Chapter CDI: Prologue (52)

Note: In the United States service, besides the sergeants belonging to the companies there are, in each regiment, a sergeant major, who is the chief noncommissioned officer, and has important duties as the assistant to the adjutant; a quartermaster sergeant, who assists the quartermaster; a color sergeant, who carries the colors; and a commissary sergeant, who assists in the care and distribution of the stores. Ordnance sergeants have charge of the ammunition at military posts.

3. (Law)

Defn: A lawyer of the highest rank, answering to the doctor of the civil law; -- called also serjeant at law. [Eng.] Blackstone.

4. A title sometimes given to the servants of the sovereign; as, sergeant surgeon, that is, a servant, or attendant, surgeon. [Eng.]

5. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The cobia. Drill sergeant. (Mil.) See under Drill. -- Sergeant-at-arms, an officer of a legislative body, or of a deliberative or judicial assembly, who executes commands in preserving order and arresting offenders. See Sergeant, 1. -- Sergeant major. (a) (Mil.) See the Note under def. 2, above. (b) (Zoöl.) The cow pilot.

SERGEANTCY Ser"geant*cy, n.

Defn: Same as Sergeancy.

SERGEANTRY Ser"geant*ry, n. Etym: [CF. OF. sergenteric.]

Defn: See Sergeanty. [R.] [Written also serjeantry.]

SERGEANTSHIP Ser"geant*ship, n.

Defn: The office of sergeant.

SERGEANTY Ser"geant*y, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. sergentie, LL. sergentia. See Sergeant.] (Eng. Law)

Defn: Tenure of lands of the crown by an honorary kind of service not due to any lord, but to the king only. [Written also serjeanty.] Grand sergeanty, a particular kind of tenure by which the tenant was bound to do some special honorary service to the king in person, as to carry his banner, his sword, or the like. Tomlins. Cowell. Blackstone. -- Petit sergeanty. See under Petit.

SERIAL Se"ri*al, a.

1. Of or pertaining to a series; consisting of a series; appearing in successive parts or numbers; as, a serial work or publication. "Classification . . . may be more or less serial." H. Spencer.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to rows. Gray. Serial homology. (Biol.) See under Homology. -- Serial symmetry. (Biol.) See under Symmetry.

SERIAL Se"ri*al, n.

Defn: A publication appearing in a series or succession of part; a tale, or other writing, published in successive numbers of a periodical.

SERIALITY Se`ri*al"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality or state of succession in a series; sequence. H. Spenser.

SERIALLY Se"ri*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a series, or regular order; in a serial manner; as, arranged serially; published serially.

SERIATE Se"ri*ate, a.

Defn: Arranged in a series or succession; pertaining to a series. -- Se"ri*ate*ly, adv.

SERIATIM Se`ri*a"tim, adv. Etym: [NL.]

Defn: In regular order; one after the other; severally.

SERIATION Se`ri*a"tion, n. (Chem.)

Defn: Arrangement or position in a series.

SERICEOUS Se*ri"ceous, a. Etym: [L. sericus silken, sericum Seric stuff, silk, fr. Sericus belonging to the Seres, Gr. Silk, Serge a woolen stuff.]

1. Of or pertaining to silk; consisting of silk; silky.

2. (Bot.)

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

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having a silklike luster, usually due to fine, close hairs.

SERICIN Ser"i*cin, n. Etym: [L. sericus silken.] (Chem.)

Defn: A gelatinous nitrogenous material extracted from crude silk and other similar fiber by boiling water; -- called also silk gelatin.

SERICITE Ser"i*cite, n. Etym: [L. sericus silken.] (Min.)

Defn: A kind of muscovite occuring in silky scales having a fibrous structure. It is characteristic of sericite schist.

SERICTERIUM Ser`ic*te"ri*um, n. Etym: [See Sericeous.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A silk gland, as in the silkworms.

SERICULTURE Ser"i*cul`ture, n. Etym: [See Sericeous, and Culture.]

Defn: The raising of silkworms.

SERIE Se"rie, n. Etym: [Cf. F. série.]

Defn: Series. [Obs.]

SERIEMA Ser`i*e"ma, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A large South American bird (Dicholophus, or Cariama cristata) related to the cranes. It is often domesticated. Called also cariama.

SERIES Se"ries, n. Etym: [L. series, fr. serere, sertum, to join or bind together; cf. Gr. sarit thread. Cf. Assert, Desert a solitude, Exert, Insert, Seraglio.]

1. A number of things or events standing or succeeding in order, and connected by a like relation; sequence; order; course; a succession of things; as, a continuous series of calamitous events. During some years his life a series of triumphs. Macaulay.

2. (Biol.)

Defn: Any comprehensive group of animals or plants including several subordinate related groups.

Note: Sometimes a series includes several classes; sometimes only orders or families; in other cases only species.

3. (Math.)

Defn: An indefinite number of terms succeeding one another, each of which is derived from one or more of the preceding by a fixed law, called the law of the series; as, an arithmetical series; a geometrical series.

SERIES DYNAMO Series dynamo. (Elec.) (a) A series-wound dynamo. (b) A dynamo running in series with another or others.

SERIES MOTOR Series motor. (Elec.) (a) A series-wound motor. (b) A motor capable of being used in a series circuit.

SERIES TURNS Series turns. (Elec.)

Defn: The turns in a series circuit.

SERIES WINDING Series winding. (Elec.)

Defn: A winding in which the armature coil and the field-magnet coil are in series with the external circuits; -- opposed to shunt winding. --Se"ries-wound`, a.

SERIGRAPH Ser`i*graph, n. [L. sericum silk + E. -graph.]

Defn: An autographic device to test the strength of raw silk.

SERIN Ser"in, n. Etym: [F. serin.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A European finch (Serinus hortulanus) closely related to the canary.

SERINE Ser"ine, n. Etym: [L. sericus silken.] (Chem.)

Defn: A white crystalline nitrogenous substance obtained by the action of dilute sulphuric acid on silk gelatin.

SERIO-COMIC; SERIO-COMICAL Se`ri*o-com"ic, Se`ri*o-com"ic*al, a.

Defn: Having a mixture of seriousness and sport; serious and comical.

SERIOUS Se"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. serius: cf. F. sérieux, LL. seriosus.]

1. Grave in manner or disposition; earnest; thoughtful; solemn; not light, gay, or volatile. He is always serious, yet there is about his manner a graceful ease. Macaulay.

2. Really intending what is said; being in earnest; not jesting or deceiving. Beaconsfield.

3. Important; weighty; not trifling; grave. The holy Scriptures bring to our ears the most serious things in the world. Young.

4. Hence, giving rise to apprehension; attended with danger; as, a serious injury.

Syn. -- Grave; solemn; earnest; sedate; important; weighty. See Grave. -- Se"ri*ous*ly, adv. -- Se"ri*ous*ness, n.

SERIPH Ser"iph, n. (Type Founding)

Defn: See Ceriph.

SERJEANT; SERJEANTCY Ser"jeant, Ser"jeant*cy, etc.

Defn: See Sergeant, Sergeantcy, etc. Serjeant-at-arms. See Sergeant- at-arms, under Sergeant.

SERMOCINATION Ser*moc`i*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. sermocinatio. See Sermon.]

Defn: The making of speeches or sermons; sermonizing. [Obs.] Peacham.

SERMOCINATOR Ser*moc"i*na`tor, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: One who makes sermons or speeches. [Obs.] Howell.

SERMON Ser"mon, n. Etym: [OE. sermoun, sermun, F. sermon, fr. L. sermo, - onis, a speaking, discourse, probably fr. serer, sertum, to join, connect; hence, a connected speech. See Series.]

1. A discourse or address; a talk; a writing; as, the sermens of Chaucer. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. Specifically, a discourse delivered in public, usually by a clergyman, for the purpose of religious instruction and grounded on some text or passage of Scripture. This our life exempt from public haunts Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones and good in everything. Shak. His preaching much, but more his practice, wrought, A living sermon of the truths he taught. Dryden.

3. Hence, a serious address; a lecture on one's conduct or duty; an exhortation or reproof; a homily; -- often in a depreciatory sense.

SERMON Ser"mon, v. i. Etym: [Cf. OF. sermoner, F. sermonner to lecture one.]

Defn: To speak; to discourse; to compose or deliver a sermon. [Obs.] Holinshed. What needeth it to sermon of it more Chaucer.

SERMON Ser"mon, v. t.

1. To discourse to or of, as in a sermon. [Obs.] Spenser.

2. To tutor; to lecture. [Poetic] Shak.

SERMONEER Ser`mon*eer", n.

Defn: A sermonizer. B. Jonson.

SERMONER Ser"mon*er, n.

Defn: A preacher; a sermonizer. [Derogative or Jocose.] Thackeray.

SERMONET Ser`mon*et", n.

Defn: A short sermon. [Written also sermonette.]

SERMONIC; SERMONICAL Ser*mon"ic, Ser*mon"ic*al, a.

Defn: Like, or appropriate to, a sermon; grave and didactic. [R.] "Conversation . . . satirical or sermonic." Prof. Wilson. "Sermonical style." V. Knox.

SERMONING Ser"mon*ing, n.

Defn: The act of discoursing; discourse; instruction; preaching. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SERMONISH Ser"mon*ish, a.

Defn: Resembling a sermon. [R.]

SERMONIST Ser"mon*ist, n.

Defn: See Sermonizer.

SERMONIZE Ser"mon*ize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sermonized; p. pr. & vb. n. Sermonizing.]

1. To compose or write a sermon or sermons; to preach.

2. To inculcate rigid rules. [R.] Chesterfield.

SERMONIZE Ser"mon*ize, v. t.

Defn: To preach or discourse to; to affect or influence by means of a sermon or of sermons. [R.] Which of us shall sing or sermonize the other fast asleep Landor.

SERMONIZER Ser"mon*i`zer, n.

Defn: One who sermonizes.

SEROLIN Ser"o*lin, n. Etym: [Serum + L. oleum oil.] (Physiol. Chem.) (a) A peculiar fatty substance found in the blood, probably a mixture of fats, cholesterin, etc. (b) A body found in fecal matter and thought to be formed in the intestines from the cholesterin of the bile; -- called also stercorin, and stercolin.

SERON; SEROON Se*ron", Se*roon", n. Etym: [Sp. seron a kind of hamper or pannier, aug. of sera a large pannier or basket.]

Defn: Same as Ceroon.

Note: This word as expressing a quantity or weight has no definite signification. McElrath.

SEROSE Se"rose`, a.

Defn: Serous. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

SEROSITY Se*ros"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. serosité. See Serous.]

1. The quality or state of being serous.

2. (Physiol.)

Defn: A thin watery animal fluid, as synovial fluid and pericardial fluid.

SEROTHERAPY Se`ro*ther"a*py, n. (Med.) (a) Serum-therapy. (b) The whey cure.

SEROTINE Ser"o*tine, n. Etym: [F. sérotine, fr. L. serotinus that comes or happens late.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The European long-eared bat (Vesperugo serotinus).

SEROTINOUS Se*rot"i*nous, a. Etym: [L. serotinus, fr. serus late.] (Biol.)

Defn: Appearing or blossoming later in the season than is customary with allied species.

SEROUS Se"rous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. séreux. See Serum.] (Physiol.) (a) Thin; watery; like serum; as the serous fluids. (b) Of or pertaining to serum; as, the serous glands, membranes, layers. See Serum. Serous membrane. (Anat.) See under Membrane.

SEROW; SURROW Ser"ow, Sur"row, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The thar.

SERPENS Ser"pens, n. Etym: [L. See Serpent.] (Astron.)

Defn: A constellation represented as a serpent held by Serpentarius.

SERPENT Ser"pent, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. serpens, -entis (sc. bestia), fr. serpens, p. pr. of serpere to creep; akin to Gr. sarp, and perhaps to L. repere, E. reptile. Cf. Herpes.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any reptile of the order Ophidia; a snake, especially a large snake. See Illust. under Ophidia.

Note: The serpents are mostly long and slender, and move partly by bending the body into undulations or folds and pressing them against objects, and partly by using the free edges of their ventral scales to cling to rough surfaces. Many species glide swiftly over the ground, some burrow in the earth, others live in trees. A few are entirely aquatic, and swim rapidly. See Ophidia, and Fang.

2. Fig.: A subtle, treacherous, malicious person.

3. A species of firework having a serpentine motion as it passess through the air or along the ground.

4. (Astron.)

Defn: The constellation Serpens.

5. (Mus.)

Defn: A bass wind instrument, of a loud and coarse tone, formerly much used in military bands, and sometimes introduced into the orchestra; -- so called from its form. Pharaoh's serpent (Chem.), mercuric sulphocyanate, a combustible white substance which in burning gives off a poisonous vapor and leaves a peculiar brown voluminous residue which is expelled in a serpentine from. It is employed as a scientific toy. -- Serpent cucumber (Bot.), the long, slender, serpentine fruit of the cucurbitaceous plant Trichosanthes colubrina; also, the plant itself. -- Serpent eage (Zoöl.), any one of several species of raptorial birds of the genera Circaëtus and Spilornis, which prey on serpents. They inhabit Africa, Southern Europe, and India. The European serpent eagle is Circaëtus Gallicus. -- Serpent eater. (Zoöl.) (a) The secretary bird. (b) An Asiatic antelope; the markhoor. -- Serpent fish (Zoöl.), a fish (Cepola rubescens) with a long, thin, compressed body, and a band of red running lengthwise. -- Serpent star (Zoöl.), an ophiuran; a brittle star. -- Serpent's tongue (Paleon.), the fossil tooth of a shark; -- so called from its resemblance to a tongue with its root. -- Serpent withe (Bot.), a West Indian climbing plant (Aristolochia odoratissima). -- Tree serpent (Zoöl.), any species of African serpents belonging to the family Dendrophidæ.

SERPENT Ser"pent, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Serpented; p. pr. & vb. n. Serpenting.]

Defn: To wind like a serpent; to crook about; to meander. [R.] "The serpenting of the Thames." Evelyn.

SERPENT Ser"pent, v. t.

Defn: To wind; to encircle. [R.] Evelyn.

SERPENTARIA Ser`pen*ta"ri*a, a.Etym: [L. (sc. herba), fr. serpens serpent.] (Med.)

Defn: The fibrous aromatic root of the Virginia snakeroot (Aristolochia Serpentaria).

SERPENTARIUS Ser`pen*ta"ri*us, n.Etym: [NL., fr. L. serpens serpent.] (Astron.)

Defn: A constellation on the equator, lying between Scorpio and Hercules; -- called also Ophiuchus.

SERPENTIFORM Ser*pen"ti*form, a. Etym: [L. serpens a serpent + -form.]

Defn: Having the form of a serpent.

SERPENTIGENOUS Ser`pen*tig"e*nous, a. Etym: [L. serpens, -entis, a serpent + - genous: cf. L. serpentigena.]

Defn: Bred of a serpent.

SERPENTINE Ser"pen*tine, a. Etym: [L. serpentinus: cf. F. serpentin.]

Defn: Resembling a serpent; having the shape or qualities of a serpent; subtle; winding or turning one way and the other, like a moving serpent; anfractuous; meandering; sinuous; zigzag; as, serpentine braid. Thy shape Like his, and color serpentine. Milton.

SERPENTINE Ser"pen*tine, n. Etym: [Cf. (for sense 1) F. serpentine, (for sense 2) serpentin.]

1. (Min.)

Defn: A mineral or rock consisting chiefly of the hydrous silicate of magnesia. It is usually of an obscure green color, often with a spotted or mottled appearance resembling a serpent's skin. Precious, or noble, serpentine is translucent and of a rich oil-green color.

Note: Serpentine has been largely produced by the alteration of other minerals, especially of chrysolite.

2. (Ordnance)

Defn: A kind of ancient cannon.

SERPENTINE Ser"pen*tine, v. i.

Defn: To serpentize. [R.] Lyttleton.

SERPENTINELY Ser"pen*tine*ly, adv.

Defn: In a serpentine manner.

SERPENTINIAN Ser`pen*tin"i*an, n. (Eccl.)

Defn: See 2d Ophite.

SERPENTINIZE Ser"pen*tin*ize, v. t. (Min.)

Defn: To convert (a magnesian silicate) into serpentine. -- Ser`pen*tin`i*za"tion, n.

SERPENTINOUS Ser"pen*ti`nous, a.

Defn: Relating to, or like, serpentine; as, a rock serpentinous in character.

SERPENTIZE Ser"pent*ize, v. i.

Defn: To turn or bend like a serpent, first in one direction and then in the opposite; to meander; to wind; to serpentine. [R.] The river runs before the door, and serpentizes more than you can conceive. Walpole.

SERPENTRY Ser"pent*ry, n.

1. A winding like a serpent's.

2. A place inhabited or infested by serpents.

SERPENT-TONGUED Ser"pent-tongued`, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having a forked tongue, like a serpent.

SERPET Ser"pet, n. Etym: [L. sirpus, scirpus, a rush, bulrush.]

Defn: A basket. [Obs.] Ainsworth.

SERPETTE Ser*pette", n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A pruning knife with a curved blade. Knight.

SERPIGINOUS Ser*pig"i*nous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. serpigineux.] (Med.)

Defn: Creeping; -- said of lesions which heal over one portion while continuing to advance at another.

SERPIGO Ser*pi"go, n. Etym: [LL., fr. L. serpere to creep.] (Med.)

Defn: A dry, scaly eruption on the skin; especially, a ringworm.

SERPOLET Ser"po*let, n. Etym: [F.] (Bot.)

Defn: Wild thyme.

SERPULA Ser"pu*la, n.; pl. Serpulæ, E. Serpulas. Etym: [L., a little snake. See Serpent.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of tubicolous annelids of the genus Serpula and allied genera of the family Serpulidæ. They secrete a calcareous tube, which is usually irregularly contorted, but is sometimes spirally coiled. The worm has a wreath of plumelike and often bright-colored gills around its head, and usually an operculum to close the aperture of its tube when it retracts.

SERPULIAN; SERPULIDAN Ser*pu"li*an, Ser*pu"li*dan, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A serpula.

SERPULITE Ser"pu*lite, n.

Defn: A fossil serpula shell.

SERR Serr, v. t. Etym: [F. serrer. See Serry.]

Defn: To crowd, press, or drive together. [Obs.] Bacon.

SERRANOID Ser*ra"noid, n. Etym: [NL. Serranus, a typical genus (fr. L. serra a saw) + -oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any fish of the family Serranidæ, which includes the striped bass, the black sea bass, and many other food fishes. -- a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Serranidæ.

SERRATE; SERRATED Ser"rate, Ser"ra*ted, a. Etym: [L. serratus, fr. serra a saw; perhaps akin to secare to cut, E. saw a cutting instrument. Cf. Sierra.]

1. Notched on the edge, like a saw.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Beset with teeth pointing forwards or upwards; as, serrate leaves. Doubly serrate, having small serratures upon the large ones, as the leaves of the elm. -- Serrate-ciliate, having fine hairs, like the eyelashes, on the serratures; -- said of a leaf. -- Serrate-dentate, having the serratures toothed.

SERRATION Ser*ra"tion, n.

1. Condition of being serrate; formation in the shape of a saw.

2. One of the teeth in a serrate or serrulate margin.

SERRATIROSTRAL Ser*ra`ti*ros"tral, a. Etym: [Serrate + rostral.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having a toothed bill, like that of a toucan.

SERRATOR Ser*ra"tor, n. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The ivory gull (Larus eburneus).

SERRATURE Ser"ra*ture, n. Etym: [L. serratura a sawing, fr. serrare to saw.]

1. A notching, like that between the teeth of a saw, in the edge of anything. Martyn.

2. One of the teeth in a serrated edge; a serration.

SERRICATED Ser"ri*ca`ted, a. Etym: [See Sericeous.]

Defn: Covered with fine silky down.

SERRICORN Ser"ri*corn, a. Etym: [L. serra saw + cornu horn.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having serrated antenn

SERRICORN Ser"ri*corn, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of a numerous tribe of beetles (Serricornia). The joints of the antennæ are prominent, thus producing a serrate appearance. See Illust. under Antenna.

SERRIED Ser"ried, a. Etym: [See Serry.]

Defn: Crowded; compact; dense; pressed together. Nor seemed it to relax their serried files. Milton.

SERRIFERA Ser*rif"e*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. serra saw + ferre to bear.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of Hymenoptera comprising the sawflies.

SERRIROSTRES Ser`ri*ros"tres, n. pl. Etym: [NL. fr. L. serra saw + rostrum beak.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Lamellirostres.

SERROUS Ser"rous, a. Etym: [L. serra a saw.]

Defn: Like the teeth off a saw; jagged. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

SERRULA Ser"ru*la, n. Etym: [L., a little saw.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The red-breasted merganser.

SERRULATE; SERRULATED Ser"rulate, Ser"ru*la`ted, a. Etym: [L. serrula a lttle saw, dim. of serra a saw.]

Defn: Finely serrate; having very minute teeth.

SERRULATION Ser`ru*la"tion, n.

1. The state of being notched minutely, like a fine saw. Wright.

2. One of the teeth in a serrulate margin.

SERRY Ser"ry, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Serried; p. pr. & vb. n. Serrying.] Etym: [F. serrer, LL. serrare, serare, from L. sera a bar, bolt; akin to serere to join or bind together. See Serries.]

Defn: To crowd; to press together.

Note: [Now perhaps only in the form serried, p. p. or a.]

SERTULARIA Ser`tu*la"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL., dim. fr. L. serta a garland.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of delicate branching hydroids having small sessile hydrothecæ along the sides of the branches.

SERTULARIAN Ser`tu*la"ri*an, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any species of Sertularia, or of Sertularidæ, a family of hydroids having branched chitinous stems and simple sessile hydrothecæ. Also used adjectively.

SERUM Se"rum, n. Etym: [L., akin to Gr. sara curd.] (Physiol.) (a) The watery portion of certain animal fluids, as blood, milk, etc. (b) A thin watery fluid, containing more or less albumin, secreted by the serous membranes of the body, such as the pericardium and peritoneum. Blood serum, the pale yellowish fluid which exudes from the clot formed in the coagulation of the blood; the loquid portion of the blood, after removal of the blood corpuscles and the fibrin. -- Muscle serum, the thin watery fluid which separates from the muscles after coagulation of the muscle plasma; the watery portion of the plasma. See Muscle plasma, under Plasma. -- Serum albumin (Physiol. Chem.), an albuminous body, closely related to egg albumin, present in nearly all serous fluids; esp., the albumin of blood serum. -- Serum globulin (Physiol. Chem.), paraglobulin. -- Serum of milk (Physiol. Chem.), the whey, or fluid portion of milk, remaining after removal of the casein and fat.

SERUM-THERAPY Se"rum-ther`a*py, n. (Med.)

Defn: The treatment of disease by the injection of blood serum from immune animals.

SERVABLE Serv"a*ble, a. Etym: [See Serve.]

1. Capable of being served.

2. Etym: [L. servabilis.]

Defn: Capable of being preserved. [R.]

SERVAGE Serv"age, n. Etym: [Cf. F. servage.]

Defn: Serfage; slavery; servitude. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SERVAL Ser"val, n. Etym: [Cf. F. serval.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An African wild cat (Felis serval) of moderate size. It has rather long legs and a tail of moderate length. Its color is tawny, with black spots on the body and rings of black on the tail.

SERVALINE Ser"val*ine, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Related to, or resembling, the serval.

SERVANT Serv"ant, n. Etym: [OE. servant, servaunt, F. servant, a & p. pr. of servir to serve, L. servire. See Serve, and cf. Sergeant.]

1. One who serves, or does services, voluntarily or on compulsion; a person who is employed by another for menial offices, or for other labor, and is subject to his command; a person who labors or exerts himself for the benefit of another, his master or employer; a subordinate helper. "A yearly hired servant." Lev. xxv. 53. Men in office have begun to think themselves mere agents and servants of the appointing power, and not agents of the government or the country. D. Webster.

Note: In a legal sense, stewards, factors, bailiffs, and other agents, are servants for the time they are employed in such character, as they act in subordination to others. So any person may be legally the servant of another, in whose business, and under whose order, direction, and control, he is acting for the time being. Chitty.

2. One in a state of subjection or bondage. Thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt. Deut. v. 15.

3. A professed lover or suitor; a gallant. [Obs.] In my time a servant was I one. Chaucer. Servant of servants, one debased to the lowest condition of servitude. -- Your humble servant, or Your obedient servant, phrases of civility often used in closing a letter. Our betters tell us they are our humble servants, but understand us to be their slaves. Swift.

SERVANT Serv"ant, v. t.

Defn: To subject. [Obs.] Shak.

SERVANTESS Serv"ant*ess, n.

Defn: A maidservant. [Obs.] Wyclif.

SERVANTRY Serv"ant*ry, n.

Defn: A body of servants; servants, collectively. [R.]

SERVE Serve, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Served; p. pr. & vb. n. Serving.] Etym: [OE. serven, servien, OF. & F. servir, fr. L. servire; akin to servus a servant or slave, servare to protect, preserve, observe; cf. Zend har to protect, haurva protecting. Cf. Conserve, Desert merit, Dessert, Observe, Serf, Sergeant.]

1. To work for; to labor in behalf of; to exert one's self continuously or statedly for the benefit of; to do service for; to be in the employment of, as an inferior, domestic, serf, slave, hired assistant, official helper, etc.; specifically, in a religious sense, to obey and worship. God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit. Rom. i. 9. Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. Gen. xxix. 18. No man can serve two masters. Matt. vi. 24. Had I but served my God with half the zeal I served my king, he would not in mine age Have left me naked to mine enemies. Shak.

2. To be subordinate to; to act a secondary part under; to appear as the inferior of; to minister to. Bodies bright and greater should not serve The less not bright. Milton.

3. To be suitor to; to profess love to. [Obs.] To serve a lady in his beste wise. Chaucer.

4. To wait upon; to supply the wants of; to attend; specifically, to wait upon at table; to attend at meals; to supply with food; as, to serve customers in a shop. Others, pampered in their shameless pride, Are served in plate and in their chariots ride. Dryden.

5. Hence, to bring forward, arrange, deal, or distribute, as a portion of anything, especially of food prepared for eating; -- often with up; formerly with in. Bid them cover the table, serve in the meat, and we will come in to dinner. Shak. Some part he roasts, then serves it up so dressed. Dryde.

6. To perform the duties belonging to, or required in or for; hence, to be of use to; as, a curate may serve two churches; to serve one's country.

7. To contribute or conduce to; to promote; to be sufficient for; to satisfy; as, to serve one's turn. Turn it into some advantage, by observing where it can serve another end. Jer. Taylor.

8. To answer or be (in the place of something) to; as, a sofa serves one for a seat and a couch.

9. To treat; to behave one's self to; to requite; to act toward; as, he served me very ill.

10. To work; to operate; as, to serve the guns.

11. (Law) (a) To bring to notice, deliver, or execute, either actually or constructively, in such manner as the law requires; as, to serve a summons. (b) To make legal service opon (a person named in a writ, summons, etc.); as, to serve a witness with a subpoena.

12. To pass or spend, as time, esp. time of punishment; as, to serve a term in prison.

13. To copulate with; to cover; as, a horse serves a mare; -- said of the male.

14. (Tennis)

Defn: To lead off in delivering (the ball).

15. (Naut.)

Defn: To wind spun yarn, or the like, tightly around (a rope or cable, etc.) so as to protect it from chafing or from the weather. See under Serving. To serve an attachment or a writ of attachment (Law), to levy it on the person or goods by seizure, or to seize. -- To serve an execution (Law), to levy it on a lands, goods, or person, by seizure or taking possession. -- To serve an office, to discharge a public duty. -- To serve a process (Law), in general, to read it, so as to give due notice to the party concerned, or to leave an attested copy with him or his attorney, or his usual place of abode. -- To serve a warrant, to read it, and seize the person against whom it is issued. -- To serve a writ (Law), to read it to the defendant, or to leave an attested copy at his usual place of abode. -- To serve one out, to retaliate upon; to requite. "I'll serve you out for this." C. Kingsley. -- To serve one right, to treat, or cause to befall one, according to his deserts; -- used commonly of ill deserts; as, it serves the scoundrel right; -- To serve one's self of, to avail one's self of; to make use of. [A Gallicism] I will serve myself of this concession. Chillingworth. -- To serve out, to distribute; as, to serve out rations. -- To serve the time or the hour, to regulate one's actions by the requirements of the time instead of by one's duty; to be a timeserver. [Obs.] They think herein we serve the time, because thereby we either hold or seek preferment. Hooker.

Syn. -- To obey; minister to; subserve; promote; aid; help; assist; benefit; succor.

SERVE Serve, v. i.

1. To be a servant or a slave; to be employed in labor or other business for another; to be in subjection or bondage; to render menial service. The Lord shall give thee rest . . . from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve. Isa. xiv. 3.

2. To perform domestic offices; to be occupied with household affairs; to prepare and dish up food, etc. But Martha . . . said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone Luke x. 40.

3. To be in service; to do duty; to discharge the requirements of an office or employment. Specifically, to act in the public service, as a soldier, seaman. etc. Many . . . who had before been great commanders, but now served as private gentlemen without pay. Knolles.

4. To be of use; to answer a purpose; to suffice; to suit; to be convenient or favorable. This little brand will serve to light your fire. Dryden. As occasion serves, this noble queen And prince shall follow with a fresh supply. Shak.

5. (Tennis)

Defn: To lead off in delivering the ball.

SERVER Serv"er, n.

1. One who serves.

2. A tray for dishes; a salver. Randolph.

SERVIAN Ser"vi*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Servia, a kingdom of Southern Europe. -- n.

Defn: A native or inhabitant of Servia.

SERVICE; SERVICE Serv"ice, n., or Serv"ice. Etym: [Properly, the tree which bears serve, OE. serves, pl., service berries, AS. syrfe service tree; akin to L. sorbus.] (Bot.)

Defn: A name given to several trees and shrubs of the genus Pyrus, as Pyrus domestica and P. torminalis of Europe, the various species of mountain ash or rowan tree, and the American shad bush (see Shad bush, under Shad). They have clusters of small, edible, applelike berries. Service berry (Bot.), the fruit of any kind of service tree. In British America the name is especially applied to that of the several species or varieties of the shad bush (Amelanchier.)

SERVICE Serv"ice, n. Etym: [OE. servise, OF. servise, service, F. service, from L. servitium. See Serve.]

1. The act of serving; the occupation of a servant; the performance of labor for the benefit of another, or at another's command; attendance of an inferior, hired helper. slave, etc., on a superior, employer, master, or the like; also, spiritual obedience and love. "O God . . . whose service is perfect freedom." Bk. of Com. Prayer. Madam, I entreat true peace of you, Which I will purchase with my duteous service. Shak. God requires no man's service upon hard and unreasonable terms. Tillotson.

2. The deed of one who serves; labor performed for another; duty done or required; office. I have served him from the hour of my nativity, . . . and have nothing at his hands for my service but blows. Shak. This poem was the last piece of service I did for my master, King Charles. Dryden. To go on the forlorn hope is a service of peril; who will understake it if it be not also a service of honor Macaulay.

3. Office of devotion; official religious duty performed; religious rites appropriate to any event or ceremonial; as, a burial service. The outward service of ancient religion, the rites, ceremonies, and ceremonial vestments of the old law. Coleridge.

4. Hence, a musical composition for use in churches.

5. Duty performed in, or appropriate to, any office or charge; official function; hence, specifically, military or naval duty; performance of the duties of a soldier. When he cometh to experience of service abroad . . . ne maketh a worthy soldier. Spenser.

6. Useful office; advantage conferred; that which promotes interest or happiness; benefit; avail. The stork's plea, when taken in a net, was the service she did in picking up venomous creatures. L'Estrange.

7. Profession of respect; acknowledgment of duty owed. "Pray, do my service to his majesty." Shak.

8. The act and manner of bringing food to the persons who eat it; order of dishes at table; also, a set or number of vessels ordinarily used at table; as, the service was tardy and awkward; a service of plate or glass. There was no extraordinary service seen on the board. Hakewill.

9. (Law)

Defn: The act of bringing to notice, either actually or constructively, in such manner as is prescribed by law; as, the service of a subpoena or an attachment.

10. (Naut.)

Defn: The materials used for serving a rope, etc., as spun yarn, small lines, etc.

11. (Tennis)

Defn: The act of serving the ball.

12. Act of serving or covering. See Serve, v. t., 13. Service book, a prayer book or missal. -- Service line (Tennis), a line parallel to the net, and at a distance of 21 feet from it. -- Service of a writ, process, etc. (Law), personal delivery or communication of the writ or process, etc., to the party to be affected by it, so as to subject him to its operation; the reading of it to the person to whom notice is intended to be given, or the leaving of an attested copy with the person or his attorney, or at his usual place of abode. -- Service of an attachment (Law), the seizing of the person or goods according to the direction. -- Service of an execution (Law), the levying of it upon the goods, estate, or person of the defendant. -- Service pipe, a pipe connecting mains with a dwelling, as in gas pipes, and the like. Tomlinson. -- To accept service. (Law) See under Accept. -- To see service (Mil.), to do duty in the presence of the enemy, or in actual war.

SERVICEABLE Serv"ice*a*ble, a.

1. Doing service; promoting happiness, interest, advantage, or any good; useful to any end; adapted to any good end use; beneficial; advantageous. "Serviceable to religion and learning". Atterbury. "Serviceable tools." Macaulay. I know thee well, a serviceable villain. Shak.

2. Prepared for rendering service; capable of, or fit for, the performance of duty; hence, active; diligent. Courteous he was, lowly, and servysable. Chaucer. Bright-hearnessed angels sit in order serviceable. Milton. Seeing her so sweet and serviceable. Tennnyson. -- Serv"ice*a*ble*ness, n. -- Serv"ice*a*bly, adv.

SERVICEAGE Serv"ice*age, n.

Defn: Servitude. [Obs.] Fairfax.

SERVICE CAP; SERVICE HAT Serv"ice cap or hat. (Mil.)

Defn: A cap or hat worn by officers or enlisted men when full-dress uniform, or dress uniform, is not worn. In the United States army the service cap is round, about 3½ inches high, flat-topped, with a visor. The service hat is of soft felt of khaki color, with broad brim and high crown, creased down the middle.

SERVICE UNIFORM Service uniform. (Mil. & Nav.)

Defn: The uniform prescribed in regulations for active or routine service, in distinction from dress, full dress, etc. In the United States army it is of olive-drab woolen or khaki-colored cotton, with all metal attachments of dull-finish bronze, with the exceptional of insignia of rank, which are of gold or silver finish.

SERVIENT Serv"i*ent, a. Etym: [L. serviens, -entis, p. pr. See Serve.]

Defn: Subordinate. [Obs. except in law.] Dyer. Servient tenement or estate (Law), that on which the burden of a servitude or an easement is imposed. Cf. Dominant estate, under Dominant. Gale & Whately.

SERVIETTE Ser`viette", n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A table napkin.

SERVILE Serv"ile, a. Etym: [L. servile, fr. servus a servant or slave: cf. F. servile. See Serve.]

1. Of or pertaining to a servant or slave; befitting a servant or a slave; proceeding from dependence; hence, meanly submissive; slavish; mean; cringing; fawning; as, servile flattery; servile fear; servile obedience. She must bend the servile knee. Thomson. Fearing dying pays death servile breath. Shak.

2. Held in subjection; dependent; enslaved. Even fortune rules no more, O servile land! Pope.

3. (Gram.) (a) Not belonging to the original root; as, a servile letter. (b) Not itself sounded, but serving to lengthen the preceeding vowel, as e in tune.

SERVILE Serv"ile, n. (Gram.)

Defn: An element which forms no part of the original root; -- opposed to radical.

SERVILELY Serv"ile*ly, adv.

Defn: In a servile manner; slavishly.

SERVILENESS Serv"ile*ness, n.

Defn: Quality of being servile; servility.

SERVILITY Ser*vil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. servilité.]

Defn: The quality or state of being servile; servileness. To be a queen in bondage is more vile Than is a slave in base servility. Shak.

SERVING Serv"ing,

Defn: a & n. from Serve. Serving board (Naut.), a flat piece of wood used in serving ropes. -- Serving maid, a female servant; a maidservant. -- Serving mallet (Naut.), a wooden instrument shaped like a mallet, used in serving ropes. -- Serving man, a male servant, or attendant; a manservant. -- Serving stuff (Naut.), small lines for serving ropes.

SERVITE Serv"ite, n. Etym: [It. servita.] (R.C.Ch.)

Defn: One of the order of the Religious Servants of the Holy Virgin, founded in Florence in 1223.

SERVITOR Serv"i*tor, n. Etym: [L., fr. servire to serve: cf. F. serviteur.]

1. One who serves; a servant; an attendant; one who acts under another; a follower or adherent. Your trusty and most valiant servitor. Shak.

2. (Univ. of Oxford, Eng.)

Defn: An undergraduate, partly supported by the college funds, whose duty it formerly was to wait at table. A servitor corresponded to a sizar in Cambridge and Dublin universities.

SERVITORSHIP Serv"i*tor*ship, n.

Defn: The office, rank, or condition of a servitor. Boswell.

SERVITUDE Serv"i*tude, n. Etym: [L. servitudo: cf. F. servitude.]

1. The state of voluntary or compulsory subjection to a master; the condition of being bound to service; the condition of a slave; slavery; bondage; hence, a state of slavish dependence. You would have sold your king to slaughter, His princes and his peers to servitude. Shak. A splendid servitude; . . . for he that rises up early, and goeSouth.

2. Servants, collectively. [Obs.] After him a cumbrous train Of herds and flocks, and numerous servitude. Milton.

3. (Law)

Defn: A right whereby one thing is subject to another thing or person for use or convenience, contrary to the common right.

Note: The object of a servitude is either to suffer something to be done by another, or to omit to do something, with respect to a thing. The easements of the English correspond in some respects with the servitudes of the Roman law. Both terms are used by common law writers, and often indiscriminately. The former, however, rather indicates the right enjoyed, and the latter the burden imposed. Ayliffe. Erskine. E. Washburn. Penal servitude. See under Penal. -- Personal servitude (Law), that which arises when the use of a thing is granted as a real right to a particular individual other than the proprietor. -- Predial servitude (Law), that which one estate owes to another estate. When it related to lands, vineyards, gardens, or the like, it is called rural; when it related to houses and buildings, it is called urban.

SERVITURE Serv"i*ture, n.

Defn: Servants, collectively. [Obs.]

SERVITUTE Serv"i*tute, n. Etym: [L. servitus.]

Defn: Servitude. [Obs.]

SERVO-MOTOR Ser`vo-mo"tor, n. [Sometimes erroneously spelt serro-motor.] [F. servo-moteur. See Serf; Motor.] (Mach.)

Defn: A relay apparatus; specif.: (a) An auxiliary motor, regulated by a hand lever, for quickly and easily moving the reversing gear of a large marine engine into any desired position indicated by that of the hand lever, which controls the valve of the motor. (b) In a Whitehead torpedo, a compressed-air motor, for moving the rudders so as to correct deviations from the course.

SERYE Se"rye, n.

Defn: A series. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SESAME Ses"a*me, n. Etym: [L. sesamum, sesama, Gr. sésame.] (Bot.)

Defn: Either of two annual herbaceous plants of the genus Sesamum (S. Indicum, and S. orientale), from the seeds of which an oil is expressed; also, the small obovate, flattish seeds of these plants, sometimes used as food. See Benne. Open Sesame, the magical command which opened the door of the robber's den in the Arabian Nights' tale of "The Forty Thieves;" hence, a magical password. -- Sesame grass. (Bot.) Same as Gama grass.

SESAMOID Ses"a*moid, a. Etym: [Gr. sésamoïde.]

1. Resembling in shape the seeds of sesame.

2. (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the sesamoid bones or cartilages; sesamoidal. Sesamoid bones, Sesamoid cartilages (Anat.), small bones or cartilages formed in tendons, like the patella and pisiform in man.

SESAMOID Ses"a*moid, n. (Anat.)

Defn: A sesamoid bone or cartilage.

SESAMOIDAL Ses`a*moid"al, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Sesamoid.

SESBAN Ses"ban, n. Etym: [F., fr. Ar. saisaban, seiseban, a kind of tree, fr. Per. sisaban seed of cinquefoil.] (Bot.)

Defn: A leguminous shrub (Sesbania aculeata) which furnishes a fiber used for making ropes.

Note: The name is applied also to the similar plant, Sesbania Ægyptiaca, and other species of the same genus.

SESQUI- Ses`qui-. Etym: [L., one half more, one and a half.] (Chem.)

Defn: A combining form (also used adjectively) denoting that three atoms or equivalents of the substance to the name of which it is prefixed are combined with two of some other element or radical; as, sesquibromide, sesquicarbonate, sesquichloride, sesquioxide.

Note: Sesquidupli- is sometimes, but rarely, used in the same manner to denote the proportions of two and a half to one, or rather of five to two.

SESQUIALTER Ses`qui*al"ter, a.

Defn: Sesquialteral.

SESQUIALTER; SESQUIALTERA Ses`qui*al"ter, Ses`qui*al"ter*a, n. Etym: [NL. sesquialtera.] (Mus.)

Defn: A stop on the organ, containing several ranks of pipes which reënforce some of the high harmonics of the ground tone, and make the sound more brilliant.

SESQUIALTERAL; SESQUIALTERATE Ses`qui*al"ter*al, Ses`qui*al"ter*ate, a. Etym: [L. sesquialter once and a half; sesqui- + alter other: cf. F. sesquialtére.]

Defn: Once and a half times as great as another; having the ratio of one and a half to one. Sesquialteral ratio (Math.), the ratio of one and a half to one; thus, 9 and 6 are in a sequialteral ratio.

SESQUIALTEROUS Ses`qui*al"ter*ous, a.

Defn: Sesquialteral.

SESQUIBASIC Ses`qui*ba"sic, a. Etym: [Sesqui- + basic.] (Chem.)

Defn: Containing, or acting as, a base in the proportions of a sesqui compound.

SESQUIDUPLICATE Ses`qui*du"pli*cate, a. Etym: [Sesqui- + duplicate.]

Defn: Twice and a half as great (as another thing); having the ratio of two and a half to one. Sesquiduplicate ratio (Math.), the ratio of two and a half to one, or one in which the greater term contains the lesser twice and a half, as that of 50 to 20.

SESQUIOXIDE Ses`qui*ox"ide, n. Etym: [Sesqui- + oxide.] (Chem.)

Defn: An oxide containing three atoms of oxygen with two atoms (or radicals) of some other substance; thus, alumina, Al2O3 is a sesquioxide.

SESQUIPEDAL; SESQUIPEDALIAN Ses*quip"e*dal, Ses`qui*pe*da"li*an, a. Etym: [Sesqui- + pedal: cf. F. sesquipédal, L. sesquipedalis.]

Defn: Measuring or containing a foot and a half; as, a sesquipedalian pygmy; -- sometimes humorously applied to long words.

SESQUIPEDALIANISM; SESQUIPEDALISM Ses`qui*pe*da"li*an*ism, Ses*quip"e*dal*ism, n.

Defn: Sesquipedality.

SESQUIPEDALITY Ses`qui*pe*dal"i*ty, n.

1. The quality or condition of being sesquipedal. Sterne.

2. The use of sesquipedalian words; style characterized by the use of long words; sesquipedalism.

SESQUIPLICATE Ses*quip"li*cate, a. Etym: [Sesqui- + plicate.] (Math.)

Defn: Subduplicate of the triplicate; -- a term applied to ratios; thus, a and a' are in the sesquiplicate ratio of b and b', when a is to a' as the square root of the cube of b is to the square root of the cube of b', or a:a'::sq. rootb3:sq. rootb'3. The periodic times of the planets are in the sesquiplicate ratio of their mean distances. Sir I. Newton.

SESQUISALT Ses"qui*salt, n. Etym: [Sesqui- + salt.] (Chem.)

Defn: A salt derived from a sesquioxide base, or made up on the proportions of a sesqui compound.

SESQUISULPHIDE Ses`qui*sul"phide, n. Etym: [Sesqui- + sulphide.] (Chem.)

Defn: A sulphide, analogous to a sesquioxide, containing three atoms of sulphur to two of the other ingredient; -- formerly called also sesquisulphuret; as, orpiment, As2S3 is arsenic sesquisulphide.

SESQUITERTIAL Ses`qui*ter"tial, a.

Defn: Sesquitertian.

SESQUITERTIAN; SESQUITERTIANAL Ses`qui*ter"tian, Ses`qui*ter"tian*al, a. Etym: [Sesqui- + L. tertianus belonging to the third. Cf. Tertian.] (Math.)

Defn: Having the ratio of one and one third to one (as 4 : 3).

SESQUITONE Ses"qui*tone, n. Etym: [Sesqui- + tone.] (Mus.)

Defn: A minor third, or interval of three semitones.

SESS Sess, v. t. Etym: [Aphetic form of assess. See Assess, Cess.]

Defn: To lay a tax upon; to assess. [Obs.]

SESS Sess, n.

Defn: A tax; an assessment. See Cess. [Obs.]

SESSA Ses"sa, interj.

Defn: Hurry; run. [Obs.] Shak.

SESSILE Ses"sile, a. Etym: [L. sessilis low, dwarf, from sedere, sessum, to sit: cf. F. sessile.]

1. Attached without any sensible projecting support.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Resting directly upon the main stem or branch, without a petiole or footstalk; as, a sessile leaf or blossom.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Permanently attached; -- said of the gonophores of certain hydroids which never became detached.

SESSILE-EYED Ses"sile-eyed`, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having eyes which are not elevated on a stalk; -- opposed to stalk-eyed. Sessile-eyed Crustacea, the Arthrostraca.

SESSION Ses"sion, n. Etym: [L. sessio, fr. sedere, sessum, to sit: cf. F. session. See Sit.]

1. The act of sitting, or the state of being seated. [Archaic] So much his ascension into heaven and his session at the right hand of God do import. Hooker. But Viven, gathering somewhat of his mood, . . . Leaped from her session on his lap, and stood. Tennyson.

2. The actual sitting of a court, council, legislature, etc., or the actual assembly of the members of such a body, for the transaction of business. It's fit this royal session do proceed. Shak.

3. Hence, also, the time, period, or term during which a court, council, legislature, etc., meets daily for business; or, the space of time between the first meeting and the prorogation or adjournment; thus, a session of Parliaments is opened with a speech from the throne, and closed by prorogation. The session of a judicial court is called a term. It was resolved that the convocation should meet at the beginning of the next session of Parliament. Macaulay.

Note: Sessions, in some of the States, is particularly used as a title for a court of justices, held for granting licenses to innkeepers, etc., and for laying out highways, and the like; it is also the title of several courts of criminal jurisdiction in England and the United States. Church session, the lowest court in the Presbyterian Church, composed of the pastor and a body of elders elected by the members of a particular church, and having the care of matters pertaining to the religious interests of that church, as the admission and dismission of members, discipline, etc. -- Court of Session, the supreme civil court of Scotland. -- Quarter sessions. (Eng.Law) See under Quarter. -- Sessions of the peace, sittings held by justices of the peace. [Eng.]

SESSIONAL Ses"sion*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a session or sessions.

SESSPOOL Sess"pool`, n. Etym: [Prov. E. suss hogwash, soss a dirty mess, a puddle + E. pool a puddle; cf. Gael. ses a coarse mess.]

Defn: Same as Cesspool.

SESTERCE Ses"terce, n. Etym: [L. sestertius (sc. nummus), fr. sestertius two and a half; semis half + tertius third: cf. F. sesterce.] (Rom. Antiq.)

Defn: A Roman coin or denomination of money, in value the fourth part of a denarius, and originally containing two asses and a half, afterward four asses, -- equal to about two pence sterling, or four cents.

Note: The sestertium was equivalent to one thousand sesterces, equal to £8 17s 1d. sterling, or about $43, before the reign of Augustus. After his reign its value was about £7 16s. 3d. sterling. The sesterce was originally coined only in silver, but later both in silver and brass.

SESTET Ses*tet", n. Etym: [It. sestetto, fr. sesto sixth, L. sextus, fr. sex six.]

1. (Mus.)

Defn: A piece of music composed for six voices or six instruments; a sextet; -- called also sestuor. [Written also sestett, sestette.]

2. (Poet.)

Defn: The last six lines of a sonnet.

SESTETTO Ses*tet"to, n.Etym: [It.] (Mus.)

Defn: A sestet.

SESTINE Ses"tine, n.

Defn: See Sextain.

SESTUOR Ses"tu*or, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A sestet.

SET Set, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Set; p. pr. & vb. n. Setting.] Etym: [OE. setten, AS. setton; akin to OS. settian, OFries. setta, D. zetten, OHG. sezzen, G. setzen, Icel. setja, Sw. sätta, Dan. s, Goth. satjan; causative from the root of E. sit. Sit, and cf. Seize.]

1. To cause to sit; to make to assume a specified position or attitude; to give site or place to; to place; to put; to fix; as, to set a house on a stone foundation; to set a book on a shelf; to set a dish on a table; to set a chest or trunk on its bottom or on end. I do set my bow in the cloud. Gen. ix. 13.

2. Hence, to attach or affix (something) to something else, or in or upon a certain place. Set your affection on things above. Col. iii. 2. The Lord set a mark upon Cain. Gen. iv. 15.

3. To make to assume specified place, condition, or occupation; to put in a certain condition or state (described by the accompanying words); to cause to be. The Lord thy God will set thee on hihg. Deut. xxviii. 1. I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother. Matt. x. 35. Every incident sets him thinking. Coleridge.

4. To fix firmly; to make fast, permanent, or stable; to render motionless; to give an unchanging place, form, or condition to. Specifically: -- (a) To cause to stop or stick; to obstruct; to fsten to a spot; hence, to occasion difficulty to; to embarrass; as, to set a coach in the mud. They show how hard they are set in this particular. Addison.

(b) To fix beforehand; to determine; hence, to make unyielding or obstinate; to render stiff, unpliant, or rigid; as, to set one's countenance. His eyes were set by reason of his age. 1 Kings xiv. 4. On these three objects his heart was set. Macaulay. Make my heart as a millstone, set my face as a flint. Tennyson.

(c) To fix in the ground, as a post or a tree; to plant; as, to set pear trees in an orchard. (d) To fix, as a precious stone, in a border of metal; to place in a setting; hence, to place in or amid something which serves as a setting; as, to set glass in a sash. And him too rich a jewel to be set In vulgar metal for a vulgar use. Dryden.

(e) To render stiff or solid; especially, to convert into curd; to curdle; as, to set milk for cheese.

5. To put into a desired position or condition; to adjust; to regulate; to adapt. Specifically: -- (a) To put in order in a particular manner; to prepare; as, to set (that is, to hone) a razor; to set a saw. Tables for to sette, and beddes make. Chaucer.

(b) To extend and bring into position; to spread; as, to set the sails of a ship. (c) To give a pitch to, as a tune; to start by fixing the keynote; as, to set a psalm. Fielding. (d) To reduce from a dislocated or fractured state; to replace; as, to set a broken bone. (e) To make to agree with some standard; as, to set a watch or a clock. (f) (Masonry) To lower into place and fix silidly, as the blocks of cut stone in a structure.

6. To stake at play; to wager; to risk. I have set my life upon a cast, And I will stand the hazard of the die. Shak.

7. To fit with music; to adapt, as words to notes; to prepare for singing. Set thy own songs, and sing them to thy lute. Dryden.

8. To determine; to appoint; to assign; to fix; as, to set a time for a meeting; to set a price on a horse.

9. To adorn with something infixed or affixed; to stud; to variegate with objects placed here and there. High on their heads, with jewels richly set, Each lady wore a radiant coronet. Dryden. Pastoral dales thin set with modern farms. Wordsworth.

10. To value; to rate; -- with at. Be you contented, wearing now the garland, To have a son set your decrees at naught. Shak. I do not set my life at a pin's fee. Shak.

11. To point out the seat or position of, as birds, or other game; -- said of hunting dogs.

12. To establish as a rule; to furnish; to prescribe; to assign; as, to set an example; to set lessons to be learned.

13. To suit; to become; as, it sets him ill. [Scot.]

14. (Print.)