Part 653

Spin"ny, a. [Cf. Spiny, a.] Thin and long; slim; slender. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

Spi*nose" (?), a.[L. spinosus, from spina a thorn.] Full of spines; armed with thorns; thorny.

Spi*nos"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being spiny or thorny; spininess.

Spi"nous (?), a. 1. Spinose; thorny.

2. Having the form of a spine or thorn; spinelike.

Spinous process of a vertebra (Anat.), the dorsal process of the neural arch of a vertebra; a neurapophysis.

Spi*no"zism (?), n. The form of Pantheism taught by Benedict Spinoza, that there is but one substance, or infinite essence, in the universe, of which the so- called material and spiritual beings and phenomena are only modes, and that one this one substance is God. [Written also Spinosism.]

Spi*no"zist (?), n. A believer in Spinozism.

Spin"ster (?), n. [Spin + - ster.] 1. A woman who spins, or whose occupation is to spin.

She spake to spinster to spin it out.

Piers Plowman.

The spinsters and the knitters in the sun.

Shak.

2. A man who spins. [Obs.] Shak.

3. (Law) An unmarried or single woman; -- used in legal proceedings as a title, or addition to the surname.

If a gentlewoman be termed a spinster, she may abate the writ.

Coke.

4. A woman of evil life and character; -- so called from being forced to spin in a house of correction. [Obs.]

Spin"stress (?), n. A woman who spins. T. Brown.

Spin"stry (?), n. The business of one who spins; spinning. [Obs.] Milton.

Spin"ule (?), n. [L. spinula, dim. of spina a spine: cf. F. spinule.] A minute spine. Dana.

Spin`u*les"cent (?), a. (Bot.) Having small spines; somewhat thorny.

{ Spin"u*lose` (?), Spin"u*lous (?) }, a. [Cf. F. spinuleux.] Covered with small spines.

Spin"y (?), a. [From Spine.] 1. Full of spines; thorny; as, a spiny tree.

2. Like a spine in shape; slender. "Spiny grasshoppers sit chirping." Chapman.

3. Fig.: Abounding with difficulties or annoyances.

The spiny deserts of scholastic philosophy.

Bp. Warburton.