Etymology dictionary

selfsame (adj.) — senior (adj.)

selfsame (adj.)

also self-same, "identical, the very same," early 15c., from self + same. Written as two words until c. 1600. As a noun, "selfsame person or thing," early 15c., now obsolete. Related: Selfsameness.

self-satisfaction (n.)

"satisfaction with one's own excellence," 1640s; see self- + satisfaction. Related: Self-satisfied (1734); self-satisfying (1670s).

self-seeking (n.)

"a seeking after one's own benefit (before those of others), undue attention to one's self-interest," 1580s, from self + seeking, verbal noun from seek. As an adjective from 1620s.

self-seeker (n.)

"one who seeks his own selfish interest, to the detriment of justice and mercy," 1630s, from self-seeking or else from self- + seeker.

self-serving (adj.)

"serving one's own (selfish) interest over other considerations," 1827, from self- + serving, present-participle adjective from serve (v.).

self-service (adj.)

"in which the customer serves himself instead of being waited on," by 1914, in reference to shoe stores, from self- + service (n.1).

self-starter (n.)

1894, "electrical device for starting an engine;" 1960, of persons (especially workers) who habitually act on their own initiative; see self- + starter. Self-starting (adj.), of motors, is attested from 1866.

self-styled (adj.)

"called by oneself," hence, "pretended, would-be," 1823, from self- + past participle of style (v.).

self-sufficient (adj.)

"able to supply one's own needs, capable of fulfilling one's own desires without aid of others," 1580s, from self- + sufficient. Related: Self-sufficiently. Self-sufficing (1680s) is properly "sufficient for oneself."

self-sufficiency (n.)

"inherent fitness for all ends and purposes and independence of others," 1620s, originally also an attribute of God (translating Greek autakreia); see self + sufficiency. Of mortals, "ability to supply one's own needs," it is implied by 1580s (compare self-sufficient). Sometimes formerly also "an overweening opinion of one's talent or worth" (1690s).

self-supporting (adj.)

"maintaining oneself or itself without extraneous help," 1680s; see self- + past participle of support (v.).

self-sustaining (adj.)

"supporting oneself or itself without extraneous help," 1650s, from self- + present participle of sustain (v.). Related: Self-sustained (1742).

self-taught (adj.)

"self-taught; educated by one's own efforts alone, without regular training," 1725; see self- + taught.

self-willed (adj.)

"obstinate, unmindful of the will or wishes of others," late 15c., from self-wille "obstinate or perverse insistence on one's own desires or opinions" (mid-14c.); see self + will (n.). Old English selfwill, selfwyll meant "free will."

Self-willedness "quality or condition of being self-willed" is from mid-15c., though it is not certain whether "obstinacy" or "self-reliance" is implied.

Middle English also had an adjective self-willy (15c.), and the adverb self-willes is attested from late 12c. as "willingly, voluntarily;" late 14c. as "willfully, stubbornly."

self-worth (n.)

also self worth, "worth inherent in oneself," 1650s, from self + worth (n.).

Selina

fem. proper name, nativized form of French Céline, from Latin caelina "heavenly," from caelum "heaven, sky" (see celestial). The spelling sometimes is influenced by Selene.

Seljuk

Turkish dynastic family of 11c.-13c., c. 1600 (implied in Selzuccian), from Turkish Seljuq, name of the reputed ancestor of the dynasty.

sell (v.)

Middle English sellen, from Old English sellan "to give (something to someone), furnish, supply, lend; surrender, give up; deliver to; promise," from Proto-Germanic *saljanan "offer up, deliver" (source also of Old Norse selja "to hand over, deliver, sell;" Old Frisian sella, Old High German sellen "to give, hand over, sell;" Gothic saljan "to offer a sacrifice"), ultimately from PIE root *sel- (3) "to take, grasp."

Meaning "to give up for money, accept a price or reward for" had emerged by late Old English, but in Chaucer selle still can mean "to give." Students of Old English learn early that the word they encounter that looks like sell usually means "give." An Old English word for "to sell" was bebycgan, from bycgan "to buy."

The meaning "betray for gain" is from c. 1200. Slang meaning "to swindle" is from 1590s. To sell off "dispose of by sale, sell all of" is by 1700. To sell one's soul "make a contract with the devil," often figurative, is from c. 1570. Sell-by in reference to dates stamped on perishable packaged foods is from 1972. To sell like hot cakes is from 1839. To sell (someone) down the river figuratively is by 1927, probably from or with recollection of slavery days, on notion of sale from the Upper South to the cotton plantations of the Deep South (attested in this literal sense since 1851).

sell (n.)

1838, "a hoax or planned deception by which a victim is 'taken in,' " from sell (v.). The sense of "advertising technique" is attested by 1952 in the phrase hard sell.

selling (n.)

"action of selling," early 14c., verbal noun from sell (v.). Selling-point is attested from 1953 as "retail outlet;" by 1959 as "persuasive fact in a sales pitch."

seller (n.)

"merchant, vendor," c. 1200, agent noun from sell (v.). Seller's market, in which demand predominates, is recorded by 1889.

Sellotape (n.)

1949, proprietary name of a popular brand of cellulose or plastic adhesive tape in Great Britain.

sellout (n.)

also sell-out, "corrupt bargain," 1862 (in Mary Chesnut's diary), from the verbal phrase (which from 1796 meant "dispose entirely of one's interests" in a company, etc.); see sell (v.) + out (adv.). Meaning "event for which all tickets have been sold" is attested from 1923. The verbal phrase sell out in the sense of "prostitute one's ideals or talents" is attested from 1888 (selling out).

seltzer

carbonated water, 1741, from German Selterser (Wasser), a kind of mineral water, literally "of Selters," village near Wiesbaden in Hesse-Nassau, where the mineral water is found.

selvage (n.)

also selvege, early 15c., selfegge, "edge of web or cloth so finished as to prevent raveling," apparently literally "its own edge," a corruption of self + edge (n.); on analogy of Middle Flemish selvegge. Compare also Low German sulfegge (which might have influenced the English word); Dutch zelfkant, from kant "border;" Middle High German selbende, German Selbend, literally "self-end."

*sem- (1)

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "one; as one, together with."

It forms all or part of: anomalous; anomaly; assemble; assimilate; ensemble; facsimile; fulsome; hamadryad; haplo-; haploid; hendeca-; hendiadys; henotheism; hetero-; heterodox; heterosexual; homeo-; homeopathy; homeostasis; homily; homo- (1) "same, the same, equal, like;" homogenous; homoiousian; homologous; homonym; homophone; homosexual; hyphen; resemble; same; samizdat; samovar; samsara; sangha; Sanskrit; seem; seemly; semper-; sempiternal; similar; simple; simplex; simplicity; simulacrum; simulate; simulation; simultaneous; single; singlet; singular; some; -some (1); -some (2); verisimilitude.

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit sam "together," samah "even, level, similar, identical;" Avestan hama "similar, the same;" Greek hama "together with, at the same time," homos "one and the same," homios "like, resembling," homalos "even;" Latin similis "like;" Old Irish samail "likeness;" Old Church Slavonic samu "himself."

semantics (n.)

"the study of meaning in language; the science of the relationship between linguistic symbols and their meanings," 1893, from French sémantique (1883); see semantic (also see -ics). In this sense it replaced semasiology (1847), from German Semasiologie (1829), from Greek sēmasia "signification, meaning."

semantic (adj.)

"relating to significance or meaning," 1894, from French sémantique, applied by Michel Bréal (1883) to the psychology of language, from Greek sēmantikos "significant," from sēmainein "to show by sign, signify, point out, indicate by a sign," from sēma "sign, mark, token; omen, portent; constellation; grave" (Doric sama), from PIE root *dheie- "to see, look" (source also of Sanskrit dhyati "he meditates;" see zen).

The word has tended to become loose in application. Semanticize "invest (something) with meaning; analyze semantically" is by 1942.

semaphore (n.)

"mechanical apparatus for signaling to distant points," 1814, from French sémaphore, etymologically, "a bearer of signals," ultimately from Greek sēma "sign, signal" (see semantic) + phoros "bearer," from pherein "to carry" (from PIE root *bher- (1) "to carry"). Related: Semaphoric (1808); semaphorist.

sematic (adj.)

"significant, indicative, serving as a sign or warning" (as of danger), 1855, from Greek sēmat-, combining form of sēma (genitive sematos) "sign" (see semantic) + -ic. Used especially in biology, in reference to "warning" colors, etc. (by 1890).

semblable (adj.)

"resembling, similar, analogous, like," c. 1300, from Old French semblable (12c.), from sembler "to be like" (see semblance). Related: Semblably.

As a noun, by late 14c. as "someone's similar; a similar case, the same thing," by 1570s as "state or fact of being alike or similar."

semblance (n.)

c. 1300, semblaunce, "fact of appearing to view," from Old French semblance "likeness, appearance," from semblant, present participle of sembler "to seem, appear," from Latin simulare "to resemble, imitate," from similis "like, resembling, of the same kind" (see similar).

The meaning "person's appearance, expression, or demeanor" is attested from c. 1400, also "outward appearance, shape, form" (late 14c.), hence, in sense developments perhaps first in Old French, the meanings "mere appearance, show" (early 14c.), and "false, assumed, or deceiving appearance" (1590s). The meaning "person or thing that resembles another" is attested from 1510s. Related: Semblant.

semee (adj.)

"covered with a small, constantly repeating pattern," 1560s, from French semée "strewn, sprinkled," past participle of semer, from Latin seminare "to sow," from semen (genitive seminis) "seed" (from PIE root *sē- "to sow").

seme (n.)

in linguistics, "a sign or symbol; the smallest unit of meaning," 1866, from Greek sēma "sign" (see semantic). Compare -eme, pheme.

Semele

daughter of Cadmus and mother (by Zeus) of Dionysus, via Latin from Greek Semelē, who seems to have been originally a Thraco-Phrygian earth goddess. From Phrygian Zemele "mother of the earth." Phrygian was an Indo-European language of central Anatolia, and the word probably is cognate with Old Church Slavonic zemlja "earth," Latin humus "earth, ground, soil" (from PIE root *dhghem- "earth").

semen (n.)

"thick, whitish fluid containing spermatozoa as its essential ingredient," late 14c., from Latin semen "seed of plants, animals, or men; race, inborn characteristic; posterity, progeny, offspring," figuratively "origin, essence, principle, cause" (from PIE *semen- "seed," suffixed form of root *sē- "to sow").

semester (n.)

1827, "period or term of six months," specifically, a half-year course in a German or other Continental university, from German Semester "half-year course in a university," from Latin semestris, in cursus semestris "course of six months," from semestris, semenstris "of six months, lasting six months, half-yearly, semi-annual," from assimilated form of sex "six" (see six) + mensis "month" (see moon (n.)). The word, and the idea, were picked up in the U.S., where the German higher education system served as a model. Related: Semestral; semestrial (1670s).

semi-

word-forming element of Latin origin meaning "half," also loosely, "part, partly; partial, almost; imperfect; twice," from Latin semi- "half" (before vowels often sem-, sometimes further reduced to se- before m-), from PIE *semi- "half" (source also of Sanskrit sami "half," Greek hēmi- "half," Old English sam-, Gothic sami- "half").

The Old English cognate, sam-, was used in such compounds as samhal "in poor health, weakly," literally "half-whole;" samsoden "half-cooked" ('half-sodden'), figuratively "stupid" (compare half-baked); samcucu "half-dead," etymologically "half-alive" (see quick (adj.)); and the lingering survivor, sandblind "dim-sighted" (q.v.).

The Latin element was common in formations from Late Latin, as in semi-gravis "half-drunk," semi-hora "half hour," semi-mortuus "half-dead," semi-nudus "half-naked," semi-vir "half-man, hermaphrodite."

The Latin-derived form in English has been active in forming native words since 15c. Semi-bousi "half-drunk" ('semi-boozy'), now obsolete, was among the earliest (c. 1400). As a noun, semi has variously been short for semi-detached house (by 1912), semi-trailer (by 1942), semi-final (by 1942).

semi-annual (adj.)

also semiannual, "half-yearly, recurring every half year," 1775, from semi- + annual (adj.). Compare French semi-annuel. Related: Semiannually.

semi-arid (adj.)

also semiarid, "having rather more precipitation than what is arid," 1886, from semi- + arid.

semi-attached (adj.)

"partially or loosely united," by 1860, from semi- + past participle of detach (v.). Compare semi-detached.

semi-automatic (adj.)

"partially automatic," 1853, from semi- + automatic (adj.). In reference to a firearm that loads all or partly by itself (but does not fire continuously) by 1889. As a noun in this sense (short for semi-automatic firearm, etc.) by 1964.

semicircle (n.)

also semi-circle, "the half of a circle," 1520s, from semi- + circle (n.) or else from Latin semicirculus. Also compare semicircular. The meaning "a body or arrangement of objects in a half circle" is by 1590s.

semicircular (adj.)

also semi-circular, "having the form of a half-circle," early 15c., semicirculer, from Medieval Latin semicirculus (see semicircle) + -ar. Related: Semicircularly.

semicolon (n.)

also semi-colon, point used in punctuation, consisting of a dot above a comma, to mark a sentence somewhat more independent than that marked by a comma, 1640s, a hybrid coined from Latin-derived semi- + Greek-based colon (n.1). The mark itself was (and is) in Greek the point of interrogation. The semicolon butterfly (by 1841, American English) is so called for the silver mark on its wings.

semiconductor (n.)

1838, "material whose electrical conductivity is between that of a conductor and that of an insulator," from semi- + conductor. Modern very specific sense is recorded from 1931. Related: Semi-conducting (1782).

semiconscious (adj.)

also semi-conscious, "imperfectly conscious, not fully conscious," 1838; see semi- + conscious. Related: Semiconsciously; semiconsciousness.

semi-demi-

word-forming element meaning "sixty-fourth part," 1660s, a compound of semi- and demi-, both from Latin but unrelated etymologically. The compound prefix came to be used "vaguely in a diminutive sense" [OED]. Also compare demisemiquaver., and, of course, hemidemisemiquaver (1846), which also sometimes appears as semidemisemiquaver (by 1825).

semidemisemiquaver (n.)

see hemidemisemiquaver.

semi-detached (adj.)

"partly united, partly attached," originally in reference to houses joined together by a party-wall but detached from other buildings, 1845, from semi- + past participle of detach (v.).

semidiurnal (adj.)

also semi-diurnal, "pertaining to or accomplished in half a day," 1590s, in astronomy, defining the half day as six hours (half the time between the rising and setting of a body); see semi- + diurnal. By 1794 in reference to tides, "occurring every 12 hours."

semifinal (adj.)

also semi-final, in sports, in reference to the match or round immediately proceeding the final one, 1867, from semi- + final. As a noun from 1868.

semi-monthly (adj.)

also semimonthly, "fortnightly; occurring, issued, etc. twice in each month," 1809, from semi- + monthly.

semination (n.)

1530s, "action of sowing," from Latin seminationem (nominative seminato) "a sowing, propagation," noun of action from past-participle stem of seminare "to plant, propagate, sow, engender," from semen (genitive seminis) "seed" (from PIE root *sē- "to sow").

There also was a verb seminate "to sow, spread, propagate" (1530s), from Latin seminatus, but it seems to have been archaic by c. 1800.

seminal (adj.)

late 14c., "of or pertaining to seed or semen, of the elements of reproduction," from Old French seminal (14c.) and directly from Latin seminalis "of or belonging to seed; good for seed," from semen (genitive seminis) "seed" (from PIE root *sē- "to sow"). Figurative sense ("having the properties of a seed") is attested by 1630s, "rudimentary, primary; full of possibilities." Related: Seminally; seminality.

seminar (n.)

1887, "special group-study class for advanced students pursuing real research," from German Seminar "group of students working with a professor," from Latin seminarium "plant nursery, seed plot," figuratively, "breeding ground," from seminarius "of seed," from semen (genitive seminis) "seed" (from PIE root *sē- "to sow"). Also in early use sometimes seminary. The word, and the thing, picked up in England and America from the German universities. The non-academic sense of "meeting for discussion of a subject" is recorded by 1944, American English.

seminary (n.)

mid-15c., "plot where plants are raised from seeds for transplantation," from Latin seminarium "plant nursery, seed plot," figuratively, "breeding ground," a noun from seminarius "of or pertaining to seed," from semen (genitive seminis) "seed" (from PIE root *sē- "to sow").

The literal sense now is obsolete; the figurative meaning "place of origin and early development" is from 1590s. The meaning "school for training priests" is recorded from 1580s; the word was used generally in names of places of education (especially academies for young ladies) from 1580s to 1930s. Related: Seminarial.

seminarian (n.)

"seminary student," 1580s, from seminary + -ian. Sometimes also "Catholic priest educated in a seminary," though seminarist (1580s) tended to be used for this.

Seminole (n.)

member of a native people, formerly of Florida, allied with the Creeks, 1763, Semiolilies (plural); 1774, Siminole, from Creek (Muskogean) simano:li, earlier simalo:ni "wild, untamed, runaway," from American Spanish cimarron (see maroon (v.)). They fought wars against U.S. troops 1817-18 and 1835-42, after which they largely were removed to Indian Territory (Oklahoma).

semi-official (adj.)

also semiofficial, "partly official; depending partly on official authority or knowledge," 1798, from semi- + official (adj.). Related: Semi-officially.

semiology (n.)

1690s, "sign language, the use of gestures to express thought," a sense now obsolete, from Greek sēmeion "a sign, mark, token," from sēma "sign, mark, token" (see semantic, and compare semiotic) + -ology. As "the branch of medical science concerned with morbid symptoms," 1839; as "logical theory of signs" by 1923. Related: Semiological.

semiotics (n.)

1660s, in medicine, "branch of pathology concerned with the body's symptoms;" from semiotic; also see -ics. The meaning "study or doctrine of signs and symbols with special regard to function and origin" is by 1880.

semiotic (adj.)

1620s, "of symptoms, relating to signs of diseases," from Latinized form of Greek sēmeiōtikos "significant, portending, worth marking," also "observant of signs," adjective form of sēmeiosis "indication," from sēmeioun "to signal, to interpret a sign," from sēmeion "a sign, mark, token," from sēma "sign" (see semantic). Its use in linguistics and psychology, "of or pertaining to the use of signs," is by 1923. Related: Semiotical (1580s).

semi-permeable (adj.)

also semipermeable, 1873, in reference to a membrane, etc., "relatively permeable," from semi- + permeable. Translating German halbdurchlässig.

semiprecious (adj.)

also semi-precious, denoting gems considered less valuable than precious stones, 1818, from semi- + precious (adj.).

semi-professional (adj.)

also semiprofessional, 1824, in reference to one who is paid for an occupation or activity but does not rely on it for sustenance, from semi- + professional (adj.). As a noun from 1843. Related: Semi-professionally.

semiquaver (n.)

in musical notation, "sixteenth-note," 1570s, from semi- + quaver (n.). Hence used figuratively for "a very short time; something of very short duration."

semi-solid (adj.)

also semisolid, "half-solid, very viscous," 1803, from semi- + solid (adj.). As a noun, "a surface composed of facets, like a geometric solid, but not closed," by 1891.

semisweet (adj.)

also semi-sweet, "partially sweetened; somewhat sweet," 1943, from semi- + sweet (adj.).

Semitism (n.)

1848, "characteristic attributes of Semitic languages;" 1851, "characteristic attributes of Semitic people," especially "the ways, life, practices, etc., of Jewish people;" see Semite + -ism. By 1870 in the specialized sense of "Jewish influence in a society." However a Semitist (1885) was "one versed in Semitic languages."

Semite (n.)

1847, "a Jew, Arab, Assyrian, or Aramaean" (an apparently isolated use from 1797 refers to the Semitic language group), back-formation from Semitic or else from French Sémite (1845), from Modern Latin Semita, from Late Latin Sem, Greek Sēm "Shem," one of the three sons of Noah (Genesis x.21-30), regarded as the ancestor of the Semites in Bible-based anthropology, from Hebrew Shem. In this modern sense it is said to have been introduced by German historian August Schlözer in 1781.

Semitic (adj.)

1797, denoting the major language group that includes Hebrew, Arabic, Aramaic, Assyrian, etc., distinguished by triliteral verbal roots and vowel inflection; 1826 as "of or pertaining to Semites," from Medieval Latin Semiticus (source of Spanish semitico, French semitique, German semitisch), from Semita (see Semite).

As a noun, as the name of a linguistic family, from 1813. In non-linguistic use, it is perhaps directly from German semitisch. In recent use often with the specific sense "Jewish," but not historically so delimited.

Semito-

word-forming element meaning "Semitic; Semitic and," from combining form of Semite (q.v.).

semitone (n.)

late 15c., semiton, "a musical interval approximating one-half of a whole tone," what we would call a minor second, the smallest interval in ordinary scales, from Old French semiton and directly from Medieval Latin semitonus; see semi- + tone (n.) in the musical sense. In art, in reference to tints, by 1782. Related: Semitonal (1863); semitonic (1728).

semi-trailer (n.)

also semitrailer, 1910 in reference to motor vehicles (late 19c. in botany), from semi- + trailer. The short form semi is attested by 1942.

semi-weekly (adj.)

also semiweekly, "made, issued, or occurring twice a week," 1791, of newspapers, from semi- + weekly.

semolina (n.)

meal from the large, hard kernels of wheat left after the fine flour has been sifted, 1797, alteration of Italian semolino "grits; paste for soups," diminutive of semola "bran," from Latin simila "the finest flour," probably from the same Semitic source as Greek semidalis "the finest flour" (compare Assyrian samidu, Syrian semida "fine meal").

semper-

word-forming element meaning "always, ever," from Latin semper "always, ever, at all times, continuously" (literally "once for all"), from PIE *semper-, from root *sem- (1) "one; as one, together with" + *per- "during, for."

semper idem

Latin, "always the same;" from semper "always, ever" (see semper-) + idem "the same" (see idem).

sempiternal (adj.)

"eternal and unchanging, perpetual, everlasting, having no end," early 15c., from Old French sempiternel "eternal, everlasting" (13c.) or directly from Medieval Latin sempiternalis, from Latin sempiternus "everlasting, perpetual, continual," from semper "always, ever" (see semper-). Compare aeternus from aevum (for which see eternal). Related: Sempiternally; sempiternity. The earlier Middle English adjective was sempitern (late 14c.) from Old French sempiterne and Latin sempiternus.

*sen-

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "old."

It forms all or part of: monseigneur; seignior; senate; senescent; seneschal; senicide; senile; senility; senior; seniority; senor; senora; senorita; shanachie; Shannon; signor; sir; sire; surly.

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit sanah "old;" Avestan hana- "old," Old Persian hanata- "old age, lapse of time;" Armenian hin "old;" Greek enos "old, of last year;" Latin senilis "of old age," senex "old, old man;" Lithuanian senas "old," senis "an old man;" Gothic sineigs "old" (used only of persons), sinistra "elder, senior;" Old Norse sina "dry standing grass from the previous year;" Old Irish sen, Old Welsh hen "old."

Sens

city in north-central France, Roman Senones, the capital of the Gaulish people of the same name.

senate (n.)

c. 1200, "the legal and administrative body of ancient Rome," from Old French senat or Latin senatus "highest council of the state in ancient Rome," literally "council of elders," from senex (genitive senis) "old man, old" (from PIE root *sen- "old").

It is attested from late 14c. in reference to governing bodies of free cities in Europe (Italy); of national governing bodies from 1550s (typically the upper or less-numerous branch of the legislature). The specific sense of "upper house of the U.S. legislature" is recorded from 1775.

senator (n.)

c. 1200, senatour, "member of a council of citizens invested with a share of the government of a state," specifically in reference to ancient Rome, from Old French senator (Modern French sénateur), from Latin senator "member of the senate," from senex "old; old man" (from PIE root *sen- "old").

Elder (n.) would be the native equivalent. Old English might also express the idea by folcwita. As "member of a (modern) governing body" from late 14c.; specifically in U.S. use from 1788. Fem. form senatress attested from 1731. The Senators was the name of the professional baseball team in Washington, D.C., from 1891 to 1971.

senatorial (adj.)

"of or pertaining to a senate or senators," 1740, from French sénatorial or from Latin senatorius "pertaining to a senator" or formed in English from senator + -al (1). Earlier adjectives were senatory (1520s), senatorian (1610); senatorical (1610s), and the best of the lot, senatorious (1660s). Related: Senatorially.

sended

alternative past tense and past participle of send, attested from late 14c.

send (v.)

Middle English senden, from Old English sendan "dispatch (as a messenger, on an errand); order or cause to go or pass (from one place to another);" also "send forth, emit; throw, propel, cause to be delivered or conveyed."

This is reconstructed to be from Proto-Germanic *sond- "make to go" (source also of Old Saxon sendian, Old Norse senda, Old Frisian senda, Middle Low German and Middle Dutch senden, Dutch zenden, German senden, Gothic sandjan), causative form of *sinþan "to go, journey" (source of Old English sið "way, journey," Old Norse sinn, Gothic sinþs "going, walk, time"). This in turn is from the PIE root *sent- "to head for, go" (source also of Lithuanian siųsti "send"), for which see sense (n.). For the linguistic connection of "go" and "sense," compare German sinnen (past tense sann) "go over in the mind, review, reflect upon."

The meaning cause (someone) to go into some specified state (send to sleep, etc.) is by 1831. The slang sense of "to transport with emotion, delight" is by 1932, in American English jazz slang. To send word "transmit or dispatch a message" (to someone) is from c. 1200. To send for "summon, send a message or messenger for" is by late 14c.

sender (n.)

c. 1200, "one who bestows something;" mid-15c., "person who sends (someone) on a mission;" agent noun from send (v.). In telegraphy, "a transmitter of a message," also the person transmitting it, by 1863. In 1930s slang, a popular musician or song, from the jazz slang sense of the verb. Sendee is recorded from 1806.

send-off (n.)

"a farewell" (especially a funeral), 1872 ("Mark Twain"), from the verbal phrase send off "cause to be sent" (attested by 1660s), from send (v.) + off (adv.). Earlier a send-off was "a start," as on a journey or race (1841), hence "a display of good-will on the occasion of such."

send-up (n.)

"a spoof; action of mocking or teasing," by 1958, slang, from the verbal phrase send up "to mock, make fun of" (1931); see send (v.) + up (adv.). This is perhaps a transferred use of the public school colloquial phrase for "to send a boy to the headmaster" (usually for punishment), which is attested from 1821. In U.S. slang, send up could mean "convict of crime and imprison" (1852), and in 19c. nautical language it meant "hoist (a mast or yard) into its place aloft."

To send down (v.) also was a British university punishment: "compel a student to leave the college for a time" (1853), and in U.S. slang this also meant "put in prison" (1840).

Seneca

1610s, from Dutch Sennecas, collective name for the Iroquois tribes of what became upper New York, of uncertain origin, perhaps from a Mahican name for the Oneida or their village. Earlier sinnekens, senakees; the form of the English word probably was influenced by the name of the ancient Roman philosopher. The name sometimes was used by Americans for all the Iroquois.

Senegal

West African nation, independent from 1960, formerly a French colony, by 1783, named for the river through it, which is named perhaps from a local word meaning "navigable." Related: Senegalese.

senescent (adj.)

"growing old, aging," 1650s, from Latin senescentem (nominative scenescens), present participle of senescere "to grow old," from senex "old" (from PIE root *sen- "old").

Blount's "Glossographia" (1656) also has a verb senesce "to wax old, to grow in age, to begin to decay or wear away," from Latin, and OED has quotes for it from Stevenson, Shaw, and J.D. Salinger.

senescence (n.)

"condition of growing old, process of decaying by time," 1690s; see senescent + -ence. Related: Scenescency (1660s in the same sense).

seneschal (n.)

late 14c. (late 12c. as a surname), seneshal, "steward, majordomo," formerly the principal officer in a royal household in charge of ceremonies and feasts, from Old French seneschal, senechal, title of a high administrative court officer, from Frankish Latin siniscalcus, from Proto-Germanic *sini-skalk "senior servant."

The first element is cognate with Latin senex "old" (from PIE root *sen- "old"), and was somewhat conformed to it in French; the second element from Proto-Germanic *skalkoz "servant" (source also of Gothic skalks, Old High German scalc, Old English scealc "servant." It also is the second element of marshal (q.v.). The territory he administered was a seneschalcie (early 15c.).

senicide (n.)

"killing of the old men," 1889, from stem of Latin senex "old man" (from PIE root *sen- "old") + -cide "a killing."

senility (n.)

"old age, especially the weakness or imbecility due to old age," 1753, from senile + -ity.

senile (adj.)

1660s, "suited to or characteristic of old age," from French sénile (16c.), from Latin senilis "of old age," from senex (genitive senis) "old, old man" (from PIE root *sen- "old"). The meaning "infirm from age; pertaining to or proceeding from the weakness that usually attends old age" is attested by 1882; senile dementia is attested by 1851.

seniority (n.)

mid-15c., seniorite, "priority in office or service," from Medieval Latin senioritas, from Latin senior "older" (from PIE root *sen- "old"). The Old French form was seignorite. Meaning "state or quality of being senior, priority of birth" is from 1530s. The university sense of "senior students collectively" is by 1670s.

senior (n.)

mid-14c., "person of authority;" late 14c., "person who is older than another," from senior (adj.). Sense of "older fellow of a college; fourth-year student" is by 1888, from an earlier general sense of "advanced student" (1610s). The meaning "aged person, one of the older inhabitants" is by 1889.

senior (adj.)

late 13c., "the elder," from Latin senior "older," comparative of senex (genitive senis) "old" (from PIE root *sen- "old"). Its original use in English was as an addition to a personal name indicating "the father" when father and son have the same name (e.g. Walterus Baddyng, seniore in late 13c. Leet rolls of the City of Norwich). The meaning "higher in rank, longer in service" is recorded by 1510s.

The Latin word yielded titles of respect in many languages, such as French sire, Spanish señor, Portuguese senhor, Italian signor. Also compare Herr. Senior citizen "elderly person" (typically one past retirement age) is by 1938, American English.