%sere%

a. (Naut.) Having all the reefs taken in; -- said of a sail. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L., have mercy, fr. misereri to have mercy, fr. miser. See Miser. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (R. C. Ch.) The psalm usually appointed for penitential acts, being the 50th psalm in the Latin version. It commences with the word miserere. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A musical composition adapted to the 50th psalm. [ 1913 Webster ]

Where only the wind signs miserere. Lowell. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Arch.) A small projecting boss or bracket, on the under side of the hinged seat of a church stall (see Stall). It was intended, the seat being turned up, to give some support to a worshiper when standing. Called also misericordia. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Med.) Same as Ileus. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖prop. n. pl. [ NL., fr. L. passer a sparrow. ] (Zool.) An order, or suborder, of birds, including more that half of all the known species. It embraces all singing birds (Oscines), together with many other small perching birds. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ OE. seer, AS. seár (assumed) fr. seárian to wither; akin to D. zoor dry, LG. soor, OHG. sorēn to wither, Gr. a"y`ein to parch, to dry, Skr. çush (for sush) to dry, to wither, Zend hush to dry. √152. Cf. Austere, Sorrel, a.] Dry; withered; no longer green; -- applied to leaves. Milton. [1913 Webster]

I have lived long enough; my way of life
Is fall'n into the sear, the yellow leaf. Shak. [1913 Webster]

a. Dry; withered. Same as Sear. [ 1913 Webster ]

But with its sound it shook the sails
That were so thin and sere. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. serre. ] Claw; talon. [ Obs. ] Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F. Cf. Serenade, n. ] (Meteorol.) A mist, or very fine rain, which sometimes falls from a clear sky a few moments after sunset. Tyndall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. sérénade, It. serenata, probably fr. L. serenus serene (cf. Serene), misunderstood as a derivative fr. L. serus late. Cf. Soirée. ] (Mus.) (a) Music sung or performed in the open air at nights; -- usually applied to musical entertainments given in the open air at night, especially by gentlemen, in a spirit of gallantry, under the windows of ladies. (b) A piece of music suitable to be performed at such times. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Serenaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Serenading. ] To entertain with a serenade. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To perform a serenade. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who serenades. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ It. serenata. See Serenade. ] (Mus.) A piece of vocal music, especially one on an amoreus subject; a serenade. [ 1913 Webster ]

Or serenate, which the starved lover sings
To his pround fair. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The name serenata was given by Italian composers in the time of Handel, and by Handel himself, to a cantata of a pastoreal of dramatic character, to a secular ode, etc.; also by Mozart and others to an orchectral composition, in several movements, midway between the suite of an earlier period and the modern symphony. Grove. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. serenus to grow dry, Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_; hot, scorching. ] 1. Bright; clear; unabscured; as, a serene sky. [ 1913 Webster ]

The moon serene in glory mounts the sky. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Full many a gem of purest ray serene
The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Calm; placid; undisturbed; unruffled; as, a serene aspect; a serene soul. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In several countries of Europe, Serene is given as a tittle to princes and the members of their families; as, His Serene Highness. [ 1913 Webster ]

Drop serene. (Med.) See Amaurosis. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Serenity; clearness; calmness. [ Poetic. ] “The serene of heaven.” Southey. [ 1913 Webster ]

To their master is denied
To share their sweet serene. Young. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. [ F. serein evening dew or damp. See Serein. ] Evening air; night chill. [ Obs. ] “Some serene blast me.” B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. serenare. ] To make serene. [ 1913 Webster ]

Heaven and earth, as if contending, vie
To raise his being, and serene his soul. Thomson. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. In a serene manner; clearly. [ 1913 Webster ]

Now setting Phœbus shone serenely bright. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. With unruffled temper; coolly; calmly. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Serenity. Feltham. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Serenity. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. serenuas: cf. F. sérénité. ] 1. The quality or state of being serene; clearness and calmness; quietness; stillness; peace. [ 1913 Webster ]

A general peace and serenity newly succeeded a general trouble. Sir W. Temple. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Calmness of mind; eveness of temper; undisturbed state; coolness; composure. [ 1913 Webster ]

I can not see how any men should ever transgress those moral rules with confidence and serenity. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Serenity is given as a title to the members of certain princely families in Europe; as, Your Serenity. [ 1913 Webster ]