Specie

[a. L. speciē, abl. sing. of speciēs SPECIES, orig. adopted in the phr. in speciē (see IN). So MDu. and Du., MHG., Da. and Sw. specie.]

  I.  In the phrase in specie.

  1.  In kind; in respect of kind; specifically.

1562.  Turner, Herbal, II. 93 b. Pitiusa is iudged to differ in spicie or kynde from the cypresse spourge.

1600.  W. Watson, Decacordon (1602), 66. Being of one and the selfe same kind in specie.

1631.  B. Jonson, Discoveries (Rtldg.), 764/2. They differ but in specie: either in the kind is absolute.

1672.  Boyle, Virtues of Gems, 119. The … substance … may be of so small specific gravity, as not to make the Gem at all heavier in specie than Crystal it self.

1704.  Swift, T. Tub, iii. A sort of Critick, not distinguisht in specie from the former, but in Growth or Degree.

1743.  D. Watson, Horace, Sat., etc. II. Dissert., p. xliii. Casaubon therefore is guilty of a palpable Mistake, when he says that the Satires of Lucilius were wholly different in Specie from those of Ennius and Pacuvius.

1802–12.  Bentham, Ration. Judic. Evid. (1827), I. 219. The power of the advocate, though in respect of intensity less in degree is in specie the same with the power of the judge.

  † b.  In a manner or form properly belonging to a species or class; in respect of species, as opposed to individually. Obs.

1620.  Wotton, in Reliq. (1685), 501. Whether visits of respect … being received in specie, should be paid in individuo.

1651.  Baxter, Inf. Bapt., 105. Infants in specie (and not those numerically only) should not be forbidden to come.

  † c.  In respect of specific form or manner, as opposed to generally. Obs.

1651.  Baxter, Inf. Bapt., 302. I know meer circumstances are determined of but in general, and left to humane determination in Specie. Ibid. (1670), Cure Ch. Div., 83. First, as a Papal Catholick Church…. Secondly as particular Congregations in specie.

  2.  In the real, proper, precise or actual form; without any kind of substitution. In later use only in Law.

1551.  Cranmer, Lord’s Supper (1844), 156. As unto the Jews Jesus Christ was given in figures, so to us he is given in specie, that is to say, in rei veritate, in his very nature.

1659.  Baxter, Key Cath., II. iii. 431. It is not a Head, but this Head in specie, that is, the form of the Church, if any such be.

a. 1683.  Sir W. Scroggs, Courts-leet (1728), 228. I should have my Things again in Specie, if they may be had.

1760.  Gilbert, Cases in Law & Equity, 400. If the Chattel itself be by the Agreement to be returned in specie, he can only be said to detain it from me unjustly.

1818.  Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), I. 235. The covenant will be decreed to be performed in specie.

1886.  Law Rep. 34 Chanc. Div., 139. The widow is … to possess the leaseholds in specie during her lifetime.

  3.  † a. In the actual coin specified. Obs.

1615.  in Birch, Crt. & Times Jas. I. (1848), I. 370. Having, besides other gold, above seven thousand Jacobus pieces in specie.

1630.  R. Johnson’s Kingd. & Commw., 209. To pay a Rose-noble of gold, not only in value, but in specie for their passage.

  † b.  Of coin or money: In the actual form of minted pieces of metal. Obs.

1617.  Moryson, Itin., I. 276. In respect of the foresaid difficulties to export coyne In specie, that is in the kinde.

1622.  Malynes, Anc. Law-Merch., 477. That the imaginarie moneys … do ouerrule the course and propertie of Reall and Substantiall moneys in specie.

1691.  Locke, Money, Wks. 1727, II. 46. Our Coin…, whether we send it in Specie, or whether we melt it down here to send it in Bullion.

1714.  in Somers, Tracts, II. 114. By which means the ancient Method of paying Money in Specie into the Exchequer hath been much laid aside, and a great Part of the Revenue of the Kingdom received in Bank Notes.

  c.  Of sums or amounts: In actual coin; in money. (Cf. 6.)

1636–7.  in Birch, Crt. & Times Chas. I. (1848), II. 264. The other third, by the agreement, was to go over to Dunkirk in specie.

1663.  Dryden, Wild Gallant, I. ii. But, besides the land here mentioned, he has wealth in specie.

1713.  Guardian, No. 120 (1756), 144. All play debts must be paid in specie, or by an equivalent.

1756.  Toldervy, Hist. 2 Orphans, II. 124. That I am poor, is very certain, having in specie only the sum of ten-pence half-penny.

1870.  Pall Mall Gaz., 23 Sept., 9/1. With forty first-class cabin passengers and 156,395 dols. in specie.

1871.  C. Davies, Metric Syst., III. 113. As the balances … could be paid for only in specie.

  † 4.  Of goods or commodities: In kind. (See KIND sb. 15.) Obs.

1626.  in Birch, Crt. & Times Chas. I. (1848), I. 131. Nor will the country pay money instead of viands in specie.

1699.  Laws Nevis, xxiv. (1740), 19. All Masters of Ships … shall pay … One Pound of Pistol Powder (in Specie) for each and every Ton.

1738.  Hist. Crt. Excheq., ii. 28. When they did not deliver their Goods in Specie to the King.

  † b.  transf. Of requital or repayment: In a similar fashion; with like treatment. Obs.

1632.  Story Bks. Little Gidding, 130. She shall … requite her parents in specie, as Merchants speak, when the payment is made in the self-same Coine.

1678.  Butler, Hud., III. ii. 183/1944.

1702.  Eng. Theophrastus, 93. Kindnesses are to be paid in Specie as well as Money.

1760–72.  H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1792), II. 223. My husband … loved me with passion; and, as I could not pay him in specie, I endeavoured to supply my want of affection … by my attention.

  II.  In general use.

  † 5.  Form. In its proper specie, = sense 2. Obs.

1644.  Doc. Lett. Pat. at Oxf. (1837), 123. The Moneyes … to be of the same specie, weight, and goodnesse as his Majestys Moneys in the Tower of London.

1698.  in Col. Rec. Pennsylv., I. 543. That everything you have taken by virtue of the warrant of Replevin, be forth coming in its proper specie.

  6.  Coin; coined money. (Cf. 3 c.) † Also, a commodity serving as a means of exchange or trade.

1671.  in 9th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. II. 13/2. Unpurged brown [sugar], being the specie of the country [Barbadoes], pays for the exports from the kingdom.

1710.  Acc. Dist. T. Whigg, II. 19. A Bung-Cart … laden with Specie and Exchequer Bills.

1749.  Smollett, Gil Blas, X. x. I sometimes kissed the specie, and contemplated the different pieces with … rapture.

1794.  Mann, in Lett. Literary Men (Camden), 440. They have plundered the Nation … and consequently must possess an immense quantity of specie.

1848.  Mill, Pol. Econ., III. xiii. § 1 (1876), 329. Up to this point the effects of a paper currency are substantially the same, whether it be convertible into specie or not.

1864.  Bowen, Logic, ix. 274. Money may mean either specie, or bank-notes, or currency consisting of a mixture of these two.

  fig.  1709.  Mrs. Manley, Secret Mem. (1736), I. 219. He saw Promises were no longer Specie, or would any more pass current with Zara.

1806.  H. Siddons, Maid, Wife, & Widow, I. 241. Affection is a current coin: every other specie is an infamous alloy.

1864.  Lowell, Fireside Trav., 107. All of whose wits were about him, current, and redeemable in the specie of action.

  7.  † a. A subordinate division. Obs.

1670.  Moxon, Pract. Perspective, 1. This Specie of Perspective is many times (alone) called the Opticks.

1750.  Beawes, Lex Mercat. (1752), 5–6. The Laws [of trade] … which are long since become a Specie of the Law of Nations.

  b.  Species; kind. Now rare or Obs.

1711.  Lond. Gaz., No. 4874/4. To prepare a List of each respective Specie [of bills] which they intend to Subscribe.

1738.  [G. Smith], Cur. Relat., II. 558. Such Men who are Plagues to their own Specie.

1747.  W. Horsley, Fool (1748), II. 141. Our Hero made Divinities, though of a peculiar Specie.

1800.  C. Sturt, in Naval Chron., IV. 396. A very large specie of gull.

1810.  Splendid Follies, III. 193. Such is the specie of game after which Nettletop is now in search.

1858.  in Bartlett, Dict. Amer. (1859), 432. The size of the trap,… and the nature of the bait, depends upon the specie or the animal hunted for.

  8.  attrib. (in sense 6), as specie † (bank)-bill, † bank-note, † book, issue, † note, parcel, payment, value.

1696.  Lond. Gaz., No. 3242/4. A Specie Bank Note for 300 l. payable to John Norton. Ibid. (1697), No. 3361/4. A Specie Bank-Bill … for 100 l. payable to Jonathan Tabor.

1697.  Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), IV. 267. They will allow no other interest on specie notes then 2d. per day per cent.

1700.  G. Brown (title), Specie Book, serving to turne any number of pieces of Silver to pounds Scots or Sterling.

1786.  R. King, Life & Corr. (1894), I. 5. Reducing the price or the article … by the scale of its specie value.

1808.  Edinb. Rev., II. 107. To recommend the perpetual stoppage of specie-issues at the Bank.

1845.  McCulloch, Taxation, II. xi. (1852), 382. The resolution to revert to specie payments at the old standard.

1884.  Illustr. Lond. News, 11 Oct., 342/1. Daily conveyance of ordinary and specie parcels.