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Sericin

A gelatinous nitrogenous material extracted from crude silk and other similar fiber by boiling water; -- called also silk gelatin.

Sericite

A kind of muscovite occuring in silky scales having a fibrous structure. It is characteristic of sericite schist.

Seriema

either of two large South American birds related to the cranes, the cariama of Southern Brazil (Cariama cristata, formerly Dicholophus cristata) or the Chunga burmeisteri of Argentina. They have an erectile crest and a short, broad bill. They are often domesticated.

Series

A number of things or events standing or succeeding in order, and connected by a like relation; sequence; order; course; a succession of things; as, a continuous series of calamitous events.

Series winding

A winding in which the armature coil and the field-magnet coil are in series with the external circuits; -- opposed to shunt winding.

Serigraph

An autographic device to test the strength of raw silk.

Serin

A European finch (Serinus hortulanus) closely related to the canary.

Serine

one of the natural L-amino acids, obtainable as a white crystalline nitrogenous substance by the action of dilute sulphuric acid on silk gelatin. It is found in many proteins, and, having a free primary hydroxyl group on the side chain, is involved in the catalytic action at the active site of some enzymes, such as proteases. The IUPAC abbreviation for serine in protein sequences is Ser. Chemically it is 2-amino-3-hydroxy-propanoic acid (C3H7NO3), HO.CH2.CH(NH2).COOH.

Serious

Grave in manner or disposition; earnest; thoughtful; solemn; not light, gay, or volatile.

Sermon

To discourse to or of, as in a sermon.

Sermoning

The act of discoursing; discourse; instruction; preaching.

Sermonize

To preach or discourse to; to affect or influence by means of a sermon or of sermons.

Serolin

A peculiar fatty substance found in the blood, probably a mixture of fats, cholesterin, etc. A body found in fecal matter and thought to be formed in the intestines from the cholesterin of the bile; -- called also stercorin, and stercolin.

Serosity

The quality or state of being serous.

Serotine

The European long-eared bat (Vesperugo serotinus).

Serotinous

Appearing or blossoming later in the season than is customary with allied species.

Serous

Thin; watery; like serum; as, the serous fluids. Of or pertaining to serum; as, the serous glands, membranes, layers. See Serum.

Serpens

A constellation represented as a serpent held by Serpentarius.

Serpentaria

The fibrous aromatic root of the Virginia snakeroot (Aristolochia Serpentaria).

Serpentarius

A constellation on the equator, lying between Scorpio and Hercules; -- called also Ophiuchus.

Serpentinize

To convert (a magnesian silicate) into serpentine.

Serpentinous

Relating to, or like, serpentine; as, a rock serpentinous in character.

Serpentize

To turn or bend like a serpent, first in one direction and then in the opposite; to meander; to wind; to serpentine.

Serpette

A pruning knife with a curved blade.

Serpiginous

Creeping; -- said of lesions which heal over one portion while continuing to advance at another.

Serpigo

A dry, scaly eruption on the skin; especially, a ringworm.

Serpula

Any one of numerous species of tubicolous annelids of the genus Serpula and allied genera of the family Serpulidae. They secrete a calcareous tube, which is usually irregularly contorted, but is sometimes spirally coiled. The worm has a wreath of plumelike and often bright-colored gills around its head, and usually an operculum to close the aperture of its tube when it retracts.

Serr

To crowd, press, or drive together.

Serranoid

Any fish of the family Serranidae, which includes the striped bass, the black sea bass, and many other food fishes. Of or pertaining to the Serranidae.

Serration

Condition of being serrate; formation in the shape of a saw.

Serrator

The ivory gull (Larus eburneus).

Serrature

A notching, like that between the teeth of a saw, in the edge of anything.

Serricorn

Any one of a numerous tribe of beetles (Serricornia). The joints of the antennae are prominent, thus producing a serrate appearance. See Illust. under Antenna.

Serried

Crowded; compact; dense; pressed together.

Serrifera

A division of Hymenoptera comprising the sawflies.

Serrous

Like the teeth off a saw; jagged.

Serrulation

The state of being notched minutely, like a fine saw.

Serry

To crowd; to press together.

Sertularia

A genus of delicate branching hydroids having small sessile hydrothecae along the sides of the branches.

Sertularian

Any species of Sertularia, or of Sertularidae, a family of hydroids having branched chitinous stems and simple sessile hydrothecae. Also used adjectively.

Serum

The watery portion of certain animal fluids, as blood, milk, etc. A thin watery fluid, containing more or less albumin, secreted by the serous membranes of the body, such as the pericardium and peritoneum.

Serum-therapy

The treatment of disease by the injection of blood serum from immune animals.

Servage

Serfage; slavery; servitude.

Serval

An African wild cat (Felis serval) of moderate size; -- called also serval cat. It has rather long legs and a tail of moderate length. Its color is tawny, with black spots on the body and rings of black on the tail.

Servaline

Related to, or resembling, the serval.

Servantry

A body of servants; servants, collectively.

Serve

To be a servant or a slave; to be employed in labor or other business for another; to be in subjection or bondage; to render menial service.

Servian

Of or pertaining to Servia, a kingdom of Southern Europe. A native or inhabitant of Servia.

Service

The act of serving; the occupation of a servant; the performance of labor for the benefit of another, or at another's command; attendance of an inferior, hired helper, slave, etc., on a superior, employer, master, or the like; also, spiritual obedience and love.

Service Service

A name given to several trees and shrubs of the genus Pyrus, as Pyrus domestica and Pyrus torminalis of Europe, the various species of mountain ash or rowan tree, and the American shad bush (see Shad bush, under Shad). They have clusters of small, edible, applelike berries.

Serviceable

Doing service; promoting happiness, interest, advantage, or any good; useful to any end; adapted to any good end use; beneficial; advantageous.

Servile

An element which forms no part of the original root; -- opposed to radical.

Servility

The quality or state of being servile; servileness.

Servite

One of the order of the Religious Servants of the Holy Virgin, founded in Florence in 1223.

Servitor

One who serves; a servant; an attendant; one who acts under another; a follower or adherent.

Servitude

The state of voluntary or compulsory subjection to a master; the condition of being bound to service; the condition of a slave; slavery; bondage; hence, a state of slavish dependence.

Servo-motor

A relay apparatus; An auxiliary motor, regulated by a hand lever, for quickly and easily moving the reversing gear of a large marine engine into any desired position indicated by that of the hand lever, which controls the valve of the motor. In a Whitehead torpedo, a compressed-air motor, for moving the rudders so as to correct deviations from the course.

Servomechanism

an electronically controlled mechanical or hydraulic device permitting a large action or strong forces to be controlled by a small electrical signal.

Sesame

Either of two annual herbaceous plants of the genus Sesamum (Sesamum Indicum, and Sesamum orientale), from the seeds of which an oil is expressed; also, the small obovate, flattish seeds of these plants, sometimes used as food. See Benne.

Sesban

A leguminous shrub (Sesbania aculeata) which furnishes a fiber used for making ropes.

Sesquialtera Sesquialter

A stop on the organ, containing several ranks of pipes which reenforce some of the high harmonics of the ground tone, and make the sound more brilliant.

Sesquibasic

Containing, or acting as, a base in the proportions of a sesqui compound.

Sesquiduplicate

Twice and a half as great (as another thing); having the ratio of two and a half to one.

Sesquioxide

An oxide containing three atoms of oxygen with two atoms (or radicals) of some other substance; thus, alumina, Al2O3 is a sesquioxide.

Sesquipedalian Sesquipedal

Measuring or containing a foot and a half; as, a sesquipedalian pygmy; -- sometimes humorously applied to long words.

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