spicyadj.
/ˈspʌɪsi/, U.S. /ˈspaɪsi/ 1. figurative.1647 J. Hall Poems i. 37 When age shall..all that Red remove That on thy spicy lip now ly's.1847 R. W. Emerson Poems 85 Fountain drop of spicier worth Than all vintage of the earth.
a. Having the characteristic qualities of spice; of the nature of spice.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > savouriness > [adjective]
likingeOE
goodOE
lickerousc1275
deliciousa1325
daintya1382
dainteousc1386
daintiful1393
delicatea1398
merrya1398
savourlyc1400
liciousc1420
savourousa1425
daintethc1430
lustyc1430
feelsomea1450
nuttya1450
seasonablea1475
delicativec1475
unctuous1495
well-tasteda1500
daintive1526
savoury1533
exquisite1561
spicy1562
well-relished?1575
finger-licking1584
toothsome1584
taste-pleasinga1586
daint1590
relishsome1593
lickerish1595
tastesome1598
friand1599
tooth-tempting1603
relishing1605
well-relishing1608
neat1609
hungry1611
palate-pleasing1611
tasteful1611
palatea1617
tastya1617
palatable1619
toothful1622
sipid1623
unsoured1626
famelic1631
tasteablea1641
piquant1645
sapid1646
saporousa1670
slape1671
palativea1682
flavorous1697
nice1709
well-flavoured1717
gusty1721
flavoury1727
fine-palated1735
unrepulsive1787
degustatory1824
zesty1826
peckish1845
mouth-watering1847
flavoursome1853
unreasty1853
unrancida1855
relishy1864
toothy1864
flavoured1867
tasty-looking1867
hungrifying1886
velvety1888
snappy1892
zippy1911
savoursome1922
delish1953
the world > food and drink > food > additive > spice > [adjective]
spicy1562
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > savouriness > [adjective] > having the characteristics of spice
spicy1562
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > savouriness > [adjective] > having the characteristics of spice > of qualities: appropriate to, characteristic of, spices
spicy1562
1562 W. Turner Herball (1568) ii. 50 The shel smelleth well, and is spycye, not onely in smell, but also in taste.
1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §644 So Fennell-seeds are sweet before they ripen, and after grow spicy.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ii. 640 Whence Merchants bring Thir spicie Drugs. View more context for this quotation
1725 D. Defoe New Voy. round World i. 123 The Herbs eat all spicey, and had a most pleasant agreeable Taste.
1769 W. Buchan Domest. Med. ii. 500 The diet must be warm..consisting chiefly of spicy and aromatic vegetables.
1805 ‘Ignotus’ Culina (ed. 2) 117 The French Cooks make a spicey mixture that does not discover a predominancy of any one of the spices over the others.
1833 H. Martineau Cinnamon & Pearls iii. 54 The sun could penetrate to the pure white sand from which the spicy stems sprang.
b. Flavoured or mixed with spice.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > mixers or flavourings > [adjective] > flavoured
spicy1645
absinthiated1661
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preparation for table or cooking > seasoning > [adjective] > highly spiced
spicedc1325
pikea1475
well-spiceda1500
spiceful1612
spicy1807
bedevilled1814
1645 J. Milton L'Allegro in Poems 34 The Spicy Nut-brown Ale.
1807 G. Crabbe Parish Reg. i, in Poems 44 Here his poor Bird, th' inhuman Cocker brings,..With spicy food, th' impatient spirit feeds.
2. Having the fragrance of spice; sweet-scented, aromatic:
a. Of flowers.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > fragrance > [adjective]
sweet900
sootc950
aromatic1366
merrya1398
well-smellinga1398
sweet-smellingc1400
lusciousc1420
savoury?a1425
redolingc1429
redolent?a1439
odorate?1440
flagrant1450
redolentc1450
well-savouringc1450
aromatous1483
softa1500
well-aired1505
balmy1508
ambrosiana1522
embalmeda1529
fragrantc1530
perfumed1538
scented?c1562
scented1567
balm-like1569
sweet1573
aromatizate1576
aromatical1578
Sabaeana1586
ambrosial1590
rich1590
perfumed1591
sweet-scented1591
reperfumed1593
balm-breathing1595
nectaredc1595
spiced1600
fuming1601
fumed1612
scentful1612
balsam1624
perfumy1625
odoraminous1656
aroma-olent1657
suaveolent1657
aromatized1661
essenced1675
balsamy1687
flavorous1697
balsamic1714
well-scented1726
scenty1738
breathing1757
spicy1765
flavouriferous1773
aromal1848
bescented1863
euodic1868
nosy1892
1765 C. Talbot Lett. Mrs. E. Carter & Miss C. Talbot (1808) II. 21 Here [there is] a gale of spicy pinks, here the breath of lillies.
1797 A. Radcliffe Italian II. ii. 58 The spicy myrtle sent forth all its fragrance.
1830 Ld. Tennyson Poet's Mind 13 Holy water will I pour Into every spicy flower Of the laurel-shrubs.
1845–50 A. H. Lincoln Familiar Lect. Bot. (new ed.) 105/2 Gaultheria procumbens (spicy wintergreen).
1869 A. J. Evans Vashti xxiv. 319 An exquisitely beautiful and fragrant bouquet..fringed daintily with spicy geranium leaves.
b. Of air, breezes, etc.
ΚΠ
1650 H. Vaughan Silex Scintillans 51 Calm streams; Joyes full, and true; Fresh, spicie mornings.
1712 A. Pope Messiah in Spectator No. 348 See spicy Clouds from lowly Saron rise.
1713 A. Pope Windsor-Forest 17 Led by new Stars, and born by spicy Gales!
1820 J. Keats Hyperion: a Fragm. i, in Lamia & Other Poems 155 When he would taste the spicy wreaths Of incense.
1855 R. Browning Fra Lippo Lippi in Men & Women I. 52 Tasting the air this spicy night which turns The unaccustomed head like Chianti wine!
3.
a. Containing or producing, abounding in, spices.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > additive > spice > [adjective] > containing spice
spicy1646
1646 R. Crashaw Steps to Temple 46 A fragrant Breath suckt from the spicy nest O' th pretious Phœnix.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 162 As when..North-East windes blow Sabean Odours from the spicie shoare Of Arabie the blest. View more context for this quotation
1746 J. Hervey Refl. Flower-garden 43 in Medit. among Tombs All the Odours of the spicy East.
1781 W. Cowper Charity 442 The stores [which] The sun matures on India's spicy shores.
1813 P. B. Shelley Queen Mab viii. 102 Fragrant zephyrs there from spicy isles Ruffle the placid ocean-deep.
b. Consisting of spice; conveying spice.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > specific types of trade > [adjective] > trading in spice
spicy1712
the world > food and drink > food > additive > spice > [adjective] > consisting of spice
spicy1712
1712 W. King Britain's Palladium 39 Restore the spicy traffick of the East.
1840 T. Hood Up Rhine 29 Masts of spicy vessels, From distant Surinam.
4. Of qualities: Appropriate to, or characteristic of, spices.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > additive > spice > [adjective] > characteristic of spice
spicy1648
picante1955
1648 R. Crashaw Steps to Temple (ed. 2) 38 O dissipate thy spicie Powers.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Zedoaria Its spicy Warmth is commended in Cholics, and Hysterical Affections.
1732 J. Arbuthnot Pract. Rules of Diet i. 244 Burnet, astringent, with a gentle spicy Quality.
1821 J. Clare Village Minstrel I. 115 Spikenard's spicy smell.
1883 Cent. Mag. Oct. 814/2 The great variety of flowers and their spicy flavour.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > [adjective]
highOE
rankOE
proudOE
quaint?c1225
stoutc1315
proud-heartedc1400
gobbedc1440
pridyc1485
high-minded?1503
superb1561
proud-heart1591
tiptoe1593
sublime1596
high-headed1599
magnificent1603
side1673
vaunty1724
perked-up1754
spicy1768
jelly1828
Latin1914
1768 D. Dalrymple Bannatyne Poems 276 Thus a spicy man is still used for one self-conceited and proud.
1808 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Spicy, proud, testy.
6. slang.
a. Full of spirit, smartness, or ‘go’.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [adjective] > brisk or active
sprindeOE
whata1000
braga1350
prestc1390
yarea1400
stirringc1400
startingc1440
actious1441
actuala1470
activea1522
queemc1540
skeetc1540
lively1567
alive-like1582
pragmatical1590
spruce1590
agilious1599
brisk1599
sprightly?c1599
brisky1600
alives-like1601
alacrious1602
smart1602
eyebright1603
whisking1611
deedy1615
vibrant1616
sprunt1631
perking1653
alert1654
exilient1654
alacrative1657
eveillé1676
budge1691
jaunty1705
spry1746
sprack1747
alive1748
high-geared1795
rash1805
spicy1828
live1830
deedful1834
yary1855
sprucy1858
alacritous1859
sprackish1882
brash1884
up-and-coming1889
up and doing1901
loose1907
bright-eyed and bushy-tailed1936
buzzy1978
1828 Sporting Mag. (N.S.) XXI. 324 We had a remarkably spicy team out of town.
1829 Sporting Mag. (N.S.) 23 291 Four little spicy devils, it would be difficult for anything I should think to catch.
1858–61 E. B. Ramsay Reminisc. Sc. Life (1870) vi. 238 It..requires to be performed with a particular and spicy dexterity of hand.
1898 J. B. Wollocombe From Morn till Eve viii. 196 A well-appointed drag appeared with its spicy team stepping well together.
b. Smart-looking; neat. Also as adv.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > [adjective] > neat or trim
netc1330
pertc1330
cleanc1386
nicec1400
picked?c1425
dapperc1440
feata1471
gim1513
trig1513
well-trimmedc1513
trick1533
smirk1534
tricksy1552
neat1559
netty1573
deft1579
primpc1590
briska1593
smug1598
spruce1598
sprink1602
terse1602
compt1632
nitle1673
sprig1675
snod1691
tight1697
smugged1706
snug1714
pensy1718
fitty1746
jemmy1751
sprucy1774
smartc1778
natty1785
spry1806
perjink1808
soigné1821
nutty1823
toiletted1823
taut1829
spick and span1846
spicy1846
groomed1853
spiffy1853
well-groomed1865
bandboxy1870
perjinkity1880
spick-span1888
bandbox1916
tiddly1925
whip-smart1937
spit and polish1950
spit-and-polished1977
1846 T. H. Huxley in L. Huxley Life & Lett. T. H. Huxley (1900) I. ii. 28 The spicy oilcloth..on the floor looks most respectable.
?1856 F. E. Smedley Harry Coverdale's Courtship i. 4 The fortunate possessor of a spicy dog-cart, a blood mare to run in it.
1859 G. Meredith Ordeal Richard Feverel II. x. 205 That young Tom! He've come to town dressed that spicy!
7. Of writing or discourse: Smart and pointed; pungent; having a flavour of the sensational or scandalous; somewhat improper.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > vigour or force > [adjective] > piquant
piquant1645
racyc1817
spicy1844
salty1866
sultry1880
tangy1948
1844 J. T. J. Hewlett Parsons & Widows III. li. 235 The articles were so clever, and so very ‘spicy’.
1848 Punch 15 62 I wish you would say something spicy about the new regulation.
1891 F. W. Farrar Darkness & Dawn I. xxvi. 255 It is composed of the spiciest libels against every senator of note whom he ventures to attack.
8. Exciting, exhilarating.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > excitement > pleasurable excitement > [adjective] > piquantly exciting
piquant1645
poignanta1657
French1682
flavorous1697
zested1769
zestful1797
pungent1850
spicy1853
zesty1853
juicy1883
nutty1894
sauced1894
colourful1905
zappy1969
1853 E. K. Kane U.S. Grinnell Exped. 335 The spicy tingling of a crisis.
Compounds
spicy-looking adj.
ΚΠ
1850 F. E. Smedley Frank Fairlegh (1894) 4 A spicy-looking nag.
spicy-smelling adj.
ΚΠ
1819 W. Scott Ivanhoe III. vii. 171 A warming and spicy-smelling balsam.
1901 Wide World Mag. 6 469/2 It is planted thick with spicy-smelling pines and firs.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
adj.1562