Stibogram, stib′ō-gram, n. a graphic record of footprints. [Gr. stibos, a track, gramma, a letter.]
Stich, stik, n. a verse or line of poetry, of whatever measure—used in composition: a row of trees.—ns. Stichā′rion, a Greek vestment like the Western alb; Stichē′ron, a troparion.—adj. Stich′ic, pertaining to a verse.—n. Stich′omancy, divination by the assumed meaning of a verse, text of Scripture, or literary passage taken at random.—adjs. Stichomet′ric, -al, pertaining to stichom′etry, stating the number of lines.—ns. Stichom′etry, measurement of manuscript by lines: a list stating such; Stichomyth′ia, dialogue in alternate lines; Stich′os, a line of ordinary length in measuring a manuscript: a verse or versicle in the usage of the Greek Church. [Gr. stichos, a row—steichein, to ascend.]
Stick, stik, v.t. to stab: to thrust in: to fasten by piercing: to fix in: to set with something pointed: to cause to adhere.—v.i. to hold to: to remain: to stop: to be hindered: to hesitate, to be embarrassed or puzzled: to adhere closely in affection:—pa.t. and pa.p. stuck.—ns. Stick′er, one who kills pigs, &c.: one who sticks to anything; Stick′ing, the act of stabbing; Stick′ing-place, the point at which a thing sticks or stays; Stick′ing-plas′ter, an adhesive plaster for closing wounds; Stick′-in-the-mud, an old fogy; Stick′it-min′ister (Scot.), a licentiate who never gets a pastoral charge.—Stick at, to hesitate: to persist at; Stick by, to be firm in supporting, to adhere closely to; Stick out, to be prominent, project; Stick pigs, to hunt wild hogs on horseback and transfix them with the spear; Stick to, to persevere in holding to; Stick up, to stand up: to waylay and plunder, as a mail-coach by bushrangers; Stick up for, to speak or act in defence of.—Be stuck on (U.S.), to be enamoured of; Stuck up, conceited. [A.S. stecan (assumed); Ger. stechen, Dut. steken; also A.S. stician, Ger. stecken, to set, stick fast.]
Stick, stik, n. a small shoot or branch cut off a tree: a staff or walking-stick: anything in the form of a stick, a cudgel: a piece of printers' furniture used to lock up a form in a chase, a printer's composing-stick: a stiff, stupidly obstinate person.—v.t. to furnish or set with sticks: to arrange in a composing-stick.—n. Stick′-in′sect, a walking-stick or phasmid insect. [A.S. sticca; Ice. stika.]
Stickle, stik′l, v.i. to interpose between combatants: to contend obstinately: to hesitate.—n. a sharp point, a prickle, a spine.—ns. Stick′leback, a small river-fish so called from the spines on its back; Stick′ler, a second or umpire in a duel: an obstinate contender, esp. for something trifling.—adj. Stick′ler-like (Shak.), in the manner of a stickler. [A dim. of stick (n.).]
Stickle, stik′l, adj. high, rapid.—n. a current below a waterfall. [A.S. sticol, steep.]
Sticky, stik′i, adj. that sticks or adheres: adhesive: glutinous.—n. Stick′iness. [Stick.]
Stie, stī, v.i. (Spens.) to ascend. [A.S. stígan.]
Stiff, stif, adj. not easily bent: rigid: not liquid: rather hard than soft: not easily overcome: obstinate: not natural and easy: constrained: formal: hard to overcome, difficult: firm, of prices, &c.: dead, rigid in death: (naut.) keeping upright.—n. (slang) a corpse: negotiable paper: forged paper.—v.t. Stiff′en, to make stiff.—v.i. to become stiff: to become less impressible or more obstinate.—ns. Stiff′ener, one who, or that which, stiffens; Stiff′ening, something used to make a substance more stiff.—adj. Stiff′-heart′ed (B.), obstinate, stubborn.—adv. Stiff′ly.—n. Stiff′-neck, cervical myalgia, true torticollis.—adj. Stiff′-necked, obstinate, hard to move.—ns. Stiff′-neck′edness; Stiff′ness.—Do a bit of stiff, to accept or discount a bill. [A.S. stíf, stiff; Dut. stijf, Dan. stiv.]
Stifle, stī′fl, v.t. to stop the breath of by foul air or other means: to suffocate, smother: to extinguish: to suppress the sound of: to destroy: to suppress, conceal.—v.i. to suffocate.—adj. Stī′fling, close, oppressive. [Scand., Ice. stífla, to choke up; Norw. stivla.]