strenuous (stren´yu: эs) •adj. 1 requiring or characterized by great effort or energy {a strenuous game of handball} 2 vigorous, arduous, zealous, etc. {strenuous efforts} SYN. ACTIVE stren´u·ous·ly •adv. stren´u·ous·ness •n. [L strenuus, vigorous, active < IE base *(s)ter-, rigid > STARE, Gr strēnēs, strong]

strep (strep) •n. short for STREPTOCOCCUS

strep throat [Colloq.] a sore throat caused by a streptococcus and characterized by inflammation and fever

strepto- (strep´tou, -tэ) combining form 1 twisted chain 2 streptococcus

streptococcus (strep'tэ käk´эs) pl. -coc´ci' (-käk´sai') •n. any of a genus (Streptococcus) of spherical, Gram-positive bacteria that divide in only one plane and occur generally in chains: some species cause various serious diseases strep'to·coc´cal (-käk´эl) or strep'to·coc´cic (-käk´sik) •adj. [ModL < Gr streptos, twisted (see STREPTOMYCES) + COCCUS]

streptokinase (-kai´neis, -kin´eis) •n. a proteolytic enzyme derived from certain hemolytic streptococci, used in dissolving blood clots [< prec. + KINASE]

streptomyces (-mai´si:z') pl. -ces' •n. any of a genus (Streptomyces) of funguslike, chiefly soil bacteria: several species yield antibiotics [ModL < Gr streptos, twisted < strephein, to turn (see STROPHE) + mykēs, fungus (see MYCO-)]

streptomycin (-mai´sin) •n. an antibiotic, C21H39N7O12, obtained from a soil bacterium (Streptomyces griseus) and used in treating various bacterial diseases, as tuberculosis [< prec. + -IN¹]

streptothricin (-θrai´sin) •n. an antibiotic derived from an actinomycete (Actinomyces lavendulae) and used in the treatment of various bacterial infections [< ModL Streptothrix, name of the fungus < Gr streptos, twisted (see STREPTOMYCES) + thrix, hair + -IN¹]

stress (stres) •n. 1 strain or straining force; specif., a) force exerted upon a body, that tends to strain or deform its shape b) the intensity of such force, usually measured in pounds per square inch c) the opposing reaction or cohesiveness of a body resisting such force 2 emphasis; importance; significance 3 a) mental or physical tension or strain b) urgency, pressure, etc. causing this 4 Music ACCENT (senses 13 & 14) 5 Phonet. a) the relative force or loudness with which a syllable is uttered b) an accented syllable (for stress marks, see PRIMARY STRESS, SECONDARY STRESS) 6 Prosody a) the relative force of utterance given a syllable or word according to the meter b) an accented syllable •vt. [OFr estrecer < VL *strictiare] 1 to put stress, pressure, or strain on 2 to give stress or accent to 3 to emphasize stress´ful •adj. stress´ful·ly •adv. [ME stresse < OFr estresse < VL *strictia < L strictus, STRICT; also, in some senses, aphetic < DISTRESS]

-stress (stris) suffix 1 a female person who is, does, or creates (something specified) {songstress} 2 a female person associated with (something specified) Cf. -STER [< -STER + -ESS]

stress fracture a fracture near the muscle attachments on the leg bones caused by repetitive stress, as in intensive training in track, ballet, etc.

stressed-out (strest´aut´) •adj. tired, nervous, or depressed as a result of overwork, mental pressure, etc.

stressor (stres´эr) •n. any stimulus producing mental or physical stress in an organism

stretch (strech) •vt. 1 to hold out or reach out; extend {to stretch out a helping hand} 2 to cause (the body or limbs) to reach out to full length, as in yawning, relaxing, reclining, etc. 3 to pull or spread out to full extent or to greater size {to stretch sheets out to dry} 4 to cause to reach or extend over a given space, distance, or time {to stretch pipelines across a continent} 5 a) to cause to reach or extend farther or too far; force or strain b) to strain in interpretation, application, scope, etc. to questionable or unreasonable limits {to stretch a rule, to stretch the truth} 6 to make tense or tight with effort; strain (a muscle, etc.) 7 [Slang] to knock down, esp. so as to cause to lie at full length •vi. 1 a) to spread or be spread out to full extent or beyond normal limits b) to extend or continue over a given space, distance, direction, or time 2 a) to extend the body or limbs to full length, as in yawning or reaching for something b) to lie down at full length (usually with out) 3 to become stretched or be capable of being stretched to greater size, as any elastic substance •n. 1 a stretching or being stretched 2 a) an unbroken period; continuous space (of time) {over a stretch of ten days} b) [Slang] a term served in prison under a sentence 3 the extent to which something can be stretched 4 an unbroken length, tract, or space; continuous extent or distance {a long stretch of beach} 5 a) any of the sections of a course or track for racing b) short for HOMESTRETCH (sense 1) 6 a course or direction Æ 7 Baseball the act of straightening the arms above the head before pitching the ball 8 a stretch limousine, airliner, etc. •adj. 1 made of elasticized fabric so as to stretch easily and fit closely {stretch pants} 2 designating or of a vehicle, esp. a limousine, that has been customized by extending the passenger section, usually with an added pair of doors, to enlarge seating capacity stretch'a·bil´i·ty •n. stretch´a·ble •adj. [ME strecchen < OE streccan, akin to Ger strecken < IE *sterg- < base *(s)ter-, to be stiff, rigid > STARE]

stretcher (strech´эr) •n. 1 a person or thing that stretches; specif., a) a brace or tie used to extend or support a framework; crosspiece b) a brick or stone laid lengthwise in a wall c) any of several framelike devices used for stretching and shaping cloth, garments, curtains, etc. 2 a) a light frame covered with canvas, etc. and used for carrying the sick, injured, or dead; litter b) any similar device, as a wheeled cot used in ambulances

stretcher-bearer (-ber'эr) •n. a person who helps carry a stretcher, esp. in military combat

stretchout (strech´aut') •n. a practice, as within a company or industry, in which a) workers are required to do more work with little or no increase in pay b) the time scheduled for producing a given output is extended

stretchy (-i:) stretch´i·er, stretch´i·est •adj. 1 that can be stretched; elastic 2 tending to stretch too far

stretto (stret´ou) pl. -tos or -ti (-i:) •n. Music 1 in a fugue, the following of the voices in close succession, esp. in the closing section 2 any concluding passage performed with a climactic increase in speed: also stret´ta, pl. -tas or -te (-ei) [It < L strictus, tight, narrow: see STRICT]

streusel (stru:´zэl, stroi´-) •n. a crumbly topping, as for coffeecake, made with flour, butter, sugar, and cinnamon [Ger, lit., something strewn < MHG ströusel < ströuwen, to strew < OHG strewen: see STREW]

strew (stru:) strewed, strewed or strewn, strew´ing •vt. 1 to spread about here and there by or as by sprinkling; scatter 2 to cover by or as by scattering something on or over 3 to be scattered over (a surface) [ME strewen < OE streawian, akin to Ger streuen < IE *streu- < base *ster-, to extend, stretch out, strew > STRAW, L struere, to pile up]

stria (strai´э) pl. stri´ae (-i:) •n. 1 a narrow groove or channel 2 any of a number of parallel lines, stripes, bands, furrows, etc.; specif., a) any of the cylindrical fibers in voluntary muscles b) any of the parallel lines on glaciated surfaces or crystal faces c) any of the luminous bands in an electric discharge through a gas [L: for IE base see STRIKE]

striate (strai´eit'; for adj., usually, -it) -at'ed, -at'ing •vt. to mark with striae; stripe, band, furrow, etc. •adj. marked with striae: said esp. of muscles which control the skeleton: also stri´at'ed [< L striatus, grooved, furrowed, pp. of striare, to groove, channel < stria: see STRIA]

striation (strai ei´shэn) •n. 1 the condition of having striae 2 the arrangement of striae 3 STRIA

strick (strik) •n. any of the bast fibers, as of flax or hemp, made ready to be drawn into sliver form [ME strik, prob. < MDu or LowG: MDu stric (or MLowG strik), rope]

stricken (strik´эn) •vt., vi. alt. pp. of STRIKE •adj. 1 struck or wounded, as by a missile 2 afflicted or affected, as by something painful or very distressing {the stricken man, a stricken conscience} 3 having the contents level with the top of a container

strickle (strik´эl) •n. 1 a stick used to level the top of a measure of grain 2 a tool used for sharpening a scythe, etc. 3 Metallurgy a bevel-edged finishing tool used in shaping molds •vt. -led, -ling to use a strickle on [ME strikile < OE stricel < base in strican, to STRIKE]

strict (strikt) •adj. 1 exact or precise; not loose, vague, or broad {a strict translation} 2 perfect; absolute; entire {the strict truth} 3 a) following or enforcing a rule or rules with great care; punctilious b) closely enforced or rigidly maintained c) disciplining rigorously or severely 4 [Obs.] a) close; tight b) narrow 5 Bot. stiff and upright; erect strict´ly •adv. strict´ness •n. [L strictus, pp. of stringere, to draw tight, compress < IE *streig-, stiff, taut, a rope < base *(s)ter-, rigid > STARE]

striction (strik´shэn) •n. the act of drawing tight; constriction [L strictio: see STRICT]

stricture (strik´chэr) •n. 1 sharp adverse criticism; censure 2 a limiting or restricting condition; restriction 3 [Obs.] strictness 4 Med. an abnormal narrowing of a passage in the body; stenosis stric´tured •adj. [ME strictture < L strictura < strictus: see STRICT]

stride (straid) strode, strid´den, strid´ing •vi. 1 to walk with long steps, esp. in a vigorous or swaggering manner 2 to take a single, long step (esp. over something) 3 [Rare] to sit or stand astride •vt. 1 to take a single, long step in passing over (an obstacle, etc.) 2 to walk with long steps along or through {to stride the street} 3 to sit or stand astride of; straddle; bestride •n. 1 the act of striding 2 a) a long step in walking or running b) the distance covered by such a step 3 a) any single forward movement by a four-legged animal, completed when the legs return to their original relative positions b) the distance covered in such a movement 4 a manner of running; gait 5 [usually pl.] progress; advancement {to make rapid strides} •adj. Jazz designating or of a style of piano playing in which the left hand alternates rhythmically between a strong bass note and middle range chords Æ hit one's stride to reach one's normal speed or level of efficiency take in (one's) stride to cope with easily and without undue effort or hesitation strid´er •n. [ME striden < OE stridan, akin to Ger streiten, to quarrel < IE *streidh- < base *(s)ter-, to be stiff, rigid > STARE, STARVE]

strident (straid´ªnt) •adj. harsh-sounding; shrill; grating SYN. VOCIFEROUS stri´dence or stri´den·cy •n. stri´dent·ly •adv. [L stridens, prp. of stridere, to make a grating noise, rasp < IE echoic base *(s)trei- > Gr trizein, to chirp, screech, L strix, screech owl]

stridor (strai´dэr, -dör') •n. 1 a strident sound 2 Med. a harsh, high-pitched whistling sound, produced in breathing by an obstruction in the bronchi, trachea, or larynx [L < stridere: see STRIDENT]

stridulate (strij´u leit') -lat'ed, -lat'ing •vi. to make a shrill grating or chirping sound by rubbing certain body parts together, as certain insects do strid'u·la´tion •n. strid´u·la·to'ry (-lэ tör'i:) •adj. [< ModL stridulatus, pp. of stridulare < L stridulus: see STRIDULOUS]

stridulous (-lэs) •adj. making a shrill grating or chirping sound: also strid´u·lant [L stridulus < stridere: see STRIDENT]

strife (straif) •n. 1 the act of striving or vying with another; contention or competition 2 the act or state of fighting or quarreling, esp. bitterly; struggle; conflict 3 [Archaic] strong endeavor SYN. DISCORD [ME strif < OFr estrif: see STRIVE]

strigil (strij´эl) •n. an instrument of bone, metal, etc. used by the ancient Greeks and Romans for scraping the skin during a bath [L strigilis: see STRIKE]

strigose (strai´gous', stri gous´) •adj. 1 Bot. having stiff hairs or bristles, as some leaves 2 Zool. having fine, close-set grooves or streaks [ModL strigosus < striga, stiff bristle < L, furrow: for IE base see STRIKE]

strike (straik) struck, struck or •vt. occas. (but for vt. 11 commonly and for vt. 8 & 15 usually) strick´en, strik´ing 1 to hit with the hand or a tool, weapon, etc.; smite; specif., a) to give a blow to; hit with force {to strike a nail with a hammer} b) to give (a blow, etc.) c) to remove, knock off, etc. by or as by a blow {to strike a gun from someone's hand} d) to make or impress by stamping, punching, printing, etc. {to strike coins in a mint} e) to pierce or penetrate {struck in the head by a bullet} f) to harpoon or shoot (a whale) g) to hook (a fish that has risen to the bait) by a pull on the line h) to seize (the bait) (said of a fish) 2 a) to produce (a tone or chord) by hitting a key or keys or touching a string or strings on a musical instrument b) to touch the strings of (a musical instrument) 3 to announce (time), as by causing a hammer to hit a bell: said of clocks, etc. 4 to cause to come into violent or forceful contact; specif., a) to cause to hit something {to strike one's head on a beam} b) to thrust (a weapon, implement, etc.) in or into something c) to bring forcefully into contact {to strike cymbals together} d) to cause to ignite by friction {to strike a match} 5 a) to produce (a light, etc.) by friction b) to make (an arc) in an arc lamp 6 to come into violent or forceful contact with; crash into; hit {the stone struck a head} 7 a) to wound with the fangs (said of snakes) b) to attack 8 to afflict, as with disease, pain, or death 9 to come into contact with; specif., a) to fall on; shine on {light striking the wall} b) to catch or reach (the ear) (said of a sound) Æ c) to come upon; arrive at {the bus struck the main road} d) to make (a path, trail, etc.) as one goes along e) to notice, find, or hit upon suddenly or unexpectedly Æ f) to discover, as after drilling or prospecting {to strike oil} g) to appear to {the sight that struck my eyes} 10 to affect as if by contact, a blow, etc.; specif., a) to come into the mind of; occur to {an idea struck me} b) to be attractive to or impress (one's fancy, sense of humor, etc.) c) to seem to {an idea that strikes one as silly} d) to cause to become suddenly {to be struck dumb} e) to influence, inspire, or overcome suddenly with strong feeling {to be struck with amazement} f) to cause (a feeling, emotion, etc.) to come suddenly; arouse {to strike terror to the heart} 11 to remove or expunge (from a list, minutes, record, etc.) 12 a) to make and ratify (a bargain, agreement, truce, etc.) b) to arrive at by figuring, estimating, etc. {to strike a balance} 13 a) to lower or haul down (a sail, flag, etc.), as in surrendering (sailors formerly struck sails in protest of grievances, to prevent a ship from sailing) b) to take down (a tent, etc.) c) to abandon (a camp) as by taking down tents 14 to refuse to continue to work at (a factory, company, etc.) until certain demands have been met [from vt. 13a via obs. sense to put (tools) out of use in protest of grievances] 15 a) orig., to stroke or smooth b) to level (a measure of grain, sand mold, etc.) by stroking the top with a straight instrument; strickle 16 to assume (an attitude, pose, etc.) 17 a) to send down or put forth (roots) (said of plants, etc.) b) to cause (cuttings, etc.) to take root 18 [Obs.] to wage (battle) 19 Theater [cf. vt. 13] a) to dismantle and remove (scenery or a set) b) to remove the scenery of (a play) c) to turn (a light) down or offvi. 1 to deliver a blow or blows 2 to aim a blow or blows {to strike in vain at a ball} 3 a) to attack {the enemy struck at dawn} b) to take part in a fight or struggle (for some objective) 4 a) to make a sound or sounds as by being struck (said of a bell, clock, etc.) b) to be announced by the striking of a bell, chime, etc. (said of the time) 5 a) to make sudden and violent contact; hit; collide (against, on, or upon) b) to be noticed; have an effect 6 to ignite or be capable of igniting, as a match 7 to seize or snatch at a bait: said of a fish 8 to make a darting movement in an attempt to inflict a wound: said of a snake, tiger, etc. 9 to penetrate or pierce (to, through, etc.) 10 to come suddenly or unexpectedly; fall, light, etc. (on or upon) {to strike on the right combination} 11 to run upon a reef, rock, etc.: said of a ship 12 a) to lower sail b) to haul down one's flag in token of surrender 13 to refuse to continue to work until certain demands are met; go on strike 14 to send out roots; take root: said of a plant 15 to begin, advance, or proceed, esp. in a new way or direction; turn 16 to move or pass quickly; dart Æ 17 U.S. Navy to be in training (for a specified rating) •n. 1 the act of striking; blow; specif., a military attack {an air strike} 2 STRICKLE 3 a) a concerted refusal by employees to go on working, in an attempt to force an employer to grant certain demands, as for higher wages, better working conditions, etc. b) any similar refusal by a person or group of people to do something, undertaken as a form of protest {a hunger strike, a buyers' strike} 4 the discovery of a rich deposit of oil, coal, minerals, etc. Æ 5 any sudden success, esp. one bringing large financial return 6 Æ a) the pull on the line by a fish seizing or snatching at bait b) the pull that a fisherman gives the line to engage a baited hook in a fish's mouth 7 the number of coins, medals, etc. struck at one time 8 the part of a timepiece that strikes 9 the metal piece on a doorjamb, into which the latch fits when the door is shut: also strike plate Æ 10 Baseball a pitched ball which is a) struck at but missed b) delivered through the strike zone but not struck at c) hit foul but not caught (unless there are already two strikes) d) on a third strike, hit as a foul tip caught by the catcher Three strikes put the batter out Æ 11 Bowling a) the act of knocking down all the pins on the first bowl b) the score made in this way 12 Geol., Mining the trace of a rock bed, fault, or vein on the horizontal, at right angles to the direction of dip be struck with to be attracted to or impressed by Æ have two strikes against one [Colloq.] to be at a decided disadvantage: from the three strikes permitted a batter in baseball (out) on strike striking: see STRIKE (vi. 13) strike down 1 to cause to fall by a blow, etc.; knock down 2 to do away with; undo, cancel, etc. 3 to have a disastrous or disabling effect upon: said of illness, etc. strike dumb to amaze; astound; astonish strike hands 1 to show agreement by clasping hands 2 to make a bargain, contract, etc. strike home 1 to deliver an effective or crippling blow 2 to achieve a desired or significant effect Æ strike it rich 1 to discover a rich deposit of ore, oil, etc. 2 to become rich or successful suddenly strike off 1 to separate, or remove, by or as by a blow or cut 2 to remove from a record, list, etc.; erase; expunge 3 to print strike out 1 to make by hitting or striking 2 to originate; produce; devise 3 to aim or strike a blow; hit out 4 to remove from a record, etc.; erase; expunge 5 to begin moving or acting; start out Æ 6 Baseball a) to be put out as the result of three strikes b) to put (a batter) out by pitching three strikes Æ 7 to be a failure strike up 1 to begin or cause to begin playing, singing, sounding, etc. 2 to begin (a friendship, conversation, etc.) 3 to emboss (metal, decorative figures, etc.) [ME striken, to proceed, flow, strike with rod or sword < OE strican, to go, proceed, advance, akin to Ger streichen < IE *streig- < base *ster-, a streak, strip, to stroke > L stringere, to couch, strigilis, scraper, Ger strahl, ray]

strike fault Geol. a fault running parallel to the strike of the strata that it cuts

strike zone Baseball the area over home plate, between the batter's knees and armpits, through which the ball must be pitched for a strike to be called by the umpire

strikebound (-baund') •adj. closed or hampered because of striking employees {a strikebound plant}

strikebreaker (-brei'kэr) •n. a person who is active in trying to break up a strike, as by working as a scab, supplying scabs for the employer, intimidating strikers, etc. strike´break'ing •n.

strikeout (-aut') •n. Baseball an out made by a batter charged with three strikes

striker (strai´kэr) •n. 1 a person who strikes; specif., a) a worker who is on strike b) an assistant who wields the heavy sledgehammer for a blacksmith 2 a thing that strikes, as the clapper in a bell, the striking device in a clock, etc. Æ 3 a) U.S. Army an enlisted man doing extra-duty work for an officer for extra pay b) U.S. Navy an enlisted man who is working to qualify for a rating 4 Soccer the forward and main scorer of a soccer team

striking (strai´kiŋ) •adj. 1 that strikes or is on strike 2 very noticeable or impressive; unusual, outstanding, remarkable, etc. SYN. NOTICEABLE strik´ing·ly •adv.

striking price in an option contract, the specified price at which a stock, commodity, etc. may be bought or sold; the price at which an investor can exercise profitably a put or call

Strimon (stři: môn´) Gr. name of STRUMA

Strindberg (strind´børg, strin´-; Swed střin´bæř'yª), (Johan) August 1849-1912; Swed. dramatist & novelist

string (striŋ) •n. 1 a) a thin line of twisted fiber used for tying, pulling, fastening, etc.; slender cord or thick thread b) a narrow strip of leather or cloth for fastening shoes, clothing, etc.; lace {apron strings} 2 a length or loop of like things threaded, strung, or hung on a string {a string of pearls} 3 a) a number of things arranged in a line or row {a string of houses} b) any series of things in close or uninterrupted succession {a string of victories} 4 a) a number of racehorses belonging to one owner b) a number of business enterprises under one ownership or management {a string of gift shops} Æ 5 any of the groupings of players on a team according to ability the first string is more skilled than the second string, etc. 6 a) a slender cord of wire, gut, nylon, etc. stretched on a musical instrument and bowed, plucked, or struck to make a musical sound b) [pl.] all the stringed instruments of an orchestra, quintet, etc. played with a bow c) [pl.] the players of such instruments 7 a strong, slender organ, structure, etc. resembling a string; specif., a) [Archaic] an animal nerve or tendon b) a fiber of a plant, esp. one connecting the two halves of a bean pod Æ 8 [Colloq.] a condition, limitation, or proviso attached to a plan, offer, donation, etc.: usually used in pl. 9 Archit. a) one of the inclined boards under a stairs, notched to support the treads and risers b) STRINGCOURSE Æ 10 Billiards a) a line indicated but unmarked across the table at one end, from behind which the cue ball must be played after being out of play (in full string line) b) the act of stroking the cue ball so that it rebounds from the far cushion to stop as close as possible to the string line, for determining the order of play •vt. strung, string´ing 1 to fit or provide with a string or strings {to string a longbow, a violin, etc.} 2 to thread or bead on a string 3 to tie, pull, fasten, hang, lace, etc. with a string or strings 4 to adjust or tune the strings of (a musical instrument) by tightening, etc. 5 to make tense, nervous, or keyed (up) 6 to remove the strings from (beans, etc.) 7 to arrange or set forth in a row or successive series 8 to stretch or extend like a string {to string a cable} •vi. 1 to form into a string or strings 2 to stretch out in a line; extend; stretch; move or progress in a string 3 to serve as a stringer (for a newspaper, magazine, etc.) 4 Billiards LAG¹ (vi. 4) •adj. of or composed for stringed instruments {string quartet} on a (or the) string completely under one's control or subject to one's whims pull strings 1 to get someone to use influence in one's behalf, often secretly 2 to direct action of others, often secretly Æ string along [Colloq.] 1 to follow faithfully or accept trustingly 2 to go along or agree 3 to fool, trick, or keep in an uncertain state, as by promises string up [Colloq.] to kill by hanging string´less •adj. [ME streng < OE, akin to Ger strang: see STRONG]

string band a band of stringed instruments, as guitar, banjo, violin, etc., playing folk or country music string´-band' •adj.

string bass DOUBLE BASS

string bean 1 SNAP BEAN 2 [Colloq.] a tall, skinny person

string bikini a skimpy bikini having often a triangular covering part held in place by narrow, string-like ties

string quartet 1 a quartet of players on stringed instruments, usually first and second violins, a viola, and a violoncello 2 a composition for such a group

string tie a narrow necktie, usually tied in a bow

stringboard (-börd') •n. a board placed along the side of a staircase to cover the ends of the steps: see STAIRCASE, illus.

stringcourse (-körs') •n. a decorative, horizontal course of brick or stone set in the wall of a building

stringed instrument (striŋd) any of a class of instruments, including violins, guitars, harps, zithers, etc., often made of wood and in which the tone or tones are produced by a vibrating string: cf. STRING (n. 6)

stringency (strin´jэn si:) pl. -cies •n. the quality or state of being stringent; strictness; severity

stringendo (strin jэn´dou) •adv. Musical Direction with accelerated tempo, as toward a climax [It < stringere, to tighten, bind < L: see STRICT]

stringent (strin´jэnt) •adj. 1 rigidly controlled, enforced, etc.; strict; severe Æ 2 tight in loan or investment money {a stringent money market} 3 compelling; convincing {stringent reason} strin´gent·ly •adv. strin´gent·ness •n. [L stringens, prp. of stringere, to draw tight: see STRICT]

stringer (striŋ´эr) •n. 1 a person or thing that strings 2 a long piece of timber used as a support; specif., a) a horizontal timber connecting upright posts in a frame b) STRINGPIECE 3 a long, lightweight structural member of an airplane fuselage, rocket, etc. Æ 4 a string or metal line with clips on which caught fish are strung Æ 5 a person serving as a part-time, local correspondent for a newspaper, magazine, etc. Æ 6 a person ranked according to ability {second-stringer}

stringhalt (striŋ´hölt') •n. a condition in horses causing one or both hind legs to jerk spasmodically in walking string´halt'ed or string´halt'y •adj.

stringpiece (-pi:s') •n. a long, horizontal timber for supporting a framework, as at the edge of a floor

stringy (striŋ´i:) string´i·er, string´i·est •adj. 1 like a string or strings; long, thin, wiry, sinewy, etc. 2 consisting of strings or fibers 3 having tough fibers {stringy meat, celery, etc.} 4 forming strings; viscous; ropy {stringy molasses} string´i·ness •n.

strip cropping crop planting in which wide rows of heavy-rooted plants are alternated with loose-rooted plants so as to lessen erosion, as on a hillside

strip mining a method of mining, esp. for coal, by laying bare a mineral deposit near the surface of the earth, instead of by sinking a shaft

strip steak a porterhouse steak with no bone or filet

strip¹ (strip) stripped, strip´ping •vt. 1 to remove (the clothing or covering) of or from (a person); make naked; undress 2 to deprive or dispossess (a person or thing) of (honors, titles, attributes, etc.) 3 to despoil of wealth, property, etc.; plunder; rob 4 to pull, tear, or take off (a covering, skin, etc.) from (a person or thing) 5 to make bare or clear by removing fruit, growth, removable parts, etc. {to strip a room of furniture} 6 to take apart (a firearm, etc.) piece by piece, as for cleaning; dismantle 7 to break or damage the thread of (a nut, bolt, or screw) or the teeth of (a gear) 8 to remove the last milk from (a cow) with a stroking movement of the thumb and forefinger 9 to remove the large central rib from (tobacco leaves) or the leaf from (the stalk) •vi. 1 to take off all clothing; undress Æ 2 to perform a striptease short for STRIPTEASE •n. SYN.—strip implies the pulling or tearing off of clothing, outer covering, etc. and often connotes forcible or even violent action and total deprivation [to strip paper off a wall, stripped of sham]; denude implies that the thing stripped is left exposed or naked [land denuded of vegetation]; divest implies the taking away of something with which one has been clothed or invested [an official divested of authority]; bare simply implies an uncovering or laying open to view [to bare one's head in reverence]; dismantle implies the act of stripping a house, ship, etc. of all of its furniture or equipment [a dismantled factory] [ME strepen < OE stripan, akin to streifen, to strip off < IE *streub- < base *ster-, to streak, stroke > STRIKE]

strip² (strip) •n. 1 a long, narrow piece, as of land, ribbon, wood, etc. Æ 2 short for COMIC STRIP 3 short for AIRSTRIP 4 Philately a vertical or horizontal row of three or more attached stamps •vt. to cut or tear into strips [altered (infl. by prec.) < STRIPE]

stripe (straip) •n. 1 a long, narrow band, mark, or streak, differing in color, texture, or material from the surrounding area 2 [often pl.] a fabric or garment with a pattern of parallel stripes 3 a strip of cloth or braid, as a chevron, bar, or curve, worn on the sleeve as of a military uniform to indicate rank or length of service 4 a distinctive type, kind, or sort {a man of his stripe} 5 [Archaic] a) a stroke with a whip, etc. b) a long welt on the skin •vt. striped, strip´ing to mark with a stripe or stripes [< MLowG & MDu strīpe < IE *streib- < base *ster- > STRIP²]

striped (straipt, strai´pid) •adj. having a stripe or stripes

striped bass (bæs) a silvery, dark-striped, food and game bass (Morone saxatilis) of the same family (Percichthyidae) as white bass, found along the coasts of North America: it goes up rivers to spawn

striper (strai´pэr) •n. 1 [Mil. Slang] any enlisted person, or a naval officer, who wears a STRIPE (n. 3) or stripes: usually in hyphenated compounds meaning one wearing (a specified number of) stripes {a four-striper} 2 STRIPED BASS

stripling (strip´liŋ) •n. a grown boy; youth passing into manhood [ME strypling, lit., one slim as a strip]

stripper (strip´эr) •n. 1 a person or thing that strips Æ 2 a person who does a striptease

strip-search (strip´sørch) •vt. to search (a person) by requiring removal of the clothes •n. such a search Also strip search

stript (stript) •vt., vi. rare pt. & pp. of STRIP¹

striptease (strip´ti:z') •n. a performance, as in a burlesque show, in which the performer undresses slowly, usually to the accompaniment of music strip´tease', -teased', -teas'ing, •vi. strip´teas'er •n.

stripy (strai´pi:) strip´i·er, strip´i·est •adj. characterized by, like, or marked with stripes

strive (straiv) strove or strived, striv·en (striv´ эn) or strived, striv´ing •vi. 1 to make great efforts; try very hard {to strive to win} 2 to be in conflict; struggle; contend; fight {to strive against oppression} 3 [Obs.] to compete; vie SYN. TRY striv´er •n. [ME striven < OFr estriver, to quarrel, contend < estrif, effort < Gmc, as in MHG striben, obs. Du strijven, to strive, struggle < IE *streibh- (> Gr striphnos, hard, solid) < base *(s)ter-, rigid > STARE]

strobe (stroub) •n. 1 short for STROBOSCOPE 2 an electronically regulated discharge tube that can emit extremely rapid, brief, and brilliant flashes of light: used in photography, the theater, etc.: also strobe light •adj. STROBOSCOPIC

strobila (strou bai´lэ) pl. -lae (-li:) •n. Zool. 1 the main, jointed body of a tapeworm 2 the attached stage of polyp scyphozoan jellyfishes during which the immature jellyfishes are released by transverse budding stro·bi´lar •adj. stro'bi·la´tion (-bэ lei´shэn) •n. [ModL < Gr strobilē, plug of lint twisted into oval shape < strobilos: see STROBILE]

strobile (strou´bail', -bil; strä´bil) Bot. CONE (n. 3) •n. [< Fr or LL: Fr < LL strobilus < Gr strobilos, anything twisted, pine cone < base of strephein, to twist: see STROPHE]

strobilus (strou bai´lэs) pl. -li' (-lai') •n. 1 CONE (n. 3) 2 STROBILA (sense 1) [ModL < LL: see STROBILE]

stroboscope (strou´bэ skoup'; also sträb´э-) •n. 1 an instrument for studying periodic or varying motion; specif., a device using a rapidly flickering flash tube that illuminates a moving body, machine, etc. very briefly at frequent intervals 2 STROBE (sense 2) stro'bo·scop´ic (-skäp´ik) or stro'bo·scop´i·cal •adj. stro'bo·scop´i·cal·ly •adv. [< Gr strobos, a twisting around (for IE base see STROPHE) + -SCOPE]

strode (stroud) •vi., vt. pt. of STRIDE

stroganoff (strou´gэ nöf', strö´-) •adj. cooked with sour cream, onions, mushrooms, etc.: used as a postpositive {beef stroganoff} [prob. after Count Sergei Stroganoff (1794-1881), Russ official and gourmet]

stroke (strouk) •n. 1 a striking of one thing against another; blow or impact of an ax, whip, etc. 2 a) a sudden action resulting in a powerful or destructive effect, as if from a blow {a stroke of lightning} b) a sudden occurrence, often a pleasant one {a stroke of luck} 3 any sudden attack of disease or illness, esp. paralysis or cerebral accident 4 a) a single effort to do, produce, or accomplish something, esp. a successful effort b) something accomplished by such an effort; feat c) a distinctive effect or touch in an artistic, esp. literary, work 5 the sound of striking, as of a clock 6 a) a single movement, as with some tool, club, etc. {a stroke of the pen, a backhand stroke in tennis} b) any of a series of repeated rhythmic motions made against water, air, etc. {the stroke of a swimmer, rower, etc.} c) a type, manner, or rate of such movement {a slow stroke} 7 a mark made by or as by a pen or similar marking tool 8 a beat of the heart 9 a gentle, caressing motion with the hand 10 [pl.] [Colloq.] praise, flattery, etc. offered to reassure, influence, persuade, etc. 11 Mech. any of a series of continuous, often reciprocating, movements; specif., a single movement of a piston from one end of its range to the other, constituting a half revolution of the engine 12 Rowing a) the rower who sits nearest the stern and sets the rate of rowing for the others b) the position occupied by this rower •vt. stroked, strok´ing [ME stroken < OE stracian, akin to strican: see STRIKE] 1 to draw one's hand, a tool, etc. gently over the surface of, as in caressing or smoothing 2 to mark with strokes or draw a line through: often with out 3 to hit; esp., to hit (a ball) in playing tennis, golf, pool, etc. 4 to set the rate of rowing for (a crew) or for the crew of (a boat) 5 [Colloq.] to flatter, pay special attention to, etc. in an effort to influence, reassure, persuade, etc. 6 [Slang] to masturbate: said of a man •vi. 1 to hit a ball in playing tennis, golf, etc. 2 to act as stroke (for) in rowing •adj. [Slang] of or for masturbating {a stroke book} keep stroke to make strokes in rhythm [ME, akin to Ger streich, a stroke, OE strican: see STRIKE]

stroke oar 1 the oar set nearest the stern of a boat 2 STROKE (n. 12)

stroll (stroul) •vi. 1 to walk in an idle, leisurely manner; saunter 2 to go from place to place; wander •vt. to stroll along or through (a street, the countryside, etc.) •n. the act of strolling; leisurely walk [Early ModE strowl, prob. < Swiss Ger dial. strolen, var. of strolchen, to stroll < Ger strolch, vagabond, rascal, altered < It astrologo, astrologer]

stroller (-эr) •n. 1 a person who saunters 2 a) a wanderer; esp., an itinerant actor b) a vagrant Æ 3 a light, chairlike baby carriage, usually collapsible, with openings for the legs at the front

stroma (strou´mэ) pl. -ma·ta (-tэ) •n. 1 Anat. a) the connective tissue forming the framework or matrix of an organ or part b) the colorless framework of a red blood corpuscle or other cell 2 Bot. in some fungi, a cushionlike mass of hyphae, frequently having fruiting bodies embedded in it stro´mal or stro·mat´ic (-mæt´ik) •adj. [ModL < L, coverlet, bed covering < Gr strōma, mattress, bed: for IE base see STREW]

stromatolite (strou mæt´ªl ait') •n. a laminated, sedimentary rock structure formed primarily in Precambrian shallow pools by mats of sticky, blue-green algae, which trapped layers of silt, esp. of calcium carbonate: these wavy or round formations serve as evidence for dating the first life forms on earth and are still being produced today stro·mat'o·lit´ic (-э lit´ik) •adj.

Stromboli (střôm´bô li:') 1 northernmost of the Lipari Islands, north of Sicily, c. 5 sq. mi. (12 sq. km) 2 active volcano on this island: 3,040 ft. (927 m)

strong (ströŋ) •adj. 1 a) physically powerful; having great muscular strength; robust b) in a healthy and sound condition; hale; hearty 2 a) performing well or in a normal manner {a strong heart} b) not easily affected or upset {a strong stomach} 3 morally powerful; having strength of character or will 4 a) intellectually powerful; able to think vigorously and clearly b) having special competence or ability (in a specified area) {to be strong in botany} 5 governing or leading with firm authority; authoritarian 6 a) powerfully made, built, or constituted; tough; firm; durable {a strong wall, a strong fabric} b) holding firmly; tenacious {a strong grip} c) binding tightly {strong glue} 7 a) hard to capture; able to resist and endure attack {a strong fort} b) not easily defeated; formidable {a strong opponent} c) not easily dislodged; deep-rooted {strong prejudice} 8 having many resources; powerful in wealth, numbers, supplies, etc. {a strong nation} 9 of a specified number; reaching a certain degree in number or strength {a task force 6,000 strong} 10 having a powerful effect; drastic {strong measures} 11 having a large amount of its essential quality; not weak or diluted {strong coffee} 12 affecting the senses powerfully; intense {a strong light, strong smell, etc.} 13 having an offensive taste or smell; rank {strong butter} 14 firm and loud {a strong voice} 15 intense in degree or quality; not mild; specif., a) ardent; passionate; warm {strong affection} b) forceful; persuasive; cogent {strong reasons} c) felt deeply; pronounced; decided {a strong opinion} d) vigorously active; zealous {a strong socialist} e) vigorous, forthright, and unambiguous, often offensively so {strong language} f) clear; distinct; marked {a strong resemblance} g) receiving or showing emphasis or stress {a strong accent or beat} 16 moving rapidly and with force {a strong wind} 17 having high powers of magnification {strong lenses} 18 tending toward higher prices: said of a stock or stock market 19 Chem. having a high ion concentration, as certain acids and bases 20 Gram. in English and other Germanic languages, designating or of verbs that express variation in tense chiefly by internal change of a syllabic vowel rather than by the addition of inflectional endings; irregular (Ex.: swim, swam, swum; drive, drove, driven): cf. WEAK (sense 15) •adv. in a strong manner; greatly; severely; with force Æ come on strong [Slang] to make a striking impression, often in an aggressive way strong´ish •adj. strong´ly •adv. [ME < OE strang, akin to ON strangr, strong, severe, Ger streng, severe < IE base *strenk-, *streng-, tense, taut > STRING, Gr strangos, twisted, L stringere, to draw taut]

strong breeze a wind whose speed is 25 to 31 miles per hour: see BEAUFORT SCALE

strong drink drink containing much alcohol

strong forward Basketball POWER FORWARD

strong gale a wind whose speed is 47 to 54 miles per hour: see BEAUFORT SCALE

strong interaction (or force) the short-range interaction between elementary particles (hadrons) responsible for nuclear forces: see WEAK INTERACTION

strong safety Football a safety positioned opposite the strong side who usually covers the tight end

strong side Football that side of the offensive line having the larger number of players

strong-arm (ströŋ´ärm') •adj. [Colloq.] using physical force or violence •vt. [Colloq.] to use physical force or violence upon, esp. in robbing

strongbox (-bäks') •n. a heavily made box or safe for storing valuables

stronghold (-hould') •n. 1 a place having strong defenses; fortified place 2 a place where a group having certain views, attitudes, etc. is concentrated

strongman (-mæn´) pl. -men (-men´) •n. 1 one who performs feats of strength, as in a circus 2 one who rules a country with absolute power; dictator

strong-minded (-main'did) •adj. having a strong, unyielding mind or will strong´-mind'ed·ly •adv. strong´-mind'ed·ness •n.

strongroom (-ru:m') •n. a strongly built room used for the safekeeping of valuables

strong-willed (-wild´) •adj. having a strong, resolute, or obstinate will

strongyle (strän´jil, -jail') •n. any of a superfamily (Strongyloidea) of nematode worms living as parasites in animals, esp. horses [< ModL Strongylus < Gr strongylos, round, turned: for IE base see STRONG]

strongylosis (strän'jэ lou´sis) •n. the condition of being infested by strongyles [ModL: see STRONGYLE & -OSIS]

strontia (strän´shэ, -shi: э) •n. 1 the oxide of strontium, SrO, a white powder somewhat like lime 2 loosely, strontium hydroxide, Sr(OH)2 [ModL < fol.]

strontian (-shэn, -shi: эn) •n. strontium, esp. in the form of a compound [after Strontian, Scotland, in whose lead mines it was first found]

strontianite (-ait') •n. native strontium carbonate, SrCO3, a white, greenish, or yellowish mineral [prec. + -ITE¹]

strontic (strän´tik) •adj. of strontium

strontium (strän´shэm, -shi: эm; stränt´i: эm) •n. a pale-yellow, metallic chemical element resembling calcium in properties and found only in combination: strontium compounds burn with a red flame and are used in fireworks: symbol, Sr; at. wt., 87.62; at. no., 38; sp. gr., 2.6; melt. pt., 769°C; boil. pt., 1,384°C: a deadly radioactive isotope of strontium (strontium 90) is present in the fallout of nuclear explosions [ModL: so named (1808) by Sir Humphry DAVY, who first isolated it < STRONTIA + -IUM]

strop (sträp) •n. 1 var. of STRAP 2 a device, esp. a thick leather band, used for putting a fine edge on razors •vt. stropped, strop´ping to sharpen on a strop strop´per •n. [ME, a band, thong, noose < OE, akin to MHG strupfe < early WGmc loanword < L struppus < Gr strophos, a twisted band: for IE base see STROPHE]

strophanthin (strou fæn´θin) •n. a glycoside or mixture of glycosides obtained from a tropical plant (Strophanthus kombé) of the dogbane family, used as a heart stimulant [ModL Strophanthus, type genus < Gr strophos (see STROP) + anthos, flower (see ANTHO-) + -IN¹]

strophe (strou´fi:) •n. 1 in the ancient Greek theater, a) the movement of the chorus in turning from right to left of the stage (cf. ANTISTROPHE) b) the part of the choric song performed during this 2 in a Pindaric ode, the stanza which is answered by the antistrophe, in the same metrical pattern 3 a stanza; esp., any of the irregular divisions of a poem stroph·ic (sträf´ik, strou´fik) or stroph´i·cal •adj. [Gr strophē, lit., a turning, twist < strephein, to turn < IE *strebh- < base *(s)ter-, rigid, taut > STARE]

stroppy (sträp´i:) -pi·er, -pi·est •adj. [Brit., etc. (exc. Cdn.) Colloq.] hard to deal with or control; angry, unruly, impudent, etc. [? shortened & altered < OBSTREPEROUS]

strove (strouv) •vi. alt. pt. of STRIVE

strow (strou) strowed, strown (stroun) or strowed, strow´ing archaic form of STREW •vt.

stroy (stroi) •vt. obs. form of DESTROY

struck (strûk) •vt., vi. pt. & pp. of STRIKE •adj. closed or affected in some other way by a labor strike

struck jury a jury of 12 drawn from the panel of names remaining after each side has been permitted to strike out a certain number of the original list of names

structural (strûk´chэr эl) •adj. 1 of, having, associated with, or characterized by structure {structural complexity} 2 used in or suitable for construction, as of buildings {structural steel} 3 of, or in accordance with, structural linguistics 4 Geol. of or related to the structure of the earth's crust and to changes produced in it by movement; geotectonic struc´tur·al·ly •adv.

structural formula a formula which illustrates the arrangement of the atoms and bonds in a molecule: see BENZENE RING, illus.

structural linguistics language study based on the assumptions that a language is a coherent system of formal units and that the task of linguistic study is to inquire into the nature of those units and their peculiar systematic arrangement, without reference to historical antecedents or comparison with other languages structural linguist

structuralism (-iz'эm) •n. 1 a movement for determining and analyzing the basic, relatively stable structural elements of a system, esp. in the behavioral sciences 2 STRUCTURAL LINGUISTICS

structuralist (-ist) •n. a follower or advocate of structuralism, as in the analysis or application of social, economic, or linguistic theory •adj. of or relating to structuralists or their theories

structuralize (-aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt. to form or organize into a structure struc'tur·al·i·za´tion •n.

structure (strûk´chэr) •n. 1 manner of building, constructing, or organizing 2 something built or constructed, as a building or dam 3 the arrangement or interrelation of all the parts of a whole; manner of organization or construction {the structure of the atom, the structure of society} 4 something composed of interrelated parts forming an organism or an organization •vt. -tured, -tur·ing to put together systematically; construct; organize SYN. BUILDING struc´ture·less •adj. [ME < L structura < structus, pp. of struere, to heap together, arrange: see STREW]

strudel (stru:d´ªl) •n. a kind of pastry made of a very thin sheet of dough covered with apple slices, cherries, cheese, etc., rolled up, and baked [Ger, lit., whirlpool < OHG stredan, to rush, bubble up < IE *sret- < base *ser-, to flow, gush > SERUM]

struggle (strûg´эl) -gled, -gling •vi. 1 to contend or fight violently with an opponent 2 to make great efforts or attempts; strive; labor 3 to make one's way with difficulty {to struggle through a thicket} •vt. [Rare] 1 to bring, put, do, etc. by struggling 2 to make (one's way) with difficulty •n. 1 great effort or a series of efforts; violent exertion 2 conflict; strife; contention SYN. CONFLICT, TRY strug´gler •n. [ME strogelen < ?]

strum (strûm) strummed, strum´ming •vt., vi. 1 to play (a guitar, banjo, etc.), esp. with long strokes across the strings and often in a casual or aimless way, or without much skill 2 to play (a tune) in this way •n. the act or sound of this strum´mer •n. [echoic]

Struma (střu:´mä) river in SE Europe, flowing from W Bulgaria across NE Greece into the Aegean Sea: c. 220 mi. (354 km) struma (stru:´mэ) pl. -mae (-mi:) •n. 1 Bot. a cushionlike swelling on a plant organ, esp. on one side at the base of the capsule of a moss 2 Med. a) GOITER b) [Archaic] SCROFULA stru´mose' (-mous') •adj. [L, a scrofulous tumor < IE *streu-: see STRUT]

strumpet (strûm´pit) •n. a prostitute; harlot [ME < ?]

strung (strûŋ) •vt., vi. pt. & alt. pp. of STRING

strung out [Slang] 1 suffering from the physical or mental effects of addiction to a narcotic drug 2 mentally exhausted or extremely nervous

strut (strût) strut´ted, strut´ting •vi. to walk in a vain, stiff, swaggering manner •vt. 1 to provide with a strut or brace 2 to make a display of; show off •n. 1 the act of strutting; vain, swaggering walk or gait 2 a brace fitted into a framework to resist pressure in the direction of its length strut´ter •n. [ME strouten, to spread out, swell out < OE strutian, to stand rigid < IE *streu- < base *(s)ter-, stiff, rigid > STARE]

struthious (stru:´θi: эs) •adj. designating or of an ostrich or ostrichlike bird [< L struthio (< Gr strouthion, sparrow, ostrich) + -OUS]

strychnine (strik´nin, -ni:n, -nain) •n. a highly poisonous, colorless, crystalline alkaloid, C21H22N2O2, obtained from nux vomica and other similar plants [Fr < ModL Strychnos < L < Gr strychnos, nightshade]

strychninism (-iz'эm) •n. a diseased condition resulting from ingestion of strychnine

St-Tropez (sæñ trö pei´) commune and seaside resort in SE France, on the Mediterranean: pop. 4,500

Stuart (stu:´эrt, styu:´-) 1 a masculine name 2 name of the ruling family of Scotland (1371-1603) & of England & Scotland (1603-1714) except during the Commonwealth (1649-60) 3 Charles Edward 1720-88; Eng. prince: grandson of James II: called The Young Pretender, Bonnie Prince Charlie 4 Gilbert (Charles) 1755-1828; U.S. portrait painter 5 J(ames) E(well) B(rown) (called Jeb) 1833-64; Confederate general 6 James Francis Edward 1688-1766; Eng. prince: son of James II: called The Old Pretender •n. a member of the Stuart family [< the surname Stuart < ? OE stigweard: see STEWARD]

stub (stûb) •n. 1 the stump of a tree or plant 2 a short piece or length remaining after the main part has been removed or used up {the stub of a tail, cigar, pencil, etc.} 3 any short projection {a mere stub of a horn} 4 a pen having a short, blunt point 5 a short, thick nail Æ 6 the part of a ticket, bank check, etc. kept as a record after the rest has been torn off •vt. stubbed, stub´bing 1 to dig or pull (weeds, etc.) out by the roots 2 to cut down, leaving only a stump 3 to clear (land) of stubs, or stumps 4 to strike (one's foot, toe, etc.) accidentally against something 5 to put out (a cigarette, cigar, etc.) by pressing the end against a surface: often with out [ME < OE stybb, akin to ON stubbr: for IE base see STOCK]

stubbed (stûbd) •adj. 1 like a stub; short; stubby 2 covered with stubs or stumps

stubble (stûb´эl) •n. 1 the short stumps of grain, corn, etc., collectively, left standing after harvesting 2 any short, bristly growth suggestive of this {a stubble of beard} stub´bly •adj. [ME stobil < OFr estouble, stuble < VL stupula, for L stipula, stalk, stem: see STIPULE]

stubborn (stûb´эrn) •adj. 1 refusing to yield, obey, or comply; resisting doggedly or unreasonably; resolute or obstinate 2 done or carried on in an obstinate or doggedly persistent manner {a stubborn campaign} 3 hard to handle, treat, or deal with; intractable {a stubborn cold} stub´born·ly •adv. stub´born·ness •n. SYN.—stubborn implies an innate fixedness of purpose, course, condition, etc. that is strongly resistant to change, manipulation, etc. [a stubborn child, belief, etc.]; obstinate applies to one who adheres persistently, and often unreasonably, to a purpose, course, etc., against argument or persuasion [a panel hung by an obstinate juror]; dogged implies thoroughgoing determination or, sometimes, sullen obstinacy [the dogged pursuit of a goal]; pertinacious implies a strong tenacity of purpose that is regarded unfavorably by others [a pertinacious critic] —ANT. compliant, tractable [ME stoburn, prob. < OE stubb, var. of stybb, STUB]

Stubbs (stûbz), George 1724-1806; Eng. painter

stubby (stûb´i:) -bi·er, -bi·est •adj. 1 covered with stubs or stubble 2 short and heavy or dense {stubby bristles} 3 short and thickset stub´bi·ly •adv. stub´bi·ness •n.

stucco (stûk´ou) pl. -coes or -cos •n. 1 plaster or cement, either fine or coarse, used for surfacing inside or outside walls or for molding relief ornaments, cornices, etc. 2 the work done in this: also stuc´co·work' •vt. -coed, -co·ing to cover or decorate with stucco [It, prob. < Langobardic *stukki, akin to OHG stucki, rind, crust, orig., piece: for IE base see STOCK]

stuck (stûk) •vt., vi. pt. & pp. of STICK

stuck-up (stûk´ûp') •adj. [Colloq.] snobbish; conceited

stud poker a variety of poker in which each player is dealt five cards, the first face down and the others face up, the betting being done on each round of open cards dealt: sometimes seven cards are dealt, the first two, and usually the last, face down [< STUD²]

stud¹ (stûd) •n. 1 any of a series of small knobs or rounded nailheads used to ornament a surface, as of leather 2 a small, buttonlike device with a smaller button or shank on the back, inserted in a shirt front as an ornament or fastener 3 any of a number of upright pieces in the outer or inner walls of a building, to which panels, siding, laths, etc. are nailed: see FRAME, illus. 4 a metal crossbar bracing a link, as in a chain cable 5 a projecting pin or peg used as a support, pivot, stop, etc. or, as in an automobile tire, to increase traction on ice 6 a screw threaded at each end, used in fastening metal to metal or concrete •vt. stud´ded, stud´ding 1 to set or decorate with studs or studlike objects 2 to be set thickly on; be scattered over {rocks stud the hillside} 3 to scatter or cluster (something) thickly {a crown studded with jewels} 4 to provide (a building) with studs or upright members [ME stode < OE studu, column, pillar, post, akin to ON stoth, Ger stützen, to prop < IE *stūt- < base *stā-, to STAND]

stud² (stûd) •n. 1 a) a number of horses, or sometimes other animals, esp. as kept for breeding b) the place where these are kept Æ 2 a) STUDHORSE b) any male animal used esp. for breeding 3 [Slang] a virile, sexually promiscuous man 4 short for STUD POKER •adj. 1 of or having to do with a stud {a stud farm} 2 kept for breeding at stud available for breeding: said of male animals [ME stod < OE, akin to Ger stute, mare (OHG stuot, stud of horses) < IE *stādh- < base *sta-, to STAND]

studbook (-buk') •n. a register of purebred animals, esp. racehorses Also stud book

studding (stûd´iŋ) •n. 1 studs collectively, esp. for walls 2 material used for or as studs

studdingsail (stûd´iŋ seil', stûn´sэl) •n. an auxiliary sail, usually of light canvas, set outside the edge of a working sail in light weather by means of an extensible boom: also studding sail [< ?]

student (stu:d´ªnt, styu:d´-) •n. 1 a person who studies, or investigates {a student of human behavior} 2 a person who is enrolled for study at a school, college, etc. SYN. PUPIL¹ [ME studiante, studente < OFr & L: OFr estudiant < L studens, prp. of studere, to STUDY]

student lamp any of various lamps for use on a desk, as one with a gooseneck or, orig., one with a shaded light that can be moved up and down or sideways on a slender pole

student teacher a college or university student who teaches school under the supervision of an experienced teacher as a requirement for a degree in education student teaching

studentship (-ship') •n. 1 the state of being a student 2 [Brit.] a grant for study; scholarship

studhorse (stûd´hörs') •n. a stallion kept for breeding

studied (stûd´i:d) •adj. 1 prepared or planned by careful study {a studied reply} 2 deliberate; premeditated {in studied disarray} 3 [Now Rare] learned; well-informed stud´ied·ly •adv. stud´ied·ness •n.

studio (stu:´di: ou', styu:´-) pl. -di·os' •n. 1 a room or rooms where an artist, photographer, or musician works Æ 2 a room or rooms where dancing lessons, music lessons, etc. are given 3 a) a business establishment engaged in producing and, usually, distributing films b) a physical facility, as one belonging to such an establishment, where films are made 4 a room or rooms where radio or television programs are produced or where recordings are made 5 a small apartment with one main room [It < L studium, a STUDY]

studio couch a kind of couch that can be made into a full-sized bed, as by sliding out the spring frame fitted beneath it

studious (stu:´di: эs, styu:´-) •adj. 1 of, given to, or engaged in study 2 characterized by close attention; thoughtful {a studious inspection} 3 zealous; wholehearted {studious efforts} 4 [Now Rare] studied; deliberate 5 [Old Poet.] conducive to study stu´di·ous·ly •adv. stu´di·ous·ness •n. [ME < L studiosus]

study (stûd´i:) pl. stud´ies •n. 1 the act or process of applying the mind so as to acquire knowledge or understanding, as by reading, investigating, etc. 2 careful attention to, and critical examination and investigation of, any subject, event, etc. 3 a) a branch of learning or knowledge b) any subject of study 4 [pl.] formal education; schooling 5 a product of studying; specif., a) an essay or thesis embodying the results of a particular investigation b) a work of literature or art treating a subject in careful detail and typically done as an exercise in technique, experimentation, or exploration c) a first sketch for a story, picture, etc. d) ÉTUDE 6 an earnest effort or intention 7 a state of mental absorption; reverie 8 a room, as in a house, designed for study, writing, reading, etc. 9 a person with reference to the ability to memorize, comprehend, etc. {a quick study} •vt. stud´ied, stud´y·ing 1 to apply one's mind to attentively; try to learn or understand by reading, thinking, etc. {to study history} 2 a) to examine or investigate carefully {to study the problem of air pollution} b) to look at carefully; scrutinize {to study a map} 3 a) to read (a book, lesson, etc.) so as to know and understand it b) to concentrate on so as to memorize 4 to take a course in, as at a school or college 5 to give attention, thought, or consideration to {studying possible changes} •vi. 1 to study something 2 to be a student; take a regular course (at a school or college) 3 to make earnest efforts; try hard 4 to meditate; ponder SYN. CONSIDER Æ study up on [Colloq.] to make a careful study of [ME studie < OFr estudie < L studium, zeal, study < studere, to busy oneself about, apply oneself to, study, orig., prob., to aim toward, strike at, akin to tundere, to strike, beat < IE *(s)teud- < base *(s)teu-, to beat > STOCK, STEEP¹]

study hall 1 any room in a school used for studying and doing homework 2 a class period reserved for study

stuff (stûf) •n. 1 the material or substance out of which anything is or can be made; raw material 2 constituent elements or basic nature; essence; character {a man made of stern stuff} 3 matter or substance of an unspecified or generalized kind 4 cloth, esp. woolen cloth 5 a) household goods b) personal belongings c) things in general; objects d) things grouped together or viewed in a certain way 6 something to be drunk, swallowed, etc.; specif., a) a medicine Æ b) [Slang] a drug, as heroin 7 worthless objects; refuse; junk 8 a) anything said, done, written, composed, etc.; talk or action of a specified kind b) foolish or worthless ideas, words, actions, etc. {stuff and nonsense!} 9 [Colloq.] a) basic ability; capability b) superior ability; exceptional capability Æ c) special skill or knowledge; specialty {to do or know one's stuff} Æ 10 [Colloq.] a) ability of a baseball pitcher, billiards player, etc. to control the ball, esp. to make it curve or spin b) such control, or speed, a curve, spin, etc. given to a ball •vt. [ME stoffen < OFr estoffer] 1 to fill the inside of (something); pack; specif., a) to fill (a cushion, chair, toy, etc.) with padding or stuffing b) to fill the skin of (a dead animal, bird, etc.) in taxidermy c) to fill (a chicken, turkey, etc.) with seasoning, bread crumbs, etc. before roasting 2 a) to fill too full; cram; overload b) to fill to excess with food 3 to pack, cram, or crowd (something) into a container, etc. 4 to fill with information, ideas, etc. {to stuff one's head with facts} Æ 5 to put fraudulent votes into (a ballot box) 6 a) to plug; block b) to choke up or stop up, as with phlegm 7 to force or push {to stuff money into a wallet} 8 to treat (leather) with a preparation designed to soften and preserve it •vi. to eat too much or too quickly [ME stoffe < OFr estoffe < estoffer, prob. < Gr styphein, to pull together, tighten < styppe, tow, coarse cloth of flax or hemp: see STOP]

stuffed shirt [Slang] a pompous, pretentious person

stuffer (stûf´эr) •n. 1 a person or thing that stuffs Æ 2 something, as a piece of advertising, inserted in an envelope along with a bill, statement, paycheck, etc.

stuffing (-iŋ) •n. 1 the action of filling, packing, or gorging 2 something used to fill or stuff; specif., a) soft, springy material used as padding in cushions, upholstered furniture, etc. b) a seasoned mixture for stuffing fowl, roasts, etc.

stuffing box a chamber that holds packing tightly around a moving part, as a piston rod, boat propeller shaft, etc., to prevent leakage of fluid along the part

stuffy (stûf´i:) stuff´i·er, stuff´i·est •adj. 1 a) poorly ventilated; having little fresh air; close b) stale or oppressive {the stuffy air} 2 having the nasal passages stopped up, as from a cold 3 [Colloq.] a) dull or stodgy; not interesting or stimulating b) conservative, conventional, old-fashioned, etc. c) prim; strait-laced d) pompous; pretentious stuff´i·ly •adv. stuff´i·ness •n. [STUFF + -Y²]

stull (stûl) •n. any of several kinds of supports or frameworks used in mines to prevent cave-ins, support a platform, etc. [prob. < Ger stolle, a post, orig., short, thick prop: for IE base see STILL¹]

stultify (stûl´tэ fai') -fied', -fy'ing •vt. 1 a) to make seem foolish, stupid, inconsistent, etc.; make absurd or ridiculous b) to make dull or torpid 2 to render worthless, useless, or futile 3 Law to allege to be of unsound mind and therefore not legally responsible stul'ti·fi·ca´tion •n. stul´ti·fi'er •n. [LL stultificare < L stultus, foolish, akin to stolidus, STOLID + facere, to make, DO¹]

stum (stûm) •n. 1 grape juice that is unfermented or only partly fermented 2 wine revived by adding stum to it so as to produce new fermentation •vt. stummed, stum´ming to revive (wine) by adding stum [Du stom, must, new wine < stom, dumb: see STUMBLE]

stumble (stûm´bэl) -bled, -bling •vi. 1 to trip or miss one's step in walking, running, etc. 2 to walk or go in an unsteady or awkward manner, as from age, weakness, etc. 3 to speak, act, or proceed in a confused, blundering manner {to stumble through a speech} 4 to fall into sin or error; do wrong 5 to come by chance; happen {to stumble across a clue} •vt. 1 to cause to stumble 2 to puzzle or perplex; confound •n. 1 the act of stumbling 2 a blunder, error, or sin stum´bler •n. stum´bling·ly •adv. [ME stumblen < Scand, as in Norw dial. stumba, ON stumra < IE base *stem-, to bump against, hamper > STAMMER, Ger stumm, Du stom, mute]

stumblebum (-bûm') •n. [Slang] BUM¹ (senses 1, 2, & 4)

stumbling block an obstacle, hindrance, or difficulty standing in the way of progress or understanding

stump (stûmp) •n. 1 the lower end of a tree or plant remaining in the ground after most of the stem or trunk has been cut off 2 anything like a stump; specif., a) the part of a limb or tooth left after the rest has been cut off, broken off, etc. b) the part of anything left after the main part is gone; butt; stub {the stump of a pencil} Æ 3 the place where a political speech is made; political rostrum: a figurative usage [from earlier use of tree stumps as speakers' platforms] 4 a) the sound of a heavy, clumsy, tramping step b) such a step 5 a pointed roll of leather or paper used for shading drawings in charcoal, pencil, crayon, pastel, etc. 6 [pl.] [Slang] the legs 7 Cricket any of the three upright sticks of a wicket •vt. 1 to reduce to a stump; lop 2 to remove stumps from (land) Æ 3 to travel over (a district), making political speeches; canvass 4 to tone down or soften with a STUMP (sense 5) 5 [Colloq.] to stub (one's toes, etc.) Æ 6 [Colloq.] to puzzle, perplex, or baffle 7 Cricket to put (a batsman) out by striking a bail from the wicket with the ball while the batsman is out of his or her ground: said of the wicketkeeper •vi. 1 to walk with a heavy, clumsy, thumping step, as with a wooden leg Æ 2 to travel about, making political speeches Æ up a stump [Colloq.] unable to act, think, answer, etc.; in a dilemma; perplexed stump´er •n. [ME stumpfe, prob. < or akin to MLowG stump < IE *stomb- < base *steb(h)- > STAMP, STAFF¹]

stumpage (stûmp´ij) •n. 1 standing timber or its value 2 the right to cut such timber

stumpy (-i:) stump´i·er, stump´i·est •adj. Æ 1 covered with stumps 2 like a stump; short and thickset; stubby

stun (stûn) stunned, stun´ning •vt. 1 to make senseless or unconscious, as by a blow 2 to daze or stupefy; shock deeply; astound; overwhelm {stunned by the news} 3 to overpower or bewilder as by a loud noise or explosion •n. the effect or condition of being stunned [ME stonien < OFr estoner, to stun: see ASTONISH]

stun gun a hand-held battery operated device that delivers a powerful electrical shock upon contact: used for self-defense and law enforcement

stung (stûŋ) •vt., vi. pt. & pp. of STING

stunk (stûŋk) •vi. pp. & alt. pt. of STINK

stunner (stûn´эr) •n. 1 one that stuns 2 [Colloq.] a remarkably attractive, excellent, etc. person or thing

stunning (-iŋ) •adj. 1 that stuns 2 [Colloq.] remarkably attractive, excellent, etc. stun´ning·ly •adv.

stunsail or stuns'l (stûn´sэl) •n. studdingsail: phonetic spellings

stunt¹ (stûnt) •vt. 1 to check the growth or development of; dwarf 2 to hinder (growth or development) •n. 1 the act or process of stunting or dwarfing 2 a stunted creature or thing 3 any of various plant diseases causing stunting [< dial., short and thick, stunted < ME, dull, stupid (with sense infl. by ON stuttr, short) < OE < IE *(s)teud- < base *(s)teu-, to strike > STOCK]

stunt² (stûnt) •n. 1 a display of skill or daring; feat; trick 2 something done for a thrill, to attract attention, etc. Æ 3 Football a defensive tactic of moving defensive linemen out of their usual positions to confuse offensive linemen •vi. to perform a stunt or stunts [< ?]

stuntman (-mæn') pl. -men (-men') •n. Film a person with specialized physical skills who takes the place of an actor in scenes involving risky or hazardous activity stunt·wom·an, pl. -wom·en, •n.fem.

stupa (stu:´pэ) •n. a dome-shaped Buddhist shrine [Sans]

stupe¹ (stu:p) •n. Med. a soft cloth dipped in hot water, wrung dry, often medicated, and applied to the body as a compress [< L stupa, stuppa, tow: see STOP]

stupe² (stu:p) •n. [Slang] a stupid person

stupefacient (stu:'pэ fei´shэnt, styu:'-) •adj. having a stupefying or narcotic effect: also stu'pe·fac´tive (-fæk´tiv) •n. a stupefacient drug; narcotic [L stupefaciens, prp. of stupefacere, to STUPEFY]

stupefaction (-fæk´shэn) •n. 1 a stupefying or being stupefied 2 stunned amazement or utter bewilderment [Fr stupéfaction]

stupefy (stu:´pэ fai', styu:´-) -fied', -fy'ing •vt. 1 to bring into a state of stupor; stun; make dull or lethargic 2 to astound, amaze, or bewilder stu´pe·fi'er •n. [Fr stupéfier < L stupefacere < stupere, to be stunned (see STUPID) + facere, to make, DO¹]

stupendous (stu: pen´dэs, styu:-) •adj. 1 astonishing; overwhelming {a stupendous development} 2 astonishingly great or large {a stupendous success} stu·pen´dous·ly •adv. [L stupendus, ger. of stupere, to be stunned: see STUPID]

stupid (stu:´pid, styu:´-) •adj. 1 in a state of stupor; dazed; stunned; stupefied 2 lacking normal intelligence or understanding; slow-witted; dull 3 showing or resulting from a lack of normal intelligence; foolish; irrational {a stupid idea} 4 dull and boring; tiresome [a stupid party]: also used colloquially as a generalized term of disapproval {a stupid hat} •n. a stupid person stu´pid·ly •adv. stu´pid·ness •n. SYN.—stupid implies such lack of intelligence or incapacity for perceiving, learning, etc. as might be shown by one in a mental stupor [a stupid idea]; dull implies a mental sluggishness that may be constitutional or may result from extreme fatigue, disease, etc. [the fever left me dull and listless]; dense suggests obtuseness, or an irritating failure to understand quickly or to react intelligently [too dense to take a hint]; slow suggests that the quickness to learn, but not necessarily the capacity for learning, is below average [a pupil slow in most studies]; retarded is applied to those behind others of the same age or class because of mental deficiency [a retarded pupil] see also SILLY —ANT. intelligent, bright [L stupidus < stupere, to be stunned or amazed < IE *steup-, to strike: see STEEP¹]

stupidity (stu: pid´э ti:, styu:-) •n. 1 the quality or condition of being stupid 2 pl. -ties something stupid; foolish remark, irrational act, etc. [L stupiditas]

stupor (stu:´pэr, styu:´-) •n. 1 a state in which the mind and senses are dulled; partial or complete loss of sensibility, as from the use of a narcotic or from shock 2 mental or moral dullness or apathy stu´por·ous •adj. [ME < L stupere: see STUPID]

sturdy¹ (stør´di:) -di·er, -di·est •adj. 1 that will not yield or compromise; firm; resolute {sturdy defiance} 2 physically strong; vigorous; hardy 3 strongly built or constructed stur´di·ly •adv. stur´di·ness •n. [ME, defiant, refractory, hardy < OFr estourdi, stunned, reckless (basic sense hard to influence or control) < VL *exturdire, to be dizzy (? from too much chattering) < L ex-, intens. + turdus, a THRUSH¹]

sturdy² (stør´di:) •n. GID stur´died •adj. [OFr estourdi, giddiness: see STURDY1]

sturgeon (stør´jэn) pl. -geons •n.or -geon any of a family (Acipenseridae, order Acipenseriformes) of large, edible, primitive bony fishes having rows of spiny plates along the body and a projecting snout: valuable as a source of caviar and isinglass [ME sturgiun < OFr esturjon < Frank *sturjo, akin to OE styria, Ger stör]

Sturm und Drang (shtoořm´ unt dřäŋ´) an early romantic movement in 18th-cent. German literature and music [Ger < Wirrwarr, oder Sturm und Drang, lit., Confusion, or Storm and Stress, play by F. M. v. Klinger (1752-1831), Ger dramatist]

stutter (stût´эr) •vt., vi. 1 STAMMER 2 to make (a series of repeated sounds) {stuttering machine guns} •n. the act or an instance of stuttering stut´ter·er •n. [freq. of dial. stut, to stutter < ME stutten, akin to Ger stossen, to knock, push < IE *(s)teud-: see STUDY]

Stuttgart (stût´gärt; Ger shtu:t´gäřt) city in SW Germany: capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg: pop. 563,000

Stuyvesant (stai´vэ sэnt), Peter 1592-1672; last Du. governor of New Netherland (1646-64)

sty¹ (stai) pl. sties •n. 1 a pen for pigs 2 any foul or filthy place •vt., vi. stied, sty´ing to lodge in or as in a sty [ME stie < OE sti, stig, hall, enclosure, prob. < IE base *stāi-, to stop up, thicken > STONE]

sty² or stye (stai) pl. sties •n. a small, inflamed swelling of a sebaceous gland on the rim of an eyelid [< obs. dial. styany (taken as sty on eye) < dial. styan, rising < OE stigend, prp. of stigan, to climb, rise: see STILE¹]

Stygian (stij´i: эn, stij´эn) •adj. 1 of or characteristic of the river Styx and the infernal regions 2 [also s-] a) infernal or hellish b) dark or gloomy c) inviolable; completely binding, as an oath sworn by the river Styx [< L Stygius (< Gr Stygios < Styx: see STYX) + -AN]

stylar (stai´lэr) •adj. of or like a style, stylus, etc.

style (stail) •n. 1 a sharp, slender, pointed instrument used by the ancients in writing on wax tablets 2 any of several devices, etc. similar in shape or use; specif., a) [Obs.] a pen b) an etching needle c) a phonograph needle; stylus d) an engraving tool e) the pointer on a dial, chart, etc. f) the gnomon of a sundial g) Bot. the slender, stalklike part of a carpel between the stigma and the ovary (see PISTIL, illus.) h) Zool. a small, pointed projection or bristlelike process, as on some insects 3 a) manner or mode of expression in language, as distinct from the ideas expressed; way of using words to express thoughts b) specific or characteristic manner of expression, execution, construction, or design, in any art, period, work, employment, etc. {the Byzantine style, modern style} 4 distinction, excellence, originality, and character in any form of artistic or literary expression {an author who lacks style} 5 the way in which anything is made or done 6 a) the current, fashionable way of dressing, speaking, acting, etc. b) something stylish; esp., a garment of current, smart design c) a fashionable, luxurious existence {to live in style} 7 distinction and elegance of manner and bearing 8 form of address; title {entitled to the style of Mayor} 9 sort; kind; variety; type 10 a way of reckoning time, dates, etc.: see OLD STYLE (sense 1), NEW STYLE 11 Printing a particular manner of dealing with spelling, punctuation, word division, etc., as by a specific publisher, newspaper, etc. •vt. styled, styl´ing 1 to name; call {Abraham Lincoln, styled the Great Emancipator} Æ 2 to design the style of 3 to bring into accord with an accepted style, as of a publisher; normalize spelling, punctuation, etc. of SYN. FASHION style´less •adj. styl´er •n. [ME < L stilus (sp. infl. by unrelated Gr stylos, pillar) < IE base *(s)tei-, pointed > L stimulus]

stylebook (-buk') •n. a book consisting of examples or rules of STYLE (esp. sense 11)

stylet (stai´lit) •n. 1 a slender, pointed weapon; esp., a stiletto 2 Surgery a) a slender probe b) a wire inserted into a soft catheter to keep it rigid 3 Zool. STYLE (n. 2h) [Fr < It stiletto: see STILETTO]

styliform (stai´lэ förm') •adj. shaped like a style or stylus [ModL stiliformis: see STYLE]

stylish (stail´ish) •adj. conforming to current style in dress, decoration, behavior, etc.; smart; fashionable styl´ish·ly •adv. styl´ish·ness •n.

stylist (-ist) •n. 1 a writer, etc. whose work has style and distinction or is characterized by a particular style 2 a person who designs, creates, or advises on, current styles, as in dress

stylistic (stai lis´tik) •adj. of or having to do with style, esp. literary style: also sty·lis´ti·cal sty·lis´ti·cal·ly •adv. [< STYLE, modeled on Ger stilistisch]

stylistics (-tiks) •n.pl. [with sing. v.] the study of style as a means of analyzing works of literature and their effect; now often, specif., such study using mathematical and statistical methods

stylite (stai´lait) •n. any of various Christian ascetics who lived on the tops of pillars sty·lit´ic (-lit´ik) •adj. sty´lit·ism' •n. [LGr(Ec) stylitēs < Gr, dwelling on a pillar < stylos, pillar < IE *st(h)ū- < base *stā-, to STAND]

stylize (stail´aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt. to make conform to a given style; specif., to design or represent according to the rules of a style rather than according to nature; conventionalize styl'i·za´tion •n. styl´iz·er •n. [< STYLE + -IZE, modeled on Ger stilisiren]

stylo- (stai´lou, -lэ) combining form pointed, sharp {stylograph} Also, before a vowel, styl- [< L stylus, for stilus, pointed instrument: see STYLE]

stylobate (stai´lэ beit') •n. Archit. a continuous base or coping for a row of columns [L stylobates < Gr stylobatēs < stylos (see STYLITE) + bainein, to GO¹]

stylograph (-græf', -gräf') •n. a fountain pen having a pierced conical point, rather than a nib, through which the ink flows [STYLO- + -GRAPH]

stylographic (stai'lэ græf´ik) •adj. 1 of or like a stylograph 2 of or used in stylography sty'lo·graph´i·cal·ly •adv.

stylography (stai läg´rэ fi:) •n. drawing, writing, or engraving done with a style or stylus [STYLO- + -GRAPHY]

styloid (stai´loid') •adj. 1 resembling a style; styliform 2 Anat. designating or of any of various long, slender processes, esp. that at the base of the temporal bone

stylolite (stai´lэ lait') •n. a small, columnlike formation in a rock deposit, usually composed of limestone with grooved or scratched sides [stylo- < Gr stylos (see STYLITE) + -LITE]

stylopodium (stai'lэ pou´di: эm) pl. -di·a (-di: э) •n. a disk or swelling at the base of the style in plants of the umbel family [ModL: see STYLO- & -PODIUM]

stylus (stai´lэs) pl. -lus·es or -li (-lai) •n. 1 a style or other needlelike marking device 2 any of various pointed tools, as one used for marking mimeograph stencils or one used in Braille embossing 3 a) a sharp, pointed device for cutting the grooves of a phonograph record b) the short, pointed piece, tipped usually with a sapphire or diamond, that moves in such grooves and transmits vibrations to the cartridge in the pickup of a phonograph [L, for stilus, pointed instrument: see STYLE]

stymie (stai´mi:) •n. 1 Golf the condition that exists on a putting green when an opponent's ball lies in a direct line between the player's ball and the hole: since 1951, the obstructing ball may be picked up to permit a putt to be made 2 any situation in which one is obstructed or frustrated •vt. -mied, -mie·ing 1 to hinder or obstruct as with a stymie 2 to block; impede [prob. a use of earlier Scot, a person partially blind < styme < ME stime (sense obscure): the reference is to the blind shot caused by a stymie]

stymy (stai´mi:) pl. -mies •n. alt. sp. of STYMIE •vt. -mied, -my·ing

stypsis (stip´sis) •n. the action or use of a styptic [LL < Gr: see STYPTIC]

styptic (-tik) •adj. tending to halt bleeding by contracting the tissues or blood vessels; astringent •n. any styptic substance styp·tic´i·ty (-tis´э ti:) •n. [LME stiptik < L stypticus < Gr styptikos, astringent < styphein, to contract: see STOP]

styptic pencil a small stick of a styptic substance, as alum, used to stop bleeding, as from razor nicks

Styr (stir) river in NW Ukraine & S Belarus, flowing north into the Pripet River: c. 290 mi. (467 km)

styrene (stai´ri:n, stir´i:n) •n. a colorless or yellowish, easily polymerized, aromatic liquid, C6H5CH:CH2, used in organic synthesis, esp. in manufacturing synthetic rubber and plastics [< L styrax (see STORAX) + -ENE]

Styria (stir´i: э) region of central & SE Austria Ger. name STEIERMARK

Styrofoam (stai´rэ foum') trademark for rigid, lightweight, cellular polystyrene, used in boat construction, insulation, commercial displays, etc. •n. [s-] this substance [(POLY)STYR(ENE) + -O- + FOAM]

Styron (stai´rэn), William 1925- ; U.S. writer

Styx (stiks) Gr. Myth. the river encircling Hades over which Charon ferries the souls of the dead [L < Gr, lit., the Hateful, orig., icy cold, prob. akin to Russ stygnut', to freeze, grow stiff]

Su Sunday

suable (su:´э bэl, syu:´-) •adj. liable to suit in a court; that may be sued su'a·bil´i·ty •n.

suasion (swei´zhэn) •n. PERSUASION: now chiefly in moral suasion, the act of persuading by appealing to one's sense of morality sua´sive (-siv) •adj. sua´sive·ly •adv. sua´sive·ness •n. [ME < L suasio < suasus, pp. of suadere, to persuade: see SWEET]

suave (swäv) •adj. smoothly gracious or polite; polished; blandly ingratiating; urbane suave´ly •adv. suave´ness •n. SYN.—suave suggests the smoothly gracious social manner of one who deals with people easily and tactfully [a suave sophisticate]; urbane suggests the social poise of one who is highly cultivated and has had much worldly experience [an urbane cosmopolite]; diplomatic implies adroitness and tactfulness in dealing with people and handling delicate situations, sometimes in such a way as to gain one's own ends [a diplomatic answer]; politic also expresses this idea, often stressing the expediency or opportunism of a particular policy pursued [a politic move]; bland is the least complex of these terms, simply implying a gentle or ingratiating pleasantness [a bland disposition] [MFr < L suavis, SWEET]

suavity (swäv´э ti:, swæv´-) •n. 1 the quality of being suave; graceful politeness 2 pl. -ties a suave action, speech, etc. [ME suavitee < OFr suavité < L suavitas]

sub (sûb) •n. short for: 1 SUBMARINE 2 SUBSCRIPTION 3 SUBSTITUTE •vi. subbed, sub´bing [Colloq.] to be a substitute (for someone) sub abbrev. 1 subaltern 2 substitute(s) 3 suburb(an)

sub- (sûb, sэb) prefix 1 under, beneath, below, from beneath {submarine, subsolar} 2 lower in rank, position, or importance than; inferior or subordinate to {subaltern, subhead} 3 to a lesser degree than, somewhat, slightly {subhuman, subaquatic} 4 a) so as to form a division into smaller or less important parts {subdivide} b) forming such a division {subspecies} 5 a) near, bordering on {subalpine} b) nearly, almost {subteen} 6 Chem. a) with less than the normal amount of (the specified substance) {suboxide} b) basic {subcarbonate} In words of Latin origin, sub- becomes suc- before c; suf- before f; sug- before g; sum- before m; sup- before p; sur- before r; and, often, sus- before c, p, or t [< L sub, under, below: see UP¹]

sub judice (sûb ju:´dэ si:') before the court; under judicial consideration [L, lit., under judgment]

sub rosa (sûb rou´zэ) secretly; privately; confidentially [L, lit., under the rose, an ancient symbol of secrecy]

sub specie aeternitatis (sûb spi:´shi i:' i: tør'ni tei´tis) from the standpoint of eternity [L, lit., under the aspect of eternity]

sub verbo (sûb vør´bou) under the word (specified): with reference to an entry in a dictionary, index, etc. [L]

sub voce (sûb vou´si:) SUB VERBO [L, under the voice, i.e., utterance or term]

subacetate (sûb æs´э teit') •n. a basic acetate

subacid (-æs´id) •adj. 1 slightly acid or sour, as certain fruits 2 slightly sharp or biting, as a remark sub'a·cid´i·ty (-э sid´э ti:) •n. sub·ac´id·ly •adv. [L subacidus]

subacute (sûb'э kyu:t´) •adj. 1 somewhat acute; nearly pointed {subacute angle} 2 between acute and chronic {a subacute disease} sub'a·cute´ly •adv.

subagent (sûb ei´jэnt) •n. a person representing an agent; agent of an agent

subalpine (-æl´pain', -pin) •adj. 1 designating or of regions at the foot of the Alps 2 designating, of, or growing in mountain regions just below the timberline or on a tundra or paramo; alpestrine [L subalpinus, lit., lying near the Alps: see SUB- & ALPINE]

subaltern (sэb öl´tэrn; chiefly Brit, etc., sûb´эl tэrn) •adj. 1 subordinate; of lower rank 2 [Brit., etc. (exc. Cdn.)] holding an army commission below that of captain 3 in traditional logic, particular, with reference to a universal proposition of which it is part •n. 1 a subordinate 2 [Brit., etc. (exc. Cdn.)] a subaltern officer 3 a subaltern proposition in logic [Fr subalterne < LL subalternus < L sub-, SUB- + alternus, ALTERNATE]

subalternate (sэb öl´tэr nit) •adj. 1 following in order; successive 2 Bot. in an alternate arrangement, but tending to become opposite: said of leaves •n. SUBALTERN (n. 3) sub·al´ter·nate·ly •adv. sub·al'ter·na´tion •n. [ME < LL subalternatus, pp. of subalternare < subalternus: see SUBALTERN]

subantarctic (sûb'ænt´ärk´tik, -är´-) •adj. designating or of the area immediately surrounding the Antarctic Circle

subaquatic (-э kwæt´ik, -kwät´-) •adj. partly aquatic

subaqueous (sûb ei´kwi: эs, -æk´wi:-) •adj. 1 adapted for underwater use or existence; underwater 2 formed, living, or occurring under water [SUB- + AQUEOUS]

subarctic (-ärk´tik, -är´-) •adj. designating or of the area immediately surrounding the Arctic Circle

subarid (-ær´id) •adj. slightly arid; moderately dry

subassembly (sûb'э sem´bli:) pl. -blies •n. an assembled unit designed to be fitted to a larger unit of which it is a component {a subassembly of an electronic circuit}

subatom (sûb æt´эm) •n. a constituent part of an atom

subatomic (sûb'э täm´ik) •adj. of or pertaining to the inner part of an atom or to a particle smaller than an atom

subaudition (-ö dish´эn) •n. 1 the act or process of understanding or mentally filling in a word or thought implied but not expressed 2 something thus understood or filled in [LL subauditio < subaudire, to understand or supply a word omitted < L sub-, under + audire, to hear: see AUDIENCE]

subauricular (-ö rik´yu: lэr) •adj. situated below the auricle of the ear

subbase (sûb´beis') •n. the lowest section of a base or pedestal that is divided horizontally

subbasement (-beis'mэnt) •n. any floor or room below the principal basement

subbranch (-brænch') •n. a division of a branch

subcaliber (sûb kæl´э bэr) •adj. 1 smaller than the caliber of the gun from which it is fired: said of a projectile fired, as in practice, through a tube of proper caliber inserted in or slipped on the barrel 2 of or having to do with a subcaliber projectile

subcelestial (sûb'sэ les´chэl) •adj. beneath the heavens; terrestrial or mundane [< ML subcaelestis (see SUB- & CELESTIAL) + -AL]

subcellar (sûb´sel'эr) •n. a cellar beneath the principal cellar

subcentral (sûb'sen´trэl) •adj. close to or beneath the center sub'cen´tral·ly •adv.

subchaser (sûb´chei'sэr) •n. short for SUBMARINE CHASER

subchloride (sûb´klör´aid') •n. a chloride containing a relatively small proportion of chlorine

subclass (sûb´klæs') •n. 1 a subdivision of a class; specif., any main natural subdivision of a class of plants or animals 2 Math. SUBSET

subclavian (sûb klei´vi: эn) •adj. situated under the clavicle •n. a subclavian vein, artery, etc.

subclavian groove either of two grooves in the first rib, one for the main artery (subclavian artery) and the other for the main vein (subclavian vein) of the arm

subclimax (sûb´klai´mæks) •n. Ecol. the successional stage just preceding a climax formation

subclinical (-klin´i kэl) •adj. without obvious clinical symptoms, as a disease in its early stages

subcommittee (sûb´kэ mit'i:) •n. a subordinate committee chosen from among the members of a main committee to carry out special assignments

subcompact (sûb´käm´pækt') •n. a model of automobile smaller than a compact

subcomponent (sûb kэm pou´nэnt) •n. a componentlike part within a component part, used esp. to build electronic equipment

subconscious (sûb kän´shэs) •adj. 1 occurring without conscious perception, or with only slight perception, on the part of the individual: said of mental processes and reactions 2 not fully conscious; imperfectly aware the subconscious subconscious mental activity: term now seldom used in psychiatry sub·con´scious·ly •adv. sub·con´scious·ness •n.

subcontinent (sûb´känt'ªn эnt) •n. a large land mass, smaller than that usually called a continent; often, a subdivision of a continent, regarded as a geographic or political entity

subcontract (-kän'trækt; also, for v., sûb'kэn trækt´) •n. a secondary contract undertaking some or all of the obligations of a primary or previous contract: construction companies often let subcontracts for the electrical work, plumbing, etc. •vt., vi. to make a subcontract (for)

subcontractor (sûb´kän'træk tэr; sûb'kэn træk´-) •n. a person or company that assumes by secondary contract some or all of the obligations of an original contractor

subcontrary (sûb´kän´trer'i:) pl. -ries •n. Logic either of two propositions so related that both can be true but both cannot be false

subcostal (sûb käs´tэl, -kös´-) •adj. lying beneath the ribs •n. a subcostal muscle, etc. [SUB- + COSTAL]

subcritical (-krit´i kэl) •adj. 1 less than critical 2 unable to sustain a fission chain reaction: said of a nuclear reactor, device, etc.

subculture (sûb´kûl'chэr) •n. 1 a) a group (within a society) of persons of the same age, social or economic status, ethnic background, etc. and having its own interests, goals, etc. b) the distinct cultural patterns of such a group 2 a culture, as of bacteria, grown on a fresh medium from a previous culture sub·cul´tur·al •adj.

subcutaneous (sûb'kyu: tei´ni: эs) •adj. being, used, or introduced beneath the skin sub'cu·ta´ne·ous·ly •adv. [LL subcutaneus: see SUB- & CUTANEOUS]

subdeacon (sûb´di:'kэn) •n. 1 [Historical] R.C.Ch. a cleric ranking just below a deacon 2 Eastern Ch. a cleric ranking just above a lector [ME subdecon (< sub-, SUB- + deken, DEACON) based on LL(Ec) subdiaconus]

subdeb (sûb´deb') •n. 1 a girl in the years just preceding her debut into society 2 any girl of such age •adj. of or suitable for a subdeb [SUB- + DEB(UTANTE)]

subdiaconate (sûb'dai æk´э nit) •n. the office or position of a subdeacon [ML(Ec) subdiaconatus < LL(Ec)]

subdistrict (sûb´dis'trikt) •n. a subdivision of a district

subdivide (sûb'di vaid´, sûb´di vaid') -vid´ed, -vid´ing •vt., vi. 1 to divide further after previous division has been made 2 to divide (land) into small parcels for sale, as by a real-estate firm sub´di·vid'er •n. [ME subdividen < LL subdividere: see SUB- & DIVIDE]

subdivision (sûb'di vizh´эn, sûb´di vizh'эn) •n. 1 a subdividing or being subdivided 2 one of the parts resulting from subdividing 3 a piece of land resulting from this; esp., a large tract subdivided into small parcels for sale [LL(Ec) subdivisio]

subdominant (sûb däm´э nэnt) •adj. less than or only partly dominant •n. 1 something that is subdominant 2 Ecol. a species having considerable importance in a community but much less influence than the dominant species 3 Music the fourth tone of a diatonic scale; tone next below the dominant

subduce (sэb du:s´, -dyu:s´) -duced´, -duc´ing •vt. [Obs.] to withdraw; take away [L subducere < sub-, from + ducere, to lead: see DUCT]

subduction (-dûk´shэn) •n. a process of pulling something down; esp., a) the muscular action needed to aim an eye downward b) Geol. the sinking of one crustal plate under another as they collide sub·duct (-dûkt) •vt., vi.

subdue (-du:´, -dyu:´) -dued´, -du´ing •vt. 1 to bring into subjection; conquer; vanquish 2 to overcome, as by persuasion or training; control 3 to make less intense; reduce; diminish; soften; allay 4 to repress (emotions, passions, etc.) 5 to bring (land) under cultivation SYN. CONQUER sub·du´a·ble •adj. sub·du´al •n. sub·du´er •n. [ME subdewen (altered in sense and form by assoc. with L subdere, to put under, subject) < OFr soduire, to withdraw, seduce < L subducere: see SUBDUCE]

subemployed (sûb'эm ploid´) •adj. designating or of those workers who are unemployed, underemployed, or employed at wages below a subsistence level sub'em·ploy´ment •n.

subentry (sûb´en'tri:) pl. -tries •n. an entry listed under a main entry

suberic acid (sэ ber´ik) a dibasic acid, HOOC(CH2)6COOH, obtained by the oxidation of cork and from other sources [Fr suberique < L suber, cork tree]

suberin (su:´bэr in, su: ber´-) •n. a waxy or fatty substance contained in cork [Fr subérine < L suber, cork + Fr -ine, -INE³]

suberize (-bэr aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt. Bot. to make impermeable by the formation of suberin in the cell walls, changing them into cork su'ber·i·za´tion •n. [L suber, cork + -IZE]

subfamily (sûb´fæm'э li:) pl. -lies •n. 1 any main natural subdivision of a family of plants or animals 2 a major division of a language family, above a branch {the Balto-Slavic subfamily of Indo-European languages}

subfloor (sûb´flör') •n. a rough floor upon which a finished floor is laid

subfreezing (sûb´fri:´ziŋ) •adj. below freezing

subfusc (sûb´fûsk', sûb fûsk´) •adj. [Chiefly Brit., etc.] having a dull or dark, often drab, color •n. [Chiefly Brit.] subfusc clothing, esp. as academic dress at Oxford or Cambridge university [L subfuscus, brownish, dusky < sub-, below (see SUB-) + fuscus, FUSCOUS]

subgenus (sûb´ji:'nэs) pl. -gen'er·a (-jen'эr э) •n.or -ge'nus·es any main natural subdivision of a genus of plants or animals

subglacial (sûb glei´shэl) •adj. presently or formerly at the bottom of, or deposited beneath, a glacier {a subglacial stream, a subglacial deposit} sub·gla´cial·ly •adv.

subgrade (sûb´greid') •n. a layer of rock or earth leveled and graded for a foundation, as of a road

subgroup (-gru:p') •n. 1 a subdivision of a group; subordinate group 2 Chem. a vertical subdivision of a group in the periodic table of chemical elements: see ELEMENT, table 3 Math. a group whose elements form a subset of another group

subgum (sûb´gûm´) •adj. designating any of various Chinese-American dishes, as chow mein, prepared with water chestnuts, mushrooms, almonds, etc. [< Cantonese sahp gám, fancy mixed vegetables < sahp, ten, diverse + gám, brocade]

subhead (sûb´hed') •n. 1 the title of a subdivision of a chapter, article, etc. 2 a subordinate heading or title, as of a magazine article Also sub´head'ing

subhuman (sûb'hyu:´mэn) •adj. 1 below the human race in development; less than human 2 nearly human

subindex (-in´deks) pl. -dex·es or -di·ces' (-dэ si:z') •n. 1 an index to a subdivision of a main category 2 Math. SUBSCRIPT

subinfeudation (sûb'in'fyu: dei´shэn) •n. 1 the transfer of feudal lands by a vassal lord to a subtenant with all the privileges and responsibilities falling to the new holder 2 tenure so established 3 the lands or fief so held

subirrigate (sûb ir´э geit') -gat'ed, -gat'ing •vt. to irrigate (land) by a system of underground pipes sub'ir·ri·ga´tion •n.

subito (su:´bi tou') •adv. Musical Direction quickly; abruptly [It < L, suddenly < pp. of subire, to approach, spring up: see SUDDEN]

subj 1 subject 2 subjective 3 subjunctive

subjacent (sûb jei´sэnt) •adj. 1 situated directly under or below; underlying 2 being lower but not directly beneath sub·ja´cen·cy •n. [L subjacens, prp. of subjacere, to lie under < sub-, under + jacere, to lie, throw: see SUB- & JET¹]

subject (sûb´jikt, -jekt'; for v. sэb jekt´) •adj. 1 under the authority or control of, or owing allegiance to, another {subject peoples} 2 having a disposition or tendency; liable (to) {subject to fits of anger} 3 liable to receive; exposed (to) {subject to censure} 4 contingent or conditional upon (with to) {subject to your approval} •n. [ME suget < OFr < L subjectus: see the adj.] 1 a person under the authority or control of another; esp., a person owing allegiance to a ruler {Queen Elizabeth's subjects} 2 someone or something made to undergo a treatment, experiment, analysis, dissection, etc. 3 something dealt with in discussion, study, writing, painting, etc.; theme [L subjectum, foundation, subject (transl. of Gr to hypokeimenon) < neut. of subjectus: see the adj.] 4 the main theme or melody of a musical composition or movement, esp., the opening theme in a fugue 5 originating cause, reason, or motive 6 any of the various courses of study in a school or college; branch of learning 7 Gram. the noun or other substantive that is one of the two immediate constituents of a sentence and about which something is said in the predicate 8 Logic that part of a proposition about which something is said; that which is affirmed or denied 9 Philos. a) the actual substance of anything as distinguished from its qualities and attributes b) the mind, or ego, that thinks and feels, as distinguished from everything outside the mind •vt. 1 [Obs.] to place under or below 2 to bring under the authority or control of; cause to owe allegiance 3 to make liable or vulnerable {to subject oneself to the contempt of others} 4 to cause to undergo or experience some action or treatment {to subject someone to a thorough questioning} 5 [Rare] to place before; submit {a plan subjected for approval} sub·jec´tion •n. SYN.—subject is the general word for whatever is dealt with in discussion, study, writing, art, etc. [the subject of a talk, painting, etc.]; a theme is a subject developed or elaborated upon in a literary or artistic work, or one that constitutes the underlying motif of the work [a novel with a social theme]; a topic is a subject of common interest selected for individual treatment, as in an essay, or for discussion by a group of persons [baseball is their favorite topic of conversation]; text is specifically applied to a Biblical passage chosen as the subject of a sermon [ME suget < OFr < L subjectus, pp. of subjicere, to place under, put under, subject < sub-, under + jacere, to throw: see JET¹]

subject matter the thing or things considered in a book, course of instruction, discussion, etc.

subjective (sэb jek´tiv) •adj. 1 of, affected by, or produced by the mind or a particular state of mind; of or resulting from the feelings or temperament of the subject, or person thinking; not objective; personal {a subjective judgment} 2 determined by and emphasizing the ideas, thoughts, feelings, etc. of the artist or writer, not just rigidly transcribing or reflecting reality 3 Gram. NOMINATIVE 4 Philos. of or having to do with the perception or conception of a thing by the mind as opposed to its reality independent of the mind 5 Med. designating or of a symptom or condition perceptible only to the patient 6 Psychol. a) existing or originating within the observer's mind or sense organs and, hence, incapable of being checked externally or verified by other persons b) introspective sub·jec´tive·ly •adv. sub·jec·tiv·i·ty (sûb'jek tiv´э ti:) or sub·jec´tive·ness •n. [ME < LL subjectivus, of the subject < subjectus: see SUBJECT]

subjectivism (-iz'эm) •n. 1 the philosophic theory that all knowledge is subjective and relative, never objective 2 any philosophic theory that restricts knowledge in some way to the subjective elements, as by limiting external reality to what can be known or inferred by subjective standards of truth 3 an ethical theory holding that personal attitudes and feelings are the sole determinants of moral and aesthetic values sub·jec´tiv·ist •adj., n. sub·jec'ti·vis´tic •adj.

subjoin (sэb join´) •vt. to add (something) at the end of what has been stated; append [Rare] sub·join´der •n. [MFr subjoindre < L subjungere: see SUB- & JOIN]

subjugate (sûb´jэ geit') -gat'ed, -gat'ing •vt. 1 to bring under control or subjection; conquer 2 to cause to become subservient; subdue SYN. CONQUER sub'ju·ga´tion •n. sub´ju·ga'tor •n. [ME subiugaten < L subjugatus, pp. of subjugare, to bring under the yoke < sub-, under + jugum, YOKE]

subjunctive (sэb jûŋk´tiv) •adj. Gram. designating or of the mood of a verb that is used to express supposition, desire, hypothesis, possibility, etc., rather than to state an actual fact (Ex.: the mood of were in if I were you): cf. INDICATIVE, IMPERATIVE •n. 1 the subjunctive mood 2 a verb in this mood [LL subjunctivus < L subjunctus, pp. of subjungere, to SUBJOIN]

subkingdom (sûb´kiŋ'dэm) •n. any main natural subdivision of the plant or animal kingdom

sublapsarian (sûb'læp ser´i: эn) •n., adj. INFRALAPSARIAN sub'lap·sar´i·an·ism' •n. [ModL sublapsarius < L sub-, below + lapsus, LAPSE, fall]

sublate (sэb leit´) -lat´ed, -lat´ing •vt. Logic to deny, contradict, or negate [< L sublatus (suppletive pp. of tollere, to lift up, take away, annul) < sub-, up (see SUB-) + latus, suppletive pp. of ferre, to BEAR¹]

sublease (sûb´li:s'; for v. sûb li:s´) •n. a lease granted by a lessee to another person of all or part of the property •vt. -leased´, -leas´ing to grant, obtain, or hold a sublease of sub'les·see´ (-les i:´) •n. sub·les·sor (sûb les´ör', sûb'les ör´) •n.

sublet (sûb let´, sûb´let') -let´, -let´ting •vt. 1 to let to another (property which one is renting) 2 to let out (work) to a subcontractor

sublethal (sûb li:´θэl) •adj. not quite lethal; insufficient to cause death {a sublethal dose of poison}

sublieutenant (sûb'lu: ten´эnt; Brit, etc., -lef ten´-) •n. [Brit., etc.] a naval officer ranking below a lieutenant

sublimate (sûb´lэ meit'; for adj.& n., also, -mit) -mat'ed, -mat'ing •vt. 1 to purify or refine (a substance) by subliming 2 to have a purifying or ennobling influence or effect on 3 to express (socially or personally unacceptable impulses, specif. sexual impulses) in constructive, acceptable forms, often unconsciously •vi. to undergo subliming •adj. sublimated •n. a substance that is the product of subliming sub'li·ma´tion •n. [< L sublimatus, pp. of sublimare: see SUBLIME, vt.]

sublime (sэ blaim´) •adj. 1 noble; exalted; majestic 2 inspiring awe or admiration through grandeur, beauty, etc. 3 [Colloq.] outstandingly or supremely such {a man of sublime taste} 4 [Archaic] a) elated; joyful b) proud; lofty; haughty c) upraised; aloft •vt. -limed´, -lim´ing [ME sublimen < MFr sublimer < ML sublimare < L, to lift high < the adj.] 1 to make sublime 2 to change (a solid) to gaseous state without going through an intermediate liquid state •vi. to change in this way sub·lime´ly •adv. sub·lime´ness •n. [L sublimus < sub-, up to + limen, lintel (hence, orig. up to the lintel): see LIMEN]

subliminal (sûb lim´э nэl) •adj. below the threshold of consciousness or apprehension; specif., involving or using stimuli intended to take effect subconsciously by repetition sub·lim´i·nal·ly •adv. [see SUB- & LIMEN & -AL]

sublimity (sэ blim´э ti:) •n. 1 the state or quality of being sublime, majestic, noble, etc. 2 pl. -ties something sublime [L sublimitas]

sublingual (sûb liŋ´gwэl) •adj. situated under the tongue [ML sublingualis: see SUB- & LINGUAL]

sublunary (sûb lu:n´эr i:, sûb´lu: ner'i:) •adj. 1 situated beneath the moon; terrestrial 2 earthly; mundane Also sub·lu´nar [ML sublunaris < L sub-, under + luna, the moon]

submachine gun (sûb'mэ shэn´) a portable, automatic or semiautomatic firearm with a stock and a short barrel, taking pistol ammunition and fired from the shoulder or hip

submarginal (sûb mär´jэ nэl) •adj. 1 below minimum requirements or standards {submarginal housing} 2 not yielding a satisfactory return; not profitable {submarginal land} 3 Biol. near the margin of an organ or part sub·mar´gin·al·ly •adv.

submarine (sûb'mэ ri:n´; for n. & v., usually sûb´mэ ri:n') •adj. being, living, used, or carried on beneath the surface of the water, esp. of the sea •n. 1 a submarine plant or animal 2 a kind of warship, armed with torpedoes, guided missiles, etc., that can operate under water 3 HERO SANDWICH •vt. -rined', -rin'ing to attack, esp. to torpedo, with a submarine [SUB- + MARINE]

submarine chaser a small, fast naval patrol vessel equipped for use against submarines

submarine sandwich HERO SANDWICH

submariner (sûb'mэ ri:n´эr, sûb´mэ ri:n'эr, sûb mer´э nэr) •n. a member of a submarine crew

submaxilla (sûb'mæk sil´э) pl. -lae (-i:) •n.or -las the lower jaw or jawbone [ModL: see SUB- & MAXILLA]

submaxillary (-mæk´sэ ler'i:) •adj. designating, of, or below the lower jaw; esp., designating or of either of two salivary glands, one on each side, below the inside edge of the lower jaw

submediant (-mi:´di: эnt) •n. the sixth tone of a diatonic scale; tone just above the dominant and below the subtonic; superdominant [SUB- + MEDIANT]

submerge (sûb mørj´, sэb-) -merged´, -merg´ing •vt. 1 to place under or cover with water or the like; plunge into water, inundate, etc. 2 to cover over; suppress; hide 3 to sink below a decent level of life {the submerged people of the slums} •vi. to sink or plunge beneath the surface of water, etc. sub·mer´gence (-mør´jэns) •n. sub·mer´gi·ble (-jэ bэl) •adj. [L submergere < sub-, under + mergere, to plunge: see MERGE]

submerse (-mørs´) -mersed´, -mers´ing •vt. SUBMERGE sub·mer´sion (-mør´zhэn, -shэn) •n. [< L submersus, pp. of submergere]

submersed (-mørst´) •adj. Bot. growing under water

submersible (sûb mør´sэ bэl, sэb-) •adj. that can function while submerged •n. a vessel designed to operate under water; esp., a submarine

submicroscopic (sûb'mai krэ skäp´ik) •adj. too small to be seen through a microscope See ULTRAMICROSCOPIC

subminiature (sûb min´i: э chэr) •adj. designating or of a very small camera, electronic component, etc., smaller than one described as miniature

subminiaturize (-aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt., vi. to construct (something) on a subminiature scale sub·min'i·a·tur'i·za´tion •n.

submiss (sûb mis´) •adj. [Archaic] submissive; humble

submission (sûb mish´эn, sэb-) •n. 1 the act of submitting, yielding, or surrendering 2 the quality or condition of being submissive; resignation; obedience; meekness 3 a) the act of submitting something to another for decision, consideration, etc. b) something thus submitted, as an article or photograph to a publisher 4 Law an agreement whereby parties to a dispute submit the matter to arbitration and agree to be bound by the decision [OFr < L submissio < submissus, pp. of submittere]

submissive (-mis´iv) •adj. having or showing a tendency to submit without resistance; docile; yielding sub·mis´sive·ly •adv. sub·mis´sive·ness •n. [< L submissus, pp. of submittere (see SUBMIT) + -IVE]

submit (-mit´) -mit´ted, -mit´ting •vt. 1 to present or refer to others for decision, consideration, etc. 2 to yield to the action, control, power, etc. of another or others; also, to subject or allow to be subjected to treatment, analysis, etc. of some sort: often used reflexively 3 to offer as an opinion; suggest; propose •vi. 1 a) to yield to the power, control, etc. of another or others; give in b) to allow oneself to be subjected (to treatment, analysis, etc.) 2 to defer to another's judgment or decision 3 to be submissive, obedient, humble, etc. sub·mit´ta·ble •adj. sub·mit´tal •n. sub·mit´ter •n. [ME submitten < L submittere < sub-, under, down + mittere, to send: see MISSION]

submontane (sûb'män´tein', -män tein´) •adj. 1 located at the foot of a mountain or mountain range 2 of or characteristic of foothills [< SUB- + L montanus: see MOUNTAIN]

submultiple (sûb mûl´tэ pэl) •n. a number that will divide another with no remainder; exact divisor (of a specified number) {3 is a submultiple of 12} [SUB- + MULTIPLE]

subnormal (-nör´mэl) •adj. below the normal; less than normal, esp. in intelligence •n. a subnormal person sub'nor·mal´i·ty (-mæl´э ti:) •n. sub·nor´mal·ly •adv.

subnuclear (-nu:´kli: эr, -nyu:´-) •adj. designating or of any of the particles within the nuclei of atoms

suboceanic (sûb'ou shi: æn´ik) •adj. situated or occurring on or beneath the ocean floor

suborbital (sûb ör´bitªl, -bэ tэl) •adj. 1 designating or of a flight in which a rocket, spacecraft, etc. follows a ballistic trajectory of less than one orbit 2 beneath the orbit of the eye

suborder (sûb´ör'dэr) •n. any natural subdivision of an order of plants or animals sub·or´di·nal (-örd´ªn эl) •adj.

subordinate (sэ börd´ªn it, -bör´dэ nit; for v., -börd´ªn eit', -bör´dэ neit') •adj. 1 inferior to or placed below another in rank, power, importance, etc.; secondary 2 under the power or authority of another 3 subservient or submissive 4 Gram. having the function of a noun, adjective, or adverb within a sentence {a subordinate phrase} •n. a subordinate person or thing •vt. -nat'ed, -nat'ing 1 to place in a subordinate position; treat as less important or inferior (to) 2 to make obedient or subservient (to); control; subdue sub·or´di·nate·ly •adv. sub·or´di·na'tive (-ªn eit'iv) •adj. [ME < ML subordinatus, pp. of subordinare < L sub-, under + ordinare, to order: see ORDAIN]

subordinate clause Gram. DEPENDENT CLAUSE

subordinating conjunction a conjunction that connects subordinate words, phrases, or clauses to some other sentence element (Ex.: if, as, so, unless, although, when) Also subordinate conjunction

subordination (sэ börd'ªn ei´shэn, -bör'dэ nei´-) •n. 1 a subordinating or being subordinated 2 [Now Rare] subjection or submission to rank, power, or authority; obedience

suborn (sэ börn´) •vt. 1 to get or bring about through bribery or other illegal methods 2 to induce or instigate (another) to do something illegal, esp. to commit perjury sub·orn´er •n. [L subornare, to furnish or supply, instigate, incite secretly < sub-, under + ornare, to furnish, adorn: see ORNAMENT]

subornation (sûb'ör nei´shэn) •n. a suborning or being suborned; esp., the crime of inducing another to commit perjury (subornation of perjury) [ML subornatio]

suboxide (sûb äk´said') •n. an oxide containing a relatively small proportion of oxygen

subphylum (sûb´fai'lэm) pl. -la (-lэ) •n. any main natural subdivision of a phylum

subplot (-plät') •n. a secondary plot in a play, novel, etc.

subpoena (sэ pi:´nэ) •n. a written legal order directing a person to appear in court to give testimony, show specified records, etc. •vt. -naed, -na·ing 1 to summon with such an order Æ 2 to order that (specified records, documents, etc.) be brought to a court Also sp. sub·pe´na [ME suppena < ML subpena < L sub poena, lit., under penalty: see SUB- & PAIN]

subpopulation (sûb'päp yu: lei´shэn, -yэ-) •n. a subdivision of a population, with common, distinguishing characteristics

subprincipal (sûb´prin'sэ pэl) •n. 1 an assistant principal in a school, etc. 2 a secondary brace or rafter

subprofessional (sûb'prou fesh´э nэl) •n. PARAPROFESSIONAL

subregion (sûb´ri:'jэn) •n. any of the divisions of a region, esp. with reference to plant and animal distribution

subreption (sûb rep´shэn) •n. 1 deliberate concealment or misrepresentation of facts so as to gain some benefit or advantage 2 an erroneous inference or conclusion induced by this sub·rep·ti·tious (sûb'rep ti´shэs) •adj. [L subreptio < subreptus, pp. of subripere, surripere, to take away secretly: see SURREPTITIOUS]

subrogate (sûb´rэ geit') -gat'ed, -gat'ing •vt. to substitute (one person) for another [< L subrogatus, surrogatus: see SURROGATE]

subrogation (sûb'rou gei´shэn, -rэ-) •n. a subrogating; esp., the substitution of one creditor for another, along with a transference of the claims and rights of the old creditor [ME subrogacioun < ML subrogatio < L subrogatus]

subroutine (sûb'ru: ti:n´) •n. a set of instructions, appearing once within a computer program but available for repeated use, for performing a specific task

sub-Saharan (sûb'sэ hær´эn) •adj. designating or of the part of the African continent south of the Sahara desert

subsample (sûb´sæm'pэl) •n. a selected sample of a total sampling •vt. -sam'pled, -sam'pling to take a subsample of

subscribe (sэb skraib´) -scribed´, -scrib´ing •vt. 1 to sign (one's name) at the end of a document, etc. 2 to write one's signature on (a document, etc.) as an indication of consent, approval, attestation, etc. 3 to support; consent to; favor; sanction 4 to promise to contribute (a sum of money), esp. by signing a pledge •vi. 1 to sign one's name at the end of a document, etc. 2 to give support, sanction, or approval; consent or agree (to) {to subscribe to certain measures} 3 to promise to contribute, or to give, a sum of money 4 to agree to receive and pay for a periodical, service, theater tickets, etc. for a specified period of time (with to) sub·scrib´er •n. [ME subscriben < L subscribere: see SUB- & SCRIBE]

subscript (sûb´skript') •adj. written below; esp., INFERIOR (adj. 8) •n. a figure, letter, or symbol written below and to the side of another {in Y3 and Xa, 3 and a are subscripts} [L subscriptus, pp. of subscribere, to SUBSCRIBE]

subscription (sэb skrip´shэn) •n. 1 the act of subscribing 2 something subscribed; specif., a) a written signature b) a signed document, etc. c) consent or sanction, esp. in writing d) an amount of money subscribed e) a formal agreement to receive and pay for a periodical, books, theater tickets, etc. for a specified period of time f) the right to receive a periodical, etc., as by payment of a fixed sum 3 that part of a doctor's prescription giving directions to the pharmacist: cf. SIGNATURE (n. 4) 4 Eccles. assent to certain doctrines for promoting uniformity; specif., in the Anglican Church, acceptance of the Thirty-nine Articles of Faith [ME subscripcion < L subscriptio]

subsection (sûb´sek'shэn) •n. a subdivision of any of the sections into which a group, document, etc. is divided

subsequence (sûb´si kwэns, -kwens') •n. 1 the fact or condition of being subsequent 2 a subsequent happening 3 Math. a sequence within a sequence [ML subsequentia]

subsequent (-kwэnt, -kwent') •adj. coming after; following in time, place, or order subsequent to after; following sub´se·quent·ly •adv. [ME < L subsequens, prp. of subsequi, to follow close after: see SUB- & SEQUENT]

subsere (sûb´sir') Ecol. a secondary succession occurring after all or part of the vegetation in an area has been destroyed, as by humans or fire [SUB- + SERE¹]

subserve (sэb sørv´) -served´, -serv´ing •vt. to be useful or helpful to (a purpose, cause, etc.); serve; promote; aid [L subservire < sub-, under + servire, to SERVE]

subservience (-sør´vi: эns) •n. 1 the state or quality of being subservient 2 subservient behavior or manner; obsequiousness; servility Also sub·ser´vi·en·cy

subservient (-эnt) •adj. 1 that is useful, helpful, or of service, esp. in an inferior or subordinate capacity 2 submissive; obsequious sub·ser´vi·ent·ly •adv. [L subserviens, prp. of subservire, to SUBSERVE]

subset (sûb´set') •n. a mathematical set containing some or all of the elements of a given set

subshrub (-shrûb') •n. a partly shrubby plant that has woody stems growing new shoots annually at the tips

subside (sэb said´) -sid´ed, -sid´ing •vi. 1 to sink or fall to the bottom; settle, as sediment 2 to sink to a lower level 3 to become less active, intense, etc.; abate SYN. WANE sub·sid´ence (-said´ªns, sûb´si dэns) •n. [L subsidere < sub-, under + sidere, to settle < sedere, to SIT]

subsidiary (sэb sid´i: er'i:, -i: эr i:) •adj. 1 giving aid, support, service, etc.; serving to supplement; auxiliary 2 being in a secondary or subordinate relationship 3 of, constituting, or maintained by a subsidy or subsidies •n. pl. -ar'ies a person or thing that is subsidiary; specif., a) a company controlled by another company which owns all or a majority of its shares (in full subsidiary company) b) Music a subordinate theme sub·sid´i·ar'i·ly •adv. [L subsidiarius < subsidium: see SUBSIDY]

subsidize (sûb´sэ daiz') -dized', -diz'ing •vt. 1 to support with a subsidy 2 to buy the aid or support of with a subsidy, often as a kind of bribe sub'si·di·za´tion •n. sub´si·diz'er •n. [< fol. + -IZE]

subsidy (sûb´sэ di:) pl. -dies •n. a grant of money; specif., a) a grant of money from one government to another, as for military aid b) a government grant to a private enterprise considered of benefit to the public c) [Historical] in England, money granted by Parliament to the king [ME < Anglo-Fr subsidie < L subsidium, auxiliary forces, reserve troops, aid, support < subsidere, to sit down, remain: see SUBSIDE]

subsist (sэb sist´) •vi. 1 a) to continue to be or exist; have existence as a reality, entity, etc. b) to continue to be in use, force, etc. 2 to continue to live; remain alive (on sustenance, by specific means, etc.); be sustained 3 to consist or inhere (in) 4 Philos. to be logically conceivable and have being as a conceptual entity that may be the subject of true statements •vt. to maintain with sustenance; support [L subsistere, to stand still, stay, abide < sub-, under + sistere, to place, stand, redupl. of base of stare, to STAND]

subsistence (-sis´tэns) •n. 1 existence; being; continuance 2 the act of providing sustenance 3 means of support or livelihood; often, specif., the barest means in terms of food, clothing, and shelter needed to sustain life 4 the quality of being inherent 5 Philos. a) the status of something that exists in itself as an individual whole b) the status of something whose very act of existing is its essence, as God c) the quality of being logically conceivable sub·sist´ent •adj. [ME < LL(Ec) subsistentia < L subsister: see SUBSIST]

subsoil (sûb´soil') •n. the layer of soil beneath the topsoil •vt. to stir or turn up the subsoil of sub´soil'er •n.

subsolar (sûb sou´lэr) •adj. 1 located under the sun 2 having the sun in the zenith [SUB- + SOLAR]

subsonic (-sän´ik) •adj. 1 designating, of, or moving at a speed in a surrounding fluid less than that of sound in the same fluid 2 INFRASONIC [SUB- + SONIC]

subspace (sûb´speis') •n. Math. a space which forms a proper subset of some larger space

subspecies (sûb´spi:'shi:z) •n. any natural subdivision of a species that exhibits small, but persistent, morphological variations from other subdivisions of the same species living in different geographical regions or times: the subspecies name is usually the third term (not capitalized) in a trinomial (Ex.: the scientific name for Neanderthal man is Homo sapiens neanderthalensis) sub'spe·cif´ic (-spэ sif´ik) •adj. [ModL: see SUB- + SPECIES]

subst 1 substantive 2 substitute

substance (sûb´stэns) •n. 1 the real or essential part or element of anything; essence, reality, or basic matter 2 a) the physical matter of which a thing consists; material b) matter of a particular kind or chemical composition 3 a) solid quality; substantial character b) consistency; body 4 the real content, meaning, or gist of something said or written 5 material possessions; property; resources; wealth Æ 6 a drug: see CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 7 Philos. something that has independent existence and is acted upon by causes in substance 1 with regard to essential elements 2 actually; really [OFr < L substantia < substare, to be present < sub-, under + stare, to STAND]

substandard (sûb stæn´dэrd) •adj. below standard; specif., a) below a standard established as by law b) Linguis. NONSTANDARD (a usually pejorative designation for forms of a language that differ from the standard dialect, and a term not widely used by linguists)

substantial (sэb stæn´shэl) •adj. 1 of or having substance 2 real; actual; true; not imaginary 3 strong; solid; firm; stout 4 considerable; ample; large 5 of considerable worth or value; important 6 having property or possessions; wealthy 7 with regard to essential elements; in substance 8 Philos. of, or having the nature of, substance •n. a substantial thing: usually used in pl. sub·stan'ti·al´i·ty (-shi: æl´э ti:) or sub·stan´tial·ness •n. sub·stan´tial·ly •adv. [ME substancial < ML substantialis < LL]

substantialism (-iz'эm) •n. Philos. the doctrine that there are entities or beings underlying all phenomena as the subjects in which various properties inhere

substantiate (sэb stæn´shi: eit') -at'ed, -at'ing •vt. 1 to give substance or true existence to 2 to give concrete form or body to; convert into substance; embody 3 to show to be true or real by giving evidence; prove; confirm SYN. CONFIRM sub·stan'ti·a´tion •n. sub·stan´ti·a'tive •adj. sub·stan´ti·a'tor •n. [< ModL substantiatus, pp. of substantiare < L substantia, SUBSTANCE]

substantive (sûb´stэn tiv) •adj. 1 existing independently; not dependent upon or subordinate to another 2 of considerable amount or quantity; substantial 3 having a real existence; actual 4 a) of, containing, or dealing with the essential elements; essential b) having direct bearing on a matter 5 of or relating to legal rights and principles as distinguished from legal procedures 6 becoming fixed without the use of a mordant: said of a dye 7 Gram. a) expressing existence {the substantive verb to be} b) of or used as a substantive •n. 1 something substantive 2 Gram. a noun or any other word or group of words that functions as a noun; nominal sub'stan·ti´val (-tai´vэl) •adj. sub'stan·ti´val·ly or sub´stan·tive·ly •adv. sub´stan·tive·ness •n. [LME < LL substantivus < L substantia: see SUBSTANCE]

substantive right a basic right of man, as life, liberty, etc., which exists independently from all man-made laws

substation (sûb´stei'shэn) •n. a small post-office station, as in a store or at a philatelic convention

substellar (sûb stel´эr) •adj. Astron. of a size much smaller than a typical star

substituent (sûb stich´u: эnt) •n. Chem. an atom or group of atoms replacing another atom or group in a compound [< L substituens, prp. of substituere: see SUBSTITUTE]

substitute (sûb´stэ tu:t', -tyu:t') •n. 1 a person or thing serving or used in place of another 2 Gram. any word or word group, as a pronoun, the verb to do, etc., used in place of another word or words (Ex.: did for shouted in she shouted and he did, too) •vt. -tut'ed, -tut'ing 1 to put or use in place of another 2 [Now Rare] to take the place of 3 Chem. to replace as a substituent Æ vi. to act or serve in place of another: often with for •adj. being a substitute or substitutes sub´sti·tut'a·ble •adj. [ME < L substitutus, pp. of substituere, to put instead of < sub-, under + statuere, to put, place: see STATUE]

substitution (sûb'stэ tu:´shэn, -tyu:´-) •n. the substituting of one person or thing for another sub'sti·tu´tion·al or sub'sti·tu´tion·ar'y •adj.

substitutive (sûb´stэ tu:t'iv, -tyu:t'-) •adj. 1 of or having to do with substitution 2 being or capable of being a substitute sub´sti·tu'tive·ly •adv. [LL substitutivus]

substrate (sûb´streit') •n. 1 SUBSTRATUM 2 Biochem. a substance acted upon, as by an enzyme 3 Biol., Bacteriology MEDIUM (n. 6)

substratosphere (sûb stræt´э sfir') •n. loosely, the highest part of the troposphere

substratum (sûb´streit'эm, -stræt'-) pl. -ta (-э) or -tums •n. 1 a) a part, substance, element, etc. which lies beneath and supports another; foundation b) any basis or foundation 2 SUBSTRATE (senses 2 & 3) 3 loosely, SUBSOIL 4 Bot. the base or material to which a plant is attached and from which it gets nutriment 5 Metaphysics substance, with reference to the events or causes which act upon it, the changes occurring in it, the attributes that inhere in it, etc. 6 Photog. a thin layer of material on a photographic film or plate serving as a base for the sensitive emulsion 7 Zool. the ground or other solid material on which an animal moves or is fastened [ModL < L, neut. of substratus, pp. of substernere, to strew beneath < sub-, under + sternere, to spread out < IE base *ster- > STREW]

substructure (-strûk'chэr) •n. a part or structure acting as a support, base, or foundation Also sub´struc'tion sub·struc´tur·al •adj.

subsume (sûb su:m´, -syu:m´; sэb-) -sumed´, -sum´ing •vt. 1 to include within a larger class, group, order, etc. 2 to show (an idea, instance, etc.) to be covered by a rule, principle, etc. [ModL subsumere < L sub-, under + sumere, to take: see CONSUME]

subsumption (sэb sûmp´shэn) •n. 1 a subsuming or being subsumed 2 something subsumed; esp., a minor concept or premise sub·sump´tive •adj. [ModL subsumptio < subsumptus, pp. of subsumere]

subsurface (sûb´sør'fis) •adj. lying below the surface, esp. of the earth, the oceans, etc. •n. a subsurface part

subsystem (-sis'tэm) •n. any system that is part of a larger system; component system

subtangent (sûb tæn´jэnt) •n. Geom. the segment of the x-axis included between the ordinate of a given point on a curve and the tangent at that point

subteen (sûb´ti:n') •n. a child nearly a teenager

subtemperate (sûb tem´pэr it) •adj. of or occurring in the colder areas of the temperate zones

subtenant (sûb´ten'эnt) •n. a person who rents from a tenant; tenant of a tenant sub·ten´an·cy •n.

subtend (sûb tend´, sэb-) •vt. 1 to extend under or be opposite to in position {each side of a triangle subtends the opposite angle} 2 Bot. to enclose in an angle, as between a leaf and its stem [L subtendere < sub-, under + tendere, to stretch: see TEND²]

subter- (sûb´tэr) prefix below, under, less than, secretly [L < subter, below < sub (see SUB-) + -ter, compar. suffix]

subterfuge (sûb´tэr fyu:j') •n. any plan, action, or device used to hide one's true objective, evade a difficult or unpleasant situation, etc.; stratagem; artifice SYN. DECEPTION [LL subterfugium < L subterfugere, to flee secretly, escape < subter, secretly (< subter, below) + fugere, to flee: see FUGITIVE]

subterranean (sûb'tэ rei´ni: эn) •adj. 1 lying beneath the earth's surface; underground 2 secret; hidden Also sub'ter·ra´ne·ous •n. one who lives underground sub'ter·ra´ne·an·ly •adv. [L subterraneus < sub- (see SUB-) + terra, earth: see TERRAIN]

subtext (sûb´tekst') •n. 1 the complex of feelings, motives, etc. conceived of by an actor as underlying the actual words and actions of the character being portrayed 2 an underlying meaning, theme, etc.

subtile (sût´ªl, sûb´til) •adj. now rare var. of SUBTLE sub´tile·ly •adv. sub´tile·ness •n. sub´til·ty, pl. -ties, or sub·til·i·ty (sэb til´э ti:) •n. [ME < MFr subtil, altered (infl. by L) < OFr soutil: see SUBTLE]

subtilize (sût´ªl aiz', sûb´til-) -ized', -iz'ing •vt., vi. 1 to make or become subtle 2 to discuss or argue with subtle distinctions sub'til·i·za´tion •n. [ML subtilizare < L subtilis, SUBTLE]

subtitle (sûb´tait'ªl) •n. 1 a secondary or explanatory title, as of a book or play 2 a book title repeated at the top of the first page of text 3 one or more lines of text, as a translation of dialogue in a foreign language, appearing usually at the bottom of a film or video image •vt. -ti'tled, -ti'tling to add a subtitle or subtitles to

subtle (sût´ªl) sub´tler (-lэr, -ªl эr), sub´tlest •adj. 1 thin; rare; tenuous; not dense or heavy {a subtle gas} 2 a) capable of making or noticing fine distinctions in meaning, etc. {a subtle thinker} b) marked by or requiring mental keenness {subtle reasoning} 3 delicately skillful or clever; deft or ingenious {a subtle filigree} 4 not open or direct; crafty; sly 5 delicately suggestive; not grossly obvious {a subtle hint} 6 working insidiously; not easily detected {a subtle poison} sub´tle·ness •n. sub´tly •adv. [ME sotil < OFr soutil < L subtilis, fine, thin, precise, orig., closely woven < sub- (see SUB-) + tela, web < *texla < texere, to weave: see TECHNIC]

subtlety (-ti:) •n. 1 the quality or condition of being subtle; esp., the ability or tendency to make fine distinctions 2 pl. -ties something subtle; esp., a fine distinction [ME sutelte < OFr sotillete < L subtilitas]

subtonic (sûb tän´ik) •n. Music the seventh tone of a diatonic scale; tone next below the upper tonic

subtopic (sûb´tä'pik) •n. a topic that is a division of a main topic

subtotal (sûb´tout'ªl) •n. a total that forms part of a final, complete total •vt., vi. -taled or -talled, -tal·ing or -tal·ling to add up so as to form a subtotal

subtract (sэb trækt´) •vt., vi. 1 to take away (a part from a whole) 2 to take away or deduct (one number or quantity from another) sub·tract´er •n. [< L subtractus, pp. of subtrahere, to draw away underneath, subtract < sub-, SUB- + trahere, to DRAW]

subtraction (sэb træk´shэn) •n. a subtracting or being subtracted; esp., the mathematical process of finding the difference between two numbers or quantities [ML subtractio < LL(Ec), a drawing back]

subtractive (-tiv) •adj. 1 tending to subtract 2 capable of or involving subtraction 3 that is to be subtracted; marked with the minus sign (-) [ML subtractivus]

subtrahend (sûb´trэ hend') •n. a number or quantity to be subtracted from another (the minuend) [L subtrahendus, ger. of subtrahere: see SUBTRACT]

subtreasury (sûb´trezh'эr i:) pl. -ur·ies •n. a branch treasury

subtropical (sûb trä´pi kэl) •adj. 1 designating or of regions bordering on the tropical zone 2 characteristic of such regions; nearly tropical Also sub·trop´ic

subtropics (sûb´trä´piks) •n.pl. subtropical regions

subulate (su:´byu: lit, -leit') •adj. Biol. slender and tapering to a point; awl-shaped [ModL subulatus < L subula, an awl < *sudhla < suere, SEW]

subumbrella (sûb'ûm brel´э) •n. Zool. the concave lower, or oral, surface of a jellyfish [SUB- + UMBRELLA]

suburb (sûb´эrb) •n. 1 a district, esp. a residential district, on or near the outskirts of a city and often a separately incorporated city or town 2 [pl.] a region made up of such districts: with the [ME < L suburbium < sub-, under, near + urbs (gen. urbis), town]

suburban (sэ bør´bэn) •adj. 1 of, in, or residing in a suburb or the suburbs 2 characteristic of the suburbs or suburbanites

suburbanite (-ait') •n. a person living in a suburb

suburbanize (-aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt., vi. to make or become suburban sub·ur'ban·i·za´tion •n.

suburbia (sэ bør´bi: э) •n. the suburbs or suburbanites collectively: usually used to connote the values, attitudes, and activities regarded as characteristic of suburban life

suburbicarian (sûb'ør'bi ker´i: эn) •adj. of or in the area around the city (specif., the city of Rome, Italy) [< LL suburbicarius < L suburbanus (see SUBURB) + -AN]

subvene (sûb vi:n´, sэb-) -vened´, -ven´ing •vi. [Rare] to happen or come, so as to help [L subvenire, to come to one's assistance, lit., to come up < sub-, under + venire, to COME]

subvention (-ven´shэn) •n. 1 orig., the act of subvening 2 money granted, as by a government, in support of a study, institution, etc.; subsidy sub·ven´tion·ar'y •adj. [ME < subvencioun < OFr subvencion < LL subventio]

subversion (sэb vør´zhэn, -shэn) •n. a subverting or being subverted; ruin; overthrow [OFr < L subversio]

subversive (-siv) •adj. tending or seeking to subvert, overthrow, or destroy (an established government, institution, belief, etc.) •n. a person regarded as subversive sub·ver´sive·ly •adv. sub·ver´sive·ness •n. [ML subversivus < L subversus, pp. of subvertere: see SUBVERT]

subvert (sэb vørt´) •vt. 1 to overthrow or destroy (something established) 2 to undermine or corrupt, as in morals sub·vert´er •n. [ME subverten < MFr subvertir < L subvertere < sub-, SUB- + vertere, to turn: see VERSE]

subway (sûb´wei') •n. 1 a) an underground way or passage b) [Chiefly Brit., etc.] UNDERPASS Æ 2 an underground, metropolitan electric railway or the tunnel through which it runs

suc- (sûk, sэk) prefix SUB-: used before c {succumb}

succedaneum (sûk'si dei´ni: эm) pl. -ne·a (-ni: э) •n. rare var. of SUBSTITUTE [ModL < neut. sing. of L succedaneus, substituted < succedere: see SUCCEED]

succeed (sэk si:d´) •vi. 1 a) to come next after another; follow; ensue b) to follow another into office, possession, etc., as by election, appointment, or inheritance (often with to) c) [Obs.] to devolve, as an estate 2 to happen or turn out as planned or attempted {a plan that succeeded} 3 to achieve or accomplish something planned or attempted {to succeed in persuading someone} 4 to have or enjoy success; realize a goal or goals, esp. in becoming wealthy, winning fame or approval, etc. {to succeed in business} •vt. 1 to take the place left by; follow into office, etc. 2 to come or occur after; follow SYN. FOLLOW suc·ceed´er •n. [ME succeden < L succedere, to go beneath or under, follow after < sub-, under + cedere, to go: see CEDE]

succès de scandale (sük se dэ skäñ dål´) 1 notoriety gained by something scandalous, as a shocking play, movie, novel, etc. 2 something that causes such notoriety [Fr, success of scandal]

succès d'estime (sük se des ti:m´) 1 the gaining of acclaim from professional critics; critical success 2 an artistic work receiving such acclaim, often without being a financial success [Fr, success of esteem]

succès fou (sük se fu:´) an extraordinary success, esp. financially [Fr, mad success]

success (sэk ses´) •n. 1 orig., result; outcome 2 a) a favorable or satisfactory outcome or result b) something having such an outcome 3 the gaining of wealth, fame, rank, etc. 4 a successful person [L successus < pp. of succedere: see SUCCEED]

successful (-fэl) •adj. 1 coming about, taking place, or turning out to be as was hoped for {a successful mission} 2 having achieved success; specif., having gained wealth, fame, etc. suc·cess´ful·ly •adv. suc·cess´ful·ness •n.

succession (sэk sesh´эn) •n. 1 the act of succeeding or coming after another in order or sequence or to an office, estate, throne, etc. 2 the right to succeed to an office, estate, etc. 3 a number of persons or things coming one after another in time or space; series; sequence {a succession of delays} 4 a) a series of heirs or rightful successors of any kind b) the order or line of such a series 5 Ecol. the slow, regular sequence of changes in the regional development of communities of plants and associated animals, culminating in a climax characteristic of a specific geographical environment SYN. SERIES in succession one after another in a regular series or sequence; successively suc·ces´sion·al •adj. suc·ces´sio·nal·ly •adv. [OFr < L successio < succedere: see SUCCEED]

successive (sэk ses´iv) •adj. 1 coming in succession; following one after another in sequence; consecutive 2 of or involving succession suc·ces´sive·ly •adv. suc·ces´sive·ness •n. [ME < LL successivus]

successor (-эr) •n. a person or thing that succeeds, or follows, another; esp., one who succeeds to an office, title, etc. [ME < OFr successour < L successor < successus, pp. of succedere: see SUCCEED]

succinate (sûk´sэ neit') •n. a salt or ester of succinic acid

succinct (sûk siŋkt´, sэk-) •adj. 1 clearly and briefly stated; terse 2 characterized by brevity and conciseness of speech 3 [Archaic] a) enclosed as by a girdle b) closefitting SYN. CONCISE suc·cinct´ly •adv. suc·cinct´ness •n. [ME, girdled, girded < L succinctus, prepared, short, contracted, pp. of succingere, to gird, tuck up, prepare < sub-, SUB- + cingere, to gird: see CINCH]