spire

spire
spire O.E. spir "sprout, shoot, stalk of grass," from P.Gmc. *spiraz (Cf. O.N. spira "a stalk, slender tree," M.L.G. spir "a small point or top"), from PIE *spei- "sharp point" (see SPIKE (Cf. spike) (n.1)). Meaning "tapering top of a tower or steeple" first recorded 1590s (a sense attested in M.L.G. since late 14c. and also found in the Scandinavian cognates). The verb is first recorded early 14c.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • SPIRE — Le premier établissement humain qui est à l’origine de la ville de Spire (en allemand: Speyer) date de l’époque celte: Noviomagus. Installé sur une terrasse du Rhin, il devait devenir un camp romain sous César et Drusus. La cité qui en naquit fut …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Spire — • A tapering construction in plan conical, pyramidal, octagonal, or hexagonal crowning a steeple or tower Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Spire     Spire      …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Spire — Spire, n. [OE. spire, spir, a blade of grass, a young shoot, AS. sp[=i]r; akin to G. spier a blade of grass, Dan. spire a sprout, sprig, Sw. spira a spar, Icel. sp[=i]ra.] 1. A slender stalk or blade in vegetation; as, a spire grass or of wheat.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Spire — Spire, n. [L. spira coil, twist; akin to Gr. ???: cf. F. spire.] 1. A spiral; a curl; a whorl; a twist. Dryden. [1913 Webster] 2. (Geom.) The part of a spiral generated in one revolution of the straight line about the pole. See {Spiral}, n. [1913 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Spire — Spire, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Spired}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Spiring}.] To shoot forth, or up in, or as if in, a spire. Emerson. [1913 Webster] It is not so apt to spire up as the other sorts, being more inclined to branch into arms. Mortimer. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Spire — puede referirse a: Chicago Spire: Rascacielos que actualmente se encuentra en construcción en Chicago, (Estados Unidos). Spire de Dublín: La escultura de mayor altura del mundo, situada en una céntrica calle de la ciudad de Dublín (Irlanda). Esta …   Wikipedia Español

  • Spire — Spire, v. i. [L. spirare to breathe. See {Spirit}.] To breathe. [Obs.] Shenstone. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • spire — [spaıə US spaır] n ↑spire, ↑cross [: Old English; Origin: spir] a roof that rises steeply to a point on top of a tower, especially on a church →↑steeple …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • spire — spire1 [spīr] n. [Fr < L spira < Gr speira < IE base * sper , to turn, wrap > Latvian sprangāt, to lace up] 1. a spiral or coil 2. any of the convolutions of a spiral or coil 3. Zool. the upper part of a spiral shell of a gastropod… …   English World dictionary

  • spire — [ spaır ] noun count the pointed top of a church tower or other building …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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