n. Broad-bladed flexible implement used for spreading, stirring, mixing paints, etc. [latin diminutive: related to *spathe]

n. - person who speaks, esp. In public.

- person who speaks a specified language (esp. In comb.: a french-speaker).

- (speaker) presiding officer in a legislative assembly, esp. The house of commons.

- = *loudspeaker.

branch n. Police department dealing with political security.

- constable n. Person trained to assist the police in routine duties or in an emergency.

- correspondent n. Journalist writing on special events or a special subject.

- delivery n. Delivery of mail outside the normal delivery schedule.

- edition n. Extra late edition of a newspaper.

- effects n.pl. Illusions created by props, camera-work, etc.

- licence n. Licence allowing immediate marriage without banns.

- pleading n. Biased reasoning.

- —adj. - a exceptional. B peculiar; specific.

- for a particular purpose.

- for children with special needs (special school). —n. Special constable, train, edition of a newspaper, dish on a menu, etc. specially adv. Specialness n. [latin: related to *species]

n. (pl. Same) 1 class of things having some common characteristics.

- group of animals or plants within a genus, differing only slightly from others and capable of interbreeding.

- kind, sort. [latin specio look]

v. (-ies, -ied) 1 (also absol.) Name or mention expressly or as a condition (specified a two-hour limit).

- include in specifications. [latin: related to *specific]

—n. Speck, esp. One of many markings. —v. (-ling) (esp. As speckled adj.) Mark with speckles. [dutch spekkel]

n. (brit. Spectre) 1 ghost.

- haunting presentiment (spectre of war). [latin spectrum from specio look]

pl. Of *spectrum.

n. (us specter) 1 ghost.

- haunting presentiment (spectre of war). [latin spectrum from specio look]

pl. Of *speculum.