Note: An extraordinary pronunciation of this word as sith is still heard in England and among the illiterate in the United States.
SIGHSigh, v. t.
1. To exhale (the breath) in sighs. Never man sighed truer breath. Shak.
2. To utter sighs over; to lament or mourn over. Ages to come, and men unborn, Shall bless her name, and sigh her fate. Pior.
3. To express by sighs; to utter in or with sighs. They . . . sighed forth proverbs. Shak. The gentle swain . . . sighs back her grief. Hoole.
SIGHSigh, n. Etym: [OE. sigh; cf. OE. sik. See Sigh, v. i.]
1. A deep and prolonged audible inspiration or respiration of air, as when fatigued or grieved; the act of sighing. I could drive the boat with my sighs. Shak.
2. Figuratively, a manifestation of grief; a lan With their sighs the air Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite. Milton.
SIGH-BORNSigh"-born`, a.
Defn: Sorrowful; mournful. [R.] "Sigh-born thoughts." De Quincey.
SIGHERSigh"er, n.
Defn: One who sighs.
SIGHINGSigh"ing, a.
Defn: Uttering sighs; grieving; lamenting. "Sighing millions."Cowper.— Sigh"ing*ly, adv.
SIGHT Sight, n. Etym: [OE. sight, si, siht, AS. siht, gesiht, gesih, gesieh, gesyh; akin to D. gezicht, G. sicht, gesicht, Dan. sigte, Sw. sigt, from the root of E. see. See See, v. t.]
1. The act of seeing; perception of objects by the eye; view; as, to gain sight of land. A cloud received him out of their sight. Acts. i. 9.
2. The power of seeing; the faculty of vision, or of perceiving objects by the instrumentality of the eyes. Thy sight is young, And thou shalt read when mine begin to dazzle. Shak. O loss of sight, of thee I most complain! Milton.
3. The state of admitting unobstructed vision; visibility; open view; region which the eye at one time surveys; space through which the power of vision extends; as, an object within sight.
4. A spectacle; a view; a show; something worth seeing. Moses said, I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. Ex. iii. 3. They never saw a sight so fair. Spenser.
5. The instrument of seeing; the eye. Why cloud they not their sights Shak.
6. Inspection; examination; as, a letter intended for the sight of only one person.
7. Mental view; opinion; judgment; as, in their sight it was harmless. Wake. That which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. Luke xvi. 15.
8. A small aperture through which objects are to be seen, and by which their direction is settled or ascertained; as, the sight of a quadrant. Thier eyes of fire sparking through sights of steel. Shak.
9. A small piece of metal, fixed or movable, on the breech, muzzle, center, or trunnion of a gun, or on the breech and the muzzle of a rifle, pistol, etc., by means of which the eye is guided in aiming. Farrow.
10. In a drawing, picture, etc., that part of the surface, as of paper or canvas, which is within the frame or the border or margin. In a frame or the like, the open space, the opening.
11. A great number, quantity, or sum; as, a sight of money. [Now colloquial]
Note: Sight in this last sense was formerly employed in the best usage. "A sight of lawyers." Latimer. A wonder sight of flowers. Gower. At sight, as soon as seen, or presented to sight; as, a draft payable at sight: to read Greek at sight; to shoot a person at sight. — Front sight (Firearms), the sight nearest the muzzle. — Open sight. (Firearms) (a) A front sight through which the objects aimed at may be seen, in distinction from one that hides the object. (b) A rear sight having an open notch instead of an aperture. — Peep sight, Rear sight. See under Peep, and Rear. — Sight draft, an order, or bill of exchange, directing the payment of money at sight. — To take sight, to take aim; to look for the purpose of directing a piece of artillery, or the like.
Syn.— Vision; view; show; spectacle; representation; exhibition.
SIGHTSight, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sighted; p. pr. & vb. n. Sighting.]
1. To get sight of; to see; as, to sight land; to sight a wreck. Kane.
2. To look at through a sight; to see accurately; as, to sight an object, as a star.
3. To apply sights to; to adjust the sights of; also, to give the proper elevation and direction to by means of a sight; as, to sight a rifle or a cannon.
SIGHTSight, v. i. (Mil.)
Defn: To take aim by a sight.
SIGHTEDSight"ed, a.
Defn: Having sight, or seeing, in a particular manner; — used in composition; as, long-sighted, short-sighted, quick-sighted, sharp- sighted, and the like.
SIGHTFULSight"ful, a.
Defn: Easily or clearly seen; distinctly visible; perspicuous. [Obs.]Testament of Love.
SIGHTFULNESSSight"ful*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being sightful; perspicuity. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.
SIGHT-HOLESight"-hole`, n.
Defn: A hole for looking through; a peephole. "Stop all sight-holes."Shak.
SIGHTINGSight"ing, a & n.
Defn: from Sight, v. t. Sighting shot, a shot made to ascertain whether the sights of a firearm are properly adjusted; a trial shot.
SIGHTLESSSight"less, a.
1. Wanting sight; without sight; blind. Of all who blindly creep or sightless soar. Pope.
2. That can not be seen; invisible. [Obs.] The sightless couriers of the air. Shak.
3. Offensive or unpleasing to the eye; unsightly; as, sightless stains. [R.] Shak. — Sight"less*ly, adv.- Sight"less*ness, n.
SIGHTLINESSSight"li*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being sightly; comeliness; conspicuousness.
SIGHTLYSight"ly, a.
1. Pleasing to the sight; comely. "Many brave, sightly horses." L'Estrange.
2. Open to sight; conspicuous; as, a house stands in a sightly place.
SIGHTPROOFSight"proof`, a.
Defn: Undiscoverable to sight.Hidden in their own sightproof bush. Lowell.
SIGHT-SEEINGSight"-see`ing, a.
Defn: Engaged in, or given to, seeing sights; eager for novelties or curiosities.
SIGHT-SEEINGSight"-see`ing, n.
Defn: The act of seeing sights; eagerness for novelties or curiosities.
SIGHT-SEERSight"-se`er, n.
Defn: One given to seeing sights or noted things, or eager for novelties or curiosities.
SIGHT-SHOTSight"-shot`, n.
Defn: Distance to which the sight can reach or be thrown. [R.]Cowley.
SIGHTSMANSights"man, n.; pl. Sightsmen (. (Mus.)
Defn: One who reads or performs music readily at first sight. [R.]Busby.
SIGILSig"il, n. Etym: [L. sigillum. See Seal a stamp.]
Defn: A seal; a signature. Dryden.Of talismans and sigils knew the power. Pope.
SIGILLARIASig`il*la"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [L., from sigillum a seal. See Sigil.](Rom. Antic.)
Defn: Little images or figures of earthenware exposed for sale, or given as presents, on the last two days of the Saturnalia; hence, the last two, or the sixth and seventh, days of the Saturnalia.
SIGILLARIASig`il*la"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL., fem sing. fr. L. sigillum a seal.](Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of fossil trees principally found in the coal formation; — so named from the seallike leaf scars in vertical rows on the surface.
SIGILLARIDSig`il*la"rid, n. (Paleon.)
Defn: One of an extinct family of cryptagamous trees, including the genus Sigillaria and its allies.
SIGILLATEDSig"il*la`ted, a. Etym: [L. sigillatus adorned with little images.]
Defn: Decorated by means of stamps; — said of pottery.
SIGILLATIVESig"il*la*tive, a. Etym: [L. sigillum a seal: cf. OF. sigillatif.]
Defn: Fit to seal; belonging to a seal; composed of wax. [R.]
SIGILLUMSi*gil"lum, n.; pl. Sigilla. Etym: [L.] (Rom. & Old Eng. Law)
Defn: A seal.
SIGLASig"la, n. pl. Etym: [L.]
Defn: The signs, abbreviations, letters, or characters standing for words, shorthand, etc., in ancient manuscripts, or on coins, medals, etc. W. Savage.
SIGMASig"ma, n.; pl. Sigmas. Etym: [L., from Gr.
Defn: The Greek letter S, or s). It originally had the form of theEnglish C.
SIGMODONTSig"mo*dont, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of a tribe (Sigmodontes) of rodents which includes all the indigenous rats and mice of America. So called from the form of the ridges of enamel on the crowns of the worn molars. Also used adjectively.
SIGMOID; SIGMOIDALSig"moid, Sig*moid"al, a. Etym: [Gr. sigmoïde.]
Defn: Curved in two directions, like the letter S, or the Greek s.Sigmoid flexure (Anat.), the last curve of the colon before itterminates in the rectum. See Illust. under Digestive.— Sigmoid valves. (Anat.) See Semilunar valves, under Semilunar.
SIGMOIDALLYSig*moid"al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a sigmoidal manner.
SIGN Sign, n. Etym: [F. signe, L. signum; cf. AS. segen, segn, a sign, standard, banner, also fr. L. signum. Cf. Ensign, Resign, Seal a stamp, Signal, Signet.]
Defn: That by which anything is made known or represented; that which furnishes evidence; a mark; a token; an indication; a proof. Specifically: (a) A remarkable event, considered by the ancients as indicating the will of some deity; a prodigy; an omen. (b) An event considered by the Jews as indicating the divine will, or as manifesting an interposition of the divine power for some special end; a miracle; a wonder. Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God. Rom. xv. 19. It shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign. Ex. iv. 8.
(c) Something serving to indicate the existence, or preserve the memory, of a thing; a token; a memorial; a monument. What time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men, and they became a sign. Num. xxvi. 10.
(d) Any symbol or emblem which prefigures, typifles, or represents, an idea; a type; hence, sometimes, a picture. The holy symbols, or signs, are not barely significative; but what they represent is as certainly delivered to us as the symbols themselves. Brerewood. Saint George of Merry England, the sign of victory. Spenser.
(e) A word or a character regarded as the outward manifestation of thought; as, words are the sign of ideas. (f) A motion, an action, or a gesture by which a thought is expressed, or a command or a wish made known. They made signs to his father, how he would have him called. Luke i. 62.
(g) Hence, one of the gestures of pantomime, or of a language of a signs such as those used by the North American Indians, or those used by the deaf and dumb.
Note: Educaters of the deaf distinguish between natural signs, which serve for communicating ideas, and methodical, or systematic, signs, adapted for the dictation, or the rendering, of written language, word by word; and thus the signs are to be distinguished from the manual alphabet, by which words are spelled on the fingers. (h) A military emblem carried on a banner or a standard. Milton. (i) A lettered board, or other conspicuous notice, placed upon or before a building, room, shop, or office to advertise the business there transacted, or the name of the person or firm carrying it on; a publicly displayed token or notice. The shops were, therefore, distinguished by painted signs, which gave a gay and grotesque aspect to the streets. Macaulay. (j) (Astron.)
Defn: The twelfth part of the ecliptic or zodiac.
Note: The signs are reckoned from the point of intersection of the ecliptic and equator at the vernal equinox, and are named, respectively, Aries (Taurus (Gemini (II), Cancer (Leo (Virgo (Libra (Scorpio (Sagittarius (Capricornus (Aquarius (Pisces ( (k) (Alg.) A character indicating the relation of quantities, or an operation performed upon them; as, the sign + (plus); the sign — (minus); the sign of division ÷, and the like. (l) (Med.) An objective evidence of disease; that is, one appreciable by some one other than the patient.
Note: The terms symptom and and sign are often used synonymously; but they may be discriminated. A sign differs from a symptom in that the latter is perceived only by the patient himself. The term sign is often further restricted to the purely local evidences of disease afforded by direct examination of the organs involved, as distinguished from those evidence of general disturbance afforded by observation of the temperature, pulse, etc. In this sense it is often called physical sign. (m) (Mus.) Any character, as a flat, sharp, dot, etc. (n) (Theol.) That which, being external, stands for, or signifies, something internal or spiritual; — a term used in the Church of England in speaking of an ordinance considered with reference to that which it represents. An outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. Bk. of Common Prayer.
Note: See the Table of Arbitrary Signs, p. 1924. Sign manual. (a) (Eng. Law) The royal signature superscribed at the top of bills of grants and letter patent, which are then sealed with the privy signet or great seal, as the case may be, to complete their validity. (b) The signature of one's name in one's own handwriting. Craig. Tomlins. Wharton.
Syn. — Token; mark; note; symptom; indication; signal; symbol; type; omen; prognostic; presage; manifestation. See Emblem.
SIGN Sign, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Signed; p. pr. & vb. n. Signing.] Etym: [OE. seinen to bless, originally, to make the sign of the cross over; in this sense fr. ASS. segnian (from segn, n.), or OF. seignier, F. signer, to mark, to sign (in sense 3), fr. L. signare to mark, set a mark upon, from signum. See Sign, n.]
1. To represent by a sign; to make known in a typical or emblematic manner, in distinction from speech; to signify. I signed to Browne to make his retreat. Sir W. Scott.
2. To make a sign upon; to mark with a sign. We receive this child into the congregation of Christ's flock, and do sign him with the sign of the cross. Bk. of Com Prayer.
3. To affix a signature to; to ratify by hand or seal; to subscribein one's own handwriting.Inquire the Jew's house out, give him this deed, And let him sign it.Shak.
4. To assign or convey formally; — used with away.
5. To mark; to make distinguishable. Shak.
SIGNSign, v. i.
1. To be a sign or omen. [Obs.] Shak.
2. To make a sign or signal; to communicate directions or intelligence by signs.
3. To write one's name, esp. as a token of assent, responsibility, or obligation.
SIGNABLESign"a*ble, a.
Defn: Suitable to be signed; requiring signature; as, a legal document signable by a particular person.
SIGNALSig"nal, n. Etym: [F., fr. LL. signale, fr. L. signum. See Sign, n.]
1. A sign made for the purpose of giving notice to a person of some occurence, command, or danger; also, a sign, event, or watchword, which has been agreed upon as the occasion of concerted action. All obeyed The wonted signal and superior voice Of this great potentate. Milton.
2. A token; an indication; a foreshadowing; a sign. The weary sun . . . Gives signal of a goodly day to-morrow. Shak. There was not the least signal of the calamity to be seen. De Foc.
SIGNALSig"nal, a. Etym: [From signal, n.: cf. F. signalé.]
1. Noticeable; distinguished from what is ordinary; eminent; remarkable; memorable; as, a signal exploit; a signal service; a signal act of benevolence. As signal now in low, dejected state As erst in highest, behold him where he lies. Milton.
2. Of or pertaining to signals, or the use of signals in conveying information; as, a signal flag or officer. The signal service, a bureau of the government (in the United States connected with the War Department) organized to collect from the whole country simultaneous raports of local meteorological conditions, upon comparison of which at the central office, predictions concerning the weather are telegraphed to various sections, where they are made known by signals publicly displayed. — Signal station, the place where a signal is displayed; specifically, an observation office of the signal service.
Syn. — Eminent; remarkable; memorable; extraordinary; notable; conspicuous.
SIGNALSig"nal, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Signaled ( or Signalled; p. pr. & vb. n.Signaling or Signalling.]
1. To communicate by signals; as, to signal orders.
2. To notify by a signals; to make a signal or signals to; as, to signal a fleet to anchor. M. Arnold.
SIGNALISTSig"nal*ist, n.
Defn: One who makes signals; one who communicates intelligence by means of signals.
SIGNALITYSig*nal"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being signal or remarkable. [Obs.] SirT. Browne.
SIGNALIZESig"nal*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Signalized; p. pr. & vb. n.Signalizing.] Etym: [From Signal, a.]
1. To make signal or eminent; to render distinguished from what is common; to distinguish. It is this passion which drives men to all the ways we see in use of signalizing themselves. Burke.
2. To communicate with by means of a signal; as, a ship signalizes its consort.
3. To indicate the existence, presence, or fact of, by a signal; as, to signalize the arrival of a steamer.
SIGNALLYSig"nal*ly, adv.
Defn: In a signal manner; eminently.
SIGNALMANSig"nal*man, n.; pl. -men (.
Defn: A man whose business is to manage or display signals; especially, one employed in setting the signals by which railroad trains are run or warned.
SIGNALMENTSig"nal*ment, n.
Defn: The act of signaling, or of signalizing; hence, description by peculiar, appropriate, or characteristic marks. Mrs. Browning.
SIGNATESig"nate, a. Etym: [L. signatus, p. p. See Sign, v. t.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having definite color markings.
SIGNATIONSig*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. signatio. See Sign, v. t.]
Defn: Sign given; marking. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
SIGNATORYSig"na*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. signatorius.]
1. Relating to a seal; used in sealing. [Obs.] Bailey.
2. Signing; joining or sharing in a signature; as, signatory powers.
SIGNATORYSig"na*to*ry, n.; pl. -ries (.
Defn: A signer; one who signs or subscribes; as, a conference of signatories.
SIGNATURE Sig"na*ture, n. Etym: [F. (cf. It. signatura, segnatura, Sp. & LL. signatura), from L. signare, signatum. See Sign, v. t.]
1. A sign, stamp, or mark impressed, as by a seal. The brain, being well furnished with various traces, signatures, and images. I. Watts. The natural and indelible signature of God, which human souls . . . are supposed to be stamped with. Bentley.
2. Especially, the name of any person, written with his own hand, employed to signify that the writing which precedes accords with his wishes or intentions; a sign manual; an autograph.
3. (Physiol.)
Defn: An outward mark by which internal characteristics were supposedto be indicated.Some plants bear a very evident signature of their nature and use.Dr. H. More.
4. (Old Med.)
Defn: A resemblance between the external characters of a disease and those of some physical agent, for instance, that existing between the red skin of scarlet fever and a red cloth; — supposed to indicate this agent in the treatment of the disease.
5. (Mus.)
Defn: The designation of the key (when not C major, or its relative, A minor) by means of one or more sharps or flats at the beginning of the staff, immediately after the clef, affecting all notes of the same letter throughout the piece or movement. Each minor key has the same signature as its relative major.
6. (Print.) (a) A letter or figure placed at the bottom of the first page of each sheet of a book or pamphlet, as a direction to the binder in arranging and folding the sheets. (b) The printed sheet so marked, or the form from which it is printed; as, to reprint one or more signatures.
Note: Star signatures (as A*, 1*) are the same characters, with the addition of asterisks, used on the first pages of offcuts, as in 12mo sheets.
7. (Pharm.)
Defn: That part of a prescription which contains the directions to the patient. It is usually prefaced by S or Sig. (an abbreviation for the Latin signa, imperative of signare to sign or mark).
SIGNATURESig"na*ture, v. t.
Defn: To mark with, or as with, a signature or signatures.
SIGNATURISTSig"na*tur`ist, n.
Defn: One who holds to the doctrine of signatures impressed upon objects, indicative of character or qualities. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
SIGNBOARDSign"board`, n.
Defn: A board, placed on or before a shop, office, etc., on which ssome notice is given, as the name of a firm, of a business, or the like.
SIGNERSign"er, n.
Defn: One who signs or subscribes his name; as, a memorial with a hundred signers.
SIGNET Sig"net, n. Etym: [OF. signet a signet, F., a bookmark, dim. of signe. See Sign, n., and cf. Sennet.]
Defn: A seal; especially, in England, the seal used by the sovereign in sealing private letters and grants that pass by bill under the sign manual; — called also privy signet. I had my father's signet in my purse. Shak. Signet ring, a ring containing a signet or private seal. — Writer to the signet (Scots Law), a judicial officer who prepares warrants, writs, etc.; originally, a clerk in the office of the secretary of state.
SIGNETEDSig"net*ed, a.
Defn: Stamped or marked with a signet.
SIGNIFERSig"ni*fer, a. Etym: [L., from signum sign + ferre to bear.]
Defn: Bearing signs. [Obs.] "The signifer sphere, or zodiac."Holland.
SIGNIFICANCE; SIGNIFICANCYSig*nif"i*cance, Sig*nif"i*can*cy, n. Etym: [L. significantia.]
1. The quality or state of being significant.
2. That which is signified; meaning; import; as, the significance of a nod, of a motion of the hand, or of a word or expression.
3. Importance; moment; weight; consequence. With this brain I must work, in order to give significancy and value to the few facts which I possess. De Quincey.
SIGNIFICANT Sig*nif"i*cant, a. Etym: [L. significans, -antis, p. pr. of significare. See Signify.]
1. Fitted or designed to signify or make known somethingl having a meaning; standing as a sign or token; expressive or suggestive; as, a significant word or sound; a significant look. It was well said of Plotinus, that the stars were significant, but not efficient. Sir W. Raleigh.
2. Deserving to be considered; important; momentous; as, a significant event. Significant figures (Arith.), the figures which remain to any number, or decimal fraction, after the ciphers at the right or left are canceled. Thus, the significant figures of 25,000, or of .0025, are 25.
SIGNIFICANTSig*nif"i*cant, n.
Defn: That which has significance; a sign; a token; a symbol.Wordsworth.In dumb significants proclaim your thoughts. Shak.
SIGNIFICANTLYSig*nif"i*cant*ly, adv.
Defn: In a significant manner.
SIGNIFICATESig*nif"i*cate, n. Etym: [L. significatus, p. p. of significare. SeeSignify.] (Logic)
Defn: One of several things signified by a common term. Whately.
SIGNIFICATIONSig`ni*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [F. signification, L. significatio.]
1. The act of signifying; a making known by signs or other means. A signification of being pleased. Landor. All speaking or signification of one's mind implies an act or addres of one man to another. South.
2. That which is signified or made known; that meaning which a sign, character, or token is intended to convey; as, the signification of words.
SIGNIFICATIVESig*nif"i*ca*tive, a. Etym: [L. significativus: cf. F. significatif.]
1. Betokening or representing by an external sign. The holy symbols or signs are not barely significative. Brerewood.
2. Having signification or meaning; expressive of a meaning or purpose; significant. Neither in the degrees of kindred they were destitute of significative words. Camden. — Sig*nif"i*ca*tive*ly, adv. — Sig*nif"i*ca*tive*ness, n.
SIGNIFICATORSig"ni*fi*ca`tor, n. Etym: [Cf. F. significateur.]
Defn: One who, or that which, signifies. In this diagram there was one significator which pressed remarkably upon our astrologer's attention. Sir W. Scott.
SIGNIFICATORYSig*nif"i*ca*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. significatorius.]
Defn: Significant.— n.
Defn: That which is significatory.
SIGNIFICAVIT Sig`ni*fi*ca"vit, n. Etym: [L., (he) has signified, perf. ind. of significare to signify.] (Eng. Eccl. Law)
Defn: Formerly, a writ issuing out of chancery, upon certificate given by the ordinary, of a man's standing excommunicate by the space of forty days, for the laying him up in prison till he submit himself to the authority of the church. Crabb.
SIGNIFYSig"ni*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Signified; p. pr. & vb. n.Signifying.] Etym: [F. signifier, L. significare; signum a sign + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See Sign, n., and -fy.]
1. To show by a sign; to communicate by any conventional token, as words, gestures, signals, or the like; to announce; to make known; to declare; to express; as, a signified his desire to be present. I 'll to the king; and signify to him That thus I have resign'd my charge to you. Shak. The government should signify to the Protestants of Ireland that want of silver is not to be remedied. Swift.
2. To mean; to import; to denote; to betoken.He bade her tell him what it signified. Chaucer.A tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.Shak.
Note: Signify is often used impersonally; as, it signifies nothing, it does not signify, that is, it is of no importance.
Syn. — To express; manifest; declare; utter; intimate; betoken; denote; imply; mean.
SIGNIORSign"ior, n.
Defn: Sir; Mr. The English form and pronunciation for the ItalianSignor and the Spanish Señor.
SIGNIORIZESign"ior*ize, v. t. Etym: [See Seigniorize.]
Defn: To exercise dominion over; to lord it over. [Obs.] Shelton.
SIGNIORIZESign"ior*ize, v. i.
Defn: To exercise dominion; to signiorize. [Obs.] Hewyt.
SIGNIORSHIPSign"ior*ship, n.
Defn: State or position of a signior.
SIGNIORYSign"ior*y, n.
Defn: Same as Seigniory.
SIGNOR; SIGNORESi*gnor", Si*gno"re, n. Etym: [It. See Seignior.]
Defn: Sir; Mr; — a title of address or respect among the Italians.Before a noun the form is Signor.
SIGNORASi*gno"ra, n. Etym: [It.]
Defn: Madam; Mrs; — a title of address or respect among theItalians.
SIGNORINASi`gno*ri"na, n. Etym: [It.]
Defn: Miss; — a title of address among the Italians.
SIGNPOSTSign"post`, n.
Defn: A post on which a sign hangs, or on which papers are placed to give public notice of anything.
SIK; SIKESik, Sike, a.
Defn: Such. See Such. [Obs.] "Sike fancies weren foolerie." Spenser.
SIKESike, n. Etym: [AS. sic. Cf. Sig.]
Defn: A gutter; a stream, such as is usually dry in summer. [Prov.Eng. & Scot.]
SIKESike, n. Etym: [See Sick.]
Defn: A sick person. [Prov. Eng.]
SIKESike, v. i.
Defn: To sigh. [Obs.]That for his wife weepeth and siketh sore. Chaucer.
SIKESike, n.
Defn: A sigh. [Obs.] Chaucer.
SIKER; SIKERLY; SIKERNESSSik"er, a. & adv., Sik"er*ly, adv., Sik"er*ness, n., etc.
Defn: See 2d Sicker, Sickerly, etc. [Obs.]
SIKHS Sikhs, n. pl.; sing. Sikh (. Etym: [Hind. Sikh, properly, a disciple.]
Defn: A religious sect noted for warlike traits, founded in thePunjab at the end of the 15th century.
SILAGESi"lage, n. & v.
Defn: Short for Ensilage.
SILE Sile, v. t. Etym: [Akin to Sw. sila to strain, sil sieve, G. sielen to draw away or lead off water. sq. root151a. See Silt.]
Defn: To strain, as fresh milk. [Prov. Eng.]
SILESile, v. i.
Defn: To drop; to flow; to fall. [Prov. Eng.]
SILESile, n.
1. A sieve with fine meshes. [Prov. Eng.]
2. Filth; sediment. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
SILESile, n. Etym: [Icel. sild herring; akin to Sw. sill, Dan. sild. Cf.Sill the young of a herring.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A young or small herring. [Eng.] Pennant.
SILENCESi"lence, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. silentium. See Silent.]
1. The state of being silent; entire absence of sound or noise; absolute stillness. I saw and heared; for such a numerous host Fled not in silence through the frighted deep. Milton.
2. Forbearance from, or absence of, speech; taciturnity; muteness.
3. Secrecy; as, these things were transacted in silence. The administration itself keeps a profound silence. D. Webster.
4. The cessation of rage, agitation, or tumilt; calmness; quiest; as, the elements were reduced to silence.
5. Absence of mention; oblivion. And what most merits fame, in silence hid. Milton.
SILENCESi"lence, interj.
Defn: Be silent; — used elliptically for let there be silence, or keep silence. Shak.
SILENCESi"lence, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Silenced; p. pr. & vb. n. Silencing.]
1. To compel to silence; to cause to be still; to still; to hush. Silence that dreadful bell; it frights the isle. Shak.
2. To put to rest; to quiet. This would silence all further opposition. Clarendon. These would have silenced their scruples. Rogers.
3. To restrain from the exercise of any function, privilege of instruction, or the like, especially from the act of preaching; as, to silence a minister of the gospel. The Rev. Thomas Hooker of Chelmsford, in Essex, was silenced for nonconformity. B. Trumbull.
4. To cause to cease firing, as by a vigorous cannonade; as, to silence the batteries of an enemy.
SILENCER Si"lenc*er, n. One that silences; specif.: (a) The muffler of an internal-combustion engine. (b) Any of various devices to silence the humming noise of telegraph wires. (c) A device for silencing the report of a firearm shooting its projectiles singly, as a tubular attachment for the muzzle having circular plates that permit the passage of the projectile but impart a rotary motion to, and thus retard, the exploding gases.
SILENESi*le"ne, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. Silenus, the attendant of Bacchus.](Bot.)
Defn: A genus of caryophyllaceous plants, usually covered with a viscid secretion by which insects are caught; catchfly. Bon Silène. See Silène, in the Vocabulary.
SILENT Si"lent, a. Etym: [L. silens, -entis, p. pr. of silere to be silent; akin to Goth. ana-silan.]
1. Free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet. How silent is this town! Shak.
2. Not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn; not loquacious; not talkative. Ulysses, adds he, was the most eloquent and most silent of men. Broome. This new-created world, whereof in hell Fame is not silent. Milton.
3. Keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed; as, the wind is silent. Parnell. Sir W. Raleigh.
4. (Pron.)
Defn: Not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent; as, e is silent in "fable."
5. Having no effect; not operating; inefficient. [R.] Cause . . . silent, virtueless, and dead. Sir W. Raleigh. Silent partner. See Dormant partner, under Dormant.
Syn.— Mute; taciturn; dumb; speechless; quiet; still. See Mute, andTaciturn.
SILENTSi"lent, n.
Defn: That which is silent; a time of silence. [R.] "The silent of the night." Shak.
SILENTIARYSi*len"ti*a*ry, n. Etym: [L. silentiarius: cf. F. silenciaire. SeeSilence.]
Defn: One appointed to keep silence and order in court; also, one sworn not to divulge secre
SILENTIOUSSi*len"tious, a. Etym: [L. silentiosus: cf. F. silencieux.]
Defn: Habitually silent; taciturn; reticent. [R.]
SILENTLYSi"lent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a silent manner.
SILENTNESSSi"lent*ness, n.
Defn: State of being silent; silence.
SILENUSSi*le"nus, n. Etym: [L. Silenus the tutor and attendant of Bacchus.](Zoöl.)
Defn: See Wanderoo.
SILESIASi*le"si*a, n.
1. A kind of linen cloth, originally made in Silesia, a province of Prussia.
2. A twilled cotton fabric, used for dress linings.
SILESIANSi*le"si*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Silesia.— n.
Defn: A native or inhabitant of Silesia.
SILEXSi"lex, n. Etym: [L., a finit, a pebblestone.] (Min.)
Defn: Silica, SiO2 as found in nature, constituting quarz, and most sands and sandstones. See Silica, and Silicic.
SILHOUETTE Sil`hou*ette", n. Etym: [F.; — so called from Etienne de Silhoutte, a French minister of finance in 1759, whise diversion it was to make such portraits on the walls of his apartments.]
Defn: A representation of the outlines of an object filled in with a black color; a profile portrait in black, such as a shadow appears to be.
SILHOUETTESil`hou*ette", v. t.
Defn: To represent by a silhouette; to project upon a background, so as to be like a silhouette. [Recent] A flock of roasting vultures silhouetted on the sky. The Century.
SILICASil"i*ca, n. Etym: [NL., from L. silex, silics, a flint.] (Chem.)
Defn: Silicon dioxide, SiO
SILICATESil"i*cate, n.Etym: [Cf. F. silicate.] (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of silicic acid.
Note: In mineralogical chemistry the silicates include; the unisilicates or orthosilicates, salts of orthosilicic acid; the bisilicates or metasilicates, salts of metasilicic acid; the polysilicates or acid silicates, salts of the polysilicic acids; the basic silicates or subsilicates, in which the equivalent of base is greater than would be required to neutralize the acid; and the hydrous silicates, including the zeolites and many hydrated decomposition products.
SILICATEDSil"i*ca`ted, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Combined or impregnated with silicon or silica; as, silicated hydrogen; silicated rocks. Silicated soap, a hard soap containing silicate of soda.
SILICATIZATIONSil`i*ca*ti*za"tion, n.
Defn: Silicification.
SILICEASi*lic"e*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Silicoidea.
SILICEOUSSi*li"ceous, a. Etym: [L. siliceus, fr. silex, silicis, a flint.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to silica; containing silica, or partaking of its nature. [Written also silisious.]
SILICICSi*lic"ic, a. Etym: [L. silex, silicis, a flint: cf. F. silicique.](Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, derived from, or resembling, silica; specifically, designating compounds of silicon; as, silicic acid. Silicic acid (Chem.), an amorphous gelatinous substance, Si(HO)4, very unstable and easily dried to silica, but forming many stable salts; — called also orthosilicic, or normal silicic, acid.
SILICICALCAREOUSSi*lic`i*cal*ca"re*ous, a.
Defn: Consisting of silica and calcareous matter.
SILICIDESil"i*cide, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A binary compound of silicon, or one regarded as binary. [R.] Hydrogen silicide (Chem.), a colorless, spontaneously inflammable gas, SiH4, produced artifically from silicon, and analogous to methane; — called also silico-methane, silicon hydride, and formerly siliciureted hydrogen.
SILICIFEROUSSil`i*cif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. silex, silicis, a flint + -ferous.]
Defn: Producing silica; united with silica.
SILICIFICATIONSi*lic`i*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [See Silicify.] (Chem.)
Defn: Thae act or process of combining or impregnating with silicon or silica; the state of being so combined or impregnated; as, the silicification of wood.
SILICIFIEDSi*lic"i*fied, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Combined or impregnated with silicon or silica, especially the latter; as, silicified wood.
SILICIFYSi*lic"i*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Silicified; p. pr. & vb. n.Silicifying.] Etym: [L. silex, silicis, a flint + -fy: cf. F.silicifier.] (Chem.)
Defn: To convert into, or to impregnate with, silica, or with thecompounds of silicon.The specimens found . . . are completely silicified. Say.
Note: The silica may take the form of agate, chalcedony, flint, hornstone, or crystalline quartz.
SILICIFYSi*lic"i*fy, v. i.
Defn: To become converted into silica, or to be impregnated with silica.
SILICIOIDEASil`i*ci*oi"de*a, n. pl. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Silicoidea.
SILICIOUSSi*li"cious, a.
Defn: See Siliceous.
SILICISPONGIAESil`i*ci*spon"gi*æ, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Silex, and Sponge.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Silicoidea.
SILICITEDSi*lic"it*ed, a.
Defn: Silicified. [Obs.]
SILICIUMSi*lic"i*um, n.
Defn: See Silicon.
SILICIURETEDSi*lic"i*u*ret`ed, a. [Written also siliciuretted.] (Old. Chem.)
Defn: Combined or impregnated with silicon. [Obsoles.] Siliciureted hydrogen. (Chem.) Hydrogen silicide. [Obs.]
SILICLESil"i*cle, n. Etym: [L. silicula, dim. of siliqua a pod or husk: cf.F. silicule.] (Bot.)
Defn: A seed vessel resembling a silique, but about as broad as it is long. See Silique.
SILICO-Sil"i*co-. (Chem.)
Defn: A combining form (also used adjectively) denoting the presence of silicon or its compounds; as, silicobenzoic, silicofluoride, etc.
SILICOFLUORICSil`i*co*flu*or"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Containing, or composed of, silicon and fluorine; especially, denoting the compounds called silicofluorides. Silicofluoric acid (Chem.), a compound of hydrofluoric acid and silicon fluoride, known only in watery solution. It is produced by the action of silicon fluoride on water, and is regarded as an acid, H2SiF6, and the type and origin of the silicofluorides.
SILICOFLUORIDESil`i*co*flu"or*ide, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A fluosilicate; a salt of silicofluoric acid.
SILICOIDEASil`i*coi"de*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Silex, and -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An extensive order of Porifera, which includes those that have the skeleton composed mainly of siliceous fibers or spicules.
SILICONSil"i*con, n. Etym: [See Silica.] (Chem.)
Defn: A nonmetalic element analogous to carbon. It always occurs combined in nature, and is artificially obtained in the free state, usually as a dark brown amorphous powder, or as a dark crystalline substance with a meetallic luster. Its oxide is silica, or common quartz, and in this form, or as silicates, it is, next to oxygen, the most abundant element of the earth's crust. Silicon is characteristically the element of the mineral kingdom, as carbon is of the organic world. Symbol Si. Atomic weight 28. Called also silicium.
SILICOTUNGSTICSil`i*co*tung"stic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or designating, any one of a series of double acids of silicon and tungsten, known in the free state, and also in their salts (called silicotungstates).
SILICULASi*lic"u*la, n. Etym: [L.] (Bot.)
Defn: A silicle.
SILICULESil"i*cule, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A silicle.
SILICULOSE Si*lic"u*lose`, a. Etym: [NL. siliculosus, fr. L. silicula: cf. F. siliculeux. See Silicle.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Bearing silicles; pertaining to, or resembling, silicles.
2. Full of, or consisting of, husks; husky. [Obs.]
SILIGINOSE Si*lig"i*nose`, a.Etym: [L. siligineus, fr. siligo, -inis, fine and very white wheat.]
Defn: Made of fine wheat. [Obs.] Bailey.
SILINGSil"ing, a. & n.
Defn: from Sile to strain. [Obs. or Prov.Eng.] Siling dish, a colander. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
SILIQUASil"i*qua, n.; pl. Siliquæ. Etym: [L. See Silique.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Silique.
2. A weight of four grains; a carat; — a term used by jewelers, and refiners of gold.
SILIQUE Sil"ique, n. Etym: [L. siliqua a pod or husk, a very small weight or measure: cf. F. silique.] (Bot.)
Defn: An oblong or elongated seed vessel, consisting of two valves with a dissepiment between, and opening by sutures at either margin. The seeds are attached to both edges of the dissepiment, alternately upon each side of it.
SILIQUIFORMSil"i*qui*form, a. Etym: [Silique + -form: cf. F. siliquiforme.](Bot.)
Defn: Having the form of a silique.
SILIQUOSASil`i*quo"sa, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Siliquose.] (Bot.)
Defn: A Linnæan order of plants including those which bear siliques.
SILIQUOSE; SILIQUOUS Sil"i*quose`, Sil"i*quous, a. Etym: [NL. siliquosus: cf. F. siliqueux.] (Bot.)
Defn: Bearing siliques; as, siliquose plants; pertaining to, or resembling, siliques; as, siliquose capsules.
SILK Silk, n. Etym: [OE. silk, selk, AS. seolc, seoloc; akin to Icel. silki, SW. & Dan. silke; prob. through Slavic from an Oriental source; cf. Lith. szilkai, Russ. shelk', and also L. sericum Seric stuff, silk. Cf. Sericeous. Serge a woolen stuff.]
1. The fine, soft thread produced by various species of caterpillars in forming the cocoons within which the worm is inclosed during the pupa state, especially that produced by the larvæ of Bombyx mori.
2. Hence, thread spun, or cloth woven, from the above-named material.
3. That which resembles silk, as the filiform styles of the female flower of maize. Raw silk, silk as it is wound off from the cocoons, and before it is manufactured. — Silk cotton, a cottony substance enveloping the seeds of the silk-cotton tree. — Silk-cotton tree (Bot.), a name for several tropical trees of the genera Bombax and Eriodendron, and belonging to the order Bombaceæ. The trees grow to an immense size, and have their seeds enveloped in a cottony substance, which is used for stuffing cushions, but can not be spun. — Silk flower. (Bot.) (a) The silk tree. (b) A similar tree (Calliandra trinervia) of Peru. — Silk fowl (Zoöl.), a breed of domestic fowls having silky plumage. — Silk gland (Zoöl.), a gland which secretes the material of silk, as in spider or a silkworm; a sericterium. — Silk gown, the distinctive robe of a barrister who has been appointed king's or queen's counsel; hence, the counsel himself. Such a one has precedence over mere barristers, who wear stuff gowns. [Eng.] — Silk grass (Bot.), a kind of grass (Stipa comata) of the Western United States, which has very long silky awns. The name is also sometimes given to various species of the genera Aqave and Yucca. — Silk moth (Zoöl.), the adult moth of any silkworm. See Silkworm. — Silk shag, a coarse, rough-woven silk, like plush, but with a stiffer nap. — Silk spider (Zoöl.), a large spider (Nephila plumipes), native of the Southern United States, remarkable for the large quantity of strong silk it produces and for the great disparity in the sizes of the sexes. — Silk thrower, Silk throwster, one who twists or spins silk, and prepares it for weaving. Brande & C. — Silk tree (Bot.), an Asiatic leguminous tree (Albizzia Julibrissin) with finely bipinnate leaves, and large flat pods; — so called because of the abundant long silky stamens of its blossoms. Also called silk flower. — Silk vessel. (Zoöl.) Same as Silk gland, above. — Virginia silk (Bot.), a climbing plant (Periploca Græca) of the Milkweed family, having a silky tuft on the seeds. It is native in Southern Europe.
SILKENSilk"en, a. Etym: [AS. seolcen, seolocen.]
1. Of or pertaining to silk; made of, or resembling, silk; as, silken cloth; a silken veil.
2. Fig.: Soft; delicate; tender; smooth; as, silken language. "Silken terms precise." Shak.
3. Dressed in silk. "A . . . silken wanton." Shak.
SILKENSilk"en, v. t.
Defn: To render silken or silklike. Dyer.
SILKINESSSilk"i*ness, n.
1. The quality or state of being silky or silken; softness and smoothness.
2. Fig.: Effeminacy; weakness. [R.] B. Jonson.
SILKMANSilk"man, n.; pl. Silkmen (.
Defn: A dealer in silks; a silk mercer. Shak.
SILKNESSSilk"ness, n.
Defn: Silkiness. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
SILK-STOCKINGSilk"-stock`ing, a.
Defn: Wearing silk stockings (which among men were formerly worn chiefly by the luxurious or aristocratic); hence, elegantly dressed; aristocratic; luxurious; — chiefly applied to men, often by way of reproach.
[They] will find their levees crowded with silk-stocking gentry, but no yeomanry; an army of officers without soldiers. Jefferson.
SILKWEEDSilk"weed`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Any plant of the genera Asclepias and Acerates whose seed vessels contain a long, silky down; milkweed.
SILKWORMSilk"worm`, n. Etym: [AS. seolcwyrm.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The larva of any one of numerous species of bombycid moths, which spins a large amount of strong silk in constructing its cocoon before changing to a pupa.
Note: The common species (Bombyx mori) feeds onm the leaves of the white mulberry tree. It is native of China, but has long been introduced into other countries of Asia and Europe, and is reared on a large scale. In America it is reared only to small extent. The Ailanthus silkworm (Philosamia cynthia) is a much larger species, of considerable importance, which has been introduced into Europe and America from China. The most useful American species is the Polyphemus. See Polyphemus. Pernyi silkworm, the larva of the Pernyi moth. See Pernyi moth. — Silkworm gut, a substance prepared from the contents of the silk glands of silkworms and used in making lines for angling. See Gut. — Silkworm rot, a disease of silkworms; muscardine.
SILKYSilk"y, a. [Compar. Silkier; superl. Silkiest.]
1. Of or pertaining to silk; made of, or resembling, silk; silken; silklike; as, a silky luster.
2. Hence, soft and smooth; as, silky wine.
3. Covered with soft hairs pressed close to the surface, as a leaf; sericeous. Silky oak (Bot.), a lofty Australian tree (Grevillea robusta) with silky tomentose lobed or incised leaves. It furnishes a valuable timber.
SILLSill, n. Etym: [OE. sille, sylle, AS. syl, syll; akin to G. schwelle,OHG. swelli, Icel. syll, svill, Sw. syll, Dan. syld, Goth. gasuljanto lay a foundation, to found.]
Defn: The basis or foundation of a thing; especially, a horizontal piece, as a timber, which forms the lower member of a frame, or supports a structure; as, the sills of a house, of a bridge, of a loom, and the like. Hence: (a) The timber or stone at the foot of a door; the threshold. (b) The timber or stone on which a window frame stands; or, the lowest piece in a window frame. (c) The floor of a gallery or passage in a mine. (d) A piece of timber across the bottom of a canal lock for the gates to shut against. Sill course (Arch.), a horizontal course of stone, terra cotta, or the like, built into a wall at the level of one or more window sills, these sills often forming part of it.
SILLSill, n. Etym: [Cf. Thill.]
Defn: The shaft or thill of a carriage. [Prov. Eng.]
SILLSill, n. Etym: [Cf. 4th Sile.]
Defn: A young herring. [Eng.]
SILLABUBSil"la*bub, n. Etym: [Cf. sile to strain, and bub liquor, also Prov.E. sillibauk.]
Defn: A dish made by mixing wine or cider with milk, and thus forming a soft curd; also, sweetened cream, flavored with wine and beaten to a stiff froth. [Written also syllabub.]
SILLERSil"ler, n.
Defn: Silver. [Scot.]
SILLILYSil"li*ly, adv. Etym: [From Silly.]
Defn: In a silly manner; foolishly. Dryden.
SILLIMANITE Sil"li*man*ite, n. Etym: [After Benjamin Siliman, an American meneralogist.] (Min.)
Defn: Same as Fibrolite.
SILLINESSSil"li*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being silly.
SILLOCKSil"lock, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The pollock, or coalfish.
SILLONSil"lon, n. Etym: [F., a furrow.] (Fort.)
Defn: A work raised in the middle of a wide ditch, to defend it.Crabb.
SILLY Sil"ly, a. [Compar. Sillier; superl. Silliest.] Etym: [OE. seely, sely, AS. s, ges, happy, good, fr. s, s, good, happy, s good fortune, happines; akin to OS. salig, a, good, happy, D. zalig blessed, G. selig, OHG. salig, Icel. s, Sw. säll, Dan. salig, Goth. s good, kind, and perh. also to L. sollus whole, entire, Gr. sarva. Cf. Seel, n.]
1. Happy; fortunate; blessed. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. Harmless; innocent; inoffensive. [Obs.] "This silly, innocentCustance." Chaucer.The silly virgin strove him to withstand. Spenser.A silly, innocent hare murdered of a dog. Robynson (More's Utopia).
3. Weak; helpless; frail. [Obs.]After long storms . . . With which my silly bark was tossed sore.Spenser.The silly buckets on the deck. Coleridge.
4. Rustic; plain; simple; humble. [Obs.] A fourth man, in a sillyhabit. Shak. All that did their silly thoughts so busy keep. Milton.
5. Weak in intellect; destitute of ordinary strength of mind; foolish; witless; simple; as, a silly woman.
6. Proceeding from want of understanding or common judgment; characterized by weakness or folly; unwise; absurd; stupid; as, silly conduct; a silly question.
Syn.— Simple; brainless; witless; shallow; foolish; unwise; indiscreet.See Simple.
SILLYHOW Sil"ly*how, n. Etym: [Prov. E. silly-hew; cf. AS. sælig happy, good, and hufe a cap, hood. See Silly, a.]
Defn: A caul. See Caul, n., 3. [Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
SILOSi"lo, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A pit or vat for packing away green fodder for winter use so as to exclude air and outside moisture. See Ensilage.
SILT Silt, n. Etym: [OE. silte gravel, fr. silen to drain, E. sile; probably of Scand. origin; cf. Sw. sila, prob. akin to AS. seón to filter, sigan to fall, sink, cause to sink, G. seihen to strain, to filter, OHG. sihan, Icel.sia, Skr. sic to pour; cf. Gr. Sig, Sile.]
Defn: Mud or fine earth deposited from running or standing water.
SILTSilt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Silted; p. pr. & vb. n. Silting.]
Defn: To choke, fill, or obstruct with silt or mud.
SILTSilt, v. i.
Defn: To flow through crevices; to percolate.
SILTYSilt"y, a.
Defn: Full of silt; resembling silt.
SILUNDUMSi*lun"dum, n. [Trade name]
Defn: A form of silicon carbide, produced in the electric furnace, possessing great hardness, and high electrical resistance, and not subject to oxidation below 2880º F., or 1600º C.
SILURESi*lure", n. Etym: [L. silurus a sort of river fish, Gr. silure.](Zoöl.)
Defn: A fish of the genus Silurus, as the sheatfish; a siluroid.
SILURIAN Si*lu"ri*an, a. Etym: [From L. Silures, a people who anciently inhabited a part of England and Wales.] (Geol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the country of the ancient Silures; — a term applied to the earliest of the Paleozoic eras, and also to the strata of the era, because most plainly developed in that country.
Note: The Silurian formation, so named by Murchison, is divided into the Upper Silurian and Lower Silurian. The lower part of the Lower Silurian, with some underlying beds, is now separated under the name Cambrian, first given by Sedwick. Recently the term Ordovician has been proposed for the Lower Silurian, leawing the original word to apply only to the Upper Silurian.
SILURIANSi*lu"ri*an, n.
Defn: The Silurian age.
SILURIDANSi*lu"ri*dan, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any fish of the family Silurid or of the order Siluroidei.
SILUROIDSi*lu"roid, n. Etym: [Silurus + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Belonging to the Siluroidei, or Nematognathi, an order of fishes including numerous species, among which are the American catfishes and numerous allied fresh-water species of the Old World, as the sheatfish (Silurus glanis) of Europe. — n.
Defn: A siluroid fish.
SILUROIDEISil`u*roi"de*i, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (zoöl.)
Defn: An order of fishes, the Nematognathi.
SILURUSSi*lu"rus, n. Etym: [L. See Silure.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of large malacopterygious fishes of the orderSiluroidei. They inhabit the inland waters of Europe and Asia.
SILVA Sil"va, n.; pl. E. Silvas, L. Silvae (. Etym: [L., properly, a wood, forest.] [Written also sylva.] (Bot.) (a) The forest trees of a region or country, considered collectively. (b) A description or history of the forest trees of a country.
SILVAN Sil"van, a. Etym: [L. silva, less correctly sylva, a wood or grove, perh. akin to Gr. "y`lh; cf. L. Silvanus Silvanus the god of woods: cf. F. sylvain silvan. Cf. Savage.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to woods; composed of woods or groves; woody.[Written also sylvan.]Betwixt two rows of rocks, a silvan scene Appears above, and grovesforever green. Dryden.
SILVANSil"van, n. (Old Chem.)
Defn: See Sylvanium. [Obs.]
SILVANITESil"van*ite, n. (Min.)
Defn: See Sylvanite.
SILVAS; SELVASSil"vas or Sel"vas, n. pl. Etym: [L. silva a forest, Sp. selva.]
Defn: Vast woodland plains of South America.
SILVATESil"vate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Sylvate.
SILVER Sil"ver, n. Etym: [OE. silver, selver, seolver, AS. seolfor, siolfur, siolufr, silofr, sylofr; akin to OS. silubar, OFries. selover, D. zilver, LG. sulver, OHG. silabar, silbar, G. silber, Icel. silfr, Sw. silfver, Dan. sölv, Goth. silubr, Russ. serebro, Lith. sidabras; of unknown origin.]
1. (Chem.)
Defn: A soft white metallic element, sonorous, ductile, very malleable, and capable of a high degree of polish. It is found native, and also combined with sulphur, arsenic, antimony, chlorine, etc., in the minerals argentite, proustite, pyrargyrite, ceragyrite, etc. Silver is one of the "noble" metals, so-called, not being easily oxidized, and is used for coin, jewelry, plate, and a great variety of articles. Symbol Ag (Argentum). Atomic weight 107.7. Specific gravity 10.5.
Note: Silver was known under the name of luna to the ancients and also to the alchemists. Some of its compounds, as the halogen salts, are remarkable for the effect of light upon them, and are used in photography.