of government which is not monarchial, as a republic. [Obs.]

Well monarchies may own religion's name, But states are atheists in their very fame.

Dryden.

12. A political body, or body politic; the whole body of people who are united one government, whatever may be the form of the government; a nation.

Municipal law is a rule of conduct prescribed by the supreme power in a state.

Blackstone.

The Puritans in the reign of Mary, driven from their homes, sought an asylum in Geneva, where they found a state without a king, and a church without a bishop.

R. Choate.

13. In the United States, one of the commonwealth, or bodies politic, the people of which make up the body of the nation, and which, under the national constitution, stands in certain specified relations with the national government, and are invested, as commonwealth, with full power in their several spheres over all matters not expressly inhibited.

The term State, in its technical sense, is used in distinction from the federal system, i. e., the government of the United States.

14. Highest and stationary condition, as that of maturity between growth and decline, or as that of crisis between the increase and the abating of a disease; height; acme. [Obs.]

When state is joined with another word, or used adjectively, it denotes public, or what belongs to the community or body politic, or to the government; also, what belongs to the States severally in the American Union; as, state affairs; state policy; State laws of Iowa.

Nascent state. (Chem.) See under Nascent. -- Secretary of state. See Secretary, n., 3. -- State bargea royal barge, or a barge belonging to a government. -- State bed, an elaborately carved or decorated bed. -- State carriage, a highly decorated carriage for officials going in state, or taking part in public processions. -- State paper, an official paper relating to the interests or government of a state. Jay. -- State prison, a public prison or penitentiary; -- called also State's prison. -- State prisoner, one is confinement, or under arrest, for a political offense. -- State rights, or States' rights, the rights of the several independent States, as distinguished from the rights of the Federal government. It has been a question as to what rights have been vested in the general government. [U.S.] -- State's evidence. See Probator, 2, and under Evidence. -- State sword, a sword used on state occasions, being borne before a sovereign by an attendant of high rank. -- State trial, a trial of a person for a political offense. -- States of the Church. See under Ecclesiastical.

Syn. -- State, Situation, Condition. State is the generic term, and denotes in general the mode in which a thing stands or exists. The situation of a thing is its state in reference to external objects and influences; its condition is its internal state, or what it is in itself considered. Our situation is good or bad as outward things bear favorably or unfavorably upon us; our condition is good or bad according to the state we are actually in as respects our persons, families, property, and other things which comprise our sources of enjoyment.

I do not, brother, Infer as if I thought my sister's state Secure without all doubt or controversy.

Milton.

We hoped to enjoy with ease what, in our situation, might be called the luxuries of life.

Cock.

And, O, what man's condition can be worse Than his whom plenty starves and blessings curse?

Cowley.

State (?), a. 1. Stately. [Obs.] Spenser.

2. Belonging to the state, or body politic; public.

State, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stated; p. pr. & vb. n. Stating.] 1. To set; to settle; to establish. [R.]

I myself, though meanest stated, And in court now almost hated.

Wither.

Who calls the council, states the certain day.

Pope.

2. To express the particulars of; to set down in detail or in gross; to represent fully in words; to narrate; to recite; as, to state the facts of a case, one's opinion, etc.

To state it. To assume state or dignity. [Obs.] "Rarely dressed up, and taught to state it." Beau. & Fl.

State, n. A statement; also, a document containing a statement. [R.] Sir W. Scott.

State"craft` (?), n. The art of conducting state affairs; state management; statesmanship.

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Stat"ed (?), a. 1. Settled; established; fixed.

He is capable of corruption who receives more than what is the stated and unquestionable fee of his office.

Addison.

2. Recurring at regular time; not occasional; as, stated preaching; stated business hours.

Stat"ed*ly, adv. At stated times; regularly.

State"ful (?), a. Full of state; stately. [Obs.] "A stateful silence." Marston.

State"hood (?), n. The condition of being a State; as, a territory seeking Statehood.

State"house` (?), n. The building in which a State legislature holds its sessions; a State capitol. [U. S.]

State"less, a. Without state or pomp.

State"li*ly (?), adv. In a stately manner.

State"li*ness, n. The quality or state of being stately.

For stateliness and majesty, what is comparable to a horse?

Dr. H. More.

State"ly, a. [Compar. Statelier (?); superl. Stateliest.] Evincing state or dignity; lofty; majestic; grand; as, statelymanners; a stately gait. "The stately homes of England!" Mrs. Hemans. "Filled with stately temples." Prescott.

Here is a stately style indeed!

Shak.

Syn. -- Lofty; dignified; majestic; grand; august; magnificent.

State"ly, adv. Majestically; loftily. Milton.

State"ment (?), n. 1. The act of stating, reciting, or presenting, orally or in paper; as, to interrupt a speaker in the statement of his case.

2. That which is stated; a formal embodiment in language of facts or opinions; a narrative; a recital. "Admirable perspicuity of statement!" Brougham.

State"mon`ger (?), n. One versed in politics, or one who dabbles in state affairs.

State`pris"on (?). See under State, n.

Stat"er (?), n. One who states.

||Sta"ter (?), n. [L. stater, Gr. &?;.] (Gr. Antiq.) The principal gold ||coin of ancient Grece. It varied much in value, the stater best known ||at Athens being worth about £1 2s., or about $5.35. The Attic silver ||tetradrachm was in later times called stater.

State"room` (?), n. 1. A magnificent room in a place or great house.

2. A small apartment for lodging or sleeping in the cabin, or on the deck, of a vessel; also, a somewhat similar apartment in a railway sleeping car.

States"-gen"er*al (?), n. 1. In France, before the Revolution, the assembly of the three orders of the kingdom, namely, the clergy, the nobility, and the third estate, or commonalty.

2. In the Netherlands, the legislative body, composed of two chambers.

States"man (?), n.; pl. Statesmen (&?;). 1. A man versed in public affairs and in the principles and art of government; especially, one eminent for political abilities.

The minds of some of our statesmen, like the pupil of the human eye, contract themselves the more, the stronger light there is shed upon them.

More.

2. One occupied with the affairs of government, and influental in shaping its policy.

3. A small landholder. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

States"man*like` (?), a. Having the manner or wisdom of statesmen; becoming a statesman.

States"man*ly, a. Becoming a statesman.

States"man*ship, n. The qualifications, duties, or employments of a statesman.

States"wom`an (?), n.; pl. Stateswomen (&?;). A woman concerned in public affairs.

A rare stateswoman; I admire her bearing.

B. Jonson.

Stath"mo*graph (?), n. [Gr. &?; a measuring line + -graph.] A contrivance for recording the speed of a railway train. Knight.

{ Stat"ic (?), Stat"ic*al (?), } a. [Gr. &?; causing to stand, skilled in weighing, fr. &?; to cause to stand: cf. F. statique. See Stand, and cf. Stage.] 1. Resting; acting by mere weight without motion; as, statical pressure; static objects.

2. Pertaining to bodies at rest or in equilibrium.

Statical electricity. See Note under Electricity, 1. -- Statical moment. See under Moment.

Stat"ic*al*ly, adv. In a statical manner.

Stat"ics (?), n. [Cf. F. statique, Gr. &?; the art of weighing, fr. &?;. See Static.] That branch of mechanics which treats of the equilibrium of forces, or relates to bodies as held at rest by the forces acting on them; -- distinguished from dynamics.

Social statics, the study of the conditions which concern the existence and permanence of the social state.

Stat"ing (?), n. The act of one who states anything; statement; as, the statingof one's opinions.

Sta"tion (?), n. [F., fr. L. statio, from stare, statum, to stand. See Stand.] 1. The act of standing; also, attitude or pose in standing; posture. [R.]

A station like the herald, Mercury.

Shak.

Their manner was to stand at prayer, whereupon their meetings unto that purpose . . . had the names of stations given them.

Hooker.

2. A state of standing or rest; equilibrium. [Obs.]

All progression is performed by drawing on or impelling forward some part which was before in station, or at quiet.

Sir T. Browne.

3. The spot or place where anything stands, especially where a person or thing habitually stands, or is appointed to remain for a time; as, the station of a sentinel. Specifically: (a) A regular stopping place in a stage road or route; a place where railroad trains regularly come to a stand, for the convenience of passengers, taking in fuel, moving freight, etc. (b) The headquarters of the police force of any precinct. (c) The place at which an instrument is planted, or observations are made, as in surveying. (d) (Biol.) The particular place, or kind of situation, in which a species naturally occurs; a habitat. (e) (Naut.) A place to which ships may resort, and where they may anchor safely. (f) A place or region to which a government ship or fleet is assigned for duty. (g) (Mil.) A place calculated for the rendezvous of troops, or for the distribution of them; also, a spot well adapted for offensive measures. Wilhelm (Mil. Dict.). (h) (Mining) An enlargement in a shaft or galley, used as a landing, or passing place, or for the accomodation of a pump, tank, etc.

4. Post assigned; office; the part or department of public duty which a person is appointed to perform; sphere of duty or occupation; employment.

By spending this day [Sunday] in religious exercises, we acquire new strength and resolution to perform God's will in our several stations the week following.

R. Nelson.

5. Situation; position; location.

The fig and date -- why love they to remain In middle station, and an even plain?

Prior.

6. State; rank; condition of life; social status.

The greater part have kept, I see, Their station.

Milton.

They in France of the best rank and station.

Shak.

7. (Eccl.) (a) The fast of the fourth and sixth days of the week, Wednesday and Friday, in memory of the council which condemned Christ, and of his passion. (b) (R. C. Ch.) A church in which the procession of the clergy halts on stated days to say stated prayers. Addis & Arnold. (c) One of the places at which ecclesiastical processions pause for the performance of an act of devotion; formerly, the tomb of a martyr, or some similarly consecrated spot; now, especially, one of those representations of the successive stages of our Lord's passion which are often placed round the naves of large churches and by the side of the way leading to sacred edifices or shrines, and which are visited in rotation, stated services being performed at each; -- called also Station of the cross. Fairholt.

Station bill. (Naut.) Same as Quarter bill, under Quarter. -- Station house. (a) The house serving for the headquarters of the police assigned to a certain district, and as a place of temporary confinement. (b) The house used as a shelter at a railway station. -- Station master, one who has charge of a station, esp. of a railway station. -- Station pointer (Surv.), an instrument for locating on a chart the position of a place from which the angles subtended by three distant objects, whose positions are known, have been observed. -- Station staff (Surv.), an instrument for taking angles in surveying. Craig.

Syn. -- Station, Depot. In the United States, a stopping place on a railway for passengers and freight is commonly called a depot: but to a considerable extent in official use, and in common speech, the more appropriate name, station, has been adopted.

Sta"tion (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stationed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Stationing.] To place; to set; to appoint or assign to the occupation of a post, place, or office; as, to station troops on the right of an army; to station a sentinel on a rampart; to station ships on the coasts of Africa.

He gained the brow of the hill, where the English phalanx was stationed.

Lyttelton.

Sta"tion*al (?), a. [L. stationalis: cf. F. stationnale (église).] Of or pertaining to a station. [R.]

Sta"tion*a*ri*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being stationary; fixity.

Sta"tion*a*ry (?), a. [L. stationarius: cf. F. stationnaire. Cf. Stationer.] 1. Not moving; not appearing to move; stable; fixed.

Charles Wesley, who is a more stationary man, does not believe the story.

Southey.

2. Not improving or getting worse; not growing wiser, greater, better, more excellent, or the contrary.

3. Appearing to be at rest, because moving in the line of vision; not progressive or retrograde, as a planet.

Stationary air (Physiol.), the air which under ordinary circumstances does not leave the lungs in respiration. -- Stationary engine. (a) A steam engine thet is permanently placed, in distinction from a portable engine, locomotive, marine engine, etc. Specifically: (b) A factory engine, in distinction from a blowing, pumping, or other kind of engine which is also permanently placed.

Sta"tion*a*ry (?), n.; pl. -ries (&?;). One who, or that which, is stationary, as a planet when apparently it has neither progressive nor retrograde motion. Holland.

Sta"tion*er (?), n. [Cf. Stationary, a.] 1. A bookseller or publisher; -- formerly so called from his occupying a stand, or station, in the market place or elsewhere. [Obs.] Dryden.

2. One who sells paper, pens, quills, inkstands, pencils, blank books, and other articles used in writing.

Sta"tion*er*y (?), n. The articles usually sold by stationers, as paper, pens, ink, quills, blank books, etc.

Sta"tion*er*y, a. Belonging to, or sold by, a stationer.

Sta"tism (?), n. [From State.] The art of governing a state; statecraft; policy. [Obs.]

The enemies of God . . . call our religion statism.

South.

Sta"tist (?), n. [From State.] 1. A statesman; a politician; one skilled in government. [Obs.]

Statists indeed, And lovers of their country.

Milton.

2. A statistician. Fawcett.

{ Sta*tis"tic (?), Sta*tis"tic*al (?), } a. [Cf. F. statistique.] Of or pertaining to statistics; as, statistical knowledge, statistical tabulation.

Sta*tis"tic*al*ly, adv. In the way of statistics.

Stat`is*ti"cian (?), n. [Cf. F. statisticien.] One versed in statistics; one who collects and classifies facts for statistics.

Sta*tis"tics (?), n. [Cf. F. statistique, G. statistik. See State, n.] 1. The science which has to do with the collection and classification of certain facts respecting the condition of the people in a state. [In this sense gramatically singular.]

2. pl. Classified facts respecting the condition of the people in a state, their health, their longevity, domestic economy, arts, property, and political strength, their resources, the state of the country, etc., or respecting any particular class or interest; especially, those facts which can be stated in numbers, or in tables of numbers, or in any tabular and classified arrangement.

Stat`is*tol"o*gy (?), n. [Statistics + -logy.] See Statistics, 2.

Sta"tive (?), a. [L. stativus, fr. stare, statum, to stand.] (Mil.) Of or pertaining to a fixed camp, or military posts or quarters. [Obs. or R.]

Stat"o*blast (?), n. [Gr. &?; standing (i. e., remaining) + -blast.] (Zoöl.) One of a peculiar kind of internal buds, or germs, produced in the interior of certain Bryozoa and sponges, especially in the fresh- water species; -- also called winter buds.

They are protected by a firm covering, and are usually destined to perpetuate the species during the winter season. They burst open and develop in the spring. In some fresh-water sponges they serve to preserve the species during the dry season. See Illust. under Phylactolæmata.

Sta*toc"ra*cy (?), n. [State + -cracy, as in democracy.] Government by the state, or by political power, in distinction from government by ecclesiastical power. [R.] O. A. Brownson.

Stat"u*a (?), n. [L.] A statue. [Obs.]

They spake not a word; But, like dumb statuas or breathing stones, Gazed each on other.

Shak.

Stat"u*a*ry (?), n.; pl. Statuaries (#). [L. statuarius, n., fr. statuarius, a., of or belonging to statues, fr. statua statue: cf. F. statuaire. See Statue.] 1. One who practices the art of making statues.

On other occasions the statuaries took their subjects from the poets.

Addison.

2. [L. statuaria (sc. ars): cf. F. statuaire.] The art of carving statues or images as representatives of real persons or things; a branch of sculpture. Sir W. Temple.

3. A collection of statues; statues, collectively.

Stat"ue (?), n. [F., fr. L. statua (akin to stativus standing still), fr. stare, statum, to stand. See Stand.] 1. The likeness of a living being sculptured or modeled in some solid substance, as marble, bronze, or wax; an image; as, a statue of Hercules, or of a lion.

I will raise her statue in pure gold.

Shak.

2. A portrait. [Obs.] Massinger.

Stat"ue, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Statued (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Statuing.] To place, as a statue; to form a statue of; to make into a statue. "The whole man becomes as if statued into stone and earth." Feltham.

Stat"ued (?), a. Adorned with statues. "The statued hall." Longfellow. "Statued niches." G. Eliot.

Stat"ue*less (?), a. Without a statue.

Stat"ue*like` (?), a. Like a statue; motionless.

Stat`u*esque" (?), a. Partaking of, or exemplifying, the characteristics of a statue; having the symmetry, or other excellence, of a statue artistically made; as, statuesquelimbs; a statuesque attitude.

Their characters are mostly statuesque even in this respect, that they have no background.

Hare.

Stat`u*esque"ly, adv. In a statuesque manner; in a way suggestive of a statue; like a statue.

A character statuesquely simple in its details.

Lowell.

Stat`u*ette" (?), n. [F., cf. It. statuetta.] A small statue; -- usually applied to a figure much less than life size, especially when of marble or bronze, or of plaster or clay as a preparation for the marble or bronze, as distinguished from a figure in terra cotta or the like. Cf. Figurine.

Sta*tu"mi*nate (?), v. t. [L. statuminatus, p. p. of statuminare to prop, fr. statumen a prop, fr. statuere to place.] To prop or support. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Stat"ure (?), n. [F. stature, OF. estature, from L. statura, originally, an upright posture, hence, height or size of the body, from stare, statum, to stand. See Stand.] The natural height of an animal body; -- generally used of the human body.

Foreign men of mighty stature came.

Dryden.

Stat"ured (?), a. Arrived at full stature. [R.]

||Sta"tus (?), n. [L.] State; condition; position of affairs.

{ ||Sta"tus in` quo" (?), ||Sta"tus quo" }. [L., state in which.] The state in which anything is already. The phrase is also used retrospectively, as when, on a treaty of place, matters return to the status quo ante bellum, or are left in statu quo ante bellum, i.e., the state (or, in the state) before the war.

Stat"u*ta*ble (?), a. 1. Made or introduced by statute; proceeding from an act of the legistature; as, a statutable provision or remedy.

2. Made or being in conformity to statute; standard; as, statutable measures.

Stat"u*ta*bly, adv. Conformably to statute.

Stat"ute (?), n. [F. statut, LL. statutum, from L. statutus, p. p. of statuere to set, station, ordain, fr. status position, station, fr. stare, statum, to stand. See Stand, and cf. Constitute, Destitute.] 1. An act of the legislature of a state or country, declaring, commanding, or prohibiting something; a positive law; the written will of the legislature expressed with all the requisite forms of legislation; -- used in distinction fraom common law. See Common law, under Common, a. Bouvier.

Statute is commonly applied to the acts of a legislative body consisting of representatives. In monarchies, legislature laws of the sovereign are called edicts, decrees, ordinances, rescripts, etc. In works on international law and in the Roman law, the term is used as embracing all laws imposed by competent authority. Statutes in this sense are divided into statutes real, statutes personal, and statutes mixed; statutes real applying to immovables; statutes personal to movables; and statutes mixed to both classes of property.

2. An act of a corporation or of its founder, intended as a permanent rule or law; as, the statutes of a university.

3. An assemblage of farming servants (held possibly by statute) for the purpose of being hired; -- called also statute fair. [Eng.] Cf. 3d Mop, 2. Halliwell.

Statute book, a record of laws or legislative acts. Blackstone. -- Statute cap, a kind of woolen cap; -- so called because enjoined to be worn by a statute, dated in 1571, in behalf of the trade of cappers. [Obs.] Halliwell. -- Statute fair. See Statute, n., 3, above. -- Statute labor, a definite amount of labor required for the public service in making roads, bridges, etc., as in certain English colonies. -- Statute merchant (Eng. Law), a bond of record pursuant to the stat. 13 Edw. I., acknowledged in form prescribed, on which, if not paid at the day, an execution might be awarded against the body, lands, and goods of the debtor, and the obligee might hold the lands until out of the rents and profits of them the debt was satisfied; -- called also a pocket judgment. It is now fallen into disuse. Tomlins. Bouvier. -- Statute mile. See under Mile. -- Statute of limitations (Law), a statute assigned a certain time, after which rights can not be enforced by action. -- Statute staple, a bond of record acknowledged before the mayor of the staple, by virtue of which the creditor may, on nonpayment, forthwith have execution against the body, lands, and goods of the debtor, as in the statute merchant. It is now disused. Blackstone.

Syn. -- Act; regulation; edict; decree. See Law.

<! p. 1407 !>

Stat"u*to*ry (?), a. Enacted by statute; depending on statute for its authority; as, a statutory provision.

{ Staunch (?), Staunch"ly, Staunch"ness, etc. } See Stanch, Stanchly, etc.

Stau"ro*lite (?), n. [Gr. &?; a cross + -lite.] (Min.) A mineral of a brown to black color occurring in prismatic crystals, often twinned so as to form groups resembling a cross. It is a silicate of aluminia and iron, and is generally found imbedded in mica schist. Called also granatite, and grenatite.

Stau`ro*lit"ic (?), a. (Min.) Of or pertaining to staurolite; resembling or containing staurolite.

Stau"ro*scope (?), n. [Gr. &?; a cross + -scope.] (Crystallog.) An optical instrument used in determining the position of the planes of light-vibration in sections of crystals.

Stau"ro*tide (?), n. [F. staurotide, from Gr. &?; cruciform (from Gr. &?; a cross) + &?; form.] (Min.) Staurolite.

Stave (?), n. [From Staff, and corresponding to the pl. staves. See Staff.] 1. One of a number of narrow strips of wood, or narrow iron plates, placed edge to edge to form the sides, covering, or lining of a vessel or structure; esp., one of the strips which form the sides of a cask, a pail, etc.

2. One of the cylindrical bars of a lantern wheel; one of the bars or rounds of a rack, a ladder, etc.

3. A metrical portion; a stanza; a staff.

Let us chant a passing stave In honor of that hero brave.

Wordsworth.

4. (Mus.) The five horizontal and parallel lines on and between which musical notes are written or pointed; the staff. [Obs.]

Stave jointer, a machine for dressing the edges of staves.

Stave, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Staved (?) or Stove (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Staving.] [From Stave, n., or Staff, n.] 1. To break in a stave or the staves of; to break a hole in; to burst; -- often with in; as, to stave a cask; to stave in a boat.

2. To push, as with a staff; -- with off.

The condition of a servant staves him off to a distance.

South.

3. To delay by force or craft; to drive away; -- usually with off; as, to stave off the execution of a project.

And answered with such craft as women use, Guilty or guilties, to stave off a chance That breaks upon them perilously.

Tennyson.

4. To suffer, or cause, to be lost by breaking the cask.

All the wine in the city has been staved.

Sandys.

5. To furnish with staves or rundles. Knolles.

6. To render impervious or solid by driving with a calking iron; as, to stave lead, or the joints of pipes into which lead has been run.

To stave and tail, in bear baiting, (to stave) to interpose with the staff, doubtless to stop the bear; (to tail) to hold back the dog by the tail. Nares.

Stave, v. i. To burst in pieces by striking against something; to dash into fragments.

Like a vessel of glass she stove and sank.

Longfellow.

Staves (?), n.; pl. of Staff. "Banners, scarves and staves." R. Browning. Also (stvz), pl. of Stave.

Staves"a`cre (?), n. [Corrupted from NL. staphis agria, Gr. &?; dried grape + &?; wild.] (Bot.) A kind of larkspur (Delphinium Staphysagria), and its seeds, which are violently purgative and emetic. They are used as a parasiticide, and in the East for poisoning fish.

Stave`wood` (?), n. (Bot.) A tall tree (Simaruba amara) growing in tropical America. It is one of the trees which yields quassia.

Stav"ing (?), n. A cassing or lining of staves; especially, one encircling a water wheel.

Staw (?), v. i. [Cf. Dan. staae to stand, Sw. stå. &radic;163.] To be fixed or set; to stay. [Prov. Eng.]

Stay (?), n. [AS. stæg, akin to D., G., Icel., Sw., & Dan. stag; cf. OF. estai, F. étai, of Teutonic origin.] (Naut.) A large, strong rope, employed to support a mast, by being extended from the head of one mast down to some other, or to some part of the vessel. Those which lead forward are called fore-and-aft stays; those which lead to the vessel's side are called backstays. See Illust. of Ship.

In stays, or Hove in stays (Naut.), in the act or situation of staying, or going about from one tack to another. R. H. Dana, Jr. -- Stay holes (Naut.), openings in the edge of a staysail through which the hanks pass which join it to the stay. -- Stay tackle (Naut.), a tackle attached to a stay and used for hoisting or lowering heavy articles over the side. -- To miss stays (Naut.), to fail in the attempt to go about. Totten. -- Triatic stay (Naut.), a rope secured at the ends to the heads of the foremast and mainmast with thimbles spliced to its bight into which the stay tackles hook.

Stay (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stayed (?) or Staid (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Staying.] [OF. estayer, F. étayer to prop, fr. OF. estai, F. étai, a prop, probably fr. OD. stade, staeye, a prop, akin to E. stead; or cf. stay a rope to support a mast. Cf. Staid, a., Stay, v. i.] 1. To stop from motion or falling; to prop; to fix firmly; to hold up; to support.

Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side.

Ex. xvii. 12.

Sallows and reeds . . . for vineyards useful found To stay thy vines.

Dryden.

2. To support from sinking; to sustain with strength; to satisfy in part or for the time.

He has devoured a whole loaf of bread and butter, and it has not staid his stomach for a minute.

Sir W. Scott.

3. To bear up under; to endure; to support; to resist successfully.

She will not stay the siege of loving terms, Nor bide the encounter of assailing eyes.

Shak.

4. To hold from proceeding; to withhold; to restrain; to stop; to hold.

Him backward overthrew and down him stayed With their rude hands grisly grapplement.

Spenser.

All that may stay their minds from thinking that true which they heartly wish were false.

Hooker.

5. To hinde&?;; to delay; to detain; to keep back.

Your ships are stayed at Venice.

Shak.

This business staid me in London almost a week.

Evelyn.

I was willing to stay my reader on an argument that appeared to me new.

Locke.

6. To remain for the purpose of; to wait for. "I stay dinner there." Shak.

7. To cause to cease; to put an end to.

Stay your strife.

Shak.

For flattering planets seemed to say This child should ills of ages stay.

Emerson.

8. (Engin.) To fasten or secure with stays; as, to stay a flat sheet in a steam boiler.

9. (Naut.) To tack, as a vessel, so that the other side of the vessel shall be presented to the wind.

To stay a mast (Naut.), to incline it forward or aft, or to one side, by the stays and backstays.

Stay (?), v. i. [&radic;163. See Stay to hold up, prop.] 1. To remain; to continue in a place; to abide fixed for a space of time; to stop; to stand still.

She would command the hasty sun to stay.

Spenser.

Stay, I command you; stay and hear me first.

Dryden.

I stay a little longer, as one stays To cover up the embers that still burn.

Longfellow.

2. To continue in a state.

The flames augment, and stay At their full height, then languish to decay.

Dryden.

3. To wait; to attend; to forbear to act.

I'll tell thee all my whole device When I am in my coach, which stays for us.

Shak.

The father can not stay any longer for the fortune.

Locke.

4. To dwell; to tarry; to linger.

I must stay a little on one action.

Dryden.

5. To rest; to depend; to rely; to stand; to insist.

I stay here on my bond.

Shak.

Ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon.

Isa. xxx. 12.

6. To come to an end; to cease; as, that day the storm stayed. [Archaic]

Here my commission stays.

Shak.

7. To hold out in a race or other contest; as, a horse stays well. [Colloq.]

8. (Naut.) To change tack; as a ship.

Stay, n. [Cf. OF. estai, F. étai support, and E. stay a rope to support a mast.] 1. That which serves as a prop; a support. "My only strength and stay." Milton.

Trees serve as so many stays for their vines.

Addison.

Lord Liverpool is the single stay of this ministry.

Coleridge.

2. pl. A corset stiffened with whalebone or other material, worn by women, and rarely by men.

How the strait stays the slender waist constrain.

Gay.

3. Continuance in a place; abode for a space of time; sojourn; as, you make a short stay in this city.

Make haste, and leave thy business and thy care; No mortal interest can be worth thy stay.

Dryden.

Embrace the hero and his stay implore.

Waller.

4. Cessation of motion or progression; stand; stop.

Made of sphere metal, never to decay Until his revolution was at stay.

Milton.

Affairs of state seemed rather to stand at a stay.

Hayward.

5. Hindrance; let; check. [Obs.]

They were able to read good authors without any stay, if the book were not false.

Robynson (more's Utopia).

6. Restraint of passion; moderation; caution; steadiness; sobriety. [Obs.] "Not grudging that thy lust hath bounds and stays." Herbert.

The wisdom, stay, and moderation of the king.

Bacon.

With prudent stay he long deferred The rough contention.

Philips.

7. (Engin.) Strictly, a part in tension to hold the parts together, or stiffen them.

Stay bolt (Mech.), a bolt or short rod, connecting opposite plates, so as to prevent them from being bulged out when acted upon by a pressure which tends to force them apart, as in the leg of a steam boiler. -- Stay busk, a stiff piece of wood, steel, or whalebone, for the front support of a woman's stays. Cf. Busk. -- Stay rod, a rod which acts as a stay, particularly in a steam boiler.

Stayed (?), a. Staid; fixed; settled; sober; -- now written staid. See Staid. Bacon. Pope.

Stayed"ly, adv. Staidly. See Staidly. [R.]

Stayed"ness, n. 1. Staidness. [Archaic] W. Whately.

2. Solidity; weight. [R.] Camden.

Stay"er (?), n. One who upholds or supports that which props; one who, or that which, stays, stops, or restrains; also, colloquially, a horse, man, etc., that has endurance, an a race.

Stay"lace` (?), n. A lace for fastening stays.

Stay"less, a. Without stop or delay. Mir. for Mag.

Stay"mak`er (?), n. One whose occupation is to make stays.

Stay"nil (?), n. (Zoöl.) The European starling. [Prov. Eng.]

Stay"sail` (?), n. (Naut.) Any sail extended on a stay.

Stay"ship` (?), n. (Zoöl.) A remora, -- fabled to stop ships by attaching itself to them.

Stead (?), n. [OE. stede place, AS. stede; akin to LG. & D. stede, OS. stad, stedi, OHG. stat, G. statt, stätte, Icel. staðr, Dan. sted, Sw. stad, Goth. sta&?;s, and E. stand. &radic;163. See Stand, and cf. Staith, Stithy.] 1. Place, or spot, in general. [Obs., except in composition.] Chaucer.

Fly, therefore, fly this fearful stead anon.

Spenser.

2. Place or room which another had, has, or might have. "Stewards of your steads." Piers Plowman.

In stead of bounds, he a pillar set.

Chaucer.

3. A frame on which a bed is laid; a bedstead. [R.]

The genial bed, Sallow the feet, the borders, and the stead.

Dryden.

4. A farmhouse and offices. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

The word is now commonly used as the last part of a compound; as, farmstead, homestead, readstead, etc.

In stead of, in place of. See Instead. -- To stand in stead, or To do stead, to be of use or great advantage.

The smallest act . . . shall stand us in great stead.

Atterbury.

Here thy sword can do thee little stead.

Milton.

Stead, v. t. 1. To help; to support; to benefit; to assist.

Perhaps my succour or advisement meet, Mote stead you much your purpose to subdue.

Spenser.

It nothing steads us To chide him from our eaves.

Shak.

2. To fill place of. [Obs.] Shak.

Stead"fast (?), a. [Stead + fast, that is, fast in place.] [Written also stedfast.] 1. Firmly fixed or established; fast fixed; firm. "This steadfast globe of earth." Spenser.

2. Not fickle or wavering; constant; firm; resolute; unswerving; steady. "Steadfast eye." Shak.

Abide steadfast unto him [thy neighbor] in the time of his trouble.

Ecclus. xxii. 23.

Whom resist steadfast in the faith.

1 Pet. v. 9.

Stead"fast*ly, adv. In a steadfast manner; firmly.

Steadfast believe that whatever God has revealed is infallibly true.

Wake.

Stead"fast*ness, n. The quality or state of being steadfast; firmness; fixedness; constancy. "The steadfastness of your faith." Col. ii. 5.

To prove her wifehood and her steadfastness.

Chaucer.

Stead"i*ly (?), adv. In a steady manner.

Stead"i*ness, n. The quality or state of being steady.

Steadiness is a point of prudence as well as of courage.

L'Estrange.

Syn. -- Constancy; resolution; unchangeableness.

Stead"ing (?), n. The brans, stables, cattle-yards, etc., of a farm; -- called also onstead, farmstead, farm offices, or farmery. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

Stead"y (?), a. [Compar. Steadier (?); superl. Steadiest.] [Cf. AS. stedig sterile, barren, stæ&?;&?;ig, steady (in gestæ&?;&?;ig), D. stedig, stadig, steeg, G. stätig, stetig. See Stead, n.] 1. Firm in standing or position; not tottering or shaking; fixed; firm. "The softest, steadiest plume." Keble.

Their feet steady, their hands diligent, their eyes watchful, and their hearts resolute.

Sir P. Sidney.

2. Constant in feeling, purpose, or pursuit; not fickle, changeable, or wavering; not easily moved or persuaded to alter a purpose; resolute; as, a man steady in his principles, in his purpose, or in the pursuit of an object.

3. Regular; constant; undeviating; uniform; as, the steady course of the sun; a steady breeze of wind.

Syn. -- Fixed; regular; uniform; undeviating; invariable; unremitted; stable.

Steady rest (Mach), a rest in a turning lathe, to keep a long piece of work from trembling.

Stead"y, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Steadied (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Steadying.] To make steady; to hold or keep from shaking, reeling, or falling; to make or keep firm; to support; to make constant, regular, or resolute.

Stead"y, v. i. To become steady; to regain a steady position or state; to move steadily.

Without a breeze, without a tide, She steadies with upright keel.

Coleridge.

Steak (?), n. [OE. steike, Icel. steik, akin to Icel. steikja to roast, stikna to be roasted or scorched, and E. stick, the steak being broiled on a spit. See Stick, v. t.] A slice of beef, broiled, or cut for broiling; -- also extended to the meat of other large animals; as, venison steak; bear steak; pork steak; turtle steak.

Steal (?), n. [See Stale a handle.] A handle; a stale, or stele. [Archaic or Prov. Eng.]

And in his hand a huge poleax did bear. Whose steale was iron-studded but not long.

Spenser.

Steal (?), v. t. [imp. Stole (?); p. p. Stolen (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Stealing.] [OE. stelen, AS. stelan; akin to OFries. stela, D. stelen, OHG. stelan, G. stehlen, Icel. stela, SW. stjäla, Dan. stiæle, Goth. stilan.] 1. To take and carry away, feloniously; to take without right or leave, and with intent to keep wrongfully; as, to steal the personal goods of another.

Maugre thy heed, thou must for indigence Or steal, or borrow, thy dispense.

Chaucer.

The man who stole a goose and gave away the giblets in &?;lms.

G. Eliot.

2. To withdraw or convey clandestinely (reflexive); hence, to creep furtively, or to insinuate.

They could insinuate and steal themselves under the same by their humble carriage and submission.

Spenser.

He will steal himself into a man's favor.

Shak.

3. To gain by insinuating arts or covert means.

So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

2 Sam. xv. 6.

4. To get into one's power gradually and by imperceptible degrees; to take possession of by a gradual and imperceptible appropriation; -- with away.

Variety of objects has a tendency to steal away the mind from its steady pursuit of any subject.

I. Watts.

5. To accomplish in a concealed or unobserved manner; to try to carry out secretly; as, to steal a look.

Always, when thou changest thine opinion or course, profess it plainly, . . . and do not think to steal it.

Bacon.

To steal a march, to march in a covert way; to gain an advantage unobserved; -- formerly followed by of, but now by on or upon, and sometimes by over; as, to steal a march upon one's political rivals.

She yesterday wanted to steal a march of poor Liddy.

Smollett.

Fifty thousand men can not easily steal a march over the sea.

Walpole.

Syn. -- To filch; pilfer; purloin; thieve.

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Steal (?), v. i. 1. To practice, or be guilty of, theft; to commit larceny or theft.

Thou shalt not steal.

Ex. xx. 15.

2. To withdraw, or pass privily; to slip in, along, or away, unperceived; to go or come furtively. Chaucer.

Fixed of mind to avoid further entreaty, and to fly all company, one night she stole away.

Sir P. Sidney.

From whom you now must steal, and take no leave.

Shak.

A soft and solemn breathing sound Rose like a steam of rich, distilled perfumes, And stole upon the air.

Milton.

Steal"er (?), n. 1. One who steals; a thief.

2. (Shipbuilding) The endmost plank of a strake which stops short of the stem or stern.

Steal"ing, n. 1. The act of taking feloniously the personal property of another without his consent and knowledge; theft; larceny.

2. That which is stolen; stolen property; -- chiefly used in the plural.

Steal"ing*ly, adv. By stealing, or as by stealing, furtively, or by an invisible motion. Sir P. Sidney.

Stealth (?), n. [OE. staple. See Steal, v. t.] 1. The act of stealing; theft. [Obs.]

The owner proveth the stealth to have been committed upon him by such an outlaw.

Spenser.

2. The thing stolen; stolen property. [Obs.] "Sluttish dens . . . serving to cover stealths." Sir W. Raleigh.

3. The bringing to pass anything in a secret or concealed manner; a secret procedure; a clandestine practice or action; -- in either a good or a bad sense.

Do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame.

Pope.

The monarch, blinded with desire of wealth, With steel invades the brother's life by stealth.

Dryden.

I told him of your stealth unto this wood.

Shak.

Stealth"ful (?), a. Given to stealth; stealthy. [Obs.] -- Stealth"ful*ly, adv. [Obs.] -- Stealth"ful*ness, n. [Obs.]

Stealth"i*ly (?), adv. In a stealthy manner.

Stealth"i*ness, n. The state, quality, or character of being stealthy; stealth.

Stealth"like` (?), a. Stealthy; sly. Wordsworth.

Stealth"y (?), a. [Compar. Stealthier (?); superl. Stealthiest.] Done by stealth; accomplished clandestinely; unperceived; secret; furtive; sly.

[Withered murder] with his stealthy pace, . . . Moves like a ghost.

Shak.

Steam (?), n. [OE. stem, steem, vapor, flame, AS. steám vapor, smoke, odor; akin to D. stoom steam, perhaps originally, a pillar, or something rising like a pillar; cf. Gr. &?; to erect, &?; a pillar, and E. stand.] 1. The elastic, aëriform fluid into which water is converted when heated to the boiling points; water in the state of vapor.

2. The mist formed by condensed vapor; visible vapor; -- so called in popular usage.

3. Any exhalation. "A steam og rich, distilled perfumes." Milton.

Dry steam, steam which does not contain water held in suspension mechanically; -- sometimes applied to superheated steam. -- Exhaust steam. See under Exhaust. -- High steam, or High- pressure steam, steam of which the pressure greatly exceeds that of the atmosphere. -- Low steam, or Low-pressure steam, steam of which the pressure is less than, equal to, or not greatly above, that of the atmosphere. -- Saturated steam, steam at the temperature of the boiling point which corresponds to its pressure; -- sometimes also applied to wet steam. -- Superheated steam, steam heated to a temperature higher than the boiling point corresponding to its pressure. It can not exist in contact with water, nor contain water, and resembles a perfect gas; -- called also surcharged steam, anhydrous steam, and steam gas. -- Wet steam, steam which contains water held in suspension mechanically; -- called also misty steam.

Steam is often used adjectively, and in combination, to denote, produced by heat, or operated by power, derived from steam, in distinction from other sources of power; as in steam boiler or steam-boiler, steam dredger or steam-dredger, steam engine or steam-engine, steam heat, steam plow or steam-plow, etc.

Steam blower. (a) A blower for producing a draught consisting of a jet or jets of steam in a chimney or under a fire. (b) A fan blower driven directly by a steam engine. -- Steam boiler, a boiler for producing steam. See Boiler, 3, and Note. In the illustration, the shell a of the boiler is partly in section, showing the tubes, or flues, which the hot gases, from the fire beneath the boiler, enter, after traversing the outside of the shell, and through which the gases are led to the smoke pipe d, which delivers them to the chimney; b is the manhole; c the dome; e the steam pipe; f the feed and blow-off pipe; g the safety value; hthe water gauge. -- Steam car, a car driven by steam power, or drawn by a locomotive. -- Steam carriage, a carriage upon wheels moved on common roads by steam. -- Steam casing. See Steam jacket, under Jacket. -- Steam chest, the box or chamber from which steam is distributed to the cylinder of a steam engine, steam pump, etc., and which usually contains one or more values; -- called also valve chest, and valve box. See Illust. of Slide valve, under Slide. -- Steam chimney, an annular chamber around the chimney of a boiler furnace, for drying steam. -- Steam coil, a coil of pipe, or collection of connected pipes, for containing steam; -- used for heating, drying, etc. -- Steam colors (Calico Printing), colors in which the chemical reaction fixed the coloring matter in the fiber is produced by steam. -- Steam cylinder, the cylinder of a steam engine, which contains the piston. See Illust. of Slide valve, under Slide. -- Steam dome (Steam Boilers), a chamber upon the top of the boiler, from which steam is conduced to the engine. See Illust. of Steam boiler, above. -- Steam fire engine, a fire engine consisting of a steam boiler and engine, and pump which is driven by the engine, combined and mounted on wheels. It is usually drawn by horses, but is sometimes made self-propelling. -- Steam fitter, a fitter of steam pipes. -- Steam fitting, the act or the occupation of a steam fitter; also, a pipe fitting for steam pipes. -- Steam gas. See Superheated steam, above. -- Steam gauge, an instrument for indicating the pressure of the steam in a boiler. The mercurial steam gauge is a bent tube partially filled with mercury, one end of which is connected with the boiler while the other is open to the air, so that the steam by its pressure raises the mercury in the long limb of the tume to a height proportioned to that pressure. A more common form, especially for high pressures, consists of a spring pressed upon by the steam, and connected with the pointer of a dial. The spring may be a flattened, bent tube, closed at one end, which the entering steam tends to straighten, or it may be a diaphragm of elastic metal, or a mass of confined air, etc. -- Steam gun, a machine or contrivance from which projectiles may be thrown by the elastic force of steam. -- Steam hammer, a hammer for forging, which is worked directly by steam; especially, a hammer which is guided vertically and operated by a vertical steam cylinder located directly over an anvil. In the variety known as Nasmyth's, the cylinder is fixed, and the hammer is attached to the piston rod. In that known as Condie's, the piston is fixed, and the hammer attached to the lower end of the cylinder. -- Steam heater. (a) A radiator heated by steam. (b) An apparatus consisting of a steam boiler, radiator, piping, and fixures for warming a house by steam. -- Steam jacket. See under Jacket. -- Steam packet, a packet or vessel propelled by steam, and running periodically between certain ports. -- Steam pipe, any pipe for conveying steam; specifically, a pipe through which steam is supplied to an engine. -- Steam plow or plough, a plow, or gang of plows, moved by a steam engine. -- Steam port, an opening for steam to pass through, as from the steam chest into the cylinder. -- Steam power, the force or energy of steam applied to produce results; power derived from a steam engine. -- Steam propeller. See Propeller. -- Steam pump, a small pumping engine operated by steam. It is usually direct-acting. -- Steam room (Steam Boilers), the space in the boiler above the water level, and in the dome, which contains steam. -- Steam table, a table on which are dishes heated by steam for keeping food warm in the carving room of a hotel, restaurant, etc. -- Steam trap, a self- acting device by means of which water that accumulates in a pipe or vessel containing steam will be discharged without permitting steam to escape. -- Steam tug, a steam vessel used in towing or propelling ships. -- Steam vessel, a vessel propelled by steam; a steamboat or steamship; -- a steamer. -- Steam whistle, an apparatus attached to a steam boiler, as of a locomotive, through which steam is rapidly discharged, producing a loud whistle which serves as a warning signal. The steam issues from a narrow annular orifice around the upper edge of the lower cup or hemisphere, striking the thin edge of the bell above it, and producing sound in the manner of an organ pipe or a common whistle.

Steam (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Steamed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Steaming.] 1. To emit steam or vapor.

My brother's ghost hangs hovering there, O'er his warm blood, that steams into the air.

Dryden.

Let the crude humors dance In heated brass, steaming with fire intence.

J. Philips.

2. To rise in vapor; to issue, or pass off, as vapor.

The dissolved amber . . . steamed away into the air.

Boyle.

3. To move or travel by the agency of steam.

The vessel steamed out of port.

N. P. Willis.

4. To generate steam; as, the boiler steams well.

Steam (?), v. t. 1. To exhale. [Obs.] Spenser.

2. To expose to the action of steam; to apply steam to for softening, dressing, or preparing; as, to steam wood; to steamcloth; to steam food, etc.

Steam"boat` (?), n. A boat or vessel propelled by steam power; -- generally used of river or coasting craft, as distinguished from ocean steamers.

Steam"boat`ing, n. 1. The occupation or business of running a steamboat, or of transporting merchandise, passengers, etc., by steamboats.

2. (Bookbinding) The shearing of a pile of books which are as yet uncovered, or out of boards. Knight.

Steam" en"gine (?). An engine moved by steam.

In its most common forms its essential parts are a piston, a cylinder, and a valve gear. The piston works in the cylinder, to which steam is admitted by the action of the valve gear, and communicates motion to the machinery to be actuated. Steam engines are thus classified: 1. According to the wat the steam is used or applied, as condencing, noncondencing, compound, double-acting, single-acting, triple-expansion, etc. 2. According to the motion of the piston, as reciprocating, rotary, etc. 3. According to the motion imparted by the engine, as rotative and nonrotative. 4. According to the arrangement of the engine, as stationary, portable, and semiportable engines, beam engine, oscillating engine, direct-acting and back-acting engines, etc. 5. According to their uses, as portable, marine, locomotive, pumping, blowing, winding, and stationary engines. Locomotive and portable engines are usually high- pressure, noncondencing, rotative, and direct-acting. Marine engines are high or low pressure, rotative, and generally condencing, double-acting, and compound. Paddle engines are generally beam, side&?;lever, oscillating, or direct-acting. Screw engines are generally direct-acting, back-acting, or oscillating. Stationary engines belong to various classes, but are generally rotative. A horizontal or inclined stationary steam engine is called a left-hand or a right-hand engine when the crank shaft and driving pulley are on the left-hand side, or the right-hand side, respectively, or the engine, to a person looking at them from the cylinder, and is said to run forward or backward when the crank traverses the upward half, or lower half, respectively, of its path, while the piston rod makes its stroke outward from the cylinder. A marine engine, or the engine of a locomotive, is said to run forward when its motion is such as would propel the vessel or the locomotive forward. Steam engines are further classified as double- cylinder, disk, semicylinder, trunk engines, etc. Machines, such as cranes, hammers, etc., of which the steam engine forms a part, are called steam cranes, steam hammers, etc. See Illustration in Appendix.

Back-acting, or Back-action, steam engine, a steam engine in which the motion is transmitted backward from the crosshead to a crank which is between the crosshead and the cylinder, or beyond the cylinder. -- Portable steam engine, a steam engine combined with, and attached to, a boiler which is mounted on wheels so as to admit of easy transportation; -- used for driving machinery in the field, as trashing machines, draining pumps, etc. -- Semiportable steam engine, a steam engine combined with, and attached to, a steam boiler, but not mounted on wheels.

Steam"er (?), n. 1. A vessel propelled by steam; a steamship or steamboat.

2. A steam fire engine. See under Steam.

3. A road locomotive for use on common roads, as in agricultural operations.

4. A vessel in which articles are subjected to the action of steam, as in washing, in cookery, and in various processes of manufacture.

5. (Zoöl.) The steamer duck.

Steamer duck (Zoöl.), a sea duck (Tachyeres cinereus), native of Patagonia and Terra del Fuego, which swims and dives with great agility, but which, when full grown, is incapable of flight, owing to its very small wings. Called also loggerhead, race horse, and side wheel duck.

Steam"i*ness (?), n. The quality or condition of being steamy; vaporousness; mistness.

Steam"ship` (?), n. A ship or seagoing vessel propelled by the power of steam; a steamer.

Steam"y (?), a. Consisting of, or resembling, steam; full of steam; vaporous; misty. Cowper.

Stean (?), n. & v. See Steen. Spenser.

Stean"ingp, n. See Steening.

Ste*ap"sin (?), n. (Physiol Chem.) An unorganized ferment or enzyme present in pancreatic juice. It decomposes neutral fats into glycerin and fatty acids.

Ste"a*rate (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of stearic acid; as, ordinary soap consists largely of sodium or potassium stearates.

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Ste*ar"ic (?), a. [Cf. F. stéarique.] (Physiol. Chem.) Pertaining to, or obtained from, stearin or tallow; resembling tallow.

Stearic acid (Chem.), a monobasic fatty acid, obtained in the form of white crystalline scales, soluble in alcohol and ether. It melts to an oily liquid at 69°C.

Ste"a*rin (?), n. [Gr. &?; tallow, suet: cf. F. stéarine.] (Physiol. Chem.) One of the constituents of animal fats and also of some vegetable fats, as the butter of cacao. It is especially characterized by its solidity, so that when present in considerable quantity it materially increases the hardness, or raises the melting point, of the fat, as in mutton tallow. Chemically, it is a compound of glyceryl with three molecules of stearic acid, and hence is technically called tristearin, or glyceryl tristearate.

Ste`a*rol"ic (?), a. [Stearic + oleic + -ic.] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, an acid of the acetylene series, isologous with stearis acid, and obtained, as a white crystalline substance, from oleïc acid.

Ste"a*rone (?), n. (Chem.) The ketone of stearic acid, obtained as a white crystalline substance, (C17H35)2.CO, by the distillation of calcium stearate.

Ste`a*rop"tene (?), n. [Stearic + -optene as in elæoptene.] (Chem.) The more solid ingredient of certain volatile oils; -- contrasted with elæoptene.

||Ste`ar*rhe"a (?), n. [NL., from Gr. &?; tallow + &?; to flow.] (Med.) ||seborrhea.

Ste"a*ryl (?), n. [Stearic + - yl.] (Chem.) The hypothetical radical characteristic of stearic acid.

Ste"a*tite (?), n. [Gr. &?;, &?;, fat, tallow: cf. F. stéatite.] (Min.) A massive variety of talc, of a grayish green or brown color. It forms extensive beds, and is quarried for fireplaces and for coarse utensils. Called also potstone, lard stone, and soapstone.

Ste`a*tit"ic (?), n. (Min.) Pertaining to, or of the nature of, steatite; containing or resembling steatite.

||Ste`a*to"ma (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to turn into tallow or ||suet, fr. &?;, &?;, fat, suet.] (Med.) A cyst containing matter like ||suet.

Ste`a*tom"a*tous (?), a. (Med.) Of the nature of steatoma.

||Ste`a*top"y*ga (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, &?;, fat + &?; the ||buttocks.] A remarkable accretion of fat upon the buttocks of ||Africans of certain tribes, especially of Hottentot women.

Ste`a*top"y*gous (?), a. Having fat buttocks.

Specimens of the steatopygous Abyssinian breed.

Burton.

Sted (?), n., Sted"fast (&?;), a., Sted"fast*ly, adv., etc. See Stead, Steadfast, etc.

Stee (?), n. [Cf. G. stiege. &radic;164. See Stair.] A ladder. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] [Written also stey.]

Steed (?), n. [OE. stede, AS. stda a stud-horse, war horse, fr. std a stud of breeding steeds; akin to G. stute a mare, Icel. stedda, st&?;, a stud. &radic;163. See Stud of horses.] A horse, especially a spirited horse for state of war; -- used chiefly in poetry or stately prose. "A knight upon a steed." Chaucer.

Mounted upon a hot and fiery steed.

Shak.

Steed"less, a. Having no steed; without a horse.

{ Steek, Steik } (?), v. t. [Cf. Stick, v. t.] To pierce with a sharp instrument; hence, to stitch; to sew; also, to fix; to fasten. [Scot.]

Steel (?), n. [AS. stl, stl, stle; akin to D. staal, G. stahl, OHG. stahal, Icel. stl, Dan. staal, Sw. stål, Old Prussian stakla.] 1. (Metal) A variety of iron intermediate in composition and properties between wrought iron and cast iron (containing between one half of one per cent and one and a half per cent of carbon), and consisting of an alloy of iron with an iron carbide. Steel, unlike wrought iron, can be tempered, and retains magnetism. Its malleability decreases, and fusibility increases, with an increase in carbon.

2. An instrument or implement made of steel; as: --

(a) A weapon, as a sword, dagger, etc. "Brave Macbeth . . . with his brandished steel." Shak.

While doubting thus he stood, Received the steel bathed in his brother's blood.

Dryden.

(b) An instrument of steel (usually a round rod) for sharpening knives.

(c) A piece of steel for striking sparks from flint.

3. Fig.: Anything of extreme hardness; that which is characterized by sternness or rigor. "Heads of steel." Johnson. "Manhood's heart of steel." Byron.

4. (Med.) A chalybeate medicine. Dunglison.

Steel is often used in the formation of compounds, generally of obvious meaning; as, steel-clad, steel- girt, steel-hearted, steel-plated, steel-pointed, etc.

Bessemer steel (Metal.) See in the Vocabulary. -- Blister steel. (Metal.) See under Blister. -- Cast steel (Metal.), a fine variety of steel, originally made by smelting blister or cementation steel; hence, ordinarily, steel of any process of production when remelted and cast. -- Cromium steel (Metal.), a hard, tenacious variety containing a little cromium, and somewhat resembling tungsten steel. -- Mild steel (Metal.), a kind of steel having a lower proportion of carbon than ordinary steel, rendering it softer and more malleable. -- Puddled steel (Metal.), a variety of steel produced from cast iron by the puddling process. -- Steel duck (Zoöl.), the goosander, or merganser. [Prov. Eng.] -- Steel mill. (a) (Firearms) See Wheel lock, under Wheel. (b) A mill which has steel grinding surfaces. (c) A mill where steel is manufactured. -- Steel trap, a trap for catching wild animals. It consists of two iron jaws, which close by means of a powerful steel spring when the animal disturbs the catch, or tongue, by which they are kept open. -- Steel wine, wine, usually sherry, in which steel filings have been placed for a considerable time, -- used as a medicine. -- Tincture of steel (Med.), an alcoholic solution of the chloride of iron. -- Tungsten steel (Metal.), a variety of steel containing a small amount of tungsten, and noted for its tenacity and hardness, as well as for its malleability and tempering qualities. It is also noted for its magnetic properties.

Steel (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Steeled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Steeling.] [AS. stlan: cf. Icel. stæla. See Steel, n.] 1. To overlay, point, or edge with steel; as, to steel a razor; to steel an ax.

2. To make hard or strong; hence, to make insensible or obdurate.

Lies well steeled with weighty arguments.

Shak.

O God of battles! steel my soldier's hearts.

Shak.

Why will you fight against so sweet a passion, And steel your heart to such a world of charms?

Addison.

3. Fig.: To cause to resemble steel, as in smoothness, polish, or other qualities.

These waters, steeled By breezeless air to smoothest polish.

Wordsworth.

4. (Elec.) To cover, as an electrotype plate, with a thin layer of iron by electrolysis. The iron thus deposited is very hard, like steel.

Steel"bow` goods" (?). (Scots Law) Those goods on a farm, such as corn, cattle, implements husbandry, etc., which may not be carried off by a removing tenant, as being the property of the landlord.

Steel"er (?), n. One who points, edges, or covers with steel.

Steel"er, n. (Shipbuilding) Same as Stealer.

Steel"head` (?), n. 1. (Zoöl.) A North Pacific salmon (Salmo Gairdneri) found from Northern California to Siberia; -- called also hardhead, and preesil.

2. (Zoöl.) The ruddy duck.

Steel"i*ness (?), n. The quality of being steely.

Steel"ing, n. The process of pointing, edging, or overlaying with steel; specifically, acierage. See Steel, v.

Steel"y (?), a. 1. Made of steel; consisting of steel. "The steely point of Clifford's lance." Shak.

Around his shop the steely sparkles flew.

Gay.

2. Resembling steel; hard; firm; having the color of steel. "His hair was steely gray." The Century.

She would unarm her noble heart of that steely resistance against the sweet blows of love.

Sir P. Sidney.

Steely iron, a compound of iron containing less than one half of one per cent of carbon.

Steel"yard (?), n. [So named from a place in London called the Steelyard, which was a yard in which steel was sold.] A form of balance in which the body to be weighed is suspended from the shorter arm of a lever, which turns on a fulcrum, and a counterpoise is caused to slide upon the longer arm to produce equilibrium, its place upon this arm (which is notched or graduated) indicating the weight; a Roman balance; -- very commonly used also in the plural form, steelyards.

Steem (?), n. & v. See Esteem. [Obs.] Spenser.

Steem, n. & v. See 1st and 2nd Stem. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Steen (?), n. [AS. st&?;na. See Stone.] [Written also stean.] 1. A vessel of clay or stone. "An huge great earth-pot steane." Spenser.

2. A wall of brick, stone, or cement, used as a lining, as of a well, cistern, etc.; a steening.

Steen, v. t. [AS. st&?;nan to adorn with stones or gems. See Stone.] To line, as a well, with brick, stone, or other hard material. [Written also stean, and stein.]

||Steen"bok` (?), n. [D. steen stone + bok buck.] (Zoöl.) Same as ||Steinbock.

Steen"ing, n. A lining made of brick, stone, or other hard material, as for a well. [Written also steaning.]

{ Steen"kirk` (?), Stein"kirk` (?) }, n. [So called from the battle of Steinkirk, in 1692, on which occasion the French nobles had no time to arrange their lace neckcloths.] A kind of neckcloth worn in a loose and disorderly fashion.

Steep (stp), a. Bright; glittering; fiery. [Obs.]

His eyen steep, and rolling in his head.

Chaucer.

Steep, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Steeped (stpt); p. pr. & vb. n. Steeping.] [OE. stepen, probably fr. Icel. steypa to cause to stoop, cast down, pour out, to cast metals, causative of stpa to stoop; cf. Sw. stöpa to cast, to steep, Dan. stöbe, D. & G. stippen to steep, to dip. Cf. Stoop, v. t.] To soak in a liquid; to macerate; to extract the essence of by soaking; as, to soften seed by steeping it in water. Often used figuratively.

Let fancy still my sense in Lethe steep.

Shak.

In refreshing dew to steep The little, trembling flowers.

Wordsworth.

The learned of the nation were steeped in Latin.

Earle.

Steep, v. i. To undergo the process of soaking in a liquid; as, the tea is steeping. [Colloq.]

Steep, n. 1. Something steeped, or used in steeping; a fertilizing liquid to hasten the germination of seeds.

2. A rennet bag. [Prov. Eng.]

Steep, a. [Comper. Steeper (?); superl. Steepest.] [OE. steep, step, AS. steáp; akin to Icel. steyp&?;r steep, and stpa to stoop, Sw. stupa to fall, to tilt; cf. OFries. stap high. Cf. Stoop, v. i., Steep, v. t., Steeple.] 1. Making a large angle with the plane of the horizon; ascending or descending rapidly with respect to a horizontal line or a level; precipitous; as, a steep hill or mountain; a steep roof; a steep ascent; a steep declivity; a steep barometric gradient.

2. Difficult of access; not easy reached; lofty; elevated; high. [Obs.] Chapman.

3. Excessive; as, a steep price. [Slang]

Steep, n. A precipitous place, hill, mountain, rock, or ascent; any elevated object sloping with a large angle to the plane of the horizon; a precipice. Dryden.

We had on each side naked rocks and mountains broken into a thousand irregular steeps and precipices.

Addison.

Bare steeps, where desolation stalks.

Wordsworth.

Steep"-down` (?), a. Deep and precipitous, having steep descent. [R.]

Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire.

Shak.

Steep"en (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Steepened (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Steepening.] To become steep or steeper.

As the way steepened . . . I could detect in the hollow of the hill some traces of the old path.

H. Miller.

Steep"er (?), n. A vessel, vat, or cistern, in which things are steeped.

Steep"i*ness (?), n. Steepness. Howell.

Steep"ish, a. Somewhat steep. Carlyle.

Stee"ple (?), n. [OE. stepel, AS. stpel, st&?;pel; akin to E. steep, a.] (Arch.) A spire; also, the tower and spire taken together; the whole of a structure if the roof is of spire form. See Spire. "A weathercock on a steeple." Shak.

Rood steeple. See Rood tower, under Rood. -- Steeple bush (Bot.), a low shrub (Spiræa tomentosa) having dense panicles of minute rose-colored flowers; hardhack. -- Steeple chase, a race across country between a number of horsemen, to see which can first reach some distant object, as a church steeple; hence, a race over a prescribed course obstructed by such obstacles as one meets in riding across country, as hedges, walls, etc. -- Steeple chaser, one who rides in a steeple chase; also, a horse trained to run in a steeple chase. -- Steeple engine, a vertical back- acting steam engine having the cylinder beneath the crosshead. -- Steeple house, a church. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.

Stee"ple*chas`ing (?), n. The act of riding steeple chases.

Stee"ple-crowned` (?), a. 1. Bearing a steeple; as, a steeple- crowned building.

2. Having a crown shaped like a steeple; as, a steeple-crowned hat; also, wearing a hat with such a crown.

This grave, beared, sable-cloaked, and steeple- crowned progenitor.

Hawthorne.

Stee"pled (?), a. Furnished with, or having the form of, a steeple; adorned with steeples. Fairfax.

Steep"ly (?), adv. In a steep manner; with steepness; with precipitous declivity.

Steep"ness, n. 1. Quality or state of being steep; precipitous declivity; as, the steepnessof a hill or a roof.

2. Height; loftiness. [Obs.] Chapman.

Steep"-up` (?), a. Lofty and precipitous. [R.]

Her stand she takes upon a steep-up hill.

Shak.

Steep"y (?), a. Steep; precipitous. [Poetic]

No more, my goats, shall I belong you climb The steepy cliffs, or crop the flow'ry thyme.

Dryden.

Steer (?), n. [OE. steer, AS. steór; akin to D. & G. stier a bull, OHG. stior, Icel. stjrr, &?;jrr, Sw. tjur, Dan. tyr, Goth. stiur, Russ. tur', Pol. tur, Ir. & Gael. tarbh, W. tarw, L. taurus, Gr. &?;, Skr. sth&?;ra strong, stout, AS. stor large, Icel. strr, OHG. st&?;ri, stiuri. &radic;168. Cf. Stirk, Taurine, a.] A young male of the ox kind; especially, a common ox; a castrated taurine male from two to four years old. See the Note under Ox.

Steer, v. t. To castrate; -- said of male calves.

Steer, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Steered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Steering.] [OE. steeren, steren, AS. stiéran, st&?;ran, steóran; akin to OFries. stiora, stiura, D. sturen, OD. stieren, G. steuren, OHG. stiuren to direct, support, G. steuer contribution, tax, Icel. st&?;ra to steer, govern,Sw. styra, Dan. styre, Goth. stiurjan to establish, AS. steór a rudder, a helm, and probably to Icel. staurr a pale, stake, Gr. &?;, and perhaps ultimately to E. stand. &radic;168. Cf. Starboard, Stern, n.] To direct the course of; to guide; to govern; -- applied especially to a vessel in the water.

That with a staff his feeble steps did steer.

Spenser.

Steer, v. i. 1. To direct a vessel in its course; to direct one's course. "No helmsman steers." Tennyson.

2. To be directed and governed; to take a direction, or course; to obey the helm; as, the boat steers easily.

Where the wind Veers oft, as oft [a ship] so steers, and shifts her sail.

Milton.

3. To conduct one's self; to take or pursue a course of action.

Steer, n. [AS. steór, stiór; akin to D. stuur, G. steuer, Icel. st&?;ri. &radic;186. See Steer, v. t.] [Written also stere.] A rudder or helm. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Steer, n. [AS. steóra. See Steer a rudder.] A helmsman, a pilot. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Steer"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being steered; dirigible.

Steer"age (?), n. 1. The act or practice of steering, or directing; as, the steerage of a ship.

He left the city, and, in a most tempestuous season, forsook the helm and steerage of the common wealth.

Milton.

2. (Naut.) (a) The effect of the helm on a ship; the manner in which an individual ship is affected by the helm. (b) The hinder part of a vessel; the stern. [R.] Swift. (c) Properly, the space in the after part of a vessel, under the cabin, but used generally to indicate any part of a vessel having the poorest accommodations and occupied by passengers paying the lowest rate of fare.

3. Direction; regulation; management; guidance.

He that hath the steerage of my course.

Shak.

4. That by which a course is directed. [R.]

Here he hung on high, The steerage of his wings.

Dryden.

Steerage passenger, a passenger who takes passage in the steerage of a vessel.

Steer"age*way` (?), n. (Naut.) A rate of motion through the water sufficient to render a vessel governable by the helm.

Steer"er (?), n. One who steers; as, a boat steerer.

Steer"ing, a. & n. from Steer, v.

Steering wheel (Naut.), the wheel by means of which the rudder of a vessel is turned and the vessel is steered.

Steer"less, a. Having no rudder. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Steer"ling (?), n. A young or small steer.

<! p. 1410 !>

Steers"man (strz"man), n.; pl. Steersmen (-men). [Steer a rudder + man: cf. AS. steórmann.] One who steers; the helmsman of a vessel. Milton.

Steers"mate (-mt`), n. [Steer a rudder + mate a companion.] One who steers; steersman. [Obs.] Milton.

Steeve (stv), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Steeved (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Steeving.] [Cf. OD. steve staff, E. stem, n.] (Shipbuilding) To project upward, or make an angle with the horizon or with the line of a vessel's keel; -- said of the bowsprit, etc.

Steeve, v. t. 1. (Shipbuilding) To elevate or fix at an angle with the horizon; -- said of the bowsprit, etc.

2. To stow, as bales in a vessel's hold, by means of a steeve. See Steeve, n. (b).

Steeve, n. (Naut.) (a) The angle which a bowsprit makes with the horizon, or with the line of the vessel's keel; -- called also steeving. (b) A spar, with a block at one end, used in stowing cotton bales, and similar kinds of cargo which need to be packed tightly.

Steev"ing, n. 1. The act or practice of one who steeves.

2. (Naut.) See Steeve, n. (a).

Steg (stg), n. [Icel. steggr the male of several animals. Cf. Stag.] (Zoöl.) A gander. [Written also stag.] [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Steg`a*nog"ra*phist (?), n. One skilled in steganography; a cryptographer.

Steg`a*nog"ra*phy (?), n. [Gr. &?; covered (fr. &?; to cover closely) + -graphy.] The art of writing in cipher, or in characters which are not intelligible except to persons who have the key; cryptography.

||Steg`a*noph*thal"ma*ta (?), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. &?; covered + &?; ||the eye.] (Zoöl.) The Discophora, or Phanerocarpæ. Called also ||Steganophthalmia.

Ste*gan"o*pod (?), n. (Zoöl.) One of the Steganopodes.

||Steg`a*nop"o*des (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, &?;, web-footed; &?; ||covered + &?; foot.] (Zoöl.) A division of swimming birds in which ||all four toes are united by a broad web. It includes the pelicans, ||cormorants, gannets, and others.

Steg`a*nop"o*dous (?), a. (Zoöl.) Having all four toes webbed together.

||Steg*no"sis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;. See Stegnotic.] (Med.) ||Constipation; also, constriction of the vessels or ducts.

Steg*no"tic (?), a. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to cover, to make costive, fr. &?;, &?;, covered, closed.] (Med.) Tending to render costive, or to diminish excretions or discharges generally. -- n. A stegnotic medicine; an astringent.

||Steg`o*ceph"a*la (stg`*sf"*l), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. ste`gh roof + ||kefalh` head.] (Paleon.) An extinct order of amphibians found fossil ||in the Mesozoic rocks; called also Stegocephali, and Labyrinthodonta.

Their teeth, in transverse sections, usually show a labyrinthiform arrangement of the cement and dentine. The under side of the body was covered with bony plates. Some of the Stegocephala were of very large size, and the form of the body varied from short, stout forms to others that were as slender as serpents.

||Steg`o*sau"ri*a (-s"r*), n. pl. [NL. See Stegosaurus.] (Paleon.) An ||extinct order of herbivorous dinosaurs, including the genera ||Stegosaurus, Omosaurus, and their allies.

||Steg`o*sau"rus (-rs), n. [NL., fr. Gr. ste`gh roof + say^ros a ||lizard.] (Paleon.) A genus of large Jurassic dinosaurs remarkable for ||a powerful dermal armature of plates and spines.

Steik (?), v. t. See Steek. [Scot.]

Stein (?), n. & v. See Steen.

Stein"bock` (?), n. [G. stein stone + bock buck, D. bok. Cf. Steenbok.] (Zoöl.) (a) The European ibex. (b) A small South African antelope (Nanotragus tragulus) which frequents dry, rocky districts; -- called also steenbok. [Written also steinboc, and steinbok; also called stonebock, and stonebuck.]

Stein"gale (?), n. The stannel. [Prov. Eng.]

Stein"ing (?), n. See Steening.

Stein"kirk` (?), n. Same as Steenkirk.

Stein"kle (?), n. The wheater. [Prov. Eng.]

||Ste"la (?), n.; pl. Stelæ (#). [L., from Gr. &?; a post, an upright ||stone.] (Gr. Antiq.) A small column or pillar, used as a monument, ||milestone, etc.

||Ste"le (st"l), n. [NL.] Same as Stela.

One of these steles, containing the Greek version of the ordinance, has recently been discovered.

I. Taylor (The Alphabet).

Stele (stl), n. [See Stale a handle.] A stale, or handle; a stalk. [Obs.] Chaucer. Holland.

Ste"lene (?), a. [See Stela.] Resembling, or used as, a stela; columnar. [R.]

Stell (?), v. t. [AS. stellan. &radic;163.] To place or fix firmly or permanently. [Obs.] Shak.

Stell, n. [See Stell, v. t.] 1. A prop; a support, as for the feet in standing or cilmbing. [Scot.]

2. A partial inclosure made by a wall or trees, to serve as a shelter for sheep or cattle. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

{ Stel"lar (?), Stel"la*ry (?), } a. [L. stellaris, fr. stella a star. See Star.] 1. Of or pertaining to stars; astral; as, a stellar figure; stellary orbs.

[These soft fires] in part shed down Their stellar virtue.

Milton.

2. Full of stars; starry; as, stellar regions.

{ Stel"late (?), Stel"la*ted (?), } a. [L. stellatus, p. p. of stellare to set or cover with stars, from stella a star. See Stellar.] 1. Resembling a star; pointed or radiated, like the emblem of a star.

2. (Bot.) Starlike; having similar parts radiating from a common center; as, stellate flowers.

Stel*la"tion (?), n. Radiation of light. [Obs.]

Stelled (?), a. [See Stell to place.] Firmly placed or fixed. [Obs.] "The stelled fires" [the stars]. Shak. [In this passage by some defined as "starry," as if from stellatus.]

Stel"ler (?), n. [After Geo. W. Steller, a German naturalist.] (Zoöl) The rytina; -- called also stellerine.

Stel"ler*id (?), n. [L. stella a star.] (Zoöl.) A starfish.

||Stel*ler"i*da (?), n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) An extensive group of ||echinoderms, comprising the starfishes and ophiurans.

{ Stel*ler"i*dan (?), Stel`ler*id"e*an (?), } n. (Zoöl.) A starfish, or brittle star.

Stel*lif"er*ous (?), a. [L. stellifer; stella star + ferre to bear.] Having, or abounding with, stars.

Stel"li*form (?), a. [L. stella a star + -form.] Like a star; star-shaped; radiated.

Stel"li*fy (?), v. t. [L. stella a star + -fy.] To turn into a star; to cause to appear like a star; to place among the stars, or in heaven. [Obs. or R.] B. Jonson.

Stel"lion (?), n. [L. stellio a newt having starlike spots on its back, fr. stella a star.] (Zoöl.) A lizard (Stellio vulgaris), common about the Eastern Mediterranean among ruins. In color it is olive- green, shaded with black, with small stellate spots. Called also hardim, and star lizard.

Stel"lion*ate (?), n. [L. stellionatus cozenage, trickery, fr. stellio a newt, a crafty, knavish person.] (Scots & Roman Law) Any fraud not distinguished by a more special name; -- chiefly applied to sales of the same property to two different persons, or selling that for one's own which belongs to another, etc. Erskine.

Stel"lu*lar (?), a. [L. stellula, dim. of stella a star.] 1. Having the shape or appearance of little stars; radiated.

2. Marked with starlike spots of color.

Stel"lu*late (?), a. (Bot.) Minutely stellate.

||Stel`ma*top"o*da (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a block, post + &?;, ||&?;, eye + &?;, &?;, foot.] (Zoöl.) Same as Gymnolæmata.

Ste*log"ra*phy (?), n. [Gr. &?; a post, slab, pillar + -graphy: cf. Gr. &?; an inscription on a tablet.] The art of writing or inscribing characters on pillars. [R.] Stackhouse.

{ Stem (?), Steem (?) }, v. i. To gleam. [Obs.]

His head bald, that shone as any glass, . . . [And] stemed as a furnace of a leed [caldron].

Chaucer.

{ Stem, Steem }, n. A gleam of light; flame. [Obs.]

Stem (stm), n. [AS. stemn, stefn, stæfn; akin to OS. stamn the stem of a ship, D. stam stem, steven stem of a ship, G. stamm stem, steven stem of a ship, Icel. stafn, stamn, stem of a ship, stofn, stomn, stem, Sw. stam a tree trunk, Dan. stamme. Cf. Staff, Stand.] 1. The principal body of a tree, shrub, or plant, of any kind; the main stock; the part which supports the branches or the head or top.

After they are shot up thirty feet in length, they spread a very large top, having no bough nor twig in the trunk or the stem.

Sir W. Raleigh.

The lowering spring, with lavish rain, Beats down the slender stem and breaded grain.

Dryden.

2. A little branch which connects a fruit, flower, or leaf with a main branch; a peduncle, pedicel, or petiole; as, the stem of an apple or a cherry.

3. The stock of a family; a race or generation of progenitors. "All that are of noble stem." Milton.

While I do pray, learn here thy stem And true descent.

Herbert.

4. A branch of a family.

This is a stem Of that victorious stock.

Shak.

5. (Naut.) A curved piece of timber to which the two sides of a ship are united at the fore end. The lower end of it is scarfed to the keel, and the bowsprit rests upon its upper end. Hence, the forward part of a vessel; the bow.

6. Fig.: An advanced or leading position; the lookout.

Wolsey sat at the stem more than twenty years.

Fuller.

7. Anything resembling a stem or stalk; as, the stem of a tobacco pipe; the stem of a watch case, or that part to which the ring, by which it is suspended, is attached.

8. (Bot.) That part of a plant which bears leaves, or rudiments of leaves, whether rising above ground or wholly subterranean.

9. (Zoöl.) (a) The entire central axis of a feather. (b) The basal portion of the body of one of the Pennatulacea, or of a gorgonian.

10. (Mus.) The short perpendicular line added to the body of a note; the tail of a crotchet, quaver, semiquaver, etc.

11. (Gram.) The part of an inflected word which remains unchanged (except by euphonic variations) throughout a given inflection; theme; base.

From stem to stern (Naut.), from one end of the ship to the other, or through the whole length. -- Stem leaf (Bot.), a leaf growing from the stem of a plant, as contrasted with a basal or radical leaf.

Stem, v. t. 1. To remove the stem or stems from; as, to stem cherries; to remove the stem and its appendages (ribs and veins) from; as, to stem tobacco leaves.

2. To ram, as clay, into a blasting hole.

Stem, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stemmed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Stemming.] [Either from stem, n., or akin to stammer; cf. G. stemmen to press against.] To oppose or cut with, or as with, the stem of a vessel; to resist, or make progress against; to stop or check the flow of, as a current. "An argosy to stem the waves." Shak.

[They] stem the flood with their erected breasts.

Denham.

Stemmed the wild torrent of a barbarous age.

Pope.

Stem, v. i. To move forward against an obstacle, as a vessel against a current.

Stemming nightly toward the pole.

Milton.

Stem"-clasp`ing (?), a. (Bot.) Embracing the stem with its base; amplexicaul, as a leaf or petiole.

Stem"less, a. Having no stem; (Bot.) acaulescent.

Stem"let (?), n. A small or young stem.

||Stem"ma (?), n.; pl. Stemmata (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, pl. &?;, a ||garland or chaplet.] (Zoöl.) (a) One of the ocelli of an insect. See ||Ocellus. (b) One of the facets of a compound eye of any arthropod.

Stem"mer (?), n. One who, or that which, stems (in any of the senses of the verbs).

Stem"mer*y (?), n. A large building in which tobacco is stemmed. [U. S.] Bartlett.

Stem"my (?), a. Abounding in stems, or mixed with stems; -- said of tea, dried currants, etc. [Colloq.]

Stem"ple (?), n. [G. stempel a stamp, a prop, akin to E. stamp.] (Mining) A crossbar of wood in a shaft, serving as a step.

Stem"son (?), n. [See Stem, n., and Keelson, and cf. Sternson.] (Shipbuilding) A piece of curved timber bolted to the stem, keelson, and apron in a ship's frame near the bow.

Stem"-wind`er (?), n. A stem- winding watch. [Colloq.]

Stem"-wind`ing, a. Wound by mechanism connected with the stem; as, a stem-winding watch.

Stench (?), v. t. To stanch. [Obs.] Harvey.

Stench, n. [AS. stenc a strong smell, fr. stincan. See Stink, v. i.] 1. A smell; an odor. [Obs.]

Clouds of savory stench involve the sky.

Dryden.

2. An ill smell; an offensive odor; a stink. Cowper.

Stench trap, a contrivance to prevent stench or foul air from rising from the openings of sewers, drains, etc.

Stench, v. t. [AS. stencan to emit a smell, fr. stincan to smell. See Stench, n.] To cause to emit a disagreeable odor; to cause to stink. [Obs.] Young.

Stench"y (?), a. Having a stench. [Obs.] Dyer.

Sten"cil (?), n. [Probably from OF. estincelle spangle, spark, F. étincelle spark, L. scintilla. See Scintillate, and cf. Tinsel.] A thin plate of metal, leather, or other material, used in painting, marking, etc. The pattern is cut out of the plate, which is then laid flat on the surface to be marked, and the color brushed over it. Called also stencil plate.

Sten"cil, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stenciled (?) or Stencilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Stenciling or Stencilling.] To mark, paint, or color in figures with stencils; to form or print by means of a stencil.

Sten"cil*er (?), n. One who paints or colors in figures by means of stencil. [Written also stenciller.]

Sten"o*derm (?), n. [Gr. steno`s narrow, little + -derm.] (Zoöl.) Any species of bat belonging to the genus Stenoderma, native of the West Indies and South America. These bats have a short or rudimentary tail and a peculiarly shaped nose membrane.

Sten`o*der"mine (?), a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the genus Stenoderma, which includes several West Indian and South American nose-leaf bats.

Sten"o*graph (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stenographed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Stenographing (?).] To write or report in stenographic characters.

Sten"o*graph, n. A production of stenography; anything written in shorthand.

I saw the reporters' room, in which they redact their hasty stenographs.

Emerson.

Ste*nog"ra*pher (?), n. One who is skilled in stenography; a writer of shorthand.

{ Sten`o*graph"ic (?), Sten`o*graph"ic*al (?), } a. [Cf. F. sténographique.] Of or pertaining to stenography.

Ste*nog"ra*phist (?), n. A stenographer.

Ste*nog"ra*phy (?), n. [Gr. steno`s narrow, close + graphy: cf. F. sténographie, G. stenographie.] The art of writing in shorthand, by using abbreviations or characters for whole words; shorthand.

Ste*noph"yl*lous (?), a. [Gr. steno`s narrow + fy`llon leaf.] (Bot.) Having narrow leaves.

||Ste*no"sis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. steno`s narrow.] (Med.) A narrowing ||of the opening or hollow of any passage, tube, or orifice; as, ||stenosis of the pylorus. It differs from stricture in being applied ||especially to diffused rather than localized contractions, and in ||always indicating an origin organic and not spasmodic.

Sten"o*stome (?), a. [Gr. steno`s narrow, little + sto`ma mouth.] (Zoöl.) Having a small or narrow mouth; -- said of certain small ground snakes (Opoterodonta), which are unable to dilate their jaws.

Stent (?), v. t. [Obs. imp. Stente (?); obs. p. p. Stent.] [See Stint.] To keep within limits; to restrain; to cause to stop, or cease; to stint.

Then would he weep, he might not be stent.

Chaucer.

Yet n'ould she stent Her bitter railing and foul revilement.

Spenser.

Stent, v. i. To stint; to stop; to cease.

And of this cry they would never stenten.

Chaucer.

Stent, n. An allotted portion; a stint. "Attain'd his journey's stent." Mir. for Mag.

Stent"ing, n. An opening in a wall in a coal mine. [Written also stenton.] [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Sten"tor (?), n. [L. Stentor, Gr. &?;.] 1. A herald, in the Iliad, who had a very loud voice; hence, any person having a powerful voice.

2. (Zoöl.) Any species of ciliated Infusoria belonging to the genus Stentor and allied genera, common in fresh water. The stentors have a bell-shaped, or cornucopia- like, body with a circle of cilia around the spiral terminal disk. See Illust. under Heterotricha.

3. (Zoöl.) A howling monkey, or howler.

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Sten*to"ri*an (?), a. [L. stentoreus; cf. Gr. &?;.] Of or pertaining to a stentor; extremely loud; powerful; as, a stentorian voice; stentorian lungs.

Sten"to*rin (?), n. (Chem.) A blue coloring matter found in some stentors. See Stentor, 2.

Sten*to"ri*ous (?), a. Stentorian. [R.]

Sten`to*ron"ic (?), a. Stentorian. [Obs.]

Sten`to*ro*phon"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?; Stentor + &?; a sound, voice. See Stentor.] Speaking or sounding very loud; stentorian. [Obs.]

Of this stentorophonic horn of Alexander there is a preserved in the Vatican.

Derham.

Step (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Stepped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Stepping.] [AS. stæppan; akin to OFries. steppa, D. stappen to step, stap a step, OHG. stepfen to step, G. stapfe a footstep, OHG. stapfo, G. stufe a step to step on; cf. Gr. &?; to shake about, handle roughly, stamp (?). Cf. Stamp, n. & a.] 1. To move the foot in walking; to advance or recede by raising and moving one of the feet to another resting place, or by moving both feet in succession.

2. To walk; to go on foot; esp., to walk a little distance; as, to step to one of the neighbors.

3. To walk slowly, gravely, or resolutely.

Home the swain retreats, His flock before him stepping to the fold.

Thomson.

4. Fig.: To move mentally; to go in imagination.

They are stepping almost three thousand years back into the remotest antiquity.

Pope.

To step aside, to walk a little distance from the rest; to retire from company. -- To step forth, to move or come forth. -- To step in or into. (a) To walk or advance into a place or state, or to advance suddenly in.

Whosoever then first, after the troubling of the water, stepped in, was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

John v. 4.

(b) To enter for a short time; as, I just stepped into the house. (c) To obtain possession without trouble; to enter upon easily or suddenly; as, to step into an estate. -- To step out. (a) (Mil.) To increase the length, but not the rapidity, of the step, extending it to thirty-tree inches. (b) To go out for a short distance or a short time. -- To step short (Mil.), to diminish the length or rapidity of the step according to the established rules.

Step, v. t. 1. To set, as the foot.

2. (Naut.) To fix the foot of (a mast) in its step; to erect.

To step off, to measure by steps, or paces; hence, to divide, as a space, or to form a series of marks, by successive measurements, as with dividers.

Step, n. [AS. stæpe. See Step, v. i.] 1. An advance or movement made by one removal of the foot; a pace.

2. A rest, or one of a set of rests, for the foot in ascending or descending, as a stair, or a round of a ladder.

The breadth of every single step or stair should be never less than one foot.

Sir H. Wotton.

3. The space passed over by one movement of the foot in walking or running; as, one step is generally about three feet, but may be more or less. Used also figuratively of any kind of progress; as, he improved step by step, or by steps.

To derive two or three general principles of motion from phenomena, and afterwards to tell us how the properties and actions of all corporeal things follow from those manifest principles, would be a very great step in philosophy.

Sir I. Newton.

4. A small space or distance; as, it is but a step.

5. A print of the foot; a footstep; a footprint; track.

6. Gait; manner of walking; as, the approach of a man is often known by his step.

7. Proceeding; measure; action; an act.

The reputation of a man depends on the first steps he makes in the world.

Pope.

Beware of desperate steps. The darkest day, Live till to-morrow, will have passed away.

Cowper.

I have lately taken steps . . . to relieve the old gentleman's distresses.

G. W. Cable.

8. pl. Walk; passage.

Conduct my steps to find the fatal tree.

Dryden.

9. pl. A portable framework of stairs, much used indoors in reaching to a high position.

10. (Naut.) In general, a framing in wood or iron which is intended to receive an upright shaft; specif., a block of wood, or a solid platform upon the keelson, supporting the heel of the mast.

11. (Mach.) (a) One of a series of offsets, or parts, resembling the steps of stairs, as one of the series of parts of a cone pulley on which the belt runs. (b) A bearing in which the lower extremity of a spindle or a vertical shaft revolves.

12. (Mus.) The intervak between two contiguous degrees of the csale.

The word tone is often used as the name of this interval; but there is evident incongruity in using tone for indicating the interval between tones. As the word scale is derived from the Italian scala, a ladder, the intervals may well be called steps.

13. (Kinematics) A change of position effected by a motion of translation. W. K. Clifford.

Back step, Half step, etc. See under Back, Half, etc. -- Step grate, a form of grate for holding fuel, in which the bars rise above one another in the manner of steps. -- To take steps, to take action; to move in a matter.

Step-. [AS. steóp-; akin to OFries. stiap-, stiep-, D. & G. stief-, OHG. stiuf- , Icel. stj&?;p-, Sw. styf-, and to AS. stpan, steópan, to deprive, bereave, as children of their parents, OHG. stiufen.] A prefix used before father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, child, etc., to indicate that the person thus spoken of is not a blood relative, but is a relative by the marriage of a parent; as, a stepmother to X is the wife of the father of X, married by him after the death of the mother of X. See Stepchild, Stepdaughter, Stepson, etc.

Step"broth`er (?), n. A brother by the marriage of one's father with the mother of another, or of one's mother with the father of another.

Step"child` (?), n. [AS. steópcild.] 1. A bereaved child; one who has lost father or mother. [Obs.]

2. A son or daughter of one's wife or husband by a former marriage.

Step"dame` (?), n. A stepmother. Spenser.

Step"daugh`ter (?), n. [AS. steópdohtor.] A daughter of one's wife or husband by a former marriage.

Step"fa`ther (?), n. [AS. steópfæder.] The husband of one's mother by a subsequent marriage.

Ste*pha"ni*on (?), n. [NL., from Gr. &?; a crown.] (Anat.) The point on the side of the skull where the temporal line, or upper edge of the temporal fossa, crosses the coronal suture.

Steph"an*ite (?), n. [So named after the Archduke Stephan, mining director of Austria.] (Min.) A sulphide of antimony and silver of an iron-black color and metallic luster; called also black silver, and brittle silver ore.

||Steph`a*no"tis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; fit for a crown, fr. &?; ||crown.] 1. (Bot.) A genus of climbing asclepiadaceous shrubs, of ||Madagascar, Malaya, etc. They have fleshy or coriaceous opposite ||leaves, and large white waxy flowers in cymes.

2. A perfume said to be prepared from the flowers of Stephanotis floribunda.

Step"lad`der (?), n. A portable set of steps.

Step"moth`er (?), n. [AS. steópmder.] The wife of one's father by a subsequent marriage.

Step"par`ent (?), n. Stepfather or stepmother.

Steppe (?), n. [From Russ. stepe, through G. or F. steppe.] One of the vast plains in Southeastern Europe and in Asia, generally elevated, and free from wood, analogous to many of the prairies in Western North America. See Savanna.

Steppe murrain. (Far.) See Rinderpest.

Stepped (?), a. Provided with a step or steps; having a series of offsets or parts resembling the steps of stairs; as, a stepped key.

Stepped gear, a cogwheel of which the teeth cross the face in a series of steps.

Step"per (?), n. One who, or that which, steps; as, a quick stepper.

Step"ping-stone` (?), n. 1. A stone to raise the feet above the surface of water or mud in walking.

2. Fig.: A means of progress or advancement.

These obstacles his genius had turned into stepping- stones.

Macaulay.

That men may rise on stepping-stones Of their dead selves to higher things.

Tennyson.

Step"sis`ter (?), n. A daughter of one's stepfather or stepmother by a former marriage.

Step"son` (?), n. [AS. steópsunu.] A son of one's husband or wife by a former marriage.

Step"stone` (?), n. A stone laid before a door as a stair to rise on in entering the house.

-ster (?). [OE. & AS. -estre, -istre.] A suffix denoting the agent (originally a woman), especially a person who does something with skill or as an occupation; as in spinster (originally, a woman who spins), songster, baxter (= bakester), youngster.

Brewing, baking, and weaving were formerly feminine labors, and consequently brewster, baxter, and webster meant, originally, the woman (not the man) who brews, bakes, or weaves. When men began to perform these duties the feminine appellations were retained.

Ster`co*bi"lin (?), n. [L. stercus dung + E. bilin.] (Physiol. Chem.) A coloring matter found in the fæces, a product of the alteration of the bile pigments in the intestinal canal, -- identical with hydrobilirubin.

Ster"co*lin (?), n. [L. stercus dung + oleum oil.] (Physiol. Chem.) Same as Serolin (b).

Ster`co*ra"ceous (?), a. [L. stercus, -oris, dung.] Of or pertaining to dung; partaking of the nature of, or containing, dung.

Ster"co*ra*nism (?), n. (Eccl. Hist.) The doctrine or belief of the Stercoranists.

Ster"co*ra*nist (?), n. [LL. stercoranista, fr. L. stercus, -oris, dung.] (Eccl. Hist.) A nickname formerly given to those who held, or were alleged to hold, that the consecrated elements in the eucharist undergo the process of digestion in the body of the recipient.

Ster`co*ra"ri*an (?), n. A Stercoranist.

Ster"co*ra*ry (?), n. [LL. stercorarium, from L. stercorarius belonging to dung.] A place, properly secured from the weather, for containing dung.

Ster"co*rate (?), n. Excrement; dung. [Obs.]

Ster`co*ra"tion (?), n. [L. stercoratio, from stercorare to dung.] Manuring with dung. [Obs.] Bacon.

Ster*co"ri*an*ism (?), n. (Eccl.) The doctrine or belief of the Stercoranists.

Ster"co*rin (?), n. [L. stercus, -oris, dung.] (Physiol. Chem.) Same as Serolin (b).

Ster"co*ry (?), n. Excrement; dung. [Obs.]

Ster*cu`li*a"ceous (?), a. [NL. Sterculia, the typical genus, fr. L. Sterculius the deity that presided over manuring, from stercus dung. So called because one of the original species is fetid.] (Bot.) Of or pertaining to a natural order (Sterculiaceæ) of polypetalous exogenous plants, mostly tropical. The cacao (Theobroma Cacao) is the most useful plant of the order.

Stere (?), n. [F. stère, fr. Gr. &?; solid.] A unit of cubic measure in the metric system, being a cubic meter, or kiloliter, and equal to 35.3 cubic feet, or nearly 1 cubic yards.

Stere (?), v. t. & i. To stir. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Stere, n. A rudder. See 5th Steer. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Stere, n. Helmsman. See 6th Steer. [Obs.] Chaucer.

||Ster`el*min"tha (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. stereo`s solid + &?; a ||worm.] (Zoöl.) Same as Platyelminthes.

Ste"re*o- (?). [Gr. stereo`s solid. See Stare to gaze.] A combining form meaning solid, hard, firm, as in stereo-chemistry, stereography.

Ste"re*o*bate (?), n. [Gr. stereo`s solid + &?; that treads or covers, akin to &?; base; cf. F. stéréobate.] (Arch.) The lower part or basement of a building or pedestal; -- used loosely for several different forms of basement.

{ Ste`re*o-chem"ic (?), Ste`re*o-chem"ic*al (?), } a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or illustrating, the hypothetical space relations of atoms in the molecule; as, a stereo-chemic formula.

Ste`re*o-chem"is*try (?), n. [Stereo- + chemistry.] (Chem.) Chemistry considered with reference to the space relations of atoms.

Ste"re*o*chrome (?), n. Stereochromic picture.

Ste`re*o*chro"mic (?), a. Pertaining to the art of stereochromy; produced by stereochromy. -- Ste`re*o*chro"mic*al*ly (#), adv.

Ste`re*och"ro*my (?), n. [Stereo- + Gr. chrw^ma color.] A style of painting on plastered walls or stone, in which the colors are rendered permanent by sprinklings of water, in which is mixed a proportion of soluble glass (a silicate of soda).

Ste`re*o*e*lec"tric (?), a. [Stereo- + electric.] (Physics) Of or pertaining to the generation of electricity by means of solid bodies alone; as, a stereoelectric current is one obtained by means of solids, without any liquid.

Ste"re*o*gram (?), n. [Stereo- + -gram.] A diagram or picture which represents objects in such a way as to give the impression of relief or solidity; also, a stereograph.

Ste"re*o*graph (?), n. [Stereo- + -graph.] Any picture, or pair of pictures, prepared for exhibition in the stereoscope. Stereographs are now commonly made by means of photography.

{ Ste`re*o*graph"ic (?), Ste`re*o*graph"ic*al (?), } a. [Cf. F. stéréographique.] Made or done according to the rules of stereography; delineated on a plane; as, a stereographic chart of the earth.

Stereographic projection (Geom.), a method of representing the sphere in which the center of projection is taken in the surface of the sphere, and the plane upon which the projection is made is at right andles to the diameter passing through the center of projection.

Ste`re*o*graph"ic*al*ly, adv. In a stereographical manner; by delineation on a plane.

Ste`re*og"ra*phy (?), n. [Stereo- + graphy: cf. F. stéréographie.] The art of delineating the forms of solid bodies on a plane; a branch of solid geometry which shows the construction of all solids which are regularly defined.

By cutting pieces of cardboard, or other suitable material, in the forms represented in the cut, folding them along the lines indicated, and joining their edges, the five regular solids may be formed.

Ste`re*om"e*ter (?), n. [Stereo- + meter.] (Physics) 1. An instrument for measuring the solid contents of a body, or the capacity of a vessel; a volumenometer.

2. An instrument for determining the specific gravity of liquid bodies, porous bodies, and powders, as well as solids.

{ Ste`re*o*met"ric (?), Ste`re*o*met"ric*al (?), } a. [Cf. F. stéréométrique.] Of or pertaining to stereometry; performed or obtained by stereometry. -- Ste`re*o*met"ric*al*ly, adv.

Ste`re*om"e*try (?), n. [Stereo- + -metry: cf. F. stéréométrie.] The art of measuring and computing the cubical contents of bodies and figures; -- distinguished from planimetry.

Ste`re*o*mon"o*scope (?), n. [Stereo- + mono- + -scope.] An instrument with two lenses, by which an image of a single picture projected upon a screen of ground glass is made to present an appearance of relief, and may be viewed by several persons at once.

Ste"re*o*plasm (?), n. [Stereo- + Gr. &?; anything formed or molded.] (Biol.) The solid or insoluble portion of the cell protoplasm. See Hygroplasm.

Ste`re*op"ti*con (?), n. [NL. See Stereo-, and Optic.] An instrument, consisting essentially of a magic lantern in which photographic pictures are used, by which the image of a landscape, or any object, may be thrown upon a screen in such a manner as to seem to stand out in relief, so as to form a striking and accurate representation of the object itself; also, a pair of magic lanterns for producing the effect of dissolving views.

Ste"re*o*scope (?), n. [Stereo- + -scope.] An optical instrument for giving to pictures the appearance of solid forms, as seen in nature. It combines in one, through a bending of the rays of light, two pictures, taken for the purpose from points of view a little way apart. It is furnished with two eyeglasses, and by refraction or reflection the pictures are superimposed, so as to appear as one to the observer.

In the reflecting stereoscope, the rays from the two pictures are turned into the proper direction for stereoscopic vision by two plane mirrors set at an angle with each other, and between the pictures. In the lenticular stereoscope, the form in general use, the eyeglasses are semilenses, or marginal portions of the same convex lenses, set with their edges toward each other, so that they deflect the rays coming from the picture so as to strike the eyes as if coming direct from an intermediate point, where the two pictures are seen apparently as one.

{ Ste`re*o*scop"ic (?), Ste`re*o*scop"ic*al (?), } a. Of or pertaining to the stereoscope; characteristic of, or adapted to, the stereoscope; as, a stereoscopic effect; the stereoscopic function of the eyeglasses; stereoscopic views. -- Ste`re*o*scop"ic*al*ly, adv.

Ste`re*os"co*pist (?), n. One skilled in the use or construction of stereoscopes.

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Ste`re*os"co*py (?), n. The art or science of using the stereoscope, or of constructing the instrument or the views used with it.

Ste`re*o*stat"ic (?), a. [Stereo- + static.] (Civil. Engin.) Geostatic.

{ Ste`re*o*tom"ic (?), Ste`re*o*tom"ic*al (?), } a. Of or pertaining to stereotomy; performed by stereotomy.

Ste`re*ot"o*my (?), n. [Stereo- + Gr. &?; to cut: cf. F. stéréotomie.] The science or art of cutting solids into certain figures or sections, as arches, and the like; especially, the art of stonecutting.

Ste"re*o*type (?), n. [Stereo- + -type: cf. F. stéréotype.] 1. A plate forming an exact faximile of a page of type or of an engraving, used in printing books, etc.; specifically, a plate with type-metal face, used for printing.

A stereotype, or stereotypr plate, is made by setting movable type as for ordinary printing; from these a cast is taken in plaster of Paris, paper pulp, or the like, and upon this cast melted type metal is poured, which, when hardened, makes a solid page or column, from which the impression is taken as from type.

2. The art or process of making such plates, or of executing work by means of them.

Stereotype block, a block, usually of wood, to which a stereotype plate is attached while being used in printing.

Ste"re*o*type, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stereotyped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Stereotyping (?).] [Cf. F. stéréotyper.] 1. To prepare for printing in stereotype; to make the stereotype plates of; as, to stereotype the Bible.

2. Fig.: To make firm or permanent; to fix.

Powerful causes tending to stereotype and aggravate the poverty of old conditions.

Duke of Argyll (1887).

Ste"re*o*typed (?), a. 1. Formed into, or printed from, stereotype plates.

2. Fig.: Formed in a fixed, unchangeable manner; as, stereotyped opinions.

Our civilization, with its stereotyped ways and smooth conventionalities.

J. C. Shairp.

Ste"re*o*ty`per (?), n. One who stereotypes; one who makes stereotype plates, or works in a stereotype foundry.

Ste"re*o*ty`per*y (?), n. 1. The art, process, or employment of making stereotype plates.

2. A place where stereotype plates are made; a stereotype foundry.

Ste`re*o*typ"ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to stereotype, or stereotype plates.

Ste"re*o*ty`pist (?), n. A stereotyper.

Ste`re*o*ty*pog"ra*pher (?), n. A stereotype printer.

Ste`re*o*ty*pog"ra*phy (?), n. [Stereo- + typography.] The act or art of printing from stereotype plates.

Ste"re*o*ty`py (?), n. [Cf. F. stéréotypie.] The art or process of making stereotype plates.

Ster`hy*drau"lic (?), a. [Stereo- + hydraulic.] Pertaining to, or designating, a kind of hydraulic press; resembling such a press in action or principle.

Sterhydraulic press, an hydraulic press producing pressure or motion by the introduction of a solid substance (as a long rod, or a cord wound on a roller) into a cylinder previously filled with a liquid.

Ster"ile (?), a. [F. stérile, L. sterilis, akin to Gr. stereo`s stiff, solid, stei^ros barren, stei^ra a cow that has not calved, Goth. stair, fem., barren. See Stare to gaze.] 1. Producing little or no crop; barren; unfruitful; unproductive; not fertile; as, sterile land; a sterile desert; a sterile year.

2. (Biol.) (a) Incapable of reproduction; unfitted for reproduction of offspring; not able to germinate or bear fruit; unfruitful; as, a sterile flower, which bears only stamens. (b) Free from reproductive spores or germs; as, a sterile fluid.

3. Fig.: Barren of ideas; destitute of sentiment; as, a sterile production or author.

Ste*ril"i*ty (?), n. [L. sterilitas: cf. F. stérilité.] 1. The quality or condition of being sterile.

2. (Biol.) Quality of being sterile; infecundity; also, the state of being free from germs or spores.

Ster`il*i*za"tion (?), n. (Biol.) The act or process of sterilizing, or rendering sterile; also, the state of being sterile.

Ster"il*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sterilized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sterilizing (?).] [Cf. F. stériliser.] 1. To make sterile or unproductive; to impoverish, as land; to exhaust of fertility. [R.] "Sterilizing the earth." Woodward.

2. (Biol.) (a) To deprive of the power of reproducing; to render incapable of germination or fecundation; to make sterile. (b) To destroy all spores or germs in (an organic fluid or mixture), as by heat, so as to prevent the development of bacterial or other organisms.

Ster"let (?), n. [Russ. sterliade.] (Zoöl.) A small sturgeon (Acipenser ruthenus) found in the Caspian Sea and its rivers, and highly esteemed for its flavor. The finest caviare is made from its roe.

Ster"ling (?), n. (Engin.) Same as Starling, 3.

Ster"ling, n. [OE. sterlynge, starling, for easterling, LL. esterlingus, probably from Easterling, once the popular name of German trades in England, whose money was of the purest quality: cf. MHG. sterlink a certain coin. Cf. East. "Certain merchants of Norwaie, Denmarke, and of others those parties, called Ostomanni, or (as in our vulgar language we tearme them), easterlings, because they lie east in respect of us." Holinshed. "In the time of . . . King Richard the First, monie coined in the east parts of Germanie began to be of especiall request in England for the puritie thereof, and was called Easterling monie, as all inhabitants of those parts were called Easterlings, and shortly after some of that countrie, skillful in mint matters and allaies, were sent for into this realme to bring the coine to perfection; which since that time was called of them sterling, for Easterling." Camden. "Four thousand pound of sterlings." R. of Gloucester.] 1. Any English coin of standard value; coined money.

So that ye offer nobles or sterlings.

Chaucer.

And Roman wealth in English sterling view.

Arbuthnot.

2. A certain standard of quality or value for money.

Sterling was the known and approved standard in England, in all probability, from the beginning of King Henry the Second's reign.

S. M. Leake.

Ster"ling (?), a. 1. Belonging to, or relating to, the standard British money of account, or the British coinage; as, a pound sterling; a shilling sterling; a penny sterling; -- now chiefly applied to the lawful money of England; but sterling cost, sterling value, are used. "With sterling money." Shak.

2. Genuine; pure; of excellent quality; conforming to the highest standard; of full value; as, a work of sterling merit; a man of sterling good sense.

Stern (?), n. [AS. stearn a kind of bird. See Starling.] (Zoöl.) The black tern.

Stern, a. [Compar. Sterner (?); superl. Sternest.] [OE. sterne, sturne, AS. styrne; cf. D. stuurish stern, Sw. stursk refractory. &radic;166.] Having a certain hardness or severity of nature, manner, or aspect; hard; severe; rigid; rigorous; austere; fixed; unchanging; unrelenting; hence, serious; resolute; harsh; as, a sternresolve; a stern necessity; a stern heart; a stern gaze; a stern decree.

The sterne wind so loud gan to rout.

Chaucer.

I would outstare the sternest eyes that look.

Shak.

When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath wept; Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.

Shak.

Stern as tutors, and as uncles hard.

Dryden.

These barren rocks, your stern inheritance.

Wordsworth.

Syn. -- Gloomy; sullen; forbidding; strict; unkind; hard- hearted; unfeeling; cruel; pitiless.

Stern, n. [Icel. stjrn a steering, or a doubtful AS. steórn. &radic;166. See Steer, v. t.] 1. The helm or tiller of a vessel or boat; also, the rudder. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. (Naut.) The after or rear end of a ship or other vessel, or of a boat; the part opposite to the stem, or prow.

3. Fig.: The post of management or direction.

And sit chiefest stern of public weal.

Shak.

4. The hinder part of anything. Spenser.

5. The tail of an animal; -- now used only of the tail of a dog.

By the stern. (Naut.) See By the head, under By.

Stern, a. Being in the stern, or being astern; as, the stern davits.

Stern board (Naut.), a going or falling astern; a loss of way in making a tack; as, to make a stern board. See Board, n., 8 (b). -- Stern chase. (Naut.) (a) See under Chase, n. (b) A stern chaser. -- Stern chaser (Naut.), a cannon placed in a ship's stern, pointing backward, and intended to annoy a ship that is in pursuit. -- Stern fast (Naut.), a rope used to confine the stern of a ship or other vessel, as to a wharf or buoy. -- Stern frame (Naut.), the framework of timber forms the stern of a ship. -- Stern knee. See Sternson. -- Stern port (Naut.), a port, or opening, in the stern of a ship. -- Stern sheets (Naut.), that part of an open boat which is between the stern and the aftmost seat of the rowers, -- usually furnished with seats for passengers. -- Stern wheel, a paddle wheel attached to the stern of the steamboat which it propels.

Stern"age (?), n. Stern. [R.] Shak.

Ster"nal (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the sternum; in the region of the sternum.

Sternal ribs. See the Note under Rib, n., 1.

Stern"berg*ite (?), n. [So named after Count Kaspar Sternberg of Prague.] (Min.) A sulphide of silver and iron, occurring in soft flexible laminæ varying in color from brown to black.

||Ster"ne*bra (?), n.; pl. Sternebræ (#). [NL., fr. sternum + - bra of ||vertebra.] (Anat.) One of the segments of the sternum. -- ||Ster"ne*bral (#), a.

Sterned (?), a. Having a stern of a particular shape; -- used in composition; as, square- sterned.

Stern"er (?), n. [See 3d Stern.] A director. [Obs. & R.] Dr. R. Clerke.

Stern`fore"most` (?), adv. With the stern, instead of the bow, in advance; hence, figuratively, in an awkward, blundering manner.

A fatal genius for going sternforemost.

Lowell.

Ster"nite (?), n. [From Sternum.] (Zoöl.) The sternum of an arthropod somite.

Stern"ly (?), adv. In a stern manner.

Stern"most` (?), a. Farthest in the rear; farthest astern; as, the sternmost ship in a convoy.

Stern"ness, n. The quality or state of being stern.

Ster"no- (?). A combining form used in anatomy to indicate connection with, or relation to, the sternum; as, sternocostal, sternoscapular.

Ster`no*cor"a*coid (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the sternum and the coracoid.

Ster`no*cos"tal (?), a. [Sterno- + costal.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the sternum and the ribs; as, the sternocostal cartilages.

Ster`no*hy"oid (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the sternum and the hyoid bone or cartilage.

Ster`no*mas"toid (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the sternum and the mastoid process.

Ster`no*thy"roid (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the sternum and the thyroid cartilage.

Stern"post` (?), n. (Naut.) A straight piece of timber, or an iron bar or beam, erected on the extremity of the keel to support the rudder, and receive the ends of the planks or plates of the vessel.

Sterns"man (?), n. A steersman. [Obs.]

Stern"son (?), n. [See Stern, n., and cf. Stemson.] (Naut.) The end of a ship's keelson, to which the sternpost is bolted; -- called also stern knee.

Ster"num (?), n.; pl. L. Sterna (#), E. Sternums (#). [NL., from Gr. &?;, the breast, chest.] 1. (Anat.) A plate of cartilage, or a series of bony or cartilaginous plates or segments, in the median line of the pectoral skeleton of most vertebrates above fishes; the breastbone.

The sternum is connected with the ribs or the pectorial girdle, or with both. In man it is a flat bone, broad anteriorly, narrowed behind, and connected with the clavicles and the cartilages of the seven anterior pairs of ribs. In most birds it has a high median keel for the attachment of the muscles of the wings.

2. (Zoöl.) The ventral part of any one of the somites of an arthropod.

Ster`nu*ta"tion (?), n. [L. sternutatio, fr. sternutare to sneeze, intens. from sternuere.] The act of sneezing. Quincy.

Ster*nu"ta*tive (?), a. Having the quality of provoking to sneeze.

Ster*nu"ta*to*ry (?), a. Sternutative. -- n. A sternutatory substance or medicine.

Stern"way` (?), n. (Naut.) The movement of a ship backward, or with her stern foremost.

Stern"-wheel` (?), a. Having a paddle wheel at the stern; as, a stern-wheel steamer.

Stern"-wheel`er (?), n. A steamboat having a stern wheel instead of side wheels. [Colloq. U.S.]

Ster*quil"i*nous (?), a. [L. sterquilinium a dung pit, fr. stercus dung.] Pertaining to a dunghill; hence, mean; dirty; paltry. [Obs.] Howell.

Ster"re (?), n. A star. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Ster"rink (?), n. (Zoöl.) The crab-eating seal (Lobodon carcinophaga) of the Antarctic Ocean.

Ster"ro*met`al (?), n. [Gr. &?; firm, solid + E. metal.] Any alloy of copper, zinc, tin, and iron, of which cannon are sometimes made.

Stert (?), obs. p. p. of Start. Started. Chaucer.

Ster"te (?), obs. p. p. of Start. Chaucer.

Ster*to"ri*ous (str*t"r*s), a. Stertorous. [R.]

Ster"to*rous (str"t*rs), a. [L. stertere to snore: cf. F. stertoreux.] Characterized by a deep snoring, which accompanies inspiration in some diseases, especially apoplexy; hence, hoarsely breathing; snoring.

Burning, stertorous breath that hurt her cheek.

Mrs. Browning.

The day has ebbed away, and it is night in his room, before his stertorous breathing lulls.

Dickens.

Sterve (strv), v. t. & i. To die, or cause to die; to perish. See Starve. [Obs.] Chaucer. Spenser.

Stet (stt), L., subj. 3d pers. sing. of stare to stand, remain. [See Stand.] (Print.) Let it stand; -- a word used by proof readers to signify that something once erased, or marked for omission, is to remain.

Stet, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stetted (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Stetting.] (Print.) To cause or direct to remain after having been marked for omission; to mark with the word stet, or with a series of dots below or beside the matter; as, the proof reader stetted a deled footnote.

Steth"al (?), n. [Stearic + ethal.] (Chem.) One of the higher alcohols of the methane series, homologous with ethal, and found in small quantities as an ethereal salt of stearic acid in spermaceti.

Steth"o*graph (?), n. [Gr. &?; the breast + -graph.] (Physiol.) See Pneumatograph.

Ste*thom"e*ter (?), n. [Gr. &?; chest + -meter.] (Physiol.) An apparatus for measuring the external movements of a given point of the chest wall, during respiration; -- also called thoracometer.

Steth"o*scope (stth"*skp), n. [Gr. sth^qos the breast + - scope: cf. F. stéthoscope.] (Med.) An instrument used in auscultation for examining the organs of the chest, as the heart and lungs, by conveying to the ear of the examiner the sounds produced in the thorax.

Steth"o*scope, v. t. To auscultate, or examine, with a stethoscope. M. W. Savage.

{ Steth`o*scop"ic (?), Steth`o*scop"ic*al (?), } a. [Cf. F. stéthoscopique.] Of or pertaining to a stethoscope; obtained or made by means of a stethoscope. -- Steth`o*scop"ic*al*ly, adv.

Ste*thos"co*pist (?), n. One skilled in the use of the stethoscope.

Ste*thos"co*py (?), n. The art or process of examination by the stethoscope.

Steve (?), v. t. [See Stevedore.] To pack or stow, as cargo in a ship's hold. See Steeve.

Ste"ve*dore` (?), n. [Sp. estivador a packer, a stower, fr. estivar to pack, to stow, L. stipare to press, compress, probably akin to E. stiff. See Stiff, Stive to stuff.] One whose occupation is to load and unload vessels in port; one who stows a cargo in a hold.

Ste"ven (?), n. [AS. stefn, stemn, voice; akin to D. stem, G. stimme, Goth. stibna.] 1. Voice; speech; language. [Obs. or Scot.]

Ye have as merry a steven As any angel hath that is in heaven.

Chaucer.

2. An outcry; a loud call; a clamor. [Obs.] Spenser.

To set steven, to make an appointment. [Obs.]

They setten steven for to meet To playen at the dice.

Chaucer.

Stew (?), n. [Cf. Stow.] 1. A small pond or pool where fish are kept for the table; a vivarium. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Chaucer. Evelyn.

2. An artificial bed of oysters. [Local, U.S.]

Stew, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stewed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Stewing.] [OE. stuven, OF. estuver, F. étuver, fr. OF. estuve, F. étuve, a sweating house, a room heated for a bath; probably of Teutonic origin, and akin to E. stove. See Stove, and cf. Stive to stew.] To boil slowly, or with the simmering or moderate heat; to seethe; to cook in a little liquid, over a gentle fire, without boiling; as, to stew meat; to stew oysters; to stew apples.

<! p. 1413 !>

Stew (?), v. i. To be seethed or cooked in a slow, gentle manner, or in heat and moisture.

Stew, n. [OE. stue, stuwe, OF. estuve. See Stew, v. t.] 1. A place of stewing or seething; a place where hot bathes are furnished; a hothouse. [Obs.]

As burning Ætna from his boiling stew Doth belch out flames.

Spenser.

The Lydians were inhibited by Cyrus to use any armor, and give themselves to baths and stews.

Abp. Abbot.

2. A brothel; -- usually in the plural. Bacon. South.

There be that hate harlots, and never were at the stews.

Aschman.

3. A prostitute. [Obs.] Sir A. Weldon.

4. A dish prepared by stewing; as, a stewof pigeons.

5. A state of agitating excitement; a state of worry; confusion; as, to be in a stew. [Colloq.]

Stew"ard (?), n. [OE. stiward, AS. stweard, stigweard, literally, a sty ward; stigu sty + weard warden, guardian, -- his first duty having been probably to attend to the domestic animals. &radic;164. See Sty pen for swine, Ward.] 1. A man employed in a large family, or on a large estate, to manage the domestic concerns, supervise other servants, collect the rents or income, keep accounts, and the like.

Worthy to be stewards of rent and land.

Chaucer.

They came near to the steward of Joseph's house.

Gen. xliii. 19.

As good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

1 Pet. iv. 10.

2. A person employed in a hotel, or a club, or on board a ship, to provide for the table, superintend the culinary affairs, etc. In naval vessels, the captain's steward, wardroom steward, steerage steward, warrant officers steward, etc., are petty officers who provide for the messes under their charge.

3. A fiscal agent of certain bodies; as, a steward in a Methodist church.

4. In some colleges, an officer who provides food for the students and superintends the kitchen; also, an officer who attends to the accounts of the students.

5. In Scotland, a magistrate appointed by the crown to exercise jurisdiction over royal lands. Erskine.

Lord high steward, formerly, the first officer of the crown; afterward, an officer occasionally appointed, as for a coronation, or upon the trial of a peer. [Eng.]

Stew"ard, v. t. To manage as a steward. [Obs.]

Stew"ard*ess, n. A female steward; specifically, a woman employed in passenger vessels to attend to the wants of female passengers.

Stew"ard*ly, adv. In a manner, or with the care, of a steward. [R.]

To be stewardly dispensed, not wastefully spent.

Tooker.

Stew"ard*ship, n. The office of a steward. Shak.

Stew"art*ry (?), n. 1. An overseer or superintendent. [R.] "The stewartry of provisions." Tooke.

2. The office of a steward; stewardship. [R.] Byron.

3. In Scotland, the jurisdiction of a steward; also, the lands under such jurisdiction.

Stew"ish, a. Suiting a stew, or brothel. Bp. Hall.

Stew"pan` (?), n. A pan used for stewing.

Stew"pot` (?), n. A pot used for stewing.

Stey (?), n. See Stee.

Sthen"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?; strength: cf. F. sthénique.] (Med.) Strong; active; -- said especially of morbid states attended with excessive action of the heart and blood vessels, and characterized by strength and activity of the muscular and nervous system; as, a sthenic fever.

Sthenic theory. See Stimulism (a).

||Sti*ac*cia"to (?), n. [It., crushed, flattened.] (Sculp.) The lowest ||relief, -- often used in Italian sculpture of the 15th and 16th ||centuries.

Sti"an (?), n. A sty on the eye. See Styan.

Stib"born (?), a. Stubborn. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Stib"i*al (?), a. [See Stibium.] Like, or having the qualities of, antimony; antimonial.

Stib"i*al*ism (?), n. (Med.) Antimonial intoxication or poisoning. Dunglison.

Stib"i*a`ted (?), a. [NL. stibiatus, from L. stibium antimony.] (Med. Chem.) Combined or impregnated with antimony (stibium).

Stibiated tartar. See Tartar emetic, under Tartar.

Stib"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Antimonic; -- used with reference to certain compounds of antimony.

Stib"i*co*nite (?), n. (Min.) A native oxide of antimony occurring in masses of a yellow color.

Stib"ine (?), n. (Chem.) Antimony hydride, or hydrogen antimonide, a colorless gas produced by the action of nascent hydrogen on antimony. It has a characteristic odor and burns with a characteristic greenish flame. Formerly called also antimoniureted hydrogen.

Stib"i*ous (?), a. (Chem.) Antimonious. [R.]

||Stib"i*um (?), n. [L. stibium, stibi, Gr. &?;, &?;.] 1. (Chem.) The ||technical name of antimony.

2. (Min.) Stibnite. [Obs.]

Stib"nite (?), n. (Min.) A mineral of a lead-gray color and brilliant metallic luster, occurring in prismatic crystals; sulphide of antimony; -- called also antimony glance, and gray antimony.

Sti*bo"ni*um (?), n. (Chem.) The hypothetical radical SbH4, analogous to ammonium; -- called also antimonium.

Stic*ca"do (?), n. [Cf. It. steccato a palisade.] (Mus.) An instrument consisting of small bars of wood, flat at the bottom and rounded at the top, and resting on the edges of a kind of open box. They are unequal in size, gradually increasing from the smallest to the largest, and are tuned to the diatonic scale. The tones are produced by striking the pieces of wood with hard balls attached to flexible sticks.

Stich (?), n. [Gr. sti`chos a row, line, akin to to go, march, E. sty, v.i.] 1. A verse, of whatever measure or number of feet.

2. A line in the Scriptures; specifically (Hebrew Scriptures), one of the rhythmic lines in the poetical books and passages of the Old Treatment, as written in the oldest Hebrew manuscripts and in the Revised Version of the English Bible.

3. A row, line, or rank of trees.

Stich"ic (?), a. [Gr. stichiko`s.] Of or pertaining to stichs, or lines; consisting of stichs, or lines. [R.]

||Sti*chid"i*um (?), n.; pl. Stichida (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, dim. of ||&?; a row.] (Bot.) A special podlike or fusiform branch containing ||tetraspores. It is found in certain red algæ.

Stich"o*man`cy (?), n. [Gr. &?; a line + -mancy.] Divination by lines, or passages of books, taken at hazard.

Stich`o*met"ric*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to stichometry; characterized by stichs, or lines.

Stich*om"e*try (?), n. [Gr. &?; a line + -metry.] 1. Measurement of books by the number of lines which they contain.

2. Division of the text of a book into lines; especially, the division of the text of books into lines accommodated to the sense, -- a method of writing manuscripts used before punctuation was adopted.

Stich"wort` (?), n. (Bot.) A kind of chickweed (Stellaria Holostea). [Written also stitchwort.]

Stick (?), n. [OE. sticke, AS. sticca; akin to stician to stab, prick, pierce, G. stecken a stick, staff, OHG. steccho, Icel. stik a stick. See Stick, v. t..] 1. A small shoot, or branch, separated, as by a cutting, from a tree or shrub; also, any stem or branch of a tree, of any size, cut for fuel or timber.

Withered sticks to gather, which might serve Against a winter's day.

Milton.

2. Any long and comparatively slender piece of wood, whether in natural form or shaped with tools; a rod; a wand; a staff; as, the stick of a rocket; a walking stick.

3. Anything shaped like a stick; as, a stick of wax.

4. A derogatory expression for a person; one who is inert or stupid; as, an odd stick; a poor stick. [Colloq.]

5. (Print.) A composing stick. See under Composing. It is usually a frame of metal, but for posters, handbills, etc., one made of wood is used.

6. A thrust with a pointed instrument; a stab.

A stick of eels, twenty-five eels. [Prov. Eng.] -- Stick chimney, a chimney made of sticks laid crosswise, and cemented with clay or mud, as in some log houses. [U.S.] -- Stick insect, (Zoöl.), any one of various species of wingless orthopterous insects of the family Phasmidæ, which have a long round body, resembling a stick in form and color, and long legs, which are often held rigidly in such positions as to make them resemble small twigs. They thus imitate the branches and twigs of the trees on which they live. The common American species is Diapheromera femorata. Some of the Asiatic species are more than a foot long. -- To cut one's stick, or To cut stick, to run away. [Slang] De Quincey.

Stick, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stuck (?) (Obs. Sticked (&?;)); p. pr. & vb. n. Sticking.] [OE. stikien, v.t. & i., combined with steken, whence E. stuck), AS. stician, v.t. & i., and (assumed) stecan, v.t.; akin to OFries. steka, OS. stekan, OHG. stehhan, G. stechen, and to Gr. &?; to prick, Skr. tij to be sharp. Cf. Distinguish, Etiquette, Extinct, Instigate, Instinct, Prestige, Stake, Steak, Stick, n., Stigma, Stimulate, Sting, Stitch in sewing, Style for or in writing.] 1. To penetrate with a pointed instrument; to pierce; to stab; hence, to kill by piercing; as, to stick a beast.

And sticked him with bodkins anon.

Chaucer.

It was a shame . . . to stick him under the other gentleman's arm while he was redding the fray.

Sir W. Scott.

2. To cause to penetrate; to push, thrust, or drive, so as to pierce; as, to stick a needle into one's finger.

Thou stickest a dagger in me.

Shak.

3. To fasten, attach, or cause to remain, by thrusting in; hence, also, to adorn or deck with things fastened on as by piercing; as, to stick a pin on the sleeve.

My shroud of white, stuck all with yew.

Shak.

The points of spears are stuck within the shield.

Dryden.

4. To set; to fix in; as, to stick card teeth.

5. To set with something pointed; as, to stick cards.

6. To fix on a pointed instrument; to impale; as, to stick an apple on a fork.

7. To attach by causing to adhere to the surface; as, to stick on a plaster; to stick a stamp on an envelope; also, to attach in any manner.

8. (Print.) To compose; to set, or arrange, in a composing stick; as, to stick type. [Cant]

9. (Joinery) To run or plane (moldings) in a machine, in contradistinction to working them by hand. Such moldings are said to be stuck.

10. To cause to stick; to bring to a stand; to pose; to puzzle; as, to stick one with a hard problem. [Colloq.]

11. To impose upon; to compel to pay; sometimes, to cheat. [Slang]

To stick out, to cause to project or protrude; to render prominent.

Stick (?), v. i. 1. To adhere; as, glue sticks to the fingers; paste sticks to the wall.

The green caterpillar breedeth in the inward parts of roses not blown, where the dew sticketh.

Bacon.

2. To remain where placed; to be fixed; to hold fast to any position so as to be moved with difficulty; to cling; to abide; to cleave; to be united closely.

A friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Prov. xviii. 24.

I am a kind of bur; I shall stick.

Shak.

If on your fame our sex a bolt has thrown, 'T will ever stick through malice of your own.

Young.

3. To be prevented from going farther; to stop by reason of some obstacle; to be stayed.

I had most need of blessing, and "Amen" Stuck in my throat.

Shak.

The trembling weapon passed Through nine bull hides, . . . and stuck within the last.

Dryden.

4. To be embarrassed or puzzled; to hesitate; to be deterred, as by scruples; to scruple; -- often with at.

They will stick long at part of a demonstration for want of perceiving the connection of two ideas.

Locke.

Some stick not to say, that the parson and attorney forged a will.

Arbuthnot.

5. To cause difficulties, scruples, or hesitation.

This is the difficulty that sticks with the most reasonable.

Swift.

To stick by. (a) To adhere closely to; to be firm in supporting. "We are your only friends; stick by us, and we will stick by you." Davenant. (b) To be troublesome by adhering. "I am satisfied to trifle away my time, rather than let it stick by me." Pope. -- To stick out. (a) To project; to be prominent. "His bones that were not seen stick out." Job xxxiii. 21. (b) To persevere in a purpose; to hold out; as, the garrison stuck out until relieved. [Colloq.] -- To stick to, to be persevering in holding to; as, to stick to a party or cause. "The advantage will be on our side if we stick to its essentials." Addison. -- To stick up, to stand erect; as, his hair sticks up. -- To stick up for, to assert and defend; as, to stick up for one's rights or for a friend. [Colloq.] -- To stick upon, to dwell upon; not to forsake. "If the matter be knotty, the mind must stop and buckle to it, and stick upon it with labor and thought." Locke.

Stick"ed (?), obs. imp. of Stick. Stuck.

And in the sand her ship sticked so fast.

Chaucer.

They sticked not to give their bodies to be burnt.

Sir T. Browne.

Stick"er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, sticks; as, a bill sticker.

2. That which causes one to stick; that which puzzles or poses. [Colloq.] Tackeray.

3. (Mus.) In the organ, a small wooden rod which connects (in part) a key and a pallet, so as to communicate motion by pushing.

4. Same as Paster, 2. [Political Cant, U.S.]

Stick"ful (?), n.; pl. Stickfuls (&?;). (Print.) As much set type as fills a composing stick.

Stick"i*ness (?), n. The quality of being sticky; as, the stickiness of glue or paste.

Stick"ing, a. & n. from Stick, v.

Sticking piece, a piece of beef cut from the neck. [Eng.] -- Sticking place, the place where a thing sticks, or remains fast; sticking point.

But screw your courage to the sticking place, And we'll not fail.

Shak.

-- Sticking plaster, an adhesive plaster for closing wounds, and for similar uses. -- Sticking point. Same as Sticking place, above.

Stick"it (?), a. Stuck; spoiled in making. [Scot.]

Stickit minister, a candidate for the clerical office who fails, disqualified by incompetency or immorality.

Stick"-lac` (?), n. See the Note under Lac.

Stic"kle (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Stickled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Stickling.] [Probably fr. OE. stightlen, sti&?;tlen, to dispose, arrange, govern, freq. of stihten, AS. stihtan: cf. G. stiften to found, to establish.] 1. To separate combatants by intervening. [Obs.]

When he [the angel] sees half of the Christians killed, and the rest in a fair way of being routed, he stickles betwixt the remainder of God's host and the race of fiends.

Dryden.

2. To contend, contest, or altercate, esp. in a pertinacious manner on insufficient grounds.

Fortune, as she 's wont, turned fickle, And for the foe began to stickle.

Hudibras.

While for paltry punk they roar and stickle.

Dryden.

The obstinacy with which he stickles for the wrong.

Hazlitt.

3. To play fast and loose; to pass from one side to the other; to trim.

Stic"kle, v. t. 1. To separate, as combatants; hence, to quiet, to appease, as disputants. [Obs.]

Which [question] violently they pursue, Nor stickled would they be.

Drayton.

2. To intervene in; to stop, or put an end to, by intervening; hence, to arbitrate. [Obs.]

They ran to him, and, pulling him back by force, stickled that unnatural fray.

Sir P. Sidney.

Stic"kle, n. [Cf. stick, v. t. & i.] A shallow rapid in a river; also, the current below a waterfall. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

Patient anglers, standing all the day Near to some shallow stickle or deep bay.

W. Browne.

Stic"kle*back` (?), n. [OE. & Prov E. stickle a prickle, spine, sting (AS. sticel) + back. See Stick, v. t., and cf. Banstickle.] (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of small fishes of the genus Gasterosteus and allied genera. The back is armed with two or more sharp spines. They inhabit both salt and brackish water, and construct curious nests. Called also sticklebag, sharpling, and prickleback.

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Stic"kler (stk"klr), n. [See Stickle, v. t.] One who stickles. Specifically: --

(a) One who arbitrates a duel; a sidesman to a fencer; a second; an umpire. [Obs.]

Basilius, the judge, appointed sticklers and trumpets whom the others should obey.

Sir P. Sidney.

Our former chiefs, like sticklers of the war, First sought to inflame the parties, then to poise.

Dryden.

(b) One who pertinaciously contends for some trifling things, as a point of etiquette; an unreasonable, obstinate contender; as, a stickler for ceremony.

The Tory or High-church were the greatest sticklers against the exorbitant proceedings of King James II.

Swift.

Stick"-seed` (?), n. (Bot.) A plant (Echinospermum Lappula) of the Borage family, with small blue flowers and prickly nutlets.

Stick"tail` (?), n. The ruddy duck. [Local, U.S.]

Stick"-tight` (?), n. (Bot.) Beggar's ticks.

Stick"y (?), a. [Compar. Stickier (?); superl. Stickiest.] Having the quality of sticking to a surface; adhesive; gluey; viscous; viscid; glutinous; tenacious.

Herbs which last longest are those of strong smell, and with a sticky stalk.

Bacon.

Stid"dy (?), n. [See Stithy.] An anvil; also, a smith shop. See Stithy. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Stiff (?), a. [Compar. Stiffer (?); superl. Stiffest.] [OE. stif, AS. stf; akin to D. stijf, G. steif, Dan. stiv, Sw. styf, Icel. stfr, Lith. stipti to be stiff; cf. L. stipes a post, trunk of a tree, stipare to press, compress. Cf. Costive, Stifle, Stipulate, Stive to stuff.] 1. Not easily bent; not flexible or pliant; not limber or flaccid; rigid; firm; as, stiff wood, paper, joints.

[They] rising on stiff pennons, tower The mid aërial sky.

Milton.

2. Not liquid or fluid; thick and tenacious; inspissated; neither soft nor hard; as, the paste is stiff.

3. Firm; strong; violent; difficult to oppose; as, a stiff gale or breeze.

4. Not easily subdued; unyielding; stubborn; obstinate; pertinacious; as, a stiff adversary.

It is a shame to stand stiff in a foolish argument.

Jer. Taylor.

A war ensues: the Cretans own their cause, Stiff to defend their hospitable laws.

Dryden.

5. Not natural and easy; formal; constrained; affected; starched; as, stiff behavior; a stiff style.

The French are open, familiar, and talkative; the Italians stiff, ceremonious, and reserved.

Addison.

6. Harsh; disagreeable; severe; hard to bear. [Obs. or Colloq.] "This is stiff news." Shak.

7. (Naut.) Bearing a press of canvas without careening much; as, a stiff vessel; -- opposed to crank. Totten.

8. Very large, strong, or costly; powerful; as, a stiff charge; a stiff price. [Slang]

Stiff neck, a condition of the neck such that the head can not be moved without difficulty and pain.

Syn. -- Rigid; inflexible; strong; hardly; stubborn; obstinate; pertinacious; harsh; formal; constrained; affected; starched; rigorous.

Stiff"-backed` (?), a. Obstinate. J. H. Newman.

Stiff"en (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stiffened (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Stiffening.] [See Stiff.] 1. To make stiff; to make less pliant or flexible; as, to stiffen cloth with starch.

Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood.

Shak.

2. To inspissate; to make more thick or viscous; as, to stiffen paste.

3. To make torpid; to benumb.

Stiff"en, v. i. To become stiff or stiffer, in any sense of the adjective.

Like bristles rose my stiffening hair.

Dryden.

The tender soil then stiffening by degrees.

Dryden.

Some souls we see, Grow hard and stiffen with adversity.

Dryden.

Stiff"en*er (?), n. One who, or that which, stiffens anything, as a piece of stiff cloth in a cravat.

Stiff"en*ing, n. 1. Act or process of making stiff.

2. Something used to make anything stiff.

Stiffening order (Com.), a permission granted by the customs department to take cargo or ballast on board before the old cargo is out, in order to steady the ship.

Stiff"-heart`ed (?), a. [Stiff + heart.] Obstinate; stubborn; contumacious. Ezek. ii. 4.

Stiff"ish, a. Somewhat stiff.

Stiff"ly (?), adv. In a stiff manner.

Stiff"-necked` (?), a. Stubborn; inflexibly obstinate; contumacious; as, stiff-necked pride; a stiff-necked people. Ex. xxxii. 9.

Stiff"-neck`ed*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being stiff-necked; stubbornness.

Stiff"ness, n. The quality or state of being stiff; as, the stiffness of cloth or of paste; stiffness of manner; stiffness of character.

The vices of old age have the stiffness of it too.

South.

Stiff"tail` (?), n. The ruddy duck. [Local, U.S.]

Stiff"-tailed` (?), a. (Zoöl.) Having the quill feathers of the tail somewhat rigid.

Sti"fle (?), n. [From Stiff.] (Far.) The joint next above the hock, and near the flank, in the hind leg of the horse and allied animals; the joint corresponding to the knee in man; -- called also stifle joint. See Illust. under Horse.

Stifle bone, a small bone at the stifle joint; the patella, or kneepan.

Sti"fle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stifled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Stifling (?).] [Freq. of OE. stif stiff; cf. Icel. stfla to dam up.] 1. To stop the breath of by crowding something into the windpipe, or introducing an irrespirable substance into the lungs; to choke; to suffocate; to cause the death of by such means; as, to stifle one with smoke or dust.

Stifled with kisses, a sweet death he dies.

Dryden.

I took my leave, being half stifled with the closeness of the room.

Swift.

2. To stop; to extinguish; to deaden; to quench; as, to stifle the breath; to stifle a fire or flame.

Bodies . . . stifle in themselves the rays which they do not reflect or transmit.

Sir I. Newton.

3. To suppress the manifestation or report of; to smother; to conceal from public knowledge; as, to stifle a story; to stifle passion.

I desire only to have things fairly represented as they really are; no evidence smothered or stifled.

Waterland.

Sti"fle (?), v. i. To die by reason of obstruction of the breath, or because some noxious substance prevents respiration.

You shall stifle in your own report.

Shak.

Sti"fled (?), a. Stifling.

The close and stifled study.

Hawthorne.

Sti"fler (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, stifles.

2. (Mil.) See Camouflet.

Stig"ma (?), n.; pl. E. Stigmas (#), L. Stigmata (#). [L., a mark, a brand, from Gr. &?;, &?;, the prick or mark of a pointed instrument, a spot, mark, from &?; to prick, to brand. See Stick, v. t.] 1. A mark made with a burning iron; a brand.

2. Any mark of infamy or disgrace; sign of moral blemish; stain or reproach caused by dishonorable conduct; reproachful characterization.

The blackest stigma that can be fastened upon him.

Bp. Hall.

All such slaughters were from thence called Bartelmies, simply in a perpetual stigma of that butchery.

Sir G. Buck.

3. (Bot.) That part of a pistil which has no epidermis, and is fitted to receive the pollen. It is usually the terminal portion, and is commonly somewhat glutinous or viscid. See Illust. of Stamen and of Flower.

4. (Anat.) A small spot, mark, scar, or a minute hole; -- applied especially to a spot on the outer surface of a Graafian follicle, and to spots of intercellular substance in scaly epithelium, or to minute holes in such spots.

5. (Pathol.) A red speck upon the skin, produced either by the extravasation of blood, as in the bloody sweat characteristic of certain varieties of religious ecstasy, or by capillary congestion, as in the case of drunkards.

6. (Zoöl.) (a) One of the external openings of the tracheæ of insects, myriapods, and other arthropods; a spiracle. (b) One of the apertures of the pulmonary sacs of arachnids. See Illust. of Scorpion. (c) One of the apertures of the gill of an ascidian, and of Amphioxus.

7. (Geom.) A point so connected by any law whatever with another point, called an index, that as the index moves in any manner in a plane the first point or stigma moves in a determinate way in the same plane.

8. pl. (R. C. Ch.) Marks believed to have been supernaturally impressed upon the bodies of certain persons in imitation of the wounds on the crucified body of Christ. See def. 5, above.

||Stig*ma"ri*a (?), n. [NL. See Stigma.] (Paleon.) The fossil root stem ||of a coal plant of the genus Sigillaria.

||Stig"ma*ta (?), n.; pl. of Stigma.

Stig*mat"ic (?), n. 1. A notorious profligate or criminal who has been branded; one who bears the marks of infamy or punishment. [R.] Bullokar.

2. A person who is marked or deformed by nature. Shak.

{ Stig*mat"ic (?), Stig*mat"ic*al (?), } a. [See Stigma.] 1. Marked with a stigma, or with something reproachful to character.

2. Impressing with infamy or reproach. [R.]

3. (Bot., Anat., etc) Of or pertaining to a stigma or stigmata.

Stigmatic geometry, or Stigmatics, that science in which the correspondence of index and stigma (see Stigma, 7) is made use of to establish geometrical proportions.

Stig*mat"ic*al*ly, adv. With a stigma, or mark of infamy or deformity.

Stig"ma*tist (?), n. One believed to be supernaturally impressed with the marks of Christ's wounds. See Stigma, 8.

Stig`ma*ti*za"tion (?), n. 1. The act of stigmatizing.

2. (R. C. Ch.) The production of stigmata upon the body. See Stigma, 8.

Stig"ma*tize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stigmatized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Stigmatizing (?).] [F. stigmatiser, Gr. &?;.] 1. To mark with a stigma, or brand; as, the ancients stigmatized their slaves and soldiers.

That . . . hold out both their ears with such delight and ravishment, to be stigmatized and bored through in witness of their own voluntary and beloved baseness.

Milton.

2. To set a mark of disgrace on; to brand with some mark of reproach or infamy.

To find virtue extolled and vice stigmatized.

Addison.

Stig"ma*tose` (?), a. (Bot.) Same as Stigmatic.

Stig"o*no*man`cy (?), n. [Gr. &?;, &?;, one who is marked, or one who marks (&?; to mark with a pointed instrument, to prick) + -mancy.] Divination by writing on the bark of a tree.

Stike (?), n. [See Stich.] Stanza. [Obs.] Sackville.

Sti"lar (?), a. [From Stile a style.] Of or pertaining to the style of a dial. [Written also stylar.]

Stil"bene (?), n. [See Stilbite.] (Chem.) A hydrocarbon, C14H12, produced artificially in large, fine crystals; -- called also diphenyl ethylene, toluylene, etc.

Stil"bite (?), n. [Gr. &?; to glitter, shine: cf. F. stilbite.] (Min.) A common mineral of the zeolite family, a hydrous silicate of alumina and lime, usually occurring in sheaflike aggregations of crystals, also in radiated masses. It is of a white or yellowish color, with pearly luster on the cleavage surface. Called also desmine.

Stile (?), n. [See Style.] 1. A pin set on the face of a dial, to cast a shadow; a style. See Style. Moxon.

2. Mode of composition. See Style. [Obs.]

May I not write in such a stile as this?

Bunyan.

Stile, n. [OE. stile, AS. stigel a step, a ladder, from stgan to ascend; akin to OHG. stigila a stile. &radic;164. See Sty, v. i., and cf. Stair.] 1. A step, or set of steps, for ascending and descending, in passing a fence or wall.

There comes my master . . . over the stile, this way.

Shak.

Over this stile in the way to Doubting Castle.

Bunyan.

2. (Arch.) One of the upright pieces in a frame; one of the primary members of a frame, into which the secondary members are mortised.

In an ordinary door the principal upright pieces are called stiles, the subordinate upright pieces mullions, and the crosspieces rails. In wainscoting the principal pieces are sometimes called stiles, even when horizontal.

Hanging stile, Pulley stile. See under Hanging, and Pulley.

Sti"let (?), n. [Written also stilette, and stylet.] 1. A stiletto. [R.]

2. (Surg.) See Stylet, 2.

Sti*let"to (?), n.; pl. Stilettos (#). [It., dim. of stilo a dagger, fr. L. stilus a pointed instrument. See Style for writing, and cf. Stylet.] 1. A kind of dagger with a slender, rounded, and pointed blade.

2. A pointed instrument for making eyelet holes in embroidery.

3. A beard trimmed into a pointed form. [Obs.]

The very quack of fashions, the very he that Wears a stiletto on his chin.

Ford.

Sti*let"to, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stilettoed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Stilettoing (?).] To stab or kill with a stiletto. Bacon.

Still (?), a. [Compar. Stiller (?); superl. Stillest.] [OE. stille, AS. stille; akin to D. stil, OS. & OHG. stilli, G. still, Dan. stille, Sw. stilla, and to E. stall; from the idea of coming to a stand, or halt. Cf. Still, adv.] 1. Motionless; at rest; quiet; as, to stand still; to lie or sit still. "Still as any stone." Chaucer.

2. Uttering no sound; silent; as, the audience is still; the animals are still.

The sea that roared at thy command, At thy command was still.

Addison.

3. Not disturbed by noise or agitation; quiet; calm; as, a still evening; a still atmosphere. "When all the woods are still." Milton.

4. Comparatively quiet or silent; soft; gentle; low. "A still small voice." 1 Kings xix. 12.

5. Constant; continual. [Obs.]

By still practice learn to know thy meaning.

Shak.

6. Not effervescing; not sparkling; as, still wines.

Still life. (Fine Arts) (a) Inanimate objects. (b) (Painting) The class or style of painting which represents inanimate objects, as fruit, flowers, dead game, etc.

Syn. -- Quiet; calm; noiseless; serene; motionless; inert; stagnant.

Still, n. [Cf. G. stille.] 1. Freedom from noise; calm; silence; as, the still of midnight. [Poetic]

2. A steep hill or ascent. [Obs.] W. Browne.

Still, adv. [AS. stille quietly. See Still, a. The modern senses come from the idea of stopping and staying still, or motionless.] 1. To this time; until and during the time now present; now no less than before; yet.

It hath been anciently reported, and is still received.

Bacon.

2. In the future as now and before.

Hourly joys be still upon you!

Shak.

3. In continuation by successive or repeated acts; always; ever; constantly; uniformly.

The desire of fame betrays an ambitious man into indecencies that lessen his reputation; he is still afraid lest any of his actions should be thrown away in private.

Addison.

Chemists would be rich if they could still do in great quantities what they have sometimes done in little.

Boyle.

4. In an increasing or additional degree; even more; -- much used with comparatives.

The guilt being great, the fear doth still exceed.

Shak.

5. Notwithstanding what has been said or done; in spite of what has occured; nevertheless; -- sometimes used as a conjunction. See Synonym of But.

As sunshine, broken in the rill, Though turned astray, is sunshine still.

Moore.

6. After that; after what is stated.

In the primitive church, such as by fear being compelled to sacrifice to strange gods, after repented, and kept still the office of preaching the gospel.

Whitgift.

Still and anon, at intervals and repeatedly; continually; ever and anon; now and then.

And like the watchful minutes to the hour, Still and anon cheered up the heavy time.

Shak.

Still, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stilled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Stilling.] [AS. stillan, from stille still, quiet, firm. See Still, a.] 1. To stop, as motion or agitation; to cause to become quiet, or comparatively quiet; to check the agitation of; as, to still the raging sea.

He having a full sway over the water, had power to still and compose it, as well as to move and disturb it.

Woodward.

2. To stop, as noise; to silence.

With his name the mothers still their babies.

Shak.

3. To appease; to calm; to quiet, as tumult, agitation, or excitement; as, to still the passions. Shak.

Toil that would, at least, have stilled an unquiet impulse in me.

Hawthorne.

Syn. -- To quiet; calm; allay; lull; pacify; appease; subdue; suppress; silence; stop; check; restrain.

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Still (?), n. [Cf. OE. stillatorie. See Still, v., to distill.] 1. A vessel, boiler, or copper used in the distillation of liquids; specifically, one used for the distillation of alcoholic liquors; a retort. The name is sometimes applied to the whole apparatus used in in vaporization and condensation.

2. A house where liquors are distilled; a distillery.

Still watcher, a device for indicating the progress of distillation by the density of the liquid given over. Knight.

Still, v. t. [Abbreviated fr. distill.] 1. To cause to fall by drops.

2. To expel spirit from by heat, or to evaporate and condense in a refrigeratory; to distill. Tusser.

Still, v. i. [L. stillare. Cf. Distill.] To drop, or flow in drops; to distill. [Obs.] Spenser.

Stil"lage (?), n. (Bleaching) A low stool to keep the goods from touching the floor. Knight.

Stil`la*ti"tious (?), a. [L. stillaticius, fr. stillare to drop, stilla a drop.] Falling in drops; drawn by a still.

Stil"la*to*ry (?), n.; pl. -ries (#). [From Still, for distill. Cf. Still, n., and Distillatory, a.] 1. An alembic; a vessel for distillation. [R.] Bacon.

2. A laboratory; a place or room in which distillation is performed. [R.] Dr. H. More. Sir H. Wotton.

Still"birth` (?), n. The birth of a dead fetus.

Still"born` (?), a. 1. Dead at the birth; as, a stillborn child.

2. Fig.: Abortive; as, a stillborn poem. Swift.

Still"-burn` (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. still-burnt (?) or Still-burned (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Still-burning.] To burn in the process of distillation; as, to still-burn brandy.

Still"-clos"ing (?), a. Ever closing. [Obs.] "Still-clothing waters." Shak.

Still"er (?), n. One who stills, or quiets.

Still"house` (?), n. A house in which distillation is carried on; a distillery.

Still"-hunt` (?), n. A hunting for game in a quiet and cautious manner, or under cover; stalking; hence, colloquially, the pursuit of any object quietly and cautiously. -- Still"-hunt`er (#), n. -- Still"- hunt`ing, n. [U.S.]

Stil"li*cide (?), n. [L. stillicidium; stilla a drop + cadere to fall.] A continual falling or succession of drops; rain water falling from the eaves. Bacon.

Stil`li*cid"i*ous (?), a. Falling in drops. [Obs.]

Stil"li*form (?), a. [L. stilla a drop + -form.] Having the form of a drop. Owen.

Still"ing (?), n. [Cf. LG. stelling, G. stellen to set, to place.] A stillion. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

Stil"lion (?), n. [See Stilling.] A stand, as for casks or vats in a brewery, or for pottery while drying.

Still"ness (?), n. 1. The quality or state of being still; quietness; silence; calmness; inactivity.

Painting, then, was the art demanded by the modern intellect upon its emergence from the stillness of the Middle Ages.

J. A. Symonds.

2. Habitual silence or quiet; taciturnity.

The gravity and stillness of your youth The world hath noted.

Shak.

Still"room` (?), n. 1. A room for distilling.

2. An apartment in a house where liquors, preserves, and the like, are kept. [Eng.]

Floors are rubbed bright, . . . stillroom and kitchen cleared for action.

Dickens.

Still"stand` (?), n. A standstill. [R.] Shak.

Still"y (?), a. Still; quiet; calm.

The stilly hour when storms are gone.

Moore.

Stil"ly (?), adv. In a still manner; quietly; silently; softly. Dr. H. More.

The hum of either army stilly sounds.

Shak.

Stilp*nom"e*lane (?), n. [Gr. stilpno`s shining + me`las, -anos, black.] (Min.) A black or greenish black mineral occurring in foliated flates, also in velvety bronze-colored incrustations. It is a hydrous silicate of iron and alumina.

Stilt (?), n. [OE. stilte; akin to Dan. stylte, Sw. stylta, LG. & D. stelt, OHG. stelza, G. stelze, and perh. to E. stout.] 1. A pole, or piece of wood, constructed with a step or loop to raise the foot above the ground in walking. It is sometimes lashed to the leg, and sometimes prolonged upward so as to be steadied by the hand or arm.

Ambition is but avarice on stilts, and masked.

Landor.

2. A crutch; also, the handle of a plow. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

3. (Zoöl.) Any species of limicoline birds belonging to Himantopus and allied genera, in which the legs are remarkably long and slender. Called also longshanks, stiltbird, stilt plover, and lawyer.

The American species (Himantopus Mexicanus) is well known. The European and Asiatic stilt (H. candidus) is usually white, except the wings and interscapulars, which are greenish black. The white-headed stilt (H. leucocephalus) and the banded stilt (Cladorhynchus pectoralis) are found in Australia.

Stilt plover (Zoöl.), the stilt. -- Stilt sandpiper (Zoöl.), an American sandpiper (Micropalama himantopus) having long legs. The bill is somewhat expanded at the tip.

Stilt (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stilted (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Stilting.] To raise on stilts, or as if on stilts.

Stilt"bird` (?), n. (Zoöl.) See Stilt, n., 3.

Stilt"ed, a. Elevated as if on stilts; hence, pompous; bombastic; as, a stilted style; stilted declamation.

Stilted arch (Arch.), an arch in which the springing line is some distance above the impost, the space between being occupied by a vertical member, molded or ornamented, as a continuation of the archivolt, intrados, etc.

Stilt"i*fy (?), v. t. [Stilt + -fy.] To raise upon stilts, or as upon stilts; to stilt.

Stilt"y (?), a. Unreasonably elevated; pompous; stilted; as, a stilty style.

Stime (?), n. [Etymology uncertain.] A slight gleam or glimmer; a glimpse. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Stim"u*lant (?), a. [L. stimulans, p. pr.; cf. F. stimulant. See Stimulate.] 1. Serving to stimulate.

2. (Physiol.) Produced increased vital action in the organism, or in any of its parts.

Stim"u*lant, n. [Cf. F. stimulant.] 1. That which stimulates, provokes, or excites.

His feelings had been exasperated by the constant application of stimulants.

Macaulay.

2. (Physiol. & Med.) An agent which produces a temporary increase of vital activity in the organism, or in any of its parts; -- sometimes used without qualification to signify an alcoholic beverage used as a stimulant.

Stim"u*late (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stimulated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Stimulating.] [L. stimulatus, p. p. of stimulare to prick or goad on, to incite, fr. stimulus a goad. See Stimulus.] 1. To excite as if with a goad; to excite, rouse, or animate, to action or more vigorous exertion by some pungent motive or by persuasion; as, to stimulate one by the hope of reward, or by the prospect of glory.

To excite and stimulate us thereunto.

Dr. J. Scott.

2. (Physiol.) To excite; to irritate; especially, to excite the activity of (a nerve or an irritable muscle), as by electricity.

Syn. -- To animate; incite; encourage; impel; urge; instigate; irritate; exasperate; incense.

Stim`u*la"tion (?), n. [L. stimulatio: cf. F. stimulation.] 1. The act of stimulating, or the state of being stimulated.

2. (Physiol.) The irritating action of various agents (stimuli) on muscles, nerves, or a sensory end organ, by which activity is evoked; especially, the nervous impulse produced by various agents on nerves, or a sensory end organ, by which the part connected with the nerve is thrown into a state of activity; irritation.

Stim"u*la*tive (?), a. Having the quality of stimulating. -- n. That which stimulates.

Stim"u*la`tor (?), n. [L.: cf. F. stimulateur.] One who stimulates.

Stim"u*la`tress (?), n. A woman who stimulates.

Stim"u*lism (?), n. (Med.) (a) The theory of medical practice which regarded life as dependent upon stimulation, or excitation, and disease as caused by excess or deficiency in the amount of stimulation. (b) The practice of treating disease by alcoholic stimulants. Dr. H. Hartshorne.

Stim"u*lus (?), n.; pl. Stimuli (#). [L., for stigmulus, akin to L. instigare to stimulate. See Instigare, Stick, v. t.] 1. A goad; hence, something that rouses the mind or spirits; an incentive; as, the hope of gain is a powerful stimulus to labor and action.

2. That which excites or produces a temporary increase of vital action, either in the whole organism or in any of its parts; especially (Physiol.), any substance or agent capable of evoking the activity of a nerve or irritable muscle, or capable of producing an impression upon a sensory organ or more particularly upon its specific end organ.

Of the stimuli applied to the sensory apparatus, physiologists distinguish two kinds: (a) Homologous stimuli, which act only upon the end organ, and for whose action the sense organs are especially adapted, as the rods and cones of the retina for the vibrations of the either. (b) Heterologous stimuli, which are mechanical, chemical, electrical, etc., and act upon the nervous elements of the sensory apparatus along their entire course, producing, for example, the flash of light beheld when the eye is struck. Landois & Stirling.

Sting (?), n. [AS. sting a sting. See Sting, v. t.] 1. (Zoöl.) Any sharp organ of offense and defense, especially when connected with a poison gland, and adapted to inflict a wound by piercing; as the caudal sting of a scorpion. The sting of a bee or wasp is a modified ovipositor. The caudal sting, or spine, of a sting ray is a modified dorsal fin ray. The term is sometimes applied to the fang of a serpent. See Illust. of Scorpion.

2. (Bot.) A sharp-pointed hollow hair seated on a gland which secrets an acrid fluid, as in nettles. The points of these hairs usually break off in the wound, and the acrid fluid is pressed into it.

3. Anything that gives acute pain, bodily or mental; as, the stings of remorse; the stings of reproach.

The sting of death is sin.

1 Cor. xv. 56.

4. The thrust of a sting into the flesh; the act of stinging; a wound inflicted by stinging. "The lurking serpent's mortal sting." Shak.

5. A goad; incitement. Shak.

6. The point of an epigram or other sarcastic saying.

Sting moth (Zoöl.), an Australian moth (Doratifera vulnerans) whose larva is armed, at each end of the body, with four tubercles bearing powerful stinging organs. -- Sting ray. (Zoöl.) See under 6th Ray. -- Sting winkle (Zoöl.), a spinose marine univalve shell of the genus Murex, as the European species (Murex erinaceus). See Illust. of Murex.

Sting, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stung (?) (Archaic Stang (&?;)); p. pr. & vb. n. Stinging.] [AS. stingan; akin to Icel. & Sw. stinga, Dan. stinge, and probably to E. stick, v.t.; cf. Goth. usstiggan to put out, pluck out. Cf. Stick, v. t.] 1. To pierce or wound with a sting; as, bees will sting an animal that irritates them; the nettles stung his hands.

2. To pain acutely; as, the conscience is stung with remorse; to bite. "Slander stings the brave." Pope.

3. To goad; to incite, as by taunts or reproaches.

Sting`a*ree" (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any sting ray. See under 6th Ray.

Sting"bull` (?), n. (Zoöl.) The European greater weever fish (Trachinus draco), which is capable of inflicting severe wounds with the spinous rays of its dorsal fin. See Weever.

Sting"er (?), n. One who, or that which, stings.

Professor E. Forbes states that only a small minority of the medusæ of our seas are stingers.

Owen.

Sting"fish` (?), n. (Zoöl.) The weever.

Stin"gi*ly (?), adv. In a stingy manner.

Stin"gi*ness, n. The quality or state of being stingy.

Sting"ing (?), a. Piercing, or capable of piercing, with a sting; inflicting acute pain as if with a sting, goad, or pointed weapon; pungent; biting; as, stinging cold; a stinging rebuke. -- Sting"ing*ly, adv.

Stinging cell. (Zoöl.) Same as Lasso cell, under Lasso.

Sting"less, a. Having no sting.

Stin"go (?), n. [From Sting.] Old beer; sharp or strong liquor. [Old Slang]

Shall I set a cup of old stingo at your elbow?

Addison.

Sting"tail` (?), n. (Zoöl.) A sting ray.

Sting"y (?), a. Stinging; able to sting.

Stin"gy (?), a. [Compar. Stingier (?); superl. Stingiest.] [Probably from sting, and meaning originally, stinging; hence, biting, nipping (of the wind), churlish, avaricious; or cf. E. skinch.] Extremely close and covetous; meanly avaricious; niggardly; miserly; penurious; as, a stingy churl.

A stingy, narrow-hearted fellow that had a deal of choice fruit, had not the heart to touch it till it began to be rotten.

L'estrange.

Stink (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Stunk (?), Stank (&?;), p. pr. & vb. n. Stinking.] [AS. stinkan to have a smell (whether good or bad); akin to OHG. stinchan, G. & D. stinken to stink; of uncertain origin; cf. Icel. stökkva to leap, to spring, Goth. stigqan to push, strike, or Gr. &?; rancid. Cf. Stench.] To emit a strong, offensive smell; to send out a disgusting odor.

Stink, v. t. To cause to stink; to affect by a stink.

Stink, n. [AS. stinc.] A strong, offensive smell; a disgusting odor; a stench.

Fire stink. See under Fire. -- Stink-fire lance. See under Lance. - - Stink rat (Zoöl.), the musk turtle. [Local, U.S.] -- Stink shad (Zoöl.), the gizzard shad. [Local, U.S.] -- Stink trap, a stench trap. See under Stench.

Stink"ard (?), n. 1. A mean, stinking, paltry fellow. B. Jonson.

2. (Zoöl.) The teledu of the East Indies. It emits a disagreeable odor.

Stink"ball` (?), n. A composition of substances which in combustion emit a suffocating odor; -- used formerly in naval warfare.

Stink"er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, stinks.

2. (Zoöl.) Any one of the several species of large antarctic petrels which feed on blubber and carrion and have an offensive odor, as the giant fulmar.

Stink"horn` (?), n. (Bot.) A kind of fungus of the genus Phallus, which emits a fetid odor.

Stink"ing, a. & n. from Stink, v.

Stinking badger (Zoöl.), the teledu. -- Stinking cedar (Bot.), the California nutmeg tree; also, a related tree of Florida (Torreya taxifolia).

Stink"ing*ly, adv. In a stinking manner; with an offensive smell.

Stink"pot` (?), n. 1. An earthen jar charged with powder, grenades, and other materials of an offensive and suffocating smell, -- sometimes used in boarding an enemy's vessel.

2. A vessel in which disinfectants are burned.

3. (Zoöl.) The musk turtle, or musk tortoise. See under Musk.

Stink"stone` (?), n. (Min.) One of the varieties of calcite, barite, and feldspar, which emit a fetid odor on being struck; -- called also swinestone.

Stink"weed` (?), n. (Bot.) Stramonium. See Jamestown weed, and Datura.

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Stink"wood` (?), n. (Bot.) A name given to several kinds of wood with an unpleasant smell, as that of the Fœtidia Mauritiana of the Mauritius, and that of the South African Ocotea bullata.

Stint (?), n. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of several species of small sandpipers, as the sanderling of Europe and America, the dunlin, the little stint of India (Tringa minuta), etc. Called also pume. (b) A phalarope.

Stint, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stinted; p. pr. & vb. n. Stinting.] [OE. stinten, stenten, stunten, to cause to cease, AS. styntan (in comp.) to blunt, dull, fr. stunt dull, stupid; akin to Icel. stytta to shorten, stuttr short, dial, Sw. stynta to shorten, stunt short. Cf. Stent, Stunt.] 1. To restrain within certain limits; to bound; to confine; to restrain; to restrict to a scant allowance.

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