Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary 1908/Squatter Stethoscope

Squatter, skwot′ėr, v.i. to plunge through water.

Squaw, skwaw, n. an American Indian woman, esp. a wife.—n. , a white man with an Indian wife.

Squeak, skwēk, v.i. to utter a shrill and usually short cry.—n. a sudden, shrill cry.—v.i. Squawk, to utter a harsh cry: (U.S.) to back out in a mean way.—n. a loud squeak.—n. ', one who squeaks: a young bird.—adv. '.—A narrow squeak, a narrow escape. [Imit.; cf. Sw. sqväka, to croak, Ger. quieken, to squeak.]

Squeal, skwēl, v.i. to utter a shrill and prolonged sound: to turn informer.—n. a shrill loud cry.—n. , a young pigeon: an informer. [Scand.; Sw. dial. sqväla, to cry out.]

Squeamish, skwēm′ish, adj. sickish at stomach: easily disgusted or offended: fastidious in taste.—adv. '.—n. '. [Scand.; Ice. sveimr, stir; prob. also influenced by qualmish.]

Squeegee, skwē′jē, n. a wooden implement edged with rubber for clearing water away from decks, floors, windows, &c.: a photographer's roller for squeezing the moisture from a print—also .—v.t. to smooth down with a squeegee.

Squeeze, skwēz, v.t. to crush or press between two bodies: to embrace closely: to force through a small hole: to cause to pass: to extort, oppress, harass.—v.i. to push between close bodies: to press: to crowd.—n. act of squeezing: pressing between bodies: an impression of an inscription, &c., made by taking a rubbing.—n. '.—adj. '.—ns. ', one who, or that which, squeezes: (pl.) playing-cards having the number of spots marked in the right-hand corner of each; ', the act of exerting pressure.—adj. , suggesting squeezing, small, contracted. [M. E. queisen—A.S. cwísan.]

Squelch, skwelch, n. a heavy blow or a heavy fall.—v.t. to crush down.

Squib, skwib, n. a paper tube filled with combustibles, thrown up into the air burning and bursting: a petty lampoon.—v.t. to aim squibs at: to lampoon.—v.i. to write lampoons: to use squibs: to sound like a squib exploding. [Scand.; Ice. svipa, to flash.]

Squid, skwid, n. a kind of cuttle-fish or calamary: a lure used in trolling for fish.—v.i. to fish with a squid or spoon-bait.

Squiggle, skwig′l, v.i. (U.S.) to squirm, wriggle: (prov.) to rinse out the mouth with a liquid.

Squilgee. See Squeegee.

Squill, skwil, n. a genus of bulbous-rooted plants of order Liliaceæ, with radical leaves, and flowers in terminal racemes or loose corymbs—the officinal Squill is diuretic and expectorant.—adj. . [Fr. squille—L. squilla, scilla—Gr. skilla.]

Squinch, skwinch, n. a small stone arch, or series of arches, across an interior angle of a square tower to support the sides of an octagonal spire.

Squinny, skwin′i, v.i. (Shak.) to look asquint.

Squint, skwint, adj. looking obliquely: having the vision distorted.—v.i. to look obliquely: to have the vision distorted.—v.t. to cause to squint.—n. act or habit of squinting: an oblique look: distortion of vision: a hagioscope, a narrow aperture cut in the wall of a church (generally about two feet wide) to enable persons standing in the side-chapels, &c., to see the elevation of the host at the high-altar.—n. ', an eye that squints.—adj. ', looking obliquely: oblique, malignant.—n. ', technically Strabismus, a common deformity which may be defined as a want of parallelism in the visual axes, when the patient endeavours to direct both eyes to an object at the same time.—adv. '. [Scand.; Sw. svinka, to shrink, a nasalised form of svika, to fail.]

Squire, skwīr, n. an esquire, a knight's attendant: a beau or gallant: a country gentleman, an owner of land in England, esp. if of old family: (U.S.) one who has been a justice of the peace, &c.—ns. ', ', landed gentry collectively.—adj. '.—ns. ', a gentleman farmer, one almost a squire; ', the state or rank of a squire—also '.—adjs. ', ', like or becoming a squire.—ns. ', a squire of small possessions; ', government by the landed classes; , a squire's wife. [Esquire.]

Squire, skwīr, n. (Shak.) a square. [Square.]

Squirm, skwirm, v.i. to wriggle or writhe, to climb by wriggling up: to escape with any awkward evasion or lie. [A variant of squir=whir.]

Squirrel, skwir′el, n. a nimble, reddish-brown, rodent little animal with hairy tail and large eyes, mainly of arboreal habit.—ns. ', a holocentroid tropical fish; ', any one of several grasses of the genus Hordeum, with long hair-like awns: a cap of squirrel-skins, with a tail hanging down behind. [O. Fr. escurel—Low L. scurellus, dim. of L. sciurus—Gr. skiouros—skia, shade, oura, tail.]

Squirt, skwėrt, v.t. to throw out water in a stream from a narrow opening.—n. a small instrument for squirting: a small, quick stream.—n. . [Skeat says the r appears to be intrusive; allied to prov. Eng. squitter, to squirt, and squitter, diarrhœa. From Sw. dial. skvittär, to sprinkle all round, freq. of skwitta, to squirt, Sw. sqvätta, to squirt; cf. Dan. sqvatte, to splash.]

Squitch, skwich, n. quitch-grass.

Sraddha, srä′da, n. the offering of rice and flowers to the manes of a deceased ancestor. [Sans.]

Stab, stab, v.t. to wound with a pointed weapon: to wound: to injure secretly, or by slander: to roughen a brick wall with a pick so as to hold plaster: to pierce folded sheets, near their back edges, for the passage of thread or wire.—v.i. to give a stab or a mortal wound:—pr.p. pa.t. and pa.p. stabbed.—n. a wound with a pointed weapon: an injury given secretly.—n. ', one who stabs.—adv. '. [Gael. stob, a stake.]

Stabat Mater, stā′bat mā′tėr, n. a Latin hymn on the seven dolours of the Virgin, ascribed to Jacopone da Todi, a 13th-cent. Minorite: a musical setting of this sequence. [Its opening words.]

Stable, stā′bl, adj. that stands firm: firmly established: durable: firm in purpose or character: constant, unchangeable.—ns. ', state of being stable: steadiness; '.—adv. . [Fr.,—L. stabilis—stāre, to stand.]

Stable, stā′bl, n. a building for horses and cattle.—v.t. to put or keep in a stable.—v.i. to dwell in a stable.—ns. ', ', a boy, or man, who attends in a stable; ', a stable-keeper; ', room for stabling horses or cattle; , act of putting into a stable: accommodation for horses and cattle. [O. Fr. estable (Fr. étable)—L. stabulum—stāre, to stand.]

Stablish, stab′lish, v.t. old form of establish.—n. =Establishment.

Staccato, stak-kä′to, adj. (mus.) with the notes to be played in an abrupt, disconnected manner—opp. to Legato: marked by abrupt emphasis: giving a clear distinct sound to each note.—adj. , as staccato as possible. [It., from staccare, for distaccare, to separate.]

Stachys, stā′kis, n. a genus of Labiatæ, containing the Hedge-nettle, the Woundwort, and according to some botanists the Common Betony or Wood Betony. [L.,—Gr. stachys, an ear of corn.]

Stack, stak, n. a large pile of bay, corn, wood, &c.: a number of chimneys standing together: a pyramid formed by a number of muskets with fixed bayonets interlocked and the stocks spread widely apart.—v.t. to pile into a stack: to make up cards for cheating.—ns. ', a frame of wood, iron, or stone, supported on short props, for building a stack upon; ', a yard for stacks. [Scand.; Ice. stakkr, a stack of hay.]

Stacte, stak′te, n. a Jewish spice, liquid myrrh.

Stactometer, stak-tom′e-tėr, n. a tube with a small hole at the bottom for measuring a liquid in drops.—Also . [Gr. staktos, dropping, metron, a measure.]

Stadda, stad′a, n. a double-bladed hand-saw for cutting the teeth of combs.

Staddle, stad′l, n. anything that serves for support: a staff or crutch: a stack-stand: a small tree. [A.S. stathol, foundation; Ger. stadel.]

Stade=Stadium (q.v.).

Stadia, stā′di-a, n. a temporary surveying station: an instrument for measuring distances.—n. , a self-recording theodolite.

Stadium, stā′di-um, n. a Greek measure of length, 600 podes=582 English feet, the Greek foot being .971 of an English foot:—pl. .

Stadtholder, stad-hōl′dėr, n. a barbarous English form of the Dutch Stadhouder, 'stead-holder,' of which the French lieu-tenant is a literal translation, Statthalter being the corresponding German.

Staff, staf, n. a stick carried for support or defence: a prop: a long piece of wood: pole: a flagstaff: the long handle of an instrument: a stick or ensign of authority: the five lines and spaces on which music is written: a stanza (the previous meanings have pl. Staffs or Staves, stāvz): a body of skilled officers whose duty it is, under orders from the commanding officers of various grades, to arrange the movements and supply of the various bodies which go to make up an army: a similar body of persons in any undertaking, acting under a manager or chief (the last two meanings have pl. Staffs, stafs).—ns. ', the senior grade in the navigating branch in the British navy; ', a college where military officers are trained in the higher branches of professional knowledge, and prepared for holding staff-appointments; , a body of intelligent officers and men who performed engineering and siege duties, made reconnaissances, &c. during the wars of Wellington; (Indian) a body of British officers serving on the permanent Indian establishment, appointed from it to do duty with native regiments, &c.; ', the occupation of an officer who serves on a staff, having been detached from his regiment; ', musical notation in which a staff is used, as opposed to the tonic-solfa system; ', a navy surgeon of senior grade; ', a block-system in use on single-line railways in which the station-master gives the engine-driver a staff authorising him to proceed over a given portion. [A.S. stæf; Ice. stafr, Ger. stab.]

Stag, stag, n. the male deer, esp. one of the red deer:—fem. Hind: a speculator who applies for shares or stock in new concerns quoted at a premium, hoping to obtain an allotment and secure a profit without holding the stock, one who sells new securities quoted at a premium before allotment.—v.t. to follow, to dog, to shadow.—v.i. to act as a stag on the stock-exchange.—ns. ', a genus of Lamellicorn beetles, nearly allied to the Scarabees, the males with large projecting mandibles; ', ', a dance or party of men only; ', a name applied both to the buck-hound and the Scottish deer-hound. [Ice. steggr, a male animal, stiga, to mount.]

Stage, stāj, n. an elevated platform, esp. in a theatre: the theatre: theatrical representations, the theatrical calling: any place of exhibition or performance: a place of rest on a journey or road: distance between places: degree of progress.—v.t. to represent or place for representation on the stage.—ns. ', a coach that runs regularly with passengers from stage to stage; ', skill in putting a play on the stage; ', the actors' entrance to a theatre; ', one who drives a stage; ', theatrical effect; ', a passion to go on the stage; ', nervousness before an audience, esp. for the first time; ', one who superintends the production of plays, and has general charge of everything behind the curtain; ', a play for representation on a stage; ', a player on the stage; ', a stage-horse: one who has had much experience in anything.—adj. ', sorely smitten with stage-fever.—ns. ', a wagon for conveying goods and passengers at fixed times; ', a loud whisper, as that of an actor meant to be heard by the audience.—adjs. ', ', suggesting the stage, theatrical.—ns. '; ', a structure for workmen in building. [O. Fr. estage (Fr. étage), a story of a house, through a L. form staticus, from stāre, to stand.]

Stagger, stag′ėr, v.i. to reel from side to side: to begin to give way: to begin to doubt: to hesitate.—v.t. to cause to reel: to cause to doubt or hesitate: to shock.—adv. '.—n. ', a popular term applied to several diseases of horses.—Grass, or Stomach, staggers, an acute indigestion; Mad, or Sleepy, staggers, an inflammation of the brain. [Ice. stakra, to push, freq. of staka, to push.]

Stagirite, Stagyrite, staj′i-rīt, adj. pertaining to Stageira in Macedonia.—n. a native or inhabitant thereof, esp. Aristotle (384-322 B.C.).

Stagnant, stag′nant, adj. stagnating: not flowing: motionless: impure from being motionless: not brisk: dull.—n. ', the state of being stagnant.—adv. '.—v.i. ', to cease to flow: to become dull or motionless.—n. ', act of stagnating: state of being stagnant or motionless: dullness. [L. stagnans, -antis, pr.p. of stagnāre.]

Stahlianism, stäl′i-an-izm, n. the doctrines of Georg Ernst Stahl, a German physician (1660-1734), who held that there exists a mysterious force residing in, but independent of, matter, not only forming the body, but directing it in all its functions—also '.—adj. '.

Staid, stād, adj. steady: sober: grave.—adv. '.—n. '. [For stayed—stay.]

Staig, stāg, n. (Scot.) a young horse, a stallion.

Stain, stān, v.t. to tinge or colour: to give a different colour to: to impregnate, as a tissue, with some substance whose reaction colours some parts but not others, thus making form or structure plainly visible: to dye: to mark with guilt or infamy: to bring reproach on: to sully: to tarnish.—v.i. to take or impart a stain.—n. a discoloration: a spot: taint of guilt: cause of reproach: shame.—n. ', one who stains or blots: a dyer.—adj. ', without or free from stain.—adv. '.—n. '.—Stained glass, glass painted with certain pigments fused into its surface. [Short for distain—O. Fr. desteindre—L. dis-, away, tingĕre, to dye.]

Stair, stār, n. a series of steps for ascending to a higher level: one of such steps: a flight of steps, only in pl.: (Spens.) a degree.—ns. ', carpet suitable for stairs; ', a flight of stairs with balusters, &c.; ', one of a number of metallic rods for holding a stair-carpet in its place.—adv. ', in the lower part of a house—opp. to Upstairs.—Back-stairs, adjectively for secret, underhand; Below stairs, in a lower story, in the basement. [A.S. stǽager—stígan, to ascend; Ger. steigen, to climb, Ice. stegi, a step.]

Staith, Stathe, stāth, n. (prov.) the extremity of a line of rails laid on a platform, for discharging coals, &c., into vessels. [A.S. stæth, steth, bank.]

Stake, stāk, n. a strong stick pointed at one end: one of the upright pieces of a fence: a post to which an animal is tied, esp. that to which a martyr was tied to be burned: martyrdom: a tinsmith's anvil: anything pledged in a wager: a prize, anything to gain or lose.—v.t. to fasten, or pierce with a stake: to mark the bounds of with stakes (often with off and out): to wager, to hazard.—ns. ', the person with whom the stakes in a wager are deposited; ', a form of fishing-net hung on stakes.—At stake, hazarded, in danger. [A.S. staca, a stake.]

Stalactite, sta-lak′tīt, n. a deposit of carbonate of lime, hanging like an icicle from the roof of a cavern, formed by the dripping of water.—adjs. ', ', ', ', having the form or properties of a stalactite; , like a stalactite. [Gr. stalaktos—stalazein, to drip.]

Stalagmite, sta-lag′mīt, n. a deposit of carbonate of lime, &c., on the floor of a cavern, usually cylindrical or conical in form, caused by the dripping from the roof of water holding some substance in solution; it is the counterpart to a Stalactite, and both are often fused together, forming a Stalactitic column.—adjs. ', ', having the form of stalagmites.—adv. . [Gr. stalagmos, a dropping—stalazein, to drip.]

Stal'd, stāld, pa.p. (Spens.) stolen, taken. [Steal.]

Stalder, stal′dėr, n. (prov.) a pile of wood: a cask-stand.

Stale, stāl, adj. too long kept: tainted: vapid or tasteless from age, as beer: not new: worn out by age: decayed: no longer fresh, trite: in athletics, over-trained, hence unfit, as in 'gone stale.'—n. anything become stale: urine of cattle, &c.: (Shak.) a whore.—v.t. to render insipid, to make common.—v.i. to make water, as beasts.—adv. '.—n. '. [Prov. Eng. stale, conn. with Old Dut. stel, old. Skeat makes stale that which reminds one of the stable, tainted, &c.—Sw. stalla, to put into a stall, also to stale (as cattle)—Sw. stall, a stable.]

Stale, stāl, n. something offered or exhibited as an allurement to draw others to any place or purpose: (Spens.) a decoy, a gull: (Shak.) a dupe, laughing-stock.—n. Stall, a thief's assistant. [A.S. stalu, theft—stelan, to steal.]

Stale, stāl, n. the handle of anything, a stalk. [A.S. stæl, stel, a stalk.]

Stalemate, stāl′māt, n. in chess-playing, the position of the king when he cannot move without being placed in check.—v.t. to put into a condition of stalemate: to bring to a standstill.

Stalk, stawk, n. the stem of a plant: the stem on which a flower or fruit grows: the stem of a quill: the handle of anything, the stem: a tall chimney.—p.adj. Stalked, having a stalk.—adjs. ', podophthalmous, as a crustacean; ', having no stalk; , hard as a stalk: resembling a stalk. [An extension of A.S. stæl, stel (cf. Ice. stilkr, Dan. stilk); cog. with Ger. stiel, which is allied to, perh. borrowed from, L. stilus, a stake.]

Stalk, stawk, v.i. to walk as on stilts: to walk with long, slow steps: to walk behind a stalking-horse: to pursue game by approaching behind covers.—v.t. to approach secretly in order to kill, as deer.—n. a stately step: the pursuit of game by stealthy approach.—ns. ', one who stalks, as a deer-stalker: a kind of fishing-net: (pl.) the Gradatores; ', the act of approaching game warily or behind a cover; , a horse behind which a sportsman hides while stalking game: a mask or pretence. [A.S. stælcan, to walk cautiously, stealc, high; Dan. stalke, to walk with long steps.]

Stalkoes, staw′kōz, n.pl. walking gentlemen. [Ir. stalcaire, a bully.]



Stall, stawl, n. a place where a horse or other animal stands and is fed: a division of a stable for a single animal: a stable: a bench or table on which articles are exposed for sale: one of the seats in churches reserved for the clergy and choir, usually lining the choir or chancel on both sides, also an office entitling one to such a seat, or its stipend: a reserved seat in a theatre, usually one of those in the front division of the parquet—orchestra stalls.—v.t. to put or keep in a stall.—v.i. to inhabit.—n. ', liberty of erecting stalls in a fair or market: rent paid for this liberty.—adj. Stalled, kept or fed in a stall, fatted.—v.t. ', to feed and fatten in a stall or stable.—ns. ' (Tenn.) stabling; ' (prov.), a keeper of a stall; ', one who keeps a stall for the sale of any article; ', one who stands and reads books at a bookstall. [A.S. steal; Ice. stallr, Ger. stall.]

Stallion, stal′yun, n. an uncastrated male horse, esp. one kept for breeding. [O. Fr. estalon (Fr. étalon)—Late L. equus ad stallum, a horse at stall.]

Stalwart, stawl′wart, adj. stout, strong, sturdy: determined in one's partisanship.—n. a resolute person.—(arch.) '.—adv. '.—n. '—(arch.) '. [M. E. stalworth—A.S. stæl-wyrthe, serviceable. Prob. stathol,foundation, weorth, good, worth.]

Stam, stam, v.t. (prov.) to confound.—n. confusion.



Stamen, stā′men, n. one of the male organs of a flower which produce the pollen:—pl. '.—adj. ', having stamens.—n. ' (prop. pl.), the principal strength of anything: the firm part of a body which supports the whole.—adjs. ', ', consisting of or possessing stamens: pertaining to, or attached to, the stamen: apetalous, as certain flowers; ', ', having or producing stamens; ', ', bearing or having stamens.—ns. ', ', an abortive stamen; ', a condition of flowers in which sepals, pistils, &c. are metamorphosed into stamens. [L. stamen (pl. stamina)—stāre, to stand.]

Stammel, stam′el, n. a kind of woollen cloth, dull red in colour: red colour.—adj. made of stammel, or like it in colour. [Earlier stamin—O. Fr. estamine—Low L. stamina—L. stamineus, stamen, a thread.]

Stammel, stam′el, n. (prov.) a stumbling horse: a bouncing girl.

Stammer, stam′ėr, v.i. to halt in one's speech, the result of failure in co-ordinate action of certain muscles and their appropriate nerves: to falter in speaking: to stutter.—v.t. to utter with hesitation.—n. hesitation in speech: defective utterance.—ns. '; '.—adv. . [A.S. stamor; Dut. stameren.]

Stamnos, stam′nos, n. an ancient Greek short-necked, two-handled wine-vase. [Gr.]

Stamp, stamp, v.t. to strike with the sole of the foot, by thrusting it down: to impress with some mark or figure: to imprint: to fix deeply: to coin: to form: to pound, bray, crush, bruise.—v.i. to step or plant the foot firmly down.—n. the act of stamping: the mark made by pressing something on a soft body: an instrument for making impressions on other bodies: that which is stamped: an official mark put on things chargeable with duty, as proof that the duty is paid: an instrument for cutting materials into a certain shape by a downward pressure: cast, form, character: distinguishing mark, imprint, sign, evidence: a species of heavy pestle, raised by water or steam power, for crushing and pulverising ores: (pl.) stamp-duties: (slang) money, esp. paper money.—ns. ', an act for regulating stamp-duties; ', an officer who collects stamp-duties: one who makes a collection of postage or other stamps; ', a tax imposed on the paper on which legal documents are written; '; '; ', a machine used for stamping coins, in the stamping of brass-work, or in crushing metallic ores; ', ', a crushing-mill for ores; ', a certificate from a custom-house officer for goods to be loaded as freight of a ship; ', an office where stamp-duties are received and stamps issued.—Stamp out, to extinguish, extirpate. [A.S. stempan; Ger. stampfen.]

Stampede, stam-pēd′, n. a sudden fright seizing a herd of horses or other cattle, causing them to run: flight, or any sudden confused movement of a multitude, caused by panic.—v.i. to scamper off in panic. [Sp. estampido, a crash—estampar, to stamp.]

Stance, stans, n. (Scot.) a station, site, stand.

Stanch, stänsh, v.t. to stop the flowing of, as blood: to quench, allay.—v.i. (B.) to cease to flow.—adj. constant: trusty: zealous: sound, strong, firm.—n. '.—adj. ' (Shak.), that cannot be stanched or stopped.—adv. '.—n. '. [O. Fr. estancher (Fr. étancher)—Low L. stancāre, to stanch—L. stagnāre, to be or make stagnant.]

Stanch, stänsh, adj. Same as Staunch.

Stanchion, stan′shun, n. an upright iron bar of a window or screen: (naut.) an upright beam used as a support.—v.t. to fasten by means of or to a stanchion.—A Scotch form is . [O. Fr. estançon—estancer, to stop, estance—Low L. stantia—L. stāre, to stand.]

Stand, stand, v.i. to cease to move: to be stationary: to occupy a certain position: to stagnate: to be at rest: to be fixed in an upright position, to be erect, to be on the feet—as opposed to sit, lie, kneel, &c.: to become or remain erect: to have a position or rank: to be in a particular state, to be with relation to something else: to maintain an attitude: to be fixed or firm: to keep one's ground: to remain unimpaired: to endure, to be consistent: to consist: to depend or be supported: to offer one's self as a candidate: to have a certain direction: to hold a course at sea.—v.t. to endure: to sustain: to suffer: to abide by: to be at the expense of, to offer and pay for:—pa.t. and pa.p. stood.—ns. '; ' (Shak.), a spectator; ', one who stands up or who takes a side.—adj. ', established: settled: permanent: fixed: stagnant: being erect.—n. continuance: existence: place to stand in: position in society: a right or capacity to sue or maintain an action.—n. ', a place on which to stand, any basis or principle on which one rests.—n.pl. ', the name given to permanent regulations made by either House of Parliament for the conduct of its proceedings, and enduring from parliament to parliament unless rescinded.—ns. ' (Shak.), a pool of stagnant water; ', the ropes in a ship that remain fixed; ', place in which to stand.—n.pl. ', monoliths of unhewn stone, erected singly or in groups.—n. ', a standing dish for pen and ink.—adj. ', holding others off, reserved—also '.—ns. ', a distant, reserved, and haughty manner; ', a vertical pipe at a reservoir, into which the water is pumped up so as to give it a head: a small pipe inserted into an opening in a water-main: a pipe permitting expansion, as of hot water: a pipe sufficiently high for its contents to be forced into a boiler against the steam-pressure; ', a station or position from which objects are viewed: a basis or fundamental principle according to which things are compared and judged; ', a standing without moving forward: a stop.—adj. ', standing erect: done standing, noting a fair boxing-match.—Stand against, to resist; Stand by, to support; Stand fast, to be unmoved; Stand fire, to remain steady under the fire of an enemy—also figuratively; Stand for, to be a candidate for: (naut.) to direct the course towards; Stand from, to direct the course from; Stand in, to cost; Stand in with, to have a secret understanding with, as policemen with publicans; Stand low (print.), to fall short of the standard height; Stand off, to keep at a distance: to direct the course from: (Shak.) to forbear compliance or intimacy; Stand off and on, to sail away from shore and then towards it; Stand on, to continue on the same tack or course: (Shak.) to be satisfied or convinced of; Stand one's ground, to maintain one's position; Stand out, to project, to be prominent: not to comply, to refuse to yield; Stand to, to agree to, adhere to, abide by, maintain; Stand together, to agree, to be consistent with; Stand trial, not to give up without trial; Stand under (Shak.), to undergo, to sustain; Stand up, to rise from a sitting posture; Stand up for, to support or attempt to defend; Stand upon (B.), to attack; Stand up to, to meet face to face, to fulfil manfully; Stand up with, to dance with as a partner; Stand with, to be consistent. [A.S. standan; Goth. standan, Ger. stehen; cf. Gr. histanai, to place, L. stāre, to stand.]

Stand, stand, n. a place where one stands or remains for any purpose: a place beyond which one does not go, the highest or ultimate point: an erection for spectators at races, &c.: the place of a witness in court: something on which anything rests, a frame for glasses, &c.: a stop, obstruction, rest, quiescence: a state of cessation from action, motion, or business: a state of perplexity or hesitation: a difficulty, resistance.—Be at a stand, to stop on account of doubt or difficulty: to hesitate, to be perplexed; Make a stand, to halt and offer resistance; Put to a stand, to stop, arrest.

Standard, stand′ard, n. that which stands or is fixed, as a rule: the upright post of a truss: that which is established as a rule or model: a grade of classification in English elementary schools: a staff with a flag: an ensign of war: one of the two flags of a heavy cavalry regiment: (hort.) a standing shrub or tree, not supported by a wall.—adj. according to some standard: legal: usual: having a fixed or permanent value.—n. , the soldier or junior officer who carries the colours: the spokesman or representative of a movement. [O. Fr. estandart—Old High Ger. standan, to stand, with suff. -art.]

Stang, stang, n. a wooden bar, a pole.—Riding the stang, a popular manner of punishing an unpopular man by carrying him astride of a stang. [A.S. stæng, a pole; Dut. stang.]

Stang, stang, v.i. (prov.) to throb with pain—also a Scotch form of sting.

Stanhope, stan′hōp, n. a light open one-seated carriage without a top, formerly with two wheels, now usually with four.

Staniel, stan′yel, n. the kestrel or windhover.—Also ', '. [A.S. stángella.]

Stank, stangk, pa.t. of stink.

Stank, stangk, n. (Scot.) a ditch, a pool, a tank. [O. Fr. estang, a pond—L. stagnum, a stagnant pool.]

Stannary, stan′ar-i, adj. of or relating to tin mines or works.—n. a tin-mine.—n. ', a salt formed with stannic acid and a base.—adjs. ', pertaining to, or procured from, tin; ', producing or containing tin.—n. ', a mineral of a grayish-black colour, consisting chiefly of sulphur, tin, copper, and iron.—adj. , containing tin.—Stannary courts, courts in Cornwall for the tin-miners. [L. stannum, tin.]

Stanza, stan′za, n. a series of lines or verses connected with and adjusted to each other in a fixed order of sequence as regards length and metrical form: a division of a poem containing every variation of measure in the poem.—adj. . [It. stanza, a stop—Low L. stantia—L. stāre, stand.]

Stapelia, sta-pē′li-a, n. a genus of showy fleshy African plants of the milkweed family. [From J. B. van Stapel.]

Stapes, stā′pēz, n. the inmost of the three auditory ossicles, situated in the tympanum.—adjs. ', stirrup-shaped: pertaining to the stapes; ', having a stapes.—n. , a stapedial muscle. [Low L. stapes, a stirrup—Old High Ger. stapf, a step.]

Staphyline, staf′i-lin, adj. of the form of a bunch of grapes.—ns. ', the uvula; ', ', a protrusion of any of the coats of the eye.—adjs. '; '.—ns. ', the operation for replacing the soft palate; ', the operation of uniting a cleft palate; ', the amputation of the uvula. [Gr. staphylē, a bunch of grapes, the uvula.]

Staple, stā′pl, n. a settled mart or market: the principal production or industry of a district or country: the principal element: the thread of textile fabrics: unmanufactured material.—adj. established in commerce: regularly produced for market.—n. , a dealer. [O. Fr. estaple—Low Ger. stapel, a heap.]

Staple, stā′pl, n. a loop of iron, &c., for holding a bolt, &c.: the metallic tube to which the reed is fastened in the oboe, &c. [A.S. stapel, a prop—stapan, step; cf. Ger. stapel.]

Star, stär, n. one of the bright bodies in the heavens, except the sun and moon: one of the heavenly bodies shining by their own light, and which keep the same relative position in the heavens: anything star-like or star-shaped: a representation of a star worn as a badge of rank or honour: a person of brilliant or attractive qualities: the chief actor or actress in a dramatic company: (print.) an asterisk (*).—v.t. to set with stars: to bespangle.—v.i. to shine, as a star: to attract attention: to appear as a star-actor (To Star it, esp. on a provincial tour):—pr.p. pa.t. and pa.p. starred.—ns. ', the fruit of the West Indian tree Chrysophyllum Cainito; ', the noxious influence of the stars.—adjs. ', so blind as not to see the stars: half-blind; ' (Tenn.), embroidered with figures in the shape of stars.—ns. ', an American goshawk; ', a list of stars, with their places, magnitudes, &c.—adj. ', not favoured by the stars.—ns. ', a common proper motion of a number of fixed stars in the same region of the heavens; ', cosmic dust, matter in fine particles falling upon the earth from some outside source, like meteorites; ', the redstart; ' (Asteroidea), an Echinoderm, nearly allied to the Brittle-stars (Ophiuroidea) and to the Sea-urchins (Echinoidea); ', one of various plants with bright star-shaped flowers, the Star-of-Bethlehem: chickweed; ', a fort surrounded with projecting angles, like the points of a star; ', a small water-plant of southern Europe, with long-pointed radiating carpels; ', an astrologer: an astronomer; ', astrology; ', a grass-like plant, with star-shaped, yellow flowers; ', a bulbous-rooted plant, a species of squill, with pinkish purple flowers, found on the coast in the south of England; ', the common species of nostoc.—adj. ', having no stars visible: having no light from stars.—n. ', light or lustre of the stars.—adjs. ', resembling a star: radiated like a star: bright, illustrious; ', lighted by the stars.—ns. ', a North American mole; , a garden plant of the lily family, with bright white star-like flowers: the miraculous star of the Nativity (Matt. ii. 2, 9, 10).—adj. ' (Milt.), impervious to starlight.—n. ' (Spens.), knowledge of the stars, astrology.—adj. Starred, adorned or studded with stars.—ns. ', a South American plant used in Peru against dysentery, &c.; '.—adj. ', abounding or adorned with stars: consisting of, or proceeding from, the stars: like, or shining like, the stars.—n. ', the flag of the United States of America, with thirteen stripes alternately red and white, and a blue field containing as many stars as there are states.—adj. ', spangled or studded with stars.—n. ', a variety of corundum which, when cut in a particular way, exhibits a reflection of light in the form of a star.—adj. ' (Tenn.), strewn or studded with stars.—ns. ', a species of centaury, so called from its star-like flowers; ', a spur-wheel with V-shaped teeth; ', a genus of plants nearly allied to the Asters, with star-like flowers. [A.S. steorra; Ger. stern, L. stella (for sterula), Gr. astēr.]

Starboard, stär′bōrd, n. the right-hand side of a ship, to one looking toward the bow.—adj. pertaining to, or lying on, the right side of a ship. [A.S. steórbord—steór, a rudder, bord, a board, the side of a ship. Cf. Board and Larboard.]

Starch, stärch, n. the pure fecula or white farinaceous matter of vegetables, yielding a translucent jelly used for stiffening clothes in the laundry: stiffness, formality.—adj. stiff, rigid, formal.—adj. Starched, stiffened with starch: formal.—adv. '.—ns. '; '; ', a plant allied to the hyacinth, so called from the smell of the flower.—adv. ', in a starch or stiff manner: formally.—ns. ', the state or quality of being starchy: stiffness of manner: formality; ', glucose.—adj. ', consisting of, or like, starch: stiff: precise. [A special use of adj. stark; cf. Ger. stärke, starch—stark, strong.]

Star-chamber, stär′-chām′bėr, n. a tribunal with a civil and criminal jurisdiction, which met in the old council chamber of the palace of Westminster, abolished in the reign of Charles I. [Probably named from the gilt stars on the ceiling, hardly from the Jewish bonds (called starrs, from Heb. shetar) kept in the council-room.]

Stare, stār, v.i. to look at with a fixed gaze, as in horror, astonishment, &c.: to look fixedly.—v.t. to influence in some way by staring.—n. a fixed look.—ns. ', one who is stared at; ', one who stares or gazes; ', the act of staring.—adv. ', in a staring manner: with a fixed look. [A.S. starian, from a Teut. root seen in Ger. starr, rigid; also in Eng. stern.]

Stark, stärk, adj. stiff: gross: absolute: entire: naked, an abbreviation of , quite naked, which is really a corr. of M. E. start-naked=tail-naked (A.S. steort, a tail).—adv. absolutely: completely.—v.t. to make stark, as in death.—v.t. ', to stiffen, to make obstinate.—adv. '.—n. , the state or quality of being stark: stiffness; stoutness. [A.S. stearc, hard, strong; cog. Ice. sterk-r, Ger. stark.]

Starling, stärling, n. a genus Sturnus and family Sturnidæ of Passerine birds: (archit.) a ring of piles supporting the pier of a bridge. [Dim. from obs. stare—A.S. stær; Ger. staar, L. sturnus.]

Starost, stär′ost, n. a Polish noble holding a  or domain by grant of life-estate from the crown. [Pol. starosta, elder—stary, old.]

Starr. See under Star-chamber.

Start, stärt, v.i. to move suddenly aside: to wince: to deviate: to begin: to proceed: to give way somewhat.—v.t. to cause to move suddenly: to disturb suddenly: to rouse suddenly from concealment: to set in motion: to call forth: to invent or discover: to move suddenly from its place: to loosen: to empty: to pour out.—n. a sudden movement: a sudden motion of the body: a sudden rousing to action: an unexpected movement: a sally: a sudden fit: a quick spring: the first motion from a point or place: the outset.—n. ', one who starts.—adj. ', apt to start.—adv. ' (Shak.), by fits or starts.—ns. ', the point from which anything starts, or from which motion begins; ', the post or barrier from which the competitors in a race start or begin the race.—adj. ', apt to start, skittish.—ns. ' (Shak.), an upstart; ' (Spens.), a kind of high shoe or half-boot.—Start after, to set out after, to pursue; Start up, to rise suddenly, to come suddenly into notice.—Get, or Have, the start, to begin before another, to obtain an advantage over another. [M. E. sterten; closely akin to Dut. and Low Ger. storten, to plunge, Ger. stürzen.]

Startle, stärt′l, v.i. to start or move suddenly: to feel sudden alarm.—v.t. to excite suddenly: to shock: to frighten.—n. sudden alarm or surprise.—n. '.—adj. ', such as to strike with astonishment or alarm.—adv. '.—adj. ', apt to start. [Extension of start.]

Starve, stärv, v.i. to die of hunger or cold: to suffer extreme hunger or want: to be in want of anything necessary, to deteriorate for want of anything essential.—v.t. to kill with hunger or cold: to destroy by want: to deprive of power.—n. ', act of starving: state of being starved.—adj. ', hungry: lean: weak.—n. a thin, weak, pining animal or plant. [A.S. steorfan, to die; Dut. sterven, Ger. sterben, to die.]

Stasidion, sta-sid′i-on, n. a stall in a Greek church.

Stasimon, stas′i-mon, n. an ode sung by the whole chorus, after the parode:—pl. . [Gr.]

Stasimorphy, stas′i-mor-fi, n. any deviation from the normal form of a bodily organ due to arrested development [Gr. stasis, standing.]

Stasis, stā′sis, n. the arrest of the blood in its circulation: one of the sections of a cathisma or portion of the psalter. [Gr.]

Statant, stā′tant, adj. (her.) standing with all the feet on the ground. [L. stāre, to stand.]

State, stāt, n. position: condition: situation: circumstances at any time: the whole body of people under one government: the public: the civil power: estate, one of the orders or classes of men forming the body politic (as nobles, clergy, commonalty): a body of men united by profession: rank, quality: pomp: dignity: style of living: stability, continuance: (pl.) the bodies constituting the legislature of a country: (obs.) a seat of dignity: a stage, condition, as of an etched or engraved plate at one particular stage of its progress.—adj. belonging to the state: public: royal: ceremonial: pompous: magnificent.—v.t. to set forth: to express the details of: to set down fully and formally: to narrate: to set in order: to settle.—adj. ', capable of being stated.—ns. ', the art of managing state affairs; ', one who commits an offence against the state, as treason.—adj. ', settled: established: fixed: regular.—adv. '.—ns. ', the building in which the legislature of a state holds its sittings; '.—adj. ', showing state or dignity: majestic: grand.—adv. majestically: (Milt.) loftily.—ns. ', the act of stating: that which is stated: a narrative or recital; ', an official paper or document relating to affairs of state; '; ', a prisoner confined for offence against the state; ', the establishment or endowment by the government of a country of some particular form of religion; ', a stately room in a palace or mansion: principal room in the cabin of a ship; ', the name given to the representative body of the three orders (nobility, clergy, burghers) of the French kingdom; ', a man acquainted with the affairs of government: one skilled in government: one employed in public affairs: a politician: one who farms his own estate, a small landholder.—adj. ', like a statesman.—adv. ', in a manner becoming a statesman.—n. .—State socialism, a scheme of government which would entrust to the state the carrying on of the great enterprises of private industry; States of the Church, the former temporal possessions of the popes. [O. Fr. estat (Fr. état)—L. status, from stāre, stātum, to stand.]

Stater, stā′tėr, n. the standard gold coin of ancient Greece.

Static, -al, stat′ik, -al, adj. pertaining to statics: pertaining to bodies at rest or in equilibrium: resting: acting by mere weight.—adv. '.—n. ', the science which treats of the action of force in maintaining rest or preventing change of motion. [Gr. statikē (epistēmē, 'science,' being understood)—histēmi.]

Station, stā′shun, n. the place where a person or thing stands: post assigned: position: office: situation: occupation, business: state: rank: condition in life: the place where railway trains come to a stand in order to take up and set down passengers and goods, the buildings erected at such a place for railway business: a regular stopping-place: a stock farm in Australia: a district or branch police-office: the place in India where the group of English officials or the officers of a garrison reside: a recess in a mine-shaft or passage for a pumping-machine: (pl.) in R.C. usage, applied to certain places of reputed sanctity, appointed to be visited as places of prayer, any one of the fourteen (fifteen, or even eleven) images or pictures ranged round a church, starting from one side of the high altar and ending at the other, representing the several stages of the Passion—the whole series the Way of Calvary.—v.t. to assign a station to: to set: to appoint to a post, place, or office.—adj. '.—n. '.—adj. ', pertaining to a station: standing: fixed: settled: acting from, or in, a fixed position (as an engine): not progressing or retrogressing: not improving.—n. ', one who sells paper and other articles used in writing.—adj. ', belonging to a stationer.—n. the articles sold by a stationer.—ns. ', a temporary place of arrest; , one who has charge of a station, esp. on a railway.—Stationers' Hall, the hall in London belonging to the Company of the Stationers, who enjoyed until the passing of the Copyright Act in 1842 an absolute monopoly of printing and publishing; Stationery Office, an office in London for providing books, stationery, &c. to the government offices at home and abroad, and for making contracts for the printing of government reports and other public papers. [Fr.,—L. statio—stāre, to stand.]

Statist, stā′tist, n. a statesman, a politician.

Statistics, sta-tist′iks, n. a collection of facts and figures regarding the condition of a people, class, &c.: the science which treats of the collection and arrangement of facts bearing on the condition—social, moral, and material—of a people.—adjs. ', ', pertaining to, or containing, statistics.—adv. '.—n. ', one skilled in statistics. [Coined (as if from a form statistikē) from Gr. statizein, to set up.]

Stative, stā′tiv, adj. standing still, pertaining to a permanent camp: indicating a physical state or reflex action, of certain Hebrew verbs.

Statue, stat′ū, n. a likeness of a human being or animal carved out of some solid substance: an image—(obs.) '.—n. ', the art of carving statues: a statue or a collection of statues: one who makes statues: a dealer in statues.—adj. ', furnished with statues.—n. ', a small statue. [Fr.,—L. statua—statuĕre, to cause lo stand—stāre.]

Statuesque, stat-ū-esk′, adj. like a statue.—adv. . [Fr.]

Stature, stat′ūr, n. the height of any animal.—adj. , having a certain specified stature. [L. statura.]

Status, stā′tus, n. state: condition: rank. [L.]

Statute, stat′ūt, n. a law expressly enacted by the legislature (as distinguished from a customary law or law of use and wont): a written law: the act of a corporation or its founder, intended as a permanent rule or law.—adj. ', made by statute: according to statute.—adv. '.—ns. ', a record of statutes or enacted laws; ' (Shak.), a kind of cap enjoined to be worn by a statute passed in 1571 in behalf of the cap-makers; ', an enrolled statute.—adj. ', enacted by statute: depending on statute for its authority. [L. statutum, that which is set up—statuĕre.]

Staunch, stawnsh, adj. firm in principle, pursuit, or support: trusty, hearty, constant, zealous.—adv. '.—n. '. [Stanch.]

Staurolite, stawr′ō-līt, n. a silicate of alumina with ferrous oxide, magnesia, and water, crystallising in trimetric forms, common as twinned cruciform crystals in certain states.—adj. .

Stave, stāv, n. one of the pieces of which a cask is made: a staff or part of a piece of music: a stanza.—v.t. to break a stave or the staves of: to break: to burst: to drive off, as with a staff: to delay:—pa.t. and pa.p. stāved or stōve. [By-form of staff.]

Staves, stāvz, plural of staff and of stave.

Stavesacre, stāvz′ā-kėr, n. a tall larkspur whose seeds yield delphinin for destroying lice. [O. Fr. stavesaigre—Low L. staphisagria—Gr. staphis, dried grapes, agrios, wild.]

Staw, staw, v.i. (prov.) to stand still, become fixed.—v.t. (Scot.) to surfeit, to scunner at.—n. a surfeit.

Staw, staw, a Scotch form of stole.

Stay, stā, v.i. to remain: to abide for any time: to continue in a state: to wait: to cease acting: to dwell: to trust.—v.t. to cause to stand: to stop: to restrain: to delay: to prevent from falling: to prop: to support, rest, rely:—pa.t. and pa.p. stayed, staid.—n. continuance in a place: abode for a time: stand: stop: a fixed state: a standstill: suspension of a legal proceeding: prop, support: (pl.) a kind of stiff inner waistcoat worn by women.—ns. ', one who keeps much at home—also adj.; ', a bolt or rod binding together opposite plates; ', one who, or that which, stops, holds, or supports: a person or animal of good lasting or staying qualities for a race, &c.; ', a lace for fastening a bodice; , one whose occupation is to make stays.—Stay the stomach, to allay the cravings of hunger for the time. [O. Fr. estayer, estaye—Old Dut. stade, a stay.]

Stay, stā, n. a large strong rope running from the head of one mast to another mast ('fore-and-aft' stay), or to the side of the ship ('back'-stay): the transverse piece in a chain-cable link.—v.t. to support or to incline to one side by means of stays: to put on the other tack, to cause to go about.—v.i. to change tack, to go about, to be in stays.—ns. ', a sail extended on a stay; ', a large hoisting tackle fixed by a pendant to the mainstay of a ship.—Miss stays (see Miss). [A.S. stæg; Dut. stag, Ger. stag.]

Stayed, stād, adj. (Spens.). Same as Staid, constant.

Stayne, stān, v.t. (Spens.) to dim, deface, or disparage. [A form of stain.]

Stayre, stār, n. (Spens.). Same as Stair, a step.

Stead, sted, n. the place which another had or might have: a fixed place of abode: use, help, service, as in 'To stand in good stead.'—n. Steading, the barns, stables, &c. of a farm. [A.S. stede, place; Ger. stadt, statt, place, Dut. stad, a town.]

Steadfast, sted′fast, adj. firmly fixed or established: firm: constant: resolute: steady.—adv. '.—n. '. [A.S. stedefæst, stede, a place, fæst, firm, fast.]

Steady, sted′i, adj. (comp. ', superl. ') firm in standing or in place: fixed: stable: constant: resolute: consistent: regular: uniform: sober, industrious.—v.t. to make steady: to make or keep firm:—pa.t. and pa.p. —n. a rest or support, as for the hand, a tool, or a piece of work.—adv. '.—n. '.—adj. , of steady habits or action. [A.S. stæððig—stæð, stead, bank; Ger. stätig, continual.]

Steak, stāk, n. a slice of meat (esp. beef) broiled, or for broiling. [Prob. Ice. steik, steikja, to broil.]

Steal, stēl, v.t. to take by theft or feloniously: to take away without notice: to gain or win by address, insidiously, or by gradual means: to snatch: in golf, to hole a long putt by a stealthy stroke—the opposite of Gobble.—v.i. to practise theft: to take feloniously: to pass secretly: to slip in or out unperceived:—pa.t. stōle; pa.p. stōlen.—ns.  , the act of taking another's property without his knowledge or consent: stolen property.—adv. .—Steal a march on, to gain an advantage unperceived. [A.S. stelan; Ger. stehlen, Dut. stelen.]

Steal, stēl, n. (Spens.) a handle.

Stealth, stelth, n. the act of stealing: a secret manner of bringing anything to pass.—adv. '.—n. '.—adj. , done by stealth: unperceived: secret.

Steam, stēm, n. the vapour of water—when dry, invisible and transparent like air, and not to be confused with the semi-liquid cloud which comes from the chimney of a locomotive; when superheated, changing the characteristics of a vapour for those belonging to what is known as a 'perfect gas:' the mist formed by condensed vapour: any vaporous exhalation: energy, force, spirit.—v.i. to rise or pass off in steam or vapour: to move by steam.—v.t. to expose to steam.—ns. ', ', ', a boat, ship, or vessel propelled by steam; ', a boiler for generating steam; ', a carriage moved by steam on common roads; ', ', a chamber above a steam-boiler serving as a reservoir for steam; ', a crane worked by a steam-engine; ', a machine for digging the soil by means of steam-power, the soil being thereby much more thoroughly pulverised than by ploughing; ', an engine or machine which changes heat into useful work through the medium of steam; ', a vessel moved by steam: a road-locomotive, &c.: a vessel in which articles are steamed; ', an instrument for measuring the pressure of steam in a boiler; ', the governor of a steam-engine; ', a gun projecting a missile by means of steam; ', a hammer consisting of a steam cylinder and piston placed vertically over an anvil, the hammer moved by the action of the steam; ', the quality of being vaporous or misty; ', a hollow casing surrounding any vessel and into which steam may be admitted; ' (see Launch); ', the propulsion of vessels by steam; ', an excavator operated by steam in the making of docks, canals, &c.; ', a steam-vessel plying between certain ports; ', a pipe for conveying steam; ', a plough or gang of ploughs worked by a steam-engine; ', the force of steam when applied to machinery; ', a printing-press worked by steam; ', printing in which the presses are operated by steam; ', a contrivance for allowing the passage of water while preventing the passage of steam; ', a small steam-vessel used in towing ships; ', an apparatus attached to a steam-engine through which steam is discharged, producing a sound in the manner of a common whistle.—adj. ', consisting of, or like, steam: full of steam or vapour.—n. , a yacht propelled by steam. [A.S. steám; cog. with Dut. stoom.]

Stean, Steen, stēn, n. a stone or earthenware vessel.—n. , the stone or brick lining of a well, &c. [A.S. stæn, stone.]

Steare, stēr, n. (Spens.) a steer or ox.

Stearine, stē′a-rīn, n. one of the fats occurring in animals and plants, the chief constituent of the more solid fats, such as mutton suet.—n. ', a salt formed by the combination of stearic acid with a base.—adj. ', pertaining to, or obtained from, stearine.—n. , an abnormal increase of secretion from the oil-glands of the skin.—Stearic acid, an acid abundant in fats. [Gr. stear, steatos, suet—histanai, to make to stand, to fix.]

Steatite, stē′a-tīt, n. soapstone, a compact or massive variety of talc, a hydrous silicate of magnesia, white or yellow, soft and greasy to the touch—used by tailors for marking cloth, and called Briançon Chalk, French Chalk, and Venice Talc.—adj. '.—ns. ', inflammation of the fatty tissue; ', a fatty tumour in the scrotum; ', a fatty encysted tumour.—adj. '.—n. ', an accumulation of fat on the buttocks of the Bushmen women.—adj. ', fat-buttocked.—n. ', fatty degeneration of an organ, as the heart. [Gr. steatitēs—stear, steatos, suet.]

Steboy, ste-boi′, interj. a cry in setting on a dog.—Also .

Stedfast=Steadfast.

Steed, stēd, n. a horse or stallion, esp. a spirited horse. [A.S. stéda, from stód, a stud; Ger. stute, a stud-mare, ge-stüte, a stud.]

Steedy, stēd′i, adj. (Spens.) steady.

Steek, stēk, n. (Scot.) a stitch.—v.t. to pierce, to stitch: to close.

Steel, stēl, n. iron combined in varying proportions with carbon for making edged tools: any instrument or weapon of steel: an instrument of steel for sharpening knives on: a strip of steel for stiffening a corset: a piece of steel for striking fire from a flint: extreme hardness: a chalybeate medicine.—adj. made of steel: hard, unfeeling.—v.t. to overlay or edge with steel: to harden: to make obdurate.—adj. ', clad with steel-mail.—ns. ', the art of engraving pictures on steel plates from which impressions may be taken, the impression or print so taken; ', state of being steely, great hardness; ', the welding of a steel edge on a cutting instrument; ', a pen-nib made of steel; ', a plate of steel: a plate of polished steel on which a design is engraved, the print taken from such.—adj. ', plated with steel.—n.pl. ', small articles of steel as buttons, buckles, &c.—n. ', articles made of steel collectively.—adj. ', made of steel: steel-like. [A.S. stýle; Ger. stahl.]

Steelbow, stēl′bō, n. (Scots law) a term for goods, such as corn, cattle, straw, and implements of husbandry delivered by the landlord to his tenant, by means of which the latter is enabled to stock and labour the farm, and in consideration of which he becomes bound to return articles equal in quantity and quality at the expiration of the lease.

Steelyard, stēl′yärd, n. the Roman balance, an instrument for weighing, consisting of a lever with unequal arms, in using which a single weight or counterpoise is employed, being moved along a graduated beam. [Orig. the yard in London where steel was sold by German merchants.]

Steem, stēm (Spens.). Same as Esteem.

Steen. See Stean.

Steenbok, stān′bok, n. one of several small African antelopes. [Dut., steen, stone, bok, buck.]

Steenkirk, stēn′kerk, n. a lace cravat loosely worn, so named from the defeat of William III. by Luxembourg at Steenkerke, August 3, 1692.

Steep, stēp, adj. rising or descending with great inclination: precipitous: difficult, excessive, exorbitant.—n. a precipitous place: a precipice.—adj. ' (Shak.), deep and precipitous.—v.i. ', to become steep.—ns. ', ', the state or quality of being steep.—adv. '.—adj. ', steep. [A.S. steáp; Ice. steypthr.]

Steep, stēp, v.t. to dip or soak in a liquid: to imbue.—n. something steeped or used in steeping: a fertilising liquid for seed: rennet.—n. , a vessel in which articles are steeped. [Scand., Ice. steypa, to make to stoop, pour out, causal of stúpa, to stoop.]

Steeple, stēp′l, n. a tower of a church or building, ending in a point: the high head-dress of the 14th century.—adj. ', furnished with a steeple: adorned with, or as with, steeples or towers.—ns. ', a high and narrow-crowned hat; ', an old Quaker name for the building in which believers meet for worship; ', one who climbs steeples and chimney-stalks to make repairs. [A.S. stýpel, stepel—steáp, steep.]

Steeplechase, stēp′l-chās, n. a horserace run across the open country, over hedges, ditches, walls, and other obstacles.—n. , one who rides such.

Steer, stēr, n. a young ox, esp. a castrated one from two to four years old.—n. , a little or young steer. [A.S. steór; Ger. stier.]

Steer, stēr, v.t. to direct with the helm: to guide: to govern.—v.i. to direct a ship in its course: to be directed: to move.—ns. ', act or practice of steering: the effect of a rudder on the ship: an apartment in the fore-part of a ship for passengers paying a lower rate of fare; ', sufficient movement of a vessel to enable it to be controlled by the helm; ', ', a man who steers a ship; '; ', the wheel by which the rudder of a ship is turned. [A.S. steóran, stýran, to steer; Ger. steuern.]

Steer, stēr, n. a Scotch form of stir.

Steeve, stēv, n. a spar with a block at the end for packing close certain kinds of cargo: the angle which the bowsprit of a ship makes with the horizon or the line of her keel.—Also .

Steeve, stēv, adj. (Scot.) stiff, firm.—adv. .

Steeve, stēv, v.t. to stuff, pack close.—n. .

Steganography, steg-an-og′ra-fi, n. the art of writing in cipher or secret characters.—n. , one who writes in cipher. [Gr. steganos, concealed—stegein, to cover, graphein, to write.]

Steganopus, ste-gan′ō-pus, n. a genus of phalaropes with long slender bill.—adjs. ', ', having all four toes webbed, totipalmate.—n.pl. , an order of swimming birds, with all four toes webbed and a gular pouch—cormorants, frigate-birds, pelicans, gannets. [Gr. steganos, covered, pous, podos, foot.]

Stegnosis, steg-nō′sis, n. constriction of the pores and vessels: constipation.—adj. .

Stegocephalous, steg-ō-sef′a-lus, adj. with the head mailed, loricate, cataphract. [Gr. stegein, to cover, kephalē, the head.]

Stegognathous, ste-gog′nā-thus, adj. having a jaw composed of imbricated plates. [Gr. stegein, to cover, gnathos, the jaw.]

Stegopterous, ste-gop′te-rus, adj. roof-winged, keeping the wings deflexed when at rest. [Gr. stegein, to cover, pteron, a wing.]

Stegosaurian, steg-ō-saw′ri-an, adj. pertaining to the ', an order or suborder of dinosaurs, represented by the families Stegosauridæ and Scelidosauridæ.—n. ', the typical genus of Stegosauridæ, with enormous bucklers and spines. [Gr. stegein, to cover, sauros, a lizard.]

Steinberger, stīn-ber′gėr, n. an esteemed Rhenish white wine, produced near Wiesbaden.

Steinbock, Steenbok, stēn′bok, n. the name given in German Switzerland to the ibex of the Alps. [Ger. stein, stone, rock, bock, buck, he-goat.]

Stele, stē′lē, n. an upright stone slab or tablet, either sepulchral or on which laws, decrees, &c. are inscribed—also '.—adj. '.—n. , the practice of writing on steles. [L.,—Gr. stēlē—histanai, to set, stand.]

Stelechite, stel′e-kīt, n. a fine variety of storax.

Stell, stel, v.t. (Shak.) to place, set.



Stellar, stel′ar, Stellary, stel′ar-i, adj. relating to the stars: starry.—n. ', a genus of tufted plants of the pink family—the chickweeds or starworts.—adjs. ', ', like a star: radiated; Stelled (Milt.), starry: (Shak.) set or fixed; ', thickly abounding with stars; ', star-shaped; ', formed like little stars;  (bot.), like a little star. [L. stellaris—stella, a star.]

Stellion, stel′yun, n. an agamoid lizard.

Stelths, stelths, n.pl. (Spens.) thefts.

Stem, stem, n. the ascending axis of a plant, which usually bears leaves and flowers, and maintains communication between the roots and the leaves: the little branch supporting the flower or fruit: a race or family: branch of a family.—n. ', a leaf growing from the stem.—adj. ' (bot.), wanting a stem, or having it so little developed as to seem to be wanting.—ns. ', a little or young stem; ', a pedigree or family tree: an ocellus.—adjs. ; Stemmed. [A.S. stæfn, stefn, stemn, from stæf, a staff; Ger. stab.]

Stem, stem, n. the prow of a ship: a curved piece of timber at the prow to which the two sides of a ship are united.—v.t. to cut, as with the stem: to resist or make progress against: to stop, to check:—pr.p. pa.t. and pa.p. stemmed.—From stem to stern, from one end of a vessel to the other: completely, throughout. [Same word as above.]

Steme, stēm, v.t. an obsolete form of steam.

Stempel, stem′pel, n. a timber helping to support a platform.—Also .

Stemson, stem′sun, n. an arching piece of compass-timber behind the apron of a vessel, and supporting its scarfs.

Stench, stensh, n. stink: a strong bad odour or smell.—adj. . [A.S. stenc; Ger. stank.]

Stencil, sten′sil, n. a plate of metal, &c., with a pattern cut out, which is impressed upon a surface by drawing a brush with colour over it.—v.t. to print or paint by means of a stencil:—pr.p. pa.t. and pa.p. —ns. ', one who does stencil-work; ', a method of printing letters or designs, the pattern cut out on a thin plate, and brushed over so as to mark the surface below. [O. Fr. estinceller, estincelle—L. scintilla, a spark.]

Stend, stend, v.i. (prov.) to rear, leap, walk with long strides.—n. a leap.

Stenochrome, sten′ō-krōm, n. a print from a series of pigment-blocks arranged.—n. , the art of printing in several colours at one impression. [Gr. stenos, narrow, chrōma, colour.]

Stenography, sten-og′ra-fi, n. art of writing very quickly by means of abbreviations: shorthand.—n. ', a character used in stenography: a stenographic machine.—v.i. to represent by means of stenography.—ns. ', '.—adjs. ', . [Gr. stenos, narrow, graphein, to write.]

Stenopaic, sten-ō-pā′ik, adj. having a narrow opening. [Gr. stenos, narrow, opē, an opening.]

Stenosis, sten-ō′sis, n. constriction of the pores and vessels: constipation.—adjs. ', contracted morbidly; ', abnormally contracted. [Gr., stenos, narrow.]

Stenotypy, sten′o-tīp-i, n. a system of shorthand representing by ordinary letters shortened signs of words or phrases.—n. ', such a symbolic letter or combination of letters.—adj. '.

Stent, stent, v.t. (prov.) to stint, restrain.—n. extent, limit, amount of work required. [Stint.]

Stentor, stent′or, n. a very loud-voiced herald in the Iliad, hence any person with a remarkably loud voice: the ursine howler.—adj. , very loud or powerful. [Gr.]

Step, step, n. a pace: the distance crossed by the foot in walking or running: a small space: degree: one remove in ascending or descending a stair: round of a ladder: footprint: manner of walking: proceeding: action: the support on which the lower end of a mast, or staff, or a wheel rests: (pl.) walk, direction taken in walking: a self-supporting ladder with flat steps.—v.i. to advance or retire by pacing: to walk: to walk slowly or gravely: to walk a short distance: to move mentally.—v.t. to set, as a foot: to fix, as a mast:—pr.p. pa.t. and pa.p. stepped.—ns. ', one who steps; ', a stone for stepping on to raise the feet above the water or mud; , a door-step.—Step aside, to walk to a little distance, as from company: to err; Step in, or into, to enter easily or unexpectedly; Step out, to go out a little way: to increase the length of the step and so the speed; Step short, to shorten the length of one's step. [A.S. stæpe—stapan, to go; Dut. stap, Ger. stapfe.]

Step-child, step′-chīld, n. one who stands in the relation of a child through the marriage of a parent—also . So '; '; '; ', or '; '; '.—n. ', an adopted country. [A.S. steóp-, as in steóp-módor; Ger. stieb-; orig. an adj. sig. bereft.]

Stephane, stef′a-nē, n. an ancient Greek head-dress like a coronet. [Gr.,—stephein, to crown.]

Stephanite, stef′a-nīt, n. a metallic iron-black silver sulph-antimonite.—Also Brittle silver ore and Sulph-antimonite of silver.

Stephanotis, stef-a-nō′tis, n. a genus of shrubby twining plants of the milkweed family. [Gr. stephanos, a crown, ous, ōtos, the ear.]

Steppe, step, n. one of the vast uncultivated plains in the south-east of Europe and in Asia. [Russ. stepe.]

Stercoral, ster′ko-ral, adj. pertaining to excrement—also ', '.—ns. ', ', one who held that the sacramental bread was digested and evacuated like other food; '; ', a genus of Laridæ, the dung-hunters or skuas.—v.t. , to manure.

Sterculia, ster-kū′li-a, n. the typical genus of Sterculiaceæ, a family of large trees and shrubs, with mucilaginous and demulcent properties—Gum-tragacanth, &c. [L. stercus, dung.]

Stere, stēr, n. a cubic unit of metric measure—a cubic mètre, equivalent to 35.3156 English cubic feet.—Decastère=10 steres; Decistère= 1 &frasl; 10 stere. [Fr. stère—Gr. stereos, solid.]

Stereo, ster′ē-ō, adj. and n. a contr. of stereotype.

Stereobate, ster′ē-ō-bāt, n. the substructure on which a building is based.—adj. . [Gr. stereos, solid, batos, verbal of bainein, to go.]

Stereochromy, ster′ē-ō-krō-mi, n. a process of painting on stone or plaster-work, the colours rendered permanent by a solution of fluoric acid.—n. ', a picture of this kind.—adj. '.—adv. . [Gr. stereos, hard, chrōma, colour.]

Stereoelectric, ster′ē-ō-ē-lek′trik, adj. pertaining to electric currents produced when two solids are brought together at different temperatures.

Stereograph, stē′rē-ō-graf, n. a double photograph for viewing in a stereoscope—also '.—adjs. ', ', pertaining to stereography: made according to stereography: delineated on a plane.—adv. '.—n. , the art of showing solids on a plane. [Gr. stereos, hard, graphein, to write.]

Stereometer, stē-re-om′e-tėr, n. an instrument for measuring the specific gravity of bodies solid and liquid.—adjs. ', '.—adv. '.—n. ', the art of measuring the solid contents of solid bodies. [Gr. stereos, hard, metron, measure.]

Stereopticon, ster-ē-op′ti-kon, n. a double magic-lantern, by means of which the one picture appears to dissolve gradually into the other.

Stereoscope, ster′ē-ō-skōp, n. an instrument in which each of two pictures is examined by a separate lens, and the two lenses are inclined so as to shift the images towards one another, and thus to ensure or to facilitate the blending of the two images into one, standing out in relief with solidity.—adjs. ', ', pertaining to the stereoscope.—adv. '.—ns. '; . [Gr. stereos, solid, skopein, see.]

Stereotomy, ster-ē-ot′ō-mi, n. the art of cutting solids into figures by certain sections.—adjs. Sterēo , . [Gr. stereos, solid, temnein, to cut.]

Stereotrope, ster′ē-ō-trōp, n. an optical contrivance by which an object is brought into relief and made to appear as if in motion. [Gr. stereos, solid, tropē, a turning.]

Stereotype, stē′rē-ō-tīp, n. a solid metallic plate for printing, cast from an impression of movable types, taken on some plastic substance: art of fabricating solid casts in type-metal from pages of movable type.—adj. pertaining to, or done with, stereotypes.—v.t. to make a stereotype of: to print with stereotypes.—p.adj. ', transferred as letterpress from set-up movable type to a mould, and thence to a metal plate: fixed; unchangeable, as opinions.—ns. ', ', one who makes stereotype plates.—adj. '.—ns. ', a stereotype printer; ', the art, practice, or business of printing from stereotype plates; , the art or employment of making stereotype plates. [Gr. stereos, solid, and type.]

Sterigma, stē-rig′ma, n. (bot.) a stalk or support.—adj. . [Gr. stērigma, a prop.]

Sterile, ster′il, adj. unfruitful: barren: (bot.) producing no pistil, or no spores: destitute of ideas or sentiment.—n. ', act of sterilising.—v.t. ', to cause to be fruitless: to destroy bacteria or other micro-organisms in.—ns. ', anything which sterilises; ', quality of being sterile: unfruitfulness, barrenness, in regard to reproduction. [O. Fr.,—L. sterilis, barren.]

Sterlet, stėr′let, n. a small sturgeon.

Sterling, stėr′ling, adj. a designation of British money—pure, genuine, of good quality—also generally, of value or excellence, authoritative. [Orig. the name of a penny; prob. from the Hanse merchants or Easterlings ('men from the east'), from North Germany, who had probably the privilege of coining money in England in the 13th century.]

Stern, stėrn, adj. severe of countenance, manner, or feeling: austere: harsh: unrelenting: steadfast.—adv. '.—n. '. [A.S. styrne.]

Stern, stėrn, n. the hind-part of a vessel: the rump or tail of an animal.—v.t. to back a boat, to row backward.—ns. ' (Shak.), the steerage or stern of a ship; ', backward motion of a ship: loss of way in tacking; ', a chase in which one ship follows directly in the wake of another; ', a cannon in the stern of a ship.—adj. Sterned, having a stern of a specified kind.—ns. ', a rope or chain for making fast a ship's stern to a wharf, &c.; ', the sternpost, transoms, and fashion-pieces of a ship's stern.—adj. ', farthest astern.—ns. ', a port or opening in the stern of a ship; ', the aftermost timber of a ship which supports the rudder; ', the part of a boat between the stern and the rowers; ', the hinder extremity of a ship's keelson, to which the sternpost is bolted; ', the backward motion of a vessel;  (U.S.), a small vessel with one large paddle-wheel at the stern. [Ice. stjórn, a steering.]

Sternum, stėr′num, n. the breast-bone.—adj. '.—n. ', pain about the breast-bone, esp. angina pectoris.—adjs. '; ', pertaining to the ' or serial segments of which the sternum of a vertebrate is composed.—n. ', the ventral portion of the somite of an arthropod.—adjs. '; ', pertaining to, or connected with, the sternum and ribs: denoting those ribs and muscles attached to the sternum. [Gr. sternon, chest.]

Sternutation, stėr-nū-tā′shun, n. the act of sneezing.—adjs. ', ', that causes sneezing.—n. a substance that causes sneezing. [L. sternutatio—sternutāre, -ātum, inten. of sternuĕre, -utum, to sneeze.]

Stertorous, stėr′tō-rus, adj. snoring.—adv. '.—n. '. [L. stertĕre, to snore.]

Sterve, stėrv, v.i. (Spens.) to starve, to die.—Also .

Stet, stet, v.t. to restore—generally on proof-sheets, in imperative, with a line of dots under the words to be retained. [L., 'let it stand,' 3d sing. pres. subj. of stāre, to stand.]

Stethiæum, steth-i-ē′um, n. the anterior half of a bird—opp. to Uræum.—n. , in insects, the thorax. [Gr., stēthos, the breast.]

Stethometer, steth-om′e-tėr, n. an instrument for measuring the relative mobility of the different sides of the chest in respiration.—n. ', an instrument for marking the respiratory movements of the thorax.—adj. '. [Gr. stēthos, chest, metron, measure.]

Stethoscope, steth′ō-skōp, n. an instrument for auscultation, consisting of a tubular piece of wood to be applied to the patient's body—in the binaural form with tubes of rubber, &c., to convey the sounds to the physician's ears.—adjs. ', ', pertaining to, or performed by, the stethoscope.—adv. '.—ns. '; . [Gr. stēthos, the breast, skopein, to see.]