SUPER-FAM´ILY, _n._ A group containing one or more families, yet not of
ordinal rank.
SUPERFIC´IES, _n._ The exterior in general.
SUPE´RIOR, _a._ Lying over, above, or uppermost.
SUPEROCCIP´ITAL, _a._ for _n._ The superior element of the occipital
bone.
SUPER-OR´DER, _n._ A group containing one or more orders, yet not of the
taxonomic rank of a class. (N. B. Super-genus is a word not yet used.)
SUPINA´TOR, _n._ Name of a muscle that effects, or tends to effect, the
reverse movement of _pronation_ (which see).
SUPRA- (_in composition_). Same as _super-_.
SUPRACIL´IARY, _a._ See SUPRAORBITAL.
SUPRA-OCCIP´ITAL, _a._ for _n._ Superior element of the occipital bone.
SUPRAOR´BITAL, _a._ Situate over the orbit.
SUPRA-RENAL (_body_), _a._ for _n._ See ADRENAL.
SURAN´GULAR, _a._ Name of a certain element of the mandible.
SUR´SUM. Over; above.
SU´TURE, _n._ A kind of immovable articulation.
SYM´BOL, _n._ See SIGN.
SYMPATHETIC SYSTEM (_of nerves_). That portion of the nervous system not
belonging to the cerebro-spinal axis.
SYM´PHYSIS, _n._ A growing together; as, _symphysis pubis_, _symphysis
menti_.
SYNARTHRO´SIS, _n._ Same as _suture_.
SYNCHONDRO´SIS, _n._ Cartilaginous union or articulation.
SYNDAC´TYLE or SYNDAC´TYLOUS, _a._ Having two toes immovably coherent
for a considerable distance.
SYNGNE´SIOUS (_foot_), _a._ Same as _syndactyle_ foot.
SYN´ONYM, _n._; pl. _syn´onyms_ or _synon´yma_. A different word of the
same or similar meaning. _Archæopteryx macrurus_, Owen, is a synonym of
_Arch. lithographica_, Meyer. _Synonym_ is the converse of _homonym_,
which is the same word, of different meanings. Thus, _Sylvicola_,
Swainson, a bird, is a _homonym_ of _Sylvicola_, Humphreys, a mollusk.
(Also written _synonyme_.)
SYNON´YMOUS, _a._ Expressing the same meaning in different terms.
(_Synonymical_ is also written, but rarely.) (Also written
_synonomous_.)
SYNON´YMY, _n._ A collection of synonyms. In this sense, _synonymy_ is a
burden and a disgrace to ornithology. Also, in the abstract, expression
of the same meaning by different words. (Also written _synonomy_.)
SYNO´VIA, _n._ The peculiar glairy fluid which lubricates joints. So,
_synovial_ fluid; _synovial_ membrane.
SYN´THESIS, _n._ Act of putting together this and that fact or
observation, whence to deduce a generalization; opposed to _analysis_.
Also, merely _composition_.
SYRINGE´AL, _a._ Pertaining to the lower larynx.
SY´RINX, _n._ The lower larynx, situate at the bottom of the trachea, at
the fork of the bronchi. The vocal organ of birds.
SYS´TOLE, _n._ Contraction of the heart, urging on the blood. Opposed to
_diastole_ (which see).