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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.

f cells formed by the repeated division of a male germinal cell (spermospore), each constituent cell (spermoblast) of which is converted into a spermatozoid; a spermatogemma.

u 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.

only a part of the sails spread; to scud under bare poles. [Written also spoon.] When virtue spooms before a prosperous gale, My heaving wishes help to fill the sail. Dryden.

or area for public use, as at the meeting or intersection of two or more streets. The statue of Alexander VII. stands in the large square of the town. Addison.

The principal constituent in anything; chief item.

o perish with hunger; to suffer extreme hunger or want; to be very indigent. Sometimes virtue starves, while vice is fed. Pope.

A statue. [Obs.] They spake not a word; But, like dumb statuas or breathing stones, Gazed each on other. Shak.

One who practices the art of making statues. On other occasions the statuaries took their subjects from the poets. Addison.

. -- Statute staple, a bond of record acknowledged before the mayor of the staple, by virtue of which the creditor may, on nonpayment, forthwith have execution against the body, lands, and goods of the debtor, as in the statute merchant. It is now disused. Blackstone.

One of the constituents of animal fats and also of some vegetable fats, as the butter of cacao. It is especially characterized by its solidity, so that when present in considerable quantity it materially increases the hardness, or raises the melting point, of the fat, as in mutton tallow. Chemically, it is a compound o…

s, a stellar figure; stellary orbs. [These soft fires] in part shed down Their stellar virtue. Milton.

To set a mark of disgrace on; to brand with some mark of reproach or infamy. To find virtue extolled and vice stigmatized. Addison.

an opening or gap; hence, a temporary expedient. Moral prejudices are the stop-gaps of virtue. Hare.

to replenish; esp., to stock or furnish against a future time. Her mind with thousand virtues stored. Prior. Wise Plato said the world with men was stored. Denham. Having stored a pond of four acres with carps, tench, and other fish. Sir M. Hale.

or accumulated as a reserve supply; as, stored electricity. It is charged with stored virtue. Bagehot.

The path of a constituent particle of a flowing fluid undisturbed by eddies or the like.

Intensity or degree of the distinguishing and essential element; spirit; virtue; excellence; -- said of liquors, solutions, etc.; as, the strength of wine or of acids.

Having virtues of great efficacy; or, having a particular quality in a great degree; as, a strong powder or tincture; a strong decoction; strong tea or coffee.

Arrangement of parts, of organs, or of constituent particles, in a substance or body; as, the structure of a rock or a mineral; the structure of a sentence. It [basalt] has often a prismatic structure. Dana.