Descriptionary

sequester vb. (suh KWES tur) to isolate, set apart, or separate from others. We will need to sequester the sick passengers until we know what kind of virus they have.

serendipity n. (SER un DIP uh tee) good fortune; a lucky accident. I met my wife through pure serendip­ity; she was walking her dog and I was walking mine, and our leashes tangled.

servile adj. (SUR vile) submissive or subservient, like a servant. The slave's servile, eager-to-please demeanor won him little respect and lots more work.

shirk vb. (SHURK) to neglect or ignore a respon­sibility. Don't shirk your duties or you'll never get a raise.

shrewd adj. (SHROOD) clever and wily; savvy. You need to be a shrewd investor to make a profit in a bear market.

singular adj. (SING gyuh lur) unique; one of a kind.

The scientists assured us that the tsunami striking our shore was a singular event and wouldn't likely ever happen again.

slander n. (SLAN dur) false and damaging state­ments made about someone publicly. The challenger accused the incumbent governor of corruption, but we suspected it was nothing more than slander.

smear campaign n. damaging statements and accusations made to destroy, someone's reputation; mudslinging. The two candidates mounted recipro­cal smear campaigns; by the time the elections were over, both of their reputations had been thoroughly tarnished.

sojourn n. (SO jurn) a visit or stay somewhere for a brief time. I'm planning a three-month sojourn in southern California to write my novel.

solace n. (SOL is) comfort or relief from difficulty. Although we lost the game, I took solace in the fact that we would have another chance to advance in the semifinal round.

solemn adj. (SOL um) serious, dignified, and som­ber. The funeral was solemn.

solicitous adj. (suh LIS uh tis) showing one's con­cern through attentiveness. Good mothers are always solicitous toward their children when they get hurt.

solvent adj. (SOL vunt) financially sound and able to pay one's bills and expenses. The company was doing well and would remain solvent for at least another three years.

sophistry n. (SOF is tree) clever argument that sounds plausible but is, in reality, full of holes; artful reasoning that misleads or deceives. Great lawyers don't always need facts or overwhelming evidence to win cases; sometimes a bit of sophistry is all that's called for.

sophomoric adj. (sof MOR ik) juvenile; immature; foolish. Any more sophomoric pranks like that and we'll be forced to suspend you from school.