Sesamnm 
ami obtuse or shortly acuminate. There are 9 or 10 species, 
all natives of tropical or southern Africa, though one, S. 
Indicum, is thought by some 
to be of Asiatic origin. They 
are erect or prostrate herbs 
with a rough and gummy 
surface. They bear opposite 
leaves below, alternate above, 
and either entire or cleft. The 
pale or violet flowers are soli- 
tary in the axils. The one im- 
portant species is 5. Indicum, 
the sesame, widely natural- 
ized and cultivated. See seta- 
me, and cut under benne. Oil 
ofsesamum. See sesame and 
oil. 
sesban (ses'ban), n. [< 
F. sesban, < Ar. seiseban, 
saisabdn, < Pers. sisaban, 
the plant Scsbania JEgyp- 
tiaca.] A plant, Ses- 
liania Mjyptiaca, native 
throughout the tropics 
of the Old World. It is an elegant but soft- 
wooded and short-lived shrub, from 6 to 10 feet 
high. Also called ji/ntce. 
Sesbania (ses-ba'ni-k), . [NL. (Persoon, 1807), 
< sesban, q. v.] A genus of leguminous plants, 
of the tribe Galegeee and subtribe Rnbiniex. 
It is characterized by a beardless style with a small stig- 
ma, and a long linear and compressed roundish or four- 
winged pod which is within divided by cross-partitions 
between the seeds. There are about 30 species, widely 
dispersed through warm regions of both hemispheres. 
They are herbs or shrubs, or small short-lived trees, bear- 
ing abruptly pinnate leaves with numerous and entire 
leaflets, and loose axillary racemes of yellow, white, or 
purplish flowers on slender pedicels. They are known 
as swamp pea-tree. S. maerocarpa, a smooth annual of 
the southern United States, bears very slender pendulous 
and curving pods about a foot long, and yellow and red 
purple-dotted flowers ; it is thought to be the source of 
the fiber known as Colorado-ricer hemp. For S. ^Kiji/pti- 
aca, see sesban and jyntee. For other species, see pea-tree, 
2, and dhunchee. 
sescuncia (ses-kun'shi-a), n. [L., < sesqui-, one 
half more, + unria, an ounce: see ounce 1 .] In 
Bom. antiq., a weight of an ounce and a half; 
in the sextantal system of coinage, a piece of 
one and a half ounces, or one eighth of an as. 
sescuple (ses'ku-pl), n. In one, pros., same as 
hemioUc. 
sese 1 !, i>. A Middle English spelling of seize. 
sese 2 t, v. A Middle English form of cease. 
sescli (ses'e-li), . [Formerly also seselie, sis- 
ley, cicely (see cicely); < OF. seseli, sesel, F. se- 
seli = Sp. Pg. It. seseli, < L. sesclis, < Gr. oeacfa, 
ereerc/Uf, also attj, name of a plant, Tordylium offl- 
cinale, or, according to others, of several um- 
bellifers of different genera, one of them Sescli 
tortuosum.] 1. A plant of the genus Seseli; 
cicely. See cicely. 2. [cap.] [NL. (Linnaeus, 
1737).] A genus of umbelliferous plants, type 
of the tribe Seseliucee and subtribe Euseselese. 
It is characterized by flowers with broad petals notched 
and deeply inflexed at the apex, and smooth, woolly, or 
bristly beakless fruit with mostly solitary oil-tubes, and 
obtuse and nearly equal primary ridges, but without 
corky thickening or secondary ridges. There are about 
60 species, or only 40 which are clearly distinct, natives 
of north temperate regions of the Old World, with 2 in 
mountains of Australia. They are usually smooth peren- 
nials with erect branching stems, tall or slender or rigid, 
bearing ternately dissected leaves with narrow and often 
thread-shaped segments. The white flowers are disposed 
in compound umbels, usually with numerous undivided 
bracts and bractlets, and often with prominent calyx-teeth, 
an unusual feature in the order. Some species are known 
as meadow-saxifrage and as hartwort. (Com pare cicely.) S. 
Hippomarathrum is known as horse-poppy and horse-fennel. 
Seselinese (ses-e-liu'e-e), n. pi. [NL. (Koch, 
1824), < Seseli + -ineee.] A large tribe of poly- 
petalous plants, of the order Umbelliferse. it is 
characterized by a fruit which is roundish in transverse 
section or compressed on the back, with a broad commis- 
sure, without conspicuous secondary ridges, and with its 
lateral ridges either distinct or united into a nerve-like or 
corky margin, but not dilated. It includes about 46 gen- 
era, principally of the Old World, classed in 7 subtribes, 
of which Seseli, Thecovtrpus, Cachrys, (Enanthe, Schulteia, 
Selinum, and Angelica, are the types. See also Fcenicu- 
lum, Prangos, Sttaus, Ligusticum, and Thaspium. 
Sesha (sa'sha), n. [< Skt. yesha.] In Hind, 
myth., the king of the serpents, with a thousand 
heads, on which the world rests, and on which 
Vishnu reclines while asleep: it was also used 
as a rope in churning the ocean. 
Sesia (se'shi-a), n. [NL. (Fabricius, 1775), < Gr. 
afc (gen. ffeof, later arrrof), a moth.] A notable 
genus of clear-winged moths, typical of the 
family Sesiidse. it contains small or medium-sized 
species, with antennae slightly thickened externally, or 
with a brush of hair at the tip. The fore wings have two 
or three clear spots, and the hind wings are hyaline. Most 
of the European and North American species of the fam- 
ily belong to this genus, .fjyeria is a synonym. 
Sesiades (se-si'a-dez), . pi. [NL., < Scsia + 
-ades.] A division of sphinxes, approximately 
equivalent to the modern family Sexiidie. 
5520 
sesiid (ses'i-id), a. and n. I. a. Of or pertain- 
ing to the family Sesiidse. 
II. M. A moth of the family Sexiiilii: 
Sesiidae (sf-si'i-de). n.pl. [NL. (Speyer, 1843, 
as Sesidse)', < Sesia + -irfa?.] Same as JEgerUdeB. 
Sesiidx is adopted by most late writers. AIsoSm'*?(Hub- 
ner. 1816), Sesiariw (Boisduval, 1829), Sesiatiea (Graven- 
horst, 1843), Sesiades, and Sesiadse. 
Sesleria (ses-le'ri-a), . [NL. (Scopoli, 1771'), 
named after L. Sesl'cr, a botanist of the 18th cen- 
tury.] A genus of grasses of the tribe Festuccse, 
type of the subtribe Sealeries'. It is characterized 
by two- to six-flowered spikelets crowded into globose or 
cylindrical spike-like panicles, and by usually three- to 
five-nerved flowering glumes which are toothed or pointed 
or short-awned. There are about 10 species, natives of 
Europe and western Asia. They are perennial turf-form- 
ing grasses with flat or convolute leaves, and usually with 
short bluish or silvery-shining spikes. See moor-grass. 
sesonH, and r.. A Middle English form of 
season. 
SCSOn'-'t, ". A Middle English form of seizin. 
sesount, A Middle English form of season. 
sesourst, A Middle English form of scissors. 
sesqui- (ses'kwi). [=F. Sp. Pg. It. xexqui-, < L. 
sesqui-, usually as a prefix, rarely as an inde- 
pendent word, also xesque, one half more, more 
by one half; perhaps contracted < "semisqite, < 
semis, a half (see semi-), + -que (= Gr. Kai), 
and.] A Latin prefix, meaning 'one half 
more' that is, an amount equal to one and a 
half times some unit, as in sesquitone ; or an 
amount equal to a unit plus some part of itself, 
as in sesquialtera, sesquitertia, etc. (a) In them., 
it is used to designate compounds in which there are one 
and a half times as many atoms or radicals of one mem- 
ber of the compound as of the other : thus, sesquioxid of 
iron is an oxid containing two atoms of iron to three of oxy- 
gen. (6) In arith., it expresses asuperparticular ratio that 
is, a ratio in which the greater term contains the less once, 
and one aliquot part over: thus, the ratio of 3 to 2 Is ses- 
quialteral, that of 4 to 3 sesquitertial, that of 5 to 4 sesqui- 
quartal, etc. But these words are rare In an English form. 
Thus, T. Hills in 1600 writes : "If the quotient be U then 
it is named sesquialtera, if \\ then sesquiterlia, if 11 then 
sesquiquarta, if 1 then sesquiquinta, and so foorth infinite- 
ly, which names cannot be englished otherwise but thus, 
once and a halfe, once and a third, once and a quarter, 
once and a lift, etc." 
sesquialter (ses-kwi-al'ter), H. [NL., < L. ses- 
quialter, one half more, < sesqui-, one half more, 
+ alter, another.] In cntom., a large spot in- 
closing a smaller one ; a sesquiocellus. 
sesquialtera (ses-kwi-al'te-ra), n. [L., fern, of 
sesquialter, one half more :' see sesquialter.] In 
music: (a) An interval having the ratio l:li or 
2 : 3 that is, a perfect fifth. (6) A rhythm in 
which three minims are made equal to a pre- 
ceding two. Compare hemiolia. (c) In organ- 
building, a variety of mixture. 
sesquialteral (ses-kwi-al'te-ral), a. [< L. ses- 
quuilter, one half more (see sesquialter), + -al.] 
One and a half more; pnehalf more. Specifically 
(a) In math. , noting a ratio where one quantity or number 
contains another once and a half as much more : thus, the 
ratio 9 to 6 is sesquialteral, (b) In bot., noting that there 
is half as much more as the number of some other part to 
which a given part bears special relation, as where the sta- 
mens are one half as many more as the petals or sepals, or 
that a fertile flower is accompanied by an abortive one, as 
in some grasses; also, noting a large fertile floret accom- 
panied by a small abortive one. (c) In entom., noting any 
part or ornament which is accompanied by another half 
as large, or much smaller as (1) an ocellated spot having 
a smaller one close to it, the two being generally inclosed 
by a common ring of color (also called sesquialter and 
zeftquiocellus) ', (2) a colored band crossing both of the out- 
spread wings, and accompanied on either the primary or 
the secondary wing alone by another band ; or (3) a cell or 
areolet of the wing to which a much smaller one is ap- 
pended. 
sesquialterate (ses-kwi-al'te-rat), a. [< L. ses- 
quialtei', one half more, + -ate 1 .] Same as ses- 
quialteral. 
sesquialterous (ses-kwi-al'te-rus), a. [< L. ses- 
quiaJter, one half more, + -out!.] Same as ses- 
quialteral. 
sesquibasic (ses-kwi-ba'sik), a. [< L. sesqui-, 
one half more, + basis, a base : see basic.] In 
client., noting a salt containing one and a half 
equivalents of the base for each equivalent of 
acid. 
sesquiduple (ses-kwi-du'pl), a. [< L. sesqui- + 
E. duple: a modern irregular formation.] Of 
three and a half times. 
sesquiduplicate (ses-kwi-dii'pli-kat), a. [< L. 
sesqiti- + E. duplicate.] Being in the ratio of 
2i to 1, or 5 to 2. 
sesquih. In med., an abbreviation of L. sesqui- 
hnra, an hour and a half. 
sesquinona (ses-kwi-no'na). n. [< L. sesqui-, 
one half more, + nonus, ninth : see none 2 .] In 
in unic, an interval having the ratio 1 : 1J or 9 : 10 
that is, a lesser major second. 
sesquinonal (ses-kwi-no'nal), a. [As sesquino- 
na + -al.] Being in the ratio of 10 to 9. 
sesquisextal 
sesquiocellus (ses'kwi-o-sel'us), .; pi. x 
<><< Hi (-1). [< L. sesqui-, one half more, + uri'l- 
IHX, a little eye : see ocellus.] In cntom., a large 
ocellate spot which has a smaller one within it, 
as on the wings of certain butterflies; a sesqui- 
alter. See sesquialteral (c) (I). 
sesquioctava (ses"kwi-ok-ta'va), H. [< LL. set- 
i/iiinrtiiva. fern. ofsesquioctavus,<. li.gesqui-, one 
half more, + octants, eighth: see oetarc.] In 
music, an interval having the ratio 1 : H or 8 : 9 
that is, a greater major second. 
sesquioctaval (ses-kwi-ok'ta-val), a. [As ses- 
qiiiorttira + -al.] Being in the "ratio of 9 to H. 
sesquioxid, sesquioxide (ses-kwi-ok'sid, -sid 
or -sid), n. [< nesqiti- + oxid.] A compound 
of oxygen and another element in the propor- 
tion of three atoms of oxygen to two of the 
other: as, iron nesquioxid, Fe 2 O3. 
sesquipedal (ses'kwi-ped-al), a. and n. [< L. 
tie.it/nijn-datix, of a foot and' a half, < sexqiii-, one 
half more, -t- pes ( ped-) = E./oot: see pedal.] 
1. a. Same as sesquipedalian. 
Fustian, big sesquipedal words. 
Burton, Anat. of Mel., p. 660 
II. H. A person or thing a foot and a half 
high. [Bare.] 
I am but a sesquipedal [compared with the gianta of the 
club], having only six foot and a half of stature. 
Addison, Spectator, No. 108. 
sesquipedalian (ses'kwi -pe-da'lian), a. [< 
s(quij>edal + -ian.] 1. Containing or measur- 
ing a foot and a half: as, a sesqui/ii'iltilian pyg- 
my: often humorously said of long words, in 
translation of Horace's sesquipedaUa verba 
(words a foot and a half long). 
This " ornate style " introduced sesquipedalian Latin- 
isms, words of immense dimensions, that could not hide 
then- vacuity of thought. 
1. D'Israeli, Amen, of Lit., I. 195. 
2. Addicted to the use of long words. 
The words gathered size like snow-balls, and toward 
the end of her letter Miss Jenkyns used to become quite 
sesquipedalian. Mrs. (Jaslcell, C'ranford, v. 
sesquipedalianism (ses"kwi-pe-da'lian-izm), 
n. [<T sesquipedalian + -ism.] The condition 
of being sesquipedalian ; the practice of using, 
or fondness for using, long words ; also, a long 
word, or a style abounding in long words. 
Are not these masters of hypernolysyllabic sesquipeda- 
lianism using proper language ? F. Hall, Mod. Eng. , p. 39. 
sesquipedalism (ses-kwi-ped'al-izm), w. [< 
sesquipedal + -ism.] Same as sesquipedaliatt- 
ism. 
The era of galvanized sesquipedalism and sonorous ca- 
dences, inaugurated by Johnson. 
F. Hall, Mod. Eng., p. 148. 
sesquipedality (ses'kwi-pf-dal'j-ti), n. [< *<?*- 
quipeaai + -ity.] 1. The condition or property 
of being sesquipedalian ; hence, the condition 
of being over-large. 
Imagine to yourself a little squat, niiconrtly figure of a 
Doctor Slop, of about four feet and a half perpendicular 
height, with a breadth of back, and a sesquipedality of 
belly, which might have done honour to a Serjeant in 
the horse-guards. Sterne, Tristram Shandy, ii. 9. 
2. The practice of using long words. 
sesquiplicate (ses-kwip'li-kat), a. [< L. sesqui- 
plex (-j>lic-), taken one and a half times, < ses- 
qui-, one half more, + plicare, pp. plictitus, fold : 
see plicate.] Noting the ratio of a cube to a 
square : as, the sesquiplicate proportion of the 
periodical times of the planets. 
sesquiquadrate (ses-kwi-kwod'rat), . [< L. 
sesqui-, one half more, + quadratus, square: 
see quadrate.] In astrol., an aspect of two 
planets when distant from each other 135, or 
a quadrant and a half. 
sesquiquarta (ses-kwi-kwar'ta), w. [< L. sesqui-, 
one half more, + quartus, fourth: see quart 1 .] 
In music, an interval haying the ratio 1:1J or 
4:5 that is, a major third. 
sesquiquartal (ses-kwi-kwar'tal), a. [As ses- 
quiquarta + -al.] Being in the ratio of 5 to 4. 
sesquiquinta (ses-kwi-kwin'ta), n. [< L. ses- 
qui-, one half more, + quintus, "fifth.] In miixii; 
au interval having the ratio 1:1J or5:6 that 
is, a minor third. 
sesquiquintal (ses-kwi-kwin'tal), a. [As ses- 
quiquinta + -al.] Being in the ratio of 6 to 5. 
sesquiquintile (ses-kwi-kwin'til), . At a dis- 
tance in the zodiac of about 108. [Bare.] 
sesquiseptimal (ses-kwi-sep'ti-mal), a. [< L. 
sesqui-, one half more, + xeptimiix, seventh, + 
-al.] Being in the ratio of 8 to 7. 
sesquisextal (sos-kwi-seks'tal), a. [< L. senqiii-. 
one half more, + xcj'tux, sixth, + -al.] Being 
ill the ratio of 7 to 6. 
