semantics
n.pl.
5< SEMANTIC, based on Fr s=mantique6 [with sing. v.]
1 the branch of linguistics concerned with the nature, the structure, and the development and changes of the meanings of speech forms, or with contextual meaning
2 a) SEMIOTICS b) the branch of semiotics dealing with relationships of signs and symbols to the things to which they refer, or with referential meaning
3 the relationships between signs and symbols and the concepts, feelings, etc. associated with them in the minds of their interpreters; notional meaning
4 loosely, deliberate distortion or twisting of meaning, as in some types of advertising, propaganda, etc.
5 GENERAL SEMANTICS

Semelfactive: a single act out of a possible series.

semiarid, semifinal, semilunar, seminar,

semiotics
n.pl.
5Gr scmeibtikos < scmeion, sign, akin to scma: see SEMANTIC6 Philos. a general theory of signs and symbols; esp., the analysis of the nature and relationships of signs in language, usually including three branches, syntactics, semantics, and pragmatics
se#mi[ot$ic or se#mi[ot$i[cal
adj.
se#mi[o[ti4cian 73! ti*4!n8
n.

senator, senescence, seniority, senseless, sensitive, sensual, sentence, separability, separable,

septenarius - A Latin verse used only in comedy and consisting of seven feet, especially a catalectic iambic or trochaic tetrameter

septic, septum, sepulture,

sequacious
adj.
5L sequax < sequi, to follow (see SEQUENT) + 3OUS6
1 tending to follow any leader; lacking individuality, as in thought; dependent; servile; compliant
2 [Rare] showing or following logical or smooth sequence
se[qua4cious[ly
adv.
se[quac4i[ty 73kwas4! tc8
n.

sequester
vt.
5ME sequestren < MFr sequestrer < LL sequestrare, to remove, lay aside, separate < L sequester, trustee, akin to sequi: see SEQUENT6
1 to set off or apart; separate; segregate; often, to segregate or isolate (the jury) during a trial
2 to take and hold (property) by judicial authority, for safekeeping or as security, until a legal dispute is resolved
3 to take over; confiscate; seize, esp. by authority
4 to withdraw; seclude: often used reflexively

seraph
n.,
pl. 3aphs or 3a[phim# 73! fim#8 5back-form. < LL(Ec) seraphim, pl. < Heb serafim, pl., sing. saraf, prob. < saraf, to burn6
1 Bible one of the heavenly beings surrounding the throne of God, represented as having three pairs of wings: Isa. 6:2
2 any of the highest order of angels, above the cherubim
se[raph[ic 7s! raf4ik8
adj.
se[raph$i[cal[ly
adv.

serenity, serfism, serial, serialize, sericulture (production of silk)

serigraph
n.
5< L sericum (see SERICEOUS) + 3GRAPH6 a color print made by the silk-screen process and printed by the artist personally
se[rig[ra[pher 7s! rig4r! f!r8
n.
se[rig4ra[phy
n.

hah! thanks Bill, that's a new one on me, and one that could be very useful. Consider it adopted into a good home

And I agree with mav', wwh. Sequacious is a useful word, just as useful as the 9-letter one for a servile, obsequious follower.

Not that sequacious is a synonym here for general toadiness, but sequacious provides an added dimension to the possible type.

What fascinates me about this lovely word is the gulf between definitions 1 and 2. The first is pejorative, the second complimentary, I wonder how that happened.

>...the second complimentary

but note that the second is marked "rare".
-joe bfstplk

>but note that the second is marked "rare".

That I did. It's still an interesting shift.

shift

Well, I guess you could argue there's no difference in meaning as such ~ something like the tendency to follow a smooth path of least resistance ~ and that the shift lies in the value judgments we're associating with certain examples of the behavio(u)r...?

I mean, for example, that if you were addressing a bunch of fresh army recruits under fire, sequacious behavio(u)r might seem an admirable trait - unless they became asked to blindly follow a madman, in which case we might criticise them for "only obeyink orders"!

Dear Mav: and if the new recruits under fire for first time,
if one panicked and fled, and the rest followed him,
that would be the pejorative form of sequacious behaviour.

Aksherly, my infidel friend, a careful reading of my post will show that I said nothing about a shift in <i>meaning</i>. This is significant because I nearly did, but thought better of it, and, instead, simply remarked upon the "gulf" between the first two definitions.

Following any leader without thought of what the leader represented could be highly illogical. I think the gulf between the two definitions could be a very deep one.

Logic, smoothly executed, would require thinking of the highest order; the obsequious following of any leader wouldn't require thought at all. Ergo, the gulf that sjm is seeing--as I see speculate about the sight, that is.

a careful reading of my post

ashcannily, a careful reading of my post may reveal I was not responding to your orignal post, my poor benighted bottom-dweller, but rather to the second interraction between you and tsuwm

But as ever I take your point - and I think we may be saying much the same, noting the difference in cultural connotation rather than linguistic denotation. Now about that nice Mr Bush and his sequacious multitudes...

I saw a survey the other day that said 24% of USn respondents believed WMD had actually been used in that other 'gulf' recently - gag me with a turnip!