Slander - Slaverer
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2. Disgrace; reproach; dishonor; opprobrium.
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Thou slander of thy mother's heavy womb.
Shak.
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3. (Law) Formerly, defamation generally, whether oral or written; in modern usage, defamation by words spoken; utterance of false, malicious, and defamatory words, tending to the damage and derogation of another; calumny. See the Note under . Burril.
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Slander (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slandered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Slandering.] 1. To defame; to injure by maliciously uttering a false report; to tarnish or impair the reputation of by false tales maliciously told or propagated; to calumniate.
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O, do not slander him, for he is kind.
Shak.
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2. To bring discredit or shame upon by one's acts.
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Tax not so bad a voice
To slander music any more than once.
Shak.
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Syn. -- To asperse; defame; calumniate; vilify; malign; belie; scandalize; reproach. See .
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Slanderer (?), n. One who slanders; a defamer; a calumniator. Jer. Taylor.
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Slanderous (?), a. 1. Given or disposed to slander; uttering slander. “Slanderous tongue.” Shak.
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2. Embodying or containing slander; calumnious; as, slanderous words, speeches, or reports.
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-- Slanderously, adv. -- Slanderousness, n.
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Slang (?), imp. of . Slung. [Archaic]
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Slang, n. Any long, narrow piece of land; a promontory. [Local, Eng.] Holland.
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Slang, n. [Cf. .] A fetter worn on the leg by a convict. [Eng.]
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Slang, n. [Said to be of Gypsy origin; but probably from Scand., and akin to E. sling; cf. Norw. sleng a slinging, an invention, device, slengja to sling, to cast, slengja kjeften (literally, to sling the jaw) to use abusive language, to use slang, slenjeord (ord = word) an insulting word, a new word that has no just reason for being.] Low, vulgar, unauthorized language; a popular but unauthorized word, phrase, or mode of expression; also, the jargon of some particular calling or class in society; low popular cant; as, the slang of the theater, of college, of sailors, etc.
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Slang, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slanged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Slanging.] To address with slang or ribaldry; to insult with vulgar language. [Colloq.]
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Every gentleman abused by a cabman or slanged by a bargee was bound there and then to take off his coat and challenge him to fisticuffs.
London Spectator.
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Slanginess (?), n. Quality of being slangy.
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Slangous (?), a. Slangy. [R.] John Bee.
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Slang-whanger (?), n. [Slang + whang to beat.] One who uses abusive slang; a ranting partisan. [Colloq. or Humorous] W. Irving.
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Slangy (?), a. Of or pertaining to slang; of the nature of slang; disposed to use slang. [Written also slangey.]
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Slank (?), imp. & p. p. of .
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Slant (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Slanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Slanting.] [OE. slenten to slope, slide; cf. Sw. slinta to slide.] To be turned or inclined from a right line or level; to lie obliquely; to slope.
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On the side of younder slanting hill.
Dodsley.
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Slant, v. t. To turn from a direct line; to give an oblique or sloping direction to; as, to slant a line.
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Slant, n. 1. A slanting direction or plane; a slope; as, it lies on a slant.
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2. An oblique reflection or gibe; a sarcastic remark.
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Coloq. Slant or wind , a local variation of the wind from its general direction.
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Slant, a. [Cf. dial. Sw. slant. See , v. i.] Inclined from a direct line, whether horizontal or perpendicular; sloping; oblique. “The slant lightning.” Milton.
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Slanting, a. Oblique; sloping. -- Slantingly, adv.
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{ Slantwise (?), Slantly }, adv. In an inclined direction; obliquely; slopingly.
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Slap (?), n. [OE. slappe; akin to LG. slappe, G. schlappe; probably of imitative origin.] A blow, esp. one given with the open hand, or with something broad.
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Slap, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slapped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Slapping.] To strike with the open hand, or with something broad.
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Slap, adv. [Cf. LG. slap, G. schlapp. See , n.] With a sudden and violent blow; hence, quickly; instantly; directly. [Colloq.] “The railroad cars drive slap into the city.” Thackeray.
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Slapdash (?), adv. [Slap + dash.] 1. In a bold, careless manner; at random. [Colloq.]
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2. With a slap; all at once; slap. [Colloq.] Prior.
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Slapdash, v. t. To apply, or apply something to, in a hasty, careless, or rough manner; to roughcast; as, to slapdash mortar or paint on a wall, or to slapdash a wall. [Colloq.] Halliwell.
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Slape (?), a. [Icel. sleipr slippery; akin to E. slip.] Slippery; smooth; crafty; hypocritical. [Prov. Eng.]
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Coloq. Slape ale , plain ale, as opposed to medicated or mixed ale. [Prov. Eng.]
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Slapeface (?), n. A soft-spoken, crafty hypocrite. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
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Slapjack (?), n. A flat batter cake cooked on a griddle; a flapjack; a griddlecake. [Local, U.S.]
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Slapper (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, slaps.
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2. Anything monstrous; a whopper. [Slang] Grose.
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{ Slapper (?), Slapping (?), } a. Very large; monstrous; big. [Slang.]
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Slash, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slashed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Slashing.] [OE. slaschen, of uncertain origin; cf. OF. esclachier to break, esclechier, esclichier, to break, and E. slate, slice, slit, v. t.] 1. To cut by striking violently and at random; to cut in long slits.
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2. To lash; to ply the whip to. [R.] King.
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3. To crack or snap, as a whip. [R.] Dr. H. More.
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Slash, v. i. To strike violently and at random, esp. with an edged instrument; to lay about one indiscriminately with blows; to cut hastily and carelessly.
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Hewing and slashing at their idle shades.
Spenser.
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Slash, n. 1. A long cut; a cut made at random.
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2. A large slit in the material of any garment, made to show the lining through the openings.
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3. [Cf. .] pl. Swampy or wet lands overgrown with bushes. [Local, U.S.] Bartlett.
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4. A opening or gap in a forest made by wind, fire, or other destructive agency.
We passed over the shoulder of a ridge and around the edge of a fire slash, and then we had the mountain fairly before us.
Henry Van Dyke.
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Slashed (?), a. 1. Marked or cut with a slash or slashes; deeply gashed; especially, having long, narrow openings, as a sleeve or other part of a garment, to show rich lining or under vesture.
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A gray jerkin, with scarlet and slashed sleeves.
Sir W. Scott.
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2. (Bot.) Divided into many narrow parts or segments by sharp incisions; laciniate.
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Slasher (?), n. (Textile Manuf.) A machine for applying size to warp yarns.
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Slash pine (?). (Bot.) A kind of pine tree (Pinus Cubensis) found in Southern Florida and the West Indies; -- so called because it grows in “slashes.”
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Slashy (?), a. [Cf. Sw. slaska to dabble in water. Cf. .] Wet and dirty; slushy. [Prov. Eng.]
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Slat (?), n. [CF. a bar.] A thin, narrow strip or bar of wood or metal; as, the slats of a window blind.
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Slat, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slatted; p. pr. & vb. n. Slatting.] [OE. slatten; cf. Icel. sletta to slap, to dab.] 1. To slap; to strike; to beat; to throw down violently. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U.S.]
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How did you kill him?
Slat[t]ed his brains out.
Marston.
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2. To split; to crack. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
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3. To set on; to incite. See 3d . [Prov. Eng.]
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Slatch (slăch), n. [See .] (Naut.) (a) The period of a transitory breeze. (b) An interval of fair weather. (c) The loose or slack part of a rope; slack.
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Slate (slāt), n. [OE. slat, sclat, OF. esclat a shiver, splinter, F. éclat, fr. OF. esclater to shiver, to chip, F. éclater, fr. OHG. sleizen to tear, slit, split, fr. slīzan to slit, G. schleissen. See , v. t., and cf. .] 1. (Min.) An argillaceous rock which readily splits into thin plates; argillite; argillaceous schist.
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2. Any rock or stone having a slaty structure.
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3. A prepared piece of such stone. Especially: (a) A thin, flat piece, for roofing or covering houses, etc. (b) A tablet for writing upon.
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4. An artificial material, resembling slate, and used for the above purposes.
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5. A thin plate of any material; a flake. [Obs.]
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6. (Politics) A list of candidates, prepared for nomination or for election; a list of candidates, or a programme of action, devised beforehand. [Cant, U.S.] Bartlett.
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Coloq. Adhesive slate (Min.), a kind of slate of a greenish gray color, which absorbs water rapidly, and adheres to the tongue; whence the name. -- Coloq. Aluminous slate , or Coloq. Alum slate (Min.), a kind of slate containing sulphate of alumina, -- used in the manufacture of alum. -- Coloq. Bituminous slate (Min.), a soft species of sectile clay slate, impregnated with bitumen. -- Coloq. Hornblende slate (Min.), a slaty rock, consisting essentially of hornblende and feldspar, useful for flagging on account of its toughness. -- Coloq. Slate ax or Coloq. Slate axe , a mattock with an ax end, used in shaping slates for roofs, and making holes in them for the nails. -- Coloq. Slate clay (Geol.), an indurated clay, forming one of the alternating beds of the coal measures, consisting of an infusible compound of alumina and silica, and often used for making fire bricks. Tomlinson. -- Coloq. Slate globe , a globe the surface of which is made of an artificial slatelike material. -- Coloq. Slate pencil , a pencil of slate, or of soapstone, used for writing on a slate. -- Coloq. Slate rocks (Min.), rocks which split into thin laminæ, not necessarily parallel to the stratification; foliated rocks. -- Coloq. Slate spar (Min.), a variety of calcite of silvery white luster and of a slaty structure. -- Coloq. Transparent slate , a plate of translucent material, as ground glass, upon which a copy of a picture, placed beneath it, can be made by tracing.
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Slate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slated; p. pr. & vb. n. Slating.] 1. To cover with slate, or with a substance resembling slate; as, to slate a roof; to slate a globe.
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2. To register (as on a slate and subject to revision), for an appointment. [Polit. Cant]
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Slate, v. t. [Cf. AS. slǣting a privilege of hunting.] To set a dog upon; to bait; to slat. See 2d , 3. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] [Written also slete.] Ray.
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Slate-color (?). A dark bluish gray color.
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Slate-gray (?), a. Of a dark gray, like slate.
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Slater (?), n. One who lays slates, or whose occupation is to slate buildings.
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Slater, n. (Zoöl.) Any terrestrial isopod crustacean of the genus Porcellio and allied genera; a sow bug.
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Slating, n. 1. The act of covering with slate, slates, or a substance resembling slate; the work of a slater.
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2. Slates, collectively; also, material for slating.
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Slatt (?), n. [See a strip of board.] A slab of stone used as a veneer for coarse masonry. Knight.
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Slatter (?), v. i. [E. slat to throw or dash about.] To be careless, negligent, or aswkward, esp. with regard to dress and neatness; to be wasteful. Ray.
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Slattern (?), n. A woman who is negligent of her dress or house; one who is not neat and nice.
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Slattern, a. Resembling a slattern; sluttish; slatterny. “The slattern air.” Gay.
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Slattern (?), v. t. To consume carelessly or wastefully; to waste; -- with away. [R.] Chesterfield.
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Slatternliness (?), n. The quality or state of being slatternly; slovenliness; untidiness.
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Slatternly, a. Resembling a slattern; sluttish; negligent; dirty. -- adv. In a slatternly manner.
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Slatterpouch (?), n. A dance or game played by boys, requiring active exercise. [Obs.] Gayton.
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Slatting (?), Slats, collectively.
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Slatting, n. The violent shaking or flapping of anything hanging loose in the wind, as of a sail, when being hauled down.
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Slaty (?), a. [From .] Resembling slate; having the nature, appearance, or properties, of slate; composed of thin parallel plates, capable of being separated by splitting; as, a slaty color or texture.
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Coloq. Slaty cleavage (Min.), cleavage, as of rocks, into thin leaves or plates, like those of slate; -- applied especially to those cases in which the planes of cleavage are not parallel to the planes of stratification. It is now believed to be caused by the compression which the strata have undergone. -- Coloq. Slaty gneiss (Min.), a variety of gneiss in which the scales of mica or crystals of hornblende, which are usually minute, form thin laminæ, rendering the rock easily cleavable.
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Slaughter (?), n. [OE. slautir, slaughter, slaghter, Icel. slātr slain flesh, modified by OE. slaught, slaht, slaughter, fr. AS. sleaht a stroke, blow; both from the root of E. slay. See , v. t., and cf. .] The act of killing. Specifically: (a) The extensive, violent, bloody, or wanton destruction of life; carnage.
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On war and mutual slaughter bent.
Milton.
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(b) The act of killing cattle or other beasts for market.
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Syn. -- Carnage; massacre; butchery; murder; havoc.
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Slaughter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slaughtered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Slaughtering.] 1. To visit with great destruction of life; to kill; to slay in battle.
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Your castle is surprised; your wife and babes
Savagely slaughtered.
Shak.
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2. To butcher; to kill for the market, as beasts.
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Slaughterer (?), n. One who slaughters.
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Slaughterhouse (?), n. A house where beasts are butchered for the market.
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Slaughterman (?), n.; pl. Slaughtermen (�). One employed in slaughtering. Shak.
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Slaughterous (?), a. Destructive; murderous. Shak. M. Arnold. -- Slaughterously, adv.
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Slav (släv or slăv), n.; pl. Slavs (#). [A word originally meaning, intelligible, and used to contrast the people so called with foreigners who spoke languages unintelligible to the Slavs; akin to OSlav. slovo a word, slava fame, Skr. çru to hear. Cf. .] (Ethnol.) One of a race of people occupying a large part of Eastern and Northern Europe, including the Russians, Bulgarians, Roumanians, Servo-Croats, Slovenes, Poles, Czechs, Wends or Sorbs, Slovaks, etc. [Written also Slave, and Sclav.]
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Slave (släv or slăv; 277) n. See .
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Slave (slāv), n. [Cf. F. esclave, D. slaaf, Dan. slave, sclave, Sw. slaf, all fr. G. sklave, MHG. also slave, from the national name of the Slavonians, or Sclavonians (in LL. Slavi or Sclavi), who were frequently made slaves by the Germans. See .] 1. A person who is held in bondage to another; one who is wholly subject to the will of another; one who is held as a chattel; one who has no freedom of action, but whose person and services are wholly under the control of another.
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Art thou our slave,
Our captive, at the public mill our drudge?
Milton.
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2. One who has lost the power of resistance; one who surrenders himself to any power whatever; as, a slave to passion, to lust, to strong drink, to ambition.
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3. A drudge; one who labors like a slave.
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4. An abject person; a wretch. Shak.
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Coloq. Slave ant (Zoöl.), any species of ants which is captured and enslaved by another species, especially Formica fusca of Europe and America, which is commonly enslaved by Formica sanguinea. -- Coloq. Slave catcher , one who attempted to catch and bring back a fugitive slave to his master. -- Coloq. Slave coast , part of the western coast of Africa to which slaves were brought to be sold to foreigners. -- Coloq. Slave driver , one who superintends slaves at their work; hence, figuratively, a cruel taskmaster. -- Coloq. Slave hunt . (a) A search after persons in order to reduce them to slavery. Barth. (b) A search after fugitive slaves, often conducted with bloodhounds. -- Coloq. Slave ship , a vessel employed in the slave trade or used for transporting slaves; a slaver. -- Coloq. Slave trade , the business of dealing in slaves, especially of buying them for transportation from their homes to be sold elsewhere. -- Coloq. Slave trader , one who traffics in slaves.
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Syn. -- Bond servant; bondman; bondslave; captive; henchman; vassal; dependent; drudge. See .
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Slave, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Slaved (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Slaving.] To drudge; to toil; to labor as a slave.
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Slave, v. t. To enslave. Marston.
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Slaveborn (?), a. Born in slavery.
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Slaveholder (?), n. One who holds slaves.
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Slaveholding, a. Holding persons in slavery.
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Slaveocracy (?), n. See .
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Slaver (?), n. 1. A vessel engaged in the slave trade; a slave ship.
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2. A person engaged in the purchase and sale of slaves; a slave merchant, or slave trader.
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The slaver's hand was on the latch,
He seemed in haste to go.
Longfellow.
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Slaver (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Slavered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Slavering.] [Cf. Icel. slafra. See .] 1. To suffer spittle, etc., to run from the mouth.
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2. To be besmeared with saliva. Shak.
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Slaver, v. t. To smear with saliva issuing from the mouth; to defile with drivel; to slabber.
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Slaver, n. Saliva driveling from the mouth.
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Of all mad creatures, if the learned are right,
It is the slaver kills, and not the bite.
Pope.
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Slaverer (?), n. A driveler; an idiot.
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