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Spat vs Rife - What's the difference?

spat | rife |

As a verb spat

is past tense of spit.

As a noun spat

is the spawn of shellfish, especially oysters and similar molluscs.

As an adjective rife is

widespread, common (especially of unpleasant or harmful things).

As an adverb rife is

plentifully, abundantly.

spat

English

Etymology 1

(etyl) spittan,

Verb

(head)
  • (spit)
    • There was no sink in the room so we spat out the window.
    If I had known you had a spittoon in the corner I would never have spat on the floor.

    Etymology 2

    Of uncertain origin; perhaps related to (spit).

    Noun

    (-)
  • The spawn of shellfish, especially oysters and similar molluscs.
  • * 2005 , TVR Pillay & MN Kutty, Aquaculture: Principles and practices , p. 525:
    • As spat-fall often occurs in areas away from environments suitable for oyster growing, the collection, transport and sale of oyster spat has developed into a separate industry.

    Verb

    (spatt)
  • (ambitransitive) To spawn. Used of shellfish as above.

    • Etymology 3

    Shortening of spatterdash, from spatter + dash. 1779.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A covering or decorative covering worn over a shoe.
  • (automotive) (UK, Australia) A piece of bodywork that covers the upper portions of the rear tyres of a car.
    • Synonyms
    * (automotive) fender skirt (US)
    See also
    * gaiter

    Etymology 4

    1804. American English, unknown origin.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • a brief argument, falling out, quarrel

    • Verb

    (spatt)
  • to quarrel or argue briefly
    • (Smart)

    Etymology 5

    Attested from 1823.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A light blow with something flat.

    • Verb

    (spatt)
  • (transitive, and, intransitive) To strike with a spattering sound.
  • * 1922 , , The Trail of the White Mule , ch. 3:
    • He felt the wind of a second bullet that spatted against a boulder near Barney.
  • * 2007 , Nolan Clay, " Co-workers testify about Kelsey's mother," Daily Oklahoman , 13 July, (retrieved 25 Aug. 2009):
    • "She mentioned she had spatted Kelsey on her diaper with a hairbrush," said Mildred Johnson, a co-worker.
  • (US, dialect) To slap, as with the open hand; to clap together, as the hands.
  • * Sylvester Judd
    • Little Isabel leaped up and down, spatting her hands.

    Etymology 6

    (etyl)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An obsolete unit of distance in astronomy (symbol S), equal to one billion kilometres.

    • Anagrams

    * * * * * English irregular past participles English irregular simple past forms English terms with multiple etymologies English terms with unknown etymologies ----

    rife

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Widespread, common (especially of unpleasant or harmful things).
    • Smallpox was rife after the siege had been lifted.
  • * Arbuthnot
    • Before the plague of London, inflammations of the lungs were rife and mortal.
  • * Milton
    • The tumult of loud mirth was rife .
  • * 1900 , Sigmund Freud, The Interpretation of Dreams'', ''Avon Books , (translated by James Strachey) pg. 170:
    • The 'denominational considerations' mentioned below relate, of course, to anti-Semitic feeling, which was already rife in Vienna during the last years of the nineteenth century.
  • * 2013 , Daniel Taylor, Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic climbs highest to sink Benfica'' (in ''The Guardian , 15 May 2013)[http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/may/15/benfica-chelsea-europa-league]
    • They will have to reflect on a seventh successive defeat in a European final while Chelsea try to make sense of an eccentric season rife with controversy and bad feeling but once again one finishing on an exhilarating high.
  • Abounding; present in large numbers, plentiful.
    • These woodlands are rife with red deer.
  • (obsolete) Having power; active; nimble.
  • * J. Webster
    • What! I am rife a little yet.

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • Plentifully, abundantly.
    • The snowdrops grow rife on the slopes of Mount Pembroke.

    Anagrams

    * ----