Simmer's method 
lion of <>];! MI- limn- lino nl 1 ci|ujil altitmle on 
a Mercator's cliai-l: so culled from the inivi- 
gator who lirst published it, in 1843. 
SUmoom (su-iniiiu' ), . Same us siniiiiiiii. 
SUmp (siiniji), n. [< 1). mini /i = .M il< I. < f. ,v/< //;/' 
id 1 , iilld. mi nj't) = Dan. S\v. snm/i, a swamp: 
see sirnmpl.] 1. A puddle or pool of dirty 
water. [I'rov. Eng.J 2. A pond of water re- 
served fur suit-works. 3. luniiniiii/: (<t) The 
Inittom of a shaft in which water is allowed to 
collect, in onli'i 1 that it may be pumped or other- 
wise ruiso<l to the surface or to the level of the 
adit. Also called in England, in some mining 
districts, n l/iil/jr. (b) A shaft connecting one 
level with another, but not reaching the sur- 
face; a winzo. [North. Eng.] 4. A round 
pit of stone, lined with clay, for receiving 
metal on its first fusion. 
sump-fuse (suinp'fuz), . A fuse inclosed in a 
water-proof casing, for blasting under water, 
etc. 
SUmph (suraf ), n. [Of. D. mtf, dull, doting, SII/I-H, 
dote ; Sw. sofva = Dan. save, be sleepy, sleep 
(see siceveii).] A dunce; a blockhead; a soft, 
dull fellow. [Prov. Eng. and Scotch.] 
A Smnph ... Is a chlel to whom Nairn- has denied ony 
considerable share o' underataunin', without hae'n chose 
tu mak hint altogether an indisputable idiot. 
Uog<j, in Noetea Ambroslaim 1 , Nov., 1831. 
sumphish (suin'fisli), a. [< suniph + -ishl.] 
Like a sumph; characteristic of a sumph; 
stupid. littinsdi/. [Prov. Eng. and Scotch.] 
sumphishness (sum'fish-nes), n. The state or 
character of being sumphish. Mrs. Gaskell, 
Life of Charlotte Bronte, II. 131. [Prov. Eng. 
and Scotch.] 
sumpit (suin'pit), . [Malay sumpit.] A small 
poisoned dart or arrow, thrown by means of a 
sumpitan. 
sumpitan (sum'pi-tan), . [Malay sumpitan; 
cf. tttmptt.] The blow-gun of the Malays and 
the Dyaks of Borneo. Its effective range Is neces- 
sarily very short, not exceeding fifty yards, and the arrow 
is so light that to render it efficient the head is always 
poisoned. 
sump-plank (sump'plangk), . One of the 
planks fixed as a temporary bottom or floor of 
a sump-shaft, covering the sump. 
sump-pump (sump'pump), n. In mining, a 
pump placed in the sump of a mine, and raising 
water to the hogger-pump, or directly to the 
hogger-pipe or discharge-pipe at the mouth of 
the shaft. See )iogger-pipe. 
sump-shaft (sump'shaft), n. In mining, the 
shaft at the bottom of which is the sump, or 
place from which the water is pumped. 
sump-shot (surnp'shot), . A shot or blast 
fired near the center of a shaft which is being 
sunk, to make a cavity or temporary sump in 
which the water will collect. 
sumpsimus (sump'si-mus), . [L., first pers. 
pi. perf. iud. act. of sumere, take : see munip- 
xim UK.] A correct form replacing an erroneous 
one in familiar use; correctness regarded as 
pedantic. See ntunipsimus. 
King Henry [VIII.], finding fault with the disagreement 
of Preachers, would often say : Some are too stiff e in their 
old Mumpsimus, and other too busie and curious in their 
new Swnptimus. Happely borrowing these phrases from 
thatwhich Master Pacehis Secretary reporteth.ln his book 
De Kructu Doctrinre, of an old Priest in that age, which 
alwaics read, in his Portasse, Mumpsimus Domine, for 
5mpswm; whereof when he was admonished, he said 
that hee now had used Mumpsimus thirtle yeares, and 
would not leave his old Mumpsimus for their new Sump- 
>. Camden, Remains (ed. 1837), p. 273. 
sumptt (sumpt), . [< L. sumptHs, cost, expense, 
< xunterr, pp. sumptus, take up, take, choose, 
select, apply, use, spend, < sub, under, + emere, 
buy,orig.take: see emption. Ct.assume,eonsume, 
etc. Hence sumptuary, MMDteMM.] Sumptu-. 
ousness; cost; expense. Patten, Exped. to 
Scotland, 1548. (J)aricn.) 
suinpter (sump'ter), n. [< ME. sumpter, < OF. 
miiiiiitrtirr, a pack-horse driver, < ML,.*saqm(it<i- 
rin.t. fuller form of sagmarius, a pack-horse 
driver, < stigma (sagmat-), a pack, burden: see 
xiniiiiicr-.] 1+. A pack-horse driver. King AH- 
miuntler, 1. 60l>3. 2. A pack-horse. 
It is great improvidence . . . for old men to heap up 
provisions, and load their samplers still the more by how 
much their way is shorter. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), I. 227. 
3. By extension, a porter; a man that carries 
burdens. [Rare.] 
Persuade me rather to be slave and suinpter 
To tills detested groom. Sha/c., Lear, ii. 4. 219. 
4. A pack ; a burden. 
And thy base issue shall carry xuinpter*. 
Beau, and Ft., Cupid's Revenge, v. 2. 
6067 
surnpter-cloth (sunip'ter-kloth), n. A horse- 
cloth spread over the saddle. 
Mm do now esteeme to paint their arm es In their houses, 
to Kruur thrm in our scales, tophus iln-in in thfir iiortals, 
& to weaue them In their mmptrrctutltet, but none adueii- 
tureth to winni- tlum in the field. 
Oucmra, Letters (tr. by Hellowes, 1677), p. 69. 
sumpter-horse (sump'ter-h6rs), n. A pack- 
horse. 
sumpter-mule (sump'ter-mul), . A pack- 
mule. 
sumpter-pony (sump'ter-po'ni), n. A pony 
used us a pack-horse. 
The lumpier-pony, which carried the slung water-proofs 
and what not. If. Black, In Far Lochaber, vl. 
sumpter-saddlet (sump'tcr-sad'l), . A pack- 
saddle. [Kare.j 
sumption (sump'shon), n. [< L. sumptio(n-), 
xiiiiiiixiii(n-), a taking, < giimcre, pp. .-//'/".<. 
take, take up: see sumpt.] 1. The act of tak- 
ing or assuming. 
The sumption of the mysteries does all in a capable sub- 
ject. Jer. Taylor. 
2. The major premise of a syllogism, or modus 
ponens (which see, under modus). 
sumptuary (sump'tu-a-ri),a. [= F. somptuaire, 
< L. sumptuarius, relating to expense, < sump- 
tus, cost, expense : see sumpt.'} Relating to ex- 
pense ; regulating expense or expenditure. 
When Sunday came, it was indeed a day of finery, which 
all my sumptuary edicts could not restrain. 
Goldsmith, Vicar, iv. 
Sumptuary law. See fawi. 
sumptuosity (sump-tu-os'i-ti), n. [= F. somp- 
tvositv, < L. suni]>tuositn(t-js, costliness, < sump- 
tuosus, costly : see sumptuous.] Expensiveness; 
costliness. 
He added ntmptuotity, invented jewels of gold and stone, 
and some engines for the war. Sir W. Raleigh. 
sumptuous (sump'tu-us), a. [= F. somptueux, 
< L. sumptuosus, costly, expensive, < sumptus, 
cost, expense: see sumpt.] Costly; expensive; 
hence, splendid; magnificent: as, a sumptuous 
house or table ; sumptuous apparel. 
The tttmjtttoun house declares the princes state, 
But value excesse bewrayes a princes faults. 
(Jascoiynt, Steele Glas (ed. Arber), p. 60. 
It [St. John Baptist's Day] is celebrated with very pom- 
pous and sumptuout solemnity. Con/of, Crudities, I. 103. 
= Syn. Gorgeous, superb, rich, lordly, princely. 
sumptuously (sump'tu-us-li), rfr. In a sump- 
tuous manner; expensively; splendidly; with 
great magnificence. Gascoigne. 
sumptuousness (sump'tu-ns-nes), n. The state 
of being sumptuous ; costliness ; expensiveness ; 
splendor; magnificence. Bailey. 
SUmpturet (sump'tur), M. [< ML. 'sumptura, 
sum turn, used in sense of 'wealth,property'; cf. 
L. sumptus, cost, expense, < sumere, pp. sump- 
tus, take up, use, spend: see sumpt.} Sump- 
tuousness; magnificence. 
Celebrating all 
Her train of servants, and collateral 
Sumptttre of houses. 
Chapman, tr. of Homer's Hymn to Hermes, 1. 127. 
sun 1 (sun), n. [Early mod. E. also sunne, sonne; 
< ME. sunne, sonne, sone, < AS. sunne, t., = OS. 
sunna, sunne, sunno = OFries. sunne, sonna = 
MD. sonne, D. zon = MLG. LG. sunne = OHG. 
sunno, m., suutid, t., MHG. sunne, m. and f., G. 
sonne, f., = Icel. sunna, f. (only in poetry), = 
Goth, sunno, m., sunna, t., the sun; with a for- 
mative -na (-non-), from the same root an AS. 
sol = Icel. sol = Sw. Dan. sol = Goth, 
sun 
plained, and presents onr of tin- nio.st iiuiKirtunt prut>- 
lemsof solar research. Tin- Htin't risible surface is called 
the phfittifphert, and is niitili- up nf minute irregularly 
L. sol (> It. sole = Sp. Pg. Pr. sol; cf. F. soleil, 
< L. *solicvlu$, dim. of sol) = Lith. Lett, saule = 
Skt. sear, the sun, with formative -I or -r; both 
prob. < -\/ "i V saw < be light.] 1. The cen- 
tral body of the solar system, around which 
the earth and other planets revolve, retained 
in their orbits by its attraction, and supplied 
with energy by its radiance. lt mean distance 
from the earth is a little less than 93 millions of miles, its 
horizontal parallax being 8. "80 O."02. Its mean appa- 
rent diameter is 32' 04" ; its real diameter 806,500 miles, 
109} times that of the earth. Its volume, or bulk, is 
therefore a little more than 1,300,000 times that of the 
earth. Its mass that is, the quantity of matter in It is 
330,000 times as great as that of the earth, and is about 
900 times as great as the united masses of all the planets. 
The force of gravity at the sun's surface is nearly 28 times 
as great as at the earth's surface. The son's mean den- 
sity (mass ~ volume) is only one fourth that of the earth, 
or less than one and a half times that of water. By 
means of the spots its rotation can be determined. It 
is found that the sun's equator is inclined 7)' to the plane 
of the ecliptic, with its ascending node in (celestial) 
longitude 7:i 40'. The period of rotation appears to vary 
systematically in ditferent latitudes, being about 25 days 
at the equator, while in solar latitude 40 it is fully 27. 
Beyond 4ft a there are no spots by which the rate of rota- 
tion can be determined. The cause of this peculiar varia- 
tion in the rate of the sun's surface motion is still unex* 
The Sun laflcr Wu.lock). 
rounded "granules," Intensely brilliant, and apparently 
floating in a darker medium. These are usually 40U or SOU 
miles in diameter, and so distributed in streaks and groups 
as to make the surface, seen with a low-power telescope, 
look much like rough drawing-paper. Near sun-spots, ami 
sometimes elsewhere, the granules are often drawn oat 
Into long filaments. (See ntn-fpat.) In the neighborhood 
of the sun-spots, and to some extent upon all parts of the 
sun, facuhe (bright streaks which are due to an unusual 
crowding together and upheaval of t he granules of the pho- 
tosphere) are found. They are especially conspicuous near 
the edge of the disk. At the time of a total eclipse cer- 
tain scarlet cloud-like objects are usually observed pro- 
jecting beyond the edge of the moon. These are the promi- 
nences or protuberances, which In 1868 were proved by 
*. An ErupttTe Prominence. 
the spectroscope to consist mainly of hydrogen, always, 
however, mixed with at least one other unidentified gase- 
ous element (provisionally named helium), and often in- 
terpenetrated with the vapors of magnesium, Iron, and 
other metals. It was also immediately discovered by 
Janssen and Lockyer that these beautiful and vivacious 
objects can be observed at any time with the spectro- 
scope, and that they are only extensions from an enrelop 
of Incandescent gases which overlies the photosphere 
like a sheet of scarlet flame, and is known as the chromo- 
sphere. Its thickness Is very irregular, but averages about 
5,000 miles. The prominences are often from 50,000 to 100,- 
000 miles In height, and occasionally exceed 200,000 ; they 
are less permanent than the spots, and their changes and 
motions are correspondingly swift. They are not confined 
to limited zones of the sun s surface ; those of the greatest 
brilliance and activity are, however, usually connected 
with spota, or with the faculffi which attend the spots. 
The corona the most impressive feature of a total eclipse 
Is a great "glory " of irregular outline surrounding the 
sun, and composed of nebulous rays and streams which 
protrude from the solar surface, and extend sometimes 
to a distance of several millions of miles, especially hi 
the plane of the sun's equator. The lower parts are 
intensely bright, but the other parts are faint and in- 
definite. Its real nature, as a true solar appendage and 
no mere optical or atmospheric phenomenon, has been 
abundantly demonstrated Dy both the spectroscope and 
the camera. Its visual spectrum is characterized by a 
vivid bright line in the green (the so-called 1474 line, first 
observed in 1869) and by the faintly risible lines of hydro- 
gen. Since then many other lines have been brought out 
by photography in the violet and ultra-violet parts of the 
spectrum. This proves that the corona consists largely of 
some unidentified gaseous element (provisionally known 
as eoronium), mingled to some extent with hydrogen and 
metallic vapors, and probably Impregnated with meteoric 
dust. The fact that the corona is observable only during 
the few moments of a total solar eclipse makes its study 
slow and difficult. Huggins has attempted to overcome the 
difficulty by means of photography, and, though without 
an absolute success so far, the results are not wholly dis- 
couraging. The spectroscope enables us to determine the 
presence in the sun of certain well-known terrestrial ele- 
ments in the state of vapor. The solar spectrum is marked 
by numerous dark line; (known as Fraunhofer't linet\ and 
between 1850 and 1880 their explanation was worked oat 
as depending upon the selective absorption due to the 
transmission of the light from the photosphere through 
the overlying atmosphere of cooler gases and vapors. 
Klrchhoff was the first (In 1859) to Identify many of the 
