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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 53 of 266.
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Sedentarily Sed"en·ta·ri·ly adverb In a sedentary manner.

Sedentariness Sed"en·ta·ri·ness noun Quality of being sedentary.

Sedentary Sed"en·ta·ry adjective [ Latin sedentarius , from sedere to sit: confer French seédentaire . See Sedent .] 1. Accustomed to sit much or long; as, a sedentary man. " Sedentary , scholastic sophists." Bp. Warburton.

2. Characterized by, or requiring, much sitting; as, a sedentary employment; a sedentary life.

Any education that confined itself to sedentary pursuits was essentially imperfect.
Beaconsfield.

3. Inactive; motionless; sluggish; hence, calm; tranquil. [ R.] "The sedentary earth." Milton.

The soul, considered abstractly from its passions, is of a remiss, sedentary nature.
Spectator.

4. Caused by long sitting. [ Obsolete] " Sedentary numbness." Milton.

5. (Zoology) Remaining in one place, especially when firmly attached to some object; as, the oyster is a sedentary mollusk; the barnacles are sedentary crustaceans.

Sedentary spider (Zoology) , one of a tribe of spiders which rest motionless until their prey is caught in their web.

Sederunt Se·de"runt noun [ Latin , they sat, from sedere to sit.] A sitting, as of a court or other body.

'T is pity we have not Burns's own account of that long sederunt .
Prof. Wilson.

Acts of sederunt (Scots Law) , ordinances of the Court of Session for the ordering of processes and expediting of justice. Bell.

Sedge Sedge noun [ Middle English segge , Anglo-Saxon secg ; akin to LG. segge ; -- probably named from its bladelike appearance, and akin to Latin secare to cut, English saw a cutting instrument; confer Ir. seisg , W. hesg . Confer Hassock , Saw the instrument.] 1. (Botany) Any plant of the genus Carex , perennial, endogenous, innutritious herbs, often growing in dense tufts in marshy places. They have triangular jointless stems, a spiked inflorescence, and long grasslike leaves which are usually rough on the margins and midrib. There are several hundred species.

» The name is sometimes given to any other plant of the order Cyperaceæ , which includes Carex , Cyperus , Scirpus , and many other genera of rushlike plants.

2. (Zoology) A flock of herons.

Sedge hen (Zoology) , the clapper rail. See under 5th Rail . -- Sedge warbler (Zoology) , a small European singing bird ( Acrocephalus phragmitis ). It often builds its nest among reeds; -- called also sedge bird , sedge wren , night warbler , and Scotch nightingale .

Sedged Sedged adjective Made or composed of sedge.

With your sedged crowns and ever-harmless looks.
Shak.

Sedgy Sedg"y adjective Overgrown with sedge.

On the gentle Severn\'b6s sedgy bank.
Shak.

Sedilia Se·dil"i·a noun plural ; sing. Sedile [ Latin sedile a seat.] (Architecture) Seats in the chancel of a church near the altar for the officiating clergy during intervals of service. Hook.

Sediment Sed"i·ment noun [ French sédiment , Latin sedimentum a settling, from sedere to sit, to settle. See Sit .] 1. The matter which subsides to the bottom, from water or any other liquid; settlings; lees; dregs.

2. (Geol.) The material of which sedimentary rocks are formed.

Sedimental Sed`i·men"tal adjective Sedimentary.

Sedimentary Sed`i·men"ta·ry adjective [ Confer French sédimentaire .] Of or pertaining to sediment; formed by sediment; containing matter that has subsided.

Sedimentary rocks . (Geol.) See Aqueous rocks , under Aqueous .

Sedimentation Sed`i·men·ta"tion noun The act of depositing a sediment; specifically (Geol.) , the deposition of the material of which sedimentary rocks are formed.

Sedition Se·di"tion noun [ Middle English sedicioun , Old French sedition , French sédition , from Latin seditio , originally, a going aside; hence, an insurrectionary separation; prefix se- , sed- , aside + itio a going, from ire , itum , to go. Confer Issue .] 1. The raising of commotion in a state, not amounting to insurrection; conduct tending to treason, but without an overt act; excitement of discontent against the government, or of resistance to lawful authority.

In soothing them, we nourish 'gainst our senate
The cockle of rebellion, insolence, sedition .
Shak.

Noisy demagogues who had been accused of sedition .
Macaulay.

2. Dissension; division; schism. [ Obsolete]

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, . . . emulations, wrath, strife, seditions , heresies.
Gal. v. 19, 20.

Syn. -- Insurrection; tumult; uproar; riot; rebellion; revolt. See Insurrection .

Seditionary Se·di"tion·a·ry noun An inciter or promoter of sedition. Bp. Hall.

Seditious Se·di"tious adjective [ Latin seditiosus : confer French séditieux .] 1. Of or pertaining to sedition; partaking of the nature of, or tending to excite, sedition; as, seditious behavior; seditious strife; seditious words.

2. Disposed to arouse, or take part in, violent opposition to lawful authority; turbulent; factious; guilty of sedition; as, seditious citizens.

-- Se*di"tious*ly , adverb -- Se*di"tious*ness , noun

Sedlitz Sed"litz adjective Same as Seidlitz .

Seduce Se·duce" transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Seduced ; present participle & verbal noun Seducing .] [ Latin seducere , seductum ; prefix se- aside + ducere to lead. See Duke .] 1. To draw aside from the path of rectitude and duty in any manner; to entice to evil; to lead astray; to tempt and lead to iniquity; to corrupt.

For me, the gold of France did not seduce .
Shak.

2. Specifically, to induce to surrender chastity; to debauch by means of solicitation.

Syn. -- To allure; entice; tempt; attract; mislead; decoy; inveigle. See Allure .

Seducement Se·duce"ment noun 1. The act of seducing.

2. The means employed to seduce, as flattery, promises, deception, etc.; arts of enticing or corrupting. Pope.

Seducer Se·du"cer noun One who, or that which, seduces; specifically, one who prevails over the chastity of a woman by enticements and persuasions.

He whose firm faith no reason could remove,
Will melt before that soft seducer , love.
Dryden.

Seducible Se·du"ci·ble adjective Capable of being seduced; corruptible.

Seducing Se·du"cing adjective Seductive. "Thy sweet seducing charms." Cowper. -- Se*du"cing*ly , adverb

Seduction Se·duc·tion noun [ Latin seductio : confer French séduction . See Seduce .] 1. The act of seducing; enticement to wrong doing; specifically, the offense of inducing a woman to consent to unlawful sexual intercourse, by enticements which overcome her scruples; the wrong or crime of persuading a woman to surrender her chastity.

2. That which seduces, or is adapted to seduce; means of leading astray; as, the seductions of wealth.

Seductive Se·duc"tive adjective Tending to lead astray; apt to mislead by flattering appearances; tempting; alluring; as, a seductive offer.

This may enable us to understand how seductive is the influence of example.
Sir W. Hamilton.

Seductively Se·duc"tive·ly adverb In a seductive manner.

Seductress Se·duc"tress noun A woman who seduces.

Sedulity Se·du"li·ty noun [ Latin sedulitas . See Sedulous .] The quality or state of being sedulous; diligent and assiduous application; constant attention; unremitting industry; sedulousness.

The industrious bee, by his sedulity in summer, lives in honey all the winter.
Feltham.

Sedulous Sed"u·lous adjective [ Latin sedulus , perhaps from sedere to sit, and so akin to English sit .] Diligent in application or pursuit; constant, steady, and persevering in business, or in endeavors to effect an object; steadily industrious; assiduous; as, the sedulous bee.

What signifies the sound of words in prayer, without the affection of the heart, and a sedulous application of the proper means that may naturally lead us to such an end?
L'Estrange.

Syn. -- Assiduous; diligent; industrious; laborious; unremitting; untiring; unwearied; persevering.

-- Sed"u*lous*ly , adverb -- Sed"u*lous*ness , noun

Sedum Se"dum noun [ New Latin , from Latin sedere to sit; so called in allusion to the manner in which the plants attach themselves to rocks and walls.] (Botany) A genus of plants, mostly perennial, having succulent leaves and cymose flowers; orpine; stonecrop. Gray.

See See noun [ Middle English se , see , Old French se , sed , sied , from Latin sedes a seat, or the kindred sedere to sit. See Sit , and confer Siege .] 1. A seat; a site; a place where sovereign power is exercised. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Jove laughed on Venus from his sovereign see .
Spenser.

2. Specifically: (a) The seat of episcopal power; a diocese; the jurisdiction of a bishop; as, the see of New York. (b) The seat of an archbishop; a province or jurisdiction of an archbishop; as, an archiepiscopal see . (c) The seat, place, or office of the pope, or Roman pontiff; as, the papal see . (d) The pope or his court at Rome; as, to appeal to the see of Rome.

Apostolic see . See under Apostolic .

See See (sē) transitive verb [ imperfect Saw (sa); past participle Seen (sēn); present participle & verbal noun Seeing .] [ Middle English seen , sen , seon , Anglo-Saxon seón ; akin to OFries. sīa , Dutch zien , Old Saxon & Old High German sehan , German sehen , Icelandic sjā , Swedish se , Danish see , Goth. saíhwan , and probably to Latin sequi to follow (and so originally meaning, to follow with the eyes). Greek "e`pesqai , Sanskrit sac . Confer Sight , Sue to follow.] 1. To perceive by the eye; to have knowledge of the existence and apparent qualities of by the organs of sight; to behold; to descry; to view.

I will now turn aside, and see this great sight.
Ex. iii. 3.

2. To perceive by mental vision; to form an idea or conception of; to note with the mind; to observe; to discern; to distinguish; to understand; to comprehend; to ascertain.

Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren.
Gen. xxxvii. 14.

Jesus saw that he answered discreetly.
Mark xii. 34.

Who's so gross
That seeth not this palpable device?
Shak.

3. To follow with the eyes, or as with the eyes; to watch; to regard attentively; to look after. Shak.

I had a mind to see him out, and therefore did not care for contradicting him.
Addison.

4. To have an interview with; especially, to make a call upon; to visit; as, to go to see a friend.

And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death.
1 Sam. xv. 35.

5. To fall in with; to meet or associate with; to have intercourse or communication with; hence, to have knowledge or experience of; as, to see military service.

Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil.
Ps. xc. 15.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, if a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
John viii. 51.

Improvement in wisdom and prudence by seeing men.
Locke.

6. To accompany in person; to escort; to wait upon; as, to see one home; to see one aboard the cars.

God you ( him, or me , etc.) see , God keep you (him, me, etc.) in his sight; God protect you. [ Obsolete] Chaucer. -- To see (anything) out , to see (it) to the end; to be present at, or attend, to the end. -- To see stars , to see flashes of light, like stars; -- sometimes the result of concussion of the head. [ Colloq.] -- To see (one) through , to help, watch, or guard (one) to the end of a course or an undertaking.

See See intransitive verb 1. To have the power of sight, or of perceiving by the proper organs; to possess or employ the sense of vision; as, he sees distinctly.

Whereas I was blind, now I see .
John ix. 25.

2. Figuratively: To have intellectual apprehension; to perceive; to know; to understand; to discern; -- often followed by a preposition, as through , or into .

For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see ; and that they which see might be made blind.
John ix. 39.

Many sagacious persons will find us out, . . . and see through all our fine pretensions.
Tillotson.

3. To be attentive; to take care; to give heed; -- generally with to ; as, to see to the house.

See that ye fall not out by the way.
Gen. xlv. 24.

» Let me see , Let us see , are used to express consideration, or to introduce the particular consideration of a subject, or some scheme or calculation.

Cassio's a proper man, let me see now, -
To get his place.
Shak.

» See is sometimes used in the imperative for look , or behold . " See . see ! upon the banks of Boyne he stands." Halifax.

To see about a thing , to pay attention to it; to consider it. -- To see on , to look at. [ Obsolete] "She was full more blissful on to see ." Chaucer. -- To see to . (a) To look at; to behold; to view . [ Obsolete] "An altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to " Josh. xxii. 10. (b) To take care about; to look after; as, to see to a fire.

See See transitive verb In poker and similar games at cards, to meet (a bet), or to equal the bet of (a player), by staking the same sum.

Seecatch See"catch noun [ Russian siekach .] (Zoology) A full-grown male fur seal. [ Alaska]

Seed Seed (sēd) noun ; plural Seed or Seeds . [ Middle English seed , sed , Anglo-Saxon sǣd , from sāwan to sow; akin to Dutch zaad seed, German saat , Icelandic sāð , sæði , Goth. mana sēþs seed of men, world. See Sow to scatter seed, and confer Colza .] 1. (Botany) (a) A ripened ovule, consisting of an embryo with one or more integuments, or coverings; as, an apple seed ; a currant seed . By germination it produces a new plant. (b) Any small seedlike fruit, though it may consist of a pericarp, or even a calyx, as well as the seed proper; as, parsnip seed ; thistle seed .

And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed , and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself.
Gen. i. 11.

» The seed proper has an outer and an inner coat, and within these the kernel or nucleus. The kernel is either the embryo alone, or the embryo inclosed in the albumen, which is the material for the nourishment of the developing embryo. The scar on a seed, left where the stem parted from it, is called the hilum , and the closed orifice of the ovule, the micropyle .

2. (Physiol.) The generative fluid of the male; semen; sperm; -- not used in the plural.

3. That from which anything springs; first principle; original; source; as, the seeds of virtue or vice.

4. The principle of production.

Praise of great acts he scatters as a seed ,
Which may the like in coming ages breed .
Waller.

5. Progeny; offspring; children; descendants; as, the seed of Abraham; the seed of David.

» In this sense the word is applied to one person, or to any number collectively, and admits of the plural form, though rarely used in the plural.

6. Race; generation; birth.

Of mortal seed they were not held.
Waller.

Seed bag (Artesian well) , a packing to prevent percolation of water down the bore hole. It consists of a bag encircling the tubing and filled with flax seed, which swells when wet and fills the space between the tubing and the sides of the hole. -- Seed bud (Botany) , the germ or rudiment of the plant in the embryo state; the ovule. -- Seed coat (Botany) , the covering of a seed. -- Seed corn , or Seed grain (Botany) , corn or grain for seed. -- Seed down (Botany) , the soft hairs on certain seeds, as cotton seed. -- Seed drill . See 6th Drill , 2 (a) . -- Seed eater (Zoology) , any finch of the genera Sporophila , and Crithagra . They feed mainly on seeds. -- Seed gall (Zoology) , any gall which resembles a seed, formed on the leaves of various plants, usually by some species of Phylloxera. -- Seed leaf (Botany) , a cotyledon. -- Seed lobe (Botany) , a cotyledon; a seed leaf. -- Seed oil , oil expressed from the seeds of plants. -- Seed oyster , a young oyster, especially when of a size suitable for transplantation to a new locality. -- Seed pearl , a small pearl of little value. -- Seed plat , or Seed plot , the ground on which seeds are sown, to produce plants for transplanting; a nursery. -- Seed stalk (Botany) , the stalk of an ovule or seed; a funicle. -- Seed tick (Zoology) , one of several species of ticks resembling seeds in form and color. -- Seed vessel (Botany) , that part of a plant which contains the seeds; a pericarp. -- Seed weevil (Zoology) , any one of numerous small weevils, especially those of the genus Apion , which live in the seeds of various plants. -- Seed wool , cotton wool not yet cleansed of its seeds. [ Southern U.S.]

Seed Seed intransitive verb 1. To sow seed.

2. To shed the seed. Mortimer.

3. To grow to maturity, and produce seed.

Many interests have grown up, and seeded , and twisted their roots in the crevices of many wrongs.
Landor.

Seed Seed transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Seeded ; present participle & verbal noun Seeding .] 1. To sprinkle with seed; to plant seeds in; to sow; as, to seed a field.

2. To cover thinly with something scattered; to ornament with seedlike decorations.

A sable mantle seeded with waking eyes.
B. Jonson.

To seed down , to sow with grass seed.

Seed-lac Seed"-lac` noun A species of lac. See the Note under Lac .

Seedbox Seed"box` noun (Botany) (a) A capsule. (b) A plant ( Ludwigia alternifolia ) which has somewhat cubical or box-shaped capsules.

Seedcake Seed"cake` noun A sweet cake or cooky containing aromatic seeds, as caraway. Tusser.

Seedcod Seed"cod` noun A seedlip. [ Prov. Eng.]

Seeder Seed"er noun One who, or that which, sows or plants seed.

Seediness Seed`i·ness noun The quality or state of being seedy, shabby, or worn out; a state of wretchedness or exhaustion. [ Colloq.] G. Eliot.

What is called seediness , after a debauch, is a plain proof that nature has been outraged.
J. S. Blackie.

Seedless Seed"less adjective Without seed or seeds.

Seedling Seed"ling noun (Botany) A plant reared from the seed, as distinguished from one propagated by layers, buds, or the like.

Seedlip, Seedlop Seed"lip`, Seed"lop` noun [ Anglo-Saxon sǣdleáp ; sǣd seed + leáp basket.] A vessel in which a sower carries the seed to be scattered. [ Prov. Eng.]

Seedman Seed"man See Seedsman .

Seedness Seed"ness noun Seedtime. [ Obsolete] Shak.

Seedsman Seeds"man noun ; plural Seedsmen (-m e n). 1. A sower; one who sows or scatters seed.

The seedsman
Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain.
Shak.

2. A person who deals in seeds.

Seedtime Seed"time` noun [ Anglo-Saxon sǣdtīma .] The season proper for sowing.

While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night, shall not cease.
Gen. viii. 22.

Seedy Seed"y adjective [ Compar. Seedier ; superl. Seediest .] 1. Abounding with seeds; bearing seeds; having run to seeds.

2. Having a peculiar flavor supposed to be derived from the weeds growing among the vines; -- said of certain kinds of French brandy.

3. Old and worn out; exhausted; spiritless; also, poor and miserable looking; shabbily clothed; shabby looking; as, he looked seedy ; a seedy coat. [ Colloq.]

Little Flanigan here . . . is a little seedy , as we say among us that practice the law.
Goldsmith.

Seedy toe , an affection of a horse's foot, in which a cavity filled with horn powder is formed between the laminæ and the wall of the hoof.

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