The holy Scriptures bring to our ears the most serious things in
the world.
Young.
4. Hence, giving rise to apprehension; attended with danger; as, a
serious injury.
Syn. -- Grave; solemn; earnest; sedate; important; weighty. See Grave.
-- Se"ri*ous*ly, adv. -- Se"ri*ous*ness, n.
Ser"iph (?), n. (Type Founding) See Ceriph.
{ Ser"jeant (?), Ser"jeant*cy, etc. } See Sergeant, Sergeantcy, etc.
Serjeant-at-arms. See Sergeant-at- arms, under Sergeant.
Ser*moc`i*na"tion (?), n. [L. sermocinatio. See Sermon.] The making of
speeches or sermons; sermonizing. [Obs.] Peacham.
Ser*moc"i*na`tor (?), n. [L.] One who makes sermons or speeches. [Obs.]
Howell.
Ser"mon (?), n. [OE. sermoun, sermun, F. sermon, fr. L. sermo, -onis, a
speaking, discourse, probably fr. serer, sertum, to join, connect;
hence, a connected speech. See Series.] 1. A discourse or address; a
talk; a writing; as, the sermons of Chaucer. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. Specifically, a discourse delivered in public, usually by a
clergyman, for the purpose of religious instruction and grounded on
some text or passage of Scripture.
This our life exempt from public haunts Finds tongues in trees,
books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones and good in
everything.
Shak.
His preaching much, but more his practice, wrought, A living sermon
of the truths he taught.
Dryden.
3. Hence, a serious address; a lecture on one's conduct or duty; an
exhortation or reproof; a homily; -- often in a depreciatory sense.
Ser"mon, v. i. [Cf. OF. sermoner, F. sermonner to lecture one.] To
speak; to discourse; to compose or deliver a sermon. [Obs.] Holinshed.
What needeth it to sermon of it more?
Chaucer.
Ser"mon, v. t. 1. To discourse to or of, as in a sermon. [Obs.]
Spenser.