Part 655

A spire of land that stand apart, Cleft from the main.

Tennyson.

Tall spire from which the sound of cheerful bells Just undulates upon the listening ear.

Cowper.

3. (Mining) A tube or fuse for communicating fire to the chargen in blasting.

4. The top, or uppermost point, of anything; the summit.

The spire and top of praises.

Shak.

Spire, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Spired (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spiring.] To shoot forth, or up in, or as if in, a spire. Emerson.

It is not so apt to spire up as the other sorts, being more inclined to branch into arms.

Mortimer.

Spire, n. [L. spira coil, twist; akin to Gr. &?;&?;&?;: cf. F. spire.] 1. A spiral; a curl; a whorl; a twist. Dryden.

2. (Geom.) The part of a spiral generated in one revolution of the straight line about the pole. See Spiral, n.

Spire bearer. (Paleon.) Same as Spirifer.

Spired (?), a. Having a spire; being in the form of a spire; as, a spired steeple. Mason.

Spi"ri*cle (?), n. [Dim., fr. L. spira a coil.] (Bot.) One of certain minute coiled threads in the coating of some seeds. When moistened these threads protrude in great numbers. Gray.

Spi"ri*fer (?), n. [NL., fr. L. spira a coil + ferreto bear.] (Paleon.) Any one of numerous species of fossil brachipods of the genus Spirifer, or Delthyris, and allied genera, in which the long calcareous supports of the arms form a large spiral, or helix, on each side.

||Spi*ril"lum (?), n. [NL., dim. of L. spira a coil.] (Biol.) A genus ||of common motile microörganisms (Spirobacteria) having the form of ||spiral- shaped filaments. One species is said to be the cause of ||relapsing fever.

Spir"ing (?), a. Shooting up in a spire or spires. "The spiring grass." Dryton.

Spir"it (?), n. [OF. espirit, esperit, F. esprit, L. spiritus, from spirare to breathe, to blow. Cf. Conspire, Expire, Esprit, Sprite.] 1. Air set in motion by breathing; breath; hence, sometimes, life itself. [Obs.] "All of spirit would deprive." Spenser.

The mild air, with season moderate, Gently attempered, and disposed eo well, That still it breathed foorth sweet spirit.

Spenser.

2. A rough breathing; an aspirate, as the letter h; also, a mark to denote aspiration; a breathing. [Obs.]

Be it a letter or spirit, we have great use for it.

B. Jonson.

3. Life, or living substance, considered independently of corporeal existence; an intelligence conceived of apart from any physical organization or embodiment; vital essence, force, or energy, as distinct from matter.

4. The intelligent, immaterial and immortal part of man; the soul, in distinction from the body in which it resides; the agent or subject of vital and spiritual functions, whether spiritual or material.

There is a spirit in man; and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.