The Facts on File Dictionary of Foreign Words and Phrases (Writers Reference) (65 page)

rubella (roobela) LATIN [feminine
of rubellus reddish] noun German
measles.

Rubicon (roobikan) LATIN [after the
Rubicon river in northern Italy, which
Julius Caesar crossed with his troops
in 49 B.C., thus declaring his challenge
against the Senate] noun a decisive,
irrevocable step; can also refer to any
boundary or limitation: With this decision the president effectively crossed the

Rubicon: if he failed to win the day there
would be no going back."

rubric (roobrik) LATIN [from rubrica
red earth] noun the title, heading,
instructions, or similar material at the
beginning of a text (formerly often
printed in red); may also refer to any
gloss or other explanatory material
in a text: "`We Confess a Mistake' was the
rubric above the leader, and she uttered a
cry of triumph, for she thought the mistake
was what she had just been reading, and
that the editorial would apologize for the
incomprehensible journalistic error upon
the first page" (Booth Tarkington, The
Conquest of Canaan, 1905).

ruche (roosh) FRENCH [beehive, ultimately from Latin rusca tree bark]
noun a frill, pleat, or gathered strip of
fabric suitable for use as trimming for
a dress or curtains: A cluster of tea-rose
buds at the bosom and a ruche reconciled
Meg to the display of her pretty, white shoulders, and a pair of high-heeled silk boots
satisfied the last wish of her heart" (Louisa
May Alcott, Little Women, 1868).

rucksack (ruksak, rooksak) GERMAN
[from Rucken back and Sack sack]
noun a knapsack: "The rucksacks were
piled up in the corner and all the members
of the party sat down to eat."

rumba (ramba) SPANISH [probably of
African origin] noun a Cuban-style
ballroom dance, or music written to
accompany it.

ruse de guerre (rooz ddgair) FRENCH
[ruse of war] noun phrase a trick to
deceive an enemy in time of war;
by extension, any justifiable ruse or
trick: "Her lover forgave himself for his
low deception on the grounds that it was a
simple ruse de guerre."

rus in urbe (rus in erbay) LATIN [the
country in the city] noun phrase an
impression of the countryside trans

ported into an urban area (such as
through the planting of trees): "The
painting of an idyllic landscape on the side
wall of a decrepit tenement constituted a
feeble attempt to create the impression of
rus in urbe."

rutabaga (ruutahga) SWEDISH [from
dialect rotabagge root bag] noun a
large bulbous root vegetable with yellowish flesh.

S. See SENOR; SIGNOR; SIGNORA.

S.A., s.a. See SINE ANNO.

Sabbath (Sabath) HEBREW [from
shabbath rest] noun the seventh day
of the week, traditionally a time of
rest and worship (Sunda), among
Christians, Saturday among Jews):
"There was much resistance to opening
stores on the Sabbath."

sabot (sabo, sabo) FRENCH [from
Old French cabot, ultimately from
Arabic sabbat sandal] noun a traditional wooden shoe or type of sandal
with a wooden sole and sides.

sabotage (sabatahzh, sabatahj) FRENCH
[from saboter to make a noise with
sabots, to destroy with sabots
(wooden shoes)] noun a deliberate
act of destruction of property, typically as part of a campaign to hinder
an enemy; may also refer more generally to any subversive or destructive act. -verb to commit an act of
sabotage: "The men decided to sabotage the management's attempts to regain control of negotiations."

saboteur (sabater) FRENCH [from
saboter to make a noise with sabots, to
destroy with sabots (wooden shoes)]
noun a person who commits acts of
sabotage.

sabra (sahbra) HEBREW [from sabbar
prickly pearl noun a native born
Israeli.

sadhu (sahdoo), saddhu SANSKRIT
[good man] noun a Hindu holy man
or sage.

saeva indignatio (slva indignahteeo)
LATIN [fierce indignation] noun phrase
strong indignation (usually in response
to human folly).

safari (safahree) KISWAHILI [from Arabic safar journey] noun a journey,
tour, or expedition; a hunting trip
in pursuit of wild animals. 'adjective
sand-colored, beige (the color of traditional safari clothes): "In the end he chose a broad-brimmed hat and a safaricolored jacket for the trip."

saga (sahg3) OLD NORSE [tale, saw]
noun a prose narrative recounting
heroic events and figures of Icelandic
and Norwegian legend; by extension,
any lengthy tale of epic character:
"It took some time but eventually they
prevailed upon their hostess to share
with them the epic saga of her early
love life."

Sagittarius (sajitaireeas) LATIN [archer]
noun (in astronomy) the Archer, a
large constellation in the southern
hemisphere; (in astrology) the ninth
sign of the zodiac, occurring between
Scorpio and Capricorn.

sahib (saheeb, sahib, saheeb) HINDI
[from Arabic sahib master, friend]
noun sir, master (term of respect for
Europeans used in colonial India).

sake (sakee, sahkee), sake JAPANESE
noun a Japanese alcoholic drink
made from fermented rice.

salaam (s2lahm) ARABIC [peace] noun
a salutation or ceremonial greeting
used in the East (often in the form of
a low bow, with the right hand placed
on the forehead): "Abdulla understood
the meaning of that silence, and rose to
take leave with a grave salaam" (Joseph
Conrad, Almayer's Folly, 1894). 'verb
to make such a greeting.

salami (salahmee) ITALIAN [plural of
salame, from salare to salt] noun a
type of highly seasoned pork and beef
sausage.

saliva (saliva) LATIN [spittle] noun
the secretion of the salivary glands,
which moistens the mouth, prepares
food for swallowing, and aids digestion: "Saliva provides natural protection
against tooth decay."

Salle (sal) FRENCH [room] noun a
hall or other large room.

salon (salon ) FRENCH [from
Italian salone, itself from sala hall]
noun a drawing room, living room,
or reception room; may also refer
to a fashionable social gathering or
exhibition of artistic works held in
such surroundings and, by extension,
to any fashionable business establishment or shop: "I want to come back to
London. I want to have a charming house
here. I want to have a salon" (Oscar
Wilde, An Ideal Husband, 1895).

salsa (salsa) SPANISH [sauce, ultimately from Latin salsus salted]
noun a spicy sauce made from tomatoes, onions, and hot peppers; may
also refer to a modern variety of
Caribbean dance music and dance
style associated with such music: "The
sounds of salsa music and laughter drifted
out of the harbor front bars."

salut (salon) FRENCH [salute, ultimately from Latin salutare to greet]
interjection a greeting, salutation, or
toast.

Salve Regina (salvay rajina, salvay
rajeena) LATIN [hail, queen] interjection phrase (in the Roman Catholic
Church) a hymn or prayer beginning
with the words "Salve Regina," in
honor of the Virgin Mary, said or sung
after compline and from Trinity Sunday until Advent.

sal volatile (sal volatilee) LATIN
[swift salt] noun phrase smelling salts
(ammonium carbonate).

salwar kameez (salwahr kameez)
PERSIAN/URDU/ARABIC [from Persian and Urdu shalwar and Arabic
kamis, from Latin camisia shirt] noun
phrase a long tunic or shirt worn
over a pair of light pleated trousers,
baggy at the top and narrow at the
ankles, worn by both women and
men in the Indian subcontinent: "I
sat down beside a group of men dressed in
their traditional salwar kameez and peeling oranges."

samba (samba, sahmba) PORTUGUESE
noun a Brazilian dance of African
origin or a Latin American ballroom
dance based on it; may also refer to
music written to accompany it: "They
danced the samba until the sun rose over
the distant mountains."

sambuca (sambooka) ITALIAN [from
Latin sambucus elder tree] noun an
Italian anise-flavored liqueur made
from elderberries. A flaming sambuca is served in a shot glass, lit
and allowed to burn, and then extinguished and drunk while still warm.

samfoo See SAMFU.

samfu (samfuu), samfoo CHINESE
[from Cantonese dialect shaam coat
and foo pants] noun a lightweight suit
consisting of a high-necked jacket and
loose pants, worn by Chinese women.

samisen (sameesen) JAPANESE [from
Chinese san three and xian string]
noun a traditional Japanese musical instrument with three strings, a
long neck, and a square body, which
is played by plucking with a large
plectrum.

samizdat (samizdat) RUSSIAN [abbreviated from of samizdatel'stvo, from
sam self and izdatel'stvo publishing
house] noun an underground press
or a clandestine system of publishing
and distributing literature that has
been officially suppressed (originally
referring to such activity in the former Soviet Union).

samosa (samosa) PERSIAN/URDU
noun (in Indian cuisine) an appetizing triangular pastry filled with meat
or vegetables.

samovar (samavahr) RUSSIAN [selfboiler, from samo self and varit' to boil]
noun a traditional Russian tea urn,
commonly made of copper: "...the
drawing room, a large room with dark
walls, downy rugs and a brightly lighted
table, gleaming with the light of candles,
the whiteness of napery, the silver of the
samovar and the tea service of transparent
porcelain" (Leo Tolsto),, Anna Karenina,
1874-76) .

sampan (sampan) CHINESE [three
boards, from saam three and baan
board, plank] noun a flat-bottomed
Chinese boat steered by a stern oar or
oars: "A large sampan floated majestically
out of the harbor on the evening breeze."

samurai (samari, sam)ari) JAPANESE
[warrior] noun a member of the
traditional Japanese military caste or
feudal nobility. 'adjective of or relating to the samurai class of warriors:
"The old man took down the samurai sword
that hung over the fireplace and held it out
to his visitor for inspection."

san (san) JAPANESE [diminutive of
sama honorable] noun a courtesy
title affixed to a person's name or
other titles.

sanatorium (sanStoreedm) LATIN
[healing place, neuter of sanatorius
curative] noun (plural sanatoriums
or sanatoria, sanatoreea) an institution where the sick may receive
therapy or medical treatment; may

also refer to a health resort or to a
medical center within a school or
other establishment: "The school sanatorium was crowded with victims of the
virus."'"abbreviated form san.

sanctum (sanktSm) LATIN [neuter of
sanctus sacred, holy] noun (plural sanctums or sancta, sankta) a sacred
place, a private study or retreat from
the world: "I beg your pardon, Mr.
Traddles ... I was not aware that there was
any individual, alien to this tenement, in
your sanctum"' (Charles Dickens, David
Coppefiield, 1849-50).

sanctum sanctorum (sanktam sanktor5m) LATIN [translation of Hebrew
qodes haqqodasim holy of holies] noun
phrase (plural sancta sanctorum,
sankta sanktorum) the holy of holies
(the most holy place) in the Jewish
Temple in ancient Jerusalem, or a
sacred shrine in any church or temple;
may also apply to any sanctum or private retreat.

sangfroid (son(g)fwah), sang-froid
FRENCH [cold blood] noun composure, coolheadedness, impertubability,
equanimity, self-possession (especiall),
under pressure): `His lack of reaction to
her anger was typical of his British 'st!ff
upper lip' and old fashioned sangfroid."

sangria (sangreea) SPANISH [bleeding] noun a Spanish drink made
with sweet red wine, fruit, spices,
and soda water.

Sanhedrin (Sanhedrin) HEBREW
[from Greek sunedrion council] noun
the supreme judicial and and ecclesiastical council in ancient Jerusalem.

sans (sonz, sanZ) FRENCH [without,
ultimately from Latin sine without,
influenced by absentia absence] preposition without, devoid of.

sansculotte (sanzkoolot, sanzkyoolot), sans-culotte FRENCH [from
sans-culotte without knee-breeches,
referring to members of the lower
classes in late-18th-century France]
noun a radical political extremist,
revolutionary, or anarchist (referring
originally to republican radicals at the
time of the French Revolution); may
also refer more generally to any member of the lowest ranks of society.

sans-gene (son(g) zhen) FRENCH
[without embarrassment] noun phrase
lack of self-restraint, disregard of
polite conventions.

sans pareil (son(g) pares) FRENCH
[without equal] adjective phrase without equal, unequaled: "He built a reputation as a linguistic authority sans pareil."

sans peur (son(g) per) FRENCH [without fear] adjective phrase without
fear, fearless.

sans recours (son(g) r2koor) FRENCH
[without recourse] adverb phrase (in
law) without responsibility: "If a bill

of exchange is endorsed sans recours, the
endorser is not responsible for paying it."

sans souci (son(g) soosee) FRENCH
[without worry] adjective phrase carefree.

Santeria (santareea, sahntareea) SPANisH [holiness] noun an African Cuban
religion that combines elements of
traditional Yoruba beliefs and customs
with certain aspects of Roman Catholicism, worshiping a supreme deity as
well as other deities. Animal sacrifice is
one of the more controversial practices
of Santeria.