AllWords.com


All Words Glossary

Glossary of Mythology Terms
beginning with letter S
Browse the Mythology Glossary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
sagittary
Tweet Definition of sagittary Like Definition of sagittary on Facebook
noun (sagittar, ies)
  1. a centaur
  2. (heraldry) Sagittarius
  3. (archaic) an archer
salamander
Tweet Definition of salamander Like Definition of salamander on Facebook
noun
  1. A (usually) terrestrial amphibian, resembling a lizard; taxonomic order Caudata
  2. (mythology) A creature much like a lizard that is resistant to and lives in fire, hence the elemental being of fire.
  3. (cooking) A metal utensil with a flat head which is heated and put over a dish to brown the top.
1977: The salamander, a fairly long metal utensil with a flat rounded head, was left in the fire until red hot and then used to brown the top of a dish without further cooking. — Richard Daunton-Fear and Penelope Vigar, Australian Colonial Cookery, Rigby, 1977, ISBN 0-7270-0187-6, page 41 (discussing 19th century cookery)
  1. (cooking) In a professional kitchen a small broiler, used primarily for browning.
The chef first put the steak under the to sear the outside.
verb
  1. To apply a
    1. Noun, salamander (flat iron utensil above) in a cooking process.
    19th C.: When cold, sprinkle the custard thickly with sugar and it. — a 19th century crème brí»lée recipe quoted in Richard Daunton-Fear and Penelope Vigar, Australian Colonial Cookery, Rigby, 1977, ISBN 0-7270-0187-6, page 41
Saturn
Tweet Definition of Saturn Like Definition of Saturn on Facebook
proper noun
  1. Roman god of fertility and agriculture.
  2. The second largest planet in the earth's solar system, famous for its big rings; represented in astronomy and astrology by ♄.
Saturnian
Tweet Definition of Saturnian Like Definition of Saturnian on Facebook
proper noun
  1. An imaginary inhabitant of the planet Saturn.
adjective
  1. relate, Related to the planet Saturn.
  2. Related to the Roman god Saturn.
  3. dour, Dour, baleful or sullen facial expression.
Savior
Tweet Definition of Savior Like Definition of Savior on Facebook
proper noun the Savior
  1. Jesus Christ
Scylla
Tweet Definition of Scylla Like Definition of Scylla on Facebook
noun
  1. A dangerous rock on the Italian coast opposite the whirlpool Charybdis on the coast of Sicily. The passage between Scylla and Charybdis was formerly considered perilous; hence, the saying between Scylla and Charybdis signifies a great peril on either hand.
    1. In Greek mythology, a personification of the above rock as a ravenous monster.
Selene
Tweet Definition of Selene Like Definition of Selene on Facebook
proper noun
  1. In Greek mythology, Goddess of the Moon.
shade
Tweet Definition of shade Like Definition of shade on Facebook
noun
  1. (uncountable) darkness, Darkness where light, particularly sunlight, is blocked.
The old oak tree gave shade in the heat of the day.
  1. (countable) Something that blocks light, particularly in a window.
Close the shade, please, it's too bright in here.
  1. (countable) A variety of a colour/color, in particular one obtained by adding black (compare tint).
I've painted my room in five lovely shades of pink and chartreuse.
  1. (figurative) A subtle variation in a concept.
shades of meaning
  1. (archaic) A ghost.
Too long have I been haunted by that shade.
  1. (archaic) A creature that is partially human and partially angel.
He was attacked by a Shade.
  1. (countable) A postage stamp showing an obvious difference in colour/color to the original printing and needing a separate catalogue/catalog entry.
verb (shad, ing)
  1. (transitive) To shield from light.
The old oak tree shaded the lawn in the heat of the day.
  1. (transitive) To alter slightly.
You'll need to shade your shot slightly to the left.
Most politicians will shade the truth if it helps them.
  1. (intransitive) To vary slightly, particularly in color.
The hillside was bright green, shading towards gold in the drier areas.
  1. (intransitive) (baseball) When a defensive player moves slightly from his normal fielding position.
Jones will a little to the right on this pitch count.
Sherwood Forest
Tweet Definition of Sherwood Forest Like Definition of Sherwood Forest on Facebook
proper noun
  1. a country park in Nottinghamshire, England
Sibyl
Tweet Definition of Sibyl Like Definition of Sibyl on Facebook
proper noun
  1. (given name, female) used from the Middle Ages; since the nineteenth century usually spelled Sybil.
Siegfried
Tweet Definition of Siegfried Like Definition of Siegfried on Facebook
proper noun
  1. (Germanic mythology) Hero of the Nibelungenlied who defeated the Icelandic queen
    1. A male given name of Germanic origin
Sigurd
Tweet Definition of Sigurd Like Definition of Sigurd on Facebook
proper noun
  1. (Norse mythology) The hero of the Volsungasaga who slayed a dragon
  2. A male given name of Scandinavian origin
silver age
Tweet Definition of silver age Like Definition of silver age on Facebook
noun (plural silver ages)
  1. an historical period of great accomplishment in a field or a society, usually following, and not quite as good as, a golden age, and not as bad as an iron age.
siren
Tweet Definition of siren Like Definition of siren on Facebook
noun
  1. A device, either mechanical or electronic, that makes a piercingly loud sound as an alarm.
  2. A dangerously seductive woman.
  3. Any of several salamanders, of the family Sirenidae, such as the mud eel.
  4. (Greek mythology) One of a group of nymphs who lured mariners to their death on the rocks.
Sisyphean
Tweet Definition of Sisyphean Like Definition of Sisyphean on Facebook
adjective
  1. incessant, Incessant or incessantly recurring, but futile.
labors
  1. Relating to Sisyphus.
Sisyphus
Tweet Definition of Sisyphus Like Definition of Sisyphus on Facebook
proper noun
  1. (mythology): tragic figure in Greek mythology doomed eternally to roll a boulder up a hill in Hades.
Sleeping Beauty
Tweet Definition of Sleeping Beauty Like Definition of Sleeping Beauty on Facebook
proper noun sleeping, Sleeping beauty, Beauty
  1. A fairy tale originally titled La Belle au Bois dormant by w:Charles Perrault, Charles Perrault.
  2. The main character in this story, who is in unbroken slumber under a magical spell, awaiting the kiss of a prince.
SOL
Tweet Definition of SOL Like Definition of SOL on Facebook
initialism
  1. Statute of Limitations
  2. Speed of Light
  3. Standards of Learning
  4. (vulgar) Shit Outta Luck
  5. Sorry, Outta Luck
  6. So Outta Luck
  7. Sleep Onset Latency
Sphinx
Tweet Definition of Sphinx Like Definition of Sphinx on Facebook
proper noun
  1. (definite: The Sphinx) An ancient, large statue in Egypt, with the face of a man and the body of a lion, lying near the Great Pyramids.
  2. (mythology) The demon of destruction and bad luck in Greek mythology.
Spirit
Tweet Definition of Spirit Like Definition of Spirit on Facebook
proper noun
  1. (Holy) : in Christian theology, the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, the three aspects of God
  2. The name given to a Mars exploration rover launched June 10, 2003. See w:MER-A, wikipedia entry
sprite
Tweet Definition of sprite Like Definition of sprite on Facebook
noun
  1. A spirit; a soul; a shade; also, an apparition. See Spright.
  2. An elf; a fairy; a goblin.
  3. The green woodpecker, or yaffle.
  4. (computing) A two-dimensional image or animation that is integrated into a larger scene.
  5. Electrical discharges that occur high above the cumulonimbus cloud of an active thunderstorm.W:Sprites (lightning), 1
Stentor
Tweet Definition of Stentor Like Definition of Stentor on Facebook
noun
  1. a person with a powerful or stentorian voice
  2. a genus of large protozoa, shaped like a trumpet
    • See w:Stentor (protozoa), Wikipedia article on Stentor (protozoa)
stygian
Tweet Definition of stygian Like Definition of stygian on Facebook
adjective
  1. Dark and gloomy
  2. Infernal or hellish
  3. Of, or relating to the river Styx
Styx
Tweet Definition of Styx Like Definition of Styx on Facebook
proper noun (wikipedia, Styx (mythology))
  1. (Greek mythology) the river, in Hades, over which the souls of the dead are ferried by Charon
sylph
Tweet Definition of sylph Like Definition of sylph on Facebook
noun
  1. A wood nymph.
  2. The elemental being of air, usually female.
  3. A slender girl, usually graceful and sometimes with the implication of sublime station over everyday people.
  • "Her heart fluttered with expectation---her step was buoyant with hope, and she sprung into the carriage with the lightness of a ." — Mary Brunton (1778-1818), Self-Control: A Novel
syrinx
Tweet Definition of syrinx Like Definition of syrinx on Facebook
noun (pl=syrinxes, pl2=syringes)
  1. A set of pan-pipes.
    • 1982, John Fowles, Mantissa:
    • : Actually, to cut a long story short, he began...well, playing with a rather different sort of pipe. Or , as we called it. He obviously thought he was alone.
    • 2006, Thomas Pynchon, Against the Day, Vintage 2007, p. 247:
    • :Inside, somebody was playing a duet on and lyre.
      1. A narrow channel cut in rock, especially in ancient Egyptian tombs.
      2. (zoology) The voice organ in birds.
Browse the Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Find:
Words Starting With:
Words Ending With:
Words Containing:
Words That Match:

Translate Into:
 Dutch French German
 Italian Spanish
Show results per page.
Allwords Copyright 1998-2013 All rights reserved.


Share this page:
More To Explore

Contact & About