spice English · revision 15141

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1225|origins=la speciō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /spaɪs/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|spice]], [[bor|xno|spece]] and [[fro|espice]] with its first syllable dropped (modern [[fr|épice]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) from [[la-lat|speciēs|t=spices, goods, wares]], in classical Latin “kind, sort, outward appearance”,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from [[la|speciō|t=to look]] (see [[spy]]).^(MWU 2024) It is a doublet of [[species]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Trench 1859)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An aromatic or pungent vegetable substance used to flavour food: before 1225 in the OED, probably before 1200 in the Ancrene Riwle in Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) Etymonline adds its use as a medicine or alchemical ingredient, about 1200.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The figurative sense, a pleasing variation, is from the 13th century.^(Etymonline) Spices as goods for trade are from about 1300,^(Etymonline) and an odour of spices from 1560.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) An old sense, a sort or kind, is in Wycliffe's “Absteyne you fro al yvel spice”, where the Vulgate has ''specie'';^(Trench 1859)^(OED 1989) it was later taken over by species.^(Trench 1859) A slight touch or trace is from the 1530s.^(Etymonline) The verb is from before 1325, in spiced,^(Barnhart 1988) and to vary or diversify from the 1520s.^(Etymonline) Spicy is from 1562, in William Turner's herbal, and racy or salacious from 1844.^(Barnhart 1988) Early druggists recognized four kinds of spices: saffron, clove, cinnamon and nutmeg.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1225 – a spice.^(OED 1989)

+ * 13th century – a pleasing variation.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1303 – a sort, kind (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1325 – spiced.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1562 – spicy.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1844 – spicy, racy.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Any of various aromatic vegetable substances, such as [[ginger]], [[cinnamon]] or [[nutmeg]], used to flavour food; such substances as a group.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Something that adds zest or interest.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A pungent aroma.^(AHD)

+ # ''(rare)'' A small amount; a trace.^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(Yorkshire dialect)'' Sweets; confectionery.^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' A synthetic drug with effects like those of [[cannabis]].^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To season food with spices.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To add zest or interest to.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[spiceless]]

+ * [[spiceable]]

+ * [[spicelike]]

+ * [[spicewood]]

+ * [[allspice]]

+ * [[spiceberry]]

+ * [[spicebush]]

+ * [[spicery]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[five-spice powder]]

+ * [[species]]

+ * [[special]]

+ * [[specie]]

+ * [[spy]]

+ * [[epicure]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}