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

stump (n.) --- c.1350, "remaining part of a severed arm or leg," from or cognate with M.L.G. stump (from adj. meaning "mutilated, blunt, dull"), M.Du. stomp "stump," from P.Gmc. *stump- (cf. O.N. stumpr, O.H.G., Ger. stumpf "stump," Ger. Stummel "piece cut off"), perhaps related to the root of stub or stamp, but the connection in each case presents difficulties. Earliest form of the word in Eng. is a now-obs. verb meaning "to stumble over a tree-stump or other obstacle," attested from c.1250. Meaning "part of a tree trunk left in the ground after felling" is from 1440. Sense of "walk clumsily" is first recorded 1600; that of "baffle" is first recorded 1807, perhaps in reference to plowing newly cleared land.

stump (v.) --- to go on a speaking tour during a political campaign, 1838, Amer.Eng., from phrase stump speech (1820), from stump (n.), large tree stumps being a natural perch for rural orators (this custom is attested from 1775).

stun --- c.1300, "to daze or render unconscious" (from a blow, powerful emotion, etc.), probably aphetic of O.Fr. estoner "to stun" (see astonish). Stunning popularized for "splendid, excellent" c.1849.

stunt (n.) --- feat to attract attention, 1878, Amer.Eng. college sports slang, of uncertain origin. Speculated to be a variant of colloq. stump "dare, challenge" (1871), or of Ger. stunde, lit. "hour." The movie stunt man is attested from 1930.

stunt (v.) --- check in growth, dwarf, 1659, verb use of M.E. adj. stunnt "foolish," from O.E. stunt "short-witted, foolish" (cf. stuntspræc "foolish talk"), from P.Gmc. *stuntaz (cf. O.N. stuttr "short"), from the root of stump.

stupefy --- 1513 (implied in pp. stupefact), from M.Fr. stupéfier, from L. stupefacere "make stupid or senseless," from stupere "be stunned" (see stupid) + facere "to make" (see factitious).

stupendous --- 1666, earlier stupendious (1547), from L.L. stupendus "to be wondered at," gerundive form of L. stupere "be stunned, be struck senseless" (see stupid).

stupid --- 1541, "mentally slow," from M.Fr. stupide, from L. stupidus "amazed, confounded," lit. "struck senseless," from stupere "be stunned, amazed, confounded," from PIE *(s)tupe- "hit," from base *(s)teu- (see steep (adj.)). Native words for this idea include negative compounds with words for "wise" (cf. O.E. unwis, unsnotor, ungleaw), also dol (from root of Ger. toll "mad," related to Gk. tholeros "muddy, turbid"), and dysig (see dizzy). Stupid retained its association with stupor and its overtones of "stunned by surprise, grief, etc." into mid-18c. The difference between stupid and the less opprobrious foolish roughly parallels that of Ger. töricht vs. dumm but does not exist in most European languages.

stupor --- 1398, from L. stupor "insensibility, numbness, dullness," from stupere "be stunned" (see stupid).

sturdy --- 1297, "hard to manage, reckless, violent," from O.Fr. estourdi "violent," originally "dazed," pp. of estourdir "to daze," from V.L. *exturdire, which is presumed to be from L. intensive prefix ex + turdus "thrush." Perhaps the notion is of thrushes eating leftover grapes at wineries and acting drunk (It. tordo "thrush" also means "simpleton," and Fr. has the expression soûl comme une grive "drunk as a thrush"). OED, however, regards all this as "open to grave objection." Sense of "solidly built, strong and hardy" first recorded c.1386.

sturgeon --- c.1300, from Anglo-Fr. sturgeon, from O.Fr. esturjon, from a Gmc. source (cf. O.H.G. sturio "sturgeon," O.E. styria), from P.Gmc. *sturjon-; cognate with Lith. ersketras, Rus. osetr "sturgeon." Of obscure origin, perhaps from a lost pre-IE northern European language, or from the root of stir. M.L. sturio, It. storione, Sp. esturion are Gmc. loan-words.

Sturm und Drang --- 1844, lit. "storm and stress," late 18c. Ger. romanticism period, is taken from the title of a 1776 romantic drama by Ger. poet Friedrich Maximilian von Klinger (1752-1831), who gave it this name at the suggestion of Christoph Kauffmann.

Sturmabteilung --- 1923, from Ger., lit. "storm detachment;" paramilitary force of the Nazi Party, founded 1921, repressed 1934, also know by its initials, S.A., and as the Brown shirts (see brown).

stutter (v.) --- 1570, frequentative form of stutt, from M.E. stutten "to stutter, stammer" (1388), cognate with M.L.G. stoten "to knock, strike against, collide," from P.Gmc. *staut- "push, thrust" (cf. O.E. stotan, O.H.G. stozan, Goth. stautan "to push, thrust"), from PIE *(s)teu- (see steep (adj.)). The noun is attested from 1854.

sty (1) --- pen for pigs, O.E. sti, stig "hall, pen" (in sti-fearh), from P.Gmc. *stijan (cf. O.N. stia "sty, kennel," O.H.G. stiga "pen for small cattle").

sty (2) --- inflamed swelling in the eyelid, 1617, probably a back-formation from M.E. styany (as though sty on eye), c.1440, from O.E. stigend "sty," lit. "riser," from prp. of stigan "go up, rise," from P.Gmc. *stig- (see stair).

Stygian --- pertaining to Styx or the nether world, 1566, from L. Stygius, from Gk. Stygios, from Styx (gen. Stygos); see Styx.

style (n.) --- c.1300, stile, "designation, title, manner or mode of expression," from O.Fr. estile "a stake, pale," from L. stilus "stake, instrument for writing, manner of writing, mode of expression," from PIE *sti-lo-, from base *sti- "point, prick, pierce" (see stick (v.)). Spelling modified by influence of Gk. stylos "pillar." Meaning "mode or fashion of life" is from 1770; that of "mode of dress" is from 1814. Stylish is first recorded 1797 in "Sense and Sensibility" (the adj. good is understood); and stylize is 1898, from Ger. stilisieren.

style (v.) --- 1563, "to give a name to," from style (n.). Meaning "to arrange in fashionable style" (esp. of hair) is attested from 1934. Slang sense of "act or play in a showy way" is 1970s, originally black slang.

stylite --- ascetic living on the top of a pillar, c.1638, from Eccles. Gk. stylites, from stylos "pillar" (see stet).

stylus --- 1728, "stem-like part of a flower pistil," alteration of L. stilus "stake, stylus;" spelling influenced by Gk. stylos "pillar" (see stet). Meaning "instrument for writing" is from 1807.

stymie --- 1834, (n.), "condition in which an opponent's golf ball blocks the hole," perhaps from Scottish stymie "person who sees poorly," from stime "the least bit" (c.1300), of uncertain origin (Icelandic cognate skima is attested from c.1685). The verb, in golf, is from 1857; general sense of "block, hinder, thwart" is from 1902.

styptic --- c.1400, from O.Fr. stiptique, from L. stypticus "astringent," from Gk. styptikos, from styphein "to constrict, draw together." Spelling influenced by L. and Gk. words.

styrene --- colorless hydrocarbon, 1885, from Styrax, name of a genus of trees (the chemical is found in their resin), 1786, from L. styrax, from Gk. styrax, of Sem. origin (cf. Heb. tsori "terebinth resin"). Form influenced by Gk. styrax "shaft of a lance."

Styrofoam --- 1950, trademark name (Dow Chemical Co.), from (poly)styr(ene) (see polystyrene) + -o- + foam (n.).

Styx --- 1390, the Gk. river of the Underworld, cognate with Gk. stygos "hatred," stygnos "gloomy." Oaths sworn by it were supremely binding and even the gods feared to break them. The adj. is Stygian.

suasion --- 1374, probably via O.Fr. suasion (14c.), from L. suasionem (nom. suasio) "an advising, a counseling," from suasus, pp. of suadere "to urge, persuade" (related to suavis "sweet;" see sweet). Survives chiefly in phrase moral suasion (1642).

suave --- c.1501, "gracious, kindly," from M.Fr. suave, from L. suavis "agreeable," from PIE base *swad- (see sweet). In ref. to persons, sense of "smoothly agreeable" first recorded 1815 (in suavity).

sub- --- prefix of L. origin meaning "under," from L. preposition sub "under" (also "close to, up to, towards"), from a variant form (*(s)up-, perhaps representing *ex-upo-) of PIE base *upo- "from below," hence "turning upward, upward, up, up from under, over, beyond" (cf. Skt. upa "near, under, up to, on," Gk. hypo "under," Goth. iup, O.N., O.E. upp "up, upward," Hittite up-zi "rises"). Used as a prefix and in various combinations. The original meaning is now obscured in many words from Latin (suggest, suspect, subject, etc.); the prefix is active in Mod. Eng., however, sometimes meaning "subordinate" (as in subcontinent, first recorded 1863) or "inferior" (a sense first attested 1963). Many such words are transparent (e.g. subcommittee, 1610) and etymologies of their root words may be found under those headings. As a word of its own, sub is first recorded 1830, as a shortened form of substitute (originally of printer's substitutes). The verb in this sense is from 1853.

sub rosa --- 1654, "privately, secretly," from L., lit. "under the rose," which was regarded as a symbol of secrecy.

sub voce --- 1859, from L., lit. "under the word or heading." Usually abbreviated s.v.

subaltern --- subordinate, c.1400 (implied in subalternal), from M.Fr. subalterne, from L.L. subalternus, from L. sub "under" + alternus "every other (one), one after the other" (see alternate). The noun meaning "person of inferior rank" is attested from 1605; as the designation of an army officer, from 1690.

subatomic --- 1903, from sub-atom (1880), from sub- + atom.

subconscious (adj.) --- 1823, "not wholly conscious" (implied in subconsciously), from sub- + conscious. First attested in De Quincey. The noun, in the psychological sense, is attested from 1886; earlier subconsciousness (1874).

subcontract (n.) --- contract for carrying out all or part of a previous contract, 1817, from sub- + contract (v.).

subculture --- 1886, in ref. to bacterial cultures, from sub- + culture. 1936 in ref. to humans.

subcutaneous --- under the skin, 1651, from sub- + cutaneous (see cuticle).

subdivide --- 1432, from L.L. subdividere from sub in the sense of "resulting from further division" + L. dividere (see division). Subdivision is attested from 1553; sense of "land broken into lots for housing development" is from 1911.

subduce --- 1542, "to withdraw oneself" (from a place, allegiance, etc.), from L. subducere "to draw away, withdraw, remove," from sub- + ducere "to lead" (see duke).

subduction --- c.1620, "withdrawal, removal," from L. subductionem (nom. subductio), from subductus, pp. of subducere (see subduce). Geological sense is attested from 1970, from Fr. (1951).

subdue --- 1387, "to conquer," from O.Fr. souduire "deceive, seduce," from L. subducere "draw, lead away, withdraw" (see subduce). The sense seems to have been taken over in Anglo-Fr. from L. subdere. Subdued "reduced in intensity, toned down" is attested from 1822. Subduct in the sense of "subtract" is from 1571.

subhead --- smaller heading or title in a book, chapter, newspaper, etc., 1875, from sub- + head (n.) in the sense of "heading, headline."

subhuman --- 1793, adj., from sub- + see human. The noun is first recorded 1957.

subjacent --- 1597, from L. subjacentem, from subjacens, prp. of subjacere "to lie underneath" (see subject).

subject (n.) --- 1315, "person under control or dominion of another," from O.Fr. suget, subget "a subject person or thing" (12c.), from L. subjectus, noun use of pp. of subicere "to place under," from sub "under" + combining form of jacere "to throw." In 14c., sugges, sogetis, subgit, sugette; form re-Latinized in Eng. 16c. Meaning "person or thing that may be acted upon" is recorded from 1592. Meaning "subject matter of an art or science" is attested from 1541, probably short for subject matter (c.1374), which is from M.L. subjecta materia, a loan translation of Gk. hypokeimene hyle (Aristotle), lit. "that which lies beneath." Likewise some specific uses in logic and philosophy are borrowed directly from L. subjectum "foundation or subject of a proposition," a loan-translation of Aristotle's to hypokeimenon. Grammatical sense is recorded from c.1638. The adj. is attested from c.1330. Subjective "existing in the mind" is from 1707.

subject (v.) --- 1382, "to make (a person or nation) subject to another by force," also "to render submissive or dependent," from L. subjectare, from the root of subject (n.). Meaning "to lay open or expose to (some force or occurrence)" is recorded from 1549.

subjugation --- 1432, from L.L. subjugationem (nom. subjugatio), from L. subjugatus, pp. of subjugare "to subdue," lit. "bring under a yoke," from sub "under" + jugum (see jugular).

subjunctive --- 1530, "mood employed to denote an action or state as conceived and not as a fact," from L.L. subjunctivus "serving to join, connecting," from pp. stem of subjungere "to append, add at the end, place under," from sub "under" + jungere "to join" (see jugular). The L. modus subjunctivus probably is a grammarians' loan-translation of Gk. hypotaktike enklisis "subordinated," so called because the Gk. subjunctive mood is used almost exclusively in subordinate clauses.

sublet --- 1766, from sub- + let (v.).

sublimation --- 1390, "process of purifying by heating into a vapor," from M.L. sublimationem (nom. sublimatio) "refinement," lit. "a lifting up, deliverance," from L. sublimare "to raise, elevate," from sublimis "lofty" (see sublime). Psychological sense is first recorded 1910, probably influenced by subliminal.

sublime --- 1586, "expressing lofty ideas in an elevated manner," from M.Fr. sublime, from L. sublimis "uplifted, high, lofty," possibly originally "sloping up to the lintel," from sub "up to" + limen "lintel." The sublime "the sublime part of anything" is from 1679. Sublime Porte, former title of the Ottoman government, is from Fr. la Sublime Porte, lit. "the high gate," a loan-translation of Arabic Bab 'Ali, title of the Ottoman court at Constantinople (cf. mikado).

subliminal --- 1886, "below the threshold" (of consciousness), formed from sub "below" + L. limen (gen. liminis) "threshold." Apparently a loan-translation of Ger. unter der Schwelle (des Bewusstseins) "beneath the threshold (of consciousness)," from Johann Friedrich Herbart (1776-1841), author of a textbook on psychology published in 1824. The scare over subliminal advertising came in 1957.

sub-machine gun --- light, portable machine gun, 1926, from sub- + machine gun.

submarine (adj.) --- 1648, from sub- + marine. The noun meaning "submarine boat" is from 1899. The short form sub is first recorded 1917. Submarine sandwich (1955) so called from the shape of the roll.

submerge --- 1606, from L. submergere "to plunge under, sink, overwhelm," from sub "under" + mergere "to plunge, immerse" (see merge). Intransitive use is from 1652, made common 20c. in connection with submarines.

submersion --- 1572, from L.L. submersionem (nom. submersio), from submersus, pp. of submergere "to sink" (see submerge). Submersible (n.) as a type of submarine vessel is recorded from 1900.

submission --- 1411, "act of referring to a third party for judgment or decision," from O.Fr. submission, from L. submissionem (nom. submissio) "a lowering, sinking, yielding," from submissus, pp. of submittere "lower, reduce, yield" (see submit). Sense of "humble obedience" is first recorded 1449. Mod.Fr. submission has been replaced by doublet soumission. Submissive "inclined to submit" is recorded from 1586.

submit --- c.1374, "to place (oneself) under the control of another," from L. submittere "to yield, lower, let down, put under, reduce," from sub "under" + mittere "let go, send." Sense of "refer to another for consideration" first recorded 1560.

subordinate (adj.) --- 1456, from M.L. subordinatus "placed in a lower order, made subject," pp. of subordinare "place in a lower order," from L. sub "under" + ordinare "arrange" (see ordain). The verb meaning "to bring into a subordinate position" is recorded from 1597.

suborn --- to procure by bribery, to lure (someone) to commit a crime, 1528 (implied in subornation), from M.Fr. suborner (13c.), from L. subornare "suborn," originally "equip," from sub "under, secretly" + ornare "equip," related to ordo "order."

subpoena (n.) --- 1422, sub pena, from M.L. sub poena "under penalty," the first words of the writ commanding the presence of someone under penalty of failure, from L. sub "under" + poena, ablative of poena "penalty." The verb is attested from 1640.

subscribe --- 1425, "to sign at the bottom of a document," from L. subscribere "write underneath, sign one's name," from sub "underneath" + scribere "write" (see script). The meaning "give one's consent" first recorded 1549; that of "contribute money to" 1640; and that of "become a regular buyer of a publication" 1711, all originally literal.

subscript --- 1704, "that which is written underneath," from L. subscriptus, pp. of subscribere "write underneath" (see subscribe for etymology and sense development).

subscription --- 1409, "piece of writing at the end of a document," from M.Fr. subscription, from L. subscriptionem (nom. subscriptio) "anything written underneath, a signature," from pp. stem of subscribere (see subscribe for etymology and sense development).

subsequent --- 1460, from M.Fr. subséquent (14c.), from L. subsequentem (nom. subsequens), prp. of subsequi "to follow closely," from sub "closely, up to" + sequi "follow."

subservient --- 1632, "useful, serviceable," from L. subservientem (nom. subserviens), prp. of subservire "assist, lend support," from sub "under" + servire "serve." The meaning "slavishly obedient" is first recorded 1794.

subset --- subordinate set, 1902, from sub- + set (n.).

subside --- 1681, "to sink to the bottom," from L. subsidere "settle, sink, sit down or remain," from sub "down" + sidere "to settle," related to sedere (see sit). Meaning "to sink to a lower level, be reduced" is from 1706.

subsidiary --- 1543, from M.Fr. subsidiaire, from L. subsidiarius "serving to assist or supplement," from subsidium "help, aid" (see subsidy).

subsidy --- c.1380, from Anglo-Fr. subsidie, from O.Fr. subside "help, aid, contribution," from L. subsidium "help, aid, assistance, (military) reinforcements," from sub "behind, near" + sedere "to sit" (see sedentary). Subsidize is from 1795. Originally of nations, "to buy neutrality or alliance." Meaning "to support by grants of money" is from 1828.

subsistence --- 1432, "existence, independence," from L.L. subsistentia "substance, reality," from L. subsistens, prp. of subsistere "stand still or firm," from sub "under, up to" + sistere "to assume a standing position," from stare "to stand" (see assist). Properly a loan-translation of Gk. hypostasis "subsistence," lit. "anything placed under." Meaning "provision of support for animal life" is from 1645. Subsist (v.) is attested from 1549.

subsoil --- 1799, from sub- + soil (n.).

substance --- c.1300, "essential nature," from O.Fr. substance (12c.), from L. substantia "being, essence, material," from substans, prp. of substare "stand firm, be under or present," from sub "up to, under" + stare "to stand," from PIE base *sta- "to stand" (see stet). A loan-translation of Gk. hypostasis. Sense of "the matter of a study, discourse, etc." first recorded 1390. Meaning "any kind of corporeal matter" also is first attested 1390.

sub-standard --- 1909, from sub- + standard.

substantial --- 1340, "ample, sizeable," from O.Fr. substantiel (13c.), from L. substantialis "having substance or reality, material," from substantia (see substance). Meaning "existing, having real existence" is from 1387.

substantiate --- 1657, "to make real, to give substance to," from Mod.L. substantiatus, pp. of substantiare, from L. substantia (see substance). Meaning "to demonstrate or prove" is attested from 1803.

substantive --- c.1470, "standing by itself," from O.Fr. substantif, from L.L. substantivum, neut. of L. substantivus "of substance or being," from substantia (see substance). The grammatical term (1393) was introduced by the Fr. to denote the noun in contradistinction to the adjective, from L. nomen substantivum "name or word of substance."

substation --- 1881, in the policing sense, from sub- + station. Power grid sense is attested from 1901.

substitution --- 1390, from M.Fr. substitution, from L.L. substitutionem (nom. substitutio) "a putting in place of another," from L. substitutus, pp. of substituere "put in place of another, place under or next to," from sub "under" + statuere "set up." Substitute (v.) is first recorded 1532 in transitive sense, 1888 as intransitive. The noun is first attested c.1400; sports sense is from 1849.

subsume --- 1535, from Mod.L. subsumere "to take under," from L. sub "under" + sumere "to take."

subtend --- 1570, from L. subtendere, from sub "under" + tendere "to stretch" (see tenet).

subterfuge --- 1573, from M.Fr. subterfuge, from L.L. subterfugium "an evasion," from L. subterfugere "to evade, escape, flee by stealth," from subter "beneath, secretly" + fugere "flee" (see fugitive).

subterranean --- 1603, from L. subterraneus "underground," from sub "under" + terra "earth" (see terrain).

subtext --- underlying theme of a work of literature, 1950, from sub- + text. Originally a term in Konstantin Stanislavsky's theory of acting. Earlier it was used in a lit. sense of text appearing below other text on a page" (1726).

subtile --- c.1374, "clever, dexterous," from O.Fr. subtil (14c.), from L. subtilis "fine, thin, delicate" (see subtle). A Latinized refashioning of the O.Fr. source of subtle.

subtitle (n.) --- 1825, "subordinate or additional title," in ref. to literary works, from sub- "under" + title. Applied to motion pictures first in 1909.

subtle --- c.1300, sutel, soutil, in ref. to things, "of thin consistency;" in ref. to craftsmen, "skilled, clever," from O.Fr. soutil, from L. subtilis "fine, thin, delicate, finely woven," from sub "under" + -tilis, from tela "web" and texere "to weave" (see texture). The spelling with -b- reflects confusion with subtile. Most non-material senses were present by late 14c.

subtotal (n.) --- 1906, from sub- + total (n.). The verb is attested from 1936.

subtraction --- c.1400, "withdrawal, removal," from L.L. subtractionem (nom. subtractio) "a drawing back, taking away," from L. subtractus, pp. of subtrahere "take away, draw off," from sub "from under" + trahere "to pull, draw" (see tract (1)). The mathematical sense is attested from c.1425. The verb subtract is first recorded c.1540.

subtrahend --- 1674, from L. subtrahendus numerus "number to be subtracted," from gerundive form of subtrahere (see subtract).

subtropical --- 1842, from sub- + tropical.

suburb --- c.1340 (implied in suburban), "residential area outside a town or city," from O.Fr. suburbe, from L. suburbium "an outlying part of a city," from sub "below, near" + urbs (gen. urbis) "city." Close to crowds but just beyond the reach of municipal jurisdiction, suburbs in 17c., especially those of London, had a sense of "inferior, debased, and licentious habits or life" (e.g. suburban sinner, slang for "loose woman, prostitute"). By 1817, the tinge had shifted to "inferior manners and narrow views." Compare also Fr. equivalent faubourg. Suburbanite formed 1890; suburbia first attested 1896, probably influenced by utopia, originally in England with ref. to London.

subvention --- c.1400, from M.Fr. subvention, from L.L. subventionem (nom. subventio) "assistance," from pp. stem of L. subvenire "come to one's aid," from sub "up to" + venire "to come" (see venue).

subversion --- 1382, from O.Fr. subversion, from L.L. subversionem (nom. subversio) "an overthrow, ruin, destruction," from pp. stem of subvertere (see subvert). Subversive (adj.) is first recorded 1644; the noun is from 1887.

subvert --- c.1375, from M.Fr. subvertir, from L. subvertere, from sub "under" + vertere "to turn" (see versus).

subway --- 1825, "underground passage" (for water pipes or pedestrians), from sub- + way. The sense of "underground railway in a city" is first recorded 1893, in ref. to Boston.