Lexicon

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V
Sa Sc Se Sh Sm Sp St Sy

Saprophyte

n.

  1. a plant, fungus, or microorganism that lives on dead or decaying organic matter.

[Alberto Manguel — The Library at Night]

Saraband

n.

  1. A fast, erotic dance of the 1500s of Mexico and Spain.
  2. A stately court dance of the 1600s and 1700s, in slow triple time.
  3. The music for either of these dances.

[“The Shadow Over Innsmouth” — H.P. Lovecraft]

Sclerite

n. (Zoology)
  1. a component section of an exoskeleton, especially each of the plates forming the skeleton of an arthropod.
[Beowulf — Trans. Maria Dahvana Headley]

Scrolloping

adj.

  1. characterized by or possessing heavy, florid, ornament

[The Waves — Virginia Woolf, coined by Woolf!]

Sedulous

adj. (of a person or action)

  1. showing dedication and diligence: he watched himself with the most sedulous care.

[The Prelude — William Wordsworth]

Sedulous

adjective

(of a person or action) showing dedication and diligence: he watched himself with the most sedulous care.

[A Room with a View — E. M. Forster]

Sententious

adj.

  1. Given to moralizing in a pompous or affected manner.

[“The Shadow Over Innsmouth” — H.P. Lovecraft]

Shaddock

n.

  1. another term for pomelo; named after Captain Shaddock, who introduced it to the West Indies in the 17th century.

[“The Island” — Lord Byron]

Shrive

v. (past shrove; past participle shriven)

  1. [with object] archaic (of a priest) hear the confession of, assign penance to, and absolve (someone): none of her chaplains knew English or French enough to shrive the king.
  2. (shrive oneself) present oneself to a priest for confession, penance, and absolution.

[Driving Meditation — Tara Shepersky]