saloon (sэ lu:n´) •n. 1 any large room or hall designed for receptions, exhibitions, entertainments, etc.; specif., the main social cabin of a passenger ship 2 any large public room used for some specific purpose {a dining saloon} Æ 3 [Old-fashioned] a place where alcoholic drinks are sold to be drunk on the premises; bar 4 [Brit.] a) SEDAN (sense 2) b) a luxurious parlor car [Fr salon < It salone < sala, a room, hall < Langobardic *sala, akin to OHG sal, a room, dwelling < IE base *sel- > OSlav selo, village]
saloonkeeper (-ki:'pэr) •n. a person who operates a SALOON (sense 3)
saloop (sэ lu:p´) •n. [Historical] a hot drink made from powdered salep or from sassafras [var. of SALEP]
Salop (sæl´эp) old name (1974-80) of SHROPSHIRE Sa·lo·pi·an (sэ lou´pi: эn) •adj., n. [short for Early ME Salopescira < OE Scropscir, contr. < Scrobbesbyrigscir, Shropshire]
salp (sælp) pl. salp or salps any of an order (Salpida, class Thaliacea) of free-swimming tunicates characterized by a barrel-shaped body ringed with muscle and open at both ends: also sp. sal·pa (sæl´pэ) •n. pl. -pas or -pae (-pi:) •n. [ModL < L, kind of stockfish < Gr salpē]
salpiglossis (sæl'pi gläs´is) •n. a Chilean annual plant (Salpiglossis sinuata) of the nightshade family, cultivated for the long-stalked, trumpet-shaped flowers [ModL < Gr salpinx, a trumpet + glōssis, tongue: see GLOSS²]
salpingectomy (sæl'pin jek´tэ mi:) pl. -mies •n. the severing or excising of a fallopian tube, as in sterilizing a woman [SALPING(O)- + -ECTOMY]
salpingitis (sæl'pin jait´is) •n. inflammation of a fallopian tube or eustachian tube [< fol. + -ITIS]
salpingo- (sæl piŋ´gou') combining form 1 fallopian tube {salpingectomy} 2 eustachian tube {salpingitis} Also, before a vowel, sal·ping´- [ModL < Gr salpingos, gen. of salpinx, a trumpet]
salpinx (sæl´piŋks') pl. sal·pin´ges' (-pin´ji:z') •n. 1 FALLOPIAN TUBE 2 EUSTACHIAN TUBE sal·pin´gi·an (-pin´ji: эn) •adj. [ModL < Gr salpinx, a trumpet]
salsa (säl´sэ) •n. 1 a kind of Latin American dance music of Afro-Cuban and Puerto Rican origin, influenced by jazz and rock, and usually played at fast tempos 2 a hot sauce made with chilies, tomatoes, etc. [AmSp < Sp, sauce < L: see SAUCE]
salsify (sæl´sэ fi:', -fai') •n. a purple-flowered plant (Tragopogon porrifolius) of the composite family, with long, white, edible, fleshy roots having an oysterlike flavor [Fr salsifis < It sassefrica < ?]
Salt river in SC Ariz., flowing into the Gila River: c. 200 mi. (322 km) [because of the saltiness of the lower stream] SALT (sölt, sält) Strategic Arms Limitation Talks salt (sölt) •n. 1 sodium chloride, NaCl, a white, crystalline substance with a characteristic taste, found in natural beds, in sea water, etc., and used for seasoning and preserving foods, etc. 2 a chemical compound derived from an acid by replacing hydrogen, wholly or partly, with a metal or an electropositive radical: the salt of an -ous acid is usually indicated by the suffix -ite, the salt of an -ic acid by the suffix -ate 3 that which lends a tang or piquancy; esp., sharp pungent humor or wit 4 SALTCELLAR 5 [pl.] any of various mineral salts used as a cathartic, as Epsom salts, or to soften bath water, as a restorative, etc. 6 [Colloq.] a sailor, esp. an experienced one •adj. 1 containing salt 2 preserved with salt 3 tasting or smelling of salt 4 [Now Rare] pungent or biting 5 a) flooded with salt water b) growing in salt water •vt. 1 to sprinkle or season with salt 2 to preserve with salt or in a salt solution 3 to provide with salt 4 to treat with salt in chemical processes 5 to season or give a tang to {to salt a speech with wit} 6 to give artificial value to; specif., a) to alter (books, prices, etc.) in order to give false value Æ b) to scatter minerals or ores in (a mine), put oil in (a well), etc. in order to deceive prospective buyers above (or below) the salt in a more honored (or less honored) position From the former practice of placing guests at the upper or lower part of a table with a bowl of salt in the middle salt away (or down) 1 to pack and preserve with salt Æ 2 [Colloq.] to store or save (money, etc.) salt of the earth any person or persons regarded as the finest, noblest, etc. [see Matt. 5:13] salt out to precipitate or separate (a substance) from its solution by the addition of a soluble salt with a grain (or pinch) of salt with allowance or reserve; skeptically [Latinized as cum grano salis] worth one's salt worth one's wages, sustenance, etc. salt´like' •adj. salt´ness •n. [ME < OE sealt, akin to Ger salz < IE base *sal-, salt > L sal, Gr hāls, salt, Sans salila, salty] salt (sölt) •n. 1 sodium chloride, NaCl, a white, crystalline substance with a characteristic taste, found in natural beds, in sea water, etc., and used for seasoning and preserving foods, etc. 2 a chemical compound derived from an acid by replacing hydrogen, wholly or partly, with a metal or an electropositive radical: the salt of an -ous acid is usually indicated by the suffix -ite, the salt of an -ic acid by the suffix -ate 3 that which lends a tang or piquancy; esp., sharp pungent humor or wit 4 SALTCELLAR 5 [pl.] any of various mineral salts used as a cathartic, as Epsom salts, or to soften bath water, as a restorative, etc. 6 [Colloq.] a sailor, esp. an experienced one •adj. 1 containing salt 2 preserved with salt 3 tasting or smelling of salt 4 [Now Rare] pungent or biting 5 a) flooded with salt water b) growing in salt water •vt. 1 to sprinkle or season with salt 2 to preserve with salt or in a salt solution 3 to provide with salt 4 to treat with salt in chemical processes 5 to season or give a tang to {to salt a speech with wit} 6 to give artificial value to; specif., a) to alter (books, prices, etc.) in order to give false value Æ b) to scatter minerals or ores in (a mine), put oil in (a well), etc. in order to deceive prospective buyers above (or below) the salt in a more honored (or less honored) position From the former practice of placing guests at the upper or lower part of a table with a bowl of salt in the middle salt away (or down) 1 to pack and preserve with salt Æ 2 [Colloq.] to store or save (money, etc.) salt of the earth any person or persons regarded as the finest, noblest, etc. [see Matt. 5:13] salt out to precipitate or separate (a substance) from its solution by the addition of a soluble salt with a grain (or pinch) of salt with allowance or reserve; skeptically [Latinized as cum grano salis] worth one's salt worth one's wages, sustenance, etc. salt´like' •adj. salt´ness •n. [ME < OE sealt, akin to Ger salz < IE base *sal-, salt > L sal, Gr hāls, salt, Sans salila, salty]
salt beef [Brit.] corned beef
salt cake impure sodium sulfate, used in making paper pulp, soaps, etc.
salt dome a domelike structure produced in stratified rocks by the intrusion of a mass of salt in a plastic state and frequently containing oil, gas, etc.
salt grass any of various grasses growing in salt marshes or alkaline soils; esp., any of a genus (Distichlis) of North American perennial grasses
Salt Lake City capital of Utah, near the SE end of Great Salt Lake: pop. 160,000 (met. area incl. Ogden 1,072,000)
salt lick 1 an exposed natural deposit of mineral rock salt which animals come to lick 2 a block of rock salt placed in a pasture for cattle, etc. to lick
salt marsh grassland over which salt water flows at intervals
salt pork pork cured in salt; esp., fatty pork from the back, side, or belly of a hog
Salta (säl´tэ) city in NW Argentina: pop. 260,000
salt-and-pepper (-ªn pep´эr) •adj. PEPPER-AND-SALT
saltant (sæl´tэnt) •adj. [Now Rare] leaping; dancing [L saltans, prp. of saltare, to leap, freq. of salire: see SALIENT]
saltarello (sæl'tэ rel´ou) •n. 1 a lively Italian dance with a hopping, skipping step 2 music for this dance [It < saltare, to leap < L: see SALTANT]
saltation (sæl tei´shэn) •n. 1 a leaping, jumping, or dancing 2 sudden change, movement, or development, as if by leaping 3 Biol. MUTATION [L saltatio, a dancing, dance < saltatus, pp. of saltare: see SALTANT]
saltatorial (sæl'tэ tör´i: эl) •adj. 1 of saltation 2 Zool. of, characterized by, or adapted for leaping
saltatory (sæl´tэ tör'i:) •adj. 1 of, characterized by, or adapted for leaping or dancing 2 proceeding by abrupt movements or changing by sudden variation [L saltatorius < pp. of saltare: see SALTANT]
saltbox (sölt´bäks') •n. 1 a box for salt, with a sloping lid Æ 2 a house, as in colonial New England, shaped somewhat like this, having two stories in front and one at the rear, and a gable roof with a much longer slope at the rear
saltbush (-bush') •n. any of various plants (genus Atriplex) of the goosefoot family, frequently growing in saline or alkaline soil, as in salt marshes or desert areas
saltcellar (-sel'эr) •n. a small dish for salt at the table; also, a saltshaker [altered (infl. by CELLAR) < ME salt saler < salt, SALT + MFr salière, saltcellar < L sal, SALT]
salter (söl´tэr) •n. 1 a person who makes or sells salt 2 a person who salts meat, fish, etc.
saltern (-tэrn) •n. SALTWORKS [OE sealtærn < sealt, salt + ærn, house: see RANSACK]
Saltillo (säl ti:´yô) city in N Mexico: capital of Coahuila state: pop. 321,000
saltily (söl´tэ li:) •adv. in a salty manner
saltimbocca (säl'ti:m bô´kä) •n. an Italian dish of thin slices of veal and ham flavored with sage, rolled, and sautéed in butter [It, lit., jump into the mouth]
saltine (söl ti:n´) •n. a flat, crisp cracker with grains of salt baked into its surface [SALT + -INE³]
saltiness (söl´ti: nis) •n. salty quality or state
salting (söl´tiŋ) •n. [Brit.] grassy land regularly covered by tides: usually used in pl.
saltire (sæl´tir) Heraldry a bearing like a Saint Andrew's cross, formed by a bend and a bend sinister crossing: also sp. sal´tier •n. [ME sawtire < MFr sautoir, stirrup loop < ML saltatorium, stirrup < L saltatorius: see SALTATORY]
saltish (söl´tish) •adj. somewhat salty
Salton Sea (sölt´ªn) shallow saltwater lake, orig. a salt-covered depression (Salton Sink), in the Imperial Valley, S Calif., kept filled by runoff water from irrigation ditches fed by the Colorado River: c. 350 sq. mi. (907 sq. km); c. 280 ft. (86 m) below sea level [prob. coined < SALT]
saltpeter (sölt´pi:t´эr) •n. POTASSIUM NITRATE: see CHILE SALTPETER: Brit. sp. salt´pe´tre [altered (infl. by SALT) < ME salpetre < MFr < ML sal petrae, salt of rock < L sal, SALT + petra, rock]
salt-rising bread (-raiz'iŋ) bread that is leavened by a fermented salted cornmeal batter
saltshaker (sölt´shei'kэr) •n. a container for salt, with a perforated top for shaking out the salt
saltwater (-wöt'эr, -wät'эr) •adj. of, having to do with, or living in salt water or the sea
saltworks (-wørks') pl. -works' •n. a place where salt is made, as by evaporation of natural brines
saltwort (-wørt') •n. any of a genus (Salsola) of plants of the goosefoot family, growing on seashores or saline soils, including the Russian thistle [? based on Du zoutkruid]
salty (söl´ti:) salt´i·er, salt´i·est •adj. 1 of, tasting of, or containing salt 2 smelling of or suggesting the sea 3 a) sharp; piquant; witty b) coarse or earthy c) cross or caustic •n. pl. -ies [Colloq.] an oceangoing ship that operates on the Great Lakes
salubrious (sэ lu:´bri: эs) •adj. promoting health or welfare; healthful, wholesome, salutary, etc. sa·lu´bri·ous·ly •adv. sa·lu´bri·ty (-brэ ti:) or sa·lu´bri·ous·ness •n. [< L salubris (< salus, health: see SAFE) + -OUS]
salud (sä lu:d´) •interj. to your health: a toast [Sp, health]
Saluki (sэ lu:´ki:) •n. any of a breed of tall, slender dog, prob. of ancient Egyptian origin, resembling the greyhound, with a silky coat feathered on the legs and tail and long, hanging ears [Ar salūqī, after Salūq, ancient S Arabian city]
salutary (sæl´yu ter'i:) •adj. 1 promoting or conducive to health; healthful 2 promoting or conducive to some good purpose; beneficial sal´u·tar'i·ly •adv. sal´u·tar'i·ness •n. [< Fr or L: Fr salutaire < L salutaris < salus (gen. salutis), health: see SAFE]
salutation (sæl'yu tei´shэn) •n. 1 the act of greeting, addressing, or welcoming by gestures or words 2 a form of words serving as a greeting or, esp., as the opening of a letter, as Dear Sir [ME salutacion < MFr < L salutatio < salutatus, pp. of salutare: see SALUTE]
salutatorian (sэ lu:t'э tör´i: эn) •n. in some schools and colleges, the student, usually second highest in scholastic rank in the graduating class, who gives the salutatory: see VALEDICTORIAN [< fol. + -AN]
salutatory (sэ lu:t´э tör'i:) •adj. of or expressing a salutation •n. pl. -ries Æ an opening or welcoming address, esp. at a school or college commencement exercise [L salutatorius]
salute (sэ lu:t´) -lut´ed, -lut´ing •vt. 1 to greet or welcome with friendly words or ceremonial gesture, such as bowing, tipping the hat, etc. 2 to honor by performing a prescribed act or gesture, such as dipping the flag, firing cannon, or raising the right hand to the forehead, as a mark of military, naval, or official respect 3 to present itself to, as if in greeting 4 to acknowledge with praise; commend •vi. to make a salute •n. [OFr salut < L salus] 1 the act of saluting; salutation 2 a) a gesture or remark made in saluting b) the act of respect paid in saluting 3 something, as an event or ceremony, expressing respect, admiration, compliment, etc. {the benefit was a salute to the museum} 4 Mil. the position of the body, or of the hand, rifle, etc., assumed in saluting sa·lut´er •n. [ME saluten < L salutare, to salute, wish health to < salus (gen. salutis), health, greeting < salvus, SAFE]
salvable (sæl´vэ bэl) •adj. that can be saved or salvaged [ML salvabilis: see SAVE¹ & -ABLE]
Salvador (sæl´vэ dör'; Port säl'vэ dôř´) seaport in E Brazil: capital of Bahia state: pop. 1,490,000
Salvadoran (sæl'vэ dör´эn) •adj. of El Salvador, its people, or culture •n. a native or inhabitant of El Salvador Also Sal'va·dor´i·an (-dör´i: эn)
salvage (sæl´vij) •n. 1 a) the rescue of a ship and cargo at sea from peril such as fire, shipwreck, capture, etc. b) compensation paid to those who assist in the rescue operations c) the ship or cargo so rescued d) the restoration of a sunken or wrecked ship or its cargo as by divers 2 a) the saving or rescue of any goods, property, etc. from destruction, damage, or waste b) any material, goods, etc. thus saved and sold or put to use c) the value, or proceeds from the sale, of such goods, specif. of damaged goods, as involved in insurance claim settlements •vt. -vaged, -vag·ing to save or rescue from shipwreck, fire, flood, etc.; engage or succeed in the salvage of (ships, goods, etc.) sal'vage·a·bil´i·ty •n. sal´vage·a·ble •adj. sal´vag·er •n. [Fr < MFr < salver, to SAVE¹]
salvation (sæl vei´shэn) •n. 1 a saving or being saved from danger, evil, difficulty, destruction, etc.; rescue 2 a person or thing that is a means, cause, or source of preservation or rescue 3 Theol. deliverance from sin and from the penalties of sin; redemption sal·va´tion·al •adj. [ME salvacioun < OFr salvation < LL(Ec) salvatio < L salvatus, pp. of salvare, to SAVE¹]
Salvation Army an international organization on semi-military lines, founded in England by William Booth in 1865 for religious and philanthropic purposes among the very poor: name adopted in 1878 Sal·va´tion·ist •n.
salve¹ (sæv, säv) •n. 1 any medicinal ointment applied to wounds, skin irritations, burns, etc. for purposes of soothing or healing 2 anything that soothes or heals; balm {a salve for one's conscience} •vt. salved, salv´ing [ME salven < OE sealfian < the n.] 1 [Archaic] to apply salve to (wounds, etc.) 2 to soothe; smooth over; assuage [ME < OE sealf, akin to Ger salbe < IE base *selp-, fat, butter > Sans sarpis-, melted butter]
salve² (sælv) salved, salv´ing •vt. SALVAGE [back-form. < SALVAGE]
salver (sæl´vэr) •n. a tray on which refreshments, letters, visiting cards, etc. are presented [altered < Fr salve < Sp salva, the testing of food by a taster, hence tray on which food was placed, salver < salvar, to taste, save < L salvare: see SAVE¹]
salverform (-förm') Bot. having a slender, tubular corolla with the lobes spreading at right angles to the tube, as in phlox: also sal´ver-shaped' •adj. [prec. + -FORM]
salvia (sæl´vi: э) •n. SAGE² (sense 1) [ModL < L: see SAGE²]
salvific (sæl vif´ik) •adj. bringing salvation sal·vif´i·cal·ly •adv. [LL(Ec) salvificus < salvificare, to save < salvus, saved from sin (< L, SAFE) + L -ficare, -FY]
salvo¹ (sæl´vou') pl. -vos or -voes •n. 1 a discharge of a number of pieces of artillery or small arms, in regular succession or at the same time, either as a salute or, esp. in naval battles, as a broadside 2 the release of a load of bombs or the launching of several rockets at the same time 3 a burst of cheers or applause [It salva < L salve, hail, imper. of salvere, to be safe < salvus, SAFE]
salvo² (sæl´vou') pl. -vos •n. 1 a dishonest mental reservation; excuse or quibbling evasion 2 an expedient for saving one's pride or honor 3 Law a saving clause; reservation [< ML legal phr. salvo jure, right being reserved (< L salvus: see SAFE)]
salvor (sæl´vэr) •n. any of the persons or ships participating in the salvage of a ship or its cargo
Salween (sæl wi:n´) river in SE Asia, flowing from E Tibet through E Myanmar into the Gulf of Martaban: c. 1,750 mi. (2,816 km)
Salzburg (zälts´buřk'; E sölz´børg') city in central Austria: scene of annual music festivals: pop. 140,000
SAM (sæm) •n. surface-to-air missile Sam abbrev. Bible Samuel
Sam Browne belt (sæm´ braun´) a military officer's belt with a diagonal strap across the right shoulder, designed to carry the weight of a pistol or sword [after Brit Gen. Sir Samuel J. Browne (1824-1901)]
Sam Hill [Slang] euphemism for HELL
Samantha (sэ mæn´θэ) a feminine name
Samar (sä´mär') island of the EC Philippines, southeast of Luzon: 5,181 sq. mi. (13,415 sq. km)
samara (sæm´эr э, sэ mer´э) •n. a dry, one-seeded, winged fruit, as of the maple [ModL < L, seed of the elm < Gaul < *samos, SUMMER¹] Samara (sû mä´rэ) city in SE European Russia, on the Volga: pop. 1,257,000: see KUIBYSHEV
Samaria (sэ mer´i: э, -mær´-) 1 region in W Jordan, west of the Jordan River 2 in ancient times, N kingdom of the Hebrews; Israel 3 the capital of this kingdom 4 district of Palestine between Galilee & Judea, later a part of the Roman province of Judea
Samaritan (-эt ªn) •n. 1 a native or inhabitant of Samaria 2 a person who comes to the aid of another: see GOOD SAMARITAN •adj. of Samaria or its people [ME < OE < LL(Ec) Samaritanus < Gr Samareitēs < Samareia, Samaria < Aram shamerayin < Heb shomron]
samarium (sэ mer´i: эm, -mær´-) •n. a chemical element of the rare-earth metals: symbol, Sm; at. wt., 150.4; at. no., 62; sp. gr., 7.52; melt. pt., 1,077°C; boil. pt., 1,791°C [ModL: so named (1879) by Boisbaudran (see GALLIUM) < Fr samarskite (see SAMARSKITE), in which it occurs + -IUM]
Samarkand (sæm'эr kænd´; Russ sä mäř känt´) city in E Uzbekistan: capital (as MARACANDA) of Tamerlane's empire (1370-1405): pop. 371,000
samarskite (sэ mär´skait, sæm´эr skait') •n. a lustrous, velvet-black mineral containing oxides of iron, thorium, uranium, etc., and some of the rare-earth metals, as samarium, cerium, etc. [Fr: so named (1847) after Col. Samarski, Russ mining official]
samba (sæm´bэ, säm´-) •n. 1 a Brazilian dance of African origin, in duple time, with a syncopated rhythm 2 music for this dance •vi. to dance the samba [Port, prob. of Afr orig.]
sambar (sæm´bэr, säm´-) pl. -bars or -bar a large Asiatic deer (Cervus unicolor) with coarse hair, a short, erectile mane, and three-pointed antlers: also sp. sam´bur •n. [Hindi sãbar < Sans śambara]
sambuca (sæm bu:´kэ) •n. an Italian liqueur having the flavor of licorice
same (seim) •adj. 1 being the very one; identical 2 alike in kind, quality, amount, or degree; corresponding: often prefixed to nouns or past participles to form adjectives 3 unchanged; not different {to look the same as ever} 4 before-mentioned; just spoken of Usually used with the pron. the same person or thing: usually with the, this, or that •adv. in the same way; in like manner: usually with the SYN.—same, in one sense, agrees with selfsame and very in implying that what is referred to is one thing and not two or more distinct things [that is the same, or selfsame or very, house we once lived in] and, in another, implies reference to things that are really distinct but without any significant difference in kind, appearance, amount, etc. [I eat the same food every day]; identical, in one sense, also expresses the first idea [this is the identical bed where he slept] and, in another, implies exact correspondence in all details, as of quality, appearance, etc. [the signatures are identical]; equal implies the absence of any difference in quantity, size, value, degree, etc. [equal weights, an equal advantage]; equivalent implies of things that they amount to the same thing in value, force, meaning, etc. [$5 or its equivalent in merchandise ] —ANT. different [ME < ON samr, akin to Goth sama, OHG samo, OE same < IE *som-, var. of base *sem-, one, together, with > Sans sa##, Gr homōs, alike, L simul, at the same time, similis, like]
samech or samekh (sä´mek', -mekh') name of the fifteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet (ס) •n. [Heb samekh, lit., support]
sameness (seim´nis) •n. 1 the state or quality of being the same; identity or uniformity 2 lack of change or variety; monotony
samisen (sæm´э sen') •n. a Japanese musical instrument somewhat like a guitar, but with a long neck and three strings plucked with a spatula [Jpn samisen, shamisen < SinoJpn san, sam, three + sen, line, string]
samite (sæm´ait, sei´mait) •n. a heavy silk fabric worn in the Middle Ages: it was sometimes interwoven with gold or silver [ME samyte < MFr samit < ML samitum < MGr hexamiton < hexamitos, woven with six threads < Gr hex, SIX + mitos, a thread]
samizdat (säm'iz dät´) •n. 1 a system by which manuscripts denied official publication in the Soviet Union were circulated clandestinely in typescript or in mimeograph form, or were smuggled out for publication abroad 2 manuscripts distributed in this way [Russ, lit., self-published < samo-, self (for IE base see SAME) + izdat', to publish < iz-, from, out of + dat', to give (see DACHA)]
Saml Bible Samuel
samlet (sæm´lit) •n. a young salmon [< SALMON + -LET]
Samnite (sæm´nait') •n. a member of a pre-Roman people, descended from the Sabines, who lived in Samnium
Samnium (sæm´ni: эm) ancient country in SC Italy [L < Sabine *Safiniom: see SABINE]
Samoa (sэ mou´э) group of islands in the South Pacific, north of Tonga: see AMERICAN SAMOA & WESTERN SAMOA
Samoa Standard Time a standard time used in the zone which includes American Samoa, corresponding to the mean solar time of the 165th meridian west of Greenwich, England: it is eleven hours behind Greenwich time
Samoan (-эn) •n. 1 a native or inhabitant of Samoa 2 the Polynesian language of the Samoans •adj. designating or of Samoa or its people, language, or culture [< SAMOA (ult. < Proto-Polynesian *ha'amoa, ancient place name) + -AN]
Samos (sei´mäs'; Gr sä´môs) Greek island in the Aegean, off W Turkey: c. 180 sq. mi. (479 sq. km) Sa´mi·an (-mi: эn) •adj., n.
samosa (sэ mou´sэ) •n. a small pastry turnover, orig. of India, filled with a spicy meat or vegetable mixture, esp. one of potatoes and peas
Samothrace (sæm´э θreis') Greek island in the NE Aegean: c. 70 sq. mi. (181 sq. km): Gr. name Sa·mo·thrá·ki (sä'mô θřä´ki:) Sam'o·thra´cian (-θrei´shэn) •adj., n.
samovar (sæm´э vär', säm'э vär´) •n. a metal urn with a spigot and an internal tube for heating water in making tea: used esp. in Russia [Russ, lit., self-boiler < samo-, self (see SAMIZDAT) + varit', to boil, akin to Lith vìrti, to boil < IE *(a)wer- < base *awe-, to moisten, flow > WATER]
Samoyed (sæm´э yed', sэ moi´id) •n. 1 a member of a people living in N Siberia and the Taimyr Peninsula 2 any of a group of Uralic languages spoken by the Samoyeds 3 any of a breed of strong working dog with a thick, white coat, erect ears, and a tail rolled over the back: developed in Siberia as a sled dog •adj. of the Samoyeds or their languages: also Sam'o·yed´ic Also sp. (for 1, 2 & adj.) Sam´o·yede' [Russ samoed, lit., self-eater, cannibal, altered < Lapp name samo- (see SAMOVAR) + base of jĕdá, food: for IE base see EAT]
samp (sæmp) •n. 1 coarse meal of Indian corn 2 a porridge made from this [< Narragansett nasàump, cornmeal mush]
sampan (sæm´pæn') •n. any of various small boats used in China and Japan, usually rowed with a scull from the stern, and often having a sail and a small cabin formed by mats [Cantonese sam-pan < sam, three + pan, plank]
samphire (sæm´fair') •n. 1 a fleshy, Old World seashore plant (Crithmum maritimum) of the umbel family, with cut leaves and small clusters of yellowish flowers 2 GLASSWORT [earlier sampire, sainpere, altered < Fr (herbe de) Saint Pierre, St. Peter's (herb)]
sample (sæm´pэl, säm´-) •n. 1 a part, piece, or item taken or shown as representative of a whole thing, group, species, etc.; specimen; pattern {samples of wallpaper} 2 an illustration; example {a sample of his humor} Æ 3 Statistics a selected segment of a population studied to gain knowledge of the whole •vt. -pled, -pling to take a sample or samples of, as for testing quality [ME, aphetic for asample < Anglo-Fr, for OFr essample: see EXAMPLE]
sampler (-plэr) •n. 1 a person who prepares or selects samples for inspection 2 a collection or assortment of representative selections 3 a cloth embroidered with designs, mottoes, etc. in different stitches, to show a beginner's skill [senses 1 & 2 < prec. + -ER; sense 3 < ME samplere, aphetic < OFr essamplaire < LL exemplarium < L exemplum: see EXAMPLE]
sampling (-pliŋ) •n. 1 the act or process of taking a small part or quantity of something as a sample for testing or analysis 2 the sample so taken
samsara (sэm sä´rэ) •n. Hinduism the continuing cycle in which the same soul is repeatedly reborn [Sans samsāra, lit., running together < sam-, together (< IE *som-, var. of base *sem- > SAME) + sara-, fluid (< IE base *ser-, to flow > SERUM)]
Samson (sæm´sэn) 1 a masculine name: var. Sampson 2 Bible an Israelite judge noted for his great strength: betrayed to the Philistines by Delilah: Judges 13-16 [LL(Ec) < Gr(Ec) Sampsōn < Heb shimshon < ? shemesh, sun: interpretation of name uncert.]
Samuel (sæm´yu: эl, -yul) 1 a masculine name: dim. Sam, Sammy 2 Bible a) a Hebrew judge and prophet b) either of the two books (1 Samuel, 2 Samuel) telling of Samuel, Saul, and David (abbrev. Sam, Sm, or Sa) [LL(Ec) < Gr(Ec) Samouēl < Heb shemuel, lit., name of God]
Samuelson (sæm´yu: эl sэn, -yul-), Paul (Anthony) 1915- ; U.S. economist & educator
samurai (sæm´э rai') pl. -rai' •n. 1 in feudal Japan, a member of a military class, consisting of the retainers of the daimyos: a samurai wore two swords and lived by the code of Bushido 2 later, used in English to designate a Japanese army officer or member of the military caste [Jpn, var. of saburai, nominal form of sabura(h)u, to be in attendance, to serve]
-san (sän) suffix a Japanese honorific title equivalent to Mr., Mrs., etc., added to names as a mark of respect {Mishima-san} [Jpn, var. of sama, a directional suffix used as an honorific]
San Andreas fault (sæn æn drei´эs) active fault in the earth's crust extending northwest from S California for about 600 miles (966 km) [after San Andreas valley, through which the fault runs: orig. Sp, San Andrés, St. Andrew]
San Angelo (sæn æn´jэ lou') city in central Tex.: pop. 84,000 [masc. of earlier name Santa Angela, after a Mex nun]
San Antonio (sæn' эn tou´ni: ou', æn-) city in SC Tex.: site of the Alamo: pop. 936,000 (met. area 1,302,000) [Sp, Saint ANTHONY (of Padua)]
San Bernardino (bør'nэr di:´nou, -nэ-) 1 city in S Calif.: pop. 164,000 (met. area incl. Riverside 2,589,000) 2 mountain range in S Calif., south of the Mojave Desert: highest peak, 11,502 ft. (3,506 m): in full San Bernardino Mountains [Sp, after St. Bernardino of Siena]
San Diego (sæn' di: ei´gou) seaport in S Calif.: pop. 1,111,000 (met. area 2,498,000) [after San Diego (St. Didacus), 15th-c. Sp friar]
San Fernando Valley (sæn' fэr næn´dou) valley in SW Calif., partly in NW Los Angeles: c. 260 sq. mi. (673 sq. km) [after a mission named for Ferdinand III, 13th-c. king of Castile]
San Francisco (sæn' frэn sis´kou) seaport on the coast of central Calif., separated from Oakland by an inlet (San Francisco Bay) of the Pacific: pop. 724,000 (met. area incl. Oakland 3,687,000; urban area with Oakland & San Jose, 6,253,000) San' Fran·cis´can (-kэn) [Sp, name of old mission there, after Saint FRANCIS OF ASSISI]
San Francisco Peaks three peaks of an eroded volcano in NC Ariz.: highest peak, c. 12,700 ft. (3,870 m) [Sp, after Saint FRANCIS OF ASSISI]
San Jacinto (sæn' jэ sin´tou) river in SE Tex., flowing into Galveston Bay: in a battle (1836) near its mouth, troops under Sam Houston won Tex. from Mexico: 100 mi. (161 km) [Sp, St. Hyacinth (13th c.)]
San Joaquin (sæn' wö ki:n´, wä-) river in central Calif., flowing from the Sierra Nevada into the Sacramento River: c. 350 mi. (563 km) [Sp, St. Joachim, reputed father of the Virgin Mary]
San Jose (sæn' hou zei´, э zei´) city in WC Calif.: pop. 782,000 (met. area 1,498,000): see SAN FRANCISCO [Sp, San José, St. JOSEPH]
San José (sän' hô se´) capital of Costa Rica, in the central part: pop. 241,000
San Jose scale (sæn´ hou zei') a scale insect (Quadraspidiotus perniciosus) that is very destructive to fruit trees and ornamental shrubs [after San Jose, Calif., where first observed in the U.S.]
San Juan (sæn' hwän´, wön´; Sp sän hwän´) capital of Puerto Rico: seaport on the Atlantic: pop. 438,000 (met. area 1,689,000) [Sp, St. JOHN]
San Juan Hill hill near Santiago de Cuba: captured by U.S. troops in a battle (1898) of the Spanish-American War
San Juan Islands group of islands in NW Wash., between the Strait of Georgia & Puget Sound
San Juan Mountains range of the Rocky Mountains in SW Colo. & N N.Mex.: highest peaks, over 14,000 ft. (4,270 m)
San Leandro (sæn' li: æn´drou') city in W Calif., near Oakland: pop. 68,000 [Sp, St. Leander, 6th-c. archbishop of Seville]
San Luis Potosí (sän' lwi:s´ pô'tô si:´) 1 state of NC Mexico: 24,417 sq. mi. (63,240 sq. km); pop. 1,674,000 2 its capital, in the SW part: pop. 407,000
San Marino (sän' mä ři:´nô; E sæn' mэ ri:´nou) 1 independent country within E Italy: 23 sq. mi. (60 sq. km); pop. 21,000 2 its capital
San Martín (sän' mäř ti:n´), Jo·sé de (hô se´ de) 1778-1850; South American revolutionary leader, born in Argentina
San Mateo (sæn' mэ tei´ou) city in W Calif., on San Francisco Bay: suburb of San Francisco: pop. 85,000 [Sp, St. MATTHEW]
San Rafael (sæn' rэ fel´) city in W Calif., on San Francisco Bay: pop. 48,000 [Sp, short for La Mision de San Rafael Arcangel, mission of the Holy Archangel RAPHAEL]
San Remo (sän ře´mô; E sæn ri:´mou) resort town in Liguria, NW Italy, on the Riviera: pop. 70,000
San Salvador (sæn sæl´vэ dör'; Sp sän säl'vä dôř´) 1 capital of El Salvador, in the central part: pop. 440,000 2 island of the E Bahamas: prob. the place of Columbus' landing (1492) in the New World: 60 sq. mi. (155 sq. km) [Sp, Holy Savior]
San Sebastián (sän' se bäs tyän´; E sæn' si bæs´chэn) seaport in the Basque Provinces, N Spain: pop. 176,000
San Stefano (sän ste´fä nô') village in European Turkey, site of the signing of a peace treaty (1878) between Russia & Turkey, at the end of the Russo-Turkish War
Sana (sä´nä, sä nä´) capital of the Republic of Yemen, in the W part: pop. 278,000: also sp. Sa´na or Sa´naa
sanative (sæn´э tiv) •adj. having the power to heal or cure; curative [ME sanatyf < OFr sanatif < LL sanativus < L sanatus, pp. of sanare, to heal < sanus: see SANE]
sanatorium (sæn'э tör´i: эm) pl. -ri·ums or -ri·a (-э) •n. chiefly Brit. var. of SANITARIUM
sanbenito (sæn'bэ ni:t´ou) pl. -tos •n. 1 a yellow garment resembling a scapular in shape and having a red Saint Andrew's cross in front and in back, worn by a confessed, penitent heretic in the Spanish Inquisition 2 a similarly shaped black garment painted with flames, devils, etc., worn by a condemned heretic at an auto-da-fé [Sp sambenito, after San Benito, Saint Benedict: from resembling a Benedictine scapular]
Sancerre (sän ser´) •n. a dry, often fruity white wine from the upper Loire valley in central France
Sancho Panza (sæn´chou pæn´zэ; Sp sän´chô pän´θä) the simple, credulous squire to Cervantes' Don Quixote: his practical, peasant common sense contrasts with the visionary idealism of his master
sanctified (sæŋk´tэ faid') •adj. 1 a) dedicated; consecrated b) made holy 2 affecting sanctity; sanctimonious
sanctify (sæŋk´tэ fai') -fied', -fy'ing •vt. 1 to make holy; specif., a) to set apart as holy; consecrate b) to make free from sin; purify 2 to make binding or inviolable by a religious sanction 3 to make productive of spiritual blessing sanc'ti·fi·ca´tion •n. sanc´ti·fi'er •n. [ME sanctifien, altered (infl. by L) < OFr saintifier < LL(Ec) sanctificare: see SAINT & -FY]
sanctimonious (sæŋk'tэ mou´ni: эs) •adj. pretending to be very holy or pious; affecting righteousness SYN. DEVOUT sanc'ti·mo´ni·ous·ly •adv. sanc'ti·mo´ni·ous·ness •n. [< fol. + -OUS]
sanctimony (sæŋk´tэ mou'ni:) •n. 1 affected piety or righteousness; religious hypocrisy 2 obs. var. of SANCTITY [OFr sanctimonie < L sanctimonia < sanctus, holy: see SAINT]
sanction (sæŋk´shэn) •n. 1 the act of a recognized authority confirming or ratifying an action; authorized approval or permission 2 support; encouragement; approval 3 something that gives binding force to a law, or secures obedience to it, as the penalty for breaking it, or a reward for carrying it out 4 something, as a moral principle or influence, that makes a rule of conduct, a law, etc. binding 5 a) a coercive measure, as a blockade of shipping, usually taken by several nations together, for forcing a nation considered to have violated international law to end the violation b) a coercive measure, as a boycott, taken by a group to enforce demands: often used in pl. 6 [Obs.] a formal decree; law •vt. to give sanction to; specif., a) to ratify or confirm b) to authorize or permit; countenance SYN. APPROVE sanc´tion·a·ble •adj. [< Fr or L: Fr < L sanctio < sanctus: see SAINT]
sanctity (sæŋk´tэ ti:) pl. -ties •n. 1 saintliness or holiness 2 the fact of being sacred or inviolable 3 anything held sacred [L sanctitas < sanctus (see SAINT) + -itas, -ITY]
sanctuary (sæŋk´chu: er'i:) pl. -ar'ies •n. 1 a holy place, as a building set aside for worship of the divinity or of one or more deities; specif., a) the ancient Temple at Jerusalem b) a Christian church c) any church or temple d) a particularly holy place within a church or temple, as the part around the altar, the holy of holies in the Jewish Temple, etc. 2 a) a place of refuge or protection; asylum: orig., fugitives from justice were immune from arrest in churches or other sacred places b) immunity from punishment or the law, as by taking refuge in a church, etc. 3 a reservation where animals or birds are sheltered for breeding purposes and may not be hunted or trapped SYN. SHELTER [ME < MFr saintuaire < LL sanctuarium < L sanctus, sacred: see SAINT]
sanctum (sæŋk´tэm) pl. -tums or -ta (-tэ) •n. 1 a sacred place 2 a study or private room where one is not to be disturbed [L, neut. of sanctus, holy: see SAINT]
sanctum sanctorum (sæŋk tör´эm) 1 HOLY OF HOLIES 2 a place of utmost privacy and inviolability [LL(Ec), holy of holies (see SANCTUM), used in Vulg. to transl. Gr(Ec) to hagion tōn hagiōn (in LXX), transl. of Heb kodesh hakadashim]
Sanctus (säŋk´tus, sæŋk´tэs) •n. 1 an acclamation beginning Holy, holy, holy Lord that immediately follows the Preface as of the Mass 2 a musical setting for this [ME < LL(Ec), holy: see SAINT]
Sanctus bell a small bell or set of bells rung at certain parts of the Mass (as at the Sanctus or after the consecration)
Sand (sænd; Fr säñd, säñ), George (pseud. of Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin, Baronne Dudevant) 1804-76; Fr. novelist sand (sænd) •n. 1 loose, gritty particles of worn or disintegrated rock, varying in size from about ¹/16 mm to 2 mm in diameter, usually deposited along the shores of bodies of water, in river beds, or in deserts 2 [usually pl.] a tract or area of sand; beach, etc. 3 [usually pl.] particles (of time); moments [with ref. to the sand in an hourglass] Æ 4 [Slang] grit; courage; determination 5 the reddish-yellow color characteristic of sand •vt. 1 to sprinkle with or as with sand 2 to smooth or polish with sand, sandpaper, or other abrasive substance 3 to fill or cover with sand 4 to mix or adulterate with sand •adj. yellowish-red [ME < OE, akin to Ger sand, ON sandr < IE base *bhes-, to rub off, pulverize > Gr psammos, L sabulum]
sand crack QUARTER CRACK
sand dab 1 any of various small, edible flatfishes Æ 2 any of several flounders (genus Citharichthys) found along North American coasts Also sand´dab'
sand dollar any of an order (Clypeasteroida) of flat, round, disklike echinoid echinoderms that live on sandy ocean beds
sand eel SAND LANCE
sand flea 1 CHIGOE 2 SAND HOPPER
sand fly 1 BITING MIDGE 2 any of various other biting dipterous flies (family Psychodidae) that may transmit various diseases, as leishmaniasis
sand hopper any of various small crustaceans (order Amphipoda), found on sea beaches, that jump like fleas
sand lance any of a family (Ammodytidae) of small, eel-like, marine percoid fishes often found burrowing in coastal sands
sand lily a perennial spring plant (Leucocrinum montanum) of the lily family, native to the W U.S. and having grasslike leaves and umbels of white star-shaped flowers
sand myrtle a small, evergreen, white-flowered plant (Leiophyllum buxifolium) of the heath family, native to the sand barrens of the SE U.S.
sand painting 1 in Navajo Indian healing ceremonies, the sprinkling of colored sands into designs made up of conventionalized symbolic figures 2 a design of this kind
sand trap a pit or trench filled with sand, serving as a hazard on a golf course
sand verbena any of a number of chiefly trailing plants (genus Abronia) of the four-o'clock family, with pink, white, or yellow flowers, found in sandy areas of the W U.S.
sand wedge Golf a type of wedge with a wide, heavy sole used for making shots from sand traps
sandal¹ (sæn´dэl) •n. 1 a kind of footwear consisting of a sole fastened in various ways to the foot by straps over the instep or toes, or around the ankle 2 any of various low slippers or shoes san´daled or san´dalled •adj. [ME sandalie < L sandalium < Gr sandalion, dim. of sandalon]
sandal² (sæn´dэl) •n. SANDALWOOD
Sandalwood old name of SUMBA sandalwood (-wud') •n. 1 a) the hard, light-colored, closegrained, sweet-smelling heartwood of any of several allied trees of Asia, used for carving and cabinetmaking or burned as incense; esp., the wood of a S Asian evergreen tree (Santalum album) of the sandalwood family b) any tree yielding such wood 2 a) any of a number of similar or related trees b) the wood of any of these •adj. designating a family (Santalaceae, order Santalales) of dicotyledonous plants, shrubs, and trees including the quandong [sandal, sandalwood < ME sandell < MFr sandal < ML sandalum < LGr santalon < Ar sandal, ult. < Sans candana < IE base *kand-, to gleam, bright > L candere, to shine]
sandarac (sæn´dэ ræk') •n. 1 a brittle, slightly aromatic, somewhat transparent, yellowish resin exuded from the bark of several African and Australian trees (genera Tetraclinus and Callitris) of the pine family, used esp. in varnishes and as incense 2 a) a N African tree (Tetraclinus articulata) yielding this resin and a mahogany-colored, durable wood used esp. in building (also sandarac tree) b) this wood [L sandaraca < Gr sandarakē: prob. akin to Sans candra-raga, having the glow of the moon: for IE base see SANDALWOOD]
sandbag (sænd´bæg') •n. 1 a bag filled with sand and used for ballast, in military fortifications, for levee protection against floods, etc. Æ 2 a small, narrow bag filled with sand and used as a bludgeon •vt. -bagged', -bag'ging 1 to place sandbags in or around Æ 2 to strike or stun with a sandbag Æ 3 [Colloq.] to force into doing something Æ 4 [Slang] to deceive (an opponent), as by deliberately playing poorly sand´bag'ger •n.
sandbank (-bæŋk') •n. 1 SANDBAR 2 a large mass of sand, as on a hillside [SAND + BANK²]
sandbar (sænd´bär´) •n. a ridge or narrow shoal of sand formed in a river or along a shore by the action of currents or tides: also sand bar
sandblast (-blæst', -bläst') •n. 1 a current of air or steam carrying sand at a high velocity, used in etching glass and in cleaning or grinding hard surfaces, as of metals, stone, etc. 2 the machine used to apply this blast •vt. to engrave, clean, etc. with a sandblast sand´blast'er •n.
sand-blind (-blaind') •adj. [Archaic] partially blind [ME, altered < OE *samblind < sam, half (akin to L semi-) + blind, BLIND]
sandbox (-bäks') •n. Æ a box or pit containing sand for children to play in
sandbox tree a tropical American tree (Hura crepitans) of the spurge family, with small, woody fruit that bursts with a loud noise when ripe and scatters its seeds
sandbur or sandburr (-bør') •n. any of a genus (Cenchrus) of grasses, having their grains enclosed in spiny burs
Sandburg (sænd´børg'), Carl 1878-1967; U.S. poet, writer, & ballad collector
sand-cast (-kæst', -käst') •vt. to make (a casting) by pouring metal in a mold of sand
sander (sæn´dэr) •n. 1 a person who sands or sandpapers 2 a tool or machine for sanding or sandpapering
sanderling (sæn´dэr liŋ) •n. a small, gray-and-white sandpiper (Calidris alba), often found on sandy beaches [< SAND + ? OE yrthling, farmer, kind of bird, lit., earthling]
sandglass (sænd´glæs', -gläs') •n. an hourglass used for measuring time by the flow of sand
sandgrouse (-graus') •n. any of a family (Pteroclididae) of birds in the same order (Columbiformes) as pigeons, found in sandy regions of S Europe, Asia, and Africa
sandhi (sæn´di:, sän´-, sûn'-) Linguis. modification of the sound of a morpheme in a given linguistic context (Ex.: the pronunciation of the in the man and in the old man or of am as ('m) in I am glad) •n. [< Sans sa##dhi, a linking, lit., placing together < IE *som- < base *sem-, together, SAME + *dhe-, to place > DO¹]
sandhill crane (sænd´hil') a large North American crane (Grus canadensis) with grayish-brown plumage
sandhog (sænd´hög', -häg') •n. a laborer employed in underground or underwater construction projects, working under compressed air, as in a caisson or tunnel
Sandhurst (sænd´hørst') village in Berkshire, England: nearby is the Royal Military Academy
sandiness (sæn´di: nis) •n. a sandy state or quality
Sandinista (sæn'dэ ni:s´tэ; Sp sån'di: ni:s´tå) •n. a member of the party that overthrew the government and took power in Nicaragua in 1979
sandlot (sænd´lät') •adj. of or having to do with games, esp. baseball, played by amateurs, orig. on a sandy lot or field, now usually in organized leagues sand´lot'ter •n.
sandman (sænd´mæn') •n. a mythical person, as in fairy tales, supposed to make children sleepy by dusting sand in their eyes [prob. < Ger sandmann]
sandpaper (-pei'pэr) •n. strong paper with sand or other abrasive glued on one side, used for smoothing and polishing •vt. to smooth or polish with sandpaper
sandpiper (-pai'pэr) pl. -pip'ers •n.or -pip'er any of a number of small shorebirds (family Scolopacidae) similar to the snipes but distinguished by a shorter, soft-tipped bill, including the common sandpiper (Tringa hypoleucos) of Europe and the spotted sandpiper (Actitis macularia) and least sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) of North America
Sandra (sæn´drэ, sän´-) a feminine name: see ALEXANDRA
sandstone (sænd´stoun') •n. a common bedded sedimentary rock much used for building, composed largely of sand grains, mainly quartz, held together by silica, lime, etc.
sandstorm (-störm') •n. a windstorm in which large quantities of sand are blown about in the air in close proximity to the ground
sandwich (sæn´dwich', sæn´wich') •n. 1 two or more slices of bread with a filling of meat, fish, cheese, jam, etc. between them: now sometimes used of a single slice of bread covered with meat, gravy, etc. 2 anything like a sandwich in arrangement •vt. to place or squeeze between two other persons, places, things, materials, etc. [after John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich (1718-92), said to have eaten these in order not to leave the gaming table for meals] Sandwich (sænd´wich) town in Kent, SE England, near the Strait of Dover: one of the Cinque Ports: pop. 4,000 [OE Sandwic < sand, SAND + wic, WICK²]
Sandwich Islands old name of the Hawaiian Islands: see HAWAII [after the 4th Earl of Sandwich: see SANDWICH]
sandwich man 1 a man who walks the streets displaying two signboards (sandwich boards) hung from his shoulders, one in front and one behind 2 a man who makes or sells sandwiches
sandwort (sænd´wørt') •n. any of a genus (Arenaria) of low, tufted, mat-forming plants of the pink family, growing in sandy soil
sandy (sæn´di:) sand´i·er, sand´i·est •adj. 1 composed of, full of, or covered with sand 2 like sand; gritty, shifting, etc. 3 of the color of sand; pale reddish-yellow {sandy hair}
Sandy City city in NW Utah: pop. 75,000 [< ? the sandy soil there or after the nickname of A. Kinghorn, railroad engineer (19th-c.)]
Sandy Hook narrow, sandy peninsula in E N.J., at the S entrance to Lower New York Bay
sane (sein) •adj. 1 having a normal, healthy mind; able to make sound, rational judgments 2 showing good sense; sensible {a sane policy} 3 [Rare] not diseased; healthy sane´ly •adv. sane´ness •n. [L sanus, healthy]
Sanford (sæn´fэrd), Mount mountain in SE Alas.: 16,208 ft. (4,940 m) [after the namer's family]
Sanforize (sæn´fэr aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt. to preshrink (cloth) permanently by a patented process before making garments [back-form. from Sanforized, a trademark applied to fabrics so treated: after Sanford L. Cluett (1874-1968)]
sang (sæŋ) •vi., vt. alt. pt. of SING
sangaree (sæŋ'gэ ri:´) •n. a cold drink of sweetened, spiced wine or other alcoholic liquor, served over ice [earlier sangre < Sp sangría, SANGRIA]
Sanger (sæŋ´эr) 1 Frederick 1918- ; Brit. biochemist 2 Margaret (born Margaret Higgins) 1883-1966; U.S. nurse: leader in birth-control education
sang-froid (säñ frwä´) •n. cool self-possession or composure SYN. EQUANIMITY [Fr, lit., cold blood < L sanguis & frigidus: see FRIGID]
Sangre de Cristo Mountains (sæŋ´gri: dэ kris´tou) range of the Rocky Mountains, in S Colo. & N N.Mex.: highest point, BLANCA PEAK [Sp, lit., blood of Christ]
Sangreal (sæŋ'greil´) the Holy Grail: see GRAIL [ME sangrayle < MFr Saint Graal: see SAINT & GRAIL]
sangria (sän gři:´ä) •n. an iced punch made with red wine, fruit juice, and usually pieces of fruit and soda water [Sp, lit., bleeding (so named from its color) < sangre, blood < L sanguis]
sangui- (saŋ´gwi) combining form blood [< L sanguis, blood]
sanguinaria (sæŋ'gwi ner´i: э) •n. 1 BLOODROOT 2 the dried rootstock of bloodroot, containing several alkaloids used in medicine [ModL < L < (herba) sanguinaria, (herb) that stanches blood < sanguis, blood]
sanguinary (sæŋ´gwi ner'i:) •adj. 1 accompanied by much bloodshed or carnage 2 flowing with blood; bloodstained 3 eager for bloodshed; bloodthirsty san´gui·nar'i·ly •adv. [L sanguinarius < sanguis, blood]
sanguine (sæŋ´gwin) •adj. 1 of the color of blood; ruddy: said esp. of complexions 2 in medieval physiology, having the warm, passionate, cheerful temperament and the healthy, ruddy complexion of one in whom the blood is the predominant humor of the four 3 cheerful and confident; optimistic; hopeful 4 now rare var. of SANGUINARY (sense 3) san´guine·ly •adv. san´guine·ness •n. [ME sanguin < MFr < L sanguineus < sanguis (gen. sanguinis), blood]
sanguineous (sæŋ gwin´i: эs) •adj. 1 of or containing blood 2 having the color of blood; red 3 of bloodshed; sanguinary 4 sanguine; confident; hopeful [L sanguineus: see SANGUINE & -OUS]
sanguinolent (-э lэnt) •adj. of, containing, or tinged with blood [MFr < L sanguinolentus < sanguis, blood]
Sanhedrin (sæn hi:´drin, -he´-; sæn´э drin') •n. the highest court and council of the ancient Jewish nation, having religious and civil functions: it was abolished with the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70: also [Chiefly Brit.] San´he·drim' (-drim') [TalmudHeb sanhedrin (gedola), (great) council < Gr synedrion, assembly < syn-, together + hedra, seat: see SIT]
sanicle (sæn´i kэl) •n. any of a genus (Sanicula) of plants of the umbel family, with long-stalked leaves and clusters of small, white or yellowish flowers: formerly regarded as having healing powers [OFr < ML sanicula, prob. dim. < L sanus, healthy]
sanies (sei´ni: i:z') •n. a thin, often greenish, serous discharge from a wound or ulcer sa´ni·ous (-эs) •adj. [L]
sanitarian (sæn'э ter´i: эn) •adj. SANITARY •n. a person who specializes in public health and sanitation
sanitarium (sæn'э ter´i: эm) pl. -i·ums or -i·a (-э) •n. 1 a quiet resort, as in the mountains, where people go to rest and regain health 2 an institution for the care of invalids or convalescents, esp. one making use of local natural resources, as mineral springs, or one treating a specific disease, as tuberculosis [ModL < L sanitas, health < sanus, healthy]
sanitary (sæn´э ter'i:) •adj. 1 of health or the rules and conditions of health; esp., promoting health and healthful conditions by the elimination of dirt and agents of infection or disease 2 in a clean, healthy condition; hygienic san´i·tar'i·ly •adv. san´i·tar'i·ness •n. [Fr sanitaire < L sanitas: see SANITARIUM & -ARY]
sanitary belt a narrow elastic belt for holding a sanitary napkin in place
sanitary cordon CORDON SANITAIRE
sanitary engineering the branch of civil engineering having to do with sewage disposal, water supply, etc.
sanitary napkin an absorbent pad of cotton, cellulose, etc. worn by women during menstruation
sanitation (sæn'э tei´shэn) •n. 1 the science and practice of effecting healthful and hygienic conditions; study and use of hygienic measures such as drainage, ventilation, pure water supply, etc. 2 drainage and disposal of sewage [SANIT(ARY) + -ATION]
sanitize (sæn´э taiz') -tized', -tiz'ing •vt. 1 to make sanitary, as by sterilizing 2 to free from anything considered undesirable, damaging, etc. san´i·tiz'er •n.
sanity (sæn´э ti:) •n. 1 the condition of being sane; soundness of mind; mental health 2 soundness of judgment [ME sanite < OFr < L sanitas, health]
sank (sæŋk) •vi., vt. alt. pt. of SINK
Sanka (sæŋ´kэ) trademark for a kind of decaffeinated coffee •n. [s-] decaffeinated coffee
Sankhya (säŋ´kyэ) •n. a major system of Hindu philosophy, involving two ultimate, completely distinct, principles of matter and spirit [Sans sāmkhya < samkhyā, calculation < samkhyāti, (he) counts up]
Sankt Moritz (zäŋkt mou´řits) Ger. name of ST. MORITZ
sannup (sæn´ûp) •n. [Historical] in New England, a North American Indian man or husband [Massachusett sanomp, younger man]
sannyasi (sûn yä´si:) •n. 1 a Hindu holy man who is a homeless mendicant 2 a disciple of any of certain gurus [Hindi sannyāsī < Sans samnyāsin, casting away < sa##, together (see SAME) + ni, down (for IE base see NETHER) + asayati, (he) casts]
Sans Sanskrit sans (sænz; Fr säñ) •prep. without; lacking [ME saun < OFr sanz (Fr sans) < L sine, without: form infl. by L absentia, in the absence of, abl.: see ABSENCE]
sans doute (säñ du:t´) without doubt; certainly [Fr]
sans peur et sans reproche (säñ pëř´ ei säñ řэ přôsh´) without fear and without reproach [Fr]
sans souci (säñ su: si:´) without worry; carefree [Fr]
sans-culotte (sænz'ku lät´, -kyu-; Fr säñ kü lôt´) •n. 1 a revolutionary: term of contempt applied by the aristocrats to the republicans of the poorly clad French Revolutionary army, who substituted pantaloons for knee breeches 2 any radical or revolutionary sans'-cu·lot´tic or sans'-cu·lot´tish •adj. sans'-cu·lot´tism' •n. [Fr, lit., without breeches: (see SANS & CULOTTE)]
sansei (sän´sei') pl. -sei' •n.or -seis' [also S-] a native U.S. or Canadian citizen whose grandparents were Japanese immigrants [Jpn < SinoJpn san, three + sei, generation]
sansevieria (sæn'sэ vir´i: э) •n. any of a genus (Sansevieria) of succulent tropical plants of the agave family, with stiff, thick, lance-shaped leaves often yielding a strong, elastic fiber [ModL, after the Prince of Sanseviero (1710-71), a learned Neapolitan]
Sansk Sanskrit
Sanskrit (sæn´skrit') •n. 1 the classical Old Indic literary language, as cultivated from the 4th cent. B.C. onward and still used in the ritual of the Northern Buddhist Church: because of the antiquity of its written expression and the detailed descriptive analysis in the Sutras of the Hindu grammarian Pānini (end of the 4th cent. B.C.), Sanskrit has been very important in the origin and development of comparative Indo-European linguistics 2 loosely, any written form of Old Indic, including Vedic •adj. of or written in Sanskrit Also sp. San´scrit San·skrit´ic •adj. San´skrit·ist •n. [< Sans sa##skrta, lit., made together, well arranged < sa##-, together (see SAME) + -krta, made < IE base *kwer-, to make > MIr creth, poetry: so called in distinction to Prākrit, lit., the common (spoken) language]
sans-serif (sænz ser´if) •n. a style of printing type with no serifs [see SANS & SERIF]
Santa (sæn´tэ; for adj., sän´tä, sæn´tэ) Æ short for SANTA CLAUS •adj. holy or saint: used in combinations {Santa Maria} [Sp or It, fem. of santo < L sanctus, holy: see SAINT]
Santa Ana (sæn'tэ æn´э; also, for 3, Sp sän´tä ä´nä) 1 hot desert wind from the east or northeast in S Calif. 2 city in SW Calif.: pop. 294,000: see ANAHEIM 3 city in W El Salvador: pop. 208,000 [Sp, Saint ANNE]
Santa Anna (sän´tä ä´nä), An·to·nio Ló·pez de (æn tou´nyô lô´pes de) c. 1795-1876: Mex. revolutionist & general: president (1833-35; 1841-44; 1846-47; 1853-55)
Santa Barbara (sæn´tэ bär´bэ rэ) city on the coast of SW Calif.: pop. 86,000 [Sp, St. Barbara, early Christian martyr]
Santa Barbara Islands group of nine islands, & many islets, off the SW coast of Calif.
Santa Catalina (sæn´tэ kæt'ªl i:´nэ) one of the Santa Barbara Islands, a tourist resort: c. 20 mi. (32 km) long [Sp, Saint CATHERINE]
Santa Catarina (sän´tэ kä'tэ ři:´nэ) state of S Brazil: 37,055 sq. mi. (95,973 sq. km); pop. 3,627,000; cap. Florianópolis
Santa Clara (sæn´tэ kler´э; for 1, Sp sän´tä klä´řä) 1 city in central Cuba: pop. 189,000 2 city in W Calif., near San Jose: pop. 94,000 [Sp, St. Clare (of Assisi), 13th-c. It nun]
Santa Clarita (sæn´tэ klэ ri:t´э) city in SW Calif., near Los Angeles: pop. 111,000
Santa Claus or Santa Klaus (sæn´tэ klöz', -ti) Folklore a fat, white-bearded, jolly old man in a red suit, who lives at the North Pole, makes toys for children, and distributes gifts at Christmas time: also called Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick [< Du dial. Sinterklaas, Sante Klaas < Sant Nikolaas, Saint NICHOLAS]
Santa Cruz (sæn'tэ kru:z´; Sp sän´tä křu:s´) 1 city in central Bolivia: pop. 377,000 2 city in W Calif., south of San Jose: pop. 49,000 3 one of the Santa Barbara Islands: c. 23 mi. (37 km) long 4 ST. CROIX [Sp, holy cross]
Santa Cruz de Tenerife (dэ ten'э rif´; Sp de te'ne ři:´fe) seaport on Tenerife Island, Canary Islands: pop. 191,000
Santa Fe (sæn´tэ fei´) capital of N.Mex., in the NC part: pop. 56,000 [Sp, holy faith]
Santa Fé (sän´tä fe´) city in central Argentina: pop. 287,000
Santa Fe Trail trade route between Santa Fe, N.Mex., & Independence, Mo.: important from 1821 to 1880
Santa Gertrudis (sæn´tэ gэr tru:´dis) any of a breed of hardy, red-colored beef cattle developed from a cross of short-horned and Brahman stock [so named after a section of the King Ranch, in Texas]
Santa Isabel (sän´tä i: sä bel´) old name of MALABO
Santa Maria (sæn´tэ mэ ri:´э; Sp sän´tä mä ři:´ä) active volcano in SW Guatemala: 12,362 ft. (3,768 m)
Santa Monica (sæn´tэ män´i kэ) city in SW Calif., on the Pacific: suburb of Los Angeles: pop. 87,000 [Sp, St. Monica, mother of Saint AUGUSTINE (of Numidia)]
Santa Rosa (sæn´tэ rou´zэ) 1 one of the Santa Barbara Islands: 17 mi. (27 km) long 2 city in W Calif., north of San Francisco: pop. 113,000 [Sp, St. Rose (of Lima) (1586-1617): 1st New World saint]
Santander (sän'tän deř´) seaport in N Spain, on the Bay of Biscay: pop. 180,000
Santayana (sæn'ti: æn´э, -ä´nэ; Sp sän'tä yä´nä), George (born Jorge Augustín Nicolás de Santayana) 1863-1952; U.S. philosopher & writer, born in Spain
Santee (sæn ti:´) 1 river in E S.C., flowing southeast into the Atlantic: 143 mi. (230 km) [< ? AmInd tribal name] 2 city in SW Calif., near San Diego: pop. 53,000 [after M. Santee, 1st postmaster]
Santiago (sän'ti: ä´gô; E sæn'ti: ei´gou) capital of Chile, in the central part: pop. 3,615,000 (met. area 4,133,000)
Santiago de Cuba (de ku:´bä) seaport in SE Cuba, on the Caribbean: pop. 404,000
Santo Domingo (sän´tô dô miŋ´gô; E sæn´tou dou miŋ´gou) 1 capital of the Dominican Republic, a seaport on the S coast: pop. 1,313,000 2 old name of DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 3 old name of HISPANIOLA
santonica (sæn tän´i kэ) •n. 1 any of several European wormwoods (esp. Artemisia cina) 2 the unexpanded, dried flower heads of several European wormwoods, containing santonin [ModL < L (herba) santonica, after Santoni, a people of ancient Gaul]
santonin (sæn´tэ nin) •n. a colorless, poisonous, crystalline compound, C15H18O3, obtained from certain species of wormwood and formerly used in medicine as a vermifuge [Fr santonine < ModL santonica: see SANTONICA]
Santos (sän´tus) seaport in S Brazil: pop. 411,000
santur (sæn tûr´) •n. a Persian or Arabian dulcimer: also san·tour´
São Francisco (sauñ' fřän si:s´ku) river in E Brazil, flowing northeast and east into the Atlantic: c. 1,800 mi. (2,897 km)
São Luís (lwi:s´) capital of Maranhão state, Brazil: seaport on an island off N coast: pop. 350,000
São Miguel (mi: gel´) largest island of the Azores: 290 sq. mi. (751 sq. km); chief city, Ponta Delgada
São Paulo (sauñ pau´lu) 1 state of SE Brazil: c. 95,750 sq. mi. (247,990 sq. km); pop. 25,040,000 2 its capital: pop. 7,032,000
São Salvador (sauñ säl'vэ dôř´) var. of SALVADOR
São Tomé and Príncipe (tô me´ эnd prin´sэ pi:') country off the W coast of Africa, comprising two islands (São Tomé and Príncipe) in the Gulf of Guinea: formerly a Portuguese territory, it became independent (1975): 372 sq. mi. (964 sq. km); pop. 74,000
Saône (soun) river in E France, flowing south into the Rhone at Lyon: c. 280 mi. (451 km)
sap¹ (sæp) •n. 1 the juice that circulates through a plant, esp. a woody plant, bearing water, food, etc. to the tissues 2 any fluid vital to the life or health of an organism 3 vigor; vitality 4 [Slang] a stupid person; fool [< SAPHEAD] •vt. sapped, sap´ping to drain of sap sap´less •adj. [ME < OE sæp, akin to Ger saft < IE base *sab-, var. of *sap-, to taste, perceive > L sapere, to taste, know]
sap² (sæp) •n. an extended, narrow trench for approaching or undermining an enemy position or fortification •vt. sapped, sap´ping [MFr sapper < sappe, a hoe < VL sappa, orig. he-goat, prob. < Illyrian *zapp-] 1 to undermine by digging away foundations; dig beneath 2 to undermine in any way; weaken; exhaust •vi. 1 to dig saps 2 to approach an enemy's position by saps SYN. WEAKEN [MFr sappe < the v.]
sap³ (sæp) •n. Æ [Slang] a blackjack, short club, etc. Æ sapped, sap´ping •vt. [Slang] to hit on the head, or knock out, with a sap [prob. orig. contr. < SAPLING]
sapajou (sæp´э ju:') •n. CAPUCHIN (sense 3) [Fr < ?]
sapanwood (sэ pæn´wud') •n. SAPPANWOOD
saphead (sæp´hed') •n. [Slang] a stupid person; fool sap´head'ed •adj.
saphena (sэ fi:´nэ) •n. either of two large superficial veins of the leg sa·phe´nous (-nэs) •adj. [ME < ML < Ar sāfin]
sapid (sæp´id) •adj. 1 having a taste, esp. a pleasing taste; savory 2 agreeable to the mind; interesting; engaging sa·pid·i·ty (sэ pid´э ti:) •n. [L sapidus < sapere, to have a taste: see SAP¹]
sapient (sei´pi: эnt) •adj. 1 full of knowledge; wise; sagacious; discerning 2 of or relating to the existing human species (Homo sapiens) •n. a sapient human sa´pi·ence •n. sa´pi·ent·ly •adv. [ME < L sapiens, prp. of sapere, to taste, know: see SAP¹]
sapiential (sei'pi: en´shэl) •adj. having, providing, or expounding wisdom [LL sapientialis < L sapiens]
Sapir (sэ pir´), Edward 1884-1939; U.S. linguist & anthropologist, born in Pomerania
sapling (sæp´liŋ) •n. 1 a young tree 2 a youth [ME sappelynge: see SAP¹ & -LING¹]
sapodilla (sæp'э dil´э) •n. 1 a tropical American evergreen tree (Achras zapota) of the sapodilla family, yielding chicle and having a brown, rough-skinned fruit with a sweet, yellowish pulp 2 the fruit •adj. designating a large family (Sapotaceae, order Ebenales) of dicotyledonous, tropical trees and shrubs with a milky juice and sometimes edible fruits, including the balata, buckthorn, and marmalade tree [Sp zapotillo, dim. of zapote < Nahuatl tzapoλ]
saponaceous (sæp'э nei´shэs) •adj. soapy or soaplike [ModL saponaceus < L sapo, soap: see SAPONIFY]
saponification (sэ pän'э fi kei´shэn) •n. the conversion of an ester heated with an alkali into the corresponding alcohol and acid salt; specif., this process carried out with fats (glyceryl esters) to produce soap [Fr < saponifier: see SAPONIFY]
saponify (sэ pän´э fai') -fied', -fy'ing •vt. to subject to saponification; specif., to convert (a fat) into soap by reaction with an alkali •vi. to undergo conversion to soap sa·pon'i·fi´a·ble •adj. sa·pon´i·fi'er •n. [Fr saponifier < L sapo (gen. saponis), soap (< Gmc *saipo- > OE sape, SOAP) + Fr -fier, -FY]
saponin (sæp´э nin) •n. any of a group of glycosides, found in soapbark, etc., which form a soapy foam when dissolved in water: used as detergents, etc. [Fr saponine < L sapo (see SAPONIFY) + -in, -IN¹]
saponite (-nait') •n. a complex hydrous silicate of aluminum and magnesium, occurring in soft, soapy masses in veins and cavities of rock, as in serpentine [Swed saponit < L sapo: see SAPONIFY & -ITE¹]
sapor (sei´pэr) •n. that quality in a substance which produces taste or flavor; savor sap·o·rif·ic (sæp'э rif´ik) or sa·por·ous (sei´pэr эs, sæp´эr-) •adj. [L < sapere, to taste: see SAP¹]
sapota (sэ pout´э) •n. SAPODILLA [ModL < Sp zapote: see SAPODILLA]
sapote (sэ pout´i:) •n. 1 any of several tropical American trees or their fruits 2 a) MARMALADE TREE b) SAPODILLA [Sp zapote: see SAPODILLA]
sappanwood (sэ pæn´wud') •n. 1 a wood yielding a red or blue dye, obtained from an East Indian tree (Caesalpinia sappan) of the caesalpinia family 2 the tree [partial transl. of Du sapanhout < Malay sapang + Du hout, wood, akin to OE holt: see HOLT]
sapper (sæp´эr) •n. 1 a soldier employed in digging saps, laying mines, etc. 2 a person or thing that saps
Sapphic (sæf´ik) •adj. 1 of Sappho 2 [often s-] designating or of certain meters or a form of stanza or strophe used by or named after Sappho, esp. a stanza of three lines, of five or six stresses each, followed by a short line 3 [sometimes s-] LESBIAN (adj. 2a) •n. [often s-] a Sapphic verse [L Sapphicus < Gr Sapphikos < Sapphō]
Sapphira (sэ fai´rэ) Bible the wife of Ananias, struck dead with her husband for lying: Acts 5:1-10 [LL(Ec) Saphira < Gr(Ec) Sappheirē < Aram word meaning beautiful]
sapphire (sæf´air) •n. 1 a clear, deep-blue variety of corundum, valued as a precious stone 2 its color 3 a) a translucent or transparent variety of corundum, varying in color b) a gem made of this {white, yellow, and purple sapphires} •adj. deep-blue [ME < OFr saphir < L sapphirus < Gr sappheiros < Heb sapir < Sans śanipriya, lit., dear to Saturn < Śanih, Saturn (the planet) + priya, beloved < IE *prī-, var. of base *prēi-, to love > FRIEND]
sapphirine (sæf´эr in, -э rain') •adj. of or like sapphire •n. 1 a rare blue or green silicate of magnesium and aluminum 2 a blue variety of spinel
Sapphism (sæf´izªm) •n. [sometimes s-] female homosexuality Sap´phist •n.
Sappho (sæf´ou) fl. early 6th cent. B.C.; Gr. lyric poet of Lesbos
Sapporo (sä´pô řô') chief city on the island of Hokkaido, Japan, in the SW part: pop. 1,479,000
sappy (sæp´i:) -pi·er, -pi·est •adj. 1 full of sap; juicy 2 [Slang] foolish; silly [< SAP¹, n. 4] sap´pi·ness •n. [ME sapy < OE sæpig]
sapremia (sэ pri:´mi: э) •n. a form of blood poisoning caused by toxic products resulting from the action of putrefactive microorganisms on dead tissue: also sp. sa·prae´mi·a sa·pre´mic •adj. [ModL: see SAPRO- & -EMIA]
sapro- (sæp´rou, -rэ) combining form dead, putrefying, decaying {saprogenic}: also, before a vowel, sapr- [< Gr sapros, rotten]
saprobic (sæ prou´bik) •adj. Biol. 1 of or pertaining to organisms living in highly polluted waters 2 of or pertaining to saprophytes sa·probe (sæ´proub') •n. sa·pro´bi·cal·ly •adv. [< prec. + Gr bios, life + -IC]
saprogenic (sæp'rэ jen´ik) •adj. producing, or produced by, putrefaction: also sa·prog·e·nous (sэ prä´jэ nэs) [SAPRO- + -GENIC]
saprolite (sæp´rэ lait') •n. Geol. completely decomposed rock lying in its original site sap'ro·lit´ic (-lit´ik) •adj. [SAPRO- + -LITE]
sapropel (sæp´rэ pel') •n. black, decaying, organic bottom deposits in some lakes, rivers, etc. that lack oxygen and are rich in hydrogen sulfide sap'ro·pel´ic •adj. [< SAPRO- + Gr pēlos, mud, slime]
saprophagous (sæ präf´э gэs) •adj. feeding on decaying organic matter [SAPRO- + -PHAGOUS]
saprophyte (sæp´rэ fait') •n. any organism that lives on dead or decaying organic matter, as some fungi and bacteria sap'ro·phyt´ic (-fit´ik) •adj. [SAPRO- + -PHYTE]
saprozoic (sæp'rэ zou´ik) •adj. 1 absorbing simple organic material and dissolved salts for nourishment: said of certain animals 2 of a saprophyte, esp. an animal parasite lacking a functional digestive system, as the tapeworm [SAPRO- + ZO- + -IC]
sapsago (sæp´sэ gou') •n. a variety of hard, greenish cheese made orig. in Switzerland of skim milk flavored with melilot [altered < Ger schabzieger < schaben, to scrape (akin to SHAVE) + zieger, curds < Late OHG ziger < Rhaeto-Romanic tšigrun < Gaul *dwi-, twice (< IE base *dwōu-, TWO) + *ger-, to heat (< IE *gwher-, WARM); from being heated twice in processing]
sapsucker (sæp´sûk'эr) •n. any of a genus (Sphyrapicus) of American woodpeckers that often drill holes in trees for the sap and the insects the sap attracts
sapwood (sæp´wud') •n. the soft wood between the inner bark of a tree and the heartwood, serving to conduct water and sap
Saqqara or Sakkara (sэ kär´э) village in N Egypt, near the ruins of Memphis: site of many pyramids
SAR Sons of the American Revolution
Sara (ser´э, sær´-) a feminine name: see SARAH
saraband (sær´э bænd') •n. 1 a graceful, stately, slow Spanish dance in triple time, developed from an earlier lively dance 2 a stylized dance of this type used as a movement in a classical suite [Fr sarabande < Sp zarabanda < ?]
Saracen (sær´э sэn) •n. 1 orig., a member of any of the nomadic tribes of Syria and nearby regions 2 later, any Arab or any Muslim, esp. at the time of the Crusades •adj. of the Saracens Sar'a·cen´ic (-sen´ik) •adj. [ME Sarasene < OFr & LL: OFr Sarrazin < LL Saracenus < LGr Sarakēnos < ? Ar sharqīyīn, easterners, pl. of sharqī, eastern < sharq, east]
Saragossa (sær'э gäs´э) Eng. name of ZARAGOZA
Sarah (ser´э, sær´-) 1 a feminine name: dim. Sadie, Sal, Sally; var. Sara 2 Bible the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac: see Gen. 17:15 [Heb sara, lit., princess, fem. of sar, prince]
Sarai (ser´ai') Bible Sarah: so called before God's covenant with Abraham: Gen. 17:15
Sarajevo (sä´řä'ye vô; E sær'э yei´vou) capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina: scene of the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand (June 28, 1914), which precipitated World War I: pop. 449,000
saran (sэ ræn´) •n. any of various thermoplastic resins usually obtained by the polymerization of vinylidene chloride: it is used in extruded or molded form in making various fabrics, acid-resistant pipes and fittings, transparent wrapping material, etc. [arbitrary coinage]
Saranac Lake (sær´э næk') 1 any of three connected lakes (Upper, Middle, & Lower) in the Adirondacks, NE N.Y. 2 resort village on Lower Saranac Lake: pop. 5,400 [< ? Iroquoian name]
Saransk (sэ ränsk´, -rænsk´) city in central European Russia: pop. 307,000
sarape (sэ rä´pi:) •n. var. of SERAPE
Sarasota (sær'э sout´э) city on the W coast of Fla., near Tampa: pop. 51,000 [Sp Sarazota < unidentified AmInd language]
Saratoga (sær'э tou´gэ) old name of SCHUYLERVILLE: scene of two Revolutionary War battles (1777) in which American forces led by Gates defeated the British under Burgoyne [prob. of Mohawk orig.]
Saratoga Springs city in NE N.Y.: a resort with mineral springs: pop. 25,000 [see SARATOGA]
Saratoga trunk a large trunk, formerly used mainly by women when traveling [after prec.]
Saratov (sä řä´tôf) city & port in SC European Russia, on the Volga: pop. 899,000
Sarawak (sэ rä´wäk) state of Malaysia, occupying NC & NW Borneo: 48,250 sq. mi. (124,449 sq. km); pop. 1,295,000; cap. Kuching
sarcasm (sär´kæz'эm) •n. 1 a taunting, sneering, cutting, or caustic remark; gibe or jeer, generally ironic 2 the making of such remarks 3 their characteristic quality [LL sarcasmos < Gr sarkasmos < sarkazein, to tear flesh like dogs, speak bitterly < sarx (gen. sarkos), flesh < IE base *twerk-, to cut > Avestan thwarðs-, to cut, whittle]
sarcastic (sär kæs´tik) •adj. 1 of, having the nature of, or characterized by sarcasm; sneering, caustic, cutting, etc. 2 using, or fond of using, sarcasm sar·cas´ti·cal·ly •adv. SYN.—sarcastic implies intent to hurt by taunting with mocking ridicule, veiled sneers, etc. [a sarcastic reminder that work begins at 9:00 A.M.]; satirical implies as its purpose the exposing or attacking of the vices, follies, stupidities, etc. of others and connotes the use of ridicule, sarcasm, etc. [Swift's satirical comments]; ironic applies to a humorous or sarcastic form of expression in which the intended meaning of what is said is directly opposite to the usual sense [My, you're early was his ironic taunt to the latecomer]; sardonic implies sneering or mocking bitterness in a person, or, more often, in his expression, remarks, etc. [a sardonic smile]; caustic implies a cutting, biting, or stinging wit or sarcasm [a caustic tongue]
sarcenet (särs´net') •n. a soft silk cloth, formerly used for ribbons, linings, etc. [ME sarsenet < Anglo-Fr sarzinett, dim. < OFr Sarrazin: see SARACEN]
sarco- (sär´kou, -kэ) combining form flesh {sarcology}: also, before a vowel, sarc- [< Gr sarx, flesh: see SARCASM]
sarcocarp (sär´kэ kärp') •n. Bot. 1 the fleshy part of a stone fruit, as in the plum 2 loosely, any fleshy fruit [prec. + -CARP]
sarcoidosis (sär'koi dou´sis) •n. a chronic disease of unknown cause, characterized by the development of lesions similar to tubercles in the lungs, bones, skin, etc. [< Gr sarkoeidēs, fleshy (see SARCO- & -OID) + -OSIS]
sarcology (sär käl´э ji:) •n. the branch of anatomy that deals with the soft tissues of the body [SARCO- + -LOGY]
sarcoma (sär kou´mэ) pl. -mas or -ma·ta (-mэ tэ) •n. any of various malignant tumors that begin in connective tissue, or in tissue developed from the mesoderm sar·co'ma·to´sis (-tou´sis) •n. sar·co´ma·tous (-tэs, -käm´э-) •adj. [ModL < Gr sarkōma < sarx, flesh: see SARCASM & -OMA]
sarcomere (sär´kou mir') •n. any of the segments making up the fibrils of striated muscles [SARCO- + -MERE]
sarcophagus (sär käf´э gэs) pl. -gi' (-jai') or -gus·es •n. 1 among the ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians, a limestone coffin or tomb, often inscribed and elaborately ornamented 2 any stone coffin, esp. one on display, as in a monumental tomb [L < Gr sarkophagos < sarx, flesh (see SARCASM) + phagein, to eat (see -PHAGOUS): because the limestone caused rapid disintegration of the contents]
sarcous (sär´kэs) •adj. of or composed of flesh or muscle [SARC(O)- + -OUS]
sard (särd) •n. 1 a very hard, deep orange-red variety of chalcedony, used in jewelry, etc. 2 a piece of this [ME saarde < L sarda < or akin to Gr sardios, sard, lit., ? Sardian stone < Sardeis, SARDIS]
sardana (sär dä´nэ) •n. 1 a Spanish folk dance of Catalonia, danced in a circle 2 music for this [Sp < Catalan]
sardine¹ (sär di:n´) pl. -dines´ •n.or -dine´ any of various small ocean fishes preserved in tightly packed cans for eating, as a pilchard [ME sardeyne < MFr sardine < L sardina < sarda, kind of fish, prob. < Gr Sardō, SARDINIA]
sardine² (sär´din, -dain') •n. SARD
Sardinia (sär din´i: э, -din´yэ) 1 Italian island in the Mediterranean, south of Corsica: c. 9,196 sq. mi. (23,818 sq. km) 2 region of Italy, comprising this island & small nearby islands: 9,300 sq. mi. (24,000 sq. km); pop. 1,594,000; cap. Cagliari 3 former kingdom (1720-1860) including this region, Piedmont, Nice, Savoy (by which the kingdom was ruled), etc. It. name Sar·de·gna (säř dei´nyä) [L < Gr Sardō]
Sardinian (-i: эn, -yэn) •n. 1 a native or inhabitant of Sardinia 2 the Romance language of central and S Sardinia •adj. designating or of Sardinia, its people, or their language or culture
Sardis (sär´dis) capital of ancient Lydia [L < Gr Sardeis]
sardius (sär´di: эs) •n. 1 SARD 2 Bible one of the twelve precious stones in the breastplate of the Jewish high priest: Ex. 28:17 [ME < LL(Ec) < Gr sardios < Sardeis, SARDIS]
sardonic (sär dän´ik) •adj. disdainfully or bitterly sneering, ironic, or sarcastic {a sardonic smile} SYN. SARCASTIC sar·don´i·cal·ly •adv. [Fr sardonique < L sardonius < Gr sardonios, altered after Sardō, SARDINIA]
sardonyx (sär dän´iks, sär´dэ niks) •n. a variety of onyx made up of alternating layers of white chalcedony and sard, used as a gem, esp. in making cameos [ME < L < Gr sardonyx < sardios, SARD + onyx, ONYX]
Sardou (såř du:´), Vic·to·rien (vi:k tô řyæñ´) 1831-1908; Fr. dramatist
Sarema (sä´řэ mä') alt. sp. of SAAREMAA
Sarera Bay (sэ re´rэ) large inlet on the NW coast of New Guinea: c. 200 mi. (322 km) wide
Sargasso Sea (sär gæs´ou) region of calms in the N Atlantic, northeast of the West Indies, noted for its abundance of sargassum [Port sargaço: see SARGASSUM]
sargassum (sär gæs´эm) •n. any of a genus (Sargassum, family Sargassaceae) of floating brown algae (order Fucales) found in tropical seas and having a main stem with flattened outgrowths like leaves, and branches with berry-like air sacs; gulfweed: also sar·gas´so (-ou), pl. -sos or sargasso weed [ModL < Port sargaço < sarga, kind of grape]
sarge (särj) •n. [Colloq.] short for SERGEANT
Sargent (sär´jэnt), John Singer 1856-1925; U.S. painter in Europe
Sargodha (sэr goud´э) city in Punjab, N Pakistan: pop. 294,000
Sargon (sär´gän') 1 fl. c. 2300 B.C.; founder of the Akkadian kingdom 2 Sargon II died 705 B.C.; king of Assyria (722-705)
sari (sä´ri:) •n. the principal outer garment of a Hindu woman, consisting of a long piece of cloth worn wrapped around the body with one end forming an ankle-length skirt and the other end draped across the bosom, over one shoulder, and, sometimes, over the head: also sp. sa´ree [Hindi sārī < Sans śātī]
sarin (sä´rin) •n. a highly toxic nerve gas, C4H10FPO, which attacks the central nervous system, quickly bringing on convulsions and death [Ger]
sark (särk) •n. [Scot.] a shirt or chemise [ME serke < OE serc & ON serkr]
sarky (särk´i:) sark´i·er, sark´i·est •adj. [Brit. Colloq.] sarcastic
Sarmatia (sär mei´shэ, -shi: э) ancient region in E Europe, between the Vistula & Volga rivers, occupied by the Sarmatians (c. 300 B.C.-c. A.D. 200)
Sarmatian (-shэn) •adj. of Sarmatia or the Sarmatians •n. a member of an ancient Indo-Iranian people related to the Scythians
sarmentose (sär men´tous') •adj. producing long, slender stems which take root along the ground, as the strawberry plant [L sarmentosus, full of twigs < sarmentum, twig < sarpere, to trim, cut off < IE base *ser(p)-, sickle > Gr harpē, Latvian sirpis]
Sarnia (sär´ni: э) city & port in SE Ontario, Canada, opposite Port Huron, Mich.: pop. 72,000
sarod or sarode (sэ roud´) •n. a lutelike musical instrument of India, with many strings [Hindi sarod < Pers]
sarong (sэ röŋ´, -räŋ´) •n. 1 the principal garment of men and women in the Malay Archipelago, the East Indies, etc., consisting of a long strip of cloth, often brightly colored and printed, worn like a skirt 2 cotton cloth for such garments [Malay sarung, lit., sheath]
Saronic Gulf (sэ rän´ik) inlet of the Aegean Sea, in SE Greece, between Attica & the Peloponnesus: c. 50 mi. (80 km) long
saros (ser´äs) Astron. the eclipse cycle of the sun and moon, recurring at intervals of 6,585.32 days (c. 18 years) •n. [Gr < Akkadian shār < Sumerian shar, multitude, large number]
Saroyan (sэ roi´эn), William 1908-81; U.S. writer
Sarpedon (sär pi:d´ªn, -pi:´dän') Gr. Myth. a son of Zeus and Europa, who becomes king of Lycia and is allowed to live three generations: in some versions, he is killed by Patroclus in the Trojan War [L < Gr Sarpēdōn]
sarracenia (sær'э si:´ni: э, -si:n´yэ) •n. any of a genus (Sarracenia) of perennial New World pitcher plants [ModL, after M. Sarrazin, Fr-Cdn physician who sent a specimen to botanists in France (c. 1700)]
sarsaparilla (sär'sэ pэ ril´э, särs'pэ-; popularly sæs'pэ-) •n. 1 any of a number of tropical American, spiny, woody vines (genus Smilax) of the lily family, with large, fragrant roots and toothed, heart-shaped leaves 2 the dried roots of any of these plants, formerly used in medicine 3 an extract of these roots Æ 4 a sweetened, carbonated drink flavored with or as with sarsaparilla 5 any of several North American plants resembling sarsaparilla; esp., a woodland plant, wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis) of the ginseng family [Sp zarzaparrilla < zarza, bramble + parrilla, dim. of parra, vine]
sarsenet (särs´net') •n. SARCENET
Sarto (säř´tô), An·dre·a del (än dře´ä del) (born Andrea d'Agnolo di Francesco) 1486-1531; Florentine painter
sartor (sär´tэr) •n. a tailor: literary or humorous term [LL < L sartus, pp. of sarcire, to patch < IE base *serk-, woven substance, to hedge in > Gr herkos, a hedge]
sartorial (sär tör´i: эl) •adj. 1 of tailors or their work 2 of clothing or dress, esp. men's sar·to´ri·al·ly •adv. [LL sartor (see SARTOR) + -IAL]
sartorius (sär tou´ri: эs, -tör´i:-) •n. a narrow muscle of the thigh, the longest in the human body, that passes obliquely across the front of the thigh and helps rotate the leg to the position assumed in sitting cross-legged [ModL < LL sartor, a tailor (see SARTOR): in reference to the traditional cross-legged position of tailors at work]
Sartre (såř´třª; E sär´trэ), Jean-Paul (zhäñ pôl) 1905-80; Fr. philosopher, playwright, & novelist
Sarum use (ser´эm) the form of the Latin rite first used in the Salisbury diocese, the prevalent form in England before the Reformation [< ML Sarum, prob. altered < abbrev. of OE Sarisburia, Searobyrig, Salisbury, seat of the bishopric (1075-1220)]
SASE self-addressed, stamped envelope
Sasebo (sä´se bô´) seaport in E Kyushu, Japan, on the East China Sea: pop. 252,000
sash cord a cord attached to either side of a sliding sash, having balancing weights (sash weights) so that the window can be raised or lowered easily
sash¹ (sæsh) •n. an ornamental band, ribbon, or scarf worn over the shoulder or around the waist, often formally as a symbol of distinction [Ar shāsh, muslin]
sash² (sæsh) •n. 1 a frame holding the glass pane or panes of a window or door, esp. a sliding frame 2 such frames collectively •vt. to furnish with sashes [taken as sing. of earlier shashes < Fr châssis, a frame: see CHASSIS]
sashay (sæ shei´) •vi. 1 to do a chassé in a square dance 2 [Colloq.] to move, walk, or go, esp. in a casual way 3 [Colloq.] to move, walk, etc. in such a way as to show off or attract attention [altered < CHASSÉ]
sashimi (sä shi:´mi:) •n.pl. a Japanese dish consisting of thin slices of fresh raw fish served with soy sauce [Jpn, sashi, nominal form of sasu, to pierce (used in place of kiri, to cut, formerly taboo) + mi, meat]
Sask Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan (sæs kæch´э wän', -wэn) 1 province of SC Canada: 251,700 sq. mi. (651,900 sq. km); pop. 1,010,000; cap. Regina: abbrev. SK or Sask 2 river in central Saskatchewan flowing east into Lake Winnipeg: 340 mi. (547 km); with principal headstream 1,205 mi. (1,939 km) [earlier Keiskatchewan, name of the river < Cree kisiskatchewani sipi, lit., swift-flowing river]
saskatoon (sæs'kэ tu:n´) •n. [Chiefly Cdn.] 1 a species of Juneberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) of the central and N North American plains 2 the edible fruit of this shrub [< Cree misaaskwatoomin, saskatoon berry < misaaskwat, the shrub, lit., that which is solid wood + -min, berry] Saskatoon (sæs'kэ tu:n´) city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River: pop. 178,000 (met. area 200,000)
sasquatch (sæs´kwäch') •n. [also S-] a huge, hairy, humanlike creature with long arms, reputed to live in the mountains of NW North America [< Salish saskehavas, wild men]
sass (sæs) •n. 1 [Dial.] a) garden vegetables b) stewed fruit or preserves 2 [Colloq.] impudent talk •vt. [Colloq.] to talk impudently to [var. of SAUCE]
sassaby (sæs´э bi:') pl. -bies' •n. a large, very swift, reddish South African antelope (Damaliscus lunatus) with a black back and face [Bantu tsèsèbè]
sassafras (sæs´э fræs') •n. 1 a small E North American tree (Sassafras albidum) of the laurel family, having an aromatic bark, leaves with usually two or three fingerlike lobes, and small, bluish fruits 2 the dried root bark of this tree, used as a flavoring agent and yielding safrole [Sp sasafras < ? earlier sassifragia, saxifrage]
Sassanid (sæs´э nid') pl. Sas´sa·nids or Sas·san·i·dae (sæ sæn´э di:') a member of the last dynasty of native rulers in Persia (A.D. 224-641): also Sas·sa´ni·an (-sei´ni: эn) or Sa·sa´ni·an •n.
Sassenach (sæs´э næk') •n. an English person or Lowlander: term used, often disparagingly, by Irish and Scots [Ir Sasanach or Gael Sasunnach < Gael Sasunn, Saxon < Gmc, as in OE Seaxan, SAXON]
Sassoon (sæ su:n´), Siegfried (Lorraine) 1886-1967; Eng. writer & poet
sassy (sæs´i:) sass´i·er, sass´i·est •adj. [Colloq.] impudent; saucy [dial. var. of SAUCY]
sassy (bark) (sæs´i:) 1 the bark of a leguminous African tree (Erythrophleum guineense) yielding an alkaloid, used as a substitute for digitalis, and a poison used in trial by ordeal 2 this tree: also called sas´sy·wood' (-wud') •n. [prob. of Afr orig.]
sastrugi (sæs tru:´gi:) •n.pl. long, wavelike ridges of hard snow, formed perpendicular to the direction of the wind and common in polar regions [< Russ zastruga, wind-formed furrow]
Sat 1 Saturday 2 Saturn SAT trademark for Scholastic Aptitude Test sat (sæt) •vi., vt. pt. & pp. of SIT
Satan (seit´ªn) 1 Judaism any of various celestial beings functioning as accuser or critic of man 2 Christian Theol. the great enemy of man and of goodness; the Devil: usually identified with Lucifer, the chief of the fallen angels [ME < OE < LL(Ec) < Gr(Ec) < Heb satan, adversary, prob. < śtn, to be adverse, plot against]
satang (sä tæŋ´) pl. -tang´ •n. a monetary unit of Thailand, equal to ¹/100 of a baht [Thai satān]
satanic (sei tæn´ik, sэ-) •adj. of, characteristic of, or like Satan; devilish; infernal; diabolic: also sa·tan´i·cal sa·tan´i·cal·ly •adv.
Satanism (seit´ªn iz'эm) •n. worship of Satan; esp., the principles and rites of a cult which travesties Christian ceremonies Sa´tan·ist •n. [< Fr satanisme]
satay or saté (sä tei´) •n. a dish consisting of chunks of marinated meat, shrimp, etc., broiled on skewers and dipped in a spicy peanut sauce [Malay or Javanese < ?]
satchel (sæch´эl) •n. a small bag for carrying clothes, books, etc., sometimes having a shoulder strap [ME sachel < OFr < L saccellus, dim. of saccus, a bag, SACK¹]
sate¹ (seit) sat´ed, sat´ing •vt. 1 to satisfy (an appetite, desire, etc.) to the full; gratify completely 2 to provide with more than enough, so as to weary or disgust; surfeit; glut SYN. SATIATE [prob. altered < dial. sade, akin to SAD, infl. by L satiare, to fill full: see SATIATE]
sate² (sæt, seit) •vi., vt. archaic pt. & pp. of SIT
sateen (sæ ti:n´, sэ-) •n. a smooth, glossy cloth, as of cotton, made to imitate satin [< SATIN, modeled on VELVETEEN]
satellite (sæt´ªl ait') •n. 1 a) a follower or attendant attached to a prince or other person of importance b) any obsequious or fawning follower or dependent 2 a) a moon revolving around a larger planet b) a man-made object rocketed into orbit around the earth, the moon, etc. 3 something subordinate or dependent; specif., a small state that is economically or politically dependent on, and hence adjusts its policies to, a larger, more powerful state [Fr < L satelles (gen. satellitis), an attendant, guard < Etr]
satem (sä´tэm) •adj. designating or of the group of Indo-European languages, including Indo-Iranian, Slavic, and Baltic, in which a prehistoric change of certain original stops into sibilants sets the group apart from the centum group [< Avestan satðm, hundred < Sans sátám: see HUNDRED): so named because the initial sound illustrates the typical development in this group of the IE palatal stop, which in the centum group is a velar stop]
sati (sэ ti:´, sût´i:) •n. SUTTEE
satiable (sei´shэ bэl, sei´shi: э-) •adj. that can be sated or satiated sa'tia·bil´i·ty •n. sa´tia·bly •adv.
satiate (sei´shi: eit'; for adj., usually, -it) •adj. having had enough or more than enough; sated •vt. -at'ed, -at'ing 1 [Now Rare] to satisfy to the full; gratify completely 2 to provide with more than enough, so as to weary or disgust; glut; surfeit sa'ti·a´tion •n. SYN.—satiate and sate in their basic sense mean to satisfy to the full, but in current use satiate almost always implies, as sate often does, a being filled or stuffed so full that all pleasure or desire is lost [satiated, or sated, with food, success, etc.]; surfeit implies a being filled or supplied to nauseating or disgusting excess [surfeited with pleasure]; cloy stresses the distaste one feels for something too sweet, rich, etc. that one has indulged in to excess [cloying, sentimental music]; glut implies an overloading by filling or supplying to excess [to glut the market] [L satiatus, pp. of satiare, to fill full, satisfy < satis, enough: see SAD]
Satie (så ti:´), E·rik (Alfred Leslie) (e ři:k´) 1866-1925; Fr. composer
satiety (sэ tai´э ti:) •n. the state of being satiated; surfeit [Fr satiété < OFr sazieted < L satietas]
satin (sæt´ªn) •n. a fabric of silk, nylon, rayon, or the like having a smooth finish, glossy on the face and dull on the back •adj. made of or like satin; smooth, soft, and glossy sat´in·y •adj. [ME < MFr < Sp setuni < Ar (atlas) zaitūnī, (satin) of Zaitūn, medieval name of Quanzhou, China]
satinet or satinette (sæt'ªn et´) •n. 1 thin or inferior satin 2 a strong cloth of cotton and wool, made to resemble satin [Fr < satin]
satinwood (sæt´ªn wud') •n. 1 any of several very smooth, hard woods used in fine furniture, marquetry, veneers, etc. 2 any of a number of trees yielding such a wood; esp., a) the East Indian satinwood (Chloroxylon swietenia) of the rue family b) the West Indian satinwood (Zanthoxylum flavum) of the rue family
satire (sæ´tair') •n. 1 a) a literary work in which vices, follies, stupidities, abuses, etc. are held up to ridicule and contempt b) such literary works collectively, or the art of writing them 2 the use of ridicule, sarcasm, irony, etc. to expose, attack, or deride vices, follies, etc. SYN. CARICATURE, WIT¹ [Fr < L satira or satura, satire, poetic medley < (lanx) satura, (dish) of various fruits, prob. < Etr, of Thracian orig.]
satirical (sэ tir´i kэl) •adj. 1 of, like, or containing satire 2 indulging in, or fond of indulging in, satire Also sa·tir´ic SYN. SARCASTIC sa·tir´i·cal·ly •adv.
satirist (sæt´э rist) •n. 1 a writer of satires 2 a person given to satirizing
satirize (-raiz') -rized', -riz'ing •vt. to attack, ridicule, or criticize with satire sat´i·riz'er •n. [Fr satiriser]
satisfaction (sæt'is fæk´shэn) •n. 1 a satisfying or being satisfied 2 something that satisfies; specif., a) anything that brings gratification, pleasure, or contentment b) settlement of debt; discharge of obligation c) reparation for injury or insult d) Theol. atonement for sin give satisfaction 1 to satisfy 2 to accept a challenge to duel [ME satisfaccioun < OFr satisfaction < L satisfactio]
satisfactory (-fæk´tэ ri:, -tri:) •adj. good enough to fulfill a need, wish, requirement, etc.; satisfying or adequate sat'is·fac´to·ri·ly •adv. sat'is·fac´to·ri·ness •n. [Fr satisfactoire < ML satisfactorius]
satisfy (sæt´is fai') -fied', -fy'ing •vt. 1 to fulfill the needs, expectations, wishes, or desires of (someone); content; gratify 2 to fulfill or answer the requirements or conditions of (something) 3 to comply with (rules, standards, or obligations) 4 a) to free from doubt or anxiety; convince b) to answer (a doubt, objection, etc.) adequately or convincingly; solve 5 a) to give what is due to b) to discharge (an obligation, debt, etc.); settle in full 6 to make reparation to or for •vi. to be satisfying, adequate, sufficient, etc. sat´is·fi'er •n. SYN.—satisfy implies complete fulfillment of one's wishes, needs, expectations, etc.; content implies a filling of requirements to the degree that one is not disturbed by a desire for something more or different [some persons are satisfied only by great wealth, others are contented with a modest but secure income] [ME satisfyen < OFr satisfier < L satisfacere < satis, enough (see SAD) + facere, to make (see DO¹)]
satori (sä tör´i:) •n. spiritual enlightenment or illumination: term used esp. in Zen Buddhism [Jpn, nominal form of satoru, to understand the truth of]
satrap (sei´træp', sæ´-) •n. 1 the governor of a province in ancient Persia 2 a ruler of a dependency, esp. a despotic, subordinate official; petty tyrant [ME < L satrapes < Gr satrapēs < OPers xšathrapāvan, lit., protector of the land < xšathra, dominion (< IE base *kthēi-, to gain dominion > Gr ktēma, possession) + *pā(y)-, to protect < IE base *pō(i)-, to herd sheep, protect, cover > OE fothor, sheath]
satrapy (sei´trэ pi:, sæ´-) pl. -trap·ies •n. the government, authority, or province of a satrap [Fr satrapie < L satrapia < Gr satrapeia]
Satsuma (sæt´sэ mä', sæt su:´mэ) •n. 1 a variety of Japanese pottery Æ 2 [s-] a small, loose-skinned variety of orange, grown in Florida and Alabama [Jpn, after Satsuma, name of a province in S Kyushu, where pottery was made]
saturable (sæch´эr э bэl) •adj. that can be saturated sat'u·ra·bil´i·ty •n. [L saturabilis]
saturant (-эr эnt) •adj. that saturates; saturating •n. a substance that saturates [L saturans, prp.]
saturate (sæch´э reit'; for adj., usually, -эr it) -rat'ed, -rat'ing •vt. 1 to cause to be thoroughly soaked, imbued, or penetrated 2 to cause (something) to be filled, charged, supplied, etc. with the maximum that it can absorb 3 Chem. a) to cause (a substance) to combine to the full extent of its combining capacity with another; neutralize b) to dissolve the maximum amount of (a gas, liquid, or solid) in a solution at a given temperature and pressure •adj. SATURATED SYN. SOAK sat´u·ra'tor •n. [< L saturatus, pp. of saturare, to fill up, saturate < satur, full; akin to satis: see SAD]
saturated (-reit'id) •adj. 1 filled to capacity; having absorbed all that can be taken up 2 soaked through with moisture; wet 3 undiluted with white: said of colors 4 designating or of an organic compound containing no double or triple bonds and having no free valence 5 containing so much dissolved substance that no more can be dissolved at the given temperature: said of a solution 6 Geol. containing as much combined silica as is possible: said of rocks and minerals
saturation (sæch'э rei´shэn) •n. 1 a saturating or being saturated 2 the degree of purity of a color, as measured by its freedom from mixture with white; intensity of hue 3 the condition of a magnetic substance that has been magnetized to the maximum [LL saturatio]
saturation bombing the practice of dropping an intense concentration of bombs in order to destroy virtually everything in a given target area
saturation point 1 the point at which the greatest possible amount of a substance has been absorbed 2 the limit beyond which something cannot be continued, endured, etc.
Saturday (sæt´эr dei'; occas., -di:') •n. the seventh and last day of the week: abbrev. Sat, Sa, or S [ME Saterdai < OE Sæterdæg, akin to MDu Saterdagh < WGmc half-transl. of L Saturni dies, Saturn's day, transl. of Gr Kronou hēmera, Cronus' day]
Saturday night special [Slang] any small, cheap, short-barreled handgun that is readily available [from their use in weekend crimes]
Saturdays (-deiz') •adv. during every Saturday or most Saturdays
Saturn (sæt´эrn) 1 Rom. Myth. the god of agriculture: identified with the Greek Cronus 2 the second largest planet of the solar system and the sixth in distance from the sun: it has a thin, icy ring system around its equator: diameter, c. 120,660 km (c. 74,980 mi.); period of revolution, 29.46 earth years; period of rotation, 10.67 hours; 18 satellites; symbol, ## •n. Alchemy LEAD² (sense 1) [ML use of L Saturnus] [ME Saturne < OE < L Saturnus < Etr]
Saturnalia (sæt'эr nei´li: э, -neil´yэ) pl. -lias or -lia •n. 1 [occas. with pl. v.] the ancient Roman festival of Saturn, held about Dec. 17, with general feasting and revelry in celebration of the winter solstice 2 [s-] [occas. with pl. v.] any period or occasion of unrestrained, often orgiastic, revelry [L, neut. pl. of Saturnalis, of Saturn]
Saturnalian (-nei´li: эn, -neil´yэn) •adj. 1 of the Saturnalia 2 [s-] riotously merry or orgiastic
Saturnian (sэ tør´ni: эn) •adj. 1 a) of the Roman god Saturn, whose reign was the GOLDEN AGE b) prosperous, peaceful, etc. (said of a period, age, etc.) 2 of the planet Saturn [< L Saturnius, of Saturn + -AN]
saturniid (sэ tør´ni: id') •n. any of a family (Saturniidae) of large, brilliantly colored moths with a sunken head and hairy body [< ModL Saturniidae < L Saturnia, Juno, daughter of Saturn]
saturnine (sæt´эr nain') •adj. 1 Astrol. born under the supposed influence of the planet Saturn 2 sluggish, morose, or taciturn 3 having lead poisoning [< ML Saturnus, alchemists' term for lead, which they considered to be very cold, like the planet] sat´ur·nine'ly •adv. [OFr saturnin, of Saturn < L Saturnus, Saturn]
saturnism (sæt´эr niz'эm) •n. chronic lead poisoning [see SATURNINE]
satyagraha (sût´yэ grû'hэ) •n. the doctrine of Mohandas Gandhi, emphasizing passive resistance and noncooperation [< Hindi, lit., a grasping for truth < Sans satyā, truth + graha, grasping]
satyr (sæt´эr, seit´-) •n. 1 Gr. Myth. any of a class of minor woodland deities, attendant on Bacchus, usually represented as having pointed ears, short horns, the head and body of a man, and the legs of a goat, and as being fond of riotous merriment and lechery: see also FAUN 2 a lustful or lecherous man 3 a man having satyriasis 4 any of a worldwide family (Satyridae) of butterflies with gray or brown wings, often with eyelike spots: also called sat·yr·id (-id) sa·tyr·ic (sэ tir´ik) •adj. [ME satir < L satyrus < Gr satyros]
satyr play a type of ancient Greek burlesque or comic play with a chorus represented as satyrs
satyriasis (sæt'э rai´э sis) •n. abnormal and uncontrollable desire by a man for sexual intercourse: cf. NYMPHOMANIA [LL < Gr: see SATYR]
sauce (sös) •n. 1 a) a liquid or soft mixture served with food to add flavor or enhance its general appeal b) a flavored syrup used as a topping, as on ice cream Æ 2 stewed or preserved fruit 3 something that adds interest, zest, or flavor 4 [Dial.] garden vegetables eaten as a side dish 5 [Colloq.] impertinence; impudence Æ 6 [Slang] alcoholic liquor: usually with the •vt. sauced, sauc´ing 1 to flavor or season with a sauce 2 to give flavor or relish to 3 [Colloq.] to be impudent or impertinent to [ME < OFr sause, saulse < L salsa, salted food < pl. of salsus, pp. of salire, to salt < sal, SALT]
saucebox (-bäks') •n. [Old Colloq.] a saucy, rude child
saucepan (-pæn') •n. a small pot with a projecting handle, used for cooking
saucer (sö´sэr) •n. 1 a small, round, shallow dish, esp. one with an indentation designed to hold a cup 2 anything round and shallow like a saucer sau´cer·like' •adj. [ME sawsere < MFr saussier < sause, SAUCE]
saucier (sou syei´) •n. an assistant to the chef, who is in charge of preparing sauces [Fr]
saucisson (sou si: souñ´) pl. sau·cis·sons´ (-souñ´) •n. a large, cured French sausage of ground pork flavored with garlic [Fr < saucisse + aug. suffix -on]
saucy (sö´si:) -ci·er, -ci·est •adj. 1 rude; impudent 2 pert; sprightly {a saucy smile} 3 stylish or smart: said esp. of a ship SYN. IMPERTINENT sau´ci·ly •adv. sau´ci·ness •n. [SAUC(E) + -Y²]
Saudi (sau´di:, sö´di:; occas. sä u:´di:) •adj. of Saudi Arabia or its people •n. pl. -dis a native or inhabitant of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia kingdom occupying most of Arabia: 849,400 sq. mi. (2,200,000 sq. km); pop. c. 12,400,000; cap. Riyadh (Mecca is the religious cap.) Saudi Arabian
sauerbraten (saur´brät'ªn, zau´эr-) •n. a dish made of beef marinated in vinegar with onion, spices, etc. before cooking [Ger < sauer, SOUR + braten, a roast < OHG brato, meat, flesh, akin to OE bræd, raw meat; sense infl. by OHG bratan, to fry, akin to OE brœdan, to fry, bread, BREAD]
sauerkraut (saur´kraut') •n. chopped cabbage fermented in a brine of its own juice with salt [Ger < sauer, SOUR + kraut, cabbage]
sauger (sö´gэr) •n. a small American pikeperch (Stizostedion canadense) valued as a game or food fish [< ?]
Sauk (sök) pl. Sauks •n.or Sauk a member of a North American Indian people living orig. in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois and later on reservations in Oklahoma and Kansas [earlier Saukee < Fr Saki, Ousaki < Ojibwa ozaagii, lit., person (or people) of the outlet]
Saul (söl) 1 Bible the first king of Israel: 1 Sam. 9 2 orig. name of the Apostle PAUL [< LL(Ec) Saul (for 2, Saulus) < Gr(Ec) Saoul (for 2, Saulos) < Heb shaul, lit., asked (i.e., of God) < shaal, to ask]
Sault Ste. Marie (su:´ seint' mэ ri:´) city in central Ontario, Canada, on the St. Marys River: pop. 81,000: also Sault Sainte Marie [< Fr Sault de Sainte Marie, lit., falls of St. Mary]
sauna (sö´nэ; also sau´-) •n. 1 a bath that originated in Finland, in which exposure to very hot, relatively dry air produced by small amounts of water applied to heated stones is followed usually by light beating of the skin with birch boughs or a brief plunge into cold water 2 the enclosure for such a bath [Finn]