| 释义 |
ˈspiritous, a. ? Obs.
Also 8 poet. spir'tous.
[f. spirit n. + -ous. Cf. It. spiritoso, Sp. espiritoso.]
1. Of the nature of spirit; having the qualities of an essence or distilled product; highly refined or dematerialized.
1605Timme Quersit. iii. 149 The two volatile salts..wil be best mingled by reason of their subtilty and spiritous substance. 1653H. More Antid. Ath. iii. ix. §12 The blood was found so pure and spiritous, that it spurted into his face as he cut him. 1667Milton P.L. vi. 479 Materials dark and crude, Of spiritous and fierie spume. 1733Tull Horse-hoeing Husb. xiv. 83 When it [hay] stands 'till full Blown, the most spiritous, volatile, and nourishing Parts of its Juices is spent on the next Generation. 1766Phil. Trans. LVI. 96 The heat used in making the spiritous extract.
fig.1641Milton Ch. Govt. ii. iii, Such the most covert and spiritous vices as would slip easily between the wider and more material grasp of Law. 1651H. More Enthus. Tri. (1712) 14 That Melancholy partakes much of the nature of Wine, he evinces from that it is so spiritous. Ibid., And that Melancholy is flatuous or spiritous [etc.].
b. Of liquors: Alcoholic; = spirituous a. 3 b.
1799Dundas in Owen Wellesley's Desp. (1877) 642 The encreasing produce of the revenue on salt, opium and spiritous liquors. 1801C. Smith Lett. Solit. Wand. I. 322 Not allowing me to take any thing spiritous. 1836Macgillivray Trav. Humboldt xxv. 381 From the fermented juice a spiritous liquor..is procured.
2. Exhilarating, enlivening. rare— 1.
1624Wotton Archit. 68 The second point is Vsefulnesse, which will consist in a sufficient Number of Roomes, of all sorts, and in their apt Coherence,..without confusion;..that it may appear airie and spiritous, and fit for the welcome of cheerefull Guests.
†3. Of persons: Lively, vivacious, high-spirited.
1629Walton in Wotton Reliq. (1672) 445, I writ by him to the Queen..about your Spiritous nephew. 1737Gentl. Mag. VII. 373/1 A gay companion,..Fond without folly, spir'tous without rage. 1746W. Horsley Fool (1748) I. 49 The spiritous Mrs. Frolic.
transf.1763Brit. Mag. IV. 468 Her eyes darted the most spiritous rays.
†4. Gram. Of consonants: Pronounced with breathing or aspiration. Obs.
1668Wilkins Real Char. 367 The Spiritous Consonants to be breathed through the Mouth. Ibid. 375 The Spiritous Consonants that are Mutes.
Hence ˈspiritousness. rare—1.
a1691Boyle (J.), Not withstanding the great thinness and spiritousness of the liquor. |