SERVILE, s[.e]r'v[=i]l, _adj._ pertaining to a slave or servant: slavish:
meanly submissive: cringing: obedient: (_gram._) secondary or
subordinate.--_n._ a slave, a menial.--_adv._ SER'VILELY.--_ns._
SER'VILISM, the spirit of a servile class; SERVIL'ITY (_obs._
SER'VILENESS), state or quality of being servile: slavery: obsequiousness;
SER'VING-MAID, a female domestic servant; SER'VING-MAN, a male servant: a
professed lover.--_adj._ SER'VIOUS, obsequious.--_ns._ SER'V[=I]TE, one of
a mendicant order of monks and nuns founded in Italy in the 13th century;
SERVIT'IUM (_law_), service; SER'VITOR, one who serves: a servant: a
follower or adherent: a male servant, a menial: soldier: formerly in
Oxford, an undergraduate partly supported by the college, his duty to wait
on the fellows and gentlemen commoners at table; SER'VITORSHIP, the office
or condition of a servitor; SER'VIT[=U]DE, state of being a slave: slavery:
state of slavish dependence: menial service: compulsory servitude: (_law_)
a burden affecting land or other heritable subjects, by which the
proprietor is either restrained from the full use of his property or is
obliged to suffer another to do certain acts upon it: service rendered in
the army or navy: (_obs._) servants collectively; SER'VIT[=U]RE (_Milt._),
servants collectively.--_v.i._ SER'VULATE.
SESAME, ses'a-m[=e], _n._ an annual herbaceous plant of Southern Asia,
whose seed yields the valuable _gingili-oil_.--_adjs._ SES'AMOID, -AL,
denoting certain small bones found in the substance of the tendons at the
articulations of the great toes, and in other parts of the body.--_n._
SES'AMUM, the genus to which sesame belongs.--OPEN SESAME, the charm by
which the door of the robbers' cave flew open in the tale of 'Ali Baba and
the Forty Thieves' in the _Arabian Nights_. [Fr.,--L.,--Gr.]
SESBAN, ses'ban, _n._ a shrub of the bean family, with yellow flowers,
native to Egypt.--Also _Jyntee_. [Fr.,--Ar. _seiseb[=a]n_.]
SESELI, ses'el-i, _n._ a genus of umbelliferous plants, usually perennial,
with erect branching stems--including the mountain _meadow-saxifrage_.
[Gr.]
SESHA, s[=a]'sha, _n._ the king of the serpents in Hindu mythology, having
a thousand heads, the buttresses of the world.
SESIA, s[=e]'shi-a, _n._ a genus of clear-winged moths. [Gr. _s[=e]s_,
_seos_, a moth.]
SESQUIALTERAL, ses-kwi-al'te-ral, _adj._ one and a half more--also
SESQUIAL'TERATE, SESQUIAL'TEROUS.--_n._ SESQUIAL'TERA (_mus._), the
interval of a perfect fifth, having the ratio of 2 to 3: a rhythm in which
three minims are made equal to a preceding two. [L. _sesquialter_.]
SESQUIDUPLE, ses-kwi-d[=u]'pl, _adj._ of two and a half times.--_adj._
SESQUID[=U]'PLICATE, being in the ratio of 2½ to 1, or 5 to 2.
SESQUIPEDALIAN, ses-kwi-p[=e]-d[=a]'li-an, _adj._ containing a foot and a
half: often humorously said of a very long word--also SES'QUIPEDAL.--_ns._
SESQUIPED[=A]'LIANISM, SESQUIPEDAL'ITY. [L. _sesquipedalis_--_sesqui_,
one-half more, _pes_, _ped-is_, a foot.]
SESQUIPLICATE, ses-kwip'li-k[=a]t, _adj._ noting the ratio of a cube to a
square.
SESQUITERTIA, ses-kwi-ter'shi-a, _n._ (_mus_.) a perfect fourth, an
interval having the ratio of 1 to 1-1/3, or 3 to 4.--_adjs._
SESQUITER'TIAL, SESQUITER'TIAN, -AL.
SESQUITONE, ses'kwi-t[=o]n, _n._ (_mus_.) a minor third, an interval equal
to a tone and a half.
SESS, ses, _n._ Same as CESS.
SESSA, ses'a, _interj._ (_Shak._) prob. a cry to urge to swiftness in
running.
[Illustration]
SESSILE, ses'il, _adj._ (_bot._) growing directly from the stem, without a
foot-stalk, as some leaves. [L. _sessilis_, low--_sed[=e]re_, _sessum_, to
sit.]
SESSION, sesh'un, _n._ the sitting of a court or public body: the time it
sits: the period of time between the meeting and prorogation of Parliament:
the act of sitting, esp. the enthronement of Christ at the right hand of
God the Father: (_Scot._) the lowest Presbyterian church court, the
kirk-session.--_adj._ SES'SIONAL, pertaining or belonging to a session or
sessions.--_n._ SES'SION-CLERK, the official who officially records the
transactions of a kirk-session.--COURT OF SESSION, the supreme civil court
of Scotland. [Fr.,--L. _sessio_, _sessionis_--_sed[=e]re_, _sessum_, to
sit.]
SESSPOOL. Same as CESSPOOL.
SESTERTIUS, ses-t[.e]r'shi-us, _n._ a Roman silver coin, a quarter
denarius, worth 2½ asses: a brass coin under the Empire, worth 4
asses--also SES'TERCE:--_pl._ SESTER'TII.--_n._ SESTER'TIUM, a money of
account equal to 1000 sestertii. [L., 'two-and-a-half'--_semis_, half,
_tertius_, third.]
SESTET, SESTETTE, ses'tet, _n._ the last six lines of a sonnet forming two
stanzas of three lines each: (_mus_.) same as SEXTET. [It.
_sestetto_--_sesto_--L. _sextus_, sixth.]
SESTINA, ses-t[=e]'na, _n._ an old French form of verse, originally
consisting of six stanzas of six unrhymed lines, with a final triplet, the
same terminal words being used in each stanza, but arranged differently.
Modern sestinas are written on two or three rhymes.--Also SES'TINE.
[It.,--L. _sextus_, sixth.]
SESTOLE, ses't[=o]l, _n._ (_mus_.) same as _Sextuplet_ (q.v.).--Also
SES'TOLET.
SET, set, _v.t._ to make to sit: to place: to fix: to put in a condition
for use, to make ready, to arrange, prepare, furnish, draw up: to render
motionless: to determine beforehand: to obstruct: to plant, place so as to
promote growth: to place a brooding fowl on a nest containing eggs: to fix
in metal: to put and fix in its proper place, as a broken limb, &c.: to
assign, as a price: to sharpen: to spread, as sails: to pitch, as a tune:
to adapt music to: to frame, mount, or adorn with something fixed: to stud:
to point, as a dog: to accompany part or the whole of the way: (_Scot._) to
let to a tenant: to compose, put into type: (_prov._) to become, as a
dress, &c.--_v.i._ to sink below the horizon: to decline: to become fixed:
to congeal: to begin the growth of fruit: to have a certain direction in
motion: to acquire a set or bend: to point out game: to apply (one's
self):--_pr.p._ set'ting; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ set.--_n._ SET'-BACK, a check
to progress: an overflow.--_adj._ SET-BY' (_Scot._), proud,
reserved.--_ns._ SET'-DOWN, a rebuke, snubbing; SET'-OFF, a claim set up
against another: a counterbalance: an ornament; SET'-OUT, preparations: a
display of dishes, dress, &c.: a company, clique; SET'-TO, a conflict in
boxing, argument, &c.; SET'-UP, bearing of a person.--_adj._ hilarious,
tipsy.--SET ABOUT, to begin; SET ABROACH, to tap and leave running: to give
publicity to; SET AGAINST, to oppose; SET AGOING, to make begin to move;
SET APART, to separate from the rest, to reserve: (_B._) to promote; SET
ASIDE, to put away, to omit or reject; SET AT EASE, to quiet, content; SET
AT NAUGHT (see NAUGHT); SET AT WORK, to put to a task; SET BEFORE, to put
in front of one; SET BY, to put aside: (_B._) to value or esteem; SET BY
THE COMPASS, to note the bearing by the compass; SET DOWN, to lay on the
ground: to put down in writing: to fix in one's mind: to attribute, charge:
to lay down authoritatively: to give a severe rebuke to; SET EYES ON, to
see, fix one's eyes on; SET FORTH, to exhibit, display: to praise,
recommend: to publish: (_B._) to set off to advantage: to set out on a
journey; SET FORWARD (_B._), to further, promote; SET FREE, to release, put
at liberty; SET IN, to put in the way: to begin; SET IN ORDER, to adjust or
arrange; SET LITTLE, MUCH, &c., BY, to regard, esteem little, much, &c.;
SET OFF, to adorn: to place against as an equivalent; SET ON (_B._), to
attack; SET ON, or upon, to instigate: to employ: to fix upon: (_B._) to
attack; SET ONE'S FACE, to turn one's self resolutely towards; SET ONE'S
HAND TO, to sign; SET ONE'S SELF, to bend one's energies toward anything;
SET ONE'S SELF AGAINST, to discountenance, oppose; SET ONE'S TEETH, to set
one's teeth together, as in a strong resolution; SET ON FIRE, to apply
fire; SET ON FOOT, to set agoing, to start; SET OUT, to mark off, to
assign: (_Bacon_) to publish, to adorn: to equip, to furnish: to recommend:
to prove: to start; SET OVER, to appoint as ruler over; SET SAIL (see
SAIL); SET THE FASHION, to lead or establish the fashion; SET THE TEETH ON
EDGE (see EDGE); SET TO, to affix: to apply one's self; SET UP, to erect,
to exalt: to begin: to enable to begin: to place in view: (_print._) to put
in type: to begin a new course: to make pretensions. [A.S. _settan_; cog.
with Ger. _setzen_, Ice. _setja_, Goth. _satjan_; _settan_ is the weak
causative of _sittan_, to sit.]
SET, set, _adj._ fixed: firm: determined: regular: established: having
reached the full growth: (_B._) seated.--_n._ a number of things similar or
suited to each other, set or used together: a group of games played
together: the full number of eggs set under a hen: the couples that take
part in a square dance, also the movements in a country-dance or quadrille:
a number of persons associated: direction, drift, tendency: act of setting:
a young plant ready for setting out, a cutting, slip: the appearance of
young oysters in a district in any season: a mine or set of mines on lease,
a distance set off for excavation, a system of pumps in a mine (also SETT):
a tool for dressing forged iron: any permanent change of shape or bias of
mind: fit, way in which a dress hangs: the pattern of a tartan, &c.:
bearing, carriage, build.--_n._ SET'-SQUARE, a triangular piece of wood
having one of its angles a right angle, used in mechanical drawing.--SET
FAIR, a barometric indication of steady, fair weather; SET PIECE, a piece
of theatrical scenery with a supporting framework, as distinguished from a
side-scene or drop-scene; SET SPEECH, a speech carefully premeditated.
SETA, s[=e]'tä, _n._ a bristle, stiff hair, a prickle.--_adj._
S[=E]T[=A]'CEOUS, consisting of bristles: bristle-shaped.--_n._
SET[=A]'RIA, a genus of grasses with flat leaves and tail-like bristly
spikes.--_adjs._ S[=E]TIF'EROUS; S[=E]'TIFORM, having the form of a
bristle; S[=E]TIG'EROUS (tij'), bearing bristles; S[=E]TIP'AROUS, producing
bristles; S[=E]TOSE', S[=E]'TOUS, bristly. [L. _seta_, a bristle.]
SETON, s[=e]'tn, _n._ (_surg._) an artificially produced _sinus_ or
channel, through which some substance, as a skein of cotton or silk, or a
long flat piece of india-rubber or gutta-percha, is passed so as to excite
suppuration, and to keep the artificially formed openings patent: also the
inserted material. [Fr. _séton_ (It. _setone_)--Low L. _seto_--L. _seta_, a
bristle.]
SETTEE, se-t[=e]', _n._ a long seat with a back, esp. a sofa for two.
[Prob. a variant of _settle_ (3).]
SETTEE, se-t[=e]', _n._ a single-decked Mediterranean vessel with long prow
and lateen sails. [Prob. It. _saettia_.]
SETTER, set'[.e]r, _n._ one who sets, as music to words: a dog which
crouches when it scents the game: one who finds out the victims for
thieves.--SETTER FORTH, one who proclaims or promotes anything; SETTER OFF,
one who decorates; SETTER ON, an instigator; SETTER OUT, one who expounds;
SETTER UP, one who establishes.
SETTER, set'[.e]r, _v.t._ (_prov._) to cut an ox's dewlap, and treat with a
seton.--_ns._ SETT'ERING, the foregoing process; SETT'ER-WORT, the fetid
hellebore.
SETTIMA, set'ti-ma, _n._ (_mus._) the interval of a seventh--(_obs._)
SET'TIMO. [It.,--L. _septem_.]
SETTING, set'ing, _n._ act of setting: direction of a current of wind: the
hardening of plaster: that which holds, as the mounting of a jewel: the
mounting of a play, &c., for the stage: act of adapting to music.
SETTLE, set'l, _v.t._ to set or place in a fixed state: to fix: to
establish in a situation or business: to render quiet, clear, &c.: to
decide: to free from uncertainty: to quiet: to compose: to fix by gift or
legal act: to adjust: to liquidate or pay: to colonise.--_v.i._ to become
fixed or stationary: to fix one's residence or habits of life (often with
_down_): to grow calm or clear: to sink by its own weight: to sink to the
bottom: to cease from agitation.--_adj._ SETT'LED, fixed, firmly seated or
decided: quiet, sober.--_ns._ SETT'LEDNESS; SETT'LEMENT, act of settling:
state of being settled: payment: arrangement: a colony newly settled: a
subsidence or sinking of a wall, &c.: a sum newly settled on a woman at her
marriage; SETT'LER, one who settles: a colonist; SETT'LING, the act of
making a settlement: the act of subsiding: the adjustment of differences:
sediment: dregs; SETT'LING-DAY, a date fixed by the Stock Exchange for the
completion of transactions--in consols, once a month; in all other stocks,
twice a month, each settlement occupying three days (_contango-day_,
_name-day_, and _pay-day_). [A.S. _setlan_, to fix--_setl_, a seat.]
SETTLE, set'l, _v.t._ to decide, conclude: to fix, appoint: regulate: to
pay, balance: to restore to good order.--_v.i._ to adjust differences or
accounts: to meet one's pecuniary obligations fully. [A.S. _sahtlian_, to
reconcile, _saht_, reconciliation--_sacan_, to contend. Confused in both
form and meaning with the preceding.]
SETTLE, set'l, _n._ a long high-backed bench for sitting on: (_B._) also, a
platform lower than another part.--_n._ SETT'LE-BED, a bed which is folded
or shut up so as to form a seat by day. [A.S. _setl_--_sittan_, to sit;
Ger. _sessel_.]
SETULE, set'[=u]l, _n._ a setula or little bristle.--_adjs._
SET'[=U]LIFORM, SET'[=U]LOSE.
SETWALL, set'wawl, _n._ the common European valerian. [O. Fr.
_citoual_--Low L. _zedoaria_--Pers. _zadwar_.]
SETWORK, set'wurk, _n._ in plastering, two-coat work on lath: boat-building
in which the strakes are placed edge to edge and secured by inside battens.
SEVEN, sev'n, _adj._ and _n._ six and one.--_adj._ SEV'EN-FOLD, folded
seven times: multiplied seven times.--_n._ SEV'EN-NIGHT, seven days and
nights: a week, the time from one day of the week to the same again--also
contr. SENNIGHT (sen'n[=i]t).--_adj._ SEV'ENTH, last of seven, next after
the sixth.--_n._ one of seven equal parts.--_adv._ SEV'ENTHLY.--SEVEN
CARDINAL, CHIEF, or PRINCIPAL VIRTUES (see CARDINAL); SEVEN CHAMPIONS OF
CHRISTENDOM, St George for England, St Andrew for Scotland, St Patrick for
Ireland, St David for Wales, St Denis for France, St James for Spain, St
Anthony for Italy; SEVEN DEADLY SINS, pride, covetousness, lust, anger,
gluttony, envy, and sloth; SEVEN DOLOURS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (see
DOLOUR); SEVEN FREE ARTS (see ARTS); SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY GHOST, wisdom,
understanding, counsel, ghostly strength or fortitude, knowledge,
godliness, and the fear of the Lord; SEVEN SAGES, or wise men, Solon of
Athens, Thales of Miletus, Pittacus of Mitylene, Bias of Priene in Caria,
Chilon of Sparta, Cleobulus tyrant of Lindus in Rhodes, and Periander
tyrant of Corinth; SEVEN SLEEPERS, seven Christian youths at Ephesus who
took refuge in a cave about 250 A.D. in the persecution of Decius, were
walled up by their pursuers, fell into a deep sleep, and only awoke in 447
under Theodosius II.; SEVEN STARS, the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars,
Jupiter, and Saturn: the constellation Ursa Major: the Pleiades; SEVEN WISE
MASTERS, the most common title given to a famous medieval collection of
stories grouped round a central story of the birth, education, and trials
of a young prince. Accused like Joseph, he is sentenced to death, but each
one of the seven viziers gains a day, out of the fated seven during which
the prince may not open his mouth, by two tales against women. At the end
of the seventh day the prince is free to speak, and quickly clears his
character; SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Hanging
(i.e. terraced) Gardens of Babylon, the Temple of Diana at Ephesus, the
Statue of Jupiter at Athens by Phidias, the Mausoleum, erected by Artemisia
at Halicarnassus, the Colossus at Rhodes, and the Pharos of Alexandria;
SEVEN YEARS' WAR (1756-63), the third and severest struggle for the
possession of Silesia between Frederick the Great and the Empress Maria
Theresa, together with the allies on both sides; it gave Silesia to
Frederick, and to England the mastery of North America and India. [A.S.
_seofon_; Dut. _zeven_, Ger. _sieben_, Goth. _sibun_, Gr. _hepta_, L.
_septem_.]
SEVENTEEN, sev'n-t[=e]n, _adj._ and _n._ seven and ten.--_adj._ and _n._
SEV'ENTEENTH, the seventh after the tenth. [A.S. _seofontíene_--_seofon_,
_tíen_, ten.]
SEVENTY, sev'n-ti, _adj._ and _n._ seven times ten.--_adj._ SEV'ENTIETH,
last of seventy: the ordinal of 70.--_n._ a seventieth part.--THE SEVENTY,
the Jewish sanhedrim: the disciples sent out in Luke x.: the authors of the
Septuagint--often LXX. [A.S. _seofontig_--_seofon_, seven; Dut. _zeventig_,
Ger. _siebenzig_.]
SEVER, sev'[.e]r, _v.t._ to separate with violence: to cut apart: to
divide: (_B._) to keep distinct.--_v.i._ to make a separation, to act
independently: to be rent asunder.--_adj._ SEV'ERABLE.--_n._ SEV'ERANCE,
act of severing: separation. [Fr. _sevrer_, to wean--L. _separ[=a]re_, to
separate.]
SEVERAL, sev'[.e]r-al, _adj._ distinct: particular: different: various:
consisting of a number: sundry.--_n._ a woman's loose outer garment,
capable of being worn as a shawl, or in other forms.--_adv._
SEV'ERALLY.--_n._ SEV'ERALTY, sole tenancy of property. [O. Fr.,--L.
_separ[=a]re_, to separate.]
SEVERE, s[=e]-v[=e]r', _adj._ serious: grave: austere: strict: not mild:
strictly adhering to rule: free from florid ornamentation, simple: sharp:
distressing: inclement: searching: difficult to be endured.--_adv._
S[=E]V[=E]RE'LY.--_ns._ S[=E]V[=E]RE'NESS; S[=E]VER'ITY, quality of being
severe: gravity: harshness: exactness: inclemency. [Fr. _sévère_--L.
_severus_.]
SÈVRES, s[=a]'vr, _n._ Sèvres porcelain.
SEW, s[=o], _v.t._ to join or fasten together with a needle and
thread.--_v.i._ to practise sewing.--_ns._ SEW'ER; SEW'ING;
SEW'ING-COTT'ON, cotton thread for sewing; SEW'ING-MACHINE', a machine for
sewing and stitching upon cloth, leather, &c., operated by any power.--SEW
UP ONE'S STOCKING, to put one to silence.--BE SEWED, or SEWED UP, to be
stranded, of a ship: (_coll._) to be brought to a stand-still, to be
ruined: to be tipsy. [A.S. _síwian_, _séowian_; Old High Ger. _siwan_,
Goth. _siujan_.]