Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SIL'I-CI-FY, v.i.

To become silex.

SIL'I-CI-FY, v.t. [L. silex, flint, and facio, to make.]

To convert into silex, or petrify by flint. The specimens … found near Philadelphia, are completely silicified. – Say.

SIL'IC-I-FY-ING, ppr.

Petrifying by silex.

SIL-IC-I-MU'RITE, n. [silex and muria, brine.]

An earth composed of silex and magnesia.

SI-LI'CIOUS, a.

Pertaining to silex, or partaking of its nature and qualities.

SI-LIC'IT-ED, a.

Impregnated with silex. – Kirwan, Geol.

SIL'I-CLE, or SIL-I'CU-LA, n. [L. silicula.]

A pericarp or seed-vessel as broad as it is long, consisting of two valves, two sutures, and a dissepiment, with the seeds attached to both edges of the dissepiment, and alternately upon each side of it.

SIL'I-CLE, or SIL-IC'U-LA, n. [SIL'I-CLE, Eng. SIL-IC'U-LA, L.]

In botany, a siliqua, as broad as it is long. [1841 Addenda only.]

SI-LIC'U-LOUS, a.

Having silicles, or pertaining to them.

SIL'I-CUM, or SIL-I'CIUM, n. [or SIL'I-CON. L. silex, flint.]

A dark, nut-brown elementary substance, destitute of a metallic luster, and a non-conductor of electricity. It is incombustible in atmospheric air, and in oxygen gas, and infusible by the blow-pipe. It is neither dissolved nor oxydized by sulphuric or nitric acids, but a mixture of the nitric and fluohydric acids dissolves it readily. Its external characters are much altered after exposure to a high temperature.

SIL-IG'IN-OUS, a. [L. siligo.]

Made of fine wheat.

SIL-ING, ppr.

Straining.

SIL'ING-DISH, n. [Dan. siler, to strain.]

A colander. [Not in use.] – Barret.

SIL'I-QUA, n. [L.]

With gold finers, a carat, six of which make a scruple. – Johnson.

SIL'I-QUA, or SIL'I-QUE, n. [L. siliqua.]

An elongated pericarp or seed-vessel, consisting of two valves, two sutures, and a dissepiment, with the seeds attached to both edges of the dissepiment, and alternately upon each side of it.

SIL-IQUE, or SIL'I-QUA, n. [SIL-IQUE, Fr. SIL'I-QUA, L.]

In botany, an elongated pericarp or seed-vessel, consisting of two valves and a dissepiment or partition, with the seeds fixed alternately on each side of the dissepiment, at both sutures. [1841 Addenda only.]

SIL'I-QUI-FORM, a.

Having the form of a siliqua. – Smith.

SIL'I-QUOSE, or SIL'I-QUOUS, a. [L. siliquosus.]

Having that species of pericarp called silique; as, siliquose plants. – Martyn.

SILK, a.

Pertaining to silk; consisting of silk.

SILK, n. [Sax. seolc; Sw. silke; Dan. id.; Russ. schilk; Ar. and Pers. سِلکْ, silk; properly any thread, from Ar. سَلَكَ salaka, to send or thrust in, to insert, to pass or go.]

1. The fine, soft thread produced by the larve of the insect called silk-worm or Bombyx Mori. That which we ordinarily call silk, is a thread composed of several finer threads, which the worm draws from its bowels, like the web of a spider, and with which the silk-worm envelops itself, forming what is called a cocoon. – Encyc.
2. Cloth made of silk. In this sense, the word has a plural, silks denoting different sorts and varieties, as black silk, white silk, colored silks.
3. The filiform style of the female flower of maiz, which resembles real silk in fineness and softness. Virginia silk, a plant of the genus Periploca, which climbs and winds about other plants, trees, &c. No species of Periploca grows in Virginia, or any part of the United States.

SILK-COT-TON-TREE, n. [SILK COT-TON-TREE.]

A tree of the genus Bombax growing to an immense size; a native of both the Indies. – Encyc.

SILK-EN, a. [silk'n; Sax. seolcen.]

1. Made of silk; as, silken cloth; a silken vail.
2. Like silk; soft to the touch. – Dryden.
3. Soft; delicate; tender; smooth; as, mild and silken language.
4. Dressed in silk; as, a silken wanton. Shak.

SILK-EN, v.t. [silk'n.]

To render soft or smooth. – Dyer.

SILK'EN-ED, pp.

Rendered soft or smooth.

SILK'I-NESS, n. [from silky.]

1. The qualities of silk; softness and smoothness to the feel.
2. Softness; effeminacy; pusillanimity. [Little used.] – B. Jonson.