Section Sec"tion, n. Etym: [L. sectio, fr. secare, sectum, to cut; akin to E. saw a cutting instrument: cf. F. section. See Saw, and cf. Scion, Dissect, Insect, Secant, Segment.] (part 3)

2. To lop; to prune; to trim. [Obs.]

SHREDCOOK
Shred"cook`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The fieldfare; — so called from its harsh cry before rain.
[Prov. Eng.]

SHREDDING
Shred"ding, n.

1. The act of cutting or tearing into shreds.

2. That which is cut or torn off; a piece. Hooker.

SHREDDY
Shred"dy, a.

Defn: Consisting of shreds.

SHREDLESS
Shred"less, a.

Defn: Having no shreds; without a shred.
And those which waved are shredless dust ere now. Byron.

SHREW
Shrew, a. Etym: [OE. shrewe, schrewe. Cf. Shrewd.]

Defn: Wicked; malicious. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SHREW
Shrew, n. Etym: [See Shrew, a.]

1. Originally, a brawling, turbulent, vexatious person of either sex, but now restricted in use to females; a brawler; a scold. A man . . . grudgeth that shrews [i. e., bad men] have prosperity, or else that good men have adversity. Chaucer. A man had got a shrew to his wife, and there could be no quiet in the house for her. L'Estrange.

2. Etym: [AS. screáwa; — so called because supposed to be venomous. ] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any small insectivore of the genus Sorex and several allied genera of the family Sorecidæ. In form and color they resemble mice, but they have a longer and more pointed nose. Some of them are the smallest of all mammals.

Note: The common European species are the house shrew (Crocidura araneus), and the erd shrew (Sorex vulgaris) (see under Erd.). In the United States several species of Sorex and Blarina are common, as the broadnosed shrew (S. platyrhinus), Cooper's shrew (S. Cooperi), and the short-tailed, or mole, shrew (Blarina brevicauda). Th American water, or marsh, shrew (Neosorex palustris), with fringed feet, is less common. The common European water shrews are Crossopus fodiens, and the oared shrew (see under Oared). Earth shrew, any shrewlike burrowing animal of the family Centetidæ, as the tendrac. — Elephant shrew, Jumping shrew, Mole shrew. See under Elephant, Jumping, etc. — Musk shrew. See Desman. — River shrew, an aquatic West African insectivore (Potamogale velox) resembling a weasel in form and size, but having a large flattened and crested tail adapted for rapid swimming. It feeds on fishes. — Shrew mole, a common large North American mole (Scalops aquaticus). Its fine, soft fur is gray with iridescent purple tints.

SHREW
Shrew, v. t. Etym: [See Shrew, a., and cf. Beshrew.]

Defn: To beshrew; to curse. [Obs.] "I shrew myself." Chaucer.

SHREWD Shrewd, a. [Compar. Shrewder; superl. Shrewdest.] Etym: [Originally the p. p. of shrew, v.t.]

1. Inclining to shrew; disposing to curse or scold; hence, vicious; malicious; evil; wicked; mischievous; vexatious; rough; unfair; shrewish. [Obs.] Chaucer. [Egypt] hath many shrewd havens, because of the great rocks that ben strong and dangerous to pass by. Sir J. Mandeville. Every of this happy number That have endured shrewd days and nights with us. Shak.

2. Artful; wily; cunning; arch. These women are shrewd tempters with their tongues. Shak.

3. Able or clever in practical affairs; sharp in business; astute; sharp-witted; sagacious; keen; as, a shrewd observer; a shrewd design; a shrewd reply. Professing to despise the ill opinion of mankind creates a shrewd suspicion that we have deserved it. Secker.

Syn. — Keen; critical; subtle; artful; astute; sagacious; discerning; acute; penetrating. — Shrewd, Sagacious. One who is shrewd is keen to detect errors, to penetrate disguises, to foresee and guard against the selfishness of others. Shrewd is a word of less dignity than sagacious, which implies a comprehensive as well as penetrating mind, whereas shrewd does not. — Shrewd"ly, adv. — Shrewd"ness, n.

SHREWISH
Shrew"ish, a.

Defn: having the qualities of a shrew; having a scolding disposition;
froward; peevish.
My wife is shrewish when I keep not hours. Shak.
— Shrew"ish*ly, adv.
— Shrew"ish*ness, n.

SHREWMOUSE
Shrew"mouse`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A shrew; especially, the erd shrew.

SHRIEK
Shriek, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Shrieked; p. pr. & vb. n. Shrieking.]
Etym: [OE. shriken, originallythe same word as E. screech. See
Screech, and cf. Screak.]

Defn: To utter a loud, sharp, shrill sound or cry, as do some birds
and beasts; to scream, as in a sudden fright, in horror or anguish.
It was the owl that shrieked. Shak.
At this she shrieked aloud; the mournful train Echoed her grief.
Dryden.

SHRIEK
Shriek, v. t.

Defn: To utter sharply and shrilly; to utter in or with a shriek or
shrieks.
On top whereof aye dwelt the ghostly owl, Shrieking his baleful note.
Spenser.
She shrieked his name To the dark woods. Moore.

SHRIEK
Shriek, n.

Defn: A sharp, shrill outcry or scream; a shrill wild cry such as is caused by sudden or extreme terror, pain, or the like. Shrieks, clamors, murmurs, fill the frighted town. Dryden. Shriek owl. (Zoöl.) (a) The screech owl. (b) The swift; — so called from its cry.

SHRIEKER
Shriek"er, n.

Defn: One who utters a shriek.

SHRIEVAL
Shriev"al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a sheriff.

SHRIEVALTY
Shriev"al*ty, n. Etym: [Contr. from sheriffalty. See Shrieve, n.
Sheriff.]

Defn: The office, or sphere of jurisdiction, of a sheriff;
sheriffalty.
It was ordained by 28 Edward I that the people shall have election of
sheriff in every shire where the shrievalty is not of inheritance.
Blackstone.

SHRIEVE
Shrieve, n. Etym: [Contr. from OE. shereve. See Sheriff.]

Defn: A sheriff. [Obs.] Shak.

SHRIEVE
Shrieve, v. t.

Defn: To shrive; to question. [Obs.] "She gan him soft to shrieve."
Spenser.

SHRIFT Shrift, n. Etym: [OE. shrift, schrift, AS. scrift, fr. scrifan to shrive. See Shrive.]

1. The act of shriving. In shrift and preaching is my diligence. Chaucer.

2. Confession made to a priest, and the absolution consequent upon it. Chaucer. Have you got leave to go to shrift to-day Shak. Therefore, my lord, address you to your shrift, And be yourself; for you must die this instant. Rowe. Shrift father, a priest to whom confession is made.

SHRIGHT
Shright, obs.

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Shriek.
She cried alway and shright. Chaucer.

SHRIGHT
Shright, n. Etym: [See Shriek.]

Defn: A shriek; shrieking. [Obs] Spenser. "All hoarse for shright."
Chaucer.

SHRIKE
Shrike, n. Etym: [Akin to Icel. skrikja a shrieker, the shrike, and
E. shriek; cf. AS. scric a thrush. See Shriek, v. i.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of oscinine birds of the family Laniidæ, having a strong hooked bill, toothed at the tip. Most shrikes are insectivorous, but the common European gray shrike (Lanius excubitor), the great northern shrike (L. borealis), and several others, kill mice, small birds, etc., and often impale them on thorns, and are, on that account called also butcher birds. See under Butcher.

Note: The ant shrikes, or bush shrikes, are clamatorial birds of the family Formicaridæ. The cuckoo shrikes of the East Indies and Australia are Oscines of the family Campephagidæ. The drongo shrikes of the same regions belong to the related family Dicruridæ. See Drongo. Crow shrike. See under Crow. — Shrike thrush. (a) Any one of several species of Asiatic timaline birds of the genera Thamnocataphus, Gampsorhynchus, and allies. (b) Any one of several species of shrikelike Australian singing birds of the genus Colluricincla. — Shrike tit. (a) Any one of several Australian birds of the genus Falcunculus, having a strong toothed bill and sharp claws. They creep over the bark of trees, like titmice, in search of insects. (b) Any one of several species of small Asiatic birds belonging to Allotrius, Pteruthius, Cutia, Leioptila, and allied genera, related to the true tits. Called also hill tit. — Swallow shrike. See under Swallow.

SHRILL Shrill, a. [Compar. Shriller; superl. Shrillest.] Etym: [OE. shril, schril; akin to LG. schrell, G. schrill. See Shrill,v. i.]

Defn: Acute; sharp; piercing; having or emitting a sharp, piercing
tone or sound; — said a sound, or of that which produces a sound.
Hear the shrill whistle which doth order give To sounds confused.
Shak.
Let winds be shrill, let waves roll high. Byron.

SHRILL
Shrill, n.

Defn: A shrill sound. [Obs.] Spenser.

SHRILL Shrill, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Shrilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Shrilling.] Etym: [OE. schrillen, akin to G. schrillen; cf. AS. scralletan to resound loudly, Icel. skrölta to jolt, Sw. skrälla to shrill, Norw. skryla, skr. Cf. Skirl.]

Defn: To utter an acute, piercing sound; to sound with a sharp,
shrill tone; to become shrill.
Break we our pipes, that shrilledloud as lark. Spenser.
No sounds were heard but of the shrilling cock. Goldsmith.
His voice shrilled with passion. L. Wallace.

SHRILL
Shrill, v. t.

Defn: To utter or express in a shrill tone; to cause to make a shrill
sound.
How poor Andromache shrills her dolors forth. Shak.

SHRILL-GORGED
Shrill"-gorged`, a.

Defn: Having a throat which produces a shrill note. [R.] Shak.

SHRILLNESS
Shrill"ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being shrill.

SHRILL-TONGUED
Shrill"-tongued`, a.

Defn: Having a shrill voice. "When shrill-tongued Fulvia scolds."
Shak.

SHRILLY
Shril"ly, adv.

Defn: In a shrill manner; acutely; with a sharp sound or voice.

SHRILLY
Shril"ly, a.

Defn: Somewhat shrill. [Poetic] Sir W. Scott.
Some kept up a shrilly mellow sound. Keats.

SHRIMP
Shrimp, v. t. Etym: [Cf. AS. scrimman to dry up, wither, MHG.
schrimpfen to shrink, G. schrumpfen, Dan. skrumpe, skrumpes, Da. &
Sw. skrumpen shriveled. Cf. Scrimp, Shrink, Shrivel.]

Defn: To contract; to shrink. [Obs.]

SHRIMP Shrimp, n. Etym: [OE. shrimp; — probably so named from its shriveled appearance. See Shrimp, v.]

1. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of numerous species of macruran Crustacea belonging to Crangon and various allied genera, having a slender body and long legs. Many of them are used as food. The larger kinds are called also prawns. See Illust. of Decapoda. (b) In a more general sense, any species of the macruran tribe Caridea, or any species of the order Schizopoda, having a similar form. (c) In a loose sense, any small crustacean, including some amphipods and even certain entomostracans; as, the fairy shrimp, and brine shrimp. See under Fairy, and Brine.

2. Figuratively, a little wrinkled man; a dwarf; — in contempt. This weak and writhled shrimp. Shak. Opossum shrimp. (Zoöl.) See under Opossum. — Spector shrimp, or Skeleton shrimp (Zoöl.), any slender amphipod crustacean of the genus Caprella and allied genera. See Illust. under Læmodopoda. — Shrimp catcher (Zoöl.), the little tern (Sterna minuta). — Shrimp net, a dredge net fixed upon a pole, or a sweep net dragged over the fishing ground.

SHRIMPER
Shrimp"er, n.

Defn: One who fishes for shrimps.

SHRINE Shrine, n. Etym: [OE. schrin, AS. scrin, from L. scrinium a case, chest, box.]

1. A case, box, or receptacle, especially one in which are deposited sacred relics, as the bones of a saint.

2. Any sacred place, as an altar, tromb, or the like. Too weak the sacred shrine guard. Byron.

3. A place or object hallowed from its history or associations; as, a shrine of art.

SHRINE
Shrine, v. t.

Defn: To enshrine; to place reverently, as in a shrine. "Shrined in his sanctuary." Milton.

SHRINK Shrink, v. i. [imp. Shrank or Shrunk p. p. Shrunk or Shrunken (, but the latter is now seldom used except as a participial adjective; p. pr. & vb. n. Shrinking.] Etym: [OE. shrinken, schrinken, AS. scrincan; akin to OD. schrincken, and probably to Sw. skrynka a wrinkle, skrynkla to wrinkle, to rumple, and E. shrimp, n. & v., scrimp. CF. Shrimp.]

1. To wrinkle, bend, or curl; to shrivel; hence, to contract into a less extent or compass; to gather together; to become compacted. And on a broken reed he still did stay His feeble steps, which shrunk when hard thereon he lay. Spenser. I have not found that water, by mixture of ashes, will shrink or draw into less room. Bacon. Against this fire do I shrink up. Shak. And shrink like parchment in consuming fire. Dryden. All the boards did shrink. Coleridge.

2. To withdraw or retire, as from danger; to decline action from fear; to recoil, as in fear, horror, or distress. What happier natures shrink at with affright, The hard inhabitant contends is right. Pope. They assisted us against the Thebans when you shrank from the task. Jowett (Thucyd.)

3. To express fear, horror, or pain by contracting the body, or part of it; to shudder; to quake. [R.] Shak.

SHRINK
Shrink, v. t.

1. To cause to contract or shrink; as, to shrink finnel by imersing it in boiling water.

2. To draw back; to withdraw. [Obs.] The Libyc Hammon shrinks his horn. Milton. To shrink on (Mach.), to fix (one piece or part) firmly around (another) by natural contraction in cooling, as a tire on a wheel, or a hoop upon a cannon, which is made slightly smaller than the part it is to fit, and expanded by heat till it can be slipped into place.

SHRINK
Shrink, n.

Defn: The act shrinking; shrinkage; contraction; also, recoil;
withdrawal.
Yet almost wish, with sudden shrink, That I had less to praise. Leigh
Hunt.

SHRINKAGE
Shrink"age, n.

1. The act of shrinking; a contraction into less bulk or measurement.

2. The amount of such contraction; the bulk or dimension lost by shrinking, as of grain, castings, etc.

3. Decrease in value; depreciation. [Colloq.]

SHRINKER
Shrink"er, n.

Defn: One who shrinks; one who withdraws from danger.

SHRINKING
Shrink"ing, a. & n.

Defn: from Shrink. Shrinking head (Founding), a body of molten metal connected with a mold for the purpose of supplying metal to compensate for the shrinkage of the casting; — called also sinking head, and riser.

SHRINKINGLY
Shrink"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a shrinking manner.

SHRIVALTY
Shriv"al*ty, n.

Defn: Shrievalty. Johnson.

SHRIVE Shrive, v. t. [imp. Shrived or Shrove (; p. p. Shriven or Shrived; p. pr. & vb. n. Shriving.] Etym: [OE. shriven, schriven, AS. scrivan to shrive, to impose penance or punishment; akin to OFries. skriva to impose punishment; cf. OS. biskriban to be troubled. Cf. Shrift, Shrovetide.]

1. To hear or receive the confession of; to administer confession and absolution to; — said of a priest as the agent. That they should shrive their parishioners. Piers Plowman. Doubtless he shrives this woman, . . . Else ne'er could he so long protract his speech. Shak. Till my guilty soul be shriven. Longfellow.

2. To confess, and receive absolution; — used reflexively. Get you to the church and shrive yourself. Beau & Fl.

SHRIVE
Shrive, v. i.

Defn: To receive confessions, as a priest; to administer confession and absolution. Spenser.

SHRIVEL Shriv"el, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Shriveled or Shrivelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Shriveling or Shrivelling.] Etym: [Probably akin to shrimp, shrink; cf. dial. AS. screpa to pine away, Norw. skrypa to waste, skryp, skryv, transitory, frail, Sw. skröpling feeble, Dan. skröbelig, Icel. skrj brittle, frail.]

Defn: To draw, or be drawn, into wrinkles; to shrink, and form corrugations; as, a leaf shriveles in the hot sun; the skin shrivels with age; — often with up.

SHRIVEL
Shriv"el, v. t.

Defn: To cause to shrivel or contract; to cause to shrink onto corruptions.

SHRIVEN
Shriv"en,

Defn: p. p. of Shrive.

SHRIVER
Shriv"er, n.

Defn: One who shrives; a confessor.

SHRIVING
Shriv"ing, n.

Defn: Shrift; confession. Spenser.

SHROFF
Shroff, n. Etym: [Ar. sarraf.]

Defn: A banker, or changer of money. [East Indies]

SHROFFAGE
Shroff"age, n.

Defn: The examination of coins, and the separation of the good from the debased. [East Indies]

SHROOD
Shrood, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Shroud.] [Written also shroud, and shrowd.]

Defn: To trim; to lop. [Prov. Eng.]

SHROPSHIRE
Shrop"shire, n. [From Shropshire, country of England.]

Defn: An English breed of black-faced hornless sheep similar to the Southdown, but larger, now extensively raised in many parts of the world.

SHROUD Shroud, n. Etym: [OE. shroud, shrud, schrud, AS. scr a garment, clothing; akin to Icel. skru the shrouds of a ship, furniture of a church, a kind of stuff, Sw. skrud dress, attire, and E. shred. See Shred, and cf. Shrood.]

1. That which clothes, covers, conceals, or protects; a garment. Piers Plowman. Swaddled, as new born, in sable shrouds. Sandys.

2. Especially, the dress for the dead; a winding sheet. "A dead man in his shroud." Shak.

3. That which covers or shelters like a shroud. Jura answers through her misty shroud. Byron.

4. A covered place used as a retreat or shelter, as a cave or den; also, a vault or crypt. [Obs.] The shroud to which he won His fair-eyed oxen. Chapman. A vault, or shroud, as under a church. Withals.

5. The branching top of a tree; foliage. [R.] The Assyrian wad a cedar in Lebanon, with fair branches and with a shadowing shroad. Ezek. xxxi. 3.

6. pl. (Naut.)

Defn: A set of ropes serving as stays to support the masts. The lower shrouds are secured to the sides of vessels by heavy iron bolts and are passed around the head of the lower masts.

7. (Mach.)

Defn: One of the two annular plates at the periphery of a water wheel, which form the sides of the buckets; a shroud plate. Bowsprit shrouds (Naut.), ropes extending from the head of the bowsprit to the sides of the vessel. — Futtock shrouds (Naut.), iron rods connecting the topmast rigging with the lower rigging, passing over the edge of the top. — Shroud plate. (a) (Naut.) An iron plate extending from the dead- eyes to the ship's side. Ham. Nav. Encyc. (b) (Mach.) A shroud. See def. 7, above.

SHROUD
Shroud, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shrouded; p. pr. & vb. n. Shrouding.]
Etym: [Cf. AS. scr. See Shroud, n.]

1. To cover with a shroud; especially, to inclose in a winding sheet; to dress for the grave. The ancient Egyptian mummies were shrouded in a number of folds of linen besmeared with gums. Bacon.

2. To cover, as with a shroud; to protect completely; to cover so as to conceal; to hide; to veil. One of these trees, with all his young ones, may shroud four hundred horsemen. Sir W. Raleigh. Some tempest rise, And blow out all the stars that light the skies, To shroud my shame. Dryden.

SHROUD
Shroud, v. i.

Defn: To take shelter or harbor. [Obs.] If your stray attendance be yet lodged, Or shroud within these limits. Milton.

SHROUD
Shroud, v. t.

Defn: To lop. See Shrood. [Prov. Eng.]

SHROUDED
Shroud"ed, a.

Defn: Provided with a shroud or shrouds. Shrouded gear (Mach.), a cogwheel or pinion having flanges which form closed ends to the spaces between the teeth and thus strengthen the teeth by tying them together.

SHROUDING
Shroud"ing, n.

Defn: The shrouds. See Shroud, n., 7.

SHROUD-LAID
Shroud"-laid`, a.

Defn: Composed of four strands, and laid right-handed with a heart, or center; — said of rope. See Illust. under Cordage.

SHROUDLESS
Shroud"less, a.

Defn: Without a shroud.

SHROUDY
Shroud"y, a.

Defn: Affording shelter. [R.] Milton.

SHROVE
Shrove,

Defn: imp. of Shrive. Shrove Sunday, Quinguagesima Sunday. — Shrove Tuesday, the Tuesday following Quinguagesima Sunday, and preceding the first day of Lent, or Ash Wednesday.

Note: It was formerly customary in England, on this day, for the people to confess their sins to their parish priests, after which they dined on pancakes, or fritters, and the occasion became one of merriment. The bell rung on this day is popularly called Pancake Bell, and the day itself Pancake Tuesday. P. Cyc.

SHROVE
Shrove, v. i.

Defn: To join in the festivities of Shrovetide; hence, to make merry.
[Obs.] J. Fletcher.

SHROVETIDE Shrove"tide`, n. Etym: [From shrive to take a confession (OE. imp. shrof, AS. scraf) + tide.]

Defn: The days immediately preceding Ash Widnesday, especially the period between the evening before Quinguagesima Sunday and the morning of Ash Wednesday.

SHROVING
Shrov"ing, n.

Defn: The festivity of Shrovetide. [Obs.]

SHROW
Shrow, n.

Defn: A shrew. [Obs.] Shak.

SHROWD
Shrowd, v. t.

Defn: See Shrood. [Prov. Eng.]

SHRUB Shrub, n. Etym: [Ar. shirb, shurb, a drink, beverage, fr. shariba to drink. Cf. Sirup, Sherbet.]

Defn: A liquor composed of vegetable acid, especially lemon juice, and sugar, with spirit to preserve it.

SHRUB Shrub, n. Etym: [OE. schrob, AS. scrob, scrobb; akin to Norw. skrubba the dwarf cornel tree.] (Bot.)

Defn: A woody plant of less size than a tree, and usually with several stems from the same root.

SHRUB
Shrub, v. t.

Defn: To lop; to prune. [Obs.] Anderson (1573).

SHRUBBERY
Shrub"ber*y, n.; pl. Shrubberies (.

1. A collection of shrubs.

2. A place where shrubs are planted. Macaulay.

SHRUBBINESS
Shrub"bi*ness, n.

Defn: Quality of being shrubby.

SHRUBBY
Shrub"by, a. [Compar. Shrubbier; superl. Shrubbiest.]

1. Full of shrubs.

2. Of the nature of a shrub; resembling a shrub. "Shrubby browse." J. Philips.

SHRUBLESS
Shrub"less, a.

Defn: having no shrubs. Byron.

SHRUFF
Shruff, n. Etym: [Cf. Scruff, Scurf.]

Defn: Rubbish. Specifically: (a) Dross or refuse of metals. [Obs.] (b) Light, dry wood, or stuff used for fuel. [Prov. Eng.]

SHRUG
Shrug, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shrugged; p. pr. & vb. n. Shrugging.]
Etym: [Probably akin to shrink, p. p. shrunk; cf. Dan. skrugge,
skrukke, to stoop, dial. Sw. skrukka, skruga, to crouch.]

Defn: To draw up or contract (the shoulders), especially by way of expressing dislike, dread, doubt, or the like. He shrugs his shoulders when you talk of securities. Addison.

SHRUG
Shrug, v. i.

Defn: To raise or draw up the shoulders, as in expressing dislike,
dread, doubt, or the like.
They grin, they shrug. They bow, they snarl, they snatch, they hug.
Swift.

SHRUG
Shrug, n.

Defn: A drawing up of the shoulders, — a motion usually expressing
dislike, dread, or doubt.
The Spaniards talk in dialogues Of heads and shoulders, nods and
shrugs. Hudibras.

SHRUNKEN
Shrunk"en, p. p. & a.

Defn: from Shrink.

SHUCK
Shuck, n.

Defn: A shock of grain. [Prev.Eng.]

SHUCK
Shuck, n. Etym: [Perhaps akin to G. shote a husk, pod, shell.]

1. A shell, husk, or pod; especially, the outer covering of such nuts as the hickory nut, butternut, peanut, and chestnut.

2. The shell of an oyster or clam. [U. S.]

SHUCK
Shuck, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shucked; p. pr. & vb. n. Shucking.]

Defn: To deprive of the shucks or husks; as, to shuck walnuts, Indian corn, oysters, etc.

SHUCKER
Shuck"er, n.

Defn: One who shucks oysters or clams

SHUDDER Shud"der, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Shuddered;p. pr. & vb. n. Shuddering.] Etym: [OE. shoderen, schuderen; akin to LG. schuddern, D. schudden to shake, OS. skuddian, G. schaudern to shudder, schütteln to shake, schütten to pour, to shed, OHG. scutten, scuten, to shake.]

Defn: To tremble or shake with fear, horrer, or aversion; to shiver with cold; to quake. "With shuddering horror pale." Milton. The shuddering tennant of the frigid zone. Goldsmith.

SHUDDER
Shud"der, n.

Defn: The act of shuddering, as with fear. Shak.

SHUDDERINGLY
Shud"der*ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a shuddering manner.

SHUDE
Shude, n.

Defn: The husks and other refuse of rice mills, used to adulterate oil cake, or linseed cake.

SHUFFLE
Shuf"fle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shuffled; p. pr. & vb. n. Shuffling.]
Etym: [Originally the same word as scuffle, and properly a freq. of
shove. See Shove, and Scuffle.]

1. To shove one way and the other; to push from one to another; as, to shuffle money from hand to hand.

2. To mix by pushing or shoving; to confuse; to throw into disorder; especially, to change the relative positions of, as of the cards in a pack. A man may shuffle cards or rattle dice from noon to midnight without tracing a new idea in his mind. Rombler.

3. To remove or introduce by artificial confusion. It was contrived by your enemies, and shuffled into the papers that were seizen. Dryden. To shuffe off, to push off; to rid one's self of. — To shuffe up, to throw together in hastel to make up or form in confusion or with fraudulent disorder; as, he shuffled up a peace.

SHUFFLE
Shuf"fle, v. i.

1. To change the relative position of cards in a pack; as, to shuffle and cut.

2. To change one's position; to shift ground; to evade questions; to resort to equivocation; to prevaricate. I muself, . . . hiding mine honor in my necessity, am fain to shuffle. Shak.

3. To use arts or expedients; to make shift. Your life, good master, Must shuffle for itself. Shak.

4. To move in a slovenly, dragging manner; to drag or scrape the feet in walking or dancing. The aged creature came Shuffling along with ivory-headed wand. Keats.

Syn. — To equivicate; prevaricate; quibble; cavil; shift; siphisticate; juggle.

SHUFFLE
Shuf"fle, n.

1. The act of shuffling; a mixing confusedly; a slovenly, dragging motion. The unguided agitation and rude shuffles of matter. Bentley.

2. A trick; an artifice; an evasion. The gifts of nature are beyond all shame and shuffles. L'Estrange.

SHUFFLEBOARD
Shuf"fle*board`, n.

Defn: See Shovelboard.

SHUFFLECAP
Shuf"fle*cap`

Defn: ,.A play performed by shaking money in a hat or cap. [R.]
Arbuthnot.

SHUFFLER
Shuf"fler, n.

1. One who shuffles.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Either one of the three common American scaup ducks. See Scaup duck, under Scaup.

SHUFFLEWING
Shuf"fle*wing`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The hedg sparrow. [Prov. Eng.]

SHUFFLING
Shuf"fling, a.

1. Moving with a dragging, scraping step. "A shuffling nag." Shak.

2. Evasive; as, a shuffling excuse. T. Burnet.

SHUFFLING
Shuf"fling, v.

Defn: In a shuffling manner.

SHUG
Shug, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Shrug.]

1. To writhe the body so as to produce friction against one's clothes, as do those who have the itch. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

2. Hence, to crawl; to sneak. [Obs.] There I 'll shug in and get a noble countenance. Ford.

SHUMAC
Shu"mac, n. (Bot.)

Defn: Sumac.

SHUN Shun, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shunned; p. pr. & vb. n. Shunning.] Etym: [OE. shunien, schunien, schonien, AS. scunian, sceonian; cf. D. schuinen to slepe, schuin oblique, sloping, Icel. skunda, skynda, to hasten. Cf. Schooner, Scoundrel, Shunt.]

Defn: To avoid; to keep clear of; to get out of the way of; to escape from; to eschew; as, to shun rocks, shoals, vice. I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Acts xx. 26,27. Scarcity and want shall shun you. Shak.

Syn.
— See Avoid.

SHUNLESS
Shun"less, a.

Defn: Not to be shunned; inevitable; unavoidable. [R.] "Shunless destiny." Shak.

SHUNT
Shunt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shunted; p. pr. & vb. n. Shunting.] Etym:
[Prov. E., to move from, to put off, fr. OE. shunten, schunten,
schounten; cf. D. schuinte a slant, slope, Icel. skunda to hasten.
Cf. Shun.]

1. To shun; to move from. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

2. To cause to move suddenly; to give a sudden start to; to shove. [Obs. or Prov.Eng.] Ash.

3. To turn off to one side; especially, to turn off, as a grain or a car upon a side track; to switch off; to shift. For shunting your late partner on to me. T. Hughes.

4. (Elec.)

Defn: To provide with a shunt; as, to shunt a galvanometer.

SHUNT
Shunt, v. i.

Defn: To go aside; to turn off.

SHUNT Shunt, n. Etym: [Cf. D. schuinte slant, slope, declivity. See Shunt, v. t.]

1. (Railroad)

Defn: A turning off to a side or short track, that the principal track may be left free.

2. (Elec.)

Defn: A conducting circuit joining two points in a conductor, or the terminals of a galvanometer or dynamo, so as to form a parallel or derived circuit through which a portion of the current may pass, for the purpose of regulating the amount passing in the main circuit.

3. (Gunnery)

Defn: The shifting of the studs on a projectile from the deep to the shallow sides of the grooves in its discharge from a shunt gun. Shunt dynamo (Elec.), a dynamo in which the field circuit is connected with the main circuit so as to form a shunt to the letter, thus employing a portion of the current from the armature to maintain the field. — Shunt gun, a firearm having shunt rifling. See under Rifling.

SHUNTER
Shunt"er, n. (Railroad)

Defn: A person employed to shunt cars from one track to another.

SHUNTING Shunt"ing, p. pr. & vb. n. of Shunt. Specif.: vb. n. (a) (Railroads) Switching; as, shunting engine, yard, etc. [British] (b) (Finance) Arbitrage conducted between certain local markets without the necessity of the exchange involved in foreign arbitrage. [Great Britain]

SHUNT VALVE
Shunt valve. (Mach.)

Defn: A valve permitting a fluid under pressure an easier avenue of escape than normally; specif., a valve, actuated by the governor, used in one system of marine-engine governing to connect both ends of the low-pressure cylinder as a supplementary control.

SHUNT WINDING
Shunt winding. (Elec.)

Defn: A winding so arranged as to divide the armature current and lead a portion of it around the field-magnet coils; — opposed to series winding. —Shunt"-wound` (#), a.

SHUT Shut, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shut; p. pr. & vb. n. Shutting.] Etym: [OE. shutten, schutten, shetten, schitten, AS. scyttan to shut or lock up (akin to D. schutten, G. schützen to protect), properly, to fasten with a bolt or bar shot across, fr. AS. sceótan to shoot. sq. root159. See Shoot.]

1. To close so as to hinder ingress or egress; as, to shut a door or a gate; to shut one's eyes or mouth.

2. To forbid entrance into; to prohibit; to bar; as, to shut the ports of a country by a blockade. Shall that be shut to man which to the beast Is open Milton.

3. To preclude; to exclude; to bar out. "Shut from every shore." Dryden.

4. To fold together; to close over, as the fingers; to close by bringing the parts together; as, to shut the hand; to shut a book. To shut in. (a) To inclose; to confine. "The Lord shut him in." Cen. vii. 16. (b) To cover or intercept the view of; as, one point shuts in another. — To shut off. (a) To exclude. (b) To prevent the passage of, as steam through a pipe, or water through a flume, by closing a cock, valve, or gate. — To shut out, to preclude from entering; to deny admission to; to exclude; as, to shut out rain by a tight roof. — To shut together, to unite; to close, especially to close by welding. — To shut up. (a) To close; to make fast the entrances into; as, to shut up a house. (b) To obstruct. "Dangerous rocks shut up the passage." Sir W. Raleigh. (c) To inclose; to confine; to imprison; to fasten in; as, to shut up a prisoner. Before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Gal. iii. 23. (d) To end; to terminate; to conclude. When the scene of life is shut up, the slave will be above his master if he has acted better. Collier. (e) To unite, as two pieces of metal by welding. (f) To cause to become silent by authority, argument, or force.

SHUT
Shut, v. i.

Defn: To close itself; to become closed; as, the door shuts; it shuts hard. To shut up, to cease speaking. [Colloq.] T. Hughes.

SHUT
Shut, a.

1. Closed or fastened; as, a shut door.

2. Rid; clear; free; as, to get shut of a person. [Now dialectical or local, Eng. & U.S.] L'Estrange.

3. (Phon.) (a) Formed by complete closure of the mouth passage, and with the nose passage remaining closed; stopped, as are the mute consonants, p, t, k, b, d, and hard g. H. Sweet. (b) Cut off sharply and abruptly by a following consonant in the same syllable, as the English short vowels, â, ê, î, ô, û, always are.

SHUT
Shut, n.

Defn: The act or time of shutting; close; as, the shut of a door.
Just then returned at shut of evening flowers. Milton.

2. A door or cover; a shutter. [Obs.] Sir I. Newton.

3. The line or place where two pieces of metal are united by welding. Cold shut, the imperfection in a casting caused by the flowing of liquid metal upon partially chilled metal; also, the imperfect weld in a forging caused by the inadequate heat of one surface under working.

SHUTE
Shute, n.

Defn: Same as Chute, or Shoot.

SHUTTER
Shut"ter, n.

1. One who shuts or closes.

2. A movable cover or screen for a window, designed to shut out the light, to obstruct the view, or to be of some strength as a defense; a blind.

3. A removable cover, or a gate, for closing an aperture of any kind, as for closing the passageway for molten iron from a ladle.

SHUTTERED
Shut"tered, a.

Defn: Furnished with shutters.

SHUTTLE Shut"tle, n. Etym: [Also shittle, OE. schitel, scytyl, schetyl; cf. OE. schitel a bolt of a door, AS. scyttes; all from AS. sceótan to shoot; akin to Dan. skyttel, skytte, shuttle, dial. Sw. skyttel, sköttel. sq. root159. See Shoot, and cf. Shittle, Skittles.]

1. An instrument used in weaving for passing or shooting the thread of the woof from one side of the cloth to the other between the threads of the warp. Like shuttles through the loom, so swiftly glide My feathered hours. Sandys.

2. The sliding thread holder in a sewing machine, which carries the lower thread through a loop of the upper thread, to make a lock stitch.

3. A shutter, as for a channel for molten metal. [R.] Shuttle box (Weaving), a case at the end of a shuttle race, to receive the shuttle after it has passed the thread of the warp; also, one of a set of compartments containing shuttles with different colored threads, which are passed back and forth in a certain order, according to the pattern of the cloth woven. — Shutten race, a sort of shelf in a loom, beneath the warp, along which the shuttle passes; a channel or guide along which the shuttle passes in a sewing machine. — Shuttle shell (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of marine gastropods of the genus Volva, or Radius, having a smooth, spindle- shaped shell prolonged into a channel at each end.

SHUTTLE
Shut"tle, v. i.

Defn: To move backwards and forwards, like a shuttle. I had to fly far and wide, shutting athwart the big Babel, wherever his calls and pauses had to be. Carlyle.

SHUTTLECOCK
Shut"tle*cock`, n.

Defn: A cork stuck with feathers, which is to be struck by a battledoor in play; also, the play itself.

SHUTTLECOCK
Shut"tle*cock, v. t.

Defn: To send or toss to and fro; to bandy; as, to shuttlecock words.
Thackeray.

SHUTTLECORK
Shut"tle*cork`, n.

Defn: See Shuttlecock.

SHUTTLEWISE
Shut"tle*wise`, adv.

Defn: Back and forth, like the movement of a shuttle.

SHWAN-PAN
Shwan"-pan, n.

Defn: See Schwan-pan.

SHY
Shy, a. [Compar. Shier or Shyer; superl. Shiest or Shyest.] Etym:
[OE. schey, skey, sceouh, AS. sceóh; akin to Dan. sky, Sw. skygg, D.
schuw, MHG. schiech, G. scheu, OHG. sciuhen to be or make timid. Cf.
Eschew.]

1. Easily frightened; timid; as, a shy bird. The horses of the army . . . were no longer shy, but would come up to my very feet without starting. Swift.

2. Reserved; coy; disinclined to familiar approach.
What makes you so shy, my good friend There's nobody loves you better
than I. Arbuthnot.
The embarrassed look of shy distress And maidenly shamefacedness.
Wordsworth.

3. Cautious; wary; suspicious.
I am very shy of using corrosive liquors in the preparation of
medicines. Boyle.
Princes are, by wisdom of state, somewhat shy of thier successors.
Sir H. Wotton.
To fight shy. See under Fight, v. i.

SHY
Shy, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Shied; p. pr. & vb. n. Shying.] Etym: [From
Shy, a.]

Defn: To start suddenly aside through fright or suspicion; — said especially of horses.

SHY
Shy, v. t.

Defn: To throw sidewise with a jerk; to fling; as, to shy a stone; to shy a slipper. T. Hughes.

SHY
Shy, n.

1. A sudden start aside, as by a horse.

2. A side throw; a throw; a fling. Thackeray. If Lord Brougham gets a stone in his hand, he must, it seems, have a shy at somebody. Punch.

SHYLY
Shy"ly, adv.

Defn: In a shy or timid manner; not familiarly; with reserve.
[Written also shily.]

SHYNESS
Shy"ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being shy. [Written also shiness.] Frequency in heavenly contemplation is particularly important to prevent a shyness bewtween God and thy soul. Baxter.

Syn.
— Bashfulness; reserve; coyness; timidity; diffidence. See
Bashfulness.

SHYSTER
Shy"ster, n. Etym: [Perh. from G. scheisse excrement.]

Defn: A trickish knave; one who carries on any business, especially legal business, in a mean and dishonest way. [Slang, U.S.]

SI
Si. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)

Defn: A syllable applied, in solmization, to the note B; more recently, to the seventh tone of any major diatonic scale. It was added to Guido's scale by Le Maire about the end of the 17th century.

SIAGA
Si*a"ga, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The ahu, or jairou.

SIALOGOGUE
Si*al"o*gogue, n. Etym: [Gr. si`alon saliva + sialagogue.] (Med.)

Defn: An agent which promotes the flow of saliva.

SIAMANG
Si"a*mang`, n. Etym: [Malay siamang.] (Zool.)

Defn: A gibbon (Hylobates syndactylus), native of Sumatra. It has the second and third toes partially united by a web.

SIAMESE
Si`a*mese", a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Siam, its native people, or their language.

SIAMESE
Si`a*mese`, n. sing. & pl.

1. A native or inhabitant of Siam; pl., the people of Siam.

2. sing.

Defn: The language of the Siamese.

SIB
Sib, n. Etym: [AS. sibb alliance, gesib a relative. sq. root289. See
Gossip.]

Defn: A blood relation. [Obs.] Nash.

SIB
Sib, a.

Defn: Related by blood; akin. [Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Sir W.
Scott.
Your kindred is but . . . little sib to you. Chaucer.
[He] is no fairy birn, ne sib at all To elfs, but sprung of seed
terrestrial. Spenser.

SIBBENS
Sib"bens, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Med.)

Defn: A contagious disease, endemic in Scotland, resembling the yaws.
It is marked by ulceration of the throat and nose and by pustules and
soft fungous excrescences upon the surface of the body. In the
Orkneys the name is applied to the itch. [Written also sivvens.]

SIBERIAN
Si*be"ri*an, a. Etym: [From Siberia, Russ. Sibire.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to Siberia, a region comprising all northern Asia and belonging to Russia; as, a Siberian winter. — n.

Defn: A native or inhabitant of Siberia. Siberian crab (Bot.), the Siberian crab apple. See Crab apple, under Crab. — Siberian dog (Zoöl.), one of a large breed of dogs having erect ears and the hair of the body and tail very long. It is distinguished for endurance of fatigue when used for the purpose of draught. — Siberian pea tree (Bot.), a small leguminous tree (Cragana arborescens) with yellow flowers. It is a native of Siberia.

SIBILANCE; SIBILANCY
Sib"i*lance, Sib"i*lan*cy, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being sibilant; sibilation. Milton would not have avoided them for their sibilancy, he who wrote . . . verses that hiss like Medusa's head in wrath. Lowell.

SIBILANT Sib"i*lant, a. Etym: [L. sibilans, -antis, p. pr. of sibilare to hiss: cf. F. sibilant.]

Defn: Making a hissing sound; uttered with a hissing sound; hissing; as, s, z, sh, and zh, are sibilant elementary sounds. — n.

Defn: A sibiliant letter.

SIBILATE
Sib"i*late, v. t. & i.

Defn: To pronounce with a hissing sound, like that of the letter s; to mark with a character indicating such pronunciation.

SIBILATION
Sib`i*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. sibilatio.]

Defn: Utterance with a hissing sound; also, the sound itself; a hiss.
He, with a long, low sibilation, stared. Tennyson.

SIBILATORY
Sib"i*la*to*ry, a.

Defn: Hissing; sibilant.

SIBILOUS
Sib"i*lous, a. Etym: [L. sibilus.]

Defn: Having a hissing sound; hissing; sibilant. [R.] Pennant.

SIBYL
Sib"yl, n. Etym: [L. sibylla, Gr.

1. (Class. Antiq.)

Defn: A woman supposed to be endowed with a spirit of prophecy.

Note: The number of the sibyls is variously stated by different authors; but the opinion of Varro, that there were ten, is generally adopted. They dwelt in various parts of Persia, Greece, and Italy.

2. A female fortune teller; a pythoness; a prophetess. "An old highland sibyl." Sir W. Scott.

SIBYLIST
Sib"yl*ist, n.

Defn: One who believes in a sibyl or the sibylline prophecies.
Cudworth.

SIBYLLINE
Sib"yl*line, a. Etym: [L. sibyllinus.]

Defn: Pertaining to the sibyls; uttered, written, or composed by sibyls; like the productions of sibyls. Sibylline books. (a) (Rom. Antiq.) Books or documents of prophecies in verse concerning the fate of the Roman empire, said to have been purchased by Tarquin the Proud from a sibyl. (b) Certain Jewish and early Christian writings purporting to have been prophetic and of sibylline origin. They date from 100 b. c. to a. d. 500.

SIC
Sic, a.

Defn: Such. [Scot.]

SIC
Sic, adv. Etym: [L.]

Defn: Thus.

Note: This word is sometimes inserted in a quotation [sic], to call attention to the fact that some remarkable or inaccurate expression, misspelling, or the like, is literally reproduced.

SICAMORE
Sic"a*more, n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Sycamore.

SICCA
Sic"ca, n. Etym: [Ar. sikka.]

Defn: A seal; a coining die; — used adjectively to designate the silver currency of the Mogul emperors, or the Indian rupee of 192 grains. Sicca rupee, an East Indian coin, valued nominally at about two shillings sterling, or fifty cents.

SICCATE Sic"cate, v. t. Etym: [L. siccatus, p. p. of siccare to dry, fr. siecus dry.]

Defn: To dry. [R.]

SICCATION
Sic*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. siccatio.]

Defn: The act or process of drying. [R.] Bailey.

SICCATIVE
Sic"ca*tive, a. Etym: [L. siccativus.]

Defn: Drying; causing to dry.
— n.

Defn: That which promotes drying.

SICCIFIC Sic*cif"ic, a.Etym: [L. siccificus; siccus dry + facere to make. See -fy.]

Defn: Causing dryness.

SICCITY
Sic"ci*ty, n. Etym: [L. siccitas, fr. siccus dry.]

Defn: Dryness; aridity; destitution of moisture. [Obs.]
The siccity and dryness of its flesh. Sir T. Browne.

SICE
Sice, n. Etym: [F. six, fr. L. sex six. See Six.]

Defn: The number six at dice.

SICER
Si"cer, n. Etym: [L. sicera. See Cider.]

Defn: A strong drink; cider. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SICH
Sich, a.

Defn: Such. [Obs. or Colloq.] Spenser.

SICILIAN
Si*cil"i*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Sicily or its inhabitants. Sicilian vespers, the great massacre of the French in Sicily, in the year 1282, on the evening of Easter Monday, at the hour of vespers.

SICILIAN
Si*cil"i*an, n.

Defn: A native or inhabitant of Sicily.

SICILIANO
Si*ci`li*a"no, n. Etym: [It., Sicilian.]

Defn: A Sicilian dance, resembling the pastorale, set to a rather slow and graceful melody in 12-8 or 6-8 measure; also, the music to the dance.

SICILIENNE
Si`ci`lienne", n. Etym: [F., fem. of sicilien Sicilian.]

Defn: A kind of rich poplin.

SICK
Sick, a. [Compar. Sicker; superl. Sickest.] Etym: [OE. sek, sik, ill,
AS. seóc; akin to OS. siok, seoc, OFries. siak, D. ziek, G. siech,
OHG. sioh, Icel. sj, Sw. sjuk, Dan. syg, Goth. siuks ill, siukan to
be ill.]

1. Affected with disease of any kind; ill; indisposed; not in health.
See the Synonym under Illness.
Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever. Mark i. 30.
Behold them that are sick with famine. Jer. xiv. 18.

2. Affected with, or attended by, nausea; inclined to vomit; as, sick at the stomach; a sick headache.

3. Having a strong dislike; disgusted; surfeited; — with of; as, to be sick of flattery. He was not so sick of his master as of his work. L'Estrange.

4. Corrupted; imperfect; impaired; weakned. So great is his antipathy against episcopacy, that, if a seraphim himself should be a bishop, he would either find or make some sick feathers in his wings. Fuller. Sick bay (Naut.), an apartment in a vessel, used as the ship's hospital. — Sick bed, the bed upon which a person lies sick. — Sick berth, an apartment for the sick in a ship of war. — Sick headache (Med.), a variety of headache attended with disorder of the stomach and nausea. — Sick list, a list containing the names of the sick. — Sick room, a room in which a person lies sick, or to which he is confined by sickness.

Note: [These terms, sick bed, sick berth, etc., are also written both hyphened and solid.]

Syn. — Diseased; ill; disordered; distempered; indisposed; weak; ailing; feeble; morbid.

SICK
Sick, n.

Defn: Sickness. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SICK
Sick, v. i.

Defn: To fall sick; to sicken. [Obs.] Shak.

SICK-BRAINED
Sick"-brained`, a.

Defn: Disordered in the brain.

SICKEN
Sick"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sickened; p. pr. & vb. n. Sickening.]

1. To make sick; to disease. Raise this strength, and sicken that to death. Prior.

2. To make qualmish; to nauseate; to disgust; as, to sicken the stomach.

3. To impair; to weaken. [Obs.] Shak.

SICKEN
Sick"en, v. i.

1. To become sick; to fall into disease. The judges that sat upon the jail, and those that attended, sickened upon it and died. Bacon.

2. To be filled to disgust; to be disgusted or nauseated; to be filled with abhorrence or aversion; to be surfeited or satiated. Mine eyes did sicken at the sight. Shak.

3. To become disgusting or tedious. The toiling pleasure sickens into pain. Goldsmith.

4. To become weak; to decay; to languish. All pleasures sicken, and all glories sink. Pope.

SICKENING
Sick"en*ing, a.

Defn: Causing sickness; specif., causing surfeit or disgust;
nauseating.
— Sick"en*ing*ly, adv.

SICKER
Sick"er, v. i. Etym: [AS. sicerian.] (Mining)

Defn: To percolate, trickle, or ooze, as water through a crack. [Also written sigger, zigger, and zifhyr.] [Prov. Eng.]

SICKER; SIKER
Sick"er, Sik"er, a. Etym: [OE. siker; cf. OS. sikur, LG. seker, D.
zeker, Dan. sikker, OHG. sihhur, G. sicher; all fr. L. securus. See
Secure, Sure.]

Defn: Sure; certain; trusty. [Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Burns.
When he is siker of his good name. Chaucer.

SICKER; SIKER
Sick"er, Sik"er, adv.

Defn: Surely; certainly. [Obs.]
Believe this as siker as your creed. Chaucer.
Sicker, Willye, thou warnest well. Spenser.

SICKERLY; SIKERLY
Sick"er*ly, Sik"er*ly, adv.

Defn: Surely; securely. [Obs.]
But sikerly, withouten any fable. Chaucer.

SICKERNESS; SIKERNESS
Sick"er*ness, Sik"er*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being sicker, or certain. [Obs.]
Chaucer. Spenser.

SICKISH
Sick"ish, a.

1. Somewhat sick or diseased.

2. Somewhat sickening; as, a sickish taste. — Sick"ish*ly, adv. — Sick"ish*ness, n.

SICKLE Sic"kle, n. Etym: [OE. sikel, AS. sicol; akin to D. sikkel, G. sichel, OHG. sihhila, Dan. segel, segl, L. secula, fr. secare to cut; or perhaps from L. secula. See Saw a cutting instrument.]

1. A reaping instrument consisting of a steel blade curved into the form of a hook, and having a handle fitted on a tang. The sickle has one side of the blade notched, so as always to sharpen with a serrated edge. Cf. Reaping hook, under Reap. When corn has once felt the sickle, it has no more benefit from the sunshine. Shak.

2. (Astron.)

Defn: A group of stars in the constellation Leo. See Illust. of Leo. Sickle pod (Bot.), a kind of rock cress (Arabis Canadensis) having very long curved pods.

SICKLEBILL Sic"kle*bill`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of three species of humming birds of the genus Eutoxeres, native of Central and South America. They have a long and strongly curved bill. Called also the sickle-billed hummer. (b) A curlew. (c) A bird of the genus Epimachus and allied genera.

SICKLED
Sic"kled, a.

Defn: Furnished with a sickle.

SICKLEMAN
Sic"kle*man, n.; pl. Sicklemen (.

Defn: One who uses a sickle; a reaper.
You sunburned sicklemen, of August weary. Shak.

SICKLER
Sic"kler, n.

Defn: One who uses a sickle; a sickleman; a reaper.

SICKLESS
Sick"less, a.

Defn: Free from sickness. [R.]
Give me long breath, young beds, and sickless ease. Marston.

SICKLEWORT Sic"kle*wort`, n. Etym: [AS. sicolwyrt.] (Bot.) (a) A plant of the genus Coronilla (C. scorpioides); — so named from its curved pods. (b) The healall (Brunella vulgaris).

SICKLIED
Sick"lied, a.

Defn: Made sickly. See Sickly, v.

SICKLINESS
Sick"li*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being sickly.

SICKLY
Sick"ly, a. [Compar. Sicklier; superl. Sickliest.]

1. Somewhat sick; disposed to illness; attended with disease; as, a sickly body. This physic but prolongs thy sickly days. Shak.

2. Producing, or tending to, disease; as, a sickly autumn; a sickly climate. Cowper.

3. Appearing as if sick; weak; languid; pale. The moon grows sickly at the sight of day. Dryden. Nor torrid summer's sickly smile. Keble.

4. Tending to produce nausea; sickening; as, a sickly smell; sickly sentimentality.

Syn. — Diseased; ailing; infirm; weakly; unhealthy; healthless; weak; feeble; languid; faint.

SICKLY
Sick"ly, adv.

Defn: In a sick manner or condition; ill.
My people sickly [with ill will] beareth our marriage. Chaucer.

SICKLY
Sick"ly, v. t.

Defn: To make sick or sickly; — with over, and probably only in the
past participle. [R.]
Sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought. Shak.
Sentiments sicklied over . . . with that cloying heaviness into which
unvaried sweetness is too apt to subside. Jeffrey.

SICKNESS
Sick"ness, n. Etym: [AS. seócness.]

1. The quality or state of being sick or diseased; illness; sisease or malady. I do lament the sickness of the king. Shak. Trust not too much your now resistless charms; Those, age or sickness soon or late disarms. Pope.

2. Nausea; qualmishness; as, sickness of stomach.

Syn.
— Illness; disease; malady. See Illness.

SICLE
Si"cle, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. silcus, Heb. shegel. See Shekel.]

Defn: A shekel. [Obs.] The holy mother brought five sicles and a pair of turtledoves to redeem the Lamb of God. Jer. Taylor.

SIDA
Si"da, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of malvaceous plants common in the tropics. All the species are mucilaginous, and some have tough ligneous fibers which are used as a substitute for hemp and flax. Balfour (Cyc. of India).

SIDDOW
Sid"dow, a.

Defn: Soft; pulpy. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

SIDE
Side, n. Etym: [AS. side; akin to D. zijde, G. seite, OHG. sita,
Icel. si, Dan. side, Sw. sida; cf. AS. sid large, spacious, Icel. si
long, hanging.]

1. The margin, edge, verge, or border of a surface; especially (when the thing spoken of is somewhat oblong in shape), one of the longer edges as distinguished from the shorter edges, called ends; a bounding line of a geometrical figure; as, the side of a field, of a square or triangle, of a river, of a road, etc.

3. Any outer portion of a thing considered apart from, and yet in relation to, the rest; as, the upper side of a sphere; also, any part or position viewed as opposite to or contrasted with another; as, this or that side. Looking round on every side beheld A pathless desert. Milton.

4. (a) One of the halves of the body, of an animals or man, on either side of the mesial plane; or that which pertains to such a half; as, a side of beef; a side of sole leather. (b) The right or left part of the wall or trunk of the body; as, a pain in the side. One of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side. John xix. 34.

5. A slope or declivity, as of a hill, considered as opposed to another slope over the ridge. Along the side of yon small hill. Milton.

6. The position of a person or party regarded as opposed to another person or party, whether as a rival or a foe; a body of advocates or partisans; a party; hence, the interest or cause which one maintains against another; a doctrine or view opposed to another. God on our side, doubt not of victory. Shak. We have not always been of the . . . same side in politics. Landor. Sets the passions on the side of truth. Pope.

7. A line of descent traced through one parent as distinguished from that traced through another. To sit upon thy father David's throne, By mother's side thy father. Milton.

8. Fig.: Aspect or part regarded as contrasted with some other; as, the bright side of poverty. By the side of, close at hand; near to. — Exterior side. (Fort.) See Exterior, and Illust. of Ravelin. — Interior side (Fort.), the line drawn from the center of one bastion to that of the next, or the line curtain produced to the two oblique radii in front. H. L. Scott. — Side by side, close together and abreast; in company or along with. — To choose sides, to select those who shall compete, as in a game, on either side. — To take sides, to attach one's self to, or give assistance to, one of two opposing sides or parties.

SIDE
Side, a.

1. Of or pertaining to a side, or the sides; being on the side, or toward the side; lateral. One mighty squadron with a side wind sped. Dryden.

2. Hence, indirect; oblique; collateral; incidental; as, a side issue; a side view or remark. The law hath no side respect to their persons. Hooker.

3. Etym: [AS. sid. Cf Side, n.]

Defn: Long; large; extensive. [Obs. or Scot.] Shak. His gown had side sleeves down to mid leg. Laneham. Side action, in breech-loading firearms, a mechanism for operating the breech block, which is moved by a lever that turns sidewise. — Side arms, weapons worn at the side, as sword, bayonet, pistols, etc. — Side ax, an ax of which the handle is bent to one side. — Side-bar rule (Eng. Law.), a rule authorized by the courts to be granted by their officers as a matter of course, without formal application being made to them in open court; — so called because anciently moved for by the attorneys at side bar, that is, informally. Burril. — Side box, a box or inclosed seat on the side of a theater. To insure a side-box station at half price. Cowper. — Side chain, one of two safety chains connecting a tender with a locomotive, at the sides. — Side cut, a canal or road branching out from the main one. [U.S.] — Side dish, one of the dishes subordinate to the main course. — Side glance, a glance or brief look to one side. — Side hook (Carp.), a notched piece of wood for clamping a board to something, as a bench. — Side lever, a working beam of a side-lever engine. — Side-lever engine, a marine steam engine having a working beam of each side of the cylinder, near the bottom of the engine, communicating motion to a crank that is above them. — Side pipe (Steam Engine), a steam or exhaust pipe connecting the upper and lower steam chests of the cylinder of a beam engine. — Side plane, a plane in which the cutting edge of the iron is at the side of the stock. — Side posts (Carp.), posts in a truss, usually placed in pairs, each post set at the same distance from the middle of the truss, for supporting the principal rafters, hanging the tiebeam, etc. — Side rod. (a) One of the rods which connect the piston-rod crosshead with the side levers, in a side-lever engine. (b) See Parallel rod, under Parallel. — Side screw (Firearms), one of the screws by which the lock is secured to the side of a firearm stock. — Side table, a table placed either against the wall or aside from the principal table. — Side tool (Mach.), a cutting tool, used in a lathe or planer, having the cutting edge at the side instead of at the point. — Side wind, a wind from one side; hence, an indirect attack, or indirect means. Wright.

SIDE
Side, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sided; p. pr.& vb. n. Siding.]

1. To lean on one side. [Obs.] Bacon.

2. To embrace the opinions of one party, or engage in its interest, in opposition to another party; to take sides; as, to side with the ministerial party. All side in parties, and begin the attack. Pope.

SIDE
Side, v. t.

1. To be or stand at the side of; to be on the side toward. [Obs.] His blind eye that sided Paridell. Spenser.

2. To suit; to pair; to match. [Obs.] Clarendon.

3. (Shipbuilding)

Defn: To work (a timber or rib) to a certain thickness by trimming the sides.

4. To furnish with a siding; as, to side a house.

SIDEBOARD
Side"board`, n.

Defn: A piece of dining-room furniture having compartments and
shelves for keeping or displaying articles of table service.
At a stately sideboard, by the wine, That fragrant smell diffused.
Milton.

SIDEBONE
Side"bone`, n. (Far.)

Defn: A morbid growth or deposit of bony matter and at the sides of the coronet and coffin bone of a horse. J. H. Walsh.

SIDE-CHAIN THEORY
Side"-chain` the`o*ry. (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: A theory proposed by Ehrlich as a chemical explanation of immunity phenomena. In brief outline it is as follows: Animal cells and bacteria are complex aggregations of molecules, which are themselves complex. Complex molecules react with one another through certain of their side chains, but only when these side chains have a definite correspondence in structure (this account for the specific action of antitoxins).

SIDED
Sid"ed, a.

Defn: Having (such or so many) sides; — used in composition; as, one-sided; many-sided.

SIDEFLASH
Side"flash`, n. (Elec.)

Defn: A disruptive discharge between a conductor traversed by an oscillatory current of high frequency (as lightning) and neighboring masses of metal, or between different parts of the same conductor.

SIDEHILL
Side"hill`, n.

Defn: The side or slope of a hill; sloping ground; a descent. [U. S.]

SIDE LINE
Side line.

1.
(a) A line pert. or attached to the side of a thing.
(b) Specif., a line for hobbling an animal by connecting the fore
and the hind feet of the same side.

2. (a) A line of goods sold in addition to one's principal articles of trade; a course of business pursued aside from one's regular occupation. (b) A secondary road; esp., a byroad at right angles to a main road. [Canada]

SIDELING
Side"ling, adv. Etym: [OE. sideling, fr. side side. See Side, and cf.
Sidelong, Headlong.]

Defn: Sidelong; on the side; laterally; also, obliquely; askew.
A fellow nailed up maps . . . some sideling, and others upside down.
Swift.

SIDELING
Side"ling, a.

Defn: Inclining to one sidel directed toward one side; sloping; inclined; as, sideling ground.

SIDELONG
Side"long`, adv. Etym: [See Sideling, adv.]

1. Laterally; obliquely; in the direction of the side.

2. On the side; as, to lay a thing sidelong.

Note: [See Sideling, adv. ] Evelyn.

SIDELONG
Side"long`, a.

Defn: Lateral; oblique; not being directly in front; as, a sidelong
glance.
The bashful virgin's sidelong looks of love. Goldsmith.

SIDEPIECE
Side"piece`, n. (Joinery)

Defn: The jamb, or cheek, of an opening in a wall, as of door or window.

SIDER
Sid"er, n.

Defn: One who takes a side.

SIDER
Si"der, n.

Defn: Cider. [Obs.]

SIDERAL
Sid"er*al, a. Etym: [L. sideralis. See Sidereal.]

1. Relating to the stars.

2. (Astrol.)

Defn: Affecting unfavorably by the supposed influence of the stars; baleful. "Sideral blast." Milton.

SIDERATED Sid"er*a`ted, a. Etym: [L. sideratus, p. p. of siderari to be blasted by a constellation, fr. sidus, sideris, a constellation.]

Defn: Planet-struck; blasted. [Obs.]

SIDERATION
Sid`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. sideratio.]

Defn: The state of being siderated, or planet-struck; esp., blast in plants; also, a sudden and apparently causeless stroke of disease, as in apoplexy or paralysis. [Obs.] Ray.

SIDEREAL Si*de"re*al, a. Etym: [L. sidereus, from sidus, sideris, a constellation, a star. Cf. Sideral, Consider, Desire.]

1. Relating to the stars; starry; astral; as, sidereal astronomy.

2. (Astron.)

Defn: Measuring by the apparent motion of the stars; designated, marked out, or accompanied, by a return to the same position in respect to the stars; as, the sidereal revolution of a planet; a sidereal day. Sidereal clock, day, month, year. See under Clock, Day, etc. — Sideral time, time as reckoned by sideral days, or, taking the sidereal day as the unit, the time elapsed since a transit of the vernal equinox, reckoned in parts of a sidereal day. This is, strictly, apparent sidereal time, mean sidereal time being reckoned from the transit, not of the true, but of the mean, equinoctial point.

SIDEREALIZE
Si*de"re*al*ize, v. t.

Defn: To elevate to the stars, or to the region of the stars; to
etherealize.
German literature transformed, siderealized, as we see it in Goethe,
reckons Winckelmann among its initiators. W. Pater.

SIDEREOUS
Si*de"re*ous, a. Etym: [L. sidereus.]

Defn: Sidereal. [Obs.]

SIDERITE
Sid"er*ite, n. Etym: [L. sideritis loadstone, Gr.

1. (Min.) (a) Carbonate of iron, an important ore of iron occuring generally in cleavable masses, but also in rhombohedral crystals. It is of a light yellowish brown color. Called also sparry iron, spathic iron. (b) A meteorite consisting solely of metallic iron. (c) An indigo-blue variety of quartz. (d) Formerly, magnetic iron ore, or loadstone.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Any plant of the genus Sideritis; ironwort.

SIDEROGRAPHIC; SIDEROGRAPHICAL
Sid`er*o*graph"ic, Sid`er*o*graph"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to siderography; executed by engraved plates of steel; as, siderographic art; siderographic impressions.

SIDEROGRAPHIST
Sid`er*og"ra*phist, n.

Defn: One skilled in siderography.

SIDEROGRAPHY
Sid`er*og"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy.]

Defn: The art or practice of steel engraving; especially, the process, invented by Perkins, of multiplying facsimiles of an engraved steel plate by first rolling over it, when hardened, a soft steel cylinder, and then rolling the cylinder, when hardened, over a soft steel plate, which thus becomes a facsimile of the original. The process has been superseded by electrotypy.

SIDEROLITE
Sid"er*o*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite.]

Defn: A kind of meteorite. See under Meteorite.

SIDEROMANCY
Sid"er*o*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy.]

Defn: Divination by burning straws on red-hot iron, and noting the manner of their burning. Craig.

SIDEROSCOPE
Sid"er*o*scope, n. Etym: [Gr. -scope.]

Defn: An instrument for detecting small quantities of iron in any substance by means of a very delicate combination of magnetic needles.

SIDEROSIS
Sid`e*ro"sis, n.Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A sort of pneumonia occuring in iron workers, produced by the inhalation of particles of iron.

SIDEROSTAT
Sid"er*o*stat, n. Etym: [L. sidus, sideris, a star + Gr. (Astron.)

Defn: An apparatus consisting essentially of a mirror moved by clockwork so as to throw the rays of the sun or a star in a fixed direction; — a more general term for heliostat.

SIDEROXYLON
Sid`e*rox"y*lon, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of tropical sapotaceous trees noted for their very hard wood; ironwood.

SIDESADDLE
Side"sad`dle, n.

Defn: A saddle for women, in which the rider sits with both feet on one side of the animal mounted. Sidesaddle flower (Bot.), a plant with hollow leaves and curiously shaped flowers; — called also huntsman's cup. See Sarracenia.

SIDE SLIP
Side slip.

Defn: See Skid, below.

SIDE-SLIP
Side"-slip`, v. i.

Defn: See Skid, below.

SIDESMAN
Sides"man, n.; pl. Sidesmen (.

1. A party man; a partisan. Milton.

2. An assistant to the churchwarden; a questman.

SIDE-TAKING
Side"-tak`ing, n.

Defn: A taking sides, as with a party, sect, or faction. Bp. Hall.

SIDETRACK
Side"track`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sidetracked; p. pr. & vb. n.
Sidetracking.]

1. (Railroads) To transfer to a siding from a main line of track.

2. Hence, fig., to divert or reduce to a position or condition that is relatively secondary or subordinate in activity, importance, effectiveness, or the like; to switch off; to turn aside, as from a purpose. [Colloq.]

Such a project was, in fact, sidetracked in favor of the census of
school children.
Pop. Sci. Monthly.

SIDEWALK
Side"walk`, n.

Defn: A walk for foot passengers at the side of a street or road; a foot pavement. [U.S.]

SIDEWAYS
Side"ways`, adv.

Defn: Toward the side; sidewise.
A second refraction made sideways. Sir I. Newton.
His beard, a good palm's length, at least, . . . Shot sideways, like
a swallow's wings. Longfellow.

SIDE-WHEEL
Side"-wheel`, a.

Defn: Having a paddle wheel on each side; — said of steam vessels; as, a side-wheel steamer.

SIDEWINDER
Side"wind`er, n.

1. (Zoöl.) See Horned rattler, under Horned.

2. A heavy swinging blow from the side, which disables an adversary. [Slang.]

SIDEWISE
Side"wise`, adv.

Defn: On or toward one side; laterally; sideways.
I saw them mask their awful glance Sidewise meek in gossamer lids.
Emerson.

SIDING
Sid"ing, n.

1. Attaching one's self to a party.

2. A side track, as a railroad; a turnout.

3. (Carp.)

Defn: The covering of the outside wall of a frame house, whether made of weatherboards, vertical boarding with cleats, shingles, or the like.

4. (Shipbuilding)

Defn: The thickness of a rib or timber, measured, at right angles with its side, across the curved edge; as, a timber having a siding of ten inches.

SIDLE
Si"dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sidled; p. pr. & vb. n. Sidling.] Etym:
[From Side.]

Defn: To go or move with one side foremost; to move sidewise; as, to sidle through a crowd or narrow opening. Swift. He . . . then sidled close to the astonished girl. Sir W. Scott.

SIEGE Siege, n. Etym: [OE. sege, OF. siege, F. siège a seat, a siege; cf. It. seggia, seggio, zedio, a seat, asseggio, assedio, a siege, F. assiéger to besiege, It. & LL. assediare, L. obsidium a siege, besieging; all ultimately fr. L. sedere to sit. See Sit, and cf. See, n.]

1. A seat; especially, a royal seat; a throne. [Obs.] "Upon the very siege of justice." Shak. A stately siege of sovereign majesty, And thereon sat a woman gorgeous gay. Spenser. In our great hall there stood a vacant chair . . . And Merlin called it "The siege perilous." Tennyson.

2. Hence, place or situation; seat. [Obs.] Ah! traitorous eyes, come out of your shameless siege forever. Painter (Palace of Pleasure).

3. Rank; grade; station; estimation. [Obs.] I fetch my life and being From men of royal siege. Shak.

4. Passage of excrements; stool; fecal matter. [Obs.] The siege of this mooncalf. Shak.

5. The sitting of an army around or before a fortified place for the purpose of compelling the garrison to surrender; the surrounding or investing of a place by an army, and approaching it by passages and advanced works, which cover the besiegers from the enemy's fire. See the Note under Blockade.

6. Hence, a continued attempt to gain possession. Love stood the siege, and would not yield his breast. Dryden.

7. The floor of a glass-furnace.

8. A workman's bench. Knught. Siege gun, a heavy gun for siege operations. — Siege train, artillery adapted for attacking fortified places.

SIEGE
Siege, v. t.

Defn: To besiege; to beset. [R.]
Through all the dangers that can siege The life of man. Buron.

SIEGEWORK
Siege"work`, n.

Defn: A temporary fort or parallel where siege guns are mounted.

SIEMENS-MARTIN PROCESS
Sie"mens-Mar`tin proc"ess.

Defn: See Open-hearth process, etc., under Open.

SIEMENS-MARTIN STEEL
Sie"mens-Mar"tin steel.

Defn: See Open-hearth steel, under Open.

SIENITE
Si"e*nite, n. (Min.)

Defn: See Syenite.

SIENITIC
Si`e*nit"ic, a.

Defn: See Syenitic.

SIENNA
Si*en"na, n. Etym: [It. terra di Siena, fr. Siena in Italy.] (Chem.)

Defn: Clay that is colored red or brown by the oxides of iron or manganese, and used as a pigment. It is used either in the raw state or burnt. Burnt sienna, sienna made of a much redder color by the action of fire. — Raw sienna, sienna in its natural state, of a transparent yellowish brown color.

SIENNESE
Si`en*nese", a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Sienna, a city of Italy.

SIERRA
Si*er"ra, n. Etym: [Sp., properly, a saw, fr. L. serra a saw. See
Serrate.]

Defn: A ridge of mountain and craggy rocks, with a serrated or irregular outline; as, the Sierra Nevada. The wild sierra overhead. Whitter.

SIESTA Si*es"ta, n. Etym: [Sp., probably fr. L. sessitare to sit much or long, v. freq. of sedere, sessum, to sit. See Sit.]

Defn: A short sleep taken about the middle of the day, or after dinner; a midday nap.

SIEUR
Sieur, n. Etym: [F., abbrev. from seigneur. Cf. Monsieur, Seignior.]

Defn: Sir; — a title of respect used by the French.

SIEVA
Sie"va, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A small variety of the Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus).

SIEVE
Sieve, n. Etym: [OE. sive, AS. sife; akin to D. zeef, zift, OHG. sib,
G. sieb. sq. root151a. Cf. Sift.]

1. A utensil for separating the finer and coarser parts of a pulverized or granulated substance from each other. It consist of a vessel, usually shallow, with the bottom perforated, or made of hair, wire, or the like, woven in meshes. "In a sieve thrown and sifted." Chaucer.

2. A kind of coarse basket. Simmonds. Sieve cells (Bot.), cribriform cells. See under Cribriform.

SIFAC
Si"fac, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The white indris of Madagascar. It is regarded by the natives as sacred.

SIFFLEMENT
Sif"fle*ment, n. Etym: [F., a whistling or hissing.]

Defn: The act of whistling or hissing; a whistling sound; sibilation.
[Obs.] A. Brewer.

SIFILET
Sif"i*let, n. Etym: [Cf. F. siflet.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The six-shafted bird of paradise. See Paradise bird, under
Paradise.

SIFT
Sift, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sifted; p. pr. & vb. n. Sifting.] Etym:
[AS. siftan, from sife sieve. sq. root151a. See Sieve.]

1. To separate with a sieve, as the fine part of a substance from the coarse; as, to sift meal or flour; to sift powder; to sift sand or lime.

2. To separate or part as if with a sieve. When yellow sands are sifted from below, The glittering billows give a golden show. Dryden.

3. To examine critically or minutely; to scrutinize.
Sifting the very utmost sentence and syllable. Hooker.
Opportunity I here have had To try thee, sift thee. Milton.
Let him but narrowly sift his ideas. I. Taylor.
To sift out, to search out with care, as if by sifting.

SIFTER
Sift"er, n.

1. One who, or that which, sifts.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any lamellirostral bird, as a duck or goose; — so called because it sifts or strains its food from the water and mud by means of the lamell

SIG Sig, n. Etym: [Akin to AS. sigan to fall. sq. root151a. See Sink, v. t.]

Defn: Urine. [Prov. Eng.]

SIGAULTIAN
Si*gaul"ti*an, a. (Surg.)

Defn: Pertaining to Sigault, a French physician. See Symphyseotomy.

SIGGER
Sig"ger, v. i.

Defn: Same as Sicker. [Prov. Eng.]

SIGH
Sigh, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sighed; p. pr. & vb. n. Sighing.] Etym:
[OE. sighen, si; cf. also OE. siken, AS. sican, and OE. sighten, si,
sichten, AS. siccettan; all, perhaps, of imitative origin.]

1. To inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it; to make a deep single audible respiration, especially as the result or involuntary expression of fatigue, exhaustion, grief, sorrow, or the like.

2. Hence, to lament; to grieve. He sighed deeply in his spirit. Mark viii. 12.

3. To make a sound like sighing.
And the coming wind did roar more loud, And the sails did sigh like
sedge. Coleridge.
The winter winds are wearily sighing. Tennyson.

Note: An extraordinary pronunciation of this word as sith is still heard in England and among the illiterate in the United States.

SIGH
Sigh, v. t.

1. To exhale (the breath) in sighs. Never man sighed truer breath. Shak.

2. To utter sighs over; to lament or mourn over. Ages to come, and men unborn, Shall bless her name, and sigh her fate. Pior.

3. To express by sighs; to utter in or with sighs. They . . . sighed forth proverbs. Shak. The gentle swain . . . sighs back her grief. Hoole.

SIGH
Sigh, n. Etym: [OE. sigh; cf. OE. sik. See Sigh, v. i.]

1. A deep and prolonged audible inspiration or respiration of air, as when fatigued or grieved; the act of sighing. I could drive the boat with my sighs. Shak.

2. Figuratively, a manifestation of grief; a lan With their sighs the air Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite. Milton.

SIGH-BORN
Sigh"-born`, a.

Defn: Sorrowful; mournful. [R.] "Sigh-born thoughts." De Quincey.

SIGHER
Sigh"er, n.

Defn: One who sighs.

SIGHING
Sigh"ing, a.

Defn: Uttering sighs; grieving; lamenting. "Sighing millions."
Cowper.
— Sigh"ing*ly, adv.

SIGHT Sight, n. Etym: [OE. sight, si, siht, AS. siht, gesiht, gesih, gesieh, gesyh; akin to D. gezicht, G. sicht, gesicht, Dan. sigte, Sw. sigt, from the root of E. see. See See, v. t.]

1. The act of seeing; perception of objects by the eye; view; as, to gain sight of land. A cloud received him out of their sight. Acts. i. 9.

2. The power of seeing; the faculty of vision, or of perceiving objects by the instrumentality of the eyes. Thy sight is young, And thou shalt read when mine begin to dazzle. Shak. O loss of sight, of thee I most complain! Milton.

3. The state of admitting unobstructed vision; visibility; open view; region which the eye at one time surveys; space through which the power of vision extends; as, an object within sight.

4. A spectacle; a view; a show; something worth seeing. Moses said, I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. Ex. iii. 3. They never saw a sight so fair. Spenser.

5. The instrument of seeing; the eye. Why cloud they not their sights Shak.

6. Inspection; examination; as, a letter intended for the sight of only one person.

7. Mental view; opinion; judgment; as, in their sight it was harmless. Wake. That which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. Luke xvi. 15.

8. A small aperture through which objects are to be seen, and by which their direction is settled or ascertained; as, the sight of a quadrant. Thier eyes of fire sparking through sights of steel. Shak.

9. A small piece of metal, fixed or movable, on the breech, muzzle, center, or trunnion of a gun, or on the breech and the muzzle of a rifle, pistol, etc., by means of which the eye is guided in aiming. Farrow.

10. In a drawing, picture, etc., that part of the surface, as of paper or canvas, which is within the frame or the border or margin. In a frame or the like, the open space, the opening.

11. A great number, quantity, or sum; as, a sight of money. [Now colloquial]

Note: Sight in this last sense was formerly employed in the best usage. "A sight of lawyers." Latimer. A wonder sight of flowers. Gower. At sight, as soon as seen, or presented to sight; as, a draft payable at sight: to read Greek at sight; to shoot a person at sight. — Front sight (Firearms), the sight nearest the muzzle. — Open sight. (Firearms) (a) A front sight through which the objects aimed at may be seen, in distinction from one that hides the object. (b) A rear sight having an open notch instead of an aperture. — Peep sight, Rear sight. See under Peep, and Rear. — Sight draft, an order, or bill of exchange, directing the payment of money at sight. — To take sight, to take aim; to look for the purpose of directing a piece of artillery, or the like.

Syn.
— Vision; view; show; spectacle; representation; exhibition.

SIGHT
Sight, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sighted; p. pr. & vb. n. Sighting.]

1. To get sight of; to see; as, to sight land; to sight a wreck. Kane.

2. To look at through a sight; to see accurately; as, to sight an object, as a star.

3. To apply sights to; to adjust the sights of; also, to give the proper elevation and direction to by means of a sight; as, to sight a rifle or a cannon.

SIGHT
Sight, v. i. (Mil.)

Defn: To take aim by a sight.

SIGHTED
Sight"ed, a.

Defn: Having sight, or seeing, in a particular manner; — used in composition; as, long-sighted, short-sighted, quick-sighted, sharp- sighted, and the like.

SIGHTFUL
Sight"ful, a.

Defn: Easily or clearly seen; distinctly visible; perspicuous. [Obs.]
Testament of Love.

SIGHTFULNESS
Sight"ful*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being sightful; perspicuity. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.

SIGHT-HOLE
Sight"-hole`, n.

Defn: A hole for looking through; a peephole. "Stop all sight-holes."
Shak.

SIGHTING
Sight"ing, a & n.

Defn: from Sight, v. t. Sighting shot, a shot made to ascertain whether the sights of a firearm are properly adjusted; a trial shot.

SIGHTLESS
Sight"less, a.

1. Wanting sight; without sight; blind. Of all who blindly creep or sightless soar. Pope.

2. That can not be seen; invisible. [Obs.] The sightless couriers of the air. Shak.

3. Offensive or unpleasing to the eye; unsightly; as, sightless stains. [R.] Shak. — Sight"less*ly, adv.- Sight"less*ness, n.

SIGHTLINESS
Sight"li*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being sightly; comeliness; conspicuousness.

SIGHTLY
Sight"ly, a.

1. Pleasing to the sight; comely. "Many brave, sightly horses." L'Estrange.

2. Open to sight; conspicuous; as, a house stands in a sightly place.

SIGHTPROOF
Sight"proof`, a.

Defn: Undiscoverable to sight.
Hidden in their own sightproof bush. Lowell.

SIGHT-SEEING
Sight"-see`ing, a.

Defn: Engaged in, or given to, seeing sights; eager for novelties or curiosities.

SIGHT-SEEING
Sight"-see`ing, n.

Defn: The act of seeing sights; eagerness for novelties or curiosities.

SIGHT-SEER
Sight"-se`er, n.

Defn: One given to seeing sights or noted things, or eager for novelties or curiosities.

SIGHT-SHOT
Sight"-shot`, n.

Defn: Distance to which the sight can reach or be thrown. [R.]
Cowley.

SIGHTSMAN
Sights"man, n.; pl. Sightsmen (. (Mus.)

Defn: One who reads or performs music readily at first sight. [R.]
Busby.

SIGIL
Sig"il, n. Etym: [L. sigillum. See Seal a stamp.]

Defn: A seal; a signature. Dryden.
Of talismans and sigils knew the power. Pope.

SIGILLARIA
Sig`il*la"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [L., from sigillum a seal. See Sigil.]
(Rom. Antic.)

Defn: Little images or figures of earthenware exposed for sale, or given as presents, on the last two days of the Saturnalia; hence, the last two, or the sixth and seventh, days of the Saturnalia.

SIGILLARIA
Sig`il*la"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL., fem sing. fr. L. sigillum a seal.]
(Paleon.)

Defn: A genus of fossil trees principally found in the coal formation; — so named from the seallike leaf scars in vertical rows on the surface.

SIGILLARID
Sig`il*la"rid, n. (Paleon.)

Defn: One of an extinct family of cryptagamous trees, including the genus Sigillaria and its allies.

SIGILLATED
Sig"il*la`ted, a. Etym: [L. sigillatus adorned with little images.]

Defn: Decorated by means of stamps; — said of pottery.

SIGILLATIVE
Sig"il*la*tive, a. Etym: [L. sigillum a seal: cf. OF. sigillatif.]

Defn: Fit to seal; belonging to a seal; composed of wax. [R.]

SIGILLUM
Si*gil"lum, n.; pl. Sigilla. Etym: [L.] (Rom. & Old Eng. Law)

Defn: A seal.

SIGLA
Sig"la, n. pl. Etym: [L.]

Defn: The signs, abbreviations, letters, or characters standing for words, shorthand, etc., in ancient manuscripts, or on coins, medals, etc. W. Savage.

SIGMA
Sig"ma, n.; pl. Sigmas. Etym: [L., from Gr.

Defn: The Greek letter S, or s). It originally had the form of the
English C.

SIGMODONT
Sig"mo*dont, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of a tribe (Sigmodontes) of rodents which includes all the indigenous rats and mice of America. So called from the form of the ridges of enamel on the crowns of the worn molars. Also used adjectively.

SIGMOID; SIGMOIDAL
Sig"moid, Sig*moid"al, a. Etym: [Gr. sigmoïde.]

Defn: Curved in two directions, like the letter S, or the Greek s.
Sigmoid flexure (Anat.), the last curve of the colon before it
terminates in the rectum. See Illust. under Digestive.
— Sigmoid valves. (Anat.) See Semilunar valves, under Semilunar.

SIGMOIDALLY
Sig*moid"al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a sigmoidal manner.

SIGN Sign, n. Etym: [F. signe, L. signum; cf. AS. segen, segn, a sign, standard, banner, also fr. L. signum. Cf. Ensign, Resign, Seal a stamp, Signal, Signet.]

Defn: That by which anything is made known or represented; that which furnishes evidence; a mark; a token; an indication; a proof. Specifically: (a) A remarkable event, considered by the ancients as indicating the will of some deity; a prodigy; an omen. (b) An event considered by the Jews as indicating the divine will, or as manifesting an interposition of the divine power for some special end; a miracle; a wonder. Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God. Rom. xv. 19. It shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign. Ex. iv. 8.

(c) Something serving to indicate the existence, or preserve the memory, of a thing; a token; a memorial; a monument. What time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men, and they became a sign. Num. xxvi. 10.

(d) Any symbol or emblem which prefigures, typifles, or represents, an idea; a type; hence, sometimes, a picture. The holy symbols, or signs, are not barely significative; but what they represent is as certainly delivered to us as the symbols themselves. Brerewood. Saint George of Merry England, the sign of victory. Spenser.

(e) A word or a character regarded as the outward manifestation of thought; as, words are the sign of ideas. (f) A motion, an action, or a gesture by which a thought is expressed, or a command or a wish made known. They made signs to his father, how he would have him called. Luke i. 62.

(g) Hence, one of the gestures of pantomime, or of a language of a signs such as those used by the North American Indians, or those used by the deaf and dumb.

Note: Educaters of the deaf distinguish between natural signs, which serve for communicating ideas, and methodical, or systematic, signs, adapted for the dictation, or the rendering, of written language, word by word; and thus the signs are to be distinguished from the manual alphabet, by which words are spelled on the fingers. (h) A military emblem carried on a banner or a standard. Milton. (i) A lettered board, or other conspicuous notice, placed upon or before a building, room, shop, or office to advertise the business there transacted, or the name of the person or firm carrying it on; a publicly displayed token or notice. The shops were, therefore, distinguished by painted signs, which gave a gay and grotesque aspect to the streets. Macaulay. (j) (Astron.)

Defn: The twelfth part of the ecliptic or zodiac.

Note: The signs are reckoned from the point of intersection of the ecliptic and equator at the vernal equinox, and are named, respectively, Aries (Taurus (Gemini (II), Cancer (Leo (Virgo (Libra (Scorpio (Sagittarius (Capricornus (Aquarius (Pisces ( (k) (Alg.) A character indicating the relation of quantities, or an operation performed upon them; as, the sign + (plus); the sign — (minus); the sign of division ÷, and the like. (l) (Med.) An objective evidence of disease; that is, one appreciable by some one other than the patient.

Note: The terms symptom and and sign are often used synonymously; but they may be discriminated. A sign differs from a symptom in that the latter is perceived only by the patient himself. The term sign is often further restricted to the purely local evidences of disease afforded by direct examination of the organs involved, as distinguished from those evidence of general disturbance afforded by observation of the temperature, pulse, etc. In this sense it is often called physical sign. (m) (Mus.) Any character, as a flat, sharp, dot, etc. (n) (Theol.) That which, being external, stands for, or signifies, something internal or spiritual; — a term used in the Church of England in speaking of an ordinance considered with reference to that which it represents. An outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. Bk. of Common Prayer.

Note: See the Table of Arbitrary Signs, p. 1924. Sign manual. (a) (Eng. Law) The royal signature superscribed at the top of bills of grants and letter patent, which are then sealed with the privy signet or great seal, as the case may be, to complete their validity. (b) The signature of one's name in one's own handwriting. Craig. Tomlins. Wharton.

Syn. — Token; mark; note; symptom; indication; signal; symbol; type; omen; prognostic; presage; manifestation. See Emblem.

SIGN Sign, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Signed; p. pr. & vb. n. Signing.] Etym: [OE. seinen to bless, originally, to make the sign of the cross over; in this sense fr. ASS. segnian (from segn, n.), or OF. seignier, F. signer, to mark, to sign (in sense 3), fr. L. signare to mark, set a mark upon, from signum. See Sign, n.]

1. To represent by a sign; to make known in a typical or emblematic manner, in distinction from speech; to signify. I signed to Browne to make his retreat. Sir W. Scott.

2. To make a sign upon; to mark with a sign. We receive this child into the congregation of Christ's flock, and do sign him with the sign of the cross. Bk. of Com Prayer.

3. To affix a signature to; to ratify by hand or seal; to subscribe
in one's own handwriting.
Inquire the Jew's house out, give him this deed, And let him sign it.
Shak.

4. To assign or convey formally; — used with away.

5. To mark; to make distinguishable. Shak.

SIGN
Sign, v. i.

1. To be a sign or omen. [Obs.] Shak.

2. To make a sign or signal; to communicate directions or intelligence by signs.

3. To write one's name, esp. as a token of assent, responsibility, or obligation.

SIGNABLE
Sign"a*ble, a.

Defn: Suitable to be signed; requiring signature; as, a legal document signable by a particular person.

SIGNAL
Sig"nal, n. Etym: [F., fr. LL. signale, fr. L. signum. See Sign, n.]

1. A sign made for the purpose of giving notice to a person of some occurence, command, or danger; also, a sign, event, or watchword, which has been agreed upon as the occasion of concerted action. All obeyed The wonted signal and superior voice Of this great potentate. Milton.

2. A token; an indication; a foreshadowing; a sign. The weary sun . . . Gives signal of a goodly day to-morrow. Shak. There was not the least signal of the calamity to be seen. De Foc.

SIGNAL
Sig"nal, a. Etym: [From signal, n.: cf. F. signalé.]

1. Noticeable; distinguished from what is ordinary; eminent; remarkable; memorable; as, a signal exploit; a signal service; a signal act of benevolence. As signal now in low, dejected state As erst in highest, behold him where he lies. Milton.

2. Of or pertaining to signals, or the use of signals in conveying information; as, a signal flag or officer. The signal service, a bureau of the government (in the United States connected with the War Department) organized to collect from the whole country simultaneous raports of local meteorological conditions, upon comparison of which at the central office, predictions concerning the weather are telegraphed to various sections, where they are made known by signals publicly displayed. — Signal station, the place where a signal is displayed; specifically, an observation office of the signal service.

Syn. — Eminent; remarkable; memorable; extraordinary; notable; conspicuous.

SIGNAL
Sig"nal, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Signaled ( or Signalled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Signaling or Signalling.]

1. To communicate by signals; as, to signal orders.

2. To notify by a signals; to make a signal or signals to; as, to signal a fleet to anchor. M. Arnold.

SIGNALIST
Sig"nal*ist, n.

Defn: One who makes signals; one who communicates intelligence by means of signals.

SIGNALITY
Sig*nal"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being signal or remarkable. [Obs.] Sir
T. Browne.

SIGNALIZE
Sig"nal*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Signalized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Signalizing.] Etym: [From Signal, a.]

1. To make signal or eminent; to render distinguished from what is common; to distinguish. It is this passion which drives men to all the ways we see in use of signalizing themselves. Burke.

2. To communicate with by means of a signal; as, a ship signalizes its consort.

3. To indicate the existence, presence, or fact of, by a signal; as, to signalize the arrival of a steamer.

SIGNALLY
Sig"nal*ly, adv.

Defn: In a signal manner; eminently.

SIGNALMAN
Sig"nal*man, n.; pl. -men (.

Defn: A man whose business is to manage or display signals; especially, one employed in setting the signals by which railroad trains are run or warned.

SIGNALMENT
Sig"nal*ment, n.

Defn: The act of signaling, or of signalizing; hence, description by peculiar, appropriate, or characteristic marks. Mrs. Browning.

SIGNATE
Sig"nate, a. Etym: [L. signatus, p. p. See Sign, v. t.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having definite color markings.

SIGNATION
Sig*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. signatio. See Sign, v. t.]

Defn: Sign given; marking. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

SIGNATORY
Sig"na*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. signatorius.]

1. Relating to a seal; used in sealing. [Obs.] Bailey.

2. Signing; joining or sharing in a signature; as, signatory powers.

SIGNATORY
Sig"na*to*ry, n.; pl. -ries (.

Defn: A signer; one who signs or subscribes; as, a conference of signatories.

SIGNATURE Sig"na*ture, n. Etym: [F. (cf. It. signatura, segnatura, Sp. & LL. signatura), from L. signare, signatum. See Sign, v. t.]

1. A sign, stamp, or mark impressed, as by a seal. The brain, being well furnished with various traces, signatures, and images. I. Watts. The natural and indelible signature of God, which human souls . . . are supposed to be stamped with. Bentley.

2. Especially, the name of any person, written with his own hand, employed to signify that the writing which precedes accords with his wishes or intentions; a sign manual; an autograph.

3. (Physiol.)

Defn: An outward mark by which internal characteristics were supposed
to be indicated.
Some plants bear a very evident signature of their nature and use.
Dr. H. More.

4. (Old Med.)

Defn: A resemblance between the external characters of a disease and those of some physical agent, for instance, that existing between the red skin of scarlet fever and a red cloth; — supposed to indicate this agent in the treatment of the disease.

5. (Mus.)

Defn: The designation of the key (when not C major, or its relative, A minor) by means of one or more sharps or flats at the beginning of the staff, immediately after the clef, affecting all notes of the same letter throughout the piece or movement. Each minor key has the same signature as its relative major.

6. (Print.) (a) A letter or figure placed at the bottom of the first page of each sheet of a book or pamphlet, as a direction to the binder in arranging and folding the sheets. (b) The printed sheet so marked, or the form from which it is printed; as, to reprint one or more signatures.

Note: Star signatures (as A*, 1*) are the same characters, with the addition of asterisks, used on the first pages of offcuts, as in 12mo sheets.

7. (Pharm.)

Defn: That part of a prescription which contains the directions to the patient. It is usually prefaced by S or Sig. (an abbreviation for the Latin signa, imperative of signare to sign or mark).

SIGNATURE
Sig"na*ture, v. t.

Defn: To mark with, or as with, a signature or signatures.

SIGNATURIST
Sig"na*tur`ist, n.

Defn: One who holds to the doctrine of signatures impressed upon objects, indicative of character or qualities. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

SIGNBOARD
Sign"board`, n.

Defn: A board, placed on or before a shop, office, etc., on which ssome notice is given, as the name of a firm, of a business, or the like.

SIGNER
Sign"er, n.

Defn: One who signs or subscribes his name; as, a memorial with a hundred signers.

SIGNET Sig"net, n. Etym: [OF. signet a signet, F., a bookmark, dim. of signe. See Sign, n., and cf. Sennet.]

Defn: A seal; especially, in England, the seal used by the sovereign in sealing private letters and grants that pass by bill under the sign manual; — called also privy signet. I had my father's signet in my purse. Shak. Signet ring, a ring containing a signet or private seal. — Writer to the signet (Scots Law), a judicial officer who prepares warrants, writs, etc.; originally, a clerk in the office of the secretary of state.

SIGNETED
Sig"net*ed, a.

Defn: Stamped or marked with a signet.

SIGNIFER
Sig"ni*fer, a. Etym: [L., from signum sign + ferre to bear.]

Defn: Bearing signs. [Obs.] "The signifer sphere, or zodiac."
Holland.

SIGNIFICANCE; SIGNIFICANCY
Sig*nif"i*cance, Sig*nif"i*can*cy, n. Etym: [L. significantia.]

1. The quality or state of being significant.

2. That which is signified; meaning; import; as, the significance of a nod, of a motion of the hand, or of a word or expression.

3. Importance; moment; weight; consequence. With this brain I must work, in order to give significancy and value to the few facts which I possess. De Quincey.

SIGNIFICANT Sig*nif"i*cant, a. Etym: [L. significans, -antis, p. pr. of significare. See Signify.]

1. Fitted or designed to signify or make known somethingl having a meaning; standing as a sign or token; expressive or suggestive; as, a significant word or sound; a significant look. It was well said of Plotinus, that the stars were significant, but not efficient. Sir W. Raleigh.

2. Deserving to be considered; important; momentous; as, a significant event. Significant figures (Arith.), the figures which remain to any number, or decimal fraction, after the ciphers at the right or left are canceled. Thus, the significant figures of 25,000, or of .0025, are 25.

SIGNIFICANT
Sig*nif"i*cant, n.

Defn: That which has significance; a sign; a token; a symbol.
Wordsworth.
In dumb significants proclaim your thoughts. Shak.

SIGNIFICANTLY
Sig*nif"i*cant*ly, adv.

Defn: In a significant manner.

SIGNIFICATE
Sig*nif"i*cate, n. Etym: [L. significatus, p. p. of significare. See
Signify.] (Logic)

Defn: One of several things signified by a common term. Whately.

SIGNIFICATION
Sig`ni*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [F. signification, L. significatio.]

1. The act of signifying; a making known by signs or other means. A signification of being pleased. Landor. All speaking or signification of one's mind implies an act or addres of one man to another. South.

2. That which is signified or made known; that meaning which a sign, character, or token is intended to convey; as, the signification of words.

SIGNIFICATIVE
Sig*nif"i*ca*tive, a. Etym: [L. significativus: cf. F. significatif.]

1. Betokening or representing by an external sign. The holy symbols or signs are not barely significative. Brerewood.

2. Having signification or meaning; expressive of a meaning or purpose; significant. Neither in the degrees of kindred they were destitute of significative words. Camden. — Sig*nif"i*ca*tive*ly, adv. — Sig*nif"i*ca*tive*ness, n.

SIGNIFICATOR
Sig"ni*fi*ca`tor, n. Etym: [Cf. F. significateur.]

Defn: One who, or that which, signifies. In this diagram there was one significator which pressed remarkably upon our astrologer's attention. Sir W. Scott.

SIGNIFICATORY
Sig*nif"i*ca*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. significatorius.]

Defn: Significant.
— n.

Defn: That which is significatory.

SIGNIFICAVIT Sig`ni*fi*ca"vit, n. Etym: [L., (he) has signified, perf. ind. of significare to signify.] (Eng. Eccl. Law)

Defn: Formerly, a writ issuing out of chancery, upon certificate given by the ordinary, of a man's standing excommunicate by the space of forty days, for the laying him up in prison till he submit himself to the authority of the church. Crabb.

SIGNIFY
Sig"ni*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Signified; p. pr. & vb. n.
Signifying.] Etym: [F. signifier, L. significare; signum a sign + -
ficare (in comp.) to make. See Sign, n., and -fy.]

1. To show by a sign; to communicate by any conventional token, as words, gestures, signals, or the like; to announce; to make known; to declare; to express; as, a signified his desire to be present. I 'll to the king; and signify to him That thus I have resign'd my charge to you. Shak. The government should signify to the Protestants of Ireland that want of silver is not to be remedied. Swift.

2. To mean; to import; to denote; to betoken.
He bade her tell him what it signified. Chaucer.
A tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.
Shak.

Note: Signify is often used impersonally; as, it signifies nothing, it does not signify, that is, it is of no importance.

Syn. — To express; manifest; declare; utter; intimate; betoken; denote; imply; mean.

SIGNIOR
Sign"ior, n.

Defn: Sir; Mr. The English form and pronunciation for the Italian
Signor and the Spanish Señor.

SIGNIORIZE
Sign"ior*ize, v. t. Etym: [See Seigniorize.]

Defn: To exercise dominion over; to lord it over. [Obs.] Shelton.

SIGNIORIZE
Sign"ior*ize, v. i.

Defn: To exercise dominion; to signiorize. [Obs.] Hewyt.

SIGNIORSHIP
Sign"ior*ship, n.

Defn: State or position of a signior.

SIGNIORY
Sign"ior*y, n.

Defn: Same as Seigniory.

SIGNOR; SIGNORE
Si*gnor", Si*gno"re, n. Etym: [It. See Seignior.]

Defn: Sir; Mr; — a title of address or respect among the Italians.
Before a noun the form is Signor.

SIGNORA
Si*gno"ra, n. Etym: [It.]

Defn: Madam; Mrs; — a title of address or respect among the
Italians.

SIGNORINA
Si`gno*ri"na, n. Etym: [It.]

Defn: Miss; — a title of address among the Italians.

SIGNPOST
Sign"post`, n.

Defn: A post on which a sign hangs, or on which papers are placed to give public notice of anything.

SIK; SIKE
Sik, Sike, a.

Defn: Such. See Such. [Obs.] "Sike fancies weren foolerie." Spenser.

SIKE
Sike, n. Etym: [AS. sic. Cf. Sig.]

Defn: A gutter; a stream, such as is usually dry in summer. [Prov.
Eng. & Scot.]

SIKE
Sike, n. Etym: [See Sick.]

Defn: A sick person. [Prov. Eng.]

SIKE
Sike, v. i.

Defn: To sigh. [Obs.]
That for his wife weepeth and siketh sore. Chaucer.

SIKE
Sike, n.

Defn: A sigh. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SIKER; SIKERLY; SIKERNESS
Sik"er, a. & adv., Sik"er*ly, adv., Sik"er*ness, n., etc.

Defn: See 2d Sicker, Sickerly, etc. [Obs.]

SIKHS Sikhs, n. pl.; sing. Sikh (. Etym: [Hind. Sikh, properly, a disciple.]

Defn: A religious sect noted for warlike traits, founded in the
Punjab at the end of the 15th century.

SILAGE
Si"lage, n. & v.

Defn: Short for Ensilage.

SILE Sile, v. t. Etym: [Akin to Sw. sila to strain, sil sieve, G. sielen to draw away or lead off water. sq. root151a. See Silt.]

Defn: To strain, as fresh milk. [Prov. Eng.]

SILE
Sile, v. i.

Defn: To drop; to flow; to fall. [Prov. Eng.]

SILE
Sile, n.

1. A sieve with fine meshes. [Prov. Eng.]

2. Filth; sediment. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

SILE
Sile, n. Etym: [Icel. sild herring; akin to Sw. sill, Dan. sild. Cf.
Sill the young of a herring.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A young or small herring. [Eng.] Pennant.

SILENCE
Si"lence, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. silentium. See Silent.]

1. The state of being silent; entire absence of sound or noise; absolute stillness. I saw and heared; for such a numerous host Fled not in silence through the frighted deep. Milton.

2. Forbearance from, or absence of, speech; taciturnity; muteness.

3. Secrecy; as, these things were transacted in silence. The administration itself keeps a profound silence. D. Webster.

4. The cessation of rage, agitation, or tumilt; calmness; quiest; as, the elements were reduced to silence.

5. Absence of mention; oblivion. And what most merits fame, in silence hid. Milton.

SILENCE
Si"lence, interj.

Defn: Be silent; — used elliptically for let there be silence, or keep silence. Shak.

SILENCE
Si"lence, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Silenced; p. pr. & vb. n. Silencing.]

1. To compel to silence; to cause to be still; to still; to hush. Silence that dreadful bell; it frights the isle. Shak.

2. To put to rest; to quiet. This would silence all further opposition. Clarendon. These would have silenced their scruples. Rogers.

3. To restrain from the exercise of any function, privilege of instruction, or the like, especially from the act of preaching; as, to silence a minister of the gospel. The Rev. Thomas Hooker of Chelmsford, in Essex, was silenced for nonconformity. B. Trumbull.

4. To cause to cease firing, as by a vigorous cannonade; as, to silence the batteries of an enemy.

SILENCER Si"lenc*er, n. One that silences; specif.: (a) The muffler of an internal-combustion engine. (b) Any of various devices to silence the humming noise of telegraph wires. (c) A device for silencing the report of a firearm shooting its projectiles singly, as a tubular attachment for the muzzle having circular plates that permit the passage of the projectile but impart a rotary motion to, and thus retard, the exploding gases.

SILENE
Si*le"ne, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. Silenus, the attendant of Bacchus.]
(Bot.)

Defn: A genus of caryophyllaceous plants, usually covered with a viscid secretion by which insects are caught; catchfly. Bon Silène. See Silène, in the Vocabulary.

SILENT Si"lent, a. Etym: [L. silens, -entis, p. pr. of silere to be silent; akin to Goth. ana-silan.]

1. Free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet. How silent is this town! Shak.

2. Not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn; not loquacious; not talkative. Ulysses, adds he, was the most eloquent and most silent of men. Broome. This new-created world, whereof in hell Fame is not silent. Milton.

3. Keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed; as, the wind is silent. Parnell. Sir W. Raleigh.

4. (Pron.)

Defn: Not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent; as, e is silent in "fable."

5. Having no effect; not operating; inefficient. [R.] Cause . . . silent, virtueless, and dead. Sir W. Raleigh. Silent partner. See Dormant partner, under Dormant.

Syn.
— Mute; taciturn; dumb; speechless; quiet; still. See Mute, and
Taciturn.

SILENT
Si"lent, n.

Defn: That which is silent; a time of silence. [R.] "The silent of the night." Shak.

SILENTIARY
Si*len"ti*a*ry, n. Etym: [L. silentiarius: cf. F. silenciaire. See
Silence.]

Defn: One appointed to keep silence and order in court; also, one sworn not to divulge secre

SILENTIOUS
Si*len"tious, a. Etym: [L. silentiosus: cf. F. silencieux.]

Defn: Habitually silent; taciturn; reticent. [R.]

SILENTLY
Si"lent*ly, adv.

Defn: In a silent manner.

SILENTNESS
Si"lent*ness, n.

Defn: State of being silent; silence.

SILENUS
Si*le"nus, n. Etym: [L. Silenus the tutor and attendant of Bacchus.]
(Zoöl.)

Defn: See Wanderoo.

SILESIA
Si*le"si*a, n.

1. A kind of linen cloth, originally made in Silesia, a province of Prussia.

2. A twilled cotton fabric, used for dress linings.

SILESIAN
Si*le"si*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Silesia.
— n.

Defn: A native or inhabitant of Silesia.

SILEX
Si"lex, n. Etym: [L., a finit, a pebblestone.] (Min.)

Defn: Silica, SiO2 as found in nature, constituting quarz, and most sands and sandstones. See Silica, and Silicic.

SILHOUETTE Sil`hou*ette", n. Etym: [F.; — so called from Etienne de Silhoutte, a French minister of finance in 1759, whise diversion it was to make such portraits on the walls of his apartments.]

Defn: A representation of the outlines of an object filled in with a black color; a profile portrait in black, such as a shadow appears to be.

SILHOUETTE
Sil`hou*ette", v. t.

Defn: To represent by a silhouette; to project upon a background, so as to be like a silhouette. [Recent] A flock of roasting vultures silhouetted on the sky. The Century.

SILICA
Sil"i*ca, n. Etym: [NL., from L. silex, silics, a flint.] (Chem.)

Defn: Silicon dioxide, SiO

SILICATE
Sil"i*cate, n.Etym: [Cf. F. silicate.] (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of silicic acid.

Note: In mineralogical chemistry the silicates include; the unisilicates or orthosilicates, salts of orthosilicic acid; the bisilicates or metasilicates, salts of metasilicic acid; the polysilicates or acid silicates, salts of the polysilicic acids; the basic silicates or subsilicates, in which the equivalent of base is greater than would be required to neutralize the acid; and the hydrous silicates, including the zeolites and many hydrated decomposition products.

SILICATED
Sil"i*ca`ted, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Combined or impregnated with silicon or silica; as, silicated hydrogen; silicated rocks. Silicated soap, a hard soap containing silicate of soda.

SILICATIZATION
Sil`i*ca*ti*za"tion, n.

Defn: Silicification.

SILICEA
Si*lic"e*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Silicoidea.

SILICEOUS
Si*li"ceous, a. Etym: [L. siliceus, fr. silex, silicis, a flint.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to silica; containing silica, or partaking of its nature. [Written also silisious.]

SILICIC
Si*lic"ic, a. Etym: [L. silex, silicis, a flint: cf. F. silicique.]
(Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, derived from, or resembling, silica; specifically, designating compounds of silicon; as, silicic acid. Silicic acid (Chem.), an amorphous gelatinous substance, Si(HO)4, very unstable and easily dried to silica, but forming many stable salts; — called also orthosilicic, or normal silicic, acid.

SILICICALCAREOUS
Si*lic`i*cal*ca"re*ous, a.

Defn: Consisting of silica and calcareous matter.

SILICIDE
Sil"i*cide, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A binary compound of silicon, or one regarded as binary. [R.] Hydrogen silicide (Chem.), a colorless, spontaneously inflammable gas, SiH4, produced artifically from silicon, and analogous to methane; — called also silico-methane, silicon hydride, and formerly siliciureted hydrogen.

SILICIFEROUS
Sil`i*cif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. silex, silicis, a flint + -ferous.]

Defn: Producing silica; united with silica.

SILICIFICATION
Si*lic`i*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [See Silicify.] (Chem.)

Defn: Thae act or process of combining or impregnating with silicon or silica; the state of being so combined or impregnated; as, the silicification of wood.

SILICIFIED
Si*lic"i*fied, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Combined or impregnated with silicon or silica, especially the latter; as, silicified wood.

SILICIFY
Si*lic"i*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Silicified; p. pr. & vb. n.
Silicifying.] Etym: [L. silex, silicis, a flint + -fy: cf. F.
silicifier.] (Chem.)

Defn: To convert into, or to impregnate with, silica, or with the
compounds of silicon.
The specimens found . . . are completely silicified. Say.

Note: The silica may take the form of agate, chalcedony, flint, hornstone, or crystalline quartz.

SILICIFY
Si*lic"i*fy, v. i.

Defn: To become converted into silica, or to be impregnated with silica.

SILICIOIDEA
Sil`i*ci*oi"de*a, n. pl. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Silicoidea.

SILICIOUS
Si*li"cious, a.

Defn: See Siliceous.

SILICISPONGIAE
Sil`i*ci*spon"gi*æ, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Silex, and Sponge.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Silicoidea.

SILICITED
Si*lic"it*ed, a.

Defn: Silicified. [Obs.]

SILICIUM
Si*lic"i*um, n.

Defn: See Silicon.

SILICIURETED
Si*lic"i*u*ret`ed, a. [Written also siliciuretted.] (Old. Chem.)

Defn: Combined or impregnated with silicon. [Obsoles.] Siliciureted hydrogen. (Chem.) Hydrogen silicide. [Obs.]

SILICLE
Sil"i*cle, n. Etym: [L. silicula, dim. of siliqua a pod or husk: cf.
F. silicule.] (Bot.)

Defn: A seed vessel resembling a silique, but about as broad as it is long. See Silique.

SILICO-
Sil"i*co-. (Chem.)

Defn: A combining form (also used adjectively) denoting the presence of silicon or its compounds; as, silicobenzoic, silicofluoride, etc.

SILICOFLUORIC
Sil`i*co*flu*or"ic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Containing, or composed of, silicon and fluorine; especially, denoting the compounds called silicofluorides. Silicofluoric acid (Chem.), a compound of hydrofluoric acid and silicon fluoride, known only in watery solution. It is produced by the action of silicon fluoride on water, and is regarded as an acid, H2SiF6, and the type and origin of the silicofluorides.

SILICOFLUORIDE
Sil`i*co*flu"or*ide, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A fluosilicate; a salt of silicofluoric acid.

SILICOIDEA
Sil`i*coi"de*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Silex, and -oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An extensive order of Porifera, which includes those that have the skeleton composed mainly of siliceous fibers or spicules.

SILICON
Sil"i*con, n. Etym: [See Silica.] (Chem.)

Defn: A nonmetalic element analogous to carbon. It always occurs combined in nature, and is artificially obtained in the free state, usually as a dark brown amorphous powder, or as a dark crystalline substance with a meetallic luster. Its oxide is silica, or common quartz, and in this form, or as silicates, it is, next to oxygen, the most abundant element of the earth's crust. Silicon is characteristically the element of the mineral kingdom, as carbon is of the organic world. Symbol Si. Atomic weight 28. Called also silicium.

SILICOTUNGSTIC
Sil`i*co*tung"stic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or designating, any one of a series of double acids of silicon and tungsten, known in the free state, and also in their salts (called silicotungstates).

SILICULA
Si*lic"u*la, n. Etym: [L.] (Bot.)

Defn: A silicle.

SILICULE
Sil"i*cule, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A silicle.

SILICULOSE Si*lic"u*lose`, a. Etym: [NL. siliculosus, fr. L. silicula: cf. F. siliculeux. See Silicle.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: Bearing silicles; pertaining to, or resembling, silicles.

2. Full of, or consisting of, husks; husky. [Obs.]

SILIGINOSE Si*lig"i*nose`, a.Etym: [L. siligineus, fr. siligo, -inis, fine and very white wheat.]

Defn: Made of fine wheat. [Obs.] Bailey.

SILING
Sil"ing, a. & n.

Defn: from Sile to strain. [Obs. or Prov.Eng.] Siling dish, a colander. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

SILIQUA
Sil"i*qua, n.; pl. Siliquæ. Etym: [L. See Silique.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Silique.

2. A weight of four grains; a carat; — a term used by jewelers, and refiners of gold.

SILIQUE Sil"ique, n. Etym: [L. siliqua a pod or husk, a very small weight or measure: cf. F. silique.] (Bot.)

Defn: An oblong or elongated seed vessel, consisting of two valves with a dissepiment between, and opening by sutures at either margin. The seeds are attached to both edges of the dissepiment, alternately upon each side of it.

SILIQUIFORM
Sil"i*qui*form, a. Etym: [Silique + -form: cf. F. siliquiforme.]
(Bot.)

Defn: Having the form of a silique.

SILIQUOSA
Sil`i*quo"sa, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Siliquose.] (Bot.)

Defn: A Linnæan order of plants including those which bear siliques.

SILIQUOSE; SILIQUOUS Sil"i*quose`, Sil"i*quous, a. Etym: [NL. siliquosus: cf. F. siliqueux.] (Bot.)

Defn: Bearing siliques; as, siliquose plants; pertaining to, or resembling, siliques; as, siliquose capsules.

SILK Silk, n. Etym: [OE. silk, selk, AS. seolc, seoloc; akin to Icel. silki, SW. & Dan. silke; prob. through Slavic from an Oriental source; cf. Lith. szilkai, Russ. shelk', and also L. sericum Seric stuff, silk. Cf. Sericeous. Serge a woolen stuff.]

1. The fine, soft thread produced by various species of caterpillars in forming the cocoons within which the worm is inclosed during the pupa state, especially that produced by the larvæ of Bombyx mori.

2. Hence, thread spun, or cloth woven, from the above-named material.

3. That which resembles silk, as the filiform styles of the female flower of maize. Raw silk, silk as it is wound off from the cocoons, and before it is manufactured. — Silk cotton, a cottony substance enveloping the seeds of the silk-cotton tree. — Silk-cotton tree (Bot.), a name for several tropical trees of the genera Bombax and Eriodendron, and belonging to the order Bombaceæ. The trees grow to an immense size, and have their seeds enveloped in a cottony substance, which is used for stuffing cushions, but can not be spun. — Silk flower. (Bot.) (a) The silk tree. (b) A similar tree (Calliandra trinervia) of Peru. — Silk fowl (Zoöl.), a breed of domestic fowls having silky plumage. — Silk gland (Zoöl.), a gland which secretes the material of silk, as in spider or a silkworm; a sericterium. — Silk gown, the distinctive robe of a barrister who has been appointed king's or queen's counsel; hence, the counsel himself. Such a one has precedence over mere barristers, who wear stuff gowns. [Eng.] — Silk grass (Bot.), a kind of grass (Stipa comata) of the Western United States, which has very long silky awns. The name is also sometimes given to various species of the genera Aqave and Yucca. — Silk moth (Zoöl.), the adult moth of any silkworm. See Silkworm. — Silk shag, a coarse, rough-woven silk, like plush, but with a stiffer nap. — Silk spider (Zoöl.), a large spider (Nephila plumipes), native of the Southern United States, remarkable for the large quantity of strong silk it produces and for the great disparity in the sizes of the sexes. — Silk thrower, Silk throwster, one who twists or spins silk, and prepares it for weaving. Brande & C. — Silk tree (Bot.), an Asiatic leguminous tree (Albizzia Julibrissin) with finely bipinnate leaves, and large flat pods; — so called because of the abundant long silky stamens of its blossoms. Also called silk flower. — Silk vessel. (Zoöl.) Same as Silk gland, above. — Virginia silk (Bot.), a climbing plant (Periploca Græca) of the Milkweed family, having a silky tuft on the seeds. It is native in Southern Europe.

SILKEN
Silk"en, a. Etym: [AS. seolcen, seolocen.]

1. Of or pertaining to silk; made of, or resembling, silk; as, silken cloth; a silken veil.

2. Fig.: Soft; delicate; tender; smooth; as, silken language. "Silken terms precise." Shak.

3. Dressed in silk. "A . . . silken wanton." Shak.

SILKEN
Silk"en, v. t.

Defn: To render silken or silklike. Dyer.

SILKINESS
Silk"i*ness, n.

1. The quality or state of being silky or silken; softness and smoothness.

2. Fig.: Effeminacy; weakness. [R.] B. Jonson.

SILKMAN
Silk"man, n.; pl. Silkmen (.

Defn: A dealer in silks; a silk mercer. Shak.

SILKNESS
Silk"ness, n.

Defn: Silkiness. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

SILK-STOCKING
Silk"-stock`ing, a.

Defn: Wearing silk stockings (which among men were formerly worn chiefly by the luxurious or aristocratic); hence, elegantly dressed; aristocratic; luxurious; — chiefly applied to men, often by way of reproach.

[They] will find their levees crowded with silk-stocking gentry, but no yeomanry; an army of officers without soldiers. Jefferson.

SILKWEED
Silk"weed`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: Any plant of the genera Asclepias and Acerates whose seed vessels contain a long, silky down; milkweed.

SILKWORM
Silk"worm`, n. Etym: [AS. seolcwyrm.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The larva of any one of numerous species of bombycid moths, which spins a large amount of strong silk in constructing its cocoon before changing to a pupa.

Note: The common species (Bombyx mori) feeds onm the leaves of the white mulberry tree. It is native of China, but has long been introduced into other countries of Asia and Europe, and is reared on a large scale. In America it is reared only to small extent. The Ailanthus silkworm (Philosamia cynthia) is a much larger species, of considerable importance, which has been introduced into Europe and America from China. The most useful American species is the Polyphemus. See Polyphemus. Pernyi silkworm, the larva of the Pernyi moth. See Pernyi moth. — Silkworm gut, a substance prepared from the contents of the silk glands of silkworms and used in making lines for angling. See Gut. — Silkworm rot, a disease of silkworms; muscardine.

SILKY
Silk"y, a. [Compar. Silkier; superl. Silkiest.]

1. Of or pertaining to silk; made of, or resembling, silk; silken; silklike; as, a silky luster.

2. Hence, soft and smooth; as, silky wine.

3. Covered with soft hairs pressed close to the surface, as a leaf; sericeous. Silky oak (Bot.), a lofty Australian tree (Grevillea robusta) with silky tomentose lobed or incised leaves. It furnishes a valuable timber.

SILL
Sill, n. Etym: [OE. sille, sylle, AS. syl, syll; akin to G. schwelle,
OHG. swelli, Icel. syll, svill, Sw. syll, Dan. syld, Goth. gasuljan
to lay a foundation, to found.]

Defn: The basis or foundation of a thing; especially, a horizontal piece, as a timber, which forms the lower member of a frame, or supports a structure; as, the sills of a house, of a bridge, of a loom, and the like. Hence: (a) The timber or stone at the foot of a door; the threshold. (b) The timber or stone on which a window frame stands; or, the lowest piece in a window frame. (c) The floor of a gallery or passage in a mine. (d) A piece of timber across the bottom of a canal lock for the gates to shut against. Sill course (Arch.), a horizontal course of stone, terra cotta, or the like, built into a wall at the level of one or more window sills, these sills often forming part of it.

SILL
Sill, n. Etym: [Cf. Thill.]

Defn: The shaft or thill of a carriage. [Prov. Eng.]

SILL
Sill, n. Etym: [Cf. 4th Sile.]

Defn: A young herring. [Eng.]

SILLABUB
Sil"la*bub, n. Etym: [Cf. sile to strain, and bub liquor, also Prov.
E. sillibauk.]

Defn: A dish made by mixing wine or cider with milk, and thus forming a soft curd; also, sweetened cream, flavored with wine and beaten to a stiff froth. [Written also syllabub.]

SILLER
Sil"ler, n.

Defn: Silver. [Scot.]

SILLILY
Sil"li*ly, adv. Etym: [From Silly.]

Defn: In a silly manner; foolishly. Dryden.

SILLIMANITE Sil"li*man*ite, n. Etym: [After Benjamin Siliman, an American meneralogist.] (Min.)

Defn: Same as Fibrolite.

SILLINESS
Sil"li*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being silly.

SILLOCK
Sil"lock, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The pollock, or coalfish.

SILLON
Sil"lon, n. Etym: [F., a furrow.] (Fort.)

Defn: A work raised in the middle of a wide ditch, to defend it.
Crabb.

SILLY Sil"ly, a. [Compar. Sillier; superl. Silliest.] Etym: [OE. seely, sely, AS. s, ges, happy, good, fr. s, s, good, happy, s good fortune, happines; akin to OS. salig, a, good, happy, D. zalig blessed, G. selig, OHG. salig, Icel. s, Sw. säll, Dan. salig, Goth. s good, kind, and perh. also to L. sollus whole, entire, Gr. sarva. Cf. Seel, n.]

1. Happy; fortunate; blessed. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. Harmless; innocent; inoffensive. [Obs.] "This silly, innocent
Custance." Chaucer.
The silly virgin strove him to withstand. Spenser.
A silly, innocent hare murdered of a dog. Robynson (More's Utopia).

3. Weak; helpless; frail. [Obs.]
After long storms . . . With which my silly bark was tossed sore.
Spenser.
The silly buckets on the deck. Coleridge.

4. Rustic; plain; simple; humble. [Obs.] A fourth man, in a sillyhabit. Shak. All that did their silly thoughts so busy keep. Milton.

5. Weak in intellect; destitute of ordinary strength of mind; foolish; witless; simple; as, a silly woman.

6. Proceeding from want of understanding or common judgment; characterized by weakness or folly; unwise; absurd; stupid; as, silly conduct; a silly question.

Syn.
— Simple; brainless; witless; shallow; foolish; unwise; indiscreet.
See Simple.

SILLYHOW Sil"ly*how, n. Etym: [Prov. E. silly-hew; cf. AS. sælig happy, good, and hufe a cap, hood. See Silly, a.]

Defn: A caul. See Caul, n., 3. [Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

SILO
Si"lo, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A pit or vat for packing away green fodder for winter use so as to exclude air and outside moisture. See Ensilage.

SILT Silt, n. Etym: [OE. silte gravel, fr. silen to drain, E. sile; probably of Scand. origin; cf. Sw. sila, prob. akin to AS. seón to filter, sigan to fall, sink, cause to sink, G. seihen to strain, to filter, OHG. sihan, Icel.sia, Skr. sic to pour; cf. Gr. Sig, Sile.]

Defn: Mud or fine earth deposited from running or standing water.

SILT
Silt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Silted; p. pr. & vb. n. Silting.]

Defn: To choke, fill, or obstruct with silt or mud.

SILT
Silt, v. i.

Defn: To flow through crevices; to percolate.

SILTY
Silt"y, a.

Defn: Full of silt; resembling silt.

SILUNDUM
Si*lun"dum, n. [Trade name]

Defn: A form of silicon carbide, produced in the electric furnace, possessing great hardness, and high electrical resistance, and not subject to oxidation below 2880º F., or 1600º C.

SILURE
Si*lure", n. Etym: [L. silurus a sort of river fish, Gr. silure.]
(Zoöl.)

Defn: A fish of the genus Silurus, as the sheatfish; a siluroid.

SILURIAN Si*lu"ri*an, a. Etym: [From L. Silures, a people who anciently inhabited a part of England and Wales.] (Geol.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the country of the ancient Silures; — a term applied to the earliest of the Paleozoic eras, and also to the strata of the era, because most plainly developed in that country.

Note: The Silurian formation, so named by Murchison, is divided into the Upper Silurian and Lower Silurian. The lower part of the Lower Silurian, with some underlying beds, is now separated under the name Cambrian, first given by Sedwick. Recently the term Ordovician has been proposed for the Lower Silurian, leawing the original word to apply only to the Upper Silurian.

SILURIAN
Si*lu"ri*an, n.

Defn: The Silurian age.

SILURIDAN
Si*lu"ri*dan, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any fish of the family Silurid or of the order Siluroidei.

SILUROID
Si*lu"roid, n. Etym: [Silurus + -oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Belonging to the Siluroidei, or Nematognathi, an order of fishes including numerous species, among which are the American catfishes and numerous allied fresh-water species of the Old World, as the sheatfish (Silurus glanis) of Europe. — n.

Defn: A siluroid fish.

SILUROIDEI
Sil`u*roi"de*i, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (zoöl.)

Defn: An order of fishes, the Nematognathi.

SILURUS
Si*lu"rus, n. Etym: [L. See Silure.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of large malacopterygious fishes of the order
Siluroidei. They inhabit the inland waters of Europe and Asia.

SILVA Sil"va, n.; pl. E. Silvas, L. Silvae (. Etym: [L., properly, a wood, forest.] [Written also sylva.] (Bot.) (a) The forest trees of a region or country, considered collectively. (b) A description or history of the forest trees of a country.

SILVAN Sil"van, a. Etym: [L. silva, less correctly sylva, a wood or grove, perh. akin to Gr. "y`lh; cf. L. Silvanus Silvanus the god of woods: cf. F. sylvain silvan. Cf. Savage.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to woods; composed of woods or groves; woody.
[Written also sylvan.]
Betwixt two rows of rocks, a silvan scene Appears above, and groves
forever green. Dryden.

SILVAN
Sil"van, n. (Old Chem.)

Defn: See Sylvanium. [Obs.]

SILVANITE
Sil"van*ite, n. (Min.)

Defn: See Sylvanite.

SILVAS; SELVAS
Sil"vas or Sel"vas, n. pl. Etym: [L. silva a forest, Sp. selva.]

Defn: Vast woodland plains of South America.

SILVATE
Sil"vate, n. (Chem.)

Defn: Same as Sylvate.

SILVER Sil"ver, n. Etym: [OE. silver, selver, seolver, AS. seolfor, siolfur, siolufr, silofr, sylofr; akin to OS. silubar, OFries. selover, D. zilver, LG. sulver, OHG. silabar, silbar, G. silber, Icel. silfr, Sw. silfver, Dan. sölv, Goth. silubr, Russ. serebro, Lith. sidabras; of unknown origin.]

1. (Chem.)

Defn: A soft white metallic element, sonorous, ductile, very malleable, and capable of a high degree of polish. It is found native, and also combined with sulphur, arsenic, antimony, chlorine, etc., in the minerals argentite, proustite, pyrargyrite, ceragyrite, etc. Silver is one of the "noble" metals, so-called, not being easily oxidized, and is used for coin, jewelry, plate, and a great variety of articles. Symbol Ag (Argentum). Atomic weight 107.7. Specific gravity 10.5.

Note: Silver was known under the name of luna to the ancients and also to the alchemists. Some of its compounds, as the halogen salts, are remarkable for the effect of light upon them, and are used in photography.

2. Coin made of silver; silver money.

3. Anything having the luster or appearance of silver.

4. The color of silver.

Note: Silver is used in the formation of many compounds of obvious meaning; as, silver-armed, silver-bright, silver-buskined, silver- coated, silver-footed, silver-haired, silver-headed, silver-mantled, silver-plated, silver-slippered, silver-sounding, silver-studded, silver-tongued, silver-white. See Silver, a. Black silver (Min.), stephanite; — called also brittle silver ore, or brittle silver glance. — Fulminating silver. (Chem.) (a) A black crystalline substance, Ag2O.(NH3)2, obtained by dissolving silver oxide in aqua ammonia. When dry it explodes violently on the slightest percussion. (b) Silver fulminate, a white crystalline substance, Ag2C2N2O2, obtained by adding alcohol to a solution of silver nitrate. When dry it is violently explosive. — German silver. (Chem.) See under German. — Gray silver. (Min.) See Freieslebenite. — Horn silver. (Min.) See Cerargyrite. — King's silver. (O. Eng. Law) See Postfine. — Red silver, or Ruby silver. (Min.) See Proustite, and Pyrargyrite. — Silver beater, one who beats silver into silver leaf or silver foil. — Silver glance, or Vitreous silver. (Min.) See Argentine.

SILVER
Sil"ver, a.

1. Of or pertaining to silver; made of silver; as, silver leaf; a silver cup.

2. Resembling silver. Specifically: (a) Bright; resplendent; white. "Silver hair." Shak. Others, on silver lakes and rivers, bathed Their downy breast. Milton.

(b) Precious; costly. (c) Giving a clear, ringing sound soft and clear. "Silver voices." Spenser. (d) Sweet; gentle; peaceful. "Silver slumber." Spenser. American silver fir (Bot.), the balsam fir. See under Balsam. — Silver age (Roman Lit.), the latter part (a. d. 14-180) of the classical period of Latinity, — the time of writers of inferior purity of language, as compared with those of the previous golden age, so-called. — Silver-bell tree (Bot.), an American shrub or small tree (Halesia tetraptera) with white bell-shaped flowers in clusters or racemes; the snowdrop tree. — Silver bush (Bot.), a shrubby leguminous plant (Anthyllis Barba- Jovis) of Southern Europe, having silvery foliage. — Silver chub (Zoöl.), the fallfish. — Silver eel. (Zoöl.) (a) The cutlass fish. (b) A pale variety of the common eel. — Silver fir (Bot.), a coniferous tree (Abies pectinata) found in mountainous districts in the middle and south of Europe, where it often grows to the height of 100 or 150 feet. It yields Burgundy pitch and Strasburg turpentine. — Silver foil, foil made of silver. — Silver fox (Zoöl.), a variety of the common fox (Vulpes vulpes, variety argenteus) found in the northern parts of Asia, Europe, and America. Its fur is nearly black, with silvery tips, and is highly valued. Called also black fox, and silver-gray fox. — Silver gar. (Zoöl.) See Billfish (a) — Silver grain (Bot.), the lines or narrow plates of cellular tissue which pass from the pith to the bark of an exogenous stem; the medullary rays. In the wood of the oak they are much larger than in that of the beech, maple, pine, cherry, etc. — Silver grebe (Zoöl.), the red-throated diver. See Illust. under Diver. — Silver hake (Zoöl.), the American whiting. — Silver leaf, leaves or sheets made of silver beaten very thin. — Silver lunge (Zoöl.), the namaycush. — Silver moonfish.(Zoöl.) See Moonfish (b). — Silver moth (Zoöl.), a lepisma. — Silver owl (Zoöl.), the barn owl. — Silver perch (Zoöl.), the mademoiselle, 2. — Silver pheasant (Zoöl.), any one of several species of beautiful crested and long-tailed Asiatic pheasants, of the genus Euplocamus. They have the tail and more or less of the upper parts silvery white. The most common species (E. nychtemerus) is native of China. — Silver plate, domestic utensils made of silver. — Silver plover (Zoöl.), the knot. — Silver salmon (Zoöl.), a salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) native of both coasts of the North Pacific. It ascends all the American rivers as far south as the Sacramento. Called also kisutch, whitefish, and white salmon. — Silver shell (Zoöl.), a marine bivalve of the genus Anomia. See Anomia. — Silver steel, an alloy of steel with a very small proportion of silver. — Silver stick, a title given to the title field officer of the Life Guards when on duty at the palace. [Eng.] Thackeray. — Silver tree (Bot.), a South African tree (Leucadendron argenteum) with long, silvery, silky leaves. — Silver trout, (Zoöl.) See Trout. — Silver wedding. See under Wedding. — Silver whiting (Zoöl.), a marine sciænoid food fish (Menticirrus littoralis) native of the Southern United States; — called also surf whiting. — Silver witch (Zoöl.), A lepisma.

SILVER
Sil"ver, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Silvered; p. pr. & vb. n. Silvering.]

1. To cover with silver; to give a silvery appearance to by applying a metal of a silvery color; as, to silver a pin; to silver a glass mirror plate with an amalgam of tin and mercury.

2. To polish like silver; to impart a brightness to, like that of silver. And smiling calmness silvered o'er the deep. Pope.

3. To make hoary, or white, like silver. His head was silvered o'er with age. Gay.

SILVER
Sil"ver, v. i.

Defn: To acquire a silvery color. [R.]
The eastern sky began to silver and shine. L. Wallace.

SILVERBACK
Sil"ver*back`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The knot.

SILVERBERRY
Sil"ver*ber`ry, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A tree or shrub (Elæagnus argentea) with silvery foliage and fruit. Gray.

SILVERBILL
Sil"ver*bill`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An Old World finch of the genus Minia, as the M. Malabarica of
India, and M. cantans of Africa.

SILVERBOOM
Sil"ver*boom`, n. Etym: [D. zilver silver + boom tree.] (Bot.)

Defn: See Leucadendron.

SILVER CERTIFICATE
Sil"ver cer*tif"i*cate.

Defn: A certificate issued by a government that there has been deposited with it silver to a specified amount, payable to the bearer on demand. In the United States and its possessions, it is issued against the deposit of silver coin, and is not legal tender, but is receivable for customs, taxes, and all public dues.

SILVERFIN
Sil"ver*fin`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small North American fresh-water cyprinoid fish (Notropis
Whipplei).

SILVERFISH Sil"ver*fish`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) The tarpum. (b) A white variety of the goldfish. Lepisma saccharina, which may infest houses, and eats starched clothing and sized papers. See Lepisma.

SILVER-GRAY
Sil"ver-gray`, a.

Defn: Having a gray color with a silvery luster; as, silver-gray hair.

SILVERINESS
Sil"ver*i*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being silvery.

SILVERING
Sil"ver*ing, n. (Metal.)

Defn: The art or process of covering metals, wood, paper, glass, etc., with a thin film of metallic silver, or a substance resembling silver; also, the firm do laid on; as, the silvering of a glass speculum.

SILVERITE
Sil"ver*ite, n.

Defn: One who favors the use or establishment of silver as a monetary standard; — so called by those who favor the gold standard. [Colloq. or Cant]

SILVERIZE
Sil"ver*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Silverized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Silverizing.]

Defn: To cover with silver.

SILVERLESS
Sil"ver*less, a.

Defn: Having no silcver; hence, without money; impecunious. Piers
Plowman.

SILVERLING
Sil"ver*ling, n.

Defn: A small silver coin. [Obs.]
A thousand vines at a thousand silverings. Isa. vii. 23.

SILVERLY
Sil"ver*ly, adv.

Defn: Like silver in appearance or in sound. Let me wipe off this honorable dew, That silverly doth progress on thy cheeks. Shak.

SILVERN
Sil"vern, a. Etym: [AS. seolfern, sylfren.]

Defn: Made of silver. [Archaic.] Wyclif (Acts xix. 24).
Speech is silvern; silence is golden. Old Proverb.

SILVERSIDES
Sil"ver*sides`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of small fishes of the family Atherinidæ, having a silvery stripe along each side of the body. The common species of the American coast (Menidia notata) is very abundant. Called also silverside, sand smelt, friar, tailor, and tinker. Brook silversides (Zoöl.), a small fresh-water North American fish (Labadesthes sicculus) related to the marine silversides.

SILVERSMITH
Sil"ver*smith`, n.

Defn: One whose occupation is to manufacture utensils, ornaments, etc., of silver; a worker in silver.

SILVERSPOT
Sil"ver*spot`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of butterflies of the genus Argynnis and allied genera, having silvery spots on the under side of the wings. See Illust. under Aphrodite.

SILVER STATE
Silver State.

Defn: Nevada; — a nickname alluding to its silver mines.

SILVERWARE
Sil"ver*ware`, n.

Defn: Dishes, vases, ornaments, and utensils of various sorts, made of silver.

SILVERWEED
Sil"ver*weed`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A perennial rosaceous herb (Potentilla Anserina) having the leaves silvery white beneath.

SILVERY
Sil"ver*y, a.

1. Resembling, or having the luster of, silver; grayish white and lustrous; of a mild luster; bright. All the enameled race, whose silvery wing Waves to the tepid zephyrs of the spring. Pope.

2. Besprinkled or covered with silver.

3. Having the clear, musical tone of silver; soft and clear in sound; as, silvery voices; a silvery laugh. Silvery iron (Metal.), a peculiar light-gray fine-grained cast iron, usually obtained from clay iron ore.

SILVICS
Sil"vics, n.

1. The science treating of the life of trees in the forest.

2. Habit or behavior of a forest tree.

SILVICULTURE
Sil"vi*cul`ture, n. Etym: [Cf. F. silviculture.]

Defn: See Sylviculture.

SIMA
Si"ma, n. (Arch.)

Defn: A cyma.

SIMAGRE
Sim"a*gre, n. Etym: [F. simagrée.]

Defn: A grimace. [Obs.] Dryden.

SIMAR
Si*mar", n. Etym: [F. simarre. See Chimere.]

Defn: A woman's long dress or robe; also light covering; a scarf.
[Written also cimar, cymar, samare, simare.]

SIMARRE
Si`marre". Etym: [F.]

Defn: See Simar. Sir W. Scott.

SIMBLOT
Sim"blot, n. Etym: [F. simbleau.]

Defn: The harness of a drawloom.

SIMIA
Sim"i*a, n. Etym: [L., an ape; cf. simus flatnosed, snub-nosed, Gr.
(Zoöl.)

Defn: A Linnæan genus of Quadrumana which included the types of numerous modern genera. By modern writers it is usually restricted to the genus which includes the orang-outang.

SIMIAL
Sim"i*al, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Simian; apelike.

SIMIAN
Sim"i*an, a. Etym: [L. simia an ape.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the family Simiadæ, which, in its widest sense, includes all the Old World apes and monkeys; also, apelike. — n.

Defn: Any Old World monkey or ape.

SIMILAR
Sim"i*lar, a. Etym: [F. similaire, fr. L. similis like, similar. See
Same, a., and cf. Simulate.]

1. Exactly corresponding; resembling in all respects; precisely like.

2. Nearly corresponding; resembling in many respects; somewhat like; having a general likeness.

3. Homogenous; uniform. [R.] Boyle. Similar figures (Geom.), figures which differ from each other only in magnitude, being made up of the same number of like parts similarly situated. — Similar rectilineal figures, such as have their several angles respectively equal, each to each, and their sides about the equal angles proportional. — Similar solids, such as are contained by the same number of similar planes, similarly situated, and having like inclination to one another.

SIMILAR
Sim"i*lar, n.

Defn: That which is similar to, or resembles, something else, as in quality, form, etc.

SIMILARITY
Sim`i*lar"i*ty, n.; pl. -ties. Etym: [Cf. F. similarité.]

Defn: The quality or state of being similar; likeness; resemblance; as, a similarity of features. Hardly is there a similarity detected between two or three facts, than men hasten to extend it to all. Sir W. Hamilton.

SIMILARLY
Sim"i*lar*ly, adv.

Defn: In a similar manner.

SIMILARY
Sim"i*lar*y, a.

Defn: Similar. [Obs.]
Rhyming cadences of similarly words. South.

SIMILATIVE
Sim"i*la*tive, a.

Defn: Implying or indicating likeness or resemblance. [R.] In similative or instrumental relation to a pa. pple. [past participle], as almond-leaved, -scented, etc. New English Dict.

SIMILE
Simi"*le, n.; pl. Similes. Etym: [L., from similis. See Similar.]
(Rhet.)

Defn: A word or phrase by which anything is likened, in one or more
of its aspects, to something else; a similitude; a poetical or
imaginative comparison.
A good swift simile, but something currish. Shak.

SIMILITER
Si*mil"i*ter, n. Etym: [L., in like manner.] (Law)

Defn: The technical name of the form by which either party, in pleading, accepts the issue tendered by his opponent; — called sometimes a joinder in issue.

SIMILITUDE Si*mil"i*tude, n. Etym: [F. similitude, L. similitudo, from similis similar. See Similar.]

1. The quality or state of being similar or like; resemblance; likeness; similarity; as, similitude of substance. Chaucer. Let us make now man in our image, man In our similitude. Milton. If fate some future bard shall join In sad similitude of griefs to mine. Pope.

2. The act of likening, or that which likens, one thing to another; fanciful or imaginative comparison; a simile. Tasso, in his similitudes, never departed from the woods; that is, all his comparisons were taken from the country. Dryden.

3. That which is like or similar; a representation, semblance, or copy; a facsimile. Man should wed his similitude. Chaucer.

SIMILITUDINARY
Si*mil`i*tu"di*na*ry, a.

Defn: Involving or expressing similitude. [Obs.] Coke.

SIMILIZE
Sim"i*lize, v. t.

Defn: To liken; to compare; as, to similize a person, thing, or act.
Lowell.

SIMILOR Sim"i*lor, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. similus similar + F. or gold, L. aurum. Cf. Semilor.]

Defn: An alloy of copper and zinc, resembling brass, but of a golden color. Ure.

SIMIOUS
Sim"i*ous, a.Etym: [L. simia an ape.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Simian.
That strange simious, schoolboy passion of giving pain to others.
Sydney Smith.

SIMITAR
Sim"i*tar, n.

Defn: See Scimiter.

SIMMER
Sim"mer, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Simmered; p. pr. & vb. n. Simmering.]
Etym: [Prov. E. also simper; — an onomatopoetic word.]

Defn: To boil gently, or with a gentle hissing; to begin to boil.
I simmer as liquor doth on the fire before it beginneth to boil.
Palsgrave.

SIMMER
Sim"mer, v. t.

Defn: To cause to boil gently; to cook in liquid heated almost or just to the boiling point.

SIMNEL
Sim"nel, n. Etym: [OF. simenel cake or bread of wheat flour, LL.
simenellus wheat bread, fr. L. simila the finest wheat flour. Cf.
Semolina.]

1. A kind of cake made of fine flour; a cracknel. [Obs.] Not common bread, but vastel bread, or simnels. Fuller.

2. A kind of rich plum cake, eaten especially on Mid-Lent Sunday. [Eng.] Herrick.

SIMONIAC
Si*mo"ni*ac, n. Etym: [LL. simoniacus. See Simony.]

Defn: One who practices simony, or who buys or sells preferment in the church. Ayliffe.

SIMONIACAL
Sim`o*ni"a*cal, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to simony; guilty of simony; consisting of
simony.
— Sim"o*ni`a*cal*ly, adv.
The flagitious profligacy of their lives, and the simoniacal arts by
which they grasped at the popedom. J. S. Harford.

SIMONIAL
Si*mo"ni*al, a.

Defn: Simoniacal. [Obs.]

SIMONIAN
Si*mo"ni*an, n.Etym: [See Simony.]

Defn: One of the followers of Simon Magus; also, an adherent of certain heretical sects in the early Christian church.

SIMONIOUS
Si*mo"ni*ous, a.

Defn: Simoniacal. [Obs.] Milton.

SIMONIST
Sim"o*nist, n.

Defn: One who practices simony.

SIMON-PURE
Si"mon-pure", a.

Defn: Genuine; true; real; authentic; — a term alluding to the comedy character Simon Pure, who is impersonated by another and is obliged to prove himself to be the "real Simon Pure."

SIMONY Sim"o*ny, n. Etym: [F. simonie, LL. simonia, fr. Simon Magus, who wished to purchase the power of conferring the Holy Spirit. Acts viii.]

Defn: The crime of buying or selling ecclesiastical preferment; the corrupt presentation of any one to an ecclesiastical benefice for money or reward. Piers Plowman.

SIMOOM; SIMOON
Si*moom", Si*moon", n. Etym: [Ar. sam, fr. samma to poison. Cf.
Samiel.]

Defn: A hot, dry, suffocating, dust-laden wind, that blows occasionally in Arabia, Syria, and neighboring countries, generated by the extreme heat of the parched deserts or sandy plains.

SIMOUS
Si"mous, a.Etym: [L. simus, Gr.

Defn: Having a very flat or snub nose, with the end turned up.

SIMPAI
Sim"pai, n.Etym: [Malay simpei.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A long-tailed monkey (Semnopitchecus melalophus) native of
Sumatra. It has a crest of black hair. The forehead and cheeks are
fawn color, the upper parts tawny and red, the under parts white.
Called also black-crested monkey, and sinpæ.

SIMPER Sim"per, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Simpered; p. pr. & vb. n. Simpering.] Etym: [Cf. Norw. semper fine, smart, dial. Dan. semper, simper, affected, coy, prudish, OSw. semper one who affectedly refrains from eating, Sw. sipp finical, prim, LG. sipp.]

1. To smile in a silly, affected, or conceited manner. Behold yond simpering dame. Shak. With a made countenance about her mouth, between simpering and smiling. ir. P. Sidney.

2. To glimmer; to twinkle. [Obs.] Yet can I mark how stars above Simper and shine. Herbert.

SIMPER
Sim"per, n.

Defn: A constrained, self-conscious smile; an affected, silly smile;
a smirk.
The conscious simper, and the jealous leer. Pope.

SIMPERER
Sim"per*er, n.

Defn: One who simpers. Sir W. Scott.
A simperer that a court affords. T. Nevile.

SIMPERING
Sim"per*ing, a. &. n.

Defn: from Simper, v.

SIMPERINGLY
Sim"per*ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a simpering manner.

SIMPLE Sim"ple, a. [Compar. Simpler; superl. Simplest.] Etym: [F., fr. L. simplus, or simplex, gen. simplicis. The first part of the Latin words is probably akin to E. same, and the sense, one, one and the same; cf. L. semel once, singuli one to each, single. Cg. Single, a., Same, a., and for the last part of the word cf. Double, Complex.]

1. Single; not complex; not infolded or entangled; uncombined; not compounded; not blended with something else; not complicated; as, a simple substance; a simple idea; a simple sound; a simple machine; a simple problem; simple tasks.

2. Plain; unadorned; as, simple dress. "Simple truth." Spenser. "His simple story." Burns.

3. Mere; not other than; being only. A medicine . . . whose simple touch Is powerful to araise King Pepin. Shak.

4. Not given to artifice, stratagem, or duplicity; undesigning;
sincere; true.
Full many fine men go upon my score, as simple as I stand here, and I
trust them. Marston.
Must thou trust Tradition's simple tongue Byron.
To be simple is to be great. Emerson.

5. Artless in manner; unaffected; unconstrained; natural; inartificial;; straightforward. In simple manners all the secret lies. Young.

6. Direct; clear; intelligible; not abstruse or enigmatical; as, a simple statement; simple language.

7. Weak in intellect; not wise or sagacious; of but moderate understanding or attainments; hence, foolish; silly. "You have simple wits." Shak. The simple believeth every word; but the prudent man looketh well to his going. Prov. xiv. 15.

8. Not luxurious; without much variety; plain; as, a simple diet; a simple way of living. Thy simple fare and all thy plain delights. Cowper.

9. Humble; lowly; undistinguished. A simple husbandman in garments gray. Spenser. Clergy and laity, male and female, gentle and simple made the fuel of the same fire. Fuller.

10. (BOt.)

Defn: Without subdivisions; entire; as, a simple stem; a simple leaf.

11. (Chem.)

Defn: Not capable of being decomposed into anything more simple or ultimate by any means at present known; elementary; thus, atoms are regarded as simple bodies. Cf. Ultimate, a.

Note: A simple body is one that has not as yet been decomposed. There are indications that many of our simple elements are still compound bodies, though their actual decomposition into anything simpler may never be accomplished.fundamental particle

12. (Min.)

Defn: Homogenous.

13. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Consisting of a single individual or zooid; as, a simple ascidian; — opposed to compound. Simple contract (Law), any contract, whether verbal or written, which is not of record or under seal. J. W. Smith. Chitty. — Simple equation (Alg.), an eqyation containing but one unknown quantity, and that quantity only in the first degree. — Simple eye (Zoöl.), an eye having a single lens; — opposed to Ant: compound eye. — Simple interest. See under Interest. — Simple larceny. (Law) See under Larceny. — Simple obligation (Rom. Law), an obligation which does not depend for its execution upon any event provided for by the parties, or is not to become void on the happening of any such event. Burrill.

Syn. — Single; uncompounded; unmingled; unmixed; mere; uncombined; elementary; plain; artless; sincere; harmless; undesigning; frank; open; unaffected; inartificial; unadorned; credulous; silly; foolish; shallow; unwise. — Simple, Silly. One who is simple is sincere, unaffected, and inexperienced in duplicity, — hence liable to be duped. A silly person is one who is ignorant or weak and also self-confident; hence, one who shows in speech and act a lack of good sense. Simplicity is incompatible with duplicity, artfulness, or vanity, while silliness is consistent with all three. Simplicity denotes lack of knowledge or of guile; silliness denotes want of judgment or right purpose, a defect of character as well as of education. I am a simple woman, much too weak To oppose your cunning. Shak. He is the companion of the silliest people in their most silly pleasure; he is ready for every impertinent entertainment and diversion. Law.

SIMPLE
Sim"ple, n. Etym: [F. See Simple, a.]

1. Something not mixed or compounded. "Compounded of many simples." Shak.

2. (Med.)

Defn: A medicinal plant; — so called because each vegetable was supposed to possess its particular virtue, and therefore to constitute a simple remedy. What virtue is in this remedy lies in the naked simple itself as it comes over from the Indies. Sir W. Temple.

3. (Weaving) (a) A drawloom. (b) A part of the apparatus for raising the heddles of a drawloom.

4. (R. C. Ch.)

Defn: A feast which is not a double or a semidouble.

SIMPLE
Sim"ple, v. i.

Defn: To gather simples, or medicinal plants.
As simpling on the flowery hills she [Circe] strayed. Garth.

SIMPLE-HEARTED
Sim"ple-heart`ed, a.

Defn: Sincere; inguenuous; guileless. Sir W. Scott.

SIMPLE-MINDED
Sim"ple-mind`ed, a.

Defn: Artless; guileless; simple-hearted; undesigning; unsuspecting; devoid of duplicity. Blackstone. — Sim"ple-mind`ed*ness, n.

SIMPLENESS
Sim"ple*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being simple; simplicity. Shak.

SIMPLER
Sim"pler, n.

Defn: One who collects simples, or medicinal plants; a herbalist; a simplist. Simpler's joy. (Bot.) Vervain.

SIMPLESS
Sim"pless, n. Etym: [F. simplesse.]

Defn: Simplicity; silliness. [Obs.] Spenser.

SIMPLETON
Sim"ple*ton, n. Etym: [Cf. F. simplet, It. semplicione.]

Defn: A person of weak intellect; a silly person.

SIMPLICIAN
Sim*pli"cian, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. simplicien.]

Defn: One who is simple. [Obs.] Arnway.

SIMPLICITY
Sim*plic"i*ty, n. Etym: [F. simplicité, L. simplicitas. See Simple.]

1. The quality or state of being simple, unmixed, or uncompounded; as, the simplicity of metals or of earths.

2. The quality or state of being not complex, or of consisting of few parts; as, the simplicity of a machine.

3. Artlessness of mind; freedom from cunning or duplicity; lack of acuteness and sagacity. Marquis Dorset, a man, for his harmless simplicity neither misliked nor much regarded. Hayward. In wit a man; simplicity a child. Pope.

4. Freedom from artificial ornament, pretentious style, or luxury; plainness; as, simplicity of dress, of style, or of language; simplicity of diet; simplicity of life.

5. Freedom from subtlety or abstruseness; clearness; as, the simplicity of a doctrine; the simplicity of an explanation or a demonstration.

6. Weakness of intellect; silliness; folly. How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity and the scorners delight in their scorning Prov. i. 22.

SIMPLIFICATION
Sim`pli*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. simplification.]

Defn: The act of simplifying. A. Smith.

SIMPLIFY
Sim"pli*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Simplified; p. pr. & vb. n.
Simplifying.] Etym: [Cf. F. simplifier, LL. simplificare. See Simple,
and -fy.]

Defn: To make simple; to make less complex; to make clear by giving the explanation for; to show an easier or shorter process for doing or making. The collection of duties is drawn to a point, and so far simplified. A. Hamilton. It is important, in scientific pursuits, to be caitious in simplifying our deductions. W. Nicholson.

SIMPLIST
Sim"plist, n.

Defn: One skilled in simples, or medicinal plants; a simpler. Sir T.
Browne.

SIMPLISTIC
Sim*plis"tic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to simples, or a simplist. [R.] Wilkinson.

SIMPLITY
Sim"pli*ty, n.

Defn: Simplicity. [Obs.]

SIMPLOCE
Sim"plo*ce, n. (Gram.)

Defn: See Symploce.

SIMPLY
Sim"ply, adv.

1. In a simple manner or state; considered in or by itself; without addition; along; merely; solely; barely. [They] make that now good or evil, . . . which otherwise of itself were not simply the one or the other. Hooker. Simply the thing I am Shall make me live. Shak.

2. Plainly; without art or subtlety. Subverting worldly strong and worldly wise By simply meek. Milton.

3. Weakly; foolishly. Johnson.

SIMULACHER; SIMULACHRE
Sim"u*la`cher, Sim"u*la`chre, n. Etym: [Cf. F. simulacre.]

Defn: See Simulacrum. [Obs.]

SIMULACRUM
Sim`u*la"crum, n.; pl. Simulacra. Etym: [L. See Simulate.]

Defn: A likeness; a semblance; a mock appearance; a sham; — now usually in a derogatory sense. Beneath it nothing but a great simulacrum. Thackeray.

SIMULAR
Sim"u*lar, n. Etym: [Cf. L. simulator, F. simulateur. See Simulate.]

Defn: One who pretends to be what he is not; one who, or that which, simulates or counterfeits something; a pretender. [Obs.] Shak. Christ calleth the Pharisees hypocrites, that is to say, simulars, and painted sepulchers. Tyndale.

SIMULAR
Sim"u*lar, a.

Defn: False; specious; counterfeit. [R. & Obs.] "Thou simular man of virtue." Shak.

SIMULATE Sim"u*late, a. Etym: [L. simulatus, p. p. of simulare to simulate; akin to simul at the same time, together, similis like. See Similar, and cf. Dissemble, Semblance.]

Defn: Feigned; pretended. Bale.

SIMULATE
Sim"u*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Simulated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Simulating.]

Defn: To assume the mere appearance of, without the reality; to assume the signs or indications of, falsely; to counterfeit; to feign. The Puritans, even in the depths of the dungeons to which she had sent them, prayed, and with no simulated fervor, that she might be kept from the dagger of the assassin. Macaulay.

SIMULATION
Sim`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [F. simulation, L. simulatio.]

Defn: The act of simulating, or assuming an appearance which is feigned, or not true; — distinguished from dissimulation, which disguises or conceals what is true.

Syn.
— Counterfeiting; feint; pretense.

SIMULATOR
Sim"u*la`tor, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: One who simulates, or feigns. De Quincey.

SIMULATORY
Sim"u*la*to*ry, a.

Defn: Simulated, or capable of being simulated. Bp. Hall.

SIMULTANEITY
Si`mul*ta*ne"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being simultaneous; simultaneousness.

SIMULTANEOUS Si`mul*ta"ne*ous, a. Etym: [LL. simultim at the same time, fr. L. simul. See Simulate.]

Defn: Existing, happening, or done, at the same time; as, simultaneous events. — Si`mul*ta"ne*ous*ly, adv. — Si`mul*ta"ne*ous*ness, n. Simultaneous equations (Alg.), two or more equations in which the values of the unknown quantities entering them are the same at the same time in both or in all.

SIMULTY Sim"ul*ty, n. Etym: [L. simultas a hostile encounter, drudge, originally, a (hostile) coming together, fr. simul together: cf. OF. simulté.]

Defn: Private grudge or quarrel; as, domestic simulties. [Obs.] B.
Jonson.

SIN
Sin, adv., prep., & conj.

Defn: Old form of Since. [Obs. or Prov.Eng. & Scot.]
Sin that his lord was twenty year of age. Chaucer.

SIN Sin, n. Etym: [OE. sinne, AS. synn, syn; akin to D. zonde, OS. sundia, OHG. sunta, G. sünde, Icel., Dan. & Sw. synd, L. sons, sontis, guilty, perhaps originally from the p. pr. of the verb signifying, to be, and meaning, the one who it is. Cf. Authentic, Sooth.]

1. Transgression of the law of God; disobedience of the divine command; any violation of God's will, either in purpose or conduct; moral deficiency in the character; iniquity; as, sins of omission and sins of commission. Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. John viii. 34. Sin is the transgression of the law. 1 John iii. 4. I think 't no sin. To cozen him that would unjustly win. Shak. Enthralled By sin to foul, exorbitant desires. Milton.

2. An offense, in general; a violation of propriety; a misdemeanor; as, a sin against good manners. I grant that poetry's a crying sin. Pope.

3. A sin offering; a sacrifice for sin. He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin. 2 Cor. v. 21.

4. An embodiment of sin; a very wicked person. [R.] Thy ambition, Thou scarlet sin, robbed this bewailing land Of noble Buckingham. Shak.

Note: Sin is used in the formation of some compound words of obvious signification; as, sin-born; sin-bred, sin-oppressed, sin-polluted, and the like. Actual sin, Canonical sins, Original sin, Venial sin. See under Actual, Canonical, etc. — Deadly, or Mortal, sins (R. C. Ch.), willful and deliberate transgressions, which take away divine grace; — in distinction from vental sins. The seven deadly sins are pride, covetousness, lust, wrath, gluttony, envy, and sloth. — Sin eater, a man who (according to a former practice in England) for a small gratuity ate a piece of bread laid on the chest of a dead person, whereby he was supposed to have taken the sins of the dead person upon himself. — Sin offering, a sacrifice for sin; something offered as an expiation for sin.

Syn.
— Iniquity; wickedness; wrong. See Crime.

SIN Sin, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sinned; p. pr. & vb. n. Sinning.] Etym: [OE. sinnen, singen, sinegen, AS. syngian. See Sin, n.]

1. To depart voluntarily from the path of duty prescribed by God to man; to violate the divine law in any particular, by actual transgression or by the neglect or nonobservance of its injunctions; to violate any known rule of duty; — often followed by against. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned. Ps. li. 4. All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Rom. iii. 23.

2. To violate human rights, law, or propriety; to commit an offense; to trespass; to transgress. I am a man More sinned against than sinning. Shak. Who but wishes to invert the laws Of order, sins against the eternal cause. Pope.

SINAIC; SINAITIC
Si*na"ic, Si`na*it"ic, a. Etym: [From Mount Sinai.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to Mount Sinai; given or made at Mount Sinai; as, the Sinaitic law. Sinaitic manuscript, a fourth century Greek manuscript of the part Bible, discovered at Mount Sinai (the greater part of it in 1859) by Tisschendorf, a German Biblical critic; — called also Codex Sinaiticus.

SINALBIN
Sin*al"bin, n. Etym: [From L. Sinapis + alba.] (Chem.)

Defn: A glucoside found in the seeds of white mustard (Brassica alba, formerly Sinapis alba), and extracted as a white crystalline substance.

SINAMINE
Sin*am"ine, n. Etym: [Sinapis + melamine.] (Chem.)

Defn: A bitter white crystalline nitrogenous substance, obtained indirectly from oil of mustard and ammonia; — called also allyl melamine.

SINAPATE
Sin"a*pate, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of sinapic acid.

SINAPIC
Sin"a*pic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to sinapine; specifically, designating an acid (C11H12O5) related to gallic acid, and obtained by the decomposition of sinapine, as a white crystalline substance.

SINAPINE
Sin"a*pine, n. Etym: [L. sinapi, sinapis, mustard, Gr. sinapine.]
(Chem.)

Defn: An alkaloid occuring in the seeds of mustard. It is extracted, in combination with sulphocyanic acid, as a white crystalline substance, having a hot, bitter taste. When sinapine is isolated it is unstable and undergoes decomposition.

SINAPIS
Si*na"pis, n. Etym: [L.] (Bot.)

Defn: A disused generic name for mustard; — now called Brassica.

SINAPISIN
Sin"a*pis`in, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A substance extracted from mustard seed and probably identical with sinalbin. [Obs.]

SINAPISM
Sin"a*pism, n. Etym: [L. sinapismus, Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A plaster or poultice composed principally of powdered mustard seed, or containing the volatile oil of mustard seed. It is a powerful irritant.

SINAPOLEIC
Sin`a*po*le"ic, a. Etym: [Sinapis + oleic.] (Chem.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to mustard oil; specifically, designating an acid of the oleic acid series said to occur in mistard oil.

SINAPOLINE
Si*nap"o*line, n. Etym: [Sinapis + L. oleum oil.] (Chem.)

Defn: A nitrogenous base, CO.(NH.C3H5)2, related to urea, extracted from mustard oil, and also produced artifically, as a white crystalline substance; — called also diallyl urea.

SINCALINE Sin"ca*line, n. Etym: [So called because obtained by the action of alkalies on sinapine.] (Chem.)

Defn: Choline. [Written also sinkaline.]

SINCE Since, adv. Etym: [For sins, contr. fr. OE. sithens, sithenes, formed by an adverbial ending (cf. Besides) from OE. sithen, also shortened into sithe, sin, AS. si, sy, seo, afterward, then, since, after; properly, after that; fr. sisi afterward, since, OHG. sid, G. seit since, Goth. seipus late, ni sei no longer) + instrumental of the demonstrative and article. See That.]

1. From a definite past time until now; as, he went a month ago, and I have not seen him since. We since become the slaves to one man's lust. B. Jonson.

2. In the time past, counting backward from the present; before this or now; ago. w many ages since has Virgil writ Roscommon. About two years since, it so fell out, that he was brought to a great lady's house. Sir P. Sidney.

3. When or that. [Obs.] Do you remember since we lay all night in the windmill in St. George's field Shak.

SINCE
Since, prep.

Defn: From the time of; in or during the time subsequent to; subsequently to; after; — usually with a past event or time for the object. The Lord hath blessed thee, since my coming. Gen. xxx. 30. I have a model by which he build a nobler poem than any extant since the ancients. Dryden.

SINCE
Since, conj.

Defn: Seeing that; because; considering; — formerly followed by
that.
Since that my penitence comes after all, Imploring pardon. Shak.
Since truth and constancy are vain, Since neither love, nor sense of
pain, Nor force of reason, can persuade, Then let example be obeyed.
Granville.

Syn.
— Because; for; as; inasmuch as; considering. See Because.

SINCERE Sin*cere", a. [Compar. Sincerer; superl. Sincerest.] Etym: [L. sincerus, of uncertain origin; the first part perhaps akin to sin- in singuli (see Single), and the second to cernere to separate (cf. Discern): cf. F. sincère.]

1. Pure; unmixed; unadulterated. There is no sincere acid in any animal juice. Arbuthnot. A joy which never was sincere till now. Dryden.

2. Whole; perfect; unhurt; uninjured. [Obs.] The inviolable body stood sincere. Dryden.

3. Being in reality what it appears to be; having a character which corresponds with the appearance; not falsely assumed; genuine; true; real; as, a sincere desire for knowledge; a sincere contempt for meanness. A sincere intention of pleasing God in all our actions. Law.

4. Honest; free from hypocrisy or dissimulation; as, a sincere friend; a sincere person. The more sincere you are, the better it will fare with you at the great day of account. Waterland.

Syn. — Honest; unfeigned; unvarnished; real; true; unaffected; inartificial; frank; upright. See Hearty.

SINCERELY
Sin*cere"ly, adv.

Defn: In a sincere manner. Specifically: (a) Purely; without alloy. Milton. (b) Honestly; unfeignedly; without dissimulation; as, to speak one's mind sincerely; to love virtue sincerely.

SINCERENESS
Sin*cere"ness, n.

Defn: Same as Sincerity. Beau & Fl.

SINCERITY
Sin*cer"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. sinceritas: cf. F. sincérité.]

Defn: The quality or state of being sincere; honesty of mind or
intention; freedom from simulation, hypocrisy, disguise, or false
pretense; sincereness.
I protest, in the sincerity of love. Shak.
Sincerity is a duty no less plain than important. Knox.

SINCH
Sinch, n. Etym: [See Cinch.]

Defn: A saddle girth made of leather, canvas, woven horsehair, or woven grass. [Western U.S.]

SINCH
Sinch, v. t.

Defn: To gird with a sinch; to tighten the sinch or girth of (a saddle); as, to sinch up a sadle. [Western U.S.]

SINCIPITAL
Sin*cip"i*tal, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the sinciput; being in the region of the sinciput.

SINCIPUT
Sin"ci*put, n. Etym: [L., half a head; semihalf + caput the head.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: The fore part of the head.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The part of the head of a bird between the base of the bill and the vertex.

SINDI
Sind"i, n. [Ar. Sindi, fr. Sind Indian, Skr. sindhu river, sea, the
river Indus, the country along the Indus. Cf. Indian, Hindoo.]
(Ethnol.)

Defn: A native of Sind, India, esp. one of the native Hindoo stock.

SINDON
Sin"don, n. Etym: [L., a kind of fine Indian cotton stuff, Gr.

1. A wrapper. [Obs.] "Wrapped in sindons of linen." Bacon.

2. (Surg.)

Defn: A small rag or pledget introduced into the hole in the cranium made by a trephine. Dunglison.

SINE Sine, n. Etym: [LL. sinus a sine, L. sinus bosom, used in translating the Ar. jaib, properly, bosom, but probably read by mistake (the consonants being the same) for an original jiba sine, from Skr. jiva bowstring, chord of an arc, sine.] (Trig.) (a) The length of a perpendicular drawn from one extremity of an arc of a circle to the diameter drawn through the other extremity. (b) The perpendicular itself. See Sine of angle, below. Artificial sines, logarithms of the natural sines, or logarithmic sines. — Curve of sines. See Sinusoid. — Natural sines, the decimals expressing the values of the sines, the radius being unity. — Sine of an angle, in a circle whose radius is unity, the sine of the arc that measures the angle; in a right-angled triangle, the side opposite the given angle divided by the hypotenuse. See Trigonometrical function, under Function. — Versed sine, that part of the diameter between the sine and the arc.

SINE
Si"ne, prep. Etym: [L.]

Defn: Without.

SINECURAL
Si"ne*cu`ral, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a sinecure; being in the nature of a sinecure.

SINECURE
Si`ne*cure, n. Etym: [L. sine without + cura care, LL., a cure. See
Cure.]

1. An ecclesiastical benefice without the care of souls. Ayliffe.

2. Any office or position which requires or involves little or no responsibility, labor, or active service. A lucrative sinecure in the Excise. Macaulay.

SINECURE
Si"ne*cure, v. t.

Defn: To put or place in a sinecure.

SINECURISM
Si"ne*cu*rism, n.

Defn: The state of having a sinecure.

SINECURIST
Si"ne*cu*rist, n.

Defn: One who has a sinecure.

SINEW
Sin"ew, n. Etym: [OE. sinewe, senewe, AS. sinu, seonu; akin to D.
zenuw, OHG. senawa, G. sehne, Icel. sin, Sw. sena, Dan. sene; cf.
Skr. snava. sq. root290.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: A tendon or tendonous tissue. See Tendon.

2. Muscle; nerve. [R.] Sir J. Davies.

3. Fig.: That which supplies strength or power. The portion and sinew of her fortune, her marriage dowry. Shak. The bodies of men, munition, and money, may justly be called the sinews of war. Sir W. Raleigh.

Note: Money alone is often called the sinews of war.

SINEW
Sin"ew, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sinewed; p. pr. & vb. n. Sinewing.]

Defn: To knit together, or make strong with, or as with, sinews.
Shak.
Wretches, now stuck up for long tortures . . . might, if properly
treated, serve to sinew the state in time of danger. Goldsmith.

SINEWED
Sin"ewed, a.

1. Furnished with sinews; as, a strong-sinewed youth.

2. Fig.: Equipped; strengthened. When he sees Ourselves well sinewed to our defense. Shak.

SINEWINESS
Sin"ew*i*ness, n.

Defn: Quality of being sinewy.

SINEWISH
Sin"ew*ish, a.

Defn: Sinewy. [Obs.] Holinshed.

SINEWLESS
Sin"ew*less, a.

Defn: Having no sinews; hence, having no strength or vigor.

SINEWOUS
Sin"ew*ous, a.

Defn: Sinewy. [Obs.] Holinshed.

SINEW-SHRUNK
Sin"ew-shrunk`, a. (Far.)

Defn: Having the sinews under the belly shrunk by excessive fatigue.

SINEWY
Sin"ew*y, a.

1. Pertaining to, consisting of, or resembling, a sinew or sinews. The sinewy thread my brain lets fall. Donne.

2. Well braced with, or as if with, sinews; nervous; vigorous; strong; firm; tough; as, the sinewy Ajax. A man whose words . . . were so close and sinewy. Hare.

SINFUL
Sin"ful, a. Etym: [AAS. synfull.]

Defn: Tainted with, or full of, sin; wicked; iniquitous; criminal;
unholy; as, sinful men; sinful thoughts. Piers Plowman.
Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity. Isa. i. 4.
— Sin"ful*ly, adv.
— Sin"ful*ness, n.

SING Sing, v. i. [imp. Sung or Sang (; p. p. Sung; p. pr. & vb. n. Singing.] Etym: [AS. singan; akin to D. zingen, OS. & OHG. singan, G. singen, Icel. syngja, Sw. sjunga, Dan. synge, Goth. siggwan, and perhaps to E. say, v.t., or cf. Gr. Singe, Song.]

1. To utter sounds with musical inflections or melodious modulations of voice, as fancy may dictate, or according to the notes of a song or tune, or of a given part (as alto, tenor, etc.) in a chorus or concerted piece. The noise of them that sing do I hear. Ex. xxxii. 18.

2. To utter sweet melodious sounds, as birds do. On every bough the briddes heard I sing. Chaucer. Singing birds, in silver cages hung. Dryden.

3. To make a small, shrill sound; as, the air sings in passing through a crevice. O'er his head the flying spear Sang innocent, and spent its force in air. Pope.

4. To tell or relate something in numbers or verse; to celebrate something in poetry. Milton. Bid her . . . sing Of human hope by cross event destroyed. Prior.

5. Ti cry out; to complain. [Obs.] They should sing if thet they were bent. Chaucer.

SING
Sing, v. t.

1. To utter with musical infections or modulations of voice.
And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of
the Lamb. Rev. xv. 3.
And in the darkness sing your carol of high praise. Keble.

2. To celebrate is song; to give praises to in verse; to relate or rehearse in numbers, verse, or poetry. Milton. Arms and the man I sing. Dryden. The last, the happiest British king, Whom thou shalt paint or I shall sing. Addison.

3. To influence by singing; to lull by singing; as, to sing a child to sleep.

4. To accompany, or attend on, with singing. I heard them singing home the bride. Longfellow.

SINGE Singe, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Singed; p. pr. & vb. n. Singeing.] Etym: [OE. sengen, AS. sengan in besengan (akin to D. zengen, G. sengen), originally, to cause to sing, fr. AS. singan to sing, in allusion to the singing or hissing sound often produced when a substance is singed, or slightly burned. See Sing.]

1. To burn slightly or superficially; to burn the surface of; to burn the ends or outside of; as, to singe the hair or the skin. You sulphurous and thought-executing fires, . . . Singe my white head! Shak. I singed the toes of an ape through a burning glass. L'Estrange.

2. (a) To remove the nap of (cloth), by passing it rapidly over a red- hot bar, or over a flame, preliminary to dyeing it. (b) To remove the hair or down from (a plucked chicken or the like) by passing it over a flame.

SINGE
Singe, n.

Defn: A burning of the surface; a slight burn.

SINGER
Sin"ger, n. Etym: [From Singe.]

Defn: One who, or that which, singes. Specifically: (a) One employed to singe cloth. (b) A machine for singeing cloth.

SINGER
Sing"er, n. Etym: [From Sing.]

Defn: One who sings; especially, one whose profession is to sing.

SINGERESS
Sing"er*ess, n.

Defn: A songstress. [Obs.] Wyclif.

SINGHALESE
Sin`gha*lese", n. & a. Etym: [Skr.Si Ceylon.] (Ethnol.)

Defn: Same as Cingalese.

SINGING
Sing"ing, a. & n.

Defn: from Sing, v. Singing bird. (Zoöl.) (a) Popularly, any bird that sings; a song bird. (b) Specifically, any one of the Oscines. — Singing book, a book containing music for singing; a book of tunes. — Singing falcon or hawk. (Zoöl.) See Chanting falcon, under Chanting. — Singing fish (Zoöl.), a California toadfish (Porichthys porosissimus). — Singing flame (Acoustics), a flame, as of hydrogen or coal gas, burning within a tube and so adjusted as to set the air within the tube in vibration, causing sound. The apparatus is called also chemical harmonicon. — Singing master, a man who teaches vocal music. — Singing school, a school in which persons are instructed in singing.

SINGINGLY
Sing"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: With sounds like singing; with a kind of tune; in a singing tone. G. North (1575).

SINGLE
Sin"gle, a. Etym: [L. singulus, a dim. from the root in simplex
simple; cf. OE. & OF. sengle, fr. L. singulus. See Simple, and cf.
Singular.]

1. One only, as distinguished from more than one; consisting of one alone; individual; separate; as, a single star. No single man is born with a right of controlling the opinions of all the rest. Pope.

2. Alone; having no companion. Who single hast maintained, Against revolted multitudes, the cause Of truth. Milton.

3. Hence, unmarried; as, a single man or woman. Grows, lives, and dies in single blessedness. Shak. Single chose to live, and shunned to wed. Dryden.

4. Not doubled, twisted together, or combined with others; as, a single thread; a single strand of a rope.

5. Performed by one person, or one on each side; as, a single combat. These shifts refuted, answer thy appellant, . . . Who now defles thee thrice ti single fight. Milton.

6. Uncompounded; pure; unmixed. Simple ideas are opposed to complex, and single to compound. I. Watts.

7. Not deceitful or artful; honest; sincere. I speak it with a single heart. Shak.

8. Simple; not wise; weak; silly. [Obs.]
He utters such single matter in so infantly a voice. Beau & Fl.
Single ale, beer, or drink, small ale, etc., as contrasted with
double ale, etc., which is stronger. [Obs.] Nares.
— Single bill (Law), a written engagement, generally under seal,
for the payment of money, without a penalty. Burril.
— Single court (Lawn Tennis), a court laid out for only two
players.
— Single-cut file. See the Note under 4th File.
— Single entry. See under Bookkeeping.
— Single file. See under 1st File.
— Single flower (Bot.), a flower with but one set of petals, as a
wild rose.
— Single knot. See Illust. under Knot.
— Single whip (Naut.), a single rope running through a fixed block.

SINGLE
Sin"gle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Singled; p. pr. & vb. n. Singling.]

1. To select, as an individual person or thing, from among a number; to choose out from others; to separate. Dogs who hereby can single out their master in the dark. Bacon. His blood! she faintly screamed her mind Still singling one from all mankind. More.

2. To sequester; to withdraw; to retire. [Obs.] An agent singling itself from consorts. Hooker.

3. To take alone, or one by one. Men . . . commendable when they are singled. Hooker.

SINGLE
Sin"gle, v. i.

Defn: To take the irrregular gait called single-foot;- said of a horse. See Single-foot. Many very fleet horses, when overdriven, adopt a disagreeable gait, which seems to be a cross between a pace and a trot, in which the two legs of one side are raised almost but not quite, simultaneously. Such horses are said to single, or to be single-footed. W. S. Clark.

SINGLE
Sin"gle, n.

1. A unit; one; as, to score a single.

2. pl.

Defn: The reeled filaments of silk, twisted without doubling to give them firmness.

3. A handful of gleaned grain. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

4. (Law Tennis)

Defn: A game with but one player on each side; — usually in the plural.

5. (Baseball)

Defn: A hit by a batter which enables him to reach first base only.

SINGLE-ACTING
Sin"gle-act`ing, a.

Defn: Having simplicity of action; especially (Mach.), acting or exerting force during strokes in one direction only; — said of a reciprocating engine, pump, etc.

SINGLE-BREASTED
Sin"gle-breast`ed, a.

Defn: Lapping over the breast only far enough to permit of buttoning, and having buttons on one edge only; as, a single-breasted coast.

SINGLE-FOOT
Sin"gle-foot`, n.

Defn: An irregular gait of a horse; — called also single-footed pace. See Single, v. i. Single-foot is an irregular pace, rather rare, distinguished by the posterior extremities moving in the order of a fast walk, and the anterior extremities in that of a slow trot. Stillman (The Horse in Motion.)

SINGLE-HANDED
Sin"gle-hand"ed, a.

Defn: Having but one hand, or one workman; also, alone; unassisted.

SINGLE-HEARTED
Sin"gle-heart"ed, a.

Defn: Having an honest heart; free from duplicity.
— Sin"gle-heart"ed*ly, adv.

SINGLE-MINDED
Sin"gle-mind"ed, a.

Defn: Having a single purpose; hence, artless; guileless; single- hearted.

SINGLENESS
Sin"gle*ness, n.

1. The quality or state of being single, or separate from all others; the opposite of doubleness, complication, or multiplicity.

2. Freedom from duplicity, or secondary and selfish ends; purity of mind or purpose; simplicity; sincerity; as, singleness of purpose; singleness of heart.

SINGLES
Sin"gles, n. pl.

Defn: See Single, n., 2.

SINGLESTICK Sin"gle*stick`, n. (a) In England and Scotland, a cudgel used in fencing or fighting; a backsword. (b) The game played with singlesticks, in which he who first brings blood from his adversary's head is pronounced victor; backsword; cudgeling.

SINGLE-SURFACED
Sin"gle-sur"faced, a.

Defn: Having one surface; — said specif. of aëroplanes or aërocurves that are covered with fabric, etc., on only one side.

SINGLET
Sin"glet, n.

Defn: An unlined or undyed waistcoat; a single garment; — opposed to doublet. [Prov. Eng.]

SINGLE TAX
Sin"gle tax`. (Pol. Econ.)

Defn: A tax levied upon land alone, irrespective of improvements, — advocated by certain economists as the sole source of public revenue.

Whatever may be thought of Henry George's single-tax theory as a whole, there can be little question that a relatively higher assessment of ground rent, with corresponding relief for those who have made improvements, is a much-needed reform. A. T. Hadley.

SINGLETON
Sin"gle*ton, n.

Defn: In certain games at cards, as whist, a single card of any suit held at the deal by a player; as, to lead a singleton.

SINGLETREE
Sin"gle*tree`, n. Etym: [Cf. Swingletree.]

Defn: The pivoted or swinging bar to which the traces of a harnessed horse are fixed; a whiffletree.

Note: When two horses draw abreast, a singletree is fixed at each end of another crosspiece, called the doubletree.

SINGLY
Sin"gly, adv.

1. Individually; particularly; severally; as, to make men singly and personally good.

2. Only; by one's self; alone. Look thee, 't is so! Thou singly honest man. Shak.

3. Without partners, companions, or associates; single-handed; as, to attack another singly. At omber singly to decide their doom. Pope.

4. Honestly; sincerely; simply. [R.] Johnson.

5. Singularly; peculiarly. [Obs.] Milton.

SING-SING
Sing"-sing`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The kob.

SINGSONG
Sing"song`, n.

1. Bad singing or poetry.

2. A drawling or monotonous tone, as of a badly executed song.

SINGSONG
Sing"song`, a.

Defn: Drawling; monotonous.

SINGSONG
Sing"song`, v. i.

Defn: To write poor poetry. [R.] Tennyson.

SINGSPIEL
Sing"spiel`, n. [G.; singen to sing + spiel to play.] (Music)

Defn: A dramatic work, partly in dialogue and partly in song, of a kind popular in Germany in the latter part of the 18th century. It was often comic, had modern characters, and patterned its music on folk song with strictly subordinated accompaniment.

SINGSTER
Sing"ster, n.

Defn: A songstress. [Obs.] Wyclif.

SINGULAR Sin"gu*lar, a. Etym: [OE. singuler, F. singulier, fr. L. singularius, singularis, fr. singulus single. See Single, a.]

1. Separate or apart from others; single; distinct. [Obs.] Bacon. And God forbid that all a company Should rue a singular man's folly. Chaucer.

2. Engaged in by only one on a side; single. [Obs.] To try the matter thus together in a singular combat. Holinshed.

3. (Logic)

Defn: Existing by itself; single; individual. The idea which represents one . . . determinate thing, is called a singular idea, whether simple, complex, or compound. I. Watts.

4. (Law)

Defn: Each; individual; as, to convey several parcels of land, all and singular.

5. (Gram.)

Defn: Denoting one person or thing; as, the singular number; — opposed to dual and Ant: plural.

6. Standing by itself; out of the ordinary course; unusual; uncommon; strange; as, a singular phenomenon. So singular a sadness Must have a cause as strange as the effect. Denham.

7. Distinguished as existing in a very high degree; rarely equaled; eminent; extraordinary; exceptional; as, a man of singular gravity or attainments.

8. Departing from general usage or expectations; odd; whimsical; — often implying disapproval or consure. His zeal None seconded, as out of season judged, Or singular and rash. Milton. To be singular in anything that is wise and worthy, is not a disparagement, but a praise. Tillotson.

9. Being alone; belonging to, or being, that of which there is but one; unique. These busts of the emperors and empresses are all very scarce, and some of them almost singular in their kind. Addison. Singular point in a curve (Math.), a point at which the curve possesses some peculiar properties not possessed by other points of the curve, as a cusp point, or a multiple point. — Singular proposition (Logic), a proposition having as its subject a singular term, or a common term limited to an individual by means of a singular sign. Whately. — Singular succession (Civil Law), division among individual successors, as distinguished from universal succession, by which an estate descended in intestacy to the heirs in mass. — Singular term (Logic), a term which represents or stands for a single individual.

Syn. — Unexampled; unprecedented; eminent; extraordinary; remarkable; uncommon; rare; unusual; peculiar; strange; odd; eccentric; fantastic.

SINGULAR
Sin"gu*lar, n.

1. An individual instance; a particular. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

2. (Gram)

Defn: The singular number, or the number denoting one person or thing; a word in the singular number.

SINGULARIST
Sin"gu*lar*ist, n.

Defn: One who affects singularity. [Obs.]
A clownish singularist, or nonconformist to ordinary usage. Borrow.

SINGULARITY
Sin`gu*lar"i*ty, n.; pl. Singularities. Etym: [L. singularitas: cf.
F. singularité.]

1. The quality or state of being singular; some character or quality of a thing by which it is distinguished from all, or from most, others; peculiarity. Pliny addeth this singularity to that soil, that the second year the very falling down of the seeds yieldeth corn. Sir. W. Raleigh. I took notice of this little figure for the singularity of the instrument. Addison.

2. Anything singular, rare, or curious. Your gallery Have we passed through, not without much content In many singularities. Shak.

3. Possession of a particular or exclusive privilege, prerogative, or distinction. No bishop of Rome ever took upon him this name of singularity [universal bishop]. Hooker. Catholicism . . . must be understood in opposition to the legal singularity of the Jewish nation. Bp. Pearson.

4. Celibacy. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.

SINGULARIZE
Sin"gu*lar*ize, v. t.

Defn: To make singular or single; to distinguish. [R.]

SINGULARLY
Sin"gu*lar*ly, adv.

1. In a singular manner; in a manner, or to a degree, not common to others; extraordinarily; as, to be singularly exact in one's statements; singularly considerate of others. "Singularly handsome." Milman.

2. Strangely; oddly; as, to behave singularly.

3. So as to express one, or the singular number.

SINGULT
Sin"gult, n.Etym: [L. singultus.]

Defn: A sigh or sobbing; also, a hiccough. [Obs.] Spenser. W. Browne.

SINGULTOUS
Sin*gul"tous, a. (Med.)

Defn: Relating to, or affected with, hiccough. Dunglison.

SINGULTUS
Sin*gul"tus, n. Etym: [L.] (Med.)

Defn: Hiccough.

SINIC
Sin"ic, a. [See Sinologue.] (Ethnol.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Chinese and allied races; Chinese.

SINICAL
Sin"i*cal, a. Etym: [From Sine.] (Trig.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to a sine; employing, or founded upon, sines; as, a sinical quadrant.

SINICISM
Sin"i*cism, n. (Ethnol.)

Defn: Anything peculiar to the Chinese; esp., a Chinese peculiarity in manners or customs.

SINIGRIN
Sin"i*grin, n. Etym: [From NL. Sinapis nigra.] (Chem.)

Defn: A glucoside found in the seeds of black mustard (Brassica nigra, formerly Sinapis nigra) It resembles sinalbin, and consists of a potassium salt of myronic acid.

SINISTER Sin"is*ter, a. Etym: [Accented on the middle syllable by the older poets, as Shakespeare, Milton, Dryden.] Etym: [L. sinister: cf. F. sinistre.]

1. On the left hand, or the side of the left hand; left; — opposed to dexter, or right. "Here on his sinister cheek." Shak. My mother's blood Runs on the dexter cheek, and this sinister Bounds in my father's Shak.

Note: In heraldy the sinister side of an escutcheon is the side which would be on the left of the bearer of the shield, and opposite the right hand of the beholder.

2. Unlucky; inauspicious; disastrous; injurious; evil; — the left being usually regarded as the unlucky side; as, sinister influences. All the several ills that visit earth, Brought forth by night, with a sinister birth. B. Jonson.

3. Wrong, as springing from indirection or obliquity; perverse; dishonest; corrupt; as, sinister aims. Nimble and sinister tricks and shifts. Bacon. He scorns to undermine another's interest by any sinister or inferior arts. South. He read in their looks . . . sinister intentions directed particularly toward himself. Sir W. Scott.

4. Indicative of lurking evil or harm; boding covert danger; as, a sinister countenance. Bar sinister. (Her.) See under Bar, n. — Sinister aspect (Astrol.), an appearance of two planets happening according to the succession of the signs, as Saturn in Aries, and Mars in the same degree of Gemini. — Sinister base, Sinister chief. See under Escutcheon.

SINISTER-HANDED
Sin"is*ter-hand"ed, a.

Defn: Left-handed; hence, unlucky. [Obs.] Lovelace.

SINISTERLY
Sin"is*ter*ly, adv.

Defn: In a sinister manner. Wood.

SINISTRAD
Sin"is*trad, adv. Etym: [L. sinistra the left hand + ad tp.] (Anat. &
Zoöl.)

Defn: Toward the left side; sinistrally.

SINISTRAL
Sin"is*tral, a.

1. Of or pertaining to the left, inclining to the left; sinistrous; - - opposed to dextral.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having the whorls of the spire revolving or rising to the left; reversed; — said of certain spiral shells.

SINISTRALITY
Sin`is*tral"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being sinistral.

SINISTRALLY
Sin"is*tral*ly, adv.

Defn: Toward the left; in a sinistral manner. J. Le Conte.

SINISTRIN
Sin"is*trin, n. Etym: [L. sinister left.] (Chem.)

Defn: A mucilaginous carbohydrate, resembling achroödextrin, extracted from squill as a colorless amorphous substance; — so called because it is levorotatory.

SINISTRORSAL Sin`is*tror"sal, a. Etym: [L.sinistrorsus, sinistroversus, turned toward the left side; sinister left + vertere, vortere, versum, vorsum, to turn.]

Defn: Rising spirally from right to left (of the spectator); sinistrorse.

SINISTRORSE
Sin"is*trorse`, a. Etym: [See Sinistrolsal.]

Defn: Turning to the left (of the spectator) in the ascending line; - - the opposite of dextrorse. See Dextrorse.

SINISTROUS
Sin"is*trous, a. Etym: [See Sinister.]

1. Being on the left side; inclined to the left; sinistral. "Sinistrous gravity." Sir T. Browne.

2. Wrong; absurd; perverse. A knave or fool can do no harm, even by the most sinistrous and absurd choice. Bentley.

SINISTROUSLY
Sin"is*trous*ly, adv.

1. In a sinistrous manner; perversely; wrongly; unluckily.

2. With a tendency to use the left hand. Many, in their infancy, are sinistrously disposed, and divers continue all their life left-handed. Sir T. Browne.

SINK Sink, v. i. [imp. Sunk, or (Sank ; p. p. Sunk (obs. Sunken, — now used as adj.); p. pr. & vb. n. Sinking.] Etym: [OE. sinken, AS. sincan; akin to D. zinken, OS. sincan, G. sinken, Icel. sökkva, Dan. synke, Sw. sjunka, Goth. siggan, and probably to E. silt. Cf. Silt.]

1. To fall by, or as by, the force of gravity; to descend lower and lower; to decline gradually; to subside; as, a stone sinks in water; waves rise and sink; the sun sinks in the west. I sink in deep mire. Ps. lxix. 2.

2. To enter deeply; to fall or retire beneath or below the surface; to penetrate. The stone sunk into his forehead. 1 San. xvii. 49.

3. Hence, to enter so as to make an abiding impression; to enter completely. Let these sayings sink down into your ears. Luke ix. 44.

4. To be overwhelmed or depressed; to fall slowly, as so the ground, from weakness or from an overburden; to fail in strength; to decline; to decay; to decrease. I think our country sinks beneath the yoke. Shak. He sunk down in his chariot. 2 Kings ix. 24. Let not the fire sink or slacken. Mortimer.

5. To decrease in volume, as a river; to subside; to become diminished in volume or in apparent height. The Alps and Pyreneans sink before him. Addison.

Syn. — To fall; subside; drop; droop; lower; decline; decay; decrease; lessen.

SINK
Sink, v. t.

1. To cause to sink; to put under water; to immerse or submerge in a
fluid; as, to sink a ship.
[The Athenians] fell upon the wings and sank a single ship. Jowett
(Thucyd.).

2. Figuratively: To cause to decline; to depress; to degrade; hence, to ruin irretrievably; to destroy, as by drowping; as, to sink one's reputation. I raise of sink, imprison or set free. Prior. If I have a conscience, let it sink me. Shak. Thy cruel and unnatural lust of power Has sunk thy father more than all his years. Rowe.

3. To make (a depression) by digging, delving, or cutting, etc.; as, to sink a pit or a well; to sink a die.

4. To bring low; to reduce in quantity; to waste. You sunk the river repeated draughts. Addison.

5. To conseal and appropriate. [Slang] If sent with ready money to buy anything, and you happen to be out of pocket, sink the money, and take up the goods on account. Swift.

6. To keep out of sight; to suppress; to ignore. A courtly willingness to sink obnoxious truths. Robertson.

7. To reduce or extinguish by payment; as, to sink the national debt.

SINK
Sink, n.

1. A drain to carry off filthy water; a jakes.

2. A shallow box or vessel of wood, stone, iron, or other material, connected with a drain, and used for receiving filthy water, etc., as in a kitchen.

3. A hole or low place in land or rock, where waters sink and are lost; — called also sink hole. [U. S.] Sink hole. (a) The opening to a sink drain. (b) A cesspool. (c) Same as Sink, n., 3.

SINKER
Sink"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, sinks. Specifically: (a) A weight on something, as on a fish line, to sink it. (b) In knitting machines, one of the thin plates, blades, or other devices, that depress the loops upon or between the needles. Dividing sinker, in knitting machines, a sinker between two jack sinkers and acting alternately with them. — Jack sinker. See under Jack, n. — Sinker bar. (a) In knitting machines, a bar to which one set of the sinkers is attached. (b) In deep well boring, a heavy bar forming a connection between the lifting rope and the boring tools, above the jars.

SINKING
Sink"ing, a & n.

Defn: from Sink. Sinking fund. See under Fund. — Sinking head (Founding), a riser from which the mold is fed as the casting shrinks. See Riser, n., 4. — Sinking pump, a pump which can be lowered in a well or a mine shaft as the level of the water sinks.

SINLESS
Sin"less, a.

Defn: Free from sin. Piers Plowman.
— Sin"less*ly, adv.
— Sin"less*ness, n.

SINNER
Sin"ner, n.

Defn: One who has sinned; especially, one who has sinned without repenting; hence, a persistent and incorrigible transgressor; one condemned by the law of God.

SINNER
Sin"ner, v. i.

Defn: To act as a sinner. [Humorous]
Whether the charmer sinner it or saint it. Pope.

SINNERESS
Sin"ner*ess, n.

Defn: A woman who sins. [Obs.]

SINNET
Sin"net, n.

Defn: See Sennit .

SINOLOGICAL
Sin`o*log"ic*al, a. Etym: [See Sinilogue.]

Defn: Relating to the Chinese language or literature.

SINOLOGIST
Si*nol"o*gist, n.

Defn: A sinilogue.

SINOLOGUE
Sin"o*logue, n. Etym: [From L. Sinae, an Oriental people mentioned by
Ptolemy, or Ar. Sin China or the Chinese + Gr. theologue: cf. F.
sinologue.]

Defn: A student of Chinese; one versed in the Chinese language, literature, and history.

SINOLOGY
Si*nol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. sinologie.]

Defn: That branch of systemized knowledge which treats of the
Chinese, their language, literature, etc.

SINOPER
Sin"o*per, n. (Min.)

Defn: Sinople.

SINOPIA; SINOPIS
Si*no"pi*a, Si*no"pis, n.

Defn: A red pigment made from sinopite.

SINOPITE
Sin"o*pite, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. sinopis (sc. terra), a red earth or
ocher found in Sinope, a town in Paphlagoma, on the Black Sea, Gr.
(Min.)

Defn: A brickred ferruginous clay used by the ancients for red paint.

SINOPLE
Sin"o*ple, n. (Min.)

Defn: Ferruginous quartz, of a blood-red or brownish red color, sometimes with a tinge of yellow.

SINOPLE
Sin"o*ple, n. Etym: [F., fr. LL. sinopis. See Sinople a mineral.]
(Her.)

Defn: The tincture vert; green.

SINQUE
Sinque, n.

Defn: See Cinque. [Obs.] Beau & Fl.

SINSRING
Sins"ring, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Banxring.

SINTER
Sin"ter, n. Etym: [G. Cf. Cinder.] (Min.)

Defn: Dross, as of iron; the scale which files from iron when hammered; — applied as a name to various minerals. Calcareous sinter, a loose banded variety of calcite formed by deposition from lime-bearing waters; calcareous tufa; travertine. — Ceraunian sinter, fulgurite. — Siliceous sinter, a light cellular or fibrous opal; especially, geyserite (see Geyserite). It has often a pearly luster, and is then called pearl sinter.

SINTO; SINTU; SINTOISM; SINTOIST
Sin"to, or Sin"tu, Sin"to*ism, Sin"to*ist.

Defn: See Shinto, etc.

SINTOC
Sin"toc, n.

Defn: A kind of spice used in the East Indies, consisting of the bark of a species of Cinnamomum. [Written also sindoc.]

SINUATE Sin"u*ate, a. Etym: [L. sinuatus, p. p. of sinuare to wind, bend, fr. sinus a bend.]

Defn: Having the margin alternately curved inward and outward; having rounded lobes separated by rounded sinuses; sinuous; wavy.

SINUATE
Sin"u*ate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sinuated; p. pr. & vb. n. Sinuating.]

Defn: To bend or curve in and out; to wind; to turn; to be sinusous.
Woodward.

SINUATED
Sin"u*a`ted, a.

Defn: Same as Sinuate.

SINUATION
Sin`u*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. sinuatio.]

Defn: A winding or bending in and out.

SINUOSE
Sin"u*ose`, a.

Defn: Sinuous. Loudon.

SINUOSITY
Sin`u*os"i*ty, n.; pl. Sinuosities. Etym: [Cf. F. sinuosité.]

1. Quality or state of being sinuous.

2. A bend, or a series of bends and turns; a winding, or a series of windings; a wave line; a curve. A line of coast certainly amounting, with its sinuosities, to more than 700 miles. Sydney Smith.

SINUOUS Sin"u*ous, a. Etym: [L. sinuosus, fr. sinus a bent surface, a curve: cf. F. sinueux. See Sinus.]

Defn: Bending in and out; of a serpentine or undulating form;
winding; crooked.
— Sin"u*ous*ly, adv.
Streaking the ground with sinuous trace. Milton.
Gardens bright with sinuous rills. Coleridge.

SINUPALLIATE
Si`nu*pal"li*ate, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having a pallial sinus. See under Sinus.

SINUS Si"nus, n.; pl. L. Sinus, E. Sinuses. Etym: [L., a bent surface, a curve, the folds or bosom of a garment, etc., a bay. Cf. Sine, n.]

1. An opening; a hollow; a bending.

2. A bay of the sea; a recess in the shore.

3. (Anat. & Zoöl.)

Defn: A cavity; a depression. Specifically: (a) A cavity in a bone or other part, either closed or with a narrow opening. (b) A dilated vessel or canal.

4. (Med.)

Defn: A narrow, elongated cavity, in which pus is collected; an elongated abscess with only a small orifice.

5. (Bot.)

Defn: A depression between adjoining lobes.

Note: A sinus may be rounded, as in the leaf of the white oak, or acute, as in that of the red maple. Pallial sinus. (Zoöl.) See under Pallial. — Sinus venosus. Etym: [L., venous dilatation.] (Anat.) (a) The main part of the cavity of the right auricle of the heart in the higher vertebrates. (b) In the lower vertebrates, a distinct chamber of the heart formed by the union of the large systematic veins and opening into the auricle.

SINUSOID
Si"nus*oid, n. Etym: [Sinus + -oid.] (Geom.)

Defn: The curve whose ordinates are proportional to the sines of the abscissas, the equation of the curve being y = a sin x. It is also called the curve of sines.

SINUSOIDAL
Si`nus*oid"al, a. (Geom.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to a sinusoid; like a sinusoid.

SIOGOON
Sio"goon, n.

Defn: See Shogun.

SIOGOONATE
Sio*goon"ate, n.

Defn: See Shogunate.

SIOUX
Sioux, n. sing. & pl. (Ethnol.)

Defn: See Dakotas.

SIOUX STATE
Sioux State.

Defn: North Dakota; — a nickname.

SIP
Sip, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sipped; p. pr. & vb. n. Sipping.] Etym: [OE.
sippen; akin to OD. sippen, and AS. s to sip, suck up, drink. See
Sup, v. t.]

1. To drink or imbibe in small quantities; especially, to take in with the lips in small quantities, as a liquid; as, to sip tea. "Every herb that sips the dew." Milton.

2. To draw into the mouth; to suck up; as, a bee sips nectar from the flowers.

3. To taste the liquor of; to drink out of. [Poetic] They skim the floods, and sip the purple flowers. Dryden.

SIP
Sip, v. i.

Defn: To drink a small quantity; to take a fluid with the lips; to take a sip or sips of something. [She] raised it to her mouth with sober grace; Then, sipping, offered to the next in place. Dryden.

SIP
Sip, n.

1. The act of sipping; the taking of a liquid with the lips.

2. A small draught taken with the lips; a slight taste. One sip of this Will bathe the drooping spirits in delight Beyond the bliss of dreams. Milton. A sip is all that the public ever care to take from reservoirs of abstract philosophy. De Quincey.

SIPAGE
Sip"age, n.

Defn: See Seepage. [Scot. & U.S.]

SIPE
Sipe, v. i.

Defn: See Seep. [Scot. & U.S.]

SIPHILIS
Siph"i*lis, n. (Med.)

Defn: Syphilis.

SIPHOID
Si"phoid, n. Etym: [L. sipho a siphon + -oid: cf. F. vase siphoïde.]

Defn: A siphon bottle. See under Siphon, n.

SIPHON
Si"phon, n. Etym: [F. siphon, L. sipho, -onis, fr. Gr.

1. A device, consisting of a pipe or tube bent so as to form two branches or legs of unequal length, by which a liquid can be transferred to a lower level, as from one vessel to another, over an intermediate elevation, by the action of the pressure of the atmosphere in forcing the liquid up the shorter branch of the pipe immersed in it, while the continued excess of weight of the liquid in the longer branch (when once filled) causes a continuous flow. The flow takes place only when the discharging extremity of the pipe ia lower than the higher liquid surface, and when no part of the pipe is higher above the surface than the same liquid will rise by atmospheric pressure; that is, about 33 feet for water, and 30 inches for mercury, near the sea level.

2. (Zoöl.) (a) One of the tubes or folds of the mantle border of a bivalve or gastropod mollusk by which water is conducted into the gill cavity. See Illust. under Mya, and Lamellibranchiata. (b) The anterior prolongation of the margin of any gastropod shell for the protection of the soft siphon. (c) The tubular organ through which water is ejected from the gill cavity of a cephaloid. It serves as a locomotive organ, by guiding and confining the jet of water. Called also siphuncle. See Illust. under Loligo, and Dibranchiata. (d) The siphuncle of a cephalopod shell. (e) The sucking proboscis of certain parasitic insects and crustaceans. (f) A sproutlike prolongation in front of the mouth of many gephyreans. (g) A tubular organ connected both with the esophagus and the intestine of certain sea urchins and annelids.

3. A siphon bottle. Inverted siphon, a tube bent like a siphon, but having the branches turned upward; specifically (Hydraulic Engineering), a pipe for conducting water beneath a depressed place, as from one hill to another across an intervening valley, following the depression of the ground. — Siphon barometer. See under Barometer. — Siphon bottle, a bottle for holding aërated water, which is driven out through a bent tube in the neck by the gas within the bottle when a valve in the tube is opened; — called also gazogene, and siphoid. — Siphon condenser, a condenser for a steam engine, in which the vacuum is maintained by the downward flow of water through a vertical pipe of great height. — Siphon cup, a cup with a siphon attached for carrying off any liquid in it; specifically (Mach.), an oil cup in which oil is carried over the edge of a tube in a cotton wick, and so reaches the surface to be lubricated. — Siphon gauge. See under Gauge. — Siphon pump, a jet pump. See under Jet, n.

SIPHON
Si"phon, v. t. (Chem.)

Defn: To convey, or draw off, by means of a siphon, as a liquid from one vessel to another at a lower level.

SIPHONAGE
Si"phon*age, n.

Defn: The action of a siphon.

SIPHONAL
Si"phon*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a siphon; resembling a siphon. Siphonal stomach (Zoöl.), a stomach which is tubular and bent back upon itself, like a siphon, as in the salmon.

SIPHONARID
Si`pho*na"rid, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of limpet-shaped pulmonate gastropods of the genus Siphonaria. They cling to rocks between high and low water marks and have both lunglike organs and gills. — Si`pho*na"rid, a.

SIPHONATA
Si`pho*na"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A tribe of bivalve mollusks in which the posterior mantle border is prolonged into two tubes or siphons. Called also Siphoniata. See Siphon, 2 (a), and Quahaug.

SIPHONATE
Si"phon*ate, a.

1. Having a siphon or siphons.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Belonging to the Siphonata.

SIPHONET
Si"phon*et, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the two dorsal tubular organs on the hinder part of the abdomen of aphids. They give exit to the honeydew. See Illust. under Aphis.

SIPHONIA
Si*pho"ni*a, n. Etym: [NL.] (Bot.)

Defn: A former name for a euphorbiaceous genus (Hevea) of South
American trees, the principal source of caoutchouc.

SIPHONIATA
Si*pho`ni*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Siphonata.

SIPHONIC
Si*phon"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a siphon.

SIPHONIFER Si*phon"i*fer, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. sipho, -onis, siphon + ferre to bear.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any cephalopod having a siphonate shell.

SIPHONIFEROUS
Si"phon*if"er*ous, a. Etym: [Siphon + -ferous.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Siphon-bearing, as the shell of the nautilus and other cephalopods.

SIPHONIUM
Si*pho"ni*um, n.; pl. Siphonia. Etym: [NL., from Gr. Siphon.] (Anat.)

Defn: A bony tube which, in some birds, connects the tympanium with the air chambers of the articular piece of the mandible.

SIPHONOBRANCHIATA
Si`pho*no*bran`chi*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Siphon, and Branchia.]
(Zoöl.)

Defn: A tribe of gastropods having the mantle border, on one or both sides, prolonged in the form of a spout through which water enters the gill cavity. The shell itself is not always siphonostomatous in this group.

SIPHONOBRANCHIATE
Si`pho*no*bran"chi*ate, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having a siphon, or siphons, to convey water to the gills; belonging or pertaining to the Siphonobranchiata. — n.

Defn: One of the Siphonobranchiata.

SIPHONOGLYPHE
Si`pho*nog"ly*phe, n. Etym: [Siphon + Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A gonidium.

SIPHONOPHORA
Si`pho*noph"o*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of pelagic Hydrozoa including species which form complex free-swimming communities composed of numerous zooids of various kinds, some of which act as floats or as swimming organs, others as feeding or nutritive zooids, and others as reproductive zooids. See Illust. under Physallia, and Porpita.

SIPHONOPHORAN
Si`pho*noph"o*ran, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Belonging to the Siphonophora.
— n.

Defn: One of the Siphonophora.

SIPHONOPHORE
Si*phon"o*phore, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Siphonophora.

SIPHONOPODA
Si`pho*nop"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Siphon, and -poda.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of Scaphopoda including those in which the foot terminates in a circular disk.

SIPHONOSTOMATA Si`pho*no*stom"a*ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Siphon, and Stoma.] (Zoöl.) (a) A tribe of parasitic copepod Crustacea including a large number of species that are parasites of fishes, as the lerneans. They have a mouth adapted to suck blood. (b) An artificial division of gastropods including those that have siphonostomatous shells.

SIPHONOSTOMATOUS Si`pho*no*stom"a*tous, a. (Zoöl.) (a) Having the front edge of the aperture of the shell prolonged in the shape of a channel for the protection of the siphon; — said of certain gastropods. (b) Pertaining to the Siphonostomata.

SIPHONOSTOME Si`pho*nos"tome, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.) (a) Any parasitic entomostracan of the tribe Siphonostomata. (b) A siphonostomatous shell.

SIPHORHINAL
Si`pho*rhi"nal, a. Etym: [Siphon + rhinal.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having tubular nostrils, as the petrels.

SIPHORHINIAN
Si`pho*rhin"i*an, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A siphorhinal bird.

SIPHUNCLE
Si"phun`cle, n. Etym: [L. siphunculus, sipunculus, dim. of sipho. See
Siphon.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The tube which runs through the partitions of chambered cephalopod shells.

SIPHUNCLED
Si"phun`cled, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having a siphuncle; siphunculated.

SIPHUNCULAR
Si*phun"cu*lar, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the siphuncle.

SIPHUNCULATED
Si*phun"cu*la`ted, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having a siphuncle. Huxley.

SIPID
Sip"id, a. Etym: [See Insipid, Sapid.]

Defn: Having a taste or flavorl savory; sapid. [Obs.] Cockeram.

SIPPER
Sip"per, n.

Defn: One whi sips.

SIPPET
Sip"pet, n. Etym: [See Sip, Sop.]

Defn: A small sop; a small, thin piece of toasted bread soaked in milk, broth, or the like; a small piece of toasted or fried bread cut into some special shape and used for garnishing. Your sweet sippets in widows' houses. Milton.

SIPPLE
Sip"ple, v. i. Etym: [Freq. of sip.]

Defn: To sip often. [Obs. or Scot.]

SIPPLING
Sip"pling, a.

Defn: Sipping often. [Obs.] "Taken after a sippling sort." Holland.

SIPUNCULACEA Si*pun`cu*la"ce*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Sipunculus, the typical genus. See Siphuncle.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A suborder of Gephyrea, including those which have the body unarmed and the intestine opening anteriorly.

SIPUNCULOID
Si*pun"cu*loid, a. Etym: [NL. Sipunculus, the typical genus + -oid.]
(Zoöl.)

Defn: Pertaining to the Sipunculoidea.
— n.

Defn: One of the Sipunculoidea.

SIPUNCULOIDEA Si*pun`cu*loi"de*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.) (a) Same as Gephyrea. (b) In a restricted sense, same as Sipunculacea.

SI QUIS
Si` quis". Etym: [L., if any one (the first words of the notice in
Latin).] (Ch. of Eng.)

Defn: A notification by a candidate for orders of his intention to inquire whether any impediment may be alleged against him.

SIR Sir, n. Etym: [OE. sire, F. sire, contr. from the nominative L. senior an elder, elderly person, compar. of senex,senis, an aged person; akin to Gr. sana, Goth. sineigs old, sinista eldest, Ir. & Gael. sean old, W. hen. Cf. Seignior, Senate, Seneschal, Senior, Senor, Signor, Sire, Sirrah.]

1. A man of social authority and dignity; a lord; a master; a gentleman; — in this sense usually spelled sire. [Obs.] He was crowned lord and sire. Gower. In the election of a sir so rare. Shak.

2. A title prefixed to the Christian name of a knight or a baronet. Sir Horace Vere, his brother, was the principal in the active part. Bacon.

3. An English rendering of the LAtin Dominus, the academical title of a bachelor of arts; — formerly colloquially, and sometimes contemptuously, applied to the clergy. Nares. Instead of a faithful and painful teacher, they hire a Sir John, which hath better skill in playing at tables, or in keeping of a garden, than in God's word. Latimer.

4. A respectful title, used in addressing a man, without being prefixed to his name; — used especially in speaking to elders or superiors; sometimes, also, used in the way of emphatic formality. "What's that to you, sir" Sheridan.

Note: Anciently, this title, was often used when a person was addressed as a man holding a certain office, or following a certain business. "Sir man of law." "Sir parish priest." Chaucer. Sir reverance. See under Reverence, n.

SIRASKIER
Si*ras"kier, n.

Defn: See Seraskier.

SIRASKIERATE
Si*ras"kier*ate, n.

Defn: See Seraskierate.

SIRBONIAN
Sir*bo"ni*an, a.

Defn: See Serbonian.

SIRCAR Sir*car", n. Etym: [Hind. & Per. sarkar a superintendant, overseer, chief; Per. sar the head + kar action, work.]

1. A Hindoo clerk or accountant. [India]

2. A district or province; a circar. [India]

3. The government; the supreme authority of the state. [India]

SIRDAR Sir*dar", n Etym: [Hind. & Per. sardar a chief, general; sar the head, top + dar holding, possessing.]

Defn: A native chief in Hindostan; a headman. Malcom.

SIRE
Sire, n. Etym: [F. sire, originally, an older person. See Sir.]

1. A lord, master, or other person in authority. See Sir. [Obs.] Pain and distress, sickness and ire, And melancholy that angry sire, Be of her palace senators. Rom. of R.

2. A tittle of respect formerly used in speaking to elders and superiors, but now only in addressing a sovereign.

3. A father; the head of a family; the husband. Jankin thet was our sire [i.e., husband]. Chaucer. And raise his issue, like a loving sire. Shak.

4. A creator; a maker; an author; an originator. [He] was the sire of an immortal strain. Shelley.

5. The male parent of a beast; — applied especially to horses; as, the horse had a good sire.

Note: Sire is often used in composition; as in grandsire, grandfather; great-grandsire, great-grandfather.

SIRE
Sire, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sired; p. pr. & vb. n. Siring.]

Defn: To beget; to procreate; — used of beasts, and especially of stallions.

SIREDON
Si*re"don, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The larval form of any salamander while it still has external gills; especially, one of those which, like the axolotl (Amblystoma Mexicanum), sometimes lay eggs while in this larval state, but which under more favorable conditions lose their gills and become normal salamanders. See also Axolotl.

SIREN
Si"ren, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. sirène.]

1. (Class. Myth.)

Defn: One of three sea nymphs, — or, according to some writers, of two, — said to frequent an island near the coast of Italy, and to sing with such sweetness that they lured mariners to destruction. Next where the sirens dwell you plow the seas; Their song is death, and makes destruction please. Pope.

2. An enticing, dangerous woman. Shak.

3. Something which is insidious or deceptive. Consumption is a siren. W. Irving.

4. A mermaid. [Obs.] Shak.

5. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any long, slender amphibian of the genus Siren or family Sirenidæ, destitute of hind legs and pelvis, and having permanent external gills as well as lungs. They inhabit the swamps, lagoons, and ditches of the Southern United States. The more common species (Siren lacertina) is dull lead-gray in color, and becames two feet long.

6. Etym: [F. sirène, properly, a siren in sense 1.] (Acoustics)

Defn: An instrument for producing musical tones and for ascertaining the number of sound waves or vibrations per second which produce a note of a given pitch. The sounds are produced by a perforated rotating disk or disks. A form with two disks operated by steam or highly compressed air is used sounding an alarm to vessels in fog. [Written also sirene, and syren.]

SIREN
Si"ren, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a siren; bewitching, like a siren; fascinating; alluring; as, a siren song.

SIRENE
Si*rene", n.

Defn: See Siren, 6.

SIRENIA
Si*re"ni*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of large aquatic herbivorous mammals, including the manatee, dugong, rytina, and several fossil genera.

Note: The hind limbs are either rudimentary or wanting, and the front ones are changed to paddles. They have horny plates on the front part of the jaws, and usually flat-crowned molar teeth. The stomach is complex and the intestine long, as in other herbivorous mammals. See Cetacea (b).

SIRENIAN
Si*re"ni*an, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any species of Sirenia.

SIRENICAL
Si*ren"ic*al, a.

Defn: Like, or appropriate to, a siren; fascinating; deceptive.
Here's couple of sirenical rascals shall enchant ye. Marton.

SIRENIZE
Si"ren*ize, v. i.

Defn: To use the enticements of a siren; to act as a siren; to fascinate.

SIRIASIS Si*ri"a*sis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Med.) (a) A sunstroke. (b) The act of exposing to a sun bath. [Obs.] Cf. Insolation.

SIRIUS
Sir"i*us, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Astron.)

Defn: The Dog Star. See Dog Star.

SIRKEER
Sir"keer, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of Asiatic cuckoos of the genus
Taccocua, as the Bengal sirkeer (T. sirkee).

SIRLOIN
Sir"loin`, n. Etym: [A corruption of surloin. Not so called because
this cut of beaf was once jocosely knighted (dubbed Sir Loin) by an
English king, as according to a popular story.]

Defn: A loin of beef, or a part of a loin. [Written also surloin.]

SIRNAME
Sir"name`, n.

Defn: See Surname.

SIROC
Si"roc, n.

Defn: See Sirocco. [Poetic] Emerson.

SIROCCO Si*roc"co, n.; pl. Siroccos. Etym: [It. sirocco, scirocco, Ar. shorug, fr. sharq the rising of the sun, the east, fr, sharaca to rise as the sun. Cf. Saracen.]

Defn: An oppressive, relaxing wind from the Libyan deserts, chiefly experienced in Italy, Malta, and Sicily.

SIRRAH
Sir"rah, n. Etym: [Probably from Icel. sira, fr. F. sire. See Sir.]

Defn: A term of address implying inferiority and used in anger, contempt, reproach, or disrespectful familiarity, addressed to a man or boy, but sometimes to a woman. In sililoquies often preceded by ah. Not used in the plural. "Ah, sirrah mistress." Beau & Fl. Go, sirrah, to my cell. Shak.

SIRT
Sirt, n. Etym: [See Syrt.]

Defn: A quicksand. [Obs.]

SIRUP; SYRUP Sir"up Syr"up, n. Etym: [F. sirop (cf. It. siroppo, Sp. jarabe, jarope, LL. siruppus, syrupus), fr. Ar. sharab a drink, wine, coffee, sirup. Cf. Sherbet.]

1. A thick and viscid liquid made from the juice of fruits, herbs, etc., boiled with sugar.

2. A thick and viscid saccharine solution of superior quality (as sugarhouse sirup or molasses, maple sirup); specifically, in pharmacy and often in cookery, a saturated solution of sugar and water (simple sirup), or such a solution flavored or medicated. Lucent sirups tinct with cinnamon. Keats. Mixing sirup. See the Note under Dextrose.

SIRUPED; SYRUPED
Sir"uped, Syr"uped, a.

Defn: Moistened, covered, or sweetened with sirup, or sweet juice.

SIRUPY; SYRUPY
Sir"up*y, Syr"up*y, a.

Defn: Like sirup, or partaking of its qualities. Mortimer.

SIRVENTE Sir`vente", n. Etym: [F. sirvente, fr. Pr. sirventes, sirventesc, originally, the poem of, or concerning, a sirvent, fr. sirvent, properly, serving, n., one who serves (e. g., as a soldier), fr. servir to serve, L. servire.]

Defn: A peculiar species of poetry, for the most part devoted to moral and religious topics, and commonly satirical, — often used by the troubadours of the Middle Ages.

SIS
Sis, n.

Defn: A colloquial abbreviation of Sister.

SIS
Sis, n.

Defn: Six. See Sise. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SISAL GRASS; SISAL HEMP
Si*sal" grass`, Si*sal" hemp`,

Defn: The prepared fiber of the Agave Americana, or American aloe, used for cordage; — so called from Sisal, a port in Yucatan. See Sisal hemp, under Hemp.

SISCOWET
Sis"co*wet, n. Etym: [OF American Indian origin.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A large, fat variety of the namaycusa found in Lake Superior; - - called also siskawet, siskiwit.

SISE
Sise, n. Etym: [From Assize.]

Defn: An assize. [Obs.]

SISE
Sise, n. Etym: [See Sice.]

Defn: Six; the highest number on a die; the cast of six in throwing
dice.
In the new casting of a die, when ace is on the top, sise must needs
be at the bottom. Fuller.

SISEL
Sis"el, n. Etym: [Cf. G. ziesel. Cf. Zizel.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The suslik.

SISER
Si"ser, n.

Defn: Cider. See Sicer. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SISERARA; SISERARY
Sis"e*ra*ra, Sis"e*ra*ry, n.

Defn: A hard blow. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

SISKIN Sis"kin, n. Etym: [Dan. sisgen; cf. Sw. siska, G. zeisig, D. sijsje; of Slav. origin; cf. Pol. czy.] (Zoöl.) (a) A small green and yellow European finch (Spinus spinus, or Carduelis spinus); — called also aberdevine. (b) The American pinefinch (S. pinus); — called also pine siskin. See Pinefinch.

Note: The name is applied also to several other related species found in Asia and South America. Siskin green, a delicate shade of yellowish green, as in the mineral torbernite.

SISKIWIT
Sis"ki*wit, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The siscowet.

SISMOGRAPH
Sis"mo*graph, n.

Defn: See Seismograph.

SISMOMETER
Sis*mom"e*ter, n.

Defn: See Seismometer.

SISS
Siss, v. i. Etym: [Of imitative origin; cf. D. sissen, G. zischen.]

Defn: To make a hissing sound; as, a flatiron hot enough to siss when touched with a wet finger. [Colloq. U. S.; Local, Eng.]

SISS
Siss, n.

Defn: A hissing noise. [Colloq. U. S.]

SISSOO
Sis*soo", n. Etym: [Hind. sis.] (Bot.)

Defn: A leguminous tree (Dalbergia Sissoo) of the northern parts of India; also, the dark brown compact and durable timber obtained from it. It is used in shipbuilding and for gun carriages, railway ties, etc.

SIST
Sist, v. t. Etym: [L. sistere to bring to a stand, to stop.]

1. (Scots Law)

Defn: To stay, as judicial proceedings; to delay or suspend; to stop.

2. To cause to take a place, as at the bar of a court; hence, to cite; to summon; to bring into court. [Scot.] Some, however, have preposterously sisted nature as the first or generative principle. Sir W. Hamilton.

SIST
Sist, n. (Scots Law)

Defn: A stay or suspension of proceedings; an order for a stay of proceedings. Burril.

SISTER
Sis"ter, n. Etym: [OE. sister, fr. Icel. systir; also suster, from
AS. sweostor, sweoster, swuster, akin to OFries. sweester, suster,
LG. süster, suster, D. zuster, OS. & OHG. swestar, G. schwester,
Icel. systir, Sw. syster, Dan. söster, Goth. swistar, Lith. ses,
Russ. sestra, Pol. siostra, L. soror, Skr. svasr. sq. root298. Cf.
Cousin.]

1. A female who has the same parents with another person, or who has one of them only. In the latter case, she is more definitely called a half sister. The correlative of brother. I am the sister of one Claudio. Shak.

2. A woman who is closely allied to, or assocciated with, another person, as in the sdame faith, society, order, or community. James ii. 15.

3. One of the same kind, or of the same condition; — generally used adjectively; as, sister fruits. Pope. Sister Block (Naut.), a tackle block having two sheaves, one above the other. — Sister hooks, a pair of hooks fitted together, the shank of one forming a mousing for the other; — called also match hook. — Sister of charity, Sister of mercy. (R. C. Ch.) See under Charity, and Mercy.

SISTER
Sis"ter, v. t.

Defn: To be sister to; to resemble closely. [Obs.] Shak.

SISTERHOOD
Sis"ter*hood, n. Etym: [Sister + hood.]

1. The state or relation of being a sister; the office or duty of a sister. She . . . abhorr'd Her proper blood, and left to do the part Of sisterhood, to do that of a wife. Daniel.

2. A society of sisters; a society of women united in one faith or order; sisters, collectively. "A sisterhood of holy nuns." Shak. The fair young flowers . . . a beauteous sisterhood. Bryant.

SISTERING
Sis"ter*ing, a.

Defn: Contiguous. [Obs.] Shak.

SISTER-IN-LAW
Sis"ter-in-law`, n; pl. Sisters-in-law(

Defn: The sister of one's husband or wife; also, the wife of one's brother; sometimes, the wife of one's husband's or wife's brother.

SISTERLY
Sis"ter*ly, a.

Defn: Like a sister; becoming a sister, affectionate; as, sisterly kindness; sisterly remorse. Shak.

SISTINE
Sis"tine, a.Etym: [It. sistino.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to Pope Sixtus. Sistine chapel, a chapel in the Vatican at Rome, built by Pope Sixtus IV., and decorated with frescoes by Michael Angelo and others.

SISTREN
Sis"tren, n. pl.

Defn: Sisters. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SISTRUM
Sis"trum, Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Mus.)

Defn: An instrument consisting of a thin metal frame, through which passed a number of metal rods, and furnished with a handle by which it was shaken and made to rattle. It was peculiarly Egyptian, and used especially in the worship of Isis. It is still used in Nubia.

SISYPHEAN
Sis`y*phe"an, a.

Defn: Relating to Sisyphus; incessantly recurring; as, Sisyphean labors.

SISYPHUS
Sis"y*phus, n. Etym: [L. Sisyphus, Sisyphus, fr. Gr. (Class. Myth.)

Defn: A king of Corinth, son of Æolus, famed for his cunning. He was killed by Theseus, and in the lower world was condemned by Pluto to roll to the top of a hill a huge stone, which constantly rolled back again, making his task incessant.

SIT
Sit,

Defn: obs. 3d pers. sing. pres. of Sit, for sitteth.

SIT Sit, v. i. [imp. Sat (Sate, archaic); p. p. Sat (Sitten, obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. Sitting.] Etym: [OE. sitten, AS. sittan; akin to OS. sittian, OFries. sitta, D. zitten, G. sitzen, OHG. sizzen, Icel. sitja, SW. sitta, Dan. sidde, Goth. sitan, Russ. sidiete, L. sedere, Gr. sad. sq. root154. Cf. Assess,Assize, Cathedral, Chair, Dissident, Excise, Insidious, Possess, Reside, Sanhedrim, Seance, Seat, n., Sedate, 4th Sell, Siege, Session, Set, v. t., Sizar, Size, Subsidy.]

1. To rest upon the haunches, or the lower extremity of the trunk of the body; — said of human beings, and sometimes of other animals; as, to sit on a sofa, on a chair, or on the ground. And he came and took the book put of the right hand of him that sate upon the seat. Bible (1551) (Rev. v. 7.) I pray you, jest, sir, as you sit at dinner. Shak.

2. To perch; to rest with the feet drawn up, as birds do on a branch, pole, etc.

3. To remain in a state of repose; to rest; to abide; to rest in any position or condition. And Moses said to . . . the children of Reuben, Shall your brothren go to war, and shall ye sit here Num. xxxii. 6. Like a demigod here sit I in the sky. Shak.

4. To lie, rest, or bear; to press or weigh; — with on; as, a weight or burden sits lightly upon him. The calamity sits heavy on us. Jer. Taylor.

5. To be adjusted; to fit; as, a coat sts well or ill. This new and gorgeous garment, majesty, Sits not so easy on me as you think. Shak.

6. To suit one well or ill, as an act; to become; to befit; — used impersonally. [Obs.] Chaucer.

7. To cover and warm eggs for hatching, as a fowl; to brood; to incubate. As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not. Jer. xvii. 11.

8. To have position, as at the point blown from; to hold a relative position; to have direction. Like a good miller that knows how to grind, which way soever the wind sits. Selden. Sits the wind in that quarter Sir W. Scott.

9. To occupy a place or seat as a member of an official body; as, to sit in Congress.

10. To hold a session; to be in session for official business; — said of legislative assemblies, courts, etc.; as, the court sits in January; the aldermen sit to-night.

11. To take a position for the purpose of having some artistic representation of one's self made, as a picture or a bust; as, to sit to a painter. To sit at, to rest under; to be subject to. [Obs.] "A farmer can not husband his ground so well if he sit at a great rent". Bacon. — To sit at meat or at table, to be at table for eating. — To sit down. (a) To place one's self on a chair or other seat; as, to sit down when tired. (b) To begin a siege; as, the enemy sat down before the town. (c) To settle; to fix a permanent abode. Spenser. (d) To rest; to cease as satisfied. "Here we can not sit down, but still proceed in our search." Rogers. — To sit for a fellowship, to offer one's self for examination with a view to obtaining a fellowship. [Eng. Univ.] — To sit out. (a) To be without engagement or employment. [Obs.] Bp. Sanderson. (b) To outstay. — To sit under, to be under the instruction or ministrations of; as, to sit under a preacher; to sit under good preaching. — To sit up, to rise from, or refrain from, a recumbent posture or from sleep; to sit with the body upright; as, to sit up late at night; also, to watch; as, to sit up with a sick person. "He that was dead sat up, and began to speak." Luke vii. 15.

SIT
Sit, v. t.

1. To sit upon; to keep one's seat upon; as, he sits a horse well. Hardly the muse can sit the headstrong horse. Prior.

2. To cause to be seated or in a sitting posture; to furnish a seat to; — used reflexively. They sat them down to weep. Milton. Sit you down, father; rest you. Shak.

3. To suit (well or ill); to become. [Obs. or R.]

SITE Site, n. Etym: [L. situs, fr. sinere, situm, to let, p. p. situs placed, lying, situate: cf. F. site. Cf. Position.]

1. The place where anything is fixed; situation; local position; as, the site of a city or of a house. Chaucer.

2. A place fitted or chosen for any certain permanent use or occupation; as, a site for a church.

3. The posture or position of a thing. [R.] The semblance of a lover fixed In melancholy site. Thomson.

SITED
Sit"ed, a.

Defn: Having a site; situated. [Obs.]
[The garden] sited was in fruitful soil. Chaucer.

SITFAST
Sit"fast`, a. Etym: [Sit + fast.]

Defn: Fixed; stationary; immovable. [R.] 'T is good, when you have crossed the sea and back, To find the sitfast acres where you left them. Emerson.

SITFAST
Sit"fast`, n. (Far.)

Defn: A callosity with inflamed edges, on the back of a horse, under the saddle.

SITH
Sith, prep., adv., & conj. Etym: [See Since.]

Defn: Since; afterwards; seeing that. [Obs.]
We need not fear them, sith Christ is with us. Latimer.
Sith thou art rightful judge. Chaucer.

SITH; SITHE
Sith, Sithe, n. Etym: [AS.

Defn: Time. [Obs.] Chaucer.
And humbly thanked him a thousand sithes. Spenser.

SITHE
Sithe, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Sigh.]

Defn: To sigh.

Note: [A spelling of a corrupt and provincial pronunciation.]

SITHE
Sithe, n.

Defn: A scythe. [Obs.] Milton.

SITHE
Sithe, v. t.

Defn: To cut with a scythe; to scythe. [Obs.]

SITHED
Sithed, a.

Defn: Scythed. [Obs.] T. Warton.

SITHEMAN
Sithe"man, n.

Defn: A mower. [Obs.] Marston.

SITHEN
Sith"en, adv. & conj. Etym: [See Since.]

Defn: Since; afterwards. See 1st Sith. [Obs.]
Fortune was first friend and sithen foe. Chaucer.

SITHENCE; SITHENS
Sith"ence, Sith"ens, adv. & conj.

Defn: Since. See Sith, and Sithen. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.

SITHTHEN
Sith"then, adv. & conj.

Defn: See Sithen. [Obs.]
Siththen that the world began. Chaucer.

SITOLOGY
Si*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]

Defn: A treatise on the regulation of the diet; dietetics. [Written also sitiology.]

SITOPHOBIA
Si`to*pho"bi*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A version to food; refusal to take nourishment. [Written also sitiophobia.]

SITTEN
Sit"ten, obs.

Defn: p. p. of Sit, for sat.

SITTER
Sit"ter, n.

1. One who sits; esp., one who sits for a portrait or a bust.

2. A bird that sits or incubates.

SITTINE
Sit"tine, a. Etym: [NL. sitta the nuthatch, from Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the family Sittidæ, or nuthatches.

SITTING
Sit"ting, a.

Defn: Being in the state, or the position, of one who, or that which, sits.

SITTING
Sit"ting, n.

1. The state or act of one who sits; the posture of one who occupies a seat.

2. A seat, or the space occupied by or allotted for a person, in a church, theater, etc.; as, the hall has 800 sittings.

3. The act or time of sitting, as to a portrait painter, photographer, etc.

4. The actual presence or meeting of any body of men in their seats, clothed with authority to transact business; a session; as, a sitting of the judges of the King's Bench, or of a commission. The sitting closed in great agitation. Macaulay.

5. The time during which one sits while doing something, as reading a book, playing a game, etc. For the understanding of any one of St. Paul's Epistles I read it all through at one sitting. Locke.

6. A brooding over eggs for hatching, as by fowls. The male bird . . . amuses her [the female] with his songs during the whole time of her sitting. Addison. Sitting room, an apartment where the members of a family usually sit, as distinguished from a drawing-room, parlor, chamber, or kitchen.

SITUATE; SITUATED Sit"u*ate, Sit"u*a`ted, a. Etym: [LL. situatus, from situare to place, fr. L. situs situation, site. See Site.]

1. Having a site, situation, or location; being in a relative position; permanently fixed; placed; located; as, a town situated, or situate, on a hill or on the seashore.

2. Placed; residing. Pleasure situate in hill and dale. Milton.

Note: Situate is now less used than situated, but both are well authorized.

SITUATE
Sit"u*ate, v. t.

Defn: To place. [R.] Landor.

SITUATION
Sit`u*a"tion, n. Etym: [LL. situatio: cf. F. situation.]

1. Manner in which an object is placed; location, esp. as related to something else; position; locality site; as, a house in a pleasant situation.

2. Position, as regards the conditions and circumstances of the case. A situation of the greatest ease and tranquillity. Rogers.

3. Relative position; circumstances; temporary state or relation at a moment of action which excites interest, as of persons in a dramatic scene. There's situation for you! there's an heroic group! Sheridan.

4. Permanent position or employment; place; office; as, a situation in a store; a situation under government.

Syn. — State; position; seat; site; station; post; place; office; condition; case; plight. See State.

SITUS
Si"tus, n. Etym: [L., situation.] (Bot.)

Defn: The method in which the parts of a plant are arranged; also, the position of the parts. Henslow.

SITZ BATH
Sitz" bath`. Etym: [G. sitzbad.]

Defn: A tub in which one bathes in a sitting posture; also, a bath so taken; a hip bath.

SIVA
Si"va, n. Etym: [Skr. Civa, properly, kind, gracious.] (Hindoo Myth.)

Defn: One of the triad of Hindoo gods. He is the avenger or destroyer, and in modern worship symbolizes the reproductive power of nature.

SIVAN
Si"van, n. Etym: [Heb. sivan.]

Defn: The third month of the Jewish ecclesiastical year; — supposed to correspond nearly with our month of June.

SIVATHERIUM
Siv`a*the"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL., from E. Siva + Gr. (Paleon.)

Defn: A genus of very large extinct ruminants found in the Tertiary formation of India. The snout was prolonged in the form of a proboscis. The male had four horns, the posterior pair being large and branched. It was allied to the antelopes, but very much larger than any exsisting species.

SIVER
Siv"er, v. i.

Defn: To simmer. [Obs.] Holland.

SIVVENS
Siv"vens (, n. (Med.)

Defn: See Sibbens.

SIWIN
Si"win, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Sewen.

SIX Six, a. Etym: [AS. six, seox, siex; akin to OFries. sex, D. zes, OS. & OHG. sehs, G. sechs, Icel., Sw., & Dan. sex, Goth. saíhs, Lith. szeszi, Russ. sheste, Gael. & Ir. se, W. chwech, L. sex, Gr. shesh, Skr. shash. sq. root304. Cf. Hexagon, Hexameter, Samite, Senary, Sextant, Sice.]

Defn: One more than five; twice three; as, six yards. Six Nations
(Ethnol.), a confederation of North American Indians formed by the
union of the Tuscaroras and the Five Nations.
— Six points circle. (Geom.) See Nine points circle, under Nine.

SIX
Six, n.

1. The number greater by a unit than five; the sum of three and three; six units or objects.

2. A symbol representing six units, as 6, vi., or VI. To be at six and seven or at sixes and sevens, to be in disorder. Bacon. Shak. Swift.

SIXFOLD
Six"fold`, a. Etym: [AS. sixfealand.]

Defn: Six times repeated; six times as much or as many.

SIX-FOOTER
Six"-foot`er, n.

Defn: One who is six feet tall. [Colloq. U.S.]

SIXPENCE
Six"pence, n.; pl. Sixpences (.

Defn: An English silver coin of the value of six pennies; half a shilling, or about twelve cents.

SIXPENNY
Six"pen`ny, a.

Defn: Of the value of, or costing, sixpence; as, a sixpenny loaf.

SIXSCORE
Six"score`, a. & n. Etym: [Six + score, n.]

Defn: Six times twenty; one hundred and twenty.

SIX-SHOOTER
Six"-shoot`er, n.

Defn: A pistol or other firearm which can be fired six times without reloading especially, a six-chambered revolver. [Colloq. U.S.]

SIXTEEN
Six"teen`, a. Etym: [AS. sixt, sixt. See Six, and Ten, and cf.
Sixty.]

Defn: Six and ten; consisting of six and ten; fifteen and one more.

SIXTEEN
Six"teen`, n.

1. The number greater by a unit than fifteen; the sum of ten and six; sixteen units or objects.

2. A symbol representing sixteen units, as 16, or xvi.

SIXTEENMO
Six*teen"mo, n.; pl. Sixteenmos (.

Defn: See Sextodecimo.

SIXTEENTH
Six"teenth`, a. Etym: [From Sixteen: cf. AS. sixteó.]

1. Sixth after the tenth; next in order after the fifteenth.

2. Constituting or being one of sixteen equal parts into which anything is divided. Sixteenth note (Mus.), the sixteenth part of a whole note; a semiquaver.

SIXTEENTH
Six"teenth`, n.

1. The quotient of a unit divided by sixteen; one of sixteen equal parts of one whole.

2. The next in order after the fifteenth; the sixth after the tenth.

3. (Mus.)

Defn: An interval comprising two octaves and a second. Moore (Encyc. of Music.)

SIXTH
Sixth, a. Etym: [From Six: cf. AS. sixta, siexta.]

1. First after the fifth; next in order after the fifth.

2. Constituting or being one of six equal parts into which anything is divided.

SIXTH
Sixth, n.

1. The quotient of a unit divided by six; one of six equal parts which form a whole.

2. The next in order after the fifth.

3. (Mus.)

Defn: The interval embracing six diatonic degrees of the scale.

SIXTHLY
Sixth"ly, adv.

Defn: In the sixth place. Bacon.

SIXTIETH
Six"ti*eth, a. Etym: [As. sixtiogoedha, sixtigoedha.]

1. Next in order after the fifty-ninth.

2. Constituting or being one one of sixty equal parts into which anything is divided.

SIXTIETH
Six"ti*eth, n.

1. The quotient of a unit divided by sixty; one of sixty equal parts forming a whole.

2. The next in order after the fifty-ninth; the tenth after the fiftieth.

SIXTY Six"ty, a. Etym: [AS. siextig; akin to G. sechzig, Goth. saíhs tigjus. See Six, Ten, and cf. Sixteen.]

Defn: Six times ten; fifty-nine and one more; threescore.

SIXTY
Six"ty, n.; pl. Sixties (.

1. The sum of six times ten; sixty units or objects.

2. A symbol representing sixty units, as 60, lx., or LX.

SIXTY-FOURTH
Six`ty-fourth", a.

Defn: Constituting or being one of sixty-four equal parts into which a thing is divided. Sixty-fourth note (Mus.), the sixty-fourth part of a whole note; a hemi-demi-semiquaver.

SIZABLE
Siz"a*ble, a.

1. Of considerable size or bulk. "A sizable volume." Bp. Hurd.

2. Being of reasonable or suitable size; as, sizable timber; sizable bulk. Arbuthnot.

SIZAR
Si"zar, n.

Defn: One of a body of students in the universities of Cambridge (Eng.) and Dublin, who, having passed a certain examination, are exempted from paying college fees and charges. A sizar corresponded to a servitor at Oxford. The sizar paid nothing for food and tuition, and very little for lodging. Macaulay.

Note: They formerly waited on the table at meals; but this is done away with. They were probably so called from being thus employed in distributing the size, or provisions. See 4th Size, 2.

SIZARSHIP
Si"zar*ship, n.

Defn: The position or standing of a sizar.

SIZE
Size, n. Etym: [See Sice, and Sise.]

Defn: Six.

SIZE Size, n. Etym: [OIt. sisa glue used by painters, shortened fr. assisa, fr. assidere, p. p. assiso, to make to sit, to seat, to place, L. assidere to sit down; ad + sidere to sit down, akin to sedere to sit. See Sit, v. i., and cf. Assize, Size bulk.]

1. A thin, weak glue used in various trades, as in painting, bookbinding, paper making, etc.

2. Any viscous substance, as gilder's varnish.

SIZE
Size, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sized; p. pr. & vb. n. Sizing.]

Defn: To cover with size; to prepare with size.

SIZE
Size, n. Etym: [Abbrev. from assize. See Assize, and cf. Size glue.]

1. A settled quantity or allowance. See Assize. [Obs.] "To scant my sizes." Shak.

2. (Univ. of Cambridge, Eng.)

Defn: An allowance of food and drink from the buttery, aside from the regular dinner at commons; — corresponding to battel at Oxford.

3. Extent of superficies or volume; bulk; bigness; magnitude; as, the size of a tree or of a mast; the size of a ship or of a rock.

4. Figurative bulk; condition as to rank, ability, character, etc.; as, the office demands a man of larger size. Men of a less size and quality. L'Estrange. The middling or lower size of people. Swift.

5. A conventional relative measure of dimension, as for shoes, gloves, and other articles made up for sale.

6. An instrument consisting of a number of perforated gauges fastened together at one end by a rivet, — used for ascertaining the size of pearls. Knight. Size roll, a small piese of parchment added to a roll. — Size stick, a measuring stick used by shoemakers for ascertaining the size of the foot.

Syn.
— Dimension; bigness; largeness; greatness; magnitude.

SIZE
Size, v. t.

1. To fix the standard of. "To size weights and measures." [R.] Bacon.

2. To adjust or arrange according to size or bulk. Specifically: (a) (Mil.) To take the height of men, in order to place them in the ranks according to their stature. (b) (Mining) To sift, as pieces of ore or metal, in order to separate the finer from the coarser parts.

3. To swell; to increase the bulk of. Beau. & Fl.

4. (Mech.)

Defn: To bring or adjust anything exactly to a required dimension, as by cutting. To size up, to estimate or ascertain the character and ability of. See 4th Size, 4. [Slang, U.S.] We had to size up our fellow legislators. The Century.

SIZE
Size, v. i.

1. To take greater size; to increase in size. Our desires give them fashion, and so, As they wax lesser, fall, as they size, grow. Donne.

2. (Univ. of Cambridge, Eng.)

Defn: To order food or drink from the buttery; hence, to enter a score, as upon the buttery book.

SIZED
Sized, a.

1. Adjusted according to size.

2. Having a particular size or magnitude; — chiefly used in compounds; as, large-sized; common-sized.

SIZEL
Si"zel, n.

Defn: Same as Scissel, 2.

SIZER
Siz"er, n.

1. See Sizar.

2. (Mech.) (a) An instrument or contrivance to size articles, or to determine their size by a standard, or to separate and distribute them according to size. (b) An instrument or tool for bringing anything to an exact size.

SIZINESS
Siz"i*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being sizy; viscousness.

SIZING
Siz"ing, n.

1. Act of covering or treating with size.

2. A weak glue used in various trades; size.

SIZING
Siz"ing, n.

1. The act of sorting with respect to size.

2. The act of bringing anything to a certain size.

3. (Univ. of Cambridge, Eng.)

Defn: Food and drink ordered from the buttery by a student.

SIZY
Siz"y, a. Etym: [From 2d Size.]

Defn: Sizelike; viscous; glutinous; as, sizy blood. Arbuthnot.

SIZZLE
Siz"zle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sizzled; p. pr. & vb. n. Sizzling.]
Etym: [See Siss.]

Defn: To make a hissing sound; to fry, or to dry and shrivel up, with a hissing sound. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U. S.] Forby.

SIZZLE
Siz"zle, n.

Defn: A hissing sound, as of something frying over a fire. [Prov.
Eng. & Colloq. U. S.]

SIZZLING
Siz"zling, a. & n.

Defn: from Sizzle.

SKADDLE
Skad"dle, n. Etym: [Dim. of scath.]

Defn: Hurt; damage. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Ray.

SKADDLE
Skad"dle, a.

Defn: Hurtful. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Ray.

SKADDON
Skad"don, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The larva of a bee. [Prov. Eng.]

SKAG
Skag, n. (Naut.)

Defn: An additional piece fastened to the keel of a boat to prevent lateral motion. See Skeg.

SKAIN
Skain, n.

Defn: See Skein. [Obs.]

SKAIN
Skain, n.

Defn: See Skean. Drayton.

SKAINSMATE
Skains"mate`, n. Etym: [Perhaps originally, a companion in winding
thread (see Skein), or a companion in arms, from skain a sword (see
Skean).]

Defn: A messmate; a companion. [Obs.] Scurvy knave! I am none of his firt-gills; I am none of his skainsmates. Shak.

SKAITH
Skaith, n.

Defn: See Scatch. [Scot.]

SKALD
Skald, n.

Defn: See 5th Scald.

SKALDIC
Skald"ic, a.

Defn: See Scaldic. Max Müller.

SKALL
Skall, v. t.

Defn: To scale; to mount. [Obs.]

SKAR; SKARE
Skar, Skare, a. Etym: [From the root of scare.]

Defn: Wild; timid; shy. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

SKART
Skart, n. Etym: [Cf. Scarf a cormorant.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The shag. [Prov. Eng.]

SKAT
Skat (skät), n. [G., fr. It. scartare to discard.]

1. A three-handed card game played with 32 cards, of which two constitute the skat (sense 2), or widow. The players bid for the privilege of attempting any of several games or tasks, in most of which the player undertaking the game must take tricks counting in aggregate at least 61 (the counting cards being ace 11, ten 10, king 4, queen 3, jack 2). The four jacks are the best trumps, ranking club, spade, heart, diamond, and ten outranks king or queen (but when the player undertakes to lose all the tricks, the cards rank as in whist). The value of hands depends upon the game played, trump suit, points taken, and number of matadores.

2. (Skat) A widow of two cards.

SKATE
Skate, n. Etym: [D. schaats. Cf. Scatches.]

Defn: A metallic runner with a frame shaped to fit the sole of a shoe, — made to be fastened under the foot, and used for moving rapidly on ice. Batavia rushes forth; and as they sweep, On sounding skates, a thousand different ways, In circling poise, swift as the winds, along, The then gay land is maddended all to joy. Thomson. Roller skate. See under Roller.

SKATE
Skate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Skated; p. pr. & vb. n. Skating.]

Defn: To move on skates.

SKATE
Skate, n. Etym: [Icel. skata; cf. Prov. G. schatten, meer-schatten,
L. squatus, squatina, and E. shad.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of large, flat elasmobranch fishes of the genus Raia, having a long, slender tail, terminated by a small caudal fin. The pectoral fins, which are large and broad and united to the sides of the body and head, give a somewhat rhombic form to these fishes. The skin is more or less spinose.

Note: Some of the species are used for food, as the European blue or gray skate (Raia batis), which sometimes weighs nearly 200 pounds. The American smooth, or barn-door, skate (R. lævis) is also a large species, often becoming three or four feet across. The common spiny skate (R. erinacea) is much smaller. Skate's egg. See Sea purse. — Skate sucker, any marine leech of the genus Pontobdella, parasitic on skates.

SKATER
Skat"er, n.

1. One who skates.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of hemipterous insects belonging to Gerris, Pyrrhocoris, Prostemma, and allied genera. They have long legs, and run rapidly over the surface of the water, as if skating.

SKATOL
Ska"tol, n. Etym: [Gr. -ol.] (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: A constituent of human fæces formed in the small intestines as a product of the putrefaction of albuminous matter. It is also found in reduced indigo. Chemically it is methyl indol, C9H9N.

SKAYLES
Skayles, n.

Defn: [sq. root159.] Skittles. [Obs.]

SKEAN Skean, n. Etym: [Ir sgian; akin to Gael. sgian, W. ysgien a large knife, a scimiter.]

Defn: A knife or short dagger, esp. that in use among the Highlanders of Scotland. [Variously spelt.] "His skean, or pistol." Spenser.

SKEDADDLE
Ske*dad"dle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Skedaddled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Skedaddling.] Etym: [Of uncertain etymology.]

Defn: To betake one's self to flight, as if in a panic; to flee; to run away. [Slang, U. S.]

SKEE
Skee, n. Etym: [Dan. ski; Icel. ski a billet of wood. See Skid.]

Defn: A long strip of wood, curved upwards in front, used on the foot for sliding.

SKEED
Skeed, n.

Defn: See Skid.

SKEEL
Skeel, n. Etym: [Icel. skj a pail, bucket.]

Defn: A shallow wooden vessel for holding milk or cream. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Grose.

SKEELDUCK; SKEELGOOSE
Skeel"duck`, Skeel"goose`, n. Etym: [See Sheldrake.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The common European sheldrake. [Prov. Eng.]

SKEET
Skeet, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Naut.)

Defn: A scoop with a long handle, used to wash the sides of a vessel, and formerly to wet the sails or deck.

SKEG
Skeg, n. Etym: [Prov. E., also a stump of a branch, a wooden peg; cf.
Icel. sk a wood, Sw. skog. Cf. Shaw.]

1. A sort of wild plum. [Obs.] Holland.

2. pl.

Defn: A kind of oats. Farm. Encyc.

3. (Naut.)

Defn: The after part of the keel of a vessel, to which the rudder is attached.

SKEGGER
Skeg"ger, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The parr. Walton.

SKEIN
Skein, n. Etym: [OE. skeyne, OF. escaigne, F. écagne, probably of
Celtic origin; cf. Ir. sgainne, Gael. sgeinnidh thread, small twine;
or perhaps the English word is immediately from Celtic.]

1. A quantity of yarn, thread, or the like, put up together, after it is taken from the reel, — usually tied in a sort of knot.

Note: A skein of cotton yarn is formed by eighty turns of the thread round a fifty-four inch reel.

2. (Wagon Making)

Defn: A metallic strengthening band or thimble on the wooden arm of an axle. Knight.

SKEIN
Skein, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A flight of wild fowl (wild geese or the like). [Prov. Eng.]

SKEINE
Skeine, n.

Defn: See Skean.

SKELDER
Skel"der, v. t. & i. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]

Defn: To deceive; to cheat; to trick. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

SKELDER
Skel"der, n.

Defn: A vagrant; a cheat. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

SKELDRAKE; SKIELDRAKE Skel"drake`, or Skiel"drake`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) The common European sheldrake. (b) The oyster catcher.

SKELET
Skel"et, n.

Defn: A skeleton. See Scelet.

SKELETAL
Skel"e*tal, a.

Defn: Pertaining to the skeleton.

SKELETOGENOUS
Skel`e*tog"e*nous, a. Etym: [Skeleton + -genous.]

Defn: Forming or producing parts of the skeleton.

SKELETOLOGY
Skel`e*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Skeleton + -logy.]

Defn: That part of anatomy which treats of the skeleton; also, a treatise on the skeleton.

SKELETON
Skel"e*ton, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.

1. (Anat.) (a) The bony and cartilaginous framework which supports the soft parts of a vertebrate animal.

Note: [See Illust. of the Human Skeleton, in Appendix.] (b) The more or less firm or hardened framework of an invertebrate animal.

Note: In a wider sense, the skeleton includes the whole connective- tissue framework with the integument and its appendages. See Endoskeleton, and Exoskeleton.

2. Hence, figuratively: (a) A very thin or lean person. (b) The framework of anything; the principal parts that support the rest, but without the appendages. The great skeleton of the world. Sir M. Hale.

(c) The heads and outline of a literary production, especially of a sermon.

SKELETON
Skel"e*ton, a.

Defn: Consisting of, or resembling, a skeleton; consisting merely of the framework or outlines; having only certain leading features of anything; as, a skeleton sermon; a skeleton crystal. Skeleton bill, a bill or draft made out in blank as to the amount or payee, but signed by the acceptor. [Eng.] — Skeleton key, a key with nearly the whole substance of the web filed away, to adapt it to avoid the wards of a lock; a master key; — used for opening locks to which it has not been especially fitted. — Skeleton leaf, a leaf from which the pulpy part has been removed by chemical means, the fibrous part alone remaining. — Skeleton proof, a proof of a print or engraving, with the inscription outlined in hair strokes only, such proofs being taken before the engraving is finished. — Skeleton regiment, a regiment which has its complement of officers, but in which there are few enlisted men. — Skeleton shrimp (Zoöl.), a small crustacean of the genus Caprella. See Illust. under Læmodipoda.

SKELETONIZE
Skel"e*ton*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skeletonized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Skeletonizing.]

Defn: To prepare a skeleton of; also, to reduce, as a leaf, to its skeleton. Pop. Sci. Monthly.

SKELETONIZER
Skel"e*ton*i`zer, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any small moth whose larva eats the parenchyma of leaves, leaving the skeleton; as, the apple-leaf skeletonizer.

SKELLUM
Skel"lum, n. Etym: [Dan. schelm, fr. G. schelm.]

Defn: A scoundrel. [Obs. or Scot.] Pepys. Burns.

SKELLY
Skel"ly, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Dan. skele, Sw. skela.]

Defn: To squint. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

SKELLY
Skel"ly, n.

Defn: A squint. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

SKELP Skelp, n. Etym: [Cf. Prov. E. skelp to kick severely, to move rapidly; Gael. sgealp, n., a slap with the palm of the hand, v., to strike with the palm of the hand.]

1. A blow; a smart stroke. [Prov. Eng.] Brockett.

2. A squall; also, a heavy fall of rain. [Scot.]

SKELP
Skelp, v. t.

Defn: To strike; to slap. [Scot.] C. Reade.

SKELP
Skelp, n.

Defn: A wrought-iron plate from which a gun barrel or pipe is made by bending and welding the edges together, and drawing the thick tube thus formed.

SKELTER
Skel"ter, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Helter-skelter.]

Defn: To run off helter-skelter; to hurry; to scurry; — with away or off. [Colloq.] A. R. Wallace.

SKEN
Sken, v. i.

Defn: To squint. [Prov. Eng.]

SKENE
Skene, n.

Defn: See Skean. C. Kingsley.

SKEP Skep, n. Etym: [Icel. skeppa a measure, bushel; cf. Gael. sgeap a basket, a beehive.]

1. A coarse round farm basket. [Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Tusser.

2. A beehive. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

SKEPTIC Skep"tic, n. Etym: [Gr. skeptiko`s thoughtful, reflective, fr. ske`ptesqai to look carefully or about, to view, consider: cf. L. scepticus, F. sceptique. See Scope.] [Written also sceptic.]

1. One who is yet undecided as to what is true; one who is looking or inquiring for what is true; an inquirer after facts or reasons.

2. (Metaph.)

Defn: A doubter as to whether any fact or truth can be certainly known; a universal doubter; a Pyrrhonist; hence, in modern usage, occasionally, a person who questions whether any truth or fact can be established on philosophical grounds; sometimes, a critical inquirer, in opposition to a dogmatist. All this criticism [of Hume] proceeds upon the erroneous hypothesis that he was a dogmatist. He was a skeptic; that is, he accepted the principles asserted by the prevailing dogmatism: and only showed that such and such conclusions were, on these principles, inevitable. Sir W. Hamilton.

3. (Theol.)

Defn: A person who doubts the existence and perfections of God, or
the truth of revelation; one who disbelieves the divine origin of the
Christian religion.
Suffer not your faith to be shaken by the sophistries of skeptics. S.
Clarke.

Note: This word and its derivatives are often written with c instead of k in the first syllable, — sceptic, sceptical, scepticism, etc. Dr. Johnson, struck with the extraordinary irregularity of giving c its hard sound before e, altered the spelling, and his example has been followed by most of the lexicographers who have succeeded him; yet the prevalent practice among English writers and printers is in favor of the other mode. In the United States this practice is reversed, a large and increasing majority of educated persons preferring the orthography which is most in accordance with etymology and analogy.

Syn.
— Infidel; unbeliever; doubter.
— See Infidel.

SKEPTIC; SKEPTICAL
Skep"tic, Skep"tic*al, a. Etym: [Written also sceptic, sceptical.]

1. Of or pertaining to a sceptic or skepticism; characterized by skepticism; hesitating to admit the certainly of doctrines or principles; doubting of everything.

2. (Theol.)

Defn: Doubting or denying the truth of revelation, or the sacred
Scriptures.
The skeptical system subverts the whole foundation of morals. R.
Hall.
— Skep"tac*al*ly, adv.
— Skep"tic*al*ness, n.

SKEPTICISM Skep"ti*cism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. scepticisme.] [Written also scepticism.]

1. An undecided, inquiring state of mind; doubt; uncertainty. That momentary amazement, and irresolution, and confusion, which is the result of skepticism. Hune.

2. (Metaph.)

Defn: The doctrine that no fact or principle can be certainly known; the tenet that all knowledge is uncertain; Pyrrohonism; universal doubt; the position that no fact or truth, however worthy of confidence, can be established on philosophical grounds; critical investigation or inquiry, as opposed to the positive assumption or assertion of certain principles.

3. (Theol.)

Defn: A doubting of the truth of revelation, or a denial of the divine origin of the Christian religion, or of the being, perfections, or truth of God. Let no . . . secret skepticism lead any one to doubt whether this blessed prospect will be realized. S. Miller.

SKEPTICIZE
Skep"ti*cize, v. i.

Defn: To doubt; to pretend to doubt of everything. [R.]
To skepticize, where no one else will . . . hesitate. Shaftesbury.

SKERRY
Sker"ry, n.; pl. Skerries. Etym: [Of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. sker,
Sw. skär, Dan. ski. Cf. Scar a bank.]

Defn: A rocky isle; an insulated rock. [Scot.]

SKETCH Sketch, n. Etym: [D. schets, fr. It. schizzo a sketch, a splash (whence also F. esquisse; cf. Esquisse.); cf. It. schizzare to splash, to sketch.]

Defn: An outline or general delineation of anything; a first rough or incomplete draught or plan of any design; especially, in the fine arts, such a representation of an object or scene as serves the artist's purpose by recording its chief features; also, a preliminary study for an original work.

Syn. — Outline; delineation; draught; plan; design. — Sketch, Outline, Delineation. An outline gives only the bounding lines of some scene or picture. A sketch fills up the outline in part, giving broad touches, by which an imperfect idea may be conveyed. A delineation goes further, carrying out the more striking features of the picture, and going so much into detail as to furnish a clear conception of the whole. Figuratively, we may speak of the outlines of a plan, of a work, of a project, etc., which serve as a basis on which the subordinate parts are formed, or of sketches of countries, characters, manners, etc., which give us a general idea of the things described. Crabb.

SKETCH
Sketch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sketched; p. pr. & vb. n. Sketching.]
Etym: [Cf D. schetsen, It. schizzare. See Sketch, n.]

1. To draw the outline or chief features of; to make a rought of.

2. To plan or describe by giving the principal points or ideas of.

Syn.
— To delineate; design; draught; depict.

SKETCH
Sketch, v. i.

Defn: To make sketches, as of landscapes.

SKETCHBOOK
Sketch"book`, n.

Defn: A book of sketches or for sketches.

SKETCHER
Sketch"er, n.

Defn: One who sketches.

SKETCHILY
Sketch"i*ly, adv.

Defn: In a sketchy or incomplete manner. "Sketchily descriptive."
Bartlett.

SKETCHINESS
Sketch"i*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being sketchy; lack of finish; incompleteness.

SKETCHY
Sketch"y, a.

Defn: Containing only an outline or rough form; being in the manner
of a sketch; incomplete.
The execution is sketchy throughout; the head, in particular, is left
in the rough. J. S. Harford.

SKEW Skew, adv. Etym: [Cf. D. scheef. Dan. ski, Sw. skef, Icel. skeifr, G. schief, also E. shy, a. & v. i.]

Defn: Awry; obliquely; askew.

SKEW
Skew, a.

Defn: Turned or twisted to one side; situated obliquely; skewed; — chiefly used in technical phrases. Skew arch, an oblique arch. See under Oblique. — Skew back. (Civil Engin.) (a) The course of masonry, the stone, or the iron plate, having an inclined face, which forms the abutment for the voussoirs of a segmental arch. (b) A plate, cap, or shoe, having an inclined face to receive the nut of a diagonal brace, rod, or the end of an inclined strut, in a truss or frame. — Skew bridge. See under Bridge, n. — Skew curve (Geom.), a curve of double curvature, or a twisted curve. See Plane curve, under Curve. — Skew gearing, or Skew bevel gearing (Mach.), toothed gearing, generally resembling bevel gearing, for connecting two shafts that are neither parallel nor intersecting, and in which the teeth slant across the faces of the gears. — Skew surface (Geom.), a ruled surface such that in general two successive generating straight lines do not intersect; a warped surface; as, the helicoid is a skew surface. — Skew symmetrical determinant (Alg.), a determinant in which the elements in each column of the matrix are equal to the elements of the corresponding row of the matrix with the signs changed, as in (1), below. (1) 0 2 -3-2 0 53 -5 0 (2) 4 -1 71 8 -2-7 2 1

Note: This requires that the numbers in the diagonal from the upper left to lower right corner be zeros. A like determinant in which the numbers in the diagonal are not zeros is a skew determinant, as in (2), above.

SKEW
Skew, n. (Arch.)

Defn: A stone at the foot of the slope of a gable, the offset of a buttress, or the like, cut with a sloping surface and with a check to receive the coping stones and retain them in place.

SKEW
Skew, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Skewed; p. pr. & vb. n. Skewing.]

1. To walk obliquely; to go sidling; to lie or move obliquely. Child, you must walk straight, without skewing. L'Estrange.

2. To start aside; to shy, as a horse. [Prov. Eng.]

3. To look obliquely; to squint; hence, to look slightingly or suspiciously. Beau & Fl.

SKEW
Skew, v. t. Etym: [See Skew, adv.]

1. To shape or form in an oblique way; to cause to take an oblique position.

2. To throw or hurl obliquely.

SKEWBALD
Skew"bald`, a.

Defn: Marked with spots and patches of white and some color other than black; — usually distinguished from piebald, in which the colors are properly white and black. Said of horses.

SKEWER Skew"er, n. Etym: [Probably of Scand, origin; cf. Sw. & Dan. skifer a slate. Cf. Shuver a fragment.]

Defn: A pin of wood or metal for fastening meat to a spit, or for keeping it in form while roasting. Meat well stuck with skewers to make it look round. Swift.

SKEWER
Skew"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skewered; p. pr. & vb. n. Skewering.]

Defn: To fasten with skewers.

SKI
Ski, n.

Defn: Same as Skee.

SKIAGRAPH; SKIAGRAPHY
Ski"a*graph, n. Ski*ag"ra*phy, n., etc.

Defn: See Sciagraph, Sciagraphy, etc.

SKIASCOPE; SCIASCOPE
Ski"a*scope, Sci"a*scope, n. [Gr. a shadow + -scope.] (Med.)

Defn: A device for determining the refractive state of the eye by observing the movements of the retinal lights and shadows. — Ski*as"co*py (#), Ski*as"co*py (#), n.

SKID Skid, n. Etym: [Icel. ski a billet of wood. See Shide.] [Written also skeed.]

1. A shoe or clog, as of iron, attached to a chain, and placed under the wheel of a wagon to prevent its turning when descending a steep hill; a drag; a skidpan; also, by extension, a hook attached to a chain, and used for the same purpose.

2. A piece of timber used as a support, or to receive pressure. Specifically: (a) pl. (Naut.)

Defn: Large fenders hung over a vessel's side to protect it in handling a cargo. Totten. (b) One of a pair of timbers or bars, usually arranged so as to form an inclined plane, as form a wagon to a door, along which anything is moved by sliding or rolling. (c) One of a pair of horizontal rails or timbers for supporting anything, as a boat, a barrel, etc.

SKID
Skid, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skidded; p. pr. & vb. n. Skidding.]

1. To protect or support with a skid or skids; also, to cause to move on skids.

2. To check with a skid, as wagon wheels. Dickens.

SKIDDAW
Skid"daw`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The black guillemot. [Prov. Eng.]

SKIDDER
Skid"der, n. One that skids; one that uses a skid; specif.: (Logging)
(a) One that skids logs.
(b) An engine for hauling the cable used in skidding logs.
(c) The foreman of a construction gang making a skid road.

SKIDPAN
Skid"pan`, n.

Defn: See Skid, n., 1. [Eng.]

SKID ROAD Skid road. (Logging) (a) A road along which logs are dragged to the skidway or landing; - - called also travois, or travoy, road. (b) A road having partly sunken transverse logs (called skids) at intervals of about five feet.

SKIED
Skied,

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Sky, v. t.

SKIEY
Ski"ey, a.

Defn: See Skyey. Shelley.

SKIFF
Skiff, n. Etym: [F. esquif, fr. OHG. skif, G. schiff. See Ship.]

Defn: A small, light boat.
The pilot of some small night-foundered skiff. Milton.
Skiff caterpillar (Zoöl.), the larva of a moth (Limacodes scapha); —
so called from its peculiar shape.

SKIFF
Skiff, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skiffed; p. pr. & vb. n. Skiffing.]

Defn: To navigate in a skiff. [R.]

SKIFFLING
Skif"fling, n. (Quarrying)

Defn: Rough dressing by knocking off knobs or projections; knobbing.

SKILDER
Skil"der, v. i.

Defn: To beg; to pilfer; to skelder. [Prov. Eng.& Scot.] Sir W.
Scott.

SKILFUL
Skil"ful, a.

Defn: See Skilful.

SKILL Skill, n. Etym: [Icel. skil a distinction, discernment; akin to skilja to separate, divide, distinguish, Sw. skilja,. skille to separate, skiel reason, right, justice, Sw. skäl reason, Lith. skelli to cleave. Cf. Shell, Shoal, a multitude.]

1. Discrimination; judgment; propriety; reason; cause. [Obs.] Shak.
"As it was skill and right." Chaucer.
For great skill is, he prove that he wrought. Chaucer.
[For with good reason he should test what he created.]

2. Knowledge; understanding. [Obsoles.] That by his fellowship he color mightskill of any wight. Spenser. Nor want we skill or art. Milton.

3. The familiar knowledge of any art or science, united with readiness and dexterity in execution or performance, or in the application of the art or science to practical purposes; power to discern and execute; ability to perceive and perform; expertness; aptitude; as, the skill of a mathematician, physician, surgeon, mechanic, etc. Phocion, . . . by his great wisdom and skill at negotiations, diverted Alexander from the conquest of Athens. Swift. Where patience her sweet skill imparts. Keble.

4. Display of art; exercise of ability; contrivance; address. [Obs.] Richard . . . by a thousand princely skills, gathering so much corn as if he meant not to return. Fuller.

5. Any particular art. [Obs.] Learned in one skill, and in another kind of learning unskillful. Hooker.

Syn. — Dexterity; adroitness; expertness; art; aptitude; ability. — Skill, Dexterity, Adroitness. Skill is more intelligent, denoting familiar knowledge united to readiness of performance. Dexterity, when applied to the body, is more mechanical, and refers to habitual ease of execution. Adroitness involves the same image with dexterity, and differs from it as implaying a general facility of movement (especially in avoidance of danger or in escaping from a difficalty). The same distinctions apply to the figurative sense of the words. A man is skillful in any employment when he understands both its theory and its practice. He is dexterous when he maneuvers with great lightness. He is adroit in the use od quick, sudden, and well- directed movements of the body or the mind, so as to effect the object he has in view.

SKILL
Skill, v. t.

Defn: To know; to understand. [Obs.]
To skill the arts of expressing our mind. Barrow.

SKILL
Skill, v. i.

1. To be knowing; to have understanding; to be dexterous in performance. [Obs.] I can not skill of these thy ways. Herbert.

2. To make a difference; to signify; to matter; — used impersonally.
Spenser.
What skills it, if a bag of stones or gold About thy neck do drown
thee Herbert.
It skills not talking of it. Sir W. Scott.

SKILLED
Skilled, a.

Defn: Having familiar knowledge united with readiness and dexterity in its application; familiarly acquainted with; expert; skillful; — often followed by in; as, a person skilled in drawing or geometry.

SKILLET Skil"let, n. Etym: [OF. escuelette, dim. of escuelle a porringer, F. ecuelle, fr. L. scutella, dim. of scutra, scuta, a dish. Cf. Scuttle a basket.]

Defn: A small vessel of iron, copper, or other metal, with a handle, used for culinary purpose, as for stewing meat.

SKILLFUL
Skill"ful, a. Etym: [Written also skilful.]

1. Discerning; reasonable; judicious; cunning. [Obs.] "Of skillful judgment." Chaucer.

2. Possessed of, or displaying, skill; knowing and ready; expert; well-versed; able in management; as, a skillful mechanic; — often followed by at, in, or of; as, skillful at the organ; skillful in drawing. And they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skillful of lamentations to wailing. Amos v. 16.

Syn.
— Expert; skilled; dexterous; adept; masterly; adroit; clever;
cunning.
— Skill"ful*ly, adv.
— Skill"ful*ness, n.

SKILLIGALEE
Skil`li*ga*lee", n.

Defn: A kind of thin, weak broth or oatmeal porridge, served out to prisoners and paupers in England; also, a drink made of oatmeal, sugar, and water, sometimes used in the English navy or army. [Written also skilligolee, skillygalee, etc.]

SKILLING
Skil"ling, n. Etym: [Cf. Sheeling.]

Defn: A bay of a barn; also, a slight addition to a cottage. [Prov.
Eng.]

SKILLING
Skil"ling, n. Etym: [Sw. & Dan. See Shilling.]

Defn: A money od account in Sweden, Norwey, Denmark, and North Germany, and also a coin. It had various values, from three fourths of a cent in Norway to more than two cents in Lübeck.

SKILL-LESS
Skill"-less, a.

Defn: Wanting skill. Shak.

SKILTS
Skilts, n. pl.

Defn: A kind of large, coarse, short trousers formerly worn. [Local,
U. S.] Bartlett.

SKILTY
Skil"ty, n.

Defn: The water rail. [Prov. Eng.]

SKIM
Skim, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skimmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Skimming.] Etym:
[Cf. Sw. skymma to darken. sq. root158. See Scum.]

1. To clear (a liquid) from scum or substance floating or lying thereon, by means of a utensil that passes just beneath the surface; as, to skim milk; to skim broth.

2. To take off by skimming; as, to skim cream.

3. To pass near the surface of; to brush the surface of; to glide swiftly along the surface of. Homer describes Mercury as flinging himself from the top of Olympus, and skimming the surface of the ocean. Hazlitt.

4. Fig.: To read or examine superficially and rapidly, in order to cull the principal facts or thoughts; as, to skim a book or a newspaper.

SKIM
Skim, v. i.

1. To pass lightly; to glide along in an even, smooth course; to glide along near the surface. Not so when swift Camilla scours the plain, Flies o'er the unbending corn, and skims along the main. Pope.

2. To hasten along with superficial attention. They skim over a science in a very superficial survey. I. Watts.

3. To put on the finishing coat of plaster.

SKIM
Skim, a.

Defn: Contraction of Skimming and Skimmed. Skim coat, the final or
finishing coat of plaster.
— Skim colter, a colter for paring off the surface of land.
— Skim milk, skimmed milk; milk from which the cream has been
taken.

SKIM
Skim, n.

Defn: Scum; refuse. Bryskett.

SKIMBACK
Skim"back`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The quillback. [Local, U.S.]

SKIMBLE-SCAMBLE
Skim"ble-scam`ble, a. Etym: [A reduplication of scamble.]

Defn: Rambling; disorderly; unconnected. [Colloq.]
Such a deal of skimble-scamble stuff. Shak.

SKIMITRY
Skim"i*try, n.

Defn: See Skimmington.

SKIMMER
Skim"mer, n.

1. One who, or that which, skims; esp., a utensil with which liquids are skimmed.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any species of longwinged marine birds of the genus Rhynchops, allied to the terns, but having the lower mandible compressed and much longer than the upper one. These birds fly rapidly along the surface of the water, with the lower mandible immersed, thus skimming out small fishes. The American species (R. nigra) is common on the southern coasts of the United States. Called also scissorbill, and shearbill.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several large bivalve shells, sometimes used for skimming milk, as the sea clams, and large scallops.

SKIMMERTON
Skim"mer*ton, n.

Defn: See Skimmington.

SKIMMING
Skim"ming, n.

1. The act of one who skims.

2. That which is skimmed from the surface of a liquid; — chiefly used in the plural; as, the skimmings of broth.

SKIMMINGLY
Skim"ming*ly, adv.

Defn: In a skimming manner.

SKIMMINGTON Skim"ming*ton, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain. Perhaps the name of some notorius scold.]

Defn: A word employed in the phrase, To ride Skimmington; that is to ride on a horse with a woman, but behind her, facing backward, carrying a distaff, and accompanied by a procession of jeering neighbors making mock music; a cavalcade in ridicule of a henpecked man. The custom was in vogue in parts of England.

SKIMP
Skimp, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skimped; p. pr. & vb. n. Skimping.] Etym:
[Cf. Skinch, Scamp, v. t.]

1. To slight; to do carelessly; to scamp. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U.S.]

2. To make insufficient allowance for; to scant; to scrimp. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U. S.]

SKIMP
Skimp, v. i.

Defn: To save; to be parsimonious or niggardly. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq.
U.S.]

SKIMP
Skimp, a.

Defn: Scanty. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U.S.]

SKIN Skin, n. Etym: [Icel. skinn; akin to Sw. skinn, Dan. skind, AS. scinn, G. schined to skin.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: The external membranous integument of an animal.

Note: In man, and the vertebrates generally, the skin consist of two layers, an outer nonsensitive and nonvascular epidermis, cuticle, or skarfskin, composed of cells which are constantly growing and multiplying in the deeper, and being thrown off in the superficial, layers; and an inner sensitive, and vascular dermis, cutis, corium, or true skin, composed mostly of connective tissue.

2. The hide of an animal, separated from the body, whether green, dry, or tanned; especially, that of a small animal, as a calf, sheep, or goat.

3. A vessel made of skin, used for holding liquids. See Bottle, 1. "Skins of wine." Tennyson.

4. The bark or husk of a plant or fruit; the exterior coat of fruits and plants.

5. (Naut.) (a) That part of a sail, when furled, which remains on the outside and covers the whole. Totten. (b) The covering, as of planking or iron plates, outside the framing, forming the sides and bottom of a vessel; the shell; also, a lining inside the framing. Skin friction, Skin resistance (Naut.), the friction, or resistance, caused by the tendency of water to adhere to the immersed surface (skin) of a vessel. — Skin graft (Surg.), a small portion of skin used in the process of grafting. See Graft, v. t., 2. — Skin moth (Zoöl.), any insect which destroys the prepared skins of animals, especially the larva of Dermestes and Anthrenus. — Skin of the teeth, nothing, or next to nothing; the least possible hold or advantage. Job xix. 20. — Skin wool, wool taken from dead sheep.

SKIN
Skin, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skinned; p. pr. & vb. n. Skinning.]

1. To strip off the skin or hide of; to flay; to peel; as, to skin an animal.

2. To cover with skin, or as with skin; hence, to cover superficially. It will but skin and film the ulcerous place. Shak.

3. To strip of money or property; to cheat. [Slang]

SKIN
Skin, v. i.

1. To become covered with skin; as, a wound skins over.

2. To produce, in recitation, examination, etc., the work of another for one's own, or to use in such exercise cribs, memeoranda, etc., which are prohibited. [College Cant, U.S.]

SKINBOUND
Skin"bound`, a.

Defn: Having the skin adhering closely and rigidly to the flesh; hidebound. Skinbound disease. (Med.) See Sclerema neonatorum, under Sclerema.

SKINCH
Skinch, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Skinched; p. pr. & vb. n.
Skinching.] Etym: [Cf. Scant.]

Defn: To give scant measure; to squeeze or pinch in order to effect a saving. [Prev. Eng. & Colloq. U.S.]

SKIN-DEEP
Skin"-deep`, a.

Defn: Not deeper than the skin; hence, superficial. Lowell.

SKINFLINT
Skin"flint`, n. Etym: [Skin + flint.]

Defn: A penurious person; a miser; a niggard. Sir W. Scott.

SKINFUL
Skin"ful, n.; pl. Skinfuls (.

Defn: As much as a skin can hold.

SKINK
Skink, n. Etym: [L. scincus, Gr. [Written also scink.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of regularly scaled harmless lizards of the family Scincidæ, common in the warmer parts of all the continents.

Note: The officinal skink (Scincus officinalis) inhabits the sandy plains of South Africa. It was believed by the ancients to be a specific for various diseases. A common slender species (Seps tridactylus) of Southern Europe was formerly believed to produce fatal diseases in cattle by mere contact. The American skinks include numerous species of the genus Eumeces, as the blue-tailed skink (E. fasciatus) of the Eastern United States. The ground skink, or ground lizard (Oligosoma laterale) inhabits the Southern United States.

SKINK Skink, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skinked; p. pr. & vb. n. Skinking.] Etym: [Icel. skenja; akin to Sw. skäka, Dan. skienke, AS. scencan, D. & G. schenken. As. scencan is usually derived from sceonc, sceanc, shank, a hollow bone being supposed to have been used to draw off liquor from a cask. sq. root161. See Shank, and cf. Nunchion.]

Defn: To draw or serve, as drink. [Obs.]
Bacchus the wine them skinketh all about. Chaucer.
Such wine as Ganymede doth skink to Jove. Shirley.

SKINK
Skink, v. i.

Defn: To serve or draw liquor. [Obs.]

SKINK
Skink, n.

Defn: Drink; also, pottage. [Obs.] Bacon.

SKINKER
Skink"er, n.

Defn: One who serves liquor; a tapster.

SKINLESS
Skin"less, a.

Defn: Having no skin, or a very thin skin; as, skinless fruit.

SKINNER
Skin"ner, n.

1. One who skins.

2. One who deals in skins, pelts, or hides.

SKINNINESS
Skin"ni*ness, n.

Defn: Quality of being skinny.

SKINNY
Skin"ny, a.

Defn: Consisting, or chiefly consisting, of skin; wanting flesh. "Her
skinny lips." Shak.
He holds him with a skinny hand. Coleridge.

SKIP
Skip, n. Etym: [See Skep.]

1. A basket. See Skep. [Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

2. A basket on wheels, used in cotton factories.

3. (Mining)

Defn: An iron bucket, which slides between guides, for hoisting mineral and rock.

4. (Sugar Manuf.)

Defn: A charge of sirup in the pans.

5. A beehive; a skep.

SKIP Skip, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Skipped; p. pr. & vb. n. Skipping.] Etym: [OE. skippen, of uncertain origin; cf. Icel. skopa run, skoppa to spin like a top, OSw. & dial. Sw. skimmpa to run, skimpa, skompa, to hop, skip; or Ir. sgiob to snatch, Gael. sgiab to start or move suddenly, to snatch, W. ysgipio to snatch.]

1. To leap lightly; to move in leaps and hounds; — commonly implying a sportive spirit. The lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to-day, Had he thy reason, would he skip and play Pope. So she drew her mother away skipping, dancing, and frisking fantastically. Hawthorne.

2. Fig.: To leave matters unnoticed, as in reading, speaking, or writing; to pass by, or overlook, portions of a thing; — often followed by over.

SKIP
Skip, v. t.

1. To leap lightly over; as, to skip the rope.

2. To pass over or by without notice; to omit; to miss; as, to skip a line in reading; to skip a lesson. They who have a mind to see the issue may skip these two chapters. Bp. Burnet.

3. To cause to skip; as, to skip a stone. [Colloq.]

SKIP
Skip, n.

1. A light leap or bound.

2. The act of passing over an interval from one thing to another; an omission of a part.

3. (Mus.)

Defn: A passage from one sound to another by more than a degree at once. Busby. Skip kennel, a lackey; a footboy. [Slang.] Swift. — Skip mackerel. (Zoöl.) See Bluefish, 1.

SKIPJACK
Skip"jack`, n.

1. An upstart. [Obs.] Ford.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An elater; a snap bug, or snapping beetle.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A name given to several kinds of a fish, as the common bluefish, the alewife, the bonito, the butterfish, the cutlass fish, the jurel, the leather jacket, the runner, the saurel, the saury, the threadfish, etc.

4. (Naut.)

Defn: A shallow sailboat with a rectilinear or V-shaped cross section.

SKIPPER
Skip"per, n.

1. One who, or that which, skips.

2. A young, thoughtless person. Shak.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The saury (Scomberesox saurus).

4. The cheese maggot. See Cheese fly, under Cheese.

5. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of small butterflies of the family
Hesperiadæ; — so called from their peculiar short, jerking flight.

SKIPPER
Skip"per, n. Etym: [D. schipper. See Shipper, and Ship.]

1. (Naut.)

Defn: The master of a fishing or small trading vessel; hence, the master, or captain, of any vessel.

2. A ship boy. [Obs.] Congreve.

SKIPPET
Skip"pet, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. skip, E. skipper. See Ship.]

1. A small boat; a skiff. [Obs.] A little skippet floating did appear. Spenser.

2. A small round box for keeping records. [Obs.]

SKIPPINGLY
Skip"ping*ly, adv.

Defn: In a skipping manner; by skips, or light leaps.

SKIRL Skirl, v. t.& i. Etym: [Of Scand. origin, and originally the same word as E. shrill.]

Defn: To utter in a shrill tone; to scream. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

SKIRL
Skirl, n.

Defn: A shrill cry or sound. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

SKIRLCOCK
Skirl"cock`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The missel thrush; — so called from its harsh alarm note.
[Prev. Eng.]

SKIRLCRAKE
Skirl"crake`, n.

Defn: The turnstone. [Prev. Eng.]

SKIRLING
Skirl"ing, n.

Defn: A shrill cry or sound; a crying shrilly; a skirl. [Prov. Eng. &
Scot.] Sir W. Scott.
When the skirling of the pipes cleft the air his cold eyes softened.
Mrs. J. H. Ewing.

SKIRLING
Skirl"ing, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small trout or salmon; — a name used loosely. [Prov. Eng.]

SKIRMISH Skir"mish, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Skirmished; p. pr. & vb. n. Skirmishing.] Etym: [OE. skirmishen, scarmishen, OF. escremir, eskermir, to fence, fight, F. escrimer, of German origin; cf. OHG. scirmen to protect, defend, G. schirmen, OHG. scirm, scerm, protection, shield, G. schirm; perhaps akin to Gr. Scaramouch, Scrimmage.]

Defn: To fight slightly or in small parties; to engage in a skirmish or skirmishes; to act as skirmishers.

SKIRMISH
Skir"mish, n.Etym: [OE. scarmishe, scrymishe. See Skirmish, v. i.]

1. A slight fight in war; a light or desultory combat between detachments from armies, or between detached and small bodies of troops.

2. A slight contest. They never meet but there's a skirmish of wit. Shak.

SKIRMISHER
Skir"mish*er, n.

Defn: One who skirmishes. Specifically: pl. (Mil.)

Defn: Soldiers deployed in loose order, to cover the front or flanks of an advancing army or a marching column.

SKIRR
Skirr, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Scur, Scurry.]

Defn: To ramble over in order to clear; to scour. [Archaic] Shak.

SKIRR
Skirr, v. i.

Defn: To scour; to scud; to run. [Archaic]

SKIRR
Skirr, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A tern. [Prov. Eng.]

SKIRRET
Skir"ret, n. Etym: [A corrupted form equivalent to sugarwort.] (Bot.)

Defn: An umbelliferous plant (Sium, or Pimpinella, Sisarum). It is a native of Asia, but has been long cultivated in Europe for its edible clustered tuberous roots, which are very sweet.

SKIRRHUS
Skir"rhus, n. (Med.)

Defn: See Scirrhus.

SKIRT Skirt, n. Etym: [OE. skyrt, of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. skyrta a shirt, Sw. skört a skirt, skjorta a shirt. See Shirt.]

1. The lower and loose part of a coat, dress, or other like garment; the part below the waist; as, the skirt of a coat, a dress, or a mantle.

2. A loose edging to any part of a dress. [Obs.] A narrow lace, or a small skirt of ruffled linen, which runs along the upper part of the stays before, and crosses the breast, being a part of the tucker, is called the modesty piece. Addison.

3. Border; edge; margin; extreme part of anything "Here in the skirts of the forest." Shak.

4. A petticoat.

5. The diaphragm, or midriff, in animals. Dunglison.

SKIRT
Skirt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skirted; p. pr. & vb. n. Skirting.]

1. To cover with a skirt; to surround. Skirted his loins and thighs with downy gold. Milton.

2. To border; to form the border or edge of; to run along the edge of; as, the plain was skirted by rows of trees. "When sundown skirts the moor." Tennyson.

SKIRT
Skirt, v. t.

Defn: To be on the border; to live near the border, or extremity.
Savages . . . who skirt along our western frontiers. S. S. Smith.

SKIRTING
Skirt"ing, n.

1. (Arch.)

Defn: A skirting board. [R.]

2. Skirts, taken collectivelly; material for skirts. Skirting board, the board running around a room on the wall next the floor; baseboard.

SKIT Skit, v. t. Etym: [Prov. E. skitto slide, as adj., hasty, precipitate, of Scand. origin, and akin to E. shoot, v.t.; cf. Icel. skyti, skytja, skytta, a marksman, shooter, skjota to shoot, skuta a taunt. sq. root159. See Shoot.]

Defn: To cast reflections on; to asperse. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Crose.

SKIT
Skit, n.

1. A reflection; a jeer or gibe; a sally; a brief satire; a squib. Tooke. A similar vein satire upon the emptiness of writers is given in his "Tritical Essay upon the Faculties of the Human Mind;" but that is a mere skit compared with this strange performance. Leslie Stephen.

2. A wanton girl; a light wench. [Obs.]

SKITTER
Skit"ter, v. t. [Cf. Skit, v. t.]

Defn: To move or pass (something) over a surface quickly so that it touches only at intervals; to skip.

The angler, standing in the bow, 'skitters' or skips the spoon over
the surface.
James A. Henshall.

SKITTER
Skit"ter, v. i.

Defn: To pass or glide lightly or with quick touches at intervals; to skip; to skim.

Some kinds of ducks in lighting strike the water with their tails first, and skitter along the surface for a feet before settling down. T. Roosevelt.

SKITTISH
Skit"tish, a. Etym: [See Skit, v. t.]

1. Easily frightened; timorous; shy; untrustworthy; as, a skittish colt. "A restiff, skittish jade." L'Estrange.

2. Wanton; restive; freakish; volatile; changeable; fickle. "Skittish
Fortune's hall." Shak.
— Skit"tish*ly, adv.
— Skit"tish*ness, n.

SKITTLE
Skit"tle, a.

Defn: Pertaining to the game of skittles. Skittle alley, an alley or court in which the game of skittles is played. — Skittle ball, a disk or flattish ball of wood for throwing at the pins in the game of skittles.

SKITTLE-DOG
Skit"tle-dog`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The piked dogfish.

SKITTLES Skit"tles, n. pl. Etym: [Of Scand. origin. sq. root159. See Shoot, v. t., and cf. Shuttle, Skit, v. t.]

Defn: An English game resembling ninepins, but played by throwing wooden disks, instead of rolling balls, at the pins.

SKITTY
Skit"ty, n. Etym: [Cf. Skittish.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A rail; as, the water rail (called also skitty cock, and skitty coot); the spotted crake (Porzana maruetta), and the moor hen. [Prov. Eng.]

SKIVE
Skive, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. skifa a shaving, slice, E. shive, sheave.]

Defn: The iron lap used by diamond polishers in finishing the facets of the gem.

SKIVE
Skive, v. t.

Defn: To pare or shave off the rough or thick parts of (hides or leather).

SKIVER
Skiv"er, n. Etym: [Cf. Skewer, Shiver a fragment.]

1. An inferior quality of leather, made of split sheepskin, tanned by immersion in sumac, and dyed. It is used for hat linings, pocketbooks, bookbinding, etc.

2. The cutting tool or machine used in splitting leather or skins, as sheepskins.

SKIVING
Ski"ving, n.

1. The act of paring or splitting leather or skins.

2. A piece made in paring or splitting leather; specifically, the part from the inner, or flesh, side.

SKLAYRE
Sklayre, n. Etym: [Cf. G. schleier.]

Defn: A vell. [Obs.]

SKLERE
Sklere, v. t.

Defn: To shelter; to cover. [Obs.]

SKOLECITE; SKOLEZITE
Skol"e*cite, Skol"e*zite, n. (Min.)

Defn: See Scolecite.

SKONCE
Skonce, n.

Defn: See Sconce.

SKOPSTER
Skop"ster, n.

Defn: The saury. [Prov. Eng.]

SKOPTSY
Skop*tsy", n. pl.

Defn: See Raskolnik.

SKORODITE
Skor"o*dite, n. (Min.)

Defn: See Scorodite.

SKOUT
Skout, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A guillemot.

SKOWITZ
Sko"witz, n. Etym: [Nisqually (American Indian) name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The silver salmon.

SKREEN
Skreen, n. & v.

Defn: See Screen. [Obs.]

SKRIKE
Skrike, v. i. & t.

Defn: To shriek. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SKRIKE
Skrike, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The missel thrush. [Prov. Eng.]

SKRIMMAGE
Skrim"mage, n.

Defn: See Scrimmage.

SKRIMP
Skrimp, v. t.

Defn: See Scrimp.

SKRINGE
Skringe, v. i.

Defn: See Scringe.

SKRITE
Skrite, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The skrike. [Prov. Eng.]

SKUA
Sku"a, n. Etym: [Icel. sk, sk.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any jager gull; especially, the Megalestris skua; — called also boatswain.

SKUE
Skue, a. & n.

Defn: See Skew.

SKULK
Skulk, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Skulked; p. pr. & vb. n. Skulking.] Etym:
[Of Scand. origin; cf. Dan. skulke to spare or save one's self, to
play the truant, Sw. skolka to be at leisure, to shirk, Icel. skolla.
Cf. Scowl.]

Defn: To hide, or get out of the way, in a sneaking manner; to lie close, or to move in a furtive way; to lurk. "Want skulks in holes and crevices." W. C. Bryant. Discovered and defeated of your prey, You skulked behind the fence, and sneaked away. Dryden.

SKULK
Skulk, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. skollr, skolli, a fox, and E. skulk, v.i.]

Defn: A number of foxes together. Wright.

SKULK; SKULKER
Skulk, Skulk"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, skulks.

SKULKINGLY
Skulk"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a skulking manner.

SKULL
Skull, n. Etym: [See School a multitude.]