15-letter words containing a, c, u, l, e, s
- snafu principle — /sna'foo prin'si-pl/ [WWII Army acronym for "Situation Normal: All Fucked Up"] "True communication is possible only between equals, because inferiors are more consistently rewarded for telling their superiors pleasant lies than for telling the truth." - a central tenet of Discordianism, often invoked by hackers to explain why authoritarian hierarchies screw up so reliably and systematically. The effect of the SNAFU principle is a progressive disconnection of decision-makers from reality. This lightly adapted version of a fable dating back to the early 1960s illustrates the phenomenon perfectly: In the beginning was the plan, and then the specification; And the plan was without form, and the specification was void. And darkness was on the faces of the implementors thereof; And they spake unto their leader, saying: "It is a crock of shit, and smells as of a sewer." And the leader took pity on them, and spoke to the project leader: "It is a crock of excrement, and none may abide the odor thereof." And the project leader spake unto his section head, saying: "It is a container of excrement, and it is very strong, such that none may abide it." The section head then hurried to his department manager, and informed him thus: "It is a vessel of fertilizer, and none may abide its strength." The department manager carried these words to his general manager, and spoke unto him saying: "It containeth that which aideth the growth of plants, and it is very strong." And so it was that the general manager rejoiced and delivered the good news unto the Vice President. "It promoteth growth, and it is very powerful." The Vice President rushed to the President's side, and joyously exclaimed: "This powerful new software product will promote the growth of the company!" And the President looked upon the product, and saw that it was very good. After the subsequent disaster, the suits protect themselves by saying "I was misinformed!", and the implementors are demoted or fired.
- social security — (usually initial capital letters) a program of old-age, unemployment, health, disability, and survivors insurance maintained by the U.S. federal government through compulsory payments by specific employer and employee groups.
- sodium chlorate — a colorless, water-soluble solid, NaClO 3 , cool and salty to the taste, used chiefly in the manufacture of explosives and matches, as a textile mordant, and as an oxidizing and bleaching agent.
- sodium silicate — a substance having the general formula, Na2O.xSiO2, where x varies between 3 and 5, existing as an amorphous powder or present in a usually viscous aqueous solution
- source language — the language in which a text appears that is to be translated into another language. Compare target language (def 1).
- source material — original, authoritative, or basic materials utilized in research, as diaries or manuscripts.
- special feature — an article differing from the normal format and focusing on a particular topic
- special student — a student who is not seeking a degree but enrols in a course, esp to gain academic credits
- special subject — an area of knowledge in which someone specializes
- splanchnopleure — the double layer formed by the association of the lower layer of the lateral plate of mesoderm with the underlying entoderm, which develops into the embryonic viscera.
- standard clause — a clause which is inserted as standard into certain types of contracts or agreements
- stannic sulfide — a yellowish or brownish, water-insoluble powder, SnS 2 , usually used suspended in lacquer or varnish for gilding and bronzing metals, wood, paper, etc.; mosaic gold.
- streptobacillus — any of various bacilli that form in chains.
- structural gene — cistron.
- subclavian vein — either of a pair of veins, one on each side of the body, that return blood from the arms to the heart.
- subject catalog — a catalog having entries listed by subject only.
- subsidiary cell — Immunology. any of various cells of the immune system that work with T or B cells to initiate a specific immune response.
- summa cum laude — with highest praise: used in diplomas to grant the highest of three special honors for grades above the average.
- superficialness — being at, on, or near the surface: a superficial wound.
- superplasticity — the phenomenon, exhibited by certain metals and alloys usually at high temperatures, of stretching to extreme lengths without breaking
- superspecialist — a highly skilled specialist
- surgical needle — a needle for suturing.
- surgical strike — a military action designed to destroy a particular target without harming other people or damaging other buildings near it
- survival course — a course that teaches people how to survive in the wild and in other dangerous environments
- tentaculiferous — having tentacles
- the black stump — an imaginary marker of the extent of civilization (esp in the phrase beyond the black stump)
- title insurance — insurance protecting the owner or mortgagee of real estate from lawsuits or claims arising from a defective title.
- treacle mustard — a N temperate cruciferous annual plant, Erysimum cheiranthoides, having small yellow flowers. It is a common weed in cultivated ground
- tricuspid valve — the valve, consisting of three triangular flaps of tissue between the right auricle and ventricle of the heart, that keeps blood from flowing back into the auricle.
- turn the scales — to determine or decide something uncertain
- ultra-masculine — pertaining to or characteristic of a man or men: masculine attire.
- ultra-realistic — interested in, concerned with, or based on what is real or practical: a realistic estimate of costs; a realistic planner.
- ultramicroscope — an instrument that uses scattering phenomena to detect the position of objects too small to be seen by an ordinary microscope.
- un-considerable — rather large or great in size, distance, extent, etc.: It cost a considerable amount. We took a considerable length of time to decide.
- unaesthetically — offensive to the aesthetic sense; lacking in beauty or sensory appeal; unpleasant, as an object, design, arrangement, etc.: an unaesthetic combination of colors.
- unascertainable — to find out definitely; learn with certainty or assurance; determine: to ascertain the facts.
- uncanonicalness — the quality or condition of being uncanonical
- unchristianlike — not like a Christian; not in accordance with Christian teaching and values
- unclimbableness — the quality or condition of being unclimbable
- uncompromisable — that cannot or should not be compromised
- unconstrainable — unable to be confined
- unconstrainedly — in an unconfined manner
- uncontrollables — incapable of being controlled or restrained: uncontrollable anger.
- uncontroversial — of, relating to, or characteristic of controversy, or prolonged public dispute, debate, or contention; polemical: a controversial book.
- undisciplinable — unable to be disciplined or controlled
- universal chuck — a chuck, as on a lathe headstock, having three stepped jaws moving simultaneously for precise centering of a workpiece of any of a wide range of sizes.
- universal class — (in the theory of classes) the class that includes all other classes and is composed of all individuals composing these classes.
- unmaterialistic — excessively concerned with physical comforts or the acquisition of wealth and material possessions, rather than with spiritual, intellectual, or cultural values.
- unpeaceableness — the quality or state of being unpeaceable; quarrelsomeness
- unrealistically — interested in, concerned with, or based on what is real or practical: a realistic estimate of costs; a realistic planner.