Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SY'ENITE, n. [See SIENITE.]

SYKE, n.

A small brook or rill in low ground. [Local.]

SYL-LAB'IC, or SYL-LAB'IC-AL, a. [from syllable.]

1. Pertaining to a syllable or syllables; as, syllabic accent.
2. Consisting of a syllable or syllables; as, a syllabic augment.

SYL-LAB'IC-AL-LY, adv.

In a syllabic manner.

SYL-LAB-IC-A'TION, n.

The act of forming syllables; the act or method of dividing words into syllables. – Ash.

SYL'LA-BLE, n. [L. syllaba; Gr. συλλαβη, from συλλαμβανω, to comprehend; συν, and λαμβανω, to take.]

1. A letter, or a combination of letters, uttered together, or at a single effort or impulse of the voice. A vowel may form a syllable by itself, as a, the definitive, or in amen; e in even; o in over, and the like. A syllable may also be formed of a vowel and one consonant, as in go, do, in, at; or a syllable may be formed by a vowel with two articulations, one preceding, the other following it, as in can, but, tun; or a syllable may consist of a combination of consonants, with one vowel or diphthong, as strong, short, camp, voice. A syllable sometimes forms a word, and is then significant, as, in go, run, write, sun, moon. In other cases, a syllable is merely a part of a word, and by itself is not significant. Thus ac, in active, has no signification. At least one vowel or open sound is essential to the formation of a syllable; hence in every word there most be as many syllables as there are single vowels, or single vowels and diphthongs. A word is called according to the number of syllables it contains, viz. Monosyllable, a word of one syllable. Dissyllable, a word of two syllables. Trisyllable, a word of three syllables. Polysyllable, a word of many syllables.
2. A small part of a sentence or discourse; something very concise. This account contains not a syllable of truth. Before a syllable of the law of God was written. – Hooker.

SYL'LA-BLE, v.t.

To utter; to articulate. [Not used.] – Milton.

SYL'LA-BUB, n.

A compound drink made of wine and milk; a different orthography of Sillabub.

SYL'LA-BUS, n. [L., from the same source as syllable.]

An abstract; a compendium containing the heads of a discourse.

SYL-LEP'SIS, n. [Gr. συλληψις. See Syllable.]

1. In grammar, a figure by which we conceive the sense of words otherwise than the words import, and construe them according to the intention of the author; otherwise called substitution.
2. The agreement of a verb or adjective, not with the word next to it, but with the most worthy in the sentence; as, rex et regina beati.

SYL'LO-GISM, n. [L. syllogismus; Gr. συλλογισμος; συν, with, and λεγω, to speak; λογιζομαι, to think.]

A form of reasoning or argument, consisting of three propositions, of which the two first are called the premises, and the last the conclusion. In this argument, the conclusion necessarily follows from the premises; so that if the two first propositions are true, the conclusion must be true, and the argument amounts to demonstration. Thus, A plant has not the power of locomotion; An oak is a plant; Therefore an oak has not the power of locomotion. These propositions are denominated the major, the minor, and the conclusion.

SYL-LO-GIS'TIC, or SYL-LO-GIS'TIC-AL, a.

Pertaining to a syllogism; consisting of a syllogism, or of the form of reasoning by syllogisms; as syllogistic arguments or reasoning.

SYL-LO-GIS'TIC-AL-LY, adv.

In the form of a syllogism; by means of syllogisms; as, to reason or prove syllogistically.

SYL-LO-GI-ZA'TION, n.

A reasoning by syllogisms. – Harris.

SYL'LO-GIZE, v.i.

To reason by syllogisms. Men have endeavored to teach boys to syllogize, or to frame arguments and refute them, without real knowledge. – Watts.

SYL'LO-GIZ-ER, n.

One who reasons by syllogisms.

SYL'LO-GIZ-ING, ppr.

Reasoning by syllogisms.

SYLPH, n. [Fr. sylphide; Gr. σιλφη, a moth, a beetle.]

An imaginary being inhabiting the air. – Temple. Pope.

SYLPH'-LIKE, a.

Resembling a sylph.

SYL'VA, n. [L., a wood or forest.]

1. In poetry, a poetical piece composed in a start or kind of transport.
2. A collection of poetical pieces of various kinds. – Cyc.
3. A work containing a botanical description of the forest; trees of any region or country; as Michaux's Sylva Americana.
4. The forest trees themselves of any region or country.

SYL'VAN, n.¹ [or adj. See SILVAN.]

SYL'VAN, n.²

A fabled deity of the wood; a satyr; a faun; sometimes perhaps, a rustic. Her private orchards, wall'd on ev'ry side, / To lawless sylvans all access deny'd. – Pope.

SYL'VAN-ITE, n.

Native tellurium, a metallic substance discovered in Transylvania. – Dict. Ure.

SYM'BAL, n. [See CYMBAL.]

SYM'BOL, n. [L. symbolum; Gr. συμβολον; συν, with, and βαλλω, to throw; συμβαλλω, to compare.]

1. The sign or representation of any moral thing by the images or properties of natural things. Thus the lion is the symbol of courage; the lamb is the symbol of meekness or patience. Symbols are of various kinds, as types, enigmas, parables, fables, allegories, emblems, hieroglyphics, &c. – Encyc.
2. An emblem or representation of something else. Thus in the eucharist, the bread and wine are called symbols of the body and blood of Christ.
3. A letter or character which is significant. The Chinese letters are most of them symbols. The symbols in algebra are arbitrary.
4. In medals, a certain mark or figure representing a being or thing, as a trident is the symbol of Neptune, the peacock of Juno, &c.
5. Among Christians, an abstract or compendium; the creed, or a summary of the articles of religion. – Baker.
6. Lot; sentence of adjudication. [Not in use.] – Taylor.