Sequoia, sē-kwoi′a, n. a small genus of gigantic evergreen coniferous trees belonging to California—Wellingtonia. [A Latinised form of the name of the Cherokee chief Sequoiah.]
Sera, sē′ra, n. a lock of any kind:—pl. Sē′ræ. [L.]
Sérac, sā-rak′, n. a name for the cuboidal masses into which the névé breaks when passing down a steep incline. [Swiss Fr.]
Seraglio, se-ral′yō, n. the ancient residence of the Sultan at Constantinople, enclosing within its walls a variety of mosques, gardens, and large edifices, the chief of which is the Harem: a place where women are kept, a place of licentious pleasure: an enclosure. [It. serraglio—Low L. serāre, to lock up, from L. sera, a door-bar. The word was confused with Pers. serai, a palace.]
Serai, se-rä′i, n. a khan, a caravansary: a seraglio for women. [Pers. serai, a palace.]
Seralbumin, sēr-al-bū′min, n. albumin of the blood.
Serang, se-rang′, n. the skipper of a small East Indian vessel, the boatswain of a lascar crew. [Pers. sarhang, a commander.]
Serape, se-rä′pe, n. a Mexican shawl worn by men, often gay-coloured.
Serapeum, Serapeium, ser-a-pē′um, n. a temple of Serapis, esp. that near Memphis.
Seraph, ser′af, n. an angel of the highest rank in the traditional angelology of the church, due to Dionysius the Areopagite, who places the seraphim at the head of the nine choirs of angels, the first rank being formed by the seraphim, cherubim, and throni:—pl. Seraphs (ser′afs), Seraphim (ser′af-im), celestial beings on either side of the throne of Jehovah, seen in prophetic vision by Isaiah, and by him alone (vi. 2-6): a geometrid moth.—adjs. Seraph′ic, -al, pertaining to, or becoming, a seraph: angelic: pure: sublime: refined.—adv. Seraph′ically. [Heb. Serāphīm—sāraph, to burn.]