spot, spotte

[From the same root as A. S. spatl =spittle (q. v.); cf. Dut. spat =a speck, a spot; spatten to spatter, to bedash; Sw. spott spittle; spotta to spit; Dan. spætte a spot, a speckle.] I. Ordinary Language : 1. A mark on a substance or body made by foreign matter; a place discolored; a speck, a blot. 2. A small part of a different color from that of the ground on which it is. "An idea made up of barely the simple ones of a beast with spots , has but a confused idea of a leopard."- Locke : Human Underst ., bk. ii., ch. xxix. 3. A dark place on the disc or face of the sun or a planet. [SUN-SPOT.] 4. A stain on character or reputation; a disgrace, a reproach. "Marching in lovely wise, that could deserve No spot of blame." Spenser: F. Q., IV. i. 4. 5. A small extent of space; a place, a locality. "That spot to which I point is Paradise, Adam's abode." Milton: P. L., iii. 734. 6. A variety of the common pigeon, having a spot on its head, just above its beak. *7. A stroke, a piece. "You have made a fine spot of work on 't."- Cibber : Non juror, i. II. Billiards : IMG:content-0085.png:[blocks in formation] Microscopy: A hemispherical lens with a large opaque spot in the center of its plane face, adjustable with this plane side upward under the stage of the microscope, so that the object is in the focus of the rays which it converges from the mirror. The effect of this arrangement is that no direct light from the mirror can enter the objective, the spot causing a central shadow, but the light received by the object from the marginal rays, and reflected again by its particles, does enter. Hence the object appears as if brightly self-illuminated upon a dark background. IMG:content-0086.png:[blocks in formation] 1. To make or put a spot or mark on; to discolor, to stain; as, to spot a dre . 2. To mark with a color different from the ground. "Have you not seen a handkerchief, Spotted with strawberries, in your wife's hand?" Shakesp.: Othello , iii. 3. 3. To cover with small spots or sprigs; as, to spot muslin. *4. To put a patch or patches on by way of ornament. "Next morning the whole puppet-show was filled with faces spotted after the whiggish manner."- Add is on : Spectator , No. 81. 5. To mark as with a spot; to mark or note, so as to insure recognition; hence, to catch with the eye; to detect, to recognize. ( Colloq .) spot, stain, or blemish; purity. "Lord, if thou look for a spotle ne , whom wilt thou look upon!"-Donne: Devotions. spot-těd, a. [Eng.spot; -ed.] 1. Marked with spots or places of a different color from the ground; discolored. "Two water snakes swam by the ship; they were beautifully spotted."-Cook: First Voyage , bk. iii., ch. ii. *2. Stained, tainted, disgraced, polluted, guilty. "This spotted and inconstant man." Shakesp.: Midsummer Night's Dream, i. 1. spotted-axis, s. [Axis (2).] spotted-blenny, s. IMG:content-0087.png:[blocks in formation] IMG:content-0088.png:[blocks in formation] 1. Ord. Lang.: Muslin covered with small sprigs or spots. 2. Entom.: Diaphora mendica , a moth, family Chelonide. Male black, female white.