Thomas Davidson

“ Spir′itualism, a being spiritual: the philosophical doctrine that nothing is real but soul or spirit: the doctrine that spirit has a real existence apart from matter: the name applied to a varied series of abnormal phenomena purporting to be for the most part caused by spiritual beings acting upon specially sensitive persons or mediums ”

“ Spright′ful (Shak.) , full of spirit: brisk, gay.—adv. Spright′fully, in a sprightful manner, briskly, vigorously.—n. Spright′fulness, the quality of being sprightful, briskness, liveliness.—adj. Spright′less, destitute of spirit or life: dull: sluggish.—n. Spright′liness.—adj. Spright′ly, airy: full of life: lively: brisk. [Spright=sprite.]
Spring, spring, v.i. to bound: to leap: to rush hastily: to move suddenly by elastic force: to start up suddenly: to break forth: to appear: to issue: to come into existence: (B.) to rise, as the sun.—v.t. ”

“ Spong′y, like a sponge, absorptive: of open texture, porous: wet and soft: drunken.—Set a sponge, to leaven a small mass of dough with which to leaven a large quantity; Throw up the sponge, to acknowledge defeat by throwing into the air the sponge with which a boxer is rubbed down between rounds: to give up any contest. ”

“ Spring′-pole, a pole whose elasticity serves as a spring; Spring′-sad′dle, a bent iron bar of form on the top of a railway carriage journal-box, surrounding the arch-bar and supporting the spring; Spring′-search′er, a steel-pronged tool to search for defects in the bore of a gun; Spring′-shack′le, a shackle closed by a spring: a shackle joining one spring of a vehicle with another or with a rigid piece; Spring′-stay (naut.) , a smaller stay, placed above the stays as a duplicate if needed; Spring′-stud, a rod passed through the axis of a coil-spring to keep it in place ”

“ Spider, spī′dėr, n. an arachnid of the order Araneida, the body divided into two distinct parts—an unsegmented cephalo-thorax, bearing six pairs of appendages, and a soft unsegmented abdomen, at the end of which are the spinnerets from each of which numerous 'spinning-spools' ooze forth the viscid fluid which hardens into the silken thread: a frying-pan with feet, a trivet.—ns. Spī′der-catch′er, the wall-creeper; Spī′der-crab, a spider-like crab, or sea-spider with long thin legs; Spī′der-dīv′er, the little grebe, or dabchick ”

“ Sphex, sfeks, n. a genus of hymenopterous insects of the family Sphegidæ, closely allied to the true wasps (Vespidæ) . [Gr. sphēx, a wasp.]
Sphincter, sfingk′tėr, n. (anat.) a muscle that contracts or shuts an orifice or opening which it surrounds—around the anus, &c.—adjs. Sphinc′terāte, provided with a sphincter, contracted as if by a sphincter; Sphinctē′rial, Sphincter′ic, relating to a sphincter or its function.—n. Sphincterot′omy, the operation of cutting a sphincter. [Gr. sphingktēr,—sphinggein, to bind tight.] ”

“ Spirillum, spī-ril′um, n. a genus of bacteria with cylindrical spirally twisted cells:—pl. Spirill′a.
Spirit, spir′it, n. vital force: the soul: a ghost: mental disposition: enthusiasm, animation, courage, mettle: real meaning: essence, chief quality: a very lively person: any volatile, inflammable liquid obtained by distillation, as brandy: (pl.) intellectual activity: liveliness: persons with particular qualities of mind: mental excitement: spirituous liquors.—v.t. ”

“ See under Spine.
Spinode, spī′nōd, n. (geom.) a cusp or stationary point of a curve.
Spinozism, spi-nōz′izm, n. the doctrine of Benedict Spinoza (1632-1677) , who taught that God is not only the creator, but also the original matter of the universe, which consists of and is a development of Himself.—n. Spinō′zist, a follower of Spinoza.—adj. Spinōzis′tic.
Spinster, spin′stėr, n. an unmarried female: an old maid: (obs.) a woman of loose character, fit for the spinning-house.—ns. Spin′sterdom, the world of old maids collectively; Spin′sterhood, Spin′stership, the state of being a spinster ”

“ Spin′nery, a spinning-mill.—adj. Spin′ning, used in spinning.—ns. Spin′ning-house, a place of correction where lewd and incorrigible women were made to spin; Spin′ning-jenn′y, a machine by which a number of threads can be spun at the same time; Spin′ning-mill, a factory where thread is spun; Spin′ning-wheel, a machine for spinning yarn, consisting of a wheel driven by the hand or by a treadle, which drives one or two spindles.—Spin a yarn, to tell a long story; Spin out, to prolong tediously. ”

“ Spī′der-like, like a spider.—ns. Spī′derling, a young spider; Spī′der-mon′key, an American platyrrine monkey, with long slender legs and tail; Spī′der-stitch, a stitch in lace or netting in which threads are carried diagonally and parallel to each other; Spī′der-wasp, a pompilid wasp which fills its nest with spiders for its young; Spī′der-web, the snare spun by the spider; Spī′der-wheel, in embroidery, a circular pattern with radiating lines; Spī′der-work, lace worked by spider-stitch; Spī′der-wort, any plant of the genus Tradescantia, esp. ”

“ Spike′-fish, a kind of sail-fish; Spike′-grass, one of several American grasses with conspicuous spikelets of flowers; Spike′let, a little spike; Spike′-nail, a spike; Spike′-oil, the oil of spike, a species of lavender; Spike′-plank, a platform before the mizzen-mast of a vessel, used in Arctic voyages.—adj. Spī′ky, furnished with spikes: having a sharp point. [L. spica, an ear of corn.]
Spikenard, spīk′närd, n. an aromatic oil or balsam yielded by an Indian plant, the Nardus, closely allied to valerian: the plant itself. [L. spica nardi.] ”

“ Spit, spit, n. an iron prong on which meat is roasted: a long piece of land or a narrow shoal running into the sea: a wire or spindle holding a spool in a shuttle.—v.t. to pierce with a spit: to string on a stick and hang up to dry:—pr.p. spit′ting; pa.t. and pa.p. spit′ted.—p.adj. Spit′ted, put upon a spit, impaled: shot out to a point.—n. Spit′ter, one who puts meat on a spit: a young deer whose antlers have shot out but not branched. [A.S. spitu; Dut. spit, Ger. spitze.]
Spit, spit, v.t. to throw out from the mouth: to eject with violence.—v.i. ”

“ Spir′itūousness, the quality of being spirituous: stimulating quality: ardour: activity; Spir′itus, a breathing, an aspirate: any spirituous preparation; Spir′itworld, the world of disembodied spirits.—adj. Spir′ity (Scot.) , full of spirit, spirited.—Spirit of wine, alcohol; Spiritual court, an ecclesiastical court; Spiritus asper, a rough breathing; Spiritus lenis, a soft or smooth breathing.—Animal spirits, constitutional liveliness of spirits; Holy Spirit (see under Holy) ; The Spirit, the Holy Spirit: the human spirit under the influence of the Holy Spirit. ”

“ Spō′ridesm (bot.) , a pluricellular body which becomes free like a simple spore, and in which every cell is capable of germinating; Sporidī′olum, a secondary sporidium; Sporid′ium, a secondary spore borne on a promycelium: an ascospore; Sporificā′tion, spore-production; Sporipar′ity, reproduction by means of spores.—adj. Sporip′arous.—ns. Spō′rocarp, a many-celled form of fruit produced in certain lower cryptogams in consequence of a sexual act; Spō′rocyst, the cyst or capsule developed in the process of sporular encystment.—adj. ”

“ Spring′-carr′iage, a wheel-carriage mounted on springs; Spring′-cart, a light cart mounted upon springs; Spring′er, a kind of dog of the spaniel class, useful for springing game in copses: one who springs: the bottom stone of an arch; Spring′-gun, a gun having wires connected with its trigger, and so fixed and planted as to be discharged when trespassers stumble against the wire; Spring′-halt, a jerking lameness in which a horse suddenly twitches up his leg or legs; Spring′-hamm′er, a machine-hammer in which the blow is delivered or augmented by the force of a spring ”

“ Spin′dle-tree, a shrub whose hard-grained wood was formerly used for making musical instruments and for spindles, and is now for skewers, &c.; Spin′dling, a person or thing too long and slender: a slender shoot.—adj. long and slender.—adj. Spin′dly, disproportionally long and slender. [A.S. spinl—spinnan, to spin; Ger. spindel.]
Spindrift, spin′drift, n. the spray blown from the crests of waves.—Also Spoon′drift.
Spine, spīn, n. a thorn: a thin, pointed spike, esp. in fishes: the backbone of an animal: any ridge extending lengthways: the heart-wood of trees.—adjs. Spined, having spines ”

“ Sphēnot′ic, pertaining to the sphenoid bone and the otic capsule; Sphē′no-tur′binal, sphenoidal and turbinated or whorled. [Gr. sphēn, sphēnos, a wedge, eidos, form.]
Sphere, sfēr, n. a ball or globe: an orb or circle: circuit of motion: province or duty: definite range: rank, position in society: (geom.) a surface every point of which is equidistant from one and the same point, called the centre.—adjs. ”

“ Spin′āte, covered with spines or spine-like processes.—Spinal column, the backbone; Spinal cord, marrow, the main neural axis of every vertebrate.
Spindle, spin′dl, n. the pin from which the thread is twisted: a pin on which anything turns: the fusee of a watch: anything very slender.—v.i. to grow long and slender.—adjs. Spin′dle-legged, -shanked, having long slender legs, like spindles.—ns.pl. Spin′dle-legs, -shanks, long slim legs—hence an over-long and slender person.—adj. Spin′dle-shaped, shaped like a spindle: thickest in the middle and tapering to both ends.—ns. ”

“ Squā′rer, one who, or that which, squares: (Shak.) a fighting, quarrelsome person.—adj. Square′-rigged, having the chief sails square, and extended by yards suspended by the middle at right angles to the masts—opposed to Fore-and-aft.—ns. Square′-root, that root which being multiplied into itself produces the given number or quantity; Square′-sail, a four-sided sail extended by yards suspended by the middle at right angles to the mast.—adj. ”

“ Spit′fire, a hot-tempered person; Spit′poison, a venomous calumniator.—pa.p. Spit′ted (B.) , thrown out from the mouth.—ns. Spit′ter, one who spits; Spit′ting, the act of one who or that which spits: an appearance on the surface of melted silver or platinum allowed to cool slowly, jets of oxygen forming small cones and sometimes throwing up drops of molten metal—also called Sprout′ing; Spit′tle, the moist matter thrown from the mouth: saliva ”

“ Splint, splint, n. a small piece of wood split off: a thin piece of padded wood, &c., for keeping a fractured limb in its proper position: a bony enlargement on the horse's leg, between the knee and the fetlock, usually appearing on the inside of one or both forelegs, frequently situated between the large and small canon bones, depending upon concussion—also Splent.—v.t. to confine with splints.—ns. Splint′age, use of splints; Splint′-arm′our, armour made of splints or narrow overlapping plates; Splint′-coal, cannel-coal of slaty structure; Splint′er, a piece of wood, &c., split off.—v.t. ”

“ Splint′er-bar, the cross-bar of a coach, supporting the springs; Splint′er-bone, the fibula.—adjs. Splint′er-proof, proof against the splinters of bursting shells; Splint′ery, made of, or like, splinters: apt to splinter. [Sw. splint—splinta, to splinter; cf. Split.]
Split, split, v.t. to cleave lengthwise: to tear asunder violently: to divide: to throw into discord.—v.i. to divide or part asunder: to be dashed to pieces: to divulge secrets: to vote for candidates of opposite parties: to burst with laughter:—pr.p. split′ting ”

“ Sprin′kler. [Freq. formed from A.S. sprengan, the causal of springan, to spring; cf. Ger. sprenkeln.]
Sprint, sprint, n. a short-distance race at full speed.—v.i. to run at full speed—also Sprent.—ns. Sprin′ter, a short-distance runner in races; Sprin′ting; Sprint′-race; Sprint′-run′ner. [Cf. Spurt.]
Sprit, sprit, n. (naut.) a spar set diagonally to extend a fore-and-aft sail. [A.S. spreót, a pole; Dut. and Ger. spriet, a bowsprit; conn. with sprout.]
Sprite, sprīt, n. a spirit: a shade: a ghost: (obs.) frame of mind, disposition.—Also Spright. [A doublet of spirit.] ”

“ Spūr′iously.—n. Spūr′iousness. [L. spurius, false.]
Spurling=Sparling (q.v.) .
Spurn, spurn, v.t. to drive away as with the foot: to kick: to reject with disdain.—n. disdainful rejection.—n. Spurn′er, one who spurns. [A.S. speornan; cog. with spur.]
Spurne, spurn, v.t. (Spens.) to spur.
Spurry, spur′i, n. a plant of the genus Spergula. [O. Fr. sporrie, of Teut. origin; cf. Ger. spörgel.]
Spurt, spurt, v.t. to spout, or send out in a sudden stream, as water.—v.i. to gush out suddenly in a small stream: to flow out forcibly or at intervals.—n. ”

“ Splutter, splut′ėr, v.i. to eject drops of saliva while speaking: to scatter ink upon a paper, as a bad pen.—n. bustle.—n. Splutt′erer, one who splutters. [For sprutter, a freq. of sprout, orig. form of spout.]
Spodium, spō′di-um, n. a powder obtained from calcination, as ivory-black, &c.—n. Spode, animal or bone charcoal, of which ornaments may be made.
Spodogenous, spō-doj′e-nus, adj. caused by waste-products, applied esp. to an enlargement of the spleen caused by waste red blood-corpuscles. [Gr. spodos, ashes, genēs, producing.] ”