Chapter CDIX: Prologue (60)

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

3. (Physiol.)

Defn: An outward mark by which internal characteristics were supposed to be indicated. Some plants bear a very evident signature of their nature and use. Dr. H. More.

4. (Old Med.)

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

5. (Mus.)

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

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

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

7. (Pharm.)

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

SIGNATURE Sig"na*ture, v. t.

Defn: To mark with, or as with, a signature or signatures.

SIGNATURIST Sig"na*tur`ist, n.

Defn: One who holds to the doctrine of signatures impressed upon objects, indicative of character or qualities. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

SIGNBOARD Sign"board`, n.

Defn: A board, placed on or before a shop, office, etc., on which ssome notice is given, as the name of a firm, of a business, or the like.

SIGNER Sign"er, n.

Defn: One who signs or subscribes his name; as, a memorial with a hundred signers.

SIGNET Sig"net, n. Etym: [OF. signet a signet, F., a bookmark, dim. of signe. See Sign, n., and cf. Sennet.]

Defn: A seal; especially, in England, the seal used by the sovereign in sealing private letters and grants that pass by bill under the sign manual; -- called also privy signet. I had my father's signet in my purse. Shak. Signet ring, a ring containing a signet or private seal. -- Writer to the signet (Scots Law), a judicial officer who prepares warrants, writs, etc.; originally, a clerk in the office of the secretary of state.

SIGNETED Sig"net*ed, a.

Defn: Stamped or marked with a signet.

SIGNIFER Sig"ni*fer, a. Etym: [L., from signum sign + ferre to bear.]

Defn: Bearing signs. [Obs.] "The signifer sphere, or zodiac." Holland.

SIGNIFICANCE; SIGNIFICANCY Sig*nif"i*cance, Sig*nif"i*can*cy, n. Etym: [L. significantia.]

1. The quality or state of being significant.

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

3. Importance; moment; weight; consequence. With this brain I must work, in order to give significancy and value to the few facts which I possess. De Quincey.

SIGNIFICANT Sig*nif"i*cant, a. Etym: [L. significans, -antis, p. pr. of significare. See Signify.]

1. Fitted or designed to signify or make known somethingl having a meaning; standing as a sign or token; expressive or suggestive; as, a significant word or sound; a significant look. It was well said of Plotinus, that the stars were significant, but not efficient. Sir W. Raleigh.

2. Deserving to be considered; important; momentous; as, a significant event. Significant figures (Arith.), the figures which remain to any number, or decimal fraction, after the ciphers at the right or left are canceled. Thus, the significant figures of 25,000, or of .0025, are 25.

SIGNIFICANT Sig*nif"i*cant, n.

Defn: That which has significance; a sign; a token; a symbol. Wordsworth. In dumb significants proclaim your thoughts. Shak.

SIGNIFICANTLY Sig*nif"i*cant*ly, adv.

Defn: In a significant manner.

SIGNIFICATE Sig*nif"i*cate, n. Etym: [L. significatus, p. p. of significare. See Signify.] (Logic)

Defn: One of several things signified by a common term. Whately.

SIGNIFICATION Sig`ni*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [F. signification, L. significatio.]

1. The act of signifying; a making known by signs or other means. A signification of being pleased. Landor. All speaking or signification of one's mind implies an act or addres of one man to another. South.

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

SIGNIFICATIVE Sig*nif"i*ca*tive, a. Etym: [L. significativus: cf. F. significatif.]

1. Betokening or representing by an external sign. The holy symbols or signs are not barely significative. Brerewood.

2. Having signification or meaning; expressive of a meaning or purpose; significant. Neither in the degrees of kindred they were destitute of significative words. Camden. -- Sig*nif"i*ca*tive*ly, adv. -- Sig*nif"i*ca*tive*ness, n.

SIGNIFICATOR Sig"ni*fi*ca`tor, n. Etym: [Cf. F. significateur.]

Defn: One who, or that which, signifies. In this diagram there was one significator which pressed remarkably upon our astrologer's attention. Sir W. Scott.

SIGNIFICATORY Sig*nif"i*ca*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. significatorius.]

Defn: Significant. -- n.

Defn: That which is significatory.

SIGNIFICAVIT Sig`ni*fi*ca"vit, n. Etym: [L., (he) has signified, perf. ind. of significare to signify.] (Eng. Eccl. Law)

Defn: Formerly, a writ issuing out of chancery, upon certificate given by the ordinary, of a man's standing excommunicate by the space of forty days, for the laying him up in prison till he submit himself to the authority of the church. Crabb.

SIGNIFY Sig"ni*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Signified; p. pr. & vb. n. Signifying.] Etym: [F. signifier, L. significare; signum a sign + - ficare (in comp.) to make. See Sign, n., and -fy.]

1. To show by a sign; to communicate by any conventional token, as words, gestures, signals, or the like; to announce; to make known; to declare; to express; as, a signified his desire to be present. I 'll to the king; and signify to him That thus I have resign'd my charge to you. Shak. The government should signify to the Protestants of Ireland that want of silver is not to be remedied. Swift.

2. To mean; to import; to denote; to betoken. He bade her tell him what it signified. Chaucer. A tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing. Shak.

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

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

SIGNIOR Sign"ior, n.

Defn: Sir; Mr. The English form and pronunciation for the Italian Signor and the Spanish Señor.

SIGNIORIZE Sign"ior*ize, v. t. Etym: [See Seigniorize.]

Defn: To exercise dominion over; to lord it over. [Obs.] Shelton.

SIGNIORIZE Sign"ior*ize, v. i.

Defn: To exercise dominion; to signiorize. [Obs.] Hewyt.

SIGNIORSHIP Sign"ior*ship, n.

Defn: State or position of a signior.

SIGNIORY Sign"ior*y, n.

Defn: Same as Seigniory.

SIGNOR; SIGNORE Si*gnor", Si*gno"re, n. Etym: [It. See Seignior.]

Defn: Sir; Mr; -- a title of address or respect among the Italians. Before a noun the form is Signor.

SIGNORA Si*gno"ra, n. Etym: [It.]

Defn: Madam; Mrs; -- a title of address or respect among the Italians.

SIGNORINA Si`gno*ri"na, n. Etym: [It.]

Defn: Miss; -- a title of address among the Italians.

SIGNPOST Sign"post`, n.

Defn: A post on which a sign hangs, or on which papers are placed to give public notice of anything.

SIK; SIKE Sik, Sike, a.

Defn: Such. See Such. [Obs.] "Sike fancies weren foolerie." Spenser.

SIKE Sike, n. Etym: [AS. sic. Cf. Sig.]

Defn: A gutter; a stream, such as is usually dry in summer. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

SIKE Sike, n. Etym: [See Sick.]

Defn: A sick person. [Prov. Eng.]

SIKE Sike, v. i.

Defn: To sigh. [Obs.] That for his wife weepeth and siketh sore. Chaucer.

SIKE Sike, n.

Defn: A sigh. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SIKER; SIKERLY; SIKERNESS Sik"er, a. & adv., Sik"er*ly, adv., Sik"er*ness, n., etc.

Defn: See 2d Sicker, Sickerly, etc. [Obs.]

SIKHS Sikhs, n. pl.; sing. Sikh (. Etym: [Hind. Sikh, properly, a disciple.]

Defn: A religious sect noted for warlike traits, founded in the Punjab at the end of the 15th century.

SILAGE Si"lage, n. & v.

Defn: Short for Ensilage.

SILE Sile, v. t. Etym: [Akin to Sw. sila to strain, sil sieve, G. sielen to draw away or lead off water. sq. root151a. See Silt.]

Defn: To strain, as fresh milk. [Prov. Eng.]

SILE Sile, v. i.

Defn: To drop; to flow; to fall. [Prov. Eng.]

SILE Sile, n.

1. A sieve with fine meshes. [Prov. Eng.]

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

SILE Sile, n. Etym: [Icel. sild herring; akin to Sw. sill, Dan. sild. Cf. Sill the young of a herring.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A young or small herring. [Eng.] Pennant.

SILENCE Si"lence, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. silentium. See Silent.]

1. The state of being silent; entire absence of sound or noise; absolute stillness. I saw and heared; for such a numerous host Fled not in silence through the frighted deep. Milton.

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

3. Secrecy; as, these things were transacted in silence. The administration itself keeps a profound silence. D. Webster.

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

5. Absence of mention; oblivion. And what most merits fame, in silence hid. Milton.

SILENCE Si"lence, interj.

Defn: Be silent; -- used elliptically for let there be silence, or keep silence. Shak.

SILENCE Si"lence, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Silenced; p. pr. & vb. n. Silencing.]

1. To compel to silence; to cause to be still; to still; to hush. Silence that dreadful bell; it frights the isle. Shak.

2. To put to rest; to quiet. This would silence all further opposition. Clarendon. These would have silenced their scruples. Rogers.

3. To restrain from the exercise of any function, privilege of instruction, or the like, especially from the act of preaching; as, to silence a minister of the gospel. The Rev. Thomas Hooker of Chelmsford, in Essex, was silenced for nonconformity. B. Trumbull.

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

SILENCER Si"lenc*er, n. One that silences; specif.: (a) The muffler of an internal-combustion engine. (b) Any of various devices to silence the humming noise of telegraph wires. (c) A device for silencing the report of a firearm shooting its projectiles singly, as a tubular attachment for the muzzle having circular plates that permit the passage of the projectile but impart a rotary motion to, and thus retard, the exploding gases.

SILENE Si*le"ne, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. Silenus, the attendant of Bacchus.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of caryophyllaceous plants, usually covered with a viscid secretion by which insects are caught; catchfly. Bon Silène. See Silène, in the Vocabulary.

SILENT Si"lent, a. Etym: [L. silens, -entis, p. pr. of silere to be silent; akin to Goth. ana-silan.]

1. Free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet. How silent is this town! Shak.

2. Not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn; not loquacious; not talkative. Ulysses, adds he, was the most eloquent and most silent of men. Broome. This new-created world, whereof in hell Fame is not silent. Milton.

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

4. (Pron.)

Defn: Not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent; as, e is silent in "fable."

5. Having no effect; not operating; inefficient. [R.] Cause . . . silent, virtueless, and dead. Sir W. Raleigh. Silent partner. See Dormant partner, under Dormant.

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

SILENT Si"lent, n.

Defn: That which is silent; a time of silence. [R.] "The silent of the night." Shak.

SILENTIARY Si*len"ti*a*ry, n. Etym: [L. silentiarius: cf. F. silenciaire. See Silence.]

Defn: One appointed to keep silence and order in court; also, one sworn not to divulge secre

SILENTIOUS Si*len"tious, a. Etym: [L. silentiosus: cf. F. silencieux.]

Defn: Habitually silent; taciturn; reticent. [R.]

SILENTLY Si"lent*ly, adv.

Defn: In a silent manner.

SILENTNESS Si"lent*ness, n.

Defn: State of being silent; silence.

SILENUS Si*le"nus, n. Etym: [L. Silenus the tutor and attendant of Bacchus.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Wanderoo.

SILESIA Si*le"si*a, n.

1. A kind of linen cloth, originally made in Silesia, a province of Prussia.

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

SILESIAN Si*le"si*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Silesia. -- n.

Defn: A native or inhabitant of Silesia.

SILEX Si"lex, n. Etym: [L., a finit, a pebblestone.] (Min.)

Defn: Silica, SiO2 as found in nature, constituting quarz, and most sands and sandstones. See Silica, and Silicic.

SILHOUETTE Sil`hou*ette", n. Etym: [F.; -- so called from Etienne de Silhoutte, a French minister of finance in 1759, whise diversion it was to make such portraits on the walls of his apartments.]

Defn: A representation of the outlines of an object filled in with a black color; a profile portrait in black, such as a shadow appears to be.

SILHOUETTE Sil`hou*ette", v. t.

Defn: To represent by a silhouette; to project upon a background, so as to be like a silhouette. [Recent] A flock of roasting vultures silhouetted on the sky. The Century.

SILICA Sil"i*ca, n. Etym: [NL., from L. silex, silics, a flint.] (Chem.)

Defn: Silicon dioxide, SiO

SILICATE Sil"i*cate, n.Etym: [Cf. F. silicate.] (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of silicic acid.

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

SILICATED Sil"i*ca`ted, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Combined or impregnated with silicon or silica; as, silicated hydrogen; silicated rocks. Silicated soap, a hard soap containing silicate of soda.

SILICATIZATION Sil`i*ca*ti*za"tion, n.

Defn: Silicification.

SILICEA Si*lic"e*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Silicoidea.

SILICEOUS Si*li"ceous, a. Etym: [L. siliceus, fr. silex, silicis, a flint.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to silica; containing silica, or partaking of its nature. [Written also silisious.]

SILICIC Si*lic"ic, a. Etym: [L. silex, silicis, a flint: cf. F. silicique.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, derived from, or resembling, silica; specifically, designating compounds of silicon; as, silicic acid. Silicic acid (Chem.), an amorphous gelatinous substance, Si(HO)4, very unstable and easily dried to silica, but forming many stable salts; -- called also orthosilicic, or normal silicic, acid.

SILICICALCAREOUS Si*lic`i*cal*ca"re*ous, a.

Defn: Consisting of silica and calcareous matter.

SILICIDE Sil"i*cide, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A binary compound of silicon, or one regarded as binary. [R.] Hydrogen silicide (Chem.), a colorless, spontaneously inflammable gas, SiH4, produced artifically from silicon, and analogous to methane; -- called also silico-methane, silicon hydride, and formerly siliciureted hydrogen.

SILICIFEROUS Sil`i*cif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. silex, silicis, a flint + -ferous.]

Defn: Producing silica; united with silica.

SILICIFICATION Si*lic`i*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [See Silicify.] (Chem.)

Defn: Thae act or process of combining or impregnating with silicon or silica; the state of being so combined or impregnated; as, the silicification of wood.

SILICIFIED Si*lic"i*fied, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Combined or impregnated with silicon or silica, especially the latter; as, silicified wood.

SILICIFY Si*lic"i*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Silicified; p. pr. & vb. n. Silicifying.] Etym: [L. silex, silicis, a flint + -fy: cf. F. silicifier.] (Chem.)

Defn: To convert into, or to impregnate with, silica, or with the compounds of silicon. The specimens found . . . are completely silicified. Say.

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

SILICIFY Si*lic"i*fy, v. i.

Defn: To become converted into silica, or to be impregnated with silica.

SILICIOIDEA Sil`i*ci*oi"de*a, n. pl. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Silicoidea.

SILICIOUS Si*li"cious, a.

Defn: See Siliceous.

SILICISPONGIAE Sil`i*ci*spon"gi*æ, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Silex, and Sponge.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Silicoidea.

SILICITED Si*lic"it*ed, a.

Defn: Silicified. [Obs.]

SILICIUM Si*lic"i*um, n.

Defn: See Silicon.

SILICIURETED Si*lic"i*u*ret`ed, a. [Written also siliciuretted.] (Old. Chem.)

Defn: Combined or impregnated with silicon. [Obsoles.] Siliciureted hydrogen. (Chem.) Hydrogen silicide. [Obs.]

SILICLE Sil"i*cle, n. Etym: [L. silicula, dim. of siliqua a pod or husk: cf. F. silicule.] (Bot.)

Defn: A seed vessel resembling a silique, but about as broad as it is long. See Silique.

SILICO- Sil"i*co-. (Chem.)

Defn: A combining form (also used adjectively) denoting the presence of silicon or its compounds; as, silicobenzoic, silicofluoride, etc.

SILICOFLUORIC Sil`i*co*flu*or"ic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Containing, or composed of, silicon and fluorine; especially, denoting the compounds called silicofluorides. Silicofluoric acid (Chem.), a compound of hydrofluoric acid and silicon fluoride, known only in watery solution. It is produced by the action of silicon fluoride on water, and is regarded as an acid, H2SiF6, and the type and origin of the silicofluorides.

SILICOFLUORIDE Sil`i*co*flu"or*ide, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A fluosilicate; a salt of silicofluoric acid.

SILICOIDEA Sil`i*coi"de*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Silex, and -oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An extensive order of Porifera, which includes those that have the skeleton composed mainly of siliceous fibers or spicules.

SILICON Sil"i*con, n. Etym: [See Silica.] (Chem.)

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

SILICOTUNGSTIC Sil`i*co*tung"stic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or designating, any one of a series of double acids of silicon and tungsten, known in the free state, and also in their salts (called silicotungstates).

SILICULA Si*lic"u*la, n. Etym: [L.] (Bot.)

Defn: A silicle.

SILICULE Sil"i*cule, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A silicle.

SILICULOSE Si*lic"u*lose`, a. Etym: [NL. siliculosus, fr. L. silicula: cf. F. siliculeux. See Silicle.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: Bearing silicles; pertaining to, or resembling, silicles.

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

SILIGINOSE Si*lig"i*nose`, a.Etym: [L. siligineus, fr. siligo, -inis, fine and very white wheat.]

Defn: Made of fine wheat. [Obs.] Bailey.

SILING Sil"ing, a. & n.

Defn: from Sile to strain. [Obs. or Prov.Eng.] Siling dish, a colander. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

SILIQUA Sil"i*qua, n.; pl. Siliquæ. Etym: [L. See Silique.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Silique.

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

SILIQUE Sil"ique, n. Etym: [L. siliqua a pod or husk, a very small weight or measure: cf. F. silique.] (Bot.)

Defn: An oblong or elongated seed vessel, consisting of two valves with a dissepiment between, and opening by sutures at either margin. The seeds are attached to both edges of the dissepiment, alternately upon each side of it.

SILIQUIFORM Sil"i*qui*form, a. Etym: [Silique + -form: cf. F. siliquiforme.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having the form of a silique.

SILIQUOSA Sil`i*quo"sa, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Siliquose.] (Bot.)

Defn: A Linnæan order of plants including those which bear siliques.

SILIQUOSE; SILIQUOUS Sil"i*quose`, Sil"i*quous, a. Etym: [NL. siliquosus: cf. F. siliqueux.] (Bot.)

Defn: Bearing siliques; as, siliquose plants; pertaining to, or resembling, siliques; as, siliquose capsules.

SILK Silk, n. Etym: [OE. silk, selk, AS. seolc, seoloc; akin to Icel. silki, SW. & Dan. silke; prob. through Slavic from an Oriental source; cf. Lith. szilkai, Russ. shelk', and also L. sericum Seric stuff, silk. Cf. Sericeous. Serge a woolen stuff.]

1. The fine, soft thread produced by various species of caterpillars in forming the cocoons within which the worm is inclosed during the pupa state, especially that produced by the larvæ of Bombyx mori.

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

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

SILKEN Silk"en, a. Etym: [AS. seolcen, seolocen.]

1. Of or pertaining to silk; made of, or resembling, silk; as, silken cloth; a silken veil.

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

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

SILKEN Silk"en, v. t.

Defn: To render silken or silklike. Dyer.

SILKINESS Silk"i*ness, n.

1. The quality or state of being silky or silken; softness and smoothness.

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

SILKMAN Silk"man, n.; pl. Silkmen (.

Defn: A dealer in silks; a silk mercer. Shak.

SILKNESS Silk"ness, n.

Defn: Silkiness. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

SILK-STOCKING Silk"-stock`ing, a.

Defn: Wearing silk stockings (which among men were formerly worn chiefly by the luxurious or aristocratic); hence, elegantly dressed; aristocratic; luxurious; -- chiefly applied to men, often by way of reproach.

[They] will find their levees crowded with silk-stocking gentry, but no yeomanry; an army of officers without soldiers. Jefferson.

SILKWEED Silk"weed`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: Any plant of the genera Asclepias and Acerates whose seed vessels contain a long, silky down; milkweed.

SILKWORM Silk"worm`, n. Etym: [AS. seolcwyrm.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The larva of any one of numerous species of bombycid moths, which spins a large amount of strong silk in constructing its cocoon before changing to a pupa.

Note: The common species (Bombyx mori) feeds onm the leaves of the white mulberry tree. It is native of China, but has long been introduced into other countries of Asia and Europe, and is reared on a large scale. In America it is reared only to small extent. The Ailanthus silkworm (Philosamia cynthia) is a much larger species, of considerable importance, which has been introduced into Europe and America from China. The most useful American species is the Polyphemus. See Polyphemus. Pernyi silkworm, the larva of the Pernyi moth. See Pernyi moth. -- Silkworm gut, a substance prepared from the contents of the silk glands of silkworms and used in making lines for angling. See Gut. -- Silkworm rot, a disease of silkworms; muscardine.

SILKY Silk"y, a. [Compar. Silkier; superl. Silkiest.]

1. Of or pertaining to silk; made of, or resembling, silk; silken; silklike; as, a silky luster.

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

3. Covered with soft hairs pressed close to the surface, as a leaf; sericeous. Silky oak (Bot.), a lofty Australian tree (Grevillea robusta) with silky tomentose lobed or incised leaves. It furnishes a valuable timber.

SILL Sill, n. Etym: [OE. sille, sylle, AS. syl, syll; akin to G. schwelle, OHG. swelli, Icel. syll, svill, Sw. syll, Dan. syld, Goth. gasuljan to lay a foundation, to found.]

Defn: The basis or foundation of a thing; especially, a horizontal piece, as a timber, which forms the lower member of a frame, or supports a structure; as, the sills of a house, of a bridge, of a loom, and the like. Hence: (a) The timber or stone at the foot of a door; the threshold. (b) The timber or stone on which a window frame stands; or, the lowest piece in a window frame. (c) The floor of a gallery or passage in a mine. (d) A piece of timber across the bottom of a canal lock for the gates to shut against. Sill course (Arch.), a horizontal course of stone, terra cotta, or the like, built into a wall at the level of one or more window sills, these sills often forming part of it.

SILL Sill, n. Etym: [Cf. Thill.]

Defn: The shaft or thill of a carriage. [Prov. Eng.]

SILL Sill, n. Etym: [Cf. 4th Sile.]

Defn: A young herring. [Eng.]

SILLABUB Sil"la*bub, n. Etym: [Cf. sile to strain, and bub liquor, also Prov. E. sillibauk.]

Defn: A dish made by mixing wine or cider with milk, and thus forming a soft curd; also, sweetened cream, flavored with wine and beaten to a stiff froth. [Written also syllabub.]

SILLER Sil"ler, n.

Defn: Silver. [Scot.]

SILLILY Sil"li*ly, adv. Etym: [From Silly.]

Defn: In a silly manner; foolishly. Dryden.

SILLIMANITE Sil"li*man*ite, n. Etym: [After Benjamin Siliman, an American meneralogist.] (Min.)

Defn: Same as Fibrolite.

SILLINESS Sil"li*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being silly.

SILLOCK Sil"lock, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The pollock, or coalfish.

SILLON Sil"lon, n. Etym: [F., a furrow.] (Fort.)

Defn: A work raised in the middle of a wide ditch, to defend it. Crabb.

SILLY Sil"ly, a. [Compar. Sillier; superl. Silliest.] Etym: [OE. seely, sely, AS. s, ges, happy, good, fr. s, s, good, happy, s good fortune, happines; akin to OS. salig, a, good, happy, D. zalig blessed, G. selig, OHG. salig, Icel. s, Sw. säll, Dan. salig, Goth. s good, kind, and perh. also to L. sollus whole, entire, Gr. sarva. Cf. Seel, n.]

1. Happy; fortunate; blessed. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. Harmless; innocent; inoffensive. [Obs.] "This silly, innocent Custance." Chaucer. The silly virgin strove him to withstand. Spenser. A silly, innocent hare murdered of a dog. Robynson (More's Utopia).

3. Weak; helpless; frail. [Obs.] After long storms . . . With which my silly bark was tossed sore. Spenser. The silly buckets on the deck. Coleridge.

4. Rustic; plain; simple; humble. [Obs.] A fourth man, in a sillyhabit. Shak. All that did their silly thoughts so busy keep. Milton.

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

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

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

SILLYHOW Sil"ly*how, n. Etym: [Prov. E. silly-hew; cf. AS. sælig happy, good, and hufe a cap, hood. See Silly, a.]

Defn: A caul. See Caul, n., 3. [Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

SILO Si"lo, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A pit or vat for packing away green fodder for winter use so as to exclude air and outside moisture. See Ensilage.

SILT Silt, n. Etym: [OE. silte gravel, fr. silen to drain, E. sile; probably of Scand. origin; cf. Sw. sila, prob. akin to AS. seón to filter, sigan to fall, sink, cause to sink, G. seihen to strain, to filter, OHG. sihan, Icel.sia, Skr. sic to pour; cf. Gr. Sig, Sile.]

Defn: Mud or fine earth deposited from running or standing water.

SILT Silt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Silted; p. pr. & vb. n. Silting.]

Defn: To choke, fill, or obstruct with silt or mud.

SILT Silt, v. i.

Defn: To flow through crevices; to percolate.

SILTY Silt"y, a.

Defn: Full of silt; resembling silt.

SILUNDUM Si*lun"dum, n. [Trade name]

Defn: A form of silicon carbide, produced in the electric furnace, possessing great hardness, and high electrical resistance, and not subject to oxidation below 2880º F., or 1600º C.

SILURE Si*lure", n. Etym: [L. silurus a sort of river fish, Gr. silure.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A fish of the genus Silurus, as the sheatfish; a siluroid.

SILURIAN Si*lu"ri*an, a. Etym: [From L. Silures, a people who anciently inhabited a part of England and Wales.] (Geol.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the country of the ancient Silures; -- a term applied to the earliest of the Paleozoic eras, and also to the strata of the era, because most plainly developed in that country.

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

SILURIAN Si*lu"ri*an, n.

Defn: The Silurian age.

SILURIDAN Si*lu"ri*dan, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any fish of the family Silurid or of the order Siluroidei.

SILUROID Si*lu"roid, n. Etym: [Silurus + -oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Belonging to the Siluroidei, or Nematognathi, an order of fishes including numerous species, among which are the American catfishes and numerous allied fresh-water species of the Old World, as the sheatfish (Silurus glanis) of Europe. -- n.

Defn: A siluroid fish.

SILUROIDEI Sil`u*roi"de*i, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (zoöl.)

Defn: An order of fishes, the Nematognathi.

SILURUS Si*lu"rus, n. Etym: [L. See Silure.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of large malacopterygious fishes of the order Siluroidei. They inhabit the inland waters of Europe and Asia.

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

SILVAN Sil"van, a. Etym: [L. silva, less correctly sylva, a wood or grove, perh. akin to Gr. "y`lh; cf. L. Silvanus Silvanus the god of woods: cf. F. sylvain silvan. Cf. Savage.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to woods; composed of woods or groves; woody. [Written also sylvan.] Betwixt two rows of rocks, a silvan scene Appears above, and groves forever green. Dryden.

SILVAN Sil"van, n. (Old Chem.)

Defn: See Sylvanium. [Obs.]

SILVANITE Sil"van*ite, n. (Min.)

Defn: See Sylvanite.

SILVAS; SELVAS Sil"vas or Sel"vas, n. pl. Etym: [L. silva a forest, Sp. selva.]

Defn: Vast woodland plains of South America.

SILVATE Sil"vate, n. (Chem.)

Defn: Same as Sylvate.

SILVER Sil"ver, n. Etym: [OE. silver, selver, seolver, AS. seolfor, siolfur, siolufr, silofr, sylofr; akin to OS. silubar, OFries. selover, D. zilver, LG. sulver, OHG. silabar, silbar, G. silber, Icel. silfr, Sw. silfver, Dan. sölv, Goth. silubr, Russ. serebro, Lith. sidabras; of unknown origin.]

1. (Chem.)

Defn: A soft white metallic element, sonorous, ductile, very malleable, and capable of a high degree of polish. It is found native, and also combined with sulphur, arsenic, antimony, chlorine, etc., in the minerals argentite, proustite, pyrargyrite, ceragyrite, etc. Silver is one of the "noble" metals, so-called, not being easily oxidized, and is used for coin, jewelry, plate, and a great variety of articles. Symbol Ag (Argentum). Atomic weight 107.7. Specific gravity 10.5.

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

2. Coin made of silver; silver money.

3. Anything having the luster or appearance of silver.

4. The color of silver.

Note: Silver is used in the formation of many compounds of obvious meaning; as, silver-armed, silver-bright, silver-buskined, silver- coated, silver-footed, silver-haired, silver-headed, silver-mantled, silver-plated, silver-slippered, silver-sounding, silver-studded, silver-tongued, silver-white. See Silver, a. Black silver (Min.), stephanite; -- called also brittle silver ore, or brittle silver glance. -- Fulminating silver. (Chem.) (a) A black crystalline substance, Ag2O.(NH3)2, obtained by dissolving silver oxide in aqua ammonia. When dry it explodes violently on the slightest percussion. (b) Silver fulminate, a white crystalline substance, Ag2C2N2O2, obtained by adding alcohol to a solution of silver nitrate. When dry it is violently explosive. -- German silver. (Chem.) See under German. -- Gray silver. (Min.) See Freieslebenite. -- Horn silver. (Min.) See Cerargyrite. -- King's silver. (O. Eng. Law) See Postfine. -- Red silver, or Ruby silver. (Min.) See Proustite, and Pyrargyrite. -- Silver beater, one who beats silver into silver leaf or silver foil. -- Silver glance, or Vitreous silver. (Min.) See Argentine.

SILVER Sil"ver, a.

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

2. Resembling silver. Specifically: (a) Bright; resplendent; white. "Silver hair." Shak. Others, on silver lakes and rivers, bathed Their downy breast. Milton.

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

SILVER Sil"ver, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Silvered; p. pr. & vb. n. Silvering.]

1. To cover with silver; to give a silvery appearance to by applying a metal of a silvery color; as, to silver a pin; to silver a glass mirror plate with an amalgam of tin and mercury.

2. To polish like silver; to impart a brightness to, like that of silver. And smiling calmness silvered o'er the deep. Pope.

3. To make hoary, or white, like silver. His head was silvered o'er with age. Gay.

SILVER Sil"ver, v. i.

Defn: To acquire a silvery color. [R.] The eastern sky began to silver and shine. L. Wallace.

SILVERBACK Sil"ver*back`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The knot.

SILVERBERRY Sil"ver*ber`ry, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A tree or shrub (Elæagnus argentea) with silvery foliage and fruit. Gray.

SILVERBILL Sil"ver*bill`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An Old World finch of the genus Minia, as the M. Malabarica of India, and M. cantans of Africa.

SILVERBOOM Sil"ver*boom`, n. Etym: [D. zilver silver + boom tree.] (Bot.)

Defn: See Leucadendron.

SILVER CERTIFICATE Sil"ver cer*tif"i*cate.

Defn: A certificate issued by a government that there has been deposited with it silver to a specified amount, payable to the bearer on demand. In the United States and its possessions, it is issued against the deposit of silver coin, and is not legal tender, but is receivable for customs, taxes, and all public dues.

SILVERFIN Sil"ver*fin`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small North American fresh-water cyprinoid fish (Notropis Whipplei).

SILVERFISH Sil"ver*fish`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) The tarpum. (b) A white variety of the goldfish. Lepisma saccharina, which may infest houses, and eats starched clothing and sized papers. See Lepisma.

SILVER-GRAY Sil"ver-gray`, a.

Defn: Having a gray color with a silvery luster; as, silver-gray hair.

SILVERINESS Sil"ver*i*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being silvery.

SILVERING Sil"ver*ing, n. (Metal.)

Defn: The art or process of covering metals, wood, paper, glass, etc., with a thin film of metallic silver, or a substance resembling silver; also, the firm do laid on; as, the silvering of a glass speculum.

SILVERITE Sil"ver*ite, n.

Defn: One who favors the use or establishment of silver as a monetary standard; -- so called by those who favor the gold standard. [Colloq. or Cant]

SILVERIZE Sil"ver*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Silverized; p. pr. & vb. n. Silverizing.]

Defn: To cover with silver.

SILVERLESS Sil"ver*less, a.

Defn: Having no silcver; hence, without money; impecunious. Piers Plowman.

SILVERLING Sil"ver*ling, n.

Defn: A small silver coin. [Obs.] A thousand vines at a thousand silverings. Isa. vii. 23.

SILVERLY Sil"ver*ly, adv.

Defn: Like silver in appearance or in sound. Let me wipe off this honorable dew, That silverly doth progress on thy cheeks. Shak.

SILVERN Sil"vern, a. Etym: [AS. seolfern, sylfren.]

Defn: Made of silver. [Archaic.] Wyclif (Acts xix. 24). Speech is silvern; silence is golden. Old Proverb.

SILVERSIDES Sil"ver*sides`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of small fishes of the family Atherinidæ, having a silvery stripe along each side of the body. The common species of the American coast (Menidia notata) is very abundant. Called also silverside, sand smelt, friar, tailor, and tinker. Brook silversides (Zoöl.), a small fresh-water North American fish (Labadesthes sicculus) related to the marine silversides.

SILVERSMITH Sil"ver*smith`, n.

Defn: One whose occupation is to manufacture utensils, ornaments, etc., of silver; a worker in silver.

SILVERSPOT Sil"ver*spot`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of butterflies of the genus Argynnis and allied genera, having silvery spots on the under side of the wings. See Illust. under Aphrodite.

SILVER STATE Silver State.

Defn: Nevada; -- a nickname alluding to its silver mines.

SILVERWARE Sil"ver*ware`, n.

Defn: Dishes, vases, ornaments, and utensils of various sorts, made of silver.

SILVERWEED Sil"ver*weed`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A perennial rosaceous herb (Potentilla Anserina) having the leaves silvery white beneath.

SILVERY Sil"ver*y, a.

1. Resembling, or having the luster of, silver; grayish white and lustrous; of a mild luster; bright. All the enameled race, whose silvery wing Waves to the tepid zephyrs of the spring. Pope.

2. Besprinkled or covered with silver.

3. Having the clear, musical tone of silver; soft and clear in sound; as, silvery voices; a silvery laugh. Silvery iron (Metal.), a peculiar light-gray fine-grained cast iron, usually obtained from clay iron ore.

SILVICS Sil"vics, n.

1. The science treating of the life of trees in the forest.

2. Habit or behavior of a forest tree.

SILVICULTURE Sil"vi*cul`ture, n. Etym: [Cf. F. silviculture.]

Defn: See Sylviculture.

SIMA Si"ma, n. (Arch.)

Defn: A cyma.

SIMAGRE Sim"a*gre, n. Etym: [F. simagrée.]

Defn: A grimace. [Obs.] Dryden.

SIMAR Si*mar", n. Etym: [F. simarre. See Chimere.]

Defn: A woman's long dress or robe; also light covering; a scarf. [Written also cimar, cymar, samare, simare.]

SIMARRE Si`marre". Etym: [F.]

Defn: See Simar. Sir W. Scott.

SIMBLOT Sim"blot, n. Etym: [F. simbleau.]

Defn: The harness of a drawloom.

SIMIA Sim"i*a, n. Etym: [L., an ape; cf. simus flatnosed, snub-nosed, Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A Linnæan genus of Quadrumana which included the types of numerous modern genera. By modern writers it is usually restricted to the genus which includes the orang-outang.

SIMIAL Sim"i*al, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Simian; apelike.

SIMIAN Sim"i*an, a. Etym: [L. simia an ape.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the family Simiadæ, which, in its widest sense, includes all the Old World apes and monkeys; also, apelike. -- n.

Defn: Any Old World monkey or ape.

SIMILAR Sim"i*lar, a. Etym: [F. similaire, fr. L. similis like, similar. See Same, a., and cf. Simulate.]

1. Exactly corresponding; resembling in all respects; precisely like.

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

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

SIMILAR Sim"i*lar, n.

Defn: That which is similar to, or resembles, something else, as in quality, form, etc.

SIMILARITY Sim`i*lar"i*ty, n.; pl. -ties. Etym: [Cf. F. similarité.]

Defn: The quality or state of being similar; likeness; resemblance; as, a similarity of features. Hardly is there a similarity detected between two or three facts, than men hasten to extend it to all. Sir W. Hamilton.

SIMILARLY Sim"i*lar*ly, adv.

Defn: In a similar manner.

SIMILARY Sim"i*lar*y, a.

Defn: Similar. [Obs.] Rhyming cadences of similarly words. South.

SIMILATIVE Sim"i*la*tive, a.

Defn: Implying or indicating likeness or resemblance. [R.] In similative or instrumental relation to a pa. pple. [past participle], as almond-leaved, -scented, etc. New English Dict.

SIMILE Simi"*le, n.; pl. Similes. Etym: [L., from similis. See Similar.] (Rhet.)

Defn: A word or phrase by which anything is likened, in one or more of its aspects, to something else; a similitude; a poetical or imaginative comparison. A good swift simile, but something currish. Shak.

SIMILITER Si*mil"i*ter, n. Etym: [L., in like manner.] (Law)

Defn: The technical name of the form by which either party, in pleading, accepts the issue tendered by his opponent; -- called sometimes a joinder in issue.

SIMILITUDE Si*mil"i*tude, n. Etym: [F. similitude, L. similitudo, from similis similar. See Similar.]

1. The quality or state of being similar or like; resemblance; likeness; similarity; as, similitude of substance. Chaucer. Let us make now man in our image, man In our similitude. Milton. If fate some future bard shall join In sad similitude of griefs to mine. Pope.

2. The act of likening, or that which likens, one thing to another; fanciful or imaginative comparison; a simile. Tasso, in his similitudes, never departed from the woods; that is, all his comparisons were taken from the country. Dryden.

3. That which is like or similar; a representation, semblance, or copy; a facsimile. Man should wed his similitude. Chaucer.

SIMILITUDINARY Si*mil`i*tu"di*na*ry, a.

Defn: Involving or expressing similitude. [Obs.] Coke.

SIMILIZE Sim"i*lize, v. t.

Defn: To liken; to compare; as, to similize a person, thing, or act. Lowell.

SIMILOR Sim"i*lor, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. similus similar + F. or gold, L. aurum. Cf. Semilor.]

Defn: An alloy of copper and zinc, resembling brass, but of a golden color. Ure.

SIMIOUS Sim"i*ous, a.Etym: [L. simia an ape.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Simian. That strange simious, schoolboy passion of giving pain to others. Sydney Smith.

SIMITAR Sim"i*tar, n.

Defn: See Scimiter.

SIMMER Sim"mer, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Simmered; p. pr. & vb. n. Simmering.] Etym: [Prov. E. also simper; -- an onomatopoetic word.]

Defn: To boil gently, or with a gentle hissing; to begin to boil. I simmer as liquor doth on the fire before it beginneth to boil. Palsgrave.

SIMMER Sim"mer, v. t.

Defn: To cause to boil gently; to cook in liquid heated almost or just to the boiling point.

SIMNEL Sim"nel, n. Etym: [OF. simenel cake or bread of wheat flour, LL. simenellus wheat bread, fr. L. simila the finest wheat flour. Cf. Semolina.]

1. A kind of cake made of fine flour; a cracknel. [Obs.] Not common bread, but vastel bread, or simnels. Fuller.

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

SIMONIAC Si*mo"ni*ac, n. Etym: [LL. simoniacus. See Simony.]

Defn: One who practices simony, or who buys or sells preferment in the church. Ayliffe.

SIMONIACAL Sim`o*ni"a*cal, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to simony; guilty of simony; consisting of simony. -- Sim"o*ni`a*cal*ly, adv. The flagitious profligacy of their lives, and the simoniacal arts by which they grasped at the popedom. J. S. Harford.

SIMONIAL Si*mo"ni*al, a.

Defn: Simoniacal. [Obs.]

SIMONIAN Si*mo"ni*an, n.Etym: [See Simony.]

Defn: One of the followers of Simon Magus; also, an adherent of certain heretical sects in the early Christian church.

SIMONIOUS Si*mo"ni*ous, a.

Defn: Simoniacal. [Obs.] Milton.

SIMONIST Sim"o*nist, n.

Defn: One who practices simony.

SIMON-PURE Si"mon-pure", a.

Defn: Genuine; true; real; authentic; -- a term alluding to the comedy character Simon Pure, who is impersonated by another and is obliged to prove himself to be the "real Simon Pure."

SIMONY Sim"o*ny, n. Etym: [F. simonie, LL. simonia, fr. Simon Magus, who wished to purchase the power of conferring the Holy Spirit. Acts viii.]

Defn: The crime of buying or selling ecclesiastical preferment; the corrupt presentation of any one to an ecclesiastical benefice for money or reward. Piers Plowman.

SIMOOM; SIMOON Si*moom", Si*moon", n. Etym: [Ar. sam, fr. samma to poison. Cf. Samiel.]

Defn: A hot, dry, suffocating, dust-laden wind, that blows occasionally in Arabia, Syria, and neighboring countries, generated by the extreme heat of the parched deserts or sandy plains.

SIMOUS Si"mous, a.Etym: [L. simus, Gr.

Defn: Having a very flat or snub nose, with the end turned up.

SIMPAI Sim"pai, n.Etym: [Malay simpei.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A long-tailed monkey (Semnopitchecus melalophus) native of Sumatra. It has a crest of black hair. The forehead and cheeks are fawn color, the upper parts tawny and red, the under parts white. Called also black-crested monkey, and sinpæ.

SIMPER Sim"per, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Simpered; p. pr. & vb. n. Simpering.] Etym: [Cf. Norw. semper fine, smart, dial. Dan. semper, simper, affected, coy, prudish, OSw. semper one who affectedly refrains from eating, Sw. sipp finical, prim, LG. sipp.]

1. To smile in a silly, affected, or conceited manner. Behold yond simpering dame. Shak. With a made countenance about her mouth, between simpering and smiling. ir. P. Sidney.

2. To glimmer; to twinkle. [Obs.] Yet can I mark how stars above Simper and shine. Herbert.

SIMPER Sim"per, n.

Defn: A constrained, self-conscious smile; an affected, silly smile; a smirk. The conscious simper, and the jealous leer. Pope.

SIMPERER Sim"per*er, n.

Defn: One who simpers. Sir W. Scott. A simperer that a court affords. T. Nevile.

SIMPERING Sim"per*ing, a. &. n.

Defn: from Simper, v.

SIMPERINGLY Sim"per*ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a simpering manner.

SIMPLE Sim"ple, a. [Compar. Simpler; superl. Simplest.] Etym: [F., fr. L. simplus, or simplex, gen. simplicis. The first part of the Latin words is probably akin to E. same, and the sense, one, one and the same; cf. L. semel once, singuli one to each, single. Cg. Single, a., Same, a., and for the last part of the word cf. Double, Complex.]

1. Single; not complex; not infolded or entangled; uncombined; not compounded; not blended with something else; not complicated; as, a simple substance; a simple idea; a simple sound; a simple machine; a simple problem; simple tasks.

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

3. Mere; not other than; being only. A medicine . . . whose simple touch Is powerful to araise King Pepin. Shak.

4. Not given to artifice, stratagem, or duplicity; undesigning; sincere; true. Full many fine men go upon my score, as simple as I stand here, and I trust them. Marston. Must thou trust Tradition's simple tongue Byron. To be simple is to be great. Emerson.

5. Artless in manner; unaffected; unconstrained; natural; inartificial;; straightforward. In simple manners all the secret lies. Young.

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

7. Weak in intellect; not wise or sagacious; of but moderate understanding or attainments; hence, foolish; silly. "You have simple wits." Shak. The simple believeth every word; but the prudent man looketh well to his going. Prov. xiv. 15.

8. Not luxurious; without much variety; plain; as, a simple diet; a simple way of living. Thy simple fare and all thy plain delights. Cowper.

9. Humble; lowly; undistinguished. A simple husbandman in garments gray. Spenser. Clergy and laity, male and female, gentle and simple made the fuel of the same fire. Fuller.

10. (BOt.)

Defn: Without subdivisions; entire; as, a simple stem; a simple leaf.

11. (Chem.)

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

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

12. (Min.)

Defn: Homogenous.

13. (Zoöl.)

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

Syn. -- Single; uncompounded; unmingled; unmixed; mere; uncombined; elementary; plain; artless; sincere; harmless; undesigning; frank; open; unaffected; inartificial; unadorned; credulous; silly; foolish; shallow; unwise. -- Simple, Silly. One who is simple is sincere, unaffected, and inexperienced in duplicity, -- hence liable to be duped. A silly person is one who is ignorant or weak and also self-confident; hence, one who shows in speech and act a lack of good sense. Simplicity is incompatible with duplicity, artfulness, or vanity, while silliness is consistent with all three. Simplicity denotes lack of knowledge or of guile; silliness denotes want of judgment or right purpose, a defect of character as well as of education. I am a simple woman, much too weak To oppose your cunning. Shak. He is the companion of the silliest people in their most silly pleasure; he is ready for every impertinent entertainment and diversion. Law.

SIMPLE Sim"ple, n. Etym: [F. See Simple, a.]

1. Something not mixed or compounded. "Compounded of many simples." Shak.

2. (Med.)

Defn: A medicinal plant; -- so called because each vegetable was supposed to possess its particular virtue, and therefore to constitute a simple remedy. What virtue is in this remedy lies in the naked simple itself as it comes over from the Indies. Sir W. Temple.

3. (Weaving) (a) A drawloom. (b) A part of the apparatus for raising the heddles of a drawloom.

4. (R. C. Ch.)

Defn: A feast which is not a double or a semidouble.

SIMPLE Sim"ple, v. i.

Defn: To gather simples, or medicinal plants. As simpling on the flowery hills she [Circe] strayed. Garth.

SIMPLE-HEARTED Sim"ple-heart`ed, a.

Defn: Sincere; inguenuous; guileless. Sir W. Scott.

SIMPLE-MINDED Sim"ple-mind`ed, a.

Defn: Artless; guileless; simple-hearted; undesigning; unsuspecting; devoid of duplicity. Blackstone. -- Sim"ple-mind`ed*ness, n.

SIMPLENESS Sim"ple*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being simple; simplicity. Shak.

SIMPLER Sim"pler, n.