especially 
specially; in reference to one person or thing 
in particular. 
Pirrus full priuely persayuit onon, 
By a spie, that especially sped for to wete, 
That hys Ernes full egurly etlit to wode, 
Forto hunt iu the holtes. 
Destruction of Troy (E. E. T. S.), 1. 13518. 
A savage holds to his cows and his women, but especially 
to his cows. Sir S. W. Baker, Heart of Africa, p. 205. 
The Duke was especially angered with Michelangelo be- 
cause he refused to select a site for a fortress which he 
wished to build at Florence. 
C. C. Perkins, Italian Sculpture, p. 295, note. 
especialness (es-pesh'al-nes), n. The state of 
being especial. Loe. ' [Bare.] 
espeirt, [ME., also espeyre, < OF. espeir, es- 
poir (= Pr. csper), hope, < esperer, hope, < L. 
sperare, hope.] Expectation. 
Thus stante envie in good espeire 
To ben him self the divels heire. 
Goiver, Conf. Amant., I. 265. 
esperancet (es'pe-rans), n. [< ME. esperaunce, 
< OF. esperance, F. 'esperance = Pr. esperansa = 
Sp. esperanza = Pg. esperanqa = It. speranza, 
hope, < L. speran(t-)s, ppr. of sperare, hope.] 
Hope. 
There is a credence in my heart, 
An esperance so obstinately strong, 
That doth invert the attest of eyes and ears. 
Shak., T. and C., v. 2. 
Esperella (es-pe-rel'S), n. [NL.] The typi- 
cal genus of EspereUince. Vosmaer. 
Esperellinae (es'pe-re-ll'ne), n. pi. [NL., < Es- 
perella + -iiue.] A subfamily of sponges, of 
the family Desmacidonida;, typified by the ge- 
nus Esperella, whose fiber is not characterized 
by projecting spicules. Ridley and Dendy. 
Esperia (es-pe'ri-a), . See Hesperia. 
espiaillet, n. A Middle English form of espial. 
espial (es-pi'al), n. [< ME. espiaile, espiaille, 
< espien, espy: see espy. Hence, by abbrev., 
spial.] 1. The act of espying; observation; 
watch; scrutiny. 
He had a somonour redy to his hond, 
A slyer boy was noon in Engelond ; 
For subtillye he had his expiaille. 
Chaucer, Friar's Tale, 1. 25. 
Screened from espial by the jutting cape. 
Byron, Corsair, i. 
The Council remained doubtful of the conformity of 
Mary's chaplains : and her house, for the next thing, was 
placed under espial. 
R. W. Dimn, Hist. Church of Eng., xviii. 
2f. A spy. 
By your espials were discovered 
Two mightier troops. Shak. , 1 Hen. VI., iv. 3. 
Her father and myself (lawful espials) 
Will so bestow ourselves, that, seeing, unseen, 
We may of their encounter frankly judge. 
Shak., Hamlet, iii. 1. 
Our judge stands as an espial and a watch over our ac- 
tions. Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), I. 111. 
espibawn (es'pi-ban), n. [Ir. easpuig-ban.] An 
Irish name for the whiteweed or oxeye daisy, 
Chrysanthemum Leucanthemum. 
espieglerie (es-pia-gle-re'), n. [F.] Jesting; 
raillery ; good-humored teasing or bantering. 
They chaff one another with sickening espieglerie. 
Athenaeum, Jan. 14, 1888, p. 48. 
espier (es-pi'er), n. [< ME. aspiere, < aspien, 
espien, espy, see aspy, espy.] One who espies, 
or watches like a spy. 
Ye covetous misers, ... ye crafty espiers ot the neces- 
sity of your poor brethren ! 
Harmar, tr. of Beza's Sermons (1587), p. 175. 
espijjnole(es-pi-ny6r), . [OF.] An early war- 
engine somewhat resembling the modern mi- 
trailleuse, having a number of barrels mounted 
on a cart and fired by machinery. Compare 
argues. 
espinel (es-pi-nel'), n. [< OF. espinelle, F. spi- 
nelle: see spinel.'] Same as spinel. 
espinette (es-pi-nef), . Same as spinet. 
espionage (es'pi-o-naj or, as F., es-pe-6-nazh'), 
. [< F. espionnagej<. espion, a spy, < ft. spione, 
a spy : see spy, espy.'] The practice of spying ; 
secret observation of the acts or utterances of 
another by a spy or emissary; offensive sur- 
veillance. 
espiotte (es'pi-ot), n. [Cf . Sp. espiote, a sharp- 
pointed weapon.] A species of rye. 
espirituelt, a. [< OF. espirituel, < L. spiritualis, 
spiritual : see spiritual. ] A Middle English form 
of spiritual. 
esplanade (es-pla-nad'), n. [< OF. esplanade = 
Sp. Pg. esplanada = It. spianata, < OF. espla- 
ner, level, explain, = Sp. esplanar, explanar = 
It. spianare, < L. explanare, level, explain, etc. : 
see explain. Hence, by apheresis, splanade.] 1 . 
la. fort.; (a) The glacis of the counterscarp, or 
2006 
the sloping of the parapet of the covered way 
toward the country. (6) The open space be- 
tween the glacis of a citadel and the first houses 
of the town. 2. Any open level space or course 
near a town, especially a kind of terrace along 
the seaside, for public walks or drives. 
There was a temple here [at Tenedos] to Sminthean 
Apollo, which probably was in the fine esplanade before 
the castle, where there now remain some fluted pillars of 
white marble. Pococke, Description of the East, II. ii. 21. 
All the world was gathered on the terrace of the Kur- 
saal and the esplanade below it, to listen to the excellent 
orchestra. H. James, Jr., Pass. Pilgrim, p. 181. 
esplees (es-plez'). n. pi. [OF. espies, espleits 
(pi. of espleit, pp.;, < ML. expleta, the products 
of land, pi. of expletum, rent, service, etc. : see 
exploit.] In law, the products of land, as the 
hay of meadows, herbage of pastures, corn of 
arable lands, rents, services, etc. 
espleitt, espleytt, . Obsolete forms of exploit. 
esponton (es-pon'ton), . Same as spontoon. 
espousaget (es-pou'zaj), n. [< espouse + -age. 
Hence, by apheresis, spousage.] Espousal; wed- 
lock. 
Such a one as the king can find iu his heart to love, and 
lead his life in pure and chaste espousage, 
Latimer, 1st Sermon bef. Edw. VI., 1549. 
espousal (es-pou'zal), n. and a. [Early mod. 
E. also espousall, < ME. espousaile, < OF. espou- 
sailles, pi., F. epousailles = Pr. esposalhas = Sp. 
esponsales = Pg. esponsaes, esponsalias, < L. 
sponsalia, a betrothal, neut. pi. of sponsalis, 
adj. (see sponsal), < sponsus, fern, sponsa, one 
betrothed, a spouse : see spouse. Hence, by 
apheresis, spousal.'] I. n. 1. The act of es- 
pousing or betrothing ; formal contract or cele- 
bration of marriage: frequently used in the 
plural. 
I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love 
of thine espousals. Jer. ii. 2. 
This was the burnt offering which Shalum offered in 
the day of his espousals. Addison, Hilpah and Shalum. 
2. Assumption of the protection or defense of 
anything ; advocacy ; a taking upon one's self ; 
adoption as by wedding. 
If political reasons forbid the open espousal of his cause, 
pity command! the assistance which private fortunes can 
lend him. Walpole. 
Espousals of the Blessed Virgin, in the Rom. Cath. Ch. , 
a festival celebrated on January 23d. 
II. a. Relating to the act of espousing or be- 
trothing; marriage (used adjectively). 
The ambassador . . . put his leg . . . between the es- 
pousal sheets. Bacon, Henry VII., p. go. 
espouset (es-pouz'), n. [< ME. espouse, < OF. 
espous, espoux, m., espouse, f. (= It. sposo, m., 
sposa, f.), < L. sponsus, m., sponsa, f., one be- 
trothed, pp. of spondere, promise, promise in 
marriage: see sponsor, respond, etc. Hence, 
by apheresis (though actually older in E.), 
spouse, n., q. v.] A spouse. 
The Erie the espouse courtoisly forth lad. 
Rom. o/Par(cnai/(E. E. T. S.), L 954. 
espouse (es-pouz'), v. t. ; pret. and pp. espoused, 
ppr. espousing. [< ME. espouseii, < OF. espou- 
ser, F. epouser = Pr. espozar = It. sposare, < 
LL. sponsare, betroth, espouse, < L. spondere, 
pp. sponsus, promise, promise in marriage, be- 
troth: see espouse, n. Hence, by apheresis 
(though actually older in E.), spo^lse, i\, q. v.] 
1. To promise, engage, or bestow in marriage; 
betroth. 
When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph. 
Mat. i. 18. 
I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present 
you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 2 Cor. xi. 2. 
If her sire approves, 
Let him espouse her to the peer she loves. Pope. 
2. To take in marriage ; marry; wed. 
He which shall espouse a woman bringeth witnesses, and 
before them doth betroth her with money, or somewhat 
money-worth, which he giueth her, saying, Be thou es- 
poused to me according to the Law of Moses and Israel. 
Purchas, Pilgrimage, p. 213. 
The rest [of the Bucentaur is] accommodated with 
seats ; where he [the Doge] solemnly espouseth the Sea ; 
confirmed by a ring thrown therein. 
Sandys, Travailes, p. 2. 
3. To take to one's self, or make one's own; 
embrace ; adopt ; become a participator or par- 
tizan in: as, to espouse the quarrel of another; 
to espouse a cause. 
They have severally owned to me that all men who 
espouse a party must expect to be blackened by the con- 
trary side. Dryden, Vind. of Duke of Guise. 
He that doth not openly and heartily espouse the cause 
of truth will be reckoned to have been on the other side. 
Sp. Atterbury, Sermons, II. xxiv. 
esquamate 
The Puritans espoused the cause of civil liberty mainly 
because it was the cause of religion. Macaulay, Milton. 
4f. To pledge; commit; engage. 
In the election of our friends we do principally avoid 
those which are impatient, as those that will espouse us 
to many factions and quarrels. 
Bacon, Advancement of Learning, ii. 315. 
espousement (es-pouz'ment), n. [< espouse + 
-ment.] The act of espousing ; espousal. Craig. 
espouser (es-pou'zer), n. 1. One who espouses, 
or betroths or weds. 
As wooers and espousers, having commission or letters 
of credence to treat of a marriage. 
Bp. Gauiien, Uieraspistes (1653), p. 156. 
2. One who defends or maintains something, 
as a cause. 
The espousers of that unauthorized and detestable 
scheme haue been weak enough to assert that there is a 
knowledge in the elect, peculiar to those chosen vessels. 
Allen, Sermon before Univ. of Oxford (1761), p. 11. 
espressivo (es-pres-se'vo), a. [It., = E. ex- 
pressive.] In music, expressive: noting a pas- 
sage to be rendered with ardent expression. 
espringalt, espringaldt, espringalet, esprin- 
golet, n. See springal. 
esprit (es-pre'), n. [F., < L. spiritus, spirit : see 
sprite, spirit.] Spirit; wit; aptitude, especially 
of comprehension and expression Esprit de 
corps, the common spirit or disposition developed among 
men in association, as in a military company, a body of of- 
ficials, etc. 
espy (es-pi')i *>! pret. and pp. espied, ppr. 
espying, [Formerly also espie; < ME. espyen, 
usually with initial a, aspyen, aspien, also abbr. 
spyen, spien, mod. E. spy : see aspy and spy ; v.] 
1. trans. 1. To see at a distance; catch sight 
of or discover at a distance. 
I did espie 
Where towards me a sory wight did cost. 
Spenser, Daphnaida. 
I was forced to send Captaine Stafford to Croatan, with 
twentie to feed himselfe, and see if he could espie any 
sayle passe the coast. 
Quoted in Capt. John Smith's True Travels, I. 82. 
Now as Christian was walking solitary by himself, he 
espied one afar off, come crossing over the field to meet 
him. Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress, p. 92. 
2. To see or discover suddenly, after some 
effort, or unexpectedly, as by accident: with 
reference to some person or thing in a degree 
concealed or intended to be hidden : as, to espy 
a man in a crowd. 
" If it be soth," quod Pieres, " that je seyne I shal it sone 
asspye I 
ge ben wastoures, I wote wel and Treuthe wote the sothe ! " 
Pien Plowman (B), vi. 131. 
M. More thinketh that his errors be so subtilly couched 
that no man can >.-/"/ them. 
Tyndale, Ans. to Sir T. More, etc. (Parker Soc., 1850), p. 15. 
As one of them opened his sack, ... he espied his 
money. Qen. xlii. 27. 
Apollyon, espying his opportunity, began to gather up 
close to Christian, and, wrestling with him, gave him a 
dreadful fall. Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress, p. 128. 
3f. To inspect narrowly ; explore and examine ; 
observe and keep watch upon ; spy. 
Full secretly he goth hym to aspye, 
il> m for to do sum shame and velanye. 
Generydes (E. E. T. S.), 1. 1357. 
In Ebron, Josue, Calephe, and here Companye comen 
first to aspyen, how the! myghte wynnen the Lond of Be- 
heste. Mandeville, Travels, p. 66. 
Moses . . . sent me ... to espy out the land ; and I 
brought him word again. Josh. xiv. 7. 
He sends angels to espy us in all our ways. Jer. Taylor. 
=Syn. To discern, descry, perceive, catch sight of. 
Il.t intrans. To look narrowly ; keep watch ; 
spy- 
Stand by the way and espy. Jer. xlviii. 19. 
And to espie in this meane while, if any default were in 
the Lambe. Purchas, Pilgrimage, p. 123. 
espyt (es-pl'), n. [Formerly also espie; < ME. 
espie, usually with initial a, aspye, aspie; abbr. 
spye, spie, mod. E. spy : see spy, n.] 1. A spy ; 
scout; watch. 
Than thei sente their espyes thonrgh-oute the londe, for 
to knowe the rule of kynge Arthur. 
Merlin (E. E. T. S.), ii. 146. 
Of these he made subtile inuestigation 
Of his owne espie, and other mens relation. 
Hakluyt's Voyages, I. 203. 
2. Espial; espionage. 
The muster-master general . . . thought a check upon 
his office would be a troublesome espy upon him. 
Swift, Character of the Earl of Wharton. 
Esq., Esqr. Abbreviations of esquire^, as an 
appended title. 
esquamate (e-skwa'mat), a. [< NL. *esquama- 
tus, < L. e- priv. + /<, scale, + -ate 1 : see 
squamate.] In zool. , not squamate ; having no 
scales. 
