Knowledge base
Agency Dictionary
The vocabulary of the Agency editorials: definitions, origins and examples of use, linked to the editions where each word appears.
Browse by topic
- Philosophy & Ethics
- Spirituality & Myth
- Psychology & Mind
- Science & Health
- Creativity & Learning
- Design
- Writing & Narrative
- Arts, Music & Media
- Brand & Marketing
- Business & Organizations
- Economics & Finance
- Technology & AI
- Digital Culture
- History & Civilizations
- Society & Politics
- Culture & Identity
- Climate & Sustainability
- Play & Sport
Terms: S
- sagacitynoun
- The quality of possessing keen mental discernment, sound judgment, and acute philosophical insight.
- salutationsnoun
- Formal gestures, greetings, or opening words of courteous address delivered upon meeting someone or beginning a discourse.
- samurainoun
- A member of the warrior class of feudal Japan, bound by codes of loyalty and honour, who served under the shogunate system. In the article, the samurai class is one of the two groups with access to Noh theatre.
- Satiricaladjective
- Containing, using, or characterized by satire; employing irony, ridicule, or humor to expose flaws and absurdities. It serves as an incisive rhetorical device in social and design critique.
- Saudadenoun
- A profound, melancholic longing for an absent person, place, or time that is loved and remembered with bittersweet affection.
- Sawhorsenoun
- A four-legged wooden or metal trestle frame used to support lumber during sawing or to hold makeshift table surfaces. In photo studios, sawhorses serve as versatile modular tables.
- scalableadjective
- Able to grow in size, volume or reach without losing its function or having to be rebuilt. Said of systems, structures and businesses.
- schédionoun
- Greek word for a plan, a sketch or a design. The article presents it as the Greek word behind design, with the sense of planning or scheming.
- Screennoun
- A flat physical display surface on an electronic device that projects visual images, interfaces, and text to a viewer. It serves as the primary visual output medium for modern personal computers and mobile phones.
- Screen printingnoun
- A printing technique where ink is forced through a prepared mesh stencil onto paper, textiles, or glass. It serves as an industrial craft foundation for commercial merchandising.
- Secularadjective
- Denoting attitudes, activities, or other things that have no religious or spiritual basis; worldly rather than sacred.
- sedentaryadjective
- Characterized by or requiring much sitting, little physical movement, or low levels of daily activity.
- Self-immolationnoun
- The deliberate destruction of oneself, typically by fire. In Archetype.0, self-immolation is the voluntary act by which the phoenix builds a nest of fragrant spices and woods, ignites itself and is consumed by the flames.
- Semioticsnoun
- The study of signs, symbols, and the processes of signification: how meaning is created and communicated through visual, verbal, and cultural systems.
- sentientadjective
- Able to perceive, feel, and experience sensations or consciousness with emotional responsiveness.
- Seppukunoun
- A ritual suicide practiced by Japanese samurai to preserve honor, fulfill duty, or atone for a severe failing.
- Serotonergicadjective
- Related to, producing, or activated by the neurotransmitter serotonin or its corresponding receptors.
- Settlementnoun
- A small community or newly established village formed by migrating individuals settling in an area.
- Shelfnoun
- A flat, horizontal surface used for organizing, supporting, and displaying stored books or ornamental objects.
- shogunatenoun
- A feudal military dictatorship in Japan, headed by a shogun, in which loyalty and honour were central to its operation. The system was exclusive to Japan and did not exist in other Asian nations.
- Shrapnelnoun
- Fragments of a bomb, shell, or other object thrown out by an explosion. In narrative storytelling, it symbolizes the sudden traumatic scatter of destructive forces.
- Simnoun
- A virtual human character or simulated autonomous agent controlled by a player inside a life simulation game. A Sim possesses unique personality traits, biological needs, aspirations, and interpersonal relationships.
- Simoleonnoun
- An informal American slang term for a dollar, famously adopted as the fictional currency denomination within The Sims video game franchise. In simulation games, it is earned through jobs and spent on assets.
- Sincereadjective
- Free from pretense, deceit, or hypocrisy; genuine, honest, and heartfelt in feeling or intent.
- Singularitynoun
- The state, condition, or distinct quality of being singular, remarkable, and uniquely individual.
- Skepticnoun
- A person inclined to question, doubt, or suspend judgment regarding accepted opinions, claims, or apparent facts until verifiable proof is presented.
- Skepticismnoun
- An attitude of doubt or critical inquiry regarding claims that lack clear empirical proof. It protects consumers and researchers from accepting deceptive assertions uncritically.
- sketchnoun
- A rapid, informal drawing or preliminary outline capturing the essential features of an idea.
- slogannoun
- A memorable, catchy phrase used in marketing, politics, or advocacy to encapsulate a core message.
- Smoke and mirrorsnoun
- Deceptive or illusory practices intended to obscure reality and give a false impression of substance. In media culture, it describes the synthetic illusion generated by automated tools.
- Smugglingnoun
- The clandestine and illegal transport of goods, currency, persons, or natural commodities across jurisdictional borders to evade tariffs, customs controls, or legal bans.
- Softwarenoun
- The complete set of instructions, programs, algorithms, and data that direct a computer hardware system to perform specific tasks. It is intangible, adaptable, and easily updated across network connections.
- Soliditynoun
- The state or quality of being firm, coherent, and durable in physical or organizational form. In cultural theory, it describes the stable structures and long-lasting institutions of classical modernity.
- Somaticadjective
- Relating to the physical body, especially as distinct from the mind, psyche, or purely intellectual faculties.
- sommeliernoun
- A trained specialist knowledgeable in wine or fine goods, often used colloquially to describe self-appointed critics who scrutinize cultural details.
- Sophrosynenoun
- An ancient Greek philosophical ideal of excellence of character and soundness of mind. It embodies temperance, moderation, self-control, and a balanced harmony in thoughts and actions.
- Spacesuitnoun
- A pressurized protective garment worn by astronauts to survive the harsh vacuum, extreme temperatures, and radiation of outer space. It incorporates life support, thermal insulation, and communications equipment.
- spesnoun
- The classical Latin noun and personified Roman goddess representing hope, anticipation of good fortune, and enduring optimism.
- spicenoun
- An aromatic or pungent vegetable substance used to flavor, color, or preserve food and beverages.
- Spoilernoun
- Information about the plot, climax, or ending of a narrative that impairs suspense for first-time audiences.
- Stagnationnoun
- A state of inactivity, sluggishness, or lack of growth in an economy or commercial system.
- stakeholdernoun
- A person or group with an interest in a project or an organization and affected by its results, such as clients, managers, investors or users.
- Statuenoun
- A carved or cast three-dimensional sculpture of a person or animal, often used metaphorically for rigidity.
- Steadfastadjective
- Resolutely firm and unwavering in purpose, loyalty, or moral direction. In aesthetic philosophy, it characterizes an uncompromising dedication to truth.
- Stigmanoun
- A mark of social disgrace, shame, or prejudice associated with a particular circumstance, trait, or behavior.
- Storgenoun
- Natural familial affection, especially the instinctive bond shared among parents, children, and siblings.
- Storyboardnoun
- A sequence of illustrated panels and captions used to pre-visualize a motion picture, animation, or commercial narrative. It outlines camera angles, character movements, and scene timings before filming or animation begins.
- Storytellingnoun
- The art, craft, or practice of conveying narratives, experiences, and insights to engage an audience.