The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section S by Project Gutenberg et al.

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The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section S by Project Gutenberg et al.

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By Ashley Gutierrez Posted on Dec 11, 2025

In Category - Environment

Authors: Webster, Noah, 1758-1843 Published By : Webster, Noah, 1758-1843

Book Language: English

Okay, hear me out. I know a dictionary sounds like the opposite of a page-turner, but stick with me. This isn't just any dictionary—it's a time capsule. We're talking about Noah Webster's original, massive, unabridged word-hoard from the 1800s, specifically the letter 'S.' I decided to dive into this Project Gutenberg version on a whim. What I found wasn't a dry list of words, but a snapshot of a world where 'sassafras' was a common remedy, 'steam-engine' was cutting-edge tech, and the definitions themselves tell stories about how people thought, lived, and argued. It's a quiet, fascinating mystery about the words we've kept, the ones we've lost, and how language secretly shapes everything. Trust me, it's weirder and more wonderful than you think.

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person singular indicative of English verbs; as in falls, tells, sends. 3. An adverbial suffix; as in towards, needs, always, -- originally the genitive, possesive, ending. See -'s. -'s [OE. -es, AS. -es.] The suffix used to form the possessive singular of nouns; as, boy's; man's. 's. A contraction for is or (colloquially) for has. "My heart's subdued." Shak. Sa"adh (sä"d), n. See Sadh. Saan (sän), n. pl. (Ethnol.) Same as Bushmen. Sab`a*dil"la (sb`*dl"l), n. [Sp. cebadilla.] (Bot.) A Mexican liliaceous plant (Schœnocaulon officinale); also, its seeds, which contain the alkaloid veratrine. It was formerly used in medicine as an emetic and purgative. Sa*bæ"an (?), a. & n. Same as Sabian. Sa*bæ"an*ism (?), n. Same as Sabianism. { Sa"bæ*ism (?), Sa"ba*ism (?) }, n. See Sabianism. Sa"bal (?), n. (Bot.) A genus of palm trees including the palmetto of the Southern United States. Sab"a*oth (sb"*th or s"b*th; 277), n. pl. [Heb. tseb'th, pl. of tsb', an army or host, fr. tsb', to go forth to war.] 1. Armies; hosts. [Used twice in the English Bible, in the phrase "The Lord of Sabaoth."] 2. Incorrectly, the Sabbath. Sab"bat (?), n. [See Sabbath.] In mediæval demonology, the nocturnal assembly in which demons and sorcerers were thought to celebrate their orgies. Sab`ba*ta"ri*an (?), n. [L. Sabbatarius: cf. F. sabbataire. See Sabbath.] 1. One who regards and keeps the seventh day of the week as holy, agreeably to the letter of the fourth commandment in the Decalogue. There were Christians in the early church who held this opinion, and certain Christians, esp. the Seventh-day Baptists, hold it now. 2. A strict observer of the Sabbath. Sab`ba*ta"ri*an, a. Of or pertaining to the Sabbath, or the tenets of Sabbatarians. Sab`ba*ta"ri*an*ism (?), n. The tenets of Sabbatarians. Bp. Ward (1673). Sab"bath (?), n. [OE. sabat, sabbat, F. sabbat, L. sabbatum, Gr. sa`bbaton, fr. Heb. shabbth, fr. shbath to rest from labor. Cf. Sabbat.] 1. A season or day of rest; one day in seven appointed for rest or worship, the observance of which was enjoined upon the Jews in the Decalogue, and has been continued by the Christian church with a transference of the day observed from the last to the first day of the week, which is called also Lord's Day. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Ex. xx. 8. 2. The seventh year, observed among the Israelites as one of rest and festival. Lev. xxv. 4. 3. Fig.: A time of rest or repose; intermission of pain, effort, sorrow, or the like. Peaceful sleep out the sabbath of the tomb. Pope. Sabbath breaker, one who violates the law of the Sabbath. -- Sabbath breaking, the violation of the law of the Sabbath. -- Sabbath-day's journey, a distance of about a mile, which, under Rabbinical law, the Jews were allowed to travel on the Sabbath. Syn. -- Sabbath, Sunday. Sabbath is not strictly synonymous with Sunday. Sabbath denotes the institution; Sunday is the name of the first day of the week. The Sabbath of the Jews is on Saturday, and the Sabbath of most Christians on Sunday. In New England, the first day of the week has been called "the Sabbath," to mark it as holy time; Sunday is the word more commonly used, at present, in all parts of the United States, as it is in England. "So if we will be the children of our heavenly Father, we must be careful to keep the Christian Sabbath day, which is the Sunday." Homilies. Sab"bath*less, a. Without Sabbath, or intermission of labor; hence, without respite or rest. Bacon. { Sab*bat"ic (?), Sab*bat"ic*al (?)...

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Continue Reading Full Book

Let's be clear from the start: this is a dictionary. The 'plot' is the letter S. You start at 'Sabaism' (the worship of the stars) and journey through thousands of entries until you (theoretically) reach 'Szyzgy.' There's no protagonist, unless you count Noah Webster's fiercely opinionated voice. He doesn't just define words; he often argues about their proper use, scolds common errors, and offers glimpses into 19th-century science, morality, and daily life. Reading it straight through is a surreal experience—it's a collection of every concept, object, and feeling someone in the 1800s thought was important enough to name.

Why You Should Read It

You should read it because it's unexpectedly human. Webster's definitions are little opinion pieces. You can feel his pride in American English, his frustration with sloppy speech, and his attempts to make sense of a rapidly changing world. It's also hilarious and poignant by accident. The earnest descriptions of outdated technologies or the stark, sometimes brutal, definitions for social terms of the era pull you right into the past. It made me think about the words I use every day. What do our modern dictionaries say about us that we don't even notice?

Final Verdict

This is not for someone looking for a traditional story. It's perfect for word nerds, history lovers, and anyone with a deep sense of curiosity. Dip into it for ten minutes and you'll find something bizarre or beautiful. It's a book for browsing, for wondering, and for listening to the ghost of a very stubborn, very smart man explain his world, one 'S' word at a time.

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There are no legal restrictions on this material. It is available for public use and education.