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

silver bullet --- very effective, almost magical remedy, 1808. The belief in the magical power of silver weapons to conquer foes goes back at least to ancient Greece (e.g. Delphic Oracle's advice to Philip of Macedon).

silver screen --- 1921, originally in ref. to movie house projection screens colored with metallic paint to be more reflective. Transf. sense of "movies generally" is attested from 1924.

Silver Star --- U.S. military decoration awarded for gallantry in action, originally (1918) a small badge worn on the ribbon of a campaign medal; as a distinct medal, it was established Aug. 8, 1932.

silverfish --- 1703, in ref. to various types of silver-colored fish (cf. Ger. Silberfisch, Du. zilvervisch). In ref. to a type of insect (also known as springtail), it is attested from 1855.

Simeon --- masc. proper name, Biblical second son of Jacob and Leah; also a tribe of Israel; see Simon.

simian --- pertaining to monkeys or apes, 1607, from L. simia "ape," from simus "snub-nosed," from Gk. simos "snub-nosed, bent upward," of unknown origin. The noun meaning "an ape or monkey" first is attested in 1880.

similar --- 1611 (earlier similary, 1564), from Fr. similaire, from an extended form of L. similis "like," from Old L. semol "together," from PIE base *sem-/*som- "same" (see same).

simile --- 1393, from L. simile "a like thing," neuter of similis "like" (see similar). "A simile, to be perfect, must both illustrate and ennoble the subject." [Johnson].

similitude --- c.1374, from O.Fr. similitude, from L. similitudinem (nom. similitudo) "likeness," from similis "like" (see similar).

simmer --- 1653, alteration of simperen "to simmer" (1477), possibly of imitative origin. Fig. sense, of feelings, "to be agitated" is from 1764. Opposite sense, in simmer down, first recorded 1871.

simnel --- sweet cake, c.1200, from O.Fr. simenel "fine wheat flour," by dissimilation from V.L. *siminellus, a dim. of L. simila "fine flour" (see semolina).

simoleon --- slang for "a dollar," 1895, Amer.Eng., of unknown origin; related sambolio is attested from 1886.

Simon --- masc. proper name, from L., from Gk. Symeon, from Heb. Shim'on, lit. "hearkening, hearing," from shama "he heard." In Eng. O.T., usually printed as Simeon, but in N.T. almost always as Simon. Confused with Gk. masc. proper name Simon, which is from simos "snub-nosed."

simonize --- 1934, from simoniz, trademark for a type of car polish invented by George Simons, who along with Elmer Rich of the Great Northern Railway organized Simons Manufacturing Company to sell it in Chicago, U.S.A., in 1910. Rich and his brother, R.J. Rich, acquired sole ownership two years later.

simon-pure (adj.) --- 1815, from the true Simon Pure "the genuine person or thing" (1795), from Simon Pure, name of a Quaker who is impersonated by another character (Colonel Feignwell) in part of the comedy "A Bold Stroke for a Wife" (1717) by Susannah Centlivre, English dramatist and actress. The real Simon Pure is dealt with as an imposter and is believed only after he has proved his identity.

simony --- c.1225, "the buying or selling of sacred things," from O.Fr. simonie, from L.L. simonia, from Simon Magus, the Samaritan magician who was rebuked by Peter when he tried to buy the power of confering the Holy Spirit (Acts viii:18-20).

simoom --- hot, dry desert wind, 1790, from Arabic samum "a sultry wind," lit. "poisonous," from samma "he poisoned," from sam "poison."

simp --- 1903, circus slang shortening of simpleton.

simpatico --- 1864, from Sp. simpatico "sympathetic," from simpatia "sympathy," or from It. simpatico, from simpatia, both ultimately from L. sympathia (see sympathy).

simper --- c.1563, perhaps from a Scand. source (e.g. dial. Dan. semper "affected, coy, prudish") or M.Du. zimperlijk "affected, coy, prim."

simple --- c.1220, "humble, ignorant," from O.Fr. simple, from L. simplus "single," variant of simplex (see simplex). Sense evolved to "lowly, common" (c.1280), then "mere, pure" (1303). As opposite of composite it dates from 1425; as opposite of complicated it dates from c.1555. Disparaging sense (1340) is from notion of "devoid of duplicity." Simply (adv.) in purely intensive sense is attested from 1590.

simpleton --- 1650, jocular formation from simple and -ton, suffix extracted from surnames.

simplex (adj.) --- characterized by a single part, 1594, from L. simplex "single, simple," from PIE base *sem- "one, together" (cf. L. semper "always," lit. "once for all;" Skt. sam "together;" see same) + *plac- "-fold." The noun is attested from 1892.

simplicity --- 1374, from O.Fr. simplicite (Fr. simplicité), from L. simplicitatem (nom. simplicitas) "state of being simple," from simplex (gen. simplicis) "simple" (see simplex). Sense of "ignorance" is from 1514, that of "plainness" is from 1526.

simplify --- 1653, from Fr. simplifier "to make simpler" (15c.), from M.L. simplificare "to simplify," from L. simplex "simple" (see simplex) + root of facere "to make" (see factitious). Meaning "to make easier to do" is from 1759.

simplistic --- 1881, "trying to explain too much by a single principle," earlier (1860) "of or pertaining to simples" (herbs used in healing; the notion is of medicine of one ingredient only), from simplist "one who studies simples" (1597); see simple.

simulacrum --- 1599, from L. simulacrum "likeness, image, form, representation, portrait," dissimilated from *simulaclom, from simulare "to make like" (see simulation). The word was borrowed earlier as semulacre (c.1375), via O.Fr. simulacre.

simulate (v.) --- 1622 (implied in simulated), from L. simulatus, pp. of simulare (see simulation). First record of simulated in sense of "imitative for purposes of experiment or training" is from 1966.

simulation --- 1340, "a false show, false profession," from O.Fr. simulation, from L. simulationem (nom. simulatio) "an imitating, feigning," noun of action from simulare "imitate," from stem of similis "like" (see similar).

simulcast (v.) --- to broadcast simultaneously on radio and television, 1948, formed from simul(taneous) + (broad)cast. The noun is first recorded 1949, from the verb.

simultaneous --- 1652 (implied in simultaneity), from L.L. simultaneus, from L. simul "at the same time" (see similar) + -taneous, abstracted from spontaneous, etc.

simurgh --- monstrous bird, rational and ancient, in Pers. mythology, 1786, from Pers. simurgh, from Pahlavi sin "eagle" + murgh "bird." Cf. Avestan saeno merego "eagle," Skt. syenah "eagle," Arm. cin "kite." Probably identical with the roc (q.v.).

sin (n.) --- O.E. synn "moral wrongdoing, offense against God, misdeed," from P.Gmc. *sundjo (cf. O.S. sundia, O.Fris. sende, M.Du. sonde, Ger. Sünde "sin, transgression, trespass, offense"), probably ult. "true" (cf. Goth. sonjis, O.N. sannr "true"), from PIE *es-ont-, prp. of base *es- "to be" (see is). The semantic development is via notion of "to be truly the one (who is guilty)," as in O.N. phrase verð sannr at "be found guilty of," and the use of the phrase "it is being" in Hittite confessional formula. The same process probably yielded the L. word sons (gen. sontis) "guilty, criminal" from prp. of sum, esse "to be, that which is." Some etymologists believe the Gmc. word was an early borrowing directly from the L. genitive. Sin-eater is attested from 1686. To live in sin "cohabit without marriage" is from 1838. Ice hockey slang sin bin "penalty box" is attested from 1950.

sin (v.) --- O.E. syngian "to commit sin," from synn (see sin (n.)). Cf. Du. zondigen, Ger. sündigen. Form alt. from M.E. sunigen by influence of the noun.

since --- c.1450, synnes, from sithenes "since," from sithen (plus adverbial genitive -es), from O.E. siððan "then, later, after that," originally sið ðan "after that," from sið "after" + ðan, weakened form of ðam, dative of ðæt (see that). Modern spelling replaced syns, synnes 16c. to indicate voiceless final -s- sound. O.E. sið is from PIE *se- "long, late" (cf. Ger. seit "since," Goth. seiþus "late," Skt. sayam "in the evening," L. serus "late").

sincere --- 1533, from M.Fr. sincere, from L. sincerus (see sincerity). Sincerely in the subscription of letters is attested from 1702.

sincerity --- 1546, from M.Fr. sincérité (1519), from L. sinceritatem (nom. sinceritas), from sincerus "sound, pure, whole," perhaps originally "of one growth" (i.e. "not hybrid, unmixed"), from sem-, sin- "one" + root of crescere "to grow" (see crescent). Ground sense is of "that which is not falsified."

sine --- trigonometric function, 1593 (in Thomas Fale's "Horologiographia, the Art of Dialling"), from L. sinus "fold in a garment, bend, curve." Used by Gherardo of Cremona c.1150 in M.L. translation of Arabic geometrical text to render Arabic jiba "chord of an arc, sine" (from Skt. jya "bowstring"), which he confused with jaib "bundle, bosom, fold in a garment."

sine die --- indefinitely, 1631, from L., lit. "without (fixed) day," from sine, enlarged form of sed, se "without" (see secret) + abl. sing. of dies "day" (see diurnal).

sine qua non --- an indispensible condition, 1602, from L., lit. "without which not," from sine "without" + qua abl. fem. sing. of qui "which" + non "not." Fem. to agree with implied causa. The L. phrase is common in Scholastic use. Sometimes a masc. form, sine quo non, is used when a person is intended. Proper plural is sine quibus non.

sinecure --- 1662, "church benefice without parish duties," from M.L. beneficium sine cura "benefice without care" (of souls), from L. sine "without" + cura, ablative sing. of cura "care" (see cure).

sinew --- O.E. seonowe, oblique form of nom. sionu "sinew," from P.Gmc. *senawo (cf. O.S. sinewa, O.N. sina, O.Fris. sine, M.Du. senuwe, O.H.G. senawa, Ger. Sehne), from PIE base *sai- "to bend" (cf. Skt. snavah "sinew," Avestan snavar, Ir. sin "chain").

sing --- O.E. singan "to chant, sing, tell in song," also used of birds (class III strong verb; past tense sang, pp. sungen), from P.Gmc. *sengwanan (cf. O.Fris. sionga, M.Du. singhen, O.H.G. singan, Ger. singen, Goth. siggwan, O.N. syngva, Swed. sjunga), from PIE base *sengwh- "to sing, make an incantation." No related forms in other languages, unless perhaps it is connected to Gk. omphe "voice" (especially of a god), "oracle;" and Welsh dehongli "explain, interpret." The typical IE root is represented by L. canere (see chant). Other words meaning "sing" derive from roots meaning "cry, shout," but Ir. gaibim is lit. "take, seize," with sense evolution via "take up" a song or melody. The criminal slang sense of "to confess to authorities" is attested from 1612. Singsong (adj.) is first recorded 1734, from earlier use as a noun (1609).

Singapore --- from Skt. Simhapuram "Lion City," from simhah "lion" + puram "city." The name is perhaps metaphoric of something, as no lions are found there. Singapore sling attested from 1930; said on the island to have been invented there 1915 by a barman named Ngian Tong Dron.

singe --- O.E. sengan "to burn lightly, burn the edges" (of hair, wings, etc.), from P.Gmc. *sangjanan (cf. O.Fris. of-sendza, M.Du. singhen, Du. zengen, Ger. sengen "to singe"). The root often is said to be related to that of sing, on the idea of some sort of sound produced by singeing.

Singh --- common surname and middle name in North India, later (1699) adopted by Sikhs as a title after their initiation ceremony, also a surname adopted by male Sikhs; 1623 in Eng., from Hind. Singh, from Skt. simhah "lion."

single (adj.) --- 1303, "individual, unbroken, unmarried," from O.Fr. sengle "being one, separate," from L. singulus "one, individual, separate" (usually in pl. singuli "one by one"), from sim- (stem of simplus) + dim. suffix. Meaning "unaccompanied or unsupported by others" is from 1340. The verb meaning "to separate from the herd" (originally in deer-hunting, often with forth or out) is recorded from 1575. Single-handed is first attested 1709. Single-parent (adj.) is attested from 1969.

single (n.) --- 1486, "the middle or outer claw on the foot of a hawk or falcon," from single (adj.). Given various technical meanings from 16c. Sports sense is attested from 1851 (cricket), 1858 (baseball). Meaning "phonograph record with one song on each side" is from 1949. Meaning "unmarried person" is from 1964; singles bar attested from 1969. An earlier word for "unmarried or unattached person" is singleton (1937).

singlet --- unlined woolen garment, c.1746, from single (adj.) in clothing sense of "unlined, of one thickness" (c.1375) + -et.

singleton --- single card of a suit in a hand, 1876, originally in whist, from single (adj.).

singspiel --- 1876, from Ger., lit. "a singing play," from singen "to sing" + Spiel "a play." Kind of performance popular in Germany late 18c.

singular --- c.1340, "alone, apart," from O.Fr. singuler "single, separate" (Fr. singulier), from L. singularis "single, solitary," from singulus (see single (adj.)). Meaning "remarkably good, unusual, rare" is from c.1400, though this was a common meaning of L. singularis.

Sinhalese --- pertaining to Sri Lanka, 1797, from Skt. Sinhala "Sri Lanka, Ceylon," from simhala-, lit. "of lions," from simhah "lion." As the name of a language spoken there, it is attested from 1801.

Sinic --- Chinese, 1662, from M.L. Sinicus, from Sina "China," from L.L. Sinae (pl.) "the Chinese" (see Sino-).

sinister --- 1411, "prompted by malice or ill-will," from O.Fr. sinistre "contrary, unfavorable, to the left," from L. sinister "left, on the left side" (opposite of dexter), perhaps from base *sen- and meaning prop. "the slower or weaker hand" [Tucker], but Buck suggests it's a euphemism (see left), connected with the root of Skt. saniyan "more useful, more advantageous." The L. word was used in augury in the sense of "unlucky, unfavorable" (omens, especially bird flights, seen on the left hand were regarded as portending misfortune), and thus sinister acquired a sense of "harmful, unfavorable, adverse." This was from Gk. influence, reflecting the early Gk. practice of facing north when observing omens; in genuine Roman auspices, the left was favorable. Bend (not "bar") sinister in heraldry indicates illegitimacy and preserves the lit. sense of "on the left side."

sink (n.) --- 1413, "pool or pit for wastewater or sewage," from sink (v.). Sense of "shallow basin with drainpipe" first recorded 1566.

sink (v.) --- O.E. sincan "become submerged, go under" (past tense sanc, pp. suncen), from P.Gmc. *senkwanan (cf. O.S. sinkan, O.N. sökkva, M.Du. sinken, Du. zinken, O.H.G. sinkan, Ger. sinken, Goth. sigqan), from PIE base *sengw- "to sink." The transitive use supplants M.E. sench (cf. drink/drench) which died out 14c. Sinking fund is from 1724; sinker in fishing line sense is from 1844. Adjective phrase sink or swim is from 1668. To sink without a trace is WWI military jargon, transl. Ger. spurlos versenkt.

sink-hole --- as a geological phenomenon, "hole made in the earth by underground erosion," 1780, from sink (v.) + hole.

Sinn Fein --- 1905, from Ir., lit. "we ourselves," from O.Ir. féin "self," from PIE *swei-no-, suffixed form of base *s(w)e- (see idiom). Movement founded 1905 by Ir. journalist and politician Arthur Griffith (1872-1922).

Sino- --- comb. form meaning "Chinese," 1879, from L.L. Sinæ (pl.) "the Chinese," from Ptolemaic Gk. Sinai, from Arabic Sin "China," probably from Chinese Ch'in, name of the fourth dynasty of China (see China).

sinsemilla --- potent strain of marijuana, 1975, from Mex.Sp., lit. "without seed."

sinuous --- full of turns and curves, 1578, from L. sinuosus "full of folds or bendings," from sinus "curve, fold, bend."

sinus --- 1597, "abscess, sore," from M.L. sinus, from L. sinus "bend, fold, curve." Meaning "hollow curve or cavity in the body" is attested from 1672. Sinusitis "inflammation of a sinus" is recorded from 1896.

Sioux --- group of N.Amer. Indian tribes, 1761, from N.Amer. Fr., aphetic for Nadouessioux, sometimes said to be from Ojibway (Algonquian) Natowessiwak (pl.), lit. "little snakes," from nadowe "Iroquois" (lit. "big snakes"). Another explanation traces it to early Ottawa (Algonquian) sing. /na:towe:ssi/ (pl. /na:towe:ssiwak/) "Sioux," apparently from a verb meaning "to speak a foreign language" [Bright]. In either case, a name given by their neighbors; the people's name for themselves is Dakota, lit. "allies."

sip (v.) --- c.1386, perhaps related to Low Ger. sippen "to sip," or O.E. supan "to take into the mouth a little at a time" (see sup (2)). The noun is attested from 1633.

siphon (n.) --- 1659, from Fr. siphon (1611), from L. sipho (gen. siphonis), from Gk. siphon "pipe, tube," of unknown origin. The verb is attested from 1859; fig. sense of "to draw off, divert" is recorded from 1940.

sir --- 1297, title of honor of a knight or baronet (until 17c. also a title of priests), variant of sire, originally used only in unstressed position. Generalized as a respectful form of address by c.1350; used as a salutation at the beginning of letters from 1425.

sire --- c.1205, title placed before a name and denoting knighthood, from O.Fr. sire, from V.L. *seior, from L. senior "older, elder" (see senior). Standing alone and meaning "your majesty" it is attested from c.1225. General sense of "important elderly man" is from 1362; that of "father, male parent" is from c.1250. The verb meaning "to beget, to be the sire of" is attested from 1611, from the noun.

siren --- c.1366, "sea nymph who by her singing lures sailors to their destruction," from O.Fr. sereine, from L.L. Sirena, from L. Siren, from Gk. Seiren ["Odyssey," xii.39 ff.], perhaps lit. "binder," from seira "cord, rope." Meaning "device that makes a warning sound" (on an ambulance, etc.) first recorded 1879, in reference to steamboats. Fig. sense of "one who sings sweetly and charms" is recorded from 1590.

Sirius --- brightest star, c.1374, from Gk. Seirios, lit. "scorching." Probably so called from its ancient heliacal rising at the summer solstice (see dog days). An Egyptian name for it was Sothis.

sirloin --- 1525, serlyn, from M.Fr. surlonge, lit. "upper part of the loin," from sur "over, above" + longe "loin," from O.Fr. loigne (see loin). Eng. spelling with sir- dates from 17c., supposedly because the cut of beef was "knighted" by an English king for its superiority, a tale variously told of Henry VIII, James I, and Charles II, though only the first is chronologically possible.

sirocco --- hot wind blowing from the Libyan deserts, 1617, from It. sirocco, from vulgar Arabic shoruq "the east wind," from Arabic sharqi "eastern, east wind," from sharq "east," from sharaqa "to rise" (in reference to the sun).

sirrah --- 1526, term of address used to men or boys expressing anger or contempt, archaic extended form of sir (in U.S., siree, attested from 1823).

-sis --- suffix in Gk. nouns denoting action, process, state, condition, from Gk. -sis, which is identical in meaning with L. -entia, Eng. -ing.

sis --- 1656, abbreviated form of sister; in Amer.Eng., applied generally to girls and young women (1859).

sisal --- 1843, from Sisal, port in Yucatan, from which the rope-making fiber was exported.

sis-boom-bah --- cheerleading chant, originally (1867) an echoic phrase imitating the sound of a skyrocket flight (sis), the burst of the fireworks (boom), and the reaction of the crowd ((b)ah).

sissy --- 1846, "sister," extended form of sis (q.v.). Meaning "effeminate man" is recorded from 1887; the adj. in this sense is from 1891. Sissy bar is recorded from 1969.

sister --- O.E. sweostor, swuster, or a Scand. cognate (cf. O.N. systir, Swed. sister, Dan. søster), in either case from P.Gmc. *swestr- (cf. O.S. swestar, O.Fris. swester, M.Du. suster, Du. zuster, O.H.G. swester, Ger. Schwester, Goth. swistar), from PIE *swesor, one of the most persistent and unchanging PIE root words, recognizable in almost every modern I.E. language (cf. Skt. svasar-, Avestan shanhar-, L. soror, O.C.S., Rus. sestra, Lith. sesuo, O.Ir. siur, Welsh chwaer, Gk. eor). Probably from PIE roots *swe- "one's own" + *ser- "woman." For vowel evolution, see bury. Used of nuns in O.E.; of a woman in general from 1906; of a black woman from 1926; and in the sense of "fellow feminist" from 1912.

sisterhood --- state of being a sister, 1390, from sister + -hood. Meaning "a society of sisters" (usually a religious order) is from c.1592; sense of "women having some common characteristic or calling" is from 1609.

Sistine --- 1769, lit. "pertaining to Pope Sixtus," from It. sistino, from Sixtus, name of five popes, from L. sextus "sixth" (see Sextus). The "chapel" is named for Sixtus IV (Francesco della Rovere), pope 1471-84, who had it built.

sisyphean --- resembling the labors of Sisyphus, 1635, from Sisyphus, from Gk. Sisyphos, a name of unknown origin. King of Corinth, famed as "the craftiest of men," he was condemned in the afterlife to roll uphill a stone which perpetually rolls down.

sit --- O.E. sittan "to be seated, to seat oneself" (class V strong verb; past tense sæt, pp. seten), from P.Gmc. *setjanan (cf. O.S. sittian, O.N. sitja, O.Fris. sitta, M.Du. sitten, Du. zitten, O.H.G. sizzan, Ger. sitzen, Goth. sitan), from PIE base *sed- "to sit" (see sedentary). In ref. to a legislative assembly, from 1518. Meaning "to baby-sit" is recorded from 1966. Sitting room first recorded 1771. Slang sitting duck "easy target" first recorded 1944; lit. sense is from 1867 (it is considered not sporting to shoot at one). Sitting pretty is from 1921. To sit on one's hands was originally "to withhold applause" (1926); later, "to do nothing" (1959). To sit around "be idle, do nothing" is 1915, Amer.Eng. To sit out "not take part" is from 1626.

sitar --- 1845, from Hindi sitar, from Pers. sitar "three-stringed," from si "three" (O.Pers. thri-) + tar "string" (see tenet).

sitcom --- 1964, from sit(uation) com(edy), a phrase first attested 1953 (in a "TV Guide" article, with ref. to "I Love Lucy").

site --- place or position occupied by something, c.1391, from Anglo-Fr. site, from L. situs "place, position," from si-, root of sinere "let, leave alone, permit."

sit-in --- 1936, in ref. to session musicians; 1937, in ref. to union action; 1941, in ref. to student protests.

situate --- c.1532, f"to give a site to," rom M.L. situatus, pp. of situare "to place, locate," from L. situs "place, position" (see site).

situation --- 1490, "place, position, or location," from M.L. situationem (nom. situatio), from L.L. situatus, pp. of situare (see situate). Meaning "state of affairs" is from 1750; meaning "employment post" is from 1803. Situation ethics first attested 1955.

sit-up --- kind of physical exercise, 1955.

sitz-bath --- 1849, a hybrid, from Ger. Sitzbad, lit. "bath in a sitting position," with Eng. bath for Ger. Bad.

sitzkrieg --- 1940, "static warfare" (such as prevailed in Europe in the winter of 1939-40), R.A.F. coinage on analogy of blitzkrieg (q.v.), from Ger. sitz "a sitting."

Siva --- one of the three supreme gods of Hinduism, lord of destruction and reproduction, 1788, from Hind. Shiva, from Skt. Sivah, lit. "propitious, gracious," from PIE *ki-wo-, from base *kei- "beloved, dear" (connected with L. civis "citizen," lit. "member of a household"), also "to lie, couch" (cf. cemetery).

six --- O.E. siex, from P.Gmc. *sekhs (cf. O.S. seks, O.N., O.Fris. sex, M.Du. sesse, Du. zes, O.H.G. sehs, Ger. sechs, Goth. saihs), from PIE *seks (cf. Skt. sas, Avestan kshvash, Gk. hex, L. sex, O.C.S. sesti, Lith. sesi, O.Ir. se, Welsh chwech). Six-shooter is first attested 1844; six-pack of beverage is from 1952. Six of one and half-a-dozen of the other "little difference" is recorded from 1836. Phrase at sixes and sevens "hazarding all ones chances," is first in Chaucer, perhaps from dicing (the original form was on six and seven) and could be a corruption of on cinque and sice, using the Fr. names (which were common in M.E.) for the highest numbers on the dice.