Part 52

Sap"o*na*ry (?), a. Saponaceous. Boyle.

Sa*pon*i*fi`a*ble (?), a. Capable of conversion into soap; as, a saponifiable substance.

Sa*pon`i*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. saponification. See Saponify.] The act, process, or result, of soap making; conversion into soap; specifically (Chem.), the decomposition of fats and other ethereal salts by alkalies; as, the saponification of ethyl acetate.

Sa*pon"i*fi`er (?), n. (Chem.) That which saponifies; any reagent used to cause saponification.

Sa*pon"i*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Saponified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Saponifying (?).] [L. sapo, -onis, soap + -fy: cf. F. saponifier.] To convert into soap, as tallow or any fat; hence (Chem.), to subject to any similar process, as that which ethereal salts undergo in decomposition; as, to saponify ethyl acetate.

Sap"o*nin (?), n. [L. sapo, - onis soap: cf. F. saponine.] (Chem.) A poisonous glucoside found in many plants, as in the root of soapwort (Saponaria), in the bark of soap bark (Quillaia), etc. It is extracted as a white amorphous powder, which occasions a soapy lather in solution, and produces a local anæsthesia. Formerly called also struthiin, quillaiin, senegin, polygalic acid, etc. By extension, any one of a group of related bodies of which saponin proper is the type.

Sap"o*nite (?), n. [Sw. saponit, fr. L. sapo, -onis, soap.] (Min.) A hydrous silicate of magnesia and alumina. It occurs in soft, soapy, amorphous masses, filling veins in serpentine and cavities in trap rock.

Sap"o*nul (?), n. [F. saponule, fr. L. sapo, -onis, soap.] (Old Chem.) A soapy mixture obtained by treating an essential oil with an alkali; hence, any similar compound of an essential oil. [Written also saponule.] [Obs.]

||Sa"por (?), n. [L. See Savor.] Power of affecting the organs of ||taste; savor; flavor; taste.

There is some sapor in all aliments.

Sir T. Browne.

Sap`o*rif"ic (?), a. [L. sapor taste + facere to make.] Having the power to produce the sensation of taste; producing taste, flavor, or relish.

Sap`o*ros"i*ty (?), n. The quality of a body by which it excites the sensation of taste.

Sap"o*rous (?), a. [L. saporus that relishes well, savory, fr. sapor taste.] Having flavor or taste; yielding a taste. [R.] Bailey.

Sa*po"ta (?), n. [NL., from Sp. sapote, zapote. See Sapodilla.] (Bot.) The sapodilla.

Sap`o*ta"ceous (?), a. (Bot.) Of or pertaining to a natural order (Sapotaceæ) of (mostly tropical) trees and shrubs, including the star apple, the Lucuma, or natural marmalade tree, the gutta-percha tree (Isonandra), and the India mahwa, as well as the sapodilla, or sapota, after which the order is named.

Sap*pan" wood" (?). Sapan wood.

Sap"pare (?), n. [F. sappare; -- so called by Saussure.] (Min.) Kyanite. [Written also sappar.]

Sap"per (?), n. [Cf. F. sapeur.] One who saps; specifically (Mil.), one who is employed in working at saps, building and repairing fortifications, and the like.

Sap"phic (?), a. [L. Sapphicus, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; Sappho.] 1. Of or pertaining to Sappho, the Grecian poetess; as, Sapphic odes; Sapphic verse.

2. (Pros.) Belonging to, or in the manner of, Sappho; -- said of a certain kind of verse reputed to have been invented by Sappho, consisting of five feet, of which the first, fourth, and fifth are trochees, the second is a spondee, and the third a dactyl.

Sap"phic, n. (Pros.) A Sapphic verse.

Sap"phire (? or ?; 277), n. [OE. saphir, F. saphir, L. sapphirus, Gr. &?;, of Oriental origin; cf. Heb. sappr.] 1. (Min.) Native alumina or aluminium sesquioxide, Al2O3; corundum; esp., the blue transparent variety of corundum, highly prized as a gem.

Of rubies, sapphires, and of pearlés white.

Chaucer.

Sapphire occurs in hexagonal crystals and also in granular and massive forms. The name sapphire is usually restricted to the blue crystals, while the bright red crystals are called Oriental rubies (see under Ruby), the amethystine variety Oriental amethyst (see under Amethyst), and the dull massive varieties corundum (a name which is also used as a general term to include all varieties). See Corundum.

2. The color of the gem; bright blue.

3. (Zoöl.) Any humming bird of the genus Hylocharis, native of South America. The throat and breast are usually bright blue.