Ah, shawarma. Many people likely think of the scene from Iron Man when they hear the word. I, however, think of the actual food. It belongs in the realm of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern foods, which I happen to find thoroughly palatable.
Shawarma, though, is only one of many “tasty” words that begin with the letter “s.” Here are some others to add to the menu.
Sabbatical
Adjective. [From the Late Latin sabbaticus. From the Greek sabbatikos, from sabbaton.] (1645) Of or relating to the Sabbath <~ laws>. Of or relating to a sabbatical year.
Noun. (c. 1903) SABBATICAL YEAR. LEAVE. A break or change from a normal routine (as of employment).
(This year, our head pastor plans to take a sabbatical over the summer.)
Saber Rattling
Noun. (1922) Ostentatious display of military power.
(President Trump’s use of Twitter is a classic example of saber rattling.)
Sally
Noun. [From the Middle French saillie. From the Old Frence, from sallir, to rush forward. From the Latin salire, to leap. Akin to the Greek hallesthai, to leap.] (1560) An action of rushing or bursting forth; especially: a sortie of troops from a defensive position to attack the enemy. A brief outbreak: OUTBURST; a witty or imaginative saying: QUIP. A venture or excursion, usually off the beaten track: JAUNT.
Verb intransitive. (1560) To leap out or burst forth suddenly. SET OUT, DEPART—usually used with forth.
(Kelli’s sallies made her indispensable to her high school’s debate team.)
Sanguine
Adjective. [From the Middle English sanguin. From the Middle French. From the Latin sanguineus, from sanguin-, sanguis.] (1300s) BLOODRED. Consisting of or relating to blood; SANGUINARY; of the complexion: RUDDY. Having blood as the predominating bodily humor; also: having the bodily conformation and temperament held characteristic of such predominance and marked by sturdiness, high color, and cheerfulness. CONFIDENT, OPTIMISTIC.
Noun. (1500) A moderate to strong red.
(During the Dark Ages, a person with a melancholic humor would have been treated with a sanguine tonic.)
Sass
Noun. [Alteration of sauce.] (1835) Impudent speech.
Verb transitive. (1856) To talk impudently or disrespectfully to.
(Her sass led to frequent visits with the school principal.)
Savvy
Verb. [Modification of the Spanish sabe, he knows; from saber, to know. From the Latin sapere, to be wise—more at SAGE.] (1785) UNDERSTAND.
Noun. (c. 1785) practical know-how <political ~>.
(“If you want to make it on the streets,” the disgruntled boy told Elisa, “you’re gonna have to be more savvy than that.”)
Scapegrace
Noun. [Scape.] (1809) An incorrigible rascal.
(But for Mrs. Hathaway’s intervention, Robert would have gone the way of a scapegrace.)
Schmaltz
Noun. [From the Yiddish shmalts, literally, rendered fat. From the Middle High German smalz; akin to the Old High German smelzan, to melt—more at SMELT.] (1935) Sentimental or florid music or art. SENTIMENTALITY.
(Michael wrote a poem for his girlfriend, but it was so schmaltzy that she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when she heard it.)
Schmuck
Noun. [From the Yiddish shmok.] (1892) Slang: JERK.
(“You’re such a schmuck!” Maddie yelled at Bryan.)
Second-String
Adjective. [From the reserve bowstring carried by an archer in case the first breaks.] (1643) Being a substitute as distinguished from a regular (as on a ball team).
(Viola often played second-string to her charismatic twin, Violet.)
Shibboleth
Noun. [From the Hebrew shibbōleth, stream; from the use of this word in Judges 12:6 as a test to distinguish Gileadites from Ephraimites, who pronounced it sibbōleth.] (1658) CATCHWORD, SLOGAN; a use of language regarded as distinctive of a particular group; a commonplace idea or saying. A custom or usage regarded as a criterion for distinguishing members of one group.
(A good shibboleth in Texas occurs with the word “ice.” Ask a Texan to say it, and anyone who pronounces the word with two syllables likely hails from East Texas.)
Shield Law
Noun. (1971) A law that protects journalists from forced disclosure of confidential news sources.
(The journalist invoked the shield law when pressed for the source of her story about jury tampering.)
Shifty
Adjective. (c. 1570) Full of or ready with expedients: RESOURCEFUL. Given to deception, evasion, or fraud: TRICKY. Capable of evasive movement: ELUSIVE <a ~ boxer>. Indicative of a tricky nature <~ eyes>.
(Loki is the shiftiest of the Norse gods, frequently pitting people against each other for the sheer pleasure of it.)
Shrew
Noun. [From the Middle English shrewe, evil or scolind person. From the Old English scrēawa, shrew (animal).] (before 1100s) Any of numerous, small, chiefly nocturnal mammals (family Soricidae) related to the moles and distinguished by a long, pointed snout, very small eyes, and velvety fur. An ill-tempered woman.
Verb transitive, obsolete. (1300s) CURSE.
(The verb form of “shrew” might be obsolete; however, being termed one seems akin to a curse, so the definition still sees use, if only inadvertently.)
Shyster
Noun. [Probably an alteration of earlier shicer, contemptible fellow. From the German scheisser, literally, defecator.] (1843) One who is professionally unscrupulous, especially in the practice of law or politics: PETTIFOGGER.
(“Does anyone ever call a personal injury lawyer?” she wondered. “Their commercials make them seem like shysters.)
Single-Minded
Adjective. (1860) Having one driving purpose or resolve: DETERMINATION, DEDICATED.
(When Emily read, she proved single-minded: People could have entire conversations about her with her being none the wiser.)
Skinker
Noun. (1586) One that serves liquor: TAPSTER.
(The skinker could drink almost anything, but even he passed on Old Man McCreadle’s homemade brew.)
Skulk
Verb intransitive. [From the Middle English skulle, of Scandinavian origin. Akin to the Danish skulke, to shirk or play truant.] (1200s) To move in a stealthy or furtive manner. To hide or conceal something (as oneself) often out of cowardice or fear or with sinister intent; chiefly British: MALINGER. Synonym: see LURK.
Noun. (1300s) One that skulks. A group of foxes.
(You’ll rarely see a skulk since they “skulk” to avoid danger.)
Sluggish
Adjective. (1400s) Averse to activity or exertion: INDOLENT; also: TORPID. Slow to respond (as to stimulation or treatment). Markedly slow in movement, flow, or growth; economically inactive or slow.
(Since the Great Recession, the American economy has remained sluggish.)
Snivel
Verb intransitive. [From the Middle English snivelen. From (assumed) Old English snyflan. Akin to the Dutch snuffelen, to snuffle; snuffen, to sniff. From the Greek nan, to flow—more at NOURISH.] (1300s) To run at the nose. To snuff mucus up the nose audibly: SNUFFLE. To cry or whine with snuffling. To speak or act in a whining, sniffling, tearful, or weakly emotional manner.
Noun. (1600) HEAD COLD. An act or instance of sniveling.
(During the winter holidays, almost everybody develops a snivel.)
Snug
Verb, verb intransitive. (1583) SNUGGLE. Verb transitive: to cause to fit closely. To make snug. HIDE. To secure by fastening or lashing down.
Adjective. [Perhaps of Scandinavian origin. Akin to the Swedish snygg, tidy. Akin to the Old Norse snøggr, shorn or bald. From the Latin novacula, razor.] (1595) Of a ship: manifesting seaworthiness: TAUT; TRIM, NEAT. Fitting closely and comfortably <a ~ coat>. Enjoying or affording warm, secure shelter or cover and opportunity for ease and contentment; marked by cordiality and secure privacy. Affording a degree of comfort and ease. Offering safe concealment <a ~ hideout>. Synonym: see COMFORTABLE.
Noun. [Short for snuggery.] (1864) British: a small, private room in a pub.
(The hotel’s snug accommodations comforted the guests who had just learned their flight was canceled due to a snowstorm.)
Soothe
Verb, verb transitive. [From the Middle English sothen, to prove the truth. From the Old English sōthian; from sōth.] (1573) To please by or as if by attention or concern: PLACATE. RELIEVE, ALLEVIATE. To bring comfort, solace or reassurance to. Verb intransitive: to bring peace, composure, or quietude.
(She was so upset by how Patrick had acted at dinner that her friends couldn’t soothe her.)
Splinter
Noun. [From the Middle English. From the Middle Dutch. Akin to the Middle Low German splinte, splint.] (1300s) A thin piece split or rent off lengthwise: SLIVER. A group or faction broken away from a parent body.
Verb, verb intransitive. (1582) To split or rend into long, thin pieces: SHIVER. To split into fragments, parts, or factions. Verb intransitive: to become splintered.
(The church splintered over the decision to hang curtains around the baptistery.)
Squab
Noun. [Probably of Scandinavian origin. Akin to the Swedish dialect skvabb, anything soft and thick.] (1682) A fledgling bird; specifically: a fledgling pigeon about four weeks old. A short, fat person. COUCH. A cushion for a chair or couch.
(A pigeon may be cute as a squab, but it eventually grows into an overweight nuisance.)
Stave Off
Verb transitive. (1624) To fend off <staving off creditors>. To ward off (as something adverse): FORESTALL <trying to ~ disaster>.
(By changing his diet and exercising more, Samuel was able to stave off diabetes.)
Surfeit
Noun. [From the Middle English surfait. From the Middle French, from surfaire, to overdo; from sur- + faire, to do. From the Latin facere—more at DO.] (1300s) An overabundant supply: EXCESS. An intemperate or immoderate indulgence in something (as food or drink). Disgust caused by excess.
Verb transitive. (1300s) To feed, supply, or give to surfeit. Verb intransitive, archaic: to indulge to satiety in a gratification (as indulgence of the appetite or senses). Synonym: see SATIATE.
(The garden produced a surfeit of fresh vegetables, allowing the Wendts to share with their neighbors.)
Svelte
Adjective. [From the French. From the Italian svelto; from the past participle of svellere, to pluck out. Modification of the Latin evellere, from e- + vellere, to pluck—more at VULNERABLE.] (1817) SLENDER, LITHE. Having clean lines: SLEEK. URBANE, SUAVE.
(Everyone knew James would buy the car; his svelte personality demanded an equally svelte mode of transportation.)
Synergy
Noun. [From the New Latin synergia. From the Greek synergos, working together.] (1660) SYNERGISM; broadly: combined action or operation.
(By talking through the plan, the team achieved a long-lasting synergy.)
Synesthesia
Noun. [From the New Latin; from syn- + esthesia (as in anesthesia).] (c. 1891) A concomitant sensation; especially: a subjective sensation or image of a sense (as of color) other than the one (as of sound) being stimulated.
(Martha’s sense of smell was always off since her synesthesia translated scents into colors.)
The letter “s” begins many words. What are some of your favorites? Share them in a comment.
Image: kae71463 (Creative Commons)