Chapter 66

Snow bunting. (Zoöl.) See Snowbird, 1. -- Snow cock (Zoöl.), the snow pheasant. -- Snow flea (Zoöl.), a small black leaping poduran (Achorutes nivicola) often found in winter on the snow in vast numbers. -- Snow flood, a flood from melted snow. -- Snow flower (Bot.), the fringe tree. -- Snow fly, or Snow insect (Zoöl.), any one of several species of neuropterous insects of the genus Boreus. The male has rudimentary wings; the female is wingless. These insects sometimes appear creeping and leaping on the snow in great numbers. -- Snow gnat (Zoöl.), any wingless dipterous insect of the genus Chionea found running on snow in winter. -- Snow goose (Zoöl.), any one of several species of arctic geese of the genus Chen. The common snow goose (Chen hyperborea), common in the Western United States in winter, is white, with the tips of the wings black and legs and bill red. Called also white brant, wavey, and Texas goose. The blue, or blue-winged, snow goose (C. cœrulescens) is varied with grayish brown and bluish gray, with the wing quills black and the head and upper part of the neck white. Called also white head, white-headed goose, and bald brant. -- Snow leopard (Zool.), the ounce. -- Snow line, lowest limit of perpetual snow. In the Alps this is at an altitude of 9,000 feet, in the Andes, at the equator, 16,000 feet. -- Snow mouse (Zoöl.), a European vole (Arvicola nivalis) which inhabits the Alps and other high mountains. -- Snow pheasant (Zoöl.), any one of several species of large, handsome gallinaceous birds of the genus Tetraogallus, native of the lofty mountains of Asia. The Himalayn snow pheasant (T. Himalayensis) in the best-known species. Called also snow cock, and snow chukor. -- Snow partridge. (Zoöl.) See under Partridge. -- Snow pigeon (Zoöl.), a pigeon (Columba leuconota) native of the Himalaya mountains. Its back, neck, and rump are white, the top of the head and the ear coverts are black. -- Snow plant (Bot.), a fleshy parasitic herb (Sarcodes sanguinea) growing in the coniferous forests of California. It is all of a bright red color, and is fabled to grow from the snow, through which it sometimes shoots up.

Snow (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Snowed (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Snowing.] To fall in or as snow; -- chiefly used impersonally; as, it snows; it snowed yesterday.

Snow, v. t. To scatter like snow; to cover with, or as with, snow. Donne. Shak.

Snow"ball` (?), n. 1. A round mass of snow pressed or roller together, or anything resembling such a mass.

2. (Bot.) The Guelder-rose.

Snowball tree (Bot.), the Guelder- rose.

Snow"ball`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snowballed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Snowballing.] To pelt with snowballs; to throw snowballs at.

Snow"ball`, v. i. To throw snowballs.

Snow"ber`ry (?), n. (Bot.) A name of several shrubs with white berries; as, the Symphoricarpus racemosus of the Northern United States, and the Chiococca racemosa of Florida and tropical America.

Creeping snowberry. (Bot.) See under Creeping.

Snow"bird (?), n. (Zoöl.) (a) An arctic finch (Plectrophenax, or Plectrophanes, nivalis) common, in winter, both in Europe and the United States, and often appearing in large flocks during snowstorms. It is partially white, but variously marked with chestnut and brown. Called also snow bunting, snowflake, snowfleck, and snowflight. (b) Any finch of the genus Junco which appears in flocks in winter time, especially J. hyemalis in the Eastern United States; -- called also blue snowbird. See Junco. (c) The fieldfare. [Prov. Eng.]

Snow"-blind` (?), a. Affected with blindness by the brilliancy of snow. -- Snow"- blind`ness, n.

Snow"-bound` (?), a. Enveloped in, or confined by, snow. Whittier.

Snow"-broth` (?), n. Snow and water mixed, or snow just melted; very cold liquor. Shak.

Snow"cap` (?), n. (Zoöl.) A very small humming bird (Microchæra albocoronata) native of New Grenada.

The feathers of the top of the head are white and snining, the body blue black with a purple and bronzy luster. The name is applied also to Microchæra parvirostris of Central America, which is similar in color.

Snow"-capped` (?), a. Having the top capped or covered with snow; as, snow-capped mountains.

Snow"drift` (?), n. A bank of drifted snow.

Snow"drop` (?), n. (Bot.) A bulbous plant (Galanthus nivalis) bearing white flowers, which often appear while the snow is on the ground. It is cultivated in gardens for its beauty.

Snowdrop tree. See Silver-bell tree, under Silver, a.

Snow"flake` (?), n. 1. A flake, or small filmy mass, of snow.

2. (Zoöl.) See Snowbird, 1.

3. (Bot.) A name given to several bulbous plants of the genus Leucoium (L. vernum, æstivum, etc.) resembling the snowdrop, but having all the perianth leaves of equal size.

Snow"fleck` (?), n. (Zoöl.) See Snowbird, 1.

Snowl (?), n. (Zoöl.) The hooded merganser. [Local, U.S.]

Snow"less (?), a. Destitute of snow.

{ Snow"plow`, Snow"plough` } (?), n. An implement operating like a plow, but on a larger scale, for clearing away the snow from roads, railways, etc.

Snow"shed (?), n. A shelter to protect from snow, esp. a long roof over an exposed part of a railroad.

Snow"shoe` (?), n. A slight frame of wood three or four feet long and about one third as wide, with thongs or cords stretched across it, and having a support and holder for the foot; -- used by persons for walking on soft snow.

Snow"shoe`ing, n. Traveling on snowshoes.

Snow"sho`er (?), n. One who travels on snowshoes; an expert in using snowshoes. W. G. Beers.

Snow"slip` (?), n. A large mass or avalanche of snow which slips down the side of a mountain, etc.

Snow"storm` (?), n. A storm with falling snow.

Snow"-white` (?), a. White as snow; very white. "Snow-white and rose-red" Chaucer.

Snow"y (?), a. 1. White like snow. "So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows." Shak.

2. Abounding with snow; covered with snow. "The snowy top of cold Olympus." Milton.

3. Fig.: Pure; unblemished; unstained; spotless.

There did he lose his snowy innocence.

J. Hall (1646).

Snowy heron (Zoöl.), a white heron, or egret (Ardea candidissima), found in the Southern United States, and southward to Chili; -- called also plume bird. -- Snowy lemming (Zoöl.), the collared lemming (Cuniculus torquatus), which turns white in winter. -- Snowy owl (Zoöl.), a large arctic owl (Nyctea Scandiaca, or N. nivea) common all over the northern parts of the United States and Europe in winter time. Its plumage is sometimes nearly pure white, but it is usually more or less marked with blackish spots. Called also white owl. -- Snowy plover (Zoöl.), a small plover (Ægialitis nivosa) of the western parts of the United States and Mexico. It is light gray above, with the under parts and portions of the head white.

Snub (?), v. i. [Cf. D. snuiven to snort, to pant, G. schnauben, MHG. snben, Prov. G. schnupfen, to sob, and E. snuff, v.t.] To sob with convulsions. [Obs.] Bailey.

Snub, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snubbed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Snubbing.] [Cf. Icel. ssnubba to snub, chide, Sw. snubba, Icel. snubbttr snubbed, nipped, and E. snib.] 1. To clip or break off the end of; to check or stunt the growth of; to nop.

2. To check, stop, or rebuke, with a tart, sarcastic reply or remark; to reprimand; to check. J. Foster.

3. To treat with contempt or neglect, as a forward or pretentious person; to slight designedly.

To snub a cable or rope (Naut.), to check it suddenly in running out. Totten.

Snub, n. 1. A knot; a protuberance; a song. [Obs.]

[A club] with ragged snubs and knotty grain.

Spenser.

2. A check or rebuke; an intended slight. J. Foster.

Snub nose, a short or flat nose. -- Snub post, or Snubbing post (Naut.), a post on a dock or shore, around which a rope is thrown to check the motion of a vessel.

Snub"-nosed` (?), a. Having a short, flat nose, slightly turned up; as, the snub-nosed eel.

Snub-nosed cachalot (Zoöl.), the pygmy sperm whale.

Snudge (?), v. i. [Cf. Snug.] To lie snug or quiet. [Obs.] Herbert.

Snudge, n. A miser; a sneaking fellow. [Obs.]

Snuff (?), n. [Cf. G. schnuppe candle snuff, schnuppen to snuff a candle (see Snuff, v. t., to snuff a candle), or cf. Snub, v. t.] The part of a candle wick charred by the flame, whether burning or not.

If the burning snuff happens to get out of the snuffers, you have a chance that it may fall into a dish of soup.

Swift.

Snuff, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snuffed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Snuffing.] [OE. snuffen. See Snuff of a candle Snuff to sniff.] To crop the snuff of, as a candle; to take off the end of the snuff of.

To snuff out, to extinguish by snuffing.

<! p. 1364 !>

Snuff (?), v. t.[Akin to D. snuffen, G. schnupfen, schnuppen, to snuff, schnupfen a cold in the head, schnuppen to snuff (air), also, to snuff (a candle). Cf. Sniff, Snout, Snub, v. i.] 1. To draw in, or to inhale, forcibly through the nose; to sniff.

He snuffs the wind, his heels the sand excite.

Dryden.

2. To perceive by the nose; to scent; to smell.

Snuff, v. i. 1. To inhale air through the nose with violence or with noise, as do dogs and horses. Dryden.

2. To turn up the nose and inhale air, as an expression of contempt; hence, to take offense.

Do the enemies of the church rage and snuff?

Bp. Hall.

Snuff, n. 1. The act of snuffing; perception by snuffing; a sniff.

2. Pulverized tobacco, etc., prepared to be taken into the nose; also, the amount taken at once.

3. Resentment, displeasure, or contempt, expressed by a snuffing of the nose. [Obs.]

Snuff dipping. See Dipping, n., 5. -- Snuff taker, one who uses snuff by inhaling it through the nose. -- To take it in snuff, to be angry or offended. Shak. -- Up to snuff, not likely to be imposed upon; knowing; acute. [Slang]

Snuff"box` (?), n. A small box for carrying snuff about the person.

Snuff"er (?), n. 1. One who snuffs.

2. (Zoöl.) The common porpoise.

Snuff"ers (?), n. pl. An instrument for cropping and holding the snuff of a candle.

Snuff"ing*ly, adv. In a snuffing manner.

Snuf"fle (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Snuffled(?); p. pr. & vb. n. Snuffling (?).] [Freq. of snuff, v.i.; akin to LG. snuffeln, G. schnüffeln, D. snuffeln, Dan. snövle. Cf. Sniffle.] To speak through the nose; to breathe through the nose when it is obstructed, so as to make a broken sound.

One clad in purple Eats, and recites some lamentable rhyme . . . Snuffling at nose, and croaking in his throat.

Dryden.

Snuf"fle, n. 1. The act of snuffing; a sound made by the air passing through the nose when obstructed.

This dread sovereign, Breath, in its passage, gave a snort or snuffle.

Coleridge.

2. An affected nasal twang; hence, cant; hypocrisy.

3. pl. Obstruction of the nose by mucus; nasal catarrh of infants or children. [Colloq.]

Snuf"fler (?), n. One who snuffles; one who uses cant.

Snuff"y (?), a. 1. Soiled with snuff.

2. Sulky; angry; vexed. [Obs. or Scot.] Jamieson.

Snug (?), a. [Compar. Snugger (?); superl. Snuggest (?).] [Prov. E. snug tight, handsome; cf. Icel. snöggr smooth, ODan. snög neat, Sw. snugg.] 1. Close and warm; as, an infant lies snug.

2. Close; concealed; not exposed to notice.

Lie snug, and hear what critics say.

Swift.

3. Compact, convenient, and comfortable; as, a snug farm, house, or property.

Snug, n. (Mach.) Same as Lug, n., 3.

Snug, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Snugged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Snugging(?).] To lie close; to snuggle; to snudge; -- often with up, or together; as, a child snugs up to its mother.

Snug, v. t. 1. To place snugly. [R.] Goldsmith.

2. To rub, as twine or rope, so as to make it smooth and improve the finish.

Snug"ger*y (?), n.; pl. Snuggeries (&?;). A snug, cozy place. [Colloq.] Dickens.

Snug"gle (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snuggled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Snuggling (?).] [Freq. of snug.] To move one way and the other so as to get a close place; to lie close for comfort; to cuddle; to nestle.

Snug"ly, adv. In a snug manner; closely; safely.

Snug"ness, n. The quality or state of being snug.

Sny (?), n. [Cf. Icel. sna to turn.] An upward bend in a piece of timber; the sheer of a vessel.

Sny"ing, n. (Naut.) A curved plank, placed edgewise, to work in the bows of a vessel. R. H. Dana, Jr.

So (?), adv. [OE. so, sa, swa, AS. sw; akin to OFries, s, s&?;, D. zoo, OS. & OHG. s&?;, G. so, Icel. sv, sv&?;, svo, so, Sw. s&?;, Dan. saa, Goth. swa so, sw&?; as; cf. L. suus one's own, Skr. sva one's own, one's self. &radic;192. Cf. As, Custom, Ethic, Idiom, Such.] 1. In that manner or degree; as, indicated (in any way), or as implied, or as supposed to be known.

Why is his chariot so long in coming?

Judges v. 28.

2. In like manner or degree; in the same way; thus; for like reason; whith equal reason; -- used correlatively, following as, to denote comparison or resemblance; sometimes, also, following inasmuch as.

As a war should be undertaken upon a just motive, so a prince ought to consider the condition he is in.

Swift.

3. In such manner; to such degree; -- used correlatively with as or that following; as, he was so fortunate as to escape.

I viewed in may mind, so far as I was able, the beginning and progress of a rising world.

T. Burnet.

He is very much in Sir Roger's esteem, so that he lives in the family rather as a relation than dependent.

Addison.

4. Very; in a high degree; that is, in such a degree as can not well be expressed; as, he is so good; he planned so wisely.

5. In the same manner; as has been stated or suggested; in this or that condition or state; under these circumstances; in this way; -- with reflex reference to something just asserted or implied; used also with the verb to be, as a predicate.

Use him [your tutor] with great respect yourself, and cause all your family to do so too.

Locke.

It concerns every man, with the greatest seriousness, to inquire into those matters, whether they be so or not.

Tillotson.

He is Sir Robert's son, and so art thou.

Shak.

6. The case being such; therefore; on this account; for this reason; on these terms; -- used both as an adverb and a conjuction.

God makes him in his own image an intellectual creature, and so capable of dominion.

Locke.

Here, then, exchange we mutually forgiveness; So may the guilt of all my broken vows, My perjuries to thee, be all forgotten.

Rowe.

7. It is well; let it be as it is, or let it come to pass; -- used to express assent.

And when 't is writ, for my sake read it over, And if it please you, so; if not, why, so.

Shak.

There is Percy; if your father will do me any honor, so; if not, let him kill the next Percy himself.

Shak.

8. Well; the fact being as stated; -- used as an expletive; as, so the work is done, is it?

9. Is it thus? do you mean what you say? -- with an upward tone; as, do you say he refuses? So? [Colloq.]

10. About the number, time, or quantity specified; thereabouts; more or less; as, I will spend a week or so in the country; I have read only a page or so.

A week or so will probably reconcile us.

Gay.

See the Note under Ill, adv.

So . . . as. So is now commonly used as a demonstrative correlative of as when it is the puprpose to emphasize the equality or comparison suggested, esp. in negative assertions, and questions implying a negative answer. By Shakespeare and others so . . . as was much used where as . . . as is now common. See the Note under As, 1.

So do, as thou hast said.

Gen. xviii. 5.

As a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

Ps. ciii. 15.

Had woman been so strong as men.

Shak.

No country suffered so much as England.

Macaulay.

-- So far, to that point or extent; in that particular. "The song was moral, and so far was right." Cowper. -- So far forth, as far; to such a degree. Shak. Bacon. -- So forth, further in the same or similar manner; more of the same or a similar kind. See And so forth, under And. -- So, so, well, well. "So, so, it works; now, mistress, sit you fast." Dryden. Also, moderately or tolerably well; passably; as, he succeeded but so so. "His leg is but so so." Shak. -- So that, to the end that; in order that; with the effect or result that. -- So then, thus then it is; therefore; the consequence is.

So (?), conj. Provided that; on condition that; in case that; if.

Though all the winds of doctrine were let loose play upon the earth, so truth be in the field, we do injuriously, by licensing and prohibiting, to misdoubt her strength.

Milton.

So, interj. Be as you are; stand still; stop; that will do; right as you are; -- a word used esp. to cows; also used by sailors.

Soak (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Soaked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Soaking.] [OE. soken, AS. socian to sioak, steep, fr. s&?;can, s&?;gan, to suck. See Suck.] 1. To cause or suffer to lie in a fluid till the substance has imbibed what it can contain; to macerate in water or other liquid; to steep, as for the purpose of softening or freshening; as, to soak cloth; to soak bread; to soak salt meat, salt fish, or the like.

2. To drench; to wet thoroughly.

Their land shall be soaked with blood.

Isa. xxiv. 7.

3. To draw in by the pores, or through small passages; as, a sponge soaks up water; the skin soaks in moisture.

4. To make (its way) by entering pores or interstices; -- often with through.

The rivulet beneath soaked its way obscurely through wreaths of snow.

Sir W. Scott.

5. Fig.: To absorb; to drain. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.

Soak, v. i. 1. To lie steeping in water or other liquid; to become sturated; as, let the cloth lie and soak.

2. To enter (into something) by pores or interstices; as, water soaks into the earth or other porous matter.

3. To drink intemperately or gluttonously. [Slang]

Soak"age (?), n. The act of soaking, or the state of being soaked; also, the quantity that enters or issues by soaking.

Soak"er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, soaks.

2. A hard drinker. [Slang] South.

Soak"ing, a. Wetting thoroughly; drenching; as, a soaking rain. -- Soak"ing*ly, adv.

Soak"y (?), a. Full of moisture; wet; soppy.

Soal (?), n. 1. The sole of a shoe. [Obs. or R.]

2. (Zoöl.) See Sole, the fish. [Obs.]

Soal, n. [AS. sol mire. Cf. Sully.] A dirty pond. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Soam (?), n. A chain by which a leading horse draws a plow. Knight.

Soap (?), n. [OE. sope, AS. spe; akin to D. zeep, G. seife, OHG. seifa, Icel. spa, Sw. s&?;pa, Dan. s&?;be, and perhaps to AS. span to drip, MHG. sfen, and L. sebum tallow. Cf. Saponaceous.] A substance which dissolves in water, thus forming a lather, and is used as a cleansing agent. Soap is produced by combining fats or oils with alkalies or alkaline earths, usually by boiling, and consists of salts of sodium, potassium, etc., with the fatty acids (oleic, stearic, palmitic, etc.). See the Note below, and cf. Saponification. By extension, any compound of similar composition or properties, whether used as a cleaning agent or not.

In general, soaps are of two classes, hard and soft. Calcium, magnesium, lead, etc., form soaps, but they are insoluble and useless.

The purifying action of soap depends upon the fact that it is decomposed by a large quantity of water into free alkali and an insoluble acid salt. The first of these takes away the fatty dirt on washing, and the latter forms the soap lather which envelops the greasy matter and thus tends to remove it.

Roscoe & Schorlemmer.

Castile soap, a fine-grained hard soap, white or mottled, made of olive oil and soda; -- called also Marseilles, or Venetian, soap. -- Hard soap, any one of a great variety of soaps, of different ingredients and color, which are hard and compact. All solid soaps are of this class. -- Lead soap, an insoluble, white, pliable soap made by saponifying an oil (olive oil) with lead oxide; -- used externally in medicine. Called also lead plaster, diachylon, etc. -- Marine soap. See under Marine. -- Pills of soap (Med.), pills containing soap and opium. -- Potash soap, any soap made with potash, esp. the soft soaps, and a hard soap made from potash and castor oil. -- Pumice soap, any hard soap charged with a gritty powder, as silica, alumina, powdered pumice, etc., which assists mechanically in the removal of dirt. -- Resin soap, a yellow soap containing resin, -- used in bleaching. -- Silicated soap, a cheap soap containing water glass (sodium silicate). -- Soap bark. (Bot.) See Quillaia bark. -- Soap bubble, a hollow iridescent globe, formed by blowing a film of soap suds from a pipe; figuratively, something attractive, but extremely unsubstantial.

This soap bubble of the metaphysicians.

J. C. Shairp.

-- Soap cerate, a cerate formed of soap, olive oil, white wax, and the subacetate of lead, sometimes used as an application to allay inflammation. -- Soap fat, the refuse fat of kitchens, slaughter houses, etc., used in making soap. -- Soap liniment (Med.), a liniment containing soap, camphor, and alcohol. -- Soap nut, the hard kernel or seed of the fruit of the soapberry tree, -- used for making beads, buttons, etc. -- Soap plant (Bot.), one of several plants used in the place of soap, as the Chlorogalum pomeridianum, a California plant, the bulb of which, when stripped of its husk and rubbed on wet clothes, makes a thick lather, and smells not unlike new brown soap. It is called also soap apple, soap bulb, and soap weed. -- Soap tree. (Bot.) Same as Soapberry tree. -- Soda soap, a soap containing a sodium salt. The soda soaps are all hard soaps. -- Soft soap, a soap of a gray or brownish yellow color, and of a slimy, jellylike consistence, made from potash or the lye from wood ashes. It is strongly alkaline and often contains glycerin, and is used in scouring wood, in cleansing linen, in dyehouses, etc. Figuratively, flattery; wheedling; blarney. [Colloq.] -- Toilet soap, hard soap for the toilet, usually colored and perfumed.

Soap (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Soaped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Soaping.] 1. To rub or wash over with soap.

2. To flatter; to wheedle. [Slang]

Soap"ber`ry tree` (?). (Bot.) Any tree of the genus Sapindus, esp. Sapindus saponaria, the fleshy part of whose fruit is used instead of soap in washing linen; -- also called soap tree.

Soap"fish` (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any serranoid fish of the genus Rhypticus; -- so called from the soapy feeling of its skin.

Soap"i*ness (?), n. Quality or state of being soapy.

Soap"root` (?), n. (Bot.) A perennial herb (Gypsophila Struthium) the root of which is used in Spain as a substitute for soap.

Soap"stone` (?), n. See Steatite, and Talc.

Soap"suds` (?), n. pl. Suds made with soap.

Soap"wort` (?), n. (Bot.) A common plant (Saponaria officinalis) of the Pink family; -- so called because its bruised leaves, when agitated in water, produce a lather like that from soap. Called also Bouncing Bet.

Soap"y (?), a. [Compar. Soapier (?); superl. Soapiest.] 1. Resembling soap; having the qualities of, or feeling like, soap; soft and smooth.

2. Smeared with soap; covered with soap.

Soar (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Soared (#); p. pr. & vb. n. Soaring.] [F. s'essorer to soar, essorer to dry (by exposing to the air), fr. L. ex out + aura the air, a breeze; akin to Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?;&?;.] 1. To fly aloft, as a bird; to mount upward on wings, or as on wings. Chaucer.

When soars Gaul's vulture with his wings unfurled.

Byron.

2. Fig.: To rise in thought, spirits, or imagination; to be exalted in mood.

Where the deep transported mind may soar.

Milton.

Valor soars above What the world calls misfortune.

Addison.

Soar, n. The act of soaring; upward flight.

This apparent soar of the hooded falcon.

Coleridge.

Soar, a. See 3d Sore. [Obs.]

Soar, a. See Sore, reddish brown.

Soar falcon. (Zoöl.) See Sore falcon, under Sore.

Soar"ing, a. & n. from Soar. -- Soar"ing*ly, adv.

||So*a"ve (?), a. [It.] (Mus.) Sweet.

||So*a`ve*men"te (?), adv. [It.] (Mus.) Sweetly.

Sob (?), v. t. [See Sop.] To soak. [Obs.] Mortimer.