Defn: Skepticism; skeptical philosophy. [R.] Among their products were the system of Locke, the scepsis of Hume, the critical philosophy of kant. J. martineau.
SCEPTER; SCEPTRE Scep"ter, Scep"tre, n. Etym: [F. sceptre, L. sceptrum, from Gr. shaft. See Shaft, and cf. Scape a stem, shaft.]
1. A staff or baton borne by a sovereign, as a ceremonial badge or emblem of authority; a royal mace. And the king held out Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Esther v. 2.
2. Hence, royal or imperial power or authority; sovereignty; as, to assume the scepter. The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shilon come. Gen. xlix. 10.
SCEPTER; SCEPTRE Scep"ter, Scep"tre, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sceptered or Sceptred (p. pr. & vb. n. Sceptering or Sceptring (.]
Defn: To endow with the scepter, or emblem of authority; to invest
with royal authority.
To Britain's queen the sceptered suppliant bends. Tickell.
SCEPTERELLATE
Scep`ter*el"late, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a straight shaft with whorls of spines; — said of certain sponge spicules. See Illust. under Spicule.
SCEPTERLESS; SCEPTRELESS
Scep"ter*less, Scep"tre*less, a.
Defn: Having no scepter; without authority; powerless; as, a scepterless king.