| skeptical | 1. Of or pertaining to a sceptic or skepticism; characterised by skepticism; hesitating to admit the certainly of doctrines or principles; doubting of everything. 2. Doubting or denying the truth of revelation, or the sacred Scriptures. "The skeptical system subverts the whole foundation of morals." (R. Hall) Skep"tacally, Skep"ticalness. Origin: Written also sceptic, sceptical. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
|---|---|
| skepticism | 1. An undecided, inquiring state of mind; doubt; uncertainty. "That momentary amazement, and irresolution, and confusion, which is the result of skepticism." (Hune) 2. <psychology> The doctrine that no fact or principle can be certainly known; the tenet that all knowledge is uncertain; Pyrrohonism; universal doubt; the position that no fact or truth, however worthy of confidence, can be established on philosophical grounds; critical investigation or inquiry, as opposed to the positive assumption or assertion of certain principles. 3. A doubting of the truth of revelation, or a denial of the divine origin of the Christian religion, or of the being, perfections, or truth of God. "Let no . . . Secret skepticism lead any one to doubt whether this blessed prospect will be realized." (S. Miller) Origin: Cf. F. Scepticisme Alternative forms: scepticism. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| skew | 1. Turned or twisted to one side; situated obliquely; skewed; chiefly used in technical phrases. Skew arch, an oblique arch. 2. <geometry> A ruled surface such that in general two successive generating straight lines do not intersect; a warped surface; as, the helicoid is a skew surface. 3. <mathematics> Skew symmetrical determinant, a determinant in which the elements in each column of the matrix are equal to the elements of the corresponding row of the matrix with the signs changed. This requires that the numbers in the diagonal from the upper left to lower right corner be zeros. A like determinant in which the numbers in the diagonal are not zeros is a skew determinant, as in (2), above. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| skew deviation | A hypertropia in which the eyes move in opposite directions equally; an acquired hypertropia, often fairly comitant, not fitting the characteristic pattern of trochlear nerve damage or of ocular muscle abnormality; often due to a brainstem or cerebellar lesion. (05 Mar 2000) |
| skew distribution | An asymmetrical frequency distribution; in biology and medicine it is usually a lognormal distribution. (05 Mar 2000) |
| skew form | See: Haworth conformational formulas of cyclic sugars. (05 Mar 2000) |
| skewer | A pin of wood or metal for fastening meat to a spit, or for keeping it in form while roasting. "Meat well stuck with skewers to make it look round." (Swift) Origin: Probably of Scand, origin; cf. Sw. & Dan. Skifer a slate. Cf. Shuver a fragment. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| ski | <oncogene> An oncogene, identified in avian carcinoma, encoding a nuclear protein. (18 Nov 1997) |
| skia- | Shadow; superseded by radio-. Origin: G. Skia (05 Mar 2000) |
| skiascopy | <physiology> The study of the retina of the eye by means of the ophthalmoscope. Origin: Retina + -scopy. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| skid | 1. A shoe or clog, as of iron, attached to a chain, and placed under the wheel of a wagon to prevent its turning when descending a steep hill; a drag; a skidpan; also, by extension, a hook attached to a chain, and used for the same purpose. 2. A piece of timber used as a support, or to receive pressure. Specifically, large fenders hung over a vessel's side to protect it in handling a cargo. One of a pair of timbers or bars, usually arranged so as to form an inclined plane, as form a wagon to a door, along which anything is moved by sliding or rolling. One of a pair of horizontal rails or timbers for supporting anything, as a boat, a barrel, etc. Origin: Icel. Ski a billet of wood. See Shide Alternative forms: skeed. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| skiddaw | <zoology> The black guillemot. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| skidder | A self-propelled machine to transport harvested trees or logs from the stump area to the landing or work deck. (05 Dec 1998) |
| skieldrake | <zoology> The common European sheldrake. The oyster catcher. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| skiff | A small, light boat. "The pilot of some small night-foundered skiff. <zoology> " (Milton) Skiff caterpillar, the larva of a moth (Limacodes scapha); so called from its peculiar shape. Origin: F. Esquif, fr. OHG. Skif, G. Schiff. See Ship. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |