Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Sĕc'tile, a. p. 1193Capable of being cut. 2. (Min.) Capable of being cut smoothly;—said of minerals which do not crumble or break when the knife is applied to them, but are severed with a smooth cut.Sĕc'tion, n. p. 1193The act of cutting, or of separation by cutting; as, the section of bodies. 2. A part separated from the rest; a division; a portion; as, specifically, (a.) A distinct part or portion of a book or…Sĕc'tion-al, a. p. 1193Pertaining to a section or distinct part of a larger body or territory; partial. All sectional interests and party feelings, it is hoped, will hereafter yield to schemes of ambition. J. Story.Sĕc'tion-al-īsm, n. p. 1193A feeling of peculiar interest in some one section of a country, &c. [U. S.]Sĕc'tion-äl'i-ty, n. p. 1193The state or quality of being sectional; sectionalism.Sĕc'tion-al-ly, adv. p. 1193In a sectional manner.Sĕc'tion-ize, v. t. p. 1193To form into sections. [Rare.]Sĕct'ism, n. p. 1193Devotion to a sect; the spirit of sectarianism. [Rare.]Sĕct'ist, n. p. 1193One who is devoted to the interests of a sect; a sectary. [Rare.]Sĕct'i-ūn'cle, n. p. 1193A little or petty sect. [Rare.] “Some new sect or sectiuncle.” J. Martineau.Sē'ctor, n. p. 1193(Geom.) A part of a circle comprehended between two radii and the included arc; or a mixed triangle, formed by two radii and the arc of a circle. 2. A mathematical instrument, consisting of two…Sĕc'tor-al, a. p. 1193Of, or pertaining to, a sector; as, a sectoral circle.Sec-tō'ri-al, a. p. 1193Adapted for cutting;—said of a form of cutting teeth, called also scissors teeth, because the corresponding pair in the upper and lower jaw play against each other like scissors blades. R. Owen.Sĕc'ū-lar, a. p. 1193Coming or observed once in an age or 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…Sē'û-lar, n. p. 1193A secular ecclesiastic, or one not bound by monastic rules. Burke. 2. (Eccl.) A church officer or official, whose functions are confined to the vocal department of the choir. Busby.Sĕc'û-lar-ĭsm, n. p. 1193The state or quality of being secular; a secular spirit; secularity.Sĕc'ū-lār'ĭ-ty, n. p. 1193Supreme attention to the things of the present life; worldliness. “A secularity of character which makes Christianity and its principal doctrines distasteful or unintelligible.” Taylor.Séc'û-lar-i-zâ'tion, n. p. 1193The act of rendering secular, or the state of being rendered secular; conversion from regular to secular; conversion from religious to lay possession and uses; as, the secularization of church…Sĕc'ū-lar-ize, v. t. p. 1193To convert from regular or monastic into secular; as, to secularize a priest or monk. 2. To convert from spiritual to secular or common use; as, to secularize a church, or church property. At the…Sĕc'û-lar-ly, adv. p. 1193In a secular or worldly manner.Sĕc'û-lar-ness, n. p. 1193The quality of being secular; worldliness; worldly-mindedness.Sē'cund, a. p. 1193(Bot.) Arranged on one side only, as flowers or leaves on a stalk. Gray.Se-cûn'dâte, v. t. p. 1193To make prosperous; to give prosperity or success to. [Rare.]Sĕc'un-dā'tion, n. p. 1193Prosperity. [Obs.]Sĕc'un-dine, n. p. 1193(Bot.) The second coat or integument of an ovule, lying within the primine. 2. [Fr. secondines, secondes, Sp. secundina, It. secondina, from Lat. secundus, second.] (Obstet.) The several coats or…Se-cūr'a-ble, a. p. 1193Capable of being secured.Se-cūre', a., a. p. 1193Free from care or anxiety; easy in mind; not feeling suspicion or distrust; confident. “But thou, secure of soul, unbent with woes.” Dryden. 2. Over-confident; incautious; careless;—in a bad sense.…Se-cūre', v. t. p. 1193To 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.…Se-cūre'ly, adv. p. 1193In a secure manner; without fear or apprehension; without danger; safely. His daring foe securely him defied. Milton.Se-cūre'ment, n. p. 1193Security; protection. [Obs.]Se-cūre'ness, n. p. 1193The condition or quality of being secure; confidence of safety; exemption from fear; want of vigilance or caution.Se-cūr'er, n. p. 1193One who, or that which, secures or protects.Se-cû'ri-fer, n. p. 1193(Entom.) One of a family of hymenopterous insects, having a saw-shaped or hatchet-shaped appendage to the posterior part of the abdomen.Se-cū'ri-fōrm, a. p. 1193(Bot.) Having the form of an ax or hatchet: Lee.Se-cū'ri-pălp, n. p. 1193(Entom.) One of a family of coleopterous insects, having the maxillary palps terminating in a hatchet-shaped joint.Se-cū'ri-ty, n. p. 1193The condition of being secure; as, (a.) Freedom from apprehension, anxiety, or care; confidence of safety. (b.) Hence, sometimes, over-carelessness; negligence. “That he might sin with more…Se-dän', n. p. 1193A portable chair or covered vehicle for carrying a single person;—usually borne on poles by two men;—called also sedan-chair.Se-dāte', a. p. 1193Settled; composed; calm; quiet; tranquil; still; serene; unruffled by passion; undisturbed; contemplative; sober; serious; as, a sedate soul, mind, or temper. Syn. — Settled; composed; calm; quiet…Se-dāte'ly, adv. p. 1193In a sedate manner.Se-dāte'ness, n. p. 1193The condition or quality of being sedate; calmness of mind, manner, or countenance; freedom from agitation; a settled state; composure; serenity; tranquillity; as, sedateness of temper or soul…Se-dā'tion, n. p. 1194The act of calming. [Obs.] Coles.Sĕd'a-tīve, a. p. 1194Tending to calm, moderate, or tranquilize; specifically, allaying irritability and irritation; assuaging pain.Sēd'a-tīve, n. p. 1194(Med.) A remedy which allays irritability and irritation, and irritative activity or pain.Sē'dent, a. p. 1194Sitting; inactive; quiet. [Rare.]Sēd'en-ta-ri-ly, adv. p. 1194In a sedentary manner.Sēd'en-ta-ri-ness, n. p. 1194The state or quality of being sedentary.Sēd'en-ta-ry, n. p. 1194(Zoöl.) One of a tribe of spiders, which rest motionless until their prey is entangled in their web. Brande.Sēd'en-ta-ry, a. p. 1194Accustomed to sit much or long; as, a sedentary man. 2. Requiring much sitting; as, a sedentary employment. Any education that confined itself to sedentary pursuits was essentially imperfect. R.…Se-dē'runt, n. p. 1194A sitting, as of a court or other body. 'Tis pity we have not Burns's own account of that long sederunt. Prof. Wilson.Sĕdge, n. p. 1194(Bot.) A plant of a family which includes a great number of species, found growing in dense tufts, generally in wet grounds. The culms are triangular, and the leaves, which resemble those of grass…Sēdge'-bird, n. p. 1194(Ornith.) The sedge-warbler.Sēdged, a. p. 1194Composed of flags or sedge. Shak.Sēdge'-war'blēr, n. p. 1194(Ornith.) A small European singing bird, of the family Sylviadæ: the Salicaria phragmitis of Selby. It often builds its nest among reeds or tall aquatic plants. Jardine.Sĕd'gy, a. p. 1194Overgrown with sedge. On gentle Severn's sedgy bank. Shak.Se-dĭl'ĭ-ŭm, n. p. 1194(Rom. Antiq.) One of a row of seats in the amphitheater. 2. Hence, a seat in the chancel of a church near the altar, for a priest or deacon during the eucharistic service. Hook.Sēd'i-ment, n. p. 1194The matter which subsides to the bottom, from water or any other liquid; settlings; lees; dregs.Sĕd'i-mĕnt'a-ry, a. p. 1194Pertaining to sediment; formed by sediment; consisting of matter that has subsided. Sedimentary rocks (Geol.), those rocks which have been formed by materials deposited from a state of suspension in…Se-di'tion, n. p. 1194The raising of commotion in a state, not amounting to insurrection; arousing of discontent against government, and disturbance of public tranquillity by speaking or circulating inflammatory…Se-dĭ'tion-a-ry, n. p. 1194An inciter or promoter of sedition. Bp. Hall.Se-dĭ'tiŏŭs, a. p. 1194Pertaining to, or partaking of the nature of, sedition; as, seditious behavior; seditious strife. 2. Tending to excite sedition; as, seditious words. 3. Disposed to arouse violent opposition to…