SPECULARIA, spek-[=u]-l[=a]'ri-a, _n._ a genus of plants of the bellwort family (_Campanulaceae_), including the Venus's-looking-glass.
SPECULATE, spek'[=u]-l[=a]t, _v.i._ to look at or into with the mind: to consider: to theorise: to traffic for great profit.--_ns._ SPECUL[=A]'TION, act of speculating: mental view: contemplation: theory: the buying goods, &c., to sell them at an advance, any more or less risky investment of money for the sake of unusually large profits; SPEC'UL[=A]TIST, a speculative philosopher.--_adj._ SPEC'[=U]L[=A]TIVE, given to speculation or theory: ideal: pertaining to speculation in business, &c.--_adv._ SPEC'UL[=A]TIVELY.--_ns._ SPEC'UL[=A]TIVENESS, the state of being speculative; SPEC'UL[=A]TOR, one who engages in mental speculations, or who practises speculation in trade or business of any kind.--_adj._ SPEC'[=U]L[=A]TORY, exercising speculation: adapted for spying or viewing.--_n._ SPEC'UL[=A]TRIX, a female speculator. [L. _speculatus_, _pa.p._ of _specul[=a]ri_--_specula_, a lookout--_spec[)e]re_, to look.]
SPECULUM, spek'[=u]-lum, _n._ (_opt._) a reflector usually made of polished metal: (_surg._) an instrument for bringing into view parts otherwise hidden: an ocellus or eye-spot, the mirror of a wing: a lookout place:--_pl._ SPEC'ULA. [L.,--_spec[)e]re_, to look.]
SPED, sped, _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ of _speed_.
SPEECH, sp[=e]ch, _n._ that which is spoken: language: the power of speaking: manner of speech, oration: any declaration of thoughts: mention: colloquy: conference.--_ns._ SPEECH'-CRAFT, the science of language: the gift of speech; SPEECH'-CR[=I]'ER, one who hawked the broadsides containing the dying speeches of persons executed, once common; SPEECH'-DAY, the public day at the close of a school year.--_adj._ SPEECH'FUL, loquacious.--_ns._ SPEECHIFIC[=A]'TION, the act of making harangues; SPEECH'IF[=I]ER.--_v.i._ SPEECH'IFY, to make speeches, harangue (implying contempt).--_adj._ SPEECH'LESS, destitute or deprived of the power of speech.--_adv._ SPEECH'LESSLY.--_ns._ SPEECH'LESSNESS; SPEECH'-M[=A]K'ER, one accustomed to speak in public; SPEECH'-M[=A]K'ING, a formal speaking before an assembly; SPEECH'-READ'ING, the art of following spoken words by observing the speaker's lips, as taught to deaf-mutes. [A.S. _sp['ae]c_, _spr['ae]c_; Ger. _sprache_.]
SPEED, sp[=e]d, _n._ quickness, velocity: success.--_v.i._ to move quickly, to hurry: to succeed, to fare.--_v.t._ to despatch quickly: to hasten, as to a conclusion: to cause to advance, to push forward: to give a certain speed to, regulate the speed of: to send off, to put forth, to rid of, to kill: to cause to be relieved (only in passive): to execute: to aid: to make prosperous:--_pr.p._ speed'ing; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ sped.--_n._ SPEED'ER, one who, or that which, promotes speed.--_adj._ SPEED'FUL, speedy.--_advs._ SPEED'FULLY; SPEED'ILY.--_ns._ SPEED'INESS, speed, haste; SPEED'-PULL'EY, a pulley having different faces of different diameters giving various speeds according to the face the belt passes over; SPEED'WELL (_Veronica_), a genus of plants of the natural order _Scrophulariaceae_, with blue, white, or pink flowers, the leaves of some species used medicinally.--_adj._ SPEED'Y, hasty: quick: nimble. [A.S.
_sped_; Dut. _spoed_.]
SPEIR, SPEER, sp[=e]r, _v.t._ and _v.i._ (_Scot._) to ask. [A.S. _spyrian_, to inquire after, _spor_, a trace.]
SPEISS, sp[=i]s, _n._ the product first obtained (an arsenide of the metal) when arsenical ores are smelted. [Ger. _speise_.]
SPEKBOOM, spek'b[=o]m, _n._ a large South African shrub of the purslane family. [Dut.]
SPELaeAN, SPELEAN, sp[=e]-l[=e]'an, _adj._ cave-dwelling. [L. _spelaeum_--Gr.
_sp[=e]laion_, a cave.]
SPELD, speld, _n._ a chip, splinter.--Also SPEL'DER.
SPELDING, spel'ding, _n._ (_Scot._) a small fish split and dried in the sun.--Also SPEL'DRIN, SPEL'DRON.
SPELIN, spe-lin', _n._ an artificial linguistic system devised by G. Bauer in 1888 for universal use.
SPELK, spelk, _n._ (_prov._) a rod, switch.--_v.t._ to use a spelk in or upon.
SPELL, spel, _n._ any form of words supposed to possess magical power: fascination.--_v.t._ to tell or name the letters of: to name, write, or print the proper letters of.--_v.i._ to form words with the proper letters: to study:--_pr.p._ spell'ing; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ spelled, spelt.--_adjs._ SPELL'ABLE, capable of being spelled; SPELL'-BOUND, SPELL'-STOPPED (_Shak._), entranced, fascinated.--_ns._ SPELL'ER, one who spells: one skilled in spelling; SPELL'ING, act of spelling or naming the letters of words: orthography; SPELL'ING-BEE, a competition in spelling; SPELL'ING-BOOK, a book for teaching to spell; SPELL'-WORK, that which is wrought by spells or charms: power of magic.--SPELL BACKWARD, to spell, repeat, or arrange in reverse order: to understand in a contrary sense: to turn wrong-side out, misconstrue one's qualities; SPELL BAKER, to do something difficult, that word being one of the earliest dissyllables in children's books. [A.S. _spell_, a narrative; Goth. _spill_, Ice. _spjall_, a tale.]
SPELL, spel, _v.t._ to take another's place at work:--_pr.p._ spell'ing; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ spelled.--_n._ a turn at work: a short period indefinitely: an interval of rest: a bad turn. [A.S. _spelian_, to act for another; cf. Dut. _spelen_, Ger. _spielen_, to play.]
SPELT, spelt, _n._ a kind of wheat, probably only a race of common wheat, still grown in the mountainous parts of Europe and elsewhere--also called German wheat. [A.S. _spelt_--Low L. _spelta_.]
SPELTER, spel't[.e]r, _n._ zinc. [Allied to Dut. _spiauter_.]
SPENCE, spens, _n._ (_prov._) a place where provisions are kept: a larder: a pantry.--Also SPENSE. [O. Fr. _despense_, a buttery--_despendre_--L.
_dispend[)e]re_.]
SPENCER, spens'[.e]r, _n._ a short over-jacket worn by men or women, named after Earl _Spencer_ (1782-1845).
SPENCER, spens'[.e]r, _n._ (in ships and barques) a fore-and-aft sail abaft the fore and main masts.
SPENCERIAN, spen-s[=e]'ri-an, _adj._ pertaining to the philosophy of Herbert _Spencer_ (b. 1820).--_n._ a follower of Spencer.--_n._ SPENC[=E]'RIANISM, the system of evolutionary cosmology propounded by Herbert Spencer--the so-called synthetic philosophy.
SPEND, spend, _v.t._ to expend or weigh out: to give for any purpose: to consume: to waste: to pass, as time.--_v.i._ to make expense: to be lost, wasted, or dissipated: to emit milt, semen, &c.:--_pr.p._ spend'ing; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ spent.--_adj._ SPEN'DABLE, that may be spent.--_ns._ SPEND'ALL, a spendthrift; SPEN'DER; SPEN'DING; SPENSE=_Spence_ (q.v.).--_adj._ SPENT, exhausted: impotent: of fish, exhausted by spawning.
[A.S. _spendan_--L. _expend[)e]re_ or _dispend[)e]re_, to weigh out.]
SPENDTHRIFT, spend'thrift, _n._ one who spends the savings of thrift: a prodigal.--_adj._ excessively lavish. [_Spend_ and _thrift_.]
SPENSERIAN, spen-s[=e]'ri-an, _adj._ pertaining to Edmund _Spenser_ (1552-1599) or his versification, esp. his stanza in _The Faerie Queene_, a strophe of eight decasyllabic lines and an Alexandrine, having three rhymes, the 1st and 3d, the 2d, 4th, 5th, and 7th, and the 6th, 8th, and 9th.
SPENT, spent, _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ of spend.
SPEOS, sp[=e]'os, _n._ a grotto-temple or tomb. [Gr.]
SPER, sp[.e]r, _v.t._ (_Spens._) to bolt, to shut, as a gate.
SPERABLE, sp[=e]'ra-bl, _adj._ (_Bacon_) that may be hoped.--_adj._ SP[=E]'RATE, hoped for. [L. _sperabilis_--_sper[=a]re_, to hope.]
SPERGULA, sper'g[=u]-la, _n._ a genus of polypetalous annuals belonging to the _Caryophyllaceae_, with small white or pink flowers--_spurry_ or _sandweed_.--_n._ SPERGUL[=A]'RIA, an allied genus, the sand-spurry. [L.
_sparg[)e]re_, to scatter.]
SPERKET, sp[.e]r'ket, _n._ a hooked peg for hanging harness upon.--Also SPIR'KET.
SPERM, sp[.e]rm, _n._ animal seed: spawn of fishes or frogs: spermaceti.--_ns._ SPER'MADUCT, a spermatic duct; SPER'MAPHORE (_bot._), a placenta; SPER'MARY, the male germ-gland; SPERMATH[=E]'CA, a spermatic case or sheath--also SPERMATOTH[=E]'CA.--_adjs._ SPERMATH[=E]'CAL; SPERMAT'IC, -AL, pertaining to, or consisting of, sperm or seed, seminal: connected with the male function, testicular.--_v.i._ SPER'MATISE, to yield or to discharge semen.--_ns._ SPER'MATISM=_Spermism_; SPER'MATIST=_Spermist_; SPERM[=A]'TIUM, a minute spore within a spermogonium:--_pl._ SPERM[=A]'TIA.--_adj._ SPERMAT[=O]'AL, pertaining to a spermatoon.--_n._ SPER'MATOBLAST, the germ of a spermatozoon.--_adj._ SPERMATOBLAS'TIC.--_ns._ SPER'MATOCELE, swelling of the testicle; SPER'MATOCYST, a seminal vesicle; SPERMATOCYS'TIS, inflammation of the seminal vesicles.--_adj._ SPERMATOCY'TAL.--_ns._ SPER'MATOCYTE, a mother-cell from which spermatozoids are developed; SPERMATOGEM'MA, a mass of spermatocytes; SPERMATOGEN'ESIS, the formation of spermatozoa.--_adjs._ SPERMATOGENET'IC, SPERMATOG'ENOUS.--_ns._ SPERMATOG'ENY, the generation of spermatozoa; SPERMATOG[=O]'NIUM, one of the primitive seminal cells that by division form the spermatocytes.--_adjs._ SPER'MATOID, sperm-like; SPERMATOLOG'ICAL, pertaining to spermatology.--_ns._ SPERMATOL'OGIST, one versed in spermatology; SPERMATOL'OGY, the knowledge of the facts about semen; SPERMAT[=O]'ON, the nucleus of a spermatozoon; SPERMAT'[=O]PH[=O]RE, a case which in some Invertebrata encloses the spermatozoa.--_adj._ SPERMATOPH'OROUS.--_ns._ SPERMATORRH[=E]'A, involuntary seminal discharge; SPERMAT[=O]'VUM, a fecundated ovum; SPERMATOZ[=O]'ID, SPERMATOZ[=O]'ON, one of the male reproductive cells of animals, the physiological complements of the egg-cells or ova:--_pl._ SPERMATOZ[=O]'A; SPERM'-CELL, a spermatozoon: a spermatoblast or a spermatocyte.--_adj._ SPER'MIC=_Spermatic_--_ns._ SPER'MISM, a seminal discharge: the theory that the male sperm holds the whole germ of the future animal; SPER'MIST, one who holds the theory of spermism; SPERM'-N[=U]'CLEUS, the nucleus of a spermatozoon; SPER'MODERM, the whole integument of a seed; SPERMOG[=O]'NIUM, the cavity in which, spermatia are produced; SPERM'-OIL, oil from the sperm-whale; SPORMOL'OGY=_Spermatology_; SPERMOPH'[=O]RUM, a seminal vesicle.--_n.pl._ SPERMOPH'YTA, one of the four divisions of the vegetable kingdom including flowering plants.--_ns._ SPERM'[=U]LE, a sperm-cell; SPERM'-WHALE, the cachalot, a species of whale from which spermaceti is obtained. [Fr.,--L.
_sperma_--Gr. _sperma_, _spermatos_--_speirein_, to sow.]
SPERMACETI, sper-ma-set'i, or-s[=e]'t[=i], _n._ a waxy matter obtained mixed with oil from the head of the sperm-whale--purified by draining off the oil and repeatedly washing with hot water and weak boiling potash-lye.--_adj._ derived from, or yielding, spermaceti.--_n._ SPERMACET'I-WHALE, the sperm-whale. [L. _sperma_, _c[=e]tus_, a whale--Gr.
_k[=e]tos_.]
SPERMOPHILE, sper'm[=o]-f[=i]l, _n._ a rodent of the genus _Spermophilus_, a ground-squirrel. [Gr. _sperma_, seed, _philein_, to love.]
SPERRE, sper, _v.t._ (_Spens._). Same as SPER. [_Spar_.]
SPERRYLITE, sper'i-l[=i]t, _n._ an arsenide of platinum discovered in 1888 in the province of Ontario, Canada.
SPERSE, sp[.e]rs, _v.t._ (_Spens._) to disperse.
SPET, spet, _v.i._ (_Milt._) a form of _spit_.
SPETCH, spech, _n._ a piece of skin used in making glue. [_Speck_.]
SPEW, SPUE, sp[=u], _v.t._ and _v.i._ to vomit: to eject with loathing.--_ns._ SPEW'ER; SPEW'INESS, moistness.--_adj._ SPEW'Y, boggy.
[A.S. _spiwan_; Dut. _spuwen_, Ger. _speien_; also L. _spu[)e]re_, Gr.
_ptyein_.]
SPHACELUS, sfas'e-lus, _n._ gangrene.--_adjs._ SPHAC'ELATE, -D, necrosed.--_ns._ SPHACEL[=A]'TION, SPHACELIS'MUS, necrosis; SPHACEL[=O]'MA, a genus of fungi containing _anthracnose_. [Gr. _sphakelos_.]
SPHaeRIDIUM, sf[=e]-rid'i-um, _n._ one of the minute spheroidal bodies attached to the ambulacral plates of sea-urchins:--_pl._ SPHaeRID'IA. [Gr.
_sphairidion_, dim. of _sphaira_, a sphere.]
SPHaeRISTERIUM, sf[=e]-ris-t[=e]'ri-um, _n._ a tennis-court.
[Gr.,--_sphaira_, a ball.]
SPHaeRITE, sf[=e]'r[=i]t, _n._ a hydrous phosphate of aluminium.