The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary

Chapter 1508

Chapter 15082,726 wordsPublic domain

Se*cure" , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Secured (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Securing .] 1. To 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. To put beyond hazard of losing or of not receiving; to make certain; to assure; to insure; -- frequently with against or from , rarely with of ; as, to secure a creditor against loss; to secure a debt by a mortgage .

It secures its possessor of eternal happiness. T. Dick.

3. To make fast; to close or confine effectually; to render incapable of getting loose or escaping; as, to secure a prisoner; to secure a door, or the hatches of a ship .

4. To get possession of; to make one's self secure of; to acquire certainly; as, to secure an estate .

Secure arms (Mil.) , a command and a position in the manual of arms, used in wet weather, the object being to guard the firearm from becoming wet. The piece is turned with the barrel to the front and grasped by the right hand at the lewer band, the muzzle is dropped to the front, and the piece held with the guard under the right arm, the hand supported against the hip, and the thumb on the rammer.

Securely <Xpage=1302>

Se*cure"ly , adv. In a secure manner; without fear or apprehension; without danger; safely.

His daring foe . . . securely him defied. Milton.

Securement <Xpage=1302>

Se*cure"ment (?) , n. The act of securing; protection. [R.]

Society condemns the securement in all cases of perpetual protection by means of perpetual imprisonment. C. A. Ives.

Secureness <Xpage=1302>

Se*cure"ness , n. The condition or quality of being secure; exemption from fear; want of vigilance; security.

Securer <Xpage=1302>

Se*cur"er (?) , n. One who, or that which, secures.

Securifera <Xpage=1302>

Sec`u*rif"e*ra (?) , n. pl. [NL., from L. securis an ax + ferre to bear.] (Zo\'94l.) The Serrifera.

Securiform <Xpage=1302>

Se*cu"ri*form (?) , a. [L. securis an ax or hatchet + -form : cf. F. s\'82curiforme .] (Nat. Hist.) Having the form of an ax hatchet.

Securipalp <Xpage=1302>

Se*cu"ri*palp (?) , n. [L. securis ax, hatchet + E. palp .] (Zo\'94l.) One of a family of beetles having the maxillary palpi terminating in a hatchet-shaped joint.

Security <Xpage=1302>

Se*cu"ri*ty (?) , n. ; pl. Securities (#) . [L. securitas : cf. F. s\'82curit\'82 . See Secure , and cf. Surety .] 1. The condition or quality of being secure; secureness. Specifically: (a) Freedom from apprehension, anxiety, or care; confidence of power of safety; hence, assurance; certainty.

His trembling hand had lost the ease, Which marks security to please. Sir W. Scott.

(b) Hence, carelessness; negligence; heedlessness .

He means, my lord, that we are too remiss, Whilst Bolingbroke, through our security , Grows strong and great in substance and in power. Shak.

(c) Freedom from risk; safety .

Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard, From firm security . Shak.

Some . . . alleged that we should have no security for our trade. Swift.

2. That which secures or makes safe; protection; guard; defense. Specifically: (a) Something given, deposited, or pledged, to make certain the fulfillment of an obligation, the performance of a contract, the payment of a debt, or the like; surety; pledge.

Those who lent him money lent it on no security but his bare word. Macaulay.

(b) One who becomes surety for another, or engages himself for the performance of another's obligation .

3. An evidence of debt or of property, as a bond, a certificate of stock, etc.; as, government securities .

Syn. -- Protection; defense; guard; shelter; safety; certainty; ease; assurance; carelessness; confidence; surety; pledge; bail.

Sedan <Xpage=1302>

Se*dan" (?) , n. [Said to be named from Sedan , in France, where it was first made, and whence it was introduced into England in the time of King Charles I.] A portable chair or covered vehicle for carrying a single person, -- usually borne on poles by two men. Called also sedan chair .

Sedate <Xpage=1302>

Se*date" (?) , a. [L. sedatus , p. p. of sedare , sedatum , to allay, calm, causative of sedere to sit. See Sit .] Undisturbed by passion or caprice; calm; tranquil; serene; not passionate or giddy; composed; staid; as, a sedate soul, mind, or temper .

Disputation carries away the mind from that calm and sedate temper which is so necessary to contemplate truth. I. Watts.

Whatsoever we feel and know Too sedate for outward show. Wordsworth.

Syn. -- Settled; composed; calm; quiet; tranquil; still; serene; unruffled; undisturbed; conteplative; sober; serious.

-- Se*date"ly , adv. -- Se*date"ness , n.

Sedation <Xpage=1302>

Se*da"tion (?) , n. [L. sedatio .] The act of calming, or the state of being calm. [R.]

Coles.

Sedative <Xpage=1302>

Sed"a*tive (?) , a. [Cf. F. s\'82datif .] Tending to calm, moderate, or tranquilize; specifically (Med.) , allaying irritability and irritation; assuaging pain.

Sedative <Xpage=1302>

Sed"a*tive , n. (Med.) A remedy which allays irritability and irritation, and irritative activity or pain.

Sedent <Xpage=1302>

Se"dent (?) , a. [L. sedens , -entis , p. pr. of sedere to sit. See Sit .] Sitting; inactive; quiet. [R.]

Sedentarily <Xpage=1302>

Sed"en*ta*ri*ly (?) , adv. In a sedentary manner.

Sedentariness <Xpage=1302>

Sed"en*ta*r*i*ness , n. Quality of being sedentary.

Sedentary <Xpage=1302>

Sed"en*ta*ry (?) , a. [L. sedentarius , fr. sedere to sit: cf. F. se\'82dentaire . See Sedent .] 1. Accustomed to sit much or long; as, a sedentary man . " Sedentary , scholastic sophists."

Bp. Warburton.

2. Characterized by, or requiring, much sitting; as, a sedentary employment; a sedentary life .

Any education that confined itself to sedentary pursuits was essentially imperfect. Beaconsfield.

3. Inactive; motionless; sluggish; hence, calm; tranquil. [R.] "The sedentary earth."

Milton.

The soul, considered abstractly from its passions, is of a remiss, sedentary nature. Spectator.

4. Caused by long sitting. [Obs.] " Sedentary numbness."

Milton.

5. (Zo\'94l.) Remaining in one place, especially when firmly attached to some object; as, the oyster is a sedentary mollusk; the barnacles are sedentary crustaceans .

Sedentary spider (Zo\'94l.) , one of a tribe of spiders which rest motionless until their prey is caught in their web.

Sederunt <Xpage=1302>

Se*de"runt (?) , n. [L., they sat, fr. sedere to sit.] A sitting, as of a court or other body.

'T is pity we have not Burn's own account of that long sederunt . Prof. Wilson.

Acts of sederunt (Scots Law) , ordinances of the Court of Session for the ordering of processes and expediting of justice.

Bell.

Sedge <Xpage=1302>

Sedge (?) , n. [OE. segge , AS. secg ; akin to LG. segge ; -- probably named from its bladelike appearance, and akin to L. secare to cut, E. saw a cutting instrument; cf. Ir. seisg , W. hesg . Cf. Hassock , Saw the instrument.] 1. (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Carex , perennial, endogenous herbs, often growing in dense tufts in marshy places. They have triangular jointless stems, a spiked inflorescence, and long grasslike leaves which are usually rough on the margins and midrib. There are several hundred species.

&hand; The name is sometimes given to any other plant of the order Cyperace\'91 , which includes Carex , Cyperus , Scirpus , and many other genera of rushlike plants.

2. (Zo\'94l.) A flock of herons.

Sedge ken (Zo\'94l.) , the clapper rail. See under 5th Rail . -- Sedge warbler (Zo\'94l.) , a small European singing bird ( Acrocephalus phragmitis ). It often builds its nest among reeds; -- called also sedge bird , sedge wren , night warbler , and Scotch nightingale .

Sedged <Xpage=1302>

Sedged (?) , a. Made or composed of sedge.

With your sedged crowns and ever-harmless looks. Shak.

Sedgy <Xpage=1302>

Sedg"y (?) , a. Overgrown with sedge.

On the gentle Severn\'b6s sedgy bank. Shak.

Sedilia <Xpage=1302>

Se*dil"i*a (?) , n. pl. ; sing. Sedile (<?/) . [L. sedile a seat.] (Arch.) Seats in the chancel of a church near the altar for the officiating clergy during intervals of service.

Hook.

Sediment <Xpage=1302>

Sed"i*ment (?) , n. [F. s\'82diment , L. sedimentum a settling, fr. sedere to sit, to settle. See Sit .] 1. The matter which subsides to the bottom, frrom water or any other liquid; settlings; lees; dregs.

2. (Geol.) The material of which sedimentary rocks are formed.

Sedimental <Xpage=1302>

Sed`i*men"tal (?) , a. Sedimentary.

Sedimentary <Xpage=1302>

Sed`i*men"ta*ry (?) , a. [Cf. F. s\'82dimentaire .] Of or pertaining to sediment; formed by sediment; containing matter that has subsided.

Sedimentary rocks . (Geol.) See Aqueous rocks , under Aqueous .

Sedimentation <Xpage=1302>

Sed`i*men*ta"tion (?) , n. The act of depositing a sediment; specifically (Geol.) , the deposition of the material of which sedimentary rocks are formed.

Sedition <Xpage=1302>

Se*di"tion (?) , n. [OE. sedicioun , OF. sedition , F. s\'82dition , fr. L. seditio , originally, a going aside; hence, an insurrectionary separation; pref. se- , sed- , aside + itio a going, fr. ire , itum , to go. Cf. Issue .] 1. The raising of commotion in a state, not amounting to insurrection; conduct tending to treason, but without an overt act; excitement of discontent against the government, or of resistance to lawful authority.

In soothing them, we nourish 'gainst our senate The cockle of rebellion, insolence, sedition . Shak.

Noisy demagogues who had been accused of sedition . Macaulay.

2. Dissension; division; schism. [Obs.]

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, . . . emulations, wrath, strife, seditions , heresies. Gal. v. 19, 20.

Syn. -- Insurrection; tumult; uproar; riot; rebellion; revolt. See Insurrection .

Seditionary <Xpage=1302>

Se*di"tion*a*ry (?) , n. An inciter or promoter of sedition.

Bp. Hall.

Seditious <Xpage=1302>

Se*di"tious (?) , a. [L. seditiosus : cf. F. s\'82ditieux .] 1. Of or pertaining to sedition; partaking of the nature of, or tending to excite, sedition; as, seditious behavior; seditious strife; seditious words .

2. Disposed to arouse, or take part in, violent opposition to lawful authority; turbulent; factious; guilty of sedition; as, seditious citizens .

-- Se*di"tious*ly , adv. -- Se*di"tious*ness , n.

Sedlitz <Xpage=1302>

Sed"litz (?) , a. Same as Seidlitz .

Seduce <Xpage=1302>

Se*duce" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Seduced (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Seducing (?) .] [L. seducere , seductum ; pref. se- aside + ducere to lead. See Duke .] 1. To draw aside from the path of rectitude and duty in any manner; to entice to evil; to lead astray; to tempt and lead to iniquity; to corrupt.

For me, the gold of France did not seduce . Shak.

2. Specifically, to induce to surrender chastity; to debauch by means of solicitation.

Syn. -- To allure; entice; tempt; attract; mislead; decoy; inveigle. See Allure .

Seducement <Xpage=1302>

Se*duce"ment (?) , n. 1. The act of seducing.

2. The means employed to seduce, as flattery, promises, deception, etc.; arts of enticing or corrupting.

Pope.

Seducer <Xpage=1302>

Se*du"cer (?) , n. One who, or that which, seduces; specifically, one who prevails over the chastity of a woman by enticements and persuasions.

He whose firm faith no reason could remove, Will melt before that soft seducer , love. Dryden.

Seducible <Xpage=1302>

Se*du"ci*ble (?) , a. Capable of being seduced; corruptible.

Seducing <Xpage=1302>

Se*du"cing (?) , a. Seductive. "Thy sweet seducing charms." Cowper . -- Se*du"cing*ly , adv.

Seduction <Xpage=1302>

Se*duc*tion (?) , n. [L. seductio : cf. F. s\'82duction . See Seduce .] 1. The act of seducing; enticement to wrong doing; specifically, the offense of inducing a woman to consent to unlawful sexual intercourse, by enticements which overcome her scruples; the wrong or crime of persuading a woman to surrender her chastity.

2. That which seduces, or is adapted to seduce; means of leading astray; as, the seductions of wealth .

Seductive <Xpage=1302>

Se*duc"tive (?) , a. Tending to lead astray; apt to mislead by flattering appearances; tempting; alluring; as, a seductive offer .

This may enable us to understand how seductive is the influence of example. Sir W. Hamilton.

Seductively <Xpage=1302>

Se*duc"tive*ly , adv. In a seductive manner.

Seductress <Xpage=1302>

Se*duc"tress (?) , n. A woman who seduces.

Sedulity <Xpage=1302>

Se*du"li*ty (?) , n. [L. sedulitas . See Sedulous .] The quality or state of being sedulous; diligent and assiduous application; constant attention; unremitting industry; sedulousness.

The industrious bee, by his sedulity in summer, lives in honey all the winter. Feltham.

Sedulous <Xpage=1302>

Sed"u*lous (?) , a. [L. sedulus , perhaps from sedere to sit, and so akin to E. sit .] Diligent in application or pursuit; constant, steady, and persevering in business, or in endeavors to effect an object; steadily industrious; assiduous; as, the sedulous bee .

What signifies the sound of words in prayer, without the affection of the heart, and a sedulous application of the proper means that may naturally lead us to such an end? L'Estrange.

Syn. -- Assiduous; diligent; industrious; laborious; unremitting; untiring; unwearied; persevering.

-- Sed"u*lous*ly , adv. -- Sed"u*lous*ness , n.

Sedum <Xpage=1302>

Se"dum (?) , n. [NL., fr. L. sedere to sit; so called in allusion to the manner in which the plants attach themselves to rocks and walls.] (Bot.) A genus of plants, mostly perennial, having succulent leaves and cymose flowers; orpine; stonecrop.

Gray.

See <Xpage=1302>

See (?) , n. [OE. se , see , OF. se , sed , sied , fr. L. sedes a seat, or the kindred sedere to sit. See Sit , and cf. Siege .] 1. A seat; a site; a place where sovereign power is exercised. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Jove laughed on Venus from his sovereign see . Spenser.

2. Specifically: (a) The seat of episcopal power; a diocese; the jurisdiction of a bishop; as, the see of New York . (b) The seat of an archibishop; a province or jurisdiction of an archibishop; as, an archiepiscopal see . (c) The seat, place, or office of the pope, or Roman pontiff; as, the papal see . (d) The pope or his court at Rome; as, to appeal to the see of Rome .

Apostolic see . See under Apostolic .

<page="1303"> Page 1303

See <Xpage=1303>

See (?) , v. t. [ imp. Saw (?) ; p. p. Seen (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Seeing .] [OE. seen , sen , seon , As. se\'a2n ; akin to OFries. s\'c6a , D. zien , OS. & OHG. sehan , G. sehen , Icel. sj\'be , Sw. se , Dan. see , Goth. sa\'a1hwan , and probably to L. sequi to follow (and so originally meaning, to follow with the eyes). Gr. <?/<?/<?/<?/<?/<?/, Skr. sac . Cf. Sight , Sun to follow.] 1. To perceive by the eye; to have knowledge of the existence and apparent qualities of by the organs of sight; to behold; to descry; to view.

I will new turn aside, and see this great sight. Ex. iii. 3.

2. To perceive by mental vision; to form an idea or conception of; to note with the mind; to observe; to discern; to distinguish; to understand; to comprehend; to ascertain.

Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren. Gen. xxxvii. 14.

Jesus saw that he answered discreetly. Mark xii. 34.

Who 's so gross That seeth not this palpable device? Shak.

3. To follow with the eyes, or as with the eyes; to watch; to regard attentivelly; to look after.

Shak.

I had a mind to see him out, and therefore did not care for centradicting him. Addison.

4. To have an interview with; especially, to make a call upon; to visit; as, to go to see a friend .

And Samuel came no more to see Saul untill the day of his death. 1 Sam. xv. 35.

5. To fall in with; to have intercourse or communication with; hence, to have knowledge or experience of; as, to see military service .

Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. Ps. xc. 15.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, if a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. John viii. 51.

Improvement in visdom and prudence by seeing men. Locke.

6. To accompany in person; to escort; to wait upon; as, to see one home; to see one aboard the cars .

God you ( him, &or; me , etc.) see , God keep you (him, me, etc.) in his sight; God protect you. [Obs.] Chaucer . -- To see (anything) out , to see (it) to the end; to be present at, or attend, to the end. -- To see stars , to see flashes of light, like stars; -- sometimes the result of concussion of the head. [Colloq.] -- To see (one) through , to help, watch, or guard (one) to the end of a course or an undertaking.

See <Xpage=1303>