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15-letter words containing a, f, s

  • slumpflationary — of or relating to slumpflation
  • 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.
  • snowball effect — a process of continuously accelerating change in size, importance, etc
  • social benefits — the social welfare provision made available to those in need
  • soft-shell clam — an edible clam, Mya arenaria, inhabiting waters along both coasts of North America, having an oval, relatively thin, whitish shell.
  • soft-shell crab — a crab, especially the blue crab, that has recently molted and therefore has a soft, edible shell.
  • software method — Software Methodology
  • spanish trefoil — alfalfa.
  • spare no effort — do all you can
  • speaking of sth — You can say speaking of something that has just been mentioned as a way of introducing a new topic which has some connection with that thing.
  • special effects — Usually, special effects. a video or audio illusion in film or other media, created with computer-generated images, prosthetic makeup, pyrotechnics, etc.
  • special feature — an article differing from the normal format and focusing on a particular topic
  • specific charge — the ratio of the charge on a particle to the mass of the particle.
  • spirits of salt — a solution of hydrochloric acid in water
  • stamford bridge — a village in N England, east of York: site of a battle (1066) in which King Harold of England defeated his brother Tostig and King Harald Hardrada of Norway, three weeks before the Battle of Hastings
  • stand in awe of — to respect and fear
  • 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.
  • star of courage — a Canadian award for bravery
  • starfish flower — carrion flower (def 2).
  • start of header — (character)   (SOH) mnemonic for ASCII 1.
  • station officer — a person who is in charge of a fire station
  • steam reforming — a process in which methane from natural gas is heated, with steam, usually with a catalyst, to produce a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen used in organic synthesis and as a fuel
  • straightforward — going or directed straight ahead: a straightforward gaze.
  • strait of canso — a channel in Canada, between the Nova Scotia mainland and S Cape Breton Island
  • strait of dover — a strait between SE England and N France, linking the English Channel with the North Sea. Width: about 32 km (20 miles)
  • strait of tiran — a strait between the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea. Length: 16 km (10 miles). Width: 8 km (5 miles)
  • streamline flow — the flow of a fluid past an object such that the velocity at any fixed point in the fluid is constant or varies in a regular manner.
  • stress fracture — a hairline crack in a bone, especially of a foot or leg, caused by repeated or prolonged stress and often occurring in runners, dancers, and soldiers (march fracture)
  • strike the flag — to relinquish command, esp of a ship
  • subprofessional — being below professional standards: subprofessional health care.
  • sulfanilic acid — a grayish-white, crystalline, slightly water-soluble solid, the para form of C 6 H 7 NO 3 S, used chiefly as an intermediate in the manufacture of dyes.
  • sulfiting agent — sulfite (def 2).
  • summary offence — an offence that is triable in a magistrates' court
  • sunflower state — Kansas (used as a nickname).
  • superficialness — being at, on, or near the surface: a superficial wound.
  • surface density — quantity, as of electric charge, per unit surface area.
  • surface grammar — grammar understood at the level of normal communication, rather than at the underlying level of 'deep' semantic and syntactic analysis
  • surface tension — the elasticlike force existing in the surface of a body, especially a liquid, tending to minimize the area of the surface, caused by asymmetries in the intermolecular forces between surface molecules.
  • surface-ripened — (of cheese) ripened on the surface by molds or other microorganisms.
  • syllabification — to form or divide into syllables.
  • sylvian fissure — lateral fissure.
  • syngeneic graft — a tissue or organ transplanted from one member of a species to another, genetically identical member of the species, as a kidney transplanted from one identical twin to the other.
  • tariff barriers — a barrier to trade between certain countries or geographical areas which takes the form of abnormally high taxes levied by a government on imports or occasionally exports for purposes of protection, support of the balance of payments, or the raising of revenue
  • telesales staff — the members of a company's staff that deal with telesales
  • tentaculiferous — having tentacles
  • thanks offering — an offering made as an expression of thanks to God
  • the black ferns — the women's international Rugby Union football team of New Zealand
  • the classifieds — a section of classified advertising in a publication
  • the first-named — something that is specified or named first
  • theft insurance — insurance against loss or damage of property resulting from theft.
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