SAPODILLA, sap-[=o]-dil'a, _n._ a name given in the West Indies to the
fruit of several species of Achras, the seeds aperient and diuretic, the
pulp subacid and sweet. [Sp. _sapotilla_--_sapota_, the sapota-tree.]
SAPONACEOUS, sap-o-n[=a]'shus, _adj._ soapy: soap-like.--_n._
SAP[=O]N[=A]'RIA, a genus of polypetalous plants, including the
soapwort.--_adj._ SAPON'IF[=I]ABLE.--_n._ SAPONIFIC[=A]'TION, the act or
operation of converting into soap.--_v.t._ SAPON'IFY, to convert into
soap:--_pr.p._ sapon'ifying; _pa.p._ sapon'ified.--_n._ SAP'ONIN, a
vegetable principle, the solution of which froths when shaken, obtained
from soapwort, &c. [L. _sapo_, _saponis_, soap.]
SAPORIFIC, sap-o-rif'ik, _adj._ giving a taste.--_ns._ S[=A]'POR;
SAPOROS'ITY.--_adj._ SAP'[=O]ROUS. [L. _sapor_, _saporis_, taste,
_fac[)e]re_, to make.]
SAPOTACEÆ, sap-o-t[=a]'s[=e]-[=e], _n._ a natural order of trees and
shrubs, often abounding in milky juice, including the gutta-percha
tree--one species yields the star-apple, another the Mammee-Sapota or
American marmalade. [_Sapodilla._]
SAPPAN-WOOD, sa-pan'-w[=oo]d, _n._ the wood of Cæsalpinia sappan, used in
dyeing.
SAPPER, sap'[.e]r, _n._ a soldier employed in the building of
fortifications, &c.
SAPPHIC, saf'ik, _adj._ pertaining to _Sappho_, a passionate Greek lyric
poetess of Lesbos (_c._ 600 B.C.): denoting a kind of verse said to have
been invented by Sappho.--_ns._ SAPPH'IC-STAN'ZA, a metre of Horace, the
stanzas of four verses each, three alike, made up of four trochees, with a
dactyl in the third place; SAPPH'ISM, unnatural passion between women;
SAPPH'[=O], a humming-bird.
SAPPHIRE, saf'[=i]r, or saf'ir, _n._ a highly transparent and brilliant
precious stone, a variety of Corundum, generally of a beautiful blue
colour--the finest found in Ceylon: (_her._) a blue tincture.--_adj._ deep
pure blue.--_n._ SAPPH'IRE-WING, a humming-bird.--_adj._ SAPPH'IRINE, made
of, or like, sapphire.--GREEN SAPPHIRE, the Oriental emerald; RED SAPPHIRE,
the Oriental ruby; VIOLET SAPPHIRE, the Oriental amethyst. [Fr.,--L.
_sapphirus_--Gr. _sappheiros_--Heb. _sapp[=i]r_, sapphire.]
SAPPING, sap'ing, _n._ the act of excavating trenches.
SAPPLES, sap'lz, _n.pl._ (_Scot._) soapsuds.
SAPREMIA, sap-r[=e]'mi-a, _n._ a condition of blood-poisoning.--_adjs._
SAPR[=E]'MIC, SAPRÆ'MIC. [Gr. _sapros_, rotten, _haima_, blood.]
SAPROGENOUS, sap-roj'e-nus, _adj._ engendered in putridity.--Also
SAPROGEN'IC. [Gr. _sapros_, rotten, _-gen[=e]s_, producing.]
SAPROHARPAGES, sap-r[=o]-här'pa-j[=e]z, _n._ a group of vultures. [Gr.
_sapros_, rotten, _harpax_, a vulture.]
SAPROLEGNIA, sap-r[=o]-leg'ni-a, _n._ a genus of fungi, causing a
destructive salmon-disease. [Gr. _sapros_, rotten, _legnon_, an edge.]
SAP-ROLLER, sap'-r[=o]l'[.e]r, _n._ a gabion employed by sappers in the
trenches.
SAPROMYZA, sap-r[=o]-m[=i]'za, _n._ a large group of reddish-yellow flies.
[Gr. _sapros_, rotten, _myzein_, to suck.]
SAPROPHAGOUS, sap-rof'a-gus, _adj._ feeding on decaying matter.--_n._
SAPROPH'AGAN, one of the saprophagous beetles. [Gr. _sapros_, rotten,
_phagein_, to eat.]
SAPROPHYTE, sap'r[=o]-f[=i]t, _n._ a plant that feeds upon decaying
vegetable matter.--_adjs._ SAPROPHYT'IC, SAPROPH'ILOUS.--_adv._
SAPROPHYT'ICALLY.--_n._ SAP'ROPHYTISM. [Gr. _sapros_, rotten, _phyton_, a
plant.]
SAPROSTOMOUS, sap-ros't[=o]-mus, _adj._ having a foul breath. [Gr.
_sapros_, rotten, _stoma_, mouth.]
SAP-ROT, sap'-rot, _n._ dry-rot in timber.
SAPSAGO, sap's[=a]-g[=o], _n._ a greenish Swiss cheese. [Ger.
_schabzieger._]
SAP-SHIELD, sap'-sh[=e]ld, _n._ a steel plate for shelter to the sapper.
SAP-SUCKER, sap'-suk'[.e]r, _n._ the name in the United States of all the
small spotted woodpeckers.--_adj._ SAP'-SUCK'ING.
SAPUCAIA, sap-[=oo]-k[=i]'a, _n._ a Brazilian tree, whose urn-shaped fruit
contains a number of finely-flavoured oval seeds or nuts.
SAPYGA, s[=a]-p[=i]'ga, _n._ a genus of digger-wasps.
SARABAND, sar'a-band, _n._ a slow Spanish dance, or the music to which it
is danced; a short piece of music, of deliberate character, and with a
peculiar rhythm, in ¾-time, the accent being placed on the second crotchet
of each measure. [Sp. _zarabanda;_ from Pers. _sarband_, a fillet for the
hair.]
SARACEN, sar'a-sen, _n._ a name variously employed by medieval writers to
designate the Mohammedans of Syria and Palestine, the Arabs generally, or
the Arab-Berber races of northern Africa, who conquered Spain and Sicily
and invaded France.--_adjs._ SARACEN'IC, -AL.--_n._ SAR'ACENISM.--SARACENIC
ARCHITECTURE, a general name for Mohammedan architecture. [O. Fr.
_sarracin_, _sarrazin_--Low L. _Saracenus_--Late Gr. _Sarak[=e]nos_--Ar.
_sharkeyn_, eastern people, as opposed to _maghribe_, 'western
people'--i.e. the people of Morocco.]