Chapter C: S. Sargent (9)

Swel"ter (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sweltered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sweltering.] [From Swelt, v. i.] 1. To be overcome and faint with heat; to be ready to perish with heat. "Sweltered cattle." Coleridge.

2. To welter; to soak. [Obs.] Drayton.

Swel"ter, v. t. 1. To oppress with heat. Bentley.

2. To exude, like sweat. [R.] Shak.

Swel"try (?), a. [See Swelter, Swelt, v. i., and cf. Sultry.] Suffocating with heat; oppressively hot; sultry. [R.] Evelyn.

Swel"ve (?), v. t. To swallow. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Swept (?), imp. & p. p. of Sweep.

Swerd (?), n. & v. See Sward, n. & v. [Obs.]

Swerd, n. Sword. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Swerve (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Swerved (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Swerving.] [OE. swerven, AS. sweorfan to wipe off, to file, to polish; akin to OFries. swerva to creep, D. zwerven to swerve, to rope, OS. swerban to wipe off, MHG. swerben to be whirled, OHG. swerban to wipe off, Icel. sverfa to file, Goth. swaírban (in comp.) to wipe, and perhaps to E. swarm. Cf. Swarm.] 1. To stray; to wander; to rope. [Obs.]

A maid thitherward did run, To catch her sparrow which from her did
swerve.

Sir P. Sidney.

2. To go out of a straight line; to deflect. "The point [of the sword] swerved." Sir P. Sidney.

3. To wander from any line prescribed, or from a rule or duty; to depart from what is established by law, duty, custom, or the like; to deviate.

I swerve not from thy commandments.

Bk. of Com. Prayer.

They swerve from the strict letter of the law.

Clarendon.

Many who, through the contagion of evil example, swerve exceedingly
from the rules of their holy religion.

Atterbury.

4. To bend; to incline. "The battle swerved." Milton.

5. To climb or move upward by winding or turning.

The tree was high; Yet nimbly up from bough to bough I swerved.

Dryden.

Swerve, v. t. To turn aside. Gauden.

Swe"ven (?), n. [AS. swefen sleep, dream; akin to swebban, swefian, to put to sleep, to kill. √176. See Somnolent.] A vision seen in sleep; a dream. [Obs.] Wycliff (Acts ii. 17).

I defy both sweven and dream.

Chaucer.

Swich (?), a. [See Such.] Such. [Obs.]

Swich things as that I know I will declare.

Chaucer.

||Swie*te"ni*a (?), n. [NL. Named after Gerard Van Sweiten, physician ||to Maria Theresa of Austria.] (Bot.) A genus of meliaceous trees ||consisting of one species (Sweitenia Mahogoni), the mahogany tree.

Swift (?), a. [Compar. Swifter (?); superl. Swiftest.] [AS. swift; akin to swpan to sweep, swipu a whip; cf. swfan to move quickly, to revolve. See Swoop, v. i., and cf. Swivel, Squib.] 1. Moving a great distance in a short time; moving with celerity or velocity; fleet; rapid; quick; speedy; prompt.

My beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak,
slow to wrath.

James i. 19.

Swift of dispatch and easy of access.

Dryden.

And bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2 Pet. ii. 1.

2. Of short continuance; passing away quickly. Shak.

Swift is often used in the formation of compounds which are generally self-explaining; as, swift-darting, swift-footed, swift-winged, etc.

Syn. -- Quick; fleet; speedy; rapid; expeditious.

Swift, adv. Swiftly. [Obs. or Poetic] Shak.

Ply swift and strong the oar.

Southey.

Swift, n. 1. The current of a stream. [R.] Walton.

2. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of small, long-winged, insectivorous birds of the family Micropodidæ. In form and habits the swifts resemble swallows, but they are destitute of complex vocal muscles and are not singing birds, but belong to a widely different group allied to the humming birds.

The common European swift (Cypselus, or Micropus, apus) nests in church steeples and under the tiles of roofs, and is noted for its rapid flight and shrill screams. It is called also black martin, black swift, hawk swallow, devil bird, swingdevil, screech martin, and shreik owl. The common American, or chimney, swift (Chætura pelagica) has sharp rigid tips to the tail feathers. It attaches its nest to the inner walls of chimneys, and is called also chimney swallow. The Australian swift (Chætura caudacuta) also has sharp naked tips to the tail quills. The European Alpine swift (Cypselus melba) is whitish beneath, with a white band across the breast. The common Indian swift is Cypselus affinis. See also Palm swift, under Palm, and Tree swift, under Tree.

3. (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of lizards, as the pine lizard.

4. (Zoöl.) The ghost moth. See under Ghost.

5. [Cf. Swivel.] A reel, or turning instrument, for winding yarn, thread, etc.; -- used chiefly in the plural.

6. The main card cylinder of a flax-carding machine.

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Swift"er (?), n. [Cf. Swivel.] (Naut.) (a) A rope used to retain the bars of the capstan in their sockets while men are turning it. (b) A rope used to encircle a boat longitudinally, to strengthen and defend her sides. (c) The forward shroud of a lower mast.

Swift"er, v. t. (Naut.) To tighten, as slack standing rigging, by bringing the opposite shrouds nearer.

Swift"foot` (?), a. Nimble; fleet. Mir. for Mag.

Swift"foot`, n. (Zoöl.) The courser.

Swift"let (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of small East Indian and Asiatic swifts of the genus Collocalia. Some of the species are noted for furnishing the edible bird's nest. See Illust. under Edible.

Swift"ly, adv. In a swift manner; with quick motion or velocity; fleetly. Wyclif.

Swift"ness, n. The quality or state of being swift; speed; quickness; celerity; velocity; rapidity; as, the swiftness of a bird; the swiftness of a stream; swiftness of descent in a falling body; swiftness of thought, etc.

Swig (?), v. t. [Cf. D. zwelgen to swallow, E. swallow, v.t.] 1. To drink in long draughts; to gulp; as, to swig cider. [Colloq.]

2. To suck. [Obs. or Archaic]

The lambkins swig the teat.

Creech.

Swig, n. 1. A long draught. [Colloq.] Marryat.

2. (Naut.) A tackle with ropes which are not parallel.

3. A beverage consisting of warm beer flavored with spices, lemon, etc. [Prov. Eng.]

Swig, v. t. [Cf. Prov. E. swig to leak out, AS. swjian to be silent, swcan to evade, escape.] 1. To castrate, as a ram, by binding the testicles tightly with a string, so that they mortify and slough off. [Prov. Eng.]

2. (Naut.) To pull upon (a tackle) by throwing the weight of the body upon the fall between the block and a cleat.

Swill (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Swilled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Swilling.] [OE. swilen to wash, AS. swilian.] 1. To wash; to drench. [Obs.]

As fearfully as doth a galled rock O'erhang and jutty his
confounded base, Swilled with the wild and wasteful ocean.

Shak.

2. [Properly, to drink like a pig. See Swill, n.] To drink in great draughts; to swallow greedily.

Well-dressed people, of both sexes, . . . devouring sliced beef,
and swilling pork, and punch, and cider.

Smollett.

3. To inebriate; to fill with drink.

I should be loth To meet the rudeness and swilled insolence Of such
late wassailers.

Milton.

Swill, v. i. To drink greedily or swinishly; to drink to excess. South.

Swill, n. 1. The wash, or mixture of liquid substances, given to swine; hogwash; -- called also swillings.

2. Large draughts of liquor; drink taken in excessive quantities.

Swill"er (?), n. One who swills.

Swill"ings (?), n. pl. See Swill, n., 1.

Swim (?), v. i. [imp. Swam (?) or Swum (&?;); p. p. Swum; p. pr. & vb. n. Swimming.] [AS. swimman; akin to D. zwemmen, OHG. swimman, G. schwimmen, Icel. svimma, Dan. swömme, Sw. simma. Cf. Sound an air bladder, a strait.] 1. To be supported by water or other fluid; not to sink; to float; as, any substance will swim, whose specific gravity is less than that of the fluid in which it is immersed.

2. To move progressively in water by means of strokes with the hands and feet, or the fins or the tail.

Leap in with me into this angry flood, And swim to yonder point.

Shak.

3. To be overflowed or drenched. Ps. vi. 6.

Sudden the ditches swell, the meadows swim.

Thomson.

4. Fig.: To be as if borne or floating in a fluid.

[They] now swim in joy.

Milton.

5. To be filled with swimming animals. [Obs.]

[Streams] that swim full of small fishes.

Chaucer.

Swim, v. t. 1. To pass or move over or on by swimming; as, to swim a stream.

Sometimes he thought to swim the stormy main.

Dryden.

2. To cause or compel to swim; to make to float; as, to swim a horse across a river.

3. To immerse in water that the lighter parts may float; as, to swim wheat in order to select seed.

Swim, n. 1. The act of swimming; a gliding motion, like that of one swimming. B. Jonson.

2. The sound, or air bladder, of a fish.

3. A part of a stream much frequented by fish. [Eng.]

Swim bladder, an air bladder of a fish. -- To be in the swim, to be in a favored position; to be associated with others in active affairs. [Colloq.]

Swim, v. i. [OE. swime dizziness, vertigo, AS. swma; akin to D. zwijm, Icel. svimi dizziness, svina to subside, sva to abate, G. schwindel dizziness, schwinden to disappear, to dwindle, OHG. swnan to dwindle. Cf. Squemish, Swindler.] To be dizzy; to have an unsteady or reeling sensation; as, the head swims.

Swim"bel (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] A moaning or sighing sound or noise; a sough. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Swim"mer (?), n. 1. One who swims.

2. (Far.) A protuberance on the leg of a horse.

3. (Zoöl.) A swimming bird; one of the natatores.

Little swimmer (Zoöl.), a phalarope.

Swim"mer*et (?), n. (Zoöl.) One of a series of flat, fringed, and usually bilobed, appendages, of which several pairs occur on the abdominal somites of many crustaceans. They are used as fins in swimming.

Swim"ming (?), a. 1. That swims; capable of swimming; adapted to, or used in, swimming; as, a swimming bird; a swimming motion.

2. Suffused with moisture; as, swimming eyes.

Swimming bell (Zoöl.), a nectocalyx. See Illust. under Siphonophora. -- Swimming crab (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of marine crabs, as those of the family Protunidæ, which have some of the joints of one or more pairs of legs flattened so as to serve as fins.

Swim"ming, n. The act of one who swims.

Swim"ming, a. [From Swim to be dizzy.] Being in a state of vertigo or dizziness; as, a swimming brain.

Swim"ming, n. Vertigo; dizziness; as, a swimming in the head. Dryden.

Swim"ming*ly, adv. In an easy, gliding manner, as if swimming; smoothly; successfully; prosperously.

Swim"ming*ness, n. Act or state of swimming; suffusion. "A swimmingness in the eye." Congreve.

Swinck (?), v. & n. See Swink. [Obs.]

Swin"dle (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Swindled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Swindling (?).] [See Swindler.] To cheat defraud grossly, or with deliberate artifice; as, to swindle a man out of his property.

Lammote . . . has swindled one of them out of three hundred livres.

Carlyle.

Swin"dle, n. The act or process of swindling; a cheat.

Swin"dler (?), n. [G. schwindler, fr. schwindlen to be dizzy, to act thoughtlessly, to cheat, fr. schwindel dizziness, fr. schwinden to vanish, to disappear, to dwindle. See Swim to be dizzy.] One who swindles, or defrauds grossly; one who makes a practice of defrauding others by imposition or deliberate artifice; a cheat.

Syn. -- Sharper; rogue. -- Swindler, Sharper. These words agree in describing persons who take unfair advantages. A swindler is one who obtains money or goods under false pretenses. A sharper is one who cheats by sharp practice, as in playing at cards or staking what he can not pay.

Fraud and injustice soon follow, and the dignity of the British
merchant is sunk in the scandalous appellation of a swindler.

V. Knox.

Perhaps you 'll think I act the same As a sly sharper plays his
game.

Cotton.

Swin"dler*y (?), n. Swindling; rougery. [R.] "Swindlery and blackguardism." Carlyle.

Swine (?), n.sing. & pl. [OE. swin, AS. swn; akin to OFries. & OS. swin, D. zwijn, G. schwein, OHG. swn, Icel. svn, Sw. svin, Dan. sviin, Goth. swein; originally a diminutive corresponding to E. sow. See Sow, n.] (Zoöl.) Any animal of the hog kind, especially one of the domestical species. Swine secrete a large amount of subcutaneous fat, which, when extracted, is known as lard. The male is specifically called boar, the female, sow, and the young, pig. See Hog. "A great herd of swine." Mark v. 11.

Swine grass (Bot.), knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare); -- so called because eaten by swine. -- Swine oat (Bot.), a kind of oat sometimes grown for swine. -- Swine's cress (Bot.), a species of cress of the genus Senebiera (S. Coronopus). -- Swine's head, a dolt; a blockhead. [Obs.] Chaucer. - - Swine thistle (Bot.), the sow thistle.

Swine"bread` (?), n. (Bot.) The truffle.

Swine"case` (?), n. A hogsty. [Prov. Eng.]

Swine"cote` (?), n. A hogsty. [Prov. Eng.]

Swine"crue` (?), n. [Swine + Prov. E. crue a coop.] A hogsty. [Prov. Eng.]

Swine"fish` (?), n. (Zoöl.) The wolf fish.

Swine"herd` (?), n. A keeper of swine.

Swine"pipe` (?), n. (Zoöl.) The European redwing. [Prov. Eng.]

Swine"-pox` (?), n. (Med.) A variety of the chicken pox, with acuminated vesicles containing a watery fluid; the water pox. Pepys.

Swin"er*y (swn"r*), n. Same as Piggery. [R.]

Swine"stone` (?), n. (Min.) See Stinkstone.

Swine"sty` (?), n. A sty, or pen, for swine.

Swing (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Swung (?); Archaic imp. Swang (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Swinging.] [OE. swingen, AS. swingan to scourge, to fly, to flutter; akin to G. schwingen to winnow, to swingle, oscillate, sich schwingen to leap, to soar, OHG. swingan to throw, to scourge, to soar, Sw. svinga to swing, to whirl, Dan. svinge. Cf. Swagger, Sway, Swinge, Swink.] 1. To move to and fro, as a body suspended in the air; to wave; to vibrate; to oscillate.

I tried if a pendulum would swing faster, or continue swinging
longer, in case of exsuction of the air.

Boyle.

2. To sway or move from one side or direction to another; as, the door swung open.

3. To use a swing; as, a boy swings for exercise or pleasure. See Swing, n., 3.

4. (Naut.) To turn round by action of wind or tide when at anchor; as, a ship swings with the tide.

5. To be hanged. [Colloq.] D. Webster.

To swing round the circle, to make a complete circuit. [Colloq.]

He had swung round the circle of theories and systems in which his
age abounded, without finding relief.

A. V. G. Allen.

Swing, v. t. 1. To cause to swing or vibrate; to cause to move backward and forward, or from one side to the other.

He swings his tail, and swiftly turns his round.

Dryden.

They get on ropes, as you must have seen the children, and are
swung by their men visitants.

Spectator.

2. To give a circular movement to; to whirl; to brandish; as, to swing a sword; to swing a club; hence, colloquially, to manage; as, to swing a business.

3. (Mach.) To admit or turn (anything) for the purpose of shaping it; -- said of a lathe; as, the lathe can swing a pulley of 12 inches diameter.

To swing a door, gate, etc. (Carp.), to put it on hinges so that it can swing or turn.

Swing (?), n. 1. The act of swinging; a waving, oscillating, or vibratory motion of a hanging or pivoted object; oscillation; as, the swing of a pendulum.

2. Swaying motion from one side or direction to the other; as, some men walk with a swing.

3. A line, cord, or other thing suspended and hanging loose, upon which anything may swing; especially, an apparatus for recreation by swinging, commonly consisting of a rope, the two ends of which are attached overhead, as to the bough of a tree, a seat being placed in the loop at the bottom; also, any contrivance by which a similar motion is produced for amusement or exercise.

4. Influence of power of a body put in swaying motion.

The ram that batters down the wall, For the great swing and
rudeness of his poise, They place before his hand that made the
engine.

Shak.

5. Capacity of a turning lathe, as determined by the diameter of the largest object that can be turned in it.

6. Free course; unrestrained liberty or license; tendency. "Take thy swing." Dryden.

To prevent anything which may prove an obstacle to the full swing
of his genius.

Burke.

Full swing. See under Full. -- Swing beam (Railway Mach.), a crosspiece sustaining the car body, and so suspended from the framing of a truck that it may have an independent lateral motion. -- Swing bridge, a form of drawbridge which swings horizontally, as on a vertical pivot. -- Swing plow, or Swing plough. (a) A plow without a fore wheel under the beam. (b) A reversible or sidehill plow. -- Swing wheel. (a) The scape-wheel in a clock, which drives the pendulum. (b) The balance of a watch.

Swing"dev`il (?), n. (Zoöl.) [So named from its swift flight and dark color, which give it an uncanny appearance.] The European swift. [Prov. Eng.]

Swinge (swnj), v. & n. See Singe. [Obs.] Spenser.

Swinge, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Swinged (swnjd); p. pr. & vb. n. Swingeing (swnj"ng).] [OE. swengen, AS. swengan to shake, causative of swingan. See Swing.] 1. To beat soundly; to whip; to chastise; to punish.

I had swinged him soundly.

Shak.

And swinges his own vices in his son.

C. Dryden.

2. To move as a lash; to lash. [Obs.]

Swinges the scaly horror of his folded tail.

Milton.

Swinge, n. 1. The sweep of anything in motion; a swinging blow; a swing. [Obs.] Waller.

2. Power; sway; influence. [Obs.]

Swinge"buc`kler (?), n. A swashbuckler; a bully; a roisterer. [Obs.] Shak.

Swinge"ing, a. Huge; very large. [Colloq.] Arbuthnot. Byron. -- Swinge"ing*ly, adv. Dryden.

Swin"gel (?), n. [AS. swingele whip, scourge. See Swing.] The swinging part of a flail which falls on the grain in thrashing; the swiple.

Swing"er (?), n. One who swings or whirls.

Swin"ger (?), n. 1. One who swinges.

2. Anything very large, forcible, or astonishing. [Obs. or Colloq.] Herrick.

Swin"gle (?), v. i. [Freq. of swing.] 1. To dangle; to wave hanging. [Obs.] Johnson.

2. To swing for pleasure. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

Swin"gle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Swingled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Swingling (?).] [See Swingel.] 1. To clean, as flax, by beating it with a swingle, so as to separate the coarse parts and the woody substance from it; to scutch.

2. To beat off the tops of without pulling up the roots; -- said of weeds. [Prov. Eng.] Forby.

Swin"gle, n. A wooden instrument like a large knife, about two feet long, with one thin edge, used for beating and cleaning flax; a scutcher; -- called also swingling knife, swingling staff, and swingling wand.

Swin"gle*bar` (?), n. A swingletree. De Quincey.

Swin"gle*tail` (?), n. (Zoöl.) The thrasher, or fox shark. See Thrasher.

Swin"gle*tree` (?), n. [So named in allusion to its swinging. See Swingle, v. i., and cf. Swingtree.] A whiffletree, or whippletree. See Singletree.

Swin"gling (?), a. & n. from Swingle, v. t.

Swingling tow, the coarse part of flax, separated from the finer by swingling and hatcheling.

Swing"tree` (?), n. The bar of a carriage to which the traces are fastened; the whiffletree.

Swin"ish (?), a. Of or pertaining to swine; befitting swine; like swine; hoggish; gross; beasty; as, a swinish drunkard or sot. "Swinish gluttony." Milton. -- Swin"ish*ly, adv. -- Swin"ish*ness, n.

Swink (?), v. i. [imp. Swank (?), Swonk (&?;); p. p. Swonken (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Swinking.] [AS. swincan, akin to swingan. See Swing.] To labor; to toil; to salve. [Obs. or Archaic]

Or swink with his hands and labor.

Chaucer.

For which men swink and sweat incessantly.

Spenser.

The swinking crowd at every stroke pant "Ho."

Sir Samuel Freguson.

Swink, v. t. 1. To cause to toil or drudge; to tire or exhaust with labor. [Obs.]

And the swinked hedger at his supper sat.

Milton.

2. To acquire by labor. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.

To devour all that others swink.

Chaucer.

Swink, n. [As. swinc, geswinc.] Labor; toil; drudgery. [Obs.] Chaucer. Spenser.

Swink"er (?), n. A laborer. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Swin"ney (?), n. (Far.) See Sweeny.

Swipe (?), n. [Cf. Sweep, Swiple.] 1. A swape or sweep. See Sweep.

2. A strong blow given with a sweeping motion, as with a bat or club.

Swipes [in cricket] over the blower's head, and over either of the
long fields.

R. A. Proctor.

3. pl. Poor, weak beer; small beer. [Slang, Eng.] [Written also swypes.] Craig.

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Swipe (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Swiped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Swiping.] 1. To give a swipe to; to strike forcibly with a sweeping motion, as a ball.

Loose balls may be swiped almost ad libitum.

R. A. Proctor.

2. To pluck; to snatch; to steal. [Slang, U.S.]

Swi"ple (?), n. [See Swipe.] That part of a flail which strikes the grain in thrashing; a swingel. [Written also swipel, and swipple.]

Swip"per (?), a. [From AS. swipian to whip, shake, whirl; akin to swpan to sweep. See Swoop.] Nimble; quick. [Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Slang]

Swirl (?), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Swirled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Swirling.] [Akin to Norw. svirla to whirl, freq. of sverra to whirl, Dan. svirre, G. schwirren to whiz, to buzz. &radic;177. See Swarm, n.] To whirl, or cause to whirl, as in an eddy. "The river swirled along." C. Kingsley.

Swirl, n. A whirling motion; an eddy, as of water; a whirl. "The silent swirl of bats." Mrs. Browning.

Swish (?), v. t. [From the sound. Cf. Swash.] 1. To flourish, so as to make the sound swish. Coleridge.

2. To flog; to lash. [Slang] Thackeray.

Swish, v. i. To dash; to swash.

Swish, n. 1. A sound of quick movement, as of something whirled through the air. [Colloq.]

2. (Naut.) Light driven spray. [Eng.]

Swiss (?), n.sing. & pl. [F. Suisse, of German origin. Cf. Switzer.] A native or inhabitant of Switzerland; a Switzer; the people of Switzerland.

Swiss, a. Of or pertaining to Switzerland, or the people of Switzerland.

Switch (?), n. [Cf. OD. swick a scourage, a whip. Cf. Swink, Swing.] 1. A small, flexible twig or rod.

Mauritania, on the fifth medal, leads a horse with something like a
thread; in her other hand she holds a switch.

Addison.

2. (Railways) A movable part of a rail; or of opposite rails, for transferring cars from one track to another.

3. A separate mass or trees of hair, or of some substance (at jute) made to resemble hair, worn on the head by women.

4. (Elec.) A mechanical device for shifting an electric current to another circuit.

Safety switch (Railways), a form of switch contrived to prevent or lessen the danger of derailment of trains. -- Switch back (Railways), an arrangement of tracks whereby elevations otherwise insurmountable are passed. The track ascends by a series of zigzags, the engine running alternately forward and back, until the summit is reached. -- Switch board (Elec.), a collection of switches in one piece of apparatus, so arranged that a number of circuits may be connected or combined in any desired manner. -- Switch grass. (Bot.) See under Grass.

Switch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Switched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Switching.] 1. To strike with a switch or small flexible rod; to whip. Chapman.

2. To swing or whisk; as, to switch a cane.

3. To trim, as, a hedge. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

4. To turn from one railway track to another; to transfer by a switch; -- generally with off, from, etc.; as, to switch off a train; to switch a car from one track to another.

5. (Eccl.) To shift to another circuit.

Switch, v. i. To walk with a jerk. [Prov. Eng.]

Switch"el (?), n. [See Sweet.] A beverage of molasses and water, seasoned with vinegar and ginger. [U. S.]

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

Switching engine, a locomotive for switching cars from one track to another, and making up trains; -- called also switch engine. [U.S.]

Switch"man (?), n.; pl. Switchmen (&?;). One who tends a switch on a railway.

Switch"y (?), a. Whisking. [Colloq.] Coombe.

Swithe (?), adv. [AS. sw&?;e strongly, violently.] Instantly; quickly; speedily; rapidly. [Obs.]

That thou doest, do thou swithe.

Wyclif (John xiii. 27).

Switz"er (?), n. [Cf. G. schweizer. Cf. Swiss.] A native or inhabitant of Switzerland; a Swiss.

Swive (?), v. t. [OE. swiven, fr. AS. swfan. See Swivel.] To copulate with (a woman). [Obs.] Chaucer.

Swiv"el (?), n. [AS. swfan to move quickly, to remove; akin to Icel. sveifla to whirl, shake, svfa to ramble, to turn. See Swoop, and cf. Swift a reel, Swift, a.] 1. (Mech.) A piece, as a ring or hook, attached to another piece by a pin, in such a manner as to permit rotation about the pin as an axis.

2. (Mil.) A small piece of ordnance, turning on a point or swivel; -- called also swivel gun. Wilhelm.

Swivel bridge, a kind of drawbridge that turns round on a vertical axis; a swing bridge. -- Swivel hook, a hook connected with the iron strap of a pulley block by a swivel joint, for readily taking the turns out of a tackle. -- Swivel joint, a joint, the two pieces composing which turn round, with respect to each other, on a longitudinal pin or axis, as in a chain, to prevent twisting.

Swiv"el, v. i. To swing or turn, as on a pin or pivot.

Swiv"el-eyed` (?), a. Squint- eyed. [Prov. Eng.]

Swiz"zle (?), v. t. To drink; to swill. Halliwell.

Swiz"zle, n. Ale and beer mixed; also, drink generally. [Prov. Eng.]

Swob (?), n. & v. See Swab.

Swob"ber (?), n. 1. See Swabber.

2. pl. Four privileged cards, formerly used in betting at the game of whist. [Written also swabber.] Swift.

Swoll"en (?), p. p. of Swell.

Swoll"en, a. Enlarged by swelling; immoderately increased; as, swollen eyes; swollen streams.

Swoln (?). Contraction of Swollen, p. p. Milton.

Swom (?), obs. imp. of Swim. Shak.

Swoon (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Swooned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Swooning.] [OE. swounen, swoghenen, for swo&?;nien, fr. swo&?;en to sigh deeply, to droop, AS. swgan to sough, sigh; cf. geswgen senseless, swooned, geswwung a swooning. Cf. Sough.] To sink into a fainting fit, in which there is an apparent suspension of the vital functions and mental powers; to faint; -- often with away.

The sucklings swoon in the streets of the city.

Lam. ii. 11.

The most in years . . . swooned first away for pain.

Dryden.

He seemed ready to swoon away in the surprise of joy.

Tatler.

Swoon, n. A fainting fit; syncope.

Swoon"ing, a. & n. from Swoon, v. -- Swoon"ing*ly, adv.

Swoop (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Swooped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Swooping.] [OE. swopen, usually, to sweep, As. swpan to sweep, to rush; akin to G. schweifen to rove, to ramble, to curve, OHG. sweifan to whirl, Icel. sveipa to sweep; also to AS. swfan to move quickly. Cf. Sweep, Swift, a. & n., Swipe, Swivel.] 1. To fall on at once and seize; to catch while on the wing; as, a hawk swoops a chicken.

2. To seize; to catch up; to take with a sweep.

And now at last you came to swoop it all.

Dryden.

The grazing ox which swoops it [the medicinal herb] in with the
common grass.

Glanvill.

Swoop, v. i. 1. To descend with closed wings from a height upon prey, as a hawk; to stoop.

2. To pass with pomp; to sweep. [Obs.] Drayton.

Swoop, n. A falling on and seizing, as the prey of a rapacious bird; the act of swooping.

The eagle fell, . . . and carried away a whole litter of cubs at a
swoop.

L'Estrange.

Swoop"stake` (?), n. See Sweepstake. [Obs.]

Swoop"stake`, adv. Altogether; indiscriminately. [R.] Shak.

Swop (?), v. & n. Same as Swap. Dryden.

Sword (srd), n. [OE. swerd, AS. sweord; akin to OFries. swerd, swird, D. zwaard, OS. swerd, OHG. swert, G. schwert, Icel. sverð, Sw. svärd, Dan. sværd; of uncertain origin.] 1. An offensive weapon, having a long and usually sharp-pointed blade with a cutting edge or edges. It is the general term, including the small sword, rapier, saber, scimiter, and many other varieties.

2. Hence, the emblem of judicial vengeance or punishment, or of authority and power.

He [the ruler] beareth not the sword in vain.

Rom. xiii. 4.

She quits the balance, and resigns the sword.

Dryden.

3. Destruction by the sword, or in battle; war; dissension.

I came not to send peace, but a sword.

Matt. x. 34.

4. The military power of a country.

He hath no more authority over the sword than over the law.

Milton.

5. (Weaving) One of the end bars by which the lay of a hand loom is suspended.

Sword arm, the right arm. -- Sword bayonet, a bayonet shaped somewhat like a sword, and which can be used as a sword. -- Sword bearer, one who carries his master's sword; an officer in London who carries a sword before the lord mayor when he goes abroad. -- Sword belt, a belt by which a sword is suspended, and borne at the side. -- Sword blade, the blade, or cutting part, of a sword. -- Sword cane, a cane which conceals the blade of a sword or dagger, as in a sheath. -- Sword dance. (a) A dance in which swords are brandished and clashed together by the male dancers. Sir W. Scott. (b) A dance performed over swords laid on the ground, but without touching them. -- Sword fight, fencing; a combat or trial of skill with swords; swordplay. -- Sword grass. (Bot.) See Gladen. -- Sword knot, a ribbon tied to the hilt of a sword. -- Sword law, government by the sword, or by force; violence. Milton. -- Sword lily. (Bot.) See Gladiolus. -- Sword mat (Naut.), a mat closely woven of yarns; -- so called from a wooden implement used in its manufacture. -- Sword shrimp (Zoöl.), a European shrimp (Pasiphæa sivado) having a very thin, compressed body. -- Sword stick, a sword cane. -- To measure swords with one. See under Measure, v. t. -- To put to the sword. See under Put.

Sword"bill` (?), n. (Zoöl.) A humming bird (Docimastes ensiferus) having a very long, slender bill, exceeding the length of the body of the bird.

Sword"ed, a. [Cf. AS. geswurdod.] Girded with a sword. Milton.

Sword"er (?), n. One who uses, or fights with, a sword; a swordsman; a soldier; a cutthroat. [Obs.] Shak.

Sword"fish` (?), n. 1. (Zoöl.) (a) A very large oceanic fish (Xiphias gladius), the only representative of the family Xiphiidæ. It is highly valued as a food fish. The bones of the upper jaw are consolidated, and form a long, rigid, swordlike beak; the dorsal fin is high and without distinct spines; the ventral fins are absent. The adult is destitute of teeth. It becomes sixteen feet or more long. (b) The gar pike. (c) The cutlass fish.

2. (Astron.) A southern constellation. See Dorado, 1.

Swordfish sucker (Zoöl.), a remora (Remora brachyptera) which attaches itself to the swordfish.

Sword"ick (?), n. (Zoöl.) The spotted gunnel (Murænoides gunnellus). [Prov. Eng.]

Sword"ing (?), n. Slashing with a sword. Tennyson.

Sword"less (?), a. Destitute of a sword.

Sword"man (?), n.; pl. Swordmen (&?;). A swordsman. "Sinewy swordmen." Shak.

Sword"play` (?), n. Fencing; a sword fight.

Sword"play`er (?), n. A fencer; a gladiator; one who exhibits his skill in the use of the sword.

Sword"-shaped` (?), a. (Bot.) Shaped like a sword; ensiform, as the long, flat leaves of the Iris, cattail, and the like.

Swords"man (?), n.; pl. Swordsmen (&?;). 1. A soldier; a fighting man.

2. One skilled of a use of the sword; a professor of the science of fencing; a fencer.

Swords"man*ship, n. The state of being a swordsman; skill in the use of the sword. Cowper.

Sword"tail` (?), n. (Zoöl.) (a) The limulus. (b) Any hemipterous insect of the genus Uroxiphus, found upon forest trees.

Swore (?), imp. of Swear.

Sworn (?), p. p. of Swear.

Sworn brothers, originally, companions in arms who took an oath to share together good and bad fortune; hence, faithful friends. -- Sworn enemies, determined or irreconcilable enemies. -- Sworn friends, close friends.

Swough (?), n. [See Swoon.] 1. A sound; a groan; a moan; a sough. [Obs.]

He sigheth with full many a sorry swough.

Chaucer.

2. A swoon. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Swound (?), v. & n. See Swoon, v. & n. [Prov. Eng. or Archaic] Shak. Dryden.

The landlord stirred As one awaking from a swound.

Longfellow.

'Swounds (?), interj. [Cf. Zounds.] An exclamation contracted from God's wounds; -- used as an oath. [Obs. or Archaic] Shak.

Swown (?), v. & n. Swoon. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Swum (?), imp. & p. p. of Swim.

Swung (?), imp. & p. p. of Swing.

Swythe (?), adv. Quickly. See Swithe. [Obs.]

Sy (?), obs. imp. of See. Saw. Chaucer.

Syb (?), a. See Sib. [Obs. or Scot.]

Syb"a*rite (?), n. [L. Sybarita, Gr. &?;, fr. &?;, a city in Italy, noted for the effeminacy and voluptuousness of its inhabitants; cf. F. Sybarite.] A person devoted to luxury and pleasure; a voluptuary.

{ Syb`a*rit"ic (?), Syb`a*rit"ic*al (?), } a. [L. Sybariticus, Gr. &?;.] Of or pertaining to the Sybarites; resembling the Sybarites; luxurious; wanton; effeminate. "Sybaritic dinners." Bp. Warburton. "Sybaritical cloistres." Bp. Hall.

Syb"a*rit*ism (?), n. Luxuriousness; effeminacy; wantonness; voluptuousness.

Syc"a*mine (?), n. [L. sycaminus, Gr. &?;; perhaps of Semitic origin.] See Sycamore.

Syc"a*more (?), n. [L. sycomorus, Gr. &?; the fig mulberry; &?; a fig + &?; the black mulberry; or perhaps of Semitic origin: cf. F. sycomore. Cf. Mulberry.] (Bot.) (a) A large tree (Ficus Sycomorus) allied to the common fig. It is found in Egypt and Syria, and is the sycamore, or sycamine, of Scripture. (b) The American plane tree, or buttonwood. (c) A large European species of maple (Acer Pseudo-Platanus). [Written sometimes sycomore.]

Syce (?), n. [Ar. sïs.] A groom. [India]

Sy*cee" (?), n. [Said to be from a Chinese word, se-tze or se-sze, meaning, fine silk, and to be so called because if pure it may be drawn out into fine threads.] Silver, pounded into ingots of the shape of a shoe, and used as currency. The most common weight is about one pound troy. [China] McElrath.

Sych`no*car"pous (?), a. [Gr. &?; much or frequent + &?; fruit.] (Bot.) Having the capacity of bearing several successive crops of fruit without perishing; as, sychnocarpous plants.

Sy"cite (?), n. [Gr. &?; figlike, fr. &?; a fig.] (Min.) A nodule of flint, or a pebble, which resembles a fig. [Obs.]

Syc`o*cer"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, an acid obtained by the oxidation of sycoceryl alcohol.

Syc`o*ce"ryl (?), n. [Gr. &?; a fig + &?; wax + -yl.] (Chem.) A radical, of the aromatic series, regarded as an essential ingredient of certain compounds found in the waxy resin of an Australian species of fig.

<! p. 1461 !>

Sy"cock (?), n. (Zoöl.) The missel thrush. [Prov. Eng.]

||Sy*co"nes (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a fig.] (Zoöl.) A division of ||calcareous sponges.

They usually resemble a fig, being vase-shaped with a fringed opening at the summit. The feeding cells are in ampullæ connected with radial tubes in the thickened walls of the body.

{ ||Sy*co"ni*um (?), ||Sy*co"nus (?), } n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; the fig.] (Bot.) A collective fleshy fruit, in which the ovaries are hidden within a hollow receptacle, as in the fig.

Syc"o*phan*cy (?), n. [Cf. L. sycophantia deceit, Gr. &?; false accusation.] The character or characteristic of a sycophant. Hence: -

(a) False accusation; calumniation; talebearing. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

(b) Obsequious flattery; servility.

The sycophancy of A.Philips had prejudiced Mr. Addison against
Pope.

Bp. Warburton.

Syc"o*phant (?), n. [L. sycophanta a slanderer, deceiver, parasite, Gr. &?; a false accuser, false adviser, literally, a fig shower; &?; a fig + &?; to show: cf. F. sycophante. The reason for the name is not certainly known. See Phenomenon.] 1. An informer; a talebearer. [Obs.] "Accusing sycophants, of all men, did best sort to his nature." Sir P. Sidney.

2. A base parasite; a mean or servile flatterer; especially, a flatterer of princes and great men.

A sycophant will everything admire: Each verse, each sentence, sets
his soul on fire.

Dryden.

Syc"o*phant (?), v. t. [CF. L. sycophantari to deceive, to trick, Gr. &?;.] 1. To inform against; hence, to calumniate. [Obs.]

Sycophanting and misnaming the work of his adversary.

Milton.

2. To play the sycophant toward; to flatter obsequiously.

Syc"o*phant, v. i. To play the sycophant.

Syc"o*phant*cy (?), n. Sycophancy. [Obs.]

{ Syc`o*phan"tic (?), Syc`o*phan"tic*al (?), } a. [Cf. Gr. &?; slanderous.] Of or pertaining to a sycophant; characteristic of a sycophant; meanly or obsequiously flattering; courting favor by mean adulation; parasitic.

To be cheated and ruined by a sycophantical parasite.

South.

Sycophantic servants to the King of Spain.

De Quincey.

Syc"o*phant`ish (?), a. Like a sycophant; obsequiously flattering. -- Syc"o*phant`ish*ly, adv.

Sycophantish satirists that forever humor the prevailing folly.

De Quincey.

Syc"o*phant*ism (?), n. Sycophancy.

Syc"o*phant*ize (?), v. i. To play the sycophant.

Syc"o*phant*ry (?), n. Sycophancy. [Obs.]

||Sy*co"sis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; a fig.] (Med.) A ||pustular eruption upon the scalp, or the beared part of the face, ||whether due to ringworm, acne, or impetigo.

Syd"er*o*lite (?), n. A kind of Bohemian earthenware resembling the Wedgwood ware.

Sye (?), obs. imp. of See. Saw. Chaucer.

Sy"e*nite (?), n. [L. Syenites (sc. lapis), from Syene, Gr. &?;.] (Min.) (a) Orig., a rock composed of quartz, hornblende, and feldspar, anciently quarried at Syene, in Upper Egypt, and now called granite. (b) A granular, crystalline, ingeous rock composed of orthoclase and hornblende, the latter often replaced or accompanied by pyroxene or mica. Syenite sometimes contains nephelite (elæolite) or leucite, and is then called nephelite (elæolite) syenite or leucite syenite.

Sy`e*nit"ic (?), a. [Written also sienitic.] 1. Relating to Syene; as, Syenitic inscriptions.

2. Relating to, or like, syenite; as, syenitic granite.

Syke (?), n. & v. See Sike. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Syk"er (?), a. & adv. See Sicker. [Obs.]

Syle (?), n. [See Sile a young herring.] (Zoöl.) A young herring (Clupea harengus). [Also written sile.]

But our folk call them syle, and nought but syle, And when they're
grown, why then we call them herring.

J. Ingelow.

||Syl`la*ba"ri*um (?), n.; pl. Syllabaria (#). [NL.] A syllabary.

Syl"la*ba*ry (?), n. A table of syllables; more especially, a table of the indivisible syllabic symbols used in certain languages, as the Japanese and Cherokee, instead of letters. S. W. Williams.

Syl"labe (?), n. [F.] Syllable. [R.] B. Jonson.

{ Syl*lab"ic (?), Syl*lab"ic*al (?), } a. [Gr. &?;: cf. F. syllabique.] 1. Of or pertaining to a syllable or syllables; as, syllabic accent.

2. Consisting of a syllable or syllables; as, a syllabic augment. "The syllabic stage of writing." Earle.

Syl*lab"ic*al*ly, adv. In a syllabic manner.

Syl*lab"i*cate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Syllabicated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Syllabicating.] To form or divide into syllables; to syllabify.

Syl*lab`i*ca"tion (?), n. The act of forming syllables; the act or method of dividing words into syllables. See Guide to Pron., §275.

Syl*lab`i*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [See Syllabify.] Same as Syllabication. Rush.

Syllabification depends not on mere force, but on discontinuity of
force.

H. Sweet.

Syl*lab"i*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Syllabified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Syllabifying (?).] [L. syllaba syllable + -fy.] To form or divide into syllables.

Syl"la*bism (?), n. The expressing of the sounds of a language by syllables, rather than by an alphabet or by signs for words. I. Taylor (The Alphabet).

Syl"la*bist (?), n. One who forms or divides words into syllables, or is skilled in doing this.

Syl"la*bize (?), v. t. To syllabify. Howell.

Syl"la*ble (?), n. [OE. sillable, OF. sillabe, F. syllabe, L. syllaba, Gr. &?; that which is held together, several letters taken together so as to form one sound, a syllable, fr. &?; to take together; &?; with + &?; to take; cf. Skr. labh, rabh. Cf. Lemma, Dilemma.] 1. An elementary sound, or a combination of elementary sounds, uttered together, or with a single effort or impulse of the voice, and constituting a word or a part of a word. In other terms, it is a vowel or a diphtong, either by itself or flanked by one or more consonants, the whole produced by a single impulse or utterance. One of the liquids, l, m, n, may fill the place of a vowel in a syllable. Adjoining syllables in a word or phrase need not to be marked off by a pause, but only by such an abatement and renewal, or reënforcement, of the stress as to give the feeling of separate impulses. See Guide to Pronunciation, §275.

2. In writing and printing, a part of a word, separated from the rest, and capable of being pronounced by a single impulse of the voice. It may or may not correspond to a syllable in the spoken language.

Withouten vice [i. e. mistake] of syllable or letter.

Chaucer.

3. A small part of a sentence or discourse; anything concise or short; a particle.

Before any syllable of the law of God was written.

Hooker.

Who dare speak One syllable against him?

Shak.

Syl"la*ble, v. t. To pronounce the syllables of; to utter; to articulate. Milton.

Syl"la*bub (?), n. Same as Syllabub.

Syl"la*bus (?), n.; pl. E. Syllabuses (#), L. Syllabi (#). [L., fr. the same source as E. syllable.] A compendium containing the heads of a discourse, and the like; an abstract.

||Syl*lep"sis (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. sy`llhpsis a taking together, from ||&?;. See syllable, n.] 1. (Rhet.) A figure of speech by which a word ||is used in a literal and metaphorical sense at the same time.

2. (Gram.) The agreement of a verb or adjective with one, rather than another, of two nouns, with either of which it might agree in gender, number, etc.; as, rex et regina beati.

{ Syl*lep"tic (?), Syl*lep"tic*al (?), } a. [Gr. &?; collective.] Of or pertaining to a syllepsis; containing syllepsis. -- Syl*lep"tic*al*ly, adv.

Syl*lid"i*an (?), n. [From NL. Syllis, the typical genus.] (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of marine annelids of the family Syllidæ.

Many of the species are phosphorescent; others are remarkable for undergoing strobilation or fission and for their polymorphism. The egg, in such species, develops into an asexual individual. When mature, a number of its posterior segments gradually develop into one or more sexual individuals which finally break away and swim free in the sea. The males, females, and neuters usually differ greatly in form and structure.

Syl"lo*gism (?), n. [OE. silogisme, OF. silogime, sillogisme, F. syllogisme, L. syllogismus, Gr. syllogismo`s a reckoning all together, a reasoning, syllogism, fr. syllogi`zesqai to reckon all together, to bring at once before the mind, to infer, conclude; sy`n with, together + logi`zesqai to reckon, to conclude by reasoning. See Syn-, and Logistic, Logic.] (Logic) The regular logical form of every argument, consisting of three propositions, of which the first two are called the premises, and the last, the conclusion. The conclusion necessarily follows from the premises; so that, if these are true, the conclusion must be true, and the argument amounts to demonstration; as in the following example:

Every virtue is laudable; Kindness is a virtue; Therefore kindness is laudable.

These propositions are denominated respectively the major premise, the minor premise, and the conclusion.

If the premises are not true and the syllogism is regular, the reasoning is valid, and the conclusion, whether true or false, is correctly derived.

{ Syl`lo*gis"tic (?), Syl`lo*gis"tic*al (?), } a. [L. syllogisticus, Gr. &?;: cf. F. syllogistique.] Of or pertaining to a syllogism; consisting of a syllogism, or of the form of reasoning by syllogisms; as, syllogistic arguments or reasoning.

Syl`lo*gis"tic*al*ly, adv. In a syllogistic manner.

Syl`lo*gi*za"tion (?), n. A reasoning by syllogisms. [Obs. or R.] Harris.

Syl"lo*gize (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Syllogized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Syllogizing (?).] [Gr. &?;: cf. F. syllogiser.] To reason by means of syllogisms.

Men have endeavored . . . to teach boys to syllogize, or frame
arguments and refute them, without any real inward knowledge of the
question.

I. Watts.

Syl"lo*gi`zer (?), n. One who syllogizes.

Sylph (?), n. [F. sylphe, m., fr. Gr. &?; a kind of grub, beetle, or moth; -- so called by Paracelsus.] 1. An imaginary being inhabiting the air; a fairy.

2. Fig.: A slender, graceful woman.

3. (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of very brilliant South American humming birds, having a very long and deeply-forked tail; as, the blue-tailed sylph (Cynanthus cyanurus).

Sylph"id (?), n. [F. sylphide, fem. See Sylph.] A little sylph; a young or diminutive sylph. "The place of the sylphid queen." J. R. Drake.

Ye sylphs and sylphids, to your chief give ear, Fays, fairies,
genii, elves, and demons, hear.

Pope.

Sylph"ine (?), a. Like a sylph.

Sylph"ish (?), a. Sylphlike. Carlyle.

Sylph"like` (?), a. Like a sylph; airy; graceful.

Sometimes a dance . . . Displayed some sylphlike figures in its
maze.

Byron.

||Syl"va (?), n.; pl. Sylvæ (#). [L. sylva, better silva, a wood. See ||Silva.] (Bot.) Same as Silva.

Syl"van (?), a. [See Silvan, a.] 1. Of or pertaining to a sylva; forestlike; hence, rural; rustic.

The traditional memory of a rural and a sylvan region . . . is
usually exact as well as tenacious.

De Quincey.

2. Abounding in forests or in trees; woody.

Syl"van, n. [L. Sylvanus, better Silvanus. See Silvan, a.] A fabled deity of the wood; a satyr; a faun; sometimes, a rustic.

Her private orchards, walled on every side, To lawless sylvans all
access denied.

Pope.

Syl"van, n. [Sylva + furfuran.] (Chem.) A liquid hydrocarbon obtained together with furfuran (tetrol) by the distillation of pine wood; -- called also methyl tetrol, or methyl furfuran.

Syl"van*ite (?), n. [So called from Transylvania, where it was first found.] (Min.) A mineral, a telluride of gold and silver, of a steel-gray, silver- white, or brass-yellow color. It often occurs in implanted crystals resembling written characters, and hence is called graphic tellurium. [Written also silvanite.]

Syl*va"ni*um (?), n. [NL., so called from Transylvania, where it was first found.] (Chem.) An old name for tellurium. [Written also silvanium.]

Syl"vate (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of sylvic acid.

Syl*vat"ic (?), a. [L. sylvaticus, better silvaticus. See Silvan, a.] Sylvan. [R.]

Syl*ves"tri*an (?), a. [L. sylvestris, better silvestris.] Sylvan. [R.]

Syl"vic (?), a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or resembling, pine or its products; specifically, designating an acid called also abeitic acid, which is the chief ingredient of common resin (obtained from Pinus sylvestris, and other species).

Syl*vic"o*line (?), a. [L. sylva, silva, forest + colere to inhabit.] (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the family of warblers (Sylvicolidæ). See Warbler.

Syl"vi*cul`ture (?), n. [L. sylva, silva, forest + E. culture.] The cultivation of forest trees for timber or other purposes; forestry; arboriculture.

Syl`vi*cul"tur*ist (?), n. One who cultivates forest trees, especially as a business.

{ Syl"vine (?), Syl"vite (?), } n. [So called from NL. sal digestivus sylvii potassium chloride.] (Min.) Native potassium chloride.

Sym- (?). See Syn-.

{ Sy*mar" (?), Sy"marr }, n. See Simar.

Sym"bal (?), n. See Cimbal. [Obs.]

Sym"bol (?), n. [L. symbolus, symbolum, Gr. sy`mbolon a sign by which one knows or infers a thing, from &?; to throw or put together, to compare; sy`n with + &?; to throw: cf. F. symbole. Cf. Emblem, Parable.] 1. A visible sign or representation of an idea; anything which suggests an idea or quality, or another thing, as by resemblance or by convention; an emblem; a representation; a type; a figure; as, the lion is the symbol of courage; the lamb is the symbol of meekness or patience.

A symbol is a sign included in the idea which it represents, e. g.,
an actual part chosen to represent the whole, or a lower form or
species used as the representative of a higher in the same kind.

Coleridge.

2. (Math.) Any character used to represent a quantity, an operation, a relation, or an abbreviation.

In crystallography, the symbol of a plane is the numerical expression which defines its position relatively to the assumed axes.

3. (Theol.) An abstract or compendium of faith or doctrine; a creed, or a summary of the articles of religion.

4. [Gr. &?; contributions.] That which is thrown into a common fund; hence, an appointed or accustomed duty. [Obs.]

They do their work in the days of peace . . . and come to pay their
symbol in a war or in a plague.

Jer. Taylor.

5. Share; allotment. [Obs.]

The persons who are to be judged . . . shall all appear to receive
their symbol.

Jer. Taylor.

6. (Chem.) An abbreviation standing for the name of an element and consisting of the initial letter of the Latin or New Latin name, or sometimes of the initial letter with a following one; as, C for carbon, Na for sodium (Natrium), Fe for iron (Ferrum), Sn for tin (Stannum), Sb for antimony (Stibium), etc. See the list of names and symbols under Element.

In pure and organic chemistry there are symbols not only for the elements, but also for their grouping in formulas, radicals, or residues, as evidenced by their composition, reactions, synthesis, etc. See the diagram of Benzene nucleus, under Benzene.

Syn. -- Emblem; figure; type. See Emblem.

Sym"bol, v. t. To symbolize. [R.] Tennyson.

Sym*bol"ic (?), n. [Cf. F. symbolique. See Symbolic, a.] (Theol.) See Symbolics.

{ Sym*bol"ic (?), Sym*bol"ic*al (?), } a. [L. symbolicus, Gr. symboliko`s: cf. F. symbolique.] Of or pertaining to a symbol or symbols; of the nature of a symbol; exhibiting or expressing by resemblance or signs; representative; as, the figure of an eye is symbolic of sight and knowledge. -- Sym*bol"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Sym*bol"ic*al*ness, n.

The sacrament is a representation of Christ's death by such
symbolical actions as he himself appointed.

Jer. Taylor.

Symbolical delivery (Law), the delivery of property sold by delivering something else as a symbol, token, or representative of it. Bouvier. Chitty. -- Symbolical philosophy, the philosophy expressed by hieroglyphics.

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Sym*bol"ics (?), n. The study of ancient symbols; esp. (Theol.), that branch of historic theology which treats of creeds and confessions of faith; symbolism; -- called also symbolic.

Sym"bol*ism (?), n. 1. The act of symbolizing, or the state of being symbolized; as, symbolism in Christian art is the representation of truth, virtues, vices, etc., by emblematic colors, signs, and forms.

2. A system of symbols or representations.

3. (Chem.) (a) The practice of using symbols, or the system of notation developed thereby. (b) A combining together of parts or ingredients. [Obs.]

4. (Theol.) The science of creeds; symbolics.

Sym"bol*ist, n. One who employs symbols.

{ Sym`bol*is"tic (?), Sym`bol*is"tic*al (?), } a. Characterized by the use of symbols; as, symbolistic poetry.

Sym`bol*i*za"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. symbolisation.] The act of symbolizing; symbolical representation. Sir T. Browne.

Sym"bol*ize (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Symbolized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Symbolizing (?).] [Cf. F. symboliser.] 1. To have a resemblance of qualities or properties; to correspond; to harmonize.

The pleasing of color symbolizeth with the pleasing of any single
tone to the ear; but the pleasing of order doth symbolize with
harmony.

Bacon.

They both symbolize in this, that they love to look upon themselves
through multiplying glasses.

Howell.

2. To hold the same faith; to agree. [R.]

The believers in pretended miracles have always previously
symbolized with the performers of them.

G. S. Faber.

3. To use symbols; to represent ideas symbolically.

Sym"bol*ize, v. t. 1. To make to agree in properties or qualities.

2. To make representative of something; to regard or treat as symbolic. "Some symbolize the same from the mystery of its colors." Sir T. Browne.

3. To represent by a symbol or symbols.

Sym"bol*i`zer (?), n. One who symbolizes.

Sym`bo*log"i*cal (?), a. Pertaining to a symbology; versed in, or characterized by, symbology.

Sym*bol"o*gist (?), n. One who practices, or who is versed in, symbology.

Sym*bol"o*gy (?), n. [Symbol + -logy.] The art of expressing by symbols.

||Sym*bran"chi*i (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. sy`n with + &?; a gill.] ||(Zoöl.) An order of slender eel-like fishes having the gill openings ||confluent beneath the neck. The pectoral arch is generally attached ||to the skull, and the entire margin of the upper jaw is formed by the ||premaxillary. Called also Symbranchia.

Sym"me*tral (?), a. Commensurable; symmetrical. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Sym*me"tri*an (?), n. One eminently studious of symmetry of parts. [R.] Sir P. Sidney.

Sym*met"ric (?), a. Symmetrical.

Sym*met"ric*al (?), a. [Cf. F. symétrique. See Symmetry.] 1. Involving or exhibiting symmetry; proportional in parts; having its parts in due proportion as to dimensions; as, a symmetrical body or building.

2. (Biol.) Having the organs or parts of one side corresponding with those of the other; having the parts in two or more series of organs the same in number; exhibiting a symmetry. See Symmetry, 2.