Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SHEM-IT'IC, a.

Pertaining to Shem, the son of Noah. The Shemitic languages are the Chaldee, Syria; Arabic, Hebrew, Samaritan, Ethiopic, and Old Phenician.

SHEM'IT-ISM, n.

The system or peculiar forms of the Shemitic languages.

SHEND, v.t. [pret. and pp. shent. Sax. scendan; D. schenden, to violate, spoil, slander, revile; G. schänden, to mar, spoil, disfigure, violate, abuse, debauch. This is from the root of scandal.]

1. To injure, mar, or spoil. [Obs.] That much fear my body will be shent. – Dryden.
2. To blame, reproach, revile, degrade, disgrace. The famous name of knighthood foully shend. [Obs.] – Spenser.
3. To overpower or surpass. [Obs.] She pass'd the rest as Cynthia doth shend / The lesser stars. – Spenser.

SHENT, pp.

Injured. [Obsolete, unless in poetry.]

SHEP'HERD, n. [Sax. sceap-heard or hyrd; sheep and herd.]

1. A man employed in tending, feeding, and guarding sheep in the pasture. – Milton.
2. A swain; a rural lover. – Raleigh.
3. The pastor of a parish, church, or congregation; a minister of the Gospel, who superintends a church or parish, and gives instruction in spiritual things. God and Christ are in Scripture denominated Shepherds, as they lead, protect, and govern their people, and provide for their welfare. – Ps. xxiii. lxxx. John x.

SHEP'HERD-ESS, n.

A woman that tends sheep; hence, a rural lass. She put herself into the garb of a shepherdess. – Sidney.

SHEP'HERD-ISH, a.

Resembling a shepherd; suiting a shepherd; pastoral; rustic. – Sidney.

SHEP'HERD-ISM, n.

Pastoral life or occupation.

SHEP'HERD-LY, a.

Pastoral; rustic. – Taylor.

SHEP'HERD'S-NEE'DLE, n. [SHEP'HERD'S NEE'DLE.]

A plant of the genus Scandix; Venus's comb.

SHEP'HERD'S-POUCH, n. [or SHEP'HERD'S-PURSE, or SHEP'HERD'S POUCH, or SHEP'HERD'S PURSE.]

A plant of the genus Capsella.

SHEP'HERD'S-ROD, n. [SHEP'HERD'S ROD.]

A plant of the genus Dipanctus; teasel.

SHEP'HERD'S-STAFF, n. [SHEP'HERD'S STAFF.]

A plant of the genus Dipsactus.

SHER'BET, n. [Pers. شَرْبَتْ sharbat. This word, as well; as sirup and shrub, and L. sorbeo, is from the Ar. شَرَبَ sharaba, to drink, to imbibe.]

A drink composed of water, lemon-juice, and sugar, sometimes with perfumed cakes dissolved in it, with an infusion of some drops of rose-water. Another kind is made with violets, honey, juice of raisins, &c. – Encyc.

SHERD, n.

A fragment; usually written Shard, – which see.

SHER'IF, or SHER'IFF, n. [Sax. scir-gerefa; scyre, scire, a shire or division, and gerefa, a reeve, a count, prefect, bailif, provost, or steward; G. graf, D. graaf. The second f has been improperly added to this word.]

An officer in each county, to whom is intrusted the execution of the laws. In England, sherifs are appointed by the king. In the United States, sherifs are elected by the legislature, or by the citizens, or appointed and commissioned by the executive of the state. The office of sherif in England is judicial and ministerial. In the United States it is mostly or wholly ministerial. The sherif, he himself or his deputies, executes civil and criminal process throughout the county, has charge of the jail and prisoners, attends courts, and keeps the peace.

SHER'IF-AL-TY, n. [or SHER'IF-DOM, or SHER'IF-SHIP, or SHER'IF-WICK.]

The office or jurisdiction of sherif. [I believe none of these words are now in use. See Shrievalty.]

SHER'RIFFE, n.

The title of a descendant of Mohammed by Hassan Ibn Ali. – Encyc.

SHER'RY, n. [sometimes written Sherris.]

A species of wine; so called from Xeres in Spain, where it is made.

SHEW, v. [SHEWED, or SHEWN. See Show, Showed, Shown.]

SHEW-BREAD, n. [See SHOW-BREAD.]

SHEW'ER, n.

One that shows. [See Shower.]

SHEW'ING, ppr. [or n. See SHOWING.]

SHIB'BO-LETH, n. [Heb. an ear of corn, or a stream of water.]

1. A word which was made the criterion by which to distinguish the Ephraimites from the Gileadites. The Ephraimites not being able to pronounce the letter ש sh, pronounced the word sibboleth. See Judges xii. Hence,
2. The criterion of a party; or that which distinguishes one party from another; and usually, some peculiarity in things of little importance. – South.

SHIDE, n. [Sax. sceadan, to divide.]

A piece split off; a cleft; a piece; a billet of wood; a splinter. [Not used in New England, and local in England.]