Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
- 1,538
- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Se-rēne'ness, n. p. 1205The state of being serene; se-Se-rēn'i-tūde, n. p. 1205Calmness; serenity. [Obs.]Se-rĕn'i-ty, n. p. 1205The condition or quality of being serene; clearness and calmness; quietness; stillness; peace. A general peace and serenity newly succeeded general trouble. Sir W. Temple. 2. Calmness of mind…Sērf, n. p. 1205A servant or slave employed in husbandry, and, in some countries, attached to the soil, and transferred with it, as formerly in Russia. Syn. — Slave; servant. — SERF, SLAVE. A slave is the absolute…Sĕrf'āge, n. p. 1205The same as SERFDOM.Sĕrf'dŏm, n. p. 1205The state or condition of serfs.Sērf'hood or Sērf'ism, n. p. 1205The same as SERFDOM. [Rare.]Sêrge, n. p. 1205A woolen twilled stuff, the warp of which is worsted and the weft woolen. Silk serge, a twilled silk fabric used mostly by tailors for lining parts of gentlemen's coats.Sōr'ge, n. p. 1205A large candle, sometimes weighing many pounds, used in the ceremonies of the Roman Catholic church. Fairholt.Ser'gean-cy, n. p. 1205The office of a sergeant; sergeantship.Ser'geant, n. p. 1205Formerly, an officer in England, nearly answering to the more modern bailiff of the hundred; also, an officer whose duty was to attend on the king, and on the lord high steward in court, to arrest…Ser'geant-at-ärms', n. p. 1205(Legislative Bodies.) An officer who executes the commands of the body in preserving order and punishing offenses. Brande.Ser'geant-cy, n. p. 1205The same as SERGEANTSHIP, q. v.Ser'geant-mā'jor, n. p. 1205(Mil.) A non-commissioned officer who acts as assistant to the adjutant. Brande.Ser'geant-ry, n. p. 1205The same as SERGEANTY. [Rare.]Ser'geant-ship, n. p. 1205The office of a sergeant.Ser'geant-y, n. p. 1205An honorary kind of service that can not be due from a tenant to any lord, but to the king only. [Eng.] Grand sergeanty, a particular kind of tenure by which the tenant was bound to do some special…Sē'ri-al, a. p. 1205Pertaining to a series; consisting of a series; appearing in successive parts; as, a serial work. 2. (Bot.) Of, or pertaining to, rows. Gray.Sē'ri-al, n. p. 1205A work appearing in a series or succession of parts; a tale, or other writing, published in successive numbers of a periodical.Sē'ri-al-ly, adv. p. 1205In a series, or regular order; as, arranged serially, or published serially.Sē'ri-ate, a. p. 1205Arranged in a series or succession; pertaining to a series.Sē'ri-ate-ly, adv. p. 1205In a regular series.Sē-rĭ-ā'tim, adv. p. 1205In regular order.Se-ri'ceous, a. p. 1205Pertaining to silk; consisting of silk; silky. 2. (Bot.) Covered with very soft hairs pressed close to the surface; as, a sericeous leaf.Sē'r'i-cūlt'ūre, n. p. 1205The raising of silk-worms.Sē'rĭēs, n. p. 1205A number of things or events standing or succeeding in order, and connected by a like relation; sequence; order; course; a succession of things; a line or row of things; as, a series of calamitous…Sē'rin, n. p. 1205(Ornith.) A song-bird of the finch family, found in the central parts of Europe. It has a small, horny, and short bill, and its habits are mostly similar to those of the canary bird.Sē'ri-o-cōm'ic or Sē'ri-o-cōm'ic-al, a. p. 1205Having a mixture of seriousness and sport; partaking both of seriousness and comicality.Sē'ri-ous, a. p. 1205Grave in manner or disposition; earnest; solemn; not light, gay, or volatile. He is always serious, yet there is about his manner a graceful ease. Macaulay. 2. Really intending what is said; being in…Sē'ri-ōs-ly, adv. p. 1205In a serious manner; gravely; solemnly; in earnest; without levity; in an important degree.Sē'ri-ous-ness, n. p. 1205The condition or quality of being serious; gravity of manner or of mind; solemnity. That spirit of religion and seriousness vanished all at once. Atterbury.Ser'jeant, n. p. 1205A sergeant. See SERGEANT.Ser-mōc'i-nā'tion, n. p. 1205The making of speeches or sermons; sermonizing. [Obs.] Peacham.Ser-mōc'ī-nā'tor, n. p. 1205One who makes sermons or speeches. [Obs.]Sĕr'mon, n. p. 1205A discourse or address; a talk. [Obs.] 2. Specifically, a discourse delivered in public, usually by a clergyman, for the purpose of religious instruction, and grounded on some text or passage of…Sēr'mon, v. t. p. 1205To discourse to or of, as in a sermon. Spencer. 2. To tutor; to lesson; to teach. “Come, sermon me no further.” Shak.Sēr'mon, v. i. p. 1205To compose or deliver a sermon. [Obs.] Milton.Sĕr'mon-eer', n. p. 1205A preacher; a sermonizer; a sermonist. [Rare.] B. Jonson.Ser-mōn'ic, a. p. 1205Resembling, or appropriate to,Ser-mŏn'ic-al p. 1205a sermon; grave and didactic. [Rare.] “Conversation . . . grave or gay, satirical or sermonic.” Prof. Wilson.Sĕr'mon-ing, n. p. 1205Discourse; instruction; advice. [Obs.] Chaucer.Sĕr'mon-ish, a. p. 1205Resembling a sermon. [Rare.]Sĕr'mon-ist, n. p. 1205A writer or deliverer of sermons; a sermonizer.Sĕr'mon-īze, v. t. p. 1205To preach or discourse to; to affect or influence by means of a sermon or of sermons. [Rare.] Which of us shall sing or sermonize the other fast asleep. Landor.Sĕr'mon-ize, v. i. p. 1205To make sermons; to compose or write a sermon or sermons; to preach. 2. To inculcate rigid rules. [Rare.] Chesterfield.Sĕr'mon-īz'er, n. p. 1205One who sermonizes.Sēr'mount-ain, n. p. 1205(Bot.) A plant of the genus Laserpitium (L. siler). Lee.Se-ron' or Se-roon', n. p. 1205(Synop., § 130). [Fr. serron, Sp. seron, a hamper, pannier, augm. of sera, a large pannier or basket.] 1. A bale or package of skin or leather for drugs or the like; a ceroon. 2. (Com.) (a.) A…Sĕ'rōse, a. p. 1205Watery; serous. [Obs.] More.Se-rōs'i-ty, n. p. 1205The thin, watery liquid forming the chief constituent of most animal fluids, as of blood, milk, and the like; serum. 2. A fluid which exudes from the albumen of the serum of the blood when coagulated…Sĕr'o-tīne, n. p. 1205(Zoöl.) A species of bat found in Europe (Vespertilio serotinus).Se-rŏt'i-noŭs, a. p. 1205(Bot.) Happening later in a season than is customary with allied species. Gray.Sē'roŭs, a. p. 1205Thin; watery; like whey; — said of that part of the blood which separates in coagulation from the grumous or red part; also, of the fluid which lubricates a serous membrane. 2. Pertaining to serum.…Sĕr'pent, n. p. 1205(Zoöl.) A snake; an ophidian reptile without feet. The bodies of serpents are extremely elongated, and move by means of the folds they form when in contact with the ground. Their hearts have two…Sĕr'pent, v. i. p. 1205To wind like a serpent; to crook about; to meander. [Rare.] “The serpentine of the Thames.” Evelyn.Sĕr'pen-tā'rī-ā, n. p. 1206(Bot.) A plant of various genera and species:—applied especially as the specific name of numerous plants that have been reputed to be remedial of snake-bites, as Aristolochia serpentaria, Prenanthes…Sĕr'pen-tā'rĭ-ŭs, n. p. 1206(Astron.) A constellation in the northern hemisphere;—called also Ophiuchus.Sĕr'pent-cū'cum-ber, n. p. 1206(Bot.) A plant of the genus Trichosanthes.Sĕr'pent-ēat'er, n. p. 1206(Ornith.) A bird of Africa that devours serpents; secretary-bird.Sĕr'pent-fīsh, n. p. 1206(Ichth.) A fish with a body of a ribbon-like and compressed form, and a band of red running lengthwise; Cepolæ rubescens. P. Cyc.