pron. Written representation of ‘he or she’ used to indicate either sex.

- —pron. (obj. Her; poss. Her; pl. They) the woman, girl, female animal, ship, or country, etc. Previously named or in question. —n. - female; woman.

- (in comb.) Female (she-goat). [old english]

—adj. (shyer, shyest or shier, shiest) 1 a timid and nervous in company; self-conscious. B (of animals etc.) Easily startled.

- (in comb.) Disliking or fearing (work-shy). —v. (shies, shied) 1 (usu. Foll. By at) (esp. Of a horse) turn suddenly aside in fright.

- (usu. Foll. By away from, at) avoid involvement in. —n. Sudden startled movement. shyly adv. (also shily). Shyness n. [old english]

- —v. (shies, shied) (also absol.) Fling, throw. —n. (pl. Shies) fling, throw. [origin unknown]

adv. (usu. In brackets) used, spelt, etc., as written (confirming, or emphasizing, the quoted or copied words). [latin, = so]

bin n. Colloq. Ice hockey penalty box.

- —n. - a breaking of divine or moral law, esp. Deliberately. B such an act.

- offence against good taste or propriety etc. —v. (-nn-) 1 commit a sin.

- (foll. By against) offend. [old english]

- abbr. Sine.

—v. (-pp-) drink in small mouthfuls. —n. - small mouthful of liquid.

- act of taking this. [perhaps var. Of *sup1]

n. - polite form of address or reference to a man.

- (sir) title prefixed to the forename of a knight or baronet. [from *sire]

n. Colloq. Sister. [abbreviation]

v. (-tt-; past and past part. Sat) 1 support the body by resting the buttocks on the ground or a seat etc.

- cause to sit; place in a sitting position.

- a (of a bird) perch or warm the eggs in its nest. B (of an animal) rest with the hind legs bent and the buttocks on the ground.

- (of a committee etc.) Be in session.

- (usu. Foll. By for) pose (for a portrait).

- (foll. By for) be a member of parliament for (a constituency).

- (often foll. By for) take (an examination).

- be in a more or less permanent position or condition (left sitting in rome; parcel sitting on the doorstep).

- (of clothes etc.) Fit or hang in a certain way. 10 babysit. be sitting pretty be comfortably placed. Sit at a person's feet be a person's pupil. Sit back relax one's efforts. Sit down 1 sit after standing.

- cause to sit.

- (foll. By under) submit tamely to (an insult etc.). Sit in 1 occupy a place as a protest.

- (foll. By for) take the place of.

- (foll. By on) be present as a guest or observer at (a meeting etc.). Sit in judgement be censorious or self-righteous. Sit on 1 be a member of (a committee etc.).

- hold a session or inquiry concerning.

- colloq. Delay action about.

- colloq. Repress, rebuke, or snub. Sit on the fence remain neutral or undecided. Sit out 1 take no part in (a dance etc.).

- stay till the end of (esp. An ordeal).

- sit outdoors. Sit tight colloq. - remain firmly in one's place.

- not yield. Sit up 1 rise from lying to sitting.

- sit firmly upright.

- go to bed late.

- colloq. Become interested or aroused etc. Sit well on suit or fit. [old english]

adj. & n. - one more than five.

- symbol for this (6, vi, vi).

- size etc. Denoted by six.

- cricket hit scoring six runs.

- six o'clock. at sixes and sevens in confusion or disagreement. Knock (or hit) for six colloq. Utterly surprise or overcome. [old english]

n. A kind of fast orig. Jamaican pop music. [origin unknown]