Surcoat.
Surcoat, sur′kōt,n.an overcoat, generally applied to the long flowing drapery of knights anterior to the introduction of plate-armour: a short robe worn by ladies over the tunic at the close of the 11th century. [O. Fr.surcote,surcot—sur, over,cote, a garment.]
Surculus, sur′kū-lus,n.a shoot from a root-stock, a sucker.—adjs.Surculig′erous, bearing such;Sur′culose, producing such. [L.]
Surd, surd,adj.(alg.) involving surds: produced by the action of the speech organs on the breath (not the voice), as the 'hard' soundsk,t,p,f, &c.: deaf: (obs.) unheard, senseless.—n.(alg.) a quantity inexpressible by rational numbers, or which has no root.—ns.Surdimū′tism, the condition of being deaf and dumb;Surd′ity, want of sonant quality. [L.surdus, deaf.]
Sure, shōōr,adj.secure: fit to be depended on; certain: strong: confident beyond doubt.—advs.Sure,Surely, firmly, safely: certainly, assuredly.—adj.Sure′footed, walking firmly or securely: not liable to stumble.—adv.Surefoot′edly.—ns.Surefoot′edness;Sure′ness.—Sure enough, certainly.—Be sure, be certain, see to it;Have a sure thing(slang), to have a certainty;Make sure, to make certain;To be sure, without doubt. [O. Fr,seür(Fr.sûr)—L.securus—se-, apart from,cura, care.]
Surety, shōōr′ti,n.certainty: he who, or that which, makes sure: security against loss: one who becomes bound for another, a sponsor.—ns.Sure′tyship,Sure′tiship, state of being surety: obligation of one person to answer for another. [Doubletsecurity.]
Surf, surf,n.the foam made by the dashing of waves.—ns.Surf′-bird, a plover-like bird found on the Pacific coasts of North and South America, akin to sandpipers and turnstones, and sometimes calledBoreal sandpiperandPlover-billed turnstone;Surf′-duck, the scoter (q.v.);Surf′man, one skilful in handling boats in surf.—adj.Surf′y. [Skeat explains theras intrusive, and suggests thatsuffeis the same as 'soughof the sea,' M. E.swough,swoughen,swowen—A.S.swógan, to make a rushing sound.]
Surface, sur′fās,n.the exterior part of anything.—adj.Sur′faced, having a surface.—ns.Sur′faceman, a miner employed in open-air working: a workman employed in keeping a railway-bed in repair;Sur′face-print′ing, printing from a relief surface, as cotton-cloth;Sur′facer, one who, or that which, smooths or levels a surface;Sur′face-ten′sion, in liquids, that property in virtue of which a liquid surface behaves as if it were a stretched elastic membrane—say a sheet of india-rubber;Sur′face-wa′ter, drainage-water;Sur′facing, the act of giving a certain surface to anything. [Fr., fromsur—L.super, andface—L.facies.]
Surfeit, sur′fit,v.t.to fill to satiety and disgust.—n.excess in eating and drinking: sickness or satiety caused by overfullness.—ns.Sur′feiter(Shak.), one who surfeits, a glutton;Sur′feiting, eating overmuch: gluttony. [O. Fr.surfait, excess,sorfaire, to augment—L.super, above,facĕre, to make.]
Surficial, sur-fish′al,adj.formed on the surface, as opposed toSubterranean.
Surfrappé, sur-frap′ā,adj.restruck or restamped—of a coin. [Fr.]
Surfusion, sur-fū′shun,n.the condition of being liquid below fusing-point.
Surge, surj,n.the rising or swelling of a large wave.—v.i.to rise high: to swell.—adj.Sur′gy, full of surges or waves: billowy. [L.surgĕre, to rise.]
Surgeon, sur′jun,n.one who treats injuries or diseases by manual operations.—ns.Sur′geoncy,Sur′geonship, the office or employment of a surgeon in the army or navy;Sur′gery, act and art of treating lesions or malformations of the human body by manual operations, mediate and immediate: a place for surgical operations.—adj.Sur′gical, pertaining to surgeons, or to surgery: done by surgery.—adv.Sur′gically. [A doublet ofchirurgeon(q.v.).]
Suricate, sū′ri-kāt,n.a long-legged South African carnivore, allied to the civet, genette, and ichneumon.
Surinam-toad, sū-ri-nam′-tōd,n.a South American toad-like amphibian.
Surloin, the preferable form ofsirloin(q.v.).
Surly, sur′li,adj.morose: uncivil: tempestuous.—adv.Sur′lily.—n.Sur′liness. [Forsir-ly, forsir-like, arrogant.]
Surmaster, sur′mas-tėr,n.a master in a school next in rank to a headmaster.
Surmise, sur-mīz′,n.suspicion: conjecture.—v.t.to imagine: to suspect.—adjs.Surmī′sable,Surmī′sant.—n.Surmī′ser. [O. Fr.,—surmettre, to accuse—L.super, upon,mittĕre, to send.]
Surmount, sur-mownt′,v.t.to mount above: to surpass: to overcome, get the better of.—adj.Surmount′able, that may be surmounted.—n.Surmount′ableness.—adj.Surmount′ed, surpassed: overcome: (archit.) denoting an arch or dome rising higher than a semicircle: (her.) denoting a figure when another is laid over it.—n.Surmount′er. [Fr.—sur(L.super), above,monter, to mount.]
Surmullet, sur-mul′et,n.a mulloid food-fish of the genusMullus, with two long barbels on the throat.
Surname, sur′nām,n.a name over and above the Christian name: the family name.—v.t.to call by a surname.—adj.Surnom′inal. [Formed from Fr.sur—L.super, over and above, and Eng.name, on the analogy of Fr.sur-nom.]
Surpass, sur-pas′,v.t.to pass beyond: to exceed: to excel: to go past in space.—adj.Surpass′able, that may be surpassed.—p.adj.Surpass′ing, passing beyond others: excellent in a high degree.—adv.Surpass′ingly.—n.Surpass′ingness. [Fr.surpasser,sur—L.super, beyond,passer, to pass.]
Surplice, sur′plis,n.a white linen garment worn over the cassock by clerks of all degrees, most commonly used for the service of the choir, and also employed, along with the stole, by priests in the administration of the sacraments and in preaching.—adj.Sur′pliced, wearing a surplice. [Fr.surplis—Low L.superpellicium, an over-garment.]
Surplus, sur′plus,n.the overplus: excess above what is required.—n.Sur′plusage, overplus. [Fr., fromsur—L.super, over,plus, more.]
Surprise, sur-prīz′,n.act of taking unawares: the emotion caused by anything sudden: amazement.—v.t.to come upon suddenly or unawares: to lead or bring unawares, to betray (withinto): to strike with wonder or astonishment: to confuse.—n.Surprīs′al, act of surprising.—adv.Surprīs′edly.—adj.Surprīs′ing, exciting surprise: wonderful: unexpected.—adv.Surprīs′ingly.—n.Surprīs′ingness. [Fr.,—surpris, pa.p. ofsurprendre—L.super, over,prehendĕre, to catch.]
Surquedry, sur′kwe-dri,n.(Spens.) pride, arrogance—alsoSur′quidry.—adj.Sur′quedous.
Surrebound, sur-e-bownd′,v.i.to rebound again and again: to give back echoes.
Surrebut, sur-e-but′,v.i.to reply to a defendant's rebutter.—ns.Surrebut′tal, a plaintiff's evidence or presentation of evidence, in response to a defendant's rebuttal;Surrebut′ter, the plaintiffs reply, in common law pleading, to a defendant's rebutter;Surrejoin′der, the answer of a plaintiff to a defendant's rejoinder.
Surreined, sur′rānd,adj.(Shak.) injured by driving, overworked.
Surrenal, sur-rē′nal,adj.situated above the kidneys.
Surrender, sur-ren′dėr,v.t.to deliver over: to resign.—v.i.to yield up one's self to another.—n.act of yielding, or giving up to another.—ns.Surrenderee′, one to whom a legal surrender is made;Surren′derer, one who surrenders;Surren′deror(law), one who makes a surrender;Surren′dry,Surren′dery(obs.), a surrender. [O. Fr.surrendre, fromsur, over—L.super, over,rendre—L.reddĕre, to render.]
Surreptitious, sur-rep-tish′us,adj.done by stealth or fraud.—adv.Surrepti′tiously. [L., fromsurripĕre,surreptum—sub, under,rapĕre, to seize.]
Surrey, sur′ā,n.(U.S.) a light four-wheeled vehicle for four persons, usually with two seats in a box mounted on side-bars.
Surrogate, sur′rō-gāt,n.a substitute: the deputy of an ecclesiastical judge.—ns.Sur′rogāteship;Surrogā′tion, subrogation;Surrogā′tum, that which comes in place of something else. [L.surrogāre,ātum—sub, in the place of,rogāre, to ask.]
Surround, sur-rownd′,v.t.to go round about; to encompass, environ: to cut off from communication or retreat.—n.Surround′ing, an encompassing: (pl.) things which surround, external circumstances. [O. Fr.suronder—L.superundāre, to overflow, often confused withround.]
Sursize, sur-sīz′,n.a penalty in feudal times for non-payment of castle-guard rent on the appointed day.
Surtax, sur′taks,n.an additional tax on certain articles.—v.t.to lay such a tax upon.
Surtout, sur-tōō′,-tōōt′,n.a close-bodied frock-coat: (fort.) a raised portion of the parapet of a work at the angles, to protect from enfilade fire. [Fr.,—Low L.super-totus, an outer garment.]
Surveillance, sur-vel′yans,n.a being vigilant or watchful: inspection.—adj.Surveill′ant. [Fr.,—surveiller—sur, over—L.super,veiller, to watch—L.vigilāre.]
Survey, sur-vā′,v.t.to see or look over: to inspect: to superintend: to examine: to measure and estimate, as land—(obs.)Surview′.—ns.Sur′vey, oversight: view: examination: the measuring of land, or of a country: general view: a description of the condition, use, &c. of property to be insured: an auction at which a farm is let for three lives: (U.S.) a district for the collection of customs under a particular officer;Survey′ing, the art of ascertaining the boundaries and superficial extent of any portion of the earth's surface;Survey′or, an overseer: a measurer of land;Survey′orship. [O. Fr.surveoir—L.super, over,vidēre, to see.]
Survive, sur-vīv′,v.t.to live beyond: to outlive.—v.i.to remain alive.—n.Survī′val, a surviving or living after: any custom or belief surviving in folklore from a more or less savage earlier state of society, long after the philosophy or rationale of it is forgotten.—p.adj.Survī′ving, continuing alive: outliving.—ns.Survī′vor, one who survives or lives after another;Survī′vorship.—Survival of the fittest, the preservation of favourable variations, attended with the destruction of injurious ones, such being the result of Natural Selection (see Natural). [Fr.,—L.super, beyond,vivĕre, to live.]
Surya, sōōr′ya,n.the sun-god in Hindu mythology. [Sans.sūrya, the sun.]
Susceptible, sus-sep′ti-bl,adj.capable of receiving anything: impressible: disposed to admit.—ns.Susceptibil′ity,Suscep′tibleness, quality of being susceptible: capability: sensibility.—adv.Suscep′tibly.—adj.Suscep′tive, capable of receiving or admitting: readily admitting.—ns.Suscep′tiveness;Susceptiv′ity;Suscep′tor;Suscip′iency.—adj.Suscip′ient. [Fr.,—L.suscipĕre,susceptum, to take up—sub, up,capĕre, to take.]
Suscitate, sus′i-tāt,v.t.to excite, rouse.—n.Suscitā′tion. [L.suscitāre,-ātum—sub, under,citāre, to arouse.]
Suspect, sus-pekt′,v.t.to mistrust: to imagine to be guilty: to doubt: to have a slight opinion that something exists, but without sufficient evidence, to conjecture.—v.i.to imagine guilt, to be suspicious.—n.a person suspected.—adv.Suspec′tedly.—n.Suspec′tedness.—adj.Suspect′less, not suspected. [L.suspicĕre,suspectum, to look at secretly—sub, up,specĕre, to look at.]
Suspend, sus-pend′,v.t.to hang one thing beneath another: to make to depend on: to make to stop for a time: to delay: to debar from any privilege, office, emolument, &c. for a time.—ns.Suspen′ded-animā′tion, the temporary cessation of the outward signs and of some of the functions of life—due to asphyxia, drowning, strangulation;Suspen′der, one who, or that which, suspends, one of a pair of straps crossing the shoulders to support the trousers;Suspense′, state of being suspended: act of withholding the judgment: uncertainty: indecision: stop betwixt two opposites;Suspensibil′ity, susceptibility of being suspended.—adj.Suspen′sible, capable of being suspended.—ns.Suspen′sion, act of suspending: interruption: delay: temporary privation of office or privilege: a conditional withholding;Suspen′sion-bridge, a bridge in which the roadway is supported by chains, which pass over elevated piers, and are secured below at each end.—adj.Suspen′sive.—adv.Suspen′sively.—n.Suspen′sor, a suspensory bandage.—adj.Suspensō′rial.—n.Suspensō′rium, that which holds up a part, esp. the arrangement joining the lower jaw to the cranium in vertebrates below mammals.—adj.Suspen′sory, that suspends: doubtful.—n.that which suspends: a bandage: having the effect of delaying or staying.—Suspend payment, to publicly stop paying debts from insolvency. [L.suspendĕre—sub, beneath,pendēre,pensum, to hang.]
Suspercollate, sus-pėr-kol′āt,v.t.to hang. [Sus. per coll., abbrev. for L.suspensio per collum, hanging by the neck.]
Suspicion, sus-pish′un,n.act of suspecting: the imagining of something without evidence or on slender evidence: mistrust: (coll.) a slight quantity of, as of spirits.—adj.Suspi′cious, full of suspicion: showing suspicion: inclined to suspect: liable to suspicion, doubtful.—adv.Suspi′ciously.—n.Suspi′ciousness.
Suspire, sus-pīr′,v.i.to fetch a deep breath, to sigh, to breathe.—n.Suspirā′tion, act of sighing.—adj.Suspir′ious, sighing. [L.suspīrāre—sub, under,spirāre, to breathe.]
Sustain, sus-tān′,v.t.to hold up: to bear: to maintain: to relieve: to prove: to sanction: to prolong.—adjs.Sustain′able, that may be sustained;Sustained′, kept up at one uniform pitch.—ns.Sustain′er, one who, or that which, sustains;Sustain′ment, act of sustaining, sustenance;Sus′tenance, that which sustains: maintenance: provisions.—adj.Sustentac′ular, supporting, pertaining to aSustentac′ulum, a support or sustaining tissue, esp. an inferior spine of the tarsus in spiders of the genusEpeira.—v.t.Sus′tentāte, to sustain.—n.Sustentā′tion, that which sustains: support: maintenance.—adj.Susten′tative, sustaining.—ns.Sus′tentātor, a sustaining part or structure;Susten′tion, the act of sustaining;Susten′tor, one of two posterior projections of a butterfly-chrysalis.—Sustentation Fund, the scheme by which the ministers of the Free Church of Scotland are supported by voluntary contributions not local or congregational, but with a national altruism or solidarity paid into a great central fund, out of which equal stipends are paid to all alike. [L.sustinēre—sub, up,tenēre, to hold.]
Susurrant, sū-sur′ant,adj.murmuring, whispering.—n.Susurrā′tion, a soft murmur.—adv.Susur′ringly.—adj.Susur′rous, whispering, rustling.—n.Susur′rus, a soft murmuring, a whispering. [L.susurrāre,-ātum, to whisper.]
Sutile, sū′til,adj.done by stitching. [L.sutilis—suĕre, to sew.]
Sutler, sut′lėr,n.a person who follows an army and sells liquor or provisions: a camp-hawker.—n.Sut′lery, a sutler's work: a sutler's store.—adj.Sut′ling, pertaining to sutlers: engaged in the occupation of a sutler. [Old Dut.soetelaar,zoetelaar, a small trader—zoetelen, to do mean work; Low Ger.suddeln, to do dirty work.]
Sutor, sū′tor,n.a cobbler.—adj.Sutō′rial. [L.]
Sutra, sōōt′ra,n.in Sanskrit literature, the technical name of aphoristic rules, and of works consisting of such rules—the groundworks of the ritual, grammatical, metrical, and philosophical literature of India being written in this form.
Suttee, sut-tē′,n.a usage long prevalent in India, in accordance with which, on the death of her husband, the faithful widow burned herself on the funeral pyre along with her husband's body.—n.Suttee′ism, the practice of self-immolation among Hindu widows. [Sans.satí, a true wife.]
Suttle, sut′l,adj.light. [Subtle.]
Suture, sū′tūr,n.the mode of connection between the various bones of the cranium and face—serrated, when formed by the union of two edges of bone with projections and indentations fitting into one another—squamous, when formed by the overlapping of the bevelled edges of two contiguous bones: (surg.) the sewing up of a wound by one or other mode, so as to maintain the opposed surfaces in contact: (bot.) the seam at the union of two margins in a plant.—adj.Sū′tūral, relating to a suture.—adv.Sū′tūrally.—n.Sūtūrā′tion.—adj.Sū′tūred, having, or united by, sutures. [L.sutura—suĕre, to sew.]
Suversed, su-verst′,adj.versed and belonging to the supplement.
Suzerain, sū′ze-rān,n.a feudal lord: supreme or paramount ruler.—n.Sū′zerainty, the dominion of a suzerain: paramount authority. [O. Fr.,—sus—Late L.susum, forsursum=sub-versum, above; the termination in imitation of Fr.souverain, Eng.sovereign.]
Svelt, svelt,adj.in art, free, easy, bold. [Fr.,—It.]
Swab, swob,n.a mop for cleaning or drying floors or decks, or for cleaning out the bore of a cannon: a bit of sponge, &c., for cleansing the mouth of a sick person: (slang) a naval officer's epaulet: a lubber or clumsy fellow in sailor's slang.—v.t.to clean or dry with a swab:—pr.p.swab′bing;pa.t.andpa.p.swabbed.—n.Swab′ber, one who uses a swab: a baker's implement for cleaning ovens. [Dut.zwabber, a swabber,zwabberen, to swab; Ger.schwabber.]
Swack, swak,v.i.(Scot.) to drink greedily.
Swack, swak,adj.(Scot.) active, nimble.
Swad, swad,n.a country lout.
Swaddle, swod′l,v.t.to swathe or bind tight with clothes, as an infant.—ns.Swadd′ler, an Irish papist's name for a Methodist, &c.;Swadd′ling-band,Swadd′ling-cloth, a cloth for swaddling an infant:—pl.Swadd′ling-clothes(B.). [A.S.swethel, a swaddling-band,swathu, a bandage.]
Swaddy, swod′i,n.a soldier, esp. a militiaman.
Swag, swag,n.(slang) anything obtained by plunder: baggage, esp. that carried by one tramping through the bush, a swagman's pack: the subsidence of a mine-roof: a festoon or hanging cluster of flowers.—ns.Swag′ger,Swag′man, one who carries his swag about with him in his search for work;Swag′shop, a place where cheap and trashy goods are sold. [Prob.swag(v.).]
Swag, swag,v.i.to sink down by its own weight.—adj.Swag′-bell′ied, having a large projecting belly. [Prob. conn. withsway.]
Swage, swāj,n.a tool used for making mouldings on sheet-iron.
Swage, swāj,v.t.andv.i.(Milt.) to assuage.
Swagger, swag′ėr,v.i.to swing the body in a blustering defiant way: to brag noisily, to bully.—n.boastfulness: insolence of manner.—adj.(slang) very fashionable.—n.Swagg′erer.—adj.andn.Swagg′ering.—adv.Swagg′eringly. [A freq. ofswag=sway.]
Swahili, swa-hē′li,n.the name given to the people of Zanzibar and the opposite coast belonging to the Bantu stock, with an Arab infusion, and speaking a Bantu tongue modified by Arabic.—adj.Swahi′lian. [Ar.Waswahili, 'coast people.']
Swain, swān,n.a young man: a peasant: a country lover.—n.Swain′ing, love-making.—adj.Swain′ish, boorish.—n.Swain′ishness, boorishness. [Ice.sveinn, young man, servant, Dan.svend, servant.]
Swale, swāl,n.a shady spot: a lower tract of rolling prairie.
Swallow, swol′ō,n.a migratory bird with long wings, which seizes its insect food on the wing: a genus (Hirundo) and family (Hirundinidæ) of passerine birds, with long and pointed wings.—adj.Swall′ow-tailed, like a swallow's tail in form, forked and pointed—of a dress-coat. [A.S.swalewe; Ger.schwalbe.]
Swallow, swol′ō,v.t.to receive through the gullet into the stomach: to engulf: to absorb: to occupy: to exhaust.—n.Swall′ower. [A.S.swelgan, to swallow; cog. with Ger.schwelgen.]
Swam, swam,pa.t.ofswim.
Swamp, swomp,n.wet, spongy land: low ground filled with water.—v.t.to sink in, or as in a swamp: to overset, or cause to fill with water, as a boat.—adj.Swamp′y, consisting of swamp: wet and spongy. [Scand., Dan. and Sw.svamp, a sponge; from the root ofswim.]
Swan, swon,n.a genus of birds constituting a very distinct section of the Duck familyAnatidæ, having the neck as long as the body, noted for grace and stateliness of movement on the water.—ns.Swan′-goose, the China goose;Swan′-herd, one who tends swans;Swan′-hop′ping, betterSwan′-mark′ingandSwan′-up′ping, the custom of marking the upper mandible of a swan to show ownership—done annually to the royal swans on the Thames, the occasion being excuse for a festive expedition.—adj.Swan′-like.—ns.Swan′-maid′en, a familiar figure in European folklore, changing at will into a maiden or a swan by means of the magic properties of her shift;Swan′-mark, the notch made on the swan's upper mandible;Swan′-neck, the end of a pipe, &c., curved like a swan's neck;Swan′nery, a place where swans are kept and tended.—adj.Swan′ny, swan-like.—ns.Swan's′-down, the down or under-plumage of a swan, used for powder-puffs, &c.: a soft woollen cloth: a thick cotton with a soft nap on one side;Swan′-shot, a shot of large size, like buck-shot;Swan′-skin, the unplucked skin of a swan: a soft, nappy, fine-twilled flannel;Swan′-song, the fabled song of a swan just before its death: a poet's or musician's last work. [A.S.swan; Ger.schwan, Dut.zwaan.]
Swang, swang,n.(prov.) a swamp.
Swank, swangk,adj.(Scot.) slender, pliant: agile, supple—alsoSwank′ing.—n.Swank′y, an active fellow. [A.S.swancor, pliant; Ger.schwank.]
Swanky,Swankie, swangk′i,n.poor thin beer or any sloppy drink, even sweetened water and vinegar.
Swanpan. SeeShwanpan.
Swap, swop,v.t.to barter.—n.an exchange.—adj.Swap′ping, large. [Swop.]
Swape, swāp,n.(prov.) a pump-handle: a large oar or sweep: a sconce for holding a light.—v.i.to sweep: to place aslant.—n.Swape′-well, a well from which water is raised by a well-sweep.
Sward, swawrd,n.the grassy surface of land: green turf—alsoSwarth.—v.t.to cover with sward.—adjs.Sward′ed,Sward′y, covered with sward. [A.S.sweard; Dut.zwoord, Ger.schwarte.]
Sware, swār (B.),pa.t.ofswear.
Swarf, swärf,v.i.to faint.—n.a swoon.
Swarf, swärf,n.the grit from a grindstone in grinding cutlery wet.
Swarm, swawrm,n.a body of humming or buzzing insects: a cluster of insects, esp. of bee: a great number: throng.—v.i.to gather as bees: to appear in a crowd: to throng: to abound: to breed multitudes.—v.t.to cause to breed in swarms. [A.S.swearm; Ger.schwarm; from the same root as Ger.schwirren.]
Swarm, swawrm,v.i.to climb a tree by scrambling up by means of arms and legs (withup).
Swarth, swawrth,n.(Shak.). Same asSwath.
Swarth, swawrth,n.a wraith, apparition of a person about to die.
Swarthy, swawrth′i,adj.of a blackish complexion: dark-skinned: tawny—alsoSwart,Swarth.—adv.Swarth′ily.—ns.Swarthi′iness;Swart′-star(Milt.), the dog-star, so called because at the time of its appearance it darkens the complexion. [A.S.sweart; Ice.svartr, Ger.schwarz, black.]
Swarve, swawrv,v.i.to swerve.
Swash, swosh,v.t.to dash or splash.—v.i.to make a splashing noise, to wash up against.—ns.Swash′-buck′ler, a bully, a blusterer;Swash′er(Shak.), one who swashes, a blusterer.—adj.Swash′ing, slashing, crushing.—n.pl.Swash′-lett′ers, Italic capitals with top and bottom flourishes, intended to fill out ugly gaps.—ns.Swash′-plate, a disc set obliquely on a revolving axis, to give a reciprocating motion to a bar along its length;Swash′-work, lathe-work in which the cuts are inclined to the axis of rotation.—adj.Swash′y, swaggering. [Scand.; cf. dial. Sw.svasska, Norw.svakka, prov. Eng.swack, a blow.]
Swastika, swäs′ti-ka,n.the same asFylfot(q.v.).—AlsoSvas′tikaandGammadion. [Sans., 'fortunate.']
Swat, swot (Spens.),pa.t.ofsweat.
Swatch, swach,n.a strip of cloth as a sample. [Swath.]
Swath, swawth,n.a line of grass or corn cut by the scythe: the sweep of a scythe.—adj.Swath′y. [A.S.swathu, a track; Dut.zwade, also a scythe.]
Swathe, swāth,v.t.to bind with a band or bandage.—n.a bandage. [A.S.swethian; cf.Swaddle.]
Swats, swats,n.(Scot.) new ale: thin sowens.
Swatter, swat′ėr,v.i.(prov.) to spill water about. [Cf. Dut.swaddren, to dabble in water.]
Sway, swā,v.t.to swing or wield with the hand: to incline to one side: to influence by power or moral force: to govern: to hoist, raise.—v.i.to incline to one side: to govern: to have weight or influence.—n.the sweep of a weapon: that which moves with power: preponderance: power in governing: influence or authority inclining to one side: a thatcher's binding-switch.—adj.Swayed(Shak.), bent down and injured in the back by heavy burdens—said of a horse. [Prob. Scand., as Ice.sveigja, Dan.svaie, to sway; akin toswing.]
Sweal, swēl,v.t.to scorch.—v.i.to melt and run down: to burn away slowly. [A.S.swelan.]
Swear, swār,v.i.to affirm, calling God to witness: to give evidence on oath: to utter the name of God or of sacred things profanely.—v.t.to utter, calling God to witness: to administer an oath to: to declare on oath:—pa.t.swōre;pa.p.sworn.—n.Swear′er.—Swear at, to aim profanity at: to be very incongruous with, esp. in colour;Swear by, to put complete confidence in;Swear in, to inaugurate by oath;Swear off, to renounce, promise to give up. [A.S.swerian; Dut.zweren, Ger.schwören.]
Sweard, swērd,n.(Spens.) sword.
Sweat, swet,n.the moisture from the skin, the state of one who sweats, diaphoresis: labour: drudgery.—v.i.to give out sweat or moisture: to toil, drudge for poor wages: to suffer penalty, smart.—v.t.to give out, as sweat: to cause to sweat: to squeeze money or extortionate interest from, to compel to hard work for mean wages: to wear away or pare down by friction or other means, as coins: to scrape the sweat from a horse.—ns.Sweat′er, one who sweats, or that which causes sweating, a diaphoretic: a heavy kind of jersey used by persons in training for athletic contests, to reduce their weight: one who sweats coins: a London street ruffian in Queen Anne's time who prodded weak passengers with his sword-point;Sweat′iness;Sweat′ing-bath, a bath to promote perspiration;Sweat′ing-house,-room, a house, room, for sweating persons: a room for sweating cheese and carrying off the superfluous juices;Sweat′ing-sick′ness, an extremely fatal epidemic disorder which ravaged Europe, and esp. England, in the 15th and 16th centuries—a violent inflammatory fever, with a fetid perspiration over the whole body;Sweat′ing-sys′tem, the practice of working poor people at starvation wages, esp. in making up clothes in their own houses.—adj.Sweat′y, wet with sweat: consisting of sweat: laborious. [A.S.swát, sweat,swǽtan, to sweat; Dut.zweet; Low Ger.sweet, Ger.schweiss.]
Sweath-band, swēth′-band,n.(Spens.) a swaddling-band. [Swathe.]
Swede, swēd,n.a native ofSweden; a Swedish turnip.—adj.Swēd′ish, pertaining to Sweden, to Swedish turnips, gloves of undressed kid, &c.
Swedenborgian, swē-dn-bor′ji-an,n.one who holds the religious doctrines of Emanuel Swedenborg, a Swedish philosopher (1688-1772), founder of the New Jerusalem Church.—n.Swedenbor′gianism.
Sweeny, swē′ni,n.atrophy of a muscle.
Sweep, swēp,v.t.to wipe or rub over with a brush or broom: to carry along or off by a long brushing stroke or force: to destroy or carry off at a stroke: to strike with a long stroke: to carry with pomp: to drag over: to pass rapidly over.—v.i.to pass swiftly and forcibly: to pass with pomp: to move with a long reach:—pa.t.andpa.p.swept.—n.act of sweeping: extent of a stroke, or of anything turning or in motion: prevalence, range: direction of a curve: the act of bringing into a general movement: rapid or wide-spread destructiveness: a curved approach before a building: a chimney-sweeper: (pl.) oars of great length used during a calm or in still water, either to assist the rudder or to propel the vessel.—n.Sweep′er.—adv.Sweep′ingly, in a sweeping manner.—n.Sweep′ingness.—n.pl.Sweep′ings, things collected by sweeping: rubbish.—ns.Sweep′-net, a net that embraces a large compass:Sweep′stake(Shak.), one who wins all—usually inpl.Sweep′stakes, a method of gambling by which several persons contribute each certain stakes, the whole of which fall to one in case of a certain event happening;Sweep′-wash′er, one who scrapes a little gold or silver from the sweepings of refineries.—adj.Sweep′y, swaying, sweeping, curving. [A.S.swápan; Ger.schweifen, Cf.Swoop.]
Sweer,Sweir, swēr,adj.(Scot.) lazy, unwilling. [A.S.swǽr,swár, heavy.]
Sweet, swēt,adj.pleasing to the taste or senses: tasting like sugar: fragrant: melodious: beautiful, grateful to the eye: fresh, as opposed to salt or to sour: pure: recent, not stale, sour, or putrid: mild, soft, gentle: kind, obliging.—n.a sweet substance: a term of endearment: (pl.) sweetmeats, confections: sweet dishes served at table, puddings, tarts, jellies, &c.—v.t.(obs.) to sweeten.—adj.Sweet′-and-twen′ty(Shak.), at once fair and young.—ns.Sweet′-bay, the laurel (Laurus nobilis);Sweet′bread, the pancreas of an animal used for food, both delicate and nutritious.—adj.Sweet′-breathed, sweet-smelling.—ns.Sweet′-brī′er, a thorny shrub of the rose kind resembling the brier, having a sweet smell;Sweet′-corn, a variety of maize.—v.t.Sweet′en, to make sweet: to make pleasing, mild, or kind: to increase the agreeable qualities of: to make pure and healthy.—ns.Sweet′ener, one who, or that which, sweetens;Sweet′ening, act of sweetening: that which sweetens;Sweet′-flag,-rush, an aromatic plant of the genusAcorusof the arum family;Sweet′heart, a lover or mistress.—n.pl.Sweet′ies, confections.—n.Sweet′ing, a sweet apple: (Shak.) a darling, a word of endearment.—adj.Sweet′ish, somewhat sweet to the taste.—ns.Sweet′ishness;Sweet′-john, a flower of the narrow-leaved varieties of a species of pink,Dianthus barbatus, as distinguished from other varieties calledSweet-william;Sweet′leaf, a small tree in the southern United States, having sweetish leaves relished by cattle and horses;Sweet′-lips, one whose lips are sweet—a term of endearment: the ballanwrasse, orLabrus maculatus.—adv.Sweet′ly.—ns.Sweet′-mar′joram, a fragrant species of marjoram;Sweet′meat, a confection made wholly or chiefly of sugar;Sweet′-nan′cy, the double-flowered variety ofNarcissus poeticus;Sweet′ness;Sweet′-oil, olive-oil;Sweet′-pea, a pea cultivated for its fragrance and beauty;Sweet′-potā′to, a twining plant common in tropical and sub-tropical countries, having large sweetish edible tubers.—adj.Sweet′-scent′ed, having a sweet smell.—n.Sweet′-sop, a tropical American evergreen, also its pulpy fruit.—adj.Sweet′-tem′pered, having a mild, amiable disposition.—ns.Sweet′-wa′ter, a white variety of the European grape, with very sweet juice;Sweet′-will′iam, the bunch-pink,Dianthus barbatus, a garden flower of many colours and varieties;Sweet′wood, a name applied to various trees and shrubs of the laurel family found in South America and the West Indies.—Be sweet on, orupon, to be in love with. [A.S.swéte; Ger.süsz, Gr.hēdys, L.suavis, sweet, Sans.svad, to taste.]
Swell, swel,v.i.to grow larger: to expand: to rise into waves: to heave: to be inflated: to bulge out: to grow louder: to be bombastic, to strut: to become elated, arrogant, or angry: to grow upon the view: to grow more violent: to grow louder, as a note.—v.t.to increase the size of: to aggravate: to increase the sound of: to raise to arrogance: to augment the sound of:—pa.p.swelled or swollen (swōln).—n.act of swelling: a bulge or protuberance: increase in size: an increase and a succeeding decrease in the volume of a tone: a gradual rise of ground: a wave or billow or succession of them in one direction, as after a storm: a distinct set of pipes in an organ, enclosed in a case furnished with movable shutters which being more or less opened by means of a pedal, produce a swell of sound: (geol.) an upward protrusion of strata from whose central region the beds dip quaquaversally at a low angle: a strutting foppish fellow, a dandy.—adj.fashionable.—n.Swell′dom, the fashionable world generally.—adj.Swell′ing(B.), inflated, proud, haughty.—n.protuberance: a tumour: a rising, as of passion: (B.) inflation by pride.—adj.Swell′ish, foppish, dandified.—ns.Swell′-mob, well-dressed pickpockets collectively;Swell′-mobs′man, a well-dressed pickpocket. [A.S.swellan; Ger.schwellen.]
Swelt, swelt,v.i.(Spens.) to swelter.
Swelter, swelt′ėr,v.i.to be faint or oppressed with heat: to perspire copiously from heat.—v.t.to cause to faint, to overpower, as with heat.—p.adj.Swelt′ering.—adv.Swelt′eringly.—adj.Swelt′ry, sultry, oppressive with heat. [A.S.sweltan, to die; Ice.svelta, to hunger.]
Swept, swept,pa.t.andpa.p.ofsweep.
Swerve, swėrv,v.i.to turn, depart from any line, duty, or custom: to incline: to rove, wander.—n.an act of swerving.—adj.Swerve′less, that does not swerve.—n.Swerv′er, one who swerves. [A.S.sweorfan; Dut.zwerven.]
Sweven, swē′vn,n.(obs.) a dream.—v.t.andv.i.to sleep, dream. [A.S.swefen, sleep, dream.]
Swift, swift,adj.moving quickly: fleet, rapid: speedy: ready.—n.a genus (Cypselus) and family (Cypselidæ) of picarian birds, resembling the swallows in general appearance and habits, but most closely allied by anatomical structure to the humming-birds—with long pointed wings, a short tail, and remarkable powers of rapid and prolonged flight: the common newt: a reel for winding yarn: the main cylinder of a carding-machine: the current of a stream.—n.Swif′ter, any rope temporarily used to tighten or keep a thing in its place.—adjs.Swift′-foot′ed;Swift′-hand′ed;Swift′-heeled.—adv.Swift′ly, with swiftness: rapidly.—n.Swift′ness, quality of being swift: quickness: fleetness: rapidity: speed.—adj.Swift′-winged. [A.S.swift, from same root asswoop.]
Swig, swig,n.a pulley with ropes not parallel.—v.t.to tighten a rope by hauling at right angles to its lead: to castrate by ligating the scrotum and making the testicles slough off. [Prob.swag.]
Swig, swig,n.a large draught: one who drinks deep.—v.t.to drink by large draughts, to gulp down. [Prob. conn. with A.S.swelgan, to swallow.]
Swill, swil,v.t.orv.i.to drink greedily or largely, to drink habitually, to drench one's self with: to wash, rinse.—n.a large draught of liquor: the liquid mixture given to swine.—ns.Swill′er;Swill′ing.—n.pl.Swill′ings, hog wash. [A.S.swilian, to wash; cf. Sw.sqvala, to gush.]
Swim, swim,v.i.to float, as opposed to sink: to move on or in water: to be borne along by a current: to glide along with a waving motion: to be dizzy: to be drenched: to overflow: to abound.—v.t.to pass by swimming: to make to swim or float:—pr.p.swim′ming;pa.t.swam;pa.p.swum or swam.—n.act of swimming: any motion like swimming: air-bladder of a fish.—adj.Swim′mable, capable of being swum.—ns.Swim′mer, one who swims: a web-footed aquatic bird;Swim′meret, one of the abdominal appendages which in the lobster and other Crustacea are used in swimming;Swim′ming, the act of floating or moving on or in the water: dizziness;Swim′ming-bath, a bath large enough for swimming in.—adv.Swim′mingly, in a gliding manner, as if swimming: smoothly, successfully.—ns.Swim′mingness, the state of swimming: a melting look, tearfulness;Swim′ming-pond, an artificial pond adapted for swimming in;Swim′ming-school, a place where swimming is taught;Swim′ming-stone, a cellular variety of flint—float-stone.—In the swim, in the main current, of affairs, business, &c. [A.S.swimman; Ger.schwimmen.]
Swinck, swingk,v.i.(Spens.). Same asSwink.
Swindge, swindj,v.t.(Milt.). Same asSwinge(1).
Swindle, swin′dl,v.t.to cheat under the pretence of fair dealing.—n.the act of swindling or defrauding: anything not really what it appears to be.—adj.Swin′dleable, capable of being swindled.—ns.Swin′dler, one who defrauds by imposition: a cheat or rogue;Swin′dlery, roguery, swindling practices.—adj.Swin′dling, cheating. [Ger.schwindler, a cheat—schwindeln, to be giddy,schwindenempty, to sink; A.S.swindan, to droop.]
Swine, swīn,n.sing.andpl.a well-known quadruped with bristly skin and long snout, fed for its flesh: a pig: pigs collectively.—ns.Swine′herd, a herd or keeper of swine;Swine′-pox, chicken-pox;Swin′ery, a place where pigs are kept;Swine's′-snout, the dandelion;Swine′-stone(same asStink-stone);Swine′-sty, a pig-sty. [A.S.swín, a pig; Ger.schwein, L.sus, Gr.hys.]
Swing, swing,v.i.to sway or wave to and fro, as a body hanging in air: to move forward with swaying gait: to vibrate: to practise swinging: to turn round at anchor: to be hanged.—v.t.to move to and fro: to cause to wave or vibrate: to whirl, to brandish: to cause to wheel or turn as about some point: to fix up anything so as to hang freely:—pa.t.andpa.p.swung.—n.the act of swinging: motion to and fro: a waving motion: anything suspended for swinging in: the sweep or compass of a swinging body: the sweep of a golf-club when driving: influence or power of anything put in motion: free course, unrestrained liberty.—ns.Swing′-back, a device for adjusting the plate-holder of a camera at any desired angle;Swing′boat, a boat-shaped carriage swung from a frame, in use for swinging in at fairs, &c.;Swing′-bridge, a bridge that may be moved aside by swinging, at the mouth of docks, &c.;Swing′-churn, a churn-box so hung as to be worked by oscillation;Swing′er;Swing′-han′dle, a pivoted handle of any utensil, esp. a bail or other arched handle;Swing′ing, the act of moving back and forth, esp. the pastime of moving in a swing.—adj.having a free easy motion.—n.Swing′ing-boom, the spar which stretches the foot of a lower studding-sail.—adv.Swing′ingly, in a swinging-manner.—ns.Swing′ing-post, the post to which a gate is hung;Swing′ism, a form of intimidation common in England about 1830-33, which consisted mainly in sending letters signed 'Swing' or 'Captain Swing' to farmers, ordering them under threats to give up threshing-machines, &c.;Swing′-mō′tion, a mechanism in the truck of a railway carriage, &c., permitting swaying from side to side;Swing′-pan, a sugar-pan with spout, pivoted so that it may be emptied by tipping;Swing′-plough, a plough without a fore-wheel under the beam;Swing′-shelf, a hanging shelf;Swing′-stock, an upright timber, with a blunt edge at top over which flax was beaten by the swingle—alsoSwing′ing-block;Swing′-swang, a complete oscillation.—adj.swinging, drawling.—ns.Swing′-tā′ble, a moveable bed on which plate-glass is cemented for polishing;Swing′-tool, a holder swinging on horizontal centres, on which work is fastened so as to hold flat against the face of a file;Swing′-tree=Swingle-tree(q.v.);Swing′-trot, a swinging trot;Swing′-wheel, the wheel that drives a clock pendulum, corresponding to the balance-wheel in a watch. [A.S.swingan; Ger.schwingen, to swing; allied towag,sway.]
Swinge, swinj,v.t.to beat, chastise: to forge, weld together: to wave to and fro.—n.a lash, a lashing movement.—n.Swinge′-buck′ler(Shak.), one who pretends to feats of arms, a blusterer.—adj.Swinge′ing, great, huge.—adv.Swinge′ingly.—n.Swinger(swinj′ėr),any person or thing great or astonishing, a bold lie, a whopper. [A.S.swengan, to shake, a causal form ofswingan, to swing.]
Swinge, swinj,v.t.(Spens.). Same asSinge.
Swingle, swing′gl,v.t.to dress or separate the fibrous parts of flax from the woody substance by beating.—n.an implement for this purpose.—ns.Swing′le, the part of the flail which falls on the grain in threshing;Swing′le-tree,Sing′le-tree, the cross-piece of a carriage, plough, &c. to which the traces of a harnessed horse are fixed. [Swing.]
Swinish, swī′nish,adj.like or befitting swine: gross: brutal.—adv.Swin′ishly.—n.Swin′ishness.
Swink, swingk,v.i.(Spens.) to labour, to toil, to drudge.—v.t.to tire out with labour.—n.labour.—adj.Swink′ed(Milt.), wearied with labour, fatigued. [A.S.swincan, to labour; cf.swingan, swing.]
Swipe, swīp,n.a hard blow.—v.t.to give a strong blow to: to steal by snatching.—n.Swī′per, one who swipes. [A.S.swipe, a whip.]
Swipes, swīps,n.bad or spoilt beer, also small-beer.—adj.Swī′pey, fuddled with malt liquor.
Swire, swīr,n.a hollow between two hills. [Prob. A.S.swéora, the neck.]
Swirl, swėrl,v.i.to sweep along with a whirling motion.—n.whirling motion, as of wind or water: a curl or twist: the rush of a fish through the water in rising to a fly.—adj.Swirl′y. [Skeat explains as Scand., Norw.svirla, to whirl round, a freq. ofsverra, to whirl, orig. to hum.]
Swish, swish,v.t.to cause to move or to cut with a whistling sound: to flog, thrash.—n.a swishing sound.—adv.in a swishing manner or with such a sound.—ns.Swish′er, one who swishes or flogs;Swish′-swash, a swishing action or sound: a washy drink. [Imit.]
Swiss, swis,adj.of or belonging toSwitzerland.—n.a native of Switzerland: the language of Switzerland: a High German patois, spoken in fifteen of the cantons.—n.Swit′zer, a native of Switzerland: one of a hired bodyguard of a king or pope.—Swiss Guards, a celebrated corps or regiment of Swiss mercenaries in the French army of the old régime, constituted 'Gardes' by royal decree in 1616.
Swissing, swis′ing,n.the calendering of bleached cloth, after dampening, by passing between bowls or pairs of rollers.
Switch, swich,n.a small flexible twig: a movable rail for transferring a carriage from one line of rails to another: a device to make or break a circuit, or transfer an electric current from one conductor to another.—v.t.to strike with a switch: to swing, whisk: to transfer a carriage from one line of rails to another by a switch: to shift from one circuit to another, or in or out of circuit, as an electric current, to shunt.—ns.Switch′back, a term applied to a zigzagging, alternate back-and-forward mode of progression up a slope;Switch′back-rail′way, an apparatus for public amusement, consisting of a short length of elevated railway with a series of rounded inclines, so that the car gains enough of momentum descending the first steep incline to ascend one or more smaller inclines till it gradually and more slowly works its way to the original level at the far end of the course;Switch′ing, a beating with a switch: trimming;Switch′man, a pointsman. [Old Dut.swick, a whip.]
Switchel, swich′el,n.treacle-beer, molasses and water, &c.
Swith, swith,adv.(obs.) quickly: away! begone!
Swither, swith′ėr,v.i.(prov.) to doubt, hesitate.—n.hesitation: a fright, a sweat.