Sledge, slej, n. an instrument for striking: a large heavy hammer used chiefly by ironsmiths. [A.S. slecg—sleán, to strike, slay (cf. Ger. schlägel, a beater—schlagen).]
Sleek, slēk, adj. smooth: glossy: soft, not rough: insinuating, plausible: dexterous.—v.t. to make smooth or glossy: to calm or soothe.—v.i. to glide.—advs. Sleek, Slick, neatly.—v.t. Sleek′en, to make smooth or sleek.—ns. Sleek′er, Slick′er, a tool for dressing the surface of leather.—adj. Sleek′-head′ed, having a smooth head.—n. Sleek′ing, the act of making smooth.—adj. Sleek′it (Scot.), having a smooth skin: sly, cunning, fair-spoken.—adv. Sleek′ly.—ns. Sleek′ness; Sleek′-stone, a smooth stone used for polishing anything.—adj. Sleek′y, smooth: sly, untrustworthy. [Scand., Ice. slíkr, sleek; cf. Dut. slijk, Ger. schlick, grease.]
Sleep, slēp, v.i. to take rest by relaxation: to become unconscious: to slumber: to rest: to be motionless or inactive: to remain unnoticed: to live thoughtlessly: to be dead: to rest in the grave:—pa.t. and pa.p. slept.—n. the state of one who, or that which, sleeps: slumber: rest: the dormancy of some animals during winter: (bot.) nyctitropism.—n. Sleep′er, one who sleeps: a horizontal timber supporting a weight, rails, &c.—adv. Sleep′ily.—n. Sleep′iness.—p.adj. Sleep′ing, occupied with, or for, sleeping: dormant.—n. the state of resting in sleep: (Shak.) the state of being at rest or in abeyance.—ns. Sleep′ing-car, -carriage, a railway-carriage in which passengers have berths for sleeping in; Sleep′ing-draught, a drink given to bring on sleep; Sleep′ing-part′ner (see Partner).—adj. Sleep′less, without sleep: unable to sleep.—adv. Sleep′lessly.—ns. Sleep′lessness; Sleep′-walk′er, one who walks while asleep: a somnambulist; Sleep′-walking.—adj. Sleep′y, inclined to sleep: drowsy: dull: lazy.—n. Sleep′yhead, a lazy person.—On sleep (B.), asleep. [A.S. slǽpan—slǽp; Ger. schlaf, Goth. sleps.]
Sleet, slēt, n. rain mingled with snow or hail.—v.i. to hail or snow with rain mingled.—n. Sleet′iness.—adj. Sleet′y. [Scand., Norw. sletta, sleet.]
Sleeve, slēv, n. the part of a garment which covers the arm: a tube into which a rod or other tube is inserted.—v.t. to furnish with sleeves.—ns. Sleeve′-band (Shak.), the wristband; Sleeve′-butt′on, a button or stud for the wristband or cuff.—adjs. Sleeved, furnished with sleeves; Sleeve′less, without sleeves.—ns. Sleeve′-link, two buttons, &c., joined by a link for holding together the two edges of the cuff or wristband; Sleeve′-nut, a double-nut for attaching the joint-ends of rods or tubes; Sleeve′-waist′coat, Sleeved′-waist′coat, a waistcoat with long sleeves, worn by porters, boots, &c.—Hang on the sleeve, to be dependent on some one; Have in one's sleeve, to have in readiness for any emergency; Laugh in one's sleeve, to laugh behind one's sleeve, to laugh privately or unperceived; Leg-of-mutton sleeve, a woman's sleeve full in the middle, tight at arm-hole and wrist. [A.S. sléfe, sléf, a sleeve—slúpan, to slip; cog. with Ger. schlauf.]
Sleezy=Sleazy (q.v.).
Sleided, slād′ed, adj. (Shak.) unwoven. [Sley.]
Sleigh, slā, n. same as Sled.—ns. Sleigh′-bell, a small bell attached to a sleigh or its harness; Sleigh′ing, the act of riding in a sleigh or sled.
Sleight, slīt, n. cunning: dexterity: an artful trick.—n. Sleight′-of-hand, legerdemain. [Ice. slægth, cunning, slægr, sly.]
Slender, slen′dėr, adj. thin or narrow: feeble: inconsiderable: simple: meagre, inadequate, poorly furnished.—adv. Slen′derly.—n. Slen′derness. [Old Dut. slinder, thin, slinderen, to drag; cf. Ger. schlendern, to saunter.]