Found 1 items, similar to Spirit of salt.
English → English (gcide) Definition: Spirit of salt 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. [1913 Webster] 2. Hence, flavor; taste; savor; smack; seasoning. [1913 Webster] Though we are justices and doctors and churchmen . . . we have some salt of our youth in us. --Shak. [1913 Webster] 3. Hence, also, piquancy; wit; sense; as, Attic salt. [1913 Webster] 4. A dish for salt at table; a saltcellar. [1913 Webster] I out and bought some things; among others, a dozen of silver salts. --Pepys. [1913 Webster] 5. A sailor; -- usually qualified by old. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster] Around the door are generally to be seen, laughing and gossiping, clusters of old salts. --Hawthorne. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] Ye are the salt of the earth. --Matt. v. 13. [1913 Webster] 8. pl. Any mineral salt used as an aperient or cathartic, especially Epsom salts, Rochelle salt, or Glauber's salt. [1913 Webster] 9. pl. Marshes flooded by the tide. [Prov. Eng.] [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] His fashion is not to take knowledge of him that is beneath him in clothes. He never drinks below the salt. --B. Jonson. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] The mild air, with season moderate, Gently attempered, and disposed eo well, That still it breathed foorth sweet spirit. --Spenser. [1913 Webster] 2. A rough breathing; an aspirate, as the letter h; also, a mark to denote aspiration; a breathing. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Be it a letter or spirit, we have great use for it. --B. Jonson. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] There is a spirit in man; and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. --Job xxxii. 8. [1913 Webster] As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. --James ii. 26. [1913 Webster] Spirit is a substance wherein thinking, knowing, doubting, and a power of moving, do subsist. --Locke. [1913 Webster] 5. Specifically, a disembodied soul; the human soul after it has left the body. [1913 Webster] Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. --Eccl. xii. 7. [1913 Webster] Ye gentle spirits far away, With whom we shared the cup of grace. --Keble. [1913 Webster] 6. Any supernatural being, good or bad; an apparition; a specter; a ghost; also, sometimes, a sprite,; a fairy; an elf. [1913 Webster] Whilst young, preserve his tender mind from all impressions of spirits and goblins in the dark. --Locke. [1913 Webster] 7. Energy, vivacity, ardor, enthusiasm, courage, etc. [1913 Webster] “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. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] Such spirits as he desired to please, such would I choose for my judges. --Dryden. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] God has . . . made a spirit of building succeed a spirit of pulling down. --South. [1913 Webster] A perfect judge will read each work of wit With the same spirit that its author writ. --Pope. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] 11. Tenuous, volatile, airy, or vapory substance, possessed of active qualities. [1913 Webster] All bodies have spirits . . . within them. --Bacon. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] 13. pl. Rum, whisky, brandy, gin, and other distilled liquors having much alcohol, in distinction from wine and malt liquors. [1913 Webster] 14. (Med.) A solution in alcohol of a volatile principle. Cf. Tincture. --U. S. Disp. [1913 Webster] 15. (Alchemy) Any one of the four substances, sulphur, sal ammoniac, quicksilver, or arsenic (or, according to some, orpiment). [1913 Webster] The four spirits and the bodies seven. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster] 16. (Dyeing) Stannic chloride. See under Stannic. [1913 Webster] Note: Spirit is sometimes joined with other words, forming compounds, generally of obvious signification; as, spirit-moving, spirit-searching, spirit-stirring, etc. [1913 Webster] 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 (Zo["o]l.), 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. (Zo["o]l.) (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. [1913 Webster] Syn: Life; ardor; energy; fire; courage; animatioon; cheerfulness; vivacity; enterprise. [1913 Webster]