Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary 1908/Slops Soliloquy

Slops, slops, n.pl. any loose lower garment that slips on easily, esp. trousers: ready-made clothing, &c.—ns. ', one who sells cheap ready-made clothes; ', a shop where ready-made clothes are sold; ', the making of cheap cloth, any work superficially done; ', one who does slop-work. [Scand., Ice. sloppr, a long robe—sleppa, to slip.]

Slosh, slosh, n. a watery mess.—v.i. to flounder in slush: to go about in an easy way.—adj. . [A form of slush.]

Slot, slot, n. a bar or bolt: a broad, flat, wooden bar which holds together larger pieces. [Allied to Low Ger. slot, Dut. slot, a lock.]

Slot, slot, n. a hollow, narrow depression, to receive some corresponding part in a mechanism: a ditch, the continuous opening between the rails in a cable tramway along which the shank of the grip moves.—n. , a machine for cutting slots or square grooves in metal. [Slit.]

Slot, slot, n. the track of a deer. [Ice. slóth, track, path; Scot. sleuth, track by the scent.]

Sloth, slōth, or sloth, n. laziness, sluggishness: a sluggish arboreal animal of tropical America, of two genera (Cholœpus, the two-toed sloth, and Bradypus, the three-toed sloth).—adj. ', given to sloth: inactive: lazy.—adv. '.—n. . [A.S. slǽwth—sláw, slow.]

Slotter, slot′ėr, n. filth.—v.t. to foul.—adj. , foul.

Slouch, slowch, n. a hanging down loosely of the head or other part: clownish gait: a clown.—v.i. to hang down: to have a clownish look or gait.—v.t. to depress.—n. ', a soft broad-brimmed hat.—p.adj. ', walking with a downcast, awkward manner: hanging down.—adj. , somewhat slouching. [Scand., Ice. slókr, a slouching fellow; slakr, slack.]

Slough, slow, n. a hollow filled with mud: a soft bog or marsh.—adj. , full of sloughs: miry. [A.S. slóh, a hollow place; perh. from Ir. sloc—slugaim, to swallow up.]

Slough, sluf, n. the cast-off skin of a serpent: the dead part which separates from a sore.—v.i. to come away as a slough (with off): to be in the state of sloughing.—v.t. to cast off, as a slough.—adj. , like, or containing, slough. [Scand.; Sw. dial. slug; cf. Ger. slauch, a skin.]

Slovak, slō-vak′, adj. pertaining to the Slovaks, a branch of the Slavs in the mountainous districts of N.W. Hungary, their language little more than a dialect of Czech.—n. one of this race, or his language.—adjs. ', '.

Sloven, sluv′n, n. a man carelessly or dirtily dressed:—fem. Slut.—n. '.—adj. ', like a sloven: negligent of neatness or cleanliness: disorderly: done in an untidy manner.—adv. negligently.—n.  (Shak.), slovenliness. [Old Dut. slof, sloef, Low Ger. sluf, slow, indolent.]

Slovenian, slō-vē′ni-an, adj. pertaining to the Slovenes, a branch of the South Slavonic stock to which the Serbs and Croats belong.

Slow, slō, adj. not swift: late: behind in time: not hasty: not ready: not progressive.—v.t. to delay, retard, slacken the speed of.—v.i. to slacken in speed.—n. ', a lazy lubber.—p.adj. ' (Shak.), accustomed to walk slowly.—ns. ', sleuth-hound; ', a lessening of speed.—adv. '.—ns. ', generally rope steeped in a solution of saltpetre and lime-water, used for firing guns before the introduction of friction tubes, and sometimes for firing military mines, now superseded by Bickford's fuse, a train of gunpowder enclosed in two coatings of jute thread waterproofed; '.—adj. ', slow to discern; ', flying slowly.—n. ', a scincoid lizard, same as Blind-worm—by popular etymology &apos;slow-worm,' but, according to Skeat, really &apos;slay-worm,' A.S. slá-wyrm. [A.S. sláw; Dut. slee, Ice. sljór.]

Sloyd, Sloid, sloid, n. the name given to a certain system of manual instruction which obtains in the schools of Finland and Sweden, the word properly denoting work of an artisan kind practised not as a trade or means of livelihood, but in the intervals of other employment. [Sw. slöjd, dexterity.]

Slub, slub, v.t. to twist after carding to prepare for spinning.

Slubber, slub′ėr, v.t. to stain, to daub, slur over.—n. ', a wretch.—adv. '. [Dut. slobberen, to lap, Low Ger. slubbern.]

Sludge, sluj, n. soft mud or mire: half-melted snow.—adj. , miry: muddy. [A form of slush.]

Slue, Slew, slū, v.t. (naut.) to turn anything about its axis without removing it from its place: to turn or twist about.—v.i. to turn round:—pr.p. pa.p. slūed.—n. the turning of a body upon an axis within its figure.—adj. Slued, tipsy. [Scand., Ice. snua, to turn.]

Slug, slug, n. a heavy, lazy fellow: a name for land-molluscs of order Pulmonata, with shell rudimentary or absent—they do great damage to garden crops: any hinderance.—ns. ' (Shak.), one who is fond of lying in bed, a sluggard; ', one habitually idle or inactive.—v.t. ' (Shak.), to make lazy.—adj. ', habitually lazy: slothful: having little motion: having little or no power.—adv. '.—n. '. [Scand., Dan. slug, sluk, drooping, Norw. sloka, to slouch; Low Ger. slukkern, to be loose; allied to slack.]

Slug, slug, n. a cylindrical or oval piece of metal for firing from a gun: a piece of crude metal. [Prob. from slug above, or slug=slog, to hit hard.]

Slugga, slug′a, n. a deep cavity formed by the action of subterranean streams common in some limestone districts of Ireland. [Ir. slugaid, a slough.]

Slughorn, slug′horn, n. a word used to denote a kind of horn, but really a corruption of slogan.

Sluice, slōōs, n. a sliding gate in a frame for shutting off or regulating the flow of water: the stream which flows through it: that through which anything flows: a source of supply: in mining, a board trough for separating gold from placer-dirt carried through it by a current of water: the injection-valve in a steam-engine condenser.—v.t. to wet or drench copiously: to wash in or by a sluice: to flush or clean out with a strong flow of water.—adj. , falling in streams, as from a sluice. [O. Fr. escluse (Fr. écluse)—Low L. exclusa (aqua), a sluice (water) shut out, pa.p. of L. ex-cludĕre, to shut out.]

Slum, slum, n. a low street or neighbourhood.—v.i. to visit the slums of a city, esp. from motives of curiosity.—ns. ', one who slums; ', the practice of visiting slums.

Slumber, slum′bėr, v.i. to sleep lightly: to sleep: to be in a state of negligence or inactivity.—n. light sleep: repose.—ns. '; '.—adv. ', in a slumbering manner.—n. ', the state of slumber.—adjs. ', without slumber: sleepless; ', ', inviting or causing slumber; sleepy; ', sleepy: drowsy. [With intrusive b from M. E. slumeren—A.S. sluma, slumber; cog. with Ger. schlummern.]

Slump, slump, v.i. to fall or sink suddenly into water or mud: to fail or fall through helplessly.—n. a boggy place: the act of sinking into slush, &c., also the sound so made: a sudden fall or failure.—adj. , marshy. [Cf. Dan. slumpe, to stumble upon by chance; Ger. schlumpen, to trail.]

Slump, slump, v.t. to throw into a lump or mass, to lump.—n. a gross amount, a lump.—n. , work in the lump. [Cf. Dan. slump, a lot, Dut. slomp, a mass.]

Slung, pa.t. and pa.p. of sling.—n. , a weight attached to a cord, used as a weapon.

Slunk, pa.t. and pa.p. of slink.—adj.  (prov.), shrivelled.

Slur, slur, v.t. to soil; to contaminate: to disgrace: to pass over lightly: to conceal: (mus.) to sing or play in a gliding manner.—v.i. (print.) to slip in making the impression, causing the printing to be blurred:—pr.p. pa.t. and pa.p. slurred.—n. a stain: slight reproach or disparagement: (mus.) a mark showing that notes are to be sung to the same syllable.—p.adj. Slurred (mus.), marked with a slur, performed in a gliding style like notes marked with a slur. [Old Dut. slooren, sleuren, Low Ger. slüren, to drag along the ground.]

Slurry, slur′i, n. any one of several semi-fluid mixtures, esp. of ganister, used to make repairs in converter-linings.

Slush, slush, n. liquid mud: melting snow: a mixture of grease for lubrication: the refuse of the cook's galley in a ship.—v.t. to apply slush to, to grease: to wash by throwing water upon: to fill spaces in masonry with mortar (with up): to coat with a mixture of white-lead and lime the bright parts of machinery.—adj. . [Cf. Slosh.]

Slut, slut, n. (fem. of Sloven) a dirty, untidy woman: a wench, a jade: a bitch.—adj. ', resembling a slut: dirty: careless.—adv. '.—ns. ', '. [Scand., Ice. slöttr, a dull fellow—slota, to droop.]

Sly, slī, adj. dexterous in doing anything so as to be unobserved: cunning: wily: secret: done with artful dexterity: illicit.—n. ', a sly or cunning person or animal.—advs. ', '.—ns. ', .—On the sly, slyly, secretly. [Prob. from Ice. slæg-r; cf. Ger. schlau.]

Slype, slīp, n. a. covered passage from the transept of a cathedral to the chapter-house, &c. [Slip.]

Smack, smak, n. taste: flavour: a pleasing taste: a small quantity: a flavour of something.—v.i. to have a taste: to have a quality. [A.S. smæc.]

Smack, smak, n. a generic name for small decked or half-decked coasters and fishing-vessels, most rigged as cutters, sloops, or yawls. [Dut. smak; Ger. schmacke, Ice. snekja.]

Smack, smak, v.t. to strike smartly, to slap loudly: to kiss roughly and noisily.—v.i. to make a sharp noise with, as the lips by separation.—n. a sharp sound: a crack: a hearty kiss.—adv. sharply, straight.—p.adj. , making a sharp, brisk sound, a sharp noise, a smack. [Prob. imit., Dut. smakken, to smite, Ger. schmatzen, to smack.]

Small, smawl, adj. little in quantity or degree: minute: not great: unimportant: ungenerous, petty: of little worth or ability: short: having little strength: gentle: little in quality or quantity.—adv. in a low tone; gently.—ns. ', ale with little malt and unhopped; ' (coll.) an informal evening-party.—n.pl. ', muskets, rifles, pistols, &c., including all weapons that can be actually carried by a man.—n. ', a kind of weak beer.—adj. inferior generally.—n.pl. ', knee-breeches, esp. those of the close-fitting 18th-century form.—ns. ', coal not in lumps but small pieces; ', small vessels generally.—n.pl. ', a phrase current in Scotland to denote debts under £12, recoverable in the Sheriff Court.—n. ', writing such as is ordinarily used in correspondence.—n.pl. ', the hours immediately following midnight.—adj. ', somewhat small.—ns. '; ' (see Pica); ', or Variola, a contagious, febrile disease, of the class known as Exanthemata, characterised by small pocks or eruptions on the skin; Smalls, the 'little-go' or previous examination: small-clothes; ', light or trifling conversation.—n.pl. ' (see Ware).—In a small way, with little capital or stock: unostentatiously. [A.S. smæl; Ger. schmal.]

Smallage, smawl′āj, n. celery. [Small, Fr. ache—L. apium, parsley.]

Smalt, smawlt, n. glass melted, tinged blue by cobalt, and pulverised when cold.—n. , an arsenide of cobalt, often containing nickel and iron. [Low L. smaltum—Old High Ger. smalzjan (Ger. schmelzen), to melt.]

Smaragdine, sma-rag′din, adj. of an emerald green.—n. , a peculiar variety of Amphibole, light grass-green in colour, with a foliated, lamellar or fibrous structure—occurring as a constituent of the rock called Eklogite. [L. smaragdinus—smaragdus—Gr. smaragdos, the emerald.]

Smart, smärt, n. quick, stinging pain of body or mind: smart-money: a dandy.—v.i. to feel a smart: to be punished.—adj. causing a smart: severe: sharp: vigorous, brisk: acute, witty, pert, vivacious: well-dressed, fine, fashionable: keen in business: creditable, up-to-the-mark.—v.t. ', to make smart, to brighten (with up).—adv. '.—ns. ', money paid by a recruit for his release before being sworn in: money paid for escape from any unpleasant situation or engagement: excessive damages: money allowed to soldiers and sailors for wounds; '; ', a certificate granted to one entitled to smart-money; ', a name given to some of the Milkworts from their acrid properties, esp. Polygonum Hydropiper, or Waterpepper; , a would-be smart fellow. [A.S. smeortan; Dut. smarten, Ger. schmerzen.]

Smash, smash, v.t. to break in pieces violently: to crush: to dash violently.—v.i. to act with crushing force: to be broken to pieces: to be ruined, to fail: to dash violently.—n. act of smashing, destruction, ruin, bankruptcy.—ns. ', one who smashes: (slang) one who passes bad money, bad money itself: anything great or extraordinary; '.—adj. crushing: dashing.—n. , a serious smash. [Prob. Sw. dial. smaske, to smack.]

Smatch, smach, n. (Shak.) taste or tincture.—v.t. and v.i. to have a taste. [Smack.]

Smatter, smat′ėr, v.i. to talk superficially: to have a superficial knowledge.—ns. '; ', a superficial knowledge.—adv. , in a smattering manner. [M. E. smateren, to rattle, to chatter—Sw. smattra, to clatter; Ger. schnattern.]

Smear, smēr, v.t. to overspread with anything sticky or oily, as grease: to daub.—n. '.—adj. ', sticky: showing smears. [A.S. smeru, fat, grease; Ger. schmeer, grease, Ice. smjör, butter.]

Smectite, smek′tīt, n. a greenish clay. [Gr. smēktis—smēchein, to rub.]

Smectymnuus, smek-tim′nū-us, n. a name compounded of the initials of the five Puritan divines—Stephen Marshall, Edmund Calamy, Thomas Young, Matthew Newcomen, and William Spurstow, joint authors of An Answer (1641) to Bishop Hall's Humble Remonstrance to the High Court of Parliament (1641) in defence of the liturgy and episcopal government.

Smeddum, smed′um, n. fine powder: sagacity, spirit, mettle: ore small enough to go through the sieve. [A.S. smedema, fine flour.]

Smee, smē, n. the pochard: widgeon: pintail-duck.—Also Smeath.

Smegma, smeg′ma, n. a sebaceous secretion, esp. that under the prepuce: an unguent.—adj. . [Gr. smēgma.]

Smell, smel, v.i. to affect the nose: to have odour: to use the sense of smell.—v.t. to perceive by the nose:—pa.t. and pa.p. smelled or smelt.—n. the quality of bodies which affects the nose: odour: perfume: the sense which perceives this quality.—ns. '; ', a greedy fellow; ', the sense by which smells are perceived; ', a bottle containing smelling-salts, or the like; ', a preparation of ammonium carbonate with lavender, &c., used as a stimulant in faintness, &c.; ', a drain-trap.—adj. , having a bad smell.—Smell a rat (see Rat); Smell out, to find out by prying. [Allied to Low Ger. smelen, Dut. smeulen, to smoulder.]

Smelt, smelt, n. a fish of the salmon or trout family, having a cucumber-like smell and a delicious flavour. [A.S. smelt.]

Smelt, smelt, v.t. to melt ore in order to separate the metal.—ns. '; ', a place for smelting; '; ', ', '. [Scand., Sw. smälta, to smelt.]

Smerky, smėrk′i, adj. (Spens.) neat. [Smirk.]

Smew, smū, n. a bird of the family Anatidæ, in the same genus as the goosander and mergansers.

Smicker, smik′ėr, v.i. (obs.) to look amorously.—n. ', an inclination for a woman.—adv. ', amorously.

Smicket, smik′et, n. a smock.

Smiddy, smid′i, n. a smithy.

Smidgen, smij′en, n. (U.S.) a small quantity, a trifle.

Smift, smift, n. a piece of touchwood, &c., formerly used to ignite the train in blasting.—Also Snuff.

Smight, smīt, v.t. (Spens.) to smite.

Smilax, smī′laks, n. a genus of liliaceous plants, type of the tribe Smilaceæ—the roots of several species yield sarsaparilla.

Smile, smīl, v.i. to express pleasure by the countenance: to express slight contempt: to look joyous: to be favourable.—n. act of smiling: the expression of the features in smiling: favour: (slang) a drink, a treat.—ns. ', one who smiles; ' (Shak.), a little smile.—adj. ', wearing a smile, joyous.—adv. ', in a smiling manner: with a smile or look of pleasure.—n. , the state of being smiling. [Scand., Sw. smila, to smile.]

Smirch, smirch, v.t. to besmear, dirty: to degrade in fame, dignity, &c.—n. a stain. [A weakened form of smer-k, from M. E. smeren, to smear.]

Smirk, smėrk, v.i. to smile affectedly: to look affectedly soft.—n. an affected smile.—adjs. Smirk (obs.), , smart. [A.S. smercian; akin to smile.]

Smit, smit, obsolete pa.t. and pa.p. of smite.

Smit, smit, v.t. (prov.) to infect.—n. a stain: infection.—v.t. , to infect.—adj. infectious.—n. infection. [A.S. smittian, to spot, smitta, a spot, an intens. of smítan, to smite.]

Smitch, smich, n. a particle: dust.—n. (dim.) .

Smite, smīt, v.t. to strike with the fist, hand, or weapon: to beat: to kill: to overthrow in battle: to affect with feeling: (B.) to blast: to afflict.—v.i. to strike:—pa.t. smōte; pa.p. —n. .—Smite off, to cut off; Smite out, to knock out; Smite with the tongue (B.), to reproach, to revile. [A.S. smítan; Dut. smijten, Ger. schmeissen.]

Smith, smith, n. one who forges with the hammer: a worker in metals: one who makes anything.—ns. ', the workshop of a smith: work done by a smith—also '; ', the workshop of a smith; ', a kind of small coal much used by smiths. [A.S. smith; Ger. schmied.]

Smithereens, smith-ėr-ēnz′, n.pl. (coll.) small fragments.

Smithsonian, smith-sō′ni-an, adj. pertaining to James Macie Smithson (1765—1829), founder of a great institution at Washington for ethnological and scientific investigations, organised by Congress in 1846.

Smitten, smit′n, pa.p. of smite.

Smock, smok, n. a woman's shift: a smock-frock.—v.t. to clothe in a smock or smock-frock.—adj. ', pale-faced.—ns. ', an outer garment of coarse white linen worn over the other clothes in the south of England; , a race for the prize of a smock. [A.S. smoc, perh. from A.S. smeógan, to creep into.]

Smoke, smōk, n. the vapour from a burning body—a common term for the volatile products of the imperfect combustion of such organic substances as wood or coal.—v.i. to emit smoke: to smoke out instead of upward, owing to imperfect draught: to draw in and puff out the smoke of tobacco: to raise smoke by moving rapidly: to burn, to rage: to suffer, as from punishment.—v.t. to apply smoke to: to dry, scent, or medicate by smoke: to inhale the smoke of: to use in smoking: to try to expel by smoking: to scent out, discover: to quiz, ridicule: to thrash.—ns. ', lampblack; ', a board suspended before the upper part of a fireplace to prevent the smoke coming out into the room; ', part of a steam-boiler where the smoke is collected before passing out at the chimney; ', an apparatus for burning all the smoke from a fire.—adj. '.—v.t. ', to cure or dry by means of smoke.—ns. ', a building where meat or fish is cured by smoking, or where smoked meats are stored; ', a contrivance for turning a jack by means of a wheel turned by the current of air ascending a chimney.—adj. ', destitute of smoke.—adv. '.—ns. '; ', one who smokes tobacco: a smoking-carriage: one who smoke-dries meat: an evening entertainment at which smoking is permitted; ', a small sail hoisted between the galley-funnel and the foremast when a vessel rides head to the wind; ', a scale of tints ranging from 0 to 10, for comparison of different varieties of coal, according to the amount of unburnt carbon in their smoke; ', an upright pipe through which the combustion-gases from a steam-boiler pass into the open air.—adj. ', impervious to smoke.—ns. ', an ornamental shrub of the cashew family, with long light feathery or cloud-like fruit-stalks; ', an apparatus for removing soot and particles of unburnt carbon from smoke by making it pass through water; ', the virgin's bower (Clematis Vitalba), whose porous stems are smoked by boys.—adv. '.—ns. '; ', the act of emitting smoke: the act or habit of drawing into the mouth and emitting the fumes of tobacco by means of a pipe or cigar—a habit of great sedative value: a bantering; ', ', a light ornamental cap or jacket often worn by smokers; ', ', a railway-carriage, supposed to be set apart for smokers.—adj. , giving out smoke: like smoke: filled, or subject to be filled, with smoke: tarnished or noisome with smoke: (obs.) suspicious.—On a smoke (B.), smoking, or on fire. [A.S. smocian, smoca; Ger. schmauch.]

Smolder=Smoulder (q.v.).

Smolt, smōlt, n. a name given to young river salmon when they are bluish along the upper half of the body and silvery along the sides. [Smelt.]

Smooth, smōōth, adj. having an even surface: not tough: evenly spread: glossy: gently flowing: easy: regular: unobstructed: bland: mild, calm.—v.t. to make smooth: to palliate: to soften: to calm: to ease: (Shak.) to exonerate.—v.i. to repeat flattering words.—n. (B.) the smooth part.—adj. ', not rifled.—n. a gun with smooth-bored barrel.—adjs. ', with unwrinkled brow; ', having a smooth chin: beardless; ', sweetly sung, with a flowing melody.—v.t ', to make smooth.—n. ', one who, or that which, smooths: in glass-cutting, an abrading-wheel for polishing the aces of the grooves cut by another wheel: (obs.) a flatterer.—adj. ', having a smooth air, mild-looking.—ns. ', an instrument of iron for smoothing clothes; ', a small fine plane used for finishing.—adv. '.—n. '.—adjs. ', having a regular easy pace; ', having shoes without spikes; ', speaking pleasantly: plausible: flattering; , having a smooth tongue: flattering. [A.S. smóthe, usually sméthe; Ger. ge-schmeidig, soft.]

Smore, smōr, a Scotch form of smother.

Smote, smōt, pa.t. and pa.p. of smite.

Smother, smuth′ėr, v.t. to suffocate by excluding the air: to conceal.—v.i. to be suffocated or suppressed: to smoulder.—n. smoke: thick floating dust: state of being smothered: confusion.—ns. ', suffocation: a sailor's dish of meat buried in potatoes; '.—adv. '.—adj. ', tending to smother: stifling. [M. E. smorther—A.S. smorian, to smother; cf. Ger. schmoren, to stew.]

Smouch, smowch, n. a smack, a hearty kiss.—v.t. to kiss, to buss.

Smouch, smowch, v.t. to take advantage of, to chouse.

Smouched, smowcht, adj. blotted, dirtied, smutched.

Smoulder, smōl′dėr, v.i. to burn slowly or without vent.—adjs. ', '. [M. E. smolderen—smolder=smor-ther, stifling smoke; cf. Smother.]

Smouse, Smous, smows, n. a peddler, a German Jew.

Smout, smowt, n. (slang) a printer who gets chance jobs in various offices.—v.i. to do occasional work.

Smudge, smuj, n. a spot, a stain: a choking smoke—v.t. to stifle: to fumigate with smoke.—n. ', one who smudges: a plumber.—adj. ', stained with smoke. [Scand., Sw. smuts, dirt, Dan. smuds, smut; Ger. schmutz.]

Smug, smug, adj. neat, prim, spruce: affectedly smart: well satisfied with one's self.—n. a self-satisfied person.—adj. ', prim or precise-looking.—adv. '.—n. . [Dan. smuk, handsome; cf. Ger. schmuck, fine.]

Smug, smug, v.t. to seize without ceremony, to confiscate: (slang) to hush up.

Smuggle, smug′l, v.t. to import or export without paying the legal duty: to convey secretly.—ns. ', one who smuggles: a vessel used in smuggling; ', defrauding the government of revenue by the evasion of custom-duties or excise-taxes. [Low Ger. smuggeln, cog. with Ger. schmuggeln; Dut. smuigen, to eat secretly.]

Smuggle, smug′l, v.t. to fondle, cuddle.

Smur, smur, n. (Scot.) fine misty rain.—v.i. to drizzle.—adj. .

Smut, smut, n. a spot of dirt, soot, &c.: foul matter, as soot: Bunt, sometimes also Dust-brand, the popular name of certain small fungi which infest flowering land-plants, esp. the grasses, the name derived from the appearance of the spores, which are nearly black and very numerous: obscene language.—v.t. to soil with smut: to blacken or tarnish.—v.i. to gather smut: to be turned into smut:—pr.p. pa.t. and pa.p. —n. ', a fungus of genus Tilletia: a puff-ball.—adj. ', made smutty.—adv. '.—n. '.—adj. , stained with smut: affected with smut or mildew: obscene, filthy. [Scand., Sw. smuts; Ger. schmutz, prob. from root of smite.]

Smutch, smuch, v.t. to blacken, as with soot.—n. a dirty mark. [A form of smut.]

Smyrniot, -e, smėr′niot, -ōt, n. a native or inhabitant, of Smyrna.—adj. of or pertaining to Smyrna.

Smyterie, Smytrie, smit′ri, n. (Scot.) a large number of individuals of small size.

Snabble, snab′l, v.t. (prov.) to plunder: to kill.—v.i. to gobble up.

Snabby, snab′i, n. (Scot.) the chaffinch.

Snack, snak, n. a share: a slight, hasty meal.—v.t. to snatch, to bite: to share. [A form of snatch.]

Snaffle, snaf′l, n. a bridle which crosses the nose and has a slender mouth-bit without branches.—v.t. to bridle: to clutch by the bridle.—ns. ', a kind of slender bit; ', the trade of highwayman. [Dut. snavel, the muzzle; cf. Snap.]

Snag, snag, n. a sharp protuberance: a short branch: a projecting tooth or stump: a tree lying in the water so as to impede navigation—hence any stumbling-block or obstacle.—v.t. to catch on a snag: to entangle: to fill with snags, or to clear from such.—n. ', a steamboat with appliances for removing snags.—adjs. ', , full of snags. [Akin to Gael. and Ir. snaigh, to cut.]

Snag, snag, v.t. to lop superfluous branches from a tree.—n. , the tool for this.

Snail, snāl, n. a term for the species of terrestrial Gasteropoda which have well-formed spiral shells—the more typical snails belonging to the genus Helix, of the family Helicidæ, having the shell of many whorls, globose, depressed, or conical.—ns. ', ', a species of medic; ', a fish of genus Liparis, sticking to rocks; ', a twining bean.—adjs. ' (Shak.), in the manner of a snail, slowly; ' (Shak.), as slow-moving as a snail; ', as slow as a snail.—n. ', in some striking time-pieces, a rotating piece with a spiral periphery having notches so arranged as to determine the number of strokes made on the bell.—Snail's pace, a very slow pace. [A.S. snegl, snægl; Ger. schnecke.]

Snake, snāk, n. a serpent—Snakes (Ophidia) form one of the classes of reptiles, in shape limbless and much elongated, embracing tree-snakes, the water-snakes, and the very venomous sea-snakes (Hydrophidæ), the burrowing-snakes (Typhlopidæ) and the majority, which may be called ground-snakes.—ns. ', a darter: the wryneck; ', a long Mediterranean eel, its tail without a tail-fin.—adj. ' (Tenn.), like a snake.—ns. ', the popular name of various plants of different genera, whose roots are considered good for snake-bites; ', the guinea-hen flower; ', a small rounded piece of stone or other hard substance, popularly believed to be efficacious in curing snake-bites; ', the bistort; ' (same as Letter-wood).—adjs. ', having the qualities of a snake: cunning, deceitful; ' (Spens.), belonging to, or resembling, a serpent: (Milt.) cunning, deceitful: covered with, or having, serpents. [A.S. snaca, prob. from snícan, to creep; Ice. snák-r.]

Snap, snap, v.t. to break short or at once: to bite, or catch at suddenly: to crack: to interrupt sharply (often with up): to shut with a sharp sound: to take an instantaneous photograph of, esp. with a hand camera.—v.i. to break short: to try to bite: to utter sharp words (with at): to flash:—pr.p. pa.t. and pa.p. snapped.—n. act of snapping, or the noise made by it: a small catch or lock: a hasty repast, a snack: a crack, the spring-catch of a bracelet, &c., an earring: a crisp kind of gingerbread nut or cake: crispness, pithiness, epigrammatic point or force: vigour, energy: (slang) a brief theatrical engagement, an easy and profitable place or task: a sharper, a cheat: a riveter's tool, also a glass-moulder's tool: the act of taking a snapshot.—adj. sudden, unpremeditated, without preparation.—ns. ', a plant, so called because the lower lip of the corolla when parted shuts with a snap like a dragon's jaw: a Christmas pastime in which raisins are snatched out of a dish in which brandy is burning, in a room otherwise dark—also the raisins so taken; '; ' (Shak.), one who snaps up; ', a large fresh-water tortoise of the United States—from its habit of snapping at things.—adjs. ', ', inclined to snap: eager to bite: sharp in reply.—adv. ', in a snappish manner: peevishly: tartly.—ns. '; , an instantaneous photograph. [Dut. snappen, to snap; Ger. schnappen.]

Snaphance, snaf′ans, n. a term originally applied to the spring-lock of a gun or pistol, but afterwards applied to the gun itself, a Dutch firelock of the 17th century: a snappish retort.—Also . [Dut. snaphaan—snappen, to snap, haan, a cock.]

Snar, snär, v.i. (Spens.) to snarl.

Snare, snār, n. a running noose of string or wire, &c., for catching an animal: a trap: that by which any one is entrapped: a cord, esp. that stretched across the lower head of a drum: a surgical instrument for removing tumours, &c., by an ever-tightening loop.—v.t. same as Ensnare (q.v.).—v.i. to use snares.—n. '.—adj. '. [A.S. snear; Dut. snaar.]

Snarl, snärl, v.i. to growl, as a surly dog: to speak in a surly manner.—v.t. to utter snarlingly.—n. a growl, a jealous quarrelsome utterance.—n. '.—adjs. ', growling, snappish; . [Prob. imit.; Low Ger. snarren, Ger. schnarren; conn. with Eng. snore.]

Snarl, snärl, v.t. to twist, entangle, confuse.—v.i. to become entangled.—n. a knot or any kind of complication: a squabble.—adj. Snarled, twisted.—ns. ', ', a curved tool for snarling or fluting hollow metal-ware, &c.

Snash, shash, n. (Scot.) insolence, abusive language.—v.i. to talk impudently.



Snatch, snach, v.t. to seize quickly: to take without permission: to seize and carry away.—v.i. to try to seize hastily.—n. a hasty catching or seizing: a short time of exertion: a small piece or fragment: a catching of the voice: a hasty snack of food: a quibble.—ns. ', a kind of pulley-block, having an opening in the side to receive the bight of a rope; ', one who snatches.—adv. '.—adj. ', irregular. [M. E. snacchen; cog. with Dut. snakken, Prov. Eng. sneck, a bolt; also conn. with snap.]

Snathe, snāth, n. the curved handle of a scythe. [A variant of snead.]

Snead, snēd, n. the handle of a scythe, a snathe. [A.S. snǽd—sníthan, to cut.]

Sneak, snēk, v.i. to creep or steal away privately or meanly: to behave meanly.—v.t. (slang) to steal.—n. a mean, servile fellow: a mean thief.—ns. ' (Shak.), one who balks his glass: a cowardly, insidious scoundrel; '.—adj. ', mean, crouching: secret, underhand, not openly avowed.—adv. '.—ns. ', ', the quality of being sneaking: meanness; ' (obs.), a sneak.—adj. ', somewhat sneaking. [A.S. snícan, to creep; Dan. snige. Cf. Snake.]

Sneap, snēp, v.t. to check, to rebuke: to nip.—n. a check, a reprimand, taunt, sarcasm.—Also Snape.

Sneb, a form of snib, snub.

Sneck, snek, n. (Scot.) the catch of a door or a lid.—v.t. to latch or shut a door.—n. ', one who lifts the latch for thievish ends, a mean thief.—adjs. ', ', crafty, cunning.—interj. ' (Shak.), go hang! [Prob. snack, to catch.]

Sneck, snek, v.t. (Scot.) to cut [Snick.]

Snee, snē, n. a large knife. [Dut. snee, snede, a slice; Ger. schneide, edge.]

Sneer, snēr, v.i. to show contempt by the expression of the face, as by turning up the nose: to insinuate contempt.—v.t. to utter sneeringly.—n. an indirect expression of contempt.—n. '.—adj. '.—adv. . [Scand., Dan. snærre, to grin like a dog; cf. Snarl.]

Sneeshing, snēsh′ing, n. (Scot.) snuff, or a pinch of snuff.

Sneeze, snēz, v.i. to make a sudden and involuntary violent expiration, preceded by one or more inspirations, the fauces being generally closed so that the current of air is directed through the nose.—n. a sneezing.—ns. ', any species of Helenium; ', the durable wood of a small South African tree whose sawdust causes sneezing: ', the white hellebore: the Achillea Ptarmica; '.—Not to be sneezed at, not to be despised, of very considerable value or importance. [M. E. snesen, fnesen—A.S. fneósan, to sneeze; Dut. fniezen.]

Snell, snel, adj. (Scot.) keen, sharp, severe. [A.S. snel, snell, active; Ger. schnell, swift.]

Snib, snib, n. (Spens.) a check or reprimand. [Snub.]

Snib, snib, n. (Scot.) the bolt of a door.—v.t. to bolt.

Snick, snik, v.t. to cut, snip, nick.—n. a small cut: a knot in yarn when too tightly twisted.—n. , a knife.—Snick and snee, a fight with knives, also a knife. [Ice. snikka, to nick, cut.]

Snicker, snik′ėr, v.i. to laugh, to giggle in a half-suppressed way.—v.t. to say gigglingly.—n. a giggle, a half-smothered laugh. [Low Ger. snukken, to sob, Dut. snikken, to gasp; cf. Neigh and Scot. nicker; all imit.]

Snide, snīd, adj. (slang) sharp, dishonest.—n. a sharper, a cheat.

Sniff, snif, v.t. to draw in with the breath through the nose.—v.i. to snuff or draw in air sharply through the nose: to snuff.—n. perception of smell: a short sharp inhalation, or the sound made by such.—v.i. ', to snuffle.—n. ', a slight breeze.—adj. ', inclined to be disdainful.—vs.i. Snift, to sniff, snivel; ', to sniff.—n. a sniff: (pl.) stoppage of the nasal passages in catarrh: (slang) a dram: (U.S.) a severe storm.—n. ', an air-valve connecting with a steam-cylinder, as in a condensing engine—also Tail-valve, Blow-valve.—adj. ' (slang), having a tempting smell. [Scand.; Dan. snive, snuff; Ger. schnieben.]

Snig, snig, v.t. (prov.) to cut.

Snigger, snig′ėr, v.i. to laugh in a half-suppressed, broken manner.—n. a half-suppressed laugh. [Imit.]

Sniggle, snig′l, v.i. to fish for eels by thrusting the bait into their hiding-places.—v.t. to catch by this means: to ensnare.—n. Snig (prov.), an eel.

Snip, snip, v.t. to cut off at once with scissors: to cut off the nib of: to cut off: to make signs with, as the fingers:—pr.p. pa.t. and pa.p. snipped.—n. a single cut with scissors: a clip or small shred: a share, snack: a tailor.—ns. ', one who snips, a tailor; ', a little trifling fellow; ', a little piece snipped off.—adj. ', trivial, fragmentary.—n. ', a clipping.—adj. ', fragmentary: stingy.—n.pl. Snips, a pair of strong hand-shears for sheet-metal.—n. , tart dialogue with quick replies.—adj. (Shak.) quick, short. [Dut. snippen; Ger. schnippen; closely conn. with snap.]

Snipe, snīp, n. the name of a genus (Gallinago) and of a family (Scolopacidæ) of birds, order Grallæ, having a long straight flexible bill, frequenting marshy places all over Europe: a fool: a simpleton: (U.S.) a half-smoked cigar picked up on the street: a long bill or account. [Scand., Ice. snípa; Dut. snip, snep, Ger. schnepfe.]

Snipe, snīp, v.i. to pick off stealthily by a long rifle-shot, as from the surrounding hills into a camp, &c.—n. , the foregoing practice.

Snirt, snirt, n. a smothered laugh.—v.i. , to snicker. [A variant of snortle.]

Snitcher, snich′ėr, n. (slang) an informer: a handcuff.

Snivel, sniv′l, v.i. to run at the nose: to cry, as a child:—pr.p. pa.t. and pa.p. —n. snot: cant, an affected tearful state.—n. ', one prone to snivelling: one who cries for slight causes.—adjs. ', snotty: weakly tearful; , snotty, whining. [A.S. snofel, mucus from the nose; akin to sniff, snuff.]

Snob, snob, n. a vulgar person, esp. one who apes gentility, a tuft-hunter: a shoemaker: a workman who works for lower wages than his fellows, a rat, one who will not join a strike: a townsman, as opposed to a gownsman, in Cambridge slang.—n. ', the quality of being snobbish.—adj. '.—adv. '.—ns. '; '.—adj. '.—ns. ', a little snob; ', snobs as a powerful class; '; ', the description of snobs and snobbery. [Prob. prov. snap, a boy, from Ice. snápr, a dolt; Sw. dial. snopp, a boy.]

Snod, snod, adj. (Scot.) neat, trim.—v.t. to trim, set in order (with up). [Conn. with A.S. snǽdan, to cut, prune.]

Snood, snōōd, n. the fillet which binds a maiden's hair: the hair-line, gut, &c. by which a fish-hook is fixed to the line.—adj. , having, or wearing, a snood. [A.S. snód; cf. Ice. snúa, Sw. sno, to twist.]

Snook, snōōk, v.i. to lurk, prowl about: to smell out—(Scot.) Snouk. [Low Ger. snoken, to search for; Ice. snaka, to snuff about.]

Snook, snōōk, n. one of several fishes—the cobia, a robalo, a garfish, a Cape carangoid fish. [Dut. snoek, a pike.]

Snooker, snōōk′ėr, n. a variety of the game of 'pool.'

Snool, snōōl, v.i. (Scot.) to submit tamely to wrong or oppression.—n. one who does so. [Contr. of snivel.]

Snoop, snōōp, v.i. to go about sneakingly. [Snook.]

Snooze, snōōz, v.i. to doze.—n. a nap.—n. . [Prob. the same as snore, influenced by sneeze.]

Snooze, snōōz, v.i. to doze: to slumber.—n. a quiet nap.—n. . [Prob. the same as snore, influenced by sneeze.]

Snore, snōr, v.i. to breathe roughly and hoarsely in sleep.—n. a noisy breathing in sleep.—ns. '; ', an abnormal and noisy mode of respiration produced by deep inspirations and expirations through the nose and open mouth, the noise being caused by the vibration of the soft palate and uvula. [A.S. snora, a snore; allied to snarl.]

Snort, snort, v.i. to force the air with violence and noise through the nostrils, as horses: to laugh boisterously.—v.t. to express by a snort: to force out, as by a snort.—ns. '; '.—adv. . [Scand., Dan. snorke, to snort; Dut. snorken, Ger. schnarchen.]

Snot, snot, n. mucus of the nose: a mean fellow.—v.i. to blow the nose.—v.i. ', to breathe through an obstruction in the nostrils, to sob, cry.—n. the wattles of a turkey-cock: (Scot.) snot.—n. ', snot, filthiness.—adv. '.—n. '.—adjs. '; '. [M. E. snotte; cf. Dut. snot; allied to snout.]

Snotter, snot′ėr, n. (naut.) the lower support of the sprit.

Snout, snowt, n. the projecting nose of a beast, as of a swine: any similar projecting proboscis, beak, &c.—v.t. to furnish with a snout.—adjs. '; '. [Scand., Sw. snut; Ger. schnauze, Dut. snuit.]

Snow, snō, n. the crystalline form into which the excess of vapour in the atmosphere is condensed when the temperature is below freezing: a snowfall: a winter: (her.) white argent.—v.i. and v.t. to fall in snow, to cover with snow.—n. ', a ball made of snow pressed hard together: a shrub bearing a round white flower, the guelder-rose: a round pudding of rice with an apple in the centre, a mass of boiled rice shaped in a cup: white of egg beaten stiff and placed on the surface of a custard.—v.t. to throw snowballs at.—v.i. to throw snowballs.—ns. ', a bushy, deciduous shrub, bearing white berries; ', a North American bird of the Finch family, the upper parts lead-colour, the lower parts white.—adj. ', affected with snow-blindness.—ns. ', amblyopia caused by the reflection of light from snow; ', a peculiar reflection arising from fields of snow, like ice-blink; ', a boot made to protect the feet while walking in snow; ', a theatrical apparatus for representing a snowfall; ', a melting of snow; ', snow and water mixed, any very cold liquid; ', ', a bird of the Finch family, Bunting sub-family, abounding in the Arctic regions.—adjs. ', ', covered with snow; ', as cold as snow.—ns. ', a bank of snow drifted together by the wind; ', a genus of plants of the natural order Amaryllis, with bell-shaped flower arising from a spathe, bulbous root, two leaves and one single-flowered leafless stem.—ns.pl. ', ', an Eskimo contrivance to prevent snow-blindness.—n. ', a quiet fall of snow: the amount falling in a given time.—adj. ', begun or increased by melted snow, as a stream.—ns. ', a wide range of snow, esp. where permanent; ', the stone- or mountain-finch; ', a feathery flake of snow: the snow-bunting: a bulbous-rooted garden flower, resembling the snowdrop, but larger; ', a perlid insect or kind of stone-fly found leaping on the snow; ', ice formed from freezing slush.—adv. '.—n. '.—adjs. ', resembling snow; '; '; ', with limbs white as snow.—ns. ', the line upon a mountain that marks the limit of perpetual snow; ', the great white owl of northern regions; ', a machine for clearing roads and railways from snow; ', a great flat shoe worn to prevent sinking in the snow.—v.i. to walk or travel on such.—ns. ', a mass of snow which slips down a mountain's side; ', a storm accompanied with falling snow.—adj. ', as white as snow: very white.—n. ' (Scot.), a snowdrift.—adj. , abounding or covered with snow: white, like snow: pure. [A.S. snáw; Ger. schnee, L. nix, nivis.]

Snow, snō, n. a vessel once much in use, differing only from a brig in having the boom-mainsail traversing on the trysail-mast, instead of hooped to the mainmast. [Dut. snaauw, a boat.]

Snub, snub, v.t. to check, to reprimand: to slight intentionally, to rebuff by a cutting remark or retort:—pr.p. pa.t. and pa.p. snubbed.—n. an act of snubbing, any deliberate slight.—adjs. Snub, flat and broad, with the end slightly turned up; ', inclined to snub or check; ', somewhat snub.—n. ', a short or flat nose.—adj. '.—ns. ', ', a post round which a rope is wound to check the motion of a horse or boat.—Snub a cable, to check it suddenly in running out. [Scand., Dan. snibbe, to reprove, Sw. snubba.]

Snudge, snuj, v.i. (obs.) to be snug and quiet.

Snudge, snuj, v.i. to save in a miserly way.—n. a mean stingy fellow.

Snuff, snuf, v.i. to draw in air violently and noisily through the nose: to sniff: to smell at anything doubtfully: to take snuff into the nose.—v.t. to draw into the nose: to smell, to examine by smelling.—n. a powdered preparation of tobacco or other substance for snuffing, a pinch of such: a sniff: resentment, huff.—ns. ', a box for snuff; ', the habit of dipping a wetted stick into snuff and rubbing it on the gums; ', one who snuffs; ', state of being snuffy.—v.i. ', to breathe hard through the nose.—n. the sound made by such: a nasal twang: cant.—n. ', one who snuffles or speaks through his nose when obstructed.—n.pl. ', nasal catarrh and consequent stoppage of the nose.—ns. '; ', a machine for grinding tobacco into snuff; ', a snuff-box; ', a spoon for taking snuff from a snuff-box; ', one who snuffs habitually; '.—adj. ', soiled with, or smelling of, snuff.—Take a thing in snuff (Shak.), to take offence; Up to snuff, knowing, not likely to be taken in. [Dut. snuffen, snuf; Ger. schnaufen, to snuff.]



Snuff, snuf, v.t. to crop or pinch the snuff from, as a burning candle.—n. the charred portion of a candle or lamp-wick: a candle almost burnt out.—ns.pl. ' (B.), dishes for the snuff of the lamps of the tabernacle; ', an instrument for taking the snuff off a candle.—Snuff out, to extinguish by snuffing, to end by a sudden stroke. [M. E. snuffen, for snuppen—Scand., Sw. dial. snóppa, to snip off, Dan. snubbe, to nip off.]

Snug, snug, adj. lying close and warm: comfortable: not exposed to view or notice: being in good order: compact: fitting close.—v.i. to move so as to lie close.—v.t. to make smooth.—n. ', a cosy little room.—v.i. ', to cuddle, nestle.—v.t. ' (Lamb), to make snug.—adv. '.—n. . [Scand., Ice. snögg-r, smooth.]

Snuzzle, snuz′l, v.i. (prov.) to rub the nose against and snuff.

Sny, snī, n. a gentle bend in timber, curving upwards. [Prob. Ice. snúa, to turn.]

So, sō, adv. in this manner or degree: thus: for like reason: in such manner or degree: in a high degree: as has been stated: on this account: an abbrev. for Is it so? be it so.—conj. provided that: in case that.—interj. stand as you are! steady! stop! by way of command.—adj. , generally styled thus—usually implying doubt.—So and so, an undetermined or imaginary person; So as, in such a manner as, with such a purpose as: if only, on condition that; So far, to that extent, degree, or point; So forth, denoting more of the same or a like kind; So much, as much as is implied or mentioned: such an amount not determined or stated; So much as, to whatever extent; So on, so forth; So so, only thus, only tolerably; So that, with the purpose that: with the result that: if only; So then, thus then it is, therefore; So to say, or speak, to use that expression.—Or so, or thereabouts; Quite so, just as you have said, exactly. [A.S. swá; Ice. svá, Goth. swa, Ger. so.]

Soak, sōk, v.t. to steep in a fluid: to wet thoroughly: to drench: to draw in by the pores.—v.i. to be steeped in a liquid: to enter into pores: to drink to excess, to guzzle.—n. process or act of soaking: a hard drinker, a carouse.—ns. ', act of soaking: the amount soaked in; ', a habitual drunkard.—p.adj. ', that wets thoroughly: drenching, as rain.—adv. '.—adj. , steeped, wet. [A.S. súcan, to suck, pa.t. seác, pa.p. socen.]

Soap, sōp, n. a compound of oils or fats with soda (hard soaps) or potash (soft soaps), used in washing: (slang) soft words, flattery: (U.S. slang) money used for bribery and other secret political purposes.—v.t. to rub or wash with soap: to flatter.—ns. ', soap made into a ball, often with starch, as an emollient; ', the fruit of several species of trees belonging to the genus Sapindus, containing a pulp useful as a substitute for soap in washing; ', one whose occupation is to make soap; ', the occupation of making soap; ', a bubble made from soap-suds by blowing through a pipe; '; ', a lock of hair brushed apart from the rest: a rowdy; ', a large tank for boiling the ingredients in soap-making; ', a plant the bulb of which makes a thick lather when rubbed on clothes, and is used as soap; ', a soft kind of magnesian rock having a soapy feel, also called Steatite; ' (s. and pl.), soapy water, esp. when worked into a foam; ', a test for determining the degree of hardness of water; ', a place where soap is made; ', a genus of plants, some of the species of which have very beautiful flowers, and the root and leaves of which contain saponin, and hence are sometimes used in washing.—adj. , like soap: having the qualities of soap: covered with soap: flattering, or pertaining to flattery. [A.S. sápe; Dut. zeep, Ger. seife.]

Soar, sōr, v.i. to mount into the air: to fly aloft: to rise to a height, also mentally or morally.—n. act of soaring: the height reached in soaring.—adjs. ' (her.), flying aloft; '.—adv. , having an upward direction. [O. Fr. essorer, to expose to air—L. ex, out of, aura, air.]

Sob, sob, v.i. to sigh in a convulsive manner, with tears: to weep with convulsive catchings of the breath, due to contractions of the diaphragm, accompanied by a closure of the glottis, preventing the entrance of air into the lungs.—v.t. to utter with sobs:—pr.p. pa.t. and pa.p. sobbed.—n. a short, convulsive sigh, any similar sound.—n. '.—adv. '. [Conn. with A.S. seófian, to sigh; Ger. seufzen.]

Sobeit, sō-bē′it, conj. if it be so.

Sober, sō′bėr, adj. not wild or passionate: self-possessed: sedate: grave: calm: regular: simple in colour, sombre: not drunk: temperate, esp. in the use of liquors: (Scot.) poor, feeble.—v.t. to make sober: to free from intoxication.—adj. ', cool.—v.t. ', to make sober.—adv. '.—adj. ', habitually calm and temperate.—ns. ', the state of being sober-minded: freedom from inordinate passion: calmness; '; ', a sedate and solemn person.—adj. ', dressed in a suit of sad-coloured clothes.—n. , state or habit of being sober: calmness: gravity. [Fr. sobre—L. sobrius—se, apart, not, ebrius, drunk.]

Sobol, sō′bol, n. the Russian sable. [Polish.]

Soboles, sob′ō-lēz, n. (bot.) a shoot or sucker.—adj. . [L. suboles—sub, under, olēre, to grow.]

Sobranje, sō-brän′ye, n. the national assembly of Bulgaria.—Also . [Bulg.]

Sobriquet, sō-brē-kā′, n. a contemptuous nickname: an assumed name.—Also . [Fr.,—O. Fr. soubzbriquet, a chuck under the chin, soubz, sous—L. sub, under, briquet, breast; cf. Brisket.]

Socage, Soccage, sok′āj, n. the tenure of lands by service fixed and determinate in quality.—ns. ', ', a tenant by socage; , tenure by socage. [A.S. sóc, a right of holding a court—sóc, pa.t. of sacan, to contend.]

So-called, sō′-kawld, adj. See under So.

Sociable, sō′sha-bl, adj. inclined to society: fit for company: companionable: affording opportunities for intercourse.—n. a four-wheeled open carriage with seats facing: a tricycle for two persons side by side: a couch with a curved S-shaped back: (U.S.) an informal party, a social church meeting.—ns. ', ', quality of being sociable: good-fellowship.—adv. '.—adj. ', pertaining to society or companionship: relating to men united in a society: inclined for friendly intercourse: consisting in mutual converse: convivial: associating together, gregarious: growing in patches.—v.t. ', to reduce to a social state: to render social.—ns. ', the name given to any one of various schemes for regenerating society by a more equal distribution of property, and esp. by substituting the principle of association for that of competition; ', an adherent of socialism.—adj. '.—ns. ', '.—adv. '.—adjs. ', expressing association; ', ', of or pertaining to society.—ns. ', fellowship, companionship: a number of persons associated for a common interest: a community or partnership: the civilised body of mankind, those who are recognised as the leaders in fashionable life, the fashionable world generally: persons who associate: any organised association for purposes literary, scientific, philanthropic, or ecclesiastical; ', a printing office which conforms to the rules of a trade-union; , poetry light and entertaining, treating of the topics of society so called.—Social science, sociology, esp. the branch treating of the existing institutions of men as members of society, the science which treats of social relations; Social War, the war (90-88 b.c.) in which the Italian tribes known as the allies (Socii) fought for admission into Roman citizenship.—Socialism of the Chair, a term first applied about 1872 in ridicule to the doctrines of a school of political economists in Germany whose aim was mainly to better the condition of the working-classes through remedial state-legislation, by factory-acts, savings-banks, insurances against sickness and old age, shortening the hours of labour, sanitation, &c.—also called Professorial socialism, and having much the same ends and methods as the State socialism of Bismarck.—Christian socialism, a movement for applying Christian ethics to social reform, led by Maurice, Kingsley, and others about 1848-52.—The societies, bodies that began to be organised in 1681 for the maintenance of Presbyterian worship in the face of persecution—ultimately forming the Reformed Presbyterian Church. [Fr.,—L. sociabilis—sociāre, to associate—socius, a companion.]

Socinian, sō-sin′i-an, adj. pertaining to Socinus, the name of two celebrated heresiarchs, uncle and nephew, who in the 16th century denied the doctrine of the Trinity, the deity of Christ, &c.—n. a follower of Lælius and Faustus Socinus, one who refuses to accept the divinity of Christ, a Unitarian.—n. , the doctrines of Socinus.

Sociology, sō-shi-ol′ō-ji, n. the science that treats of man as a social being, in the origin, organisation, and development of human society and human culture, esp. on the side of social and political institutions, including ethics, political economy, &c.—ns. ', the science of the origin of society; ', the branch of sociology devoted to noting and describing the results of observation.—adjs. ', '.—adv. '.—ns. ', one devoted to the study of sociology; , an associate: a fellow of an academy, &c. [A hybrid from L. socius, a companion, and Gr. logia—legein, to speak.]

Sock, sok, n. a kind of half-stocking: comedy, originally a low-heeled light shoe, worn by actors of comedy. [A.S. socc—L. soccus.]

Sock, sok, n. a ploughshare. [O. Fr. soc—Celt., Bret. souc'h, Gael. soc.]

Sock, sok, v.t. (prov. and slang) to throw: to strike hard, to give a drubbing.

Sockdologer, sok-dol′ō-jėr, n. (Amer. slang) a conclusive argument: a knock-down blow: anything very big, a whopper: a form of fish-hook. [A corr. of doxology as the closing act of a service.]

Socket, sok′et, n. a hollow into which something is inserted, the receptacle of the eye, &c.: a hollow tool for grasping and lifting tools dropped in a well-boring: the hollow of a candlestick: a steel apparatus attached to the saddle to protect thighs and legs.—v.t. to provide with or place in a socket.—n. ', a bolt for passing through a thimble placed between the parts connected by the bolt.—p.adj. ', provided with, placed in, or received in a socket. [A dim. of sock.]

Socle, sō′kl, n. (archit.) a plain, square, flat member used instead of a pedestal to support a column, &c.: a plain face or plinth at the foot of a wall. [Fr.—It. zoccolo—L. socculus, dim. of soccus, a high-heeled shoe, as if a support.]

Socratic, -al, sō-krat′ik, -al, adj. pertaining to Socrates, a celebrated Greek philosopher (469-399 B.C.), to his philosophy, or to his manner of teaching, which was an art of inducing his interlocutors to discover their own ignorance and need of knowledge by means of a series of simple questions.—adv. '.—ns. ', the philosophy of Socrates; , a disciple of Socrates.

Sod, sod, n. any surface of earth grown with grass, &c.: turf.—adj. consisting of sod.—v.t. to cover with sod.—adj. , covered with sod: turfy.—The old sod, one's native soil. [Low Ger. sode; Ger. sode; perh. conn. with A.S. seáth, a well—seóthan (pa.p. soden), to boil.]

Sod, sod, obsolete pa.t. of seethe.

Soda, sō′da, n. oxide of sodium, or its hydrate: the alkali obtained from the ashes of marine vegetables, or by decomposing sea-salt: (coll.) soda-water.—ns. ', sodium carbonate; ', a biscuit made of flour and water, with salt, bicarbonate of soda, and cream of tartar; ', a metal or marble case for holding water charged with carbonic-acid gas.—adj. ', pertaining to, or containing, soda.—ns. ', a mixture of caustic soda and quicklime; ', a mineral composed chiefly of soda, along with silica, alumina, and hydrochloric acid; ', a paper saturated with sodium carbonate; ', a salt having soda for its base; ', water containing soda charged with carbonic acid; ', a yellowish-white metal, the base of soda. [It. soda—L. solida, firm.]

Sodality, sō-dal′i-ti, n. a fellowship or fraternity. [L. sodalitas—sodalis, a comrade.]

Sodden, sod′n, pa.p. of seethe, boiled: soaked thoroughly: boggy: doughy, not well baked: bloated, saturated with drink.—n. '.—adj. ' (Shak.), heavy, stupid.

Sodomy, sod′om-i, n. unnatural sexuality, so called because imputed to the inhabitants of Sodom.—n. ', an inhabitant of Sodom: one guilty of sodomy.—adj. '.—adv. .

Soever, sō-ev′ėr, adv. generally used to extend or render indefinite the sense of who, what, where, how, &c.

Sofa, sō′fa, n. a long seat with stuffed bottom, back and arms—formerly '.—n. ', a piece of furniture serving as a sofa by day, capable of being made into a bed at night. [Fr.,—Ar. suffah—saffa, to arrange.]

Soffit, sof′it, n. a ceiling, now generally restricted to the ornamented under-sides of staircases, entablatures, archways, &c.; also the larmier or drip. [Fr.,—It.,—L. suffixa, pa.p. of suffigĕre, to fasten beneath—sub, under, figĕre, to fix.]

Sofi, Sofism. See Sufi, Sufism.

Soft, soft, adj. easily yielding to pressure: easily cut or acted upon: malleable: not rough to the touch: smooth: pleasing or soothing to the senses: easily yielding to any influence: mild: sympathetic: gentle: effeminate: gentle in motion: easy: free from lime or salt, as water: bituminous, as opposed to anthracitic, of coal: unsized, of paper: wet, rainy: warm enough to melt ice, thawing: (phon.) pronounced with a somewhat sibilant sound, not guttural or explosive: vocal or sonant: not bony, cartilaginous, not spinous: soft-rayed, soft-shelled: of silk, having the natural gum cleaned or washed off—opp. to Hard.—n. a silly person, a fool.—adv. gently: quietly.—interj. hold! not so fast!—adjs. ', having a soft body; ', having a sensitive conscience.—v.t. ', to make soft or softer: to mitigate: to tone down, make less glaring, make smoother in sound.—v.i. to grow soft or softer.—ns. '; '.—adjs. ', having gentle or tender eyes; ', having no fin-spines.—n.pl. ', cloth, and cloth articles, as opposed to hardware, &c.—adjs. ', having soft hands, unused to work, slack in discipline; ', of weak intellect; ', kind-hearted: gentle: meek.—n. '.—adj. ', rather soft.—adv. '.—n. '.—v.t. ' (U.S.), to flatter, blarney.—n. flattery.—v.t. ', to flatter for some end.—n. flattery.—adj. ', ', having a mild or gentle voice: mild, affable.—n. ', a silly person, a weak fool.—A soft thing, a snug place where the pay is good and the work light. [A.S. sófte, séfte; Dut. zacht, Ger. sanft.]

Softa, sof′ta, n. a Moslem theological student, attached to a mosque. [Turk.]

Soger, sō′jėr, n. (naut.) one who skulks his work.—v.i. to shirk one's work.

Soggy, sog′i, adj. soaked with water.—n. Sog, a bog.

So-ho, sō-hō′, interj. (Shak.) a form of call from a distance, a sportsman's halloo.

Soi-disant, swo-dē-zong′, adj. self-styled, pretended. [Fr.]

Soil, soil, n. the ground: the mould on the surface of the earth which nourishes plants: country.—adj. ', attached to the soil.—n. ', the covering of soil on the bed-rock.—adj. Soiled, having soil. [O. Fr. soel, suel, sueil—Low L. solea, soil, ground, L. solea, sole, allied to L. solum, ground, whence Fr. sol, soil.]

Soil, soil, n. dirt: dung: foulness: a spot or stain: a marshy place in which a hunted boar finds refuge.—v.t. to make dirty: to stain: to manure.—v.i. to take a soil: to tarnish.—n. ', stain: foulness.—adj. ', destitute of soil.—ns. ', an upright discharge-pipe which receives the general refuse from water-closets, &c., in a building; ' (Shak.), stain: pollution. [O. Fr. soil, souil (Fr. souille), wallowing-place—L. suillus, piggish—sus, a pig, a hog.]

Soil, soil, v.t. to feed at the stall for the purpose of fattening. [O. Fr. saouler—saol, saoul—L. satullus—satur, full.]

Soirée, swä-rā′, n. an evening party: an evening social meeting with tea, &c. [Fr.,—soir, evening (Prov. sera)—L. serus, late.]

Sojourn, sō′jurn, v.t. to stay for a day: to dwell for a time.—n. a temporary residence.—ns. '; ', , the act of dwelling in a place for a time. [O. Fr. sojourner—L. sub, under, diurnāre, to stay—Low L. jornus—L. diurnus, relating to day—dies, a day.]

Soke, sōk, n. the same as Soc (q.v.).—ns. '=Socman; ', a district held by tenure of socage: a miller's right to the grinding of all the corn within a certain manor.

Sol, sol, n. the sun, Phœbus: (her.) a tincture, the metal or, or gold, in blazoning by planets. [L.]

Sol, sol, n. an old French coin, 1 &frasl; 20 th of a livre, equal to 12 deniers, now superseded by the sou. [O. Fr. sol—L. solidus, solid.]

Sola, sō-lä′, interj. a cry to a person at a distance.

Sola, sō′lä, n. the hat-plant or sponge-wood, also its pith.—Also . [Hind. sholā.]

Solace, sol′ās, n. consolation, comfort in distress: relief: (obs.) pleasure, amusement.—v.t. to comfort in distress: to console: to allay.—n. ', the act of solacing: the state of being solaced.—adj. ' (obs.), affording pleasure. [O. Fr. solas—L. solatium—solāri, -ātus, to comfort in distress.]

Solander, sō-lan′dėr, n. a case or box, usually in the form of a book, opening on the side or front with hinges, for holding prints, drawings, or pamphlets—named from the inventor, Daniel Solander (1736-81).

Solan-goose, sō′lan-gōōs, n. the gannet.—Also . [Ice. súla.]

Solano, sō-lä′no, n. a hot south-east wind which occasionally visits Spain. [Sp.,—L. solanus (ventus), the east wind—sol, the sun.]

Solanum, sō-lā′num, n. a genus of plants of the order Solanaceæ or Solaneæ, the nightshade family—almost all the species containing a poisonous alkaloid, '.—adjs. ', belonging to the Solanaceæ; , potato-like, said of cancers. [L. solanum, the nightshade.]

Solar, sō′lar, adj. pertaining to the sun: measured by the progress of the sun: produced by the sun.—n. ', exposure to the action of the sun's rays: the effect in photography of over-exposure.—v.t. ', to injure by exposing too long to the sun's light in a camera.—v.i. to take injury by too long exposure to the sun's light in a camera:—pr.p. pa.p. —ns. ', excessive use of solar-myths in the explanation of mythology; ', one addicted to solarism; ', a sun-dial: a place suited to receive the sun's rays—in a hospital or sanatorium; ', an apparatus for projecting upon a screen by means of sunlight an enlarged view of any object—essentially the same as the combination of lenses used in the magic-lantern taken in conjunction with a heliostat; ', a myth allegorising the course of the sun, by some mythologists constantly invoked to explain the problems of mythology; ', a photographic print made in a solar camera from a negative; , the planets and comets which circle round the sun—also called Planetary-system.—Solar flowers, flowers which open and shut daily at certain hours; Solar spots=Sun-spots (see Sun); Solar time (see Time); Solar year (see Year). [L. sol, the sun, solaris, pertaining to the sun.]

Solaster, sō-las′tėr, n. the typical genus of Solasteridæ, a family of star-fishes, having more than five rays. [L. sol, the sun, aster, a star.]

Solatium, sō-lā′shi-um, n. any compensation, a sum legally awarded, over and above actual damages, by way of compensation for wounded feelings. [L.]

Sold, sōld, pa.t. and pa.p. of sell.

Sold, sold, n. (Spens.) pay, remuneration. [Fr. solde—L. solidus, a piece of money.]

Soldado, sōl-dä′dō, n. a soldier. [Sp.]

Soldan, sōl′dan, n. (Milt.). Same as Sultan.

Soldanel, sol′da-nel, n. a plant of the genus Soldanella, of the order Primulaceæ—the blue moonwort.

Soldatesque, sol-da-tesk′, adj. soldier-like, [Fr.,—soldat, a soldier.]

Solder, sod′ėr, or sol′dėr, v.t. to unite two metallic surfaces by a fusible metallic cement: to cement.—n. a fusible alloy for uniting metals.—ns. '; '; ', ', a tool with pointed or wedge-shaped copper bit for use in soldering. [O. Fr. soudre, souldure—souder, soulder, to consolidate—L. solidāre, to make solid.]

Soldier, sōl′jėr, n. a man engaged in military service: a private, as distinguished from an officer: a man of much military experience or of great valour: a soldier-ant, beetle, hermit-crab, &c.: (slang) a red herring.—v.i. to serve as a soldier: to bully: to shirk one's work or duty: (slang) to take a mount on another man's horse.—ns. ', a hermit-crab; ', the state of being a soldier: the occupation of a soldier.—adjs. ', ', like a soldier: martial: brave.—ns. ', one ready to serve anywhere for pay or his own advancement; ', state or quality of being a soldier: military qualities: martial skill; ', soldiers collectively: the body of military men; ', the Stratiotes aloides, a European aquatic plant with sword-shaped leaves.—Come the old soldier over one, to impose on any one.—Old soldier, a bottle emptied at a sitting: a cigar-stump. [O. Fr. soldier (Fr. soldat)—L. solidus, a piece of money, the pay of a soldier.]

Soldo, sol′dō, n. an Italian coin, 1 &frasl; 20 th of the lira, a sol or sou:—pl. . [It.]

Sole, sōl, n. the lowest part or under-side of the foot: the foot: the bottom of a boot or shoe: the bottom of anything.—v.t. to furnish with a sole.—adj. ', slipper-shaped.—ns. ', strong leather for the soles of boots and shoes; ', a form of tile for the bottoms of sewers, &c.; ', a flat muscle of the calf of the leg beneath the gastrocnemius. [A.S. sole—L. solea—solum, bottom.]

Sole, sōl, n. a genus (Solea) of flat-fish, elongate-oval in form, with flesh firm, white, and excellently flavoured. [Fr. sole—L. solea.]

Sole, sōl, adj. alone: only: being or acting without another: single: (law) unmarried.—advs. Sole; ', alone: only: singly.—n. '. [Fr.,—L. solus, alone.]

Solecism, sol′ē-sizm, n. a breach of syntax: any absurdity or impropriety: any incongruity, prodigy.—v.i. ', to commit solecisms.—n. ', one who commits solecisms.—adjs. ', ', pertaining to, or involving, a solecism: incorrect: incongruous.—adv. . [Fr. solécisme—L. solœcismus—Gr. soloikismos—soloikos, speaking incorrectly, awkward; dubiously said to come from the corruption of the Attic dialect among the Athenian colonists of Soloi in Cilicia.]

Solein, sol′ān, adj. (Spens.) sad. [Sullen.]

Solemn, sol′em, adj. attended with religions ceremonies, pomp, or gravity, originally taking place every year, said esp. of religious ceremonies: impressing with seriousness: awful: devout: having the appearance of gravity: devotional: attended with an appeal to God, as an oath: serious: sober, gloomy, black.—n. '.—v.t. ', to perform religiously or solemnly once a year, or periodically: to celebrate with due rites: to render grave.—ns. '; ', a solemn religious ceremony: a ceremony adapted to inspire with awe: reverence: seriousness: affected gravity.—adv. —n. . [O. Fr. solempne, solemne (Fr. solennel)—L. sollemnis, solennis—sollus, all, every, annus, a year.]

Solen, sō′len, n. a genus of bivalve molluscs—Razor-shell and Razor-fish.—adjs. ', '.—n. , a fossil razor-shell. [Gr. sōlēn, a channel.]

Solenoid, sō-lē′noid, n. a helix of copper wound in the form of a cylinder, longitudinally magnetised with an intensity varying inversely as the area of the normal section in different parts.—adj. '.—adv. '. [Gr. sōlēn, a pipe, eidos, form.]

Solenostomous, sol-ē-nos′tō-mus, adj. having a tubular or fistulous snout.—n. , the typical genus of the Solenostomidæ, a family of solenostomous lophobranchiate fishes. [Gr. sōlēn, a pipe, stoma, mouth.]

Solert, sol′ert, adj. (obs.) subtle.—n. . [L. sollers, crafty, sollertia, skill.]

Soleus. See Sole (1).

Sol-fa, sol′-fa, v.i. to sing the notes of the scale in their proper pitch, using the syllables do (or ut), re, mi, fa, sol, la, si;—pr.p. sol-faing pa.p. sol-faed —ns. ', singing by syllables, solmisation; ', a teacher or advocate of solmisation; , an exercise on the notes of the scale, as represented by do, re, mi, &c. [It.]

Solfatara, sol-fä-tä′ra, n. a volcanic region no longer violently active, but emitting from crevices gases, steam, and chemical vapours, chiefly of sulphurous origin—Fr. soufrière, Ger. schwefelgrube or schwefelsee. [It.,—solfo, sulphur.]

Solferino, sol-fe-rē′nō, n. the colour of rosaniline—from the French victory at Solferino in Italy (1859).

Solicit, sō-lis′it, v.t. to ask earnestly: to petition: to seek or try to obtain: to disturb.—n. solicitation.—ns. ', one who solicits; ', a soliciting: earnest request: invitation; ' (Shak.), solicitation; ', one who asks earnestly: one who is legally qualified to act for another in a court of law, esp. a court of equity: a lawyer who prepares deeds, manages cases, instructs counsel in the superior courts, and acts as an advocate in the inferior courts; ', in England, the law-officer of the crown next in rank to the attorney-general—in Scotland, to the lord-advocate; '.—adj. ', soliciting or earnestly asking or desiring: very desirous: anxious: careful.—adv. '.—ns. ', ', state of being solicitous: anxiety or uneasiness of mind: trouble. [Fr. solliciter—L. sollicitāre—sollicitus—sollus, whole, citus, aroused—ciēre, to cite.]

Solid, sol′id, adj. having the parts firmly adhering: hard: compact: full of matter: not hollow: strong: having length, breadth, and thickness (opposed to a mere surface): cubic: substantial, reliable, worthy of credit, satisfactory: weighty: of uniform undivided substance: financially sound, wealthy: unanimous, smooth, unbroken, unvaried.—n. a substance having the parts firmly adhering together: a firm, compact body—opp. to Fluid.—ns. ', a genus of composite plants, the goldenrods; Solidare, (Shak.), a small piece of money; ', the being made solid or compact: the being bound: a consolidation or oneness of interests.—adj. ', marked by solidarity, jointly responsible.—v.t. ', to make solid or firm.—adj. '.—n. ', act of making solid or hard.—v.t. ', to make solid or compact.—v.i. to grow solid: to harden:—pa.p. —ns. ', the doctrine that refers all diseases to alterations of the solid parts of the body; ', a believer in the foregoing; ', the state of being solid: fullness of matter: strength or firmness, moral or physical: soundness: (geom.) the solid content of a body.—adv. '.—n. '.—Solid colour, a colour covering the whole of an object: a uniform colour; Solid matter (print.), matter set without leads between the lines.—Be solid for (U.S.), to be hearty or unanimous in favour of; Be solid with (U.S.), to have a firm footing with. [Fr.,—L. solidus, solid.]

Solidum, sol′i-dum, n. (archit.) the die of a pedestal: (Scots law) a complete sum. [L.]

Solidungular, sol-id-ung′gū-lar, adj. having hoofs solid, that are not cloven, denoting a certain tribe of mammalia.—Also ', '. [L. solidus, solid, ungula, a hoof.]

Solidus, sol′i-dus, n. a Roman gold coin introduced by Constantine in place of the aureus, known later as the bezant: a sign (/) denoting the English shilling, representing the old lengthened form of s—£ s. d. (libræ, solidi, denarii), pounds, shillings, pence.

Solifidian, sol-i-fid′i-an, n. one who holds that faith alone is what is necessary for justification.—adj. holding this view.—n. . [L. solus, only, fides, faith.]

Soliloquy, sō-lil′ō-kwe, n. a talking when solitary or to one's self: a discourse of a person, not addressed to any one.—v.i. , to speak to one's self or utter a soliloquy. [L. soliloquium—solus, alone, loqui, to speak.]