15-letter words containing f, a, c, e
- self-medication — the use of medicine without medical supervision to treat one's own ailment.
- self-proclaimed — to announce or declare in an official or formal manner: to proclaim war.
- self-sustenance — means of sustaining life; nourishment.
- semi-functional — of or relating to a function or functions: functional difficulties in the administration.
- semimanufacture — a product which forms an intermediate stage in the manufacture of another, often more complex product
- shockwave flash — flash
- show one's face — the front part of the head, from the forehead to the chin.
- shut one's face — to be silent
- significatively — serving to signify.
- simple fraction — a ratio of two integers.
- simple fracture — a fracture in which the bone does not pierce the skin.
- slashdot effect — a temporary surge in the numbers visiting a website and consequent service slowdown or even server crash that sometimes arises as a result of a new link being set up from a more popular website
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- station officer — a person who is in charge of a fire station
- 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)
- summary offence — an offence that is triable in a magistrates' court
- 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.
- 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.
- take account of — an oral or written description of particular events or situations; narrative: an account of the meetings; an account of the trip.
- tax certificate — a document issued to the purchaser of property sold for unpaid taxes attesting to the holder's right to eventual receipt of the title deed.
- teaching fellow — a holder of a teaching fellowship.
- tenant in chief — a feudal vassal who holds land directly from the king.
- tenant-in-chief — a feudal vassal who holds land directly from the king.
- tentaculiferous — having tentacles
- tetrafunctional — pertaining to molecules or groups that can bond at four sites.
- 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 confederacy — the league of Southern states that seceded from the U.S. in 1860 & 1861; Ala., Ark., Fla., Ga., La., Miss., N.C., S.C., Tenn., Tex., & Va.
- the magic flute — an opera (1791) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
- theatrical film — a film made for exhibition in theaters, as distinguished from one made for television.
- theft insurance — insurance against loss or damage of property resulting from theft.
- ticket of leave — (formerly) a permit allowing a convict to leave prison, under certain restrictions, and go to work before having served a full term, somewhat similar to a certificate of parole.
- toreador fresco — a mural (c1500 b.c.) from Minoan Crete.
- track and field — athletics events
- track-and-field — of, relating to, or participating in the sports of running, pole-vaulting, broad-jumping, etc.: a track-and-field athlete.
- tractive effort — the force exerted by a locomotive or other powered vehicle on its driving wheels.
- trade reference — a reference in which one trader gives his opinion as to the creditworthiness of another trader in the same trade, esp to a supplier