a. (Zool.) Having a straight shaft with whorls of spines; -- said of certain sponge spicules. See Illust. under Spicule. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ F. sceptre, L. sceptrum, from Gr. &unr_; a staff to lean upon, a scepter; probably akin to E. shaft. See Shaft, and cf. Scape a stem, shaft. ] 1. A staff or baton borne by a sovereign, as a ceremonial badge or emblem of authority; a royal mace. [ 1913 Webster ]

And the king held out Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Esther v. 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, royal or imperial power or authority; sovereignty; as, to assume the scepter. [ 1913 Webster ]

The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come. Gen. xlix. 10. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ }, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Sceptered r Sceptred (&unr_;); p. pr. & vb. n. Sceptering r Sceptring ] To endow with the scepter, or emblem of authority; to invest with royal authority. [ 1913 Webster ]

To Britain's queen the sceptered suppliant bends. Tickell. [ 1913 Webster ]