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spice - 6 dictionary results
spice
[spahys] 
,noun, verb, spiced, spic⋅ing.–noun
| 1. | any of a class of pungent or aromatic substances of vegetable origin, as pepper, cinnamon, or cloves, used as seasoning, preservatives, etc. |
| 2. | such substances collectively or as material: Cookies without spice can be tasteless. |
| 3. | a spicy or aromatic odor or fragrance. |
| 4. | something that gives zest: a spice of humor in his solemnity. |
| 5. | a piquant, interesting element or quality; zest; piquancy: The anecdotes lent spice to her talk. |
| 6. | Archaic. a small quantity of something; trace; bit. |
–verb (used with object)
| 7. | to prepare or season with a spice or spices. |
| 8. | to give zest, piquancy, or interest to by something added. |
Origin:
1175–1225; (n.) ME, aph. form of OF espice (F épice) < L speciēs appearance, sort, kind (see species ), in LL (pl.): goods, wares, spices, drugs; (v.) ME spicen, in part deriv. of the n., in part < OF espicer, deriv. of espice
1175–1225; (n.) ME, aph. form of OF espice (F épice) < L speciēs appearance, sort, kind (see species ), in LL (pl.): goods, wares, spices, drugs; (v.) ME spicen, in part deriv. of the n., in part < OF espicer, deriv. of espice
Related forms:
spice⋅a⋅ble, adjective
spiceless, adjective
spicelike, adjective
Synonyms:
5. tang, gusto, zip.
5. tang, gusto, zip.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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|
Link To spice
| spice (spīs) n.
[Middle English, from Old French espice, from Late Latin speciēs, wares, spices, from Latin, kind; see species.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Spice
Spice\, n. [OE. spice, spece, spice, species, OF. espice, espece, F. ['e]pice spice, esp[`e]ce 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 (1. Thess,v. 22). 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.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : spice
Spanish:
especia,
German:
das Gewürz,
Japanese:
スパイス
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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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spice
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 2009, Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
