Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SCI'ON, n. [See CION.]

SCI-OP'TIC, a. [Gr. σκια, shadow, and οπτομαι, to see.]

Pertaining to the camera obscura, or to the art of exhibiting images through a hole in a darkened room. – Bailey.

SCI-OP'TIC, n.

A sphere or globe with a lens made to turn like the eye; used in experiments with the camera obscura.

SCI-OP'TICS, n.

The science of exhibiting images of external objects, received through a double convex glass into a darkened room.

SCI-RE-FA'CIAS, n. [SCI-RE FA'CIAS. L.]

In law, a judicial writ summoning a person to show cause to the court why something should not be done, as to require sureties to show cause why the plaintif should not have execution against them for debt and damages, or to require a third person to show cause why goods in his hands by replevin, should not be delivered to satisfy the execution, &c. – Blackstone.

SCI'ROC, or SCI-ROC'CO, n. [It. scirocco.]

In Italy, a south-east wind; a hot, suffocating wind, blowing from the burning deserts of Africa. This name is given also in the north-east of Italy, to a cold, bleak wind from the Alps. – Encyc.

SCIR-RHUS, n. [See SKIRRHUS.]

SCIS-CIT-A'TION, n. [L. sciscitor, to inquire or demand.]

The act of inquiring; inquiry; demand. [Little used.] – Hall.

SCIS'SEL, n. [L. scissus.]

Clippings of metals in mechanical operations.

SCIS'SI-BLE, a. [L. scissus, scindo, to cut.]

Capable of being cut or divided by a sharp instrument; as, scissible matter or bodies. – Bacon.

SCIS'SILE, a. [L. scissilis, from scindo, to cut.]

That may be cut or divided by a sharp instrument. Arbuthnot.

SCIS-SION, n. [si'zhon; Fr. from L. scissio, scindo, to cut.]

The act of cutting or dividing by an edged instrument. – Wiseman.

SCIS-SORS, n. [plur. siz'zors. L. scissor, from scindo, to cut, Gr. σχιζω, Sax. sceadan.]

A cutting instrument resembling shears, but smaller, consisting of two cutting blades movable on a pin in the center, by which they are fastened. Hence we usually say, a pair of scissors.

SCIS'SURE, n. [L. scissura, from scindo, to cut.]

A longitudinal opening in a body, made by cutting. [This can not legitimately be a crack, rent, or fissure. In this use it may be an error of the press for fissure. – Decay of Piety.]

SCI-TA-MIN'E-OUS, a. [L. scitamentium, a delicacy.]

Belonging to the Scitamineæ, one of Linnæus's natural orders of plants. – Asiat. Res.

SCLA-VO'NI-AN, or SLA-VON'IC, a. [from Sclavi, a people of the north of Europe.]

Pertaining to the Sclavi, a people that inhabited the country between the rivers Save and Drave, or to their language. Hence the word came to denote the language which is now spoken in Poland, Russia, Hungary, Bohemia, &c.

SCLER'O-DERM, a. [Gr. σκληρος, hard, and δερμα, skin.]

Having a hard skin.

SCLER'O-DERMS, n.

A family of plectognathic fishes, having a skin covered with hard scales. – Brande.

SCLE-ROT'IC, a. [Gr. σκληρος, hard; σκληροτης, hardness.]

Hard; firm; as, the sclerotic coat or tunic of the eye. – Ray.

SCLE-ROT'IC, n.

1. The firm white outer coat of the eye. – Coxe.
2. A medicine which hardens and consolidates the parts to which it is applied. – Quincy. Coxe

SCOAT,

See SCOT.

SCOB'I-FORM, a. [L. scobs, saw-dust, and form.]

Having the form of saw-dust or raspings.

SCOBS, n. [L. from scabo, to scrape.]

Raspings of ivory, hartshorn, metals or other hard substance; dross of metals, &c. – Chambers.

SCOFF, n.

Derision, ridicule, mockery or reproach, expressed in language of contempt; expression of scorn or contempt. With scoffs and scorns and contumelious taunts. – Shak.

SCOFF, v.i. [Gr. σκωπτω. The primary sense is probably to throw, in which sense it coincides with the D. schoppen, G. schuppen, to push, to shove. But I do not find the word in the English and Greek sense, in any modern language except the English.]

To treat with insolent ridicule, mockery or contumelious language; to manifest contempt by derision; with at. To scoff at religion and sacred things is evidence of extreme weakness and folly, as well as of wickedness. They shall scoff at the kings. – Hab. i.