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.
Ses'ter-tĭus, n. p. 1207(Rom. Antiq.) A Roman coin or denomination of money, in value the fourth part of a denarius, and originally containing two asses and a half, afterward four asses; — equal to about two pence sterling…Ses'tet or Ses-tet'to, n. p. 1207(Mus.) A piece of music composed for six voices or instruments; — called also sextet. [Written also sestetto, sestettos.]Set, v. t. p. 1207To cause to sit; to seat; to make to assume a specified position; to give site or place to; to place; to put; to fix; as, to set a house on a wall of stone; to set a book on a shelf; to set a chest…Sĕt, v. i. p. 1208To pass below the horizon; to go down; to decline; to sink. “Ere the weary sun set in the west.” Shak. Thus this century sets with little mirth, and the next is likely to arise with more mourning.…Sĕt, p. a. p. 1208Fixed; firm; obstinate; as, he is very set in his opinions. 2. Regular; uniform; formal; as, a set discourse; a set battle. “The set phrase of speech.” Shak. 3. Established; prescribed; as, set forms…Sĕt, n. p. 1208The act of setting; the descent of the sun or other heavenly body below the horizon. The weary sun hath made a golden set. Shak. 2. That which is set, placed, or fixed; as, (a.) A young plant for…Sē'tā, n. p. 1208(Bot.) A bristle, or slender body like a bristle. Gray.Se-tā′ceous, a. p. 1208Set with, or consisting of, bristles; bristly; as, a stiff, setaceous tail. Derham. 2. (Nat. Hist.) Having the slender form of a bristle; bristle-shaped; as, a setaceous leaf or leaflet.Sĕt'-băck, n. p. 1208(Arch.) A plain, flat set-off in a wall. Weale.Sĕt'-bōlt, n. p. 1208(Ship-building.) An iron pin, or bolt, for fitting planks closely together. Craig.Sĕt'-down, n. p. 1208A depressing or humiliating rebuke; a rebuff.Set-ee', n. p. 1208(Naut.) A kind of vessel. See SETTEE.Sĕt'-foil, n. p. 1208The same as SEPT-FOIL, q. v.Sĕth'ic, a. p. 1208(Chron.) Of, or pertaining to, a certain period of 1460 years.Se-tĭf'er-ōus, a. p. 1208Producing, or having one or more, bristles.Sē'ti-fōrm, a. p. 1208(Bot.) Having the form of a bristle.Se-tĭg′ĕr-ōŭs, a. p. 1208(Nat. Hist.) Covered with bristles. Dana.Sē'ti-rēme or Sēt'i-rēme, n. p. 1208(Entom.) A jointed leg, whose inner side has a dense fringe of hairs, by means of which certain animals, as the diving beetles, move in the water.Sĕt'ness, n. p. 1208The state or quality of being set; regulation; adjustment; obstinacy.Sĕt'-nŭt, n. p. 1208A jam-nut or lock-nut. See NUT.Sĕt'-ŏff, n. p. 1208That which is set off against another thing; an offset. 2. That which is used to improve the appearance of any thing; a decoration; an ornament. 3. (Law.) A counter-claim; a cross-debt, or demand; a…Sē'ton, n. p. 1208(Surg.) A few horse hairs or small threads, or a twist of silk or fine linen, drawn through the skin and areolar membrane by means of a large needle, by which a small opening is made and continued.Se'tōse' or Sē'tous, a. p. 1208(Nat. Hist.) Having the surface set with bristles; bristly; as, a setose leaf or receptacle.Sĕt'-out, n. p. 1209A display, as of plate, &c. Clarke.Sēt'-screw, n. p. 1209(Mach.) A screw, sometimes cupped or pointed at one end, and screwed through one part, as of a machine, tightly upon another part, to prevent the one from slipping upon the other.Sēt'-stitched, a. p. 1209Stitched according to a formal pattern. “An old, set-stitched chair, valanced, and fringed with party-colored worsted bobs.” Sterne.Sĕtt, n. p. 1209See SET, n. No. 3. 2. (Pile-driving.) A piece placed temporarily upon the head of a pile when the latter can not be reached by the weight, or hammer, except by means of such an intervening piece.Set-tee', n. p. 1209A long seat with a back; a kind of arm-chair for several persons to sit in at once. 2. (Naut.) A vessel with one deck and a very long, sharp prow, carrying two or three masts with lateen sails;—used…Sĕt'ter, n. p. 1209One who, or that which, sets;—generally in combination with an adverb; as, a setter on, or inciter; a setter up; a setter forth, and the like. 2. A sporting dog of the hound kind, that indicates, by…Sĕt'ter-wort, n. p. 1209(Bot.) A species of hellebore (Helleborus fœtidus), sometimes used in medicine; bear's-foot.Sĕt'ting, n. p. 1209The act of putting, placing, fixing, or establishing. 2. The act of sinking, or seeming to sink, below the horizon. 3. The act or manner of taking birds by a setting-dog. 4. (a.) Something set in or…Sĕt'ting-cōat, n. p. 1209(Arch.) The best sort of plastering on walls or ceilings. Brande.Sĕt'ting-dŏg, n. p. 1209A dog trained to crouch at the sight or scent of game; a setter.Sĕt'ting-pōle, n. p. 1209A pole, often iron-pointed, used for pushing boats along in shallow water. [U. S.]Sĕt'ting-rule, n. p. 1209(Print.) The same as COMPOSING-RULE, q. v.Sĕt'tle, n. p. 1209A place settled or made lower than the rest; a wide step or platform lower than some other part. And from the bottom upon the ground, even to the lower settle, shall be two cubits, and the breadth…Sĕt'tle, v. t. p. 1209To place in a fixed or permanent condition; to make firm, steady, or stable; to establish; to fix; hence, specifically, (a.) To establish in life; to fix in business, in situation, and the like. (b.)…Sĕt'tle, v. i. p. 1209To become fixed or permanent; to establish one's self; to assume a lasting form or condition; to become stationary, from a temporary or changing state of things; as, a settled conviction, affection…Sĕt'tled-ness, n. p. 1209The state of being settled; confirmed state. [Rare.] Bp. Taylor.Sĕt'tle-ment (sĕt'tl-),, n. p. 1209The act of settling, or the state of being settled; as, specifically, (a.) Establishment in life; fixture in business, condition, or the like; ordination or installation as pastor. “Every man living…Act of settlement p. 1209the statute of 12 and 13 William III., by which the crown was limited to the present reigning house, or the house of Hanover. Blackstone.Sĕt'tler, n. p. 1209One who settles. 2. Especially, one who establishes himself in a colony; a colonist; as, a settler in Oregon. 3. That which settles or finishes; hence, a blow, &c., which settles or decides a…Sĕt'tling, n. p. 1209The act of making a settlement; a planting or colonizing. 2. The act of subsiding, as lees. 3. The adjustment of differences. 4. (pl.) That which settles at the bottom of a liquid; lees; dregs…Sĕt'-tō,, n. p. 1209A conflict in boxing, argument, or the like. Halliwell.Sĕt'ū-la, n. p. 1209(Bot.) A small bristle or hair; — applied also to the stipes of certain fungi.Sĕt'ūle, n. p. 1209A small, short hair or bristle. Dana.Sĕt'ū-lōse', a. p. 1209Bearing setules. Dana.Sĕt'wall, n. p. 1209(Bot.) A certain plant. The garden setwall is a species of Valeriana. [Written also setwall.]Sĕv'en, a. p. 1209One more than six; as, seven days make one week.Sĕv'en, n. p. 1209The number greater by one than six. Of every beast, and bird, and insect small, Came sevens and pairs. Milton. 2. A symbol representing seven units, as 7, or vii. Seven sciences. See SCIENCES. —…Sĕv'en-fōld, a. p. 1209Repeated seven times; doubled seven times; increased to seven times the size or amount; as, the sevenfold shield of Ajax. “Sevenfold rage.” Milton.Sĕv'en-fōld, adv. p. 1209Seven times as much or often. Whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. Gen. iv. 15.Sĕv'en-night, n. p. 1209A week; the period of seven days and nights; or the time from one day of the week to the next day of the same denomination preceding or following. See SENNIGHT.Sēv'en-scōre, n. p. 1209Seven times twenty; that is, a hundred and forty. The old Countess of Desmond, who lived sevenscore years, dentized twice or thrice. Bacon.Sĕv'en-sōme, a. p. 1209Consisting of seven things or parts; arranged by sevens. [Very rare.]Sēv'en-sōme-ness, n. p. 1209The quality of being seven-some; arrangement by sevens. [Very rare.]Sĕv'en-teen, a. p. 1209One more than sixteen or less than eighteen; ten and seven added; as, seventeen years.Sĕv'en-teen, n. p. 1209The number greater by one than sixteen; the sum of ten and seven. 2. A symbol representing seventeen units, as 17, or xvii.Sĕv'en-teenth, a. p. 1209One next in order after the sixteenth; one coming after sixteen of the same kind or class. On the seventeenth day of the month ... were all the fountains of the great deep broken up. Gen. vii. 11. 2.…Sév'en-teenth, n. p. 1209The quotient of a unit divided by seventeen; one of seventeen equal parts. 2. The next in order after the sixteenth; the seventh after the tenth. 3. (Mus.) An interval comprising two octaves and a…