The 4 letter words with definitions, separated alphabetically.
Now updated for CSW24. New words, if any, and new inflections of existing words, are shown in red.
| saag | (Hindi) in Indian cooking, spinach. |
| sabe | To savvy > SABES, SABEING, SABED. |
| sabs | (Pl.) SAB, a saboteur. |
| sack | Dry white wine or sherry from Spain; (verb) to dismiss > SACKS, SACKING, SACKED. |
| sacs | (Pl.) SAC, a pouch or baglike structure. |
| sade | (Hebrew) a Hebrew letter > SADES. Also SADHE, SADI, TSADE, TSADI. |
| sadi | (Hebrew) a Hebrew letter > SADIS. Also SADE, SADHE, TSADE, TSADI. |
| sado | (Japanese) a tea ceremony > SADOS. Also CHADO, CHANOYO, CHANOYU. |
| sads | (3rd.) SAD, to express sadness. |
| safe | Secure > SAFER, SAFEST; SAFELY; (verb) to make e.g. a gun safe > SAFES, SAFING, SAFED. |
| saft | (Scots) soft > SAFTER, SAFTEST. |
| saga | A medieval Scandinavian narrative > SAGAS. |
| sage | A garden labiate plant (Salvia officinalis) whose grey-green leaves are used as a flavouring > SAGES; (adj.) wise > SAGER, SAGEST; SAGELY. |
| sago | (Malay) a type of palm tree; a nutritive cereal derived from its pith > SAGOS. [Malay sagu]. |
| sags | (3rd.) SAG, to bend or hang down. |
| sagy | Full of sage; seasoned with sage > SAGIER, SAGIEST. |
| saic | (Turkish) a Levantine vessel like a ketch > SAICS. Also SAICK, SAIQUE. |
| said | (Noun) a descendant of Mohammed's daughter Fatima > SAIDS. Also SAYYID, SAIYID, SAYID. |
| sail | To move across the surface of water by the action of wind > SAILS, SAILING, SAILED. |
| saim | (Scots) a seam > SAIMS. |
| sain | To make the sign of the cross over > SAINS, SAINING, SAINED. |
| sair | (Scots) sore, very > SAIRER, SAIREST; (verb) to savour > SAIRS, SAIRING, SAIRED. |
| sais | (Pl.) SAI, the capuchin monkey. |
| sake | A Japanese alcoholic drink made from fermented rice > SAKES. Also SAKI. |
| saki | (Japanese) a kind of rice wine > SAKIS. Also SAKE. |
| sale | The act or an instance of selling > SALES. |
| sall | (Obs.) shall. |
| salp | Any species of Salpa, or of the family Salpidae > free-swimming chordates with flattened, translucent, keg-like bodies > SALPS. Also SALPA, SALPID, SALPIAN. |
| sals | (Pl.) SAL, a large North Indian tree. |
| salt | Tasting of salt > SALTER, SALTEST; SALTLY; (verb) to put salt on > SALTS, SALTING, SALTED. |
| sama | (Japanese) a title given to an exalted person > SAMAS. |
| same | Resembling in every relevant respect > SAMES. |
| samp | (Am. Ind.) a coarsely ground maize > SAMPS. [Narragansett]. |
| sams | (3rd.) SAM, to gather. |
| sand | To cover with sand (a loose, granular rock material) > SANDS, SANDING, SANDED. |
| sane | Of sound mind > SANER, SANEST; SANELY; (verb) to bless > SANES, SANING, SANED. |
| sang | (Chinese) a Chinese organ played by mouth > SANGS. |
| sank | (Pt.) SINK, to move to a lower level. |
| sans | (Fr.) without; deprived or destitute of. |
| sant | (Hindi) in Sikhism, a devout person, a saint > SANTS. |
| saps | (3rd.) SAP, to drain. |
| sard | A deep orange-colored kind of chalcedony > SARDS. Also SARDIUS. |
| sari | (Hindi) a Hindu woman's chief garment, a long cloth wrapped round the waist and passed over the shoulder and head > SARIS. Also SAREE. |
| sark | (Scots) a shirt, a chemise > SARKS. |
| sars | (Pl.) SAR, a sea bream. |
| sash | (Verb) to dress or adorn with a sash > SASHES, SASHING, SASHED. |
| sass | Impudence, cheek; (verb) to cheek > SASSES, SASSING, SASSED. |
| sate | To satiate > SATES, SATING, SATED. |
| sati | (Sanskrit) the act of a Hindu widow willingly being cremated on the funeral pyre of her husband > SATIS. [Sanskrit sati, a true wife]. Also SUTTEE. |
| saul | (Dial.) a soul > SAULS. |
| saut | (Scots) salt > SAUTS. |
| save | To rescue from danger, injury, or loss > SAVES, SAVING, SAVED. |
| savs | (Pl.) SAV, a saveloy. |
| sawn | (PaP.) SAW, to cut with a saw. |
| saws | (3rd.) SAW, to cut with a saw. |
| saxe | As in saxe blue, a light bluish-grey colour. |
| says | (3rd.) SAY, to utter in words. |
| scab | (Verb) to work as a blackleg > SCABS, SCABBING, SCABBED. |
| scad | Any of numerous carangid fishes, esp. one with a row of large scales along each side; a horse-mackerel or SAUREL > SCADS. |
| scag | (US slang) heroin. Also SKAG. (Verb) to make a tear in cloth > SCAGS, SCAGGING, SCAGGED. |
| scam | (Sl.) a swindle; (verb) to swindle > SCAMS, SCAMMING, SCAMMED. |
| scan | To examine closely > SCANS, SCANNING, SCANNED or SCAND. |
| scar | To form a scar (a mark left by the healing of injured tissue) > SCARS, SCARRING, SCARRED. |
| scat | (Verb) to scare away > SCATS, SCATTING, SCATTED. |
| scaw | A low cape or headland > SCAWS. Also SKAW. |
| scog | (Scots) shadow, shelter > SCOGS. Also SKUG, SCUG, SCOUG, SCOOG. |
| scop | (OE) an Anglo-Saxon poet and harpist > SCOPAS (but SCOPS is valid anyway as a kind of owl). |
| scot | Money assessed or paid > SCOTS. |
| scow | A large flat-bottomed boat, having broad, square ends; (verb) to transport by this > SCOWS, SCOWING, SCOWED. |
| scry | To see the future e.g. via a crystal ball > SCRIES, SCRYING, SCRIED or (Spenser) SCRYDE. Also SKRY. |
| scud | To run along quickly and lightly > SCUDS, SCUDDING, SCUDDED. |
| scug | (Scots) shadow, shelter > SCUGS. Also SCOG, SKUG, SCOUG, SCOOG. |
| scul | (Obs.) school > SCULS. |
| scum | To remove the scum (impure or extraneous matter) from > SCUMS, SCUMMING, SCUMMED. |
| scup | (Am. Ind.) a common Atlantic fish, the northern PORGY > SCUPS. [Narraganset mishcuppauog]. Also SCUPPAUG. |
| scur | To scour, search > SCURS, SCURRING, SCURRED. Also SKER, SKIRR, SQUIRR. |
| scut | The tail of e.g. a rabbit > SCUTS. |
| scye | An opening for the insertion of a sleeve > SCYES. |
| seal | To close or make secure against access, leakage, or passage > SEALS, SEALING, SEALED. |
| seam | To join with a seam (a line formed by sewing two pieces of fabric together) > SEAMS, SEAMING, SEAMED. |
| sean | A kind of net; to fish with such a net > SEANS, SEANING, SEANED. Also SEINE. |
| sear | (Shakesp.) scorched, withered > SEARER, SEAREST; (verb) to burn > SEARS, SEARING, SEARED. |
| seas | (Pl.) SEA, a great expanse of water. |
| seat | To place on a seat (something on which one sits) > SEATS, SEATING, SEATED. |
| seax | (n) a short sword or dagger used in Anglo-Saxon times. |
| sech | A hyperbolic secant > SECHS. |
| seco | (Ital.) (of wine) dry. |
| secs | (Pl.) SEC, a secant. |
| sect | A group of people united by common beliefs or interests > SECTS. |
| seed | To plant seeds (propagative plant structures) in > SEEDS, SEEDING, SEEDED. |
| seek | To go in search of > SEEKS, SEEKING, SOUGHT. |
| seel | To stitch up a hawk's eyes > SEELS, SEELING, SEELED. |
| seem | To give the impression of being > SEEMS, SEEMING, SEEMED. |
| seen | (PaP.) SEE, to perceive by the eye. |
| seep | To pass slowly through small openings > SEEPS, SEEPING, SEEPED. |
| seer | A prophet > SEERS. |
| sees | (3rd.) SEE, to perceive by the eye. |
| sego | (Am. Ind.) a liliaceous plant of Western North America, and its edible bulb > SEGOS. [Ute]. |
| segs | (Pl.) SEG, a stud in the sole of a shoe. |
| seif | (Arabic) a long sand-dune lying parallel to the direction of the wind that forms it > SEIFS. [Arabic sayf, sword]. |
| seik | (Scots) sick > SEIKER, SEIKEST. |
| seil | To strain > SEILS, SEILING, SEILED. Also SILE. |
| seir | (Port.) a scombroid fish of the eastern coastal waters of India > SEIRS. Also SEER. |
| seis | (Pl.) SEI, a rorqual. |
| sekt | (Ger.) a sparkling wine > SEKTS. |
| seld | Rare; uncommon; unusual. No comp! Cf. SELDSEEN, SELDSHOWN. |
| sele | Happiness, good fashion > SELES. Also SEEL, SEIL, SEAL. |
| self | One's own person > SELVES; (verb) to fertilize by the same individual > SELFS, SELFING, SELFED. |
| sell | To give up to another for money or other valuable consideration > SELLS, SELLING, SOLD. |
| sels | (Pl.) SEL, self. |
| seme | 1. (Her.) strewn or scattered with small bearings. Also SEMEE, SEMEED. 2. A type of ornamental pattern > SEMES. |
| semi | A semi-detached house > SEMIS. |
| sena | (Hindi) in India, an army, esp. used of paramilitary organisations representing various castes > SENAS. |
| send | To cause to go > SENDS, SENDING, SENT; to scend > SENDS, SENDING, SENDED. |
| sene | (Samoan) a monetary unit of Western Samoa > SENE. No -S. |
| sens | (Obs.) since. |
| sent | (Verb, obs.) to scent > SENTS, SENTING, SENTED. |
| seps | (Greek) a skink of the genus Seps with a serpentlike body > SEPSES. |
| sept | A division of a tribe; a clan > SEPTS. |
| sera | (Pl.) SERUM, a watery liquid, esp. that which separates from coagulating blood. |
| sere | Scorched, withered > SERER, SEREST; (verb) to dry up, wither > SERES, SERING, SERED. |
| serf | A person in modified slavery, esp. one bound to work on the land > SERFS. |
| serk | A shirt > SERKS. Also SARK. |
| serr | To press close, close the ranks of > SERRS, SERRING, SERRED. Also SERRE, SERRY. |
| sers | (Pl.) SER, a unit of weight in India. |
| sese | (Shakesp.) enough said. Also CAESE, CEAS, SESEY, SESSA. |
| sesh | (Abbr.) session > SESHES. |
| sess | A tax, a local rate for the maintenance of soldiers > SESSES. Also CESS. |
| seta | (Lat.) a bristle; any bristle-like organ > SETAE. |
| sets | (3rd.) SET, to put or place in position. |
| sett | A badger's home > SETTS. Also CETE. |
| sevs | (Pl.) SEV, an Indian food of deep-fried strands of flour. |
| sewn | (PaP.) SEW, to work on with a needle and thread. |
| sews | (3rd.) SEW, to work on with a needle and thread. |
| sext | The office of the sixth hour > SEXTS. |
| sexy | Sexually attractive > SEXIER, SEXIEST; SEXILY. |
| seys | (Pl.) SEY, a carcase of beef. |
| shad | A deep-bodied herring-like marine fish, spawning in rivers > SHADS. |
| shag | A bird allied to the cormorant; (verb) to make shaggy > SHAGS, SHAGGING, SHAGGED. |
| shah | (Persian) (a title of) the monarch of Iran (Persia) > SHAHS. |
| sham | To feign > SHAMS, SHAMMING, SHAMMED. |
| shan | (Obs. criminal sl.) a base or counterfeit coin > SHANS. Also SHAND. |
| shat | (Pt.) SHIT, to defecate. |
| shaw | (Verb) to show > SHAWS, SHAWING, SHAWED, SHAWN. |
| shay | A chaise > SHAYS. |
| shea | An African sapotaceous tree, from the seeds of which a substance resembling butter is obtained; the African butter tree > SHEAS. |
| shed | (Verb) to house in a shed > SHEDS, SHEDDING, SHEDDED. |
| shen | the spiritual element of a person's psyche > SHEN. No -S. |
| shes | (Pl.) SHE, a female person. |
| shet | (Dial.) to shut > SHETS, SHETTING, SHET. |
| shew | (Obs.) to show > SHEWS, SHEWING, SHEWED, SHEWN. |
| shhh | an interjection requesting quietness. |
| shim | A thin slip of metal etc. used to fill a space or to adjust parts; (verb) to fill in or adjust with a shim > SHIMS, SHIMMING, SHIMMED. |
| shin | To climb by gripping and pulling alternately with the hands and legs > SHINS, SHINNING, SHINNED. |
| ship | To transport by ship (a vessel suitable for navigation in deep water) > SHIPS, SHIPPING, SHIPPED. |
| shir | To pucker, gather; to bake eggs > SHIRS, SHIRRING, SHIRRED. Also SHIRR. |
| shit | To defecate > SHITS, SHITTING, SHITTED or SHAT. |
| shiv | A knife; (verb) to cut with a SHIV > SHIVS, SHIVVING, SHIVVED. |
| shmo | (Yiddish) a stupid person > SHMOES. Also SCHMO, SCHMOE. |
| shod | (Pt.) SHOE, to put shoes on. |
| shoe | A stiff outer covering for the foot, not coming above the ankle > SHOES or (archaic) SHOON. (Verb) to put shoes on > SHOES, SHOEING, SHOED or SHOD, SHODDEN. |
| shog | (Dial.) to jog, move on, go away > SHOGS, SHOGGING, SHOGGED. |
| shoo | (Verb) to cry 'Shoo' > SHOOS, SHOOING, SHOOED. |
| shop | To examine goods with intent to buy > SHOPS, SHOPPING, SHOPPED. |
| shot | (Verb) to load with shot > SHOTS, SHOTTING, SHOTTED. |
| show | To cause or permit to be seen > SHOWS, SHOWING, SHOWED, SHOWN. |
| shri | (Sanskrit) a title of respect, sir > SHRIS. [Skr. shri, majesty]. Also SRI. |
| shul | (Hebrew) a synagogue > SHULS or SHULN. Also SCHUL. |
| shun | To avoid > SHUNS, SHUNNING, SHUNNED. |
| shut | To close > SHUTS, SHUTTING, SHUT. |
| shwa | (Ger.) a vowel sound, like "a" in alone or "e" in linen, that in English often appears unstressed > SHWAS. Also SCHWA. |
| sial | The upper layer of the continental crust, so called because it is rich in silica and aluminum oxide > SIALS. Compare SIMA. |
| sibb | (Scott) a blood relation, a kinsman > SIBBS. Also SIB, SYBBE. |
| sibs | (Pl.) SIB, a blood relation, a kinsman. |
| sice | (Arabic) a groom, a mounted attendant > SICES. Also SYCE, SAICE. |
| sich | (Arch.) such. |
| sick | Ill > SICKER, SICKEST; SICKLY; (verb) to incite to attack > SICKS, SICKING, SICKED. |
| sics | (3rd.) SIC, to incite a dog to attack. |
| sida | (Greek) any plant of the Queensland hemp genus Sida, of the mallow family > SIDAS. |
| side | To agree with or support > SIDES, SIDING, SIDED. |
| sidh | (Irish) fairy people. No -S. Also SIDHE. |
| sien | (Arch.) scion > SIENS. Also CION, SIENT, SYEN. |
| sies | (S. Afr.) expressing disgust. Also SIS. |
| sift | To sieve > SIFTS, SIFTING, SIFTED. |
| sigh | To let out a sigh (a deep, audible breath) > SIGHS, SIGHING, SIGHED. |
| sign | To write one's name on > SIGNS, SIGNING, SIGNED. |
| sigs | (Pl.) SIG, a short personalized message at the end of an email, a signature. |
| sijo | (Korean) a Korean verse form > SIJOS. |
| sika | (Japanese) a kind of deer, native to Japan > SIKAS. |
| sike | A rill or small ditch > SIKES. Also SYKE. |
| sild | (Norwegian) herring, esp. canned, lightly smoked herring imported from Scandinavia > SILDS. |
| sile | To strain > SILES, SILING, SILED. Also SEIL. |
| silk | A fibre produced by the larva of a silkworm moth; (verb) to cover or clothe with silk > SILKS, SILKING, SILKED. |
| sill | The horizontal piece that bears the upright portion of a frame > SILLS. |
| silo | (Verb) to put or keep in a silo > SILOS, SILOED, SILOING. |
| silt | A fine deposit of mud, clay, etc., esp. one in a river or lake; (verb) to fill or become filled with silt > SILTS, SILTING, SILTED. |
| sima | The oceanic crust, also the lower layer of the continental crust, so called because it is enriched in silica and magnesium oxide > SIMAS. Cf. SIAL. |
| simi | (Swahili) in Africa, a short two-edged sword or large knife > SIMIS. |
| simp | (Abbr.) simpleton > SIMPS. |
| sims | (Pl.) SIM, an evangelist. |
| sind | (Scots) to rinse, wash out > SINDS, SINDING, SINDED. Also SYND, SINE, SYNE. |
| sine | (Scots) to rinse, wash out > SINES, SINING, SINED. Also SYND, SYNE, SIND. |
| sing | To utter with musical inflections of the voice > SINGS, SINGING, SANG, SUNG. |
| sinh | A hyperbolic function of an angle > SINHS. |
| sink | To move to a lower level > SINKS, SINKING, SANK, SUNK, SUNKEN. |
| sins | (3rd.) SIN, to commit sin. |
| sipe | (Dial.) to soak through, seep > SIPES, SIPING, SIPED. Also SYPE. |
| sips | (3rd.) SIP, to drink in small mouthfuls. |
| sire | To beget > SIRES, SIRING, SIRED. |
| siri | (Malay) the betel pepper > SIRIS. Also SIRIH. |
| sirs | (3rd.) SIR, to address as 'sir'. |
| siss | (Abbr.) sister > SISSES. Also SIS. |
| sist | To stay, as judicial proceedings; to delay or suspend > SISTS, SISTING, SISTED. |
| site | To place in position for operation > SITES, SITING, SITED. |
| sith | (Arch.) since. Also SITHEN, SITHENCE, SITHENS. |
| sits | (3rd.) SIT, to rest on the buttocks. |
| sitz | As in sitz bath, a bath in which the hips and buttocks are immersed in warm water. |
| size | To arrange according to size (physical proportions) > SIZES, SIZING, SIZED. |
| sizy | Pertaining to SIZE, in sense of a weak glue > SIZIER, SIZIEST. |
| sjoe | (S. Afr.) expressing surprise, admiration etc. |
| skag | (US slang) heroin > SKAGS. Also SCAG. |
| skas | (Pl.) SKA, Jamaican music similar to reggae. |
| skat | A card game for three persons, resembling solo whist > SKATS. |
| skaw | A low cape or headland > SKAWS. Also SCAW. |
| sked | to schedule > SKEDS, SKEDDING, SKEDDED. |
| skee | To ski > SKEES, SKEEING, SKEED. |
| skeg | A length of keel projecting aft to protect the rudder > SKEGS. Also SKEGG. |
| sken | (Dial.) to squint or stare > SKENS, SKENNING, SKENNED. |
| skeo | (Orkney) a hut, a shed > SKEOES or SKEOS. Also SKIO. |
| skep | (ON) a farm basket, especially of wicker or straw; a beehive, especially domed and made of straw; (verb) to collect into a hive > SKEPS, SKEPPING, SKEPPED. [ON skeppa bushel]. |
| sker | To scour, search; to send skimming > SKERS, SKERRING, SKERRED. Also SCUR, SKIRR, SQUIRR. |
| sket | (Dial.) to splash water > SKETS, SKETTING, SKETTED. |
| skew | Oblique, biase > SKEWER, SKEWEST; (verb) to make oblique > SKEWS, SKEWING, SKEWED. |
| skid | To slide sideways as a result of a loss of traction > SKIDS, SKIDDING, SKIDDED. |
| skim | To remove floating matter from the surface of > SKIMS, SKIMMING, SKIMMED. |
| skin | To strip or deprive of skin (the membranous tissue covering the body of an animal) > SKINS, SKINNING, SKINNED. |
| skio | (Orkney) a hut, a shed > SKIOES or SKIOS. Also SKEO. |
| skip | To move with light springing steps > SKIPS, SKIPPING, SKIPPED. |
| skis | (3rd.) SKI, to move on skis. |
| skit | A short dramatic scene > SKITS. |
| skog | to shelter > SKOGS, SKOGGING, SKOGGED. |
| skol | (ON) a drinking toast; good health! Also SKOAL. (Verb) to down a drink in one go > SKOLS, SKOLLING, SKOLLED. |
| skry | To see the future e.g. via a crystal ball > SKRIES, SKRYING, SKRIED. Also SCRY. |
| skua | A predatory gull-like sea bird > SKUAS. |
| skug | (Scots) shadow, shelter > SKUGS. [ON skuggi, shadow]. Also SCOG, SCUG, SCOUG, SCOOG. |
| skyf | (S. Afr.) a cigarette or substance for smoking; (verb) to smoke > SKYFS, SKYFING, SKYFED. |
| skyr | (ON) curds; a yogurt-like curd cheese > SKYRS. |
| slab | (Verb) to form into slabs > SLABS, SLABBING, SLABBED. |
| slae | (Scots) a sloe > SLAES. |
| slag | To convert into slag (the fused residue of a smelted ore) > SLAGS, SLAGGING, SLAGGED. |
| slam | To shut forcibly and noisily > SLAMS, SLAMMING, SLAMMED. |
| slap | To strike with the open hand > SLAPS, SLAPPING, SLAPPED. |
| slat | (Verb) to strike, beat > SLATS, SLATTING, SLATTED. |
| slaw | Cabbage salad > SLAWS. |
| slay | To amuse overwhelmingly > SLAYS, SLAYING, SLAYED; (verb) to kill violently > SLAYS, SLAYING, SLEW, SLAIN. |
| sleb | (Slang) a celebrity > SLEBS. |
| sled | (Verb) to travel by sled > SLEDS, SLEDDING, SLEDDED. |
| slee | (Scots) sly > SLEER, SLEEST. |
| slew | (Verb) to swerve violently > SLEWS, SLEWING, SLEWED. |
| sley | A weaver's reed > SLEYS. |
| slid | (Pt.) SLIDE, to move smoothly along a surface. |
| slim | Slender > SLIMMER, SLIMMEST; SLIMLY; (verb) to make slim > SLIMS, SLIMMING, SLIMMED. |
| slip | To slide > SLIPS, SLIPPING, SLIPPED, SLIPT. |
| slit | To make a slit (a long, narrow cut) in > SLITS, SLITTING, SLITTED. |
| slob | A slovenly or boorish person > SLOBS. |
| sloe | The fruit of the blackthorn > SLOES. |
| slog | To plod > SLOGS, SLOGGING, SLOGGED. |
| slop | To spill or splash > SLOPS, SLOPPING, SLOPPED. |
| slot | To cut a long, narrow opening in > SLOTS, SLOTTING, SLOTTED. |
| slow | Not fast > SLOWER, SLOWEST; SLOWLY; (verb) to make slow > SLOWS, SLOWING, SLOWED. |
| slub | To twist fibre after carding to prepare it for spinning > SLUBS, SLUBBING, SLUBBED. Also SLUBB, |
| slue | To swing round violently > SLUES, SLUING, SLUED. Also SLEW. |
| slug | (Verb) to strike > SLUGS, SLUGGING, SLUGGED. |
| slum | To visit slums (squalid urban areas) > SLUMS, SLUMMING, SLUMMED. |
| slur | To pass over lightly or carelessly > SLURS, SLURRING, SLURRED. |
| slut | A slovenly woman > SLUTS. |
| smee | (Dial.) a name for various ducks, smew, pochard > SMEES. Also SMEATH, SMEETH. |
| smew | A bird, the smallest MERGANSER > SMEWS. |
| smir | To drizzle > SMIRS, SMIRRING, SMIRRED. Also SMUR, SMIRR. |
| smit | (Scots) to stain, infect > SMITS, SMITTING, SMITTED. |
| smog | An atmospheric mixture of smoke and fog > SMOGS. |
| smug | Complacent > SMUGGER, SMUGGEST; SMUGLY; (verb) to seize without ceremony > SMUGS, SMUGGING, SMUGGED. |
| smur | (Scots) to drizzle > SMURS, SMURRING, SMURRED. Also SMIRR, SMIR. |
| smut | (Verb) to soil, make smutty > SMUTS, SMUTTING, SMUTTED. |
| snab | (Scots) a cobbler; a shoemaker's apprentice > SNABS. |
| snag | To catch on a snag (a jagged protuberance) > SNAGS, SNAGGING, SNAGGED. |
| snap | To make a sharp cracking sound > SNAPS, SNAPPING, SNAPPED. |
| snar | To snarl > SNARS, SNARRING, SNARRED. |
| snaw | (Dial.) to snow > SNAWS, SNAWING, SNAWED. |
| sneb | To reprimand > SNEBS, SNEBBING, SNEBBED. Also SNEBBE. |
| sned | 1. the curved handle of a scythe > SNEDS. Also SNATH, SNATHE, SNEATH, SNEAD. 2. (verb) to cut, lop > SNEDS, SNEDDING, SNEDDED. |
| snee | (Obs.) to cut > SNEES, SNEEING, SNEED. |
| snib | (Scots) a small bolt, a catch for a window-sash; (verb) to fasten with such > SNIBS, SNIBBING, SNIBBED. |
| snig | To chop off; to cut > SNIGS, SNIGGING, SNIGGED. Cf. SNED, SNEE. |
| snip | To cut with a short, quick stroke > SNIPS, SNIPPING, SNIPPED. |
| snit | A fit of rather childish temper, a tantrum > SNITS. |
| snob | One who tends to avoid or rebuff those regarded as inferior > SNOBS. |
| snod | (Scots) smooth, neat > SNODDER, SNODDEST; (verb) to trim, tidy > SNODS, SNODDIT or SNODDED, SNODDING. |
| snog | (Sl.) to kiss > SNOGS, SNOGGING, SNOGGED. |
| snot | Mucus; (verb) to blow the nose > SNOTS, SNOTTING, SNOTTED. |
| snow | To fall as snow (precipitation in the form of ice crystals) > SNOWS, SNOWING, SNOWED. |
| snub | To treat with contempt or neglect > SNUBS, SNUBBING, SNUBBED. |
| snug | Cosy > SNUGGER, SNUGGEST; SNUGLY; (verb) to lie close > SNUGS, SNUGGING, SNUGGED. |
| snye | A natural channel bypassing rapids or body of river > SNYES. Also SNY. |
| soak | To saturate thoroughly in liquid > SOAKS, SOAKING, SOAKED, (obs.) SOAKEN. |
| soap | To treat with soap (a cleansing agent) > SOAPS, SOAPING, SOAPED. |
| soar | To fly at a great height > SOARS, SOARING, SOARED. |
| soba | (Japanese) noodles made from buckwheat flour > SOBAS. |
| sobs | (3rd.) SOB, to cry uncontrollably. |
| soca | A variety of Caribbean calypso music > SOCAS. [From soul plus calypso]. Also SOKAH. |
| sock | A covering for the foot and part or all of the lower leg; (verb) to strike > SOCKS, SOCKING, SOCKED. |
| socs | (Pl.) SOC, the historical right of holding a local court. |
| soda | Any of a number of common sodium compounds > SODAS. |
| sods | (3rd.) SOD, to cover with sods. |
| sofa | A long, upholstered seat > SOFAS. |
| soft | Not hard > SOFTER, SOFTEST; SOFTLY; (verb) (Spenser) to soften > SOFTS, SOFTING, SOFTED. |
| sogs | (3rd.) SOG, to soak. |
| soho | A huntsman's halloo. No -S. |
| sohs | (Pl.) SOH, a musical note. |
| soil | Unconsolidated materials above bedrock; (verb) to make dirty > SOILS, SOILING, SOILED. |
| soja | A dark, salty sauce made from fermented soy beans and wheat flour > SOJAS. Also SOY, SOYA. |
| soju | (Korean) a Korean vodka distilled from rice or sweet potato > SOJUS. |
| soke | A district under a particular jurisdiction > SOKES. Also SOC, SOKEN, SUCKEN. |
| sola | (Hindi) a spongewood > SOLAS. Also SOLAH. |
| sold | (Noun) (Spenser) pay, remuneration > SOLDS. Also SOLDE. |
| sole | Alone > SOLELY; (verb) to pull by the ears > SOLES, SOLING, SOLED. Also SOWL, SOWLE, SOOLE. |
| soli | (Pl.) SOLO, a performance by one person. |
| solo | A performance by one person > SOLOS or SOLI. (Verb) to perform a solo > SOLOS, SOLOING, SOLOED. |
| sols | (Pl.) SOL, a musical note. |
| soma | (Greek) the whole axial portion of an animal, including the head, neck, trunk, and tail > SOMAS or SOMATA. |
| some | Being an unspecified number or part. |
| soms | (Pl.) SOM, the standard monetary unit of Kyrgyzstan. |
| somy | (Pl.) SOM, the standard monetary unit of Kyrgyzstan. |
| sone | A unit of loudness on a scale based on subjective or perceived loudness > SONES. |
| song | That which is sung; a short poem or ballad suitable for singing or set to music > SONGS. |
| sons | (Pl.) SON, a male offspring. |
| sook | (Arabic) an Arab market-place > SOOKS. [Arabic suk]. Also SUK, SUQ, SOUK, SUKH. (Verb) to suck > SOOKS, SOOKING, SOOKED. |
| sool | To incite (a dog) to attack > SOOLS, SOOLING, SOOLED. |
| soom | (Scots) to swim > SOOMS, SOOMING, SOOMED. |
| soon | In a short time > SOONER, SOONEST. |
| soop | (Scots) to sweep > SOOPS, SOOPING, SOOPED. |
| soot | (Verb) to besmear with soot > SOOTS, SOOTING, SOOTED. |
| soph | (Abbr.) SOPHOMORE, one belonging to the second of the four classes in an American college > SOPHS. |
| sops | (3rd.) SOP, to soak. |
| sora | (Am. Ind.) a North American rail > SORAS. Also SOREE. |
| sorb | To absorb; to adsorb > SORBS, SORBING, SORBED. |
| sord | A flock of mallard > SORDS. |
| sore | Sensitive to pain > SORER, SOREST; SORELY; (verb) to make sore > SORES, SORING, SORED. |
| sori | (Pl.) SORUS, a cluster of SPORANGIA. |
| sorn | (Scots) to impose in order to obtain hospitality, to sponge > SORNS, SORNING, SORNED. |
| sort | To arrange according to kind, class, or size > SORTS, SORTING, SORTED. |
| soss | To fall at once into a chair or seat; to sit lazily > SOSSES, SOSSING, SOSSED. |
| soth | Truth > SOTHS. Also SOOTH. |
| sots | (3rd.) SOT, to act as a sot, a habitual drunkard. |
| souk | (Arabic) an Arab market-place > SOUKS. [Arabic suk]. Also SOOK, SUQ, SUK, SUKH. (Verb) to such > SOUKS, SOUKING, SOUKED. |
| soul | The spiritual aspect of human beings > SOULS, SOULED. |
| soum | (Scots) the proportion of sheep or cattle suitable for any pasture; (verb) to reckon this > SOUMS, SOUMING, SOUMED. Also SOWM. |
| soup | Any liquid food made by stewing pieces of meat, vegetables or grains; (verb) to increase the power of > SOUPS, SOUPING, SOUPED. |
| sour | Having an acid taste > SOURER, SOUREST; SOURLY; (verb) to make sour > SOURS, SOURING, SOURED. |
| sous | (Pl.) SOU, a low-value French coin. |
| sout | (Spenser) soot > SOUTS. |
| sovs | (Pl.) SOV, a sovereign. |
| sowf | (Scots) to whistle or hum softly > SOWFS, SOWFING, SOWFED. Also SOWFF, SOWTH. |
| sowl | (Shakesp.) to lug, drag > SOWLS, SOWLING, SOWLED. Also SOWLE, SOOLE, SOLE. |
| sowm | (Scots) the proportion of sheep or cattle suitable for any pasture; (verb) to reckon this > SOWMS, SOWMING, SOWMED. Also SOUM. |
| sown | (PaP.) SOW, to scatter seed on the ground. |
| sowp | (Scots) a spoonful, a sip > SOWPS. |
| sows | (3rd.) SOW, to scatter seed on the ground. |
| soya | A dark, salty sauce made from fermented soy beans and wheat flour > SOYAS. Also SOY, SOJA. |
| soys | (Pl.) SOY, a dark, salty sauce made from fermented beans. |
| spae | (ON) to foretell; to divine > SPAES, SPAING, SPAED. [ON spa]. |
| spag | (Aus. sl.) an Italian person; (verb) of a cat, to scratch a person > SPAGS, SPAGGING, SPAGGED. |
| spam | (Verb) to send out electronic junk mail > SPAMS, SPAMMING, SPAMMED. |
| span | To extend over or across > SPANS, SPANNING, SPANNED. |
| spar | To provide with spars (stout poles used to support rigging) > SPARS, SPARRING, SPARRED. |
| spas | (Pl.) SPA, a mineral spring; a resort built round this. |
| spat | (Verb) to slap, strike > SPATS, SPATTING, SPATTED. |
| spaw | (Obs.) a spa > SPAWS. |
| spay | To remove the ovaries from (a female animal) > SPAYS, SPAYING, SPAYED. |
| spec | (Abbr.) specification; (verb) to specify > SPECS, SPECCING, SPECCED. |
| sped | (Pt.) SPEED, to move swiftly. |
| spek | Fat, bacon, blubber from a whale > SPEKS. Also SPECK. |
| spet | To spit; to throw out > SPETS, SPETTING, SPET. |
| spew | To vomit > SPEWS, SPEWING, SPEWED. |
| spie | (Spenser) a spy > SPIES. |
| spif | A postage stamp perforated with the initials of a firm to avoid theft by employees > SPIFS. |
| spim | Spam received via an instant messaging system > SPIMS. |
| spin | To draw out and twist into threads > SPINS, SPINNING, SPUN or SPAN. |
| spit | To emit saliva > SPITS, SPITTING, SPAT; to pierce with a spit > SPiTS, SPITTING, SPITTED, SPITTEN. |
| spiv | One who lives by his wits without regular employment; a slacker > SPIVS. |
| spod | A boring, unattractive or over-studious person > SPODS. |
| spot | To mark with spots (small, roundish discolorations) > SPOTS, SPOTTING, SPOTTED. |
| spry | Smart, dapper > SPRIER or SPRYER, SPRIEST or SPRYEST; SPRYLY. |
| spud | A small narrow digging tool with a spadelike blade; (verb) to dig with a spud > SPUDS, SPUDDING, SPUDDED. |
| spue | To spew > SPUES, SPUING, SPUED. |
| spug | (Coll.) a house sparrow > SPUGS. Also SPUGGY. |
| spun | (Pt.) SPIN, to draw out and twist into threads. |
| spur | A goading instrument on a horse rider's heel; (verb) to apply the spur to > SPURS, SPURRING, SPURRED. |
| sris | (Pl.) SRI, a Hindu title of respect. |
| stab | To pierce with a pointed weapon > STABS, STABBING, STABBED. |
| stag | To deal as a stag (on the stock-market) > STAGS, STAGGING, STAGGED. |
| stan | (v) to follow the career of a celebrity with excessive enthusiasm. |
| stap | (Scots) to stuff, thrust, cram > STAPS, STAPPING, STAPPED. |
| star | To perform as a star > STARS, STARRING, STARRED. |
| stat | (Abbr.) statistic > STATS. |
| staw | (Scots) to stall > STAWS, STAWING, STAWED. |
| stay | To continue in a place or condition > STAYS, STAYING, STAYED or STAID. |
| sted | (Spenser) to stead > STEDS, STEDING, STEDED. Also STEDE, STEDD, STEDDE, STEED. |
| stem | To staunch, stop > STEMS, STEMMING, STEMMED. |
| sten | To stride vigorously > STENS, STENNING, STENNED. Also STEND. |
| step | To move by lifting the foot and setting it down in another place > STEPS, STEPPING, STEPPED or (obs.) STEPT. |
| stet | (Lat.) to restore after marking for deletion > STETS, STETTING, STETTED. |
| stew | A dish of food, esp. meat with vegetables, cooked in water or a stock > STEWS, STEWING, STEWED. |
| stey | (Scots) steep > STEYER, STEYEST. |
| stie | (Obs.) sty; (verb) to keep in a sty > STIES, STYING, STIED. |
| stim | (Irish) a very small amount > STIMS. |
| stir | To pass an implement through in circular motions > STIRS, STIRRING, STIRRED. |
| stoa | (Greek) a covered walk with colonnade(s) > STOAS, STOAE, STOAI. |
| stob | A stake, a stump; (verb) to stab > STOBS, STOBBING, STOBBED. |
| stop | To discontinue the progress or motion of > STOPS, STOPPING, STOPPED or (obs.) STOPT. |
| stot | A bullock, a steer; (verb) to bound, to walk with a springy step > STOTS, STOTTING, STOTTED. Also STOTT. |
| stow | To pack > STOWS, STOWING, STOWED. |
| stub | To strike accidentally against a projecting object > STUBS, STUBBING, STUBBED. |
| stud | To set thickly with small projections > STUDS, STUDDING, STUDDED. |
| stum | Unfermented or partly fermented grape-juice, must; esp. must in which the fermentation has been prevented or arrested by fumigation with sulphur; (verb) to doctor with stum > STUMS, STUMMING, STUMMED. |
| stun | To render senseless or incapable of action > STUNS, STUNNING, STUNNED. |
| stye | A sore place on the eye > STYES. |
| suba | (Hindi) a province in India > SUBAS. Also SUBAH. |
| subs | (3rd.) SUB, to subedit (copy). |
| such | Of that kind. |
| suck | To draw in by establishing a partial vacuum > SUCKS, SUCKING, SUCKED. |
| sudd | (Arabic) a mass of vegetation floating on water in NE Africa > SUDDS. |
| suds | (Verb) to foam up, to lather > SUDSES, SUDSING, SUDSED. |
| sued | (Pt.) SUE, to prosecute at law. |
| suer | One who sues; a suitor > SUERS. |
| sues | (3rd.) SUE, to prosecute at law. |
| suet | The hard, fatty tissue around the kidneys of cattle and sheep > SUETS. |
| sugh | To make a sigh that sounds like the wind > SUGHS, SUGHING, SUGHED. Also SOUGH. |
| sugo | An Italian meat sauce > SUGOS. |
| sugs | (3rd.) SUG, to attempt to sell a product while purporting to be engaged in market research. |
| suid | Any member of the pig family Suidae, including wild pigs, warthogs and the domestic pig > SUIDS. |
| suit | To be appropriate to > SUITS, SUITING, SUITED. |
| sukh | (Arabic) an Arab market-place > SUKHS. [Arabic suk]. Also SOOK, SUQ, SUK, SOUK. |
| suks | (Pl.) SUK, an Arab market-place. |
| sulk | To be sulky > SULKS, SULKING, SULKED. |
| sulu | (Fijian) in Fiji, a cloth worn as a sarong > SULUS. |
| sumi | (Japanese) a type of black Japanese ink > SUMIS. |
| sumo | (Japanese) a form of wrestling > SUMOS. |
| sump | A pit or depression into which liquid drains > SUMPS. |
| sums | (3rd.) SUM, to add, make up the total of. |
| sumy | (Pl.) SUM, the monetary unit of Uzbekistan. |
| sung | (Pp.) SING, to utter with musical inflections of the voice. |
| suni | A small S. African antelope > SUNIS. |
| sunk | (Noun) a turf seat > SUNKS. |
| sunn | (Hindi) an E. Indian plant with tough fibre used in cordage > SUNNS. |
| suns | (3rd.) SUN, to expose to the sun's rays. |
| supe | (Abbr.) superintendent > SUPES. |
| sups | (3rd.) SUP, to take liquid into the mouth. |
| suqs | (Pl.) SUQ, an Arab market-place. |
| sura | (Arabic) a chapter of the Koran > SURAS. Also SURAH. |
| surd | A sum containing roots; a voiceless sound in speech > SURDS. |
| sure | Certain > SURER, SUREST; SURELY; (verb) to provide with sewers > SURES, SURING, SURED. |
| surf | Surging water or waves rushing up a sloping beach; sea foam; (verb) to bathe in or ride on surf > SURFS, SURFING, SURFED. |
| suss | To arrest for suspicious behaviour > SUSSES, SUSSING, SUSSED. |
| susu | (Caribbean) an arrangement made among friends whereby each person makes regular contributions to a fund, the money being drawn out periodically by each individual in turn > SUSUS. |
| swab | (Verb) to absorb or mop with a swab > SWABS, SWABBING, SWABBED. Also SWOB. |
| swad | (Dial.) a country lout, a soldier > SWADS. |
| swag | To sway, to sag > SWAGS, SWAGGING, SWAGGED. |
| swam | (Pt.) SWIM, to propel oneself in water by natural means. |
| swan | A large aquatic bird; (verb) to move like a swan > SWANS, SWANNING, SWANNED. |
| swap | To trade > SWAPS, SWAPPING, SWAPPED or SWAPT. |
| swat | To hit sharply > SWATS, SWATTING, SWATTED. |
| sway | To move slowly back and forth > SWAYS, SWAYING, SWAYED. |
| swee | To sway, swing > SWEES, SWEEING, SWEED. |
| swey | (Scots) to sway, swing > SWEYS, SWEYING, SWEYED. |
| swig | To drink deeply or rapidly > SWIGS, SWIGGING, SWIGGED. |
| swim | To propel oneself in water by natural means > SWIMS, SWIMMING, SWAM, SWUM. |
| swiz | A swindle; (verb) to deceive > SWIZZES, SWIZZING, SWIZZED. Also SWIZZ. |
| swob | (Verb) to absorb or mop with a swob > SWOBS, SWOBBING, SWOBBED. Also SWAB. |
| swop | To barter, give in exchange > SWOPS, SWOPPING, SWOPPED or SWOPT. Also SWAP. |
| swot | To study hard > SWOTS, SWOTTING, SWOTTED. |
| swum | (PaP.) SWIM, to propel oneself in water by natural means. |
| sybo | (Scots) a CIBOL, a spring onion > SYBOES. Also SYBOE, SYBOW. |
| syce | (Arabic) a stableman or groom, esp. in India > SYCES. Also SICE, SAICE. |
| syed | (Pt.) SYE, to sieve. |
| syen | (Arch.) scion > SYENS. Also SIEN, SIENT. |
| syes | (3rd.) SYE, to sieve. |
| syke | A rill or small ditch > SYKES. Also SIKE. |
| syli | A former monetary unit of Guinea > SYLIS. |
| sync | (Abbr.) synchronised. Also SYNCH. |
| synd | (Scots) to rinse, wash out > SYNDS, SYNDING, SYNDED. Also SIND. |
| syne | (Scots) to rinse > SYNES, SYNING, SYNED. Also SYND, SIND. |
| sype | (Dial.) to soak through, seep > SYPES, SYPING, SYPED. Also SIPE. |
| syph | (Abbr.) syphilis > SYPHS. |