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

seraglio --- harem, also the name of a former palace of the sultan in Istanbul, 1581, from It. seraglio, alteration of Turk. saray "palace, court," from Pers. sara'i "palace, inn," from Iranian base *thraya- "to protect" (cf. Avestan thrayeinti "they protect"). The It. word probably reflects folk etymology influence of serraglio "enclosure, cage," from M.L. serraculum "bung, stopper" (see serried).

serape --- type of shawl, 1834, from Mex.Sp. sarape, probably from Nahuatl, but exact source difficult to identify source because there is no -r- sound in Nahuatl.

seraph --- 1667, first used by Milton (probably on analogy of cherub/cherubim), singular back-formation from O.E. seraphim (pl.), from L.L. seraphim, from Gk. seraphim, from Heb. seraphim (only in Isa. vi), pl. of *saraph (which does not occur in the Bible), probably lit. "the burning one," from saraph "it burned." Seraphs were traditionally regarded as burning or flaming angels, though the word seems to have some etymological sense of "flying," perhaps from confusion with the root of Ar. sharafa "be lofty." Some scholars identify it with a word found in other passages interpreted as "fiery flying serpent."

Serapis --- a god of the lower world, 1597, from L., from Gk. Serapis, earlier Sarapis, from Egyptian User-hapi, lit. "Osiris-Apis."

Serb --- 1813, from Serbian Srb.

sere --- O.E. sear "dried up, withered," from P.Gmc. *sauzas (cf. M.L.G. sor, Du. zoor), from PIE base *saus- (cf. Skt. susyati "dries, withers;" O.Pers. uška- "dry" (adj.), "land" (n.); Avestan huška- "dry;" L. sudus "dry"). A good word now relegated to bad poetry. Related to sear. Sere month was an old name for "August."

Serena --- fem. proper name, from L. serena, fem. of serenus "clear, bright, fair, joyous" (see serene).

serenade --- 1649, "musical performance at night in open air" (esp. one given by a lover under the window of his lady), from Fr. sérénade, from It. serenata "an evening song," lit. "calm sky," from sereno "the open air," noun use of sereno "clear, calm," from L. serenus "peaceful, calm, serene." Sense infl. by It. sera "evening," from L. sera, fem. of serus "late." Meaning "piece of music suitable for a serenade" is attested from 1728. The verb is from 1668.

serendipity --- 1754 (but rare before 20c.), coined by Horace Walpole (1717-92) in a letter to Mann (dated Jan. 28); he said he formed it from the Persian fairy tale "The Three Princes of Serendip," whose heroes "were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things they were not in quest of." The name is from Serendip, an old name for Ceylon (modern Sri Lanka), from Arabic Sarandib, from Skt. Simhaladvipa "Dwelling-Place-of-Lions Island." Serendipitous formed c.1950.

serene --- 1508, "clear, calm," from L. serenus "peaceful, calm, clear" (of weather), of unknown origin. Applied to persons since 1635. Serenity (1538) is from O.Fr. serenite, from L. serenitatem (nom. serenitas) "clearness, serenity," from serenus.

serf --- 1483, "slave," from M.Fr. serf, from L. servum (nom. servus) "slave" (see serve). Fallen from use in original sense by 18c. Meaning "lowest class of cultivators of the soil in continental European countries" is from 1611. Use by modern writers with ref. to medieval Europeans first recorded 1761 (contemporary Anglo-L. records used nativus, villanus or servus). Serfdom first attested 1850.

serge --- 1382, from O.Fr. serge, from V.L. *sarica, in M.L. "cloth of wool mixed with silk or linen," from L. serica (vestis) "silken (garment)," from serica, from Gk. serike, fem. of serikos "silken" (see silk). The Fr. word is the source of Ger. sarsche, Dan. sarge, etc.

sergeant --- c.1200, "servant," from O.Fr. sergent, from M.L. servientum (nom. serviens) "servant, vassal, soldier" (in L.L. "public official"), from L. servientem "serving," prp. of servire "to serve" (see serve); cognate with Sp. sirviente, It. servente. Specific sense of "military servant" is attested from c.1290; that of "officer whose duty is to enforce judgments of a tribunal or legislative body" is from c.1300 (sergeant at arms is attested from 1377). Meaning "non-commissioned military officer" first recorded 1548. Originally a much more important rank than presently. As a police rank, in Great Britain from 1839. Colloquial shortening sarge is attested from 1867. M.E. alternate spelling serjeant (from O.Fr.) was retained in Britain in special use as title of a superior order of barristers (1297, from legal L. serviens ad legem, "one who serves (the king) in matters of law"), abolished 1880, from which Common Law judges were chosen; also used of certain other officers of the royal household. sergeant-major is from 1573.

Sergius --- masc. proper name, from L., of Etruscan origin.

serial (adj.) --- 1840, from series (q.v.), popularized in ref. to Dickens' novels, published one part at a time (as opposed to all at once, in a book). Found to be a useful word and given wide application. The noun is attested from 1846. Serial number first recorded 1935. Serial killer is first attested 1981 (in relation to John Wayne Gacy and Ted Bundy), though serial had been used in connection with murders since the early 1960s.

sericulture --- 1851, from Fr. sériciculture, from L. sericum (nom. serica) "silk" (see serge) + cultura (see culture).

series --- 1611, "a number or set of things of one kind arranged in a line," from L. series "row, chain, series," from serere "to join, link, bind together, put," from PIE base *ser- "to line up, join" (cf. Skt. sarat- "thread," Gk. eirein "to fasten together in rows," Goth. sarwa (pl.) "armor, arms," O.N. sörve "necklace of stringed pearls," O.Ir. sernaid "he joins together," Welsh ystret "row"). Meaning "set of printed works published consecutively" is from 1711. Meaning "set of radio or television programs with the same characters and themes" is attested from 1949.

serif --- 1841, see sans-serif.

seriocomic --- 1749 (implied in seriocomical), a blend of serious + comic.

serious --- 1440, "expressing earnest purpose or thought" (of persons), from M.Fr. sérieux "grave, earnest" (14c.), from L.L. seriosus, from L. serius "weighty, important, grave," probably from a PIE base *swer- (cf. Lith. sveriu "to weigh, lift," svarus "heavy;" O.E. swære "heavy," Ger. schwer "heavy," Goth. swers "honored, esteemed," lit. "weighty"). As opposite of jesting, from 1712; as opposite of light (of music, theater, etc.), from 1762. Meaning "attended with danger" is from 1800. Phrase to take (something) seriously is attested from 1782.

sermon --- c.1200, from Anglo-Fr. sermun, O.Fr. sermon, from L. sermonem (nom. sermo) "discourse, speech, talk," originally "a stringing together of words," related to serere "to join" (see series). Main sense in Eng. and Fr. is eliptical for L. sermo religiosus. Dim. form sermonette is attested from 1814.

serotonin --- neurotransmitting chemical, 1948, coined from sero-, comb. form of serum (q.v.) + ton(ic) + chemical suffix -in.

serous --- 1594, "of or pertaining to serum," from Fr. séreux (16c.), from L. serosus, from serum "watery fluid, whey" (see serum).

serpent --- c.1300, "limbless reptile," also "tempter in Gen. iii:1-5," from O.Fr. sarpent, from L. serpentem (nom. serpens) "snake," from prp. of serpere "to creep," from PIE *serp- (cf. Skt. sarpati "creeps," sarpah "serpent;" Gk. herpein "to creep," herpeton "serpent;" Alb. garper "serpent").

serpentine (n.) --- c.1408, "plant reputed to contain antivenom," from O.Fr. serpentin (fem. serpentine), from L.L. serpentius "of a serpent," from L. serpentem (nom. serpens) "snake" (see serpent). As the name of a greenish mineral, attested from 1426. The adj. meaning "twisting, winding" first recorded 1615 (an earlier adj. meaning "having the evil qualities of a serpent" is recorded from 1387). The winding lake of that name in Hyde Park, London, was constructed in 1730.

serrated --- 1703, from adj. serrate (1668), from L. serratus "notched like a saw," from serra "saw," of unknown origin.

serried --- pressed close together, 1667 (in "Paradise Lost"), pp. of serry "to press close together" (1581), a military term, from M.Fr. serre "close, compact," pp. of serrer "press close, fasten," from V.L. *serrare "to bolt, lock up," from L. serare, from sera "bolt, lock." Modern use popularized by Scott.

serum --- 1672, "watery animal fluid," from L. serum "watery fluid, whey," from PIE base *ser-/*sor- "to run, flow" (cf. Gk. oros "whey;" Skt. sarah "flowing," sarit "brook, river"). First applied 1893 to blood serum used in medical treatments.

servant --- c.1225, from O.Fr., noun use of servant "serving, waiting," prp. of servir "to attend, wait upon" (see serve). Meaning "professed lover, one devoted to the service of a lady" is from c.1368. In N.American colonies and U.S., the usual designation for "slave" 17c.-18c. (in 14c.-15c. and later in Biblical translations the word often was used to render L. servus, Gk. doulos "slave"). Public servant is attested from 1676.

serve --- c.1175, "to render habitual obedience to," from O.Fr. servir "to serve," from L. servire "to serve," originally "be a slave," related to servus "slave," perhaps from an Etruscan word (cf. Etruscan proper names Servi, Serve). Meaning "to attend to (a customer)" is first recorded 1362; that of "to set food on (a table)" is from c.1386. Sporting sense, in tennis, badminton, etc., first recorded 1585; the noun in this sense is from 1688. To serve (someone) right "to treat as he deserves" is recorded from 1587. To serve the time "shape one's views to what is in favor" is from 1560, translating L. tempori servire; time-server first recorded 1584.

service (n.) --- c.1100, "celebration of public worship," from O.Fr. servise, from L. servitium "slavery, servitude," from servus "slave" (see serve). Meaning "act of serving" is attested from 1230. Sense of "duty of a military man" first recorded 1590, hence "the military as an occupation" (1706). Meaning "the furniture of the table" (tea service, etc.) is from 1468. Serving "a helping of food" is from 1769. Serviceable "ready to serve" is from c.1330.

service (v.) --- 1893, "to provide with service," from service (n.). Meaning "perform work on" first recorded 1926.

serviette --- table napkin, 1489, from Fr. serviette "napkin, towel," perhaps from pp. of servir "to serve" (see serve). Exclusively Scottish at first, re-introduced from Fr. 1818.

servile --- 1382, from L. servilis "of a slave, servile," from servus "slave" (see serve). Earliest sense was legal, servile work being forbidden on the Sabbath; sense of "cringing, fawning" first recorded 1605.

servitude --- 1471, "condition of being enslaved," from M.Fr. servitude, from L.L. servitudo "slavery," from L. servus "a slave" (see serve).

servo --- 1910, from servo-motor (1889), from Fr. servo-moteur (1873), ult. from L. servus "slave" (see serve) + motor "mover" (see motor).

sesame --- c.1440, probably from M.Fr. sisame, from L. sesamum (nom. sesama), from Gk. sesamon (Doric sasamon) "seed or fruit of the sesame plant," via Phoenician from Late Babylonian *shawash-shammu (cf. Assyrian shamash-shammu "sesame," lit. "oil-seed"). First as a magic password in 1785 translation of Galland's "Mille et une nuits," where it opens the door of the thieves' den in "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves." Phrase open sesame current since about 1826.

sesquicentennial --- pertaining to a century and a half, 1880, from L. sesqui- "one and a half" (from semis "a half" + -que "and") + centennial (q.v.). First recorded ref. is to Baltimore's.

sesquipedalian --- 1615, from L. sesquipedalia verba "words a foot-and-a-half long," in Horace's "Ars Poetica" (97), nicely illustrating the thing he is criticizing, from sesqui- "half as much again" (see sesquicentennial) + pes "foot" (see foot)

sessile --- 1725, "adhering close to the surface," from L. sessilis "pertaining to sitting," from sessum, pp. of sedere "to sit" (see sedentary). Meaning "sedentary" first recorded 1860.

session --- c.1386, "periodical sitting of a court," from O.Fr. session, from L. sessionem (nom. sessio) "act of sitting," from pp. stem of sedere "to sit" (see sedentary). Sense of "period set aside for some activity" is first recorded 1920, in bull session, probably from quarter sessions courts (see quarter). Musical sense of "recording occasion in a studio" is from 1927.

sestina --- 1838, from It., "poem of six-lined stanzas," from sesto "sixth," from L. sextus (see six). Invented by 12c. Prov. troubadour Arnaut Daniel. The line endings of the first stanza are repeated in different order in the rest, and in an envoi.

set (adj.) --- fixed, from M.E. sett, prop. pp. of setten "to set" (see set (v.)). Meaning "ready, prepared" first recorded 1844.

set (n.) --- collection of things, 1443, from O.Fr. sette "sequence," variant of secte, from M.L. secta "retinue," from L. secta "a following" (see sect). The word had been earlier used in Eng. in the sense of "religious sect" (1387), which likely is the direct source of some meanings, e.g. "group of persons with shared status, habits, etc." (1682). Sense of "burrow of a badger" is attested from 1898. That of "scenery for an individual scene in a play, etc." is recorded from 1859. Meaning "group of pieces musicians perform at a club during 45 minutes (more or less) is from c.1925, though it is found in a similar sense in 1590.

set (v.) --- O.E. settan "cause to sit, put in some place, fix firmly," from P.Gmc. *satjanan (cf. O.N. setja, O.Fris. setta, Du. zetten, Ger. setzen), causative form of P.Gmc. root *set- (cf. O.E. sittan "to sit," see sit). Confused with sit since early 14c. Of the sun, moon, etc., "to go down," recorded from c.1300. Set-to "bout, fight" is 1743, originally pugilistic slang. Setup "arrangement" is from 1890. Setback (n.) is from 1674; to set (someone) back "cost" is from 1900.

Seth --- masc. proper name, Biblical third son of Adam, lit. "set, appointed," from Heb. shith "to put, set."

settee --- long seat with back and arms, 1716, perhaps a variant of settle (n.), or a dim. of set (v.) "act of setting."

setter --- one who sets, c.1400, from set (v.). As a type of dog (originally a type of spaniel), 1576, so called because the dog is "set" on game.

setting --- 1375, "fact or action of being set or setting," from set (v.). Ref. to mounts for jewels, etc. is from 1815; meaning "background, history, environment" is attested from 1841.

settle (n.) --- long bench, O.E. setl "a seat, position, abode," related to sittan "to sit," from P.Gmc. *setla- (cf. M.L.G., M.Du. setel, Du. zetel, Ger. Sessel, Goth. sitls), from PIE *sedla- (cf. L. sella "seat, chair," O.C.S. sedlo "saddle," O.E. sadol "saddle"), from base *sed- "to sit" (see sedentary).

settle (v.) --- come to rest, O.E. setlan, from setl "a seat" (see settle (n.)). Sense of "establish a permanent residence" first recorded 1627; that of "decide" is 1621. Meaning "reconcile" (a quarrel, differences, etc.) perhaps is infl. by M.E. sahtlen "to reconcile," from O.E. saht "reconciliation," from O.N. satt "reconciliation." Settled "firmly fixed" is attested from 1556.

settlement --- 1645, "act of fixing or steadying;" from settle (v.). Meaning "colony" is attested from 1697; that of "payment of an account" is from 1729

seven --- O.E. seofon, from P.Gmc. *sebun (cf. O.S. sibun, O.N. sjau, O.Fris. sowen, siugun, Du. zeven, O.H.G. sibun, Ger. sieben), from PIE *septm (cf. Skt. sapta, Avestan hapta, Hitt. shipta, Gk. hepta, L. septem, O.C.S. sedmi, Lith. septyni, O.Ir. secht, Welsh saith). Long regarded as a number of perfection (e.g. Seven wonders, seven sleepers, (transl. L. septem dormientes), seven against Thebes etc.), but in Ger. a nasty, troublesome woman is eine böse Sieben "an evil seven" (1662). Magical power or healing skill associated since 16c. with the seventh son ["The seuenth Male Chyld by iust order (neuer a Gyrle or Wench being borne betweene)," Thomas Lupton, "A Thousand Notable Things," 1579]. The typical number for "very great, strong," e.g. seven-league boots in the fairy story of Hop o'my Thumb. The Seven Years' War (1756-63) is also the Third Silesian War. Seventeen is from O.E. seofontyne.

Seven Champions --- 1596, the national saints of England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, Spain, and Italy, viz. George, Andrew, David, Patrick, Denys, James, and Anthony.

Seven Seas --- 1872, the Arctic, Antarctic, North Atlantic, South Atlantic, North Pacific, South Pacific, and Indian.

Seven Sisters --- the Pleiades, 1412 (see Pleiades), seven daughters of Atlas and Pleione, placed among the stars by Zeus. As a name for the major multi-national petroleum companies, it is attested from 1962. They were listed in 1976 as Exxon, Mobil, Gulf, Standard Oil of California, Texaco, British Petroleum, and Royal Dutch Shell. The Pleiades also are known as the Seven Stars (O.E. sibunsterri), though in 15c. this name occasionally was given to the Big Dipper.

seventh --- O.E. seofunda (Anglian), from P.Gmc. *sebundon (cf. O.N. sjaundi, O.H.G. sibunto), from seven (q.v.).

seventy --- O.E. (hund)seofontig, from seofon (see seven) + -tig (see -ty (1)). Cf. O.Fris. soventich, M.Du. seventich, O.N. sjau tiger.

seven-up --- children's game, 1830; with capital initials, as the prop. name of a brand of carbonated drink, it is attested from 1928.

seven-year itch --- 1899, Amer.Eng., some sort of skin condition (sometimes identified with poison ivy infection) that either lasts seven years or returns every seven years. Jocular use for "urge to stray from marital fidelity" is attested from 1952, as the title of the Broadway play (made into a film, 1955) by George Axelrod (1922-2003), in which the lead male character reads an article describing the high number of men have extra-marital affairs after seven years of marriage.

sever --- c.1300, from Anglo-Fr. severer, from O.Fr. sevrer "to separate," from V.L. *seperare, from L. separare "separate" (see separate).

several --- 1422, "existing apart," from Anglo-Fr. several, from M.Fr. seperalis "separate," from L. separe (ablative of *separ "distinct"), back formation from separare "to separate" (see separate). Meaning "various, diverse, different" is attested from 1508; that of "more than one" is from 1531, originally in legal use.

severance --- 1422, from Anglo-Fr., from O.Fr. sevrance, from sevrer (see sever). Meaning "discharge from employment contract" is attested from 1941.

severity --- 1481, "austerity or strictness of life," from M.Fr. severite, from L. severitas, from severus "stern, strict, serious," possibly from *se vero "without kindness," from se "without" (see secret) + *vero "kindness," neuter ablative of verus "true" (see very). Meaning "strictness in dealing with others" is recorded from 1530. Severe is 1548, from M.Fr. severe, from L. severus.

sew --- O.E. siwian "to stitch," earlier siowian, from P.Gmc. *siwjanan (cf. O.N. syja, Swed. sy, O.H.G. siuwan, Goth. siujan "to sew"), from PIE base *siw-/*sju- "to sew" (cf. Skt. sivyati "sews," sutram "thread, string;" Gk. hymen "thin skin, membrane," hymnos "song;" L. suere "to sew, sew together;" O.C.S. sijo "to sew," sivu "seam;" Lett. siuviu, siuti "to sew," siuvikis "tailor;" Rus. svec "tailor"). Sewing machine is attested from 1847.

sewage --- 1834, from sew (v.) "to drain, draw off water" (1475), from sewer.

sewer --- conduit, 1402, from Anglo-Fr. sewere, O.N.Fr. sewiere "sluice from a pond" (13c.), lit. "something that makes water flow," from aphetic form of Gallo-Romance *exaquaria (cf. M.Fr. esseveur), from L. ex- "out" + aquaria, fem. of aquarius "pertaining to water," from aqua "water."

sex (n.) --- 1382, "males or females collectively," from L. sexus "state of being either male or female, gender." "Commonly taken with seco as division or 'half' of the race" [Tucker], which would connect it to secare "to divide or cut" (see section). Meaning "quality of being male or female" first recorded 1526. Meaning "sexual intercourse" first attested 1929 (in writings of D.H. Lawrence); meaning "genitalia" is attested from 1938. Sexy first recorded 1925 (as an Eng. word in Fr.), originally "engrossed in sex;" sense of "sexually attractive" is 1932. Sex appeal first recorded 1924; sex drive is from 1918; sex object and sex symbol both first attested 1911, the former in ref. to Jesus. Sexpot is from 1954. Sexpert "sex therapist" is from 1924. Sexploitation is attested from 1942.

sex (v.) --- 1884, "to determine the sex of," from sex (n.); to sex (something) up "increase the sex appeal of" is recorded from 1942.

sexagenarian --- 1738, "person sixty years old," from L. sexagenarius "containing sixty," from L. sexagenarius, from sexageni "sixty each," from sex (see six).

sexist --- 1965, on model of racist, coined by Pauline M. Leet, director of special programs at Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S., in a speech which was circulated in mimeograph among feminists. Popularized by use in print in Caroline Bird's introduction to "Born Female" (1968).

sextant --- instrument for determining latitude, 1628, from Mod.L. sextans, said to have been coined c.1600 by Dan. astronomer Tycho Brahe, from L. sextans "a sixth," from sex "six." So called because the sextans has a graduated arc equal to a sixth part of a circle.

sextet --- 1841, altered (by influence of Ger. Sextett) from sestet (1801), from It. sestetto, dim. of sesto "sixth," from L. sextus (see Sextus).

sexton --- c.1303, sekesteyn, "person in charge of the sacred objects of a church," from O.Fr. segrestien, from M.L. sacristanus (see sacristan). Sense of "custodian of a church" first recorded 1582.

sextuplet --- 1852, from adj. sextuple (1626), from L. sextus "sixth," from sex "six" (see six). Patterned on triplet, etc.

Sextus --- masc. proper name, from L., prop. "the sixth," originally denoting a sixth child, from sextus "sixth," from sex "six" (see six).

sexual --- 1651, "of or pertaining to the fact of being male or female," from L.L. sexualis "relating to sex," from L. sexus (see sex). Meaning "pertaining to copulation or generation" is from 1799 (in sexual intercourse). Sexuality "capability of sexual feelings" is from 1879. Sexual revolution first attested 1970 in Kate Millett.

sh --- exclamation used to urge or request silence, 1847. The gesture of putting a finger to the lips to express silence is attested from Roman times.

sh- --- sound represented in O.E. by -sc- (e.g. fisc "fish"), which originally was pronounced "-sk-" but which by late O.E. had softened to "-sh-." Modern words with -sc- mostly are foreign (generally Scand.) imports. The "sh" sound did not exist in O.Fr., so Fr. scribes after the Norman conquest often represented it with -ssh- in medial and final positions, and sch- in initial positions. The spelling -sh- has been standard since Caxton, and probably is a worn-down form of M.E. -sch-. In some E. Anglian texts from 14c.-15c., x- is used (e.g. xal, xulde for shall, should), which would have given the language a very different look had it prevailed, but the London-based sh- ended up as the standard form.

shabby --- 1669, from shab "scab" (now only dial., in ref. to a disease of sheep), from O.E. sceabb (see scab), with sound change as described in sh-. Cf. M.Du. schabbich, Ger. schäbig "shabby." Shabby-genteel "run-down but trying to keep up appearances" first recorded 1754.

shack --- 1878, Amer.Eng. and Canadian Eng., of unknown origin, perhaps from Mex.Sp. jacal, from Nahuatl xacalli "wooden hut." Or perhaps a back-formation from dial. Eng. shackly "shaky, rickety" (1843), a derivative of shack, a dial. variant of shake (q.v.). Another theory derives shack from ramshackle. Slang verb phrase shack up "cohabit" first recorded 1935 (in Zora Neale Hurston).

shackle --- O.E. sceacel, from P.Gmc. *skakula- (cf. M.Du., Du. schakel "link of a chain," O.N. skökull "pole of a carriage"), of uncertain origin. The common notion of "something to fasten or attach" makes a connection with shake unlikely. The verb is first recorded c.1440. Shacklebolt "bolt which passes through the eyes of a shackle" is recorded from 1688.