spice

—spiceable, adj. —spiceless, adj. —spicelike, adj.

/spuys/, n., v., spiced, spicing.

n.

1. any of a class of pungent or aromatic substances of vegetable origin, as pepper, cinnamon, or cloves, used as seasoning, preservatives, etc.

2. such substances collectively or as material: Cookies without spice can be tasteless.

3. a spicy or aromatic odor or fragrance.

4. something that gives zest: a spice of humor in his solemnity.

5. a piquant, interesting element or quality; zest; piquancy: The anecdotes lent spice to her talk.

6. Archaic. a small quantity of something; trace; bit.

v.t.

7. to prepare or season with a spice or spices.

8. to give zest, piquancy, or interest to by something added.

[1175-1225; (n.) ME, aph. form of OF espice (F épice) < L species appearance, sort, kind (see SPECIES), in LL (pl.): goods, wares, spices, drugs; (v.) ME spicen, in part deriv. of the n., in part < OF espicer, deriv. of espice]

Syn. 5. tang, gusto, zip.

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