SEATSeat, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Seated; p. pr. & vb. n. Seating.]
1. To place on a seat; to cause to sit down; as, to seat one's self. The guests were no sooner seated but they entered into a warm debate. Arbuthnot.
2. To cause to occupy a post, site, situation, or the like; to station; to establish; to fix; to settle. Thus high . . . is King Richard seated. Shak. They had seated themselves in New Guiana. Sir W. Raleigh.
3. To assign a seat to, or the seats of; to give a sitting to; as, to seat a church, or persons in a church.
4. To fix; to set firm. From their foundations, loosening to and fro, They plucked the seated hills. Milton.
5. To settle; to plant with inhabitants; as to seat a country. [Obs.] W. Stith.
6. To put a seat or bottom in; as, to seat a chair.
SEATSeat, v. i.
Defn: To rest; to lie down. [Obs.] Spenser.
SEA TANGSea" tang`. (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of seaweed; tang; tangle.To their nests of sedge and sea tang. Longfellow.
SEA TERMSea" term`.
Defn: A term used specifically by seamen; a nautical word or phrase.
SEA THIEFSea" thief`.
Defn: A pirate. Drayton.
SEA THONGSSea" thongs`. (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of blackish seaweed (Himanthalia lorea) found on the northern coasts of the Atlantic. It has a thonglike forking process rising from a top-shaped base.
SEATINGSeat"ing, n.
1. The act of providong with a seat or seats; as, the seating of an audience.
2. The act of making seats; also, the material for making seats; as, cane seating.
SEA TITLINGSea" tit"ling. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The rock pipit.
SEATLESSSeat"less, a.
Defn: Having no seat.
SEA TOAD Sea" toad`. (Zoöl.) (a) A sculpin. (b) A toadfish. (c) The angler.
SEA TROUT Sea" trout`. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of several species of true trouts which descend rivers and enter the sea after spawning, as the European bull trout and salmon trout, and the eastern American spotted trout. (b) The common squeteague, and the spotted squeteague. (c) A California fish of the family Chiridæ, especially Hexagrammus decagrammus; — called also spotted rock trout. See Rock trout, under Rock. (d) A California sciænoid fish (Cynoscion nobilis); — called also white sea bass.
SEA TRUMPETSea" trum"pet.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A great blackish seaweed of the Southern Ocean, having a hollow and expanding stem and a pinnate frond, sometimes twenty feet long.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any large marine univalve shell of the genus Triton. SeeTriton.
SEA TURNSea" turn`.
Defn: A breeze, gale, or mist from the sea. Ham. Nav. Encyc.
SEA TURTLE Sea" tur"tle. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of several very large species of chelonians having the feet converted into paddles, as the green turtle, hawkbill, loggerhead, and leatherback. They inhabit all warm seas. (b) The sea pigeon, or guillemot.
SEA UNICORNSea" u"ni*corn. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The narwhal.
SEA URCHINSea" ur"chin. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of numerous species of echinoderms of the orderEchinoidea.
Note: When living they are covered with movable spines which are often long and sharp.
SEAVESeave, n. Etym: [Cf. Dan. siv, Sw. säf, Icel. sef.]
Defn: A rush. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
SEAVYSeav`y, a.
Defn: Overgrown with rushes. [Prov. Eng.]
SEA WALLSea" wall`. Etym: [AS. sæweall.]
Defn: A wall, or embankment, to resist encroachments of the sea.
SEA-WALLEDSea"-walled`, a.
Defn: Surrounded, bounded, or protected by the sea, as if by a wall.Shak.
SEAWAN; SEAWANTSea"wan, Sea"want, n.
Defn: The name used by the Algonquin Indians for the shell beads which passed among the Indians as money.
Note: Seawan was of two kinds; wampum, white, and suckanhock, black or purple, — the former having half the value of the latter. Many writers, however, use the terms seawan and wampum indiscriminately. Bartlett.
SEAWANDSea"wand` . (Bot.)
Defn: See Sea girdles.
SEAWARDSea"ward, a.
Defn: Directed or situated toward the sea. Donne. Two still clouds . . . sparkled on their seaward edges like a frosted fleece. G. W. Cable.
SEAWARDSea"ward, adv.
Defn: Toward the sea. Drayton.
SEAWARESea"ware`, n. Etym: [Cf. AS. sæwar seaweed.] (Bot.)
Defn: Seaweed; esp., coarse seaweed. See Ware, and Sea girdles.
SEAWEEDSea"weed`, n.
1. Popularly, any plant or plants growing in the sea.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Any marine plant of the class Algæ, as kelp, dulse, Fucus,Ulva, etc.
SEA WHIPSea" whip`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A gorgonian having a simple stem.
SEA WIDGEON Sea" wid"geon. (Zoöl.) (a) The scaup duck. (b) The pintail duck.
SEAWIFESea"wife`, n.; pl. Seawives (. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A European wrasse (Labrus vetula).
SEA WILLOWSea" wil"low. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A gorgonian coral with long flexible branches.
SEA WINGSea" wing`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A wing shell (Avicula).
SEA WITHWINDSea" with"wind`.
Defn: (Bot.) A kind of bindweed (Convolvulus Soldanella) growing on the seacoast of Europe.
SEA WOLF Sea" wolf`. (Zoöl.) (a) The wolf fish. (b) The European sea perch. (c) The sea elephant. (d) A sea lion.
SEA WOODCOCKSea" wood"cock`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The bar-tailed godwit.
SEA WOOD LOUSESea" wood louse`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A sea slater.
SEA WORMWOODSea" worm"wood`. (Bot.)
Defn: A European species of wormwood (Artemisia maritima) growing by the sea.
SEAWORTHINESSSea"wor`thi*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being seaworthy, or able to resist the ordinary violence of wind and weather. Kent.
SEAWORTHYSea"wor`thy, a.
Defn: Fit for a voyage; worthy of being trusted to transport a cargo with safety; as, a seaworthy ship.
SEA WRACKSea" wrack`. (Bot.)
Defn: See Wrack.
SEBACEOUSSe*ba"ceous, a. Etym: [NL. sebaceus, from L. sebum tallow, grease.](Physiol.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or secreting, fat; composed of fat; having the appearance of fat; as, the sebaceous secretions of some plants, or the sebaceous humor of animals. Sebaceous cyst (Med.), a cyst formed by distention of a sebaceous gland, due to obstruction of its excretory duct. — Sebaceous glands (Anat.), small subcutaneous glands, usually connected with hair follicles. They secrete an oily semifluid matter, composed in great part of fat, which softens and lubricates the hair and skin.
SEBACICSe*bac"ic, a. Etym: [L. sebum tallow: cf. F. sébacique.] (Chem.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to fat; derived from, or resembling, fat; specifically, designating an acid (formerly called also sebic, and pyroleic, acid), obtained by the distillation or saponification of certain oils (as castor oil) as a white crystalline substance.
SEBATSe"bat, n. Etym: [Heb. shèbat.]
Defn: The eleventh month of the ancient Hebrew year, approximately corresponding with February. W. Smith (Bibl. Dict. ).
SEBATESe"bate (se"b\ddt), n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of sebacic acid.
SEBESTENSe*bes"ten, n. Etym: [Ar. sebestan the tree: cf. Sp. sebesten.](Bot.)
Defn: The mucilaginous drupaceous fruit of two East Indian trees (Cordia Myxa, and C. latifolia), sometimes used medicinally in pectoral diseases.
Note: In the West Indies the name is given to the similar fruit ofCordia Sebestana.
SEBICSe"bic, a.
Defn: See Sebacic. [Obs.]
SEBIFEROUSSe*bif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. sebum tallow + -ferous.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Producing vegetable tallow.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: Producing fat; sebaceous; as, the sebiferous, or sebaceous, glands.
SEBIPAROUSSe*bip"a*rous, a. Etym: [L. sebum tallow + parere to bring forth.](Physiol.)
Defn: Same as Sebiferous.
SEBORRHEASeb"or*rhe*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. sebum tallow + Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A morbidly increased discharge of sebaceous matter upon the skin; stearrhea.
SECALESe*ca"le, n. Etym: [L., a kind of grain.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of cereal grasses including rye.
SECANCYSe"can*cy, n. Etym: [See Secant.]
Defn: A cutting; an intersection; as, the point of secancy of one line by another. [R.] Davies & Peck (Math. Dict. ).
SECANTSe"cant, a. Etym: [L. secans, -antis, p.pr. of secare to cut. SeeSection.]
Defn: Cutting; divivding into two parts; as, a secant line.
SECANTSecant, n. Etym: [Cf. F. sécante. See Secant, a.]
1. (Geom.)
Defn: A line that cuts another; especially, a straight line cutting a curve in two or more points.
2. (Trig.)
Defn: A right line drawn from the center of a circle through one end of a circular arc, and terminated by a tangent drawn from the other end; the number expressing the ratio line of this line to the radius of the circle. See Trigonometrical function, under Function.
SECCOSec"co, a. Etym: [It.]
Defn: Dry. Secco painting, or Painting in secco, painting on dry plaster, as distinguished from fresco painting, which is on wet or fresh plaster.
SECEDESe"cede", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Seceded; p. pr. & vb. n. Seceding.]Etym: [L. secedere, secessum; pref se- aside + cedere to go, move.See Cede.]
Defn: To withdraw from fellowship, communion, or association; to separate one's self by a solemn act; to draw off; to retire; especially, to withdraw from a political or religious body.
SECEDERSe*ced"er, n.
1. One who secedes.
2. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of a numerous body of Presbyterians in Scotland who seceded from the communion of the Established Church, about the year 1733, and formed the Secession Church, so called.
SECERNSe*cern", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Secerned; p. pr. & vb. n. Secerning.]Etym: [L. secernere. See Secrete.]
1. To separate; to distinguish. Averroes secerns a sense of titillation, and a sense of hunger and thirst. Sir W. Hamilton.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: To secrete; as, mucus secerned in the nose. Arbuthnot.
SECERNENTSe*cern"ent, a. Etym: [L. secernens, p.pr.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Secreting; secretory.
SECERNENTSe*cern"ent, n.
1. That which promotes secretion.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: A vessel in, or by means of, which the process of secretion takes place; a secreting vessel.
SECERNMENTSe*cern"ment, n. (Physiol.)
Defn: The act or process of secreting.
SECESSSe*cess", n. Etym: [L. secessus. See Secede.]
Defn: Retirement; retreat; secession. [Obs.] R. H. More.
SECESSIONSe*ces"sion, n. Etym: [L. secessio: cf. F. sécession. See Secede.]
1. The act of seceding; separation from fellowship or association with others, as in a religious or political organization; withdrawal.
2. (U.S. Hist.)
Defn: The withdrawal of a State from the national Union. SecessionChurch (in Scotland). See Seceder.
SECESSIONISMSe*ces"sion*ism, n.
Defn: The doctrine or policy of secession; the tenets of secession; the tenets of secessionists.
SECESSIONISTSe*ces"sion*ist, n.
1. One who upholds secession.
2. (U.S. Hist.)
Defn: One who holds to the belief that a State has the right to separate from the Union at its will.
SECHESeche, v. t. & i.
Defn: To seek. [Obs.] Chaucer.
SECHIUMSe"chi*um, n. Etym: [NL.: cf. F. séchion; perhaps formed fr. Gr.(Bot.)
Defn: The edible fruit of a West Indian plant (Sechium edule) of the Gourd family. It is soft, pear-shaped, and about four inches long, and contains a single large seed. The root of the plant resembles a yam, and is used for food.
SECKSeck, a. Etym: [F. sec, properly, dry, L. siccua.]
Defn: Barren; unprofitable. See Rent seck, under Rent.
SECKELSeck"el, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A small reddish brown sweet and juicy pear. It originated on a farm near Philadelphia, afterwards owned by a Mr. Seckel.
SECLESe"cle, n. Etym: [L. saeculum: cf. F. siècle. See Secular.]
Defn: A century. [Obs.] Hammond.
SECLUDESe*clude, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Secluded; p. pr. & vb. n. Secluding.]Etym: [L. secludere, seclusum pref. se- aside + claudere to shut. SeeClose, v. t.]
1. To shut up apart from others; to withdraw into, or place in, solitude; to separate from society or intercourse with others. Let Eastern tyrants from the light of heaven Seclude their bosom slaves. Thomson.
2. To shut or keep out; to exclude. [Obs.] Evelyn.— Se*clud"ed*ly, adv.— Se*clud"ed*ness, n.
SECLUSIONSe*clu"sion, n. Etym: [See Seclude.]
Defn: The act of secluding, or the state of being secluded; separation from society or connection; a withdrawing; privacy; as, to live in seclusion. O blest seclusion from a jarring world, which he, thus occupied, enjoys! Cowper.
Syn.— Solitude; separation; withdrawment; retirement; privacy. SeeSolitude.
SECLUSIVESe*clu"sive, a.
Defn: Tending to seclude; keeping in seclusion; secluding; sequestering.
SECOND Sec"ond, a. Etym: [F., fr. L. secundus second, properly, following, fr. sequi to follow. See Sue to follow, and cf. Secund.]
1. Immediately following the first; next to the first in order of place or time; hence, occuring again; another; other. And he slept and dreamed the second time. Gen. xli. 5.
2. Next to the first in value, power, excellence, dignity, or rank; secondary; subordinate; inferior. May the day when we become the second people upon earth . . . be the day of our utter extirpation. Landor.
3. Being of the same kind as another that has preceded; another, like a protype; as, a second Cato; a second Troy; a second deluge. A Daniel, still say I, a second Daniel! Shak. Second Adventist. See Adventist. — Second cousin, the child of a cousin. — Second-cut file. See under File. — Second distance (Art), that part of a picture between the foreground and the background; — called also middle ground, or middle distance. [R.] — Second estate (Eng.), the House of Peers. — Second girl, a female house-servant who does the lighter work, as chamber work or waiting on table. — Second intention. See under Intention. — Second story, Story floor, in America, the second range of rooms from the street level. This, in England, is called the first floor, the one beneath being the ground floor. — Second thought or thoughts, consideration of a matter following a first impulse or impression; reconsideration. On second thoughts, gentlemen, I don't wish you had known him. Dickens.
SECONDSec"ond, n.
1. One who, or that which, follows, or comes after; one next and inferior in place, time, rank, importance, excellence, or power. Man an angel's second, nor his second long. Young.
2. One who follows or attends another for his support and aid; a backer; an assistant; specifically, one who acts as another's aid in a duel. Being sure enough of seconds after the first onset. Sir H. Wotton.
3. Aid; assistance; help. [Obs.] Give second, and my love Is everlasting thine. J. Fletcher.
4. pl.
Defn: An article of merchandise of a grade inferior to the best; esp., a coarse or inferior kind of flour.
5. Etym: [F. seconde. See Second, a.]
Defn: The sixtieth part of a minute of time or of a minute of space, that is, the second regular subdivision of the degree; as, sound moves about 1,140 English feet in a second; five minutes and ten seconds north of this place.
6. In the duodecimal system of mensuration, the twelfth part of an inch or prime; a line. See Inch, and Prime, n., 8.
7. (Mus.) (a) The interval between any tone and the tone which is represented on the degree of the staff next above it. (b) The second part in a concerted piece; — often popularly applied to the alto. Second hand, the hand which marks the seconds on the dial of a watch or a clock.
SECONDSec"ond, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Seconded; p. pr. & vb. n. Seconding.]Etym: [Cf. F. seconder, L. secundare, from secundus. See Second, a.]
1. To follow in the next place; to succeed; to alternate. [R.]In the method of nature, a low valley is immediately seconded with anambitious hill. Fuller.Sin is seconded with sin. South.
2. To follow or attend for the purpose of assisting; to support; to back; to act as the second of; to assist; to forward; to encourage. We have supplies to second our attempt. Shak. In human works though labored on with pain, A thousand movements scarce one purpose gain; In God's, one single can its end produce, Yet serves to second too some other use. Pope.
3. Specifically, to support, as a motion or proposal, by adding one's voice to that of the mover or proposer.
SECONDARILYSec"ond*a*ri*ly, adv.
1. In a secondary manner or degree.
2. Secondly; in the second place. [Obs.] God hath set some in the church, first apostels, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers. 1 Cor. xii. 28.
SECONDARINESSSec"ond*a*ri*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being secondary. Full of a girl's sweet sense of secondariness to the object of her love. Mrs. Oliphant.
SECONDARY Sec"ond*a*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. secondaire, L. secundaire. See Second, a.]
1. Suceeding next in order to the first; of second place, origin, rank, rank, etc.; not primary; subordinate; not of the first order or rate. Wheresoever there is normal right on the one hand, no secondary right can discharge it. L'Estrange. Two are the radical differences; the secondary differences are as four. Bacon.
2. Acting by deputation or delegated authority; as, the work of secondary hands.
3. (Chem.)
Defn: Possessing some quality, or having been subject to some operation (as substitution), in the second degree; as, a secondary salt, a secondary amine, etc. Cf. primary.
4. (Min.)
Defn: Subsequent in origin; — said of minerals produced by alteertion or deposition subsequent to the formation of the original rocks mass; also of characters of minerals (as secondary cleavage, etc.) developed by pressure or other causes.
5. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to the second joint of the wing of a bird.
6. (Med.)
Defn: Dependent or consequent upon another disease; as, Bright's disease is often secondary to scarlet fever. (b) Occuring in the second stage of a disease; as, the secondary symptoms of syphilis. Secondary accent. See the Note under Accent, n., 1. — Secondary age. (Geol.) The Mesozoic age, or age before the Tertiary. See Mesozoic, and Note under Age, n., 8. — Secondary alcohol (Chem.), any one of a series of alcohols which contain the radical CH.OH united with two hydrocarbon radicals. On oxidation the secondary alcohols form ketones. — Secondary amputation (Surg.), an amputation for injury, performed after the constitutional effects of the injury have subsided. — Secondary axis (Opt.), any line which passes through the optical center of a lens but not through the centers of curvature, or, in the case of a mirror, which passes through the center of curvature but not through the center of the mirror. — Secondary battery. (Elec.) See under Battery, n., 4. — Secondary circle (Geom. & Astron.), a great circle passes through the poles of another great circle and is therefore perpendicular to its plane. — Secondary circuit, Secondary coil (Elec.), a circuit or coil in which a current is produced by the induction of a current in a neighboring circuit or coil called the primary circuit or coil. — Secondary color, a color formed by mixing any two primary colors in equal proportions. — Secondary coverts (Zoöl.), the longer coverts which overlie the basal part of the secondary quills of a bird. See Illust. under Bird. — Secondary crystal (Min.), a crystal derived from one of the primary forms. — Secondary current (Elec.), a momentary current induced in a closed circuit by a current of electricity passing through the same or a contiguous circuit at the beginning and also at the end of the passage of the primary current. — Secondary evidence, that which is admitted upon failure to obtain the primary or best evidence. — Secondary fever (Med.), a fever coming on in a disease after the subsidence of the fever with which the disease began, as the fever which attends the outbreak of the eruption in smallpox. — Secondary hemorrhage (Med.), hemorrhage occuring from a wounded blood vessel at some considerable time after the original bleeding has ceased. — Secondary planet. (Astron.) See the Note under Planet. — Secondary qualities, those qualities of bodies which are not inseparable from them as such, but are dependent for their development and intensity on the organism of the percipient, such as color, taste, odor, etc. — Secondary quills or remiges (Zoöl.), the quill feathers arising from the forearm of a bird and forming a row continuous with the primaries; — called also secondaries. See Illust. of Bird. — Secondary rocks or strata (Geol.), those lying between the Primary, or Paleozoic, and Tertiary (see Primary rocks, under Primary); — later restricted to strata of the Mesozoic age, and at but little used. — Secondary syphilis (Med.), the second stage of syphilis, including the period from the first development of constitutional symptoms to the time when the bones and the internal organs become involved. — Secondary tint, any subdued tint, as gray. — Secondary union (Surg.), the union of wounds after suppuration; union by the second intention.
Syn.— Second; second-rate; subordinate; inferior.
SECONDARYSec"ond*a*ry, n.; pl. Secondaries (.
1. One who occupies a subordinate, inferior, or auxiliary place; a delegate deputy; one who is second or next to the chief officer; as, the secondary, or undersheriff of the city of London. Old Escalus . . . is thy secondary. Shak.
2. (Astron.) (a) A secondary circle. (b) A satellite.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A secondary quill.
SECOND-CLASSSec"ond-class`, a.
Defn: Of the rank or degree below the best highest; inferior; second- rate; as, a second-class house; a second-class passage.
SECONDERSec"ond*er, n.
Defn: One who seconds or supports what another attempts, affirms, moves, or proposes; as, the seconder of an enterprise or of a motion.
SECONDHANDSec"ond*hand`, a.
1. Not original or primary; received from another. They have but a secondhand or implicit knowledge. Locke.
2. Not new; already or previously or used by another; as, a secondhand book, garment. At second hand. See Hand, n., 10.
SECONDLYSec"ond*ly, adv.
Defn: In the second place.
SECONDOSe*con"do (; It.), n. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: The second part in a concerted piece.
SECOND-RATESec"ond-rate`, a.
Defn: Of the second size, rank, quality, or value; as, a second-rate ship; second-rate cloth; a second-rate champion. Dryden.
SECOND-SIGHTSec"ond-sight`, n.
Defn: The power of discerning what is not visible to the physical eye, or of foreseeing future events, esp. such as are of a disastrous kind; the capacity of a seer; prophetic vision. he was seized with a fit of second-sight. Addison. Nor less availed his optic sleight, And Scottish gift of second- sight. Trumbull.
SECOND-SIGHTEDSec"ond-sight`ed, a.
Defn: Having the power of second-sight. Addison.
SECRESe"cre ( or ), a.
Defn: Secret; secretive; faithful to a secret. [Obs.]To be holden stable and secre. Chaucer.
SECRESe"cre, n.
Defn: A secret. [Obs.] Chaucer.
SECRECYSe"cre*cy, n.; pl. Secrecies. Etym: [From Secret.]
1. The state or quality of being hidden; as, his movements were detected in spite of their secrecy. The Lady Anne, Whom the king hath in secrecy long married. Shak.
2. That which is concealed; a secret. [R.] Shak.
3. Seclusion; privacy; retirement. "The pensive secrecy of desert cell." Milton.
4. The quality of being secretive; fidelity to a secret; forbearance of disclosure or discovery. It is not with public as with private prayer; in this, rather secrecy is commanded than outward show. Hooker.
SECRELYSe"cre*ly, adv.
Defn: Secretly. [Obs.] Chaucer.
SECRENESSSe"cre*ness, n.
Defn: Secrecy; privacy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
SECRET Se"cret, a. Etym: [F. secret (cf. Sp.& Pg. secreto, It. secreto, segreto), fr. L. secretus, p.p. of secrernere to put apart, to separate. See Certain, and cf. Secrete, Secern.]
1. Hidden; concealed; as, secret treasure; secret plans; a secret vow. Shak. The secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong unto us. Deut. xxix. 29.
2. Withdraw from general intercourse or notice; in retirement orsecrecy; secluded.There, secret in her sapphire cell, He with the Naïs wont to dwell.Fenton.
3. Faithful to a secret; not inclined to divulge or betray confidence; secretive. [R.] Secret Romans, that have spoke the word, And will not palter. Shak.
4. Separate; distinct. [Obs.] They suppose two other divine hypostases superior thereunto, which were perfectly secret from matter. Cudworth.
Syn. — Hidden; concealed; secluded; retired; unseen; unknown; private; obscure; recondite; latent; covert; clandestine; privy. See Hidden.
SECRET Se"cret, n. Etym: [F. secret (cf. Pr. secret, Sp. & Pg. secreto, It. secreto, segreto), from L. secretum. See Secret, a.]
1. Something studiously concealed; a thing kept from general knowledge; what is not revealed, or not to be revealed. To tell our secrets is often folly; to communicate those of others is treachery. Rambler.
2. A thing not discovered; what is unknown or unexplained; a mystery. All secrets of the deep, all nature's works. Milton
3. pl.
Defn: The parts which modesty and propriety require to be concealed; the genital organs. In secret, in a private place; in privacy or secrecy; in a state or place not seen; privately. Bread eaten in secret is pleasant. Prov. ix. 17.
SECRETSe"cret, v. t.
Defn: To keep secret. [Obs.] Bacon.
SECRETAGESe"cret*age, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A process in which mercury, or some of its salts, is employed to impart the property of felting to certain kinds of furs. Ure.
SECRETARIALSec`re*ta"ri*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a secretary; befitting a secretary. [R.]Secretarial, diplomatic, or other official training. Carlyle.
SECRETARIAT; SECRETARIATESec`re*ta"ri*at, Sec`re*ta"ri*ate, n. Etym: [F. secrétariat.]
Defn: The office of a secretary; the place where a secretary transacts business, keeps records, etc.
SECRETARY Sec"re*ta*ry, n.; pl. Secretaries. Etym: [F. secrétaire (cf. Pr. secretari, Sp. & Pg. secretario, It. secretario, segretario) LL. secretarius, originally, a confidant, one intrusted with secrets, from L. secretum a secret. See Secret, a. & n.]
1. One who keeps, or is intrusted with, secrets. [R.]
2. A person employed to write orders, letters, dispatches, public or private papers, records, and the like; an official scribe, amanuensis, or writer; one who attends to correspondence, and transacts other business, for an association, a public body, or an individual. That which is most of all profitable is acquaintance with the secretaries, and employed men of ambassadors. Bacon.
3. An officer of state whose business is to superintend and manage the affairs of a particular department of government, and who is usually a member of the cabinet or advisory council of the chief executive; as, the secretary of state, who conducts the correspondence and attends to the relations of a government with foreign courts; the secretary of the treasury, who manages the department of finance; the secretary of war, etc.
4. A piece of furniture, with conveniences for writing and for the arrangement of papers; an escritoire.
5. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The secretary bird. Secretary Bird. Etym: [So called in allusion to the tufts of feathers at the back of its head, which were fancifully thought to resemble pens stuck behind the ear.] (Zoöl.) A large long-legged raptorial bird (Gypogeranus serpentarius), native of South Africa, but now naturalized in the West Indies and some other tropical countries. It has a powerful hooked beak, a crest of long feathers, and a long tail. It feeds upon reptiles of various kinds, and is much prized on account of its habit of killing and devouring snakes of all kinds. Called also serpent eater.
Syn.— See the Note under Clerk, n., 4.
SECRETARYSHIPSec"re*ta*ry*ship, n.
Defn: The office, or the term of office, of a secretary.
SECRETESe*crete", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Secreted; p. pr. & vb. n. Secreting.]Etym: [L. secretus separated, secret, hidden, p. p. of secernere. SeeSecret, and cf. Discrete, Discreet.]
1. To deposit in a place of hiding; to hide; to conceal; as, to secrete stolen goods; to secrete one's self.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: To separate from the blood and elaborate by the process of secretion; to elaborate and emit as a secretion. See Secretion. Why one set of cells should secrete bile, another urea, and so on, we do not known. Carpenter.
Syn.— To conceal; hide. See Conceal.
SECRETIONSe*cre"tion, n. Etym: [L. secretio: cf. F. sécrétion.]
1. The act of secreting or concealing; as, the secretion of dutiable goods.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: The act of secreting; the process by which material is separated from the blood through the agency of the cells of the various glands and elaborated by the cells into new substances so as to form the various secretions, as the saliva, bile, and other digestive fluids. The process varies in the different glands, and hence are formed the various secretions.
3. (Physiol.)
Defn: Any substance or fluid secreted, or elaborated and emitted, as the gastric juice.
SECRETISTSe"cret*ist, n.
Defn: A dealer in secrets. [Obs.]
SECRETITIOUSSe`cre*ti"tious, a.
Defn: Parted by animal secretion; as, secretitious humors. Floyer.
SECRETIVESe*cret"ive, a.
Defn: Tending to secrete, or to keep secret or private; as, a secretive disposition.
SECRETIVENESSSe*cret"ive*ness, n.
1. The quality of being secretive; disposition or tendency to conceal.
2. (Phren.)
Defn: The faculty or propensity which impels to reserve, secrecy, or concealment.
SECRETLYSe"cret*ly, adv.
Defn: In a secret manner.
SECRETNESSSe"cret*ness, n.
1. The state or quality of being secret, hid, or concealed.
2. Secretiveness; concealment. Donne.
SECRETO-MOTORYSe*cre`to-*mo"to*ry, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Causing secretion; — said of nerves which go to glands and influence secretion.
SECRETORYSe*cre"to*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. sécrétoire. See Secrete.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Secreting; performing, or connected with, the office secretion; secernent; as, secretory vessels, nerves. — n.
Defn: A secretory vessel; a secernent.
SECRET SERVICESe"cret serv"ice.
Defn: The detective service of a government. In the United States, in time of peace the bureau of secret service is under the treasury department, and in time of war it aids the war department in securing information concerning the movements of the enemy.
SECTSect, n. Etym: [L. secare, sectum, to cut.]
Defn: A cutting; a scion. [Obs.] Shak.
SECTSect, n. Etym: [F. secte, L. sects, fr. sequi to follew; oftenconfused with L. secare, sectum, to cut. See Sue to follow, and cf.Sept, Suit, n.]
Defn: Those following a particular leader or authority, or attached to a certain opinion; a company or set having a common belief or allegiance distinct from others; in religion, the believers in a particular creed, or upholders of a particular practice; especially, in modern times, a party dissenting from an established church; a denomination; in philosophy, the disciples of a particular master; a school; in society and the state, an order, rank, class, or party. He beareth the sign of poverty, And in that sect our Savior saved all mankind. Piers Plowman. As of the sect of which that he was born, He kept his lay, to which that he was sworn. Chaucer. The cursed sect of that detestable and false prophet Mohammed. Fabyan. As concerning this sect [Christians], we know that everywhere it is spoken against. Acts xxviii. 22.
SECTANTSec"tant, n. Etym: [L. secare, sectum, to cut.]
Defn: One of the portions of space bounded by the three coordinate planes. Specif. (Crystallog.), one of the parts of a crystal into which it is divided by the axial planes.
SECTARIANSec*ta"ri*an, n.
Defn: Pertaining to a sect, or to sects; peculiar to a sect; bigotedly attached to the tenets and interests of a denomination; as, sectarian principles or prejudices.
SECTARIANSec*ta"ri*an, n.
Defn: One of a sect; a member or adherent of a special school, denomination, or religious or philosophical party; one of a party in religion which has separated itself from established church, or which holds tenets different from those of the prevailing denomination in a state.
Syn.— See Heretic.
SECTARIANISMSec*ta"ri*an*ism, n.
Defn: The quality or character of a sectarian; devotion to the interests of a party; excess of partisan or denominational zeal; adherence to a separate church organization.
SECTARIANIZESec*ta"ri*an*ize, v. t.
Defn: To imbue with sectarian feelings; to subject to the control of a sect.
SECTARISMSec"ta*rism, n.
Defn: Sectarianism. [Obs.]
SECTARISTSec"ta*rist, n.
Defn: A sectary. [R.] T. Warton.
SECTARYSec"ta*ry, n.;pl. Sectaries. Etym: [F. sectaire. See Sect.]
Defn: A sectarian; a member or adherent of a sect; a follower or disciple of some particular teacher in philosophy or religion; one who separates from an established church; a dissenter. I never knew that time in England when men of truest religion were not counted sectaries. Milton.
SECTATOR Sec*ta"tor, n. Etym: [L., fr. sectari, v. intens. fr. sequi to follow. See Sue to follow.]
Defn: A follower; a disciple; an adherent to a sect. [Obs.] Sir W.Raleigh.
SECTILE Sec"tile, a. Etym: [L. sectilis, fr. secare, sectum, to cut: cf. F. sectile. See Section.]
Defn: Capable of being cut; specifically (Min.), capable of being severed by the knife with a smooth cut; — said of minerals.
SECTILITYSec*til"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being sectile.
1. The act of cutting, or separation by cutting; as, the section of bodies.
2. A part separated from something; a division; a portion; a slice. Specifically: — (a) A distinct part or portion of a book or writing; a subdivision of a chapter; the division of a law or other writing; a paragraph; an article; hence, the character §, often used to denote such a division. It is hardly possible to give a distinct view of his several arguments in distinct sections. Locke.
(b) A distinct part of a country or people, community, class, or the like; a part of a territory separated by geographical lines, or of a people considered as distinct. The extreme section of one class consists of bigoted dotards, the extreme section of the other consists of shallow and reckless empirics. Macaulay.
(c) One of the portions, of one square mile each, into which the public lands of the United States are divided; one thirty-sixth part of a township. These sections are subdivided into quarter sections for sale under the homestead and preëmption laws.
3. (Geom.)
Defn: The figure made up of all the points common to a superficies and a solid which meet, or to two superficies which meet, or to two lines which meet. In the first case the section is a superficies, in the second a line, and in the third a point.
4. (Nat. Hist.)
Defn: A division of a genus; a group of species separated by some distinction from others of the same genus; — often indicated by the sign §.
5. (Mus.)
Defn: A part of a musical period, composed of one or more phrases.See Phrase.
6. The description or representation of anything as it would appear if cut through by any intersecting plane; depiction of what is beyond a plane passing through, or supposed to pass through, an object, as a building, a machine, a succession of strata; profile.
Note: In mechanical drawing, as in these Illustrations of a cannon, a longitudinal section (a) usually represents the object as cut through its center lengthwise and vertically; a cross or transverse section (b), as cut crosswise and vertically; and a horizontal section (c), as cut through its center horizontally. Oblique sections are made at various angles. In architecture, a vertical section is a drawing showing the interior, the thickness of the walls, ets., as if made on a vertical plane passed through a building. Angular sections (Math.), a branch of analysis which treats of the relations of sines, tangents, etc., of arcs to the sines, tangents, etc., of their multiples or of their parts. [R.] — Conic sections. (Geom.) See under Conic. — Section liner (Drawing), an instrument to aid in drawing a series of equidistant parallel lines, — used in representing sections. — Thin sections, a section or slice, as of mineral, animal, or vegetable substance, thin enough to be transparent, and used for study under the microscope.
Syn. — Part; portion; division. — Section, Part. The English more commonly apply the word section to a part or portion of a body of men; as, a section of the clergy, a small section of the Whigs, etc. In the United States this use is less common, but another use, unknown or but little known in England, is very frequent, as in the phrases "the eastern section of our country," etc., the same sense being also given to the adjective sectional as, sectional feelings, interests, etc.
SECTIONALSec"tion*al, a.
1. Of or pertaining to a sections or distinct part of larger body or territory; local. All sectional interests, or party feelings, it is hoped, will hereafter yield to schemes of ambition. Story.
2. Consisting of sections, or capable of being divided into sections; as, a sectional steam boiler.
SECTIONALISMSec"tion*al*ism, n.
Defn: A disproportionate regard for the interests peculiar to a section of the country; local patriotism, as distinguished from national. [U. S.]
SECTIONALITYSec"tion*al"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being sectional; sectionalism.
SECTIONALIZESec"tion*al*ize, v. t.
Defn: To divide according to gepgraphical sections or localinterests. [U. S.]The principal results of the struggle were to sectionalize parties.Nicilay & Hay (Life of Lincoln).
SECTIONALLYSec"tion*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a sectional manner.
SECTIONIZESec"tion*ize, v. t.
Defn: To form into sections. [R.]
SECTISMSect"ism, n.
Defn: Devotion to a sect. [R.]
SECTISTSect"ist, n.
Defn: One devoted to a sect; a soetary. [R.]
SECTIUNCLESect"i*un`cle, n.
Defn: A little or petty sect. [R.] "Some new sect or sectiuncle." J.Martineau.
SECTOR Sec"tor, n. Etym: [L., properly, a cutter, fr. secare, sectum, to cut: cf. F. secteur. See Section.]
1. (Geom.)
Defn: A part of a circle comprehended between two radii and the included arc.
2. A mathematical instrument, consisting of two rulers connected at one end by a joint, each arm marked with several scales, as of equal parts, chords, sines, tangents, etc., one scale of each kind on each arm, and all on lines radiating from the common center of motion. The sector is used for plotting, etc., to any scale.
3. An astronomical instrument, the limb of which embraces a small portion only of a circle, used for measuring differences of declination too great for the compass of a micrometer. When it is used for measuring zenith distances of stars, it is called a zenith sector. Dip sector, an instrument used for measuring the dip of the horizon. — Sector of a sphere, or Spherical sector, the solid generated by the revolution of the sector of a circle about one of its radii, or, more rarely, about any straight line drawn in the plane of the sector through its vertex.
SECTORALSec"tor*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a sector; as, a sectoral circle.
SECTORIALSec*to"ri*al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Adapted for cutting.— n.
Defn: A sectorial, or carnassial, tooth.
SECULAR Sec"u*lar, a. Etym: [OE. secular, seculer. L. saecularis, fr. saeculum a race, generation, age, the times, the world; perhaps akin to E. soul: cf. F. séculier.]
1. Coming or observed once in an age or a century. The secular year was kept but once a century. Addison.
2. Pertaining to an age, or the progress of ages, or to a long period of time; accomplished in a long progress of time; as, secular inequality; the secular refrigeration of the globe.
3. Of or pertaining to this present world, or to things not spiritual or holy; relating to temporal as distinguished from eternal interests; not immediately or primarily respecting the soul, but the body; worldly. New foes arise, Threatening to bind our souls with secular chains. Milton.
4. (Eccl.)
Defn: Not regular; not bound by monastic vows or rules; not confined to a monastery, or subject to the rules of a religious community; as, a secular priest. He tried to enforce a stricter discipline and greater regard for morals, both in the religious orders and the secular clergy. Prescett.
5. Belonging to the laity; lay; not clerical. I speak of folk in secular estate. Chaucer. Secular equation (Astron.), the algebraic or numerical expression of the magnitude of the inequalities in a planet's motion that remain after the inequalities of a short period have been allowed for. — Secular games (Rom. Antiq.), games celebrated, at long but irregular intervals, for three days and nights, with sacrifices, theatrical shows, combats, sports, and the like. — Secular music, any music or songs not adapted to sacred uses. — Secular hymn or poem, a hymn or poem composed for the secular games, or sung or rehearsed at those games.
SECULARSec"u*lar, n.
1. (Eccl.)
Defn: A secular ecclesiastic, or one not bound by monastic rules.Burke.
2. (Eccl.)
Defn: A church official whose functions are confined to the vocal department of the choir. Busby.
3. A layman, as distinguished from a clergyman.
SECULARISMSec"u*lar*ism, n.
1. The state or quality of being secular; a secular spirit; secularity.
2. The tenets or principles of the secularists.
SECULARISTSec"u*lar*ist, n.
Defn: One who theoretically rejects every form of religious faith, and every kind of religious worship, and accepts only the facts and influences which are derived from the present life; also, one who believes that education and other matters of civil policy should be managed without the introduction of a religious element.
SECULARITYSec`u*lar"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf.F. sécularité, LL. saecularitas.]
Defn: Supreme attention to the things of the present life;worldliness.A secularity of character which makes Christianity and its principaldoctrines distasteful or unintelligible. I. Taylor.
SECULARIZATIONSec`u*lar*i*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. sécularisation.]
Defn: The act of rendering secular, or the state of being rendered secular; conversion from regular or monastic to secular; conversion from religious to lay or secular possession and uses; as, the secularization of church property.
SECULARIZESec"u*lar*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Secularized; p. pr. & vb. n.Secularizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. séculaiser.]
1. To convert from regular or monastic into secular; as, to secularize a priest or a monk.
2. To convert from spiritual or common use; as, to secularize a church, or church property. At the Reformation the abbey was secularized. W. Coxe.
3. To make worldly or unspiritual. Bp. Horsley.
SECULARLYSec"u*lar*ly, adv.
Defn: In a secular or worldly manner.
SECULARNESSSec"u*lar*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being secular; worldliness; worldly- minded-ness.
SECUND Se"cund, a. Etym: [L. secundus following the course or current of wind of water. See Second, a.] (Bot.)
Defn: Arranged on one side only, as flowers or leaves on a stalk.Gray.
SECUNDATE Se*cun"date, v. t. Etym: [L.secundatus, p. p. of secundare to direct faverably.]
Defn: To make prosperous. [R.]
SECUNDATIONSec`un*da"tion, n.
Defn: Prosperity. [R.]
SECUNDINESec"un*dine, n. Etym: [Cf. F. secondine.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: The second coat, or integument, of an ovule, lying within the primine.
Note: In the ripened seed the primine and secundine are usually united to form the testa, or outer seed coat. When they remain distinct the secundine becomes the mesosperm, as in the castor bean.
2. Etym: [Cf. F. secondines.]
Defn: The afterbirth, or placenta and membranes; — generally used in the plural.
SECUNDO-GENITURE Se*cun`do-gen"i*ture, n. Etym: [L. secundus second + genitura a begetting, generation.]
Defn: A right of inheritance belonging to a second son; a property orpossession so inherited.The kingdom of Naples . . . was constituted a secundo-geniture ofSpain. Bancroft.
SECURABLESe*cur"a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be secured.
SECURESe*cure", a. Etym: [L. securus; pref. se- without + cura care. SeeCure care, and cf. Sure, a.]
1. Free from fear, care, or anxiety; easy in mind; not feeling suspicion or distrust; confident. But thou, secure of soul, unbent with woes. DRyden.
2. Overconfident; incautious; careless; — in a bad sense. Macaulay.
3. Confident in opinion; not entertaining, or not having reason to entertain, doubt; certain; sure; — commonly with of; as, secure of a welcome. Confidence then bore thee on, secure Either to meet no danger, or to find Matter of glorious trial. Milton.
4. Net exposed to danger; safe; — applied to persons and things, and followed by against or from. "Secure from fortune's blows." Dryden.
Syn. — Safe; undisturbed; easy; sure; certain; assured; confident; careless; heedless; inattentive.
SECURESe*cure", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Secured; p. pr. & vb. n. Securing.]
1. To make safe; to relieve from apprehensions of, or exposure to, danger; to guard; to protect. I spread a cloud before the victor's sight, Sustained the vanquished, and secured his flight. Dryden.
2. To put beyond hazard of losing or of not receiving; to make certain; to assure; to insure; — frequently with against or from, rarely with of; as, to secure a creditor against loss; to secure a debt by a mortgage. It secures its possessor of eternal happiness. T. Dick.
3. To make fast; to close or confine effectually; to render incapable of getting loose or escaping; as, to secure a prisoner; to secure a door, or the hatches of a ship.
4. To get possession of; to make one's self secure of; to acquire certainly; as, to secure an estate. Secure arms (Mil.), a command and a position in the manual of arms, used in wet weather, the object being to guard the firearm from becoming wet. The piece is turned with the barrel to the front and grasped by the right hand at the lewer band, the muzzle is dropped to the front, and the piece held with the guard under the right arm, the hand supported against the hip, and the thumb on the rammer.
SECURELYSe*cure"ly, adv.
Defn: In a secure manner; without fear or apprehension; withoutdanger; safely.His daring foe . . . securely him defied. Milton.
SECUREMENTSe*cure"ment, n.
Defn: The act of securing; protection. [R.] Society condemns the securement in all cases of perpetual protection by means of perpetual imprisonment. C. A. Ives.
SECURENESSSe*cure"ness, n.
Defn: The condition or quality of being secure; exemption from fear; want of vigilance; security.
SECURERSe*cur"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, secures.
SECURIFERA Sec`u*rif"e*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from L. securis an ax + ferre to bear.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Serrifera.
SECURIFORM Se*cu"ri*form, a. Etym: [L. securis an ax or hatchet + -form: cf. F. sécuriforme.] (Nat. Hist.)
Defn: Having the form of an ax hatchet.
SECURIPALPSe*cu"ri*palp, n. Etym: [L. securis ax, hatchet + E. palp.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a family of beetles having the maxillary palpi terminating in a hatchet-shaped joint.
SECURITY Se*cu"ri*ty, n.; pl. Securities. Etym: [L. securitas: cf. F. sécurité. See Secure, and cf. Surety.]
1. The condition or quality of being secure; secureness. Specifically: (a) Freedom from apprehension, anxiety, or care; confidence of power of safety; hence, assurance; certainty. His trembling hand had lost the ease, Which marks security to please. Sir W. Scott.
(b) Hence, carelessness; negligence; heedlessness. He means, my lord, that we are too remiss, Whilst Bolingbroke, through our security, Grows strong and great in substance and in power. Shak.
(c) Freedom from risk; safety.Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard, From firm security.Shak.Some . . . alleged that we should have no security for our trade.Swift.
2. That which secures or makes safe; protection; guard; defense. Specifically: (a) Something given, deposited, or pledged, to make certain the fulfillment of an obligation, the performance of a contract, the payment of a debt, or the like; surety; pledge. Those who lent him money lent it on no security but his bare word. Macaulay.
(b) One who becomes surety for another, or engages himself for the performance of another's obligation.
3. An evidence of debt or of property, as a bond, a certificate of stock, etc.; as, government securities.
Syn. — Protection; defense; guard; shelter; safety; certainty; ease; assurance; carelessness; confidence; surety; pledge; bail.
SEDAN Se*dan", n. Etym: [Said to be named from Sedan, in France, where it was first made, and whence it was introduced into England in the time of King Charles I.]
Defn: A portable chair or covered vehicle for carrying a single person, — usually borne on poles by two men. Called also sedan chair.
SEDATE Se*date", a. Etym: [L. sedatus, p. p. of sedare, sedatum, to allay, calm, causative of sedere to sit. See Sit.]
Defn: Undisturbed by passion or caprice; calm; tranquil; serene; not passionate or giddy; composed; staid; as, a sedate soul, mind, or temper. Disputation carries away the mind from that calm and sedate temper which is so necessary to contemplate truth. I. Watts. Whatsoever we feel and know Too sedate for outward show. Wordsworth.
Syn.— Settled; composed; calm; quiet; tranquil; still; serene;unruffled; undisturbed; conteplative; sober; serious.— Se*date"ly, adv.— Se*date"ness, n.
SEDATIONSe*da"tion, n. Etym: [L. sedatio.]
Defn: The act of calming, or the state of being calm. [R.] Coles.
SEDATIVESed"a*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. sédatif.]
Defn: Tending to calm, moderate, or tranquilize; specifically (Med.), allaying irritability and irritation; assuaging pain.
SEDATIVESed"a*tive, n. (Med.)
Defn: A remedy which allays irritability and irritation, and irritative activity or pain.
SEDENTSe"dent, a. Etym: [L. sedens, -entis, p. pr. of sedere to sit. SeeSit.]
Defn: Sitting; inactive; quiet. [R.]
SEDENTARILYSed"en*ta*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In a sedentary manner.
SEDENTARINESSSed"en*ta*r*i*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being sedentary.
SEDENTARY Sed"en*ta*ry, a. Etym: [L. sedentarius, fr. sedere to sit: cf. F. seédentaire. See Sedent.]
1. Accustomed to sit much or long; as, a sedentary man. "Sedentary, scholastic sophists." Bp. Warburton.
2. Characterized by, or requiring, much sitting; as, a sedentary employment; a sedentary life. Any education that confined itself to sedentary pursuits was essentially imperfect. Beaconsfield.
3. Inactive; motionless; sluggish; hence, calm; tranquil. [R.] "The sedentary earth." Milton. The soul, considered abstractly from its passions, is of a remiss, sedentary nature. Spectator.
4. Caused by long sitting. [Obs.] "Sedentary numbness." Milton.
5. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Remaining in one place, especially when firmly attached to some object; as, the oyster is a sedentary mollusk; the barnacles are sedentary crustaceans. Sedentary spider (Zoöl.), one of a tribe of spiders which rest motionless until their prey is caught in their web.
SEDERUNTSe*de"runt, n. Etym: [L., they sat, fr. sedere to sit.]
Defn: A sitting, as of a court or other body.'T is pity we have not Burn's own account of that long sederunt.Prof. Wilson.Acts of sederunt (Scots Law), ordinances of the Court of Session forthe ordering of processes and expediting of justice. Bell.
SEDGE Sedge, n. Etym: [OE. segge, AS. secg; akin to LG. segge; — probably named from its bladelike appearance, and akin to L. secare to cut, E. saw a cutting instrument; cf. Ir. seisg, W. hesg. Cf. Hassock, Saw the instrument.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Any plant of the genus Carex, perennial, endogenous herbs, often growing in dense tufts in marshy places. They have triangular jointless stems, a spiked inflorescence, and long grasslike leaves which are usually rough on the margins and midrib. There are several hundred species.