Slab, n. That which is slimy or viscous; moist earth; mud; also a puddle. [Obs.] Evelyn. Slab´ber v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Slabbered p. pr. & vb. n. Slabbering.] [OE. slaberen akin to LG. & D. slabbern G. schlabbern LG. & D. slabben G. schlabben Icel. slafra. Cf. Slaver Slobber Slubber.] To let saliva or some liquid fall from the mouth carelessly like a child or an idiot to drivel to drool. [Written also slaver and slobber.]
Slabber
Slab´ber, n. Spittle; saliva; slaver.
Slabber
Slab´ber, n. [See 1st Slab.] (Mach.) (a) A saw for cutting slabs from logs. (b) A slabbing machine.
Slabberer
Slab´ber•er, n. One who slabbers, or drools; hence, an idiot.
Slabbery
Slab´ber•y, a. Like, or covered with, slabber or slab; slippery; sloppy.
Slabbing
Slab´bing, a. [See 1st Slab.] Adapted for forming slabs, or for dressing flat surfaces. Slabbing machine, a milling machine.
Slabby
Slab´by, a. [ Compar. Slabbier superl. Slabbiest.] [See Slab, a. ]
1. Thick; viscous.
"They present you with a cup, and you must drink of a slabby stuff." Selden.
2. Sloppy; slimy; miry. See Sloppy. Gay.
Slab-sided
Slab´-sid•ed, a. Having flat sides; hence, tall, or long and lank. [Colloq. U. S.]
Slack, n. [Cf. Slag.] Small coal; also coal dust; culm. Raymond.
Slack, a. [ Compar. Slacker superl. Slackest.] [OE. slak, AS. sleac; akin to OS. slak, OHG. slah, Prov. G. schlack, Icel. slakr, Sw. slak; cf. Skr. srj to let loose, to throw. Cf. Slake.] Lax; not tense; not hard drawn; not firmly extended; as a slack rope.
2. Weak; not holding fast; as a slack hand. Milton.
3. Remiss; backward; not using due diligence or care; not earnest or eager; as slack in duty or service.
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness." 2 Pet. iii. 9.
4. Not violent, rapid, or pressing; slow; moderate; easy; as business is slack. "With slack pace." Chaucer.
"Csar … about sunset, hoisting sail with a slack southwest, at midnight was becalmed." Milton. Slack in stays (Naut.), slow in going about, as a ship. — Slack water, the time when the tide runs slowly, or the water is at rest; or the interval between the flux and reflux of the tide. — Slack-water navigation, navigation in a stream the depth of which has been increased, and the current diminished, by a dam or dams.
Syn. — Loose; relaxed; weak; remiss; backward; abated; diminished; inactive; slow; tardy; dull.
Slack, adv. Slackly; as slack dried hops.
Slack, n. The part of anything that hangs loose, having no strain upon it; as the slack of a rope or of a sail. { Slack, Slack´en } v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Slacked, Slackened ; p. pr. & vb. n. Slacking, Slackening.] [See Slack, a. ]
1. To become slack; to be made less tense, firm, or rigid; to decrease in tension; as a wet cord slackens in dry weather.
2. To be remiss or backward; to be negligent.
3. To lose cohesion or solidity by a chemical combination with water; to slake; as lime slacks.
4. To abate; to become less violent.
"Whence these raging fires
Will slacken, if his breath stir not their flames." Milton.
5. To lose rapidity; to become more slow; as a current of water slackens.
6. To languish; to fail; to flag.
7. To end; to cease; to desist; to slake. [Obs.]
"That through your death your lineage should slack." Chaucer.
"They will not of that firste purpose slack." Chaucer. { Slack, Slack´en } v. t.
1. To render slack; to make less tense or firm; as to slack a rope; to slacken a bandage. Wycklif (Acts xxvii. 40)
2. To neglect; to be remiss in. [Obs.] Shak.
"Slack not the pressage." Dryden.
3. To deprive of cohesion by combining chemically with water; to slake; as to slack lime.
4. To cause to become less eager; to repress; to make slow or less rapid; to retard; as to slacken pursuit; to slacken industry. "Rancor for to slack." Chaucer.
"I should be grieved, young prince, to think my presence
Unbent your thoughts, and slackened ’em to arms." Addison.
"In this business of growing rich, poor men should slack their pace." South.
"With such delay
Well plased, they slack their course." Milton.
5. To cause to become less intense; to mitigate; to abate; to ease.
"To respite, or deceive, or slack thy pain
Of this ill mansion." Milton. Air-slacked lime, lime slacked by exposure to the air, in consequence of the absorption of carton dioxide and water, by which it is converted into carbonate of lime and hydrate of lime.
Slackness
Slack´ness, n. The quality or state of being slack.
Slag, n. [Sw. slagg, or LG. slacke, whence G. schlacke; originally, perhaps, the splinters struck off from the metal by hammering. See Slay, v. t.]
1. The dross, or recrement, of a metal; also vitrified cinders.
2. The scoria of a volcano. Slag furnace, or Slag hearth (Metal.), a furnace, or hearth, for extracting lead from slags or poor ore. — Slag wool, mineral wool. See under Mineral.
Slag, v. i. & t. [ imp. & p. p. Slagged p. pr. & vb. n. Slagging.] (Metal.) To form, or form into, a slag; to agglomerate when heated below the fusion point.
Slaggy
Slag´gy, a. Of or pertaining to slag; resembling slag; as slaggy cobalt.
Slaie, n. [See Sley.] A weaver’s reed; a sley.
Slake, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Slaked p. pr. & vb. n. Slaking.] [OE. slaken to render slack, to slake, AS. sleacian, fr. sleac slack. See Slack, v. & a. ]
1. To allay; to quench; to extinguish; as to slake thirst. "And slake the heavenly fire." Spenser.
"It could not slake mine ire nor ease my heart." Shak.
2. To mix with water, so that a true chemical combination shall take place; to slack; as to slake lime.
Slam, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Slammed p. pr. & vb. n. Slamming.] [Of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. slamra, slambra, slma, Norw. slemba, slemma, dial. Sw. slämma.]
1. To shut with force and a loud noise; to bang; as he slammed the door.
2. To put in or on some place with force and loud noise; — usually with down; as to slam a trunk down on the pavement.
3. To strike with some implement with force; hence, to beat or cuff. [Prov. Eng.]
4. To strike down; to slaughter. [Prov. Eng.]
5. To defeat (opponents at cards) by winning all the tricks of a deal or a hand. Hoyle. To slam to, to shut or close with a slam. "He slammed to the door." W. D. Howells.
Slander
Slan´der, n. [OE. sclandere, OF. esclandre, esclandle, escandre, F. esclandre, fr. L. scandalum, Gr. a snare, stumbling block, offense, scandal; probably originally, the spring of a trap, and akin to Skr. skand to spring, leap. See Scan, and cf. Scandal.]
1. A false tale or report maliciously uttered, tending to injure the reputation of another; the malicious utterance of defamatory reports; the dissemination of malicious tales or suggestions to the injury of another.
"Whether we speak evil of a man to his face or behind his back; the former way, indeed, seems to be the most generous, but yet is a great fault, and that which we call "reviling;" the latter is more mean and base, and that which we properly call "slander", or "Backbiting."" Tillotson.
"[We] make the careful magistrate
The mark of slander." B. Jonson.
2. Disgrace; reproach; dishonor; opprobrium.
"Thou slander of thy mother’s heavy womb." Shak.
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 Defamation. Burril.
Slander
Slan´der, 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.
"O, do not slander him, for he is kind." Shak.
2. To bring discredit or shame upon by one’s acts.
"Tax not so bad a voice
To slander music any more than once." Shak.
Syn. — To asperse; defame; calumniate; vilify; malign; belie; scandalize; reproach. See Asperse.
Slanderer
Slan´der•er, n. One who slanders; a defamer; a calumniator. Jer. Taylor.
Slang, imp. of Sling. Slung. [Archaic]
Slang, n. Any long, narrow piece of land; a promontory. [Local, Eng.] Holland.
Slang, n. [Cf. Sling.] A fetter worn on the leg by a convict. [Eng.]
Slang, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Slanged p. pr. & vb. n. Slanging.] To address with slang or ribaldry; to insult with vulgar language. [Colloq.]
"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.
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.
"On the side of younder slanting hill." Dodsley.
Slant, a. [Cf. dial. Sw. slant. See Slant, v. i.] Inclined from a direct line, whether horizontal or perpendicular; sloping; oblique. "The slant lightning." Milton.
Slap, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Slapped p. pr. & vb. n. Slapping.] To strike with the open hand, or with something broad.
Slap, adv. [Cf. LG. slap, G. schlapp. See Slap, n. ] With a sudden and violent blow; hence, quickly; instantly; directly. [Colloq.] "The railroad cars drive slap into the city." Thackeray.
Slapeface
Slape´face, n. A soft-spoken, crafty hypocrite. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
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.
2. To lash; to ply the whip to. [R.] King.
3. To crack or snap, as a whip. [R.] Dr. H. More.
Slash, n.
1. A long cut; a cut made at random.
2. A large slit in the material of any garment, made to show the lining through the openings.
3. [Cf. Slashy.] pl. Swampy or wet lands overgrown with bushes. [Local, U.S.] Bartlett.
Slasher
Slash´er, n. (Textile Manuf.) A machine for applying size to warp yarns.
Slashy
Slash´y, a. [Cf. Sw. slaska to dabble in water. Cf. Slush.] Wet and dirty; slushy. [Prov. Eng.]
Slat, n. [CF. Slot a bar.] A thin, narrow strip or bar of wood or metal; as the slats of a window blind.
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.]
"How did you kill him? Slat[t]ed his brains out." Marston.
2. To split; to crack. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
3. To set on; to incite. See 3d Slate. [Prov. Eng.]
Slatch, n. [See Slack.] (Naut.) (a) The period of a transitory breeze. (b) An interval of fair weather. (c) The loose or slack part of a rope; slack.
Slate, n. [OE. slat, OF. esclat a shiver, splinter, F. eclat, fr. OF. esclater to shiver, to chip, F. eclater, fr. OHG. sliezen to tear, slit, split, fr. slizan to slit, G. schleissen. See Slit, v. t., and cf. Eclat.]
1. (Min.) An argillaceous rock which readily splits into thin plates; argillite; argillaceous schist.
2. Any rock or stone having a slaty structure.
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.
4. An artificial material, resembling slate, and used for the above purposes.
5. A thin plate of any material; a flake. [Obs.]
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. Adhesive slate (Min.), a kind of slate of a greenish gray color, which absorbs water rapidly, and adheres to the tongue; whence the name. — Aluminous slate, or Alum slate (Min.), a kind of slate containing sulphate of alumina, — used in the manufacture of alum. — Bituminous slate (Min.), a soft species of sectile clay slate, impregnated with bitumen. — Hornblende slate (Min.), a slaty rock, consisting essentially of hornblende and feldspar, useful for flagging on account of its toughness. — Slate ax or axe, a mattock with an ax end, used in shaping slates for roofs, and making holes in them for the nails. — 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. — Slate globe, a globe the surface of which is made of an artificial slatelike material. — Slate pencil, a pencil of slate, or of soapstone, used for writing on a slate. — Slate rocks (Min.), rocks which split into thin laminae, not necessarily parallel to the stratification; foliated rocks. — Slate spar (Min.), a variety of calcite of silvery white luster and of a slaty structure. — 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.
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.
2. To register (as on a slate and subject to revision), for an appointment. [Polit. Cant]
Slate, v. t. [Cf. AS. slaeting a privilege of hunting.] To set a dog upon; to bait; to slat. See 2d Slat, 3. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] [Written also slete.] Ray.
Slater
Slat´er, n. One who lays slates, or whose occupation is to slate buildings.
Slatt, n. [See Slat a strip of board.] A slab of stone used as a veneer for coarse masonry. Knight.
Slattern
Slat´tern, n. A woman who is negligent of her dress or house; one who is not neat and nice.
Slattern
Slat´tern, a. Resembling a slattern; sluttish; slatterny. "The slattern air." Gay.
Slaty
Slat´y, a. [From Slate.] 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. 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. — Slaty gneiss (Min.), a variety of gneiss in which the scales of mica or crystals of hornblende, which are usually minute, form thin laminae, rendering the rock easily cleavable.
Slaughter
Slaugh´ter, n. [OE. slautir, slaughter, slaghter, Icel. slatr slain flesh, modified by OE. slaught, slaht, slaughter, fr. AS. sleaht a stroke, blow; both from the root of E. slay. See Slay, v. t., and cf. Onslaught.] The act of killing. Specifically: (a) The extensive, violent, bloody, or wanton destruction of life; carnage.
"On war and mutual slaughter bent." Milton. (b) The act of killing cattle or other beasts for market.
Syn. — Carnage; massacre; butchery; murder; havoc.
Slaughter
Slaugh´ter, 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.
"Your castle is surprised; your wife and babes
Savagely slaughtered." Shak.
2. To butcher; to kill for the market, as beasts.
Slaughterhouse
Slaugh´ter•house, n. A house where beasts are butchered for the market.
Slaughterman
Slaugh´ter•man, n. ; pl. Slaughtermen . One employed in slaughtering. Shak.
Slaughterous
Slaugh´ter•ous, a. Destructive; murderous. Shak. M. Arnold. — Slaugh´ter•ous•ly, adv.
Slav, 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. Loud.] (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.]
Slave, 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 Slav.]
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.
" thou our slave,
Our captive, at the public mill our drudge?" Milton.
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.
3. A drudge; one who labors like a slave.
4. An abject person; a wretch. Shak. 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. — Slave catcher, one who attempted to catch and bring back a fugitive slave to his master. — Slave coast, part of the western coast of Africa to which slaves were brought to be sold to foreigners. — Slave driver, one who superintends slaves at their work; hence, figuratively, a cruel taskmaster. — 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. — Slave ship, a vessel employed in the slave trade or used for transporting slaves; a slaver. — Slave trade, the business of dealing in slaves, especially of buying them for transportation from their homes to be sold elsewhere. — Slave trader, one who traffics in slaves.
Syn. — Bond servant; bondman; bondslave; captive; henchman; vassal; dependent; drudge. See Serf.
Slave, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Slaved p. pr. & vb. n. Slaving.] To drudge; to toil; to labor as a slave.
Slaver
Slav´er, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Slavered p. pr. & vb. n. Slavering.] [Cf. Icel. slafra. See Slabber.]
1. To suffer spittle, etc., to run from the mouth.
2. To be besmeared with saliva. Shak.
Slaver
Slav´er, v. t. To smear with saliva issuing from the mouth; to defile with drivel; to slabber.
Slavering
Slav´er•ing, a. Drooling; defiling with saliva. — Slav´er•ing•ly, adv.
Slavery
Slav´er•y, n. ; pl. Slaveries (#). [See 2d Slave.]
1. The condition of a slave; the state of entire subjection of one person to the will of another.
"Disguise thyself as thou wilt, still, slavery, said I, still thou art a bitter draught!" Sterne.
"I wish, from my soul, that the legislature of this state [Virginia] could see the policy of a gradual abolition of slavery. It might prevent much future mischief." Washington.
2. A condition of subjection or submission characterized by lack of freedom of action or of will.
"The vulgar slaveries rich men submit to." C. Lever.
"There is a slavery that no legislation can abolish, — the slavery of caste." G. W. Cable.
3. The holding of slaves.
Syn. — Bondage; servitude; inthrallment; enslavement; captivity; bond service; vassalage.
Slavic
Slav´ic, a. Slavonic. — n. The group of allied languages spoken by the Slavs.
Slavism
Slav´ism, n. The common feeling and interest of the Slavonic race.
Slaw, n. [D. sla, contr. fr. salade, OD. salaet, salad. See Salad.] Sliced cabbage served as a salad, cooked or uncooked. { Slaw, Slaw´en }, obs. p. p. of Slee, to slay.
"With a sword drawn out he would have slaw himself." Wyclif (Acts xvi. 27.)
Slay, v. t. [ imp. Slew p. p. Slain p. pr. & vb. n. Slaying.] [OE. slan, sln, sleen, slee, AS. sleán to strike, beat, slay; akin to OFries. sla, D. slaan, OS. & OHG. slahan, G. schlagen, Icel. sla, Dan. slaae, Sw. sl, Goth. slahan; perhaps akin to L. lacerare to tear to pieces, Gr., E. lacerate. Cf. Slaughter, Sledge a hammer, Sley.] To put to death with a weapon, or by violence; hence, to kill; to put an end to; to destroy.
"With this sword then will I slay you both." Chaucer.
"I will slay the last of them with the sword." Amos ix. 1.
"I’ll slay more gazers than the basilisk." Shak.
Syn. — To kill; murder; slaughter; butcher.
Slayer
Slay´er, n. One who slays; a killer; a murderer; a destroyer of life.
Sleave, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Sleaved (slevd); p. pr. & vb. n. Sleaving.] To separate, as threads; to divide, as a collection of threads; to sley; — a weaver’s term.
Sleaved (slevd), a. Raw; not spun or wrought; as sleaved thread or silk. Holinshed.
Sled (sled), n. [Akin to D. slede, G. schlitten, OHG. slito, Icel. sleði, Sw. släde, Dan. slaede, and E. slide, v. See Slide, and cf. Sledge a vehicle, Sleigh.]
1. A vehicle on runners, used for conveying loads over the snow or ice; — in England called sledge.
2. A small, light vehicle with runners, used, mostly by young persons, for sliding on snow or ice.
Sled, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Sledded; p. pr. & vb. n. Sledding.] To convey or transport on a sled; as to sled wood or timber.
Sledge (slej), n. [Perhaps from sleds, pl. of sled, confused with sledge a hammer. See Sled, n. ]
1. A strong vehicle with low runners or low wheels; or one without wheels or runners, made of plank slightly turned up at one end, used for transporting loads upon the snow, ice, or bare ground; a sled.
2. A hurdle on which, formerly, traitors were drawn to the place of execution. [Eng.] Sir W. Scott.
3. A sleigh. [Eng.]
4. A game at cards; — called also old sledge, and all fours.
Sledge (slej), v. i. & t. [ imp. & p. p. Sledged (slejd); p. pr. & vb. n. Sledging.] To travel or convey in a sledge or sledges. Howitt.
Sledge, n. [AS. slecge,from sleán to strike, beat. See Slay, v. t.] A large, heavy hammer, usually wielded with both hands; — called also sledge hammer.
"With his heavy sledge he can it beat." Spenser.
Slee (sle), v. t. [See Slay.] To slay. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Sleek (slek), a. [ Compar. Sleeker (-er); superl. Sleekest.] [OE. slik; akin to Icel. slikr, and OE. sliken to glide, slide, G. schleichen, OHG. slihhan, D. slik, slijk, mud, slime, and E. slink. Cf. Slick, Slink.]
1. Having an even, smooth surface; smooth; hence, glossy; as sleek hair. Chaucer.
"So sleek her skin, so faultless was her make." Dryden.
2. Not rough or harsh.
"Those rugged names to our like mouths grow sleek." Milton.
Sleek, adv. With ease and dexterity. [Low]
Sleek, n. That which makes smooth; varnish. [R.]
Sleek, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Sleeked p. pr. & vb. n. Sleeking.] To make even and smooth; to render smooth, soft, and glossy; to smooth over.
"Sleeking her soft alluring locks." Milton.
"Gentle, my lord, sleek o’er your rugged looks." Shak.
Sleekness
Sleek´ness, n. The quality or state of being sleek; smoothness and glossiness of surface.
Sleep, obs. imp. of Sleep. Slept. Chaucer.
Sleep, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Slept p. pr. & vb. n. Sleeping.] [OE. slepen, AS. slpan; akin to OFries. slpa, OS. slapan, D. slapen, OHG. slafan, G. schlafen, Goth. slpan, and G. schlaff slack, loose, and L. labi to glide, slide, labare to totter. Cf. Lapse.]
1. To take rest by a suspension of the voluntary exercise of the powers of the body and mind, and an apathy of the organs of sense; to slumber. Chaucer.
"Watching at the head of these that sleep." Milton.
2. Figuratively: (a) To be careless, inattentive, or uncouncerned; not to be vigilant; to live thoughtlessly.
"We sleep over our happiness." Atterbury. (b) To be dead; to lie in the grave.
"Them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him." 1 Thess. iv. 14. (c) To be, or appear to be, in repose; to be quiet; to be unemployed, unused, or unagitated; to rest; to lie dormant; as a question sleeps for the present; the law sleeps.
"How sweet the moonlight sleep upon this bank!" Shak.
Sleep, n. [AS. slaep; akin to OFries. slep, OS. slap, D. slaap, OHG. slaf, G. schlaf, Goth. sleps. See Sleep, v. i.] A natural and healthy, but temporary and periodical, suspension of the functions of the organs of sense, as well as of those of the voluntary and rational soul; that state of the animal in which there is a lessened acuteness of sensory perception, a confusion of ideas and a loss of mental control, followed by a more or less unconscious state. "A man that waketh of his sleep." Chaucer.
"O sleep, thou ape of death." Shak. Sleep is attended by a relaxation of the muscles, and the absence of voluntary activity for any rational objects or purpose. The pulse is slower, the respiratory movements fewer in number but more profound, and there is less blood in the cerebral vessels. It is susceptible of greater or less intensity or completeness in its control of the powers. Sleep of plants (Bot.), a state of plants, usually at night, when their leaflets approach each other, and the flowers close and droop, or are covered by the folded leaves.
Syn. — Slumber; repose; rest; nap; doze; drowse.
Sleeper
Sleep´er, n.
1. One who sleeps; a slumberer; hence, a drone, or lazy person.
2. That which lies dormant, as a law. [Obs.] Bacon.
3. A sleeping car. [Colloq. U.S.]
4. (Zoöl.) An animal that hibernates, as the bear.
5. (Zoöl.) (a) A large fresh-water gobioid fish ( Eleotris dormatrix). (b) A nurse shark. See under Nurse.
Sleeper
Sleep´er, n. [Cf. Norw. sleip a sleeper (a timber), as adj., slippery, smooth. See Slape.] Something lying in a reclining posture or position. Specifically: — (a) One of the pieces of timber, stone, or iron, on or near the level of the ground, for the support of some superstructure, to steady framework, to keep in place the rails of a railway, etc.; a stringpiece. (b) One of the joists, or roughly shaped timbers, laid directly upon the ground, to receive the flooring of the ground story. [U.S.] (c) (Naut.) One of the knees which connect the transoms to the after timbers on the ship’s quarter. (d) (Naut.) The lowest, or bottom, tier of casks.
Sleepful
Sleep´ful, a. Strongly inclined to sleep; very sleepy. — Sleep´ful•ness, n.
Sleepiness
Sleep´i•ness, n. The quality or state of being sleepy.
Sleeping
Sleep´ing, a. & n. from Sleep. Sleeping car, a railway car or carrriage, arranged with apartments and berths for sleeping. — Sleeping partner (Com.), a dormant partner. See under Dormant. — Sleeping table (Mining), a stationary inclined platform on which pulverized ore is washed; a kind of buddle.
Sleepwaker
Sleep´wak•er, n. On in a state of magnetic or mesmeric sleep.
Sleepwaking
Sleep´wak•ing, n. The state of one mesmerized, or in a partial and morbid sleep.
Sleepwalker
Sleep´walk•er, n. One who walks in his sleep; a somnambulist.
Sleepy
Sleep´y, a. [ Compar. Sleepier superl. Sleepiest.] [AS. slpig. See Sleep, n. ]
1. Drowsy; inclined to, or overcome by, sleep. Shak.
"She waked her sleepy crew." Dryden.
2. Tending to induce sleep; soporiferous; somniferous; as a sleepy drink or potion. Chaucer.
3. Dull; lazy; heavy; sluggish. Shak.
"’Tis not sleepy business;
But must be looked to speedily and strongly." Shak.
4. Characterized by an absence of watchfulness; as sleepy security. Sleepy duck (Zoöl.), the ruddy duck.
Sleet, n. (Gun.) The part of a mortar extending from the chamber to the trunnions.
Sleet, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Sleeted; p. pr. & vb. n. Sleeting.] To snow or hail with a mixture of rain.
Sleetch, n. [Cf. Slush, Slutch.] Mud or slime, such as that at the bottom of rivers. [Scot.]
Sleeve, n. See Sleave, untwisted thread.
Sleeve, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Sleeved p. pr. & vb. n. Sleeving.] To furnish with sleeves; to put sleeves into; as to sleeve a coat.
Sleeved, a. Having sleeves; furnished with sleeves; — often in composition; as long- sleeved.
Sleevehand
Sleeve´hand, n. The part of a sleeve nearest the hand; a cuff or wristband. [Obs.] Shak.
Sleid, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Sleided; p. pr. & vb. n. Sleiding.] [See Sley.] To sley, or prepare for use in the weaver’s sley, or slaie. Shak.
Sleigh, a. Sly. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Sleigh, n. [Cf. D. & LG. slede, slee, Icel. slei. See Sled.] A vehicle moved on runners, and used for transporting persons or goods on snow or ice; — in England commonly called a sledge. Sleigh bell, a small bell attached either to a horse when drawing a slegh, or to the sleigh itself; especially a globular bell with a loose ball which plays inside instead of a clapper.
Sleight, n. [OE. sleighte, sleihte, sleithe, Icel. slg (for slg) slyness, cunning, fr. slgr (for slgr) sly, cunning. See Sly.]
1. Cunning; craft; artful practice. [Obs.] "His sleight and his covin." Chaucer.
2. An artful trick; sly artifice; a feat so dexterous that the manner of performance escapes observation.
"The world hath many subtle sleights." Latimer.
3. Dexterous practice; dexterity; skill. Chaucer. "The juggler’s sleight." Hudibras. Sleight of hand, legerdemain; prestidigitation.
Slender
Slen´der, 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.
"She, as a veil down to the slender waist,
Her unadorned golden tresses wore." Milton.
2. Weak; feeble; not strong; slight; as slender hope; a slender constitution.
"Mighty hearts are held in slender chains." Pope.
"They have inferred much from slender premises." J. H. Newman.
"The slender utterance of the consonants." J. Byrne.
3. Moderate; trivial; inconsiderable; slight; as a man of slender intelligence.
"A slender degree of patience will enable him to enjoy both the humor and the pathos." Sir W. Scott.
4. Small; inadequate; meager; pitiful; as slender means of support; a slender pittance.
"Frequent begging makes slender alms." Fuller.
5. Spare; abstemious; frugal; as a slender diet.
"The good Ostorius often deigned
To grace my slender table with his presence." Philips.
6. (Phon.) Uttered with a thin tone; — the opposite of broad; as the slender vowels long e and i. — Slen´der•ly, adv. — Slen´der•ness, n.
Slent, n. & v. See Slant. [Obs.]
Slep, obs. imp. of Sleep. Slept. Chaucer.
Sleuth, n. [Icel. sloð. See Slot a track.] The track of man or beast as followed by the scent. [Scot.] Halliwell.
Sleuthhound
Sleuth´hound, n. [See Sleuth, and cf. Slothound.] (Zoöl.) A hound that tracks animals by the scent; specifically, a bloodhound. [Spelt variously slouthhound, sluthhound, etc.]
Slew (sloo), n. [See Slough 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.
Sley, n. [AS. sl, fr. sleán to strike. See Slay, v. t.]
1. A weaver’s reed. [Spelt also slaie.]
2. A guideway in a knitting machine. Knight.
Sley, v. t. To separate or part the threads of, and arrange them in a reed; — a term used by weavers. See Sleave, and Sleid.
Slice, n. [OE. slice, sclice, OF. esclice, from esclicier, esclichier, to break to pieces, of German origin; cf. OHG. slizan to split, slit, tear, G. schleissen to slit. See Slit, v. t.]
1. A thin, broad piece cut off; as a slice of bacon; a slice of cheese; a slice of bread.
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. 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.
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.
2. To cut into parts; to divide.
3. To clear by means of a slice bar, as a fire or the grate bars of a furnace.
Slicer
Sli´cer, n. One who, or that which, slices; specifically, the circular saw of the lapidary. { Slich, Slick }, n. (Metal.) See Schlich.
Slick, a. [See Sleek.] Sleek; smooth. "Both slick and dainty." Chapman.
Slick, v. t. To make sleek or smoth. "Slicked all with sweet oil." Chapman.
Slickens
Slick´ens, n. [Cf. Slick, n. ] (Mining) The pulverized matter from a quartz mill, or the lighter soil of hydraulic mines. [Local, U. S.]
Slicking
Slick´ing, n.
1. The act or process of smoothing.
2. pl. (Min.) Narrow veins of ore.
Slickness
Slick´ness, n. The state or quality of being slick; smoothness; sleekness.
Slidder
Slid´der, v. t. [AS. sliderian. See Slide, v. t.] To slide with interruption. [Obs.] Dryden. { Slid´der, Slid´der•ly, Slid´der•y }, a. [AS. slidor. See Slide, v. t.] Slippery. [Obs.]
"To a drunk man the way is slidder." Chaucer.
Slide, v. t. [ imp. Slid p. p. Slidden, Slid; p. pr. & vb. n. Slidding ] [OE. sliden, AS. slidan; akin to MHG. sliten, also to AS. slidor slippery, E. sled, Lith. slidus slippery. Cf. Sled.]
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.
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.
"They bathe in summer, and in winter slide." Waller.
3. To pass inadvertently.
"Beware thou slide not by it." Ecclus. xxviii. 26.
4. To pass along smoothly or unobservedly; to move gently onward without friction or hindrance; as a ship or boat slides through the water.
"Ages shall slide away without perceiving." Dryden.
"Parts answering parts shall slide into a whole." Pope.
5. To slip when walking or standing; to fall.
"Their foot shall slide in due time." Deut. xxxii. 35.
6. (Mus.) To pass from one note to another with no perceptible cassation of sound.
7. To pass out of one’s thought as not being of any consequence. [Obs. or Colloq.]
"With good hope let he sorrow slide." Chaucer.
"With a calm carelessness letting everything slide." Sir P. Sidney.
Slide, n. [AS. slide.]
1. The act of sliding; as a slide on the ice.
2. Smooth, even passage or progress.
"A better slide into their business." Bacon.
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.
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.
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.
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.
7. (Geol.) A small dislocation in beds of rock along a line of fissure. Dana.
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.
9. (Phonetics) A sound which, by a gradual change in the position of the vocal organs, passes imperceptibly into another sound.
10. (Steam Engine) (a) Same as Guide bar, under Guide. (b) A slide valve. Slide box (Steam Engine), a steam chest. See under Steam. — Slide lathe, an engine lathe. See under Lathe. — Slide rail, a transfer table. See under Transfer. — 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. — 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. — 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. 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.
Slider
Slid´er, a. See Slidder. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Sliding
Slid´ing, a.
1. That slides or slips; gliding; moving smoothly.
2. Slippery; elusory. [Obs.]
"That sliding science hath me made so bare." Chaucer. Sliding friction (Mech.), the resistance one body meets with in sliding along the surface of another, as distinguished from rolling friction. — Sliding gunter (Naut.), a topmast arranged with metallic fittings so as to be hoisted and lowered by means of halyards. — Sliding keel (Naut), a movable keel, similar to a centeboard. — Sliding pair. (Mech.) See the Note under Pair, n. , 7. — Sliding rule. Same as Slide rule, under Slide, n. — 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. — Sliding ways (Naut.), the timber guides used in launching a vessel.
Slight, a. [ Compar. Slighter superl. Slightest.] [OE. slit, sleght, probably from OD. slicht, slecht, simple, plain, D. slecht; akin to OFries. sliucht, G. schlecht, schlicht, OHG. sleht smooth, simple, Icel. slttr 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.
"Slight is the subject, but not so the praise." Pope.
"Some firmly embrace doctrines upon slight grounds." Locke.
2. Not stout or heavy; slender.
"His own figure, which was formerly so slight." Sir W. Scott.
3. Foolish; silly; weak in intellect. Hudibras.
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.
"The wretch who slights the bounty of the skies." Cowper. To slight off, to treat slightingly; to drive off; to remove. [R.] — 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.
Syn. — To neglect; disregard; disdain; scorn. — Slight, Neglect. 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.
"Beware … lest the like befall …
If they transgress and slight that sole command." Milton.
"This my long-sufferance, and my day of grace,
Those who neglect and scorn shall never taste." Milton.
Slight, adv. Slightly. [Obs. or Poetic]
"Think not so slight of glory." Milton.
Slighting
Slight´ing, a. Characterized by neglect or disregard.
Slightly
Slight´ly, adv.
1. In a slight manner.
2. Slightingly; negligently. [Obs.] Shak.
Slik (slik), a. [See Such.] Such. [Obs. or Scot.] Used by Chaucer as of the Northern dialect.
Slily
Sli´ly, adv. See Slyly. South.
Slim (slim), 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.]
2. Weak; slight; unsubstantial; poor; as a slim argument. "That was a slim excuse." Barrow.
3. Of small diameter or thickness in proportion to the height or length; slender; as a slim person; a slim tree. Grose.
Slime, n. [OE. slim, AS. slim; akin to D. slijm, G. schleim, MHG. slimen to make smooth, Icel. slim 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.
"As it [Nilus] ebbs, the seedsman
Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain." Shak.
2. Any mucilaginous substance; any substance of a dirty nature, that is moist, soft, and adhesive.
3. (Script.) Bitumen. [Archaic]
"Slime had they for mortar." Gen. xi. 3.
4. pl. (Mining) Mud containing metallic ore, obtained in the preparatory dressing. Pryce.
5. (Physiol.) A mucuslike substance which exudes from the bodies of certain animals. Goldsmith. Slime eel. (Zoöl.) See 1st Hag, 4. — Slime pit, a pit for the collection of slime or bitumen.
Slime, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Slimed p. pr. & vb. n. Sliming.] To smear with slime. Tennyson.
Sliminess
Slim´i•ness, n. The quality or state of being slimy.
Slimly
Slim´ly, adv. In a state of slimness; in a slim manner; slenderly.
Slimy
Slim´y, a. [ Compar. Slimier superl. Slimiest.] Of or pertaining to slime; resembling slime; of the nature of slime; viscous; glutinous; also covered or daubed with slime; yielding, or abounding in, slime.
"Slimy things did crawl with legs
Upon the slimy sea." Coleridge.
Sling, n. [OE. slinge; akin to OD. slinge, D. slinger, OHG. slinga; cf. OF. eslingue, of German origin. See Sling, v. t.]
1. An instrument for throwing stones or other missiles, consisting of a short strap with two strings fastened to its ends, or with a string fastened to one end and a light stick to the other. The missile being lodged in a hole in the strap, the ends of the string are taken in the hand, and the whole whirled rapidly round until, by loosing one end, the missile is let fly with centrifugal force.
2. The act or motion of hurling as with a sling; a throw; figuratively, a stroke.
"The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune." Shak.
"At one sling
Of thy victorius arm, well-pleasing Son." Milton.
3. A contrivance for sustaining anything by suspension; as: (a) A kind of hanging bandage put around the neck, in which a wounded arm or hand is supported. (b) A loop of rope, or a rope or chain with hooks, for suspending a barrel, bale, or other heavy object, in hoisting or lowering. (c) A strap attached to a firearm, for suspending it from the shoulder. (d) (Naut.) A band of rope or iron for securing a yard to a mast; — chiefly in the plural. Sling cart, a kind of cart used to transport cannon and their carriages, large stones, machines, etc., the objects transported being slung, or suspended by a chain attached to the axletree. — Sling dog, one of a pair of iron hooks used as part of a sling. See def. 3 (b) above.
Sling, v. t. [ imp. Slung, Archaic Slang ; p. p. Slung; p. pr. & vb. n. Slinging.] [AS. slingan; akin to D. slingeren, G. schlingen, to wind, to twist, to creep, OHG. slingan to wind, to twist, to move to and fro, Icel. slyngva, slöngva, to sling, Sw. slunga, Dan. slynge, Lith. slinkti to creep.]
1. To throw with a sling. "Every one could sling stones at an hairbreadth, and not miss." Judg. xx. 16.
2. To throw; to hurl; to cast. Addison.
3. To hang so as to swing; as to sling a pack.
4. (Naut) To pass a rope round, as a cask, gun, etc., preparatory to attaching a hoisting or lowering tackle.
Slink, v. t. [ imp. Slunk, Archaic Slank ; p. p. Slunk; p. pr. & vb. n. Slinking.] [AS. slincan; probably akin to G. schleichen, E. sleek. See Sleek, a. ]
1. To creep away meanly; to steal away; to sneak. "To slink away and hide." Tale of Beryn.
"Back to the thicket slunk
The guilty serpent." Milton.
"There were some few who slank obliquely from them as they passed." Landor.
2. To miscarry; — said of female beasts.
Slink, v. t. To cast prematurely; - - said of female beasts; as a cow that slinks her calf.
Slink, a.
1. Produced prematurely; as a slink calf.
2. Thin; lean. [Scot.]
Slip, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Slipped p. pr. & vb. n. Slipping.] [OE. slippen; akin to LG. & D. slippen, MHG. slipfen (cf. Dan. slippe, Sw. slippa, Icel. sleppa), and fr. OE. slipen, AS. slipan (in comp.), akin to G. schleifen to slide, glide, drag, whet, OHG. slifan to slide, glide, make smooth, Icel. slipa to whet; cf. also AS. slpan, Goth. sliupan, OS. slopian, OHG. sliofan, G. schliefen, schlpfen, which seem to come from a somewhat different root form. Cf. Slope, n. ]
1. To move along the surface of a thing without bounding, rolling, or stepping; to slide; to glide.
2. To slide; to lose one’s footing or one’s hold; not to tread firmly; as it is necessary to walk carefully lest the foot should slip.
3. To move or fly (out of place); to shoot; — often with out, off, etc.; as a bone may slip out of its place.
4. To depart, withdraw, enter, appear, intrude, or escape as if by sliding; to go or come in a quiet, furtive manner; as some errors slipped into the work.
"Thus one tradesman slips away,
To give his partner fairer play." Prior.
"Thrice the flitting shadow slipped away." Dryden.
5. To err; to fall into error or fault.
"There is one that slippeth in his speech, but not from his heart." Ecclus. xix. 16.To let slip, to loose from the slip or noose, as a hound; to allow to escape.
"Cry, "Havoc," and let slip the dogs of war." Shak.
Slip, v. t.
1. To cause to move smoothly and quickly; to slide; to convey gently or secretly.
"He tried to slip a powder into her drink." Arbuthnot.
2. To omit; to loose by negligence.
"And slip no advantage
That my secure you." B. Jonson.
3. To cut slips from; to cut; to take off; to make a slip or slips of; as to slip a piece of cloth or paper.
"The branches also may be slipped and planted." Mortimer.
4. To let loose in pursuit of game, as a greyhound.
"Lucento slipped me like his greyhound." Shak.
5. To cause to slip or slide off, or out of place; as a horse slips his bridle; a dog slips his collar.
6. To bring forth (young) prematurely; to slink. To slip a cable. (Naut.) See under Cable. — To slip off, to take off quickly; as to slip off a coat. — To slip on, to put on in haste or loosely; as to slip on a gown or coat.
Slip, n. [AS. slipe, slip.]
1. The act of slipping; as a slip on the ice.
2. An unintentional error or fault; a false step.
"This good man’s slip mended his pace to martyrdom." Fuller.
3. A twig separated from the main stock; a cutting; a scion; hence, a descendant; as a slip from a vine.
"A native slip to us from foreign seeds." Shak.
"The girlish slip of a Sicilian bride." R. Browning.
4. A slender piece; a strip; as a slip of paper.
"Moonlit slips of silver cloud." Tennyson.
"A thin slip of a girl, like a new moon
Sure to be rounded into beauty soon." Longfellow.
5. A leash or string by which a dog is held; - - so called from its being made in such a manner as to slip, or become loose, by relaxation of the hand.
"We stalked over the extensive plains with Killbuck and Lena in the slips, in search of deer." Sir S. Baker.
6. An escape; a secret or unexpected desertion; as to give one the slip. Shak.
7. (Print.) A portion of the columns of a newspaper or other work struck off by itself; a proof from a column of type when set up and in the galley.
8. Any covering easily slipped on. Specifically: (a) A loose garment worn by a woman. (b) A child’s pinafore. (c) An outside covering or case; as a pillow slip. (d) The slip or sheath of a sword, and the like. [R.]
9. A counterfeit piece of money, being brass covered with silver. [Obs.] Shak.
10. Matter found in troughs of grindstones after the grinding of edge tools. [Prov. Eng.] Sir W. Petty.
11. Potter’s clay in a very liquid state, used for the decoration of ceramic ware, and also as a cement for handles and other applied parts.
12. A particular quantity of yarn. [Prov. Eng.]
13. An inclined plane on which a vessel is built, or upon which it is hauled for repair.
14. An opening or space for vessels to lie in, between wharves or in a dock; as Peck slip. [U. S.]
15. A narrow passage between buildings. [Eng.]
16. A long seat or narrow pew in churches, often without a door. [U. S.]
17. (Mining.) A dislocation of a lead, destroying continuity. Knight.
18. (Engin.) The motion of the center of resistance of the float of a paddle wheel, or the blade of an oar, through the water horozontally, or the difference between a vessel’s actual speed and the speed which she would have if the propelling instrument acted upon a solid; also the velocity, relatively to still water, of the backward current of water produced by the propeller.
19. (Zoöl.) A fish, the sole.
20. (Cricket) A fielder stationed on the off side and to the rear of the batsman. There are usually two of them, called respectively short slip, and long slip. To give one the slip, to slip away from one; to elude one. — Slip dock. See under Dock. — Slip link (Mach.), a connecting link so arranged as to allow some play of the parts, to avoid concussion. — Slip rope (Naut.), a rope by which a cable is secured preparatory to slipping. Totten. — Slip stopper (Naut.), an arrangement for letting go the anchor suddenly.
Slipes, n. pl. [Cf. Slip, v. ] Sledge runners on which a skip is dragged in a mine.
Slipknot
Slip´knot, n. knot which slips along the rope or line around which it is made.
Slip-on
Slip´-on, n. A kind of overcoat worn upon the shoulders in the manner of a cloak. [Scot.]
Slippage
Slip´page, n. The act of slipping; also the amount of slipping.
Slipperiness
Slip´per•i•ness, n. The quality of being slippery.
Slippery
Slip´per•y, a. [See Slipper, a. ]
1. Having the quality opposite to adhesiveness; allowing or causing anything to slip or move smoothly, rapidly, and easily upon the surface; smooth; glib; as oily substances render things slippery.
2. Not affording firm ground for confidence; as a slippery promise.
"The slippery tops of human state." Cowley.
3. Not easily held; liable or apt to slip away.
"The slippery god will try to loose his hold." Dryden.
4. Liable to slip; not standing firm. Shak.
5. Unstable; changeable; mutable; uncertain; inconstant; fickle. "The slippery state of kings." Denham.
6. Uncertain in effect. L’Estrange.
7. Wanton; unchaste; loose in morals. Shak. Slippery elm. (Bot.) (a) An American tree ( Ulmus fulva) with a mucilagenous and slightly aromatic inner bark which is sometimes used medicinally; also the inner bark itself. (b) A malvaceous shrub ( Fremontia Californica); — so called on the Pacific coast.
Slippiness
Slip´pi•ness, n. Slipperiness. [R.] "The slippiness of the way." Sir W. Scott.
Slipstring
Slip´string, n. One who has shaken off restraint; a prodigal. [Obs.] Cotgrave.
Slish, n. [A corruption of slash.] A cut; as slish and slash. [Colloq.] Shak.
Slit, obs. 3d. pers. sing. pres. of Slide. Chaucer.
Slit, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Slit or Slitted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Slitting.] [OE. slitten, fr. sliten, AS. stitan to tear; akin to D. slijten to wear out, G. schleissen to slit, split, OHG. slizan to split, tear, wear out, Icel. stita to break, tear, wear out, Sw. slita, Dan. slide. Cf. Eclat, Slate, n. , Slice.]
1. To cut lengthwise; to cut into long pieces or strips; as to slit iron bars into nail rods; to slit leather into straps.
2. To cut or make a long fissure in or upon; as to slit the ear or the nose.
3. To cut; to sever; to divide. [Obs.]
"And slits the thin-spun life." Milton.
Slit, n. [AS. slite.] A long cut; a narrow opening; as a slit in the ear. Gill slit. (Anat.) See Gill opening, under Gill.
Slither
Slith´er, v. i. [Cf. G. schlittern, LG. schliddern. See Slide.] To slide; to glide. [Prov. Eng.]
Slitting
Slit´ting, a. & n. from Slit. Slitting file. See Illust. (i) of File. — Slitting mill. (a) A mill where iron bars or plates are slit into narrow strips, as nail rods, and the like. (b) A machine used by lapidaries for slicing stones, usually by means of a revolving disk, called a slicer, supplied with diamond powder. — Slitting roller, one of a pair of rollers furnished with ribs entering between similar ribs in the other roller, and cutting like shears, — used in slitting metals.
Slive, v. i. [Cf. Slip.] To sneak. [Prov. Eng.]
Sliver
Sliv´er, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Slivered p. pr. & vb. n. Slivering.] [See Slive, v. t.] To cut or divide into long, thin pieces, or into very small pieces; to cut or rend lengthwise; to slit; as to sliver wood. Shak.
"They ’ll sliver thee like a turnip." Sir W. Scott.
Sliver
Sliv´er, n.
1. A long piece cut ot rent off; a sharp, slender fragment; a splinter.
2. A strand, or slender roll, of cotton or other fiber in a loose, untwisted state, produced by a carding machine and ready for the roving or slubbing which preceeds spinning.
3. pl. Bait made of pieces of small fish. Cf. Kibblings. [Local, U.S.] Bartlett.
Sloakan
Sloak´an, n. (Bot.) A species of seaweed. [Spelled also slowcawn.] See 3d Laver.
Sloat, n. [See Slot a bar.] A narrow piece of timber which holds together large pieces; a slat; as the sloats of a cart.
Slobber
Slob´ber, v. t. & i. See Slabber.
Slobber
Slob´ber, n.
1. See Slabber.
2. (Zoöl.) A jellyfish. [Prov. Eng.]
3. pl. (Vet.) Salivation.
Slobberer
Slob´ber•er, n.
1. One who slobbers.
2. A slovenly farmer; a jobbing tailor. [Prov. Eng.]
Slobbery
Slob´ber•y, a. Wet; sloppy, as land. Shak. { Slock, Slock´en } v. t. To quench; to allay; to slake. See Slake. [Obs. or Scot.]
Slocking
Slock´ing, a. & n. from Slock. Slocking stone, a rich piece of ore displayed in order to tempt persons to embark in a mining enterprise.
Sloe, n. [OE. slo, AS. sla; akin to D. slee, G. schlehe, OHG. sl$ ha, Dan. slaaen, Sw. sln, perhaps originally, that which blunts the teeth, or sets them on edge (cf. Slow); cf. Lith. sliwa a plum, Russ. sliva.] (Bot.) A small, bitter, wild European plum, the fruit of the blackthorn ( Prunus spinosa); also the tree itself.
Slog, v. t. & i. [Cf. Slug, v. t.] To hit hard, esp. with little attention to aim or the like, as in cricket or boxing; to slug. [Cant or Slang]
Slogger
Slog´ger, n. A hard hitter; a slugger. [Cant or Slang] T. Hughes.
Sloggy
Slog´gy, a. Sluggish. [Obs.]
"Somnolence that is sloggy slumbering" Chaucer.
Sloke, n. (Bot.) See Sloakan. { Sloo, or Slue }, n. A slough; a run or wet place. See 2d Slough, 2.
Sloop, n. [D. sloep, of uncertain origin. Cf. Shallop.] (Naut.) A vessel having one mast and fore-and-aft rig, consisting of a boom-and-gaff mainsail, jibs, staysail, and gaff topsail. The typical sloop has a fixed bowsprit, topmast, and standing rigging, while those of a cutter are capable of being readily shifted. The sloop usually carries a centerboard, and depends for stability upon breadth of beam rather than depth of keel. The two types have rapidly approximated since 1880. One radical distinction is that a slop may carry a centerboard. See Cutter, and Illustration in Appendix. Sloop of war, formerly, a vessel of war rigged either as a ship, brig, or schooner, and mounting from ten to thirty-two guns; now, any war vessel larger than a gunboat, and carrying guns on one deck only.
Slop, n. [OE. sloppe a pool; akin to As. sloppe, slyppe, the sloppy droppings of a cow; cf. AS. slpan to slip, and E. slip, v.i. Cf. Cowslip.]
1. Water or other liquid carelessly spilled or thrown aboyt, as upon a table or a floor; a puddle; a soiled spot.
2. Mean and weak drink or liquid food; — usually in the plural.
3. pl. Dirty water; water in which anything has been washed or rinsed; water from wash-bowls, etc. Slop basin, or Slop bowl, a basin or bowl for holding slops, especially for receiving the rinsings of tea or coffee cups at the table. — Slop molding (Brickmaking), a process of manufacture in which the brick is carried to the drying ground in a wet mold instead of on a pallet.
Slop, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Slopped p. pr. & vb. n. Slopping.]
1. To cause to overflow, as a liquid, by the motion of the vessel containing it; to spill.
2. To spill liquid upon; to soil with a liquid spilled.
Slop, n. [AS. slop a frock or over-garment, fr. slpan to slip, to slide; akin to Icel sloppr a thin garment; cf. OHG. slouf a garment. Cf. Slip, v. i.]
1. Any kind of outer garment made of linen or cotton, as a night dress, or a smock frock. [Obs.] Halliwell.
2. A loose lower garment; loose breeches; chiefly used in the plural. "A pair of slops." Sir P. Sidney.
"There’s a French salutation to your French slop." Shak.
3. pl. Ready-made clothes; also among seamen, clothing, bedding, and other furnishings.
Slope, n. [Formed (like abode fr. abide) from OE. slipen. See Slip, v. i.]
1. An oblique direction; a line or direction including from a horizontal line or direction; also sometimes, an inclination, as of one line or surface to another.
2. Any ground whose surface forms an angle with the plane of the horizon.
" buildings the summit and slope of a hill." Macaulay.
"Under the slopes of Pisgah." Deut. iv. 49. (Rev. Ver.). A slope, considered as descending, is a declivity; considered as ascending, an acclivity. Slope of a plane (Geom.), the direction of the plane; as parallel planes have the same slope.
Slope, a. Sloping. "Down the slope hills." Milton.
"A bank not steep, but gently slope." Bacon.
Slope, adv. In a sloping manner. [Obs.] Milton.
Slope, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Sloped p. pr. & vb. n. Sloping.] To form with a slope; to give an oblique or slanting direction to; to direct obliquely; to incline; to slant; as to slope the ground in a garden; to slope a piece of cloth in cutting a garment.
Slopeness
Slope´ness, n. State of being slope. Sir H. Wotton.
Sloppiness
Slop´pi•ness, n. The quality or state of being sloppy; muddiness.
Sloppy
Slop´py, a. [ Compar. Sloppier superl. Sloppiest.] [From Slop.] Wet, so as to spatter easily; wet, as with something slopped over; muddy; plashy; as a sloppy place, walk, road.
Slopseller
Slop´sell•er, n. One who sells slops, or ready-made clothes. See 4th Slop, 3.
Slopshop
Slop´shop, n. A shop where slops. or ready-made clothes, are sold.
Slopy
Slop´y, a. Sloping; inclined. { Slosh, Slosh´y }. See Slush, Slushy.
Slot, n. [LG. & D. slot a lock, from a verb meaning to close., to shut, D. sluiten; akin to G. schliessen, OHG. sliozan, OFries. slta, and probably to L. claudere. Cf. Close, Sluice.]
1. A broad, flat, wooden bar; a slat or sloat.
2. A bolt or bar for fastening a door. [Prov. Eng.]
3. A narrow depression, perforation, or aperture; esp., one for the reception of a piece fitting or sliding in it.
Slot, v. t. [See Slot a bar.] To shut with violence; to slam; as to slot a door. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
Sloth, n. [OE. slouthe, sleuthe, AS. slw, fr. slaw slow. See Slow.]
1. Slowness; tardiness.
"These cardinals trifle with me; I abhor
This dilatory sloth and tricks of Rome." Shak.
2. Disinclination to action or labor; sluggishness; laziness; idleness.
"[They] change their course to pleasure, ease, and sloth." Milton.
"Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears." Franklin.
3. (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of arboreal edentates constituting the family Bradypodidae, and the suborder Tardigrada. They have long exserted limbs and long prehensile claws. Both jaws are furnished with teeth (see Illust. of Edentata), and the ears and tail are rudimentary. They inhabit South and Central America and Mexico. The three-toed sloths belong to the genera Bradypus and Arctopithecus, of which several species have been described. They have three toes on each foot. The best-known species are collared sloth ( Bradypus tridactylus), and the ai ( Arctopitheus ai). The two-toed sloths, consisting the genus Cholopus, have two toes on each fore foot and three on each hind foot. The best-known is the unau ( Cholopus didactylus) of South America. See Unau. Another species ( C. Hoffmanni) inhabits Central America. Various large extinct terrestrial edentates, such as Megatherium and Mylodon, are often called sloths. Australian, or Nativesloth (Zoöl.), the koala. — Sloth animalcule (Zoöl.), a tardigrade. — Sloth bear (Zoöl.), a black or brown long-haired bear ( Melursus ursinus, or labiatus), native of India and Ceylon; — called also aswail, labiated bear, and jungle bear. It is easily tamed and can be taught many tricks. — Sloth monkey (Zoöl.), a loris.
Slothhound
Sloth´hound, n. [See Slot a track, and cf. Sleuthhound.] (Zoöl.) See Sleuthhound.
Slotting
Slot´ting, n. The act or process of making slots, or mortises.
Slouch, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Slouched p. pr. & vb. n. Slouching.]
1. To droop, as the head.
2. To walk in a clumsy, lazy manner. [Colloq.]
Slouch, v. t. To cause to hang down; to depress at the side; as to slouth the hat.
Slough, a. Slow. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Slough, obs. imp. of Slee, to slay. Slew. Chaucer.
Slough, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Sloughed p. pr. & vb. n. Sloughing.] (Med.) To form a slough; to separate in the form of dead matter from the living tissues; — often used with off, or away; as a sloughing ulcer; the dead tissues slough off slowly.
Slovenliness
Slov´en•li•ness, n. The quality or state of being slovenly.
Slow (slo), obs. imp. of Slee, to slay. Slew. Chaucer.
Slow (slo), a. [ Compar. Slower superl. Slowest.] [OE. slow, slaw, AS. slaw; akin to OS. sleu blunt, dull, D. sleeuw, slee, sour, OHG. sleo blunt, dull, Icel. slor, slaer, Dan. slöv, Sw. slö. Cf. Sloe, and Sloth.]
1. Moving a short space in a relatively long time; not swift; not quick in motion; not rapid; moderate; deliberate; as a slow stream; a slow motion.
2. Not happening in a short time; gradual; late.
"These changes in the heavens, though slow, produced
Like change on sea and land, sidereal blast." Milton.
3. Not ready; not prompt or quick; dilatory; sluggish; as slow of speech, and slow of tongue.
"Fixed on defense, the Trojans are not slow
To guard their shore from an expected foe." Dryden.
4. Not hasty; not precipitate; acting with deliberation; tardy; inactive.
"He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding." Prov. xiv. 29.
5. Behind in time; indicating a time earlier than the true time; as the clock or watch is slow.
6. Not advancing or improving rapidly; as the slow growth of arts and sciences.
7. Heavy in wit; not alert, prompt, or spirited; wearisome; dull. [Colloq.] Dickens. Thackeray. Slow is often used in the formation of compounds for the most part self-explaining; as slow-gaited, slow- paced, slow-sighted, slow-winged, and the like. Slow coach, a slow person. See def.7, above. [Colloq.] — Slow lemur, orSlow loris (Zoöl.), an East Indian nocturnal lemurine animal ( Nycticebus tardigradus) about the size of a small cat; — so called from its slow and deliberate movements. It has very large round eyes and is without a tail. Called also bashful Billy. — Slow match. See under Match.
Syn. — Dilatory; late; lingering; tardy; sluggish; dull; inactive. — Slow, Tardy, Dilatory. Slow is the wider term, denoting either a want of rapid motion or inertness of intellect. Dilatory signifies a proneness to defer, a habit of delaying the performance of what we know must be done. Tardy denotes the habit of being behind hand; as tardy in making up one’s acounts.
Slow, adv. Slowly.
"Let him have time to mark how slow time goes
In time of sorrow." Shak.
Slow, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Slowed p. pr. & vb. n. Slowing.] To render slow; to slacken the speed of; to retard; to delay; as to slow a steamer. Shak.
Slow, v. i. To go slower; — often with up; as the train slowed up before crossing the bridge.
Slowback
Slow´back, n. A lubber; an idle fellow; a loiterer. [Old Slang] Dr. Favour.
Slowh, obs. imp. of Slee,to slay. Chaucer.
Slow-witted
Slow´-wit•ted, a. Dull of apprehension; not possessing quick intelligence.
Slowworm
Slow´worm, n. [AS. slawyrm; the first part is probably akin to sleán to strike, the reptile being supposed to be very poisonous. See Slay, v. t., and Worm.] (Zoöl.) A lecertilian reptile; the blindworm.
Slub, n. [Etymol. uncertain.] A roll of wool slightly twisted; a rove; — called also slubbing.
Slub, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Slubbed p. pr. & vb. n. Slubbing.] To draw out and twist slightly; — said of slivers of wool.
Slubber
Slub´ber, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Slubbered p. pr. & vb. n. Slubbering.] [Cf. Dan. slubbreto swallow, to sup up, D. slobberen to lap, to slabber. Cf. Slabber.]
1. To do lazily, imperfectly, or coarsely.
"Slubber not business for my sake." Shak.
2. To daub; to stain; to cover carelessly.
"There is no art that hath more … slubbered with aphorisming pedantry than the art of policy." Milton.
Slubberingly
Slub´ber•ing•ly, adv. In a slovenly, or hurried and imperfect, manner. [Low] Drayton.
Slubbing
Slub´bing, a. & n. from Slub. Slubbing billy, orSlubbing machine, the machine by which slubs are formed.
Sludge, n. [CF. Slush.]
1. Mud; mire; soft mud; slush. Mortimer. Tennyson.
2. Small floating pieces of ice, or masses of saturated snow. Kane.
3. (Mining) See Slime, 4. Sludge hole, the hand-hole, or manhole, in a steam boiler, by means of which sediment can be removed.
Sludge acid. Impure dark-colored sulphuric acid that has been used in the refining of petroleum.
Sludger
Slud´ger (sluj"er), n. A bucket for removing mud from a bored hole; a sand pump.
Slue, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Slued ; p. pr. & vb. n. Sluing .] [Prov. E. slew to turn round, Scot. to lean or incline to a side; cf. Icel. sna to turn, bend.] [Written also slew.]
1. (Naut.) To turn about a fixed point, usually the center or axis, as a spar or piece of timber; to turn; — used also of any heavy body.
2. In general, to turn about; to twist; — often used reflexively and followed by round. [Colloq.]
"They laughed, and slued themselves round." Dickens.
Slue, n. See Sloough, 2. [Local]
Slug, n. [OE. slugge slothful, sluggen to be slothful; cf. LG. slukk low- spirited, sad, E. slack, slouch, D. slak, slek, a snail.]
1. A drone; a slow, lazy fellow; a sluggard. Shak.
2. A hindrance; an obstruction. [Obs.] Bacon.
3. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of terrestrial pulmonate mollusks belonging to Limax and several related genera, in which the shell is either small and concealed in the mantle, or altogether wanting. They are closely allied to the land snails.
4. (Zoöl.) Any smooth, soft larva of a sawfly or moth which creeps like a mollusk; as the pear slug; rose slug.
5. A ship that sails slowly. [Obs.] Halliwell.
"His rendezvous for his fleet, and for all slugs to come to, should be between Calais and Dover." Pepys.
6. [Perhaps a different word.] An irregularly shaped piece of metal, used as a missile for a gun.
7. (Print.) A thick strip of metal less than type high, and as long as the width of a column or a page, — used in spacing out pages and to separate display lines, etc. Sea slug. (Zoöl.) (a) Any nudibranch mollusk. (b) A holothurian. — Slug caterpillar. Same as Slugworm.
Slug, v. i. To move slowly; to lie idle. [Obs.]
"To slug in sloth and sensual delight." Spenser.
Slug, v. t. To make sluggish. [Obs.] Milton.
Slug, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Slugged p. pr. & vb. n. Slugging ]
1. To load with a slug or slugs; as to slug a gun.
2. To strike heavily. [Cant or Slang]
Slugabed
Slug´a•bed, n. One who indulges in lying abed; a sluggard. [R.] "Fie, you slugabed!" Shak.
Slugger
Slug´ger, n. One who strikes heavy blows; hence, a boxer; a prize fighter. [Cant or Slang]
Sluggish
Slug´gish, a.
1. Habitually idle and lazy; slothful; dull; inactive; as a sluggish man.
2. Slow; having little motion; as a sluggish stream.
3. Having no power to move one’s self or itself; inert.
"Matter, being impotent, sluggish, and inactive, hath no power to stir or move itself." Woodward.
"And the sluggish land slumbers in utter neglect." Longfellow.
4. Characteristic of a sluggard; dull; stupid; tame; simple. [R.] "So sluggish a conceit." Milton.
Syn. — Inert; idle; lazy; slothful; indolent; dronish; slow; dull; drowsy; inactive. See Inert. — Slug´gish•ly, adv. — Slug´gish•ness, n.
Sluice, n. [OF. escluse, F. ecluse, LL. exclusa, sclusa, from L. excludere, exclusum, to shut out: cf. D. sluis sluice, from the Old French. See Exclude.]
1. An artifical passage for water, fitted with a valve or gate, as in a mill stream, for stopping or regulating the flow; also a water gate or flood gate.
2. Hence, an opening or channel through which anything flows; a source of supply.
"Each sluice of affluent fortune opened soon." Harte.
"This home familiarity … opens the sluices of sensibility." I. Taylor.
3. The stream flowing through a flood gate.
4. (Mining) A long box or trough through which water flows, — used for washing auriferous earth. Sluice gate, the sliding gate of a sluice.
Sluice, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Sluiced p. pr. & vb. n. Sluicing ]
1. To emit by, or as by, flood gates. [R.] Milton.
2. To wet copiously, as by opening a sluice; as to sluice meadows. Howitt.
"He dried his neck and face, which he had been sluicing with cold water." De Quincey.
3. To wash with, or in, a stream of water running through a sluice; as to sluice eart or gold dust in mining.
Slum, n. [CF. Slump, n. ]
1. A foul back street of a city, especially one filled with a poor, dirty, degraded, and often vicious population; any low neighborhood or dark retreat; — usually in the plural; as Westminster slums are haunts for theives. Dickens.
2. pl. (Mining) Same as Slimes.
Slumber
Slum´ber, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Slumbered p. pr. & vb. n. Slumbering.] [OE. slombren, slumberen, slumeren, AS. slumerian, fr. sluma slumber; akin to D. sluimeren to slumber, MHG. slummern, slumen, G. schlummern, Dan. slumre, Sw. slumra, Goth. slawan to be silent.]
1. To sleep; especially, to sleep lightly; to doze. Piers Plowman.
"He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep." Ps. cxxi. 4.
2. To be in a state of negligence, sloth, supineness, or inactivity. "Why slumbers Pope?" Young.
Slumber
Slum´ber, v. t.
1. To lay to sleep. [R.] Wotton.
2. To stun; to stupefy. [Obs.] Spenser.
Slump, v. t. [Cf. Lump; also Sw. slumpa to bargain for the lump.] To lump; to throw into a mess.
"These different groups … are exclusively slumped together under that sense." Sir W. Hamilton.
Slump, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Slumped p. pr. & vb. n. Slumping.] [Scot. slump a dull noise produced by something falling into a hole, a marsh, a swamp.] To fall or sink suddenly through or in, when walking on a surface, as on thawing snow or ice, partly frozen ground, a bog, etc., not strong enough to bear the person.
"The latter walk on a bottomless quag, into which unawares they may slump." Barrow.
Slung, imp. & p. p. of Sling. Slung shot, a metal ball of small size, with a string attached, used by ruffians for striking.
Slur, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Slurred p. pr. & vb. n. Slurring ] [Cf. OE. sloor mud, clay, Icel. slra, slora, to trail or drag one’s self along, D. sleuren, sloren, to train, to drag, to do negligently and slovenly, D. sloor, sloerie, a sluttish girl.]
1. To soil; to sully; to contaminate; to disgrace. Cudworth.
2. To disparage; to traduce. Tennyson.
3. To cover over; to disguise; to conceal; to pass over lightly or with little notice.
"With periods, points, and tropes, he slurs his crimes." Dryden.
4. To cheat, as by sliding a die; to trick. [R.]
"To slur men of what they fought for." Hudibras.
5. To pronounce indistinctly; as to slur syllables.
6. (Mus.) To sing or perform in a smooth, gliding style; to connect smoothly in performing, as several notes or tones. Busby.
7. (Print.) To blur or double, as an impression from type; to mackle.
Slush, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Slushed p. pr. & vb. n. Slushing.]
1. To smear with slush or grease; as to slush a mast.
2. To paint with a mixture of white lead and lime.
Slutch, n. [CF. Sludge.] Slush. [Prov. Eng.]
Sluttery
Slut´ter•y, n. The qualities and practices of a slut; sluttishness; slatternlines. Drayton.
Sly, a. [ Compar. Slier or Slyer; superl. Sliest or Slyest.] [OE. sli, slegh, sleih, Icel slgr, for slgr; akin to Sw. slug, Dan. slu, LG. slou, G. schlau; probably to E. slay, v.t.; cf. G. ver schlagen sly. See Slay, v. t., and cf. Sleight.]
1. Dexterous in performing an action, so as to escape notice; nimble; skillful; cautious; shrewd; knowing; — in a good sense.
"Be ye sly as serpents, and simple as doves." Wyclif (Matt. x. 16).
"Whom graver age
And long experience hath made wise and sly." Fairfax.
2. Artfully cunning; secretly mischievous; wily.
"For my sly wiles and subtle craftiness,
The litle of the kingdom I possess." Spenser.
3. Done with, and marked by, artful and dexterous secrecy; subtle; as a sly trick.
"Envy works in a sly and imperceptible manner." I. Watts.
4. Light or delicate; slight; thin. [Obs.] By the sly, or On the sly, in a sly or secret manner. [Colloq.] "Gazed on Hetty’s charms by the sly." G. Eliot. — Sly goose (Zoöl.), the common sheldrake; — so named from its craftiness.
Syn. — Cunning; crafty; subtile; wily. See Cunning.
Slyly
Sly´ly, adv. In a sly manner; shrewdly; craftily.
"Honestly and slyly he it spent." Chaucer.