semiology 
sign, + -/ojra. < teyeiv, say, speak: see -olnny.~\ 
1. The logical theory of signs, of the condi- 
tions of their fulfilling their functions, of their 
chief kinds, etc. 2f. The use of gestures to ex- 
press thought. 
These ways of signifying our thoughts by gestures, 
called by the learned Bishop Wilkins semienloijy. 
Urquhart, tr. of Rabelais, Pref. 
3. The surn of scientific knowledge concerning 
morbid symptoms and their pathological sig- 
nificance; symptomatology; semiotics. 
Semeiology infers, from the widening of one pupil, which 
of internal double organs is most diseased. Mind, IX. 97. 
semi-opacoust (sem/i-o-pa'kus), a. Semi- 
opaque. 
Semiopacowi bodies are such as, looked upon in an or- 
ilinary light, and not held betwixt it and the eye, are not 
wont to be discriminated from the rest of opacous bodies. 
Boyle. 
semi-opal (sem-i-6'pal), (. A variety of opal 
not possessing opalescence. 
semi-opaque (sem"i-o-pak'), a. Half -transpa- 
rent; halt-opaque. 
Semioptera (se-mi-op'te-ra), . [NL. (G. E. 
Gray, 1859), < Gr. ayufiov, a mark, standard, + 
itrtpav, wing.] A genus of Paradiseida, char- 
SemipJilmate Foot of Willet ( 
fhetnia sfmifalmata). 
Wallace's StamlardwiiiK Semiopttra -wallacti). 
acterized by the two long white plumes which 
project from each wing of the male, and by the 
extension of a burnished green pectoral shield 
into long lateral tufts; the standardwings. The 
only species known is S. wallacei, 11$ inches 
long, inhabiting the islands of Batch ian and 
Jilolo. 
semi-orbicular (sem'*i-6r-bik'u-lar), a. 1. 
Having the shape of a half-orb or -sphere. 2. 
In eittom., bounded approximately by half a 
circle and its diameter. 
semi-ordinate (sem-i-6r'di-nat), n. In conic 
section*, half a chord bisected by the transverse 
diameter of a conic. 
semiosseous (sem-i-os'f-us), a. Partly bony ; 
somewhat or incompletely ossified. 
Semiotellus (se'mi-o-tel'us), H. [NL. (West- 
wood, 1840), dim. of Semiotus, a generic name, 
< Gr. mnieiwrAs, noted, < ar/ficlov, a mark : see se- 
meion.] A genus of hymenopterous parasites of 
a 
Semiotellus chalddt'phapus, 
a. female, from side ; A, male, from above. (Hair-lines indicate 
natural sizes.) 
the family Chalcididx and subfamily Pteromrt- 
linee, of few species, but wide distribution, s. 
chnlcidiphagus is a notably beneficial insect, as it is a com- 
mon parasite of the destructive joint-worm of the United 
States (Isosoma hordei). See joint-ironn and /sosoma 
semiotic, semeiotic (se-mi-ot'ik), a. [< Gr. m/- 
[tetuTinof, fitted for marking, portending, < art- 
fietovv, mark, interpret as a portent, < m/ftclm, a 
mark, sign: see semeion.] Relating to signs; 
specifically, relating to the symptoms of dis- 
eases; symptomatic. 
semiotics, semeiotics (se-mi-ot'iks), n. [PI. 
of semiotic, semeiotic (see -ics).] 1. The doc- 
trine or science of signs ; the language of signs. 
5486 
2. Specifically, that branch of pathology 
which is concerned with the significance of 
all symptoms in the human body, whether 
healthy or diseased; symptomatology; semi- 
ology. 
semioval (sem-i-6'val), a. In zoiil., having the 
form of half an oval; semi-elliptical. 
semiovate (sem-i-6'vat), o. In rod'/., having 
the form of half an ovate surface or plane. 
semioviparous (sem'i-o-yip'a-rus), a. Imper- 
fectly viviparous, as an impfacental mammal : 
noting the marsupials and monotremes (the 
latter, however, have been ascertained to be 
oviparous). 
semiOVOid (sem-i-6'void), a. In zool., having 
the form of half an ovoid solid. 
semipalmate(sem-i-parmat),. Half-webbed, 
as the toes of a bird; 
havingpartly webbed 
or imperfectly pal- 
mate feet, as a bird : 
applied to many 
species whose toes 
are webbed at the 
base only, or not 
more than half-way 
to their ends. Com- 
pare cuts under 61- 
colli(/ate and palmate. 
semipalmated (sena-i-pal'ma-ted), . Semipal- 
mate: mostly used of the birds themselves : as, 
the semipalmated plover, snipe, sandpiper, etc. 
See cut under Ereunetes. 
semipalmation (sem*i-pal-ma'shon), . Half- 
webbing of the toes, as a bird's; the state of 
being semipalmated. 
Such basal webbing of the toes is called semipalmation. 
It ... occurs in many birds of prey, in most gallinaceous 
birds, etc. ; the term is mostly restricted, in descriptive 
ornithology, to those wading birds, or grallatores, in which 
it occurs. Couet, Key to N. A. Birds, p. 131. 
semi-parabola (sem*i-pa-rab'o-la), . Inmath., 
a curve of such a nature that the powers of its 
ordinates are to each other as the next lower 
powers of its abscissas. 
semipause (sem'i-paz), n. In medieval musical 
notation, a semibreve rest. See rent 1 , 8 (6). 
semipectinate (sem-i-pek'ti-nat), a. Same as 
dcmi-pectinate. 
semiped (sem'i-ped), n. [< L. semipes (-ped-), a 
half-foot, < semi-, half, + pes (ped-) = E. foot.'] 
In pros. , a half- foot. 
semipedal (sem'i-ped-al), a. [< sonified + -?.] 
In pros., pertaining to or constituting a half- 
foot. 
Semi-Pelagian (sem*i-pe-la'ji-an), . and n. 
I. a. Half-Pelagian; pertaining to the Semi- 
Pelagians or their tenets. 
II. . One who holds to the system of Semi- 
Pelagianism. 
Semi-Pelagianism (sem*i-pe-la'ji-an-izm), . 
The compromise between Augustinianism and 
Pelagianism attempted in the fifth century by 
Cassiau in southern France, who maintained 
that man is morally sick, in opposition to Au- 
gustine, who asserted that he is morally dead, 
and to Pelagius,who held that he is morally well. 
The Semi-Pelagians believe that the free will of man co- 
operates with divine grace in the attainment of salvation, 
and that God determines to save those who he sees will 
of themselves seek salvation. Semi-Pelagianism therefore 
denies unconditional election, and substitutes a doctrine 
of predestination conditioned upon man's exercise of his 
free will to choose the good. 
semipellucid (sem*i-pe-lu'sid), a. Partially 
pellucid; imperfectly transparent: as, a semi- 
pellucid gem. 
semipenniform (sem-i-pen'i-form), a. Half 
penniform; penniform on one side only; in 
mint., specifically, noting a muscle whose fleshy 
fibers converge on one side of a tendon, like 
the web on one side of the shaft of a feather. 
semiperfect (sem-i-per'fekt), . In entom., 
nearly perfect; deficient in some parts: as, 
semiperfeet limbs; a semiperfect neuration. 
Semiphyllidia (sem*i-fi-lid ; i-a), n. pi. [NL.: 
see Semiphyllidiana.'] Same "as Semiphyllirli- 
ana. 
Semiphyllidiacea (sem'i-fi-lid-i-a'se-a), . pi. 
[NL., < Semipiiyllidi(ana) + -acea.] Same as 
SenipkylHdtaita. 
semiphyllidian (sem'i-fi-lid'i-an), a. and n. I. 
a. Of or pertaining to the Semiphyllidiana. 
II. . A semiphyllidian or monopleurobran- 
chiate gastropod. 
Semiphyllidiana (sem"i-fi-lid-i a'nS), n. />i. 
[NL., < L. semi-, half, + Gr. Qi-'/'Aov, a leaf.] In 
Lamarck's classification, a family of gastropods 
having the gills in a row on the right side of 
semireflex 
the body, containing the genera Pleurobraiicliit* 
and I'mbrclla. 
Semiphyllididse(sem"i-fi-lid'i-de), n.pl. [NL., 
(. 8emiphyUid(iana) + -idee.] Same as Nimi- 
/>li//Jli<<i<i>ia. More correctly Semtphyllidiidte. 
semipiscine (sem-i-pis'in), a. Half fish-like: 
as, the semipisrine form of Oannes or Dagon. 
See cut under Jhit/on. 
Semiplantigrada (sem"i-plan-tig'ra-da), H. pi. 
[NL., neut. pi. of semipuintiffradvs : see sfmi- 
plniitii/rade.] A division of Carnicora, includ- 
ing those carnivores which are semiplantigrade. 
It corresponds to the family MusMidx. 
semiplantigrade (sem-i-plan'ti-grad), a. [< 
NL. sfini/iliiiili;/rii<lii>i, < L. semi-, half, + NL. 
plantigradus : see plantigrade."] Incompletely 
plantigrade ; partly digitigrade; subplanti- 
grade ; of or pertaining to the Semiplantigrada. 
semiplastic (sem-i-plas'tik), a. Imperfectly 
plastic ; in a state between full plasticity and 
rigidity. 
These Impurities had been gathered while the glass was 
in a iemi-plastic condition. Set. Amer., N. S., LIV. 184. 
The falling body [meteoric iron] was partly seiniplagtic. 
Amer. Jour. Set., 3d ser., XXX. 286. 
Semiplotina (sem*i-plo-ti'na), n. pi. [NL., < 
Semiplotns + -ina 2 .] In Gunther's classifica- 
tion of fishes, the sixth group or subfamily of 
cyprinoids, typified by the genus Semiplotus. 
They have the air-bladder developed into an anterior and 
posterior section ; the pharyngeal teeth in a single, dou- 
ble, or triple series (the outer never containing more than 
seven teeth) ; the anal fin short or of moderate length, with 
from eight to eleven branched rays not extending forward 
to below the dorsal nn ; the lateral line, if complete, run- 
ning in or nearly in the middle of the tail : and the dorsal 
nn elongate, with numerous branched rays and one osse- 
ous ray. They are found in Asiatic streams. 
Semiplotinae (sem // i-plo-ti'ne), . pi. [NL., < 
Semiplotus + -<.] Same as Semiplotina. 
Semiplotus (sem-i-plp'tus), n. [NL., < L. semi-, 
half, + Gr. nviwToV, sailing, floating: see Plofus.] 
A genus of cyprinoid fishes, typical of the sub- 
family Semiplotina. The sundaree, S. macclel- 
landi, of Assam, is a species. 
semipluma (sem-i-plo'ma), .; pi. semiplumsr 
(-me). [NL. : see semiplume.] In ornith., a 
semiplume. See feather. 
semiplumaceous (sem"i-pl<j-ma'shius), a. In 
ornith., having or partaking of the character of 
a semiplume : noting a feather of partly penua- 
ceous and partly plumulaceous structure. 
semiplume (sem'i-plb'm), n. [< NL. semiplm>ta,< 
L. gemi-, half, + pluma, a small soft feather: see 
plume.] In ornith., a feather of partly downy 
structure, possessing a pennaceous stem and a 
plumulaceous web. See feather. 
semipupa (sem-i-pu'pa), n. ; pi. semipupif(-pe). 
[NL., ( L. semi-, half, + NL. pupa, pupa.] In 
entotn., same &K pseudopupa or propupa. 
semipupal (sem-i-pu'pal), a. [< semipupa + 
-al.] Of the character of a semipupa; semi- 
nymphal. 
semiquadrate (sem-i-twod'rat), n. In astral., 
an aspect of two planets when distant from each 
other 45 degrees, or half a quadrant. 
semiquartile (sem-i-kwar'til), . Same as 
semiquadrate. 
semiquaver (sem'i-kwa-ver), w. 1. In musical 
notation, same as sixteenth-note. 2. Figura- 
tively, something of very short duration ; a very 
short space of time. 
Till then, earth's nemiquaner, mirth, farewell. 
Qliarle*, Emblems, iv. 15. 
Semiquaver rest. Same as sixteenth-note rest. Seeregtl, 
8(6). 
semiquaver (sem'i-kwa-ver), v. t. [< semi- 
quaver, n.] To play or sing in, or as in, semi- 
quavers. 
With wire and catgut he concludes the day, 
Quav'ring and semiquav'ring care away. 
Cowper, Progress of Error, 1. 127. 
Semi-Quietism (sem-i-kwi'et-izm), n. The doc- 
trine of the Semi-Quietists. 
Semi-Quietist (sem-i-kwi'et-ist), n. One of a 
sect of mystics which maintains with the Quiet- 
ists that the most perfect state of the soul is 
passive contemplation, but holds that this state 
is incompatible with external sinful or sensual 
action. 
semiquintile (sem-i-kwin'til), w. In astral. , an 
aspect of two planets when distant from each 
other half of the quintile, or 36 degrees. 
semirecondite (sem''i-re-kon'dit), a. Half- 
hidden or half-concealed; specifically, in zool., 
noting the head of an insect half-concealed 
within the shield of the thorax. 
semireflex (sem-i-re'fleks). a. Involuntarily or. 
irreflectively performed, yet not altogether be- 
yond the influence of the will. 
