Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SEC'U-LAR-LY, adv.

In a worldly manner.

SEC'U-LAR-NESS, n.

A secular disposition; worldliness; worldly mindedness.

SE'CUND, a.

In botany, arranged on one side only; unilateral. [“unilateral” appears in the 1841 edition only.]

SEC-UN-DA'TION, n.

Prosperity. [Not used.]

SEC'UN-DINE, n. [Fr. secondines; from second, L. secundus, from sequor, to follow.]

In botany, the second coat or integument of an ovule reckoning the outer as the first. – Lindley. Secundines, in the plural, as generally used, are the several coats or membranes in which the fetus is wrapped in the womb; the after-birth. – Coxe. Encyc.

SECUNDUM-ARTEM, adv. [Secundum artem; L.]

According to art.

SE-CURE, a. [L. securus; It. sicuro; Sp. seguro. It coincides in elements with the oriental סגר and סכר, to shut or inclose, to make fast; but it may be from se or sine, and cura, care, free from anxiety.]

1. Free from danger of being taken by an enemy; that may resist assault or attack. The place is well fortified and very secure. Gibraltar is a secure fortress. In this sense, secure is followed by against or from; as, secure against attack, or from an enemy.
2. Free from danger; safe; applied to persons; with from.
3. Free from fear or apprehension of danger; not alarmed; not disturbed by fear; confident of safety; hence, careless of the means of defense. Men are often most in danger when they feel most secure. Confidence then bore thee on, secure / To meet no danger. – Milton
4. Confident; not distrustful; with of. But thou, secure of soul, unbent with woes. – Dryden. It concerns the most secure of his strength, to pray to God not to expose him to an enemy. – Rogers.
5. Careless; wanting caution. [See No. 3.]
6. Certain; very confident. He is secure of a welcome reception.

SE-CURE, v.t.

1. To guard effectually from danger; to make, safe. Fortifications may secure a city; ships of war may secure a harbor. I spread a cloud before the victor's sight, / Sustain'd the vanquish'd, and secur'd his flight. – Dryden.
2. To make certain; to put beyond hazard. Liberty and fixed laws secure to every citizen due protection of person and property. The first duty and the highest interest of men is to secure the favor of God by repentance and faith, and thus to secure to themselves future felicity.
3. To inclose or confine effectually; to guard effectually from escape; sometimes, to seize and confine; as, to secure a prisoner. The sherif pursued the thief with a warrant, and secured hint
4. To make certain of payment; as, to secure a debt by mortgage.
5. To make certain of receiving a precarious debt by giving bond, bail, surety, or otherwise; as, to secure a creditor.
6. To insure, as property.
7. To make fast; as, to secure a door; to secure a rafter to a plate; to secure the hatches of a ship.

SE-CUR-ED, pp.

Effectually guarded or protected; made certain; put beyond hazard; effectually confined; made fast.

SE-CURE-LY, adv.

1. Without danger; safely; as, to pass a river on ice securely. But safely is generally used.
2. Without fear or apprehension; carelessly; in an unguarded state; in confidence of safety. His daring foe securely him defy'd. – Milton. Devise not evil against thy neighbor, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee. – Prov. iii.

SE-CURE-MENT, n.

Security; protection, [Not used.] – Brown.

SE-CURE-NESS, n.

Confidence of safety; exemption from fear; hence, want of vigilance or caution. – Bacon.

SE-CUR-ER, n.

He or that which secures or protects.

SE-CU'RI-FORM, a. [L. securis, an ax or hatchet, and form.]

In botany, having the form of an ax or hatchet. – Lee.

SE-CU'RI-TY, n. [Fr. securité; L. securitas.]

1. Protection; effectual defense or safety from danger of any kind; as, a chain of forts erected for the security of the frontiers.
2. That which protects or guards from danger. A navy constitutes the security of Great Britain from invasion.
3. Freedom from fear or apprehension; confidence of safety; whence, negligence in providing means of defense. Security is dangerous, for it exposes men to attack when unprepared. Security in sin is the worst condition of the sinner.
4. Safety; certainty. We have no security for peace with Algiers, but the dread of our navy.
5. Any thing given or deposited, to secure the payment of a debt, or the performance of a contract; as a bond with surety a mortgage, the indorsement of a responsible man, a pledge, &c. – Blackstone.
6. Something given or done to secure peace or good behavior. Violent and dangerous men are obliged to give security for their good behavior, or for keeping the peace. This security consists in being bound with one or more sureties in a recognizance to the king or state. – Blackstone.

SE-DAN', n. [Fr. from the L. sedeo; like L. esseda.]

A portable chair or covered, vehicle far carrying a single person. It is borne on poles by two men. – Dryden. Encyc.

SE-DATE, a. [L. sedatus, from sedo, to calm or appease, that is, to set, to cause to subside.]

Settled; composed; calm; quiet; tranquil; still; serene; unruffled by passion; undisturbed; as, a sedate soul, mind, or temper. So we say, a sedate look or countenance. Dryden. Watts.

SE-DATE-LY, adv.

Calmly; without agitation of mind. Locke.

SE-DATE-NESS, n.

Calmness of mind, manner, or countenance; freedom from agitation; a settled state; composure; tranquillity; as, sedateness of temper or soul; sedateness of countenance; sedateness of conversation. Addison.

SE-DA'TION, n.

The act of calming. [Not in use.] Coles.

SED'A-TIVE, a. [Fr. sedatif, from L. sedo, to calm.]

In medicine, moderating; allaying irritability and irritation; diminishing irritative activity; assuaging pain.

SED'A-TIVE, n.

A medicine which allays irritability and irritation, and irritative activity, and which assuages pain.

SE-DEFENDENDO, n. [Se defendendo.]

In defending himself; the plea of a person charged with murder, who alledges that he committed the act in his own defense.

SE'DENT, a.

Sitting; inactive; quiet.

SED'EN-TA-RI-LY, adv. [from sedentary.]

The state of being sedentary, or living without much action.