Chapter CDXI: Prologue (62)

Defn: Having tubular nostrils, as the petrels.

SIPHORHINIAN Si`pho*rhin"i*an, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A siphorhinal bird.

SIPHUNCLE Si"phun`cle, n. Etym: [L. siphunculus, sipunculus, dim. of sipho. See Siphon.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The tube which runs through the partitions of chambered cephalopod shells.

SIPHUNCLED Si"phun`cled, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having a siphuncle; siphunculated.

SIPHUNCULAR Si*phun"cu*lar, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the siphuncle.

SIPHUNCULATED Si*phun"cu*la`ted, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having a siphuncle. Huxley.

SIPID Sip"id, a. Etym: [See Insipid, Sapid.]

Defn: Having a taste or flavorl savory; sapid. [Obs.] Cockeram.

SIPPER Sip"per, n.

Defn: One whi sips.

SIPPET Sip"pet, n. Etym: [See Sip, Sop.]

Defn: A small sop; a small, thin piece of toasted bread soaked in milk, broth, or the like; a small piece of toasted or fried bread cut into some special shape and used for garnishing. Your sweet sippets in widows' houses. Milton.

SIPPLE Sip"ple, v. i. Etym: [Freq. of sip.]

Defn: To sip often. [Obs. or Scot.]

SIPPLING Sip"pling, a.

Defn: Sipping often. [Obs.] "Taken after a sippling sort." Holland.

SIPUNCULACEA Si*pun`cu*la"ce*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Sipunculus, the typical genus. See Siphuncle.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A suborder of Gephyrea, including those which have the body unarmed and the intestine opening anteriorly.

SIPUNCULOID Si*pun"cu*loid, a. Etym: [NL. Sipunculus, the typical genus + -oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Pertaining to the Sipunculoidea. -- n.

Defn: One of the Sipunculoidea.

SIPUNCULOIDEA Si*pun`cu*loi"de*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.) (a) Same as Gephyrea. (b) In a restricted sense, same as Sipunculacea.

SI QUIS Si` quis". Etym: [L., if any one (the first words of the notice in Latin).] (Ch. of Eng.)

Defn: A notification by a candidate for orders of his intention to inquire whether any impediment may be alleged against him.

SIR Sir, n. Etym: [OE. sire, F. sire, contr. from the nominative L. senior an elder, elderly person, compar. of senex,senis, an aged person; akin to Gr. sana, Goth. sineigs old, sinista eldest, Ir. & Gael. sean old, W. hen. Cf. Seignior, Senate, Seneschal, Senior, Senor, Signor, Sire, Sirrah.]

1. A man of social authority and dignity; a lord; a master; a gentleman; -- in this sense usually spelled sire. [Obs.] He was crowned lord and sire. Gower. In the election of a sir so rare. Shak.

2. A title prefixed to the Christian name of a knight or a baronet. Sir Horace Vere, his brother, was the principal in the active part. Bacon.

3. An English rendering of the LAtin Dominus, the academical title of a bachelor of arts; -- formerly colloquially, and sometimes contemptuously, applied to the clergy. Nares. Instead of a faithful and painful teacher, they hire a Sir John, which hath better skill in playing at tables, or in keeping of a garden, than in God's word. Latimer.

4. A respectful title, used in addressing a man, without being prefixed to his name; -- used especially in speaking to elders or superiors; sometimes, also, used in the way of emphatic formality. "What's that to you, sir" Sheridan.

Note: Anciently, this title, was often used when a person was addressed as a man holding a certain office, or following a certain business. "Sir man of law." "Sir parish priest." Chaucer. Sir reverance. See under Reverence, n.

SIRASKIER Si*ras"kier, n.

Defn: See Seraskier.

SIRASKIERATE Si*ras"kier*ate, n.

Defn: See Seraskierate.

SIRBONIAN Sir*bo"ni*an, a.

Defn: See Serbonian.

SIRCAR Sir*car", n. Etym: [Hind. & Per. sarkar a superintendant, overseer, chief; Per. sar the head + kar action, work.]

1. A Hindoo clerk or accountant. [India]

2. A district or province; a circar. [India]

3. The government; the supreme authority of the state. [India]

SIRDAR Sir*dar", n Etym: [Hind. & Per. sardar a chief, general; sar the head, top + dar holding, possessing.]

Defn: A native chief in Hindostan; a headman. Malcom.

SIRE Sire, n. Etym: [F. sire, originally, an older person. See Sir.]

1. A lord, master, or other person in authority. See Sir. [Obs.] Pain and distress, sickness and ire, And melancholy that angry sire, Be of her palace senators. Rom. of R.

2. A tittle of respect formerly used in speaking to elders and superiors, but now only in addressing a sovereign.

3. A father; the head of a family; the husband. Jankin thet was our sire [i.e., husband]. Chaucer. And raise his issue, like a loving sire. Shak.

4. A creator; a maker; an author; an originator. [He] was the sire of an immortal strain. Shelley.

5. The male parent of a beast; -- applied especially to horses; as, the horse had a good sire.

Note: Sire is often used in composition; as in grandsire, grandfather; great-grandsire, great-grandfather.

SIRE Sire, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sired; p. pr. & vb. n. Siring.]

Defn: To beget; to procreate; -- used of beasts, and especially of stallions.

SIREDON Si*re"don, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The larval form of any salamander while it still has external gills; especially, one of those which, like the axolotl (Amblystoma Mexicanum), sometimes lay eggs while in this larval state, but which under more favorable conditions lose their gills and become normal salamanders. See also Axolotl.

SIREN Si"ren, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. sirène.]

1. (Class. Myth.)

Defn: One of three sea nymphs, -- or, according to some writers, of two, -- said to frequent an island near the coast of Italy, and to sing with such sweetness that they lured mariners to destruction. Next where the sirens dwell you plow the seas; Their song is death, and makes destruction please. Pope.

2. An enticing, dangerous woman. Shak.

3. Something which is insidious or deceptive. Consumption is a siren. W. Irving.

4. A mermaid. [Obs.] Shak.

5. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any long, slender amphibian of the genus Siren or family Sirenidæ, destitute of hind legs and pelvis, and having permanent external gills as well as lungs. They inhabit the swamps, lagoons, and ditches of the Southern United States. The more common species (Siren lacertina) is dull lead-gray in color, and becames two feet long.

6. Etym: [F. sirène, properly, a siren in sense 1.] (Acoustics)

Defn: An instrument for producing musical tones and for ascertaining the number of sound waves or vibrations per second which produce a note of a given pitch. The sounds are produced by a perforated rotating disk or disks. A form with two disks operated by steam or highly compressed air is used sounding an alarm to vessels in fog. [Written also sirene, and syren.]

SIREN Si"ren, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a siren; bewitching, like a siren; fascinating; alluring; as, a siren song.

SIRENE Si*rene", n.

Defn: See Siren, 6.

SIRENIA Si*re"ni*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of large aquatic herbivorous mammals, including the manatee, dugong, rytina, and several fossil genera.

Note: The hind limbs are either rudimentary or wanting, and the front ones are changed to paddles. They have horny plates on the front part of the jaws, and usually flat-crowned molar teeth. The stomach is complex and the intestine long, as in other herbivorous mammals. See Cetacea (b).

SIRENIAN Si*re"ni*an, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any species of Sirenia.

SIRENICAL Si*ren"ic*al, a.

Defn: Like, or appropriate to, a siren; fascinating; deceptive. Here's couple of sirenical rascals shall enchant ye. Marton.

SIRENIZE Si"ren*ize, v. i.

Defn: To use the enticements of a siren; to act as a siren; to fascinate.

SIRIASIS Si*ri"a*sis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Med.) (a) A sunstroke. (b) The act of exposing to a sun bath. [Obs.] Cf. Insolation.

SIRIUS Sir"i*us, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Astron.)

Defn: The Dog Star. See Dog Star.

SIRKEER Sir"keer, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of Asiatic cuckoos of the genus Taccocua, as the Bengal sirkeer (T. sirkee).

SIRLOIN Sir"loin`, n. Etym: [A corruption of surloin. Not so called because this cut of beaf was once jocosely knighted (dubbed Sir Loin) by an English king, as according to a popular story.]

Defn: A loin of beef, or a part of a loin. [Written also surloin.]

SIRNAME Sir"name`, n.

Defn: See Surname.

SIROC Si"roc, n.

Defn: See Sirocco. [Poetic] Emerson.

SIROCCO Si*roc"co, n.; pl. Siroccos(). Etym: [It. sirocco, scirocco, Ar. shorug, fr. sharq the rising of the sun, the east, fr, sharaca to rise as the sun. Cf. Saracen.]

Defn: An oppressive, relaxing wind from the Libyan deserts, chiefly experienced in Italy, Malta, and Sicily.

SIRRAH Sir"rah, n. Etym: [Probably from Icel. sira, fr. F. sire. See Sir.]

Defn: A term of address implying inferiority and used in anger, contempt, reproach, or disrespectful familiarity, addressed to a man or boy, but sometimes to a woman. In sililoquies often preceded by ah. Not used in the plural. "Ah, sirrah mistress." Beau & Fl. Go, sirrah, to my cell. Shak.

SIRT Sirt, n. Etym: [See Syrt.]

Defn: A quicksand. [Obs.]

SIRUP; SYRUP Sir"up Syr"up, n. Etym: [F. sirop (cf. It. siroppo, Sp. jarabe, jarope, LL. siruppus, syrupus), fr. Ar. sharab a drink, wine, coffee, sirup. Cf. Sherbet.]

1. A thick and viscid liquid made from the juice of fruits, herbs, etc., boiled with sugar.

2. A thick and viscid saccharine solution of superior quality (as sugarhouse sirup or molasses, maple sirup); specifically, in pharmacy and often in cookery, a saturated solution of sugar and water (simple sirup), or such a solution flavored or medicated. Lucent sirups tinct with cinnamon. Keats. Mixing sirup. See the Note under Dextrose.

SIRUPED; SYRUPED Sir"uped, Syr"uped, a.

Defn: Moistened, covered, or sweetened with sirup, or sweet juice.

SIRUPY; SYRUPY Sir"up*y, Syr"up*y, a.

Defn: Like sirup, or partaking of its qualities. Mortimer.

SIRVENTE Sir`vente", n. Etym: [F. sirvente, fr. Pr. sirventes, sirventesc, originally, the poem of, or concerning, a sirvent, fr. sirvent, properly, serving, n., one who serves (e. g., as a soldier), fr. servir to serve, L. servire.]

Defn: A peculiar species of poetry, for the most part devoted to moral and religious topics, and commonly satirical, -- often used by the troubadours of the Middle Ages.

SIS Sis, n.

Defn: A colloquial abbreviation of Sister.

SIS Sis, n.

Defn: Six. See Sise. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SISAL GRASS; SISAL HEMP Si*sal" grass`, Si*sal" hemp`,

Defn: The prepared fiber of the Agave Americana, or American aloe, used for cordage; -- so called from Sisal, a port in Yucatan. See Sisal hemp, under Hemp.

SISCOWET Sis"co*wet, n. Etym: [OF American Indian origin.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A large, fat variety of the namaycusa found in Lake Superior; - - called also siskawet, siskiwit.

SISE Sise, n. Etym: [From Assize.]

Defn: An assize. [Obs.]

SISE Sise, n. Etym: [See Sice.]

Defn: Six; the highest number on a die; the cast of six in throwing dice. In the new casting of a die, when ace is on the top, sise must needs be at the bottom. Fuller.

SISEL Sis"el, n. Etym: [Cf. G. ziesel. Cf. Zizel.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The suslik.

SISER Si"ser, n.

Defn: Cider. See Sicer. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SISERARA; SISERARY Sis"e*ra*ra, Sis"e*ra*ry, n.

Defn: A hard blow. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

SISKIN Sis"kin, n. Etym: [Dan. sisgen; cf. Sw. siska, G. zeisig, D. sijsje; of Slav. origin; cf. Pol. czy.] (Zoöl.) (a) A small green and yellow European finch (Spinus spinus, or Carduelis spinus); -- called also aberdevine. (b) The American pinefinch (S. pinus); -- called also pine siskin. See Pinefinch.

Note: The name is applied also to several other related species found in Asia and South America. Siskin green, a delicate shade of yellowish green, as in the mineral torbernite.

SISKIWIT Sis"ki*wit, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The siscowet.

SISMOGRAPH Sis"mo*graph, n.

Defn: See Seismograph.

SISMOMETER Sis*mom"e*ter, n.

Defn: See Seismometer.

SISS Siss, v. i. Etym: [Of imitative origin; cf. D. sissen, G. zischen.]

Defn: To make a hissing sound; as, a flatiron hot enough to siss when touched with a wet finger. [Colloq. U. S.; Local, Eng.]

SISS Siss, n.

Defn: A hissing noise. [Colloq. U. S.]

SISSOO Sis*soo", n. Etym: [Hind. sis.] (Bot.)

Defn: A leguminous tree (Dalbergia Sissoo) of the northern parts of India; also, the dark brown compact and durable timber obtained from it. It is used in shipbuilding and for gun carriages, railway ties, etc.

SIST Sist, v. t. Etym: [L. sistere to bring to a stand, to stop.]

1. (Scots Law)

Defn: To stay, as judicial proceedings; to delay or suspend; to stop.

2. To cause to take a place, as at the bar of a court; hence, to cite; to summon; to bring into court. [Scot.] Some, however, have preposterously sisted nature as the first or generative principle. Sir W. Hamilton.

SIST Sist, n. (Scots Law)

Defn: A stay or suspension of proceedings; an order for a stay of proceedings. Burril.

SISTER Sis"ter, n. Etym: [OE. sister, fr. Icel. systir; also suster, from AS. sweostor, sweoster, swuster, akin to OFries. sweester, suster, LG. süster, suster, D. zuster, OS. & OHG. swestar, G. schwester, Icel. systir, Sw. syster, Dan. söster, Goth. swistar, Lith. ses, Russ. sestra, Pol. siostra, L. soror, Skr. svasr. sq. root298. Cf. Cousin.]

1. A female who has the same parents with another person, or who has one of them only. In the latter case, she is more definitely called a half sister. The correlative of brother. I am the sister of one Claudio. Shak.

2. A woman who is closely allied to, or assocciated with, another person, as in the sdame faith, society, order, or community. James ii. 15.

3. One of the same kind, or of the same condition; -- generally used adjectively; as, sister fruits. Pope. Sister Block (Naut.), a tackle block having two sheaves, one above the other. -- Sister hooks, a pair of hooks fitted together, the shank of one forming a mousing for the other; -- called also match hook. -- Sister of charity, Sister of mercy. (R. C. Ch.) See under Charity, and Mercy.

SISTER Sis"ter, v. t.

Defn: To be sister to; to resemble closely. [Obs.] Shak.

SISTERHOOD Sis"ter*hood, n. Etym: [Sister + hood.]

1. The state or relation of being a sister; the office or duty of a sister. She . . . abhorr'd Her proper blood, and left to do the part Of sisterhood, to do that of a wife. Daniel.

2. A society of sisters; a society of women united in one faith or order; sisters, collectively. "A sisterhood of holy nuns." Shak. The fair young flowers . . . a beauteous sisterhood. Bryant.

SISTERING Sis"ter*ing, a.

Defn: Contiguous. [Obs.] Shak.

SISTER-IN-LAW Sis"ter-in-law`, n; pl. Sisters-in-law(

Defn: The sister of one's husband or wife; also, the wife of one's brother; sometimes, the wife of one's husband's or wife's brother.

SISTERLY Sis"ter*ly, a.

Defn: Like a sister; becoming a sister, affectionate; as, sisterly kindness; sisterly remorse. Shak.

SISTINE Sis"tine, a.Etym: [It. sistino.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to Pope Sixtus. Sistine chapel, a chapel in the Vatican at Rome, built by Pope Sixtus IV., and decorated with frescoes by Michael Angelo and others.

SISTREN Sis"tren, n. pl.

Defn: Sisters. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SISTRUM Sis"trum, Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Mus.)

Defn: An instrument consisting of a thin metal frame, through which passed a number of metal rods, and furnished with a handle by which it was shaken and made to rattle. It was peculiarly Egyptian, and used especially in the worship of Isis. It is still used in Nubia.

SISYPHEAN Sis`y*phe"an, a.

Defn: Relating to Sisyphus; incessantly recurring; as, Sisyphean labors.

SISYPHUS Sis"y*phus, n. Etym: [L. Sisyphus, Sisyphus, fr. Gr. (Class. Myth.)

Defn: A king of Corinth, son of Æolus, famed for his cunning. He was killed by Theseus, and in the lower world was condemned by Pluto to roll to the top of a hill a huge stone, which constantly rolled back again, making his task incessant.

SIT Sit,

Defn: obs. 3d pers. sing. pres. of Sit, for sitteth.

SIT Sit, v. i. [imp. Sat (Sate, archaic); p. p. Sat (Sitten, obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. Sitting.] Etym: [OE. sitten, AS. sittan; akin to OS. sittian, OFries. sitta, D. zitten, G. sitzen, OHG. sizzen, Icel. sitja, SW. sitta, Dan. sidde, Goth. sitan, Russ. sidiete, L. sedere, Gr. sad. sq. root154. Cf. Assess,Assize, Cathedral, Chair, Dissident, Excise, Insidious, Possess, Reside, Sanhedrim, Seance, Seat, n., Sedate, 4th Sell, Siege, Session, Set, v. t., Sizar, Size, Subsidy.]

1. To rest upon the haunches, or the lower extremity of the trunk of the body; -- said of human beings, and sometimes of other animals; as, to sit on a sofa, on a chair, or on the ground. And he came and took the book put of the right hand of him that sate upon the seat. Bible (1551) (Rev. v. 7.) I pray you, jest, sir, as you sit at dinner. Shak.

2. To perch; to rest with the feet drawn up, as birds do on a branch, pole, etc.

3. To remain in a state of repose; to rest; to abide; to rest in any position or condition. And Moses said to . . . the children of Reuben, Shall your brothren go to war, and shall ye sit here Num. xxxii. 6. Like a demigod here sit I in the sky. Shak.

4. To lie, rest, or bear; to press or weigh; -- with on; as, a weight or burden sits lightly upon him. The calamity sits heavy on us. Jer. Taylor.

5. To be adjusted; to fit; as, a coat sts well or ill. This new and gorgeous garment, majesty, Sits not so easy on me as you think. Shak.

6. To suit one well or ill, as an act; to become; to befit; -- used impersonally. [Obs.] Chaucer.

7. To cover and warm eggs for hatching, as a fowl; to brood; to incubate. As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not. Jer. xvii. 11.

8. To have position, as at the point blown from; to hold a relative position; to have direction. Like a good miller that knows how to grind, which way soever the wind sits. Selden. Sits the wind in that quarter Sir W. Scott.

9. To occupy a place or seat as a member of an official body; as, to sit in Congress.

10. To hold a session; to be in session for official business; -- said of legislative assemblies, courts, etc.; as, the court sits in January; the aldermen sit to-night.

11. To take a position for the purpose of having some artistic representation of one's self made, as a picture or a bust; as, to sit to a painter. To sit at, to rest under; to be subject to. [Obs.] "A farmer can not husband his ground so well if he sit at a great rent". Bacon. -- To sit at meat or at table, to be at table for eating. -- To sit down. (a) To place one's self on a chair or other seat; as, to sit down when tired. (b) To begin a siege; as, the enemy sat down before the town. (c) To settle; to fix a permanent abode. Spenser. (d) To rest; to cease as satisfied. "Here we can not sit down, but still proceed in our search." Rogers. -- To sit for a fellowship, to offer one's self for examination with a view to obtaining a fellowship. [Eng. Univ.] -- To sit out. (a) To be without engagement or employment. [Obs.] Bp. Sanderson. (b) To outstay. -- To sit under, to be under the instruction or ministrations of; as, to sit under a preacher; to sit under good preaching. -- To sit up, to rise from, or refrain from, a recumbent posture or from sleep; to sit with the body upright; as, to sit up late at night; also, to watch; as, to sit up with a sick person. "He that was dead sat up, and began to speak." Luke vii. 15.

SIT Sit, v. t.

1. To sit upon; to keep one's seat upon; as, he sits a horse well. Hardly the muse can sit the headstrong horse. Prior.

2. To cause to be seated or in a sitting posture; to furnish a seat to; -- used reflexively. They sat them down to weep. Milton. Sit you down, father; rest you. Shak.

3. To suit (well or ill); to become. [Obs. or R.]

SITE Site, n. Etym: [L. situs, fr. sinere, situm, to let, p. p. situs placed, lying, situate: cf. F. site. Cf. Position.]

1. The place where anything is fixed; situation; local position; as, the site of a city or of a house. Chaucer.

2. A place fitted or chosen for any certain permanent use or occupation; as, a site for a church.

3. The posture or position of a thing. [R.] The semblance of a lover fixed In melancholy site. Thomson.

SITED Sit"ed, a.

Defn: Having a site; situated. [Obs.] [The garden] sited was in fruitful soil. Chaucer.

SITFAST Sit"fast`, a. Etym: [Sit + fast.]

Defn: Fixed; stationary; immovable. [R.] 'T is good, when you have crossed the sea and back, To find the sitfast acres where you left them. Emerson.

SITFAST Sit"fast`, n. (Far.)

Defn: A callosity with inflamed edges, on the back of a horse, under the saddle.

SITH Sith, prep., adv., & conj. Etym: [See Since.]

Defn: Since; afterwards; seeing that. [Obs.] We need not fear them, sith Christ is with us. Latimer. Sith thou art rightful judge. Chaucer.

SITH; SITHE Sith, Sithe, n. Etym: [AS.

Defn: Time. [Obs.] Chaucer. And humbly thanked him a thousand sithes. Spenser.

SITHE Sithe, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Sigh.]

Defn: To sigh.

Note: [A spelling of a corrupt and provincial pronunciation.]

SITHE Sithe, n.

Defn: A scythe. [Obs.] Milton.

SITHE Sithe, v. t.

Defn: To cut with a scythe; to scythe. [Obs.]

SITHED Sithed, a.

Defn: Scythed. [Obs.] T. Warton.

SITHEMAN Sithe"man, n.

Defn: A mower. [Obs.] Marston.

SITHEN Sith"en, adv. & conj. Etym: [See Since.]

Defn: Since; afterwards. See 1st Sith. [Obs.] Fortune was first friend and sithen foe. Chaucer.

SITHENCE; SITHENS Sith"ence, Sith"ens, adv. & conj.

Defn: Since. See Sith, and Sithen. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.

SITHTHEN Sith"then, adv. & conj.

Defn: See Sithen. [Obs.] Siththen that the world began. Chaucer.

SITOLOGY Si*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]

Defn: A treatise on the regulation of the diet; dietetics. [Written also sitiology.]

SITOPHOBIA Si`to*pho"bi*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A version to food; refusal to take nourishment. [Written also sitiophobia.]

SITTEN Sit"ten, obs.

Defn: p. p. of Sit, for sat.

SITTER Sit"ter, n.

1. One who sits; esp., one who sits for a portrait or a bust.

2. A bird that sits or incubates.

SITTINE Sit"tine, a. Etym: [NL. sitta the nuthatch, from Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the family Sittidæ, or nuthatches.

SITTING Sit"ting, a.

Defn: Being in the state, or the position, of one who, or that which, sits.

SITTING Sit"ting, n.

1. The state or act of one who sits; the posture of one who occupies a seat.

2. A seat, or the space occupied by or allotted for a person, in a church, theater, etc.; as, the hall has 800 sittings.

3. The act or time of sitting, as to a portrait painter, photographer, etc.

4. The actual presence or meeting of any body of men in their seats, clothed with authority to transact business; a session; as, a sitting of the judges of the King's Bench, or of a commission. The sitting closed in great agitation. Macaulay.

5. The time during which one sits while doing something, as reading a book, playing a game, etc. For the understanding of any one of St. Paul's Epistles I read it all through at one sitting. Locke.

6. A brooding over eggs for hatching, as by fowls. The male bird . . . amuses her [the female] with his songs during the whole time of her sitting. Addison. Sitting room, an apartment where the members of a family usually sit, as distinguished from a drawing-room, parlor, chamber, or kitchen.

SITUATE; SITUATED Sit"u*ate, Sit"u*a`ted, a. Etym: [LL. situatus, from situare to place, fr. L. situs situation, site. See Site.]

1. Having a site, situation, or location; being in a relative position; permanently fixed; placed; located; as, a town situated, or situate, on a hill or on the seashore.

2. Placed; residing. Pleasure situate in hill and dale. Milton.

Note: Situate is now less used than situated, but both are well authorized.

SITUATE Sit"u*ate, v. t.

Defn: To place. [R.] Landor.

SITUATION Sit`u*a"tion, n. Etym: [LL. situatio: cf. F. situation.]

1. Manner in which an object is placed; location, esp. as related to something else; position; locality site; as, a house in a pleasant situation.

2. Position, as regards the conditions and circumstances of the case. A situation of the greatest ease and tranquillity. Rogers.

3. Relative position; circumstances; temporary state or relation at a moment of action which excites interest, as of persons in a dramatic scene. There's situation for you! there's an heroic group! Sheridan.

4. Permanent position or employment; place; office; as, a situation in a store; a situation under government.

Syn. -- State; position; seat; site; station; post; place; office; condition; case; plight. See State.

SITUS Si"tus, n. Etym: [L., situation.] (Bot.)

Defn: The method in which the parts of a plant are arranged; also, the position of the parts. Henslow.

SITZ BATH Sitz" bath`. Etym: [G. sitzbad.]

Defn: A tub in which one bathes in a sitting posture; also, a bath so taken; a hip bath.

SIVA Si"va, n. Etym: [Skr. Civa, properly, kind, gracious.] (Hindoo Myth.)

Defn: One of the triad of Hindoo gods. He is the avenger or destroyer, and in modern worship symbolizes the reproductive power of nature.

SIVAN Si"van, n. Etym: [Heb. sivan.]

Defn: The third month of the Jewish ecclesiastical year; -- supposed to correspond nearly with our month of June.

SIVATHERIUM Siv`a*the"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL., from E. Siva + Gr. (Paleon.)

Defn: A genus of very large extinct ruminants found in the Tertiary formation of India. The snout was prolonged in the form of a proboscis. The male had four horns, the posterior pair being large and branched. It was allied to the antelopes, but very much larger than any exsisting species.

SIVER Siv"er, v. i.

Defn: To simmer. [Obs.] Holland.

SIVVENS Siv"vens (, n. (Med.)

Defn: See Sibbens.

SIWIN Si"win, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Sewen.

SIX Six, a. Etym: [AS. six, seox, siex; akin to OFries. sex, D. zes, OS. & OHG. sehs, G. sechs, Icel., Sw., & Dan. sex, Goth. saíhs, Lith. szeszi, Russ. sheste, Gael. & Ir. se, W. chwech, L. sex, Gr. shesh, Skr. shash. sq. root304. Cf. Hexagon, Hexameter, Samite, Senary, Sextant, Sice.]

Defn: One more than five; twice three; as, six yards. Six Nations (Ethnol.), a confederation of North American Indians formed by the union of the Tuscaroras and the Five Nations. -- Six points circle. (Geom.) See Nine points circle, under Nine.

SIX Six, n.

1. The number greater by a unit than five; the sum of three and three; six units or objects.

2. A symbol representing six units, as 6, vi., or VI. To be at six and seven or at sixes and sevens, to be in disorder. Bacon. Shak. Swift.

SIXFOLD Six"fold`, a. Etym: [AS. sixfealand.]

Defn: Six times repeated; six times as much or as many.

SIX-FOOTER Six"-foot`er, n.

Defn: One who is six feet tall. [Colloq. U.S.]

SIXPENCE Six"pence, n.; pl. Sixpences (.

Defn: An English silver coin of the value of six pennies; half a shilling, or about twelve cents.

SIXPENNY Six"pen`ny, a.

Defn: Of the value of, or costing, sixpence; as, a sixpenny loaf.

SIXSCORE Six"score`, a. & n. Etym: [Six + score, n.]

Defn: Six times twenty; one hundred and twenty.

SIX-SHOOTER Six"-shoot`er, n.

Defn: A pistol or other firearm which can be fired six times without reloading especially, a six-chambered revolver. [Colloq. U.S.]

SIXTEEN Six"teen`, a. Etym: [AS. sixt, sixt. See Six, and Ten, and cf. Sixty.]

Defn: Six and ten; consisting of six and ten; fifteen and one more.

SIXTEEN Six"teen`, n.

1. The number greater by a unit than fifteen; the sum of ten and six; sixteen units or objects.

2. A symbol representing sixteen units, as 16, or xvi.

SIXTEENMO Six*teen"mo, n.; pl. Sixteenmos (.

Defn: See Sextodecimo.

SIXTEENTH Six"teenth`, a. Etym: [From Sixteen: cf. AS. sixteó.]

1. Sixth after the tenth; next in order after the fifteenth.

2. Constituting or being one of sixteen equal parts into which anything is divided. Sixteenth note (Mus.), the sixteenth part of a whole note; a semiquaver.

SIXTEENTH Six"teenth`, n.

1. The quotient of a unit divided by sixteen; one of sixteen equal parts of one whole.

2. The next in order after the fifteenth; the sixth after the tenth.

3. (Mus.)

Defn: An interval comprising two octaves and a second. Moore (Encyc. of Music.)

SIXTH Sixth, a. Etym: [From Six: cf. AS. sixta, siexta.]

1. First after the fifth; next in order after the fifth.

2. Constituting or being one of six equal parts into which anything is divided.

SIXTH Sixth, n.

1. The quotient of a unit divided by six; one of six equal parts which form a whole.

2. The next in order after the fifth.

3. (Mus.)

Defn: The interval embracing six diatonic degrees of the scale.

SIXTHLY Sixth"ly, adv.

Defn: In the sixth place. Bacon.

SIXTIETH Six"ti*eth, a. Etym: [As. sixtiogoedha, sixtigoedha.]

1. Next in order after the fifty-ninth.

2. Constituting or being one one of sixty equal parts into which anything is divided.

SIXTIETH Six"ti*eth, n.

1. The quotient of a unit divided by sixty; one of sixty equal parts forming a whole.

2. The next in order after the fifty-ninth; the tenth after the fiftieth.

SIXTY Six"ty, a. Etym: [AS. siextig; akin to G. sechzig, Goth. saíhs tigjus. See Six, Ten, and cf. Sixteen.]

Defn: Six times ten; fifty-nine and one more; threescore.

SIXTY Six"ty, n.; pl. Sixties (.

1. The sum of six times ten; sixty units or objects.

2. A symbol representing sixty units, as 60, lx., or LX.

SIXTY-FOURTH Six`ty-fourth", a.

Defn: Constituting or being one of sixty-four equal parts into which a thing is divided. Sixty-fourth note (Mus.), the sixty-fourth part of a whole note; a hemi-demi-semiquaver.

SIZABLE Siz"a*ble, a.

1. Of considerable size or bulk. "A sizable volume." Bp. Hurd.

2. Being of reasonable or suitable size; as, sizable timber; sizable bulk. Arbuthnot.

SIZAR Si"zar, n.

Defn: One of a body of students in the universities of Cambridge (Eng.) and Dublin, who, having passed a certain examination, are exempted from paying college fees and charges. A sizar corresponded to a servitor at Oxford. The sizar paid nothing for food and tuition, and very little for lodging. Macaulay.

Note: They formerly waited on the table at meals; but this is done away with. They were probably so called from being thus employed in distributing the size, or provisions. See 4th Size, 2.

SIZARSHIP Si"zar*ship, n.

Defn: The position or standing of a sizar.

SIZE Size, n. Etym: [See Sice, and Sise.]

Defn: Six.

SIZE Size, n. Etym: [OIt. sisa glue used by painters, shortened fr. assisa, fr. assidere, p. p. assiso, to make to sit, to seat, to place, L. assidere to sit down; ad + sidere to sit down, akin to sedere to sit. See Sit, v. i., and cf. Assize, Size bulk.]

1. A thin, weak glue used in various trades, as in painting, bookbinding, paper making, etc.

2. Any viscous substance, as gilder's varnish.

SIZE Size, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sized; p. pr. & vb. n. Sizing.]

Defn: To cover with size; to prepare with size.

SIZE Size, n. Etym: [Abbrev. from assize. See Assize, and cf. Size glue.]

1. A settled quantity or allowance. See Assize. [Obs.] "To scant my sizes." Shak.

2. (Univ. of Cambridge, Eng.)

Defn: An allowance of food and drink from the buttery, aside from the regular dinner at commons; -- corresponding to battel at Oxford.

3. Extent of superficies or volume; bulk; bigness; magnitude; as, the size of a tree or of a mast; the size of a ship or of a rock.

4. Figurative bulk; condition as to rank, ability, character, etc.; as, the office demands a man of larger size. Men of a less size and quality. L'Estrange. The middling or lower size of people. Swift.

5. A conventional relative measure of dimension, as for shoes, gloves, and other articles made up for sale.

6. An instrument consisting of a number of perforated gauges fastened together at one end by a rivet, -- used for ascertaining the size of pearls. Knight. Size roll, a small piese of parchment added to a roll. -- Size stick, a measuring stick used by shoemakers for ascertaining the size of the foot.

Syn. -- Dimension; bigness; largeness; greatness; magnitude.

SIZE Size, v. t.

1. To fix the standard of. "To size weights and measures." [R.] Bacon.

2. To adjust or arrange according to size or bulk. Specifically: (a) (Mil.) To take the height of men, in order to place them in the ranks according to their stature. (b) (Mining) To sift, as pieces of ore or metal, in order to separate the finer from the coarser parts.

3. To swell; to increase the bulk of. Beau. & Fl.

4. (Mech.)

Defn: To bring or adjust anything exactly to a required dimension, as by cutting. To size up, to estimate or ascertain the character and ability of. See 4th Size, 4. [Slang, U.S.] We had to size up our fellow legislators. The Century.

SIZE Size, v. i.

1. To take greater size; to increase in size. Our desires give them fashion, and so, As they wax lesser, fall, as they size, grow. Donne.

2. (Univ. of Cambridge, Eng.)

Defn: To order food or drink from the buttery; hence, to enter a score, as upon the buttery book.

SIZED Sized, a.

1. Adjusted according to size.

2. Having a particular size or magnitude; -- chiefly used in compounds; as, large-sized; common-sized.

SIZEL Si"zel, n.

Defn: Same as Scissel, 2.

SIZER Siz"er, n.

1. See Sizar.

2. (Mech.) (a) An instrument or contrivance to size articles, or to determine their size by a standard, or to separate and distribute them according to size. (b) An instrument or tool for bringing anything to an exact size.

SIZINESS Siz"i*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being sizy; viscousness.

SIZING Siz"ing, n.

1. Act of covering or treating with size.

2. A weak glue used in various trades; size.

SIZING Siz"ing, n.

1. The act of sorting with respect to size.

2. The act of bringing anything to a certain size.

3. (Univ. of Cambridge, Eng.)

Defn: Food and drink ordered from the buttery by a student.

SIZY Siz"y, a. Etym: [From 2d Size.]

Defn: Sizelike; viscous; glutinous; as, sizy blood. Arbuthnot.

SIZZLE Siz"zle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sizzled; p. pr. & vb. n. Sizzling.] Etym: [See Siss.]

Defn: To make a hissing sound; to fry, or to dry and shrivel up, with a hissing sound. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U. S.] Forby.

SIZZLE Siz"zle, n.

Defn: A hissing sound, as of something frying over a fire. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U. S.]

SIZZLING Siz"zling, a. & n.

Defn: from Sizzle.

SKADDLE Skad"dle, n. Etym: [Dim. of scath.]

Defn: Hurt; damage. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Ray.

SKADDLE Skad"dle, a.

Defn: Hurtful. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Ray.

SKADDON Skad"don, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The larva of a bee. [Prov. Eng.]

SKAG Skag, n. (Naut.)

Defn: An additional piece fastened to the keel of a boat to prevent lateral motion. See Skeg.

SKAIN Skain, n.

Defn: See Skein. [Obs.]

SKAIN Skain, n.

Defn: See Skean. Drayton.

SKAINSMATE Skains"mate`, n. Etym: [Perhaps originally, a companion in winding thread (see Skein), or a companion in arms, from skain a sword (see Skean).]

Defn: A messmate; a companion. [Obs.] Scurvy knave! I am none of his firt-gills; I am none of his skainsmates. Shak.

SKAITH Skaith, n.

Defn: See Scatch. [Scot.]

SKALD Skald, n.

Defn: See 5th Scald.

SKALDIC Skald"ic, a.

Defn: See Scaldic. Max Müller.

SKALL Skall, v. t.

Defn: To scale; to mount. [Obs.]

SKAR; SKARE Skar, Skare, a. Etym: [From the root of scare.]

Defn: Wild; timid; shy. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

SKART Skart, n. Etym: [Cf. Scarf a cormorant.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The shag. [Prov. Eng.]

SKAT Skat (skät), n. [G., fr. It. scartare to discard.]

1. A three-handed card game played with 32 cards, of which two constitute the skat (sense 2), or widow. The players bid for the privilege of attempting any of several games or tasks, in most of which the player undertaking the game must take tricks counting in aggregate at least 61 (the counting cards being ace 11, ten 10, king 4, queen 3, jack 2). The four jacks are the best trumps, ranking club, spade, heart, diamond, and ten outranks king or queen (but when the player undertakes to lose all the tricks, the cards rank as in whist). The value of hands depends upon the game played, trump suit, points taken, and number of matadores.

2. (Skat) A widow of two cards.

SKATE Skate, n. Etym: [D. schaats. Cf. Scatches.]

Defn: A metallic runner with a frame shaped to fit the sole of a shoe, -- made to be fastened under the foot, and used for moving rapidly on ice. Batavia rushes forth; and as they sweep, On sounding skates, a thousand different ways, In circling poise, swift as the winds, along, The then gay land is maddended all to joy. Thomson. Roller skate. See under Roller.

SKATE Skate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Skated; p. pr. & vb. n. Skating.]

Defn: To move on skates.

SKATE Skate, n. Etym: [Icel. skata; cf. Prov. G. schatten, meer-schatten, L. squatus, squatina, and E. shad.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of large, flat elasmobranch fishes of the genus Raia, having a long, slender tail, terminated by a small caudal fin. The pectoral fins, which are large and broad and united to the sides of the body and head, give a somewhat rhombic form to these fishes. The skin is more or less spinose.

Note: Some of the species are used for food, as the European blue or gray skate (Raia batis), which sometimes weighs nearly 200 pounds. The American smooth, or barn-door, skate (R. lævis) is also a large species, often becoming three or four feet across. The common spiny skate (R. erinacea) is much smaller. Skate's egg. See Sea purse. -- Skate sucker, any marine leech of the genus Pontobdella, parasitic on skates.

SKATER Skat"er, n.

1. One who skates.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of hemipterous insects belonging to Gerris, Pyrrhocoris, Prostemma, and allied genera. They have long legs, and run rapidly over the surface of the water, as if skating.

SKATOL Ska"tol, n. Etym: [Gr. -ol.] (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: A constituent of human fæces formed in the small intestines as a product of the putrefaction of albuminous matter. It is also found in reduced indigo. Chemically it is methyl indol, C9H9N.

SKAYLES Skayles, n.

Defn: [sq. root159.] Skittles. [Obs.]

SKEAN Skean, n. Etym: [Ir sgian; akin to Gael. sgian, W. ysgien a large knife, a scimiter.]

Defn: A knife or short dagger, esp. that in use among the Highlanders of Scotland. [Variously spelt.] "His skean, or pistol." Spenser.

SKEDADDLE Ske*dad"dle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Skedaddled; p. pr. & vb. n. Skedaddling.] Etym: [Of uncertain etymology.]

Defn: To betake one's self to flight, as if in a panic; to flee; to run away. [Slang, U. S.]

SKEE Skee, n. Etym: [Dan. ski; Icel. ski a billet of wood. See Skid.]

Defn: A long strip of wood, curved upwards in front, used on the foot for sliding.

SKEED Skeed, n.

Defn: See Skid.

SKEEL Skeel, n. Etym: [Icel. skj a pail, bucket.]

Defn: A shallow wooden vessel for holding milk or cream. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Grose.

SKEELDUCK; SKEELGOOSE Skeel"duck`, Skeel"goose`, n. Etym: [See Sheldrake.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The common European sheldrake. [Prov. Eng.]

SKEET Skeet, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Naut.)

Defn: A scoop with a long handle, used to wash the sides of a vessel, and formerly to wet the sails or deck.

SKEG Skeg, n. Etym: [Prov. E., also a stump of a branch, a wooden peg; cf. Icel. sk a wood, Sw. skog. Cf. Shaw.]

1. A sort of wild plum. [Obs.] Holland.

2. pl.

Defn: A kind of oats. Farm. Encyc.

3. (Naut.)

Defn: The after part of the keel of a vessel, to which the rudder is attached.

SKEGGER Skeg"ger, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The parr. Walton.

SKEIN Skein, n. Etym: [OE. skeyne, OF. escaigne, F. écagne, probably of Celtic origin; cf. Ir. sgainne, Gael. sgeinnidh thread, small twine; or perhaps the English word is immediately from Celtic.]

1. A quantity of yarn, thread, or the like, put up together, after it is taken from the reel, -- usually tied in a sort of knot.

Note: A skein of cotton yarn is formed by eighty turns of the thread round a fifty-four inch reel.

2. (Wagon Making)

Defn: A metallic strengthening band or thimble on the wooden arm of an axle. Knight.

SKEIN Skein, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A flight of wild fowl (wild geese or the like). [Prov. Eng.]

SKEINE Skeine, n.

Defn: See Skean.

SKELDER Skel"der, v. t. & i. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]

Defn: To deceive; to cheat; to trick. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

SKELDER Skel"der, n.

Defn: A vagrant; a cheat. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

SKELDRAKE; SKIELDRAKE Skel"drake`, or Skiel"drake`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) The common European sheldrake. (b) The oyster catcher.

SKELET Skel"et, n.

Defn: A skeleton. See Scelet.

SKELETAL Skel"e*tal, a.

Defn: Pertaining to the skeleton.

SKELETOGENOUS Skel`e*tog"e*nous, a. Etym: [Skeleton + -genous.]

Defn: Forming or producing parts of the skeleton.

SKELETOLOGY Skel`e*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Skeleton + -logy.]

Defn: That part of anatomy which treats of the skeleton; also, a treatise on the skeleton.

SKELETON Skel"e*ton, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.

1. (Anat.) (a) The bony and cartilaginous framework which supports the soft parts of a vertebrate animal.

Note: [See Illust. of the Human Skeleton, in Appendix.] (b) The more or less firm or hardened framework of an invertebrate animal.

Note: In a wider sense, the skeleton includes the whole connective- tissue framework with the integument and its appendages. See Endoskeleton, and Exoskeleton.

2. Hence, figuratively: (a) A very thin or lean person. (b) The framework of anything; the principal parts that support the rest, but without the appendages. The great skeleton of the world. Sir M. Hale.

(c) The heads and outline of a literary production, especially of a sermon.

SKELETON Skel"e*ton, a.

Defn: Consisting of, or resembling, a skeleton; consisting merely of the framework or outlines; having only certain leading features of anything; as, a skeleton sermon; a skeleton crystal. Skeleton bill, a bill or draft made out in blank as to the amount or payee, but signed by the acceptor. [Eng.] -- Skeleton key, a key with nearly the whole substance of the web filed away, to adapt it to avoid the wards of a lock; a master key; -- used for opening locks to which it has not been especially fitted. -- Skeleton leaf, a leaf from which the pulpy part has been removed by chemical means, the fibrous part alone remaining. -- Skeleton proof, a proof of a print or engraving, with the inscription outlined in hair strokes only, such proofs being taken before the engraving is finished. -- Skeleton regiment, a regiment which has its complement of officers, but in which there are few enlisted men. -- Skeleton shrimp (Zoöl.), a small crustacean of the genus Caprella. See Illust. under Læmodipoda.

SKELETONIZE Skel"e*ton*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skeletonized; p. pr. & vb. n. Skeletonizing.]

Defn: To prepare a skeleton of; also, to reduce, as a leaf, to its skeleton. Pop. Sci. Monthly.

SKELETONIZER Skel"e*ton*i`zer, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any small moth whose larva eats the parenchyma of leaves, leaving the skeleton; as, the apple-leaf skeletonizer.

SKELLUM Skel"lum, n. Etym: [Dan. schelm, fr. G. schelm.]

Defn: A scoundrel. [Obs. or Scot.] Pepys. Burns.

SKELLY Skel"ly, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Dan. skele, Sw. skela.]

Defn: To squint. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

SKELLY Skel"ly, n.

Defn: A squint. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

SKELP Skelp, n. Etym: [Cf. Prov. E. skelp to kick severely, to move rapidly; Gael. sgealp, n., a slap with the palm of the hand, v., to strike with the palm of the hand.]

1. A blow; a smart stroke. [Prov. Eng.] Brockett.

2. A squall; also, a heavy fall of rain. [Scot.]

SKELP Skelp, v. t.

Defn: To strike; to slap. [Scot.] C. Reade.

SKELP Skelp, n.

Defn: A wrought-iron plate from which a gun barrel or pipe is made by bending and welding the edges together, and drawing the thick tube thus formed.

SKELTER Skel"ter, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Helter-skelter.]

Defn: To run off helter-skelter; to hurry; to scurry; -- with away or off. [Colloq.] A. R. Wallace.

SKEN Sken, v. i.

Defn: To squint. [Prov. Eng.]

SKENE Skene, n.

Defn: See Skean. C. Kingsley.

SKEP Skep, n. Etym: [Icel. skeppa a measure, bushel; cf. Gael. sgeap a basket, a beehive.]

1. A coarse round farm basket. [Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Tusser.

2. A beehive. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

SKEPTIC Skep"tic, n. Etym: [Gr. skeptiko`s thoughtful, reflective, fr. ske`ptesqai to look carefully or about, to view, consider: cf. L. scepticus, F. sceptique. See Scope.] [Written also sceptic.]

1. One who is yet undecided as to what is true; one who is looking or inquiring for what is true; an inquirer after facts or reasons.

2. (Metaph.)

Defn: A doubter as to whether any fact or truth can be certainly known; a universal doubter; a Pyrrhonist; hence, in modern usage, occasionally, a person who questions whether any truth or fact can be established on philosophical grounds; sometimes, a critical inquirer, in opposition to a dogmatist. All this criticism [of Hume] proceeds upon the erroneous hypothesis that he was a dogmatist. He was a skeptic; that is, he accepted the principles asserted by the prevailing dogmatism: and only showed that such and such conclusions were, on these principles, inevitable. Sir W. Hamilton.

3. (Theol.)

Defn: A person who doubts the existence and perfections of God, or the truth of revelation; one who disbelieves the divine origin of the Christian religion. Suffer not your faith to be shaken by the sophistries of skeptics. S. Clarke.

Note: This word and its derivatives are often written with c instead of k in the first syllable, -- sceptic, sceptical, scepticism, etc. Dr. Johnson, struck with the extraordinary irregularity of giving c its hard sound before e, altered the spelling, and his example has been followed by most of the lexicographers who have succeeded him; yet the prevalent practice among English writers and printers is in favor of the other mode. In the United States this practice is reversed, a large and increasing majority of educated persons preferring the orthography which is most in accordance with etymology and analogy.

Syn. -- Infidel; unbeliever; doubter. -- See Infidel.

SKEPTIC; SKEPTICAL Skep"tic, Skep"tic*al, a. Etym: [Written also sceptic, sceptical.]

1. Of or pertaining to a sceptic or skepticism; characterized by skepticism; hesitating to admit the certainly of doctrines or principles; doubting of everything.

2. (Theol.)

Defn: Doubting or denying the truth of revelation, or the sacred Scriptures. The skeptical system subverts the whole foundation of morals. R. Hall. -- Skep"tac*al*ly, adv. -- Skep"tic*al*ness, n.

SKEPTICISM Skep"ti*cism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. scepticisme.] [Written also scepticism.]

1. An undecided, inquiring state of mind; doubt; uncertainty. That momentary amazement, and irresolution, and confusion, which is the result of skepticism. Hune.

2. (Metaph.)

Defn: The doctrine that no fact or principle can be certainly known; the tenet that all knowledge is uncertain; Pyrrohonism; universal doubt; the position that no fact or truth, however worthy of confidence, can be established on philosophical grounds; critical investigation or inquiry, as opposed to the positive assumption or assertion of certain principles.

3. (Theol.)

Defn: A doubting of the truth of revelation, or a denial of the divine origin of the Christian religion, or of the being, perfections, or truth of God. Let no . . . secret skepticism lead any one to doubt whether this blessed prospect will be realized. S. Miller.

SKEPTICIZE Skep"ti*cize, v. i.

Defn: To doubt; to pretend to doubt of everything. [R.] To skepticize, where no one else will . . . hesitate. Shaftesbury.

SKERRY Sker"ry, n.; pl. Skerries. Etym: [Of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. sker, Sw. skär, Dan. ski. Cf. Scar a bank.]

Defn: A rocky isle; an insulated rock. [Scot.]

SKETCH Sketch, n. Etym: [D. schets, fr. It. schizzo a sketch, a splash (whence also F. esquisse; cf. Esquisse.); cf. It. schizzare to splash, to sketch.]

Defn: An outline or general delineation of anything; a first rough or incomplete draught or plan of any design; especially, in the fine arts, such a representation of an object or scene as serves the artist's purpose by recording its chief features; also, a preliminary study for an original work.

Syn. -- Outline; delineation; draught; plan; design. -- Sketch, Outline, Delineation. An outline gives only the bounding lines of some scene or picture. A sketch fills up the outline in part, giving broad touches, by which an imperfect idea may be conveyed. A delineation goes further, carrying out the more striking features of the picture, and going so much into detail as to furnish a clear conception of the whole. Figuratively, we may speak of the outlines of a plan, of a work, of a project, etc., which serve as a basis on which the subordinate parts are formed, or of sketches of countries, characters, manners, etc., which give us a general idea of the things described. Crabb.

SKETCH Sketch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sketched; p. pr. & vb. n. Sketching.] Etym: [Cf D. schetsen, It. schizzare. See Sketch, n.]

1. To draw the outline or chief features of; to make a rought of.

2. To plan or describe by giving the principal points or ideas of.

Syn. -- To delineate; design; draught; depict.

SKETCH Sketch, v. i.

Defn: To make sketches, as of landscapes.

SKETCHBOOK Sketch"book`, n.

Defn: A book of sketches or for sketches.

SKETCHER Sketch"er, n.

Defn: One who sketches.

SKETCHILY Sketch"i*ly, adv.

Defn: In a sketchy or incomplete manner. "Sketchily descriptive." Bartlett.

SKETCHINESS Sketch"i*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being sketchy; lack of finish; incompleteness.

SKETCHY Sketch"y, a.

Defn: Containing only an outline or rough form; being in the manner of a sketch; incomplete. The execution is sketchy throughout; the head, in particular, is left in the rough. J. S. Harford.

SKEW Skew, adv. Etym: [Cf. D. scheef. Dan. ski, Sw. skef, Icel. skeifr, G. schief, also E. shy, a. & v. i.]

Defn: Awry; obliquely; askew.

SKEW Skew, a.

Defn: Turned or twisted to one side; situated obliquely; skewed; -- chiefly used in technical phrases. Skew arch, an oblique arch. See under Oblique. -- Skew back. (Civil Engin.) (a) The course of masonry, the stone, or the iron plate, having an inclined face, which forms the abutment for the voussoirs of a segmental arch. (b) A plate, cap, or shoe, having an inclined face to receive the nut of a diagonal brace, rod, or the end of an inclined strut, in a truss or frame. -- Skew bridge. See under Bridge, n. -- Skew curve (Geom.), a curve of double curvature, or a twisted curve. See Plane curve, under Curve. -- Skew gearing, or Skew bevel gearing (Mach.), toothed gearing, generally resembling bevel gearing, for connecting two shafts that are neither parallel nor intersecting, and in which the teeth slant across the faces of the gears. -- Skew surface (Geom.), a ruled surface such that in general two successive generating straight lines do not intersect; a warped surface; as, the helicoid is a skew surface. -- Skew symmetrical determinant (Alg.), a determinant in which the elements in each column of the matrix are equal to the elements of the corresponding row of the matrix with the signs changed, as in (1), below. (1) 0 2 -3-2 0 53 -5 0 (2) 4 -1 71 8 -2-7 2 1

Note: This requires that the numbers in the diagonal from the upper left to lower right corner be zeros. A like determinant in which the numbers in the diagonal are not zeros is a skew determinant, as in (2), above.

SKEW Skew, n. (Arch.)

Defn: A stone at the foot of the slope of a gable, the offset of a buttress, or the like, cut with a sloping surface and with a check to receive the coping stones and retain them in place.

SKEW Skew, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Skewed; p. pr. & vb. n. Skewing.]

1. To walk obliquely; to go sidling; to lie or move obliquely. Child, you must walk straight, without skewing. L'Estrange.

2. To start aside; to shy, as a horse. [Prov. Eng.]

3. To look obliquely; to squint; hence, to look slightingly or suspiciously. Beau & Fl.

SKEW Skew, v. t. Etym: [See Skew, adv.]

1. To shape or form in an oblique way; to cause to take an oblique position.

2. To throw or hurl obliquely.

SKEWBALD Skew"bald`, a.

Defn: Marked with spots and patches of white and some color other than black; -- usually distinguished from piebald, in which the colors are properly white and black. Said of horses.

SKEWER Skew"er, n. Etym: [Probably of Scand, origin; cf. Sw. & Dan. skifer a slate. Cf. Shuver a fragment.]

Defn: A pin of wood or metal for fastening meat to a spit, or for keeping it in form while roasting. Meat well stuck with skewers to make it look round. Swift.

SKEWER Skew"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skewered; p. pr. & vb. n. Skewering.]

Defn: To fasten with skewers.

SKI Ski, n.

Defn: Same as Skee.

SKIAGRAPH; SKIAGRAPHY Ski"a*graph, n. Ski*ag"ra*phy, n., etc.

Defn: See Sciagraph, Sciagraphy, etc.