A- (3) prefix meaning "not," from Gk a-, an- "not," from pie base *ne "not" (see un-)

shudder (v.) --- c.1310, possibly from M.Du. schuderen "to shudder," or M.L.G. schoderen, both from P.Gmc. *skud-. The noun is from 1607.

shuffle --- 1532, probably from M.E. shovelen "to move with dragging feet," probably a freq. form of shoven (see shove). Or perhaps from Low Ger. schuffeln "to walk clumsily, deal dishonestly." Of playing cards, first recorded 1570. The noun is attested from 1628. Phrase lost in the shuffle is from 1930.

shuffleboard --- 1532, shovillaborde "shovel board," an unexplained alteration of shove-board (1522), from shove + board (n.). Originally a tabletop game (1603), the large-scale version (1877) was invented for play on ocean liners.

shun --- O.E. scunian "to shun, desist, to hide," of uncertain origin; not found in any other language. Perhaps ult. from PIE root *skeu- "to cover, to hide."

shunt (v.) --- c.1225, perhaps from shunen "to shun" (see shun). Adopted by railways 1842 as a verb, 1862 as a noun, and by technicians in the sense of "electrical conductor" from 1863. Medical use dates from 1923.

shush (v.) --- 1905, imitative of the command to be quiet.

shut --- O.E. scyttan "to put in place so as to fasten a door or gate," from W.Gmc. *skutjanan (cf. O.Fris. schetta, M.Du. schutten "to shut, shut up, obstruct"), from P.Gmc. *skut- "project" (see shoot). Meaning "to close by folding or bringing together" is from c.1366. Sense of "to set (someone) free (from)" (c.1500) is obsolete except in dial. phrases such as to get shut of. Colloquial shut-eye for "sleep" is from 1899. To shut (one's) mouth "desist from speaking" is recorded from 1340. Shut up (v.) first recorded 1840. Shut-in "person confined from normal social intercourse" is from 1904. Shut out in baseball sense is from 1881 (v.), 1889 (n.).

shute --- 1790, "channel, trough," dialectal combination of chute and shoot.

shutter --- 1542, "one who shuts" (see shut); meaning "moveable wooden or iron screen for a window" is from 1683. Photographic sense of "device for opening and closing the aperture of a lens" is from 1862. The verb is recorded from 1826. Shutter-bug "enthusiastic amateur photographer" is from 1940.

shuttle (n.) --- O.E. scytel "a dart, arrow," from W.Gmc. *skutilaz (cf. O.N. skutill "harpoon"), from P.Gmc. *skut- "project" (see shoot). The weaving instrument so called (1338) from being "shot" across the threads. In some other languages, the machine takes its name from its resemblance to a boat (cf. L. navicula, Fr. navette, Ger. weberschiff). Sense of "train that runs back and forth" is first recorded 1895, from image of the weaver's instrument's back-and-forth movement over the warp; extended to aircraft 1942, to spacecraft 1969. Hence also shuttlecock (1522).

shuttle (v.) --- 1550, "move rapidly to and fro," from shuttle (n.); sense of "transport via a shuttle service" is recorded from 1930.

shy (adj.) --- late O.E. sceoh "shy," from P.Gmc. *skeukh(w)az "afraid" (cf. M.L.G. schüwe, Du. schuw, Ger. scheu "shy;" O.H.G. sciuhen, Ger. scheuchen "to scare away"). Uncertain cognates outside Gmc., unless in O.C.S. scuti "to hunt, incite." It. schivare "to avoid" is a Gmc. loan-word. The verb meaning "to recoil" first recorded 1650.

shy (v.) --- to throw with a jerk or toss, 1787, colloquial, of unknown origin and uncertain connection to shy (adj.).

shylock --- usurer, 1786, from Jewish money-lender character in Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" (c.1596).

shyster --- unscrupulous lawyer, 1843, U.S. slang, probably altered from Ger. Scheisser "incompetent worthless person," from Scheisse "shit," from O.H.G. skizzan "to defecate" (see shit).

si --- yes in It., Sp., Port.; from L. sic "so" (see sic).

Siamese --- 1693, "native of Siam" (as Thailand was called before 1939 and again from 1945-48); the original Siamese twins (1829) were Chang and Eng (1814-74), natives of Siam. Siamese cat is attested from 1871.

Siberia --- region in northwestern Asia, the name said to come from Sibir, ancient Tatar fortress at the confluence of the rivers Tobol and Irtysh. As a typical place of miserable banishment, it is attested from 1841.

sibilant (adj.) --- 1669, from L. sibilantem (nom. sibilans), prp. of sibilare "to hiss, whistle," possibly of imitative origin (cf. Gk. sizein "to hiss," Lett. sikt "to hiss," O.C.S. svistati "to hiss, whistle"). The noun meaning "speech sound having a hissing effect" is from 1788.

sibling --- brother or sister, 1903, modern revival (in anthropology) of O.E. sibling "relative, kinsman," from sibb (adj.) "kinship, relationship" (1500; surviving as sib, chiefly in Scottish), from P.Gmc. *sebjo "blood relation, relative," prop. "one's own" (cf. O.S. sibba, O.Fris., M.Du. sibbe, O.H.G. sippa, Ger. Sippe, Goth. sibja "kin, kindred"), from PIE s(w)e-bh(o)-, from base *swe- (see idiom). Related to the second element in gossip.

sibyl --- c.1300, from O.Fr. sibile, from L. Sibylla, from Gk. Sibylla, name for any of several prophetesses consulted by ancient Greeks and Romans, of uncertain origin. Said to be from Doric Siobolla, from Attic Theoboule "divine wish."

sic --- 1887, insertion in printed quotation to call attention to error in the original, from L. sic "so, thus," related to si "if," from PIE base *so- "this, that" (cf. O.E. sio "she").

sic transit gloria mundi --- 1601, from L., lit. "thus passes the glory of the world;" perhaps an alteration of a passage in Thomas Á Kempis' "Imitatio Christi" (1471).

siccative (adj.) --- 1547, from L.L. siccativus "drying, siccative," from L. siccatus, pp. of siccare "to dry," from siccus "dry," from PIE base *seikw- "to flow out" (cf. Avestan hiku- "dry," Gk. iskhnos "dry, withered," Lith. seklus "shallow," M.Ir. sesc "dry," Skt. sincati "makes dry"). The noun is first recorded 1825.

Sicily --- island off the southern tip of Italy, from L. Sicilia, from Gk. Sikelia, from Sikeloi (pl.) "Sicilians," from the name of an ancient people on the Tiber, whence part of them emigrated to the island that was named for them.

sick (adj.) --- unwell, O.E. seoc, from P.Gmc. *seukaz, of uncertain origin. The general Gmc. word (cf. O.N. sjukr, Dan. syg, O.S. siok, O.Fris. siak, M.Du. siec, O.H.G. sioh, Goth. siuks "sick, ill"), but in Ger. and Du. displaced by krank "weak, slim," probably originally with a sense of "twisted, bent" (see crank). Meaning "having an inclination to vomit" is from 1614; sense of "tired or weary (of something)" is from 1597; phrase sick and tired of is attested from 1783. Meaning "mentally twisted" is from 1551 (though sense of "spiritually or morally corrupt" was in O.E.), revived 1955. Sick joke is from 1959; sicko (n.) is from 1977. Sickening "causing revulsion" is first recorded 1789. The noun meaning "those who are sick" was in O.E. Sickness is O.E. seocnesse; sickly "ailing" is recorded from c.1350.

sick (v.) --- set upon (sick him!), 1845, dialectal variant of seek.

sicken (v.) --- c.1200, "to become sick," originally the verb was simply sick (c.1150), from sick (adj.). Transf. sense of "to make sick" is recorded from 1694.

sickle --- O.E. sicol, probably a W.Gmc. borrowing (cf. M.Du. sickele, O.H.G. sihhila, Du. sikkel, Ger. Sichel) from V.L. *sicila, from L. secula "sickle" (cf. It. segolo "hatchet"), from PIE base *sek- "cut" (see section). Applied to curved or crescent-shaped things from 1459. Sickle-cell anemia is first recorded 1922.

siddha --- in Indian religion, "one who has attained perfection and bliss," 1846, from Skt. siddhah "accomplished, achieved, successful, possessing supernatural power, sorcerer, saint," related to sidhyati "reaches his goal, succeeds," sadhuh "right, skilled, excellent, a holy man."

side --- O.E. side "flanks of a person, the long part or aspect of anything," from P.Gmc. *sithon (cf. O.S. sida, O.N. siða, M.Du. side, O.H.G. sita, Ger. Seite), from adj. *sithas "long" (cf. O.E. sid "long, broad, spacious," O.N. siðr "long, hanging down"), from PIE base *se- "long, late" (cf. L. serus "late," Lith. sietuva "deep place in a river," M.Ir. sith, M.Breton hir "long"). Original sense preserved in countryside. Fig. sense of "position or attitude of a person or set of persons in relation to another" (cf. choosing sides) first recorded c.1250. Meaning "music on one side of a phonograph record" is first attested 1936. Phrase side by side "close together and abreast" is recorded from c.1205. Restaurant phrase on the side "apart from the main dish" is attested from 1884, Amer.Eng. Side-splitting "funny" is first attested 1860. Sidebar "secondary article in a newspaper" is recorded from 1948. Sideman "supporting musician" is first attested 1936. Sideboard "table placed near the side of a room" is from c.1300.

side (v.) --- to cut into sides (of meat), c.1470, from side (n.). Meaning "to support one of the parties in a discussion, dispute, etc.," is first attested 1591, from side (n.) in the fig. sense; earlier to hold sides (c.1489).

sideburns --- 1887, alteration of burnsides (q.v).

side-effect --- 1884, from side (adj.) + effect (n.). Medical use, with ref. to drugs, is recorded from 1939.

sidekick --- companion or close associate, 1906, shortened from side-kicker (1903, in an O.Henry story), Amer.Eng., of unknown origin. Earlier terms were side-pal (1886), side-partner (1890).

sidelight --- 1610, "light coming from the side," from side + light (n.). Meaning "incidental information on a subject" is attested from 1862.

sideline (n.) --- lines marking the limits of playing area (on a football field, etc.), 1862, from side (adj.) + line (q.v.). The fig. sense of "position removed from active participation" is attested from 1934 (because players who are not in the game stand along the sidelines). The verb meaning "put out of play" is from 1945.

sidelong --- 1523, alteration of M.E. sidlyng (see sidle), probably by infl. of side + long.

sidereal --- 1634, "of or pertaining to the stars," earlier sideral (1594), from Fr. sidereal (16c.), from L. sidereus "starry, astral," from sidus (gen. sideris) "star, constellation," probably from PIE base *sweid- "to shine" (cf. Lith. svidus "shining, bright").

side-saddle (n.) --- 1493, from side (adj.) + saddle (n.).

sideshow --- 1855, apparently a coinage of P.T. Barnum's, from side + show (n.).

sidestep (n.) --- 1789, from side (adj.) + step (n.). The verb is recorded from 1901; the fig. sense is attested from 1911.

sideswipe (v.) --- to strike with a glancing blow, 1917, from side (adj.) + swipe (q.v.). The noun is first recorded 1917.

sidetrack (n.) --- railway siding, 1835, from side (adj.) + track (q.v.). The verb meaning "to move (a train car) onto a sidetrack" is from 1880; fig. sense of "to divert from the main purpose" is attested from 1889.

sidewalk --- path for pedestrians on the side of a street, 1739, from side (adj.) + walk (n.).

sideways --- 1577, from side (n.). To look sideways "cast scornful glances" is recorded from 1844.

sidewinder --- species of rattlesnake, 1875, Amer.Eng., from side + agent noun of wind (v.), so called in ref. to its "peculiar lateral progressive motion."

Sidhe --- the hills of the fairies, 1793; but in Yeats, "the fairie folk" (1899), elipsis of Ir. (aos) sidhe "people of the faerie mound" (cf. second element in banshee).

siding --- 1603, "a taking of sides in a conflict or debate," from side (q.v.). First attested 1825 in the railroad sense; 1829 in the architectural sense of "boarding on the sides of a building."

sidle --- to move or go sideways, 1697, back-formation from obs. M.E. sidlyng (adv.) "obliquely, sideways" (c.1330), from side + adv. suffix -ling; altered on analogy of verbs ending in -le.

Sidon --- ancient Phoenician city, from Gk. Sidon, from Phoenician Tzidhon, lit. "fishing place," from tzud "to hunt, to capture."

SIDS --- 1970, acronym for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Sieg Heil --- Nazi salute, from Ger., lit. "hail victory;" from Ger. Sieg "victory," from O.H.G. sigu, from P.Gmc. *sigiz- "victory" (cf. M.Du. seghe, O.N. sigr, O.E. sige), from PIE base *segh- "to have, to hold" (cf. Skt. saha- "victory," sahate "overcomes, masters;" Gk. ekhein). For first element, see health.

siege --- c.1225, "a seat" (as in Siege Perilous, the vacant seat at Arthur's Round Table, to be occupied safely only by the knight destined to find the Holy Grail, c.1230), from O.Fr. sege "seat, throne," from V.L. *sedicum "seat," from L. sedere "sit" (see sedentary). The military sense is attested from c.1300; the notion is of an army "sitting down" before a fortress.

Siegfried Line --- World War I Ger. fortifications in France, from Ger. Siegfriedlinie, named for the hero in Wagner's "Ring" cycle.

sienna --- 1760, from It. terra di Sienna "earth of Siena," city in central Italy, where the coloring material was first produced. The city name probably is from Senones, the name of a Gaulish people who settled there in ancient times.

sierra --- a range of hills, 1613, from Sp. sierra "jagged mountain range," lit. "saw," from L. serra "a saw."

siesta --- mid-day nap, 1655, from Sp. siesta, from L. sexta (hora) "sixth (hour)," the noon of the Roman day (coming six hours after sunrise), from sexta, fem. of sextus "sixth" (see Sextus).

sieve --- O.E. sife "sieve," from P.Gmc. *sibi (cf. M.Du. seve, Du. zeef, O.H.G. sib, Ger. Sieb), of unknown origin. Related to sift. The verb is recorded from 1499. Sieve and shears formerly were used in divinations.

sift --- O.E. siftan "pass something through a sieve," related to sife (see sieve). Cf. Du. ziften, M.L.G. sichten, Ger. sichten "to sift." Metaphoric sense of "look carefully through" first recorded 1535.

sigh --- c.1300 (n. and v.), probably a back-formation from sighte, past tense of O.E. sican "to sigh," perhaps echoic of the sound of sighing.

sight --- O.E. gesiht, gesihð "thing seen," from P.Gmc. *sekh(w)- (cf. Dan. sigte, Swed. sigt, M.Du. sicht, Du. zicht, O.H.G. siht, Ger. Sicht, Gesicht), stem of O.E. seon (see see). Meaning "perception or apprehension by means of the eyes" is from c.1225. Meaning "device on a firearm to assist in aiming" is from 1588; the verb in this sense is from 1842.

sights --- features of a place that are deemed worth seeing, 1632, from sight (q.v.). Sight-seeing is from 1824; Sight-seer first recorded 1834.

Sigismund --- masc. proper name, from Ger., lit. "protection through victory," from O.H.G. sigu "victory" + munt "hand, protection."

sign (n.) --- c.1225, "gesture or motion of the hand," from O.Fr. signe "sign, mark, signature," from L. signum "mark, token, indication, symbol," from PIE base *sekw- "point out" (see see). Meaning "a mark or device having some special importance" is recorded from 1290; that of "a miracle" is from c.1300. Sense of "characteristic device attached to the front of an inn, shop, etc., to distinguish it from others" is first recorded 1467. Ousted native token. In some uses, the word probably is aphetic for ensign. First record of signage is from 1976. Sign language is recorded from 1847.

sign (v.) --- c.1305, "to make the sign of the cross," from O.Fr. signer, from L. signare, from signum (see sign (n.)). Sense of "to mark, stamp" is attested from c.1350; that of "to affix one's name" is from 1477. Meaning "to communicate by sign language" is recorded from 1700.

signal (adj.) --- remarkable, striking, notable 1641, from Fr. signalé, pp. of signaler "to distinguish" (see signal (n.)).

signal (n.) --- c.1384, from O.Fr. signal, from M.L. signale "a signal," from L.L. signalis (adj.) "used as a signal, pertaining to a sign," from L. signum "signal, sign." The verb is first recorded 1805, from the noun; earlier verb was signalize (1654).

signatory --- 1647, "used in sealing" (adj.), from L. signatorius "of sealing," from signatus, pp. of signare "to sign" (see sign). Noun sense of "one who signs" first recorded 1866.

signature --- 1534, a kind of document in Scottish law, from M.Fr. signature (16c.), from M.L. signatura "sign," in classical L. "the matrix of a seal," from signatus, pp. of signare "to mark, sign" (see sign). Meaning "one's own name written in one's own hand" is from 1580, replacing sign-manual (1428) in this sense.

signet --- c.1374, "small seal" (especially one on a finger ring), from O.Fr. signet "a small seal," dim. of signe "sign" (see sign).

significance --- c.1300 (implied in signification), from L. significantia "meaning, force, energy," from significans, prp. of significare (see signify). First record of significant is from 1579.

signify --- c.1250, from O.Fr. signifier (12c.), from L. significare "to show by signs, mean, signify," from significus (adj.), from signum "sign" (see sign (n.)) + root of facere "to make" (see factitious). Intrans. sense of "to be of importance" is attested from 1661. Meaning "engage in mock-hostile banter" is Amer.Eng. black slang first recorded 1932.

signor --- 1577, from It. signore, from L. seniorem, acc. of senior (see senior). Feminine form signora is from 1636; dim. signorina is first recorded 1820.

signpost --- 1620, "sign on a post, usually indicating an inn or shop," from sign (n.) + post (n.). Meaning "guide- or direction-post along a road" is attested from 1863. Fig. sense is from 1889.

Sikh --- 1781, sect established 16c. in Punjab by Nanak Shah, from Hindi sikh "disciple," from Skt. siksati "studies, learns," related to saknoti "he is able, he is strong."

silage --- fodder packed in a silo, 1884, alteration (probably by influence of silo) of ensilage (1881), from Fr. ensilage, from ensiler "put in a silo," from Sp. ensilar (see silo).

Silas --- masc. proper name, from L.L., from Gk. Silas, contraction of Silouanos, transliteration of L. Silvanus, a name that lit. means "living in the woods," from silva "wood."

silence (n.) --- c.1225, from O.Fr. silence "absence of sound," from L. silentium "a being silent," from silens, prp. of silere "be quiet or still," of unknown origin. Replaced O.E. swige. The verb (trans.) is attested from 1597, from the noun. Silencer "mechanism that stifles the sound of a motor or firearm" first recorded 1898.

silent --- 1565, from L. silentem, from silere, see silent. Phrase strong, silent (type) is attested from 1905. Silent majority in the political sense of "mass of people whose moderate views are not publicly expressed and thus overlooked" is first attested 1955 in a British context and was used by John F. Kennedy but is most associated in U.S. with the rhetoric of the Nixon administration (1969-74).

Silenus --- 1710, from Gk. seilenos, foster-father of Bacchus and leader of the satyrs.

silhouette --- 1798, from Fr. silhouette, in allusion to Étienne de Silhouette (1709-67), Fr. minister of finance in 1759. Usually said to be so called because it was an inexpensive way of making a likeness of someone, a derisive reference to Silhouette's petty economies to finance the Seven Years' War, which were unpopular among the nobility. But other theories are that it refers to his brief tenure in office, or the story that he decorated his chateau with such portraits. The verb is recorded from 1876. The family name is a Frenchified form of a Basque surname; Arnaud de Silhouette, the finance minister's father, was from Biarritz in the French Basque country; the southern Basque form of the name would be Zuloeta or Zulueta, which contains the suffix -eta "abundance of" and zulo "hole" (possibly here meaning "cave").

silica --- hard silicon dioxide, 1801, Mod.L., from L. silex (gen. silicis) "flint, pebble."

silicon --- nonmetallic element, 1817, coined by British chemist Thomas Thomson from silica (q.v.), patterned on boron, carbon, etc. (Silicone was coined 1863 in Ger. on the same plan.) Silicon chip first attested 1965; Silicon Valley for the Santa Clara Valley south of San Francisco first attested 1974, from the silicon chips used in computers, watches, etc.

silk --- O.E. sioloc, seoloc "silk," ultimately from an Asian word (cf. Chinese si "silk," Manchurian sirghe, Mongolian sirkek) borrowed into Gk. as serikos "silken," serikon "silk" (cf. Gk. Seres, a name for an oriental people from whom the Greeks got silk). The use of -l- instead of -r- in the Balto-Slavic form of the word (cf. O.C.S. shelku, Lith. silkai) apparently passed into English via the Baltic trade and may reflect a Chinese dialectal form, or a Slavic alteration of the Gk. word. Also found in O.N. silki but not elsewhere in Gmc. Western cultivation began 552 C.E., when agents from Byzantium impersonating monks smuggled silkworms and mulberry leaves out of China. In ref to the "hair" of corn, c.1662, Amer.Eng. Silken is O.E. seolcen; silky is attested from 1611. Silkworm is O.E. seolcwyrm. Figurative use of silk-stocking (adj.) for "wealthy" is attested from 1798, Amer.Eng. Silk-screen is first attested 1930.

sill --- O.E. syll "beam, large timber serving as a foundation of a wall," from P.Gmc. *suljo (cf. O.N. svill "framework of a building," M.L.G. sull, O.H.G. swelli, Ger. Schwelle "sill"), perhaps from PIE base *swel- "post, board" (cf. Gk. selma "beam"). Meaning "lower horizontal part of a window opening" is recorded from 1428.

sillabub --- c.1537, of unknown origin. Drink or dish of milk and wine or cider, often sweetened. Figurative sense of "floridly vapid prose" is from 1706.

silly --- O.E. gesælig "happy" (related to sæl "happiness"), from W.Gmc. *sæligas (cf. O.N. sæll "happy," Goth. sels "good, kindhearted," O.S. salig, M.Du. salich, O.H.G. salig, Ger. selig "blessed, happy, blissful"), from PIE base *sel- "happy" (cf. Gk. hilaros "gay, cheerful," L. solari "to comfort," salvus "whole, safe"). The word's considerable sense development moved from "blessed" to "pious," to "innocent" (1200), to "harmless," to "pitiable" (c.1280), to "weak" (c.1300), to "feeble in mind, lacking in reason, foolish" (1576). Further tendency toward "stunned, dazed as by a blow" (1886) in knocked silly, etc. Silly season in journalism slang is from 1861 (August and September, when newspapers compensate for a lack of hard news by filling up with trivial stories). Silly Putty trademark claims use from July 1949.

silo --- 1835, from Sp. silo, from L. sirum (nom. sirus), from Gk. siros "a pit to keep corn in." Or, alternately, the Sp. word is from a pre-Roman Iberian language word represented by Basque zilo, zulo "dugout, cave or shelter for keeping grain." Meaning "underground housing and launch tube for a guided missile" is attested from 1958.

Siloam --- pool and spring outside Jerusalem (John ix:7), from L.L., from N.T. Gk., from Heb. shiloach, lit. "sending forth," from shalach "to send."

silphium --- plant genus, 1771, from L., from Gk. Silphion, name of a N. African Mediterranean plant whose identity has been lost, the gum or juice of which was prized by the ancients as a condiment and a medicine. Probably of African origin.

silt --- c.1440, originally "sediment deposited by seawater," probably from M.L.G. or M.Du. silte, sulte "salt marsh, brine," related to O.E. sealt, O.H.G. sulza "saltwater," Ger. Sulze "brine" (see salt). The verb meaning "to become choked with silt" (of river channels, harbors, etc.) is attested from 1799.

Silurian --- 1708, "pertaining to the Silures," from L. Silures "ancient British tribe inhabiting southeast Wales." Geological sense is from 1835, coined by Sir Roderick Impey Murchison (1792-1871) because rocks of this period are especially frequent in Wales.

silver --- O.E. seolfor "silver," from P.Gmc. *silubra- (cf. O.S. silvbar, O.N. silfr, M.Du. silver, Du. zilver, O.H.G. sillabar, Ger. silber, Goth. silubr), from a common Germanic/Balto-Slavic term (cf. O.C.S. sirebo, Rus. serebo, Lith. sidabras "silver"), possibly from a language of Asia Minor. Perhaps from Akkad. sarpu "silver," lit. "refined silver," related to sarapu "to refine, smelt." Chemical abbreviation Ag is from L. argentum "silver," from the PIE root (see argent). The verb, "to cover or plate with silver" is recorded from 1440. Silverware is from 1860.