The Facts on File Dictionary of Foreign Words and Phrases (Writers Reference) (66 page)

saraband (saraband), sarabande
FRENCH [from Spanish zarabanda
(ultimately of oriental origin)] noun
a stately Spanish court dance in
triple time, or music written to
accompany it.

sarangi (s2rangee, s2rungee) HINDI
[100 colors] noun an Indian threestringed musical instrument, played
with a bow.

scrape See SERAPE.

sarcoma (sahrkoma) GREEK [sarkoma
fleshy growth, from sarkoun to grow
flesh] noun (plural sarcomas or sarcomata, sahkomata) a malignant
growth or tumor: "The doctors examined
the sarcoma and decided to operate without
delay."

sarcophagus (sahkofagas) GREEK [sarkophagos flesh-eating stone (referring
to the belief that dead flesh could be
consumed by limestone)] noun (plural sarcophaguses or sarcophagi,
sahkofagz) a stone coffin or, more
generally, a coffin of any kind: "The
sarcophagus of the pharoah was removed,
along with other grave goods, later that
day„

sari (sahree), saree HINDI [from
Sanskrit sati strip of cloth] noun a
traditional Indian dress for women
comprising a long piece of cotton, silk
or other lightweight cloth wrapped
over the shoulder and around the waist:
"The bride wore a richly decorated gold sari,
her hair covered by a bright red silk shawl."

sarong (sarong) MALAY [sheath, quiver]
noun a skirt or dress comprising a
long strip of cloth wrapped around
the body (traditionally worn by both
men and women of the Malay Archipelago and parts of the Pacific but
now more widely worn as beachwear
for women).

sarsaparilla (sasparila, sasaparila)
SPANISH [from zarzaparrilla, from
zarza bush, bramble and parilla,
diminutive of parra vine] noun a soft
drink flavored with an extract from
the dried roots of a tropical plant of
the genus Smilax.

sartor resartus (sahrtor resahrtas)
LATIN [the tailor retailored, from the

title of the work by Thomas Carlyle
(1795-1881) first published in 183334] noun phrase a person when considered as being molded by the society
in which he or she lives.

sashay See CHASSE.

sashimi (sasheemee) JAPANESE [pierced
body] noun (in Japanese cuisine) a
dish of thinly sliced raw fish, served
with soy sauce for dipping and a garnish, such as shredded white radish:
"We had tuna sashimi with cucumber salad
for dinner."

sassafras (sasafras) SPANISH [from
Latin saxifraga saxifrage] noun a
deciduous tree of North America with
aromatic leaves and bark; also an
extract of its leaves or bark, used as a
flavoring and in making perfume and
medicines. Sassafras shoots are used in
making root beer.

Satan (s4tan) HEBREW [adversary]
noun the Devil, the chief evil spirit
in Judaic and Christian religions.

satay (satay) MALAY [from satai or
sate] noun (in Indonesian and Malaysian cuisine) a dish comprising pieces
of meat grilled on a skewer served
with spicy peanut sauce.

saturnalia (satanleea, saternl),a)
LATIN [neuter plural of saturnalis of
Saturn] noun the festival of Saturn in
ancient Rome and thus, by extension, an unrestrained celebration or orgy:
"They had been so for generations, and it
was only gradually that the Cambridge
Saturnalia were replaced by the decencies
and solemnities of the present sober anniversary." (Oliver Wendell Holmes, Over
the Teacups, 1891).

satyagraha (sat~uhhgraha, satyagraha)
SANSKRIT [from satya truth and agraha
persistence] noun a policy of passive
resistance (often specifically referring
to the nonviolent political campaigns
of Mahatma Gandhi against British
rule in India): "The policy of satyagraha
won the mahatma many reluctant admirers
in the West."

satyr (Star) GREEK [from satyros]
noun a race of woodland deities of
Greek mythology described as half
human and half goat or half horse and
as having lascivious natures; may also
refer more generally to any lecherous
or lascivious male: "In his private life the
great man showed all the gross tastes of a
Grecian satyr."

sauerkraut (sowarkrowt) GERMAN
[from sauer sour and Kraut greens]
noun a traditional German dish of
finely chopped pickled salted cabbage.

sauna (Stna, SOna,) FINNISH noun a
hot steam bath in which steam is
produced by pouring water on hot
stones: "By mid-afternoon the heat of

the sun had turned the engine shed into
a sauna."

saute (sot, Soto) FRENCH [past
participle of sauter to jump] noun a
dish that has been fried quickly in hot
fat. -adjective of or relating to food
prepared in such a way. ~ verb to fry
food quickly in hot fat.

sauve qui pent (sov kee p) FRENCH
[save himself whoever can] noun a
general panic, headlong flight, a disordered stampede, a case of everyone
for themselves: "Sauve qui pent, is my
motto,' continued Mr. Stryker. I shall take
care of myself,- though I have no objection
that the rest of the world should profit by my
excellent example; they may improve on my
model, if they please"' (Susan Fenimore
Cooper, ElinorWyllys, 1846).

savanna (Silvana), savannah SPANISH [from zavana, from Taino zabana]
noun an extensive treeless plain; may
also refer to a tropical or subtropical
grassland with scattered trees: `Purple
rainclouds piled up toward the west, their
shadows spreading across the savanna."

savant (savon savant, savant)
FRENCH [knowing, present participle
of savoir to know] noun a learned
person, a sage, a scholar: "This thought
comes to me as, sitting on a bench near the
band-stand, I see an old savant who talks to
all the children" (Robert Service, Ballads
of a Bohemian, 1920).

savoir faire (savwah fair), savoirfaire FRENCH [to know how to do]
noun phrase assured confidence in
social situations, the ability to know
how to behave, tact: "It would he doing
injustice to Miss Wardour's savoir faire,
to suppose she was not aware that such a
question would lead to an answer of no
limited length." (Walter Scott, The Antiquary, 1816).

savoir vivre (savwahr veevra), savoirvivre FRENCH [to know how to live]
noun phrase knowledge of the ways of
the world, sophistication, etiquette.

sayonara (siy5nahr3) JAPANESE [if it
be so] interjection good-bye, farewell. noun a good-bye, a farewell.

SC. See SCULPSIT.

scagliola (skalla, skalla) ITALIAN
[little chip, diminutive of scaglia chip
of marble] noun a variety of imitation marble used for flooring, columns, and other items: "For the morning
sun fell aslant on the great glass globe with
goldfish in it, which stood on a scagliola
pillar in front of the ready-spread bachelor
breakfast-table, and by the side of this
breakfast-table was a group which would
have made any room enticing." (George
Eliot, Adam Bede, 1859).

scald See SKALD.

scenario (s .nahreeo) ITALIAN [from
Latin scaenarium place for erect

ing stages, itself from scena stage]
noun the plot or synopsis of a
play, film, opera, or novel, or more
generally any planned or possible
sequence of future events: "This latest turn of events suggested a whole new
scenario."

schadenfreude (shahdanfroyda), Schadenfreude GERMAN [from Schaden
damage, harm and Freude joy] noun
pleasure derived from the difficulties
of others.

schema (skeema) GREEK [from skhema
shape, form] noun (plural schemas
or schemata, skeemata, skeemahta)
an outline, synopsis, plan, diagram,
model, or framework of something.

schemozzle See SHEMOZZLE.

scherzando (skertsando) ITALIAN [joking, from scherzare to joke] adverb
(in music) playfully, in a joking
manner. adjective playful, sportive.
'"noun (plural scherzandos or scherzandi, skertsandee) a playful piece
of music.

scherzo (skertso) ITALIAN [joke] noun
(plural scherzos or scherzi, skertsee)
a lively passage of instrumental music
written in a humorous, playful style:
`For my misty meditation, at the second
changin-station, Suffered sudden dislocation,fled before the tuneless jar Of a Wagner obbligato, scherzo, doublehand staccato." (Rud),ard Kipling, "As the Bell Clinks,"
1886).

schizophrenia (skitsafreeneed) GREEK
[divided mind, from schizein to split
and phren mind] noun a psychotic
disorder in which the subject exhibits
signs of a split personality.

schlemiel (shlameel), shlemiel YIDDISH [from shlemil, ultimately from
the Hebrew name Shelumiel God is
my welfare] noun a fool, a clumsy or
unlucky dolt.

schlepp (shlep), schlep, shlep IDDISH
[probably from German schleppen to
drag] verb to toil along, to drag, haul,
or carry: "The youth shrugged his shoulders and schlepped down the street, scraping
up dust with his boots."

schlock (shlok), shlock YIDDISH [probably from shlak apoplectic stroke, itself
from shlogn to strike] noun goods
or other material of inferior quality.
'adjective poor, trashy, inferior.

schloss (shlos), Schloss GERMAN
[castle] noun a castle (usuall), referring
to one in a German-speaking country):
"They walked about the streets and the
wooded hills, they drove in cabs, they boated
on the river, they sipped beer and coffee,
afternoons, in the Schloss gardens" (Mark
Twain, A Tramp Abroad, 1880).

schmaltz (shmolts), schmalz, shmaltz
GERMAN [from Schmalz rendered fat, lard] noun sentimentality (usuall),
referring to excessive sentiment in
writing or music): "The schmaltz that
permeated popular music in the immediate
postwar period came to an abrupt end with
the advent of rock 'n'roll."

schmatte See SHMATTE.

schmooze (shmooz), shmooze YIDDISH [from shmues chat, itself from
Hebrew shemuoth news, rumor] verb
to gossip or chat informally. noun
informal chat or gossip.

schmuck (shmuk), shmuck YIDDISH
[from shmok penis] noun a fool, a
jerk, a simpleton: "After this last outburst, all present agreed that the stranger
was some schmuck from out of town and
that it would be best just to ignore him."

schnapps (shnaps), schnaps GERMAN [from Schnaps dram of liquor]
noun strong Holland gin, or a spirit
resembling it.

schnell (shnel) GERMAN [fast, quick]
interjection quickly adver fast, quickly.

schnitzel (shnitzal) GERMAN [shaving,
chip, slice] noun (in German cuisine)
a seasoned veal cutlet fried in breadcrumbs.

schnorrer (shnorhr) YIDDISH [from
German, Schmurrer beggar] noun a
beggar, a scrounger, a parasite.

schnozzle (shnozal), shnozzle YIDDISH [from shnoits snout] noun a
nose. '"abbreviated form schnozz.

schola cantorum (skola kantoram)
LATIN [school of singers] noun phrase
(plural scholae cantorum, skolee
kantoram, skolay kantoram,) a singing school, a choir school, or a group
of singers; can also refer to the area
in which the choir sits in early church
buildings.

schottische (skoteesh) GERMAN [from
der schottische Tanz the Scottish dance]
noun a 19th-century German dance
similar to a slow polka; also the music
that accompanies it.

sehtiek See SHTICK.

schul See SHUL.

schuss (shoos) GERMAN [shot] noun
(in skiing) a straight downhill run at
top speed. verb to ski down a slope
at top speed.

schwarmerei (shvermarl), schwarmerei GERMAN [from schwdrmen to
swarm] noun excessive sentiment
or enthusiasm (often referring to
youthful infatuation with someone or
something).

Schweinhund (shvlnhant, shwinhant),
schweinhund GERMAN [pigdog]
noun swine, pig, bastard (as a term
of abuse).

scilicet (skeeliket, silaset, silaset)
LATIN [surely, from scire to know and
licet it is permitted] adverb to wit,
namely, that is to say. -noun a specifying clause in a document or agreement.

scintilla (sintila) LATIN [spark] noun
a spark, a trace, a minute particle, a
tiny amount: " Not a scintilla of these
was lost on Porthos; and at every one he
uttered an exclamation which betrayed
to his friend that he had not lost sight
of the idea which possessed his brain"
(Alexandre Dumas, Twenty Years After,
1845).

scire facias (siree fsheeas) LATIN
[you should cause to know] noun
phrase a judicial writ requiring a
party to show why a judgment or other
decision should not be enforced against
them.

scirocco See SIROCCO.

Scorpio (skorpeeo) LATIN [scorpion]
noun (in astronomy) the Scorpion,
a constellation in the southern hemisphere; (in astrology) the eighth sign
of the zodiac, occurring between
Libra and Sagittarius.

scriptorium (skriptoreeam) LATIN
[from scribere to write] noun (plural
scriptoriums or scriptoria, skriptoreea) a room in a medieval monastery where manuscripts were copied
out by scribes, hence any writing room: "The young scholar was taken to the scriptorium, where he might see the older monks at
work on sacred texts."

scuipsit (ska]lpsit) LATIN [he/she carved
it] verb he or she carved or engraved it
(used to identify the sculptor responsible for a particular work). abbreviated
form sc., sculp., sculps.

S.D., s.d. See SINE DIE.

seance (sons, sayons) FRENCH [sitting, from seoir to sit] noun a spiritualist meeting during which sitters
attempt to communicate with the spirit
world: "The four of them agreed to hold a
seance to attempt to contact the ghost of the
notorious pirate."

sebum (seebam) LATIN [grease] noun
the fatty secretion of the sebaceous
glands, which lubricates the hair and
skin and affords protection against bacterial infection: `Excess sebum production
can cause acne."

sec (sek) FRENCH [dry, ultimately
from Latin siccus dry] adjective (of
champagne) moderately dry. noun a
moderately dry champagne: "The butler
returned from the cellar with a bottle of
sec.

secretaire (sekr2.tair) FRENCH [from
secretaire, ultimately from Latin secretum
secret] noun a writing desk or bureau
with a range of drawers, pigeonholes, and (sometimes) secret compartments
in which letters and other documents
are kept: "But his confidential friend and
attendant, Monsieur Fiche, proved that the
ring had been presented to the said Madame
de Belladonna two days before the Marquis's
death, as were the bank-notes, jewels, Neapolitan and French bonds, &c., found in
his lordship's secretaire and claimed by
his heirs from that injured woman" (William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair,
1847).