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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)


A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
You are here: Webster > Letter S > Page 52 of 266.
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Sectarism Sec"ta·rism noun Sectarianism. [ Obsolete]

Sectarist Sec"ta·rist noun A sectary. [ R.] T. Warton.

Sectary Sec"ta·ry noun ; plural Sectaries . [ French sectaire . See Sect .] A sectarian; a member or adherent of a sect; a follower or disciple of some particular teacher in philosophy or religion; one who separates from an established church; a dissenter.

I never knew that time in England when men of truest religion were not counted sectaries .
Milton.

Sectator Sec·ta"tor noun [ Latin , from sectari , v. intens. from sequi to follow. See Sue to follow.] A follower; a disciple; an adherent to a sect. [ Obsolete] Sir W. Raleigh.

Sectile Sec"tile adjective [ Latin sectilis , from secare , sectum , to cut: confer French sectile . See Section .] Capable of being cut; specifically (Min.) , capable of being severed by the knife with a smooth cut; -- said of minerals.

Sectility Sec·til"i·ty noun The state or quality of being sectile.

Section Sec"tion noun [ Latin sectio , from secare , sectum , to cut; akin to English saw a cutting instrument: confer French section . See Saw , and confer Scion , Dissect , Insect , Secant , Segment .] 1. The act of cutting, or separation by cutting; as, the section of bodies.

2. A part separated from something; a division; a portion; a slice. Specifically: --

(a) A distinct part or portion of a book or writing; a subdivision of a chapter; the division of a law or other writing; a paragraph; an article; hence, the character §, often used to denote such a division.

It is hardly possible to give a distinct view of his several arguments in distinct sections .
Locke.

(b) A distinct part of a country or people, community, class, or the like; a part of a territory separated by geographical lines, or of a people considered as distinct.

The extreme section of one class consists of bigoted dotards, the extreme section of the other consists of shallow and reckless empirics.
Macaulay.

(c) One of the portions, of one square mile each, into which the public lands of the United States are divided; one thirty-sixth part of a township. These sections are subdivided into quarter sections for sale under the homestead and preëmption laws.

3. (Geom.) The figure made up of all the points common to a superficies and a solid which meet, or to two superficies which meet, or to two lines which meet. In the first case the section is a superficies, in the second a line, and in the third a point.

4. (Nat. Hist.) A division of a genus; a group of species separated by some distinction from others of the same genus; -- often indicated by the sign §.

5. (Mus.) A part of a musical period, composed of one or more phrases. See Phrase .

6. The description or representation of anything as it would appear if cut through by any intersecting plane; depiction of what is beyond a plane passing through, or supposed to pass through, an object, as a building, a machine, a succession of strata; profile.

» In mechanical drawing, as in these Illustrations of a cannon, a longitudinal section ( a ) usually represents the object as cut through its center lengthwise and vertically; a cross or transverse section ( b ), as cut crosswise and vertically; and a horizontal section ( c ), as cut through its center horizontally. Oblique sections are made at various angles. In architecture, a vertical section is a drawing showing the interior, the thickness of the walls, etc., as if made on a vertical plane passed through a building.

Angular sections (Math.) , a branch of analysis which treats of the relations of sines, tangents, etc., of arcs to the sines, tangents, etc., of their multiples or of their parts. [ R.] -- Conic sections . (Geom.) See under Conic . -- Section liner (Drawing) , an instrument to aid in drawing a series of equidistant parallel lines, -- used in representing sections. -- Thin section , a section or slice, as of mineral, animal, or vegetable substance, thin enough to be transparent, and used for study under the microscope.

Syn. -- Part; portion; division. -- Section , Part . The English more commonly apply the word section to a part or portion of a body of men; as, a section of the clergy, a small section of the Whigs, etc. In the United States this use is less common, but another use, unknown or but little known in England, is very frequent, as in the phrases "the eastern section of our country," etc., the same sense being also given to the adjective sectional ; as, sectional feelings, interests, etc.

Sectional Sec"tion·al adjective 1. Of or pertaining to a section or distinct part of larger body or territory; local.

All sectional interests, or party feelings, it is hoped, will hereafter yield to schemes of ambition.
Story.

2. Consisting of sections, or capable of being divided into sections; as, a sectional steam boiler.

Sectionalism Sec"tion·al·ism noun A disproportionate regard for the interests peculiar to a section of the country; local patriotism, as distinguished from national. [ U. S.]

Sectionality Sec"tion·al"i·ty noun The state or quality of being sectional; sectionalism.

Sectionalize Sec"tion·al·ize transitive verb To divide according to geographical sections or local interests. [ U. S.]

The principal results of the struggle were to sectionalize parties.
Nicolay & Hay (Life of Lincoln).

Sectionally Sec"tion·al·ly adverb In a sectional manner.

Sectionize Sec"tion·ize transitive verb To form into sections. [ R.]

Sectism Sect"ism noun Devotion to a sect. [ R.]

Sectist Sect"ist noun One devoted to a sect; a sectary. [ R.]

Sectiuncle Sect"i·un`cle noun A little or petty sect. [ R.] "Some new sect or sectiuncle ." J. Martineau.

Sector Sec"tor noun [ Latin , properly, a cutter, from secare , sectum , to cut: confer French secteur . See Section .] 1. (Geom.) A part of a circle comprehended between two radii and the included arc.

2. A mathematical instrument, consisting of two rulers connected at one end by a joint, each arm marked with several scales, as of equal parts, chords, sines, tangents, etc., one scale of each kind on each arm, and all on lines radiating from the common center of motion. The sector is used for plotting, etc., to any scale.

3. An astronomical instrument, the limb of which embraces a small portion only of a circle, used for measuring differences of declination too great for the compass of a micrometer. When it is used for measuring zenith distances of stars, it is called a zenith sector .

Dip sector , an instrument used for measuring the dip of the horizon. -- Sector of a sphere , or Spherical sector , the solid generated by the revolution of the sector of a circle about one of its radii, or, more rarely, about any straight line drawn in the plane of the sector through its vertex.

Sectoral Sec"tor·al adjective Of or pertaining to a sector; as, a sectoral circle.

Sectorial Sec·to"ri·al adjective (Anat.) Adapted for cutting. -- noun A sectorial, or carnassial, tooth.

Secular Sec"u·lar adjective [ Middle English secular , seculer . Latin saecularis , from saeculum a race, generation, age, the times, the world; perhaps akin to English soul : confer French séculier .] 1. Coming or observed once in an age or a century.

The secular year was kept but once a century.
Addison.

2. Pertaining to an age, or the progress of ages, or to a long period of time; accomplished in a long progress of time; as, secular inequality; the secular refrigeration of the globe.

3. Of or pertaining to this present world, or to things not spiritual or holy; relating to temporal as distinguished from eternal interests; not immediately or primarily respecting the soul, but the body; worldly.

New foes arise,
Threatening to bind our souls with secular chains.
Milton.

4. (Eccl.) Not regular; not bound by monastic vows or rules; not confined to a monastery, or subject to the rules of a religious community; as, a secular priest.

He tried to enforce a stricter discipline and greater regard for morals, both in the religious orders and the secular clergy.
Prescott.

5. Belonging to the laity; lay; not clerical.

I speak of folk in secular estate.
Chaucer.

Secular equation (Astron.) , the algebraic or numerical expression of the magnitude of the inequalities in a planet's motion that remain after the inequalities of a short period have been allowed for. -- Secular games (Rom. Antiq.) , games celebrated, at long but irregular intervals, for three days and nights, with sacrifices, theatrical shows, combats, sports, and the like. -- Secular music , any music or songs not adapted to sacred uses. -- Secular hymn or poem , a hymn or poem composed for the secular games, or sung or rehearsed at those games.

Secular Sec"u·lar noun 1. (Eccl.) A secular ecclesiastic, or one not bound by monastic rules. Burke.

2. (Eccl.) A church official whose functions are confined to the vocal department of the choir. Busby.

3. A layman, as distinguished from a clergyman.

Secularism Sec"u·lar·ism noun 1. The state or quality of being secular; a secular spirit; secularity.

2. The tenets or principles of the secularists.

Secularist Sec"u·lar·ist noun One who theoretically rejects every form of religious faith, and every kind of religious worship, and accepts only the facts and influences which are derived from the present life; also, one who believes that education and other matters of civil policy should be managed without the introduction of a religious element.

Secularity Sec`u·lar"i·ty noun [ Confer F. sécularité , Late Latin saecularitas .] Supreme attention to the things of the present life; worldliness.

A secularity of character which makes Christianity and its principal doctrines distasteful or unintelligible.
I. Taylor.

Secularization Sec`u·lar·i·za"tion noun [ Confer French sécularisation .] The act of rendering secular, or the state of being rendered secular; conversion from regular or monastic to secular; conversion from religious to lay or secular possession and uses; as, the secularization of church property.

Secularize Sec"u·lar·ize transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Secularized ; present participle & verbal noun Secularizing .] [ Confer French séculariser .] 1. To convert from regular or monastic into secular; as, to secularize a priest or a monk.

2. To convert from spiritual to secular or common use; as, to secularize a church, or church property.

At the Reformation the abbey was secularized .
W. Coxe.

3. To make worldly or unspiritual. Bp. Horsley.

Secularly Sec"u·lar·ly adverb In a secular or worldly manner.

Secularness Sec"u·lar·ness noun The quality or state of being secular; worldliness; worldly-mindedness.

Secund Se"cund adjective [ Latin secundus following the course or current of wind or water. See Second , adjective ] (Botany) Arranged on one side only, as flowers or leaves on a stalk. Gray.

Secundate Se·cun"date transitive verb [ Latin secundatus , past participle of secundare to direct favorably.] To make prosperous. [ R.]

Secundation Sec`un·da"tion noun Prosperity. [ R.]

Secundine Sec"un·dine noun [ Confer French secondine .] 1. (Botany) The second coat, or integument, of an ovule, lying within the primine.

» In the ripened seed the primine and secundine are usually united to form the testa, or outer seed coat. When they remain distinct the secundine becomes the mesosperm, as in the castor bean.

2. [ Confer French secondines .] The afterbirth, or placenta and membranes; -- generally used in the plural.

Secundo-geniture Se·cun`do-gen"i·ture noun [ Latin secundus second + genitura a begetting, generation.] A right of inheritance belonging to a second son; a property or possession so inherited.

The kingdom of Naples . . . was constituted a secundo-geniture of Spain.
Bancroft.

Securable Se·cur"a·ble adjective That may be secured.

Secure Se·cure" adjective [ Latin securus ; prefix se- without + cura care. See Cure care, and confer Sure , adjective ] 1. Free from fear, care, or anxiety; easy in mind; not feeling suspicion or distrust; confident.

But thou, secure of soul, unbent with woes.
Dryden.

2. Overconfident; incautious; careless; -- in a bad sense. Macaulay.

3. Confident in opinion; not entertaining, or not having reason to entertain, doubt; certain; sure; -- commonly with of ; as, secure of a welcome.

Confidence then bore thee on, secure
Either to meet no danger, or to find
Matter of glorious trial.
Milton.

4. Not exposed to danger; safe; -- applied to persons and things, and followed by against or from . " Secure from fortune's blows." Dryden.

Syn. -- Safe; undisturbed; easy; sure; certain; assured; confident; careless; heedless; inattentive.

Secure Se·cure" transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Secured ; present participle & verbal noun Securing .] 1. To make safe; to relieve from apprehensions of, or exposure to, danger; to guard; to protect.

I spread a cloud before the victor's sight,
Sustained the vanquished, and secured his flight.
Dryden.

2. To put beyond hazard of losing or of not receiving; to make certain; to assure; to insure; -- frequently with against or from , rarely with of ; as, to secure a creditor against loss; to secure a debt by a mortgage.

It secures its possessor of eternal happiness.
T. Dick.

3. To make fast; to close or confine effectually; to render incapable of getting loose or escaping; as, to secure a prisoner; to secure a door, or the hatches of a ship.

4. To get possession of; to make one's self secure of; to acquire certainly; as, to secure an estate.

Secure arms (Mil.) , a command and a position in the manual of arms, used in wet weather, the object being to guard the firearm from becoming wet. The piece is turned with the barrel to the front and grasped by the right hand at the lower band, the muzzle is dropped to the front, and the piece held with the guard under the right arm, the hand supported against the hip, and the thumb on the rammer.

Securely Se·cure"ly adverb In a secure manner; without fear or apprehension; without danger; safely.

His daring foe . . . securely him defied.
Milton.

Securement Se·cure"ment noun The act of securing; protection. [ R.]

Society condemns the securement in all cases of perpetual protection by means of perpetual imprisonment.
C. A. Ives.

Secureness Se·cure"ness noun The condition or quality of being secure; exemption from fear; want of vigilance; security.

Securer Se·cur"er noun One who, or that which, secures.

Securifera Sec`u·rif"e·ra noun plural [ New Latin , from Latin securis an ax + ferre to bear.] (Zoology) The Serrifera.

Securiform Se·cu"ri·form adjective [ Latin securis an ax or hatchet + -form : confer French sécuriforme .] (Nat. Hist.) Having the form of an ax or hatchet.

Securipalp Se·cu"ri·palp noun [ Latin securis ax, hatchet + English palp .] (Zoology) One of a family of beetles having the maxillary palpi terminating in a hatchet- shaped joint.

Security Se·cu"ri·ty noun ; plural Securities . [ Latin securitas : confer French sécurité . See Secure , and confer Surety .] 1. The condition or quality of being secure; secureness. Specifically: (a) Freedom from apprehension, anxiety, or care; confidence of power or safety; hence, assurance; certainty.

His trembling hand had lost the ease,
Which marks security to please.
Sir W. Scott.

(b) Hence, carelessness; negligence; heedlessness.

He means, my lord, that we are too remiss,
Whilst Bolingbroke, through our security ,
Grows strong and great in substance and in power.
Shak.

(c) Freedom from risk; safety.

Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard,
From firm security .
Shak.

Some . . . alleged that we should have no security for our trade.
Swift.

2. That which secures or makes safe; protection; guard; defense. Specifically: (a) Something given, deposited, or pledged, to make certain the fulfillment of an obligation, the performance of a contract, the payment of a debt, or the like; surety; pledge.

Those who lent him money lent it on no security but his bare word.
Macaulay.

(b) One who becomes surety for another, or engages himself for the performance of another's obligation.

3. An evidence of debt or of property, as a bond, a certificate of stock, etc.; as, government securities .

Syn. -- Protection; defense; guard; shelter; safety; certainty; ease; assurance; carelessness; confidence; surety; pledge; bail.

Sedan Se·dan" noun [ Said to be named from Sedan , in France, where it was first made, and whence it was introduced into England in the time of King Charles I.] A portable chair or covered vehicle for carrying a single person, -- usually borne on poles by two men. Called also sedan chair .

Sedate Se·date" adjective [ Latin sedatus , past participle of sedare , sedatum , to allay, calm, causative of sedere to sit. See Sit .] Undisturbed by passion or caprice; calm; tranquil; serene; not passionate or giddy; composed; staid; as, a sedate soul, mind, or temper.

Disputation carries away the mind from that calm and sedate temper which is so necessary to contemplate truth.
I. Watts.

Whatsoever we feel and know
Too sedate for outward show.
Wordsworth.

Syn. -- Settled; composed; calm; quiet; tranquil; still; serene; unruffled; undisturbed; contemplative; sober; serious.

-- Se*date"ly , adverb -- Se*date"ness , noun

Sedation Se·da"tion noun [ Latin sedatio .] The act of calming, or the state of being calm. [ R.] Coles.

Sedative Sed"a·tive adjective [ Confer French sédatif .] Tending to calm, moderate, or tranquilize ; specifically (Medicine) , allaying irritability and irritation; assuaging pain.

Sedative Sed"a·tive noun (Medicine) A remedy which allays irritability and irritation, and irritative activity or pain.

Sedent Se"dent adjective [ Latin sedens , - entis , present participle of sedere to sit. See Sit .] Sitting; inactive; quiet. [ R.]

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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