Se*ren"i*ty (?), n. [L. serenuas: cf. F. sérénité.] 1. The quality or
state of being serene; clearness and calmness; quietness; stillness;
peace.
A general peace and serenity newly succeeded a general trouble.
Sir W. Temple.
2. Calmness of mind; eveness of temper; undisturbed state; coolness;
composure.
I can not see how any men should ever transgress those moral rules
with confidence and serenity.
Locke.
Serenity is given as a title to the members of certain princely
families in Europe; as, Your Serenity.
Serf (?), n. [F., fr. L. serus servant, slave; akin to servare to
protect, preserve, observe, and perhaps originally, a client, a man
under one's protection. Cf. Serve, v. t.] A servant or slave employed
in husbandry, and in some countries attached to the soil and
transferred with it, as formerly in Russia.
In England, at least from the reign of Henry II, one only, and that
the inferior species [of villeins], existed . . . But by the
customs of France and Germany, persons in this abject state seem to
have been called serfs, and distinguished from villeins, who were
only bound to fixed payments and duties in respect of their lord,
though, as it seems, without any legal redress if injured by him.
Hallam.
Syn. -- Serf, Slave. A slave is the absolute property of his master,
and may be sold in any way. A serf, according to the strict sense of
the term, is one bound to work on a certain estate, and thus attached
to the soil, and sold with it into the service of whoever purchases the
land.
{ Serf"age (?), Serf"dom (?) }, n. The state or condition of a serf.
Serf"hood (?), Serf"ism (&?;), n. Serfage.
Serge (?), n. [F. serge, sarge, originally, a silken stuff, fr. L.
serica, f. or neut. pl. of sericus silken. See Sericeous, Silk.] A
woolen twilled stuff, much used as material for clothing for both
sexes.
Silk serge, a twilled silk fabric used mostly by tailors for lining
parts of gentlemen's coats.
Serge, n. [F. cierge.] A large wax candle used in the ceremonies of
various churches.
Ser"gean*cy (?), n.; pl. Sergeancies (#). [Cf. Sergeanty.] The office
of a sergeant; sergeantship. [Written also serjeancy.]
Ser"geant (?), n. [F. sergent, fr. L. serviens, -entis, p. pr. of
servire to serve. See Serve, and cf. Servant.] [Written also serjeant.
Both spellings are authorized. In England serjeant is usually
preferred, except for military officers. In the United States sergeant
is common for civil officers also.] 1. Formerly, in England, an officer
nearly answering to the more modern bailiff of the hundred; also, an
officer whose duty was to attend on the king, and on the lord high
steward in court, to arrest traitors and other offenders. He is now
called sergeant-at-arms, and two of these officers, by allowance of the
sovereign, attend on the houses of Parliament (one for each house) to
execute their commands, and another attends the Court Chancery.
The sergeant of the town of Rome them sought.
Chaucer.
The magistrates sent the serjeant, saying, Let those men go.
Acts xvi. 35.
This fell sergeant, Death, Is strict in his arrest.
Shak.
2. (Mil.) In a company, battery, or troop, a noncommissioned officer
next in rank above a corporal, whose duty is to instruct recruits in
discipline, to form the ranks, etc.
In the United States service, besides the sergeants belonging to the
companies there are, in each regiment, a sergeant major, who is the
chief noncommissioned officer, and has important duties as the
assistant to the adjutant; a quartermaster sergeant, who assists the
quartermaster; a color sergeant, who carries the colors; and a
commissary sergeant, who assists in the care and distribution of the
stores. Ordnance sergeants have charge of the ammunition at military
posts.
3. (Law) A lawyer of the highest rank, answering to the doctor of the
civil law; -- called also serjeant at law. [Eng.] Blackstone.
4. A title sometimes given to the servants of the sovereign; as,
sergeant surgeon, that is, a servant, or attendant, surgeon. [Eng.]