The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
Chapter 1510
Seep"y (?) , ∨ Sip"y , a. Oozy; -- applied to land under cultivation that is not well drained.
Seer <Xpage=1304>
Seer (?) , a. Sore; painful. [Prov. Eng.]
Ray.
Seer <Xpage=1304>
Se"er (?) , n. One who sees.
Addison.
Seer <Xpage=1304>
Seer (?) , n. [From See .] A person who foresees events; a prophet.
Milton.
Seeress <Xpage=1304>
Seer"ess , n. A female seer; a prophetess.
Seerfish <Xpage=1304>
Seer"fish` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) A scombroid food fish of Maderia ( Cybium Commersonii ).
Seerhand <Xpage=1304>
Seer"hand (?) , n. [Etymol. uncertain.] A kind of muslin of a texture between nainsook and mull.
Seership <Xpage=1304>
Seer"ship , n. The office or quality of a seer.
Seersucker <Xpage=1304>
Seer"suck`er (?) , n. A light fabric, originally made in the East Indies, of silk and linen, usually having alternating stripes, and a slightly craped or puckered surface; also, a cotton fabric of similar appearance.
Seerwood <Xpage=1304>
Seer"wood` (?) , n. [See Sear .] Dry wood. [Written also searwood .] [Obs.]
Dryden.
Seesaw <Xpage=1304>
See"saw` (?) , n. [Probably a reduplication of saw , to express the alternate motion to and fro, as in the act of sawing.] 1. A play among children in which they are seated upon the opposite ends of a plank which is balanced in the middle, and move alternately up and down.
2. A plank or board adjusted for this play.
3. A vibratory or reciprocating motion.
He has been arguing in a circle; there is thus a seesaw between the hypothesis and fact. Sir W. Hamilton.
4. (Whist.) Same as Crossruff .
Seesaw <Xpage=1304>
See"saw` , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Seesawad (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Seesawing .] To move with a reciprocating motion; to move backward and forward, or upward and downward.
Seesaw <Xpage=1304>
See"saw` , v. t. To cause to move backward and forward in seesaw fashion.
He seesaws himself to and fro. Ld. Lytton.
Seesaw <Xpage=1304>
See"saw` , a. Moving up and down, or to and fro; having a reciprocating motion.
Seet <Xpage=1304>
Seet (?) , obs. imp. of Sit . Sate; sat.
Chaucer.
Seeth <Xpage=1304>
Seeth (?) , obs. imp. of Seethe .
Chaucer.
Seethe <Xpage=1304>
Seethe (?) , v. t. [ imp. Seethed (?) ( Sod (<?/) , obs. ); p. p. Seethed , Sodden (<?/) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Seething .] [OE. sethen , AS. se\'a2<?/an ; akin to D. sieden , OHG. siodan , G. sieden , Icel. sj<?/<?/a , Sw. sjuda , Dan. syde , Goth. saubs a burnt offering. Cf. Sod , n. , Sodden , Suds .] To decoct or prepare for food in hot liquid; to boil; as, to seethe flesh . [Written also seeth .]
Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets. 2 Kings iv. 38.
Seethe <Xpage=1304>
Seethe , v. i. To be a state of ebullition or violent commotion; to be hot; to boil.
1 Sam. ii. 13.
A long Pointe, round which the Mississippi used to whirl, and seethe , and foam. G. W. Cable.
Seether <Xpage=1304>
Seeth"er (?) , n. A pot for boiling things; a boiler.
Like burnished gold the little seether shone. Dryden.
Seg <Xpage=1304>
Seg (?) , n. [See Sedge .] (Bot.) 1. Sedge. [Obs.]
2. The gladen, and other species of Iris.
Prior.
Seg <Xpage=1304>
Seg , n. [Probably from the root of L. secare to cut.] A castrated bull. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
Halliwell.
Segar <Xpage=1304>
Se*gar" (?) , n. See Cigar .
Seggar <Xpage=1304>
Seg"gar (?) , n. [Prov. E. saggard a seggar, seggard a sort of riding surtout, contr. fr. safeguard .] A case or holder made of fire clay, in which fine pottery is inclosed while baking in the kin. [Written also saggar , sagger , and segger .]
Ure.
Segge <Xpage=1304>
Segge (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.The hedge sparrow. [Prov. Eng.]
Halliwell.
Segment <Xpage=1304>
Seg"ment (?) , n. [L. segmentum , fr. secare to cut, cut off: cf. F. segment . See Saw a cutting instrument.] 1. One of the parts into which any body naturally separates or is divided; a part divided or cut off; a section; a portion; as, a segment of an orange; a segment of a compound or divided leaf.
2. (Geom.) A part cut off from a figure by a line or plane; especially, that part of a circle contained between a chord and an arc of that circle, or so much of the circle as is cut off by the chord; as, the segment acb in the Illustration .
3. (Mach.) (a) A piece in the form of the sector of a circle, or part of a ring; as, the segment of a sectional fly wheel or flywheel rim . (b) A segment gear.
4. (Biol.) (a) One of the cells or division formed by segmentation, as in egg cleavage or in fissiparous cell formation. (b) One of the divisions, rings, or joints into which many animal bodies are divided; a somite; a metamere; a somatome.
Segment gear , a piece for receiving or communicating reciprocating motion from or to a cogwheel, consisting of a sector of a circular gear, or ring, having cogs on the periphery, or face. -- Segment of a line , the part of a line contained between two points on it. -- Segment of a sphere , the part of a sphere cut off by a plane, or included between two parallel planes. -- Ventral segment . (Acoustics) See Loor , n. , 5.
Segment <Xpage=1304>
Seg"ment (?) , v. i. (Biol.) To divide or separate into parts in growth; to undergo segmentation, or cleavage, as in the segmentation of the ovum.
Segmental <Xpage=1304>
Seg*men"tal (?) , a. 1. Relating to, or being, a segment.
2. (Anat. & Zo\'94l.) (a) Of or pertaining to the segments of animals; as, a segmental duct; segmental papill\'91. (b) Of or pertaining to the segmental organs.
Segmental duct (Anat.) , the primitive duct of the embryonic excretory organs which gives rise to the Wolffian duct and ureter; the pronephric duct. -- Segmental organs . (a) (Anat.) The embryonic excretory organs of vertebrates, consisting primarily of the segmental tubes and segmental ducts . (b) (Zo\'94l.) The tubular excretory organs, a pair of which often occur in each of several segments in annelids. They serve as renal organs, and often, also, as oviducts and sperm ducts. See Illust . under Sipunculacea . -- Segmental tubes (Anat.) , the tubes which primarily open into the segmental duct, some of which become the urinary tubules of the adult.
Segmentation <Xpage=1304>
Seg`men*ta"tion (?) , n. The act or process of dividing into segments; specifically (Biol.) , a self-division into segments as a result of growth; cell cleavage; cell multiplication; endogenous cell formation.
Segmentation cavity (Biol.) , the cavity formed by the arrangement of the cells in segmentation or cleavage of the ovum; the cavity of the blastosphere. In the gastrula stage, the segmentation cavity in which the mesoblast is formed lies between the entoblast and ectoblast. See Illust. of Invagination . -- Segmentation nucleus (Biol.) , the body formed by fusion of the male and female pronucleus in an impregnated ovum. See the Note under Pronucleus . -- Segmentation of the ovum , ∨ Egg cleavage (Biol.) , the process by which the embryos of all the higher plants and animals are derived from the germ cell. In the simplest case, that of small ova destitute of food yolk, the ovum or egg divides into two similar halves or segments (blastomeres), each of these again divides into two, and so on, thus giving rise to a mass of cells (mulberry mass, or morula ), all equal and similar, from the growth and development of which the future animal is to be formed. This constitutes regular segmentation . Quite frequently, however, the equality and regularity of cleavage is interfered with by the presence of food yolk, from which results unequal segmentation . See Holoblastic , Meroblastic , Alecithal , Centrolecithal , Ectolecithal , and Ovum . -- Segmentation sphere (Biol.) , the blastosphere, or morula. See Morula .
Segmented <Xpage=1304>
Seg"ment*ed (?) , a. Divided into segments or joints; articulated.
Segnitude, Segnity <Xpage=1304>
Seg"ni*tude (?) , Seg"ni*ty (?) , n. [L. segnitas , fr. segnis slow, sluggish.] Sluggishness; dullness; inactivity. [Obs.]
Segno <Xpage=1304>
Se"gno (?) , n. [It. See Sign .] (Mus.) A sign. See Al segno , and Dal segno .
Sego <Xpage=1304>
Se"go (?) , n. (Bot.) A liliaceous plant ( Calochortus Nuttallii ) of Western North America, and its edible bulb; -- so called by the Ute Indians and the Mormons.
Segregate <Xpage=1304>
Seg"re*gate (?) , a. [L. segregatus , p. p. of segregare to separate; pref. se- aside + grex , gregis , a flock or herd. See Gregarious .] 1. Separate; select.
2. (Bot.) Separated from others of the same kind.
Segregate <Xpage=1304>
Seg"re*gate (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Segregated (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Segregating .] To separate from others; to set apart.
They are still segregated , Christians from Christians, under odious designations. I. Taylor.
Segregate <Xpage=1304>
Seg"re*gate , v. i. (Geol.) To separate from a mass, and collect together about centers or along lines of fracture, as in the process of crystallization or solidification.
Segregation <Xpage=1304>
Seg`re*ga"tion (?) , n. [L. segregatio : cf. F. s\'82gr\'82gation .] 1. The act of segregating, or the state of being segregated; separation from others; a parting.
2. (Geol.) Separation from a mass, and gathering about centers or into cavities at hand through cohesive attraction or the crystallizing process.
Seiches <Xpage=1304>
Seiches (?) , n. pl. [F.] (Geol.) Local oscillations in level observed in the case of some lakes, as Lake Geneva.
Seid <Xpage=1304>
Seid (?) , n. [Ar seyid prince.] A descendant of Mohammed through his daughter Fatima and nephew Ali.
Seidlitz <Xpage=1304>
Seid"litz (?) , a. Of or pertaining to Seidlitz, a village in Bohemia. [Written also Sedlitz .]
Seidlitz powders , effervescing salts, consisting of two separate powders, one of which contains forty grains of sodium bicarbonate mixed with two drachms of Rochell<?/ salt (tartrate of potassium and sodium) and the other contains thirty-five grains of tartaric acid. The powders are mixed in water, and drunk while effervescing, as a mild cathartic; -- so called from the resemblance to the natural water of Seidlitz. Called also Rochelle powders . -- Seidlitz water , a natural water from Seidlitz, containing magnesium, sodium, calcium, and potassium sulphates, with calcium carbonate and a little magnesium chloride. It is used as an aperient.
Seigh <Xpage=1304>
Seigh (?) , obs. imp. sing. of See . Saw .
Chaucer.
Seigneurial <Xpage=1304>
Seign*eu"ri*al (?) , a. [F., fr. seigneur . See Seignior .] 1. Of or pertaining to the lord of a manor; manorial.
Sir W. Temple.
2. Vested with large powers; independent.
Seignior <Xpage=1304>
Seign"ior (?) , n. [OF. seignor , F. seigneur , cf. It. signore , Sp. se\'a4or from an objective case of L. senier elder. See Senior .] 1. A lord; the lord of a manor.
2. A title of honor or of address in the South of Europe, corresponding to Sir or Mr . in English.
Grand Seignior , the sultan of Turkey.
Seigniorage <Xpage=1304>
Seign"ior*age (?) , n. [F. seigneuriage , OF. seignorage .] 1. Something claimed or taken by virtue of sovereign prerogative; specifically, a charge or toll deducted from bullion brought to a mint to be coined; the difference between the cost of a mass of bullion and the value as money of the pieces coined from it.
If government, however, throws the expense of coinage, as is reasonable, upon the holders, by making a charge to cover the expense (which is done by giving back rather less in coin than has been received in bullion, and is called "levying a seigniorage "), the coin will rise to the extent of the seigniorage above the value of the bullion. J. S. Mill.
2. A share of the receipts of a business taken in payment for the use of a right, as a copyright or a patent.
Seignioral <Xpage=1304>
Seign"ior*al (?) , a. Of or pertaining to a seignior; seigneurial. "Kingly or seignioral patronage."
Burke.
Seignioralty <Xpage=1304>
Seign"ior*al*ty (?) , n. The territory or authority of a seignior, or lord.
Milman.
Seigniorial <Xpage=1304>
Seign*io"ri*al (?) , a. Same as Seigneurial .
Seigniorize <Xpage=1304>
Seign"ior*ize (?) , v. t. To lord it over. [Obs.]
As proud as he that seigniorizeth hell. Fairfax.
Seigniory <Xpage=1304>
Seign"ior*y (?) , n. ; pl. -ies (#) . [OE. seignorie , OF. seigneurie , F. seigneurie ; cf. It. signoria .] 1. The power or authority of a lord; dominion.
O'Neal never had any seigniory over that country but what by encroachment he got upon the English. Spenser.
2. The territory over which a lord holds jurisdiction; a manor. [Written also seigneury , and seignory .]
Seine <Xpage=1304>
Seine (?) , n. [F. seine , or AS. segene , b<?/th fr. L. sagena , Gr. <?/<?/<?/<?/.] (Fishing.) A large net, one edge of which is provided with sinkers, and the other with floats. It hangs vertically in the water, and when its ends are brought together or drawn ashore incloses the fish.
Seine boat , a boat specially constructed to carry and pay out a seine.
Seiner <Xpage=1304>
Sein"er (?) , n. One who fishes with a seine.
Seining <Xpage=1304>
Sein"ing , n. Fishing with a seine.
Seint <Xpage=1304>
Seint (?) , n. [See Cincture .] A girdle. [Obs.] "Girt with a seint of silk."
Chaucer.
Seint <Xpage=1304>
Seint , n. A saint. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Seintuary <Xpage=1304>
Sein"tu*a*ry (?) , n. Sanctuary. [Obs.]
Seirfish <Xpage=1304>
Seir"fish` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) Same as Seerfish .
Seirospore <Xpage=1304>
Sei"ro*spore (?) , n. [Gr. <?/<?/<?/ a cord + E. spore .] (Bot.) One of several spores arranged in a chain as in certain alg\'91 of the genus Callithamnion .
Seise <Xpage=1304>
Seise (?) , v. t. See Seize .
Spenser.
&hand; This is the common spelling in the law phrase to be seised of (an estate).
Seisin <Xpage=1304>
Sei"sin (?) , n. See Seizin .
Spenser.
Seismic, Seismal <Xpage=1304>
Seis"mic (?) , Seis"mal (?) , a. [Gr. <?/<?/<?/<?/ an earthquake, from <?/<?/<?/ to shake.] Of or pertaining to an earthquake; caused by an earthquake.
Seismic vertical , the point upon the earth's surface vertically over the center of effort or focal point whence the earthquake's impulse proceeds, or the vertical line connecting these two points.
Seismograph <Xpage=1304>
Seis"mo*graph (?) , n. [Gr. <?/<?/<?/ an earthquake + -graph .] (Physics) An apparatus for registering the shocks and undulatory motions of earthquakes.
Seismographic <Xpage=1304>
Seis`mo*graph"ic (?) , a. Of or pertaining to a seismograph; indicated by a seismograph.
Seismography <Xpage=1304>
Seis*mog"ra*phy (?) , n. 1. A writing about, or a description of, earthquakes.
2. The art of registering the shocks and undulatory movements of earthquakes.
Seismological <Xpage=1304>
Seis`mo*log"ic*al (?) , a. Of or pertaining to seismology. -- Seis`mo*log"ic*al*ly , adv.
Seismology <Xpage=1304>
Seis*mol"o*gy (?) , n. [Gr. <?/<?/<?/ an earthquake + -logy .] The science of earthquakes.
Seismometer <Xpage=1304>
Seis*mom"e*ter (?) , n. [Gr. <?/<?/<?/ an earthquake + -meter .] (Physics) An instrument for measuring the direction, duration, and force of earthquakes and like concussions.
Seismometric <Xpage=1304>
Seis`mo*met"ric (?) , a. Of or pertaining to seismometry, or seismometer; as, seismometric instruments; seismometric measurements .
Seismometry <Xpage=1304>
Seis*mom"e*try (?) , n. The mensuration of such phenomena of earthquakes as can be expressed in numbers, or by their relation to the co\'94rdinates of space.
Seismoscope <Xpage=1304>
Seis"mo*scope (?) , n. [Gr. <?/<?/<?/ an earthquake + -scope .] (Physics) A seismometer.
Seity <Xpage=1304>
Se"i*ty (?) , n. [L. se one's self.] Something peculiar to one's self. [R.]
Tatler.
Seizable <Xpage=1304>
Seiz"a*ble (?) , a. That may be seized.
Seize <Xpage=1304>
Seize (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Seized (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Seizing .] [OE. seisen , saisen , OF. seisir , saisir , F. saisir , of Teutonic origin, and akin to E. set . The meaning is properly, to set, put, place, hence, to put in possession of. See Set , v. t. ] 1. To fall or rush upon suddenly and lay hold of; to gripe or grasp suddenly; to reach and grasp.
For by no means the high bank he could seize . Spenser.
Seek you to seize and gripe into your hands The royalties and rights of banished Hereford? Shak.
<page="1305"> Page 1305
2. To take possession of by force.
At last they seize The scepter, and regard not David's sons. Milton.
3. To invade suddenly; to take sudden hold of; to come upon suddenly; as, a fever seizes a patient .
Hope and deubt alternate seize her seul. Pope.