1. Place, or spot, in general. [Obs., except in composition.] Chaucer. Fly, therefore, fly this fearful stead anon. Spenser.
2. Place or room which another had, has, or might have. "Stewards of your steads." Piers Plowman. In stead of bounds, he a pillar set. Chaucer.
3. A frame on which a bed is laid; a bedstead. [R.] The genial bed, Sallow the feet, the borders, and the stead. Dryden.
4. A farmhouse and offices. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
Note: The word is now commonly used as the last part of a compound;as, farmstead, homestead, readstead, etc. In stead of, in place of.See Instead.— To stand in stead, or To do stead, to be of use or greatadvantage.The smallest act . . . shall stand us in great stead. Atterbury.Here thy sword can do thee little stead. Milton.
STEADStead, v. t.
1. To help; to support; to benefit; to assist. Perhaps my succour or advisement meet, Mote stead you much your purpose to subdue. Spenser. It nothing steads us To chide him from our eaves. Shak.
2. To fill place of. [Obs.] Shak.
STEADFASTStead"fast, a. Etym: [Stead + fast, that is, fast in place.] Etym:[Written also stedfast.]
1. Firmly fixed or established; fast fixed; firm. "This steadfast globe of earth." Spenser.
2. Not fickle or wavering; constant; firm; resolute; unswerving; steady. "Steadfast eye." Shak. Abide steadfast unto him [thy neighbor] in the time of his trouble. Ecclus. xxii. 23. Whom resist steadfast in the faith. 1 Pet. v. 9.
STEADFASTLYStead"fast*ly, adv.
Defn: In a steadfast manner; firmly.Steadfast believe that whatever God has revealed is infallibly true.Wake.
STEADFASTNESSStead"fast*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being steadfast; firmness; fixedness; constancy. "The steadfastness of your faith." Col. ii. 5. To prove her wifehood and her steadfastness. Chaucer.
STEADILYStead"i*ly, adv.
Defn: In a steady manner.
STEADINESSStead"i*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being steady.Steadiness is a point of prudence as well as of courage. L'Estrange.
Syn.— Constancy; resolution; unchangeableness.
STEADINGStead"ing, n.
Defn: The brans, stables, cattle-yards, etc., of a farm; — called also onstead, farmstead, farm offices, or farmery. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
STEADY Stead"y, a. [Compar. Steadier; superl. Steadiest.] Etym: [Cf. AS. stedig sterile, barren, stæ, steady (in gestæ), D. stedig, stadig, steeg, G. stätig, stetig. See Stead, n.]
1. Firm in standing or position; not tottering or shaking; fixed; firm. "The softest, steadiest plume." Keble. Their feet steady, their hands diligent, their eyes watchful, and their hearts resolute. Sir P. Sidney.
2. Constant in feeling, purpose, or pursuit; not fickle, changeable, or wavering; not easily moved or persuaded to alter a purpose; resolute; as, a man steady in his principles, in his purpose, or in the pursuit of an object.
3. Regular; constant; undeviating; uniform; as, the steady course of the sun; a steady breeze of wind.
Syn. — Fixed; regular; uniform; undeviating; invariable; unremitted; stable. Steady rest (Mach), a rest in a turning lathe, to keep a long piece of work from trembling.
STEADYStead"y, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Steadied; p. pr. & vb. n. Steadying.]
Defn: To make steady; to hold or keep from shaking, reeling, or falling; to make or keep firm; to support; to make constant, regular, or resolute.
STEADYStead"y, v. i.
Defn: To become steady; to regain a steady position or state; to movesteadily.Without a breeze, without a tide, She steadies with upright keel.Coleridge.
STEAK Steak, n. Etym: [OE. steike, Icel. steik, akin to Icel. steikja to roast, stikna to be roasted or scorched, and E. stick, the steak being broiled on a spit. See Stick, v. t.]
Defn: A slice of beef, broiled, or cut for broiling; — also extended to the meat of other large animals; as, venison steak; bear steak; pork steak; turtle steak.
STEALSteal, n. Etym: [See Stale a handle.]
Defn: A handle; a stale, or stele. [Archaic or Prov. Eng.] And in his hand a huge poleax did bear. Whose steale was iron-studded but not long. Spenser.
STEAL Steal, v. t. [imp. Stole; p. p. Stolen; p. pr. & vb. n. Stealing.] Etym: [OE. stelen, AS. stelan; akin to OFries. stela, D. stelen, OHG. stelan, G. stehlen, Icel. stela, SW. stjäla, Dan. stiæle, Goth. stilan.]
1. To take and carry away, feloniously; to take without right or leave, and with intent to keep wrongfully; as, to steal the personal goods of another. Maugre thy heed, thou must for indigence Or steal, or borrow, thy dispense. Chaucer. The man who stole a goose and gave away the giblets in G. Eliot.
2. To withdraw or convey clandestinely (reflexive); hence, to creep furtively, or to insinuate. They could insinuate and steal themselves under the same by their humble carriage and submission. Spenser. He will steal himself into a man's favor. Shak.
3. To gain by insinuating arts or covert means. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. 2 Sam. xv. 6.
4. To get into one's power gradually and by imperceptible degrees; to take possession of by a gradual and imperceptible appropriation; — with away. Variety of objects has a tendency to steal away the mind from its steady pursuit of any subject. I. Watts.
5. To accomplish in a concealed or unobserved manner; to try to carry out secretly; as, to steal a look. Always, when thou changest thine opinion or course, profess it plainly, . . . and do not think to steal it. Bacon. To steal a march, to march in a covert way; to gain an advantage unobserved; — formerly followed by of, but now by on or upon, and sometimes by over; as, to steal a march upon one's political rivals. She yesterday wanted to steal a march of poor Liddy. Smollett. Fifty thousand men can not easily steal a march over the sea. Walpole.
Syn.— To filch; pilfer; purloin; thieve.
STEALSteal, v. i.
1. To practice, or be guilty of, theft; to commit larceny or theft. Thou shalt not steal. Ex. xx. 15.
2. To withdraw, or pass privily; to slip in, along, or away, unperceived; to go or come furtively. Chaucer. Fixed of mind to avoid further entreaty, and to fly all company, one night she stole away. Sir P. Sidney. From whom you now must steal, and take no leave. Shak. A soft and solemn breathing sound Rose like a steam of rich, distilled perfumes, And stole upon the air. Milton.
STEALERSteal"er, n.
1. One who steals; a thief.
2. (Shipbuilding)
Defn: The endmost plank of a strake which stops short of the stem or stern.
STEALINGSteal"ing, n.
1. The act of taking feloniously the personal property of another without his consent and knowledge; theft; larceny.
2. That which is stolen; stolen property; — chiefly used in the plural.
STEALINGLYSteal"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: By stealing, or as by stealing, furtively, or by an invisible motion. Sir P. Sidney.
STEALTHStealth, n. Etym: [OE. staple. See Steal, v. t.]
1. The act of stealing; theft. [Obs.] The owner proveth the stealth to have been committed upon him by such an outlaw. Spenser.
2. The thing stolen; stolen property. [Obs.] "Sluttish dens . . . serving to cover stealths." Sir W. Raleigh.
3. The bringing to pass anything in a secret or concealed manner; a secret procedure; a clandestine practice or action; — in either a good or a bad sense. Do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame. Pope. The monarch, blinded with desire of wealth, With steel invades the brother's life by stealth. Dryden. I told him of your stealth unto this wood. Shak.
STEALTHFULStealth"ful, a.
Defn: Given to stealth; stealthy. [Obs.] — Stealth"ful*ly, adv.[Obs.] — Stealth"ful*ness, n. [Obs.]
STEALTHILYStealth"i*ly, adv.
Defn: In a stealthy manner.
STEALTHINESSStealth"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state, quality, or character of being stealthy; stealth.
STEALTHLIKEStealth"like`, a.
Defn: Stealthy; sly. Wordsworth.
STEALTHYStealth"y, a. [Compar. Stealthier; superl. Stealthiest.]
Defn: Done by stealth; accomplished clandestinely; unperceived;secret; furtive; sly.[Withered murder] with his stealthy pace, . . . Moves like a ghost.Shak.
STEAM Steam, n. Etym: [OE. stem, steem, vapor, flame, AS. steám vapor, smoke, odor; akin to D. stoom steam, perhaps originally, a pillar, or something rising like a pillar; cf. Gr. stand.]
1. The elastic, aëriform fluid into which water is converted when heated to the boiling points; water in the state of vapor.
2. The mist formed by condensed vapor; visible vapor; — so called in popular usage.
3. Any exhalation. "A steam og rich, distilled perfumes." Milton. Dry steam, steam which does not contain water held in suspension mechanically; — sometimes applied to superheated steam. — Exhaust steam. See under Exhaust. — High steam, or High-pressure steam, steam of which the pressure greatly exceeds that of the atmosphere. — Low steam, or Low-pressure steam, steam of which the pressure is less than, equal to, or not greatly above, that of the atmosphere. — Saturated steam, steam at the temperature of the boiling point which corresponds to its pressure; — sometimes also applied to wet steam. — Superheated steam, steam heated to a temperature higher than the boiling point corresponding to its pressure. It can not exist in contact with water, nor contain water, and resembles a perfect gas; - - called also surcharged steam, anhydrous steam, and steam gas. — Wet steam, steam which contains water held in suspension mechanically; — called also misty steam.
Note: Steam is often used adjectively, and in combination, to denote, produced by heat, or operated by power, derived from steam, in distinction from other sources of power; as in steam boiler or steam- boiler, steam dredger or steam-dredger, steam engine or steam-engine, steam heat, steam plow or steam-plow, etc. Steam blower. (a) A blower for producing a draught consisting of a jet or jets of steam in a chimney or under a fire. (b) A fan blower driven directly by a steam engine. — Steam boiler, a boiler for producing steam. See Boiler, 3, and Note. In the illustration, the shell a of the boiler is partly in section, showing the tubes, or flues, which the hot gases, from the fire beneath the boiler, enter, after traversing the outside of the shell, and through which the gases are led to the smoke pipe d, which delivers them to the chimney; b is the manhole; c the dome; e the steam pipe; f the feed and blow-off pipe; g the safety value; hthe water gauge. — Steam car, a car driven by steam power, or drawn by a locomotive. — Steam carriage, a carriage upon wheels moved on common roads by steam. — Steam casing. See Steam jacket, under Jacket. — Steam chest, the box or chamber from which steam is distributed to the cylinder of a steam engine, steam pump, etc., and which usually contains one or more values; — called also valve chest, and valve box. See Illust. of Slide valve, under Slide. — Steam chimney, an annular chamber around the chimney of a boiler furnace, for drying steam. — Steam coil, a coil of pipe, or collection of connected pipes, for containing steam; — used for heating, drying, etc. — Steam colors (Calico Printing), colors in which the chemical reaction fixed the coloring matter in the fiber is produced by steam. — Steam cylinder, the cylinder of a steam engine, which contains the piston. See Illust. of Slide valve, under Slide. — Steam dome (Steam Boilers), a chamber upon the top of the boiler, from which steam is conduced to the engine. See Illust. of Steam boiler, above. — Steam fire engine, a fire engine consisting of a steam boiler and engine, and pump which is driven by the engine, combined and mounted on wheels. It is usually drawn by horses, but is sometimes made self- propelling. — Steam fitter, a fitter of steam pipes. — Steam fitting, the act or the occupation of a steam fitter; also, a pipe fitting for steam pipes. — Steam gas. See Superheated steam, above. — Steam gauge, an instrument for indicating the pressure of the steam in a boiler. The mercurial steam gauge is a bent tube partially filled with mercury, one end of which is connected with the boiler while the other is open to the air, so that the steam by its pressure raises the mercury in the long limb of the tume to a height proportioned to that pressure. A more common form, especially for high pressures, consists of a spring pressed upon by the steam, and connected with the pointer of a dial. The spring may be a flattened, bent tube, closed at one end, which the entering steam tends to straighten, or it may be a diaphragm of elastic metal, or a mass of confined air, etc. — Steam gun, a machine or contrivance from which projectiles may be thrown by the elastic force of steam. — Steam hammer, a hammer for forging, which is worked directly by steam; especially, a hammer which is guided vertically and operated by a vertical steam cylinder located directly over an anvil. In the variety known as Nasmyth's, the cylinder is fixed, and the hammer is attached to the piston rod. In that known as Condie's, the piston is fixed, and the hammer attached to the lower end of the cylinder. — Steam heater. (a) A radiator heated by steam. (b) An apparatus consisting of a steam boiler, radiator, piping, and fixures for warming a house by steam. — Steam jacket. See under Jacket. — Steam packet, a packet or vessel propelled by steam, and running periodically between certain ports. — Steam pipe, any pipe for conveying steam; specifically, a pipe through which steam is supplied to an engine. — Steam plow or plough, a plow, or gang of plows, moved by a steam engine. — Steam port, an opening for steam to pass through, as from the steam chest into the cylinder. — Steam power, the force or energy of steam applied to produce results; power derived from a steam engine. — Steam propeller. See Propeller. — Steam pump, a small pumping engine operated by steam. It is usually direct-acting. — Steam room (Steam Boilers), the space in the boiler above the water level, and in the dome, which contains steam. — Steam table, a table on which are dishes heated by steam for keeping food warm in the carving room of a hotel, restaurant, etc. — Steam trap, a self-acting device by means of which water that accumulates in a pipe or vessel containing steam will be discharged without permitting steam to escape. — Steam tug, a steam vessel used in towing or propelling ships. — Steam vessel, a vessel propelled by steam; a steamboat or steamship; — a steamer. — Steam whistle, an apparatus attached to a steam boiler, as of a locomotive, through which steam is rapidly discharged, producing a loud whistle which serves as a warning signal. The steam issues from a narrow annular orifice around the upper edge of the lower cup or hemisphere, striking the thin edge of the bell above it, and producing sound in the manner of an organ pipe or a common whistle.
STEAMSteam, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Steamed; p. pr. & vb. n. Steaming.]
1. To emit steam or vapor. My brother's ghost hangs hovering there, O'er his warm blood, that steams into the air. Dryden. Let the crude humors dance In heated brass, steaming with fire intence. J. Philips.
2. To rise in vapor; to issue, or pass off, as vapor. The dissolved amber . . . steamed away into the air. Boyle.
3. To move or travel by the agency of steam. The vessel steamed out of port. N. P. Willis.
4. To generate steam; as, the boiler steams well.
STEAMSteam, v. t.
1. To exhale. [Obs.] Spenser.
2. To expose to the action of steam; to apply steam to for softening, dressing, or preparing; as, to steam wood; to steamcloth; to steam food, etc.
STEAMBOATSteam"boat`, n.
Defn: A boat or vessel propelled by steam power; — generally used of river or coasting craft, as distinguished from ocean steamers.
STEAMBOATINGSteam"boat`ing, n.
1. The occupation or business of running a steamboat, or of transporting merchandise, passengers, etc., by steamboats.
2. (Bookbinding)
Defn: The shearing of a pile of books which are as yet uncovered, or out of boards. Knight.
STEAM ENGINESteam" en"gine.
Defn: An engine moved by steam.
Note: In its most common forms its essential parts are a piston, a cylinder, and a valve gear. The piston works in the cylinder, to which steam is admitted by the action of the valve gear, and communicates motion to the machinery to be actuated. Steam engines are thus classified: 1. According to the wat the steam is used or applied, as condencing, noncondencing, compound, double-acting, single-acting, triple-expansion, etc. 2. According to the motion of the piston, as reciprocating, rotary, etc. 3. According to the motion imparted by the engine, as rotative and nonrotative. 4. According to the arrangement of the engine, as stationary, portable, and semiportable engines, beam engine, oscillating engine, direct-acting and back-acting engines, etc. 5. According to their uses, as portable, marine, locomotive, pumping, blowing, winding, and stationary engines. Locomotive and portable engines are usually high- pressure, noncondencing, rotative, and direct-acting. Marine engines are high or low pressure, rotative, and generally condencing, double- acting, and compound. Paddle engines are generally beam, sideScrew engines are generally direct-acting, back-acting, or oscillating. Stationary engines belong to various classes, but are generally rotative. A horizontal or inclined stationary steam engine is called a left-hand or a right-hand engine when the crank shaft and driving pulley are on the left-hand side, or the right-hand side, respectively, or the engine, to a person looking at them from the cylinder, and is said to run forward or backward when the crank traverses the upward half, or lower half, respectively, of its path, while the piston rod makes its stroke outward from the cylinder. A marine engine, or the engine of a locomotive, is said to run forward when its motion is such as would propel the vessel or the locomotive forward. Steam engines are further classified as double-cylinder, disk, semicylinder, trunk engines, etc. Machines, such as cranes, hammers, etc., of which the steam engine forms a part, are called steam cranes, steam hammers, etc. See Illustration in Appendix. Back- acting, or Back-action, steam engine, a steam engine in which the motion is transmitted backward from the crosshead to a crank which is between the crosshead and the cylinder, or beyond the cylinder. — Portable steam engine, a steam engine combined with, and attached to, a boiler which is mounted on wheels so as to admit of easy transportation; — used for driving machinery in the field, as trashing machines, draining pumps, etc. — Semiportable steam engine, a steam engine combined with, and attached to, a steam boiler, but not mounted on wheels.
STEAMERSteam"er, n.
1. A vessel propelled by steam; a steamship or steamboat.
2. A steam fire engine. See under Steam.
3. A road locomotive for use on common roads, as in agricultural operations.
4. A vessel in which articles are subjected to the action of steam, as in washing, in cookery, and in various processes of manufacture.
5. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The steamer duck. Steamer duck (Zoöl.), a sea duck (Tachyeres cinereus), native of Patagonia and Terra del Fuego, which swims and dives with great agility, but which, when full grown, is incapable of flight, owing to its very small wings. Called also loggerhead, race horse, and side wheel duck.
STEAMINESSSteam"i*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or condition of being steamy; vaporousness; mistness.
STEAMSHIPSteam"ship`, n.
Defn: A ship or seagoing vessel propelled by the power of steam; a steamer.
STEAMYSteam"y, a.
Defn: Consisting of, or resembling, steam; full of steam; vaporous; misty. Cowper.
STEANStean, n. & v.
Defn: See Steen. Spenser.
STEANINGPStean"ingp, n.
Defn: See Steening.
STEAPSINSte*ap"sin, n. (Physiol Chem.)
Defn: An unorganized ferment or enzyme present in pancreatic juice.It decomposes neutral fats into glycerin and fatty acids.
STEARATESte"a*rate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of stearic acid; as, ordinary soap consists largely of sodium or potassium stearates.
STEARICSte*ar"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. stéarique.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or obtained from, stearin or tallow; resembling tallow. Stearic acid (Chem.), a monobasic fatty acid, obtained in the form of white crystalline scales, soluble in alcohol and ether. It melts to an oily liquid at 69°C.C18H36O2, CH3.(CH2)16.COOH; sodium stearate, with sodium palmitate, is the main component of ordinary bar soaps (Such as Ivory soap).
STEARINSte"a*rin, n. Etym: [Gr. stéarine.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: One of the constituents of animal fats and also of some vegetable fats, as the butter of cacao. It is especially characterized by its solidity, so that when present in considerable quantity it materially increases the hardness, or raises the melting point, of the fat, as in mutton tallow. Chemically, it is a compound of glyceryl with three molecules of stearic acid, and hence is technically called tristearin, or glyceryl tristearate.
STEAROLICSte`a*rol"ic, a. Etym: [Stearic + oleic + -ic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or designating, an acid of the acetylene series, isologous with stearis acid, and obtained, as a white crystalline substance, from oleïc acid.
STEARONESte"a*rone, n. (Chem.)
Defn: The ketone of stearic acid, obtained as a white crystalline substance, (C17H35)2.CO, by the distillation of calcium stearate.
STEAROPTENESte`a*rop"tene, n. Etym: [Stearic + -optene as in elæoptene.] (Chem.)
Defn: The more solid ingredient of certain volatile oils; — contrasted with elæoptene.
STEARRHEASte`ar*rhe"a, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Med.)
Defn: seborrhea.
STEARYLSte"a*ryl, n. Etym: [Stearic + -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: The hypothetical radical characteristic of stearic acid.
STEATITESte"a*tite, n. Etym: [Gr. stéatite.] (Min.)
Defn: A massive variety of talc, of a grayish green or brown color. It forms extensive beds, and is quarried for fireplaces and for coarse utensils. Called also potstone, lard stone, and soapstone.
STEATITICSte`a*tit"ic, n. (Min.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or of the nature of, steatite; containing or resembling steatite.
STEATOMASte`a*to"ma, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A cyst containing matter like suet.
STEATOMATOUSSte`a*tom"a*tous, a. (Med.)
Defn: Of the nature of steatoma.
STEATOPYGASte`a*top"y*ga, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
Defn: A remarkable accretion of fat upon the buttocks of Africans of certain tribes, especially of Hottentot women.
STEATOPYGOUSSte`a*top"y*gous, a.
Defn: Having fat buttocks.Specimens of the steatopygous Abyssinian breed. Burton.
STED; STEDFAST; STEDFASTLYSted, n., Sted"fast, a., Sted"fast*ly, adv., etc.
Defn: See Stead, Steadfast, etc.
STEEStee, n. Etym: [Cf. G. stiege. *164. See Stair.]
Defn: A ladder. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] [Written also stey.]
STEED Steed, n. Etym: [OE. stede, AS. steda a stud-horse, war horse, fr. stod a stud of breeding steeds; akin to G. stute a mare, Icel. stedda, sto, a stud. *163. See Stud of horses.]
Defn: A horse, especially a spirited horse for state of war; — used chiefly in poetry or stately prose. "A knight upon a steed." Chaucer. Mounted upon a hot and fiery steed. Shak.
STEEDLESSSteed"less, a.
Defn: Having no steed; without a horse.
STEEK; STEIKSteek, Steik, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Stick, v. t.]
Defn: To pierce with a sharp instrument; hence, to stitch; to sew; also, to fix; to fasten. [Scot.]
STEELSteel, n. Etym: [AS. stel, styl, style; akin to D. staal, G. stahl,OHG. stahal, Icel. stal, Dan. staal, Sw. stål, Old Prussian stakla.]
1. (Metal)
Defn: A variety of iron intermediate in composition and properties between wrought iron and cast iron (containing between one half of one per cent and one and a half per cent of carbon), and consisting of an alloy of iron with an iron carbide. Steel, unlike wrought iron, can be tempered, and retains magnetism. Its malleability decreases, and fusibility increases, with an increase in carbon.
2. An instrument or implement made of steel; as: — (a) A weapon, as a sword, dagger, etc. "Brave Macbeth . . . with his brandished steel." Shak. While doubting thus he stood, Received the steel bathed in his brother's blood. Dryden.
(b) An instrument of steel (usually a round rod) for sharpening knives. (c) A piece of steel for striking sparks from flint.
3. Fig.: Anything of extreme hardness; that which is characterized by sternness or rigor. "Heads of steel." Johnson. "Manhood's heart of steel." Byron.
4. (Med.)
Defn: A chalybeate medicine. Dunglison.
Note: Steel is often used in the formation of compounds, generally of obvious meaning; as, steel-clad, steel-girt, steel-hearted, steel- plated, steel-pointed, etc. Bessemer steel (Metal.) See in the Vocabulary. — Blister steel. (Metal.) See under Blister. — Cast steel (Metal.), a fine variety of steel, originally made by smelting blister or cementation steel; hence, ordinarily, steel of any process of production when remelted and cast. — Cromium steel (Metal.), a hard, tenacious variety containing a little cromium, and somewhat resembling tungsten steel. — Mild steel (Metal.), a kind of steel having a lower proportion of carbon than ordinary steel, rendering it softer and more malleable. — Puddled steel (Metal.), a variety of steel produced from cast iron by the puddling process. — Steel duck (Zoöl.), the goosander, or merganser. [Prov. Eng.] — Steel mill. (a) (Firearms) See Wheel lock, under Wheel. (b) A mill which has steel grinding surfaces. (c) A mill where steel is manufactured. — Steel trap, a trap for catching wild animals. It consists of two iron jaws, which close by means of a powerful steel spring when the animal disturbs the catch, or tongue, by which they are kept open. — Steel wine, wine, usually sherry, in which steel filings have been placed for a considerable time, — used as a medicine. — Tincture of steel (Med.), an alcoholic solution of the chloride of iron. — Tungsten steel (Metal.), a variety of steel containing a small amount of tungsten, and noted for its tenacity and hardness, as well as for its malleability and tempering qualities. It is also noted for its magnetic properties.
STEELSteel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Steeled; p. pr. & vb. n. Steeling.] Etym:[AS. stlan: cf. Icel. stæla. See Steel, n.]
1. To overlay, point, or edge with steel; as, to steel a razor; to steel an ax.
2. To make hard or strong; hence, to make insensible or obdurate. Lies well steeled with weighty arguments. Shak. O God of battles! steel my soldier's hearts. Shak. Why will you fight against so sweet a passion, And steel your heart to such a world of charms Addison.
3. Fig.: To cause to resemble steel, as in smoothness, polish, orother qualities.These waters, steeled By breezeless air to smoothest polish.Wordsworth.
4. (Elec.)
Defn: To cover, as an electrotype plate, with a thin layer of iron by electrolysis. The iron thus deposited is very hard, like steel.
STEELBOW GOODSSteel"bow` goods". (Scots Law)
Defn: Those goods on a farm, such as corn, cattle, implements husbandry, etc., which may not be carried off by a removing tenant, as being the property of the landlord.
STEELERSteel"er, n.
Defn: One who points, edges, or covers with steel.
STEELERSteel"er, n. (Shipbuilding)
Defn: Same as Stealer.
STEELHEADSteel"head`, n.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A North Pacific salmon (Salmo Gairdneri) found from NorthernCalifornia to Siberia; — called also hardhead, and preesil.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The ruddy duck.
STEELINESSSteel"i*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being steely.
STEELINGSteel"ing, n.
Defn: The process of pointing, edging, or overlaying with steel; specifically, acierage. See Steel, v.
STEELYSteel"y, a.
1. Made of steel; consisting of steel. "The steely point of Clifford's lance." Shak. Around his shop the steely sparkles flew. Gay.
2. Resembling steel; hard; firm; having the color of steel. "His hair was steely gray." The Century. She would unarm her noble heart of that steely resistance against the sweet blows of love. Sir P. Sidney. Steely iron, a compound of iron containing less than one half of one per cent of carbon.
STEELYARDSteel"yard, n. Etym: [So named from a place in London called theSteelyard, which was a yard in which steel was sold.]
Defn: A form of balance in which the body to be weighed is suspended from the shorter arm of a lever, which turns on a fulcrum, and a counterpoise is caused to slide upon the longer arm to produce equilibrium, its place upon this arm (which is notched or graduated) indicating the weight; a Roman balance; — very commonly used also in the plural form, steelyards.
STEEMSteem, n. & v.
Defn: See Esteem. [Obs.] Spenser.
STEEMSteem, n. & v.
Defn: See 1st and 2nd Stem. [Obs.] Chaucer.
STEENSteen, n. Etym: [AS. st. See Stone.] [Written also stean.]
1. A vessel of clay or stone. "An huge great earth-pot steane." Spenser.
2. A wall of brick, stone, or cement, used as a lining, as of a well, cistern, etc.; a steening.
STEENSteen, v. t. Etym: [AS. st to adorn with stones or gems. See Stone.]
Defn: To line, as a well, with brick, stone, or other hard material.[Written also stean, and stein.]
STEENBOKSteen"bok`, n. Etym: [D. steen stone + bok buck.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Steinbock.
STEENINGSteen"ing, n.
Defn: A lining made of brick, stone, or other hard material, as for a well. [Written also steaning.]
STEENKIRK; STEINKIRKSteen"kirk`, Stein"kirk`, n. Etym: [So called from the battle ofSteinkirk, in 1692, on which occasion the French nobles had no timeto arrange their lace neckcloths.]
Defn: A kind of neckcloth worn in a loose and disorderly fashion.
STEEPSteep (step), a.
Defn: Bright; glittering; fiery. [Obs.]His eyen steep, and rolling in his head. Chaucer.
STEEP Steep, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Steeped (stept); p. pr. & vb. n. Steeping.] Etym: [OE. stepen, probably fr. Icel. steypa to cause to stoop, cast down, pour out, to cast metals, causative of stupa to stoop; cf. Sw. stöpa to cast, to steep, Dan. stöbe, D. & G. stippen to steep, to dip. Cf. Stoop, v. t.]
Defn: To soak in a liquid; to macerate; to extract the essence of bysoaking; as, to soften seed by steeping it in water. Often usedfiguratively.Let fancy still my sense in Lethe steep. Shak.In refreshing dew to steep The little, trembling flowers. Wordsworth.The learned of the nation were steeped in Latin. Earle.
STEEPSteep, v. i.
Defn: To undergo the process of soaking in a liquid; as, the tea is steeping. [Colloq.]
STEEPSteep, n.
1. Something steeped, or used in steeping; a fertilizing liquid to hasten the germination of seeds.
2. A rennet bag. [Prov. Eng.]
STEEP Steep, a. [Comper. Steeper; superl. Steepest.] Etym: [OE. steep, step, AS. steáp; akin to Icel. steyp steep, and stupa to stoop, Sw. stupa to fall, to tilt; cf. OFries. stap high. Cf. Stoop, v. i., Steep, v. t., Steeple.]
1. Making a large angle with the plane of the horizon; ascending or descending rapidly with respect to a horizontal line or a level; precipitous; as, a steep hill or mountain; a steep roof; a steep ascent; a steep declivity; a steep barometric gradient.
2. Difficult of access; not easy reached; lofty; elevated; high. [Obs.] Chapman.
3. Excessive; as, a steep price. [Slang]
STEEPSteep, n.
Defn: A precipitous place, hill, mountain, rock, or ascent; any elevated object sloping with a large angle to the plane of the horizon; a precipice. Dryden. We had on each side naked rocks and mountains broken into a thousand irregular steeps and precipices. Addison. Bare steeps, where desolation stalks. Wordsworth.
STEEP-DOWNSteep"-down`, a.
Defn: Deep and precipitous, having steep descent. [R.]Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire. Shak.
STEEPENSteep"en, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Steepened; p. pr. & vb. n. Steepening.]
Defn: To become steep or steeper. As the way steepened . . . I could detect in the hollow of the hill some traces of the old path. H. Miller.
STEEPERSteep"er, n.
Defn: A vessel, vat, or cistern, in which things are steeped.
STEEPINESSSteep"i*ness, n.
Defn: Steepness. Howell.
STEEPISHSteep"ish, a.
Defn: Somewhat steep. Carlyle.
STEEPLEStee"ple, n. Etym: [OE. stepel, AS. stepel, st; akin to E. steep, a.](Arch.)
Defn: A spire; also, the tower and spire taken together; the whole of a structure if the roof is of spire form. See Spire. "A weathercock on a steeple." Shak. Rood steeple. See Rood tower, under Rood. — Steeple bush (Bot.), a low shrub (Spiræa tomentosa) having dense panicles of minute rose-colored flowers; hardhack. — Steeple chase, a race across country between a number of horsemen, to see which can first reach some distant object, as a church steeple; hence, a race over a prescribed course obstructed by such obstacles as one meets in riding across country, as hedges, walls, etc. — Steeple chaser, one who rides in a steeple chase; also, a horse trained to run in a steeple chase. — Steeple engine, a vertical back-acting steam engine having the cylinder beneath the crosshead. — Steeple house, a church. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
STEEPLECHASINGStee"ple*chas`ing, n.
Defn: The act of riding steeple chases.
STEEPLE-CROWNEDStee"ple-crowned`, a.
1. Bearing a steeple; as, a steeple-crowned building.
2. Having a crown shaped like a steeple; as, a steeple-crowned hat; also, wearing a hat with such a crown. This grave, beared, sable-cloaked, and steeple-crowned progenitor. Hawthorne.
STEEPLEDStee"pled, a.
Defn: Furnished with, or having the form of, a steeple; adorned with steeples. Fairfax.
STEEPLYSteep"ly, adv.
Defn: In a steep manner; with steepness; with precipitous declivity.
STEEPNESSSteep"ness, n.
1. Quality or state of being steep; precipitous declivity; as, the steepnessof a hill or a roof.
2. Height; loftiness. [Obs.] Chapman.
STEEP-UPSteep"-up`, a.
Defn: Lofty and precipitous. [R.]Her stand she takes upon a steep-up hill. Shak.
STEEPYSteep"y, a.
Defn: Steep; precipitous. [Poetic] No more, my goats, shall I belong you climb The steepy cliffs, or crop the flow'ry thyme. Dryden.
STEER Steer, n. Etym: [OE. steer, AS. steór; akin to D. & G. stier a bull, OHG. stior, Icel. stjorr, , Sw. tjur, Dan. tyr, Goth. stiur, Russ. tur', Pol. tur, Ir. & Gael. tarbh, W. tarw, L. taurus, Gr. sth strong, stout, AS. stor large, Icel. storr, OHG. st, stiuri. *168. Cf. Stirk, Taurine, a.]
Defn: A young male of the ox kind; especially, a common ox; a castrated taurine male from two to four years old. See the Note under Ox.
STEERSteer, v. t.
Defn: To castrate; — said of male calves.
STEER Steer, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Steered; p. pr. & vb. n. Steering.] Etym: [OE. steeren, steren, AS. stiéran, st, steóran; akin to OFries. stiora, stiura, D. sturen, OD. stieren, G. steuren, OHG. stiuren to direct, support, G. steuer contribution, tax, Icel. st to steer, govern,Sw. styra, Dan. styre, Goth. stiurjan to establish, AS. steór a rudder, a helm, and probably to Icel. staurr a pale, stake, Gr. stand. *168. Cf. Starboard, Stern, n.]
Defn: To direct the course of; to guide; to govern; — applied especially to a vessel in the water. That with a staff his feeble steps did steer. Spenser.
STEERSteer, v. i.
1. To direct a vessel in its course; to direct one's course. "No helmsman steers." Tennyson.
2. To be directed and governed; to take a direction, or course; to obey the helm; as, the boat steers easily. Where the wind Veers oft, as oft [a ship] so steers, and shifts her sail. Milton.
3. To conduct one's self; to take or pursue a course of action.
STEER Steer, n. Etym: [AS. steór, stiór; akin to D. stuur, G. steuer, Icel. st. *186. See Steer, v. t.] [Written also stere.]
Defn: A rudder or helm. [Obs.] Chaucer.
STEERSteer, n. Etym: [AS. steóra. See Steer a rudder.]
Defn: A helmsman, a pilot. [Obs.] Chaucer.
STEERABLESteer"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being steered; dirigible.
STEERAGESteer"age, n.
1. The act or practice of steering, or directing; as, the steerage of a ship. He left the city, and, in a most tempestuous season, forsook the helm and steerage of the common wealth. Milton.
2. (Naut.) (a) The effect of the helm on a ship; the manner in which an individual ship is affected by the helm. (b) The hinder part of a vessel; the stern. [R.] Swift. (c) Properly, the space in the after part of a vessel, under the cabin, but used generally to indicate any part of a vessel having the poorest accommodations and occupied by passengers paying the lowest rate of fare.
3. Direction; regulation; management; guidance. He that hath the steerage of my course. Shak.
4. That by which a course is directed. [R.] Here he hung on high, The steerage of his wings. Dryden. Steerage passenger, a passenger who takes passage in the steerage of a vessel.
STEERAGEWAYSteer"age*way`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A rate of motion through the water sufficient to render a vessel governable by the helm.
STEERERSteer"er, n.
Defn: One who steers; as, a boat steerer.
STEERINGSteer"ing, a. & n.
Defn: from Steer, v. Steering wheel (Naut.), the wheel by means of which the rudder of a vessel is turned and the vessel is steered.
STEERLESSSteer"less, a.
Defn: Having no rudder. [Obs.] Chaucer.
STEERLINGSteer"ling, n.
Defn: A young small steer.
STEERSMAN Steers"man, n.; pl. Steersmen. Etym: [Steer a rudder + man: cf. AS. steórman.]
Defn: One who steers; the helmsman of a vessel. Milton.
STEERSMATESteers"mate, n. Etym: [Steer a rudder + mate a companion.]
Defn: One who steers; steersman. [Obs.] Milton.
STEEVESteeve, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Steeved; p. pr. & vb. n. Steeving.] Etym:[Cf. OD. steve staff, E. stem, n.] (Shipbuilding)
Defn: To project upward, or make an angle with the horizon or with the line of a vessel's keel; — said of the bowsprit, etc.
STEEVESteeve, v. t.
1. (Shipbuilding)
Defn: To elevate or fix at an angle with the horizon; — said of the bowsprit, etc.
2. To stow, as bales in a vessel's hold, by means of a steeve. See Steeve, n. (b).
STEEVE Steeve, n. (Naut.) (a) The angle which a bowsprit makes with the horizon, or with the line of the vessel's keel; — called also steeving. (b) A spar, with a block at one end, used in stowing cotton bales, and similar kinds of cargo which need to be packed tightly.
STEEVINGSteev"ing, n.
1. The act or practice of one who steeves.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: See Steeve, n. (a).
STEGSteg, n. Etym: [Icel. steggr the male of several animals. Cf. Stag.](Zoöl.)
Defn: A gander. [Written also stag.] [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
STEGANOGRAPHISTSteg`a*nog"ra*phist, n.
Defn: One skilled in steganography; a cryptographer.
STEGANOGRAPHYSteg`a*nog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy.]
Defn: The art of writing in cipher, or in characters which are not intelligible except to persons who have the key; cryptography.
STEGANOPHTHALMATASteg`a*noph*thal"ma*ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Discophora, or Phanerocarpæ. Called also Steganophthalmia.
STEGANOPODSte*gan"o*pod, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Steganopodes.
STEGANOPODESSteg`a*nop"o*des, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of swimming birds in which all four toes are united by a broad web. It includes the pelicans, cormorants, gannets, and others.
STEGANOPODOUSSteg`a*nop"o*dous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having all four toes webbed together.
STEGNOSISSteg*no"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Stegnotic.] (Med.)
Defn: Constipation; also, constriction of the vessels or ducts.
STEGNOTICSteg*no"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Tending to render costive, or to diminish excretions or discharges generally. — n.
Defn: A stegnotic medicine; an astringent.
STEGOCEPHALASteg`o*ceph"a*la, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: An extinct order of amphibians found fossil in the Mesozoic rocks; called also Stegocephali, and Labyrinthodonta.
Note: Their teeth, in transverse sections, usually show a labyrinthiform arrangement of the cement and dentine. The under side of the body was covered with bony plates. Some of the Stegocephala were of very large size, and the form of the body varied from short, stout forms to others that were as slender as serpents.
STEGOSAURIASteg`o*sau"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Stegosaurus.] (Paleon.)
Defn: An extinct order of herbivorous dinosaurs, including the generaStegosaurus, Omosaurus, and their allies.
STEGOSAURUSSteg`o*sau"rus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of large Jurassic dinosaurs remarkable for a powerful dermal armature of plates and spines.
STEIKSteik, v. t.
Defn: See Steek. [Scot.]
STEINStein, n. & v.
Defn: See Steen.
STEINBOCK Stein"bock`, n. Etym: [G. stein stone + bock buck, D. bok. Cf. Steenbok.] (Zoöl.) (a) The European ibex. (b) A small South African antelope (Nanotragus tragulus) which frequents dry, rocky districts; — called also steenbok. [Written also steinboc, and steinbok; also called stonebock, and stonebuck.]
STEINGALEStein"gale, n.
Defn: The stannel. [Prov. Eng.]
STEININGStein"ing, n.
Defn: See Steening.
STEINKIRKStein"kirk`, n.
Defn: Same as Steenkirk.
STEINKLEStein"kle, n.
Defn: The wheater. [Prov. Eng.]
STELASte"la, n.; pl. Stelæ. Etym: [L., from Gr. (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: A small column or pillar, used as a monument, milestone, etc.
STELESte"le, n. Etym: [NL.]
Defn: Same as Stela. One of these steles, containing the Greek version of the ordinance, has recently been discovered. I. Taylor (The Alphabet).
STELEStele, n. Etym: [See Stale a handle.]
Defn: A stale, or handle; a stalk. [Obs.] Chaucer. Holland.
STELENESte"lene, a. Etym: [See Stela.]
Defn: Resembling, or used as, a stela; columnar. [R.]
STELLStell, v. t. Etym: [AS. stellan. *163.]
Defn: To place or fix firmly or permanently. [Obs.] Shak.
STELLStell, n. Etym: [See Stell, v. t.]
1. A prop; a support, as for the feet in standing or cilmbing. [Scot.]
2. A partial inclosure made by a wall or trees, to serve as a shelter for sheep or cattle. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
STELLAR; STELLARYStel"lar, Stel"la*ry, a. Etym: [L. stellaris, fr. stella a star. SeeStar.]
1. Of or pertaining to stars; astral; as, a stellar figure; stellary orbs. [These soft fires] in part shed down Their stellar virtue. Milton.
2. Full of stars; starry; as, stellar regions.
STELLATE; STELLATED Stel"late, Stel"la*ted, a. Etym: [L. stellatus, p.p. of stellare to set or cover with stars, from stella a star. See Stellar.]
1. Resembling a star; pointed or radiated, like the emblem of a star.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Starlike; having similar parts radiating from a common center; as, stellate flowers.
STELLATIONStel*la"tion, n.
Defn: Radiation of light. [Obs.]
STELLEDStelled, a. Etym: [See Stell to place.]
Defn: Firmly placed or fixed. [Obs.] "The stelled fires" [the stars].Shak.
Note: [In this passage by some defined as "starry," as if from stellatus.]
STELLERStel"ler, n. Etym: [After Geo. W.Steller, a German naturalist.](Zoöl)
Defn: The rytina; — called also stellerine.
STELLERIDStel"ler*id, n. Etym: [L. stella a star.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A starfish.
STELLERIDAStel*ler"i*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An extensive group of echinoderms, comprising the starfishes and ophiurans.
STELLERIDAN; STELLERIDEANStel*ler"i*dan, Stel`ler*id"e*an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A starfish, or brittle star.
STELLIFEROUSStel*lif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. stellifer; stella star + ferre 8bear.]
Defn: Having, or abounding with, stars.
STELLIFORMStel"li*form, a. Etym: [L. stella a star + -form.]
Defn: Like a star; star-shaped; radiated.
STELLIFYStel"li*fy, v. t. Etym: [L. stella a star + -fy.]
Defn: To turn into a star; to cause to appear like a star; to place among the stars, or in heaven. [Obs. or R.] B. Jonson.
STELLION Stel"lion, n. Etym: [L. stellio a newt having starlike spots on its back, fr. stella a star.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A lizard (Stellio vulgaris), common about the Eastern Mediterranean among ruins. In color it is olive-green, shaded with black, with small stellate spots. Called also hardim, and star lizard.
STELLIONATE Stel"lion*ate, n. Etym: [L. stellionatus cozenage, trickery, fr. stellio a newt, a crafty, knavish person.] (Scots & Roman Law)
Defn: Any fraud not distinguished by a more special name; — chiefly applied to sales of the same property to two different persons, or selling that for one's own which belongs to another, etc. Erskine.
STELLULARStel"lu*lar, a. Etym: [L. stellula, dim. of stella a star.]
1. Having the shape or appearance of little stars; radiated.
2. Marked with starlike spots of color.
STELLULATEStel"lu*late, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Minutely stellate.
STELMATOPODAStel`ma*top"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Gymnolæmata.
STELOGRAPHYSte*log"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy: cf. Gr.
Defn: The art of writing or inscribing characters on pillars. [R.]Stackhouse.
STEM; STEEMStem, Steem, v. i.
Defn: To gleam. [Obs.] His head bald, that shone as any glass, . . . [And] stemed as a furnace of a leed [caldron]. Chaucer.
STEM; STEEMStem, Steem, n.
Defn: A gleam of light; flame. [Obs.]
STEM Stem, n. Etym: [AS. stemn, stefn, stæfn; akin to OS. stamn the stem of a ship, D. stam stem, steven stem of a ship, G. stamm stem, steven stem of a ship, Icel. stafn, stamn, stem of a ship, stofn, stomn, stem, Sw. stam a tree trunk, Dan. stamme. Cf. Staff, Stand.]
1. The principal body of a tree, shrub, or plant, of any kind; the main stock; the part which supports the branches or the head or top. After they are shot up thirty feet in length, they spread a very large top, having no bough nor twig in the trunk or the stem. Sir W. Raleigh. The lowering spring, with lavish rain, Beats down the slender stem and breaded grain. Dryden.
2. A little branch which connects a fruit, flower, or leaf with a main branch; a peduncle, pedicel, or petiole; as, the stem of an apple or a cherry.
3. The stock of a family; a race or generation of progenitors. "All that are of noble stem." Milton. While I do pray, learn here thy stem And true descent. Herbert.
4. A branch of a family. This is a stem Of that victorious stock. Shak.
5. (Naut.)
Defn: A curved piece of timber to which the two sides of a ship are united at the fore end. The lower end of it is scarfed to the keel, and the bowsprit rests upon its upper end. Hence, the forward part of a vessel; the bow.
6. Fig.: An advanced or leading position; the lookout. Wolsey sat at the stem more than twenty years. Fuller.
7. Anything resembling a stem or stalk; as, the stem of a tobacco pipe; the stem of a watch case, or that part to which the ring, by which it is suspended, is attached.
8. (Bot.)
Defn: That part of a plant which bears leaves, or rudiments of leaves, whether rising above ground or wholly subterranean.
9. (Zoöl.) (a) The entire central axis of a feather. (b) The basal portion of the body of one of the Pennatulacea, or of a gorgonian.
10. (Mus.)
Defn: The short perpendicular line added to the body of a note; the tail of a crotchet, quaver, semiquaver, etc.
11. (Gram.)
Defn: The part of an inflected word which remains unchanged (except by euphonic variations) throughout a given inflection; theme; base. From stem to stern (Naut.), from one end of the ship to the other, or through the whole length. — Stem leaf (Bot.), a leaf growing from the stem of a plant, as contrasted with a basal or radical leaf.
STEMStem, v. t.
1. To remove the stem or stems from; as, to stem cherries; to remove the stem and its appendages (ribs and veins) from; as, to stem tobacco leaves.
2. To ram, as clay, into a blasting hole.
STEMStem, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stemmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Stemming.] Etym:[Either from stem, n., or akin to stammer; cf. G. stemmen to pressagainst.]
Defn: To oppose or cut with, or as with, the stem of a vessel; to resist, or make progress against; to stop or check the flow of, as a current. "An argosy to stem the waves." Shak. [They] stem the flood with their erected breasts. Denham. Stemmed the wild torrent of a barbarous age. Pope.
STEMStem, v. i.
Defn: To move forward against an obstacle, as a vessel against acurrent.Stemming nightly toward the pole. Milton.
STEM-CLASPINGStem"-clasp`ing, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Embracing the stem with its base; amplexicaul; as a leaf or petiole.
STEMLESSStem"less, a.
Defn: Having no stem; (Bot.) acaulescent.
STEMLETStem"let, n.
Defn: A small or young stem.
STEMMA Stem"ma, n.; pl. Stemmata. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.) (a) One of the ocelli of an insect. See Ocellus. (b) One of the facets of a compound eye of any arthropod.
STEMMERStem"mer, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, stems (in any of the senses of the verbs).
STEMMERYStem"mer*y, n.
Defn: A large building in which tobacco is stemmed. [U. S.] Bartlett.
STEMMYStem"my, a.
Defn: Abounding in stems, or mixed with stems; — said of tea, dried currants, etc. [Colloq.]
STEMPLEStem"ple, n. Etym: [G. stempel a stamp, a prop, akin to E. stamp.](Mining)
Defn: A crossbar of wood in a shaft, serving as a step.
STEMSONStem"son, n. Etym: [See Stem, n., and Keelson, and cf. Sternson.](Shipbuilding)
Defn: A piece of curved timber bolted to the stem, keelson, and apron in a ship's frame near the bow.
STEM-WINDERStem"-wind`er, n.
Defn: A stem-winding watch. [Colloq.]
STEM-WINDINGStem"-wind`ing, a.
Defn: Wound by mechanism connected with the stem; as, a stem-winding watch.
STENCHStench, v. t.
Defn: To stanch. [Obs.] Harvey.
STENCH Stench, n. Etym: [AS. stenc a strong smell, fr. stincan. See Stink, v. i.]
1. A smell; an odor. [Obs.] Clouds of savory stench involve the sky. Dryden.
2. An ill smell; an offensive odor; a stink. Cowper. Stench trap, a contrivance to prevent stench or foul air from rising from the openings of sewers, drains, etc.
STENCH Stench, v. t. Etym: [AS. stencan to emit a smell, fr. stincan to smell. See Stench, n.]
Defn: To cause to emit a disagreeable odor; to cause to stink. [Obs.]Young.
STENCHYStench"y, a.
Defn: Having a stench. [Obs.] Dyer.
STENCIL Sten"cil, n. Etym: [Probably from OF. estincelle spangle, spark, F. étincelle spark, L. scintilla. See Scintillate, and cf. Tinsel.]
Defn: A thin plate of metal, leather, or other material, used in painting, marking, etc. The pattern is cut out of the plate, which is then laid flat on the surface to be marked, and the color brushed over it. Called also stencil plate.
STENCIL Sten"cil, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stenciled or Stencilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Stenciling or Stencilling.]
Defn: To mark, paint, or color in figures with stencils; to form or print by means of a stencil.
STENCILERSten"cil*er, n.
Defn: One who paints or colors in figures by means of stencil.[Written also stenciller.]
STENODERMSten"o*derm, n. Etym: [Gr. -derm.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any species of bat belonging to the genus Stenoderma, native of the West Indies and South America. These bats have a short or rudimentary tail and a peculiarly shaped nose membrane.
STENODERMINESten`o*der"mine, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the genus Stenoderma, which includes several West Indian and South American nose-leaf bats.
STENOGRAPHSten"o*graph, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stenographed; p. pr. & vb. n.Stenographing.]
Defn: To write or report in stenographic characters.
STENOGRAPHSten"o*graph, n.
Defn: A production of stenography; anything written in shorthand. I saw the reporters' room, in which they redact their hasty stenographs. Emerson.
STENOGRAPHERSte*nog"ra*pher, n.
Defn: One who is skilled in stenography; a writer of shorthand.
STENOGRAPHIC; STENOGRAPHICAL Sten`o*graph"ic, Sten`o*graph"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. sténographique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to stenography.
STENOGRAPHISTSte*nog"ra*phist, n.
Defn: A stenographer.
STENOGRAPHY Ste*nog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. graphy: cf. F. sténographie, G. stenographie.]
Defn: The art of writing in shorthand, by using abbreviations or characters for whole words; shorthand.
STENOPHYLLOUSSte*noph"yl*lous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having narrow leaves.
STENOSISSte*no"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A narrowing of the opening or hollow of any passage, tube, or orifice; as, stenosis of the pylorus. It differs from stricture in being applied especially to diffused rather than localized contractions, and in always indicating an origin organic and not spasmodic.
STENOSTOMESten"o*stome, a. Etym: [Gr. steno`s narrow, little + sto`ma mouth.](Zoöl.)