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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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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.Ser-pĕnt'i-fōrm, a. p. 1206Having the form of a serpent.Sēr'pen-tīg'e-nōŭs, a. p. 1206Bred of a serpent.Sēr'pen-tine, a. p. 1206Resembling a serpent; having the shape or qualities of a serpent; winding or turning one way and the other, like a moving serpent; anfractuous; meandering; crooked; spiral. The shape Like his, and…Sĕr'pen-tīne, n. p. 1206(Min.) A mineral or rock consisting chiefly of the hydrous silicate of magnesia, and usually of an obscure green color, with shades and spots arising from the presence of small quantities of chromic…Sĕr'pen-tīne, v. i. p. 1206To turn or bend like a serpent; to serpentine. [Rare.]Sĕr'pen-tīne-ly, adv. p. 1206In a serpentine manner.Sér'pent-i'noŭs, a. p. 1206Relating to, or like, serpentine; as, serpentinous in character.Sĕr'pent-īze, v. t. p. 1206To turn or bend, like a serpent, first in one direction and then in the opposite; to meander; to wind. [Rare.] The river runs before the door, and serpentizes more than you can conceive. H. Walpole.Sēr'pent-ry, n. p. 1206A winding like that of a serpent. 2. A place inhabited or infested by serpents.Sĕr'pent's-tōngue, n. p. 1206(Bot.) A plant of the genus Ophioglossum; adder's tongue. 2. (Palæon.) The fossil tooth of a species of shark; — so called from its resemblance to a tongue with its root.Sĕr'pet, n. p. 1206A basket. [Obs.] Ainsworth.Ser-pīg'i-noŭs, a. p. 1206Affected with serpigo.Ser-pī'gō, n. p. 1206(Med.) A disease of the skin, commonly known as ringuorum. See RINGWORM. [Obs.]Sér'po-lēt, n. p. 1206(Bot.) Wild thyme.Sér'pū-lā, n. p. 1206(Zoöl.) A genus of annelids, whose calcareous twisting tubes cover stones, shells, and other submarine bodies. See SERPULIDAN. Eng. Cyc.Ser-pū'le-an, a. p. 1206Ser-pū'li-dan p. 1206An animal of the order Annelida, of the genus Serpula, forming calcareous tubes, which twine round and cover stones, shells, and the like. Kirby.Sér'pu-līte, n. p. 1206(Paleon.) A petrified shell or fossil of the genus Serpula. Jameson.Sērr, v. t. p. 1206To crowd, press, or drive together. [Obs.] Bacon.Sér'rate or Serrā'ted, a. p. 1206Notched on the edge, like a saw. 2. (Bot.) Having sharp notches about the edge, pointing toward the extremity; as, a serrate leaf. Doubly serrate, having small serratures upon the large ones, as in…Ser-rā'tion, n. p. 1206The condition of being serrate; formation in the shape of a saw.Sĕr'ra-tūre, n. p. 1206A notching like that between the teeth of a saw, in the edge of any thing. Martyn.Sĕr'-i-cā'ted, a. p. 1206(Nat. Hist.) Covered with a short, fine, silky down.Sĕr'ri-cŏrn, n. p. 1206(Entom.) A coleopterous insect having serrated antennae. Brande.Sér'roids, a. p. 1206Like the teeth of a saw; jagged. [Obs.] Browne.Sĕr'ru-late or Sĕr'ru-lā'ted, a. p. 1206(Bot.) Finely serrate; having very minute notches.Ser'ru-lā'tion, n. p. 1206The state of being notched minutely, like a fine saw. Wright.Sěr'ry, v. t. p. 1206To crowd; to press together. [Rare, except in the p. p.] “To relax their serried files.” Milton.Sē'rum, n. p. 1206(Physiol.) (a.) The liquid portion of the blood, after the separation of the coagulum or clot, of which albumen is the principal organic ingredient. (b.) A fluid of similar nature exuded from the…Sĕrv'a-ble, a. p. 1206Capable of being served. 2. Capable of being preserved.Sérv'age, n. p. 1206Serfage; slavery; servitude. [Obs.]Sér'val, n. p. 1206(Zool.). A digitigrade, carnivorous mammal, of the cat tribe, the Felis serval of Southern Africa. It is a middle-sized species, with a long tail and black spots.Sér'vant, n. p. 1206One who serves, or does service, voluntarily or involuntarily; a person who is employed by another for mental offices, or for other labor; and is subject to his command; a person who labors or exerts…Sér'vant, v. t. p. 1206To subject. [Obs.] Shak.Sér'vant-ess, n. p. 1206A female servant; a maid-servant.Sér'vant-girl, n. p. 1206A female servant; a maid-Sĕr'vant-māid p. 1206servant.Sēr'vant-mān, n. p. 1206A male servant; a man-servant.Sér'vant-ry, n. p. 1206A body of servants; servants collectively. [Rare.]Sērve, v. t. p. 1206To work for; to labor in behalf of; to exert one's self continuously or steadily for the benefit of; to do service for; to act as servant to; to be in the employment of, as an inferior, domestic…Sērve, v. i. p. 1206To be a servant or slave; to be employed in labor or other business for another; to be in subjection. The Lord shall give thee rest . . . from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve. Isa.…Sĕrv'er, n. p. 1206One who serves. 2. A waiter for carrying things on; a salver.Sërv'ice, n. p. 1206The act of serving; the occupation of a servant; the performance of labor for the benefit of another, or at another's command; attendance of an inferior, or hired helper, or slave, &c., on a…Ser'vice-a-ble, a. p. 1207Doing service; promoting happiness, interest, advantage, or any good; useful to any end; adapted to any good end or use; beneficial; advantageous. “Serviceable to religion and learning.” Atterbury.…Ser'-vice-a-ble-ness, n. p. 1207The state or quality of being serviceable; usefulness in promoting good of any kind; beneficialness. All action being for some end, its fitness to be commended or forbidden must be founded upon its…Ser'vice-a-bly, adv. p. 1207In a serviceable manner.Ser'vi-age, n. p. 1207Service; servitude. [Obs.] “Thralldom base and serviage.” Fairfax.Ser'vice-ber'ry, n. p. 1207The berry of the service-tree.Ser'vice-book, n. p. 1207A prayer-book or missal.Ser'vice-pipe, n. p. 1207A pipe connecting mains with a dwelling, as in gas pipes, and the like. Tomlinson.Ser'vice-tree, n. p. 1207(Bot.) One of several species of trees allied to the apple, and found in a wild state, as the American shad-bush, and the European mountain-ash or roan-tree. They all have richly colored fruit, which…Sĕr'vi-ent, a. p. 1207Subordinate. [Obs.] Dyer. Servient tenement or estate (Law), that on which the burden of a servitude or an easement is imposed. See DOMINANT. Gale & Whateley.Serviette, n. p. 1207A napkin for the table.Ser'vile, a. p. 1207Pertaining to, or befitting, a servant or slave; slavish; mean; proceeding from dependence; as, servile fear; servile obedience. 2. Held in subjection; dependent. E'en fortune rules no more a servile…Ser'vile, n. p. 1207(Gram.) An element which forms no part of the original root;—opposed to radical.Ser'vile-ly, adv. p. 1207In a servile manner; slavishly.Ser'vile-ness, n. p. 1207[Fr. servilité, Sp. servilidad, It. servilità, D.