Semisagit- 
tate Mark. 
semi-regular 
semi-regular (sem-i-reg'u-lar), a. [< NL. ternt- 
regularly (Kepler) ; as semi- + regular.] Per- 
taining to or containing a quadrilateral which 
has four equal sides, but only pairs of equal 
angles. A semi-regular solid is one whose faces are all 
alike and semi-regular, which has dissimilar solid angles, 
distinct in the number of their lines, but not mole than 
two kinds of them, lying on the surfaces of not more than 
two concentric spheres, and of each class of angles there 
are the same number as in a regular solid. Of semi-regu- 
lar solids, so denned, there are but two the rhombic do- 
decahedron and the trlacontahedron ; but modern writers 
often intend by the semi-regular solids the Archimedean 
bodies. 
semi-retractile (sem-i-re-trak'til), a. Retrac- 
tile to some extent, as' the claws of various 
carnivores, but incapable of being completely 
sheathed like a cat's. Encyc. Brit., XV. 440. 
semirhomb (sem'i-romb), n. One half of the 
pectinated rhomb or hydrospire of a cystic 
crinoid, each half being a separate piece. See 
ItydroMpire. 
semi-ring (sem'i-ring), w. In zool., a tracheal 
or bronchial half-ring. See tracheal rings (un- 
der ring 1 ), and cut under pessidus. 
semis (se'mis), . [L., < semi-, half, + as, as: 
see as*.] A bronze coin of the ancient Roman 
republic, half the value of the as. The obverse 
type is a head of Jupiter, the reverse type the 
prow of a vessel, and the mark of value S. 
semisagittate (sem-i-saj'i-tat), a. In entom., 
shaped like the longitudinal half of a 
barbed arrow-head, or like the barbed 
end of a fish-hook; acuminate, recti- 
linear on one side, and spreading to a 
sharp projection on the other : noting 
color-marks, especially on the wings 
of Lepidoptera. 
semi-savage (sem-i-sav'aj), . and n. 
I. a. Semibarbarian; half -civilized. 
II. . A half -civilized person; a 
semibarbarian. 
Semi-Saxon (sem-i-sak'sn), a. and n. Early 
Middle English : an inexact term applied to 
Middle English in its first stage, the period 
from about 1150 to about 1250, when the Saxon 
inflections had not wholly fallen away. 
semisection (sem-i-sek'shon), n. Same as Itemi- 
section. 
Homen also, after semisection of. the cervical region in 
dogs, found distinct degenerating fibres in the opposite 
lateral tract. Lancet, No. 3424, p. 720. 
semiseptate (sem-i-sep'tat), a. In lot. and 
zool., half -partitioned ; having a dissepiment 
which does not project into the cavity to which 
it belongs sufficiently to separate it into two 
entire cells. 
semisextile (sem-i-seks'til), n. In astral., an 
aspect of two planets when they are distant 
from each other the half of a sextile, or 30 
degrees. 
semi-smile (sem'i-smil), . A faint smile; a 
suppressed or forced smile. [Rare.] 
Mr. Beaufort put on a doleful and doubtful semi-smile 
of welcome. Bulwer, Night and Morning, iv. 3. 
semisolid (sem-i-sol'id), n. and a. I. . A sur- 
face composed of facets, like a geometrical 
solid, but not closing so as to inclose space. 
II. a. Half-solid. 
semisospire (sem'i-so-splr), n. [< ML. semisu- 
spirium, q. v.] In medieval musical notation, 
same as eighth-note rest. Also setnistispirium. 
semi-sound (sem'i-sound), n. [< ME. semisoun; 
as semi- + sound 5 .] A half -sound; a low or 
broken tone. [Rare.] 
Softe he cougheth with a semy soun. 
Chaucer, Miller's Tale, 1. 511. 
semispata (sem-i-spa'ta), n. [ML., also semi- 
spatluum, LL. semispaiha, < L. semi-, half, + 
xpatha, a broad two-edged sword: see spathe.'] 
A Prankish dagger about 2 feet long, having a 
single edge, and several grooves in the back of 
the blade. See sax 1 , 1. 
semi-Spherical (sem-i-sfer'i-kal), a. Having 
the figure of a half -sphere ; hemispherical. 
semispinalis (seml-spi-mi/lis), n.; pi. seinix/ii- 
nales (-lez). [NL. (se. musculus).] A deep 
muscular layer of the back, in the vertebral 
groove beneath the complexus, splenius, spina- 
lis dorsi, and longissimus. It consists of oblique 
fascicles extending across several vertebra, from the 
transverse and articular processes to the spinous pro- 
cesses. The series extend in man from the lower part of 
the thoracic to the upper part of the cervical region, and 
those of the back and neck respectively are sometimes 
distinguished as semispinalis dorsi and semispinalis '"///. 
- Semispinalis capltis. Same as complexus'i. 
semisquare (sem'i-skwar), . In astrol., an as- 
pect of two planets when they are 45 degrees 
distant from each other. 
5487 
semi-steel (sem'i-stel).. Puddled steel. [U.S.] 
semisubstitution (sem-i-sub-sti-tu'shon), H. A 
linear transformation of two variables in which 
one of them remains unaltered, 
semisupematural (sem-i-su-per-nat'u-ral), a. 
Half-divine and half-human : used of the classic 
demigods or heroes. 
The Greeks . . . were surrounded with a world of semi- 
supernatural beings. 
R. S. Perrin, Religion of Philosophy, p. 412. 
semisupinated (sem-i-su'pi-na-ted), a. Placed 
in a position between supination and pronation, 
as the hand. 
When the hand is semisupinated, i. e. with the radius 
and ulna parallel. 
Buck's Handbook ofMed. Sciences, VIII. 534. 
Semisuspirium (sem"i-su-spir'i-um), n. ; pi. 
semisuspiria (-a). [ML., < L. semi-, half, T su- 
spirium, a breathing, < suspirare, breathe : see 
suspire.] Same as semisospire. 
semita (sem'i-ta), n.; pi. semitas (-ie). [NL., < 
L. semita, a narrow way, a path.] In echino- 
derms, a fascicle; a sort of 
lesser ambulacrum (having, 
however, nothing to do with 
the ambulacral organs proper), 
consisting of a band of minute 
close-set tubercles which bear 
ciliated clubbed spines. Sem- 
ites are characteristic of the 
spatangoid sea-urchins. See 
also cut under Spatangoida. 
semital (sem'i-tal), a. [< NL. 
xcmita + -al. Cf. L. semitalis, 
of or belonging to a path.] Of 
or pertaining to a semita: as, a si. <* 
semital spine; a semital tuber- 
cle.- Semital spine, the peculiar SLS*aS5ctai.* A 
clavate ciliated spine borne upon a A Semital Spine, more 
Semital tubercle. highly magnified, 
semi-tangent (sem-i-tan'jent), SSSraSS**; 
11. In math., the tangent of half s clubbed end ; a, its 
an arc. cillatcd stenl ' 
semitaryt, An obsolete form of simitar. 
Here, disarm me, take my semitary. 
B. Joneon, Case is Altered, v. 2. 
semitaur (sem'i-tar), M. [Formerly semitaure, 
semitawre; < L. semi-, half, + taurus, a bull.] 
A fabulous animal, half bull and half man. 
Semitaurs are among the commonest representations in 
Hindu religious art. The ordinary form is figured under 
Durga, which goddess is usually depicted spearing or 
cutting off the human head of a semitaur. Also semitaure. 
He sees Chimeras, Gorgons. Mino-Taures, 
Medusas, Haggs, Alectos, Semi-Taures. 
Sylvester, tr. of Bethulia's Rescue, vi. 
Some semitawres, and some more halfe a beare, 
Other halfe swine deepe wallowing in the miers. 
Breton, Pilgrimage to Paradise, p. 8. (Dames.) 
Semite (sem'It), . and a. [< NL. * Semites, < LL. 
Sem, < Gr. 2^/i, Shem.] 1. n. A descendant or 
supposed descendant of Shem, son of Noah. 
II. a. Of or belonging to Shem or his de- 
scendants. 
Also Sliemite. 
semitendinose (sem-i-ten'di-nos), a. Same as 
semi tendinous. 
semitendinosus(sem-i-ten-di-n6'8us), n.; pi. 
semitendinosi (-si). [NL. (se. nnisenlus) : see 
semitendinous.] A fusiform muscle with a re- 
markably long tendon, on the back of the 
thigh, at the inner side of the biceps femoris, 
arising from the tuberosity of the ischium in 
common with the biceps, and inserted at the 
inner anterior side of the shaft of the tibia be- 
neath the insertion of the sartorius. This muscle 
flexes the leg, and its tendon forms one of the inner ham- 
strings. Also called tendiiwsus and ischiopretibialis. 
semitendinous (sem-i-ten'di-nus), a. Tendi- 
nous for half its length or thereabouts, as a 
muscle ; having a tendon about as long as its 
fleshy part, as the semitendinosus. 
semiterete(sem*i-te-ret'),a. Half-round; semi- 
cylindric, like a cheese-scoop. 
semitertian (sem-i-ter'sban), a. and . I. a. 
Partly tertian and partly quotidian : applied to 
intermittent fevers. 
II. n. A semitertian fever. 
semitesseral (sem-i-tes'e-ral), a. Exhibiting 
the hemihedrism characteristic of forms of the 
tesseral or isometric system. 
Semitesseral forms [of crystals]. Encyc. Brit., XVI. 355. 
Semitic (se-mit'ik), a. and n. [= F. Semitiquc 
= Sp. Semitico = Pg. It. Semitico (of. G. Semit- 
isch = Dan. Sw. Semitislc), < NL. "Semiticus, < 
Semita, Semite : see Semite."] I. a. Relating to 
the Semites, or the descendants of Shem; per- 
taining to the Hebrew race or any of those kin- 
semi-uncial 
ilred to it, as the Arabians and the Assyrians. 
Also Shemitic, Shemitixlt. 
The term [Semitic] . . . was not in general use until the 
first quarter of this century, having been used in Germany, 
as it is alleged, by Schlozer in 1781. ... It could not, how- 
ever, have been general, since Eichhorn claims to have 
introduced it in place of Oriental in 1784. . . . It may not 
improperly be said that the term Semitic is authoritative. 
J. S. Blackmll, in 1'roc. Amer. Philol. Ass., 1881, p. 2*. 
Semitic languages, an important family of languages 
distinguished by triliteral verbal roots and vowel-inflec- 
tion. It comprises two principal branches, the northern 
and the southern. To the northern branch belong the 
Assyrian, Aramean (including Syrian), and Palestinian (in- 
cluding Hebrew and Phenlcian) ; to the southern belong 
the Arabic (including Sabean) and its derived subbranch, 
the Ethiopic. 
II. n. The Semitic languages collectively. 
Semitisation, Semitise. See Semitization, Semi- 
tise. 
Semitism (sem'i-tizm), . [< Semite + -IX/H.] 
1. A Semitic word or idiom. 
So extensively had Semitic influences penetrated Egypt 
that the Egyptian language, during the period of the 
nineteenth dynasty, is said by Brugsch to be as full of 
Semttisms as German is of Gallicisms. 
Huxley, Nineteenth Century, XIX. 498. 
2. Semitic ways, life, thought, etc. ; especially, 
the religious doctrines and principles or prac- 
tices of the Jewish people. 
Also Shemitism. 
Semitist (sem'i-tist), n. [< Semite + -ist.] A 
Semitic scholar; one versed in Semitic lan- 
guage, literature, etc. 
Possibly, like some other Semitisls, Prof. Driver may 
not regard the results of Assyriology with pre-eminent 
favour. The Academy, July 26, 1890, p. 68. 
Semitization (sem'i-ti-za'shon), n. [< Senii- 
tize + -ation.] The act of rendering Semitic in 
character, language, or other attribute. Also 
spelled Semitisation. 
The partial Semitization of the southern districts of 
Abyssinia. Encyc. Brit., XXI. 65. 
per; 
The 
religion. 
That they (the Philistines] were a Semitic or at least a 
thoroughly Semitized people can now hardly be made 
a matter of dispute. Encyc. Brit., XVIII. 756. 
2. To convert to the Hebrew religion. 
Also spelled Semitise. 
semitone (sem'i-ton), n. [= F. semiton = Sp. 
nemitono; < LL. semitonium, a half-tone, < L. 
semi-, half, + tonus, tone.] In music, an inter- 
val approximately equal to half of a tone; a 
minor second ; a half-step. The typical semitone 
is that between the seventh and the eighth tone of the 
major scale ; this is called diatonic, and its ratio is 15 : 16. 
That between any tone and its flat or its sharp is called 
chromatic; its ratio is either 24 : 25 or 128 : 135 the for- 
mer being called the less, and the latter the greater. The 
semitone resulting from a doubly diminished third is 
called enharmonic. The semitone produced by equal tern- 
srament is called tempered or mean; its ratio is 1:21*5. 
The semitone is not the same as the ancient hemitone 
[sometimes called the Pythagorean semitone), which was 
the remnant left from a perfect fourth after subtracting 
two tones. See limma, 1. Rarely called demitone. 
semitonic (sem-i-ton'ik), . [< semitone + -ic."\ 
Pertaining to a semitone ; consisting of a semi- 
tone or of semitones. 
semi-transparency (sem // i-trans-par'en-si), 11. 
Imperfect transparency ; partial opaqueness. 
semi-transparent (sem"i-trans-par'ent), . 
Half-transparent or imperfectly transparent. 
Semi-transparent china, a name given to a fine pottery 
made at Stoke-upon- Trent in the early years of the factory 
which afterward produced the famous Spode porcelain. 
semi-tropical (sem-i-trop'i-kal), a. Belonging 
in part to the tropics and in part to more tem- 
perate regions; characteristic of regions bor- 
dering on the tropics ; subtropical : as, semi- 
tropical vegetation ; a semi-tropical climate. 
semitubular (sem-i-tu'bu-lar), a. Like the 
half of a tube divided longitudinally; elongate, 
with parallel margins, one surface being strong- 
ly convex and the other strongly concave. 
semitychonic (sem"i-tl-kon'ik), a. Approxi- 
mating to the astronomical system of Tycho 
Brahe. The semitychonic system supposes the earth to 
revolve on its axis daily, but the sun to revolve around 
the earth, and the other primary planets to revolve around 
the sun. 
semi-uncial (sem-i-un'sial), a. and H. I. a. In 
/ml/ iKirnpliji, intermediate between uncial and 
minuscule: noting a method of writing Latin 
and Greek characters found in the sixth or 
seventh and succeeding centuries. 
Where contracting is the main business, it is not well 
to write, as the fashion now is, uncial or gemiuncial let- 
ters, to look like pig's ribs. 
Roger North, Lord Guilford, i. 20. (Dames.) 
Scholia, in two or more fine semiitncial hands, are fre- 
quent through the entire book. Classical Rev., III. 18. 
