semitary, a form of scimetar. B. Jonson, Case is altered, v. 2 (Juniper); semitarie, Peele, Battle of Alcazar, i. 2 (Moor). See [cemitare].
sempster, a sempstress; also a spinster, as applied to the three Fates, Dekker, O. Fortunatus, ii. 2 (Shadow). In prov. use in Yorks. and Derbyshire, see EDD. (s.v. Seamster). ME. semster (Dest. Troy, 1585), OE. sēamestre, a sempstress (B. T.).
sennet, a signal-call played on a trumpet, the signal for entrance or exit. Common in the stage-directions in the Tudor drama. It occurs in various forms, such as synnet, sinet, cynet, signate. Hen. VIII, ii. 4; J. Caesar, i. 2; Ant. and Cl. ii. 7; Coriol. ii. 1; 2 Hen. VI, iii. 1. O. Prov. senhet (signet), ‘signe’ (Levy), OF. sinet (Littré). See Notes on Eng. Etym., p. 264.
sensing, ‘incensing’, use of incense. Latimer, Sermon on the Ploughers (ed. Arber, p. 30). ME. censynge, ‘turificacio’ (Prompt.).
sent, perception. Spenser, F. Q. i. 1. 43. The old spelling of scent; so in Cotgrave, ‘Odeur, sent, smell’.
sere, separate, distinct, each in particular. Ascham, Toxophilus (ed. Arber, 107). ME. ser, distinct, each in particular (Ormin, 18653). Icel. sér, orig. dat. of refl. pron. ‘for oneself’, hence as adv. separately.
sere, the claw or talon of a bird or beast of prey. Usually in the pl. seres; Chapman, tr. of Iliad, viii. 212; xii. 213; Odyssey, ii. 238; Revenge of Bussy, iii. 1 (Clermont); Byron’s Tragedy, iii. 1. 16. F. serre, a hawk’s talon (Cotgr.).
sere, the catch in a gun-lock which is released by the trigger. Hamlet, ii. 2. 337 (see note by W. Aldis Wright). It was like a claw. See above.
serene, a chill evening air; ‘Some serene blast me’, B. Jonson, Volpone, iii. 5 (Celia); Epigrams, xxxii (last line). F. serein, ‘the mildew, or harmful dew of some summer evenings’ (Cotgr.). Ital. ‘sereno, the night calm; serenata, music played in a clear evening’ (Florio).
sericon, the name of some chemical substance. B. Jonson, Alchem. ii. 1 (Subtle). See NED.