THE AMERICAN HERITAGE
`
`A THE AMERICAN HERITAGE
`DICTIONARY
`
`DICTIONARY
`OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
`
`
`OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
`
`

`

`Words that are believed to be registered trademarks have been
`checked with authoritative sources. No investigation has been made
`of common-law trademark rights in any word. because such inves­
`tigation is impracticable. Words that are known to have current
`registrations are shown with an initial capital and are also iden­
`tified as trademarks. The inclusion of any word in· this Dictionary
`is not. however. an expression of the publishers' opinion as to
`whether or not it is subject to proprietary rights. Indeed. no defi­
`nition in this Dictionary is to be regarded as affecting the validity
`of any trademark.
`
`© 1969,1970.1971. 1973.1975.1976 by Houghton Mifflin Company
`
`All correspondence and inquiries should be directed to
`
`Dictionary Division. Houghton Mifflin Company
`
`One Beacon Street. Boston. Massachusetts 02107
`
`
`All rights reserved under Bern and Pan-American Copyright Conventions
`
`ISBN: 0-395-20360-0 (new college edition; thumb-indexed)
`0-395-20359-7 (new college edition; plain edges)
`0-395-24575-3 (high-school edition)
`
`Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 76-86995
`
`Manufactured in the United States of America
`
`Computer-composed by Inforonics, Inc.
`in Maynard. Massachusetts
`
`

`

`vitelline
`
`..
`
`I f
`
`I'
`I'
`ii
`!
`
`\
`I!
`! .
`
`visor
`
`Fifteenth-century French
`
`helmet with visor
`
`
`1433
`
`person), as by way of friendship or duty; call on: visil Aunt
`Martha. 2. To go or come to see (a place), as on a tour: visit a
`museum. 3. To stay with as a guest. 4. To go or come to see in
`an official or professional capacity. 5. To go or come to gen­
`erally: I visit the bank on Fridays. 6. To go or come to in order
`to aid: visit the wounded. 7. To afflict; assail: A plague visiled Ihe
`village. 8. To inflict punishment upon or for; avenge: <OJ shall
`visillheir sin upon Ihem." (Exodus 32:34). 9. Archaic. To come
`10 in order to comfort or bless. Said of the Deity. -intr. 1. To
`pay a call or calls. 2. To inflict punishment; avenge. 3. In·
`formal. To converse or chat: Stay and visit with me for a while.
`-no 1. An act or instance of visiting a person, place, or thing.
`2. A stay or sojourn as a guest. 3. An act of visiting in a pro­
`fessional capacity. 4. An act of visiting in an official capacity,
`as an inspection or examination.
`[Middle English visiten, from
`Old French visiter. from Latin visitare, to go to see, from vlstire,
`to view. from VlSUS, sight, VIS rON.]
`vis·it-a·ble (viz'o-t.-bol) adj. 1. Capable of or suitable for a
`visit. 2. Subject to or allowing official visit, as for inspection.
`vis·i·tant (viz'o-t.nt) n. 1. A visitor; guest; a transient. 2. A
`supernatural being; a ghost or specter. 3. A migratory animal
`or bird that stops in a particular place for a limited period of
`time. -adj. A rchaic. Visiting.
`[Latin visi/ans. present partici­
`ple of visitore. to VISIT.]
`vis-i·ta-tion (vlz'Il-ta'shlln) n. 1. The act of visiting or being
`visited; a visit. 2. A visit for the purpose of making an official
`inspection or examination, as of a bishop to his diocese. 3. The
`right of a parent to visit a child as specified in a divorce or
`separation order. 4. a. A visit of punishment Or affliction Or of
`comfort and blessing, regarded as being ordained by God. b. A
`calamitous event or experience; grave misfortune. 5. The ap­
`pearance or arrival of a supernatural being. 6. Capital V.
`a. The visit of the Virgin Mary to her cousin Elizabeth. Luke
`1:39-56. b. The Roman Catholic Church festival held July 2 in
`commemoration of this visit. -vis'i·ta'tion·al adj.
`vis-i·ta-to·ri-al (viz/:;J-t~-tor'e·:;Jl. -tor'e-al) adj. Also vis·i-to·ri·al
`(vlz'o-tor'e-"I, -tor'••ol). 1. Of or pertaining to an official
`visitor or visit. 2. Having the right or power of visitation,
`visiting card. A calling card.
`visiting fireman. In/ormal. 1. An inlluential visitor who i.
`entertained impressively. 2, A visitor to a city who IS welcomed
`because he is thought to be a free spender.
`visiting professor. A professor on leave invited to serve as a
`member of the faculty of another college or university for a
`limited period of time, often an academic year.
`visiting teacher. A teacher affiliated with a public school
`system who visits sick or handicapped children in the area for
`the purpose of instruction.
`'
`vis·i·tor (ViZ'3-t~r) n. 1. One who pays a visit; a guest; caller.
`2. A sightseer or tourist.
`vis ma.jor (vis ma'j3r) pl. vires majores (vi'rez' m~~j6r'ez'.
`-jor'er). Law. An overwhelming force of nature having una­
`voidable consequences that under certain circumstances can
`exempt one from the obligations of a contract.
`[Latin, "great­
`er force."]
`Vi.so, Mount (v;;'z6). The highest (12,002 feet) of the Coltian
`Alps, in northwestern Italy near the border with France.
`vi·sor (vl'Z3r, vlz'3r) n. Also vi·lor. 1. A piece projecting from
`the front of a cap to shade the eyes or protect against wind or
`rain. 2. A fixed or movable shield against glare above the wind­
`shield of an automobile. 3. The front piece of the helmet of a
`suit of armor, capable of being raised and lowered and designed
`to protect the eyes, nose, and forehead. 4. Any means of con­
`cealment or disguise; a mask. -II'. v. visored (vj'~rd), -soring,
`-SOTS. Also vi-zor. To mask or protect \Vith a visor.
`(Middle
`English viser. from Norman French, from Old French vis. face,
`from Latin vism, sight, VISION.]
`vis·ta (vis't,,) n. 1. A distant view seen through a passage, as
`between buildings or rows of trees; scene; prospect. 2. The pas­
`sage framing the approach to such a scene; an avenue. 3. A
`comprehensive awareness of a series of remembered, present, or
`anticipated events: "He opened a vista into a mean lIfe." (Re­
`[ftalian, from vis/o. past participle of ..dere. to
`becca West).
`see, from Latin vidiire. See waid· in Appendix."]
`VISTA (vIs't~) An organization sponsored by the U.S. Office of
`Economic Opportunity composed of volunteer members de­
`voted to educating and teaching skills to the poor.
`[V(OLUN-.
`TEERS) f(N) S(ERVICE) T(o) A(MER1CA).j
`Vis·tu·la (vls'ch<lO-lo). Polish Wi.·la (ves'la). A river of Poland,
`rising in the Carpathians in the south and flowing 678 miles
`northeast, northwest, and then north to the Gulf of Danzig.
`vi.·u·al (vlzh'60·"l) adj. Abbr. vis. 1. Serving, resulting from, or
`pertaining to the sense of sight. 2. Capable of being Seen by the
`eye; visible. 3. Optics. Optical. 4. Done, maintained, or eXe­
`cuted by the sight only: visual navigation. 5. Having the nature
`of or producing an image in the mind. 6. Designating a method
`of instruction involving sight.
`[Middle English, from Late
`Latin visuiilis, from Latin v[sus. VISION.] -vis'u'aHyadv_
`visual aid. Graphic material used in education to impart in~
`struction by visual means. Often used in the plural.
`visual field. Abbr. V.F. The entire area visible to the immobile
`eye or eyes at a given moment the fieJd of vision.
`vis.u.al·ize (vizh'oo-:J-liz') v. -ized. -izing, -izes. -tr. To form a
`mental image or vision of; envisage. -incr. To form a mental
`image or images. -vis'u.al-j·ls'tion n.
`vis~u"al.iz.er (vizh'oo-;)-li'z;)r) n. One who visualizes; especially.
`one whose mental images are predominantly visual.
`visual purple. A red-light-sensitive pigment of the retina, rho·
`dopsin (seeJ.
`
`visitable
`vi·tal (vi'tol, vit'l) adj. 1. Of or characteristic of life: vital proc.
`esses. 2. Necessary to the continuation of life; life-sustaining:
`vilal functions. 3. Full of life; energetic; vigorous; animated:
`"The sky war blue, and young and Vital, there were no clouds In
`it" (Thomas Wolfe). 4. Poetic. Imparting life or animation' in­
`vigorating. 5. Having immediate importance; essential; i~dis­
`pensa~le: "Irrigation was vital to early cj>;i/izGlion" (WiUiam H.
`McNeIll). 6. Concerned with or recording data pertinent to
`lives. 7. A rchaic. Destructive to life; fatal; deadly: a vital wound.
`-See Synonyms .at n.c....ary.
`[Middle English, from Old
`French, from Latm vitolis. from vita. life. See gwai· in AI"
`pendix.*] -vi'tal.ly adv. -vi'ta'·ns5s n.
`vi·tal·ism (vit'I-lz'.m) n. The philosophical doctrine that life
`processes possess a unique character radically different from
`physiochemical phenomena, -vi'tal·ist n. -vi'taNs'tic adJ.
`"i.tal-.i.~ (vi-tal'He) n., fJl.. ·tias. 1. That which distinguishes
`the hVlng from the nonhvmg; an energy, force, or principle
`char!'cteristic of life. 2. The capacity to live, grow, or develop.
`3. VIgor: energy; exuberance: "to combine the experience 0/ an
`old hand wilh Ihe vitality of a young one" (G.B. Shaw). 4. The
`power to survive.
`vj-ta'·ize (vit'I-iz') fr, v. -ilSdT -izing. -lze5. 1. To endow with life.
`2. To invigorate or animate. -vi'tel-j.za'tion n. -vi'ta'·iz'er n.
`vi-tals (vi'tolz) pl.n. 1. Any bodily parts or organs regarded as
`the center or source of life: "Ihe overmastering chill seized my
`own vilals" (Edward Bellamy). 2. Those elements essential to
`continued functioning, as of a· system.
`vital statistics. Data that record significant events and dates in
`human life, as births, deaths, and marriages.
`vi~ta·mer (vi't3-mgr) n. One of two or more similar chemical
`compounds capable of fulfilling a specific vitamin function.
`[VlTA(MIN) + (ISO)MER.)
`vi·ta·min (vi't.-lf\~n) n. Also rare vi,tg'mine (-men, -mIn). Any
`of vanOus re)atlvely complex organic substances occurring
`naturally in plant and animal tissue and essential in small
`[German Vi­
`amounts for the control of metabolic processes.
`lamine : Latin vila, life (see gwei- jn Appendix *) + AMINE (so
`called because it was once thought to be an amine).] -vi'­
`tao min'ic adj.
`vitamin A. A vitamin or a mixture of vitamins, especially vi~
`tamin AI or a mixture of vitamins Al and A2• occurrin'g prin­
`cipally in fish-liver oils and some yellow and dark-green veg­
`etables, functioning in normal cell growth and development,
`and responsible in deficiency for hardening and roughening of
`the skin, night blindness, and degeneration of mucous mem­
`branes.
`'vitami'! A" A y~llow crystalline compound, C",H",O, extracted
`from flsh-hver otis. See vitamin A.
`vitamin A" A gOlden-yellow oil, C20 H"O. occurring in pike.
`liver oils and having approximately 40 per cent of the biological
`activity of vitamin AI' See vitamin A.
`vitamin B. 1. Vitamin B complex. 2. A member of the vitamin
`B complex, especially thiamine.
`vitamin B,. Folic acid (seel.
`vitamin B,. Thiamine (see).
`vitamin B,. Riboflavin (see).
`vitamin B •. Pyridoxin. (see).
`vitamin Bu. A complex~ cobalt~containing coordination com~
`pound produced in the normal growth of certain microorgan­
`isms, found in liver. and widely used to treat pernicious anemia,
`vitamin B complex. A group of vitamins originally thought to
`be a single substance, generally regarded as including thiamine,
`riboflavin, niacin~ pantothenic acid. biotin, pyridoxine, folic
`acid. inositol, and vitamin B12 , and occurring chiefly in yeast,
`liver, eggs, and some vegetables.
`vitamin C. Ascorbic acid fsee),
`vitamin 0. Any of several chemically similar activated sterols,
`especially vitamin D, or vitamin D J , produced in general by
`ultraviolet irradiation of sterols, obtained from milk, fish, and
`eggs, required for normal bone growth, and used to treat rickets
`in children and osteomalacia in adults.
`vitamin 0,. A white crystalline compound, C"H.,O, produced
`by ultraviolet irradiation of ergosterol. Also called "calciferol,"
`Hergocalciferol," "viosteroL" See vitamin D.
`vitamin 0,. A colorless crystalline compound, C"H.,O, with
`essentially the same biological activity as vitamin D, but signif­
`icantly more potent in poultry, See vitamin O.
`vitamin E. Any of several chemically related viscous oils. espe~
`cially C"H.,O" found chiefly in grains and vegetable oils and
`used to treat sterility and various abnormalities of the muscles,
`red blood cells, liver, and brain.
`vitamin G~ Riboflavin (see),
`vitamin H. Biotin (see).
`vitamin K. Any of severa) natural and synthetic substances es~
`sential for the promotion of blood clotting and prevention of
`hemorrhage, occurring naturally in leafy green vegetables, to~
`matoes, and vegetable oils.
`vitamin P. A crystaUine fraction of citrus juices used to treat
`certain conditions involving hemorrhage into the skin.
`v!·ta·scope (vi't.-skop') n. An early type of motion-picture
`[Latin vila. life (see gwej· in Appendix") + -SCOPE.]
`projector.
`Vi.tebsk (ve't~psk', ve-ttpsk'). A city of the Soviet Union, in
`northeastern Byelorussia. Population, 231,000.
`v;·telolin (vl-tel'ln, vi-) n. A protein found
`[VITELL(US) + -IN.J
`vi·tel·line (vl-t~I'ln, vi-) adj. 1. Pertaining to or associated with
`the yolk of an egg: the vitelline membrane. 2. Having the yellow
`color of an egg yolk; dull-yellow. -no The yolk of an egg.
`[VlTELL(US) + -mE.]
`
`in egg yolk.
`
`t tighl/th thin, path/lh this, bathe/ii cutjUr urge/v ••lve/w with/y yes/z zebra, size/zh vision/o about, item, edible, gallop, circus/
`a fro ami/'" Fr. feu, Ger. schon/ii Fr. tu, Ger. iiber/KH Ger. ieb. Scot. 10eb/N Fr. bon. "Follows main vocabulary. tOI obscure origin.
`
`

`

`stereomicroscope
`
`stern 2
`Seventeenth-century
`
`Dutch engraving
`
`
`stern -wheeler
`
`sterlet
`
`Stetson
`
`[New
`
`stevedore
`erism created by diHerences in the spatial arrangement of atoms
`
`in a molecule. -ster'e·o·i'so·mer'ic (~sa~mer'Ik) adj.
`
`ster·e-o-mi-cro-scope (ster'iHj-mi'kr~-skop', stir'-) n. A mi­
`croscope optically equipped for stereoscopic viewing.
`ster.e.o.phon.ic (ster'e-o-fOn'lk, -fo'nil<, stir'-) alij. Of or for
`sound reproduction in which two channels are used to give an
`illusion of a more natural distribution of sources of sound.
`[STEREO- + PHONIC.] -star'e.o.pllon'i.
`Compare binaural.
`cal.ly adv. -ster'e.oph'on.y (-e-of'.-ne) n.
`ster·e-op-sis (ster'e-op's;s, stir'-) n. Stereoscopic vision.
`Latin : STEREO- + -OPSIS.]
`ster·eaop.ti·con (st~r'e-op'ti~kon' t stir'-) n. A magic lantern
`(see), especially one made double so as to produce dissolving
`[New Latin : STEREO- + Greek optikon, neuter of
`views.
`optikos. OPTIc.}
`ster-e-Q-scQ\le lster'e~-~kotl' • stl,'·) n. A.n olltica\ instrument
`used to impart a three-dimensional ellect to two llhoto\!,raphs 01
`the same scene taken at s\i\!,htly dillerent angles and viewed
`[STEREO- + -SCOPE.}
`through two eyepieces.
`ster·e-o-scop·;c (ster'e-~-skop'ik, stir'-) alij. Also ster-e·o·scop·
`i-cal (+k~l). 1. Of or pertaining to stereoscopy; especially,
`three-dimensional.
`2. Of Or pertaining
`to a stereoscope.
`-sterl e-o-scop'j·cal·ly ad....
`ster·e-os·co-py (ster'e-os'k:>-pe. stir'-) n. 1. The viewing of
`objects as three-dimensional. 2. The technique of making or
`[STEREO- +
`using stereoscopes and stereoscopic slides.
`-SCOpy.] -ster'e.os'co-pist n.
`ster-e-o-tax-;s (sH\r'e-:rtak'sis, stlr'-) n. Also ster·e·o·tax·v
`(ster'e-:rtak'se, stir'-). Biology. Thigmotaxis (seel. -ster'a·o­
`tac'tic (-tak'tik). ster;e·o~tac'ti·caJ ad}. -ster!e·o·tac'ti~cal.ly
`adv.
`ster-e·ot·ro·pism (st~r'e-<5t'r~-piz'~m, stlr'-) n. Biology. Thig­
`motropism (see), -ster!e·o~trop'ic (·e-~tr6p'rk) adj.
`ster-e-o·type (ster'e·~-tip', stir'-) n. 1. A metal printing plate
`cast from a matrix that is molded from a raised printing surface,
`such as type. 2. A conventional, formulaic, and usually over·
`simplified conception, opinion. or belief. 3. A person. group,
`event. or issue considered to typify or conform to an unvarying
`pattern or manner. lacking any individuality; the very stereotype
`of a college sophomore. -tr. v. stereotyped. ~typing. ~types.
`1. To make a stereotype of. 2. To print from a stereotype.
`3. To develop a fixed, unvarying idea about.
`(French stereo­
`type' STEREO· + n'PE.] -ster'e·o·typ'er n. -ster/e.o.typ'ic
`(-tip'rk)~ ster'e·o·typ'i·cal ad).
`ster-e-o-typed (ster'e-,·tipt', stir'·) adj. 1. Printed or repro­
`duced rrom stereotype plates. 2. Not individualized; unorig­
`inal; conventional. -See Synonyms at trite.
`ster-e-o-typ-y (ster'e-~-ti'pe, stir'·) n. 1. The process or art of
`making stereotype plates. 2. Psychology. Excessive repetition
`or lack of variation in movements, ideas1 or patterns of speech.
`ster-e·o-vi-sion (ster'iH'j·vlzh'~n. stir'-) n. Visual perception of
`or exhibition in three dimensions.
`ster-ic (ster'lk, stir'·) n. Also ste,·i·cal (.1-k~l). Of or pertaining
`to the spatial arrangement of atoms in a molecule.
`[STER(EO)·
`+ -te] -ster'i-cal-Iy adv.
`ster-ile (ster'ol; chiefly British ster'W) alij. 1. Incapable of
`reproducing sexually; barren; infertile. 2. Capable of producing
`little or no vegetation; unfruitfuL 3. Free from bacteria or
`other microorganisms. 4. Lacking in imagination Or vitality;
`not stimulating; dry. 6. Lacking any power to function; not
`productive or effective.
`[Old French, from Latin sterilis, un­
`fruitfuL See ster-' in Appendix. O
`] -sterile·1y adv. -ste·,iI'i.tv
`(sta-rWa-te), ster"ile·ness n.
`Synonyms: slerile. infertile. barren. unfruitful. impotent. These
`adjectives, in literal usage, mean lacking or seemingly lacking in
`power to produce offspring. Figuratively they suggest absence
`of a productive result. Slerile means being unable to procreate
`because of some defect in the reproductive organs: by extension
`it describes any lack or creativity. Infertile means sterile in the
`literal sense or the latter term. Barren describes, in particular, a
`woman who has tried and failed to have children. It can also
`apply to what is devoid of profit, enjoyment, or any other desir­
`able thing. Unfruitful literally means not bearing fruit and
`figuratively means not having a useful result. Impotent specifies
`inability of a male to engage in sexual intercourse; in a general
`sense, it means powerless to act effectively.
`ster-il-j·za-tion (ster'~-I~-za'sh~n, -li·zli'sh~n) n. 1. The proce­
`dure or act of sterilizing. 2. The condition of being sterile or
`sterilized.
`ster-il-ize (sler'3-liz') Ir.v. -ized. -izing. -izes. 1. To render ster­
`ile. 2. Economics. To place (gold) in safekeeping so as not to
`affect the supply of money or credit. -stern-iz'er n.
`ster-Iet (stilI'lit) n. A sturgeon. Acipenser rulhenus, of the Black
`Sea and adjacent waters, used as food and as a SOurce of
`caviar.
`[Russian slerlyad·. possibly akin to Germanic sIur:Jiin
`(unaHested), STURGEON.)
`ster-ling (stilr'llng) n. Abbr. star" 5tg. 1. British money; espe­
`cially, the pound as the basic monetary unit of the United
`Kingdom. 2. British coinage of silver or gold, having as a
`standard of fineness 0.500 for silver and 0.91666 for gold.
`3. a. Sterling silver. b. Articles made of sterling silver, such as
`tableware. -adj. Abbr. ster.• stg. ,. Consisting of or relating
`to sterling or British money. 2. Made of sterling silver. 3. Of
`the highest quality.
`[Middle English sterling, starling, "small
`star" (from the small star stamped on the silver pennies), proba·
`bly from Old English >Iearling (u.nattested) : SleOrra, STAR +
`-UNG.)
`sterling silver. 1. An alloy of 92.5 per cent silver with copper
`or another metal. 2. Collectively, objects made of this alloy.
`
`12
`
`stern' (sturn) ad/. sterner. sternest. 1. Firm or unyielding:
`flexible. 2, Grave or severe in manner or appearance; auste
`"She was silent. cold. and Slern. and yet in an odd way very eli
`10 her pupils" (Sherwood Anderson). 3. Grim, gloomy,
`forbidding in appearance or outlook. 4. Inexorable: relentle
`stern demands on his lime. -See Synonyms at severe.
`[Mid,
`English sterne. slierne, Old English >tyme. sfierne. See ster-'
`Appendix.')
`stern' (stilIn) n. 1. The rear part of a ship or boat. 2. The l(
`[Middle English sterne. probably from C
`part of anything.
`Norse sljiirn. steering, rudder. See sta- in Appendix. *]
`Stern (stilIn), Otto. 1888 -1969. German-born American phy
`cisl; discovered magnetic moment of the proton.
`ster,nal (stilI'nal) adj. Ana/amy. Of, near, or pertaining to I
`sternum. {New Latin sternalis. from STERNUM.}
`Stem-berg tstum'bmg), George Mi\\er. \\1,,\1,-\<)\5. Am,
`can llh'i>\c\an; established Arm'! Medica\ Schoo\' Denta\ Co
`and Nurse Corps; organized Yel\ow Fever Commission.
`stern chaser. A gun Of cannon mounted on the stan or a
`for firing at a pursuing vessel.
`Sterne (stilIn), Laurence. 1713-1768. English satiric nov,
`stern-fore-most (stilIn'for'most', -m~st, stilIn'for'-) adv. \
`the stern foremost; backward.
`stern-most (stilIn'most', -m~st) alij. Farthest astern.
`stern-post (stilIn'post') n. The principal upright post at
`stern of a vessel. usually serving to support the rudder.
`stern sheets. The stern area of an open boat.
`stern-son (stilIn's~n) n. A bar of metal or wood set between
`keelson and the stempost to fortify the joint. Also called "51
`[STERN + (KEEL)SON.]
`knee," "sterson knee."
`ster-num (stilI'n~m) n .. pl. -n. (-n~) or -nums. A long nat b
`articulating with the cartilages of and forming the midven
`support of most of the ribs in tetrapod vertebrates. and alS(
`the collarbone in man and certain other vertebrates. Also ca
`"breastbone."
`[New Latin, from Greek SIemon. bre
`breastbone. See .ta,·2 in Appendix. *]
`ster-nu-ta·tion (stilI'ny~-ta'sh~n) n. 1. The act of sneezi
`2. A sneeze.
`[Latin slemurtilii!. from Sfemuttire. frequent.,
`of stemuere, to sneeze. See pSler· in Appendix.')
`ster-nu-ta·tor (stilI'nYQ-ta'tor) n. A substance thai irritates
`nasal and respiratory passages and causes coughing, sneezi
`lachrimation, and sometimes vomiting.
`ster-nu·ta·to-ry (stilI-nyoo't~·tor'e, -tOr'e) alij. Also star·nu
`tive (-liv). Causing or tending to cause sneezing. -n.. pl. S'
`nutatories. A sternutatory substance, such as pepper.
`stern-ward (stilIn'wQrd) adv. Also stern-wards (.wordz) ..
`ward the stern; astern. -ad}. In or at the stern.
`stern-way (stilIn'wa') n. The backward movement of aves
`stern-wheel·er (stilIn'hwe'lor) n. A steamboat propelled b
`paddle wheel at the stern.
`ster-oid (ster'oid') n. Any of numerous naturally accurri
`fat-soluble organic compounds having a 17·carbon-atom rin!
`a basis, and including the sterols and bile acids, many h
`mones, certain natural drugs such as digitalis compounds, ,
`[STER(OL) + -OlD.]
`the precursors of certain vitamins.
`ster-ol (ster'lil') n. Any of a group of predominantly unsa
`rated solid alcohols of the steroid group, as cholesterol,
`ergosterol, occurring in the fatty tissues of plants and anim.
`[Short for CHOLESTEROL.)
`Ster-o-pe' (ster'o·po'). Also As-te,·o·pe (ll.-ster':rpo'). Gr.
`Mythology. One of the seven Pleiades (see).
`[Greek {A )ster<
`from (a)sterope, astrape. lightning, "twinkling." See SIer-'
`Appendix.')
`Ster-o-pe' (ster'~-pe') n. One of the stars in the constellat
`Pleiades (see).
`sterson knee. A sternson (see I.
`ster-tor (stilI't,r) n. A heavy snoring sound in respirati
`[New Latin, from Latin slerlere, to snore. See pster· in i
`pendix. '] -stertor·ous alij. -stertor·ous-Iv adv.
`stet (st~t) n. A 66,. st. A printer's term directing that a lett
`word, or other matter marked for omission Or correction is
`be retained. See table of Proofreaders- Marks at proof..
`-Ir.v. stetted. stetting. stets. To nullify a correction or on
`sion previously made in (printed matter) by marking with
`word stet and with a row of dots. Compare dele.
`[Latin, ie
`stand. from stare, to stand. See sta· in Appendix. 'J
`steth·o-scope (steth':>-skop') n. An instrument used for list,
`ing to sounds produced within the body.
`[French sllithoseo/
`Greek stithost, chest, breast + -SCOPE.) -sleth'o·sco~
`(·skop'lk). stath'o-seop'i·eal adj.
`-steth'o-seop'i,eal.1y a
`-ste,tho'seo-py (ste-thos'k:rpe) n.
`Stet,son (stet's::>n) n. A trademark for a hat having a h
`
`crown and wide brim, popular in the western United Stal
`
`[Designed by John Stetson (1830-1906), American hatmak<
`
`Stet·tin_ The former name for Szezeein.
`
`Steu-art. Variant of Stuart.
`
`Steu-ben (stoo'b~n, styoo'-; German shtoi'b3n), Baron FriE
`
`rich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin von. 1730-17'
`
`Prussian·born military leader; trained and organized Contin<
`
`tal Army under Washington; naturalized American cit;'
`
`(1783).
`
`Steu.ben.ville (st1ll'l'ban-vO, sty1ll'l'-). A city and indust!
`
`center of Obio, in tbe east on the Ohio River. Population, 30,0.
`
`ste-ve-dore (ste'v.-dOr', -dor') n. A person employed in I
`loading or unloading of ships. -v. stevedored. ·doring. -dar
`-U. To load or unload the cargo of (a ship). -inl,. To 10
`or unload a ship.
`[Spanish eSlihador. from esUvar. to sto
`pack, from Latin stipiire. to compress, stuff, pack. See steip;­
`Appendix.')
`
`a pat/a pay/a.r care/a father/b bib/ch church/d deed/;; pet/i! bel! fire/g gag/h hat/hw which/I pit/I pie/!r pier /j judge/k kick/I
`needle/m mum/n no, sudden/ng thing/Ii pot/o toe/6 paw, for/oi noise/ou out/Ol) took/oo boot/p pop/r roar/s sau<e/sh ship, di
`
`

`

`series
`
`sergeant major
`
`1183
`
`a man might properly sequester himself, to review his life and
`purify his heart" (Samuel Johnson). -in/r. Chemistry. To
`undergo sequestration.
`[Late Latin sequestrare, to separate.
`give up for safekeeping, from Latin sequester. depository. See
`sekw-' in Appendix."J
`se·ques·trant (si-kwi!s'tront) n. A chemical that promotes se­
`questration.
`(From SEQUESTER.]
`se-ques.trate (si-kw~s'trat') tr.v.
`-trated, -trating, -trats$.
`1. Law. To seize; confiscate. 2. Archaic. To sequester.
`[Late
`Latin sequeslriire. SEQUESTER.] -se'ques.tre'tor (se'kwes~tra'­
`!or, s!-kwes'tra-tQr) n.
`se·ques.tra,tion (se'kwi!s-tra'sh.n) n. 1 _ The act of sequester­
`ing; segregation. 2. Law. a. Seizure of property. b. A writ
`authorizing seizure of property. 3. Chemistry. The inhibition or
`prevention of normal ion behavior by combination with added
`materials, especially the prevention of metallic ion precipitation
`from solution by formation of a coordination complex with a
`phosphate.
`se.ques.trum (sl-kw!s't£Om) n., pl. -Ua (-t£O). A dead bone
`fragment separated from healthy bone.
`[New Latin, from
`Latin, deposit, "something separated," from sequester, depos­
`itory. See sekw-' in Appendix."]
`se-quin (se'kwin) n. 1. A small shiny ornamental disk, often
`sewn on cloth; a spangle. 2. A gold coin of the Venetian
`Republic. In this sense, also called "zecehino."
`(French, from
`Italian zecchino, from zecca, the mint, from Arabic sikkah, coin
`die.)
`se·quoi.a (sl-kwoi'~) n. Any very large evergreen tree of the
`genus Sequoia, which includes the redwood and the giant
`sequoia (both o/which see).
`[After SEQUOYA.j
`Sequoia National Park. An area occupying 604 square miles
`in the Sierra Nevada of central California, noted for its stands
`of sequoias and its mountain scenery.
`Se-quoy'a (si-kwoi'~). Also Se·quoy·ah. Known as George
`Guess. 1770?-1843. American Indian leader and scholar; re­
`corded the Cherokee language of his tribe.
`S"'. 1. serial. 2. series, 3. sermon.
`
`se-ra. Alternate plural of serum.
`
`se·rae (so-rak'; French s.-riLk') n. A large mass of ice broken off
`
`lhe main body of a glacier and remaining behind in a crevasse
`after glacial movement or melting.
`[Swiss French, piece of
`white cheese (which the ice resembles), perhaps from Latin
`serum, whey. See ser-' in Appendix."J
`sa-ra-glio (si-ral'yo, -rli1'yo) n., pl. -glios. 1. A large harem.
`2. A sultan's palace.
`[Italian serraglia, probably from Turkish
`seraif, a palace, lodging, from Persian.\
`Se-ra·je.vo. See Sarajevo_
`sa-ra.pe (",,"ra'pe) n. Also sa·ra·pe. A woolen cloak or poncho
`worn by Latin-American men.
`(Mexican Spanish sarapet.j
`ser.aph (ser'a!) n.• pl. -aphs or -aphim (-.-Ilm) or -aphin (-;l-Iln).
`I. A celestial being having three pairs of wings. Isaiah 6:2.
`2. One of the nine orders of angels. See engel.
`[Back-forma­
`tion from plural seraphim, from Middle English seraphin, Old
`English seraphin, from Late Latin seraphim, seraphin, from
`Hebrew Sariiphim, plural of siiriiph.\ -se.raph'ic (si-rU'ik),
`••. ,.ph'i-cal adj. -se'raph'i,cal-Iy adv.
`Se-ra-pis (si-ra'pis). An ancient Egyptian god of the lower
`world, also worsh iped in ancient Greece and Rome.
`
`Serb (sOrb) n. A Serbian.
`[Serbo-Croatian Srbt.J
`
`Serb. Serbia; Serbian.
`
`S • .,bi•• (stlr'be-.). Ahhr. Serb, Formerly Ser.vi.a (s(\r've-.).
`
`Serbo-Croatian Srbi.ja (sOr'be-ya'). A constituent republic of
`Yugoslavia, formerly an independent state, occupying 34,194
`square miles in the eastern part of the country. Population,
`1,638,000. Capital, Belgrade.
`[Russian Serhija, from Serbo­
`Croatian Srb, SERB.]
`S.r,bi.an (sOr'be-.n) n. Abbr. Serb. 1. A member of a southern
`Slavic people that is the dominant ethnic group of Serbia and
`adj.cent republics of Yugoslavia. 2. A Serbo-Croatian. -a4}.
`1. Of Serbia or the Serbians. 2. Serbo-Croatian.
`Ser,bo-Cro.a-tian (silr'bo-krD-a'shon) n. The Slavic language
`ef the Serbs and Croats of Yugoslavia, generally written in
`Cyrillic letters in Serbia and in Roman letters in Croatia, Also
`called "Croatian." -adj. Of or pertaining to this language or
`those who speak it.
`Serbs, Cra'ats, and SIo.venes, Kingdom of the. The former
`name for Yugoslavia.
`s .... ' (sir) adj. Also sear. Withered; dry. -no Variant of sear.
`(Middle English sere, Old English sear. See oaus-
`in Ap­
`pendix, "]
`s ..... ' (sir) n. The entire sequence of ecological communities
`successively occupying an area.
`[From SERIES.]
`,er-e.nsde (s!r'.-nad', s~r'.-nlid') n. 1. An honorific musical
`performance; especially, one giv~,! by a lover for hIS sweethea:t.
`2. An instrumental form compnsmg characterIstics of the sUIte
`and the sonata. -v. (~fta_nad') s8renaded# ·nading. -nodes.
`-If. To perform a serenade for. -intr. To perform a sere­
`[French serenade> from Italian serena/a, evenmg sere­
`Aade,
`nade, from sereno, serene (influenced in meaning by sera, eve­
`ning), from Latin serenus, SERENE.1 -ser'e·ned'er n"
`sar.en-dip.i.ty (ser'on-dlp'.-te) n. The faculty of makmg fortu­
`nate and unexpected discoveries by accident.
`[Coined by
`HQrace Walpole after the characters in the fairy tale The Three
`Princeso/Sefendip, who made such discoveries.\ -ser'en-dip'­
`.
`.
`..
`i·tous adj.
`5e-rene (sl-ren') ad}. 1. Unruffled; tranqUIl; dlgmfled. 2" Un­
`clouded; fair; bright. 3. Often capital S. August. Used as part
`of a title of respect for certain royal personages: His Serene
`Highness, -See Synonyms at calm.
`(Latin serenus, serene,
`
`in Appendix."J -se.rene'ly adv.
`
`bright, clear. See ksero-
`-se.rene'ness n.
`se-ren,j,ty (si-ren'o-te) n" pl. -ties. 1. The state or quality of
`being serene; dignity; tranquillity; quiet: "rhis best and meekest
`woman hore! With such serenity her husband's woes" (Byron).
`2. Clearness; brightness. -See Synonyms at equanimity.
`
`Se-reth. See Siret.
`
`serf (sOrf) n. 1. A slave. especially a member of the lowest
`
`feudal class in medieval Europe, bound to the land and owned
`by a lord. 2. Any person in servitude.
`[Old French, from
`Latin servus, slave. See servus in Appendix."] -.erf'dom n.
`serge (sUri) n. A twilled cloth of worsted or worsted and wool,
`often used for suits.
`[Middle English sarge, serge, from Old
`French, from Vulgar Latin stirica (unattested), from Latin
`serica, feminine of sericus, of Seres (a people), from Greek
`serikos. from Sires, Seres. 'See sitk.]
`ser-geant (sar'j.nt) n. Also chiefly British ser·jeant (for senses 2,
`3). Abbr. Sgt. 1.8. Any of several ranks of noncommissioned
`officers in the U.S. Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps. b. One
`holding any of these ranks. 2. a. The rank of police officer next
`below a captain, lieutenant. or inspector. b_ One holding this
`rank. 3. A oereeont 8t erms Isee}.
`[Middle English sergeaunte,
`sergant, from Old French sergent. from Latin serviens, present
`participle of servfre. to serve, from servus. slave. See servU$ in
`Appendix.·] -ser'gean.cy~ sergeant.ship' n.
`sergeant at arms. An officer appointed to keep order within
`an organization, such as a legislative, judicial, or social body.
`Also caUed "sergeant."
`sergeant first class. Abbr. SI\:. A noncommissioned officer
`next below master sergeant in the U.s. Army.
`sergeant fish. The cobia Isee/.
`sergeant major, Abbr. Sgt. MOj. 1. A noncommissioned officer
`serving as chief administrative assistant of a headquarters unit
`of the U.S. Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps_ 2. British. A
`noncommissioned officer of the highest rank, 3. A fish, Abu­
`de/du/ saxatilis. of warm seas. having a flattened body with
`dark vertical stripes.
`Ser-gi'pe (s.r-zhe'po). The smallest state (8,130 square miles)
`of Brazil, in the northeastern part of the country. Population,
`821,000. Capital, Arae_ju.
`se-ri-a' (s,r'e-ol) ad}. 1. Of, forming, or arranged in a series:
`serial numhers. 2. Published or p