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The Collaborative International Dictionary
The social evil

Social \So"cial\, a. [L. socialis, from socius a companion; akin to sequi to follow: cf. F. social. See Sue to follow.]

  1. Of or pertaining to society; relating to men living in society, or to the public as an aggregate body; as, social interest or concerns; social pleasure; social benefits; social happiness; social duties. ``Social phenomena.''
    --J. S. Mill.

  2. Ready or disposed to mix in friendly converse; companionable; sociable; as, a social person.

  3. Consisting in union or mutual intercourse.

    Best with thyself accompanied, seek'st not Social communication.
    --Milton.

  4. (Bot.) Naturally growing in groups or masses; -- said of many individual plants of the same species.

  5. (Zo["o]l.)

    1. Living in communities consisting of males, females, and neuters, as do ants and most bees.

    2. Forming compound groups or colonies by budding from basal processes or stolons; as, the social ascidians.

      Social science, the science of all that relates to the social condition, the relations and institutions which are involved in man's existence and his well-being as a member of an organized community; sociology. It concerns itself with questions of the public health, education, labor, punishment of crime, reformation of criminals, and the like.

      Social whale (Zo["o]l.), the blackfish.

      The social evil, prostitution.

      Syn: Sociable; companionable; conversible; friendly; familiar; communicative; convival; festive.