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l
r) adjective
a. of or pertaining to the sun
b. determined by the sun
c. proceeding from the sun, as light or heat.
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| Definitions |
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solar (slr) adjective
a. of or pertaining to the sun
b. determined by the sun
c. proceeding from the sun, as light or heat.
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solemn (s lm) adjective
a. grave, sober, or mirthless, as a person, the face, speech, tone, or mood
b. gravely or somberly impressive; causing serious thoughts or a grave mood
c. serious or earnest
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solitary (sl -t r  ) adjective
a. alone; without companions; unattended
b. living alone; avoiding the society of others
c. by itself; alone
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solo (sl) noun
a. a musical composition or a passage or section in a musical composition written for performance by one singer or instrumentalist, with or without accompaniment
b. any performance, as a dance, by one person.
c. a flight in an airplane during which the pilot is unaccompanied by an instructor or other person
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somber (smbr) adjective
a. gloomily dark; shadowy; dimly lighted
b. dark and dull, as color, or as things in respect to color
c. gloomy, depressing, or dismal
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sonnet (snt) noun
a. Pros. a poem, properly expressive of a single, complete thought, idea, or sentiment, of 14 lines, usually in iambic pentameter, with rhymes arranged according to one of certain definite schemes, being in the strict or Italian form divided into a major group of 8 lines (the octave) followed by a minor group of 6 lines (the sestet), and in a common English form into 3 quatrains followed by a couplet.
b. 3. Older Use. to celebrate in a sonnet or sonnets.
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sovereign (svr-n) noun
a. a monarch; a king, queen, or other supreme ruler.
b. a person who has sovereign power or authority.
c. a group or body of persons or a state having sovereign authority.
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speculate (spky-l t) verb
a. to make guesses or wonder about something (often fol. by on, about, or the like).
b. to engage in a risky business transaction that promises the possibility of large profits.
c. to buy, produce, or build something in anticipation of an increase in its price.
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sphinx (sfngks) noun
a. in Egyptian mythology, a creature with a lion's body and the head of a human or animal.
b. (cap.) the huge stone statue at Giza, Egypt, representing such a creature.
c. in Greek mythology, a creature with the head and breast of a woman, the body of a lion, and the wings of an eagle, such as the creature that terrorized Thebes and was destroyed when Oedipus guessed its riddle.
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spontaneous (spn-tn-s) adjective
a. coming or resulting from a natural impulse or tendency; without effort or premeditation; natural and unconstrained; unplanned
b. (of a person) given to acting upon sudden impulses.
c. (of natural phenomena) arising from internal forces or causes; independent of external agencies; self-acting.
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sporadic (sp-r dk) adjective
a. (of similar things or occurrences) appearing or happening at irregular intervals in time; occasional
b. appearing in scattered or isolated instances, as a disease.
c. isolated, as a single instance of something; being or occurring apart from others.
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spurious (spy r-s) adjective
a. not genuine, authentic, or true; not from the claimed, pretended, or proper source; counterfeit.
b. Biol. (of two or more parts, plants, etc.) having a similar appearance but a different structure.
c. of illegitimate birth; bastard.
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squalid (skwld) adjective
a. dirty or foul, as from neglect.
b. morally repugnant; sordid.
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squelch (skwlch) verb
a. to strike or press with crushing force; crush down; squash.
b. to put down, suppress, or silence, as with a crushing retort or argument.
c. to make a splashing sound.
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staid (std) adjective
a. of settled or sedate character; not flighty or capricious.
b. fixed, settled, or permanent.
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stately (sttl) adjective
a. majestic; imposing in magnificence, elegance, etc.
b. dignified.
c. in a stately manner.
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statistics (st-tstks) noun
a. (used with a sing. verb) the mathematical study of numerical information, esp. representative information about a limited portion of a population that is used to make generalized conclusions about the whole.
b. (used with a pl. verb) a number of pieces of numerical information.
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status (stts) noun
a. the position of an individual in relation to another or others, esp. in regard to social or professional standing.
b. state or condition of affairs
c. Law. the standing of a person before the law.
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steadfast (stdfst) adjective
a. fixed in direction; steadily directed
b. firm in purpose, resolution, faith, attachment, etc., as a person
c. unwavering, as resolution, faith, adherence, etc.
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stealth (stlth) noun
a. secret, clandestine, or surreptitious procedure.
b. a furtive departure or entrance.
c. 4. (cap.)Mil. a U.S. Air Force project involving a range of technologies, with the purpose of developing aircraft that are difficult to detect by sight, sound, radar, and infrared energy.
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stereotype (str--t p) noun
a. a process, now often replaced by more advanced methods, for making metal printing plates by taking a mold of composed type or the like in papier-mâché or other material and then taking from this mold a cast in type metal.
b. a plate made by this process.
c. a set form; convention.
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stigma (stgm) noun
a. a mark of disgrace or infamy; a stain or reproach, as on one's reputation.
b. Med. a mental or physical mark that is characteristic of a defect or disease
c. Zool. a small mark, spot, or pore on an animal or organ.the eyespot of a protozoan.an entrance into the respiratory system of insects.
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stilted (stltd) adjective
a. stiffly dignified or formal, as speech or literary style; pompous.
b. Archit. (of an arch) resting on imposts treated in part as downward continuations of the arch. See illus. under"arch"1.
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stimulus (stmy-ls) noun
a. something that rouses or accelerates action, feeling, or thought.
b. something that provokes a response, esp. in an organ, nerve, or gland.
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stipend (stpnd) noun
a. a periodic payment, esp. a scholarship or fellowship allowance granted to a student.
b. fixed or regular pay; salary.
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