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scum

 

  4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Scum  \Scum\,  v.  i. 
  To  form  a  scum;  to  become  covered  with  scum.  Also  used 
  figuratively. 
 
  Life,  and  the  interest  of  life,  have  stagnated  and 
  scummed  over  --A.  K.  H. 
  Boyd. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Scum  \Scum\,  n.  [Of  Scand.  origin;  cf  Dan.  &  Sw  skum,  Icel. 
  sk?m,  LG  schum,  D.  schuim  OHG.  sc?m,  G.  schaum;  probably 
  from  a  root  meaning,  to  cover.  [root]158.  Cf  {Hide}  skin, 
  {Meerschaum},  {Skim},  v.,  {Sky}.] 
  1.  The  extraneous  matter  or  impurities  which  rise  to  the 
  surface  of  liquids  in  boiling  or  fermentation,  or  which 
  form  on  the  surface  by  other  means  also  the  scoria  of 
  metals  in  a  molten  state;  dross. 
 
  Some  to  remove  the  scum  it  did  rise.  --Spenser. 
 
  2.  refuse;  recrement;  anything  vile  or  worthless. 
 
  The  great  and  innocent  are  insulted  by  the  scum  and 
  refuse  of  the  people.  --Addison. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Scum  \Scum\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Scummed};  p.  pr  &  vb  n. 
  {Scumming}.] 
  1.  To  take  the  scum  from  to  clear  off  the  impure  matter  from 
  the  surface  of  to  skim. 
 
  You  that  scum  the  molten  lead.  --Dryden  & 
  Lee. 
 
  2.  To  sweep  or  range  over  the  surface  of  [Obs.] 
 
  Wandering  up  and  down  without  certain  seat,  they 
  lived  by  scumming  those  seas  and  shores  as  pirates. 
  --Milton. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  scum 
  n  1:  worthless  people  [syn:  {trash}] 
  2:  a  film  of  impurities  or  vegetation  that  can  form  on  the 
  surface  of  a  liquid




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