Salt \Salt\, n. [AS. sealt; akin to OS. & OFries. salt, D. zout,
G. salz, Icel., Sw., & Dan. salt, L. sal, Gr. ?, Russ. sole,
Ir. & Gael. salann, W. halen, of unknown origin. Cf. Sal,
Salad, Salary, Saline, Sauce, Sausage.]
1. The chloride of sodium, a substance used for seasoning
food, for the preservation of meat, etc. It is found
native in the earth, and is also produced, by evaporation
and crystallization, from sea water and other water
impregnated with saline particles.
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2. Hence, flavor; taste; savor; smack; seasoning.
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Though we are justices and doctors and churchmen . .
. we have some salt of our youth in us. --Shak.
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3. Hence, also, piquancy; wit; sense; as, Attic salt.
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4. A dish for salt at table; a saltcellar.
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I out and bought some things; among others, a dozen
of silver salts. --Pepys.
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5. A sailor; -- usually qualified by old. [Colloq.]
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Around the door are generally to be seen, laughing
and gossiping, clusters of old salts. --Hawthorne.
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6. (Chem.) The neutral compound formed by the union of an
acid and a base; thus, sulphuric acid and iron form the
salt sulphate of iron or green vitriol.
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Note: Except in case of ammonium salts, accurately speaking,
it is the acid radical which unites with the base or
basic radical, with the elimination of hydrogen, of
water, or of analogous compounds as side products. In
the case of diacid and triacid bases, and of dibasic
and tribasic acids, the mutual neutralization may vary
in degree, producing respectively basic, neutral, or
acid salts. See Phrases below.
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7. Fig.: That which preserves from corruption or error; that
which purifies; a corrective; an antiseptic; also, an
allowance or deduction; as, his statements must be taken
with a grain of salt.
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Ye are the salt of the earth. --Matt. v. 13.
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8. pl. Any mineral salt used as an aperient or cathartic,
especially Epsom salts, Rochelle salt, or Glauber's salt.
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9. pl. Marshes flooded by the tide. [Prov. Eng.]
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Above the salt, Below the salt, phrases which have
survived the old custom, in the houses of people of rank,
of placing a large saltcellar near the middle of a long
table, the places above which were assigned to the guests
of distinction, and those below to dependents, inferiors,
and poor relations. See Saltfoot.
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His fashion is not to take knowledge of him that is
beneath him in clothes. He never drinks below the
salt. --B. Jonson.
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Acid salt (Chem.)
(a) A salt derived from an acid which has several
replaceable hydrogen atoms which are only partially
exchanged for metallic atoms or basic radicals; as,
acid potassium sulphate is an acid salt.
(b) A salt, whatever its constitution, which merely gives
an acid reaction; thus, copper sulphate, which is
composed of a strong acid united with a weak base, is
an acid salt in this sense, though theoretically it is
a neutral salt.
Alkaline salt (Chem.), a salt which gives an alkaline
reaction, as sodium carbonate.
Amphid salt (Old Chem.), a salt of the oxy type, formerly
regarded as composed of two oxides, an acid and a basic
oxide. [Obsolescent]
Basic salt (Chem.)
(a) A salt which contains more of the basic constituent
than is required to neutralize the acid.
(b) An alkaline salt.
Binary salt (Chem.), a salt of the oxy type conveniently
regarded as composed of two ingredients (analogously to a
haloid salt), viz., a metal and an acid radical.
Double salt (Chem.), a salt regarded as formed by the union
of two distinct salts, as common alum, potassium aluminium
sulphate. See under Double.
Epsom salts. See in the Vocabulary.
Essential salt (Old Chem.), a salt obtained by
crystallizing plant juices.
Ethereal salt. (Chem.) See under Ethereal.
Glauber's salt or Glauber's salts. See in Vocabulary.
Haloid salt (Chem.), a simple salt of a halogen acid, as
sodium chloride.
Microcosmic salt. (Chem.). See under Microcosmic.
Neutral salt. (Chem.)
(a) A salt in which the acid and base (in theory)
neutralize each other.
(b) A salt which gives a neutral reaction.
Oxy salt (Chem.), a salt derived from an oxygen acid.
Per salt (Old Chem.), a salt supposed to be derived from a
peroxide base or analogous compound. [Obs.]
Permanent salt, a salt which undergoes no change on
exposure to the air.
Proto salt (Chem.), a salt derived from a protoxide base or
analogous compound.
Rochelle salt. See under Rochelle.
Salt of amber (Old Chem.), succinic acid.
Salt of colcothar (Old Chem.), green vitriol, or sulphate
of iron.
Salt of hartshorn. (Old Chem.)
(a) Sal ammoniac, or ammonium chloride.
(b) Ammonium carbonate. Cf. Spirit of hartshorn, under
Hartshorn.
Salt of lemons. (Chem.) See Salt of sorrel, below.
Salt of Saturn (Old Chem.), sugar of lead; lead acetate; --
the alchemical name of lead being Saturn.
Salt of Seignette. Same as Rochelle salt.
Salt of soda (Old Chem.), sodium carbonate.
Salt of sorrel (Old Chem.), acid potassium oxalate, or
potassium quadroxalate, used as a solvent for ink stains;
-- so called because found in the sorrel, or Oxalis. Also
sometimes inaccurately called salt of lemon.
Salt of tartar (Old Chem.), potassium carbonate; -- so
called because formerly made by heating cream of tartar,
or potassium tartrate. [Obs.]
Salt of Venus (Old Chem.), blue vitriol; copper sulphate;
-- the alchemical name of copper being Venus.
Salt of wisdom. See Alembroth.
Sedative salt (Old Med. Chem.), boric acid.
Sesqui salt (Chem.), a salt derived from a sesquioxide base
or analogous compound.
Spirit of salt. (Chem.) See under Spirit.
Sulpho salt (Chem.), a salt analogous to an oxy salt, but
containing sulphur in place of oxygen.
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Spirit \Spir"it\, n. [OF. espirit, esperit, F. esprit, L.
spiritus, from spirare to breathe, to blow. Cf. Conspire,
Expire, Esprit, Sprite.]
1. Air set in motion by breathing; breath; hence, sometimes,
life itself. [Obs.] "All of spirit would deprive."
--Spenser.
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The mild air, with season moderate,
Gently attempered, and disposed eo well,
That still it breathed foorth sweet spirit.
--Spenser.
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2. A rough breathing; an aspirate, as the letter h; also, a
mark to denote aspiration; a breathing. [Obs.]
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Be it a letter or spirit, we have great use for it.
--B. Jonson.
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3. Life, or living substance, considered independently of
corporeal existence; an intelligence conceived of apart
from any physical organization or embodiment; vital
essence, force, or energy, as distinct from matter.
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4. The intelligent, immaterial and immortal part of man; the
soul, in distinction from the body in which it resides;
the agent or subject of vital and spiritual functions,
whether spiritual or material.
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There is a spirit in man; and the inspiration of the
Almighty giveth them understanding. --Job xxxii.
8.
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As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith
without works is dead also. --James ii.
26.
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Spirit is a substance wherein thinking, knowing,
doubting, and a power of moving, do subsist.
--Locke.
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5. Specifically, a disembodied soul; the human soul after it
has left the body.
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Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was,
and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
--Eccl. xii.
7.
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Ye gentle spirits far away,
With whom we shared the cup of grace. --Keble.
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6. Any supernatural being, good or bad; an apparition; a
specter; a ghost; also, sometimes, a sprite,; a fairy; an
elf.
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Whilst young, preserve his tender mind from all
impressions of spirits and goblins in the dark.
--Locke.
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7. Energy, vivacity, ardor, enthusiasm, courage, etc.
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"Write it then, quickly," replied Bede; and
summoning all his spirits together, like the last
blaze of a candle going out, he indited it, and
expired. --Fuller.
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8. One who is vivacious or lively; one who evinces great
activity or peculiar characteristics of mind or temper;
as, a ruling spirit; a schismatic spirit.
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Such spirits as he desired to please, such would I
choose for my judges. --Dryden.
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9. Temper or disposition of mind; mental condition or
disposition; intellectual or moral state; -- often in the
plural; as, to be cheerful, or in good spirits; to be
downhearted, or in bad spirits.
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God has . . . made a spirit of building succeed a
spirit of pulling down. --South.
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A perfect judge will read each work of wit
With the same spirit that its author writ. --Pope.
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10. Intent; real meaning; -- opposed to the letter, or to
formal statement; also, characteristic quality,
especially such as is derived from the individual genius
or the personal character; as, the spirit of an
enterprise, of a document, or the like.
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11. Tenuous, volatile, airy, or vapory substance, possessed
of active qualities.
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All bodies have spirits . . . within them. --Bacon.
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12. Any liquid produced by distillation; especially, alcohol,
the spirits, or spirit, of wine (it having been first
distilled from wine): -- often in the plural.
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13. pl. Rum, whisky, brandy, gin, and other distilled liquors
having much alcohol, in distinction from wine and malt
liquors.
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14. (Med.) A solution in alcohol of a volatile principle. Cf.
Tincture. --U. S. Disp.
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15. (Alchemy) Any one of the four substances, sulphur, sal
ammoniac, quicksilver, or arsenic (or, according to some,
orpiment).
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The four spirits and the bodies seven. --Chaucer.
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16. (Dyeing) Stannic chloride. See under Stannic.
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Note: Spirit is sometimes joined with other words, forming
compounds, generally of obvious signification; as,
spirit-moving, spirit-searching, spirit-stirring, etc.
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Astral spirits, Familiar spirits, etc. See under
Astral, Familiar, etc.
Animal spirits.
(a) (Physiol.) The fluid which at one time was supposed
to circulate through the nerves and was regarded as
the agent of sensation and motion; -- called also the
nervous fluid, or nervous principle.
(b) Physical health and energy; frolicsomeness;
sportiveness.
Ardent spirits, strong alcoholic liquors, as brandy, rum,
whisky, etc., obtained by distillation.
Holy Spirit, or The Spirit (Theol.), the Spirit of God,
or the third person of the Trinity; the Holy Ghost. The
spirit also signifies the human spirit as influenced or
animated by the Divine Spirit.
Proof spirit. (Chem.) See under Proof.
Rectified spirit (Chem.), spirit rendered purer or more
concentrated by redistillation, so as to increase the
percentage of absolute alcohol.
Spirit butterfly (Zool.), any one of numerous species of
delicate butterflies of tropical America belonging to the
genus Ithomia. The wings are gauzy and nearly destitute
of scales.
Spirit duck. (Zool.)
(a) The buffle-headed duck.
(b) The golden-eye.
Spirit lamp (Art), a lamp in which alcohol or methylated
spirit is burned.
Spirit level. See under Level.
Spirit of hartshorn. (Old Chem.) See under Hartshorn.
Spirit of Mindererus (Med.), an aqueous solution of acetate
of ammonium; -- named after R. Minderer, physician of
Augsburg.
Spirit of nitrous ether (Med. Chem.), a pale yellow liquid,
of a sweetish taste and a pleasant ethereal odor. It is
obtained by the distillation of alcohol with nitric and
sulphuric acids, and consists essentially of ethyl nitrite
with a little acetic aldehyde. It is used as a
diaphoretic, diuretic, antispasmodic, etc. Called also
sweet spirit of niter.
Spirit of salt (Chem.), hydrochloric acid; -- so called
because obtained from salt and sulphuric acid. [Obs.]
Spirit of sense, the utmost refinement of sensation. [Obs.]
--Shak.
Spirits of turpentine, or Spirit of turpentine (Chem.),
rectified oil of turpentine, a transparent, colorless,
volatile, and very inflammable liquid, distilled from the
turpentine of the various species of pine; camphine. It is
commonly used to remove paint from surfaces, or to dissole
oil-based paint. See Camphine.
Spirit of vitriol (Chem.), sulphuric acid; -- so called
because formerly obtained by the distillation of green
vitriol. [Obs.]
Spirit of vitriolic ether (Chem.) ethyl ether; -- often but
incorrectly called sulphuric ether. See Ether. [Obs.]
Spirits of wine, or Spirit of wine (Chem.), alcohol; --
so called because formerly obtained by the distillation of
wine.
Spirit rapper, one who practices spirit rapping; a "medium"
so called.
Spirit rapping, an alleged form of communication with the
spirits of the dead by raps. See Spiritualism, 3.
Sweet spirit of niter. See Spirit of nitrous ether,
above.
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Syn: Life; ardor; energy; fire; courage; animatioon;
cheerfulness; vivacity; enterprise.
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