Chapter 1558

&hand; This word and its derivatives are often written with c instead of k in the first syllable, -- sceptic , sceptical , scepticism , etc. Dr. Johnson, struck with the extraordinary irregularity of giving c its hard sound before e , altered the spelling, and his example has been followed by most of the lexicographers who have succeeded him; yet the prevalent practice among English writers and printers is in favor of the other mode. In the United States this practice is reversed, a large and increasing majority of educated persons preferring the orthography which is most in accordance with etymology and analogy.

Syn. -- Infidel; unbeliever; doubter. -- See Infidel .

Skeptic, Skeptical <Xpage=1349>

Skep"tic (?) , Skep"tic*al (?) , a. [Written also sceptic , sceptical .] 1. Of or pertaining to a sceptic or skepticism; characterized by skepticism; hesitating to admit the certainly of doctrines or principles; doubting of everything.

2. (Theol.) Doubting or denying the truth of revelation, or the sacred Scriptures.

The skeptical system subverts the whole foundation of morals. R. Hall.

-- Skep"tac*al*ly , adv. -- Skep"tic*al*ness , n.

Skepticism <Xpage=1349>

Skep"ti*cism (?) , n. [Cf. F. scepticisme .] [Written also scepticism .] 1. An undecided, inquiring state of mind; doubt; uncertainty.

That momentary amazement, and irresolution, and confusion, which is the result of skepticism . Hune.

2. (Metaph.) The doctrine that no fact or principle can be certainly known; the tenet that all knowledge is uncertain; Pyrrohonism; universal doubt; the position that no fact or truth, however worthy of confidence, can be established on philosophical grounds; critical investigation or inquiry, as opposed to the positive assumption or assertion of certain principles.

3. (Theol.) A doubting of the truth of revelation, or a denial of the divine origin of the Christian religion, or of the being, perfections, or truth of God.

Let no . . . secret skepticism lead any one to doubt whether this blessed prospect will be realized. S. Miller.

Skepticize <Xpage=1349>

Skep"ti*cize (?) , v. i. To doubt; to pretend to doubt of everything. [R.]

To skepticize , where no one else will . . . hesitate. Shaftesbury.

Skerry <Xpage=1349>

Sker"ry (?) , n. ; pl. Skerries (#) . [Of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. sker , Sw. sk\'84r , Dan. ski<?/r . Cf. Scar a bank.] A rocky isle; an insulated rock. [Scot.]

Sketch <Xpage=1349>

Sketch (?) , n. [D. schets , fr. It. schizzo a sketch, a splash (whence also F. esquisse ; cf. Esquisse .); cf. It. schizzare to splash, to sketch.] An outline or general delineation of anything; a first rough or incomplete draught or plan of any design; especially, in the fine arts, such a representation of an object or scene as serves the artist's purpose by recording its chief features; also, a preliminary study for an original work.

Syn. -- Outline; delineation; draught; plan; design. -- Sketch , Outline , Delineation . An outline gives only the bounding lines of some scene or picture. A sketch fills up the outline in part, giving broad touches, by which an imperfect idea may be conveyed. A delineation goes further, carrying out the more striking features of the picture, and going so much into detail as to furnish a clear conception of the whole. Figuratively, we may speak of the outlines of a plan, of a work, of a project, etc., which serve as a basis on which the subordinate parts are formed, or of sketches of countries, characters, manners, etc., which give us a general idea of the things described.

Crabb.

Sketch <Xpage=1349>

Sketch , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Sketched (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Sketching .] [Cf D. schetsen , It. schizzare . See Sketch , n. ] 1. To draw the outline or chief features of; to make a rought of.

2. To plan or describe by giving the principal points or ideas of.

Syn. -- To delineate; design; draught; depict.

Sketch <Xpage=1349>

Sketch , v. i. To make sketches, as of landscapes.

Sketchbook <Xpage=1349>

Sketch"book` , n. A book of sketches or for sketches.

Sketcher <Xpage=1349>

Sketch"er (?) , n. One who sketches.

Sketchily <Xpage=1349>

Sketch"i*ly (?) , adv. In a sketchy or incomplete manner. " Sketchily descriptive."

Bartlett.

Sketchiness <Xpage=1349>

Sketch"i*ness , n. The quality or state of being sketchy; lack of finish; incompleteness.

Sketchy <Xpage=1349>

Sketch"y (?) , a. Containing only an outline or rough form; being in the manner of a sketch; incomplete.

The execution is sketchy throughout; the head, in particular, is left in the rough. J. S. Harford.

Skew <Xpage=1349>

Skew (?) , adv. [Cf. D. scheef . Dan. ski<?/v , Sw. skef , Icel. skeifr , G. schief , also E. shy , a. & v. i.] Awry; obliquely; askew.

Skew <Xpage=1349>

Skew , a. Turned or twisted to one side; situated obliquely; skewed; -- chiefly used in technical phrases.

Skew arch , an oblique arch. See under Oblique . -- Skew back . (Civil Engin.) (a) The course of masonry, the stone, or the iron plate, having an inclined face, which forms the abutment for the voussoirs of a segmental arch . (b) A plate, cap, or shoe, having an inclined face to receive the nut of a diagonal brace, rod, or the end of an inclined strut, in a truss or frame. -- Skew bridge . See under Bridge , n. -- Skew curve (Geom.) , a curve of double curvature, or a twisted curve. See Plane curve , under Curve . -- Skew gearing , &or; Skew bevel gearing (Mach.) , toothed gearing, generally resembling bevel gearing, for connecting two shafts that are neither parallel nor intersecting, and in which the teeth slant across the faces of the gears. -- Skew surface (Geom.) , a ruled surface such that in general two successive generating straight lines do not intersect; a warped surface; as, the helicoid is a skew surface . -- Skew symmetrical determinant (Alg.) , a determinant in which the elements in each column of the matrix are equal to the elements of the corresponding row of the matrix with the signs changed, as in (1), below.

(1) 0 2 -3 -2 0 5 3 -5 0 (2) 4 -1 7 1 8 -2 -7 2 1

This requires that the numbers in the diagonal from the upper left to lower right corner be zeros. A like determinant in which the numbers in the diagonal are not zeros is a skew determinant , as in (2), above.

Skew <Xpage=1349>

Skew (?) , n. (Arch.) A stone at the foot of the slope of a gable, the offset of a buttress, or the like, cut with a sloping surface and with a check to receive the coping stones and retain them in place.

Skew <Xpage=1349>

Skew , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Skewed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Skewing .] 1. To walk obliquely; to go sidling; to lie or move obliquely.

Child, you must walk straight, without skewing . L'Estrange.

2. To start aside; to shy, as a horse. [Prov. Eng.]

3. To look obliquely; to squint; hence, to look slightingly or suspiciously.

Beau & Fl.

Skew <Xpage=1349>

Skew , v. t. [See Skew , adv .] 1. To shape or form in an oblique way; to cause to take an oblique position.

2. To throw or hurl obliquely.

Skewbald <Xpage=1349>

Skew"bald` (?) , a. Marked with spots and patches of white and some color other than black; -- usually distinguished from piebald , in which the colors are properly white and black. Said of horses.

Skewer <Xpage=1349>

Skew"er (?) , n. [Probably of Scand, origin; cf. Sw. & Dan. skifer a slate. Cf. Shuver a fragment.] A pin of wood or metal for fastening meat to a spit, or for keeping it in form while roasting.

Meat well stuck with skewers to make it look round. Swift.

Skewer <Xpage=1349>

Skew"er , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Skewered (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Skewering .] To fasten with skewers.

Skid <Xpage=1349>

Skid (?) , n. [Icel. sk\'c6<?/ a billet of wood. See Shide .] [Written also skeed .] 1. A shoe or clog, as of iron, attached to a chain, and placed under the wheel of a wagon to prevent its turning when descending a steep hill; a drag; a skidpan; also, by extension, a hook attached to a chain, and used for the same purpose.

2. A piece of timber used as a support, or to receive pressure. Specifically: (a) pl. (Naut.) Large fenders hung over a vessel's side to protect it in handling a cargo . Totten . (b) One of a pair of timbers or bars, usually arranged so as to form an inclined plane, as form a wagon to a door, along which anything is moved by sliding or rolling . (c) One of a pair of horizontal rails or timbers for supporting anything, as a boat, a barrel, etc. <-- a small platform, typically of two layers, having a space between the layers into which the fork of a fork lift can be inserted; used to conveniently transport heavy objects by means of a fork lift. -->

Skid <Xpage=1349>

Skid , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Skidded (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Skidding .] 1. To protect or support with a skid or skids; also, to cause to move on skids.

2. To check with a skid, as wagon wheels.

Dickens.

Skiddaw <Xpage=1349>

Skid"daw` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The black guillemot. [Prov. Eng.]

Skidpan <Xpage=1349>

Skid"pan` (?) , n. See Skid , n. , 1. [Eng.]

Skied <Xpage=1349>

Skied (?) , imp. & p. p. of Sky , v. t.

Skiey <Xpage=1349>

Ski"ey (?) , a. See Skyey .

Shelley.

Skiff <Xpage=1349>

Skiff (?) , n. [F. esquif , fr. OHG. skif , G. schiff . See Ship .] A small, light boat.

The pilot of some small night-foundered skiff . Milton.

Skiff caterpillar (Zo\'94l.) , the larva of a moth ( Limacodes scapha ); -- so called from its peculiar shape.

Skiff <Xpage=1349>

Skiff , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Skiffed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Skiffing .] To navigate in a skiff. [R.]

Skiffling <Xpage=1349>

Skif"fling (?) , n. (Quarrying) Rough dressing by knocking off knobs or projections; knobbing.

Skilder <Xpage=1349>

Skil"der (?) , v. i. To beg; to pilfer; to skelder. [Prov. Eng.& Scot.]

Sir W. Scott.

Skilful <Xpage=1349>

Skil"ful (?) , a. See Skilful .

Skill <Xpage=1349>

Skill (?) , n. [Icel. skil a distinction, discernment; akin to skilja to separate, divide, distinguish, Sw. skilja ,. skille to separate, skiel reason, right, justice, Sw. sk\'84l reason, Lith. skelli to cleave. Cf. Shell , Shoal , a multitude.] 1. Discrimination; judgment; propriety; reason; cause. [Obs.] Shak. "As it was skill and right." Chaucer .

For great skill is, he prove that he wrought. Chaucer. [For with good reason he should test what he created.]

2. Knowledge; understanding. [Obsoles.]

That by his fellowship he color might< oth his estate and love from skill of any wight. Spenser.

Nor want we skill or art. Milton.

3. The familiar knowledge of any art or science, united with readiness and dexterity in execution or performance, or in the application of the art or science to practical purposes; power to discern and execute; ability to perceive and perform; expertness; aptitude; as, the skill of a mathematician, physician, surgeon, mechanic, etc.

Phocion, . . . by his great wisdom and skill at negotiations, diverted Alexander from the conquest of Athens. Swift.

Where patience her sweet skill imparts. Keble.

4. Display of art; exercise of ability; contrivance; address. [Obs.]

Richard . . . by a thousand princely skills , gathering so much corn as if he meant not to return. Fuller.

5. Any particular art. [Obs.]

Learned in one skill , and in another kind of learning unskillful. Hooker.

Syn. -- Dexterity; adroitness; expertness; art; aptitude; ability. -- Skill , Dexterity , Adroitness . Skill is more intelligent, denoting familiar knowledge united to readiness of performance. Dexterity , when applied to the body, is more mechanical, and refers to habitual ease of execution. Adroitness involves the same image with dexterity , and differs from it as implaying a general facility of movement (especially in avoidance of danger or in escaping from a difficalty). The same distinctions apply to the figurative sense of the words. A man is skillful in any employment when he understands both its theory and its practice. He is dexterous when he maneuvers with great lightness. He is adroit in the use od quick, sudden, and well-directed movements of the body or the mind, so as to effect the object he has in view.

Skill <Xpage=1349>

Skill (?) , v. t. To know; to understand. [Obs.]

To skill the arts of expressing our mind. Barrow.

Skill <Xpage=1349>

Skill , v. i. 1. To be knowing; to have understanding; to be dexterous in performance. [Obs.]

I can not skill of these thy ways. Herbert.

2. To make a difference; to signify; to matter; -- used impersonally.

Spenser.

What skills it, if a bag of stones or gold About thy neck do drown thee? Herbert.

It skills not talking of it. Sir W. Scott.

Skilled <Xpage=1349>

Skilled (?) , a. Having familiar knowledge united with readiness and dexterity in its application; familiarly acquainted with; expert; skillful; -- often followed by in ; as, a person skilled in drawing or geometry .

Skillet <Xpage=1349>

Skil"let (?) , n. [OF. escuelette , dim. of escuelle a porringer, F. ecuelle , fr. L. scutella , dim. of scutra , scuta , a dish. Cf. Scuttle a basket.] A small vessel of iron, copper, or other metal, with a handle, used for culinary purpose, as for stewing meat.

Skillful <Xpage=1349>

Skill"ful (?) , a. [Written also skilful .] 1. Discerning; reasonable; judicious; cunning. [Obs.] "Of skillful judgment."

Chaucer.

2. Possessed of, or displaying, skill; knowing and ready; expert; well-versed; able in management; as, a skillful mechanic; -- often followed by at , in , or of ; as, skillful at the organ; skillful in drawing .

And they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skillful of lamentations to wailing. Amos v. 16.

Syn. -- Expert; skilled; dexterous; adept; masterly; adroit; clever; cunning.

-- Skill"ful*ly , adv. -- Skill"ful*ness , n.

Skilligalee <Xpage=1349>

Skil`li*ga*lee" (?) , n. A kind of thin, weak broth or oatmeal porridge, served out to prisoners and paupers in England; also, a drink made of oatmeal, sugar, and water, sometimes used in the English navy or army. [Written also skilligolee , skillygalee , etc.]

Skilling <Xpage=1349>

Skil"ling (?) , n. [Cf. Sheeling .] A bay of a barn; also, a slight addition to a cottage. [Prov. Eng.]

Skilling <Xpage=1349>

Skil"ling , n. [Sw. & Dan. See Shilling .] A money od account in Sweden, Norwey, Denmark, and North Germany, and also a coin. It had various values, from three fourths of a cent in Norway to more than two cents in L\'81beck.

Skill-less <Xpage=1349>

Skill"-less , a. Wanting skill.

Shak.

Skilts <Xpage=1349>

Skilts (?) , n. pl. A kind of large, coarse, short trousers formerly worn. [Local, U. S.]

Bartlett.

Skilty <Xpage=1349>

Skil"ty (?) , n. The water rail. [Prov. Eng.]

Skim <Xpage=1349>

Skim (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Skimmed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Skimming .] [Cf. Sw. skymma to darken. &root;158. See Scum .] 1. To clear (a liquid) from scum or substance floating or lying thereon, by means of a utensil that passes just beneath the surface; as, to skim milk; to skim broth.

2. To take off by skimming; as, to skim cream .

3. To pass near the surface of; to brush the surface of; to glide swiftly along the surface of.

Homer describes Mercury as flinging himself from the top of Olympus, and skimming the surface of the ocean. Hazlitt.

4. Fig.: To read or examine superficially and rapidly, in order to cull the principal facts or thoughts; as, to skim a book or a newspaper .

Skim <Xpage=1349>

Skim , v. i. 1. To pass lightly; to glide along in an even, smooth course; to glide along near the surface.

Not so when swift Camilla scours the plain, Flies o'er the unbending corn, and skims along the main. Pope.

2. To hasten along with superficial attention.

They skim over a science in a very superficial survey. I. Watts.

3. To put on the finishing coat of plaster.

Skim <Xpage=1349>

Skim , a. Contraction of Skimming and Skimmed .

Skim coat , the final or finishing coat of plaster. -- Skim colter , a colter for paring off the surface of land. -- Skim milk , skimmed milk; milk from which the cream has been taken.

Skrim <Xpage=1349>

Skrim , n. Scum; refuse.

Bryskett.

Skimback <Xpage=1349>

Skim"back` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The quillback. [Local, U.S.]

Skimble-scamble <Xpage=1349>

Skim"ble-scam`ble (?) , a. [A reduplication of scamble .] Rambling; disorderly; unconnected. [Colloq.]

Such a deal of skimble-scamble stuff. Shak.

Skimitry <Xpage=1349>

Skim"i*try (?) , n. See Skimmington .

Skimmer <Xpage=1349>

Skim"mer (?) , n. 1. One who, or that which, skims; esp., a utensil with which liquids are skimmed.

2. (Zo\'94l.) Any species of longwinged marine birds of the genus Rhynchops , allied to the terns, but having the lower mandible compressed and much longer than the upper one. These birds fly rapidly along the surface of the water, with the lower mandible immersed, thus skimming out small fishes. The American species ( R. nigra ) is common on the southern coasts of the United States. Called also scissorbill , and shearbill .

3. (Zo\'94l.) Any one of several large bivalve shells, sometimes used for skimming milk, as the sea clams, and large scallops.

<page="1350"> Page 1350

Skimmerton <Xpage=1350>

Skim"mer*ton (?) , n. See Skimmington .