sergeant 
and aids in preserving order ; the sergeant-at-arms In the 
House of Representatives has similar duties, and also has 
charge of the pay-accounts of the members. Sergeant or 
(usually) serjeant at law. See def. 5, above. Sergeant- 
for serjeant-)at-mace, an officer of a corporation bear- 
ing a mace as a staff of office. Sergeant's (or Serjeant's) 
mace. See mncci. Sergeants or (usually) Serjeants 
of the household, officers who execute several functions 
within the royal household in England, as the serjeant- 
surgeon, etc. Sergeant's or (usually) Serjeant's ring, 
a ring which an English serjeant at law presented on the 
occasion of his " taking the coif," or assuming the rank of 
serjeant. The custom seems to have existed since the four- 
teenth century. The rings were presented to the eminent 
persons who might be present, their value differing great- 
ly : thus, in 1429, Sir John Fortescue mentions the most 
costly rings as being given to any prince, duke, or arch- 
bishop, and to the lord chancellor and lord treasurer of 
England, rings of less value to earls, bishops, and certain 
officials, of less value again to members of Parliament, and 
so on. Sergeant trumpeter, an officer of the British 
royal household since the sixteenth century, originally 
charged with the direction of a band of sixteen trumpeters. 
(The two spellings seryeant and serjeant are both cor- 
rect, and were formerly used indifferently. Sergeant, how- 
ever, is more in accordance with modern analogies, and 
now generally prevails except in the legal sense, and as 
applied to feudal tenants, to certain officers of the royal 
household, and, in part, to officers of municipal and legis- 
lative bodies, where the archaic spelling Serjeant is re- 
tained. Seedefs. l-5,above.] 
sergeantcy, serjeantcy (sar'- or ser'jent-si), . 
Same as serqeantship. 
sergeant-fish (sar'jent-fish), n. The cobia, Ela- 
cate Canada : so called from the lateral stripes, 
suggesting a sergeant's chevrons. It is of a fusl 
form shape, with a broad depressed head, with a few free 
dorsal spines In advance of the dorsal fln, and of a grayish 
or brownish color with a longitudinal blackish lateral 
band. The sergeant-fish is common in the West Indies and 
along the southern coast of the United States. It is vora- 
cious, but quite savory, and along the coast of Virginia 
and Maryland is commonly called bonito. Also called crab- 
eater and snook. See cut under coWa. (Florida.) 
Sergeant-major (sar' jent-ma"jor), H. 1. Ill the 
army, the highest non-commissioned officer in 
a regiment. He acts as assistant to the adju- 
tant. 2. The cow-pilot, a fish. 
sergeantry, serjeantry (sar'- or ser'jen-tri), 
. [< OF. sergenterie, serjanterie (ML. sen-ien- 
taria, sergenteria), the office of a sergeant, a 
tenure so called, < sergent, serjant, etc., ser- 
vant, sergeant, etc.: see sergeant.] Same as 
sergeanty. 
sergeantship, serjeantship (sar'- or ser'jent- 
ship), . [< sergeant + -ship.] The office of a 
sergeant or serjeaut. 
sergeanty, serjeanty (sar'- or ser'jen-ti), ?i. [< 
OF, sergentie, serjantie, serjeantie (ML. serri- 
entia, sergentia), equiv. to sergenterie, etc.: see 
sergeantry.'] An honorary kind of feudal ten- 
ure, on condition of service due, not to any 
lord, but to the king only. Grand sergeanty or 
serjeanty, a particular kind of knight service, a tenure 
by which the tenant was bound to attend on the king in 
person, not merely in war, but in his court, and at all times 
when summoned. Petit sergeanty or serj eanty, a ten- 
ure in which the services stipulated for bore some relation 
to war, but were not required to be executed personally by 
the tenant, or to be performed to the person of the king, 
as the payment of rent in implements of war, as a bow, a 
pair of spurs, a sword, or a lance. 
serge-blue (serj'blo), n. Same as soluble blue 
(which see, under blue). 
sergedusoyt (serj'du-soi), . [F. serge de sole, 
silk serge: see serge^, (It, s.i/ 3 .] A material 
of silk, or of silk and wool, used in the eigh- 
teenth century for men's coats. Pianette. 
sergette (ser-jef), n. [F., dim. of serge, serge : 
see serge 1 .] A thin serge. 
serial (se'ri-al), a. and n. [= F. seriel; as series 
+ -al.~\ I. a. 1. Arranged or disposed in a se- 
ries, rank, or row, as several like things set one 
after another; placed seriatim ; successive, as 
beads on a string. Also seriate. 2. Charac- 
terized by or exhibiting serial arrangement; 
having the nature or quality of a series; of or 
pertaining to series : as, serial homology (see 
liomology). 
Subjects . . . specially adapted to serial preaching. 
Avttin Phelps, Theory of Preaching, p. 600. 
3. Published at regulai'ly recurring or succes- 
sive times; periodical, as a publication; per- 
taining to a serial. -serial sections, in microscopic 
anat., sections arranged in consecutive order as cut from 
the object. Serial symmetry, in biol., the relation be- 
tween like parts which succeed one another in the long 
axis of the body ; the resemblance of metameric divisions 
as the rings of an annelid ; metamerism (which see) This 
kind of symmetry is distinguished from bilateral sym- 
metry, from actinomeric or radial gymmetry, and from 
dorsabdomiiml symmetry. It is concerned with the same 
disposition of parts as is anteroposterior symmetry, but 
views them differently. The appreciation or recognition 
of this symmetry constitutes serial homology. 
II. H. 1. A tale or other composition pub- 
lished in successive numbers of a periodical. 
2. A work or publication issued in succes- 
sive numbers ; a periodical. 
5508 
The quality of the shilling serial mistakenly written for 
her amusement, . . . and, in short, social institutions 
generally, were all objectionable to her. 
Georije Eliot, Daniel Deronda, vii. 
seriality (se-ri-al'i-ti), . [< serial + -it;/.] 
Succession or sequence; the quality of a series; 
the condition of being serial. 
No apparent simultaneity in the consciousness of the 
two things between which there is a relation of coexis- 
tence can be taken as disproving their original seriality. 
H. Spencer, Prin. of Psycho!., 3B5. 
serially (se'ri-al-i), nrfr. So as to be serial ; in 
the manner of a series; seriatim. Also seriately. 
Serian (se'ri-an), a. [< L. Seres, < Gr. r 
Chinese: see Seric, silk.] Same as Seric. 
No Serian worms he knows, that with their thread 
Draw out their silken lives. 
P. Fletcher, Purple Island, xii. 3. 
seriate (se'ri-at), r. t.; pret. and pp. seriated, 
ppr. seriating. [< ML. seriatus. pp. of seritirr, 
arrange in a series, < series, a row, series: see 
series] To put into the form of a series, or a 
connected or orderly sequence. 
Feeling is Change, and Is distinguishable from Cosmic 
Change in that it is a special and seriated group of changes 
in an organism. 
0. H. Lewes, Probs. of Life and Mind, 1st ser., VI. iv. $ 56. 
The gelatinous tubes or sheaths in which the cells are 
seriated are very obvious. 
H. C. Wood, Fresh- Water Alga?, p. 227. 
seriate (se'ri-at), a . [< ML. seriatus, pp. : see the 
verb.] Arranged in a series or order; serial. 
seriately (se'ri-at-li). adr. [< ME. "serially, 
i-fiiatly; < seriate + -ly' 2 .] Same as serially. 
With-out tarlyng to wash ther handes went ; 
After went to sitte ther ceriatly. 
Rom. of Partenay (E. E. T. S.\ 1. 1886. 
seriatim (se-ri-a'tim), adr. [ML., < L. series, a 
series, + -atim, as in verbatim, q. v.] Serially 
or seriately; so as to be or make a series ; one 
after another. 
seriation (se-ri-a'shon), M. [= F. seriation; as 
seriate + -ion.] The formation of an orderly 
sequence or series. 
Thinking is seriation. 
0. H. Lrim. Probs. of Lite and Mind, I. II. | 36. 
Seric (ser'ik), . [< L. Sericus, < Gr. Z(?pt/.<if, of 
the Seres, < Z#p, pi. Zfjpef, L. Seres, the Seres 
(see def.). Hence ult. E. silk and sergei.] Of 
or pertaining to the Seres, an Asiatic people, 
from whom the ancient Greeks and Romans got 
the first silk. The name Seres is used vaguely, but 
their land is generally understood to be China in its north- 
ern aspect, or as known by those approaching it from the 
northwest. 
Serica (ser'i-ka), n. [NL. (MacLeay, 1819), < Gr. 
mipiK6(, silken: see Seric, silk.] A genus of 
melolonthine beetles, giving name to a disused 
family Sericidee, having an ovate convex form 
and the tarsal claws cleft. <S. brunnea is a Brit- 
ish species. 
Sericaria (ser-i-ka'ri-a), . [NL. (Latreille, 
1825), < Gr. or/ptn6f, silken: see Seric, silk.] A 
genus of bombycid moths, important as con- 
taining the mulberry-silkworm, or common 
silkworm of commerce, S. mori. Many authors, 
however, retain the old generic name Bombyx 
for this species. See cut under Bombyx. 
sericate (ser'i-kat), a. [< L. sericus, < Gr. m/pi- 
Kcif, silken, + -ate 1 .] Same as sericeous. 
sericated (ser'i-ka-ted), a. [< sericate + -erf 2 .] 
Covered with a silky down. 
sericeous (se-rish'ius), a. [< LL. sericevs, of 
silk, < L. sericum, silk: see serge 1 , silk.] 1. 
Containing, pertaining to, or consisting of silk; 
having the character of silk; silky. 2. Re- 
sembling silk; silky or satiny in appearance; 
smooth, soft, and shiny, as the plumage of a 
bird, the surface of an insect, etc. 3. In bot., 
silky ; covered with soft shining hairs pressed 
close to the surface : as, a sericeous leaf. 
sericicultural (ser'i-si-kuFtur-al), a. [< seri- 
ciculture + -al.] Of or pertaining to sericicul- 
ture. Also sericultural. 
sericiculture (ser'i-si-kul"tur), n. [= F. serici- 
culture, < LL. sericum, silk (see silk, sericeous), 
+ cultura, culture.] The breeding, rearing, 
and treatment of silkworms ; that part of the 
silk-industry which relates to the insects that 
yield silk. Also sericulture. 
sericiculturist (ser'i-si-kul"tur-ist), n. [< seri- 
ciculture + -ist.] One who" breeds, rears, and 
treats silkworms : one who is engaged in seri- 
ciculture. Also sericulturist. 
Sericidae (se-ris'i-de), n. pi. [NL., < Serica + 
-idle.] The Sericides rated as a family of scar- 
abteoid Coleoptera. 
Sericides (se-ris'i-dez), . pi. [NL., < Serica 
+ -ides.] . A' section or series of melolonthine 
seriema 
beetles, including the genus Xcrica si ml related 
forms. 
sericin (ser'i-sin), n. [< LL. #rricitni, silk, + 
-(''*.] The gelatinous substance of silk; silk- 
gelatin. 
sericite (ser'i-sit), H. [< LL. writ-mil, silk, + 
-ite 2 .] A variety of potash mica, or muscovite. 
occurring in fine scales of a greenish- or yellow- 
ish-white color: so named from its silky luster. 
It forms an essential part of a silky schist called sericite- 
schist, which is found near Wiesbaden in Germany. 
sericite-gneiss (ser'i-sit-nis), . Gneiss con- 
taining serieite in the place of the ordinary 
micaceous constituent. 
sericite-schist (ser'i-sit-shist), H. A variety 
of mica-schist, made up of qnartzose material 
through which sericite is distributed, in the 
manner of muscovite in the typical mica-schist . 
sericitic (ser-i-sit'ik), a. [< sericite + -ic.] 
Made up of, characterized by, or containing 
sericite Sericitic gneiss. Same as seriate-gneiss. 
Sericocarpus (ser"i-k6-kar'pus), H. [NL. (C. G. 
Nees, 1832), so called in allusion to the silky 
hairs covering the achenes; < Gr. at/pmof, silken, 
+ napx6c, fruit.] A genus of composite plants, 
of the tribe Astcroidess and subtribe Hcteroeltro- 
meee. It is distinguished from the closely related genus 
Aster by the usually ovoid involucre with coriaceous whit- 
ish green-tipped squamose bracts, imbricated in several 
ranks, by few-flowered heads with about five white rays, 
and by always silky hairy achenes. The 4 species are na- 
tives of the United States, and are known as white-topped 
aster. They are erect perennials, usually low, and spread- 
ing in colonies by horizontal rootstocks. They bear alter- 
nate sessile undivided leaves, and numerous small heads 
of whitish flowers, borne In a flat corymb. S. astrroides 
and S. linifolius, respectively the S. conyzoides and 5. o- 
lidagineiis of many American authors, are the common 
species of the Atlantic States. 
sericon (ser'i-kon), . [Origin obscure.] In 
alchemy, a red tincture: contrasted with btifo, 
black tincture. The words were used to terrify 
the uninitiated. 
Out goes 
The flre ; and down th' alembecs, and the furnace ; 
Both sericon and bufo shall be lost. 
Piger Henricus, or what not Thou wretch ! 
B. Jonson, Alchemist, ii. 1. 
Sericostoma (ser-i-kos'to-ma), n. [NL. (La- 
treille, 1825), < Gr. oqp'KOf, silken, + arofia, 
mouth.] The typical genus of Sericostonifitidse. 
Seventeen species are known, all European. The adults 
are elongate, appear in summer, and do not stray from 
the margins of their breeding places. The larva; live in 
cylindrical cases in small and moderately swift streams. 
5. personatum is a British species. 
Sericostomatidae (ser'i-ko-sto-mat'i-de), H. pi. 
[NL. (Stephens, 1836, as Sericostomidse), < Seri- 
costoma(t-) + -idee.] A family of trichopterous 
neuropterous insects or caddis-flies, typified by 
the genus Sericostoma . It is a large and wide-spread 
group, represented in nearly all parts of the world, and 
comprises (usually) excessively hairy insects, for the most 
part uniform in color or with few markings. The larva; 
generally inhabit streams, and their cases, usually formed 
of sand or small stones, vary greatly in form. 
sericterium (ser-ik-te'ri-um), .; pi. sericteria 
(-S). [NL., irreg. < Gr. ai/ptn6v, silk, + term. 
-rr/piov.] A spinning-gland; a glandular appa- 
ratus in insects for the secretion of silk, geric- 
teria have been compared to salivary glands when consist- 
ing of larger or smaller tubes opening near the mouth. 
Such organs occur in various insects, and in different part ft 
of their bodies. The most important are those of silk- 
worms. 
The larva of the antlion has its spinning organs at the 
opposite end of the body, the wall of the rectum . . . tak- 
ing the place of the sericteria. data, Zobl. (trans.), p. 532. 
sericultural (ser'i-kul-tur-al), . Same as neri- 
i-iciiltural. 
sericulture (ser'i-kul-tur), . Same as st-rii-i- 
culture. 
sericulturist (ser'i-kul-tur-ist), . [< sericul- 
ture + -ist.] Same as sericiculturist. 
Sericulus (se-rik'u-lus), . [NL. (Swainson, 
1825), dim. of LL. sericum, silk : see Seric, silk.] 
An Australian genus of Oriolidte or of Paradi- 
seidee, with sericeous black and golden-yellow 
plumage; regent-birds, as S. melinim or chryso- 
cephalus, the common regent-bird. The posi- 
tion of the genus has been much questioned. 
See cut under regent-bird. 
serlet, . [ME., also serve, < OF. "serit, < L. se- 
ries, a row: see series.] A series. 
What may I conclude of this longe serye, 
But after wo I rede us to be merye ? 
Chaucer, Knight's Tale, 1. 2209. 
seriema (ser-i-e'ma), n. [See cariama.] A 
remarkable South American bird, whose name 
is as unsettled in orthography as is its position 
in the ornithological system. It is usually regard- 
ed as grallatorial, and related to the cranes, but some- 
times placed with the birds of prey, next to the African 
secretaiy-bird, which it resembles in some respects. It is 
3 feet long ; the wing 15 inches, the tail 13, the tarsus 7J ; 
