0%

15-letter words containing s, u, r, c, e, a

  • 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 citrates — the sodium salts of citric acid (monosodium citrate, disodium citrate, trisodium citrate)
  • 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
  • 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
  • star of courage — a Canadian award for bravery
  • static pressure — the pressure exerted by a fluid that is not moving or flowing.
  • statutory crime — a wrong punishable under a statute, rather than at common law.
  • stay the course — to spend some time in a place, in a situation, with a person or group, etc.: He stayed in the army for ten years.
  • storm insurance — insurance cover against damage caused by windstorms
  • streptobacillus — any of various bacilli that form in chains.
  • 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)
  • structural gene — cistron.
  • student teacher — a student who is studying to be a teacher and who, as part of the training, observes classroom instruction or does closely supervised teaching in an elementary or secondary school.
  • subcontraoctave — the octave below the contraoctave, which is three octaves below the middle C octave on a standard keyboard
  • subject-raising — a rule that moves the subject of a complement clause into the clause in which it is embedded, as in the derivation of He is likely to be late from It is likely that he will be late
  • subsidiary cell — Immunology. any of various cells of the immune system that work with T or B cells to initiate a specific immune response.
  • subtrochanteric — Anatomy. either of two knobs at the top of the femur, the greater on the outside and the lesser on the inside, serving for the attachment of muscles between the thigh and pelvis.
  • sugarcane borer — the larva of the pyralid moth, Diatraea saccharalis, a serious pest of sugarcane, corn, rice, and sorghums.
  • summary offence — an offence that is triable in a magistrates' court
  • superbureaucrat — an important or highly powerful bureaucrat
  • superexcitation — the act of exciting.
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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
  • theft insurance — insurance against loss or damage of property resulting from theft.
  • title insurance — insurance protecting the owner or mortgagee of real estate from lawsuits or claims arising from a defective title.
  • to earn a crust — If you earn a crust, you earn enough money to live on, especially by doing work you would prefer not to do.
  • training course — practical programme of study
  • 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.
  • unascertainable — to find out definitely; learn with certainty or assurance; determine: to ascertain the facts.
  • unchristianlike — not like a Christian; not in accordance with Christian teaching and values
Was this page helpful?
Yes No
Thank you for your feedback! Tell your friends about this page
Tell us why?