spiry

¹

[spahyuhr-ee]

adjective

1. having the form of a spire, slender shoot, or tapering pointed body; tapering up to a point like a spire.

2. abounding in spires spire or steeples.

spiry

²

[spahy-ree]

adjective

1. spiral; coiled; coiling; helical.

spiry

/ ˈspaɪərɪ /

adjective

1. poetic,  of spiral form; helical

Word History and Origins

Origin of spiry¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; spire ¹ + -y ¹

Origin of spiry²

First recorded in 1670–80; spire ² + -y ¹

Example Sentences

Dryden says, in his translation of Virgil— “Around our Pole the spiry Dragon glides, And like a wand’ring stream the Bears divides.”

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She was staring about excitedly, looking most of the time down into the cañon with its spiry redwood trees pushing far up from the bottom.

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Struck on the castled cliff, The venerable tower and spiry fane Resign their aged pride.

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The work is done! the Niger's sullen waves Have heard the tidings,—and the orient Sun Beholds them rolling on to meet his light In joyful beauty.—Tombût's spiry towers Are bright without the brightness of the day, And Houssa wakening from his age-long trance Of woe, amid the desert, smiles to hear The last faint echo of the blissful sound.—

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Close by us is the font; for by regeneration we enter the Church; it is deep and capacious; for we are buried in Baptism with CHRIST; it is of stone, for HE is the Rock; and its spiry cover teaches us, if we be indeed risen from its waters with HIM, to seek those things which are above.

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