spodumene

[Gr. spodoumenos -burnt to ashes; spodoō =to burn to ashes.] Min .: A monoclinic mineral occurring in granites, sometimes, as in this country, in large but well defined crystals. Prismatic cleavage very perfect and easily obtained. Hardne , 6.5 to 7; specific gravity 3-13 to 3:19; luster, pearly, in some parts vitreous; color, shades of green to emerald-green, grayish-white; transparent to sub-translucent; fracture, uneven. Composition: Silica, 64.2; alumina, 294; lithia, 64=100, corresponding with the formula, 3RO,3SiO2+4Al2O3,3SiO2. A crystal found at Norwich, Ma achusetts, was 161⁄2 inches long, and 10 inches in girth. ( Dana .) *spoff-ish, *spoff-, s . [Etymology doubtful.] Smart, bustling, officious. (Colloq.) "A little spofish man with green spectacles." - Dickens: Sketches by Boz; Horatio Sparkins . spoil, *spoile, *spoyle, *spoyl-yn, v . t. & i. [Fr. spolier , from Lat.spolio to strip of spoil, to despoil, from spolium =spoil, booty; Port. espoliar ; Ital. spogliare . Spoil has been to some extent confused with despoil (q. v.), and has also taken the original meaning of spill , i. e., to destroy.] A. Transitive : 1. To rob, to plunder, to strip by violence, to pil lage. "He entred the terytory of seynt Edmunde, and wasted and spoyled the countree." -Fabyan : Chronycle, ch. cc. It is followed by of before that which is taken. *2. To seize by violence, force, or robbery. "Not his that spoils her young before her face.' Shakesp.: Henry VI., Pt. II ., ii. 2. pine, pit, sïre, sir, marine; gō, põt, IMG:content-0067.png:[blocks in formation] *1. To plunder, to rob, to pillage; to practice plunder or robbery. ( Psalm xliv. 14.) 2. To decay, to become usele ; to lose all valuable qualities or properties. "He that gathered a hundred bushels of acorns or apples had thereby a property in them: he was only to look that he used them before they spoiled , else he robbed others."-Locke. spoil, *spoyl, *spoyle, s. [SPOIL, v.] 1. That which is taken from others by violence, force, or without license; plunder, especially in war; pillage, booty. (Used with the same meaning in singular and plural.) "The cry of Talbot serves me for a sword; For I have loaden me with many spoils , Using no other weapon but his name." Shakesp.: Henry VI., Pt. I. , ii. 1. 2. The act or practice of plundering; robbery, waste. "His soldiers fell to spoil. " Shakesp.: Julius Cæsar, v. 8. *3. That which is gained by strength or effort. "Each science and each art his spoil." Bentley. (Todd.) *4. Corruption; cause of corruption; ruin. "Villainous company hath been the spoil of me."Shakesp.: Henry IV ., Pt. I. , iii. 3. 5. The slough or cast skin of a serpent or other reptile. "Snakes, the rather for the casting of their spoil , live till they be old."- Bacon . 6. Earth dumped by the side of an excavation, to get rid of it when it is in exce of the quantity required for embankments. spoil-five, s . A round game of cards played with the whole pack, and by any number of persons up to ten, each player receiving five cards. Three tricks make the game, and when no one can take so many the game is said to be spoiled. *spoil-paper, s. A scribbler.