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

seat (2) --- residence, abode, established place, c.1275, extended use of seat (1), influenced by O.Fr. siege "seat, established place," and L. sedes "seat." Meaning "city in which a government sits" is attested from c.1400. Sense of "place in a parliament or other legislative body" is attested from 1774. O.E. had sæt "place where one sits in ambush," which also meant "residents, inhabitants," and is the source of the -set in Dorset and Somerset.

seaweed --- 1577, from sea + weed (q.v.).

sebaceous --- 1728, from L. sebaceus, from sebum "tallow, grease," probably related to sapo "soap" (see soap).

Sebastian --- masc. proper name, from L. Sebastianus, from Gk. Sebastianos, "man of Sebastia," a city in Pontus that was named for Augustus Caesar, first Roman emperor, from Gk. sebastos "venerable," a translation of L. augustus, the epithet of Caesar.

seborrhea --- 1876, coined in Mod.L. as a hybrid, from sebo-, used as comb. form of L. sebum "tallow, suet, grease" (see sebaceous) + Gk. hroia "flow, flux."

secant --- 1593, from L. secantem (nom. secans) "cutting," prp. of secare "to cut" (see section). First used by Dan. mathematician Thomas Fincke in Geometria Rotundi (1583).

secession --- 1533, from L. secessionem (nom. secessio), from pp. stem of secedere "secede," from se- "apart" (see secret) + cedere "to go" (see cede). Originally in a Roman historical context, "temporary migration of plebeians from the city to compel patricians to address their grievances;" modern use in ref. to religious or political unions dates from 1660. Secede is attested from 1702, originally "to leave one's companions;" sense of "to withdraw from a political or religious alliance of union" is recorded from 1755. Secessionist first recorded 1860 in U.S. context (short form secesh is attested from 1861); the earlier noun had been seceder, but this had religious overtones, especially in ref. to Scottish Church history.

seclude --- 1451, "to shut up, enclose, confine," from L. secludere "shut off, confine," from se- "apart" (see secret) + -cludere, variant of claudere "to shut" (see close (v.)). Meaning "to remove or guard from public view" is recorded from 1628. Secluded, in ref. to places, is from 1798.

Seconal --- 1935, U.S. proprietary name (Eli Lilly & Co.), from Secon(dary) Al(lyl).

second (adj.) --- after first, 1297, from O.Fr. second, from L. secundus "following, next in order," from root of sequi "follow" (see sequel). Replaced native other (q.v.) in this sense because of the ambiguousness of the earlier word. Second-hand is from 1474; second-rate is from 1669, originally of ships (see rate); second sight is from 1616; an etymologically perverse term, since it means in reality the sight of events before, not after, they occur. Second fiddle first attested 1809.

second (n.) --- one-sixtieth of a minute, 1391, from O.Fr. seconde, from M.L. secunda, short for secunda pars minuta "second diminished part," the result of the second division of the hour by sixty (the first being the "prime minute," now called the minute), from L. secunda, fem. of secundus (see second (adj.)). Shortened form sec first recorded 1860.

second (v.) --- to further, to support, 1586, "to support or represent in a duel, fight, etc.," from M.Fr. seconder, from L. secundare "to assist, make favorable," from secundus "assisting, favorable, following, second" (see second (adj.)). the noun in this sense is first recorded 1590. The verb in the parliamentary sense is first recorded 1597.

second nature --- 1390, from L. secundum naturam "according to nature" (Augustine, Macrobius, etc.), lit. "following nature;" from medieval Aristotelian philosophy, contrasted to phenomena that were super naturam ("above nature," such as God's grace), extra naturam ("outside nature"), supra naturam ("beyond nature," such as miracles), contra naturam "against nature," etc.

secondary (adj.) --- 1386, from L. secundarius "pertaining to the second class, inferior," from secundus (see second (adj.)).

second-class (adj.) --- 1837, from second (adj.) + class. Phrase second-class citizen is recorded from 1942.

second-guess (v.) --- 1941, back-formation from second-guesser (1937), Amer.Eng., originally baseball slang for a fan who loudly questions decisions by players, managers, etc.; perhaps from guesser in the baseball slang sense of "umpire."

seconds (n.) --- articles below the first quality, 1600, from second (adj.); originally attested in this sense in a Shakespeare sonnet. Meaning "second helping of food at a meal" is recorded from 1792.

secrecy --- 1423, secretee, "quality of being secret," from O.Fr. secré, variant of secret (see secret). Form altered late 16c. on model of primacy, etc.

secret --- 1378 (n.), 1399 (adj.), from L. secretus "set apart, withdrawn, hidden," originally pp. of secernere "to set apart," from se- "without, apart," prop. “on one's own” (from PIE *sed-, from base *s(w)e-; see idiom) + cernere "separate" (see crisis). The verb meaning "to keep secret" (described in OED as "obsolete") is attested from 1595. Secretive is attested from 1853. Secret agent first recorded 1715; secret service is from 1737; secret weapon is from 1936.

secretaire --- cabinet for private papers, 1771, from Fr. secréraire, from M.L. secretarius (see secretary). Anglicized form secretary is attested from 1803.

secretariat --- office of secretary, 1811, from Fr. secrétariat, from M.L. secretarius (see secretary).

secretary --- 1387, "person entrusted with secrets," from M.L. secretarius "clerk, notary, confidential officer, confidant," from L. secretum "a secret" (see secret). Meaning "person who keeps records, write letters, etc.," originally for a king, first recorded c.1400. As title of ministers presiding over executive departments of state, it is from 1599. The word is used in both Fr. and Eng. to also mean "a private desk," sometimes in Fr. form secretaire (1818).

secretion --- 1646, from Fr. sécrétion, from L. secretionem (nom. secretio) "separation," from pp. stem of secernere "to separate, set apart" (see secret). The verb secrete in this sense is a back-formation first attested 1707.

sect --- c.1300, "distinctive system of beliefs or observances; party or school within a religion," from O.Fr. secte, from L.L. secta "religious group, sect," from L. secta "manner, mode, following, school of thought," lit. "a way, road," from fem. of sectus, variant pp. of sequi "follow," from PIE *sekw- "to follow" (see sequel). Confused in this sense with L. secta, fem. pp. of secare "to cut" (see section). Meaning "separately organized religious body" is recorded from 1577. Sectarian first recorded 1649, originally applied by Presbyterians to Independents, from M.L. sectarius, from secta.

section --- 1559, from M.Fr. section, from L. sectionem (nom. sectio) "a cutting, cutting off, division," from sectus, pp. of secare "to cut," from PIE base *sek- "cut" (cf. O.C.S. seko, sesti "to cut," secivo "ax, hatchet;" Lith. isekti "to engrave, carve;" Alb. sate "mattock;" O.S. segasna, O.E. sigðe "scythe;" O.E. secg "sword," seax "knife, short sword;" O.Ir. doescim "I cut;" L. saxum "rock, stone"). Sectional "piece of furniture composed of sections which can be used separately" is recorded from 1961.

sector --- 1570, "section of a circle between two radii," from L.L. sector "section of a circle," from L. sector "a cutter," from sectus, pp. of secare "to cut" (see section). Translated Gk. tomeus in L. editions of Archimedes. Meaning "area, division" appeared 1920, generalized from military sense (1916) of "part of a front," based on a circle centered on a headquarters.

secular --- c.1290, "living in the world, not belonging to a religious order," also "belonging to the state," from O.Fr. seculer, from L.L. sæcularis "worldly, secular," from L. sæcularis "of an age, occurring once in an age," from sæculum "age, span of time, generation," probably originally cognate with words for "seed," from PIE base *se(i)- "to sow" (cf. Goth. mana-seþs "mankind, world," lit. "seed of men"). Used in ecclesiastical writing like Gk. aion "of this world" (see cosmos). It is source of Fr. siècle. Ancient Roman ludi sæculares was a three-day, day-and-night celebration coming once in an "age" (120 years). Secularism "doctrine that morality should be based on the well-being of man in the present life, without regard to religious belief or a hereafter" first recorded 1846.

secure --- 1533, "without care," from L. securus "without care, safe," from *se cura, from se "free from" (see secret) + cura "care" (see cure). The verb is from 1593. Meaning "firmly fixed" (of material things) is from 1841, on notion of "affording grounds for confidence." Security is attested from 1432, from L. securitas, from securus; phrase security blanket in figurative sense is attested from 1971, in ref. to the crib blanket carried by the character Linus in the "Peanuts" comic strip (1956).

sedan --- 1635, "covered chair on poles," possibly from a southern Italian dialect derivative of It. sede "chair" (cf. It. seggietta, 1598; the thing itself was said to have been introduced from Naples), from L. sedes, related to sedere "sit" (see sedentary). Since Johnson's conjecture, often derived from the town of Sedan in France, where it was said to have been made or first used, but historical evidence for this is lacking. Introduced in England by Sir Sanders Duncombe in 1634 and firs called a covered chair. "In Paris the sedan-chair man was usually an Auvergnat, in London an Irishman" ["Encyclopedia Britannica," 1929]. Meaning "closed automobile seating four or more" first recorded 1912, Amer.Eng.

sedate (adj.) --- 1663, from L. sedatus "composed, moderate, quiet, tranquil," pp. of sedare "to settle, calm," causative of sedere "to sit" (see sedentary). The verb meaning "treat with sedatives" is a 1945 back-formation from the noun derivative of sedative (adj.).

sedation --- 1543, from L. sedationem (nom. sedatio), from sedare (see sedate).

sedative (adj.) --- tending to calm or soothe, c.1425, from M.L. sedativus "calming, allaying," from pp. stem of sedare (see sedate). The noun derivative meaning "a sedative drug" is attested from 1785.

sedentary --- 1598, "remaining in one place," from M.Fr. sedentaire, from L. sedentarius "sitting, remaining in one place," from sedentem (nom. sedens), prp. of sedere "to sit," from PIE base *sed- "to sit" (cf. Skt. a-sadat "sat down," sidati "sits;" O.Pers. hadis "abode;" Gk. ezesthai "to sit," hedra "seat, chair, face of a geometric solid;" O.Ir. suide "seat, sitting;" Welsh sedd "seat," eistedd "sitting;" O.C.S. sezda, sedeti "to sit;" Lith. sedmi "to sit;" Rus. sad "garden," Lith. soditi "to plant;" Goth. sitan, O.E. sittan "to sit;" see sit). Of persons, meaning "not in the habit of exercise" is recorded from 1662.

Seder --- home service on the first nights of Passover, 1865, from Heb. sedher "order, procedure," related to sedherah "row, rank."

sedge --- coarse grass-like plant growing in wet places, O.E. secg, from P.Gmc. *sagjoz (cf. Low Ger. segge, Ger. Segge), from PIE base *sek- "cut" (cf. O.E. secg "sword"), on notion of plant with "cutting" leaves (cf. etymological sense of gladiolus, and possible connection to O.Ir. seisg, Welsh hesgreed "rush"). Often spelled seg, segg until present form triumphed early 1900s.

sediment --- 1547, from Fr. sédiment (16c.), from L. sedimentum "a settling, sinking down," from stem of sedere "to settle, sit" (see sedentary). As a type of rock, sedimentary is first recorded 1830 (in Lyell); sedimentation is from 1874.

sedition --- c.1375, "rebellion," from O.Fr. sedicion, from L. seditionem (nom. seditio) "civil disorder, dissention," lit. "a going apart, separation," from se- "apart" (see secret) + itio "a going," from pp. of ire "to go." Meaning "conduct or language inciting to rebellion against a lawful government" is from 1838.

seduce --- 1526, "to persuade a vassal, etc., to desert his allegiance or service," from L. seducere "lead away, lead astray," from se- "aside, away" + ducere "to lead." Replaced M.E. seduisen (1477), from M.Fr. séduire "seduce," from O.Fr. suduire "to corrupt, seduce," from L. subducere "draw away, withdraw, remove," from sub- "from under, further" + ducere "to lead" (see duke). Sexual sense, now the prevailing one, is attested from 1560. Seductive is from 1771; seductress is from 1803.

sedulous --- 1540, from L. sedulus "attentive, painstaking," probably from sedulo (adv.) "sincerely, diligently," from sedolo "without deception or guile," from se- "without, apart" (see secret) + dolo, ablative of dolus "deception, guile," cognate with Gk. dolos.

see (n.) --- position of a bishop, 1297, from O.Fr. sied, sed, from L. sedem (nom. sedes) "seat, abode," related to sedere "to sit" (see sedentary).

see (v.) --- O.E. seon (contracted class V strong verb; past tense seah, pp. sewen), from P.Gmc. *sekhwanan (cf. O.S., O.H.G. sehan, M.H.G., Ger. sehen, O.Fris. sia, M.Du. sien, O.N. sja, Goth. saihwan), from PIE base *sekw- "to see," which is "probably" the same base that produced words for "say" in Greek and Latin, and also words for "follow" (cf. L. sequor), but "opinions differ in regard to the semantic starting-point and sequences" [Buck]. Thus see could originally mean "follow with the eyes." Used in M.E. to mean "behold in the imagination or in a dream" (c.1200), "to recognize the force of (a demonstration)," also c.1200, "often with ref. to metaphorical light or eyes" [OED], and "to learn by reading" (1426). Past tense saw developed from O.E. pl. sawon.

seed (n.) --- O.E. sed, sæd, from P.Gmc. *sædis, *sæda- (cf. O.N. sað, O.S. sad, O.Fris. sed, M.Du. saet, O.H.G. sat, Ger. Saat), from root *sæ- "to sow," from PIE base *se- "to sow" (see sow (v.)). Meaning "offspring, progeny" was in O.E., rare now except in biblical use. Sporting (originally tennis) sense is from notion of spreading certain players' names so as to insure they will not meet early in a tournament (1924). Seedy is 1440, originally "fruitful, abundant," meaning "shabby" is from 1749, probably in allusion to the appearance of a flowering plant that has run to seed.

seed (v.) --- to produce seed, c.1374; "to sow with seed," c.1440; from seed (n.). Sporting (originally tennis) sense (1898) is from notion of spreading certain players' names so as to insure they will not meet early in a tournament. The noun in this sense is attested from 1933.

seedling --- young plant developed from seed, 1660, from seed (n.) with dim. suffix.

seedy --- 1440, "fruitful, abundant," from seed (n.). Meaning "shabby" is attested from 1739, probably in allusion to the appearance of a flowering plant that has run to seed.

seek --- O.E. secan "visit, inquire, pursue," influenced by O.N. soekja, both from P.Gmc. *sokjanan (cf. O.S. sokian, O.Fris. seka, M.Du. soekan, O.H.G. suohhan, Ger. suchen, Goth. sokjan), from PIE *sag- "to track down, to trace" (cf. L. sagire "to perceive quickly or keenly," sagus "presaging, predicting," O.Ir. saigim "seek"). The modern form of the word as uninfluenced by O.N. is in beseech. The religious sect of the Seekers is attested from 1645.

seem --- c.1200, from O.N. soema "to befit, conform to," and soemr "fitting, seemly," from P.Gmc. *som- (cf. O.E. som "agreement, reconciliation," seman "to conciliate"), related to P.Gmc. *samon (see same).

seemly (adj.) --- of pleasing or good appearance, c.1225, from O.N. soemiligr, from soemr (see seem).

seep --- 1790, variant of sipe (1503), possibly from O.E. sipian "to seep," from P.Gmc. *sip- (cf. M.H.G. sifen, Du. sijpelen "to ooze").

seer --- one to whom divine revelations are made (1382), from see (v.). Originally rendering L. videns, Gk. bleptor (from Heb. roeh) in Bible translations (e.g. I Kings ix.9). Lit. sense of "one who sees" is attested from c.1425.

seersucker --- 1722, from Hindi sirsakar, E. Indian corruption of Pers. shir o shakkar "striped cloth," lit. "milk and sugar," an allusion to the alternately smooth and puckered surfaces of the stripes. From Pers. shir (cf. Skt. ksiram "milk") + shakar (cf. Pali sakkhara, Skt. sarkara "gravel, grit, sugar;" see sugar).

seesaw --- 1640, in see-saw-sacke a downe, words in a rhythmic jingle used by children and repetitive motion workers, probably imitative of the rhythmic back-and-forth motion of sawyers working a two-man saw over wood or stone (see saw). Ref. to a game of going up and down on a balanced plank is recorded from 1704; fig. sense is from 1714. Applied from 1824 to the plank arranged for the game. The verb is from 1712.

seethe --- O.E. seoþan "to boil" (class II strong verb; past tense seaþ, pp. soden), from P.Gmc. *seuthanan (cf. O.N. sjoða, O.Fris. siatha, Du. zieden, O.H.G. siodan, Ger. sieden "to seethe"), from PIE base *seut- "to seethe, boil." Driven out of its literal meaning by boil (v.); it survives largely in metaphoric extensions. Fig. use, of persons or populations, "to be in a state of inward agitation" is recorded from 1588 (implied in seething). It had wider fig. uses in O.E., e.g. "to try by fire, to afflict with cares." Now conjugated weak, and pp. sodden (q.v.) no longer felt as connected.

see-through (adj.) --- 1950, from see (v.) + through.

segment (n.) --- 1570, from L. segmentum "a strip or piece cut off," originally a geometric term, from secare "to cut" (see section), with euphonious alteration of -c- to -g- before -m-. The verb is recorded from 1859.

segregate --- 1542, from L. segregatus, pp. of segregare "separate from the flock, isolate, divide," from *se gregare, from se "apart from" (see secret) + grege, ablative of grex "herd, flock." Originally often with ref. to the religious notion of separating the flock of the godly from sinners. Segregation (1555) is from L.L. segregatio, from L. segregatus; in the specific U.S. racial sense it is attested from 1903; segregationist is from the 1920s.

segue --- 1740, an instruction in musical scores, from It. segue, lit. "now follows," meaning to play into the following movement without a break, third person sing. of seguire "to follow," from L. sequi "to follow," from PIE *sekw- "to follow" (see sequel). Extended noun sense of "transition without a break" is from 1937; the verb in this sense is first recorded 1958.

seigneur --- feudal landowner in France, 1592, from M.Fr. seigneur, from O.Fr. seignor (see seignior).

seignior --- lord of a manor, c.1290 (implied in seignorie), from O.Fr. seignior, from L. seniorem (nom. senior) "older" (see senior). As a general title for a Frenchman, it dates from 1588.

seine --- O.E. segne "drag-net," from W.Gmc. *sagina (cf. O.S., O.H.G. segina), a W.Gmc. borrowing of L. sagena (source of Fr. seine), from Gk. sagene "a fishing net," also "a hunting net," of unknown origin.

seismic --- 1858, from Gk. seismos "earthquake," from seiein "to shake." Seismological is attested from 1850; seismometer is from 1841.

seize --- 1265, from O.Fr. seisir "to put in possession of, to take possession of," from L.L. sacire, generally held to be from a Gmc. source, perhaps from Frankish *sakjan "lay claim to" (cf. Goth. sokjan, O.E. secan "to seek;" see seek), or from P.Gmc. *satjan "to place" (see set (v.)). Originally a legal term in ref. to feudal property holdings or offices. Meaning "to grip with the hands or teeth" is from c.1300; that of "to take possession by force or capture" (of a city, etc.) is from 1338. Fig. use, with ref. to death, disease, fear, etc. is from c.1381. Meaning "to grasp with the mind" is attested from 1855. Of engines or other mechanisms, attested from 1878.

seizure --- act of seizing, 1482, from seize (q.v.). Meaning "sudden attack of illness" is attested from 1779.

sejm --- congress of the Polish republic, 1698, from Pol. sejm "assembly," from *syn-imu, lit. "a taking together."

selah --- 1530, Hebrew word occurring frequently at the end of verse in Psalter. Supposed to be a liturgical direction, perhaps meaning "pause," or perhaps a musical direction to raise the voice (cf. Heb. base s-l-l "to raise, lift").

seldom --- O.E. seldum, alteration of seldan "rare," on analogy of adverbial dative plurals in -um (e.g. whilom "at one time"), from P.Gmc. *selda- "strange, rare" (cf. O.N. sjaldan, O.Fris. selden, Du. zelden, Ger. selten), perhaps ult. from the base of self (q.v.).

select (adj.) --- 1565, from L. selectus, pp. of seligere "choose out, select," from se- "apart" (see secret) + legere "to gather, select" (see lecture). The verb is attested from 1567. The noun meaning "a selected person or thing" is recorded from 1610. Selection is attested from 1646; applied to actions of breeders (first attested 1837), hence use by Darwin (1857). Selective is first recorded 1625; selective service is from 1917, Amer.Eng. New England selectman first recorded 1646.

Selene --- moon goddess, from Gk. selene "moon," related to selas "light, brightness, flame," from PIE base *swel- "to burn" (cf. Skt. svargah "heaven," Lith. svilti "to singe," O.E. swelan "to be burnt up," M.L.G. swelan "to smolder"); related to swelter, sultry. The element selenium was named in Mod.L. for Selene by Berzelius (1818), on analogy of tellurium, uranium, etc.

Seleucid --- 1803, in ref. to dynasty founded in Syria 312 B.C.E. by Seleucus Nicator, general of Alexander. It lasted until 65 B.C.E. The Seleucidan Era, a local reckoning in the East (maintained by Syrian Christians) usually is dated to Sept. 1, 312 B.C.E.

self --- O.E. self, seolf, sylf "one's own person, same," from P.Gmc. *selbaz (cf. O.N. sjalfr, O.Fris. self, Du. zelf, O.H.G. selb, Ger. selbst, Goth. silba), P.Gmc. *selbaz, from PIE *sel-bho-, from base *s(w)e- "separate, apart" (see idiom).

self-abuse --- 1605, "self-deception," from self + abuse (q.v.). As a synonym for "masturbation," it is recorded from 1728; an earlier term was self-pollution (1626).

self-actualization --- 1939, from self + actualization. Popularized, though not coined, by U.S. psychologist and philosopher Abraham H. Maslow. (1908-1970).

self-centered --- 1676, "fixed, stationary," from self + center (v.). In ref. to persons, "engrossed in the self, with little regard for others," it is recorded from 1783.

self-confident --- 1617, from self + confident (q.v.).

self-conscious --- 1688, "aware of one's action," a word of the Eng. Enlightenment (Locke was using it by 1690), from self + conscious (q.v.). Morbid sense of "preoccupied with one's own personality" is attested from 1834 (in J.S. Mill).

self-control --- 1711, from self + control (q.v.). Coined by Eng. moral philosopher Anthony Ashley Cooper Shaftesbury (1671-1713).

self-criticism --- 1857, from self + criticism (q.v.). First attested in George Eliot; communist party sense is attested from 1933.

self-defense --- 1651, "act of defending oneself," first attested in Hobbes, from self + defense (q.v.). In sports sense, first with ref. to fencing (1728), then boxing (1820s).

self-destruct --- as a verb, in ref. to things, "to destroy itself automatically," from self + destruct, apparently first attested in the U.S. TV series "Mission Impossible" (1966). Self-destructive is recorded from 1654, and self-destruction "suicide" is attested from 1586.

self-determination --- 1683, "determination of mind," from self + determination. Political sense is attested from 1911, popularized by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924).

self-effacing --- 1902, from self + effacing (q.v.). Self-effacement is recorded from 1866.

self-esteem --- 1657, from self + esteem (q.v.). Popularized by phrenology, which assigned it a "bump" (Spurzheim, 1815).

self-evident --- 1690, from self + evident (q.v.). First attested in Locke's "Essay Concerning Human Understanding."

self-help --- 1831, from self + help (q.v.). Apparently coined by Carlyle. British Self-Help Emigration Society is attested from 1887.

self-image --- 1939, from self + image (q.v.).