surety (shur´э ti:, shur´ti:) pl. -ties •n. 1 the state of being sure; sureness; assurance 2 something sure; certainty 3 something that makes sure or gives assurance, as against loss, damage, or default; security; guarantee 4 a) a person who takes responsibility for another b) Law one who accepts liability for another's debts, defaults of obligations, etc. sur´e·ty·ship' •n. [ME seurte < OFr < L securitas < securus, sure, SECURE]

surf (sørf) •n. 1 the waves or swell of the sea breaking on the shore or a reef 2 the foam or spray caused by this •vi. to engage in the sport of surfing surf´er •n. [earlier suffe, prob. var. of SOUGH]

surf clam any of various large clams (genera Mactra and Spisula) living in habitats influenced by the surf

surf duck any of various scoters, esp. the surf scoter

surf fish any of various fishes living in shallow water along the Pacific coast of North America, as the surfperches

surf scoter an American sea duck (Melanitta perspicillata) living in northern waters: the males are black with white-marked faces and necks, the females are grayish-brown

surface (sør´fis) •n. 1 a) the outer face, or exterior, of an object b) any of the faces of a solid c) the area or extent of such a face 2 superficial features, as of a personality; outward appearance 3 AIRFOIL 4 Geom. an extent or magnitude having length and breadth, but no thickness •adj. 1 of, on, or at the surface 2 intended to function or be carried on land or sea, rather than in the air or under water {surface forces, surface mail} 3 merely apparent; external; superficial •vt. -faced, -fac·ing 1 to treat the surface of, esp. so as to make smooth or level 2 to give a surface to, as in paving 3 to bring to the surface; esp., to bring (a submarine) to the surface of the water •vi. 1 to work at or near the surface, as in mining 2 to rise to the surface of the water 3 to become known, esp. after being concealed sur´fac·er •n. [Fr < sur- (see SUR-¹) + face, FACE, based on L superficies]

surface noise noise produced by the friction of a phonograph stylus moving in the grooves of a record

surface structure in transformational grammar, the formal structure of a sentence as it actually occurs and as distinguished from the abstract, underlying deep structure

surface tension a property of liquids in which the exposed surface tends to contract to the smallest possible area because of unequal molecular cohesive forces near the surface: measured by the force per unit of length

surface-active (-æk'tiv) •adj. Chem. designating or of a substance, such as a detergent, wetting agent, etc., that lowers the surface tension of the solvent in which it is dissolved or the tension at the interface between two immiscible liquids

surface-to-air (-tu: er´) •adj. designating a missile launched from the surface of the earth and directed at a target in the air

surface-to-surface (-tu: sør´fis) •adj. designating a missile launched from the surface of the earth and directed at a target elsewhere on the surface

surfactant (sør fæk´tэnt) •n. a surface-active agent [surf(ace)-act(ive) a(ge)nt]

surfbird (sørf´børd') •n. a shorebird (Aphriza virgata) of the same family as the sandpiper, found on the Pacific coast of the Americas during the winter: it has a short, square tail, white at the base and black at the tip

surfboard (-börd') •n. a long, narrow board used in the sport of surfing •vi. to engage in this sport surf´board'er •n. surf´board'ing •n.

surfboat (-bout') •n. a sturdy, light boat used in heavy surf

surf-cast (-kæst', -käst') -cast', -cast'ing •vi. to fish by casting into the surf from or near the shore surf´-cast'er •n.

surfeit (sør´fit) •n. 1 too great an amount or supply; excess (of) {a surfeit of compliments} 2 overindulgence, esp. in food or drink 3 discomfort, disgust, nausea, etc. resulting from any kind of excess; satiety •vt. to feed or supply to satiety or excess [ME sorfeten] •vi. [Now Rare] to indulge or be supplied to satiety or excess; overindulge SYN. SATIATE sur´feit·er •n. [ME surfet < OFr sorfait < sorfaire, to overdo < LL *superficere < L super (see SUPER-) + facere, to make, DO¹]

surfing (sørf´iŋ) •n. the sport of riding in toward shore on the crest of a wave, esp. on a surfboard Also surf´rid'ing

surfperch (sørf´pørch') pl. -perch' •n.or -perch'es any of a family (Embiotocidae) of percoid sea fishes that bear living young and live in shallow water along the Pacific coast of North America

surfy (sørf´i:) surf´i·er, surf´i·est •adj. 1 of, like, or forming surf 2 having surf, esp. heavy surf

surg 1 surgeon 2 surgery 3 surgical

surge (sørj) •n. 1 a) a large mass of or as of moving water; wave; swell; billow b) such waves or billows collectively or in a series 2 a movement of or like that of a mass of water; violent rolling, sweeping, or swelling motion {the surge of the sea} 3 a sudden, sharp increase of electric current or voltage in a circuit 4 any sudden, strong increase, as of energy, enthusiasm, etc. 5 Naut. a) the concave part of a capstan or windlass, upon which the rope surges, or slips b) such a surging, or slipping •vi. surged, surg´ing [< OFr sourg-, stem of sourdre: see the n.] 1 to have a heavy, violent swelling motion; move in or as in a surge or surges 2 to rise and fall or be tossed about on waves, as a ship 3 to increase suddenly or abnormally: said of electric current or voltage 4 to slip, as a rope or cable on a capstan or windlass •vt. to slacken or release (a rope or cable) suddenly [LME sourge, fountain, stream, prob. < OFr sourgeon < stem of sourdre, to rise < L surgere, to rise, spring up < *subsregere < subs-, var. of sub- (see SUB-) + regere, to direct (see RIGHT)]

surgeon (sør´jэn) •n. a doctor who specializes in surgery, as distinguished from a physician [ME surgien < OFr cirurgien < cirurgie, SURGERY]

Surgeon General pl. Surgeons General or Surgeon Generals 1 the chief general officer or admiral in charge of the medical department of the U.S. Army, Air Force, or Navy 2 the chief medical officer in the U.S. Public Health Service or in some State health services Abbrev. Surg Gen

surgeonfish (-fish') pl. (see FISH) -fish' •n.or -fish'es any of a family (Acanthuridae) of edible, usually brightly colored, tropical percoid sea fishes with one or more movable, lancelike spines on either side of the base of the tail

surgeon's knot any of several knots used as by surgeons in tying ligatures: see KNOT¹, illus.

surgery (sør´jэr i:) pl. -ger·ies •n. 1 a) the treatment of disease, injury, or deformity by manual or instrumental operations, as the removal of diseased parts or tissue by cutting b) an operation of this kind c) the branch of medicine dealing with this 2 the operating room of a surgeon or hospital 3 [Brit., etc. (exc. Cdn.)] a doctor's office [ME < OFr cirurgie, contr. of cirurgerie < L chirurgia < Gr cheirourgia, a working with the hands, handicraft, skill < cheir (gen. cheiros), the hand + ergein, to WORK]

surgical (-ji kэl) •adj. 1 of surgeons or surgery 2 used in or connected with surgery 3 resulting from or after surgery 4 of or like surgery or a surgical procedure in being regarded as very accurate, precisely targeted, etc. {a surgical air strike} sur´gi·cal·ly •adv.

suricate (sur´i keit') •n. a small, four-toed, burrowing carnivore (Suricata suricatta) of S Africa, of the same family (Viverridae) as the civet and mongoose [< Fr suricate or Ger surikate < native name in S Africa]

Suriname (sur'i näm´, sur´i næm'; Du suř'э nä´mэ) country in NE South America: a former territory of the Netherlands, it became an independent republic (1975): 63,036 sq. mi. (163,265 sq. km); pop. 381,000; cap. Paramaribo: earlier Su'ri·nam´ (-näm´, sur´э næm')

surly (sør´li:) -li·er, -li·est •adj. 1 bad-tempered; sullenly rude; hostile and uncivil 2 gloomy and threatening: said of weather 3 [Obs.] haughty; arrogant sur´li·ly •adv. sur´li·ness •n. [earlier sirly, masterful, imperious < sir, SIR]

surmise (sэr maiz´; for n., also sør´maiz') •n. 1 an idea or opinion formed from evidence that is neither positive nor conclusive; conjecture; guess 2 the act or process of surmising; conjecture in general •vt., vi. -mised´, -mis´ing to imagine or infer (something) without conclusive evidence; conjecture; guess SYN. GUESS [ME surmyse < OFr surmise, accusation, fem. of surmis, pp. of surmettre, lit., to put upon, hence to accuse < sur- (see SUR-¹) + mettre, to put < L mittere, to send (see MISSION)]

surmount (sэr maunt´) •vt. 1 orig., to surpass or exceed; go beyond 2 to get the better of; conquer; overcome 3 to be or lie at the top of; be or rise above 4 to climb up and across (a height, obstacle, etc.) 5 to place something above or on top of sur·mount´a·ble •adj. [ME surmounten < OFr surmonter: see SUR-¹ & MOUNT²]

surmullet (sэr mûl´it) pl. -lets •n.or -let GOATFISH [Fr surmulet < OFr sormulet < sor, red (see SORREL²) + mulet, MULLET]

surname (sør´neim'; for v., also sør'neim´) •n. 1 the family name, or last name, as distinguished from a given name 2 a name or epithet added to a person's given name (Ex.: Ivan the Terrible) •vt. -named', -nam'ing to give a surname to [ME < sur- (see SUR-¹) + name, infl. by earlier surnoun < OFr surnom < sur- + nom < L nomen, NAME]

surpass (sэr pæs´, -päs´) •vt. 1 to excel or be superior to 2 to exceed in quantity, degree, amount, etc. 3 to go beyond the limit, capacity, range, etc. of {riches surpassing belief} SYN. EXCEL [MFr surpasser < sur- (see SUR-¹) + passer, to PASS²]

surpassing (-iŋ) •adj. that surpasses the average or usual; exceeding or excelling; unusually excellent •adv. [Archaic] exceedingly sur·pass´ing·ly •adv.

surplice (sør´plis) •n. a loose, white, wide-sleeved outer ecclesiastical vestment for some services, ranging from hip length to knee length sur´pliced •adj. [ME surplis < Anglo-Fr surpliz < OFr < ML superpelliceum < L super-, above (see SUPER-) + pelliceum, fur robe, neut. of L pelliceus, made of skins < pellis, skin (see FELL4)]

surplus (sør´plûs', -plэs) •n. 1 a quantity or amount over and above what is needed or used; something left over; excess 2 a) the excess of the assets of a business over its liabilities for a given period b) the excess of the total accumulated assets of a business over its liabilities and capital stock outstanding •adj. 1 forming a surplus; excess; extra Æ 2 designating or of commodities (specif., certain excess farm products) bought, stored, distributed, etc. by the government under the Federal price-support program: cf. PRICE SUPPORT [ME < OFr < sur-, above (see SUR-¹) + L plus, more (see PLUS)]

surplus value in Marxist economics, the amount by which the value of the worker's product exceeds the wage the worker is paid, viewed as the source of capitalist profit

surplusage (-ij) •n. 1 surplus; excess 2 a) irrelevant or superfluous words or matter b) Law such matter in the pleading of a case [ME: see SURPLUS & -AGE]

surprint (sør´print') •vt., n. OVERPRINT

surprisal (sэr prai´zэl) •n. [Now Rare] var. of SURPRISE

surprise (sэr praiz´, sэ praiz´) -prised´, -pris´ing •vt. 1 to come upon suddenly or unexpectedly; take unawares 2 to attack or capture suddenly and without warning 3 a) to cause to feel wonder or astonishment by being unexpected b) to present (someone) unexpectedly with a gift, etc. 4 a) to cause by some unexpected action to do or say something unintended {to surprise someone into an admission} b) to bring out or elicit by such means {to surprise an admission from someone} •n. 1 [Now Rare] the act of surprising or taking unawares 2 an unexpected seizure or attack 3 the state of being surprised; feeling aroused by something unusual or unexpected; wonder or astonishment 4 something that surprises because unexpected, unusual, etc. take by surprise 1 to come upon suddenly or without warning 2 to amaze; astound sur·pris´ed·ly •adv. sur·pris´er •n. SYN.—surprise, in this connection, implies an affecting with wonder because of being unexpected, unusual, etc. [I'm surprised at your concern]; astonish implies a surprising with something that seems unbelievable [to astonish with sleight of hand]; amaze suggests an astonishing that causes bewilderment or confusion [amazed at the sudden turn of events]; astound suggests a shocking astonishment that leaves one helpless to act or think [I was astounded by the proposal]; flabbergast is a colloquial term suggesting an astounding to the point of speechlessness [ME surprysen < OFr surpris, pp. of sorprendre, to surprise, take napping < sur- (see SUR-¹) + prendre, to take (see PRIZE²)]

surprising (-iŋ) •adj. causing surprise; amazing sur·pris´ing·ly •adv.

surreal (sэr ri:´эl, sэ-; -ri:l´) •adj. 1 of, related to, or characteristic of surrealism 2 bizarre; fantastic; grotesque [back-form. < fol.]

surrealism (-iz'эm) •n. a modern movement in art and literature, in which an attempt is made to portray or interpret the workings of the unconscious mind as manifested in dreams: it is characterized by an irrational, fantastic arrangement of material sur·re'al·is´tic •adj. sur·re´al·ist •adj., n. sur·re'al·is´ti·cal·ly •adv. [Fr surréalisme: see SUR-¹ & REALISM]

surrebutter (sør'ri bût´эr) •n. Law a plaintiff's reply to a defendant's rebutter

surrejoinder (-ri join´dэr) •n. Law a plaintiff's reply to a defendant's rejoinder

surrender (sэ ren´dэr, sэr ren´dэr) •vt. 1 to give up possession of or power over; yield to another on demand or compulsion 2 to give up claim to; give over or yield, esp. voluntarily, as in favor of another 3 to give up or abandon {surrendering all hope} 4 to yield or resign (oneself) to an emotion, influence, etc. •vi. 1 to give oneself up to another's power or control, esp. as a prisoner 2 to give in (to) {to surrender to temptation} •n. [LME < MFr surrendre, inf. used as n.] 1 the act of surrendering, yielding, or giving up, over, or in 2 Insurance the voluntary abandonment of a policy by an insured person in return for a cash payment (surrender value), thus freeing the company of liability [ME surrendren < MFr surrendre < sur-, up (see SUR-¹) + rendre, to RENDER]

surreptitious (sør'эp tish´эs) •adj. 1 done, gotten, made, etc. in a secret, stealthy way; clandestine 2 acting in a secret, stealthy way SYN. SECRET sur'rep·ti´tious·ly •adv. sur'rep·ti´tious·ness •n. [ME surrepticious < L surrepticius < surreptus, pp. of surripere, to take away secretly < sub- (see SUB-) + rapere, to seize (see RAPE¹)]

Surrey (sør´i:) county of SE England: 638 sq. mi. (1,652 sq. km); pop. 1,014,000 Surrey (sør´i:), Earl of (Henry Howard) c. 1517-47; Eng. poet & courtier: executed for treason surrey (sør´i:) pl. -reys •n. Æ a light, four-wheeled pleasure carriage of the late 19th and early 20th cent., usually drawn by two horses and typically having two seats and a flat top [< Surrey (cart), a light pleasure cart first built in SURREY]

surrogacy (sør´э gэ si:) pl. -cies •n. 1 the fact or condition of being a surrogate 2 the act or practice of utilizing a surrogate mother to conceive and bear a child

surrogate (sør´э git, -geit'; for v., -geit') •n. 1 a deputy or substitute Æ 2 in some States, probate court, or a judge of this court 3 Psychiatry a substitute figure, esp. a person of some authority, who replaces a father or mother in one's feelings 4 a woman who substitutes for another unable to become pregnant, as by undergoing artificial insemination: in full surrogate mother •adj. of or acting as a surrogate •vt. -gat'ed, -gat'ing to put in another's place as a substitute or deputy [L surrogatus, pp. of surrogare, to elect in place of another, substitute < sub- (see SUB-) + rogare, to ask: see ROGATION]

surround (sэ raund´, sэr raund´) •vt. 1 to cause to be encircled on all or nearly all sides {police surrounded the house} 2 a) to form an enclosure around; encompass {a wall surrounds the city} b) to be present on all or nearly all sides of; encircle {lush fields surround the cottage} 3 to enclose (a fort, military unit, etc.) with troops so as to cut off communication or retreat; invest •n. [Chiefly Brit., etc.] something serving as a border, etc. [ME surrounden, altered (as if < sur-, SUR-¹ + round) < surunden, to overflow < OFr suronder < LL superundare < L super- (see SUPER-) + undare, to move in waves, rise < unda, a wave (see WATER)]

surrounding (-raun´diŋ) •n. 1 that which surrounds 2 [pl.] the things, conditions, influences, etc. that surround a given place or person; environment •adj. that surrounds

sursum corda (sør´sэm kör´dэ) an incitement to fervor, joy, etc. [L, lift up (your) hearts: opening words of the Preface of the Mass]

surtax (sør´tæks'; for v., also sør'tæks´) •n. an extra tax on something already taxed; esp. a graduated tax on the amount by which an income exceeds a given figure •vt. to levy a surtax on [SUR-¹ + TAX, based on Fr surtaxe]

surtout (sэr tu:´, -tu:t´; Fr süř tu:´) •n. a man's long, closefitting overcoat of the late 19th cent. [Fr, lit., overall < sur- (see SUR-¹) + tout < L totus, all: see TOTAL]

surv 1 survey 2 surveying 3 surveyor

surveillance (sэr vei´lэns; occas., -veil´yэns) •n. 1 a) close watch kept over someone, esp. a suspect b) constant observation of a place or process 2 supervision or inspection [Fr < surveiller, to watch over < sur- (see SUR-¹) + veiller < L vigilare, to watch, WAKE¹]

surveillant (-vei´lэnt; occas., -veil´yэnt) •n. a person who watches, observes, or supervises

survey (sэr vei´; also, and for n. usually, sør´vei') •vt. 1 to examine for some specific purpose; inspect or consider carefully; review in detail 2 to look at or consider, esp. in a general or comprehensive way; view 3 to determine the location, form, or boundaries of (a tract of land) by measuring the lines and angles in accordance with the principles of geometry and trigonometry 4 to make a survey of •vi. to survey land •n. pl. -veys 1 a detailed study or inspection, as by gathering information through observations, questionnaires, etc. and analyzing it 2 a general view; comprehensive study or examination {a survey of Italian art} 3 a) the process of surveying a tract of land b) a tract surveyed c) a plan or written description of this [ME surveien < Anglo-Fr surveier < OFr surveoir < sur- (see SUR-¹) + veoir < L videre, to see: see VISION]

surveying (sэr vei´iŋ) •n. 1 the act of one who surveys 2 the science or work of making land surveys

surveyor (-эr) •n. a person who surveys, esp. one whose work is surveying land [ME surveior < OFr surveour]

surveyor's level an instrument consisting of a revolving telescope mounted on a tripod and fitted with cross hairs and a spirit level, used by surveyors in finding points of identical elevation

surveyor's measure a system of measurement used in surveying, based on the chain (surveyor's chain) as a unit: see CHAIN (n. 5a)

survivable (sэr vaiv´э bªl) •adj. capable of surviving or being survived sur·viv'a·bil´i·ty •n.

survival (sэr vai´vэl) •n. 1 the act, state, or fact of surviving 2 someone or something that survives, esp. an ancient belief, custom, usage, etc.

survival of the fittest nontechnical term for NATURAL SELECTION

survivalist (-ist) •n. 1 someone strongly determined to survive 2 a person who takes measures, as storing food and weapons, living in a wilderness, etc., to ensure survival after an expected economic collapse, nuclear war, etc.

survive (sэr vaiv´) -vived´, -viv´ing •vt. 1 to live or exist longer than or beyond the life or existence of; outlive 2 to continue to live after or in spite of {to survive a wreck} •vi. to continue living or existing, as after an event or after another's death [ME surviven < OFr survivre < L supervivere < super-, above (see SUPER-) + vivere, to live (see BIO-)]

survivor (-эr) •n. 1 a person or thing that survives 2 someone capable of surviving changing conditions, misfortune, etc.

survivorship (-vai´vэr ship') •n. 1 the state of being a survivor 2 Law the right of a surviving joint owner or owners to the share of an owner who dies

sus- (sûs, sэs) prefix SUB- Used before c, p, and t [susceptible, suspend, sustain]

Susa (su:´sä) capital of ancient Elam, now a ruined city in W Iran

Susan (su:´zэn) a feminine name: dim. Sue, Susie, Suzy; var. Susanna, Susannah; equiv. Fr. Susanne, Suzanne [Fr Susanne < LL(Ec) Susanna < Gr(Ec) Sousanna < Heb shoshana, lily]

Susanna or Susannah (su: zæn´э) a feminine name See SUSAN

susceptance (sэ sep´tэns) •n. Elec. the reactance divided by the square of the impedance: loosely, the reciprocal of reactance [< fol. + -ANCE]

susceptibility (sэ sep'tэ bil´э ti:) pl. -ties •n. 1 the quality or state of being susceptible 2 [pl.] sensibilities; feelings 3 a susceptible temperament or disposition; capacity for receiving impressions 4 Physics the ratio of electric or magnetic polarization in a material to the strength of the field producing that polarization [ML susceptibilitas]

susceptible (sэ sep´tэ bэl) •adj. easily affected emotionally; having a sensitive nature or feelings susceptible of that gives a chance for; admitting; allowing {testimony susceptible of error} susceptible to easily influenced by or affected with {susceptible to disease} sus·cep´ti·ble·ness •n. sus·cep´ti·bly •adv. [ML susceptibilis < L susceptus, pp. of suscipere, to receive, undertake < sus- (see SUB-), under + capere, to take (see HAVE)]

susceptive (sэ sep´tiv) •adj. 1 SUSCEPTIBLE 2 RECEPTIVE sus·cep·tiv·i·ty (sûs'ep tiv´э ti:) or sus·cep´tive·ness •n. [ML susceptivus]

sushi (su:´shi:) •n. a Japanese dish consisting of small cakes of cold cooked rice flavored with vinegar, typically garnished with strips of raw or cooked fish, cooked egg, vegetables, etc. [Jpn]

suslik (sûs´lik) •n. 1 a small ground squirrel (Citellus citellus) of NC Eurasia 2 its fur [Russ, gopher, akin to OSlav sysati, to whistle, buzz < IE echoic base *sūs- > Ger sausen, to whistle]

suspect (sэ spekt´; for adj. usually, & for n. always, sûs´pekt') •vt. 1 to believe (someone) to be guilty of something specified, on little or no evidence 2 to believe to be bad, wrong, harmful, questionable, etc.; distrust 3 to think it probable or likely; guess; surmise; suppose •vi. to be suspicious; have suspicion •adj. viewed with suspicion; suspected •n. a person who is suspected, esp. one suspected of a crime, etc. [LME suspecten < L suspectus, pp. of suspicere, to look under, look up to, admire, also to mistrust < sus- (see SUB-), under + spicere, to look (see SPY)]

suspend (sэ spend´) •vt. 1 to bar or exclude as a penalty from an office, school, position, etc., usually for a specified time; debar 2 to cause to cease or become inoperative for a time; stop temporarily {to suspend train service, to suspend a rule} 3 a) to defer or hold back (judgment), as until more is known b) to hold in abeyance or defer action on (a sentence, etc.) 4 to hang by a support from above so as to allow free movement 5 to hold or keep (dust in the air, particles in a liquid, etc.) in suspension 6 [Now Rare] to keep in suspense, wonder, etc. 7 Music to continue (a note) into the following chord •vi. 1 to stop temporarily 2 to withhold payment of debts or obligations, as through inability to pay SYN. EXCLUDE, ADJOURN [ME suspenden < OFr suspendre < L suspendere, to hang up < sus-, for sub-, SUB- + pendere, to hang: see PEND]

suspended animation (sэ spen´did) a temporary cessation of the vital functions resembling death

suspenders (-dэrz) •n.pl. 1 a pair of straps or bands passed over the shoulders to hold up the trousers or a skirt 2 [Brit., etc. (exc. Cdn.)] garters for holding up stockings

suspense (sэ spens´) •n. 1 the state of being undecided or undetermined 2 a state of usually anxious uncertainty, as in awaiting a decision 3 the growing interest and excitement felt while awaiting a climax or resolution, as of a novel, play, series of events, etc. 4 [Rare] suspension or interruption, as of a legal right sus·pense´ful •adj. [ME < MFr suspens, suspense, delay, deferring < ML suspensum < L suspensus, suspended, uncertain, lit., hung up, pp. of suspendere, to SUSPEND]

suspense account Bookkeeping an account in which items are temporarily entered until their disposition can be determined

suspension (sэ spen´shэn) •n. 1 a suspending or being suspended; specif., a) a temporary barring from an office, school, etc. b) a temporary stoppage of payment, service, etc. c) a temporary canceling, as of rules d) a deferring of action on a sentence e) a holding back of a judgment, etc. 2 a supporting device or framework upon or from which something is suspended 3 the system of springs, shocks, etc. supporting a vehicle upon its undercarriage or axles 4 the act or means of suspending the balance or pendulum in a timepiece 5 Chem. a) the condition of a substance whose particles are dispersed through a fluid but not dissolved in it, esp. the condition of one having relatively large particles that will separate out on standing (cf. COLLOID) b) a substance in this condition 6 Music a) the continuing of one or more tones of one chord into a following chord while the other tones are changed, so that a temporary dissonance is created b) the tone or tones so continued [ML suspensio < LL, an arching < L suspensus: see SUSPENSE]

suspension bridge a bridge suspended from chains or cables which are anchored at either end and supported by towers at regular intervals

suspension point any of a series of dots, properly three, indicating the omission of a word, phrase, sentence, etc., as from something quoted

suspensive (sэ spen´siv) •adj. 1 that suspends, defers, or temporarily stops something 2 tending to suspend judgment; undecided 3 of, characterized by, expressing, or in suspense 4 [Rare] of or characterized by physical suspension sus·pen´sive·ly •adv. [ML suspensivus]

suspensoid (-soid') •n. a system of solid, colloidal particles suspended in a liquid [SUSPENS(ION) + (COLL)OID]

suspensor (-sэr) •n. 1 SUSPENSORY 2 Bot. a cell or group of cells that forces the embryo of a higher plant into its food supply, the endosperm [ML]

suspensory (-sэ ri:) •adj. 1 suspending, supporting, or sustaining {a suspensory muscle or bandage} 2 suspending or delaying, esp. so as to leave something undecided •n. pl. -ries 1 a suspensory muscle or bandage 2 a mesh fabric pouch for supporting the scrotum, held by a band around the hips [< L suspensus (see SUSPENSE) + -ORY]

suspensory ligament any of various ligaments supporting body organs; esp., a ligament supporting the lens of the eye

suspicion (sэ spish´эn) •n. 1 the act or an instance of suspecting guilt, a wrong, harmfulness, etc. with little or no supporting evidence 2 the feeling or state of mind of a person who suspects 3 a very small amount or degree; suggestion; inkling; trace •vt. [Colloq. or Dial.] to suspect above suspicion not to be suspected; honorable on suspicion on the basis of suspicion; because suspected under suspicion suspected [ME suspecion < Anglo-Fr suspecioun < OFr sospeçon < LL suspectio, orig., a looking up to, esteeming, later with sense and sp. of L suspicio, suspicion < L suspectus, pp. of suspicere, to look up at, admire, look secretly at, mistrust, suspect]

suspicious (-эs) •adj. 1 arousing or likely to arouse suspicion in others 2 showing or expressing suspicion 3 a) feeling suspicion b) tending habitually to suspect, esp. to suspect evil sus·pi´cious·ly •adv. sus·pi´cious·ness •n. [ME suspecious < OFr < L suspiciosus]

suspire (sэ spair´) -pired´, -pir´ing •vi. [Rare] to take a long, deep breath; esp., to sigh sus·pi·ra·tion (sûs'pi rei´shэn) •n. [ME suspiren < L suspirare, to breathe out < sub-, SUB- + spirare: see SPIRIT]

Susquehanna (sûs'kwi hæn´э) river flowing from central N.Y. through Pa. & Md. into Chesapeake Bay: 444 mi. (715 km) [< earlier Sasquesahanough, name of an Iroquoian tribe in an unidentified Eastern Algonquian language < name of the river: meaning of name unknown]

suss (sûs) •vt. [Slang, Chiefly Brit., etc. (exc. Cdn)] to figure out; grasp, as a result of investigation, study, or intuition: often with out [shortened < SUSPECT]

Sussex (sûs´iks) 1 former Anglo-Saxon kingdom in SE England: see HEPTARCHY 2 former county in SE England, on the English Channel: now divided into two counties: EAST SUSSEX & WEST SUSSEX •n. any of a breed of domestic chicken, originating in Sussex, with speckled or reddish feathers, usually raised for its meat [ME Suth-sæxe < OE Suth-Seaxe, South Saxon (land or people): see SOUTH & SAXON]

Sussex spaniel any of a breed of spaniel, originating in Sussex, with short legs, a docked tail, and a coat that is golden liver in color

sustain (sэ stein´) •vt. 1 to keep in existence; keep up; maintain or prolong {to sustain a mood} 2 to provide for the support of; specif., to provide sustenance or nourishment for 3 to support from or as from below; carry the weight or burden of 4 to strengthen the spirits, courage, etc. of; comfort; buoy up; encourage 5 to bear up against; endure; withstand 6 to undergo or suffer (an injury, loss, etc.) 7 to uphold the validity or justice of {to sustain a verdict} 8 to confirm; corroborate SYN. SUPPORT sus·tain´a·ble •adj. sus·tain´er •n. sus·tain´ment •n. [ME susteinen < OFr sustenir < L sustinere < sus- (see SUB-), under + tenere, to hold (see THIN)]

sustaining program (-iŋ) any radio or television program presented and paid for by a station or network rather than by a commercial sponsor

sustenance (sûs´tэ nэns) •n. 1 a sustaining or being sustained 2 one's means of livelihood; maintenance; support 3 that which sustains life; nourishment; food [ME < OFr soustenance < LL sustinentia, patience, endurance < L sustinere: see SUSTAIN]

sustentaculum (sûs'ten tæk´yэ lэm) pl. -la (-lэ) •n. Anat. a supporting structure sus'ten·tac´u·lar (-lэr) •adj. [ModL, a support < L < sustentare, to hold up, support, intens. of sustinere (see SUSTAIN)]

sustentation (-tei´shэn) •n. 1 a sustaining or being sustained; maintenance, support, or preservation 2 something that sustains or supports; sustenance sus·ten·ta·tive (sûs´ten teit'iv, sэs ten´tэ tiv') •adj. [ME < MFr < L sustentatio < sustentare, freq. of sustinere, to SUSTAIN]

sustention (sэ sten´shэn) •n. a sustaining or being sustained [< SUSTAIN by analogy with RETENTION]

Susu (su:´su:') •n. 1 pl. Su´sus' or Su´su' a member of an agricultural people living chiefly in the countries of Guinea and Sierra Leone 2 their Mande language

susurrant (sэ sør´эnt) •adj. whispering; murmuring; rustling [L susurrans, prp. of susurrare, to whisper: see SWARM¹]

susurrate (-eit') -rat'ed, -rat'ing •vi. to whisper; murmur; rustle su·sur·ra·tion (sûs'э rei´shэn) •n. [L susurratus, pp.: see SUSURRANT]

susurrus (-эs) •n. a whispering, murmuring, or rustling sound [L < susurrare: see SUSURRANT]

Sutherland (sûð´эr lэnd), Dame Joan 1926- ; Austral. operatic soprano Sutherland (sûð´эr lэnd) former county of N Scotland, now in the region of Highland: also Suth´er·land·shire' (-shir')

Sutlej (sût´lej) river flowing from SW Tibet across the Punjab into the Indus River in Pakistan: c. 900 mi. (1,448 km)

sutler (sût´lэr) •n. [Historical] a person following an army to sell food, liquor, etc. to its soldiers [16th-c. Du soeteler < soetelen, to do dirty work, akin to Ger sudeln, to do in a slovenly way < IE base *seu-, damp, juice > SUCK]

sutra (su:´trэ) •n. 1 Hinduism a) a precept or maxim b) a collection of these 2 Buddhism a scriptural narrative; esp., an account of a dialogue or sermon of the Buddha Also sut·ta (sut´э) [Sans sūtra, a thread, string < IE base *siw-, to SEW]

suttee (sэ ti:´, sût´i:) •n. 1 a Hindu widow who allowed herself to be cremated alive on the funeral pyre of her husband's body 2 the former Hindu custom of such self-immolation [Hindi sattī < Sans satī, chaste and virtuous wife < sat, good, pure, prp. of as, to be: for IE base see IS]

Sutter's Mill (sût´эrz) a mill, owned by John Sutter (1803-80), northeast of Sacramento, Calif.: discovery of gold near there led to the gold rush of 1849

Sutton (sût´ªn) borough of S Greater London, England: pop. 170,000

suture (su:´chэr) •n. 1 a) the act of joining together by or as by sewing b) the line along which such a joining is made 2 Anat. the joining together, or the irregular line of junction, of certain vertebrate bones, esp. of the skull 3 Bot. a) a seam formed when two parts unite b) a line of dehiscence along which a fruit, as a pod or capsule, splits 4 Surgery a) the act or method of joining together the two edges of a wound or incision by stitching or similar means b) any material, as gut, thread, wire, etc., so used c) a single loop or knot of such material made in suturing •vt. -tured, -tur·ing to join together with or as with sutures su´tur·al •adj. [L sutura < sutus, pp. of suere, to SEW]

Suva (su:´vä) capital of the Fiji Islands: seaport on Viti Levu Island: pop. 71,000

Suvorov (su vô´řôf), Count A·lek·san·dr (Vasilievich) (ä'lyik sän´dřª) 1729-1800; Russ. field marshal

Suwannee (sэ wän´i:, swä´-) river flowing from the Okefenokee Swamp across N Fla. into the Gulf of Mexico: c. 250 mi. (402 km) [< Creek < Sp San Juan, name of a Sp mission on the river]

suzerain (su:´zэ rin', -rein') •n. 1 a feudal lord 2 a state in its relation to a semiautonomous state over which it exercises political control [Fr < sus, above < L susum, sursum, upward, above (contr. of subversum < sub-, SUB- + versum, a turning < pp. of vertere: see VERSE) + ending of souverain, SOVEREIGN]

suzerainty (-ti:) pl. -ties •n. the position or power of a suzerain [Fr suzeraineté < MFr suserenete]

Suzhou (sü´jou´) city in S Jiangsu province, E China, on the Grand Canal: pop. 635,000

Svalbard (sväl´bäř) group of Norwegian islands, including Spitsbergen, in the Arctic Ocean, between Greenland & Franz Josef Land: 23,979 sq. mi. (62,106 sq. km)

Svedberg (unit) (sfed´bэrg) a unit of time, equal to 10-¹³ second, used in determining the rate of sedimentation of a macromolecule in an ultracentrifuge [after The(odor) Svedberg (1884-1971), Swed chemist]

svelte (svelt, sfelt) •adj. 1 slender and graceful; lithe: used chiefly of women 2 suave, polished, sophisticated, etc. {his svelte singing style} [Fr < It svelto, pp. of svegliere, to pull out, hence, to free < VL *exvellere, for L evellere, to pluck out < e-, out + vellere, to pluck: see VELLICATE]

Svengali (sven gä´li:, sfen-) •n. a person who dominates or manipulates another, esp. with evil intentions [from the evil hypnotist, Svengali, in the novel Trilby (1894) by DU MAURIER]

Sverdlovsk (sfeřd lôfsk´) old name (1924-91) of YEKATERINBURG

Sverige (sve´ři: э) Swed. name of SWEDEN

Sw 1 Sweden 2 Swedish SW 1 southwest 2 southwestern

swab (swäb) •n. 1 a yarn mop, usually used wet, for cleaning decks, floors, etc. 2 a) a small piece of cotton, cloth, sponge, etc. used to apply medicine to, or clean discharged matter from, the throat, mouth, etc. b) matter collected in this way 3 a brush, wad of cloth, etc. on a long handle, for cleaning the barrel of a gun 4 [Slang] a clumsy, loutish person 5 [Slang] a) a sailor Æ b) an enlisted man in the U.S. Navy: also swab´bie or swab´by (-i:) •vt. swabbed, swab´bing to use a swab on; clean, medicate, etc. with a swab [contr. < fol.]

swabber (-эr) •n. 1 a person who uses a swab 2 a device for swabbing [< or akin to 16th-c. Du zwabber < zwabben, to do dirty work, splash, akin to Ger schwappen < IE base *swep-, to throw, pour out > L supare, to throw around]

Swabia (swei´bi: э) region in SW Germany, formerly a duchy: Ger. name SCHWABEN Swa´bi·an •adj., n.

swacked (swækt) •adj. Æ [Slang] drunk; intoxicated

swaddle (swäd´ªl) -dled, -dling •vt. 1 to wrap (a newborn baby) in long, narrow bands of cloth, as was formerly the custom 2 to bind in or as in bandages; swathe •n. a cloth or bandage used for swaddling [ME swathil < OE swethel: see the vt.] [ME swathlen, prob. altered (infl. by swathen, to SWATHE¹) < swethlen < OE swethel, swaddling band, akin to swathian, to SWATHE¹]

swaddling clothes 1 the long, narrow bands of cloth wrapped around a newborn baby in former times 2 rigid controls or restrictions, such as those imposed on infants, the immature, etc. Also swaddling bands

swag (swæg) swagged, swag´ging •vi. 1 to sway or lurch 2 to hang down; sag •vt. 1 to decorate with swags 2 to hang in a swag •n. 1 a swaying or lurching 2 a valance, garland, chain, etc. hanging decoratively in a loop or curve; festoon 3 [Slang] stolen money or property; loot; plunder 4 [Austral.] a) a bundle containing personal belongings, as of an itinerant worker b) [Colloq.] a large number or amount {a swag of essays to mark} [< or akin to Norw svagga, to sway (in walking), SWAGGER]

swage (sweij) •n. 1 a kind of tool for bending or shaping metal 2 a die or stamp for shaping or marking metal by hammering •vt. swaged, swag´ing to use a swage on; shape, bend, etc. with a swage [ME < OFr souage]

swage block a block of metal made with grooves and perforations, used as a form in hammering out bolt heads, etc.

swagger (swæg´эr) •vi. 1 to walk with a bold, arrogant, or lordly stride; strut 2 to boast, brag, or show off in a loud, superior manner •vt. [Rare] to influence, force, etc. by blustering •n. swaggering walk, manner, or behavior SYN. BOAST² swag´ger·er •n. swag´ger·ing·ly •adv. [prob. < Norw dial. svagra, to sway in walking, freq. of svagga, to sway < IE base *swek-, to bend, turn]

swagger stick a short stick or cane as carried by some army officers, etc. Also [Brit.] swagger cane

swagman (swæg´mэn) pl. -men •n. [Austral.] 1 an itinerant worker 2 a tramp [with ref. to carrying a SWAG (n. 4a)]

Swahili (swä hi:´li:) •n. 1 pl. -lis or -li a member of a people inhabiting Zanzibar and the nearby mainland 2 their Northern Bantu language, characterized by a vocabulary with many Arabic roots and used as a lingua franca in EC Africa and parts of Zaire [< Ar sawāhil, pl. of sāhil, coast + -i, belonging to]

swain (swein) •n. [Archaic] 1 a country youth 2 a young rustic lover or gallant 3 a lover or suitor swain´ish •adj. swain´ish·ness •n. [ME swein < ON sveinn, boy, servant, akin to OE swan, shepherd, peasant, youth < IE *swe-, one's own, apart]

SWAK or swak sealed with a kiss: written on a letter, as from a lover or a child

swale (sweil) •n. 1 a hollow, depression, or low area of land Æ 2 such a place in a wet, marshy area [ME, shade, prob. < ON svalr, cool, akin to OE swelan, to burn, ignite < IE base *swel- > SWELTER]

swallow dive [Brit.] SWAN DIVE

swallow¹ (swäl´ou) •n. 1 any of a family (Hirundinidae) of small, swift-flying, insect-eating passerine birds with long, pointed wings and a forked tail, including the barn swallow and purple martin: they are known for their regular migrations in large flocks 2 any of various birds resembling swallows, as certain swifts [ME swalwe < OE swealwe, akin to Ger schwalbe, ON svala, swallow, & prob. Russ solovyej, Czech slavík, nightingale]

swallow² (swäl´ou) •vt. 1 to pass (food, drink, etc.) from the mouth through the gullet or esophagus into the stomach, usually by a series of muscular actions in the throat 2 to take in; absorb; engulf; envelop: often with up 3 to take back (words said); retract; withdraw 4 to put up with; tolerate; bear humbly {to swallow an insult} 5 to refrain from expressing; hold back; suppress {to swallow one's pride} 6 to utter (words) indistinctly 7 [Colloq.] to accept as true without question; receive gullibly •vi. to move the muscles of the throat as in swallowing something; specif., to do so under stress of emotion •n. 1 the act of swallowing 2 the amount swallowed at one time 3 [Now Chiefly Brit.] the throat or gullet 4 Naut. the opening in a block or pulley through which the rope runs swal´low·er •n. [ME swolwen < OE swelgan, akin to Ger schwelgen < IE base *swel-, to devour > SWILL]

swallowtail (-teil') •n. 1 something having a forked shape like that of a swallow's tail 2 any of a large family (Papilionidae) of brightly colored butterflies found worldwide, having the hind wings extended in taillike points

swallow-tailed (-teild´) •adj. having a tail or end extended in forked points like the tail of a swallow

swallow-tailed coat a man's full-dress coat, with long, tapering tails at the back

swallowwort (-wørt') •n. 1 CELANDINE (sense 1) 2 any of several plants of the milkweed family, as black swallowwort (Cynanchum nigrum), a twining European vine with purplish-brown flowers, now wild in the E U.S.

swam (swæm) •vi., vt. pt. of SWIM¹ & SWIM²

swami (swä´mi:) pl. -mis •n. 1 lord; master: a Hindu title of respect, esp. for a Hindu religious teacher 2 a learned man; pundit Also sp. swa´my, pl. -mies [Hindi svāmī < Sans svāmin, lord]

swamp (swämp, swömp) •n. a piece of wet, spongy land that is permanently or periodically covered with water, characterized by growths of shrubs and trees; marsh; bog •adj. of or native to a swamp •vt. 1 to plunge or sink in a swamp, deep water, etc. 2 to flood or submerge with or as with water 3 to overcome or overwhelm; ruin {swamped by debts} 4 to sink (a boat) by filling with water Æ 5 to make (a path) or clear (an area) by removing underbrush and slash, as in logging •vi. to become swamped; sink in or as in a swamp swamp´ish •adj. [< dial. var. (or LowG cognate) of ME sompe, akin to MLowG swamp, Goth & OE swamm, fungus, mushroom < IE base *swomb(h)os, spongy, porous > Gr somphos, spongy]

swamp buggy 1 an automotive vehicle for traveling over swampy or muddy terrain, esp. one with very large tires and often amphibious 2 AIRBOAT

swamp fever 1 MALARIA 2 EQUINE INFECTIOUS ANEMIA

swamper (swäm´pэr, swöm´-) •n. 1 a person who lives in a swamp 2 a person who works at swamping: see SWAMP (vt. 3) 3 a handyman or helper

swampland (-lænd') •n. a swamp, or land in a swamp, esp. when cultivable

swampy (swäm´pi:, swöm´-) swamp´i·er, swamp´i·est •adj. 1 of or consisting of a swamp or swamps 2 like a swamp; wet and spongy; marshy swamp´i·ness •n.

swan dive a forward dive in which the legs are held straight and together, the back is arched, and the arms are stretched out to the sides: the arms are brought forward and together just before entering the water

swan song 1 the sweet song supposed in ancient fable to be sung by a dying swan 2 the last act, final creative work, etc. of a person, as before retirement or death

swan¹ (swän, swön) •n. 1 pl. swans or swan any of several large-bodied, web-footed waterfowl with a long, graceful neck and, typically, pure white feathers: swans are graceful swimmers and strong fliers 2 a person who resembles or is thought to resemble a swan in some way; sometimes, specif., a great poet or singer •vi. [Colloq., Chiefly Brit., etc.] to move slowly or majestically, with a calm, serene air [S-] the constellation Cygnus [ME < OE, akin to Ger schwan < IE base *swen-, to sound, sing > L sonus, SOUND¹]

swan² (swän, swön) •vi. [Dial.] to swear Usually in the phrase I swan!, an exclamation of surprise, impatience, etc. [< ? Brit dial. Is' wan, I'll warrant]

Swanee (swä´ni:) var. of SUWANNEE

swang (swæŋ) •vi., vt. [Now Chiefly Dial.] pt. of SWING

swanherd (swän´hørd', swön´-) •n. a person who tends swans

swank¹ (swæŋk) •n. [Colloq.] 1 stylish display or ostentation in dress, etc. 2 swaggering, ostentatious behavior, speech, etc. •adj. [Colloq.] ostentatiously stylish •vi. [Slang] to act in a showy manner; swagger [orig. slang < dial. vi., akin to OE swancor, pliant, supple, with notion of swinging the body: for IE base see SWING]

swank² (swæŋk) •vi. alt. pt. of SWINK

swanky (swæŋ´ki:) swank´i·er, swank´i·est •adj. [Colloq.] ostentatiously stylish; expensive and showy swank´i·ly •adv. swank´i·ness •n. [SWANK¹ + -Y³]

swannery (swän´эr i:, swön´-) pl. -ner·ies •n. a place where swans are kept or bred

Swanscombe man (swänz´kэm) a type of early human (Homo sapiens steinheimensis) known from fossil remains and believed to be from the late Lower Paleolithic [after Swanscombe, town in Kent, England, where the remains were found]

swan's-down (swänz´daun', swönz´-) •n. 1 the soft, fine under-feathers, or down, of the swan, used for trimming clothes, etc. 2 a soft, thick fabric of wool and silk, rayon, or cotton, used for making baby clothes, etc. 3 a cotton fabric with a satin weave and a heavy napped finish 4 a very soft cotton flannel Also swans´down'

Swansea (swän´si:, -zi:) seaport in West Glamorgan, S Wales, on Bristol Channel: pop. 170,000

swanskin (swän´skin', swön´-) •n. 1 the skin of a swan with feathers on it 2 a closely woven flannel with a twill weave, used for work clothes

swan-upping (-ûp'iŋ) •n. the practice in England of marking young swans with a notch in the upper beak as a sign of ownership [< SWAN¹ + UP¹, v.]

swap (swäp, swöp) swapped, swap´ping •vt., vi. [Colloq.] to exchange, trade, or barter •n. [Colloq.] an exchange, trade, or barter swap´per •n. [ME swappen, to strike (prob. echoic): from the striking of hands on concluding a bargain]

swap meet a gathering of persons for the purpose of selling, buying, or bartering collectibles, used items, etc.

sward (swörd) •n. grass-covered soil; turf •vt. to cover with sward [ME swarde < OE sweard, a skin, hide, akin to Ger schwarte, rind, hard skin, ON svọrthr, skin]

sware (swer) •vi., vt. archaic pt. of SWEAR

swarm spore Biol. ZOOSPORE

swarm¹ (swörm) •n. 1 a large number of bees, led by a queen, leaving one hive for another to start a new colony 2 a colony of bees in a hive 3 a moving mass, crowd, or throng {a swarm of onlookers} •vi. 1 to gather and fly off in a swarm: said of bees 2 to move, collect, be present, etc. in large numbers; throng; abound 3 to be filled or crowded; teem •vt. to fill with a swarm; crowd; throng SYN. GROUP, CROWD¹ swarm´er •n. [ME < OE swearm, akin to Ger schwarm, prob. < IE base *swer-, to buzz > L susurrare, to hiss, whisper, sorex, Gr hyrax, shrew]

swarm² (swörm) •vi., vt. to climb (a tree, mast, pole, etc.) using the hands and feet; shin (up) [orig. naut. word < ?]

swart (swört) •adj. old poet. var. of SWARTHY [ME < OE sweart, akin to Ger schwarz, black < IE *swordos, dirty, black > L sordidus, SORDID]

swarth (swörθ) •n. dial. var. of SWARD •adj. var. of SWARTHY

swarthy (swörði:; also, -θi:) swarth´i·er, swarth´i·est •adj. having a dark complexion SYN. DUSKY swarth´i·ly •adv. swarth´i·ness •n. [< dial. swarth, var. of SWART + -Y³]

Swartkrans ape-man (svärt´kränz') an early hominid (Australopithecus robustus crassidens) known from fossil remains and thought to be from the Middle Pleistocene [after Swartkrans, near Johannesburg, South Africa, where the remains were found]

swash (swäsh, swösh) •vi. 1 to dash, strike, wash, etc. with a splashing sound; splash 2 to swagger or bluster •vt. to splash (a liquid), as in a container •n. 1 a body of swift, dashing water; specif., a channel cutting through or behind a sandbank 2 a bar washed over by the sea 3 the splashing of water or the sound of this 4 a swaggering or blustering action [echoic]

swash letters italic capital letters formed with long tails and flourishes

swashbuckler (-bûk'lэr) •n. a blustering, swaggering fighting man [prec. + BUCKLER]

swashbuckling (-bûk'liŋ) •n. the characteristic behavior of a swashbuckler; loud boasting or bullying •adj. of or typical of a swashbuckler Also swash´buck'ler·ing

swashing (-iŋ) •adj. 1 SWASHBUCKLING 2 splashing or dashing swash´ing·ly •adv.

swastika (swäs´ti kэ) •n. 1 a design or ornament of ancient origin in the form of a cross with four equal arms, each bent in a right-angle extension: a mystic symbol found in both the Old World and the New World 2 this design with the arms bent back clockwise, used in Nazi Germany and by other Nazi fascists as a party emblem and symbol of anti-Semitism [Sans svastika < svasti, well-being, benediction < su, well (< IE base *su-, var. of *swe-, *sewe-: see SUICIDE) + asti, he is: for IE base see IS]

Swat (swät) region in NE Pakistan, on the Indus River: a former princely state of India •n. pl. Swa·ti (swä´ti:) any of a people of Muslim faith who live in Swat SWAT (swät) •n. a special unit of a law enforcement agency, trained to deal with violence, riots, terrorism, etc. In full SWAT team [S(pecial) W(eapons) a(nd) T(actics)] swat (swät) swat´ted, swat´ting •vi. to hit with a quick, sharp blow •n. a quick, sharp blow, as with a bat or swatter [echoic]

swatch (swäch) •n. 1 a sample piece of cloth or other material 2 a small amount or number in a cluster, bunch, or patch [orig., a cloth tally < ?]

swath (swäθ, swöθ) •n. 1 the space or width covered with one cut of a scythe or other mowing device 2 [Rare] a stroke with a scythe 3 a line or row of grass, wheat, etc. cut in one course by a scythe, mower, etc. 4 a long strip, track, or belt of any particular kind Æ cut a wide swath to make an ostentatious display or forceful impression [ME swathe < OE swathu, a track, akin to Ger schwade, space covered by a scythe swing: for IE base see SWATHE1]

swathe¹ (swäð, sweið) swathed, swath´ing •vt. 1 to wrap or bind up in a long strip or bandage 2 to wrap (a bandage, etc.) around something 3 to surround or envelop; enclose •n. a bandage or wrapping swath´er •n. [ME swathen < OE swathian, akin to ON svatha, to glide, prob. < IE base *swei-, to turn, bend > SWAY]

swathe² (sweið) •n. var. of SWATH

Swati (swä´ti:) pl. -ti •n.or -tis var. of SWAT

Swatow (swä´tau´) old form of SHANTOU

swatter (swät´эr) •n. 1 a person who swats 2 a device, as of fine mesh on a handle, for swatting flies, etc.: in full fly swatter

sway (swei) •vi. 1 a) to swing or move from side to side or to and fro b) to vacillate or alternate between one position, opinion, etc. and another 2 a) to lean or incline to one side; veer b) [Obs.] to incline or tend in judgment or opinion 3 [Old Poet.] to rule; reign; hold sway •vt. 1 a) to cause to swing or move from side to side b) to cause to vacillate 2 a) to cause to lean or incline to one side b) to cause (a person, an opinion, actions, etc.) to be inclined a certain way or be turned from a given course; influence or divert {swayed by promises} 3 [Archaic] a) to wield (a scepter, etc.) b) to rule over or control; dominate 4 Naut. to hoist (a mast, etc.) into place: usually with up •n. 1 a swaying or being swayed; movement to the side; a swinging, leaning, fluctuation, etc. 2 influence, force, or control {moved by the sway of passion} 3 sovereign power or authority; rule; dominion SYN. AFFECT¹, POWER, SWING hold sway to reign or prevail sway´er •n. [ME sweyen < ON sveigja, to turn, bend: for IE base see SWATHE¹]

swaybacked (-bækt') •adj. having an abnormal sagging of the spine, usually as a result of strain or overwork, as some horses, etc. sway´back' •n. [prob. < (or transl. of) Dan sveibaget or sveirygget < ON sveigja, to bend, prec. + bak, BACK¹ or rygg, back, RIDGE]

Swazi (swä´zi:) •n. 1 pl. Swa´zis or Swa´zi a member of a farming people of Swaziland 2 their Bantu language

Swaziland (-lænd') country in SE Africa, surrounded on three sides by South Africa: a former British protectorate, it became an independent kingdom & member of the Commonwealth (1968): 6,705 sq. mi. (17,365 sq. km); pop. 626,000; cap. Mbabane

SWbS southwest by south

SWbW southwest by west

swear (swer) swore, sworn, swear´ing •vi. 1 to make a solemn declaration with an appeal to God or to something held sacred for confirmation {to swear on one's honor} 2 to make a solemn promise; vow 3 to use profane or obscene language; curse 4 Law to give evidence under oath •vt. 1 to declare solemnly in the name of God or of something held sacred 2 to pledge or vow on oath 3 to assert or promise with great conviction or emphasis 4 to take (an oath) by swearing 5 to administer a legal oath to swear by 1 to name (something held sacred) in taking an oath 2 to have great faith or confidence in swear for to give assurance for; guarantee swear in to administer an oath to (a person taking office, a witness, etc.) swear off to promise to give up, leave off, or renounce Æ swear out to obtain (a warrant for someone's arrest) by making a charge under oath swear´er •n. [ME swerien < OE swerian, akin to Ger schwören < IE base *swer-, to speak > OSlav svariti, to revile]

swearword (-wørd') •n. a word or phrase in swearing or cursing; profane or obscene word or phrase

sweat (swet) sweat or sweat´ed, sweat´ing •vi. 1 to give forth a characteristic salty moisture through the pores of the skin; perspire 2 a) to give forth moisture in droplets on its surface, as a ripening cheese b) to collect and condense water in droplets on its surface, as a glass of ice water in a warm room 3 to ferment: said of tobacco leaves, etc. 4 to come forth in drops through pores or a porous surface; ooze 5 to work hard enough to cause sweating 6 [Colloq.] to suffer distress, anxiety, etc. •vt. 1 a) to give forth (moisture) through pores or a porous surface b) to collect and condense (moisture) on the surface 2 to cause to sweat, or perspire, as by drugs, exercise, heat, etc. 3 to cause to give forth moisture; esp., to ferment {to sweat tobacco leaves} 4 to make wet with sweat, or perspiration 5 to heat (a metal) in order to extract an easily fusible constituent 6 a) to heat (solder) until it melts b) to unite (metal parts) by heating at the point of contact 7 to remove particles of metal from (a coin) illegally, as by abrading 8 a) to cause to work so hard as to sweat; overwork b) to cause (employees) to work long hours at low wages under poor working conditions; exploit (workers) Æ 9 [Colloq.] a) to get information from by torture or by long, grueling questioning; subject to the third degree b) to get (information) in this way 10 [Slang] to try hard or too hard to get or achieve •n. [altered < the v. < ME swat < OE] 1 the clear, alkaline, salty liquid given forth in drops through the pores of the skin; perspiration 2 moisture given forth or collected in droplets on the surface of something 3 a) the act or condition of sweating or being sweated b) an artificially induced sweating 4 a condition of eagerness, anxiety, impatience, etc. 5 hard work; drudgery 6 exercise, as a run, given a horse before a race 7 [pl.] clothes worn for exercising, warming up, etc.; specif., a sweat suit Æ no sweat [Slang] no trouble or difficulty at all; easily done: often used interjectionally sweat blood [Slang] 1 to work very hard; overwork 2 to be impatient, apprehensive, anxious, etc. sweat it [Slang] to be annoyed by something sweat off to get rid of (weight) by sweating Æ sweat out [Colloq.] 1 to get rid of or try to get rid of by sweating {to sweat out a cold} 2 to wait or suffer through (some ordeal, nuisance, etc.) 3 to anticipate or wait anxiously or impatiently for [ME sweten < OE swætan < swat, sweat, akin to Ger schweissen < IE base *sweid-, to sweat > Gr hidros, L sudor, sweat]

sweat equity [Colloq.] 1 hard work put into a house, business, etc. to increase its value 2 the increased value so produced

sweat gland any of the very small, coiled, tubular glands in the subcutaneous tissue that secrete sweat

sweat shirt a heavy, loose, long-sleeved pullover made of cotton jersey, worn as by athletes to absorb sweat during or after exercise, sometimes with loose trousers (sweat pants) of the same material, forming an ensemble (sweat suit)

sweatband (-bænd') •n. 1 a band, as of leather, inside a hat to protect the hat against damage from sweat 2 a band of absorbent cloth worn around the wrist or head to absorb perspiration

sweatbox (-bäks') •n. 1 a box in which hides, dried fruits, etc. are sweated 2 a place in which one sweats profusely, as because of close confinement, heat, etc.

sweat-equity (swet'ek´wэt i:) •adj. [Colloq.] designating or of a kind of plan for renovating houses, neighborhoods, etc. in which houses are offered free or at low prices to persons promising to make the necessary repairs

sweater (swet´эr) •n. 1 a person or thing that sweats, esp. to excess 2 a knitted or crocheted outer garment for the upper part of the body, with or without sleeves, styled as either a pullover or a jacket

sweating sickness an acute, infectious, rapidly fatal disease, epidemic in Europe in the 15th and 16th cent., characterized by high fever and profuse sweating

sweatshop (-shäp') •n. a shop where employees work long hours at low wages under poor working conditions

sweaty (-i:) sweat´i·er, sweat´i·est •adj. 1 a) sweating; covered with sweat b) damp with or smelling of sweat 2 of or like that of sweat {a sweaty odor} 3 causing sweat {a hot, sweaty day} 4 laborious or labored sweat´i·ly •adv. sweat´i·ness •n.

Swed 1 Sweden 2 Swedish

Swede (swi:d) •n. 1 a native or inhabitant of Sweden 2 [Chiefly Brit.] RUTABAGA [< SWEDISH TURNIP]

Sweden (swi:´dªn) country in N Europe, in the E part of the Scandinavian Peninsula: 173,620 sq. mi. (449,674 sq. km); pop. 8,320,000; cap. Stockholm: Swed. name SVERIGE

Swedenborg (swi:d´ªn börg'; Swed sveid´ªn bôř'yª), Emanuel (born Emanuel Swedberg) 1688-1772; Swed. scientist, mystic, & religious philosopher

Swedenborgian (swi:d'ªn bör´ji: эn, -gi:-) •n. any of the followers of Swedenborg; specif., any member of his Church of the New Jerusalem •adj. of Swedenborg, his doctrines, or his followers Swe'den·bor´gi·an·ism' or Swe´den·borg'ism' (-börg'iz'эm) •n.

Swedish (swi:d´ish) •adj. of Sweden, its people, their language, etc. •n. the North Germanic language of the Swedes the Swedish the people of Sweden

Swedish massage massage combined with a set of exercises (Swedish movements), used in treating certain diseases

Swedish turnip [Chiefly Brit.] RUTABAGA

sweeny (swi:n´i:) •n. atrophy of the shoulder muscles of horses [altered (prob. via PaGer schwinne) < Ger dial. schweine, atrophy < schweinen, to atrophy, shrink < OHG suinan, to decrease, akin to ON svina, to disappear < IE base *swi-, to disappear, decrease]

sweep (swi:p) swept, sweep´ing •vt. 1 to clear or clean (a surface, room, etc.) as by brushing with a broom 2 to remove or clear away (dirt, debris, etc.) as with a broom or brushing movement 3 to clear (a space, path, etc.) with or as with a broom 4 to strip, clear, carry away, remove, or destroy with a forceful movement or movements 5 to move or carry along with a sweeping movement {to sweep one's hand through one's hair} 6 to touch or brush in moving across {hands sweeping the keyboard} 7 to pass swiftly over or across; traverse, as in search {searchlights sweeping the sky} 8 to direct (the eyes, a glance, etc.) over something swiftly 9 a) to drag (a river, pond, etc.) with a net, grapple, etc. b) to clear (the sea, etc.) with a mine sweeper 10 to direct gunfire along; rake 11 a) to win all the games or events of (a series, set, or match) b) to win overwhelmingly {to sweep an election} •vi. 1 to clean a surface, room, etc. with or as with a broom or the like 2 to move, pass, or progress steadily or smoothly, esp. with speed, force, or gracefulness {planes sweeping across the sky, music sweeping to a climax} 3 to trail, as skirts or the train of a gown 4 to reach or extend in a long, graceful curve or line {a road sweeping up the hill} •n. 1 the act of sweeping, as with a broom 2 a) a continuous sweeping or driving movement {the sweep of a scythe} b) a stroke or blow resulting from this 3 a trailing, as of skirts 4 range or scope {within the sweep of their guns} 5 extent or range; stretch; reach {a long sweep of meadow} 6 a line, contour, curve, etc. that gives an impression of flow or movement 7 a person whose work is sweeping; specif., CHIMNEY SWEEP 8 [usually pl.] things swept up; sweepings 9 a) the taking or winning of all; complete victory or success, as in a series of contests b) in casino, the taking of all the cards on the board, by pairing or combining c) in whist, the winning of all the tricks in one deal 10 a long oar 11 a long pole mounted on a pivot, with a bucket at one end, used for raising water, as from a well Æ 12 a blade or plow-point of various widths, used in the shallow cultivation of row crops 13 a sail of a windmill 14 short for SWEEPSTAKES 15 Electronics a) a single horizontal traverse of the fluorescent screen by an electron beam in a cathode-ray tube or kinescope b) the deflection voltage or current that causes the visible dot to move across the screen, as in an oscilloscope 16 Football a play in which the ball carrier runs around the end of the line behind blockers 17 [usually pl.] [Colloq.] Radio, TV a) a national rating survey of local stations for determining advertising rates b) the period during which the survey is conducted [ME swepen, akin to (or ? altered <) OE swapan: see SWOOP]

sweep hand SECOND HAND (sense 1) Also sweep second hand

sweepback (-bæk') •n. 1 a backward slant of an airfoil, esp. of a wing 2 the angle formed by some reference line along an airplane wing and the lateral axis of the airplane

sweeper (-эr) •n. 1 a person who sweeps 2 a) a device for sweeping Æ b) short for CARPET SWEEPER 3 Soccer a defensive back who plays in front of the goalkeeper

sweeping (-iŋ) •adj. 1 that sweeps; cleansing or carrying away with or as with a broom 2 reaching in a long curve or line 3 extending over the whole range or a great space 4 a) extensive; comprehensive; thoroughgoing b) complete; decisive c) indiscriminate {a sweeping generalization} •n. 1 [pl.] things swept up, as dirt, particles, etc. swept from a floor 2 the act, work, etc. of a person or thing that sweeps sweep´ing·ly •adv.

sweepstakes (-steiks') pl. -stakes' •n. 1 a lottery in which each participant puts up money in a common fund which is given as the prize to the winner or in shares to several winners 2 a) a contest, esp. a horse race, the result of which determines the winner or winners of such a lottery b) the prize or prizes won in such a lottery 3 any of various other lotteries Also sweep´stake' (-steik') or sweeps [because the winner sweeps in all of the stakes]

Sweet (swi:t), Henry 1845-1912; Eng. linguist sweet (swi:t) •adj. 1 a) having a taste of, or like that of, sugar b) containing sugar in some form {sweet wines} 2 a) having a generally agreeable taste, smell, sound, appearance, etc.; pleasant b) agreeable to the mind; gratifying {sweet praise} c) having a friendly, pleasing disposition; characterized by kindliness and gentleness {a sweet girl} d) dear (formerly a polite form of address) {sweet sir} e) sentimental, saccharine, or cloying f) [Slang] good, delightful, etc. (a generalized epithet of approval) 3 a) not rancid, spoiled, sour, or fermented {sweet milk, sweet cider} b) not salty or salted (said of water or butter) c) free from sourness or acidity (said of soil) 4 Chem. a) free from unpleasant odors and gases b) purified and free from acid, corrosive elements, etc. 5 Jazz designating or of music or playing characterized by more or less strict adherence to melody, sentimentality or blandness in tone and rhythm, and a moderate tempo •n. 1 the quality of being sweet; sweetness 2 a) [pl.] sweet foods {I love sweets} b) [Chiefly Brit., etc.] a piece of candy, or a sweet dessert c) something, as an experience, that gives delight or satisfaction (usually used in pl.) {the sweets of victory} Æ d) short for SWEET POTATO 3 a sweet, or beloved, person; darling •adv. in a sweet manner be sweet on [Colloq.] to be in love with sweet´ly •adv. sweet´ness •n. [ME swete < OE, akin to swot, sweetness, Ger süss, sweet < IE base *swad-, pleasing to taste > Gr hēdys, sweet, L suadere, to persuade & suavis, sweet] sweet (swi:t) •adj. 1 a) having a taste of, or like that of, sugar b) containing sugar in some form {sweet wines} 2 a) having a generally agreeable taste, smell, sound, appearance, etc.; pleasant b) agreeable to the mind; gratifying {sweet praise} c) having a friendly, pleasing disposition; characterized by kindliness and gentleness {a sweet girl} d) dear (formerly a polite form of address) {sweet sir} e) sentimental, saccharine, or cloying f) [Slang] good, delightful, etc. (a generalized epithet of approval) 3 a) not rancid, spoiled, sour, or fermented {sweet milk, sweet cider} b) not salty or salted (said of water or butter) c) free from sourness or acidity (said of soil) 4 Chem. a) free from unpleasant odors and gases b) purified and free from acid, corrosive elements, etc. 5 Jazz designating or of music or playing characterized by more or less strict adherence to melody, sentimentality or blandness in tone and rhythm, and a moderate tempo •n. 1 the quality of being sweet; sweetness 2 a) [pl.] sweet foods {I love sweets} b) [Chiefly Brit., etc.] a piece of candy, or a sweet dessert c) something, as an experience, that gives delight or satisfaction (usually used in pl.) {the sweets of victory} Æ d) short for SWEET POTATO 3 a sweet, or beloved, person; darling •adv. in a sweet manner be sweet on [Colloq.] to be in love with sweet´ly •adv. sweet´ness •n. [ME swete < OE, akin to swot, sweetness, Ger süss, sweet < IE base *swad-, pleasing to taste > Gr hēdys, sweet, L suadere, to persuade & suavis, sweet]

sweet alyssum a short garden plant (Lobularia maritima) of the crucifer family, with small spikes of tiny flowers

sweet basil a basil (Ocimum basilicum) See BASIL

sweet bay 1 LAUREL (n. 1) Æ 2 a North American magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) with fragrant, white flowers, common along the coast from Maine to Texas

sweet cherry 1 an Old World cherry (Prunus avium) whose fruits have a sweet pulp and juice: many varieties have been derived from this tree 2 its fruit See BIGARREAU, HEART CHERRY

sweet cicely Æ 1 any of several perennial North American herbs (genus Osmorhiza) of the umbel family, with compound leaves and clusters of small, white flowers 2 a European perennial herb (Myrrhis odorata) of the umbel family, with anise-scented leaves formerly used in flavoring

sweet clover any of a genus (Melilotus) of annual or biennial plants of the pea family, with small, white or yellow flowers, leaflets in groups of three, and single-seeded pods: grown for hay, forage, or green manure

sweet corn 1 any of various strains of Indian corn with kernels rich in sugar, eaten as a table vegetable in the unripe, or milky, stage 2 an ear of such corn

sweet fern a flowering shrub (Comptonia peregrina) of the bayberry family, with fragrant, fernlike leaves

sweet flag a perennial marsh plant (Acorus calamus) of the arum family, with sword-shaped leaves, small, green flowers, and a sweet-scented rhizome

sweet gale a fragrant marsh plant (Myrica gale) of the bayberry family, with bitter leaves and yellowish flowers

sweet gum 1 a large North American tree (Liquidambar styraciflua) of the witch hazel family, with alternate maplelike leaves, spiny fruit balls, and fragrant juice 2 the wood of this tree 3 STORAX (n. 1)

sweet marjoram an annual marjoram (Origanum majorana) grown for its aromatic leaves used in cooking

sweet nothings [Colloq.] murmured words of endearment, as between sweethearts

sweet oil any mild, edible oil, as olive oil

sweet pea a climbing annual plant (Lathyrus odoratus) of the pea family, with butterfly-shaped flowers

sweet pepper 1 a variety of the red pepper producing a large, mild fruit: see CAPSICUM (sense 1) 2 the fruit

sweet potato 1 a tropical, trailing plant (Ipomoea batatas) of the morning-glory family, with purplish flowers and a fleshy, brownish, tuberlike root used as a vegetable 2 its root 3 [Colloq.] OCARINA

sweet tooth [Colloq.] a fondness or craving for sweets

sweet william or sweet William a perennial pink (Dianthus barbatus) with dense, flat clusters of small flowers

sweet-and-sour (swi:t´ªn saur´) •adj. cooked with or incorporating both sugar and a sour substance, as vinegar or lemon juice

sweetbread (swi:t´bred') •n. the thymus (heart sweetbread or throat sweetbread) or sometimes the pancreas (stomach sweetbread) of a calf, lamb, etc., when used as food: usually used in pl. [Early ModE < SWEET + BREAD, in OE sense morsel]

sweetbrier or sweetbriar (-brai'эr) •n. EGLANTINE

sweeten (swi:t´ªn) •vt. 1 to make sweet with or as with sugar 2 to make pleasant or agreeable, as to the sense of smell 3 to counteract the acidic condition of (the soil, the stomach, etc.) 4 a) to mollify; appease b) [Now Rare] to alleviate; ease 5 [Colloq.] Business a) to increase the value of (collateral for a loan) by pledging additional securities b) to increase the value of (an offer) in order to induce acceptance, promote sales, etc. 6 [Slang] Poker to add further stakes to (a pot) before opening •vi. to become sweet

sweetener (-эr) •n. a sweetening agent, esp. a synthetic substance such as saccharin

sweetening (-iŋ) •n. 1 the process of making sweet 2 something that sweetens

sweetheart (-härt') •n. 1 a) someone with whom one is in love and by whom one is loved; lover b) darling (a term of endearment) 2 [Slang] a very agreeable person or an excellent thing

sweetheart contract a contract arranged by collusion between union officials and an employer with terms disadvantageous to union members Also sweetheart deal or sweetheart agreement

sweetie (swi:t´i:) •n. [Colloq.] SWEETHEART Also sweetie pie

sweeting (-iŋ) •n. 1 a variety of sweet apple 2 [Archaic] SWEETHEART

sweetish (-ish) •adj. rather sweet

sweetmeat (-mi:t') •n. any sweet food or delicacy prepared with sugar or honey, as a cake, confection, preserve, etc.; specif., a candy, candied fruit, etc. [LME sweit meit < OE swetmete: see SWEET & MEAT]

sweetsop (-säp') •n. 1 a tropical American tree (Annona squamosa) of the custard-apple family, having green fruit with a sweet pulp and black seeds 2 its edible fruit

sweet-talk (-tök') •vt., vi. [Colloq.] to talk in a flattering or blandishing way (to)

swell (swel) swelled, swelled or swol´len, swell´ing •vi. 1 to increase in volume or become larger as a result of pressure from within; expand; dilate 2 to become larger at a particular point; curve out; bulge; protrude 3 to extend beyond or above the normal or surrounding level 4 to form swells, or large waves: said of the sea 5 to be or become filled (with pride, indignation, self-importance, etc.) 6 to increase within a person, as a feeling {the anger swelling in him} 7 to increase in size, force, intensity, degree, etc. {membership swelled to a thousand} 8 to increase in volume or loudness •vt. to cause to swell; specif., a) to cause to increase in size, volume, extent, degree, etc. b) to cause to bulge or protrude c) to fill with pride, indignation, etc.; inflate; puff d) to cause (a tone, chord, etc.) to increase in loudness •n. 1 a part that swells, bulge; curve; protuberance; specif., a) a large wave that moves steadily without breaking b) a piece of rising ground; rounded hill or slope 2 a swelling or being swollen 3 an increase in size, amount, extent, degree, etc. 4 [Colloq.] a) a person who is strikingly stylish, esp. in dress b) a person of social prominence 5 an increase in loudness of sound 6 Music a) a gradual increase in volume (crescendo), usually followed by a gradual decrease (decrescendo) b) a sign (<>) indicating this c) a device for controlling the loudness of tones, as in an organ •adj. [ME swelle, tumid, proud] 1 [Colloq.] stylish; very fashionable 2 [Slang] first-rate; excellent: a generalized epithet of approval SYN. EXPAND [ME swellen < OE swellan; akin to Ger schwellen, ON svella]

swell box a chamber enclosing one or more sets of organ pipes or reeds and fitted with movable shutters that regulate the loudness of tone

swelled head [Colloq.] an exaggerated notion of one's own worth

swellfish (swel´fish') pl. (see FISH) -fish' or -fish'es PUFFER (sense 2) •n.

swellhead (-hed') •n. [Colloq.] a vain or conceited person; egotist swell´head'ed •adj. swell´head'ed·ness •n.

swelling (-iŋ) •n. 1 an increasing or being increased in size, volume, etc. 2 something swollen; esp., an abnormally swollen part of the body

swelter (swel´tэr) •vi. to be or feel uncomfortably hot; sweat, feel weak, etc. from great heat •vt. 1 to cause to swelter 2 [Archaic] to exude (venom or poison) •n. 1 the condition of sweltering 2 oppressive heat [freq. of ME swelten, to die, swoon away, faint < OE sweltan, to die < IE base *swel-, to burn > Gr heilē, sun's heat]

sweltering (-iŋ) •adj. 1 that swelters or suffers from the heat 2 very hot; sultry Also swel·try (swel´tri:), -tri·er, -tri·est swel´ter·ing·ly •adv.

swept (swept) •vt., vi. pt. & pp. of SWEEP

sweptback (swept´bæk') •adj. 1 having a sweepback: said of the wing of an aircraft 2 having sweptback wings: said of an aircraft

sweptwing (-wiŋ') •n. Aeron. a sweptback wing

swerve (swørv) swerved, swerv´ing •vi., vt. to turn aside or cause to turn aside sharply or suddenly from a straight line, course, etc. •n. the act or degree of swerving SYN. DEVIATE swerv´er •n. [ME swerven < OE sweorfan, to file away, scour < IE base *swerbh-, to turn, wipe, sweep > Gr syrphetos, sweepings, litter]

sweven (swev´эn) •n. [Archaic] a dream or vision [ME < OE swefn, a dream, sleep < IE *swepnos < base *swep- > L somnus, Gr hypnos, sleep]

SWG standard wire gauge

swidden (swid´ªn) •adj. SLASH-AND-BURN

swift (swift) •adj. 1 moving or capable of moving with great speed; rapid; fast 2 coming, happening, or done quickly or suddenly 3 acting or responding quickly; prompt; ready •adv. in a swift manner •n. 1 a cylinder in a carding machine 2 an expanding reel used to hold skeins of silk, etc. that are being wound off 3 any of a large family (Apodidae, order Apodiformes) of aerial-feeding, insectivorous, swift-flying, swallowlike birds with long, stiff wings and a small, weak bill, as the chimney swift 4 any of several swift-moving North American iguanas (genera Sceloporus and Uta) living esp. in arid or desert regions 5 a small fox (Vulpes velox) of the plains of W U.S. and S Canada: in full swift fox SYN. FAST¹ swift´ly •adv. swift´ness •n. [ME < OE < IE *sweip- < base *swei-, to bend, turn > SWATHE¹, SWOOP] Swift (swift), Jonathan 1667-1745; Eng. satirist, born in Ireland swift (swift) •adj. 1 moving or capable of moving with great speed; rapid; fast 2 coming, happening, or done quickly or suddenly 3 acting or responding quickly; prompt; ready •adv. in a swift manner •n. 1 a cylinder in a carding machine 2 an expanding reel used to hold skeins of silk, etc. that are being wound off 3 any of a large family (Apodidae, order Apodiformes) of aerial-feeding, insectivorous, swift-flying, swallowlike birds with long, stiff wings and a small, weak bill, as the chimney swift 4 any of several swift-moving North American iguanas (genera Sceloporus and Uta) living esp. in arid or desert regions 5 a small fox (Vulpes velox) of the plains of W U.S. and S Canada: in full swift fox SYN. FAST¹ swift´ly •adv. swift´ness •n. [ME < OE < IE *sweip- < base *swei-, to bend, turn > SWATHE¹, SWOOP]

swifter (swif´tэr) •n. Naut. any of various ropes used for tightening or securing some part or thing [< obs. swift, to tighten, fasten with a taut rope]

swift-footed (swift´fut´id) •adj. that can run swiftly

swig (swig) swigged, swig´ging •vt., vi. [Colloq.] to drink, esp. in great gulps or quantities •n. [Colloq.] an instance of swigging; deep draft, esp. of liquor swig´ger •n. [< ?]

swill (swil) •vt. 1 to flood with water so as to wash or rinse 2 to drink greedily or in large quantity 3 to feed swill to (pigs, etc.) •vi. to drink, esp. liquor, in large quantities •n. 1 garbage, table scraps, etc. mixed with liquid and used for feeding pigs, etc.; wash 2 garbage or slop 3 the act of swilling 4 a deep draft of liquor; swig [ME swilen < OE swilian < IE base *swel-, to devour > SWALLOW²]

swim bladder a gas-filled sac in the dorsal portion of the body cavity of most bony fishes, giving buoyancy to the body and used as an accessory, lunglike organ in lungfishes

swim fin FLIPPER (sense 2)

swim¹ (swim) swam, swum, swim´ming •vi. 1 to move through water by movements of the arms and legs, or of flippers, fins, tail, etc. 2 to move with a smooth, gliding motion, as though swimming 3 to float on the surface of a liquid 4 to be covered or saturated with or as with a liquid 5 to overflow; be flooded {eyes swimming with tears} •vt. 1 to move in or across (a body of water) by swimming 2 to cause to swim or float 3 to perform (a specified stroke) in swimming •n. 1 the act or motion of swimming 2 a period of swimming for sport {a short swim before lunch} 3 a distance swum or to be swum 4 short for SWIM BLADDER •adj. [Colloq.] of or for swimming {swim trunks} in the swim conforming to the current fashions, or active in the main current of affairs swim´ma·ble •adj. swim´mer •n. [ME swimmen < OE swimman, akin to Ger schwimmen < IE base *swem-, to move vigorously, be in motion > Welsh chwyfio, to move]

swim² (swim) •n. the condition of being dizzy; dizzy spell •vi. swam, swum, swim´ming 1 to be dizzy {the excitement made my head swim} 2 to have a hazy, reeling, or whirling appearance {the room swam before me} [ME swime < OE swima, akin to Du zwijmen, to faint < IE base *swei-, to bend, turn > SWIFT]

swimmeret (swim´эr et') •n. any of the small, abdominal appendages, or pleopods, in certain crustaceans, used primarily in swimming and for carrying eggs

swimming hole a pond or a deep place in a river, creek, etc. used for swimming

swimming pool a pool of water used for swimming; esp., an artificially created pool, or tank, either indoors or outdoors and usually with water-filtering equipment

swimming¹ (swim´iŋ) •n. the act, practice, sport, etc. of a person or animal that swims •adj. 1 that swims 2 of, for, or used in swimming 3 flooded or overflowing with or as with water {swimming eyes}

swimming² (swim´iŋ) •n. dizziness •adj. affected with a dizzy, whirling sensation [see SWIM²]

swimmingly (-li:) •adv. easily and with success

swimsuit (swim´su:t') •n. a garment worn for swimming

swimwear (-wer') •n. garments worn for swimming

Swinburne (swin´bэrn), Algernon Charles 1837-1909; Eng. poet & critic

swindle (swin´dэl) -dled, -dling •vt. 1 to get money or property from (another) under false pretenses; cheat; defraud 2 to get by false pretenses or fraud •vi. to engage in swindling others •n. an act of swindling; trick; cheat; fraud SYN. CHEAT [back-form. < fol.]

swindle sheet [Slang] EXPENSE ACCOUNT

swindler (swind´lэr) •n. a person who swindles; cheat [Ger schwindler < schwindeln, to be dizzy, defraud, cheat < OHG swintilon, freq. of swintan, to disappear, wither, prob. < IE base *(s)wendh-, to disappear > OSlav uvedati, to wither]

swine (swain) pl. swine •n. 1 any of a family (Suidae) of omnivorous, artiodactylous mammals with a bristly coat and elongated, flexible snout; esp., a domesticated pig or hog: usually used collectively 2 a vicious, contemptible, or disgusting person [ME swin < OE, akin to Ger schwein < IE base *su-, pig, sow > Gr hys, SOW¹, L sus]

swine flu a virulent, highly contagious influenza infecting people and swine

swineherd (-hørd') •n. a person who tends swine

swing (swiŋ) swung, swing´ing •vi. 1 to sway or move backward and forward with regular movement, as a freely hanging object or a ship at anchor; oscillate 2 to walk, trot, etc. with freely swaying, relaxed movements of the limbs 3 to deliver or aim a blow; strike (at) 4 to turn or pivot, as on a hinge or swivel {the door swung open} 5 to move in a curve, esp. in order to go around something {the driver swung around the stalled car} 6 a) to hang; be suspended b) [Colloq.] to be put to death by hanging 7 to move backward and forward on a SWING (n. 10) Æ 8 to have an exciting rhythmic quality {music that really swings} Æ 9 [Slang] to be ultra-fashionable, sophisticated, active, etc., esp. in the pursuit of pleasure 10 [Slang] a) to engage in casual sexual relations, esp. in an open, deliberate way b) to exchange partners with other couples and engage in sexual activity (said esp. of married couples) •vt. 1 a) to move or wave (a weapon, tool, bat, etc.) with a sweeping motion; flourish; brandish b) to lift or hoist with a sweeping motion 2 to cause (a hanging object) to sway backward and forward; specif., to cause (a person on a swing) to move backward and forward by pushing or pulling the swing 3 to cause to turn or pivot, as on a hinge or swivel {to swing a door open} 4 to cause to hang freely, so as to be capable of easy movement {to swing a hammock} 5 to cause to move in a curve {to swing a car around a corner} 6 to move (a ship or aircraft) through the points of the compass in order to check compass error Æ 7 [Colloq.] to cause to come about successfully; manage with the desired results {to swing an election} Æ 8 to play (music) in the style of swing •n. 1 the act or process of swinging 2 the arc, or the length of the arc, through which something swings {the swing of a pendulum} 3 the manner of swinging; specif., the manner of striking with a golf club, baseball bat, the arm, etc. 4 freedom to do as one wishes or is naturally inclined {given full swing in the matter} 5 a free, relaxed motion, as in walking 6 a sweeping blow or stroke 7 the course, development, or movement of some activity, business, etc. 8 the power, or force, behind something swung or thrown; impetus 9 rhythm, as of poetry or music 10 a device, as a seat hanging from ropes or chains, on which one can sit and swing backward and forward as a form of amusement 11 a trip or tour {a swing around the country} Æ 12 a style of jazz, esp. in its development from about 1935 to 1945, characterized by the use of large bands, fast tempos, and written arrangements for ensemble playing Æ 13 [Colloq.] Business regular upward and downward change in the price of stocks or in some other business activity Æ adj. 1 of, in, or playing swing (music) 2 having or likely to have decisive power, as in determining the result of an election {the swing vote} in full swing 1 in complete and active operation 2 going on without reserve or restraint swing´y, swing´i·er, swing´i·est, •adj. SYN.—swing suggests the to-and-fro motion of something that is suspended, hinged, pivoted, etc. so that it is free to turn or swivel at the point or points of attachment [a swinging door]; sway describes the swinging motion of something flexible or self-balancing, whether attached or unattached, in yielding to pressure, weight, etc. [branches swaying in the wind]; to oscillate is to swing back and forth, within certain limits, in the manner of a pendulum; vibrate suggests the rapid, regular, back-and-forth motion of a plucked, taut string and is applied in physics to a similar movement of the particles of a fluid or elastic medium [sound vibrations]; fluctuate implies continual, irregular alternating movements and is now most common in its extended sense [fluctuating prices]; undulate implies a gentle wavelike motion or form [undulating land] [ME swingen < OE swingan, akin to Ger schwingen, to brandish < IE base *sweng-, to curve, swing]

swing bridge a bridge that can be swung back in a horizontal plane to allow tall vessels, etc. to pass

swing shift [Colloq.] the work shift between the day and the night shifts, commonly from 4:00 P.M. to midnight

swingby (-bai') •n. a flight path of a spacecraft using the gravitational field of an intermediate planet or the destination planet to achieve a desired change in course or orbit

swinge (swinj) swinged, swinge´ing •vt. [Archaic] to punish with blows; beat; whip [ME swengen < OE swengan, caus. of swingan, to SWING]

swingeing (-iŋ) •adj. [Brit., etc. (exc. Cdn.)] 1 forceful, often in a negative way; severe {a swingeing attack} 2 [Now Rare] huge; very large [prp. of prec.: cf. STRAPPING]

swinger (swiŋ´эr) •n. 1 one that swings Æ 2 [Slang] a person who is sophisticated, ultra-fashionable, active, uninhibited, etc., esp. in the pursuit of pleasure 3 [Slang] a) a person who swings (see SWING, vi. 10a) b) either one of a couple that swings (see SWING, vi. 10b)

swinging (swiŋ´iŋ) •adj. 1 that swings 2 done with a swing Æ 3 [Slang] lively, sophisticated, ultra-fashionable, etc. 4 [Slang] engaging in casual or group sexual relations swing´ing·ly •adv.

swinging door a door hung so that it can be opened in either direction and swings shut by itself

swingle¹ (swiŋ´gэl) -gled, -gling •vt. to clean (flax or hemp) by beating or scraping with a swingle •n. [ME < OE swingele < MDu swinghel: for IE base see SWING] 1 a wooden, swordlike tool used to clean flax or hemp by beating or scraping 2 the swiple of a flail [ME swinglen < MDu swinghelen < swinghel, a swingle: see the n.]

swingle² (swiŋ´gªl) •n. [Slang] an unmarried person who engages in casual sexual relations [SWIN(GER) + (SIN)GLE]

swingletree (-tri:') •n. SINGLETREE

swingman (swiŋ´mэn) •n. Basketball a player able to play either of two positions effectively, esp. guard and forward

swinish (swain´ish) •adj. of, like, fit for, or characteristic of swine; beastly, piggish, coarse, etc. swin´ish·ly •adv. swin´ish·ness •n. [ME swinisch]

swink (swiŋk) swinked or swank, swink´ing •n., vi. [Archaic] labor; toil [ME swinken < OE swincan: for IE base see SWING]

swipe (swaip) •n. 1 a lever or handle 2 [Colloq.] a hard, sweeping blow 3 [Colloq.] a groom for horses, esp. at a racetrack •vt. swiped, swip´ing [< ? ON svipa, to whip, make a swift motion, akin to SWOOP] 1 [Colloq.] to hit with a hard, sweeping blow Æ 2 [Slang] to steal; pilfer •vi. to make a sweeping blow or stroke [prob. var. of SWEEP]

swipes (swaips) •n.pl. [Brit. Slang] beer, esp. weak or inferior beer [< prec., in obs. sense of gulp down]

swiple or swipple (swip´эl) •n. the part of a flail that strikes the grain in threshing [ME swepyl < swepen, to SWEEP]

swirl (swørl) •vi. 1 to move with a twisting, whirling motion; eddy 2 to swim, or be dizzy, as the head •vt. to cause to swirl; whirl •n. 1 a swirling motion; whirl; eddy 2 something having a twisting, curving form; twist; curl; whirl; whorl 3 dizzy confusion swirl´ing·ly •adv. [ME (Scot) swyrl, prob. < Norw dial. svirla, freq. of sverra, to whirl: for IE base see SWARM¹]

swirly (swørl´i:) •adj. 1 full of swirls; swirling 2 [Scot.] tangled

swish (swish) •vi. 1 to move with a sharp, hissing sound, as a cane swung through the air 2 to move with a light, brushing sound, as skirts in walking 3 Basketball to pass through the basket without hitting the hoop or backboard: said of a ball •vt. 1 to cause to swish 2 to whip or flog 3 to move (liquid), esp. in the mouth, with a light, hissing or gurgling sound {swish the mouthwash around} 4 Basketball to cause (a ball) to swish •n. 1 a hissing or rustling sound 2 a movement, etc. that makes this sound Æ 3 [Slang] an effeminate male homosexual: a term of contempt and hostility •adj. 1 [Colloq., Chiefly Brit., etc.] fashionable Æ 2 [Slang] of, like, or for effeminate male homosexuals: a term of contempt and hostility [echoic]

swishy (-i:) swish´i·er, swish´i·est •adj. 1 making a hissing or rustling sound Æ 2 [Slang] designating, of, like, or for effeminate male homosexuals: a term of contempt and hostility

Swiss (swis) •adj. of Switzerland, its people, or its culture •n. 1 pl. Swiss a native or inhabitant of Switzerland 2 [s-] a type of sheer fabric: see DOTTED SWISS the Swiss the people of Switzerland [Fr Suisse < MHG Swiz]

Swiss (cheese) a white or pale-yellow, hard cheese with many large holes [so named because orig. made in Switzerland]

Swiss chard CHARD

Swiss Guards a corps of Swiss mercenary soldiers, esp. those hired as Vatican bodyguards to the pope

Swiss steak a thick cut of steak, esp. round steak, pounded with flour, browned, and cooked slowly, usually with tomatoes, onions, etc.

switch (swich) •n. 1 a thin, flexible twig, rod, stick, etc., esp. one used for whipping 2 the bushy part of the tail in some animals, as the cow 3 a separate tress or plait of natural or synthetic hair bound at one end and used by women as part of a coiffure 4 an abrupt, sharp, lashing movement, as with a switch 5 a device used to open, close, or divert an electric circuit 6 a) a movable section of railroad track used in transferring a train from one set of tracks to another Æ b) SIDING (sense 2) 7 a shift or transference, esp. if sudden or unexpected •vt. 1 to whip or beat with or as with a switch 2 to jerk or swing sharply; lash {a cow switching its tail} 3 to shift; transfer; change; turn aside; divert 4 a) to operate the switch of (an electric circuit) so as to connect, disconnect, or divert b) to turn (an electric light or appliance) on or off in this way Æ 5 to transfer (a railroad train or car) from one set of tracks to another by use of a switch; shunt 6 [Colloq.] to change or exchange {to switch places} •vi. Æ 1 to move from or as from one set of tracks to another 2 to shift; transfer; change 3 to swing sharply; lash switch´er •n. [Early ModE swits, prob. < MDu or LowG, as in MDu swick, a whip, akin to ON sveigr, flexible stalk: for IE base see SWOOP]

switch cane a small bamboo (Arundinaria tecta) native to the SE U.S.

switchback (-bæk') •n. 1 a road or railroad following a zigzag course up a steep grade 2 [Brit., etc. (exc. Cdn.)] ROLLER COASTER

switchblade (knife) (-bleid') a large jackknife that snaps open when a release button on the handle is pressed

switchboard (-börd') •n. a board or panel equipped with apparatus for controlling the operation of a system of electric circuits, as in a telephone exchange

switch-hitter (-hit'эr) •n. 1 a baseball player who bats sometimes right-handed and sometimes left-handed 2 [Colloq.] a person who is competent in two different jobs, specialties, roles, etc. 3 [Slang] a person who engages in sexual activities with both sexes; bisexual

switchman (-mэn) pl. -men (-mэn) •n. a railroad employee who operates switches

switchyard (-yärd') •n. a railroad yard where cars are shifted from one track to another by means of a system of switches, as in making up trains

Swithin or Swithun (swið´эn, swiθ´-), Saint (c. A.D. 800-c. 862); Eng. prelate: his day is July 15

Switz Switzerland

Switzer (swit´sэr) •n. 1 a Swiss 2 a Swiss mercenary soldier [MHG < Switz, Swiz, Switzerland]

Switzerland (swit´sэr lэnd) country in WC Europe, in the Alps: 15,941 sq. mi. (41,287 sq. km); pop. 6,365,000; cap. Bern: Ger. name SCHWEIZ, Fr. name SUISSE

swivel (swiv´эl) •n. a coupling device that allows free turning of the parts attached to it; specif., a chain link made in two parts, one piece fitting like a collar below the bolt head of the other and turning freely about it •vt. -eled or -elled, -el·ing or -el·ling 1 to cause to turn or rotate on or as if on a swivel 2 to fit, fasten, or support with a swivel •vi. to turn on or as if on a swivel [ME swiuel < base of OE swifan, to revolve, turn: for IE base see SWIFT]

swivel chair a chair whose seat turns horizontally on a pivot in the base

swivet (swiv´it) •n. [Colloq. or Dial.] a condition of irritation, exasperation, annoyance, etc. [< ?]

swizzle (swiz´эl) •n. any of several chilled alcoholic drinks containing liquor, sugar, lime juice, etc. mixed together as with a swizzle stick [< ?]

swizzle stick a small rod for stirring mixed drinks

swob (swäb) swobbed, swob´bing •n., vt. alt. sp. of SWAB

swollen (swoul´эn) •vi., vt. alt. pp. of SWELL •adj. increased in volume or size, as from inner pressure; blown up; distended; bulging

swoon (swu:n) •vi. 1 to faint 2 to feel strong, esp. rapturous, emotion •n. an act or instance of swooning swoon´er •n. swoon´ing·ly •adv. [ME swounen, prob. back-form. < swoweninge, swooning, prp. of iswowen < OE geswogen, unconscious, pp. of *swogan < ?]

swoop (swu:p) •vt. to snatch or seize suddenly, with a sweeping movement: often with up, off, or away •vi. to descend suddenly and swiftly, as a bird in hunting; pounce or sweep (down or upon) •n. the act of swooping or pouncing; sudden, violent descent [ME swopen < OE swapan, to sweep along, rush, akin to Ger schweifen, ON sveipa: see SWIFT]

swoosh (swush, swu:sh) •vi., vt. to move, pour, etc. with or as with a sharp rushing or whistling sound •n. such a sound [echoic intens. of SWISH]

swop (swäp) swopped, swopp´ing •n., vt., vi. alt. sp. of SWAP

sword (sörd) •n. 1 a hand weapon having a long, sharp-pointed blade, usually with a sharp edge on one or both sides, set in a hilt; broadsword, rapier, saber, scimitar, etc. 2 a) the sword regarded as an instrument of death, destruction, etc. b) power; esp., military power c) the military class or profession d) war; warfare at swords' points ready to quarrel or fight cross swords 1 to fight 2 to argue violently put to the sword 1 to kill with a sword or swords 2 to slaughter, esp. in war sword´like' •adj. [ME < OE sweord, akin to Ger schwert, prob. < IE base *swer-, to cut, pierce]

sword bayonet a short sword that can be mounted on a rifle for use as a bayonet

sword belt a belt from which a sword is hung

sword cane a weapon consisting of a sword or dagger concealed in a walking stick Also sword´stick •n.

sword dance any dance, esp. by men, involving the use of swords, esp. one performed around bare swords laid on the ground sword dancer

sword fern any of various ferns with sword-shaped leaves; esp., a giant fern (Nephrolepis biserrata) of S Florida, with pinnate leaves

sword grass any of a number of sedges or grasses with toothed or sword-shaped leaves

sword knot a loop, now ornamental, of leather, ribbon, etc., attached to a sword hilt and worn around the wrist

swordfish (-fish') pl. -fish' •n. any of the only species (Xiphias gladius) of a family (Xiphiidae) of large, marine, percoid food and game fishes having a sail-like dorsal fin and a long, flat, swordlike upper jawbone

swordplay (-plei') •n. the act or skill of using a sword in fencing or fighting

swordsman (sördz´mэn) pl. -men (-mэn) •n. 1 a person who uses a sword in fencing or fighting 2 a person skilled in using a sword Also [Obs.] sword·man (sörd´mэn), pl. -men (-mэn) swords´man·ship' •n.

swordtail (sörd´teil') •n. any of a genus (Xiphophorus) of livebearer fishes: the male has the lower caudal fin rays drawn out in a swordlike process

swore (swör) •vi., vt. pt. of SWEAR

sworn (swörn) •vi., vt. pp. of SWEAR •adj. bound, pledged, promised, etc. by or as by an oath

swot¹ (swät) swot´ted, swot´ting •n., vt. alt. sp. of SWAT

swot² (swät) swot´ted, swot´ting •vi., vt. [Brit., etc. (exc. Cdn.) Colloq.] to study hard; cram: often used with up •n. [Brit., etc. (exc. Cdn.) Colloq.] a person who studies hard; grind: often contemptuous swot´ter •n. [dial. var. of SWEAT]

swound (swaund) •n., vi. [Archaic] swoon; faint [ME swounde, swounden < swounen, SWOON, with unhistoric -d]

swum (swûm) •vi., vt. pp. of SWIM¹ & SWIM²

swung (swûŋ) •vi., vt. pp. & pt. of SWING

-sy (si:, zi:) suffix forming adjectives and nouns with diminutive, and often mocking or pejorative, force {artsy, cutesy}

Sybaris (sib´э ris) ancient Greek city in S Italy, famed as a center of luxury: destroyed 510 B.C.

Sybarite (-rait') •n. 1 any of the people of ancient Sybaris 2 [s-] anyone very fond of self-indulgence and luxury; voluptuary Syb'a·rit´ic or syb'a·rit´ic (-rit´ik) •adj. syb'a·rit´i·cal·ly •adv. syb´a·rit'ism' (-rait'iz'эm) •n. [L Sybarita < Gr Sybaritēs]

Sybil (sib´эl) a feminine name See SIBYL

sycamine (sik´э min, -main') •n. a tree mentioned in the Bible (Luke 17:6), believed to be a mulberry (Morus nigra) with dark fruit [L sycaminus < Gr sykaminos < Sem, as in Heb shikma, mulberry]

sycamore (sik´э mör') •n. 1 a fig tree (Ficus sycamorus) native to Egypt and Asia Minor, with edible fruit: the sycamore of the Bible 2 a tall maple tree (Acer pseudoplatanus) with yellow flowers, found in Europe and Asia Æ 3 PLANE¹ [ME sicomore < OFr sicamor < L sycomorus < Gr sykomoros, prob. altered (after sykon, fig + moron, black mulberry) < Heb shikma, mulberry]

syce (sais) •n. in India, a groom (for horses) [Ar sāرis, groom, manager < sāsa, to govern, administer]

sycee (sai si:´) •n. silver in the form of ingots, usually bearing the stamp of a banker or assayer, formerly used in China as money [Cantonese < Mandarin hsi ssǔ, fine silk: so called because it may, when heated, be spun into fine threads]

syconium (sai kou´ni: эm) pl. -ni·a (-ni: э) •n. Bot. a pear-shaped, fleshy, hollow false fruit, as of the fig [ModL < Gr sykon, fig]

sycophancy (sik´э fэn si:) pl. -cies •n. the behavior or character, or an act, of a sycophant; servile flattery [L sycophantia < Gr sykophantia]

sycophant (sik´э fэnt) •n. a person who seeks favor by flattering people of wealth or influence; parasite; toady syc'o·phan´tic (-fæn´tik) or syc'o·phant´ish •adj. syc'o·phan´ti·cal·ly or syc'o·phant´ish·ly •adv. syc´o·phant·ism' •n. [L sycophanta < Gr sykophantēs, informer, lit., maker of the sign of the fig < sykon, fig + phainein, to show: see FANTASY]

sycosis (sai kou´sis) •n. a chronic disease of the hair follicles, esp. of the beard, caused by certain staphylococci and characterized by the formation of papules and pustules [ModL < Gr sykōsis < sykon, fig + -ōsis, -OSIS]

Sydney (sid´ni:) 1 a masculine name: see SIDNEY 2 seaport in SE Australia: capital of New South Wales: pop. (met. area) 3,300,000

Syene (sai i:´ni:) ancient name of ASWAN

syenite (sai´э nait') •n. a gray, igneous rock typically containing feldspar, hornblende, and some silicates sy'e·nit´ic (-nit´ik) •adj. [Fr syénite < L Syenites (lapis), Syenite (stone) < Syene < Gr Syēnē, Syene]

syl- (sil) prefix SYN- Used before l

syllabary (sil´э ber'i:) pl. -bar'ies •n. 1 a set or table of syllables 2 a set of the written signs or characters of a language representing syllables [ModL syllabarium < L syllaba: see SYLLABLE]

syllabi (sil´э bai') •n. alt. pl. of SYLLABUS

syllabic (si læb´ik) •adj. 1 of a syllable or syllables 2 forming a syllable or the nucleus of a syllable; specif., a) being the most prominent sound in a phonemic syllable (said of a vowel) b) constituting the more heavily stressed part of a diphthong, as the sound of o in boy c) standing by itself as the nucleus of a syllable without an accompanying vowel (said of a consonant, as the sound of l in tattle (tat´'l)) 3 designating or of a form of verse whose structure is based on the number of syllables in a line rather than on rhythm, stress, or quantity 4 pronounced with the syllables distinct •n. 1 a syllabic sound 2 [pl.] syllabic verse syl·lab´i·cal·ly •adv. [LL syllabicus < Gr syllabikos]

syllabicate (si læb´i keit') -cat'ed, -cat'ing •vt. SYLLABIFY syl·lab'i·ca´tion •n.

syllabify (si læb´э fai') -fied', -fy'ing •vt. to form or divide into syllables syl·lab'i·fi·ca´tion •n. [back-form. < syllabification < L syllaba, SYLLABLE + -FICATION]

syllabism (sil´э biz'эm) •n. 1 the use of syllabic characters, rather than letters, in writing 2 division into syllables [< L syllaba, fol. + -ISM]

syllable (sil´э bэl) •n. 1 a word or part of a word pronounced with a single, uninterrupted sounding of the voice; unit of pronunciation, consisting of a single sound of great sonority (usually a vowel) and generally one or more sounds of lesser sonority (usually consonants) 2 any of the parts into which a written word is often divided, as at the end of a line, in approximate conformity to the spoken syllables: in this dictionary, recommended divisions at the end of a line are shown by centered dots (or by stress marks not followed by vertical hairlines); the hairlines denote syllable breaks that are not recommended for word division 3 the least bit of expression; slightest detail, as of something said •vt. -bled, -bling to pronounce in or as in syllables [ME sillable < OFr sillabe < L syllaba < Gr syllabē, a syllable, lit., that which holds together < syllambanein, to join < syn-, together + lambanein, to hold < IE base *(s)lagw-, to grasp > LATCH]

syllabub (sil´э bûb') •n. 1 a dessert or beverage made of sweetened milk or cream mixed with wine or cider and beaten to a froth 2 a kind of eggnog made of cream and beaten egg whites whipped with brandy, rum, etc., often thickened for use as a topping or dessert [Early ModE solybubbe < ?]

syllabus (sil´э bэs) pl. -bus·es or -bi' (-bai') •n. 1 a summary or outline, esp. of a course of study 2 Law brief notes preceding and explaining the decision or points of law in the written report of an adjudged case [ModL < LL(Ec), a list, register (prob. false form for syllaba, SYLLABLE), mistaken reading of L sillybus, altered < sittybus, strip of parchment used as a label < Gr sittybos, strip of leather]

syllepsis (si lep´sis) pl. -lep´ses' (-si:z') a grammatical construction in which a single word is used in a syntactical relationship with two or more words in the same sentence, though it can agree with only one of them in gender, number, or case (Ex.: either they or I am wrong) •n. syl·lep´tic •adj. [L < Gr syllēpsis, a putting together < syllambanein: see SYLLABLE]

syllogism (sil´э jiz'эm) •n. 1 an argument or form of reasoning in which two statements or premises are made and a logical conclusion is drawn from them Ex.: All mammals are warmblooded (major premise); whales are mammals (minor premise); therefore, whales are warmblooded (conclusion) 2 reasoning from the general to the particular; deductive logic 3 an instance of subtle, tricky, or specious reasoning syl'lo·gis´tic or syl'lo·gis´ti·cal •adj. syl'lo·gis´ti·cal·ly •adv. [ME silogisme < MFr < L syllogismus < Gr syllogismos, a reckoning together < syllogizesthai, to reckon together, sum up < syn-, together + logizesthai, to reason < logos, word: see LOGIC]

syllogize (sil´э jaiz') -gized', -giz'ing •vi., vt. to reason or infer by the use of syllogisms [ME sylogysen < ML syllogizare]

sylph (silf) •n. 1 in Paracelsus's alchemical system, any of a class of mortal, soulless beings supposed to inhabit the air 2 a slender, graceful woman or girl sylph´like' •adj. [ModL sylphus, coined (prob. by PARACELSUS) < ? L sylva, silva (see SYLVAN) + nympha, NYMPH]

sylphid (sil´fid) •n. a small or young sylph sylph´id·ine (-fi din, -dain') •adj. [Fr sylphide: see SYLPH & -ID]

sylva (sil´vэ) pl. -vas or -vae (-vi:) •n. SILVA

sylvan (sil´vэn) •n. one who lives in the woods •adj. 1 of or characteristic of the woods or forest 2 living or found in the woods or forest 3 wooded [Fr sylvan, forest deity < L Silvanus < silva, forest, prob. < IE *(k)selwa- > Gr xylon, wood]

sylvanite (sil´vэn ait') •n. a gray or silvery telluride of gold and silver (Ag,Au)Te2, crystallizing in the monoclinic system [after (TRAN)SYLVAN(IA), where first found + -ITE¹]

sylvatic (sil væt´ik) •adj. of or in the woods, or affecting the animals in the woods {sylvatic plague} [L silvaticus < silva: see SYLVAN]

Sylvester (sil ves´tэr) a masculine name [L Silvester < silvestris, of a wood or forest < silva, wood]

Sylvia (sil´vi: э) a feminine name: dim. Syl, Sylvie [L Silvia < silva: see SYLVAN]

sylvite (sil´vait') •n. native potassium chloride, KCl, occurring in isometric crystalline masses and used as a source of potash for fertilizers [earlier sylvine < Fr < ModL sal digestivus sylvii, lit., digestive salt of Sylvius (after Franz de la Boë Sylvius, 1614-72, physician at Leyden)]

sym 1 symbol 2 symphony

sym- (sim) prefix SYN-: used before b, m, or p {symmetalism, sympodium}

symbiont (sim´bai änt', -bi:-) •n. an organism living in a state of symbiosis sym'bi·on´tic •adj. [Ger < Gr symbiountos, prp. of symbioun: see SYMBIOSIS]

symbiosis (sim'bai ou´sis, -bi:-) •n. 1 Biol. the intimate living together of two kinds of organisms, esp. if such association is of mutual advantage: see COMMENSALISM, MUTUALISM, PARASITISM 2 a similar relationship of mutual interdependence sym'bi·ot´ic (-ät´ik) •adj. [ModL < Gr symbiōsis < symbioun, to live together < syn-, together + bios, life: see BIO-]

symbol (sim´bэl) •n. 1 something that stands for, represents, or suggests another thing; esp., an object used to represent something abstract; emblem {the dove is a symbol of peace} 2 a written or printed mark, letter, abbreviation, etc. standing for an object, quality, process, quantity, etc., as in music, mathematics, or chemistry 3 Psychoanalysis an act or object representing an unconscious desire that has been repressed •vt. -boled or -bolled, -bol·ing or -bol·ling SYMBOLIZE [< Fr & L: Fr symbole < L symbolus, symbolum < Gr symbolon, token, pledge, sign by which one infers a thing < symballein, to throw together, compare < syn-, together + ballein, to throw: see BALL²]

symbolic (sim bäl´ik) •adj. 1 of or expressed in a symbol or symbols 2 that serves as a symbol (of something) 3 characterized by symbolism Also sym·bol´i·cal sym·bol´i·cal·ly •adv. [LL symbolicus < Gr symbolikos]

symbolic logic a modern type of formal logic using special symbols for propositions, quantifiers, and relationships among propositions and concerned with the elucidation of permissible operations upon such symbols

symbolism (sim´bэl iz'эm) •n. 1 the representation of things by use of symbols, esp. in art or literature 2 a system of symbols 3 symbolic meaning 4 the theories or practices of a group of symbolists, as in art or literature

symbolist (-ist) •n. 1 a person who uses symbols 2 a person who practices symbolism in representing ideas, etc., esp. in art or literature; specif., any of a group of French and Belgian writers and artists of the late 19th cent. who rejected realism and tried to express ideas, emotions, and attitudes by the use of symbolic words, figures, objects, etc. 3 a person who studies or is expert in interpreting symbols or symbolism sym'bol·is´tic •adj. sym'bol·is´ti·cal·ly •adv.

symbolize (-aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt. 1 to be a symbol of; typify; stand for 2 to represent by a symbol or symbols •vi. to use symbols sym'bol·i·za´tion •n. sym´bol·iz'er •n. [Fr symboliser < ML symbolizare]

symbology (sim bäl´э ji:) •n. 1 the study or interpretation of symbols 2 representation or expression by means of symbols; symbolism [SYMBO(L) + -LOGY]

symmetallism (sim met´ªl iz'эm) •n. the use of two or more metals as a monetary standard [< SYM- + METAL + -ISM]

symmetrical (si me´tri kэl) •adj. having or showing symmetry; specif., a) Bot. that can be divided into similar halves by a plane passing through the center; also, having the same number of parts in each whorl of leaves (said of a flower) b) Chem. exhibiting a regular repeated pattern of atoms in the structural formula; specif., designating a compound (benzene derivative) in which substitution takes place at the alternate carbon atoms c) Math., Logic designating an equation, relation, etc. whose terms can be interchanged without affecting its validity d) Med. affecting corresponding parts of the body simultaneously in the same way (said of a disease, infection, etc.) Also sym·met´ric sym·met´ri·cal·ly •adv. [SYMMETR(Y) + -ICAL]

symmetrize (sim´э traiz') -trized', -triz'ing •vt. to make symmetrical sym'me·tri·za´tion •n.

symmetry (sim´э tri:) pl. -tries •n. similarity of form or arrangement on either side of a dividing line or plane; correspondence of opposite parts in size, shape, and position; condition of being symmetrical: the whole or the corresponding parts are said to have symmetry 2 balance or beauty of form or proportion resulting from such correspondence SYN.—symmetry, with reference to the interrelation of parts to form an aesthetically pleasing whole, strictly implies correspondence in the form, size, arrangement, etc. of parts on either side of a median line or plane; proportion implies a gracefulness that results from the measured fitness in size or arrangement of parts to each other or to the whole; harmony implies such agreement or proportionate arrangement of parts in size, color, form, etc. as to make a pleasing impression; balance suggests the offsetting or contrasting of parts so as to produce an aesthetic equilibrium in the whole [< MFr or L: MFr symmetrie (now symétrie) < L symmetria < Gr < symmetros, measured together < syn-, together + metron, a MEASURE]

Symonds (sim´эnz, -эndz), John Ad·ding·ton (æd´iŋ tэn) 1840-93; Eng. poet, writer, & scholar

sympathectomy (sim'pэ θek´tэ mi:) pl. -mies •n. the interruption by surgical means of part of the sympathetic nervous system [< fol. + -ECTOMY]

sympathetic (sim'pэ θet´ik) •adj. 1 of, expressing, resulting from, feeling, or showing sympathy; sympathizing 2 in agreement with one's tastes, mood, feelings, disposition, etc.; congenial 3 showing favor, approval, or agreement {to be sympathetic to a plan} 4 Physiol. designating or of that part of the autonomic nervous system whose nerves originate in the lumbar and thoracic regions of the spinal cord and that is especially concerned with mediating the involuntary response to alarm, as by speeding the heart rate, raising the blood pressure, and dilating the pupils of the eyes: these nerves oppose the parasympathetic nerves in the regulation of many body processes 5 Physics, Acoustics designating or of vibrations, sounds, etc. caused by other vibrations of the same period transmitted from a neighboring vibrating body SYN. TENDER¹ sym'pa·thet´i·cal·ly •adv. [ModL sympatheticus < Gr sympatheia, SYMPATHY, infl. by Gr pathētikos, PATHETIC]

sympathetic ink INVISIBLE INK

sympathize (sim´pэ θaiz') -thized', -thiz'ing •vi. 1 to share or understand the feelings or ideas of another; be in sympathy 2 to feel or express sympathy, esp. in pity or compassion; commiserate 3 [Now Rare] to be in harmony or accord sym´pa·thiz'er •n. sym´pa·thiz'ing·ly •adv. [Fr sympathiser]

sympatholytic (sim'pэ θou lit´ik) •adj. having the effect of decreasing the activity of the sympathetic nervous system: said of certain drugs, chemicals, etc. [< SYMPATH(ETIC) + -O- + -LYTIC]

sympathomimetic (-mi met´ik, -mai-) •adj. having an effect similar to that produced when the sympathetic nervous system is stimulated: said of certain drugs, chemicals, etc. [< SYMPATH(ETIC) + -O- + MIMETIC]

sympathy (sim´pэ θi:) pl. -thies •n. 1 sameness of feeling; affinity between persons or of one person for another 2 [Now Rare] agreement in qualities; harmony; accord 3 a mutual liking or understanding arising from sameness of feeling 4 a) an entering into, or the ability to enter into, another person's mental state, feelings, emotions, etc. b) [often pl.] pity or compassion felt for another's trouble, suffering, etc. 5 a feeling of approval of or agreement with an idea, cause, etc. 6 Physics a relation or harmony between bodies of such a nature that vibrations in one cause sympathetic vibrations in the other or others 7 Physiol. a relation between body parts of such a nature that a disorder, pain, etc. in one induces a similar effect in another SYN. PITY [L sympathia < Gr sympatheia < syn-, together + pathos, feeling: see PATHOS]

sympathy strike a strike by a group of workers in support of another group on strike

sympatico (sim pät´i kou, -pæt-) •adj. alt. sp. of SIMPATICO

sympatric (sim pæ´trik) •adj. Ecol. of or pertaining to closely related species of organisms occurring in the same geographic area sym·pat´ri·cal·ly •adv. sym·pat·ry (sim´pэ tri:) •n. [SYM- + PATR(I)- + -IC]

sympetalous (sim pet´ªl эs) •adj. Bot. GAMOPETALOUS [SYM- + PETALOUS]

symphonic (sim fän´ik) •adj. 1 of, like, or for a symphony or symphony orchestra 2 of or having to do with harmony of sound sym·phon´i·cal·ly •adv.

symphonic poem a musical composition for symphony orchestra, usually in one movement and based on a literary, historical, or other nonmusical subject

symphonious (sim fou´ni: эs) •adj. [Now Rare] harmonious, esp. in sound sym·pho´ni·ous·ly •adv. [< L symphonia, harmony (see SYMPHONY) + -OUS]

symphonist (sim´fэ nist) •n. 1 a composer of symphonies 2 a member of a symphony orchestra

symphony (sim´fэ ni:) pl. -nies •n. 1 harmony of sounds, esp. of instruments 2 harmony of any kind, esp. of color 3 anything, as a picture, characterized by harmonious composition 4 Music a) an extended composition for full orchestra, usually having several movements b) an instrumental passage in a composition that is largely vocal or choral c) short for SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA d) [Colloq.] a concert by a symphony orchestra [ME symfonye < OFr simphonie < L symphonia < Gr symphōnia < syn-, together + phōnē, a sound: see PHONO-]

symphony orchestra a large orchestra of string, wind, and percussion sections for playing symphonic works

symphysis (sim´fэ sis) pl. -phy·ses' (-si:z') •n. a growing together or fusing; specif., a) Anat. the growing together of bones originally separate, as of the two halves of the lower jaw or the two pubic bones; also, the line of junction and fusion of such bones b) Bot. the growing together of similar parts of a plant; coalescence sym·phys´i·al (-fiz´i: эl) or sym·phys´e·al •adj. [ModL < Gr, a growing together < syn-, with + phyein, to grow: see BE]

sympodium (sim pou´di: эm) pl. -di·a (-э) •n. Bot. an apparent stem actually made up of a series of axillary branches growing one from another, giving the effect of a simple stem, as in the grape sym·po´di·al •adj. [ModL: see SYM- & -PODIUM]

symposiac (sim pou´zi: æk') •adj. of, having the nature of, or appropriate to a symposium [L symposiacus, belonging to a banquet, convivial < Gr symposiakos]

symposiarch (-ärk') •n. the master or director of a symposium, esp. in ancient Greece [Gr symposiarchos, master of a feast: see SYMPOSIUM & -ARCH]

symposiast (-æst') •n. a person participating in a symposium [< fol. + -ast, as in ENTHUSIAST]

symposium (-эm) pl. -si·ums or -si·a (-э) •n. 1 in ancient Greece, a drinking party at which there was intellectual conversation 2 any meeting or social gathering at which ideas are freely exchanged 3 a conference organized for the discussion of some particular subject 4 a collection of opinions, esp. a published group of essays, on a given subject [L < Gr symposion < syn-, together + posis, a drinking < IE base *pō-, to drink > L potio]

symptom (simp´tэm) •n. 1 any circumstance, event, or condition that accompanies something and indicates its existence or occurrence; sign; indication 2 Med. any condition accompanying or resulting from a disease or a physical disorder and serving as an aid in diagnosis [altered (infl. by LL or Gr) < ME symthoma < ML sinthoma < LL symptoma < Gr symptōma, anything that has befallen one, casualty < sympiptein, to fall together, happen < syn-, together + piptein, to fall: see FEATHER]

symptomatic (simp'tэ mæt´ik) •adj. 1 of or having to do with symptoms 2 that constitutes a symptom, as of a disease; indicative (of) 3 in accordance with symptoms {a symptomatic treatment} symp'to·mat´i·cal·ly •adv. [Fr symptomatique < Gr symptōmatikos, accidental]

symptomatize (simp´tem э taiz') -tized', -tiz'ing •vt. to be a symptom or sign of; indicate Also symp´tom·ize' (-tэm aiz')

symptomatology (simp'tэm э täl´э ji:) •n. 1 symptoms of disease, collectively 2 all the symptoms of a given disease [ModL symptomatologia < Gr symptōma (gen. symptomatos), SYMPTOM + -logia, -LOGY]

syn 1 synonym 2 synonymous 3 synonymy

syn- (sin) prefix with, together, at the same time {synesthesia, syncarpous} It becomes, by assimilation, syl- before l; sym- before b, m, or p; and sys- before s or in words where it reflects original combining with a word containing an initial aspirate, or (h) sound [Gr < syn, with, earlier xyn]

synaesthesia (sin'is θi:´zhэ, -zhi: э, -zi: э) •n. alt. sp. of SYNESTHESIA syn'aes·thet´ic (-θet´ik) •adj.

synagogue (sin´э gäg', -gög') •n. 1 an assembly of Jews for worship and religious study 2 a building or place used by Jews for worship and religious study 3 the Jewish religion as organized in such local congregations Also syn´a·gog' syn'a·gog´al (-gäg´эl, -gög´-) •adj. [ME sinagoge < OFr < LL(Ec) synagoga < Gr(Ec) synagōgē < Gr, a bringing together, assembly < synagein, to bring together < syn-, together + agein, to do: see ACT]

synaloepha or synalepha (sin'э li:´fэ) •n. the contraction into one syllable of two adjacent vowels, usually by elision (Ex.: th' eagle for the eagle) [L synaloepha < Gr synaloiphē, lit., a melting together < syn-, together + aleiphein, to smear, anoint, akin to lipos, fat: see LIPO-]

Synanon (sin´э nän') •n. [also s-] 1 a method of group psychotherapy for treating narcotic addiction 2 a group of inpatients undergoing such therapy [after a treatment center founded (1958) in Santa Monica, Calif.: supposedly < a patient's slurred pron. of symposium & seminar]

synapse (sin´æps', si næps´) •n. the minute space between a nerve cell and another nerve cell, a muscle cell, etc., through which nerve impulses are transmitted from one to the other [ModL synapsis: see SYNAPSIS]

synapsis (si næp´sis) pl. -ses' (-si:z') •n. 1 Genetics the association side by side of homologous maternal and paternal paired chromosomes in the early stages of meiosis 2 Physiol. SYNAPSE syn·ap´tic (-tik) •adj. [ModL < Gr, junction, connection < syn-, together + apsis, a joining < haptein, to join]

synaptosome (si næp´tэ soum') •n. a tiny sac of special cellular materials found at a synapse [see SYNAPSIS & -SOME³]

synarthrosis (sin'är θrou´sis) pl. -ses' (-si:z') •n. Anat. any of various immovable articulations, or joints syn'ar·thro´di·al •adj. [ModL < Gr synarthrōsis, a being jointed together < synarthroun, to link together < syn-, with + arthron, a joint: see ART¹]

sync or synch (siŋk) synced or synched, sync´ing or synch´ing •vt., vi. short for SYNCHRONIZE •n. short for SYNCHRONIZATION in sync (or synch) 1 in synchronization (with) 2 in harmony (with); compatible out of sync (or synch) 1 out of synchronization (with) 2 discordant; incompatible

syncarpous (sin kär´pэs) •adj. Bot. composed of carpels growing together syn´car·py •n. [see SYN- & -CARPOUS]

synchro (siŋ´krou, sin´-) pl. -chros •n. a system consisting of a generator and one or more motorlike devices connected electrically so that, upon receipt of a signal from the generator, the rotors of the synchronous motors always assume positions identical with that of the generator rotor [< fol.]

synchro- (siŋ´krou, sin´-) combining form synchronized, synchronous {synchromesh}

synchrocyclotron (siŋ'krou sai´klэ trän', sin'-) •n. a modified cyclotron in which the frequency of the accelerating voltage is modulated to take into account the increase in the relativistic mass of the particle as it reaches high energies

synchromesh (siŋ´krэ mesh', sin´-) •adj. designating or employing a device by which gears to be meshed are automatically brought to the same speed of rotation before the shift is completed [SYNCHRO- + MESH]

synchronal (siŋ´krэ nэl, sin´-) •adj. SYNCHRONOUS

synchronic (sin krän´ik) •adj. 1 SYNCHRONOUS 2 of or concerned with language, mores, etc. at a given time, without reference to historical antecedents: cf. DIACHRONIC syn·chron´i·cal·ly •adv.

synchronic linguistics the branch of linguistics that analyzes the structure of a language or languages as static, at a given point in their history

synchronicity (siŋ'krэ nis´э ti:) pl. -ties •n. the fact or state of being synchronous; simultaneous occurrence

synchronism (siŋ´krэ niz'эm, sin´-) •n. 1 the fact or state of being synchronous; simultaneous occurrence 2 a chronological, usually tabular, listing of persons or events in history, showing synchronous existence or occurrence syn'chro·nis´tic •adj. syn'chro·nis´ti·cal·ly •adv. [ModL synchronismus < Gr synchronismos < synchronos: see SYNCHRONIZE]

synchronize (siŋ´krэ naiz', sin´-) -nized', -niz'ing •vi. to move or occur at the same time or rate; be synchronous •vt. 1 to cause to agree in time or rate of speed; regulate (clocks, a flash gun and camera shutter, etc.) so as to make synchronous 2 to assign (events, etc.) to the same date or period; represent as or show to be coincident or simultaneous 3 Film to align (the picture and soundtrack) syn'chro·ni·za´tion •n. syn´chro·niz'er •n. [Gr synchronizein, to be contemporary with < synchronos, contemporary < syn-, together + chronos, time]

synchronous (-nэs) •adj. 1 happening at the same time; occurring together; simultaneous 2 having the same period between movements, occurrences, etc.; having the same rate and phase, as vibrations SYN. CONTEMPORARY syn´chro·nous·ly •adv. syn´chro·nous·ness •n. [LL synchronus < Gr synchronos: see SYNCHRONIZE]

synchronous machine an alternating-current motor, generator, or converter whose normal operating speed is exactly proportional to the frequency of the current in the circuit to which it is connected

synchrony (siŋ´krэ ni:, sin´-) •n. SYNCHRONISM (sense 1)

synchroscope (siŋ´krэ skoup', sin´-) •n. an electronic meterlike device for indicating the degrees of synchronism, as between two or more airplane engines [SYNCHRO(NISM) + -SCOPE]

synchrotron (-trän') •n. a circular machine for accelerating charged particles to very high energies through the use of a magnetic field in combination with a high-frequency electrostatic field [SYNCHRO- + (ELEC)TRON]

synchrotron radiation the electromagnetic radiation given off by high-energy particles, as electrons, as they spiral at a speed close to the speed of light in a strong magnetic field, as in a synchrotron or in a galaxy

synclinal (sin klai´nэl) •adj. 1 sloping downward in opposite directions so as to meet 2 of, formed by, or forming a syncline [< Gr synklinein, to incline together < syn-, together + klinein, to LEAN¹]

syncline (sin´klain') •n. Geol. a down fold in stratified rocks from whose central axis the beds rise upward and outward in opposite directions: opposed to ANTICLINE [back-form. < prec.]

synclinorium (sin'klэ nör´i: эm, siŋ'-) pl. -ri·a (-э) •n. Geol. a large, generally synclinal structure consisting of a succession of subordinate synclines and anticlines: opposed to ANTICLINORIUM [ModL < prec. + Gr oros, mountain < IE *or-, var. of base *er-, to set in motion, raise > RUN]

syncopate (siŋ´kэ peit', sin´-) -pat'ed, -pat'ing •vt. 1 to shorten (a word) by syncope 2 Music a) to shift (the regular accent) as by beginning a tone on an unaccented beat and continuing it through the next accented beat, or on the last half of a beat and continuing it through the first half of the following beat b) to use such shifted accents in (a musical composition, passage, rhythmic pattern, etc.) syn´co·pa'tor •n. [< ML syncopatus, pp. of syncopare, to cut short < LL, to swoon < syncope: see SYNCOPE]

syncopation (siŋ'kэ pei´shэn, sin'-) •n. 1 a syncopating or being syncopated 2 syncopated music, a syncopated rhythm, etc. 3 Gram. SYNCOPE

syncope (siŋ´kэ pi:, sin´-) •n. 1 the dropping of sounds or letters from the middle of a word, as in (gläs´tðr) for Gloucester 2 a fainting, or loss of consciousness, caused by a temporary deficiency of blood supply to the brain syn´co·pal •adj. [LL < Gr synkopē < syn-, together + koptein, to cut < IE base *(s)kep- > CAPON]