Knowledge base
Agency Dictionary
The vocabulary of the Agency editorials: definitions, origins and examples of use, linked to the editions where each word appears.
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Terms: S
- strigilnoun
- A curved metal instrument used by ancient Greeks and Romans to scrape dirt, sweat, and excess scented oil from the skin after bathing or exercising.
- Subordinationnoun
- The act of placing in a lower rank or secondary position, or the state of being subject to the authority of another.
- Subproletarianadjective
- Relating to or belonging to an impoverished social stratum positioned below the regular industrial working class.
- Superficialitynoun
- The quality of lacking depth of character, serious thought, or profound substance, remaining confined to outward appearances.
- Superfluousadjective
- Exceeding what is sufficient, necessary, or useful.
- supply chainnoun
- The complete sequence of processes, entities, and facilities involved in producing and distributing a commodity.
- surplusnoun
- An amount of an asset, commodity, or resource that exceeds what is strictly utilized or demanded.
- Suspicionnoun
- A feeling or thought that something is possible, likely, or true, often accompanied by mistrust or caution. It acts as an instinctual defense against perceived deceit.
- syllabusnoun
- An academic document outlining the topics, schedule, and required competencies for a specific course of study.
- symbiosisnoun
- An interaction or close living relationship between two different organisms or systems, often mutually beneficial.
- Symbolnoun
- A mark, sign, character, or visual emblem used as a conventional representation of an object, function, concept, or abstract idea.
- Symbolicadjective
- Serving as a representation of something intangible or carrying deeper non-literal meaning.
- symbolismnoun
- The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities, and the set of meanings that a form, an image or an object carries beyond its literal sense.
- Synchronicitynoun
- The simultaneous occurrence of events that appear meaningfully related yet lack a direct causal connection.
- Syncreticadjective
- Characterized by the fusion or combination of different forms of belief, cultural practices, or theological doctrines.
- Synergicadjective
- Working together cooperatively in such a way that the combined effect is greater than the sum of separate actions.
- Synergynoun
- The interaction or cooperation of two or more agents or parts to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their individual components.
- Syntaxnoun
- The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a natural language, or the structural rules governing code expressions in computing.
- Synthesisnoun
- The combination of separate elements, ideas, or entities into a unified, coherent whole.
- Synthesizeverb
- To combine distinct elements, ideas, or data points into a single coherent and unified whole.
- syntheticadjective
- Produced by artificial or chemical synthesis rather than originating from natural or organic processes.