Sewen - Shackle

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Sewen (?), n. (Zoöl.) A British trout usually regarded as a variety (var. Cambricus) of the salmon trout.
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Sewer (?), n. 1. One who sews, or stitches.
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2. (Zoöl.) A small tortricid moth whose larva sews together the edges of a leaf by means of silk; as, the apple-leaf sewer (Phoxopteris nubeculana)
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Sewer (?), n. [OF. sewiere, seuwiere, ultimately fr. L. ex out + a derivative of aqua water; cf. OF. essevour a drain, essever, esseuwer, essiaver, to cause to flow, to drain, to flow, LL. exaquatorium a channel through which water runs off. Cf. , .] A drain or passage to carry off water and filth under ground; a subterraneous channel, particularly in cities.
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Sewer, n. [Cf. OE. assewer, and asseour, OF. asseour, F. asseoir to seat, to set, L. assidere to sit by; ad + sedere to sit (cf. ); or cf. OE. sew pottage, sauce, boiled meat, AS. seáw juice, Skr. su to press out.] Formerly, an upper servant, or household officer, who set on and removed the dishes at a feast, and who also brought water for the hands of the guests.
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Then the sewer
Poured water from a great and golden ewer,
That from their hands to a silver caldron ran. Chapman.
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Sewerage (?), n. 1. The construction of a sewer or sewers.
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2. The system of sewers in a city, town, etc.; the general drainage of a city or town by means of sewers.
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3. The material collected in, and discharged by, sewers. [In this sense sewage is preferable and common.]
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Sewin (?), n. (Zoöl.) Same as .
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Sewing (?), n. 1. The act or occupation of one who sews.
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2. That which is sewed with the needle.
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Coloq. Sewing horse (Harness making), a clamp, operated by the foot, for holding pieces of leather while being sewed. -- Coloq. Sewing machine , a machine for sewing or stitching. -- Coloq. Sewing press , or Coloq. Sewing table (Bookbinding), a fixture or table having a frame in which are held the cords to which the back edges of folded sheets are sewed to form a book.
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Sewster (?), n. A seamstress. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
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Sex- (?). [L. sex six. See .] A combining form meaning six; as, sexdigitism; sexennial.
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Sex, n. [L. sexus: cf. F. sexe.] 1. The distinguishing peculiarity of male or female in both animals and plants; the physical difference between male and female; the assemblage of properties or qualities by which male is distinguished from female.
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2. One of the two divisions of organic beings formed on the distinction of male and female.
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3. (Bot.) (a) The capability in plants of fertilizing or of being fertilized; as, staminate and pistillate flowers are of opposite sexes. (b) One of the groups founded on this distinction.
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Coloq. The sex , the female sex; women, in general.
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Sexagenarian (?), n. [See .] A person who is sixty years old.
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Sexagenary (?), a. [L. sexagenarius, fr. sexageni sixty each, akin to sexaginta sixty, sex six: cf. sexagénaire. See .] Pertaining to, or designating, the number sixty; poceeding by sixties; sixty years old.
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Coloq. Sexagenary arithmetic . See under . -- Coloq. Sexagenary scale , or Coloq. Sexagesimal scale (Math.), a scale of numbers in which the modulus is sixty. It is used in treating the divisions of the circle.
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Sexagenary, n. 1. Something composed of sixty parts or divisions.
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2. A sexagenarian. Sir W. Scott.
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Sexagesima (?), n. [L., fem. of sexagesimus sixtieth, fr. sexaginta sixty.] (Eccl.) The second Sunday before Lent; -- so called as being about the sixtieth day before Easter.
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Sexagesimal (?), a. [Cf. F. sexagésimal.] Pertaining to, or founded on, the number sixty.
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Coloq. Sexagesimal fractions or Coloq. Sexagesimal numbers (Arith. & Alg.), those fractions whose denominators are some power of sixty; as, 1/60, 1/3600, 1/216000; -- called also astronomical fractions, because formerly there were no others used in astronomical calculations. -- Coloq. Sexagesimal arithmetic , or Coloq. Sexagenary arithmetic , the method of computing by the sexagenary scale, or by sixties. -- Coloq. Sexagesimal scale (Math.), the sexagenary scale.
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Sexagesimal, n. A sexagesimal fraction.
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Sexangle (?), n. [L. sexangulus sexangular; sex six + angulus angle: cf. F. sexangle. Cf. .] (Geom.) A hexagon. [R.] Hutton.
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{ Sexangled (?), Sexangular (?) } a. [Cf. F. sexangulaire.] Having six angles; hexagonal. [R.] Dryden.
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Sexangularly, adv. Hexagonally. [R.]
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Sexavalent (?), a. See . [R.]
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Sexdigitism (?), n. [Sex- + digit.] The state of having six fingers on a hand, or six toes on a foot.
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Sexdigitist, n. One who has six fingers on a hand, or six toes on a foot.
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Sexed (?), a. Belonging to sex; having sex; distinctively male of female; as, the sexed condition.
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Sexenary (?), a. Proceeding by sixes; sextuple; -- applied especially to a system of arithmetical computation in which the base is six.
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Sexennial (?), a. [L. sexennium a period of six years, sexennis of six years; sex six + annus a year. See , and .] Lasting six years, or happening once in six years. -- n. A sexennial event.
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Sexennially, adv. Once in six years.
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{ Sexfid (?), Sexifid (?), } a. [Sex- + root of L. findere to split: cf. F. sexfide.] (Bot.) Six-cleft; as, a sexfid calyx or nectary.
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Sexisyllabic (?), a. [Sex- + syllabic.] Having six syllables. Emerson.
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Sexisyllable (?), n. [Sex- + syllable.] A word of six syllables.
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Sexivalent (?), a. [Sex- + L. valens, p. pr. See .] (hem.) Hexavalent. [R.]
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Sexless (?), a. Having no sex.
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Sexlocular (?), a. [Sex- + locular: cf. F. sexloculaire.] (Bot.) Having six cells for seeds; six-celled; as, a sexlocular pericarp.
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Sexly (?), a. Pertaining to sex. [R.]
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Should I ascribe any of these things unto myself or my sexly weakness, I were not worthy to live. Queen Elizabeth.
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Sexradiate (?), a. [Sex- + radiate.] (Zoöl.) Having six rays; -- said of certain sponge spicules. See Illust. of .
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Sext (?), n. [L. sexta, fem. of sextus sixtt, fr. sex six: cf. F. sexte.] (R.C.Ch.) (a) The office for the sixth canonical hour, being a part of the Breviary. (b) The sixth book of the decretals, added by Pope Boniface VIII.
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Sextain, n. [L. sextus sixth, fr. sex six: cf. It. sestina.] (Pros.) A stanza of six lines; a sestine.
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Sextans (?), n. [L. See .] 1. (Rom. Antiq.) A Roman coin, the sixth part of an as.
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2. (Astron.) A constellation on the equator south of Leo; the Sextant.
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Sextant (?), n. [L. sextans, -antis, the sixth part of an as, fr. sextus sixth, sex six. See .] 1. (Math.) The sixth part of a circle.
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2. An instrument for measuring angular distances between objects, -- used esp. at sea, for ascertaining the latitude and longitude. It is constructed on the same optical principle as Hadley's quadrant, but usually of metal, with a nicer graduation, telescopic sight, and its arc the sixth, and sometimes the third, part of a circle. See .
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3. (Astron.) The constellation Sextans.
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Coloq. Box sextant , a small sextant inclosed in a cylindrical case to make it more portable.
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Sextary (?), n.; pl. Sextaries (#). [L. sextarius the sixth part of a measure, weight, etc., fr. sextus sixth, sex six.] (Rom. Antiq.) An ancient Roman liquid and dry measure, about equal to an English pint.
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Sextary (?), n. [For sextonry.] A sacristy. [Obs.]
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{ Sextet (?), Sextetto (?), } n. (Mus.) See .
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Sexteyn (?), n. A sacristan. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Sextic (?), a. [L. sextus sixth.] (Math.) Of the sixth degree or order. -- n. (Alg.) A quantic of the sixth degree.
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Sextile (?), a. [F. sextil, fr. L. sextus the sixth, from sex six. See .] (Astrol.) Measured by sixty degrees; fixed or indicated by a distance of sixty degrees. Glanvill.
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Sextile, n. [Cf. F. aspect sextil.] (Astrol.) The aspect or position of two planets when distant from each other sixty degrees, or two signs. This position is marked thus: ✶. Hutton.
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Sextillion (?), n. [Formed (in imitation of million) fr. L. sextus sixth, sex six: cf. F. sextilion.] According to the method of numeration (which is followed also in the United States), the number expressed by a unit with twenty-one ciphers annexed. According to the English method, a million raised to the sixth power, or the number expressed by a unit with thirty-six ciphers annexed. See .
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Sexto (?), n.; pl. Sextos (#). [L. sextus sixth.] A book consisting of sheets each of which is folded into six leaves.
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Sextodecimo (?), a. [L. sextus-decimus the sixteenth; sextus the sixth (fr. sex six) + decimus the tenth, from decem ten. See .] Having sixteen leaves to a sheet; of, or equal to, the size of one fold of a sheet of printing paper when folded so as to make sixteen leaves, or thirty-two pages; as, a sextodecimo volume.
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Sextodecimo, n.; pl. Sextodecimos (�). A book composed of sheets each of which is folded into sixteen leaves; hence, indicating, more or less definitely, a size of a book; -- usually written 16mo, or 16°.
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Sextolet (?), n. (Mus.) A double triplet; a group of six equal notes played in the time of four.
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Sexton (?), n. [OE. sextein, contr. fr. sacristan.] An under officer of a church, whose business is to take care of the church building and the vessels, vestments, etc., belonging to the church, to attend on the officiating clergyman, and to perform other duties pertaining to the church, such as to dig graves, ring the bell, etc.
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Coloq. Sexton beetle (Zoöl.), a burying beetle.
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Sextoness, n. A female sexton; a sexton's wife.
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Sextonry (?), n. Sextonship. [Obs.] Ld. Bernes.
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Sextonship, n. The office of a sexton. Swift.
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Sextry (?), n. See . [Obs.]
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Sextuple (?), a. [Formed (in imitation of quadruple) fr. L. sextus sixth: cf. F. sextuple.] 1. Six times as much; sixfold.
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2. (Mus.) Divisible by six; having six beats; as, sixtuple measure.
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Sexual (?), a. [L. sexualis, fr. sexus sex: cf. F. sexuel.] Of or pertaining to sex, or the sexes; distinguishing sex; peculiar to the distinction and office of male or female; relating to the distinctive genital organs of the sexes; proceeding from, or based upon, sex; as, sexual characteristics; sexual intercourse, connection, or commerce; sexual desire; sexual diseases; sexual generation.
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Coloq. Sexual dimorphism (Biol.), the condition of having one of the sexes existing in two forms, or varieties, differing in color, size, etc., as in many species of butterflies which have two kinds of females. -- Coloq. Sexual method (Bot.), a method of classification proposed by Linnæus, founded mainly on difference in number and position of the stamens and pistils of plants. -- Coloq. Sexual selection (Biol.), the selective preference of one sex for certain characteristics in the other, such as bright colors, musical notes, etc.; also, the selection which results from certain individuals of one sex having more opportunities of pairing with the other sex, on account of greater activity, strength, courage, etc.; applied likewise to that kind of evolution which results from such sexual preferences. Darwin.
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In these cases, therefore, natural selection seems to have acted independently of sexual selection. A. R. Wallace.
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Sexualist, n. (Bot.) One who classifies plants by the sexual method of Linnæus.
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Sexuality (?), n. The quality or state of being distinguished by sex. Lindley.
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Sexualize (?), v. t. To attribute sex to.
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Sexually, adv. In a sexual manner or relation.
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{ Sey (?), Seyh (?), } obs. imp. sing. & 2d pers. pl. of . Chaucer.
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{ Seye (?), Seyen (?), } obs. imp. pl. & p. p. of .
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Seynd (?), obs. p. p. of , to singe. Chaucer.
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Seynt (?), n. A gridle. See 1st . [Obs.]
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{ Sforzando (?), Sforzato (?), } a. [It. sforzando, p. pr., and sforzato, p. p. of sforzare to force.] (Mus.) Forcing or forced; -- a direction placed over a note, to signify that it must be executed with peculiar emphasis and force; -- marked fz (an abbreviation of forzando), sf, sfz, or �.
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Sfumato (?), a. [It.] (Paint.) Having vague outlines, and colors and shades so mingled as to give a misty appearance; -- said of a painting.
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Sgraffito (?), a. [It.] (Paint.) Scratched; -- said of decorative painting of a certain style, in which a white overland surface is cut or scratched through, so as to form the design from a dark ground underneath.
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Shab (?), n. [OE. shabbe, AS. sc�b. See .] The itch in animals; also, a scab. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
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Shab, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shabbed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Shabbing.] [See , 3.] To play mean tricks; to act shabbily. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
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Shab, v. t. To scratch; to rub. [Obs.] Farquhar.
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Shabbed (?), a. Shabby. [Obs.] Wood.
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Shabbily (?), adv. In a shabby manner.
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Shabbiness, n. The quality or state of being sghabby.
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{ Shabble (?), Shabble }, n.[Cf. D. sabel, and G. säbel.] A kind of crooked sword or hanger. [Scot.]
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Shabby (?), a. [Compar. Shabbier (?); superl. Shabbiest.] [See , n., , and .] 1. Torn or worn to rage; poor; mean; ragged.
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Wearing shabby coats and dirty shirts. Macaulay.
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2. Clothed with ragged, much worn, or soiled garments. “The dean was so shabby.” Swift.
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3. Mean; paltry; despicable; as, shabby treatment. “Very shabby fellows.” Clarendon.
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Shabrack (?), n. [Turk. tshāprāk, whence F. chabraque, G. shabracke.] (Mil.) The saddlecloth or housing of a cavalry horse.
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Shack (?), v. t. [Prov. E., to shake, to shed. See .] 1. To shed or fall, as corn or grain at harvest. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.
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2. To feed in stubble, or upon waste corn. [Prov. Eng.]
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3. To wander as a vagabond or a tramp. [Prev.Eng.]
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Shack, n. [Cf. , v. i.] a small simple dwelling, usually having only one room and of flimsy construction; a hut; a shanty; a cabin. [Colloq.]

Shack, n. [Cf. Scot. shag refuse of barley or oats.] 1. The grain left after harvest or gleaning; also, nuts which have fallen to the ground. [Prov. Eng.]
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2. Liberty of winter pasturage. [Prov. Eng.]
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3. A shiftless fellow; a low, itinerant beggar; a vagabond; a tramp. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U.S.] Forby.
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All the poor old shacks about the town found a friend in Deacon Marble. H. W. Beecher.
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These miserable shacks are so low that their occupants cannot stand erect. D. C. Worcester.
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Coloq. Common of shack (Eng.Law), the right of persons occupying lands lying together in the same common field to turn out their cattle to range in it after harvest. Cowell.
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Shackatory (?), n. A hound. [Obs.]
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Shackle (?), n. Stubble. [Prov. Eng.] Pegge.
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Shackle, n. [Generally used in the plural.] [OE. schakkyll, schakle, AS. scacul, sceacul, a shackle, fr. scacan to shake; cf. D. schakel a link of a chain, a mesh, Icel. skökull the pole of a cart. See .] 1. Something which confines the legs or arms so as to prevent their free motion; specifically, a ring or band inclosing the ankle or wrist, and fastened to a similar shackle on the other leg or arm, or to something else, by a chain or a strap; a gyve; a fetter.
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His shackles empty left; himself escaped clean. Spenser.
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2. Hence, that which checks or prevents free action.
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His very will seems to be in bonds and shackles. South.
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3. A fetterlike band worn as an ornament.
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Most of the men and women . . . had all earrings made of gold, and gold shackles about their legs and arms. Dampier.
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4. A link or loop, as in a chain, fitted with a movable bolt, so that the parts can be separated, or the loop removed; a clevis.
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5. A link for connecting railroad cars; -- called also drawlink, draglink, etc.
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6. The hinged and curved bar of a padlock, by which it is hung to the staple. Knight.
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Coloq. Shackle joint (Anat.), a joint formed by a bony ring passing through a hole in a bone, as at the bases of spines in some fishes.
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