Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SO-LU'TION, n. [Fr.; It. soluzione; Sp. solucion; from L. solutio, from solvo, to loosen, melt, dissolve. See Solve.]

1. The act of separating the parts of any body; disruption; breach. In all bodies there is an appetite of union and evitation of solution of continuity. – Bacon.
2. A feeble combination, in which, with a mere mechanical change of properties, and without regard to definite proportions, one or more solids are equally diffused through some liquid. This mode of combination is so weak, that the liquid may be evaporated from the solid or solids, leaving them unchanged, except in texture or aggregation. There is usually, and probably always, a limit to the quantity of the solid or solids, which can be dissolved by a given liquid, and this is called saturation. The liquid in which the solution is effected, is called the solvent or menstruum. Note. This word is not used in chimistry or mineralogy for the melting of bodies by the heat of fire. The term solution is applied to a very extensive class of phenomena. When a solid disappears in a liquid, if the compound exhibits perfect transparency, we have an example solution. The word is applied both to the act of combination and to the result of the process. Thus common salt disappears in water, that is, its solution takes place and the liquid obtained is called a solution of salt in water. Solution is the result of attraction or affinity between the fluid and the solid. This affinity continues to operate to certain point, where it is overbalanced by the cohesion of the solid; it then ceases, the fluid is said to be saturated the point where the operation ceases is called saturation and the fluid is called a saturated solution. – Brande. Solution is a true chimical union. Mixture is a mere mechanical union of bodies.
3. Resolution; explanation; the act of explaining or removing difficulty or doubt; as, the solution of a difficult question in morality; the solution of a doubt in casuistry.
4. Release; deliverance; discharge. – Barrow.
5. In algebra and geometry, the answering of a question, the resolving of a problem proposed. Solution of continuity, the separation of connection or connected substances or parts; applied, in surgery, to a fracture, laceration, &c.

SOL'U-TIVE, a.¹

Tending to dissolve; loosening; laxative. – Encyc.

SO-LU'TIVE, a.²

That can be dissolved or loosened. [1841 Addenda only.]

SOLV-A-BIL'I-TY, n.

Ability to pay all just debts. – Encyc.

SOLV'A-BLE, a.

1. That may be solved, resolved or explained.
2. That can be paid. – Tooke.

SOLV'A-BLE-NESS, n.

Solvability.

SOLVE, v.t. [solv; L. solvo; Fr. soudre; It. solvere. Class Sl. Several roots give the sense.]

1. Properly, to loosen or separate the parts of any thing hence, to explain; to resolve; to eclaircise; to unfold; clear up; what is obscure or difficult to be understood, to solve questions; to solve difficulties or a problem. When God shall solve the dark decrees of fate. – Tickel.
2. To remove; to dissipate; as, to solve doubts.

SOLV'ED, pp.

Explained; resolved.

SOLV'EN-CY, n. [L. solvens.]

Ability to pay all debts or just claims; as, the solvency of a merchant is undoubted. The credit of a nation's notes depends on a favorable opinion of its solvency.

SOLV-END', n.

A substance to be dissolved. – Kirwan.

SOLV'ENT, a.

1. Having the power of dissolving; as, a solvent body. Boyle.
2. Able to pay all just debts. The merchant is solvent.
3. Sufficient to pay all just debts. The estate is solvent.

SOLV'ENT, n.

A fluid that dissolves any substance, is called the solvent, or menstruum.

SOLV'ER, n.

One who solves or explains.

SOLV'I-BLE, a.

Solvable – which see.

SO-MAT'IC, or SO-MAT'IC-AL, a. [Gr. σωματικος, from σωμα, body.]

Corporeal; pertaining to a body. [Not in use.] – Scott.

SO'MA-TIST, n. [supra.]

One who admits the existence of corporeal or material beings only; one who denies the existence of spiritual substances. – Glanville.

SO-MA-TOL'O-GY, n. [Gr. σωμα, body, and λογος, discourse.]

The doctrine of bodies or material substances.

SOM-BER, or SOM-BRE, a. [Fr. sombre, from Sp. sombra, a shade.]

Dull; dusky; cloudy; gloomy.

SOM-BROUS, a.

Gloomy. – Stephens.

SOM'BROUS-LY, adv.

Gloomily.

SOM'BROUS-NESS, n.

State of being sombrous.

SOME, a. [sum; Sax. sum, sume; D. sommige; Sw. somlige; Sw. and Dan. som, who.]

1. Noting a certain quantity of a thing, but indeterminate; a portion greater or less. Give me some bread; drink some wine; bring some water.
2. Noting a number of persons or things, greater or less, but indeterminate. Some theoretical writers alledge that there was a time when there was no such thing as society. – Blackstone.
3. Noting a person or thing, but not known, or not specific and definite. Some person, I know not who, gave me the information. Enter the city, and some man will direct you to the house. Most gentlemen of property, at some period or other of their lives, are ambitious of representing their county in parliament. – Blackstone.
4. It sometimes precedes a word of number or quantity, with the sense of about or near, noting want of certainty as to the specific number or amount, but something near it; as, a village of some eighty houses; some two or three persons; some seventy miles distant; an object at some good distance. – Bacon.
5. Some is often opposed to others. Some men believe one thing, and others another.
6. Some is often used without a noun, and then like other adjectives, is a substitute for a noun. We consumed some of our provisions, and the rest was given to the poor. Some to the shores do fly, / Some to the woods. – Daniel. Your edicts some reclaim from sins, / But most your life and blest example wins. – Dryden.
7. Some is used as a termination of certain adjectives, as in handsome, mettlesome, blithesome, fullsome, lonesome, gladsome, gamesome. In these words, some has primarily the sense of little, or a certain degree; a little blithe or glad. But in usage, it rather indicates a considerable degree of the thing or quantity; as, mettlesome, full of mettle or spirit; gladsome, very glad or joyous.

SOME-BOD-Y, n. [some and body.]

1. A person unknown or uncertain; a person indeterminate. Jesus said, somebody hath touched me. – Luke viii. We must draw in somebody that may stand / 'Twixt us and danger. – Denham.
2. A person of consideration. Before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody. – Acts v.

SOME-DEAL, adv. [some and deal.]

In some degree. [Obs.] – Spenser.

SOME-HOW, adv. [some and how.]

One way or other; In some way not yet known. The thing must have happened somehow or other.