*spi*

v. i. To put forth the first sprout. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The berry of the pimento (Eugenia pimenta), a tree of the West Indies; a spice of a mildly pungent taste, and agreeably aromatic; Jamaica pepper; pimento. It has been supposed to combine the flavor of cinnamon, nutmegs, and cloves; and hence the name. The name is also given to other aromatic shrubs; as, the Carolina allspice (Calycanthus floridus); wild allspice (Lindera benzoin), called also spicebush, spicewood, and feverbush. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. any type of strongly alcoholic beverage prepared by distillation of an alcohol-containing fermented material. [ PJC ]

n. [ L. aruspex: cf. F. aruspice. Cf. Aruspex, Haruspice. ] A soothsayer of ancient Rome. Same as Aruspex. [ Written also haruspice. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. aruspicium, haruspicium. ] Prognostication by inspection of the entrails of victims slain sacrifice. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., prob. fr. aspic an asp. ] A savory meat jelly containing portions of fowl, game, fish, hard boiled eggs, etc. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. See Asp. ] 1. The venomous asp. [ Chiefly poetic ] Shak. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A piece of ordnance carrying a 12 pound shot. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., a corrupt. of spic (OF. espi, F. épi), L. spica (spicum, spicus), ear, spike. See Spike. ] A European species of lavender (Lavandula spica), which produces a volatile oil. See Spike. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. 1 an evergreen perennial (Aspidistra elatio) with large handsome basal leaves; grown primarily as a foliage houseplant.
Syn. -- cast-iron plant, bar-room plant [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_;, &unr_;, shield + &unr_; gills. ] (Zool.) A group of Gastropoda, with limpetlike shells, including the abalone shells and keyhole limpets. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. 1 a genus comprising the alligatorfishes.
Syn. -- genus Aspidophoroides. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ Cf. F. aspirant, p. pr. of aspirer. See Aspire. ] Aspiring. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. aspirant. ] One who aspires; one who eagerly seeks some high position or object of attainment. [ 1913 Webster ]

In consequence of the resignations . . . the way to greatness was left clear to a new set of aspirants. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Aspirated p. pr. & vb. n. Aspirating ] [ L. aspiratus, p. p. of aspirare to breathe toward or upon, to add the breathing h; ad + spirare to breathe, blow. Cf. Aspire. ] To pronounce with a breathing, an aspirate, or an h sound; as, we aspirate the words horse and house; to aspirate a vowel or a liquid consonant. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A sound consisting of, or characterized by, a breath like the sound of h; the breathing h or a character representing such a sound; an aspirated sound. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A mark of aspiration (&asper_;) used in Greek; the asper, or rough breathing. Bentley. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An elementary sound produced by the breath alone; a surd, or nonvocal consonant; as, f, th in thin, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. aspiratus, p. p. ] Pronounced with the h sound or with audible breath. [ 1913 Webster ]

But yet they are not aspirate, i. e., with such an aspiration as h. Holder. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. aspiratio, fr. aspirare: cf. F. aspiration. ] 1. The act of aspirating; the pronunciation of a letter with a full or strong emission of breath; an aspirated sound. [ 1913 Webster ]

If aspiration be defined to be an impetus of breathing. Wilkins. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of breathing; a breath; an inspiration. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The act of aspiring of a ardently desiring; strong wish; high desire. “Aspirations after virtue.” Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Vague aspiration after military renown. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Chem.) An apparatus for passing air or gases through or over certain liquids or solids, or for exhausting a closed vessel, by means of suction. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) An instrument for the evacuation of the fluid contents of tumors or collections of blood. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to breathing; suited to the inhaling of air [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Aspired p. pr. & vb. n. Aspiring. ] [ F. aspirer, L. aspirare. See Aspirate, v. t. ] 1. To desire with eagerness; to seek to attain something high or great; to pant; to long; -- followed by to or after, and rarely by at; as, to aspire to a crown; to aspire after immorality. [ 1913 Webster ]

Aspiring to be gods, if angels fell;
Aspiring to be angels, men rebel. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To rise; to ascend; to tower; to soar. [ 1913 Webster ]

My own breath still foments the fire,
Which flames as high as fancy can aspire. Waller. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To aspire to; to long for; to try to reach; to mount to. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Aspiration. [ Obs. ] Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Aspiration. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who aspires. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Pharm.) A white crystalline compound, acetyl salicylic acid (CH3.CO.O.C6H4.CO.OH) widely used as a drug for relief of pain and alleviation of fever. It has analgesic, antipyretic, and antiinflammatory properties, and is one of a class of agents called non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The name was originally a trade name, but has become the preferred name for the substance. It is actually a prodrug, liberating salicylic acid, the ultimate pharmacologically active agent, in the intestines. It is more effective when taken orally than is salicylic acid, because it dissolves more readily.
Syn. -- 2-(acetyloxy)benzoic acid [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

a. That aspires; as, an Aspiring mind. -- As*pir"ing*ly, adv. -- As*pir"ing*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to, or like, an asp. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. auspicatus, p. p. of auspicari to take auspices, fr. auspex a bird seer, an augur, a contr. of avispex; avis bird + specere, spicere, to view. See Aviary, Spy. ] Auspicious. [ Obs. ] Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To foreshow; to foretoken. [ Obs. ] B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To give a favorable turn to in commencing; to inaugurate; -- a sense derived from the Roman practice of taking the auspicium, or inspection of birds, before undertaking any important business. [ 1913 Webster ]

They auspicate all their proceedings. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Auspices [ L. auspicium, fr. auspex: cf. F. auspice. See Auspicate, a. ] 1. A divining or taking of omens by observing birds; an omen as to an undertaking, drawn from birds; an augury; an omen or sign in general; an indication as to the future. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Protection; patronage and care; guidance. [ 1913 Webster ]

Which by his auspice they will nobler make. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In this sense the word is generally plural, auspices; as, under the auspices of the king. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to auspices; auspicious. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Auspice. ] 1. Having omens or tokens of a favorable issue; giving promise of success, prosperity, or happiness; predicting good; as, an auspicious beginning. [ 1913 Webster ]

Auspicious union of order and freedom. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Prosperous; fortunate; as, auspicious years. “Auspicious chief.” Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Favoring; favorable; propitious; -- applied to persons or things. “Thy auspicious mistress.” Shak. “Auspicious gales.” Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- See Propitious. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Aus*pi"cious*ly, adv. -- Aus*pi"cious*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Zool.) A spider which has the habit of rising into the air. Many kinds (esp. species of Lycosa) do this while young by ejecting threads of silk until the force of the wind upon them carries the spider aloft. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To season with spice, or with some spicy drug. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. Same as Bespurt. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. Bespit; p. p. Bespit, Bespitten p. pr. & vb. n. Bespitting. ] To daub or soil with spittle. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Anat.) One of the two double-pointed teeth which intervene between the canines (cuspids) and the molars, on each side of each jaw. See Tooth, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ See pref. Bi-, and Cuspidate. ] Having two points or prominences; ending in two points; -- said of teeth, leaves, fruit, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. bi- + spinose. ] (Zool.) Having two spines. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Scot.; of uncertain origin. ] A curling match between clubs. [ Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Same as Cespitose. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. Of or pertaining to or affecting both the heart and the lungs and their functions; as, cardiopulmonary resuscitation. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. kefalh` head + &unr_; a shield. ] (Paleon.) A genus of fossil ganoid fishes found in the old red sandstone or Devonian formation. The head is large, and protected by a broad shield-shaped helmet prolonged behind into two lateral points. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cerebrum + spinal. ] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the central nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cerebro-spinal fluid (Physiol.), a serous fluid secreted by the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. --
Cerebro-spinal meningitis,
Cerebro-spinal fever (Med.), a dangerous epidemic, and endemic, febrile disease, characterized by inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord, giving rise to severe headaches, tenderness of the back of the neck, paralysis of the ocular muscles, etc. It is sometimes marked by a cutaneous eruption, when it is often called spotted fever. It is not contagious. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. caespes, caespitis, a turf. ] An oil obtained by distillation of peat, and containing various members of the pyridine series. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. caespiticius, fr. caespes turf. ] Same as Cespitious. [ R. ] Gough. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. caespes turf. ] (Bot.) Having the form a piece of turf, i. e., many stems from one rootstock or from many entangled rootstocks or roots. [ Written also cæspitose. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Cespitose. ] Pertaining to, consisting, of resembling, turf; turfy. [ 1913 Webster ]

A cespitous or turfy plant has many stems from the same root, usually forming a close, thick carpet of matting. Martyn. [ 1913 Webster ]