Sean, sēn, n. a drag-net: a seine. [Seine.]
Séance, sā′ängs, n. a sitting, as of some public body: a sitting for consideration or inquiry, esp. a meeting of spiritualists for the consultation of spirits. [Fr.,—L. sedēre, to sit.]
Seannachie, sen′a-hē, n. a bard among the Scottish Highlanders who recited the traditions of a clan.—Also Seann′achy, Senn′achie. [Gael. seanachaidh.]
Sear, sēr, n. the catch in a gun-lock by which it is held at cock or half-cock: a part of a gun-lock.—n. Sear′-spring, a spring in a gun-lock. [O. Fr. serre—L. sera, a bar.]
Sear, sēr, v.t. to dry up: to burn to dryness on the surface: to scorch: to cauterise: to render callous or insensible.—adj. dry, withered.—adj. Seared, dried up: burned: hardened.—ns. Seared′ness, hardness, insensibility; Sear′ness, dryness; Sear′wood, wood dry enough to burn. [A.S. seár, dry, seárian, to dry up; Low Ger. soor, Dut. zoor.]
Searce, sers, v.t. (Scot.) to sift through a sieve.—n. a sieve.
Search, sėrch, v.t. to look round to find: to seek; to examine: to inspect: to explore: to put to the test: to probe.—v.i. to seek for: to make inquiry.—n. the act of seeking or looking for: examination: inquiry: investigation: pursuit.—adj. Search′able, capable of being searched.—ns. Search′ableness, the state or quality of being searchable; Search′er, a seeker: an inquirer or examiner: a custom-house officer: an officer who formerly apprehended idlers on the street during church hours in Scotland: a sieve or strainer.—adj. Search′ing, looking over closely: penetrating: trying: severe.—adv. Search′ingly.—n. Search′ingness, the quality of being searching, penetrating, or severe.—adj. Search′less, unsearchable.—ns. Search′-light, an electric arc-light used on board ship and in military operations; Search′-warr′ant, a legal warrant authorising a search for stolen goods, &c.—Right of search, the right claimed by one nation to authorise the commanders of their cruisers to search private merchant-vessels for articles contraband of war. [O. Fr. cercher (Fr. chercher)—L. circāre, to go about—circus, a circle.]
Sease, sēz, v.t. (Spens.) to seize.
Season, sē′zn, n. one of the four periods of the year: the usual or proper time for anything: any particular time: any period of time, esp. of some continuance, but not long: seasoning, relish.—v.t. to mature: to prepare for use: to accustom or fit for use by any process: to fit for the taste: to give relish to: to mingle: to moderate, temper, or qualify by admixture: to inure, imbue, tinge, or taint: to preserve from decay.—v.i. to become seasoned or matured: to grow fit for use: to become inured.—adj. Sea′sonable, happening in due season: occurring in good, suitable, or proper time: timely, opportune.—n. Sea′sonableness.—adv. Sea′sonably.—adj. Sea′sonal.—adv. Sea′sonally.—n. Sea′soner, one who, or that which, seasons: a sailor, &c., who hires for the season: a loafer, a beach-comber.—Season ticket (see Ticket).—Close season, close time; In season, ripe, fit and ready for use: allowed to be killed, fit to be eaten, edible; In season and out of season, at all times; Out of season, inopportune; The four seasons, the ember or fast days of the Church on days set apart in each of the four seasons. [O. Fr. seson (Fr. saison)—L. satio, -onis, seedtime.]
Seasoning, sē′zn-ing, n. that which is added to food to give it greater relish: anything added to increase enjoyment: in diamond-cutting, the charging of the laps or wheels with diamond dust and oil.—n. Sea′soning-tub, a trough in which dough is set to rise.—adj. Sea′sonless, without relish: insipid.