*sam*

a. Of or pertaining to Assam, a province of British India, or to its inhabitants. -- n. sing. & pl. A native or natives of Assam. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. balsamum the balsam tree or its resin, Gr. ba`lsamon. See Balm, n. ] 1. A resin containing more or less of an essential or volatile oil. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The balsams are aromatic resinous substances, flowing spontaneously or by incision from certain plants. A great variety of substances pass under this name, but the term is now usually restricted to resins which, in addition to a volatile oil, contain benzoic and cinnamic acid. Among the true balsams are the balm of Gilead, and the balsams of copaiba, Peru, and Tolu. There are also many pharmaceutical preparations and resinous substances, possessed of a balsamic smell, to which the name balsam has been given. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) (a) A species of tree (Abies balsamea). (b) An annual garden plant (Impatiens balsamina) with beautiful flowers; balsamine. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Anything that heals, soothes, or restores. [ 1913 Webster ]

Was not the people's blessing a balsam to thy blood? Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Balsam apple (Bot.), an East Indian plant (Momordica balsamina), of the gourd family, with red or orange-yellow cucumber-shaped fruit of the size of a walnut, used as a vulnerary, and in liniments and poultices. --
Balsam fir (Bot.), the American coniferous tree, Abies balsamea, from which the useful Canada balsam is derived. --
Balsam of copaiba. See Copaiba. --
Balsam of Mecca, balm of Gilead. --
Balsam of Peru, a reddish brown, syrupy balsam, obtained from a Central American tree (Myroxylon Pereiræ and used as a stomachic and expectorant, and in the treatment of ulcers, etc. It was long supposed to be a product of Peru. --
Balsam of Tolu, a reddish or yellowish brown semisolid or solid balsam, obtained from a South American tree (Myroxylon toluiferum). It is highly fragrant, and is used as a stomachic and expectorant. --
Balsam tree, any tree from which balsam is obtained, esp. the Abies balsamea. --
Canada balsam,
Balsam of fir, Canada turpentine, a yellowish, viscid liquid, which, by time and exposure, becomes a transparent solid mass. It is obtained from the balm of Gilead (or balsam) fir (Abies balsamea) by breaking the vesicles upon the trunk and branches. See Balm. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To treat or anoint with balsam; to relieve, as with balsam; to render balsamic. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of imparting balsamic properties. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The art or process of embalming. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Cf. F. balsamique. ] Having the qualities of balsam; containing, or resembling, balsam; soft; mitigative; soothing; restorative. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Balsam + -ferous. ] Producing balsam. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a natural family comprising the balsams, distinguished from the family Geraniaceae by the irregular flowers.
Syn. -- family Balsaminaceae, balsam family. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Cf. F. balsamine, fr. Gr. balsami`nh balsam plant. ] (Bot.) The Impatiens balsamina, or garden balsam. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. genus of coarse West American herbs with large roots containing an aromatic balsam.
Syn. -- genus Balsamorhiza. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Having the quality of balsam; containing balsam. “A balsamous substance.” Sterne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a plant of the genus Balsamorhiza having white-downy leaves in a basal rosette and yellow flowers and long balsam-scented taproots. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n. [ G.; bund confederacy + versammlung assembly. ] See Legislature, Switzerland. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

{ ‖ } n. [ L. crassamentum, fr. crassare to make thick. See Crass, a. ] A semisolid mass or clot, especially that formed in coagulation of the blood. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. ensample, essample, F. exemple. See Example. ] An example; a pattern or model for imitation. [ Obs. ] Tyndale. [ 1913 Webster ]

Being ensamples to the flock. 1 Pet. v. 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To exemplify, to show by example. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ , n. [ F. flotter to float. See FFlotilla, and cf. Jetsam. ] (Law) Goods lost by shipwreck, and floating on the sea; -- in distinction from jetsam or jetson. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Fulsome. ] Fulsome. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. gossomer, gossummer, gosesomer, perh. for goose summer, from its downy appearance, or perh. for God's summer, cf. G. mariengarr gossamer, properly Mary's yarn, in allusion to the Virgin Mary. Perhaps the E. word alluded to a legend that the gossamer was the remnant of the Virgin Mary's winding sheet, which dropped from her when she was taken up to heaven. For the use of summer in the sense of film or threads, cf. G. Mädchensommer, Altweibersommer, fliegender Sommer, all meaning, gossamer. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A fine, filmy substance, like cobwebs, floating in the air, in calm, clear weather, especially in autumn. It is seen in stubble fields and on furze or low bushes, and is formed by small spiders. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Any very thin gauzelike fabric; also, a thin waterproof stuff. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An outer garment, made of waterproof gossamer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Gossamer spider (Zool.), any small or young spider which spins webs by which to sail in the air. See Ballooning spider. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Like gossamer; flimsy. [ 1913 Webster ]

The greatest master of gossamery affectation. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Ambergris. ] Ambergris. [ Obs. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Anat.) Between sesamoid bones; as, intersesamoid ligaments. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) Same as Jasmine. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ ‖‖ } n. [ F. jeter to throw: cf. OF. getaison a throwing. Cf. Flotsam, Jettison. ] 1. (Mar. Law) Goods which sink when cast into the sea, and remain under water; -- distinguished from flotsam, goods which float, and ligan (or lagan), goods which are sunk attached to a buoy. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of throwing objects from a ship to lighten the load; jettison{ 1 }. See Jettison, 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Hence: Anything thrown overboard from a ship, whether floating or not. [ PJC ]

4. Hence: [ fig. ] Objects scattered about in a disorderly manner; as, he couldn't find his sneakers among the jetsam in his room. [ Colloq. ] [ PJC ]

n. [ Cf. D. liggen to lie, E. lie to be prostrate, and E. flotsam, jetsam, or ligan. ] Same as Ligan. Brande & C. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Mes- + amœboid. ] (Biol.) One of a class of independent, isolated cells found in the mesoderm, while the germ layers are undergoing differentiation. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ ‖ } n. [ L. opobalsamum, Gr. &unr_;; &unr_; vegetable juice + &unr_; balsam. ] (Med.) The old name of the aromatic resinous juice of the Balsamodendron opobalsamum, now commonly called balm of Gilead. See under Balm. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Potassium + amide. ] (Chem.) A yellowish brown substance obtained by heating potassium in ammonia. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; sandy, from &unr_; sand: cf. F. psammite. ] (Min.) A species of micaceous sandstone. -- Psam*mit"ic a. [1913 Webster]

a. [ L. salsamentarius, fr. salsamentum brine, pickled fish, fr. salsus salted, p. p. of salire to salt. ] Salt; salted; saline. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ acronym ] (Mil.) a Surface to Air Missile. [ PJC ]

adv. [ AS. same. See Same, a. ] Together. [ Obs. ] “All in that city sam.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Hind. samāj meeting, assembly, fr. Skr. samāja a community. ] A society or congregation; a church or religious body. [ India ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

{ } n. A society; a congregation, a worshiping assembly, or church, esp. of the Brahmo-somaj. [ India ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. samara, samera, the seed of the elm. ] (Bot.) A dry, indehiscent, usually one-seeded, winged fruit, as that of the ash, maple, and elm; a key or key fruit. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Simar. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. Samaritanus. ] Of or pertaining to Samaria, in Palestine. -- n. A native or inhabitant of Samaria; also, the language of Samaria. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ NL., fr. E. samarskite. ] (Chem.) A rare metallic element of doubtful identity. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Samarium was discovered, by means of spectrum analysis, in certain minerals (samarskite, cerite, etc.), in which it is associated with other elements of the earthy group. It has been confounded with the doubtful elements decipium, philippium, etc., and is possibly a complex mixture of elements not as yet clearly identified. Symbol Sm. Provisional atomic weight 150.2. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Samara + -oid. ] (Bot.) Resembling a samara, or winged seed vessel. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Simar. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ After Samarski, a Russian. ] (Min.) A rare mineral having a velvet-black color and submetallic luster. It is a niobate of uranium, iron, and the yttrium and cerium metals. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Sp. zambo bandy-legged, the child of a negro and an Indian; prob. of African origin. ] 1. A negro; sometimes, the offspring of a black person and a mulatto; -- formerly used colloquially or with humorous intent, but now considered offensive or racist by African-Americans. [ Derogatory and offensive ] A children's book named Little Black Sambo was at one time popular in elementary schools, but the book has been removed from reading lists in many American schools due to the development of a reduced acceptance of patronizing depictions of negros, as well as the negative associations of the word itself. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

2. In Central America, an Indian and negro half-breed, or mixed blood. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Sp. zambo, sambo. ] A colloquial or humorous appellation for a negro; sometimes, the offspring of a black person and a mulatto; a zambo. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Same as Sambur. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L., an elder tree. ] (Bot.) A genus of shrubs and trees; the elder. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. sambuca, Gr. &unr_;. ] (Mus.) An ancient stringed instrument used by the Greeks, the particular construction of which is unknown. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Hind. sāmbar, sābar. ] (Zool.) An East Indian deer (Rusa Aristotelis) having a mane on its neck. Its antlers have but three prongs. Called also gerow. The name is applied to other species of the genus Rusa, as the Bornean sambur (Rusa equina). [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ AS. same, adv.; akin to OS. sama, samo, adv., OHG. sam, a., sama, adv., Icel. samr, a., Sw. samme, samma, Dan. samme, Goth. sama, Russ. samuii, Gr. &unr_;, Skr. sama, Gr. &unr_; like, L. simul at the same time, similis like, and E. some, a., -some. √191. Cf. Anomalous, Assemble, Homeopathy, Homily, Seem, v. i., Semi-, Similar, Some. ] 1. Not different or other; not another or others; identical; unchanged. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. Ps. cii. 27. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Of like kind, species, sort, dimensions, or the like; not differing in character or in the quality or qualities compared; corresponding; not discordant; similar; like. [ 1913 Webster ]

The ethereal vigor is in all the same. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Just mentioned, or just about to be mentioned. [ 1913 Webster ]

What ye know, the same do I know. Job. xiii. 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

Do but think how well the same he spends,
Who spends his blood his country to relieve. Daniel. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Same is commonly preceded by the, this, or that and is often used substantively as in the citations above. In a comparative use it is followed by as or with. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bees like the same odors as we do. Lubbock. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ He ] held the same political opinions with his illustrious friend. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Sameness, 2. [ R. ] Bayne. [ 1913 Webster ]