serapias

[Lat., from Greek serapias = the purple orchis ( Orchis morio ), from Serapis, Sarapis =an Egyptian deity.] Botany: The typical genus of Serapiade (q. v.). Small Orchids, with brown or greenish-brown flow. ers, from the south of Europe. tser-a-pi-năm, s. [SAGAPENUM.] Sē-rā-pis, s. The Ptolemaic form of the Egypt ian Osiris ; symbol of the Nile and of fertility. sẽ răs'-kiër, se-ràs quier (qu as k), s . [Fr. sérasquier , from Pers.serasker , from ser , ser i =head, chief, and asker =anarmy.] A Turkish general or commander of land-forces. The title is given especially to the commander-in-chier and minister of war. 3630