▪ I. ‖ sen, n.1
(sɛn)
Also † seni, † senni.
[Japanese.]
A Japanese copper or bronze coin (see quot. 1897), now a hundredth part of a yen. Chiefly collect. as pl.
| 1727 J. Scheuchzer tr. Kæmpfer's Hist. Japan I. 17 The use of silver Money was forbid, and in its stead brass Sennis coin'd. 1802 Pinkerton Mod. Geog., Japan iii. II. 166 The Seni, of copper or iron, are strung like the Chinese pieces of a similar value. 1839 Penny Cycl. XV. 326/1 Sennis, or Cashes, are small pieces of iron, copper, or brass, having a square hole in the middle, through which, as in China, they are strung on a wire or thread. 1875 Bedford Sailor's Pocket Bk. ix. (ed. 2) 316, 10 Rin = 1 Sen = ½d. 1895 C. Holland My Japanese Wife 75 To be English spells generosity in Japanese eyes in the matter of sen for her own little pocket. 1897 Daily News 27 Sept. 5 The sen..is nominally equal to a halfpenny, though in fact only worth half that coin. |
▪ II. ‖ sen, n.2
(sɛn)
[Indonesian, etc., repr. cent1.]
In Indonesia, Malaysia, and other countries of the Far East: a coin or unit of currency valued at one hundredth of the principal measure.
| 1957 Whitaker's Almanack 1958 965 Indonesia{ddd}Rupiah of 100 Sen. 1959 Ibid. 1960 961 Cambodia{ddd}Riel of 100 Sen. 1962 R. A. G. Carson Coins 557 The islands became the independent republic of Indonesia in 1950. The unit of the new coinage is the rupiah of 100 sen. |
▪ III. sen, adv., prep., and conj. Now rare. Chiefly Sc. and north.
(sɛn)
Also 5 senne, 6 senn.
[Contracted form of sethen, sithen: cf. sene, sin, syne, and since.]
A. adv. Then, afterwards; also ago. rare.
| c 1460 Towneley Myst. xx. 259 She weshyd hym with hir terys weytt, and sen dryed hym with hir hare. 1867 J. P. Morris Siege o' Brou'ton 3 (Lanc. Gloss.) That's a conny lang time sen now. |
B. prep. From, after; subsequent to.
| c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 24 Sen þe tyme of sir Noe. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xvi. 74 Þe kyng..had..ay were, sen þat tyme. 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 32 Sen the passioun of Crist,.. the haly kirk was never ȝit in pes. c 1460 Towneley Myst. xx. 714 It has bene told, sen many a day, sayngys of hym full sare. 1577 Fulke Confut. 7 There was neuer greater store in the church of Christ, sen Christ his time. 1593 (title), Actis of Parliament, past sen the Coronatiovn of the Kingis Maiestie. |
C. conj.
1. From or since the time that.
| 1338 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 28 Þe tend ȝere of his regne sen he was crouned Kyng. 1375 Barbour Bruce iii. 496 Sen the king discumfyt was At Meffan, he herd neuir thing [etc.]. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) i. 4 It es lang sen it fell oute of þe hand. c 1421 Lessons of Dirige 231 in 26 Pol. Poems 114 Trowest þou ouȝt þat y..Shal..ȝelde rekenyng sen y bygan? 1552 Lyndsay Monarche 329 Sen I could ryde. 1599 A. Hume Hymns ii. 219 Sa great a wonder was not heard, sen first the warld began. 1829 Brockett N.C. Gloss. (ed. 2) s.v., Its lang syne, sen he left us. 1871 J. Richardson Cummerland Talk Ser. i. 18 (E.D.D.) Theer's been a deal o' ups an' doons sen I went to scheul. |
2. Seeing or considering (that). [Cf. seen conj., which may have been partly confused with this.]
| 13.. Gosp. Nicod. 53 Sen he to blind has gifen þe sight.., whi suld he vnto ded be dight? a 1340 Hampole Psalter lxxxiv. 8 Sen þat he is turnyd away fra þe vnrest of þis life. 1423 Jas. I Kingis Q. cxliv, ‘Now wele,’ quod sche, ‘and sen that It is so, That In vertew thy lufe is set with trueth [etc.].’ c 1460 Towneley Myst. xxvi. 292 Sen I for luf, man, boght the dere,..I pray the hartely,..luf me agane. a 1500 Lancelot 1019 Bot, hart, sen at yow knawith she is here,..Now is thi tyme. a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon xviii. 49 Huon, sen thou woldest be agreed with me, Then [etc.]. 1588 A. King tr. Canisius' Catech. 122 Sen we have sufficientlie according to our present purpose spokin hitherto. a 1756 Pennecuik Coll. Sc. Poems 48 Sen your'e gotten out o's grips, Gi'e John a bucky. |
▪ IV. sen
see saint, say v.1, see v., send v., sene a.