sekere 
sekeret, sekerlyt. Middle English forms of 
*i<'l;t r, xifl.'i i~l if. 
sekirnesst, . A Middle English form of x/V/.vr- 
noss. 
seklit, A Middle English form of sickly. 
seknest, A Middle English form oi' xickm-xx. 
sekos (se'kos), n. . [< Or. OT/KO$-, a pen, inclosure.] 
In (!r. ini/i//., any sacred 
inclosure ; a shrine or 
sanctuary; the cella of a 
temple; a building which 
none but those initiated 
or especially privileged 
might enter: as, the Sekos 
of the Mysteries at Eleu- 
sis: used of churches 
by some early Christian 
writers, 
sektourt, n. A variant of 
sn-iitintr. 
self, a. and n. A Middle English form of seen. 
Bel', n. A Scotch variant of self. 
Selacha (sel'a-ka), n. pi. [ML.: see Sclache.] 
Same as Selacliii. Bonaparte, 1837. 
Selache (sel'a-ke), n. [NL. (Cuvier, 1817), < Gr. 
ne'Aaxot;, a sea-fish, including all cartilaginous 
fishes, esp. the sharks: see seal 1 .] A genus of 
sharks whence some of the names of selachians 
are derived. It has been variously used, but oftenest 
for the common dusky or great basking-shark, 5. maxima. 
(See cut under banking-shark.) It is now superseded by 
the prior genus Cetnrhinus of De Blainville (1818). Also 
Selachus. 
Selachia (se-la'ki-a), n. pi. [NL.] Same as 
SelackU. 
selachian (se-la'ki-au), n. and H. [< NL. Scla- 
clie, Selacliii, + -i-a>i.~] I. a. Resembling or re- 
lated to a shark of the genus Selaclie; pertain- 
Sekos. Plan of the On 
Hall of the Mysteries, Eleni 
as excavated in 1888. 
Port Jackson Shark (Hettrodontus galeatus}, a Selachian. 
ing to the Selacliii, or having their characters; 
squaloid orraioid;plagiostomous; in the broad- 
est sense, elasmobranchiate. See also cuts un- 
der Elasmobrancliii, saic-fisli. shark, and skate. 
II. n. A shark or other plagiostomous fish; 
any elasmobranch. 
Selachii (se-la'ki-i). H. pi. [NL., < Gr. ot'/axof, 
a cartilaginous fish, a shark. Cl.seal 1 .] A large 
group of vertebrates to which different values 
and limits have been assigned ; the sharks and 
their allies, (a) In Cuvier's system of classification, the 
first family of Chondrnpterypii branchiis fizi*, having the 
palatines and lower jaw alone armed with teeth and sup- 
plying the place of jaws (the usual bones of which are re- 
duced to mere vestiges), (ft) In Cope's system, a subclass 
of fishes characterized by the articulation of the hyoman- 
dibular bone with the cranium, the absence of opercular or 
pelvic bones, and the development of derivative radii ses- 
sile on the sides of the basal bones of the limbs and rarely 
entering into articulation, (c) In Gill's system, a class of 
ichthyopsid vertebrates characterized by the absence of 
dermal or membrane bones from the head and shoulder- 
girdle, the existence of a cartilaginous cranium, a well- 
developed brain, and a heart composed of an auricle and 
a ventricle. It includes the sharks, rays, and chimeras, 
the first two of these constituting the subclass Pla/jiostomi, 
the third the subclass Holocfphali. id) In Jordan's system, 
a subclass of ElaJHiwbranckii, containing the sharks and 
such other selachians as the rays or skates, or the Squali 
and the Unite, together contrasted with the chimeras or 
Holocephali. They have the gill-openings in the form of 
slits, five, six, or seven in number on each side ; and the 
jaws distinct from the rest of the skull. The Selachii 
correspond to the Plagiostomata. Also Selacha, Sela- 
chia. 
selachoid (sel'a-koid), a. and H. [< Gr. o-t/u^of, 
a shark, + eWof, form.] I. a. Shark-like; se- 
lachian; plagiostomous; of or pertaining to the 
ftelaclioidei. 
II. n. A selachoid selachian; any shark. 
Selachoidei (sel-a-koi'de-i), n. pi. [NL.: see 
selachoid.] In Giinther's classification, the first 
suborder of plagiostomous fishes, contrasting 
with the Batoidei ; the sharks, in a broad sense, 
or Squall, as distinguished from the rays. It has 
been divided by Haswell into the Palieoselacliii 
and the Neoselacliii. 
selacholpgist (sel-a-kol'o-jist), n. [< scl<iclt,,l- 
"->/ + -t-~\ One who is devoted to the study 
of selachology. 
selachology (sel-a-kol'o-ji), H. [< Gr. 
a shark, + -/oyi'a, < teyeiv, speak: see . 
That department of zoology which relates to 
the selachians. 
5472 
selachostome(sera-ko-st6in), . A ganoid fish 
of the ^roiip Siliicl/ii.itiiiiii. 
Selachostomi (sel-a-kos'to-ml). n. /il. [XL., 
pl. of xeliii'lin.itniiiii.f : see MbMfcwtMfcOMf.] A 
superfamily of ganoid fishes, of the order t'lion- 
ilroxtei, or an order of the class ('liiidrxtri, 
containing sturgeon-like fishes which have the 
maxillary and interopercle obsolete and have 
teeth, or the family 1'tilyoilinitidie : thus distin- 
guished from (.ilaninxlniui. See Potyodontidts, 
and cut under padtllt-lixli. 
selachostomous (sel-a-kos'to-mus). a. [< NL. 
seiachostomtu, < Gr. ar'tM^^, a shark, + aro/m, 
mouth.] Shark-mouthed; specifically, of or 
pertaining to the melacliostoiui. 
Selachus (sera-kits), . Same as Maclie. 
selagid (sel'a-jid), n. A plant of the order 
NclHi/ini'ir. l./iii/lci/. 
Selagineae (sel-a-jin'e-e), n.pl. [NL. (Jussieu, 
1806;, < Selago (-(/in-) + -rse."\ A small order 
of gamopetalous plants, of the cohort Lnmia- 
les. It is characterized by flowers with a corolla of five 
or sometimes four equal or unequal spreading lobes, four 
didynamous or two equal stamens, one-celled anthers, 
and a superior one- or two-celled ovary, forming one or 
two small nutlets in fruit, often with a fleshy su/faee and 
corky furrowed or perforated interior, investing a pendu- 
lous cylindrical seed with fleshy albumen. It is distin- 
guished from the related order Scrophularinefe by its soli- 
tary ovules, from Laltiatje and Verbeiuicetf by an embryo 
with a superior micropyle and radicle, and from its ally 
the Myuporintte by habit and teiminal inflorescence. It 
includes about 140 species belonging to 8 genera, of which 
Selayo is the type. They are natives of the Old World 
beyond the tropics, chiefly diminutive heath-like shrubs 
of South Africa, with alternate, narrow, and rigid leaves, 
and small flowers grouped in terminal spikes or dense 
globular heads, commonly white or blue, rarely yellow. 
Selaginella (se-laj-i-nel'a), H. [NL. (Spring), 
dim. of L. Selago, a genus separated from Lyco- 
podium (-gin-), lycopodium: see Sclae/o.'] A ge- 
nus of heterosporous vascular cryptogams, typ- 
ical of the Selaginellaccie and Selaginellea-. They 
have the general habit of 
Lycopodium (the ground- 
pine, club-moss, etc.), dif- 
fering from it mainly by 
the dimorphic spores. The 
stems are copiously branch, 
ed, trailing, suberect, sar- 
mentose, or scandent; in 
shape they are more or 
less distinctly quadrangu- 
lar, with the faces angled 
or fiat. The leaves are 
small, with a single central 
vein, usually tetrastichous 
and dimorphous, and more 
or less oblique, the two 
rows of the lower plane 
larger and more spreading, 
the two rows of the upper 
ascending, adpressed, and 
imbricated; spikes usually 
tetrastichous, often sharply 
square, at the end of leafy 
branches ; microsporangia 
numerous; tnacrosporangia 
few, and confined to the 
base of the spike. About 
335 species have been de- 
scribed, from the warmer parts of the globe. Many spe- 
cies are cultivated in conservatories, and numerous forms 
have resulted. S. lepidophylla is well known under the 
name resurrectinn-plant, and is also called rock-lily or rock- 
rose. 
Selaginellaceae (se-laj'i-ne-la'se-e), n.pl. [NL., 
< Selfiginella + -aceee."] A group of heteros- 
porous vascular cryptogamous plants, by some 
called an order, by others raised to the rank of 
a class coordinate with the Uliizocarpeie, Lyco- 
podiaccse, Filicex, etc. It embraces only 2 gen- 
era, Kelaginella and Isoetcs (which see for char- 
acterization). 
Selaginelleae (se-laj-i-nel'e-e), n. pl. [NL., < 
Sclaginella + -eae.~\ A group of heterosporous 
vascular cryptogams. By many writers employed 
as an interchangeable synonym with Seloginellacex, by 
others regarded as an order under the class Selagiiiettaceir. 
It embraces the single genus Selaginflla. 
Selago (se-la'go), n. [NL. (Linnaeus, 1737). < 
L. sclago, a similarly dwarf but unrelated plant, 
Lycopodium Selar/o."] A genus of gamopetalous 
plants, type of the order Selagines: It is charac- 
terized by flowers with a two- to five-lobed calyx, nearly 
regular or somewhat two-lipped corolla, four didynamous 
and perfect stamens, and a two-celled ovary which sepa- 
rates into two nutlets in fruit. There are about 95 spe- 
cies, all South African except one in tropical Africa and 
one, 5. muralis, growing on the walls of the capital of 
Madagascar. They are dwarf heath-like shrubs, some- 
times small annuals, often low and diffuse, and with many 
slender branchlets. They bear narrow leaves, commonly 
alternate and clustered in the axils, and sessile flowers in 
dense or slender spikes. 
Seiah (se'la). [LL. (Vulgate), < Heb. xeldli. of 
unknown meaning; connected by Gesenius with 
xdldh, rest.] A transliterated Hebrew word. 
occurring in the Psalms frequently, and in Ha- 
bakkuk iii. : probably a direction in the musi- 
Fertile Plant of Selafintlla 
Itfitiofhylla. 
seldom 
cal rendering of the passage. It is explained by 
most authorities ;is meaning I'ause,' but oc- 
curs also at the end of psalms. 
Selandria (se-lan'dri-a), H. [XL. (Leach, 
1817): formation uncertain.] An important 
genus of saw-flies or Tenthreainidie. Thry hnv. 
a short thick tnnly, mstu of the fore wing thick and di- 
lated before the stigma, and the lanceolate cell petiolate, 
njH'ii. ami without a cross-vein. Their larva; are stont, 
slimy, slug-like creatures, and feed upon the leaves of va- 
rious trees. That of 5. cerasi is the pear- or cherry-slug, 
now placed in the genus Erioctnnpa, and that of S. rosae is 
the rose-slug, now placed in the genus Monosteffia. See 
cut under rose-tluy. 
Selasphorus(se-las'fo-rus),. [NL. (Swainson. 
1831), < Gr. BMOC, light, brightness, + -0opoc, < 
tiipeiv = E. bearl.~\ A genus of Trocliilitlse; the 
flame-bearers or lightning-hirmmers. .T. mfu* is 
the red-backed or Nootka Sound humming-bird, notable 
as the species which goes furthest north, being found in 
Alaska. S. platycercHs is the broad-tailed humming-bird. 
Both are common in western North America, and several 
others occur in Mexico and Central America. 
selbite (sel'bit). H. [< C. J. Kalh, a German 
mineralogist (1755-1827), + -ite?.] An ash- 
gray or black ore of silver, supposed to contain 
silver carbonate, but later shown to be a mix- 
ture of argentite with silver, dolomite, etc. it 
was found at Wolfach in Haden. A similar mineral mix- 
ture is found at some Mexican mines, where it is called 
plata azul. 
selch, ii. See seiilijli. 
selcoutht (sel'koth), a. andn. [< ME. selcoutli, 
KclkoutJi, selkotrtli, tsclctitli, selkutli.< AS.selciitli. 
xcltl-rfitli, strange, wonderful, < seld, rarely, + 
cutli, known: see seld and couth. Cf. wucowWi.] 
I. a. Rarely or little known ; unusual ; uncom- 
mon ; strange ; wonderful. 
I se gondyr a fill selcouth syght, 
Wher-of be-for no synge was seene. 
York Platjt, p. 74. 
Now riden this folk and walken on fote 
To seche that seint in selcouthe londis. 
fieri Plomnan (A), vi. 2. 
Yet nathemore his meaning she ared, 
But wondred much at his so selcottth case. 
Spenser, F. Q., IV. viii. 14. 
II. n. A wonder; a marvel. 
And sythen I loked vpon the see and BO forth vpon the 
sterres, 
Many stlcwthes I seygh ben nought lo seye nouthe. 
Piers Plomnan (B), xi. 8:>5. 
Sore longet the lede lagher to wende, 
Sum stlkmvth to se the sercle with-in. 
Destruction of Troy (E. E. T. S.), 1. 13506. 
selcouthlyt (sel'koth-li), adr. [ME. sclcotitlieli ; 
< selcouth + -It/ 2 .] Strangely; wonderfully; 
uncommonly. 
The stiward of spayne, that stern was & bold, 
Hadde bi-seged that cite selcoulheli hard. 
William ojf Palernf, (E. E. T. S.), 1. 3263. 
seldt (seld), adr. [Early mod. E. also selde, 
seelde; < ME. seld, < AS. seld, adv. (in compar. 
seldor, seldre, superl. seldost, and in comp. : see 
selcoulh, seldseen, selly, etc.), = OHG. MHG. G. 
se It- = Sw. sail- = Dan. .s-a>e- = Goth, silda- (only 
in comp. and deriv.); prob. from an orig. adj. 
(the E. adj. appears much later and evidently 
as taken from the adverb), with formative -d 
(see -erf 2 , -rf 2 ), perhaps from the root of Goth. 
silan in ana-sila>i, become silent, = L. silere, be 
silent: see silent. Ct. seldom.] Rarely; seldom. 
For grete power and moral vertu heere 
Is selde yseyn in o person yfeere. 
Chaucer, Troilns, ii. 168. 
Goods lost are seld or never found. 
Shak., Passionate Pilgrim, 1. 175. 
seldt (seld), n. [< ME. selde, orig. seld, <nlr., 
as used to qualify a verbal noun, or in comp., 
and not directly representing the orig. adj. 
from which seld, adv., is derived : see seld, adr.~\ 
Scarce ; rare ; uncommon. 
For also seur as day cometh after nyght, 
The newe love, labour, or other wo, 
Or elles nelde seynge of a wight, 
Don olde afleccionB alle overgo. 
Chaucer, Troilus, iv. 423. 
Honest women are so felde and rare, 
'Tis good to cherish those poore few that are. 
Tourneur, Revenger's Tragedy, iv. 4. 
seldent, adr. An obsolete form of seldom. 
seldom (sel'dum), adv. [Early mod. E. also 
xt-ldonie, also *selden,neelden; < ME. seldom. /- 
diim, selden, selde, < AS. setdan, seldtm. x,-ldnin 
(= OFries. Hidden = MD. selden, D. zelden = 
MLG. selden, LG. selden, sellen = OHG. ncltnii. 
MHG. G. m-ltrii = Ivcl.sjaldaii = Sw. xfillaii (for 
"aaldan) = Dan. sjelden), at rare times, seldom, 
orig. dat. pl. (suffix -i) or weak dat. sing, 
(suffix -an) of *seld, a., rare : see seld, adr. The 
term, -nm is the same as in irliilom ; it once ex- 
isted also, in part, in little, iinirlclr (Utliuii. mic- 
litm), adr.'] Rarely; not often ; infrequently. 
