a. and sb. Forms: 6 spherike, 6–8 spherick (7 sphear-, sphær-, sphœrick), 7– spheric (8 sphæric, spherique). [ad. late L. sphēr-, sphæricus, ad. Gr. σφαιρικός, f. σφαῖρα SPHERE sb., or F. sphérique (14th c.), = It. sferico, Sp. and Pg. esferico. The sb. corresponds to late L. sphærica fem.]
A. adj. 1. Of or relating to the sphere as a geometrical figure. (Cf. SPHERICAL a. 2.)
1559. W. Cunningham, Cosmogr. Glasse, 5. I wil exhort you … to reade with great diligence … Theodosius of spherike Demonstrations.
1594. Davis, Seamans Secrets, II. (1607), 4. Cutting the Equinoctiall at right Spherick Angles.
1704. J. Harris, Lex. Techn., I. Spherick Geometry, or Projection, is the Art of Describing on a Plane the Circles of the Sphere [etc.].
1706. W. Jones, Syn. Palmar. Matheseos, 279. Of Spheric Trigonometry.
1798. Hutton, Course Math. (1807), II. 51. The spheric segment PFN.
2. = SPHERICAL a. 1.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit., I. 224. Foure round isles of Sphærick work.
1622. Drayton, Poly-olb., xxviii. 335. Stones of a spherick form.
1673. Gregory, in Rigaud, Corr. Sci. Men (1841), II. 247. I spoke not so of spheric speculums.
1753. Chambers’ Cycl., Suppl., s.v. Lycoperdon, The blood red sphæric lycoperdon.
1791. E. Darwin, Bot. Gard., I. IV. 178. The diving castles, roof’d with spheric glass.
1828. J. M. Spearman, Brit. Gunner (ed. 2), 134. It appears that when the spheric chamber is filled with powder, it has the advantage in point of range.
1855. Singleton, Virgil, I. 30. Behold with spheric mass a nodding world.
1883. Lanier, Eng. Novel, 273. The most ravishing combination of tender curves and spheric softness.
3. Of or pertaining to, connected with, the spheres or heavenly bodies.
1648. J. Beaumont, Psyche, XX. cxl. (1702), 395.
| With those rich Notes shalt entertained be | |
| Whose Comfort makes the spherick melody. |
1652. Benlowes, Theoph., VII. xlii. 100. No Lines, Poles, Tropicks, Zones can THEE enthrall, First MOVER of the Sphearick Ball.
1813. T. Busby, Lucretius, II. V. 863. What there he [sc. the sun] borrows from the spheric skies, To parts opposing his advance supplies.
1844. Mrs. Browning, Drama of Exile, 2050. We shall leap up … To join the spheric company.
1880. G. Macdonald, Diary Old Soul, Jan., 20. Then harmony with every spheric song, And conscious power, would give sureness divine.
B. sb. (Chiefly pl.) The mathematical study or science of the sphere; spherical geometry and trigonometry.
1660. Stanley, Hist. Philos., III. I. 53. Geometry is precedent to Sphærick, as Station is to Motion.
1730. Chamberlayne, Relig. Philos., III. xxiv. § 9. Concerning Spherics, or the Intersections and Angles which the Circles make.
1757. Phil. Trans., L. 422. We have (per spherics) sin. AE:1 (rad)::co-t. E:co-t. AH.
1820. Shelley, Let. M. Gisborne, 94. Conic sections, spherics, logarithms.
1867. Brande & Cox, Dict. Sci., etc. III. 532/1. The practical application of spherics to navigation.
