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The sitting of an army around or before a fortified place for the purpose of compelling the garrison to surrender; the surrounding or investing of a place by an army, and approaching it by passages and advanced works, which cover the besiegers from the enemy's fire. See the Note under Blockade.

one person, or one on each side; as, a single combat. These shifts refuted, answer thy appellant, . . . Who now defles thee thrice ti single fight. Milton.

of social authority and dignity; a lord; a master; a gentleman; -- in this sense usually spelled sire. [Obs.] He was crowned lord and sire. Gower. In the election of a sir so rare. Shak.

e difference between a vessel's actual speed and the speed which she would have if the propelling instrument acted upon a solid; also, the velocity, relatively to still water, of the backward current of water produced by the propeller.

A species of seaweed. [Spelled also slowcawn.] See 3d Laver.

A humerous appellation for a sly, cunning, or waggish person. Slyboots was cursedly cunning to hide 'em. Goldsmith.

The visible exhalation, vapor, or substance that escapes, or expelled, from a burning body, especially from burning vegetable matter, as wood, coal, peat, or the like.

A sudden severe interval or spell; -- applied to the weather; as, a cold snap. Lowell.

An assumed name; a fanciful epithet or appellation; a nickname. [Sometimes less correctly written soubriquet.]

To foretell; to predict. "You can not soothsay." Shak. "Old soothsaying Glaucus' spell." Milton.

A human being; a person; -- a familiar appellation, usually with a qualifying epithet; as, poor soul. As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. Prov. xxv. 25. God forbid so many simple souls Should perish by the aword! Shak. Now mistress Gilpin (careful soul). Cowper.

r. -- Spectacled goose (Zoöl.), the gannet. -- Spectacled snake (Zoöl.), the cobra de capello.

imp. & p. p. of Spell. Spelled.

rument for measuring the vital capacity of the lungs, or the volume of air which can be expelled from the chest after the deepest possible inspiration. Cf. Pneumatometer.

of standing or rest; equilibrium. [Obs.] All progression is performed by drawing on or impelling forward some part which was before in station, or at quiet. Sir T. Browne.

A boat or vessel propelled by steam power; -- generally used of river or coasting craft, as distinguished from ocean steamers.

A vessel propelled by steam; a steamship or steamboat.

A ship or seagoing vessel propelled by the power of steam; a steamer.

After that; after what is stated. In the primitive church, such as by fear being compelled to sacrifice to strange gods, after repented, and kept still the office of preaching the gospel. Whitgift. Still and anon, at intervals and repeatedly; continually; ever and anon; now and then. And like the watchful minutes to th…

ke to death by compressing the throat, as with the hand or a rope. Our Saxon ancestors compelled the adulteress to strangle herself. Ayliffe.