Sedum 
five ovaries, the latter containing numerous ovules and 
ripening into separate follicles. There are about 150 spe- 
cies, natives of nortli temperate and frigid regions, rare 
in America, where one occurs in Peru, and in the United 
States 16 or more, chiefly in the mountains, with 3 others 
naturalized in the east. They are usually smooth herbs, 
either erect or decumbent, often tufted or moss-like, and 
remarkable for their fleshy stems and leaves. The latter 
are of very varied shapes, usually entire or but slightly 
toothed, and either opposite, alternate, or whorled. The 
flowers are borne in cymes, usually white, yellow, or pink, 
sometimes purplish or blue. Many species are common 
in dry, barren, or rocky places where little else will grow. 
The 10 British species and some of the American are known 
as stonecrop. Many others, known in cultivation by the 
generic name, and favorites for ornamenting rockwork, 
tilling vases, and covering walls, are valued for the perma- 
nence of their foliage, which resists drought. Several with 
stiff rosettes of thick leaves are used for bedding out in 
summer, or employed for decorative borders and to form 
permanent designs, mottos, and lettering. Many similar 
Mexican plants so used, and commonly confused with 
these, belong to the subgenus Echeveria of the related ge- 
nus Cotyledon, and are distinguished by their united flve- 
furrowed corolla- tube. A similar habit occurs in the related 
genus Sempervivum. Several other species are in culti- 
vation for their pink, purple, or scarlet flowers, and others 
for their variegated leaves mottled with white or yellow. 
A few are dioecious, and have flat, thinner leaves, form- 
ing the subgenus Rhodiola, the rhodia of medieval shops. 
(See roseroot and heal-all.) Many species are remark- 
able for persistence of life, cut stems growing and even 
flowering when fastened on a wall, deriving nourish- 
ment from reserves in their lower leaves and succulent 
stem, especially S. Tdephiwm (for which see orpine, 2), 
also called liae-for-ever and livelong, and known as Aa- 
ron's-rod because sometimes growing when pressed and 
apparently dried, and as midsummer-men because former- 
ly used for divination on midsummer' eve by setting up 
two stems to see if the one representing the lover will 
turn to the other. S. acre, the English wall-pepper, bird's- 
bread, creeping-jack, or pricket, an emetic and cathartic, 
is often cultivated in America as moss, golden-moss, or 
love-entangle, and S. Sieboldii, a Japanese species valued 
for its grayish-green whorled leaves, as constancy; S. ru- 
pestreis known in England as jealousy; and for S. Ana- 
campseros, see herb of friendship, under herb. S. album, 
formerly esteemed in medicine and eaten cooked or as a 
salad, is known as worm-grass and prickmadam. S. pul- 
chellum of the southern United States is sometimes culti- 
vated under the name of widow's-cross. S. ternatum, the 
wild stonecrop of rocky places in Pennsylvania and south- 
ward, with white flowers and rounded ornamental leaves 
in threes, is also often cultivated. S. telephioides, from 
the Potomac southward, and the roseroot, in the Rocky 
Mountains and arctic America, are conspicuous on ac- 
count of their growth in multitudes on high ledges of 
dry mountain-cliffs. 
2. [/. c.] A plant of the genus Sedum : extend- 
ed by very early writers to the houseleek and 
other crassulaceous plants. Sometimes writ- 
ten cedum. 
Yf bestes harme it that beth in the grounde, 
Let mynge juce of cedum [houseleek) smal ygrouude 
With water, and oon nyght thi seede ther stepe, 
And beestes wicke away thus may me kepe. 
Palladia*, Husbondrie(E. E. T. S.), p. 180. 
see 1 (se), v. ; pret. saw, pp. seen, ppr. seeing. 
[< ME. seen, sen, without inf. term, see, se (pret. 
saw, saugh, sawgh, sauh, sawh, say, saygJi, sey, 
set, seigli, seih, seyh,seig, sigh, sy, etc., pp. sein, 
seyn, sewen, segen, seien, sen, seie,_etc.), < AS. 
seon, si6n (pret. seah, pi. sdwon, seegon, pp. ge- 
segen, gesewen) = OS. sehan, sean = OFries. sia 
= MD. sien, D. zien = MLG. sen, LG. seen = 
OHG. sehan, MHG. sehen, G. selien = Icel. sjd 
= Sw. Dan. se = Goth, saihwan (pret. sahw, pi. 
seliwnm, pp. saihwans), see, Tent, v' sehw (> 
segw, sew), see ; accordant in form, and prob. 
identical in origin, with L. sequi = Gr. emadai, 
follow, = Lith. sehti, follow (/ seq, follow): 
see sequent, sue, etc. The transfer of sense is 
not certain ; prob. ' follow with the eyes.'] I. 
trans. 1 . To perceive by the eye ; become aware 
of (an object) by means of light-waves emitted 
by it or reflected from it to the organs of sight ; 
behold : as, to see a man coming ; no man can 
see God. 
He abode, tille the Damysele saughe the Schadewe of 
him in the Myrour. Mandemlle, Travels, p. 24. 
This we saw with our eies, and reioyced at it with our 
hearts. Quoted in Cop*. John Smith's Works, II. 42. 
2. To examine with the eyes ; view ; behold ; 
observe ; inspect : as, to see the games ; to see 
the sights of a town. 
But as some of vs visyted one place and some an other, 
so yt whan we mette eche reported vnto other as we had 
fouuden and gene. Sir R. Gwylforde, Pylgrymage, p. 47. 
And euery wight will haue a looking glasse 
To gee himselfe, yet so he seeth him not. 
Oascai'jne, Steele Olas (ed. Arber), p. 54. 
He 's awa to the wedding house, 
To see what he could see. 
Catherine Johmtone (Child's Ballads, IV. 35). 
How can any Body be happy while they're in perpetual 
Fear of being seen and censur'd ? 
Congreve, Love for Love, ii. 9. 
3. To perceive mentally; discern; form a con- 
ception or idea of; distinguish; understand; 
comprehend: as, to see the point of an argu- 
ment ; to see a joke. 
5463 
William & his worth! make, whan thei sei time, 
Told themperour treuli that hem tidde hadde. 
William of Palerm (E. E. T. S.), 1. 4917. 
Lady Easy. . . . To be in love, now, is only to have a 
design upon a woman. . . . 
Lady Betty. Ay, but the world knows, that is not the 
case between my lord and me. 
Lady Easy. Therefore, I think you happy. 
Lady Betty. Now, I don't see it. 
C'ibber, Careless Husband, ii. 1. 
The sooner you lay your head alongside of Mr. Bruit's 
head, the sooner you will see your way out of the dead- 
lock. W. Collins, The Moonstone, iii. B. 
4f. To keep in sight; take care of; watch over; 
protect. 
Unnethes myghte the frere speke a word, 
Till atte laste he seyde, "God you see." 
Chaucer, Summoner's Tale, 1. 469. 
5. To bring about as a result ; superintend the 
execution or the performance of a thing so as 
to effect (a specified result) ; make sure : with 
an object-clause with that specifying the result. 
The that is often omitted, and the clause may suffer further 
ellipsis : as, tee that it is done ; or, see it is done ; or, see 
it done. 
See that ye fall not out by the way. Gen. xiv. 24. 
See the lists and all things fit. Shak. , 2 Hen. VI. , ii. 3. 54. 
Farewell ; and nee this business be a foot 
With expedition. 
Fletcher (and another), Noble Gentleman, i. 1. 
'Tis his Business to see that they and all other about the 
House perform their Duties. Selden, Table-Talk, p. 28. 
Take him away now, then, you gaping idiot, and see that 
he does not bite you, to put an old proverb to shame. 
Scott, Old Mortality, xxxiv. 
6. To wait upon ; attend ; escort : with an ob- 
jective predicate: as, to see a friend off to Eu- 
rope; to see a lady home. 
Ant. But, hark ye, Ferdinand, did you leave your key 
with them V 
Ferd. Yes; the maid who saw me out took it from the 
door. Sheridan, The Duenna, i. 2. 
She was with him, accompanying him, seeing him off. 
Mrs. Oliphant, Poor Gentleman, xxviii. 
7. To call on; visit; have an interview with. 
Come, Casca, you and I will yet ere day 
See Brutus at his house. Shak., J. C., i. 3. 154. 
8. To meet and speak with ; receive : as, I can- 
not sec any one to-day. 
I was to see Monsieur Baudelot, whose Friendship I 
highly value. I received great Civilities from him. 
Lister, Journey to Paris, p. 46. 
Assert your right boldly, man ! ... see what company 
you like ; go out when you please ; return when you 
please. Caiman, Jealous Wife, i. 
9. To consult for a particular purpose ; some- 
times, euphemistically, to consult as a lobbyist 
for the purpose of influencing by a bribe or the 
like. See the quotation under lobbyist. [Col- 
loq.] 10. To find out; learn by observation 
or experience. 
The people had come rudely to the boat when I was 
absent, and had said that they would see whether this 
stranger would dare come out another day, having taken 
great umbrage at my copying the inscriptions. 
Pococke, Description of the East, 1. 105. 
11. To feel; suffer; experience; know by 
personal experience. See seen, p. a. 
If a man keep my saying he shall never see death. 
John viii. 51. 
When remedies are past, the griefs are ended 
By seeing the worst. Shak., Othello, i. 3. 203. 
Let one more attest 
I have lived, seen God's hand thro' a lifetime, and all was 
for best. Browning, Saul. 
12. In poker and other gambling games, to 
meet and accept by staking a similar sum : as, 
to see a bet Not to see the fun of. See fun. To 
have seen one's (or Its) best days, to have begun to 
decline ; be on the wane. 
True wit has seen its best days long ago. 
Dryden, Limberham, Prol., 1. 1. 
To have seen service. Seeserracei. To have seen the 
day. See daj/i. To see one through, to aid one in 
accomplishing. [Colloq.] Tosee out (a) To see or hear 
to the end. 
I had a mind to see him out, and therefore did not care 
for contradicting him. Addison, Freeholder, No. 22. 
(b) To outdo, as in drinking ; beat. 
I have heard him say that he could see the Dundee peo- 
ple out any day, and walk home afterwards without stag- 
gering. Dickens. 
To see the back of. See backi . To see the elephant. 
See elephant. to see the light. See lights . = Svn. 1- 3. 
See, Perceive, Observe, Notice, Behold, Witness. The first 
five express either the physical sight or the result of re- 
flection ; witness expresses sight only. See is the general 
word: it represents often an involuntary act; to perceive 
implies generally or always the intelligence of a prepared 
miml ; to observe implies the purpose of inspecting mi- 
nutely and taking note of facts connected with the object. 
Notice applies to the involuntary discovery of some object 
by the sight, or of some fact by the mind ; it has also the 
meaning of observe : as, to notice the operation of a steam- 
engine. To behold is to look at a thing for some time, 
to see plainly, or to see that which is interesting, remark- 
See 
able, or otherwise worth seeing. To witness is to see a 
thing done or happening : as, to witiless a surgical opera- 
tion ; hence, legally, to witness a signature is to certify 
that one saw it made. 
How he should be truly eloquent who is not a good man 
I see not. Milton, Apology for Smectymnuus. 
Lo, she is one of this confederacy ! 
Now I perceive they have conjoin'd all three 
To fashion this false sport, in spite of me. 
Shak., M. N. D., iii. 2. 198. 
He who through vast immensity can pierce, 
See worlds on worlds compose one universe, 
Observe how system into system runs, . . . 
May tell why Heaven has made us as we are. 
Pope, Essay on Man, i. 25. 
When he lay dying there, 
I noticed one of his many rings, . . . and thought, 
It is his mother's hair. Tennyson, Maud, xxiv. 8. 
Haste hither, Eve, and worth thy sight behold, 
Eastward among those trees, what glorious shape 
Comes this way moving. Milton, P. L., v. 308. 
You ask if nurses are obliged to witness amputations 
and such matters, as a part of their duty. I think not, 
unless they wish. L. M. Alcott, Hospital Sketches, p. 90. 
II. intrans. 1. To have the power of per- 
ceiving by the eye ; have the power of sight ; 
perceive or discern objects or their apparent 
qualities by the organs of sight. 
Though neither eyes nor ears, to hear nor see, 
Yet should I be in love by touching thee. 
Shak., Venus and Adonis, 1. 437. 
We went on thro' clouds of dust to Akmim, for, the 
wind being high, it raised the sands to such a degree 
that we could not see before us any further than in a very 
thick fog. Pocoeke, Description of the East, I. 80. 
2. To perceive mentally ; apprehend ; discern ; 
understand: often with into or through. 
I see into thy end, and am almost 
A man already. Shak., Cymbeline, iii. 4. 169. 
Many sagacious persons will . . . see through all our 
fine pretensions. Tulotson. 
3f. To look: with after, for, on, tip, or upon. 
She was ful moore blisf ul on to see, 
Thau is the newe pereionette tree. 
Chaucer, Miller's Tale, 1. 61. 
I gae up to my tapmast, 
And see for some dry land. 
Sir Patrick Spens (Child's Ballads, III. 341). 
4. To examine or inquire ; consider. 
See now whether pure fear and entire cowardice doth 
not make thee wrong this virtuous gentlewoman to close 
with us. Shak. , 2 Hen. IV., ii. 4. 352. 
We'll take three men on either side, 
And see if we can our fathers agree. 
Qreeme and Bewick (Child's Ballads, III. 82). 
5f. To meet; see one another. 
How have ye done 
Since last we saw in France? 
Shak., Hen. VIII., i. 1. 2. 
Let me see, let US see, let 's see, are used to express con- 
sideration, or to introduce the particular consideration of 
a subject. See to It, look well to it ; attend ; consider ; 
take care. To see abont a thing, to pay some attention 
to it; consider it. To see after. See after. To see 
double. See double. To see good. See good. To see 
Into or through a millstone. See millstone. To see 
through oneTto understand one thoroughly. 
He is a mere piece of glass : I see through him by this 
time. B. Jonson, Cynthia's Bevels, v. 2. 
TO see to. (at) To look at or upon ; behold. 
An altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to. Josh. xxii. 10. 
A certain shepherd lad, 
Of small regard to see to ! 
Milton, Comus, 1. 620. 
(b) To attend to or care or arrange for ; look after ; take 
care of. 
The Sick . . they see to with great affection. 
Sir T. More, Utopia (tr. by Robinson), ii. 8. 
I will go and purse the ducats straight, 
See to my house, left in the fearful guard 
Of an unthrifty knave. Shak., M. of V., i. 3. 176. 
See is used imperatively, or as an interjection, to call the 
attention of others to an object or a subject, signifying 
lo!"look!' 'behold!' 
see 1 (se), n. [< see 1 , v.] What one has to see. 
[Bare.] 
May I depart in peace, I have seen my see. 
Browning, Eing and Book, ii. 128. 
see 2 t, An obsolete spelling of sea 1 . 
see 3 (se), n. [Early mod. E. also sea ; < ME. see, 
se, < OF. se, sed, siet = Sp. sede, see, = Pg. sede, 
se = It. sede, a seat, see. < L. sedes, a seat, < se- 
dere = E. git: see sit. Cf. seat.~\ If. A seat of 
power or dignity; a throne. 
And smale harpers with her glees 
Saten under hem in sees. 
Chaucer, House of Fame, 1. 1210. 
In the Roofe, ouyr the popes see, 
A saluator may thou see, 
Neuer peynted with hond of mon. 
Political Poems, etc. (ed. Furnivall), p. 126. 
Scho lifte me up lightly with hir leve hondes, 
And sette me softely in the see, the septre me rechede. 
Morte Arthure (E. E. T. S.), 1. 8351. 
Jove laught on Venus from his soverayne see. 
Spenser, F. Q., III. vi. 2. 
