Etymology dictionary

sector (n.) — selection (n.)

sector (n.)

1560s, in geometry, "a section of a circle between two radii," from Late Latin sector "section of a circle," in classical Latin "a cutter, one who cuts," from sectus, past participle of secare "to cut" (from PIE root *sek- "to cut"). Sector translated Greek tomeus in Latin editions of Archimedes.

By 1715 of any figure having the shape of a sector; the meaning "area, division" (without regard to shape) is by 1920, perhaps generalized from a World War I military sense (1916) of "part of a front," based on a circle centered on a headquarters. The meaning "a branch of an economy" is by 1937. As a verb from 1884, "divide into sectors." Related: Sectored; sectoral; sectorial.

secularize (v.)

1610s, of property, offices, etc., "make secular, convert from ecclesiastical to civil use," from secular + -ize. From 1711 as "to become worldly;" from 1846 in reference to education, social institutions, etc., "divest of religious observances or influences." Related: Secularized; secularizing.

secular (adj.)

c. 1300, seculer, in reference to clergy, "living in the world, not belonging to a religious order," also generally, "belonging to the state" (as opposed to the Church), from Old French seculer, seculare (Modern French séculier) and directly from Late Latin saecularis "worldly, secular, pertaining to a generation or age," in classical Latin "of or belonging to an age, occurring once in an age," from saeculum "age, span of time, lifetime, generation, breed."

This is from Proto-Italic *sai-tlo-, which, according to Watkins, is PIE instrumental element *-tlo- + *sai- "to bind, tie" (see sinew), extended metaphorically to successive human generations as links in the chain of life. De Vaan also connects it with "bind" words and lists as a cognate Welsh hoedl "lifespan, age." An older theory connected it to words for "seed," from PIE root *se- "to sow" (see sow (v.), and compare Gothic mana-seþs "mankind, world," literally "seed of men").

The ancient Roman ludi saeculares was a three-day, day-and-night celebration coming once in an "age" (120 years). Ecclesiastical writers in Latin used it as those in Greek did aiōn "of this world" (see cosmos). It is the source of French siècle "century." The meaning "of or belonging to an age or a long period," especially occurring once in a century, was in English from 1590s.

From mid-14c. in the general sense of "of or belonging to the world, concerned in earthly more than in spiritual, life;" also of literature, music, etc., "not overtly religious." In English, in reference to humanism and the exclusion of belief in God from matters of ethics and morality, from 1850s. Related: Secularly.

secularization (n.)

1690s, "conversion to secular purposes," originally in reference to Church property; see secularize + noun ending -ation. General meaning "state of having become secular" is by 1863.

secularism (n.)

"exclusive attention to the present life and its duties; doctrine that morality should be based on the well-being of man in the present life, without regard to religious belief or a hereafter," 1843, from secular + -ism.

Secularity (late 14c., seculerte ) was used for "civil or temporal power, the business of layman life; quality or condition of being secular" (from Old French secularite and Medieval Latin sæcularitas).

secularist (n.)

1846, "one who theoretically rejects and ignores all forms of religion based on revelation;" see secularism + -ist. More specifically by 1851 as "one who maintains that public education and civil policy should be conducted without the introduction of a religious element."

Earlier as "one of the secular clergy" (1716). Related: Secularistic.

secundine (n.)

"afterbirth, fetal membrane," late 14c., from Old French secondine and directly from Medieval Latin secundina, a variant of Late Latin secundinae (plural), from Latin secundae "the afterbirth," shortened from secundae membranae, literally "the second membranes," from secundus "following, coming next" (see second (adj.)). Related: Secundines, which is the usual form.

secure (adj.)

1530s, "without care or fear, dreading no evil" (a sense now archaic), from Latin securus, of persons, "free from care, quiet, easy," also in a bad sense, "careless, reckless;" of things, "tranquil; free from danger, safe," from *se cura, from se "free from" (see se-) + cura "care" (see cure (n.)).

In early use it often implied "over-confident, too sure." In English, in reference to places, "free from danger, unexposed," by c. 1600. The mechanical meaning "firmly fixed" (of material things) is by 1841, extended from the mental meaning "affording grounds for confidence" (1580s) hence "of such stability, strength, etc. to preclude risk." Of telephones or telephone lines, "not wiretapped," by 1961.

The earlier word, or form of the word, was Middle English siker, from Old English sicor, an earlier borrowing of the same Latin word, and sure (adj.) is a doublet, altered in its passage through Old French. Related: Securely.

security (n.)

early 15c., securite, "state or condition of being safe from danger or harm;" mid-15c., "freedom from care or anxiety" (a sense now archaic), from Old French securite and directly from Latin securitas "freedom from care," from securus "free from care" (see secure (adj.)).

This form replaced the earlier sikerte (early 15c.), which represents an earlier borrowing of the Latin word; earlier in English in the sense of "security" was sikerhede (early 13c.); sikernesse (c. 1200). Sir Thomas Browne uses securement; Francis Bacon and Mrs. Browning have secureness. Surety is a doublet, via French.

The meaning "something which secures, that which makes safe" is from 1580s. The specific legal sense of "something pledged as a guarantee of fulfillment of an obligation" is from mid-15c. (originally a guarantee of good behavior).

The meaning "safety of a state, person, etc." is by 1941. By 1965 Security, with the capital, was generic or shorthand for "security officials; a state's security department or ministry."

The legal sense of "property in bonds" is from mid-15c.; that of "document held by a creditor as evidence of debt or property and proof of right to payment" is from 1680s. Security-check (n.) is by 1945. Phrase security blanket in figurative sense is attested by 1966, in reference to the crib blanket carried by the character Linus in the popular "Peanuts" newspaper comic strip (the blanket, and the strip, from 1956).

secure (v.)

c. 1600, "to make safe, guard from danger," from secure (adj.). Meaning "ensure, make certain, guarantee" is from 1650s; that of "seize and hold" (in reference to persons) is from 1640s; that of "make fast or firm" (of things) is from 1650s. The sense of "get possession of, make oneself master of" is from 1743. Related: Secured; securing.

*sed- (1)

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to sit."

It forms all or part of: assess; assiduous; assiento; assize; banshee; beset; cathedra; cathedral; chair; cosset; dissident; dodecahedron; Eisteddfod; ephedra; ephedrine; ersatz; icosahedron; inset; insidious; nest; niche; nick (n.) "notch, groove, slit;" nidicolous; nidification; nidus; obsess; octahedron; piezo-; piezoelectric; polyhedron; possess; preside; reside; saddle; sanhedrim; seance; seat; sedan; sedate; (adj.) "calm, quiet;" sedative; sedentary; sederunt; sediment; see (n.) "throne of a bishop, archbishop, or pope;" sessile; session; set (v.); sett; settle (n.); settle (v.); siege; sit; sitz-bath; sitzkrieg; size; soil (n.1) "earth, dirt;" Somerset; soot; subside; subsidy; supersede; surcease; tanist; tetrahedron; Upanishad.

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit a-sadat "sat down," sidati "sits," nidah "resting place, nest;" Old Persian hadis "abode;" Greek ezesthai "to sit," hedra "seat, chair, face of a geometric solid;" Latin sedere "to sit; occupy an official seat, preside; sit still, remain; be fixed or settled," nidus "nest;" Old Irish suide "seat, sitting," net "nest;" Welsh sedd "seat," eistedd "sitting," nyth "nest;" Old Church Slavonic sežda, sedeti "to sit," sedlo "saddle," gnezdo "nest;" Lithuanian sėdėti "to sit;" Russian sad "garden," Lithuanian sodinti "to plant;" Gothic sitan, Old English sittan "to sit."

sedative (adj.)

in medicine, "tending to calm or soothe," early 15c. (Chauliac), sedatif, from Old French sedatif and directly from Medieval Latin sedativus "calming, allaying," from sedat-, past participle stem of Latin sedare, causative of sedere "to sit" (from PIE root *sed- (1) "to sit").

The noun derivative meaning "a sedative drug" is attested by 1797, short for sedative salt, etc.; earlier it was used in a figurative or non-medical sense (1785), "whatever soothes or allays."

sedan (n.)

1630s, "a covered chair on poles, serving as a vehicle for one person," a word of uncertain origin, possibly from a southern Italian dialect derivative of Italian sede "chair" (compare Italian seggietta, 1590s; the thing itself was said to have originated in Naples), which is from Latin sedes, a noun related to sedere "to sit" (from PIE root *sed- (1) "to sit").

Since the date of Johnson's conjecture, however, the word has been often derived from the name of the town of Sedan in France, where it was said to have been made or first used, but historical evidence for this connection is lacking and OED frowns on it.

The thing was introduced in England by Sir Sanders Duncombe in 1634 and first called a covered chair. "In Paris the sedan-chair man was usually an Auvergnat, in London an Irishman" ["Encyclopaedia Britannica," 1929].

Meaning "closed automobile seating four or more" is recorded by 1911, American English, in automotive journals. Middle English had sede (n.) "a chair, seat" (early 14c.), from Latin sedes.

sedate (adj.)

"calm, quiet, placid," usually of persons or temperaments, 1660s, from Latin sedatus "composed, moderate, quiet, tranquil," past participle of sedare "to settle, make calm," causative of sedere "to sit" (from PIE root *sed- (1) "to sit"). Related: Sedately; sedateness (1640s).

sedation (n.)

early 15c. (Chauliac), sedacioun, "act or process of alleviation of pain;" 1540s, "act of making calm," from French sédation and directly from Latin sedationem (nominative sedatio) "a quieting, assuaging, a calming," noun of action from past-participle stem of sedare "to settle, make calm," causative of sedere "to sit" (from PIE root *sed- (1) "to sit").

sedate (v.)

"treat with sedatives," by 1945, a verb to go with the noun derivative of sedative (adj.). The word also existed 17c. in English with a sense of "make calm or quiet." Related: Sedated (by 1953 as an adjective, "under the influence of a sedative drug"); sedating.

sedentary (adj.)

1590s, of assemblies, parliaments, etc., "remaining in one place" (contrasted to ambulatory), from French sédentaire (16c.) and directly from Latin sedentarius "sitting, remaining in one place," from sedentem (nominative sedens), present participle of sedere "to sit; occupy an official seat, preside; sit still, remain; be fixed or settled" (from PIE root *sed- (1) "to sit").

Of occupations, etc., "requiring much sitting," by c. 1600. In reference to persons, "accustomed to long sitting," 1660s, hence "inactive, not in the habit of exercise." Related: Sedentariness.

Seder (n.)

home ritual service and ceremonial dinner at the start of Passover, 1865, from Hebrew (Semitic) sedher "order, procedure," related to sedherah "row, rank."

sederunt (n.)

"a sitting, a session" of a deliberative or judicial body, 1620s, Latin, literally "there sat" (the typical opening word in records written in Latin of such proceedings, noting the members present), third person plural past tense of sedere "to sit" (from PIE root *sed- (1) "to sit").

sedge (n.)

"coarse grass-like plant growing in wet places," Middle English segge, from Old English secg "sedge, reed, rush," according to Watkins from Proto-Germanic *sagjaz "plant with a cutting edge" (source also of Low German segge, German Segge), from suffixed form of PIE root *sek- "to cut," on notion of plant with "cutting" leaves.

Compare Old English secg, identical in form but meaning "sword;" and German schwertel-gras "sedge" from schwert "sword," also see the etymological sense of gladiolus). Old Irish seisg, Welsh hesgreed "rush" might represent a similar sense development from the same root. Often spelled seg, segg until the present form triumphed early 1900s. Related: Sedgy (early 14c., seggy).

sediment (n.)

1540s, "matter which settles by gravity to the bottom of water or other liquid," from French sédiment (16c.) and directly from Latin sedimentum "a settling, sinking down, subsidence," from stem of sedere "to settle, sit" (from PIE root *sed- (1) "to sit"). Especially in geology after 1680s.

sedimentation (n.)

"the deposition of sediments," 1845; see sediment + -ation, ending used in forming nouns of action. The uncommon verb sediment is attested only from 1899 and could be a back-formation.

sedimentary (adj.)

1760, "pertaining to or of the nature of dregs or sediment; precipitated by gravitation from a liquid;" see sediment + -ary. Sedimentary rock in geology is that formed by deposition of material previously suspended in water," attested by 1814.

Sedimental (adj.) "pertaining to dregs" is recorded from c. 1600 and might have lived long enough for a *sedimental journey pun but didn't.

sedition (n.)

mid-14c., sedicioun, "rebellion, uprising, revolt, factitious commotion in the state; concerted attempt to overthrow civil authority; violent strife between factions, civil or religious disorder, riot; rebelliousness against authority," from Old French sedicion (14c., Modern French sédition) and directly from Latin seditionem (nominative seditio) "civil disorder, dissension, strife; rebellion, mutiny," literally "a going apart, separation." This is from sed- "without, apart, aside" (see se-) + itio "a going," from ire "to go" (from PIE root *ei- "to go").

The meaning "conduct or language inciting to rebellion against a lawful government" is attested by 1838. Less serious than treason, as wanting an overt act.

Latin seditio was glossed in Old English by unsib, folcslite.

seditious (adj.)

mid-15c., sedicious, "tending to incite treason, given to or guilty of sedition," from Old French sedicios (Modern French séditieux) and directly from Latin seditiosus "full of discord, factious, mutinous," from seditio "civil disorder, rebellion, mutiny" (see sedition). Related: Seditiously; seditiousness. As a noun, seditionary is attested from c. 1600.

seducer (n.)

1540s, "one who seduces, one who entices (another) to wrongdoing," agent noun from seduce (v.). Seducee is attested from c. 1600. Caxton's agent noun seductor (late 15c.) is obsolete.

seduce (v.)

1520s, "to persuade a vassal, etc., to desert his allegiance or service," from Latin seducere "lead away, lead aside or astray," from se- "aside, away" (see se-) + ducere "to lead" (from PIE root *deuk- "to lead"). The sexual sense, now the prevailing one, is attested from 1550s (it apparently was not in Latin), originally specifically "entice (a woman) to a surrender of chastity." Related: Seduced; seducing.

Caxton used seduisen (late 15c.), from Old French suduire "to corrupt, seduce" (Modern French séduire "seduce"), from Latin subducere "draw away, withdraw, remove" (see subduce).

seduction (n.)

1520s, "act of seducing (someone) to error; enticement, especially to evil," from French séduction, from Latin seductionem (nominative seductio), noun of action from past-participle stem of seducere "lead away, lead aside or astray" (see seduce).

Originally with reference to conduct or beliefs; the sexual sense of "act of persuading to surrender one's chastity" is by 1769, at first always with women as the objects. Alternative noun seducement is attested from 1580s. The earlier appearance of seduction in Middle English (seducioun, late 14c.) with a sense of "treason, treachery" probably is a confusion with sedition, which confusion also is found in Old French seducion "treason, betrayal."

seductive (adj.)

"tending to lead aside or astray; alluring, enticing," 1709, from Latin seduct-, past-participle stem of seducere "lead away, lead aside or astray" (see seduce) + -ive. Related: Seductively; seductiveness. Middle English had seducious "deceitful, devious" (mid-15c.).

seductible (adj.)

"capable of being seduced," 1620s, from seduct-, past-participle stem of Latin seducere (see seduce) + -ible. Related: Seductibly; seductibility. Seduceable was used in this sense from 1610s.

seductress (n.)

1803, "female seducer, woman who leads a man astray," with -ess + obsolete seductor (late 15c., displaced by seducer), from a direct borrowing of the Latin agent noun of seducere "lead away, lead aside or astray" (see seduce). Latin seductrix is glossed in Old English by biswica.

sedulity (n.)

"diligent and assiduous application, constant attention," 1540s, from Latin sedulitas "assiduity, application," noun of quality from sedulus "attentive, diligent, busy" (see sedulous).

sedulous (adj.)

"diligent in application or pursuit of an object," 1530s, from Latin sedulus "attentive, painstaking, diligent, busy, zealous," probably from sedulo (adv.) "sincerely, diligently," from sedolo "without deception or guile," from se- "without, apart" (see se-) + dolo, ablative of dolus "deception, guile, unlawful intention," which is cognate with Greek dolos "ruse, snare." Perhaps the Latin qword is the Greek one borrowed, or both are from a common source. Related: Sedulously; sedulousness.

sedum (n.)

mid-15c. as the name of a type of plant, from Latin sedum "houseleek." As a genus name, late 18c.

see (v.)

Middle English sēn, from Old English seon (Anglian sean) "be or become aware of by means of the eye; look, behold;" also "perceive mentally, understand; experience; visit (a place); inspect" (contracted class V strong verb; past tense seah, past participle sewen), from Proto-Germanic *sehwanan (source also of Old Saxon, Old High German sehan, Middle High German, German sehen, Old Frisian sia, Middle Dutch sien, Old Norse sja, Gothic saihwan).

This is reconstructed to be from PIE root *sekw- (2) "to see." That PIE root often was said to be probably identical with *sekw- (1) "to follow," which produced words for "say" in Greek and Latin, and also words for "follow" (such as Latin sequor), but "opinions differ in regard to the semantic starting-point and sequences" [Buck]. Thus see might mean, etymologically, "follow with the eyes" (and in some languages extending to "speak, say, tell"). But OED finds this "involves a hypothetical sense-development which it is not easy to accept with confidence," and Boutkan also doubts the connection and gives the word "No certain PIE etymology."

It is attested by late Old English as "be able to see with the eyes, have the faculty of sight, not be blind."

English see has been used in many of these senses since early Middle English: "foresee; behold in the imagination or in a dream," also "to recognize the force of (a demonstration)," all c. 1200.

It is attested by c. 1300 as "ensure, make sure" (something is so, someone does something). To see to is by late 14c. as "be attentive to, take special care about" (also "to look at"); hence "attend to, arrange for, bring about as a result." See to it "take special care; see that it be done" is from late 15c.

The sense of "escort" (as in see you home) is attested c. 1600 in Shakespeare. The meaning "to receive as a visitor" is attested from c. 1500. The wagering sense of "equal a bet, accept by staking a similar sum" is by 1590s. Used in phrases expressing comparative and superlative (best I've ever seen) from early 14c.

Imperative use of see! "look! behold!" is by early 14c. Emphatic expression see here is attested from early 15c.; probably the notion is "see, here is ...;" but the modern use of it as "a brusque form of address used to preface an order," etc. [OED] is by 1897 in schoolboy talk. The qualifying expression as far as I can see is attested from 1560s.

Let me see as a statement expressing consideration when the speaker is trying to recall something is recorded from 1510s. See you as a casual farewell is attested by 1891 (see you soon; probably short for hope to see you soon). To see something in (someone, etc.) "perceive good or attractive qualities in" is by 1832.

seeing (adj.)

"perceiving with the eyes or mind, looking, beholding," c. 1300, present-participle adjective from see (v.). Seeing Eye dog is attested by 1929, American English, trademarked by Seeing Eye Inc. of New Jersey.

seeing (n.)

"action or fact of perceiving with the eyes or mind," verbal noun from see (v.). Expression seeing is believing is attested by 1660s.

seeing (conj.)

"because, inasmuch as, since," used as such from early 16c., originally the present-participle of see (v.).

see (n.)

c. 1300, "throne of a bishop, archbishop, or pope," also "throne of a monarch, a goddess, the Antichrist, etc.," from Old French sie "seat, throne; town, capital; episcopal see," from Latin sedem (nominative sedes) "seat, throne, abode, temple," related to sedere "to sit" (from PIE root *sed- (1) "to sit").

Attested by early 14c. as "administrative center of a bishopric;" c. 1400 as "province under the jurisdiction of a bishop." In Middle English also sometimes simply "place to sit, a chair" (late 14c.).

seed (n.)

Middle English sēd, from Old English sēd (Anglian), sæd (West Saxon), "that which may be sown; an individual grain of seed," from Proto-Germanic *sediz "seed" (source also of Old Norse sað, Old Saxon sad, Old Frisian sed, Middle Dutch saet, Old High German sat, German Saat). This is reconstructed to be from PIE *se-ti- "sowing," from root *sē- "to sow."

Figurative sense of "offspring, progeny, posterity," now rare or archaic except in biblical use, was in Old English; the figurative meaning "that from which anything springs, latent beginning" is by late Old English. From late 14c. as "act or time of sowing." The meaning "semen, male fecundating fluid," also now archaic or biblical, is from c. 1300. For the sporting sense (by 1924), see seed (v.).

seeding (n.)

c. 1300, sēdinge, "the production of seed;" 1540s, "the sowing of or with seed," verbal noun from seed (v.).

seeded (adj.)

1590s, "sown with seed," past-participle adjective from seed (v.). Also "bearing seed," hence "matured, fully grown" c. 1600. Of fruits, "having the seeds removed," by 1921. By 1922 in the sports sense (originally tennis).

seed (v.)

late 14c., sēden, "to flower, flourish; produce seed;" mid-15c., "to sow (the ground) with seed," from seed (n.).

The meaning "remove the seeds from" is by 1904. Sporting (originally tennis) sense is by 1898, from the notion of "spreading" certain players' names so as to ensure they will not meet early in a tournament. The noun in this sense is attested by 1924.

Related: Seeded; seeding. Late Old English had sædian, sedian.

seed-bed (n.)

"piece of ground prepared for receiving seed," 1650s, from seed (n.) + bed (n.) "garden plot." Figurative use is by 1826.

seed-cake (n.)

"sweet cake containing aromatic seeds," originally and typically caraway seeds, 1570s, from seed (n.) + cake (n.).

seed-corn (n.)

"corn or grain set aside for seed for new crops," 1590s, from seed (n.) + corn (n.1).

seeder (n.)

"one who sows seeds," Old English sædere; see seed (n.). By 1868 as a mechanical contrivance.

seedy (adj.)

mid-15c., sēdi, "fruitful, abundant" (Of bounteuousnesse þat hous was ful sedy), from seed (n.) + -y (2). From 1570s as "abounding in seeds."

The modern meaning "shabby, no longer fresh or new" is attested by 1725, slang, originally especially "poor, out of money;" probably in reference to the appearance of a flowering plant that has run to seed. Compare the figurative expressions go to seed (by 1817), etc., originally in reference to plants, "cease flowering as seeds develop." Related: Seediness.

seedling (n.)

"young plant reared from seed" (as opposed to a grafted shoot, etc.), 1650s, from seed (n.) + diminutive suffix -ling.

seek (v.)

Middle English sēchen "go in search or quest of; strive for, try to attain," from Old English secan, seocan "search for; pursue, chase; long for, wish for, desire; look for, expect from," influenced by Old Norse soekja, both from Proto-Germanic *sokjanan (source also of Old Saxon sokian, Old Frisian seka, Middle Dutch soekan, Old High German suohhan, German suchen, Gothic sokjan).

This is reconstructed to be from PIE *sag-yo-, from root *sag- "to track down, seek out" (source also of Latin sagire "to perceive quickly or keenly," sagus "presaging, predicting," Old Irish saigim "seek"). The natural modern form of the Anglo-Saxon word, had it not been influenced by Norse, is in beseech. Related: Sought; seeking.

By late Old English as "ask a question." Seek-sorrow (1580s) was an old term for "a self-tormentor, one who contrives to vex himself." Seek-no-further (or farther) as the name of a type of eating apple is by 1660s.

seeker (n.)

c. 1300, secher (late 13c. as a surname), "one who searches, investigator," agent noun from seek. The religious sect of the Seekers is attested from 1645; they professed no set religion but said they went in search of a true ministry.

seeming (n.)

"act or fact of appearing to be," late 14c., verbal noun from seem (v.).

seem (v.)

c. 1200, impersonal, hit semeth (it seems), "it appears (that something is so);" also with adjectives or phrases, "to appear to be (in some condition), have or present an appearance of being," from Old Norse soema "to honor; to put up with; to conform to (the world, etc.)," a verb derived from the adjective soemr "fitting."

This is reconstructed to be from Proto-Germanic *somiz (source also of Old English som "agreement, reconciliation," seman "to conciliate," source of Middle English semen "to settle a dispute," literally "to make one;" Old Danish söme "to be proper or seemly"), from PIE *somi-, suffixed form of root *sem- (1) "one; as one, together with" (also compare same).

With other verbs (seem to be, etc.) from c. 1200. Sense of "appear to oneself, think oneself" is from 1630s. Also in Middle English "to present oneself, appear; be visible, be apparent" (late 14c.), hence, of a fact, etc., "be evident, apparent, or obvious." The sense of "be fitting or appropriate, be expedient" (c. 1300) is the etymological one, but it is obsolete except in derived seemly, unseemly. Related: Seemed; seeming.

seeming (adj.)

"that appears to be (real, proper, etc.), apparent to the senses or mind, having a semblance or appearance of being real," mid-14c., present-participle adjective from seem Also "suitable, becoming" (mid-14c.); "worthy of respect, honorable" (late 14c.), but these are obsolete. As a noun, "act of appearing," late 14c. Seemingly (adv.) in the sense of "to all appearances" is recorded from 1590s; earlier it meant "fittingly, properly (early 15c.), "in the correct or pleasing manner" (c. 1200).

seemly (adj.)

c. 1200, semeli, semlich, of persons, "of pleasing or good appearance, handsome, fair," also, of conduct, "proper, tasteful, decorous; good for a purpose," and generally, "pleasant, suitable, fitting," probably from Old Norse soemiligr "becoming, honorable," from soemr "fitting" (see seem).

The notion is "suited to the object, occasion, purpose, or character." From late 14c. as "worthy of respect, honorable." Related: Seemliness. A document from 1440 has seemlity. Old Norse had also soemleitr "fine to look at."

seen

Middle English sein, "visible, able to be seen with the eyes; plain, clear, manifest," from Old English gesegen, gesewen, past participle of seon (see see (v.)). From c. 1200 as "perceived, discovered." From c. 1300 as "experienced, undergone." To have seen everything as a hyperbolic expression of astonishment is from 1941 (the phrase itself is older, in "Gatsby," etc.).

The saw or vulgar maxim about children being best seen and not heard (by 1816) was previously of maids specifically (mid-15c.).

seep (v.)

"ooze or percolate gently through pores," 1790, a variant of sipe (c. 1500), which is perhaps ultimately from Old English sipian "to seep," from Proto-Germanic *sip- (source also of Middle High German sifen, Dutch sijpelen "to ooze"), from PIE root *seib- "to pour out, drip, trickle" (see soap (n.)). Related: Seeped; seeping.

seepage (n.)

"percolation, oozing fluid or moisture," 1825, from seep + -age.

seer (n.)

late 14c., "one to whom divine revelations are made, prophet, person who sees or foretells future events," agent noun from see (v.). Originally rendering Latin videns, Greek bleptor (rendering Hebrew roeh) in Bible translations (such as I Kings ix.9). The rare literal sense of "one who sees or can see, a beholder, witness, watcher" is attested from early 15c.

seersucker (n.)

thin linen fabric, originally imported from the East, 1722, from Hindi sirsakar, said to be an East Indian corruption of Persian shir o shakkar "striped cloth," literally "milk and sugar," a reference to the alternately smooth and puckered surfaces of the stripes. This would be from Persian shir (cognate with Sanskrit ksiram "milk") + shakar (cognate with Pali sakkhara, Sanskrit sarkara "gravel, grit, sugar;" see sugar (n.)).

see-saw (n.)

also seesaw, 1630s, in see-saw-sacke a downe (like a Sawyer), words in a rhythmic jingle used by children and repetitive-motion workers, probably imitative of the rhythmic back-and-forth motion of sawyers working a two-man pit saw (see saw (n.1). Ha ha.).

In reference to a children's sport of going alternately up and down on a plank balanced on some support, it is recorded from 1704; the figurative sense of this is from 1714. Applied from 1824 to the plank arranged and adjusted for the game. Also compare teeter-totter under teeter (v.).

see-saw (v.)

also seesaw, "move up and down," 1712, from see-saw (n.). Related: See-sawed; see-sawing.

seethe (v.)

Middle English sethen, from Old English seoþan "to boil, be heated to the boiling point, prepare (food) by boiling," also figurative, "be troubled in mind, brood" (class II strong verb; past tense seaþ, past participle soden), from Proto-Germanic *seuthan (source also of Old Norse sjoða, Old Frisian siatha, Dutch zieden, Old High German siodan, German sieden "to seethe"), from PIE root *seut- "to seethe, boil."

Driven out of its literal meaning by boil (v.); it survives largely in metaphoric extensions. Of a liquid, "to rise, surge, or foam" without reference to heat, from 1530s. Figurative use, of persons or populations, "to be in a state of inward agitation" is recorded from 1580s (implied in seething). It had transitive figurative uses in Old English, such as "to try by fire, to afflict with cares, be tossed about as in turbulent water." Now conjugated as a weak verb, its old past participle sodden (q.v.) is no longer felt as connected.

seether (n.)

late 14c. (mid-13c. as a surname), "one employed in boiling, cook who specializes in boiling," agent noun from seethe.

see-through (adj.)

1950, from the verbal phrase, "see things on the other side of" (c. 1400); see see (v.) + through (adv.). The verbal phrase see through often is figurative, "perceive the real character of, detect imposture." To see (something) through "continue with until the end" is by 1828 (to see (something) out in the same sense is from 1782).

*segh-

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to hold."

It forms all or part of: Antioch; asseverate; asthenia; asthenosphere; cachectic; cachexia; calisthenics; cathexis; entelechy; eunuch; epoch; hectic; Hector; ischemia; myasthenia; neurasthenia; Ophiuchus; persevere; schema; schematic; scheme; scholar; scholastic; school (n.1) "place of instruction;" severe; severity; Siegfried.

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit sahate "he masters, overcomes," sahah "power, victory;" Avestan hazah "power, victory;" Greek skhema "figure, appearance, the nature of a thing," related to skhein "to get," ekhein "to have, hold; be in a given state or condition;" Gothic sigis, Old High German sigu, Old Norse sigr, Old English sige "victory."

segment (n.)

1560s, in geometry, "plane figure contained by a right angle and a part of a circumference of a circle," from Latin segmentum "a strip or piece cut off, a cutting, strips of colored cloth," from secare "to cut" (from PIE root *sek- "to cut"), with euphonious alteration of -c- to -g- before -m-.

Latin segmentum was used in Medieval Latin as a geometry term, translating Greek tmema. The meaning "segmental portion of anything circular" is from 1640s; the general sense of "a division, section, part cut off or marked as separate from others" is from 1762.

segment (v.)

1859 (implied in segmented), "divide or become divided into segments," in reference to cell division, from segment (n.). Transitive sense, "divide (something) into segments" is from 1872. Related: Segmenting.

segmentation (n.)

1650s, in Blount, "a cutting in small pieces," a sense now obsolete. In modern use, "act of dividing or state of being divided in segments," by 1851 in reference to cells, from segment (v.) + -ation.

segmental (adj.)

1749, "of or pertaining to segments;" 1787, "having the form of a segment;" see segment (n.) + -al (1). Segmentary in the same sense is attested from 1831. Related: Segmentally.

segregate (v.)

1540s, "separate (someone or something) from a generally body or class of things," from Latin segregatus, past participle of segregare "set apart, lay aside; isolate; divide," literally "separate from the flock," from *se gregare, from se "apart from" (see se-) + grege, ablative of grex "herd, flock" (from PIE root *ger- "to gather").

Originally often with reference to the religious notion of separating the flock of the godly from the sinners, later scientifically in reference to classifications. In modern social context, "to force or enforce racial separation and exclusion," by 1898. Intransitive sense of "separate, go apart" is by 1863. Related: Segregated; segregating.

segregation (n.)

1550s, "act of separating" (a sense now obsolete); 1610s, "act or action of segregating, separation from others," from Late Latin segregationem (nominative segregatio), noun of action from past-participle stem of segregare (see segregate). Meaning "state or condition of being segregated" is from 1660s. Specific U.S. sense of "enforced separation of races" is attested from 1883.

segregative (adj.)

"having the power or tendency of separating," 1580s, from Medieval Latin segregativus, from Latin segregare "set apart, lay aside; isolate; divide" (see segregate (v.)).

segregationist (n.)

"adherent or advocate of racial segregation," 1915, from segregation + -ist.

segue (n.)

1740, an instruction in musical scores, from Italian segue, "now follows," a direction to play into the following movement without a break; third person singular of seguire "to follow," from Latin sequi "to follow" (from PIE root *sekw- (1) "to follow").

The extended noun sense of "transition without a break" is from 1937; the verb in this sense is recorded by 1958.

Segway

trademark name (Segway Inc., Bedford, New Hampshire, U.S.), in use from 2001; according to the company, chosen for similarity to segue (q.v.) on notion of "a smooth transition from one place to another," with probable influence of way (n.).

seigneur (n.)

in French history, "feudal landowner," 1590s, from French seigneur, from Old French seignor (see seignior). Related: Seigneuress; seigneurial.

seignior (n.)

c. 1300, seignour, "a ruler, king," also a respectful term of address to a person of rank, from Old French seignior, signieur (11c., Anglo-French seinur, Modern French seigneur), from Latin seniorem (nominative senior) "older" (from PIE root *sen- "old"). From late 12c. as a surname. As a general title for a Frenchman it dates from 1580s and probably is a re-introduction. Related: Seigniorial; seignioral.

seigniorage (n.)

also seignorage, "something claimed by a sovereign or superior as a prerpgative," mid-15c., from Old French seignorage, from seignor (see seignior). In the sense of "lordship, power, control, authority" English had seigniory (Middle English seignorie, c. 1300, from Old French).

seine (n.)

"drag-net, kind of net used in fishing," Middle English seine, from Old English segne "drag-net," from West Germanic *sagina (source also of Old Saxon and Old High German segina), a borrowing of Latin sagena (source also of French seine, Old French saine, 12c., which contributed to the form of the English word), from Greek sagēnē "a fishing net," also "a hunting net," a word of unknown origin.

seisin (n.)

also seizin, c. 1300, saisine, "possession as freehold, possession of land under rightful title," from Old French seisine, from saisir, seisir "sieze" (see seize (v.)). Originally it referred to the completion of the ceremony of feudal investiture (by which the tenant was admitted into his freehold). Extended sense of "ownership, possession" is from mid-14c.

seismic (adj.)

1852, "pertaining to or of the nature of an earthquake," from seismo- + -ic. Alternative seismal is by 1853. Related: Seismical; seismically; seismicity.

seismo-

before vowels seism-, word-forming element meaning "earthquake," from Greek seismos "a shaking, shock; an earthquake," also "an extortion" (compare colloquial shake (someone) down), from seiein "to shake, agitate, sway; to quake, shiver" from PIE root *twei- "to agitate, shake, toss; excite; sparkle" (source also of Sanskrit tvesati "to excite; to be excited, inflame, sparkle" and words in Avestan for "fears" and "fright, danger").

seismogram (n.)

"record made by a seismograph or seismometer," 1888, from seismo- + -gram.

seismograph (n.)

"instrument for measuring the motions of an earthquake," 1858, from seismo- + -graph. Based on Italian sismografo, coined and invented by Luigi Palmieri (1807-1896), director of meteorological observation on Mount Vesuvius. Related: Seismographic; seismographer; seismography (1865).

seismology (n.)

"branch of science which studies earthquakes and their causes and effects," 1852, from seismo- + -logy. Related: Seismological (1850).

seismologist (n.)

"scientific investigator or student of earthquake phenomena," 1859, from seismology + -ist.

seismometer (n.)

"instrument for measuring the intensity and motion of earthquakes," 1840, earlier in German (1835); see seismo- + -meter. Originally different from a seismograph but now practically the same thing. Related: Seismometric; seismometry.

seize (v.)

mid-13c., seisen, "take possession, take possession of" (land, goods, etc.) by force or authority, from Old French seisir "to take possession of, take by force; put in possession of, bestow upon" (Modern French saisir), from Late Latin sacire (8c.), which generally is held to be from Germanic, but the exact source is uncertain. Perhaps from Frankish *sakjan "lay claim to" (compare Gothic sokjan, Old English secan "to seek;" see seek). Or perhaps from Proto-Germanic *satjan "to place" (see set (v.)).

Originally a legal term in reference to feudal property holdings or offices. Meaning "to grip with the hands or teeth" is from c. 1300; that of "to take possession by force or capture" (of a city, etc.) is from mid-14c. Figurative use, with reference to death, disease, fear, etc., "to come upon with a sudden attack," is from late 14c. Meaning "to grasp with the mind" is attested from 1855.

Of engines or other mechanisms, intransitive, "to stick, jam, lock fast," attested by 1878. Related: Seized; seizing.

seizer (n.)

late 15c., "person who lawfully confiscates property," agent noun from seize (v.). Earlier "the teeth of a dog" (early 15c.).

seizure (n.)

late 15c., "act or action of taking hold or possession, legally or by force," from seize + -ure. Earlier in this sense was the verbal noun seizing (seising early 14c.). The meaning "sudden attack or onset" of an illness, etc., is attested from 1779.

Sejm (n.)

congress of the Polish republic, 1893 (with an isolated reference from 1690s), from Polish sejm "assembly," from *syn-imu, literally "a taking together," from *syn- "together" (see syn-) + PIE root *em- "to take."

*sek-

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to cut." It forms all or part of: bisect; dissect; hacksaw; insect; intersect; resect; saw (n.1) "cutting tool;" Saxon; scythe; secant; secateurs; sect; section; sector; sedge; segment; skin; skinflint; skinny; transect.

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Hittite shakk- "to know, pay attention to;" Latin secare "to cut," sectio "a cutting, cutting off, division;" Old Church Slavonic seko, sešti "to cut," sečivo "ax, hatchet," Russian seč' "to cut to pieces;" Lithuanian įsėkti "to engrave, carve;" Albanian šate "mattock;" Old Saxon segasna, Old English sigðe "scythe;" Old English secg "sword," seax "knife, short sword;" Old Irish doescim "I cut."

*sekw- (1)

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to follow."

It forms all or part of: associate; association; consequence; consequent; dissociate; ensue; execute; extrinsic; intrinsic; obsequious; persecute; persecution; prosecute; pursue; second (adj.) "next after first;" second (n.) "one-sixtieth of a minute;" sect; secundine; segue; sequacious; sequel; sequence; sequester; sociable; social; society; socio-; subsequent; sue; suit; suite; suitor; tocsin.

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit sacate "accompanies, follows;" Avestan hacaiti, Greek hepesthai "to follow;" Latin sequi "to follow, come after," secundus "second, the following;" Lithuanian seku, sekti "to follow;" Old Irish sechim "I follow."

selachian (n.)

"cartilaginous fish resembling or related to a shark of the genus selachii," 1831; the genus was name from a Latinized form of Greek selakhos (plural selakhē) "cartilaginous fish," which is of uncertain origin.

selah

1520s, a transliterated Hebrew word occurring frequently at the end of verse in Psalter. Supposed to be a liturgical direction, perhaps meaning "pause," or perhaps a musical direction to raise the voice (compare Hebrew base s-l-l "to raise, lift").

seldom (adv.)

"rarely, not often, infrequently," late Old English and early Middle English seldum, an alteration of seldan "infrequently, rarely," from Proto-Germanic *selda- "strange, rare" (source also of Old Norse sjaldan, Old Frisian selden, Dutch zelden, Old High German seltan, German selten), a word of uncertain etymology. Perhaps ultimately from the base of self (q.v.).

The form shifted apparently on analogy of adverbial dative plurals in -um (as in whilom "at one time," from Old English hwilum, from the source of while). The same development also created litlum from little, miclum from mickle. Also compare random, ransom. The forms in -n decreased from 14c. and faded out in 16c.

Old English seldan had comparative seldor, superlative seldost; in early Middle English, as seldan changed form and lost its connection with these, selde was back-formed as a positive. Shakespeare uses seld-shown "rarely exhibited." Some compounds using the old form survived through Middle English, such as selcouth "rarely or little-known, unusual, strange, wonderful," from Old English selcuð, seld-cuð, from seldan + cuð (see couth).

German seltsam "strange, odd," Dutch zeldzaam are cognates of seldom, but with the second element conformed to their cognates of -some. Related: Seldomness.

Seldom-times "rarely, hardly ever" is from mid-15c. (earlier was seld-when, Old English seldhwanne "rarely," which lasted until 16c.). Seldom-seen "rarely encountered" is from mid-15c.; older was seld-seen (Middle English seld-sen, from Old English seldsiene), which lasted long enough to appear in Marlowe (seildsene, 1590s).

select (adj.)

1560s, "chosen on account of special excellence or fitness," from Latin selectus, past participle of seligere "choose out, single out, select; separate, cull," from se- "apart" (see se-) + legere "to gather, select" (from PIE root *leg- (1) "to collect, gather").

"Carefully picked," hence "choice, of special excellence" (by 1580s). Related: Selectly; selectness. The noun meaning "a selected person or thing, that which is choice" is recorded from c. 1600.

selective (adj.)

"of, pertaining to, or characterized by selection;" hence "using that which is choice," 1620s; see select (adj.) + -ive. Related: Selectively; selectivity; selectiveness. Selective service as a military drafting system is from 1917, American English; hence selectee "person chosen for military duty" (by 1940).

select (v.)

"to single out one or more from a number of things of the same kind, choose in preference to another or others," 1560s, from select (adj.) or from Latin selectus. Related: Selected; selecting.

selection (n.)

1620s, "act of selecting, action of choosing, fact of being selected or chosen," from Latin selectionem (nominative selectio) "a choosing out, choice, selection," noun of action from past-participle stem of seligere "choose out, single out, select; separate, cull" (see select (adj.)).

The meaning "thing selected, a number of things chosen, a particular choice" is from 1805. The biological sense of "separation of those forms of life which are to survive and reproduce from those which are not" is by 1837 in reference to systematic breeding of plants and animals by humans (methodical selection), hence its extended use by Darwin (1857) in reference to the results of the impersonal agency of nature and time (natural selection). French sélection is a 19c. borrowing from English.