the nineteenth letter of the English alphabet, is a consonant, and is often called a sibilant, in allusion to its hissing sound. It has two principal sounds; one a mere hissing, as in sack, this; the other a vocal hissing (the same as that of z), as in is, wise. Besides these it sometimes has the sounds of sh and zh, as in sure, measure. It generally has its hissing sound at the beginning of words, but in the middle and at the end of words its sound is determined by usage. In a few words it is silent, as in isle, débris. With the letter h it forms the digraph sh. See Guide to pronunciation, §§ 255-261. [ 1913 Webster ]

Both the form and the name of the letter S are derived from the Latin, which got the letter through the Greek from the Phoenician. The ultimate origin is Egyptian. S is etymologically most nearly related to c, z, t, and r; as, in ice, OE. is; E. hence, OE. hennes; E. rase, raze; erase, razor; that, G. das; E. reason, F. raison, L. ratio; E. was, were; chair, chaise (see C, Z, T, and R.). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Sadh. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. (Ethnol.) Same as Bushmen. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Sp. cebadilla. ] (Bot.) A Mexican liliaceous plant (Schoenocaulon officinale); also, its seeds, which contain the alkaloid veratrine. It was formerly used in medicine as an emetic and purgative. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. & n. Same as Sabian. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Sabianism. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. See Sabianism. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) A genus of palm trees including the palmetto of the Southern United States. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. [ Heb. tsebā'ōth, pl. of tsābā', an army or host, fr. tsābā', to go forth to war. ] 1. Armies; hosts. [ Used twice in the English Bible, in the phrase “The Lord of Sabaoth.” ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Incorrectly, the Sabbath. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Sabbath. ] In mediaeval demonology, the nocturnal assembly in which demons and sorcerers were thought to celebrate their orgies. [ 1913 Webster ]