Page images
PDF
EPUB

SUPERINTEND

SUPERINTEND, su-per-in-tend', v.t. to have the oversight or charge of: to control. [Lit. "to be intent over anything," L. super, above, and intendo-in, on, and tendo, to stretch.] SUPERINTENDENCE, su-per-in-tend'ens, n, oversight direction: management. SUPERINTENDENT, su-per-in-tend'ent,

adj., superintending.—n. one who superintends: overseer. SUPERIOR, sū-pē'ri-or, adj., upper: higher in place, rank, or excellence: surpassing others beyond the influence of.-n. one superior to others: the chief of a monastery, etc., and of certain churches and colleges. [L., comp. of superus, highsuper, above.]

SUPERIORITY, sū-pē-ri-or'i-ti, n. quality or state of being superior: pre-eminence: advantage.

SUPERLATIVE, sū-per'la-tiv, adj., carried above others or to the highest degree: superior to all others: most eminent: (gram.) expressing the highest degree of a quality.-n. (gram.) the superlative or highest degree of adjectives and adverbs.-adv. SUPER'LATIVELY. [L. superlativus-superlatus, pa.p. of superferosuper, above, fero, to carry.] SUPERMOLECULE, su-per-mol'ē-kūl, n. a compounded molecule or combination of two molecules of different substances.

SUPERMUNDANE, su-per-mun'dan, adj. being above the world. SUPERNACULAR, sū-per-nak'ū-ler, adj. having the quality of supernaculum: of first-rate quality very good-said of liquor. "Some white hermitage at the Haws (by the way, the butler only gave me half a glass each time) was supernacular."-Thackeray.

SUPERNACULUM, su-per-nak'u-lum, n. a kind of mock Latin term intended to mean upon the nail, used formerly by topers. Nares. "To drink supernaculum was an ancient custom not only in England, but also in several other parts of Europe, of emptying the cup or glass, and then pouring the drop or two that remained at the bottom upon the person's nail that drank it, to show that he was no flincher."-Brand: good liquor, such as one will drink till not enough is left to wet one's nail.

For the cup's sake I'll bear the cupbearer."Tis here, the supernaculum! twenty years Of age, if 'tis a day.-Byron. [Low L. supernaculum — super, above, over, and Ger. nagel, a nail. The term was borrowed from the Continent.] SUPERNAL, sū-per'nal, adj. that is above or in a higher place or region: relating to things above celestial. [L. supernus— super, above.] SUPERNATANT, super-na'tant, adj. swimming above: floating on the surface as, oil supernatant on water; supernatant leaves. Boyle. [L. supernatans, supernatantis, pr.p. of supernatosuper, above, over, and nato, to swim.] SUPERNATATION, su-per-na-ta'shun, n. the act of floating on the surface of a fluid. Bacon; Sir T. Browne. SUPERNATURAL, su-per-nat'u-ral, adj. being beyond or exceeding the powers or laws of nature; not occurring through the operation of merely physical laws, but by an agency above and separate from these. It is stronger than preternatural, and is often equivalent to miraculous. "No man can give any rational account how it is possible that such a general flood should come by any natural means. And if it be supernatural, that grants the thing I am proving, namely, such a Supreme Being as can alter the course of nature."-Bp. Wilkins.

424

"Cures wrought by medicines are natural operations; but the miraculous ones wrought by Christ and his apostles were supernatural."-Boyle.-THE SUPERNATURAL, that which is above or beyond the established course or laws of nature: that which transcends nature: supernatural agencies, influence, phenomena, and so forth; as, to laugh at a belief in the supernatural. SUPERNATURALISM, sū - per- nat'u - ralizm, n. the state of being supernatural : a term used chiefly in theology, in contradistinction to rationalism. In its widest extent supernaturalism is the doctrine that religion and the knowledge of God require a revelation from God. It considers the Christian religion as an extraordinary phenomenon, out of the circle of natural events, and as communicating truths above the comprehension of hu

man reason.

SUPERNUMERARY,

su-per-num'er-ar-i,

adj., over and above the number stated, or which is usual or necessary.-n. a person or thing beyond the usual, necessary, or stated number. [L. supernumerarius-super, over, and numerus, a number.]

SUPERPOSE, su-per-pōz', v.t. to place over or upon. [L. super, over, and Fr. poser (see POSE, n.).]

SUPERPOSITION, su-per-po-zish'un, n. act of superposing: state of being superposed that which is above anything.

SUPERSCRIBE, sū-per-skrīb', v.t. to write or engrave over, on the outside or top: to write the name on the outside or cover of. [L. super, over, above, and scribo, scriptum, to write.] SUPERSCRIPTION, sū-per-skrip'shun, n. act of superscribing: that which is written or engraved above or on the outside. SUPERSEDE, su-per-sed', v.t. to sit or be above or superior to: to make useless by superior power to come in the room of: to displace. [L. super, above, and sedeo, sessum, to sit.]

SUPERSEDEAS, sū-per-se'dē-as, n. in law, a writ having in general the effect of a command to stay, on good cause shown, some ordinary proceedings which ought otherwise to have proceeded. [L., 2d pers. sing. pres. subj. of supersedeo. See SUPERSEDE.

SUPERSEDERE, super-se - dē're, n. in Scots law, (a) a private agreement amongst creditors, under a trust-deed and accession, that they will supersede or sist diligence for a certain period; (b) | a judicial act by which the court, where it sees cause, grants a debtor protection against diligence, without consent of the creditors.

SUPERSEDURE, su-per-se'dūr, n. the act of superseding: supersession: as, the supersedure of trial by jury. SUPERSEMINATE, su-per-sem'i-nāt, v.t. to scatter seed over or above: to disseminate. "That cannot be done with joy, when it shall be indifferent to any man to superseminate what he pleases.' -Jer. Taylor.

SUPERSENSIBLE, su-per-sen'si-bl, adj. beyond the reach of the senses: above the natural powers of perception: supersensual.-THE SUPERSENSIBLE, that which is above the senses: that which is supersensual. "The felt presence of the supersensible."-Brit. Quart. Rev. SUPERSENSITIVENESS, sū-per-sen'si-tivnes, n. morbid sensibility: excessive sensitiveness.

SUPERSENSUAL, sū-per-sen'sū al, adj. above or beyond the reach of the senses. SUPERSENSUOUS, su-per-sen'sū-us, adj.

SUPINE

supersensible: supersensual extremely sensuous more than sensuous. SUPERSERVICEABLE. su-per-ser'vis-abl, adj. over serviceable or officious: doing more than is required or desired. "A... superserviceable, finical rogue.' -Shak. SUPERSTITION, su-per-stish'un, n. exces sive reverence or fear: excessive exactness in religious opinions or practice: false worship or religion: an ignorant and irrational belief in supernatural agency belief in what is absurd, without evidence. [L. superstitio, excessive religious belief-super, over, above, and sto, to stand; it orig. meant a standing still over or by a thing," in fear, wonder, dread.]

SUPERSTITIOUS, sū-per-stish'us, adj. pertaining to or proceeding from superstition: showing or given to superstition: over-exact.-adv. SUPERSTITIOUSLY. SUPERSTRUCTURE, su-per-strukt'ūr, n. a structure above or on something else: anything erected on a foundation. [L. super, above, and STRUCTURE.] SUPERSUBSTANTIAL, su-per-sub-stan'shal, adj. more than substantial: beyond the domain of matter: being more than substance. "Heavenly supersubstantial bread."-Jer. Taylor. SUPERSUBTLE, su-per-sut'l, adj. oversubtle cunning: crafty in an excessive degree. “An erring barbarian and a supersubtle Venetian."-Shak. SUPERTEMPORAL, sū-per-tem'pō-ral, adj. and n. transcending time, or independent of time what is independent of time. 'Plotinus and Numenius, explaining Plato's sense, declare him to have asserted three supertemporals or eternals, good, mind or intellect, and the soul of the universe."-Cudworth.

66

SUPERTERRENE, su-per-te-rēn', adj. being above ground or above the earth: superterrestrial.

SUPERTERRESTRIAL,su-per-te-res'tri-al, adj. being above the earth, or above what belongs to the earth.

SUPERTONIC, sū-per-ton'ik, n. in music, the note next above the key-note: the second note of the diatonic scale: thus D is the supertonic of the scale of C; A the supertonic of the scale of G; and so

on.

SUPERTUBERATION, su- per- tū - ber-a'shun, n. the production of young tubers, as potatoes, from the old ones while still growing.

SUPERVENE, sū-per-vēn', v.i. to come above or upon: to occur, or take place. [L. super, above, and venio, ventum, to

. come.

SUPERVENTION, su-per-ven'shun, n. act of supervening or taking place. SUPERVISAL, su-per-viz' al, SUPERVISION, su-per-vizh'un, n. act of supervising inspection: control. SUPERVISE, sū-per-viz', v.t. to oversee: to superintend. [L. super, over, and video, visum, to see.]

SUPERVISOR, su-per-viz'or, n. one who supervises an overseer: an inspector: a member of a county Board in some of the States which has general executive control of township and county local affairs.

SUPINE, sū-pin', adj., lying on the back: leaning backward: negligent: indolent. -n. su'pin (Latin gram.) name given to the verbal form in um and u (so called perh. because though furnished with caseendings, it rests or falls back on the verb). -adv. SUPINE'LY.-n. SUPINE'NESS. [L. supinus-sub, under, below; cf. Gr. hyp tios, from hypo.]

SUPPER

SUPPER, sup'er, n. a meal taken at the
close of the day. [Lit. "taking of soup,"
Fr. souper-soupe; from Ger. suppe.
See SOUP and SUP.]
SUPPERLESS, sup'er-les, adj. without

supper.

SUPPLANT, sup-plant', v.t. to displace by stratagem: to take the place of: to undermine.-n. SUPPLANT'ER. [L.supplanto, to trip up one's heels-sub, under, planta, the sole of the foot.] SUPPLE, sup'l, adj. pliant: lithe : yielding to the humor of others: fawning.-v.t. to make supple: to make soft or compliant. -v.i. to become supple.-n. SUPPLENESS. [Fr. souple-L. supplex, bending the knees-sub, under, and plico, to fold. See PLIANT.]

SUPPLEMENT, sup'le-ment, n. that which supplies or fills up: any addition by which defects are supplied.-v.t. to supply or fill up to add to. [L. supplementumsuppleo, to fill up.]

SUPPLEMENTAL, sup-ple-ment'al, SUPPLEMENTARY, sup-ple-ment'ar-i, adj. added to supply what is wanting: additional.

SUPPLIANT, sup'li-ant, adj., supplicating: asking earnestly: entreating.-n. a humble petitioner.adv. SUPPLIANTLY. [Fr. suppliant, pr.p. of supplier-L. supplico.] SUPPLICANT, sup'li-kant, adj., supplicat ing: asking submissively.-n. one who supplicates or entreats earnestly. [L. supplicans, pr.p. of supplico.] SUPPLICATE, sup'li-kat, v.t. to entreat earnestly to address in prayer. supplico, -atum-supplex, kneeling down -sub, under, and plico, to fold.] SUPPLICATION, sup-li-ka'shun, n. act of supplicating: earnest prayer or entreaty. [L. supplicatio.]

[L.

SUPPLICATORY, sup'li-ka-tor-i, adj. containing supplication or entreaty: humble.

:

SUPPLY, sup-pli', v.t. to fill up, esp. a deficiency to add what is wanted: to furnish to fill a vacant place: to serve instead of :-pa.t. and pa.p. supplied'. [Fr.-L. suppleo-sub, up, and pleo, to fill.]

SUPPLY, sup-pli', n. act of supplying: that which is supplied or which supplies a wan amount of food or money provided (used generally in pl.). SUPPORT, sup-pōrt', v.t. to bear up: to endure or sustain: to keep up as a part or character: to make good to defend : to represent: to supply with means of living to uphold by countenance, patronize to follow on same side as a speaker.-n. act of supporting or upholding that which supports, sustains, or maintains maintenance. [L. sub, up, and porto, to bear.]

SUPPORTABLE, sup-port'a-bl, adj. capable of being supported: endurable: capable of being maintained.-adv.SUPPORT'ABLY. SUPPORTER, sup-pōrt'er, n. one who supports or maintains; as, one who gives aid or helps to carry on; a defender; an advocate; a vindicator; as, the supporters of the war, the supporters of religion, morality, justice, etc.: "Worthy supporters of such a reigning impiety.' South: an adherent; one who takes part; as, the supporter of a party or faction: one who accompanies another on some public occasion as an aid or attendant; one who seconds or strengthens by aid or countenance: a sustainer; a comforter; "The saints have a companion and supporter in all their miseries."-South: that which supports or upholds; that upon which anything is placed; a support, a prop, a pillar, etc.; "A building set upon supporters."-Mortimer: in ship

425

building, a knee placed under the cathead in surg. a broad, elastic, or cushioned band or truss for the support of any part or organ, as the abdomen. SUPPOSABLE, sup-pōz'a-bl, adj. that may be supposed.

SUPPOSE, sup-pōz', v.t. to lay down, assume, or state as true: to imagine.-n. SUPPOS'ER. [Lit. "to place under," Fr. supposer-L. sub, under, and Fr. poser, to place (see POSE, n.).] SUPPOSITION, sup-po-zish'un, n. act of supposing: that which is supposed: assumption. [Fr.-L.] SUPPOSITITIOUS, sup-poz-i-tish'us, adj. put by trick in the place of another: spurious imaginary. [L. supposititiussuppono, to put in the place of another -sub, under, and pono, to place.] SUPPOSITIVE, sup- poz'i-tiv, adj. supposed: including or implying supposition. A suppositive intimation and an express prediction."-Bp. Pearson. SUPPOSITIVE, sup-poz'i-tiv, n. a word denoting or implying supposition, as if, granted, provided, and such like. "The suppositives denote connection, but assert not actual existence."-Harris.

66

"The un

SUPPOSITIVELY, sup-poz'i-tiv-li, adv. with, by, or upon supposition. reformed sinner may have some hope suppositively if he do change and repent; the honest penitent may hope positively."Hammond.

SUPPOSITORY, sup-poz'i-tor-i, n. in med. a body introduced into the rectum, there to remain and dissolve gradually in order to procure stools when clysters cannot be administered: a plug to hold back hæmorrhoidal protrusions.

SUPPOSURE, sup-pōz'ür, n. supposition: hypothesis. Hudibras. SUPPRESS, sup-pres', v.t. to press or put down to crush: to keep in to retain or conceal to stop.-n. SUPPRESS'OR. [L. suppressum, pa.p. of supprimo sub, down, under, and premo (see PRESS).] SUPPRESSION, sup-presh'un, n. act of suppressing: stoppage: concealment. SUPPRESSIVE, sup-pres'iv, adj. tending to suppress: subduing.

SUPPURATE, sup'ū-rat, v.i. to gather pus or matter. [L. sub, under, and pus, puris (see PUS).]

SUPPURATION, sup-u-ra'shun, n. act or process of suppurating or producing pus: matter.

SUPPURATIVE, sup'u-rat-iv, adj. tending to suppurate: promoting suppuration.— n. a medicine that promotes suppuration.

SUPRALAPSARIAN, su-pra-lap-sa'ri-an, n. in theol. one who maintains that God, antecedent to the fall of man or any knowledge of it, decreed the apostasy and all its consequences, determining to save some and condemn others, and that in all he does he considers his own glory only. [L. supra, above, over, and lapsus, a fall.] SUPRALAPSARIAN, su-pra-lap-sa'ri-an, adj. of or pertaining to the Supralapsarians or to their doctrines. SUPRALAPSARIANISM, su-pra-lap-sa'rian-izm, n. the doctrine or system of the Supralapsarians.

SUPRALAPSARY, su-pra-lap'sa-ri, n. and adj. supralapsarian. SUPRALUNAR, su-pra-lū'ner, adj. (lit.) beyond the moon: hence, very lofty: of very great height. [L. supra, above, and luna, the moon.] SUPRAMUNDANE, su-pra-mun'dān, adj. being or situated above the world or above our system: celestial. "In the form of God, clothed with all the majesty and glory of the supramundane life.'

SURFACE-GAUGE

Hallywell. [L. supra, above, and mundus, the world.]

SUPRA-ORBITAL, su-pra-or'bit-al, adj. in anat. being above the orbit of the eye.SUPRA-ORBITAL ARTERY, an artery sent off by the ophthalmic, along the superior wall of the orbit.

SUPRA ORBITARY, su-pra-or'bit-a-ri, SUPRA-ORBITAR, su-pra-or'bit-er, adj. same as SUPRA-ORBITAL. SUPRAPROTEST, su-pra-pro'test, n. in law, an acceptance of a bill by a third person, after protest for non-acceptance by the drawer. SUPRARENAL, su-pra-re'nal, adj. in anat. situated above the kidneys.--SUPRARENAL CAPSULES, two minute, yellowish, triangular, glandular bodies which exist, one at the front portion of the upper end of each kidney. Their exact functions are as yet uncertain. [L. supra, above, over, and ren, renes, the kidneys.] SUPREMACY, su-prem'a-si, n. state of being supreme: highest authority or power. [Coined from SUPREME, on the model of PRIMACY.] SUPREME, sū-prēm', adj., highest: greatest: most excellent.-adv. SUPREME'LY. [L. supremus, superl. of superus, highsuper, above.]

SURCEASE, sur-sēs', v.i. to cease.-v.t. to cause to cease.-n. cessation. [Fr. sursis, pa.p. of sur-seoir, to leave off-L. supersedere, to sit over, to refrain from. Cf. ASSIZE, ASSESS. Doublet SUPERSEDE.] SURCHARGE, sur-chärj', v.t. to charge or overload. - an excessive load. [Fr. sur-L. super, over, and

CHARGE.]

-N.

over

SURD, surd, adj. (alg.) involving surds. produced by the action of the speech organs on the breath (not the voice), as the "hard" sounds k, t, p, f, etc.-n. (alg.) a quantity inexpressible by rational numbers, or which has no root. [Lit. "deaf," L. surdus; allied to Sans. svar, heavy.]

SURE, shōōr, adj.,secure: fit to be depended on certain: strong confident beyond doubt.-advs. SURE, SURE'LY. [Fr. sûrL. securus. Doublet SECURE.] SURETISHIP, shōōr'ti-ship, n. state of being surety: obligation of one person to answer for another.

SURETY, shōōr'ti, n. state of being sure : certainty he who or that which makes sure: security against loss: one who becomes bound for another. [Doublet SECURITY.]

SURF, surf, n. the foam made by the dashing of waves.-adj. SURF'Y. [Ety. very dub. perh. from SURGE; under influence of L. sorbeo, to suck in.] SURFACE, sur'fãs, n. the exterior part of anything. [Fr. (lit.) the "upper face," from sur-L. super, and face-L. facies. See FACE. Doublet SUPERFICIES.] SURFACE-CHUCK, sur'fas-chuk, n. a face-plate chuck in a lathe to which an object is fixed for turning. SURFACE-CONDENSER, sur'fās-kon-denser, n. in steam-engines, an apparatus by which steam from the cylinder is condensed. It usually consists of a large number of brass tubes united at their ends by means of a pair of flat steamtight vessels, or of two sets of radiating tubes. This set of tubes is inclosed in a casing, through which a sufficient quantity of cold water is driven. The steam from the exhaust pipe is condensed as it passes through these tubes, and is pumped away by the air-pump. SURFACE-GAUGE, sur'fās-gāj, n. an instrument for testing the accuracy of plane surfaces.

SURFACE-GRUB

SURFACE-GRUB, sur'fas-grub, n. the caterpillar of the great yellow underwing moth (Triphona pronuba). When full grown it is nearly 1 inch long, pale green with a brownish tinge, black dots, three pale lines down the back. It is frequently destructive to the roots of grass, cabbages, and turnips. SURFACE-JOINT, sur'fas-joint, n. a joint uniting the ends or edges of metallic sheets or plates. They are generally formed by laps or flanges, soldered or riveted. E. H. Knight.

SURFACEMAN, sur'fas-man, n. in rail. a person whose duty it is to keep the permanent way in order. SURFACE-PRINTING, sur'fas-print-ing, n. printing from an inked surface, in contradistinction to plate-printing, in which the lines are filled with ink, the surface cleaned, and the ink absorbed from the lines by pressure on the plate. Books, newspapers, woodcuts, and lithographs are examples of surface-printing. E. H. Knight.

SURFACER, sur'fas-er, n. a machine for planing and giving a surface to wood : one who digs for gold in the surface soil. SURFACE-ROLLER, sur'fas-rōl-er, n. the engraved cylinder used in calico-printing. E. H. Knight.

SURFACE-WATER, sur'fas-waw-ter, n. water which collects on the surface of the ground, and usually runs off into drains, sewers, and the like. SURFACE-WORKING, sur'fas-wurk-ing, n. the operation of digging for gold or other minerals on the top soil. SURF-BOAT, surf'-bōt, n. a peculiarly strong and buoyant boat capable of passing with safety through surf. SURF-DUCK, surf'-duk, n. a species of scoter (Oidemia perspicillata) about the size of a mallard, frequent on the coasts of Labrador, Hudson's Bay, and other parts of North America. It dives so swiftly that it is extremely difficult to shoot except when on the wing. SURFEIT, sur'fit, v.t. to fill to satiety and disgust.-n. excess in eating and drinking sickness or satiety caused by overfullness. [Fr. surfait, overdone - L. super, and factum.]

SURFEITING, sur'fit-ing, n. eating overmuch gluttony.

SURGE, surj, n. the rising or swelling of a large wave.-v.i. to rise high to swell. [Through O. Fr. forms from L. surgo, to rise. See SOURCE.]

SURGEON, sur’jun, n. one who treats injuries or diseases by operating upon them with the hand. [From serurgien, an O. Fr. form of Fr. chirurgien (whence E. CHIRURGEON), which see.] SURGEONCY, sur'jun-si, n. the office or employment of a surgeon in the army or

navy.

SURGERY, sur'jer-i, n. act and art of treating diseases by manual operations : a place for surgical operations. SURGICAL, sur'jik-al, adj. pertaining to surgeons, or to surgery: done by surgery. adv.-SURGICALLY.

SURGY, surj'i, adj. full of surges or waves: billowy.

SURLOIN, the preferable form of SIRLOIN. SURLY, sur'li, adj. morose: uncivil: tempestuous. - adv. SUR'LILY.-n. SUR'LINESS. [From A.S. sur, sour, and lic, lice, like: Wedgwood thinks it a modification of sir-ly, for sirlike, arrogant.] SURMISE, sur-miz, n. suspicion: conjecture.-v.t. to imagine: to suspect. [O. Fr. surmise, accusation-surmettre, "to accuse-L. super, upon, mitto, to send, to put.]

SURMOUNT, sur-mownt', v.t. to mount

426

above to surpass.-adj. SURMOUNT'ABLE, that may be surmounted. [Fr.-sur (L. super), and monter (see MOUNT).] SURMULLET, sur'mul-et, n. the common name for fishes of the family Mullidæ, formerly included in the perch family, but distinguished by having two dorsal fins placed at a very wide interval, the first being spinous. Two long barbels hang from the under jaw, or, when not in use, are folded up against it. The typical genus is Mullus. The red or plain surmullet (M. barbatus or ruber) inhabits the Mediterranean, and attains a length of about 12 inches. Its flesh is esteemed very delicious, and was extravagantly prized by the Romans. It is remarkable for the brilliancy of its colors. The striped or common surmullet (M. surmuletus) is somewhat larger, but equal to the red surmullet in delicacy. It is pretty common on the southern and south-western shores of England. [Fr. surmulet, the red mullet, for sormulet, from O. Fr. sor, Mod. Fr. saur, reddishbrown, sorrel, and mulet, a mullet. See SORE, a hawk, a deer.] SURMULOT, sur'mū-lot, n. a name given by Buffon to the brown rat (Mus decumanus). [Fr., from saur, O. Fr. sor, reddishbrown, sorrel, and mulot, a field-mouse.] SURNAME, sur'nām,n. an additional name: a name or appellation added to the baptismal or Christian name, and which becomes a family name. Surnames with us originally designated occupation, estate, place of residence, or some particular thing or event that related to the person. Thus William Rufus, or red; Edmund Ironsides; Robert Smith, or the smith; William Turner. Surnames seem to have been formed at first by adding the name of the father to that of the son, and in this manner several of our surnames were produced. Thus from Thomas William's son we have Thomas Williamson; from John's son we have Johnson, etc. "There still, however, wanted something to ascertain gentility of blood, where it was not marked by the actual tenure of land. This was supplied by two innovations, devised in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, the adoption of surnames and of armorial bearings."Hallam. [Prefix sur, over and above, and NAME.]

SURNAME, sur'nām, v.t. to name or call by an appellation added to the original name: to give a surname to. "Another shall subscribe with his hand to the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel."-Is. xliv. 5. "And Simon he surnamed Peter."-Mark. iii. 16. SURNOMINAL, sur-nom'in-al, adj. relating to surnames. [Prefix sur, over, above, and L. nomen, nominis, a name.] SURPASS, sur-pas', v.t. to pass beyond: to exceed to excel. [Fr. surpasser, from sur-L. super, beyond, and passer (see PASS).]

SURPASSABLE, sur-pas'a-bl, adj. that may be surpassed or excelled. SURPLICE, sur'plis, n. a white outer garment worn by the clergy. [Fr. surplisLow L. superpellicium, an over-garment. See PELISSE.]

SURPLUS, sur'plus, n. the overplus: excess above what is required. [Fr., from sur -L. super, over, and plus, more.] SURPLUSAGE, sur'plus-aj, n., overplus. SURPRISE, sur-priz', n. act of taking unawares: the emotion caused by anything sudden amazement.-v.t. to come upon suddenly or unawares: to strike with wonder or astonishment: to confuse. [Fr.surpris, pa.p. of sur-prendre-L. super, and prehendo, to take, catch. See GET.

SUSPICIOUS

SURPRISING, sur-priz'ing, adj., exciting surprise wonderful: unexpected.-adv. SURPRISINGLY.

SURRENDER, sur-ren'der, v.t. to render or deliver over: to resign.-v.i. to yield up one's self to another.-n. act of yielding, or giving up to another. [Ó. Fr. surrendre, from sur, over-L. super, and rendre (see RENDER).] SURREPTITIOUS, sur-rep-tish'us, adj. done by stealth or fraud.-adv. SURREPTI'TIOUSLY. [Lit. "seized in an underhand manner," L., from surripio, surreptum-sub, under, and rapio, to seize.] SURROGATE, sur'ro-gāt, n. a substitute: the deputy of an ecclesiastical judge: a probate judge who presides over the settlement of estates, wills, etc. [Lit. "one asked to act in the place of another,' L. surrogo, surrogatun-sub, in the place of, and rogo, to ask.] SURROUND, sur-rownd', v.t. to go round about to encompass. [Fr. sur-L. super, about, and ROUND.] SURTOUT, sur-tōō', n. a close-bodied frock-coat. [Fr.-Low L. super-totus, a garment worn over all others.] SURVEILLANCE, sur-vel'yans, n. a being vigilant or watchful: inspection. [Fr.surveiller-sur, over-L. super, and veiller, to watch-L. vigilare. See VIGIL.] SURVEY, sur-va', v.t. to see or look over: to inspect: to superintend: to examine: to measure and estimate, as land. [O. Fr. surveoir-L. super, over, and videre, to see.]

SURVEY, sur'vā, n., oversight: view: examination the measuring of land, or of a country.

SURVEYOR, sur-va'or, n. an overseer; a measurer of land: a public officer who keeps records of and does surveying in counties, states, etc.-n. SURVEY ORSHIP. SURVIVAL, sur-viv'al, n. a surviving or living after.

SURVIVE, sur-viv', v.t. to live beyond: to outlive.-v.i. to remain alive. [Fr.-L. super, beyond, and vivere, to live.] SURVIVOR, sur-viv'or, n. one who survives or lives after another.-n. SURVIVORSHIP. SUSCEPTIBILITY, sus-sep-ti-bil'i-ti, n. quality of being susceptible: capability: sensibility.

SUSCEPTIBLE, sus-sep'ti-bl, adj. capable of receiving anything: impressible: disposed to admit.—adv. SUSCEPTIBLY. [Fr. -L. suscipio, susceptum, to take up, to undergo-sub, from beneath, up, and capio, to take.]

SUSCEPTIVE, sus-sep'tiv, adj. capable of receiving or admitting: readily admitting. SUSPECT, sus-pekt', v.t. to mistrust: to imagine to be guilty: to doubt: to conjecture. [L. suspicio, suspectum, to look at secretly-sub, from beneath, up, and specio, to look at.]

SUSPEND, sus-pend', v.t. to hang one thing beneath another: to make to depend on : to make to stop for a time: to delay: to debar.-n. SUSPEND'ER. [L. suspendosub, beneath, pendo, pensum, to hang.] SUSPENSE, sus-pens', n. state of being suspended: act of withholding the judgment: uncertainty: indecision: stop betwixt two opposites.

SUSPENSION, sus-pen'shun, n. act of suspending: interruption: delay: temporary privation of office or privilege: a conditional withholding. SUSPENSORY, sus-pens'or-i, adj. that suspends: doubtful..-n. that which suspends: a bandage. SUSPICION, sus-pish'un, n. act of suspecting: the imagining of something without evidence or on slender evidence: mistrust. SUSPICIOUS, sus-pish'us, adj. full of suspicion showing suspicion: inclined to

SUSTAIN

suspect: liable to suspicion: doubtful. adv. SUSPICIOUSLY.-N. SUSPICIOUSNESS. SUSTAIN, sus-tan', v.t. to hold up: to bear: to maintain to relieve: to prove: to sanction: to prolong.-n. SUSTAINER. [L. sustineo - sub, from beneath, up, and teneo, to hold.]

SUSTAINABLE, sus-tan'a-bl, adj. that may be sustained.

SUSTENANCE, suc'ten-ans, n. that which sustains: maintenance: provisions. SUSTENTATION, sus-ten-ta'shun, n. that which sustains: support: maintenance. SUTLER, sut'ler, n. a person who follows an army and sells liquor or provisions: a camp hawker. [O. Dut. soeteler, a

small trader-soetelen, to do mean work; Ger. sudler, a dabbler-sudeln, to do dirty work.]

SUTLING, sut'ling, adj. pertaining to sutlers: engaged in the occupation of a sutler. SUTTEE, sut-te', n. formerly in India, the sacrifice of a widow on the funeral pile of her husband: the widow so sacrificed. [Sans. cuddhi, voluntary sacrifice.] SUTURAL, sūt'ūr-al, adj. relating to a suture.

SUTURE, sût'ûr, n. (med.) the sewing together of a wound: the seam uniting the bones of the skull: (bot.) the seam at the union of two margins in a plant. [L. sutura-suo, to sew.]

SUTURED, sūt'ūrd, adj. having or united by sutures.

66

SUZERAIN, sōō'ze-rān, n. a feudal lord: supreme or paramount ruler. [Lit. one who is above," Fr. sus-Late L. susum, for sursum-sub-versum, above; the termination in imitation of Fr. souverain, E. SOVEREIGN.]

SUZERAINTY, sōō'ze-rān-ti, n. the dominion of a suzerain: paramount authority. SWAB, swob, n. a mop for cleaning or drying floors or decks.-v.t. to clean or dry with a swab-pr.p. swabb'ing; pa.t. and pa.p. swabbed. [Prob. orig. from the splashing movement of water, and so conn. with SWEEP.]

SWABBER, swob'er, n. one who uses a swab: an officer who sees that the ship is kept clean.

SWADDLE, swod'l, v.t. to swathe or bind tight with clothes, as an infant. [A.S. swethel, a swaddling-band; an extension of SWATHE, to bind.] SWADDLING - BAND, swod'ling - band, SWADDLING-CLOTH, swod'ling-kloth, n. a band or cloth formerly used for swaddling an infant :-pl. (B.) SWADDLING-CLOTHES.]

SWAGGER, swag'er, v.i. to sway or swing the body in bluster: to brag noisily: to bully. n. boastfulness: insolence of manner.-n. SWAGG'ERER. [From the root of SWAY, SWING.]

SWAIN, swan, n. a young man: a peasant: a country lover. [A.S. swan, a servant; Ice. sveinn, young man, servant, Dan. svend, servant; perh. conn. with root of SON.]

SWALLOW, swold, n. a migratory bird with long wings, which seizes its insect food on the wing. [A.S. swalewe; cog. with Ger. schwalbe.]

SWALLOW, swol'o, v.t. to receive through

the gullet into the stomach to ingulf: to absorb: to occupy: to exhaust. [A.S. swelgan, to swallow; cog. with Ger. schwelgen; conn. with SWILL.] SWAM, swam, pa.t. of SwIM. SWAMP, swomp, n. wet, spongy land: low ground filled with water.-v.t. to sink in, or as in a swamp: to overset, or cause to fill with water, as a boat. [Closely conn. with Low Ger. and Scand. svamp, which, with A.S. swamm and Ger. schwamm, |

[ocr errors]

427

[ocr errors]

signify sponge," and "mushroom; all from the root of SWIM.] SWAMPY, Swomp'i, adj. consisting of swamp: wet and spongy. SWAN, swon, n. a web-footed bird like the duck and goose. [A.S.; cog. with Ger. schwan, Dut. zwaan; from L. sono, to sound, Sans. svan.]

SWARD, swawrd, n. the grassy surface of land green turf.v.t. to cover with sward. [Orig. the "skin of bacon," A.S. sweard; cog. with Ger. schwarte, thick, hard hide, Ice. svördr, the skin (esp. of the head), the sward or surface of the earth.]

SWARDED, swawrd'ed, SWARDY, swawrd'i, adj. covered with sward. SWARE, swar, (B.) pa.t. of SWEAR. SWARM, swawrm, n. a body of humming or buzzing insects: a cluster of insects, esp. of bees: a great number: throng.v.i. to gather as bees: to appear in a crowd: to throng: to abound: to breed multitudes. [A.S. swearm; Ger. schwarm; from the same root as Ger. schwirren, Sans. svr, to sound.] SWARTHY, swawrth'i, adj. of a blackish complexion: dark-skinned: tawny.-adv. SWARTH'ILY.-n. SWARTH'INESS. [A.S. sweart; cog. with Ice. svart-r, Ger. schwarz, black; conn. also with L. sordidus, dirty.]

SWATH, swawth, n. a line of grass or corn cut by the scythe: the sweep of a scythe. [A.S. swathe; Dut. zwade, also a scythe, which may have been the original meaning.]

SWATHE, swath, v.t. to bind with a band or bandage.- -n. a bandage. [A.S. beswéthian. Cf. SWADDLE.]

SWAY, swa, v.t. to swing or wield with the hand to incline to one side: to influence by power or moral force: to govern. -v.i. to incline to one side: to govern: to have weight or influence.-n.the sweep of a weapon: that which moves with power: preponderance: power in governing influence or authority inclining to one side. [Prob. Scand., as Ice. sveigja, Dan. svaie, to sway, sveie, to bend; akin to SWING and WAG.]

SWEAR, swar, v.i. to affirm, calling God to witness: to give evidence on oath: to utter the name of God or of sacred things profanely.-v.t. to utter, calling God to witness to administer an oath to: to declare on oath :-pa.t. swōre; pa.p. sworn.-n. SWEAR'ER. [A.S. suerian; cog. with Dut. zweren, Ger. schwören. Cf. ANSWER.]

SWEAT, swet, n. the moisture from the skin labor: drudgery.-v.i. to give out sweat or moisture: to toil.-v.t. to give out, as sweat to cause to sweat. [A.S. swat; cog. with Low Ger. sweet, Ger. schweisz; further conn. with L sudor, Gr. hidros, Sans. svedas.] SWEATING-ROOM, swet'ing-rõõm, n. a room for sweating persons: in dairy business, a room for sweating cheese and carrying off the superfluous juices. SWEATING-SICKNESS, swet'ing-sik-nes, n. sudor anglicanus, ephemera sudatoria, or ephemera maligna: an extremely fatal, febrile epidemic disease which made its appearance in England in August, 1485, and at different periods up till 1551, and which spread very extensively on the Continent. It was characterized by profuse sweating, and was frequently fatal in a few hours.-MALWAH SWEATING-SICKNESS, a disease occurring in India, which appears to be allied to the worst form of cholera, and to bear a close relation to malignant congestive fever. Dunglison. SWEATING - SYSTEM, swet'ing-sis-tem,

SWEETEN

n. a term applied, particularly in the tailoring trade, to the practice of employing men, women, and children to make up clothes in their own houses at very low wages.

SWEATY. swet'i, adj. wet with sweat: consisting of sweat: laborious.-n. SWEAT'

INESS.

SWEDE, swed, n. a native of Sweden. SWEDENBORGIAN, swe-den-bor'ji-an, n. one who holds the doctrines of the New Jerusalem Church as taught by Emanuel Swedenborg, a Swedish nobleman, born at Stockholm in 1689. He professed himself to be the founder of the New Jerusalem Church, alluding to the New Jerusalem spoken of in the book of the Revelation, and conceived that the members of this church were gifted with peculiar insight into spiritual things. The Swedenborgians believe that the regenerate man is in direct communication with angels and with heaven. They maintain that the sacred Scriptures contain three distinct senses, called celestial, spiritual, and natural, which are united by correspondences, and are accommodated respectively to particular classes, both of men and angels. They hold that there have been various general judgments ending particular dispensations of divine revelation. The last was in 1757, when Swedenborg received the office of teaching the doctrines of the new church promised in the Apocalypse. As this church is to be eternal there will be no other general judgment, but each individual is judged soon after death. There are numerous societies of them both in Great Britain and America. SWEDENBORGIANISM, swe-den-bor'ji. an-izm, n. the doctrines and practice of the Swedenborgians.

SWEDISH, swēd'ish, adj. pertaining to Sweden.

SWEEP, swēp, v.t. to wipe or rub over with a brush or broom: to carry along or off by a long brushing stroke or force: to destroy or carry off at a stroke: to strike with a long stroke: to carry with pomp: to drag over: to pass rapidly over.-v.i. to pass swiftly and forcibly: to pass with pomp: to move with a long reach-pa.t. and pa.p. swept.-n. act of sweeping extent of a stroke, or of anything turning or in motion: direction of a curve: a chimney-sweeper. SWEEP'ER. [A.S. swapan; cog. with Low Ger. swepen, Ger. schweifen. Cf. E. SWAB, SWOOP, and SWIFT.] SWEEPINGS, swep'ingz, n.pl. things collected by sweeping: rubbish. SWEEPSTAKES, swēp'stākz, n. all the

[ocr errors]

money or other things staked or won at a horserace, or in gaming. [So called because the winner sweeps up all the stakes or deposits.]

SWEET, swēt, adj. pleasing to the taste or senses: tasting like sugar: fragrant: melodious beautiful: fresh, as opp. to salt or to sour: not stale, sour, or putrid: mild: obliging.-n. a sweet substance: a term of endearment :-pl. sweetmeats. -adv. SWEET'LY..-n. SWEET'NESS. [A. S. swet, cog. with Ger. süsz, Gr. hedys L. suavis, sweet, Sans. svad, to taste.j SWEETBREAD, swēt'bred, n. the pancreas of an animal used for food, so called from its sweetness and resemblance to bread. SWEET-BRIER, swet'-bri'er, n. a thorny shrub of the rose kind resembling the brier, having a sweet smell. SWEETEN, swēt'n, v.t. to make sweet: to make pleasing, mild, or kind: to increase the agreeable qualities of: to make pure and healthy.-n. SWEETENER.

SWEETENING

SWEETENING, swet'n-ing, n. act of sweetening that which sweetens. SWEET-FERN, swet'-fern, n. a small North American shrub, having sweetscented or aromatic leaves resembling fern-leaves (Comptonia asplenifolia). Goodrich.

SWEETHEART, swēt'härt, n. a lover or mistress. [Simply from SWEET and HEART; an expression found in Chaucer.]

SWEETISH, swēt'ish, adj. somewhat sweet to the taste.-n. SWEET'ISHNESS. SWEETMEAT, swēt'mēt, n. confections made wholly or chiefly of sugar. [SWEET and MEAT.]

SWEET-PEA, swēt'-pē, n. a pea cultivated for its sweet fragrance and beauty. SWEET-POTATO, swēt'-po-ta'to,n. a plant common in tropical countries, having tubers like the potato, which are sweet and highly esteemed as food. SWEET-RUSH, swēt'-rush, n. a plant of the genus Acorus (A. Calamus), found growing in ponds, by the banks of rivers, and other wet places in England, and in the cooler parts of the Continent, of India, and of North America. From the lower part of the thick jointed rhizome or root-stock numerous roots are thrown down, while from the upper surface arise a number of sword-shaped leaves, from 2 to 3 feet in length, sheathing at the base, also a long leaf-like stalk from which issues a spike of densely-packed greenish flowers. All parts of the plant, but especially the perennial rhizome (known as calamus-root), have a strong aromatic and slightly acrid taste; and hence the rhizome is used in medicine as a stimulant and tonic in some kinds of indigestion, and it is said to be useful in ague. It is also used by confectioners as a candy; by perfumers in the preparation of aromatic vinegar and other perfumed articles, as hair-powders; and by manufacturers of beer and gin as a flavoring ingredient.

a

SWEET-WILLIAM, swet-wil'yam, n. species of pink of many colors and varieties.

SWELL, swel, v.i. to grow larger to expand: to rise into waves: to heave: to be inflated: to bulge out: to grow louder: to be bombastic, to strut: to become elated, arrogant, or angry: to grow upon the view: to grow louder, as a note.-v.t. to increase the size of: to aggravate: to increase the sound of: to raise to arrogance: -pa.p. swelled or swollen (swōln).-n. act of swelling: increase in size or sound: a gradual rise of ground: a wave: the waves or tides of the sea, esp. after a storm: a strutting foppish fellow, a dandy. [A.S. swellan; cog. with Ger. schwellen, Ice. svella.]

SWELLING, swel'ing, adj. (B.) inflated, proud, haughty. -n. protuberance: a tumor: a rising, as of passion: (B.) inflation by pride.

SWELTER, swelt'er, v.i. to be faint, or oppressed with heat. [A.S. sweltan, to die; Ice. stelta, to hunger.]

SWEPT, swept, pa.t. and pa.p. of SWEEP. SWERVE, swerv, v.i. to turn, depart from any line, duty, or custom to incline. [A.S. hweorfan; Dut. swerven; conn. with WARP.]

SWIFT, swift, n. the current of a stream.

He can live in the strongest swifts of the water."-Iz. Walton. (Rare): a reel or turning instrument for winding yarn: the common name of birds of the genus Cypselus, family Cypselidæ. They have an outward resemblance to the swallows, but differ much from them in various structural points. The common swift

428

(C. apus) has the greatest powers of flight of any bird that visits Britain. Its color is in general a sombre or sooty black, with a grayish-white patch under the chin. The beak is black, shorter than that of the swallow, and without the lateral bristles. The wings are even longer than those of the swallow, and are sickle-shaped. The tarsi are short, and feathered to the toes, which are all directed forwards. The swifts pass most of their time in the air, where they pursue their insect prey. Their flight is swift and shooting, and their scream very different from the twittering of the swallow. They build their nests in holes in the walls of houses, in rocks, and sometimes in hollow trees. The swift reaches its summer quarters later, and leaves earlier than the swallows. Another species, the white-bellied or Alpine swift (C. alpinus), is known in Gt. Britain, but it is only a rare straggler. The weight of the swift is most disproportionately small to its extent of wing, the former being scarcely an ounce, the latter 18 inches, the length of the body being near 8 inches. The swift is widely spread through Europe, Asia, and Africa. The American swift (Chatura pelasgia) | is smaller, has the hind - toe directed backwards, and the tail-feathers stiff as in woodpeckers. It is commonly called the chimney swallow: the common newt or eft, a species of lizard.

SWIFT, swift, adj. moving with great speed, celerity, velocity, or rapidity; fleet; rapid; quick; speedy; "The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong."-Eccles. ix. 11.; True hope is swift, and flies with swallow's wings; Kings it makes gods, and meaner creatures kings. -Shak.:

ready; prompt; quick; "Having so swift and excellent а wit."- Shak.; "Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath." -Jam. i. 19: coming suddenly, without delay; "There shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction."-2 Pet. ii. 2: of short continuance; rapidly passing; "Make swift the pangs of my queen's travails." -Shak. [A.S. swift, from the stem of swifan, to move quickly, to turn round, to revolve; Ice. svifa, to be carried, to glide, svif, sudden movement; Dut. zweven, Ger. schweben, Dan. svæve, to wave, to float, to hover; same root as E. SWEEP and Swoop.]

SWIFT, swift, adv. in a swift or rapid manner swiftly. "Light boats sail swift."-Shak.

SWIFTER, swift'er, n. (naut.) a rope used to confine the bars of the capstan in their sockets while men are turning it: also, a rope used to encircle a boat longitudinally to strengthen and defend her sides in collision. Swifters also are two shrouds fixed on the starboard and larboard sides of the lower masts, above all the other shrouds, to give the masts additional security. [Ice. sviptingr.] SWIFTLY, swift'li, adv. with swiftness: rapidly.

SWIFTNESS, swift'nes, n. quality of being swift: quickness: fleetness: rapidity: speed. SWILL, swil, v.t. or v.i. to drink greedily or largely.-n. a large draught of liquor: the liquid mixture given to swine.-n. SWILL'ER. [A.S. swilian, conn. with SWALLOW.]

SWIM, swim, v.i. to float, as opp. to sink : to move on or in water: to be borne

SWING

along by a current: to glide along with a waving motion: to be dizzy: to be drenched to overflow: to abound.-v.t. to pass by swimming: to make to swim or float-pr.p. swimm'ing; pa.t. swam; pa.p. swam or swum.-n. act of swimming any motion like swimming: air bladder of a fish. [A.S. swimman, cog. with Ger. schwimmen.]

SWIMMER, swim'er, n. one who swims: a web-footed aquatic bird.

SWIMMING, swim'ing, n. the act or art of sustaining and propelling the body in water. A great proportion of the animal tribes are furnished with a greater or less capacity for swimming either in water or on its surface, but man is unqualified for swimming without learning to do so as an art, owing to the structure of his body. The head by its gravity naturally sinks in water, and thus causes drowning, unless it, or at least the mouth, can be kept above the surface by art. The art of swimming chiefly consists in keeping the head above water, and using the hands and feet as oars and helm. SWIMMINGLY, swim'ing-li, adv. in a gliding manner, as if swimming: smoothly: successfully.

SWINDLE, swin'dl, v.t. to cheat under the pretence of fair dealing.- -n. the act of swindling or defrauding. [Lit. “to make dizzy," Dut. zwendelen, from the root of A.S. suindan, to become weak, Ger. schwinden, to disappear; conn. with SWOON.]

SWINDLER, swin'dler, n. one who defrauds by imposition: a cheat or rogue. SWINE, swin, n.sing. and pl. an ungulate: a mammal of the genus Sus, which furnishes man with a large portion of his most nourishing food: a hog. The fat

or lard of this animal enters into various dishes in cookery. The numerous varieties of the hog or swine bred in U. S. are partly the result of climate and keep. They are all, however, of English importation originally. [A.S. swîn, a widely spread word; Dut. zwijn, Ger. schwein, Dan. sviin, Ice, svin, Goth. svein, Pol. swinia, Bohem. swine; same root as sow, L. sus.]

SWINE-BREAD, swin'-bred, n. a kind of plant, truffle.

SWINE-CASE, swin'-kās, SWINE-CRUE, swin'-krōō, n. a hog-sty: a pen for swine. Called also a SWINE-COT. (Local.) SWINE-DRUNK, swin'-drungk, adj. in a state of beastly intoxication: beastly drunk. Shak.

SWINE-GRASS, swin'-gras, n. a plant, knot-grass, Polygonum aviculare. SWINEHERD, swin'herd, n. a herd or keeper of swine.

SWINE-OAT, swin'-ōt, n. a kind of oats cultivated for the use of pigs; the Avena nuda of botanists.

SWINE-PIPE. swin'-pip, n. a local name of the redwing thrush (Turdus iliacus). SWINE-POX, swin'-poks, n. a variety of the chicken-pox, with acuminated vesicles containing a watery fluid: the water-pox. SWINE'S-CRESS, swinz'-kres, n. a plant of the genus Senebiera, the S. Coronopus, called also WART-CRESS. SWINE'S-FEATHER, swinz'-feth-er, n. a small spear about 6 inches long, called also a Hog's Bristle, anciently used as a bayonet. The name was afterwards, in the seventeenth century, applied to a similar spear fitted into the musket rest in order to render it a defence against cavalry.

SWING, swing, v.i. to sway or wave to and fro, as a body hanging in air: to vibrate: to practice swinging: to turn round at

« PreviousContinue »