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

salvation --- c.1225, originally in the Christian sense, from O.Fr. salvaciun, from L.L. salvationem (nom. salvatio, a Church L. translation of Gk. soteria), noun of action from salvare "to save" (see save). In general (non-religious) sense, attested from c.1374. Meaning "source of salvation" is from c.1374. Salvation Army is from 1878, founded by the Rev. William Booth. The verb salve "to save from loss at sea" (1706) is a back-formation.

salve (n.) --- O.E. sealf "healing ointment," from W.Gmc. *salbo- "oily substance" (cf. O.S. salba, M.Du. salve, Du. zalf, O.H.G. salba, Ger. salbe "ointment"), from PIE *solpa-, from base *selp- "fat, butter" (cf. Gk. elpos "fat, oil," Skt. sarpis "melted butter"). The figurative sense of "something to soothe wounded pride, etc." is from 1736. The verb is O.E. sealfian "anoint (a wound) with salve," from P.Gmc. *salbojanan (cf. Du. zalven, Ger. salben, Goth. salbon "to anoint").

salver --- 1661, "tray," formed in Eng. on the model of platter, etc., from Fr. salve "tray used for presenting objects to the king," from Sp. salva "a testing of food or drink" to test for poison (a procedure known as pre-gustation), hence "tray on which food was placed to show it was safe to eat," from salvar "to save, render safe," from L.L. salvare (see save).

salvo --- 1719, alteration of salva (1591) "simultaneous discharge of guns," from It. salva "salute, volley" (cf. Fr. salve, from It.), from L. salve "hail!," lit. "be in good health!," the usual Roman greeting, regarded as imperative of salvere "to be in good health," but prop. voc. of salvus "healthy" (see safe (adj.)). The notion is of important visitors greeted with a volley of gunfire into the air.

SAM --- 1958, acronym for surface to air missile.

Sam Browne --- type of belt with shoulder strap, 1915, from Sir Samuel James Browne (1824-1901), British general who invented it.

Sam Hill --- euphemism for "Hell," 1839, Amer.Eng., of unknown origin.

samadhi --- intense esoteric meditation through yoga, 1795, from Skt. samadhi-, lit. "a putting or joining together," from sam- "together" + a- "toward" + stem of dadhati "puts, places."

Samaritan --- O.E., "inhabitant of Samaria," a district of Palestine, from L.L. Samaritanus, from Gk. Samareia "Samaria," from Aramaic Shamerayin, ult. from Heb. Shomeron, town named for Shemer, owner of the hill on which it was built (cf. I Kings xvi:24). Figurative use with reference to the good Samaritan is first recorded 1640, from Luke x:33.

Samarra --- city in north-central Iraq; phrase an appointment in Samarra indicating the inevitability of death is from an old Arabic tale (first in Eng. apparently in W. Somerset Maugham's play "Sheppey," 1933), in which a man meets Death one day in the marketplace in Baghdad and flees him to Samarra. When questioned, Death replies, "I was astonished to see him in Baghdad, for I had an appointment with him tonight in Samarra."

samba (n.) --- Brazilian dance of African origin, 1885, Zemba, from Port. samba, shortened form of zambacueca, a type of dance, probably altered (by influence of zamacueco "stupid") from zambapalo, the name of a grotesque dance, itself an alteration of zampapalo "stupid man," from zamparse "to bump, crash."

sambo (1) --- person of mixed blood in America and Asia, 1748, perhaps from Sp. zambo "bandy-legged," probably from L. scambus "bow-legged," from Gk. skambos. Used variously in different regions to indicate some mixture of African, European, and Indian blood; common senses were "child of black and Indian parentage" and "offspring of a black and a mulatto."

Sambo (2) --- stereotypical name for male black person (now only derogatory), 1818, Amer.Eng., probably a different word from sambo (1); like many such words (Cuffy, Rastus, etc.) a common personal name among U.S. blacks in the slavery days (first attested 1704 in Boston), probably from an African source, cf. Foulah sambo "uncle," or a similar Hausa word meaning "second son." Used without conscious racism or contempt until circa World War II. When the word fell from polite usage, collateral casualties included the enormously popular children's book "The Story of Little Black Sambo" (by Helen Bannerman), which actually is about an East Indian child, and the Sambo's Restaurant chain, a U.S. pancake-specialty joint originally opened in Santa Barbara, Calif., in 1957 (the name supposedly from a merging of the names of the founders, Sam Battistone and Newell "Bo" Bohnett, but the chain's decor and advertising leaned heavily on the book), which once counted 1,200 units coast-to-coast. Civil rights agitation against it began in 1970s and the chain collapsed, though the original restaurant still is open. Many of the defunct restaurants were taken over by rival Denny's.

sambuca --- It. liqueur resembling anisette, 1971, from It., from L. sambucus "elder tree."

same --- perhaps abstracted from O.E. swa same "the same as," but more likely from O.N. same, samr "same," both from P.Gmc. *samon (cf. O.S., O.H.G., Goth. sama; O.H.G. samant, Ger. samt "together, with," Goth. samana "together," Du. zamelen "to collect," Ger. zusammen "together"), from PIE *samos "same," from base *sem- "one, together" (cf. Skt. samah "even, level, similar, identical;" Avestan hama "similar, the same;" Gk. hama "together with, at the same time," homos "one and the same," homios "like, resembling," homalos "even;" L. similis "like;" O.Ir. samail "likeness;" O.C.S. samu "himself"). O.E. had lost the pure form of the word; the modern word replaced synonymous ilk (q.v.). Colloq. phrase same here as an exclamation of agreement is from 1895. Same difference curious way to say "equal," is attested from 1945.

Samhain --- 1888, from Ir. samhain (Gaelic Samhuinn), from O.Ir. samain, lit. "summer's end," from O.Ir. sam "summer" (see summer) + fuin "end." Nov. 1, the Celtic festival of the start of winter and of the new year.

samisen --- Japanese three-stringed instrument, 1616, from Chinese san-hsien, lit. "three-strings."

samite --- rich silk cloth, c.1300, from O.Fr. samit, from M.L. samitum, examitum, from Medieval Gk. hexamiton (source of O.C.S. oksamitu, Rus. aksamit "velvet"), prop. neut. of Gk. adj. hexamitos "six-threaded," from hex "six" + mitos "warp thread" (see miter (1)). The reason it was called this is variously explained. Obsolete c.1600; revived by Tennyson. Ger. Sammet "velvet" is from Fr.

samizdat --- illegal and clandestine copying and sharing of literature, 1967, from Rus. samizdat, lit. "self-publishing," from sam "self" + izdatel'stvo "publishing," probably a word-play on Gosizdat, the former state publishing house of the U.S.S.R. One who took part in it was a samizdatchik (pl. samizdatchiki).

Sammy --- British slang for "U.S. soldier in World War I," 1918, a ref. to Uncle Sam.

Samnite --- member of an ancient people who inhabited Samnium in Italy, 1390, from L. Samnites (pl.), from Samnium, probably related to Sabine (q.v.).

Samos --- Gk. island in the Aegean, from Old Gk. samos "a height." Man references to it are as the birthplace of Pythagoras.

samovar --- 1830, from Rus. samovar, lit. "self-boiler," from sam "self" + varit "to boil," from O.Slav. variti "to cook;" but this is perhaps folk-etymology if the word is from Tatar sanabar "tea-urn."

Samoyed --- Siberian Mongolian people, 1589, from Rus. samoyed, lit. "self-eaters, cannibals" (the first element cognate with Eng. same, the second with O.E. etan "to eat"). The native name is Nenets. As the name of a type of dog (once used as a working dog in the Arctic) it is attested from 1889.

sampan --- light Chinese boat, 1620, from Chinese san pan, lit. "three boards," from san "three" + pan "plank."

sample --- c.1300, "something which confirms a proposition or statement," from Anglo-Fr. saumple, aphetic of O.Fr. essample, from L. exemplum "a sample" (see example). Meaning "small quantity (of something) from which the general quality (of the whole) may be inferred" (usually in a commercial sense) is recorded from 1428; sense of "specimen for scientific sampling" is from 1878. The verb meaning "to test by taking a sample" is from 1767.

sampler --- embroidery specimen by a beginner to show skill, 1523, from sample (q.v.), probably transf. from meaning "piece of embroidery serving as a pattern to be copied," from the notion of "an example to be imitated" (c.1300).

Samson --- masc. proper name, Biblical strong-man (Judges xiii-xvi), from L.L., from Gk. Sampson, from Heb. Shimshon, probably from shemesh "sun." As a generic name for a man of great strength, attested from 1565. Samsonite, proprietary name for a make of luggage, is 1939, by Shwayder Bros. Inc., Denver, U.S.

Samuel --- masc. proper name, Biblical judge and prophet, from L.L., from Gk. Samouel, from Heb. Shemiel, lit. "the name of God," from shem "name" + El "God."

samurai --- 1727, from Jap. samurai "warrior, knight," originally the military retainer of the daimio, variant of saburai, nominal form of sabura(h)u "to be in attendance, to serve."

sanatorium --- 1839, from Mod.L., prop. neut. of L.L. sanitorius "health-giving," from L. sanatus, pp. stem of sanare "to heal," from sanus "healthy, sane."

sanctify --- 1390, seintefie "to consecrate," from O.Fr. saintifier (12c.), from L.L. sanctificare "to make holy," from sanctus "holy" (see saint) + root of facere "to make" (see factitious). Form altered to conform with Latin. Meaning "to render holy or legitimate by religious sanction" is from 1402; transf. sense of "to render worthy of respect" is from 1606.

sanctimonious --- 1603 (in "Measure for Measure," with the disparaging sense), from sanctimony "holiness of life and character" (1540), from M.Fr. sanctimonie, from L. sanctimonia "holiness, virtuousness," from sanctus "holy" (see saint). The un-ironic, literal sense was used occasionally in Eng. from 1604 to c.1800.

sanction (n.) --- 1563, "confirmation or enactment of a law," from L. sanctionem (nom. sanctio) "act of decreeing or ordaining," also "decree, ordinance," from sanctus, pp. of sancire "to decree, confirm, ratify, make sacred" (see saint). Originally especially of ecclesiastical decrees. The verb sense of "to permit authoritatively" is from 1797. Sanctions, in international diplomacy, first recorded 1919, from sanction (n.) in the sense of "part or clause of a law which spells out the penalty for breaking it" (1651).

sanctity --- c.1394, from O.Fr. sanctité, from L. sanctitatem (nom. sanctitas) "holiness, sacredness," from sanctus "holy" (see saint).

sanctuary --- c.1340, "building set apart for holy worship," from Anglo-Fr. sentuarie, from O.Fr. sainctuarie, from L.L. sanctuarium "a sacred place, shrine" (especially the Hebrew Holy of Holies; see sanctum), also "a private room," from L. sanctus "holy" (see saint). By medieval Church law, fugitives or debtors enjoyed immunity from arrest in churches, hence transf. sense of "immunity from punishment" (c.1380). General (non-ecclesiastical) sense of "place of refuge or protection" is attested from 1568; as "land set aside for wild plants or animals to breed and live" it is recorded from 1879. Under English law, one claiming the right of sanctuary had 40 days to confess and accept permanent banishment. This was abolished in Britain 1625 in criminal cases, 1696, 1722 in civil cases.

sanctum --- 1577, from L. sanctum "a holy place," as in L.L. sanctum sanctorum "holy of holies" (from Gk. to hagion ton hagion, from Heb. qodesh haqqodashim), from neut. of sanctus "holy" (see saint). In Eng., sanctum sanctorum attested from c.1400; sense of "a person's private retreat" is from 1706.

Sanctus --- c.1380, from L., initial word of the "angelic hymn" (Isa. vi:3), concluding the preface of the Eucharist, lit. "holy" (see saint). It renders Heb. qadhosh in the hymn.

sand --- O.E. sand, from P.Gmc. *sanda- (cf. O.N. sandr, O.Fris. sond, M.Du. sant, Ger. Sand, not recorded in Goth.), from PIE base *samatha- (cf. Gk. psammos "sand," L. sabulum). Metaphoric for "innumerability" since O.E. The verb is first attested c.1374, "to sprinkle with sand," from the noun; meaning "to grind or polish with sand" is from 1858. Sandpaper is attested from 1812; sandstone is from 1668.

sandal --- 1382, from O.Fr. sandale, from L. sandalium, from Gk. sandalion, dim. of sandalon "sandal," probably from Persian.

sandalwood --- c.1511, earlier sandell (c.1400), saundres (1329), from O.Fr. sandale, from M.L. sandalum, from Late Gk. santalon, via Turkish or Persian sandal, ult. from Skt. candana-m "the sandalwood tree," probably lit. "wood for burning incense," related to candrah "shining, glowing," and cognate with L. candere "to shine, glow" (see candle).

sandbag (n.) --- 1590, from sand + bag. The verb sense of "pretend weakness" is 1970s, extended from poker-playing sense of "refrain from raising at the first opportunity in hopes of raising more steeply later" (1940), which perhaps is from sandbagger in the sense of "bully or ruffian who uses a sandbag as a weapon to knock his intended victim unconscious" (1882).

sandblind --- half-blind, c.1400, probably alt. (by influence of sand) from O.E. *samblind, the first element from W.Gmc. *sami-, from PIE *semi- (see semi-); cf. O.E. samlæred "half-taught, badly instructed," samstorfen "half-dead."

sanderling --- wading bird (Crocethia alba), 1602, probably from sand + a dim. suffix, but OED suggests possible derivation from O.E. *sand-yrðling, with second element yrðling "plowman" (lit. "earthling").

Sandinista --- member of a Nicaraguan revolutionary group, 1928, from Sp., from name of Augusto César Sandino (1893-1934), Nicaraguan nationalist leader; the modern organization of this name was founded in 1963.

sand-lot --- plot of empty land in a town or suburb, 1878, from sand + lot. In ref. to the kind of sports or games played on them by amateurs, it is recorded from 1890, Amer.Eng.

sandman --- bringer of sleep in nursery lore, 1861, from sand in ref. to hard grains found in the eyelashes on waking; first attested in a translation of Andersen, and perhaps from Ger. Sandmann or a translation of Norw. Ole Lukoie "Olaf Shuteye"), more common in Amer.Eng.; dustman with the same sense is attested from 1821.

sandwich --- 1762, said to be an allusion to John Montagu (1718-92), Fourth Earl Sandwich, who was said to be an inveterate gambler who ate slices of cold meat between bread at the gaming table during marathon sessions rather than get up for a proper meal (this account dates to 1770). It was in his honor that Cook named the Hawaiian islands (1778) when Montagu was first lord of the Admiralty. The verb is from 1861. Sandwich board is from 1864. The family name is from the place in Kent, O.E. Sandwicæ, lit. "sandy harbor (or trading center)." For pronunciation, see cabbage.

sandy --- 1473, as a nickname for Alexander; 1523 as "having hair of a yellowish-red color," from O.E. sandig "of the nature of sand" (see sand). Both senses combine in the colloq. use as the typical name for a Scotsman (1785).

sane --- 1721, back-formation from sanity. Used earlier, of the body, with the sense of "healthy" (1628).

sang-froid --- presence of mind, composure, 1712, from Fr. sang froid, lit. "cool blood," from sang "blood" (from L. sanguis) + froid "cold," from L. frigidus).

sangrail --- the Holy Grail, c.1450, from O.Fr. Saint Graal, lit. "Holy Grail" (see saint + grail).

sangria --- cold drink made from sweetened and diluted red wine, 1961, from Sp., lit. "bleeding," from sangre "blood," from V.L. sanguem, from L. sanguis (see sanguinary). The drink so named for its color.

sanguinary --- characterized by slaughter, 1625, possibly from Fr. sanguinaire, or directly from L. sanguinarius "pertaining to blood," from sanguis (gen. sanguinis) "blood," of unknown origin. L. distinguished sanguis, the generic word, from cruor "blood from a wound." The latter word is related to Gk. kreas "meat," Skt. kravis- "raw flesh," O.E. hreaw- "raw" (see raw).

sanguine --- 1319, "type of red cloth," from O.Fr. sanguin (fem. sanguine), from L. sanguineus "of blood," also "bloody, bloodthirsty," from sanguis (gen. sanguinis) "blood" (see sanguinary). Meaning "blood-red" is recorded from 1382. Meaning "cheerful, hopeful, confident" first attested 1509, since these qualities were thought in medieval physiology to spring from an excess of blood as one of the four humors.

sanhedrim --- 1588, from Late Heb. sanhedrin (gedola) "(great) council," from Gk. synedrion "assembly, council," lit. "sitting together," from syn- "together" + hedra "seat" (see cathedral). Abolished at the destruction of Jerusalem, A.D. 70. The prop. form is sanhedrin; the error began as a false correction when the Gk. word was taken into Mishanic Heb., where -in is a form of the plural suffix of which -im is the more exact form.

sanitarium --- 1851, lit. "place dedicated to health," as if from Mod.L. *sanitarius, from L. sanitas "health," from sanus "healthy, sane" (cf. sanatarium).

sanitary --- 1842, from Fr. sanitaire (1812), from L. sanitas "health," from sanus "healthy, sane." In ref. to menstrual pads, first attested 1881 (in sanitary towel). Sanitize first recorded 1836; metaphoric sense is from 1934.

sanitation --- 1848, irregularly formed from sanitary. As a euphemism for garbage (e.g. sanitation engineer) first recorded 1939.

sanity --- 1432, "healthy condition," from M.Fr. sanité "health," from L. sanitas "health, sanity," from sanus "healthy, sane." Meaning "soundness of mind" first attested 1602.

sans-culotte --- lower-class republican of the Fr. Revolution, 1790, from Fr., lit. "without breeches;" the second element a dim. of cul "bottom, backside," from L. culus. Usually explained as referring to the class whose distinctive costume was pantalons (long trousers) as opposed to the upper classes, which wore culottes (knee-breeches), but this is not certain.

sansei --- American born of nisei parents; third-generation Japanese-American, 1945, from Japanese san "three, third" + sei "generation."

Sanskrit --- 1617, from Skt. samskrtam "put together, well-formed, perfected," from sam "together" + krta- "to make, do, perform." The first element is cognate with Eng. same, the second is from PIE *k(w)er- "to make, form" (related to karma).

sans-serif --- 1830, from Fr. sans "without" (from O.Fr., from V.L. *sene, from L. sine, from si ne "if not," + adverbial genitive) + Eng. serif, from earlier ceref, perhaps from Du. schreef "a line, a stroke," from schrijven "to write," from L. scribere. Short form sans recorded from 1927.

Santa Claus --- 1773 (as St. A Claus, in "New York Gazette"), Amer.Eng., from dialectal Du. Sante Klaas, from M.Du. Sinter Niklaas "Saint Nicholas," bishop of Asia Minor who became a patron saint for children. Now a worldwide phenomenon (e.g. Japanese santakurosu).

santeria --- Afro-Cuban religion, 1950, from Sp., lit. "holiness, sanctity."

sap (n.1) --- liquid in a plant, O.E. sæp, from P.Gmc. *sapom (cf. M.L.G., M.Du., Du. sap, O.H.G. saf, Ger. Saft "juice"), from PIE *sapon- (cf. L. sapere "to taste"), from base *sab- "juice, fluid" (cf. Skt. sabar- "sap, milk, nectar").

sap (n.2) --- simpleton, 1815, probably from earlier sapskull (1735), from sap as a shortened form of sapwood "soft wood between the inner bark and the heartwood," from sap (n.1) + wood, so called because it conducts the sap; cf. sappy.

sap (v.) --- weaken or destroy insidiously, 1755, originally "dig a trench toward the enemy's position" (1598), from M.Fr. saper, from sappe "spade," from L.L. sappa "spade" (cf. It. zappa, Sp. zapa "spade"). The sense of "weaken" probably was influenced by the verb (1725) form of sap (n.1) on the notion of "draining the vital sap from."

sapient --- wise, 1468, from O.Fr. sapient, from L. sapientem (nom. sapiens), prp. of sapere "to taste, have taste, be wise," from PIE base *sep- "to taste, perceive" (cf. O.S. an-sebban "to perceive, remark," O.H.G. antseffen, O.E. sefa "mind, understanding, insight"). Sapience "wisdom, understanding" is recorded from c.1300.

sapling --- 1415, from sap (n.1) + dim. suffix -ling. This is probably the source of Amer.Eng. slang sap "club, short staff" (1899) and the verb sap "to hit (someone) with a sap" (1926).

Sapphic --- 1501, from Fr. saphique, from L. Sapphicus, from Gk. Sapphikos "of Sappho," in ref. to Sappho, poetess of the isle of Lesbos c.600 B.C.E. Especially in reference to her characteristic meters; sense of "pertaining to sexual relations between women" is from 1890 (see lesbian).

sapphire --- 1272, from O.Fr. saphir (12c.), from L. sapphirus (cf. Sp. zafir, It. zaffiro), from Gk. sappheiros "blue stone" (the gem meant apparently was not the one that now has the name, but perhaps rather "lapis lazuli," the modern sapphire perhaps signified by Gk. hyakinthos), from a Semitic source (cf. Heb. sappir "sapphire"), but probably not ult. from Semitic; some linguists propose an origin in Skt. sanipriya, a dark precious stone (perhaps sapphire or emerald), lit. "sacred to Saturn," from Sani "Saturn" + priyah "precious." In Renaissance lapidaries, it was said to cure anger and stupidity.

sappy --- full of sap, Late O.E. sæpig, from sæp (see sap (n.1)). Fig. sense of "foolishly sentimental" (1670) may have developed from an intermediate sense of "wet, sodden" (c.1470). Earlier, now obs., fig. senses were "full of vitality" (1558) and "immature" (1627).

Saracen --- O.E., "an Arab" (in Gk. and Roman translations), also, c.1250, generally, "non-Christian, heathen, pagan," from O.Fr. saracin, from L.L. saracenus, from Gk. sarakenos, usually said to be from Arabic Sharquiyin, pl. acc. of sharqiy "eastern," from sharq "east, sunrise," but this is not certain. In Medieval times the name was associated with that of Biblical Sarah (q.v.).

Sarah --- fem. proper name, Biblical wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac, from Heb., lit. "princess," from sarah, fem. of sar "prince," from sarar "he ruled," related to Akkad. sharratu "queen."

Saran --- U.S. trademark name for PVC, 1940, by Dow Chemical Company.

Saratoga --- kind of large trunk, 1858, so called because it was much used by ladies traveling to the summer resort of Saratoga, N.Y.

sarcasm --- 1579, from L.L. sarcasmos, from Gk. sarkasmos "a sneer, jest, taunt, mockery," from sarkazein "to speak bitterly, sneer," lit. "to strip off the flesh," from sarx (gen. sarkos) "flesh," prop. "piece of meat," from PIE base *twerk- "to cut" (cf. Avestan thwares "to cut"). Sarcastic is from 1695. For nuances of usage, see humor.

sarcoma --- 1657, "fleshy excrescence," Medical L., from Gk. sarkoma "fleshy substance" (Galen), from sarkoun "to produce flesh, grow fleshy," from sarx (gen. sarkos) "flesh" (see sarcasm). Meaning "harmful tumor of the connective tissue" first recorded 1804.

sarcophagus --- stone coffin, 1601, from L. sarcophagus, from Gk. sarkophagos "limestone used for coffins," lit. "flesh-eating," in reference to the supposed action of this type of limestone (quarried near Assos in Troas) in quickly decomposing the body, from sarx (gen. sarkos) "flesh" (see sarcasm) + phagein "to eat" (see -phagous). The stone sense was the earliest in Eng,; meaning "stone coffin, often with inscriptions or decorative carvings" is recorded from 1705. The L. word, shortened in V.L. to *sarcus, is the source of Fr. cercueil, Ger. Sarg "coffin," Du. zerk "tombstone."

sardine --- c.1430, from L. sardina, from Gk. sardine, sardinos, often said to be from Sardo "Sardinia" (see Sardinia), the Mediterranean island, near which the fish were probably caught and from which they were exported. But cf. Klein: "It is hardly probable that the Greeks would have obtained fish from so far as Sardinia at a time relatively so early as that of Aristotle, from whom Athenaios quotes a passage in which the fish sardinos is mentioned." Colloquial phrase packed like sardines (in a tin) is recorded from 1911.