Webster's Unabridged Dictionary - Letter S - Page 125
Specialize (v. t.) To mention specially; to particularize.
Specialize (v. t.) To apply to some specialty or limited object; to assign to a specific use; as, specialized knowledge.
Specialize (v. t.) (Biol.) To supply with an organ or organs having a special function or functions.
Specialize (v.) Become more focus on an area of activity or field of study; "She specializes in Near Eastern history" [syn: specialize, specialise, narrow, narrow down] [ant: branch out, broaden, diversify].
Specialize (v.) Be specific about; "Could you please specify your criticism of my paper?" [syn: specify, particularize, particularise, specialize, specialise] [ant: generalise, generalize].
Specialize (v.) Suit to a special purpose; "specialize one's research"; "this kind of beak has become specialized in certain Galapagos finches" [syn: specialize, specialise].
Specialize (v.) Devote oneself to a special area of work; "She specializes in honey bees"; "This baker specializes in French bread" [syn: specialize, specialise].
Specialize (v.) Evolve so as to lead to a new species or develop in a way most suited to the environment [syn: speciate, differentiate, specialize, specialise].
Specially (adv.) In a special manner; particularly; especially. -- Chaucer.
Specially (adv.) For a particular purpose; as, a meeting of the legislature is specially summoned.
Specially (adv.) In a special manner; "a specially arranged dinner" [syn: specially, especially].
Specially (adv.) To a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common; "he was particularly fussy about spelling"; "a particularly gruesome attack"; "under peculiarly tragic circumstances"; "an especially (or specially) cautious approach to the danger" [syn: particularly, peculiarly, especially, specially].
Specialties (n. pl. ) of Specialty.
Specialty (n.) Particularity.
Specialty of rule hath been neglected. -- Shak.
Specialty (n.) A particular or peculiar case. [Obs.]
Specialty (n.) (Law) A contract or obligation under seal; a contract by deed; a writing, under seal, given as security for a debt particularly specified. -- Chitty. -- Bouvier. -- Wharton (Law Dict.).
Let specialties be therefore drawn between us. -- Shak.
Specialty (n.) That for which a person is distinguished, in which he is specially versed, or which he makes an object of special attention; a speciality.
Men of boundless knowledge, like Humbold, must have had once their specialty, their pet subject. -- C. Kingsley.
Specialty (n.) An asset of special worth or utility; "cooking is his forte" [syn: forte, strong suit, long suit, metier,
specialty, speciality, strong point, strength] [ant: weak point].
Specialty (n.) A distinguishing trait [syn: peculiarity, specialness, specialty, speciality, distinctiveness].
Specialty (n.) The special line of work you have adopted as your career; "his specialization is gastroenterology" [syn: specialization, specialisation, specialty, speciality, specialism].
Specialty, () contracts. A writing sealed and delivered, containing some agreement. 2 Serg. & Rawle, 503; 1 Binn. Rep. 261; Willes, 189; 1 P. Wms. 130. In a more confined meaning, it signifies a writing sealed and delivered, which is given as a security for the payment of a debt, in which such debt is particularly specified. Bac. Ab. Obligation, A.
Specialty, () Although in the body of the writing it is not said, that the parties have set their hands and seals, yet if the instrument be really sealed it is a specialty, and if it be not sealed, it is not a specialty, although the parties in the body of the writing make mention of a seal. 2 Serg. & Rawle, 504; 2 Rep. 5 a; Perk. Sec. 129. Vide Bond; Debt; Obligation.
Specie () abl. of L. species sort, kind. Used in the phrase in specie, that is, in sort, in kind, in (its own) form.
"[The king] expects a return in specie from them" [i. e., kindness for kindness]. -- Dryden.
In specie (Law), In precise or definite form; specifically; according to the exact terms; of the very thing.
Specie (n.) Coin; hard money.
Specie (n.) Coins collectively [syn: coinage, mintage, specie, metal money].
Specie. () Metallic money issued by public authority.
Specie (n.) This term is used in contradistinction to paper money, which in some countries is emitted by the government, and is a mere engagement which represents specie. Bank paper in the United States is also called paper money. Specie is the only constitutional money in this country. See 4 Monr. 483.
Species (n.) Visible or sensible presentation; appearance; a sensible percept received by the imagination; an image. [R.] "The species of the letters illuminated with indigo and violet." -- Sir I. Newton.
Wit, . . . the faculty of imagination in the writer, which searches over all the memory for the species or ideas of those things which it designs to represent. -- Dryden.
Note: In the scholastic philosophy, the species was sensible and intelligible. The sensible species was that in any material, object which was in fact discerned by the mind through the organ of perception, or that in any object which rendered it possible that it should be perceived. The sensible species, as apprehended by the understanding in any of the relations of thought, was called an intelligible species. "An apparent diversity
between the species visible and audible is, that the visible doth not mingle in the medium, but the audible doth." -- Bacon.
Species (n.) (Logic) A group of individuals agreeing in common attributes, and designated by a common name; a conception subordinated to another conception, called a genus, or generic conception, from which it differs in containing or comprehending more attributes, and extending to fewer individuals. Thus, man is a species, under animal as a genus; and man, in its turn, may be regarded as a genus with respect to European, American, or the like, as species.
Species (n.) In science, a more or less permanent group of existing things or beings, associated according to attributes, or properties determined by scientific observation.
Note: In mineralogy and chemistry, objects which possess the same definite chemical structure, and are fundamentally the same in crystallization and physical characters, are classed as belonging to a species. In Zoology and botany, a species is an ideal group of individuals which are believed to have descended from common ancestors, which agree in essential characteristics, and are capable of indefinitely continued fertile reproduction through the sexes. A species, as thus defined, differs from a variety or subspecies only in the greater stability of its characters and in the absence of individuals intermediate between the related groups.
Species (n.) A sort; a kind; a variety; as, a species of low cunning; a species of generosity; a species of cloth.
Species (n.) Coin, or coined silver, gold, ot other metal, used as a circulating medium; specie. [Obs.]
There was, in the splendor of the Roman empire, a less quantity of current species in Europe than there is now. -- Arbuthnot.
Species (n.) A public spectacle or exhibition. [Obs.] -- Bacon.
Species (n.) (Pharmacy) A component part of compound medicine; a simple.
Species (n.) (Pharmacy) (Med.) An officinal mixture or compound powder of any kind; esp., one used for making an aromatic tea or tisane; a tea mixture. -- Quincy.
Species (n.) (Civil Law) The form or shape given to materials; fashion or shape; form; figure. -- Burill.
Incipient species (Zool.), A subspecies, or variety, which is in process of becoming permanent, and thus changing to a true species, usually by isolation in localities from which other varieties are excluded.
Species (n.) (Biology) Taxonomic group whose members can interbreed.
Species (n.) A specific kind of something; "a species of molecule"; "a species of villainy".
Species (n.) [ C ] (pl. species) (B2) A set of animals or plants in which the members have similar characteristics to each other and can breed with each other.
// Mountain gorillas are an endangered species.
// Over a hundred species of insect are found in this area.
// Figurative humorous Women film directors in Hollywood are a rare species.
See also Subspecies
Subspecies (n.) 亞種 A group somewhat lessdistinct than speciesusually are, but based on characters more important than those which characterize ordinary varieties; often, a geographical variety or race.
Subspecies (n.) (Biology) A taxonomic group that is a division of a species; usually arises as a consequence of geographical isolation within a species [syn: {subspecies}, {race}].
Subspecies (n.) [ C ] (pl. Subspecies) (Specialized) 亞種 A particular type within a species, the members of which are different in some clear ways from those of other types of the species.
Specifiable (a.) Admitting specification; capable of being specified.
Specifiable (a.) Capable of being specified; "specifiable complaints".
Specific (a.) Of or pertaining to a species; characterizing or constituting a species; possessing the peculiar property or properties of a thing which constitute its species, and distinguish it from other things; as, the specific form of an animal or a plant; the specific qualities of a drug; the specific distinction between virtue and vice.
Specific difference is that primary attribute which distinguishes each species from one another. -- I. Watts.
Specific (a.) Specifying; definite, or making definite; limited; precise; discriminating; as, a specific statement.
Specific (a.) (Med.) Exerting a peculiar influence over any part of the body; preventing or curing disease by a peculiar adaption, and not on general principles; as, quinine is a specific medicine in cases of malaria.
In fact, all medicines will be found specific in the perfection of the science. -- Coleridge.
Specific character (Nat. Hist.), A characteristic or characteristics distinguishing one species from every other species of the same genus.
Specific disease (Med.) (a) A disease which produces a determinate definite effect upon the blood and tissues or upon some special tissue.
Specific disease (Med.) (b) A disease which is itself uniformly produced by a definite and peculiar poison or organism.
Specific duty. (Com.) See under Duty.
Specific gravity. (Physics) See under Gravity.
Specific heat (Physics), The quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of a body one degree, taking as the unit of measure the quantity required to raise the same weight of water from zero to one degree; thus, the specific heat of mercury is 0.033, that of water being 1.000.
Specific inductive capacity (Physics), The effect of a dielectric body in producing static electric induction as compared with that of some other body or bodies referred to as a standard.
Specific legacy (Law), A bequest of a particular thing, as of a particular animal or piece of furniture, specified and distinguished from all others. -- Wharton. -- Burrill.
Specific name (Nat. Hist.), The name which, appended to the name of the genus, constitutes the distinctive name of the species; -- originally applied by Linnaeus to the essential character of the species, or the essential difference. The present specific name he at first called the trivial name.
Specific performance (Law), The peformance of a contract or agreement as decreed by a court of equity.
Specific (n.) (Med.) A specific remedy. See Specific, a., 3.
His parents were weak enough to believe that the royal touch was a specific for this malady. -- Macaulay.
Specific (a.) Anything having peculiar adaption to the purpose to which it is applied. -- Dr. H. More.
Specific (a.) (Sometimes followed by `to') Applying to or characterized by or distinguishing something particular or special or unique; "rules with specific application"; "demands specific to the job"; "a specific and detailed account of the accident" [ant: general, nonspecific].
Specific (a.) Stated explicitly or in detail; "needed a specific amount".
Specific (a.) Relating to or distinguishing or constituting a taxonomic species; "specific characters".
Specific (a.) Being or affecting a disease produced by a particular microorganism or condition; used also of stains or dyes used in making microscope slides; "quinine is highly specific for malaria"; "a specific remedy"; "a specific stain is one having a specific affinity for particular structural elements" [ant: nonspecific].
Specific (n.) A fact about some part (as opposed to general); "he always reasons from the particular to the general" [syn: particular, specific] [ant: general].
Specific (n.) A medicine that has a mitigating effect on a specific disease; "quinine is a specific for malaria".
Specifical (a.) Specific. -- Bacon.
Specifically (adv.) 特別地；明確地；具體地；按特性；按類別 In a specific manner.
Specifically (adv.) In distinction from others; "a program specifically for teenagers"; "he is interested specifically in poisonous snakes" [ant: {generally}, {in general}, {in the main}].
Specificalness (n.) The quality of being specific.
Specificate (v. t.) To show, mark, or designate the species, or the distinguishing particulars of; to specify. [Obs.] -- ir M. Hale.
Specification (n.) The act of specifying or determining by a mark or limit; notation of limits.
This specification or limitation of the question hinders the disputers from wandering away from the precise point of inquiry. -- I. Watts.
Specification (n.) The designation of particulars; particular mention; as, the specification of a charge against an officer.
Specification (n.) A written statement containing a minute description or enumeration of particulars, as of charges against a public officer, the terms of a contract, the description of an invention, as in a patent; also, a single article, item, or particular, an allegation of a specific act, as in a charge of official misconduct.
Specification (n.) A detailed listing or description of the required properties of some object proposed to be built or bought; -- usually used in the plural; as, the building specifications require that it withstand an earthquake of magnitude 8; the program specifications require an option to change the menus.
Specification (n.) A detailed description of design criteria for a piece of work [syn: specification, spec].
Specification (n.) Naming explicitly.
Specification (n.) (Patent law) A document drawn up by the applicant for a patent of invention that provides an explicit and detailed description of the nature and use of an invention.
Specification (n.) A restriction that is insisted upon as a condition for an agreement [syn: stipulation, specification].
Specificness (n.) The quality or state of being specific.
Specified (imp. & p. p.) of Specify.
Specifying (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Specify.
Specify (v. t.) To mention or name, as a particular thing; to designate in words so as to distinguish from other things; as, to specify the uses of a plant; to specify articles purchased.
He has there given us an exact geography of Greece, where the
countries and the uses of their soils are specified. -- Pope.
Specillum (n.) [L.] (Med.) See
Stylet, 2.
Compare: Stylet
Stylet (n.) A small poniard; a stiletto.
Stylet (n.) (Surg.) (a) An instrument for examining wounds and fistulas, and for passing setons, and the like; a probe, -- called also specillum.
Stylet (n.) (Surg.) (b) A stiff wire, inserted in catheters or other tubular instruments to maintain their shape and prevent clogging.
Stylet (n.) (Zool.) Any small, more or less rigid, bristlelike organ; as, the caudal stylets of certain insects; the ventral stylets of certain Infusoria.
Specimen (n.) A part, or small portion, of anything, or one of a number of things, intended to exhibit the kind and quality of the whole, or of what is not exhibited; a sample; as, a specimen of a man's handwriting; a specimen of painting; aspecimen of one's art.
Syn: Sample; model; pattern.
Usage: Specimen, Sample. A specimen is a representative of the
class of things to which it belongs; as, a specimen of photography. A sample is
a part of the thing itself, designed to show the quality of the whole; as, a
sample of sugar or of broadcloth. A cabinet of minerals consists of specimens;
if a part be broken off from any one of these, it is a sample of the mineral to
which it belongs. "Several persons have exhibited specimens of this art
before multitudes of beholders." -- Addison. "I design this but for a
sample of what I hope more fully to discuss." -- Woodward.
Speciocities (n. pl. ) of
Speciosity.
Speciosity (n.) The quality or state of being specious; speciousness.
Professions built so largely on speciosity, instead of performance. -- Carlyle.
Speciosity (n.) That which is specious. -- Dr. H. More.
Specious (a.) Presenting a pleasing appearance; pleasing in form or look; showy. Some [serpents] specious and beautiful to the eye. -- Bp. Richardson.
The rest, far greater part, Will deem in outward rites and
specious forms Religion satisfied. -- Milton.
Specious (a.) Apparently right;
superficially fair, just, or correct, but not so in reality; appearing well at
first view; plausible; as, specious reasoning; a specious argument.
Misled for a moment by the specious names of religion,
liberty, and property. -- Macaulay.
In consequence of their greater command of specious expression.
-- J. Morley.
Syn: Plausible; showy; ostensible;
colorable; feasible. See Plausible. -- Spe"xious*ly, adv. --
Spe"cious*ness, n.
Speck (n.) The blubber of whales or other marine mammals; also, the fat of the hippopotamus.
Speck (n.) A small discolored place in or on anything, or a small place of a color different from that of the main substance; a spot; a stain; a blemish; as, a speck on paper or loth; specks of decay in fruit.
Speck (n.) A very small thing; a particle; a mite; as, specks of dust; he has not a speck of money.
Speck (n.) A small etheostomoid fish (Ulocentra stigmaea) common in the Eastern United States.
Specked (imp. & p. p.) of Speck.
Specking (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Speck.
Speck (v. t.) To cause the
presence of specks upon or in, especially specks regarded as defects or
blemishes; to spot; to speckle; as, paper specked by impurities in the water
used in its manufacture.
Carnation, purple, azure, or specked with gold. --
Milton.
Speck (n.) The blubber of whales or other marine mammals; also, the fat of the hippopotamus.
Speck
falls (Naut.),
Falls or ropes rove through blocks for hoisting the blubber and bone of whales
on board a whaling vessel.
Speck (n.) A small discolored
place in or on anything, or a small place of a color different from that of the
main substance; a spot; a stain; a blemish; as, a speck on paper or loth;
specks of decay in fruit. "Gray sand, with black specks." -- Anson.
Speck (n.) A very small thing;
a particle; a mite; as, specks of dust; he has not a speck of money.
Many bright specks bubble up along the blue Egean. --
Landor.
Speck (n.) (Zool.) A small etheostomoid fish ({Ulocentra stigmaea) common in the Eastern United States.
Speckle (n.) A little or spot in or anything, of a different substance or color from that of the thing itself.
An huge great serpent, all with speckles pied. -- Spebser.
Speckled (imp. & p. p.) of
Speckle.
Speckling (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Speckle.
Speckle (v. t.) To mark with small spots of a different color from that of the rest of the surface; to variegate with spots of a different color from the ground or surface.
Speckled (a.) Marked or variegated with small spots of a different color from that of the rest of the surface.
Speckled-belly (n.) The gadwall.
Speckled-bill (n.) The American white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons).
Speckledness (n.) The quality of being speckled.
Specksioneer (n.) The chief harpooner, who also directs in cutting up the speck, or blubber; -- so called among whalers.
Speckt (n.) A woodpecker. See Speight.
Spectacle (n.) Something exhibited to view; usually, something presented to view as extraordinary, or as unusual and worthy of special notice; a remarkable or noteworthy sight; a show; a pageant; a gazingstock.
Spectacle (n.) A spy-glass; a looking-glass.
Spectacle (n.) An optical instrument consisting of two lenses set in a light frame, and worn to assist sight, to obviate some defect in the organs of vision, or to shield the eyes from bright light.
Spectacle (n.) Fig.: An aid to the intellectual sight.
Spectacled (a.) Furnished with spectacles; wearing spectacles.
Spectacled (a.) Having the eyes surrounded by color markings, or patches of naked skin, resembling spectacles.
Spectacular (a.) Of or pertaining to a shows; of the nature of a show.
Spectacular (a.) Adapted to excite wonder and admiration by a display of pomp or of scenic effects; as, a spectacular celebration of some event; a spectacular play.
Spectacular (a.) Pertaining to spectacles, or glasses for the eyes.
Spectant (a.) Looking forward.
Spectation (n.) Regard; aspect; appearance.
Spectator (n.) （比賽等的）觀眾；旁觀者；目擊者 [C] One who on; one who sees or beholds; a beholder; one who is personally present at, and sees, any exhibition; as, the spectators at a show. "Devised and played to take spectators." -- Shak.
Syn: Looker-on; beholder; observer; witness.
Spectator (n.) A close observer; someone who looks at something (such as an exhibition of some kind); "the spectators applauded the performance"; "television viewers"; "sky watchers discovered a new star" [syn: spectator, witness, viewer, watcher, looker].
Spectator (n.) A woman's pump with medium heel; usually in contrasting colors for toe and heel [syn: spectator pump, spectator].
Spectatorial (a.) Of or pertaining to a spectator.
Spectatorship (n.) The office or quality of a spectator.
Spectatorship (n.) The act of beholding.
Spectatress (n.) Alt. of Spectatrix.
Spectatrix (n.) A female beholder or looker-on.
Specter (n.) Alt. of Spectre.
Spectre (n.) Something preternaturally visible; an apparition; a ghost; a phantom.
Spectre (n.) The tarsius.
Spectre (n.) A stick insect.
Spectioneer (n.) Same as Specsioneer.
Spectral (a.) Of or pertaining to a specter; ghosty.
Spectral (a.) Of or pertaining to the spectrum; made by the spectrum; as, spectral colors; spectral analysis.
Spectrally (adv.) In the form or manner of a specter.
Spectre (n.) See Specter.
Spectrological (a.) Of or pertaining to spectrology; as, spectrological studies or experiments.
Spectrology (n.) The science of spectrum analysis in any or all of its relations and applications.
Spectrometer (n.) A spectroscope fitted for measurements of the luminious spectra observed with it.
Spectrophotometer (n.) An instrument for measuring or comparing the intensites of the colors of the spectrum.
Spectroscope (n.) An optical instrument for forming and examining spectra (as that of solar light, or those produced by flames in which different substances are volatilized), so as to determine, from the position of the spectral lines, the composition of the substance.
Spectroscopic (a.) Alt. of Spectroscopical.
Spectroscopical (a.) Of or pertaining to a spectroscope, or spectroscopy.
Spectroscopist (n.) One who investigates by means of a spectroscope; one skilled in the use of the spectroscope.
Spectroscopy (n.) The use of the spectroscope; investigations made with the spectroscope.
Spectra (n. pl. ) of Spectrum.
Spectrum (n.) [C]【物】譜；光譜；【電信】頻譜；射頻頻譜；【電】電磁波譜 An apparition; a specter. [Obs.]
Spectrum (n.) The several colored and other rays of which light is composed, separated by the refraction of a prism or other means, and observed or studied either as spread out on a screen, by direct vision, by photography, or otherwise. See Illust. of {Light}, and {Spectroscope}.