*sept*

n. a substance which kills or retards the growth of microorganisms, especially when used for protection against infection; a substance which prevents or retards putrefaction, or destroys, or protects from, putrefactive organisms; as, carbolic acid, alcohol, cinchona, and many other agents sold commercially. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Counteracting or preventing putrefaction, or a putrescent tendency in the system; antiputrefactive. [ 1913 Webster ]

Antiseptic surgery, that system of surgical practice which insists upon a systematic use of antiseptics in the performance of operations and the dressing of wounds. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. By means of antiseptics. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. a- not + septic. ] 1. Not liable to putrefaction; nonputrescent. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. free from pathogenic microorganisms; sterile; as, aseptic operating conditions. [ PJC ]

3. [ metaphorical ] lacking emotion, human warmth, or excitement. [ PJC ]

n. An aseptic substance. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. bi- + septate. ] With two partitions or septa. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Biol.) Between septa; as, the interseptal spaces or zones, between the transparent, or septal, zones in striated muscle; the interseptal chambers of a shell, or of a seed vessel. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. the middle part of September. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ Multi- + septate. ] (Bot.) Divided into many chambers by partitions, as the pith of the pokeweed. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Naso- + septal. ] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the internasal septum. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Sarcosepta [ Sarco- + septum. ] (Zool.) One of the mesenteries of an anthozoan. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Arch.) The half of a transept; as, the north semitransept of a church. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ A corruption of sect, n. ] A clan, tribe, or family, proceeding from a common progenitor; -- used especially of the ancient clans in Ireland. [ 1913 Webster ]

The chief, struck by the illustration, asked at once to be baptized, and all his sept followed his example. S. Lover. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_; putrid + &unr_;&unr_;&unr_; blood. ] (Med.) Septicaemia. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to a septum or septa, as of a coral or a shell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. septem seven. ] (Chem.) See Heptane. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Septi- + angle. ] (Geom.) A figure which has seven angles; a heptagon. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Heptagonal. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.;pl. Septaria [ NL., fr. L. septum, saeptum, an inclosure, a partition, fr. sepire, saepire, to inclose. ] (Geol.) A flattened concretionary nodule, usually of limestone, intersected within by cracks which are often filled with calcite, barite, or other minerals. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. septum, saeptum, partition. ] Divided by partition or partitions; having septa; as, a septate pod or shell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L., fr. septem seven, as being the seventh month of the Roman year, which began with March: cf. F. septembre. See Seven. ] The ninth month of the year, containing thurty days. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A Setembrist. Carlyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. septembriste. ] An agent in the massacres in Paris, committed in patriotic frenzy, on the 22d of September, 1792. [ 1913 Webster ]

a.[ L. septemfluus; septem seven + fluere to flow. ] Flowing sevenfold; divided into seven streams or currents. [ R. ] Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. septem seven + E. partite. ] Divided nearly to the base into seven parts; as, a septempartite leaf. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Septentrion. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. E. Septemvirs L. Septemviri [ L. septemviri, pl.; septem seven + viri, pl. of vir man. ] (Rom. Hist.) One of a board of seven men associated in some office. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.[ L. septemviratus. ] The office of septemvir; a government by septimvirs. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. septenairus, from septeni seven each, septem seven: cf. F. septénaire. See Seven. ] 1. Consisting of, or relating to, seven; as, a septenary number. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Lasting seven years; continuing seven years. “Septenary penance.” Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The number seven. [ R. ] Holinshed. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. septeni seven each. ] (Bot.) Having parts in sevens; heptamerous. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. septennat. ] A period of seven years; as, the septennate during which the President of the French Republic holds office. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. septennium a period of seven years; septem seven + annus year. See Seven, and Annual. ] 1. Lasting or continuing seven years; as, septennial parliaments. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Happening or returning once in every seven years; as, septennial elections in England. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Once in seven years. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Septentrional. Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L. See Septentrion. ] (Astron.) The constellation Ursa Major. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. septentrio the northern regions, the north, fr. septentriones the seven stars near the north pole, called Charles's Wain, or the Great Bear, also those called the Little Bear; properly, the seven plow oxen; septem seven + trio, orig., a plow ox: cf. F. septentrion. ] The north or northern regions. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Both East West, South and Septentrioun. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. septentrionalis: cf. F. septentrional. ] Of or pertaining to the north; northern. “From cold septentrion blasts.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Northerliness. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Northerly. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To tend or point toward the north; to north. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ From L. septem seven, like duet, from L. duo. ] 1. A set of seven persons or objects; as, a septet of singers. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mus.) A musical composition for seven instruments or seven voices; -- called also septuor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. sept seven (L. septem) + E. foil leaf: cf. L. septifolium. ] 1. (Bot.) A European herb, the tormentil. See Tormentil. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Arch.) An ornamental foliation having seven lobes. Cf. Cinquefoil, Quarterfoil, and Trefoil. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Eccl.Art.) A typical figure, consisting of seven equal segments of a circle, used to denote the gifts of the Holy Chost, the seven sacraments as recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, etc. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

[ L. septem seven. ] A combining form meaning seven; as, septifolious, seven-leaved; septi-lateral, seven-sided. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Septi- + -ic. ] (Math.) Of the seventh degree or order. -- n. (Alg.) A quantic of the seventh degree. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A substance that promotes putrefaction. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., from Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_; putrefactive + &unr_;&unr_;&unr_; blood. ] (Med.) A poisoned condition of the blood produced by the absorption into it of septic or putrescent material; blood poisoning. It is marked by chills, fever, prostration, and inflammation of the different serous membranes and of the lungs, kidneys, and other organs. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. septicus, Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;, fr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_; to make putrid: cf. F. septique. ] Having power to promote putrefaction. [ 1913 Webster ]