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To give a pitch to, as a tune; to start by fixing the keynote; as, to set a psalm. Fielding.

Sharp; afflictive; distressing; violent; extreme; as, severe pain, anguish, fortune; severe cold.

.; also, the selection which results from certain individuals of one sex having more opportunities of pairing with the other sex, on account of greater activity, strength, courage, etc.; applied likewise to that kind of evolution which results from such sexual preferences. Darwin. In these cases, therefore, natural sel…

That filling up which represents the effect of more or less darkness, expressing rotundity, projection, etc., in a picture or a drawing.

The type of religion which once prevalied among all the Ural- Altaic peoples (Tungusic, Mongol, and Turkish), and which still survives in various parts of Northern Asia. The Shaman, or wizard priest, deals with good as well as with evil spirits, especially the good spirits of ancestors. Encyc. Brit.…

One who shapes; as, the shaper of one's fortunes. The secret of those old shapers died with them. Lowell.

To part among two or more; to distribute in portions; to divide. Suppose I share my fortune equally between my children and a stranger. Swift.

So high as to be out of tune, or above true pitch; as, the tone is sharp; that instrument is sharp. Opposed in all these senses to Ant: flat.

To obtund or blunt, as acrimonious substances, or sharp particles. [R.] Arbuthnot. To sheathe the sword, to make peace.

To avert, as a misfortune; hence, as a supplicatory exclamation, forbid! [Obs.] God shield that it should so befall. Chaucer. God shield I should disturb devotion! Shak.

A female fortune teller; a pythoness; a prophetess. "An old highland sibyl." Sir W. Scott.

y or minutely; to scrutinize. Sifting the very utmost sentence and syllable. Hooker. Opportunity I here have had To try thee, sift thee. Milton. Let him but narrowly sift his ideas. I. Taylor. To sift out, to search out with care, as if by sifting.

Happy; fortunate; blessed. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Fig.: That which supplies strength or power. The portion and sinew of her fortune, her marriage dowry. Shak. The bodies of men, munition, and money, may justly be called the sinews of war. Sir W. Raleigh.

odious modulations of voice, as fancy may dictate, or according to the notes of a song or tune, or of a given part (as alto, tenor, etc.) in a chorus or concerted piece. The noise of them that sing do I hear. Ex. xxxii. 18.

any one of the Oscines. -- Singing book, a book containing music for singing; a book of tunes. -- Singing falcon or hawk. (Zoöl.) See Chanting falcon, under Chanting. -- Singing fish (Zoöl.), a California toadfish (Porichthys porosissimus). -- Singing flame (Acoustics), a flame, as of hydrogen or coal gas, burning…

With sounds like singing; with a kind of tune; in a singing tone. G. North (1575).

Since; afterwards. See 1st Sith. [Obs.] Fortune was first friend and sithen foe. Chaucer.

Wanton; restive; freakish; volatile; changeable; fickle. "Skittish Fortune's hall." Shak. -- Skit"tish*ly, adv. -- Skit"tish*ness, n.

as with a sling; a throw; figuratively, a stroke. The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Shak. At one sling Of thy victorius arm, well-pleasing Son. Milton.