scio

n. [ See Sciolist. ] The knowledge of a sciolist; superficial knowledge. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. sciolus. See Sciolous. ] One who knows many things superficially; a pretender to science; a smatterer. [ 1913 Webster ]

These passages in that book were enough to humble the presumption of our modern sciolists, if their pride were not as great as their ignorance. Sir W. Temple. [ 1913 Webster ]

A master were lauded and sciolists shent. R. Browning. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to sciolism, or a sciolist; partaking of sciolism; resembling a sciolist. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. scilus, dim. of scius knowing, fr. scire to know. See Science. ] Knowing superficially or imperfectly. Howell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;, &unr_;; &unr_; a shadow + &unr_; battle: cf. F. sciomachie, sciamachie. ] A fighting with a shadow; a mock contest; an imaginary or futile combat. [ Written also scimachy. ] Cowley. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; a shadow + -mancy: cf. F. sciomance, sciamancie. ] Divination by means of shadows. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. cion, F. scion, probably from scier to saw, fr. L. secare to cut. Cf. Section. ] 1. (Bot.) (a) A shoot or sprout of a plant; a sucker. (b) A piece of a slender branch or twig cut for grafting. [ Formerly written also cion, and cyon. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, a descendant; an heir; as, a scion of a royal stock. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_; shadow + &unr_; belonging to sight: cf. F. scioptique. See Optic. ] (Opt.) Of or pertaining to an optical arrangement for forming images in a darkened room, usually called scioptic ball. [ 1913 Webster ]

Scioptic ball (Opt.), the lens of a camera obscura mounted in a wooden ball which fits a socket in a window shutter so as to be readily turned, like the eye, to different parts of the landscape. [ 1913 Webster ]