selector 
2. In iiuicli., a device which separates and se- 
lects. 
A shuttle with jaws that take hold of each hair as it is 
presented, and a device which is known as the selector. 
Nature, XLII. 3.17. 
Selenaria (sel-e-na'ri-a), ii. [NL. ( Busk). < Or. 
ofM/vr/, the moon: see Selene.'] The typical ge- 
nus of Selenariidse. 
Selenariidae (sel"e-na-ri'i-de), n. />l. [NL., < 
Selenaria + -idee.] A family of chilostomatous 
polyzoans, typified by the genus Selenaria. They 
are orbicular or irregular in outline, convex on one side 
and plane or concave on the other; the zocecia are im- 
mersed and (lustrine. 
selenate (sel'e-nat), n. [< selen(ic) + -ate*.] 
A compound of selenic acid with a base : as, 
sodium selenate. 
Selene (se-le'ne), H. [< Gr. 2rtf/vr/, the Moon, 
a personification of aeMjvi), dial. o-e/Wra, aeUvva, 
the moon, also a month, a moon-shaped cake; 
ef. <TfAaf, brightness.] 1. In (ir. myth., the 
goddess of the moon, called in Latin Luna, she 
is the daughter of Hyperion and Theia, and sister of He- 
lios (the sun) and Eos (the dawn), but is also a double of 
Artemis (Diana). She is also called Phoebe. 
2. [NL. (Lace"pede, 1803).] In ieA</i.,agenusof 
carangoid fishes; the moonfishes, whose soft 
dorsal and anal fins have the anterior rays much 
produced in the adult. S. vomer is known as 
the lookdown and horsehead. See cut under 
horsehead. 
seleniate (se-le'ni-at), . [< scleni(um) + -atei.] 
Same as selenate. 
selenic (se-len'ik), a. [< selen(iuin) + -ir.] 
Of or pertaining to selenium: as, selenic acid, 
H2SeO4. This acid is formed when selenium is oxidized 
by fusion with niter. It is a strong corrosive dibaaic acid, 
much resembling sulphuric acid. The concentrated acid 
has the consistence of oil, and is strongly hygroscopic. 
Its salts are called sehnates. 
selenide (sel'e-nid or -nid), n. [< selen(ium) 
+ -ide^.] A compound of selenium with one 
other element or radical : same as hydroscli- 
nate. 
Selenidera (sel-e-nid'e-ra), 11. [NL. (J. Gould, 
1831), also prop. Sclenodera, < Gr. o-f/yw?, the 
moon, + 6i(>ri, neck: so called from the crescen- 
tic collar characteristic of these birds.] A ge- 
nus of Rhamphastidx, containing toucans of 
small size, as S. maculirostris of Brazil ; the tou- 
canets, of which there are several species. See 
cut under toucanet. 
seleniferous (sel-e-nif'e-rus), a. [< NL. sele- 
nium + li.fem = E. Sew 1 .] Containing sele- 
nium; yielding selenium: as, seleniferous ores. 
selenious (se-le'ni-us), a. [< seleni(um) + -oils.] 
Of, pertaining to, or produced from selenium. 
Selenious acid, H ._,s. < > : ; . a dibasic acid derived from 
selenium. It forms salts called nelenites. 
seleniscopet (se-len'i-skop), n. [Prop, "seleno- 
scope; < Gr. o-/#w?, the moon, + anomiv, view.] 
An instrument for observing the moon. 
Mr. Henshaw and his brother-in-law came to visit me, 
and he presented me with a tteleiiiscope. 
Erelyn, Diary, June 9, 1883. 
selenite (sel'e-uit), . [= P. selenite = Sp. Pg. 
selenites, seleuite (Sp. Selenita, an inhabitant 
of the moon), = It. selenite, selenite, < L. sele- 
nites, selenitis, moonstone, < Gr. at'/.r/virrif^ of the 
moon (Aiffof ae^r/viTr/s, moonstone; ol Se/.t/virat, 
the men in the moon), < ortfyvr/, the moon : see 
Selene.'] If. [cop.] A supposed inhabitant of 
the moon. 2. A foliated or crystallized and 
transparent variety of gypsum, often obtained 
in large thin plates somewhat resembling mica ; 
also, specifically, a thin plate of this mineral 
used with the polarizing apparatus of the mi- 
croscope. 3. In chem., a salt of selenium. 
Selenites (sel-e-ni'tez), n. [NL., < Gr. aAn- 
virt/f, of the moon: see selenite.'] 1. In entom., 
a genus of coleopterous insects. Hope, 1840. 
2. In concJi., the typical genus of Selenitiilif. 
Fischer, 1879. 
selenitic (sel-e-nit'ik), a. [= P. selenitique = 
Sp. selenitico = It. selenitico; < selenite + -ic.~] 
1. Of or pertaining to the moon. 2. Of, per- 
taining to, resembling, or containing selenite: 
as, selenitic waters. 
Selenitidae (sel-e-nit'i-de), i. pi. [NL., < Sele- 
nites + -idx.'] A family of geophilous pul- 
monate gastropods, having a spiral heliciform 
shell, the mantle submedian or posterior and 
included within the shell, and the jaw ribless, 
with aculeate teeth, much as in Glandinidx. 
selenitiferous (sel'e-ni-tif'e-rus), a. [< L. se- 
lenites, moonstone, '+fetre"= E. Sear*.] Con- 
taining selenite. 
selenium (se-le'ni-um), n. [NL.,< Gr. oufrr/, the 
moon (cf. ae).i/viov, moonlight) : see Selene. The 
5474 
element was so called (by Berzelius) b 
associated with tellurium' (<. L. tellns, earth).] 
Chemical symbol, Se ; atomic weight, 79.5. A 
non-metallic element extracted from the pyritr 
of Fahlun in Sweden, and discovered in Lol8 by 
Berzelius. In its general chemical analogies it is related 
to sulphur and tellurium. H Is found to combination with 
native tellurium, as in selen-tellurium, with sulphur in 
selen-sulphur; also in very small quantity in some of the 
varieties of iron pyrites, and in several rare selenM< -, u 
clausthalite, or lead selenide, etc. When precipitated i( 
appears as a red powder, which melts when heated, and 
in cooling forms a brittle mass, nearly black, but trans. 
mltting red light when in thin plates. When heated in 
the air it takes fire, burns with a blue flame, and pro- 
duces a gaseous compound, oxid of selenium, which has 
a most penetrating and characteristic odor of putrid 
horse-radish. Selenium undergoes a remarkable change 
in electrical resistance under the action of light : hence the 
use of selenium-cells. See resistance, 3, and photojilimi. <. 
seleniuret (se-le'niu-ret), n. [< NL. wh-iiiinn 
+ -wet.] Same as selenide. 
seleniureted, seleniuretted (se-le'niu-ret-ed), 
a. [(.seleniuret + -fd%.] Containing selenium ; 
combined or impregnated with selenium. Se- 
leniureted hydrogen. Same as liydroselemc acid (which 
see, under ht/droselenic). 
selenocentric (se-le-no-sen'trik), a. [< Gr. ae- 
/'/iv/, the moon, + Ktvrpov, center: see centric.'] 
Having relation to the center of the moon, or 
to the moon as a center; as seen or estimated 
from the center of the moon. 
selenod (sel'e-nod), n. [< Gr. ae).r/v7/, the moon, 
+ od, q. v.] The supposed odic or odylic force 
of the moon; lunar od; artemod. Heiclieiilim-li. 
selenodont (se-le'no-dont), a. and . [< NL. 
selenodiiK (-odont-), < Gr. oeMfvr/, the moon, + 
ooW'f (6<5ovr-) = E. tooth.] I. a. 1. Having 
erescentic ridges on the crowns, as molar teeth ; 
not bunodont. In this fonn of dentition the molar 
tubercles are separated, or united at angles, elevated, nar- 
rowly erescentic in section, with deep valleys intervening. 
2. Having selenodont teeth, as a ruminant; of 
or pertaining to the Seleitodoiita. 
il. n. A selenodont mammal. 
Selenodonta (sf-le-no-don'ta), n. pi. [NL., 
neut. pi. of selciiodus (-odont-}: see Kelenodoiit."] 
One of two primitive types of the Artiodactylti, 
the other being Bunodonta, continued from the 
Eocene Anoplotlierium through a long line of 
descent with modification to the ruminants of 
the present day. Existing seleuodonts are divisible 
into the three series of Ti/lopoda, or camels, Trar/uloidea, 
or chevrotains, and Pecora or Cotylttphora, or ordinary ru- 
minants, as cattle, sheep, goats, deer, antelopes, etc. 
selenograph (se-le'no-graf), H. [< Gr. OT/7/r//, 
the moon, + -)pa<j>tiv, write: see selenography.] 
A delineation or picture of the surface of the 
moon, or of part of it. 
selenographer (sel-e-nog'ra-fer), . [< seleiioi/- 
rapli-y + -er^.] A student of selenography; 
one who occupies himself with the study of the 
moon, and especially with its physiography. 
He [Mr. Oughtred] believed the sun to be a material flre, 
the moon a continent, as appears by the late Selenogra- 
phers. Evelyn, Diary, Aug. 28, 1656. 
selenographic (se-le-no-graf'ik), (i. [< selenog- 
rapli-y + -ic.] Of or pertaining to selenogra- 
phy Selenographic chart, a map of the moon. 
selenographical (se-le-no-graf 'i-kal), a. [< se- 
lenoyraphic + -al.] Same as seleiiographic. 
selenograpbist (sel-e-nog'ra-fist), H. [< sele- 
nograph-y + -ist.~] Same as " stenographer. 
selenography (sel-e-nog'ra-fi), n. [= P. gflei 
graphie = Sp. selenografia " = Pg. Hflcnogrupliin 
= It. selenografia, < Gr. ae'f.ijvti, the moon, + -ypa- 
<t>ia, < ipdfciv, write.] The scientific study of 
the moon: chiefly used with reference to study 
of the moon's physical condition, and especially 
the form and disposition of the elevations and 
depressions by which its surface is character- 
ized. 
selenological (se-le-no-loj'i-kal), a. [< scloiol- 
!>-y "*" -ic-a/.] Of or relating to selenology, 
or the scientific study of the moon, and espe- 
cially of its physiography; selenographic. 
With the solidification of this external crust began the 
"year one" of selenological history. 
Naxmyth and Carpenter, The Moon, p. 18. 
selenologist (sel-e-nol'o-jist), n. [(selenolog-i/ 
+ -ist.~\ Same as selenographer. Nature, XLJ. 
197. 
selenology (sel-e-nol'o-ji), . [< Gr. aeMivti, the 
moon, + -2.o}-m, { Ityeiv, say, speak: see -ology."] 
Same as selenography. 
selenotropic (se-le'no-trop'ik), a. [< Gr. ae"/i f vi/, 
the moon, + TptTretv, turn: see tropic.] In hut.. 
curving or turning toward the moon: said of 
certain growing plant-organs which under fa- 
vorable conditions are influenced in the direc- 
tion of their growth by moonlight. 
self 
selenotropism (sel-e-not'ro-pizm), H. [< selc- 
notrop-ir + -ten*.] The quality of being sele- 
notropic. 
selenptropy (sel-f-not'ro-pi), n. [< selrnotroji-ii- 
+ -.v 3 .] In hot., same as selenotropism, 
selen-sulphur (se-len'sul"fer), n. [< sHeii(iiini ) 
+ .ml/ill in'.] A variety of sulphur, of an orange- 
yellow color, containing a small amount of se- 
lenium. 
selen-tellurium (se-leu'te-lu'ri-um), M. [< se- 
leii(iiuii) + tellurium.] A mineral of a blackish- 
gray color and metallic luster, consisting of 
selenium and tellurium in about the ratio of 
2 : 3, found in Honduras. 
seler 1 !, . A Middle English form of celitre. 
seler'-t, . A Middle English form of seller^. 
Seleucian (se-lu'si-an), . [< L. Xeleiieim, < Gr. 
Zi'/n'Kof, Seleucus (see def.), + -I'H.] One of 
a sect of the third century, which followed Se- 
leucus of Galatia, whose teaching included the 
doctrines, in addition to those of Hermogenes 
(see /li-riiitigein'Hii), that baptism by water is 
not to be used, and that there is no resurrection 
of the body and no visible paradise. 
Seleucid (se-lu'sid), . One of the Seleucids. 
Seleucidae (se-lu'si-de), n.pl. [< L. Seleucides, 
< Gr. Zt^mdiiK, a descendant of Seleucus, < 2^- 
'/ti-mc, Seleucus.] The members of a dynasty, 
founded by Seleucus (a general of Alexander 
the Great), which governed Syria from about 
312 B. c. to the Roman conquest (about 64 B. c.). 
Seleucidan (se-lu'si-dan), a. [< Seleucid + -an.] 
Pertaining to the Seleucidte Seleucidan era. 
See era. 
Seleucides (se-ln'si-dez), . [NL. (Lesson, 
1835), < L. Seleucides : see Seleucidse.] A genus 
of Paradiseidse, subfamily Jipimach inse, contain- 
ing the twelve- wired bird of paradise, the male 
of which has the flank-feathers long and fluffy, 
with some shafts drawn out into six long wiry 
filaments on each side of the body. The single 
species inhabits New Guinea. It is variously called S. 
Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise \Stlturides Hlffr). 
niffer, S. atbm, S. acanUiyKi, S. respUndens, and by other 
names, as manucode, or promJrope a douze filets of the 
French ornithologists. The male is about 12 inches long ; 
the "wires"are sometimes drawn out 10 inches; the gen- 
eral color is velvety-black, glancing in different lights oil- 
green, coppery or bronze, violet and fiery purple ; the black 
breastplate is set in an emerald-green frame; the belly, 
vent, and silky flank-plumes are tawny-yellow. The fe- 
male is quite different, with much of the plumage bright 
chestnut, and she has no "wires." This is one of the slen- 
der-billed paradise-birds, ranging with the genera I'liln- 
rliif, Drepanomw, and Epimachug. The genus is also 
called Nematopkora. 
self (self), a.,pr(m., and . [Also Sc. sef, sell; < 
ME. self, silf, seolf, stdf (pi. selfe, seolfe, selw, 
sulre, seolve, later selves; in oblique cases sel- 
ren), < AS. self, seolf, silf, siolf, sylf, same, self, 
= OS. self= OFries'. self, selva = OD. self, D. zelf 
= MLG. self, sulf, LG. sulv = OHG. sett, MHO. 
w Ip, G. selb (inflected setter, etc.), selbst (unin- 
flected) = Icel. sjselfr, sjdlfr = Sw. sjelf = Dan. 
selv = Goth, silba. same, self; origin unknown : 
(a) in one view (Skeat) the orig. form *selba is 
perhaps foT*neliba, 'left to oneself,' < se-, si- 
(Goth. si-k = L. se, oneself, = Skt. sva, one's own 
self), + lib-, the base of AS. lifan, be left, laf 
= Goth, laiba, a remnant, etc. (see leave 1 , life, 
live 1 ), (b) In another view (Kluge) perhaps 
orig. 'lord, possessor, owner,' akin to Ir. selb, 
possession; cf. Skt. patis, lord, with Lith. {mix, 
self; cf. also own 1 , r., owner, with the related 
wirw 1 , a., which in some uses is nearly equiv. 
to self. The use of self in comp. to form the 
reflexive pronouns arose out of the orig. in- 
dependent use of self following the personal 
pronouns, and agreeing with them in inflec- 
tion, in AS. as follows: ie self a (ic self), 'I 
self' (I myself), min selfes, 'of me self' (of 
