Smilax (smilaks)

[NL. (Tournefort, 1700), plants, type of the tribe Smilaceæ. It is characterized by diœcio us flowers in um bels, with a perianth of six distinct curving segments, the fertile containing several, sometimes six, thread shaped staminodes, three broad recurved stigmas, and a three celled ovary which becomes in fruit a globose berry usually containing but one or two seeds. There are about 200 species, widely scattered through most tropical and tem 2. Amorous. smickert (smik'er), v. i. [ smicker , a.] To perate regions: 11m- look amorously. Kersey. smickeringt (smik'er-ing), n. [Verbal n. of smicker, v.] An amorous inclination. We had a young Doctour, who rode by our coach, and seem'd to have a smickering to our young lady of Pilton. Dryden, Letters, p. 88 (To Mrs. Steward, Sept. 28, 1699). are cur in the northeastern United States. They usually woody vines from a stout rootstock, bearing alternate two-ranked evergreen leaves with retic Flowering Branch of Smilax rotund i folia. a, the fruit. IMG:content-1361.jpg:[graphic] Smilax ulated veins between the three or more prominent nerves. The petioles are persistent at the base, and are often furnished with two tendrils, by which some species climb to great heights, and others mat into densely tangled thickets. Various tropical American species yield sarsaparilla. (See sarsaparilla and china - root.) S. aspera of the south of Europe, called rough bindweed or prickly ivy, is the source of Italian sarsaparilla. Other species are used medicinally in India, Australia, Mauritius, and the Philippines. One of these, S. glycyphylla, an evergreen shrubby climber of Australia, is there known as sweet tea, from the use of its leaves. The rootstocks of many species are large and tuberiferous; those of S. Pseudo China are used in the southern United States to fatten hogs, and as the source of a domestic beer; those of S. China yield a dye. The stems of some pliant species, as S. Pseudo - China, are used in basket-making, and the young shoots of a Persian species are there used as asparagus. S. Pseudo - China and S. bona - nox are known as bullbrier, and several others with prickly stems as cat brier and greenbrier. See also carrion - flower. 2. [l. c.] (a) A plant of the genus Smilax. (b) A delicate greenhouse vine from the Cape of Good Hope, best known as Myrsiphyllum aspa ragoides, now cla ed under Asparagus. Its apparent leaves (really expanded branches) are bright-green on both sides, with the aspect of those of Smilax, but finer. The plant grows to a length of several feet, festooning beautifully. It is much used in decoration, and forms the leading green constituent in bouquets. It is sometimes called Boston smilax. 3. In entom., a genus of coleopterous insects. Laporte, 1835. smile (smil), v.; pret. and pp. smiled, ppr. smil ing. [ 1. To show a change of the features such as characterizes the beginning of a laugh; give such an expre ion to the face: generally generally as indicative of pleasure or of slight amusement, but sometimes of depreciation, contempt, pity, hypocritical complaisance. or IMG:content-1362.png:[blocks in formation] All this while the guide, Mr. Great-heart, was very much pleased, and smiled upon his companions. Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progre , ij. Smile na sae sweet, my bonnie babe,. And ye smile sae sweet, ye'll smile me dead. Fine Flowers in the Valley (Child's Ballads, II. 265). Twas what I said to Craggs and Child, Who prais'd my modesty, and smiled . Pope, Imit. of Horace, I. vii. 68. From yon blue heavens above us bent The gardener Adam and his wife Smile at the claims of long descent. Tennyson, Lady Clara Vere de Vere. 2. To look gay or joyous, or have an appearance such as tends to excite joy; appear propitious or favorable: as, the smiling spring. Then, let me not let pa Occasion which now smiles. Milton, P. L., ix. 480. The desert smiled, And Paradise was open'd in the wild. Pope, Eloisa to Abelard, 1. 133. What I desire of you is, that you, who are courted by all, would smile upon me, who am shunned by all. Steele, Spectator, No. 456. 3. To drink in company. [Slang, U. S.] There are many more fast boys about some devoted to "the sex," some to horses, some to smiling , and some to "the tiger." Baltimore Sun , Aug. 23, 1858. (Bartlett.) 4. To ferment, as beer, etc. Hall i well . [Prov. Eng.] II. trans. 1. To expre by a smile: as, to smile a welcome; to smile content. 2. To change or affect (in a specified way) by smiling: with a modifying word or clause added. He does smile his face into more lines than is in the new map. Shak., T. N., iii. 2. 84. What author shall we find The courtly Roman's smiling path to tread, And sharply smile prevailing folly dead. Young , Love of Fame, i. 46. 3t. To smile at; receive with a smile. [Rare.] Smile you my speeches, as I were a fool? Shak . , Lear, ii. 2. 88.