All kinds of precious stones dipped into honey become more brilliant thereby, each according to its color, and all persons become more acceptable when they join devotion to their graces. Household cares are sweetened thereby, love is more loving, and business becomes more pleasant.--S. Francis de Salis, The Devout Life, iii. 13 (1708).
Supporters in Heraldry represent the pages who supported the banner. These pages, before the Tudor period, were dressed in imitation of the beasts, etc., which typified the bearings or cognizances of their masters.
Surface (Sir Oliver), the rich uncle of Joseph and Charles Surface. He appears under the assumed name of Premium Stanley.
Charles Surface, a reformed scapegrace, and the accepted lover of Maria, the rich ward of Sir Peter Teazle. In Charles, the evil of his character was all on the surface.
Joseph Surface, elder brother of Charles, an artful, malicious, but sentimental knave; so plausible in speech and manner as to pass for a “youthful miracle of prudence, good sense, and benevolence.” Unlike Charles, his good was all on the surface.--Sheridan, School for Scandal (1777).
Surgeon’s Daughter (The), a novel by Sir Walter Scott, laid in the time of George II. and III., and published in 1827. The heroine is Menie Gray, daughter of Dr. Gideon Gray, of Middlemas. Adam Hartley, the doctor’s apprentice, loves her, but Menie herself has given her heart to Richard Middlemas. It so falls out that Richard Middlemas goes to India. Adam Hartley also goes to India, and, as Dr. Hartley, rises high in his profession. One day, being sent for to visit a sick fakir´, he sees Menie Gray under the wing of Mde. Montreville. Her father had died, and she had come to India, under madame’s escort, to marry Richard; but Richard had entrapped the girl for a concubine in the harem of Tippoo Saib. When Dr. Hartley heard of this scandalous treachery, he told it to Hyder Ali, and the father of Tippoo Saib, who were so disgusted at the villainy that they condemned Richard Middlemas to be trampled to death by a trained elephant, and liberated Menie, who returned to her native country under the escort of Dr. Hartley.
Surgery (Father of French), Ambrose Paré (1517-1590).
Surly, a gamester and friend of Sir Epicure Mammon, but a disbeliever in alchemy in general, and in “doctor” Subtle in particular.--Ben Jonson, The Alchemist (1610).
Surplus (Mr.), a lawyer, Mrs. Surplus, and Charles Surplus, the nephew.--J. M. Morton, A Regular Fix.
Surrey (White), name of the horse used by Richard III. in the battle of Bosworth Field.