A- (3) prefix meaning "not," from Gk a-, an- "not," from pie base *ne "not" (see un-)

spawn (v.) --- 1413, from Anglo-Fr. espaundre, O.Fr. espandre "to spread out, pour out," from L. expandere (see expand). The notion is of a "spreading out" of fish eggs released in water. The meaning "to engender, give rise to" is attested from 1594. The noun is first recorded c.1430; fig. sense of "brood, offspring" is from 1590.

spay --- c.1410, "stab with a sword, kill," also "remove the ovaries of," from Anglo-Fr. espeier "cut with a sword," from M.Fr. espeer, from O.Fr. espee "sword" (Fr. épée), from L. spatha "broad, flat weapon or tool," from Gk. spathe "broad blade" (see spade (1)).

speak --- O.E. specan, variant of sprecan "to speak" (class V strong verb; past tense spræc, pp. sprecen), from P.Gmc. *sprekanan (cf. O.S. sprecan, O.Fris. spreka, M.Du. spreken, O.H.G. sprehhan, Ger. sprechen "to speak," O.N. spraki "rumor, report"), cognate with L. spargere "to strew" (speech as a "scattering" of words; see sparse). The -r- began to drop out in Late West Saxon and was gone by mid-12c., perhaps from infl. of Dan. spage "crackle," in a slang sense of "speak" (cf. crack in slang senses having to do with speech, e.g. wisecrack, cracker, all it's cracked up to be). Rare variant forms without -r- also are found in M.Du. (speken) and O.H.G. (spehhan). Not the primary word for "to speak" in O.E. ("Beowulf" prefers maþelian, from mæþel "assembly, council," from root of metan "to meet;" cf. Gk. agoreuo "to speak," originally "speak in the assembly," from agora "assembly").

speakeasy --- unlicensed saloon, 1889 (in New York "Voice"), from speak + easy, from the practice of speaking quietly about such a place in public, or when inside it, so as not to alert the police and neighbors. The word gained wide currency in U.S. during Prohibition (1920-1932). In early 19c. Ir. and British dialect, a speak softly shop meant "smuggler's den."

speaker --- 1303, "one who speaks," agent noun from speak (q.v.). First applied to "person who presides over an assembly" c.1400, from Anglo-Fr. (1376). In ref to the Eng. Parliament, Sir Thomas de Hungerford apparently was the first.

spear (1) --- O.E. spere, from P.Gmc. *speri (cf. O.N. spjör, O.S., O.Fris. sper, Du. speer, O.H.G. sper, Ger. Speer "spear"), from PIE base *sper- "spear, pole" (cf. O.N. sparri "spar, rafter," and perhaps also L. sparus "hunting spear"). The verb is 1755. Spearmint first recorded 1539. Spearhead (n.) is attested from c.1400; fig. sense of "leading element" (of an attack, movement, etc.) is attested from 1893; the verb in this sense is recorded from 1938.

spear (2) --- sprout of a plant, 1543, variant of spire.

special --- c.1225, "better than ordinary," from O.Fr. especial, from L. specialis "individual, particular," from species "appearance, kind, sort" (see species). Meaning "marked off from others by some distinguishing quality" is recorded from 1303. In M.E., also as a noun, meaning "sweetheart, lover." Meaning "special train" is attested from 1866. Special effects first attested 1951. Special interests in U.S. political sense is from 1910. Special pleading first recorded 1684.

specialize --- 1616, "to indicate specially," from special (q.v.). Sense of "engage in a special study or line of business" is first attested 1881; biological sense is from 1851. Specialzation is recorded from 1843. Specialist is first attested 1856 (originally in the medical sense).

specialty --- c.1330, from M.Fr. especialte, variant of specialite, from L. specialitatem (nom. specialitas) "peculiarity," from specialis (see special). Speciality is attested from 1432; Fr. form spécialité (esp. in ref. to restaurant dishes) is recorded from 1839.

specie --- 1615, "coin, money in the form of coins" (as opposed to paper money or bullion), from phrase in specie "in the real or actual form" (1551), from L. in specie "in kind," abl. of species "kind, form, sort" (see species).

species --- 1551, a classification in logic, from L. species "kind, sort," originally "appearance, sight, a seeing," related to specere "to look at, to see, behold," from PIE *spek- (see scope (1)). Biological sense is from 1608. Endangered species first attested 1964. Speciesism "discrimination against certain animals based on assumption of human superiority" first attested 1975 in Richard D. Ryder's "Victims of Science."

specific --- 1631, "having a special quality," from Fr. spécifique, from L.L. specificus "constituting a species," from L. species "kind, sort" (see species). Earlier form was specifical (1432). Meaning "definite, precise" first recorded 1740. Specify is from c.1300, from O.Fr. specifier (13c.), from L.L. specificare "mention particularly," from specifus.

specification --- 1615, "act of investing with some quality," from M.L. specificationem (nom. specificatio), from L. species "kind, sort" (see species) + -ficus, unstressed comb. form of facere "to make, do." Meaning "technical particular" is attested from 1833; short form spec first attested 1956.

specimen --- 1619, "pattern, model," from L. specimen "indication, mark, example, sign, evidence," from specere "to look at" (see scope (1)). Meaning "single thing regarded as typical of its kind" first recorded 1654.

specious --- c.1400, "pleasing to the sight, fair," from L. speciosus "good-looking, beautiful," from species "appearance" (see species). Meaning "seemingly desirable, reasonable or probable, but not really so" is first recorded 1612.

speck --- O.E. specca "small spot, stain," of unknown origin; probably related to Du. speckel "speck, speckle," M.Du. spekelen "to sprinkle." Meaning "tiny bit" developed c.1400.

speckle (v.) --- c.1400 (implied in speckled), probably related to O.E. specca "small spot, speck" (see speck) or from a related M.Du. or M.H.G. word. The noun is first attested c.1440.

spectacle --- c.1340, "specially prepared or arranged display," from O.Fr. spectacle, from L. spectaculum "a show, spectacle," from spectare "to view, watch," frequentative form of specere "to look at," from PIE *spek- "to observe" (see scope (1)). Spectacles "glass lenses to help a person's sight" first recorded 1415. Spectacular (adj.) is from 1682; as a noun, first attested 1890.

spectator --- 1586, from L. spectator "viewer, watcher," from pp. stem of spectare "to view, watch" (see spectacle). Spectate (v.) is a back-formation attested from 1929. Spectator sport is attested from 1943.

specter --- 1605, from Fr. spectre "an image, figure, ghost" (16c.), from L. spectrum "appearance, vision, apparition" (see spectrum). Spectral is attested from 1815 in the sense of "ghostly" (first recorded in Shelley); 1832 in sense of "of or pertaining to a spectrum."

spectrum --- 1611, "apparition, specter," from L. spectrum "appearance, image, apparition," from specere "to look at, view" (see scope (1)). Meaning "band of colors formed from a beam of light" first recorded 1671. Spectroscope (1861) is a hybrid, with Gk. -skopion, from skopein "to look at, examine," which is from the same PIE root as spectrum.

speculation --- c.1374, "contemplation, consideration," from O.Fr. speculation, from L.L. speculationem (nom. speculatio) "contemplation, observation," from L. speculatus, pp. of speculari "observe," from specere "to look at, view" (see scope (1)). Disparaging sense of "mere conjecture" is recorded from 1575. Meaning "buying and selling in search of profit from rise and fall of market value" is recorded from 1774; short form spec is attested from 1794. Speculator in the financial sense is first recorded 1778. Speculate is a 1599 back-formation.

speculum --- 1597, from L., lit. "mirror," from specere "to look at, view" (see scope (1)).

speech --- O.E. spæc "act of speaking, manner of speaking, formal utterance," variant of spræc, related to sprecan, specan "to speak" (see speak), from P.Gmc. *sprækijo (cf. Ger. Sprache "speech"). The spr- forms were extinct in Eng. by 1200. Meaning "address delivered to an audience" first recorded 1583. Speechify "talk in a pompous, pontifical way" first recorded 1723. Speechless "astonished" is attested from c.1374.

speed (n.) --- O.E. sped "success, prosperity, advancement," from P.Gmc. *spodiz (cf. O.S. spod "success," Du. spoed "haste, speed," O.H.G. spuot "success," O.S. spodian "to cause to succeed," M.Du. spoeden, O.H.G. spuoten "to haste"), from PIE *spo-ti- "speed," from *spe- "to thrive, prosper" (cf. Skt. sphayate "increases," L. sperare "to hope," O.C.S. spechu "endeavor," Lith. speju "to have leisure"). Meaning "quickness of motion or progress" emerged in late O.E. (usually adverbially, in dative plural, e.g. spedum feran), emerging fully in early M.E. Meaning "gear of a machine" is attested from 1866. Meaning "methamphetamine, or a related drug," first attested 1967, from its effect on users. Speeder "one who drives fast" is recorded from 1891. Speedometer is from 1904, a hybrid coined with Gk. -metron; speed bump is 1975; figurative sense is 1990s. Full speed is recorded from 1382. Speed reading first attested 1965. Speedball "mix of cocaine and morphine or heroin" is recorded from 1909.

speed (v.) --- O.E. spedan "to succeed, prosper, advance" (see speed (n.)). Meaning "to go fast" is attested from c.1300. Meaning "To send forth with quickness" is first recorded 1569; that of "to increase the work rate of" (usually with up) is from 1856.

spell (n.) --- incantation, charm, O.E. spell "story, speech," from P.Gmc. *spellan (cf. O.N. spjall, O.H.G. spel, Goth. spill "report, discourse, tale;" Ger. Beispiel "example;" see spell (v.1)). Meaning "set of words with magical powers, incantation, charm" first recorded 1579. Spellbound is attested from 1799, from bound "fastened."

spell (v.1) --- name the letters of, O.E. spellian "to tell, speak," infl. by O.Fr. espeller "declare, spell," from Frank. *spellon "to tell;" both O.E. and Frank. from P.Gmc. *spellan (cf. O.H.G. spellon "to tell," O.N. spjalla, Goth. spillon "to talk, tell"), from PIE *spel- "to say aloud, recite." Meaning "write or say the letters of a word" is c.1400, from notion of "read letter by letter, read with difficulty" (c.1300). Spell out "explain step-by-step" is first recorded 1940, Amer.Eng. Spelling bee is from 1878 (earlier simply spelling, 1860).

spell (v.2) --- work in place of (another), O.E. spelian "to take the place of," related to gespelia "substitute," of uncertain origin. Perhaps related to spilian "to play" (see spiel). The noun meaning "indefinite period of time" first recorded 1706.

spelt --- O.E. spelt, perhaps an early borrowing from L.L. spelta "spelt" (c.400, noted as a foreign word), which is perhaps ult. from PIE base *spel- "to split, to break off" (probably in ref. to the splitting of its husks in threshing), which is related to the root of flint. The word had little currency in Eng., and its history is discontinuous. Widespread in Romanic languages (cf. It. spelta, Sp. espelta, O.Fr. spelte, Mod.Fr. épeautre). The word also is widespread in Gmc. (cf. O.H.G. spelta, Ger. Spelt), and a Gmc. language is perhaps the source of the L.L. word.

spelunker --- a cave bug; one who explores caves as a hobby, 1942, formed from obs. spelunk "cave, cavern" (c.1300), from O.Fr. spelunque, from L. spelunca "a cave, cavern, grotto," from Gk. spelynx (gen. spelyngos). An adjective, speluncar "of a cave" is recorded from 1855.

Spencer --- type of repeating rifle used in the American Civil War, 1863, named for U.S. gunsmith Christopher Spencer, who, with Luke Wheelock, manufactured them in Boston, Mass. The surname is attested from 1275, earlier le Despenser (1204) and means "one who dispenses or has charge of provisions in a household." M.E. spence meant "larder, pantry," and is aphetic for O.Fr. despense (Fr. dépense) "expense," from despenser "to distribute" (see dispense). Another form of the word is spender, which also has become a surname.

spend --- to pay out or away (money or wealth), O.E. -spendan (in forspendan "use up"), from L. expendere "to weigh out money, pay down" (see expend). A general Gmc. borrowing (cf. O.H.G. spendon, Ger., M.Du. spenden, O.N. spenna). In ref. to labor, thoughts, time, etc., attested from c.1300.

spendthrift --- 1601, from spend + thrift in sense of "savings, profits, wealth." Replaced earlier scattergood (1577) and spend-all (1553).

Spenserian --- 1817, from Edmund Spenser (c.1552-1599), Elizabethan poet. Spenserian stanza, which he employed in the "Faerie Queen," consists of eight decasyllabic lines and a final Alexandrine, with rhyme scheme ab ab bc bcc. For the origin of the surname, see Spencer.

sperm --- c.1386, probably from O.Fr. esperme, from L.L. sperma "seed, semen," from Gk. sperma "seed," from speirein "to sow, scatter," from PIE *sper- "to strew" (see sprout). Spermatozoon "male sexual cell" is an 1836 formation from Gk. spermato-, combining form of sperma (gen. spermatos) + zoion "animal." Sperm bank is attested from 1963. Spermicide (n.) first recorded 1929.

sperm whale --- 1830, shortening of spermaceti whale (so called because the waxy substance in its head was mistaken for sperm), from spermaceti (1471), from M.L. sperma ceti "sperm of a whale," from L. sperma (see sperm) + cetus "large sea animal" (see Cetacea). The substance in olden times was credited with medicinal properties, as well as being used for candle oil.

spew --- O.E. spiwan "spew, spit," from P.Gmc. *spiwanan (cf. O.S. spiwan, O.N. spyja, O.Fris. spiwa, M.Du. spien, Du. spuwen, O.H.G. spiwan, Ger. speien, Goth. spiewan "to spit"), from PIE *sp(y)eu-, probably ultimately of imitative origin (cf. L. spuere, Gk. ptuein, O.C.S. pljuja, Lith. spiauti). Also in O.E. as a weak verb, speowan. The noun meaning "vomited matter" is attested from 1609.

sphagnum --- genus of mosses, 1741, Mod.L., from L. sphagnos, a kind of lichen, from Gk. sphagnos "a spiny shrub, a kind of moss," of unknown origin.

spheno- --- comb. form meaning "wedge," from Gk. sphen "wedge," probably cognate with O.N. spann "splinter," O.E. spon "chip of wood" (see spoon).

sphere --- c.1533, restored spelling of M.E. spere (c.1300) "space, conceived as a hollow globe about the world," from O.Fr. espere (13c.), from L. sphæra "globe, ball, celestial sphere," from Gk. sphaira "globe, ball," of unknown origin. Sense of "ball, body of globular form" is from 1388. Medieval astronomical meaning "one of the 8 (later 10) concentric, transparent, hollow globes believed to revolve around the earth and carry the heavenly bodies" is from c.1374; the supposed harmonious sound they made rubbing against one another was the music of the spheres (c.1381). Meaning "range of something" is first recorded 1601 (e.g. sphere of influence, 1885, in ref. to British-German colonial rivalry in Africa). A spherical number (1646) is one whose powers always terminate in the same digit as the number itself (5,6, and 10 are the only ones).

sphincter --- 1578, from M.Fr. sphincter, from L.L. sphincter "contractile muscle," from Gk. sphinkter "band, anything that binds tight," from sphingein "to squeeze, bind," of unknown origin. First used in anatomical sense by Galen.

sphinx --- c.1421, "monster of Gk. mythology," from L. Sphinx, from Gk. Sphinx, lit." the strangler," a back-formation from sphingein "to squeeze, bind" (see sphincter). Monster, having a lion's (winged) body and a woman's head, that waylaid travelers around Thebes and devoured those who could not answer its questions; Oedipus solved the riddle and the Sphinx killed herself. The proper plural would be sphinges. Transf. sense of "person or thing of mysterious nature" is from 1610. In the Egyptian sense (usually male and wingless) it is attested from 1579; specific reference to the colossal stone one near the pyramids as Giza is attested from 1613.

spic --- derogatory for "Latino person," 1913, from cliche protestation, No spick English. Earlier spiggoty (1910); the term is said to have originated in Panama during the canal construction. But it also was applied from an early date to Italians, and some have suggested an alteration of spaghetti.

Spica --- 1728, bright star in constellation Virgo, from L., lit. "ear of grain," corresponding to Gk. stakhys (see spike (n.1)).

spic-and-span --- 1665, from spick-and-span-new (1579), lit. "new as a recently made spike and chip of wood," from spick "nail" (see spike (n.1)) + span-new "very new" (c.1300), from O.N. span-nyr, from spann "chip" + nyr "new." Imitation of Du. spiksplinter nieuw "spike-splinter new."

spice --- c.1225, from O.Fr. espice, from L.L. species (pl.) "spices, goods, wares," from L. "kind, sort" (see species). Early druggists recognized four "types" of spices: saffron, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg. Fig. sense of "slight touch or trace of something" is recorded from 1531. The verb, "to season with spices" is first recorded c.1325 (implied in spiced). Spicy is from 1562; in the fig. sense of "racy, salacious" it dates from 1844. Spice-cake first attested 1530.

spider --- O.E. spiþra, from P.Gmc. *spenthro (cf. Dan. spinder), from *spenwanan "to spin" (see spin). The connection with the root is more transparent in other Gmc. cognates (cf. M.L.G., M.Du., M.H.G., Ger. spinne, Du. spin "spider"). In literature, often a figure of cunning, skill, and industry as well as poisonous predation. As the name for a type of two-pack solitaire, it is attested from 1890. Another O.E. word for the creature was gangewifre "a weaver as he goes." Spiderweb is first recorded 1535; spidery is first recorded 1825. Spider plant is from 1852; spider crab is from 1710; spider monkey is from 1764, so called for its long limbs.

spiel (n.) --- glib speech, pitch, 1896, probably from verb (1894) meaning "to speak in a glib manner," earlier "to play circus music" (1870), from Ger. spielen "to play," from O.H.G. spilon (cognate with O.E. spilian "to play"). The noun also perhaps from Ger. Spiel "play, game."

spiffy --- 1853, of uncertain origin, probably related to spiff "well-dressed man." Spiffing "excellent" was very popular in 1870s slang. Uncertain relationship to spiff (n.) "percentage allowed by drapers to their young men when they effect sale of old fashioned or undesirable stock" (1859), or to spiflicate "confound, overcome completely," a cant word from 1749 preserved in Amer.Eng. slang spiflicated "drunk," first recorded 1906 in O.Henry.

spigot --- 1383, "plug used to stop the hole of a cask," probably from O.Fr. *espigot (cf. Gascony dialect espigot "core of a fruit, small ear of grain"), dim. of O.Prov. espiga "ear of grain," from L. spica "ear of grain" (see spike (n.2)). Meaning "valve for controlling the flow of a liquid" is from 1530.

spike (n.1) --- large nail, 1345, probably from O.N. spik "splinter" (related to O.E. spicing "large nail"), from P.Gmc. *spikaz (cf. M.Du. spicher, Du. spijker "nail," O.E. spaca, O.H.G. speihha "spoke"), from PIE base *spei- "sharp point" (cf. L. spica "ear of corn," spina "thorn, prickle, backbone," pinna "pin;" Gk. spilas "rock, cliff;" Lett. spile "wooden fork;" Lith. speigliai "thorns," spitna "tongue of a buckle," O.E. spitu "spit"). But based on gender difficulties in the Gmc. words, OED casts doubt on this whole derivation and says the Eng. word may be a borrowing of L. spica (see spike (n.2)), from the same root. Slang meaning "needle" is from 1923. Meaning "pointed stud in athletic shoes" is from 1832. Electrical sense of "pulse of short duration" is from 1935.

spike (n.2) --- ear of grain, 1393, from L. spica "ear of grain," related to spina "thorn" (see spike (n.1)).

spike (v.) --- 1624, "to fasten with spikes," see spike (n.1). Meaning "To rise in a spike" is from 1958. Military sense (1687) means "to disable guns by driving a big nail into the touch-hole." Fig. use of this sense is from 1823. Meaning "to lace (a drink) with liquor" is from 1889. Journalism sense of "to kill a story before publication" (1908) is from the metal spindle in which old-time editors filed hard copy of stories after they were set in type, or especially when rejected for publication.

spikenard --- c.1350, "aromatic substance from an Indian plant," from M.L. spica nardi (see spike (n.2)), rendering Gk. nardou stakhys, the second element probably ult. from Skt. nalada-, the name of the plant.

spill --- O.E. spillan "destroy, kill," variant of spildan, from P.Gmc. *spelthijanan (cf. O.H.G. spildan "to spill," O.S. spildian, O.N. spilla "to destroy," M.Du. spillen "to waste"), from PIE *spel- "to split, break off" (cf. M.Du. spalden, O.H.G. spaltan "to split;" for further cognates, see spoil). Sense of "let (liquid) fall or run out" developed c.1340 from use of the word in ref. to shedding blood (c.1125). Intrans. sense is from 1655. The noun is first recorded 1845, originally "a throw from a horse." Spill the beans first recorded 1919; to cry for spilt milk (usually with negative) is attested from 1738. Shakespeare used spilth "that which has spilled, act of spilling" (1607); modern spillage is attested from 1934. Spillover is from 1940; spillway is from 1889.

spin --- O.E. spinnan "draw out and twist fibers into thread," from P.Gmc. *spenwanan (cf. O.N., O.Fris. spinna, Dan. spinde, Du. spinnen, O.H.G. spinnan, Ger. spinnen, Goth. spinnan), from PIE *(s)pen- "stretch" (cf. Armenian henum "I weave," Gk. patos "garment, lit. "that which is spun," Lith. pinu "I plait, braid," spandau "I spin," M.Welsh cy-ffiniden "spider;" see span (v.)). Sense of "to cause to turn rapidly" is from 1612; meaning "revolve, turn around rapidly" first recorded 1667. The noun meaning "fairly rapid ride" is from 1856. Meaning "attempt to influence reporters' minds after an event has taken place but before they have written about it" seems to have risen to popularity in the 1984 U.S. presidential campaign; e.g. spin doctor, first attested 1984. Spinning wheel is attested from 1404; spinning-jenny is from 1783 (see jenny); invented by James Hargreaves c.1764-7, patented 1770. Slang spin off (v.) is from 1957, from the noun phrase, which is first attested 1951, in a corporate sense.

spinach --- 1530, from M.Fr. espinache (Fr. épinard), from O.Prov. espinarc, which perhaps is via Catalan espinac, from Andalusian Arabic isbinakh, from Arabic isbanakh, from Pers. aspanakh "spinach." But OED is not convinced the Middle Eastern words are native, and based on the plethora of Romanic forms pronounces the origin "doubtful." Old folk etymology connected the word with L. spina (see spine) or with M.L. Hispanicum olus. For pronunciation, see cabbage. In 1930s Amer.Eng. colloq. it had a sense of "nonsense, rubbish," based on a famous "New Yorker" cartoon of Dec. 8, 1928.

spindle --- O.E. spinel, prop. "an instrument for spinning," from stem of spinnan (see spin), with intrusive -d-. Related to O.S. spinnila, O.Fris. spindel, O.H.G. spinnila, Ger. Spindel. As a type of something slender, it is attested from c.1570. Spindly is from 1651.

spindrift --- 1600, Scottish formation from verb spene, alteration of spoon "to sail before the wind" (1576, of uncertain origin) + drift. "Common in English writers from c 1880, probably at first under the influence of W. Black's novels" [OED].

spine --- c.1400, "backbone," later "thornlike part" (1430), from O.Fr. espine (Fr. épine), from L. spina "backbone," originally "thorn, prickle," from PIE *spei- "sharp point" (cf. L. spica "ear of corn," O.N. spikr "nail;" see spike (n.1)). Meaning "the back of a book" is first attested 1922. Spineless in fig. sense of "irresolute" is from 1885. Spine-chiller "mystery film" is attested from 1940; spine tingler in same sense is from 1942.

spinet --- 1664, spinette, "small harpsichord," from older Fr. espinette (1522), from It. spinetta, said by Scaliger to be a dim. of spina "thorn, spine," from L. spina "thorn" (see spine), so called because the strings were plucked with thorn-like quills. The other theory (favored by OED) dates to early 17c. and claims the word is an allusion to the name of the Venetian inventor, Giovanni Spinetti (fl. c.1503).

spinnaker --- large triangular sail, 1866, either a derivative of spin in the sense of "go rapidly" or a corrupt pronunciation of Sphinx, which was the name of the first yacht known to carry this type of sail.