spice
1. Species; kind. The spices of penance ben three. (Chaucer) Abstain you 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)
2. A vegetable production of many kinds, fragrant or aromatic and pungent to the taste, as pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, allspice, ginger, cloves, etc, which are used in cookery and to flavor sauces, pickles, etc. Hast thou aught in thy purse bag any hot spices? (Piers Plowman)
3. Figuratively, that which enriches or alters the quality of a thing in a small degree, as spice alters the taste of food; that which gives zest or pungency; a slight flavoring; a relish; hence, a small quantity or admixture; a sprinkling; as, a spice of mischief. So much of the will, with a spice of the willful. (Coleridge)
Origin: OE. Spice, spece, spice, species, OF. Espice, espece, F. Epice spice, espece species, fr. L. Species particular sort or kind, a species, a sight, appearance, show, LL, spices, drugs, etc, of the same sort, fr. L. Specere to look. See Spy, and cf. Species.
1. To season with spice, or as with spice; to mix aromatic or pungent substances with; to flavor; to season; as, to spice wine; to spice one’s words with wit. She ‘ll receive thee, but will spice thy bread With flowery poisons. (Chapman)
2. To fill or impregnate with the odour of spices. In the spiced indian air, by night. (Shak)
3. To render nice or dainty; hence, to render scrupulous. A spiced conscience.
Origin: Spiced; Spicing.
Dictionary > Spice
You will also like...

Running Water Freshwater Community Factors
This tutorial noted some of the physical and chemical factors that provide the framework of a running water community in..

Amphibians & Early Reptiles
Obtaining air outside an aquatic environment required species to acquire suitable adaptations, and this was the case of ..

New Zealand’s Unique Geographical History
Explore why New Zealand has such unique flora and fauna, and learn why long periods of geographical isolation. This less..

Indicator Species and Endangered Species
Certain species are capable of expressing characteristics indicative of the state of the ecosystem they occupy. They are..

Control of Growth & Development
Control of Growth & Development tutorials look at how the genetic makeup determines the biological processes on a da..

Genetics and Evolution
Humans are diploid creatures. This means that for every chromosome in the body, there is another one to match it. Howeve..