Words starting with S

spectral

ghostly

superstitious

believing that certain events mean you will have either good or bad luck

spire

a tapering conical or pyramidal structure on the top of a building, typically a church tower.

sinister

(adj.) appearing evil or dangerous; threatening evil or harm

swathe

wrap around; bandage

sustain

(v.) to support, nourish, keep up; to suffer, undergo; to bear up under, withstand; to affirm the validity of

studded with

sprinkled or filled with

solemn

serious; grave

scorn

the feeling or belief that someone or something is worthless or despicable; contempt.

snapper

a marine fish that is typically reddish and is valued as food.

snuff

finely powdered tobacco for sniffing up the nose

spirit

That which is positively immaterial, having no dependence on matter for its existence or activities; ghost

spirit

intent, meaning

stopped by

stayed

swig

drink in large gulps

seizures

Sudden fit as in epilepsy due to uncontrolled electrical disturbances in the brain or heart attack

speck

tiny spot

successor

a person who goes after someone else (usually related to a person taking over a job that is of higher rank)

Succession

A series of predictable and orderly changes within an ecosystem over time.

subtle

delicate, elusive, not obvious

slight

(adj, v, n) small, not very important, slender or delicate (adj); treat as though not very important; snub, ignore (verb); an act of treating in this way, a discourtesy (noun)

scant

Not enough or barely enough

savage

fierce, violent, and uncontrolled

strive for

to make a great effort to achieve something

soar

to fly high in the sky

steel

(v) mentally prepare for something difficult, strengthen, fortify, brace

sermon

a talk on a religious or moral subject, especially one given during a church service and based on a passage from the Bible.

seek

to look for something (past sought)

sympathetic

feeling, showing, or expressing sympathy

sidle

move sideways, especially in a shy or sneaky manner

screened from

protecting from, hiding or separating someone or something from negative, dangerous or unwanted influence

sole

one and only; single; lone

seal

to finalise or complete something; to close envelope

sprawl

spread out

scrap

small bit or fragment; discarded waste material; fight; Ex. a scrap of paper/cloth; V: break into parts for disposal; discard as worthless; fight; quarrel

submission

the act of yielding to the authority of another

spiteful

full of spite or malice; malicious; malevolent

searing

extremely hot or intense

scour

(v.) to clean or polish by hard rubbing; to examine with great care; to move about quickly in search of

strew

scatter or spread (things) untidily over a surface or area

shambles

a condition of great disorder

shamble

To walk clumsily or shuffle along

slumber

(n) sleep; a time when someone is asleep

sycophant

a flatterer; one who fawns on others in order to gain favor

subservient

prepared to obey others unquestioningly

slat

one of a series of thin flat pieces of wood, metal or plastic, used in furniture, fences, etc

swingeing

(adj) huge, enormous, wonderful, excellent

stupor

a state of near-unconsciousness or insensibility

secrete

Produce and release a substance from a cell or gland of the body for a functional purpose

scrawl

write (something) in a hurried, careless way

static

not moving, active, or in motion; at rest

scholarly

concerned with academic learning or research

suburb

a residential district located on the outskirts of a city

stray

to move away from the place where you should be, without intending to

seldom

not often; rarely

scrounge

to get or find by hunting around; to scrape together

scepticism

a feeling or attitude of doubt or mistrust

seethe

be in an agitated emotional state, to boil or foam

sated

satisfied fully, indulged to excess

subordinate

lower in rank or position

surreptitious

(adj.) stealthy, secret, intended to escape observation; made or accomplished by fraud

surplus

(n.) an amount beyond what is required, excess; (adj.) more than what is needed or expected; (synonym - surfeit)

substantial

(adj.) large, important; major, significant; prosperous; not imaginary, material

sororal

sisterly

stifling

suffocating; oppressive heat and humidity

scamper

to run or move quickly or playfully

setback

something that interferes with progress; a disappointment, unexpected loss or defeat

sacred

the holy, divine, or supernatural

scripture

the sacred writings of Christianity contained in the Bible

secretary

an official in charge of a department of government; An employee who provides general office suppor

shrine

a place where people worship; a holy place

sincere

without deceit or pretense; genuine; honest

sincerely

without deceit or pretense; genuine; honest

sleek

smooth and glossy

sly

clever in deceiving; secretive; not telling one's intentions

stoop

bend forward and down; lower or debase oneself; fall to a lower standard of behavior by doing something; condescend; Ex. stoop to lying

subdued

quiet and rather reflective or depressed

submissive

easily yielding to authority; meek; to submit to the will of others

subterfuse

an excuse or trick for escaping or hiding something

subtropical

hot, often dry, climate zone between 25 and 30 degrees latitude, north or south of the equator

succumb to

to submit to an overpowering force or yield to an overwhelming desire

summit

the highest point of a hill or mountain

summit

the highest point of a hill or mountain; a meeting between heads of government

suspend

to stop; to put on hold

strobe

Flashing light; A lighting device that produces bright, flashing on and off light.

skittish

(adj.) extremely nervous and easily frightened; shy or timid; extremely cautious; unstable, undependable

sombre

dark and gloomy; melancholy, dismal

superfluous

unnecessary, especially through being more than enough or required

subjugate

to conquer by force, bring under complete control

systematic

done or acting according to a fixed plan or system; methodical.

supercilious

proud and contemptuous; arrogant; behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others

sparkling

something that is shining, clear, and bright; (water that has been treated and then has had CO2 added to it)

stingy

Not generous with money, reluctant to spend or give

sober

1. not drunk; temperate

2. serious; free from excitement or exaggeration

sophisticated

complex or intricate

stolid

unemotional; lacking sensitivity; not easily moved mentally or emotionally; dull, unresponsive

susurrate

to make a soft, whispering, murmuring, or rustling sound

surpass

to exceed, excel, or go beyond a certain limit, amount, or expectation

subdued

describes something that is quiet, softened, brought under control, or lacking its usual strength or intensity

sedate

calm, quiet and relaxed; to administer a tranquilizer