soc

n.[ From Soc; cf. LL. socagium. ] (O.Eng. Law) A tenure of lands and tenements by a certain or determinate service; a tenure distinct from chivalry or knight's service, in which the obligations were uncertain. The service must be certain, in order to be denominated socage, as to hold by fealty and twenty shillings rent. [ Written also soccage. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Socage is of two kinds; free socage, where the services are not only certain, but honorable; and villein socage, where the services, though certain, are of a baser nature. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (O. Eng. Law) A tennant by socage; a socman. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.[ Cf. F. sociabilité. ] The quality of being sociable; sociableness. [ 1913 Webster ]

a.[ F., fr. L. sociabilis, fr. sociare to associate, fr. socius a companion. See Social. ] 1. Capable of being, or fit to be, united in one body or company; associable. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

They are sociable parts united into one body. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Inclined to, or adapted for, society; ready to unite with others; fond of companions; social. [ 1913 Webster ]

Society is no comfort to one not sociable. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

What can be more uneasy to this sociable creature than the dry, pensive retirements of solitude? South. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Ready to converse; inclined to talk with others; not taciturn or reserved. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Affording opportunites for conversation; characterized by much conversation; as, a sociable party. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. No longer hostile; friendly. [ Obs. ] Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sociable bird, or
Sociable weaver (Zool.), a weaver bird which builds composite nests. See Republican, n., 3. (b). [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Social; companionable; conversible; friendly; familiar; communicative; accessible. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A gathering of people for social purposes; an informal party or reception; as, a church sociable. [ Colloq. U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A carriage having two double seats facing each other, and a box for the driver. Miss Edgeworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being sociable. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a sociable manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. socialis, from socius a companion; akin to sequi to follow: cf. F. social. See Sue to follow. ] 1. Of or pertaining to society; relating to men living in society, or to the public as an aggregate body; as, social interest or concerns; social pleasure; social benefits; social happiness; social duties. “Social phenomena.” J. S. Mill. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Ready or disposed to mix in friendly converse; companionable; sociable; as, a social person. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Consisting in union or mutual intercourse. [ 1913 Webster ]

Best with thyself accompanied, seek'st not
Social communication. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Bot.) Naturally growing in groups or masses; -- said of many individual plants of the same species. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Zool.) (a) Living in communities consisting of males, females, and neuters, as do ants and most bees. (b) Forming compound groups or colonies by budding from basal processes or stolons; as, the social ascidians. [ 1913 Webster ]

Social science, the science of all that relates to the social condition, the relations and institutions which are involved in man's existence and his well-being as a member of an organized community; sociology. It concerns itself with questions of the public health, education, labor, punishment of crime, reformation of criminals, and the like. --
Social whale (Zool.), the blackfish. --
The social evil, prostitution. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Sociable; companionable; conversible; friendly; familiar; communicative; convival; festive. [ 1913 Webster ]