Chapter Sappho of Toulouse to Saturn's Tree of S by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Sappho of Toulouse to Saturn's Tree

Sappho of Toulouse Clémence Isaure (2 syl.), a wealthy lady of Toulouse, who instituted in 1490 the “Jeux Floraux,” and left funds to defray their annual expenses. She composed a beautiful Ode to Spring. (1463-1513.)

Saracen Wheat (French, Blé-sarrasin). Buckwheat; so called because it was brought into Spain by the Moors or Saracens. (See Buckwheat .)

Saracens Ducange derives this word from Sarah (Abraham's wife); Hottinger from the Arabic saraca (to steal); Forster from sahra (a desert); but probably it is the Arabic sharakyoun or sharkeyn (the eastern people), as opposed to Magharibë (the western people- i.e. of Morocco). Any unbaptised person was called a Saracen in mediaeval romance. (Greek, Surakenos.)

“So the Arabs, or Saracens, as they are called ... gave men the choice of three things.”- E. A. Freeman: General Sketch, chap. vi. p. 117.

Saragoz'a The Maid of Saragoza. Augustina, who was only twenty-two when, her lover being shot, she mounted the battery in his place. The French, after besieging the town for two months, had to retreat, August 15th, 1808

Saraswati Wife of Brahma, and goddess of fine arts. (Hindu mythology).

Sarcasm A flaying or plucking off of the skin; a cutting taunt (Greek, sarkazo, to flay, etc.).

Sarcenet (2 syl.). A corruption of Saracennet, from its Saracenic or Oriental origin.

Sarcenet Chidings Loving rebukes, as those of a mother to a young child- “You little rogue,” etc.

“The child reddened ... and hesitated, while the mother, with many a fye ... and such sarcenet chidings as tender mothers give to spoiled children ...“- Sir W. Scott: The Monastery, ii.

Sarcophagus A stone, according to Pliny, which consumed the flesh, and was therefore chosen by the ancients for coffins. It is called sometimes lapis Assius, because it was found at Assos of Lycia. (Greek, sarx, flesh; phagein, to eat or consume.)

Sardanapalus King of Nineveh and Assyria, noted for his luxury and voluptuousness. His effeminacy induced Arbaces, the Mede, to conspire against him. Myrra, an Ionian slave, and his favourite concubine, roused him from his lethargy, and induced him to appear at the head of his armies. He won three successive battles, but being then defeated, was induced by Myrra to place himself on a funeral pile, which she herself set fire to, and then jumping into the flames, perished with her beloved master. (Died B.C. 817.) (Byron: Sardanapalus.)
   A Sardanapalus. Any luxurious, extravagant, self-willed tyrant. (See above.)
   Sardanapalus of China. Cheo-tsin, who shut himself and his queen in his palace, and set fire to the building, that he might not fall into the hands of Woo-wong, who founded the dynasty of Tchow (B.C. 1154-1122). It was Cheo-tsin who invented the chopsticks.

Sardinian Laugh Laughing on the wrong side of one's mouth. The Edinburgh Review says: “The ancient Sardinians used to get rid of their old relations by throwing them into deep pits, and the sufferers were expected to feel delighted at this attention to their well-being.” (July, 1849.)

Sardonic Smile, Grin, or Laughter A smile of contempt: so used by Homer.

“The Sardonic or Sardinian laugh. A laugh caused, it was supposed, by a plant growing in Sardinia, of which they who ate died laughing.”- Trench: Words, lecture iv. p. 176.

   The Herba Sardonia (so called