Defn: Having a small or narrow mouth; — said of certain small ground snakes (Opoterodonta), which are unable to dilate their jaws.
STENTStent, v. t. [Obs. imp. Stente; obs. p. p. Stent.] Etym: [See Stint.]
Defn: To keep within limits; to restain; to cause to stop, or cease;to stint.Then would he weep, he might not be stent. Chaucer.Yet n'ould she stent Her bitter railing and foul revilement. Spenser.
STENTStent, v. i.
Defn: To stint; to stop; to cease.And of this cry they would never stenten. Chaucer.
STENTStent, n.
Defn: An allotted portion; a stint. "Attain'd his journey's stent."Mir. for Mag.
STENTINGStent"ing, n.
Defn: An opening in a wall in a coal mine. [Written also stenton.][Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
STENTORSten"tor, n. Etym: [L. Stentor, Gr.
1. A herald, in the Iliad, who had a very loud voice; hence, any person having a powerful voice.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any species of ciliated Infusoria belonging to the genus Stentor and allied genera, common in fresh water. The stentors have a bell-shaped, or cornucopia-like, body with a circle of cilia around the spiral terminal disk. See Illust. under Heterotricha.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A howling monkey, or howler.
STENTORIANSten*to"ri*an, a. Etym: [L. stentoreus; cf. Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a stentor; extremely loud; powerful; as, a stentorian voice; stentorian lungs.
STENTORINSten"to*rin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A blue coloring matter found in some stentors. See Stentor, 2.
STENTORIOUSSten*to"ri*ous, a.
Defn: Stentorian. [R.]
STENTORONICSten`to*ron"ic, a.
Defn: Stentorian. [Obs.]
STENTOROPHONICSten`to*ro*phon"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. Stentor.]
Defn: Speaking or sounding very loud; stentorian. [Obs.]Of this stentorophonic horn of Alexander there is a preserved in theVatican. Derham.
STEP Step, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Stepped; p. pr. & vb. n. Stepping.] Etym: [AS. stæppan; akin to OFries. steppa, D. stappen to step, stap a step, OHG. stepfen to step, G. stapfe a footstep, OHG. stapfo, G. stufe a step to step on; cf. Gr. Stamp, n. & a.]
1. To move the foot in walking; to advance or recede by raising and moving one of the feet to another resting place, or by moving both feet in succession.
2. To walk; to go on foot; esp., to walk a little distance; as, to step to one of the neighbors.
3. To walk slowly, gravely, or resolutely. Home the swain retreats, His flock before him stepping to the fold. Thomson.
4. Fig.: To move mentally; to go in imagination. They are stepping almost three thousand years back into the remotest antiquity. Pope. To step aside, to walk a little distance from the rest; to retire from company. — To step forth, to move or come forth. — To step in or into. (a) To walk or advance into a place or state, or to advance suddenly in. Whosoever then first, after the troubling of the water, stepped in, was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. John v. 4. (b) To enter for a short time; as, I just stepped into the house. (c) To obtain possession without trouble; to enter upon easily or suddenly; as, to step into an estate. — To step out. (a) (Mil.) To increase the length, but not the rapidity, of the step, extending it to thirty-tree inches. (b) To go out for a short distance or a short time. — To step short (Mil.), to diminish the length or rapidity of the step according to the established rules.
STEPStep, v. t.
1. To set, as the foot.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: To fix the foot of (a mast) in its step; to erect. To step off, to measure by steps, or paces; hence, to divide, as a space, or to form a series of marks, by successive measurements, as with dividers.
STEPStep, n. Etym: [AS. stæpe. See Step, v. i.]
1. An advance or movement made by one removal of the foot; a pace.
2. A rest, or one of a set of rests, for the foot in ascending or descending, as a stair, or a round of a ladder. The breadth of every single step or stair should be never less than one foot. Sir H. Wotton.
3. The space passed over by one movement of the foot in walking or running; as, one step is generally about three feet, but may be more or less. Used also figuratively of any kind of progress; as, he improved step by step, or by steps. To derive two or three general principles of motion from phenomena, and afterwards to tell us how the properties and actions of all corporeal things follow from those manifest principles, would be a very great step in philosophy. Sir I. Newton.
4. A small space or distance; as, it is but a step.
5. A print of the foot; a footstep; a footprint; track.
6. Gait; manner of walking; as, the approach of a man is often known by his step.
7. Proceeding; measure; action; an act. The reputation of a man depends on the first steps he makes in the world. Pope. Beware of desperate steps. The darkest day, Live till to-morrow, will have passed away. Cowper. I have lately taken steps . . . to relieve the old gentleman's distresses. G. W. Cable.
8. pl.
Defn: Walk; passage.Conduct my steps to find the fatal tree. Dryden.
9. pl.
Defn: A portable framework of stairs, much used indoors in reaching to a high position.
10. (Naut.)
Defn: In general, a framing in wood or iron which is intended to receive an upright shaft; specif., a block of wood, or a solid platform upon the keelson, supporting the heel of the mast.
11. (Mach.) (a) One of a series of offsets, or parts, resembling the steps of stairs, as one of the series of parts of a cone pulley on which the belt runs. (b) A bearing in which the lower extremity of a spindle or a vertical shaft revolves.
12. (Mus.)
Defn: The intervak between two contiguous degrees of the csale.
Note: The word tone is often used as the name of this interval; but there is evident incongruity in using tone for indicating the interval between tones. As the word scale is derived from the Italian scala, a ladder, the intervals may well be called steps.
13. (Kinematics)
Defn: A change of position effected by a motion of translation. W. K.Clifford. Back step, Half step, etc. See under Back, Half, etc.— Step grate, a form of grate for holding fuel, in which the barsrise above one another in the manner of steps.— To take steps, to take action; to move in a matter.
STEP- Step-. Etym: [AS. steóp-; akin to OFries. stiap-, stiep-, D. & G. stief-, OHG. stiuf-, Icel. stj, Sw. styf-, and to AS. astepan, asteópan, to deprive, bereave, as children of their parents, OHG. stiufen.]
Defn: A prefix used before father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, child, etc., to indicate that the person thus spoken of is not a blood relative, but is a relative by the marriage of a parent; as, a stepmother to X is the wife of the father of X, married by him after the death of the mother of X. See Stepchild, Stepdaughter, Stepson, etc.
STEPBROTHERStep"broth`er, n.
Defn: A brother by the marriage of one's father with the mother of another, or of one's mother with the father of another.
STEPCHILDStep"child`, n. Etym: [AS. steópcild.]
1. A bereaved child; one who has lost father or mother. [Obs.]
2. A son or daughter of one's wife or husband by a former marriage.
STEPDAMEStep"dame`, n.
Defn: A stepmother. Spenser.
STEPDAUGHTERStep"daugh`ter, n. Etym: [AS. steópdohtor.]
Defn: A daughter of one's wife or husband by a former marriage.
STEP-DOWNStep"-down`, a. (Elec.)
Defn: Transforming or converting a current of high potential or pressure into one of low pressure; as, a step-down transformer.
STEPFATHERStep"fa`ther, n. Etym: [AS. steópfæder.]
Defn: The husband of one's mother by a subsequent marriage.
STEPHANIONSte*pha"ni*on, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The point on the side of the skull where the temporal line, or upper edge of the temporal fossa, crosses the coronal suture.
STEPHANITE Steph"an*ite, n. Etym: [So named after the Archduke Stephan, mining director of Austria.] (Min.)
Defn: A sulphide of antimony and silver of an iron-black color and metallic luster; called also black silver, and brittle silver ore.
STEPHANOTISSteph`a*no"tis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of climbing asclepiadaceous shrubs, of Madagascar, Malaya, etc. They have fleshy or coriaceous opposite leaves, and large white waxy flowers in cymes.
2. A perfume said to be prepared from the flowers of Stephanotis floribunda.
STEPLADDERStep"lad`der, n.
Defn: A portable set of steps.
STEPMOTHERStep"moth`er, n. Etym: [AS. steópmoder.]
Defn: The wife of one's father by a subsequent marriage.
STEPPARENTStep"par`ent, n.
Defn: Stepfather or stepmother.
STEPPESteppe, n. Etym: [From Russ. stepe, through G. or F. steppe.]
Defn: One of the vast plains in Southeastern Europe and in Asia, generally elevated, and free from wood, analogous to many of the prairies in Western North America. See Savanna. Steppe murrain. (Far.) See Rinderpest.
STEPPEDStepped, a.
Defn: Provided with a step or steps; having a series of offsets or parts resembling the steps of stairs; as, a stepped key. Stepped gear, a cogwheel of which the teeth cross the face in a series of steps.
STEPPERStep"per, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, steps; as, a quick stepper.
STEPPING-STONEStep"ping-stone`, n.
1. A stone to raise the feet above the surface of water or mud in walking.
2. Fig.: A means of progress or advancement. These obstacles his genius had turned into stepping-stones. Macaulay. That men may rise on stepping-stones Of their dead selves to higher things. Tennyson.
STEPSISTERStep"sis`ter, n.
Defn: A daughter of one's stepfather or stepmother by a former marriage.
STEPSONStep"son`, n. Etym: [AS. steópsunu.]
Defn: A son of one's husband or wife by a former marriage.
STEPSTONEStep"stone`, n.
Defn: A stone laid before a door as a stair to rise on in entering the house.
STEP-UPStep"-up`, a. (Elec.)
Defn: Transforming or converting a low-pressure current into one of high pressure; as, a step-up transformer.
-STER -ster. Etym: [OE. & AS. -estre, -istre.]
Defn: A suffix denoting the agent (originally a woman), especially a person who does something with skill or as an occupation; as in spinster (originally, a woman who spins), songster, baxter (= bakester), youngster.
Note: Brewing, baking, and weaving were formerly feminine labors, and consequently brewster, baxter, and webster meant, originally, the woman (not the man) who brews, bakes, or weaves. When men began to perform these duties the feminine appellations were retained.
STERCOBILINSter`co*bi"lin, n. Etym: [L. stercus dung + E. bilin.] (Physiol.Chem.)
Defn: A coloring matter found in the fæces, a product of the alteration of the bile pigments in the intestinal canal, — identical with hydrobilirubin.
STERCOLINSter"co*lin, n. Etym: [L. stercus dung + oleum oil.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: Same as Serolin (b).
STERCORACEOUSSter`co*ra"ceous, a. Etym: [L. stercus, -oris, dung.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to dung; partaking of the nature of, or containing, dung.
STERCORANISMSter"co*ra*nism, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: The doctrine or belief of the Stercoranists.
STERCORANIST Ster"co*ra*nist, n. Etym: [LL. stercoranista, fr. L. stercus, -oris, dung.] (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: A nickname formerly given to those who held, or were alleged to hold, that the consecrated elements in the eucharist undergo the process of digestion in the body of the recipient.
STERCORARIANSter`co*ra"ri*an, n.
Defn: A Stercoranist.
STERCORARY Ster"co*ra*ry, n. Etym: [LL. stercorarium, from L. stercorarius belonging to dung.]
Defn: A place, properly secured from the weather, for containing dung.
STERCORATESter"co*rate, n.
Defn: Excrement; dung. [Obs.]
STERCORATIONSter`co*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. stercoratio, from stercorare to dung.]
Defn: Manuring with dung. [Obs.] Bacon.
STERCORIANISMSter*co"ri*an*ism, n. (Eccl.)
Defn: The doctrine or belief of the Stercoranists.
STERCORINSter"co*rin, n. Etym: [L. stercus, -oris, dung.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: Same as Serolin (b).
STERCORYSter"co*ry, n.
Defn: Excrement; dung. [Obs.]
STERCULIACEOUSSter*cu`li*a"ceous, a. Etym: [NL. Sterculia, the typical genus, fr.L. Sterculius the deity that presided over manuring, from stercusdung. So called because one of the original species is fetid.] (Bot.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to a natural order (Sterculiaceæ) of polypetalous exogenous plants, mostly tropical. The cacao (Theobroma Cacao) is the most useful plant of the order.
STEREStere, n. Etym: [F. stère, fr. Gr.
Defn: A unit of cubic measure in the metric system, being a cubic meter, or kiloliter, and equal to 35.3 cubic feet, or nearly 1
STEREStere, v. t. & i.
Defn: To stir. [Obs.] Chaucer.
STEREStere, n.
Defn: A rudder. See 5th Steer. [Obs.] Chaucer.
STEREStere, n.
Defn: Helmsman. See 6th Steer. [Obs.] Chaucer.
STERELMINTHASter`el*min"tha, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. stereo`s solid + (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Platyelminthes.
STEREO-Ste"re*o-. Etym: [Gr. stereo`s solid. See Stare to gaze.]
Defn: A combining form meaning solid, hard, firm, as in stereo- chemistry, stereography.
STEREOBATESte"re*o*bate, n. Etym: [Gr. stereo`s solid + stéréobate.] (Arch.)
Defn: The lower part or basement of a building or pedestal; — used loosely for several different forms of basement.
STEREO-CHEMIC; STEREO-CHEMICALSte`re*o-chem"ic, Ste`re*o-chem"ic*al, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or illustrating, the hypothetical space relations of atoms in the molecule; as, a stereo-chemic formula.
STEREO-CHEMISTRYSte`re*o-chem"is*try, n. Etym: [Stereo- + chemistry.] (Chem.)
Defn: Chemistry considered with reference to the space relations of atoms.
STEREOCHROMESte"re*o*chrome, n.
Defn: Stereochromic picture.
STEREOCHROMICSte`re*o*chro"mic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the art of stereochromy; produced by stereochromy. — Ste`re*o*chro"mic*al*ly, adv.
STEREOCHROMYSte`re*och"ro*my, n. Etym: [Stereo- + Gr. chrw^ma color.]
Defn: A style of painting on plastered walls or stone, in which the colors are rendered permanent by sprinklings of water, in which is mixed a proportion of soluble glass (a silicate of soda).
STEREOELECTRICSte`re*o*e*lec"tric, a. Etym: [Stereo- + electric.] (Physics)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the generation of electricity by means of solid bodies alone; as, a stereoelectric current is one obtained by means of solids, without any liquid.
STEREOGRAMSte"re*o*gram, n. Etym: [Stereo- + -gram.]
Defn: A diagram or picture which represents objects in such a way as to give the impression of relief or solidity; also, a stereograph.
STEREOGRAPHSte"re*o*graph, n. Etym: [Stereo- + -graph.]
Defn: Any picture, or pair of pictures, prepared for exhibition in the stereoscope. Stereographs are now commonly made by means of photography.
STEREOGRAPHIC; STEREOGRAPHICAL Ste`re*o*graph"ic, Ste`re*o*graph"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. stéréographique.]
Defn: Made or done according to the rules of stereography; delineated on a plane; as, a stereographic chart of the earth. Stereographic projection (Geom.), a method of representing the sphere in which the center of projection is taken in the surface of the sphere, and the plane upon which the projection is made is at right andles to the diameter passing through the center of projection.
STEREOGRAPHICALLYSte`re*o*graph"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a stereographical manner; by delineation on a plane.
STEREOGRAPHYSte`re*og"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Stereo- + graphy: cf. F. stéréographie.]
Defn: The art of delineating the forms of solid bodies on a plane; a branch of solid geometry which shows the construction of all solids which are regularly defined.
Note: By cutting pieces of cardboard, or other suitable material, in the forms represented in the cut, folding them along the lines indicated, and joining their edges, the five regular solids may be formed.
STEREOMETERSte`re*om"e*ter, n. Etym: [Stereo- + meter.] (Physics)
1. An instrument for measuring the solid contents of a body, or the capacity of a vessel; a volumenometer.
2. An instrument for determining the specific gravity of liquid bodies, porous bodies, and powders, as well as solids.
STEREOMETRIC; STEREOMETRICAL Ste`re*o*met"ric, Ste`re*o*met"ric*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. stéréométrique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to stereometry; performed or obtained bystereometry.— Ste`re*o*met"ric*al*ly, adv.
STEREOMETRYSte`re*om"e*try, n. Etym: [Stereo- + -metry: cf. F. stéréométrie.]
Defn: The art of measuring and computing the cubical contents of bodies and figures; — distinguished from planimetry.
STEREOMONOSCOPESte`re*o*mon"o*scope, n. Etym: [Stereo- + mono- + -scope.]
Defn: An instrument with two lenses, by which an image of a single picture projected upon a screen of ground glass is made to present an appearance of relief, and may be viewed by several persons at once.
STEREOPLASMSte"re*o*plasm, n. Etym: [Stereo- + Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: The solid or insoluble portion of the cell protoplasm. SeeHygroplasm.
STEREOPTICONSte`re*op"ti*con, n. Etym: [NL. See Stereo-, and Optic.]
Defn: An instrument, consisting essentially of a magic lantern in which photographic pictures are used, by which the image of a landscape, or any object, may be thrown upon a screen in such a manner as to seem to stand out in relief, so as to form a striking and accurate representation of the object itself; also, a pair of magic lanterns for producing the effect of dissolving views.
STEREOSCOPESte"re*o*scope, n. Etym: [Stereo- + -scope.]
Defn: An optical instrument for giving to pictures the appearance of solid forms, as seen in nature. It combines in one, through a bending of the rays of light, two pictures, taken for the purpose from points of view a little way apart. It is furnished with two eyeglasses, and by refraction or reflection the pictures are superimposed, so as to appear as one to the observer.
Note: In the reflecting stereoscope, the rays from the two pictures are turned into the proper direction for stereoscopic vision by two plane mirrors set at an angle with each other, and between the pictures. In the lenticular stereoscope, the form in general use, the eyeglasses are semilenses, or marginal portions of the same convex lenses, set with their edges toward each other, so that they deflect the rays coming from the picture so as to strike the eyes as if coming direct from an intermediate point, where the two pictures are seen apparently as one.
STEREOSCOPIC; STEREOSCOPICALSte`re*o*scop"ic, Ste`re*o*scop"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the stereoscope; characteristic of, or adapted to, the stereoscope; as, a stereoscopic effect; the stereoscopic function of the eyeglasses; stereoscopic views. — Ste`re*o*scop"ic*al*ly, adv.
STEREOSCOPISTSte`re*os"co*pist, n.
Defn: One skilled in the use or construction of stereoscopes.
STEREOSCOPYSte`re*os"co*py, n.
Defn: The art or science of using the stereoscope, or of constructing the instrument or the views used with it.
STEREOSTATICSte`re*o*stat"ic, a. Etym: [Stereo- + static.] (Civil. Engin.)
Defn: Geostatic.
STEREOTOMIC; STEREOTOMICALSte`re*o*tom"ic, Ste`re*o*tom"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to stereotomy; performed by stereotomy.
STEREOTOMYSte`re*ot"o*my, n. Etym: [Stereo- + Gr. stéréotomie.]
Defn: The science or art of cutting solids into certain figures or sections, as arches, and the like; especially, the art of stonecutting.
STEREOTYPESte"re*o*type, n. Etym: [Stereo- + -type: cf. F. stéréotype.]
1. A plate forming an exact faximile of a page of type or of an engraving, used in printing books, etc.; specifically, a plate with type-metal face, used for printing.
Note: A stereotype, or stereotypr plate, is made by setting movable type as for ordinary printing; from these a cast is taken in plaster of Paris, paper pulp, or the like, and upon this cast melted type metal is poured, which, when hardened, makes a solid page or column, from which the impression is taken as from type.
2. The art or process of making such plates, or of executing work by means of them. Stereotype block, a block, usually of wood, to which a stereotype plate is attached while being used in printing.
STEREOTYPESte"re*o*type, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stereotyped; p. pr. & vb. n.Stereotyping.] Etym: [Cf. F. stéréotyper.]
1. To prepare for printing in stereotype; to make the stereotype plates of; as, to stereotype the Bible.
2. Fig.: To make firm or permanent; to fix. Powerful causes tending to stereotype and aggravate the poverty of old conditions. Duke of Argyll (1887).
STEREOTYPEDSte"re*o*typed, a.
1. Formed into, or printed from, stereotype plates.
2. Fig.: Formed in a fixed, unchangeable manner; as, stereotyped opinions. Our civilization, with its stereotyped ways and smooth conventionalities. J. C. Shairp.
STEREOTYPERSte"re*o*ty`per, n.
Defn: One who stereotypes; one who makes stereotype plates, or works in a stereotype foundry.
STEREOTYPERYSte"re*o*ty`per*y, n.
1. The art, process, or employment of making stereotype plates.
2. A place where stereotype plates are made; a stereotype foundry.
STEREOTYPICSte`re*o*typ"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to stereotype, or stereotype plates.
STEREOTYPISTSte"re*o*ty`pist, n.
Defn: A stereotyper.
STEREOTYPOGRAPHERSte`re*o*ty*pog"ra*pher, n.
Defn: A stereotype printer.
STEREOTYPOGRAPHYSte`re*o*ty*pog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Stereo- + typography.]
Defn: The act or art of printing from stereotype plates.
STEREOTYPYSte"re*o*ty`py, n. Etym: [Cf. F. stéréotypie.]
Defn: The art or process of making stereotype plates.
STERHYDRAULICSter`hy*drau"lic, a. Etym: [Stereo- + hydraulic.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, a kind of hydraulic press; resembling such a press in action or principle. Sterhydraulic press, an hydraulic press producing pressure or motion by the introduction of a solid substance (as a long rod, or a cord wound on a roller) into a cylinder previously filled with a liquid.
STERILESter"ile, a. Etym: [F. stérile, L. sterilis, akin to Gr. stereo`sstiff, solid, stei^ros barren, stei^ra a cow that has not calved,Goth. stairo, fem., barren. See Stare to gaze.]
1. Producing little or no crop; barren; unfruitful; unproductive; not fertile; as, sterile land; a sterile desert; a sterile year.
2. (Biol.) (a) Incapable of reproduction; unfitted for reproduction of offspring; not able to germinate or bear fruit; unfruitful; as, a sterile flower, which bears only stamens. (b) Free from reproductive spores or germs; as, a sterile fluid.
3. Fig.: Barren of ideas; destitute of sentiment; as, a sterile production or author.
STERILITYSte*ril"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. sterilitas: cf. F. stérilité.]
1. The quality or condition of being sterile.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: Quality of being sterile; infecundity; also, the state of being free from germs or spores.
STERILIZATIONSter`il*i*za"tion, n. (Biol.)
Defn: The act or process of sterilizing, or rendering sterile; also, the state of being sterile.
STERILIZESter"il*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sterilized; p. pr. & vb. n.Sterilizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. stériliser.]
1. To make sterile or unproductive; to impoverish, as land; to exhaust of fertility. [R.] "Sterilizing the earth." Woodward.
2. (Biol.) (a) To deprive of the power of reproducing; to render incapable of germination or fecundation; to make sterile. (b) To destroy all spores or germs in (an organic fluid or mixture), as by heat, so as to prevent the development of bacterial or other organisms.
STERILIZERSter"il*i`zer, n.
Defn: One that sterilizes anything; specif., an apparatus for sterilizing an organic fluid or mixture.
STERLETSter"let, n. Etym: [Russ. sterliade.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small sturgeon (Acipenser ruthenus) found in the Caspian Sea and its rivers, and highly esteemed for its flavor. The finest caviare is made from its roe.
STERLINGSter"ling, n. (Engin.)
Defn: Same as Starling, 3.
STERLING Ster"ling, n. Etym: [OE. sterlynge, starling, for easterling, LL. esterlingus, probably from Easterling, once the popular name of German trades in England, whose money was of the purest quality: cf. MHG. sterlink a certain coin. Cf. East. "Certain merchants of Norwaie, Denmarke, and of others those parties, called Ostomanni, or (as in our vulgar language we tearme them), easterlings, because they lie east in respect of us." Holinshed. "In the time of . . . King Richard the First, monie coined in the east parts of Germanie began to be of especiall request in England for the puritie thereof, and was called Easterling monie, as all inhabitants of those parts were called Easterlings, and shortly after some of that countrie, skillful in mint matters and allaies, were sent for into this realme to bring the coine to perfection; which since that time was called of them sterling, for Easterling." Camden. "Four thousand pound of sterlings." R. of Gloucester.]
1. Any English coin of standard value; coined money. So that ye offer nobles or sterlings. Chaucer. And Roman wealth in English sterling view. Arbuthnot.
2. A certain standard of quality or value for money. Sterling was the known and approved standard in England, in all probability, from the beginning of King Henry the Second's reign. S. M. Leake.
STERLINGSter"ling, a.
1. Belonging to, or relating to, the standard British money of account, or the British coinage; as, a pound sterling; a shilling sterling; a penny sterling; — now chiefly applied to the lawful money of England; but sterling cost, sterling value, are used. "With sterling money." Shak.
2. Genuine; pure; of excellent quality; conforming to the highest standard; of full value; as, a work of sterling merit; a man of sterling good sense.
STERNStern, n. Etym: [AS. stearn a kind of bird. See Starling.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The black tern.
STERN Stern, a. [Compar. Sterner; superl. Sternest.] Etym: [OE. sterne, sturne, AS. styrne; cf. D. stuurish stern, Sw. stursk refractory. *166.]
Defn: Having a certain hardness or severity of nature, manner, or aspect; hard; severe; rigid; rigorous; austere; fixed; unchanging; unrelenting; hence, serious; resolute; harsh; as, a sternresolve; a stern necessity; a stern heart; a stern gaze; a stern decree. The sterne wind so loud gan to rout. Chaucer. I would outstare the sternest eyes that look. Shak. When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath wept; Ambition should be made of sterner stuff. Shak. Stern as tutors, and as uncles hard. Dryden. These barren rocks, your stern inheritance. Wordsworth.
Syn. — Gloomy; sullen; forbidding; strict; unkind; hard-hearted; unfeeling; cruel; pitiless.
STERN Stern, n. Etym: [Icel. stjorn a steering, or a doubtful AS. steórn. *166. See Steer, v. t.]
1. The helm or tiller of a vessel or boat; also, the rudder. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: The after or rear end of a ship or other vessel, or of a boat; the part opposite to the stem, or prow.
3. Fig.: The post of management or direction. And sit chiefest stern of public weal. Shak.
4. The hinder part of anything. Spenser.
5. The tail of an animal; — now used only of the tail of a dog. By the stern. (Naut.) See By the head, under By.
STERNStern, a.
Defn: Being in the stern, or being astern; as, the stern davits. Stern board (Naut.), a going or falling astern; a loss of way in making a tack; as, to make a stern board. See Board, n., 8 (b). — Stern chase. (Naut.) (a) See under Chase, n. (b) A stern chaser. — Stern chaser (Naut.), a cannon placed in a ship's stern, pointing backward, and intended to annoy a ship that is in pursuit. — Stern fast (Naut.), a rope used to confine the stern of a ship or other vessel, as to a wharf or buoy. — Stern frame (Naut.), the framework of timber forms the stern of a ship. — Stern knee. See Sternson. — Stern port (Naut.), a port, or opening, in the stern of a ship. — Stern sheets (Naut.), that part of an open boat which is between the stern and the aftmost seat of the rowers, — usually furnished with seats for passengers. — Stern wheel, a paddle wheel attached to the stern of the steamboat which it propels.stern wheeler.
STERNAGEStern"age, n.
Defn: Stern. [R.] Shak.
STERNALSter"nal, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the sternum; in the region of the sternum.Sternal ribs. See the Note under Rib, n., 1.
STERNBERGITEStern"berg*ite, n. Etym: [So named after Count Kaspar Sternberg ofPrague.] (Min.)
Defn: A sulphide of silver and iron, occurring in soft flexible laminæ varying in color from brown to black.
STERNEBRA Ster"ne*bra, n.; pl. Sternebræ. Etym: [NL., fr. sternum + -bra of vertebra.] (Anat.)
Defn: One of the segments of the sternum.— Ster"ne*bral, a.
STERNEDSterned, a.
Defn: Having a stern of a particular shape; — used in composition; as, square-sterned.
STERNERStern"er, n. Etym: [See 3d Stern.]
Defn: A director. [Obs. & R.] Dr. R. Clerke.
STERNFOREMOSTStern`fore"most`, adv.
Defn: With the stern, instead of the bow, in advance; hence, figuratively, in an awkward, blundering manner. A fatal genius for going sternforemost. Lowell.
STERNITESter"nite, n. Etym: [From Sternum.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The sternum of an arthropod somite.
STERNLYStern"ly, adv.
Defn: In a stern manner.
STERNMOSTStern"most`, a.
Defn: Farthest in the rear; farthest astern; as, the sternmost ship in a convoy.
STERNNESSStern"ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being stern.
STERNO-Ster"no-.
Defn: A combining form used in anatomy to indicate connection with, or relation to, the sternum; as, sternocostal, sternoscapular.
STERNOCORACOIDSter`no*cor"a*coid, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the sternum and the coracoid.
STERNOCOSTALSter`no*cos"tal, a. Etym: [Sterno- + costal.] (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the sternum and the ribs; as, the sternocostal cartilages.
STERNOHYOIDSter`no*hy"oid, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the sternum and the hyoid bone or cartilage.
STERNOMASTOIDSter`no*mas"toid, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the sternum and the mastoid process.
STERNOTHYROIDSter`no*thy"roid, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the sternum and the thyroid cartilage.
STERNPOSTStern"post`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A straight piece of timber, or an iron bar or beam, erected on the extremity of the keel to support the rudder, and receive the ends of the planks or plates of the vessel.
STERNSMANSterns"man, n.
Defn: A steersman. [Obs.]
STERNSONStern"son, n. Etym: [See Stern, n., and cf. Stemson.] (Naut.)
Defn: The end of a ship's keelson, to which the sternpost is bolted; — called also stern knee.
STERNUMSter"num, n.; pl. L. Sterna, E. Sternums. Etym: [NL., from Gr.
1. (Anat.)
Defn: A plate of cartilage, or a series of bony or cartilaginous plates or segments, in the median line of the pectoral skeleton of most vertebrates above fishes; the breastbone.
Note: The sternum is connected with the ribs or the pectorial girdle, or with both. In man it is a flat bone, broad anteriorly, narrowed behind, and connected with the clavicles and the cartilages of the seven anterior pairs of ribs. In most birds it has a high median keel for the attachment of the muscles of the wings.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The ventral part of any one of the somites of an arthropod.
STERNUTATION Ster`nu*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. sternutatio, fr. sternutare to sneeze, intens. from sternuere.]
Defn: The act of sneezing. Quincy.
STERNUTATIVESter*nu"ta*tive, a.
Defn: Having the quality of provoking to sneeze.
STERNUTATORYSter*nu"ta*to*ry, a.
Defn: Sternutative.— n.
Defn: A sternutatory substance or medicine.
STERNWAYStern"way`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: The movement of a ship backward, or with her stern foremost.
STERN-WHEELStern"-wheel`, a.
Defn: Having a paddle wheel at the stern; as, a stern-wheel steamer.
STERN-WHEELERStern"-wheel`er, n.
Defn: A steamboat having a stern wheel instead of side wheels.[Colloq. U.S.]
STERQUILINOUS Ster*quil"i*nous, a. Etym: [L. sterquilinium a dung pit, fr. stercus dung.]
Defn: Pertaining to a dunghill; hence, mean; dirty; paltry. [Obs.]Howell.
STERRESter"re, n.
Defn: A star. [Obs.] Chaucer.
STERRINKSter"rink, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The crab-eating seal (Lobodon carcinophaga) of the AntarcticOcean.
STERROMETALSter"ro*met`al, n. Etym: [Gr. metal.]
Defn: Any alloy of copper, zinc, tin, and iron, of which cannon are sometimes made.
STERTStert, obs. p. p. of Start.
Defn: Started. Chaucer.
STERTESter"te, obs.
Defn: p. p. of Start. Chaucer.
STERTORIOUSSter*to"ri*ous, a.
Defn: Stertorous. [R.]
STERTOROUSSter"to*rous, a. Etym: [L. stertere to snore: cf. F. stertoreux.]
Defn: Characterized by a deep snoring, which accompaines inspiration in some diseases, especially apoplexy; hence, hoarsely breathing; snoring. Burning, stertorous breath that hurt her cheek. Mrs. Browning. The day has ebbed away, and it is night in his room, before his stertorous breathing lulls. Dickens.
STERVESterve, v. t. & i.
Defn: To die, or cause to die; to perish. See Starve. [Obs.] Chaucer.Spenser.
STETStet, Etym: L., subj. 3d pers. sing. of stare to stand, remain. Etym:[See Stand.] (Print.)
Defn: Let it stand; — a word used by proof readers to signify that something once erased, or marked for omission, is to remain.
STETStet, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stetted; p. pr. & vb. n. Stetting.](Print.)
Defn: To cause or direct to remain after having been marked for omission; to mark with the word stet, or with a series of dots below or beside the matter; as, the proof reader stetted a deled footnote.
STETHALSteth"al, n. Etym: [Stearic + ethal.] (Chem.)
Defn: One of the higher alcohols of the methane series, homologous with ethal, and found in small quantities as an ethereal salt of stearic acid in spermaceti.
STETHOGRAPHSteth"o*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. -graph.] (Physiol.)
Defn: See Pneumatograph.
STETHOMETERSte*thom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.] (Physiol.)
Defn: An apparatus for measuring the external movements of a given point of the chest wall, during respiration; — also called thoracometer.
STETHOSCOPESteth"o*scope, n. Etym: [Gr. -scope: cf. F. stéthoscope.] (Med.)
Defn: An instrument used in auscultation for examining the organs of the chest, as the heart and lungs, by conveying to the ear of the examiner the sounds produced in the thorax.
STETHOSCOPESteth"o*scope, v. t.
Defn: To auscultate, or examine, with a stethoscope. M. W. Savage.
STETHOSCOPIC; STETHOSCOPICAL Steth`o*scop"ic, Steth`o*scop"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. stéthoscopique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a stethoscope; obtained or made by means ofa stethoscope.— Steth`o*scop"ic*al*ly, adv.
STETHOSCOPISTSte*thos"co*pist, n.
Defn: One skilled in the use of the stethoscope.
STETHOSCOPYSte*thos"co*py, n.
Defn: The art or process of examination by the stethoscope.
STEVESteve, v. t. Etym: [See Stevedore.]
Defn: To pack or stow, as cargo in a ship's hold. See Steeve.
STEVEDORE Ste"ve*dore`, n. Etym: [Sp. estivador a packer, a stower, fr. estivar to pack, to stow, L. stipare to press, compress, probably akin to E. stiff. See Stiff, Stive to stuff.]
Defn: One whose occupation is to load and unload vessels in port; one who stows a cargo in a hold.
STEVEN Ste"ven, n. Etym: [AS. stefn, stemn, voice; akin to D. stem, G. stimme, Goth. stibna.]
1. Voice; speech; language. [Obs. or Scot.] Ye have as merry a steven As any angel hath that is in heaven. Chaucer.
2. An outcry; a loud call; a clamor. [Obs.] Spenser. To set steven, to make an appointment. [Obs.] They setten steven for to meet To playen at the dice. Chaucer.
STEWStew, n. Etym: [Cf. Stow.]
1. A small pond or pool where fish are kept for the table; a vivarium. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Chaucer. Evelyn.
2. An artificial bed of oysters. [Local, U.S.]
STEW Stew, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stewed; p. pr. & vb. n. Stewing.] Etym: [OE. stuven, OF. estuver, F. étuver, fr. OF. estuve, F. étuve, a sweating house, a room heated for a bath; probably of Teutonic origin, and akin to E. stove. See Stove, and cf. Stive to stew.]
Defn: To boil slowly, or with the simmering or moderate heat; to seethe; to cook in a little liquid, over a gentle fire, without boiling; as, to stew meat; to stew oysters; to stew apples.
STEWStew, v. i.
Defn: To be seethed or cooked in a slow, gentle manner, or in heat and moisture.
STEWStew, n. Etym: [OE. stue, stuwe, OF. estuve. See Stew, v. t.]
1. A place of stewing or seething; a place where hot bathes are furnished; a hothouse. [Obs.] As burning Ætna from his boiling stew Doth belch out flames. Spenser. The Lydians were inhibited by Cyrus to use any armor, and give themselves to baths and stews. Abp. Abbot.
2. A brothel; — usually in the plural. Bacon. South. There be that hate harlots, and never were at the stews. Aschman.
3. A prostitute. [Obs.] Sir A. Weldon.
4. A dish prepared by stewing; as, a stewof pigeons.
5. A state of agitating excitement; a state of worry; confusion; as, to be in a stew. [Colloq.]
STEWARD Stew"ard, n. Etym: [OE. stiward, AS. stiweard, stigweard, literally, a sty ward; stigu sty + weard warden, guardian, — his first duty having been probably to attend to the domestic animals. *164. See Sty pen for swine, Ward.]
1. A man employed in a large family, or on a large estate, to manage the domestic concerns, supervise other servants, collect the rents or income, keep accounts, and the like. Worthy to be stewards of rent and land. Chaucer. They came near to the steward of Joseph's house. Gen. xliii. 19. As good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1 Pet. iv. 10.
2. A person employed in a hotel, or a club, or on board a ship, to provide for the table, superintend the culinary affairs, etc. In naval vessels, the captain's steward, wardroom steward, steerage steward, warrant officers steward, etc., are petty officers who provide for the messes under their charge.
3. A fiscal agent of certain bodies; as, a steward in a Methodist church.
4. In some colleges, an officer who provides food for the students and superintends the kitchen; also, an officer who attends to the accounts of the students.
5. In Scotland, a magistrate appointed by the crown to exercise jurisdiction over royal lands. Erskine. Lord high steward, formerly, the first officer of the crown; afterward, an officer occasionally appointed, as for a coronation, or upon the trial of a peer. [Eng.]
STEWARDStew"ard, v. t.
Defn: To manage as a steward. [Obs.]
STEWARDESSStew"ard*ess, n.
Defn: A female steward; specifically, a woman employed in passenger vessels to attend to the wants of female passengers.
STEWARDLYStew"ard*ly, adv.
Defn: In a manner, or with the care, of a steward. [R.]To be stewardly dispensed, not wastefully spent. Tooker.
STEWARDSHIPStew"ard*ship, n.
Defn: The office of a steward. Shak.
STEWARTRYStew"art*ry, n.
1. An overseer or superintendent. [R.] "The stewartry of provisions." Tooke.
2. The office of a steward; stewardship. [R.] Byron.
3. In Scotland, the jurisdiction of a steward; also, the lands under such jurisdiction.
STEWISHStew"ish, a.
Defn: Suiting a stew, or brothel. Bp. Hall.
STEWPANStew"pan`, n.
Defn: A pan used for stewing.
STEWPOTStew"pot`, n.
Defn: A pot used for stewing.
STEYStey, n.
Defn: See Stee.
STHENICSthen"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. sthénique.] (Med.)
Defn: Strong; active; — said especially of morbid states attended with excessive action of the heart and blood vessels, and characterized by strength and activity of the muscular and nervous system; as, a sthenic fever. Sthenic theory. See Stimulism (a).
STIACCIATOSti*ac*cia"to, n. Etym: [It., crushed, flattened.] (Sculp.)
Defn: The lowest relief, — often used in Italian sculpture of the 15th and 16th centuries.
STIANSti"an, n.
Defn: A sty on the eye. See Styan.
STIBBORNStib"born, a.
Defn: Stubborn. [Obs.] Chaucer.
STIBIALStib"i*al, a. Etym: [See Stibium.]
Defn: Like, or having the qualities of, antimony; antimonial.
STIBIALISMStib"i*al*ism, n. (Med.)
Defn: Antimonial intoxication or poisoning. Dunglison.
STIBIATEDStib"i*a`ted, a. Etym: [NL. stibiatus, from L. stibium antimony.](Med. Chem.)
Defn: Combined or impregnated with antimony (stibium). Stibiated tartar. See Tartar emetic, under Tartar.
STIBICStib"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Antimonic; — used with reference to certain compounds of antimony.
STIBICONITEStib"i*co*nite, n. (Min.)
Defn: A native oxide of antimony occurring in masses of a yellow color.
STIBINEStib"ine, n. (Chem.)
Defn: Antimony hydride, or hydrogen antimonide, a colorless gas produced by the action of nascent hydrogen on antimony. It has a characteristic odor and burns with a characteristic greenish flame. Formerly called also antimoniureted hydrogen.
STIBIOUSStib"i*ous, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Antimonious. [R.]
STIBIUMStib"i*um, n. Etym: [L. stibium, stibi, Gr.
1. (Chem.)
Defn: The technical name of antimony.
2. (Min.)
Defn: Stibnite. [Obs.]
STIBNITEStib"nite, n. (Min.)
Defn: A mineral of a lead-gray color and brilliant metallic luster, occurring in prismatic crystals; sulphide of antimony; — called also antimony glance, and gray antimony.
STIBONIUMSti*bo"ni*um, n. (Chem.)
Defn: The hypothetical radical SbH4, analogous to ammonium; — called also antimonium.
STICCADOStic*ca"do, n. Etym: [Cf. It. steccato a palisade.] (Mus.)
Defn: An instrument consisting of small bars of wood, flat at the bottom and rounded at the top, and resting on the edges of a kind of open box. They are unequal in size, gradually increasing from the smallest to the largest, and are tuned to the diatonic scale. The tones are produced by striking the pieces of wood with hard balls attached to flexible sticks.
STICH Stich, n. Etym: [Gr. sti`chos a row, line, akin to to go, march, E. sty, v.i.]
1. A verse, of whatever measure or number of feet.
2. A line in the Scriptures; specifically (Hebrew Scriptures), one of the rhythmic lines in the poetical books and passages of the Old Treatment, as written in the oldest Hebrew manuscripts and in the Revised Version of the English Bible.
3. A row, line, or rank of trees.
STICHICStich"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. stichiko`s.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to stichs, or lines; consisting of stichs, or lines. [R.]
STICHIDIUMSti*chid"i*um, n.; pl. Stichida. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A special podlike or fusiform branch containing tetraspores. It is found in certain red algæ.
STICHOMANCYStich"o*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy.]
Defn: Divination by lines, or passages of books, taken at hazard.
STICHOMETRICALStich`o*met"ric*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to stichometry; characterized by stichs, or lines.
STICHOMETRYStich*om"e*try, n. Etym: [Gr. -metry.]
1. Measurement of books by the number of lines which they contain.
2. Division of the text of a book into lines; especially, the division of the text of books into lines accommodated to the sense, - - a method of writing manuscripts used before punctuation was adopted.
STICHWORTStich"wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of chickweed (Stellaria Holostea). [Written also stitchwort.]
STICK Stick, n. Etym: [OE. sticke, AS. sticca; akin to stician to stab, prick, pierce, G. stecken a stick, staff, OHG. steccho, Icel. stik a stick. See Stick, v. t..]
1. A small shoot, or branch, separated, as by a cutting, from a tree or shrub; also, any stem or branch of a tree, of any size, cut for fuel or timber. Withered sticks to gather, which might serve Against a winter's day. Milton.
2. Any long and comparatively slender piece of wood, whether in natural form or shaped with tools; a rod; a wand; a staff; as, the stick of a rocket; a walking stick.
3. Anything shaped like a stick; as, a stick of wax.
4. A derogatory expression for a person; one who is inert or stupid; as, an odd stick; a poor stick. [Colloq.]
5. (Print.)
Defn: A composing stick. See under Composing. It is usually a frame of metal, but for posters, handbills, etc., one made of wood is used.
6. A thrust with a pointed instrument; a stab. A stick of eels, twenty-five eels. [Prov. Eng.] — Stick chimney, a chimney made of sticks laid crosswise, and cemented with clay or mud, as in some log houses. [U.S.] — Stick insect, (Zoöl.), any one of various species of wingless orthopterous insects of the family Phasmidæ, which have a long round body, resembling a stick in form and color, and long legs, which are often held rigidly in such positions as to make them resemble small twigs. They thus imitate the branches and twigs of the trees on which they live. The common American species is Diapheromera femorata. Some of the Asiatic species are more than a foot long. — To cut one's stick, or To cut stick, to run away. [Slang] De Quincey.
STICKStick, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stuck (Obs. Sticked (); p. pr. & vb. n.Sticking.] Etym: [OE. stikien, v.t. & i., combined with steken,whence E. stuck), AS. stician, v.t. & i., and (assumed) stecan, v.t.;akin to OFries. steka, OS. stekan, OHG. stehhan, G. stechen, and toGr. tij to be sharp. Cf. Distinguish, Etiquette, Extinct, Instigate,Instinct, Prestige, Stake, Steak, Stick, n., Stigma, Stimulate,Sting, Stitch in sewing, Style for or in writing.]
1. To penetrate with a pointed instrument; to pierce; to stab; hence, to kill by piercing; as, to stick a beast. And sticked him with bodkins anon. Chaucer. It was a shame . . . to stick him under the other gentleman's arm while he was redding the fray. Sir W. Scott.
2. To cause to penetrate; to push, thrust, or drive, so as to pierce; as, to stick a needle into one's finger. Thou stickest a dagger in me. Shak.
3. To fasten, attach, or cause to remain, by thrusting in; hence, also, to adorn or deck with things fastened on as by piercing; as, to stick a pin on the sleeve. My shroud of white, stuck all with yew. Shak. The points of spears are stuck within the shield. Dryden.
4. To set; to fix in; as, to stick card teeth.
5. To set with something pointed; as, to stick cards.
6. To fix on a pointed instrument; to impale; as, to stick an apple on a fork.
7. To attach by causing to adhere to the surface; as, to stick on a plaster; to stick a stamp on an envelope; also, to attach in any manner.
8. (Print.)
Defn: To compose; to set, or arrange, in a composing stick; as, to stick type. [Cant]
9. (Joinery)
Defn: To run or plane (moldings) in a machine, in contradistinction to working them by hand. Such moldings are said to be stuck.
10. To cause to stick; to bring to a stand; to pose; to puzzle; as, to stick one with a hard problem. [Colloq.]
11. To impose upon; to compel to pay; sometimes, to cheat. [Slang] To stick out, to cause to project or protrude; to render prominent.
STICKStick, v. i.
1. To adhere; as, glue sticks to the fingers; paste sticks to the wall. The green caterpillar breedeth in the inward parts of roses not blown, where the dew sticketh. Bacon.
2. To remain where placed; to be fixed; to hold fast to any position so as to be moved with difficulty; to cling; to abide; to cleave; to be united closely. A friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Prov. xviii. 24. I am a kind of bur; I shall stick. Shak. If on your fame our sex a bolt has thrown, 'T will ever stick through malice of your own. Young.
3. To be prevented from going farther; to stop by reason of some obstacle; to be stayed. I had most need of blessing, and "Amen" Stuck in my throat. Shak. The trembling weapon passed Through nine bull hides, . . . and stuck within the last. Dryden.
4. To be embarrassed or puzzled; to hesitate; to be deterred, as by scruples; to scruple; — often with at. They will stick long at part of a demonstration for want of perceiving the connection of two ideas. Locke. Some stick not to say, that the parson and attorney forged a will. Arbuthnot.
5. To cause difficulties, scruples, or hesitation. This is the difficulty that sticks with the most reasonable. Swift. To stick by. (a) To adhere closely to; to be firm in supporting. "We are your only friends; stick by us, and we will stick by you." Davenant. (b) To be troublesome by adhering. "I am satisfied to trifle away my time, rather than let it stick by me." Pope. — To stick out. (a) To project; to be prominent. "His bones that were not seen stick out." Job xxxiii. 21. (b) To persevere in a purpose; to hold out; as, the garrison stuck out until relieved. [Colloq.]v.i. to stick it out. — To stick to, to be persevering in holding to; as, to stick to a party or cause. "The advantage will be on our side if we stick to its essentials." Addison. — To stick up, to stand erect; as, his hair sticks up. — To stick up for, to assert and defend; as, to stick up for one's rights or for a friend. [Colloq.] — To stick upon, to dwell upon; not to forsake. "If the matter be knotty, the mind must stop and buckle to it, and stick upon it with labor and thought." Locke.
STICKEDStick"ed, obs. imp. of Stick.
Defn: Stuck.And in the sand her ship sticked so fast. Chaucer.They sticked not to give their bodies to be burnt. Sir T. Browne.
STICKERStick"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, sticks; as, a bill sticker.
2. That which causes one to stick; that which puzzles or poses. [Colloq.] Tackeray.
3. (Mus.)
Defn: In the organ, a small wooden rod which connects (in part) a key and a pallet, so as to communicate motion by pushing.
4. Same as Paster, 2. [Political Cant, U.S.]
STICKFULStick"ful, n.; pl. Stickfuls (. (Print.)
Defn: As much set type as fills a composing stick.
STICKINESSStick"i*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being sticky; as, the stickiness of glue or paste.
STICKINGStick"ing,
Defn: a. & n. from Stick, v. Sticking piece, a piece of beef cut fromthe neck. [Eng.] — Sticking place, the place where a thing sticks,or remains fast; sticking point.But screw your courage to the sticking place, And we'll not fail.Shak.— Sticking plaster, an adhesive plaster for closing wounds, and forsimilar uses.— Sticking point. Same as Sticking place, above.
STICKITStick"it, a.
Defn: Stuck; spoiled in making. [Scot.] Stickit minister, a candidate for the clerical office who fails, disqualified by incompetency or immorality.
STICK-LACStick"-lac`, n.
Defn: See the Note under Lac.
STICKLE Stic"kle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Stickled; p. pr. & vb. n. Stickling.] Etym: [Probably fr. OE. stightlen, sti, to dispose, arrange, govern, freq. of stihten, AS. stihtan: cf. G. stiften to found, to establish.]