Spial
(Spi"al) n. A spy; a scout. [Obs.] Bacon.
Spica
(||Spi"ca) n.; pl. Spicæ [L., an ear, as of corn.]
1. (Med.) A kind of bandage passing, by successive turns and crosses, from an extremity to the trunk; —
so called from its resemblance to a spike of a barley.
2. (Astron.) A star of the first magnitude situated in the constellation Virgo.
Spicate
(Spi"cate Spi"ca*ted) a. [L. spicatus, p. p. of spicare furnish with spikes, or ears, fr. spica a
spike, or ear.] (Bot.) Having the form of a spike, or ear; arranged in a spike or spikes. Lee.
Spiccato
(||Spic*ca"to) a. [It., p. p. of spicare to detach, to separate.] (Mus.) Detached; separated; —
a term indicating that every note is to be performed in a distinct and pointed manner.
Spice
(Spice) n. [OE. spice, spece, spice, species, OF. espice, espece, F. épice spice, espèce species,
fr. L. species particular sort or kind, a species, a sight, appearance, show, LL., spices, drugs, etc., of
the same sort, fr. L. specere to look. See Spy, and cf. Species.]
1. Species; kind. [Obs.]
The spices of penance ben three.
Chaucer.
Abstain you from all evil spice.
Wyclif
Justice, although it be but one entire virtue, yet is described in two kinds of spices. The one is named
justice distributive, the other is called commutative.
Sir T. Elyot. 2. A vegetable production of many kinds, fragrant or aromatic and pungent to the taste, as pepper, cinnamon,
nutmeg, mace, allspice, ginger, cloves, etc., which are used in cookery and to flavor sauces, pickles, etc.
Hast thou aught in thy purse [bag] any hot spices?
Piers Plowman. 3. Figuratively, that which enriches or alters the quality of a thing in a small degree, as spice alters the
taste of food; that which gives zest or pungency; a slight flavoring; a relish; hence, a small quantity or admixture; a
sprinkling; as, a spice of mischief.
So much of the will, with a spice of the willful.
Coleridge. Spice
(Spice), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spiced ; p. p. & vb. n. Spicing ]
1. To season with spice, or as with spice; to mix aromatic or pungent substances with; to flavor; to season; as,
to spice wine; to spice one's words with wit.
She 'll receive thee, but will spice thy bread
With flowery poisons.
Chapman. 2. To fill or impregnate with the odor of spices.
In the spiced Indian air, by night.
Shak. 3. To render nice or dainty; hence, to render scrupulous. [Obs.] "A spiced conscience." Chaucer.
Spicebush
(Spice"bush`) n. (Bot.) Spicewood.
Spicenut
(Spice"nut`) A small crisp cake, highly spiced.
Spicer
(Spi"cer) n. [Cf. OF. espicier, F. épicier.]
