Part 51
||Si`gno*ri"na (?), n. [It.] Miss; -- a title of address among the ||Italians.
Sign"post` (?), n. A post on which a sign hangs, or on which papers are placed to give public notice of anything.
{ Sik (?), Sike (?), } a. Such. See Such. [Obs.] "Sike fancies weren foolerie." Spenser.
Sike (?), n. [AS. sc. Cf. Sig.] A gutter; a stream, such as is usually dry in summer. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
Sike, n. [See Sick.] A sick person. [Prov. Eng.]
Sike, v. i. To sigh. [Obs.]
That for his wife weepeth and siketh sore.
Chaucer.
Sike, n. A sigh. [Obs.] Chaucer.
{ Sik"er (?), a. & adv., Sik"er*ly, adv., Sik"er*ness, n., etc.} See 2d Sicker, Sickerly, etc. [Obs.]
Sikhs (?), n. pl.; sing. Sikh (&?;). [Hind. Sikh, properly, a disciple.] A religious sect noted for warlike traits, founded in the Punjab at the end of the 15th century.
Si"lage (?), n. & v. Short for Ensilage.
Sile (?), v. t. [Akin to Sw. sila to strain, sil sieve, G. sielen to draw away or lead off water. √151a. See Silt.] To strain, as fresh milk. [Prov. Eng.]
Sile, v. i. To drop; to flow; to fall. [Prov. Eng.]
Sile, n. 1. A sieve with fine meshes. [Prov. Eng.]
2. Filth; sediment. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
Sile, n. [Icel. sld herring; akin to Sw. sill, Dan. sild. Cf. Sill the young of a herring.] (Zoöl.) A young or small herring. [Eng.] Pennant.
Si"lence (?), n. [F., fr. L. silentium. See Silent.]
1. The state of being silent; entire absence of sound or noise; absolute stillness.
I saw and heared; for such a numerous host Fled not in silence through the frighted deep.
Milton.
2. Forbearance from, or absence of, speech; taciturnity; muteness.
3. Secrecy; as, these things were transacted in silence.
The administration itself keeps a profound silence.
D. Webster.
4. The cessation of rage, agitation, or tumilt; calmness; quiest; as, the elements were reduced to silence.
5. Absence of mention; oblivion.
And what most merits fame, in silence hid.
Milton.
Si"lence, interj. Be silent; -- used elliptically for let there be silence, or keep silence. Shak.
Si"lence, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Silenced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Silencing (?).] 1. To compel to silence; to cause to be still; to still; to hush.
Silence that dreadful bell; it frights the isle.
Shak.
2. To put to rest; to quiet.
This would silence all further opposition.
Clarendon.
These would have silenced their scruples.
Rogers.
3. To restrain from the exercise of any function, privilege of instruction, or the like, especially from the act of preaching; as, to silence a minister of the gospel.
The Rev. Thomas Hooker of Chelmsford, in Essex, was silenced for nonconformity.
B. Trumbull.
4. To cause to cease firing, as by a vigorous cannonade; as, to silence the batteries of an enemy.
Si*le"ne (?), n. [NL., fr. L. Silenus, the attendant of Bacchus.] (Bot.) A genus of caryophyllaceous plants, usually covered with a viscid secretion by which insects are caught; catchfly.
Bon Silène. See Silène, in the Vocabulary.
Si"lent (?), a. [L. silens, - entis, p. pr. of silere to be silent; akin to Goth. ana- silan.] 1. Free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet.
How silent is this town!
Shak.
2. Not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn; not loquacious; not talkative.
Ulysses, adds he, was the most eloquent and most silent of men.
Broome.
This new-created world, whereof in hell Fame is not silent.
Milton.
3. Keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed; as, the wind is silent. Parnell. Sir W. Raleigh.
4. (Pron.) Not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent; as, e is silent in "fable."
5. Having no effect; not operating; inefficient. [R.]
Cause . . . silent, virtueless, and dead.
Sir W. Raleigh.
Silent partner. See Dormant partner, under Dormant.
Syn. -- Mute; taciturn; dumb; speechless; quiet; still. See Mute, and Taciturn.
Si"lent, n. That which is silent; a time of silence. [R.] "The silent of the night." Shak.
Si*len"ti*a*ry (s*ln"sh**r), n. [L. silentiarius: cf. F. silenciaire. See Silence.] One appointed to keep silence and order in court; also, one sworn not to divulge secrets of state.
Si*len"tious (?), a. [L. silentiosus: cf. F. silencieux.] Habitually silent; taciturn; reticent. [R.]
Si"lent*ly (?), adv. In a silent manner.
Si"lent*ness, n. State of being silent; silence.
Si*le"nus (?), n. [L. Silenus the tutor and attendant of Bacchus.] (Zoöl.) See Wanderoo.
Si*le"si*a (?), n. 1. A kind of linen cloth, originally made in Silesia, a province of Prussia.
2. A twilled cotton fabric, used for dress linings.
Si*le"si*an (?), a. Of or pertaining to Silesia. -- n. A native or inhabitant of Silesia.
Si"lex (?), n. [L., a finit, a pebblestone.] (Min.) Silica, SiO2 as found in nature, constituting quarz, and most sands and sandstones. See Silica, and Silicic.
Sil`hou*ette" (?), n. [F.; -- so called from Etienne de Silhoutte, a French minister of finance in 1759, whise diversion it was to make such portraits on the walls of his apartments.] A representation of the outlines of an object filled in with a black color; a profile portrait in black, such as a shadow appears to be.
Sil`hou*ette", v. t. To represent by a silhouette; to project upon a background, so as to be like a silhouette. [Recent]
A flock of roasting vultures silhouetted on the sky.
The Century.
Sil"i*ca (?), n. [NL., from L. silex, silics, a flint.] (Chem.) Silicon dioxide, SiO&?;. It constitutes ordinary quartz (also opal and tridymite), and is artifically prepared as a very fine, white, tasteless, inodorous powder.
Sil"i*cate (?), n.[Cf. F. silicate.] (Chem.) A salt of silicic acid.
In mineralogical chemistry the silicates include; the unisilicates or orthosilicates, salts of orthosilicic acid; the bisilicates or metasilicates, salts of metasilicic acid; the polysilicates or acid silicates, salts of the polysilicic acids; the basic silicates or subsilicates, in which the equivalent of base is greater than would be required to neutralize the acid; and the hydrous silicates, including the zeolites and many hydrated decomposition products.
Sil"i*ca`ted (?), a. (Chem.) Combined or impregnated with silicon or silica; as, silicated hydrogen; silicated rocks.
Silicated soap, a hard soap containing silicate of soda.
Sil`i*ca*ti*za"tion (?), n. Silicification.
||Si*lic"e*a (?), n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) Same as Silicoidea.
Si*li"ceous (?), a. [L. siliceus, fr. silex, silicis, a flint.] Of or pertaining to silica; containing silica, or partaking of its nature. [Written also silisious.]
Si*lic"ic (?), a. [L. silex, silicis, a flint: cf. F. silicique.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, derived from, or resembling, silica; specifically, designating compounds of silicon; as, silicic acid.
Silicic acid (Chem.), an amorphous gelatinous substance, Si(HO)4, very unstable and easily dried to silica, but forming many stable salts; -- called also orthosilicic, or normal silicic, acid.
Si*lic`i*cal*ca"re*ous (?), a. Consisting of silica and calcareous matter.
Sil"i*cide (?), n. (Chem.) A binary compound of silicon, or one regarded as binary. [R.]
Hydrogen silicide (Chem.), a colorless, spontaneously inflammable gas, SiH4, produced artifically from silicon, and analogous to methane; -- called also silico-methane, silicon hydride, and formerly siliciureted hydrogen.
Sil`i*cif"er*ous (?), a. [L. silex, silicis, a flint + -ferous.] Producing silica; united with silica.
Si*lic`i*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [See Silicify.] (Chem.) Thae act or process of combining or impregnating with silicon or silica; the state of being so combined or impregnated; as, the silicification of wood.
Si*lic"i*fied (?), a. (Chem.) Combined or impregnated with silicon or silica, especially the latter; as, silicified wood.
Si*lic"i*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Silicified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Silicifying (?).] [L. silex, silicis, a flint + -fy: cf. F. silicifier.] (Chem.) To convert into, or to impregnate with, silica, or with the compounds of silicon.
The specimens found . . . are completely silicified.
Say.
The silica may take the form of agate, chalcedony, flint, hornstone, or crystalline quartz.
Si*lic"i*fy, v. i. To become converted into silica, or to be impregnated with silica.
||Sil`i*ci*oi"de*a (?), n. pl. (Zoöl.) Same as Silicoidea.
Si*li"cious (?), a. See Siliceous.
||Sil`i*ci*spon"gi*æ (?), n. pl. [NL. See Silex, and Sponge.] (Zoöl.) ||Same as Silicoidea.
Si*lic"it*ed (?), a. Silicified. [Obs.]
Si*lic"i*um (?), n. See Silicon.
Si*lic"i*u*ret`ed (?), a. [Written also siliciuretted.] (Old. Chem.) Combined or impregnated with silicon. [Obsoles.]
Siliciureted hydrogen. (Chem.) Hydrogen silicide. [Obs.]
Sil"i*cle (?), n. [L. silicula, dim. of siliqua a pod or husk: cf. F. silicule.] (Bot.) A seed vessel resembling a silique, but about as broad as it is long. See Silique.
Sil"i*co- (?). (Chem.) A combining form (also used adjectively) denoting the presence of silicon or its compounds; as, silicobenzoic, silicofluoride, etc.
Sil`i*co*flu*or"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Containing, or composed of, silicon and fluorine; especially, denoting the compounds called silicofluorides.
Silicofluoric acid (Chem.), a compound of hydrofluoric acid and silicon fluoride, known only in watery solution. It is produced by the action of silicon fluoride on water, and is regarded as an acid, H2SiF6, and the type and origin of the silicofluorides.
Sil`i*co*flu"or*ide (?), n. (Chem.) A fluosilicate; a salt of silicofluoric acid.
||Sil`i*coi"de*a (?), n. pl. [NL. See Silex, and -oid.] (Zoöl.) An ||extensive order of Porifera, which includes those that have the ||skeleton composed mainly of siliceous fibers or spicules.
Sil"i*con (?), n. [See Silica.] (Chem.) A nonmetalic element analogous to carbon. It always occurs combined in nature, and is artificially obtained in the free state, usually as a dark brown amorphous powder, or as a dark crystalline substance with a meetallic luster. Its oxide is silica, or common quartz, and in this form, or as silicates, it is, next to oxygen, the most abundant element of the earth's crust. Silicon is characteristically the element of the mineral kingdom, as carbon is of the organic world. Symbol Si. Atomic weight 28. Called also silicium.
Sil`i*co*tung"stic (?), a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, any one of a series of double acids of silicon and tungsten, known in the free state, and also in their salts (called silicotungstates).
||Si*lic"u*la (?), n. [L.] (Bot.) A silicle.
Sil"i*cule (?), n. (Bot.) A silicle.
Si*lic"u*lose` (?), a. [NL. siliculosus, fr. L. silicula: cf. F. siliculeux. See Silicle.] 1. (Bot.) Bearing silicles; pertaining to, or resembling, silicles.
2. Full of, or consisting of, husks; husky. [Obs.]
Si*lig"i*nose` (?), a.[L. siligineus, fr. siligo, -inis, fine and very white wheat.] Made of fine wheat. [Obs.] Bailey.
Sil"ing (?), a. & n. from Sile to strain. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
Siling dish, a colander. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
Sil"i*qua (?), n.; pl. Siliquæ (#). [L. See Silique.] 1. (Bot.) Same as Silique.
2. A weight of four grains; a carat; -- a term used by jewelers, and refiners of gold.
Sil"ique (?), n. [L. siliqua a pod or husk, a very small weight or measure: cf. F. silique.] (Bot.) An oblong or elongated seed vessel, consisting of two valves with a dissepiment between, and opening by sutures at either margin. The seeds are attached to both edges of the dissepiment, alternately upon each side of it.
Sil"i*qui*form (?), a. [Silique + -form: cf. F. siliquiforme.] (Bot.) Having the form of a silique.
||Sil`i*quo"sa (?), n. pl. [NL. See Siliquose.] (Bot.) A Linnæan order ||of plants including those which bear siliques.
{ Sil"i*quose` (?), Sil"i*quous (?), } a. [NL. siliquosus: cf. F. siliqueux.] (Bot.) Bearing siliques; as, siliquose plants; pertaining to, or resembling, siliques; as, siliquose capsules.
Silk (?), n. [OE. silk, selk, AS. seolc, seoloc; akin to Icel. silki, SW. & Dan. silke; prob. through Slavic from an Oriental source; cf. Lith. szilkai, Russ. shelk', and also L. sericum Seric stuff, silk. Cf. Sericeous. Serge a woolen stuff.] 1. The fine, soft thread produced by various species of caterpillars in forming the cocoons within which the worm is inclosed during the pupa state, especially that produced by the larvæ of Bombyx mori.
2. Hence, thread spun, or cloth woven, from the above-named material.
3. That which resembles silk, as the filiform styles of the female flower of maize.
Raw silk, silk as it is wound off from the cocoons, and before it is manufactured. -- Silk cotton, a cottony substance enveloping the seeds of the silk-cotton tree. -- Silk-cotton tree (Bot.), a name for several tropical trees of the genera Bombax and Eriodendron, and belonging to the order Bombaceæ. The trees grow to an immense size, and have their seeds enveloped in a cottony substance, which is used for stuffing cushions, but can not be spun. -- Silk flower. (Bot.) (a) The silk tree. (b) A similar tree (Calliandra trinervia) of Peru. -- Silk fowl (Zoöl.), a breed of domestic fowls having silky plumage. -- Silk gland (Zoöl.), a gland which secretes the material of silk, as in spider or a silkworm; a sericterium. -- Silk gown, the distinctive robe of a barrister who has been appointed king's or queen's counsel; hence, the counsel himself. Such a one has precedence over mere barristers, who wear stuff gowns. [Eng.] -- Silk grass (Bot.), a kind of grass (Stipa comata) of the Western United States, which has very long silky awns. The name is also sometimes given to various species of the genera Aqave and Yucca. -- Silk moth (Zoöl.), the adult moth of any silkworm. See Silkworm. -- Silk shag, a coarse, rough-woven silk, like plush, but with a stiffer nap. -- Silk spider (Zoöl.), a large spider (Nephila plumipes), native of the Southern United States, remarkable for the large quantity of strong silk it produces and for the great disparity in the sizes of the sexes. -- Silk thrower, Silk throwster, one who twists or spins silk, and prepares it for weaving. Brande & C. -- Silk tree (Bot.), an Asiatic leguminous tree (Albizzia Julibrissin) with finely bipinnate leaves, and large flat pods; -- so called because of the abundant long silky stamens of its blossoms. Also called silk flower. -- Silk vessel. (Zoöl.) Same as Silk gland, above. -- Virginia silk (Bot.), a climbing plant (Periploca Græca) of the Milkweed family, having a silky tuft on the seeds. It is native in Southern Europe.
Silk"en (?), a. [AS. seolcen, seolocen.] 1. Of or pertaining to silk; made of, or resembling, silk; as, silken cloth; a silken veil.
2. Fig.: Soft; delicate; tender; smooth; as, silken language. "Silken terms precise." Shak.
3. Dressed in silk. "A . . . silken wanton." Shak.
Silk"en, v. t. To render silken or silklike. Dyer.
Silk"i*ness (?), n. 1. The quality or state of being silky or silken; softness and smoothness.
2. Fig.: Effeminacy; weakness. [R.] B. Jonson.
Silk"man (?), n.; pl. Silkmen (&?;). A dealer in silks; a silk mercer. Shak.
<! p. 1341 !>
Silk"ness (?), n. Silkiness. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
Silk"weed` (?), n. (Bot.) Any plant of the genera Asclepias and Acerates whose seed vessels contain a long, silky down; milkweed.
Silk"worm` (?), n. [AS. seolcwyrm.] (Zoöl.) The larva of any one of numerous species of bombycid moths, which spins a large amount of strong silk in constructing its cocoon before changing to a pupa.
The common species (Bombyx mori) feeds on the leaves of the white mulberry tree. It is native of China, but has long been introduced into other countries of Asia and Europe, and is reared on a large scale. In America it is reared only to small extent. The Ailanthus silkworm (Philosamia cynthia) is a much larger species, of considerable importance, which has been introduced into Europe and America from China. The most useful American species is the Polyphemus. See Polyphemus.
Pernyi silkworm, the larva of the Pernyi moth. See Pernyi moth. -- Silkworm gut, a substance prepared from the contents of the silk glands of silkworms and used in making lines for angling. See Gut. - - Silkworm rot, a disease of silkworms; muscardine.
Silk"y (?), a. [Compar. Silkier (?); superl. Silkiest.] 1. Of or pertaining to silk; made of, or resembling, silk; silken; silklike; as, a silky luster.
2. Hence, soft and smooth; as, silky wine.
3. Covered with soft hairs pressed close to the surface, as a leaf; sericeous.
Silky oak (Bot.), a lofty Australian tree (Grevillea robusta) with silky tomentose lobed or incised leaves. It furnishes a valuable timber.
Sill (?), n. [OE. sille, sylle, AS. syl, syll; akin to G. schwelle, OHG. swelli, Icel. syll, svill, Sw. syll, Dan. syld, Goth. gasuljan to lay a foundation, to found.] The basis or foundation of a thing; especially, a horizontal piece, as a timber, which forms the lower member of a frame, or supports a structure; as, the sills of a house, of a bridge, of a loom, and the like. Hence: (a) The timber or stone at the foot of a door; the threshold. (b) The timber or stone on which a window frame stands; or, the lowest piece in a window frame. (c) The floor of a gallery or passage in a mine. (d) A piece of timber across the bottom of a canal lock for the gates to shut against.
Sill course (Arch.), a horizontal course of stone, terra cotta, or the like, built into a wall at the level of one or more window sills, these sills often forming part of it.
Sill, n. [Cf. Thill.] The shaft or thill of a carriage. [Prov. Eng.]
Sill, n. [Cf. 4th Sile.] A young herring. [Eng.]
Sil"la*bub (?), n. [Cf. sile to strain, and bub liquor, also Prov. E. sillibauk.] A dish made by mixing wine or cider with milk, and thus forming a soft curd; also, sweetened cream, flavored with wine and beaten to a stiff froth. [Written also syllabub.]
Sil"ler (?), n. Silver. [Scot.]
Sil"li*ly (?), adv. [From Silly.] In a silly manner; foolishly. Dryden.
Sil"li*man*ite (?), n. [After Benjamin Siliman, an American meneralogist.] (Min.) Same as Fibrolite.
Sil"li*ness, n. The quality or state of being silly.
Sil"lock (?), n. (Zoöl.) The pollock, or coalfish.
Sil"lon (?), n. [F., a furrow.] (Fort.) A work raised in the middle of a wide ditch, to defend it. Crabb.
Sil"ly, a. [Compar. Sillier (?); superl. Silliest.] [OE. seely, sely, AS. s&?;lig, ges&?;lig, happy, good, fr. s&?;l, s&?;l, good, happy, s&?;l good fortune, happines; akin to OS. slig, a, good, happy, D. zalig blessed, G. selig, OHG. slg, Icel. s&?;l, Sw. säll, Dan. salig, Goth. s&?;ls good, kind, and perh. also to L. sollus whole, entire, Gr. &?;&?;&?;, Skr. sarva. Cf. Seel, n.] 1. Happy; fortunate; blessed. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. Harmless; innocent; inoffensive. [Obs.] "This silly, innocent Custance." Chaucer.
The silly virgin strove him to withstand.
Spenser.
A silly, innocent hare murdered of a dog.
Robynson (More's Utopia).
3. Weak; helpless; frail. [Obs.]
After long storms . . . With which my silly bark was tossed sore.
Spenser.
The silly buckets on the deck.
Coleridge.
4. Rustic; plain; simple; humble. [Obs.]
A fourth man, in a sillyhabit.
Shak.
All that did their silly thoughts so busy keep.
Milton.
5. Weak in intellect; destitute of ordinary strength of mind; foolish; witless; simple; as, a silly woman.
6. Proceeding from want of understanding or common judgment; characterized by weakness or folly; unwise; absurd; stupid; as, silly conduct; a silly question.
Syn. -- Simple; brainless; witless; shallow; foolish; unwise; indiscreet. See Simple.
Sil"ly*how (?), n. [Prov. E. silly- hew; cf. AS. slig happy, good, and hfe a cap, hood. See Silly, a.] A caul. See Caul, n., 3. [Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
Si"lo (?), n. [F.] A pit or vat for packing away green fodder for winter use so as to exclude air and outside moisture. See Ensilage.
Silt (?), n. [OE. silte gravel, fr. silen to drain, E. sile; probably of Scand. origin; cf. Sw. sila, prob. akin to AS. seón to filter, sgan to fall, sink, cause to sink, G. seihen to strain, to filter, OHG. sihan, Icel. s>a, Skr. sic to pour; cf. Gr. &?;&?;&?; moisture. Cf. Sig, Sile.] Mud or fine earth deposited from running or standing water.
Silt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Silted; p. pr. & vb. n. Silting.] To choke, fill, or obstruct with silt or mud.
Silt, v. i. To flow through crevices; to percolate.
Silt"y (?), a. Full of silt; resembling silt.
Si*lure" (?), n. [L. silurus a sort of river fish, Gr. &?;&?;&?;: cf. F. silure.] (Zoöl.) A fish of the genus Silurus, as the sheatfish; a siluroid.
Si*lu"ri*an (?), a. [From L. Silures, a people who anciently inhabited a part of England and Wales.] (Geol.) Of or pertaining to the country of the ancient Silures; -- a term applied to the earliest of the Paleozoic eras, and also to the strata of the era, because most plainly developed in that country.
The Silurian formation, so named by Murchison, is divided into the Upper Silurian and Lower Silurian. The lower part of the Lower Silurian, with some underlying beds, is now separated under the name Cambrian, first given by Sedwick. Recently the term Ordovician has been proposed for the Lower Silurian, leawing the original word to apply only to the Upper Silurian.
Si*lu"ri*an, n. The Silurian age.
Si*lu"ri*dan (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any fish of the family Siluridæ or of the order Siluroidei.
Si*lu"roid (?), n. [Silurus + -oid.] (Zoöl.) Belonging to the Siluroidei, or Nematognathi, an order of fishes including numerous species, among which are the American catfishes and numerous allied fresh-water species of the Old World, as the sheatfish (Silurus glanis) of Europe. -- n. A siluroid fish.
||Sil`u*roi"de*i (?), n. pl. [NL.] (zoöl.) An order of fishes, the ||Nematognathi.
||Si*lu"rus (?), n. [L. See Silure.] (Zoöl.) A genus of large ||malacopterygious fishes of the order Siluroidei. They inhabit the ||inland waters of Europe and Asia.
Sil"va (?), n.; pl. E. Silvas (#), L. Silvae (&?;). [L., properly, a wood, forest.] [Written also sylva.] (Bot.) (a) The forest trees of a region or country, considered collectively. (b) A description or history of the forest trees of a country.
Sil"van (?), a. [L. silva, less correctly sylva, a wood or grove, perh. akin to Gr. "y`lh; cf. L. Silvanus Silvanus the god of woods: cf. F. sylvain silvan. Cf. Savage.] Of or pertaining to woods; composed of woods or groves; woody. [Written also sylvan.]
Betwixt two rows of rocks, a silvan scene Appears above, and groves forever green.
Dryden.
Sil"van, n. (Old Chem.) See Sylvanium. [Obs.]
Sil"van*ite (?), n. (Min.) See Sylvanite.
{ Sil"vas (?) or Sel"vas (?) }, n. pl. [L. silva a forest, Sp. selva.] Vast woodland plains of South America.
Sil"vate (?), n. (Chem.) Same as Sylvate.
Sil"ver (?), n. [OE. silver, selver, seolver, AS. seolfor, siolfur, siolufr, silofr, sylofr; akin to OS. silubar, OFries. selover, D. zilver, LG. sulver, OHG. silabar, silbar, G. silber, Icel. silfr, Sw. silfver, Dan. sölv, Goth. silubr, Russ. serebro, Lith. sidabras; of unknown origin.] 1. (Chem.) A soft white metallic element, sonorous, ductile, very malleable, and capable of a high degree of polish. It is found native, and also combined with sulphur, arsenic, antimony, chlorine, etc., in the minerals argentite, proustite, pyrargyrite, ceragyrite, etc. Silver is one of the "noble" metals, so-called, not being easily oxidized, and is used for coin, jewelry, plate, and a great variety of articles. Symbol Ag (Argentum). Atomic weight 107.7. Specific gravity 10.5.
Silver was known under the name of luna to the ancients and also to the alchemists. Some of its compounds, as the halogen salts, are remarkable for the effect of light upon them, and are used in photography.
2. Coin made of silver; silver money.
3. Anything having the luster or appearance of silver.
4. The color of silver.
Silver is used in the formation of many compounds of obvious meaning; as, silver-armed, silver-bright, silver-buskined, silver-coated, silver-footed, silver-haired, silver-headed, silver-mantled, silver-plated, silver-slippered, silver-sounding, silver-studded, silver-tongued, silver-white. See Silver, a.