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A kind of bandage passing, by successive turns and crosses, from an extremity to the trunk; -- so called from its resemblance to a spike of a barley.

Having the form of a spike, or ear; arranged in a spike or spikes. Lee.

the auspicium, or inspection of birds, before undertaking any important business. They auspicate all their proceedings. Burke.

Despicableness. [R.] Carlyle.

Fit or deserving to be despised; contemptible; mean; vile; worthless; as, a despicable man; despicable company; a despicable gift.

The quality of being despicable; meanness; vileness; worthlessness.

In a despicable or mean manner; contemptibly; as, despicably stingy.

See Haruspicy. Tylor.

Inauspicious [Obs.] Sir G. Buck.

Discernible. [Obs.] Herbert.

Having the power of seeing clearly; quick-sighted; sharp of sight.

The state of being perspicacious; acuteness of sight or of intelligence; acute discernment. Sir T. Browne.

Perspicacity. [Obs.]

Liable to suspicion; suspicious. [Obs.] It is a very suspicable business. Dr. H. more.

Sunk to a law condition; down in spirit or hope; degraded; servile; groveling; despicable; as, abject posture, fortune, thoughts. "Base and abject flatterers." Addison. "An abject liar." Macaulay. And banish hence these abject, lowly dreams. Shak.

A European species of lavender (Lavandula spica), which produces a volatile oil. See Spike.

In a base manner; with despicable meanness; dishonorably; shamefully.

In an indigent, mean, or despicable manner; in the manner of a beggar.

Base; wicked and mean; cowardly; despicable. Arnold had sped his caitiff flight. W. Irving.

To render more quick or acute, as the understanding; to make perspicacious. Our common prints would clear up their understandings. Addison