Part 168

Sea" sau"ri*an (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any marine saurian; esp. (Paleon.), the large extinct species of Mosasaurus, Ichthyosaurus, Plesiosaurus, and related genera.

Sea"scape (?), n. [Cf. Landscape.] A picture representing a scene at sea. [Jocose] Thackeray.

Sea" scor"pi*on (?). (Zoöl.) (a) A European sculpin (Cottus scorpius) having the head armed with short spines. (b) The scorpene.

Sea" scurf` (?). (Zoöl.) Any bryozoan which forms rounded or irregular patches of coral on stones, seaweeds, etc.

Sea" ser"pent (?). 1. (Zoöl.) Any marine snake. See Sea snake.

2. (Zoöl.) A large marine animal of unknown nature, often reported to have been seen at sea, but never yet captured.

Many accounts of sea serpents are imaginary or fictitious; others are greatly exaggerated and distorted by incompetent observers; but a number have been given by competent and trustworthy persons, which indicate that several diverse animals have been called sea serpents. Among these are, apparently, several large snakelike fishes, as the oar fish, or ribbon fish (Regalecus), and huge conger eels. Other accounts probably refer to the giant squids (Architeuthis). Some of the best accounts seem to describe a marine saurian, like the fossil Mosasauri, which were large serpentlike creatures with paddles.

Sea"shell` (?), n. (Zoöl.) The shell of any marine mollusk.

Sea"shore` (?), n. 1. The coast of the sea; the land that lies adjacent to the sea or ocean.

2. (Law) All the ground between the ordinary high-water and low-water marks.

Sea"sick` (?), a. Affected with seasickness.

Sea"sick`ness, n. The peculiar sickness, characterized by nausea and prostration, which is caused by the pitching or rolling of a vessel.

Sea"side` (?), n. The land bordering on, or adjacent to, the sea; the seashore. Also used adjectively.

Sea" slat"er (?). (Zoöl.) Any isopod crustacean of the genus Ligia.

Sea" slug` (?). (Zoöl.) (a) A holothurian. (b) A nudibranch mollusk.

Sea" snail` (?). (Zoöl.) (a) A small fish of the genus Liparis, having a ventral sucker. It lives among stones and seaweeds. (b) Any small creeping marine gastropod, as the species of Littorina, Natica, etc.

Sea" snake` (?). (Zoöl.) Any one of many species of venomous aquatic snakes of the family Hydrophidæ, having a flattened tail and living entirely in the sea, especially in the warmer parts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. They feed upon fishes, and are mostly of moderate size, but some species become eight or ten feet long and four inches broad.

Sea" snipe` (?). (Zoöl.) (a) A sandpiper, as the knot and dunlin. (b) The bellows fish.

Sea"son (?), n. [OE. sesoun, F. saison, properly, the sowing time, fr. L. satio a sowing, a planting, fr. serere, satum, to sow, plant; akin to E. sow, v., to scatter, as seed.] 1. One of the divisions of the year, marked by alterations in the length of day and night, or by distinct conditions of temperature, moisture, etc., caused mainly by the relative position of the earth with respect to the sun. In the north temperate zone, four seasons, namely, spring, summer, autumn, and winter, are generally recognized. Some parts of the world have three seasons, -- the dry, the rainy, and the cold; other parts have but two, -- the dry and the rainy.

The several seasons of the year in their beauty.

Addison.

2. Hence, a period of time, especially as regards its fitness for anything contemplated or done; a suitable or convenient time; proper conjuncture; as, the season for planting; the season for rest.

The season, prime for sweetest scents and airs.

Milton.

3. A period of time not very long; a while; a time.

Thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season.

Acts xiii. 11.

4. That which gives relish; seasoning. [Obs.]