specie

¹

[ spee-shee, -see ]

noun

1. coined money; coin.

specie

²

[ spee-shee, -see ]

noun

, Nonstandard.

1. species.

specie

/ ˈspiːʃiː /

noun

1. coin money, as distinguished from bullion or paper money
2. in specie
   1. (of money) in coin
   2. in kind
   3. law in the actual form specified

Word History and Origins

Origin of specie¹

First recorded in 1545–55; from Latin (in) speciē “(in) kind”; species

Origin of specie²

By back formation, construing species as plural noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of specie¹

C16: from the Latin phrase in speciē in kind

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in specie,
   1. in the same kind.
   2. (of money) in coin.
   3. in a similar manner; in kind:

      Such treachery should be repaid in specie.

   4. Law. in the identical shape, form, etc., as specified.

Example Sentences

Until recently, the only non-human species of mammals that were known to experience menopause were a select few specie, such as orcas — not primates.

From Salon

The triumphant Red Sticks slaughtered the fort’s livestock and horses, destroyed the inhabitants’ property and melted the silver specie.

From Washington Post

His arguments were pointed with specie—we doing the punctuation—and with a little bargaining he told us what he knew.

From Literature

The new specie is called Homo luzonensis after the main northern island of Luzon, where the remains were dug up starting in 2007.

From Seattle Times

Your merchant ships should go out loaded with attractive goods and came back overflowing with shiny specie.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• bill
• capital
• cash
• check
• fund
• pay
• payment
• property
• salary
• wage
• wealth