Part 623

I. Watts.

2. The designation of particulars; particular mention; as, the specification of a charge against an officer.

3. A written statement containing a minute description or enumeration of particulars, as of charges against a public officer, the terms of a contract, the description of an invention, as in a patent; also, a single article, item, or particular, an allegation of a specific act, as in a charge of official misconduct.

Spe*cif"ic*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being specific.

Spec"i*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Specified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Specifying (?).] [F. spécifier, or OF. especifier, fr. LL. specificare. See Species, -fy.] To mention or name, as a particular thing; to designate in words so as to distinguish from other things; as, to specify the uses of a plant; to specify articles purchased.

He has there given us an exact geography of Greece, where the countries and the uses of their soils are specified.

Pope.

||Spe*cil"lum (?), n. [L.] (Med.) See Stylet, 2.

Spec"i*men (?), n. [L., fr. specere to look, to behold. See Spy.] A part, or small portion, of anything, or one of a number of things, intended to exhibit the kind and quality of the whole, or of what is not exhibited; a sample; as, a specimen of a man's handwriting; a specimen of painting; aspecimen of one's art.

Syn. -- Sample; model; pattern. -- Specimen, Sample. A specimen is a representative of the class of things to which it belongs; as, a specimen of photography. A sample is a part of the thing itself, designed to show the quality of the whole; as, a sample of sugar or of broadcloth. A cabinet of minerals consists of specimens; if a part be broken off from any one of these, it is a sample of the mineral to which it belongs. "Several persons have exhibited specimens of this art before multitudes of beholders." Addison. "I design this but for a sample of what I hope more fully to discuss." Woodward.

Spe`ci*os"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Speciocities (#). [Cf. LL. speciositas.] 1. The quality or state of being specious; speciousness.

Professions built so largely on speciosity, instead of performance.

Carlyle.

2. That which is specious. Dr. H. More.

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Spe"cious (?), a. [L. speciosusgood-looking, beautiful, specious, fr. species look, show, appearance; cf. F. spécoeux. See Species.] 1. Presenting a pleasing appearance; pleasing in form or look; showy.

Some [serpents] specious and beautiful to the eye.

Bp. Richardson.

The rest, far greater part, Will deem in outward rites and specious forms Religion satisfied.

Milton.

2. Apparently right; superficially fair, just, or correct, but not so in reality; appearing well at first view; plausible; as, specious reasoning; a specious argument.

Misled for a moment by the specious names of religion, liberty, and property.

Macaulay.

In consequence of their greater command of specious expression.

J. Morley.

Syn. -- Plausible; showy; ostensible; colorable; feasible. See Plausible.

-- Spe"xious*ly (#), adv. -- Spe"cious*ness, n.

Speck (?), n. [Cf. Icel. spik blubber, AS. spic, D. spek, G. speck.] The blubber of whales or other marine mammals; also, the fat of the hippopotamus.