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To make more eager; as, to sharpen men's desires. Epicurean cooks Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite. Shak.

s, or the like; to announce; to make known; to declare; to express; as, a signified his desire to be present. I 'll to the king; and signify to him That thus I have resign'd my charge to you. Shak. The government should signify to the Protestants of Ireland that want of silver is not to be remedied. Swift.…

sin. To cozen him that would unjustly win. Shak. Enthralled By sin to foul, exorbitant desires. Milton.

orresponds with the appearance; not falsely assumed; genuine; true; real; as, a sincere desire for knowledge; a sincere contempt for meanness. A sincere intention of pleasing God in all our actions. Law.

al authority and dignity; a lord; a master; a gentleman; -- in this sense usually spelled sire. [Obs.] He was crowned lord and sire. Gower. In the election of a sir so rare. Shak.

To take greater size; to increase in size. Our desires give them fashion, and so, As they wax lesser, fall, as they size, grow. Donne.

To turn about; to turn from the course; to slip or slide and turn from an expected or desired course; -- often followed by round.

A slight, superficial knowledge of something; sciolism. I had a great desire, not able to attain to a superficial skill in any, to have some smattering in all. Burton.

The act or art of working or forging metals, as iron, into any desired shape. Moxon.

To awake or excite to action; to rouse desire in; to summon; to appeal to; to invite. That fruit . . . solicited her longing eye. Milton. Sounds and some tangible qualities solicit their proper senses, and force an entrance to the mind. Locke.

The state of being solicitous; uneasiness of mind occasioned by fear of evil or desire good; anxiety. The many cares and great labors of worldly men, their solicitude and outward shows. Sir W. Raleigh. The mother looked at her with fond solicitude. G. W. Cable.

A short poem, -- usually amatory. [Obs.] Shak. He had a wonderful desire to chant a sonnet or hymn unto Apollo Pythius. Holland.

orry. Sorrowing most of all . . . that they should see his face no more. Acts xx. 38. I desire no man to sorrow for me. Sir J. Hayward.

reign; a sovereign state; as, Italy was formerly divided into many sovereignties. Woman desiren to have sovereignty As well over their husband as over their love. Chaucer.

ristics of mind or temper; as, a ruling spirit; a schismatic spirit. Such spirits as he desired to please, such would I choose for my judges. Dryden.

Having the mind set on spiritual things, or filled with holy desires and affections. -- Spir"it*u*al-mind`ed*ness, n.

Filled with, or showing, spite; having a desire to vex, annoy, or injure; malignant; malicious; as, a spiteful person or act. Shak. -- Spite"ful*ly, adv. Spite"ful*ness, n.

ds or possession. "Ye shall spoil the Egyptians." Ex. iii. 22. My sons their old, unhappy sire despise, Spoiled of his kingdom, and deprived of eues. Pope.

quarter to her cable so that by tightening or slacking it she can be made to lie in any desired position; a line led diagonally from the bow or stern of a vessel to some point upon the wharf to which she is moored. Air spring, Boiling spring, etc. See under Air, Boiling, etc. -- Spring back (Bookbinding), a back with…

Fascinated by the stage; seized by a passionate desire to become an actor.