The Facts on File Dictionary of Foreign Words and Phrases (Writers Reference) (70 page)

status quo (staytis kwo, statas kwo)
LATIN [state in which] noun phrase an
existing state of affairs: "These events, though alarming, are not expected to alter
the status quo."

stein (stun) GERMAN [from Steingut
stoneware] noun a large beer mug
(typically one made from earthenware); can also refer to the amount of
beer held by such a mug.

stela (stela), stele (steelee) GREEK
[stele standing stone] noun (plural
steles or stelae, steelee) a carved
or inscribed stone pillar or slab
recording the deeds of monarchs or
other information about the ancient
world (sometimes also serving as a
gravestone).

steppe (step) RUSSIAN [from step] noun
an extensive treeless plain (often referring to the grasslands of southeastern
Europe and central Asia): "Snowstorms
swept the steppe for days at a time, making
travel impossible."

stereo (stereeo, steereeo) GREEK [from
stereos solid] noun recorded sound
reproduced using two or more speakers.

stet (stet) LATIN [let it stand, from
stare to stand] verb leave unchanged,
do not delete (used as an instruction on
corrected manuscripts or other text).

stigma (stigma) GREEK [stizein to tattoo, to prick] noun (plural stigmas
or stigmata, stigmahta, stigmata) a
brand, stain, or mark of shame or disgrace; may also refer specifically to
the wounds sustained by Christ on the
cross: "They hint that all whales always
smell bad. Now how did this odious stigma
originate?" (Herman Melville, MobyDick, 1851).

stiletto (staleto) ITALIAN [diminutive
of stylo stylus, dagger] noun (plural stilettos or stilettoes a dagger with a
long, slender blade; may also refer to
a pointed instrument used to pierce
holes in fabric, or to the high, tapering heel of some women's shoes.

stimulus (Aml)'5l5s) LATIN [spur, incentive] noun (plural stimuluses or stimuli, stimyali, stimyalee) a stimulant,
an incentive, something that incites,
provokes, or arouses: "It is hoped that
this investment will prove a stimulus to
growth throughout the industry."

stipendium (stipendeeam) LATIN
[stipend, wages] noun (plural stipendiums or stipendia, stipendeea)
salary, pay: "The old man is paid a small
stipendium to look after the family graves."

stirps (sterps) LATIN [stem, stock,
lineage] noun (plural stirpes, sterpayz, sterpeez) a branch of a family of plants, animals, or people, or
an individual from whom others are
descended.

stoic (stoik) GREEK [from stoikos of
the portico, referring to the Painted
Portico at Athens where Zeno taught his pupils] noun a person who subscribes to the philosophical view that
the individual should be free of all passion and guided by natural law (after
the teaching of the Greek philosopher
Zeno); may refer more generally to any
person who seems unmoved by pain
or pleasure. -adjective of or relating to
stoic principles: "The child received the
news with stoic ind!erence."

stollen (stolan, stolan) GERMAN [from
Stollen wooden post or prop] noun a
rich, sweet, spicy German bread containing nuts and dried fruits: "We always
have stollen on Christmas morning."

stoop (stoop) DUTCH [from steep step]
noun a small porch, platform, or
veranda at the top of some steps in
front of the entrance to a house, townhouse, or apartment building: "Her
parents were waiting for her on the stoop."

strabismus (strabizmus) GREEK [strabismos squinting condition, from strabos
squint-eyed] noun an eye condition
in which binocular vision is impaired.

stratum (sitam, stratam) LATIN
[spread, bed, from sternare to spread
out] noun (plural stratums or strata,
strahta, strata) a layer or bed of rock,
earths, or tissue; also used more generally to refer to any of a series of layers, levels, stages, or gradations.

stretto (streto), stretta (streta) ITALIAN [narrow, close] noun (plural stret

tos or stretti, stretee) (in music) a
part of a fugue in which voices or subjects overlap; may also refer to the final
section of a piece of music, typically
played at an increasingly fast pace.

stricto sensu See SENSU STRICTO.

stromboli (strombolee) ITALIAN [after
Stromboli, an island in Italy] noun a
pizza base folded over, with a filling of
tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, herbs,
meat, etc, and baked, somewhat similar to a calzone but larger.

strudel (stroodal, shtroodal) GERMAN
[whirlpool] noun a type of pastry
comprising thin layers of flaky pastry rolled and baked, with a fruit or
cheese filling.

stucco (stako) ITALIAN [from Old
High German stukki crust] noun (plural
stuccos or stuccoes) a fine plaster
used for decorative architectural moldings, or the moldings themselves; can
also refer to a coarse plaster or cement
used to coat exterior walls.

stupa (stoopa) SANSKRIT [from stUpa]
noun a dome-shaped Buddhist
shrine.

stupor (stoopa, oopa) s LATIN [stupidity, astonishment, from stupere]
noun a state of dullness, apathy,
lethargy, stupefaction, or inability to
think: "Most of the passengers slumped in
their seats with expressions of stupor."

Sturm and Drang (shterm uunt
dran ) GERMAN [storm and stress,
after the title of a play by German
playwright Friedrich von Klinger
(1752-1831)] noun phrase an 18thcentury movement in German literature characterized by strong emotions
and the conflict between the individual and society; may also refer more
generally to any state of turmoil or
emotional turbulence.

stygian (stijan) GREEK [from stygios, after the River Styx, which was
believed to flow through the underworld of Greek mythology] adjective of or relating to the River Styx,
or, more generally, dark, gloomy,
forbidding, hellish: "In the meanwhile
all the shore rang with the trump of bullfrogs, the sturdy spirits of ancient winebibbers and wassailers, still unrepentant,
trying to sing a catch in their Stygian
lake if the Walden nymphs will pardon the comparison ..." (Henry David
Thoreau, Walden; or, Life in the Woods,
1854).

stylus (stilus) LATIN [from stilus
spike, pen] noun (plural styluses or
styli, soli) an instrument used for
writing, marking, or incising; may
also refer to the needle used to play
vinyl records or to various needle-like
cutting implements.

suave (swahv) FRENCH [pleasant,
sweet, from Latin suavis gentle] adjective sophisticated, urbane, gracious,

smooth: "The popular image of the secret
agent is a suave young man in sunglasses
and a finely tailored suit, but the reality
is d(erent."

sub- (sub) LATIN [under or near] prefix under, below, e.g., subtext, subzero.

subito (soobito) ITALIAN [suddenly,
from subitus sudden] adverb (in
music) suddenly, abruptly, quickly.

sub judice (sabdikay, sab
jood5See) LATIN [under a judge] adverb
phrase before the court, currently
under consideration by the court (and
therefore not to be discussed elsewhere): "He declined to comment further
as the matter was still sub judice."

subpoena (sabeena) LATIN [from sub
poena under penalty] noun a legal
writ requiring a person to appear
before a court. verb to serve a writ
on someone requiring them to attend
a court.

sub rosa (sab roza) LATIN [under the
rose, a reference to the rose as a
symbol of the Egyptian god Horns,
representing secrecy] adverb phrase
secretly, in confidence: "The deliberations of the committee were highly sensitive, and it was understood by all present
that their discussions were strictly sub
rosa." 'adjective secret, confidential.

sub specie aeternitatis (sab spekee
ayternatahtis) LATIN [under the aspect of eternity] adverb phrase in its essential form or nature; viewed in a universal perspective.

substratum (substr ytam, substratum)
LATIN [spread underneath, neuter of
substratus, from substernere to spread
under] noun (plural substratums or
substrata, substa, substrata) an
underlying layer or level, a foundation or basis: "The evening sun seemed to
shine more yellowly there than anywhere
else this autumn stretching its rays, as
the hours grew later, under the lowest
sycamore boughs, and steeping the groundfloor of the dwelling, with its green shutters, in a substratum of radiance which
the foliage screened from the upper parts"
(Thomas Hardy, The Mayor of Casterbridge, 1886).

sub voce (sub vochay) LATIN [under
the word] adverb phrase under the
given word or heading (as used in text
references). 'abbreviated form s.v.

succes de scandale (suksay da skandal) FRENCH [success of scandal] noun
phrase something that becomes a
popular success through the notoriety
it attracts: "The writers enjoyed a succes
de scandale with their next show, which
featured full frontal nudity."

succes d'estime (saksay desteem)
FRENCH [success of esteem] noun
phrase something that attracts critical praise but fails to win popular
favor.

succes fou (saksay foo) FRENCH
[mad success] noun phrase a huge
success.

succotash (sukatash) NARRAGANSETT
[from msiquatash broken pieces] noun
a dish of corn and lima beans boiled
together, sometimes with pieces of
pork.

Succoth See SUKKOTH.

succubus (s3k)ab5s), succuba LATIN
[from succubare to lie under] noun
(plural succubuses or succubi,
sak),abi, sakyubee) a demon, particularly one supposed to assume female
form in order to seduce men while
they sleep: "The poet went mad in his old
age, refusing to sleep for fear that he would
be preyed upon by a succubus."

sudoku (soodokuu) JAPANESE [from
su number and dolsu singular] noun a
logic-based number puzzle in which
numbers I to 9 must be entered in
a grid in such a way that no number
is duplicated in any column, row, or
internal square.

suede (swayd), suede FRENCH [from
gants de Suede Swedish gloves] noun
leather with a soft napped surface.
-adjective made of suede.

sui generis jen5ris, sooee
jeniriS) LATIN [of its own kind] adjective
phrase unique, peculiar, in a class by
itself: "... as for the Lords o' Session ... I would have ye ken , for your ain regulation, that to raise scandal anent them,
whilk is termed to murmur again them,
is a crime sui generis, sui generis, Mr.
Deans ken ye what that amounts to?"
(Walter Scott, The Heart of Midlothian,
1818).

sui juris (soot jaoris, sooee y Doris)
LATIN [of one's own right] adjective
phrase of full legal age and capacity, legally responsible for one's own
affairs.

suite (sweet) FRENCH [retinue, ultimately from Latin sequere to follow]
noun retinue, the personal staff of a
monarch or other dignitary; may also
refer to a set or series of rooms, matching furniture, musical compositions, or
other things considered as constituting
a single unit: "There were just enough
people left in the long suite of rooms to
make their progress conspicuous ."(Edith
Wharton, The House of Mirth, 1905).

sukiyaki (skee ahkee,
sookeeihkee) JAPANESE [from suki slice and yaki broil]
noun (in Japanese cuisine) a dish of
fried beef and vegetables cooked in soy
sauce and sugar.

Sukkoth (sookas, sookot), Succoth,
Sukkot HEBREW [huts or thickets]
noun a Jewish harvest festival held
over eight days, beginning on the 15th
day of Tishri, to commemorate the
period when the ancient Israelites wan

dered in the wilderness, also known as
the "Feast of Tabernacles."

sultan (saltan) ARABIC [ruler, power]
noun title borne by the monarch
of a Muslim country. 'noun, feminine
sultana (saltahna) the wife or other
close female relative of a sultan.

summa cum laude (sama Um lowda,
sama kam lowdee, sama kuum
lorda) LATIN [with highest praise]
adverb phrase with highest distinction
(usually referring to a degree, diploma,
or other academic qualification): "She
graduated summa cum laude but had great
dfculty finding a job in which she could
apply her knowledge." -adjective phrase
with highest distinction.

summum bonum (s5m5m bonum)
LATIN [highest good, as defined by
the Roman orator Cicero (106-43
B.c.)] noun phrase (plural summa
bona, sama bona) (in philosophy)
the supreme good.

sumo (soomO) JAPANESE [from sumo]
noun a Japanese style of wrestling
in which two opponents attempt to
force each other out of the ring or to
the ground.

super- (suupar) LATIN [above or
over] prefix above, over, or beyond,
e.g., superhero, superstar.

suppressio veri (sapresheeo vain)
LATIN [suppression of what is true] noun phrase (plural suppressiones
veri, sapresheeoneez vairl) (in law)
a misrepresentation of the truth, suppression of true facts.

supra (soopra) LATIN [above, beyond,
before] adverb above, earlier in the
text (used in written documents); can
also mean besides or in addition to.
'adjective additional, extra.

supreme (sooprem) FRENCH [supreme,
ultimately from Latin superus upper]
noun (in French cuisine) a rich
cream sauce in which chicken and
other meats may be prepared.

supremo (sapreemo, soopreemo)
SPANISH [from generalissimo supremo
supreme general, from Latin supremus
uppermost] noun a supreme leader
or commander in chief, a person
who occupies a position of ultimate
rank or authority: "The only person who
can make such a decision is the supremo
himself. "

suq See SOUK.

sursum corda (sersam korda) LATIN
[up hearts, from the opening words
of the Eucharistic prayer or a corresponding versicle] noun phrase lift
up your hearts; also applied more
generally to any cry of exhortation
or to anything inspiriting.

sushi (sooshe) JAPANESE noun (in
Japanese cuisine) a dish of cold rice

and vinegar shaped or rolled into small
pieces mixed or topped with raw fish
or shellfish, and sometimes wrapped
in seaweed.

susurrus (S5s2r5s) LATIN [hum, whisper] noun a low murmur, rustling,
or whispering (often suggestive of
malicious rumors or an undercurrent
of discontent): "This was their rural chapel. Aloft, through the intricate arches /
Of its aerial roof, arose the chant of their
vespers, / Mingling its notes with the soft
susurrus and sighs of the branches" (Henry
W Longfellow, Evangeline, 1847).