The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section S (part 4 of 7)

The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section S (part 4 of 7)

Slip"per*ness, n. Slipperiness. [Obs.]

Slip"per*wort` (?), n. (Bot.) See Calceolaria.

Slip"per*y (?), a. [See Slipper, a.] 1. Having the quality opposite to adhesiveness; allowing or causing anything to slip or move smoothly, rapidly, and easily upon the surface; smooth; glib; as, oily substances render things slippery.

2. Not affording firm ground for confidence; as, a slippery promise.

The slippery tops of human state.

Cowley.

3. Not easily held; liable or apt to slip away.

The slippery god will try to loose his hold.

Dryden.

4. Liable to slip; not standing firm. Shak.

5. Unstable; changeable; mutable; uncertain; inconstant; fickle. "The slippery state of kings." Denham.

6. Uncertain in effect. L'Estrange.

7. Wanton; unchaste; loose in morals. Shak.

Slippery elm. (Bot.) (a) An American tree (Ulmus fulva) with a mucilagenous and slightly aromatic inner bark which is sometimes used medicinally; also, the inner bark itself. (b) A malvaceous shrub (Fremontia Californica); -- so called on the Pacific coast.

Slip"pi*ness (?), n. Slipperiness. [R.] "The slippiness of the way." Sir W. Scott.

Slip"py (?), a. [AS. slipeg.] Slippery.

Slip"shod` (?), a. 1. Wearing shoes or slippers down at the heel.

The shivering urchin bending as he goes, With slipshod heels.

Cowper.

2. Figuratively: Careless in dress, manners, style, etc.; slovenly; shuffling; as, slipshod manners; a slipshod or loose style of writing.

Thy wit shall ne'er go slipshod.

Shak.

Slip"shoe` (?), n. A slipper. Halliwell.

Slip"skin` (?), a. Evasive. [Obs.] Milton.

Slip"slop` (?), n. [A reduplication of slop.] Weak, poor, or flat liquor; weak, profitless discourse or writing.

Slip"string` (?), n. One who has shaken off restraint; a prodigal. [Obs.] Cotgrave.

Slip"thrift` (?), n. A spendthrift. [Obs.]

Slish (?), n. [A corruption of slash.] A cut; as, slish and slash. [Colloq.] Shak.

Slit (?), obs. 3d. pers. sing. pres. of Slide. Chaucer.

Slit (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slit or Slitted (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Slitting.] [OE. slitten, fr. sliten, AS. sttan to tear; akin to D. slijten to wear out, G. schleissen to slit, split, OHG. slzan to split, tear, wear out, Icel. stta to break, tear, wear out, Sw. slita, Dan. slide. Cf. Eclat, Slate, n., Slice.] 1. To cut lengthwise; to cut into long pieces or strips; as, to slit iron bars into nail rods; to slit leather into straps.

2. To cut or make a long fissure in or upon; as, to slit the ear or the nose.

3. To cut; to sever; to divide. [Obs.]

And slits the thin-spun life.

Milton.

Slit, n. [AS. slite.] A long cut; a narrow opening; as, a slit in the ear.

Gill slit. (Anat.) See Gill opening, under Gill.

Slith"er (?), v. i. [Cf. G. schlittern, LG. schliddern. See Slide.] To slide; to glide. [Prov. Eng.]

Slit"-shell" (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any species of Pleurotomaria, a genus of beautiful, pearly, spiral gastropod shells having a deep slit in the outer lip. Many fossil species are known, and a few living ones are found in deep water in tropical seas.

Slit"ter (?), n. One who, or that which, slits.

Slit"ting (?), a. & n. from Slit.

Slitting file. See Illust. (i) of File. -- Slitting mill. (a) A mill where iron bars or plates are slit into narrow strips, as nail rods, and the like. (b) A machine used by lapidaries for slicing stones, usually by means of a revolving disk, called a slicer, supplied with diamond powder. -- Slitting roller, one of a pair of rollers furnished with ribs entering between similar ribs in the other roller, and cutting like shears, -- used in slitting metals.

Slive (?), v. i. [Cf. Slip.] To sneak. [Prov. Eng.]

Slive, v. t. [OE. sliven to split, cleave, AS. slfan.] To cut; to split; to separate. [Obs.] Holland.

Sliv"er (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slivered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Slivering.] [See Slive, v. t.] To cut or divide into long, thin pieces, or into very small pieces; to cut or rend lengthwise; to slit; as, to sliver wood. Shak.

They 'll sliver thee like a turnip.

Sir W. Scott.

Sliv"er, n. 1. A long piece cut ot rent off; a sharp, slender fragment; a splinter.

2. A strand, or slender roll, of cotton or other fiber in a loose, untwisted state, produced by a carding machine and ready for the roving or slubbing which preceeds spinning.

3. pl. Bait made of pieces of small fish. Cf. Kibblings. [Local, U.S.] Bartlett.

Sloak"an (?), n. (Bot.) A species of seaweed. [Spelled also slowcawn.] See 3d Laver.

Sloam (?), n. (Mining) A layer of earth between coal seams.

Sloat (?), n. [See Slot a bar.] A narrow piece of timber which holds together large pieces; a slat; as, the sloats of a cart.

Slob"ber (?), v. t. & i. See Slabber.

Slob"ber, n. 1. See Slabber.

2. (Zoöl.) A jellyfish. [Prov. Eng.]

3. pl. (Vet.) Salivation.

Slob"ber*er (?), n. 1. One who slobbers.

2. A slovenly farmer; a jobbing tailor. [Prov. Eng.]

Slob"ber*y (?), a. Wet; sloppy, as land. Shak.

{ Slock (?), Slock"en (?), } v. t. To quench; to allay; to slake. See Slake. [Obs. or Scot.]

Slock"ing, a. & n. from Slock.

Slocking stone, a rich piece of ore displayed in order to tempt persons to embark in a mining enterprise.

Sloe (?), n. [OE. slo, AS. sl; akin to D. slee, G. schlehe, OHG. sl$ha, Dan. slaaen, Sw. sl&?;n, perhaps originally, that which blunts the teeth, or sets them on edge (cf. Slow); cf. Lith. sliwa a plum, Russ. sliva.] (Bot.) A small, bitter, wild European plum, the fruit of the blackthorn (Prunus spinosa); also, the tree itself.

Slo"gan (?), n. [Gael. sluagh- ghairm, i.e., an army cry; sluagh army + gairm a call, calling.] The war cry, or gathering word, of a Highland clan in Scotland; hence, any rallying cry. Sir W. Scott.

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Slog"gy (?), a. Sluggish. [Obs.]

Somnolence that is sloggy slumbering

Chaucer.

Sloke (?), n. (Bot.) See Sloakan.

{ Sloo (?), or Slue (?) }, n. A slough; a run or wet place. See 2d Slough, 2.

Sloom (?), n. Slumber. [Prov. Eng.]

Sloom"y (?), a. Sluggish; slow. [Prov. Eng.]

Sloop (?), n.[D. sloep, of uncertain origin. Cf. Shallop.] (Naut.) A vessel having one mast and fore-and-aft rig, consisting of a boom-and-gaff mainsail, jibs, staysail, and gaff topsail. The typical sloop has a fixed bowsprit, topmast, and standing rigging, while those of a cutter are capable of being readily shifted. The sloop usually carries a centerboard, and depends for stability upon breadth of beam rather than depth of keel. The two types have rapidly approximated since 1880. One radical distinction is that a slop may carry a centerboard. See Cutter, and Illustration in Appendix.

Sloop of war, formerly, a vessel of war rigged either as a ship, brig, or schooner, and mounting from ten to thirty-two guns; now, any war vessel larger than a gunboat, and carrying guns on one deck only.

Slop (?), n. [OE. sloppe a pool; akin to As. sloppe, slyppe, the sloppy droppings of a cow; cf. AS. sl&?;pan to slip, and E. slip, v.i. Cf. Cowslip.] 1. Water or other liquid carelessly spilled or thrown aboyt, as upon a table or a floor; a puddle; a soiled spot.

2. Mean and weak drink or liquid food; -- usually in the plural.

3. pl. Dirty water; water in which anything has been washed or rinsed; water from wash-bowls, etc.

Slop basin, or Slop bowl, a basin or bowl for holding slops, especially for receiving the rinsings of tea or coffee cups at the table. -- Slop molding (Brickmaking), a process of manufacture in which the brick is carried to the drying ground in a wet mold instead of on a pallet.

Slop, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slopped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Slopping.] 1. To cause to overflow, as a liquid, by the motion of the vessel containing it; to spill.

2. To spill liquid upon; to soil with a liquid spilled.

Slop, v. i. To overflow or be spilled as a liquid, by the motion of the vessel containing it; -- often with over.

Slop, n. [AS. slop a frock or over-garment, fr. sl&?;pan to slip, to slide; akin to Icel sloppr a thin garment; cf. OHG. slouf a garment. Cf. Slip, v. i.] 1. Any kind of outer garment made of linen or cotton, as a night dress, or a smock frock. [Obs.] Halliwell.

2. A loose lower garment; loose breeches; chiefly used in the plural. "A pair of slops." Sir P. Sidney.

There's a French salutation to your French slop.

Shak.

3. pl. Ready-made clothes; also, among seamen, clothing, bedding, and other furnishings.

Slope (?), n. [Formed (like abode fr. abide) from OE. slipen. See Slip, v. i.] 1. An oblique direction; a line or direction including from a horizontal line or direction; also, sometimes, an inclination, as of one line or surface to another.

2. Any ground whose surface forms an angle with the plane of the horizon.

buildings the summit and slope of a hill.

Macaulay.

Under the slopes of Pisgah.

Deut. iv. 49. (Rev. Ver.).

A slope, considered as descending, is a declivity; considered as ascending, an acclivity.

Slope of a plane (Geom.), the direction of the plane; as, parallel planes have the same slope.

Slope, a. Sloping. "Down the slope hills." Milton.

A bank not steep, but gently slope.

Bacon.

Slope, adv. In a sloping manner. [Obs.] Milton.

Slope, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sloped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sloping.] To form with a slope; to give an oblique or slanting direction to; to direct obliquely; to incline; to slant; as, to slope the ground in a garden; to slope a piece of cloth in cutting a garment.

Slope, v. i. 1. To take an oblique direction; to be at an angle with the plane of the horizon; to incline; as, the ground slopes.

2. To depart; to disappear suddenly. [Slang]

Slope"ness, n. State of being slope. Sir H. Wotton.

Slope"wise` (?), adv. Obliquely. [Obs.] Carew.

Slop"ing, a. Inclining or inclined from the plane of the horizon, or from a horizontal or other right line; oblique; declivous; slanting. -- Slop"ing*ly, adv.

The sloping land recedes into the clouds.

Cowper.

Slop"pi*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being sloppy; muddiness.

Slop"py (?), a. [Compar. Sloppier (?); superl. Sloppiest.] [From Slop.] Wet, so as to spatter easily; wet, as with something slopped over; muddy; plashy; as, a sloppy place, walk, road.

Slop"sell`er (?), n. One who sells slops, or ready-made clothes. See 4th Slop, 3.

Slop"shop` (?), n. A shop where slops. or ready-made clothes, are sold.

Slop"work` (?), n. The manufacture of slops, or cheap ready-made clothing; also, such clothing; hence, hasty, slovenly work of any kind.

No slopwork ever dropped from his [Carlyle's] pen.

Froude.

Slop"y (?), a. Sloping; inclined.

{ Slosh (?), Slosh"y (?) }. See Slush, Slushy.

Slot (?), n. [LG. & D. slot a lock, from a verb meaning to close., to shut, D. sluiten; akin to G. schliessen, OHG. sliozan, OFries. sl&?;ta, and probably to L. claudere. Cf. Close, Sluice.] 1. A broad, flat, wooden bar; a slat or sloat.

2. A bolt or bar for fastening a door. [Prov. Eng.]

3. A narrow depression, perforation, or aperture; esp., one for the reception of a piece fitting or sliding in it.

Slot (?), v. t. [See Slot a bar.] To shut with violence; to slam; as, to slot a door. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

Slot, n. [Cf. Icel. sl&?;&?;, and E. sleuth.] The track of a deer; hence, a track of any kind. Milton.

As a bloodhound follows the slot of a hurt deer.

Sir W. Scott.

Sloth (?), n. [OE. slouthe, sleuthe, AS. sl&?;w&?;, fr. slw slow. See Slow.] 1. Slowness; tardiness.

These cardinals trifle with me; I abhor This dilatory sloth and tricks of Rome.

Shak.

2. Disinclination to action or labor; sluggishness; laziness; idleness.

[They] change their course to pleasure, ease, and sloth.

Milton.

Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears.

Franklin.

3. (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of arboreal edentates constituting the family Bradypodidæ, and the suborder Tardigrada. They have long exserted limbs and long prehensile claws. Both jaws are furnished with teeth (see Illust. of Edentata), and the ears and tail are rudimentary. They inhabit South and Central America and Mexico.

The three-toed sloths belong to the genera Bradypus and Arctopithecus, of which several species have been described. They have three toes on each foot. The best-known species are collared sloth (Bradypus tridactylus), and the ai (Arctopitheus ai). The two-toed sloths, consisting the genus Cholopus, have two toes on each fore foot and three on each hind foot. The best-known is the unau (Cholopus didactylus) of South America. See Unau. Another species (C. Hoffmanni) inhabits Central America. Various large extinct terrestrial edentates, such as Megatherium and Mylodon, are often called sloths.

Australian, or Native sloth (Zoöl.), the koala. -- Sloth animalcule (Zoöl.), a tardigrade. -- Sloth bear (Zoöl.), a black or brown long-haired bear (Melursus ursinus, or labiatus), native of India and Ceylon; -- called also aswail, labiated bear, and jungle bear. It is easily tamed and can be taught many tricks. -- Sloth monkey (Zoöl.), a loris.

Sloth, v. i. To be idle. [Obs.] Gower.

Sloth"ful (?), a. Addicted to sloth; inactive; sluggish; lazy; indolent; idle.

He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

Prov. xviii. 9.

-- Sloth"ful*ly, adv. -- Sloth"ful*ness, n.

Sloth"hound` (?), n. [See Slot a track, and cf. Sleuthhound.] (Zoöl.) See Sleuthhound.

Slot"ted (?), a. Having a slot.

Slot"ting (?), n. The act or process of making slots, or mortises.

Slouch (?), n. [Cf. Icel. sl&?;kra slouching felloew, and E. slack, slug, a lazy fellow.] 1. A hanging down of the head; a drooping attitude; a limp appearance; an ungainly, clownish gait; a sidewise depression or hanging down, as of a hat brim.

2. An awkward, heavy, clownish fellow. [Colloq.]

Slouth hat, a soft, limp hat of unstiffened cloth or felt.

Slouch, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Slouched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Slouching.] 1. To droop, as the head.

2. To walk in a clumsy, lazy manner. [Colloq.]

Slouch, v. t. To cause to hang down; to depress at the side; as, to slouth the hat.

Slouch"ing, a. Hanging down at the side; limp; drooping; without firmness or shapeliness; moving in an ungainly manner.

Slouch"y (?), a. Slouching. [Colloq.]

Slough (?), a. Slow. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Slough (?), n. [OE. slogh, slough, AS. slh a hollow place; cf. MHG. slch an abyss, gullet, G. schlucken to swallow; also Gael. & Ir. sloc a pit, pool. ditch, Ir. slug to swallow. Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?;&?; to hiccough, to sob.] 1. A place of deep mud or mire; a hole full of mire. Chaucer.

He's here stuck in a slough.

Milton.

2. [Pronounced sl.] A wet place; a swale; a side channel or inlet from a river. [In this sense local or provincial; also spelt sloo, and slue.]

Slough grass (Bot.), a name in the Mississippi valley for grasses of the genus Muhlenbergia; -- called also drop seed, and nimble Will.

Slough, obs. imp. of Slee, to slay. Slew. Chaucer.

Slough (?), n. [OE. slugh, slouh; cf. MHG. sl&?;ch the skin of a serpent, G. schlauch a skin, a leather bag or bottle.] 1. The skin, commonly the cast-off skin, of a serpent or of some similar animal.

2. (Med.) The dead mass separating from a foul sore; the dead part which separates from the living tissue in mortification.

Slough, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sloughed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sloughing.] (Med.) To form a slough; to separate in the form of dead matter from the living tissues; -- often used with off, or away; as, a sloughing ulcer; the dead tissues slough off slowly.

Slough, v. t. To cast off; to discard as refuse.

New tint the plumage of the birds, And slough decay from grazing herds.

Emerson.

Slough"ing (?), n. (Zoöl.) The act of casting off the skin or shell, as do insects and crustaceans; ecdysis.

Slough"y (?), a. Full of sloughs, miry.

Slough"y (?), a. Resembling, or of the nature of, a slough, or the dead matter which separates from living flesh.

Slov"en (?), n. [D. slaf careless, negligent, a sloven; akin to LG. sluf slovenly.] A man or boy habitually negligent of neathess and order; -- the correlative term to slattern, or slut. Pope.

He became a confirmed sloven.

Macaulay.

Slov"en*li*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being slovenly.

Slov"en*ly, a. 1. Having the habits of a sloven; negligent of neatness and order, especially in dress.

A slovenly, lazy fellow, lolling at his ease.

L'Estrange.

2. Characteristic of a sloven; lacking neatness and order; evincing negligence; as, slovenly dress.

Slov"en*ly, adv. a slovenly manner.

Slov"en*ness, n. Slovenliness. [Obs.] Fuller.

Slov"en*ry (?), n. Slovenliness. [Obs.] Shak.

Slow (sl), obs. imp. of Slee, to slay. Slew. Chaucer.

Slow (sl), a. [Compar. Slower (?); superl. Slowest.] [OE. slow, slaw, AS. slw; akin to OS. slu blunt, dull, D. sleeuw, slee, sour, OHG. slo blunt, dull, Icel. slr, slær, Dan. slöv, Sw. slö. Cf. Sloe, and Sloth.] 1. Moving a short space in a relatively long time; not swift; not quick in motion; not rapid; moderate; deliberate; as, a slow stream; a slow motion.

2. Not happening in a short time; gradual; late.

These changes in the heavens, though slow, produced Like change on sea and land, sidereal blast.

Milton.

3. Not ready; not prompt or quick; dilatory; sluggish; as, slow of speech, and slow of tongue.

Fixed on defense, the Trojans are not slow To guard their shore from an expected foe.

Dryden.

4. Not hasty; not precipitate; acting with deliberation; tardy; inactive.

He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding.

Prov. xiv. 29.

5. Behind in time; indicating a time earlier than the true time; as, the clock or watch is slow.

6. Not advancing or improving rapidly; as, the slow growth of arts and sciences.

7. Heavy in wit; not alert, prompt, or spirited; wearisome; dull. [Colloq.] Dickens. Thackeray.

Slow is often used in the formation of compounds for the most part self-explaining; as, slow-gaited, slow- paced, slow-sighted, slow-winged, and the like.

Slow coach, a slow person. See def.7, above. [Colloq.] -- Slow lemur, or Slow loris (Zoöl.), an East Indian nocturnal lemurine animal (Nycticebus tardigradus) about the size of a small cat; -- so called from its slow and deliberate movements. It has very large round eyes and is without a tail. Called also bashful Billy. -- Slow match. See under Match.

Syn. -- Dilatory; late; lingering; tardy; sluggish; dull; inactive. -- Slow, Tardy, Dilatory. Slow is the wider term, denoting either a want of rapid motion or inertness of intellect. Dilatory signifies a proneness to defer, a habit of delaying the performance of what we know must be done. Tardy denotes the habit of being behind hand; as, tardy in making up one's acounts.

Slow, adv. Slowly.

Let him have time to mark how slow time goes In time of sorrow.

Shak.

Slow, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slowed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Slowing.] To render slow; to slacken the speed of; to retard; to delay; as, to slow a steamer. Shak.

Slow, v. i. To go slower; -- often with up; as, the train slowed up before crossing the bridge.

Slow, n. A moth. [Obs.] Rom. of R.

Slow"back` (?), n. A lubber; an idle fellow; a loiterer. [Old Slang] Dr. Favour.

Slowh (?), obs. imp. of Slee,to slay. Chaucer.

Slow"hound` (?), n. A sleuthhound. [R.]

Slow"ly, adv. In a slow manner; moderately; not rapidly; not early; not rashly; not readly; tardly.

Slow"ness, n. The quality or state of being slow.

Slows (?), n. (Med.) Milk sickness.

Slow"-wit`ted (?), a. Dull of apprehension; not possessing quick intelligence.

Slow"worm` (?), n. [AS. slwyrm; the first part is probably akin to sleán to strike, the reptile being supposed to be very poisonous. See Slay, v. t., and Worm.] (Zoöl.) A lecertilian reptile; the blindworm.

Slub (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] A roll of wool slightly twisted; a rove; -- called also slubbing.

Slub, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slubbed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Slubbing.] To draw out and twist slightly; -- said of slivers of wool.

Slub"ber (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slubbered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Slubbering.] [Cf. Dan. slubbreto swallow, to sup up, D. slobberen to lap, to slabber. Cf. Slabber.] 1. To do lazily, imperfectly, or coarsely.

Slubber not business for my sake.

Shak.

2. To daub; to stain; to cover carelessly.

There is no art that hath more . . . slubbered with aphorisming pedantry than the art of policy.

Milton.

Slub"ber, n. A slubbing machine.

Slub"ber*de*gul`lion (?), n. [Slubber + Prov. E. gullion a wretch.] A mean, dirty wretch. [Low]

Slub"ber*ing*ly, adv. In a slovenly, or hurried and imperfect, manner. [Low] Drayton.

Slub"bing (?), a. & n. from Slub.

Slubbing billy, or Slubbing machine, the machine by which slubs are formed.

Sludge (?), n. [CF. Slush.] 1. Mud; mire; soft mud; slush. Mortimer. Tennyson.

2. Small floating pieces of ice, or masses of saturated snow. Kane.

3. (Mining) See Slime, 4.

Sludge hole, the hand-hole, or manhole, in a steam boiler, by means of which sediment can be removed.

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Slud"ger (slj"r), n. A bucket for removing mud from a bored hole; a sand pump.

Slud"y (?), a. Miry; slushy.

Slue (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slued (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Sluing (&?;).] [Prov. E. slew to turn round, Scot. to lean or incline to a side; cf. Icel. sn&?;a to turn, bend.] [Written also slew.] 1. (Naut.) To turn about a fixed point, usually the center or axis, as a spar or piece of timber; to turn; -- used also of any heavy body.

2. In general, to turn about; to twist; -- often used reflexively and followed by round. [Colloq.]

They laughed, and slued themselves round.

Dickens.

Slue, v. i. To turn about; to turn from the course; to slip or slide and turn from an expected or desired course; -- often followed by round.

Slue, n. See Sloough, 2. [Local]

Slug (?), n. [OE. slugge slothful, sluggen to be slothful; cf. LG. slukk low- spirited, sad, E. slack, slouch, D. slak, slek, a snail.] 1. A drone; a slow, lazy fellow; a sluggard. Shak.

2. A hindrance; an obstruction. [Obs.] Bacon.

3. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of terrestrial pulmonate mollusks belonging to Limax and several related genera, in which the shell is either small and concealed in the mantle, or altogether wanting. They are closely allied to the land snails.

4. (Zoöl.) Any smooth, soft larva of a sawfly or moth which creeps like a mollusk; as, the pear slug; rose slug.

5. A ship that sails slowly. [Obs.] Halliwell.

His rendezvous for his fleet, and for all slugs to come to, should be between Calais and Dover.

Pepys.

6. [Perhaps a different word.] An irregularly shaped piece of metal, used as a missile for a gun.

7. (Print.) A thick strip of metal less than type high, and as long as the width of a column or a page, -- used in spacing out pages and to separate display lines, etc.

Sea slug. (Zoöl.) (a) Any nudibranch mollusk. (b) A holothurian. -- Slug caterpillar. Same as Slugworm.

Slug, v. i. To move slowly; to lie idle. [Obs.]

To slug in sloth and sensual delight.

Spenser.

Slug, v. t. To make sluggish. [Obs.] Milton.

Slug, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slugged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Slugging (?).] 1. To load with a slug or slugs; as, to slug a gun.

2. To strike heavily. [Cant or Slang]

Slug, v. i. To become reduced in diameter, or changed in shape, by passing from a larger to a smaller part of the bore of the barrel; -- said of a bullet when fired from a gun, pistol, or other firearm.

Slug"a*bed` (?), n. One who indulges in lying abed; a sluggard. [R.] "Fie, you slugabed!" Shak.

Slug"gard (?), n. [Slug + - ard.] A person habitually lazy, idle, and inactive; a drone.

Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.

Prov. vi. 6.

Slug"gard, a. Sluggish; lazy. Dryden.

Slug"gard*ize (?), v. t. To make lazy. [R.] Shak.

Slug"gard*y (?), n. [OE. sloggardye.] The state of being a sluggard; sluggishness; sloth. Gower.

Idleness is rotten sluggardy.

Chaucer.

Slug"ger (?), n. One who strikes heavy blows; hence, a boxer; a prize fighter. [Cant or Slang]

Slug"gish (?), a. 1. Habitually idle and lazy; slothful; dull; inactive; as, a sluggish man.

2. Slow; having little motion; as, a sluggish stream.

3. Having no power to move one's self or itself; inert.

Matter, being impotent, sluggish, and inactive, hath no power to stir or move itself.

Woodward.

And the sluggish land slumbers in utter neglect.

Longfellow.

4. Characteristic of a sluggard; dull; stupid; tame; simple. [R.] "So sluggish a conceit." Milton.

Syn. -- Inert; idle; lazy; slothful; indolent; dronish; slow; dull; drowsy; inactive. See Inert.

-- Slug"gish*ly, adv. -- Slug"gish*ness, n.

Slug"gy (?), a. Sluggish. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Slug"-horn` (?), a. An erroneous form of the Scotch word slughorne, or sloggorne, meaning slogan.

Slugs (?), n. pl. (Mining) Half-roasted ore.

Slug"worm` (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any caterpillar which has the general appearance of a slug, as do those of certain moths belonging to Limacodes and allied genera, and those of certain sawflies.

Sluice (?), n. [OF. escluse, F. écluse, LL. exclusa, sclusa, from L. excludere, exclusum, to shut out: cf. D. sluis sluice, from the Old French. See Exclude.] 1. An artifical passage for water, fitted with a valve or gate, as in a mill stream, for stopping or regulating the flow; also, a water gate or flood gate.

2. Hence, an opening or channel through which anything flows; a source of supply.

Each sluice of affluent fortune opened soon.

Harte.

This home familiarity . . . opens the sluices of sensibility.

I. Taylor.

3. The stream flowing through a flood gate.

4. (Mining) A long box or trough through which water flows, -- used for washing auriferous earth.

Sluice gate, the sliding gate of a sluice.

Sluice, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sluiced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sluicing (?).] 1. To emit by, or as by, flood gates. [R.] Milton.

2. To wet copiously, as by opening a sluice; as, to sluice meadows. Howitt.

He dried his neck and face, which he had been sluicing with cold water.

De Quincey.

3. To wash with, or in, a stream of water running through a sluice; as, to sluice eart or gold dust in mining.

Sluice"way` (?), n. An artificial channel into which water is let by a sluice; specifically, a trough constructed over the bed of a stream, so that logs, lumber, or rubbish can be floated down to some convenient place of delivery.

Slui`cy (?), a. Falling copiously or in streams, as from a sluice.

And oft whole sheets descend of sluicy rain.

Dryden.

Slum (?), n. [CF. Slump, n.] 1. A foul back street of a city, especially one filled with a poor, dirty, degraded, and often vicious population; any low neighborhood or dark retreat; -- usually in the plural; as, Westminster slums are haunts for theives. Dickens.

2. pl. (Mining) Same as Slimes.

Slum"ber (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Slumbered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Slumbering.] [OE. slombren, slumberen, slumeren, AS. slumerian, fr. sluma slumber; akin to D. sluimeren to slumber, MHG. slummern, slumen, G. schlummern, Dan. slumre, Sw. slumra, Goth. slawan to be silent.] 1. To sleep; especially, to sleep lightly; to doze. Piers Plowman.

He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

Ps. cxxi. 4.

2. To be in a state of negligence, sloth, supineness, or inactivity. "Why slumbers Pope?" Young.

Slum"ber, v. t. 1. To lay to sleep. [R.] Wotton.

2. To stun; to stupefy. [Obs.] Spenser.

Slum"ber, n. Sleep; especially, light sleep; sleep that is not deep or sound; repose.

He at last fell into a slumber, and thence into a fast sleep, which detained him in that place until it was almost night.

Bunyan.

Fast asleep? It is no matter; Enjoy the honey-heavy dew of slumber.

Shak.

Rest to my soul, and slumber to my eyes.

Dryden.

Slum"ber*er (?), n. One who slumbers; a sleeper.

Slum"ber*ing*ly, adv. In a slumbering manner.

Slum"ber*less, a. Without slumber; sleepless.

Slum"ber*ous (?), a. 1. Inviting slumber; soporiferous. "Pensive in the slumberous shade." Pope.

2. Being in the repose of slumber; sleepy; drowsy.

His quiet and almost slumberous countenance.

Hawthorne.

Slum"ber*y (?), a. Sleepy. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Slum"brous (?), a. Slumberous. Keats.

Slum"ming, vb. n. Visiting slums.

Slump (?), n. [Cf. D. slomp a mass, heap, Dan. slump a quantity, and E. slump, v.t.] The gross amount; the mass; the lump. [Scot.]

Slump, v. t. [Cf. Lump; also Sw. slumpa to bargain for the lump.] To lump; to throw into a mess.

These different groups . . . are exclusively slumped together under that sense.

Sir W. Hamilton.

Slump, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Slumped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Slumping.] [Scot. slump a dull noise produced by something falling into a hole, a marsh, a swamp.] To fall or sink suddenly through or in, when walking on a surface, as on thawing snow or ice, partly frozen ground, a bog, etc., not strong enough to bear the person.

The latter walk on a bottomless quag, into which unawares they may slump.

Barrow.

Slump, n. 1. A boggy place. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

2. The noise made by anything falling into a hole, or into a soft, miry place. [Scot.]

Slump"y (?), a. Easily broken through; boggy; marshy; swampy. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U.S.] Bartlett.

Slung (?), imp. & p. p. of Sling.

Slung shot, a metal ball of small size, with a string attached, used by ruffians for striking.

Slunk (?), imp. & p. p. of Slink.

Slur (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slurred (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Slurring (?).] [Cf. OE. sloor mud, clay, Icel. sl&?;ra, slo&?;ra, to trail or drag one's self along, D. sleuren, sloren, to train, to drag, to do negligently and slovenly, D. sloor, sloerie, a sluttish girl.] 1. To soil; to sully; to contaminate; to disgrace. Cudworth.

2. To disparage; to traduce. Tennyson.

3. To cover over; to disguise; to conceal; to pass over lightly or with little notice.

With periods, points, and tropes, he slurs his crimes.

Dryden.

4. To cheat, as by sliding a die; to trick. [R.]

To slur men of what they fought for.

Hudibras.

5. To pronounce indistinctly; as, to slur syllables.

6. (Mus.) To sing or perform in a smooth, gliding style; to connect smoothly in performing, as several notes or tones. Busby.

7. (Print.) To blur or double, as an impression from type; to mackle.

Slur, n. 1. A mark or stain; hence, a slight reproach or disgrace; a stigma; a reproachful intimation; an innuendo. "Gaining to his name a lasting slur." South.

2. A trick played upon a person; an imposition. [R.]

3. (Mus.) A mark, thus [ or ], connecting notes that are to be sung to the same syllable, or made in one continued breath of a wind instrument, or with one stroke of a bow; a tie; a sign of legato.

4. In knitting machines, a contrivance for depressing the sinkers successively by passing over them.

Slurred (?), a. (Mus.) Marked with a slur; performed in a smooth, gliding style, like notes marked with a slur.

Slush (?), n. [Cf. Sw. slaska to paddle in water, slask wet, filth.] [Written also slosh.] 1. Soft mud.

2. A mixture of snow and water; half-melted snow.

3. A soft mixture of grease and other materials, used for lubrication.

4. The refuse grease and fat collected in cooking, especially on shipboard.

5. (Mach.) A mixture of white lead and lime, with which the bright parts of machines, such as the connecting rods of steamboats, are painted to be preserved from oxidation.

Slush (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slushed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Slushing.] 1. To smear with slush or grease; as, to slush a mast.

2. To paint with a mixture of white lead and lime.

Slush"y (?), a. Abounding in slush; characterized by soft mud or half-melted snow; as, the streets are slushy; the snow is slushy. "A dark, drizzling, slushy day." Blackw. Mag.

Slut (?), n. [OE. slutte; cf. OD. slodde a slut, Icel. slöttr a heavy, loglike fellow, slota to droop.] 1. An untidy woman; a slattern.

Sluts are good enough to make a sloven's porridge.

Old Proverb.

2. A servant girl; a drudge. [Obs.]

Our little girl Susan is a most admirable slut, and pleases us mightly, doing more service than both the others.

Pepys.

3. A female dog; a bitch.

Slutch (?), n. [CF. Sludge.] Slush. [Prov. Eng.]

Slutch"y (?), a. Slushy. [Prov. Eng.] Pennant.

Sluth"hound` (?), n. Sleuthhound.

Slut"ter*y (?), n. The qualities and practices of a slut; sluttishness; slatternlines. Drayton.

Slut"tish (?), a. Like a slut; untidy; indecently negligent of cleanliness; disorderly; as, a sluttish woman.

Why is thy lord so slutish, I thee pray.

Chaucer.

An air of liberal, though sluttish, plenty, indicated the wealthy farmer.

Sir W. Scott.

-- Slut"tish*ly, adv. -- Slut"tish*ness, n.

Sly (?), a. [Compar. Slier (?) or Slyer; superl. Sliest or Slyest.] [OE. sli, slegh, sleih, Icel sl&?;gr, for sl&?;gr; akin to Sw. slug, Dan. slu, LG. slou, G. schlau; probably to E. slay, v.t.; cf. G. verschlagen sly. See Slay, v. t., and cf. Sleight.] 1. Dexterous in performing an action, so as to escape notice; nimble; skillful; cautious; shrewd; knowing; -- in a good sense.

Be ye sly as serpents, and simple as doves.

Wyclif (Matt. x. 16).

Whom graver age And long experience hath made wise and sly.

Fairfax.

2. Artfully cunning; secretly mischievous; wily.

For my sly wiles and subtle craftiness, The litle of the kingdom I possess.

Spenser.

3. Done with, and marked by, artful and dexterous secrecy; subtle; as, a sly trick.

Envy works in a sly and imperceptible manner.

I. Watts.

4. Light or delicate; slight; thin. [Obs.]

By the sly, or On the sly, in a sly or secret manner. [Colloq.] "Gazed on Hetty's charms by the sly." G. Eliot. -- Sly goose (Zoöl.), the common sheldrake; -- so named from its craftiness.

Syn. -- Cunning; crafty; subtile; wily. See Cunning.

Sly, adv. Slyly. [Obs. or Poetic] Spenser.

Sly"boots` (?), n. A humerous appellation for a sly, cunning, or waggish person.

Slyboots was cursedly cunning to hide 'em.

Goldsmith.

Sly"ly, adv. In a sly manner; shrewdly; craftily.

Honestly and slyly he it spent.

Chaucer.

Sly"ness, n. The quality or state of being sly.

Slype (?), n. [Cf. D. sluipen to sneak.] (Arch.) A narrow passage between two buildings, as between the transept and chapter house of a monastery. [Eng.]

Smack (?), n. [D. smak; akin to LG. smack, smak, Dan. smakke, G. schmacke, F. semaque.] (Naut.) A small sailing vessel, commonly rigged as a sloop, used chiefly in the coasting and fishing trade.

Smack, n. [OE. smak, AS. ssm&?;c taste, savor; akin to D. smaak, G. geschmack, OHG. smac; cf. Lith. smagus pleasant. Cf. Smack, v. i.] 1. Taste or flavor, esp. a slight taste or flavor; savor; tincture; as, a smack of bitter in the medicine. Also used figuratively.

So quickly they have taken a smack in covetousness.

Robynson (More's Utopia).

They felt the smack of this world.

Latimer.

2. A small quantity; a taste. Dryden.

3. A loud kiss; a buss. "A clamorous smack." Shak.

4. A quick, sharp noise, as of the lips when suddenly separated, or of a whip.

5. A quick, smart blow; a slap. Johnson.

Smack, adv. As if with a smack or slap. [Colloq.]

Smack, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Smacked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Smacking.] [OE. smaken to taste, have a taste, -- from the noun; cf. AS. smecan taste; akin to D. smaken, G. schmecken, OHG. smechen to taste, smach&?;n to have a taste (and, derived from the same source, G. schmatzen to smack the lips, to kiss with a sharp noise, MHG. smatzen, smackzeen), Icel smakka to taste, Sw. smaka, Dan. smage. See 2d Smack, n.] 1. To have a smack; to be tinctured with any particular taste.

2. To have or exhibit indications of the presence of any character or quality.

All sects, all ages, smack of this vice.

Shak.

3. To kiss with a close compression of the lips, so as to make a sound when they separate; to kiss with a sharp noise; to buss.

4. To make a noise by the separation of the lips after tasting anything.

Smack, v. t. 1. To kiss with a sharp noise; to buss.

2. To open, as the lips, with an inarticulate sound made by a quick compression and separation of the parts of the mouth; to make a noise with, as the lips, by separating them in the act of kissing or after tasting.

Drinking off the cup, and smacking his lips with an air of ineffable relish.

Sir W. Scott.

3. To make a sharp noise by striking; to crack; as, to smack a whip. "She smacks the silken thong." Young.

Smack"ing, n. A sharp, quick noise; a smack.

Like the faint smacking of an after kiss.

Dryden.

<! p. 1358 !>

Smack"ing (?), a. Making a sharp, brisk sound; hence, brisk; as, a smacking breeze.

Small (sml), a. [Compar. Smaller (?); superl. Smallest.] [OE. small, AS. smæl; akin to D. smal narrow, OS. & OHG. smal small, G. schmal narrow, Dan. & Sw. smal, Goth. smals small, Icel. smali smal cattle, sheep, or goats; cf. Gr. mh^lon a sheep or goat.] 1. Having little size, compared with other things of the same kind; little in quantity or degree; diminutive; not large or extended in dimension; not great; not much; inconsiderable; as, a small man; a small river.

To compare Great things with small.

Milton.

2. Being of slight consequence; feeble in influence or importance; unimportant; trivial; insignificant; as, a small fault; a small business.

3. Envincing little worth or ability; not large-minded; -- sometimes, in reproach, paltry; mean.

A true delineation of the smallest man is capable of interesting the greatest man.

Carlyle.

4. Not prolonged in duration; not extended in time; short; as, after a small space. Shak.

5. Weak; slender; fine; gentle; soft; not loud. "A still, small voice." 1 Kings xix. 12.

Great and small,of all ranks or degrees; -- used especially of persons. "His quests, great and small." Chaucer. -- Small arms, muskets, rifles, pistols, etc., in distinction from cannon. - - Small beer. See under Beer. -- Small coal. (a) Little coals of wood formerly used to light fires. Gay. (b) Coal about the size of a hazelnut, separated from the coarser parts by screening. -- Small craft (Naut.), a vessel, or vessels in general, of a small size. -- Small fruits. See under Fruit. -- Small hand, a certain size of paper. See under Paper. -- Small hours. See under Hour. -- Small letter. (Print.), a lower-case letter. See Lower-case, and Capital letter, under Capital, a. -- Small piece, a Scotch coin worth about 2¼d. sterling, or about 4½cents. -- Small register. See the Note under 1st Register, 7. -- Small stuff (Naut.), spun yarn, marline, and the smallest kinds of rope. R. H. Dana, Jr. -- Small talk, light or trifling conversation; chitchat. -- Small wares (Com.), various small textile articles, as tapes, braid, tringe, and the like. M‘Culloch.

Small, adv. 1. In or to small extent, quantity, or degree; little; slightly. [Obs.] "I wept but small." Chaucer. "It small avails my mood." Shak.

2. Not loudly; faintly; timidly. [Obs. or Humorous]

You may speak as small as you will.

Shak.

Small, n. 1. The small or slender part of a thing; as, the small of the leg or of the back.

2. pl. Smallclothes. [Colloq.] Hood. Dickens.

3. pl. Same as Little go. See under Little, a.

Small, v. t. To make little or less. [Obs.]

Small"age (?), n. [Small + F. ache smallage. See Ach parsley.] (Bot.) A biennial umbelliferous plant (Apium graveolens) native of the seacoats of Europe and Asia. When deprived of its acrid and even poisonous properties by cultivation, it becomes celery.

Small"clothes` (?), n. pl. A man's garment for the hips and thighs; breeches. See Breeches.

Small"ish, a. Somewhat small. G. W. Cable.

Small"ness, n. The quality or state of being small.

Small"pox` (?), n. [Small + pox, pocks.] (Med.) A contagious, constitutional, febrile disease characterized by a peculiar eruption; variola. The cutaneous eruption is at first a collection of papules which become vesicles (first flat, subsequently umbilicated) and then pustules, and finally thick crusts which slough after a certain time, often leaving a pit, or scar.

Smalls (?), n. pl. See Small, n., 2, 3.

Small"sword` (?), n. A light sword used for thrusting only; especially, the sword worn by civilians of rank in the eighteenth century.

Smal"ly (?), adv. In a small quantity or degree; with minuteness. [R.] Ascham.

Smalt (?), n. [It. smalto, LL. smaltum; of Teutonic origin; cf. OHG. smalz grease, butter, G. schmalz grease, OHG. smelzan to melt, G. schmelzen. See Smelt, v. t., and cf. Amel, Enamel.] A deep blue pigment or coloring material used in various arts. It is a vitreous substance made of cobalt, potash, and calcined quartz fused, and reduced to a powder.

Smalt"-blue` (?), a. Deep blue, like smalt.

{ Smalt"ine (?), Smalt"ite (?), } n. [See Smalt.] (Min.) A tin- white or gray mineral of metallic luster. It is an arsenide of cobalt, nickel, and iron. Called also speiskobalt.

Smar"agd (?), n. [L. smaragdus. See Emerald.] The emerald. [Obs.] Bale.

Sma*rag"dine (?), a. [L. smaragdinus, Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?;.] Of or pertaining to emerald; resembling emerald; of an emerald green.

Sma*rag"dite (?), n. [Cf. F. smaragdite; -- so called from its emerald-green color. See Smaragd.] (Min.) A green foliated kind of amphibole, observed in eclogite and some varietis of gabbro.

Smart (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Smarted; p. pr. & vb. n. Smarting.] [OE. smarten, AS. smeortan; akin to D. smarten, smerten, G. schmerzen, OHG. smerzan, Dan. smerte, SW. smärta, D. smart, smert, a pain, G. schmerz, Ohg. smerzo, and probably to L. mordere to bite; cf. Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?;, &?;&?;&?;&?;&?;, terrible, fearful, Skr. m&?;d to rub, crush. Cf. Morsel.] 1. To feel a lively, pungent local pain; -- said of some part of the body as the seat of irritation; as, my finger smarts; these wounds smart. Chaucer. Shak.

2. To feel a pungent pain of mind; to feel sharp pain or grief; to suffer; to feel the sting of evil.

No creature smarts so little as a fool.

Pope.

He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it.

Prov. xi. 15.

Smart, v. t. To cause a smart in. "A goad that . . . smarts the flesh." T. Adams.

Smart, n. [OE. smerte. See Smart, v. i.] 1. Quick, pungent, lively pain; a pricking local pain, as the pain from puncture by nettles. "In pain's smart." Chaucer.

2. Severe, pungent pain of mind; pungent grief; as, the smart of affliction.

To stand 'twixt us and our deserved smart.

Milton.

Counsel mitigates the greatest smart.

Spenser.

3. A fellow who affects smartness, briskness, and vivacity; a dandy. [Slang] Fielding.

4. Smart money (see below). [Canf]

Smart (?), a. [Compar. Smarter (?); superl. Smartest.] [OE. smerte. See Smart, v. i.] 1. Causing a smart; pungent; pricking; as, a smart stroke or taste.

How smart lash that speech doth give my conscience.

Shak.

2. Keen; severe; poignant; as, smart pain.

3. Vigorous; sharp; severe. "Smart skirmishes, in which many fell." Clarendon.

4. Accomplishing, or able to accomplish, results quickly; active; sharp; clever. [Colloq.]

5. Efficient; vigorous; brilliant. "The stars shine smarter." Dryden.

6. Marked by acuteness or shrewdness; quick in suggestion or reply; vivacious; witty; as, a smart reply; a smart saying.

Who, for the poor renown of being smart Would leave a sting within a brother's heart?

Young.

A sentence or two, . . . which I thought very smart.

Addison.

7. Pretentious; showy; spruce; as, a smart gown.

8. Brisk; fresh; as, a smart breeze.

Smart money. (a) Money paid by a person to buy himself off from some unpleasant engagement or some painful situation. (b) (Mil.) Money allowed to soldiers or sailors, in the English service, for wounds and injures received; also, a sum paid by a recruit, previous to being sworn in, to procure his release from service. (c) (Law) Vindictive or exemplary damages; damages beyond a full compensation for the actual injury done. Burrill. Greenleaf. -- Smart ticket, a certificate given to wounded seamen, entitling them to smart money. [Eng.] Brande & C.

Syn. -- Pungent; poignant; sharp; tart; acute; quick; lively; brisk; witty; clever; keen; dashy; showy. -- Smart, Clever. Smart has been much used in New England to describe a person who is intelligent, vigorous, and active; as, a smart young fellow; a smart workman, etc., conciding very nearly with the English sense of clever. The nearest approach to this in England is in such expressions as, he was smart (pungent or witty) in his reply, etc.; but smart and smartness, when applied to persons, more commonly refer to dress; as, a smart appearance; a smart gown, etc.

Smart"en (?), v. t. To make smart or spruce; -- usually with up. [Colloq.]

She had to go and smarten herself up somewhat.

W. Black.

Smar"tle (?), v. i. To waste away. [Prov. Eng.]

Smart"ly (?), adv. In a smart manner.

Smart"ness, n. The quality or state of being smart.

Smart"weed` (?), n. (Bot.) An acrid plant of the genus Polygonum (P. Hydropiper), which produces smarting if applied where the skin is tender.

Smash (smsh), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smashed (smsht); p. pr. & vb. n. Smashing.] [Cf. Sw. smisk a blow, stroke, smiska to strike, dial. Sw. smaske to kiss with a noise, and E. smack a loud kiss, a slap.] To break in pieces by violence; to dash to pieces; to crush.

Here everything is broken and smashed to pieces.

Burke.

Smash, v. i. To break up, or to pieces suddenly, as the result of collision or pressure.

Smash, n. 1. A breaking or dashing to pieces; utter destruction; wreck.

2. Hence, bankruptcy. [Colloq.]

Smash"er (-r), n. 1. One who, or that which, smashes or breaks things to pieces.

2. Anything very large or extraordinary. [Slang]

3. One who passes counterfeit coin. [Cant, Eng.]

Smatch (?), n. [OE. smach, smak. See Smack taste.] Taste; tincture; smack. [Obs.]

Thy life hath had some smatch of honor in it.

Shak.

Smatch, v. i. To smack. [Obs.] Banister (1578).

Smat"ter (?), v. i. [OE. smateren to make a noise; cf. Sw. smattra to clatter, to crackle, G. schmettern to dash, crash, to warble, quaver.] 1. To talk superficially or ignorantly; to babble; to chatter.

Of state affairs you can not smatter.

Swift.

2. To have a slight taste, or a slight, superficial knowledge, of anything; to smack.

Smat"ter, v. t. 1. To talk superficially about.

2. To gain a slight taste of; to acquire a slight, superficial knowledge of; to smack. Chaucer.

Smat"ter, n. Superficial knowledge; a smattering.

Smat"ter*er (?), n. One who has only a slight, superficial knowledge; a sciolist.

Smat"ter*ing, n. A slight, superficial knowledge of something; sciolism.

I had a great desire, not able to attain to a superficial skill in any, to have some smattering in all.

Burton.

Smear (smr), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smeared (smrd); p. pr. & vb. n. Smearing.] [OE. smeren, smerien, AS. smierwan, smyrwan, fr. smeoru fat, grease; akin to D. smeren, OHG. smirwen, G. schmieren, Icel. smyrja to anoint. See Smear, n.] 1. To overspread with anything unctuous, viscous, or adhesive; to daub; as, to smear anything with oil. "Smear the sleepy grooms with blood." Shak.

2. To soil in any way; to contaminate; to pollute; to stain morally; as, to be smeared with infamy. Shak.

Smear, n. [OE. smere,. smeoru fat, grease; akin to D. smeer, G. schmeer, OHG. smero, Icel. smjör, Sw. & Dan. smör butter, Goth. smaírþr fatness, smarna dung; cf. Lith. smarsas fat. Cf. Smirch.] 1. A fat, oily substance; oinment. Johnson.

2. Hence, a spot made by, or as by, an unctuous or adhesive substance; a blot or blotch; a daub; a stain.

Slow broke the morn, All damp and rolling vapor, with no sun, But in its place a moving smear of light.

Alexander Smith.

Smear" dab" (?). (Zoöl.) The sand fluke (b). [Prov. Eng.]

Smeared (?), a. (Zoöl.) Having the color mark ings ill defined, as if rubbed; as, the smeared dagger moth (Apatela oblinita).

Smear"y (?), a. Tending to smear or soil; adhesive; viscous. Rowe.

Smeath (?), n. (Zoöl.) The smew. [Prov. Eng.]

Smec"tite (?), n. [G. smectit, fr. Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?;&?; a kind of fuller's earth, fr. &?;&?;&?;&?;&?; to wipe off.] (Min.) A hydrous silicate of alumina, of a greenish color, which, in certain states of humidity, appears transparent and almost gelatinous.

Smee (?), n. [Cf. Smew.] (Zoöl.) (a) The pintail duck. (b) The widgeon. (c) The poachard. (d) The smew. [Prov. Eng.]

Smeeth (?), v. t. [Etymol. uncertain.] To smoke; to blacken with smoke; to rub with soot. [Obs.]

Smeeth (?), v. t. [OE. sme&?;en, AS. sm&?;&?;ian. See Smooth.] To smooth. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Smeg"ma (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?; soap, fr. &?;&?;&?;&?;&?; to wash off.] (Physiol.) The matter secreted by any of the sebaceous glands. Specifically: (a) The soapy substance covering the skin of newborn infants. (b) The cheesy, sebaceous matter which collects between the glans penis and the foreskin.

Smeg*mat"ic (?), a. Being of the nature of soap; soapy; cleansing; detersive.

Smeir (?), n. A salt glaze on pottery, made by adding common salt to an earthenware glaze.

Smell (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smelled (?), Smelt (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Smelling.] [OE. smellen, smillen, smullen; cf. LG. smellen, smelen, smölen, schmelen, to smoke, to reek, D. smeulen to smolder, and E. smolder. Cf. Smell, n.] 1. To perceive by the olfactory nerves, or organs of smell; to have a sensation of, excited through the nasal organs when affected by the appropriate materials or qualities; to obtain the scent of; as, to smell a rose; to smell perfumes.

2. To detect or perceive, as if by the sense of smell; to scent out; -- often with out. "I smell a device." Shak.

Can you smell him out by that?

Shak.

3. To give heed to. [Obs.]

From that time forward I began to smellthe Word of God, and forsook the school doctors.

Latimer.

To smell a rat, to have a sense of something wrong, not clearly evident; to have reason for suspicion. [Colloq.] -- To smell out, to find out by sagacity. [Colloq.]

Smell, v. i. 1. To affect the olfactory nerves; to have an odor or scent; -- often followed by of; as, to smell of smoke, or of musk.

2. To have a particular tincture or smack of any quality; to savor; as, a report smells of calumny.

Praises in an enemy are superfluous, or smell of craft.

Milton.

3. To exercise the sense of smell. Ex. xxx. 38.

4. To exercise sagacity. Shak.

Smell, n. [OE. smel, smil, smul, smeol. See Smell, v. t.] (Physiol.) 1. The sense or faculty by which certain qualities of bodies are perceived through the instrumentally of the olfactory nerves. See Sense.

2. The quality of any thing or substance, or emanation therefrom, which affects the olfactory organs; odor; scent; fragrance; perfume; as, the smell of mint.

Breathing the smell of field and grove.

Milton.

That which, above all others, yields the sweetest smell in the air, is the violent.

Bacon.

Syn. -- Scent; odor; perfume; fragrance.

Smell"er (?), n. 1. One who smells, or perceives by the sense of smell; one who gives out smell.

2. The nose. [Pugilists' Slang]

Smell"-feast` (?), n. 1. One who is apt to find and frequent good tables; a parasite; a sponger.

The epicure and the smell-feast.

South.

2. A feast at which the guests are supposed to feed upon the odors only of the viands.

Smell"ing, n. 1. The act of one who smells.

2. The sense by which odors are perceived; the sense of smell. Locke.

Smelling bottle, a small bottle filled with something suited to stimulate the sense of smell, or to remove faintness, as spirits of ammonia.

Smell"-less, a. Destitute of smell; having no odor.

Daisies smell-less, yet most quaint.

Beau. & Fl.

Smelt (?), imp. & p. p. of Smell.

Smelt, n. [AS. smelt, smylt; akin to Dan. smelt.] 1. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of small silvery salmonoid fishes of the genus Osmerus and allied genera, which ascend rivers to spawn, and sometimes become landlocked in lakes. They are esteemed as food, and have a peculiar odor and taste.

The most important species are the European smelt (Osmerus eperlans) (called also eperlan, sparling, and spirling), the Eastern American smelt (O. mordax), the California smelt (O. thalichthys), and the surf smelt (Hypomesus olidus). The name is loosely applied to various other small fishes, as the lant, the California tomcod, the spawn eater, the silverside.

2. Fig.: A gull; a simpleton. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

Sand smelt (Zoöl.), the silverside.

Smelt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smelted; p. pr. & vb. n. Smelting.] [Of foreign origin; cf. Sw. smälta, D. smelten, Dan. smelte, Icel. smelta, G. schmelzen OHG. smelzan, smelzen; probably akin to Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?;&?;. Cf. Enamel, Melt, Mute, v. i., Smalt.] (Metal.) To melt or fuse, as, ore, for the purpose of separating and refining the metal; hence, to reduce; to refine; to flux or scorify; as, to smelt tin.

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Smelt"er (?), n. One who, or that which, smelts.

Smelt"er*y (?), n. A house or place for smelting.

Smelt"ie (?), n. A fish, the bib. [Prov. Eng.]

Smelt"ing, a. & n. from Smelt.

Smelting furnace (Metal.), a furnace in which ores are smelted or reduced.

Smerk (?), n. & v. See Smirk.

{ Smerk (?), Smerk"y (?), } a. Smart; jaunty; spruce. See Smirk, a. [Obs.]

So smerk, so smooth, his pricked ears.

Spenser.

Smer"lin (?), n. (Zoöl.) A small loach.

Smew (?), n. [Perhaps for ice- mew.] (Zoöl.) (a) small European merganser (Mergus albellus) which has a white crest; -- called also smee, smee duck, white merganser, and white nun. (b) The hooded merganser. [Local, U.S.]

Smick"er (?), v. i. [Akin to Sw. smickra to flatter, Dan. smigre, and perhaps to G. schmeicheln, and E. smile. Cf. Smicker, a.] To look amorously or wantonly; to smirk.

Smick"er, a. [AS. smicere tasteful, trim. See Smicker, v.] Amorous; wanton; gay; spruce. [Obs.]

Smick"er*ing, n. Amorous glance or inclination. [Obs.] "A smickering to our young lady." Dryden.

Smick"et (?), n. [Dim. of smock.] A woman's under-garment; a smock. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Johnson.

Smick"ly, adv. Smugly; finically. [Obs.] Ford.

Smid"dy (?), n. [See Smithy.] A smithy. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

Smift (?), n. A match for firing a charge of powder, as in blasting; a fuse.

Smight (?), v. t. To smite. [Obs.] Spenser.

Smil"a*cin (?), n. [Cf. F. similacine. See Smilax.] (Chem.) See Parrilin.

Smi"lax (?), n. [L., bindweed, Gr. &?;&?;&?;.] (Bot.) (a) A genus of perennial climbing plants, usually with a prickly woody stem; green brier, or cat brier. The rootstocks of certain species are the source of the medicine called sarsaparilla. (b) A delicate trailing plant (Myrsiphyllum asparagoides) much used for decoration. It is a native of the Cape of Good Hope.

Smile (sml), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Smiled (smld); p. pr. & vb. n. Smiling.] [OE. smilen; akin to Dan. smile, Sw. smila, MHG. smielen, smieren, L. mirari to wonder at, Skr. smi to smile; and probably to E. smicker. &radic;173. Cf. Admire, Marvel, Smirk.] 1. To express amusement, pleasure, moderate joy, or love and kindness, by the features of the face; to laugh silently.

He doth nothing but frown. . . . He hears merry tales and smiles not.

Shak.

She smiled to see the doughty hero slain.

Pope.

When last I saw thy young blue eyes, they smiled.

Byron.

2. To express slight contempt by a look implying sarcasm or pity; to sneer.

'T was what I said to Craggs and Child, Who praised my modesty, and smiled.

Pope.

3. To look gay and joyous; to have an appearance suited to excite joy; as, smiling spring; smiling plenty.

The desert smiled, And paradise was opened in the wild.

Pope.

4. To be propitious or favorable; to favor; to countenance; -- often with on; as, to smile on one's labors.

Smile, v. t. 1. To express by a smile; as, to smile consent; to smile a welcome to visitors.

2. To affect in a certain way with a smile. [R.]

And sharply smile prevailing folly dead.

Young.

Smile, n. [CF. Dan. smiil, Sw. smil. See Smile, v. i.] 1. The act of smiling; a peculiar change or brightening of the face, which expresses pleasure, moderate joy, mirth, approbation, or kindness; -- opposed to frown.

Sweet intercourse Of looks and smiles: for smiles from reason flow.

Milton.

2. A somewhat similar expression of countenance, indicative of satisfaction combined with malevolent feelings, as contempt, scorn, etc; as, a scornful smile.

3. Favor; countenance; propitiousness; as, the smiles of Providence. "The smile of heaven." Shak.

4. Gay or joyous appearance; as, the smiles of spring.

The brightness of their [the flowers'] smile was gone.

Bryant.

Smile"less (?), a. Not having a smile.

Smil"er (?), n. One who smiles. Tennyson.

Smil"et (?), n. A little smile. [R.]

Those happy smilets That played on her ripe lip.

Shak.

Smil"ing*ly, adv. In a smiling manner. Shak.

Smil"ing*ness, n. Quality or state of being smiling.

And made despair a smilingness assume.

Byron.

Smi"lo*don (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?; a carving knife + &?;&?;&?;, &?;&?;&?;, tooth.] (Paleon.) An extinct genus of saber-toothed tigers. See Mach&?;rodus.

Smilt (?), v. i. To melt. [Obs.] Mortimer.

Smin*thu"rid (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?; a mouse + &?;&?;&?; tail.] (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous small species of springtails, of the family Sminthuridæ, -- usually found on flowers. See Illust. under Collembola.

Smirch (?), v. t. [From the root of smear.] To smear with something which stains, or makes dirty; to smutch; to begrime; to soil; to sully.

I'll . . . with a kind of umber smirch my face.

Shak.

Smirch (?), n. A smutch; a dirty stain.

Smirk (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Smirked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Smirking.] [OE. smirken, ASS. smercian, smearcian; cf. MHG. smieren, smielen, to smile. See Smile, v. i.] To smile in an affected or conceited manner; to smile with affected complaisance; to simper.

Smirk, n. A forced or affected smile; a simper.

The bride, all smirk and blush, had just entered.

Sir W. Scott.

Smirk, a. Nice,; smart; spruce; affected; simpering. "So smirk, so smooth." Spenser.

Smirk"ing*ly, adv. With smirking; with a smirk.

Smirk"y (?), a. Smirk; smirking.

Smit (?), rare imp. & p. p. of Smite. Spenser.

Smit with the beauty of so fair a scene.

Cowper.

Smit, obs. 3d. pers. sing. pres. of Smite. Chaucer.

Smite (smt), v. t. [imp. Smote (smt), rarely Smit (smt); p. p. Smitten (smt"t'n), rarely Smit, or Smote; p. pr. & vb. n. Smiting (smt"ng).] [AS. smtan to smite, to soil, pollute; akin to OFries. smta to smite, LG. smiten, D. smijten, G. schmeissen, OHG. smzan to smear, stroke, OSw. & dial. Sw. smita to smite, Dan. smide to throw, Goth. bismeitan, to anoint, besmear; cf. Skr. md to be fat. The original sense seems to have been, to daub on, to smear. Cf. Smut.] 1. To strike; to inflict a blow upon with the hand, or with any instrument held in the hand, or with a missile thrown by the hand; as, to smite with the fist, with a rod, sword, spear, or stone.

Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Matt. v. 39.

And David . . . took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead.

1 Sam. xvii. 49.

2. To cause to strike; to use as an instrument in striking or hurling.

Prophesy, and smite thine hands together.

Ezek. xxi. 14.

Saul . . . smote the javelin into the wall.

1 Sam. xix. 10.

3. To destroy the life of by beating, or by weapons of any kind; to slay by a blow; to kill; as, to smite one with the sword, or with an arrow or other instrument.

4. To put to rout in battle; to overthrow by war.

5. To blast; to destroy the life or vigor of, as by a stroke or by some visitation.

The flax and the barly was smitten.

Ex. ix. 31.

6. To afflict; to chasten; to punish.

Let us not mistake God's goodness, nor imagine, because he smites us, that we are forsaken by him.

Wake.

7. To strike or affect with passion, as love or fear.

The charms that smite the simple heart.

Pope.

Smit with the love of sister arts we came.

Pope.

To smite off, to cut off. -- To smite out, to knock out, as a tooth. Exod. xxi. 27. -- To smite with the tongue, to reproach or upbraid; to revile. [Obs.] Jer. xviii. 18.

Smite, v. i. To strike; to collide; to beat. [Archaic]

The heart melteth, and the knees smite together.

Nah. ii. 10.

Smite, n. The act of smiting; a blow.

Smit"er (smt"r), n. One who smites.

I give my back to the smiters.

Isa. l. 6.

Smith (smth), n. [AS. smið; akin to D. smid, G. schmied, OHG. smid, Icel. smiðr, Dan. & Sw. smed, Goth. smiþa (in comp.); cf. Gr. smi`lh a sort of knife, sminy`h a hoe, mattock.] 1. One who forges with the hammer; one who works in metals; as, a blacksmith, goldsmith, silversmith, and the like. Piers Plowman.

Nor yet the smith hath learned to form a sword.

Tate.

2. One who makes or effects anything. [R.] Dryden.

Smith, v. t. [AS. smiðian. See Smith, n.] To beat into shape; to forge. [Obs.] Chaucer.

What smith that any [weapon] smitheth.

Piers Plowman.

Smith"craft` (-krft`), n. The art or occupation of a smith; smithing. [R.] Sir W. Raleigh.

Smith"er (sm"r), n. 1. Light, fine rain. [Prov. Eng.]

2. pl. Fragments; atoms; finders. [Prov. Eng.]

Smash the bottle to smithers.

Tennyson.

Smith`er*eens" (sm`r*nz"), n. pl. Fragments; atoms; smithers. [Colloq.] W. Black.

Smith"er*y (smth"r*), n.; pl. -ies (-z). 1. The workshop of a smith; a smithy or stithy.

2. Work done by a smith; smithing.

The din of all his smithery may some time or other possibly wake this noble duke.

Burke.

Smith"ing, n. The act or art of working or forging metals, as iron, into any desired shape. Moxon.

Smith*so"ni*an (-s"n*an), a. Of or pertaining to the Englishman J. L. M. Smithson, or to the national institution of learning which he endowed at Washington, D. C.; as, the Smithsonian Institution; Smithsonian Reports. -- n. The Smithsonian Institution.

Smith"son*ite (?), n. [See Smithsonian.] (Min.) Native zinc carbonate. It generally occurs in stalactitic, reniform, or botryoidal shapes, of a white to gray, green, or brown color. See Note under Calamine.

Smith"y (-), n. [AS. smiððe, fr. smið; akin to D. smidse, smids, OHG. smitta, G. schmiede, Icel. smiðja. See Smith, n.] The workshop of a smith, esp. a blacksmith; a smithery; a stithy. [Written also smiddy.]

Under a spreading chestnut tree The village smithy stands.

Longfellow.

Smitt (smt), n. [CF. G. schmitz a stain, schmitzen besmear. See Smite, v. t.] Fine clay or ocher made up into balls, used for marking sheep. [Eng.] Woodward.

Smit"ten (smt"t'n), p. p. of Smite.

Smit"tle (-t'l), v. t. [Freq. fr. OE. smitten to befoul. See Smite, v. t.] To infect. [Prov. Eng.]

Smit"tle, n. Infection. [Pov. Eng.] Wright.

{ Smit"tle (smt"t'l), Smit"tlish (- tlsh), } a. Infectious; catching. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.] H. Kingsley.

Smock (smk), n. [AS. smocc; akin to OHG. smocho, Icel. smokkr, and from the root of AS. smgan to creep, akin to G. schmiegen to cling to, press close, MHG. smiegen, Icel. smjga to creep through, to put on a garment which has a hole to put the head through; cf. Lith. smukti to glide. Cf. Smug, Smuggle.] 1. A woman's under- garment; a shift; a chemise.

In her smock, with head and foot all bare.

Chaucer.

2. A blouse; a smoock frock. Carlyle.

Smock (?), a. Of or pertaining to a smock; resembling a smock; hence, of or pertaining to a woman.

Smock mill, a windmill of which only the cap turns round to meet the wind, in distinction from a post mill, whose whole building turns on a post. -- Smock race, a race run by women for the prize of a smock. [Prov. Eng.]

Smock, v. t. To provide with, or clothe in, a smock or a smock frock. Tennyson.

Smock"-faced` (?), a. Having a feminine countenance or complexion; smooth-faced; girlish. Fenton.

Smock" frock` (?). A coarse frock, or shirt, worn over the other dress, as by farm laborers. Macaulay.

Smock"less, a. Wanting a smock. Chaucer.

Smok"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being smoked; suitable or ready to be smoked; as, smokable tobacco.

Smoke (?), n. [AS. smoca, fr. smeócan to smoke; akin to LG. & D. smook smoke, Dan. smög, G. schmauch, and perh. to Gr. &?;&?;&?; to burn in a smoldering fire; cf. Lith. smaugti to choke.] 1. The visible exhalation, vapor, or substance that escapes, or expelled, from a burning body, especially from burning vegetable matter, as wood, coal, peat, or the like.

The gases of hydrocarbons, raised to a red heat or thereabouts, without a mixture of air enough to produce combustion, disengage their carbon in a fine powder, forming smoke. The disengaged carbon when deposited on solid bodies is soot.

2. That which resembles smoke; a vapor; a mist.

3. Anything unsubstantial, as idle talk. Shak.

4. The act of smoking, esp. of smoking tobacco; as, to have a smoke. [Colloq.]

Smoke is sometimes joined with other word. forming self-explaining compounds; as, smoke-consuming, smoke- dried, smoke-stained, etc.

Smoke arch, the smoke box of a locomotive. -- Smoke ball (Mil.), a ball or case containing a composition which, when it burns, sends forth thick smoke. -- Smoke black, lampblack. [Obs.] -- Smoke board, a board suspended before a fireplace to prevent the smoke from coming out into the room. -- Smoke box, a chamber in a boiler, where the smoke, etc., from the furnace is collected before going out at the chimney. -- Smoke sail (Naut.), a small sail in the lee of the galley stovepipe, to prevent the smoke from annoying people on deck. -- Smoke tree (Bot.), a shrub (Rhus Cotinus) in which the flowers are mostly abortive and the panicles transformed into tangles of plumose pedicels looking like wreaths of smoke. -- To end in smoke, to burned; hence, to be destroyed or ruined; figuratively, to come to nothing.

Syn. -- Fume; reek; vapor.

Smoke, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Smoked (?); p. pr. & vb n. Smoking.] [AS. smocian; akin to D. smoken, G. schmauchen, Dan. smöge. See Smoke, n.] 1. To emit smoke; to throw off volatile matter in the form of vapor or exhalation; to reek.

Hard by a cottage chimney smokes.

Milton.

2. Hence, to burn; to be kindled; to rage.

The anger of the Lord and his jealousy shall smoke agains. that man.

Deut. xxix. 20.

3. To raise a dust or smoke by rapid motion.

Proud of his steeds, he smokes along the field.

Dryden.

4. To draw into the mouth the smoke of tobacco burning in a pipe or in the form of a cigar, cigarette, etc.; to habitually use tobacco in this manner.

5. To suffer severely; to be punished.

Some of you shall smoke for it in Rome.

Shak.

Smoke, v. t. 1. To apply smoke to; to hang in smoke; to disinfect, to cure, etc., by smoke; as, to smoke or fumigate infected clothing; to smoke beef or hams for preservation.

2. To fill or scent with smoke; hence, to fill with incense; to perfume. "Smoking the temple." Chaucer.

3. To smell out; to hunt out; to find out; to detect.

I alone Smoked his true person, talked with him.

Chapman.

He was first smoked by the old Lord Lafeu.

Shak.

Upon that . . . I began to smoke that they were a parcel of mummers.

Addison.

4. To ridicule to the face; to quiz. [Old Slang]

5. To inhale and puff out the smoke of, as tobacco; to burn or use in smoking; as, to smoke a pipe or a cigar.

6. To subject to the operation of smoke, for the purpose of annoying or driving out; -- often with out; as, to smoke a woodchuck out of his burrow.

Smoke"-dry` (?), v. t. To dry by or in smoke.

Smoke"house` (?), n. A building where meat or fish is cured by subjecting it to a dense smoke.

Smoke"jack` (?), n. A contrivance for turning a spit by means of a fly or wheel moved by the current of ascending air in a chimney.

Smoke"less, a. Making or having no smoke. "Smokeless towers." Pope.

Smok"er (?), n. 1. One who dries or preserves by smoke.

2. One who smokes tobacco or the like.

3. A smoking car or compartment. [U. S.]

Smoke"stack` (?), n. A chimney; esp., a pipe serving as a chimney, as the pipe which carries off the smoke of a locomotive, the funnel of a steam vessel, etc.

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Smok"i*ly (?), adv. In a smoky manner.

Smok"i*ness, n. The quality or state of being smoky.

Smok"ing, a. & n. from Smoke.

Smoking bean (Bot.), the long pod of the catalpa, or Indian-bean tree, often smoked by boys as a substitute for cigars. -- Smoking car, a railway car carriage reserved for the use of passengers who smoke tobacco.

Smok"y (?), a. [Compar. Smokier (?); superl. Smokiest.] 1. Emitting smoke, esp. in large quantities or in an offensive manner; fumid; as, smoky fires.

2. Having the appearance or nature of smoke; as, a smoky fog. "Unlustrous as the smoky light." Shak.

3. Filled with smoke, or with a vapor resembling smoke; thick; as, a smoky atmosphere.

4. Subject to be filled with smoke from chimneys or fireplace; as, a smoky house.

5. Tarnished with smoke; noisome with smoke; as, smoky rafters; smoky cells.

6. Suspicious; open to suspicion. [Obs.] Foote.

Smoky quartz (Min.), a variety of quartz crystal of a pale to dark smoky-brown color. See Quartz.

{ Smol"der, Smoul"der } (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Smoldered (?) or Smouldered; p. pr. & vb. n. Smoldering or Smouldering.] [OE. smolderen; cf. Prov. G. smölen, smelen, D. smeulen. Cf. Smell.] 1. To burn and smoke without flame; to waste away by a slow and supressed combustion.

The smoldering dust did round about him smoke.

Spenser.

2. To exist in a state of suppressed or smothered activity; to burn inwardly; as, a smoldering feud.

{ Smol"der, Smoul"der, } v. t. To smother; to suffocate; to choke. [Obs.] Holinshed. Palsgrave.

{ Smol"der, Smoul"der, } n. Smoke; smother. [Obs.]

The smolder stops our nose with stench.

Gascoigne.

{ Smol"der*ing, Smoul"der*ing, } a. Being in a state of suppressed activity; quiet but not dead.

Some evil chance Will make the smoldering scandal break and blaze.

Tennyson.

{ Smol"der*ing*ness, Smoul"der*ing*ness } (?), n. The state of smoldering.

{ Smol"dry, Smoul"dry } (?), a. Smoldering; suffocating; smothery. [Obs.]

A flaming fire ymixt with smoldry smoke.

Spenser.

Smolt (?), n. (Zoöl.) A young salmon two or three years old, when it has acquired its silvery color.

Smooch (?), v. t. See Smutch.

Smoor (?), v. t. [AS. smorian; akin to D. & LG. smoren, G. schmoren to stew. Cf. Smother.] To suffocate or smother. [Written also smore.] [Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Sir T. More. Burns.

Smooth (sm), a. [Compar. Smoother (-r); superl. Smoothest.] [OE. smothe, smethe, AS. smðe, smœðe, where , œ, come from an older ; cf. LG. smöde, smöe, smödig; of uncertain origin.] 1. Having an even surface, or a surface so even that no roughness or points can be perceived by the touch; not rough; as, smooth glass; smooth porcelain. Chaucer.

The outlines must be smooth, imperceptible to the touch, and even, without eminence or cavities.

Dryden.

2. Evenly spread or arranged; sleek; as, smooth hair.

3. Gently flowing; moving equably; not ruffled or obstructed; as, a smooth stream.

4. Flowing or uttered without check, obstruction, or hesitation; not harsh; voluble; even; fluent.

The only smooth poet of those times.

Milton.

Waller was smooth; but Dryden taught to join The varying verse, the full-resounding line.

Pope.

When sage Minerva rose, From her sweet lips smooth elocution flows.

Gay.

5. Bland; mild; smoothing; fattering.

This smooth discourse and mild behavior oft Conceal a traitor.

Addison.

6. (Mech. & Physics) Causing no resistance to a body sliding along its surface; frictionless.

Smooth is often used in the formation of selfexplaining compounds; as, smooth-bodied, smooth- browed, smooth-combed, smooth-faced, smooth- finished, smooth-gliding, smooth-grained, smooth- leaved, smooth-sliding, smooth-speaking, smooth- woven, and the like.

Syn. -- Even; plain; level; flat; polished; glossy; sleek; soft; bland; mild; soothing; voluble; flattering; adulatory; deceptive.

Smooth, adv. Smoothly. Chaucer.

Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep.

Shak.

Smooth, n. 1. The act of making smooth; a stroke which smooths. Thackeray.

2. That which is smooth; the smooth part of anything. "The smooth of his neck." Gen. xxvii. 16.

Smooth, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smoothed (smthd); p. pr. & vb. n. Smoothing.] [OE. smothen, smethen, AS. smðian; cf. LG. smöden. See Smooth, a.] To make smooth; to make even on the surface by any means; as, to smooth a board with a plane; to smooth cloth with an iron. Specifically: --

(a) To free from obstruction; to make easy.

Thou, Abelard! the last sad office pay, And smooth my passage to the realms of day.

Pope.

(b) To free from harshness; to make flowing.

In their motions harmony divine So smooths her charming tones that God's own ear Listens delighted.

Milton.

(c) To palliate; to gloze; as, to smooth over a fault.

(d) To give a smooth or calm appearance to.

Each perturbation smoothed with outward calm.

Milton.

(e) To ease; to regulate. Dryden.

Smooth, v. i. To flatter; to use blandishment.

Because I can not flatter and speak fair, Smile in men's faces, smooth, deceive and cog.

Shak.

Smooth"bore` (?), a. (Gun.) Having a bore of perfectly smooth surface; -- distinguished from rifled. -- n. A smoothbore firearm.

Smooth"-chinned` (?), a. Having a smooth chin; beardless. Drayton.

Smooth"en (?), v. t. To make smooth. [Obs.]

Smooth"er (?), n. One who, or that which, smooths.

Smooth"ing, a. & n. fr. Smooth, v.

Smoothing iron, an iron instrument with a polished face, for smoothing clothes; a sadiron; a flatiron. -- Smoothing plane, a short, finely set plane, for smoothing and finishing work.

Smooth"ly, adv. In a smooth manner.

Smooth"ness, n. Quality or state of being smooth.

Smooth"-spo`ken (?), a. Speaking smoothly; plausible; flattering; smooth-tongued.

Smooth"-tongued` (?), a. Having a smooth tongue; plausible; flattering.

Smore (?), v. t. To smother. See Smoor. [Obs.]

Some dying vomit blood, and some were smored.

Du Bartas.

{ ||Smor*zan"do (?), ||Smor*sa"to (?), } a. [It.] (Mus.) Growing gradually fainter and softer; dying away; morendo.

Smote (?), imp. (&and; rare p. p.) of Smite.

Smo"ter*lich (?), a. [CF. Smut.] Dirty; foul. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Smoth"er (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smothered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Smothering.] [OE. smotheren; akin to E. smoor. See Smoor.] 1. To destroy the life of by suffocation; to deprive of the air necessary for life; to cover up closely so as to prevent breathing; to suffocate; as, to smother a child.

2. To affect as by suffocation; to stife; to deprive of air by a thick covering, as of ashes, of smoke, or the like; as, to smother a fire.

3. Hence, to repress the action of; to cover from public view; to suppress; to conceal; as, to smother one's displeasure.

Smoth"er, v. i. 1. To be suffocated or stifled.

2. To burn slowly, without sufficient air; to smolder.

Smoth"er, n. [OE. smorther. See Smother, v. t.] 1. Stifling smoke; thick dust. Shak.

2. A state of suppression. [Obs.]

Not to keep their suspicions in smother.

Bacon.

Smother fly (Zoöl.), an aphid.

Smoth"er*i*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being smothery.

Smoth"er*ing*ly, adv. In a smothering manner.

Smoth"er*y (?), a. Tending to smother; stifling.

Smouch (?), v. t. [Akin to smack.] To kiss closely. [Obs.] P. Stubbes.

Smouch, v. t. [See Smutch.] To smutch; to soil; as, to smouch the face.

Smouch, n. A dark soil or stain; a smutch.

Smoul"der (?), v. i. See Smolder.

Smoul"dry (?), a. See Smoldry.

Smudge (?), n. [Cf. Dan. smuds smut, E. smutch, or smoke.] 1. A suffocating smoke. Grose.

2. A heap of damp combustibles partially ignited and burning slowly, placed on the windward side of a house, tent, or the like, in order, by the thick smoke, to keep off mosquitoes or other insects. [U. S.] Bartlett.

3. That which is smeared upon anything; a stain; a blot; a smutch; a smear.

Smudge, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smudged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Smudging.] 1. To stifle or smother with smoke; to smoke by means of a smudge.

2. To smear; to smutch; to soil; to blacken with smoke.

Smudg"i*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being smudged, soiled, or blurred. C. A. Young.

Smug (?), a. [Of. Scand. or Low German origin; cf. LG. smuck, G. schmuck, Dan. smuk, OSw. smuck, smöck, and E. smock, smuggle; cf. G. schmuck ornament. See Smock.] Studiously neat or nice, especially in dress; spruce; affectedly precise; smooth and prim.

They be so smug and smooth.

Robynson (More's Utopia).

The smug and scanty draperies of his style.

De Quincey.

A young, smug, handsome holiness has no fellow.

Beau. & Fl.

Smug, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smugged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Smugging.] To make smug, or spruce. [Obs.]

Thus said, he smugged his beard, and stroked up fair.

Dryton.

Smug"gle (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smuggled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Smuggling (?).] [Of Low German or Scand. origin; cf. LG. smuggeln, D. smokkelen, G. schmuggeln, Dan. smugle, Sw. smyga to introduce or convey secretly, Dan. i smug secretly, D. smuigen to eat in secret, AS. sm&?;gan to creep. See Smock.] 1. To import or export secretly, contrary to the law; to import or export without paying the duties imposed by law; as, to smuggle lace.

2. Fig.: To convey or introduce clandestinely.

Smug"gle, v. i. To import or export in violation of the customs laws.

Smug"gler (?), n. 1. One who smuggles.

2. A vessel employed in smuggling.

Smug"ly, adv. In a smug manner. [R.] Gay.

Smug"ness, n. The quality or state of being smug.

Smut (?), n. [Akin to Sw. smuts, Dan. smuds, MHG. smuz, G. schmutz, D. smet a spot or stain, smoddig, smodsig, smodderig, dirty, smodderen to smut; and probably to E. smite. See Smite, v. t., and cf. Smitt, Smutch.] 1. Foul matter, like soot or coal dust; also, a spot or soil made by such matter.

2. (Mining) Bad, soft coal, containing much earthy matter, found in the immediate locality of faults.

3. (Bot.) An affection of cereal grains producing a swelling which is at length resolved into a powdery sooty mass. It is caused by parasitic fungi of the genus Ustilago. Ustilago segetum, or U. Carbo, is the commonest kind; that of Indian corn is Ustilago maydis.

4. Obscene language; ribaldry; obscenity.

He does not stand upon decency . . . but will talk smut, though a priest and his mother be in the room.

Addison.

Smut mill, a machine for cleansing grain from smut.

Smut (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smutted; p. pr. & vb. n. Smutting.] 1. To stain or mark with smut; to blacken with coal, soot, or other dirty substance.

2. To taint with mildew, as grain. Bacon.

3. To blacken; to sully or taint; to tarnish.

4. To clear of smut; as, to smut grain for the mill.

Smut, v. i. 1. To gather smut; to be converted into smut; to become smutted. Mortimer.

2. To give off smut; to crock.

Smutch (?), n. [Prob. for smuts. See Smut, n.] A stain; a dirty spot. B. Jonson.

Smutch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smutched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Smutching.] To blacken with smoke, soot, or coal. [Written also smooch.] B. Jonson.

Smutch"in (?), n. Snuff. [Obs.] Howell.

Smut"ty (?), a. [Compar. Smuttier (?); superl. Smuttiest.] 1. Soiled with smut; smutted.

2. Tainted with mildew; as, smutty corn.

3. Obscene; not modest or pure; as, a smutty saying.

The smutty joke, ridiculously lewd.

Smollett.

-- Smut"ti*ly (#), adv. -- Smut"ti*ness, n.

Smyr"ni*ot (?), a. Of or pertaining to Smyrna. -- n. A native or inhabitant of Smyrna.

Snack (?), n. [See Snatch, v. t.] 1. A share; a part or portion; -- obsolete, except in the colloquial phrase, to go snacks, i. e., to share.

At last he whispers, "Do, and we go snacks."

Pope.

2. A slight, hasty repast. [Colloq.]

Snack"et (?), n. See Snecket. [Prov. Eng.]

Snac"ot (?), n. [Said to be corrupted fr. NL. syngnathus, fr. Gr. sy`n together + gna`qos jaw, because the jaws can be only slightly separated.] (Zoöl.) A pipefish of the genus Syngnathus. See Pipefish.

Snaf"fle (?), n. [D. snavel a beak, bill, snout; akin to G. schnabel, OHG. snabul,. sneb, snebbe, OFries. snavel mouth, Dan. & Sw. snabel beak, bill, Lith. snapas, and to E. snap, v. See Snap, and cf. Neb.] A kind of bridle bit, having a joint in the part to be placed in the mouth, and rings and cheek pieces at the ends, but having no curb; -- called also snaffle bit.

Snaf"fle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snaffled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Snaffling (?).] To put a snaffle in the mouth of; to subject to the snaffle; to bridle.

Snag (?), n. [Prov. E., n., a lump on a tree where a branch has been cut off; v., to cut off the twigs and small branches from a tree, of Celtic origin; cf. Gael. snaigh, snaidh, to cut down, to prune, to sharpen, p. p. snaighte, snaidhte, cut off, lopped, Ir. snaigh a hewing, cutting.] 1. A stump or base of a branch that has been lopped off; a short branch, or a sharp or rough branch; a knot; a protuberance.

The coat of arms Now on a naked snag in triumph borne.

Dryden.

2. A tooth projecting beyond the rest; contemptuously, a broken or decayed tooth. Prior.

3. A tree, or a branch of a tree, fixed in the bottom of a river or other navigable water, and rising nearly or quite to the surface, by which boats are sometimes pierced and sunk.

4. (Zoöl.) One of the secondary branches of an antler.

Snag boat, a steamboat fitted with apparatus for removing snags and other obstructions in navigable streams. [U.S.] -- Snag tooth. Same as Snag, 2.

How thy snag teeth stand orderly, Like stakes which strut by the water side.

J. Cotgrave.

Snag, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snagged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Snagging (?).] 1. To cut the snags or branches from, as the stem of a tree; to hew roughly. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

2. To injure or destroy, as a steamboat or other vessel, by a snag, or projecting part of a sunken tree. [U. S.]

Snag"ged (?), a. Full of snags; snaggy.

Snag"gy (?), a. 1. Full of snags; full of short, rough branches or sharp points; abounding with knots. "Upon a snaggy oak." Spenser.

2. Snappish; cross; ill-tempered. [Prov. Eng.]

Snail (snl), n. [OE. snaile, AS. snægel, snegel, snægl; akin to G. schnecke, OHG. snecko, Dan. snegl, Icel. snigill.] 1. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of numerous species of terrestrial air-breathing gastropods belonging to the genus Helix and many allied genera of the family Helicidæ. They are abundant in nearly all parts of the world except the arctic regions, and feed almost entirely on vegetation; a land snail. (b) Any gastropod having a general resemblance to the true snails, including fresh-water and marine species. See Pond snail, under Pond, and Sea snail.

2. Hence, a drone; a slow-moving person or thing.

3. (Mech.) A spiral cam, or a flat piece of metal of spirally curved outline, used for giving motion to, or changing the position of, another part, as the hammer tail of a striking clock.

4. A tortoise; in ancient warfare, a movable roof or shed to protect besiegers; a testudo. [Obs.]

They had also all manner of gynes [engines] . . . that needful is [in] taking or sieging of castle or of city, as snails, that was naught else but hollow pavises and targets, under the which men, when they fought, were heled [protected], . . . as the snail is in his house; therefore they cleped them snails.

Vegetius (Trans.).

5. (Bot.) The pod of the sanil clover.

Ear snail, Edible snail, Pond snail, etc. See under Ear, Edible, etc. -- Snail borer (Zoöl.), a boring univalve mollusk; a drill. -- Snail clover (Bot.), a cloverlike plant (Medicago scuttellata, also, M. Helix); -- so named from its pods, which resemble the shells of snails; -- called also snail trefoil, snail medic, and beehive. -- Snail flower (Bot.), a leguminous plant (Phaseolus Caracalla) having the keel of the carolla spirally coiled like a snail shell. -- Snail shell (Zoöl.), the shell of snail. -- Snail trefoil. (Bot.) See Snail clover, above.

Snail"fish` (?), n. (Zoöl.) See Sea snail (a).

<! p. 1361 !>

Snail"-like` (?), a. Like or suiting a snail; as, snail-like progress.

Snail"-like`, adv. In the manner of a snail; slowly.

Snail"-paced` (?), a. Slow-moving, like a snail.

Bid the snail-paced Ajax arm for shame.

Shak.

'Snails (?), interj. God's nails, or His nails, that is, the nails with which the Savior was fastened to the cross; -- an ancient form of oath, corresponding to 'Od's bodikins (dim. of body, i.e., God's dear body). Beau. & Fl.

Snake (?), n. [AS. snaca; akin to LG. snake, schnake, Icel. snkr, sn&?;kr, Dan. snog, Sw. snok; of uncertain origin.] (Zoöl.) Any species of the order Ophidia; an ophidian; a serpent, whether harmless or venomous. See Ophidia, and Serpent.

Snakes are abundant in all warm countries, and much the larger number are harmless to man.

Blind snake, Garter snake, Green snake, King snake, Milk snake, Rock snake, Water snake, etc. See under Blind, Garter, etc. -- Fetich snake (Zoöl.), a large African snake (Python Sebæ) used by the natives as a fetich. -- Ringed snake (Zoöl.), a common European columbrine snake (Tropidonotus natrix). -- Snake eater. (Zoöl.) (a) The markhoor. (b) The secretary bird. -- Snake fence, a worm fence (which see). [U.S.] -- Snake fly (Zoöl.), any one of several species of neuropterous insects of the genus Rhaphidia; -- so called because of their large head and elongated neck and prothorax. -- Snake gourd (Bot.), a cucurbitaceous plant (Trichosanthes anguina) having the fruit shorter and less snakelike than that of the serpent cucumber. -- Snake killer. (Zoöl.) (a) The secretary bird. (b) The chaparral cock. -- Snake moss (Bot.), the common club moss (Lycopodium clavatum). See Lycopodium. -- Snake nut (Bot.), the fruit of a sapindaceous tree (Ophiocaryon paradoxum) of Guiana, the embryo of which resembles a snake coiled up. -- Tree snake (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of colubrine snakes which habitually live in trees, especially those of the genus Dendrophis and allied genera.

Snake, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snaked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Snaking.] 1. To drag or draw, as a snake from a hole; -- often with out. [Colloq. U.S.] Bartlett.

2. (Naut.) To wind round spirally, as a large rope with a smaller, or with cord, the small rope lying in the spaces between the strands of the large one; to worm.

Snake, v. i. To crawl like a snake.

Snake"bird` (?), n. [So named from its snakelike neck.] (Zoöl.) 1. Any one of four species of aquatic birds of the genus Anhinga or Plotus. They are allied to the gannets and cormorants, but have very long, slender, flexible necks, and sharp bills.

The American species (Anhinga, or Plotus, anhinga) inhabits the Southern United States and tropical America; -- called also darter, and water turkey. The Asiatic species (A. melanogaster) is native of Southern Asia and the East Indies. Two other species inhabit Africa and Australia respectively.

2. (Zoöl.) The wryneck.

Snake"fish` (?), n. (Zoöl.) (a) The band fish. (b) The lizard fish.

Snake"head` (?), n. 1. A loose, bent-up end of one of the strap rails, or flat rails, formerly used on American railroads. It was sometimes so bent by the passage of a train as to slip over a wheel and pierce the bottom of a car.

2. (Bot.) (a) The turtlehead. (b) The Guinea-hen flower. See Snake's-head, and under Guinea.

Snake"neck` (?), n. (Zoöl.) The snakebird, 1.

Snake"root` (?), n. (Bot.) Any one of several plants of different genera and species, most of which are (or were formerly) reputed to be efficacious as remedies for the bites of serpents; also, the roots of any of these.

The Virginia snakeroot is Aristolochia Serpentaria; black snakeroot is Sanicula, esp. S. Marilandica, also Cimicifuga racemosa; Seneca snakeroot is Polygala Senega; button snakeroot is Liatris, also Eryngium; white snakeroot is Eupatorium ageratoides. The name is also applied to some others besides these.

Snake's"-head` (?), n. (Bot.) The Guinea-hen flower; -- so called in England because its spotted petals resemble the scales of a snake's head. Dr. Prior.

Snake's-head iris (Bot.), an iridaceous plant (Hermodactylus tuberosus) of the Mediterranean region. The flowers slightly resemble a serpent's open mouth.

Snake"stone` (?), n. 1. A kind of hone slate or whetstone obtained in Scotland.

2. (Paleon.) An ammonite; -- so called from its form, which resembles that of a coiled snake.

Snake's-tongue` (?), n. (Bot.) Same as Adder's-tongue.

Snake"weed` (?), n. (Bot.) (a) A kind of knotweed (Polygonum Bistorta). (b) The Virginia snakeroot. See Snakeroot.

Snake"wood` (?), n. (Bot.) (a) An East Indian climbing plant (Strychnos colubrina) having a bitter taste, and supposed to be a remedy for the bite of the hooded serpent. (b) An East Indian climbing shrub (Ophioxylon serpentinum) which has the roots and stems twisted so as to resemble serpents. (c) Same as Trumpetwood. (d) A tropical American shrub (Plumieria rubra) which has very fragrant red blossoms. (e) Same as Letterwood.

Snak"ish (?), a. Having the qualities or characteristics of a snake; snaky.

Snak"y (?), a. 1. Of or pertaining to a snake or snakes; resembling a snake; serpentine; winding.

The red light playing upon its gilt and carving gave it an appearance of snaky life.

L. Wallace.

2. Sly; cunning; insinuating; deceitful.

So to the coast of Jordan he directs His easy steps, girded with snaky wiles.

Milton.

3. Covered with serpents; having serpents; as, a snaky rod or wand. Dryden.

That snaky-headed, Gorgon shield.

Milton.

Snap (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snapped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Snapping.] [LG. or D. snappen to snap up, to snatch; akin to G. schnappen, MHG. snaben, Dan. snappe, and to D. snavel beak, bill. Cf. Neb, Snaffle, n.] 1. To break at once; to break short, as substances that are brittle.

Breaks the doors open, snaps the locks.

Prior.

2. To strike, to hit, or to shut, with a sharp sound.

3. To bite or seize suddenly, especially with the teeth.

He, by playing too often at the mouth of death, has been snapped by it at last.

South.

4. To break upon suddenly with sharp, angry words; to treat snappishly; -- usually with up. Granville.

5. To crack; to cause to make a sharp, cracking noise; as, to snap a whip.

MacMorian snapped his fingers repeatedly.

Sir W. Scott.

6. To project with a snap.

To snap back (Football), to roll the ball back with the foot; -- done only by the center rush, who thus delivers the ball to the quarter back on his own side when both sides are ranged in line. -- To snap off. (a) To break suddenly. (b) To bite off suddenly.

Snap, v. i. 1. To break short, or at once; to part asunder suddenly; as, a mast snaps; a needle snaps.

But this weapon will snap short, unfaithful to the hand that employs it.

Burke.

2. To give forth, or produce, a sharp, cracking noise; to crack; as, blazing firewood snaps.

3. To make an effort to bite; to aim to seize with the teeth; to catch eagerly (at anything); -- often with at; as, a dog snapsat a passenger; a fish snaps at the bait.

4. To utter sharp, harsh, angry words; -- often with at; as, to snap at a child.

5. To miss fire; as, the gun snapped.

Snap, n. [Cf. D. snap a snatching. See Snap, v. t.] 1. A sudden breaking or rupture of any substance.

2. A sudden, eager bite; a sudden seizing, or effort to seize, as with the teeth.

3. A sudden, sharp motion or blow, as with the finger sprung from the thumb, or the thumb from the finger.

4. A sharp, abrupt sound, as that made by the crack of a whip; as, the snap of the trigger of a gun.

5. A greedy fellow. L'Estrange.

6. That which is, or may be, snapped up; something bitten off, seized, or obtained by a single quick movement; hence, a bite, morsel, or fragment; a scrap.

He's a nimble fellow, And alike skilled in every liberal science, As having certain snaps of all.

B. Jonson.

7. A sudden severe interval or spell; -- applied to the weather; as, a cold snap. Lowell.

8. A small catch or fastening held or closed by means of a spring, or one which closes with a snapping sound, as the catch of a bracelet, necklace, clasp of a book, etc.

9. (Zoöl.) A snap beetle.

10. A thin, crisp cake, usually small, and flavored with ginger; -- used chiefly in the plural.

11. Briskness; vigor; energy; decision. [Colloq.]

12. Any circumstance out of which money may be made or an advantage gained. [Slang]

Snap back (Football), the act of snapping back the ball. -- Snap beetle, or Snap bug (Zoöl.), any beetle of the family Elateridæ, which, when laid on its back, is able to leap to a considerable height by means of a thoracic spring; -- called also snapping beetle. -- Snap flask (Molding), a flask for small work, having its sides separable and held together by latches, so that the flask may be removed from around the sand mold. -- Snap judgment, a judgment formed on the instant without deliberation. -- Snap lock, a lock shutting with a catch or snap. -- Snap riveting, riveting in which the rivets have snapheads formed by a die or swaging tool. -- Snap shot, a quick offhand shot, without deliberately taking aim.

Snap"drag`on (?), n. 1. (Bot.) (a) Any plant of the scrrophulariaceous genus Antirrhinum, especially the cultivated A. majus, whose showy flowers are fancifully likened to the face of a dragon. (b) A West Indian herb (Ruellia tuberosa) with curiously shaped blue flowers.

2. A play in which raisins are snatched from a vessel containing burning brandy, and eaten; also, that which is so eaten. See Flapdragon. Swift.

Snape (?), v. t. (Shipbuilding) To bevel the end of a timber to fit against an inclined surface.

Snap"hance` (?), n. [D. snaphaan a gun, originally, the snapping cock of a gun. See Snap, and Hen.] 1. A spring lock for discharging a firearm; also, the firearm to which it is attached. [Obs.]

2. A trifling or second-rate thing or person. [Obs.]

Snap"head` (?), n. A hemispherical or rounded head to a rivet or bolt; also, a swaging tool with a cavity in its face for forming such a rounded head.

Snap"per (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, snaps; as, a snapper up of trifles; the snapper of a whip.

2. (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of large sparoid food fishes of the genus Lutjanus, abundant on the southern coasts of the United States and on both coasts of tropical America.

The red snapper (Lutjanus aya, or Blackfordi) and the gray, or mangrove, snapper (L. griseus) are large and abundant species. The name is loosely applied to various other fishes, as the bluefish, the rosefish, the red grouper, etc. See Rosefish.

3. (Zoöl.) A snapping turtle; as, the alligator snapper.

4. (Zoöl.) The green woodpecker, or yaffle.

5. (Zoöl.) A snap beetle.

Snap"ping (?), a. & n. from Snap, v.

Snapping beetle. (Zoöl.) See Snap beetle, under Snap. -- Snapping turtle. (Zoöl.) (a) A large and voracious aquatic turtle (Chelydra serpentina) common in the fresh waters of the United States; -- so called from its habit of seizing its prey by a snap of its jaws. Called also mud turtle. (b) See Alligator snapper, under Alligator.

Snap"pish (?), a. 1. Apt to snap at persons or things; eager to bite; as, a snapping cur.

2. Sharp in reply; apt to speak angrily or testily; easily provoked; tart; peevish.

The taunting address of a snappish misanthrope.

Jeffrey.

-- Snap"pish*ly, adv. -- Snap"pish*ness, n.

Snap"py (?), a. Snappish. [Colloq.]

Snap"sack` (?), n. [Cf. Sw. snappsäck, G. schnappsack.] A knapsack. [Obs.] South.

Snap"weed` (?), n. (Bot.) See Impatiens.

Snar (?), v. i. [Akin to LG. & OD. snarren, G. schnarren, E. snore. See Snore, and cf. Snarl to growl.] To snarl. [Obs.] Spenser.

Snare (?), n. [AS. sneara cord, a string; akin to D. snoer, G. schnur, OHG. snour a cord, snarahha a noose, Dan. snare, Sw. & Icel. snara, Goth. sn&?;rj&?; a basket; and probably also to E. needle. See Needle, and cf. Snarl to entangle.] 1. A contrivance, often consisting of a noose of cord, or the like, by which a bird or other animal may be entangled and caught; a trap; a gin.

2. Hence, anything by which one is entangled and brought into trouble.

If thou retire, the Dauphin, well appointed, Stands with the snares of war to tangle thee.

Shak.

3. The gut or string stretched across the lower head of a drum.

4. (Med.) An instrument, consisting usually of a wireloop or noose, for removing tumors, etc., by avulsion.

Snare drum, the smaller common military drum, as distinguished from the bass drum; -- so called because (in order to render it more resonant) it has stretched across its lower head a catgut string or strings.

Snare, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snared (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Snaring.] To catch with a snare; to insnare; to entangle; hence, to bring into unexpected evil, perplexity, or danger.

Lest that too heavenly form . . . snare them.

Milton.

The mournful crocodile With sorrow snares relenting passengers.

Shak.

Snar"er (?), n. One who lays snares, or entraps.

Snarl (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snarled (?); p. pr. & vvb. n. Snarling.] [Etymol. uncertain.] To form raised work upon the outer surface of (thin metal ware) by the repercussion of a snarling iron upon the inner surface.

Snarl, v. t. [From Snare, v. t.] 1. To entangle; to complicate; to involve in knots; as, to snarl a skein of thread. "Her snarled hair." Spenser.

2. To embarrass; to insnare.

[The] question that they would have snarled him with.

Latimer.

Snarl, n. A knot or complication of hair, thread, or the like, difficult to disentangle; entanglement; hence, intricate complication; embarrassing difficulty.

Snarl, v. i. [From Snar.] 1. To growl, as an angry or surly dog; to gnarl; to utter grumbling sounds. "An angry cur snarls while he feeds." Dryden & Lee.

2. To speak crossly; to talk in rude, surly terms.

It is malicious and unmanly to snarl at the little lapses of a pen, from which Virgil himself stands not exempted.

Dryden.

Snarl, n. The act of snarling; a growl; a surly or peevish expression; an angry contention.

Snarl"er (?), n. One who snarls; a surly, growling animal; a grumbling, quarrelsome fellow.

Snarl"er, n. One who makes use of a snarling iron.

Snarl"ing, a. & n. from Snarl, v.

Snarling iron, a tool with a long beak, used in the process of snarling. When one end is held in a vise, and the shank is struck with a hammer, the repercussion of the other end, or beak, within the article worked upon gives the requisite blow for producing raised work. See 1st Snarl.

Snar"y (?), a. [From Snare.] Resembling, or consisting of, snares; entangling; insidious.

Spiders in the vault their snary webs have spread.

Dryden.

Snast (?), n. [Cf. Snite, v. t.] The snuff, or burnt wick, of a candle. [Obs.] Bacon.

Snatch (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snatched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Snatching.] [OE. snachen, snechen; akin to D. snakken to gasp, to long (for), to desire. Cf. Snack, n., Sneck.] 1. To take or seize hastily, abruptly, or without permission or ceremony; as, to snatch a loaf or a kiss.

When half our knowledge we must snatch, not take.

Pope.

2. To seize and transport away; to rap. "Snatch me to heaven." Thomson.

Syn. -- To twitch; pluck; grab; catch; grasp; gripe.

Snatch, v. i. To attempt to seize something suddenly; to catch; -- often with at; as, to snatch at a rope.

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Snatch (?), n. 1. A hasty catching or seizing; a grab; a catching at, or attempt to seize, suddenly.

2. A short period of vigorous action; as, a snatch at weeding after a shower. Tusser.

They move by fits and snatches.

Bp. Wilkins.

3. A small piece, fragment, or quantity; a broken part; a scrap.

We have often little snatches of sunshine.

Spectator.

Leave me your snatches, and yield me a direct answer.

Shak.

Snatch block (Naut.), a kind of block with an opening in one side to receive the bight of a rope.

Snatch"er (?), n. One who snatches, or takes abruptly.

Snatch"ing*ly, adv. By snatching; abruptly.

Snath (snth), n. [Cf. AS. snðan to cut, to mow, snd a bite, bit, snip.] The handle of a scythe; a snead. [Variously written in England snead, sneed, sneath, sneeth, snathe, etc.; in Scotland written sned.]

Snathe (sn), v. t. [Cf. Icel. sneiða to cut into alices, snða to cut; akin to AS. besndan, snðan, G. schneiden, OHG. sndan, Goth. sneiþan to cut, to reap, and E. snath, snithe.] To lop; to prune. [Prov. Eng.]

Snat"tock (snt"tk), n. [See Snathe.] A chip; a slice. [Prov. Eng.] Gayton.

Snaw (sn), n. Snow. [Obs. or Scot.] Burns.

Snead (snd), n. [See Snath.] 1. A snath.

2. A line or cord; a string. [Prov. Eng.]

Sneak (snk), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sneaked (snkt); p. pr. & vb. n. Sneaking.] [OE. sniken, AS. sncan to creep; akin to Dan. snige sig; cf. Icel. snkja to hanker after.] 1. To creep or steal (away or about) privately; to come or go meanly, as a person afraid or ashamed to be seen; as, to sneak away from company.

You skulked behind the fence, and sneaked away.

Dryden.

2. To act in a stealthy and cowardly manner; to behave with meanness and servility; to crouch.

Sneak, v. t. To hide, esp. in a mean or cowardly manner. [Obs.] "[Slander] sneaks its head." Wake.

Sneak, n. 1. A mean, sneaking fellow.

A set of simpletons and superstitious sneaks.

Glanvill.

2. (Cricket) A ball bowled so as to roll along the ground; -- called also grub. [Cant] R. A. Proctor.

Sneak"-cup` (?), n. One who sneaks from his cups; one who balks his glass. [Obs.] Shak.

Sneak"er (?), n. 1. One who sneaks. Lamb.

2. A vessel of drink. [Prov. Eng.]

A sneaker of five gallons.

Spectator.

Sneak"i*ness (?), n. The quality of being sneaky.

Sneak"ing, a. Marked by cowardly concealment; deficient in openness and courage; underhand; mean; crouching. -- Sneak"ing*ly, adv. -- Sneak"ing*ness, n.

Sneaks"by (?), n. A paltry fellow; a sneak. [Obs.] "Such a bashful sneaksby." Barrow.

Sneak"y (?), n. Like a sneak; sneaking.

Sneap (?), v. t. [Cf. Icel. sneypa to dishonor, disgrace, chide, but also E. snip, and snub.] 1. To check; to reprimand; to rebuke; to chide. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

2. To nip; to blast; to blight. [Obs.]

Biron is like an envious, sneaping frost.

Shak.

Sneap, n. A reprimand; a rebuke. [Obs.]

My lord, I will not undergo this sneap without reply.

Shak.

{ Sneath (?), Sneathe (?) }, n. See Snath.

Sneb (?), v. t. [See Snib.] To reprimand; to sneap. [Obs.] "Scold and sneb the good oak." Spenser.

Sneck (?), v. t. [See Snatch.] To fasten by a hatch; to latch, as a door. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]

Sneck up, be silent; shut up; hold your peace. Shak.

Sneck, n. A door latch. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]

Sneck band, a latchstring. Burns. -- Sneck drawer, a latch lifter; a bolt drawer; hence, a sly person; a cozener; a cheat; -- called also sneckdraw. -- Sneck drawing, lifting the latch.

Sneck"et (?), n. A door latch, or sneck. [Prov. Eng.]

Sned (?), v. t. To lop; to snathe. [Prov. Eng.]

{ Sned (?), Sneed (?) }, n. See Snath.

Sneer (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sneered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sneering.] [OE. sneren, Dan. sn&?;rre to snarl or grin (like a dog); cf. Prov. E. sneer to grin, sner to snort, snert to sneer at. See Snore, v. i.] 1. To show contempt by turning up the nose, or by a particular facial expression.

2. To inssinuate contempt by a covert expression; to speak derisively.

I could be content to be a little sneared at.

Pope.

3. To show mirth awkwardly. [R.] Tatler.

Syn. -- To scoff; gibe; jeer. -- Sneer, Scoff, Jeer. The verb to sneer implies to cast contempt indirectly or by covert expressions. To jeer is stronger, and denotes the use of several sarcastic reflections. To scoff is stronger still, implying the use of insolent mockery and derision.

And sneers as learnedly as they, Like females o'er their morning tea.

Swift.

Midas, exposed to all their jeers, Had lost his art, and kept his ears.

Swift.

The fop, with learning at defiance, Scoffs at the pedant and science.

Gay.

Sneer, v. t. 1. To utter with a grimace or contemptuous expression; to utter with a sneer; to say sneeringly; as, to sneer fulsome lies at a person. Congreve.

"A ship of fools," he sneered.

Tennyson.

2. To treat with sneers; to affect or move by sneers.

Nor sneered nor bribed from virtue into shame.

Savage.

Sneer, n. 1. The act of sneering.

2. A smile, grin, or contortion of the face, indicative of contempt; an indirect expression or insinuation of contempt. "Who can refute a sneer?" Raley.

Sneer"er (?), n. One who sneers.

Sneer"ful (?), a. Given to sneering. [Obs.]

Sneer"ing*ly, adv. In a sneering manner.

Sneeze (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sneezed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sneezing.] [OE. snesen; of uncertain origin; cf. D. snuse to sniff, E. neese, and AS. fneósan.] To emit air, chiefly through the nose, audibly and violently, by a kind of involuntary convulsive force, occasioned by irritation of the inner membrane of the nose.

Not to be sneezed at, not to be despised or contemned; not to be treated lightly. [Colloq.] "He had to do with old women who were not to be sneezed at." Prof. Wilson.

Sneeze, n. A sudden and violent ejection of air with an audible sound, chiefly through the nose.

Sneeze"weed` (?), n. (Bot.) A yellow-flowered composite plant (Helenium autumnale) the odor of which is said to cause sneezing.

Sneeze"wood` (?), n. (Bot.) The wood of a South African tree. See Neishout.

Sneeze"wort` (?), n. (Bot.) A European herbaceous plant (Achillea Ptarmica) allied to the yarrow, having a strong, pungent smell.

Sneez"ing, n. (Physiol.) The act of violently forcing air out through the nasal passages while the cavity of the mouth is shut off from the pharynx by the approximation of the soft palate and the base of the tongue.

Snell (?), a. [AS. snell; akin to D. snel, G. schnell, OHG. snel, Icel. snjallr valiant.] Active; brisk; nimble; quick; sharp. [Archaic or Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

That horny-handed, snell, peremptory little man.

Dr. J. Brown.

Snell, n. A short line of horsehair, gut, etc., by which a fishhook is attached to a longer line.

Snet (?), n. [Cf. G. schnitt that which is cut, fr. schneiden to cut, E. snath.] The fat of a deer. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

Snet, v. t. [See Snot.] The clear of mucus; to blow. [Obs.] "Snetting his nose." Holland.

Snew (?), v. i. To snow; to abound. [Obs.]

It snewed in his house of meat and drink.

Chaucer.

Snib (?), v. t. [OE. snibben; cf. Dan. snibbe, and E. snub, v. t.] To check; to sneap; to sneb. [Obs.]

Him would he snib sharply for the nones.

Chaucer.

Snib, n. A reprimand; a snub. [Obs.] Marston.

Snick (?), n. [Prov. E. snick a notch; cf. Icel. snikka nick, cut.] 1. A small cut or mark.

2. (Cricket) A slight hit or tip of the ball, often unintentional.

3. (Fiber) A knot or irregularity in yarn. Knight.

4. (Furriery) A snip or cut, as in the hair of a beast.

Snick and snee [cf. D. snee, snede, a cut], a combat with knives. [Obs.] Wiseman.

Snick, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snicked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Snicking.] 1. To cut slightly; to strike, or strike off, as by cutting. H. Kingsley.

2. (Cricket) To hit (a ball) lightly. R. A. Proctor.

Snick, n. & v. t. See Sneck. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

Snick up, shut up; silenced. See Sneck up, under Sneck.

Give him money, George, and let him go snick up.

Beau. & Fl.

Snick"er (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Snickered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Snickering.] [Cf. D. snikken to sob, to sigh.] [Written also snigger.] 1. To laugh slyly; to laugh in one's sleeve.

2. To laugh with audible catches of voice, as when persons attempt to suppress loud laughter.

Snick"er, n. A half suppressed, broken laugh. [Written also snigger.]

Snide (?), a. Tricky; deceptive; contemptible; as, a snide lawyer; snide goods. [Slang]

Sniff (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sniffed (?) or Snift; p. pr. & vb. n. Sniffing.] [OE. sneven; akin to snivel, snuff; cf. Dan. snive to sniff. See Snuff, v. t.] To draw air audibly up the nose; to snuff; -- sometimes done as a gesture of suspicion, offense, or contempt.

So ye grow squeamish, gods, and sniff at heaven.

M. Arnold.

Sniff, v. t. 1. To draw in with the breath through the nose; as, to sniff the air of the country.

2. To perceive as by sniffing; to snuff, to scent; to smell; as, to sniff danger.

Sniff, n. The act of sniffing; perception by sniffing; that which is taken by sniffing; as, a sniff of air.

Sniff"ing, n. (Physiol.) A rapid inspiratory act, in which the mouth is kept shut and the air drawn in through the nose.

Snif"fle (?), v. i. [Freq. of sniff. See Snivel.] To snuffle, as one does with a catarrh. [Prov. Eng.]

Snift (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Snifted; p. pr. & vb. n. Snifting.] [From Sniff.] 1. To snort. [Obs.] "Resentment expressed by snifting." Johnson.

2. To sniff; to snuff; to smell.

It now appears that they were still snifing and hankering after their old quarters.

Landor.

Snift, n. 1. A moment. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

2. Slight snow; sleet. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Snift"ing, a. & n. from Snift.

Snifting valve, a small valve opening into the atmosphere from the cylinder or condenser of a steam engine, to allow the escape of air when the piston makes a stroke; -- so called from the noise made by its action.

Snig (?), v. t. [See Snick a small cut.] To chop off; to cut. [Prov. Eng.]

Snig, v. i. [See Sneak.] To sneak. [Prov. Eng.]

{ Snig, Snigg, } n. [Cf. Sneak.] (Zoöl.) A small eel. [Prov. Eng.]

Snig"ger (?), v. i. See Snicker. Thackeray.

Snig"ger, n. See Snicker. Dickens.

Snig"gle (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sniggled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sniggling(?).] [See Snig a kind of eel.] To fish for eels by thrusting the baited hook into their holes or hiding places. Walton.

Snig"gle, v. t. To catch, as an eel, by sniggling; hence, to hook; to insnare. Beau. & Fl.

Snip (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snipped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Snipping.] [D. snippen; akin to G. schnippen.] To cut off the nip or neb of, or to cut off at once with shears or scissors; to clip off suddenly; to nip; hence, to break off; to snatch away.

Curbed and snipped in my younger years by fear of my parents from those vicious excrescences to which that age was subject.

Fuller.

The captain seldom ordered anything out of the ship's stores . . . but I snipped some of it for my own share.

De Foe.

Snip (?), n. 1. A single cut, as with shears or scissors; a clip. Shak.

2. A small shred; a bit cut off. Wiseman.

3. A share; a snack. [Obs.] L'Estrange

4. A tailor. [Slang] Nares. C. Kingsley.

5. Small hand shears for cutting sheet metal.

Snipe (?), n. [OE. snipe; akin to D. snep, snip, LG. sneppe, snippe, G. schnepfe, Icel. snpa (in comp.), Dan. sneppe, Sw. snäppa a sanpiper, and possibly to E. snap. See Snap, Snaffle.] 1. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of limicoline game birds of the family Scolopacidæ, having a long, slender, nearly straight beak.

The common, or whole, snipe (Gallinago cœlestis) and the great, or double, snipe (G. major), are the most important European species. The Wilson's snipe (G. delicata) (sometimes erroneously called English snipe) and the gray snipe, or dowitcher (Macrohamphus griseus), are well- known American species.

2. A fool; a blockhead. [R.] Shak.

Half snipe, the dunlin; the jacksnipe. - - Jack snipe. See Jacksnipe. -- Quail snipe. See under Quail. -- Robin snipe, the knot. -- Sea snipe. See in the Vocabulary. -- Shore snipe, any sandpiper. -- Snipe hawk, the marsh harrier. [Prov. Eng.] -- Stone snipe, the tattler. -- Summer snipe, the dunlin; the green and the common European sandpipers. -- Winter snipe. See Rock snipe, under Rock. -- Woodcock snipe, the great snipe.

Snipe"bill` (?), n. 1. A plane for cutting deep grooves in moldings.

2. A bolt by which the body of a cart is fastened to the axle. [Local, U.S.]

Snipe"fish` (?), n. (Zoöl.) (a) The bellows fish. (b) A long, slender deep-sea fish (Nemichthys scolopaceus) with a slender beak.

Snip"pack (?), n. [Cf. Snipe.] (Zoöl.) The common snipe. [Prov. Eng.]

Snip"per (?), n. One who snips.

Snip"per-snap`er (?), n. A small, insignificant fellow. [Colloq.]

Snip"pet (?), n. A small part or piece.

To be cut into snippets and shreds.

F. Harrison.

Snip"pet*y (?), a. Ridiculously small; petty. "Snippety facts." London Spectator.

Snip"-snap` (?), n. [Reduplication of snap.] A tart dialogue with quick replies. [R.] Pope.

Snip"-snap`, a. Quick; short; sharp; smart. Shak.

Snip"y (snp"), a. Like a snipe.

Snite (snt), n. A snipe. [Obs. or Scot.] Carew.

Snite, v. t. [Icel. snfa. See Snout.] To blow, as the nose; to snuff, as a candle. [Obs. or Scot.]

{ Snithe (?), Snith"y (?) }, a. [AS. snðan to cut. See Snathe.] Sharp; piercing; cutting; -- applied to the wind. [Prov. Eng.]

Sniv"el (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sniveled (?) or Snivelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Sniveling or Snivelling.] [OE. snivelen, snevelen, snuvelen, freg. of sneven. See Sniff, and cf. Snuffle.] 1. To run at the nose; to make a snuffling noise.

2. To cry or whine with snuffling, as children; to cry weakly or whiningly.

Put stop to thy sniveling ditty.

Sir W. Scott.

Sniv"el, n. [AS. snofel. Cf. Snivel, v. i.] Mucus from the nose; snot.

Sniv"el*er (?), n. [Written also sniveller.] One who snivels, esp. one who snivels habitually.

Sniv"el*y (?), a. Running at the nose; sniveling pitiful; whining.

Snob (?), n. [Icel. snpr a dolt, impostor, charlatan. Cf. Snub.] 1. A vulgar person who affects to be better, richer, or more fashionable, than he really is; a vulgar upstart; one who apes his superiors. Thackeray.

Essentially vulgar, a snob. -- a gilded snob, but none the less a snob.

R. G. White.

2. (Eng. Univ.) A townsman. [Canf]

3. A journeyman shoemaker. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

4. A workman who accepts lower than the usual wages, or who refuses to strike when his fellows do; a rat; a knobstick.

Those who work for lower wages during a strike are called snobs, the men who stand out being "nobs"

De Quincey.

Snob"ber*y (?), n. The quality of being snobbish; snobbishness.

Snob"bish (?), a. Of or pertaining to a snob; characteristic of, or befitting, a snob; vulgarly pretentious. -- Snob"bish*ly, adv.

Snob"bish*ness, n. Vulgar affectation or ostentation; mean admiration of mean things; conduct or manners of a snob.

Snob"bism (?), n. Snobbery.

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Snob"by (snb"b), a. Snobbish. [R.] E. B. Ramsay.

Snob"ling, n. A little snob. [Jocose] Thackeray.

Snob*oc"ra*cy (snb*k"r*s), n. [Snob + -cracy, as in aristocracy, mobocracy.] Snobs, collectively. [Hybrid & Recent] C. Kingsley.

Snod (snd), n. [See Snood.] A fillet; a headband; a snood. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

Snod, a. [Scot. snod to prune, put in order.] Trimmed; smooth; neat; trim; sly; cunning; demure. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

Snoff (snf; 115), n. [Cf. Snuff.] (Mining) A short candle end used for igniting a fuse. Raymond.

Snood (?), n. [AS. snd. Cf. Snare.] 1. The fillet which binds the hair of a young unmarried woman, and is emblematic of her maiden character. [Scot.]

And seldom was a snood amid Such wild, luxuriant ringlets hid.

Sir W. Scott.

2. A short line (often of horsehair) connecting a fishing line with the hook; a snell; a leader.

Snood, v. t. To bind or braid up, as the hair, with a snood. [Scot.]

Snood"ed, a. Wearing or having a snood. "The snooded daughter." Whittier.

Snook (snk), v. i. [Prov. E. snook to search out, to follow by the scent; cf. Sw. snoka to lurk, LG. snöggen, snuckern, snökern, to snuffle, to smell about, to search for.] To lurk; to lie in ambush. [Obs.]

Snook, n. [D. snoek.] (Zoöl.) (a) A large perchlike marine food fish (Centropomus undecimalis) found both on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of tropical America; -- called also ravallia, and robalo. (b) The cobia. (c) The garfish.

Snooze (snz), n. [Scot. snooze to sleep; cf. Dan. & Sw. snus snuff.] A short sleep; a nap. [Colloq.]

Snooze, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Snoozed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Snoozing.] To doze; to drowse; to take a short nap; to slumber. [Colloq.]

Snore (snr), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Snored (snrd); p. pr. & vb. n. Snoring.] [OE. snoren, AS. snora a snoring; akin to LG. snoren, snorken, snurken, to snore, D. snorken, G. schnarchen to snore, schnarren to rattle, MHG. snarren, Sw. snarka to snore, Icel. snarka to sputter, fizzle. Cf. Snarl to growl, Sneer, Snort. See Snoring.] To breathe with a rough, hoarse, nasal voice in sleep.

Snore, n. A harsh nasal noise made in sleep.

Snor"er (?), n. One who snores.

Snor"ing, n. (Physiol.) The act of respiring through the open mouth so that the currents of inspired and expired air cause a vibration of the uvula and soft palate, thus giving rise to a sound more or less harsh. It is usually unvoluntary, but may be produced voluntarily.

Snort (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Snorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Snorting.] [OE. snorten; akin to snoren. See Snore.] 1. To force the air with violence through the nose, so as to make a noise, as do high- spirited horsed in prancing and play. Fairfax.

2. To snore. [R.] "The snorting citizens." Shak.

3. To laugh out loudly. [Colloq.] Halliwell.

Snort, n. The act of snorting; the sound produced in snorting.

Snort, v. t. To expel throught the nostrils with a snort; to utter with a snort. Keats.

Snort"er (?), n. 1. One who snorts.

2. (Zoöl.) The wheather; -- so called from its cry. [Prov. Eng.]

Snot (?), n. [AS. snot; akin to D. snot, LG. snotte, Dan. snot, and to E. snout. See Snout.] 1. Mucus secreted in, or discharged from, the nose. [Low]

2. A mean, insignificant fellow. [Low]

Snot, v. t. To blow, wipe, or clear, as the nose.

Snot"ter (?), v. i. [From Snot.] To snivel; to cry or whine. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.

Snot"ter, n. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Naut.) A rope going over a yardarm, used to bend a tripping line to, in sending down topgallant and royal yards in vessels of war; also, the short line supporting the heel of the sprit in a small boat.

Snot"ter*y (?), n. Filth; abomination. [Obs.]

To purge the snottery of our slimy time.

Marston.

Snot"ty (?), a. Foul with snot; hence, mean; dirty.

-- Snot"ti*ly (#), adv. -- Snot"ti*ness, n.

Snout (snout), n. [OE. snoute, probably of Scand, or Low German origin; cf. LG. snute, D. snuit, G. schnauze, Sw. snut, snyte, Dan. snude, Icel. sn&?;ta to blow the nose; probably akin to E. snuff, v.t. Cf. Snite, Snot, Snuff.] 1. The long, projecting nose of a beast, as of swine.

2. The nose of a man; -- in contempt. Hudibras.

3. The nozzle of a pipe, hose, etc.

4. (Zoöl.) (a) The anterior prolongation of the head of a gastropod; -- called also rostrum. (b) The anterior prolongation of the head of weevils and allied beetles.

Snout beetle (Zoöl.), any one of many species of beetles having an elongated snout and belonging to the tribe Rhynchophora; a weevil. -- Snout moth (Zoöl.), any pyralid moth. See Pyralid.

Snout, v. t. To furnish with a nozzle or point.

Snout"y (?), a. Resembling a beast's snout.

The nose was ugly, long, and big, Broad and snouty like a pig.

Otway.

Snow (?), n. [LG. snaue, or D. snaauw, from LG. snau a snout, a beak.] (Naut.) A square-rigged vessel, differing from a brig only in that she has a trysail mast close abaft the mainmast, on which a large trysail is hoisted.

Snow, n. [OE. snow, snaw, AS. snw; akin to D. sneeuw, OS. & OHG. sno, G. schnee, Icel. snær, snjr, snajr, Sw. snö, Dan. snee, Goth. snaiws, Lith. snëgas, Russ. snieg', Ir. & Gael. sneachd, W. nyf, L. nix, nivis, Gr. acc. ni`fa, also AS. snwan to snow, G. schneien, OHG. snwan, Lith. snigti, L. ningit it snows, Gr. ni`fei, Zend snizh to snow; cf. Skr. snih to be wet or sticky. &radic;172.] 1. Watery particles congealed into white or transparent crystals or flakes in the air, and falling to the earth, exhibiting a great variety of very beautiful and perfect forms.

Snow is often used to form compounds, most of which are of obvious meaning; as, snow-capped, snow-clad, snow-cold, snow-crowned, snow-crust, snow- fed, snow-haired, snowlike, snow-mantled, snow-nodding, snow-wrought, and the like.

2. Fig.: Something white like snow, as the white color (argent) in heraldry; something which falls in, or as in, flakes.

The field of snow with eagle of black therein.

Chaucer.

Red snow. See under Red.

Snow bunting. (Zoöl.) See Snowbird, 1. -- Snow cock (Zoöl.), the snow pheasant. -- Snow flea (Zoöl.), a small black leaping poduran (Achorutes nivicola) often found in winter on the snow in vast numbers. -- Snow flood, a flood from melted snow. -- Snow flower (Bot.), the fringe tree. -- Snow fly, or Snow insect (Zoöl.), any one of several species of neuropterous insects of the genus Boreus. The male has rudimentary wings; the female is wingless. These insects sometimes appear creeping and leaping on the snow in great numbers. -- Snow gnat (Zoöl.), any wingless dipterous insect of the genus Chionea found running on snow in winter. -- Snow goose (Zoöl.), any one of several species of arctic geese of the genus Chen. The common snow goose (Chen hyperborea), common in the Western United States in winter, is white, with the tips of the wings black and legs and bill red. Called also white brant, wavey, and Texas goose. The blue, or blue-winged, snow goose (C. cœrulescens) is varied with grayish brown and bluish gray, with the wing quills black and the head and upper part of the neck white. Called also white head, white-headed goose, and bald brant. -- Snow leopard (Zool.), the ounce. -- Snow line, lowest limit of perpetual snow. In the Alps this is at an altitude of 9,000 feet, in the Andes, at the equator, 16,000 feet. -- Snow mouse (Zoöl.), a European vole (Arvicola nivalis) which inhabits the Alps and other high mountains. -- Snow pheasant (Zoöl.), any one of several species of large, handsome gallinaceous birds of the genus Tetraogallus, native of the lofty mountains of Asia. The Himalayn snow pheasant (T. Himalayensis) in the best-known species. Called also snow cock, and snow chukor. -- Snow partridge. (Zoöl.) See under Partridge. -- Snow pigeon (Zoöl.), a pigeon (Columba leuconota) native of the Himalaya mountains. Its back, neck, and rump are white, the top of the head and the ear coverts are black. -- Snow plant (Bot.), a fleshy parasitic herb (Sarcodes sanguinea) growing in the coniferous forests of California. It is all of a bright red color, and is fabled to grow from the snow, through which it sometimes shoots up.

Snow (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Snowed (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Snowing.] To fall in or as snow; -- chiefly used impersonally; as, it snows; it snowed yesterday.

Snow, v. t. To scatter like snow; to cover with, or as with, snow. Donne. Shak.

Snow"ball` (?), n. 1. A round mass of snow pressed or roller together, or anything resembling such a mass.

2. (Bot.) The Guelder-rose.

Snowball tree (Bot.), the Guelder- rose.

Snow"ball`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snowballed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Snowballing.] To pelt with snowballs; to throw snowballs at.

Snow"ball`, v. i. To throw snowballs.

Snow"ber`ry (?), n. (Bot.) A name of several shrubs with white berries; as, the Symphoricarpus racemosus of the Northern United States, and the Chiococca racemosa of Florida and tropical America.

Creeping snowberry. (Bot.) See under Creeping.

Snow"bird (?), n. (Zoöl.) (a) An arctic finch (Plectrophenax, or Plectrophanes, nivalis) common, in winter, both in Europe and the United States, and often appearing in large flocks during snowstorms. It is partially white, but variously marked with chestnut and brown. Called also snow bunting, snowflake, snowfleck, and snowflight. (b) Any finch of the genus Junco which appears in flocks in winter time, especially J. hyemalis in the Eastern United States; -- called also blue snowbird. See Junco. (c) The fieldfare. [Prov. Eng.]

Snow"-blind` (?), a. Affected with blindness by the brilliancy of snow. -- Snow"- blind`ness, n.

Snow"-bound` (?), a. Enveloped in, or confined by, snow. Whittier.

Snow"-broth` (?), n. Snow and water mixed, or snow just melted; very cold liquor. Shak.

Snow"cap` (?), n. (Zoöl.) A very small humming bird (Microchæra albocoronata) native of New Grenada.

The feathers of the top of the head are white and snining, the body blue black with a purple and bronzy luster. The name is applied also to Microchæra parvirostris of Central America, which is similar in color.

Snow"-capped` (?), a. Having the top capped or covered with snow; as, snow-capped mountains.

Snow"drift` (?), n. A bank of drifted snow.

Snow"drop` (?), n. (Bot.) A bulbous plant (Galanthus nivalis) bearing white flowers, which often appear while the snow is on the ground. It is cultivated in gardens for its beauty.

Snowdrop tree. See Silver-bell tree, under Silver, a.

Snow"flake` (?), n. 1. A flake, or small filmy mass, of snow.

2. (Zoöl.) See Snowbird, 1.

3. (Bot.) A name given to several bulbous plants of the genus Leucoium (L. vernum, æstivum, etc.) resembling the snowdrop, but having all the perianth leaves of equal size.

Snow"fleck` (?), n. (Zoöl.) See Snowbird, 1.

Snowl (?), n. (Zoöl.) The hooded merganser. [Local, U.S.]

Snow"less (?), a. Destitute of snow.

{ Snow"plow`, Snow"plough` } (?), n. An implement operating like a plow, but on a larger scale, for clearing away the snow from roads, railways, etc.

Snow"shed (?), n. A shelter to protect from snow, esp. a long roof over an exposed part of a railroad.

Snow"shoe` (?), n. A slight frame of wood three or four feet long and about one third as wide, with thongs or cords stretched across it, and having a support and holder for the foot; -- used by persons for walking on soft snow.

Snow"shoe`ing, n. Traveling on snowshoes.

Snow"sho`er (?), n. One who travels on snowshoes; an expert in using snowshoes. W. G. Beers.

Snow"slip` (?), n. A large mass or avalanche of snow which slips down the side of a mountain, etc.

Snow"storm` (?), n. A storm with falling snow.

Snow"-white` (?), a. White as snow; very white. "Snow-white and rose-red" Chaucer.

Snow"y (?), a. 1. White like snow. "So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows." Shak.

2. Abounding with snow; covered with snow. "The snowy top of cold Olympus." Milton.

3. Fig.: Pure; unblemished; unstained; spotless.

There did he lose his snowy innocence.

J. Hall (1646).

Snowy heron (Zoöl.), a white heron, or egret (Ardea candidissima), found in the Southern United States, and southward to Chili; -- called also plume bird. -- Snowy lemming (Zoöl.), the collared lemming (Cuniculus torquatus), which turns white in winter. -- Snowy owl (Zoöl.), a large arctic owl (Nyctea Scandiaca, or N. nivea) common all over the northern parts of the United States and Europe in winter time. Its plumage is sometimes nearly pure white, but it is usually more or less marked with blackish spots. Called also white owl. -- Snowy plover (Zoöl.), a small plover (Ægialitis nivosa) of the western parts of the United States and Mexico. It is light gray above, with the under parts and portions of the head white.

Snub (?), v. i. [Cf. D. snuiven to snort, to pant, G. schnauben, MHG. snben, Prov. G. schnupfen, to sob, and E. snuff, v.t.] To sob with convulsions. [Obs.] Bailey.

Snub, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snubbed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Snubbing.] [Cf. Icel. ssnubba to snub, chide, Sw. snubba, Icel. snubbttr snubbed, nipped, and E. snib.] 1. To clip or break off the end of; to check or stunt the growth of; to nop.

2. To check, stop, or rebuke, with a tart, sarcastic reply or remark; to reprimand; to check. J. Foster.

3. To treat with contempt or neglect, as a forward or pretentious person; to slight designedly.

To snub a cable or rope (Naut.), to check it suddenly in running out. Totten.

Snub, n. 1. A knot; a protuberance; a song. [Obs.]

[A club] with ragged snubs and knotty grain.

Spenser.

2. A check or rebuke; an intended slight. J. Foster.

Snub nose, a short or flat nose. -- Snub post, or Snubbing post (Naut.), a post on a dock or shore, around which a rope is thrown to check the motion of a vessel.

Snub"-nosed` (?), a. Having a short, flat nose, slightly turned up; as, the snub-nosed eel.

Snub-nosed cachalot (Zoöl.), the pygmy sperm whale.

Snudge (?), v. i. [Cf. Snug.] To lie snug or quiet. [Obs.] Herbert.

Snudge, n. A miser; a sneaking fellow. [Obs.]

Snuff (?), n. [Cf. G. schnuppe candle snuff, schnuppen to snuff a candle (see Snuff, v. t., to snuff a candle), or cf. Snub, v. t.] The part of a candle wick charred by the flame, whether burning or not.

If the burning snuff happens to get out of the snuffers, you have a chance that it may fall into a dish of soup.

Swift.

Snuff, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snuffed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Snuffing.] [OE. snuffen. See Snuff of a candle Snuff to sniff.] To crop the snuff of, as a candle; to take off the end of the snuff of.

To snuff out, to extinguish by snuffing.

<! p. 1364 !>

Snuff (?), v. t.[Akin to D. snuffen, G. schnupfen, schnuppen, to snuff, schnupfen a cold in the head, schnuppen to snuff (air), also, to snuff (a candle). Cf. Sniff, Snout, Snub, v. i.] 1. To draw in, or to inhale, forcibly through the nose; to sniff.

He snuffs the wind, his heels the sand excite.

Dryden.

2. To perceive by the nose; to scent; to smell.

Snuff, v. i. 1. To inhale air through the nose with violence or with noise, as do dogs and horses. Dryden.

2. To turn up the nose and inhale air, as an expression of contempt; hence, to take offense.

Do the enemies of the church rage and snuff?

Bp. Hall.

Snuff, n. 1. The act of snuffing; perception by snuffing; a sniff.

2. Pulverized tobacco, etc., prepared to be taken into the nose; also, the amount taken at once.

3. Resentment, displeasure, or contempt, expressed by a snuffing of the nose. [Obs.]

Snuff dipping. See Dipping, n., 5. -- Snuff taker, one who uses snuff by inhaling it through the nose. -- To take it in snuff, to be angry or offended. Shak. -- Up to snuff, not likely to be imposed upon; knowing; acute. [Slang]

Snuff"box` (?), n. A small box for carrying snuff about the person.

Snuff"er (?), n. 1. One who snuffs.

2. (Zoöl.) The common porpoise.

Snuff"ers (?), n. pl. An instrument for cropping and holding the snuff of a candle.

Snuff"ing*ly, adv. In a snuffing manner.

Snuf"fle (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Snuffled(?); p. pr. & vb. n. Snuffling (?).] [Freq. of snuff, v.i.; akin to LG. snuffeln, G. schnüffeln, D. snuffeln, Dan. snövle. Cf. Sniffle.] To speak through the nose; to breathe through the nose when it is obstructed, so as to make a broken sound.

One clad in purple Eats, and recites some lamentable rhyme . . . Snuffling at nose, and croaking in his throat.

Dryden.

Snuf"fle, n. 1. The act of snuffing; a sound made by the air passing through the nose when obstructed.

This dread sovereign, Breath, in its passage, gave a snort or snuffle.

Coleridge.

2. An affected nasal twang; hence, cant; hypocrisy.

3. pl. Obstruction of the nose by mucus; nasal catarrh of infants or children. [Colloq.]

Snuf"fler (?), n. One who snuffles; one who uses cant.

Snuff"y (?), a. 1. Soiled with snuff.

2. Sulky; angry; vexed. [Obs. or Scot.] Jamieson.

Snug (?), a. [Compar. Snugger (?); superl. Snuggest (?).] [Prov. E. snug tight, handsome; cf. Icel. snöggr smooth, ODan. snög neat, Sw. snugg.] 1. Close and warm; as, an infant lies snug.

2. Close; concealed; not exposed to notice.

Lie snug, and hear what critics say.

Swift.

3. Compact, convenient, and comfortable; as, a snug farm, house, or property.

Snug, n. (Mach.) Same as Lug, n., 3.

Snug, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Snugged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Snugging(?).] To lie close; to snuggle; to snudge; -- often with up, or together; as, a child snugs up to its mother.

Snug, v. t. 1. To place snugly. [R.] Goldsmith.

2. To rub, as twine or rope, so as to make it smooth and improve the finish.

Snug"ger*y (?), n.; pl. Snuggeries (&?;). A snug, cozy place. [Colloq.] Dickens.

Snug"gle (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snuggled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Snuggling (?).] [Freq. of snug.] To move one way and the other so as to get a close place; to lie close for comfort; to cuddle; to nestle.

Snug"ly, adv. In a snug manner; closely; safely.

Snug"ness, n. The quality or state of being snug.

Sny (?), n. [Cf. Icel. sna to turn.] An upward bend in a piece of timber; the sheer of a vessel.

Sny"ing, n. (Naut.) A curved plank, placed edgewise, to work in the bows of a vessel. R. H. Dana, Jr.

So (?), adv. [OE. so, sa, swa, AS. sw; akin to OFries, s, s&?;, D. zoo, OS. & OHG. s&?;, G. so, Icel. sv, sv&?;, svo, so, Sw. s&?;, Dan. saa, Goth. swa so, sw&?; as; cf. L. suus one's own, Skr. sva one's own, one's self. &radic;192. Cf. As, Custom, Ethic, Idiom, Such.] 1. In that manner or degree; as, indicated (in any way), or as implied, or as supposed to be known.

Why is his chariot so long in coming?

Judges v. 28.

2. In like manner or degree; in the same way; thus; for like reason; whith equal reason; -- used correlatively, following as, to denote comparison or resemblance; sometimes, also, following inasmuch as.

As a war should be undertaken upon a just motive, so a prince ought to consider the condition he is in.

Swift.

3. In such manner; to such degree; -- used correlatively with as or that following; as, he was so fortunate as to escape.

I viewed in may mind, so far as I was able, the beginning and progress of a rising world.

T. Burnet.

He is very much in Sir Roger's esteem, so that he lives in the family rather as a relation than dependent.

Addison.

4. Very; in a high degree; that is, in such a degree as can not well be expressed; as, he is so good; he planned so wisely.

5. In the same manner; as has been stated or suggested; in this or that condition or state; under these circumstances; in this way; -- with reflex reference to something just asserted or implied; used also with the verb to be, as a predicate.

Use him [your tutor] with great respect yourself, and cause all your family to do so too.

Locke.

It concerns every man, with the greatest seriousness, to inquire into those matters, whether they be so or not.

Tillotson.

He is Sir Robert's son, and so art thou.

Shak.

6. The case being such; therefore; on this account; for this reason; on these terms; -- used both as an adverb and a conjuction.

God makes him in his own image an intellectual creature, and so capable of dominion.

Locke.

Here, then, exchange we mutually forgiveness; So may the guilt of all my broken vows, My perjuries to thee, be all forgotten.

Rowe.

7. It is well; let it be as it is, or let it come to pass; -- used to express assent.

And when 't is writ, for my sake read it over, And if it please you, so; if not, why, so.

Shak.

There is Percy; if your father will do me any honor, so; if not, let him kill the next Percy himself.

Shak.

8. Well; the fact being as stated; -- used as an expletive; as, so the work is done, is it?

9. Is it thus? do you mean what you say? -- with an upward tone; as, do you say he refuses? So? [Colloq.]

10. About the number, time, or quantity specified; thereabouts; more or less; as, I will spend a week or so in the country; I have read only a page or so.

A week or so will probably reconcile us.

Gay.

See the Note under Ill, adv.

So . . . as. So is now commonly used as a demonstrative correlative of as when it is the puprpose to emphasize the equality or comparison suggested, esp. in negative assertions, and questions implying a negative answer. By Shakespeare and others so . . . as was much used where as . . . as is now common. See the Note under As, 1.

So do, as thou hast said.

Gen. xviii. 5.

As a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

Ps. ciii. 15.

Had woman been so strong as men.

Shak.

No country suffered so much as England.

Macaulay.

-- So far, to that point or extent; in that particular. "The song was moral, and so far was right." Cowper. -- So far forth, as far; to such a degree. Shak. Bacon. -- So forth, further in the same or similar manner; more of the same or a similar kind. See And so forth, under And. -- So, so, well, well. "So, so, it works; now, mistress, sit you fast." Dryden. Also, moderately or tolerably well; passably; as, he succeeded but so so. "His leg is but so so." Shak. -- So that, to the end that; in order that; with the effect or result that. -- So then, thus then it is; therefore; the consequence is.

So (?), conj. Provided that; on condition that; in case that; if.

Though all the winds of doctrine were let loose play upon the earth, so truth be in the field, we do injuriously, by licensing and prohibiting, to misdoubt her strength.

Milton.

So, interj. Be as you are; stand still; stop; that will do; right as you are; -- a word used esp. to cows; also used by sailors.

Soak (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Soaked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Soaking.] [OE. soken, AS. socian to sioak, steep, fr. s&?;can, s&?;gan, to suck. See Suck.] 1. To cause or suffer to lie in a fluid till the substance has imbibed what it can contain; to macerate in water or other liquid; to steep, as for the purpose of softening or freshening; as, to soak cloth; to soak bread; to soak salt meat, salt fish, or the like.

2. To drench; to wet thoroughly.

Their land shall be soaked with blood.

Isa. xxiv. 7.

3. To draw in by the pores, or through small passages; as, a sponge soaks up water; the skin soaks in moisture.

4. To make (its way) by entering pores or interstices; -- often with through.

The rivulet beneath soaked its way obscurely through wreaths of snow.

Sir W. Scott.

5. Fig.: To absorb; to drain. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.

Soak, v. i. 1. To lie steeping in water or other liquid; to become sturated; as, let the cloth lie and soak.

2. To enter (into something) by pores or interstices; as, water soaks into the earth or other porous matter.

3. To drink intemperately or gluttonously. [Slang]

Soak"age (?), n. The act of soaking, or the state of being soaked; also, the quantity that enters or issues by soaking.

Soak"er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, soaks.

2. A hard drinker. [Slang] South.

Soak"ing, a. Wetting thoroughly; drenching; as, a soaking rain. -- Soak"ing*ly, adv.

Soak"y (?), a. Full of moisture; wet; soppy.

Soal (?), n. 1. The sole of a shoe. [Obs. or R.]

2. (Zoöl.) See Sole, the fish. [Obs.]

Soal, n. [AS. sol mire. Cf. Sully.] A dirty pond. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Soam (?), n. A chain by which a leading horse draws a plow. Knight.

Soap (?), n. [OE. sope, AS. spe; akin to D. zeep, G. seife, OHG. seifa, Icel. spa, Sw. s&?;pa, Dan. s&?;be, and perhaps to AS. span to drip, MHG. sfen, and L. sebum tallow. Cf. Saponaceous.] A substance which dissolves in water, thus forming a lather, and is used as a cleansing agent. Soap is produced by combining fats or oils with alkalies or alkaline earths, usually by boiling, and consists of salts of sodium, potassium, etc., with the fatty acids (oleic, stearic, palmitic, etc.). See the Note below, and cf. Saponification. By extension, any compound of similar composition or properties, whether used as a cleaning agent or not.

In general, soaps are of two classes, hard and soft. Calcium, magnesium, lead, etc., form soaps, but they are insoluble and useless.

The purifying action of soap depends upon the fact that it is decomposed by a large quantity of water into free alkali and an insoluble acid salt. The first of these takes away the fatty dirt on washing, and the latter forms the soap lather which envelops the greasy matter and thus tends to remove it.

Roscoe & Schorlemmer.

Castile soap, a fine-grained hard soap, white or mottled, made of olive oil and soda; -- called also Marseilles, or Venetian, soap. -- Hard soap, any one of a great variety of soaps, of different ingredients and color, which are hard and compact. All solid soaps are of this class. -- Lead soap, an insoluble, white, pliable soap made by saponifying an oil (olive oil) with lead oxide; -- used externally in medicine. Called also lead plaster, diachylon, etc. -- Marine soap. See under Marine. -- Pills of soap (Med.), pills containing soap and opium. -- Potash soap, any soap made with potash, esp. the soft soaps, and a hard soap made from potash and castor oil. -- Pumice soap, any hard soap charged with a gritty powder, as silica, alumina, powdered pumice, etc., which assists mechanically in the removal of dirt. -- Resin soap, a yellow soap containing resin, -- used in bleaching. -- Silicated soap, a cheap soap containing water glass (sodium silicate). -- Soap bark. (Bot.) See Quillaia bark. -- Soap bubble, a hollow iridescent globe, formed by blowing a film of soap suds from a pipe; figuratively, something attractive, but extremely unsubstantial.

This soap bubble of the metaphysicians.

J. C. Shairp.

-- Soap cerate, a cerate formed of soap, olive oil, white wax, and the subacetate of lead, sometimes used as an application to allay inflammation. -- Soap fat, the refuse fat of kitchens, slaughter houses, etc., used in making soap. -- Soap liniment (Med.), a liniment containing soap, camphor, and alcohol. -- Soap nut, the hard kernel or seed of the fruit of the soapberry tree, -- used for making beads, buttons, etc. -- Soap plant (Bot.), one of several plants used in the place of soap, as the Chlorogalum pomeridianum, a California plant, the bulb of which, when stripped of its husk and rubbed on wet clothes, makes a thick lather, and smells not unlike new brown soap. It is called also soap apple, soap bulb, and soap weed. -- Soap tree. (Bot.) Same as Soapberry tree. -- Soda soap, a soap containing a sodium salt. The soda soaps are all hard soaps. -- Soft soap, a soap of a gray or brownish yellow color, and of a slimy, jellylike consistence, made from potash or the lye from wood ashes. It is strongly alkaline and often contains glycerin, and is used in scouring wood, in cleansing linen, in dyehouses, etc. Figuratively, flattery; wheedling; blarney. [Colloq.] -- Toilet soap, hard soap for the toilet, usually colored and perfumed.

Soap (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Soaped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Soaping.] 1. To rub or wash over with soap.

2. To flatter; to wheedle. [Slang]

Soap"ber`ry tree` (?). (Bot.) Any tree of the genus Sapindus, esp. Sapindus saponaria, the fleshy part of whose fruit is used instead of soap in washing linen; -- also called soap tree.

Soap"fish` (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any serranoid fish of the genus Rhypticus; -- so called from the soapy feeling of its skin.

Soap"i*ness (?), n. Quality or state of being soapy.

Soap"root` (?), n. (Bot.) A perennial herb (Gypsophila Struthium) the root of which is used in Spain as a substitute for soap.

Soap"stone` (?), n. See Steatite, and Talc.

Soap"suds` (?), n. pl. Suds made with soap.

Soap"wort` (?), n. (Bot.) A common plant (Saponaria officinalis) of the Pink family; -- so called because its bruised leaves, when agitated in water, produce a lather like that from soap. Called also Bouncing Bet.

Soap"y (?), a. [Compar. Soapier (?); superl. Soapiest.] 1. Resembling soap; having the qualities of, or feeling like, soap; soft and smooth.

2. Smeared with soap; covered with soap.

Soar (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Soared (#); p. pr. & vb. n. Soaring.] [F. s'essorer to soar, essorer to dry (by exposing to the air), fr. L. ex out + aura the air, a breeze; akin to Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?;&?;.] 1. To fly aloft, as a bird; to mount upward on wings, or as on wings. Chaucer.

When soars Gaul's vulture with his wings unfurled.

Byron.

2. Fig.: To rise in thought, spirits, or imagination; to be exalted in mood.

Where the deep transported mind may soar.

Milton.

Valor soars above What the world calls misfortune.

Addison.

Soar, n. The act of soaring; upward flight.

This apparent soar of the hooded falcon.

Coleridge.

Soar, a. See 3d Sore. [Obs.]

Soar, a. See Sore, reddish brown.

Soar falcon. (Zoöl.) See Sore falcon, under Sore.

Soar"ing, a. & n. from Soar. -- Soar"ing*ly, adv.

||So*a"ve (?), a. [It.] (Mus.) Sweet.

||So*a`ve*men"te (?), adv. [It.] (Mus.) Sweetly.

Sob (?), v. t. [See Sop.] To soak. [Obs.] Mortimer.

Sob, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sobbed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sobbing.] [OE. sobben; akin to AS. seófian, siófian, to complain, bewail, seófung, siófung, sobbing, lamentation; cf. OHG. s&?;ftön, s&?;ft&?;n, to sigh, MHG. siuften, siufzen, G. seufzen, MHG. s&?;ft a sigh, properly, a drawing in of breath, from s&?;fen to drink, OHG. s&?;fan. Cf. Sup.] To sigh with a sudden heaving of the breast, or with a kind of convulsive motion; to sigh with tears, and with a convulsive drawing in of the breath.

Sobbing is the same thing [as sighing], stronger.

Bacon.

She sighed, she sobbed, and, furious with despair. She rent her garments, and she tore her hair.

Dryden.

Sob, n. 1. The act of sobbing; a convulsive sigh, or inspiration of the breath, as in sorrow.

Break, heart, or choke with sobs my hated breath.

Dryden.

2. Any sorrowful cry or sound.

The tremulous sob of the complaining owl.

Wordsworth.

Sob"bing (?), n. A series of short, convulsive inspirations, the glottis being suddenly closed so that little or no air enters into the lungs.

Sober (?), a. [Compar. Soberer (?); superl. Soberest.] [OE. sobre, F. sobre, from L. sobrius, probably from a prefix so- expressing separation + ebrius drunken. Cf. Ebriety.] 1. Temperate in the use of spirituous liquors; habitually temperate; as, a sober man.

That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of Thy holy name.

Bk. of Com. Prayer.

2. Not intoxicated or excited by spirituous liquors; as, the sot may at times be sober.

3. Not mad or insane; not wild, visionary, or heated with passion; exercising cool, dispassionate reason; self- controlled; self-possessed.

There was not a sober person to be had; all was tempestuous and blustering.

Druden.

No sober man would put himself into danger for the applause of escaping without breaking his neck.

Dryden.

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4. Not proceeding from, or attended with, passion; calm; as, sober judgment; a man in his sober senses.

5. Serious or subdued in demeanor, habit, appearance, or color; solemn; grave; sedate.

What parts gay France from sober Spain?

Prior.

See her sober over a sampler, or gay over a jointed baby.

Pope.

Twilight gray Had in her sober livery all things clad.

Milton.

Syn. -- Grave; temperate; abstinent; abstemious; moderate; regular; steady; calm; quiet; cool; collected; dispassionate; unimpassioned; sedate; staid; serious; solemn; somber. See Grave.

So"ber (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sobered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sobering.] To make sober.

There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, And drinking largely sobers us again.

Pope.

So"ber, v. i. To become sober; -- often with down.

Vance gradually sobered down.

Ld. Lytton.

So"ber*ize (?), v. t. & i. To sober. [R.] Crabbe.

So"ber*ly, adv. In a sober manner; temperately; cooly; calmly; gravely; seriously.

So"ber*ly, a. Grave; serious; solemn; sad. [Obs.]

[He] looked hollow and thereto soberly.

Chaucer.

So"ber-mind`ed (?), a. Having a disposition or temper habitually sober. -- So"ber- mind`ed*ness, n.

So"ber*ness, n. The quality or state of being sober.

Sob"o*les (?), n. [L., a short.] (Bot.) (a) A shoot running along under ground, forming new plants at short distances. (b) A sucker, as of tree or shrub.

Sob`o*lif"er*ous (?), a. [L. soboles + -ferous.] (Bot.) Producing soboles. See Illust. of Houseleek.

So*bri"e*ty (?), n. [L. sobrietas: cf. F. sobriété. See Sober.] 1. Habitual soberness or temperance as to the use of spirituous liquors; as, a man of sobriety.

Public sobriety is a relative duty.

Blackstone.

2. Habitual freedom from enthusiasm, inordinate passion, or overheated imagination; calmness; coolness; gravity; seriousness; as, the sobriety of riper years.

Mirth makes them not mad, Nor sobriety sad.

Denham.

Syn. -- Soberness; temperance; abstinence; abstemiousness; moderation; regularity; steadness; calmness; coolness; sober- mindeness; sedateness; staidness; gravity; seriousness; solemnity.

||So`bri`quet" (s`br`k"), n.[F. sobriquet, OF. soubzbriquet, ||soubriquet, a chuck under the chin, hence, an affront, a nickname; of ||uncertain origin; cf. It. sottobecco a chuck under the chin.] An ||assumed name; a fanciful epithet or appellation; a nickname. ||[Sometimes less correctly written soubriquet.]

Soc (sk), n. [AS. sc the power of holding court, sway, domain, properly, the right of investigating or seeking; akin to E. sake, seek. Sake, Seek, and cf. Sac, and Soke.] [Written also sock, and soke.] 1. (O. Eng. Law) (a) The lord's power or privilege of holding a court in a district, as in manor or lordship; jurisdiction of causes, and the limits of that jurisdiction. (b) Liberty or privilege of tenants excused from customary burdens.

2. An exclusive privilege formerly claimed by millers of grinding all the corn used within the manor or township which the mill stands. [Eng.]

Soc and sac (O. Eng. Law), the full right of administering justice in a manor or lordship.

Soc"age (?), n.[From Soc; cf. LL. socagium.] (O.Eng. Law) A tenure of lands and tenements by a certain or determinate service; a tenure distinct from chivalry or knight's service, in which the obligations were uncertain. The service must be certain, in order to be denominated socage, as to hold by fealty and twenty shillings rent. [Written also soccage.]

Socage is of two kinds; free socage, where the services are not only certain, but honorable; and villein socage, where the services, though certain, are of a baser nature. Blackstone.

Soc"a*ger (?), n. (O. Eng. Law) A tennant by socage; a socman.

So"-called` (?), a. So named; called by such a name (but perhaps called thus with doubtful propriety).

So`cia*bil"i*ty (?), n.[Cf. F. sociabilité.] The quality of being sociable; sociableness.

So"cia*ble (?), a.[F., fr. L. sociabilis, fr. sociare to associate, fr. socius a companion. See Social.] 1. Capable of being, or fit to be, united in one body or company; associable. [R.]

They are sociable parts united into one body.

Hooker.

2. Inclined to, or adapted for, society; ready to unite with others; fond of companions; social.

Society is no comfort to one not sociable.

Shak.

What can be more uneasy to this sociable creature than the dry, pensive retirements of solitude?

South.

3. Ready to converse; inclined to talk with others; not taciturn or reserved.

4. Affording opportunites for conversation; characterized by much conversation; as, a sociable party.

5. No longer hostile; friendly. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

Sociable bird, or Sociable weaver (Zoöl.), a weaver bird which builds composite nests. See Republican, n., 3. (b).

Syn. -- Social; companionable; conversible; friendly; familiar; communicative; accessible.

So"cia*ble, n. 1. A gathering of people for social purposes; an informal party or reception; as, a church sociable. [Colloq. U. S.]

2. A carriage having two double seats facing each other, and a box for the driver. Miss Edgeworth.

So"cia*ble*ness, n. The quality of being sociable.

So"cia*bly, adv. In a sociable manner.

So"cial (?), a. [L. socialis, from socius a companion; akin to sequi to follow: cf. F. social. See Sue to follow.] 1. Of or pertaining to society; relating to men living in society, or to the public as an aggregate body; as, social interest or concerns; social pleasure; social benefits; social happiness; social duties. "Social phenomena." J. S. Mill.

2. Ready or disposed to mix in friendly converse; companionable; sociable; as, a social person.

3. Consisting in union or mutual intercourse.

Best with thyself accompanied, seek'st not Social communication.

Milton.

4. (Bot.) Naturally growing in groups or masses; -- said of many individual plants of the same species.

5. (Zoöl.) (a) Living in communities consisting of males, females, and neuters, as do ants and most bees. (b) Forming compound groups or colonies by budding from basal processes or stolons; as, the social ascidians.

Social science, the science of all that relates to the social condition, the relations and institutions which are involved in man's existence and his well-being as a member of an organized community; sociology. It concerns itself with questions of the public health, education, labor, punishment of crime, reformation of criminals, and the like. -- Social whale (Zoöl.), the blackfish. -- The social evil, prostitution.

Syn. -- Sociable; companionable; conversible; friendly; familiar; communicative; convival; festive.

So"cial*ism (?), n. [Cf. F. socialisme.] A theory or system of social reform which contemplates a complete reconstruction of society, with a more just and equitable distribution of property and labor. In popular usage, the term is often employed to indicate any lawless, revolutionary social scheme. See Communism, Fourierism, Saint- Simonianism, forms of socialism.

[Socialism] was first applied in England to Owen's theory of social reconstruction, and in France to those also of St. Simon and Fourier . . . The word, however, is used with a great variety of meaning, . . . even by economists and learned critics. The general tendency is to regard as socialistic any interference undertaken by society on behalf of the poor, . . . radical social reform which disturbs the present system of private property . . . The tendency of the present socialism is more and more to ally itself with the most advanced democracy.

Encyc. Brit.

We certainly want a true history of socialism, meaning by that a history of every systematic attempt to provide a new social existence for the mass of the workers.

F. Harrison.

So"cial*ist, n. [Cf. F. socialiste.] One who advocates or practices the doctrines of socialism.

{ So"cial*ist, So`cial*is"tic, } a. Pertaining to, or of the nature of, socialism.

So`ci*al"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. socialisté, L. socialitas.] The quality of being social; socialness.

So"cial*ize (?), v. t. 1. To render social.

2. To subject to, or regulate by, socialism.

So"cial*ly, adv. In a social manner; sociably.

So"cial*ness, n. The quality or state of being social.

So"ci*ate (?), a. [L. sociatus, p. p. of sociare to associate, fr. socius companion.] Associated. [Obs.]

So"ci*ate, n. An associate. [Obs.]

As for you, Dr. Reynolds, and your sociates.

Fuller.

So"ci*ate (?), v. i. To associate. [Obs.] Shelford.

So*ci`e*ta"ri*an (?), a. Of or pertaining to society; social.

The all-sweeping besom of societarian reformation.

Lamb.

So*ci"e*ta*ry (?), a. Societarian. [R.]

So*ci"e*ty (?), n.; pl. Societies (#). [L. societas, fr. socius a companion: cf. F. société. See Social.] 1. The relationship of men to one another when associated in any way; companionship; fellowship; company. "Her loved society." Milton.

There is society where none intrudes By the deep sea, and music in its roar.

Byron.

2. Connection; participation; partnership. [R.]

The meanest of the people and such as have the least society with the acts and crimes of kings.

Jer. Taylor.

3. A number of persons associated for any temporary or permanent object; an association for mutual or joint usefulness, pleasure, or profit; a social union; a partnership; as, a missionary society.

4. The persons, collectively considered, who live in any region or at any period; any community of individuals who are united together by a common bond of nearness or intercourse; those who recognize each other as associates, friends, and acquaintances.

5. Specifically, the more cultivated portion of any community in its social relations and influences; those who mutually give receive formal entertainments.

Society of Jesus. See Jesuit. -- Society verses [a translation of F. vers de société], the lightest kind of lyrical poetry; verses for the amusement of polite society.

So*cin"i*an (?), a. Of or pertaining to Socinus, or the Socinians.

So*cin"i*an, n. One of the followers of Socinus; a believer in Socinianism.

So*cin"i*an*ism (?), n. (Eccl. Hist.) The tenets or doctrines of Faustus Socinus, an Italian theologian of the sixteenth century, who denied the Trinity, the deity of Christ, the personality of the Devil, the native and total depravity of man, the vicarious atonement, and the eternity of future punishment. His theory was, that Christ was a man divinely commissioned, who had no existence before he was conceived by the Virgin Mary; that human sin was the imitation of Adam's sin, and that human salvation was the imitation and adoption of Christ's virtue; that the Bible was to be interpreted by human reason; and that its language was metaphorical, and not to be taken literally.

So*cin"i*an*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Socinianized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Socinianizing (?).] To cause to conform to Socinianism; to regulate by, or imbue with, the principles of Socinianism.

{ So`ci*o*log"ic (?), So`ci*o*log"ic*al (?) } a. Of or pertaining to sociology, or social science. -- So`ci*o*log"ic*al*ly, adv.

So`ci*ol"o*gist (?), n. One who treats of, or devotes himself to, the study of sociology. J. S. Mill.

So`ci*ol"o*gy (?), n. [L. socius a companion + -logy.] That branch of philosophy which treats of the constitution, phenomena, and development of human society; social science. H. Spencer.

Sock (?), n. [F. soc, LL. soccus, perhaps of Celtic origin.] A plowshare. Edin. Encyc.

Sock, n. [OE. sock, AS. socc, fr. L. soccus a kind of low-heeled, light shoe. Cf. Sucket.] 1. The shoe worn by actors of comedy in ancient Greece and Rome, -- used as a symbol of comedy, or of the comic drama, as distinguished from tragedy, which is symbolized by the buskin.

Great Fletcher never treads in buskin here, Nor greater Jonson dares in socks appear.

Dryden.

2. A knit or woven covering for the foot and lower leg; a stocking with a short leg.

3. A warm inner sole for a shoe. Simmonds.

Sock*dol"a*ger (?), n. [A corruption of doxology.] [Written also sockdologer.] 1. That which finishes or ends a matter; a settler; a poser, as a heavy blow, a conclusive answer, and the like. [Slang, U.S.]

2. (Angling) A combination of two hooks which close upon each other, by means of a spring, as soon as the fish bites. [U. S.]

Sock"et (?), n. [OE. soket, a dim. through OF. fr. L. soccus. See Sock a covering for the foot.] 1. An opening into which anything is fitted; any hollow thing or place which receives and holds something else; as, the sockets of the teeth.

His eyeballs in their hollow sockets sink.

Dryden.

2. Especially, the hollow tube or place in which a candle is fixed in the candlestick.

And in the sockets oily bubbles dance.

Dryden.

Socket bolt (Mach.), a bolt that passes through a thimble that is placed between the parts connected by the bolt. -- Socket chisel. Same as Framing chisel. See under Framing. -- Socket pipe, a pipe with an expansion at one end to receive the end of a connecting pipe. -- Socket pole, a pole armed with iron fixed on by means of a socket, and used to propel boats, etc. [U.S.] -- Socket wrench, a wrench consisting of a socket at the end of a shank or rod, for turning a nut, bolthead, etc., in a narrow or deep recess.

Sock"et*ed (?), a. Having a socket. Dawkins.

Sock"less, a. Destitute of socks or shoes. B. & Fl.

Sock"y (?), a. Wet; soaky. [Prov. Eng.]

So"cle (?), n. [F., fr. L. socculus, dim. of soccus. See Sock a covering for the foot. Cf. Zocco.] (Arch.) (a) A plain block or plinth forming a low pedestal; any base; especially, the base of a statue, column, or the like. See Plinth. (b) A plain face or plinth at the lower part of a wall. Oxf. Gloss.

Soc"man (?), n.; pl. Socmen (#). [See Socage.] (O. Eng. Law) One who holds lands or tenements by socage; a socager. Cowell.

Soc"man*ry (?), n. (O.E. Law) Tenure by socage.

Soc"ome (?), n. [AS. scen, scn, searching, or the right of searching, the lord's court. See Soc.] (O.Eng. Law) A custom of tenants to grind corn at the lord's mill. Cowell.

Soc"o*trine (?), a. Of or pertaining to Socotra, an island in the Indian Ocean, on the east coast of Africa. -- n. A native or inhabitant of Socotra.

{ So*crat"ic (?), So*crat"ic*al (?), } a. [L. Socraticus, Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?;.] Of or pertaining to Socrates, the Grecian sage and teacher. (b. c. 469-399), or to his manner of teaching and philosophizing.

The Socratic method of reasoning and instruction was by a series of questions leading the one to whom they were addressed to perceive and admit what was true or false in doctrine, or right or wrong in conduct.

So*crat"ic*al*ly, adv. In the Socratic method.

Soc"ra*tism (?), n. The philosophy or the method of Socrates.

Soc"ra*tist (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?;.] A disciple or follower of Socrates.

Sod (?), n. (Zoöl.) The rock dove. [Prov. Eng.]

Sod, obs. imp. of Seethe.

Sod, n. [Akin to LG. sode, D. zode, OD. sode, soode, OFries. satha, and E. seethe. So named from its sodden state in wet weather. See Seethe.] That stratum of the surface of the soil which is filled with the roots of grass, or any portion of that surface; turf; sward.

She there shall dress a sweeter sod Than Fancy's feet have ever trod.

Collins.

Sod, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sodden; p. pr. & vb. n. Sodding.] To cover with sod; to turf.

So"da (?), n. [It., soda, in OIt., ashes used in making glass, fr. L. solida, fem. of solidus solid; solida having probably been a name of glasswort. See Solid.] (Chem.) (a) Sodium oxide or hydroxide. (b) Popularly, sodium carbonate or bicarbonate.

Caustic soda, sodium hydroxide. -- Cooking soda, sodium bicarbonate. [Colloq.] -- Sal soda. See Sodium carbonate, under Sodium. -- Soda alum (Min.), a mineral consisting of the hydrous sulphate of alumina and soda. -- Soda ash, crude sodium carbonate; -- so called because formerly obtained from the ashes of sea plants and certain other plants, as saltwort (Salsola). See under Sodium. -- Soda fountain, an apparatus for drawing soda water, fitted with delivery tube, faucets, etc. -- Soda lye, a lye consisting essentially of a solution of sodium hydroxide, used in soap making. -- Soda niter. See Nitratine. -- Soda salts, salts having sodium for the base; specifically, sodium sulphate or Glauber's salts. -- Soda waste, the waste material, consisting chiefly of calcium hydroxide and sulphide, which accumulates as a useless residue or side product in the ordinary Leblanc process of soda manufacture; -- called also alkali waste. -- Soda water, originally, a beverage consisting of a weak solution of sodium bicarbonate, with some acid to cause effervescence; now, in common usage, a beverage consisting of water highly charged with carbon dioxide (carbonic acid). Fruit sirups, cream, etc., are usually added to give flavor. See Carbonic acid, under Carbonic. -- Washing soda, sodium carbonate. [Colloq.]

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So*da"ic (?), a. Pertaining to, or containing, soda. "Sodaic powder." Ure.

So"da*lite (?), n. [Soda + - lite: cf. F. sodalithe.] (Min.) A mineral of a white to blue or gray color, occuring commonly in dodecahedrons, also massive. It is a silicate of alumina and soda with some chlorine.

So*dal"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Sodalities (#). [L. sodalitas, fr. sodalis a comrade.] 1. A fellowship or fraternity; a brotherhood.

2. (R.C.Ch.) Specifically, a lay association for devotion or for charitable purposes.

Sod*am"ide (?), n. (Chem.) A greenish or reddish crystalline substance, NaNH2, obtained by passing ammonia over heated sodium.

Sod"den (?), a. [p. p. of Seethe.] Boiled; seethed; also, soaked; heavy with moisture; saturated; as, sodden beef; sodden bread; sodden fields.

Sod"den, v. i. To be seethed; to become sodden.

Sod"den, v. t. To soak; to make heavy with water.

Sod"den-wit`ted (?), a. Heavy; dull. Shak.

Sod"dy (?), a. [From Sod.] Consisting of sod; covered with sod; turfy. Cotgrave.

Sod"er (?), n. & v. t. See Solder.

So"dic (?), a. (Chem.) Of or pertaining to sodium; containing sodium.

So"di*o- (?). (Chem.) A combining form (also used adjectively) denoting the presence of sodium or one of its compounds.

So"di*um (?), n. [NL., fr.E. soda.] (Chem.) A common metallic element of the alkali group, in nature always occuring combined, as in common salt, in albite, etc. It is isolated as a soft, waxy, white, unstable metal, so readily oxidized that it combines violently with water, and to be preserved must be kept under petroleum or some similar liquid. Sodium is used combined in many salts, in the free state as a reducer, and as a means of obtaining other metals (as magnesium and aluminium) is an important commercial product. Symbol Na (Natrium). Atomic weight 23. Specific gravity 0.97.

Sodium amalgam, an alloy of sodium and mercury, usually produced as a gray metallic crystalline substance, which is used as a reducing agent, and otherwise. -- Sodium bicarbonate, a white crystalline substance, HNaCO3, with a slight alkaline taste resembling that of sodium carbonate. It is found in many mineral springs and also produced artificially,. It is used in cookery, in baking powders, and as a source of carbonic acid gas (carbon dioxide) for soda water. Called also cooking soda, saleratus, and technically, acid sodium carbonate, primary sodium carbonate, sodium dicarbonate, etc. -- Sodium carbonate, a white crystalline substance, Na2CO3.10H2O, having a cooling alkaline taste, found in the ashes of many plants, and produced artifically in large quantities from common salt. It is used in making soap, glass, paper, etc., and as alkaline agent in many chemical industries. Called also sal soda, washing soda, or soda. Cf. Sodium bicarbonate, above and Trona. -- Sodium chloride, common, or table, salt, NaCl. -- Sodium hydroxide, a white opaque brittle solid, NaOH, having a fibrous structure, produced by the action of quicklime, or of calcium hydrate (milk of lime), on sodium carbonate. It is a strong alkali, and is used in the manufacture of soap, in making wood pulp for paper, etc. Called also sodium hydrate, and caustic soda. By extension, a solution of sodium hydroxide.

Sod"om*ite (?), n. 1. An inhabitant of Sodom.

2. One guilty of sodomy.

Sod`om*it"ic*al (?), a. Pertaining to, or of the nature of, sodomy. -- Sod`om*it"ic*al*ly, adv.

Sod"om*y (?), n. [From Sodom. a country mentioned in the Bible: cf. F. sodomite.] Carnal copulation in a manner against nature; buggery. Gen. xix. 5.

Soe (?), n. [Scot. sae, say, saye; cf. Icel. sr a large cask, Sw. s&?; a tub.] A large wooden vessel for holding water; a cowl. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Dr. H. More.

So*ev"er (?). A word compounded of so and ever, used in composition with who, what, where, when, how, etc., and indicating any out of all possible or supposable persons, things, places, times, ways, etc. It is sometimes used separate from the pronoun or adverb.

For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.

Luke xii. 48.

What great thing soever a man proposed to do in his life, he should think of achieving it by fifty.

Sir W. Temple.

So"fa (?), n.; pl. Sofas (#). [Ar. soffah, from saffa to dispose in order: cf. F. sofa, It. sofà.] A long seat, usually with a cushioned bottom, back, and ends; -- much used as a comfortable piece of furniture.

Let fall the curtains, wheel the sofa round.

Cowper.

Sofa bed, a sofa so contrived that it may be extended to form a bed; -- called also sofa bedstead.

Sof"fit (?), n. [It. soffitta, soffitto, fr. soffiggere to hide, properly, to fix or fasten under, L. suffigere to fasten beneath or below; sub under, beneath + figere to fix, faste: cf. F. soffite.] (Arch.) The under side of the subordinate parts and members of buildings, such as staircases, entablatures, archways, cornices, or the like. See Illust. of Lintel.

So"fi (?), n.; pl. Sofis (&?;). Same as Sufi.

So"fism (?), n. Same as Sufism.

Soft (?), a. [Compar. Softer (?); superl. Softest.] [OE. softe, AS. s&?;fte, properly adv. of s&?;fte, adj.; akin to OS. sfto, adv., D. zacht, OHG. samfto, adv., semfti, adj., G. sanft, LG. sacht; of uncertain origin.] 1. Easily yielding to pressure; easily impressed, molded, or cut; not firm in resisting; impressible; yielding; also, malleable; -- opposed to hard; as, a soft bed; a soft peach; soft earth; soft wood or metal.

2. Not rough, rugged, or harsh to the touch; smooth; delicate; fine; as, soft silk; a soft skin.

They that wear soft clothing are in king's houses.

Matt. xi. 8.

3. Hence, agreeable to feel, taste, or inhale; not irritating to the tissues; as, a soft liniment; soft wines. "The soft, delicious air." Milton.

4. Not harsh or offensive to the sight; not glaring; pleasing to the eye; not exciting by intensity of color or violent contrast; as, soft hues or tints.

The sun, shining upon the upper part of the clouds . . . made the softest lights imaginable.

Sir T. Browne.

5. Not harsh or rough in sound; gentle and pleasing to the ear; flowing; as, soft whispers of music.

Her voice was ever soft, Gentle, and low, -- an excellent thing in woman.

Shak.

Soft were my numbers; who could take offense?

Pope.

6. Easily yielding; susceptible to influence; flexible; gentle; kind.

I would to God my heart were flint, like Edward's; Or Edward's soft and pitiful, like mine.

Shak.

The meek or soft shall inherit the earth.

Tyndale.

7. Expressing gentleness, tenderness, or the like; mild; conciliatory; courteous; kind; as, soft eyes.

A soft answer turneth away wrath.

Prov. xv. 1.

A face with gladness overspread, Soft smiles, by human kindness bred.

Wordsworth.

8. Effeminate; not courageous or manly, weak.

A longing after sensual pleasures is a dissolution of the spirit of a man, and makes it loose, soft, and wandering.

Jer. Taylor.

9. Gentle in action or motion; easy.

On her soft axle, white she paces even, And bears thee soft with the smooth air along.

Milton.

10. Weak in character; impressible.

The deceiver soon found this soft place of Adam's.

Glanvill.

11. Somewhat weak in intellect. [Colloq.]

He made soft fellows stark noddies, and such as were foolish quite mad.

Burton.

12. Quiet; undisturbed; paceful; as, soft slumbers.

13. Having, or consisting of, a gentle curve or curves; not angular or abrupt; as, soft outlines.

14. Not tinged with mineral salts; adapted to decompose soap; as, soft water is the best for washing.

15. (Phonetics) (a) Applied to a palatal, a sibilant, or a dental consonant (as g in gem, c in cent, etc.) as distinguished from a guttural mute (as g in go, c in cone, etc.); -- opposed to hard. (b) Belonging to the class of sonant elements as distinguished from the surd, and considered as involving less force in utterance; as, b, d, g, z, v, etc., in contrast with p, t, k, s, f, etc.

Soft clam (Zoöl.), the common or long clam (Mya arenaria). See Mya. -- Soft coal, bituminous coal, as distinguished from anthracite, or hard, coal. -- Soft crab (Zoöl.), any crab which has recently shed its shell. -- Soft dorsal (Zoöl.), the posterior part of the dorsal fin of fishes when supported by soft rays. -- Soft grass. (Bot.) See Velvet grass. -- Soft money, paper money, as distinguished from coin, or hard money. [Colloq. U.S.] -- Soft mute. (Phonetics) See Media. -- Soft palate. See the Note under Palate. -- Soft ray (Zoöl.), a fin ray which is articulated and usually branched. -- Soft soap. See under Soap. -- Soft-tack, leavened bread, as distinguished from hard-tack, or ship bread. -- Soft tortoise (Zoöl.), any river tortoise of the genus Trionyx. See Trionyx.

Soft (?), n. A soft or foolish person; an idiot. [Colloq.] G. Eliot.

Soft, adv. Softly; without roughness or harshness; gently; quietly. Chaucer.

A knight soft riding toward them.

Spenser.

Soft, interj. Be quiet; hold; stop; not so fast.

Soft, you; a word or two before you go.

Shak.

Sof"ta (?), n. [Corruption of Per. s&?;khtah one who burns, is ardent or zealous.] Any one attached to a Mohammedan mosque, esp. a student of the higher branches of theology in a mosque school. [Written also sophta.]

Sof"ten (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Softened (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Softening.] To make soft or more soft. Specifically: --

(a) To render less hard; -- said of matter.

Their arrow's point they soften in the flame.

Gay.

(b) To mollify; to make less fierce or intractable.

Diffidence conciliates the proud, and softens the severe.

Rambler.

(c) To palliate; to represent as less enormous; as, to soften a fault.

(d) To compose; to mitigate; to assuage.

Music can soften pain to ease.

Pope.

(e) To make calm and placid.

All that cheers or softens life.

Pope.

(f) To make less harsh, less rude, less offensive, or less violent, or to render of an opposite quality.

He bore his great commision in his look, But tempered awe, and softened all he spoke.

Dryden.

(g) To make less glaring; to tone down; as, to soften the coloring of a picture.

(h) To make tender; to make effeminate; to enervate; as, troops softened by luxury.

(i) To make less harsh or grating, or of a quality the opposite; as, to soften the voice.

Sof"ten, v. i. To become soft or softened, or less rude, harsh, severe, or obdurate.

Sof"ten*er (?), n. One who, or that which, softens. [Written also, less properly, softner.]

Sof"ten*ing, a. & n. from Soften, v.

Softening of the brain, or Cerebral softening (Med.), a localized softening of the brain substance, due to hemorrhage or inflammation. Three varieties, distinguished by their color and representing different stages of the morbid process, are known respectively as red, yellow, and white, softening.

Soft"-finned` (?), a. (Zoöl.) Having the fin rays cartilaginous or flexible; without spines; -- said of certain fishes.

Soft"-head`ed (?), a. Weak in intellect.

Soft"-heart`ed (?), a. Having softness or tenderness of heart; susceptible of pity or other kindly affection; gentle; meek. -- Soft"-heart`ed*ness, n.

Soft"ish (?), a. Somewhat soft. De Witt Clinton.

Soft"ling (?), n. A soft, effeminate person; a voluptuary. [R.] Bp. Woolton. .

Soft"ly, adv. In a soft manner.

Soft"ner (?), n. See Softener.

Soft"ness (?), n. [AS. s&?;ftness, s&?;ftnyss.] The quality or state of being soft; -- opposed to hardness, and used in the various specific senses of the adjective.

Soft"-shell` (?), Soft"-shelled` (?), } a. Having a soft or fragile shell.

Soft-shell clam (Zoöl.), the long clam. See Mya. -- Soft-shelled crab. (Zoöl.) See the Note under Crab, 1. -- Soft-shelled turtle. (Zoöl.) Same as Soft tortoise, under Soft.

Soft"-spo`ken (?), a. Speaking softly; having a mild or gentle voice; hence, mild; affable.

Sog"gi*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being soggy; soddenness; wetness.

Sog"gy (?), a. [Compar. Soggier (?); superl. Soggiest.] [Cf. Icel. söggr damp, wet, or E. soak.] Filled with water; soft with moisture; sodden; soaked; wet; as, soggy land or timber.

So*ho" (?), interj. Ho; -- a word used in calling from a distant place; a sportsman's halloo. Shak.

||Soi`-di`sant" (?), a. [F.] Calling himself; self-styled; pretended; ||would-be.

Soil (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Soiled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Soiling.] [OF. saoler, saouler, to satiate, F. soûler, L. satullare, fr. satullus, dim. of satur sated. See Satire.] To feed, as cattle or horses, in the barn or an inclosure, with fresh grass or green food cut for them, instead of sending them out to pasture; hence (such food having the effect of purging them), to purge by feeding on green food; as, to soil a horse.

Soil, n. [OE. soile, F. sol, fr. L. solum bottom, soil; but the word has probably been influenced in form by soil a miry place. Cf. Saloon, Soil a miry place, Sole of the foot.] 1. The upper stratum of the earth; the mold, or that compound substance which furnishes nutriment to plants, or which is particularly adapted to support and nourish them.

2. Land; country.

Must I thus leave thee, Paradise? thus leave Thee, native soil?

Milton.

3. Dung; fæces; compost; manure; as, night soil.

Improve land by dung and other sort of soils.

Mortimer.

Soil pipe, a pipe or drain for carrying off night soil.

Soil, v. t. To enrich with soil or muck; to manure.

Men . . . soil their ground, not that they love the dirt, but that they expect a crop.

South.

Soil, n. [OF. soil, souil, F. souille, from OF. soillier, F. souiller. See Soil to make dirty.] A marshy or miry place to which a hunted boar resorts for refuge; hence, a wet place, stream, or tract of water, sought for by other game, as deer.

As deer, being stuck, fly through many soils, Yet still the shaft sticks fast.

Marston.

To take soil, to run into the mire or water; hence, to take refuge or shelter.

O, sir, have you taken soil here? It is well a man may reach you after three hours' running.

B. Jonson.

Soil, v. t.[OE. soilen, OF. soillier, F. souiller, (assumed) LL. suculare, fr. L. sucula a little pig, dim. of sus a swine. See Sow, n.] 1. To make dirty or unclean on the surface; to foul; to dirty; to defile; as, to soil a garment with dust.

Our wonted ornaments now soiled and stained.

Milton.

2. To stain or mar, as with infamy or disgrace; to tarnish; to sully. Shak.

Syn. -- To foul; dirt; dirty; begrime; bemire; bespatter; besmear; daub; bedaub; stain; tarnish; sully; defile; pollute.

Soil, v. i. To become soiled; as, light colors soil sooner than dark ones.

Soil, n. [See Soil to make dirty, Soil a miry place.] That which soils or pollutes; a soiled place; spot; stain.

A lady's honor . . . will not bear a soil.

Dryden.

Soil"i*ness (?), n. Stain; foulness. [R.] Bacon.

Soil"less, a. Destitute of soil or mold.

Soil"ure (?), n. [OF. soillure, F. souillure. See Soil to make dirty.] Stain; pollution. Shak.

Then fearing rust or soilure, fashioned for it A case of silk.

Tennyson.

Soil"y (?), a. Dirty; soiled. [Obs.] Fuller.

||Soi`ree" (?), n. [F., fr. soir evening, fr. L. serus late, serum late ||time. Cf. Serenade.] An evening party; -- distinguished from levee, ||and matinée.

So"ja (s"j or s"y), n. (Bot.) An Asiatic leguminous herb (Glycine Soja) the seeds of which are used in preparing the sauce called soy.

So"journ (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sojourned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sojourning.] [OE. sojornen, sojournen, OF. sojorner, sejorner, F. séjourner, fr. L. sub under, about + diurnus belonging to the day. See Journal, Diurnal.] To dwell for a time; to dwell or live in a place as a temporary resident or as a stranger, not considering the place as a permanent habitation; to delay; to tarry.

Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there.

Gen. xii. 30.

Home he goeth, he might not longer sojourn.

Chaucer.

The soldiers first assembled at Newcastle, and there sojourned three days.

Hayward.

So"journ, n. [Cf. OF. sujurn, sujur, sejor, F. séjour. See Sojourn, v. i.] A temporary residence, as that of a traveler in a foreign land.

Though long detained In that obscure sojourn.

Milton.

So"journ*er (?), n. One who sojourns.

We are strangers before thee, and sojourners.

1. Chron. xxix. 15.

So"journ*ing, n. The act or state of one who sojourns.

So"journ*ment (?), n. Temporary residence, as that of a stranger or a traveler. [R.]

Soke (?), n. 1. (Eng. Law) See Soc.

<! p. 1367 !>

2. One of the small territorial divisions into which Lincolnshire, England, is divided.

Soke"man (?), n. See Socman.

Soke"man*ry (?), n. See Socmanry.

Sok"en (?), n. [Cf. Socome.] 1. A toll. See Soc, n., 2. [Obs.]

Great sooken had this miller, out of doubt.

Chaucer.

2. A district held by socage.

So"ko (?), n. (Zoöl.) An African anthropoid ape, supposed to be a variety of the chimpanzee.

||Sol (?), n. [L.] 1. The sun.

2. (Alchem.) Gold; -- so called from its brilliancy, color, and value. Chaucer.

Sol (?), n. [It.] (Mus.) (a) A syllable applied in solmization to the note G, or to the fifth tone of any diatonic scale. (b) The tone itself.

Sol (?), n. [See Sou.] 1. A sou.

2. A silver and gold coin of Peru. The silver sol is the unit of value, and is worth about 68 cents.

||So"la (?), a. [L., fem. of solus.] See Solus.

So"la, n. [Native name.] (Bot.) A leguminous plant (Æschynomene aspera) growing in moist places in Southern India and the East Indies. Its pithlike stem is used for making hats, swimming-jackets, etc. [Written also solah, shola.]

Sol"ace (?), n. [OF. solas, ssoulaz, L. solacium, solatium, fr. solari to comfort, console. Cf. Console, v. t.] 1. Comfort in grief; alleviation of grief or anxiety; also, that which relieves in distress; that which cheers or consoles; relief.

In business of mirth and of solace.

Chaucer.

The proper solaces of age are not music and compliments, but wisdom and devotion.

Rambler.

2. Rest; relaxation; ease. [Obs.]

To make his steed some solace.

Chaucer.

Syn. -- Comfort; consolation; alleviation; relief.

Sol"ace, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Solaced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Solacing (?).] [OF. solacier, soulacier, F. solacier, LL. solatiare. See Solace, n.] 1. To cheer in grief or under calamity; to comfort; to relieve in affliction, solitude, or discomfort; to console; -- applied to persons; as, to solace one with the hope of future reward.

2. To allay; to assuage; to soothe; as, to solace grief.

Syn. -- To comfort; assuage; allay. See Comfort.

Sol"ace, v. i. To take comfort; to be cheered. Shak.

Sol"ace*ment (?), n. The act of solacing, or the state of being solaced; also, that which solaces. [R.]

So*la"cious (?), a. [Cf. OF. solacieux.] Affording solace; as, a solacious voice. [Obs.] Bale.

Sol`a*na"ceous (?), a. (Bot.) Of or pertaining to plants of the natural order Solanaceæ, of which the nightshade (Solanum) is the type. The order includes also the tobacco, ground cherry, tomato, eggplant, red pepper, and many more.

So"land (?), n. (Zoöl.) A solan goose.

So*lan"der (?), n. See Sallenders.

So"lan goose` (?). [Icel. s&?;la; akin to Norw. sula.] (Zoöl.) The common gannet.

So*la"ni*a (?), n. [NL.] (Chem.) Solanine.

So*lan"i*cine (?), n. [See Solanine.] (Chem.) An alkaloid produced by the action of hydrochloric acid on solanidine, as a tasteless yellow crystalline substance.

So*lan"i*dine (?), n. [See Solanine.] (Chem.) An alkaloid produced by the decomposition of solanine, as a white crystalline substance having a harsh bitter taste.

Sol"a*nine (?), n. [L. solanum nightshade.] (Chem.) A poisonous alkaloid glucoside extracted from the berries of common nightshade (Solanum nigrum), and of bittersweet, and from potato sprouts, as a white crystalline substance having an acrid, burning taste; -- called also solonia, and solanina.

||So*la"no (?), [Sp., fr. L. solanus (sc. ventus), from sol the sun.] A ||hot, oppressive wind which sometimes blows in the Mediterranean, ||particularly on the eastern coast of Spain.

Sol"a*noid (?), a. [Solanum + -oid.] (Med.) Resembling a potato; -- said of a kind of cancer.

So*la"num (?), n. [L., nightshade.] (Bot.) A genus of plants comprehending the potato (S. tuberosum), the eggplant (S. melongena, and several hundred other species; nightshade.

So"lar (?), n. [OE. soler, AS. solere, L. solarium, from sol the sun. See Solar, a.] A loft or upper chamber; a garret room. [Obs.] [Written also soler, solere, sollar.] Oxf. Gloss.

So"lar, a. [L. solaris, fr. sol the sun; akin to As. sl, Icel. sl, Goth. sauil, Lith. saule, W. haul,. sul, Skr. svar, perhaps to E. sun:F. solaire. Cf. Parasol. Sun.] 1. Of or pertaining to the sun; proceeding from the sun; as, the solar system; solar light; solar rays; solar influence. See Solar system, below.

2. (Astrol.) Born under the predominant influence of the sun. [Obs.]

And proud beside, as solar people are.

Dryden.

3. Measured by the progress or revolution of the sun in the ecliptic; as, the solar year.

4. Produced by the action of the sun, or peculiarly affected by its influence.

They denominate some herbs solar, and some lunar.

Bacon.

Solar cycle. See under Cycle. -- Solar day. See Day, 2. -- Solar engine, an engine in which the energy of solar heat is used to produce motion, as in evaporating water for a steam engine, or expanding air for an air engine. -- Solar flowers (Bot.), flowers which open and shut daily at certain hours. -- Solar lamp, an argand lamp. -- Solar microscope, a microscope consisting essentially, first, of a mirror for reflecting a beam of sunlight through the tube, which sometimes is fixed in a window shutter; secondly, of a condenser, or large lens, for converging the beam upon the object; and, thirdly, of a small lens, or magnifier, for throwing an enlarged image of the object at its focus upon a screen in a dark room or in a darkened box.

-- Solar month. See under Month. -- Solar oil, a paraffin oil used an illuminant and lubricant. -- Solar phosphori (Physics), certain substances, as the diamond, siulphide of barium (Bolognese or Bologna phosphorus), calcium sulphide, etc., which become phosphorescent, and shine in the dark, after exposure to sunlight or other intense light. -- Solar plexus (Anat.), a nervous plexus situated in the dorsal and anterior part of the abdomen, consisting of several sympathetic ganglia with connecting and radiating nerve fibers; -- so called in allusion to the radiating nerve fibers. -- Solar spots. See Sun spots, under Sun. -- Solar system (Astron.), the sun, with the group of celestial bodies which, held by its attraction, revolve round it. The system comprises the major planets, with their satellites; the minor planets, or asteroids, and the comets; also, the meteorids, the matter that furnishes the zodiacal light, and the rings of Saturn. The satellites that revolve about the major planets are twenty-two in number, of which the Earth has one (see Moon.), Mars two, Jupiter five, Saturn nine, Uranus four, and Neptune one. The asteroids, between Mars and Jupiter, thus far discovered (1900), number about five hundred, the first four of which were found near the beginning of the century, and are called Ceres, Pallas, Juno, and Vesta.

The principal elements of the major planets, and of the comets seen at more than one perihelion passage, are exhibited in the following tables: --

-- Solar telegraph, telegraph for signaling by flashes of reflected sunlight. -- Solar time. See Apparent time, under Time.

||So*la"ri*um (?), n.; pl. Solaria (#). [L. See Solar, n.] 1. An ||apartment freely exposed to the sun; anciently, an apartment or ||inclosure on the roof of a house; in modern times, an apartment in a ||hospital, used as a resort for convalescents.

2. (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of handsome marine spiral shells of the genus Solarium and allied genera. The shell is conical, and usually has a large, deep umbilicus exposing the upper whorls. Called also perspective shell.

So`lar*i*za"tion (?), n. (Photog.) Injury of a photographic picture caused by exposing it for too long a time to the sun's light in the camera; burning; excessive insolation.

So"lar*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Solarized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Solarizing (?).] (Photog.) To injure by too long exposure to the light of the sun in the camera; to burn.

So"lar*ize, v. i. (Photog.) To become injured by undue or too long exposure to the sun's rays in the camera.

So"la*ry (?), a. Solar. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Sol"as (?), n. Solace. [Obs.] Chaucer.

||So*la"ti*um (?), n. [L. See Solace, n.] Anything which alleviates or ||compensates for suffering or loss; a compensation; esp., an ||additional allowance, as for injured feelings.

Sold (?), imp. & p. p. of Sell.

Sold, n. [F. solde. See Soldier, and cf. Sou.] Solary; military pay. [Obs.] Spenser.

Sol"dan (?), n.[OE. soudan, F. soudan, from the Arabic. See Sultan.] A sultan. [Obs.] Milton.

Sol"da*nel (?), n. (Bot.) A plant of the genus Soldanella, low Alpine herbs of the Primrose family.

Sol"dan*rie (?), n. The country ruled by a soldan, or sultan. [Poet.] Sir W. Scott.

Sol"der (?), n. [Formerly soder; F. soudure, OF. soudeure, fr. OF. & F. souder to solder, L. solidare to fasten, to make solid. See Solid, and cf. Sawder.] A metal or metallic alloy used when melted for uniting adjacent metallic edges or surfaces; a metallic cement. Hence, anything which unites or cements.

Hard solder, a solder which fuses only at a red heat, as one composed of zinc and copper, or silver and copper, etc. -- Soft solder, a solder fusible at comparatively low temperatures; as, plumbers' solder, consisting of two parts lead and one part tin, is a soft solder.

Sol"der, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Soldered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Soldering.] [Formerlysoder. See Solder, n.] 1. To unite (metallic surfaces or edges) by the intervention of a more fusible metal or metallic alloy applied when melted; to join by means of metallic cement.

2. To mend; to patch up. "To solder up a broken cause." Hooker.

Sol"der*er (?), n. One who solders.

Sol"der*ing, a. & n. from Solder, v. t.

Soldering iron, Soldering tool, an instrument for soldering, consisting of a bit or bolt of copper having a pointed or wedge-shaped end, and furnished with a handle.

Sol"dier (?), n. [OE. souldier, soudiour, souder, OF. soldier, soldoier, soldeier, sodoier, soudoier, soudier, fr. L. solidus a piece of money (hence applied to the pay of a soldier), fr. solidus solid. See Solid, and cf. Sold, n.] 1. One who is engaged in military service as an officer or a private; one who serves in an army; one of an organized body of combatants.

I am a soldier and unapt to weep.

Shak.

2. Especially, a private in military service, as distinguished from an officer.

It were meet that any one, before he came to be a captain, should have been a soldier.

Spenser.

3. A brave warrior; a man of military experience and skill, or a man of distinguished valor; -- used by way of emphasis or distinction. Shak.

4. (Zoöl.) The red or cuckoo gurnard (Trigla pini.) [Prov. Eng.]

5. (Zoöl.) One of the asexual polymorphic forms of white ants, or termites, in which the head and jaws are very large and strong. The soldiers serve to defend the nest. See Termite.

Soldier beetle (Zoöl.), an American carabid beetle (Chauliognathus Americanus) whose larva feeds upon other insects, such as the plum curculio. -- Soldier bug (Zoöl.), any hemipterous insect of the genus Podisus and allied genera, as the spined soldier bug (Podius spinosus). These bugs suck the blood of other insects. -- Soldier crab (Zoöl.) (a) The hermit crab. (b) The fiddler crab. -- Soldier fish (Zoöl.), a bright-colored etheostomoid fish (Etheostoma cœruleum) found in the Mississippi River; -- called also blue darter, and rainbow darter. -- Soldier fly (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of small dipterous flies of the genus Stratyomys and allied genera. They are often bright green, with a metallic luster, and are ornamented on the sides of the back with markings of yellow, like epaulets or shoulder straps. -- Soldier moth (Zoöl.), a large geometrid moth (Euschema militaris), having the wings bright yellow with bluish black lines and spots. -- Soldier orchis (Bot.), a kind of orchis (Orchis militaris).

Sol"dier, v. i. 1. To serve as a soldier.

2. To make a pretense of doing something, or of performing any task. [Colloq.U.S.]

In this sense the vulgar pronounciation (s"jr) is jocosely preserved.

It needs an opera glass to discover whether the leaders are pulling, or only soldiering.

C. D. Warner.

Sol"dier*ess, n. A female soldier. [Obs.]

Sol"dier*ing, n. 1. The act of serving as a soldier; the state of being a soldier; the occupation of a soldier.

2. The act of feigning to work. See the Note under Soldier, v. i., 2. [Colloq. U.S.]

Sol"dier*like" (?), a. Like a soldier; soldierly.

Sol"dier*ly, a. Like or becoming a real soldier; brave; martial; heroic; honorable; soldierlike. "Soldierly discipline." Sir P. Sidney.

Sol"dier*ship, n. Military qualities or state; martial skill; behavior becoming a soldier. [R.] Shak.

Sol"dier*wood` (?), n. (Bot.) A showy leguminous plant (Calliandra purpurea) of the West Indies. The flowers have long tassels of purple stamens.

Sol"dier*y (?), n. 1. A body of soldiers; soldiers, collectivelly; the military.

A camp of faithful soldiery.

Milton.

2. Military service. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.

||Sol"do (?), n.; pl. Soldi (#). [It. See Sou.] A small Italian coin ||worth a sou or a cent; the twentieth part of a lira.

Sole (?), n. [F. sole, L. solea; -- so named from its flat shape. See Sole of the foot.] (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of several species of flatfishes of the genus Solea and allied genera of the family Soleidæ, especially the common European species (Solea vulgaris), which is a valuable food fish. (b) Any one of several American flounders somewhat resembling the true sole in form or quality, as the California sole (Lepidopsetta bilineata), the long-finned sole (Glyptocephalus zachirus), and other species.

Lemon, or French, sole (Zoöl.), a European species of sole (Solea pegusa). -- Smooth sole (Zoöl.), the megrim.

<! p. 1368 !>

Sole (?), n. [AS. sole, fr. L. soolea (or rather an assumed L. sola), akin to solumround, soil, sole of the foot. Cf. Exile, Saloon, Soil earth, Sole the fish.] 1. The bottom of the foot; hence, also, rarely, the foot itself.

The dove found no rest for the sole of her foot.

Gen. viii. 9.

Hast wandered through the world now long a day, Yet ceasest not thy weary soles to lead.

Spenser.

2. The bottom of a shoe or boot, or the piece of leather which constitutes the bottom.

The "caliga" was a military shoe, with a very thick sole, tied above the instep.

Arbuthnot.

3. The bottom or lower part of anything, or that on which anything rests in standing. Specifially: (a) (Agric.) The bottom of the body of a plow; -- called also slade; also, the bottom of a furrow. (b) (Far.) The horny substance under a horse's foot, which protects the more tender parts. (c) (Fort.) The bottom of an embrasure. (d) (Naut.) A piece of timber attached to the lower part of the rudder, to make it even with the false keel. Totten. (e) (Mining) The seat or bottom of a mine; -- applied to horizontal veins or lodes.

Sole leather, thick, strong, used for making the soles of boots and shoes, and for other purposes.

Sole, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Soled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Soling.] To furnish with a sole; as, to sole a shoe.

Sole, a. [L. solus, or OF. sol, F. seul (fr. L. solus; cf. L. sollus whole, entire. Cf. Desolate, Solemn, Solo, Sullen.] 1. Being or acting without another; single; individual; only. "The sole son of my queen." Shak.

He, be sure . . . first and last will reign Sole king.

Milton.

2. (Law) Single; unmarried; as, a feme sole.

Corporation sole. See the Note under Corporation.

Syn. -- Single; individual; only; alone; solitary.

Sol"e*cism (?), n.[F. solécisme, L. soloecismus, Gr. soloikismo`s, fr. soloiki`zein to speak or write incorrectly, fr. so`loikos speaking incorrectly, from the corruption of the Attic dialect among the Athenian colonists of So`loi in Cilicia.] 1. An impropriety or incongruity of language in the combination of words or parts of a sentence; esp., deviation from the idiom of a language or from the rules of syntax.

A barbarism may be in one word; a solecism must be of more.

Johnson.

2. Any inconsistency, unfitness, absurdity, or impropriety, as in deeds or manners.

Cæsar, by dismissing his guards and retaining his power, committed a dangerous solecism in politics.

C. Middleton.

The idea of having committed the slightest solecism in politeness was agony to him.

Sir W. Scott.

Syn. -- Barbarism; impropriety; absurdity.

Sol"e*cist (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?;.] One who commits a solecism. Blackwall.

Sol`e*cis"tic (?), a. Solecistical.

Sol`e*cis"tic*al (?), a. Pertaining to, or involving, a solecism; incorrect. "He thought it made the language solecistical and absurd." Blackwall.

Sol`e*cis"tic*al*ly, adv. In a solecistic manner.

Sol"e*cize (?), v. i. [Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?;&?;.] To commit a solecism. [R.] Dr. H. More.

Sole"ly (?), adv. Singly; alone; only; without another; as, to rest a cause solely one argument; to rely solelyn one's own strength.

Sol"emn (?), a. [OE. solempne, OF. solempne, L. solemnis, solennis, sollemnis, sollennis; sollus all, entire + annus a year; properly, that takes place every year; -- used especially of religious solemnities. Cf. Silly, Annual.] 1. Marked with religious rites and pomps; enjoined by, or connected with, religion; sacred.

His holy rites and solemn feasts profaned.

Milton.

The worship of this image was advanced, and a solemn supplication observed everry year.

Bp. Stillingfleet.

2. Pertaining to a festival; festive; festal. [Obs.] "On this solemn day." Chaucer.

3. Stately; ceremonious; grand. [Archaic]

His feast so solemn and so rich.

Chaucer.

To-night we hold a splemn supper.

Shak.

4. Fitted to awaken or express serious reflections; marked by seriousness; serious; grave; devout; as, a solemn promise; solemn earnestness.

Nor wanting power to mitigate and swage With solemn touches troubled thoughts.

Milton.

There reigned a solemn silence over all.

Spenser.

5. Real; earnest; downright. [Obs. & R.]

Frederick, the emperor, . . . has spared no expense in strengthening this city; since which time we find no solemn taking it by the Turks.

Fuller.

6. Affectedly grave or serious; as, to put on a solemn face. "A solemn coxcomb." Swift.

7. (Law) Made in form; ceremonious; as, solemn war; conforming with all legal requirements; as, probate in solemn form. Burrill. Jarman. Greenleaf.

Solemn League and Covenant. See Covenant, 2.

Syn. -- Grave; formal; ritual; ceremonial; sober; serious; reverential; devotional; devout. See Grave.

Sol"em*ness (?), n. Solemnness.

Some think he wanted solemnes.

Sir H. Wotton.

So*lem"ni*ty (?), n.; pl. Solemnities (#). [L. solemnitas, solennitas: cf. F. solennité, solemnité, OF. also sollempnité.] 1. A rite or ceremony performed with religious reverence; religious or ritual ceremony; as, the solemnity of a funeral, a sacrament.

Great was the cause; our old solemnities From no blind zeal or fond tradition rise, But saved from death, our Argives yearly pay These grateful honors to the god of day.

Pope.

2. ceremony adapted to impress with awe.

The forms and solemnities of the last judgment.

Atterburry.

3. Ceremoniousness; impressiveness; seriousness; grave earnestness; formal dignity; gravity.

With much glory and great solemnity.

Chaucer.

The statelines and gravity of the Spaniards shows itself in the solemnity of their language.

Addison.

These promises were often made with great solemnity and confirmed with an oath.

J. Edwards.

4. Hence, affected gravity or seriousness.

Solemnity 's a cover for a sot.

Young.

5. Solemn state or feeling; awe or reverence; also, that which produces such a feeling; as, the solemnity of an audience; the solemnity of Westminster Abbey.

6. (Law) A solemn or formal observance; proceeding according to due form; the formality which is necessary to render a thing done valid.

So*lem"ni*zate (?), v. t. To solemnize; as, to solemnizate matrimony. [R.] Bp. Burnet.

Sol`em*ni*za"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. solemnisation, solennisation.] The act of solemnizing; celebration; as, the solemnization of a marriage.

Sol"em*nize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Solemnized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Solemnizing (?).] [Cf. F. solemniser, sollemniser.] 1. To perform with solemn or ritual ceremonies, or according to legal forms.

Baptism to be administered in one place, and marriage solemnized in another.

Hooker.

2. To dignify or honor by ceremonies; to celebrate.

Their choice nobility and flowers . . . Met from all parts to solemnize this feast.

Milton.

3. To make grave, serious, and reverential.

Wordsworth was solemnizzed and elevated by this his first look on Yarrow.

J. C. Shairp.

Every Israelite . . . arose, solemnized his face, looked towards Jerusalem . . . and prayed.

L. Wallace.

Sol"em*nize, n. Solemnization. [R.]

Though spoused, yet wanting wedlock's solemnize.

Spenser.

Sol"em*ni`zer (?), n. One who solemnizes.

Sol"emn*ly (?), adv. In a solemn manner; with gravity; seriously; formally.

There in deaf murmurs solemnly are wise.

Dryden.

I do solemnly assure the reader.

Swift.

Sol"emn*ness, n. The state or quality of being solemn; solemnity; impressiveness; gravity; as, the solemnness of public worship. [Written also solemness.]

So*lemp"ne (?), a. [See Solemn.] Solemn; grand; stately; splendid; magnificent. [Obs.] Chaucer.

||So"len (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;&?;&?; channel, a shellfish.] 1. ||(Med.) A cradle, as for a broken limb. See Cradle, 6.

2. (Zoöl.) Any marine bivalve mollusk belonging to Solen or allied genera of the family Solenidæ; a razor shell.

Sol`e*na"cean (?), n. (Zoöl). Any species of marine bivalve shells belonging to the family Solenidæ.

Sol`e*na"ceous (?), a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the solens or family Solenidæ.

Sole"ness (?), n. The state of being sole, or alone; singleness. [R.] Chesterfield.

Sole*nette" (?), n. (Zoöl.) A small European sole (Solea minuta).

||So*le`no*con"cha (?), n. pl. [NL. See Solen, and Conch.] (Zoöl.) Same ||as Scaphopoda.

So*le"no*don (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?; a channel + &?;&?;&?;&?;, &?;&?;&?;, a tooth.] (Zoöl.) Either one of two species of singular West Indian insectivores, allied to the tenrec. One species (Solendon paradoxus), native of St. Domingo, is called also agouta; the other (S. Cubanus), found in Cuba, is called almique.

So*le`no*gas"tra (?), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?; channel + &?;&?;&?;&?;, &?;&?;&?;&?;, stomach.] (Zoöl.) An order of lowly organized Mollusca belonging to the Isopleura. A narrow groove takes the place of the foot of other gastropods.

So*le"no*glyph (?), a. (Zoöl.) Pertaining to the Selenoglypha. See Ophidia. -- n. One of the Selenoglypha.

||So`le*nog"ly*pha (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?; a channel + ||&?;&?;&?;&?; to engrave.] (Zoöl.) A suborder of serpents including ||those which have tubular erectile fangs, as the viper and ||rattlesnake. See Fang.

So"len*oid (?), n.[Gr. &?;&?;&?; channel + -oid.] (Elec.) An electrodynamic spiral having the conjuctive wire turned back along its axis, so as to neutralize that component of the effect of the current which is due to the length of the spiral, and reduce the whole effect to that of a series of equal and parallel circular currents. When traversed by a current the solenoid exhibits polarity and attraction or repulsion, like a magnet.

||So`le*nos"to*mi (?), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?;&?; a channel ||+ &?;&?;&?;&?; a mouth.] (Zoöl.) A tribe of lophobranch fishes having ||a tubular snout. The female carries the eggs in a ventral pouch.

Sole"plate` (?), n. (Mach.) (a) A bedplate; as, the soleplate of a steam engine. (b) The plate forming the back of a waterwheel bucket.

{ So"ler (?), So"lere (?), } n. [OE. See Solar, n.] A loft or garret. See Solar, n. Sir W. Scott.

So"lert (?), a. [L. solers, sollers, -ertis,clever, skillful.] Skillful; clever; crafty. [Obs.] Cudworth.

So*ler"tious*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being solert. [Obs.] Bp. Hacket.

Sole"ship (?), n. The state of being sole, or alone; soleness. [R.] Sir E. Dering.

Sol`-fa" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sol-faed (?);p. pr. & vb. n. Sol-faing.] [It. solfa the gamut, from the syllables fa, sol.] To sing the notes of the gamut, ascending or descending; as, do or ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si, do, or the same in reverse order.

Yet can I neither solfe ne sing.

Piers Plowman.

Sol"-fa", n. The gamut, or musical scale. See Tonic sol-fa, under Tonic, n.

Sol`fa*na"ri*a (?), n. [It., from solfo sulphur.] A sulphur mine.

||Sol`fa*ta"ra (?), n.[It., from solfo brimstone, sulphur, L. sulfur, ||E. sulphur.] (Geol.) A volcanic area or vent which yields only ||sulphur vapors, steam, and the like. It represents the stages of the ||volcanic activity.

||Sol`feg*gia"re (?), v. i.[It.] (Mus.) To sol-fa. See Sol-fa, v. i.

||Sol*feg"gio (?), n.[It., fr. solfa the gamut.] (Mus.) The system of ||arranging the scale by the names do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si, by ||which singing is taught; a singing exercise upon these syllables.

Sol`fe*ri"no (?), n. A brilliant deep pink color with a purplish tinge, one of the dyes derived from aniline; -- so called from Solferino in Italy, where a battle was fought about the time of its discovery.

||So"li (?), n., pl. of Solo.

So*lic"it (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Solicited; p. pr. & vb. n. Soliciting.] [F. sollicier, L. sollicitare, solicitare, -atum, fr. sollicitus wholly (i. e., violently) moved; sollus whole + citus, p. p. of ciere to move, excite. See Solemn, Cite.] 1. To ask from with earnestness; to make petition to; to apply to for obtaining something; as, to solicit person for alms.

Did I solicit thee From darkness to promote me?

Milton.

2. To endeavor to obtain; to seek; to plead for; as, to solicit an office; to solicit a favor.

I view my crime, but kindle at the view, Repent old pleasures, and solicit new.

Pope.

3. To awake or excite to action; to rouse desire in; to summon; to appeal to; to invite.

That fruit . . . solicited her longing eye.

Milton.

Sounds and some tangible qualities solicit their proper senses, and force an entrance to the mind.

Locke.

4. To urge the claims of; to plead; to act as solicitor for or with reference to. [Obs.]

Should My brother henceforth study to forget The vow that he hath made thee, I would ever Solicit thy deserts.

Ford.

5. To disturb; to disquiet; -- a Latinism rarely used.

Hath any ill solicited thine ears?

Chapman.

But anxious fears solicit my weak breast.

Dryden.

Syn. To beseech; ask; request; crave; supplicate; entreat; beg; implore; importune. See Beseech.

So*lic"it*ant (?), n.[L. sollicitans, p. pr. ] One who solicits.

So*lic"it*ate (?), a. Solicitous. [Obs.] Eden.

So*lic`i*ta"tion (?), n. [F. sollicitation, or L. sollicitatio.] 1. The act of soliciting; earnest request; persistent asking; importunity.

2. Excitement; invitation; as, the solicitation of the senses. Locke.

So*lic"it*or (?), n. [F. solliciteur, L. sollicitator.] 1. One who solicits.

2. (Law) (a) An attorney or advocate; one who represents another in court; -- formerly, in English practice, the professional designation of a person admitted to practice in a court of chancery or equity. See the Note under Attorney. (b) The law officer of a city, town, department, or government; as, the city solicitor; the solicitor of the treasury.

So*lic"it*or-gen"er*al (?), n. The second law officer in the government of Great Britain; also, a similar officer under the United States government, who is associated with the attorney-general; also, the chief law officer of some of the States.

So*lic"it*ous (?), a.[L. sollicitus, solicitus. See Solicit, v. t.] Disposed to solicit; eager to obtain something desirable, or to avoid anything evil; concerned; anxious; careful. "Solicitous of my reputation." Dryden. "He was solicitous for his advice." Calerendon.

Enjoy the present, whatsoever it be, and be not solicitous about the future.

Jer. Taylor.

The colonel had been intent upon other things, and not enough solicitous to finish the fortifications.

Clarendon.

-- So*lic"it*ous*ly, adv. -- So*lic"it*ous*ness, n.

So*lic"it*ress (?), n. A woman who solicits.

So*lic"i*tude (?), n. [F. sollicitude,r L. sollicitudo.] The state of being solicitous; uneasiness of mind occasioned by fear of evil or desire good; anxiety.

The many cares and great labors of worldly men, their solicitude and outward shows.

Sir W. Raleigh.

The mother looked at her with fond solicitude.

G. W. Cable.

Syn. -- Carefulness; concern; anxiety. See Care.

<! p. 1369 !>

Sol"id (sl"d), a. [L. solidus, probably akin to sollus whole, entire, Gr. &?;&?;&?;: cf. F. solide. Cf. Consolidate,Soda, Solder, Soldier, Solemn.] 1. Having the constituent parts so compact, or so firmly adhering, as to resist the impression or penetration of other bodies; having a fixed form; hard; firm; compact; -- opposed to fluid and liquid or to plastic, like clay, or to incompact, like sand.

2. Not hollow; full of matter; as, a solid globe or cone, as distinguished from a hollow one; not spongy; dense; hence, sometimes, heavy.

3. (Arith.) Having all the geometrical dimensions; cubic; as, a solid foot contains 1,728 solid inches.

In this sense, cubics now generally used.

4. Firm; compact; strong; stable; unyielding; as, a solid pier; a solid pile; a solid wall.

5. Applied to a compound word whose parts are closely united and form an unbroken word; -- opposed to hyphened.

6. Fig.: Worthy of credit, trust, or esteem; substantial, as opposed to frivolous or fallacious; weighty; firm; strong; valid; just; genuine.

The solid purpose of a sincere and virtuous answer.

Milton.

These, wanting wit, affect gravity, and go by the name of solid men.

Dryden.

The genius of the Italians wrought by solid toil what the myth-making imagination of the Germans had projected in a poem.

J. A. Symonds.

7. Sound; not weakly; as, a solid constitution of body. I. Watts.

8. (Bot.) Of a fleshy, uniform, undivided substance, as a bulb or root; not spongy or hollow within, as a stem.

9. (Metaph.) Impenetrable; resisting or excluding any other material particle or atom from any given portion of space; -- applied to the supposed ultimate particles of matter.

10. (Print.) Not having the lines separated by leads; not open.

11. United; without division; unanimous; as, the delegation is solid for a candidate. [Polit. Cant. U.S.]

Solid angle. (Geom.) See under Angle. -- Solid color, an even color; one not shaded or variegated. -- Solid green. See Emerald green (a), under Green. -- Solid measure (Arith.), a measure for volumes, in which the units are each a cube of fixed linear magnitude, as a cubic foot, yard, or the like; thus, a foot, in solid measure, or a solid foot, contains 1,728 solid inches. -- Solid newel (Arch.), a newel into which the ends of winding stairs are built, in distinction from a hollow newel. See under Hollow, a. -- Solid problem (Geom.), a problem which can be construed geometrically, only by the intersection of a circle and a conic section or of two conic sections. Hutton. -- Solid square (Mil.), a square body or troops in which the ranks and files are equal.

Syn. -- Hard; firm; compact; strong; substantial; stable; sound; real; valid; true; just; weighty; profound; grave; important. -- Solid, Hard. These words both relate to the internal constitution of bodies; but hardnotes a more impenetrable nature or a firmer adherence of the component parts than solid. Hard is opposed to soft, and solid to fluid, liquid, open, or hollow. Wood is usually solid; but some kinds of wood are hard, and others are soft.

Repose you there; while I [return] to this hard house, More harder than the stones whereof 't is raised.

Shak.

I hear his thundering voice resound, And trampling feet than shake the solid ground.

Dryden.

Sol"id, n. 1. A substance that is held in a fixed form by cohesion among its particles; a substance not fluid.

2. (Geom.) A magnitude which has length, breadth, and thickness; a part of space bounded on all sides.

Solid of revolution. (Geom.) See Revolution, n., 5.

||Sol`i*da"go (?), n. [NL., fr. L. solidare to strengthen, unite; -- so ||called in allusion to its reputed healing qualities.] (Bot.) A genus ||of yellow- flowered composite perennial herbs; golden-rod.

Sol"i*dare (?), n. [LL. solidus. Cf. Sou.] A small piece of money. [Obs.] Shak.

Sol`i*dar"i*ty (?), n. [F. solidarité, fr. solide. See Solid.] An entire union or consolidation of interests and responsibilities; fellowship; community.

Solidarity [a word which we owe to the French Communists], signifies a fellowship in gain and loss, in honor and dishonor, in victory and defeat, a being, so to speak, all in the same boat.

Trench.

The solidarity . . . of Breton and Welsh poetry.

M. Arnold.

Sol"i*da*ry (?), a. Having community of interests and responsibilities.

Men are solidary, or copartners; and not isolated.

M. Arnold.

Sol"i*date (?), v. t. [L. solidatus, p. p. of solidare. See Solder.] To make solid or firm. [Obs.] Cowley.

So*lid"i*fi`a*ble (?), a. Capable of being solidified.

So*lid`i*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. solidification.] Act of solidifying, or state of being solidified.

So*lid"i*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Solidified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Solidifying (?).] [Solid + -fy: cf. F. solidifier.] To make solid or compact.

Every machine is a solidified mechanical theorem.

H. Spencer.

So*lid"i*fy, v. i. To become solid; to harden.

Sol"id*ism (?), n. (Med.) The doctrine that refers all diseases to morbid changes of the solid parts of the body. It rests on the view that the solids alone are endowed with vital properties, and can receive the impression of agents tending to produce disease.

Sol"id*ist, n. (Med.) An advocate of, or believer in, solidism. Dunglison.

So*lid"i*ty (?), n. [L. soliditas: cf. F. solidité.] 1. The state or quality of being solid; density; consistency, -- opposed to fluidity; compactness; fullness of matter, -- opposed to openness or hollowness; strength; soundness, -- opposed to weakness or instability; the primary quality or affection of matter by which its particles exclude or resist all others; hardness; massiveness.

That which hinders the approach of two bodies when they are moving one toward another, I call solidity.

Locke.

2. Moral firmness; soundness; strength; validity; truth; certainty; -- as opposed to weakness or fallaciousness; as, the solidity of arguments or reasoning; the solidity of principles, triuths, or opinions.

3. (Geom.) The solid contents of a body; volume; amount of inclosed space.

Syn. -- Firmness; solidness; hardness; density; compactness; strength; soundness; validity; certainty.

Sol"id*ly (?), adv. In a solid manner; densely; compactly; firmly; truly.

Sol"id*ness, n. 1. State or quality of being solid; firmness; compactness; solidity, as of material bodies.

2. Soundness; strength; truth; validity, as of arguments, reasons, principles, and the like.

||Sol`id*un"gu*la (?), n. pl. [NL., from L. solidus solid + ungula a ||hoof.] (Zoöl.) A tribe of ungulates which includes the horse, ass, ||and related species, constituting the family Equidæ.

Sol`id*un"gu*lar (?), a. (Zoöl.) Solipedous.

Sol`id*un"gu*late (?), n. [Solid + ungulate.] (Zool.) Same as Soliped.

Sol`id*un"gu*lous (?), a. (Zoöl.) Solipedous.

Sol`i*fid"i*an (?), n. [L. solus alone + fides faith.] (Eccl.) One who maintains that faith alone, without works, is sufficient for justification; -- opposed to nullifidian. Hammond.

Sol`i*fid"i*an, a. Holding the tenets of Solifidians; of or pertaining to the solifidians.

Sol`i*fid"i*an*ism, n. The state of Solifidians.

Sol"i*form (?), a. [L. sol sun + -form.] Like the sun in form, appearance, or nature; resembling the sun. [R.] "Soliform things." Cudworth.

||So*lif"u*gæ (?), n. pl. [NL., from L. solifuga (better solipuga), a ||kind of venomous ant, or spider.] (Zoöl.) A division of arachnids ||having large, powerful fangs and a segmented abdomen; -- called also ||Solpugidea, and Solpugides.

So*lil"o*quize (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Soliloquized (#); p. pr. & vb. n. Soliloquizing (#).] To utter a soliloquy; to talk to one's self.

So*lil"o*quy (?), n.; pl. Soliloquies (#). [L. soliloquium; solus alone + loqui to speak. See Sole ly, and Loquacious.] 1. The act of talking to one's self; a discourse made by one in solitude to one's self; monologue.

Lovers are always allowed the comfort of soliloquy.

Spectator.

2. A written composition, reciting what it is supposed a person says to himself.

The whole poem is a soliloquy.

Prior.

Sol"i*ped (?), n. [Cf. F. solipède, It. solipede, Sp. solipedo; apparently fr. L. solus alone + pes, pedis, a foot; but probably fr. L. solidipes solid-footed, whole-hoofed. See Solid, and Pedal.] (Zoöl.) A mammal having a single hoof on each foot, as the horses and asses; a solidungulate. [Written also solipede.]

The solipeds, or firm-hoofed animals, as horses, asses, and mules, etc., -- they are, also, in mighty number.

Sir T. Browne.

So*lip"e*dous (?), a. Having single hoofs.

So*lip"sism (?), n. [L. solus alone + ipse self.] 1. (Ethics) Egotism. Krauth-Fleming.

2. (Metaph.) Egoism. Krauth- Fleming.

Sol`i*se"qui*ous (?), a. [L. sol sun + sequi to follow.] Following the course of the sun; as, solisequious plants. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

Sol`i*taire" (?), n. [F. See Solitary.] 1. A person who lives in solitude; a recluse; a hermit. Pope.

2. A single diamond in a setting; also, sometimes, a precious stone of any kind set alone.

Diamond solitaires blazing on his breast and wrists.

Mrs. R. H. Davis.

3. A game which one person can play alone; -- applied to many games of cards, etc.; also, to a game played on a board with pegs or balls, in which the object is, beginning with all the places filled except one, to remove all but one of the pieces by "jumping," as in draughts.

4. (Zoöl.) (a) A large extinct bird (Pezophaps solitaria) which formerly inhabited the islands of Mauritius and Rodrigeuz. It was larger and taller than the wild turkey. Its wings were too small for flight. Called also solitary. (b) Any species of American thrushlike birds of the genus Myadestes. They are noted their sweet songs and retiring habits. Called also fly-catching thrush. A West Indian species (Myadestes sibilans) is called the invisible bird.

Sol`i*ta"ri*an (?), n. [See Solitary.] A hermit; a solitary. [Obs.] Sir R. Twisden.

Sol`i*ta*ri"e*ty (?), n. The state of being solitary; solitariness. [Obs.] Cudworth.

Sol"i*ta*ri*ly (?), adv. In a solitary manner; in solitude; alone. Mic. vii. 14.

Sol"i*ta*ri*ness, n. Condition of being solitary.

Sol"i*ta*ry (?), a. [L. solitarius, fr. solus alone: cf. F. solitaire. See Sole, a., and cf. Solitaire.] 1. Living or being by one's self; having no companion present; being without associates; single; alone; lonely.

Those rare and solitary, these in flocks.

Milton.

Hie home unto my chamber, Where thou shalt find me, sad and solitary.

Shak.

2. Performed, passed, or endured alone; as, a solitary journey; a solitary life.

Satan . . . explores his solitary flight.

Milton.

3. Not much visited or frequented; remote from society; retired; lonely; as, a solitary residence or place.

4. Not inhabited or occupied; without signs of inhabitants or occupation; desolate; deserted; silent; still; hence, gloomy; dismal; as, the solitary desert.

How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people.

Lam. i. 1.

Let that night be solitary; let no joyful voice come therein.

Job iii. 7.

5. Single; individual; sole; as, a solitary instance of vengeance; a solitary example.

6. (Bot.) Not associated with others of the same kind.

Solitary ant (Zoöl.), any solitary hymenopterous insect of the family Mutillidæ. The female of these insects is destitute of wings and has a powerful sting. The male is winged and resembles a wasp. Called also spider ant. -- Solitary bee (Zoöl.), any species of bee which does not form communities. -- Solitary sandpiper (Zoöl.), an American tattler (Totanus solitarius). -- Solitary snipe (Zoöl.), the great snipe. [Prov. Eng.] -- Solitary thrush (Zoöl.) the starling. [Prov. Eng.]

Sol"i*ta*ry (?), n. One who lives alone, or in solitude; an anchoret; a hermit; a recluse.

Sol"i*tude (?), n. [F., from L. solitudo, solus alone. See Sole, a.] 1. state of being alone, or withdrawn from society; a lonely life; loneliness.

Whosoever is delighted with solitude is either a wild beast or a god.

Bacon.

O Solitude! where are the charms That sages have seen in thy face?

Cowper.

2. Remoteness from society; destitution of company; seclusion; -- said of places; as, the solitude of a wood.

The solitude of his little parish is become matter of great comfort to him.

Law.

3. solitary or lonely place; a desert or wilderness.

In these deep solitudes and awful cells Where heavenly pensive contemplation dwells.

Pope.

Syn. Loneliness; soitariness; loneness; retiredness; recluseness. -- Solitude, Retirement, Seclusion, Loneliness. Retirement is a withdrawal from general society, implying that a person has been engaged in its scenes. Solitude describes the fact that a person is alone; seclusion, that he is shut out from others, usually by his own choice; loneliness, that he feels the pain and oppression of being alone. Hence, retirement is opposed to a gay, active, or public life; solitude, to society; seclusion, to freedom of access on the part of others; and loneliness, enjoyment of that society which the heart demands.

O blest retirement, friend to life's decline.

Goldsmith.

Such only can enjoy the country who are capable of thinking when they are there; then they are prepared for solitude; and in that [the country] solitude is prepared for them.

Dryden.

It is a place of seclusion from the external world.

Bp. Horsley.

These evils . . . seem likely to reduce it [a city] ere long to the loneliness and the insignificance of a village.

Eustace.

So*liv"a*gant (?), a. [L. solus alone + vagans wandering.] Wandering alone. [R.] T. Grander.

So*liv"a*gous (?), a. [L. solivagus.] Solivagant.

Sol"lar (?), n. 1. See Solar, n. [Obs.]

2. (Mining) A platform in a shaft, especially one of those between the series of ladders in a shaft.

Sol"lar, v. t. To cover, or provide with, a sollar.

Sol"lein (?), a. Sullen; sad. [Obs.] Spenser.

Sol*ler*et" (?), n. [F. soleretim. fr. OF. soler shoe.] A flexible steel shoe (or one of the plates forming such a shoe), worn with mediæval armor.

Sol`mi*za"tion (?), n. [F. solmisation, fr. solmiser to sol-fa; -- called from the musical notes sol, mi. See Sol-fa.] (Mus.) The act of sol-faing. [Written also solmisation.]

This art was practiced by the Greeks; but six of the seven syllables now in use are generally attributed to Guido d' Arezzo, an Italian monk of the eleventh century, who is said to have taken them from the first syllables of the first six lines of the following stanza of a monkish hymn to St. John the Baptist. --

Ut queant laxis Resonare fibris Mira gestorum Famuli tuorum Solve polluti Labii reatum, Sancte Joannes.

Professor Skeat says the name of the seventh note, si, was also formed by him [Guido] from the initials of the two words of the last line; but this is disputed, Littré attributing the first use of it to Anselm of Flanders long afterwards. The syllable do is often substituted for ut.

So"lo (?), n.; pl. E. Solos (#), It. Soli (#). [It., from L. solus alone. See Sole, a.] (Mus.) A tune, air, strain, or a whole piece, played by a single person on an instrument, or sung by a single voice.

So"lo*ist, n. (Mus.) One who sings or plays a solo.

Sol"o*mon (?), n. One of the kings of Israel, noted for his superior wisdom and magnificent reign; hence, a very wise man. -- Sol`o*mon"ic (#), a.

Solomon's seal (Bot.), a perennial liliaceous plant of the genus Polygonatum, having simple erect or curving stems rising from thick and knotted rootstocks, and with white or greenish nodding flowers. The commonest European species is Polygonatum multiflorum. P. biflorum and P. giganteum are common in the Eastern United States. See Illust. of Rootstock. -- False Solomon's seal (Bot.), any plant of the liliaceous genus Smilacina having small whitish flowers in terminal racemes or panicles.

So"lon (?), n. A celebrated Athenian lawmaker, born about 638 b. c.; hence, a legislator; a publicist; -- often used ironically.

Sol*pu"gid (?), a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Solifugæ. -- n. One of the Solifugæ.

||Sol`pu*gid"e*a (?), n. pl. [NL. See Solifugæ.] (Zoöl.) Same as ||Solifugæ.

Sol"stice (?), n.[L. solstitium; sol the sun + sistere to cause to stand, akin to stare to stand: cf. F. solstice. See Solar, a., Stand, v. i.] 1. A stopping or standing still of the sun. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

2. (Astron.) (a) The point in the ecliptic at which the sun is farthest from the equator, north or south, namely, the first point of the sign Cancer and the first point of the sign Capricorn, the former being the summer solstice, latter the winter solstice, in northern latitudes; -- so called because the sun then apparently stands still in its northward or southward motion. (b) The time of the sun's passing the solstices, or solstitial points, namely, about June 21 and December 21. See Illust. in Appendix.

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Sol*sti"tial (?), a. [L. solstitialis: cf. F. solsticial.] 1. Of or pertaining to a solstice.

2. Happening at a solstice; esp. (with reference to the northern hemisphere), happening at the summer solstice, or midsummer. "Solstitial summer's heat." Milton.

Sol`u*bil"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. solubilité.] 1. The quality, condition, or degree of being soluble or solvable; as, the solubility of a salt; the solubility of a problem or intricate difficulty.

2. (Bot.) The tendency to separate readily into parts by spurious articulations, as the pods of tick trefoil.

Sol"u*ble (?), a. [L. solubilis, fr. solvere, solutum, to loosen, to dissolve: cf. F. soluble. See Solve, and cf. Solvable.] 1. Susceptible of being dissolved in a fluid; capable of solution; as, some substances are soluble in alcohol which are not soluble in water.

Sugar is . . . soluble in water and fusible in fire.

Arbuthnot.

2. Susceptible of being solved; as, a soluble algebraic problem; susceptible of being disentangled, unraveled, or explained; as, the mystery is perhaps soluble. "More soluble is this knot." Tennyson.

3. Relaxed; open or readily opened. [R.] "The bowels must be kept soluble." Dunglison.

Soluble glass. (Chem.) See under Glass.

Sol"u*ble*ness, n. Quality or state of being soluble.

{ ||So"lus (?), masc. a., So"la (?), fem. a. } [L.] Alone; -- chiefly used in stage directions, and the like.

So*lute" (?), a. [L. solutus, p. p. of solvere to loosen. See Solve.] 1. Loose; free; liberal; as, a solute interpretation. [Obs.] Bacon.

2. Relaxed; hence; merry; cheerful. [R.]

A brow solute, and ever-laughing eye.

Young.

3. Soluble; as, a solute salt. [Obs.]

4. (Bot.) Not adhering; loose; -- opposed to adnate; as, a solute stipule.

So*lute", v. t. 1. To dissolve; to resolve. [Obs.]

2. To absolve; as, to solute sin. [Obs.] Bale.

So*lu"tion (s*l"shn), n. [OE. solucion, OF. solucion, F. solution, fr. L. solutio, fr. solvere, solutum, to loosen, dissolve. See Solve.] 1. The act of separating the parts of any body, or the condition of undergoing a separation of parts; disruption; breach.

In all bodies there is an appetite of union and evitation of solution of continuity.

Bacon.

2. The act of solving, or the state of being solved; the disentanglement of any intricate problem or difficult question; explanation; clearing up; -- used especially in mathematics, either of the process of solving an equation or problem, or the result of the process.

3. The state of being dissolved or disintegrated; resolution; disintegration.

It is unquestionably an enterprise of more promise to assail the nations in their hour of faintness and solution, than at a time when magnificent and seductive systems of worship were at their height of energy and splendor.

I. Taylor.

4. (Chem.Phys.) The act or process by which a body (whether solid, liquid, or gaseous) is absorbed into a liquid, and, remaining or becoming fluid, is diffused throughout the solvent; also, the product resulting from such absorption.

When a solvent will not take in any more of a substance the solution is said to be saturated. Solution is of two kinds; viz.: (a) Mechanical solution, in which no marked chemical change takes place, and in which, in the case of solids, the dissolved body can be regained by evaporation, as in the solution of salt or sugar in water. (b) Chemical solution, in which there is involved a decided chemical change, as when limestone or zinc undergoes solution in hydrochloric acid. Mechanical solution is regarded as a form of molecular or atomic attraction, and is probably occasioned by the formation of certain very weak and unstable compounds which are easily dissociated and pass into new and similar compounds.

This word is not used in chemistry or mineralogy for fusion, or the melting of bodies by the heat of fire.

5. Release; deliverance; discharge. [Obs.] Barrow.

6. (Med.) (a) The termination of a disease; resolution. (b) A crisis. (c) A liquid medicine or preparation (usually aqueous) in which the solid ingredients are wholly soluble. U. S. Disp.

Fehling's solution (Chem.), a standardized solution of cupric hydrate in sodium potassium tartrate, used as a means of determining the reducing power of certain sugars and sirups by the amount of red cuprous oxide thrown down. -- Heavy solution (Min.), a liquid of high density, as a solution of mercuric iodide in potassium iodide (called the Sonstadt or Thoulet solution) having a maximum specific gravity of 3.2, or of borotungstate of cadmium (Klein solution, specific gravity 3.6), and the like. Such solutions are much used in determining the specific gravities of minerals, and in separating them when mechanically mixed as in a pulverized rock. -- Nessler's solution. See Nesslerize. -- Solution of continuity, the separation of connection, or of connected substances or parts; -- applied, in surgery, to a fracture, laceration, or the like. "As in the natural body a wound, or solution of continuity, is worse than a corrupt humor, so in the spiritual." Bacon. -- Standardized solution (Chem.), a solution which is used as a reagent, and is of a known and standard strength; specifically, a normal solution, containing in each cubic centimeter as many milligrams of the element in question as the number representing its atomic weight; thus, a normal solution of silver nitrate would contain 107.7 mgr. of silver in each cubic centimeter.

Sol"u*tive (sl"*tv), a. [Cf. F. solutif.] Tending to dissolve; loosening; laxative. Bacon.

Solv`a*bil"i*ty (?), n. [F. solvabilité.] 1. The quality or state of being solvable; as, the solvability of a difficulty; the solvability of a problem.

2. The condition of being solvent; ability to pay all just debts; solvency; as, the solvability of a merchant.

Solv"a*ble (?), a. [F. solvable. See Solve, and cf. Soluble, Solvible.] 1. Susceptible of being solved, resolved, or explained; admitting of solution.

2. Capable of being paid and discharged; as, solvable obligations. Tooke.

3. Able to pay one's debts; solvent. [Obs.] Fuller.

Solv"a*ble*ness (?), n. Quality of being solvable.

Solve (slv), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Solved (slvd); p. pr. & vb. n. Solving.] [L. solvere, solutum; from a prefix so- expressing separation (cf. Sober) + luere to loosen; cf. OF. soldre, soudre. See Loose, and cf. Absolve.] To explain; to resolve; to unfold; to clear up (what is obscure or difficult to be understood); to work out to a result or conclusion; as, to solve a doubt; to solve difficulties; to solve a problem.

True piety would effectually solve such scruples.

South.

God shall solve the dark decrees of fate.

Tickell.

Syn. -- To explain; resolve; unfold; clear up.

Solve, n. A solution; an explanation. [Obs.] Shak.

Sol"ven*cy (sl"ven*s), n. [See Solvent.] The quality or state of being solvent.

Sol"vend (sl"vnd), n. [L. solvendus to be loosened or dissolved, fr. solvere. See Solution.] A substance to be dissolved. [R.]

Sol"vent (sl"vent), a. [L. solvens, p. pr. of solvere. See Solvable.] 1. Having the power of dissolving; dissolving; as, a solvent fluid. "The solvent body." Boyle.

2. Able or sufficient to pay all just debts; as, a solvent merchant; the estate is solvent.

Sol"vent, n. (Chem.) A substance (usually liquid) suitable for, or employed in, solution, or in dissolving something; as, water is the appropriate solvent of most salts, alcohol of resins, ether of fats, and mercury or acids of metals, etc.

2. That which resolves; as, a solvent of mystery.

Sol"ver (slv"r), n. One who, or that which, solves.

Solv"i*ble (-*b'l), a. See Solvable.

Sol"y (sl"), adv. Solely. [Obs.] Spenser.

||So"ma (s"m), n. [NL., fr. Gr. sw^ma, sw`matos, the body.] (Anat.) The ||whole axial portion of an animal, including the head, neck, trunk, ||and tail. B. G. Wilder.

{ So"maj" (s*mäj"), Sa*maj" (s*mäj") }, n. A society; a congregation, a worshiping assembly, or church, esp. of the Brahmo- somaj. [India]

{ So*ma"li (s*mä"l), So*mal" (s*mäl") }, n. (Ethnol.) A Hamitic people of East Central Africa.

So*mat"ic (s*mt"k), a. [Gr. swmatiko`s, fr. sw^ma the body.] 1. Of or pertaining to the body as a whole; corporeal; as, somatic death; somatic changes.

2. Of or pertaining to the wall of the body; somatopleuric; parietal; as, the somatic stalk of the yolk sac of an embryo.

Somatic death. See the Note under Death, n., 1.

So*mat"ic*al (?), a. Somatic.

So*mat"ics (?), n. The science which treats of the general properties of matter; somatology.

So"ma*tist (?), n. One who admits the existence of material beings only; a materialist. Glanvill.

So"ma*to*cyst (?), n. [Gr. sw^ma, sw`matos, body + ky`stis a bladder.] (Zoöl.) A cavity in the primary nectocalyx of certain Siphonophora. See Illust. under Nectocalyx.

So`ma*tol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. sw^ma, sw`matos, body + -logy.] 1. The doctrine or the science of the general properties of material substances; somatics.

2. A treatise on the human body; anatomy. Dunglison.

So"ma*tome (?), n. [Gr. sw^ma, body + te`mnein to cut.] (Anat. & Zoöl.) See Somite.

So"ma*to*pleure (?), n. [Gr. sw^ma, sw`matos, body + pleyra` side.] (Anat.) The outer, or parietal, one of the two lamellæ into which the vertebrate blastoderm divides on either side of the notochord, and from which the walls of the body and the amnion are developed. See Splanchnopleure.

So`ma*to*pleu"ric (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the somatopleure.

So`ma*tot"ro*pism (?), n. [Gr. sw^ma, sw`matos, the body + tre`pein to turn.] (Physiol.) A directive influence exercised by a mass of matter upon growing organs. Encyc. Brit.

{ Som"ber, Som"bre } (?; 277), a. [F. sombre; cf. Sp. sombra, shade, prob. from LL. subumbrare to put in the shade; L. sub under + umbra shade. See Umbrage.] 1. Dull; dusky; somewhat dark; gloomy; as, a somber forest; a somber house.

2. Melancholy; sad; grave; depressing; as, a somber person; somber reflections.

The dinner was silent and somber; happily it was also short.

Beaconsfield.

{ Som"ber, Som"bre }, v. t. To make somber, or dark; to make shady. [R.]

{ Som"ber, Som"bre }, n. Gloom; obscurity; duskiness; somberness. [Obs.]

{ Som"ber*ly, Som"bre*ly }, adv. In a somber manner; sombrously; gloomily; despondingly.

{ Som"ber*ness, Som"bre*ness }, n. The quality or state of being somber; gloominess.

||Som*bre"ro (?), n. [Sp., from sombra shade. See Sombre.] A kind of ||broad-brimmed hat, worn in Spain and in Spanish America. Marryat.

Som"brous (?), a. [Cf. Sp. sombroso.] Gloomy; somber. "Tall and sombrous pines." Longfellow.

-- Som"brous*ly, adv. -- Som"brous*ness, n.

-some (-sm). A combining form or suffix from Gr. sw^ma (gen. sw`matos) the body; as in merosome, a body segment; cephalosome, etc.

-some (-sm). [AS. -sum; akin to G. & OHG. -sam, Icel. samr, Goth. lustusams longed for. See Same, a., and cf. Some, a.] An adjective suffix having primarily the sense of like or same, and indicating a considerable degree of the thing or quality denoted in the first part of the compound; as in mettlesome, full of mettle or spirit; gladsome, full of gladness; winsome, blithesome, etc.

Some (sm), a. [OE. som, sum, AS. sum; akin to OS., OFries., & OHG. sum, OD. som, D. sommig, Icel. sumr, Dan. somme (pl.), Sw. somlige (pl.), Goth. sums, and E. same. &radic;191. See Same, a., and cf. -some.] 1. Consisting of a greater or less portion or sum; composed of a quantity or number which is not stated; -- used to express an indefinite quantity or number; as, some wine; some water; some persons. Used also pronominally; as, I have some.

Some theoretical writers allege that there was a time when there was no such thing as society.

Blackstone.

2. A certain; one; -- indicating a person, thing, event, etc., as not known individually, or designated more specifically; as, some man, that is, some one man. "Some brighter clime." Mrs. Barbauld.

Some man praiseth his neighbor by a wicked intent.

Chaucer.

Most gentlemen of property, at some period or other of their lives, are ambitious of representing their county in Parliament.

Blackstone.

3. Not much; a little; moderate; as, the censure was to some extent just.

4. About; near; more or less; -- used commonly with numerals, but formerly also with a singular substantive of time or distance; as, a village of some eighty houses; some two or three persons; some hour hence. Shak.

The number slain on the rebel's part were some two thousand.

Bacon.

5. Considerable in number or quantity. "Bore us some leagues to sea." Shak.

On its outer point, some miles away. The lighthouse lifts its massive masonry.

Longfellow.

6. Certain; those of one part or portion; -- in distinction from other or others; as, some men believe one thing, and others another.

Some [seeds] fell among thorns; . . . but other fell into good ground.

Matt. xiii. 7, 8.

7. A part; a portion; -- used pronominally, and followed sometimes by of; as, some of our provisions.

Your edicts some reclaim from sins, But most your life and blest example wins.

Dryden.

All and some, one and all. See under All, adv. [Obs.]

The illiterate in the United States and Scotland often use some as an adverb, instead of somewhat, or an equivalent expression; as, I am some tired; he is some better; it rains some, etc.

Some . . . some, one part . . . another part; these . . . those; -- used distributively.

Some to the shores do fly, Some to the woods, or whither fear advised.

Daniel.

Formerly used also of single persons or things: this one . . . that one; one . . . another.

Some in his bed, some in the deep sea.

Chaucer.

Some"bod*y (sm"bd*), n. 1. A person unknown or uncertain; a person indeterminate; some person.

Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me.

Luke viii. 46.

We must draw in somebody that may stand 'Twixt us and danger.

Denham.

2. A person of consideration or importance.

Before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody.

Acts v. 36.

Some"deal` (-dl`), adv. In some degree; somewhat. [Written also sumdel, sumdeale, and sumdele.] [Obs.] "She was somedeal deaf." Chaucer.

Thou lackest somedeal their delight.

Spenser.

Some"how` (-hou`), adv. In one way or another; in some way not yet known or designated; by some means; as, the thing must be done somehow; he lives somehow.

By their action upon one another they may be swelled somehow, so as to shorten the length.

Cheyne.

The indefiniteness of somehow is emphasized by the addition of or other.

Although youngest of the familly, he has somehow or other got the entire management of all the others.

Sir W. Scott.

{ Som"er*sault (?), Som"er*set (?) }, n. [F. soubresaut a jump, leap, OF. soubresault, It. soprassalto an overleap, fr. L. supra over + saltus a leap, fr. salire to leap; or the French may be from Sp. sobresalto a sudden asault, a surprise. See Supra, and Salient.] A leap in which a person turns his heels over his head and lights upon his feet; a turning end over end. [Written also summersault, sommerset, summerset, etc.] "The vaulter's sombersalts." Donne.

Now I'll only Make him break his neck in doing a sommerset.

Beau. & Fl.

Some"thing (?), n. 1. Anything unknown, undetermined, or not specifically designated; a certain indefinite thing; an indeterminate or unknown event; an unspecified task, work, or thing.

There is something in the wind.

Shak.

The whole world has something to do, something to talk of, something to wish for, and something to be employed about.

Pope.

Something attemped, something done, Has earned a night's repose.

Longfellow.

2. A part; a portion, more or less; an indefinite quantity or degree; a little.

Something yet of doubt remains.

Milton.

Something of it arises from our infant state.

I. Watts.

3. A person or thing importance.

If a man thinketh himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

Gal. vi. 3.

Some"thing, adv. In some degree; somewhat; to some extent; at some distance. Shak.

I something fear my father's wrath.

Shak.

We have something fairer play than a reasoner could have expected formerly.

Burke.

My sense of touch is something coarse.

Tennyson.

It must be done to-night, And something from the palace.

Shak.

Some"time` (?), adv. 1. At a past time indefinitely referred to; once; formerly.

Did they not sometime cry "All hail" to me?

Shak.

2. At a time undefined; once in a while; now and then; sometimes.

Sometime we see a cloud that's dragonish, A vapor sometime like a bear or lion.

Shak.

3. At one time or other hereafter; as, I will do it sometime. "Sometime he reckon shall." Chaucer.

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Some"time` (sm"tm`), a. Having been formerly; former; late; whilom.

Our sometime sister, now our queen.

Shak.

Ion, our sometime darling, whom we prized.

Talfourd.

Some"times` (?), adv. [Sometime + adverbial ending -s, as in -wards.] 1. Formerly; sometime. [Obs.]

That fair and warlike form In which the majesty of buried Denmark Did sometimes march.

Shak.

2. At times; at intervals; not always; now and then; occasionally.

It is good that we sometimes be contradicted.

Jer. Taylor.

Sometimes . . . sometimes, at certain times . . . at certain other times; as, sometimes he is earnest, sometimes he is frivolous.

Some"times`, a. Former; sometime. [Obs.]

Thy sometimes brother's wife.

Shak.

Some"what` (?), n. 1. More or less; a certain quantity or degree; a part, more or less; something.

These salts have somewhat of a nitrous taste.

Grew.

Somewhat of his good sense will suffer, in this transfusion, and much of the beauty of his thoughts will be lost.

Dryden.

2. A person or thing of importance; a somebody.

Here come those that worship me. They think that I am somewhat.

Tennyson.

Some"what`, adv. In some degree or measure; a little.

His giantship is gone, somewhat crestfallen.

Milton.

Somewhat back from the village street.

Longfellow.

Some"when`, adv. At some indefinite time. [R.]

Some"where` (?), adv. In some place unknown or not specified; in one place or another. "Somewhere nigh at hand." Milton.

Some"while` (?), adv. Once; for a time.

Though, under color of shepherds, somewhile There crept in wolves, full of fraud and guile.

Spenser.

Some"whith`er (?), adv. To some indeterminate place; to some place or other.

Driven by the winds of temptation somewhither.

Barrow.

So"mite (s"mt), n. [Gr. sw^ma body.] (Anat. & Zoöl.) One of the actual or ideal serial segments of which an animal, esp. an articulate or vertebrate, is composed; somatome; metamere. -- So*mit`ic (#), a.

||Som`meil" (?), n. [F.] Slumber; sleep.

Som"mer*set (?), n. See Somersault.

Som*nam"bu*lar (?), a. Of or pertaining to somnambulism; somnambulistic. Mrs. Browning.

Som*nam"bu*late (?), v. i. & t. To walk when asleep.

Som*nam`bu*la"tion (?), n. [L. somnus sleep + ambulatio a walking about, from ambulare to walk. See Somnolent, Amble.] The act of walking in sleep.

Som*nam"bu*la`tor (?), n. A somnambulist.

Som*nam"bule (?), n. [F.] A somnambulist.

Som*nam"bu*lic (?), a. Somnambulistic.

Som*nam"bu*lism (?), n. [Cf. F. somnambulisme. See Somnambulation.] A condition of the nervous system in which an individual during sleep performs actions appropriate to the waking state; a state of sleep in which some of the senses and voluntary powers are partially awake; noctambulism.

Som*nam"bu*list (?), n. A person who is subject to somnambulism; one who walks in his sleep; a sleepwalker; a noctambulist.

Som*nam`bu*lis"tic (?), a. Of or pertaining to a somnambulist or somnambulism; affected by somnambulism; appropriate to the state of a somnambulist.

Whether this was an intentional and waking departure, or a somnambulistic leave-taking and walking in her sleep, may remain a subject of contention.

Dickens.

Som"ne (?), v. t. To summon. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Som"ner (?), n. A summoner; esp., one who summons to an ecclesiastical court. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.

Som"ni*al (?), a. [L. somnialis dream bringing, fr. somnium dream, fr. somnus sleep.] Of or pertaining to sleep or dreams.

The somnial magic superinduced on, without suspending, the active powers of the mind.

Coleridge.

Som"ni*a*tive (?), a. Somnial; somniatory. [R.]

Som"ni*a*to*ry (?), a. Pertaining to sleep or dreams; somnial. [Obs. or R.] Urquhart.

Som*nic"u*lous (?), a. [L. somniculosus.] Inclined to sleep; drowsy; sleepy. [Obs.]

Som*nif"er*ous (?), a. [L. somnifer; somnus sleep + ferre to bring.] Causing or inducing sleep; soporific; dormitive; as, a somniferous potion. Walton.

Som*nif"ic (?), a. [L. somnificus; somnus sleep + facere to make.] Causing sleep; somniferous.

Som*nif"u*gous (?), a. [L. somnus sleep + fugare to put to flight.] Driving away sleep. [Obs.]

Som*nil"o*quence (?), n. The act of talking in one's sleep; somniloquism.

Som*nil"o*quism (?), n. The act or habit of talking in one's sleep; somniloquy. Coleridge.

Som*nil"o*quist, n. One who talks in his sleep.

Som*nil"o*quous (?), a. [L. somnus sleep + loqui to speak.] Apt to talk in sleep.

Som*nil"o*quy (?), n. A talking in sleep; the talking of one in a state of somnipathy. [R.] Coleridge.

Som*nip"a*thist (?), n. A person in a state of somniapathy.

Som*nip"a*thy (?), n. [L. somnus sleep + Gr. &?; a suffering of the body, fr. &?;, &?;, to suffer.] Sleep from sympathy, or produced by mesmerism or the like. [Written also somnopathy.]

{ Som"no*lence (?), Som"no*len*cy (?) }, n. [L. somnolentia: cf. F. somnolence.] Sleepiness; drowsiness; inclination to sleep.

Som"no*lent (?), a. [F. somnolent, L. somnolentus, from somnus sleep, akin to Gr. &?;, Skr. svapna sleep, dream, svap to sleep, Icel. sofa, AS. swefn sleep. Cf. Hypnotic, Somnambulism, Soporific.] Sleepy; drowsy; inclined to sleep. -- Som"no*lent*ly, adv.

He had no eye for such phenomena, because he had a somnolent want of interest in them.

De Quincey.

Som"no*lism (?), n. The somnolent state induced by animal magnetism. Thomas (Med. Dict.).

Som*nop"a*thy (?), n. Somnipathy.

Som"nour (?), n. A summoner; an apparitor; a sompnour. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.

{ Som"on*aunce (?), Som"once (?) }, n. [See Summon, Summons.] A summons; a citation. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Som"on*our (?), n. A summoner. [Obs.]

Somp"ne (? or ?), v. t. To summon; to cite. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Somp"nour (?), n. A summoner. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Son (?), n. [OE. sone, sune, AS. sunu; akin to D. zoon, OS., OFries., & OHG. sunu, G. sohn, Icel. sonr, Sw. son, Dan. sön, Goth. sunus, Lith. sunus, Russ. suin', Skr. snu (from s to beget, to bear), and Gr. &?; son. &radic;293. Cf. Sow, n.] 1. A male child; the male issue, or offspring, of a parent, father or mother.

Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son.

Gen. xxi. 2.

2. A male descendant, however distant; hence, in the plural, descendants in general.

I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings.

Isa. xix. 11.

I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Mal. iii. 6.

3. Any young male person spoken of as a child; an adopted male child; a pupil, ward, or any other young male dependent.

The child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son.

Ex. ii. 10.

Be plain, good son, and homely in thy drift.

Shak.

4. A native or inhabitant of some specified place; as, sons of Albion; sons of New England.

5. The produce of anything.

Earth's tall sons, the cedar, oak, and pine.

Blackmore.

6. (Commonly with the def. article) Jesus Christ, the Savior; -- called the Son of God, and the Son of man.

We . . . do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.

1 John iv. 14.

Who gave His Son sure all has given.

Keble.

The expressions son of pride, sons of light, son of Belial, are Hebraisms, which denote persons possessing the qualitites of pride, of light, or of Belial, as children inherit the qualities of their ancestors.

Sons of the prophets. See School of the prophets, under Prophet.

So"nance (?), n. 1. A sound; a tune; as, to sound the tucket sonance. [Obs.] Shak.

2. The quality or state of being sonant.

So"nant (?), a. [L. sonans, - antis, p. pr. of sonare to sound. See Sound a noise.] 1. Of or pertaining to sound; sounding.

2. (Phonetics) Uttered, as an element of speech, with tone or proper vocal sound, as distinguished from mere breath sound; intonated; voiced; vocal; tonic; the opposite of nonvocal, or surd; -- said of the vowels, semivowels, liquids, and nasals, and particularly of the consonants b, d, g hard, v, etc., as compared with their cognates p, t, k, f, etc., which are called nonvocal, surd, or aspirate. -- n. A sonant letter.

So*na"ta (?), n. [It., fr. It. & L. sonare to sound. See Sound a noise.] (Mus.) An extended composition for one or two instruments, consisting usually of three or four movements; as, Beethoven's sonatas for the piano, for the violin and piano, etc.

The same general structure prevails in symphonies, instrumental trios, quartets, etc., and even in classical concertos. The sonata form, distinctively, characterizes the quick opening movement, which may have a short, slow introduction; the second, or slow, movement is either in the song or variation form; third comes the playful minuet or the more modern scherzo; then the quick finale in the rondo form. But both form and order are sometimes exceptional.

||So`na*ti"na (?), n. [It.] (Mus.) A short and simple sonata.

{ Son"cy, Son"sy (?) }, a. [Scot. sonce, sons, prosperity, happiness, fr. Gael. & Ir. sonas.] Lucky; fortunate; thriving; plump. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

{ Sond (?), Sonde }, n. [AS. sand. See Send, v. t.] That which is sent; a message or messenger; hence, also, a visitation of providence; an affliction or trial. [Obs.]

Ye have enough, parde, of Goddes sond.

Chaucer.

||Son"de*li (?), n. (Zoöl.) The musk shrew. See under Musk.

Song (sng; 115), n. [AS. song, sang, fr. singan to sing; akin to D. zang, G. sang, Icel. söngr, Goth. saggws. See Sing.] 1. That which is sung or uttered with musical modulations of the voice, whether of a human being or of a bird, insect, etc. "That most ethereal of all sounds, the song of crickets." Hawthorne.

2. A lyrical poem adapted to vocal music; a ballad.

3. More generally, any poetical strain; a poem.

The bard that first adorned our native tongue Tuned to his British lyre this ancient song.

Dryden.

4. Poetical composition; poetry; verse.

This subject for heroic song.

Milton.

5. An object of derision; a laughingstock.

And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword.

Job xxx. 9.

6. A trifle. "The soldier's pay is a song." Silliman.

Old song, a trifle; nothing of value. "I do not intend to be thus put off with an old song." Dr. H. More. -- Song bird (Zoöl.), any singing bird; one of the Oscines. -- Song sparrow (Zoöl.), a very common North American sparrow (Melospiza fasciata, or M. melodia) noted for the sweetness of its song in early spring. Its breast is covered with dusky brown streaks which form a blotch in the center. -- Song thrush (Zoöl.), a common European thrush (Turdus musicus), noted for its melodius song; -- called also mavis, throstle, and thrasher.

Syn. -- Sonnet; ballad; canticle; carol; canzonet; ditty; hymn; descant; lay; strain; poesy; verse.

Song"craft` (sng"krft`), n. The art of making songs or verses; metrical composition; versification.

A half-effaced inscription, Written with little skill of songcraft.

Longfellow.

Song"ful (-fl), a. Disposed to sing; full of song.

Song"ish, a. Consisting of songs. [R.] Dryden.

Song"less, a. Destitute of the power of song; without song; as, songless birds; songless woods.

Song"ster (-str), n. [AS. sangestre a female singer.] 1. One who sings; one skilled in singing; -- not often applied to human beings.

2. (Zoöl.) A singing bird.

Song"stress (?), n. [See Songster, and -ess.] A woman who sings; also, a female singing bird. Thomson.

Son"i*fer (?), n. [NL. See Soniferous.] A kind of ear trumpet for the deaf, or the partially deaf.

So*nif"er*ous (?), a. [L. sonus sound + -ferous.] Sounding; producing sound; conveying sound.

Son`i*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [L. sonus sound + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See - fy.] The act of producing sound, as the stridulation of insects.

Son"-in-law` (?), n.; pl. Sons-in-law (&?;). The husband of one's daughter; a man in his relationship to his wife's parents.

To take me as for thy son in lawe.

Chaucer.

Son"less, a. Being without a son. Marston.

As no baron who was sonless could give a husband to his daughter, save with his lord's consent.

J. R. Green.

Son"net (?), n. [F., fr. It. sonetto, fr. suono a sound, a song, fr. L. sonus a sound. See Sound noise.] 1. A short poem, -- usually amatory. [Obs.] Shak.

He had a wonderful desire to chant a sonnet or hymn unto Apollo Pythius.

Holland.

2. A poem of fourteen lines, -- two stanzas, called the octave, being of four verses each, and two stanzas, called the sestet, of three verses each, the rhymes being adjusted by a particular rule.

In the proper sonnet each line has five accents, and the octave has but two rhymes, the second, third, sixth, and seventh lines being of one rhyme, and the first, fourth, fifth, and eighth being of another. In the sestet there are sometimes two and sometimes three rhymes; but in some way its two stazas rhyme together. Often the three lines of the first stanza rhyme severally with the three lines of the second. In Shakespeare's sonnets, the first twelve lines are rhymed alternately, and the last two rhyme together.

Son"net, v. i. To compose sonnets. "Strains that come almost to sonneting." Milton.

Son`net*eer" (?), n. A composer of sonnets, or small poems; a small poet; -- usually in contempt.

What woful stuff this madrigal would be In some starved hackney sonneteer or me!

Pope.

Son`net*eer", v. i. To compose sonnets. Lowell.

Son"net*er (?), n. A composer of sonnets.

Son"net*ist, n. A sonneter, or sonneteer. Bp. Hall.

Son"net*ize (?), v. i. To compose sonnets.

Son"nish (?), a. Like the sun; sunny; golden. [Obs.] "Her sonnish hairs." Chaucer.

Son"nite (?), n. See Sunnite.

So*nom"e*ter (?), n. [L. sonus a sound + -meter.] 1. (Physiol.) An instrument for exhibiting the transverse vibrations of cords, and ascertaining the relations between musical notes. It consists of a cord stretched by weight along a box, and divided into different lengths at pleasure by a bridge, the place of which is determined by a scale on the face of the box.

2. An instrument for testing the hearing capacity.

Son`o*rif"ic (?), a. [L. sonor, -oris, a sound + facere to make. See Sonorous.] Producing sound; as, the sonorific quality of a body. [R.] I. Watts.

So*nor"i*ty (?), n. [L. sonoritas.] The quality or state of being sonorous; sonorousness.

So*no"rous (?), a. [L. sonorus, fr. sonor, -oris, a sound, akin to sonus a sound. See Sound.] 1. Giving sound when struck; resonant; as, sonorous metals.

2. Loud-sounding; giving a clear or loud sound; as, a sonorous voice.

3. Yielding sound; characterized by sound; vocal; sonant; as, the vowels are sonorous.

4. Impressive in sound; high- sounding.

The Italian opera, amidst all the meanness and familiarty of the thoughts, has something beautiful and sonorous in the expression.

Addison.

There is nothing of the artificial Johnsonian balance in his style. It is as often marked by a pregnant brevity as by a sonorous amplitude.

E. Everett.

5. (Med.) Sonant; vibrant; hence, of sounds produced in a cavity, deep-toned; as, sonorous rhonchi.

Sonorous figures (Physics), figures formed by the vibrations of a substance capable of emitting a musical tone, as when the bow of a violin is drawn along the edge of a piece of glass or metal on which sand is strewed, and the sand arranges itself in figures according to the musical tone. Called also acoustic figures. -- Sonorous tumor (Med.), a tumor which emits a clear, resonant sound on percussion.

-- So*no"rous*ly, adv. -- So*no"rous*ness, n.

Son"ship (?), n. The state of being a son, or of bearing the relation of a son; filiation. Dr. H. More.

Son"sy (?), a. See Soncy. [Scot.] Burns.

Son"tag (?), n. [So called from from Mme. Henriette Sontag, a famous singer.] A knitted worsted jacket, worn over the waist of a woman's dress.

<! p. 1372 !>

Son"ties (?), n. Probably from "saintes" saints, or from sanctities; -- used as an oath. [Obs.] Shak.

Soo*chong" (?), n. Same as Souchong.

||Soo"dra (?). Same as Sudra.

{ Soo"fee (?), Soo"fee*ism (?) }. Same as Sufi, Sufism.

Soo"jee (?), n. Same as Suji.

Soon (?), adv. [OE. sone, AS. s&?;na; cf. OFries. s&?;n, OS. sna, sno, OHG. sr, Goth. suns.] 1. In a short time; shortly after any time specified or supposed; as, soon after sunrise. "Sooner said than done." Old Proverb. "As soon as it might be." Chaucer.

She finished, and the subtle fiend his lore Soon learned.

Milton.

2. Without the usual delay; before any time supposed; early.

How is it that ye are come so soon to- day?

Ex. ii. 18.

3. Promptly; quickly; easily.

Small lights are soon blown out, huge fires abide.

Shak.

4. Readily; willingly; -- in this sense used with would, or some other word expressing will.

I would as soon see a river winding through woods or in meadows, as when it is tossed up in so many whimsical figures at Versailles.

Addison.

As soon as, or So soon as, immediately at or after another event. "As soon as he came nigh unto the camp . . . he saw the calf, and the dancing." Ex. xxxii. 19. See So . . . as, under So. -- Soon at, as soon as; or, as soon as the time referred to arrives. [Obs.] "I shall be sent for soon at night." Shak. -- Sooner or later, at some uncertain time in the future; as, he will discover his mistake sooner or later. -- With the soonest, as soon as any; among the earliest; too soon. [Obs.] Holland.

Soon, a. Speedy; quick. [Obs.] Shak.

Soo"nee (?), n. See Sunnite.

Soon"ly (?), adv. Soon. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Soord (?), n. Skin of bacon. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Soor"ma (?), n. [Hind. & Per. surma.] A preparation of antimony with which Mohammedan men anoint their eyelids.

Soo*shong" (?), n. See Souchong.

Soo"soo (?), n. (Zoöl.) A kind of dolphin (Platanista Gangeticus) native of the river Ganges; the Gangetic dolphin. It has a long, slender, somewhat spatulate beak. [Written also susu.]

Soot (? or ?; 277), n. [OE. sot, AS. s&?;t; akin to Icel. s&?;t, Sw. sot, Dan. sod, OD. soet, Lith. s&?;dis; cf. Gael. suith, Ir. suth.] A black substance formed by combustion, or disengaged from fuel in the process of combustion, which rises in fine particles, and adheres to the sides of the chimney or pipe conveying the smoke; strictly, the fine powder, consisting chiefly of carbon, which colors smoke, and which is the result of imperfect combustion. See Smoke.

Soot, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sooted; p. pr. & vb. n. Sooting.] To cover or dress with soot; to smut with, or as with, soot; as, to soot land. Mortimer.

{ Soot (?), Soot"e (?) }, a. [See Sweet.] Sweet. [Obs.] "The soote savour of the vine." Chaucer.

Soot"er*kin (?), n. [Cf. Prov. G. suttern to boil gently.] A kind of false birth, fabled to be produced by Dutch women from sitting over their stoves; also, an abortion, in a figurative sense; an abortive scheme.

Fruits of dull heat, and sooterkins of wit.

Pope.

Sooth (sth), a.; also adv. [Compar. Soother (sth"r); superl. Soothest.] [OE. soth, AS. sð, for sanð; akin to OS. sð, OHG. sand, Icel. sannr, Sw. sann, Dan. sand, Skr. sat, sant, real, genuine, present, being; properly p. pr. from a root meaning, to be, Skr. as, L. esse; also akin to Goth. sunjis true, Gr. 'eteo`s, Skr. satya. &radic;9. Cf. Absent, Am, Essence, Is, Soothe, Sutee.] 1. True; faithful; trustworthy. [Obs. or Scot.]

The sentence [meaning] of it sooth is, out of doubt.

Chaucer.

That shall I sooth (said he) to you declare.

Spensser.

2. Pleasing; delightful; sweet. [R.]

The soothest shepherd that ever piped on plains.

Milton.

With jellies soother than the creamy curd.

Keats.

Sooth, n. [AS. sð. See Sooth, a.] 1. Truth; reality. [Archaic]

The sooth it this, the cut fell to the knight.

Chaucer.

In sooth, I know not why I am so sad.

Shak.

In good sooth, Its mystery is love, its meaninng youth.

Longfellow.

2. Augury; prognostication. [Obs.]

The soothe of birds by beating of their wings.

Spenser.

3. Blandishment; cajolery. [Obs.] Shak.

Soothe (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Soothed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Soothing.] [Originally, to assent to as true; OE. so&?;ien to verify, AS. ges&?;&?;ian to prove the truth of, to bear witness. See Sooth, a.] 1. To assent to as true. [Obs.] Testament of Love.

2. To assent to; to comply with; to gratify; to humor by compliance; to please with blandishments or soft words; to flatter.

Good, my lord, soothe him, let him take the fellow.

Shak.

I've tried the force of every reason on him, Soothed and caressed, been angry, soothed again.

Addison.

3. To assuage; to mollify; to calm; to comfort; as, to soothe a crying child; to soothe one's sorrows.

Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast, To soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.

Congreve.

Though the sound of Fame May for a moment soothe, it can not slake The fever of vain longing.

Byron.

Syn. -- To soften; assuage; allay; compose; mollify; tranquilize; pacify; mitigate.

Sooth"er (?), n. One who, or that which, soothes.

Sooth"fast` (?), a. [Sooth + fast, that is, fast or firm with respect to truth.] Firmly fixed in, or founded upon, the thruth; true; genuine; real; also, truthful; faithful. [Archaic] -- Sooth"fast`ness, n. [Archaic] "In very soothfastness." Chaucer.

Why do not you . . . bear leal and soothfast evidence in her behalf, as ye may with a clear conscience!

Sir W. Scott.

Sooth"fast`, adv. Soothly; really; in fact. [Archaic]

I care not if the pomps you show Be what they soothfast appear.

Emerson.

Sooth"ing (?), a. & n. from Soothe, v.

Sooth"ing*ly, adv. In a soothing manner.

Sooth"ly (?), adv. In truth; truly; really; verily. [Obs.] "Soothly for to say." Chaucer.

Sooth"ness, n. Truth; reality. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Sooth"say` (?), v. i. [Sooth + say; properly to say truth, tell the truth.] To foretell; to predict. "You can not soothsay." Shak. "Old soothsaying Glaucus' spell." Milton.

Sooth"say`, n. 1. A true saying; a proverb; a prophecy. [Obs.] Spenser.

2. Omen; portent. Having

God turn the same to good soothsay.

Spenser.

Sooth"say`er (?), n. 1. One who foretells events by the art of soothsaying; a prognosticator.

2. (Zoöl.) A mantis.

Sooth"say`ing, n. 1. A true saying; truth. [Obs.]

2. The act of one who soothsays; the foretelling of events; the art or practice of making predictions.

A damsel, possessed with a spirit of divination . . . which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying.

Acts xvi. 16.

3. A prediction; a prophecy; a prognostication.

Divinations and soothsayings and dreams are vain.

Eclus. xxxiv. 5.

Soot"i*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being sooty; fuliginousness. Johnson.

Soot"ish, a. Sooty. Sir T. Browne.

Soot"y (?), a. [Compar Sootier (?); superl. Sootiest.] [AS. s&?;tig. See Soot.] 1. Of or pertaining to soot; producing soot; soiled by soot. "Fire of sooty coal." Milton.

2. Having a dark brown or black color like soot; fuliginous; dusky; dark. "The grisly legions that troop under the sooty flag of Acheron." Milton.

Sooty albatross (Zoöl.), an albatross (Phœbetria fuliginosa) found chiefly in the Pacific Ocean; -- called also nellie. -- Sooty tern (Zoöl.), a tern (Sterna fuliginosa) found chiefly in tropical seas.

Soot"y, v. t. To black or foul with soot. [R.]

Sootied with noisome smoke.

Chapman.

Sop (?), n. [OE. sop, soppe; akin to AS. s&?;pan to sup, to sip, to drink, D. sop sop, G. suppe soup, Icel. soppa sop. See Sup, v. t., and cf. Soup.] 1. Anything steeped, or dipped and softened, in any liquid; especially, something dipped in broth or liquid food, and intended to be eaten.

He it is to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it.

John xiii. 26.

Sops in wine, quantity, inebriate more than wine itself.

Bacon.

The bounded waters Should lift their bosoms higher than the shores, And make a sop of all this solid globe.

Shak.

2. Anything given to pacify; -- so called from the sop given to Cerberus, as related in mythology.

All nature is cured with a sop.

L'Estrange.

3. A thing of little or no value. [Obs.] P. Plowman.

Sops in wine (Bot.), an old name of the clove pink, alluding to its having been used to flavor wine.

Garlands of roses and sops in wine.

Spenser.

-- Sops of wine (Bot.), an old European variety of apple, of a yellow and red color, shading to deep red; -- called also sopsavine, and red shropsavine.

Sop, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sopped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sopping.] To steep or dip in any liquid.

Sope (?), n. See Soap. [Obs.]

Soph (?), n. (Eng. Univ.) A contraction of Soph ister. [Colloq.]

Soph, n. (Amer. Colleges) A contraction of Sophomore. [Colloq.]

So"phi (?), n.; pl. Sophis (&?;). See Sufi.

{ Soph"ic (?), Soph"ic*al (?) }, a. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; wise, &?; wisdom.] Teaching wisdom. [Obs.] S. Harris.

So*phime" (? or ?), n. [OF. soffime, sophisme.] Sophism. [Obs.]

I trow ye study aboute some sophime.

Chaucer.

Soph"ism (?), n. [F. sophisme, L. sophisma, fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to make wise, &?; to be become wise, to play the sophist, fr. &?; wise.] The doctrine or mode of reasoning practiced by a sophist; hence, any fallacy designed to deceive.

When a false argument puts on the appearance of a true one, then it is properly called a sophism, or "fallacy".

I. Watts.

Let us first rid ourselves of sophisms, those of depraved men, and those of heartless philosophers.

I. Taylor.

Soph"ist, n. [F. sophiste, L. sophistes, fr. Gr. &?;. See Sophism.] 1. One of a class of men who taught eloquence, philosophy, and politics in ancient Greece; especially, one of those who, by their fallacious but plausible reasoning, puzzled inquirers after truth, weakened the faith of the people, and drew upon themselves general hatred and contempt.

Many of the Sophists doubdtless card not for truth or morality, and merely professed to teach how to make the worse appear the better reason; but there scems no reason to hold that they were a special class, teaching special opinions; even Socrates and Plato were sometimes styled Sophists.

Liddell & Scott.

2. Hence, an impostor in argument; a captious or fallacious reasoner.

Soph"ist*er (?), n. 1. A sophist. See Sophist. [Obs.] Hooker.

2. (Eng. Univ.) A student who is advanced beyond the first year of his residence.

The entire course at the university consists of three years and one term, during which the students have the titles of first- year men, or freshmen; second-year men or junior sophs or sophisters; third-year men, or senior sophs or sophisters; and, in the last term, questionists, with reference to the approaching examination. In the older American colleges, the junior and senior classes were originally called, and in some of them are still called, junior sophisters and senior sophisters.

Soph"ist*er (?), v. t. To maintain by sophistry, or by a fallacious argument. [Obs.] obham.

{ So*phis"tic (?), So*phis"tic*al }, a. [L. sophisticus, Gr. &?;: cf. F. sophistique.] Of or pertaining to a sophist; embodying sophistry; fallaciously subtile; not sound.

His argument . . . is altogether sophistical.

Macaulay.

-- So*phis"tic*al*ly, adv. -- So*phis"tic*al*ness, n.

So*phis"ti*cate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sophisticated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sophisticating.] [LL. sophisticatus, p. p. of sophisticare to sophisticate.] To render worthless by admixture; to adulterate; to damage; to pervert; as, to sophisticate wine. Howell.

To sophisticate the understanding.

Southey.

Yet Butler professes to stick to plain facts, not to sophisticate, not to refine.

M. Arnold.

They purchase but sophisticated ware.

Dryden.

Syn. -- To adulterate; debase; corrupt; vitiate.

{ So*phis"ti*cate (?), So*phis"ti*ca`ted (?) }, a. Adulterated; not pure; not genuine.

So truth, while only one supplied the state, Grew scare and dear, and yet sophisticate.

Dryden.

So*phis`ti*ca"tion (?), n. [Cf. LL. sophisticatio, F. sophistication.] The act of sophisticating; adulteration; as, the sophistication of drugs. Boyle.

So*phis"ti*ca`tor (?), n. One who sophisticates.

Soph"ist*ry (?), n. [OE. sophistrie, OF. sophisterie.] 1. The art or process of reasoning; logic. [Obs.]

2. The practice of a sophist; fallacious reasoning; reasoning sound in appearance only.

The juggle of sophistry consists, for the most part, in usig a word in one sense in the premise, and in another sense in the conclusion.

Coleridge.

Syn. -- See Fallacy.

Soph"o*more (?), n. [Probably fr. soph or sophister + Gr. &?; foolish. The word was probably introduced into the United States at an early date, from the University of Cambridge, England. Among the cant terms at that university, as given in the Gradus ad Cantabrigiam, we find Soph- Mor as "the next distinctive appellation to Freshman," but the term has now almost ceased to be known at the English university from whence it came.] One belonging to the second of the four classes in an American college, or one next above a freshman. [Formerly written also sophimore.]

{ Soph`o*mor"ic (?), Soph`o*mor"ic*al (?) }, a. Of or pertaining to a sophomore; resembling a sophomore; hence, pretentious; inflated in style or manner; as, sophomoric affectation. [U. S.]

So*pho"ra (?), n. [Ar. &?;ufair.] (Bot.) (a) A genus of leguminous plants. (b) A tree (Sophora Japonica) of Eastern Asia, resembling the common locust; occasionally planted in the United States.

Soph"ta (?), n. See Softa.

So"pite (?), v. t. [L. sopitus, p. p. of sopire to put to sleep; akin to sopor a sleeping draught, a heavy sleep.] To lay asleep; to put to sleep; to quiet. [Obs.]

The king's declaration for the sopiting of all Arminian heresies.

Fuller.

So*pi"tion (?), n. The act of putting to sleep, or the state of being put to sleep; sleep. [Obs.]

Dementation and sopition of reason.

Sir T. Browne.

||So"por (?), n. [L.] (Med.) Profound sleep from which a person can be ||roused only with difficulty.

Sop"o*rate (?), v. t. [L. soporatus, p. p. or soporare to put to sleep, fr. sopor a heavy sleep.] To lay or put to sleep; to stupefy. [Obs.] Cudworth.

Sop`o*rif"er*ous (?), a. [L. soparifer; sopor a heavy sleep + ferere to bring.] Causing sleep; somniferous; soporific. "Soporiferous medicine." Swift.

--- Sop`o*rif"er*ous*ly, adv. -- Sop`o*rif"er*ous*ness, n.

Sop`o*rif"ic (?; 277), a. [L. sopor a heavy sleep (akin to somnus sleep) + facere to make. See Somnolent, Fact.] Causing sleep; tending to cause sleep; soporiferous; as, the soporific virtues of opium.

Syn. -- Somniferous; narcotic; opiate; anodyne.

Sop`o*rif"ic, n. A medicine, drug, plant, or other agent that has the quality of inducing sleep; a narcotic.

{ Sop"o*rose` (?), Sop"o*rous (?) }, a. [From Sopor; cf. L. soporus, fr. sopor a heavy sleep; F. soporeux.] Causing sleep; sleepy.

Sop"per (?), n. One who sops. Johnson.

Sop"py (?), a. Soaked or saturated with liquid or moisture; very wet or sloppy.

It [Yarmouth] looked rather spongy and soppy.

Dickens.

||So"pra (?), adv. [It., from L. supra above.] (Mus.) Above; before; ||over; upon.

So*pra"nist (?), n. (Mus.) A treble singer.

So*pra"no (?), n.; pl. E. Sopranos (#), It. Soprani (#). [It., fr. soprano superior, highest, fr. sopra above, L. supra. See Sovereign.] (Mus.) (a) The treble; the highest vocal register; the highest kind of female or boy's voice; the upper part in harmony for mixed voices. (b) A singer, commonly a woman, with a treble voice.

Sops"a*vine (?), n. See Sops of wine, under Sop.

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So"ra (?), n. (Zoöl.) A North American rail (Porzana Carolina) common in the Eastern United States. Its back is golden brown, varied with black and white, the front of the head and throat black, the breast and sides of the head and neck slate-colored. Called also American rail, Carolina rail, Carolina crake, common rail, sora rail, soree, meadow chicken, and orto.

King sora, the Florida gallinule.

Sor"ance (? or ?), n. Soreness. [Obs.]

Sorb (?), n.[L. sorbus the tree, sorbum the fruit; cf. F. sorbe. See Service tree.] (Bot.) (a) The wild service tree (Pyrus torminalis) of Europe; also, the rowan tree. (b) The fruit of these trees.

Sorb apple, the fruit of the sorb, or wild service tree. -- Sorb tree, the wild service tree.

Sor"bate (?), n. [Cf. F. sorbate. See Sorbic.] (Chem.) A salt of sorbic acid.

Sor`be*fa"cient (?), a. [L. sorbere to suck in, absorb + faciens, p. pr. of facere to make.] (Med.) Producing absorption. -- n. A medicine or substance which produces absorption.

Sorb"ent (?), n. [L. sorbens, p. pr. of sorbere to suck in, to absorb.] An absorbent. [R.]

Sor"bet (?), n. [F. sorbet or It. sorbetto or Sp. sorbete, from the same source as E. sherbet. See Sherbet.] A kind of beverage; sherbet. Smolett.

Sor"bic (?), a. [Cf. F. sorbique. See Sorb.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or obtained from, the rowan tree, or sorb; specifically, designating an acid, C&?;H&?;CO&?;H, of the acetylene series, found in the unripe berries of this tree, and extracted as a white crystalline substance.

Sor"bile (?), a. [L. sorbilis, fr. sorbere to suck in, to drink down.] Fit to be drunk or sipped. [Obs.]

Sor"bin (?), n. (Chem.) An unfermentable sugar, isomeric with glucose, found in the ripe berries of the rowan tree, or sorb, and extracted as a sweet white crystalline substance; -- called also mountain-ash sugar.

Sor"bite (?), n. [L. sorbus service tree.] (Chem.) A sugarlike substance, isomeric with mannite and dulcite, found with sorbin in the ripe berries of the sorb, and extracted as a sirup or a white crystalline substance. -- Sor*bit"ic (#), a.

Sor*bi"tion (?), n. [L. sorbitio.] The act of drinking or sipping. [Obs.]

Sor*bon"ic*al (?), a. Belonging to the Sorbonne or to a Sorbonist. Bale.

Sor"bon*ist (?), n. [F. sorboniste.] A doctor of the Sorbonne, or theological college, in the University of Paris, founded by Robert de Sorbon, a. d. 1252. It was suppressed in the Revolution of 1789.

Sor"cer*er (?), n. [Cf. F. sorcier. See Sorcery.] A conjurer; an enchanter; a magician. Bacon.

Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers.

Ex. vii. 11.

Sor"cer*ess, n. A female sorcerer.

Sor"cer*ing, n. Act or practice of using sorcery.

Sor"cer*ous (?), a. Of or pertaining to sorcery.

Sor"cer*y (?), n.; pl. Sorceries (#). [OE. sorcerie, OF. sorcerie, fr. OF. & F. sorcier a sorcerer, LL. sortiarius, fr. L. sors, sortis, a lot, decision by lot, fate, destiny. See Sort, n.] Divination by the assistance, or supposed assistance, of evil spirits, or the power of commanding evil spirits; magic; necromancy; witchcraft; enchantment.

Adder's wisdom I have learned, To fence my ear against thy sorceries.

Milton.

Sord (? or ?), n. See Sward. [R.] Milton.

||Sor"des (?), n. [L., fr. sordere to be dirty or foul.] Foul matter; ||excretion; dregs; filthy, useless, or rejected matter of any kind; ||specifically (Med.), the foul matter that collects on the teeth and ||tongue in low fevers and other conditions attended with great vital ||depression.

Sor"det (?), n. [See Sordine.] (Mus.) A sordine.

Sor"did (?), a. [L. sordidus, fr. sordere to be filthy or dirty; probably akin to E. swart: cf. F. sordide. See Swart, a.] 1. Filthy; foul; dirty. [Obs.]

A sordid god; down from his hoary chin A length of beard descends, uncombed, unclean.

Dryden.

2. Vile; base; gross; mean; as, vulgar, sordid mortals. "To scorn the sordid world." Milton.

3. Meanly avaricious; covetous; niggardly.

He may be old, And yet sordid, who refuses gold.

Sir J. Denham.

Sor*did"ly (?), n. Sordidness. [Obs.]

Sor"did*ly (?), adv. In a sordid manner.

Sor"did*ness, n. The quality or state of being sordid.

Sor"dine (? or ?; 277), n. [It. sordina, sordino, from sordo deaf, dull-sounding, L. surdus. See Surd.] (Mus.) See Damper, and 5th Mute.

Sore (?), a. [F. saure, sore, sor; faucon sor a sore falcon. See Sorrel, n.] Reddish brown; sorrel. [R.]

Sore falcon. (Zoöl.) See Sore, n., 1.

Sore, n. (Zoöl.) A young hawk or falcon in the first year.

2. (Zoöl.) A young buck in the fourth year. See the Note under Buck.

Sore, a. [Compar. Sorer (&?;); superl. Sorest.] [OE. sor, sar, AS. sr; akin to D. zeer, OS. & OHG. s&?;r, G. sehr very, Icel. srr, Sw. sår, Goth. sair pain. Cf. Sorry.] 1. Tender to the touch; susceptible of pain from pressure; inflamed; painful; -- said of the body or its parts; as, a sore hand.

2. Fig.: Sensitive; tender; easily pained, grieved, or vexed; very susceptible of irritation.

Malice and hatred are very fretting and vexatious, and apt to make our minds sore and uneasy.

Tillotson.

3. Severe; afflictive; distressing; as, a sore disease; sore evil or calamity. Shak.

4. Criminal; wrong; evil. [Obs.] Shak.

Sore throat (Med.), inflammation of the throat and tonsils; pharyngitis. See Cynanche. -- Malignant, Ulcerated or Putrid, sore throat. See Angina, and under Putrid.

Sore (?), n. [OE. sor, sar, AS. sr. See Sore, a.] 1. A place in an animal body where the skin and flesh are ruptured or bruised, so as to be tender or painful; a painful or diseased place, such as an ulcer or a boil.

The dogs came and licked his sores.

Luke xvi. 21.

2. Fig.: Grief; affliction; trouble; difficulty. Chaucer.

I see plainly where his sore lies.

Sir W. Scott.

Gold sore. (Med.) See under Gold, n.

Sore, adv. [AS. sre. See Sore, a.] 1. In a sore manner; with pain; grievously.

Thy hand presseth me sore.

Ps. xxxviii. 2.

2. Greatly; violently; deeply.

[Hannah] prayed unto the Lord and wept sore.

1 Sam. i. 10.

Sore sighed the knight, who this long sermon heard.

Dryden.

||So*re"di*a (?), n., pl. of Soredium.

So*re"di*ate (?), a. (Bot.) Sorediïferous.

{Sor`e*dif"er*ous (?), or So*re`di*if"er*ous (?) }, a. [Soredium + -ferous.] (Bot.) Bearing soredia; sorediate.

||So*re"di*um (?), n.; pl. Soredia (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a heap.] ||(Bot.) A patch of granular bodies on the surface of the thallus of ||lichens.

So"ree (&?;), n. (Zoöl.) Same as Sora.

Sore"head` (?), n. One who is disgruntled by a failure in politics, or the like. [Slang, U.S.]

Sore"hon (?), n. [Corrupted from sojourn, Scot. soirne, sorn.] Formerly, in Ireland, a kind of servile tenure which subjected the tenant to maintain his chieftain gratuitously whenever he wished to indulge in a revel. Spenser.

Sor"el (?), n. [A diminutive. See Sore reddish brown.] 1. (Zoöl.) A young buck in the third year. See the Note under Buck. Shak.

2. A yellowish or reddish brown color; sorrel.

Sore"ly (?), adv. In a sore manner; grievously; painfully; as, to be sorely afflicted.

||So*re"ma (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a heap.] (Bot.) A heap of carpels ||belonging to one flower.

Sore"ness (?), n. The quality or state of being sore; tenderness; painfull; as, the soreness of a wound; the soreness of an affliction.

||So"rex (?), n. [L., a shrew.] (Zoöl.) A genus of small Insectivora, ||including the common shrews.

Sor"ghe (sôr"g), n. (Zoöl.) The three-bearded rockling, or whistlefish. [Prov. Eng.]

Sor"ghum (?), n. [NL., probably of Chinese origin.] (Bot.) (a) A genus of grasses, properly limited to two species, Sorghum Halepense, the Arabian millet, or Johnson grass (see Johnson grass), and S. vulgare, the Indian millet (see Indian millet, under Indian). (b) A variety of Sorghum vulgare, grown for its saccharine juice; the Chinese sugar cane.

Sor"go (?), n. [Cf. It. sorgo. See Sorghum.] (Bot.) Indian millet and its varieties. See Sorghum.

||So"ri (?), n., pl. of Sorus.

So"ri*cine (?), a. [L. sorricinus, fr. sorex a shrew.] (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Shrew family (Soricidæ); like a shrew in form or habits; as, the soricine bat (Glossophaga soricina).

So*ri"tes (?), n. [L., from Gr. swrei`ths (sc. syllogismo`s), properly, heaped up (hence, a heap of syllogisms), fr. swro`s a heap.] (Logic) An abridged form of stating of syllogisms in a series of propositions so arranged that the predicate of each one that precedes forms the subject of each one that follows, and the conclusion unites the subject of the first proposition with the predicate of the last proposition, as in following example; --

The soul is a thinking agent; A thinking agent can not be severed into parts; That which can not be severed can not be destroyed; Therefore the soul can not be destroyed.

When the series is arranged in the reverse order, it is called the Goclenian sorites, from Goclenius, a philosopher of the sixteenth century.

Destructive sorities. See under Destructive.

So"rit"ic*al, a. Of or pertaining to a sorites; resembling a sorites.

Sorn (?), v. i. [See Sorehon.] To obtrude one's self on another for bed and board. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

Sorn"er (?), n. One who obtrudes himself on another for bed and board. [Scot.] De Quncey.

So*ro"ral (?), a. [L. soror sister: cf. F. sororal.] Relating to a sister; sisterly. [R.]

So*ror"i*cide (?; 277), n. [L. sororocida, and sororicidium; soror a sister + caedere to kill.] The murder of one's sister; also, one who murders or kills one's own sister. Johnson.

So*ro"rize (? or ?), v. i. [L. soror, sororis, a sister.] To associate, or hold fellowship, as sisters; to have sisterly feelings; -- analogous to fraternize. [Recent & R.]

So*ro"sis (?), n. [NL. See Sororize.] A woman's club; an association of women. [U. S.]

||So*ro"sis, n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a heap.] (Bot.) A fleshy fruit formed ||by the consolidation of many flowers with their receptacles, ovaries, ||etc., as the breadfruit, mulberry, and pineapple.

Sor"rage (?; 48), n. [Cf. Sorrel, n.] The blades of green or barley. [Obs.] Bailey.

Sor"rance (?), n. Same as Sorance. [Obs.]

Sor"rel (?), a. [F. saur, saure, OF. sor, sore, probably of Teutonic origin; cf. D. zoor dry, LG. soor; the meaning probably coming from the color of dry leaves. See Sear, a., and cf. Sorel.] Of a yellowish or redish brown color; as, a sorrel horse.

Sor"rel (?), n. A yellowish or redish brown color.

Sor"rel, n. [F. surelle, fr. sur sour, fr. OHG. s&?;r sour. See Sour.] (Bot.) One of various plants having a sour juice; especially, a plant of the genus Rumex, as Rumex Acetosa, Rumex Acetosella, etc.

Mountain sorrel. (Bot.) See under Mountain. -- Red sorrel. (Bot.) (a) A malvaceous plant (Hibiscus Sabdariffa) whose acid calyxes and capsules are used in the West Indies for making tarts and acid drinks. (b) A troublesome weed (Rumex Acetosella), also called sheep sorrel. -- Salt of sorrel (Chem.), binoxalate of potassa; -- so called because obtained from the juice of Rumex Acetosella, or Rumex Axetosa. -- Sorrel tree (Bot.), a small ericaceous tree (Oxydendrum arboreum) whose leaves resemble those of the peach and have a sour taste. It is common along the Alleghanies. Called also sourwood. -- Wood sorrel (Bot.), any plant of the genus Oxalis.

Sor"ren"to work` (?). Ornamental work, mostly carved in olivewood, decorated with inlay, made at or near Sorrento, Italy. Hence, more rarely, jig-saw work and the like done anywhere.

Sor"ri*ly (?), adv. In a sorry manner; poorly.

Thy pipe, O Pan, shall help, though I sing sorrily.

Sir P. Sidney.

Sor"ri*ness, n. The quality or state of being sorry.

Sor"row (?), n. [OE. sorwe, sorewe, sor&?;e, AS. sorg, sorh; akin to D. zorg care, anxiety, OS. sorga, OHG. sorga, soraga, suorga, G. sorge, Icel., Sw., & Dan. sorg, Goth. saúrga; of unknown origin.] The uneasiness or pain of mind which is produced by the loss of any good, real or supposed, or by diseappointment in the expectation of good; grief at having suffered or occasioned evil; regret; unhappiness; sadness. Milton.

How great a sorrow suffereth now Arcite!

Chaucer.

The safe and general antidote against sorrow is employment.

Rambler.

Syn. -- Grief; unhappiness; regret; sadness; heaviness; mourning; affliction. See Affliction, and Grief.

Sor"row, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sorrowed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sorrowing.] [OE. sorowen, sorwen, sorhen, AS. sorgian; akin to Goth. saúrgan. See Sorrow, n.] To feel pain of mind in consequence of evil experienced, feared, or done; to grieve; to be sad; to be sorry.

Sorrowing most of all . . . that they should see his face no more.

Acts xx. 38.

I desire no man to sorrow for me.

Sir J. Hayward.

Sor"rowed (?) (&?;), a. Accompanied with sorrow; sorrowful. [Obs.] Shak.

Sor"row*ful (?), a. [OE. sorweful, AS. sorgful.] 1. Full of sorrow; exhibiting sorrow; sad; dejected; distressed. "This sorrowful prisoner." Chaucer.

My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death.

Matt. xxvi. 38.

2. Producing sorrow; exciting grief; mournful; lamentable; grievous; as, a sorrowful accident.

Syn. -- Sad; mournful; dismal; disconsolate; drear; dreary; grievous; lamentable; doleful; distressing.

-- Sor"row*ful*ly, adv. -- Sor"row*ful*ness, n.

Sor"row*less, a. Free from sorrow.

Sor"ry (?), a. [Compar. Sorrier (?); superl. Sorriest.] [OE. sory, sary, AS. srig, fr. sr, n., sore. See Sore, n. & a. The original sense was, painful; hence, miserable, sad.] 1. Grieved for the loss of some good; pained for some evil; feeling regret; -- now generally used to express light grief or affliction, but formerly often used to express deeper feeling. "I am sorry for my sins." Piers Plowman.

Ye were made sorry after a godly manner.

2 Cor. vii. 9.

I am sorry for thee, friend; 't is the duke's pleasure.

Shak.

She entered, were he lief or sorry.

Spenser.

2. Melancholy; dismal; gloomy; mournful. Spenser.

All full of chirking was this sorry place.

Chaucer.

3. Poor; mean; worthless; as, a sorry excuse. "With sorry grace." Chaucer.

Cheeks of sorry grain will serve.

Milton.

Good fruit will sometimes grow on a sorry tree.

Sir W. Scott.

Syn. -- Hurt; afflicted; mortified; vexed; chagrined; melancholy; dismal; poor; mean; pitiful.

||Sors (?), n.; pl. Sortes (#). [L.] A lot; also, a kind of divination ||by means of lots.

Sortes Homericæ or Virgilianæ [L., Homeric or Virgilian lots], a form of divination anciently practiced, which consisted in taking the first passage on which the eye fell, upon opening a volume of Homer or Virgil, or a passage drawn from an urn which several were deposited, as indicating future events, or the proper course to be pursued. In later times the Bible was used for the same purpose by Christians.

Sort (?), n. [F. sorl, L. sors, sortis. See Sort kind.] Chance; lot; destiny. [Obs.]

By aventure, or sort, or cas [chance].

Chaucer.

Let blockish Ajax draw The sort to fight with Hector.

Shak.

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Sort, n. [F. sorie (cf. It. sorta, sorte), from L. sors, sorti, a lot, part, probably akin to serere to connect. See Series, and cf. Assort, Consort, Resort, Sorcery, Sort lot.] 1. A kind or species; any number or collection of individual persons or things characterized by the same or like qualities; a class or order; as, a sort of men; a sort of horses; a sort of trees; a sort of poems.

2. Manner; form of being or acting.

Which for my part I covet to perform, In sort as through the world I did proclaim.

Spenser.

Flowers, in such sort worn, can neither be smelt nor seen well by those that wear them.

Hooker.

I'll deceive you in another sort.

Shak.

To Adam in what sort Shall I appear?

Milton.

I shall not be wholly without praise, if in some sort I have copied his style.

Dryden.

3. Condition above the vulgar; rank. [Obs.] Shak.

4. A chance group; a company of persons who happen to be together; a troop; also, an assemblage of animals. [Obs.] "A sort of shepherds." Spenser. "A sort of steers." Spenser. "A sort of doves." Dryden. "A sort of rogues." Massinger.

A boy, a child, and we a sort of us, Vowed against his voyage.

Chapman.

5. A pair; a set; a suit. Johnson.

6. pl. (Print.) Letters, figures, points, marks, spaces, or quadrats, belonging to a case, separately considered.

Out of sorts (Print.), with some letters or sorts of type deficient or exhausted in the case or font; hence, colloquially, out of order; ill; vexed; disturbed. -- To run upon sorts (Print.), to use or require a greater number of some particular letters, figures, or marks than the regular proportion, as, for example, in making an index.

Syn. -- Kind; species; rank; condition. -- Sort, Kind. Kind originally denoted things of the same family, or bound together by some natural affinity; and hence, a class. Sort signifies that which constitutes a particular lot of parcel, not implying necessarily the idea of affinity, but of mere assemblage. the two words are now used to a great extent interchangeably, though sort (perhaps from its original meaning of lot) sometimes carries with it a slight tone of disparagement or contempt, as when we say, that sort of people, that sort of language.

As when the total kind Of birds, in orderly array on wing, Came summoned over Eden to receive Their names of there.

Milton.

None of noble sort Would so offend a virgin.

Shak.

Sort (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Sorting.] 1. To separate, and place in distinct classes or divisions, as things having different qualities; as, to sort cloths according to their colors; to sort wool or thread according to its fineness.

Rays which differ in refrangibility may be parted and sorted from one another.

Sir I. Newton.

2. To reduce to order from a confused state. Hooker.

3. To conjoin; to put together in distribution; to class.

Shellfish have been, by some of the ancients, compared and sorted with insects.

Bacon.

She sorts things present with things past.

Sir J. Davies.

4. To choose from a number; to select; to cull.

That he may sort out a worthy spouse.

Chapman.

I'll sort some other time to visit you.

Shak.

5. To conform; to adapt; to accommodate. [R.]

I pray thee, sort thy heart to patience.

Shak.

Sort, v. i. 1. To join or associate with others, esp. with others of the same kind or species; to agree.

Nor do metals only sort and herd with metals in the earth, and minerals with minerals.

Woodward.

The illiberality of parents towards children makes them base, and sort with any company.

Bacon.

2. To suit; to fit; to be in accord; to harmonize.

They are happy whose natures sort with their vocations.

Bacon.

Things sort not to my will.

herbert.

I can not tell you precisely how they sorted.

Sir W. Scott.

Sort"a*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. sortable suitable.] 1. Capable of being sorted.

2. Suitable; befitting; proper. [Obs.] con.

Sort"a*bly, adv. Suitable. [Obs.] otgrave.

Sort"al (?), a. Pertaining to a sort. [Obs.] Locke.

Sort"ance (?), n. [From Sort, v. i.] Suitableness; agreement. [Obs.] hak.

Sort"er (?), n. One who, or that which, sorts.

||Sor"tes (?), n., pl. of Sors.

Sor"tie (?; 277), n. [F., fr. sortir to go out, to issue, probably fr. L. sortus, for surrectus, p. p. of surgere to raise up, to rise up. See Source.] (Mil.) The sudden issuing of a body of troops, usually small, from a besieged place to attack or harass the besiegers; a sally.

Sor"ti*lege (?), n. [F. sortilège, fr. L. sors, sortis, a lot + legere to gather, to select.] The act or practice of drawing lots; divination by drawing lots.

A woman infamous for sortileges and witcheries.

Sir W. Scott.

Sor`ti*le"gious (?), a. Pertaining to sortilege.

Sor"til"e*gy (?), n. Sortilege. [R.] De Quincey.

Sor*ti"tion (?), n. [L. sortitio, from sortiri to draw or cast lots, fr. sors, sortis, a lot.] Selection or appointment by lot. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Sort"ment (?), n. Assortiment. [Obs.]

||So"rus (?), n.; pl. Sori (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a heap.] (Bot.) One ||of the fruit dots, or small clusters of sporangia, on the back of the ||fronds of ferns.

Sor"we (?), n. & v. Sorrow. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Sor"we*ful (?), a. Sorrowful. [Obs.] Chaucer.

So"ry (?), n. [L. sory, Gr. &?;.] (Old Min. Chem.) Green vitriol, or some earth imregnated with it.

So"-so` (?), a. [So + so.] Neither very good nor very bad; middling; passable; tolerable; indifferent.

In some Irish houses, where things are so- so, One gammon of bacon hangs up for a show.

Goldsmith.

He [Burns] certainly wrote some so-so verses to the Tree of Liberty.

Prof. Wilson.

So"-so`, adv. Tolerably; passably. H. James.

Soss (?; 115), v. i. [Cf. Souse.] To fall at once into a chair or seat; to sit lazily. [Obs.] Swift.

Soss, v. t. To throw in a negligent or careless manner; to toss. [Obs.] Swift.

Soss, n. 1. A lazy fellow. [Obs.] Cotgrave.

2. A heavy fall. [Prov. Eng.] Hallowell.

Soss, n. [See Sesspol.] Anything dirty or muddy; a dirty puddle. [Prov. Eng.]

||Sos`te*nu"to (?), a. [It.] (Mus.) Sustained; -- applied to a movement ||or passage the sounds of which are to sustained to the utmost of the ||nominal value of the time; also, to a passage the tones of which are ||to be somewhat prolonged or protacted.

Sot (?), n. [F., fr. LL. sottus; of unknown origin, cf. Ir. sotal pride, soithir proud, or Chald. & NHeb. shoten foolish.] 1. A stupid person; a blockhead; a dull fellow; a dolt. [Obs.] outh.

In Egypt oft has seen the sot bow down, And reverence some d&?;ified baboon.

Oldham.

2. A person stupefied by excessive drinking; an habitual drunkard. "A brutal sot." Granville.

Every sign That calls the staring sots to nasty wine.

Roscommon.

Sot (?), a. Sottish; foolish; stupid; dull. [Obs.] "Rich, but sot." Marston.

Sot, v. t. To stupefy; to infatuate; to besot. [R.]

I hate to see a brave, bold fellow sotted.

Dryden.

Sot, v. i. To tipple to stupidity. [R.] Goldsmith.

So`ta*de"an (?), a. Sotadic.

So*tad"ic (?), a. Pertaining to, or resembling, the lascivious compositions of the Greek poet Sotades. -- n. A Sotadic verse or poem.

Sote (?), a. Sweet. [Obs.] Chaucer. Fairfax.

{ So"tel (?), So"til (?) }, a. Subtile. [Obs.]

So*te`ri*ol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. &?; safety (from &?; saving, &?; a savoir, &?; to save) + -logy.] 1. A discourse on health, or the science of promoting and preserving health.

2. (Theol.) The doctrine of salvation by Jesus Christ.

Sothe (? or ?), a. Sooth. [Obs.] Chaucer.

{ So"thi*ac (?), Soth"ic (?) }, a. Of or pertaining to Sothis, the Egyptian name for the Dog Star; taking its name from the Dog Star; canicular.

Sothiac, or Sothic, year (Chronol.), the Egyptian year of 365 days and 6 hours, as distinguished from the Egyptian vague year, which contained 365 days. The Sothic period consists of 1,460 Sothic years, being equal to 1,461 vague years. One of these periods ended in July, a. d. 139.

So"til*te (?), n. Subtlety. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Sot"ted (?), a. & p. p. of Sot. Befooled; deluded; besotted. [Obs.] "This sotted priest." Chaucer.

Sot"ter*y (?), n. Folly. [Obs.] Gauden.

Sot"tish (?), a. [From Sot.] Like a sot; doltish; very foolish; drunken.

How ignorant are sottish pretenders to astrology!

Swift.

Syn. -- Dull; stupid; senseless; doltish; infatuate.

-- Sot"tish*ly, adv. -- Sot"tish*ness, n.

||Sot`to vo"ce (?). [It.] 1. (Mus.) With a restrained voice or moderate ||force; in an undertone.

2. Spoken low or in an undertone.

Sou (?), n.; pl. Sous (#) or (#). [F. sou, OF. sol, from L. solidus a gold coin, in LL., a coin of less value. See Sold, n., Solid, and and cf. Sol, Soldo.] An old French copper coin, equivalent in value to, and now displaced by, the five-centime piece ( of a franc), which is popularly called a sou.

Sou*a"ri nut` (?). (Bot.) The large edible nutlike seed of a tall tropical American tree (Caryocar nuciferum) of the same natural order with the tea plant; -- also called butternut. [Written also sawarra nut.]

||Sou"bah (?), n. See Subah.

||Sou"bah*dar (?), n. See Subahdar.

Sou`brette", n. [F.] A female servant or attendant; specifically, as a term of the theater, a lady's maid, in comedies, who acts the part of an intrigante; a meddlesome, mischievous female servant or young woman.

Sou`bri`quet" (?), n. See Sobriquet.

Souce (?), n. See 1st Souse.

Souce, v. t. & i. See Souse. [Obs.] penser.

Sou*chong" (?), n. [Chin. seou chong little plant or sort.] A kind of black tea of a fine quality.

Sou*dan" (?), n.[F.] A sultan. [Obs.]

Soud"ed (&?;), Soud"et (&?;), a. [See Solder.] United; consolidated; made firm; strengthened. [Obs.]

O martyr souded for virginity!

Chaucer.

Souf"fle (?), n. [F.] (Med.) A murmuring or blowing sound; as, the uterine souffle heard over the pregnant uterus.

Souf"flé (?), n. [F., fr. soufflé, p. p. of souffler to puff.] (Cookery) A side dish served hot from the oven at dinner, made of eggs, milk, and flour or other farinaceous substance, beaten till very light, and flavored with fruits, liquors, or essence.

Sough (?), n. A sow. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Sough (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] A small drain; an adit. [Prov. Eng.] W. M. Buchanan.

Sough (?; 277), n. [Cf. Icel. s&?;gr (in comp.) a rushing sound, or OE. swough, swogh, a sound, AS. sw&?;gan to rustle. Cf. Surf, Swoon, v. i.] 1. The sound produced by soughing; a hollow murmur or roaring.

The whispering leaves or solemn sough of the forest.

W. Howitt.

2. Hence, a vague rumor or flying report. [Scot.]

3. A cant or whining mode of speaking, especially in preaching or praying. [Scot.] Jamieson.

Sough, v. i. To whistle or sigh, as the wind.

Sought (?), imp. & p. p. of Seek.

Souke (?), v. t. & i. To suck. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Soul (?), a. Sole. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Soul (?), a. Sole. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Soul, v. i. [F. soûler to satiate. See Soil to feed.] To afford suitable sustenance. [Obs.] Warner.

Soul, n. [OE. soule, saule, AS. swel, swl; akin to OFries. s&?;le, OS. s&?;ola, D. ziel, G. seele, OHG. s&?;la, s&?;ula, Icel. sla, Sw. själ, Dan. siæl, Goth. saiwala; of uncertain origin, perhaps akin to L. saeculum a lifetime, age (cf. Secular.)] 1. The spiritual, rational, and immortal part in man; that part of man which enables him to think, and which renders him a subject of moral government; -- sometimes, in distinction from the higher nature, or spirit, of man, the so-called animal soul, that is, the seat of life, the sensitive affections and phantasy, exclusive of the voluntary and rational powers; -- sometimes, in distinction from the mind, the moral and emotional part of man's nature, the seat of feeling, in distinction from intellect; -- sometimes, the intellect only; the understanding; the seat of knowledge, as distinguished from feeling. In a more general sense, "an animating, separable, surviving entity, the vehicle of individual personal existence." Tylor.

The eyes of our souls only then begin to see, when our bodily eyes are closing.

Law.

2. The seat of real life or vitality; the source of action; the animating or essential part. "The hidden soul of harmony." Milton.

Thou sun, of this great world both eye and soul.

Milton.

3. The leader; the inspirer; the moving spirit; the heart; as, the soul of an enterprise; an able general is the soul of his army.

He is the very soul of bounty!

Shak.

4. Energy; courage; spirit; fervor; affection, or any other noble manifestation of the heart or moral nature; inherent power or goodness.

That he wants algebra he must confess; But not a soul to give our arms success.

Young.

5. A human being; a person; -- a familiar appellation, usually with a qualifying epithet; as, poor soul.

As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

Prov. xxv. 25.

God forbid so many simple souls Should perish by the aword!

Shak.

Now mistress Gilpin (careful soul).

Cowper.

6. A pure or disembodied spirit.

That to his only Son . . . every soul in heaven Shall bend the knee.

Milton.

Soul is used in the formation of numerous compounds, most of which are of obvious signification; as, soul-betraying, soul-consuming, soul-destroying, soul- distracting, soul-enfeebling, soul-exalting, soul-felt, soul-harrowing, soul-piercing, soul-quickening, soul-reviving, soul-stirring, soul-subduing, soul-withering, etc.

Syn. -- Spirit; life; courage; fire; ardor.

Cure of souls. See Cure, n., 2. -- Soul bell, the passing bell. Bp. Hall. -- Soul foot. See Soul scot, below. [Obs.] -- Soul scot or Soul shot. [Soul + scot, or shot; cf. AS. swelsceat.] (O. Eccl. Law) A funeral duty paid in former times for a requiem for the soul. Ayliffe.

Soul (?), v. t. To indue with a soul; to furnish with a soul or mind. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Souled (?), a. Furnished with a soul; possessing soul and feeling; -- used chiefly in composition; as, great-souled Hector. "Grecian chiefs . . . largely souled." Dryden.

||Sou"li*li` (?), n. (Zoöl.) A long-tailed, crested Javan monkey ||(Semnopithecus mitratus). The head, the crest, and the upper surface ||of the tail, are black.

Soul"less (?), a. Being without a soul, or without greatness or nobleness of mind; mean; spiritless.

Slave, souless villain, dog!

Shak.

Soul"less*ly, adv. In a soulless manner. Tylor.

Soun (?), n. & v. Sound. [Obs.] aucer.

Sound (?), n. [AS. sund a swimming, akin to E. swim. See Swim.] The air bladder of a fish; as, cod sounds are an esteemed article of food.

Sound, n. (Zoöl.) A cuttlefish. [Obs.] Ainsworth.

Sound, a. [Compar. Sounder (?); superl. Soundest.] [OE. sound, AS. sund; akin to D. gezond, G. gesund, OHG. gisunt, Dan. & Sw. sund, and perhaps to L. sanus. Cf. Sane.] 1. Whole; unbroken; unharmed; free from flaw, defect, or decay; perfect of the kind; as, sound timber; sound fruit; a sound tooth; a sound ship.

2. Healthy; not diseased; not being in a morbid state; -- said of body or mind; as, a sound body; a sound constitution; a sound understanding.

3. Firm; strong; safe.

The brasswork here, how rich it is in beams, And how, besides, it makes the whole house sound.

Chapman.

4. Free from error; correct; right; honest; true; faithful; orthodox; -- said of persons; as, a sound lawyer; a sound thinker.

Do not I know you a favorer Of this new seat? Ye are nor sound.

Shak.

5. Founded in truth or right; supported by justice; not to be overthrown on refuted; not fallacious; as, sound argument or reasoning; a sound objection; sound doctrine; sound principles.

Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me.

2 Tim. i. 13.

6. heavy; laid on with force; as, a sound beating.

7. Undisturbed; deep; profound; as, sound sleep.

8. Founded in law; legal; valid; not defective; as, a sound title to land.

Sound is sometimes used in the formation of self- explaining compounds; as, sound-headed, sound-hearted, sound-timbered, etc.

Sound currency (Com.), a currency whose actual value is the same as its nominal value; a currency which does not deteriorate or depreciate or fluctuate in comparision with the standard of values.

Sound, adv. Soundly.

So sound he slept that naught might him awake.

Spenser.

Sound, n. [AS. sund a narrow sea or strait; akin to Icel., Sw., Dan. & G. sund, probably so named because it could be swum across. See Swim.] (Geog.) A narrow passage of water, or a strait between the mainland and an island; also, a strait connecting two seas, or connecting a sea or lake with the ocean; as, the Sound between the Baltic and the german Ocean; Long Island Sound.

The Sound of Denmark, where ships pay toll.

Camden.

Sound dues, tolls formerly imposed by Denmark on vessels passing through the Baltic Sound.

Sound, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sounded; p. pr. & vb. n. Sounding.] [F. sonder; cf. AS. sundgyrd a sounding rod, sundline a sounding line (see Sound a narrow passage of water).] 1. To measure the depth of; to fathom; especially, to ascertain the depth of by means of a line and plummet.

2. Fig.: To ascertain, or try to ascertain, the thoughts, motives, and purposes of (a person); to examine; to try; to test; to probe.

I was in jest, And by that offer meant to sound your breast.

Dryden.

I've sounded my Numidians man by man.

Addison.

3. (Med.) To explore, as the bladder or urethra, with a sound; to examine with a sound; also, to examine by auscultation or percussion; as, to sound a patient.

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Sound (?), v. i. To ascertain the depth of water with a sounding line or other device.

I sound as a shipman soundeth in the sea with his plummet to know the depth of sea.

Palsgrave.

Sound, n. [F. sonde. See Sound to fathom.] (Med.) Any elongated instrument or probe, usually metallic, by which cavities of the body are sounded or explored, especially the bladder for stone, or the urethra for a stricture.

Sound, n. [OE. soun, OF. son, sun, F. son, fr. L. sonus akin to Skr. svana sound, svan to sound, and perh. to E. swan. Cf. Assonant, Consonant, Person, Sonata, Sonnet, Sonorous, Swan.] 1. The peceived object occasioned by the impulse or vibration of a material substance affecting the ear; a sensation or perception of the mind received through the ear, and produced by the impulse or vibration of the air or other medium with which the ear is in contact; the effect of an impression made on the organs of hearing by an impulse or vibration of the air caused by a collision of bodies, or by other means; noise; report; as, the sound of a drum; the sound of the human voice; a horrid sound; a charming sound; a sharp, high, or shrill sound.

The warlike sound Of trumpets loud and clarions.

Milton.

2. The occasion of sound; the impulse or vibration which would occasion sound to a percipient if present with unimpaired; hence, the theory of vibrations in elastic media such cause sound; as, a treatise on sound.

In this sense, sounds are spoken of as audible and inaudible.

3. Noise without signification; empty noise; noise and nothing else.

Sense and not sound . . . must be the principle.

Locke.

Sound boarding, boards for holding pugging, placed in partitions of under floors in order to deaden sounds. - - Sound bow, in a series of transverse sections of a bell, that segment against which the clapper strikes, being the part which is most efficacious in producing the sound. See Illust. of Bell. -- Sound post. (Mus.) See Sounding post, under Sounding.

Sound, v. i. [OE. sounen, sownen, OF. soner, suner, F. sonner, from L. sonare. See Sound a noise.] 1. To make a noise; to utter a voice; to make an impulse of the air that shall strike the organs of hearing with a perceptible effect. "And first taught speaking trumpets how to sound." Dryden.

How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues!

Shak.

2. To be conveyed in sound; to be spread or published; to convey intelligence by sound.

From you sounded out the word of the Lord.

1 Thess. i. 8.

3. To make or convey a certain impression, or to have a certain import, when heard; hence, to seem; to appear; as, this reproof sounds harsh; the story sounds like an invention.

Good sir, why do you start, and seem to fear Things that do sound so fair?

Shak.

To sound in or into, to tend to; to partake of the nature of; to be consonant with. [Obs., except in the phrase To sound in damages, below.]

Soun[d]ing in moral virtue was his speech.

Chaucer.

-- To sound in damages (Law), to have the essential quality of damages. This is said of an action brought, not for the recovery of a specific thing, as replevin, etc., but for damages only, as trespass, and the like.

Sound, v. t. 1. To causse to make a noise; to play on; as, to sound a trumpet or a horn.

A bagpipe well could he play and soun[d].

Chaucer.

2. To cause to exit as a sound; as, to sound a note with the voice, or on an instrument.

3. To order, direct, indicate, or proclain by a sound, or sounds; to give a signal for by a certain sound; as, to sound a retreat; to sound a parley.

The clock sounded the hour of noon.

G. H. Lewes.

4. To celebrate or honor by sounds; to cause to be reported; to publish or proclaim; as, to sound the praises of fame of a great man or a great exploit.

5. To examine the condition of (anything) by causing the same to emit sounds and noting their character; as, to sound a piece of timber; to sound a vase; to sound the lungs of a patient.

6. To signify; to import; to denote. [Obs.] Milton.

Soun[d]ing alway the increase of his winning.

Chaucer.

Sound"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being sounded.

Sound"age (?; 48), n. Dues for soundings.

Sound"-board` (?), n. A sounding- board.

To many a row of pipes the sound-board breathes.

Milton.

Sound"er (?), n. One who, or that which; sounds; specifically, an instrument used in telegraphy in place of a register, the communications being read by sound.

Sound"er, n. (Zoöl.) A herd of wild hogs.

Sound"ing, a. Making or emitting sound; hence, sonorous; as, sounding words. Dryden.

Sound"ing, n. 1. The act of one who, or that which, sounds (in any of the senses of the several verbs).

2. (Naut.) [From Sound to fathom.] (a) measurement by sounding; also, the depth so ascertained. (b) Any place or part of the ocean, or other water, where a sounding line will reach the bottom; -- usually in the plural. (c) The sand, shells, or the like, that are brought up by the sounding lead when it has touched bottom.

Sounding lead, the plummet at the end of a sounding line. -- Sounding line, a line having a plummet at the end, used in making soundings. -- Sounding post (Mus.), a small post in a violin, violoncello, or similar instrument, set under the bridge as a support, for propagating the sounds to the body of the instrument; -- called also sound post. -- Sounding rod (Naut.), a rod used to ascertain the depth of water in a ship's hold. -- In soundings, within the eighty-fathom line. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

Sound"ing-board` (?), n. 1. (Mus.) A thin board which propagates the sound in a piano, in a violin, and in some other musical instruments.

2. A board or structure placed behind or over a pulpit or rostrum to give distinctness to a speaker's voice.

3. pl. See Sound boarding, under Sound, a noise.

Sound"less (?), a. Not capable of being sounded or fathomed; unfathomable. Shak.

Sound"less, a. Having no sound; noiseless; silent. -- Sound"less*ly, adv. -- Sound"less*ness, n.

Sound"ly, adv. In a sound manner.

Sound"ness, n. The quality or state of being sound; as, the soundness of timber, of fruit, of the teeth, etc.; the soundness of reasoning or argument; soundness of faith.

Syn. -- Firmness; strength; solidity; healthiness; truth; rectitude.

Soune (?), v. t. & i. To sound. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Sounst (?), a. Soused. See Souse. [Obs.]

Soup (?), n. [F. soupe, OF. sope, supe, soupe, perhaps originally, a piece of bread; probably of Teutonic origin; cf. D. sop sop, G. suppe soup. See Sop something dipped in a liquid, and cf. Supper.] A liquid food of many kinds, usually made by boiling meat and vegetables, or either of them, in water, -- commonly seasoned or flavored; strong broth.

Soup kitchen, an establishment for preparing and supplying soup to the poor. -- Soup ticket, a ticket conferring the privilege of receiving soup at a soup kitchen.

Soup, v. t. To sup or swallow. [Obs.] Wyclif.

Soup, v. t. To breathe out. [Obs.] amden.

Soup, v. t. To sweep. See Sweep, and Swoop. [Obs.]

||Soupe`-mai"gre (?), n. [F.] (Cookery) Soup made chiefly from ||vegetables or fish with a little butter and a few condiments.

Sou"ple (?), n. That part of a flail which strikes the grain. Knight.

Soup"y (?), a. Resembling soup; souplike.

Sour (?), a. [Compar. Sourer (?); superl. Sourest.] [OE. sour, sur, AS. s&?;r; akin to D. zuur, G. sauer, OHG. s&?;r, Icel. s&?;rr, Sw. sur, Dan. suur, Lith. suras salt, Russ. surovui harsh, rough. Cf. Sorrel, the plant.] 1. Having an acid or sharp, biting taste, like vinegar, and the juices of most unripe fruits; acid; tart.

All sour things, as vinegar, provoke appetite.

Bacon.

2. Changed, as by keeping, so as to be acid, rancid, or musty, turned.

3. Disagreeable; unpleasant; hence; cross; crabbed; peevish; morose; as, a man of a sour temper; a sour reply. "A sour countenance." Swift.

He was a scholar . . . Lofty and sour to them that loved him not, But to those men that sought him sweet as summer.

Shak.

4. Afflictive; painful. "Sour adversity." Shak.

5. Cold and unproductive; as, sour land; a sour marsh.

Sour dock (Bot.), sorrel. -- Sour gourd (Bot.), the gourdlike fruit Adansonia Gregorii, and A. digitata; also, either of the trees bearing this fruit. See Adansonia. -- Sour grapes. See under Grape. -- Sour gum (Bot.) See Turelo. -- Sour plum (Bot.), the edible acid fruit of an Australian tree (Owenia venosa); also, the tree itself, which furnished a hard reddish wood used by wheelwrights.

Syn. -- Acid; sharp; tart; acetous; acetose; harsh; acrimonious; crabbed; currish; peevish.

Sour, n. A sour or acid substance; whatever produces a painful effect. Spenser.

Sour, v. t. [AS. s&?;rian to sour, to become sour.] 1. To cause to become sour; to cause to turn from sweet to sour; as, exposure to the air sours many substances.

So the sun's heat, with different powers, Ripens the grape, the liquor sours.

Swift.

2. To make cold and unproductive, as soil. Mortimer.

3. To make unhappy, uneasy, or less agreeable.

To sour your happiness I must report, The queen is dead.

Shak.

4. To cause or permit to become harsh or unkindly. "Souring his cheeks." Shak.

Pride had not sour'd nor wrath debased my heart.

Harte.

5. To macerate, and render fit for plaster or mortar; as, to sour lime for business purposes.

Sour, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Soured (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Souring.] To become sour; to turn from sweet to sour; as, milk soon sours in hot weather; a kind temper sometimes sours in adversity.

They keep out melancholy from the virtuous, and hinder the hatred of vice from souring into severity.

Addison.

Source (?), n. [OE. sours, OF. sourse, surse, sorse, F. source, fr. OF. sors, p. p. of OF. sordre, surdre, sourdre, to spring forth or up, F. sourdre, fr. L. surgere to lift or raise up, to spring up. See Surge, and cf. Souse to plunge or swoop as a bird upon its prey.] 1. The act of rising; a rise; an ascent. [Obs.]

Therefore right as an hawk upon a sours Up springeth into the air, right so prayers . . . Maken their sours to Goddes ears two.

Chaucer.

2. The rising from the ground, or beginning, of a stream of water or the like; a spring; a fountain.

Where as the Poo out of a welle small Taketh his firste springing and his sours.

Chaucer.

Kings that rule Behind the hidden sources of the Nile.

Addison.

3. That from which anything comes forth, regarded as its cause or origin; the person from whom anything originates; first cause.

This source of ideas every man has wholly in himself.

Locke.

The source of Newton's light, of Bacon's sense.

Pope.

Syn. -- See Origin.

Sour"crout` (?), n. See Sauerkraut.

Sourde (?), v. i. [F. sourdre. See Source.] To have origin or source; to rise; to spring. [Obs.]

Now might men ask whereof that pride sourdeth.

Chaucer.

Sour"ing (?), n. (Bot.) Any sour apple.

Sour"ish, a. Somewhat sour; moderately acid; as, sourish fruit; a sourish taste.

Sour"krout` (?), n. Same as Sauerkraut.

Sour"ly, adv. In a sour manner; with sourness.

Sour"ness, n. The quality or state of being sour.

Sours (?), n. Source. See Source. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Sour"sop` (?), n. (Bot.) The large succulent and slightly acid fruit of a small tree (Anona muricata) of the West Indies; also, the tree itself. It is closely allied to the custard apple.

Sour"wood` (?), n. (Bot.) The sorrel tree.

{ Sous, Souse } (F. s; colloq. Eng. sous), n. A corrupt form of Sou. [Obs.] Colman, the Elder.

Souse (?), n. [OF. sausse. See Sauce.] [Written also souce, sowce, and sowse.] 1. Pickle made with salt.

2. Something kept or steeped in pickle; esp., the pickled ears, feet, etc., of swine.

And he that can rear up a pig in his house, Hath cheaper his bacon, and sweeter his souse.

Tusser.

3. The ear; especially, a hog's ear. [Prov. Eng.]

4. The act of sousing; a plunging into water.

Souse, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Soused (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sousing.] [Cf. F. saucer to wet with sauce. See Souse pickle.] 1. To steep in pickle; to pickle. "A soused gurnet." Shak.

2. To plunge or immerse in water or any liquid.

They soused me over head and ears in water.

Addison.

3. To drench, as by an immersion; to wet throughly.

Although I be well soused in this shower.

Gascoigne.

Souse, v. i. [Probably fr. OF. sors, p. p. of sordre to rise, and first used of an upward swood, then of a swoop in general, but also confused with Souse, v. t. See Source.] To swoop or plunge, as a bird upon its prey; to fall suddenly; to rush with speed; to make a sudden attack.

For then I viewed his plunge and souse Into the foamy main.

Marston.

Jove's bird will souse upon the timorous hare.

J. Dryden. Jr.

Souse, v. t. To pounce upon. [R.]

[The gallant monarch] like eagle o'er his serie towers, To souse annoyance that comes near his nest.

Shak.

Souse, n. The act of sousing, or swooping.

As a falcon fair That once hath failed or her souse full near.

Spenser.

Souse, adv. With a sudden swoop; violently. Young.

Sous"lik (?), n. [F.] (Zoöl.) See Suslik.

Sout (?), n. Soot. [Obs.] Spenser.

||Sou`tache" (?), n. [F.] A kind of narrow braid, usually of silk; -- ||also known as Russian braid.

Sout"age (? or ?; 48), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] That in which anything is packed; bagging, as for hops. [Obs.] Halliwell.

||Sou`tane" (?), n. [F., fr. Sp. sotana, or It. sottana, LL. subtana, ||fr. L. subtus below, beneath, fr. sub under.] (Eccl. Costume) A close ||garnment with straight sleeves, and skirts reaching to the ankles, ||and buttoned in front from top to bottom; especially, the black ||garment of this shape worn by the clergy in France and Italy as their ||daily dress; a cassock.

Sou"ter (?), n. [AS. s&?;t&?;re, fr. It. sutor, fr. suere to sew.] A shoemaker; a cobbler. [Obs.] Chaucer.

There is no work better than another to please God: . . . to wash dishes, to be a souter, or an apostle, -- all is one.

Tyndale.

Sou"ter*ly, a. Of or pertaining to a cobbler or cobblers; like a cobbler; hence, vulgar; low. [Obs.]

Sou"ter*rain (?), n. [F. See Subterranean.] A grotto or cavern under ground. [Obs.] Arbuthnot.

South (?; by sailors sou), n. [OE. south, suþ, AS. sð for sunð; akin to D. zuid, OHG. sund, G. süd, süden, Icel. suðr, sunnr, Dan. syd, sönden, Sw. syd, söder, sunnan; all probably akin to E. sun, meaning, the side towards the sun. &radic;297. See Sun.] 1. That one of the four cardinal points directly opposite to the north; the region or direction to the right or direction to the right of a person who faces the east.

2. A country, region, or place situated farther to the south than another; the southern section of a country. "The queen of the south." Matt. xii. 42.

3. Specifically: That part of the United States which is south of Mason and Dixon's line. See under Line.

4. The wind from the south. [Obs.] Shak.

South, a. Lying toward the south; situated at the south, or in a southern direction from the point of observation or reckoning; proceeding toward the south, or coming from the south; blowing from the south; southern; as, the south pole. "At the south entry." Shak.

South-Sea tea (Bot.) See Yaupon.

South, adv. 1. Toward the south; southward.

2. From the south; as, the wind blows south. Bacon.

South (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Southed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Southing.] 1. To turn or move toward the south; to veer toward the south.

2. (Astron.) To come to the meridian; to cross the north and south line; -- said chiefly of the moon; as, the moon souths at nine.

South*cot"ti*an (?), n. (Eccl. Hist.) A follower of Joanna Southcott (1750-1814), an Englishwoman who, professing to have received a miraculous calling, preached and prophesied, and committed many impious absurdities.

South"down` (?), a. Of or pertaining to the South Downs, a range of pasture hills south of the Thames, in England.

Southdown sheep (Zoöl.), a celebrated breed of shortwooled, hornless sheep, highly valued on account of the delicacy of their flesh. So called from the South Downs where the breed originated.

South"down`, n. A Southdown sheep.

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South`east" (?; by sailors sou"-), n. The point of the compass equally distant from the south and the east; the southeast part or region.

South`east (?; by sailors sou"-), a. Of or pertaining to the southeast; proceeding toward, or coming from, the southeast; as, a southeast course; a southeast wind.

South`east"er (?), n. A storm, strong wind, or gale coming from the southeast.

South`east"er, adv. Toward the southeast.

South`east"ern (?), a. Of or pertaining to the southeast; southeasterly.

{ South`east"ward (?), South`east"ward*ly }, adv. Toward the southeast.

South"er (?), n. A strong wind, gale, or storm from the south.

South"er*li*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being southerly; direction toward the south.

South"er*ly (?; 277), a. Southern.

South"ern (?; 277), a. [AS. s&?;&?;ern. See South.] Of or pertaining to the south; situated in, or proceeding from, the south; situated or proceeding toward the south.

Southern Cross (Astron.), a constellation of the southern hemisphere containing several bright stars so related in position as to resemble a cross. -- Southern Fish (Astron.), a constelation of the southern hemisphere (Piscis Australis) containing the bright star Fomalhaut. -- Southern States (U.S. Hist. & Geog.), the States of the American Union lying south of Pennsylvania and the Ohio River, with Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. Before the Civil War, Missouri also, being a slave State, was classed as one of the Southern States.

South"ern, n. A Southerner. [R.]

South"ern*er (?), n. An inhabitant or native of the south, esp. of the Southern States of North America; opposed to Northerner.

South"ern*li*ness (?), n. Southerliness.

South"ern*ly (?), a. Somewhat southern. -- adv. In a southerly manner or course; southward.

South"ern*most` (?), a. Farthest south.

South"ern*wood` (?), n. (Bot.) A shrubby species of wormwood (Artemisia Abrotanum) having aromatic foliage. It is sometimes used in making beer.

South"ing (?; 277), n. 1. Tendency or progress southward; as, the southing of the sun. Emerson.

2. The time at which the moon, or other heavenly body, passes the meridian of a place.

3. (Astron.) Distance of any heavenly body south of the equator; south declination; south latitude.

4. (Surv. & Navigation) Distance southward from any point departure or of reckoning, measured on a meridian; -- opposed to northing.

South"ly (?), adv. Southerly. [Obs. & R.]

South"most` (?), a. Farthest toward the south; southernmost. [R.] Milton.

South"ness, n. A tendency in the end of a magnetic needle to point toward the south pole. Faraday.

South"ren (?), a. Southern. [Obs.] "I am a Southren man." Chaucer.

South"ron (?), n. An inhabitant of the more southern part of a country; formerly, a name given in Scotland to any Englishman.

South"say` (?), v. i. See Soothsay. [Obs.]

South"say`er (?), n. See Soothsayer. [Obs.]

South` south"er*ly (?). (Zoöl.) the old squaw; -- so called in imitation of its cry. Called also southerly, and southerland. See under Old.

{ South"ward (?; colloq. &?;), South"wards (?; colloq. &?;) }, adv. Toward the south, or toward a point nearer the south than the east or west point; as, to go southward.

South"ward, a. Toward the south.

South"ward, n. The southern regions or countries; the south. Sir W. Raleigh.

South"ward*ly, adv. In a southern direction.

South`west (?; colloq. sou"-.), n. The point of the compass equally from the south and the west; the southwest part or region.

South`west", a. Pertaining to, or in the direction of, the southwest; proceeding toward the southwest; coming from the southwest; as, a southwest wind.

South`west"er (?; colloq. &?;), n. 1. A storm, gale, or strong wind from the southwest.

2. A hat made of painted canvas, oiled cloth, or the like, with a flap at the back, -- worn in stormy weather.

South`west"er*ly, a. To ward or from the southwest; as, a southwesterly course; a southwesterly wind.

South`west"ern (?), a. Of or pertaining to the southwest; southwesterly; as, to sail a southwestern course.

{ South`west"ward (?), South`west"ward*ly }, adv. Toward the southwest.

{ Sou"ve*nance (?), So"ve*naunce (?), } n. [F. souvenance.] Remembrance. [Obs.]

Of his way he had no sovenance.

Spenser.

Sou`ve*nir (? or ?), n. [F., fr. souvenir to remember, fr. L. subvenire to come up, come to mind; sub under + venire to come, akin to E. come. See Come, and cf. Subvention.] That which serves as a reminder; a remembrancer; a memento; a keepsake.

Sov"er*eign (? or ?; 277), a. [OE. soverain, sovereyn, OF. soverain, suvrain, F. souverain, LL. superanus, fr. L. superus that is above, upper, higher, fr. super above. See Over, Super, and cf. Soprano. The modern spelling is due to a supposed connection with reign.] 1. Supreme or highest in power; superior to all others; chief; as, our sovereign prince.

2. Independent of, and unlimited by, any other; possessing, or entitled to, original authority or jurisdiction; as, a sovereign state; a sovereign discretion.

3. Princely; royal. "Most sovereign name." Shak.

At Babylon was his sovereign see.

Chaucer.

4. Predominant; greatest; utmost; paramount.

We acknowledge him [God] our sovereign good.

Hooker.

5. Efficacious in the highest degree; effectual; controlling; as, a sovereign remedy. Dryden.

Such a sovereign influence has this passion upon the regulation of the lives and actions of men.

South.

Sovereign state, a state which administers its own government, and is not dependent upon, or subject to, another power.

Sov"er*eign (? or ?; 277), n. 1. The person, body, or state in which independent and supreme authority is vested; especially, in a monarchy, a king, queen, or emperor.

No question is to be made but that the bed of the Mississippi belongs to the sovereign, that is, to the nation.

Jefferson.

2. A gold coin of Great Britain, on which an effigy of the head of the reigning king or queen is stamped, valued at one pound sterling, or about $4.86.

3. (Zoöl.) Any butterfly of the tribe Nymphalidi, or genus Basilarchia, as the ursula and the viceroy.

Syn. -- King; prince; monarch; potentate; emperor.

Sov"er*eign*ize (?), v. i. To exercise supreme authority. [Obs.] Sir T. Herbert.

Sov"er*eign*ly, adv. In a sovereign manner; in the highest degree; supremely. Chaucer.

Sov"er*eign*ty (?), n.; pl. Sovereignties (#). [OE. soverainetee, OF. sovraineté, F. souveraineté.] The quality or state of being sovereign, or of being a sovereign; the exercise of, or right to exercise, supreme power; dominion; sway; supremacy; independence; also, that which is sovereign; a sovereign state; as, Italy was formerly divided into many sovereignties.

Woman desiren to have sovereignty As well over their husband as over their love.

Chaucer.

Sov"ran (?), a. A variant of Sovereign. [Poetic]

On thy bald, awful head, O sovran Blanc.

Coleridge.

Sow (?), v. i. To sew. See Sew. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Sow (?), n. [OE. sowe, suwe, AS. sugu, akin to s, D. zog, zeug, OHG. s, G. sau, Icel. sr, Dan. so, Sw. sugga, so, L. sus. Gr. "y^s, sy^s, Zend. hu boar; probably from the root seen in Skr. s to beget, to bear; the animal being named in allusion to its fecundity. &radic;294. Cf. Hyena, Soil to stain, Son, Swine.] 1. (Zoöl.) The female of swine, or of the hog kind.

2. (Zoöl.) A sow bug.

3. (Metal.) (a) A channel or runner which receives the rows of molds in the pig bed. (b) The bar of metal which remains in such a runner. (c) A mass of solidified metal in a furnace hearth; a salamander.

4. (Mil.) A kind of covered shed, formerly used by besiegers in filling up and passing the ditch of a besieged place, sapping and mining the wall, or the like. Craig.

Sow bread. (Bot.) See Cyclamen. -- Sow bug, or Sowbug (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of terrestrial Isopoda belonging to Oniscus, Porcellio, and allied genera of the family Oniscidæ. They feed chiefly on decaying vegetable substances. -- Sow thistle [AS. sugepistel] (Bot.), a composite plant (Sonchus oleraceus) said to be eaten by swine and some other animals.

Sow (?), v. t. [imp. Sowed (?); p. p. Sown (?) or Sowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Sowing.] [OE. sowen, sawen, AS. swan; akin to OFries. s&?;a, D. zaaijen, OS. & HG. sjan, G. säen, Icel. s, Sw. så, Dan. saae, Goth. saian, Lith. sti, Russ. sieiate, L. serere, sevi. Cf. Saturday, Season, Seed, Seminary.] 1. To scatter, as seed, upon the earth; to plant by strewing; as, to sow wheat. Also used figuratively: To spread abroad; to propagate. "He would sow some difficulty." Chaucer.

A sower went forth to sow; and when he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside.

Matt. xiii. 3, 4.

And sow dissension in the hearts of brothers.

Addison.

2. To scatter seed upon, in, or over; to supply or stock, as land, with seeds. Also used figuratively: To scatter over; to besprinkle.

The intellectual faculty is a goodly field, . . . and it is the worst husbandry in the world to sow it with trifles.

Sir M. Hale.

[He] sowed with stars the heaven.

Milton.

Now morn . . . sowed the earth with orient pearl.

Milton.

Sow, v. i. To scatter seed for growth and the production of a crop; -- literally or figuratively.

They that sow in tears shall reap in joi.

Ps. cxxvi. 5.

Sow"ans (? or ?), n. pl. See Sowens.

Sow"ar (?), n. [Per. sawr a horseman.] In India, a mounted soldier.

Sow"bane` (?), n. (Bot.) The red goosefoot (Chenopodium rubrum), -- said to be fatal to swine.

Sowce (?), n. & v. See Souse. [Obs.]

Sow"dan (?), n. [F. soudan. See Soldan.] Sultan. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Sow"dan*esse` (?), n. A sultaness. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Sow"ens (? or ?), n. pl. [Scottish; cf. AS. seáw juice, glue, paste.] A nutritious article of food, much used in Scotland, made from the husk of the oat by a process not unlike that by which common starch is made; -- called flummery in England. [Written also sowans, and sowins.]

Sow"er (?), n. One who, or that which, sows.

Sow"ins (? or ?), n. pl. See Sowens.

{ Sowl, Sowle } (?), v. t. [Cf. prov. G. zaulen, zauseln, G. zausen to tug, drag.] To pull by the ears; to drag about. [Obs.] hak.

Sowl, v. i. See Soul, v. i. [Obs.]

Sown (?), p. p. of Sow.

Sowne (?), v. t. & i. To sound. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Sowse (?), n. & v. See Souse. [Obs.] ryden.

Sow"ter (?), n. See Souter. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Soy (?), n. [Chinese shy.] 1. A Chinese and Japanese liquid sauce for fish, etc., made by subjecting boiled beans (esp. soja beans), or beans and meal, to long fermentation and then long digestion in salt and water.

2. (Bot.) The soja, a kind of bean. See Soja.

Soyle (?), v. t. [Aphetic form of assoil.] To solve, to clear up; as, to soyl all other texts. [Obs.] Tyndate.

Soyle, n. [Cf. Soil to feed.] Prey. [Obs.] Spenser.

Soyn"ed (? or ?), a. [F. soigner to care.] Filled with care; anxious. [Obs.] Mir. for Mag.

Soz"zle (?), v. t. [Freq. from soss, v.] 1. To splash or wet carelessly; as, to sozzle the feet in water. [Local, U.S.] Bartlett.

2. To heap up in confusion. [Prov. Eng.] Forby.

Soz"zle, n. 1. One who spills water or other liquids carelessly; specifically, a sluttish woman. [Local, U.S.]

2. A mass, or heap, confusedly mingled. [Prov. Eng.]

Spa (?; 277), n. A spring or mineral water; -- so called from a place of this name in Belgium.

Spaad (?), n. [Cf. G. spath spar. See Spar the mineral.] (Min.) A kind of spar; earth flax, or amianthus. [Obs.] oodward.

Space (sps), n. [OE. space, F. espace, from L. spatium space; cf. Gr. spa^n to draw, to tear; perh. akin to E. span. Cf. Expatiate.] 1. Extension, considered independently of anything which it may contain; that which makes extended objects conceivable and possible.

Pure space is capable neither of resistance nor motion.

Locke.

2. Place, having more or less extension; room.

They gave him chase, and hunted him as hare; Long had he no space to dwell [in].

R. of Brunne.

While I have time and space.

Chaucer.

3. A quantity or portion of extension; distance from one thing to another; an interval between any two or more objects; as, the space between two stars or two hills; the sound was heard for the space of a mile.

Put a space betwixt drove and drove.

Gen. xxxii. 16.

4. Quantity of time; an interval between two points of time; duration; time. "Grace God gave him here, this land to keep long space." R. of brunne.

Nine times the space that measures day and night.

Milton.

God may defer his judgments for a time, and give a people a longer space of repentance.

Tillotson.

5. A short time; a while. [R.] "To stay your deadly strife a space." Spenser.

6. Walk; track; path; course. [Obs.]

This ilke [same] monk let old things pace, And held after the new world the space.

Chaucer.

7. (print.) (a) A small piece of metal cast lower than a face type, so as not to receive the ink in printing, -- used to separate words or letters. (b) The distance or interval between words or letters in the lines, or between lines, as in books.

Spaces are of different thicknesses to enable the compositor to arrange the words at equal distances from each other in the same line.

8. (Mus.) One of the intervals, or open places, between the lines of the staff.

Absolute space, Euclidian space, etc. See under Absolute, Euclidian, etc. -- Space line (Print.), a thin piece of metal used by printers to open the lines of type to a regular distance from each other, and for other purposes; a lead. Hansard. -- Space rule (Print.), a fine, thin, short metal rule of the same height as the type, used in printing short lines in tabular matter.

Space, v. i. [Cf. OF. espacier, L. spatiari. See Space, n.] To walk; to rove; to roam. [Obs.]

And loved in forests wild to space.

Spenser.

Space, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spaced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spacong (?).] [Cf. F. espacer. See Space, n.] (Print.) To arrange or adjust the spaces in or between; as, to space words, lines, or letters.

Space"ful (?), a. Wide; extensive. Sandys.

Space"less, a. Without space. Coleridge.

Spa"cial (?), a. See Spatial.

Spa"cial*ly, adv. See Spatially. Sir W. Hamilton.

Spa"cious (?), a. [L. spatiousus: cf. F. spacieux. See Space, n.] 1. Extending far and wide; vast in extent. "A spacious plain outstretched in circuit wide." Milton.

2. Inclosing an extended space; having large or ample room; not contracted or narrow; capacious; roomy; as, spacious bounds; a spacious church; a spacious hall. -- Spa"cious*ly, adv. -- Spa"cious*ness, n.

||Spa`das`sin" (?), n. [F., fr. It. spadaccino a swordsman, from spada ||a sword.] A bravo; a bully; a duelist. Ld. Lytton.

Spad"dle (?), n. A little spade. [Obs.]

Spade (?), n. [Cf. Spay, n.] 1. (Zoöl.) A hart or stag three years old. [Written also spaid, spayade.]

2. [Cf. L. spado.] A castrated man or beast.

Spade, n. [AS. spæd; spada; akin to D. spade, G. spaten, Icel. spaði, Dan. & Sw. spade, L. spatha a spatula, a broad two-edged sword, a spathe, Gr. spa`qh. Cf. Epaulet, Spade at cards, Spathe, Spatula.] 1. An implement for digging or cutting the ground, consisting usually of an oblong and nearly rectangular blade of iron, with a handle like that of a shovel. "With spade and pickax armed." Milton.

2. [Sp. espada, literally, a sword; -- so caused because these cards among the Spanish bear the figure of a sword. Sp. espada is fr. L. spatha, Gr. spa`qh. See the Etymology above.] One of that suit of cards each of which bears one or more figures resembling a spade.

"Let spades be trumps!" she said.

Pope.

3. A cutting instrument used in flensing a whale.

Spade bayonet, a bayonet with a broad blade which may be used digging; -- called also trowel bayonet. -- Spade handle (Mach.), the forked end of a connecting rod in which a pin is held at both ends. See Illust. of Knuckle joint, under Knuckle.

<! p. 1377 !>

Spade (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Spading.] To dig with a spade; to pare off the sward of, as land, with a spade.

Spade"bone` (&?;), n. Shoulder blade. [Prov. Eng.]

Spade"fish` (?), n. (Zoöl.) An American market fish (Chætodipterus faber) common on the southern coasts; -- called also angel fish, moonfish, and porgy.

Spade"foot` (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any species of burrowing toads of the genus Scaphiopus, esp. S. Holbrookii, of the Eastern United States; -- called also spade toad.

Spade"ful (?), n.; pl. Spadefuls (#). [Spade + full.] As much as a spade will hold or lift.

Spad"er (?), n. One who, or that which, spades; specifically, a digging machine.

Spa*di"ceous (?), a. [L. spadix, -icis, a date-brown or nut-brown color. See Spadix.] 1. Of a bright clear brown or chestnut color. Sir T. Browne.

2. (Bot.) Bearing flowers on a spadix; of the nature of a spadix.

Spa"di*cose` (?), a. (Bot.) Spadiceous.

Spa*dille" (?), n. [F., fr. Sp. espadilla, dim. of espada. See Spade a card.] (Card Playing) The ace of spades in omber and quadrille.

Spa"dix (?), n.; pl. L. Spadices (#), E. Spadixes (#). [L., a palm branch broken off, with its fruit, Gr. &?;.] 1. (Bot.) A fleshy spike of flowers, usually inclosed in a leaf called a spathe.

2. (Zoöl.) A special organ of the nautilus, due to a modification of the posterior tentacles.

||Spa"do (?), n.; pl. Spadones (#). [L., fr. Gr. &?;.] 1. Same as ||Spade, 2.

2. (Law) An impotent person.

Spa*droon" (?), n. [Cf. F. & Sp. espadon, It. spadone. See Espadon, Spade.] A sword, especially a broadsword, formerly used both to cut and thrust.

Spae (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Spaed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spaeing.] [Scot. spae, spay, to foretell, to divine, Icel. sp.] To foretell; to divine. [Scot.]

Spae"man (?), n. A prophet; a diviner. [Scot.]

Spae"wife` (?), n. A female fortune teller. [Scot.]

||Spa*ghet"ti (?), n. [It.] A variety or macaroni made in tubes of ||small diameter.

{ Spa*gyr"ic (?), Spa*gyr"ic*al (?) }, a. [LL. sparygicus, fr. Gr. &?; to draw, to separate + &?; to assemble; cf. F. spagirique.] Chemical; alchemical. [Obs.]

Spa*gyr"ic, n. A spagyrist. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Spag"y*rist (?), n. [Cf. F. spagiriste.] 1. A chemist, esp. one devoted to alchemistic pursuits. [Obs.]

2. One of a sect which arose in the days of alchemy, who sought to discover remedies for disease by chemical means. The spagyrists historically preceded the iatrochemists. Encyc. Brit.

{ ||Spa"hi (?), ||Spa"hee }, n. [Per., Turk., & Hind. siph: cf. F. spahi. See Seroy.] 1. Formerly, one of the Turkish cavalry.

2. An Algerian cavalryman in the French army.

Spaid (?), n. See 1st Spade.

Spake (?), archaic imp. of Speak.

Spake"net` (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] A net for catching crabs. Halliwell.

Spak"y (?), a. Specky. [Obs.] hapman.

Spald"ing knife` (?). A spalting knife.

Spale (?), n. [Cf. Spell a splinter.] 1. A lath; a shaving or chip, as of wood or stone. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

2. (Shipbuilding) A strengthening cross timber.

Spall (?), n. [OF. espaule; cf. It. spalla. See Epaule.] The shoulder. [Obs.] Spenser.

Spall, n. [Prov. E. spall, spell. See Spale, Spell a splinter.] A chip or fragment, especially a chip of stone as struck off the block by the hammer, having at least one feather-edge.

Spall, v. t. 1. (Mining) To break into small pieces, as ore, for the purpose of separating from rock. Pryce.

2. (Masonry) To reduce, as irregular blocks of stone, to an approximately level surface by hammering.

Spall, v. i. To give off spalls, or wedge-shaped chips; -- said of stone, as when badly set, with the weight thrown too much on the outer surface.

Spal"peen (?), n. [Ir. spailpin, fr. spailp a beau, pride, self-conceit.] A scamp; an Irish term for a good-for-nothing fellow; -- often used in good-humored contempt or ridicule. [Colloq.]

Spalt (?), n. [Cf. G. spaltstein, from spalten to split. See 1st Spell.] (Metal.) Spelter. [Colloq.]

Spalt, a. [See 1st Spell.] 1. Liable to break or split; brittle; as, spalt timber. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

2. Heedless; clumsy; pert; saucy. [Prov. Eng.]

Spalt, v. t. & i. [Cf. OE. spalden. See Spalt, a.] To split off; to cleave off, as chips from a piece of timber, with an ax. [Prov. Eng. & Local, U.S.]

Spalt"ing knife` (?). A knife used in splitting codfish. [Written also spalding knife.]

Span (?), archaic imp. & p. p. of Spin.

Span, n. [AS. spann; akin to D. span, OHG. spanna, G. spanne, Icel. spönn. &radic;170. See Span, v. t. ] 1. The space from the thumb to the end of the little finger when extended; nine inches; eighth of a fathom.

2. Hence, a small space or a brief portion of time.

Yet not to earth's contracted span Thy goodness let me bound.

Pope.

Life's but a span; I'll every inch enjoy.

Farquhar.

3. The spread or extent of an arch between its abutments, or of a beam, girder, truss, roof, bridge, or the like, between its supports.

4. (Naut.) A rope having its ends made fast so that a purchase can be hooked to the bight; also, a rope made fast in the center so that both ends can be used.

5. [Cf. D. span, Sw. spann, Dan. spænd, G. gespann. See Span, v. t. ] A pair of horses or other animals driven together; usually, such a pair of horses when similar in color, form, and action.

Span blocks (Naut.), blocks at the topmast and topgallant-mast heads, for the studding-sail halyards. -- Span counter, an old English child's game, in which one throws a counter on the ground, and another tries to hit it with his counter, or to get his counter so near it that he can span the space between them, and touch both the counters. Halliwell. "Henry V., in whose time boys went to span counter for French crowns." Shak. -- Span iron (Naut.), a special kind of harpoon, usually secured just below the gunwale of a whaleboat. -- Span roof, a common roof, having two slopes and one ridge, with eaves on both sides. Gwilt. -- Span shackle (Naut.), a large bolt driven through the forecastle deck, with a triangular shackle in the head to receive the heel of the old-fashioned fish davit. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

Span (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spanned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spanning.] [AS. pannan; akin to D. & G. spannen, OHG. spannan, Sw. spänna, Dan. spænde, Icel. spenna, and perh. to Gr. &?; to draw, to drag, L. spatium space. &radic;170. Cf. Spin, v. t., Space, Spasm.] 1. To measure by the span of the hand with the fingers extended, or with the fingers encompassing the object; as, to span a space or distance; to span a cylinder.

My right hand hath spanned the heavens.

Isa. xiviii. 13.

2. To reach from one side of to the order; to stretch over as an arch.

The rivers were spanned by arches of solid masonry.

prescott.

3. To fetter, as a horse; to hobble.

Span, v. i. To be matched, as horses. [U. S.]

||Spa*næ"mi*a (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; scarce + &?; blood.] (Med.) A ||condition of impoverishment of the blood; a morbid state in which the ||red corpuscles, or other important elements of the blood, are ||deficient.

Spa*næ"mic (? or ?), a. (Med.) Of or pertaining to spanæmia; having impoverished blood.

Span"cel (?), n. [Perhaps span + AS. sl a rope.] A rope used for tying or hobbling the legs of a horse or cow. [Prov. Eng. & Local, U.S.] Grose.

Span"cel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spanceled (?) or Spancelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Spanceling or Spancelling.] To tie or hobble with a spancel. [Prov. Eng. & Local, U.S.] Malone.

Span"dogs` (?), n. pl. A pair of grappling dogs for hoisting logs and timber.

Span"drel (?), n. [From Span.] 1. (Arch.) The irregular triangular space between the curve of an arch and the inclosing right angle; or the space between the outer moldings of two contiguous arches and a horizontal line above them, or another arch above and inclosing them.

2. A narrow mat or passe partout for a picture. [Cant]

Spane (?), v. t. [Akin to G. spänen, LG. & D. spennen, AS. spanu a teat.] To wean. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

Spang (?), v. t. To spangle. [Obs.]

Spang, v. i. To spring; to bound; to leap. [Scot.]

But when they spang o'er reason's fence, We smart for't at our own expense.

Ramsay.

Spang, n. A bound or spring. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

Spang, n. [AS. spange a clasp or fastening; akin to D. spang, G. spange, OHG. spanga, Icel. spöng a spangle.] A spangle or shining ornament. [Obs.]

With glittering spangs that did like stars appear.

Spenser.

Span"gle (?), n. [OE. spangel, dim. of AS. spange. See Spang a spangle.] 1. A small plate or boss of shining metal; something brilliant used as an ornament, especially when stitched on the dress.

2. Figuratively, any little thing that sparkless. "The rich spangles that adorn the sky." Waller.

Oak spangle. See under Oak.

Span"gle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spangled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spangling (?).] To set or sprinkle with, or as with, spangles; to adorn with small, distinct, brilliant bodies; as, a spangled breastplate. Donne.

What stars do spangle heaven with such beauty?

Shak.

Spangled coquette (Zoöl.), a tropical humming bird (Lophornis reginæ). See Coquette, 2.

Span"gle, v. i. To show brilliant spots or points; to glisten; to glitter.

Some men by feigning words as dark as mine Make truth to spangle, and its rays to shine.

Bunyan.

Span"gler (?), n. One who, or that which, spangles.

Span"gly (?), a. Resembling, or consisting of, spangles; glittering; as, spangly light.

Span"iard (?), n. A native or inhabitant of Spain.

Span"iel (?), n. [OF. espagneul, F. épagneul, espagnol Spanish, Sp. españnol, fr. España Spain, from L. Hispania.] 1. (Zoöl.) One of a breed of small dogs having long and thick hair and large drooping ears. The legs are usually strongly feathered, and the tail bushy. See Illust. under Clumber, and Cocker.

There are several varieties of spaniels, some of which, known as field spaniels, are used in hunting; others are used for toy or pet dogs, as the Blenheim spaniel, and the King Charles spaniel (see under Blenheim). Of the field spaniels, the larger kinds are called springers, and to these belong the Sussex, Norfolk, and Clumber spaniels (see Clumber). The smaller field spaniels, used in hunting woodcock, are called cocker spaniels (see Cocker). Field spaniels are remarkable for their activity and intelligence.

As a spaniel she will on him leap.

Chaucer.

2. A cringing, fawning person. Shak.

Span"iel (?), a. Cringing; fawning. Shak.

Span"iel, v. i. To fawn; to cringe; to be obsequious. [R.] Churchill.

Span"iel, v. t. To follow like a spaniel. [R.]

Span"ish (?), a. Of or pertaining to Spain or the Spaniards.

Spanish bayonet (Bot.), a liliaceous plant (Yucca alorifolia) with rigid spine-tipped leaves. The name is also applied to other similar plants of the Southwestern United States and mexico. Called also Spanish daggers. -- Spanish bean (Bot.) See the Note under Bean. -- Spanish black, a black pigment obtained by charring cork. Ure. -- Spanish broom (Bot.), a leguminous shrub (Spartium junceum) having many green flexible rushlike twigs. -- Spanish brown, a species of earth used in painting, having a dark reddish brown color, due to the presence of sesquioxide of iron. -- Spanish buckeye (Bot.), a small tree (Ungnadia speciosa) of Texas, New Mexico, etc., related to the buckeye, but having pinnate leaves and a three-seeded fruit. -- Spanish burton (Naut.), a purchase composed of two single blocks. A double Spanish burton has one double and two single blocks. Luce (Textbook of Seamanship). -- Spanish chalk (Min.), a kind of steatite; -- so called because obtained from Aragon in Spain. -- Spanish cress (Bot.), a cruciferous plant (lepidium Cadamines), a species of peppergrass. -- Spanish curiew (Zoöl.), the long-billed curlew. [U.S.] -- Spanish daggers (Bot.) See Spanish bayonet. -- Spanish elm (Bot.), a large West Indian tree (Cordia Gerascanthus) furnishing hard and useful timber. -- Spanish feretto, a rich reddish brown pigment obtained by calcining copper and sulphur together in closed crucibles. -- Spanish flag (Zoöl.), the California rockfish (Sebastichthys rubrivinctus). It is conspicuously colored with bands of red and white. -- Spanish fly (Zoöl.), a brilliant green beetle, common in the south of Europe, used for raising blisters. See Blister beetle under Blister, and Cantharis. -- Spanish fox (Naut.), a yarn twisted against its lay. -- Spanish grass. (Bot.) See Esparto. -- Spanish juice (Bot.), licorice. -- Spanish leather. See Cordwain. -- Spanish mackerel. (Zoöl.) (a) A species of mackerel (Scomber colias) found both in Europe and America. In America called chub mackerel, big-eyed mackerel, and bull mackerel. (b) In the United States, a handsome mackerel having bright yellow round spots (Scomberomorus maculatus), highly esteemed as a food fish. The name is sometimes erroneously applied to other species. See Illust. under Mackerel. -- Spanish main, the name formerly given to the southern portion of the Caribbean Sea, together with the contiguous coast, embracing the route traversed by Spanish treasure ships from the New to the Old World. -- Spanish moss. (Bot.) See Tillandsia. -- Spanish needles (Bot.), a composite weed (Bidens bipinnata) having achenia armed with needlelike awns. -- Spanish nut (Bot.), a bulbous plant (Iris Sisyrinchium) of the south of Europe. -- Spanish potato (Bot.), the sweet potato. See under Potato. -- Spanish red, an ocherous red pigment resembling Venetian red, but slightly yellower and warmer. Fairholt. -- Spanish reef (Naut.), a knot tied in the head of a jib-headed sail. -- Spanish sheep (Zoöl.), a merino. -- Spanish white, an impalpable powder prepared from chalk by pulverizing and repeated washings, -- used as a white pigment. -- Spanish windlass (Naut.), a wooden roller, with a rope wound about it, into which a marline spike is thrust to serve as a lever.

Span"ish, n. The language of Spain.

Spank (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spanked (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Spanking.] [Of unknown origin; cf. LG. spakken, spenkern, to run and spring about quickly.] To strike, as the breech, with the open hand; to slap.

Spank, n. A blow with the open hand; a slap.

Spank, v. i. To move with a quick, lively step between a trot and gallop; to move quickly. Thackeray.

Spank"er (?), n. 1. One who spanks, or anything used as an instrument for spanking.

2. (Naut.) The after sail of a ship or bark, being a fore-and-aft sail attached to a boom and gaff; -- sometimes called driver. See Illust. under Sail. Totten.

3. One who takes long, quick strides in walking; also, a fast horse. [Colloq.]

4. Something very large, or larger than common; a whopper, as a stout or tall person. [Colloq.]

Spanker boom (Naut.), a boom to which a spanker sail is attached. See Illust. of Ship.

Spank"er, n. A small coin. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

Spank"ing, a. 1. Moving with a quick, lively pace, or capable of so doing; dashing.

Four spanking grays ready harnessed.

G. Colman, the Younger.

2. Large; considerable. [Colloq.]

Spanking breeze (Naut.), a strong breeze.

Span"less (?), a. Incapable of being spanned.

Span"ner (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, spans.

2. The lock of a fusee or carbine; also, the fusee or carbine itself. [Obs.]

3. An iron instrument having a jaw to fit a nut or the head of a bolt, and used as a lever to turn it with; a wrench; specifically, a wrench for unscrewing or tightening the couplings of hose.

4. pl. A contrivance in some of the ealier steam engines for moving the valves for the alternate admission and shutting off of the steam.

Span"-new` (?), a. [Icel. spnn&?;r, properly, new as a ship just split; spnn chip + n&?;r new. See Spoon, and New.] Quite new; brand-new; fire-new. "A span- new archbishop's chair." Fuller.

Span"nish*ing (?), n. [From OF. espanir to spread, F. épanou&?;. See Expand.] The full blooming of a flower. [Obs.] Rom. of R.

Span"piece (?), n. (Arch.) The collar of a roof; sparpiece.

Span"worm` (?), n. (Zoöl.) The larva of any geometrid moth, as the cankeworm; a geometer; a measuring worm.

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Spar (?), n. [AS. spær in spærstn chalkstone; akin to MHG. spar, G. sparkalk plaster.] (Min.) An old name for a nonmetallic mineral, usually cleavable and somewhat lustrous; as, calc spar, or calcite, fluor spar, etc. It was especially used in the case of the gangue minerals of a metalliferous vein.

Blue spar, Cube spar, etc. See under Blue, Cube, etc.

Spar, n. [OE. sparre; akin to D. spar, G. sparren, OHG. sparro, Dan.& Sw. sparre, Icel. sparri; of uncertain origin. &?; 171. Cf. Spar, v. t. ] 1. (Naut.) A general term any round piece of timber used as a mast, yard, boom, or gaff.

2. (Arch.) Formerly, a piece of timber, in a general sense; -- still applied locally to rafters.

3. The bar of a gate or door. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Spar buoy (Naut.), a buoy anchored by one end so that the other end rises above the surface of the water. -- Spar deck (Naut.), the upper deck of a vessel; especially, in a frigate, the deck which is continued in a straight line from the quarter-deck to the forecastle, and on which spare spars are usually placed. See under Deck. -- Spar torpedo (Naut.), a torpedo carried on the end of a spar usually projecting from the bow of a vessel, and intended to explode upon contact with an enemy's ships.

Spar, v. t. [OE. sparren, AS. sparrian; akin to G. sperren, Icel. sperra; from the noun. &radic;171. See Spara beam, bar.] 1. To bolt; to bar. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. To To supply or equip with spars, as a vessel.

A vessel equipped with spars that are too large or too small is said to be oversparred or undersparred.

Spar, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sparred (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sparring.] [Of uncertain origin; cf. OF. esparer to kick, F. éparer, or Icel. sperra to stretch out the legs, to struggle.] 1. To strike with the feet or spurs, as cocks do.

2. To use the fists and arms scientifically in attack or defense; to contend or combat with the fists, as for exercise or amusement; to box.

Made believe to spar at Paul with great science.

Dickens.

3. To contest in words; to wrangle. [Colloq.]

Spar, n. 1. A contest at sparring or boxing.

2. A movement of offense or defense in boxing.

Spar"a*ble (?), n. [Corrupted from sparrow bill.] A kind of small nail used by shoemakers.

Spar"a*da (?), n. (Zoöl.) A small California surf fish (Micrometrus aggregatus); -- called also shiner.

Spar"a*drap (?), n. [F. sparadrap; cf. It. sparadrappo, NL. sparadrapa.] 1. A cerecloth. [Obs.]

2. (Med.) Any adhesive plaster.

{ Spar"age (?; 48), Spar"a*gus (?), Spar"a*grass` (?) }, n. Obs. or corrupt forms of Asparagus.

Spar"ble (?), v. t. [OF. esparpiller to scatter, F. éparpiller.] To scatter; to disperse; to rout. [Obs.]

The king's host was sparbled and chased.

Fabyan.

Spare (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spared (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sparing.] [AS. sparian, fr. spær spare, sparing, saving; akin to D. & G. sparen, OHG. spar&?;n, Icel. & Sw. spara, Dan. spare See Spare, a.] 1. To use frugally or stintingly, as that which is scarce or valuable; to retain or keep unused; to save. "No cost would he spare." Chaucer.

[Thou] thy Father's dreadful thunder didst not spare.

Milton.

He that hath knowledge, spareth his words.

Prov. xvii. 27.

2. To keep to one's self; to forbear to impart or give.

Be pleased your plitics to spare.

Dryden.

Spare my sight the pain Of seeing what a world of tears it costs you.

Dryden.

3. To preserve from danger or punishment; to forbear to punish, injure, or harm; to show mercy to.

Spare us, good Lord.

Book of Common Prayer.

Dim sadness did not spare That time celestial visages.

Milton.

Man alone can whom he conquers spare.

Waller.

4. To save or gain, as by frugality; to reserve, as from some occupation, use, or duty.

All the time he could spare from the necessary cares of his weighty charge, he &?;estowed on . . . serving of God.

Knolles.

5. To deprive one's self of, as by being frugal; to do without; to dispense with; to give up; to part with.

Where angry Jove did never spare One breath of kind and temperate air.

Roscommon.

I could have better spared a better man.

Shak.

To spare one's self. (a) To act with reserve. [Obs.]

Her thought that a lady should her spare.

Chaucer.

(b) To save one's self labor, punishment, or blame.

Spare (?), v. i. 1. To be frugal; not to be profuse; to live frugally; to be parsimonious.

I, who at some times spend, at others spare, Divided between carelessness and care.

Pope.

2. To refrain from inflicting harm; to use mercy or forbearance.

He will not spare in the day of vengeance.

Prov. vi. 34.

3. To desist; to stop; to refrain. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Spare, a. [Compar. Sparer (?); superl. Sparest; -- not used in all the senses of the word.] [AS. spær sparing. Cf. Spare, v. t. ] 1. Scanty; not abundant or plentiful; as, a spare diet.

2. Sparing; frugal; parsimonious; chary.

He was spare, but discreet of speech.

Carew.

3. Being over and above what is necessary, or what must be used or reserved; not wanted, or not used; superfluous; as, I have no spare time.

If that no spare clothes he had to give.

Spenser.

4. Held in reserve, to be used in an emergency; as, a spare anchor; a spare bed or room.

5. Lean; wanting flesh; meager; thin; gaunt.

O, give me the spare men, and spare me the great ones.

Shak.

6. Slow. [Obs. or prov. Eng.] Grose.

Spare (?), n. 1. The act of sparing; moderation; restraint. [Obs.]

Killing for sacrifice, without any spare.

Holland.

2. Parsimony; frugal use. [Obs.] Bacon.

Poured out their plenty without spite or spare.

Spenser.

3. An opening in a petticoat or gown; a placket. [Obs.]

4. That which has not been used or expended.

5. (Tenpins) The right of bowling again at a full set of pins, after having knocked all the pins down in less than three bowls. If all the pins are knocked down in one bowl it is a double spare; in two bowls, a single spare.

Spare"ful (?), a. Sparing; chary. [Obs.] Fairfax.

-- Spare"ful*ness, n. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.

Spare"less, a. Unsparing. Sylvester.

Spare"ly, adv. In a spare manner; sparingly.

Spare"ness, n. [Cf. AS. spærnis frugality.] The quality or state of being lean or thin; leanness.

Spar"er (?), n. One who spares.

Spare"rib` (?), n. [Spare, a. + rib.] A piece of pork, consisting or ribs with little flesh on them.

Sparge (?), v. t. [L. spargere; cf. F. asperger.] To sprinkle; to moisten by sprinkling; as, to sparge paper.

Spar`ge*fac"tion (?), n. [L. spargere to strew + facere, factum, to make.] The act of sprinkling. [Obs.] Swift.

Spar"ger (?), n. [Cf. F. asperger to sprinkle, L. aspergere, spargere.] A vessel with a perforated cover, for sprinkling with a liquid; a sprinkler.

Spar"hawk` (?), n. [OE. sperhauke.] (Zoöl.) The sparrow hawk. [Prov. Eng.]

Spar"-hung` (?), a. Hung with spar, as a cave.

Spar"ing (?), a. Spare; saving; frugal; merciful. Bacon.

-- Spar"ing*ly, adv. -- Spar"ing*ness, n.

Spark (?), n. [OE. sparke, AS. spearca; akin to D. spark, sperk; cf. Icel. spraka to crackle, Lith. spragëti, Gr. &?; a bursting with a noise, Skr. sph&?;rj to crackle, to thunder. Cf. Speak.] 1. A small particle of fire or ignited substance which is emitted by a body in combustion.

Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.

Job v. 7.

2. A small, shining body, or transient light; a sparkle.

3. That which, like a spark, may be kindled into a flame, or into action; a feeble germ; an elementary principle. "If any spark of life be yet remaining." Shak. "Small intellectual spark." Macaulay. "Vital spark of heavenly flame." Pope.

We have here and there a little clear light, some sparks of bright knowledge.

Locke.

Bright gem instinct with music, vocal spark.

Wordsworth.

Spark arrester, a contrivance to prevent the escape of sparks while it allows the passage of gas, -- chiefly used in the smokestack of a wood-burning locomotive. Called also spark consumer. [U.S.]

Spark, n. [Icel. sparkr lively, sprightly.] 1. A brisk, showy, gay man.

The finest sparks and cleanest beaux.

Prior.

2. A lover; a gallant; a beau.

Spark, v. i. To sparkle. [Obs.] Spenser.

Spark, v. i. To play the spark, beau, or lover.

A sure sign that his master was courting, or, as it is termed, sparking, within.

W. Irwing.

Spark"er (?), n. A spark arrester.

Spark"ful (?), a. Lively; brisk; gay. [Obs.] "Our sparkful youth." Camden.

Spark"ish, a. 1. Like a spark; airy; gay. W. Walsh.

2. Showy; well-dresed; fine. L'Estrange.

Spar"kle (?), n. [Dim. of spark.] 1. A little spark; a scintillation.

As fire is wont to quicken and go From a sparkle sprungen amiss, Till a city brent up is.

Chaucer.

The shock was sufficiently strong to strike out some sparkles of his fiery temper.

Prescott.

2. Brilliancy; luster; as, the sparkle of a diamond.

Spar"kle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sparkled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sparkling (?).] [See Sparkle, n., Spark of fire.] 1. To emit sparks; to throw off ignited or incandescent particles; to shine as if throwing off sparks; to emit flashes of light; to scintillate; to twinkle; as, the blazing wood sparkles; the stars sparkle.

A mantelet upon his shoulder hanging Bretful of rubies red, as fire sparkling.

Chaucer.

2. To manifest itself by, or as if by, emitting sparks; to glisten; to flash.

I see bright honor sparkle through your eyes.

Milton.

3. To emit little bubbles, as certain kinds of liquors; to effervesce; as, sparkling wine.

Syn. -- To shine; glisten; scintillate; radiate; coruscate; glitter; twinkle.

Spar"kle, v. t. To emit in the form or likeness of sparks. "Did sparkle forth great light." Spenser.

Spar"kle, v. t. [Cf. Sparble.] 1. To disperse. [Obs.]

The Landgrave hath sparkled his army without any further enterprise.

State Papers.

2. To scatter on or over. [Obs.] Purchas.

Spar"kler (?), n. One who scatters; esp., one who scatters money; an improvident person. [Obs.]

Spar"kler, n. One who, or that which, sparkles.

Spar"kler, n. (Zoöl.) A tiger beetle.

Spark"let (?), n. A small spark. [Obs.]

Spark"li*ness (?), n. Vivacity. [Obs.] Aubrey.

Spar"kling (?), a. Emitting sparks; glittering; flashing; brilliant; lively; as, sparkling wine; sparkling eyes. -- Spar"kling*ly, adv. -- Spar"kling*ness, n.

Syn. -- Brilliant; shining. See Shining.

Spar"ling (?), n. [Akin to G. spierling, spiering, D. spiering: cf. F. éperlan.] (Zoöl.) (a) The European smelt (Osmerus eperlanus). (b) A young salmon. (c) A tern. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]

Spar"lyre` (?), n. [AS. spear- lira.] The calf of the leg. [Obs.] Wyclif (Deut. xxviii. 35).

Spa"roid (?; 277), a. [L. sparus the gilthead + -oid: cf. F. sparoïde.] (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Sparidæ, a family of spinous-finned fishes which includes the scup, sheepshead, and sea bream. -- n. One of the Sparidæ.

Spar"piece` (?), n. (Arch.) The collar beam of a roof; the spanpiece. Gwilt.

Spar"poil (?), v. t. [See Sparble.] To scatter; to spread; to disperse. [Obs.]

Spar"row (?), n. [OE. sparwe, AS. spearwa; akin to OHG. sparo, G. sperling, Icel. spörr, Dan. spurv, spurre, Sw. sparf, Goth. sparwa; -- originally, probably, the quiverer or flutterer, and akin to E. spurn. See Spurn, and cf. Spavin.] 1. (Zoöl.) One of many species of small singing birds of the family Fringilligæ, having conical bills, and feeding chiefly on seeds. Many sparrows are called also finches, and buntings. The common sparrow, or house sparrow, of Europe (Passer domesticus) is noted for its familiarity, its voracity, its attachment to its young, and its fecundity. See House sparrow, under House.

The following American species are well known; the chipping sparrow, or chippy, the sage sparrow, the savanna sparrow, the song sparrow, the tree sparrow, and the white-throated sparrow (see Peabody bird). See these terms under Sage, Savanna, etc.

2. (Zoöl.) Any one of several small singing birds somewhat resembling the true sparrows in form or habits, as the European hedge sparrow. See under Hedge.

He that doth the ravens feed, Yea, providently caters for the sparrow, Be comfort to my age!

Shak.

Field sparrow, Fox sparrow, etc. See under Field, Fox, etc. -- Sparrow bill, a small nail; a castiron shoe nail; a sparable. -- Sparrow hawk. (Zoöl.) (a) A small European hawk (Accipiter nisus) or any of the allied species. (b) A small American falcon (Falco sparverius). (c) The Australian collared sparrow hawk (Accipiter torquatus). The name is applied to other small hawks, as the European kestrel and the New Zealand quail hawk. -- Sparrow owl (Zoöl.), a small owl (Glaucidium passerinum) found both in the Old World and the New. The name is also applied to other species of small owls. -- Sparrow spear (Zoöl.), the female of the reed bunting. [Prov. Eng.]

Spar"row*grass` (?), n. [Corrupted from asparagus.] Asparagus. [Colloq.] See the Note under Asparagus.

Spar"row*wort` (?), n. (Bot.) An evergreen shrub of the genus Erica (E. passerina).

Spar"ry (?), a. [From Spar.] Resembling spar, or consisting of spar; abounding with spar; having a confused crystalline structure; spathose.

Sparry iron (Min.), siderite. See Siderite (a). -- Sparry limestone (Min.), a coarsely crystalline marble.

Sparse (?), a. [Compar. Sparser (?); superl. Sparsest.] [L. sparsus, p. p. of spargere to strew, scatter. Cf. Asperse, Disperse.] 1. Thinly scattered; set or planted here and there; not being dense or close together; as, a sparse population. Carlyle.

2. (Bot.) Placed irregularly and distantly; scattered; -- applied to branches, leaves, peduncles, and the like.

Sparse, v. t. [L. sparsus, p. p. of spargere to scatter.] To scatter; to disperse. [Obs.] Spenser.

Spars"ed*ly (?), adv. Sparsely. [Obs.]

Sparse"ly, adv. In a scattered or sparse manner.

Sparse"ness, n. The quality or state of being sparse; as, sparseness of population.

||Spar"sim (?), adv. [L., fr. spargere to scatter.] Sparsely; ||scatteredly; here and there.

Spar"tan (?), a. [L. Spartanus.] Of or pertaining to Sparta, especially to ancient Sparta; hence, hardy; undaunted; as, Spartan souls; Spartan bravey. -- n. A native or inhabitant of Sparta; figuratively, a person of great courage and fortitude.

Spar"te*ine (?), n. (Chem.) A narcotic alkaloid extracted from the tops of the common broom (Cytisus scoparius, formerly Spartium scoparium), as a colorless oily liquid of aniline-like odor and very bitter taste.

Spar"ter*ie (?), n. [F., from Sp. esparto esparto, L. spartum, Gr. &?;.] Articles made of the blades or fiber of the Lygeum Spartum and Stipa (or Macrochloa) tenacissima, kinds of grass used in Spain and other countries for making ropes, mats, baskets, nets, and mattresses. Loudon.

Sparth (?), n. [Cf. Icel. spar&?;a.] An Anglo-Saxon battle-ax, or halberd. [Obs.]

He hath a sparth of twenty pound of weight.

Chaucer.

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Sparve (?), n. (Zoöl.) The hedge sparrow. [Prov. Eng.]

Spar"y (?), a. Sparing; parsimonious. [Obs.]

Spasm (?), n. [F. spasme, L. spasmus, Gr. &?;, from &?;, &?;, to draw, to cause convulsion. Cf. Span, v. t.] 1. (Med.) An involuntary and unnatural contraction of one or more muscles or muscular fibers.

Spasm are usually either clonic or tonic. In clonic spasm, the muscles or muscular fibers contract and relax alternately in very quick succession. In tonic spasm, the contraction is steady and uniform, and continues for a comparatively long time, as in tetanus.

2. A sudden, violent, and temporary effort or emotion; as, a spasm of repentance.

Cynic spasm (Med.) See under Cynic. -- Spasm of the chest. See Angina pectoris, under Angina.

Spas*mat"ic*al (?), a. Spasmodic. [Obs.]

Spas"mod"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?;; &?; a convulsion + &?; likeness: cf. F. spasmotique.] 1. (Med.) Of or pertaining to spasm; consisting in spasm; occuring in, or characterized by, spasms; as, a spasmodic asthma.

2. Soon relaxed or exhausted; convulsive; intermittent; as, spasmodic zeal or industry.

Spasmodic croup (Med.), an affection of childhood characterized by a stoppage of brathing developed suddenly and without fever, and produced by spasmodic contraction of the vocal cords. It is sometimes fatal. Called also laryngismus stridulus, and childcrowing. -- Spasmodic stricture, a stricture caused by muscular spasm without structural change. See Organic stricture, under Organic.

Spas*mod"ic, n. (Med.) A medicine for spasm.

Spas*mod"ic*al (?), a. Same as Spasmodic, a. -- Spas*mod"ic*al*ly (#), adv.

Spas"tic (?), a. [L. spasticus, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to draw: cf. F. spastique. See Spasm.] (Med.) Of or pertaining to spasm; spasmodic; especially, pertaining to tonic spasm; tetanic.

Spas"tic*al*ly (?), adv. Spasmodically.

Spas*tic"i*ty (?), n. 1. A state of spasm.

2. The tendency to, or capability of suffering, spasm.

Spat (?), imp. of Spit. [Obs. or R.]

Spat, n. [From the root of spit; hence, literally, that which is ejected.] A young oyster or other bivalve mollusk, both before and after it first becomes adherent, or such young, collectively.

Spat, v. i. & t. To emit spawn; to emit, as spawn.

Spat, n. [Cf. Pat.] 1. A light blow with something flat. [U.S. & Prov. Eng.]

2. Hence, a petty combat, esp. a verbal one; a little quarrel, dispute, or dissension. [U. S.]

Spat, v. i. To dispute. [R.] Smart.

Spat, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spatted; p. pr. & vb. n. Spatting.] To slap, as with the open hand; to clap together; as the hands. [Local, U.S.]

Little Isabel leaped up and down, spatting her hands.

Judd.

Spa*tan"goid (?), a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Spatangoidea. -- n. One of the Spatangoidea.

||Spat`an*goi"de*a (?), n. pl. [NL. See Spatangus, and -oid.] (Zoöl.) ||An order of irregular sea urchins, usually having a more or less ||heart-shaped shell with four or five petal-like ambulacra above. The ||mouth is edentulous and situated anteriorly, on the under side.

||Spa*tan"gus (?), n. [NL., fr. L. spatangius a kind of sea urchin, Gr. ||&?;.] (Zoöl.) A genus of heart-shaped sea urchins belonging to the ||Spatangoidea.

Spatch"cock` (?), n. See Spitchcock.

Spate (?), n. [Of Celtic origin; cf. Ir. speid.] A river flood; an overflow or inundation. Burns.

Gareth in a showerful spring Stared at the spate.

Tennyson.

||Spa"tha (?), n.; pl. Spathæ (#). [L.] (Bot.) A spathe.

Spa*tha"ceous (?), a. (Bot.) Having a spathe; resembling a spathe; spathal.

Spa"thal (?), a. (Bot.) Furnished with a spathe; as, spathal flowers. Howitt.

Spathe (?), n. [L. spatha, Gr. &?;: cf. F. spathe. See Spade for digging.] (Bot.) A special involucre formed of one leaf and inclosing a spadix, as in aroid plants and palms. See the Note under Bract, and Illust. of Spadix.

The name is also given to the several-leaved involucre of the iris and other similar plants.

Spathed (?), a. (Bot.) Having a spathe or calyx like a sheath.

Spath"ic (?), a. [Cf. F. spathique, fr. F. & G. spath spar.] Like spar; foliated or lamellar; spathose.

Spathic iron (Min.), siderite. See Siderite (a).

Spath"i*form (?), a. [F. spathiforme.] Resembling spar in form. "The ocherous, spathiform, and mineralized forms of uranite." Lavoisier (Trans.).

Spath"ose` (?), a. (Min.) See Spathic.

Spath"ose`, a. [See Spathe.] (Bot.) Having a spathe; resembling a spathe; spatheceous; spathal.

Spath"ous (?), a. (Bot.) Spathose.

Spath"u*late (?), a. See Spatulate.

Spa"tial (?), a. Of or pertaining to space. "Spatial quantity and relations." L. H. Atwater.

Spa"tial*ly (?), adv. As regards space.

Spa"ti*ate (?), v. t. [L. spatiatus, p. p. of spatiari, fr. spatiatum. See Space.] To rove; to ramble. [Obs.] Bacon.

Spat"ter (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spattered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spattering.] [From the root of spit salvia.] 1. To sprinkle with a liquid or with any wet substance, as water, mud, or the like; to make wet of foul spots upon by sprinkling; as, to spatter a coat; to spatter the floor; to spatter boots with mud.

Upon any occasion he is to be spattered over with the blood of his people.

Burke.

2. To distribute by sprinkling; to sprinkle around; as, to spatter blood. Pope.

3. Fig.: To injure by aspersion; to defame; to soil; also, to throw out in a defamatory manner.

Spat"ter, v. i. To throw something out of the mouth in a scattering manner; to sputter.

That mind must needs be irrecoverably depraved, which, . . . tasting but once of one just deed, spatters at it, and abhors the relish ever after.

Milton.

Spat"ter*dashed` (?), a. Wearing spatterdashes. [Colloq.] Thackeray.

Spat"ter*dash`es (?), n. pl. [Spatter + dash.] Coverings for the legs, to protect them from water and mud; long gaiters.

Spat`ter-dock` (?), n. (Bot.) The common yellow water lily (Nuphar advena).

Spat"tle (?), n. Spawl; spittle. [Obs.] Bale.

Spat"tle, n. 1. A spatula.

2. (Pottery) A tool or implement for mottling a molded article with coloring matter Knoght.

Spat"tling-pop"py (?), n. [Prov. E. spattle to spit + E. poppy.] (Bot.) A kind of catchfly (Silene inflata) which is sometimes frothy from the action of captured insects.

Spat"u*la (?; 135), n. [L. spatula, spathula, dim. of spatha a spatula: F. spatule. See Spade for digging.] An implement shaped like a knife, flat, thin, and somewhat flexible, used for spreading paints, fine plasters, drugs in compounding prescriptions, etc. Cf. Palette knife, under Palette.

Spat"u*late (?), a. [NL. spatulatus.] (Nat. Hist.) Shaped like spatula, or like a battledoor, being roundish, with a long, narrow, linear base. [Also written spathulate.]

Spauld (?), n. [See Spall the shoulder.] The shoulder. [Scot.]

Spav"in (?), n. [OE. spaveyne, OF. esparvain, F. éparvin; akin to OF. espervier a sparrow hawk, F. épervier, fr. OHG. sparwri (G. sperber), fr. OHG. sparo sparrow, because this disease makes the horse raise the infirm leg in the manner of a sparrow hawk or sparrow. See Sparrow.] (Far.) A disease of horses characterized by a bony swelling developed on the hock as the result of inflammation of the bones; also, the swelling itself. The resulting lameness is due to the inflammation, and not the bony tumor as popularly supposed. Harbaugh.

Bog spavin, a soft swelling produced by distention of the capsular ligament of the hock; -- called also blood spavin. -- Bone spavin, spavin attended with exostosis; ordinary spavin.

Spav"ined (?), a. Affected with spavin.

Spaw (?), n. See Spa.

Spawl (?), n. A splinter or fragment, as of wood or stone. See Spall.

Spawl, n. [Cf. AS. sptl, fr. sptan to spit; probably akin to spwan, E. spew. Cf. Spew.] Scattered or ejected spittle.

Spawl, v. i. & t. [imp. & p. p. Spawled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spawling.] [Cf. AS. sptlian.] To scatter spittle from the mouth; to spit, as saliva.

Why must he sputter, spawl, and slaver it In vain, against the people's favorite.

Swift.

Spawl"ing, n. That which is spawled, or spit out.

Spawn (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spawned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spawning.] [OE. spanen, OF. espandre, properly, to shed, spread, L. expandere to spread out. See Expand.] 1. To produce or deposit (eggs), as fishes or frogs do.

2. To bring forth; to generate; -- used in contempt.

One edition [of books] spawneth another.

Fuller.

Spawn, v. i. 1. To deposit eggs, as fish or frogs do.

2. To issue, as offspring; -- used contemptuously.

Spawn, n. [&radic;170. See Spawn, v. t.] 1. The ova, or eggs, of fishes, oysters, and other aquatic animals.

2. Any product or offspring; -- used contemptuously.

3. (Hort.) The buds or branches produced from underground stems.

4. (Bot.) The white fibrous matter forming the matrix from which fungi.

Spawn eater (Zoöl.), a small American cyprinoid fish (Notropis Hudsonius) allied to the dace.

Spawn"er (?), n. 1. (Zoöl.) A mature female fish.

The barbel, for the preservation or their seed, both the spawner and the milter, cover their spawn with sand.

Walton.

2. Whatever produces spawn of any kind.

Spay (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spayed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spaying.] [Cf. Armor. spac'hein, spaza to geld, W. dyspaddu to geld, L. spado a eunuch, Gr. &?;.] To remove or extirpate the ovaries of, as a sow or a bitch; to castrate (a female animal).

Spay, n. [Cf. Spade a spay, Spay, v. t.] (Zoöl.) The male of the red deer in his third year; a spade.

{ Spay"ad (?), Spay"ade (?) }, n. (Zoöl.) A spay.

Speak (?), v. i. [imp. Spoke (?) (Spake (&?;) Archaic); p. p. Spoken (?) (Spoke, Obs. or Colloq.); p. pr. & vb. n. Speaking.] [OE. speken, AS. specan, sprecan; akin to OF.ries. spreka, D. spreken, OS. spreken, G. sprechen, OHG. sprehhan, and perhaps to Skr. sphrj to crackle, to thunder. Cf. Spark of fire, Speech.] 1. To utter words or articulate sounds, as human beings; to express thoughts by words; as, the organs may be so obstructed that a man may not be able to speak.

Till at the last spake in this manner.

Chaucer.

Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.

1 Sam. iii. 9.

2. To express opinions; to say; to talk; to converse.

That fluid substance in a few minutes begins to set, as the tradesmen speak.

Boyle.

An honest man, is able to speak for himself, when a knave is not.

Shak.

During the century and a half which followed the Conquest, there is, to speak strictly, no English history.

Macaulay.

3. To utter a speech, discourse, or harangue; to adress a public assembly formally.

Many of the nobility made themselves popular by speaking in Parliament against those things which were most grateful to his majesty.

Clarendon.

4. To discourse; to make mention; to tell.

Lycan speaks of a part of Cæsar's army that came to him from the Leman Lake.

Addison.

5. To give sound; to sound.

Make all our trumpets speak.

Shak.

6. To convey sentiments, ideas, or intelligence as if by utterance; as, features that speak of self-will.

Thine eye begins to speak.

Shak.

To speak of, to take account of, to make mention of. Robynson (More's Utopia). -- To speak out, to speak loudly and distinctly; also, to speak unreservedly. -- To speak well for, to commend; to be favorable to. -- To speak with, to converse with. "Would you speak with me?" Shak.

Syn. -- To say; tell; talk; converse; discourse; articulate; pronounce; utter.

Speak (?), v. t. 1. To utter with the mouth; to pronounce; to utter articulately, as human beings.

They sat down with him upn ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him.

Job. ii. 13.

2. To utter in a word or words; to say; to tell; to declare orally; as, to speak the truth; to speak sense.

3. To declare; to proclaim; to publish; to make known; to exhibit; to express in any way.

It is my father;s muste To speak your deeds.

Shak.

Speaking a still good morrow with her eyes.

Tennyson.

And for the heaven's wide circuit, let it speak The maker's high magnificence.

Milton.

Report speaks you a bonny monk.

Sir W. Scott.

4. To talk or converse in; to utter or pronounce, as in conversation; as, to speak Latin.

And French she spake full fair and fetisely.

Chaucer.

5. To address; to accost; to speak to.

[He will] thee in hope; he will speak thee fair.

Ecclus. xiii. 6.

each village senior paused to scan And speak the lovely caravan.

Emerson.

To speak a ship (Naut.), to hail and speak to her captain or commander.

Speak"a*ble (?), a. 1. Capable of being spoken; fit to be spoken. Ascham.

2. Able to speak. Milton.

Speak"er (?), n. 1. One who speaks. Specifically: (a) One who utters or pronounces a discourse; usually, one who utters a speech in public; as, the man is a good speaker, or a bad speaker. (b) One who is the mouthpiece of others; especially, one who presides over, or speaks for, a delibrative assembly, preserving order and regulating the debates; as, the Speaker of the House of Commons, originally, the mouthpiece of the House to address the king; the Speaker of a House of Representatives.

2. A book of selections for declamation. [U. S.]

Speak"er*ship, n. The office of speaker; as, the speakership of the House of Representatives.

Speak"ing, a. 1. Uttering speech; used for conveying speech; as, man is a speaking animal; a speaking tube.

2. Seeming to be capable of speech; hence, lifelike; as, a speaking likeness.

A speaking acquaintance, a slight acquaintance with a person, or one which merely permits the exchange of salutations and remarks on indifferent subjects. -- Speaking trumpet, an instrument somewhat resembling a trumpet, by which the sound of the human voice may be so intensified as to be conveyed to a great distance. -- Speaking tube, a tube for conveying speech, especially from one room to another at a distance. -- To be on speaking terms, to be slightly acquainted.

Speak"ing, n. 1. The act of uttering words.

2. Public declamation; oratory.

Spear (?), n. [OE. spere, AS. spere; akin to D. & G. speer, OS. & OHS. sper, Icel. spjör, pl., Dan. spær, L. sparus.] 1. A long, pointed weapon, used in war and hunting, by thrusting or throwing; a weapon with a long shaft and a sharp head or blade; a lance. [See Illust. of Spearhead.] "A sharp ground spear." Chaucer.

They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks.

Micah iv. 3.

2. Fig.: A spearman. Sir W. Scott.

3. A sharp-pointed instrument with barbs, used for stabbing fish and other animals.

4. A shoot, as of grass; a spire.

5. The feather of a horse. See Feather, n., 4.

6. The rod to which the bucket, or plunger, of a pump is attached; a pump rod.

Spear foot, the off hind foot of a horse. -- Spear grass. (Bot.) (a) The common reed. See Reed, n., 1. (b) meadow grass. See under Meadow. -- Spear hand, the hand in which a horseman holds a spear; the right hand. Crabb. -- Spear side, the male line of a family. Lowell. -- Spear thistle (Bot.), the common thistle (Cnicus lanceolatus).

Spear, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Speared (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spearing.] To pierce with a spear; to kill with a spear; as, to spear a fish.

Spear, v. i. To shoot into a long stem, as some plants. See Spire. Mortimer.

Spear"er (?), n. One who uses a spear; as, a spearer of fish.

Spear"fish` (?), n. (Zoöl.) (a) A large and powerful fish (Tetrapturus albidus) related to the swordfish, but having scales and ventral fins. It is found on the American coast and the Mediterranean. (b) The carp sucker.

<! p. 1380 !>

Spear"head` (?), n. The pointed head, or end, of a spear.

Spear"man (?), n.; pl. Spearmen (&?;). One who is armed with a spear. Acts xxiii. 23.

Spear"mint` (?), n. [So named from its spiry, not capitate, inflorescence. Dr. Prior.] (Bot.) A species of mint (Mentha viridis) growing in moist soil. It vields an aromatic oil. See Mint, and Mentha.

Spear"wood` (?), n. (Bot.) An Australian tree (Acacia Doratoxylon), and its tough wood, used by the natives for spears.

Spear"wort` (?), n. [AS. sperewyrt.] (Bot.) A name given to several species of crowfoot (Ranunculus) which have spear-shaped leaves.

Spear"y (?), a. Having the form of a spear.

Spece (?), n. Species; kind. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Specht (?), n. [See Speight.] (Zoöl.) A woodpecker. [Obs. or prov. Eng.] Sherwood.

Spe"cial (?), a. [L. specialis, fr. species a particular sort, kind, or quality: cf. F. spécial. See Species, and cf. Especial.] 1. Of or pertaining to a species; constituting a species or sort.

A special is called by the schools a "species".

I. Watts.

2. Particular; peculiar; different from others; extraordinary; uncommon.

Our Savior is represented everywhere in Scripture as the special patron of the poor and the afficted.

Atterbury.

To this special evil an improvement of style would apply a special redress.

De Quincey.

3. Appropriate; designed for a particular purpose, occasion, or person; as, a special act of Parliament or of Congress; a special sermon.

4. Limited in range; confined to a definite field of action, investigation, or discussion; as, a special dictionary of commercial terms; a special branch of study.

5. Chief in excellence. [Obs.]

The king hath drawn The special head of all the land together.

Shak.

Special administration (Law), an administration limited to certain specified effects or acts, or one granted during a particular time or the existence of a special cause, as during a controversy respecting the probate of a will, or the right of administration, etc. -- Special agency, an agency confined to some particular matter. -- Special bail, Bail above, or Bail to the action (Law), sureties who undertake that, if the defendant is convicted, he shall satisfy the plaintiff, or surrender himself into custody. Tomlins. Wharton (Law Dict.). -- Special constable. See under Constable. Bouvier. -- Special damage (Law), a damage resulting from the act complained of, as a natural, but not the necessary, consequence of it. -- Special demurrer (Law), a demurrer for some defect of form in the opposite party pleading, in which the cause of demurrer is particularly stated. -- Special deposit, a deposit made of a specific thing to be kept distinct from others. -- Special homology. (Biol.) See under Homology. -- Special injuction (Law), an injuction granted on special grounds, arising of the circumstances of the case. Daniell. -- Special issue (Law), an issue produced upon a special plea. Stephen. -- Special jury (Law), a jury consisting of persons of some particular calling, station, or qualification, which is called upon motion of either party when the cause is supposed to require it; a struck jury. -- Special orders (Mil.), orders which do not concern, and are not published to, the whole command, such as those relating to the movement of a particular corps, a detail, a temporary camp, etc. -- Special partner, a limited partner; a partner with a limited or restricted responsibility; -- unknown at common law. -- Special partnership, a limited or particular partnership; -- a term sometimes applied to a partnership in a particular business, operation, or adventure. -- Special plea in bar (Law), a plea setting forth particular and new matter, distinguished from the general issue. Bouvier. -- Special pleader (Law), originally, a counsel who devoted himself to drawing special counts and pleas; in a wider sense, a lawyer who draws pleadings. -- Special pleading (Law), the allegation of special or new matter, as distingiushed from a direct denial of matter previously alleged on the side. Bouvier. The popular denomination of the whole science of pleading. Stephen. The phrase is sometimes popularly applied to the specious, but unsound, argumentation of one whose aim is victory, and not truth. Burrill. -- Special property (Law), a qualified or limited ownership possession, as in wild animals, things found or bailed. -- Special session, an extraordinary session; a session at an unusual time or for an unusual purpose; as, a special session of Congress or of a legislature. -- Special statute, or Special law, an act of the legislature which has reference to a particular person, place, or interest; -- in distinction from a general law. -- Special verdict (Law), a special finding of the facts of the case, leaving to the court the application of the law to them. Wharton (Law Dict.).

Syn. -- Peculiar; appropriate; specific; dictinctive; particular; exceptional; singular. See Peculiar.

Spe"cial, n. 1. A particular. [Obs.] Hammond.

2. One appointed for a special service or occasion.

In special, specially; in particular. Chaucer.

Spe"cial*ism (?), n. Devotion to a particular and restricted part or branch of knowledge, art, or science; as, medical specialism.

Spe"cial*ist (?), n. One who devotes himself to some specialty; as, a medical specialist, one who devotes himself to diseases of particular parts of the body, as the eye, the ear, the nerves, etc.

Spe`ci*al"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Specialities (#). [See Special, and Specialty.] 1. A particular or peculiar case; a particularity. Sir M. Hale.

2. (Law) See Specialty, 3.

3. The special or peculiar mark or characteristic of a person or thing; that for which a person is specially distinguished; an object of special attention; a special occupation or object of attention; a specialty.

On these two general heads all other specialities are depedent.

Hooker.

Strive, while improving your one talent, to enrich your whole capital as a man. It is in this way that you escape from the wretched narrow-mindedness which is the characteristic of every one who cultivates his speciality.

Ld. Lytton.

We 'll say, instead, the inconsequent creature man, - For that'a his speciality.

Mrs. Browning.

Think of this, sir, . . . remote from the impulses of passion, and apart from the specialities -- if I may use that strong remark -- of prejudice.

Dickens.

4. An attribute or quality peculiar to a species.

Spe`cial*i*za"tion (?), n. 1. The act of specializing, or the state of being spezialized.

2. (Biol.) The setting apart of a particular organ for the performance of a particular function. Darwin.

Spe"cial*ize (?), v. t. 1. To mention specially; to particularize.

2. To apply to some specialty or limited object; to assign to a specific use; as, specialized knowledge.

3. (Biol.) To supply with an organ or organs having a special function or functions.

Spe"cial*ly, adv. 1. In a special manner; particularly; especially. Chaucer.

2. For a particular purpose; as, a meeting of the legislature is specially summoned.

Spe"cial*ty (?), n.; pl. Specialties (#). [F. spécialité. Cf. Speciality.] 1. Particularity.

Specialty of rule hath been neglected.

Shak.

2. A particular or peculiar case. [Obs.]

3. (Law) A contract or obligation under seal; a contract by deed; a writing, under seal, given as security for a debt particularly specified. Chitty. Bouvier. Wharton (Law Dict.).

Let specialties be therefore drawn between us.

Shak.

4. That for which a person is distinguished, in which he is specially versed, or which he makes an object of special attention; a speciality.

Men of boundless knowledge, like Humbold, must have had once their specialty, their pet subject.

C. Kingsley.

||Spe"ci*e (?), abl. of L. species sort, kind. Used in the phrase in ||specie, that is, in sort, in kind, in (its own) form.

"[The king] expects a return in specie from them" [i. e., kindness for kindness].

Dryden.

In specie (Law), in precise or definite form; specifically; according to the exact terms; of the very thing.

Spe"cie (?), n. [Formed as a singular from species, in sense 5.] Coin; hard money.

Spe"cies (?), n. sing. & pl. [L., a sight, outward appearance, shape, form, a particular sort, kind, or quality, a species. See Spice, n., and cf. Specie, Special.] 1. Visible or sensible presentation; appearance; a sensible percept received by the imagination; an image. [R.] "The species of the letters illuminated with indigo and violet." Sir I. Newton.

Wit, . . . the faculty of imagination in the writer, which searches over all the memory for the species or ideas of those things which it designs to represent.

Dryden.

In the scholastic philosophy, the species was sensible and intelligible. The sensible species was that in any material, object which was in fact discerned by the mind through the organ of perception, or that in any object which rendered it possible that it should be perceived. The sensible species, as apprehended by the understanding in any of the relations of thought, was called an intelligible species. "An apparent diversity between the species visible and audible is, that the visible doth not mingle in the medium, but the audible doth." Bacon.

2. (Logic) A group of individuals agreeing in common attributes, and designated by a common name; a conception subordinated to another conception, called a genus, or generic conception, from which it differs in containing or comprehending more attributes, and extending to fewer individuals. Thus, man is a species, under animal as a genus; and man, in its turn, may be regarded as a genus with respect to European, American, or the like, as species.

3. In science, a more or less permanent group of existing things or beings, associated according to attributes, or properties determined by scientific observation.

In mineralogy and chemistry, objects which possess the same definite chemical structure, and are fundamentally the same in crystallization and physical characters, are classed as belonging to a species. In zoölogy and botany, a species is an ideal group of individuals which are believed to have descended from common ancestors, which agree in essential characteristics, and are capable of indefinitely continued fertile reproduction through the sexes. A species, as thus defined, differs from a variety or subspecies only in the greater stability of its characters and in the absence of individuals intermediate between the related groups.

4. A sort; a kind; a variety; as, a species of low cunning; a species of generosity; a species of cloth.

5. Coin, or coined silver, gold, ot other metal, used as a circulating medium; specie. [Obs.]

There was, in the splendor of the Roman empire, a less quantity of current species in Europe than there is now.

Arbuthnot.

6. A public spectacle or exhibition. [Obs.] Bacon.

7. (Pharmacy) (a) A component part of compound medicine; a simple. (b) (Med.) An officinal mixture or compound powder of any kind; esp., one used for making an aromatic tea or tisane; a tea mixture. Quincy.

8. (Civil Law) The form or shape given to materials; fashion or shape; form; figure. Burill.

Incipient species (Zoöl.), a subspecies, or variety, which is in process of becoming permanent, and thus changing to a true species, usually by isolation in localities from which other varieties are excluded.

Spec"i*fi`a*ble (?), a. Admitting specification; capable of being specified.

Spe*cif"ic (?), a. [F. spécifique, or NL. cpesificus; L. species a particular sort or kind + facere to make. Cf. Specify.] 1. Of or pertaining to a species; characterizing or constituting a species; possessing the peculiar property or properties of a thing which constitute its species, and distinguish it from other things; as, the specific form of an animal or a plant; the specific qualities of a drug; the specific distinction between virtue and vice.

Specific difference is that primary attribute which distinguishes each species from one another.

I. Watts.

2. Specifying; definite, or making definite; limited; precise; discriminating; as, a specific statement.

3. (Med.) Exerting a peculiar influence over any part of the body; preventing or curing disease by a peculiar adaption, and not on general principles; as, quinine is a specific medicine in cases of malaria.

In fact, all medicines will be found specific in the perfection of the science.

Coleridge.

Specific character (Nat. Hist.), a characteristic or characteristics distinguishing one species from every other species of the same genus. -- Specific disease (Med.) (a) A disease which produces a determinate definite effect upon the blood and tissues or upon some special tissue. (b) A disease which is itself uniformly produced by a definite and peculiar poison or organism. -- Specific duty. (Com.) See under Duty. -- Specific gravity. (Physics) See under Gravity. -- Specific heat (Physics), the quantity of heat required to raise temperature of a body one degree, taking as the unit of measure the quantity required to raise the same weight of water from zero to one degree; thus, the specific heat of mercury is 0.033, that of water being 1.000. -- Specific inductive capacity (Physics), the effect of a dielectric body in producing static electric induction as compared with that of some other body or bodies referred to as a standard. -- Specific legacy (Law), a bequest of a particular thing, as of a particular animal or piece of furniture, specified and distinguished from all others. Wharton. Burrill. -- Specific name (Nat., Hist.), the name which, appended to the name of the genus, constitutes the distinctive name of the species; -- originally applied by Linnæus to the essential character of the species, or the essential difference. The present specific name he at first called the trivial name. -- Specific performance (Law), the peformance of a contract or agreement as decreed by a court of equity.

Spe*cif"ic, n. 1. (Med.) A specific remedy. See Specific, a., 3.

His parents were weak enough to believe that the royal touch was a specific for this malady.

Macaulay.

2. Anything having peculiar adaption to the purpose to which it is applied. Dr. H. More.

Spe*cif"ic*al (?), a. Specific. Bacon.

Spe*cif"ic*al*ly (?), adv. In a specific manner.

Spe*cif"ic*al*ness, n. The quality of being specific.

Spe*cif"i*cate (?), v. t. [See Specify.] To show, mark, or designate the species, or the distinguishing particulars of; to specify. [Obs.] ir M. Hale.

Spec`i*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. spécification, LL. specificatio.] 1. The act of specifying or determining by a mark or limit; notation of limits.

This specification or limitation of the question hinders the disputers from wandering away from the precise point of inquiry.

I. Watts.

2. The designation of particulars; particular mention; as, the specification of a charge against an officer.

3. A written statement containing a minute description or enumeration of particulars, as of charges against a public officer, the terms of a contract, the description of an invention, as in a patent; also, a single article, item, or particular, an allegation of a specific act, as in a charge of official misconduct.

Spe*cif"ic*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being specific.

Spec"i*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Specified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Specifying (?).] [F. spécifier, or OF. especifier, fr. LL. specificare. See Species, -fy.] To mention or name, as a particular thing; to designate in words so as to distinguish from other things; as, to specify the uses of a plant; to specify articles purchased.

He has there given us an exact geography of Greece, where the countries and the uses of their soils are specified.

Pope.

||Spe*cil"lum (?), n. [L.] (Med.) See Stylet, 2.

Spec"i*men (?), n. [L., fr. specere to look, to behold. See Spy.] A part, or small portion, of anything, or one of a number of things, intended to exhibit the kind and quality of the whole, or of what is not exhibited; a sample; as, a specimen of a man's handwriting; a specimen of painting; aspecimen of one's art.

Syn. -- Sample; model; pattern. -- Specimen, Sample. A specimen is a representative of the class of things to which it belongs; as, a specimen of photography. A sample is a part of the thing itself, designed to show the quality of the whole; as, a sample of sugar or of broadcloth. A cabinet of minerals consists of specimens; if a part be broken off from any one of these, it is a sample of the mineral to which it belongs. "Several persons have exhibited specimens of this art before multitudes of beholders." Addison. "I design this but for a sample of what I hope more fully to discuss." Woodward.

Spe`ci*os"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Speciocities (#). [Cf. LL. speciositas.] 1. The quality or state of being specious; speciousness.

Professions built so largely on speciosity, instead of performance.

Carlyle.

2. That which is specious. Dr. H. More.

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Spe"cious (?), a. [L. speciosusgood-looking, beautiful, specious, fr. species look, show, appearance; cf. F. spécoeux. See Species.] 1. Presenting a pleasing appearance; pleasing in form or look; showy.

Some [serpents] specious and beautiful to the eye.

Bp. Richardson.

The rest, far greater part, Will deem in outward rites and specious forms Religion satisfied.

Milton.

2. Apparently right; superficially fair, just, or correct, but not so in reality; appearing well at first view; plausible; as, specious reasoning; a specious argument.

Misled for a moment by the specious names of religion, liberty, and property.

Macaulay.

In consequence of their greater command of specious expression.

J. Morley.

Syn. -- Plausible; showy; ostensible; colorable; feasible. See Plausible.

-- Spe"xious*ly (#), adv. -- Spe"cious*ness, n.

Speck (?), n. [Cf. Icel. spik blubber, AS. spic, D. spek, G. speck.] The blubber of whales or other marine mammals; also, the fat of the hippopotamus.

Speck falls (Naut.), falls or ropes rove through blocks for hoisting the blubber and bone of whales on board a whaling vessel.

Speck, n. [OE. spekke, AS. specca; cf. LG. spaak.] 1. A small discolored place in or on anything, or a small place of a color different from that of the main substance; a spot; a stain; a blemish; as, a speck on paper or loth; specks of decay in fruit. "Gray sand, with black specks." Anson.

2. A very small thing; a particle; a mite; as, specks of dust; he has not a speck of money.

Many bright specks bubble up along the blue Egean.

Landor.

3. (Zoöl.) A small etheostomoid fish (Ulocentra stigmæa) common in the Eastern United States.

Speck, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Specked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Specking.] To cause the presence of specks upon or in, especially specks regarded as defects or blemishes; to spot; to speckle; as, paper specked by impurities in the water used in its manufacture.

Carnation, purple, azure, or specked with gold.

Milton.

Spec"kle (?), n. [Dim. of speck; cf. D. spikkel.] A little or spot in or anything, of a different substance or color from that of the thing itself.

An huge great serpent, all with speckles pied.

Spebser.

Spec"kle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Speckled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Speckling (?).] To mark with small spots of a different color from that of the rest of the surface; to variegate with spots of a different color from the ground or surface.

Spec"kled (?), a. Marked or variegated with small spots of a different color from that of the rest of the surface.

Speckled Indians (Ethnol.), the Pintos. -- Speckled trout. (Zoöl.) (a) The common American brook trout. See Trout. (b) The rainbow trout.

Spec"kled-bel`ly (?), n. (Zoöl.) The gadwall. [Local, U.S.]

Spec"kled-bill" (?), n. (Zoöl.) The American white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons).

Spec"kled*ness, n. The quality of being speckled.

Speck`sion*eer" (?), n. The chief harpooner, who also directs in cutting up the speck, or blubber; -- so called among whalers.

Speckt (?), n. A woodpecker. See Speight.

Spec"ta*cle (?), n. [F., fr. L. spectaculum, fr. spectare to look at, to behold, v. intens. fr. specere. See Spy.] 1. Something exhibited to view; usually, something presented to view as extraordinary, or as unusual and worthy of special notice; a remarkable or noteworthy sight; a show; a pageant; a gazingstock.

O, piteous spectacle? O, bloody times!

Shak.

2. A spy-glass; a looking-glass. [Obs.]

Poverty a spectacle is, as thinketh me, Through which he may his very friends see.

Chaucer.

3. pl. An optical instrument consisting of two lenses set in a light frame, and worn to assist sight, to obviate some defect in the organs of vision, or to shield the eyes from bright light.

4. pl. Fig.: An aid to the intellectual sight.

Shakespeare . . . needed not the spectacles of books to read nature.

Dryden.

Syn. -- Show; sight; exhibition; representation; pageant.

Spec"ta*cled (?), a. 1. Furnished with spectacles; wearing spectacles.

As spectacled she sits in chimney nook.

Keats.

2. (Zoöl.) Having the eyes surrounded by color markings, or patches of naked skin, resembling spectacles.

Spectacled bear (Zoöl.), a South American bear (Tremarclos ornatus) which inhabits the high mountains of Chili and Peru. It has a light-colored ring around each eye. -- Spectacled coot, or Spectacled duck (Zoöl.), the surf scoter, or surf duck. [Local, U.S.] -- Spectacled eider (Zoöl.) See Eider. -- Spectacled goose (Zoöl.), the gannet. -- Spectacled snake (Zoöl.), the cobra de capello.

Spec*tac"u*lar (?), a. 1. Of or pertaining to a shows; of the nature of a show. "Spectacular sports." G. Hickes.

2. Adapted to excite wonder and admiration by a display of pomp or of scenic effects; as, a spectacular celebration of some event; a spectacular play.

3. Pertaining to spectacles, or glasses for the eyes.

Spec"tant (?), a. [L. spectans, p. pr. of spectare to look at.] Looking forward.

Spec*ta"tion (?), n. [L. spectatio.] Regard; aspect; appearance. Harvey.

Spec*ta"tor (?), n. [L. spectator: cf. F. spectateur. See Spectacle.] One who on; one who sees or beholds; a beholder; one who is personally present at, and sees, any exhibition; as, the spectators at a show. "Devised and played to take spectators." Shak.

Syn. -- Looker-on; beholder; observer; witness.

Spec`ta*to"ri*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to a spectator. Addison.

Spec*ta"tor*ship (?), n. 1. The office or quality of a spectator. [R.] Addison.

2. The act of beholding. [Obs.] Shak.

{ Spec*ta"tress (?), Spec*ta"trix (?) }, n. [L. spectatrix.] A female beholder or looker-on. "A spectatress of the whole scene." Jeffrey.

{ Spec"ter, Spec"tre } (?), n. [F. spectre, fr. L. spectrum an appearance, image, specter, fr. specere to look. See Spy, and cf. Spectrum.] 1. Something preternaturally visible; an apparition; a ghost; a phantom.

The ghosts of traitors from the bridge descend, With bold fanatic specters to rejoice.

Dryden.

2. (Zoöl.) (a) The tarsius. (b) A stick insect.

Specter bat (Zoöl.), any phyllostome bat. -- Specter candle (Zoöl.), a belemnite. -- Specter shrimp (Zoöl.), a skeleton shrimp. See under Skeleton.

Spec`tion*eer" (?), n. Same as Specsioneer.

Spec"tral (?), a. 1. Of or pertaining to a specter; ghosty.

He that feels timid at the spectral form of evil is not the man to spread light.

F. W. Robertson.

2. (Opt.) Of or pertaining to the spectrum; made by the spectrum; as, spectral colors; spectral analysis.

Spectral lemur. (Zoöl.) See Tarsius.

Spec"tral*ly, adv. In the form or manner of a specter.

Spec"tre (?), n. See Specter.

Spec`tro*log"ic*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to spectrology; as, spectrological studies or experiments. -- Spec`tro*log"ic*al*ly, adv.

Spec*trol"o*gy (?), n. [Spectrum + -logy.] (Chem.Phys.) The science of spectrum analysis in any or all of its relations and applications.

Spec*trom"e*ter (?), n. [Spectrum + -meter.] (Physics) A spectroscope fitted for measurements of the luminious spectra observed with it.

Spec`tro*pho*tom"e*ter (?), n. [Spectrum + photometer.] (Opt.) An instrument for measuring or comparing the intensites of the colors of the spectrum.

Spec"tro*scope (?), n. [Spectrum + -scope.] (Physics) An optical instrument for forming and examining spectra (as that of solar light, or those produced by flames in which different substances are volatilized), so as to determine, from the position of the spectral lines, the composition of the substance.

{ Spec`tro*scop"ic (?), Spec`tro*scop"ic*al (?) }, a. Of or pertaining to a spectroscope, or spectroscopy. -- Spec`tro*scop"ic*al*ly, adv.

Spec*tros"co*pist (? or ?), n. One who investigates by means of a spectroscope; one skilled in the use of the spectroscope.

Spec*tros"co*py (?), n. The use of the spectroscope; investigations made with the spectroscope.

Spec"trum (?), n.; pl. Spectra (#). [L. See Specter.] 1. An apparition; a specter. [Obs.]

2. (Opt.) (a) The several colored and other rays of which light is composed, separated by the refraction of a prism or other means, and observed or studied either as spread out on a screen, by direct vision, by photography, or otherwise. See Illust. of Light, and Spectroscope. (b) A luminous appearance, or an image seen after the eye has been exposed to an intense light or a strongly illuminated object. When the object is colored, the image appears of the complementary color, as a green image seen after viewing a red wafer lying on white paper. Called also ocular spectrum.

Absorption spectrum, the spectrum of light which has passed through a medium capable of absorbing a portion of the rays. It is characterized by dark spaces, bands, or lines. -- Chemical spectrum, a spectrum of rays considered solely with reference to their chemical effects, as in photography. These, in the usual photogrophic methods, have their maximum influence at and beyond the violet rays, but are not limited to this region. -- Chromatic spectrum, the visible colored rays of the solar spectrum, exhibiting the seven principal colors in their order, and covering the central and larger portion of the space of the whole spectrum. -- Continous spectrum, a spectrum not broken by bands or lines, but having the colors shaded into each other continously, as that from an incandescent solid or liquid, or a gas under high pressure. -- Diffraction spectrum, a spectrum produced by diffraction, as by a grating. -- Gaseous spectrum, the spectrum of an incandesoent gas or vapor, under moderate, or especially under very low, pressure. It is characterized by bright bands or lines. -- Normal spectrum, a representation of a spectrum arranged upon conventional plan adopted as standard, especially a spectrum in which the colors are spaced proportionally to their wave lengths, as when formed by a diffraction grating. -- Ocular spectrum. See Spectrum, 2 (b), above. -- Prismatic spectrum, a spectrum produced by means of a prism. -- Solar spectrum, the spectrum of solar light, especially as thrown upon a screen in a darkened room. It is characterized by numerous dark lines called Fraunhofer lines. -- Spectrum analysis, chemical analysis effected by comparison of the different relative positions and qualities of the fixed lines of spectra produced by flames in which different substances are burned or evaporated, each substance having its own characteristic system of lines. -- Thermal spectrum, a spectrum of rays considered solely with reference to their heating effect, especially of those rays which produce no luminous phenomena.

Spec"u*lar (?), a. [L. specularis (cf., from the same root, specula a lookout, watchtower): cf. F. spéculaire. See Speculum.] 1. Having the qualities of a speculum, or mirror; having a smooth, reflecting surface; as, a specular metal; a specular surface.

2. (Med.) Of or pertaining to a speculum; conducted with the aid of a speculum; as, a specular examination.

3. Assisting sight, as a lens or the like. [Obs.]

Thy specular orb Apply to well-dissected kernels; lo! In each observe the slender threads Of first-beginning trees.

J. Philips.

4. Affording view. [R.] "Look once more, ere we leave this specular mount." Milton.

Specular iron. (Min.) See Hematite.

Spec"u*late (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Speculated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Speculating.] [L. speculatus, p. p. of speculari to spy out, observe, fr. specula a lookout, fr. specere to look. See Spy.] 1. To consider by turning a subject in the mind, and viewing it in its different aspects and relations; to meditate; to contemplate; to theorize; as, to speculate on questions in religion; to speculate on political events.

It is remarkable that persons who speculate the most boldly often conform with the most pefect quietude to the external regulations of society.

Hawthorne.

2. (Philos.) To view subjects from certain premises given or assumed, and infer conclusions respecting them a priori.

3. (Com.) To purchase with the expectation of a contingent advance in value, and a consequent sale at a profit; -- often, in a somewhat depreciative sense, of unsound or hazardous transactions; as, to speculate in coffee, in sugar, or in bank stock.

Spec"u*late, v. t. To consider attentively; as, to speculate the nature of a thing. [R.] Sir W. Hamilton.

Spec`u*la"tion (?), n. [L. speculatio a spying out, observation: cf. F. spéculation.] 1. The act of speculating. Specifically: --

(a) Examination by the eye; view. [Obs.]

(b) Mental view of anything in its various aspects and relations; contemplation; intellectual examination.

Thenceforth to speculations high or deep I turned my thoughts.

Milton.

(c) (Philos.) The act or process of reasoning a priori from premises given or assumed.

(d) (Com.) The act or practice of buying land, goods, shares, etc., in expectation of selling at a higher price, or of selling with the expectation of repurchasing at a lower price; a trading on anticipated fluctuations in price, as distinguished from trading in which the profit expected is the difference between the retail and wholesale prices, or the difference of price in different markets.

Sudden fortunes, indeed, are sometimes made in such places, by what is called the trade of speculation.

A. Smith.

Speculation, while confined within moderate limits, is the agent for equalizing supply and demand, and rendering the fluctuations of price less sudden and abrupt than they would otherwise be.

F. A. Walker.

(e) Any business venture in involving unusual risks, with a chance for large profits.

2. A conclusion to which the mind comes by speculating; mere theory; view; notion; conjecture.

From him Socrates derived the principles of morality, and most part of his natural speculations.

Sir W. temple.

To his speculations on these subjects he gave the lofty name of the "Oracles of Reason."

Macaulay.

3. Power of sight. [Obs.]

Thou hast no speculation in those eyes.

Shak.

4. A game at cards in which the players buy from one another trumps or whole hands, upon a chance of getting the highest trump dealt, which entitles the holder to the pool of stakes.

Spec"u*la*tist (?), n. One who speculates, or forms theories; a speculator; a theorist.

The very ingenious speculatist, Mr. Hume.

V. Knox.

Spec"u*la*tive (?), a. [Cf. F. spéculatif, L. speculativus.] 1. Given to speculation; contemplative.

The mind of man being by nature speculative.

Hooker.

2. Involving, or formed by, speculation; ideal; theoretical; not established by demonstration. Cudworth.

3. Of or pertaining to vision; also, prying; inquisitive; curious. [R.] Bacon.

4. Of or pertaining to speculation in land, goods, shares, etc.; as, a speculative dealer or enterprise.

The speculative merchant exercises no one regular, established, or well-known branch of business.

A. Smith.

-- Spec"u*la*tive*ly, adv. -- Spec"u*la*tive*ness, n.

Spec"u*la`tor (?), n. [L., a spy, explorer, investigator: cf. F. spéculateur.] One who speculates. Specifically: (a) An observer; a contemplator; hence, a spy; a watcher. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

(b) One who forms theories; a theorist.

A speculator who had dared to affirm that the human soul is by nature mortal.

Macaulay.

(c) (Com.) One who engages in speculation; one who buys and sells goods, land, etc., with the expectation of deriving profit from fluctuations in price.

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Spec`u*la*to"ri*al (?), a. Speculatory; speculative. [Obs.]

Spec"u*la*to*ry (?), a. [L. speculatorius belonging to spies or scouts.] 1. Intended or adapted for viewing or espying; having oversight. T. Warton.

2. Exercising speculation; speculative. T. Carew.

Spec"u*list (?), n. One who observes or considers; an observer. [R.] Goldsmith.

Spec"u*lum (?), n.; pl. L. Specula (#), E. Speculum (#). [L., fr. specere to look, behold. See Spy.] 1. A mirror, or looking-glass; especially, a metal mirror, as in Greek and Roman archæology.

2. A reflector of polished metal, especially one used in reflecting telescopes. See Speculum metal, below.

3. (Surg.) An instrument for dilating certain passages of the body, and throwing light within them, thus facilitating examination or surgical operations.

4. (Zoöl.) A bright and lustrous patch of color found on the wings of ducks and some other birds. It is usually situated on the distal portions of the secondary quills, and is much more brilliant in the adult male than in the female.

Speculum metal, a hard, brittle alloy used for making the reflectors of telescopes and other instruments, usually consisting of copper and tin in various proportions, one of the best being that in which there are 126.4 parts of copper to 58.9 parts of tin, with sometimes a small proportion of arsenic, antimony, or zinc added to improve the whiteness.

Sped (?), imp. & p. p. of Speed.

Speece (?), n. Species; sort. [Obs.]

Speech (?), n. [OE. speche, AS. sp&?;c, spr&?;, fr. specan, sprecan, to speak; akin to D. spraak speech, OHG. sprhha, G. sprache, Sw. spr&?;k, Dan. sprog. See Speak.] 1. The faculty of uttering articulate sounds or words; the faculty of expressing thoughts by words or articulate sounds; the power of speaking.

There is none comparable to the variety of instructive expressions by speech, wherewith man alone is endowed for the communication of his thoughts.

Holder.

2. he act of speaking; that which is spoken; words, as expressing ideas; language; conversation.

Speech is voice modulated by the throat, tongue, lips, etc., the modulation being accomplished by changing the form of the cavity of the mouth and nose through the action of muscles which move their walls.

O goode God! how gentle and how kind Ye seemed by your speech and your visage The day that maked was our marriage.

Chaucer.

The acts of God . . . to human ears Can nort without process of speech be told.

Milton.

3. A particular language, as distinct from others; a tongue; a dialect.

People of a strange speech and of an hard language.

Ezek. iii. 6.

4. Talk; mention; common saying.

The duke . . . did of me demand What was the speech among the Londoners Concerning the French journey.

Shak.

5. formal discourse in public; oration; harangue.

The constant design of these orators, in all their speeches, was to drive some one particular point.

Swift.

6. ny declaration of thoughts.

I. with leave of speech implored, . . . replied.

Milton.

Syn. Harangue; language; address; oration. See Harangue, and Language.

Speech, v. i. & t. To make a speech; to harangue. [R.]

Speech"ful (?), a. Full of speech or words; voluble; loquacious. [R.]

Speech`i*fi*ca"tion (?), n.[See Spechify.] The act of speechifying. [Used humorously or in contempt.]

Speech"i*fi`er (?), n. One who makes a speech or speeches; an orator; a declaimer. [Used humorously or in contempt.] G. Eliot.

Speech"i*fy (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Speechified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Speechifying (?).] [Speech + -fy.] To make a speech; to harangue. [Used derisively or humorously.]

Speech"i*fy`ing, n. The act of making a speech or speeches. [Used derisively or humorously.]

The dinner and speechifying . . . at the opening of the annual season for the buckhounds.

M. Arnold.

Speech"ing, n. The act of making a speech. [R.]

Speech"less, a. 1. Destitute or deprived of the faculty of speech.

2. Not speaking for a time; dumb; mute; silent.

Speechless with wonder, and half dead with fear.

Addison.

-- Speech"less*ly, adv. -- Speech"less*ness, n.

Speech"mak`er (?), n. One who makes speeches; one accustomed to speak in a public assembly.

Speed (?), n. [AS. sp&?;d success, swiftness, from sp&?;wan to succeed; akin to D. spoedd, OHG. spuot success, spuot to succees, Skr. sph to increase, grow fat. &radic;170b.] 1. Prosperity in an undertaking; favorable issue; success. "For common speed." Chaucer.

O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day.

Gen. xxiv. 12.

2. The act or state of moving swiftly; swiftness; velocity; rapidly; rate of motion; dispatch; as, the speed a horse or a vessel.

Speed, to describe whose swiftness number fails.

Milton.

In kinematics, speedis sometimes used to denote the amount of velocity without regard to direction of motion, while velocity is not regarded as known unless both the direction and the amount are known.

3. One who, or that which, causes or promotes speed or success. [Obs.] "Hercules be thy speed!" Shak.

God speed, Good speed; prosperity. See Godspeed. -- Speed gauge, Speed indicator, &and; Speed recorder (Mach.), devices for indicating or recording the rate of a body's motion, as the number of revolutions of a shaft in a given time. -- Speed lathe (Mach.), a power lathe with a rapidly revolving spindle, for turning small objects, for polishing, etc.; a hand lathe. -- Speed pulley, a cone pulley with steps.

Syn. -- Haste; swiftness; celerity; quickness; dispatch; expedition; hurry; acceleration. See Haste.

Speed (spd), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sped (spd), Speeded; p. pr. & vb. n. Speeding.] [AS. spdan, fr. spd, n.; akin to D. spoeden, G. sich sputen. See Speed, n.] 1. To go; to fare. [Obs.]

To warn him now he is too farre sped.

Remedy of Love.

2. To experience in going; to have any condition, good or ill; to fare. Shak.

Ships heretofore in seas like fishes sped; The mightiest still upon the smallest fed.

Waller.

3. To fare well; to have success; to prosper.

Save London, and send true lawyers their meed! For whoso wants money with them shall not speed!

Lydgate.

I told ye then he should prevail, and speed On his bad errand.

Milton.

4. To make haste; to move with celerity.

I have speeded hither with the very extremest inch of possibility.

Shak.

5. To be expedient. [Obs.] Wyclif (2 Cor. xii. 1.)

Speed, v. t. 1. To cause to be successful, or to prosper; hence, to aid; to favor. "Fortune speed us!" Shak.

With rising gales that speed their happy flight.

Dryden.

2. To cause to make haste; to dispatch with celerity; to drive at full speed; hence, to hasten; to hurry.

He sped him thence home to his habitation.

Fairfax.

3. To hasten to a conclusion; to expedite.

Judicial acts . . . are sped in open court at the instance of one or both of the parties.

Ayliffe.

4. To hurry to destruction; to put an end to; to ruin; to undo. "Sped with spavins." Shak.

A dire dilemma! either way I 'm sped. If foes, they write, if friends, they read, me dead.

Pope.

5. To wish success or god fortune to, in any undertaking, especially in setting out upon a journey.

Welcome the coming, speed the parting guest.

Pope.

God speed you, them, etc., may God speed you; or, may you have good speed.

Syn. -- To dispatch; hasten; expedite; accelerate; hurry.

Speed"er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, speeds.

2. (Spinning) A machine for drawing and twisting slivers to form rovings.

Speed"ful (?), a. Full of speed (in any sense). [Obs.]

Speed"ful*ly, adv. In a speedful manner. [Obs.]

Speed"i*ly (?), adv. In a speedy manner.

Speed"i*ness, n. The quality or state of being speedy.

Speed"less, a. Being without speed.

Speed"well (?), n. (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Veronica, mostly low herbs with pale blue corollas, which quickly fall off.

Speed"y (-), a. [Compar. Speedier (?); superl. Speediest.] [AS. spdyg.] Not dilatory or slow; quick; swift; nimble; hasty; rapid in motion or performance; as, a speedy flight; on speedy foot.

I will wish her speedy strength.

Shak.

Darts, which not the good could shun, The speedy ould outfly.

Dryden.

Speer (?), n. A sphere. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Speer, v. t. To ask. [Scot.] See Spere.

Speet (?), v. t. [Cf. D. speten. See Spit an iron prong.] To stab. [Obs.] Gammer Gurton's Needle.

Speight (?), n. [G. specht, probably akin to L. picus: cf. D. specht. &radic;169. See Pie a magpie.] (Zoöl.) A woodpecker; -- called also specht, spekt, spight. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

Speir (?), v. i. To ask. See Spere. Sir W. Scott.

Speis`ko"balt (?), n. [G.] Smaltite.

Speiss (?), n. [Cf. G. speise food, mixed metal for bells, etc.] (Metal.) A regulus consisting essentially of nickel, obtained as a residue in fusing cobalt and nickel ores with silica and sodium carbonate to make smalt.

Spek"boom (?), n. [D., lit. fat tree.] (Bot.) The purslane tree of South Africa, -- said to be the favorite food of elephants. Balfour (Cyc. of India).

Speke (?), v. i. & t. To speak. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Speke"house` (?), n. The parlor or reception room of a convent. [Obs.]

Spel"ding (?), n. [Scot. speld to spread out, spelder to split. spread open; cf. G. spalten split.] A haddock or other small fish split open and dried in the sun; -- called also speldron. [Scot.]

Spel"i*cans (?), n. pl. See Spilikin.

Spelk (?), n. [AS. spelc, spilc, a little rod by which a thing is kept straight, a splint for binding up broken bones, akin to Icel. spelkur, pl., a splint. Cf. Spell a splinter.] A small stick or rod used as a spike in thatching; a splinter. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.

Spell (?), n. [OE. speld, AS. speld a spill to light a candle with; akin to D. speld a pin, OD. spelle, G. spalten to split, OHG. spaltan, MHG. spelte a splinter, Icel. spjald a square tablet, Goth. spilda a writing tablet. Cf. Spillsplinter, roll of paper, Spell to tell the letters of.] A spelk, or splinter. [Obs.] Holland.

Spell, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spelled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spelling.] [AS. spelian to supply another's place.] To supply the place of for a time; to take the turn of, at work; to relieve; as, to spell the helmsman.

Spell, n. 1. The relief of one person by another in any piece of work or watching; also, a turn at work which is carried on by one person or gang relieving another; as, a spell at the pumps; a spell at the masthead.

A spell at the wheel is called a trick.

Ham. Nav. Encyc.

2. The time during which one person or gang works until relieved; hence, any relatively short period of time, whether a few hours, days, or weeks.

Nothing new has happened in this quarter, except the setting in of a severe spell of cold weather.

Washington.

3. One of two or more persons or gangs who work by spells. [R.]

Their toil is so extreme that they can not endure it above four hours in a day, but are succeeded by spells.

Garew.

4. A gratuitous helping forward of another's work; as, a logging spell. [Local, U.S.]

Spell (?), n.[AS. spell a saying, tale, speech; akin to OS. & OHG. spel, Icel. spjall,Goth. spill. Cf. Gospel, Spell to tell the letters of.] 1. A story; a tale. [Obs.] "Hearken to my spell." Chaucer.

2. A stanza, verse, or phrase supposed to be endowed with magical power; an incantation; hence, any charm.

Start not; her actions shall be holy as You hear my spell is lawful.

Shak.

Spell, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spelled (&?;) or Spelt (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Spelling.] [OE. spellen, spellien, tell, relate, AS. spellian, fr. spell a saying, tale; akin to MHG. spellen to relate, Goth. spill&?;n.e Spell a tale. In sense 4 and those following, OE. spellen, perhaps originally a different word, and from or influenced by spell a splinter, from the use of a piece of wood to point to the letters in schools: cf. D. spellen to spell. Cf. Spell splinter.] 1. To tell; to relate; to teach. [Obs.]

Might I that legend find, By fairies spelt in mystic rhymes.

T. Warton.

2. To put under the influence of a spell; to affect by a spell; to bewitch; to fascinate; to charm. "Spelled with words of power." Dryden.

He was much spelled with Eleanor Talbot.

Sir G. Buck.

3. To constitute; to measure. [Obs.]

The Saxon heptarchy, when seven kings put together did spell but one in effect.

Fuller.

4. To tell or name in their proper order letters of, as a word; to write or print in order the letters of, esp. the proper letters; to form, as words, by correct orthography.

The word "satire" ought to be spelled with i, and not with y.

Dryden.

5. To discover by characters or marks; to read with difficulty; -- usually with out; as, to spell out the sense of an author; to spell out a verse in the Bible.

To spell out a God in the works of creation.

South.

To sit spelling and observing divine justice upon every accident.

Milton.

Spell, v. i. 1. To form words with letters, esp. with the proper letters, either orally or in writing.

When what small knowledge was, in them did dwell, And he a god, who could but read or spell.

Dryden.

2. To study by noting characters; to gain knowledge or learn the meaning of anything, by study. [Obs.]

Where I may sit and rightly spell Of every star that heaven doth shew, And every herb that sips the dew.

Milton.

Spell"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being spelt. Carlyle.

Spell"bound` (?), a. Bound by, or as by, a spell.

Spell"er (?), n. 1. One who spells.

2. A spelling book. [U. S.]

Spell"ful (?), a. Abounding in spells, or charms.

Here, while his eyes the learned leaves peruse, Each spellful mystery explained he views.

Hoole.

Spell"ing, n. The act of one who spells; formation of words by letters; orthography.

Spell"ing, a. Of or pertaining to spelling.

Spelling bee, a spelling match. [U.S.] - - Spelling book, a book with exercises for teaching children to spell; a speller. -- Spelling match, a contest of skill in spelling words, between two or more persons.

Spell"ken (?), n. A theater. [Slang] Byron.

Spell"work` (?), n. Power or effect of magic; that which is wrought by magic; enchantment.

Like those Peri isles of light That hang by spellwork in the air.

Moore.

Spelt (?), imp. & p. p. of Spell. Spelled.

Spelt, n. [AS. spelt, fr. L. spelta.] (Bot.) A species of grain (Triticum Spelta) much cultivated for food in Germany and Switzerland; -- called also German wheat.

Spelt, n. [See Spalt.] (Metal.) Spelter. [Colloq.]

Spelt, v. t. & i. [See Spell a splinter.] To split; to break; to spalt. [Obs.] Mortimer.

Spel"ter (?), n. [Cf. LG. spialter, G. & D. spiauter. Cf. Pewter.] (Metal.) Zinc; -- especially so called in commerce and arts.

Spe*lunc" (?), n. [L. spelunca cave.] A cavern; a cave. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.

Spence (?), n. [OF. despense, F. dépense, buffet, buttery, fr. OF. despendre to spend, distribute, L. dispendere, dispensum. See Dispense, Spend.] 1. A place where provisions are kept; a buttery; a larder; a pantry.

In . . . his spence, or "pantry" were hung the carcasses of a sheep or ewe, and two cows lately slaughtered.

Sir W. Scott.

Bluff Harry broke into the spence, And turned the cowls adrift.

Tennyson.

2. The inner apartment of a country house; also, the place where the family sit and eat. [Scot.] Jamieson.

Spen"cer (?), n. [OF. despensier. See Spence, and cf. Dispenser.] One who has the care of the spence, or buttery. [Obs.] Promptorium Parvulorum.

Spen"cer, n. [From the third Earl Spencer, who first wore it, or brought it into fashion.] A short jacket worn by men and by women. Ld. Lutton.

Spen"cer, n. (Naut.) A fore- and-aft sail, abaft the foremast or the mainmast, hoisted upon a small supplementary mast and set with a gaff and no boom; a trysail carried at the foremast or mainmast; -- named after its inventor, Knight Spencer, of England [1802].

Spencer mast, a small mast just abaft the foremast or mainmast, for hoisting the spencer. R. H. Dana, Jr.

Spend (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spent (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Spending.] [AS. spendan (in comp.), fr. L. expendere or dispendere to weigh out, to expend, dispense. See Pendant, and cf. Dispend, Expend, Spence, Spencer.] 1. To weigh or lay out; to dispose of; to part with; as, to spend money for clothing.

Spend thou that in the town.

Shak.

Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread?

Isa. lv. 2.

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2. To bestow; to employ; -- often with on or upon.

I . . . am never loath To spend my judgment.

Herbert.

3. To consume; to waste; to squander; to exhaust; as, to spend an estate in gaming or other vices.

4. To pass, as time; to suffer to pass away; as, to spend a day idly; to spend winter abroad.

We spend our years as a tale that is told.

Ps. xc. 9.

5. To exhaust of force or strength; to waste; to wear away; as, the violence of the waves was spent.

Their bodies spent with long labor and thirst.

Knolles.

Spend (?), v. i. 1. To expend money or any other possession; to consume, use, waste, or part with, anything; as, he who gets easily spends freely.

He spends as a person who knows that he must come to a reckoning.

South.

2. To waste or wear away; to be consumed; to lose force or strength; to vanish; as, energy spends in the using of it.

The sound spendeth and is dissipated in the open air.

Bacon.

3. To be diffused; to spread.

The vines that they use for wine are so often cut, that their sap spendeth into the grapes.

Bacon.

4. (Mining) To break ground; to continue working.

Spen"der (?), n. One who spends; esp., one who spends lavishly; a prodigal; a spendthrift.

Spend"ing, n. The act of expending; expenditure.

Spending money, money set apart for extra (not necessary) personal expenses; pocket money. [Colloq.]

Spend"thrift` (?), n. One who spends money profusely or improvidently; a prodigal; one who lavishes or wastes his estate. Also used figuratively.

A woman who was a generous spendthrift of life.

Mrs. R. H. Davis.

Spend"thrift, a. Prodigal; extravagant; wasteful.

Spend"thrift`y (?), a. Spendthrift; prodigal. [R.]

Spen*se"ri*an (?), a. Of or pertaining to the English poet Spenser; -- specifically applied to the stanza used in his poem "The Faërie Queene."

Spent (spnt), a. 1. Exhausted; worn out; having lost energy or motive force.

Now thou seest me Spent, overpowered, despairing of success.

Addison.

Heaps of spent arrows fall and strew the ground.

Dryden.

2. (Zoöl.) Exhausted of spawn or sperm; -- said especially of fishes.

Spent ball, a ball shot from a firearm, which reaches an object without having sufficient force to penetrate it.

{ Sper (?), Sperre }, v. t. [See Spar bar.] To shut in; to support; to inclose; to fasten. [Obs.] "To sperre the gate." Spenser.

Spe"ra*ble (?), a. [L. spearabilis, fr. sperare to hope.] Within the range of hpe; proper to be hoped for. [Obs.] Bacon.

Sper"a*ble (?), n. See Sperable.

Sper"age (?), n. Asperagus. [Obs.] Sylvester.

Spe"rate (?), a. [L. speratus, p. p. of sperare to hope.] Hoped for, or to be hoped for. [R.] Bouvier.

Spere (?), v. i. [AS. spyrian to inquire, properly, to follow the track; akin to D. speuren, G. spüren, Icel. spyrja. &radic;171. See Spoor.] To search; to pry; to ask; to inquire. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] [Written also speer, speir.] Jamieson.

Spere, n. [See Sphere.] A sphere. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Sperge (?), n. (Distilling) A charge of wash for the still. Knight.

Sper"ling (?), n. [See Sparling.] (Zoöl.) (a) A smelt; a sparling. [Prov. Eng.] (b) A young herring. [Local, U.S.]

Sperm (?), n.[F. sperme, L. sperma, Gr. &?;&?;&?;, &?;&?;&?;, from &?;&?;&?;&?; to sow. Cf. Spore.] (Physiol.) The male fecundating fluid; semen. See Semen.

Sperm cell (Physiol.), one of the cells from which the spermatozoids are developed. -- Sperm morula. (Biol.) Same as Spermosphere.

Sperm, n.[Contr. fr. spermaceti.] Spermaceti.

Sperm oil, a fatty oil found as a liquid, with spermaceti, in the head cavities of the sperm whale. -- Sperm whale. (Zoöl.) See in the Vocabulary.

Sper`ma*ce"ti (?), n. [L. sperma sperm + cetus,gen. ceti, any large sea animal, a whale, Gr. &?;&?;&?;. See Sperm, Cetaceous.] A white waxy substance obtained from cavities in the head of the sperm whale, and used making candles, oilments, cosmetics, etc. It consists essentially of ethereal salts of palmitic acid with ethal and other hydrocarbon bases. The substance of spermaceti after the removal of certain impurities is sometimes called cetin.

Spermaceti whale (Zoöl.), the sperm whale.

Sper"mal*ist (?), n. (Biol.) See Spermist.

Sper"ma*phore (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?; sperm + &?;&?;&?;&?; to bear.] (Bot.) That part of the ovary from which the ovules arise; the placenta.

Sper"ma*ry (?), n. (Anat.) An organ in which spermatozoa are developed; a sperm gland; a testicle.

||Sper`ma*the"ca (?), n.; pl. Spermathecæ (#). [NL., from Gr. ||&?;&?;&?;&?; seed + &?;&?;&?;&?; case, or receptacle.] (Zoöl.) A ||small sac connected with the female reproductive organs of insects ||and many other invertebrates, serving to receive and retain the ||spermatozoa.

Sper*mat"ic (?), a. [L. spermaticus, Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?;: cf. F. spermatique. See Sperm.] (Physiol.) Of or pertaining to semen; as, the spermatic fluid, the spermatic vessels, etc.

Spermatic cord (Anat.), the cord which suspends the testicle within the scrotum. It is made up of a connective tissue sheath inclosing the spermatic duct and accompanying vessels and nerves.

Sper"mat"ic*al (?), a. Spermatic.

Sper"ma*tin (?), n. (Physiol. Chem.) A substance allied to alkali albumin and to mucin, present in semen, to which it is said to impart the mucilaginous character.

Sper"ma*tism (?), n. (Physiol.) The emission of sperm, or semen.

||Sper*ma"ti*um (?), n.; pl. Spermatia (#). [NL.] (Bot.) One of the ||motionless spermatozoids in the conceptacles of certain fungi. J. H. ||Balfour.

Sper"ma*tize (?), v. i. [Gr. &?;&?;&?;. See Sperm.] To yield seed; to emit seed, or sperm. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

{ Sper"ma*to- (?), Sper"mo- (?) }. Combining forms from Gr. spe`rma, -atos, seed, sperm, semen (of plants or animals); as, spermatoblast, spermoblast.

Sper"ma*to*blast (?), n. Same as Spermoblast.

Sper"ma*to*cyte (?), n. [Spermato- + Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?; a hollow vessel.] (Physiol.) Same as Spermoblast.

Sper`ma*to*gem"ma (?), n. [NL. See Spermato-, and Gemma.] (Physiol.) Same as Spermosphere.

Sper`ma*to*gen"e*sis (?), n. [Spermato- + genesis.] (Biol.) The development of the spermatozoids.

Sper`ma*to*ge*net"ic (?), a. (Physiol.) Relating to, or connected with, spermatogenesis; as, spermatogenetic function.

Sper`ma*tog"e*nous (?), a. [Spermato- + -genous.] (Physiol.) Sperm- producing.

||Sper`ma*to*go"ni*um (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?;, &?;&?;&?;, ||sperm + &?;&?;&?; offspring.] (Physiol.) A primitive seminal cell, ||occuring in masses in the seminal tubules. It divides into a mass ||(spermosphere) of small cells (spermoblast), which in turn give rise ||to spermatozoids.

Sper"ma*toid (?), a. [Spermato- + -oid.] (Physiol.) Spermlike; resembling sperm, or semen.

||Sper`ma*to"ön (?), n.; pl. Spermatoa (#). [NL., fr. Gr. spe`rma, ||-atos, seed + &?;&?;&?; an egg.] (Anat.) A spermoblast. -- ||Sper`ma*to"al (#), a. Owen.

Sper"ma*to*phore (?), n. [Spermato- + Gr. &?;&?;&?; to bear.] 1. (Physiol.) Same as Spermospore.

2. (Zoöl.) A capsule or pocket inclosing a number of spermatozoa. They are present in many annelids, brachiopods, mollusks, and crustaceans. In cephalopods the structure of the capsule is very complex.

Sper`ma*toph"o*rous (?), a. (Physiol.) Producing seed, or sperm; seminiferous; as, the so-called spermatophorous cells.

{Sper`ma*tor*rhe"a, Sper`ma*tor*rhœ"a, (&?;) }, n. [NL., fr. Gr. spe`rma, - atos, seed + &?;&?;&?; to flow.] (Med.) Abnormally frequent involuntary emission of the semen without copulation.

Sper"ma*to*spore (?), n. Same as Spermospore.

Sper`ma*to*zo"id (?), n. [Spermatozoön + Gr. &?;&?;&?; form.] (Biol.) The male germ cell in animals and plants, the essential element in fertilization; a microscopic animalcule-like particle, usually provided with one or more cilia by which it is capable of active motion. In animals, the familiar type is that of a small, more or less ovoid head, with a delicate threadlike cilium, or tail. Called also spermatozoön. In plants the more usual term is antherozoid.

Sper`ma*to*zo"oid (?) n. (Biol.) A spermatozoid.

||Sper`ma*to*zo"ön (?), n.; pl. Spermatozoa (#). [NL., fr. Gr. ||&?;&?;&?;, sperm + &?;&?;&?; an animal.] (Biol.) Same as ||Spermatozoid.

Sper"mic (?), a. Of or pertaining to sperm, or semen.

||Sper*mid"i*um (?), n.; pl. Spermidia (#). [Nl., fr. Gr. spe`rma ||seed.] (Bot.) An achenium.

Sperm"ist (?), n. (Biol.) A believer in the doctrine, formerly current, of encasement in the male (see Encasement), in which the seminal thread, or spermatozoid, was considered as the real animal germ, the head being the true animal head and the tail the body.

Sper"mo*blast (?), n. [Spermo- + -blast.] (Physiol.) One of the cells formed by the division of the spermospore, each of which is destined to become a spermatozoid; a spermatocyte; a spermatoblast.

||Sper`mo*coc"cus (?), n. [NL. See Spermo-, and Coccus.] (Physiol.) The ||nucleus of the sperm cell.

Sper"mo*derm (?), n. [Spermo- + derm: cf. F. spermoderme.] (Bot.) The covering of a seed; -- sometimes limited to the outer coat or testa. Lindley.

||Sper`mo*go"ni*um (?), n. [NL.; spermo- + Gr. &?;&?;&?; offspring.] ||(Bot.) A conceptacle of certain lichens, which contains spermatia.

Sper*mol"o*gist (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?;&?; picking up seeds; spe`rma sperm, seed + &?;&?;&?;&?; to gather.] One who treats of, or collects, seeds. Bailey.

Sper"mo*phile (?), n. [Gr. spe`rma a seed + fi`los loving, fond.] (Zoöl.) Any ground squirrel of the genus Spermophilus; a gopher. See Illust. under Gopher.

Sper"mo*phore (?), n. (Zoöl.) A spermatophore.

||Sper*moph"y*ta (?), n. pl. [Nl., from Gr. spe`rma a seed + fyto`n a ||plant.] Plants which produce seed; phænogamia. These plants ||constitute the highest grand division of the vegetable kingdom.

Sper"mo*phyte (?), n. (Bot.) Any plant which produces true seeds; -- a term recently proposed to replace phænogam.

Sper`mo*phyt"ic (?), a. (Bot.) Capable of producing seeds; phænogamic.

||Sper`mo*plas"ma (?), n. [NL. See Spermo-, and Plasma.] (Physiol.) The ||protoplasm of the sperm cell. Haeckel.

Sper"mo*sphere (?), n. [Spermo- + sphere.] (Physiol.) A mass or ball of cells formed by the repeated division of a male germinal cell (spermospore), each constituent cell (spermoblast) of which is converted into a spermatozoid; a spermatogemma.

Sper"mo*spore (?), n. [Spermo- + spore.] (Physiol.) The male germinal or seminal cell, from the breaking up of which the spermoblasts are formed and ultimately the spermatozoids; a spermatospore. Balfour.

Sper"mule (?), n. [Dim. fr. sperm.] (Physiol.) A sperm cell. Haeckel.

Sperm" whale` (?). (Zoöl.) A very large toothed whale (Physeter macrocephalus), having a head of enormous size. The upper jaw is destitute of teeth. In the upper part of the head, above the skull, there is a large cavity, or case, filled with oil and spermaceti. This whale sometimes grows to the length of more than eighty feet. It is found in the warmer parts of all the oceans. Called also cachalot, and spermaceti whale.

Pygmy sperm whale (Zoöl.), a small whale (Kogia breviceps), seldom twenty feet long, native of tropical seas, but occasionally found on the American coast. Called also snub-nosed cachalot. -- Sperm-whale porpoise (Zoöl.), a toothed cetacean (Hyperoödon bidens), found on both sides of the Atlantic and valued for its oil. The adult becomes about twenty-five feet long, and its head is very large and thick. Called also bottle-nosed whale.

Sper"ry*lite (?), n.[Named after F. L. Sperry, who discovered it.] (Min.) An arsenide of platinum occuring in grains and minute isometric crystals of tin-white color. It is found near Sudbury, Ontario Canada, and is the only known compound of platinum occuring in nature.

Sperse (?), v. t. To disperse. [Obs.] Spenser.

Spes"sart*ite (?), n.[From Spessart, in Germany.] (Min.) A manganesian variety of garnet.

Spet (?), v. t. [AS. sp&?;tan. See Spit.] To spit; to throw out. [Obs.]

Spet, n. Spittle. [Obs.]

Spetch"es (?), n. pl. Parings and refuse of hides, skins, etc., from which glue is made.

Spew (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spewed (?); p. pr.& vb. n. Spewing.] [OE. spewen, speowen, AS. spwan;n to D. spuwen to spit. OS & OHG. spwan, G. speien, Icel. sp&?;ja to spew, Sw. spy, Dan. spye, Goth. spiewan, th. spjauti, L. spuere to split, Gr. &?;&?;&?;, Skr. shtiv, shthv. Cf. Pyke, Spit.] [Written also spue.] 1. To eject from the stomach; to vomit.

2. To cast forth with abhorrence or disgust; to eject.

Because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth.

Rev. ii. 16.

Spew, v. i. 1. To vomit. Chaucer.

2. To eject seed, as wet land swollen with frost.

Spew, n. That which is vomited; vomit.

Spew"er (?), n. One who spews.

Spew"i*ness (?), n. The state of being spewy.

Spew"y (?), a. Wet; soggy; inclined to spew.

Sphac"el (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?;: cf. F. sphacèle.] (Med.) Gangrene.

Sphac"e*late (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sphacelated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sphacelating.] [NL. sphacelare, sphacelatum, mortify: cf. F. sphacéler. See Sphacelus.] (Med.) To die, decay, or become gangrenous, as flesh or bone; to mortify.

Sphac"e*late, v. t. (Med.) To affect with gangrene.

{ Sphac"e*late (?), Sphac"e*la`ted (?), } a. (Med.) Affected with gangrene; mortified.

<! p. 1384 !>

Sphac`e*la"tion (?), n. (Med.) The process of becoming or making gangrenous; mortification.

||Sphac"e*lus (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?;.] (Med.) Gangrenous ||part; gangrene; slough.

||Sphæ*ren"chy*ma (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;&?;&?; sphere + -enchyma as ||in parenchima.] (Bot.) Vegetable tissue composed of thin-walled ||rounded cells, -- a modification of parenchyma.

||Sphæ*rid"i*um (?), n.; pl. Sphæridia (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?;&?;&?; a ||sphere.] (Zoöl.) A peculiar sense organ found upon the exterior of ||most kinds of sea urchins, and consisting of an oval or sherical head ||surmounting a short pedicel. It is generally supposed to be an ||olfactory organ.

Sphæ"ro*spore (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?; sphere + E. spore.] (Bot.) One of the nonsexual spores found in red algæ; a tetraspore.

Sphær"u*lite (?), n. (Min.) Same as Spherulite.

Sphag*nic"o*lous (?), a. [Sphagnum + L. colere to inhabit.] (Bot.) Growing in moss of the genus Sphagnum.

Sphag"nous (?), a. (Bot.) Pertaining to moss of the genus Sphagnum, or bog moss; abounding in peat or bog moss.

||Sphag"num (?), n. [NL., fr/ Gr. &?;&?;&?; a kind of moss.] (Bot.) A ||genus of mosses having white leaves slightly tinged with red or green ||and found growing in marshy places; bog moss; peat moss.

Sphal"er*ite (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?; slippery, uncertain. See Blende.] (Min.) Zinc sulphide; -- called also blende, black-jack, false galena, etc. See Blende (a).

Sphene (?), n. [F. sphène, fr. Gr. sfh`n a wedge.] (Min.) A mineral found usually in thin, wedge-shaped crystals of a yellow or green to black color. It is a silicate of titanium and calcium; titanite.

Sphe*neth"moid (?), a. [Sphenoid + ethmoid.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to both the sphenoidal and the ethmoidal regions of the skull, or the sphenethmoid bone; sphenethmoidal.

Sphenethmoid bone (Anat.), a bone of the skull which surrounds the anterior end of the brain in many amphibia; the girdle bone.

Sphe*neth"moid, n. (Anat.) The sphenethmoid bone.

Sphe`neth*moid"al (?), a. (Anat.) Relating to the sphenoethmoid bone; sphenoethmoid.

Sphe*nis"can (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any species of penguin.

Sphe"no- (?). A combining form used in anatomy to indicate connection with, or relation to, the sphenoid bone; as in sphenomaxillary, sphenopalatine.

Sphe"no*don (?), n. [Gr. sfh`n a wedge + &?;&?;&?;, &?;&?;&?;, a tooth.] (Zoöl.) Same as Hatteria.

Sphe"no*eth*moid`al (?), a. (Anat.) Sphenethmoid.

Sphe"no*gram (?), n. [Gr. sfh`n a wedge + -gram.] A cuneiform, or arrow- headed, character.

Sphe*nog"ra*pher, n. One skilled in sphenography; a sphenographist.

Sphe`no*graph"ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to sphenography.

Sphe*nog"ra*phist (?), n. A sphenographer.

Sphe*nog"ra*phy (?), n. [Gr. sfh`n a wedge + -graphy.] The art of writing in cuneiform characters, or of deciphering inscriptions made in such characters.

Sphe"noid (?), a. [Gr. &?;&?;&?;; sfh`n a wedge + e'i^dos form: cf. F. sphénoïde.] 1. Wedge-shaped; as, a sphenoid crystal.

2. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the sphenoid bone.

Sphenoid bone (Anat.), an irregularly shaped bone in front of the occipital in the base of the skull of the higher vertebrates. It is composed of several fetal bones which become united the adult. See Alisphenoid, Basisphenoid, Orbitosphenoid, Presphenoid.

Sphe"noid (?), n. 1. (Crystallog.) A wedge-shaped crystal bounded by four equal isosceles triangles. It is the hemihedral form of a square pyramid.

2. (Anat.) The sphenoid bone.

Sphe*noid"al (?), a. 1. Sphenoid.

2. (Crystalloq.) Pertaining to, or resembling, a sphenoid.

Sphe*not"ic (?), a. [Spheno- + &?;&?;&?;, &?;&?;&?;, the ear.] (Anat.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, the sphenotic bone.

Sphenotic bone (Anat.), a bone on the anterior side of the auditory capsule of many fishes, and connected with, or adjoining, the sphenoid bone.

Sphe*not"ic, n. (Anat.) The sphenotic bone.

Spher"al (?), a. 1. Of or pertaining to a sphere or the spheres.

2. Rounded like a sphere; sphere-shaped; hence, symmetrical; complete; perfect.

Sphere (?), n. [OE. spere, OF. espere, F. sphère, L. sphaera,. Gr. &?;&?;&?; a sphere, a ball.] 1. (Geom.) A body or space contained under a single surface, which in every part is equally distant from a point within called its center.

2. Hence, any globe or globular body, especially a celestial one, as the sun, a planet, or the earth.

Of celestial bodies, first the sun, A mighty sphere, he framed.

Milton.

3. (Astron.) (a) The apparent surface of the heavens, which is assumed to be spherical and everywhere equally distant, in which the heavenly bodies appear to have their places, and on which the various astronomical circles, as of right ascension and declination, the equator, ecliptic, etc., are conceived to be drawn; an ideal geometrical sphere, with the astronomical and geographical circles in their proper positions on it. (b) In ancient astronomy, one of the concentric and eccentric revolving spherical transparent shells in which the stars, sun, planets, and moon were supposed to be set, and by which they were carried, in such a manner as to produce their apparent motions.

4. (Logic) The extension of a general conception, or the totality of the individuals or species to which it may be applied.

5. Circuit or range of action, knowledge, or influence; compass; province; employment; place of existence.

To be called into a huge sphere, and not to be seen to move in 't.

Shak.

Taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity, and inclosing her in a sphere by herself.

Hawthorne.

Each in his hidden sphere of joy or woe Our hermit spirits dwell.

Keble.

6. Rank; order of society; social positions.

7. An orbit, as of a star; a socket. [R.] Shak.

Armillary sphere, Crystalline sphere, Oblique sphere,. See under Armillary, Crystalline,. -- Doctrine of the sphere, applications of the principles of spherical trigonometry to the properties and relations of the circles of the sphere, and the problems connected with them, in astronomy and geography, as to the latitudes and longitudes, distance and bearing, of places on the earth, and the right ascension and declination, altitude and azimuth, rising and setting, etc., of the heavenly bodies; spherical geometry. -- Music of the spheres. See under Music.

Syn. -- Globe; orb; circle. See Globe.

Sphere (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sphered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sphering.] 1. To place in a sphere, or among the spheres; to insphere.

The glorious planet Sol In noble eminence enthroned and sphered Amidst the other.

Shak.

2. To form into roundness; to make spherical, or spheral; to perfect. Tennyson.

{ Spher"ic*al (?), Spher"ic (?), } a. [L. sphaericus, Gr. &?;&?;&?;: cf. F. sphérique.] 1. Having the form of a sphere; like a sphere; globular; orbicular; as, a spherical body.

2. Of or pertaining to a sphere.

3. Of or pertaining to the heavenly orbs, or to the sphere or spheres in which, according to ancient astronomy and astrology, they were set.

Knaves, thieves, and treachers by spherical predominance.

Shak.

Though the stars were suns, and overburned Their spheric limitations.

Mrs. Browning.

Spherical angle, Spherical coördinate, Spherical excess, etc. See under Angle, Coordinate, etc. -- Spherical geometry, that branch of geometry which treats of spherical magnitudes; the doctrine of the sphere, especially of the circles described on its surface. -- Spherical harmonic analysis. See under Harmonic, a. -- Spherical lune,portion of the surface of a sphere included between two great semicircles having a common diameter. -- Spherical opening, the magnitude of a solid angle. It is measured by the portion within the solid angle of the surface of any sphere whose center is the angular point. -- Spherical polygon,portion of the surface of a sphere bounded by the arcs of three or more great circles. -- Spherical projection, the projection of the circles of the sphere upon a plane. See Projection. -- Spherical sector. See under Sector. -- Spherical segment, the segment of a sphere. See under Segment. -- Spherical triangle,re on the surface of a sphere, bounded by the arcs of three great circles which intersect each other. -- Spherical trigonometry. See Trigonometry.

-- Spher"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Spher"ic*al*ness, n.

Sphe*ric"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. sphéricité.] The quality or state of being spherial; roundness; as, the sphericity of the planets, or of a drop of water.

Spher"i*cle (?), n. A small sphere.

Spher"ics (?), n. (Math.) The doctrine of the sphere; the science of the properties and relations of the circles, figures, and other magnitudes of a sphere, produced by planes intersecting it; spherical geometry and trigonometry.

||Sphe`ro*bac*te"ri*a (?), n. pl.; sing. Spherobacterium (&?;). [NL. ||See Sphere, and Bacterium.] (Biol.) See the Note under Microbacteria.

Sphe`ro*con"ic (?), n. (Geom.) A nonplane curve formed by the intersection of the surface of an oblique cone with the surface of a sphere whose center is at the vertex of the cone.

Spher"o*graph (?), n. [Sphere + -graph.] An instrument for facilitating the practical use of spherics in navigation and astronomy, being constructed of two cardboards containing various circles, and turning upon each other in such a manner that any possible spherical triangle may be readily found, and the measures of the parts read off by inspection.

Sphe"roid (?), n. [L. spheroides ball-like, spherical, Gr. &?;&?;&?;; &?;&?;&?;&?; sphere + &?;&?;&?; form: cf. F. sphéroïde.] A body or figure approaching to a sphere, but not perfectly spherical; esp., a solid generated by the revolution of an ellipse about one of its axes.

Oblate spheroid, Prolate spheroid. See Oblate, Prolate, and Ellipsoid.

Sphe*roid"al (?), a. [Cf. F. sphéroïdal.] Having the form of a spheroid. -- Sphe*roid"al*ly, adv.

Spheroidal state (Physics.), the state of a liquid, as water, when, on being thrown on a surface of highly heated metal, it rolls about in spheroidal drops or masses, at a temperature several degrees below ebullition, and without actual contact with the heated surface, -- a phenomenon due to the repulsive force of heat, the intervention of a cushion of nonconducting vapor, and the cooling effect of evaporation.

{ Sphe*roid"ic (?), Sphe*roid"ic*al (?), } a. See Spheroidal. Cheyne.

{ Sphe`roi*dic"i*ty (?), Sphe*roid"i*ty (?), } n. The quality or state of being spheroidal.

Sphe"ro*mere (?), n. [Sphere + -mere.] (Zoöl.) Any one of the several symmetrical segments arranged around the central axis and composing the body of a radiate anmal.

Sphe*rom"e*ter (?), n. [Sphere + -meter: cf. F. sphéromètre.] (Physics) An instrument for measuring the curvature of spherical surface, as of lenses for telescope, etc.

Spher`o*sid"er*ite (?), n. [Sphere + siderite.] (Min.) Siderite occuring in spheroidal masses.

Sphe"ro*some (?), n. [Sphere + -some body.] (Zoöl.) The body wall of any radiate animal.

Spher"u*late (?), a. Covered or set with spherules; having one or more rows of spherules, or minute tubercles.

Spher"ule (?), n. [L. spherula: cf. F. sphérule.] A little sphere or spherical body; as, quicksilver, when poured upon a plane, divides itself into a great number of minute spherules.

Spher"u*lite (?), n. [Cf. F. sphérulite.] (Min.) A minute spherical crystalline body having a radiated structure, observed in some vitreous volcanic rocks, as obsidian and pearlstone.

Spher`u*lit"ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to a spherulite; characterized by the presence of spherulites.

Spher"y (?), a. 1. Round; spherical; starlike. [R.] "Hermia's sphery eyne." Shak.

2. Of or pertaining to the spheres. [R.]

She can teach ye how to climb Higher than the sphery chime.

Milton.

Sphex (?), n.[NL., fr. Gr. &?;&?;&?;, &?;&?;&?;, a wasp.] (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of sand wasps of the genus Sphex and allied genera. These wasps have the abdomen attached to the thorax by a slender pedicel. See Illust. of Sand wasp, under Sand.

Sphex fly (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of small dipterous flies of the genus Conops and allied genera. The form of the body is similar to that of a sphex.

Sphig*mom"e*ter (?), n. See Sphygmometer.

Sphinc"ter (?), n. [NL., fr. &?;&?;&?; to bind tight.] (Anat.) A muscle which surrounds, and by its contraction tends to close, a natural opening; as, the sphincter of the bladder.

Sphinc"ter, a. (Anat.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, a sphincter; as, a sphincter muscle.

Sphin"gid (?), n. (Zoöl.) A sphinx.

Sphin"gid, a. Of or pertaining to a sphinx, or the family Sphingidæ.

Sphinx (?), n. [L., from Gr. sfi`gx, usually derived from sfi`ggein to bind tight or together, as if the Throttler.] 1. (a) In Egyptian art, an image of granite or porphyry, having a human head, or the head of a ram or of a hawk, upon the wingless body of a lion.

The awful ruins of the days of old . . . Or jasper tomb, or mutilated sphinx.

Shelley.

(b) On Greek art and mythology, a she-monster, usually represented as having the winged body of a lion, and the face and breast of a young woman. The most famous Grecian sphinx, that of Thebes in Bœotia, is said to have proposed a riddle to the Thebans, and killed those who were unable to guess it. The enigma was solved by Œdipus, whereupon the sphinx slew herself. "Subtle as sphinx." Shak.

2. Hence: A person of enigmatical character and purposes, especially in politics and diplomacy.

3. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of large moths of the family Sphingidæ; -- called also hawk moth.

The larva is a stout naked caterpillar which, when at rest, often assumes a position suggesting the Egyptian sphinx, whence the name.

4. (Zoöl.) The Guinea, or sphinx, baboon (Cynocephalus sphinx).

Sphinx baboon (Zoöl.), a large West African baboon (Cynocephalus sphinx), often kept in menageries. -- Sphinx moth. (Zoöl.) Same as Sphinx, 3.

Sphrag"ide (?), n.[L. sphragis, -idis, Lemnian earth, fr. Gr. &?;&?;&?;, &?;&?;&?;, a seal; -- so called because sold in sealed packets.] (Min.) Lemnian earth.

Sphra*gis"tics (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?; of or for sealing, fr. &?;&?;&?; a seal.] The science of seals, their history, age, distinctions, etc., esp. as verifying the age and genuiness of documents.

||Sphri*go"sis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;&?;&?; to be full of strength.] ||(Bot.) A condition of vegetation in which there is too abundant ||growth of the stem and leaves, accompanied by deficiency of flowers ||and fruit.

Sphyg"mic (?), a. [Gr. &?;&?;&?; the pulse.] (Physiol.) Of or pertaining to the pulse.

Sphyg"mo*gram (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?; pulse + -gram.] (Physiol.) A tracing, called a pulse tracing, consisting of a series of curves corresponding with the beats of the heart, obtained by the application of the sphygmograph.

Sphyg"mo*graph (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?; the pulse + -graph.] (Physiol.) An instrument which, when applied over an artery, indicates graphically the movements or character of the pulse. See Sphygmogram.

Sphyg`mo*graph"ic (?), a. (Phusiol.) Relating to, or produced by, a sphygmograph; as, a sphygmographic tracing.

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Sphyg*mom"e*ter (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?; pulse + -meter.] (Physiol.) An instrument for measuring the strength of the pulse beat; a sphygmograph.

Sphyg"mo*phone (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?; the pulse + &?;&?;&?; sound.] (Physiol.) An electrical instrument for determining by the ear the rhythm of the pulse of a person at a distance.

Sphyg"mo*scope (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?; the pulse + -scope.] (Physiol.) Same as Sphygmograph.

Sphy*ræ"noid (?), a.[L. sphyraena a kind of sea fish (Gr. sfy`raina) + - oid.] (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Sphyrænidæ, a family of marine fishes including the barracudas.

Spi"al (?), n. A spy; a scout. [Obs.] Bacon.

||Spi"ca (?), n.; pl. Spicæ (#). [L., an ear, as of corn.] 1. (Med.) A ||kind of bandage passing, by successive turns and crosses, from an ||extremity to the trunk; -- so called from its resemblance to a spike ||of a barley.

2. (Astron.) A star of the first magnitude situated in the constellation Virgo.

{ Spi"cate (?), Spi"ca*ted (?), } a. [L. spicatus, p. p. of spicare furnish with spikes, or ears, fr. spica a spike, or ear.] (Bot.) Having the form of a spike, or ear; arranged in a spike or spikes. Lee.

||Spic*ca"to (?), a. [It., p. p. of spicare to detach, to separate.] ||(Mus.) Detached; separated; -- a term indicating that every note is ||to be performed in a distinct and pointed manner.

Spice (?), n. [OE. spice, spece, spice, species, OF. espice, espece, F. épice spice, espèce species, fr. L. species particular sort or kind, a species, a sight, appearance, show, LL., spices, drugs, etc., of the same sort, fr. L. specere to look. See Spy, and cf. Species.] 1. Species; kind. [Obs.]

The spices of penance ben three.

Chaucer.

Abstain you from all evil spice.

Wyclif (1. Thess,v. 22).

Justice, although it be but one entire virtue, yet is described in two kinds of spices. The one is named justice distributive, the other is called commutative.

Sir T. Elyot.

2. A vegetable production of many kinds, fragrant or aromatic and pungent to the taste, as pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, allspice, ginger, cloves, etc., which are used in cookery and to flavor sauces, pickles, etc.

Hast thou aught in thy purse [bag] any hot spices?

Piers Plowman.

3. Figuratively, that which enriches or alters the quality of a thing in a small degree, as spice alters the taste of food; that which gives zest or pungency; a slight flavoring; a relish; hence, a small quantity or admixture; a sprinkling; as, a spice of mischief.

So much of the will, with a spice of the willful.

Coleridge.

Spice, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spiced (?); p. p. & vb. n. Spicing (?).] 1. To season with spice, or as with spice; to mix aromatic or pungent substances with; to flavor; to season; as, to spice wine; to spice one's words with wit.

She 'll receive thee, but will spice thy bread With flowery poisons.

Chapman.

2. To fill or impregnate with the odor of spices.

In the spiced Indian air, by night.

Shak.

3. To render nice or dainty; hence, to render scrupulous. [Obs.] "A spiced conscience." Chaucer.

Spice"bush` (?), n. (Bot.) Spicewood.

Spice"nut` (?). A small crisp cake, highly spiced.

Spi"cer (?), n. [Cf. OF. espicier, F. épicier.] 1. One who seasons with spice.

2. One who deals in spice. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.

Spi"cer*y (?), n. [OF. espicerie, F. épicerie.] 1. Spices, in general. Chaucer.

2. A repository of spices. Addison.

Spice"wood` (?), n. (Bot.) An American shrub (Lindera Benzoin), the bark of which has a spicy taste and odor; -- called also Benjamin, wild allspice, and fever bush.

Spi*cif"er*ous (?), a. [L. spicifer bearing spikes, or ears; spica ear + ferre to bear.] Bearing ears, or spikes; spicate. [Obs.] Bailey.

Spi"ci*form (?), a. [L. spica a spike, ear + -form.] (Bot.) Spike-shaped. Gray.

Spi"ci*ly, adv. In a spicy manner.

Spi"ci*ness, n. The quality or state of being spicy.

Spick (?), n. [Cf. Sw. spik. See Spike a nail.] A spike or nail. [Prov. Eng.]

Spick and span, quite new; that is, as new as a spike or nail just made and a chip just split; brand-new; as, a spick and span novelty. See Span-new. Howell.

Spick"nel (?), n. [Contr. from spike nail a large, long nail; -- so called in allusion to the shape of its capillary leaves.] (Bot.) An umbelliferous herb (Meum Athamanticum) having finely divided leaves, common in Europe; -- called also baldmoney, mew, and bearwort. [Written also spignel.]

Spi*cose" (?), a. [L. spica a spike, or ear.] (Bot.) Having spikes, or ears, like corn spikes.

Spi*cos"i*ty (?), n. The state of having, or being full of, ears like corn. [R.] Bailey.

Spi"cous (?), a. (Bot.) See Spicose.

||Spic"u*la (?), n.; pl. Spiculæ (#). [NL., dim. of L. spica a spike, ||ear.] (Bot.) (a) A little spike; a spikelet. (b) A pointed fleshy ||appendage.

Spic"u*lar (?), a. [L. spiculum a dart: cf. F. spiculaire.] Resembling a dart; having sharp points.

Spic"u*late (?), a. [L. spiculatus, p. p. of spiculare to sharpen, to point, fr. spiculum a dart.] 1. Covered with, or having, spicules.

2. (Bot.) Covered with minute spiculæ, or pointed fleshy appendages; divided into small spikelets.

Spic"u*late (?), v. t. To sharpen to a point. [R.] "With spiculated paling." Mason.

Spic"ule (?), n. [L. spiculum a little point, a dart.] 1. A minute, slender granule, or point.

2. (Bot.) Same as Spicula.

3. (Zoöl.) Any small calcareous or siliceous body found in the tissues of various invertebrate animals, especially in sponges and in most Alcyonaria.

Spicules vary exceedingly in size and shape, and some of those found in siliceous sponges are very complex in structure and elegant in form. They are of great use in classification.

Description of the Illustration:

a Acerate; b Tricurvate, or Bowshaped; c d Hamate; e Broomshaped; f Scepterellate; g Spinispirulate; h Inequi-anchorate; i Sexradiate; j A Trichite Sheaf; k Six-rayed Capitate; l Rosette of Esperia; m Equi- anchorate.

Spi*cu"li*form (?), a. (Zoöl.) Having the shape of a spicule.

Spic`u*lig"e*nous (?), a. [L. spiculum + -genous.] (Zoöl.) Producing or containing spicules.

||Spic`u*li*spon"gi*æ (?), n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) A division of sponges ||including those which have independent siliceous spicules.

||Spic"u*lum (?), n.; pl. Spicula (#). [L., a little point.] (Zoöl.) ||Same as Spicule.

Spi"cy (?), a. [Compar. Spicier (?); superl. Spiciest.] [From Spice.] 1. Flavored with, or containing, spice or spices; fragrant; aromatic; as, spicy breezes. "The spicy nut-brown ale." Milton.

Led by new stars, and borne by spicy gales.

Pope.

2. Producing, or abounding with, spices.

In hot Ceylon spicy forests grew.

Dryden.

3. Fig.: Piquant; racy; as, a spicy debate.

Syn. -- Aromatic; fragrant; smart; pungent; pointed; keen. See Racy.

Spi"der (?), n.[OE. spiþre, fr. AS. spinnan to spin; -- so named from spinning its web; cf. D. spin a spider, G. spinne, Sw. spindel. Seee Spin.] 1. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of arachnids comprising the order Araneina. Spiders have the mandibles converted into poison fangs, or falcers. The abdomen is large and not segmented, with two or three pairs of spinnerets near the end, by means of which they spin threads of silk to form cocoons, or nests, to protect their eggs and young. Many species spin also complex webs to entrap the insects upon which they prey. The eyes are usually eight in number (rarely six), and are situated on the back of the cephalothorax. See Illust. under Araneina.

Spiders are divided into two principal groups: the Dipneumona, having two lungs: and the Tetrapneumona, having four lungs. See Mygale. The former group includes several tribes; as, the jumping spiders (see Saltigradæ), the wolf spiders, or Citigradæ (see under Wolf), the crab spiders, or Laterigradæ (see under Crab), the garden, or geometric, spiders, or Orbitellæ (see under Geometrical, and Garden), and others. See Bird spider, under Bird, Grass spider, under Grass, House spider, under House, Silk spider, under Silk.

2. (Zoöl.) Any one of various other arachnids resembling the true spiders, especially certain mites, as the red spider (see under Red).

3. An iron pan with a long handle, used as a kitchen utensil in frying food. Originally, it had long legs, and was used over coals on the hearth.

4. A trevet to support pans or pots over a fire.

5. (Mach.) A skeleton, or frame, having radiating arms or members, often connected by crosspieces; as, a casting forming the hub and spokes to which the rim of a fly wheel or large gear is bolted; the body of a piston head; a frame for strengthening a core or mold for a casting, etc.

Spider ant. (Zoöl.) Same as Solitary ant, under Solitary. -- Spider crab (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of maioid crabs having a more or less triangular body and ten long legs. Some of the species grow to great size, as the great Japanese spider crab (Macrocheira Kempferi), measuring sometimes more than fifteen feet across the legs when they are extended. -- Spider fly (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of parasitic dipterous insects of the family Hippoboscidæ. They are mostly destitute of wings, and live among the feathers of birds and the hair of bats. Called also bird tick, and bat tick. -- Spider hunter (Zoöl.), any one of several species of East Indian sunbirds of the genus Arachnothera. -- Spider lines, filaments of a spider's web crossing the field of vision in optical instruments; -- used for determining the exact position of objects and making delicate measurements. Fine wires, silk fibers, or lines on glass similarly placed, are called spider lines. -- Spider mite. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of several species of parasitic mites of the genus Argas and allied genera. See Argas. (b) Any one of numerous small mites injurious to plants. -- Spider monkey (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of South American monkeys of the genus Ateles, having very long legs and a long prehensile tail. -- Spider orchis (Bot.), a European orchidaceous plant (Ophrys aranifera), having flowers which resemble spiders. -- Spider shell (Zoöl.), any shell of the genus Pteroceras. See Pteroceras.

Spi"dered (?), a. Infested by spiders; cobwebbed. Wolcott.

Spi"der*like` (?), a. Like a spider. Shak.

{ Spi"der web" (?), or Spi"der's web" }. (Zoöl.) The silken web which is formed by most kinds of spiders, particularly the web spun to entrap their prey. See Geometric spider, Triangle spider, under Geometric, and Triangle.

Spi"der*wort` (?), n. (Bot.) An American endogenous plant (Tradescantia Virginica), with long linear leaves and ephemeral blue flowers. The name is sometimes extended to other species of the same genus.

Spied (?), imp. & p. p. of Spy.

||Spie"gel*ei`sen (?), n. [G. spiegel mirror + eisen iron.] See Spiegel ||iron.

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