rune (ru:n) •n. 1 any of the characters of an alphabet (futhark) probably derived from a Greek script and used by the Scandinavians and other early Germanic peoples from about A.D. 300 2 something inscribed or written in such characters 3 a) a Finnish or Old Norse poem or canto b) [Old Poet.] any poem, verse, or song, esp. one that is mystical or obscure [ME roun < OE run, secret, mystery, runic character; readopted in 17th c. in form of ON rūn: both < IE echoic base *reu-, hoarse sound, roar, grumble > Welsh rhin, secret, L raucus, hoarse; in sense 3a < Finn runo, poem, canto < ON rūn]
rung¹ (rûŋ) •n. 1 any sturdy stick, bar, or rod, esp. a rounded one, used as a crossbar, support, etc.; specif., a) any of the crosspieces constituting the steps of a ladder b) a supporting crosspiece between the legs of a chair, or across the back, etc. 2 a stage or degree in a scale, as of social acceptance 3 [Scot.] a cudgel [ME rong < OE hrung, staff, rod, pole, akin to Ger runge; for prob. IE base see RING²]
rung² (rûŋ) •vi., vt. pp. & rare pt. of RING¹
runic (ru:´nik) •adj. 1 of, consisting of, characterized by, or set down in runes 2 like runes in decorative interlaced effect, as knots and other figures on monuments, etc. of ancient peoples of N Europe 3 mystical; obscure [ModL runicus < ON rūn, a RUNE]
run-in (rûn´in') •adj. Printing that is run in or inserted •n. 1 run-in matter Æ 2 [Colloq.] a quarrel, fight, etc.
runlet¹ (rûn´lit) •n. a runnel, or rivulet [RUN (n. 13) + -LET]
runlet² (rûn´lit) •n. RUNDLET
runnel (rûn´эl) •n. 1 a small stream; little brook or rivulet 2 a small channel or watercourse [ME rinel, runel < OE rynel < base of rinnan, to RUN]
runner (rûn´эr) •n. 1 a person, animal, or thing that runs; specif., a) a racer Æ b) Baseball BASE RUNNER Æ c) Football a player running with the ball 2 a person who runs errands, carries messages, etc., as for a bank or brokerage house 3 a smuggler 4 a person who operates or manages something, as a machine 5 a) a long, narrow, decorative cloth for the top of a table, chest of drawers, etc. b) a long, narrow rug, as for a hall or corridor 6 a long ravel, as in hose; run 7 a) a long, slender, horizontal trailing stem that puts out roots along or just below the ground at its tip or its nodes, thus producing new plants; stolon b) any plant that spreads in this way, as the strawberry 8 any of various twining plants {the scarlet runner} 9 something on or in which something else moves, as a sliding part in machinery or the support along which a sliding door moves Æ 10 either of the long, narrow pieces of metal or wood on which a sled or sleigh slides Æ 11 the blade of a skate 12 a ring, loop, etc. that can slide along a strap, rod, etc., often one to which another part or parts can be attached 13 Metallurgy a channel through which molten metal is poured into a mold; gate 14 Zool. any of various edible jack fishes of warm seas, as a bluish species (Caranx crysos) and a striped bluish species (Elagatis bipinnulata) [ME renner]
runner bean chiefly Brit. name for POLE BEAN
runner-up (rûn'эr ûp´) pl. -ners-up´ •n. 1 a person or team that finishes second in a race, contest, tournament, etc. 2 any of those finishing behind the winner but in positions of contention
running (rûn´iŋ) •n. 1 the act of a person or thing that runs (in various senses); racing, managing, proceeding, etc. 2 the condition of a track with reference to its use in a race 3 a) that which runs, or flows b) the amount or quantity that runs •adj. 1 moving, passing, or advancing rapidly 2 a) run at a rapid gait {a running race} b) trained to race at this gait (said of a horse) 3 flowing {running water} 4 cursive: said of handwriting 5 melting; becoming liquid or fluid 6 discharging liquid; esp., discharging pus, etc. {a running sore} 7 creeping or climbing: said of plants 8 going, or in operation, as machinery 9 in a straight line; linear: said of measurement {a running foot} 10 going on, extending, etc. without interruption; continuous {a running commentary, a running pattern} 11 prevalent {running costs} 12 in progress; current {a running account} 13 concurrent; simultaneous {a running translation} 14 moving or going easily or smoothly 15 moving when pulled, as a rope 16 done in a run with a running start {a running jump} 17 of the normal run (of a train, bus, etc.) {running time} •adv. in succession; consecutively {for five days running} in (or out of) the running in (or out of) the competition; having a (or no) chance to win
running board esp. formerly, a footboard, or step, along the lower part of the side of an automobile, etc.
running bowline a slipknot incorporating a bowline knot: see KNOT¹, illus.
running fire 1 a rapid succession of shots, as from soldiers in ranks 2 a rapid succession, as of remarks, questions, etc.
running gear 1 the wheels, axles, frame, etc. of a cart or carriage 2 the parts of a motor vehicle not producing or controlling power, including the frame, suspension, steering, and brakes
running hand handwriting in which the letters are slanted and close together, formed without often lifting the pen or pencil from the paper
running head (or title) a descriptive heading or title printed at the top of every page or, sometimes, every other page, usually the left-hand ones
running knot SLIPKNOT
running lights the lights that a ship or aircraft traveling at night is required to display
running mate 1 a horse used in a race to set the pace for another horse from the same stable 2 a candidate for the lesser of two closely associated offices, as for the vice-presidency, in his or her relationship to the candidate for the greater office
running rigging the movable parts of a vessel's rigging, as halyards and sheets, used to position and control sails, booms, etc.: cf. STANDING RIGGING
runny (rûn´i:) -ni·er, -ni·est •adj. 1 that flows, esp. too freely 2 that keeps on discharging mucus {a runny nose} run´ni·ness •n.
Runnymede (rûn´i mi:d') meadow on the S bank of the Thames, southwest of London: see MAGNA CARTA
runoff (rûn´öf') •n. Æ 1 something that runs off, as rain in excess of the amount absorbed by the ground 2 a deciding, final race, election, etc. as in case of a tie
run-of-the-mill (rûn´эv ðэ mil´) •adj. not special; ordinary; average
run-of-the-mine (-main´) •adj. 1 not graded according to size or quality: said of coal 2 RUN-OF-THE-MILL Also run´-of-mine´ [see RUN, n. 16b]
run-on (rûn´än') •adj. 1 Printing that is run on 2 Prosody having the sense completed in the succeeding line of verse •n. run-on matter
run-on sentence a syntactic structure consisting of two or more complete sentences faultily run together as one
runt (rûnt) •n. 1 a stunted, undersized, or dwarfish animal, plant, thing, or (usually in a contemptuous sense) person 2 the smallest animal of a litter runt´i·ness •n. runt´y, runt´i·er, runt´i·est, •adj. [< ?]
run-through (rûn´θru:') •n. a rehearsal, as of a dramatic or musical work or section, straight through from beginning to end
run-up (rûn´ûp') •n. 1 [Chiefly Brit.] a preparatory period preceding an important event Æ 2 a substantial, often rapid, increase in cost, price, value, etc.
runway (rûn´wei') •n. a way, as a channel, track, chute, groove, trough, etc., in, on, or along which something runs, or moves; specif., a) the channel or bed of a stream b) a strip of leveled, usually paved ground, for use by airplanes in taking off and landing c) a track or ramp for wheeled vehicles d) a beaten path made by deer, etc. e) a narrow platform extending from a stage out into the audience
Runyon (rûn´yэn), (Alfred) Da·mon (dei´mэn) 1884-1946; U.S. journalist & short story writer
rupee (ru:´pi:, ru: pi:´) •n. the basic monetary unit of: a) India b) Mauritius c) Nepal d) Pakistan e) the Seychelles f) Sri Lanka: see MONEY, table [Hindi rūpiyah < Sans rūpyah, wrought silver]
Rupert (ru:´pэrt) a masculine name [Ger Ruprecht, Rupprecht: see ROBERT]
rupestrine (ru: pes´trin) Biol. growing on or living among rocks: also ru·pic´o·lous (-pik´э lэs) •adj. [< L rupes, rock (after LACUSTRINE) < base of rumpere, to break: see RUPTURE]
rupiah (ru: pi:´э) •n. the basic monetary unit of Indonesia: see MONEY, table [< Hindi rūpiyah, RUPEE]
rupture (rûp´chэr) •n. 1 the act of breaking apart or bursting, or the state of being broken apart or burst; breach 2 a breaking off of friendly or peaceful relations, as between countries or individuals 3 Med. a hernia; esp., a) an abdominal or inguinal hernia b) a forcible tearing or bursting of an organ or part, as of a blood vessel, the bladder, etc. •vt., vi. -tured, -tur·ing 1 to break apart or burst 2 to affect with, undergo, or suffer a rupture [LME ruptur < MFr rupture < L ruptura < ruptus, pp. of rumpere, to break < IE *reup- < base *reu-, to tear out, tear apart, break > ROB, RUB]
rural (rur´эl) •adj. 1 of or characteristic of the country, country life, or country people; rustic 2 living in the country 3 having to do with farming; agricultural ru´ral·ly •adv. SYN.—rural is the comprehensive, nonspecific word referring to life on the farm or in the country as distinguished from life in the city [rural schools]; rustic stresses the contrast between the supposed crudeness and unsophistication of the country and the polish and refinement of the city [rustic humor]; pastoral suggests the highly idealized primitive simplicity of rural life, originally among shepherds; bucolic, in contrast, suggests a down-to-earth rustic simplicity or artlessness [her bucolic suitor] —ANT. urban [ME < MFr < LL ruralis < L rus (gen. ruris), the country < IE *rewos, space < base *rewe-, to open, ROOM]
rural delivery delivery of mail by carriers on routes in rural areas: formerly rural free delivery
ruralism (-iz'эm) •n. 1 rural quality or character 2 rural life 3 a rural idiom, characteristic, feature, etc. Also ru·ral·i·ty (ru ræl´э ti:), pl. -ties
ruralist (-ist) •n. one who leads or advocates a rural life
ruralize (rur´э laiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt. to make rural •vi. to live for a time in the country ru'ral·i·za´tion •n.
Rurik (ru:´rik) died A.D. 879; Scand. chief regarded as the founder of the 1st Russian dynasty (c. 862-1598)
Ruritanian (rur'э tei´ni: эn) •adj. of, like, or characteristic of some quaint, romantic, unreal place [after Ruritania, imaginary kingdom in novels by Anthony HOPE]
Ruse (ru:´si:) city in Bulgaria, on the Danube: pop. 181,000 ruse (ru:z) •n. a stratagem, trick, or artifice SYN. TRICK [Fr < MFr < OFr reuser, to deceive < L recusare, to be reluctant, refuse: see RECUSANT]
Rush (rûsh), Benjamin 1745-1813; Am. physician: signer of the Declaration of Independence
rush candle a candle made with the pith of a rush as the wick: also rush´light' •n.or rush light
rush hour a time of the day when business, traffic, etc. are especially heavy rush´-hour' •adj.
rush¹ (rûsh) •vi. 1 a) to move or go swiftly or impetuously; dash b) to dash recklessly or rashly 2 to make a swift, sudden attack or assault (on or upon); charge 3 to pass, come, go, come into view, act, etc. swiftly, suddenly, or hastily {a thought rushing into the mind} Æ 4 Football to advance the ball while on offense by running with it •vt. 1 to move, send, push, drive, etc. swiftly, violently, or hastily {we rushed him to the hospital} 2 to do, make, or cause to move, go, or act, with unusual or excessive speed or haste; hurry {to rush an order, a person at work, etc.} 3 a) to make a swift, sudden attack or assault on; charge b) to overcome or capture by such an attack or assault Æ 4 [Colloq.] a) to lavish attentions on, as in courting b) to entertain with parties or the like prior to inviting to join a fraternity or sorority Æ 5 Football a) to advance (the ball) by a running play or plays b) BLITZ •n. 1 the act of rushing 2 an eager movement of many people to get to a place, as to a region where gold has recently been found 3 intense activity; busyness; haste; hurry {the rush of modern life} 4 a sudden, swift attack or assault; onslaught Æ 5 a kind of scrimmage contest between groups of college students, as between freshmen and sophomores 6 a press, as of business or traffic, necessitating unusual haste or effort {the morning rush} 7 [Slang] a) the first, sudden euphoric effect of taking a drug, as by injecting heroin directly into a vein b) a sudden thrill of pleasure Æ 8 Football a play in which an offensive back runs with the ball 9 [usually pl.] Film a first print made shortly after the filming of a scene or scenes, for inspection by the director, etc. •adj. 1 necessitating haste {rush orders} 2 characterized by a RUSH¹ (n. 6) {rush hours} with a rush suddenly and forcefully rush´er •n. [ME ruschen < Anglo-Fr russher < MFr ruser, to repel, avert, orig., to mislead < OFr reuser: see RUSE]
rush² (rûsh) •n. 1 any of a genus (Juncus) of plants of the rush family, having small, greenish flowers: rushes usually grow in wet places and the round stems and pliant leaves of some species are used in making baskets, mats, ropes, etc. 2 any of various similar plants, as the bulrushes or horsetails •adj. designating a family (Juncaceae, order Juncales) of grasslike monocotyledonous plants with a 6-parted perianth, tufted leaves, and the fruit in capsules [ME rusche < OE risc, akin to MDu risch, Norw rusk < IE base *rezg-, to plait, twist > Sans rájju, L restis, cord]
rushee (rûsh i:´) •n. a college student who is being rushed by a fraternity or sorority
Rushmore (rûsh´mör'), Mount mountain in the Black Hills, W S.Dak., on which are carved huge heads (60 ft., 18 m, high) of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, & Theodore Roosevelt: 6,200 ft. (1,889 m): it constitutes a national memorial (Mount Rushmore National Memorial), c. 2 sq. mi. (5.2 sq. km) [after Chas. E. Rushmore, N.Y. mining attorney]
rushy (rûsh´i:) rush´i·er, rush´i·est •adj. 1 made of, full of, or covered with rushes (plants) 2 like a rush
rusk (rûsk) •n. 1 sweet, raised bread or cake toasted in an oven, or baked a second time, after slicing, until browned and crisp 2 a piece of this [Sp rosca, twisted roll of bread, lit., a spiral < VL *rosicare, to gnaw]
Ruskin (rûs´kin), John 1819-1900; Eng. writer, art critic, & social reformer
Russ (rûs) pl. Russ •adj., n.or Russ´es archaic var. of RUSSIAN [< Russ Rus', name of land & people]
Russell (rûs´эl) 1 a masculine name: dim. Russ: also Rus´sel 2 Bertrand (Arthur William) 3d Earl Russell, 1872-1970; philosopher, mathematician, & writer, born in Wales 3 George William (pseud. Æ or A.E.) 1867-1935; Ir. poet & essayist 4 Lord John 1st Earl Russell of Kingston Russell, 1792-1878; Eng. statesman: prime minister (1846-52; 1865-66): grandfather of Bertrand 5 Lillian (born Helen Louise Leonard) 1861-1922; U.S. singer & actress [< surname Russell, orig. dim. of Fr roux, reddish < OFr rous: see RUSSET]
Russell's viper a very poisonous viper (Vipera russeli) of SE and SC Asia, with a pale-brown body and ringlike black spots edged with white or yellow [after P. Russell, 18th-c. Brit physician]
russet (rûs´it) •n. 1 yellowish brown or reddish brown 2 a coarse homespun cloth, reddish-brown or brownish, formerly used for clothing by country people 3 a winter apple with a rough, mottled skin •adj. 1 yellowish-brown or reddish-brown 2 made of russet (cloth) 3 [Archaic] rustic, simple, etc. [ME < OFr rousset, dim. of rous < L russus, reddish < IE *rudhso- < base *reudh-, RED]
Russia (rûsh´э) 1 former empire (Russian Empire) in E Europe & N Asia, 1547-1917, ruled by the czars: cap. St. Petersburg 2 loosely, the UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS 3 RUSSIAN SOVIET FEDERATED SOCIALIST REPUBLIC, esp. the European part 4 country in E Europe and N Asia, stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific & from the Arctic Ocean to the Chinese border: established in 1991 upon the breakup of the U.S.S.R.: 6,592,800 sq. mi. (17,075,286 sq. km); pop. 149,469,000; cap. Moscow: official name Russian Federation [see RUSS]
Russia leather a fine, smooth leather, usually dyed dark red, orig. made in Russia of hides treated with oil from birch bark: used in bookbinding, etc.
Russian (rûsh´эn) •adj. of Russia, its people, their language, etc. •n. 1 a) a native or inhabitant of Russia b) popularly, any citizen of the U.S.S.R. 2 a member of the chief Slavic people of Russia 3 the East Slavic language of the Russians
Russian (Orthodox) Church an autonomous branch of the Eastern Orthodox Church
Russian blue any of a breed of domestic cat, thought to have originated in Arkhangelsk, with a soft, dense, grayish-blue or silvery-blue coat and green eyes
Russian dressing mayonnaise mixed with chili sauce, chopped pickles, pimentos, etc.: used as a salad dressing
Russian olive a small, hardy tree (Elaeagnus angustifolia) of the oleaster family, with silvery leaves and fragrant yellow flowers, often grown for windbreaks or ornament
Russian Revolution 1 the revolution of 1917 in which the government of the czar was overthrown: it consisted of two distinct revolutions, the first (February Revolution) being the uprising of March (February, Old Style), in which a parliamentarian government headed by Kerensky came to power, the second (October Revolution) being the uprising of November (October, Old Style), in which this government was replaced by the Soviet government led by the Bolsheviks (Communists) under Lenin 2 sometimes, the October Revolution alone
Russian roulette 1 a deadly game of chance in which a person spins the cylinder of a revolver holding only one bullet, aims the gun at his or her head, and pulls the trigger 2 any activity potentially destructive to its participants
Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic a republic of the U.S.S.R.: now RUSSIA
Russian thistle a spiny weed (Salsola kali) of the goosefoot family: it matures into a spherical tumbleweed
Russian Turkestan the part of Turkestan formerly under Soviet control comprising the Kirghiz, Tadzhik, Turkmen & Uzbek republics and sometimes Kazakhstan: also called Western Turkestan
Russian wolfhound old name for BORZOI
Russianize (-aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt. to make Russian in character Rus'sian·i·za´tion •n.
Russify (rûs´э fai') -fied', -fy'ing •vt. RUSSIANIZE Rus'si·fi·ca´tion •n.
Russki (rûs´ki:) pl. -skies •n.or -skis [Slang] 1 RUSSIAN (n. 1) 2 [pl.] the government or leaders of the U.S.S.R. Also Rus´skie or Rus´sky, pl. -skies or -skis •adj. RUSSIAN Mild term of contempt
Russo- (rûs´ou, -э) combining form Russian, Russian and {Russophile}
Russophile (rûs´э fail') •n. a person who admires or is extremely fond of Russia or its people, customs, influence, etc. •adj. of Russophiles [prec. + -PHILE]
Russophobia (rûs'э fou´bi: э) •n. hatred or fear of Russia or its people, influence, etc. Rus´so·phobe' •n., adj. [RUSSO- + -PHOBIA]
rust (rûst) •n. 1 the reddish-brown or reddish-yellow coating formed on iron or steel by oxidation, as during exposure to air and moisture: it consists mainly of ferric oxide, Fe2O3, and ferric hydroxide, Fe(OH)3 2 any coating or film formed on any other metal by oxidation or corrosion 3 any stain or formation resembling iron rust 4 any habit, influence, growth, etc. injurious to usefulness, to the mind or character, etc. 5 disuse of mental or moral powers; inactivity; idleness 6 the color of iron rust; reddish brown or reddish yellow 7 Bot. a) any of various plant diseases characterized by a spotted reddish or brownish discoloration of stems and leaves b) any of an order (Uredinales) of basidiomycetous fungi causing rust (in full rust fungus) •vi., vt. 1 to affect or be affected by a rust fungus 2 to become or cause to be coated with rust, as iron 3 to deteriorate or spoil, as through disuse {a mind that has rusted} 4 to become or make rust-colored [ME < OE, akin to Ger rost < IE base *reudh-, RED]
Rust Belt [also r- b-] that part of the U.S. comprising many of the States of the Midwest and the Northeast, regarded as an area marked by decreasing production of such items as steel and automobiles, aging factories, diminishing population, etc.
rust-colored (-kûl'эrd) •adj. having the color of iron rust; reddish-brown or reddish-yellow
rustic (rûs´tik) •adj. 1 of or living in the country, as distinguished from cities or towns; rural 2 lacking refinement, elegance, polish, or sophistication; specif., a) simple, plain, or artless b) rough, awkward, uncouth, or boorish 3 made of rough, bark-covered branches or roots {rustic furniture} 4 Masonry having a rough surface or irregular, deeply sunk, deliberately conspicuous joints; rusticated •n. a country person, esp. one regarded as unsophisticated, simple, awkward, uncouth, etc. SYN. RURAL rus´ti·cal·ly •adv. rus·tic´i·ty (-tis´э ti:) •n. [LME rustyk < MFr rustique < L rusticus < rus, the country: see RURAL]
rustical (-ti kэl) •adj., n. archaic var. of RUSTIC
rusticate (rûs´tэ keit') -cat'ed, -cat'ing •vi. 1 to go to the country 2 to live or stay in the country; lead a rural life •vt. 1 to send to, or cause to live or stay in, the country 2 [Brit.] to suspend (a student) temporarily from a university 3 to make (a person, etc.) rustic 4 to make or finish (masonry) in the rustic style rus'ti·ca´tion •n. rus´ti·ca'tor •n. [< L rusticatus, pp. of L rusticari, to rusticate < rusticus: see RUSTIC]
Rustin (rûs´tin), Bay·ard (bai´эrd) 1910-87; U.S. civil rights leader
rustle¹ (rûs´эl) -tled, -tling •vi., vt. to make or cause to make an irregular succession of soft sounds, as of leaves being moved by a gentle breeze or of papers being shuffled •n. such a succession of sounds rus´tling·ly •adv. [ME rustelen, freq. formation < ME rouslen, akin to earlier Fl ruysselen < WGmc echoic base]
rustle² (rûs´эl) -tled, -tling •vi., vt. 1 [Colloq.] to work or proceed with, or move, bring, or get by, energetic or vigorous action Æ 2 a) orig., in the W U.S., to round up (cattle, horses, etc.) b) [Colloq.] to steal (cattle, horses, etc.) Æ rustle up [Colloq.] to collect or get together, as by foraging rus´tler •n. [< ? RUSH¹ + HUSTLE]
rustproof (rûst´pru:f') •adj. resistant to rust •vt. to make rustproof
rusty (rûs´ti:) rust´i·er, rust´i·est •adj. 1 coated with rust, as a metal, or affected with the disease of rust, as a plant 2 consisting of or caused by rust 3 not working freely, easily, or quietly because of, or as if because of, rust; stiff or rasping in operation 4 a) impaired by disuse, neglect, etc. {to find one's golf game rusty} b) having lost facility through lack of practice {to be a little rusty in chess} 5 having the color of rust 6 faded, old-looking, or shabby rust´i·ly •adv. rust´i·ness •n. [ME < OE rustig]
rut¹ (rût) •n. 1 a groove, furrow, or track, esp. one made in the ground by the passage of wheeled vehicles 2 a fixed, routine course of action, thought, etc., esp. one regarded as dull and unrewarding •vt. rut´ted, rut´ting to make a rut or ruts in [< ? MFr route, ROUTE]
rut² (rût) •n. 1 the periodic sexual excitement, or heat, of certain mammals: applied esp. to males, often specif. to those male ruminants in which it occurs once a year: cf. ESTRUS 2 the period during which this occurs •vi. rut´ted, rut´ting to be in rut [ME rutte < OFr ruit < L rugitus, a roaring (as of deer in rut) < rugire, to roar < IE *reuk- < echoic base *reu-, to roar, cry hoarsely > OE ryn, OSlav rykati, to roar]
rutabaga (ru:t'э bei´gэ, ru:t´э bei'gэ) •n. 1 a turniplike plant (Brassica napobrassica) of the crucifer family, with a large, yellow root 2 this edible root [Swed dial. rotabagge < rot (< ON rot, ROOT¹) + bagge, ram, thick object < ON baggi > BAG]
Ruth (ru:θ) 1 a feminine name 2 Bible a) a Moabite widow deeply devoted to her mother-in-law, Naomi, for whom she left her own people to later become the wife of Boaz of Bethlehem b) the book that tells her story (abbrev. Ru) 3 George Herman (called Babe) 1895-1948; U.S. baseball player [LL(Ec) < Heb rut, prob. contr. < re'ut, companion] ruth (ru:θ) •n. [Now Rare] 1 pity; compassion 2 sorrow; grief; remorse [ME reuthe < reowen: see RUE¹]
Ruthenia (ru: θi:´ni: э, -θi:n´yэ) region in W Ukraine, a former province of Czechoslovakia [ML, Russia]
Ruthenian (-θi:´ni: эn, -θi:n´yэn) •n. 1 any of a group of Ukrainians living in Ruthenia and E Slovakia 2 the Ukrainian dialect spoken in Ruthenia •adj. 1 of Ruthenia or the Ruthenians 2 of Ruthenian
ruthenic (ru: θen´ik, -θi:´nik) •adj. designating or of chemical compounds containing ruthenium with a higher valence than in the corresponding ruthenious compounds
ruthenious (-θi:´ni: эs) •adj. designating or of chemical compounds containing ruthenium with a lower valence than in the corresponding ruthenic compounds
ruthenium (-θi:´ni: эm) •n. a rare metallic chemical element of the platinum group, very hard and brittle, and silvery-gray in color, used as a hardener in alloys of platinum and palladium and as a catalyst: symbol, Ru; at. wt., 101.07; at. no., 44; sp. gr., 12.41; melt. pt., 2,310°C; boil. pt., 3,900°C [ModL: so named (1828) by G. W. Osann, Estonian-Russian chemist who produced it in impure form < ML Ruthenia, Russia (source of the ore) + -IUM]
Rutherford (rûð´эr fэrd), Joseph Franklin 1869-1942; U.S. leader of Jehovah's Witnesses
Rutherford atom the atom postulated as analogous to the solar system, with electrons revolving around a small, central, positive nucleus that constitutes practically the entire mass of the atom [after Baron Ernest Rutherford (1871-1937), Brit physicist]
rutherfordium (rûθ'эr för´di: эm) •n. the name proposed by American scientists for the radioactive chemical element 104 first produced in U.S. by bombarding californium with carbon nuclei: symbol, Rf; at. wt., (261); at. no., l04
ruthful (ru:θ´fэl) •adj. [Now Rare] full of ruth; feeling, showing, or arousing pity or sorrow ruth´ful·ly •adv. ruth´ful·ness •n. [ME reuthful]
ruthless (-lis) •adj. without ruth; pitiless SYN. CRUEL ruth´less·ly •adv. ruth´less·ness •n. [ME reutheles]
rutilant (ru:t´ªl эnt) •adj. [Rare] glowing, gleaming, or glittering [L rutilans, prp. of rutilare, to have a reddish glow < rutilus: see RUTILE]
rutile (ru:´ti:l', -tail') •n. a lustrous, dark-red mineral, titanium dioxide, TiO2, commonly found in prismatic crystals and usually containing some iron [< Fr or Ger: Fr < Ger rutil < L rutilus, red; akin to rufus, rubeus, RED]
rutin (ru:t´ªn) •n. a yellowish, powdery bioflavonoid, C27H30O16, found in many plants, esp. buckwheat and tobacco
Rutland (rût´lэnd) former county of EC England, now part of Leicestershire: also Rut´land·shire' (-shir', -shэr)
Rutledge (rût´lij) 1 Ann c. 1813-35; alleged fiancée of young Abraham Lincoln 2 Edward 1749-1800; Am. statesman: signer of the Declaration of Independence 3 John 1739-1800; Am. statesman: brother of Edward
ruttish (rût´ish) •adj. in or inclined to rut (sexual heat); lustful rut´tish·ly •adv. rut´tish·ness •n.
rutty (rût´i:) -ti·er, -ti·est •adj. having or full of ruts {a rutty road} rut´ti·ness •n.
Ruwenzori (ru:'wen zör´i:) group of mountains in EC Africa, on the Zaire-Uganda border: identified with the Mountains of the Moon referred to by ancient writers: highest peak, Mt. Stanley
Ruysdael (rois´däl', rais´-; Du řës´däl'), Jacob van alt. sp. of Jacob van RUISDAEL
Ruyter (řoi´tэř, rai´-), Mi·chiel A·dri·aans·zoon de (mi: khi:l´ ä'dři: än´sэn dэ) 1607-76; Du. admiral
Ružička (ru:´zhi:ch kä'), Le·o·pold (lei´ô pôlt') 1887-1976: Swiss chemist, born in Yugoslavia
Rv Bible Revelation RV abbrev. Revised Version (of the Bible) RV (är´vi:´) pl. RVs •n. any of various vehicles, as campers, trailers, and motor homes, outfitted as a place to live, as when camping out [R(ecreational) V(ehicle)]
RW 1 Right Worshipful 2 Right Worthy
Rwanda (ru: än´dэ) country in EC Africa, east of Zaire: formerly part of Ruanda-Urundi: 10,169 sq. mi. (26,338 sq. km); pop. 4,819,000; cap. Kigali Rwan´dan •adj., n.
Rwy or Ry Railway
Rx (är´eks´) •n. a remedy, cure, or the like suggested for any disorder or problem Rx symbol for PRESCRIPTION (sense 3) [altered < ##, conventional symbol for L recipe: see RECIPE]
-ry (ri:) suffix -ERY {foundry, Englishry, papistry}
rya rug (ri:´э) a decorative hand-woven area rug or tapestry of Scandinavian origin, with a thick pile and, usually, an abstract design [Swed rya (matta) < ON ry, coarse woolen cover, akin to OE ryhe: for IE base see ROUGH]
Ryan (rai´эn) a masculine name
Ryazan (ri:'э zän´, -zän´yª) city in W European Russia, near the Oka River: pop. 494,000
Rybinsk (ri´binsk') 1 city in W European Russia, on Rybinsk Reservoir: pop. 251,000 2 artificial lake on the upper Volga: c. 1,800 sq. mi. (4,661 sq. km): in full Rybinsk Reservoir
Ryder (raid´эr), Albert Pink·ham (piŋk´эm) 1847-1917; U.S. painter
rye bread a bread made altogether or partly of rye flour, often with caraway seeds added
rye¹ (rai) •n. 1 a hardy cereal grass (Secale cereale) widely grown for its grain and straw 2 the grain or seeds of this plant, used for making flour and whiskey, and as feed for livestock Æ 3 whiskey distilled wholly or chiefly from this grain 4 short for RYE BREAD [ME < OE ryge, akin to Ger roggen < IE base *wrughyo-, rye > Lith rug##s, rye grain]
rye² (rai) •n. a Gypsy gentleman [see ROMANY RYE]
ryegrass (-græs', -gräs') •n. any of a genus (Lolium) of annual or short-lived perennial grasses, often grown for lawns or as forage
Ryle (rail) 1 Gilbert 1900-76; Brit. philosopher 2 Sir Martin 1918-84; Brit. astronomer
ryokan (ri: ou´kän) pl. -kan •n.or -kans a Japanese inn [Jpn, inn < SinoJpn ryo, travel + kan, building]
ryot (rai´эt) •n. in India, a peasant or tenant farmer [Hindi raiyat < Ar raīya, flock, herd]
Ryukyu (ri: yu:´kyu:', ri: u:´-) chain of Japanese islands in the W Pacific, between Kyushu & Taiwan: c. 1,800 sq. mi. (4,661 sq. km); pop. 1,200,000: chief island, Okinawa
S abbrev. 1 Sabbath 2 Saint 3 Saturday 4 Saxon 5 Seaman 6 Senate 7 September 8 Signor 9 small 10 Society 11 South 12 south 13 southern 14 Chem. symbol for sulfur 15 Sunday
's 1 is {he's here} 2 has {she's eaten} 3 [Colloq.] does {what's it matter?} 4 us {let's go} A shortened form used in contractions
-s suffix 1 forming the plural of most nouns {hips, shoes} 2 forming the 3d pers. sing., pres. indic., of certain verbs {shouts, gives, runs} 3 forming some adverbs {betimes, days} [alternate form of -ES, assimilated to prec. voiceless sounds as (s) and to S voiced sounds as (z) when those sounds are not sibilants]
-'s suffix 1 forming the possessive singular of nouns and some pronouns {boy's, one's} 2 forming the possessive plural of nouns whose plural does not end in s {women's} [assimilated contr. < ME -es < OE, masc. & neut. gen. sing. inflection]
S & L savings and loan association
S Afr 1 South Africa: also S Af 2 South African
's Gravenhage (skhřä'vэn hä´khэ) Du. name of The HAGUE
's Hertogenbosch (seř´tou khэn bös') city in SC Netherlands: capital of North Brabant province: pop. 78,000
S of S Song of Songs: see SONG OF SOLOMON
S of Sol Song of Solomon
s or S (es) pl. s's, S's •n. 1 the nineteenth letter of the English alphabet: from Greek sigma, a borrowing from the Phoenician 2 any of the speech sounds that this letter represents, as, in English, the (s) of soap or (z) of rise 3 a type or impression for S or s 4 the nineteenth in a sequence or group 5 an object shaped like S •adj. 1 of S or s 2 nineteenth in a sequence or group 3 shaped like S
S wave wave motion in a solid medium in which the particles of the medium oscillate in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the wave: it cannot be transmitted through a fluid [< s(econdary) wave]
S&M (sexual) sadism and masochism; sadomasochism: also s&m or S and M
s.d. without date [L sine die]
s.l. without place (of publication) [L sine loco]
s.p. without issue; childless [L sine prole]
s.v. sub verbo (or sub voce)
S/M or S-M (sexual) sadism and masochism; sadomasochism
S/N or s/n signal-to-noise ratio: the difference, in decibels, between the level of a specific signal and that of unwanted noise
Sa 1 Bible Samuel 2 Saturday SA 1 Salvation Army 2 Seaman Apprentice 3 [Slang] sex appeal 4 South Africa 5 South America 6 South Australia 7 storm troops [Ger Sturmabteilung] sa 1 semiannual 2 [Slang] sex appeal
Saadi (sä´di:) alt. sp. of SADI
Saar (sär, zär) 1 river flowing from the Vosges Mountains, NE France, north into the Moselle River, SW Germany: c. 150 mi. (240 km) 2 rich coal-mining region (also called Saar Basin) in the valley of this river: administered by France (1919-35) & Germany (1935-47) until set up as an autonomous government having a customs union with France (1947-57): since 1957, the SAARLAND
Saarbrücken (sär´bruk'эn, zär´-; Ger zäř´břük'эn) city in SW Germany, on the Saar: capital of the Saarland: pop. 190,000
Saaremaa (sä´řэ mä') island of Estonia in the Baltic Sea, at the entrance to the Gulf of Riga: 1,048 sq. mi. (2,715 sq. km)
Saarinen (sär´i nen', -nэn) 1 Ee·ro (ei´rou) 1910-61; U.S. architect, born in Finland 2 (Gottlieb) E·liel (i:l´yel) 1873-1950; Finn. architect, in the U.S. after 1923: father of Eero
Saarland (sär´lænd, zär´-; Ger zäř´länt') state of SW Germany, in the Saar River Basin: 991 sq. mi. (2,566 sq. km); pop. 1,054,000; cap. Saarbrücken
Sab Sabbath
Saba (sä´bэ; for 2 sei´bэ, sæb´э) 1 island of the Leeward group, in the Netherlands Antilles: 5 sq. mi. (13 sq. km); pop. 1,000 2 ancient kingdom in S Arabia in the region of modern Yemen: Biblical name SHEBA
Sabadell (sä'bä del´) city in NE Spain, near Barcelona: pop. 185,000
sabadilla (sæb'э dil´э) •n. 1 a Mexican and Central American plant (Schoenocaulon officinale) of the lily family, with brown seeds used in insecticides and formerly in medicine 2 the seeds, containing the alkaloids veratrine, veratridine, etc. [Sp cebadilla, dim. of cebada, barley < L cibare, to feed < cibus, food]
Sabaean (sэ bi:´эn) •adj. of the ancient kingdom of Saba, its people, their language, etc. •n. 1 a member of the Semitic people of ancient Saba 2 the dialect of South Arabic spoken by the Sabaeans, known only from inscriptions
Sabah (sä´bä) state of Malaysia, occupying NE Borneo & several offshore islands, including Labuan: formerly, until 1963, a British colony (called North Borneo): 28,460 sq. mi. (73,711 sq. km); pop. 1,012,000; cap. Kota Kinabalu
Sabaoth (sæb´ei äθ', sæb´э ouθ'; sэ bei´ouθ') •n.pl. Bible armies; hosts In the Lord of Sabaoth: Rom. 9:29, James 5:4 [ME < LL(Ec) < Gr(Ec) Sabaōth < Heb tsevaot, pl. of tsava, host, army]
Sabatier (så bå tyei´), Paul (pôl) 1854-1941; Fr. chemist
sabayon (sä bä youn´; Fr så bå youñ´) •n. ZABAGLIONE [Fr]
sabbat (sæb´эt) •n. WITCHES' SABBATH [Fr, SABBATH]
Sabbatarian (sæb'э ter´i: эn) •adj. 1 of the Sabbath and its observance 2 of the beliefs and practices of the Sabbatarians •n. 1 a person, esp. a Christian, who observes Saturday as the Sabbath 2 a Christian who favors rigid observance of Sunday as the Sabbath Sab'ba·tar´i·an·ism' •n. [LL(Ec) sabbatarius]
Sabbath (sæb´эθ) •n. 1 the seventh day of the week (Saturday), set aside by the fourth Commandment for rest and worship and observed as such by Jews and some Christian sects 2 Sunday as the usual Christian day of rest and worship •adj. of the Sabbath [ME sabat < OFr & OE, both < L sabbatum < Gr sabbaton < Heb shabat < shavat, to rest]
Sabbath school classes in religious instruction held on the Sabbath
Sabbatical (sэ bæt´i kэl) •adj. 1 of or suited to the Sabbath 2 [s-] bringing a period of rest that recurs in regular cycles •n. [s-] 1 a recurring period of rest 2 SABBATICAL LEAVE 3 SABBATICAL YEAR Also Sab·bat´ic Sab·bat´i·cal·ly •adv. [< Fr sabbatique < LL(Ec) sabbaticus < Gr sabbatikos < sabbaton (see SABBATH) + -AL]
sabbatical leave a year or shorter period of absence for study, rest, or travel, given at intervals (orig. every seven years) as to some college teachers and now to people in other fields, at full or partial salary
sabbatical year 1 among the ancient Jews, every seventh year, in which, according to Mosaic law, the land and vineyards were to remain fallow and debtors were to be released Æ 2 SABBATICAL LEAVE
Sabean (sэ bi:´эn) •adj., n. alt. sp. of SABAEAN
Sabellian (sэ bel´i: эn, -bel´yэn) •n. 1 a member of a group of pre-Roman peoples of ancient Italy including the Sabines and Samnites 2 an extinct branch of the Italic subfamily of languages, probably most closely related to Oscan [< L Sabelli, ancient name of the Sabines + -AN]
saber (sei´bэr) •n. 1 a heavy cavalry sword with a slightly curved blade: see SWORD, illus. 2 Fencing a type of weapon, heavier than a foil, used with a slashing as well as thrusting movement: a touch may be scored with the edge or point •vt. to strike, wound, or kill with a saber [Fr sabre < Ger sabel < MHG < Pol & Hung: Pol szabla < Hung szablya]
saber rattling a threatening of war, or a menacing show of armed force
saber-toothed (-tu:θt') •adj. designating various animals with long, curved upper canine teeth
saber-toothed tiger any of various extinct cats, closely resembling the tiger, but with a more massive body, shorter legs and tail, and long, curved upper canine teeth: found from the Oligocene to the Pleistocene, and of wide distribution
Sabin (sei´bin), Albert B(ruce) 1906-93; U.S. physician & bacteriologist, born in Russia: developed an oral vaccine to prevent poliomyelitis sabin (sei´bin, -bэn) •n. Acoustics the unit for absorption of sound equal to the absorption provided by one square foot of a completely absorbing material [after W. C. Sabine (1868-1919), U.S. physicist]
Sabine (sei´bain') •n. 1 a member of an ancient people living chiefly in the Apennines of central Italy, conquered by the Romans in the 3d century B.C. 2 the Italic language of this people [ME Sabyn < L Sabinus < Sabine *Safini (pl.) < IE *swobho-, var. of *s(w)ebh-: see SIB] Sabine (sэ bi:n´) river flowing from E Tex. south along the Tex.-La. border into the Gulf of Mexico: c. 550 mi. (886 km): lower course is part of a system of channels (Sabine-Neches Waterway) connecting Beaumont, Tex., & Lake Charles, La., with the Gulf of Mexico [Fr < Sp sabina, red cedar: named for the trees along its banks]
Sabine Lake shallow lake formed by the widening of the Sabine River just above its mouth: c. 17 mi. (27 km) long
Sable (sei´bэl) 1 Cape cape at the S tip of Fla.: southernmost point of the U.S. mainland: c. 20 mi. (32 km) long 2 Cape cape at the S tip of Nova Scotia [< Fr, sand < L sabulum, SAND] sable (sei´bэl) pl. -bles or -ble •n. 1 any marten; esp., the stone marten or a darker American species (Martes americana) 2 a) the costly fur or pelt of the sable b) [pl.] a coat, neckpiece, etc. made of this 3 [pl.] [Now Rare] black mourning clothes 4 Heraldry the color black: indicated in engraving by crosshatching to produce a dark shading •adj. 1 made of or with the fur of the sable 2 black or dark brown [OFr < ML sabelum < MDu sabel < OHG zobel < Russ sobol']
sable antelope a large antelope (Hippotragus niger) of South Africa, with long, scimitar-shaped, ringed horns
sablefish (sei´bэl fish') pl. (see FISH) -fish' or -fish'es Æ any of a small family (Anoplopomatidae) of large fishes of the N Pacific, esp. an edible, dark species (Anoplopoma fimbria) •n.
sabot (sæ bou´, sæb´ou) •n. 1 a) a kind of shoe shaped and hollowed from a single piece of wood, traditionally worn by peasants in Europe b) a heavy leather shoe with a wooden sole 2 a bushing or similar device fitted around or in back of a projectile, as to make it fit the bore of the gun barrel or launching tube [Fr < OFr çabot, altered (infl. by bot, BOOT¹) < savate, shoe, via Turk < Ar sabbāt, sandal]
sabotage (sæb´э täzh', sæb'э täzh´) •n. 1 intentional destruction of machines, waste of materials, etc., as by employees during labor disputes 2 destruction of railroads, bridges, machinery, etc., as by enemy agents or by an underground resistance 3 the deliberate obstruction of or damage to any cause, movement, activity, effort, etc. •vt. -taged', -tag'ing to injure or destroy by sabotage •vi. to engage in sabotage [Fr < saboter, to work badly, damage < sabot: see SABOT & -AGE: from damage done to machinery by wooden shoes]
saboteur (sæb'э tør´; also, -tur´) •n. a person who engages in sabotage [Fr]
sabra (sä´brэ) •n. a native-born Israeli [ModHeb sabra, lit. (an obs. sense), prickly fruit of a native cactus: in allusion to being viewed as tough outside but soft inside]
sabre (sei´bэr) -bred, -bring •n., vt. SABER
sabre saw a portable electric saw with a narrow, oscillating blade
sabretache (sei´bэr tæsh', sæb´эr-) •n. a square leather case hung from the saber belt of cavalrymen [Fr < Ger säbeltasche < säbel, SABER + tasche, pocket < ML tasca: see TASK]
sabulous (sæb´yu lэs) •adj. sandy or gritty [L sabulosus < sabulum, SAND]
SAC Strategic Air Command sac (sæk) •n. a pouchlike part in a plant or animal, esp. one filled with fluid sac´like' •adj. [Fr < L saccus: see SACK¹] Sac (sæk, sök) pl. Sacs •n.or Sac var. of SAUK
sac fungus ASCOMYCETE
sacaton (sæk'э toun´) •n. a coarse native grass (Sporobolus wrightii), used for hay or pasture on dry ranges in the SW U.S. and Mexico [AmSp zacatón < zacate < Nahuatl sakaλ, grass]
saccade (sæ käd´) •n. any of the rapid, involuntary jumps made by the eyes from one fixed point to another, as in reading sac·cad·ic (se kæd´ik) •adj. [Fr, a jerk < obs. saquer, to shake, pull, dial. var. of OFr sachier < VL *saccare, to pull from a sack < L saccus, SACK¹]
saccate (sæk´eit) •adj. 1 shaped like a sac; pouchlike 2 having a sac [ML saccatus < L saccus: see SACK¹]
sacchar- (sæk´эr) combining form SACCHARO- Used before a vowel
saccharase (sæk´э reis') •n. SUCRASE [prec. + -ASE]
saccharate (-reit', -rit) •n. 1 a salt or ester of saccharic acid 2 a compound of sugar with the oxide of calcium, strontium, or a similar metal [SACCHAR- + -ATE²]
saccharic (sэ kær´ik) •adj. of or derived from saccharine compounds [SACCHAR- + -IC]
saccharic acid a diacid, COOH(CHOH)4COOH, obtained by the oxidation of glucose and other hexoses by nitric acid
saccharide (sæk´э raid') •n. 1 a compound of sugar with an organic base 2 any of the carbohydrates; esp., a monosaccharide [SACCHAR- + -IDE]
saccharify (sэ kær´э fai') -fied', -fy'ing •vt. to convert (starch or dextrin) into sugar, as by chemical means sac·char'i·fi·ca´tion •n. [SACCHAR- + -I- + -FY]
saccharimeter (sæk'э rim´эt эr) •n. an instrument, as a form of polarimeter used to determine the amount of sugar in a solution [Fr saccharimètre: see SACCHARO- & -METER]
saccharin (sæk´э rin', -rэn) •n. Æ a white, crystalline coal-tar compound, C7H5NO3S, about 500 times sweeter than cane sugar, used as a sugar substitute in diabetic diets, as a noncaloric sweetener, etc. [so named (1879) by its discoverers, I. Remsen & C. Fahlberg, U.S. chemists < ModL saccharum, sugar < L < Gr sakcharon, ult. < Sans śarkarā, pebble, sugar (> SUGAR) + -IN¹]
saccharine (-rin', -rэn; also, -rain') •adj. 1 of, having the nature of, containing, or producing sugar Æ 2 too sweet or syrupy {a saccharine voice} Æ n. SACCHARIN sac´cha·rine'ly •adv. sac'cha·rin´i·ty (-rin´э ti:) •n. [SACCHAR- + -INE¹]
saccharo- (sæk´э rou') combining form sugar {saccharometer} [< L saccharum, sugar: see SACCHARIN]
saccharoidal (sæk'э roid´ªl) Geol. having a crystalline or granular texture: said esp. of some limestones and marbles Also sac´cha·roid' •adj. [< prec. + -OID + -AL]
saccharometer (-räm´эt эr) •n. a form of hydrometer for determining the amount of sugar in a solution [SACCHARO- + -METER]
saccharose (sæk´э rous') •n. SUCROSE [SACCHAR- + -OSE¹]
Sacco (sæk´ou; It säk´kô), Ni·co·la (ni: kô´lä) 1891-1927; It. anarchist in the U.S.: together with Bartolomeo VANZETTI, charged with murder & payroll theft in 1920: their conviction & execution aroused international protest, being regarded by many as the result of political bias
saccular (sæk´yэ lэr) •adj. like a sac
sacculate (-leit', -lit) •adj. formed of or divided into saccules or a series of saclike expansions Also sac´cu·lat'ed sac'cu·la´tion •n. [< fol. + -ATE¹]
saccule (sæk´yu:l) •n. a small sac; esp., the smaller of the two divisions of the membranous labyrinth of the inner ear [L sacculus, dim. of saccus, SACK¹]
sacculus (-yu lэs) pl. -li' (-lai') •n. SACCULE [L]
sacerdotal (sæs'эr dout´ªl; occas. sæk'-) •adj. 1 of priests or the office of priest; priestly 2 characterized by belief in the divine authority of the priesthood sac'er·do´tal·ly •adv. [ME sacerdotale < MFr < L sacerdotalis < sacerdos, priest < sacer, SACRED + -dos < IE base *dhe-, to DO¹]
sacerdotalism (-iz'эm) •n. 1 the existence, nature, system, or functions of priesthood 2 domination by or unwarranted or excessive dependence on a priesthood sac'er·do´tal·ist •n. [prec. + -ISM]
sachem (sei´chэm) •n. 1 among some North American Indian tribes, the chief (of the tribe or of a confederation) 2 any of the leaders of the Tammany Society [< Algonquian languages of SE New England: cf. Massachusett sontim, Narragansett sâchim]
Sacher torte (sä´kэr; Ger zä´khэř) a usually dry, glazed chocolate cake, often filled with apricot jam: also Sa·cher·torte (sä´kэr tört´) •n.
sachet (sæ shei´) •n. 1 a small bag, pad, etc. filled with perfumed powder or dried herbs and placed in dresser drawers, closets, etc. to scent clothing 2 powder for such a bag: also sachet powder [Fr < OFr, dim. of sac: see SAC]
Sachs (sæks; Ger zäks), Hans 1494-1576; Ger. Meistersinger, a cobbler by trade
Sachsen (zäk´sэn) Ger. name of SAXONY
sack coat a man's loosefitting, straight-backed coat, usually part of a business suit
sack race a race in which contestants have their legs in a sack and move by jumping
sack¹ (sæk) •n. 1 a) a bag, esp. a large one of coarse cloth, for holding grain, foodstuffs, etc. b) such a bag with its contents 2 the quantity contained in such a bag: a measure of weight of varying amounts 3 a) a short, loosefitting jacket worn by women b) SHIFT (n. 7b) 4 [Slang] dismissal from a job; discharge: with the Æ 5 [Slang] a bed, bunk, etc. Æ 6 Baseball BASE¹ (n. 5) Æ 7 Football the act of sacking a quarterback •vt. 1 to put into a sack or sacks 2 [Slang] to dismiss (a person) from a job; discharge Æ 3 Football to tackle (a quarterback) behind the line of scrimmage Æ hit the sack [Slang] to go to bed Also sack out (or in) [ME sak < OE sacc, akin to OHG sac, Goth sakkus < early Gmc borrowing < L saccus, bag, in LL(Ec), sackcloth garment < Gr sakkos < Sem: cf. Heb sak, Akkadian shaqqu, sackcloth]
sack² (sæk) •n. the plundering or looting, esp. by soldiers, of a captured city or town •vt. to plunder or loot (a captured city, etc.) SYN. RAVAGE [MFr sac < It sacco, plunder, lit., bag < L saccus: see SACK1]
sack³ (sæk) •n. any of various dry white wines from Spain or the Canary Islands, popular in England during the 16th and 17th cent. [earlier (wyne)seck < Fr (vin)sec, dry (wine) < L siccus, dry (see SICCATIVE); sp. infl. by ? Sp (vino de) saca, (wine for) export < sacar, to remove]
sackbut (sæk´bût') •n. 1 a medieval wind instrument, forerunner of the trombone 2 Bible a stringed instrument resembling a lyre: Dan. 3:5 [incorrect transl. of Aram sabecha] [MFr, saquebute, sackbut, earlier, hooked lance for fighting on horseback < OFr saquer, to draw, pull < VL *saccare, to pull (from a sack) < L saccus, SACK¹ + OFr bouter, to push, BUTT²]
sackcloth (-klöθ', -kläθ') •n. 1 SACKING 2 coarse, rough cloth, orig. made of goats' hair, worn as a symbol of mourning or penitence, often with ashes sprinkled on the head in sackcloth and ashes in a state of great mourning or penitence [see SACK¹]
sacker¹ (sæk´эr) •n. a person who sacks; plunderer
sacker² (sæk´эr) •n. a person who makes or fills sacks
sacker³ (sæk´эr) •n. [Slang] Baseball BASEMAN
sackful (sæk´ful') pl. -fuls' •n. 1 the amount that a sack will hold 2 a large quantity
sacking (-iŋ) •n. a cheap, coarse cloth woven of flax, hemp, jute, etc., used esp. for making sacks
Sackville (sæk´vil'), Thomas 1st Earl of Dorset & Baron Buckhurst 1536-1608; Eng. statesman & poet
sacque (sæk) •n. 1 SACK¹ (sense 3) Æ 2 a baby's jacket [pseudo-Fr for SACK¹]
sacral¹ (sei´krэl) •adj. of or for religious rites or observances [< L sacrum, neut. of sacer, SACRED + -AL]
sacral² (sei´krэl) •adj. of, or in the region of, the sacrum [ModL sacralis: see SACRUM & -AL]
sacralize (sei´krэ laiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt. to make sacred or holy sa'cral·i·za´tion •n.
sacrament (sæk´rэ mэnt) •n. 1 Christianity any of certain rites instituted by Jesus and believed to be means of grace: baptism, confirmation, the Eucharist, penance, holy orders, matrimony, and Anointing of the Sick are the seven recognized by the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches; Protestants generally recognize only baptism and the Lord's Supper (the Eucharist) 2 [sometimes S-] the Eucharist, or Holy Communion; also, the consecrated bread and wine, or sometimes the bread alone, used in the Eucharist 3 something regarded as having a sacred character or mysterious meaning 4 [Archaic] a) a symbol or token b) a solemn oath or pledge [ME < OFr sacrement < LL(Ec) sacramentum, the gospel, a secret, sacrament (used as transl. of Gr mystērion) < L, an oath of allegiance, orig., sum deposited by the two parties to a suit < sacrare, to consecrate < sacer, SACRED]
sacramental (sæk'rэ ment´ªl) •adj. 1 of or relating to a sacrament 2 being or resembling a sacrament •n. R.C.Ch. something, as the use of holy water, instituted or approved by the Church as a pious means of petitioning divine help and favor sac'ra·men´tal·ly •adv. [ME sacramentale < LL sacramentalis]
sacramentalism (-iz'эm) •n. belief in the efficacy of sacraments; esp., the doctrine that the sacraments are necessary to salvation sac'ra·men´tal·ist •n.
sacramentarian (sæk'rэ men ter´i: эn) •adj. 1 a) SACRAMENTAL b) of sacramentalism 2 [also S-] of the sacramentarians •n. 1 [also S-] one holding that Christ is present only symbolically in the Eucharist 2 an adherent of sacramentalism; sacramentalist Sac'ra·men·tar´i·an·ism' •n. [ML sacramentarius]
sacramentary (sæk'rэ ment´э ri:) pl. -ries •n. a liturgical book containing rites and prayers of the Mass, ordinations, etc.
Sacramento (sæk'rэ men´tou) 1 river in central Calif., flowing south into an E arm of San Francisco Bay: c. 400 mi. (644 km) 2 capital of Calif., on this river: pop. 369,000 (met. area 1,481,000) [Sp, sacrament]
sacrarium (sэ krer´i: эm) pl. -i·a (-i: э) •n. a drain, usually in a sacristy, leading directly to the earth, for disposal of water used in washing altar linens, chalices, etc. [L < sacer, SACRED]
sacred (sei´krid, -krэd) •adj. 1 consecrated to or belonging to the divinity or a deity; holy 2 of or connected with religion or religious rites {a sacred song} 3 regarded with the respect or reverence accorded holy things; venerated; hallowed 4 set apart for, and dedicated to, some person, place, purpose, sentiment, etc. {sacred to his memory} 5 secured as by a religious feeling or sense of justice against any defamation, violation, or intrusion; inviolate SYN. HOLY sa´cred·ly •adv. sa´cred·ness •n. [ME < pp. of sacren, to consecrate < OFr sacrer < L sacrare < sacer, holy < ? IE base *sak-, to sanctify, make a compact > ON sāttr, reconciled, Hittite šakliš, law, ritual]
sacred baboon HAMADRYAD (sense 3)
Sacred College COLLEGE OF CARDINALS
sacred cow any person or thing regarded as above criticism or attack
sacrifice (sæk´rэ fais'; occas., -fis; esp., formerly, -faiz') •n. 1 a) the act of offering the life of a person or animal, or some object, in propitiation of or homage to a deity b) something so offered 2 a) the act of giving up, destroying, permitting injury to, or forgoing something valued for the sake of something having a more pressing claim b) a thing so given up, etc. 3 a) a selling or giving up of something at less than its supposed value b) the loss incurred Æ 4 Baseball SACRIFICE BUNT •vt. -ficed', -fic'ing 1 to offer as a sacrifice to God or a god 2 to give up, destroy, permit injury to, or forgo (something valued) for the sake of something having a more pressing claim 3 to sell at less than the supposed value Æ 4 Baseball to advance (a base runner) by means of a sacrifice •vi. 1 to offer or make a sacrifice Æ 2 Baseball to make a sacrifice bunt sac´ri·fic'er •n. [OFr < L sacrificium < sacer, SACRED + facere, to make, DO¹]
sacrifice bunt Baseball a bunt made by the batter so that a base runner will be advanced while the batter is put out: also sacrifice hit
sacrifice fly Baseball a play in which the batter, when there are fewer than two outs, flies out and a runner scores from third base after the catch
sacrificial (sæk'rэ fish´эl) •adj. of, having the nature of, used in, or offering a sacrifice sac'ri·fi´cial·ly •adv.
sacrilege (sæk´rэ lij) •n. 1 the act of appropriating to oneself or to secular use, or of violating, what is consecrated to God or religion 2 the intentional desecration or disrespectful treatment of a person, place, thing, or idea held sacred SYN.—sacrilege implies a violation of something sacred, as by appropriating to oneself or to a secular use something that has been dedicated to a religious purpose; profanation suggests a lack of reverence or a positive contempt for things regarded as sacred; desecration implies a removal of the sacredness of some object or place, as by defiling or polluting it [ME < MFr < L sacrilegium < sacrilegus, temple robber < sacer, SACRED + legere, to gather up, take away: see LOGIC]
sacrilegious (sæk'rэ lij´эs, -li:´jэs) •adj. 1 that is or involves sacrilege 2 guilty of sacrilege sac'ri·le´gious·ly •adv. sac'ri·le´gious·ness •n.
sacring (sei´kriŋ) •n. [Archaic] consecration of the bread and wine of the Eucharist [ME < prp. of sacren: see SACRED]
sacristan (sæk´ris tэn) •n. a person in charge of a sacristy [ME sacristane < ML(Ec) sacristanus < sacrista: see SACRISTY]
sacristy (-ti:) pl. -ties •n. a room in a church, usually adjoining the sanctuary, where the sacred vessels, vestments, etc. are kept; vestry [Fr sacristie < ML(Ec) sacristia < sacrista, sacristan < L sacer, SACRED]
sacro- (sæk´rou, sei´krou) combining form sacrum, sacrum and {sacroiliac} [ModL < SACRUM]
sacroiliac (sæk'rou il´i: æk', sei'krou-) •adj. of the sacrum and the ilium; esp., designating the joint between them •n. the joint or cartilage between the sacrum and the ilium [prec. + ILIAC]
sacrosanct (sæk´rou sæŋkt') •adj. very sacred, holy, or inviolable sac'ro·sanc´ti·ty •n. [L sacrosanctus < sacer, SACRED + sanctus, holy: see SAINT]
sacrosciatic (sæk'rou sai æt´ik, sei'krou-) •adj. of the sacrum and the ischium [SACRO- + SCIATIC]
sacrum (sei´krэm; also sæk´rэm) pl. -cra (-krэ, -rэ) •n.or -crums a thick, triangular bone situated near the lower end of the spinal column, where it joins both innominate bones to form the dorsal part of the pelvis: it is formed in humans of five fused vertebrae [ModL < LL (os) sacrum, lit., sacred (bone), transl. of Gr hieron osteon < hieron, sacred, ? last (< hieros: see HIERO-) + osteon: see OSSIFY]
sad (sæd) sad´der, sad´dest •adj. 1 having, expressing, or showing low spirits or sorrow; unhappy; mournful; sorrowful 2 causing or characterized by dejection, melancholy, or sorrow 3 dark or dull in color; drab 4 [Colloq.] very bad; deplorable 5 [Dial.] heavy or soggy {a sad cake} sad´ly •adv. sad´ness •n. SYN.—sad is the simple, general term, ranging in implication from a mild, momentary unhappiness to a feeling of intense grief; sorrowful implies a sadness caused by some specific loss, disappointment, etc. [her death left him sorrowful]; melancholy suggests a more or less chronic mournfulness or gloominess, or, often, merely a wistful pensiveness [melancholy thoughts about the future]; dejected implies discouragement or a sinking of spirits, as because of frustration; depressed suggests a mood of brooding despondency, as because of fatigue or a sense of futility [the novel left him feeling depressed]; doleful implies a mournful, often lugubrious, sadness [the doleful look on a lost child's face] —ANT. happy, cheerful [ME < OE sæd, sated, full, hence having feelings assoc. with satiety, akin to Ger satt, sated < IE base *sā-, satisfied, sated > L satis, enough, OIr sāith, satiety]
sad sack [Slang] a person who means well but is incompetent, ineffective, etc. and is consistently in trouble [shortened < mil. slang sad sack of shit]
Sadat (sä dät´), An·war (el-) (än´wär', än wär´) 1918-81; president of Egypt (1970-81): assassinated
sadden (sæd´ªn) •vt., vi. to make or become sad
saddle (sæd´ªl) •n. 1 a seat for a rider on a horse, bicycle, etc., usually padded and of leather, and generally straddled in riding 2 a padded part of a harness worn over a horse's back to hold the shafts 3 the part of an animal's back where a saddle is placed 4 anything suggesting a saddle, as in form, placement, etc. 5 a ridge between two peaks or summits 6 a) a cut of lamb, venison, etc., including part of the backbone and the two loins b) the rear part of the back of a fowl •vt. -dled, -dling 1 to put a saddle upon 2 to load or encumber, as with a burden 3 to impose as a burden, obligation, etc. •vi. to put a saddle on a horse and mount it Often with up in the saddle 1 seated on a saddle 2 in a position of control [ME sadel < OE sadol, akin to Ger sattel < Gmc *sathula, via ? OSlav *sedulo- < IE base *sed-, to SIT]
saddle block (anesthesia) a method of spinal anesthesia, often used during obstetric delivery, that produces anesthesia in that area of the body that would be in contact with a saddle during horseback riding
saddle horse 1 a horse trained or suitable for riding 2 any of a breed of medium-sized, dark-colored horse, often with a white face, characterized by a long, swanlike neck and a free, easy gait, frequently used as a show horse: in full American saddle horse
saddle roof a roof with two gables and a ridge
saddle seat a concave wooden seat, esp. of a Windsor chair, often with a central ridge running from the front toward the back
saddle shoes white oxford shoes with a band of contrasting leather, usually black or brown, across the instep
saddle soap a preparation, usually of mild soap and neat's-foot oil, for cleaning and softening leather
saddle sore a sore or irritation caused by friction of a saddle on a horse or rider
saddleback (-bæk') •n. something saddle-backed
saddle-backed (-bækt') •adj. 1 having a low, hollow back curved like a saddle, as some horses 2 having a concave outline, as a ridge between peaks
saddlebag (-bæg') •n. 1 a large bag, usually one of a pair, carried on either side of the back of a horse, etc., just behind the saddle Æ 2 a similar bag carried over the back wheel of a motorcycle or bicycle
saddlebow (-bou') •n. the arched front part, or bow, of a saddle, the top of which is the pommel
saddlecloth (-klöθ', -kläθ') •n. a thick cloth placed under a saddle on an animal's back
saddler (sæd´lэr) •n. a person whose work is making, repairing, or selling saddles, harnesses, etc. [ME sadelere]
saddlery (sæd´lэr i:) pl. -dler·ies •n. 1 the work or craft of a saddler 2 the articles, as saddles, harnesses, bridles, etc., made by a saddler 3 a shop where such articles are sold [ME sadelarie]
saddletree (sæd´ªl tri:') •n. the frame of a saddle [ME sadeltre]
Sadducee (sæj´u si:', sæd´yu-) •n. a member of an ancient Jewish party, representing the ruling hierarchy, that accepted only the written law and rejected the oral, or traditional, law: opposed to PHARISEE Sad'du·ce´an •adj. [ME Saducei < OE Sadduce < LL(Ec) Sadducaeus < Gr(Ec) Saddoukaios < Heb tsadoki, prob. < tsadok, Zadok: see Ezek. 40:46]
Sade (sæd, säd; Fr såd), Marquis de (full name Comte Donatien Alphonse François de Sade) 1740-1814; Fr. soldier & novelist, whose writings describe sexual aberrations
sadhe (sä´di:, tsä´-) •n. TSADI [Heb tsādē]
sadhu (sä´du:') •n. a Hindu holy man [Sans < sādhu, straight, able < IE base *sēdh-, to go straight to a goal > Gr ithyein, to go straight]
Sadi (sä´di:) (born Muslih-ud-Din) c. 1184-c. 1291; Pers. poet
Sadie (sei´di:) a feminine name See SARAH
sadiron (sæd´ai'эrn) •n. a heavy, solid flatiron, pointed at both ends [SAD (sense 5) + IRON]
sadism (sei´diz'эm, sæd´iz'эm) •n. 1 the getting of sexual pleasure from dominating, mistreating, or hurting one's partner 2 the getting of pleasure from inflicting physical or psychological pain on another or others Cf. MASOCHISM sad´ist •n. sa·dis·tic (sэ dis´tik) •adj. sa·dis´ti·cal·ly •adv. [Fr, after Marquis de SADE]
sadomasochism (sæd'ou mæs´э kiz'эm, sei'dou-; -mæz´-) •n. the getting of pleasure, esp. sexual pleasure, from sadism or masochism, or both sad'o·mas´o·chist •n. sad'o·mas'o·chis´tic •adj. [< prec. + -O- + MASOCHISM]
Sadová (sä´dô vä') village in N Czech Republic: see HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ
SAE Society of Automotive Engineers
safari (sэ fär´i:) pl. -ris •n. 1 a journey or hunting expedition, esp. in E Africa 2 the caravan of such an expedition •adj. designating or of a style of clothing like that worn on safaris, esp. a belted jacket with pairs of pleated pockets above and below the belt [Swahili < Ar safarī, pertaining to a journey < safar, to journey]
safe (seif) saf´er, saf´est •adj. 1 a) free from damage, danger, or injury; secure b) having escaped danger or injury; unharmed 2 a) giving protection b) involving no risk c) trustworthy 3 no longer dangerous; unable to cause trouble or damage {safe in jail} 4 taking no risks; prudent; cautious: said of persons Æ 5 Baseball having reached a base without being put out •n. [altered (after the adj.) < earlier save < SAVE¹] 1 a container or box, capable of being locked and usually of metal, in which to store valuables 2 any compartment, box, etc. for storing food, etc. {a meat safe} 3 [Slang] a condom safe´ly •adv. safe´ness •n. SYN.—safe implies freedom from damage, danger, or injury or from the risk of damage, etc. [is it safe to leave?]; secure, often interchangeable with safe, is now usually applied to something about which there is no need to feel apprehension [he is secure in his job] —ANT. dangerous, precarious, unsure [ME sauf < OFr < L salvus, akin to salus, health, sound condition < IE base *solo-, whole, well-preserved > Gr holos, whole, Sans sarva, unharmed, whole]
safe house a house, apartment, etc. used as by an intelligence agency or underground organization as a refuge or hiding place for its agents
safe sex sexual activity incorporating various practices, including the use of a condom, that reduce the risk of spreading sexually transmitted diseases, esp. AIDS
safe-conduct (-kän´dûkt) •n. 1 permission to travel through a dangerous area, as in time of war, with protection against arrest or harm 2 a written pass giving such permission 3 the act of conducting in safety [ME saufconduit < OFr: see SAFE & CONDUCT]
safecracking (-kræk'iŋ) •n. the breaking open and robbing of safes safe´crack'er •n.
safe-deposit (-di päz´it) •adj. designating or of a box or vault, esp. in a bank, for storing jewels and other valuables: also safe´ty-de·pos´it
safeguard (-gärd') •n. any person or thing that protects or guards against loss or injury; specif., a) a precaution or protective stipulation b) a permit or pass allowing safe passage c) [Now Rare] a convoy or guard d) a safety device, as on machinery •vt. to protect or guard [ME saufgarde < MFr sauvegarde: see SAVE¹ & GUARD]
safekeeping (-ki:p´iŋ) •n. a keeping or being kept in safety; protection or custody
safelight (-lait') •n. Photog. a special light or lamp for a darkroom that does not affect the film, printing paper, etc.
safety (seif´ti:) pl. -ties •n. 1 the quality or condition of being safe; freedom from danger, injury, or damage; security 2 any of certain devices for preventing an accident or an undesirable effect; specif., a) a catch or locking device on a firearm that prevents it from firing (also safety catch or safety lock) b) [Slang] a condom Æ 3 Baseball BASE HIT Æ 4 Football a) a play in which the ball is grounded by a player behind his own goal line when the ball was caused to pass the goal line by his own team: it scores as two points for the opponents (distinguished from TOUCHBACK) b) a player of a defensive backfield whose position is deep, behind the cornerbacks •adj. giving safety; reducing danger or harm [ME sauvete < MFr sauveté < OFr salvetet < ML salvitas, safety < L salvus: see SAFE]
safety belt 1 LIFE BELT 2 a belt attaching a telephone lineman, window washer, etc. to a telephone pole, window sill, etc. to prevent falling 3 a restraining belt, as in an airplane or motor vehicle: see SEAT BELT, SHOULDER HARNESS
safety glass glass made to be shatterproof by fastening together two sheets of glass with a transparent, plastic substance between them
safety island SAFETY ZONE
safety lamp a miner's lamp designed to avoid explosion, fire, etc.; specif., DAVY LAMP
safety match a match that will light only when it is struck on a prepared surface
safety net 1 a net suspended as beneath circus aerialists to catch them if they fall 2 any protection against failure or loss
safety pin a pin bent back on itself so as to form a spring, and having the point covered and held with a guard
safety razor a razor with a detachable blade fitted into a holder provided with guards and set at an angle which minimizes the danger of cutting the skin
safety valve 1 an automatic valve for a steam boiler, pressure cooker, etc., which opens if the pressure becomes excessive 2 any outlet for the release of strong emotion, energy, etc.
safety zone a platform or marked area in a roadway, from which vehicular traffic is diverted, for protection of pedestrians, as in boarding or leaving buses
saffian leather (sæf´i: эn) leather made of sheepskin or goatskin tanned with sumac and usually dyed a bright color [Ger saffian, ult. < Pers sähtijān, goatskin < säht, hard, firm]
safflower (sæf´flau'эr) •n. 1 a thistlelike, annual plant (Carthamus tinctorius) of the composite family, with large, orange flower heads and seeds that yield a drying oil used in paints, foods, medicine, etc. 2 a dyestuff or drug prepared from its florets [altered (< fol. & FLOWER) < Du or MFr: Du saffloer < MFr saffleur < It saffiore < Ar asfar, yellow]
saffron (sæf´rэn) •n. 1 a perennial Old World plant (Crocus sativus) of the iris family, with funnel-shaped, purplish flowers having orange stigmas 2 the dried, aromatic stigmas of this plant, used in flavoring and coloring foods, and formerly in medicine 3 orange yellow: also saffron yellow •adj. orange-yellow [ME saffroun < OFr safran < ML safranum < Ar zafarān]
Safi (sä fi:´, sæf´i:) seaport in W Morocco, on the Atlantic: pop. 129,000
safranine (sæf´rэ ni:n', -nin') •n. 1 a yellowish-red aniline dye, C18H15N4Cl, or any of several dyes closely related in structure to this 2 any mixture of the various salts of the safranine dyes, used as a dye and as a stain in microscopy Also saf´ra·nin (-nin) [Fr safran, SAFFRON + -INE³]
safrole (sæf´roul) •n. a clear, colorless oil, C3H5C6H3O2CH2, found in sassafras oil, camphor wood, etc., and used in perfumes, medicines, flavors, etc.: toxic when ingested and regarded as a possible carcinogen, its use in foods and beverages is forbidden in the U.S. [Fr safran, SAFFRON + -ole, for -OL²]
sag (sæg) sagged, sag´ging •vi. 1 to sink, bend, or curve, esp. in the middle, from weight or pressure 2 to hang down unevenly or loosely 3 to lose firmness, strength, or intensity; weaken through weariness, age, etc.; droop {sagging spirits} 4 to decline in price, value, sales, etc. 5 Naut. to drift (esp. to leeward) •vt. to cause to sag •n. 1 the act or an instance of sagging 2 the degree or amount of sagging Æ 3 a place of sagging; sunken or depressed place [ME saggen, prob. < Scand, akin to Swed sacka, Norw dial. sakka, sagga < IE base *sengw-, to SINK]
saga (sä´gэ) •n. 1 a medieval Scandinavian story of battles, customs, and legends, narrated in prose and generally telling the traditional history of an important Norse family 2 any long story of adventure or heroic deeds 3 ROMAN-FLEUVE: in full saga novel [ON, thing said, tale, story, akin to OE sagu (> SAW²): see SAY]
sagacious (sэ gei´shэs) •adj. 1 having or showing keen perception or discernment and sound judgment, foresight, etc. 2 [Obs.] having a keen sense of smell SYN. SHREWD sa·ga´cious·ly •adv. sa·ga´cious·ness •n. [< L sagax (gen. sagacis), wise, foreseeing; akin to sagire, to perceive acutely: see SAKE¹]
sagacity (sэ gæs´э ti:) pl. -ties •n. the quality or an instance of being sagacious; penetrating intelligence and sound judgment [Fr sagacité < L sagacitas]
sagamore (sæg´э mör') •n. a chief of second rank among certain tribes of North American Indians: sometimes equivalent to SACHEM (sense 1) [< Abenaki skðmα]
Sagan (sei´gэn), Carl (Edward) 1934- ; U.S. astronomer & writer
Sage (seij), Russell 1816-1906; U.S. financier
sage grouse a large grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) living on the sagebrush plains of W North America Also, esp. for the female, sage hen
sage¹ (seij) sag´er, sag´est •adj. 1 wise, discerning, judicious, etc. 2 showing wisdom and good judgment {a sage comment} 3 [Obs.] grave or solemn •n. a very wise person; esp., an elderly man, widely respected for his wisdom, experience, and judgment sage´ly •adv. sage´ness •n. [OFr < VL *sapius < L sapiens, wise, orig. prp. of sapere, to know, taste < IE base *sap-, to taste > ON safi, sap, sefi, mind]
sage² (seij) •n. 1 any of a genus (Salvia) of plants of the mint family, having a two-lipped corolla and two stamens: sages are cultivated for ornament, as the scarlet sage (S. splendens) with brilliant red flowers, or for flavoring, as the garden sage (S. officinalis) with aromatic leaves used, when dried, for seasoning meats, cheeses, etc. 2 any of various similar plants Æ 3 SAGEBRUSH [ME sauge < OFr < L salvia < salvus, SAFE: from its reputed healing powers]
sagebrush (seij´brûsh') •n. any of a number of plants (genus Artemisia) of the composite family, common in the dry, alkaline areas of the W U.S.; esp., the big sagebrush (A. tridentata), with small, aromatic leaves and minute flower heads, important as a forage plant [SAGE² + BRUSH¹]
sagger or saggar (sæg´эr) •n. 1 a thin, protective box of fire clay for baking finer or more delicate ceramics in the kiln 2 the clay of which it is made •vt. to bake in a sagger [dial. saggard, contr. < ? SAFEGUARD]
saggy (sæg´i:) -gi·er, -gi·est •adj. inclined to sag
Saginaw (sæg´э nö') city in central Mich.: pop. 70,000 [< Ojibwa sa·gi·na·ng, lit., at the place of the Sauks]
Sagitta (sэ jit´э) a small N constellation between Vulpecula and Aquila [L, lit., arrow]
sagittal (sæj´эtªl) •adj. 1 of or like an arrow or arrowhead 2 Anat. a) designating or of the suture between the two parietal bones along the length of the skull b) designating, of, or in the longitudinal plane of this suture, regarded as dividing the body into right and left halves c) of or in any plane parallel to this sag´it·tal·ly •adv. [ModL sagittalis < L sagitta, arrow]
Sagittarius (sæj'э ter´i: эs) 1 a large S constellation in the brightest part of the Milky Way, beyond which lies the center of our galaxy 2 a) the ninth sign of the zodiac, entered by the sun about November 21 b) a person born under this sign (also Sag'it·ta´ri·an) [ME < L sagittarius, archer < sagitta, arrow]
sagittary (sæj´э ter'i:) pl. -tar'ies •n. CENTAUR [L sagittarius: see SAGITTARIUS]
sagittate (sæj´э teit') •adj. in the shape of an arrowhead, as some leaves: see LEAF, illus. [ModL sagittatus < L sagitta, arrow]
sago (sei´gou) pl. -gos •n. 1 an edible starch, also used in sizing textiles, prepared from the pith of the trunk of certain palms, from the underground stems of certain cycads, as the coontie, or from some other plants 2 any of the palms that yield sago, esp., a Malayan tree (Metroxylon sagu): also sago palm [Malay sagu, flour from the pith of the sago palm]
saguaro (sэ gwär´ou, sэ wär´ou) pl. -ros a giant cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) with a thick, spiny stem and white flowers, native to the SW U.S. and N Mexico: also sa·hua´ro (-wä´-) •n. [MexSp, after the Piman native name]
Saguenay (sæg'э nei´) river in SC Quebec, Canada, flowing southeastward from Lake St. John into the Gulf of St. Lawrence: c. 120 mi. (193 km), incl. principal headstream north of Lake St. John, 475 mi. (765 km) [< ? AmInd]
Sahaptian (sä hæp´ti: эn) •n. a family of languages consisting of Sahaptin and Nez Percé
Sahaptin (sä hæp´tэn) •n. 1 pl. -tins or -tin a member of any of several North American Indian groups living in Washington and Oregon 2 their language [< Salish name for the Nez Percé]
Sahara (sэ hær´э, -her´э, -hä´rэ) vast desert region in N Africa, extending from the Atlantic to the Nile (or to the Red Sea): c. 3,500,000 sq. mi. (9,100,000 sq. km) Sa·ha´ran •adj. [Ar sahrāر (pl. sahārā), desert]
Saharanpur (sэ här´эn pur') city in NW Uttar Pradesh, N India: pop. 294,000
Sahel (sä hel´) region in NC Africa, south of the Sahara, characterized by periodic drought
sahib (sä´ib', -hib'; säb; sä´i:b', -hi:b') •n. sir; master: title used in colonial India when speaking to or of a European, and later extended to any male as a sign of respect or formality [Hindi sāhib < Ar sāhib, master, lit., associate]
said (sed) •vt., vi. pt. & pp. of SAY •adj. aforesaid; named or mentioned before
Saida (sä´i: dä') seaport in SW Lebanon, on the site of ancient Sidon: pop. 25,000
saiga (sai´gэ) •n. a small, stocky antelope (Saiga tatarica) with a broad, fleshy snout, native to the steppes of SE Russia and SW Siberia [Russ saĭga]
Saigon (sai´gän', sai gän´) old name of HO CHI MINH CITY
sail (seil) •n. 1 any of the shaped sheets of canvas or other strong material spread to catch or deflect the wind, by means of which some vessels and some land vehicles are driven forward: see SCHOONER, illus., SQUARE-RIGGED, illus. 2 sails collectively 3 a sailing vessel or vessels 4 a trip in a ship or boat, esp. one moved by sails 5 anything like a sail, as an arm of a windmill •vi. [ME seilen < OE seglian < the n.] 1 to be moved forward by means of a sail or sails, or by mechanical means such as a propeller 2 to move upon or travel by water: said of a vessel or its passengers 3 to begin a trip by water 4 to manage a sailboat, as in racing or cruising 5 to glide, float, or move steadily through the air 6 to move smoothly and with dignity, like a ship in full sail 7 [Colloq.] to move quickly Æ 8 [Colloq.] to begin vigorously; throw oneself (into) with energy Æ 9 [Colloq.] to attack, criticize, or reprimand someone severely: with into •vt. 1 to move through or upon (a body of water) in a boat or ship 2 to manage or navigate (a boat or ship) in sail with sails set make sail 1 to spread out a ship's sail 2 to begin a trip by water sail against the wind 1 to sail a course that slants slightly away from the true direction of the wind; sail closehauled 2 to work under difficulties or against direct opposition: also sail near (to) the wind set sail 1 to hoist the sails in preparation for departure 2 to start out on a voyage by water take in sail to lower sails, as in order to reduce the area of sail set under sail sailing; with sails set [ME seil, sail < OE segl, akin to Ger segel, prob. ult. < IE base *sek-, to cut > L secare, to cut, segmentum, segment]
sailboat (-bout') •n. a boat having a sail or sails by means of which it is propelled
sailcloth (-klöθ', -kläθ') •n. 1 long-fibered canvas or other cloth used in making sails, tents, etc. 2 a piece of such material used as a covering, etc.
sailer (-эr) •n. a ship or boat, esp. one equipped with sails, specif. with reference to its sailing capability {a swift sailer}
sailfish (-fish') pl. (see FISH) -fish' •n.or -fish'es any of a genus (Istiophorus, family Istiophoridae) of large, tropical marine billfishes with elongated scales, a sail-like dorsal fin, and a sword-shaped upper jaw
sailing (-iŋ) •n. 1 the act of a thing or person that sails 2 the art of navigation 3 the sport of managing a sailboat, as for racing 4 the start of a trip by water •adj. 1 driven by wind on sails 2 of ships or shipping {sailing orders}
sailmaker (-meik'эr) •n. a person who makes or repairs sails; specif., one who designs and tests sails, esp. for racing
sailor (seil´эr) •n. 1 a person who makes a living by sailing; mariner; seaman 2 a) an enlisted man in the navy b) any person in the navy 3 a person sailing on a vessel, as affected by seasickness {a good or bad sailor} 4 a straw hat with a low, flat crown and flat brim [ME sailer]
sailoring (-iŋ) •n. the work and life of a sailor
sailor's-choice (seil´эrz chois´) pl. sail´or's-choice´ any of several food fishes of the W Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico; specif., a small grunt (Haemulon parrai) •n.
sailplane (seil´plein') •n. a light glider especially designed for soaring •vi. -planed', -plan'ing to fly a sailplane
saimin (sai´min´) •n. 1 long, thin noodles used in preparing various Japanese dishes 2 a soup made of broth and vegetables and served with such noodles [prob. ult. < Chin sai, thin + min, noodle]
sain (sein) •vt. [Now Chiefly Dial.] to make the sign of the cross over, or to bless, as a protection against evil [ME sainen < OE segnian < L signare: see SIGN, vt., vi.]
sainfoin (sein´foin') •n. a Eurasian perennial plant (Onobrychis viciaefolia) of the pea family, cultivated as a forage or cover crop [Fr < sain, wholesome (< L sanus, healthy, confused in Fr with saint) + foin (< L faenum), hay]
saint (seint) •n. 1 a holy person 2 a person who is exceptionally meek, charitable, patient, etc. 3 [pl.] those, esp. holy persons, who have died and are believed to be with God 4 a) in the New Testament, any Christian b) [S-] a member of any of certain religious groups calling themselves Saints 5 in certain Christian churches, a person officially recognized as having lived an exceptionally holy life, and thus as being in heaven and capable of interceding for sinners; canonized person •vt. to make a saint of; canonize For names of saints, see the given name (as JOHN, PAUL, etc.); for other entries, see ST & fol. [OFr < LL(Ec) sanctus, saint < L, holy, consecrated, pp. of sancire, to consecrate, akin to sacer: see SACRED]
Saint Agnes's Eve the night of Jan. 20 when, in old superstition, a girl might have a vision of her future husband
Saint Andrew's cross a cross shaped like an X: see CROSS, illus.
Saint Anthony's cross TAU CROSS
Saint Anthony's fire any of several skin conditions or inflammations, as erysipelas or ergotism
Saint Bernard (bэr närd´) any of a breed of very large, reddish-brown and white dog once kept by the monks of the hospice of the Great St. Bernard Pass in the Swiss Alps, and trained to rescue travelers lost in the snow: now kept as a companion dog
Saint Elmo's fire (or light) (el´mouz') a visible electric discharge (corona) from charged, esp. pointed, objects, as the tips of masts, spires, trees, etc.: seen sometimes during electrical storms [after St. Elmo, patron saint of sailors]
Saint John 1 seaport in S New Brunswick, Canada, at the mouth of the Saint John River: pop. 76,000 2 river flowing from N Maine through New Brunswick, Canada, into the Bay of Fundy: 418 mi. (673 km) [named for the date of its discovery, June 24, 1604, the feast of St. John the Baptist] [named after the river]
Saint Johnswort (jänz´wørt') 1 any of a genus (Hypericum) of ornamental plants of the Saint Johnswort family, with usually yellow flowers and numerous stamens 2 a family (Clusiaceae, order Theales) of dicotyledonous trees, shrubs, and plants used for timber, in drugs, etc. [after Saint JOHN + WORT²: reason for name uncert.]
Saint Martin's summer [Chiefly Brit.] a period of mild, warm weather in late autumn, around the time of Martinmas
Saint Nicholas SANTA CLAUS Also Saint Nick
Saint Patrick's Day March 17, observed by the Irish in honor of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland
Saint Valentine's Day Feb. 14, observed in honor of a martyr of the 3d cent. and, coincidentally, as a day for sending valentines to sweethearts, schoolmates, etc.
Saint Vitus' dance (vai´tэs) CHOREA Also St. Vitus's dance [after St. Vitus, 3d-c. patron saint of persons having chorea]
Sainte-Beuve (sæñt böv´), Charles Au·gus·tin (shåřl ô güs tæñ´) 1804-69; Fr. literary critic & writer
sainted (seint´id) •adj. 1 of, like, or suitable for a saint; saintly 2 regarded or venerated as a saint 3 holy; sacred; hallowed
Sainte-Foy (sæñt fwä´) city in S Quebec, Canada: suburb of Quebec: pop. 70,000
Saint-Exupéry (sæñ teg zü pei ři:´), An·toine de (äñ twån´ dэ) 1900-44; Fr. aviator & writer
Saint-Gaudens (seint göd´ªnz), Augustus 1848-1907; U.S. sculptor, born in Ireland
sainthood (seint´hud') •n. 1 the status or rank of a saint: also saint´ship' 2 saints collectively
Saint-Hubert (sæñ tü beř´) town in S Quebec, Canada: part of metropolitan Montreal: pop. 66,000
Saint-Just (sæñ zhüst´), Louis An·toine Lé·on de (lwi: äñ twån´ lei ouñ´ dэ) 1767-94; Fr. revolutionist
Saint-Laurent (sæñ lô řæn´) town in S Quebec, Canada: part of metropolitan Montreal: pop. 67,000
Saint-Léonard (sæñ lei ô næř´) town in S Quebec, Canada: part of metropolitan Montreal: pop. 79,000
saintly (seint´li:) -li·er, -li·est •adj. of, like, or suitable for a saint saint´li·ness •n.
Saint-Saëns (sæñ säñs´), (Charles) Ca·mille (kå mi:´yª) 1835-1921; Fr. composer
Saintsbury (seints´ber'i:, -bэr i:), George (Edward Bateman) 1845-1933; Eng. literary critic
Saint-Simon (sæñ si: mouñ´) 1 Comte de (Claude Henri de Rouvroy) 1760-1825; Fr. social philosopher 2 Duc de (Louis de Rouvroy) 1675-1755; Fr. courtier & writer
Saipan (sai pæn´, -pän´) island in the W Pacific: seat of government of the Northern Marianas: 47 sq. mi. (122 sq. km)
Saïs (sei´is) ancient city in the Nile delta: capital of Egypt (718-712 B.C.; 663-525 B.C.) Sa·ïte (-aite') •adj.
saith (seθ; now also sei´iθ) •vt., vi. archaic 3d pers. sing., pres. indic., of SAY
Sakai (sä´kai) city in S Honshu, Japan: pop. 810,000
sake¹ (seik) •n. 1 purpose or reason; motive; cause {for the sake of harmony} 2 advantage; behalf; benefit {for my sake} for heaven's (or gosh or Pete's) sake! a mild exclamation of surprise, annoyance, etc. [ME < OE sacu, cause or suit at law, contention, akin to Ger sache, thing, affair < IE base *sāg-, to investigate > SEEK, L sagire, to perceive, find, sagax, sharply discerning]
sake² (sä´ki:) •n. a Japanese alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice and usually warmed for serving Also sp. sa´ki [Jpn, ult. < ? sakayu, to prosper]
Sakhalin (sä'khä li:n´; E sæk´э li:n') island of Russia off the E coast of Siberia: c. 29,000 sq. mi. (75,100 sq. km)
Sakharov (sä´kэ röf, -räf´; sæk´э-), Andrei (Dmitrievich) (än´drei) 1921-89; Russ. nuclear physicist: political dissident & human rights activist
Saki (sä´ki:) (pseud. of Hector Hugh Munro) 1870-1916; Brit. short-story writer & novelist, born in Burma
sal (sæl) •n. Pharmacy salt [ME < L, SALT]
sal ammoniac AMMONIUM CHLORIDE [ME sal armoniak: see SAL & AMMONIAC]
sal soda crystallized sodium carbonate, Na2CO3·10H2O
sal volatile (vou læt´ªl i:') 1 a mixture of ammonium bicarbonate and ammonium carbonate, esp. in aromatic solution for use as smelling salts 2 ammonium carbonate [ModL, volatile salt]
salaam (sэ läm´) •n. 1 a greeting (lit., peace) used among Muslims: in full salaam a·lei·kum (ä lai´kum'), peace (be) to you (Ar salām ؟alaykum) 2 an Oriental greeting or ceremonial compliment, made by bowing low with the palm of the right hand placed on the forehead 3 an obeisance or respectful greeting •vt. to greet with a salaam •vi. to make a salaam [Ar salām, health, peace; akin to Heb shalom, peace]
salable (seil´э bэl) •adj. that can be sold; marketable
salacious (sэ lei´shэs) •adj. 1 lecherous; lustful 2 obscene; pornographic sa·la´cious·ly •adv. sa·la´cious·ness or sa·lac´i·ty (-læs´э ti:) •n. [L salax (gen. salacis) < salire, to leap, (of animals) cover sexually: see SALIENT]
salad (sæl´эd) •n. 1 a dish, usually cold, of raw or sometimes cooked vegetables or fruits in various combinations, served with a dressing, or molded in gelatin, and sometimes with seafood, poultry, eggs, etc. added 2 a) any green plant or herb used for such a dish or eaten raw b) [Dial.] lettuce Æ 3 a finely chopped or ground food, as egg, ham, or chicken, mixed with mayonnaise and served on a bed of lettuce or in a sandwich [ME salat < MFr salade < Prov salada < VL *salata < fem. pp. of *salare, to salt < L sal, SALT]
salad bar a buffet, as in a restaurant, at which diners may assemble a salad for themselves from an assortment of ingredients
salad days time of youth and inexperience [popularized after Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra, I, v]
salad dressing a preparation of olive oil or other vegetable oil, vinegar, spices, etc. served with a salad
salade niçoise (sæl´эd ni: swäz´; Fr så låd´ ni: swåz´) [occas. s- N- or S- N-] a salad typically containing tuna, tomatoes, cooked green beans and potatoes, anchovies, hard-boiled eggs, and black olives, with or without greens, dressed with a garlic vinaigrette Also niçoise salad
Saladin (sæl´э din) (born Salah-ad-Din Yusuf ibn-Ayyub) 1137-93; sultan of Egypt & Syria (1174-93)
Salado (sä lä´θô) river in N Argentina, flowing from the Andes southeast into the Paraná: c. 1,100 mi. (1,770 km)
Salamanca (sæl'э mæŋ´kэ; Sp sä'lä mäŋ´kä) 1 city in Léon, WC Spain: pop. 167,000 2 city in central Mexico: pop. 160,000
salamander (sæl´э mæn'dэr) •n. 1 a mythological reptile, resembling the lizard, that was said to live in fire 2 a spirit supposed to live in fire: orig., a spirit in Paracelsus' alchemical system 3 any of various articles used in fire or able to produce or withstand heat, as a poker, portable oven, or a utensil for browning pastry 4 any of an order (Caudata) of limbed, tailed amphibians with a soft, moist skin sal'a·man´drine (-drin) •adj. [ME salamandre < OFr < L salamandra < Gr]
salami (sэ lä´mi:) •n. a highly spiced, salted sausage, orig. Italian, of pork and beef, or of beef alone [It, pl. of salame, preserved meat, salt pork < VL *salamen, for LL salsamen, salted food < L salsus: see SAUCE]
Salamis (sæl´э mis; Gr sä'lä mi:s´) island of Greece, in the Saronic Gulf: 36 sq. mi. (93 sq. km)
salariat (sэ ler´i: эt) •n. the class of workers receiving salaries, as distinguished from those receiving wages [Fr < salaire, salary + prolétariat, proletariat]
salaried (sæl´э ri:d, sæl´ri:d) •adj. 1 receiving a salary 2 yielding a salary {a salaried position}
salary (sæl´э ri:, sæl´ri:) pl. -ries •n. a fixed payment at regular intervals for services, esp. when clerical or professional SYN. WAGE [ME salarie < L salarium, orig., money for salt (as part of Roman soldier's pay) < sal, SALT]
Salazar (sä'lэ zäř´), An·to·nio de O·li·vei·ra (än tô´nyu di: ô´li: vei´řэ) 1889-1970; prime minister & dictator of Portugal (1932-68)
sale (seil) •n. 1 the act of selling; exchange of property of any kind, or of services, for an agreed sum of money or other valuable consideration 2 opportunity to sell or be sold; market 3 the act of offering goods to the highest bidder; auction 4 a special offering of goods at prices lower than usual 5 [pl.] receipts in business 6 [pl.] the work, department, etc. of selling {a job in sales} for sale to be sold; offered for purchase on sale for sale, esp. at a price lower than usual [ME < OE sala < ON: for IE base see SELL]
Salé (sæ lei´) city & seaport in NW Morocco: suburb of Rabat: pop. 290,000
saleable (seil´э bэl) •adj. SALABLE
Salem (sei´lэm) 1 capital of Oreg., in the NW part, on the Willamette River: pop. 108,000 [after Biblical place name: see Gen. 14:18, Ps. 76:2] 2 city in NE Mass., on Massachusetts Bay: suburb of Boston: pop. 38,000: see BOSTON [after the Biblical Salem] 3 city in N Tamil Nadu state, S India: pop. 515,000
salep (sæl´эp) •n. the starchy dried tubers of various orchids (esp. genera Orchis and Eulophia), ground up and used as food [Fr < Sp < colloq. Ar *sa؟lab, altered & contr. < khusa al-thalab, fox's testicles: see ORCHIS]
saleratus (sæl'э reit´эs) •n. sodium (or sometimes potassium) bicarbonate; baking soda, as used in cooking [ModL sal aeratus, aerated salt]
Salerno (sä leř´nô; E sэ lør´nou) seaport in S Italy, on an inlet (Gulf of Salerno) of the Tyrrhenian Sea: pop. 157,000: ancient name Salernum (sэ lør´nэm)
sales promotion the use of publicizing methods other than paid advertising to promote a product, service, etc.
sales representative a salesperson, esp. one employed as a traveling agent for a manufacturer, distributor, etc.
sales slip a receipt or bill of sale for a purchase from a retail store
sales talk 1 persuasion or argument used in an attempt to sell something 2 any argument aimed at persuading one to do or believe something
sales tax a tax on sales, usually levied as a percentage of, and added to, the price paid by the consumer
salesclerk (seilz´klørk') •n. a person employed to sell goods in a retail store
salesgirl (-gûrl') •n. a girl or woman employed as a salesclerk
saleslady (seilz´lei'di:) pl. -la'dies •n. [Colloq.] a saleswoman, esp. one employed as a salesclerk
salesman (seilz´mэn) pl. -men (-mэn) •n. 1 a man employed as a salesclerk Æ 2 SALES REPRESENTATIVE
salesmanship (-ship') •n. the ability, skill, or technique of selling
salesperson (seilz´pør'sэn) •n. a person employed to sell goods or services sales´peo'ple (-pi:'pэl) •n.pl.
salesroom (-ru:m') •n. a room in which goods are shown and offered for sale
saleswoman (-wum'эn) pl. -wom'en (-wim'эn) •n. a woman salesclerk or sales representative
Salford (söl´fэrd, sæl´-) city in NW England, in Greater Manchester: pop. 130,000
Salian (sei´li: эn) •adj. designating or of a group of Franks who settled along the IJssel River, in the Netherlands, in the 4th cent. A.D. •n. a Salian Frank [< LL Salii, Salian Franks, after the Sala (now IJssel) River]
Salic (sæl´ik, sei´lik) •adj. 1 of the Salian Franks 2 of the Salic law [ML Salicus]
Salic law 1 a code of laws of Germanic tribes, including the Salian Franks; esp., the provision of this code excluding women from inheriting land 2 the law excluding women from succeeding to the throne in the French and Spanish monarchies
salicin (sæl´э sin) •n. a white, crystalline glucoside, HOCH2C6H4OC6H11O5, obtained from the bark of certain poplars and willows, and used as a reagent [Fr salicine < L salix (gen. salicis), willow, akin to saliva, saliva < IE *salik- < base *sal-, gray > OE sol, dark, dirty, sealh, willow]
salicylate (sэ lis´э leit'; sæl'э sil´eit', -it) •n. 1 a salt of salicylic acid containing the monovalent, negative radical HOC6H4COO 2 an uncharged ester of this acid
salicylic acid (sæl'э sil´ik) a white, crystalline compound, HOC6H4COOH, prepared from salicin or phenol and used in the manufacture of aspirin, as a food preservative and mild antiseptic, etc. [salicyl (radical of the acid) < Fr salicyle < L salix (see SALICIN) + Fr -yle, -YL + -IC]
salient (seil´yэnt, sei´li: эnt) •adj. 1 a) leaping, jumping, or capering b) gushing or jetting forth 2 pointing outward; jutting or projecting, as an angle 3 standing out from the rest; noticeable; conspicuous; prominent •n. 1 the part of a battle line, trench, fort, etc. which projects farthest toward the enemy 2 a salient angle, part, etc. sa´lience or sa´lien·cy, pl. -cies, •n. sa´lient·ly •adv. [L saliens, prp. of salire, to leap < IE base *sel-, to jump > Gr halma, a leap]
salientian (sei'li: en´shi: эn, -shэn) •n., adj. ANURAN [< ModL Salientia (< L saliens: see SALIENT) + -AN]
saliferous (sэ lif´эr эs) •adj. producing or containing salt [< L sal, SALT + -FEROUS]
salify (sæl´э fai') -fied', -fy'ing •vt. to make salty; specif., a) to impregnate with salt b) to form a salt with; convert into a salt c) to combine with a salt [Fr salifier < L sal, salt + -ficare, -FY]
salimeter (sæ lim´эt эr) •n. a hydrometer for determining the density of salt solutions [SAL + -I- + -METER]
salina (sэ lai´nэ) •n. a salt marsh, pond, or lake [Sp < L salinae, salt pits < salinus, saline, salty: see SALINE] Salina (sэ lai´nэ) city in central Kans.: pop. 42,000 [< L salina (see SALINA), for the salt deposits found there]
Salinas (sэ li:´nэs) city in WC Calif., near Monterey: pop. 109,000 [after the nearby Salinas River < L salina (see SALINA): for the salt marshes at its mouth]
saline (sei´lain, -li:n; for n. 1, also sэ li:n´) •adj. 1 of, characteristic of, or containing common salt, or sodium chloride 2 of or containing any of the salts of the alkali metals or magnesium •n. 1 a salt spring, lick, mine, etc. 2 a salt of magnesium or of an alkali metal, often used as a cathartic 3 a saline solution, esp. one that is isotonic, used in medical treatment or biological experiments sa·lin·i·ty (sэ lin´э ti:) •n. [LME salyne < L salinus < sal, SALT]
Salinger (sæl´in jэr), J(erome) D(avid) 1919- ; U.S. novelist & short-story writer
salinize (sæl´э naiz') -nized', -niz'ing •vt. to contaminate (soil, etc.) with salts sal'i·ni·za´tion •n. [SALIN(E) + -IZE]
salinometer (sæl'э näm´эt эr) •n. any device for measuring the amount of dissolved salts in a solution, esp. one that measures the electrical conductivity of a water sample [see SALINE & -METER]
Salisbury (sölz´ber'e, -bэ ri:; sælz´-), 3d Marquess of (Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil) 1830-1903; Eng. statesman Salisbury (sölz´ber'i:, -bэ ri:; sælz´-) 1 city in Wiltshire, SC England: noted for its 13th-cent. cathedral: pop. 36,000 2 old name of HARARE [OE Searoburh]
Salisbury Plain rolling plateau in S Wiltshire, England: site of Stonehenge
Salisbury steak a large patty of ground beef mixed with egg, bread crumbs, onions, seasonings, etc. and fried, broiled, or baked
Salish (sei´lish) •n. 1 pl. -lish a member of a group of North American Indian peoples of NW North America 2 a) any of the languages of these peoples b) these languages as a group; Salishan •adj. designating or of the Salish, their language group, or their culture [Salish sälst, people]
Salishan (-эn) •n. a group or family of languages spoken by the Salish •adj. designating or of these languages or the Salish
saliva (sэ lai´vэ) •n. the thin, watery, slightly viscid fluid secreted by the salivary glands: it serves as an aid to swallowing and digestion by moistening and softening food, and contains enzymes which convert starch to dextrin and maltose [L: see SALICIN]
salivary (sæl´э ver'i:) •adj. of or relating to saliva; specif., designating or of three pairs of glands in the mouth that secrete saliva
salivate (-veit') -vat'ed, -vat'ing •vt. to produce an excessive flow of saliva in •vi. to secrete saliva sal'i·va´tion •n. [< L salivatus, pp. of salivare, salivate]
Salk (sölk), Jonas E(dward) 1914- ; U.S. physician & bacteriologist: developed a vaccine to prevent poliomyelitis
salle (sål) •n. a hall or room [Fr < Frank or OHG sal, room, house: see SALOON]
sallenders (sæl´эn dэrz) •n.pl. a variety of eczema on the hock of a horse: see MALANDERS [Fr solandres, pl. of solandre]
sallet (sæl´it) •n. a rounded, metal helmet with a projecting guard for the neck and, often, a visor, worn in the 15th cent. [ME < MFr salade < It celata < pp. of celare, to cover < L: see CONCEAL]
sallow¹ (sæl´ou) •adj. of a sickly, pale-yellow hue {a sallow complexion} •vt. to make sallow sal´low·ness •n. [ME salou < OE salu, sallow, dark, akin to OHG salo < IE base *sal-, dirty gray: see SALICIN]
sallow² (sæl´ou) •n. 1 a kind of willow (Salix caprea) with large catkins of flowers which appear before the leaves 2 a willow twig [ME salwe, sealh: see SALICIN]
Sallust (sæl´эst) (L. name Gaius Sallustius Crispus) 86-c. 35 B.C.; Rom. historian
Sally (sæl´i:) a feminine name: see SARAH sally (sæl´i:) pl. -lies •n. 1 a sudden rushing forth, as of troops to attack besieging forces 2 any sudden start into activity 3 a quick witticism; bright retort; quip 4 an excursion or unusual side trip; jaunt •vi. -lied, -ly·ing 1 to make a sally 2 to rush out or come out suddenly 3 a) to come or go outdoors b) to set out on a trip Used with forth or out [MFr saillie < saillir, to come forth suddenly, rush out, leap < L salire, to leap, spring: see SALIENT]
Sally Lunn (lûn) [also s- l-] a variety of sweetened tea cake, usually served hot [said to be name of 18th-c. Eng woman who first made these at Bath]
salmagundi (sæl'mэ gûn´di:) •n. 1 a dish of chopped meat, eggs, etc. flavored with onions, anchovies, vinegar, and oil 2 any mixture or medley [Fr salmigondis, earlier salmigondin, altered < ? It salame conditi, preserved pickled meat < salame (see SALAMI) + conditi < pp. of condire, to flavor, preserve < L, to preserve, pickle]
salmi (sæl´mi:) •n. a highly seasoned dish of game or fowl, partly roasted, then stewed in wine [Fr salmis, contr. < salmigondis: see SALMAGUNDI]
Salmon (sæm´эn) river in central Ida., flowing into the Snake River: 420 mi. (676 sq. km) salmon (sæm´эn) pl. -on or -ons •n. 1 any of various salmonoid fishes (family Salmonidae); specif., any of several species of game and food fishes (genera Oncorhynchus and Salmo) of the Northern Hemisphere, with silver scales and flesh that is yellowish pink to pale red when cooked: they live in salt water and spawn in fresh water, though some species are landlocked in lakes 2 yellowish pink or pale red: also salmon pink [ME salmoun < MFr < OFr saumon < L salmo (gen. salmonis) < ?]
salmon trout any of various trouts, as the rainbow trout
salmonberry (-ber'i:) pl. -ries •n. 1 a tall, spineless raspberry (Rubus spectabilis) of the W coast of North America, having salmon-colored or reddish, edible fruit 2 its fruit
salmonella (sæl'mэ nel´э) pl. -nel´lae (-i:), -nel´la •n. or -nel´las any of a genus (Salmonella) of Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacteria that cause various diseases in people and domestic animals, including typhoid fever and food poisoning [ModL: so named after D. E. Salmon (1850-1914), U.S. pathologist]
salmonellosis (-nel ou´sis) •n. a disease caused by various strains of salmonella and characterized by fever and intestinal disorders [< prec. + -OSIS]
salmonoid (sæl´mэ noid') •adj. 1 like a salmon 2 of the suborder (Salmonoidei, order Salmoniformes) of bony fishes that includes the salmons, trouts, and most smelts •n. a salmonoid fish
Salome (sэ lou´mi:, sæl´э mei') traditional name of the daughter of Herodias: her dancing pleased Herod so much that he granted her request for the head of John the Baptist See Matt. 14:8 [LL(Ec) < Gr(Ec) Salōmē < Heb shalom, lit., peace]
Salomon (sæl´э mэn), Haym (haim) 1740-85; Am. financier & patriot, born in Poland: helped finance the Am. Revolutionary War
salon (sэ län´, sæl´än'; Fr så louñ´) •n. 1 a large reception hall or social room, as in a hotel or on a ship; saloon 2 a drawing room of a private home in French-speaking countries 3 a regular gathering of distinguished guests such as might meet in a drawing room; esp., a meeting of literary or artistic people in a celebrity's home 4 a) a room or gallery for the exhibition of works of art b) such an exhibition, esp. one held annually 5 a shop or business establishment specially furnished for performing some personal service; parlor {beauty salon} [Fr: see SALOON]
Salonika (sæl'э nai´kэ, -ni:´-; sэ län´i kэ) 1 seaport in Macedonia, N Greece, at the head of the Gulf of Salonika: pop. 406,000: Gr. name THESSALONIKI 2 Gulf of N arm of the Aegean Sea: c. 70 mi. (113 km) long Also sp. Sa'lo·ni´ca