Word origins

• SaugeaisA self-proclaimed micronation (full name: the Republic of Saugeais) located in Doubs, eastern France.
• Sault Ste. MarieA city, the seat of the Algoma District, Ontario, Canada.
• SaurierA commune in the Puy-de-Dôme département in Auvergne, France
• saut de chatA jump similar to a grand jeté, differing in that the front leg extends through a développé instead of a grand battement.
• sautéTo cook (food) using a small amount of fat in an open pan over a relatively high heat, allowing the food to brown and form a crust stopping it from sticking to the pan as it cooks.
• sauterelleAn instrument used by masons and others to trace and form angles.
• sautilléA bow stroke played rapidly in the middle of the bow, one stroke per note, so that the bow bounces very slightly off the string.
• sautoirA ribbon, chain, scarf, or the like, tied around the neck in such a manner that the ends cross over each other (en sautoir).
• sautoireA heavy skillet with straight sides, used for sautéing food.
• SauvagnacA village in Charente department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France.
• SauvagnasA village in Lot-et-Garonne department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France.
• SauvéA surname from French, variant of Sauve
• sauve qui peutA case of every man for himself.
• SauvignacA village in Charente department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France.
• sauvignon blancA green-skinned variety of grape that originates from the Bordeaux region of France.
• savoir-faireThe ability to do or say what is appropriate for the occasion.
• savoir-vivreFamiliarity with the customs of polite society.
• scatchA kind of bit for the bridle of a horse.
• sceleratA criminal, a villain.
• scène à faireA scene which is demanded by the progression of the plot so far; an indispensable culminating scene.
• sciageA back-and-forth sawing movement of the hand in massage.
• scorbutscurvy
• séanceA ritualistic ceremony where people try to communicate with the spirits of dead people, usually led by a medium and often with the goal of getting the spirits cause physically observable phenomena.
• SechanA surname from French.
• SégouA city in south-central Mali, lying 235 kilometres (146 mi) northeast of Bamako on the River Niger.
• seigneuresseThe wife of a seigneur
• seigneurieAn area governed by a seigneur (French noble).
• Seine-Saint-DenisA department of Île-de-France, France. Capital: Bobigny.
• Selles-sur-CherA cheese made from goat milk, produced in Selles-sur-Cher.
• seméSprinkled, sown, strewn: said of a field or charge when strewn with small (identical) charges.
• SengouagnetA village in Haute-Garonne department, France.
• Senhaja de SrairA Berber language spoken by the Senhaja Berbers of northern Morocco.
• SenonianThe final part of the Cretaceous epoch, comprising the Coniacian, Santonian, Campanian and possibly the Maastrichtian ages
• senteurscent
• sentiment du ferThe ability to feel along the length of a fencing sword through holding only the weapon's grip, a quality of an experienced fencer.
• septillionA trillion trillion: 1 followed by 24 zeros, 10²⁴.
• septimeThe seventh defensive position, with the sword hand held at waist height, and the tip of the sword at knee level.
• septlevaIn the game of faro, the situation where a player gains seven times the number he or she laid down.
• SercquiaisA language spoken on Sark, one of the Channel Islands.
• serimeterA device used for testing the strength of thread or yarn, especially of silk.
• serotineAny of the genus Eptesicus of several small bats.
• serpetteA pruning knife with a curved blade.
• serpoletwild thyme
• serrefineSmall forceps used for clamping an artery.
• serryTo crowd, press together, or close (rank)
• service à la françaiseserving the dishes of a meal all together in one course instead of in several courses
• service à la russeserving the dishes of a meal in courses, one after another
• sesbanA leguminous shrub (Sesbania aculeata or others of the genus Sesbania), whose fiber can be used for making ropes.
• SèteA commune and town in Hérault department, Occitania, France.
• SèvresA town in France on the outskirts of Paris.
• SeychelloisFrom, or pertaining to, Seychelles.
• SeyssesA town and commune of Haute-Garonne department, Occitania, France.
• shagreenAn untanned leather, often dyed green; originally made from horse skin, today mostly made from the skin of a shark or ray.
• shallopA shallow-draft riverboat.
• ShawiSynonym of Chayahuita (“Amazonian language of Peru”).
• ShoemateA surname from French.
• S.I.Synonym of SI (International System of Units)
• sicilienneA dance, the siciliana.
• sicleA shekel.
• SieyèsA surname from French, usually applying to Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès.
• siffleA sibilant rale.
• siffletA theatrical whistle.
• siliqueA long dry fruit (seed capsule), length more than twice the width, typical to cruciferous plants and consisting of two fused carpels that separate when ripe.
• sillageThe trail of scent left behind by one who wears perfume.
• sillometerA 19th-century device for measuring the speed of a ship without using a log-line.
• sillonA work raised in the middle of a wide ditch, to defend it.
• simiesquesimian; apelike
• SimilienA surname from French.
• SimoneauxA surname from French.
• singerieA satirical genre of visual arts depicting monkeys imitating human behaviour, often fashionably dressed.
• singulativeOf or pertaining to a grammatical form or construction that expresses the individuation of a single referent from a mass noun.
• siropA concentrated fruit drink; a cordial.
• sirventeA typically satirical song sung by the troubadours of Provence.
• sixaineSynonym of sextain.
• sixteThe sixth defensive position, with the sword hand held at chest height, and the tip of the sword at eye level.
• soccaA French dish popular in Nice; a kind of chickpea pancake seasoned and eaten hot.
• soi-disantOf a person: self-styled, self-proclaimed, with implications of pretence or dishonesty.
• soignéFashionable and elegant, well-groomed.
• soigneurA non-riding member of a racing team whose role is to provide support (such as massages, supplies, and transportation) for the cyclists.
• Soisy-sous-MontmorencyA commune in Val-d'Oise department, Île-de-France, France.
• soixante-huitardSomeone who took part in, or otherwise supported, the civil unrest in France in May 1968, characterised by student protests and widespread strikes.
• soixante-neufSixty-nine (a sex position).
• SolenneA female given name from French.
• solfègeA method of sight singing that uses the syllables do (originally ut), re, mi, fa, sol (or so), la, and si (or ti) to represent the seven principal pitches of the scale, most commonly the major scale. The fixed-do system uses do for C, and the moveable-do system uses do for whatever key the melody uses (thus B is do if the piece is in the key of B). The relative natural minor of a scale may be represented by beginning at la.
• solifloreA fragrance dominated by the scent of a particular flower, such as rose, carnation, or iris.
• soliveA joist or beam of secondary importance.
• solmisationMnemonic association of syllables with musical scale degrees.
• SolutreanOf or pertaining to the Solutrean.
• somnambuleA somnambulist.
• somnambulismsleepwalking
• sorbetièreAn ice cream maker.
• SorbonA commune of Ardennes department, France.
• sorghosorghum
• sottisierA compilation of banal, hackneyed, or otherwise objectionable snippets of text from various authors.
• SoubeyranA surname from French [in turn from Occitan].
• soubresautA sudden jump from both feet, travelling forward in first, third, or fifth position and landing on both feet in the same position as they started.
• soubretteA female attendant or servant, especially one who is cheeky or mischievous, often featuring in theatrical comedies.
• soucoupeA type of small submarine designed to hold two people.
• soufflageThe surrealist technique of blowing liquid paint to inspire or reveal an image.
• souffléA baked dish made from beaten egg whites and various other ingredients, usually prepared and served in a small earthenware bowl (ramekin).