Sleightful - Slime

Prev Next

Sleightful (?), a. Cunning; dexterous. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Sleightly (?), adv. Cinningly. [Obs.] Huloet.
[ Webster]

Sleighty (?), a. Cinning; sly. [Obs.] Huloet.
[ Webster]

Slender (?), a. [Compar. Slenderer (?); superl. Slenderest.] [OE. slendre, sclendre, fr. OD. slinder thin, slender, perhaps through a French form; cf. OD. slinderen, slidderen, to creep; perh. akin to E. slide.] 1. Small or narrow in proportion to the length or the height; not thick; slim; as, a slender stem or stalk of a plant. “A slender, choleric man.” Chaucer.
[ Webster]

She, as a veil down to the slender waist,
Her unadorned golden tresses wore.
Milton.
[ Webster]

2. Weak; feeble; not strong; slight; as, slender hope; a slender constitution.
[ Webster]

Mighty hearts are held in slender chains. Pope.
[ Webster]

They have inferred much from slender premises. J. H. Newman.
[ Webster]

The slender utterance of the consonants. J. Byrne.
[ Webster]

3. Moderate; trivial; inconsiderable; slight; as, a man of slender intelligence.
[ Webster]

A slender degree of patience will enable him to enjoy both the humor and the pathos. Sir W. Scott.
[ Webster]

4. Small; inadequate; meager; pitiful; as, slender means of support; a slender pittance.
[ Webster]

Frequent begging makes slender alms. Fuller.
[ Webster]

5. Spare; abstemious; frugal; as, a slender diet.
[ Webster]

The good Ostorius often deigned
To grace my slender table with his presence.
Philips.
[ Webster]

6. (Phon.) Uttered with a thin tone; -- the opposite of broad; as, the slender vowels long e and i.
[ Webster]

-- Slenderly, adv. -- Slenderness, n.
[ Webster]

Slent (?), n. & v. See . [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Slep (?), obs. imp. of . Slept. Chaucer.
[ Webster]

Slepez (?), n. [Russ. sliepets'.] (Zoöl.) A burrowing rodent (Spalax typhlus), native of Russia and Asia Minor. It has the general appearance of a mole, and is destitute of eyes. Called also mole rat.
[ Webster]

Slept (?), imp. & p. p. of .
[ Webster]

Sleuth (?), n. [Icel. slōð. See a track.] The track of man or beast as followed by the scent. [Scot.] Halliwell.
[ Webster]

Sleuthhound (?), n. [See , and cf. .] (Zoöl.) A hound that tracks animals by the scent; specifically, a bloodhound. [Spelt variously slouthhound, sluthhound, etc.]
[ Webster]

Slew (?), imp. of .
[ Webster]

Slew, v. t. See .
[ Webster]

Slew (sl�), n. [See a wet place.] A wet place; a river inlet.

The praire round about is wet, at times almost marshy, especially at the borders of the great reedy slews. T. Roosevelt.
[Webster Suppl.]

Slewed (?), a. Somewhat drunk. [Slang]
[ Webster]

Slewth (?), n. Sloth; idleness. [Obs.] Chaucer.
[ Webster]

Sley (?), n. [AS. sl�, fr. sleán to strike. See , v. t.] 1. A weaver's reed. [Spelt also slaie.]
[ Webster]

2. A guideway in a knitting machine. Knight.
[ Webster]

3. (Weaving) The number of ends per inch in the cloth, provided each dent in the reed in which it was made contained an equal number of ends. E. Whitworth.
[Webster Suppl.]

Sley, v. t. To separate or part the threads of, and arrange them in a reed; -- a term used by weavers. See , and .
[ Webster]

Slibber (?), a. Slippery. [Obs.] Holland.
[ Webster]

Slice (?), n. [OE. slice, sclice, OF. esclice, from esclicier, esclichier, to break to pieces, of German origin; cf. OHG. slīzan to split, slit, tear, G. schleissen to slit. See , v. t.] 1. A thin, broad piece cut off; as, a slice of bacon; a slice of cheese; a slice of bread.
[ Webster]

2. That which is thin and broad, like a slice. Specifically: (a) A broad, thin piece of plaster. (b) A salver, platter, or tray. [Obs.] (c) A knife with a thin, broad blade for taking up or serving fish; also, a spatula for spreading anything, as paint or ink. (d) A plate of iron with a handle, forming a kind of chisel, or a spadelike implement, variously proportioned, and used for various purposes, as for stripping the planking from a vessel's side, for cutting blubber from a whale, or for stirring a fire of coals; a slice bar; a peel; a fire shovel. [Cant] (e) (Shipbuilding) One of the wedges by which the cradle and the ship are lifted clear of the building blocks to prepare for launching. (f) (Printing) A removable sliding bottom to galley.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Slice bar , a kind of fire iron resembling a poker, with a broad, flat end, for stirring a fire of coals, and clearing it and the grate bars from clinkers, ashes, etc.; a slice.
[ Webster]

Slice, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sliced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Slicing (?).] 1. To cut into thin pieces, or to cut off a thin, broad piece from.
[ Webster]

2. To cut into parts; to divide.
[ Webster]

3. To clear by means of a slice bar, as a fire or the grate bars of a furnace.
[ Webster]

4. (Golf) To hit (the ball) so that the face of the club draws across the face of the ball and deflects it.
[Webster Suppl.]

Slicer (?), n. One who, or that which, slices; specifically, the circular saw of the lapidary.
[ Webster]

{ Slich (?), Slick (?), } n. (Metal.) See .
[ Webster]

Slick (?), a. [See .] Sleek; smooth. “Both slick and dainty.” Chapman.
[ Webster]

Slick, v. t. To make sleek or smoth.Slicked all with sweet oil.” Chapman.
[ Webster]

Slick, n. (Joinery) A wide paring chisel.
[ Webster]

Slick, n. A slick, or smooth and slippery, surface or place; a sleek.

The action of oil upon the water is upon the crest of the wave; the oil forming a slick upon the surface breaks the crest. The Century.
[Webster Suppl.]

Slicken (?), a. Sleek; smooth. [Prov. Eng.]
[ Webster]

Slickens (?), n. [Cf. , n.] (Mining) The pulverized matter from a quartz mill, or the lighter soil of hydraulic mines. [Local, U. S.]
[ Webster]

Slickensides (?), n. 1. The smooth, striated, or partially polished surfaces of a fissure or seam, supposed to have been produced by the sliding of one surface on another.
[ Webster]

2. A variety of galena found in Derbyshire, England.
[ Webster]

Slicker (?), n. That which makes smooth or sleek. Specifically: (a) A kind of burnisher for leather. (b) (Founding) A curved tool for smoothing the surfaces of a mold after the withdrawal of the pattern.
[ Webster]

Slicker, n. A waterproof coat. [Western U.S.]
[ Webster]

Slicking, n. 1. The act or process of smoothing.
[ Webster]

2. pl. (Min.) Narrow veins of ore.
[ Webster]

Slickness, n. The state or quality of being slick; smoothness; sleekness.
[ Webster]

Slid (?), imp. & p. p. of .
[ Webster]

Slidden (?), p. p. of .
[ Webster]

Slidder (?), v. t. [AS. sliderian. See , v. t.] To slide with interruption. [Obs.] Dryden.
[ Webster]

{ Slidder, Slidderly, Sliddery (?), } a. [AS. slidor. See , v. t.] Slippery. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

To a drunk man the way is slidder. Chaucer.
[ Webster]

Slide (?), v. t. [imp. Slid (?); p. p. Slidden (?), Slid; p. pr. & vb. n. Slidding (?).] [OE. sliden, AS. slīdan; akin to MHG. slīten, also to AS. slidor slippery, E. sled, Lith. slidus slippery. Cf. .] 1. To move along the surface of any body by slipping, or without walking or rolling; to slip; to glide; as, snow slides down the mountain's side.
[ Webster]

2. Especially, to move over snow or ice with a smooth, uninterrupted motion, as on a sled moving by the force of gravity, or on the feet.
[ Webster]

They bathe in summer, and in winter slide. Waller.
[ Webster]

3. To pass inadvertently.
[ Webster]

Beware thou slide not by it. Ecclus. xxviii. 26.
[ Webster]

4. To pass along smoothly or unobservedly; to move gently onward without friction or hindrance; as, a ship or boat slides through the water.
[ Webster]

Ages shall slide away without perceiving. Dryden.
[ Webster]

Parts answering parts shall slide into a whole. Pope.
[ Webster]

5. To slip when walking or standing; to fall.
[ Webster]

Their foot shall slide in due time. Deut. xxxii. 35.
[ Webster]

6. (Mus.) To pass from one note to another with no perceptible cassation of sound.
[ Webster]

7. To pass out of one's thought as not being of any consequence. [Obs. or Colloq.]
[ Webster]

With good hope let he sorrow slide. Chaucer.
[ Webster]

With a calm carelessness letting everything slide. Sir P. Sidney.
[ Webster]

Slide, v. t. 1. To cause to slide; to thrust along; as, to slide one piece of timber along another.
[ Webster]

2. To pass or put imperceptibly; to slip; as, to slide in a word to vary the sense of a question.
[ Webster]

Slide, n. [AS. slīde.] 1. The act of sliding; as, a slide on the ice.
[ Webster]

2. Smooth, even passage or progress.
[ Webster]

A better slide into their business. Bacon.
[ Webster]

3. That on which anything moves by sliding. Specifically: (a) An inclined plane on which heavy bodies slide by the force of gravity, esp. one constructed on a mountain side for conveying logs by sliding them down. (b) A surface of ice or snow on which children slide for amusement.
[ Webster]

4. That which operates by sliding. Specifically: (a) A cover which opens or closes an aperture by sliding over it. (b) (Mach.) A moving piece which is guided by a part or parts along which it slides. (c) A clasp or brooch for a belt, or the like.
[ Webster]

5. A plate or slip of glass on which is a picture or delineation to be exhibited by means of a magic lantern, stereopticon, or the like; a plate on which is an object to be examined with a microscope.
[ Webster]

6. The descent of a mass of earth, rock, or snow down a hill or mountain side; as, a land slide, or a snow slide; also, the track of bare rock left by a land slide.
[ Webster]

7. (Geol.) A small dislocation in beds of rock along a line of fissure. Dana.
[ Webster]

8. (Mus.) (a) A grace consisting of two or more small notes moving by conjoint degrees, and leading to a principal note either above or below. (b) An apparatus in the trumpet and trombone by which the sounding tube is lengthened and shortened so as to produce the tones between the fundamental and its harmonics.
[ Webster]

9. (Phonetics) A sound which, by a gradual change in the position of the vocal organs, passes imperceptibly into another sound.
[ Webster]

10. (Steam Engine) (a) Same as Guide bar, under . (b) A slide valve.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Slide box (Steam Engine), a steam chest. See under . -- Coloq. Slide lathe , an engine lathe. See under . -- Coloq. Slide rail , a transfer table. See under . -- Coloq. Slide rest (Turning lathes), a contrivance for holding, moving, and guiding, the cutting tool, made to slide on ways or guides by screws or otherwise, and having compound motion. -- Coloq. Slide rule , a mathematical instrument consisting of two parts, one of which slides upon the other, for the mechanical performance of addition and subtraction, and, by means of logarithmic scales, of multiplication and division. -- Coloq. Slide valve . (a) Any valve which opens and closes a passageway by sliding over a port. (b) A particular kind of sliding valve, often used in steam engines for admitting steam to the piston and releasing it, alternately, having a cuplike cavity in its face, through which the exhaust steam passes. It is situated in the steam chest, and moved by the valve gear. It is sometimes called a D valve, -- a name which is also applied to a semicylindrical pipe used as a sliding valve.
[ Webster]

In the illustration, a is the cylinder of a steam engine, in which plays the piston p; b the steam chest, receiving its supply from the pipe i, and containing the slide valve s, which is shown as admitting steam to one end of the cylinder through the port e, and opening communication between the exhaust passage f and the port c, for the release of steam from the opposite end of the cylinder.
[ Webster]

Slidegroat (?), n. The game of shovelboard. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Slider (?), a. See . [Obs.] Chaucer.
[ Webster]

Slider, n. 1. One who, or that which, slides; especially, a sliding part of an instrument or machine.
[ Webster]

2. (Zoöl.) The red-bellied terrapin (Pseudemys rugosa). [Local, U. S. ]
[ Webster]

3. (Zoöl.) any of several North American freshwater turtles of the genus Chrysemis; some, such as C. scripta are sold commercially as pets. [RHUD]
[PJC]

4. (Baseball) a fast pitch that breaks slightly just in front of the batter, in the same direction as a curve ball (i. e. , away from the side from which it was thrown).
[PJC]

Coloq. Slider pump , a form of rotary pump.
[ Webster]

Slide rule, n. a thin, flat calculating device consisting of a fixed outer piece and a movable middle piece. Both pieces are graduated in such a way (as, by a logarithmic scale) that multiplication, division, and other mathematical functions of an input variable may be rapidly determined by movement of the middle pieces to a location on one scale corresponding to the input value, and reading off the result on another scale. A movable window with a hairline assists in alignment of the scales. This device has been largely superseded by the electronic calculator, which has a greater precision than the slide rule. Also called colloquially slipstick.
[PJC]

Slideway (?), n. A way along which something slides.
[Webster Suppl.]

Sliding (?), a. 1. That slides or slips; gliding; moving smoothly.
[ Webster]

2. Slippery; elusory. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

That sliding science hath me made so bare. Chaucer.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Sliding friction (Mech.), the resistance one body meets with in sliding along the surface of another, as distinguished from rolling friction. -- Coloq. Sliding gunter (Naut.), a topmast arranged with metallic fittings so as to be hoisted and lowered by means of halyards. -- Coloq. Sliding keel (Naut), a movable keel, similar to a centeboard. -- Coloq. Sliding pair . (Mech.) See the Note under , n., 7. -- Coloq. Sliding rule . Same as Slide rule, under , n. -- Coloq. Sliding scale . (a) A scale for raising or lowering imposts in proportion to the fall or rise of prices. (b) A variable scale of wages or of prices. (c) A slide rule. -- Coloq. Sliding ways (Naut.), the timber guides used in launching a vessel.
[ Webster]

Slidometer (?), n. [Slide + -meter.] An instrument for indicating and recording shocks to railway cars occasioned by sudden stopping.
[ Webster]

Slight (?), n. Sleight. Spenser.
[ Webster]

Slight, v. t. [Cf. D. slechten to level, to demolish.] 1. To overthrow; to demolish. [Obs.] Clarendon.
[ Webster]

2. To make even or level. [Obs.] Hexham.
[ Webster]

3. To throw heedlessly. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

The rogue slighted me into the river. Shak.
[ Webster]

Slight (?), a. [Compar. Slighter (?); superl. Slightest.] [OE. sli�t, sleght, probably from OD. slicht, slecht, simple, plain, D. slecht; akin to OFries. sliucht, G. schlecht, schlicht, OHG. sleht smooth, simple, Icel. sl�ttr smooth, Sw. slät, Goth. slaíhts; or uncertain origin.] 1. Not decidedly marked; not forcible; inconsiderable; unimportant; insignificant; not severe; weak; gentle; -- applied in a great variety of circumstances; as, a slight (i. e., feeble) effort; a slight (i. e., perishable) structure; a slight (i. e., not deep) impression; a slight (i. e., not convincing) argument; a slight (i. e., not thorough) examination; slight (i. e., not severe) pain, and the like. “At one slight bound.” Milton.
[ Webster]

Slight is the subject, but not so the praise. Pope.
[ Webster]

Some firmly embrace doctrines upon slight grounds. Locke.
[ Webster]

2. Not stout or heavy; slender.
[ Webster]

His own figure, which was formerly so slight. Sir W. Scott.
[ Webster]

3. Foolish; silly; weak in intellect. Hudibras.
[ Webster]

Slight, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slighted; p. pr. & vb. n. Slighting.] To disregard, as of little value and unworthy of notice; to make light of; as, to slight the divine commands. Milton.
[ Webster]

The wretch who slights the bounty of the skies. Cowper.
[ Webster]

Coloq. To slight off , to treat slightingly; to drive off; to remove. [R.] -- Coloq. To slight over , to run over in haste; to perform superficially; to treat carelessly; as, to slight over a theme. “They will but slight it over.” Bacon.
[ Webster]

Syn. -- To neglect; disregard; disdain; scorn. -- , . To slight is stronger than to neglect. We may neglect a duty or person from inconsiderateness, or from being over-occupied in other concerns. To slight is always a positive and intentional act, resulting from feelings of dislike or contempt. We ought to put a kind construction on what appears neglect on the part of a friend; but when he slights us, it is obvious that he is our friend no longer.
[ Webster]

Beware . . . lest the like befall . . .
If they transgress and slight that sole command.
Milton.
[ Webster]

This my long-sufferance, and my day of grace,
Those who neglect and scorn shall never taste.
Milton.
[ Webster]

Slight, n. The act of slighting; the manifestation of a moderate degree of contempt, as by neglect or oversight; neglect; indignity.
[ Webster]

Syn. -- Neglect; disregard; inattention; contempt; disdain; scorn; disgrace; indignity; disparagement.
[ Webster]

Slight, adv. Slightly. [Obs. or Poetic]
[ Webster]

Think not so slight of glory. Milton.
[ Webster]

Slighten (?), v. t. To slight. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
[ Webster]

Slighter (?), n. One who slights.
[ Webster]

Slightful (?), a. See . [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Slighting, a. Characterized by neglect or disregard.
[ Webster]

Slightingly, adv. In a slighting manner.
[ Webster]

Slightly, adv. 1. In a slight manner.
[ Webster]

2. Slightingly; negligently. [Obs.] Shak.
[ Webster]

Slightness, n. The quality or state of being slight; slenderness; feebleness; superficiality; also, formerly, negligence; indifference; disregard.
[ Webster]

Slighty (?), a. Slight. [Obs.] Echard.
[ Webster]

Slik (slĭk), a. [See .] Such. [Obs. or Scot.]
[ Webster]

☞ Used by Chaucer as of the Northern dialect.
[ Webster]

Slikensides, n. Same as .
[ Webster]

Slily (?), adv. See . South.
[ Webster]

Slim (slĭm), a. [Compar. Slimmer (?); superl. Slimmest.] [Formerly, bad, worthless, weak, slight, awry, fr. D. slim; akin to G. schlimm, MHG. slimp oblique, awry; of uncertain origin. The meaning of the English word seems to have been influenced by slender.] 1. Worthless; bad. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
[ Webster]

2. Weak; slight; unsubstantial; poor; as, a slim argument. “That was a slim excuse.” Barrow.
[ Webster]

3. Of small diameter or thickness in proportion to the height or length; slender; as, a slim person; a slim tree. Grose.
[ Webster]

Slime (slīm), n. [OE. slim, AS. slīm; akin to D. slijm, G. schleim, MHG. slīmen to make smooth, Icel. slīm slime, Dan. sliim; cf. L. limare to file, polish, levis smooth, Gr. ���; or cf. L. limus mud.] 1. Soft, moist earth or clay, having an adhesive quality; viscous mud.
[ Webster]

As it [Nilus] ebbs, the seedsman
Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain.
Shak.
[ Webster]

2. Any mucilaginous substance; any substance of a dirty nature, that is moist, soft, and adhesive.
[ Webster]

3. (Script.) Bitumen. [Archaic]
[ Webster]

Slime had they for mortar. Gen. xi. 3.
[ Webster]

Prev Next

Concept Explore Home

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z