Chapter C: A. Ives (12)

Sign (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Signed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Signing.] [OE. seinen to bless, originally, to make the sign of the cross over; in this sense fr. ASS. segnian (from segn, n.), or OF. seignier, F. signer, to mark, to sign (in sense 3), fr. L. signare to mark, set a mark upon, from signum. See Sign, n.] 1. To represent by a sign; to make known in a typical or emblematic manner, in distinction from speech; to signify.

I signed to Browne to make his retreat.

Sir W. Scott.

2. To make a sign upon; to mark with a sign.

We receive this child into the congregation of Christ's flock, and
do sign him with the sign of the cross.

Bk. of Com Prayer.

3. To affix a signature to; to ratify by hand or seal; to subscribe in one's own handwriting.

Inquire the Jew's house out, give him this deed, And let him sign
it.

Shak.

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

5. To mark; to make distinguishable. Shak.

Sign (?), v. i. 1. To be a sign or omen. [Obs.] Shak.

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

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

Sign"a*ble (?), a. Suitable to be signed; requiring signature; as, a legal document signable by a particular person.

Sig"nal (?), n. [F., fr. LL. signale, fr. L. signum. See Sign, n.] 1. A sign made for the purpose of giving notice to a person of some occurence, command, or danger; also, a sign, event, or watchword, which has been agreed upon as the occasion of concerted action.

All obeyed The wonted signal and superior voice Of this great
potentate.

Milton.

2. A token; an indication; a foreshadowing; a sign.

The weary sun . . . Gives signal of a goodly day to-morrow.

Shak.

There was not the least signal of the calamity to be seen.

De Foc.

Sig"nal, a. [From signal, n.: cf. F. signalé.] 1. Noticeable; distinguished from what is ordinary; eminent; remarkable; memorable; as, a signal exploit; a signal service; a signal act of benevolence.

As signal now in low, dejected state As erst in highest, behold him
where he lies.

Milton.

2. Of or pertaining to signals, or the use of signals in conveying information; as, a signal flag or officer.

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

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

Sig"nal, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Signaled (&?;) or Signalled; p. pr. & vb. n. Signaling or Signalling.] 1. To communicate by signals; as, to signal orders.

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

Sig"nal*ist, n. One who makes signals; one who communicates intelligence by means of signals.

Sig*nal"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being signal or remarkable. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Sig"nal*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Signalized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Signalizing (?).] [From Signal, a.] 1. To make signal or eminent; to render distinguished from what is common; to distinguish.

It is this passion which drives men to all the ways we see in use
of signalizing themselves.

Burke.

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

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

Sig"nal*ly, adv. In a signal manner; eminently.

Sig"nal*man (?), n.; pl. -men (&?;). A man whose business is to manage or display signals; especially, one employed in setting the signals by which railroad trains are run or warned.

Sig"nal*ment (?), n. The act of signaling, or of signalizing; hence, description by peculiar, appropriate, or characteristic marks. Mrs. Browning.

Sig"nate (?), a. [L. signatus, p. p. See Sign, v. t.] (Zoöl.) Having definite color markings.

Sig*na"tion (?), n. [L. signatio. See Sign, v. t.] Sign given; marking. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Sig"na*to*ry (?), a. [L. signatorius.] 1. Relating to a seal; used in sealing. [Obs.] Bailey.

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

Sig"na*to*ry, n.; pl. - ries (&?;). A signer; one who signs or subscribes; as, a conference of signatories.

Sig"na*ture (?), n. [F. (cf. It. signatura, segnatura, Sp. & LL. signatura), from L. signare, signatum. See Sign, v. t.] 1. A sign, stamp, or mark impressed, as by a seal.

The brain, being well furnished with various traces, signatures,
and images.

I. Watts.

The natural and indelible signature of God, which human souls . . .
are supposed to be stamped with.

Bentley.

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

3. (Physiol.) An outward mark by which internal characteristics were supposed to be indicated.

Some plants bear a very evident signature of their nature and use.

Dr. H. More.

4. (Old Med.) A resemblance between the external characters of a disease and those of some physical agent, for instance, that existing between the red skin of scarlet fever and a red cloth; -- supposed to indicate this agent in the treatment of the disease.

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

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

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

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

Sig"na*ture (?), v. t. To mark with, or as with, a signature or signatures.

Sig"na*tur`ist (?), n. One who holds to the doctrine of signatures impressed upon objects, indicative of character or qualities. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Sign"board` (?), n. A board, placed on or before a shop, office, etc., on which ssome notice is given, as the name of a firm, of a business, or the like.

Sign"er (?), n. One who signs or subscribes his name; as, a memorial with a hundred signers.

Sig"net (?), n. [OF. signet a signet, F., a bookmark, dim. of signe. See Sign, n., and cf. Sennet.] A seal; especially, in England, the seal used by the sovereign in sealing private letters and grants that pass by bill under the sign manual; -- called also privy signet.

I had my father's signet in my purse.

Shak.

Signet ring, a ring containing a signet or private seal. -- Writer to the signet (Scots Law), a judicial officer who prepares warrants, writs, etc.; originally, a clerk in the office of the secretary of state.

Sig"net*ed, a. Stamped or marked with a signet.

Sig"ni*fer (?), a. [L., from signum sign + ferre to bear.] Bearing signs. [Obs.] "The signifer sphere, or zodiac." Holland.

{ Sig*nif"i*cance (?), Sig*nif"i*can*cy (?) }, n. [L. significantia.] 1. The quality or state of being significant.

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

3. Importance; moment; weight; consequence.

With this brain I must work, in order to give significancy and
value to the few facts which I possess.

De Quincey.

Sig*nif"i*cant (?), a. [L. significans, -antis, p. pr. of significare. See Signify.] 1. Fitted or designed to signify or make known somethingl having a meaning; standing as a sign or token; expressive or suggestive; as, a significant word or sound; a significant look.

It was well said of Plotinus, that the stars were significant, but
not efficient.

Sir W. Raleigh.

2. Deserving to be considered; important; momentous; as, a significant event.

Significant figures (Arith.), the figures which remain to any number, or decimal fraction, after the ciphers at the right or left are canceled. Thus, the significant figures of 25,000, or of .0025, are 25.

Sig*nif"i*cant, n. That which has significance; a sign; a token; a symbol. Wordsworth.

In dumb significants proclaim your thoughts.

Shak.

Sig*nif"i*cant*ly, adv. In a significant manner.

Sig*nif"i*cate (?), n. [L. significatus, p. p. of significare. See Signify.] (Logic) One of several things signified by a common term. Whately.

Sig`ni*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [F. signification, L. significatio.] 1. The act of signifying; a making known by signs or other means.

A signification of being pleased.

Landor.

All speaking or signification of one's mind implies an act or
addres of one man to another.

South.

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

Sig*nif"i*ca*tive (?), a. [L. significativus: cf. F. significatif.] 1. Betokening or representing by an external sign.

The holy symbols or signs are not barely significative.

Brerewood.

2. Having signification or meaning; expressive of a meaning or purpose; significant.

Neither in the degrees of kindred they were destitute of
significative words.

Camden.

-- Sig*nif"i*ca*tive*ly, adv. -- Sig*nif"i*ca*tive*ness, n.

Sig"ni*fi*ca`tor (?), n. [Cf. F. significateur.] One who, or that which, signifies.

In this diagram there was one significator which pressed remarkably
upon our astrologer's attention.

Sir W. Scott.

Sig*nif"i*ca*to*ry (?), a. [L. significatorius.] Significant. -- n. That which is significatory.

||Sig`ni*fi*ca"vit (?), n. [L., (he) has signified, perf. ind. of ||significare to signify.] (Eng. Eccl. Law) Formerly, a writ issuing ||out of chancery, upon certificate given by the ordinary, of a man's ||standing excommunicate by the space of forty days, for the laying him ||up in prison till he submit himself to the authority of the church. ||Crabb.

Sig"ni*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Signified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Signifying (?).] [F. signifier, L. significare; signum a sign + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See Sign, n., and -fy.] 1. To show by a sign; to communicate by any conventional token, as words, gestures, signals, or the like; to announce; to make known; to declare; to express; as, a signified his desire to be present.

I 'll to the king; and signify to him That thus I have resign'd my
charge to you.

Shak.

The government should signify to the Protestants of Ireland that
want of silver is not to be remedied.

Swift.

2. To mean; to import; to denote; to betoken.

He bade her tell him what it signified.

Chaucer.

A tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying
nothing.

Shak.

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

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

Sign"ior (?), n. Sir; Mr. The English form and pronunciation for the Italian Signor and the Spanish Señor.

Sign"ior*ize (?), v. t. [See Seigniorize.] To exercise dominion over; to lord it over. [Obs.] Shelton.

<! p. 1340 !>

Sign"ior*ize (sn"yr*z), v. i. To exercise dominion; to seigniorize. [Obs.] Hewyt.

Sign"ior*ship, n. State or position of a signior.

Sign"ior*y (-), n. Same as Seigniory.

{ ||Si*gnor" (?), ||Si*gno"re (?) }, n. [It. See Seignior.] Sir; Mr.; -- a title of address or respect among the Italians. Before a noun the form is Signor.

||Si*gno"ra (?), n. [It.] Madam; Mrs; -- a title of address or respect ||among the Italians.

||Si`gno*ri"na (?), n. [It.] Miss; -- a title of address among the ||Italians.

Sign"post` (?), n. A post on which a sign hangs, or on which papers are placed to give public notice of anything.

{ Sik (?), Sike (?), } a. Such. See Such. [Obs.] "Sike fancies weren foolerie." Spenser.

Sike (?), n. [AS. sc. Cf. Sig.] A gutter; a stream, such as is usually dry in summer. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

Sike, n. [See Sick.] A sick person. [Prov. Eng.]

Sike, v. i. To sigh. [Obs.]

That for his wife weepeth and siketh sore.

Chaucer.

Sike, n. A sigh. [Obs.] Chaucer.

{ Sik"er (?), a. & adv., Sik"er*ly, adv., Sik"er*ness, n., etc.} See 2d Sicker, Sickerly, etc. [Obs.]

Sikhs (?), n. pl.; sing. Sikh (&?;). [Hind. Sikh, properly, a disciple.] A religious sect noted for warlike traits, founded in the Punjab at the end of the 15th century.

Si"lage (?), n. & v. Short for Ensilage.

Sile (?), v. t. [Akin to Sw. sila to strain, sil sieve, G. sielen to draw away or lead off water. &radic;151a. See Silt.] To strain, as fresh milk. [Prov. Eng.]

Sile, v. i. To drop; to flow; to fall. [Prov. Eng.]

Sile, n. 1. A sieve with fine meshes. [Prov. Eng.]

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

Sile, n. [Icel. sld herring; akin to Sw. sill, Dan. sild. Cf. Sill the young of a herring.] (Zoöl.) A young or small herring. [Eng.] Pennant.

Si"lence (?), n. [F., fr. L. silentium. See Silent.]

1. The state of being silent; entire absence of sound or noise; absolute stillness.

I saw and heared; for such a numerous host Fled not in silence
through the frighted deep.

Milton.

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

3. Secrecy; as, these things were transacted in silence.

The administration itself keeps a profound silence.

D. Webster.

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

5. Absence of mention; oblivion.

And what most merits fame, in silence hid.

Milton.

Si"lence, interj. Be silent; -- used elliptically for let there be silence, or keep silence. Shak.

Si"lence, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Silenced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Silencing (?).] 1. To compel to silence; to cause to be still; to still; to hush.

Silence that dreadful bell; it frights the isle.

Shak.

2. To put to rest; to quiet.

This would silence all further opposition.

Clarendon.

These would have silenced their scruples.

Rogers.

3. To restrain from the exercise of any function, privilege of instruction, or the like, especially from the act of preaching; as, to silence a minister of the gospel.

The Rev. Thomas Hooker of Chelmsford, in Essex, was silenced for
nonconformity.

B. Trumbull.

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

Si*le"ne (?), n. [NL., fr. L. Silenus, the attendant of Bacchus.] (Bot.) A genus of caryophyllaceous plants, usually covered with a viscid secretion by which insects are caught; catchfly.

Bon Silène. See Silène, in the Vocabulary.

Si"lent (?), a. [L. silens, - entis, p. pr. of silere to be silent; akin to Goth. ana- silan.] 1. Free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet.

How silent is this town!

Shak.

2. Not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn; not loquacious; not talkative.

Ulysses, adds he, was the most eloquent and most silent of men.

Broome.

This new-created world, whereof in hell Fame is not silent.

Milton.

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

4. (Pron.) Not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent; as, e is silent in "fable."

5. Having no effect; not operating; inefficient. [R.]

Cause . . . silent, virtueless, and dead.

Sir W. Raleigh.

Silent partner. See Dormant partner, under Dormant.

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

Si"lent, n. That which is silent; a time of silence. [R.] "The silent of the night." Shak.

Si*len"ti*a*ry (s*ln"sh**r), n. [L. silentiarius: cf. F. silenciaire. See Silence.] One appointed to keep silence and order in court; also, one sworn not to divulge secrets of state.

Si*len"tious (?), a. [L. silentiosus: cf. F. silencieux.] Habitually silent; taciturn; reticent. [R.]

Si"lent*ly (?), adv. In a silent manner.

Si"lent*ness, n. State of being silent; silence.

Si*le"nus (?), n. [L. Silenus the tutor and attendant of Bacchus.] (Zoöl.) See Wanderoo.

Si*le"si*a (?), n. 1. A kind of linen cloth, originally made in Silesia, a province of Prussia.

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

Si*le"si*an (?), a. Of or pertaining to Silesia. -- n. A native or inhabitant of Silesia.

Si"lex (?), n. [L., a finit, a pebblestone.] (Min.) Silica, SiO2 as found in nature, constituting quarz, and most sands and sandstones. See Silica, and Silicic.

Sil`hou*ette" (?), n. [F.; -- so called from Etienne de Silhoutte, a French minister of finance in 1759, whise diversion it was to make such portraits on the walls of his apartments.] A representation of the outlines of an object filled in with a black color; a profile portrait in black, such as a shadow appears to be.

Sil`hou*ette", v. t. To represent by a silhouette; to project upon a background, so as to be like a silhouette. [Recent]

A flock of roasting vultures silhouetted on the sky.

The Century.

Sil"i*ca (?), n. [NL., from L. silex, silics, a flint.] (Chem.) Silicon dioxide, SiO&?;. It constitutes ordinary quartz (also opal and tridymite), and is artifically prepared as a very fine, white, tasteless, inodorous powder.

Sil"i*cate (?), n.[Cf. F. silicate.] (Chem.) A salt of silicic acid.

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

Sil"i*ca`ted (?), a. (Chem.) Combined or impregnated with silicon or silica; as, silicated hydrogen; silicated rocks.

Silicated soap, a hard soap containing silicate of soda.

Sil`i*ca*ti*za"tion (?), n. Silicification.

||Si*lic"e*a (?), n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) Same as Silicoidea.

Si*li"ceous (?), a. [L. siliceus, fr. silex, silicis, a flint.] Of or pertaining to silica; containing silica, or partaking of its nature. [Written also silisious.]

Si*lic"ic (?), a. [L. silex, silicis, a flint: cf. F. silicique.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, derived from, or resembling, silica; specifically, designating compounds of silicon; as, silicic acid.

Silicic acid (Chem.), an amorphous gelatinous substance, Si(HO)4, very unstable and easily dried to silica, but forming many stable salts; -- called also orthosilicic, or normal silicic, acid.

Si*lic`i*cal*ca"re*ous (?), a. Consisting of silica and calcareous matter.

Sil"i*cide (?), n. (Chem.) A binary compound of silicon, or one regarded as binary. [R.]

Hydrogen silicide (Chem.), a colorless, spontaneously inflammable gas, SiH4, produced artifically from silicon, and analogous to methane; -- called also silico-methane, silicon hydride, and formerly siliciureted hydrogen.

Sil`i*cif"er*ous (?), a. [L. silex, silicis, a flint + -ferous.] Producing silica; united with silica.

Si*lic`i*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [See Silicify.] (Chem.) Thae act or process of combining or impregnating with silicon or silica; the state of being so combined or impregnated; as, the silicification of wood.

Si*lic"i*fied (?), a. (Chem.) Combined or impregnated with silicon or silica, especially the latter; as, silicified wood.

Si*lic"i*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Silicified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Silicifying (?).] [L. silex, silicis, a flint + -fy: cf. F. silicifier.] (Chem.) To convert into, or to impregnate with, silica, or with the compounds of silicon.

The specimens found . . . are completely silicified.

Say.

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

Si*lic"i*fy, v. i. To become converted into silica, or to be impregnated with silica.

||Sil`i*ci*oi"de*a (?), n. pl. (Zoöl.) Same as Silicoidea.

Si*li"cious (?), a. See Siliceous.

||Sil`i*ci*spon"gi*æ (?), n. pl. [NL. See Silex, and Sponge.] (Zoöl.) ||Same as Silicoidea.

Si*lic"it*ed (?), a. Silicified. [Obs.]

Si*lic"i*um (?), n. See Silicon.

Si*lic"i*u*ret`ed (?), a. [Written also siliciuretted.] (Old. Chem.) Combined or impregnated with silicon. [Obsoles.]

Siliciureted hydrogen. (Chem.) Hydrogen silicide. [Obs.]

Sil"i*cle (?), n. [L. silicula, dim. of siliqua a pod or husk: cf. F. silicule.] (Bot.) A seed vessel resembling a silique, but about as broad as it is long. See Silique.

Sil"i*co- (?). (Chem.) A combining form (also used adjectively) denoting the presence of silicon or its compounds; as, silicobenzoic, silicofluoride, etc.

Sil`i*co*flu*or"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Containing, or composed of, silicon and fluorine; especially, denoting the compounds called silicofluorides.

Silicofluoric acid (Chem.), a compound of hydrofluoric acid and silicon fluoride, known only in watery solution. It is produced by the action of silicon fluoride on water, and is regarded as an acid, H2SiF6, and the type and origin of the silicofluorides.

Sil`i*co*flu"or*ide (?), n. (Chem.) A fluosilicate; a salt of silicofluoric acid.

||Sil`i*coi"de*a (?), n. pl. [NL. See Silex, and -oid.] (Zoöl.) An ||extensive order of Porifera, which includes those that have the ||skeleton composed mainly of siliceous fibers or spicules.

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

Sil`i*co*tung"stic (?), a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, any one of a series of double acids of silicon and tungsten, known in the free state, and also in their salts (called silicotungstates).

||Si*lic"u*la (?), n. [L.] (Bot.) A silicle.

Sil"i*cule (?), n. (Bot.) A silicle.

Si*lic"u*lose` (?), a. [NL. siliculosus, fr. L. silicula: cf. F. siliculeux. See Silicle.] 1. (Bot.) Bearing silicles; pertaining to, or resembling, silicles.

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

Si*lig"i*nose` (?), a.[L. siligineus, fr. siligo, -inis, fine and very white wheat.] Made of fine wheat. [Obs.] Bailey.

Sil"ing (?), a. & n. from Sile to strain. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

Siling dish, a colander. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

Sil"i*qua (?), n.; pl. Siliquæ (#). [L. See Silique.] 1. (Bot.) Same as Silique.

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

Sil"ique (?), n. [L. siliqua a pod or husk, a very small weight or measure: cf. F. silique.] (Bot.) An oblong or elongated seed vessel, consisting of two valves with a dissepiment between, and opening by sutures at either margin. The seeds are attached to both edges of the dissepiment, alternately upon each side of it.

Sil"i*qui*form (?), a. [Silique + -form: cf. F. siliquiforme.] (Bot.) Having the form of a silique.

||Sil`i*quo"sa (?), n. pl. [NL. See Siliquose.] (Bot.) A Linnæan order ||of plants including those which bear siliques.

{ Sil"i*quose` (?), Sil"i*quous (?), } a. [NL. siliquosus: cf. F. siliqueux.] (Bot.) Bearing siliques; as, siliquose plants; pertaining to, or resembling, siliques; as, siliquose capsules.

Silk (?), n. [OE. silk, selk, AS. seolc, seoloc; akin to Icel. silki, SW. & Dan. silke; prob. through Slavic from an Oriental source; cf. Lith. szilkai, Russ. shelk', and also L. sericum Seric stuff, silk. Cf. Sericeous. Serge a woolen stuff.] 1. The fine, soft thread produced by various species of caterpillars in forming the cocoons within which the worm is inclosed during the pupa state, especially that produced by the larvæ of Bombyx mori.

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

3. That which resembles silk, as the filiform styles of the female flower of maize.

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

Silk"en (?), a. [AS. seolcen, seolocen.] 1. Of or pertaining to silk; made of, or resembling, silk; as, silken cloth; a silken veil.

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

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

Silk"en, v. t. To render silken or silklike. Dyer.

Silk"i*ness (?), n. 1. The quality or state of being silky or silken; softness and smoothness.

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

Silk"man (?), n.; pl. Silkmen (&?;). A dealer in silks; a silk mercer. Shak.

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Silk"ness (?), n. Silkiness. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Silk"weed` (?), n. (Bot.) Any plant of the genera Asclepias and Acerates whose seed vessels contain a long, silky down; milkweed.

Silk"worm` (?), n. [AS. seolcwyrm.] (Zoöl.) The larva of any one of numerous species of bombycid moths, which spins a large amount of strong silk in constructing its cocoon before changing to a pupa.

The common species (Bombyx mori) feeds on the leaves of the white mulberry tree. It is native of China, but has long been introduced into other countries of Asia and Europe, and is reared on a large scale. In America it is reared only to small extent. The Ailanthus silkworm (Philosamia cynthia) is a much larger species, of considerable importance, which has been introduced into Europe and America from China. The most useful American species is the Polyphemus. See Polyphemus.

Pernyi silkworm, the larva of the Pernyi moth. See Pernyi moth. -- Silkworm gut, a substance prepared from the contents of the silk glands of silkworms and used in making lines for angling. See Gut. - - Silkworm rot, a disease of silkworms; muscardine.

Silk"y (?), a. [Compar. Silkier (?); superl. Silkiest.] 1. Of or pertaining to silk; made of, or resembling, silk; silken; silklike; as, a silky luster.

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

3. Covered with soft hairs pressed close to the surface, as a leaf; sericeous.

Silky oak (Bot.), a lofty Australian tree (Grevillea robusta) with silky tomentose lobed or incised leaves. It furnishes a valuable timber.

Sill (?), n. [OE. sille, sylle, AS. syl, syll; akin to G. schwelle, OHG. swelli, Icel. syll, svill, Sw. syll, Dan. syld, Goth. gasuljan to lay a foundation, to found.] The basis or foundation of a thing; especially, a horizontal piece, as a timber, which forms the lower member of a frame, or supports a structure; as, the sills of a house, of a bridge, of a loom, and the like. Hence: (a) The timber or stone at the foot of a door; the threshold. (b) The timber or stone on which a window frame stands; or, the lowest piece in a window frame. (c) The floor of a gallery or passage in a mine. (d) A piece of timber across the bottom of a canal lock for the gates to shut against.

Sill course (Arch.), a horizontal course of stone, terra cotta, or the like, built into a wall at the level of one or more window sills, these sills often forming part of it.

Sill, n. [Cf. Thill.] The shaft or thill of a carriage. [Prov. Eng.]

Sill, n. [Cf. 4th Sile.] A young herring. [Eng.]

Sil"la*bub (?), n. [Cf. sile to strain, and bub liquor, also Prov. E. sillibauk.] A dish made by mixing wine or cider with milk, and thus forming a soft curd; also, sweetened cream, flavored with wine and beaten to a stiff froth. [Written also syllabub.]

Sil"ler (?), n. Silver. [Scot.]

Sil"li*ly (?), adv. [From Silly.] In a silly manner; foolishly. Dryden.

Sil"li*man*ite (?), n. [After Benjamin Siliman, an American meneralogist.] (Min.) Same as Fibrolite.

Sil"li*ness, n. The quality or state of being silly.

Sil"lock (?), n. (Zoöl.) The pollock, or coalfish.

Sil"lon (?), n. [F., a furrow.] (Fort.) A work raised in the middle of a wide ditch, to defend it. Crabb.

Sil"ly, a. [Compar. Sillier (?); superl. Silliest.] [OE. seely, sely, AS. s&?;lig, ges&?;lig, happy, good, fr. s&?;l, s&?;l, good, happy, s&?;l good fortune, happines; akin to OS. slig, a, good, happy, D. zalig blessed, G. selig, OHG. slg, Icel. s&?;l, Sw. säll, Dan. salig, Goth. s&?;ls good, kind, and perh. also to L. sollus whole, entire, Gr. &?;&?;&?;, Skr. sarva. Cf. Seel, n.] 1. Happy; fortunate; blessed. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. Harmless; innocent; inoffensive. [Obs.] "This silly, innocent Custance." Chaucer.

The silly virgin strove him to withstand.

Spenser.

A silly, innocent hare murdered of a dog.

Robynson (More's Utopia).

3. Weak; helpless; frail. [Obs.]

After long storms . . . With which my silly bark was tossed sore.

Spenser.

The silly buckets on the deck.

Coleridge.

4. Rustic; plain; simple; humble. [Obs.]

A fourth man, in a sillyhabit.

Shak.

All that did their silly thoughts so busy keep.

Milton.

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

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

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

Sil"ly*how (?), n. [Prov. E. silly- hew; cf. AS. slig happy, good, and hfe a cap, hood. See Silly, a.] A caul. See Caul, n., 3. [Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

Si"lo (?), n. [F.] A pit or vat for packing away green fodder for winter use so as to exclude air and outside moisture. See Ensilage.

Silt (?), n. [OE. silte gravel, fr. silen to drain, E. sile; probably of Scand. origin; cf. Sw. sila, prob. akin to AS. seón to filter, sgan to fall, sink, cause to sink, G. seihen to strain, to filter, OHG. sihan, Icel. s>a, Skr. sic to pour; cf. Gr. &?;&?;&?; moisture. Cf. Sig, Sile.] Mud or fine earth deposited from running or standing water.

Silt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Silted; p. pr. & vb. n. Silting.] To choke, fill, or obstruct with silt or mud.

Silt, v. i. To flow through crevices; to percolate.

Silt"y (?), a. Full of silt; resembling silt.

Si*lure" (?), n. [L. silurus a sort of river fish, Gr. &?;&?;&?;: cf. F. silure.] (Zoöl.) A fish of the genus Silurus, as the sheatfish; a siluroid.

Si*lu"ri*an (?), a. [From L. Silures, a people who anciently inhabited a part of England and Wales.] (Geol.) Of or pertaining to the country of the ancient Silures; -- a term applied to the earliest of the Paleozoic eras, and also to the strata of the era, because most plainly developed in that country.

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

Si*lu"ri*an, n. The Silurian age.

Si*lu"ri*dan (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any fish of the family Siluridæ or of the order Siluroidei.

Si*lu"roid (?), n. [Silurus + -oid.] (Zoöl.) Belonging to the Siluroidei, or Nematognathi, an order of fishes including numerous species, among which are the American catfishes and numerous allied fresh-water species of the Old World, as the sheatfish (Silurus glanis) of Europe. -- n. A siluroid fish.

||Sil`u*roi"de*i (?), n. pl. [NL.] (zoöl.) An order of fishes, the ||Nematognathi.

||Si*lu"rus (?), n. [L. See Silure.] (Zoöl.) A genus of large ||malacopterygious fishes of the order Siluroidei. They inhabit the ||inland waters of Europe and Asia.

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

Sil"van (?), a. [L. silva, less correctly sylva, a wood or grove, perh. akin to Gr. "y`lh; cf. L. Silvanus Silvanus the god of woods: cf. F. sylvain silvan. Cf. Savage.] Of or pertaining to woods; composed of woods or groves; woody. [Written also sylvan.]

Betwixt two rows of rocks, a silvan scene Appears above, and groves
forever green.

Dryden.

Sil"van, n. (Old Chem.) See Sylvanium. [Obs.]

Sil"van*ite (?), n. (Min.) See Sylvanite.

{ Sil"vas (?) or Sel"vas (?) }, n. pl. [L. silva a forest, Sp. selva.] Vast woodland plains of South America.

Sil"vate (?), n. (Chem.) Same as Sylvate.

Sil"ver (?), n. [OE. silver, selver, seolver, AS. seolfor, siolfur, siolufr, silofr, sylofr; akin to OS. silubar, OFries. selover, D. zilver, LG. sulver, OHG. silabar, silbar, G. silber, Icel. silfr, Sw. silfver, Dan. sölv, Goth. silubr, Russ. serebro, Lith. sidabras; of unknown origin.] 1. (Chem.) A soft white metallic element, sonorous, ductile, very malleable, and capable of a high degree of polish. It is found native, and also combined with sulphur, arsenic, antimony, chlorine, etc., in the minerals argentite, proustite, pyrargyrite, ceragyrite, etc. Silver is one of the "noble" metals, so-called, not being easily oxidized, and is used for coin, jewelry, plate, and a great variety of articles. Symbol Ag (Argentum). Atomic weight 107.7. Specific gravity 10.5.

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

2. Coin made of silver; silver money.

3. Anything having the luster or appearance of silver.

4. The color of silver.

Silver is used in the formation of many compounds of obvious meaning; as, silver-armed, silver-bright, silver-buskined, silver-coated, silver-footed, silver-haired, silver-headed, silver-mantled, silver-plated, silver-slippered, silver-sounding, silver-studded, silver-tongued, silver-white. See Silver, a.

Black silver (Min.), stephanite; -- called also brittle silver ore, or brittle silver glance. -- Fulminating silver. (Chem.) (a) A black crystalline substance, Ag2O.(NH3)2, obtained by dissolving silver oxide in aqua ammonia. When dry it explodes violently on the slightest percussion. (b) Silver fulminate, a white crystalline substance, Ag2C2N2O2, obtained by adding alcohol to a solution of silver nitrate. When dry it is violently explosive. -- German silver. (Chem.) See under German. -- Gray silver. (Min.) See Freieslebenite. -- Horn silver. (Min.) See Cerargyrite. -- King's silver. (O. Eng. Law) See Postfine. -- Red silver, or Ruby silver. (Min.) See Proustite, and Pyrargyrite. -- Silver beater, one who beats silver into silver leaf or silver foil. -- Silver glance, or Vitreous silver. (Min.) See Argentine.

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

2. Resembling silver. Specifically: (a) Bright; resplendent; white. "Silver hair." Shak.

Others, on silver lakes and rivers, bathed Their downy breast.

Milton.

(b) Precious; costly. (c) Giving a clear, ringing sound soft and clear. "Silver voices." Spenser. (d) Sweet; gentle; peaceful. "Silver slumber." Spenser.

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

Sil"ver (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Silvered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Silvering.] 1. To cover with silver; to give a silvery appearance to by applying a metal of a silvery color; as, to silver a pin; to silver a glass mirror plate with an amalgam of tin and mercury.

2. To polish like silver; to impart a brightness to, like that of silver.

And smiling calmness silvered o'er the deep.

Pope.

3. To make hoary, or white, like silver.

His head was silvered o'er with age.

Gay.

Sil"ver, v. i. To acquire a silvery color. [R.]

The eastern sky began to silver and shine.

L. Wallace.

Sil"ver*back` (?), n. (Zoöl.) The knot.

Sil"ver*ber`ry (?), n. (Bot.) A tree or shrub (Elæagnus argentea) with silvery foliage and fruit. Gray.

Sil"ver*bill` (?), n. (Zoöl.) An Old World finch of the genus Minia, as the M. Malabarica of India, and M. cantans of Africa.

Sil"ver*boom` (?), n. [D. zilver silver + boom tree.] (Bot.) See Leucadendron.

Sil"ver*fin` (?), n. (Zoöl.) A small North American fresh-water cyprinoid fish (Notropis Whipplei).

Sil"ver*fish` (?), n. (Zoöl.) (a) The tarpum. (b) A white variety of the goldfish.

Sil"ver-gray` (?), a. Having a gray color with a silvery luster; as, silver-gray hair.

Sil"ver*i*ness (?), n. The state of being silvery.

Sil"ver*ing, n. (Metal.) The art or process of covering metals, wood, paper, glass, etc., with a thin film of metallic silver, or a substance resembling silver; also, the firm do laid on; as, the silvering of a glass speculum.

Sil"ver*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Silverized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Silverizing.] To cover with silver.

Sil"ver*less, a. Having no silcver; hence, without money; impecunious. Piers Plowman.

Sil"ver*ling, n. A small silver coin. [Obs.]

A thousand vines at a thousand silverings.

Isa. vii. 23.

Sil"ver*ly, adv. Like silver in appearance or in sound.

Let me wipe off this honorable dew, That silverly doth progress on
thy cheeks.

Shak.

Sil"vern (?), a. [AS. seolfern, sylfren.] Made of silver. [Archaic.] Wyclif (Acts xix. 24).

Speech is silvern; silence is golden.

Old Proverb.

Sil"ver*sides` (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of small fishes of the family Atherinidæ, having a silvery stripe along each side of the body. The common species of the American coast (Menidia notata) is very abundant. Called also silverside, sand smelt, friar, tailor, and tinker.

Brook silversides (Zoöl.), a small fresh-water North American fish (Labadesthes sicculus) related to the marine silversides.

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Sil"ver*smith` (?), n. One whose occupation is to manufacture utensils, ornaments, etc., of silver; a worker in silver.

Sil"ver*spot` (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of butterflies of the genus Argynnis and allied genera, having silvery spots on the under side of the wings. See Illust. under Aphrodite.

Sil"ver*ware` (?), n. Dishes, vases, ornaments, and utensils of various sorts, made of silver.

Sil"ver*weed` (?), n. (Bot.) A perennial rosaceous herb (Potentilla Anserina) having the leaves silvery white beneath.

Sil"ver*y (?), a. 1. Resembling, or having the luster of, silver; grayish white and lustrous; of a mild luster; bright.

All the enameled race, whose silvery wing Waves to the tepid
zephyrs of the spring.

Pope.

2. Besprinkled or covered with silver.

3. Having the clear, musical tone of silver; soft and clear in sound; as, silvery voices; a silvery laugh.

Silvery iron (Metal.), a peculiar light-gray fine-grained cast iron, usually obtained from clay iron ore.

Sil"vi*cul`ture (?), n. [Cf. F. silviculture.] See Sylviculture.

Si"ma (?), n. (Arch.) A cyma.

Sim"a*gre (?), n. [F. simagrée.] A grimace. [Obs.] Dryden.

Si*mar" (?), n. [F. simarre. See Chimere.] A woman's long dress or robe; also light covering; a scarf. [Written also cimar, cymar, samare, simare.]

||Si`marre" (?). [F.] See Simar. Sir W. Scott.

Sim"blot (?), n. [F. simbleau.] The harness of a drawloom.

||Sim"i*a (?), n. [L., an ape; cf. simus flatnosed, snub-nosed, Gr. ||&?;&?;&?;.] (Zoöl.) A Linnæan genus of Quadrumana which included the ||types of numerous modern genera. By modern writers it is usually ||restricted to the genus which includes the orang- outang.

Sim"i*al (?), a. (Zoöl.) Simian; apelike.

Sim"i*an (?), a. [L. simia an ape.] (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the family Simiadæ, which, in its widest sense, includes all the Old World apes and monkeys; also, apelike. -- n. Any Old World monkey or ape.

Sim"i*lar (?), a. [F. similaire, fr. L. similis like, similar. See Same, a., and cf. Simulate.] 1. Exactly corresponding; resembling in all respects; precisely like.

2. Nearly corresponding; resembling in many respects; somewhat like; having a general likeness.

3. Homogenous; uniform. [R.] Boyle.

Similar figures (Geom.), figures which differ from each other only in magnitude, being made up of the same number of like parts similarly situated. -- Similar rectilineal figures, such as have their several angles respectively equal, each to each, and their sides about the equal angles proportional. -- Similar solids, such as are contained by the same number of similar planes, similarly situated, and having like inclination to one another.

Sim"i*lar, n. That which is similar to, or resembles, something else, as in quality, form, etc.

Sim`i*lar"i*ty (?), n.; pl. -ties (#). [Cf. F. similarité.] The quality or state of being similar; likeness; resemblance; as, a similarity of features.

Hardly is there a similarity detected between two or three facts,
than men hasten to extend it to all.

Sir W. Hamilton.

Sim"i*lar*ly (?), adv. In a similar manner.

Sim"i*lar*y (?), a. Similar. [Obs.]

Rhyming cadences of similarly words.

South.

Sim"i*la*tive (?), a. Implying or indicating likeness or resemblance. [R.]

In similative or instrumental relation to a pa. pple. [past
participle], as almond-leaved, -scented, etc.

New English Dict.

Sim"i*le (?), n.; pl. Similes (#). [L., from similis. See Similar.] (Rhet.) A word or phrase by which anything is likened, in one or more of its aspects, to something else; a similitude; a poetical or imaginative comparison.

A good swift simile, but something currish.

Shak.

||Si*mil"i*ter (?), n. [L., in like manner.] (Law) The technical name ||of the form by which either party, in pleading, accepts the issue ||tendered by his opponent; -- called sometimes a joinder in issue.

Si*mil"i*tude (?), n. [F. similitude, L. similitudo, from similis similar. See Similar.] 1. The quality or state of being similar or like; resemblance; likeness; similarity; as, similitude of substance. Chaucer.

Let us make now man in our image, man In our similitude.

Milton.

If fate some future bard shall join In sad similitude of griefs to
mine.

Pope.

2. The act of likening, or that which likens, one thing to another; fanciful or imaginative comparison; a simile.

Tasso, in his similitudes, never departed from the woods; that is,
all his comparisons were taken from the country.

Dryden.

3. That which is like or similar; a representation, semblance, or copy; a facsimile.

Man should wed his similitude.

Chaucer.

Si*mil`i*tu"di*na*ry (?), a. Involving or expressing similitude. [Obs.] Coke.

Sim"i*lize (?), v. t. To liken; to compare; as, to similize a person, thing, or act. Lowell.

Sim"i*lor (?), n. [F., fr. L. similus similar + F. or gold, L. aurum. Cf. Semilor.] An alloy of copper and zinc, resembling brass, but of a golden color. Ure.

Sim"i*ous (?), a.[L. simia an ape.] (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Simiæ; monkeylike.

That strange simious, schoolboy passion of giving pain to others.

Sydney Smith.

Sim"i*tar (?), n. See Scimiter.

Sim"mer (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Simmered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Simmering.] [Prov. E. also simper; -- an onomatopoetic word.] To boil gently, or with a gentle hissing; to begin to boil.

I simmer as liquor doth on the fire before it beginneth to boil.

Palsgrave.

Sim"mer, v. t. To cause to boil gently; to cook in liquid heated almost or just to the boiling point.

Sim"nel (?), n. [OF. simenel cake or bread of wheat flour, LL. simenellus wheat bread, fr. L. simila the finest wheat flour. Cf. Semolina.] 1. A kind of cake made of fine flour; a cracknel. [Obs.]

Not common bread, but vastel bread, or simnels.

Fuller.

2. A kind of rich plum cake, eaten especially on Mid-Lent Sunday. [Eng.] Herrick.

Si*mo"ni*ac (?), n. [LL. simoniacus. See Simony.] One who practices simony, or who buys or sells preferment in the church. Ayliffe.

Sim`o*ni"a*cal (?), a. Of or pertaining to simony; guilty of simony; consisting of simony. -- Sim"o*ni`a*cal*ly, adv.

The flagitious profligacy of their lives, and the simoniacal arts
by which they grasped at the popedom.

J. S. Harford.

Si*mo"ni*al (?), a. Simoniacal. [Obs.]

Si*mo"ni*an (?), n.[See Simony.] One of the followers of Simon Magus; also, an adherent of certain heretical sects in the early Christian church.

Si*mo"ni*ous (?), a. Simoniacal. [Obs.] Milton.

Sim"o*nist (?), n. One who practices simony.

Sim"o*ny (?), n. [F. simonie, LL. simonia, fr. Simon Magus, who wished to purchase the power of conferring the Holy Spirit. Acts viii.] The crime of buying or selling ecclesiastical preferment; the corrupt presentation of any one to an ecclesiastical benefice for money or reward. Piers Plowman.

{ Si*moom" (?), Si*moon" (?), } n. [Ar. sam&?;m, fr. samma to poison. Cf. Samiel.] A hot, dry, suffocating, dust-laden wind, that blows occasionally in Arabia, Syria, and neighboring countries, generated by the extreme heat of the parched deserts or sandy plains.

Si"mous (?), a.[L. simus, Gr. &?;&?;&?;.] Having a very flat or snub nose, with the end turned up.

Sim"pai (?), n.[Malay simpei.] (Zoöl.) A long-tailed monkey (Semnopitchecus melalophus) native of Sumatra. It has a crest of black hair. The forehead and cheeks are fawn color, the upper parts tawny and red, the under parts white. Called also black-crested monkey, and sinpæ.

Sim"per (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Simpered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Simpering.] [Cf. Norw. semper fine, smart, dial. Dan. semper, simper, affected, coy, prudish, OSw. semper one who affectedly refrains from eating, Sw. sipp finical, prim, LG. sipp.] 1. To smile in a silly, affected, or conceited manner.

Behold yond simpering dame.

Shak.

With a made countenance about her mouth, between simpering and
smiling.

ir. P. Sidney.

2. To glimmer; to twinkle. [Obs.]

Yet can I mark how stars above Simper and shine.

Herbert.

Sim"per, n. A constrained, self- conscious smile; an affected, silly smile; a smirk.

The conscious simper, and the jealous leer.

Pope.

Sim"per*er (?), n. One who simpers. Sir W. Scott.

A simperer that a court affords.

T. Nevile.

Sim"per*ing, a. &. n. from Simper, v.

Sim"per*ing*ly, adv. In a simpering manner.

Sim"ple (?), a. [Compar. Simpler (?); superl. Simplest.] [F., fr. L. simplus, or simplex, gen. simplicis. The first part of the Latin words is probably akin to E. same, and the sense, one, one and the same; cf. L. semel once, singuli one to each, single. Cg. Single, a., Same, a., and for the last part of the word cf. Double, Complex.] 1. Single; not complex; not infolded or entangled; uncombined; not compounded; not blended with something else; not complicated; as, a simple substance; a simple idea; a simple sound; a simple machine; a simple problem; simple tasks.

2. Plain; unadorned; as, simple dress. "Simple truth." Spenser. "His simple story." Burns.

3. Mere; not other than; being only.

A medicine . . . whose simple touch Is powerful to araise King
Pepin.

Shak.

4. Not given to artifice, stratagem, or duplicity; undesigning; sincere; true.

Full many fine men go upon my score, as simple as I stand here, and
I trust them.

Marston.

Must thou trust Tradition's simple tongue?

Byron.

To be simple is to be great.

Emerson.

5. Artless in manner; unaffected; unconstrained; natural; inartificial;; straightforward.

In simple manners all the secret lies.

Young.

6. Direct; clear; intelligible; not abstruse or enigmatical; as, a simple statement; simple language.

7. Weak in intellect; not wise or sagacious; of but moderate understanding or attainments; hence, foolish; silly. "You have simple wits." Shak.

The simple believeth every word; but the prudent man looketh well
to his going.

Prov. xiv. 15.

8. Not luxurious; without much variety; plain; as, a simple diet; a simple way of living.

Thy simple fare and all thy plain delights.

Cowper.

9. Humble; lowly; undistinguished.

A simple husbandman in garments gray.

Spenser.

Clergy and laity, male and female, gentle and simple made the fuel
of the same fire.

Fuller.

10. (BOt.) Without subdivisions; entire; as, a simple stem; a simple leaf.

11. (Chem.) Not capable of being decomposed into anything more simple or ultimate by any means at present known; elementary; thus, atoms are regarded as simple bodies. Cf. Ultimate, a.

A simple body is one that has not as yet been decomposed. There are indications that many of our simple elements are still compound bodies, though their actual decomposition into anything simpler may never be accomplished.

12. (Min.) Homogenous.

13. (Zoöl.) Consisting of a single individual or zooid; as, a simple ascidian; -- opposed to compound.

Simple contract (Law), any contract, whether verbal or written, which is not of record or under seal. J. W. Smith. Chitty. -- Simple equation (Alg.), an equation containing but one unknown quantity, and that quantity only in the first degree. -- Simple eye (Zoöl.), an eye having a single lens; -- opposed to compound eye. -- Simple interest. See under Interest. -- Simple larceny. (Law) See under Larceny. -- Simple obligation (Rom. Law), an obligation which does not depend for its execution upon any event provided for by the parties, or is not to become void on the happening of any such event. Burrill.