n. [ OE. space, F. espace, from L. spatium space; cf. Gr. spa^n to draw, to tear; perh. akin to E. span. Cf. Expatiate. ] 1. Extension, considered independently of anything which it may contain; that which makes extended objects conceivable and possible. [ 1913 Webster ] Pure space is capable neither of resistance nor motion. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Place, having more or less extension; room. [ 1913 Webster ] They gave him chase, and hunted him as hare;
Long had he no space to dwell [ in ]. R. of Brunne. [ 1913 Webster ] While I have time and space. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. A quantity or portion of extension; distance from one thing to another; an interval between any two or more objects; as, the space between two stars or two hills; the sound was heard for the space of a mile. [ 1913 Webster ] Put a space betwixt drove and drove. Gen. xxxii. 16. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. Quantity of time; an interval between two points of time; duration; time. “Grace God gave him here, this land to keep long space.” R. of brunne. [ 1913 Webster ] Nine times the space that measures day and night. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ] God may defer his judgments for a time, and give a people a longer space of repentance. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. A short time; a while. [ R. ] “To stay your deadly strife a space.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ] 6. Walk; track; path; course. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ] This ilke [ same ] monk let old things pace,
And held after the new world the space. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ] 7. (Print.) (a) A small piece of metal cast lower than a face type, so as not to receive the ink in printing, -- used to separate words or letters. (b) The distance or interval between words or letters in the lines, or between lines, as in books, on a computer screen, etc. [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ Spaces are of different thicknesses to enable the compositor to arrange the words at equal distances from each other in the same line. [ 1913 Webster ] 8. (Mus.) One of the intervals, or open places, between the lines of the staff. [ 1913 Webster ] 9. that portion of the universe outside the earth or its atmosphere; -- called also outer space. [ PJC ]
Absolute space,
Euclidian space, etc. See under Absolute, Euclidian, etc. --
deep space, the part of outer space which is beyond the limits of the solar system. --
Space line (Print.), a thin piece of metal used by printers to open the lines of type to a regular distance from each other, and for other purposes; a lead. Hansard. --
Space rule (Print.), a fine, thin, short metal rule of the same height as the type, used in printing short lines in tabular matter. [ 1913 Webster ]
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