Chapter 34

2. Specifically, a discourse delivered in public, usually by a clergyman, for the purpose of religious instruction and grounded on some text or passage of Scripture.

This our life exempt from public haunts Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones and good in everything.

Shak.

His preaching much, but more his practice, wrought, A living sermon of the truths he taught.

Dryden.

3. Hence, a serious address; a lecture on one's conduct or duty; an exhortation or reproof; a homily; -- often in a depreciatory sense.

Ser"mon, v. i. [Cf. OF. sermoner, F. sermonner to lecture one.] To speak; to discourse; to compose or deliver a sermon. [Obs.] Holinshed.

What needeth it to sermon of it more?

Chaucer.

Ser"mon, v. t. 1. To discourse to or of, as in a sermon. [Obs.] Spenser.

2. To tutor; to lecture. [Poetic] Shak.

Ser`mon*eer" (?), n. A sermonizer. B. Jonson.

Ser"mon*er (?), n. A preacher; a sermonizer. [Derogative or Jocose.] Thackeray.

Ser`mon*et" (?), n. A short sermon. [Written also sermonette.]

{ Ser*mon"ic (?), Ser*mon"ic*al (?), } a. Like, or appropriate to, a sermon; grave and didactic. [R.] "Conversation . . . satirical or sermonic." Prof. Wilson. "Sermonical style." V. Knox.

Ser"mon*ing (?), n. The act of discoursing; discourse; instruction; preaching. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Ser"mon*ish, a. Resembling a sermon. [R.]

Ser"mon*ist, n. See Sermonizer.

Ser"mon*ize (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sermonized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sermonizing (?).] 1. To compose or write a sermon or sermons; to preach.

2. To inculcate rigid rules. [R.] Chesterfield.

Ser"mon*ize, v. t. To preach or discourse to; to affect or influence by means of a sermon or of sermons. [R.]

Which of us shall sing or sermonize the other fast asleep?

Landor.

Ser"mon*i`zer (?), n. One who sermonizes.

Ser"o*lin (?), n. [Serum + L. oleum oil.] (Physiol. Chem.) (a) A peculiar fatty substance found in the blood, probably a mixture of fats, cholesterin, etc. (b) A body found in fecal matter and thought to be formed in the intestines from the cholesterin of the bile; -- called also stercorin, and stercolin.

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{ Se*ron" (?), Se*roon" (?), } n. [Sp. seron a kind of hamper or pannier, aug. of sera a large pannier or basket.] Same as Ceroon.

This word as expressing a quantity or weight has no definite signification. McElrath.

Se"rose` (?), a. Serous. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Se*ros"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. serosité. See Serous.] 1. The quality or state of being serous.

2. (Physiol.) A thin watery animal fluid, as synovial fluid and pericardial fluid.

Ser"o*tine (?), n. [F. sérotine, fr. L. serotinus that comes or happens late.] (Zoöl.) The European long-eared bat (Vesperugo serotinus).

Se*rot"i*nous (?), a. [L. serotinus, fr. serus late.] (Biol.) Appearing or blossoming later in the season than is customary with allied species.

Se"rous (?), a. [Cf. F. séreux. See Serum.] (Physiol.) (a) Thin; watery; like serum; as the serous fluids. (b) Of or pertaining to serum; as, the serous glands, membranes, layers. See Serum.

Serous membrane. (Anat.) See under Membrane.

{ Ser"ow (?), Sur"row (?), } n. (Zoöl.) The thar.

||Ser"pens (?), n. [L. See Serpent.] (Astron.) A constellation ||represented as a serpent held by Serpentarius.

Ser"pent (?), n. [F., fr. L. serpens, -entis (sc. bestia), fr. serpens, p. pr. of serpere to creep; akin to Gr. &?;&?;&?;, Skr. sarp, and perhaps to L. repere, E. reptile. Cf. Herpes.] 1. (Zoöl.) Any reptile of the order Ophidia; a snake, especially a large snake. See Illust. under Ophidia.

The serpents are mostly long and slender, and move partly by bending the body into undulations or folds and pressing them against objects, and partly by using the free edges of their ventral scales to cling to rough surfaces. Many species glide swiftly over the ground, some burrow in the earth, others live in trees. A few are entirely aquatic, and swim rapidly. See Ophidia, and Fang.

2. Fig.: A subtle, treacherous, malicious person.

3. A species of firework having a serpentine motion as it passess through the air or along the ground.

4. (Astron.) The constellation Serpens.

5. (Mus.) A bass wind instrument, of a loud and coarse tone, formerly much used in military bands, and sometimes introduced into the orchestra; -- so called from its form.

Pharaoh's serpent (Chem.), mercuric sulphocyanate, a combustible white substance which in burning gives off a poisonous vapor and leaves a peculiar brown voluminous residue which is expelled in a serpentine from. It is employed as a scientific toy. -- Serpent cucumber (Bot.), the long, slender, serpentine fruit of the cucurbitaceous plant Trichosanthes colubrina; also, the plant itself. -- Serpent eage (Zoöl.), any one of several species of raptorial birds of the genera Circaëtus and Spilornis, which prey on serpents. They inhabit Africa, Southern Europe, and India. The European serpent eagle is Circaëtus Gallicus. -- Serpent eater. (Zoöl.) (a) The secretary bird. (b) An Asiatic antelope; the markhoor. -- Serpent fish (Zoöl.), a fish (Cepola rubescens) with a long, thin, compressed body, and a band of red running lengthwise. -- Serpent star (Zoöl.), an ophiuran; a brittle star. -- Serpent's tongue (Paleon.), the fossil tooth of a shark; -- so called from its resemblance to a tongue with its root. -- Serpent withe (Bot.), a West Indian climbing plant (Aristolochia odoratissima). -- Tree serpent (Zoöl.), any species of African serpents belonging to the family Dendrophidæ.

Ser"pent, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Serpented; p. pr. & vb. n. Serpenting.] To wind like a serpent; to crook about; to meander. [R.] "The serpenting of the Thames." Evelyn.

Ser"pent, v. t. To wind; to encircle. [R.] Evelyn.

||Ser`pen*ta"ri*a (?), a.[L. (sc. herba), fr. serpens serpent.] (Med.) ||The fibrous aromatic root of the Virginia snakeroot (Aristolochia ||Serpentaria).

||Ser`pen*ta"ri*us (?), n.[NL., fr. L. serpens serpent.] (Astron.) A ||constellation on the equator, lying between Scorpio and Hercules; -- ||called also Ophiuchus.

Ser*pen"ti*form (?), a. [L. serpens a serpent + -form.] Having the form of a serpent.

Ser`pen*tig"e*nous (?), a. [L. serpens, -entis, a serpent + -genous: cf. L. serpentigena.] Bred of a serpent.

Ser"pen*tine (?), a. [L. serpentinus: cf. F. serpentin.] Resembling a serpent; having the shape or qualities of a serpent; subtle; winding or turning one way and the other, like a moving serpent; anfractuous; meandering; sinuous; zigzag; as, serpentine braid.

Thy shape Like his, and color serpentine.

Milton.

Ser"pen*tine, n. [Cf. (for sense 1) F. serpentine, (for sense 2) serpentin.] 1. (Min.) A mineral or rock consisting chiefly of the hydrous silicate of magnesia. It is usually of an obscure green color, often with a spotted or mottled appearance resembling a serpent's skin. Precious, or noble, serpentine is translucent and of a rich oil-green color.

Serpentine has been largely produced by the alteration of other minerals, especially of chrysolite.

2. (Ordnance) A kind of ancient cannon.

Ser"pen*tine, v. i. To serpentize. [R.] Lyttleton.

Ser"pen*tine*ly, adv. In a serpentine manner.

Ser`pen*tin"i*an (?), n. (Eccl.) See 2d Ophite.

Ser"pen*tin*ize (?), v. t. (Min.) To convert (a magnesian silicate) into serpentine. -- Ser`pen*tin`i*za"tion (#), n.

Ser"pen*ti`nous (?), a. Relating to, or like, serpentine; as, a rock serpentinous in character.

Ser"pent*ize (?), v. i. To turn or bend like a serpent, first in one direction and then in the opposite; to meander; to wind; to serpentine. [R.]

The river runs before the door, and serpentizes more than you can conceive.

Walpole.

Ser"pent*ry (?), n. 1. A winding like a serpent's.

2. A place inhabited or infested by serpents.

Ser"pent-tongued` (?), a. (Zoöl.) Having a forked tongue, like a serpent.

Ser"pet (?), n. [L. sirpus, scirpus, a rush, bulrush.] A basket. [Obs.] Ainsworth.

||Ser*pette" (?), n. [F.] A pruning knife with a curved blade. Knight.

Ser*pig"i*nous (?), a. [Cf. F. serpigineux.] (Med.) Creeping; -- said of lesions which heal over one portion while continuing to advance at another.

||Ser*pi"go (?), n. [LL., fr. L. serpere to creep.] (Med.) A dry, scaly ||eruption on the skin; especially, a ringworm.

Ser"po*let (?), n. [F.] (Bot.) Wild thyme.

||Ser"pu*la (?), n.; pl. Serpulæ (#), E. Serpulas (#). [L., a little ||snake. See Serpent.] (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of ||tubicolous annelids of the genus Serpula and allied genera of the ||family Serpulidæ. They secrete a calcareous tube, which is usually ||irregularly contorted, but is sometimes spirally coiled. The worm has ||a wreath of plumelike and often bright-colored gills around its head, ||and usually an operculum to close the aperture of its tube when it ||retracts.

{ Ser*pu"li*an (?), Ser*pu"li*dan (?), } n. (Zoöl.) A serpula.

Ser"pu*lite (?), n. A fossil serpula shell.

Serr (?), v. t. [F. serrer. See Serry.] To crowd, press, or drive together. [Obs.] Bacon.

Ser*ra"noid (?), n. [NL. Serranus, a typical genus (fr. L. serra a saw) + - oid.] (Zoöl.) Any fish of the family Serranidæ, which includes the striped bass, the black sea bass, and many other food fishes. -- a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Serranidæ.

{ Ser"rate (?), Ser"ra*ted (?), } a. [L. serratus, fr. serra a saw; perhaps akin to secare to cut, E. saw a cutting instrument. Cf. Sierra.] 1. Notched on the edge, like a saw.

2. (Bot.) Beset with teeth pointing forwards or upwards; as, serrate leaves.

Doubly serrate, having small serratures upon the large ones, as the leaves of the elm. -- Serrate- ciliate, having fine hairs, like the eyelashes, on the serratures; -- said of a leaf. -- Serrate- dentate, having the serratures toothed.

Ser*ra"tion (?), n. 1. Condition of being serrate; formation in the shape of a saw.

2. One of the teeth in a serrate or serrulate margin.

Ser*ra`ti*ros"tral (?), a. [Serrate + rostral.] (Zoöl.) Having a toothed bill, like that of a toucan.

Ser*ra"tor (?), n. [NL.] (Zoöl.) The ivory gull (Larus eburneus).

Ser"ra*ture (?), n. [L. serratura a sawing, fr. serrare to saw.] 1. A notching, like that between the teeth of a saw, in the edge of anything. Martyn.

2. One of the teeth in a serrated edge; a serration.

Ser"ri*ca`ted (?), a. [See Sericeous.] Covered with fine silky down.

Ser"ri*corn (?), a. [L. serra saw + cornu horn.] (Zoöl.) Having serrated antenn&?;.

Ser"ri*corn, n. (Zoöl.) Any one of a numerous tribe of beetles (Serricornia). The joints of the antennæ are prominent, thus producing a serrate appearance. See Illust. under Antenna.

Ser"ried (?), a. [See Serry.] Crowded; compact; dense; pressed together.

Nor seemed it to relax their serried files.

Milton.

||Ser*rif"e*ra (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. L. serra saw + ferre to bear.] ||(Zoöl.) A division of Hymenoptera comprising the sawflies.

||Ser`ri*ros"tres (?), n. pl. [NL. fr. L. serra saw + rostrum beak.] ||(Zoöl.) Same as Lamellirostres.

Ser"rous (?), a. [L. serra a saw.] Like the teeth off a saw; jagged. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Ser"ru*la (?), n. [L., a little saw.] (Zoöl.) The red-breasted merganser.

{ Ser"rulate (?), Ser"ru*la`ted (?), } a. [L. serrula a little saw, dim. of serra a saw.] Finely serrate; having very minute teeth.

Ser`ru*la"tion (?), n. 1. The state of being notched minutely, like a fine saw. Wright.

2. One of the teeth in a serrulate margin.

Ser"ry (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Serried (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Serrying.] [F. serrer, LL. serrare, serare, from L. sera a bar, bolt; akin to serere to join or bind together. See Serries.] To crowd; to press together. [Now perhaps only in the form serried, p. p. or a.]

||Ser`tu*la"ri*a (?), n. [NL., dim. fr. L. serta a garland.] (Zoöl.) A ||genus of delicate branching hydroids having small sessile hydrothecæ ||along the sides of the branches.

Ser`tu*la"ri*an (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any species of Sertularia, or of Sertularidæ, a family of hydroids having branched chitinous stems and simple sessile hydrothecæ. Also used adjectively.

Se"rum (s"rm), n. [L., akin to Gr. &?;&?;&?;, Skr. sra curd.] (Physiol.) (a) The watery portion of certain animal fluids, as blood, milk, etc. (b) A thin watery fluid, containing more or less albumin, secreted by the serous membranes of the body, such as the pericardium and peritoneum.

Blood serum, the pale yellowish fluid which exudes from the clot formed in the coagulation of the blood; the liquid portion of the blood, after removal of the blood corpuscles and the fibrin. -- Muscle serum, the thin watery fluid which separates from the muscles after coagulation of the muscle plasma; the watery portion of the plasma. See Muscle plasma, under Plasma. -- Serum albumin (Physiol. Chem.), an albuminous body, closely related to egg albumin, present in nearly all serous fluids; esp., the albumin of blood serum. -- Serum globulin (Physiol. Chem.), paraglobulin. -- Serum of milk (Physiol. Chem.), the whey, or fluid portion of milk, remaining after removal of the casein and fat.

Serv"a*ble (?), a. [See Serve.] 1. Capable of being served.

2. [L. servabilis.] Capable of being preserved. [R.]

Serv"age (?), n. [Cf. F. servage.] Serfage; slavery; servitude. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Ser"val (?), n. [Cf. F. serval.] (Zoöl.) An African wild cat (Felis serval) of moderate size. It has rather long legs and a tail of moderate length. Its color is tawny, with black spots on the body and rings of black on the tail.

Ser"val*ine (?), a. (Zoöl.) Related to, or resembling, the serval.

Serv"ant (?), n. [OE. servant, servaunt, F. servant, a & p. pr. of servir to serve, L. servire. See Serve, and cf. Sergeant.] 1. One who serves, or does services, voluntarily or on compulsion; a person who is employed by another for menial offices, or for other labor, and is subject to his command; a person who labors or exerts himself for the benefit of another, his master or employer; a subordinate helper. "A yearly hired servant." Lev. xxv. 53.

Men in office have begun to think themselves mere agents and servants of the appointing power, and not agents of the government or the country.

D. Webster.

In a legal sense, stewards, factors, bailiffs, and other agents, are servants for the time they are employed in such character, as they act in subordination to others. So any person may be legally the servant of another, in whose business, and under whose order, direction, and control, he is acting for the time being. Chitty.

2. One in a state of subjection or bondage.

Thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt.

Deut. v. 15.

3. A professed lover or suitor; a gallant. [Obs.]

In my time a servant was I one.

Chaucer.

Servant of servants, one debased to the lowest condition of servitude. -- Your humble servant, or Your obedient servant, phrases of civility often used in closing a letter.

Our betters tell us they are our humble servants, but understand us to be their slaves.

Swift.

Serv"ant, v. t. To subject. [Obs.] Shak.

Serv"ant*ess, n. A maidservant. [Obs.] Wyclif.

Serv"ant*ry (?), n. A body of servants; servants, collectively. [R.]

Serve (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Served (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Serving.] [OE. serven, servien, OF. & F. servir, fr. L. servire; akin to servus a servant or slave, servare to protect, preserve, observe; cf. Zend har to protect, haurva protecting. Cf. Conserve, Desert merit, Dessert, Observe, Serf, Sergeant.] 1. To work for; to labor in behalf of; to exert one's self continuously or statedly for the benefit of; to do service for; to be in the employment of, as an inferior, domestic, serf, slave, hired assistant, official helper, etc.; specifically, in a religious sense, to obey and worship.

God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit.

Rom. i. 9.

Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

Gen. xxix. 18.

No man can serve two masters.

Matt. vi. 24.

Had I but served my God with half the zeal I served my king, he would not in mine age Have left me naked to mine enemies.

Shak.

2. To be subordinate to; to act a secondary part under; to appear as the inferior of; to minister to.

Bodies bright and greater should not serve The less not bright.

Milton.

3. To be suitor to; to profess love to. [Obs.]

To serve a lady in his beste wise.

Chaucer.

4. To wait upon; to supply the wants of; to attend; specifically, to wait upon at table; to attend at meals; to supply with food; as, to serve customers in a shop.

Others, pampered in their shameless pride, Are served in plate and in their chariots ride.

Dryden.

5. Hence, to bring forward, arrange, deal, or distribute, as a portion of anything, especially of food prepared for eating; -- often with up; formerly with in.

Bid them cover the table, serve in the meat, and we will come in to dinner.

Shak.

Some part he roasts, then serves it up so dressed.

Dryde.

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6. To perform the duties belonging to, or required in or for; hence, to be of use to; as, a curate may serve two churches; to serve one's country.

7. To contribute or conduce to; to promote; to be sufficient for; to satisfy; as, to serve one's turn.

Turn it into some advantage, by observing where it can serve another end.

Jer. Taylor.

8. To answer or be (in the place of something) to; as, a sofa serves one for a seat and a couch.

9. To treat; to behave one's self to; to requite; to act toward; as, he served me very ill.

10. To work; to operate; as, to serve the guns.

11. (Law) (a) To bring to notice, deliver, or execute, either actually or constructively, in such manner as the law requires; as, to serve a summons. (b) To make legal service opon (a person named in a writ, summons, etc.); as, to serve a witness with a subpœna.

12. To pass or spend, as time, esp. time of punishment; as, to serve a term in prison.

13. To copulate with; to cover; as, a horse serves a mare; -- said of the male.

14. (Tennis) To lead off in delivering (the ball).

15. (Naut.) To wind spun yarn, or the like, tightly around (a rope or cable, etc.) so as to protect it from chafing or from the weather. See under Serving.

To serve an attachment or a writ of attachment (Law), to levy it on the person or goods by seizure, or to seize. -- To serve an execution (Law), to levy it on a lands, goods, or person, by seizure or taking possession. -- To serve an office, to discharge a public duty. -- To serve a process (Law), in general, to read it, so as to give due notice to the party concerned, or to leave an attested copy with him or his attorney, or his usual place of abode. -- To serve a warrant, to read it, and seize the person against whom it is issued. -- To serve a writ (Law), to read it to the defendant, or to leave an attested copy at his usual place of abode. -- To serve one out, to retaliate upon; to requite. "I'll serve you out for this." C. Kingsley. -- To serve one right, to treat, or cause to befall one, according to his deserts; -- used commonly of ill deserts; as, it serves the scoundrel right. -- To serve one's self of, to avail one's self of; to make use of. [A Gallicism]

I will serve myself of this concession.

Chillingworth.

-- To serve out, to distribute; as, to serve out rations. -- To serve the time or the hour, to regulate one's actions by the requirements of the time instead of by one's duty; to be a timeserver. [Obs.]

They think herein we serve the time, because thereby we either hold or seek preferment.

Hooker.

Syn. -- To obey; minister to; subserve; promote; aid; help; assist; benefit; succor.

Serve (?), v. i. 1. To be a servant or a slave; to be employed in labor or other business for another; to be in subjection or bondage; to render menial service.

The Lord shall give thee rest . . . from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve.

Isa. xiv. 3.

2. To perform domestic offices; to be occupied with household affairs; to prepare and dish up food, etc.

But Martha . . . said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?

Luke x. 40.

3. To be in service; to do duty; to discharge the requirements of an office or employment. Specifically, to act in the public service, as a soldier, seaman. etc.

Many . . . who had before been great commanders, but now served as private gentlemen without pay.

Knolles.

4. To be of use; to answer a purpose; to suffice; to suit; to be convenient or favorable.

This little brand will serve to light your fire.

Dryden.

As occasion serves, this noble queen And prince shall follow with a fresh supply.

Shak.

5. (Tennis) To lead off in delivering the ball.

Serv"er (?), n. 1. One who serves.

2. A tray for dishes; a salver. Randolph.

Ser"vi*an (?), a. Of or pertaining to Servia, a kingdom of Southern Europe. -- n. A native or inhabitant of Servia.

{ Serv"ice (?), n., or Serv"ice (?) }. [Properly, the tree which bears serve, OE. serves, pl., service berries, AS. syrfe service tree; akin to L. sorbus.] (Bot.) A name given to several trees and shrubs of the genus Pyrus, as Pyrus domestica and P. torminalis of Europe, the various species of mountain ash or rowan tree, and the American shad bush (see Shad bush, under Shad). They have clusters of small, edible, applelike berries.

Service berry (Bot.), the fruit of any kind of service tree. In British America the name is especially applied to that of the several species or varieties of the shad bush (Amelanchier.)

Serv"ice, n. [OE. servise, OF. servise, service, F. service, from L. servitium. See Serve.] 1. The act of serving; the occupation of a servant; the performance of labor for the benefit of another, or at another's command; attendance of an inferior, hired helper, slave, etc., on a superior, employer, master, or the like; also, spiritual obedience and love. "O God . . . whose service is perfect freedom." Bk. of Com. Prayer.

Madam, I entreat true peace of you, Which I will purchase with my duteous service.

Shak.

God requires no man's service upon hard and unreasonable terms.

Tillotson.

2. The deed of one who serves; labor performed for another; duty done or required; office.

I have served him from the hour of my nativity, . . . and have nothing at his hands for my service but blows.

Shak.

This poem was the last piece of service I did for my master, King Charles.

Dryden.

To go on the forlorn hope is a service of peril; who will understake it if it be not also a service of honor?

Macaulay.

3. Office of devotion; official religious duty performed; religious rites appropriate to any event or ceremonial; as, a burial service.

The outward service of ancient religion, the rites, ceremonies, and ceremonial vestments of the old law.

Coleridge.

4. Hence, a musical composition for use in churches.

5. Duty performed in, or appropriate to, any office or charge; official function; hence, specifically, military or naval duty; performance of the duties of a soldier.

When he cometh to experience of service abroad . . . ne maketh a worthy soldier.

Spenser.

6. Useful office; advantage conferred; that which promotes interest or happiness; benefit; avail.

The stork's plea, when taken in a net, was the service she did in picking up venomous creatures.

L'Estrange.

7. Profession of respect; acknowledgment of duty owed. "Pray, do my service to his majesty." Shak.

8. The act and manner of bringing food to the persons who eat it; order of dishes at table; also, a set or number of vessels ordinarily used at table; as, the service was tardy and awkward; a service of plate or glass.

There was no extraordinary service seen on the board.

Hakewill.

9. (Law) The act of bringing to notice, either actually or constructively, in such manner as is prescribed by law; as, the service of a subpœna or an attachment.

10. (Naut.) The materials used for serving a rope, etc., as spun yarn, small lines, etc.

11. (Tennis) The act of serving the ball.