Soricidse 
or 14). The lower incisors are long, proclivous, and usually 
notched ; in the upper teeth the median incisors are large, 
and have a basal snag or cusp, appearing as if double (but 
see mricident); no canines are specialized, anil the pre- 
molars are variable ; the molars are large and multicuspi- 
date. The total number of the teeth varies (roin twenty- 
six to thirty-two. The family is well marked, with little 
range of variation, though the species are so numerous. 
The shrews are all small animals, some being the smallest 
known mammals, and have the general appearance of 
mice, though with more pointed snout. The rather nu- 
merous (about 12) genera fall in two groups or subfamilies, 
Soricinst and Crocidurinee. 
soricident (so-ris'i-dent), a. [< L. sorex (so- 
ric-), a shrew, + den(t-)s = E. tooth.] Having 
or noting a dentition like that of shrews. This 
dentition is unique in some respects. It consists of the 
four kinds of teeth usual among diphyodont mammals. 
but no canines are specialized as such, and the median 
pairof incisors 
both above and 
below are re- 
markable in 
presentingtwo 
or more cusps, 
besides being 
of great size. 
These peculi- 
arities, toge- 
ther with the 
speedy and 
complete ob- 
literation of 
the maxillo- 
premaxillary 
suture, have 
caused the me- 
dian incisors 
alone to be 
so named, and 
have occasion- 
ed great un- 
certainty 
the dental for- 
,. >!,., rt f tl, , 
mute 01 tne 
Soricident Teeth of Common Shrew (Sorex vltl- 
part's), enlarged seven times. 
t' 1 , large two-pronged anterior upper incisor; 
i'-. 13, i'*, succeeding upper incisors, to mpx, line 
of obliterated maxilTopremaxillary suture ; c, first 
maxillary tooth, technically .1 canine, unspecial- 
|n ized and resembling the preceding incisor; pm*. 
minute first premolar ; pmt, large sectorial pre- 
molar. In the lower jaw, i, very large serrated 
anterior incisor ; 2. 3, 4, following teeth to the one 
several genera opposite pmi; other teeth omitted, 
of shrews. De- 
termination of the position of the suture has shown, how- 
ever, that several other pairs of teeth besides the special- 
ized median upper pair are inserted in the premaxillary, 
and are therefore incisors ; that the foremost pair of max- 
illary teeth (technically canines) are never specialized, and 
always small, and that these are followed by one or two 
pairs of premolars, constantly succeeded by three pairs of 
truemolars. The constancy in number of the under teeth 
(twelve, with some anomalous exceptions) is also remark* 
able, and the total variation is only from twenty-six to 
thirty-two among all the genera. The eight upper incisors 
of several genera are a number unique among placental 
mammals ; and the soricident dentition is, on the whole, in 
proportion to the size of the animals, the most formidable 
known among mammals, of greater relative power than 
that of any carnivore. See Soricidie. 
Soricinae (sor-i-si'ne), n. pi. [NL., < Sorex 
(Soric-) + -inse.] The typical subfamily of So- 
ricidie, containing those shrews of both the Old 
and the New World which have the teeth brown 
or red : contrasted with Crocidurinse. The gen- 
era usually admitted are Sorex, Neosorex, Notio- 
sorex, Soriculus, Blarina, and Crossopus. See 
Sorex, and cuts under Blarina, shrew, and son- 
. deli. 
SOricine (sor'i-sin), a. [< L. soricinus, of or be- 
longing to a shrew, < sorex (soric-), shrew: see 
Sorex.] Resembling or related to a shrew or 
shrew-mouse ; of or pertaining to the Soricinse 
or Soricidee; soricoid in a narrow sense. sori- 
cine bat, Glossophaga soricina, a small South American 
species of bat. 
soricoid (sor'i-koid), a. and n. [< L. sorex 
(soric-), shrew, + -oid.] I. a. Soricine in the 
broadest sense ; of or pertaining to the Sori- 
coidea. 
II. n. A member of the Soricoidea, as a 
shrew, shrew-mole, or mole. 
Soricoidea (sor-i-koi'de-a), n.pl. [NL., < Sorex 
(Soric-) + -oidea.] A superfamily of mammals 
of the order Insectivora, containing the two 
families Sorieidse and Talpidse, the snrews and 
the moles. 
soriferous (so-rif 'e-rus), a. [< Gr. aopAf, a heap, 
+ tfispeiv =E'. bear 1 .] In bot., bearing sori. 
sorites (so-ri'tez), . ; pi. sorites* [NL., < L. 
sorites, < LGr. aapcirJK, aupir>if, a logical sophism 
formed by an accumulation of arguments, lit. 
'heaper,' < aupebeiv, heap, < eropof, a heap. In 
def.2first used by Laurentius Valla (died 1457).] 
1. A kind of sophism invented by Chrysippus 
in the third century before Christ, by which a 
person is led by gradual steps from maintain- 
ing what is manifestly true to admitting what, 
is manifestly false. For example : One grain of sand 
cannot make a heap; then, If one grain be added to 
a grain, the one added grain cannot make that a heap 
which was not a heap before ; and so on, until it Is shown 
that a million or more grains of sand cannot make a heap. 
2. A chain-syllogism, or argument having a 
number of premises and one conclusion, the 
argumentation being capable of analysis into 
a number of syllogisms, the conclusion of each 
363 
5777 
of which is aprrmisi> of the next. A sorites may 
In' categorical or hypothetical, like a syllogism, and either 
variety may be progressive or regressive. Progressive 
or Aristotelian sorites. sc,.i, ,,/(,(,. Regressive 
or Goclenian sorites, s. 
soritical (rf-rit'i-kgl), n. [< LL. t>i-iti<-<tx, < LGr. 
nuptretit, < tupttryft < M';f, a sorites.] I*>-r- 
tiiiniug to or resembling a sorites. 
sormountet, r. An obsolete variant of .</(/. 
SOrn (sorn), v. i. [Said to be contr. < ME. s<ijr- 
H<, sojourn: see sojourn. Ct.sorelimi.] To ob- 
trude one's self on another for bed and boan I ; 1 
an uninvited and unwelcome guest; sponge. 
[Scotch.] 
Lang-legged Hieland gillies that will neither work nor 
want, and maun gang thigging and miming about on their 
acquaintance. Scott, Rob Roy, xxvl. 
sornar (sdr'nar), . Same as soriicr. 
sorner (sdr'ne'r), . [< sorn + -er 1 ; ult. a con- 
traction of sojourner.] One who sums: one 
who obtrudes himself on another for bed and 
board ; in Scots law, one who takes lodging and 
food from others by force or menaces without 
paying for it. Thisoffense was formerly so prevalent in 
Scotland that the severest penalties were enacted against 
it, and at one period it was punishable with death. 
sorophqre (so'ro-for), . [< NL. 'sorophorum, 
neut.ot'sorophorus: see sorophorous.] Inbot., 
the mucilaginous cord or cushion which is emit- 
ted from the germinating spprocarp in Marsi- 
lea, and which bears the sori arranged in two 
rows. See cut under Marsilea. 
sorophorous (so-rof o-rus), a. [< Gr. aupof, a 
heap, + -<t>npof, < tytpeiv = E. bear 1 .] Bearing 
sori. 
sororal (so-ro'ral), a. [< L. soror, sister (= E. 
sister), + -al.] Of or pertaining to a sister or 
sisters; sisterly. 
The sororal relation. H. Mann. 
sororially (so-ro'ri-al-i), a. [< "sororial for so- 
roral + -ly 2 !] In a sisterly manner. [Bare.] 
"This way then, my dear sister," cried Jane to the new- 
comer, and, taking her sororially by the hand, she led her 
forth from the oak parlour. 
T. Book, The Sutherlands. (Dames.) 
sororicide 1 (so-ror'i-sld), n. [< L. sororidda, < 
soror, a sister, + -cida. < eeedere, kill.] One 
who kills his sister. Blount, Glossographia. 
SOroricide 2 (so-ror'i-sid),n. [<LL. sororicidium, 
< L. soror, sister, + -cidium, < cxdere, kill.] The 
murder of a sister. Bailey, 1727. 
sororize (so'ror-Iz), v. i.; pret. and pp. sororized, 
ppr. sororizing. [< L. soror, sister, + -ize : simu- 
lating fraternize.] To associate as sisters ; be 
in communion or sympathy as sisters. [Rare.] 
The beautiful girls . . . are . . . sororiziHg with the 
rustic maidenhoods of their parishes. 
Mortimer Collins, Thoughts In my Garden, II. 8. (Eitcyc. 
[Diet.) 
sororyt (so'ror-i), . [< L. soror, sister: see 
litter.'] A sisterhood. [Rare.] 
While heauen did daigne the world should him inioy, 
The ninefold Sorory themselves exiled, 
Euen from then- natiue home to art's annoy. 
Tourneur, Transformed Metamorphosis, st. 6S. 
SOrose (so'ros), a. [< NL. *sorosus, < sorus, q. v.] 
In bot., bearing sori. 
sorosis (so-ro'sis), n. ; pi. soroses (-sez). [NL., 
< Gr. aapof, a heap.] In bot., a fleshy multiple 
fruit composed of many flowers, seed-vessels, 
and receptacles consolidated, as in the pine- 
apple, breadfruit, and mulberry. 
Sorotrocha (so-rot'ro-ka), n. pi. [NL. (Ehren- 
berg), neut. pi. of sorotrochus : eeesorotrochous.] 
An order of Rotifera, containing those wheel- 
animalcules whose wheel-organ is divided or 
compound: distinguished from Monotrocha. 
sorotrochian (so-ro-tro'ki-an), a. and n. [< 
sorotrochus + -tan.] I. a. Sorotrochous; not 
monotrochous. 
II. n. A rotifer whose wheel is compound or 
divided; any member of the Sorotrocha. 
Sorotrochous (so-rot'ro-kus), a. [< Nli. sorotro- 
chus, < Gr. aupoq, a heap, + rpo^o?, a wheel, < 
Tpe^EiVjrun.] Having the wheel-organ divided 
or compound, as a rotifer ; not monotrochous. 
sorra, . See sorrow, n., 4. 
sorraget, See sorage. 
sorrancet, n. Same as sorance. 
sorrel 1 (sor'el), . [Early mod. E. also sor- 
rell, sorel, sorell; < ME. sorel, < OF. sorel, F. su- 
relle (ML. surella), sorrel, so named from its 
sour taste; with dim. -cl, < stir, sour, sharp, < 
OHG. MHG. sSr, G. saner, sour: see sour 1 . Cf. 
AS. sure (= MLG. sure = Icel. sura = (with dim. 
suffix) D. zuring), sorrel, < siir, sour: see sour 1 .] 
1. One of several species of the genus Bumex, 
smaller plants than the docks of the same 
genus, having the leaves typically halberd- 
sorrow 
shii|.i'il. more or li-ss siiiM'iil.'iit, ninl impreg- 
Niiteil willi oxalic ni'iil. -n,,- r,, MIIII., n -MM. I "f ll.c 
(Ilil Wi.rlil is /(. Acrlum, wliicli h:i 1" ''ti lunch cultivated 
for culinary use. It. *cutatu*,\\> n 1, is, how- 
ever, prefwrred for the purix*e, lieirif; n :il and 
leas acid. Surre! is much f-'ruwn un the KiiruiH-aii conti 
iiciit, especially in 1 i :m< r. It i- ii- 'I in salads and soups, 
but is tin. [i- cnjiiriMiniy dressed as a Bpiuadi. '1'lic use of 
sorrel in America is slight but incicusini; /,'. Ao-hjtfUa, 
lines substitntcil fm tlic fi,renhig. l the cmnmon 
sheep-sorrel, r.ntli plants are refrigerant and diuretic 
antiscorbutics. See cut under 7>v 
2. A plant of the genus lisulis. more properly 
called wood-sorrel (see cuts under Otnlix and 
obcordatf): the name is also extended to other 
plants of different genera (see phrases) Climb- 
ing sorrel, />.</""( scandens, of tropical America, a some- 
what shrubby herb climbing by rootlets. [West Indies.) 
Field-sorrel. Same as iherp-tarrel. Indian sorrel. 
Same as riHtelle. Mountain-sorreL See Oxj/ria. Red 
BOrreL (B) Same us romlle. (b) The sheep-sorrel : prob- 
ably from the red male Inflorescence. Salt of sorrel. 
See MM. Switch-sorrel, a widely diffused tropical 
shrub, Dodoneea mtcota, of the Sapindacetr. Its leaves 
have an acid and bitter taste. Water-sorrel. Same as 
water-dock. (See also hont-tarrd.) 
sorrel 2 (sor'el), a. and n. [Early mod. E. sor- 
rell, sorell, sorel ; < OF. "sorel, sorrel, surrel, dim. 
olsor, F. saur, satire, brown, reddish, brownish, 
sorrel: see gore 12 .] I. a. Of a yellowish- or red- 
dish-brown color. 
Saure, a wrrell colour, also a eorrell horse. Colgram. 
He is of a middle stature, strong sett, high coloured, a 
head of sorrell haire, a severe and sound judgement ; a 
good fellowe. Aubrey, Lives (Samuel Butler). 
II. n. 1. A color between a reddish and a 
yellowish brown. 
Sorrell, colour of an horse, sorrel. Palsgrave, p. 272. 
His horse was of fiery sorrel, with black feet. 
Sir P. Sidney, Arcadia, Ui. 
2. An animal of a sorrel color; especially, a 
sorrel horse. 
Till he fals from his seate, the coache orethrowes, 
And to the riders breedes a world of woes ; 
Noe holla Jacke, nor Sorrell, hola boye, 
Will make them stay till they even all destroy. 
The Seiee Metamorphosis (1000). (Kara.) 
Is the Coach gone? 
Saddle my Horse the sorrell. 
Deklrer, Honest Whore, ii. 1. 
3. A buck of the third year. Compare sore 2 ,n., 2. 
A Bucke the first yeare Is a Fawne ; the second yeare a 
Pricket ; the third yeare a Sorrel. 
Return from Parnassus (1606X It 5. 
The dogs did yell : put L to sore, then sorel jumps from 
thicket Shot., L. L. L., iv. 2. 60. 
sorrel-sopst (sor'el-sops), . pi. A term used 
in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries for 
some sort of drink used in fevers. 
sorrel-tree (sor'el-tre), . See Oxydendrum. 
sorrel- vine (sor'el-vin), n. A shrub, Cissus ( Vi- 
ta) acida, found in tropical America, reaching 
into Florida. It is a low tendril-bearing climber, 
with acid juice. 
sorrily (sor'i-li), adv. [< ME. soryly, sorili, sori- 
liche, sarilichc, sarili ; < sorry + -ly%. ] In a sorry 
manner, in any sense of the word ; sorrowfully ; 
sadly; wretchedly; poorly; meanly. 
sorriness (sor'i-nes), n. [< ME. sorinesse, sori- 
nisse, sorynesse, sarincsse, < AS. sdrigties, < sd- 
rig, sore, sorry : see sorry and -ness.] The state 
or feeling of being sorry, in any sense. 
sorrow (sor'6), . [< ME. sorow, sorotce, sorvc e, 
sorevce, seoretce, seorutce, serctce, sorige, sorege, 
soreghe, sorge, < AS. sorg, sorh, sorge = OS. 
sorga, soroga = MD. sorg, D. sorg = MLG. LG. 
sorge, care, anxiety, = OHG. sorga, MEG. G. 
sorge = Icel. Sw. Dan. sorg, care, = Goth. 
saurga, care, grief; cf. Lith. sirgti, be ill, suf- 
fer. Not connected etymologically with sore 1 
or sorry.] 1. Distress of mind caused by mis- 
fortune, injury, loss, disappointment, or the 
like; grief; misery; sadness; regret. 
Give sorrow words ; the grief that does not speak 
Whispers the o'er fraught heart, and bids it break. 
5Ao*., Macbeth, IT. 3. 209. 
Sorrow is uneasiness in the mind upon the thought of a 
good lost which might have been enjoyed longer, or the 
sense of a present evil. 
Locke, Human Understanding, II. xx. 8. 
2. A cause or occasion of grief; a painful fact, 
event, or situation ; a misfortune ; a trouble. 
And howe he lost that comforth clene, 
And was putte oute fro paradys, 
And sithen what soroust sorwarre sene 
Sento vn-to liym and to al his. York Plays, p. 93. 
God so willed ; 
Mankind is ignorant, a man am I; 
Call ignorance my sorrow, not my sin ! 
Broirniny, Ring and Book, n. 175. 
3. The outward manifestation of grief; mourn- 
ing; lamentation. 
Down his white beard a stream of sorrow flows. 
Pope, Iliad, ix. .w. 
