salient (adjective)
Most noticeable or important. Prominent; conspicuous. (OD)
sangfroid (noun)
Composure or coolness shown in danger or under trying circumstances. (OD)
Self-possession or imperturbability especially under strain. (MW)
sanguinary (adjective)
Most noticeable or important. Prominent; conspicuous. (OD)
sangfroid (noun)
Composure or coolness shown in danger or under trying circumstances. (OD)
Self-possession or imperturbability especially under strain. (MW)
sanguinary (adjective)
Involving or causing much bloodshed. (OD)
Note: Contrast with sanguine.
sanguine (adjective)
Optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation. (OD)
sanguine (adjective)
Optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation. (OD)
sari-sari (adjective)
Philippines
Tagalog word for: Assorted, sundry, variety, diverse.
sari-sari store: In the Philippines, a small neighborhood shop selling a variety of goods. (OD)
sartorial (adjective)
Relating to tailoring, clothes, or style of dress. (OD)
schadenfreude (noun)
Pleasure derived by someone from another person's misfortune. (OD)
Malicious enjoyment of the misfortunes of others. (OED)
sartorial (adjective)
Relating to tailoring, clothes, or style of dress. (OD)
schadenfreude (noun)
Pleasure derived by someone from another person's misfortune. (OD)
Malicious enjoyment of the misfortunes of others. (OED)
The emotional experience of pleasure in response to another’s misfortune. (EB)
sciolist (noun)
One who makes a superficial show of learning. (MW)
A person who pretends to be knowledgeable and well informed. (OD)
A person whose knowledge is only superficial, especially one who makes much of it; a pretender to learning. (OED)
sciolistic (adjective)
scribblemania (noun)
Intense enthusiasm or mania for writing. (OED)
See: scripturiency
scripturiency (noun)
Passion for writing; an urge to write. The tendency to produce an abundance of trivial or inferior writing. (OED)
scripturient (noun and adjective) Examples: There's a bit of a scripturient in all diarists; a writing class full of scripturient undergraduates.
See: scribblemania
sciolist (noun)
One who makes a superficial show of learning. (MW)
A person who pretends to be knowledgeable and well informed. (OD)
A person whose knowledge is only superficial, especially one who makes much of it; a pretender to learning. (OED)
sciolistic (adjective)
scribblemania (noun)
Intense enthusiasm or mania for writing. (OED)
See: scripturiency
scripturiency (noun)
Passion for writing; an urge to write. The tendency to produce an abundance of trivial or inferior writing. (OED)
scripturient (noun and adjective) Examples: There's a bit of a scripturient in all diarists; a writing class full of scripturient undergraduates.
See: scribblemania
sentient (adjective)
Able to perceive or feel things. (NOA)
Having sense perception; conscious. Experiencing sensation or feeling. (AHD)
Capable of sensing or feeling; conscious of or responsive to the sensations of seeing, hearing, feeling, tasting, or smelling; aware. (MW)
sequacious (adjective)
Of a person: Lacking independence or originality of thought. (OD)
Intellectually servile. (MW)
Given to slavish or unreasoning following of others, especially in matters of thought or opinion. (OED)
Seven Sisters (petroleum companies)
A common term for the seven multinational oil companies which dominated the global petroleum industry from the mid-1940s to the mid-1970s: Exxon, Shell, BP, Gulf, Texaco, Mobil, Chevron (and their predecessors).
(Anthony Sampson, The Seven Sisters: The Great Oil Companies & the World They Shaped, 1975)
Note: Most people use this term to refer to seven prestigious, private, smallish, liberal arts women's colleges, in the United States Northeast; all very posh and expensive, sophisticated, and ever so correct. All the more reason to relish the reference to the profit-seeking, environmentally-incorrect, male-dominated, global petroleum companies.
shadow (noun)
A source of gloom or unhappiness. (MW)
Used in reference to proximity, ominous oppressiveness, or sadness and gloom. (OD)
A dominant or pervasive threat, influence, or atmosphere, especially one causing gloom, fear, doubt, or the like. (DC)
A feeling of gloom or depression, a suggestion of doubt, etc. Anything causing gloom, doubt, etc. (CDC)
See: cloud
shahada or shahadah (noun)
Arabic: The Muslim profession of faith: “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.”
shahid (noun)
Having sense perception; conscious. Experiencing sensation or feeling. (AHD)
Capable of sensing or feeling; conscious of or responsive to the sensations of seeing, hearing, feeling, tasting, or smelling; aware. (MW)
sequacious (adjective)
Of a person: Lacking independence or originality of thought. (OD)
Intellectually servile. (MW)
Given to slavish or unreasoning following of others, especially in matters of thought or opinion. (OED)
Seven Sisters (petroleum companies)
A common term for the seven multinational oil companies which dominated the global petroleum industry from the mid-1940s to the mid-1970s: Exxon, Shell, BP, Gulf, Texaco, Mobil, Chevron (and their predecessors).
(Anthony Sampson, The Seven Sisters: The Great Oil Companies & the World They Shaped, 1975)
Note: Most people use this term to refer to seven prestigious, private, smallish, liberal arts women's colleges, in the United States Northeast; all very posh and expensive, sophisticated, and ever so correct. All the more reason to relish the reference to the profit-seeking, environmentally-incorrect, male-dominated, global petroleum companies.
shadow (noun)
A source of gloom or unhappiness. (MW)
Used in reference to proximity, ominous oppressiveness, or sadness and gloom. (OD)
A dominant or pervasive threat, influence, or atmosphere, especially one causing gloom, fear, doubt, or the like. (DC)
A feeling of gloom or depression, a suggestion of doubt, etc. Anything causing gloom, doubt, etc. (CDC)
See: cloud
shahada or shahadah (noun)
Arabic: The Muslim profession of faith: “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.”
shahid (noun)
A muslim martyr. (OD)
Note: Such as a suicide bomber.
sharia or shariah (Islamic law)
Islamic canonical law based on the teachings of the Koran and the traditions of its prophet (Hadith and Sunna), prescribing both religious and secular duties and sometimes retributive penalties for lawbreaking. (OD)
See: hudud
sharia or shariah (Islamic law)
Islamic canonical law based on the teachings of the Koran and the traditions of its prophet (Hadith and Sunna), prescribing both religious and secular duties and sometimes retributive penalties for lawbreaking. (OD)
See: hudud
Siam (country)
Former name (until 1939) for Thailand. (NOA)
signaling (economic concept)
Economic concept describing how firms and individuals signal their competence and value through pricing, credentials, appearance, presentation, location, and other attributes. (RM)
sine qua non (noun)
An essential condition; a thing that is absolutely necessary (Latin). (OD)
sinecure (noun)
sine qua non (noun)
An essential condition; a thing that is absolutely necessary (Latin). (OD)
sinecure (noun)
A position requiring little or no work but giving the holder status or financial benefit. (OD)
singularity (technological theory)
A hypothetical moment in time when artificial intelligence and other technologies have become so advanced that humanity undergoes a dramatic and irreversible change. (OD)
singularity (technological theory)
A hypothetical moment in time when artificial intelligence and other technologies have become so advanced that humanity undergoes a dramatic and irreversible change. (OD)
sister (noun)
A senior female nurse, typically in charge of a ward. (OD)
Chiefly British; historically religious, as most nurses were nuns.
Note: Not sure how much this is still used.
sixes and sevens (idiom)
Typically, at sixes and sevens.
In a state of disorder. (MW)
In a state of total confusion or disarray. (OD)
The creation or existence of, or neglect to remove, confusion, disorder, or disagreement. (OED)
Also from OED: From the original phrase 'to set on six and seven.' So may be: at, of, for, on, as well as other verbs in place of 'set.'
Note: I like the idea of: Let's prepare for sixes and sevens, but I have never seen it used this way.
slake (verb)
sixes and sevens (idiom)
Typically, at sixes and sevens.
In a state of disorder. (MW)
In a state of total confusion or disarray. (OD)
The creation or existence of, or neglect to remove, confusion, disorder, or disagreement. (OED)
Also from OED: From the original phrase 'to set on six and seven.' So may be: at, of, for, on, as well as other verbs in place of 'set.'
Note: I like the idea of: Let's prepare for sixes and sevens, but I have never seen it used this way.
slake (verb)
Quench or satisfy (one's thirst); satisfy (desires). (OD)
smellfungus (noun)
An excessively faultfinding person. A captious critic; faultfinder. (MW)
smitten (verb)
Be strongly attracted to someone or something. (OD)
Deeply affected with or struck by strong feelings of attraction, affection, or infatuation. (MW)
snollygoster (noun)
Informal: A shrewd, unprincipled person, especially a politician. (OD)
sobriquet (noun)
A person’s nickname. (OD)
smellfungus (noun)
An excessively faultfinding person. A captious critic; faultfinder. (MW)
smitten (verb)
Be strongly attracted to someone or something. (OD)
Deeply affected with or struck by strong feelings of attraction, affection, or infatuation. (MW)
snollygoster (noun)
Informal: A shrewd, unprincipled person, especially a politician. (OD)
sobriquet (noun)
A person’s nickname. (OD)
Humorous name that people give someone or something. (CDC)
social contagion (noun)
social contagion (noun)
The spread of ideas, attitudes, or behavior patterns in a group through imitation and conformity. (Oxford Dictionary of Psychology)
The spread of behaviors, attitudes, and affect through crowds and other types of social aggregates from one member to another. Early analyses of social contagion suggested that it resulted from the heightened suggestibility of members and likened the process to the spread of contagious diseases. Subsequent studies suggest that social contagion is sustained by relatively mundane interpersonal processes, such as imitation, conformity, universality, and mimicry. (American Psychological Association Dictionary of Psychology)
See: mass formation psychosis, mass hysteria
solecism (noun)
A grammatical mistake in speech or writing. A breach of good manners; an instance of incorrect behavior. (OD)
An ungrammatical combination of words in a sentence; also, a minor blunder in speech. Something deviating from the proper, normal, or accepted order. A breach of etiquette or decorum (MW)
solipsism (noun)
The quality of being self-centered or selfish. (OD)
Excessive regard for oneself and one's own interests, to the exclusion of others; preoccupation with oneself; extreme selfishness, self-centeredness, or self-absorption; (also) an instance of this. (OED)
solipsist (noun)
solipsistic (adjective)
solipsistically (adverb)
somnambulant (adjective)
Resembling or characteristic of a sleepwalker; sluggish. (OD)
somnambulantly (adverb)
specious (adjective)
Superficially plausible, but actually wrong. (OD)
Of reasoning, arguments, etc.: Plausible, apparently sound or convincing, but in reality sophistical or fallacious. (OED)
spurious (adjective)
Not being what it purports to be; false or fake. Of a line of reasoning: Apparently but not actually valid. (OD)
Having an illegitimate or irregular origin; not properly qualified or constituted.
Superficially resembling or simulating, but lacking the genuine character or qualities of something; not true or genuine; false, sham, counterfeit.
Of a writing, etc.: Not really proceeding from its reputed origin, source, or author; not genuine or authentic; forged. (OED)
squirrelly (adjective)
Informal: Restless, nervous, or unpredictable. (OD)
Lacking stability or control; moving erratically. Morally dubious or questionable. (MW)
star bread (noun) – See putok
solecism (noun)
A grammatical mistake in speech or writing. A breach of good manners; an instance of incorrect behavior. (OD)
An ungrammatical combination of words in a sentence; also, a minor blunder in speech. Something deviating from the proper, normal, or accepted order. A breach of etiquette or decorum (MW)
solipsism (noun)
The quality of being self-centered or selfish. (OD)
Excessive regard for oneself and one's own interests, to the exclusion of others; preoccupation with oneself; extreme selfishness, self-centeredness, or self-absorption; (also) an instance of this. (OED)
solipsist (noun)
solipsistic (adjective)
solipsistically (adverb)
somnambulant (adjective)
Resembling or characteristic of a sleepwalker; sluggish. (OD)
somnambulantly (adverb)
soupçon (noun)
A little bit : Trace (MW)
A very small quantity of something. (OD)
specious (adjective)
Superficially plausible, but actually wrong. (OD)
Of reasoning, arguments, etc.: Plausible, apparently sound or convincing, but in reality sophistical or fallacious. (OED)
spurious (adjective)
Not being what it purports to be; false or fake. Of a line of reasoning: Apparently but not actually valid. (OD)
Having an illegitimate or irregular origin; not properly qualified or constituted.
Superficially resembling or simulating, but lacking the genuine character or qualities of something; not true or genuine; false, sham, counterfeit.
Of a writing, etc.: Not really proceeding from its reputed origin, source, or author; not genuine or authentic; forged. (OED)
squirrelly (adjective)
Informal: Restless, nervous, or unpredictable. (OD)
Lacking stability or control; moving erratically. Morally dubious or questionable. (MW)
star bread (noun) – See putok
Stockholm syndrome (psychological theory)
Feelings of trust or affection felt in certain cases of kidnapping or hostage-taking by a victim toward a captor. (OD)
stoic (noun and adjective)
noun: A person who can endure pain or hardship without showing their feelings or complaining. (OD)
One apparently or professedly indifferent to pleasure or pain (MW)
adjective: Another term for stoical: Enduring pain or hardship without showing one's feelings or complaining. (OD)
Not affected by or showing passion or feeling. Especially: Firmly restraining response to pain or distress. (MW)
stolid (adjective)
Of a person: Calm, dependable, and showing little emotion or animation. (OD)
stolidly (adverb)
sub rosa (adjective and adverb)
sub-rosa: Secretive, private (adjective)
sub rosa: In confidence; secretly (adverb)
(MW)
sublime (adjective)
Of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe. Of very great excellence or beauty. (OD)
Tending to inspire awe usually because of elevated quality (as of beauty, nobility, or grandeur) or transcendent excellence. (MW)
sublimely (adverb)
subterfuge (noun)
Deception by artifice or stratagem in order to conceal, escape, or evade. A deceptive device or stratagem. (MW)
Deceit used in order to achieve one's goals. (OD)
A device or stratagem used to escape the force of an argument, to avoid blame, or to justify one's conduct; a deceptive or evasive statement, action, etc. Also: Evasive or devious behavior; deception. Also: Something designed to conceal one's true attitude, identity, etc.; a pretence, a smokescreen. (OED)
succubus (noun)
succubus (noun)
A female demon believed to have sexual intercourse with sleeping men. (OD)
sui generis (adjective)
Unique. (OD)
Constituting a class alone; unique, peculiar. (MW)
Not like anyone or anything else. (CD)
Without a counterpart or equal. (CDC)
sunk cost (economics and finance)
A cost that has already been incurred and that cannot be recovered. In economic decision making, sunk costs are treated as bygone and are not taken into consideration when deciding whether to continue an investment project. (EB)
sunna or sunnah (noun)
In Islam, the traditional portion of Muslim law based on Muhammad's words or acts, accepted (together with the Koran) as authoritative by Muslims and followed particularly by Sunni Muslims. (OD)
See: hadith
superannuated (adjective)
sunna or sunnah (noun)
In Islam, the traditional portion of Muslim law based on Muhammad's words or acts, accepted (together with the Koran) as authoritative by Muslims and followed particularly by Sunni Muslims. (OD)
See: hadith
superannuated (adjective)
Obsolete through age or new technological or intellectual developments. (NOA)
Outmoded; obsolete. For instance: superannuated laws. (AHD)
suttee (noun) also sati
suttee (noun) also sati
The act or custom of a Hindu widow burning herself to death or being burned to death on the funeral pyre of her husband. Also: A woman burned to death in this way.
sward (noun)
An expanse of short grass. (OD)
swot (verb)
Study assiduously. (OD)
noun: A person who studies hard, especially one regarded as spending too much time studying. (NOA)
(swot up on): Study (a subject) intensively, especially in preparation for something. (OD)