Serf
. See Slaves; Feudalism ; Russia
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Single-source entries: S (54)
Each of these 11 subjects appears in only one of the 6 encyclopedias on this shelf. None is long enough to carry a page by itself, so they are gathered here by letter. Anything that grows moves out to a page of its own.
Serfs
a term applied to a class of laborers existing under the feudal system, and whose condition, though not exactly that of slaves, was little removed from it. Under this system, from the vassals of the king downward, the whole community was subject to certain degrees of servitude, and it was only on condition of specific services to be rendered to his superior that any individual held his fief. In the case of the lower classes this servitude amounted to an almost complete surrender of their personal liberty. There were two classes of laborers, the villeins and the serfs proper. The former occupied a middle position between the serfs and the freemen. A serf could not be sold, but could be transferred along with the property to which he was attached. The revival of the custom of manumission counteracted the rapid increase of serfs. A serf could also obtain his freedom by purchase, or by residing for a year and a day in a borough, or by military service . By these various means the serf population gradually decreased. In most parts of the Continent they had disappeared by the 15th century. The extinction of serfdom in England and Scotland gradual. Serfdom in Russia was abolished by a manifesto of Alexander II. on March 17, 1861. was very
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Serge
a worsted fabric of twill weave made in a variety of weights and degrees of fineness. Serge is used for both men's and women's suits. It is light, durable, sheds dust, and is cleansed readily. It is usually wiry, but certain fine varieties are soft and pliable. Serge has been in use since the twelfth century and is still one of the most popular of standard fabrics.
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Serginsk
Upper and Lower, industrial settlements in the government of Perm, east Russia. Both were founded by Demidoff in the middle of the eighteenth century and are situated 43 miles S. W. of Ekaterinburg. There are large iron ore mines in the vicinity and these with the iron works, give occupation to most of the inhabitants. Annual production of iron and steel quoted at 20,000 Pop. Upper Serginsk) about tons. 17,000; (Lower Serginsk) about 14,000 .
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Seriema
a grallatorial bird of the size of a heron inhabiting the open grassy plains of Brazil and other parts of South America. Its feathers are of a gray color , and a kind of crest rises from the root of the beak, consisting of two rows feathers curving backward . The eye is sulphur-yellow, the beak and feet red . The seriema is protected in Brazil on account of its serpent-killing habits and is often domesticated. of fine
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Serous Fluids
a name given to the lymph-like pellucid fluids secreted by certain membranes and contained in certain cavities of the body. An excess of this secretion constitutes a diseased and often a dropsical condition.
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Serous Membrane
in anatomy, a membrane having its surface moistened by serum. They line the cavities of the body from which there is no outlet. The chief are the peritoneum, the two pleuræ, the pericardium, and the arachnoid membrane. Serous membranes differ from mucous membranes in having thinner layers, finer fiber, and an epithelium with only a single layer of polygonal cells.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Serpula
a genus and family of part of the body. In most cases, they tubicole. In some the tubes are calcalive in tubes, and hence are often called sudation; others, still, are formed of reous, in others horny, the result of trangrains of sand, or other particles, bound together by a membrane, also The genus serpula has the anterior poralso transuded, tion spread out in the form of a disk armed on each side with bundles of coarse hairs, and on each side of the mouth is generally tinged with bright colors. At a tuft of branchiæ, shaped like a fan, and the base of each tuft is a fleshy filament, one of which is ever elongated, and expanded at its extremity into a disk, which serves as an operculum, and seals up the opening to the tube , when the animal is of the Serpulæ cover submarine bodies. withdrawn into it. The calcareous tubes of granite mountains near the middle of SERRA DA ESTRELLA, a lofty range Portugal, highest summit 6,460 feet. The range contains some remarkable lakes, part of which are tepid . Percoidæ; found on the shores of all tem-
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Serranus
sea perches; a genus of perate seas, and abound in the tropics, some of the latter species entering brackish and even fresh water, but all spawn in the sea. with small scales; teeth villiform, with distinct canines in each teeth on Body oblong, compressed, vomer and palatine bones; one dorsal, mostly with 9 or 11 spines , anal with 3. Two species, S. cabrilla, the smooth ser ranus, and S. gigas, the dusky perch, are met with in the British Channel, and are common in the Mediterranean. Roman
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Sertorius
A native of Nursia, a Sabine village, one of the most extraordinary men in the later times of the republic. He served under Marius, and subsequently became quaestor. In B. c. 83 he was made praetor, and the following year went to Spain and became the leader of the Lusitanians, and for several years resisted all the armies of Rome, though led by such generals as Metellus and Pompey. Sertorius was murdered by his own officers in B. c. 72.
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Sertorius Quintus
a general; a native of Nursia, in the country of the Sabines. He served under Marius in the Cimbric War, afterward in Spain, and was made quæstor 91 B. C. He joined the party of Marius in the Civil War, and commanded the Cinna at the siege of Rome 87 B. c. The license and cruelty of the slaves led him to slay several thousand. Appointed prætor in 83, he went soon after to Spain, but was forced to retire before the forces of Sulla, and went to Africa; but on the invitation of the Lusitanians, returned and put himself at their head to fight for independence. He made himself master of the greater part of Spain, established a senate, founded a school at Osca for the education of young Spaniards in Greek and Roman learning, and to increase the superstitious reverence of the people for his person, gave out that he had communications with the gods through the white fawn which always accompanied him. Metellus Pius was sent against him in 79, but could effect nothing; two years later Pompey joined Metellus, but Sertorius, reinforced by Perperna, held out against both till 72. He entered into negotiations with Mithridates, which caused fresh alarm at Rome. But his influence and popularity were shaken by his despotic acts, and especially by the massacre of all the scholars at Osca; and he was assassinated by Perperna, his ally, at a banquet 72 b. c.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia