Chapter 42

Sheet is often used adjectively, or in combination, to denote that the substance to the name of which it is prefixed is in the form of sheets, or thin plates or leaves; as, sheet brass, or sheet-brass; sheet glass, or sheet-glass; sheet gold, or sheet-gold; sheet iron, or sheet- iron, etc.

A sheet in the wind, half drunk. [Sailors' Slang] -- Both sheets in the wind, very drunk. [Sailors' Slang] -- In sheets, lying flat or expanded; not folded, or folded but not bound; -- said especially of printed sheets. -- Sheet bend (Naut.), a bend or hitch used for temporarily fastening a rope to the bight of another rope or to an eye. -- Sheet lightning, Sheet piling, etc. See under Lightning, Piling, etc.

Sheet, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sheeted; p. pr. & vb. n. Sheeting.] 1. To furnish with a sheet or sheets; to wrap in, or cover with, a sheet, or as with a sheet. "The sheeted dead." "When snow the pasture sheets." Shak.

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2. To expand, as a sheet.

The star shot flew from the welkin blue, As it fell from the sheeted sky.

J. R. Drake.

To sheet home (Naut.), to haul upon a sheet until the sail is as flat, and the clew as near the wind, as possible.

Sheet" an"chor (?). [OE. scheten to shoot, AS. sceótan; cf. OE. shoot anchor. See Shoot, v. t.] 1. (Naut.) A large anchor stowed on shores outside the waist of a vessel; -- called also waist anchor. See the Note under Anchor.

2. Anything regarded as a sure support or dependence in danger; the best hope or refuge.

Sheet" ca"ble (?). (Naut.) The cable belonging to the sheet anchor.

Sheet" chain" (?). (Naut.) A chain sheet cable.

Sheet"ful (?), n.; pl. Sheetfuls (&?;). Enough to fill a sheet; as much as a sheet can hold.

Sheet"ing, n. 1. Cotton or linen cloth suitable for bed sheets. It is sometimes made of double width.

2. (Hydraul. Engin.) A lining of planks or boards (rarely of metal) for protecting an embankment.

3. The act or process of forming into sheets, or flat pieces; also, material made into sheets.

||Sheik (?), n. [Ar. sheikh, shaykh, a venerable old man, a chief, fr. ||shkha to grow or be old.] The head of an Arab family, or of a clan or ||a tribe; also, the chief magistrate of an Arab village. The name is ||also applied to Mohammedan ecclesiastics of a high grade. [Written ||also scheik, shaik, sheikh.]

{ Sheil (shl), Sheil"ing, } n. See Sheeling.

Shek"el (?), n. [Heb. shegel, fr. shgal to weigh.] 1. An ancient weight and coin used by the Jews and by other nations of the same stock.

A common estimate makes the shekel equal in weight to about 130 grains for gold, 224 grains for silver, and 450 grains for copper, and the approximate values of the coins are (gold) $5.00, (silver) 60 cents, and (copper half shekel), one and one half cents.

2. pl. A jocose term for money.

She*ki"nah (?), n. [Heb Talmud sheknh, fr. shkan to inhabit.] The visible majesty of the Divine Presence, especially when resting or dwelling between the cherubim on the mercy seat, in the Tabernacle, or in the Temple of Solomon; -- a term used in the Targums and by the later Jews, and adopted by Christians. [Written also Shechinah.] Dr. W. Smith (Bib. Dict.)

Sheld (?), a. [OE., fr. sheld a shield, probably in allusion to the ornamentation of shields. See Shield.] Variegated; spotted; speckled; piebald. [Prov. Eng.]

{ Sheld"a*fle (?), Sheld"a*ple (?), } n. [Perhaps for sheld dapple. Cf. Sheldrake.] (Zoöl.) A chaffinch. [Written also sheldapple, and shellapple.]

Sheld"fowl` (?), n. (Zoöl.) The common sheldrake. [Prov. Eng.]

Shel"drake` (?), n. [Sheld + drake.] 1. (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of large Old World ducks of the genus Tadorna and allied genera, especially the European and Asiatic species. (T. cornuta, or tadorna), which somewhat resembles a goose in form and habit, but breeds in burrows.

It has the head and neck greenish black, the breast, sides, and forward part of the back brown, the shoulders and middle of belly black, the speculum green, and the bill and frontal bright red. Called also shelduck, shellduck, sheldfowl, skeelduck, bergander, burrow duck, and links goose.

The Australian sheldrake (Tadorna radja) has the head, neck, breast, flanks, and wing coverts white, the upper part of the back and a band on the breast deep chestnut, and the back and tail black. The chestnut sheldrake of Australia (Casarca tadornoides) is varied with black and chestnut, and has a dark green head and neck. The ruddy sheldrake, or Braminy duck (C. rutila), and the white-winged sheldrake (C. leucoptera), are related Asiatic species.

2. Any one of the American mergansers.

The name is also loosely applied to other ducks, as the canvasback, and the shoveler.

Shel"duck` (?), n. [Sheld variegated + duck.] (Zoöl.) The sheldrake. [Written also shellduck.]

Shelf (?), n.; pl. Shelves (#). [OE. shelfe, schelfe, AS. scylfe; akin to G. schelfe, Icel. skjlf. In senses 2 & 3, perhaps a different word (cf. Shelve, v. i.).] 1. (Arch.) A flat tablet or ledge of any material set horizontally at a distance from the floor, to hold objects of use or ornament.

2. A sand bank in the sea, or a rock, or ledge of rocks, rendering the water shallow, and dangerous to ships.

On the tawny sands and shelves.

Milton.

On the secret shelves with fury cast.

Dryden.

3. (Mining) A stratum lying in a very even manner; a flat, projecting layer of rock.

4. (Naut.) A piece of timber running the whole length of a vessel inside the timberheads. D. Kemp.

To lay on the shelf, to lay aside as unnecessary or useless; to dismiss; to discard.

Shelf"y (?), a. 1. Abounding in shelves; full of dangerous shallows. "A shelfy coast." Dryden.

2. Full of strata of rock. [Obs.]

The tillable fields are in some places . . . so shelfy that the corn hath much ado to fasten its root.

Carew.

Shell (?), n. [OE. shelle, schelle, AS. scell, scyll; akin to D. shel, Icel. skel, Goth. skalja a tile, and E. skill. Cf. Scale of fishes, Shale, Skill.] 1. A hard outside covering, as of a fruit or an animal. Specifically: (a) The covering, or outside part, of a nut; as, a hazelnut shell. (b) A pod. (c) The hard covering of an egg.

Think him as a serpent's egg, . . . And kill him in the shell.

Shak.

(d) (Zoöl.) The hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of mollusks, crustaceans, and some other invertebrates. In some mollusks, as the cuttlefishes, it is internal, or concealed by the mantle. Also, the hard covering of some vertebrates, as the armadillo, the tortoise, and the like. (e) (Zoöl.) Hence, by extension, any mollusks having such a covering.

2. (Mil.) A hollow projectile, of various shapes, adapted for a mortar or a cannon, and containing an explosive substance, ignited with a fuse or by percussion, by means of which the projectile is burst and its fragments scattered. See Bomb.

3. The case which holds the powder, or charge of powder and shot, used with breechloading small arms.

4. Any slight hollow structure; a framework, or exterior structure, regarded as not complete or filled in; as, the shell of a house.

5. A coarse kind of coffin; also, a thin interior coffin inclosed in a more substantial one. Knight.

6. An instrument of music, as a lyre, -- the first lyre having been made, it is said, by drawing strings over a tortoise shell.

When Jubal struck the chorded shell.

Dryden.

7. An engraved copper roller used in print works.

8. pl. The husks of cacao seeds, a decoction of which is often used as a substitute for chocolate, cocoa, etc.

9. (Naut.) The outer frame or case of a block within which the sheaves revolve.

10. A light boat the frame of which is covered with thin wood or with paper; as, a racing shell.

Message shell, a bombshell inside of which papers may be put, in order to convey messages. -- Shell bit, a tool shaped like a gouge, used with a brace in boring wood. See Bit, n., 3. -- Shell button. (a) A button made of shell. (b) A hollow button made of two pieces, as of metal, one for the front and the other for the back, -- often covered with cloth, silk, etc. -- Shell cameo, a cameo cut in shell instead of stone. -- Shell flower. (Bot.) Same as Turtlehead. -- Shell gland. (Zoöl.) (a) A glandular organ in which the rudimentary shell is formed in embryonic mollusks. (b) A glandular organ which secretes the eggshells of various worms, crustacea, mollusks, etc. -- Shell gun, a cannon suitable for throwing shells. -- Shell ibis (Zoöl.), the openbill of India. -- Shell jacket, an undress military jacket. -- Shell lime, lime made by burning the shells of shellfish. -- Shell marl (Min.), a kind of marl characterized by an abundance of shells, or fragments of shells. -- Shell meat, food consisting of shellfish, or testaceous mollusks. Fuller. -- Shell mound. See under Mound. -- Shell of a boiler, the exterior of a steam boiler, forming a case to contain the water and steam, often inclosing also flues and the furnace; the barrel of a cylindrical, or locomotive, boiler. -- Shell road, a road of which the surface or bed is made of shells, as oyster shells. -- Shell sand, minute fragments of shells constituting a considerable part of the seabeach in some places.

Shell, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shelled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Shelling.] 1. To strip or break off the shell of; to take out of the shell, pod, etc.; as, to shell nuts or pease; to shell oysters.

2. To separate the kernels of (an ear of Indian corn, wheat, oats, etc.) from the cob, ear, or husk.

3. To throw shells or bombs upon or into; to bombard; as, to shell a town.

To shell out, to distribute freely; to bring out or pay, as money. [Colloq.]

Shell, v. i. 1. To fall off, as a shell, crust, etc.

2. To cast the shell, or exterior covering; to fall out of the pod or husk; as, nuts shell in falling.

3. To be disengaged from the ear or husk; as, wheat or rye shells in reaping.

{ Shell"-lac`, Shel"lac` } (?), n. [Shell + lac a resinous substance; cf. D. shellak, G. schellack.] See the Note under 2d Lac.

Shell"ap`ple, n. (Zoöl.) See Sheldafle.

Shell"bark` (?), n. (Bot.) A species of hickory (Carya alba) whose outer bark is loose and peeling; a shagbark; also, its nut.

Shelled (?), a. (Zoöl.) Having a shell.

Shell"er (?), n. One who, or that which, shells; as, an oyster sheller; a corn sheller.

Shell"fish` (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any aquatic animal whose external covering consists of a shell, either testaceous, as in oysters, clams, and other mollusks, or crustaceous, as in lobsters and crabs.

Shell"ing, n. Groats; hulled oats. Simmonds.

Shell"-less, a. Having no shell. J. Burroughs.

Shell"proof` (?), a. Capable of resisting bombs or other shells; bombproof.

Shell"work` (?), n. Work composed of shells, or adorned with them. Cotgrave.

Shell"y (?), a. Abounding with shells; consisting of shells, or of a shell. "The shelly shore." Prior.

Shrinks backward in his shelly cave.

Shak.

Shel"ter (?), n. [Cf. OE. scheltrun, shiltroun, schelltrome, scheldtrome, a guard, squadron, AS. scildtruma a troop of men with shields; scild shield + truma a band of men. See Shield, n.] 1. That which covers or defends from injury or annoyance; a protection; a screen.

The sick and weak the healing plant shall aid, From storms a shelter, and from heat a shade.

Pope.

2. One who protects; a guardian; a defender.

Thou [God] hast been a shelter for me.

Ps. lxi. 3.

3. The state of being covered and protected; protection; security.

Who into shelter takes their tender bloom.

Young.

Shelter tent,a small tent made of pieces of cotton duck arranged to button together. In field service the soldiers carry the pieces.

Syn. -- Asylum; refuge; retreat; covert; sanctuary; protection; defense; security.

Shel"ter (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sheltered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sheltering.] 1. To be a shelter for; to provide with a shelter; to cover from injury or annoyance; to shield; to protect.

Those ruins sheltered once his sacred head.

Dryden.

You have no convents . . . in which such persons may be received and sheltered.

Southey.

2. To screen or cover from notice; to disguise.

In vain I strove to cheek my growing flame, Or shelter passion under friendship's name.

Prior.

3. To betake to cover, or to a safe place; -- used reflexively.

They sheltered themselves under a rock.

Abp. Abbot.

Shel"ter, v. i. To take shelter.

There oft the Indian herdsman, shunning heat, Shelters in cool.

Milton.

Shel"ter*less, a. Destitute of shelter or protection.

Now sad and shelterless perhaps she lies.

Rowe.

Shel"ter*y (?), a. Affording shelter. [R.]

{ Shel"tie (?), Shel"ty (?) }, n. A Shetland pony.

Shelve (?), v. t. 1. To furnish with shelves; as, to shelve a closet or a library.

2. To place on a shelf. Hence: To lay on the shelf; to put aside; to dismiss from service; to put off indefinitely; as, to shelve an officer; to shelve a claim.

Shelve, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Shelved (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Shelving.] [Perhapss originally from the same source as shallow, but influenced by shelf a ledge, a platform.] To incline gradually; to be slopping; as, the bottom shelves from the shore.

Shelv"ing, a. Sloping gradually; inclining; as, a shelving shore. Shak. "Shelving arches." Addison.

Shelv"ing, n. 1. The act of fitting up shelves; as, the job of shelving a closet.

2. The act of laying on a shelf, or on the shelf; putting off or aside; as, the shelving of a claim.

3. Material for shelves; shelves, collectively.

Shelv"y (?), a. Sloping gradually; shelving.

The shore was shelving and shallow.

Shak.

Shem"ite (?), n. A descendant of Shem.

{ Shem*it"ic (?), Shem"i*tish (?), } a. Of or pertaining to Shem, the son of Noah, or his descendants. See Semitic.

Shem"i*tism (?), n. See Semitism.

Shend (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shent (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Shending.] [AS. scendan to disgrace, bring to shame, from sceand, sceond, disgrace, dishonor, shame; akin to G. schande, Goth. skanda. See Shame, n.] 1. To injure, mar, spoil, or harm. [Obs.] "Loss of time shendeth us." Chaucer.

I fear my body will be shent.

Dryden.

2. To blame, reproach, or revile; to degrade, disgrace, or put to shame. [Archaic] R. Browning.

The famous name of knighthood foully shend.

Spenser.

She passed the rest as Cynthia doth shend The lesser stars.

Spenser.

Shend"ful (?), a. Destructive; ruinous; disgraceful. [Obs.] -- Shend"ful*ly, adv. [Obs.] Fabyan.

Shend"ship, n. Harm; ruin; also, reproach; disgrace. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Shent (?), obs. 3d pers. sing. pres. of Shend, for shendeth. Chaucer.

Shent, v. t. To shend. [Obs.] Chaucer.

She"ol (sh"l), n. [Heb. shl.] The place of departed spirits; Hades; also, the grave.

For thou wilt not leave my soul to sheol.

Ps. xvi. 10. (Rev. Ver.)

Shep"en (?), n. A stable; a shippen. [Obs.]

The shepne brenning with the blacke smoke.

Chaucer.

Shep"herd (?), n. [OE. schepherde, schephirde, AS. sceáphyrde; sceáp sheep + hyrde, hirde, heorde, a herd, a guardian. See Sheep, and Herd.] 1. A man employed in tending, feeding, and guarding sheep, esp. a flock grazing at large.

2. The pastor of a church; one with the religious guidance of others.

Shepherd bird (Zoöl.), the crested screamer. See Screamer. -- Shepherd dog (Zoöl.), a breed of dogs used largely for the herding and care of sheep. There are several kinds, as the collie, or Scotch shepherd dog, and the English shepherd dog. Called also shepherd's dog. -- Shepherd dog, a name of Pan. Keats. -- Shepherd kings, the chiefs of a nomadic people who invaded Egypt from the East in the traditional period, and conquered it, at least in part. They were expelled after about five hundred years, and attempts have been made to connect their expulsion with narrative in the book of Exodus. -- Shepherd's club (Bot.), the common mullein. See Mullein. -- Shepherd's crook, a long staff having the end curved so as to form a large hook, -- used by shepherds. -- Shepherd's needle (Bot.), the lady's comb. -- Shepherd's plaid, a kind of woolen cloth of a checkered black and white pattern. -- Shephered spider (Zoöl.), a daddy longlegs, or harvestman. -- Shepherd's pouch, or Shepherd's purse (Bot.), an annual cruciferous plant (Capsella Bursapastoris) bearing small white flowers and pouchlike pods. See Illust. of Silicle. -- Shepherd's rod, or Shepherd's staff (Bot.), the small teasel.

Shep"herd, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shepherded; p. pr. & vb. n. Shepherding.] To tend as a shepherd; to guard, herd, lead, or drive, as a shepherd. [Poetic]

White, fleecy clouds . . .

Shepherded by the slow, unwilling wind.

Shelley.

Shep"herd*ess, n. A woman who tends sheep; hence, a rural lass.

She put herself into the garb of a shepherdess.

Sir P. Sidney.

Shep*her"di*a (?), n.; pl. Shepherdias (#). [NL. So called from John Shepherd, an English botanist.] (Bot.) A genus of shrubs having silvery scurfy leaves, and belonging to the same family as Elæagnus; also, any plant of this genus. See Buffalo berry, under Buffalo.

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Shep"herd*ish (?), n. Resembling a shepherd; suiting a shepherd; pastoral. Sir T. Sidney.

Shep"herd*ism (?), n. Pastoral life or occupation.

Shep"herd*ling (?), n. A little shepherd.

Shep"herd*ly (?), a. Resembling, or becoming to, a shepherd; pastoral; rustic. [R.] Jer. Taylor.

Shep"ster (?), n. A seamstress. [Obs.] Caxton.

Sher"bet (?), n. [Ar. sherbet, shorbet, sharbat, properly, one drink or sip, a draught, beverage, from shariba to drink. Cf. Sorbet, Sirup, Shrub a drink.] 1. A refreshing drink, common in the East, made of the juice of some fruit, diluted, sweetened, and flavored in various ways; as, orange sherbet; lemon sherbet; raspberry sherbet, etc.

2. A flavored water ice.

3. A preparation of bicarbonate of soda, tartaric acid, sugar, etc., variously flavored, for making an effervescing drink; -- called also sherbet powder.

Sherd (?), n. A fragment; -- now used only in composition, as in potsherd. See Shard.

The thigh . . . which all in sherds it drove.

Chapman.

{ ||Sher"eef (?), ||Sher"if (?), } n. [Ar. sherf noble, holy, n., a prince.] A member of an Arab princely family descended from Mohammed through his son-in-law Ali and daughter Fatima. The Grand Shereef is the governor of Mecca.

||Sher"i*at (?), n. [Turk. sher 'at] The sacred law of the Turkish ||empire.

Sher"iff, n. [OE. shereve, AS. scr-ger&?;fa; scr a shire + ger&?;fa a reeve. See Shire, and Reeve, and cf. Shrievalty.] The chief officer of a shire or county, to whom is intrusted the execution of the laws, the serving of judicial writs and processes, and the preservation of the peace.

In England, sheriffs are appointed by the king. In the United States, sheriffs are elected by the legislature or by the citizens, or appointed and commissioned by the executive of the State. The office of sheriff in England is judicial and ministerial. In the United States, it is mainly ministerial. The sheriff, by himself or his deputies, executes civil and criminal process throughout the county, has charge of the jail and prisoners, attends courts, and keeps the peace. His judicial authority is generally confined to ascertaining damages on writs of inquiry and the like. Sheriff, in Scotland, called sheriff depute, is properly a judge, having also certain ministerial powers. Sheriff clerk is the clerk of the Sheriff's Court in Scotland. Sheriff's Court in London is a tribunal having cognizance of certain personal actions in that city. Wharton, Tomlins. Erskine.

{ Sher"iff*al*ty (?), Sher"iff*dom (?), Sher"iff*ry (?), Sher"iff*ship (?), Sher"iff*wick (?), n. } The office or jurisdiction of sheriff. See Shrievalty.

Shern (?), n. See Shearn. [Obs.]

Sher"ris (?), n. Sherry. [Obs.] Shak.

Sher"ry (?), n. [So called from Xeres, a Spanish town near Cadiz, x in Spanish having been formerly pronounced like sh in English.] A Spanish light-colored dry wine, made in Andalusia. As prepared for commerce it is colored a straw color or a deep amber by mixing with it cheap wine boiled down.

Sherry cobbler, a beverage prepared with sherry wine, water, lemon or orange, sugar, ice, etc., and usually imbided through a straw or a glass tube.

Sher"ry*val`lies (?), n. pl. [Cf. Sp. zaraquelles wide breeches or overalls.] Trousers or overalls of thick cloth or leather, buttoned on the outside of each leg, and generally worn to protect other trousers when riding on horseback. [Local, U.S.] Bartlett.

Shet (?), v. t. & i. [imp. Shet. (Obs. Shette (&?; or &?;)); p. pr. Shet; p. pr. & vb. n. Shetting.] To shut. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Chaucer.

Shete (?), v. t. & i. To shoot. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Sheth (?), n. The part of a plow which projects downward beneath the beam, for holding the share and other working parts; -- also called standard, or post.

Shet"land po"ny (?). One of a small, hardy breed of horses, with long mane and tail, which originated in the Shetland Islands; a sheltie.

Shew (?), v. t. & i. See Show.

Shew, n. Show. [Obs. except in shewbread.]

Shew"bread` (?). See Showbread.

Shew"el (?), n. A scarecrow. [Obs.] Trench.

Shew"er (?), n. One who shews. See Shower.

Shewn (?), p. p. of Shew.

Shi"ah (?), n. Same as Shiite.

Shib"bo*leth (?), n. [Heb. shibbleth an ear of corn, or a stream, a flood.] 1. A word which was made the criterion by which to distinguish the Ephraimites from the Gileadites. The Ephraimites, not being able to pronounce sh, called the word sibboleth. See Judges xii.

Without reprieve, adjudged to death, For want of well pronouncing shibboleth.

Milton.

Also in an extended sense.

The th, with its twofold value, is . . . the shibboleth of foreigners.

Earle.

2. Hence, the criterion, test, or watchword of a party; a party cry or pet phrase.

Shide (?), n. [OE. shide, schide, AS. scde; akin to OHG. sct, G. scheit, Icel. skð, and E. shed, v.t.] A thin board; a billet of wood; a splinter. [Prov. Eng.]

Shie (?), v. t. See Shy, to throw.

Shied (?), imp. & p. p. of Shy.

Shiel, n. A sheeling. [Scot.] Burns.

Shield (?), n. [OE. sheld, scheld, AS. scield, scild, sceld, scyld; akin to OS. scild, OFries. skeld, D. & G. schild, OHG. scilt, Icel. skjöldr, Sw. sköld, Dan. skiold, Goth. skildus; of uncertain origin. Cf. Sheldrake.] 1. A broad piece of defensive armor, carried on the arm, -- formerly in general use in war, for the protection of the body. See Buckler.

Now put your shields before your hearts and fight, With hearts more proof than shields.

Shak.

2. Anything which protects or defends; defense; shelter; protection. "My council is my shield." Shak.

3. Figuratively, one who protects or defends.

Fear not, Abram; I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

Gen. xv. 1.

4. (Bot.) In lichens, a Hardened cup or disk surrounded by a rim and containing the fructification, or asci.

5. (Her.) The escutcheon or field on which are placed the bearings in coats of arms. Cf. Lozenge. See Illust. of Escutcheon.

6. (Mining & Tunneling) A framework used to protect workmen in making an adit under ground, and capable of being pushed along as excavation progresses.

7. A spot resembling, or having the form of, a shield. "Bespotted as with shields of red and black." Spenser.

8. A coin, the old French crown, or écu, having on one side the figure of a shield. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Shield fern (Bot.), any fern of the genus Aspidium, in which the fructifications are covered with shield-shaped indusia; -- called also wood fern. See Illust. of Indusium.

Shield (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shielded; p. pr. & vb. n. Shielding.] [AS. scidan, scyldan. See Shield, n.] 1. To cover with, or as with, a shield; to cover from danger; to defend; to protect from assault or injury.

Shouts of applause ran ringing through the field, To see the son the vanquished father shield.

Dryden.

A woman's shape doth shield thee.

Shak.

2. To ward off; to keep off or out.

They brought with them their usual weeds, fit to shield the cold to which they had been inured.

Spenser.

3. To avert, as a misfortune; hence, as a supplicatory exclamation, forbid! [Obs.]

God shield that it should so befall.