speculum 
The wing [In Anatiiuv] hiis usually a brilliant Speculum, 
which, like the other wing-markings, is the same in lioth 
sexes. Coues, Key to N. A. Birds, p. 690. 
4. In anat., the septum lucidum of the brain. 
See cut under corpus. 5. In mcd. and surg., an 
Speculums. 
A, eye-speculum ; B, Sims's vaginal speculum ; C. bivalve vaginal 
speculum ; D, ear-speculum. 
instrument used for rendering a part accessible 
to observation, especially by opening or enlarg- 
ing an orifice. 6. A lookout; a place to spy 
from. 
It was in fact the speculum or watch-tower of Teufels- 
drockh ; wherefrom, sitting at ease, he might see the 
whole life-circulation of that considerable City. 
Carlyle, Sartor Resartus, i. 3. 
Duck-billed speculum, a name sometimes applied to 
Sims's vaginal speculum, and more rarely to some of the 
bivalve vaginal specula, whose valves resemble a duck's 
bill. Also called duck-bill. Ear-speculum, an instru- 
ment, usually a hollow cone, introduced into the meatus 
externus for holding the hairs out of the way so that the 
bottom of the passage may be illuminated and seen. 
Nose-speculum. See rhinoscope. 
speculum-metal (spek'u-lum-met ; *al), n. See 
speculum, 2. 
sped (sped). A preterit and past participle of 
speed. 
spedet, spedefult. Old spellings of speed, speed- 
ful. 
speecet, An old form of specs, spice. 
speech (spech), . [Early mod. E. also speach ; 
< ME. speche, spxche, earlier spek, speke, < AS. 
spxc, spec, earlier spreec, spree (= OS. sprdca 
= OFries. spreke, spretse, sprake = D. spraak = 
MLG. sprake = OHG. sprdhha, MHG. G. sprache 
= Icel. spekjur, f. pi., = Sw. sprdg = Dan. 
sprog), speech, < sprecan (pret. spr&c), speak: 
see speak.] 1. The faculty of uttering artic- 
ulate sounds or words, as in human beings 
and, by imitation, in some birds ; capacity for 
expressing thoughts by words or articulate 
sounds ; the power of speaking, or of uttering 
words either in the speaking- or the singing- 
voice. 
And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an 
Impediment in his speech. Hark vii. 32. 
Speech is the instrument by which a Foole is distin- 
guished from a Philosopher. 
Howell, Forreine Travell (rep. 1869), p. 59. 
God's great gift of speech abused 
Makes thy memory confused. 
Tennyson, A Dirge. 
2. The action or exercise of speaking ; expres- 
sion of thoughts or ideas with the speaking- 
voice; oral utterance or communication; also, 
an act or exercise of oral expression or com- 
munication ; talk ; conversation ; discourse : as, 
a person's habit of speech ; to be chary of speech ; 
their speech was all about themselves. 
There is no speech nor language where their voice is not 
heard. [There is no speech nor language ; their voice can- 
not be heard, R. V.] PB. xix. 3. 
Without more Speche I you beseche 
That we were sone agone. 
The Ifut-Broien Maid (Percy's Reliques, H. i. 6> 
We entered into many speeches of divers matters. 
Coryat, Crudities, 1. 14. 
3. The words and grammatical forms in which 
thought is expressed; language; a language. 
For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech. 
Ezek. Hi. 5. 
There is not a language in the world which does not ex- 
ist in the condition of dialectic division, so that the speech 
of each community is the member of a more or less ex- 
tended family. Whitney, Life and Growth of Lang., p. 175. 
4. That which is spoken; thoughts as uttered 
or written; a saying or remark; especially, a 
more or less formal address or other utterance ; 
an oration; a harangue: as, a cutting speech in 
conversation; the speeches in a dialogue or a 
drama; to deliver a speech; uvoluraeot speeches. 
You may spare your speeches: I expect no reply. 
Sleele, Tatler, No. 266. 
At the end of his speech he [Chatham] fell in an apoplec- 
tic flt, and was borne home to die a few weeks afterward. 
Amer. Cyc., XIII. 552. 
5. A speaking or talking of something; uttered 
opinion, intention, etc.; oral or verbal mention ; 
report. [Archaic.] 
5813 
The duke . . . did of me demand 
What was the speech among the Londoners 
Concerning the Kn-ni-li journey. 
Shak., Hen. VIII., I. 2. 154. 
[There is] no speech of any stop of shipping hither, nor 
of the general governour. 
Winthrop, Hist. New England, I. 466. 
6. An occasion of speaking; course of speak- 
ing; oral communication; colloquy; confer- 
ence; parlance: as, to get speech of or with a 
person. 
I would by and by have some speech with you. 
Shak., M. for M., Hi. 1. 155. 
Look to it that none have speech of her. 
Scott, Kenilworth, xxxlv. 
7. Manner of speaking; form or quality of that 
which is spoken or of spoken sounds; method 
of utterance, either habitual or occasional: as, 
his speech betrays his nationality; rapid speech; 
thick or harsh speech. 
As thou wonldest be cleane In arraye. 
So be cleane in thy speeche. 
Babces Book(E. E. T. S.), p. 96. 
Thou art a Galilean, and thy speech agreeth thereto. 
Mark xiv. 70. 
8. The utterance or sounding of a musical in- 
strument, especially of a pipe in a pipe-organ. 
In the 11th century ... the manner of testing the 
speech [of an organ] by blowing the pipe with the mouth 
in various ways is precisely that often employed by the 
"voicer" of the present day. Grove, Diet. Music, II. 578. 
9. In a wheel, the hub with the spokes, but 
without the fellies and tire. E. H. Knight. 
Figure of speech. See figure. Maiden, oblique, per- 
fect speech. See the adjectives. Part Of speech. See 
port. Reported speech. Same as oblitjue speech. Rule 
of speech. See rufei.- Scanning speech. See scan. 
Set speech. See e.- Speech from the throne, in 
British politics, a speech or address prepared by the minis- 
try in the name of the sovereign, and read at the opening 
of Parliament either by the sovereign in person or by com- 
mission. It states briefly the relations with foreign coun- 
tries and the condition of domestic affairs, and outlines 
vaguely the chief measures which will be considered by 
Parliament. Also called King's (or Queen's) speech. =Syn. 
Speech, Address, Harangue, Oration. Speech is generic, 
and applies to any form of words uttered ; it is the thing 
spoken, without reference to its quality or the manner of 
speaking it. An address is a speech viewed as spoken to 
one or more persons, and is generally of the better sort : 
as, Paul's speech on Mars' Hill ; his address before Felix. A 
harangue is a noisy speech, usually unstudied and unpol- 
ished, addressed to a large audience and in a violent man- 
ner. An oration is a formal, impressive, studied, and elab- 
orately polished address : as, Webster was selected to de- 
liver the oration when the corner-stone of the Bunker 
Hill monument was laid, and again when the monument 
was completed. See sermon and language. 
speecht (spech), v. i. [< speech, n.] To make a 
speech ; harangue. 
He raved continually, ... and speeched against him from 
morning till night. 
Account o/ T. Whigg, Esq., p. 9. (Latham.) 
speech-center (spech'sen"ter), n. A nervous 
center particularly related to speech ; especial- 
ly, a cortical center situated in the region of 
the posterior extremity of the left frontal con- 
volution of the brain, the destruction of which 
produces in most persons ataxic aphasia. 
speechcraft (spech'kraft), n. The art or science 
of language ; grammar. Burns. 
speech-Crier (spech'kri'er), n. Formerly, in 
Great Britain, a hawker of the last speeches 
or confessions of executed criminals, accounts 
of murders, etc. As a distinct occupation, such hawk- 
ing arose from the frequency of public executions when 
hanging was the penalty for a great variety of crimes. 
speech-day (spech'da), n. In England, the 
periodical examination-day of a public school. 
I still have . . . the gold etui your papa gave me when 
he came to our speech-day at Kensington. 
Thackeray, Virginians, xxi. 
speechful (spech'ful), a. [< speech + -//.] 
Full of talk; loquacious; speaking. [Rare.] 
Blackie, Lays of the Highlands, p. 18. 
speechification (spe'chi-fi-ka'shon), . [< 
speechifi/ + -ation (see -/cotton).] The act of 
making speeches or of haranguing. [Humorous 
or contemptuous.] 
speechifier (spe'chi-fi-er), re. [< speechify + 
-eri.] One who speechifies; one who is fond 
of making speeches ; a habitual speechmaker. 
[Humorous or contemptuous.] 
A county member, . . . both out of the house and in it, 
is liked the better for not being a speechijier. 
Oeorge Eliot, Daniel Deronda, xliv. 
speechify (spe'chi-fi), v. i. ; pret. and pp. speech- 
ified, ppr. speechifying. [< speech + -i-fy.] To 
make a speech; harangue. [Humorous or con- 
temptuous.] 
At a political dinner everybody is disagreeable and In- 
clined to speech\fy. Dickens, Sketches, Scenes, xix. 
speed 
speechless (spech'les), n. [< speerh + -less.] 
1 . Not having or not using the faculty of speech ; 
unable to speak; dumb; mute. 
He that never hears a word spoken, ... it is no wonder 
if such an one remain speechless. 
Holder, Elements of Speech, p. 115. 
2. Refraining or restrained from speech ; not 
speaking, either of purpose or from present in- 
ability: as, to stand speechless before one's ac- 
cusers ; speechless from terror. 
I had rather hear your groans then find you speechlesse. 
Brome, Queens Exchange, II. 
3. Characterized by the absence of speech ; 
unexpressed ; unattended by spoken words. 
From her eyes 
I did receive fair speechless messages. 
Shak., M. of V., L 1. 164. 
4f. Using few words ; concise. HalliiceU. 
speechlessly (spech 'les-li), adv. Without 
speaking; so as to be incapable of utterance : 
as. spGGckkssly amazed. 
speechlessness (spech'les-nes), . The state 
of being speechless ; muteness. 
speechmake (spech'mak). v. i. [A back-forma- 
tion, < speechmaking.'] To indulge in speech- 
making; make speeches. [Rare?] 
"The King's Friends" and the "Patriots" . . . were 
speechmalciiiff and pamphleteering. 
Athenaum, No. 3251, p. 206. 
speechmaker (spech 'marker), . One who 
makes a speech or speeches; one who speaks 
much in public assemblies. 
speechmaking (spech'ma'king), n. [< speech 
+ making.} The act of making a speech or 
speeches; a formal speaking, as before an as- 
sembly; also, used attributively, marked by for- 
mal speaking or the delivery of speeches. 
speechmant (spech'man), n. [Early mod. E. 
also speachman; < speech + man.] One em- 
ployed in speaking; a spokesman; an inter- 
preter. 
Sending with them by poste a Talmach or Speachman 
for the better furniture of the seruice of the sayde Am- 
bassadour. Hakluyt't Voyages, I. 286. 
speech-reading (spech're'ding), . The pro- 
cess of comprehending spoken words by watch- 
ing the speaker's lips, as taught to deaf-mutes, 
speed (sped), n. [< ME. speed, sped, spede, < AS. 
sped, success, prosperity, riches, wealth, sub- 
stance, diligence, zeal, haste, = OS. spod, spot, 
success, = D. spoed, haste, speed, = MLG. spot, 
LG. spood = OHG. spuot, spot, MHG. spuot, suc- 
cess ; with formative -d, < AS. spowan = OHG. 
*spuoan, spuon, MHG. spuon, succeed; cf. 
OBulg. spieti, succeed, =Bohem. spieti, hasten, 
= Russ. spieti, ripen, = Lith. speti, be at leisure, 
= Lett, spet, be strong or able ; Skt. sphiti, in- 
crease, prosperity, < \f sphd, fatten.] 1. Suc- 
cess; a successful course ; prosperity in doing 
something; good fortune; luck: used either 
absolutely or relatively : as, to wish one good 
speed in an undertaking. 
Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me 
good speed this day. Gen. xxlv. 12. 
Well mayst thou woo, and happy be thy speed ! 
Shak., T. of the 8., li. 1. 139. 
Remember me 
To our all-royal brother ; for whose speed 
The great Bellona I'll solicit. 
Fletcher (and another), Two Noble Kinsmen, I. 3. 
2t. A promoter of success or progress; a speeder. 
There ; and Saint Nicholas be thy speed I 
Shak., T. G. of V., iiL 1. SOL 
3. Rapidity of movement; quickness of mo- 
tion ; swiftness : also used figuratively. 
Wi speid they ran awa. 
Sir James the Rose (Child's Ballads, III. 75). 
In skating over thin ice our safety is in our speed. 
Emerson, Essays, 1st ser.. p. 214. 
4. Rate of progress or motion (whether fast or 
slow); comparative rapidity; velocity: as, mod- 
erate speed; a fast or a slow rate of speed; to 
regulate the speed of machines. 
He that rides at high speed, and with his pistol kills a 
sparrow flying. Shak., 1 Hen. IV., ii. 4. 379. 
We have every reason to conclude that, in free space, 
all kinds of light have the same speed. Tait, Light, S 72. 
The term speed is sometimes used to denote the magni- 
tude only [and not the direction] of a velocity. 
Wright, Text Book of Mechanics, p. 11. 
The machine has two different speeds of gear. 
Sri. Amer., N. S., LVII. 210. 
History . . . can only record with wonder the speed 
with which both the actual Norman conquerors and the 
peaceful Norman settlers who came in their wake were 
absorbed into the general mass of Englishmen. 
E. A. Freeman, Amer. Lccls., p. 158. 
5. In submarine rock-drilling, a leg or beam to 
which the drilling apparatus is attached. E. H. 
