Chapter CDVIII: Prologue (59)

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

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

SHY Shy, v. t.

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

SHY Shy, n.

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

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

SHYLY Shy"ly, adv.

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

SHYNESS Shy"ness, n.

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

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

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

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

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

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

SIAGA Si*a"ga, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The ahu, or jairou.

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

Defn: An agent which promotes the flow of saliva.

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

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

SIAMESE Si`a*mese", a.

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

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

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

2. sing.

Defn: The language of the Siamese.

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

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

SIB Sib, a.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Defn: A sibiliant letter.

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

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

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

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

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

Defn: Hissing; sibilant.

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

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

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

1. (Class. Antiq.)

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

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

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

SIBYLIST Sib"yl*ist, n.

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

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

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

SIC Sic, a.

Defn: Such. [Scot.]

SIC Sic, adv. Etym: [L.]

Defn: Thus.

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

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

Defn: See Sycamore.

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

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

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

Defn: To dry. [R.]

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

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

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

Defn: Drying; causing to dry. -- n.

Defn: That which promotes drying.

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

Defn: Causing dryness.

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

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

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

Defn: The number six at dice.

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

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

SICH Sich, a.

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

SICILIAN Si*cil"i*an, a.

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

SICILIAN Si*cil"i*an, n.

Defn: A native or inhabitant of Sicily.

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

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

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

Defn: A kind of rich poplin.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SICK Sick, n.

Defn: Sickness. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SICK Sick, v. i.

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

SICK-BRAINED Sick"-brained`, a.

Defn: Disordered in the brain.

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

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

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

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

SICKEN Sick"en, v. i.

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

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

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

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

SICKENING Sick"en*ing, a.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SICKISH Sick"ish, a.

1. Somewhat sick or diseased.

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

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

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

2. (Astron.)

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

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

SICKLED Sic"kled, a.

Defn: Furnished with a sickle.

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

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

SICKLER Sic"kler, n.

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

SICKLESS Sick"less, a.

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

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

SICKLIED Sick"lied, a.

Defn: Made sickly. See Sickly, v.

SICKLINESS Sick"li*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being sickly.

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

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

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

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

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

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

SICKLY Sick"ly, adv.

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

SICKLY Sick"ly, v. t.

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

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

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

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

Syn. -- Illness; disease; malady. See Illness.

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

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

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

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

SIDDOW Sid"dow, a.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SIDE Side, a.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SIDE Side, v. t.

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

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

3. (Shipbuilding)

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

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

SIDEBOARD Side"board`, n.

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

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

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

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

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

SIDED Sid"ed, a.

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

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

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

SIDEHILL Side"hill`, n.

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

SIDE LINE Side line.

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

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

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

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

SIDELING Side"ling, a.

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

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

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

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

Note: [See Sideling, adv. ] Evelyn.

SIDELONG Side"long`, a.

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

SIDEPIECE Side"piece`, n. (Joinery)

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

SIDER Sid"er, n.

Defn: One who takes a side.

SIDER Si"der, n.

Defn: Cider. [Obs.]

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

1. Relating to the stars.

2. (Astrol.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2. (Astron.)

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

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

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

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

Defn: Sidereal. [Obs.]

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

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

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Any plant of the genus Sideritis; ironwort.

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

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

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

Defn: One skilled in siderography.

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

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

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

Defn: A kind of meteorite. See under Meteorite.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SIDESADDLE Side"sad`dle, n.

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

SIDE SLIP Side slip.

Defn: See Skid, below.

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

Defn: See Skid, below.

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

1. A party man; a partisan. Milton.

2. An assistant to the churchwarden; a questman.

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

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

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

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

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

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

SIDEWALK Side"walk`, n.

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

SIDEWAYS Side"ways`, adv.

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

SIDE-WHEEL Side"-wheel`, a.

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

SIDEWINDER Side"wind`er, n.

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

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

SIDEWISE Side"wise`, adv.

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

SIDING Sid"ing, n.

1. Attaching one's self to a party.

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

3. (Carp.)

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

4. (Shipbuilding)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

7. The floor of a glass-furnace.

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

SIEGE Siege, v. t.

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

SIEGEWORK Siege"work`, n.

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

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

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

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

Defn: See Open-hearth steel, under Open.

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

Defn: See Syenite.

SIENITIC Si`e*nit"ic, a.

Defn: See Syenitic.

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

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

SIENNESE Si`en*nese", a.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SIEVA Sie"va, n. (Bot.)

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

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

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

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

SIFAC Si"fac, n. (Zoöl.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SIFTER Sift"er, n.

1. One who, or that which, sifts.

2. (Zoöl.)

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

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

Defn: Urine. [Prov. Eng.]

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

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

SIGGER Sig"ger, v. i.

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

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

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

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

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

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

SIGH Sigh, v. t.

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

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

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

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

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

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

SIGH-BORN Sigh"-born`, a.

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

SIGHER Sigh"er, n.

Defn: One who sighs.

SIGHING Sigh"ing, a.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SIGHT Sight, v. i. (Mil.)

Defn: To take aim by a sight.

SIGHTED Sight"ed, a.

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

SIGHTFUL Sight"ful, a.

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

SIGHTFULNESS Sight"ful*ness, n.

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

SIGHT-HOLE Sight"-hole`, n.

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

SIGHTING Sight"ing, a & n.

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

SIGHTLESS Sight"less, a.

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

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

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

SIGHTLINESS Sight"li*ness, n.

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

SIGHTLY Sight"ly, a.

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

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

SIGHTPROOF Sight"proof`, a.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SIGHT-SHOT Sight"-shot`, n.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Defn: A seal.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SIGMOIDALLY Sig*moid"al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a sigmoidal manner.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Defn: The twelfth part of the ecliptic or zodiac.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5. To mark; to make distinguishable. Shak.

SIGN Sign, v. i.

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

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

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

SIGNABLE Sign"a*ble, a.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SIGNALIST Sig"nal*ist, n.

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

SIGNALITY Sig*nal"i*ty, n.

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

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

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

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

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

SIGNALLY Sig"nal*ly, adv.

Defn: In a signal manner; eminently.

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

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

SIGNALMENT Sig"nal*ment, n.

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

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

Defn: Having definite color markings.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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