Chapter 1550

Silva <Xpage=1341>

Sil"va (?) , n. ; pl. E. Silvas (#) , L. Silvae (<?/) . [L., properly, a wood, forest.] [Written also sylva .] (Bot.) (a) The forest trees of a region or country, considered collectively. (b) A description or history of the forest trees of a country.

Silvan <Xpage=1341>

Sil"van (?) , a. [L. silva , less correctly sylva , a wood or grove, perh. akin to Gr. "y`lh ; cf. L. Silvanus Silvanus the god of woods: cf. F. sylvain silvan. Cf. Savage .] Of or pertaining to woods; composed of woods or groves; woody. [Written also sylvan .]

Betwixt two rows of rocks, a silvan scene Appears above, and groves forever green. Dryden.

Silvan <Xpage=1341>

Sil"van , n. (Old Chem.) See Sylvanium . [Obs.]

Silvanite <Xpage=1341>

Sil"van*ite (?) , n. (Min.) See Sylvanite .

Silvas &or; Selvas <Xpage=1341>

Sil"vas (?) &or; Sel"vas (?) , n. pl. [L. silva a forest, Sp. selva .] Vast woodland plains of South America.

Silvate <Xpage=1341>

Sil"vate (?) , n. (Chem.) Same as Sylvate .

Silver <Xpage=1341>

Sil"ver (?) , n. [OE. silver , selver , seolver , AS. seolfor , siolfur , siolufr , silofr , sylofr ; akin to OS. silubar , OFries. selover , D. zilver , LG. sulver , OHG. silabar , silbar , G. silber , Icel. silfr , Sw. silfver , Dan. s\'94lv , Goth. silubr , Russ. serebro , Lith. sidabras ; of unknown origin.] 1. (Chem.) A soft white metallic element, sonorous, ductile, very malleable, and capable of a high degree of polish. It is found native, and also combined with sulphur, arsenic, antimony, chlorine, etc., in the minerals argentite, proustite, pyrargyrite, ceragyrite, etc. Silver is one of the "noble" metals, so-called, not being easily oxidized, and is used for coin, jewelry, plate, and a great variety of articles. Symbol Ag ( Argentum ). Atomic weight 107.7. Specific gravity 10.5.

&hand; Silver was known under the name of luna to the ancients and also to the alchemists. Some of its compounds, as the halogen salts, are remarkable for the effect of light upon them, and are used in photography.

2. Coin made of silver; silver money.

3. Anything having the luster or appearance of silver.

4. The color of silver.

&hand; Silver is used in the formation of many compounds of obvious meaning; as, silver -armed, silver -bright, silver -buskined, silver -coated, silver -footed, silver -haired, silver -headed, silver -mantled, silver -plated, silver -slippered, silver -sounding, silver -studded, silver -tongued, silver -white. See Silver , a.

Black silver (Min.) , stephanite; -- called also brittle silver ore , or brittle silver glance . -- Fulminating silver . (Chem.) (a) A black crystalline substance, Ag2O.(NH3)2 , obtained by dissolving silver oxide in aqua ammonia. When dry it explodes violently on the slightest percussion. (b) Silver fulminate, a white crystalline substance, Ag2C2N2O2 , obtained by adding alcohol to a solution of silver nitrate. When dry it is violently explosive. -- German silver . (Chem.) See under German . -- Gray silver . (Min.) See Freieslebenite . -- Horn silver . (Min.) See Cerargyrite . -- King's silver . (O. Eng. Law) See Postfine . -- Red silver , &or; Ruby silver . (Min.) See Proustite , and Pyrargyrite . -- Silver beater , one who beats silver into silver leaf or silver foil. -- Silver glance , &or; Vitreous silver . (Min.) See Argentine .

Silver <Xpage=1341>

Sil"ver , a. 1. Of or pertaining to silver; made of silver; as, silver leaf; a silver cup.

2. Resembling silver. Specifically: (a) Bright; resplendent; white . " Silver hair."

Shak.

Others, on silver lakes and rivers, bathed Their downy breast. Milton.

(b) Precious; costly . (c) Giving a clear, ringing sound soft and clear . " Silver voices." Spenser . (d) Sweet; gentle; peaceful . " Silver slumber." Spenser .

American silver fir (Bot.) , the balsam fir. See under Balsam . -- Silver age (Roman Lit.) , the latter part ( a. d. 14-180) of the classical period of Latinity, -- the time of writers of inferior purity of language, as compared with those of the previous golden age , so-called. -- Silver-bell tree (Bot.) , an American shrub or small tree ( Halesia tetraptera ) with white bell-shaped flowers in clusters or racemes; the snowdrop tree. -- Silver bush (Bot.) , a shrubby leguminous plant ( Anthyllis Barba-Jovis ) of Southern Europe, having silvery foliage. -- Silver chub (Zo\'94l.) , the fallfish. -- Silver eel . (Zo\'94l.) (a) The cutlass fish. (b) A pale variety of the common eel. -- Silver fir (Bot.) , a coniferous tree ( Abies pectinata ) found in mountainous districts in the middle and south of Europe, where it often grows to the height of 100 or 150 feet. It yields Burgundy pitch and Strasburg turpentine. -- Silver foil , foil made of silver. -- Silver fox (Zo\'94l.) , a variety of the common fox ( Vulpes vulpes , variety argenteus ) found in the northern parts of Asia, Europe, and America. Its fur is nearly black, with silvery tips, and is highly valued. Called also black fox , and silver-gray fox . -- Silver gar . (Zo\'94l.) See Billfish (a) -- Silver grain (Bot. ) , the lines or narrow plates of cellular tissue which pass from the pith to the bark of an exogenous stem; the medullary rays. In the wood of the oak they are much larger than in that of the beech, maple, pine, cherry, etc. -- Silver grebe (Zo\'94l.) , the red-throated diver. See Illust . under Diver . -- Silver hake (Zo\'94l.) , the American whiting. -- Silver leaf , leaves or sheets made of silver beaten very thin. -- Silver lunge (Zo\'94l.) , the namaycush. -- Silver moonfish . (Zo\'94l.) See Moonfish (b) . -- Silver moth (Zo\'94l.) , a lepisma. -- Silver owl (Zo\'94l.) , the barn owl. -- Silver perch (Zo\'94l.) , the mademoiselle, 2. -- Silver pheasant (Zo\'94l.) , any one of several species of beautiful crested and long-tailed Asiatic pheasants, of the genus Euplocamus . They have the tail and more or less of the upper parts silvery white. The most common species ( E. nychtemerus ) is native of China. -- Silver plate , domestic utensils made of silver. <-- a plating of silver on a base metal. --> -- Silver plover (Zo\'94l.) , the knot. -- Silver salmon (Zo\'94l.) , a salmon ( Oncorhynchus kisutch ) native of both coasts of the North Pacific. It ascends all the American rivers as far south as the Sacramento. Called also kisutch , whitefish , and white salmon . -- Silver shell (Zo\'94l.) , a marine bivalve of the genus Anomia. See Anomia . <-- why Anomia not italicised? --> -- Silver steel , an alloy of steel with a very small proportion of silver. -- Silver stick , a title given to the title field officer of the Life Guards when on duty at the palace. [Eng.] Thackeray . -- Silver tree (Bot.) , a South African tree ( Leucadendron argenteum ) with long, silvery, silky leaves. -- Silver trout , (Zo\'94l.) See Trout . -- Silver wedding . See under Wedding . -- Silver whiting (Zo\'94l.) , a marine sci\'91noid food fish ( Menticirrus littoralis ) native of the Southern United States; -- called also surf whiting . -- Silver witch (Zo\'94l.) , A lepisma.

Silver <Xpage=1341>

Sil"ver (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Silvered (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Silvering .] 1. To cover with silver; to give a silvery appearance to by applying a metal of a silvery color; as, to silver a pin; to silver a glass mirror plate with an amalgam of tin and mercury.

2. To polish like silver; to impart a brightness to, like that of silver.

And smiling calmness silvered o'er the deep. Pope.

3. To make hoary, or white, like silver.

His head was silvered o'er with age. Gay.

Silver <Xpage=1341>

Sil"ver , v. i. To acquire a silvery color. [R.]

The eastern sky began to silver and shine. L. Wallace.

Silverback <Xpage=1341>

Sil"ver*back` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The knot.

Silverberry <Xpage=1341>

Sil"ver*ber`ry (?) , n. (Bot.) A tree or shrub ( El\'91agnus argentea ) with silvery foliage and fruit.

Gray.

Silverbill <Xpage=1341>

Sil"ver*bill` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) An Old World finch of the genus Minia , as the M. Malabarica of India, and M. cantans of Africa.

Silverboom <Xpage=1341>

Sil"ver*boom` (?) , n. [D. zilver silver + boom tree.] (Bot.) See Leucadendron .

Silverfin <Xpage=1341>

Sil"ver*fin` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) A small North American fresh-water cyprinoid fish ( Notropis Whipplei ).

Silverfish <Xpage=1341>

Sil"ver*fish` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) (a) The tarpum. (b) A white variety of the goldfish.

<-- 2. one of a variety of insects of the order Thysanura; -- esp. Lepisma saccharina , which may infest houses, and eats starched clothing and sized papers. See Lepisma. -->

Silver-gray <Xpage=1341>

Sil"ver-gray` (?) , a. Having a gray color with a silvery luster; as, silver-gray hair .

Silveriness <Xpage=1341>

Sil"ver*i*ness (?) , n. The state of being silvery.

Silvering <Xpage=1341>

Sil"ver*ing , n. (Metal.) The art or process of covering metals, wood, paper, glass, etc., with a thin film of metallic silver, or a substance resembling silver; also, the firm do laid on; as, the silvering of a glass speculum .

Silverize <Xpage=1341>

Sil"ver*ize (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Silverized (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Silverizing .] To cover with silver.

Silverless <Xpage=1341>

Sil"ver*less , a. Having no silcver; hence, without money; impecunious.

Piers Plowman.

Silverling <Xpage=1341>

Sil"ver*ling , n. A small silver coin. [Obs.]

A thousand vines at a thousand silverings . Isa. vii. 23.

Silverly <Xpage=1341>

Sil"ver*ly , adv. Like silver in appearance or in sound.

Let me wipe off this honorable dew, That silverly doth progress on thy cheeks. Shak.

Silvern <Xpage=1341>

Sil"vern (?) , a. [AS. seolfern , sylfren .] Made of silver. [Archaic.]

Wyclif (Acts xix. 24).

Speech is silvern ; silence is golden. Old Proverb.

Silversides <Xpage=1341>

Sil"ver*sides` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) Any one of several species of small fishes of the family Atherinid\'91 , having a silvery stripe along each side of the body. The common species of the American coast ( Menidia notata ) is very abundant. Called also silverside , sand smelt , friar , tailor , and tinker .

Brook silversides (Zo\'94l.) , a small fresh-water North American fish ( Labadesthes sicculus ) related to the marine silversides.

<page="1342"> Page 1342

Silversmith <Xpage=1342>

Sil"ver*smith` (?) , n. One whose occupation is to manufacture utensils, ornaments, etc., of silver; a worker in silver.

Silverspot <Xpage=1342>

Sil"ver*spot` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) Any one of numerous species of butterflies of the genus Argynnis and allied genera, having silvery spots on the under side of the wings. See Illust . under Aphrodite .

Silverware <Xpage=1342>

Sil"ver*ware` (?) , n. Dishes, vases, ornaments, and utensils of various sorts, made of silver.

Silverweed <Xpage=1342>

Sil"ver*weed` (?) , n. (Bot.) A perennial rosaceous herb ( Potentilla Anserina ) having the leaves silvery white beneath.

Silvery <Xpage=1342>

Sil"ver*y (?) , a. 1. Resembling, or having the luster of, silver; grayish white and lustrous; of a mild luster; bright.

All the enameled race, whose silvery wing Waves to the tepid zephyrs of the spring. Pope.

2. Besprinkled or covered with silver.

3. Having the clear, musical tone of silver; soft and clear in sound; as, silvery voices; a silvery laugh .

Silvery iron (Metal.) , a peculiar light-gray fine-grained cast iron, usually obtained from clay iron ore.

Silviculture <Xpage=1342>

Sil"vi*cul`ture (?) , n. [Cf. F. silviculture .] See Sylviculture .

Sima <Xpage=1342>

Si"ma (?) , n. (Arch.) A cyma.

Simagre <Xpage=1342>

Sim"a*gre (?) , n. [F. simagr\'82e .] A grimace. [Obs.]

Dryden.

Simar <Xpage=1342>

Si*mar" (?) , n. [F. simarre . See Chimere .] A woman's long dress or robe; also light covering; a scarf. [Written also cimar , cymar , samare , simare .]

Simarre <Xpage=1342>

Si`marre" (?) . [F.] See Simar .

Sir W. Scott.

Simblot <Xpage=1342>

Sim"blot (?) , n. [F. simbleau .] The harness of a drawloom.

Simia <Xpage=1342>

Sim"i*a (?) , n. [L., an ape; cf. simus flatnosed, snub-nosed, Gr. <?/<?/<?/.] (Zo\'94l.) A Linn\'91an genus of Quadrumana which included the types of numerous modern genera. By modern writers it is usually restricted to the genus which includes the orang-outang.

Simial <Xpage=1342>

Sim"i*al (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Simian; apelike.

Simian <Xpage=1342>

Sim"i*an (?) , a. [L. simia an ape.] (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to the family Simiad\'91 , which, in its widest sense, includes all the Old World apes and monkeys; also, apelike. -- n. Any Old World monkey or ape.

Similar <Xpage=1342>

Sim"i*lar (?) , a. [F. similaire , fr. L. similis like, similar. See Same , a. , and cf. Simulate .] 1. Exactly corresponding; resembling in all respects; precisely like.

2. Nearly corresponding; resembling in many respects; somewhat like; having a general likeness.

3. Homogenous; uniform. [R.]

Boyle.

Similar figures (Geom.) , figures which differ from each other only in magnitude, being made up of the same number of like parts similarly situated. -- Similar rectilineal figures , such as have their several angles respectively equal, each to each, and their sides about the equal angles proportional. -- Similar solids , such as are contained by the same number of similar planes, similarly situated, and having like inclination to one another.

Similar <Xpage=1342>

Sim"i*lar , n. That which is similar to, or resembles, something else, as in quality, form, etc.

Similarity <Xpage=1342>

Sim`i*lar"i*ty (?) , n. ; pl. -ties (#) . [Cf. F. similarit\'82 .] The quality or state of being similar; likeness; resemblance; as, a similarity of features .

Hardly is there a similarity detected between two or three facts, than men hasten to extend it to all. Sir W. Hamilton.

Similarly <Xpage=1342>

Sim"i*lar*ly (?) , adv. In a similar manner.

Similary <Xpage=1342>

Sim"i*lar*y (?) , a. Similar. [Obs.]

Rhyming cadences of similarly words. South.

Similative <Xpage=1342>

Sim"i*la*tive (?) , a. Implying or indicating likeness or resemblance. [R.]

In similative or instrumental relation to a pa. pple. [past participle], as almond-leaved, -scented, etc. New English Dict.

Simile <Xpage=1342>

Simi"*le (?) , n. ; pl. Similes (#) . [L., from similis . See Similar .] (Rhet.) A word or phrase by which anything is likened, in one or more of its aspects, to something else; a similitude; a poetical or imaginative comparison.

A good swift simile , but something currish. Shak.

Similiter <Xpage=1342>

Si*mil"i*ter (?) , n. [L., in like manner.] (Law) The technical name of the form by which either party, in pleading, accepts the issue tendered by his opponent; -- called sometimes a joinder in issue .

Similitude <Xpage=1342>

Si*mil"i*tude (?) , n. [F. similitude , L. similitudo , from similis similar. See Similar .] 1. The quality or state of being similar or like; resemblance; likeness; similarity; as, similitude of substance .

Chaucer.

Let us make now man in our image, man In our similitude . Milton.

If fate some future bard shall join In sad similitude of griefs to mine. Pope.

2. The act of likening, or that which likens, one thing to another; fanciful or imaginative comparison; a simile.

Tasso, in his similitudes , never departed from the woods; that is, all his comparisons were taken from the country. Dryden.

3. That which is like or similar; a representation, semblance, or copy; a facsimile.

Man should wed his similitude . Chaucer.

Similitudinary <Xpage=1342>

Si*mil`i*tu"di*na*ry (?) , a. Involving or expressing similitude. [Obs.]

Coke.

Similize <Xpage=1342>

Sim"i*lize (?) , v. t. To liken; to compare; as, to similize a person, thing, or act .

Lowell.

Similor <Xpage=1342>

Sim"i*lor (?) , n. [F., fr. L. similus similar + F. or gold, L. aurum . Cf. Semilor .] An alloy of copper and zinc, resembling brass, but of a golden color.

Ure.

Semious <Xpage=1342>

Sem"i*ous (?) , a. [L. simia an ape.] (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to the Sim<?/; monkeylike.

That strange simious , schoolboy passion of giving pain to others. Sydney Smith.

Simitar <Xpage=1342>

Sim"i*tar (?) , n. See Scimiter .

Simmer <Xpage=1342>