Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (part 15 of 60)
DEPHLOGISTICCATE De`phlo*gis"tic*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dephlogisticated; p. pr. & vb. n. Dephlogisticating.] Etym: [Pref. de- + phlosticate: cf. F. déphlogistiguer.] (O. Chem.)
Defn: To deprive of phlogiston, or the supposed principle of inflammability. Priestley. Dephlogisticated air, oxygen gas; -- so called by Dr. Priestly and others of his time. -- De`phlo*gis`ti*ca"tion, n.
DEPHOSPHORIZATION De*phos`phor*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of freeing from phosphorous.
DEPICT De*pict", p. p. Etym: [L. depictus, p. p. of depingere to depict; de- + pingere to paint. See Paint, and cf. Depaint, p. p.]
Defn: Depicted. Lydgate.
DEPICT De*pict", p. p. Etym: [L. depictus, p. p. of depinger to depict; de- + pingere to paint. See Paint, and cf. Depaint, p. p.]
Defn: Depicted. Lydgate.
DEPICT De*pict", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depicted; p. pr. & vb. n. Depicting.]
1. To form a colored likeness of; to represent by a picture; to paint; to portray. His arms are fairly depicted in his chamber. Fuller.
2. To represent in words; to describe vividly. Cæsar's gout was then depicted in energetic language. Motley.
DEPICTION De*pic"tion, n. Etym: [L. depictio.]
Defn: A painting or depicting; a representation.
DEPICTURE De*pic"ture, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depictured; p. pr. & vb. n. Depicturing.]
Defn: To make a picture of; to paint; to picture; to depict. Several persons were depictured in caricature. Fielding.
DEPILATE Dep"i*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depilated; p. pr. & vb. n. Depilating.] Etym: [L. depilatus, p. p. of depilare to depilate; de- + pilare to put forth hairs, pilus hair.]
Defn: To strip of hair; to husk. Venner.
DEPILATION Dep`i*la"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dépilation.]
Defn: Act of pulling out or removing the hair; unhairing. Dryden.
DEPILATORY De*pil"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. dépilatoire.]
Defn: Having the quality or power of removing hair. -- n.
Defn: An application used to take off hair.
DEPILOUS Dep"i*lous, a. Etym: [Pref. de- + pilous: cf. L. depilis.]
Defn: Hairless. Sir t. Browne.
DEPLANATE De*pla"nate, a. Etym: [L. deplanetus, p. p. of deplanare to make level. See Plane, v. t.] (Bot.)
Defn: Flattened; made level or even.
DEPLANT De*plant", v. t. Etym: [Pref. de- + plan: cf. F. déplanter, L. deplantare to take off a twig. See Plant, v. t.]
Defn: To take up (plants); to transplant. [R.]
DEPLANTATION De`plan*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. déplantation.]
Defn: Act of taking up plants from beds.
DEPLETE De*plete", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depleted; p. pr. & vb. n. Depleting.] Etym: [From L. deplere to empty out; de- + plere to fill. Forined like replete, complete. See Fill, Full, a.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: To empty or unload, as the vessels of human system, by bloodletting or by medicine. Copland.
2. To reduce by destroying or consuming the vital powers of; to exhaust, as a country of its strength or resources, a treasury of money, etc. Saturday Review.
DEPLETION De*ple"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. déplétion.]
1. The act of depleting or emptying.
2. (Med.)
Defn: the act or process of diminishing the quantity of fluid in the vessels by bloodletting or otherwise; also excessive evacuation, as in severe diarrhea.
DEPLETIVE De*ple"tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. déplétif.]
Defn: Able or fitted to deplete. -- n.
Defn: A substance used to deplete.
DEPLETORY De*ple"to*ry, a.
Defn: Serving to deplete.
DEPLICATION Dep`li*ca"tion, n. Etym: [LL. deplicare to unfold; L. de- + plicare to fold.]
Defn: An unfolding, untwisting, or unplaiting. [Obs.] W. Montagu.
DEPLOITATION Dep`loi*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. Exploitation, Deploy.]
Defn: Same as Exploitation.
DEPLORABILITY De*plor`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Deplorableness. Stormonth.
DEPLORABLE De*plor"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. déplorable.]
Defn: Worthy of being deplored or lamented; lamentable; causing grief; hence, sad; calamitous; grievous; wretched; as, life's evils are deplorable. Individual sufferers are in a much more deplorable conditious than any others. Burke.
DEPLORABLENESS De*plor"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: State of being deplorable.
DEPLORABLY De*plor"a*bly, adv.
Defn: In a deplorable manner.
DEPLORATE De*plo"rate, a. Etym: [L. deploratus, p. p. of deplorare. See Deplore.]
Defn: Deplorable. [Obs.] A more deplorate estate. Baker.
DEPLORATION Dep`lo*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. deploratio: cf. F. déploration.]
Defn: The act of deploring or lamenting; lamentation. Speed.
DEPLORE De*plore", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deplored; p. pr. & vb. n. Deploring.] Etym: [L. deplorare; de- + plorare to cry out, wail, lament; prob. akin to pluere to rain, and to E. flow: cf. F. déplorer. Cf. Flow.]
1. To feel or to express deep and poignant grief for; to bewail; to lament; to mourn; to sorrow over. To find her, or forever to deplore Her loss. Milton. As some sad turtle his lost love deplores. Pope.
2. To complain of. [Obs.] Shak.
3. To regard as hopeless; to give up. [Obs.] Bacon.
Syn. -- To Deplore, Mourn, Lament, Bewail, Bemoan. Mourn is the generic term, denoting a state of grief or sadness. To lament is to express grief by outcries, and denotes an earnest and strong expression of sorrow. To deplore marks a deeper and more prolonged emotion. To bewail and to bemoan are appropriate only to cases of poignant distress, in which the grief finds utterance either in wailing or in moans and sobs. A man laments his errors, and deplores the ruin they have brought on his family; mothers bewail or bemoan the loss of their children.
DEPLORE De*plore", v. i.
Defn: To lament. Gray.
DEPLOREDLY De*plor"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: Lamentably.
DEPLOREDNESS De*plor"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being deplored or deplorable. [R.] Bp. Hail.
DEPLOREMENT De*plore"ment, n.
Defn: Deploration. [Obs.]
DEPLORER De*plor"er, n.
Defn: One who deplores.
DEPLORINGLY De*plor"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a deploring manner.
DEPLOY De*ploy", v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Deployed; p. pr. & vb. n. Deploying.] Etym: [F. déployer; pref. dé = dés (L. dis) + ployer, equiv. to plier to fold, fr. L. plicare. See Ply, and cf. Display.] (Mil.)
Defn: To open out; to unfold; to spread out (a body of troops) in such a way that they shall display a wider front and less depth; -- the reverse of ploy; as, to deploy a column of troops into line of battle.
DEPLOY; DEPLOYMENT De*ploy", De*ploy"ment, n. (Mil.)
Defn: The act of deploying; a spreading out of a body of men in order to extend their front. -Wilhelm. Deployments . . . which cause the soldier to turn his back to the enemy are not suited to war.H.L. Scott.
DEPLUMATE De*plu"mate, a. Etym: [LL. diplumatus, p. p. of deplumare. See Deplume.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Destitute or deprived of features; deplumed.
DEPLUMATION Dep`lu*ma"tion, n. Etym: [See Deplumate.]
1. The stripping or falling off of plumes or feathers. Bp. Stillingfleet
2. (Med.)
Defn: A disease of the eyelids, attended with loss of the eyelashes. Thomas.
DEPLUME De*plume", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deplumed; p. pr. & vb. n. Depluming.] Etym: [LL. deplumare; L. de- + plumare to cover with feathers, pluma feather: cf. deplumis featherless, and F. déplumer.]
1. To strip or pluck off the feather of; to deprive of of plumage. On the depluming of the pope every bird had his own feather. Fuller.
2. To lay bare; to expose. The exposure and depluming of the leading humbugs of the age. De Quincey.
DEPOLARIZATION De*po`lar*i*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dépolarisation.]
Defn: The act of depriving of polarity, or the result of such action; reduction to an unpolarized condition. Depolarization of light (Opt.), a change in the plane of polarization of rays, especially by a crystalline medium, such that the light which had been extinguished by the analyzer reappears as if the polarization had been anulled. The word is inappropriate, as the ray does not return to the unpolarized condition.
DEPOLARIZE De*po"lar*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depolarized; p. pr. & vb. n. Depolarizing.] Etym: [Pref. de- + polarize: cf. F. dépolarizer.]
1. (Opt.)
Defn: To deprive of polarity; to reduce to an unpolarized condition.
Note: This word has been inaccurately applied in optics to describe the effect of a polarizing medium, as a crystalline plate, in causing the reappearance of a ray, in consequence of a change in its plane of polarization, which previously to the change was intercepted by the analyzer.
2. (Elec.)
Defn: To free from polarization, as the negative plate of the voltaic battery.
DEPOLARIZER De*po"lar*i`zer, n. (Elec.)
Defn: A substance used to prevent polarization, as upon the negative plate of a voltaic battery.
DEPOLISH De*pol"ish, v. t.
Defn: To remove the polish or glaze from.
DEPOLISHING De*pol"ish*ing, n. (Ceramics)
Defn: The process of removing the vitreous glaze from porcelain, leaving the dull luster of the surface of ivory porcelian. Knight.
DEPONE De*pone", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deponed; p. pr. & vb. n. Deponing.] Etym: [L. deponere, depositum, to put down, in LL., to assert under oath; de- + ponere to put, place. See Position, and cf. Deposit.]
1. To lay, as a stake; to wager. [Obs.] Hudibras.
2. To lay down. [R.] Southey.
3. To assert under oath; to depose. [A Scotticism] Sprot deponeth that he entered himself thereafter in conference. State Trials(1606).
DEPONE De*pone", v. i.
Defn: To testify under oath; to depose; to bear witness. [A Scotticism] The fairy Glorians, whose credibility on this point can not be called in question, depones to the confinement of Merlin in a tree. Dunlop.
DEPONENT De*po"nent, n. Etym: [L. deponenes, -entis, laying down. See Depone, v. t.]
1. (Law)
Defn: One who deposes or testifies under oath; one who gives evidence; usually, one who testifies in writing.
2. (Gr. & Lat. Gram.)
Defn: A deponent verb.
Syn. -- Deponent, Affiant. These are legal terms describing a person who makes a written declaration under oath, with a view to establish certain facts. An affiant is one who makes an affidavit, or declaration under oath, in order to establish the truth of what he says. A deponenet is one who makes a deposition, or gives written testimony under oath, to be used in the trial of some case before a court of justice. See under Deposition.
DEPONENT De*po"nent, a. Etym: [L. deponens, -entis, laying down (its proper passive meaning), p. pr. of deponere: cf. F. déponent. See Depone.] (Gram.)
Defn: Having a passive form with an active meaning, as certain latin and Greek verbs.
DEPOPULACY De*pop"u*la*cy, n.
Defn: Depopulation; destruction of population. [R.] Chapman.
DEPOPULATE De*pop"u*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depopulated; p. pr. & vb. n. Depopulating.] Etym: [L. depopulatus, p. p. of depopulari to ravage; de- + populari to ravage, fr. populus people: cf. OF. depopuler, F. dépeupler. See People.]
Defn: To deprive of inhabitants, whether by death or by expulsion; to reduce greatly the populousness of; to dispeople; to unpeople. Where is this viper, That would depopulate the city Shak.
Note: It is not synonymous with laying waste or destroying, being limited to the loss of inhabitants; as, an army or a famine may depopulate a country. It rarely expresses an entire loss of inhabitants, but often a great diminution of their numbers; as, the deluge depopulated the earth.
DEPOPULATE De*pop"u*late, v. i.
Defn: To become dispeopled. [R.] Whether the country be depopulating or not. Goldsmith.
DEPOPULATION De*pop`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. depopulatio pillaging: cf. F. dépopulation depopulation.]
Defn: The act of depopulating, or condition of being depopulated; destruction or explusion of inhabitants. The desolation and depopulation [of St.Quentin] were now complete. Motley.
DEPOPULATOR De*pop"u*la`tor, n. Etym: [L., pillager.]
Defn: One who depopulates; a dispeopler.
DEPORT De*port", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deported; p. pr. & vb. n. Deporting.] Etym: [F. déporter to transport for life, OF., to divert, amuse, from L. deportare to carry away; de- + portare to carry. See Port demeanor.]
1. To transport; to carry away; to exile; to send into banishment. He told us he had been deported to Spain. Walsh.
2. To carry or demean; to conduct; to behave; -- followed by the reflexive pronoun. Let an ambassador deport himself in the most graceful manner befor a prince. Pope.
DEPORT De*port", n.
Defn: Behavior; carrige; demeanor; deportment. [Obs.] "Goddesslike deport." Milton.
DEPORTATION De`por*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. depotatio: cf.F. déportation.]
Defn: The act of deporting or exiling, or the state of being deported; banishment; transportation. In their deportations, they had often the favor of their conquerors. Atterbury.
DEPORTMENT De*port"ment, n. Etym: [F. déportement misconduct, OF., demeanor. See Deport.]
Defn: Manner of deporting or demeaning one's self; manner of acting; conduct; carrige; especially, manner of acting with respect to the courtesies and duties of life; behavior; demeanor; bearing. The gravity of his deportment carried him safe through many difficulties. Swift.
DEPORTURE De*por"ture, n.
Defn: Deportment. [Obs.] Stately port and majestical deporture. Speed.
DEPOSABLE De*pos"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being deposed or deprived of office. Howell.
DEPOSAL De*pos"al, n.
Defn: The act of deposing from office; a removal from the throne. Fox.
DEPOSE De*pose", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deposed; p. pr. & vb. n. Deposing.]Etym: [FF. déposer, in the sense of L. deponere to put down; but from pref. dé- (L. de) + poser to place. See Pose, Pause.]
1. To lay down; to divest one's self of; to lay aside. [Obs.] Thus when the state one Edward did depose, A greater Edward in his room arose. Dryden.
2. To let fall; to deposit. [Obs.] Additional mud deposed upon it. Woodward.
3. To remove from a throne or other high station; to dethrone; to divest or deprive of office. A tyrant over his subjects, and therefore worthy to be deposed. Prynne.
4. To testify under oath; to bear testimony to; -- now usually said of bearing testimony which is officially written down for future use. Abbott. To depose the yearly rent or valuation of lands. Bacon.
5. To put under oath. [Obs.] Depose him in the justice of his cause. Shak.
DEPOSE De*pose", v. i.
Defn: To bear witness; to testify under oath; to make deposition. Then, seeing't was he that made you to despose, Your oath, my lord, is vain and frivolous. Shak.
DEPOSER De*pos"er, n.
1. One who deposes or degrades from office.
2. One who testifies or deposes; a deponent.
DEPOSIT De*pos"it, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depoited; p. pr. & vb. n. Depositing.] Etym: [L. depositus, p. p. of deponere. See Depone, and cf. Deposit, n.]
1. To lay down; to place; to put; to let fall or throw down (as sediment); as, a crocodile deposits her eggs in the sand; the waters deposited a rich alluvium. The fear is deposited in conscience. Jer. Taylor.
2. To lay up or away for safekeeping; to put up; to store; as, to deposit goods in a warehouse.
3. To lodge in some one's hands for sale keeping; to commit to the custody of another; to intrust; esp., to place in a bank, as a sum of money subject to order.
4. To lay aside; to rid one's self of. [Obs.] If what is written prove useful to you, to the depositing that which i can not deem an error. Hammond.
Note: Both this verb and the noun following written deposite.
DEPOSIT De*pos"it, n. Etym: [L. depositum, fr. depositus, p. p. of deponere: cf. F. dépôt, OF. depost. See Deposit, v. t., and cf. Depot.]
1. That is deposited, or laid or thrown down; as, a deposit in a flue; especially, matter precipitated from a solution (as the siliceous deposits of hot springs), or that which is mechanically deposited (as the mud, gravel, etc., deposits of a river). The deposit already formed affording to the succeeding portion of the charged fluid a basis. Kirwan.
2. (Mining)
Defn: A natural occurrence of a useful mineral under the conditions to invite exploitation. Raymond.
3. That which is placed anywhere, or in any one's hands, for safe keeping; somthing intrusted to the care of another; esp., money lodged with a bank or banker, subject to order; anything given as pledge or security.
4. (Law) (a) A bailment of money or goods to be kept gratuitously for the bailor. (b) Money lodged with a party as earnest or security for the performance of a duty assumed by the person depositing.
5. A place of deposit; a depository. [R.] Bank of deposit. See under Bank. -- In deposit, or On deposit, in trust or safe keeping as a deposit; as, coins were recieved on deposit.
DEPOSITARY De*pos"i*ta*ry, n.; pl. Depositaries. Etym: [L. depositarius, fr. deponere. See Deposit.]
1. One with whom anything is lodged in the trust; one who receives a deposit; -- the correlative of depositor. I . . . made you my guardians, my depositaries. Shak. The depositaries of power, who are mere delegates of the people.J.S. Mill.
2. A storehouse; a depository. Bp. Hurd.
3. (Law)
Defn: One to whom goods are bailed, to be kept for the bailor without a recompense. Kent.
DEPOSITION Dep`o*si"tion, n. Etym: [L. depositio, fr. deponere: cf. F. déposition. See Deposit.]
1. The act of depositing or deposing; the act of laying down or thrown down; precipitation. The deposition of rough sand and rolled pebbles. H. Miller.
2. The act of bringing before the mind; presentation. The influence of princes upon the dispositions of their courts needs not the deposition of their examples, since it hath the authority of a known principle. W. Montagu.
3. The act of setting aside a sovereign or a public officer; deprivation of authority and dignity; displacement; removal.
Note: A deposition differs from an abdication, an abdication being voluntary, and a deposition compulsory.
4. That which is deposited; matter laid or thrown down; sediment; alluvial matter; as, banks are sometimes depositions of alluvial matter.
5. An opinion, example, or statement, laid down or asserted; a declaration.
6. (Law)
Defn: The act of laying down one's testimony in writing; also, testimony laid or taken down in writting, under oath or affirmation, befor some competent officer, and in reply to interrogatories and cross-interrogatories.
Syn. -- Deposition, Affidavit. Affidavit is the wider term. It denotes any authorized ex parte written statement of a person, sworn to or affirmed before some competent magistrate. It is made without cross- examination, and requires no notice to an opposing party. It is generally signed by the party making it, and may be drawn up by himself or any other person. A deposition is the written testimony of a witness, taken down in due form of law, and sworn to or affirmed by the deponent. It must be taken before some authorized magistrate, and upon a prescribed or reasonable notice to the opposing party, that may attend and cross-examine. It is generally written down from the mouth of the witness by the magistrate, or some person for him, and in his presence.
DEPOSITOR De*pos"i*tor, n. Etym: [L., fr. deponere. See Depone.]
Defn: One who makes a deposit, especially of money in bank; -- the correlative of depository.
DEPOSITORY De*pos"i*to*ry, n.; pl. Depositories (.
1. A place where anything is deposited for sale or keeping; as, warehouse is a depository for goods; a clerk's office is a depository for records.
2. One with whom something is deposited; a depositary. I am the sole depository of my own secret, and it shall perish with me. Junius.
DEPOSITUM De*pos"i*tum, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Deposit.
DEPOSITURE De*pos"i*ture, n.
Defn: The act of depositing; deposition. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
DEPOT De"pot, n. Etym: [F. dépôt, OF. depost, fr. L. depositum a deposit. See Deposit, n.]
1. A place of deposit storing of goods; a warehouse; a storehouse. The islands of Guernsey and Jersey are at present the great depots of this kingdom. Brit Critic (1794).
2. (Mil.) (a) A military station where stores and provisions are kept, or where recruits are assembled and drilled. (b) (Eng. & France) The headquarters of a regiment, where all supplies are recieved and distributed, recruits are assembled and instructed, infirm or disabled soldiers are taken care of, and all the wants of the regiment are provided for.
3. A railway station; a building for the accommodation and protection of railway passenges or freight. [U. S.]
Syn. -- See Station.
DEPPER Dep"per, a.
Defn: Deeper. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DEPRAVATION Dep`ra*va"tion, n. Etym: [L. depravitio, from depravare: cf. F. dépravation. See Deprave.]
1. Detraction; depreciation. [Obs.] To stubborn critics, apt, without a theme, For depravation. Shak.
2. The act of depraving, or making anything bad; the act of corrupting.
3. The state of being depraved or degenerated; degeneracy; depravity. The depravation of his moral character destroyed his judgment. Sir G. C. Lewis.
4. (Med.)
Defn: Change for the worse; deterioration; morbid perversion.
Syn. -- Depravity; corruption. See Depravity.
DEPRAVE De*prave", n. t. [imp. & p. p. Depraved; p. pr. & vb. n. Depraving.] Etym: [L. depravare, depravatum; de- + pravus crooked, distorted, perverse, wicked.]
1. To speak ill of; to depreciate; to malign; to revile. [Obs.] And thou knowest, conscience, I came not to chide Nor deprave thy person with a proud heart. Piers Plowman.
2. To make bad or worse; to vitiate; to corrupt. Whose pride depraves each other better part. Spenser.
Syn. -- To corrupt; vitiate; contaminate; pollute.
DEPRAVEDLY De*prav"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a depraved manner.
DEPRAVEDNESS De*prav"ed*ness, n.
Defn: Depravity. Hammond.
DEPRAVEMENT De*prave"ment, n.
Defn: Depravity. [Obs.] Milton.
DEPRAVER De*prav"er, n.
Defn: One who deprave or corrupts.
DEPRAVINGLY De*prav"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a depraving manner.
DEPRAVITY De*prav"i*ty, n. Etym: [From Deprave: cf. L. pravitas crookedness, perverseness.]
Defn: The stae of being depraved or corrupted; a vitiated state of moral character; general badness of character; wickedness of mind or heart; absence of religious feeling and principle. Total depravity. See Original sin, and Calvinism.
Syn. -- Corruption; vitiation; wickedness; vice; contamination; degeneracy. -- Depravity, Depravation, Corruption. Depravilty is a vitiated state of mind or feeling; as, the depravity of the human heart; depravity of public morals. Depravation points to the act or process of making depraved, and hence to the end thus reached; as, a gradual depravation of principle; a depravation of manners, of the heart, etc. Corruption is the only one of these words which applies to physical substances, and in reference to these denotes the process by which their component parts are dissolved. Hence, when figuratively used, it denotes an utter vitiation of principle or feeling. Depravity applies only to the mind and heart: we can speak of a depraved taste, or a corrupt taste; in the first we introduce the notion that there has been the influence of bad training to pervert; in the second, that there is a want of true principle to pervert; in the second, that there is a want of true principles to decide. The other two words have a wider use: we can speak of the depravation or the corruption of taste and public sentiment. Depravity is more or less open; corruption is more or less disguised in its operations. What is depraved requires to be reformed; what is corrupt requires to be purified.
DEPRECABLE Dep"re*ca*ble, a. Etym: [L. deprecabilis exorable.]
Defn: That may or should be deprecated. Paley.
DEPRECATE Dep"re*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deprecated; p. pr. & vb. n. Deprecating.] Etym: [L. deprecatus, p. p. of deprecari to avert by player, to deprecate; de- + precari to pray. See Pray.]
Defn: To pray against, as an evil; to seek to avert by player; to desire the removal of; to seek deliverance from; to express deep regret for; to disapprove of strongly. His purpose was deprecated by all round him, and he was with difficulty induced to adandon it. Sir W. Scott.
DEPRECATINGLY Dep"re*ca`tingly, adv.
Defn: In a deprecating manner.
DEPRECATION Dep`re*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. deprecatio; cf. F. déprécation.]
1. The act of deprecating; a praying against evil; prayer that an evil may be removed or prevented; strong expression of disapprobation. Humble deprecation. Milton.
2. Entreaty for pardon; petitioning.
3. An imprecation or curse. [Obs.] Gilpin.
DEPRECATIVE Dep"re*ca*tive, a. Etym: [L. deprecativus: cf. F. déprécatif.]
Defn: Serving to deprecate; deprecatory. -- Dep"re*ca*tive*ly, adv.
DEPRECATOR Dep"re*ca`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who deprecates.
DEPRECATORY Dep"re*ca*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. deprecatorius.]
Defn: Serving to deprecate; tending to remove or avert evil by prayer; apologetic. Humble and deprecatory letters. Bacon.
DEPRECIATE De*pre"ci*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depreciated; p. pr. & vb. n. Depreciating.] Etym: [L. depretiatus, depreciatus, p. p. of depretiare, -ciare, to depreciate; de- + pretiare to prize, fr. pretium price. See Price.]
Defn: To lessen in price or estimated value; to lower the worth of; to represent as of little value or claim to esteem; to undervalue. Addison. Which . . . some over-severe phoilosophers may look upon fastidiously, or undervalue and depreciate. Cudworth. To prove that the Americans ought not to be free, we are obliged to depreciate the value of freedom itself. Burke.
Syn. -- To decry; disparage; traduce; lower; detract; underrate. See Decry.
DEPRECIATE De*pre"ci*ate, v. i.
Defn: To fall in value; to become of less worth; to sink in estimation; as, a paper currency will depreciate, unless it is convertible into specie.
DEPRECIATION De*pre`ci*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dépréciation.]
1. The act of lessening, or seeking to lessen, price, value, or reputation.
2. The falling of value; reduction of worth. Burke.
3. the state of being depreciated.
DEPRECIATIVE De*pre"ci*a`tive, a.
Defn: Tending, or intended, to depreciate; expressing depreciation; undervaluing. -- De*pre"ci*a`tive*ly, adv.
DEPRECIATOR De*pre"ci*a`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who depreciates.
DEPRECIATORY De*pre"ci*a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Tending to depreciate; undervaluing; depreciative.
DEPREDABLE Dep"re*da*ble, a.
Defn: Liable to depredation. [Obs.] "Made less depredable." Bacon.
DEPREDATE Dep"re*date, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depredated; p. pr. & vb. n. Depredating.] Etym: [L. depraedatus, p. p. of depraedari to plunder; de- + praedari to plunder, praeda plunder, prey. See Prey.]
Defn: To subject to plunder and pillage; to despoil; to lay waste; to prey upon. It makes the substance of the body . . . less apt to be consumed and depredated by the spirits. Bacon.
DEPREDATE Dep"re*date, v. i.
Defn: To take plunder or prey; to commit waste; as, the troops depredated on the country.
DEPREDATION Dep`re*da"tion, n. Etym: [L. depraedatio: cf. F. déprédation.]
Defn: The act of depredating, or the state of being depredated; the act of despoiling or making inroads; as, the sea often makes depredation on the land.
DEPREDATOR Dep"re*da`tor, n. Etym: [L. depraedator.]
Defn: One who plunders or pillages; a spoiler; a robber.
DEPREDATORY Dep"re*da`to*ry, a.
Defn: Tending or designed to depredate; characterized by depredation; plundering; as, a depredatory incursion.
DEPREDICATE De*pred"i*cate, v. t. Etym: [Pref. de- (intensive) + predicate.]
Defn: To proclaim; to celebrate. [R.]
DEPREHEND Dep`re*hend", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deprehended; p. pr. & vb. n. Deprehending.] Etym: [L. deprehendere, deprehensum; de- + prehendere to lay hold of, seize. See Prehensile.]
1. To take unwares or by surprise; to seize, as a person commiting an unlawful act; to catch; to apprehend. The deprehended adulteress.Jer. Taylor.
2. To detect; to discover; to find out. The motion . . . are to be deprehended by experience. Bacon.
DEPREHENSIBLE Dep`re*hen"si*ble, a.
Defn: That may be caught or discovered; apprehensible. [Obs.] Petty. -- Dep`re*hen"si*ble*ness, n. [Obs.]
DEPREHENSION Dep`re*hen"sion, n. Etym: [L. deprehensio.]
Defn: A catching; discovery. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
DEPRESS De*press", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depressed; p. pr. & vb. n. Depressing.] Etym: [L. depressus, p. p. of deprimere; de- + premere to press. See Press.]
1. To press down; to cause to sink; to let fall; to lower; as, to depress the muzzle of a gun; to depress the eyes. "With lips depressed." Tennyson.
2. To bring down or humble; to abase, as pride.
3. To cast a gloom upon; to sadden; as, his spirits were depressed.
4. To lessen the activity of; to make dull; embarrass, as trade, commerce, etc.
5. To lessen in price; to cause to decline in value; to cheapen; to depreciate.
6. (Math.)
Defn: To reduce (an equation) in a lower degree. To depress the pole (Naut.), to cause the sidereal pole to appear lower or nearer the horizon, as by sailing toward the equator.
Syn. -- To sink; lower; abase; cast down; deject; humble; degrade; dispirit; discourage.
DEPRESS De*press", a. Etym: [L. depressus, p. p.]
Defn: Having the middle lower than the border; concave. [Obs.] If the seal be depress or hollow. Hammond.
DEPRESSANT De*press"ant, n. (Med.)
Defn: An agent or remedy which lowers the vital powers.
DEPRESSED De*pressed", a.
1. Pressed or forced down; lowed; sunk; dejected; dispirited; sad; humbled.
2. (Bot.) (a) Concave on the upper side; -- said of a leaf whose disk is lower than the border. (b) Lying flat; -- said of a stem or leaf which lies close to the ground.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the vertical diameter shorter than the horizontal or transverse; -- said of the bodies of animals, or of parts of the bodies.
DEPRESSINGLY De*press"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a depressing manner.
DEPRESSION De*pres"sion, n. Etym: [L. depressio: cf. F. dépression.]
1. The act of depressing.
2. The state of being depressed; a sinking.
3. A falling in of the surface; a sinking below its true place; a cavity or hollow; as, roughness consists in little protuberances and depressions.
4. Humiliation; abasement, as of pride.
5. Dejection; despondency; lowness. In a great depression of spirit. Baker.
6. Diminution, as of trade, etc.; inactivity; dullness.
7. (Astron.)
Defn: The angular distance of a celestial object below the horizon.
8. (Math.)
Defn: The operation of reducing to a lower degree; -- said of equations.
9. (Surg.)
Defn: A method of operating for cataract; couching. See Couch, v. t., 8. Angle of depression (Geod.), one which a descending line makes with a horizontal plane. -- Depression of the dewpoint (Meteor.), the number of degreees that the dew-point is lower than the actual temperature of the atmosphere. -- Depression of the pole, its apparent sinking, as the spectator goes toward the equator. -- Depression of the visible horizon. (Astron.) Same as Dip of the horizon, under Dip.
Syn. -- Abasement; reduction; sinking; fall; humiliation; dejection; melancholy.
DEPRESSIVE De*press"ive, a.
Defn: Able or tending to depress or cast down. -- De*press"ive*ness, n.
DEPRESSOMOTOR De*pres`so*mo"tor, a. (Med.)
Defn: Depressing or diminishing the capacity for movement, as depressomotor nerves, which lower or inhibit muscular activity. -- n.
Defn: Any agent that depresses the activity of the motor centers, as bromides, etc.
DEPRESSOR De*press"or, n.
1. One who, or that which, presses down; an oppressor.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: A muscle that depresses or tends to draw down a part. Depressor nerve (Physiol.), a nerve which lowers the activity of an organ; as, the depressor nerve of the heart.
DEPRIMENT Dep"ri*ment, a. Etym: [L. deprimens, p. pr. of deprimere. See Depress.]
Defn: Serving to depress. [R.] "Depriment muscles." Derham.
DEPRISURE De*pri"sure, n. Etym: [F. dépriser to undervalue; pref. dé- (L. dis-) + priser to prize, fr. prix price, fr. L. pretium. See Dispraise.]
Defn: Low estimation; disesteem; contempt. [Obs.]
DEPRIVABLE De*priv"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being, or liable to be, deprived; liable to be deposed. Kings of Spain . . . deprivable for their tyrannies. Prynne.
DEPRIVATION Dep`ri*va"tion, n. Etym: [LL. deprivatio.]
1. The act of depriving, dispossessing, or bereaving; the act of deposing or divesting of some dignity.
2. The state of being deprived; privation; loss; want; bereavement.
3. (Eccl. Law)
Defn: the taking away from a clergyman his benefice, or other spiritual promotion or dignity.
Note: Deprivation may be a beneficio or ab officio; the first takes away the living, the last degrades and deposes from the order.
DEPRIVE De*prive", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deprived; p. pr. & vb. n. Depriving.] Etym: [LL. deprivare, deprivatium, to divest of office; L. de- + privare to bereave, deprive: cf. OF. depriver. See Private.]
1. To take away; to put an end; to destroy. [Obs.] 'Tis honor to deprive dishonored life. Shak.
2. To dispossess; to bereave; to divest; to hinder from possessing; to debar; to shut out from; -- with a remoter object, usually preceded by of. God hath deprived her of wisdom. Job xxxix. 17. It was seldom that anger deprived him of power over himself. Macaulay.
3. To divest of office; to depose; to dispossess of dignity, especially ecclesiastical. A miniser deprived for inconformity. Bacon.
Syn. -- To strip; despoil; rob; abridge.
DEPRIVEMENT De*prive"ment, n.
Defn: Deprivation. [R.]
DEPRIVER De*priv"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, deprives.
DEPROSTRATE De*pros"trate, a.
Defn: Fully prostrate; humble; low; rude. [Obs.] How may weak mortal ever hope to file His unsmooth tongue, and his deprostrate style. G. Fletcher.
DEPROVINCIALIZE De`pro*vin"cial*ize, v. t.
Defn: To divest of provincial quality or characteristics.
DEPTH Depth, n. Etym: [From Deep; akin to D. diepte, Icel. d, d, Goth. diupi.]
1. The quality of being deep; deepness; perpendicular measurement downward from the surface,or horizontal measurement backward from the front; as, the depth of a river; the depth of a body of troops.
2. Profoundness; extent or degree of intensity; abundance; completeness; as, depth of knowledge, or color. Mindful of that heavenly love Which knows no end in depth or height. Keble.
3. Lowness; as, depth of sound.
4. That which is deep; a deep, or the deepest, part or place; the deep; the middle part; as, the depth of night, or of winter. From you unclouded depth above. Keble. The depth closed me round about. Jonah ii. 5.
5. (Logic)
Defn: The number of simple elements which an abstract conception or notion includes; the comprehension or content.
6. (Horology)
Defn: A pair of toothed wheels which work together. [R.]
Depth of a sail (Naut.), the extent of a square sail from the head rope to the foot rope; the length of the after leach of a staysail or boom sail; -- commonly called the drop of sail.
DEPTHEN Depth"en, v. t.
Defn: To deepen. [Obs.]
DEPTHLESS Depth"less, a.
1. Having no depth; shallow.
2. Of measureless depth; unfathomable. In clouds of depthless night. Francis.
DEPUCELATE De*pu"ce*late, v. t. Etym: [L. de + LL. pucella virgin, F. pucelle: cf. F. dépuceler.]
Defn: To deflour; to deprive of virginity. [Obs.] Bailey.
DEPUDICATE De*pu"di*cate, v. t. Etym: [L. depudicatus, p. p. of depudicare.]
Defn: To deflour; to dishonor. [Obs.]
DEPULSE De*pulse", v. t. Etym: [L. depulsus, p. p. of depellere to drive out; de- + pellere to drive.]
Defn: To drive away. [Obs.] Cockeram.
DEPULSION De*pul"sion, n. Etym: [L. depulsio.]
Defn: A driving or thrusting away. [R.] Speed.
DEPULSORY De*pul"so*ry, a. Etym: [L. depulsorius.]
Defn: Driving or thrusting away; averting. [R.] Holland.
DEPURANT Dep"u*rant, a. & n. (Med.)
Defn: Depurative.
DEPURATE Dep"u*rate, a. Etym: [LL. depuratus, p. p. of depurare to purify; L. de- + purare to purify, purus clean, pure. Cf. Depure.]
Defn: Depurated; cleansed; freed from impurities. Boyle.
DEPURATE Dep"u*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depurated; p. pr. & vb. n. Depurating.]
Defn: To free from impurities, heterogeneous matter, or feculence; to purify; to cleanse. To depurate the mass of blood. Boyle.
DEPURATION Dep`u*ra"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dépuration.]
Defn: The act or process of depurating or freeing from foreign or impure matter, as a liquid or wound.
DEPURATIVE Dep"u*ra*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. dépuratif.] (Med.)
Defn: Purifying the blood or the humors; depuratory. -- n.
Defn: A depurative remedy or agent; or a disease which is believed to be depurative.
DEPURATOR Dep"u*ra`tor, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, cleanses.
DEPURATORY Dep"u*ra*to*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. dépuratoire.]
Defn: Depurating; tending to depurate or cleanse; depurative.
DEPURE De*pure", v. t. Etym: [F. dépurer. See Depurate.]
Defn: To depurate; to purify. [Obs.] He shall first be depured and cleansed before that he shall be laid up for pure gold in the treasures of God. Sir T. More.
DEPURGATORY De*pur"ga*to*ry, a.
Defn: Serving to purge; tending to cleanse or purify. [Obs.] Cotgrave.
DEPURITION Dep`u*ri"tion, n.
Defn: See Depuration.
DEPUTABLE Dep"u*ta*ble, a.
Defn: Fit to be deputed; suitable to act as a deputy. Carlyle.
DEPUTATION Dep`u*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. députation. See Depute.]
1. The act of deputing, or of appointing or commissioning a deputy or representative; office of a deputy or delegate; vicegerency. The authority of conscience stands founded upon its vicegerency and deputation under God. South.
2. The person or persons deputed or commissioned by another person, party, or public body to act in his or its behalf; delegation; as, the general sent a deputation to the enemy to propose a truce. By deputation, or In deputation, by delegated authority; as substitute; through the medium of a deputy. [Obs.] Say to great Cæsar this: In deputation I kiss his conquering hand. Shak.
DEPUTATOR Dep"u*ta`tor, n.
Defn: One who deputes, or makes a deputation. [R.] Locke.
DEPUTE De*pute", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deputed; p. pr. & vb. n. Deputing.] Etym: [F. députer, fr. L. deputare to esteem, consider, in LL., to destine, allot; de- + putare to clean, prune, clear up, set in order, reckon, think. See Pure.]
1. To appoint as deputy or agent; to commission to act in one's place; to delegate. There is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. 2. Sam. xv. 3. Some persons, deputed by a meeting. Macaulay.
2. To appoint; to assign; to choose. [R.] The most conspicuous places in cities are usually deputed for the erection of statues. Barrow.
DEPUTE De*pute", n.
Defn: A person deputed; a deputy. [Scot.]
DEPUTIZE Dep"u*tize, v. t.
Defn: To appoint as one's deputy; to empower to act in one's stead; to depute.
DEPUTY Dep"u*ty, n.; pl. Deputies. Etym: [F. député, fr. LL. deputatus. See Depute.]
1. One appointed as the substitue of another, and empowered to act for him, in his name or his behalf; a substitute in office; a lieutenant; a representative; a delegate; a vicegerent; as, the deputy of a prince, of a sheriff, of a township, etc. There was then [in the days of Jehoshaphat] no king in Edom; a deputy was king. 1 Kings xxii. 47. God's substitute, His deputy anointed in His sight. Shak.
Note: Deputy is used in combination with the names of various executive officers, to denote an assistant empowered to act in their name; as, deputy collector, deputy marshal, deputy sheriff.
2. A member of the Chamber of Deputies. [France] Chamber of Deputies, one of the two branches of the French legilative assembly; -- formerly called Corps Législatif. Its members, called deputies, are elected by the people voting in districts.
Syn. -- Substitute; representative; legate; delegate; envoy; agent; factor.
DEQUANTITATE De*quan"ti*tate, v. t. Etym: [L. de- + quantatas, -atis. See Quantity.]
Defn: To diminish the quantity of; to disquantity. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
DEQUEEN De*queen", v. t. (Apiculture)
Defn: To remove the queen from (a hive of bees).
DERACINATE De*rac"i*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deracinated; p. pr. & vb. n. Deracinating.] Etym: [F. déraciner; pref. dé- (L. dis) + racine root, fr. an assumed LL. radicina, fr. L. radix, radicis, root.]
Defn: To pluck up by the roots; to extirpate. [R.] While that the colter rusts That should deracinate such savagery. Shak.
DERACINATION De*rac`i*na"tion, n.
Defn: The act of pulling up by the roots; eradication. [R.]
DERAIGN; DERAIN De*raign", De*rain", v. t. Etym: [See Darraign.] (Old Law)
Defn: To prove or to refute by proof; to clear (one's self). [Obs.]
DERAIGNMENT; DERAINMENT De*raign"ment, De*rain"ment, n. Etym: [See Darraign.]
1. The act of deraigning. [Obs.]
2. The renunciation of religious or monastic vows. [Obs.] Blount.
DERAIL De*rail", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Derailed; p. pr. & vb. n. Derailing.]
Defn: To cause to run off from the rails of a railroad, as a locomotive. Lardner.
DERAILMENT De*rail"ment, n.
Defn: The act of going off, or the state of being off, the rails of a railroad.
DERANGE De*range", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deranged; p. pr. & vb. n. Deranging.] Etym: [F. déranger; pref. dé- = dés- (L. dis) + ranger to range. See Range, and cf. Disarrange, Disrank.]
1. To put out of place, order, or rank; to disturb the proper arrangement or order of; to throw into disorder, confusion, or embarrassment; to disorder; to disarrange; as, to derange the plans of a commander, or the affairs of a nation.
2. To disturb in action or function, as a part or organ, or the whole of a machine or organism. A sudden fall deranges some of our internal parts. Blair.
3. To disturb in the orderly or normal action of the intellect; to render insane.
Syn. -- To disorder; disarrange; displace; unsettle; disturb; confuse; discompose; ruffle; disconcert.
DERANGED De*ranged", a.
Defn: Disordered; especially, disordered in mind; crazy; insane. The story of a poor deranged parish lad. Lamb.
DERANGEMENT De*range"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dérangement.]
Defn: The act of deranging or putting out of order, or the state of being deranged; disarrangement; disorder; confusion; especially, mental disorder; insanity.
Syn. -- Disorder; confusion; embarrassment; irregularity; disturbance; insanity; lunacy; madness; delirium; mania. See Insanity.
DERANGER De*ran"ger, n.
Defn: One who deranges.
DERAY De*ray", n. Etym: [OF. derroi, desroi, desrei; pref. des- (L. dis-) + roi, rei, rai, order. See Array.]
Defn: Disorder; merriment. [Obs.]
DERBIO Der"bi*o, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large European food fish (Lichia glauca).
DERBY Der"by (; usually in Eng.; 85), n.
1. A race for three-old horses, run annually at Epsom (near London), for the Derby stakes. It was instituted by the 12th Earl of Derby, in 1780. Derby Day, the day of the annual race for the Derby stakes, -- Wednesday of the week before Whitsuntide.
2. A stiff felt hat with a dome-shaped crown.
DERBYSHIRE SPAR Der"by*shire spar". (Min.)
Defn: A massive variety of fluor spar, found in Derbyshire, England, and wrought into vases and other ornamental work.
DERDOING Der*do"ing, a. Etym: [See Dere, v. t.]
Defn: Doing daring or chivalrous deeds. [Obs.] "In derdoing arms." Spenser.
DERE Dere, v. t. Etym: [AS. derian to hurt.]
Defn: To hurt; to harm; to injure. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DERE Dere, n.
Defn: Harm. [Obs.] Robert of Brunne.
DERECHO De*re"cho, n. [Sp. derecho straight.]
Defn: A straight wind without apparent cyclonic tendency, usually accompanied with rain and often destructive, common in the prairie regions of the United States.
DEREINE; DEREYNE De*reine, De*reyne", v. t.
Defn: Same as Darraign. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DERELICT Der"e*lict, a. Etym: [L. derelictus, p. p. of derelinquere to forsake wholly, to abandon; de- + relinquere to leave. See Relinquish.]
1. Given up or forsaken by the natural owner or guardian; left and abandoned; as, derelict lands. The affections which these exposed or derelict children bear to their mothers, have no grounds of nature or assiduity but civility and opinion. Jer. Taylor.
2. Lost; adrift; hence, wanting; careless; neglectful; unfaithful. They easily prevailed, so as to seize upon the vacant, unoccupied, and derelict minds of his [Chatham's] friends; and instantly they turned the vessel wholly out of the course of his policy. Burke. A government which is either unable or unwilling to redress such wrongs is derelict to its highest duties. J. Buchanan.
DERELICT Der"e*lict, n. (Law) (a) A thing voluntary abandoned or willfully cast away by its proper owner, especially a ship abandoned at sea. (b) A tract of land left dry by the sea, and fit for cultivation or use.
DERELICTION Der`e*lic"tion, n. Etym: [L. derelictio.]
1. The act of leaving with an intention not to reclaim or resume; an utter forsaking abandonment. Cession or dereliction, actual or tacit, of other powers. Burke.
2. A neglect or omission as if by willful abandonment. A total dereliction of military duties. Sir W. Scott.
3. The state of being left or abandoned.
4. (Law)
Defn: A retiring of the sea, occasioning a change of high-water mark, whereby land is gained.
DERELIGIONIZE De`re*li"gion*ize, v. t.
Defn: To make irreligious; to turn from religion. [R.] He would dereligionize men beyond all others. De Quincey.
DERELING Dere"ling, n.
Defn: Darling. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DERELING Dere"ling, n.
Defn: Darling. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DERF Derf, a. Etym: [Icel. djafr.]
Defn: Strong; powerful; fierce. [Obs.] -- Derf"ly, adv. [Obs.]
DERIDE De*ride", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Derided; p. pr. & vb. n. Deriding.] Etym: [L. deridere, derisum; de- + rid to laugh. See Ridicule.]
Defn: To laugh at with contempt; to laugh to scorn; to turn to ridicule or make sport of; to mock; to scoff at. And the Pharisees, also, . . . derided him. Luke xvi. 14. Sport that wrinkled Care derides. And Laughter holding both his sides. Milton.
Syn. -- To mock; laugh at; ridicule; insult; taunt; jeer; banter; rally. -- To Deride, Ridicule, Mock, Taunt. A man may ridicule without any unkindness of feeling; his object may be to correct; as, to ridicule the follies of the age. He who derides is actuated by a severe a contemptuous spirit; as, to deride one for his religious principles. To mock is stronger, and denotes open and scornful derision; as, to mock at sin. To taunt is to reproach with the keenest insult; as, to taunt one for his misfortunes. Ridicule consists more in words than in actions; derision and mockery evince themselves in actions as well as words; taunts are always expressed in words of extreme bitterness.
DERIDER De*rid"er, n.
Defn: One who derides, or laughs at, another in contempt; a mocker; a scoffer.
DERIDINGLY De*rid"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: By way of derision or mockery.
DE RIGUEUR De ri`gueur". [F. See 2d Rigor.]
Defn: According to strictness (of etiquette, rule, or the like); obligatory; strictly required.
DERISION De*ri"sion, n. Etym: [L. derisio: cf. F. dérision. See Deride.]
1. The act of deriding, or the state of being derided; mockery; scornful or contemptuous treatment which holds one up to ridicule. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision. Ps. ii. 4. Saderision called. Milton.
2. An object of derision or scorn; a laughing-stock. I was a derision to all my people. Lam. iii. 14.
Syn. -- Scorn; mockery; contempt; insult; ridicule.
DERISIVE De*ri"sive, a.
Defn: Expressing, serving for, or characterized by, derision. "Derisive taunts." Pope. -- De*ri"sive*ly, adv. -- De*ri"sive*ness, n.
DERISORY De*ri"so*ry, a. Etym: [L. derisorius: cf. F. dérisoire.]
Defn: Derisive; mocking. Shaftesbury.
DERIVABLE De*riv"a*ble, a. Etym: [From Derive.]
Defn: That can be derived; obtainable by transmission; capable of being known by inference, as from premises or data; capable of being traced, as from a radical; as, income is derivable from various sources. All honor derivable upon me. South. The exquisite pleasure derivable from the true and beautiful relations of domestic life. H. G. Bell. The argument derivable from the doxologies. J. H. Newman.
DERIVABLY De*riv"a*bly, adv.
Defn: By derivation.
DERIVAL De*riv"al, n.
Defn: Derivation. [R.] The derival of e from a. Earle.
DERIVATE Der"i*vate, a. Etym: [L. derivatus, p. p. of derivare. See Derive.]
Defn: Derived; derivative. [R.] H. Taylor. -- n.
Defn: A thing derived; a derivative. [R.]
DERIVATE Der"i*vate, v. t.
Defn: To derive. [Obs.] Huloet.
DERIVATION Der`i*va"tion, n. Etym: [L. derivatio: cf. F. dérivation. See Derive.]
1. A leading or drawing off of water from a stream or source. [Obs.] T. Burnet.
2. The act of receiving anything from a source; the act of procuring an effect from a cause, means, or condition, as profits from capital, conclusions or opinions from evidence. As touching traditional communication, . . . I do not doubt but many of those truths have had the help of that derivation. Sir M. Hale.
3. The act of tracing origin or descent, as in grammar or genealogy; as, the derivation of a word from an Aryan root.
4. The state or method of being derived; the relation of origin when established or asserted.
5. That from which a thing is derived.
6. That which is derived; a derivative; a deduction. From the Euphrates into an artificial derivation of that river. Gibbon.
7. (Math.)
Defn: The operation of deducing one function from another according to some fixed law, called the law of derivation, as the of differentiation or of integration.
8. (Med.)
Defn: A drawing of humors or fluids from one part of the body to another, to relieve or lessen a morbid process.
DERIVATIONAL Der`i*va"tion*al, a.
Defn: Relating to derivation. Earle.
DERIVATIVE De*riv"a*tive, a. Etym: [L. derivativus: cf. F. dérivatif.]
Defn: Obtained by derivation; derived; not radical, original, or fundamental; originating, deduced, or formed from something else; secondary; as, a derivative conveyance; a derivative word. Derivative circulation, a modification of the circulation found in some parts of the body, in which the arteries empty directly into the veins without the interposition of capillaries. Flint. -- De*riv"a*tive*ly, adv. -- De*riv"a*tive*ness, n.
DERIVATIVE De*riv"a*tive, n.
1. That which is derived; anything obtained or deduced from another.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: A word formed from another word, by a prefix or suffix, an internal modification, or some other change; a word which takes its origin from a root.
3. (Mus.)
Defn: A chord, not fundamental, but obtained from another by inversion; or, vice versa, a ground tone or root implied in its harmonics in an actual chord.
4. (Med.)
Defn: An agent which is adapted to produce a derivation (in the medical sense).
5. (Math.)
Defn: A derived function; a function obtained from a given function by a certain algebraic process.
Note: Except in the mode of derivation the derivative is the same as the differential coefficient. See Differential coefficient, under Differential.
6. (Chem.)
Defn: A substance so related to another substance by modification or partial substitution as to be regarded as derived from it; thus, the amido compounds are derivatives of ammonia, and the hydrocarbons are derivatives of methane, benzene, etc.
DERIVE De*rive", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Derived; p. pr. & vb. n. Deriving.] Etym: [F. dériver, L. derivare; de- + rivus stream, brook. See Rival.]
1. To turn the course of, as water; to divert and distribute into subordinate channels; to diffuse; to communicate; to transmit; -- followed by to, into, on, upon. [Obs.] For fear it [water] choke up the pits . . . they [the workman] derive it by other drains. Holland. Her due loves derived to that vile witch's share. Spenser. Derived to us by tradition from Adam to Noah. Jer. Taylor.
2. To receive, as from a source or origin; to obtain by descent or by transmission; to draw; to deduce; -- followed by from.
3. To trace the origin, descent, or derivation of; to recognize transmission of; as, he derives this word from the Anglo-Saxon. From these two causes . . . an ancient set of physicians derived all diseases. Arbuthnot.
4. (Chem.)
Defn: To obtain one substance from another by actual or theoretical substitution; as, to derive an organic acid from its corresponding hydrocarbon.
Syn. -- To trace; deduce; infer.
DERIVE De*rive", v. i.
Defn: To flow; to have origin; to descend; to proceed; to be deduced. Shak. Power from heaven Derives, and monarchs rule by gods appointed. Prior.
DERIVEMENT De*rive"ment, n.
Defn: That which is derived; deduction; inference. [Obs.] I offer these derivements from these subjects. W. Montagu.
DERIVER De*riv"er, n.
Defn: One who derives.
DERK Derk, a.
Defn: Dark. [Obs.] Chaucer.
-DERM -derm. Etym: [See Derm, n.]
Defn: A suffix or terminal formative, much used in anatomical terms, and signifying skin, integument, covering; as, blastoderm, ectoderm, etc.
DERM Derm, n. Etym: [Gr. derme. See Tear, v. t.]
1. The integument of animal; the skin.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: See Dermis.
DERMA Der"ma, n. Etym: [NL. See Derm.] (Anat.)
Defn: See Dermis.
DERMAL Derm"al, a. Etym: [From Derm.]
1. Pertaining to the integument or skin of animals; dermic; as, the dermal secretions.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the dermis or true skin.
DERMAPTERA; DERMAPTERAN Der*map"te*ra, Der*map"ter*an (, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Dermoptera, Dermopteran.
DERMATIC; DERMATINE Der*mat"ic, Der"ma*tine, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the skin.
DERMATITIS Der`ma*ti"tis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -itis.] (Med.)
Defn: Inflammation of the skin.
DERMATOGEN Der*mat"o*gen, n. Etym: [Gr. -gen.] (Bot.)
Defn: Nascent epidermis, or external cuticle of plants in a forming condition.
DERMATOGEN Der*mat"o*gen, n. Etym: [Gr. -gen.] (Bot.)
Defn: Nascent epidermis, or external cuticle of plants in a forming condition.
DERMATOGRAPHY Der*ma*tog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy.]
Defn: An anatomical description of, or treatise on, the skin.
DERMATOID Der"ma*toid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid: cf. F. dermatoïde. Cf. Dermoid.]
Defn: Resembling
DERMATOLOGIST Der`ma*tol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One who discourses on the skin and its diseases; one versed in dermatology.
DERMATOLOGY Der`ma*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy: cf. F. dermatologie.]
Defn: The science which treats of the skin, its structure, functions, and diseases.
DERMATOPATHIC Der`ma*to*path"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to skin diseases, or their cure.
DERMATOPHYTE Der*mat"o*phyte, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A vegetable parasite, infesting the skin.
DERMESTES Der*mes"tes, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of coleopterous insects, the larvæ of which feed animal substances. They are very destructive to dries meats, skins, woolens, and furs. The most common species is D. lardarius, known as the bacon beetle.
DERMESTOID Der*mes"toid, a. Etym: [Dermestes + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to or resembling the genus Dermestes. The carpet beetle, called the buffalo moth, is a dermestoid beetle. Pop. Sci. Monthly.
DERMIC Der"mic, a.
1. Relating to the derm or skin.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the dermis; dermal. Underneath each nail the deep or dermic layer of the integument is peculiarly modified. Huxley. Dermic remedies (Med.), such as act through the skin.
DERMIS Der"mis, n. Etym: [NL. See Derm.] (Anat.)
Defn: The deep sensitive layer of the skin beneath the scarfskin or epidermis; -- called also true skin, derm, derma, corium, cutis, and enderon. See Skin, and Illust. in Appendix.
DERMOBRANCHIATA Der`mo*bran`chi*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of nudibranch mollusks without special gills.
DERMOBRANCHIATE Der`mo*bran"chi*ate, a. Etym: [Derm + branchiate.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the skin modified to serve as a gill.
DERMOHAEMAL Der`mo*hæ"mal, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or in relation with, both dermal and hæmal structures; as, the dermohæmal spines or ventral fin rays of fishes.
DERMOID Der"moid, a. Etym: [Derm + -oid: cf. F. dermoïde.]
Defn: Same as Dermatoid. Dermoid cyst (Med.), a cyst containing skin, or structures connected with skin, such as hair.
DERMONEURAL Der`mo*neu"ral, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or in relation with, both dermal and neural structures; as, the dermoneural spines or dorsal fin rays of fishes. Owen.
DERMOPATHIC Der`mo*path"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Dermatopathic.
DERMOPHYTE Der"mo*phyte, n.
Defn: A dermatophyte.
DERMOPTERA Der*mop"te*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The division of insects which includes the earwigs (Forticulidæ).
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of lemuroid mammals having a parachutelike web of skin between the fore and hind legs, of which the colugo (Galeopithecus) is the type. See Colugo.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of Mammalia; the Cheiroptera. [Written also Dermaptera, and Dermatoptera.]
DERMOPTERAN Der*mop"ter*an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An insect which has the anterior pair of wings coriaceous, and does not use them in flight, as the earwig.
DERMOPTERI Der*mop"te*ri, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Dermopterygii.
DERMOPTERYGII Der*mop`te*ryg"i*i, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of fishlike animals including the Marsipobranchiata and Leptocardia.
DERMOSKELETON Der`mo*skel"e*ton, n. Etym: [Derm + skeleton.] (Anat.)
Defn: See Exoskeleton.
DERMOSTOSIS Der`mos*to"sis, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: Ossification of the dermis.
DERN Dern, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: A gatepost or doorpost. [Local Eng.] C. Kingsley.
DERN Dern, a. Etym: [See Dearn, a.]
1. Hidden; concealed; secret. [Obs.] "Ye must be full dern." Chaucer.
2. Solitary; sad. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
DERNE Derne, v. t. & i. Etym: [AS. dyrnan to hide. See Dern, a., Dearn, a.]
Defn: To hide; to skulk. [Scot.] He at length escaped them by derning himself in a foxearth. H. Miller.
DERNFUL Dern"ful, a.
Defn: Secret; hence, lonely; sad; mournful. [Obs.] "Dernful noise." Spenser.
DERNIER Der`nier", a. Etym: [F., from OF. darrein, derrain. See Darrein.]
Defn: Last; final. Dernier ressort ( Etym: [F.], last resort or expedient.
DERNLY Dern"ly, adv.
Defn: Secretly; grievously; mournfully. [Obs.] Spenser.
DEROGANT Der"o*gant, a. Etym: [L. derogans, p. pr.]
Defn: Derogatory. [R.] T. Adams.
DEROGATE Der"o*gate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Derogated; p. pr. & vb. n. Derogating.] Etym: [L. derogatus, p. p. of derogare to derogate; de- + rogare to ask, to ask the people about a law. See Rogation.]
1. To annul in part; to repeal partly; to restrict; to limit the action of; -- said of a law. By several contrary customs, . . . many of the civil and canon laws are controlled and derogated. Sir M. Hale.
2. To lessen; to detract from; to disparage; to depreciate; -- said of a person or thing. [R.] Anything . . . that should derogate, minish, or hurt his glory and his name. Sir T. More.
DEROGATE Der"o*gate, v. i.
1. To take away; to detract; to withdraw; -- usually with from. If we did derogate from them whom their industry hath made great. Hooker. It derogates little from his fortitude, while it adds infinitely to the honor of his humanity. Burke.
2. To act beneath one-s rank, place, birth, or character; to degenerate. [R.] You are a fool granted; therefore your issues, being foolish, do not derogate. Shak. Would Charles X. derogate from his ancestors Would he be the degenerate scion of that royal line Hazlitt.
DEROGATE Der"o*gate, n. Etym: [L. derogatus, p. p.]
Defn: Diminished in value; dishonored; degraded. [R.] Shak.
DEROGATELY Der"o*gate*ly, adv.
Defn: In a derogatory manner.
DEROGATION Der`o*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. derogatio: cf. F. dérogation.]
1. The act of derogating, partly repealing, or lessening in value; disparagement; detraction; depreciation; -- followed by of, from, or to. I hope it is no derogation to the Christian religion. Locke. He counted it no derogation of his manhood to be seen to weep. F. W. Robertson.
2. (Stock Exch.)
Defn: An alteration of, or subtraction from, a contract for a sale of stocks.
DEROGATIVE De*rog"a*tive, a.
Defn: Derogatory. -- De*rog"a*tive*ly, adv. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
DEROGATOR Der"o*ga`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A detractor.
DEROGATORILY De*rog"a*to*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In a derogatory manner; disparagingly. Aubrey.
DEROGATORINESS De*rog"a*to*ri*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being derogatory.
DEROGATORY De*rog"a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Tending to derogate, or lessen in value; expressing derogation; detracting; injurious; -- with from to, or unto. Acts of Parliament derogatory from the power of subsequent Parliaments bind not. Blackstone. His language was severely censured by some of his brother peers as derogatory to their other. Macaulay. Derogatory clause in a testament (Law), a sentence of secret character inserted by the testator alone, of which he reserves the knowledge to himself, with a condition that no will he may make thereafter shall be valid, unless this clause is inserted word for word; -- a precaution to guard against later wills extorted by violence, or obtained by suggestion.
DEROTREMATA Der`o*tre"ma*ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The tribe of aquatic Amphibia which includes Amphiuma, Menopoma, etc. They have permanent gill openings, but no external gills; -- called also Cryptobranchiata. [Written also Derotrema.]
DERRE Der"re, a.
Defn: Dearer. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DERRICK Der"rick, n. Etym: [Orig., a gallows, from a hangman named Derrick. The name is of Dutch origin; D. Diederik, Dierryk, prop. meaning, chief of the people; cf. AS. peódric, E. Theodoric, G. Dietrich. See Dutch, and Rich.]
Defn: A mast, spar, or tall frame, supported at the top by stays or guys, with suitable tackle for hoisting heavy weights, as stones in building. Derrick crane, a combination of the derrick and the crane, having facility for hoisting and also for swinging the load horizontally.
DERRING Der"ring, a.
Defn: Daring or warlike. [Obs.] Drad for his derring doe and bloody deed. Spenser.
DERRINGER Der"rin*ger, n. Etym: [From the American inventor.]
Defn: A kind of short-barreled pocket pistol, of very large caliber, often carrying a half-ounce ball.
DERTH Derth, n.
Defn: Dearth; scarcity. [Obs.] Spenser.
DERTROTHECA Der`tro*the"ca, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The horny covering of the end of the bill of birds.
DERVISH; DERVISE; DERVIS Der"vish, Der"vise, Der"vis, n. Etym: [Per. derw, fr. OPer. derew to beg, ask alms: cf. F. derviche.]
Defn: A Turkish or Persian monk, especially one who professes extreme poverty and leads an austere life.
DERWORTH Der"worth, a. Etym: [AS. deórwurpe, lit., dearworth.]
Defn: Precious. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.
DESCANT Des"cant, n. Etym: [OF. descant, deschant, F. déchant, discant, LL. discantus, fr. L. dis + cantus singing, melody, fr. canere to sing. See Chant, and cf. Descant, v. i., Discant.]
1. (Mus.) (a) Originally, a double song; a melody or counterpoint sung above the plain song of the tenor; a variation of an air; a variation by ornament of the main subject or plain song. (b) The upper voice in part music. (c) The canto, cantus, or soprano voice; the treble. Grove. Twenty doctors expound one text twenty ways, as children make descant upon plain song. Tyndale. She [the nightingale] all night long her amorous descant sung. Milton.
Note: The term has also been used synonymously with counterpoint, or polyphony, which developed out of the French déchant, of the 12th century.
2. A discourse formed on its theme, like variations on a musical air; a comment or comments. Upon that simplest of themes how magnificent a descant! De Quincey.
DESCANT Des*cant", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Descanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Descanting.] Etym: [From descant; n.; or directly fr. OF. descanter, deschanter; L. dis- + cantare to sing.]
1. To sing a variation or accomplishment.
2. To comment freely; to discourse with fullness and particularity; to discourse at large. A virtuous man should be pleased to find people descanting on his actions. Addison.
DESCANTER Des*cant"er, n.
Defn: One who descants.
DESCEND De*scend", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Descended; p. pr. & vb. n. Descending.] Etym: [F. descendre, L. descendere, descensum; de- + scandere to climb. See Scan.]
1. To pass from a higher to a lower place; to move downwards; to come or go down in any way, as by falling, flowing, walking, etc.; to plunge; to fall; to incline downward; -- the opposite of ascend. The rain descended, and the floods came. Matt. vii. 25. We will here descend to matters of later date. Fuller.
2. To enter mentally; to retire. [Poetic] [He] with holiest meditations fed, Into himself descended. Milton.
3. To make an attack, or incursion, as if from a vantage ground; to come suddenly and with violence; -- with on or upon. And on the suitors let thy wrath descend. Pope.
4. To come down to a lower, less fortunate, humbler, less virtuous, or worse, state or station; to lower or abase one's self; as, he descended from his high estate.
5. To pass from the more general or important to the particular or less important matters to be considered.
6. To come down, as from a source, original, or stock; to be derived; to proceed by generation or by transmission; to fall or pass by inheritance; as, the beggar may descend from a prince; a crown descends to the heir.
7. (Anat.)
Defn: To move toward the south, or to the southward.
8. (Mus.)
Defn: To fall in pitch; to pass from a higher to a lower tone.
DESCEND De*scend", v. t.
Defn: To go down upon or along; to pass from a higher to a lower part of; as, they descended the river in boats; to descend a ladder. But never tears his cheek descended. Byron.
DESCENDANT De*scend"ant, a. Etym: [F. descendant, p. pr. of descendre. Cf. Descendent.]
Defn: Descendent.
DESCENDANT De*scend"ant, n.
Defn: One who descends, as offspring, however remotely; -- correlative to ancestor or ascendant. Our first parents and their descendants. Hale. The descendant of so many kings and emperors. Burke.
DESCENDENT De*scend"ent, a. Etym: [L. descendens, -entis, p. pr. of descendre. Cf. Descendant.]
Defn: Descending; falling; proceeding from an ancestor or source. More than mortal grace Speaks thee descendent of ethereal race. Pope.
DESCENDER De*scend"er, n.
Defn: One who descends.
DESCENDIBILITY De*scend`i*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being descendible; capability of being transmitted from ancestors; as, the descendibility of an estate.
DESCENDIBLE De*scend"i*ble, a.
1. Admitting descent; capable of being descended.
2. That may descend from an ancestor to an heir. "A descendant estate." Sir W. Jones.
DESCENDING De*scend"ing, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to descent; moving downwards. Descending constellations or signs (Astron.), those through which the planets descent toward the south. -- Descending node (Astron.), that point in a planet's orbit where it intersects the ecliptic in passing southward. -- Descending series (Math.), a series in which each term is numerically smaller than the preceding one; also, a series arranged according to descending powers of a quantity.
DESCENDINGLY De*scend"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a descending manner.
DESCENSION De*scen"sion, n. Etym: [OF. descension, L. descensio. See Descent.]
Defn: The act of going downward; descent; falling or sinking; declension; degradation. Oblique descension (Astron.), the degree or arc of the equator which descends, with a celestial object, below the horizon of an oblique sphere. -- Right descension, the degree or arc of the equator which descends below the horizon of a right sphere at the same time with the object. [Obs.]
DESCENSIONAL De*scen"sion*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to descension. Johnson.
DESCENSIVE De*scen"sive, a.
Defn: Tending to descend; tending downwards; descending. Smart.
DESCENSORY De*scen"so*ry, n. Etym: [NL. descensorium: cf. OF. descensoire. See Descend.]
Defn: A vessel used in alchemy to extract oils.
DESCENT De*scent", n. Etym: [F. descente, fr. descendre; like vente, from vendre. See Descend.]
1. The act of descending, or passing downward; change of place from higher to lower.
2. Incursion; sudden attack; especially, hostile invasion from sea; - - often followed by upon or on; as, to make a descent upon the enemy. The United Provinces . . . ordered public prayer to God, when they feared that the French and English fleets would make a descent upon their coasts. Jortin.
3. Progress downward, as in station, virtue, as in station, virtue, and the like, from a higher to a lower state, from a higher to a lower state, from the more to the less important, from the better to the worse, etc.
2. Derivation, as from an ancestor; procedure by generation; lineage; birth; extraction. Dryden.
5. (Law)
Defn: Transmission of an estate by inheritance, usually, but not necessarily, in the descending line; title to inherit an estate by reason of consanguinity. Abbott.
6. Inclination downward; a descending way; inclined or sloping surface; declivity; slope; as, a steep descent.
7. That which is descended; descendants; issue. If care of our descent perplex us most, Which must be born to certain woe. Milton.
8. A step or remove downward in any scale of gradation; a degree in the scale of genealogy; a generation. No man living is a thousand descents removed from Adam himself. Hooker.
9. Lowest place; extreme downward place. [R.] And from the extremest upward of thy head, To the descent and dust below thy foot. Shak.
10. (Mus.)
Defn: A passing from a higher to a lower tone.
Syn. -- Declivity; slope; degradation; extraction; lineage; assault; invasion; attack.
DESCRIBABLE De*scrib"a*ble, a.
Defn: That can be described; capable of description.
DESCRIBE De*scribe", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Described; p. pr. & vb. n. Describing.] Etym: [L. describere, descriptum; de- + scribere to write: cf. OE. descriven, OF. descrivre, F. décrire. See Scribe, and cf. Descry.]
1. To represent by drawing; to draw a plan of; to delineate; to trace or mark out; as, to describe a circle by the compasses; a torch waved about the head in such a way as to describe a circle.
2. To represent by words written or spoken; to give an account of; to make known to others by words or signs; as, the geographer describes countries and cities.
3. To distribute into parts, groups, or classes; to mark off; to class. [Obs.] Passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven parts in a book. Josh. xviii. 9.
Syn. -- To set forth; represent; delineate; relate; recount; narrate; express; explain; depict; portray; chracterize.
DESCRIBE De*scribe", v. i.
Defn: To use the faculty of describing; to give a description; as, Milton describes with uncommon force and beauty.
DESCRIBENT De*scrib"ent, n. Etym: [L. describens, p. pr. of describere.] (Geom.)
Defn: Same as Generatrix.
DESCRIBER De*scrib"er, n.
Defn: One who describes.
DESCRIER De*scri"er, n.
Defn: One who descries.
DESCRIPTION De*scrip"tion, n. Etym: [F. description, L. descriptio. See Describe.]
1. The act of describing; a delineation by marks or signs.
2. A sketch or account of anything in words; a portraiture or representation in language; an enumeration of the essential qualities of a thing or species. Milton has descriptions of morning. D. Webster.
3. A class to which a certain representation is applicable; kind; sort. A difference . . . between them and another description of public creditors. A. Hamilton. The plates were all of the meanest description. Macaulay.
Syn. -- Account; definition; recital; relation; detail; narrative; narration; explanation; delineation; representation; kind; sort. See Definition.
DESCRIPTIVE De*scrip"tive, a. Etym: [L. descriptivus: cf. F. descriptif.]
Defn: Tending to describe; having the quality of representing; containing description; as, a descriptive figure; a descriptive phrase; a descriptive narration; a story descriptive of the age. Descriptive anatomy, that part of anatomy which treats of the forms and relations of parts, but not of their textures. -- Descriptive geometry, that branch of geometry. which treats of the graphic solution of problems involving three dimensions, by means of projections upon auxiliary planes. Davies & Peck (Math. Dict. ) -- De*scrip"tive*ly, adv. -- De*scrip"tive*ness, n.
DESCRIVE De*scrive", v. t. Etym: [OF. descrivre. See Describe.]
Defn: To describe. [Obs.] Spenser.
DESCRY De*scry", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Descried; p. pr. & vb. n. Descrying.] Etym: [OE. descrien, discrien, to espy, prob. from the proclaiming of what was espied, fr. OF. descrier to proclaim, cry down, decry, F. décrier. The word was confused somewhat with OF. descriven, E. describe, OF. descrivre, from L. describere. See Decry.]
1. To spy out or discover by the eye, as objects distant or obscure; to espy; to recognize; to discern; to discover. And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. Judg. i. 23. Edmund, I think, is gone . . . to descry The strength o' the enemy. Shak. And now their way to earth they had descried. Milton.
2. To discover; to disclose; to reveal. [R.] His purple robe he had thrown aside, lest it should descry him. Milton.
Syn. -- To see; behold; espy; discover; discern.
DESCRY De*scry"
Defn: , Discovery or view, as of an army seen at a distance. [Obs.] Near, and on speedy foot; the main descry Stands on the hourly thought. Shak.
DESECATE Des"e*cate, v. t. Etym: [L. desecare to cut off.]
Defn: To cut, as with a scythe; to mow. [Obs.]
DESECRATE Des"e*crate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desecrated; p. pr. & vb. n. Desecrating.] Etym: [L. desecratus, p. p. of desecrare (also desacrare) to consecrate, dedicate; but taken in the sense if to divest of a sacred character; de- + sacrare to consecrate, fr. sacer sacred. See Sacred.]
Defn: To divest of a sacred character or office; to divert from a sacred purpose; to violate the sanctity of; to profane; to put to an unworthy use; -- the opposite of consecrate. The [Russian] clergy can not suffer corporal punishment without being previously desecrated. W. Tooke. The founders of monasteries imprecated evil on those who should desecrate their donations. Salmon.
DESECRATER Des"e*cra`ter, n.
Defn: One who desecrates; a profaner. Harper's Mag.
DESECRATION Des`e*cra"tion, n.
Defn: The act of desecrating; profanation; condition of anything desecrated.
DESECRATOR Des"e*cra`tor, n.
Defn: One who desecrates. "Desecrators of the church." Morley.
DESEGMENTATION De*seg`men*ta"tion, n. (Anat.)
Defn: The loss or obliteration of division into segments; as, a desegmentation of the body.
DESERT De*sert", n. Etym: [OF. deserte, desserte, merit, recompense, fr. deservir, desservir, to merit. See Deserve.]
Defn: That which is deserved; the reward or the punishment justly due; claim to recompense, usually in a good sense; right to reward; merit. According to their deserts will I judge them. Ezek. vii. 27. Andronicus, surnamed Pius For many good and great deserts to Rome. Shak. His reputation falls far below his desert. A. Hamilton.
Syn. -- Merit; worth; excellence; due.
DESERT Des"ert, n. Etym: [F. désert, L. desertum, from desertus solitary, desert, pp. of deserere to desert; de- + serere to join together. See Series.]
1. A deserted or forsaken region; a barren tract incapable of supporting population, as the vast sand plains of Asia and Africa are destitute and vegetation. A dreary desert and a gloomy waste. Pope.
2. A tract, which may be capable of sustaining a population, but has been left unoccupied and uncultivated; a wilderness; a solitary place. He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord. Is. li. 3.
Note: Also figuratively. Before her extended Dreary and vast and silent, the desert of life. Longfellow.
DESERT Des"ert, a. Etym: [Cf. L. desertus, p. p. of deserere, and F. désert. See 2d Desert.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a desert; forsaken; without life or cultivation; unproductive; waste; barren; wild; desolate; solitary; as, they landed on a desert island. He . . . went aside privately into a desert place. Luke ix. 10. Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, And waste its sweetness on the desert air. Gray. Desert flora (Bot.), the assemblage of plants growing naturally in a desert, or in a dry and apparently unproductive place. -- Desert hare (Zoöl.), a small hare (Lepus sylvaticus, var. Arizonæ) inhabiting the deserts of the Western United States. -- Desert mouse (Zoöl.), an American mouse (Hesperomys eremicus), living in the Western deserts.
DESERT De*sert", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deserted; p. pr. & vb. n. Deserting.] Etym: [Cf. L. desertus, p. p. of deserere to desert, F. déserter. See 2d Desert.]
1. To leave (especially something which one should stay by and support); to leave in the lurch; to abandon; to forsake; -- implying blame, except sometimes when used of localities; as, to desert a friend, a principle, a cause, one's country. "The deserted fortress." Prescott.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: To abandon (the service) without leave; to forsake in violation of duty; to abscond from; as, to desert the army; to desert one's colors.
DESERT De*sert", v. i.
Defn: To abandon a service without leave; to quit military service without permission, before the expiration of one's term; to abscond. The soldiers . . . deserted in numbers. Bancroft.
Syn. -- To abandon; forsake; leave; relinquish; renounce; quit; depart from; abdicate. See Abandon.
DESERTER De*sert"er (, n.
Defn: One who forsakes a duty, a cause or a party, a friend, or any one to whom he owes service; especially, a soldier or a seaman who abandons the service without leave; one guilty of desertion.
DESERTFUL De*sert"ful, a.
Defn: Meritorious. [R.] Beau. & Fl.
DESERTION De*ser"tion, n. Etym: [L. desertio: cf. F. désertion.]
1. The act of deserting or forsaking; abandonment of a service, a cause, a party, a friend, or any post of duty; the quitting of one's duties willfully and without right; esp., an absconding from military or naval service. Such a resignation would have seemed to his superior a desertion or a reproach. Bancroft.
2. The state of being forsaken; desolation; as, the king in his desertion.
3. Abandonment by God; spiritual despondency. The spiritual agonies of a soul under desertion. South.
DESERTLESS De*sert"less, a.
Defn: Without desert. [R.]
DESERTLESSLY De*sert"less*ly, adv.
Defn: Undeservedly. [R.] Beau. & Fl.
DESERTNESS Des"ert*ness, n.
Defn: A deserted condition. [R.] "The desertness of the country." Udall.
DESERTRIX; DESERTRICE De*sert"rix, De*sert"rice, n. Etym: [L. desertrix.]
Defn: A feminine deserter. Milton.
DESERVE De*serve", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deserved; p. pr. & vb. n. Deserving.] Etym: [OF. deservir, desservir, to merit, L. deservire to serve zealously, be devoted to; de- + servire to serve. See Serve.]
1. To earn by service; to be worthy of (something due, either good or evil); to merit; to be entitled to; as, the laborer deserves his wages; a work of value deserves praise. God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth. Job xi. 6. John Gay deserved to be a favorite. Thackeray. Encouragement is not held out to things that deserve reprehension. Burke.
2. To serve; to treat; to benefit. [Obs.] A man that hath So well deserved me. Massinger.
DESERVE De*serve", v. i.
Defn: To be worthy of recompense; -- usually with ill or with well. One man may merit or deserve of another. South.
DESERVEDLY De*serv"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: According to desert (whether good or evil); justly.
DESERVEDNESS De*serv"ed*ness, n.
Defn: Meritoriousness.
DESERVER De*serv"er, n.
Defn: One who deserves.
DESERVING De*serv"ing, n.
Defn: Desert; merit. A person of great deservings from the republic. Swift.
DESERVING De*serv"ing, a.
Defn: Meritorious; worthy; as, a deserving or act. -- De*serv"ing*ly, adv.
DESHABILLE Des`ha*bille, n. Etym: [F. déshabillé, fr. déshabiller to undress; pref. dés- (L. dis-) + habiller to dress. See Habiliment, and cf. Dishabille.]
Defn: An undress; a careless toilet.
DESICCANT De*sic"cant, a. Etym: [L. desiccans, p. pr. of desiccare. See Desiccate.]
Defn: Drying; desiccative. -- n.
Defn: (Med.) A medicine or application for drying up a sore. Wiseman.
DESICCATE Des"ic*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desiccated; p. pr. & vb. n. Desiccating.] Etym: [L. desiccatus, p. p. of desiccare to dry up; de- + siccare to dry, siccus dry. See Sack wine.]
Defn: To dry up; to deprive or exhaust of moisture; to preserve by drying; as, to desiccate fish or fruit. Bodies desiccated by heat or age. Bacon.
DESICCATE Des"ic*cate, v. i.
Defn: To become dry.
DESICCATION Des`ic*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dessiccation.]
Defn: The act of desiccating, or the state of being desiccated.
DESICCATIVE De*sic"ca*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. dessicatif.]
Defn: Drying; tending to dry. Ferrand. -- n. (Med.)
Defn: An application for drying up secretions.
DESICCATOR Des"ic*ca`tor, n.
1. One who, or that which, desiccates.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: A short glass jar fitted with an air-tight cover, and containing some desiccating agent, as sulphuric acid or calcium chloride, above which is suspended the material to be dried, or preserved from moisture.
DESICCATORY De*sic"ca*to*ry, a.
Defn: Desiccative.
DESIDERABLE De*sid"er*a*ble, a.
Defn: Desirable. [R.] "Good and desiderable things." Holland.
DESIDERATA De*sid`e*ra"ta, n. pl.
Defn: See Desideratum.
DESIDERATE De*sid"er*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desiderated; p. pr. & vb. n. Desiderating.] Etym: [L. desideratus, p. p. of desiderare to desire, miss. See Desire, and cf. Desideratum.]
Defn: To desire; to feel the want of; to lack; to miss; to want. Pray have the goodness to point out one word missing that ought to have been there -- please to insert a desiderated stanza. You can not. Prof. Wilson. Men were beginning . . . to desiderate for them an actual abode of fire. A. W. Ward.
DESIDERATION De*sid`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. desideratio.]
Defn: Act of desiderating; also, the thing desired. [R.] Jeffrey.
DESIDERATIVE De*sid"er*a*tive, a. Etym: [L. desiderativus.]
Defn: Denoting desire; as, desiderative verbs.
DESIDERATIVE De*sid"er*a*tive, n.
1. An object of desire.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: A verb formed from another verb by a change of termination, and expressing the desire of doing that which is indicated by the primitive verb.
DESIDERATUM De*sid`e*ra"tum, n.; pl. Desiderata. Etym: [L., fr. desideratus, p. p. See Desiderate.]
Defn: Anything desired; that of which the lack is felt; a want generally felt and acknowledge.
DESIDIOSE; DESIDIOUS De*sid"i*ose`, De*sid"i*ous, a. Etym: [L. desidiosus, fr. desidia a sitting idle, fr. desid to sit idle; de- + sed to sit.]
Defn: Idle; lazy. [Obs.]
DESIDIOUSNESS De*sid"i*ous*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being desidiose, or indolent. [Obs.] N. Bacon.
DESIGHT De*sight", n. Etym: [Pref. de- + sight.]
Defn: An unsightly object. [Obs.]
DESIGHTMENT De*sight"ment, n.
Defn: The act of making unsightly; disfigurement. [R.] To substitute jury masts at whatever desightment or damage in risk. London Times.
DESIGN De*sign", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Designed; p. pr. & vb. n. Designing.] Etym: [F. désigner to designate, cf. F. dessiner to draw, dessin drawing, dessein a plan or scheme; all, ultimately, from L. designare to designate; de- + signare to mark, mark out, signum mark, sign. See Sign, and cf. Design, n., Designate.]
1. To draw preliminary outline or main features of; to sketch for a pattern or model; to delineate; to trace out; to draw. Dryden.
2. To mark out and exhibit; to designate; to indicate; to show; to point out; to appoint. We shall see Justice design the victor's chivalry. Shak. Meet me to-morrow where the master And this fraternity shall design. Beau. & Fl.
3. To create or produce, as a work of art; to form a plan or scheme of; to form in idea; to invent; to project; to lay out in the mind; as, a man designs an essay, a poem, a statue, or a cathedral.
4. To intend or purpose; -- usually with for before the remote object, but sometimes with to. Ask of politicians the end for which laws were originally designed. Burke. He was designed to the study of the law. Dryden.
Syn. -- To sketch; plan; purpose; intend; propose; project; mean.
DESIGN De*sign", v. i.
Defn: To form a design or designs; to plan. Design for, to intend to go to. [Obs.] "From this city she designed for Collin [Cologne]." Evelyn.
DESIGN De*sign", n. Etym: [Cf. dessein, dessin.]
1. A preliminary sketch; an outline or pattern of the main features of something to be executed, as of a picture, a building, or a decoration; a delineation; a plan.
2. A plan or scheme formed in the mind of something to be done; preliminary conception; idea intended to be expressed in a visible form or carried into action; intention; purpose; -- often used in a bad sense for evil intention or purpose; scheme; plot. The vast design and purposTennyson. The leaders of that assembly who withstood the designs of a besotted woman. Hallam. A . . . settled design upon another man's life. Locke. How little he could guess the secret designs of the court! Macaulay.
3. Specifically, intention or purpose as revealed or inferred from the adaptation of means to an end; as, the argument from design.
4. The realization of an inventive or decorative plan; esp., a work of decorative art considered as a new creation; conception or plan shown in completed work; as, this carved panel is a fine design, or of a fine design.
5. (Mus.)
Defn: The invention and conduct of the subject; the disposition of every part, and the general order of the whole. Arts of design, those into which the designing of artistic forms and figures enters as a principal part, as architecture, painting, engraving, sculpture. -- School of design, one in which are taught the invention and delineation of artistic or decorative figures, patterns, and the like.
Syn. -- Intention; purpose; scheme; project; plan; idea. -- Design, Intention, Purpose. Design has reference to something definitely aimed at. Intention points to the feelings or desires with which a thing is sought. Purpose has reference to a settled choice or determination for its attainment. "I had no design to injure you," means it was no part of my aim or object. "I had no intention to injure you," means, I had no wish or desire of that kind. "My purpose was directly the reverse," makes the case still stronger. Is he a prudent man . . . that lays designs only for a day, without any prospect to the remaining part of his life Tillotson. I wish others the same intention, and greater successes. Sir W. Temple. It is the purpose that makes strong the vow. Shak.
DESIGNABLE Des"ig*na*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being designated or distinctly marked out; distinguishable. Boyle.
DESIGNATE Des"ig*nate, a. Etym: [L. designatus, p. p. of designare. See Design, v. t.]
Defn: Designated; appointed; chosen. [R.] Sir G. Buck.
DESIGNATE Des"ig*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Designated; p. pr. & vb. n. Designating.]
1. To mark out and make known; to point out; to name; to indicate; to show; to distinguish by marks or description; to specify; as, to designate the boundaries of a country; to designate the rioters who are to be arrested.
2. To call by a distinctive title; to name.
3. To indicate or set apart for a purpose or duty; -- with to or for; to designate an officer for or to the command of a post or station.
Syn. -- To name; denominate; style; entitle; characterize; describe.
DESIGNATION Des`ig*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. designatio: cf. F. désignation.]
1. The act of designating; a pointing out or showing; indication.
2. Selection and appointment for a purpose; allotment; direction.
3. That which designates; a distinguishing mark or name; distinctive title; appellation. The usual designation of the days of the week. Whewell.
4. Use or application; import; intention; signification, as of a word or phrase. Finite and infinite seem . . . to be attributed primarily, in their first designation, only to those things have parts. Locke.
DESIGNATIVE Des"ig*na*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. désignatif.]
Defn: Serving to designate or indicate; pointing out.
DESIGNATOR Des"ig*na`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
1. (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: An officer who assigned to each his rank and place in public shows and ceremonies.
2. One who designates.
DESIGNATORY Des"ig*na*to*ry, a.
Defn: Serving to designate; designative; indicating. [R.]
DESIGNEDLY De*sign"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: By design; purposely; intentionally; -- opposed to accidentally, ignorantly, or inadvertently.
DESIGNER De*sign"er, n.
1. One who designs, marks out, or plans; a contriver.
2. (Fine Arts)
Defn: One who produces or creates original works of art or decoration.
3. A plotter; a schemer; -- used in a bad sense.
DESIGNFUL De*sign"ful, a.
Defn: Full of design; scheming. [R.] -- De*sign"ful*ness, n. [R.] Barrow.
DESIGNING De*sign"ing, a.
Defn: Intriguing; artful; scheming; as, a designing man.
DESIGNING De*sign"ing, n.
Defn: The act of making designs or sketches; the act of forming designs or plans.
DESIGNLESS De*sign"less, a.
Defn: Without design. [Obs.] -- De*sign"less*ly, adv. [Obs.]
DESIGNMENT De*sign"ment, n.
1. Delineation; sketch; design; ideal; invention. [Obs.] For though that some mean artist's skill were shown In mingling colors, or in placing light, Yet still the fair designment was his own. Dryden.
2. Design; purpose; scheme. [Obs.] Shak.
DESILVER De*sil"ver, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of silver; as, to desilver lead.
DESILVERIZATION De*sil`ver*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act or the process of freeing from silver; also, the condition resulting from the removal of silver.
DESILVERIZE De*sil"ver*ize, v. t.
Defn: To deprive, or free from, silver; to remove silver from.
DESINENCE Des"i*nence, n. Etym: [Cf. F. désinence.]
Defn: Termination; ending. Bp. Hall.
DESINENT Des"i*nent, a. Etym: [L. desinens, p. pr. of desinere, desitum, to leave off, cease; de- + sinere to let, allow.]
Defn: Ending; forming an end; lowermost. [Obs.] "Their desinent parts, fish." B. Jonson.
DESINENTIAL Des`i*nen"tial, a. Etym: [Cf. F. désinentiel.]
Defn: Terminal. Furthermore, b, as a desinential element, has a dynamic function. Fitzed. Hall.
DESIPIENT De*sip"i*ent, a. Etym: [L. desipiens, p. pr. of desipere to be foolish; de- + sapere to be wise.]
Defn: Foolish; silly; trifling. [R.]
DESIRABILITY De*sir`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being desirable; desirableness.
DESIRABLE De*sir"a*ble, a. Etym: [F. désirable, fr. L. desiderabilis. See Desire, v. t.]
Defn: Worthy of desire or longing; fitted to excite desire or a wish to possess; pleasing; agreeable. All of them desirable young men. Ezek. xxiii. 12. As things desirable excite Desire, and objects move the appetite. Blackmore.
DESIRABLENESS De*sir"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being desirable. The desirableness of the Austrian alliance. Froude.
DESIRABLY De*sir"a*bly, adv.
Defn: In a desirable manner.
DESIRE De*sire", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desired; p. pr. & vb. n. Desiring.] Etym: [F. désirer, L. desiderare, origin uncertain, perh. fr. de- + sidus star, constellation, and hence orig., to turn the eyes from the stars. Cf. Consider, and Desiderate, and see Sidereal.]
1. To long for; to wish for earnestly; to covet. Neither shall any man desire thy land. Ex. xxxiv. 24. Ye desire your child to live. Tennyson.
2. To express a wish for; to entreat; to request. Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord 2 Kings iv. 28. Desire him to go in; trouble him no more. Shak.
3. To require; to demand; to claim. [Obs.] A doleful case desires a doleful song. Spenser.
4. To miss; to regret. [Obs.] She shall be pleasant while she lives, and desired when she dies. Jer. Taylor.
Syn. -- To long for; hanker after; covet; wish; ask; request; solicit; entreat; beg. -- To Desire, Wish. In desire the feeling is usually more eager than in wish. "I wish you to do this" is a milder form of command than "I desire you to do this," though the feeling prompting the injunction may be the usage C. J. Smith.
DESIRE De*sire", n. Etym: [F. désir, fr. désirer. See Desire, v. t.]
1. The natural longing that is excited by the enjoyment or the thought of any good, and impels to action or effort its continuance or possession; an eager wish to obtain or enjoy. Unspeakable desire to see and know. Milton.
2. An expressed wish; a request; petition. And slowly was my mother brought To yield consent to my desire. Tennyson.
3. Anything which is desired; an object of longing. The Desire of all nations shall come. Hag. ii. 7.
4. Excessive or morbid longing; lust; appetite.
5. Grief; regret. [Obs.] Chapman.
Syn. -- Wish; appetency; craving; inclination; eagerness; aspiration; longing.
DESIREFUL De*sire"ful, a.
Defn: Filled with desire; eager. [R.] The desireful troops. Godfrey (1594).
DESIREFULNESS De*sire"ful*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being desireful; eagerness to obtain and possess. [R.] The desirefulness of our minds much augmenteth and increaseth our pleasure. Udall.
DESIRELESS De*sire"less, a.
Defn: Free from desire. Donne.
DESIRER De*sir"er, n.
Defn: One who desires, asks, or wishes.
DESIROUS De*sir"ous, a. Etym: [F. désireux, OF. desiros, fr. desir. See Desire, n.]
Defn: Feeling desire; eagerly wishing; solicitous; eager to obtain; covetous. Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him. John xvi. 19. Be not desirous of his dainties. Prov. xxiii. 3.
DESIROUSLY De*sir"ous*ly, adv.
Defn: With desire; eagerly.
DESIROUSNESS De*sir"ous*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being desirous.
DESIST De*sist", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Desisted; p. pr. & vb. n. Desisting.] Etym: [L. desistere; de- + sistere to stand, stop, fr. stare to stand: cf. F. désister. See Stand.]
Defn: To cease to proceed or act; to stop; to forbear; -- often with from. Never desisting to do evil. E. Hall. To desist from his bad practice. Massinger. Desist (thou art discern'd, And toil'st in vain). Milton.
DESISTANCE De*sist"ance, n. Etym: [Cf. F. desistance.]
Defn: The act or state of desisting; cessation. [R.] Boyle. If fatigue of body or brain were in every case followed by desistance . . . then would the system be but seldom out of working order. H. Spencer.
DESISTIVE De*sist"ive, a. Etym: [See Desist.]
Defn: Final; conclusive; ending. [R.]
DESITION De*si"tion, n. Etym: [See Desinent.]
Defn: An end or ending. [R.]
DESITIVE Des"i*tive, a.
Defn: Final; serving to complete; conclusive. [Obs.] "Desitive propositions." I. Watts.
DESITIVE Des"i*tive, n. (Logic)
Defn: A proposition relating to or expressing an end or conclusion. [Obs.] I. Watts.
DESK Desk, n. Etym: [OE. deske, the same word as dish, disk. See Dish, and cf. Disk.]
1. A table, frame, or case, usually with sloping top, but often with flat top, for the use writers and readers. It often has a drawer or repository underneath.
2. A reading table or lectern to support the book from which the liturgical service is read, differing from the pulpit from which the sermon is preached; also (esp. in the United States), a pulpit. Hence, used symbolically for "the clerical profession."
DESK Desk, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desked; p. pr. & vb. n. Desking.]
Defn: To shut up, as in a desk; to treasure.
DESKWORK Desk"work`, n.
Defn: Work done at a desk, as by a clerk or writer. Tennyson.
DESMAN Des"man, n. Etym: [Cf. Sw. desman musk.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An amphibious, insectivorous mammal found in Russia (Myogale moschata). It is allied to the moles, but is called muscrat by some English writers. [Written also dæsman.]
DESMID; DESMIDIAN Des"mid, Des*mid"i*an, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A microscopic plant of the family Desmidiæ, a group of unicellular algæ in which the species have a greenish color, and the cells generally appear as if they consisted of two coalescing halves.
DESMINE Des"mine, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: Same as Stilbite. It commonly occurs in bundles or tufts of crystals.
DESMOBACTERIA Des`mo*bac*te"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [Gr. bacteria.]
Defn: See Microbacteria.
DESMODONT Des"mo*dont, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A member of a group of South American blood-sucking bats, of the genera Desmodus and Diphylla. See Vampire.
DESMOGNATHOUS Des*mog"na*thous, a. Etym: [Gr. desmo`s bond + (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the maxillo-palatine bones united; -- applied to a group of carinate birds (Desmognathæ), including various wading and swimming birds, as the ducks and herons, and also raptorial and other kinds.
DESMOID Des"moid, a. Etym: [Gr. desmo`s ligament + -oid.] (Anat.)
Defn: Resembling, or having the characteristics of, a ligament; ligamentous.
DESMOLOGY Des*mol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. desmo`s ligament + -logy.]
Defn: The science which treats of the ligaments. [R.]
DESMOMYARIA Des`mo*my*a"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The division of Tunicata which includes the Salpæ. See Salpa.
DESOLATE Des"o*late, a. Etym: [L. desolatus, p. p. of desolare to leave alone, forsake; de- + solare to make lonely, solus alone. See Sole, a.]
1. Destitute or deprived of inhabitants; deserted; uninhabited; hence, gloomy; as, a desolate isle; a desolate wilderness; a desolate house. I will make Jerusalem . . . a den of dragons, and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant. Jer. ix. 11. And the silvery marish flowers that throng The desolate creeks and pools among. Tennyson.
2. Laid waste; in a ruinous condition; neglected; destroyed; as, desolate altars.
3. Left alone; forsaken; lonely; comfortless. Have mercy upon, for I am desolate. Ps. xxv. 16. Voice of the poor and desolate. Keble.
4. Lost to shame; dissolute. [Obs.] Chaucer.
5. Destitute of; lacking in. [Obs.] I were right now of tales desolate. Chaucer.
Syn. -- Desert; uninhabited; lonely; waste.
DESOLATE Des"o*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desolated; p. pr. & vb. n. Desolating.]
1. To make desolate; to leave alone; to deprive of inhabitants; as, the earth was nearly desolated by the flood.
2. To lay waste; to ruin; to ravage; as, a fire desolates a city. Constructed in the very heart of a desolating war. Sparks.
DESOLATELY Des"o*late*ly, adv.
Defn: In a desolate manner.
DESOLATENESS Des"o*late*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being desolate.
DESOLATER Des"o*la`ter, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, desolates or lays waste. Mede.
DESOLATION Des`o*la"tion, n. Etym: [F. désolation, L. desolatio.]
1. The act of desolating or laying waste; destruction of inhabitants; depopulation. Unto the end of the war desolations are determined. Dan. ix. 26.
2. The state of being desolated or laid waste; ruin; solitariness; destitution; gloominess. You would have sold your king to slaughter, . . . And his whole kingdom into desolation. Shak.
3. A place or country wasted and forsaken. How is Babylon become a desolation! Jer. l. 23.
Syn. -- Waste; ruin; destruction; havoc; devastation; ravage; sadness; destitution; melancholy; gloom; gloominess.
DESOLATOR Des"o*la`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Same as Desolater. Byron.
DESOLATORY Des"o*la*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. desolatorius.]
Defn: Causing desolation. [R.] Bp. Hall.
DESOPHISTICATE De`so*phis"ti*cate, v. t.
Defn: To clear from sophism or error. [R.] Hare.
DESOXALIC Des`ox*al"ic, a. Etym: [F. pref. des- from + E. oxalic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Made or derived from oxalic acid; as, desoxalic acid.
DESPAIR De*spair", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Despaired; p. pr. & vb. n. Despairing.] Etym: [OE. despeiren, dispeiren, OF. desperer, fr. L. desperare; de- + sperare to hope; akin to spes hope, and perh. to spatium space, E. space, speed; cf. OF. espeir hope, F. espoir. Cf. Prosper, Desperate.]
Defn: To be hopeless; to have no hope; to give up all hope or expectation; -- often with of. We despaired even of life. 2 Cor. i. 8. Never despair of God's blessings here. Wake.
Syn. -- See Despond.
DESPAIR De*spair", v. t.
1. To give up as beyond hope or expectation; to despair of. [Obs.] I would not despair the greatest design that could be attempted. Milton.
2. To cause to despair. [Obs.] Sir W. Williams.
DESPAIR De*spair", n. Etym: [Cf. OF. despoir, fr. desperer.]
1. Loss of hope; utter hopelessness; complete despondency. We in dark dreams are tossing to and fro, Pine with regret, or sicken with despair. Keble. Before he [Bunyan] was ten, his sports were interrupted by fits of remorse and despair. Macaulay.
2. That which is despaired of. "The mere despair of surgery he cures." Shak.
Syn. -- Desperation; despondency; hopelessness.
DESPAIRER De*spair"er, n.
Defn: One who despairs.
DESPAIRFUL De*spair"ful, a.
Defn: Hopeless. [Obs.] Spenser.
DESPAIRING De*spair"ing, a.
Defn: Feeling or expressing despair; hopeless. -- De*spair"ing*ly, adv. -- De*spair"ing*ness, n.
DESPARPLE De*spar"ple, v. t. & i. Etym: [OF. desparpeillier.]
Defn: To scatter; to disparkle. [Obs.] Mandeville.
DESPATCH De*spatch", n. & v.
Defn: Same as Dispatch.
DESPECIFICATE De`spe*cif"i*cate, v. t. Etym: [Pref. de- (intens.) + specificate.]
Defn: To discriminate; to separate according to specific signification or qualities; to specificate; to desynonymize. [R.] Inaptitude and ineptitude have been usefully despecificated. Fitzed. Hall.
DESPECIFICATION De*spec`ifi*ca"tion, n.
Defn: Discrimination.
DESPECT De*spect", n. Etym: [L. despectus, fr. despicere. See Despite, n.]
Defn: Contempt. [R.] Coleridge.
DESPECTION De*spec"tion, n. Etym: [L. despectio.]
Defn: A looking down; a despising. [R.] W. Montagu.
DESPEED De*speed", v. t.
Defn: To send hastily. [Obs.] Despeeded certain of their crew. Speed.
DESPEND De*spend", v. t.
Defn: To spend; to squander. See Dispend. [Obs.] Some noble men in Spain can despend Howell.
DESPERADO Des`per*a"do, n.; pl. Desperadoes. Etym: [OSp. desperado, p. p. of desperar, fr. L. desperare. See Desperate.]
Defn: A reckless, furious man; a person urged by furious passions, and regardless of consequence; a wild ruffian.
DESPERATE Des"per*ate, a. Etym: [L. desperatus, p. p. of desperare. See Despair, and cf. Desperado.]
1. Without hope; given to despair; hopeless. [Obs.] I am desperate of obtaining her. Shak.
2. Beyond hope; causing despair; extremely perilous; irretrievable; past cure, or, at least, extremely dangerous; as, a desperate disease; desperate fortune.
3. Proceeding from, or suggested by, despair; without regard to danger or safety; reckless; furious; as, a desperate effort. "Desperate expedients." Macaulay.
4. Extreme, in a bad sense; outrageous; -- used to mark the extreme predominance of a bad quality. A desperate offendress against nature. Shak. The most desperate of reprobates. Macaulay.
Syn. -- Hopeless; despairing; desponding; rash; headlong; precipitate; irretrievable; irrecoverable; forlorn; mad; furious; frantic.
DESPERATE Des"per*ate, n.
Defn: One desperate or hopeless. [Obs.]
DESPERATELY Des"per*ate*ly, adv.
Defn: In a desperate manner; without regard to danger or safety; recklessly; extremely; as, the troops fought desperately. She fell desperately in love with him. Addison.
DESPERATENESS Des"per*ate*ness n.
Defn: Desperation; virulence.
DESPERATION Des`per*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. desperatio: cf. OF. desperation.]
1. The act of despairing or becoming desperate; a giving up of hope. This desperation of success chills all our industry. Hammond.
2. A state of despair, or utter hopeless; abandonment of hope; extreme recklessness; reckless fury. In the desperation of the moment, the officers even tried to cut their way through with their swords. W. Irving.
DESPICABILITY Des`pi*ca*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Despicableness. [R.] Carlyle.
DESPICABLE Des"pi*ca*ble, a. Etym: [L. despicabilis, fr. despicari to despise; akin to despicere. See Despise.]
Defn: Fit or deserving to be despised; contemptible; mean; vile; worthless; as, a despicable man; despicable company; a despicable gift.
Syn. -- Contemptible; mean; vile; worthless; pitiful; paltry; sordid; low; base. See Contemptible.
DESPICABLENESS Des"pi*ca*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being despicable; meanness; vileness; worthlessness.
DESPICABLY Des"pi*ca*bly, adv.
Defn: In a despicable or mean manner; contemptibly; as, despicably stingy.
DESPICIENCY Des*pi"cien*cy, n. Etym: [L. despicientia. See Despise.]
Defn: A looking down; despection. [Obs.]
DESPISABLE De*spis"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. despisable.]
Defn: Despicable; contemptible. [R.]
DESPISAL De*spis"al, n.
Defn: A despising; contempt. [R.] A despisal of religion. South.
DESPISE De*spise", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Despised; p. pr. & vb. n. Despising.] Etym: [OF. despis-, in some forms of despire to despise, fr. L. despicere, despectum, to look down upon, despise; de- + spicere, specere, to look. See Spy, and cf. Despicable, Despite.]
Defn: To look down upon with disfavor or contempt; to contemn; to scorn; to disdain; to have a low opinion or contemptuous dislike of. Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Prov. i. 7. Men naturally despise those who court them, but respect those who do not give way to them. Jowett (Thucyd. ).
Syn. -- To contemn; scorn; disdain; slight; undervalue. See Contemn.
DESPISEDNESS De*spis"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being despised.
DESPISEMENT De*spise"ment, n.
Defn: A despising. [R.] Holland.
DESPISER De*spis"er, n.
Defn: One who despises; a contemner; a scorner.
DESPISINGLY De*spis"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: Contemptuously.
DESPITE De*spite", n. Etym: [OF. despit, F. dépit, fr. L. despectus contempt, fr. despicere. See Despise, and cf. Spite, Despect.]
1. Malice; malignity; spite; malicious anger; contemptuous hate. With all thy despite against the land of Israel. Ezek. xxv. 6.
2. An act of malice, hatred, or defiance; contemptuous defiance; a deed of contempt. A despite done against the Most High. Milton. In despite, in defiance of another's power or inclination. -- In despite of, in defiance of; in spite of. See under Spite. "Seized my hand in despite of my efforts to the contrary." W. Irving. -- In your despite, in defiance or contempt of you; in spite of you. [Obs.]
DESPITE De*spite", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Despited; p. pr. & vb. n. Despiting.] Etym: [OF. despitier, fr. L. despectare, intens. of despicere. See Despite, n.]
Defn: To vex; to annoy; to offend contemptuously. [Obs.] Sir W. Raleigh.
DESPITE De*spite", prep.
Defn: In spite of; against, or in defiance of; notwithstanding; as, despite his prejudices.
Syn. -- See Notwithstanding.
DESPITEFUL De*spite"ful, a. Etym: [See Despite, and cf. Spiteful.]
Defn: Full of despite; expressing malice or contemptuous hate; malicious. -- De*spite"ful*ly, adv. -- De*spite"ful*ness, n. Haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters. Rom. i. 30. Pray for them which despitefully use you. Matt. v. 44. Let us examine him with despitefulness and fortune. Book of Wisdom ii. 19.
DESPITEOUS Des*pit"e*ous, a. Etym: [OE. despitous, OF. despiteus, fr. despit; affected in form by E. piteous. See Despite.]
Defn: Feeling or showing despite; malicious; angry to excess; cruel; contemptuous. [Obs.] "Despiteous reproaches." Holland.
DESPITEOUSLY Des*pit"e*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: Despitefully. [Obs.]
DESPITOUS De*spit"ous, a.
Defn: Despiteous; very angry; cruel. [Obs.] He was to sinful man not despitous. Chaucer. - De*spit"ous*ly, adv. [Obs.]
DESPOIL De*spoil", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Despoiled; p. pr. & vb. n. Despoiling.] Etym: [OF. despoiller, F. dépouiller, L. despoliare, despoliatum; de- + spoliare to strip, rob, spolium spoil, booty. Cf. Spoil, Despoliation.]
1. To strip, as of clothing; to divest or unclothe. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. To deprive for spoil; to plunder; to rob; to pillage; to strip; to divest; -- usually followed by of. The clothed earth is then bare, Despoiled is the summer fair. Gower. A law which restored to them an immense domain of which they had been despoiled. Macaulay. Despoiled of innocence, of faith, of bliss. Milton.
Syn. -- To strip; deprive; rob; bereave; rifle.
DESPOIL De*spoil", n.
Defn: Spoil. [Obs.] Wolsey.
DESPOILER De*spoil"er, n.
Defn: One who despoils.
DESPOILMENT De*spoil"ment, n.
Defn: Despoliation. [R.]
DESPOLIATION De*spo`li*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. despoliatio. See Despoil.]
Defn: A stripping or plundering; spoliation. Bailey.
DESPOND De*spond", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Desponded; p. pr. & vb. n. Desponding.] Etym: [L. despond, desponsum, to promise away, promise in marriage, give up, to lose (courage); de- + spond to promise solemnly. See Sponsor.]
Defn: To give up, the will, courage, or spirit; to be thoroughly disheartened; to lose all courage; to become dispirited or depressed; to take an unhopeful view. I should despair, or at least despond. Scott's Letters. Others depress their own minds, [and] despond at the first difficulty. Locke. We wish that . . . desponding patriotism may turn its eyes hitherward, and be assured that foundations of our national power still stand strong. D. Webster.
Syn. -- Despond, Dispair. Despair implies a total loss of hope, which despond does not, at least in every case; yet despondency is often more lasting than despair, or than desperation, which impels to violent action.
DESPOND De*spond" n.
Defn: Despondency. [Obs.] The slough of despond. Bunyan.
DESPONDENCE De*spond"ence, n.
Defn: Despondency. The people, when once infected, lose their relish for happiness [and] saunter about with looks of despondence. Goldsmith.
DESPONDENCY De*spond"en*cy, n.
Defn: The state of desponding; loss of hope and cessation of effort; discouragement; depression or dejection of the mind. The unhappy prince seemed, during some days, to be sunk in despondency. Macaulay.
DESPONDENT De*spond"ent, a. Etym: [L. despondens, -entis, p. pr. of despond.]
Defn: Marked by despondence; given to despondence; low-spirited; as, a despondent manner; a despondent prisoner. -- De*spond"ent*ly, adv.
DESPONDER De*spond"er, n.
Defn: One who desponds.
DESPONDINGLY De*spond"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a desponding manner.
DESPONSAGE De*spon"sage, n. Etym: [From L. desponsus, p. p. See Despond.]
Defn: Betrothal. [Obs.] Ethelbert . . . went peaceably to King Offa for desponsage of Athilrid, his daughter. Foxe.
DESPONSATE De*spon"sate, v. t. Etym: [L. desponsatus, p. p. of desponsare, intens. of despondere to betroth. See Despond.]
Defn: To betroth. [Obs.] Johnson.
DESPONSATION Des`pon*sa"tion, n. Etym: [L. desponsatio: cf. OF. desponsation.]
Defn: A betrothing; betrothal. [Obs.] For all this desponsation of her . . . she had not set one step toward the consummation of her marriage. Jer. Taylor.
DESPONSORY De*spon"so*ry, n.; pl. Desponsories (.
Defn: A written pledge of marriage. Clarendon.
DESPORT De*sport", v. t. & i.
Defn: See Disport.
DESPOT Des"pot, n. Etym: [F. despote, LL. despotus, fr. Gr. potens. See Potent.]
1. A master; a lord; especially, an absolute or irresponsible ruler or sovereign. Irresponsible power in human hands so naturally leads to it, that cruelty has become associated with despot and tyrant. C. J. Smith.
2. One who rules regardless of a constitution or laws; a tyrant.
DESPOTAT Des"po*tat, n. Etym: [Cf. F. despotat.]
Defn: The station or government of a despot; also, the domain of a despot. Freeman.
DESPOTIC; DESPOTICAL Des*pot"ic, Des*pot"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. despotique.]
Defn: Having the character of, or pertaining to, a despot; absolute in power; possessing and abusing unlimited power; evincing despotism; tyrannical; arbitrary. -- Des*pot"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Des*pot"ic*al*ness, n.
DESPOTISM Des"po*tism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. despotisme.]
1. The power, spirit, or principles of a despot; absolute control over others; tyrannical sway; tyranny. "The despotism of vice." Byron.
2. A government which is directed by a despot; a despotic monarchy; absolutism; autocracy. Despotism . . . is the only form of government which may with safety to itself neglect the education of its infant poor. Bp. Horsley.
DESPOTIST Des"po*tist, n.
Defn: A supporter of despotism. [R.]
DESPOTIZE Des"po*tize, v. t.
Defn: To act the despot.
DESPREAD De*spread", v. t. & i.
Defn: See Dispread.
DESPUMATE Des"pu*mate, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Despumated; p. pr. & vb. n. Despumating.] Etym: [L. despumatus, p. p. of despumare to despume; de- + spumare to foam, froth, spuma froth, scum.]
Defn: To throw off impurities in spume; to work off in foam or scum; to foam.
DESPUMATION Des`pu*ma"tion, n. Etym: [L. despumatio: cf. F. despumation.]
Defn: The act of throwing up froth or scum; separation of the scum or impurities from liquids; scumming; clarification.
DESPUME De*spume", v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. despumer. See Despumate.]
Defn: To free from spume or scum. [Obs.] If honey be despumed. Holland.
DESQUAMATE Des"qua*mate, v. i. Etym: [L. desquamatus, p. p. of desquamare to scale off; de- + squama scale.] (Med.)
Defn: To peel off in the form of scales; to scale off, as the skin in certain diseases.
DESQUAMATION Des`qua*ma"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. desquamation.] (Med.)
Defn: The separation or shedding of the cuticle or epidermis in the form of flakes or scales; exfoliation, as of bones.
DESQUAMATIVE; DESQUAMATORY De*squam"a*tive, De*squam"a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or attended with, desquamation.
DESQUAMATORY De*squam"a*to*ry, n. (Surg.)
Defn: An instrument formerly used in removing the laminæ of exfoliated bones.
DESS Dess, n.
Defn: Dais. [Obs.]
DESSERT Des*sert", n. Etym: [F., fr. desservir to remove from table, to clear the table; pref. des- (L. dis-) + servir to serve, to serve at table. See Serve.]
Defn: A service of pastry, fruits, or sweetmeats, at the close of a feast or entertainment; pastry, fruits, etc., forming the last course at dinner. "An 't please your honor," quoth the peasant, "This same dessert is not so pleasant." Pope. Dessert spoon, a spoon used in eating dessert; a spoon intermediate in size between a teaspoon and a tablespoon. -- Dessert-spoonful, n., pl. Dessert-spoonfuls, as much as a dessert spoon will hold, usually reckoned at about two and a half fluid drams.
DESTEMPER Des*tem"per, n. Etym: [Cf. F. détrempe, fr. détremper.]
Defn: A kind of painting. See Distemper.
DESTIN Des"tin, n. Etym: [Cf. F. destin.]
Defn: Destiny. [Obs.] Marston.
DESTINABLE Des"ti*na*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. destinable.]
Defn: Determined by destiny; fated. Chaucer.
DESTINABLY Des"ti*na*bly, adv.
Defn: In a destinable manner.
DESTINAL Des"ti*nal, a.
Defn: Determined by destiny; fated. [Obs.] "The order destinal." Chaucer.
DESTINATE Des"ti*nate, a. Etym: [L. destinatus, p. p. of destinare. See Destine.]
Defn: Destined. [Obs.] "Destinate to hell." Foxe.
DESTINATE Des"ti*nate, v. t.
Defn: To destine, design, or choose. [Obs.] "That name that God . . . did destinate." Udall.
DESTINATION Des`ti*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. destinatio determination: cf. F. destination destination.]
1. The act of destining or appointing.
2. Purpose for which anything is destined; predetermined end, object, or use; ultimate design.
3. The place set for the end of a journey, or to which something is sent; place or point aimed at.
Syn. -- Appointment; design; purpose; intention; destiny; lot; fate; end.
DESTINE Des"tine, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Destined; p. pr. & vb. n. Destining.] Etym: [F. destiner, L. destinare; de + the root of stare to stand. See Stand, and cf. Obstinate.]
Defn: To determine the future condition or application of; to set apart by design for a future use or purpose; to fix, as by destiny or by an authoritative decree; to doom; to ordain or preordain; to appoint; -- often with the remoter object preceded by to or for. We are decreed, Reserved, and destined to eternal woe. Milton. Till the loathsome opposite Of all my heart had destined, did obtain. Tennyson. Not enjoyment and not sorrow Is our destined end or way. Longfellow.
Syn. -- To design; mark out; determine; allot; choose; intend; devote; consecrate; doom.
DESTINIST Des"ti*nist, n.
Defn: A believer in destiny; a fatalist. [R.]
DESTINY Des"ti*ny, n.; pl. Destinies. Etym: [OE. destinee, destene, F. destinée, from destiner. See Destine.]
1. That to which any person or thing is destined; predetermined state; condition foreordained by the Divine or by human will; fate; lot; doom. Thither he Will come to know his destiny. Shak. No man of woman born, Coward or brave, can shun his destiny. Bryant.
2. The fixed order of things; invincible necessity; fate; a resistless power or agency conceived of as determining the future, whether in general or of an individual. But who can turn the stream of destiny Spenser. Fame comes only when deserved, and then is as inevitable as destiny, for it is destiny. Longfellow. The Destinies (Anc. Myth.), the three Parcæ, or Fates; the supposed powers which preside over human life, and determine its circumstances and duration. Marked by the Destinies to be avoided. Shak.
DESTITUENT De*stit"u*ent, a. Etym: [L. destituens, p. pr. of destituere.]
Defn: Deficient; wanting; as, a destituent condition. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
DESTITUTE Des"ti*tute, a. Etym: [L. destitutus, p. p. of destituere to set away, leave alone, forsake; de + statuere to set. See Statute.]
1. Forsaken; not having in possession (something necessary, or desirable); deficient; lacking; devoid; -- often followed by of. In thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute. Ps. cxli. 8. Totally destitute of all shadow of influence. Burke.
2. Not possessing the necessaries of life; in a condition of want; needy; without possessions or resources; very poor. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented. Heb. xi. 37.
DESTITUTE Des"ti*tute, v. t.
1. To leave destitute; to forsake; to abandon. [Obs.] To forsake or destitute a plantation. Bacon.
2. To make destitute; to cause to be in want; to deprive; -- followed by of. [Obs.] Destituted of all honor and livings. Holinshed.
3. To disappoint. [Obs.] When his expectation is destituted. Fotherby.
DESTITUTELY Des"ti*tute*ly, adv.
Defn: In destitution.
DESTITUTENESS Des"ti*tute*ness, n.
Defn: Destitution. [R.] Ash.
DESTITUTION Des`ti*tu"tion, n. Etym: [L. destitutio a forsaking.]
Defn: The state of being deprived of anything; the state or condition of being destitute, needy, or without resources; deficiency; lack; extreme poverty; utter want; as, the inundation caused general destitution.
DESTRER; DEXTRER Des*trer", Dex"trer, n. Etym: [OF. destrier, fr. L. dextra on the right side. The squire led his master's horse beside him, on his right hand. Skeat.]
Defn: A war horse. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DESTRIE De*strie", v. t.
Defn: To destroy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DESTROY De*stroy", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Destroyed; p. pr. & vb. n. Destroying.] Etym: [OE. destroien, destruien, destrien, OF. destruire, F. détruire, fr. L. destruere, destructum; de + struere to pile up, build. See Structure.]
1. To unbuild; to pull or tear down; to separate virulently into its constituent parts; to break up the structure and organic existence of; to demolish. But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves. Ex. xxxiv. 13.
2. To ruin; to bring to naught; to put an end to; to annihilate; to consume. I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation. Jer. xii. 17.
3. To put an end to the existence, prosperity, or beauty of; to kill. If him by force he can destroy, or, worse, By some false guile pervert. Milton.
Syn. -- To demolish; lay waste; consume; raze; dismantle; ruin; throw down; overthrow; subvert; desolate; devastate; deface; extirpate; extinguish; kill; slay. See Demolish.
DESTROYABLE De*stroy"a*ble, a.
Defn: Destructible. [R.] Plants . . . scarcely destroyable by the weather. Derham.
DESTROYER De*stroy"er, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. destruior.]
Defn: One who destroys, ruins, kills, or desolates.
DESTRUCT De*struct", v. t. Etym: [L. destructus, p. p. of destruere. See Destroy.]
Defn: To destroy. [Obs.] Mede.
DESTRUCTIBILITY De*struc`ti*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. destructibilité.]
Defn: The quality of being capable of destruction; destructibleness.
DESTRUCTIBLE De*struc"ti*ble, a. Etym: [L. destructibilis.]
Defn: Liable to destruction; capable of being destroyed.
DESTRUCTIBLENESS De*struc"ti*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being destructible.
DESTRUCTION De*struc"tion, n. Etym: [L. destructio: cf. F. destruction. See Destroy.]
1. The act of destroying; a tearing down; a bringing to naught; subversion; demolition; ruin; slaying; devastation. The Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction. Esth. ix. 5. 'Tis safer to be that which we destroy Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy. Shak. Destruction of venerable establishment. Hallam.
2. The state of being destroyed, demolished, ruined, slain, or devastated. This town came to destruction. Chaucer. Thou castedst them down into destruction. Ps. lxxiii. 18.
2. A destroying agency; a cause of ruin or of devastation; a destroyer. The destruction that wasteth at noonday. Ps. xci. 6.
Syn. -- Demolition; subversion; overthrow; desolation; extirpation; extinction; devastation; downfall; extermination; havoc; ruin.
DESTRUCTIONIST De*struc"tion*ist, n.
1. One who delights in destroying that which is valuable; one whose principles and influence tend to destroy existing institutions; a destructive.
2. (Theol.)
Defn: One who believes in the final destruction or complete annihilation of the wicked; -- called also annihilationist. Shipley.
DESTRUCTIVE De*struc"tive, a. Etym: [L. destructivus: cf. F. destructif.]
Defn: Causing destruction; tending to bring about ruin, death, or devastation; ruinous; fatal; productive of serious evil; mischievous; pernicious; -- often with of or to; as, intemperance is destructive of health; evil examples are destructive to the morals of youth. Time's destructive power. Wordsworth. Destructive distillation. See Distillation. -- Destructive sorties ( (Logic), a process of reasoning which involves the denial of the first of a series of dependent propositions as a consequence of the denial of the last; a species of reductio ad absurdum. Whately.
Syn. -- Mortal; deadly; poisonous; fatal; ruinous; malignant; baleful; pernicious; mischievous.
DESTRUCTIVE De*struc"tive, n.
Defn: One who destroys; a radical reformer; a destructionist.
DESTRUCTIVELY De*struc"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a destructive manner.
DESTRUCTIVENESS De*struc"tive*ness, n.
1. The quality of destroying or ruining. Prynne.
2. (Phren.)
Defn: The faculty supposed to impel to the commission of acts of destruction; propensity to destroy.
DESTRUCTOR De*struc"tor, n. Etym: [L., from destruere. See Destroy, and cf. Destroyer.]
Defn: A destroyer. [R.] Fire, the destructive and the artificial death of things. Boyle.
DESTRUIE De*struie", v. t.
Defn: To destroy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DESUDATION Des`u*da"tion, n. Etym: [L. desudatio, fr. desudare to sweat greatly; de + sudare to sweat.] (Med.)
Defn: A sweating; a profuse or morbid sweating, often succeeded by an eruption of small pimples.
DESUETE De*suete", a. Etym: [L. desuetus, p. p. of desuescere to disuse.]
Defn: Disused; out of use. [R.]
DESUETUDE Des"ue*tude, n. Etym: [L. desuetudo, from desuescere, to grow out of use, disuse; de + suescere to become used or accustomed: cf. F. désuétude. See Custom.]
Defn: The cessation of use; disuse; discontinuance of practice, custom, or fashion. The desuetude abrogated the law, which, before, custom had established. Jer. Taylor.
DESULPHURATE De*sul"phu*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desulphurated; p. pr. & vb. n. Desulphurating.]
Defn: To deprive of sulphur.
DESULPHURATION De*sul`phu*ra"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. désulfuration.]
Defn: The act or process of depriving of sulphur.
DESULPHURIZE De*sul"phur*ize, v. t.
Defn: To desulphurate; to deprive of sulphur. -- De*sul`phur*i*za"tion, n.
DESULTORILY Des"ul*to*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In a desultory manner; without method; loosely; immethodically.
DESULTORINESS Des"ul*to*ri*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being desultory or without order or method; unconnectedness. The seeming desultoriness of my method. Boyle.
DESULTORIOUS Des`ul*to"ri*ous, a.
Defn: Desultory. [R.]
DESULTORY Des"ul*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. desultorius, fr. desultor a leaper, fr. desilire, desultum, to leap down; de + salire to leap. See Saltation.]
1. Leaping or skipping about. [Obs.] I shot at it [a bird], but it was so desultory that I missed my aim. Gilbert White.
2. Jumping, or passing, from one thing or subject to another, without order or rational connection; without logical sequence; disconnected; immethodical; aimless; as, desultory minds. Atterbury. He [Goldsmith] knew nothing accurately; his reading had been desultory. Macaulay.
3. Out of course; by the way; as a digression; not connected with the subject; as, a desultory remark.
Syn. -- Rambling; roving; immethodical; discursive; inconstant; unsettled; cursory; slight; hasty; loose.
DESUME De*sume", v. t. Etym: [L. desumere; de + sumere to take.]
Defn: To select; to borrow. [Obs.] Sir. M. Hale.
DESYNONYMIZATION De`syn*on`y*mi*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of desynonymizing.
DESYNONYMIZE De`syn*on"y*mize, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of synonymous character; to discriminate in use; -- applied to words which have been employed as synonyms. Coleridge. Trench.
DETACH De*tach", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detached; p. pr. & vb. n. Detaching.] Etym: [F. détacher (cf. It. distaccare, staccare); pref. dé (L. dis) + the root found also in E. attach. See Attach, and cf. Staccato.]
1. To part; to separate or disunite; to disengage; -- the opposite of attach; as, to detach the coats of a bulbous root from each other; to detach a man from a leader or from a party.
2. To separate for a special object or use; -- used especially in military language; as, to detach a ship from a fleet, or a company from a regiment.
Syn. -- To separate; disunite; disengage; sever; disjoin; withdraw;; draw off. See Detail.
DETACH De*tach", v. i.
Defn: To push asunder; to come off or separate from anything; to disengage. [A vapor] detaching, fold by fold, From those still heights. Tennyson.
DETACHABLE De*tach"a*ble, a.
Defn: That can be detached.
DETACHED De*tached", a.
Defn: Separate; unconnected, or imperfectly connected; as, detached parcels. "Extensive and detached empire." Burke. Detached escapement. See Escapement.
DETACHMENT De*tach"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. détachement.]
1. The act of detaching or separating, or the state of being detached.
2. That which is detached; especially, a body of troops or part of a fleet sent from the main body on special service. Troops . . . widely scattered in little detachments. Bancroft.
3. Abstraction from worldly objects; renunciation. A trial which would have demanded of him a most heroic faith and the detachment of a saint. J. H. Newman.
DETAIL De"tail, n. Etym: [F. détail, fr. détailler to cut in pieces, tell in detail; pref. dé- (L. de or dis-) + tailler to cut. See Tailor.]
1. A minute portion; one of the small parts; a particular; an item; - - used chiefly in the plural; as, the details of a scheme or transaction. The details of the campaign in Italy. Motley.
2. A narrative which relates minute points; an account which dwells on particulars.
3. (Mil.)
Defn: The selection for a particular service of a person or a body of men; hence, the person or the body of men so selected. Detail drawing, a drawing of the full size, or on a large scale, of some part of a building, machine, etc. -- In detail, in subdivisions; part by part; item; circumstantially; with particularity.
Syn. -- Account; relation; narrative; recital; explanation; narration.
DETAIL De"tail, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detailed; p. pr. & vb. n. Detailing.] Etym: [Cf. F. détailler to cut up in pieces, tell in detail. See Detail, n.]
1. To relate in particulars; to particularize; to report minutely and distinctly; to enumerate; to specify; as, he detailed all the facts in due order.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: To tell off or appoint for a particular service, as an officer, a troop, or a squadron.
Syn. -- Detail, Detach. Detail respect the act of individualizing the person or body that is separated; detach, the removing for the given end or object.
DETAILER De*tail"er, n.
Defn: One who details.
DETAIN De*tain", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detained; p. pr. & vb. n. Detaining.] Etym: [F. détenir, L. detinere, detentum; de + tenere to hold. See Tenable.]
1. To keep back or from; to withhold. Detain not the wages of the hireling. Jer. Taylor.
2. To restrain from proceeding; to stay or stop; to delay; as, we were detained by an accident. Let us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for thee. Judges xiii. 15.
3. To hold or keep in custody.
Syn. -- To withhold; retain; stop; stay; arrest; check; retard; delay; hinder.
DETAIN De*tain", n.
Defn: Detention. [Obs.] Spenser.
DETAINDER De*tain"der, n. (Law)
Defn: A writ. See Detinue.
DETAINER De*tain"er, n.
1. One who detains.
2. (Law) (a) The keeping possession of what belongs to another; detention of what is another's, even though the original taking may have been lawful. Forcible detainer is indictable at common law. (b) A writ authorizing the keeper of a prison to continue to keep a person in custody.
DETAINMENT De*tain"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. detenement.]
Defn: Detention. [R.] Blackstone.
DETECT De*tect", a. Etym: [L. detectus, p. p. of detegere to uncover, detect; de + tegere to cover. See Tegument.]
Defn: Detected. [Obs.] Fabyan.
DETECT De*tect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detected; p. pr. & vb. n. Detecting.]
1. To uncover; to discover; to find out; to bring to light; as, to detect a crime or a criminal; to detect a mistake in an account. Plain good intention . . . is as easily discovered at the first view, as fraud is surely detected at last. Burke. Like following life through creatures you dissect, You lose it in the moment you detect. Pope.
2. To inform against; to accuse. [Obs.] He was untruly judged to have preached such articles as he was detected of. Sir T. More.
Syn. -- To discover; find out; lay bare; expose.
DETECTABLE; DETECTIBLE De*tect"a*ble, De*tect"i*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being detected or found out; as, parties not detectable. "Errors detectible at a glance." Latham.
DETECTER De*tect"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, detects or brings to light; one who finds out what another attempts to conceal; a detector.
DETECTION De*tec"tion, n. Etym: [L. detectio an uncovering, revealing.]
Defn: The act of detecting; the laying open what was concealed or hidden; discovery; as, the detection of a thief; the detection of fraud, forgery, or a plot. Such secrets of guilt are never from detection. D. Webster.
DETECTIVE De*tect"ive, a.
Defn: Fitted for, or skilled in, detecting; employed in detecting crime or criminals; as, a detective officer.
DETECTIVE De*tect"ive, n.
Defn: One who business it is so detect criminals or discover matters of secrecy.
DETECTOR De*tect"or, n. Etym: [L., a revealer.]
Defn: One who, or that which, detects; a detecter. Shak. A deathbed's detector of the heart. Young. Bank-note detector, a publication containing a description of genuine and counterfeit bank notes, designed to enable persons to discriminate between them. -- Detector l. See under Lock.
DETECTOR BAR De*tect"or bar. (Railroads)
Defn: A bar, connected with a switch, longer than the distance between any two consecutive wheels of a train (45 to 50 feet), laid inside a rail and operated by the wheels so that the switch cannot be thrown until all the train is past the switch.
DETENEBRATE De*ten"e*brate, v. t. Etym: [L. de + tenebrare to make dark, fr. tenebrae darkness.]
Defn: To remove darkness from. [Obs.] Ash.
DETENT De*tent", n. Etym: [F. détente, fr. détendre to unbend, relax; pref. dé- (L. dis- or de) + tendre to stretch. See Distend.] (Mech.)
Defn: That which locks or unlocks a movement; a catch, pawl, or dog; especially, in clockwork, the catch which locks and unlocks the wheelwork in striking.
DETENTION De*ten"tion, n. Etym: [L. detentio: cf. F. détention. See Detain.]
1. The act of detaining or keeping back; a withholding.
2. The state of being detained (stopped or hindered); delay from necessity.
3. Confinement; restraint; custody. The archduke Philip . . . found himself in a sort of honorable detention at Henry's court. Hallam.
DETER De*ter", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deterred; p. pr. & vb. n. Deterring.] Etym: [L. deterrere; de + terrere to frighten, terrify. See Terror.]
Defn: To prevent by fear; hence, to hinder or prevent from action by fear of consequences, or difficulty, risk, etc. Addison. Potent enemies tempt and deter us from our duty. Tillotson. My own face deters me from my glass. Prior.
DETERGE De*terge", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deterged; p. pr. & vb. n. Deterging.] Etym: [L. detergere, detersum; de + tergere to rub or wipe off: cf. F. déterger.]
Defn: To cleanse; to purge away, as foul or offending matter from the body, or from an ulcer.
DETERGENCY De*ter"gen*cy, n.
Defn: A cleansing quality or power. De Foe.
DETERGENT De*ter"gent, a. Etym: [L. detergens, -entis, p. pr. of detergere: cf. F. détergent.]
Defn: Cleansing; purging. -- n.
Defn: A substance which cleanses the skin, as water or soap; a medicine to cleanse wounds, ulcers, etc.
DETERIORATE De*te"ri*o*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deteriorated; p. pr. & vb. n. Deteriorating.] Etym: [L. deterioratus, p. p. of deteriorate to deteriorate, fr. deterior worse, prob. a comparative fr. de down, away.]
Defn: To make worse; to make inferior in quality or value; to impair; as, to deteriorate the mind. Whately. The art of war . . . was greatly deteriorated. Southey.
DETERIORATE De*te"ri*o*rate, v. i.
Defn: To grow worse; to be impaired in quality; to degenerate. Under such conditions, the mind rapidly deteriorates. Goldsmith.
DETERIORATION De*te`ri*o*ra"tion, n. Etym: [LL. deterioratio: cf. F. détérioration.]
Defn: The process of growing worse, or the state of having grown worse.
DETERIORITY De*te`ri*or"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. deterior worse. See Deteriorate.]
Defn: Worse state or quality; inferiority. "The deteriority of the diet." [R.] Ray.
DETERMENT De*ter"ment, n. Etym: [From Deter.]
Defn: The act of deterring; also, that which deters. Boyle.
DETERMINABILITY De*ter`mi*na*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being determinable; determinableness. Coleridge.
DETERMINABLE De*ter"mi*na*ble, a. Etym: [L. determinabilis finite. See Determine, v. t.]
Defn: Capable of being determined, definitely ascertained, decided upon, or brought to a conclusion. Not wholly determinable from the grammatical use of the words. South.
DETERMINABLENESS De*ter"mi*na*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Capability of being determined; determinability.
DETERMINACY De*ter"mi*na*cy, n.
Defn: Determinateness. [R.]
DETERMINANT De*ter"mi*nant, a. Etym: [L. determinans, p. pr. of determinare: cf. F. déterminant.]
Defn: Serving to determine or limit; determinative.
DETERMINANT De*ter"mi*nant, n.
1. That which serves to determine; that which causes determination.
2. (Math.)
Defn: The sum of a series of products of several numbers, these products being formed according to certain specified laws; thus, the determinant of the nine numbers. a, b, c,a', b', c',a'\'b7, b'\'b7, c'\'b7, is a b' c'\'b7 -- a b'\'b7 c' + a' b'\'b7 c] -- a' b c'\'b7 + a'\'b7 b' c. The determinant is written by placing the numbers from which it is formed in a square between two vertical lines. The theory of determinants forms a very important branch of modern mathematics.
3. (Logic)
Defn: A mark or attribute, attached to the subject or predicate, narrowing the extent of both, but rendering them more definite and precise. Abp. Thomson.
DETERMINATE De*ter"mi*nate, a. Etym: [L. determinatus, p. p. of determinare. See Determine.]
1. Having defined limits; not uncertain or arbitrary; fixed; established; definite. Quantity of words and a determinate number of feet. Dryden.
2. Conclusive; decisive; positive. The determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God. Acts ii. 23.
3. Determined or resolved upon. [Obs.] My determinate voyage. Shak.
4. Of determined purpose; resolute. [Obs.] More determinate to do than skillful how to do. Sir P. Sidney. Determinate inflorescence (Bot.), that in which the flowering commences with the terminal bud of a stem, which puts a limit to its growth; -- also called centrifugal inflorescence. -- Determinate problem (Math.), a problem which admits of a limited number of solutions. -- Determinate quantities, Determinate equations (Math.), those that are finite in the number of values or solutions, that is, in which the conditions of the problem or equation determine the number.
DETERMINATE De*ter"mi*nate, v. t.
Defn: To bring to an end; to determine. See Determine. [Obs.] The sly, slow hours shall not determinate The dateless limit of thy dear exile. Shak.
DETERMINATELY De*ter"mi*nate*ly, adv.
1. In a determinate manner; definitely; ascertainably. The principles of religion are already either determinately true or false, before you think of them. Tillotson.
2. Resolutely; unchangeably. Being determinately . . . bent to marry. Sir P. Sidney.
DETERMINATENESS De*ter"mi*nate*ness, n.
Defn: State of being determinate.
DETERMINATION De*ter`mi*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. determinatio boundary, end: cf. F. détermination.]
1. The act of determining, or the state of being determined.
2. Bringing to an end; termination; limit. A speedy determination of that war. Ludlow.
3. Direction or tendency to a certain end; impulsion. Remissness can by no means consist with a constant determination of the will . . . to the greatest apparent good. Locke.
4. The quality of mind reaches definite conclusions; decision of character; resoluteness. He only is a well-made man who has a good determination. Emerson.
5. The state of decision; a judicial decision, or ending of controversy.
6. That which is determined upon; result of deliberation; purpose; conclusion formed; fixed resolution. So bloodthirsty a determination to obtain convictions. Hallam.
7. (Med.)
Defn: A flow, rush, or tendency to a particular part; as, a determination of blood to the head.
8. (Physical Sciences)
Defn: The act, process, or result of any accurate measurement, as of length, volume, weight, intensify, etc.; as, the determination of the ohm or of the wave length of light; the determination of the salt in sea water, or the oxygen in the air.
9. (Logic) (a) The act of defining a concept or notion by giving its essential constituents. (b) The addition of a differentia to a concept or notion, thus limiting its extent; -- the opposite of generalization.
10. (Nat. Hist.)
Defn: The act of determining the relations of an object, as regards genus and species; the referring of minerals, plants, or animals, to the species to which they belong; classification; as, I am indebted to a friend for the determination of most of these shells.
Syn. -- Decision; conclusion; judgment; purpose; resolution; resolve; firmness. See Decision.
DETERMINATIVE De*ter"mi*na*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. déterminatif.]
Defn: Having power to determine; limiting; shaping; directing; conclusive. Incidents . . . determinative of their course. I. Taylor. Determinative tables (Nat. Hist.), tables presenting the specific character of minerals, plants, etc., to assist in determining the species to which a specimen belongs.
DETERMINATIVE De*ter"mi*na*tive, n.
Defn: That which serves to determine. Explanatory determinatives . . . were placed after words phonetically expressed, in order to serve as an aid to the reader in determining the meaning. I. Taylor (The Alphabet).
DETERMINATOR De*ter"mi*na`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who determines. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
DETERMINE De*ter"mine, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Determined; p. pr. & vb. n. Determining.] Etym: [F. déterminer, L. determinare, determinatum; de + terminare limit, terminus limit. See Term.]
1. To fix the boundaries of; to mark off and separate. [God] hath determined the times before appointed. Acts xvii. 26.
2. To set bounds to; to fix the determination of; to limit; to bound; to bring to an end; to finish. The knowledge of men hitherto hath been determined by the view or sight. Bacon. Now, where is he that will not stay so long Till his friend sickness hath determined me Shak.
3. To fix the form or character of; to shape; to prescribe imperatively; to regulate; to settle. The character of the soul is determined by the character of its God. J. Edwards. Something divinely beautiful . . . that at some time or other might influence or even determine her course of life. W. Black.
4. To fix the course of; to impel and direct; -- with a remoter object preceded by to; as, another's will determined me to this course.
5. To ascertain definitely; to find out the specific character or name of; to assign to its true place in a system; as, to determine an unknown or a newly discovered plant or its name.
6. To bring to a conclusion, as a question or controversy; to settle authoritative or judicial sentence; to decide; as, the court has determined the cause.
7. To resolve on; to have a fixed intention of; also, to cause to come to a conclusion or decision; to lead; as, this determined him to go immediately.
8. (Logic)
Defn: To define or limit by adding a differentia.
9. (Physical Sciences)
Defn: To ascertain the presence, quantity, or amount of; as, to determine the parallax; to determine the salt in sea water.
DETERMINE De*ter"mine, v. i.
1. To come to an end; to end; to terminate. [Obs.] He who has vented a pernicious doctrine or published an ill book must know that his life determine not together. South. Estates may determine on future contingencies. Blackstone.
2. To come to a decision; to decide; to resolve; -- often with on. "Determine on some course." Shak. He shall pay as the judges determine. Ex. xxi. 22.
DETERMINED De*ter"mined, a.
Defn: Decided; resolute. "Adetermined foe."" Sparks.
DETERMINEDLY De*ter"min*ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a determined manner; with determination.
DETERMINER De*ter"min*er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, determines or decides.
DETERMINISM De*ter"min*ism, n. (Metaph.)
Defn: The doctrine that the will is not free, but is inevitably and invincibly determined by motives. Its superior suitability to produce courage, as contrasted with scientific physical determinism, is obvious. F. P. Cobbe.
DETERMINIST De*ter"min*ist, n. (Metaph.)
Defn: One who believes in determinism. Also adj.; as, determinist theories.
DETERRATION De`ter*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. de + terra earth: cf. F. déterrer to unearth.]
Defn: The uncovering of anything buried or covered with earth; a taking out of the earth or ground. Woodward.
DETERRENCE De*ter"rence, n.
Defn: That which deters; a deterrent; a hindrance. [R.]
DETERRENT De*ter"rent, a. Etym: [L. deterrens, p. pr. of deterrere. See Deter.]
Defn: Serving to deter. "The deterrent principle." E. Davis.
DETERRENT De*ter"rent, n.
Defn: That which deters or prevents.
DETERSION De*ter"sion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. détersion. See Deterge.]
Defn: The act of deterging or cleansing, as a sore.
DETERSIVE De*ter"sive, a. Etym: [Cf. détersif.]
Defn: Cleansing; detergent. -- n.
Defn: A cleansing agent; a detergent.
DETERSIVELY De*ter"sive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a way to cleanse.
DETERSIVENESS De*ter"sive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of cleansing.
DETEST De*test", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detested; p. pr. & vb. n. Detesting.] Etym: [L. detestare, detestatum, and detestari, to curse while calling a deity to witness, to execrate, detest; de + testari to be a witness, testify, testis a witness: cf. F. détester. See Testify.]
1. To witness against; to denounce; to condemn. [Obs.] The heresy of Nestorius . . . was detested in the Eastern churches. Fuller. God hath detested them with his own mouth. Bale.
2. To hate intensely; to abhor; to abominate; to loathe; as, we detest what is contemptible or evil. Who dares think one thing, and another tell, My heart detests him as the gates of hell. Pope.
Syn. -- To abhor; abominate; execrate. See Hate.
DETESTABILITY De*test`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Capacity of being odious. [R.] Carlyle.
DETESTABLE De*test"a*ble, a. Etym: [L. detestabilis: cf. F. détestable.]
Defn: Worthy of being detested; abominable; extremely hateful; very odious; deserving abhorrence; as, detestable vices. Thou hast defiled my sanctuary will all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations. Ezek. v. 11.
Syn. -- Abominable; odious; execrable; abhorred.
DETESTABLENESS De*test"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being detestable.
DETESTABLY De*test"a*bly, adv.
Defn: In a detestable manner.
DETESTATE De*tes"tate, v. t.
Defn: To detest. [Obs.] Udall.
DETESTATION Det`es*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. detestatio: cf. F. détestation.]
Defn: The act of detesting; extreme hatred or dislike; abhorrence; loathing. We are heartily agreed in our detestation of civil war. Burke.
DETESTER De*test"er, n.
Defn: One who detes
DETHRONE De*throne", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dethroned; p. pr. & vb. n. Dethroning.] Etym: [Pref. de- + throne: cf. F. détrôner; pref. dé- (L. dis-) + trône throne. See Throne.]
Defn: To remove or drive from a throne; to depose; to divest of supreme authority and dignity. "The Protector was dethroned." Hume.
DETHRONEMENT De*throne"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. détrônement.]
Defn: Deposal from a throne; deposition from regal power.
DETHRONER De*thron"er, n.
Defn: One who dethrones.
DETHRONIZATION De*thron`i*za"tion, n.
Defn: Dethronement. [Obs.] Speed.
DETHRONIZE De*thron"ize, v. t. Etym: [Cf. LL. dethronizare.]
Defn: To dethrone or unthrone. [Obs.] Cotgrave.
DETINUE Det"i*nue, n. Etym: [OF. detinu, detenu, p. p. of detenir to detain. See Detain.]
Defn: A person or thing detained; (Law)
Defn: a form of action for the recovery of a personal chattel wrongfully detained. Writ of detinue (Law), one that lies against him who wrongfully detains goods or chattels delivered to him, or in possession, to recover the thing itself, or its value and damages, from the detainer. It is now in a great measure superseded by other remedies.
DETONATE Det"o*nate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Detonated; p. pr. & vb. n. Detonating.] Etym: [L. detonare, v. i., to thunder down; de + tonare to thunder; akin to E. thunder. See Thunder, and cf. Detonize.]
Defn: To explode with a sudden report; as, niter detonates with sulphur.
DETONATE Det"o*nate, v. t.
Defn: To cause to explode; to cause to burn or inflame with a sudden report.
DETONATING Det"o*na`ting, a. & n.
Defn: from Detonate. Detonating gas, a mixture of two volumes of hydrogen with one volume of oxygen, which explodes with a loud report upon ignition. -- Detonating powder, any powder or solid substance, as fulminate of mercury, which when struck, explodes with violence and a loud report. -- Detonating primer, a primer exploded by a fuse; -- used to explode gun cotton in blasting operations. -- Detonating tube, a strong tube of glass, usually graduated, closed at one end, and furnished with two wires passing through its sides at opposite points, and nearly meeting, for the purpose of exploding gaseous mixtures by an electric spark, as in gas analysis, etc.
DETONATION Det`o*na"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. détonation.]
Defn: An explosion or sudden report made by the instantaneous decomposition or combustion of unstable substances' as, the detonation of gun cotton.
DETONATOR Det`o*na`tor, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, detonates.
DETONIZATION Det`o*ni*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of detonizing; detonation.
DETONIZE Det"o*nize, v. t. & i. Etym: [See Detonate.] [imp. & p. p.Detonized; p. pr. & vb. n. Detonizing.]
Defn: To explode, or cause to explode; to burn with an explosion; to detonate.
DETORSION De*tor"sion, n.
Defn: Same as Detortion.
DETORT De*tort", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Detorting.] Etym: [L. detortus, p. p. of detorquere to turn away; de + torquere to turn about, twist: cf. F. détorquer, détordre.]
Defn: To turn form the original or plain meaning; to pervert; to wrest. Hammond.
DETORTION De*tor"tion, n.
Defn: The act of detorting, or the state of being detorted; a twisting or warping.
DETOUR De`tour", n. Etym: [F. détour, fr. détourner to turn aside; pref. dé- (L. dis-) + tourner to turn. See Turn.]
Defn: A turning; a circuitous route; a deviation from a direct course; as, the detours of the Mississippi.
DETRACT De*tract", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detracted; p. pr. & vb. n. Detracting.] Etym: [L. detractus, p. p. of detrahere to detract; de + trahere to draw: cf. F. détracter. See Trace.]
1. To take away; to withdraw. Detract much from the view of the without. Sir H. Wotton.
2. To take credit or reputation from; to defame. That calumnious critic . . . Detracting what laboriously we do. Drayton.
Syn. -- To derogate; decry; disparage; depreciate; asperse; vilify; defame; traduce. See Decry.
DETRACT De*tract", v. i.
Defn: To take away a part or something, especially from one's credit; to lessen reputation; to derogate; to defame; -- often with from. It has been the fashion to detract both from the moral and literary character of Cicero. V. Knox.
DETRACTER De*tract"er, n.
Defn: One who detracts; a detractor. Other detracters and malicious writers. Sir T. North.
DETRACTINGLY De*tract"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a detracting manner.
DETRACTION De*trac"tion, n. Etym: [F. détraction, L. detractio.]
1. A taking away or withdrawing. [Obs.] The detraction of the eggs of the said wild fowl. Bacon.
2. The act of taking away from the reputation or good name of another; a lessening or cheapening in the estimation of others; the act of depreciating another, from envy or malice; calumny.
Syn. -- Depreciation; disparagement; derogation; slander; calumny; aspersion; censure.
DETRACTIOUS De*trac"tious, a.
Defn: Containing detraction; detractory. [R.] Johnson.
DETRACTIVE De*tract"ive, a.
1. Tending to detractor draw. [R.]
2. Tending to lower in estimation; depreciative.
DETRACTIVENESS De*tract"ive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being detractive.
DETRACTOR De*tract"or, n. Etym: [L.: cf. F. détracteur.]
Defn: One who detracts; a derogator; a defamer. His detractors were noisy and scurrilous. Macaulay.
Syn. -- Slanderer; calumniator; defamer; vilifier.
DETRACTORY De*tract"o*ry, a.
Defn: Defamatory by denial of desert; derogatory; calumnious. Sir T. Browne.
DETRACTRESS De*tract"ress, n.
Defn: A female detractor. Addison.
DETRAIN De*train", v. i. & t.
Defn: To alight, or to cause to alight, from a railway train. [Eng.] London Graphic.
DETRECT De*trect", v. t. Etym: [L. detrectare; de + tractare, intens. of trahere to draw.]
Defn: To refuse; to decline. [Obs.] "To detrect the battle." Holinshed.
DETRIMENT Det"ri*ment, n. Etym: [L. detrimentum, fr. deterere, detritum, to rub or wear away; de + terere to rub: cf. F. détriment. See Trite.]
1. That which injures or causes damage; mischief; harm; diminution; loss; damage; -- used very generically; as, detriments to property, religion, morals, etc. I can repair That detriment, if such it be. Milton.
2. A charge made to students and barristers for incidental repairs of the rooms they occupy. [Eng.]
Syn. -- Injury; loss; damage; disadvantage; prejudice; hurt; mischief; harm.
DETRIMENT Det"ri*ment, v. t.
Defn: To do injury to; to hurt. [Archaic] Other might be determined thereby. Fuller.
DETRIMENTAL Det`ri*men"tal, a.
Defn: Causing detriment; injurious; hurtful. Neither dangerous nor detrimental to the donor. Addison.
Syn. -- Injurious; hurtful; prejudicial; disadvantageous; mischievous; pernicious.
DETRIMENTALNESS Det`ri*men"tal*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being detrimental; injuriousness.
DETRITAL De*tri"tal, a. (Geol.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or composed of, detritus.
DETRITE De*trite", a. Etym: [L. detritus, p. p.]
Defn: Worn out.
DETRITION De*tri"tion, n. Etym: [LL. detritio. See Detriment.]
Defn: A wearing off or away. Phonograms which by process long-continued detrition have reached a step of extreme simplicity. I. Taylor (The Alphabet).
DETRITUS De*tri"tus, n. Etym: [F. détritus, fr. L. detritus, p. p. of deterere. See Detriment.]
1. (Geol.)
Defn: A mass of substances worn off from solid bodies by attrition, and reduced to small portions; as, diluvial detritus.
Note: For large portions, the word débris is used.
2. Hence: Any fragments separated from the body to which they belonged; any product of disintegration. The mass of detritus of which modern languages are composed. Farrar.
DETRUDE De*trude", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detruded; p. pr. & vb. n. Detruding.] Etym: [L. detrudere, detrusum; de + trudere to thrust, push.]
Defn: To thrust down or out; to push down with force. Locke.
DETRUNCATE De*trun"cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detruncated; p. pr. & vb. n. Detruncating.] Etym: [L. detruncatus, p. p. of detruncare to cut off; de + truncare to maim, shorten, cut off. See Truncate.]
Defn: To shorten by cutting; to cut off; to lop off.
DETRUNCATION De`trun*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. detruncatio: cf. F. détroncation.]
Defn: The act of lopping or cutting off, as the head from the body.
DETRUSION De*tru"sion, n. Etym: [L. detrusio. See Detrude.]
Defn: The act of thrusting or driving down or outward; outward thrust. -- De*tru"sive, a.
DETTE Dette, n.
Defn: Debt. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DETTELES Dette"les, a.
Defn: Free from debt. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DETUMESCENCE De`tu*mes"cence, n. Etym: [L. detumescere to cease swelling; de + tumescere, tumere, to swell.]
Defn: Diminution of swelling; subsidence of anything swollen. [R.] Cudworth.
DETUR De"tur, n. Etym: [L. detur let it be given.]
Defn: A present of books given to a meritorious undergraduate student as a prize. [Harvard Univ., U. S.]
DETURB De*turb", v. t. Etym: [L. deturbare.]
Defn: To throw down. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
DETURBATE De*tur"bate, v. t. Etym: [LL. deturbatus, p. p. of deturbare, fr. L. deturbare to thrust down.]
Defn: To evict; to remove. [Obs.] Foxe.
DETURBATION Det`ur*ba"tion, n.
Defn: The act of deturbating. [Obs.]
DETURN De*turn", v. t. Etym: [Pref. de- + turn. Cf. Detour.]
Defn: To turn away. [Obs.] Sir K. Digby.
DETURPATE De*tur"pate, v. t. Etym: [L. deturpare; de + turpare to make ugly, defile, turpis ugly, foul.]
Defn: To defile; to disfigure. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
DETURPATION Det`ur*pa"tion, n.
Defn: A making foul. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
DEUCE Deuce, n. Etym: [F. deux two, OF. deus, fr. L. duo. See Two.]
1. (Gaming)
Defn: Two; a card or a die with two spots; as, the deuce of hearts.
2. (Tennis)
Defn: A condition of the score beginning whendeuce, which decides the game.
DEUCE Deuce, n. Etym: [Cf. LL. dusius, Armor, dus, teûz, phantom, specter; Gael. taibhs, taibhse, apparition, ghost; or fr. OF. deus God, fr. L. deus (cf. Deity.)]
Defn: The devil; a demon. [A euphemism, written also deuse.] [Low]
DEUCED Deu"ced, a.
Defn: Devilish; excessive; extreme. [Low] -- Deu"ced*ly, adv.
DEUSE; DEUSED Deuse, n.; Deu"sed (, a.
Defn: See Deuce, Deuced.
DEUTEROCANONICAL Deu`ter*o*ca*non"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. canonical.]
Defn: Pertaining to a second canon, or ecclesiastical writing of inferior authority; -- said of the Apocrypha, certain Epistles, etc.
DEUTEROGAMIST Deu`ter*og"a*mist, n. Etym: [See Deuterogamy.]
Defn: One who marries the second time.
DEUTEROGAMY Deu`ter*og"a*my, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A second marriage, after the death of the first husband of wife; -- in distinction from bigamy, as defined in the old canon law. See Bigamy. Goldsmith.
DEUTEROGENIC Deu`ter*o*gen"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Geol.)
Defn: Of secondary origin; -- said of certain rocks whose material has been derived from older rocks.
DEUTERONOMIST Deu`ter*on"o*mist, n.
Defn: The writer of Deuteronomy.
DEUTERONOMY Deu`ter*on"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. Deuteronomium.] (Bibl.)
Defn: The fifth book of the Pentateuch, containing the second giving of the law by Moses.
DEUTEROPATHIA; DEUTEROPATHY Deu`ter*o*pa*thi"a, Deu`ter*op"a*thy, n. Etym: [NL. deuteropathia, fr. Gr. deutéropathie.] (Med.)
Defn: A sympathetic affection of any part of the body, as headache from an overloaded stomach.
DEUTEROPATHIC Deu`ter*o*path"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to deuteropathy; of the nature of deuteropathy.
DEUTEROSCOPY Deu`ter*os"co*py, n. Etym: [Gr. -scopy.]
1. Second sight. I felt by anticipation the horrors of the Highland seers, whom their gift of deuteroscopy compels to witness things unmeet for mortal eye. Sir W. Scott.
2. That which is seen at a second view; a meaning beyond the literal sense; the second intention; a hidden signification. Sir T. Browne.
DEUTEROZOOID Deu`ter*o*zo"oid, n. Etym: [Gr. zooid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the secondary, and usually sexual, zooids produced by budding or fission from the primary zooids, in animals having alternate generations. In the tapeworms, the joints are deuterozooids.
DEUTHYDROGURET Deut`hy*drog"u*ret, n. (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Deutohydroguret.
DEUTO-; DEUT- Deu"to- or Deut- (dut-) Etym: [Contr. from Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: A prefix which formerly properly indicated the second in a regular series of compound in the series, and not to its composition, but which is now generally employed in the same sense as bi- or di-, although little used.
DEUTOHYDROGURET Deu`to*hy*drog"u*ret, n. Etym: [Pref. deut-, deuto- + hydroguret.] (Chem.)
Defn: A compound containing in the molecule two atoms of hydrogen united with some other element or radical. [Obs.]
DEUTOPLASM Deu"to*plasm, n. Etym: [Pref. deuto- + Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: The lifeless food matter in the cytoplasm of an ovum or a cell, as distinguished from the active or true protoplasm; yolk substance; yolk.
DEUTOPLASTIC Deu`to*plas"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. deuto- + Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or composed of, deutoplasm.
DEUTOSULPHURET Deu`to*sul"phu*ret, n. Etym: [Pref. deuto- + sulphuret.] (Chem.)
Defn: A disulphide. [Obs.]
DEUTOXIDE Deu*tox"ide (; 104), n. Etym: [Pref. deut- + oxide.] (Chem.)
Defn: A compound containing in the molecule two atoms of oxygen united with some other element or radical; -- usually called dioxide, or less frequently, binoxide.
DEUTZIA Deut"zi*a, n. Etym: [NL. Named after Jan Deutz of Holland.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of shrubs with pretty white flowers, much cultivated.
DEV; DEVA Dev, or De"va (, n. Etym: [Skr. d. Cf. Deity.] (Hind. Myth.)
Defn: A god; a deity; a divine being; an idol; a king.
DEVANAGARI De`va*na"ga*ri, n. Etym: [Skr. d; d god + nagara city, i. e., divine city.]
Defn: The character in which Sanskrit is written.
DEVAPORATION De*vap`o*ra"tion, n.
Defn: The change of vapor into water, as in the formation of rain.
DEVAST De*vast", v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. dévaster. See Devastate.]
Defn: To devastate. [Obs.] Bolingbroke.
DEVASTATE Dev"as*tate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devastated; p. pr. & vb. n. Devastating.] Etym: [L. devastatus, p. p. of devastare to devastate; de + vastare to lay waste, vastus waste. See Vast.]
Defn: To lay waste; to ravage; to desolate. Whole countries . . . were devastated. Macaulay.
Syn. -- To waste; ravage; desolate; destroy; demolish; plunder; pillage.
DEVASTATION Dev`as*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dévastation.]
1. The act of devastating, or the state of being devastated; a laying waste. Even now the devastation is begun, And half the business of destruction done. Goldsmith.
2. (Law)
Defn: Waste of the goods of the deceased by an executor or administrator. Blackstone.
Syn. -- Desolation; ravage; waste; havoc; destruction; ruin; overthrow.
DEVASTATOR Dev"as*ta`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who, or that which, devastates. Emerson.
DEVASTAVIT Dev`as*ta"vit, n. Etym: [L., he has wasted.] (Law)
Defn: Waste or misapplication of the assets of a deceased person by an executor or an administrator. Bouvier.
DEVATA De"va*ta, n. Etym: [Hind., fr. Skr. d god.] (Hind. Myth.)
Defn: A deity; a divine being; a good spirit; an idol. [Written also dewata.]
DEVE Deve, a. Etym: [See Deaf.]
Defn: Deaf. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DEVELIN Dev"el*in, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European swift. [Prov. Eng.]
DEVELOP De*vel"op, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Developed; p. pr. & vb. n. Developing.] Etym: [F. déveloper; dé- (L. dis-) + OF. voluper, voleper, to envelop, perh. from L. volup agreeably, delightfully, and hence orig., to make agreeable or comfortable by enveloping, to keep snug (cf. Voluptuous); or. perh. fr. a derivative of volvere, volutum, to roll (cf. Devolve). Cf. Envelop.] [Written also develope.]
1. To free from that which infolds or envelops; to unfold; to lay open by degrees or in detail; to make visible or known; to disclose; to produce or give forth; as, to develop theories; a motor that develops 100 horse power. These serve to develop its tenets. Milner. The 20th was spent in strengthening our position and developing the line of the enemy. The Century.
2. To unfold gradually, as a flower from a bud; hence, to bring through a succession of states or stages, each of which is preparatory to the next; to form or expand by a process of growth; to cause to change gradually from an embryo, or a lower state, to a higher state or form of being; as, sunshine and rain develop the bud into a flower; to develop the mind. The sound developed itself into a real compound. J. Peile. All insects . . . acquire the jointed legs before the wings are fully developed. Owen.
3. To advance; to further; to prefect; to make to increase; to promote the growth of. We must develop our own resources to the utmost. Jowett (Thucyd).
4. (Math.)
Defn: To change the form of, as of an algebraic expression, by executing certain indicated operations without changing the value.
5. (Photog.)
Defn: To cause to become visible, as an invisible or latent image upon plate, by submitting it to chemical agents; to bring to view. To develop a curved surface on a place (Geom.), to produce on the plane an equivalent surface, as if by rolling the curved surface so that all parts shall successively touch the plane.
Syn. -- To uncover; unfold; evolve; promote; project; lay open; disclose; exhibit; unravel; disentangle.
DEVELOP De*vel"op, v. i.
1. To go through a process of natural evolution or growth, by successive changes from a less perfect to a more perfect or more highly organized state; to advance from a simpler form of existence to one more complex either in structure or function; as, a blossom develops from a bud; the seed develops into a plant; the embryo develops into a well-formed animal; the mind develops year by year. Nor poets enough to understand That life develops from within. Mrs. Browning.
2. To become apparent gradually; as, a picture on sensitive paper develops on the application of heat; the plans of the conspirators develop.
DEVELOPABLE De*vel"op*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being developed. J. Peile. Developable surface (Math.), a surface described by a moving right line, and such that consecutive positions of the generator intersect each other. Hence, the surface can be developed into a plane.
DEVELOPER De*vel"op*er, n.
1. One who, or that which, develops.
2. (Photog.)
Defn: A reagent by the action of which the latent image upon a photographic plate, after exposure in the camera, or otherwise, is developed and visible.
DEVELOPMENT De*vel"op*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. développement.] [Written also developement.]
1. The act of developing or disclosing that which is unknown; a gradual unfolding process by which anything is developed, as a plan or method, or an image upon a photographic plate; gradual advancement or growth through a series of progressive changes; also, the result of developing, or a developed state. A new development of imagination, taste, and poetry. Channing.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: The series of changes which animal and vegetable organisms undergo in their passage from the embryonic state to maturity, from a lower to a higher state of organization.
3. (Math.) (a) The act or process of changing or expanding an expression into another of equivalent value or meaning. (b) The equivalent expression into which another has been developed.
4. (mus.)
Defn: The elaboration of a theme or subject; the unfolding of a musical idea; the evolution of a whole piece or movement from a leading theme or motive. Development theory (Biol.), the doctrine that animals and plants possess the power of passing by slow and successive stages from a lower to a higher state of organization, and that all the higher forms of life now in existence were thus developed by uniform laws from lower forms, and are not the result of special creative acts. See the Note under Darwinian.
Syn. -- Unfolding; disclosure; unraveling; evolution; elaboration; growth.
DEVELOPMENTAL De*vel`op*men"tal, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or characteristic of, the process of development; as, the developmental power of a germ. Carpenter.
DEVENUSTATE Dev`e*nus"tate, v. t. Etym: [L. devenustatus, p. p. of devenustare to disfigure; de + venustus lovely, graceful.]
Defn: To deprive of beauty or grace. [Obs.]
DEVERGENCE; DEVERGENCY De*ver"gence, De*ver"gen*cy, n.
Defn: See Divergence. [Obs.]
DEVEST De*vest", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devested; p. pr. & vb. n. Devesting.] Etym: [L. devestire to undress; de + vestire to dress: cf. OF. devestir, F. dévêtir. Cf. Divest.]
1. To divest; to undress. Shak.
2. To take away, as an authority, title, etc., to deprive; to alienate, as an estate.
Note: This word is now generally written divest, except in the legal sense.
DEVEST De*vest", v. i. (Law)
Defn: To be taken away, lost, or alienated, as a title or an estate.
DEVEX De*vex", a. Etym: [L. devexus, from devehere to carry down.]
Defn: Bending down; sloping. [Obs.]
DEVEX De*vex", n.
Defn: Devexity. [Obs.] May (Lucan).
DEVEXITY De*vex"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. devexitas, fr. devexus. See Devex, a.]
Defn: A bending downward; a sloping; incurvation downward; declivity. [R.] Davies (Wit's Pilgr.)
DEVI De"vi, n.
Defn: ; fem. of Deva. A goddess.
DEVIANT De"vi*ant, a.
Defn: Deviating. [Obs.]
DEVIATE De"vi*ate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Deviated; p. pr. & vb. n. Deviating.] Etym: [L. deviare to deviate; de + viare to go, travel, via way. See Viaduct.]
Defn: To go out of the way; to turn aside from a course or a method; to stray or go astray; to err; to digress; to diverge; to vary. Thus Pegasus, a nearer way to take, May boldly deviate from the common track. Pope.
Syn. -- To swerve; stray; wander; digress; depart; deflect; err.
DEVIATE De"vi*ate, v. t.
Defn: To cause to deviate. [R.] To deviate a needle. J. D. Forbes.
DEVIATION De`vi*a"tion, n. Etym: [LL. deviatio: cf. F. déviation.]
1. The act of deviating; a wandering from the way; variation from the common way, from an established rule, etc.; departure, as from the right course or the path of duty.
2. The state or result of having deviated; a transgression; an act of sin; an error; an offense.
2. (Com.)
Defn: The voluntary and unnecessary departure of a ship from, or delay in, the regular and usual course of the specific voyage insured, thus releasing the underwriters from their responsibility. Deviation of a falling body (Physics), that deviation from a strictly vertical line of descent which occurs in a body falling freely, in consequence of the rotation of the earth. -- Deviation of the compass, the angle which the needle of a ship's compass makes with the magnetic meridian by reason of the magnetism of the iron parts of the ship. -- Deviation of the line of the vertical, the difference between the actual direction of a plumb line and the direction it would have if the earth were a perfect ellipsoid and homogeneous, -- caused by the attraction of a mountain, or irregularities in the earth's density.
DEVIATOR De"vi*a`tor, n. Etym: [L., a forsaker.]
Defn: One who, or that which, deviates.
DEVIATORY De"vi*a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Tending to deviate; devious; as, deviatory motion. [R.] Tully.
DEVICE De*vice", n. Etym: [OE. devis, devise, will, intention, opinion, invention, fr. F. devis architect's plan and estimates (in OF., division, plan, wish), devise device (in sense 3), in OF. also, division, wish, last will, fr. deviser. See Devise, v. t., and cf. Devise, n.]
1. That which is devised, or formed by design; a contrivance; an invention; a project; a scheme; often, a scheme to deceive; a stratagem; an artifice. His device in against Babylon, to destroy it. Jer. li. 11. Their recent device of demanding benevolences. Hallam. He disappointeth the devices of the crafty. Job v. 12.
2. Power of devising; invention; contrivance. I must have instruments of my own device. Landor.
3. (a) An emblematic design, generally consisting of one or more figures with a motto, used apart from heraldic bearings to denote the historical situation, the ambition, or the desire of the person adopting it. See Cognizance. (b) Improperly, an heraldic bearing. Knights-errant used to distinguish themselves by devices on their shields. Addison. A banner with this strange device -Excelsior. Longfellow.
4. Anything fancifully conceived. Shak.
5. A spectacle or show. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
6. Opinion; decision. [Obs.] Rom. of R.
Syn. -- Contrivance; invention; design; scheme; project; stratagem; shift. -- Device, Contrivance. Device implies more of inventive power, and contrivance more of skill and dexterity in execution. A device usually has reference to something worked out for exhibition or show; a contrivance usually respects the arrangement or disposition of things with reference to securing some end. Devices were worn by knights-errant on their shields; contrivances are generally used to promote the practical convenience of life. The word device is often used in a bad sense; as, a crafty device; contrivance is almost always used in a good sense; as, a useful contrivance.
DEVICEFUL De*vice"ful, a.
Defn: Full of devices; inventive. [R.] A carpet, rich, and of deviceful thread. Chapman.
DEVICEFULLY De*vice"ful*ly, adv.
Defn: In a deviceful manner. [R.]
DEVIL Dev"il, n. Etym: [AS. deófol, deóful; akin to G. , Goth. diabaúlus; all fr. L. diabolus the devil, Gr. gal to fall. Cf. Diabolic.]
1. The Evil One; Satan, represented as the tempter and spiritual of mankind. [Jesus] being forty days tempted of the devil. Luke iv. 2. That old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world. Rev. xii. 9.
2. An evil spirit; a demon. A dumb man possessed with a devil. Matt. ix. 32.
3. A very wicked person; hence, any great evil. "That devil Glendower." "The devil drunkenness." Shak. Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil John vi. 70.
4. An expletive of surprise, vexation, or emphasis, or, ironically, of negation. [Low] The devil a puritan that he is, . . . but a timepleaser. Shak. The things, we know, are neither rich nor rare, But wonder how the devil they got there. Pope.
5. (Cookery)
Defn: A dish, as a bone with the meat, broiled and excessively peppered; a grill with Cayenne pepper. Men and women busy in baking, broiling, roasting oysters, and preparing devils on the gridiron. Sir W. Scott.
6. (Manuf.)
Defn: A machine for tearing or cutting rags, cotton, etc. Blue devils. See under Blue. -- Cartesian devil. See under Cartesian. -- Devil bird (Zoöl.), one of two or more South African drongo shrikes (Edolius retifer, and E. remifer), believed by the natives to be connected with sorcery. -- Devil may care, reckless, defiant of authority; -- used adjectively. Longfellow. -- Devil's apron (Bot.), the large kelp (Laminaria saccharina, and L. longicruris) of the Atlantic ocean, having a blackish, leathery expansion, shaped somewhat like an apron. -- Devil's coachhorse. (Zoöl.) (a) The black rove beetle (Ocypus olens). [Eng.] (b) A large, predacious, hemipterous insect (Prionotus cristatus); the wheel bug. [U.S.] -- Devil's darning-needle. (Zoöl.) See under Darn, v. t. -- Devil's fingers, Devil's hand (Zoöl.), the common British starfish (Asterias rubens); -- also applied to a sponge with stout branches. [Prov. Eng., Irish & Scot.] -- Devil's riding-horse (Zoöl.), the American mantis (Mantis Carolina). -- The Devil's tattoo, a drumming with the fingers or feet. "Jack played the Devil's tattoo on the door with his boot heels." F. Hardman (Blackw. Mag.). -- Devil worship, worship of the power of evil; -- still practiced by barbarians who believe that the good and evil forces of nature are of equal power. -- Printer's devil, the youngest apprentice in a printing office, who runs on errands, does dirty work (as washing the ink rollers and sweeping), etc. "Without fearing the printer's devil or the sheriff's officer." Macaulay. -- Tasmanian devil (Zoöl.), a very savage carnivorous marsupial of Tasmania (Dasyurus, or Diabolus, ursinus). -- To play devil with, to molest extremely; to ruin. [Low]
DEVIL Dev"il, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deviled or Devilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Deviling or Devilling.]
1. To make like a devil; to invest with the character of a devil.
2. To grill with Cayenne pepper; to season highly in cooking, as with pepper. A deviled leg of turkey. W. Irving. deviled egg a hard-boiled egg, sliced into halves and with the yolk removed and replaced with a paste, usually made from the yolk and mayonnaise, seasoned with salt and/or spices such as paprika.
DEVIL-DIVER; DEVIL BIRD Dev"il-div`er, Dev"il bird` (, n.. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small water bird. See Dabchick.
DEVILESS Dev"il*ess, n.
Defn: A she-devil. [R.] Sterne.
DEVILET Dev"il*et, n.
Defn: A little devil. [R.] Barham.
DEVILFISH Dev"il*fish`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) A huge ray (Manta birostris or Cephaloptera vampyrus) of the Gulf of Mexico and Southern Atlantic coasts. Several other related species take the same name. See Cephaloptera. (b) A large cephalopod, especially the very large species of Octopus and Architeuthis. See Octopus. (c) The gray whale of the Pacific coast. See Gray whale. (d) The goosefish or angler (Lophius), and other allied fishes. See Angler.
DEVILING Dev"il*ing, n.
Defn: A young devil. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
DEVILISH Dev"il*ish, a.
1. Resembling, characteristic of, or pertaining to, the devil; diabolical; wicked in the extreme. "Devilish wickedness." Sir P. Sidney. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. James iii. 15.
2. Extreme; excessive. [Colloq.] Dryden.
Syn. -- Diabolical; infernal; hellish; satanic; wicked; malicious; detestable; destructive. -- Dev"il*ish*ly, adv. -- Dev"il*ish*ness, n.
DEVILISM Dev"il*ism, n.
Defn: The state of the devil or of devils; doctrine of the devil or of devils. Bp. Hall.
DEVILIZE Dev"il*ize, v. t.
Defn: To make a devil of. [R.] He that should deify a saint, should wrong him as much as he that should devilize him. Bp. Hall.
DEVILKIN Dev"il*kin, n.
Defn: A little devil; a devilet.
DEVILMENT Dev"il*ment, n.
Defn: Deviltry. Bp. Warburton.
DEVILRY Dev"il*ry, n.; pl. Devilries (.
1. Conduct suitable to the devil; extreme wickedness; deviltry. Stark lies and devilry. Sir T. More.
2. The whole body of evil spirits. Tylor.
DEVIL'S DARNING-NEEDLE Dev"il's darn"ing-nee`dle. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A dragon fly. See Darning needle, under Darn, v. t.
DEVILSHIP Dev"il*ship, n.
Defn: The character or person of a devil or the devil. Cowley.
DEVILTRY Dev"il*try, n.; pl. Deviltries (.
Defn: Diabolical conduct; malignant mischief; devilry. C. Reade.
DEVILWOOD Dev"il*wood`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of tree (Osmanthus Americanus), allied to the European olive.
DEVIOUS De"vi*ous, a. Etym: [L. devius; de + via way. See Viaduct.]
1. Out of a straight line; winding; varying from directness; as, a devious path or way.
2. Going out of the right or common course; going astray; erring; wandering; as, a devious step.
Syn. -- Wandering; roving; rambling; vagrant. -- De"vi*ous*ly, adv. -- De"vi*ous*ness, n.
DEVIRGINATE De*vir"gin*ate, a. Etym: [L. devirginatus, p. p. of devirginare.]
Defn: Deprived of virginity. [R.]
DEVIRGINATE De*vir"gin*ate, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of virginity; to deflour. [R.] Sandys.
DEVIRGINATION De*vir`gi*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. devirginatio.]
Defn: A deflouring. [R.] Feltham.
DEVISABLE De*vis"a*ble, a. Etym: [From Devise.]
1. Capable of being devised, invented, or contrived.
2. Capable of being bequeathed, or given by will.
DEVISAL De*vis"al, n.
Defn: A devising. Whitney.
DEVISE De*vise", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devised; p. pr. & vb. n. Devising.] Etym: [OF. deviser to distribute, regulate, direct, relate, F., to chat, fr. L. divisus divided, distributed, p. p. of dividere. See Divide, and cf. Device.]
1. To form in the mind by new combinations of ideas, new applications of principles, or new arrangement of parts; to formulate by thought; to contrive; to excogitate; to invent; to plan; to scheme; as, to devise an engine, a new mode of writing, a plan of defense, or an argument. To devise curious works. Ex. CCTV. 32. Devising schemes to realize his ambitious views. Bancroft.
2. To plan or scheme for; to purpose to obtain. For wisdom is most riches; fools therefore They are which fortunes do by vows devise. Spenser.
3. To say; to relate; to describe. [Obs.] Chaucer.
4. To imagine; to guess. [Obs.] Spenser.
5. (Law)
Defn: To give by will; -- used of real estate; formerly, also, of chattels.
Syn. -- To bequeath; invent; discover; contrive; excogitate; imagine; plan; scheme. See Bequeath.
DEVISE De*vise", v. i.
Defn: To form a scheme; to lay a plan; to contrive; to consider. I thought, devised, and Pallas heard my prayer. Pope.
Note: Devise was formerly followed by of; as, let us devise of ease. Spenser.
DEVISE De*vise", n. Etym: [OF. devise division, deliberation, wish, will, testament. See Device.]
1. The act of giving or disposing of real estate by will; -- sometimes improperly applied to a bequest of personal estate.
2. A will or testament, conveying real estate; the clause of a will making a gift of real property. Fines upon devises were still exacted. Bancroft.
3. Property devised, or given by will.
DEVISE De*vise", n.
Defn: Device. See Device. [Obs.]
DEVISEE Dev`i*see", n. (Law)
Defn: One to whom a devise is made, or real estate given by will.
DEVISER De*vis"er, n.
Defn: One who devises.
DEVISOR De*vis"or, n. (Law)
Defn: One who devises, or gives real estate by will; a testator; -- correlative to devisee.
DEVITABLE Dev"i*ta*ble, a. Etym: [L. devitare to avoid; de + vitare to shun, avoid.]
Defn: Avoidable. [Obs.]
DEVITALIZE De*vi"tal*ize, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of life or vitality. -- De*vi`tal*i*za"tion, n.
DEVITATION Dev`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. devitatio.]
Defn: An avoiding or escaping; also, a warning. [Obs.] Bailey.
DEVITRIFICATION De*vit`ri*fi*ca"tion, n.
Defn: The act or process of devitrifying, or the state of being devitrified. Specifically, the conversion of molten glassy matter into a stony mass by slow cooling, the result being the formation of crystallites, microbites, etc., in the glassy base, which are then called devitrification products.
DEVITRIFY De*vit"ri*fy, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of glasslike character; to take away vitreous luster and transparency from.
DEVOCALIZE De*vo"cal*ize, v. t.
Defn: To make toneless; to deprive of vowel quality. -- De*vo`cal*i*za"tion, n. If we take a high vowel, such as (i) [= nearly i of bit], and devocalize it, we obtain a hiss which is quite distinct enough to stand for a weak (jh). H. Sweet.
DEVOCATION Dev`o*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. devocare to call off or away; de + vocare to call.]
Defn: A calling off or away. [R.] Hallywell.
DEVOID De*void", v. t. Etym: [OE. devoiden to leave, OF. desvuidier, desvoidier, to empty out. See Void.]
Defn: To empty out; to remove.
DEVOID De*void", a. Etym: [See Devoid, v. t.]
1. Void; empty; vacant. [Obs.] Spenser.
2. Destitute; not in possession; -- with of; as, devoid of sense; devoid of pity or of pride.
DEVOIR De*voir", n. Etym: [F., fr. L. debere to owe. See Due.]
Defn: Duty; service owed; hence, due act of civility or respect; -- now usually in the plural; as, they paid their devoirs to the ladies. "Do now your devoid, young knights!" Chaucer.
DEVOLUTE Dev"o*lute, v. t. Etym: [L. devolutus, p. p. of devolvere. See Devolve.]
Defn: To devolve. [Obs.] Foxe.
DEVOLUTION Dev`o*lu"tion, n. Etym: [LL. devolutio: cf. F. dévolution.]
1. The act of rolling down. [R.] The devolution of earth down upon the valleys. Woodward.
2. Transference from one person to another; a passing or devolving upon a successor. The devolution of the crown through a . . . channel known and conformable to old constitutional requisitions. De Quincey.
DEVOLVE De*volve", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devolved; p. pr. & vb. n. Devolving.] Etym: [L. devolvere, devolutum, to roll down; de + volvere to roll down; de + volvere to roll. See Voluble.]
1. To roll onward or downward; to pass on. Every headlong stream Devolves its winding waters to the main. Akenside. Devolved his rounded periods. Tennyson.
2. To transfer from one person to another; to deliver over; to hand down; -- generally with upon, sometimes with to or into. They devolved a considerable share of their power upon their favorite. Burke. They devolved their whole authority into the hands of the council of sixty. Addison.
DEVOLVE De*volve", v. i.
Defn: To pass by transmission or succession; to be handed over or down; -- generally with on or upon, sometimes with to or into; as, after the general fell, the command devolved upon (or on) the next officer in rank. His estate . . . devolved to Lord Somerville. Johnson.
DEVOLVEMENT De*volve"ment, n.
Defn: The act or process of devolving;; devolution.
DEVON De"von, n.
Defn: One of a breed of hardy cattle originating in the country of Devon, England. Those of pure blood have a deep red color. The small, longhorned variety, called North Devons, is distinguished by the superiority of its working oxen.
DEVONIAN De*vo"ni*an, a. (Geol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to Devon or Devonshire in England; as, the Devonian rocks, period, or system. Devonian age (Geol.), the age next older than the Carboniferous and later than the Silurian; -- called also the Age of fishes. The various strata of this age compose the Devonian formation or system, and include the old red sandstone of Great Britain. They contain, besides plants and numerous invertebrates, the bony portions of many large and remarkable fishes of extinct groups. See the Diagram under Geology.
DEVONIAN De*vo"ni*an, n.
Defn: The Devonian age or formation.
DEVORATION Dev`o*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. devoratio. See Devour.]
Defn: The act of devouring. [Obs.] Holinshed.
DEVOTARY De*vo"ta*ry, n. Etym: [See Devote, Votary.]
Defn: A votary. [Obs.] J. Gregory.
DEVOTE De*vote", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devoted; p. pr. & vb. n. Devoting.] Etym: [L. devotus, p. p. of devovere; de + vovere to vow. See Vow, and cf. Devout, Devow.]
1. To appropriate by vow; to set apart or dedicate by a solemn act; to consecrate; also, to consign over; to doom; to evil; to devote one to destruction; the city was devoted to the flames. No devoted thing that a man shall devote unto the Lord . . . shall be sold or redeemed. Lev. xxvii. 28.
2. To execrate; to curse. [Obs.]
3. To give up wholly; to addict; to direct the attention of wholly or compound; to attach; -- often with a reflexive pronoun; as, to devote one's self to science, to one's friends, to piety, etc.
Thy servant who is devoted to thy fear. Ps. cxix. 38. They devoted themselves unto all wickedness. Grew. A leafless and simple branch . . . devoted to the purpose of climbing. Gray.
Syn. -- To addict; apply; dedicate; consecrate; resign; destine; doom; consign. See Addict.
DEVOTE De*vote", a. Etym: [L. devotus, p. p.]
Defn: Devoted; addicted; devout. [Obs.] Milton.
DEVOTE De*vote", n.
Defn: A devotee. [Obs.] Sir E. Sandys.
DEVOTED De*vot"ed, a.
Defn: Consecrated to a purpose; strongly attached; zealous; devout; as, a devoted admirer. -- De*vot"ed*ly, adv. -- De*vot"ed*ness, n.
DEVOTEE Dev`o*tee", n.
Defn: One who is wholly devoted; esp., one given wholly to religion; one who is superstitiously given to religious duties and ceremonies; a bigot. While Father Le Blanc was very devout he was not a devotee. A. S. Hardy.
DEVOTEMENT De*vote"ment, n.
Defn: The state of being devoted, or set apart by a vow. [R.] Bp. Hurd.
DEVOTER De*vot"er, n.
Defn: One who devotes; a worshiper.
DEVOTION De*vo"tion, n. Etym: [F. dévotion, L. devotio.]
1. The act of devoting; consecration.
2. The state of being devoted; addiction; eager inclination; strong attachment love or affection; zeal; especially, feelings toward God appropriately expressed by acts of worship; devoutness. Genius animated by a fervent spirit of devotion. Macaulay.
3. Act of devotedness or devoutness; manifestation of strong attachment; act of worship; prayer. "The love of public devotion." Hooker.
4. Disposal; power of disposal. [Obs.] They are entirely at our devotion, and may be turned backward and forward, as we please. Godwin.
5. A thing consecrated; an object of devotion. [R.] Churches and altars, priests and all devotions, Tumbled together into rude chaos. Beau. & Fl. Days of devotion. See under Day.
Syn. -- Consecration; devoutness; religiousness; piety; attachment; devotedness; ardor; earnestness.
DEVOTIONAL De*vo"tion*al, a. Etym: [L. devotionalis.]
Defn: Pertaining to, suited to, or used in, devotion; as, a devotional posture; devotional exercises; a devotional frame of mind.
DEVOTIONALIST; DEVOTIONIST De*vo"tion*al*ist, De*vo"tion*ist, n.
Defn: One given to devotion, esp. to excessive formal devotion.
DEVOTIONALITY De*vo`tion*al"i*ty, n.
Defn: The practice of a devotionalist. A. H. Clough.
DEVOTIONALLY De*vo"tion*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a devotional manner; toward devotion.
DEVOTO De*vo"to, n. Etym: [It.]
Defn: A devotee. Dr. J. Scott.
DEVOTOR De*vo"tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A worshiper; one given to devotion. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
DEVOUR De*vour", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devoured; p. pr. & vb. n. Devouring.] Etym: [F. dévorer, fr. L. devorare; de + vorare to eat greedily, swallow up. See Voracious.]
1. To eat up with greediness; to consume ravenously; to feast upon like a wild beast or a glutton; to prey upon. Some evil beast hath devoured him. Gen. xxxvii. 20.
2. To seize upon and destroy or appropriate greedily, selfishly, or wantonly; to consume; to swallow up; to use up; to waste; to annihilate. Famine and pestilence shall devour him. Ezek. vii. 15. I waste my life and do my days devour. Spenser.
3. To enjoy with avidity; to appropriate or take in eagerly by the senses. Longing they look, and gaping at the sight, Devour her o'er with vast delight. Dryden.
Syn. -- To consume; waste; destroy; annihilate.
DEVOURABLE De*vour"a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be devoured.
DEVOURER De*vour"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, devours.
DEVOURINGLY De*vour"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a devouring manner.
DEVOUT De*vout", a. Etym: [OE. devot, devout, F. dévot, from L. devotus devoted, p. p. of devovere. See Devote, v. t.]
1. Devoted to religion or to religious feelings and duties; absorbed in religious exercises; given to devotion; pious; reverent; religious. A devout man, and one that feared God. Acts x. 2. We must be constant and devout in the worship of God. Rogers.
2. Expressing devotion or piety; as, eyes devout; sighs devout; a devout posture. Milton.
3. Warmly devoted; hearty; sincere; earnest; as, devout wishes for one's welfare. The devout, devoutly religious persons, those who are sincerely pious.
Syn. -- Holy; pure; religious; prayerful; pious; earnest; reverent; solemn; sincere.
DEVOUT De*vout", n.
1. A devotee. [Obs.] Sheldon.
2. A devotional composition, or part of a composition; devotion. [Obs.] Milton.
DEVOUTFUL De*vout"ful, a.
1. Full of devotion. [R.]
2. Sacred. [R.] To take her from austerer check of parents, To make her his by most devoutful rights. Marston.
DEVOUTLESS De*vout"less, a.
Defn: Destitute of devotion. -- De*vout"less*ly, adv. -- De*vout"less*ness, n.
DEVOUTLY De*vout"ly, adv.
1. In a devout and reverent manner; with devout emotions; piously. Cast her fair eyes to heaven and prayed devoutly. Shak.
2. Sincerely; solemnly; earnestly. 'T is a consummation Devoutly to be wished. Shak.
DEVOUTNESS De*vout"ness, n.
Defn: Quality or state of being devout.
DEVOVE De*vove", v. t. Etym: [See Devote, v. t.]
Defn: To devote. [Obs.] Cowley.
DEVOW De*vow", v. t. Etym: [F. dévouer, L. devovere. See Devote, v. t.]
1. To give up; to devote. [Obs.]
2. Etym: [Cf. OF. desvoer. Cf. Disavow.]
Defn: To disavow; to disclaim. [Obs.] G. Fletcher.
DEVULGARIZE De*vul"gar*ize, v. t.
Defn: To free from what is vulgar, common, or narrow. Shakespeare and Plutarch's "Lives" are very devulgarizing books. E. A. Abbott.
DEW Dew, n. Etym: [AS. deáw; akin to D. dauw, G. thau, tau, Icel. dögg, Sw. dagg, Dan. dug; cf. Skr. dhav, dhav, to flow. Dag dew.]
1. Moisture from the atmosphere condensed by cool bodies upon their surfaces, particularly at night. Her tears fell with the dews at even. Tennyson.
2. Figuratively, anything which falls lightly and in a refreshing manner. "The golden dew of sleep." Shak.
3. An emblem of morning, or fresh vigor. "The dew of his youth." Longfellow.
Note: Dew is used in combination; as, dew-bespangled, dew-drenched, dewdrop, etc.
DEW Dew, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dewed; p. pr. & vb. n. Dewing.]
Defn: To wet with dew or as with dew; to bedew; to moisten; as with dew. The grasses grew A little ranker since they dewed them so. A. B. Saxton.
DEW Dew, a. & n.
Defn: Same as Due, or Duty. [Obs.] Spenser.
DEWAR VESSEL Dew"ar ves`sel (du"er). [After Sir James Dewar, British physicist.]
Defn: A double-walled glass vessel for holding liquid air, etc., having the space between the walls exhausted so as to prevent conduction of heat, and sometimes having the glass silvered to prevent absorption of radiant heat; -- called also, according to the particular shape, Dewar bulb, Dewar tube, etc.
DEWBERRY Dew"ber`ry, n. (Bot.) (a) The fruit of certain species of bramble (Rubus); in England, the fruit of R. cæsius, which has a glaucous bloom; in America, that of R. canadensis and R. hispidus, species of low blackberries. (b) The plant which bears the fruit. Feed him with apricots and dewberries. Shak.
DEWCLAW Dew"claw`, n.
Defn: In any animal, esp. of the Herbivora, a rudimentary claw or small hoof not reaching the ground. Some cut off the dewclaws [of greyhounds]. J. H. Walsh.
DEWDROP Dew"drop`, n.
Defn: A drop of dew. Shak.
DEWFALL Dew"fall`, n.
Defn: The falling of dew; the time when dew begins to fall.
DEWINESS Dew"i*ness, n.
Defn: State of being dewy.
DEWLAP Dew"lap`, n. Etym: [Dew + lap to lick.]
1. The pendulous skin under the neck of an ox, which laps or licks the dew in grazing.
2. The flesh upon the human throat, especially when with age. [Burlesque] On her withered dewlap pour the ale. Shak.
DEWLAPPED Dew"lapped`, a.
Defn: Furnished with a dewlap.
DEWLESS Dew"less, a.
Defn: Having no dew. Tennyson.
DEW-POINT Dew"-point`, n. (Meteor.)
Defn: The temperature at which dew begins to form. It varies with the humidity and temperature of the atmosphere.
DEWRET Dew"ret`, v. t. Etym: [Dew + ret, v. t.]
Defn: To ret or rot by the process called dewretting.
DEWRETTING Dew"ret`ting, n.
Defn: Dewrotting; the process of decomposing the gummy matter of flax and hemp and setting the fibrous part, by exposure on a sward to dew, rain, and sunshine.
DEWROT Dew"rot`, v. t.
Defn: To rot, as flax or hemp, by exposure to rain, dew, and sun. See Dewretting.
DEWWORM Dew"worm`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Earthworm.
DEWY Dew"y, a.
1. Pertaining to dew; resembling, consisting of, or moist with, dew. A dewy mist Went and watered all the ground. Milton. When dewy eve her curtain draws. Keble.
2. Falling gently and beneficently, like the dew. Dewy sleep ambrosial. Cowper.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: Resembling a dew-covered surface; appearing as if covered with dew.
DEXTER Dex"ter, a. Etym: [L.,; akin to Gr. dakshi (cf. daksh to be strong, suit); Goth. taihswa, OHG. zeso. Cf. Dexterous.]
1. Pertaining to, or situated on, the right hand; right, as opposed to sinister, or left. On sounding wings a dexter eagle flew. Pope.
2. (Her.)
Defn: On the right-hand side of a shield, i. e., towards the right hand of its wearer. To a spectator in front, as in a pictorial representation, this would be the left side. Dexter chief, or Dexter point (Her.), a point in the dexter upper corner of the shield, being in the dexter extremity of the chief, as A in the cut. -- Dexter base, a point in the dexter lower part or base of the shield, as B in the cut.
DEXTERICAL Dex*ter"i*cal, a.
Defn: Dexterous. [Obs.]
DEXTERITY Dex*ter"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. dexteritas, fr. dexter: cf. F. dextérité. See Dexter.]
1. Right-handedness.
2. Readiness and grace in physical activity; skill and ease in using the hands; expertness in manual acts; as, dexterity with the chisel. In youth quick bearing and dexterity. Shak.
3. Readiness in the use or control of the mental powers; quickness and skill in managing any complicated or difficult affair; adroitness. His wisdom . . . was turned . . . into a dexterity to deliver himself. Bacon. He had conducted his own defense with singular boldness and dexterity. Hallam.
Syn. -- Adroitness; activity; nimbleness; expertness; skill; cleverness; art; ability; address; tact; facility; aptness; aptitude; faculty. See Skill.
DEXTEROUS Dex"ter*ous, a. Etym: [L. dexter. See Dexter.] [Written also dextrous.]
1. Ready and expert in the use of the body and limbs; skillful and active with the hands; handy; ready; as, a dexterous hand; a dexterous workman.
2. Skillful in contrivance; quick at inventing expedients; expert; as, a dexterous manager. Dexterous the craving, fawning crowd to quit. Pope.
3. Done with dexterity; skillful; artful; as, dexterous management. "Dexterous sleights of hand." Trench.
Syn. -- Adroit; active; expert; skillful; clever; able; ready; apt; handy; versed.
DEXTEROUSLY Dex"ter*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dexterous manner; skillfully.
DEXTEROUSNESS Dex"ter*ous*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being dexterous; dexterity.
DEXTRAD Dex"trad, adv. Etym: [L. dextra the right hand + ad to.] (Anat.)
Defn: Toward the right side; dextrally.
DEXTRAL Dex"tral, a. Etym: [From Dexter.]
Defn: Right, as opposed to sinistral, or left. Dextral shell (Zoöl.), a spiral shell the whorls of which turn from left right, or like the hands of a watch when the apex of the spire is toward the eye of the observer.
DEXTRALITY Dex*tral"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state of being on the right-hand side; also, the quality of being right-handed; right-handedness. Sir T. Browne.
DEXTRALLY Dex"tral*ly
Defn: (adv. Towards the right; as, the hands of a watch rotate dextrally.
DEXTRER Dex*trer", n.
Defn: A war horse; a destrer. [Obs.] "By him baiteth his dextrer." Chaucer.
DEXTRIN Dex"trin, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dextrine, G. dextrin. See Dexter.] (Chem.)
Defn: A translucent, gummy, amorphous substance, nearly tasteless and odorless, used as a substitute for gum, for sizing, etc., and obtained from starch by the action of heat, acids, or diastase. It is of somewhat variable composition, containing several carbohydrates which change easily to their respective varieties of sugar. It is so named from its rotating the plane of polarization to the right; -- called also British gum, Alsace gum, gommelin, leiocome, etc. See Achroödextrin, and Erythrodextrin.
DEXTRO- Dex"tro-.
Defn: A prefix, from L. dexter, meaning, pertaining to, or toward, the right; (Chem. & Opt.)
Defn: having the property of turning the plane of polarized light to the right; as, dextrotartaric acid.
DEXTROGEROUS Dex*trog"er*ous, a. (Physics & Chem.)
Defn: See Dextrogyrate.
DEXTROGLUCOSE Dex`tro*glu"cose`, n. Etym: [Dextro- + glucose.] (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Dextrose.
DEXTROGYRATE Dex`tro*gy"rate, a. Etym: [Dextro- + gyrate.] (Chem. & Opt.)
Defn: Same as Dextrorotatory.
DEXTRONIC Dex*tron"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, dextrose; as, dextronic acid. Dextronic acid, a sirupy substance obtained by the partial oxidation of various carbohydrates, as dextrose, etc.
DEXTROROTARY Dex`tro*ro"ta*ry, a. (Physics & Chem.)
Defn: See Dextrotatory.
DEXTROROTATORY Dex`tro*ro"ta*to*ry, a. Etym: [Dextro- + rotatory.] (Chem. & Opt.)
Defn: Turning, or causing to turn, toward the right hand; esp., turning the plane of polarization of luminous rays toward the right hand; as, dextrorotatory crystals, sugars, etc. Cf. Levorotatory.
DEXTRORSAL; DEXTRORSE Dex*tror"sal, Dex"trorse`, a. Etym: [L. dextrorsum, contr. fr. dextrovorsum, dextroversum, toward the right side; dexter right + versus, vorsus, p. p. of vertere, vortere, to turn.]
Defn: Turning from the left to the right, in the ascending line, as in the spiral inclination of the stem of the common morning-glóry.
Note: At present scientists predicate dextrorse or sinistrorse quality of the plant regarded objectively; formerly the plant was regarded subjectively, and what is now called dextrorse was then considered sinistrorse.
DEXTROSE Dex"trose`, n. Etym: [See Dexter.] (Chem.)
Defn: A sirupy, or white crystalline, variety of sugar, C6H12O6 (so called from turning the plane of polarization to the right), occurring in many ripe fruits. Dextrose and levulose are obtained by the inversion of cane sugar or sucrose, and hence called invert sugar. Dextrose is chiefly obtained by the action of heat and acids on starch, and hence called also starch sugar. It is also formed from starchy food by the action of the amylolytic ferments of saliva and pancreatic juice.
Note: The solid products are known to the trade as grape sugar; the sirupy products as glucose, or mixing sirup. These are harmless, but are only about half as sweet as cane or sucrose.
DEXTROUS; DEXTROUSLY; DEXTROUSNESS Dex"trous, a., Dex"trous*ly, adv., Dex"trous*ness, n.
Defn: Same as Dexterous, Dexterously, etc.
DEY Dey, n. Etym: [See Dairy.]
Defn: A servant who has charge of the dairy; a dairymaid. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DEY Dey, n.; pl. Deys. Etym: [Turk. dai, orig., a maternal uncle, then a friendly title formerly given to middle-aged or old people, especially among the Janizaries; and hence, in Algiers, consecrated at length to the commanding officer of that corps, who frequently became afterward pasha or regent of that province; hence the European misnomer of dey, as applied to the latter: cf. F. dey.]
Defn: The governor of Algiers; -- so called before the French conquest in 1830.
DEYE Deye, v. i.
Defn: To die. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DEYNTE; DEYNTEE Deyn"te, Deyn"tee, n. & a.
Defn: See Dainty. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DEZINCIFICATION De*zinc`i*fi*ca"tion, n.
Defn: The act or process of freeing from zinc; also, the condition resulting from the removal of zinc.
DEZINCIFY De*zinc"i*fy, v. t. Etym: [Pref. de- + zinc + -fy.]
Defn: To deprive of, or free from, zinc.
DHOLE Dhole, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fierce, wild dog (Canis Dukhunensis), found in the mountains of India. It is remarkable for its propensity to hunt the tiger and other wild animals in packs.
DHONY Dho"ny, n.
Defn: A Ceylonese boat. See Doni.
DHOORRA; DHOURRA; DHURRA Dhoor"ra, Dhour"ra, or Dhur"ra (, n.
Defn: Indian millet. See Durra.
DHOW Dhow, n. Etym: [Ar. dao]
Defn: A coasting vessel of Arabia, East Africa, and the Indian Ocean. It has generally but one mast and a lateen sail. [Also written dow.]
DI- Di-. Etym: [Gr. bis twice. See Two, and cf. Bi-, Dia-. The L. pref. dis- sometimes assumes the form di-. See Dis-.]
Defn: A prefix, signifying twofold, double, twice; (Chem.)
Defn: denoting two atoms, radicals, groups, or equivalents, as the case may be. See Bi-,
2.
DIA-; DI- Di"a-, Di-. Etym: [Gr. Two, and cf. 1st Di-.]
Defn: A prefix denoting through; also, between, apart, asunder, across. Before a vowel dia- becomes di-; as, diactinic; dielectric, etc.
DIABASE Di"a*base, n. Etym: [F. diabase, fr. Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A basic, dark-colored, holocrystalline, igneous rock, consisting essentially of a triclinic feldspar and pyroxene with magnetic iron; -- often limited to rocks pretertiary in age. It includes part of what was early called greenstone.
DIABATERIAL Di*ab`a*te"ri*al, a. Etym: [Gr. Diabase.]
Defn: Passing over the borders. [R.] Mitford.
DIABETES Di`a*be"tes, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. Diabase.] (Med.)
Defn: A disease which is attended with a persistent, excessive discharge of urine. Most frequently the urine is not only increased in quantity, but contains saccharine matter, in which case the disease is generally fatal. Diabetes mellitus Etym: [NL., sweet diabetes], that form of diabetes in which the urine contains saccharine matter. -- Diabetes insipidus Etym: [NL., lit., diabetes], the form of diabetes in which the urine contains no abnormal constituent.
DIABETIC; DIABETICAL Di`a*bet"ic, Di`a*bet"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to diabetes; as, diabetic or diabetical treatment. Quian. Diabetic sugar. (Chem.) Same as Dextrose.
DIABLERIE; DIABLEY Dia`ble*rie", Di*ab"le*y, n. Etym: [F. diablerie, fr. diable devil, L. diabolus. See Devil.]
Defn: Devilry; sorcery or incantation; a diabolical deed; mischief.
DIABOLIC; DIABOLICAL Di`a*bol"ic, Di`a*bol"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. diabolicus, Gr. diabolique. See Devil.]
Defn: Pertaining to the devil; resembling, or appropriate, or appropriate to, the devil; devilish; infernal; impious; atrocious; nefarious; outrageously wicked; as, a diabolic or diabolical temper or act. "Diabolic power." Milton. "The diabolical institution." Motley. -- Di`a*bol"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Di`a*bol"ic*al*ness, n.
DIABOLIFY Di`a*bol"i*fy, v. t. Etym: [L. diabolus devil + -fy.]
Defn: To ascribed diabolical qualities to; to change into, or to represent as, a devil. [R.] Farindon.
DIABOLISM Di*ab"o*lism, n.
1. Character, action, or principles appropriate to the devil.
2. Possession by the devil. Bp. Warburton.
DIABOLIZE Di*ab"o*lize, v. t.
Defn: To render diabolical. [R.]
DIABOLO Di*ab"o*lo (di*ab"o*lo), n.
Defn: An old game or sport (revived under this name) consisting in whirling on a string, fastened to two sticks, a small somewhat spool- shaped object (called the diabolo) so as to balance it on a string, toss it in the air and catch it, etc.
DIACATHOLICON Di`a*ca*thol"i*con, n. Etym: [Pref. dia- + catholicon.] (Med.)
Defn: A universal remedy; -- name formerly to a purgative electuary.
DIACAUSTIC Di`a*caus"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. dia- + caustic.] (Opt.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or possessing the properties of, a species of caustic curves formed by refraction. See Caustic surface, under Caustic.
DIACAUSTIC Di`a*caus"tic, n.
1. (Med.)
Defn: That which burns by refraction, as a double convex lens, or the sun's rays concentrated by such a lens, sometimes used as a cautery.
2. (Math.)
Defn: A curved formed by the consecutive intersections of rays of light refracted through a lens.
DIACHYLON; DIACHYLUM Di*ach"y*lon, Di*ach"y*lum, n. Etym: [NL. diachylum, fr. Gr. (Med. & Chem.)
Defn: A plaster originally composed of the juices of several plants (whence its name), but now made of an oxide of lead and oil, and consisting essentially of glycerin mixed with lead salts of the fat acids.
DIACID Di*ac"id, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + acid.] (Chem.)
Defn: Divalent; -- said of a base or radical as capable of saturating two acid monad radicals or a dibasic acid. Cf. Dibasic, a., and Biacid.
DIACODIUM Di`a*co"di*um, n. Etym: [L., from Gr.
Defn: A sirup made of poppies.
DIACONAL Di*ac"o*nal, a. Etym: [LL. diaconalis: cf. F. diaconal. Cf. Deacon.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a deacon.
DIACONATE Di*ac"o*nate, n. Etym: [L. diaconatus: cf. F. diaconat.]
Defn: The office of a deacon; deaconship; also, a body or board of deacons.
DIACONATE Di*ac"o*nate, a.
Defn: Governed by deacons. "Diaconate church." T. Goodwin.
DIACOPE Di*ac"o*pe, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Gram.)
Defn: Tmesis.
DIACOUSTIC Di`a*cous"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + acoustic.]
Defn: Pertaining to the science or doctrine of refracted sounds.
DIACOUSTICS Di`a*cous"tics, n. Etym: [Cf. F. diacoustique.]
Defn: That branch of natural philosophy which treats of the properties of sound as affected by passing through different mediums; -- called also diaphonics. See the Note under Acoustics.
DIACRITIC; DIACRITICAL Di`a*crit"ic, Di`a*crit"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. Critic.]
Defn: That separates or distinguishes; -- applied to points or marks used to distinguish letters of similar form, or different sounds of the same letter, as, a, â, ä, o, ô, etc. "Diacritical points." Sir W. Jones. A glance at this typography will reveal great difficulties, which diacritical marks necessarily throw in the way of both printer and writer. A. J. Ellis.
DIACTINIC Di`ac*tin"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + actinic.] (Physics)
Defn: Capable of transmitting the chemical or actinic rays of light; as, diactinic media.
DIADELPHIA Di`a*del"phi*a, n.; pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A Linnæan class of plants whose stamens are united into two bodies or bundles by their filaments.
DIADELPHIAN; DIADELPHOUS Di`a*del"phi*an, Di`a*del"phous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. diadelphe.] (Bot.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the class Diadelphia; having the stamens united into two bodies by their filaments (said of a plant or flower); grouped into two bundles or sets by coalescence of the filaments (said of stamens).
DIADEM Di"a*dem, n. Etym: [F. diadème, L. diadema, fr. Gr. da to bind.]
1. Originally, an ornamental head band or fillet, worn by Eastern monarchs as a badge of royalty; hence (later), also, a crown, in general. "The regal diadem." Milton.
2. Regal power; sovereignty; empire; -- considered as symbolized by the crown.
3. (Her.)
Defn: An arch rising from the rim of a crown (rarely also of a coronet), and uniting with others over its center. Diadem lemur. (Zoöl.) See Indri. -- Diadem spider (Zoöl.), the garden spider.
DIADEM Di"a*dem, v. t.
Defn: To adorn with a diadem; to crown. Not so, when diadem'd with rays divine. Pope. To terminate the evil, To diadem the right. R. H. Neale.
DIADROM Di"a*drom, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A complete course or vibration; time of vibration, as of a pendulum. [Obs.] Locke.
DIAERESIS; DIERESIS Di*ær"e*sis, Di*er"e*sis, n.; pl. Diæreses or Diereses. Etym: [L. diaeresis, Gr. Heresy.]
1. (Gram.)
Defn: The separation or resolution of one syllable into two; -- the opposite of synæresis.
2. A mark consisting of two dots [..], placed over the second of two adjacent vowels, to denote that they are to be pronounced as distinct letters; as, coöperate, aërial.
DIAERETIC Di`æ*ret"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Caustic. [Obs.]
DIAGEOTROPIC Di`a*ge`o*trop"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Relating to, or exhibiting, diageotropism.
DIAGEOTROPISM Di`a*ge*ot"ro*pism, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The tendency of organs (as roots) of plants to assume a position oblique or transverse to a direction towards the center of the earth.
DIAGLYPH Di"a*glyph, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: An intaglio. Mollett.
DIAGLYPHIC; DIAGLYPHTIC Di`a*glyph"ic, Di`a*glyph"tic, a.
Defn: Represented or formed by depressions in the general surface; as, diaglyphic sculpture or engraving; -- opposed to anaglyphic.
DIAGNOSE Di`ag*nose", v. t. & i.
Defn: To ascertain by diagnosis; to diagnosticate. See Diagnosticate.
DIAGNOSIS Di`ag*no"sis, n.; pl. Diagnoses. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Know.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: The art or act of recognizing the presence of disease from its signs or symptoms, and deciding as to its character; also, the decision arrived at.
2. Scientific determination of any kind; the concise description of characterization of a species.
3. Critical perception or scrutiny; judgment based on such scrutiny; esp., perception pf, or judgment concerning, motives and character. The quick eye for effects, the clear diagnosis of men's minds, and the love of epigram. Compton Reade. My diagnosis of his character proved correct. J. Payn. Differential diagnosis (Med.), the determination of the distinguishing characteristics as between two similar diseases or conditions.
DIAGNOSTIC Di`ag*nos"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. diagnostique.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or furnishing, a diagnosis; indicating the nature of a disease.
DIAGNOSTIC Di`ag*nos"tic, n.
Defn: The mark or symptom by which one disease is known or distinguished from others.
DIAGNOSTICATE Di`ag*nos"ti*cate, v. t. & i. Etym: [From Diagnostic.]
Defn: To make a diagnosis of; to recognize by its symptoms, as a disease.
DIAGNOSTICS Di`ag*nos"tics, n.
Defn: That part of medicine which has to do with ascertaining the nature of diseases by means of their symptoms or signs. His rare skill in diagnostics. Macaulay.
DIAGOMETER Di`a*gom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.]
Defn: A sort of electroscope, invented by Rousseau, in which the dry pile is employed to measure the amount of electricity transmitted by different bodies, or to determine their conducting power. Nichol.
DIAGONAL Di*ag"o*nal, a. Etym: [L. diagonalis, fr. Gr. knee: cf. F. diagonal.] (Geom.)
Defn: Joining two not adjacent angles of a quadrilateral or multilateral figure; running across from corner to corner; crossing at an angle with one of the sides. Diagonal bond (Masonry), herringbone work. See Herringbone, a. -- Diagonal built (Shipbuilding), built by forming the outer skin of two layers of planking, making angles of about 45º with the keel, in opposite directions. -- Diagonal cleavage. See under Cleavage. -- Diagonal molding (Arch.), a chevron or zigzag molding. -- Diagonal rib. (Arch.) See Cross-springer. -- Diagonal scale, a scale which consists of a set of parallel lines, with other lines crossing them obliquely, so that their intersections furnish smaller subdivisions of the unit of measure than could be conveniently marked on a plain scale. -- Diagonal stratification. (Geol.) Same as Cross bedding, under Cross, a.
DIAGONAL Di*ag"o*nal, n.
1. A right line drawn from one angle to another not adjacent, of a figure of four or more sides, and dividing it into two parts.
2. (Engin.)
Defn: A member, in a framed structure, running obliquely across a panel.
3. A diagonal cloth; a kind of cloth having diagonal stripes, ridges, or welts made in the weaving.
DIAGONALLY Di*ag"o*nal*ly, adv.
Defn: In a diagonal direction.
DIAGONIAL Di`a*go"ni*al, a.
Defn: Diagonal; diametrical; hence; diametrically opposed. [Obs.] Sin can have no tenure by law at all, but is rather an eternal outlaw, and in hostility with law past all atonement; both diagonal contraries, as much allowing one another as day and night together in one hemisphere. Milton.
DIAGRAM Di"a*gram, n. Etym: [Gr. diagramme. See Graphic.]
1. (Geom.)
Defn: A figure or drawing made to illustrate a statement, or facilitate a demonstration; a plan.
2. Any simple drawing made for mathematical or scientific purposes, or to assist a verbal explanation which refers to it; a mechanical drawing, as distinguished from an artistical one. Indicator diagram. (Steam Engine) See Indicator card, under indicator
DIAGRAM Di"a*gram, v. t.
Defn: To put into the form of a diagram.
DIAGRAMMATIC Di`a*gram*mat"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or of the nature of, a diagram; showing by diagram. -- Di`a*gram*mat"ic*ly, adv.
DIAGRAPH Di"a*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. diagraphe. See Diagram.]
Defn: A drawing instrument, combining a protractor and scale.
DIAGRAPHIC; DIAGRAPHICAL Di`a*graph"ic, Di`a*graph"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. diagraphique.]
Defn: Descriptive.
DIAGRAPHICS Di`a*graph"ics, n.
Defn: The art or science of descriptive drawing; especially, the art or science of drawing by mechanical appliances and mathematical rule.
DIAHELIOTROPIC Di`a*he`li*o*trop"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Relating or, or manifesting, diaheliotropism.
DIAHELIOTROPISM Di`a*he`li*ot"ro*pism, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A tendency of leaves or other organs of plants to have their dorsal surface faced towards the rays of light.
DIAL Di"al, n. Etym: [LL. dialis daily, fr. L. dies day. See Deity.]
1. An instrument, formerly much used for showing the time of day from the shadow of a style or gnomon on a graduated arc or surface; esp., a sundial; but there are lunar and astral dials. The style or gnomon is usually parallel to the earth's axis, but the dial plate may be either horizontal or vertical.
2. The graduated face of a timepiece, on which the time of day is shown by pointers or hands.
3. A miner's compass. Dial bird (Zoöl.), an Indian bird (Copsychus saularius), allied to the European robin. The name is also given to other related species. -- Dial lock, a lock provided with one or more plates having numbers or letters upon them. These plates must be adjusted in a certain determined way before the lock can be operated. -- Dial plate, the plane or disk of a dial or timepiece on which lines and figures for indicating the time are placed.
DIAL Di"al, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dialed or Dialled; p. pr. & vb. n. Dialing or Dialling.]
1. To measure with a dial. Hours of that true time which is dialed in heaven. Talfourd.
2. (Mining)
Defn: To survey with a dial. Raymond.
DIALECT Di"a*lect, n. Etym: [F. dialecte, L. dialectus, fr. Gr. Dialogue.]
1. Means or mode of expressing thoughts; language; tongue; form of speech. This book is writ in such a dialect As may the minds of listless men affect. Bunyan. The universal dialect of the world. South.
2. The form of speech of a limited region or people, as distinguished from ether forms nearly related to it; a variety or subdivision of a language; speech characterized by local peculiarities or specific circumstances; as, the Ionic and Attic were dialects of Greece; the Yorkshire dialect; the dialect of the learned. In the midst of this Babel of dialects there suddenly appeared a standard English language. Earle. [Charles V.] could address his subjects from every quarter in their native dialect. Prescott.
Syn. -- Language; idiom; tongue; speech; phraseology. See Language, and Idiom.
DIALECTAL Di`a*lec"tal, a.
Defn: Relating to a dialect; dialectical; as, a dialectical variant.
DIALECTIC Di`a*lec"tic, n.
Defn: Same as Dialectics. Plato placed his dialectic above all sciences. Liddell & Scott.
DIALECTIC; DIALECTICAL Di`a*lec"tic, Di`a*lec"tic*al, a. Etym: [L. dialecticus, Gr. dialectique. See Dialect.]
1. Pertaining to dialectics; logical; argumental.
2. Pertaining to a dialect or to dialects. Earle.
DIALECTICALLY Di`a*lec"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dialectical manner.
DIALECTICIAN Di`a*lec*ti"cian, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dialecticien.]
Defn: One versed in dialectics; a logician; a reasoner.
DIALECTICS Di`a*lec"tics, n. Etym: [L. dialectica (sc. ars), Gr. dialectique.]
Defn: That branch of logic which teaches the rules and modes of reasoning; the application of logical principles to discursive reasoning; the science or art of discriminating truth from error; logical discussion.
Note: Dialectics was defined by Aristotle to be the method of arguing with probability on any given problem, and of defending a tenet without inconsistency. By Plato, it was used in the following senses:
1. Discussion by dialogue as a method of scientific investigation.
2. The method of investigating the truth by analysis.
3. The science of ideas or of the nature and laws of being -- higher metaphysics. By Kant, it was employed to signify the logic of appearances or illusions, whether these arise from accident or error, or from those necessary limitations which, according to this philosopher, originate in the constitution of the human intellect.
DIALECTOLOGY Di`a*lec*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Dialect + -logy.]
Defn: That branch of philology which is devoted to the consideration of dialects. Beck.
DIALECTOR Di`a*lec"tor, n.
Defn: One skilled in dialectics.
DIALING Di"al*ing, n.
1. The art of constructing dials; the science which treats of measuring time by dials. [Written also dialling.]
2. A method of surveying, especially in mines, in which the bearings of the courses, or the angles which they make with each other, are determined by means of the circumferentor.
DIALIST Di"al*ist, n.
Defn: A maker of dials; one skilled in dialing.
DIALLAGE Di*al"la*ge, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A figure by which arguments are placed in various points of view, and then turned to one point. Smart.
DIALLAGE Di"al*lage, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A dark green or bronze-colored laminated variety of pyroxene, common in certain igneous rocks.
DIALLEL Di"al*lel, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Meeting and intersecting, as lines; not parallel; -- opposed to parallel. [Obs.] Ash.
DIALLYL Di*al"lyl, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A volatile, pungent, liquid hydrocarbon, C6H10, consisting of two allyl radicals, and belonging to the acetylene series.
DIALOGICAL Di`a*log"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Relating to a dialogue; dialogistical. Burton.
DIALOGICALLY Di`a*log"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner or nature of a dialogue. Goldsmith.
DIALOGISM Di*al"o*gism, n. Etym: [Gr. dialogisme. See Dialogue.]
Defn: An imaginary speech or discussion between two or more; dialogue. Fulke.
DIALOGIST Di*al"o*gist, n. Etym: [L. dialogista: cf. F. dialogiste.]
1. A speaker in a dialogue.
2. A writer of dialogues. P. Skelton.
DIALOGISTIC; DIALOGISTICAL Di*al`o*gis"tic, Di*al`o*gis"tic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to a dialogue; having the form or nature of a dialogue. -- Di*al`o*gis"tic*al*ly, adv.
DIALOGITE Di*al"o*gite, n. Etym: [From Gr. (Min.)
Defn: Native carbonate of manganese; rhodochrosite.
DIALOGIZE Di*al"o*gize, v. t. Etym: [Gr. dialogiser.]
Defn: To discourse in dialogue. Fotherby.
DIALOGUE Di"a*logue, n. Etym: [OE. dialogue, L. dialogus, fr. Gr. dialogue. See Legend.]
1. A conversation between two or more persons; particularly, a formal conservation in theatrical performances or in scholastic exercises.
2. A written composition in which two or more persons are represented as conversing or reasoning on some topic; as, the Dialogues of Plato.
DIALOGUE Di"a*logue, v. i. Etym: [Cf. F. dialoguer.]
Defn: To take part in a dialogue; to dialogize. [R.] Shak.
DIALOGUE Di"a*logue, v. t.
Defn: To express as in dialogue. [R.] And dialogued for him what he would say. Shak.
DIALYPETALOUS Di`al*y*pet"al*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having separate petals; polypetalous.
DIALYSIS Di*al"y*sis, n.; pl. Dialyses. Etym: [L., separation, fr. Gr.
1. (Gram.)
Defn: Diæresis. See Diæresis,
1.
2. (Rhet.)
Defn: Same as Asyndeton.
3. (Med.) (a) Debility. (b) A solution of continuity; division; separation of parts.
4. (Chem.)
Defn: The separation of different substances in solution, as crystalloids and colloids, by means of their unequal diffusion, especially through natural or artificial membranes.
DIALYTIC Di`a*lyt"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. Dialysis.]
Defn: Having the quality of unloosing or separating. Clarke. Dialytic telescope, an achromatic telescope in which the colored dispersion produced by a single object lens of crown glass is corrected by a smaller concave lens, or combination of lenses, of high dispersive power, placed at a distance in the narrower part of the converging cone of rays, usually near the middle of the tube.
DIALYZATE Di*al"y*zate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: The material subjected to dialysis.
DIALYZATION Di`a*ly*za"tion, n. (Chem.)
Defn: The act or process of dialysis.
DIALYZE Di"a*lyze, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dialyzed; p. pr. & vb. n. Dialyzing.] (Chem.)
Defn: To separate, prepare, or obtain, by dialysis or osmose; to pass through an animal membrane; to subject to dialysis. [Written also dialyse.]
DIALYZED Di"a*lyzed, a.
Defn: Prepared by diffusion through an animal membrane; as, dialyzed iron.
DIALYZER Di"a*ly`zer, n.
Defn: The instrument or medium used to effect chemical dialysis.
DIAMAGNET Di`a*mag"net, n. Etym: [Pref. dia- + magnet.]
Defn: A body having diamagnetic polarity.
DIAMAGNETIC Di`a*mag*net"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or exhibiting the phenomena of, diamagnetism; taking, or being of a nature to take, a position at right angles to the lines of magnetic force. See Paramagnetic. Diamagnetic attraction. See under Attraction.
DIAMAGNETIC Di`a*mag*net"ic, n.
Defn: Any substance, as bismuth, glass, phosphorous, etc., which in a field of magnetic force is differently affected from the ordinary magnetic bodies, as iron; that is, which tends to take a position at right angles to the lines of magnetic force, and is repelled by either pole of the magnet.
DIAMAGNETICALLY Di`a*mag*net"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of, or according to, diamagnetism.
DIAMAGNETISM Di`a*mag"net*ism, n.
1. The science which treats of diamagnetic phenomena, and of the properties of diamagnetic bodies.
2. That form or condition of magnetic action which characterizes diamagnetics.
DIAMANTIFEROUS Di`a*man*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [F. diamant diamond + -ferous.]
Defn: Yielding diamonds.
DIAMANTINE Di`a*man"tine, a.
Defn: Adamantine. [Obs.]
DIAMETER Di*am"e*ter, n. Etym: [F. diamètre, L. diametros, fr. Gr. Meter.]
1. (Geom.) (a) Any right line passing through the center of a figure or body, as a circle, conic section, sphere, cube, etc., and terminated by the opposite boundaries; a straight line which bisects a system of parallel chords drawn in a curve. (b) A diametral plane.
2. The length of a straight line through the center of an object from side to side; width; thickness; as, the diameter of a tree or rock.
Note: In an elongated object the diameter is usually taken at right angles to the longer axis.
3. (Arch.)
Defn: The distance through the lower part of the shaft of a column, used as a standard measure for all parts of the order. See Module. Conjugate diameters. See under Conjugate.
DIAMETRAL Di*am"e*tral, a. Etym: [Gr. F. diamétral.]
Defn: Pertaining to a diameter; diametrical. Diametral curve, Diametral surface (Geom.), any line or surface which bisects a system of parallel chords drawn in a curve or surface. -- Diametral planes (Crystal.), planes in which two of the axes lie.
DIAMETRAL Di*am"e*tral, n.
Defn: A diameter. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
DIAMETRALLY Di*am"e*tral*ly, adv.
Defn: Diametrically.
DIAMETRIC; DIAMETRICAL Di*am"e*tric, Di*am"e*tric*al, a.
1. Of or pertaining to a diameter.
2. As remote as possible, as if at the opposite end of a diameter; directly adverse.
DIAMETRICALLY Di*am"e*tric*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a diametrical manner; directly; as, diametrically opposite. Whose principles were diametrically opposed to his. Macaulay.
DIAMIDE Di*am"ide (; 104), n. Etym: [Pref. di- + amide.] (Chem.)
Defn: Any compound containing two amido groups united with one or more acid or negative radicals, -- as distinguished from a diamine. Cf. Amido acid, under Amido, and Acid amide, under Amide.
DIAMIDO- Di*am"i*do- (, a. (Chem.)
Defn: A prefix or combining form of Diamine.
Note: [Also used adjectively.]
DIAMINE Di*am"ine (; 104), n. Etym: [Pref. di- + amine.] (Chem.)
Defn: A compound containing two amido groups united with one or more basic or positive radicals, -- as contrasted with a diamide.
Note: In chemical nomenclature, if any amine or diamine is named by prefixing the nitrogen group, the name of the latter takes the form of amido, diamido, etc., thus ethylene diamine, C2H4.(NH2)2, is also called diamido-ethylene.
DIAMOND Di"a*mond, n. Etym: [OE. diamaund, diamaunt, F. diamant, corrupted, fr. L. adamas, the hardest iron, steel, diamond, Gr. Adamant, Tame.]
1. A precious stone or gem excelling in brilliancy and beautiful play of prismatic colors, and remarkable for extreme hardness.
Note: The diamond is native carbon in isometric crystals, often octahedrons with rounded edges. It is usually colorless, but some are yellow, green, blue, and even black. It is the hardest substance known. The diamond as found in nature (called a rough diamond) is cut, for use in jewelry, into various forms with many reflecting faces, or facets, by which its brilliancy is much increased. See Brilliant, Rose. Diamonds are said to be of the first water when very transparent, and of the second or third water as the transparency decreases.
2. A geometrical figure, consisting of four equal straight lines, and having two of the interior angles acute and two obtuse; a rhombus; a lozenge.
3. One of a suit of playing cards, stamped with the figure of a diamond.
4. (Arch.)
Defn: A pointed projection, like a four-sided pyramid, used for ornament in lines or groups.
5. (Baseball)
Defn: The infield; the square space, 90 feet on a side, having the bases at its angles.
6. (Print.)
Defn: The smallest kind of type in English printing, except that called brilliant, which is seldom seen.
Note: * This line is printed in the type called Diamond. Black diamond, coal; (Min.) See Carbonado. -- Bristol diamond. See Bristol stone, under Bristol. -- Diamond beetle (Zoöl.), a large South American weevil (Entimus imperialis), remarkable for its splendid luster and colors, due to minute brilliant scales. -- Diamond bird (Zoöl.), a small Australian bird (Pardalotus punctatus, family Ampelidæ.). It is black, with white spots. -- Diamond drill (Engin.), a rod or tube the end of which is set with black diamonds; -- used for perforating hard substances, esp. for boring in rock. -- Diamond finch (Zoöl.), a small Australian sparrow, often kept in a cage. Its sides are black, with conspicuous white spots, and the rump is bright carmine. -- Diamond groove (Iron Working), a groove of V-section in a roll. -- Diamond mortar (Chem.), a small steel mortar used for pulverizing hard substances. -- Diamond-point tool, a cutting tool whose point is diamond-shaped. -- Diamond snake (Zoöl.), a harmless snake of Australia (Morelia spilotes); the carpet snake. -- Glazier's diamond, a small diamond set in a glazier's tool, for cutting glass.
DIAMOND Di"a*mond, a.
Defn: Resembling a diamond; made of, or abounding in, diamonds; as, a diamond chain; a diamond field.
DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY; DIAMOND JUBILEE Diamond anniversary, jubilee, etc.
Defn: One celebrated upon the completion of sixty, or, according to some, seventy-five, years from the beginning of the thing commemorated.
DIAMOND-BACK Di"a*mond-back`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The salt-marsh terrapin of the Atlantic coast (Malacoclemmys palustris).
DIAMONDED Di"a*mond*ed, a.
1. Having figures like a diamond or lozenge.
2. Adorned with diamonds; diamondized. Emerson.
DIAMONDIZE Di"a*mond*ize, v. t.
Defn: To set with diamonds; to adorn; to enrich. [R.] Diamondizing of your subject. B. Jonson.
DIAMOND-SHAPED Di"a*mond-shaped`, a.
Defn: Shaped like a diamond or rhombus.
DIAMOND STATE Diamond State.
Defn: Delaware; -- a nickname alluding to its small size.
DIAMYLENE Di*am"y*lene, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + amylene.] (Chem.)
Defn: A liquid hydrocarbon, C10H20, of the ethylene series, regarded as a polymeric form of amylene.
DIAN Di"an, a
Defn: , Diana. [Poetic]
DIANA Di*a"na, n. Etym: [L. Diana.] (Myth.)
Defn: The daughter of Jupiter and Latona; a virgin goddess who presided over hunting, chastity, and marriage; -- identified with the Greek goddess Artemis. And chaste Diana haunts the forest shade. Pope. Diana monkey (Zoöl.), a handsome, white-bearded monkey of West Africa (Cercopithecus Diana).
DIANDRIA Di*an"dri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A Linnæan class of plants having two stamens.
DIANDRIAN Di*an"dri*an, a.
Defn: Diandrous.
DIANDROUS Di*an"drous, n. Etym: [Cf. F. diandre.] (Bot.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the class Diandria; having two stamens.
DIANIUM Di*a"ni*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. Diana; either as the name of the Roman goddess, or from its use in OE. as a name of silver.] (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Columbium. [Obs.]
DIANOETIC Di`a*no*et"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Metaph.)
Defn: Pertaining to the discursive faculty, its acts or products. I would employ . . . dianoetic to denote the operation of the discursive, elaborative, or comparative faculty. Sir W. Hamilton.
DIANOIALOGY Di`a*noi*al"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: The science of the dianoetic faculties, and their operations. Sir W. Hamilton.
DIANTHUS Di*an"thus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants containing some of the most popular of cultivated flowers, including the pink, carnation, and Sweet William.
DIAPASE Di"a*pase, n.
Defn: Same as Diapason. [Obs.] A tuneful diapase of pleasures. Spenser.
DIAPASM Di"a*pasm, n. Etym: [L. diapasma, Gr. diapasme.]
Defn: Powdered aromatic herbs, sometimes made into little balls and strung together. [Obs.]
DIAPASON Di`a*pa"son, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. i. e., diapason. Cf. Panacea.]
1. (Gr. Mus.)
Defn: The octave, or interval which includes all the tones of the diatonic scale.
2. Concord, as of notes an octave apart; harmony. The fair music that all creatures made . . . In perfect diapason. Milton.
3. The entire compass of tones. Through all the compass of the notes it ran, The diapason closing full in man. Dryden.
4. A standard of pitch; a tuning fork; as, the French normal diapason.
5. One of certain stops in the organ, so called because they extend through the scale of the instrument. They are of several kinds, as open diapason, stopped diapason, double diapason, and the like.
DIAPEDESIS Di`a*pe*de"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: The passage of the corpuscular elements of the blood from the blood vessels into the surrounding tissues, without rupture of the walls of the blood vessels.
DIAPENTE Di`a*pen"te, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. diapente.]
1. (Anc. Mus.)
Defn: The interval of the fifth.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A composition of five ingredients.
DIAPER Di"a*per, n. Etym: [OF. diaspre, diapre, diaspe, sort of figured cloth, It. diaspro jasper, diaspo figured cloth, from L.jaspis a green-colored precious stone. See Jasper.]
1. Any textile fabric (esp. linen or cotton toweling) woven in diaper pattern. See 2.
2. (Fine Arts)
Defn: Surface decoration of any sort which consists of the constant repetition of one or more simple figures or units of design evenly spaced.
3. A towel or napkin for wiping the hands, etc. Let one attend him with a silver basin, . . . Another bear the ewer, the third a diaper. Shak.
4. An infant's breechcloth.
DIAPER Di"a*per, v. t.
1. To ornament with figures, etc., arranged in the pattern called diaper, as cloth in weaving. "Diapered light." H. Van Laun. Engarlanded and diapered With in wrought flowers. Tennyson.
2. To put a diaper on (a child).
DIAPER Di"a*per, v. i.
Defn: To draw flowers or figures, as upon cloth. "If you diaper on folds." Peacham.
DIAPERING Di"a*per*ing, n.
Defn: Same as Diaper, n.,
2.
DIAPHANE Di"a*phane, n. Etym: [Cf. F. diaphane diaphanous. See Diaphanous.]
Defn: A woven silk stuff with transparent and colored figures; diaper work.
DIAPHANED Di"a*phaned, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. diaphaner to make transparent. See Diaphanous.]
Defn: Transparent or translucent. [R.]
DIAPHANEITY Di`a*pha*ne"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. diaphanéité. See Diaphanous.]
Defn: The quality of being diaphanous; transparency; pellucidness.
DIAPHANIC Di`a*phan"ic, a. Etym: [See Diaphanous.]
Defn: Having power to transmit light; transparent; diaphanous.
DIAPHANIE Di*aph"a*nie, n.
Defn: The art of imitating
DIAPHANOMETER Di`a*pha*nom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.]
Defn: An instrument for measuring the transparency of the air.
DIAPHANOSCOPE Di`a*phan"o*scope, n. Etym: [Gr. -scope.] (Photog.)
Defn: A dark box constructed for viewing transparent pictures, with or without a lens.
DIAPHANOTYPE Di`a*phan"o*type, n. Etym: [Gr. -type.] (Photog.)
Defn: A colored photograph produced by superimposing a translucent colored positive over a strong uncolored one.
DIAPHANOUS Di*aph"a*nous, a. Etym: [Gr. diaphane. See Phantom, and cf. Diaphane, Diaphanic.]
Defn: Allowing light to pass through, as porcelain; translucent or transparent; pellucid; clear. Another cloud in the region of them, light enough to be fantastic and diaphanous. Landor.
DIAPHANOUSLY Di*aph"a*nous*ly, adv.
Defn: Translucently.
DIAPHEMETRIC Di*aph`e*met"ric, a. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: Relating to the measurement of the tactile sensibility of parts; as, diaphemetric compasses. Dunglison.
DIAPHONIC; DIAPHONICAL Di`a*phon"ic, Di`a*phon"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Diacoustic.
DIAPHONICS Di`a*phon"ics, n.
Defn: The doctrine of refracted sound; diacoustics.
DIAPHORESIS Di`a*pho*re"sis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Perspiration, or an increase of perspiration.
DIAPHORETIC; DIAPHORETICAL Di`a*pho*ret"ic, Di`a*pho*ret"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. diaphoreticus, Gr. diaphorétique. See Diaphoresis.]
Defn: Having the power to increase perspiration.
DIAPHORETIC Di`a*pho*ret"ic, n. (Med.)
Defn: A medicine or agent which promotes perspiration.
Note: Diaphoretics differ from sudorifics; the former only increase the insensible perspiration, the latter excite the sensible discharge called sweat. Parr.
DIAPHOTE Di"a*phote, n. Etym: [Pref. dia- + Gr. (Elec.)
Defn: An instrument designed for transmitting pictures by telegraph. Fallows.
DIAPHRAGM Di"a*phragm, n. Etym: [L. diaphragma, Gr. fareire to stuff: cf. F. diaphragme. See Farce.]
1. A dividing membrane or thin partition, commonly with an opening through it.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: The muscular and tendinous partition separating the cavity of the chest from that of the abdomen; the midriff.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A calcareous plate which divides the cavity of certain shells into two parts.
4. (Opt.)
Defn: A plate with an opening, which is generally circular, used in instruments to cut off marginal portions of a beam of light, as at the focus of a telescope.
5. (Mach.)
Defn: A partition in any compartment, for various purposes. Diaphragm pump, one in which a flexible diaphragm takes the place of a piston.
DIAPHRAGMATIC Di`a*phrag*mat"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. diaphragmatique.]
Defn: Pertaining to a diaphragm; as, diaphragmatic respiration; the diaphragmatic arteries and nerves.
DIAPHYSIS Di*aph"y*sis, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: An abnormal prolongation of the axis of inflorescence.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: The shaft, or main part, of a bone, which is first ossified.
DIAPNOIC Di`ap*no"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. diapnoïque.] (Med.)
Defn: Slightly increasing an insensible perspiration; mildly diaphoretic. -- n.
Defn: A gentle diaphoretic.
DIAPOPHYSICAL Di*ap`o*phys"ic*al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to a diapophysis.
DIAPOPHYSIS Di`a*poph"y*sis, n. Etym: [NL. See Dia-, and Apophysis.] (Anat.)
Defn: The dorsal transverse, or tubercular, process of a vertebra. See Vertebra.
DIARCHY Di"arch*y, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A form of government in which the supreme power is vested in two persons.
DIARIAL; DIARIAN Di*a"ri*al, Di*a"ri*an, a. Etym: [See Diary.]
Defn: Pertaining to a diary; daily.
DIARIST Di"a*rist, n.
Defn: One who keeps a diary.
DIARRHEA; DIARRHOEA Di`ar*rhe"a, Di`ar*rhoe"a, n. Etym: [L. diarrhoea, Gr. stream. See Stream.] (Med.)
Defn: A morbidly frequent and profuse discharge of loose or fluid evacuations from the intestines, without tenesmus; a purging or looseness of the bowels; a flux.
DIARRHEAL; DIARRHOEAL Di`ar*rhe"al, Di`ar*rhoe"al a. (Med.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to diarrhea; like diarrhea.
DIARRHETIC; DIARRHOETIC Di`ar*rhet"ic, Di`ar*rhoet"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Producing diarrhea, or a purging.
DIARTHRODIAL Di`ar*thro"di*al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Relating to diarthrosis, or movable articulations.
DIARTHROSIS Di`ar*thro"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: A form of articulation which admits of considerable motion; a complete joint; abarticulation. See Articulation.
DIARY Di"a*ry, n.; pl. Diaries. Etym: [L. diarium, fr. dies day. See Deity.]
Defn: A register of daily events or transactions; a daily record; a journal; a blank book dated for the record of daily memoranda; as, a diary of the weather; a physician's diary.
DIARY Di"a*ry, a.
Defn: lasting for one day; as, a diary fever. [Obs.] "Diary ague." Bacon.
DIASPORA Di*as"po*ra, n. [Gr. . See Diaspore.] Lit., "Dispersion." -- applied collectively: (a) To those Jews who, after the Exile, were scattered through the Old World, and afterwards to Jewish Christians living among heathen. Cf. James i.1. (b) By extension, to Christians isolated from their own communion, as among the Moravians to those living, usually as missionaries, outside of the parent congregation.
DIASPORE Di"a*spore, n. Etym: [From Gr. diaspore.] (Min.)
Defn: A hydrate of alumina, often occurring in white lamellar masses with brilliant pearly luster; -- so named on account of its decrepitating when heated before the blowpipe.
DIASTASE Di"a*stase, n. Etym: [Gr. diastase. Cf. Diastasis.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A soluble, nitrogenous ferment, capable of converting starch and dextrin into sugar.
Note: The name is more particularly applied to that ferment formed during the germination of grain, as in the malting of barley; but it is also occasionally used to designate the amylolytic ferment contained in animal fluids, as in the saliva.
DIASTASIC Di`a*sta"sic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or consisting of, diastase; as, diastasic ferment.
DIASTASIS Di*as"ta*sis, n. Etym: [NL. See Diastase.] (Surg.)
Defn: A forcible of bones without fracture.
DIASTATIC Di`a*stat"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. Diastase.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: Relating to diastase; having the properties of diastase; effecting the conversion of starch into sugar. The influence of acids and alkalies on the diastatic action of saliva. Lauder Brunton.
DIASTEM Di"a*stem, n. Etym: [L. diastema, Gr. diastème.] (a) Intervening space; interval. (b) (Anc. Mus.) An interval.
DIASTEMA Di`a*ste"ma, n. Etym: [L. See Diastem.] (Anat.)
Defn: A vacant space, or gap, esp. between teeth in a jaw.
DIASTER Di*as"ter, n. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: A double star; -- applied to the nucleus of a cell, when, during cell division, the loops of the nuclear network separate into two groups, preparatory to the formation of two daughter nuclei. See Karyokinesis.
DIASTOLE Di*as"to*le, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
1. (Physiol.)
Defn: The rhythmical expansion or dilatation of the heart and arteries; -- correlative to systole, or contraction.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: A figure by which a syllable naturally short is made long.
DIASTOLIC Di`as*tol"ic, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to diastole.
DIASTYLE Di"a*style, n. Etym: [L. diastylus, Gr. diastyle.] (Arch.)
Defn: See under Intercolumniation.
DIATESSARON Di`a*tes"sa*ron, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
1. (Anc. Mus.)
Defn: The interval of a fourth.
2. (Theol.)
Defn: A continuous narrative arranged from the first four books of the New Testament.
3. An electuary compounded of four medicines.
DIATHERMAL Di`a*ther"mal, a. Etym: [Gr. Diathermous.]
Defn: Freely permeable by radiant heat.
DIATHERMANCY; DIATHERMANEITY Di`a*ther"man*cy, Di`a*ther`ma*ne"i*ty, n. Etym: [See Diathermanous.]
Defn: The property of transmitting radiant heat; the quality of being diathermous. Melloni.
DIATHERMANISM Di`a*ther"ma*nism, n.
Defn: The doctrine or the phenomena of the transmission of radiant heat. Nichol.
DIATHERMANOUS Di`a*ther"ma*nous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Having the property of transmitting radiant heat; diathermal; - - opposed to athermanous.
DIATHERMIC Di`a*ther"mic, a.
Defn: Affording a free passage to heat; as, diathermic substances. Melloni.
DIATHERMOMETER Di`a*ther*mom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter. See Diathermal.] (Physics)
Defn: An instrument for examining the thermal resistance or heat- conducting power of liquids.
DIATHERMOUS Di`a*ther"mous, a.
Defn: Same as Diathermal.
DIATHESIS Di*ath"e*sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Bodily condition or constitution, esp. a morbid habit which predisposes to a particular disease, or class of diseases.
DIATHETIC Di`a*thet"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or dependent on, a diathesis or special constitution of the body; as, diathetic disease.
DIATOM Di"a*tom, n. Etym: [Gr. Diatomous.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: One of the Diatomaceæ, a family of minute unicellular Algæ having a siliceous covering of great delicacy, each individual multiplying by spontaneous division. By some authors diatoms are called Bacillariæ, but this word is not in general use.
2. A particle or atom endowed with the vital principle. The individual is nothing. He is no more than the diatom, the bit of protoplasm. Mrs. E. Lynn Linton.
DIATOMIC Di`a*tom"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + atomic.] (Chem.) (a) Containing two atoms. (b) Having two replaceable atoms or radicals.
DIATOMOUS Di*at"o*mous, a. Etym: [Gr. Diatom.] (Min.)
Defn: Having a single, distinct, diagonal cleavage; -- said of crystals. Mohs.
DIATONIC Di`a*ton"ic, a. Etym: [L. diatonicus, diatonus, Gr. diatonique. See Tone.] (Mus.)
Defn: Pertaining to the scale of eight tones, the eighth of which is the octave of the first. Diatonic scale (Mus.), a scale consisting of eight sounds with seven intervals, of which two are semitones and five are whole tones; a modern major or minor scale, as distinguished from the chromatic scale.
DIATONICALLY Di`a*ton"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a diatonic manner.
DIATRIBE Di"a*tribe, n. Etym: [L. diatriba a learned discussion, Gr. terere, F. trite: cf. F. diatribe.]
Defn: A prolonged or exhaustive discussion; especially, an acrimonious or invective harangue; a strain of abusive or railing language; a philippic. The ephemeral diatribe of a faction. John Morley.
DIATRIBIST Di*at"ri*bist, n.
Defn: One who makes a diatribe or diatribes.
DIATRYMA Di`a*try"ma, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: An extinct eocene bird from New Mexico, larger than the ostrich.
DIAZEUCTIC; DIAZEUTIC Di`a*zeuc"tic, Di`a*zeu"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Anc. Mus.)
Defn: Disjoining two fourths; as, the diazeutic tone, which, like that from F to G in modern music, lay between two fourths, and, being joined to either, made a fifth. [Obs.]
DIAZO- Di*az"o- (. Etym: [Pref. di- + azo-] (Chem.)
Defn: A combining form (also used adjectively), meaning pertaining to, or derived from, a series of compounds containing a radical of two nitrogen atoms, united usually to an aromatic radical; as, diazo- benzene, C6H5.N2.OH.
Note: Diazo compounds are in general unstable, but are of great importance in recent organic chemistry. They are obtained by a partial reduction of the salts of certain amido compounds. Diazo reactions (Chem.), a series of reactions whereby diazo compounds are employed in substitution. These reactions are of great importance in organic chemistry.
DIAZOTIZE Di*az"o*tize, v. t. (Chem.)
Defn: To subject to such reactions or processes that diazo compounds, or their derivatives, shall be produced by chemical exchange or substitution.
DIB Dib, v. i.
Defn: To dip. [Prov. Eng.] Walton.
DIB Dib, n.
1. One of the small bones in the knee joints of sheep uniting the bones above and below the joints.
2. pl.
Defn: A child's game, played with dib bones.
DIBASIC Di*ba"sic, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + basic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Having two acid hydrogen atoms capable of replacement by basic atoms or radicals, in forming salts; bibasic; -- said of acids, as oxalic or sulphuric acids. Cf. Diacid, Bibasic.
Note: In the case of certain acids dibasic and divalent are not synonymous; as, tartaric acid is tetravalent and dibasic, lactic acid is divalent but monobasic.
DIBASICITY Di`ba*sic"i*ty, n. (Chem.)
Defn: The property or condition of being dibasic.
DIBBER Dib"ber, n.
Defn: A dibble. Halliwell.
DIBBLE Dib"ble, n. Etym: [See Dibble, v. i.]
Defn: A pointed implement used to make holes in the ground in which no set out plants or to plant seeds.
DIBBLE Dib"ble, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dibbled; p. pr. & vb. n. Dibbling.] Etym: [Freq. of Prov. E. dib, for dip to thrust in. See Dip.]
Defn: To dib or dip frequently, as in angling. Walton.
DIBBLE Dib"ble, v. t.
1. To plant with a dibble; to make holes in (soil) with a dibble, for planting.
2. To make holes or indentations in, as if with a dibble. The clayey soil around it was dibbled thick at the time by the tiny hoofs of sheep. H. Miller.
DIBBLER Dib"bler, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, dibbles, or makes holes in the ground for seed.
DIBRANCHIATA Di*bran`chi*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of cephalopods which includes those with two gills, an apparatus for emitting an inky fluid, and either eight or ten cephalic arms bearing suckers or hooks, as the octopi and squids. See Cephalopoda.
DIBRANCHIATE Di*bran"chi*ate, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having two gills. -- n.
Defn: One of the Dibranchiata.
DIBS Dibs, n.
Defn: A sweet preparation or treacle of grape juice, much used in the East. Johnston.
DIBSTONE Dib"stone` (; 110), n.
Defn: A pebble used in a child's game called dibstones. Locke.
DIBUTYL Di*bu"tyl, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + butyl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A liquid hydrocarbon, C8H18, of the marsh-gas series, being one of several octanes, and consisting of two butyl radicals. Cf. Octane.
DICACIOUS Di*ca"cious, a. Etym: [L. dicax, dicacis, fr. dicere to say.]
Defn: Talkative; pert; saucy. [Obs.]
DICACITY Di*cac"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. dicacitas: cf. F. dicacité. See Dicacious.]
Defn: Pertness; sauciness. [Obs.]
DICALCIC Di*cal"cic, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + calcic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Having two atoms or equivalents of calcium to the molecule.
DICARBONIC Di`car*bon"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + carbonic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Containing two carbon residues, or two carboxyl or radicals; as, oxalic acid is a dicarbonic acid.
DICAST Di"cast, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A functionary in ancient Athens answering nearly to the modern juryman.
DICASTERY Di*cas"ter*y, n. Etym: [Gr. Dicast.]
Defn: A court of justice; judgment hall. [R.] J. S. Mill.
DICE Dice, n.; pl. of Die.
Defn: Small cubes used in gaming or in determining by chance; also, the game played with dice. See Die, n. Dice coal, a kind of coal easily splitting into cubical fragments. Brande & C.
DICE Dice, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Diced; p. pr. & vb. n. Dicing.]
1. To play games with dice. I . . . diced not above seven times a week. Shak.
2. To ornament with squares, diamonds, or cubes.
DICEBOX Dice"box`, n.
Defn: A box from which dice are thrown in gaming. Thackeray.
DICENTRA Di*cen"tra, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of herbaceous plants, with racemes of two-spurred or heart-shaped flowers, including the Dutchman's breeches, and the more showy Bleeding heart (D. spectabilis). [Corruptly written dielytra.]
DICEPHALOUS Di*ceph"a*lous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Having two heads on one body; double-headed.
DICER Di"cer, n.
Defn: A player at dice; a dice player; a gamester. As false as dicers' oaths. Shak.
DICH Dich, v. i.
Defn: To ditch. [Obs.]
DICHASTIC Di*chas"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Capable of subdividing spontaneously.
DICHLAMYDEOUS Di`chla*myd"e*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having two coverings, a calyx and in corolla.
DICHLORIDE Di*chlo"ride, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + chloride.] (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Bichloride.
DICHOGAMOUS Di*chog"a*mous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Manifesting dichogamy.
DICHOGAMY Di*chog"a*my, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The condition of certain species of plants, in which the stamens and pistil do not mature simultaneously, so that these plants can never fertilize themselves.
DICHOTOMIST Di*chot"o*mist, n.
Defn: One who dichotomizes. Bacon.
DICHOTOMIZE Di*chot"o*mize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dichotomized; p. pr. & vb. n. Dichotomizing.] Etym: [See Dichotomous.]
1. To cut into two parts; to part into two divisions; to divide into pairs; to bisect. [R.] The apostolical benediction dichotomizes all good things into grace and peace. Bp. Hall.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: To exhibit as a half disk. See Dichotomy,
3. "[The moon] was dichotomized." Whewell.
DICHOTOMIZE Di*chot"o*mize, v. i.
Defn: To separate into two parts; to branch dichotomously; to become dichotomous.
DICHOTOMOUS Di*chot"o*mous, a. Etym: [L. dichotomos, Gr.
Defn: Regularly dividing by pairs from bottom to top; as, a dichotomous stem. -- Di*chot"o*mous*ly, adv.
DICHOTOMY Di*chot"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. dichotomie. See Dichotomous.]
1. A cutting in two; a division. A general breach or dichotomy with their church. Sir T. Browne.
2. Division or distribution of genera into two species; division into two subordinate parts.
3. (Astron.)
Defn: That phase of the moon in which it appears bisected, or shows only half its disk, as at the quadratures.
4. (Biol.)
Defn: Successive division and subdivision, as of a stem of a plant or a vein of the body, into two parts as it proceeds from its origin; successive bifurcation.
5. The place where a stem or vein is forked.
6. (Logic)
Defn: Division into two; especially, the division of a class into two subclasses opposed to each other by contradiction, as the division of the term man into white and not white.
DICHROIC Di*chro"ic, a. Etym: [See Dichroism.]
Defn: Having the property of dichroism; as, a dichroic crystal.
DICHROISCOPE Di*chro"i*scope, n.
Defn: Same as Dichroscope.
DICHROISM Di"chro*ism, n. Etym: [Gr. (Opt.)
Defn: The property of presenting different colors by transmitted light, when viewed in two different directions, the colors being unlike in the direction of unlike or unequal axes.
DICHROITE Di"chro*ite, n. Etym: [See Dichroism.] (Min.)
Defn: Iolite; -- so called from its presenting two different colors when viewed in two different directions. See Iolite.
DICHROITIC Di`chro*it"ic, a.
Defn: Dichroic.
DICHROMATE Di*chro"mate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of chromic acid containing two equivalents of the acid radical to one of the base; -- called also bichromate.
DICHROMATIC Di`chro*mat"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + chromatic: cf. Gr.
1. Having or exhibiting two colors.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having two color varieties, or two phases differing in color, independently of age or sex, as in certain birds and insects.
DICHROMATISM Di*chro"ma*tism, n.
Defn: The state of being dichromatic.
DICHROMIC Di*chro"mic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Furnishing or giving two colors; -- said of defective vision, in which all the compound colors are resolvable into two elements instead of three. Sir J. Herschel.
DICHROOUS Di"chro*ous, a.
Defn: Dichroic.
DICHROSCOPE Di"chro*scope, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: An instrument for examining the dichroism of crystals.
DICHROSCOPIC Di`chro*scop"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the dichroscope, or to observations with it.
DICING Di"cing, n.
1. An ornamenting in squares or cubes.
2. Gambling with dice. J. R. Green.
DICKCISSEL Dick*cis"sel, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The American black-throated bunting (Spiza Americana).
DICKENS Dick"ens, n. or interj. Etym: [Perh. a contr. of the dim. devilkins.]
Defn: The devil. [A vulgar euphemism.] I can not tell what the dickens his name is. Shak.
DICKER Dick"er, n. Etym: [Also daker, dakir; akin to Icel. dekr, Dan. deger, G. decher; all prob. from LL. dacra, dacrum, the number ten, akin to L. decuria a division consisting of ten, fr. decem ten. See Ten.]
1. The number or quantity of ten, particularly ten hides or skins; a dakir; as, a dicker of gloves. [Obs.] A dicker of cowhides. Heywood.
2. A chaffering, barter, or exchange, of small wares; as, to make a dicker. [U.S.] For peddling dicker, not for honest sales. Whittier.
DICKER Dick"er, v. i. & t.
Defn: To negotiate a dicker; to barter. [U.S.] "Ready to dicker. and to swap." Cooper.
DICKEY; DICKY Dick"ey, Dick"y, n.
1. A seat behind a carriage, for a servant.
2. A false shirt front or bosom.
3. A gentleman's shirt collar. [Local, U. S.]
DICLINIC Di*clin"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Crystallog.)
Defn: Having two of the intersections between the three axes oblique. See Crystallization.
DICLINOUS Dic"li*nous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Having the stamens and pistils in separate flowers. Gray.
DICOCCOUS Di*coc"cous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Composed pf two coherent, one-seeded carpels; as, a dicoccous capsule.
DICOTYLEDON Di*cot`y*le"don, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + cotyledon.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant whose seeds divide into two seed lobes, or cotyledons, in germinating.
DICOTYLEDONOUS Di*cot`y*le"don*ous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having two cotyledons or seed lobes; as, a dicotyledonous plant.
DICROTAL; DICROTOUS Di"cro*tal, Di"cro*tous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Dicrotic.
DICROTIC Di*crot"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.) (a) Of or pertaining to dicrotism; as, a dicrotic pulse. (b) Of or pertaining to the second expansion of the artery in the dicrotic pulse; as, the dicrotic wave.
DICROTISM Di"cro*tism, n. (Physiol.)
Defn: A condition in which there are two beats or waves of the arterial pulse to each beat of the heart.
DICTA Dic"ta, n. pl. Etym: [L.]
Defn: See Dictum.
DICTAGRAPH Dic"ta*graph.
Defn: Var. of Dictograph.
DICTAMEN Dic*ta"men, n. Etym: [LL., fr. dictare to dictate.]
Defn: A dictation or dictate. [R.] Falkland.
DICTAMNUS Dic*tam"nus, n. Etym: [L. See Dittany.] (Bot.)
Defn: A suffrutescent, D. Fraxinella (the only species), with strong perfume and showy flowers. The volatile oil of the leaves is highly inflammable.
DICTAPHONE Dic"ta*phone, n. [Dictate + -phone, as in telephone.]
Defn: A form of phonographic recorder and reproducer adapted for use in dictation, as in business.
DICTATE Dic"tate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dictated; p. pr. & vb. n. Dictating.] Etym: [L. dictatus, p. p. of dictare, freq. of dicere to say. See Diction, and cf. Dight.]
1. To tell or utter so that another may write down; to inspire; to compose; as, to dictate a letter to an amanuensis. The mind which dictated the Iliad. Wayland. Pages dictated by the Holy Spirit. Macaulay.
2. To say; to utter; to communicate authoritatively; to deliver (a command) to a subordinate; to declare with authority; to impose; as, to dictate the terms of a treaty; a general dictates orders to his troops. Whatsoever is dictated to us by God must be believed. Watts.
Syn. -- To suggest; prescribe; enjoin; command; point out; urge; admonish.
DICTATE Dic"tate, v. i.
1. To speak as a superior; to command; to impose conditions (on). Who presumed to dictate to the sovereign. Macaulay.
2. To compose literary works; to tell what shall be written or said by another. Sylla could not skill of letters, and therefore knew not how to dictate. Bacon.
DICTATE Dic"tate, n. Etym: [L. dictatum. See Dictate, v. t.]
Defn: A statement delivered with authority; an order; a command; an authoritative rule, principle, or maxim; a prescription; as, listen to the dictates of your conscience; the dictates of the gospel. I credit what the Grecian dictates say. Prior.
Syn. -- Command; injunction; direction suggestion; impulse; admonition.
DICTATION Dic*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. dictatio.]
1. The act of dictating; the act or practice of prescribing; also that which is dictated. It affords security against the dictation of laws. Paley.
2. The speaking to, or the giving orders to, in an overbearing manner; authoritative utterance; as, his habit, even with friends, was that of dictatio.
DICTATOR Dic*ta"tor, n. Etym: [L.]
1. One who dictates; one who prescribes rules and maxims authoritatively for the direction of others. Locke.
2. One invested with absolute authority; especially, a magistrate created in times of exigence and distress, and invested with unlimited power. Invested with the authority of a dictator, nay, of a pope, over our language. Macaulay.
DICTATORIAL Dic`ta*to"ri*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. dictatorial.]
1. Pertaining or suited to a dictator; absolute. Military powers quite dictatorial. W. Irving.
2. Characteristic of a dictator; imperious; dogmatical; overbearing; as, a dictatorial tone or manner. -- Dic`ta*to"ri*al*ly, adv. -- Dic`ta*to"ri*al*ness, n.
DICTATORIAN Dic`ta*to"ri*an, a.
Defn: Dictatorial. [Obs.]
DICTATORSHIP Dic*ta"tor*ship, n.
Defn: The office, or the term of office, of a dictator; hence, absolute power.
DICTATORY Dic"ta*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. dictatorius.]
Defn: Dogmatical; overbearing; dictatorial. Milton.
DICTATRESS Dic*ta"tress, n.
Defn: A woman who dictates or commands. Earth's chief dictatress, ocean's mighty queen. Byron.
DICTATRIX Dic*ta"trix, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A dictatress.
DICTATURE Dic*ta"ture, n. Etym: [L. dictatura: cf. F. dictature.]
Defn: Office of a dictator; dictatorship. [R.] Bacon.
DICTION Dic"tion, n. Etym: [L. dicto a saying, a word, fr. dicere, dictum, to say; akin to dicare to proclaim, and to E. teach, token: cf. F. diction. See Teach, and cf. Benison, Dedicate, Index, Judge, Preach, Vengeance.]
Defn: Choice of words for the expression of ideas; the construction, disposition, and application of words in discourse, with regard to clearness, accuracy, variety, etc.; mode of expression; language; as, the diction of Chaucer's poems. His diction blazes up into a sudden explosion of prophetic grandeur. De Quincey.
Syn. -- Diction, Style, Phraseology. Style relates both to language and thought; diction, to language only; phraseology, to the mechanical structure of sentences, or the mode in which they are phrased. The style of Burke was enriched with all the higher graces of composition; his diction was varied and copious; his phraseology, at times, was careless and cumbersome. "Diction is a general term applicable alike to a single sentence or a connected composition. Errors in grammar, false construction, a confused disposition of words, or an improper application of them, constitute bad diction; but the niceties, the elegancies, the peculiarities, and the beauties of composition, which mark the genius and talent of the writer, are what is comprehended under the name of style." Crabb.
DICTIONALRIAN Dic`tion*al"ri*an, n.
Defn: A lexicographer. [R.]
DICTIONARY Dic"tion*a*ry, n.; pl. Dictionaries. Etym: [Cf. F. dictionnaire. See Diction.]
1. A book containing the words of a language, arranged alphabetically, with explanations of their meanings; a lexicon; a vocabulary; a wordbook. I applied myself to the perusal of our writers; and noting whatever might be of use to ascertain or illustrate any word or phrase, accumulated in time the materials of a dictionary. Johnson.
2. Hence, a book containing the words belonging to any system or province of knowledge, arranged alphabetically; as, a dictionary of medicine or of botany; a biographical dictionary.
DICTOGRAPH Dic"to*graph, n. [L. dictum a thing said + E. -graph.]
Defn: A telephonic instrument for office or other similar use, having a sound-magnifying device enabling the ordinary mouthpiece to be dispensed with. Much use has been made of it for overhearing, or for recording, conversations for the purpose of obtaining evidence for use in litigation.
The makers of this instrument spell it dictograph.
DICTUM Dic"tum, n.; pl. L. Dicta, E. Dictums. Etym: [L., neuter of dictus, p. p. of dicere to say. See Diction, and cf. Ditto.]
1. An authoritative statement; a dogmatic saying; an apothegm. A class of critical dicta everywhere current. M. Arnold.
2. (Law) (a) A judicial opinion expressed by judges on points that do not necessarily arise in the case, and are not involved in it. (b) (French Law) The report of a judgment made by one of the judges who has given it. Bouvier. (c) An arbitrament or award.
DICTYOGEN Dic*ty"o*gen, n. Etym: [Gr. -gen.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant with netveined leaves, and monocotyledonous embryos, belonging to the class Dictyogenæ, proposed by Lindley for the orders Dioscoreaceæ, Smilaceæ, Trilliaceæ, etc.
DICYANIDE Di*cy"a*nide, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + cyanogen.] (Chem.)
Defn: A compound of a binary type containing two cyanogen groups or radicals; -- called also bicyanide.
DICYEMATA Di`cy*e"ma*ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of worms parasitic in cephalopods. They are remarkable for the extreme simplicity of their structure. The embryo exists in two forms.
DICYEMID Di`cy*e"mid, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or belonging to the Dicyemata. -- n.
Defn: One of the Dicyemata.
DICYNODONT Di*cyn"o*dont, n. Etym: [Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: One of a group of extinct reptiles having the jaws armed with a horny beak, as in turtles, and in the genus Dicynodon, supporting also a pair of powerful tusks. Their remains are found in triassic strata of South Africa and India.
DID Did, imp.
Defn: of Do.
DIDACTIC; DIDACTICAL Di*dac"tic, Di*dac"tic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. docere to teach: cf. F. didactique. See Docile.]
Defn: Fitted or intended to teach; conveying instruction; preceptive; instructive; teaching some moral lesson; as, didactic essays. "Didactical writings." Jer. Taylor. The finest didactic poem in any language. Macaulay.
DIDACTIC Di*dac"tic, n.
Defn: A treatise on teaching or education. [Obs.] Milton.
DIDACTICALLY Di*dac"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a didactic manner.
DIDACTICISM Di*dac"ti*cism, n.
Defn: The didactic method or system.
DIDACTICITY Di`dac*tic"i*ty, n.
Defn: Aptitude for teaching. Hare.
DIDACTICS Di*dac"tics, n.
Defn: The art or science of teaching.
DIDACTYL Di*dac"tyl, n. Etym: [Gr. didactyle.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An animal having only two digits.
DIDACTYLOUS Di*dac"tyl*ous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having only two digits; two-toed.
DIDAL Di"dal, n.
Defn: A kind of triangular spade. [Obs.]
DIDAPPER Di"dap`per, n. Etym: [For divedapper. See Dive, Dap, Dip, and cf. Dabchick.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Dabchick.
DIDASCALAR Di*das"ca*lar, a.
Defn: Didascalic. [R.]
DIDASCALIC Di`das*cal"ic, a. Etym: [L. didascalius, Gr. didascalique.]
Defn: Didactic; preceptive. [R.] Prior.
DIDDLE Did"dle, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Daddle.]
Defn: To totter, as a child in walking. [Obs.] Quarles.
DIDDLE Did"dle, v. t. Etym: [Perh. from AS. dyderian to deceive, the letter r being changed to l.]
Defn: To cheat or overreach. [Colloq.] Beaconsfield.
DIDDLER Did"dler, n.
Defn: A cheat. [Colloq.] Jeremy Diddler, a character in a play by James Kenney, entitled "Raising the wind." The name is applied to any needy, tricky, constant borrower; a confidence man.
DIDELPHIA Di*del"phi*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The subclass of Mammalia which includes the marsupials. See Marsupialia.
DIDELPHIAN Di*del"phi*an, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or relating to the Didelphia. -- n.
Defn: One of the Didelphia.
DIDELPHIC Di*del"phic, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the uterus double; of or pertaining to the Didelphia.
DIDELPHID Di*del"phid, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Didelphic.
DIDELPHID Di*del"phid, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A marsupial animal.
DIDELPHOUS Di*del"phous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Didelphic.
DIDELPHOUS Di*del"phous, n. Etym: [NL. See Didelphia.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Formerly, any marsupial; but the term is now restricted to an American genus which includes the opossums, of which there are many species. See Opossum. [Written also Didelphis.] See Illustration in Appendix. Cuvier.
DIDELPHYC Di*del"phyc, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Didelphic.
DIDELPHYS Di*del"phys, n. [NL. See Didelphia.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Formerly, any marsupial; but the term is now restricted to an American genus which includes the opossums, of which there are many species. See Opossum. [Written also Didelphis.] See Illustration in Appendix. Cuvier.
DIDINE Di"dine, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the genus Didus, or the dodo.
DIDO Di"do, n.; pl. Didos (.
Defn: A shrewd trick; an antic; a caper. To cut a dido, to play a trick; to cut a caper; -- perhaps so called from the trick of Dido, who having bought so much land as a hide would cover, is said to have cut it into thin strips long enough to inclose a spot for a citadel.
DIDONIA Di*do"ni*a, n. Etym: [NL. So called in allusion to the classical story of Dido and the bull's hide.] (Geom.)
Defn: The curve which on a given surface and with a given perimeter contains the greatest area. Tait.
DIDRACHM; DIDRACHMA Di"drachm, Di*drach"ma, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A two-drachma piece; an ancient Greek silver coin, worth nearly forty cents.
DIDST Didst
Defn: , the 2d pers. sing. imp. of Do.
DIDUCEMENT Di*duce"ment, n.
Defn: Diduction; separation into distinct parts. Bacon.
DIDUCTION Di*duc"tion, n. Etym: [L. diductio, fr. diducere, diductum, to draw apart; di- = dis- + ducere to lead, draw.]
Defn: The act of drawing apart; separation.
DIDYM Di"dym, n. (Chem.)
Defn: See Didymium.
DIDYMIUM Di*dym"i*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: A rare metallic substance usually associated with the metal cerium; -- hence its name. It was formerly supposed to be an element, but has since been found to consist of two simpler elementary substances, neodymium and praseodymium. See Neodymium, and Praseodymium.
DIDYMOUS Did"y*mous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Growing in pairs or twins.
DIDYNAMIA Did`y*na"mi*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A Linnæan class of plants having four stamens disposed in pairs of unequal length.
DIDYNAMIAN Did`y*na"mi*an, a.
Defn: Didynamous.
DIDYNAMOUS Di*dyn"a*mous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Didynamia; containing four stamens disposed in pairs of unequal length.
DIE Die, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Died; p. pr. & vb. n. Dying.] Etym: [OE. deyen, dien, of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. deyja; akin to Dan. döe, Sw. dö, Goth. diwan (cf. Goth. afd to harass), OFries. d to kill, OS. doian to die, OHG. touwen, OSlav. daviti to choke, Lith. dovyti to torment. Cf. Dead, Death.]
1. To pass from an animate to a lifeless state; to cease to live; to suffer a total and irreparable loss of action of the vital functions; to become dead; to expire; to perish; -- said of animals and vegetables; often with of, by, with, from, and rarely for, before the cause or occasion of death; as, to die of disease or hardships; to die by fire or the sword; to die with horror at the thought. To die by the roadside of grief and hunger. Macaulay. She will die from want of care. Tennyson.
2. To suffer death; to lose life. In due time Christ died for the ungodly. Rom. v. 6.
3. To perish in any manner; to cease; to become lost or extinct; to be extinguished. Letting the secret die within his own breast. Spectator. Great deeds can not die. Tennyson.
4. To sink; to faint; to pine; to languish, with weakness, discouragement, love, etc. His heart died within, and he became as a stone. 1 Sam. xxv. 37. The young men acknowledged, in love letters, that they died for Rebecca. Tatler.
5. To become indifferent; to cease to be subject; as, to die to pleasure or to sin.
6. To recede and grow fainter; to become imperceptible; to vanish; -- often with out or away. Blemishes may die away and disappear amidst the brightness. Spectator.
7. (Arch.)
Defn: To disappear gradually in another surface, as where moldings are lost in a sloped or curved face.
8. To become vapid, flat, or spiritless, as liquor. To die in the last ditch, to fight till death; to die rather than surrender. "There is one certain way," replied the Prince [William of Orange] " by which I can be sure never to see my country's ruin, -- I will die in the last ditch." Hume (Hist. of Eng. ). -- To die out, to cease gradually; as, the prejudice has died out.
Syn. -- To expire; decease; perish; depart; vanish.
DIE Die, n.; pl. in 1 and (usually) in 2, Dice (dis); in 4 & 5, Dies (diz). Etym: [OE. dee, die, F. dé, fr. L. datus given, thrown, p. p. of dare to give, throw. See Date a point of time.]
1. A small cube, marked on its faces with spots from one to six, and used in playing games by being shaken in a box and thrown from it. See Dice.
2. Any small cubical or square body. Words . . . pasted upon little flat tablets or dies. Watts.
3. That which is, or might be, determined, by a throw of the die; hazard; chance. Such is the die of war. Spenser.
4. (Arch.)
Defn: That part of a pedestal included between base and cornice; the dado.
5. (Mach.) (a) A metal or plate (often one of a pair) so cut or shaped as to give a certain desired form to, or impress any desired device on, an object or surface, by pressure or by a blow; used in forging metals, coining, striking up sheet metal, etc. (b) A perforated block, commonly of hardened steel used in connection with a punch, for punching holes, as through plates, or blanks from plates, or for forming cups or capsules, as from sheet metal, by drawing. (c) A hollow internally threaded screw-cutting tool, made in one piece or composed of several parts, for forming screw threads on bolts, etc.; one of the separate parts which make up such a tool. Cutting die (Mech.), a thin, deep steel frame, sharpened to a cutting edge, for cutting out articles from leather, cloth, paper, etc. -- The die is cast, the hazard must be run; the step is taken, and it is too late to draw back; the last chance is taken.
DIECIAN; DIECIOUS Di*e"cian, a., Di*e"cious, a. (Bot.)
Defn: See Dioecian, and Dioecious.
DIEDRAL Di*e"dral, a.
Defn: The same as Dihedral.
DIEGESIS Di`e*ge"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
Defn: A narrative or history; a recital or relation.
DIELECTRIC Di`e*lec"tric, n. Etym: [Pref. dia- + electric.] (Elec.)
Defn: Any substance or medium that transmits the electric force by a process different from conduction, as in the phenomena of induction; a nonconductor. separating a body electrified by induction, from the electrifying body.
DIELYTRA Di*el"y*tra, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Dicentra.
DIENCEPHALON Di`en*ceph"a*lon, n. Etym: [NL. See Dia-, and Encephalon.] (Anat.)
Defn: The interbrain or thalamencephalon; -- sometimes abbreviated to dien. See Thalamencephalon.
DIERESIS Di*er"e*sis, n. Etym: [NL.]
Defn: Same as Diæresis.
DIESEL ENGINE; DIESEL MOTOR Die"sel en`gine or mo`tor. [After Dr. Rudolf Diesel, of Munich, the inventor.]
Defn: A type of internal-combustion engine in which the air drawn in by the suction stroke is so highly compressed that the heat generated ignites the fuel (usually crude oil), the fuel being automatically sprayed into the cylinder under pressure. The Diesel engine has a very high thermal efficiency.
DIESINKER Die"sink`er, n.
Defn: An engraver of dies for stamping coins, medals, etc.
DIESINKING Die"sink`ing, n.
Defn: The process of engraving dies.
DIES IRAE Di"es I"ræ.
Defn: Day of wrath; -- the name and beginning of a famous mediæval Latin hymn on the Last Judgment.
DIESIS Di"e*sis, n.; pl. Dieses. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
1. (Mus.)
Defn: A small interval, less than any in actual practice, but used in the mathematical calculation of intervals.
2. (Print.)
Defn: The mark ||; -- called also double dagger.
DIES JURIDICUS Di"es ju*rid"i*cus; pl. Dies juridici. Etym: [L.] (Law)
Defn: A court day.
DIES NON Di"es non". Etym: [L. dies non juridicus.] (Law)
Defn: A day on which courts are not held, as Sunday or any legal holiday.
DIESTOCK Die"stock`, n.
Defn: A stock to hold the dies used for cutting screws.
DIET Di"et, n. Etym: [F. diète, L. diaeta, fr. Gr.
1. Course of living or nourishment; what is eaten and drunk habitually; food; victuals; fare. "No inconvenient diet." Milton.
2. A course of food selected with reference to a particular state of health; prescribed allowance of food; regimen prescribed. To fast like one that takes diet. Shak. Diet kitchen, a kitchen in which diet is prepared for invalids; a charitable establishment that provides proper food for the sick poor.
DIET Di"et, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dieted; p. pr. & vb. n. Dieting.]
1. To cause to take food; to feed. [R.] Shak.
2. To cause to eat and drink sparingly, or by prescribed rules; to regulate medicinally the food of. She diets him with fasting every day. Spenser.
DIET Di"et, v. i.
1. To eat; to take one's meals. [Obs.] Let him . . . diet in such places, where there is good company of the nation, where he traveleth. Bacon.
2. To eat according to prescribed rules; to ear sparingly; as, the doctor says he must diet.
DIET Di"et, n. Etym: [F. diète, LL. dieta, diaeta, an assembly, a day's journey; the same word as diet course of living, but with the sense changed by L. dies day: cf. G. tag dayReichstag.]
Defn: A legislative or administrative assembly in Germany, Poland, and some other countries of Europe; a deliberative convention; a council; as, the Diet of Worms, held in 1521.
DIETARIAN Di`e*ta"ri*an, n.
Defn: One who lives in accordance with prescribed rules for diet; a dieter.
DIETARY Di"et*a*ry, a.
Defn: Pertaining to diet, or to the rules of diet.
DIETARY Di"et*a*ry, n.; pl. Dietaries (.
Defn: A rule of diet; a fixed allowance of food, as in workhouse, prison, etc.
DIETER Di"et*er, n.
Defn: One who diets; one who prescribes, or who partakes of, food, according to hygienic rules.
DIETETIC; DIETETICAL Di`e*tet"ic, Di`e*tet"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. diététique. See Diet.]
Defn: Of or performance to diet, or to the rules for regulating the kind and quantity of food to be eaten.
DIETETICALLY Di`e*tet"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dietetical manner.
DIETETICS Di`e*tet"ics, n.
Defn: That part of the medical or hygienic art which relates to diet or food; rules for diet. To suppose that the whole of dietetics lies in determining whether or not bread is more nutritive than potatoes. H. Spencer.
DIETETIST Di`e*tet"ist, n.
Defn: A physician who applies the rules of dietetics to the cure of diseases. Dunglison.
DIETHYLAMINE Di*eth`yl*am"ine, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + ethylamine.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless, volatile, alkaline liquid, NH(C2H5)2, having a strong fishy odor resembling that of herring or sardines. Cf. Methylamine.
DIETIC Di*et"ic, a.
Defn: Dietetic.
DIETICAL Di*et"ic*al, a.
Defn: Dietetic. [R.] Ferrand.
DIETINE Di"et*ine, n. Etym: [Cf. F. diétine.]
Defn: A subordinate or local assembly; a diet of inferior rank.
DIETIST; DIETITIAN Di"et*ist, Di`e*ti"tian, n.
Defn: One skilled in dietetics. [R.]
DIFFAME Dif*fame`, n. Etym: [See Defame.]
Defn: Evil name; bad reputation; defamation. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DIFFARREATION Dif*far`re*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. diffarreatio; dif- = farreum a spelt cake. See Confarreation.]
Defn: A form of divorce, among the ancient Romans, in which a cake was used. See Confarreation.
DIFFER Dif"fer, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Differed; p. pr. & vb. n. Differing.] Etym: [L. differre; dif- = dis- + ferre to bear, carry: cf. F. différer. See 1st Bear, and cf. Defer, Delay.]
1. To be or stand apart; to disagree; to be unlike; to be distinguished; -- with from. One star differeth from another star in glory. 1 Cor. xv. 41. Minds differ, as rivers differ. Macaulay.
2. To be of unlike or opposite opinion; to disagree in sentiment; -- often with from or with.
3. To have a difference, cause of variance, or quarrel; to dispute; to contend. We 'll never differ with a crowded pit. Rowe.
Syn. -- To vary; disagree; dissent; dispute; contend; oppose; wrangle. -- To Differ with, Differ from. Both differ from and aiffer with are used in reference to opinions; as, "I differ from you or with you in that opinion."" In all other cases, expressing simple unlikeness, differ from is used; as, these two persons or things differ entirely from each other. Severely punished, not for differing from us in opinion, but for committing a nuisance. Macaulay. Davidson, whom on a former occasion we quoted, to differ from him. M. Arnold. Much as I differ from him concerning an essential part of the historic basis of religion. Gladstone. I differ with the honorable gentleman on that point. Brougham. If the honorable gentleman differs with me on that subject, I differ as heartily with him, and shall always rejoice to differ. Canning.
DIFFER Dif"fer, v. t.
Defn: To cause to be different or unlike; to set at variance. [R.] But something 'ts that differs thee and me. Cowley.
DIFFERENCE Dif"fer*ence, n. Etym: [F. différence, L. differentia.]
1. The act of differing; the state or measure of being different or unlike; distinction; dissimilarity; unlikeness; variation; as, a difference of quality in paper; a difference in degrees of heat, or of light; what is the difference between the innocent and the guilty Differencies of administration, but the same Lord. 1 Cor. xii. 5.
2. Disagreement in opinion; dissension; controversy; quarrel; hence, cause of dissension; matter in controversy. What was the difference It was a contention in public. Shak. Away therefore went I with the constable, leaving the old warden and the young constable to compose their difference as they could. T. Ellwood.
3. That by which one thing differs from another; that which distinguishes or causes to differ;; mark of distinction; characteristic quality; specific attribute. The marks and differences of sovereignty. Davies.
4. Choice; preference. [Obs.] That now be chooseth with vile difference To be a beast, and lack intelligence. Spenser.
5. (Her.)
Defn: An addition to a coat of arms to distinguish the bearings of two persons, which would otherwise be the same. See Augmentation, and Marks of cadency, under Cadency.
6. (Logic)
Defn: The quality or attribute which is added to those of the genus to constitute a species; a differentia.
7. (Math.)
Defn: The quantity by which one quantity differs from another, or the remainder left after subtracting the one from the other. Ascensional difference. See under Ascensional.
Syn. -- Distinction; dissimilarity; dissimilitude; variation; diversity; variety; contrariety; disagreement; variance; contest; contention; dispute; controversy; debate; quarrel; wrangle; strife.
DIFFERENCE Dif"fer*ence, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Differenced; p. pr. & vb. n. Differencing.]
Defn: To cause to differ; to make different; to mark as different; to distinguish. Thou mayest difference gods from men. Chapman. Kings, in receiving justice and undergoing trial, are not differenced from the meanest subject. Milton. So completely differenced by their separate and individual characters that we at once acknowledge them as distinct persons. Sir W. Scott.
DIFFERENT Dif"fer*ent, a. Etym: [L. differens, -entis, p. pr. of differre: cf. F. différent.]
1. Distinct; separate; not the same; other. "Five different churches." Addison.
2. Of various or contrary nature, form, or quality; partially or totally unlike; dissimilar; as, different kinds of food or drink; different states of health; different shapes; different degrees of excellence. Men are as different from each other, as the regions in which they are born are different. Dryden.
Note: Different is properly followed by from. Different to, for different from, is a common English colloquialism. Different than is quite inadmissible.
DIFFERENTIA Dif`fer*en"ti*a, n.; pl. Differentiæ. Etym: [L. See Difference.] (Logic)
Defn: The formal or distinguishing part of the essence of a species; the characteristic attribute of a species; specific difference.
DIFFERENTIAL Dif`fer*en"tial, a. Etym: [Cf. F. différentiel.]
1. Relating to or indicating a difference; creating a difference; discriminating; special; as, differential characteristics; differential duties; a differential rate. For whom he produced differential favors. Motley.
2. (Math.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to a differential, or to differentials.
3. (Mech.)
Defn: Relating to differences of motion or leverage; producing effects by such differences; said of mechanism. Differential calculus. (Math.) See under Calculus. -- Differential coefficient, the limit of the ratio of the increment of a function of a variable to the increment of the variable itself, when these increments are made indefinitely small. -- Differential coupling, a form of slip coupling used in light machinery to regulate at pleasure the velocity of the connected shaft. -- Differential duties (Polit. Econ.), duties which are not imposed equally upon the same products imported from different countries. -- Differential galvanometer (Elec.), a galvanometer having two coils or circuits, usually equal, through which currents passing in opposite directions are measured by the difference of their effect upon the needle. -- Differential gearing, a train of toothed wheels, usually an epicyclic train, so arranged as to constitute a differential motion. -- Differential motion, a mechanism in which a simple differential combination produces such a change of motion or force as would, with ordinary compound arrangements, require a considerable train of parts. It is used for overcoming great resistance or producing very slow or very rapid motion. -- Differential pulley. (Mach.) (a) A portable hoisting apparatus, the same in principle as the differential windlass. (b) A hoisting pulley to which power is applied through a differential gearing. -- Differential screw, a compound screw by which a motion is produced equal to the difference of the motions of the component screws. -- Differential thermometer, a thermometer usually with a U-shaped tube terminating in two air bulbs, and containing a colored liquid, used for indicating the difference between the temperatures to which the two bulbs are exposed, by the change of position of the colored fluid, in consequence of the different expansions of the air in the bulbs. A graduated scale is attached to one leg of the tube. -- Differential windlass, or Chinese windlass, a windlass whose barrel has two parts of different diameters. The hoisting rope winds upon one part as it unwinds from the other, and a pulley sustaining the weight to be lifted hangs in the bight of the rope. It is an ancient example of a differential motion.
DIFFERENTIAL Dif`fer*en"tial, n.
1. (Math.)
Defn: An increment, usually an indefinitely small one, which is given to a variable quantity.
Note: According to the more modern writers upon the differential and integral calculus, if two or more quantities are dependent on each other, and subject to increments of value, their differentials need not be small, but are any quantities whose ratios to each other are the limits to which the ratios of the increments approximate, as these increments are reduced nearer and nearer to zero.
2. A small difference in rates which competing railroad lines, in establishing a common tariff, allow one of their number to make, in order to get a fair share of the business. The lower rate is called a differential rate. Differentials are also sometimes granted to cities.
3. (Elec.) (a) One of two coils of conducting wire so related to one another or to a magnet or armature common to both, that one coil produces polar action contrary to that of the other. (b) A form of conductor used for dividing and distributing the current to a series of electric lamps so as to maintain equal action in all. Knight. Partial differential (Math.), the differential of a function of two or more variables, when only one of the variables receives an increment. -- Total differential (Math.), the differential of a function of two or more variables, when each of the variables receives an increment. The total differential of the function is the sum of all the partial differentials.
DIFFERENTIALLY Dif`fer*en"tial*ly, adv.
Defn: In the way of differentiation.
DIFFERENTIATE Dif`fer*en"ti*ate, v. t.
1. To distinguish or mark by a specific difference; to effect a difference in, as regards classification; to develop differential characteristics in; to specialize; to desynonymize. The word then was differentiated into the two forms then and than. Earle. Two or more of the forms assumed by the same original word become differentiated in signification. Dr. Murray.
2. To express the specific difference of; to describe the properties of (a thing) whereby it is differenced from another of the same class; to discriminate. Earle.
3. (Math.)
Defn: To obtain the differential, or differential coefficient, of; as, to differentiate an algebraic expression, or an equation.
DIFFERENTIATE Dif`fer*en"ti*ate, v. i. (Biol.)
Defn: To acquire a distinct and separate character. Huxley.
DIFFERENTIATION Dif`fer*en`ti*a"tion, n.
1. The act of differentiating. Further investigation of the Sanskrit may lead to differentiation of the meaning of such of these roots as are real roots. J. Peile.
2. (Logic)
Defn: The act of distinguishing or describing a thing, by giving its different, or specific difference; exact definition or determination.
3. (Biol.)
Defn: The gradual formation or production of organs or parts by a process of evolution or development, as when the seed develops the root and the stem, the initial stem develops the leaf, branches, and flower buds; or in animal life, when the germ evolves the digestive and other organs and members, or when the animals as they advance in organization acquire special organs for specific purposes.
4. (Metaph.)
Defn: The supposed act or tendency in being of every kind, whether organic or inorganic, to assume or produce a more complex structure or functions.
DIFFERENTIATOR Dif`fer*en"ti*a`tor, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, differentiates.
DIFFERENTLY Dif"fer*ent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a different manner; variously.
DIFFERINGLY Dif"fer*ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a differing or different manner. Boyle.
DIFFICILE Dif"fi*cile, a. Etym: [L. difficilis: cf. F. difficile. See Difficult.]
Defn: Difficult; hard to manage; stubborn. [Obs.] -- Dif"fi*cile*ness, n. [Obs.] Bacon.
DIFFICILITATE Dif`fi*cil"i*tate, v. t.
Defn: To make difficult. [Obs.] W. Montagu.
DIFFICULT Dif"fi*cult, a. Etym: [From Difficulty.]
1. Hard to do or to make; beset with difficulty; attended with labor, trouble, or pains; not easy; arduous.
Note: Difficult implies the notion that considerable mental effort or skill is required, or that obstacles are to be overcome which call for sagacity and skill in the agent; as, a difficult task; hard work is not always difficult work; a difficult operation in surgery; a difficult passage in an author. There is not the strength or courage left me to venture into the wide, strange, and difficult world, alone. Hawthorne.
2. Hard to manage or to please; not easily wrought upon; austere; stubborn; as, a difficult person.
Syn. -- Arduous; painful; crabbed; perplexed; laborious; unaccommodating; troublesome. See Arduous.
DIFFICULT Dif"fi*cult, v. t.
Defn: To render difficult; to impede; to perplex. [R.] Sir W. Temple.
DIFFICULTATE Dif"fi*cult*ate, v. t.
Defn: To render difficult; to difficilitate. [Obs.] Cotgrave.
DIFFICULTLY Dif"fi*cult*ly, adv.
Defn: With difficulty. Cowper.
DIFFICULTNESS Dif"fi*cult*ness, n.
Defn: Difficulty. [R.] Golding.
DIFFICULTY Dif"fi*cul*ty, n.; pl. Difficulties. Etym: [L. difficultas, fr. difficilis difficult; dif- = dis- + facilis easy: cf. F. difficulté. See Facile.]
1. The state of being difficult, or hard to do; hardness; arduousness; -- opposed to easiness or facility; as, the difficulty of a task or enterprise; a work of difficulty. Not being able to promote them [the interests of life] on account of the difficulty of the region. James Byrne.
2. Something difficult; a thing hard to do or to understand; that which occasions labor or perplexity, and requires skill perseverance to overcome, solve, or achieve; a hard enterprise; an obstacle; an impediment; as, the difficulties of a science; difficulties in theology. They lie under some difficulties by reason of the emperor's displeasure. Addison.
3. A controversy; a falling out; a disagreement; an objection; a cavil. Measures for terminating all local difficulties. Bancroft.
4. Embarrassment of affairs, especially financial affairs; -- usually in the plural; as, to be in difficulties. In days of difficulty and pressure. Tennyson.
Syn. -- Impediment; obstacle; obstruction; embarrassment; perplexity; exigency; distress; trouble; trial; objection; cavil. See Impediment.
DIFFIDE Dif*fide", v. i. Etym: [L. diffidere. See Diffident.]
Defn: To be distrustful. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
DIFFIDENCE Dif"fi*dence, n. Etym: [L. diffidentia.]
1. The state of being diffident; distrust; want of confidence; doubt of the power, ability, or disposition of others. [Archaic] That affliction grew heavy upon me, and weighed me down even to a diffidence of God's mercy. Donne.
2. Distrust of one's self or one's own powers; lack of self-reliance; modesty; modest reserve; bashfulness. It is good to speak on such questions with diffidence. Macaulay. An Englishman's habitual diffidence and awkwardness of adress. W. Irving.
Syn. -- Humility; bashfulness; distrust; suspicion; doubt; fear; timidity; apprehension; hesitation. See Humility, and Bashfulness.
DIFFIDENCY Dif"fi*den*cy, n.
Defn: See Diffidence. [Obs.]
DIFFIDENT Dif"fi*dent, a. Etym: [L. diffidens, -entis, p. pr. of diffidere; dif- = dis + fidere to trust; akin to fides faith. See Faith, and cf. Defy.]
1. Wanting confidence in others; distrustful. [Archaic] You were always extremely diffident of their success. Melmoth.
2. Wanting confidence in one's self; distrustful of one's own powers; not self-reliant; timid; modest; bashful; characterized by modest reserve. The diffident maidens, Folding their hands in prayer. Longfellow.
Syn. -- Distrustful; suspicious; hesitating; doubtful; modest; bashful; lowly; reserved.
DIFFIDENTLY Dif"fi*dent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a diffident manner. To stand diffidently against each other with their thoughts in battle array. Hobbes.
DIFFIND Dif*find, v. t. Etym: [L. diffindere, diffissum; dif- = findere to split.]
Defn: To split. [Obs.] Bailey.
DIFFINE Dif*fine", v. t.
Defn: To define. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DIFFINITIVE Dif*fin"i*tive, a. Etym: [For definitive.]
Defn: Definitive; determinate; final. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.
DIFFISSION Dif*fis"sion, n. Etym: [See Diffind.]
Defn: Act of cleaving or splitting. [R.] Bailey.
DIFFLATION Dif*fla"tion, n. Etym: [LL. difflatio, fr. L. difflare, difflatum, to disperse by blowing.]
Defn: A blowing apart or away. [Obs.] Bailey.
DIFFLUENCE; DIFFLUENCY Dif"flu*ence, Dif"flu*en*cy, n.
Defn: A flowing off on all sides; fluidity. [R.]
DIFFLUENT Dif"flu*ent, a. Etym: [L. diffluens, p. pr. of diffluere to flow off; dif- = dis- + fluere to flow.]
Defn: Flowing apart or off; dissolving; not fixed. [R.] Bailey.
DIFFORM Dif"form`, a. Etym: [Cf. F. difforme, fr. L. dif- = dis- + forma form. Cf. Deform.]
Defn: Irregular in form; -- opposed to uniform; anomalous; hence, unlike; dissimilar; as, to difform corolla, the parts of which do not correspond in size or proportion; difform leaves. The unequal refractions of difform rays. Sir I. Newton.
DIFFORMITY Dif*form"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. difformité. See Difform, Deformity.]
Defn: Irregularity of form; diversity of form; want of uniformity. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
DIFFRACT Dif*fract", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Diffracted; p. pr. & vb. n. Diffracting.] Etym: [L. diffractus, p. p. of diffringere to break in pieces; dif- = dis- + frangere to break. See Fracture.]
Defn: To break or separate into parts; to deflect, or decompose by deflection, a
DIFFRACTION Dif*frac"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. diffraction.] (Opt.)
Defn: The deflection and decomposition of light in passing by the edges of opaque bodies or through narrow slits, causing the appearance of parallel bands or fringes of prismatic colors, as by the action of a grating of fine lines or bars. Remarked by Grimaldi (1665), and referred by him to a property of light which he called diffraction. Whewell. Diffraction grating. (Optics) See under Grating. -- Diffraction spectrum. (Optics) See under Spectrum.
DIFFRACTIVE Dif*frac"tive, a.
Defn: That produces diffraction.
DIFFRANCHISE; DIFFRANCHISEMENT Dif*fran"chise, Dif*fran"chise*ment.
Defn: See Disfranchise, Disfranchisement.
DIFFUSATE Dif*fus"ate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: Material which, in the process of catalysis, has diffused or passed through the separating membrane.
DIFFUSE Dif*fuse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Diffused; p. pr. & vb. n. Diffusing.] Etym: [L. diffusus, p. p. of diffundere to pour out, to diffuse; dif- = dis- + fundere to pour. See Fuse to melt.]
Defn: To pour out and cause to spread, as a fluid; to cause to flow on all sides; to send out, or extend, in all directions; to spread; to circulate; to disseminate; to scatter; as to diffuse information. Thence diffuse His good to worlds and ages infinite. Milton. We find this knowledge diffused among all civilized nations. Whewell.
Syn. -- To expand; spread; circulate; extend; scatter; disperse; publish; proclaim.
DIFFUSE Dif*fuse", v. i.
Defn: To pass by spreading every way, to diffuse itself.
DIFFUSE Dif*fuse", a. Etym: [L. diffusus, p. p.]
Defn: Poured out; widely spread; not restrained; copious; full; esp., of style, opposed to concise or terse; verbose; prolix; as, a diffuse style; a diffuse writer. A diffuse and various knowledge of divine and human things. Milton.
Syn. -- Prolix; verbose; wide; copious; full. See Prolix.
DIFFUSED Dif*fused", a.
Defn: Spread abroad; dispersed; loose; flowing; diffuse. It grew to be a widely diffused opinion. Hawthorne. -- Dif*fus"ed*ly, adv. -- Dif*fus"ed*ness, n.
DIFFUSELY Dif*fuse"ly, adv.
Defn: In a diffuse manner.
DIFFUSENESS Dif*fuse"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being diffuse; especially, in writing, the use of a great or excessive number of word to express the meaning; copiousness; verbosity; prolixity.
DIFFUSER Dif*fus"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, diffuses.
DIFFUSIBILITY Dif*fu`si*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being diffusible; capability of being poured or spread out.
DIFFUSIBLE Dif*fu"si*ble, a.
1. Capable of flowing or spreading in all directions; that may be diffused.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: Capable of passing through animal membranes by osmosis.
DIFFUSIBLENESS Dif*fu"si*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Diffusibility.
DIFFUSION Dif*fu"sion, n. Etym: [L. diffusio: cf. F. diffusion.]
1. The act of diffusing, or the state of being diffused; a spreading; extension; dissemination; circulation; dispersion. A diffusion of knowledge which has undermined superstition. Burke.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: The act of passing by osmosis through animal membranes, as in the distribution of poisons, gases, etc., through the body. Unlike absorption, diffusion may go on after death, that is, after the blood ceases to circulate.
Syn. -- Extension; spread; propagation; circulation; expansion; dispersion.
DIFFUSIVE Dif*fu"sive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. diffusif.]
Defn: Having the quality of diffusing; capable of spreading every way by flowing; spreading widely; widely reaching; copious; diffuse. "A plentiful and diffusive perfume." Hare.
DIFFUSIVELY Dif*fu"sive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a diffusive manner.
DIFFUSIVENESS Dif*fu"sive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being diffusive or diffuse; extensiveness; expansion; dispersion. Especially of style: Diffuseness; want of conciseness; prolixity. The fault that I find with a modern legend, it its diffusiveness. Addison.
DIFFUSIVITY Dif`fu*siv"i*ty, n.
Defn: Tendency to become diffused; tendency, as of heat, to become equalized by spreading through a conducting medium.
DIG Dig, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dug or Digged (; p. pr. & vb. n. Digging. -- Digged is archaic.] Etym: [OE. diggen, perh. the same word as diken, dichen (see Dike, Ditch); cf. Dan. dige to dig, dige a ditch; or akin to E. 1st dag.
1. To turn up, or delve in, (earth) with a spade or a hoe; to open, loosen, or break up (the soil) with a spade, or other sharp instrument; to pierce, open, or loosen, as if with a spade. Be first to dig the ground. Dryden.
2. To get by digging; as, to dig potatoes, or gold.
3. To hollow out, as a well; to form, as a ditch, by removing earth; to excavate; as, to dig a ditch or a well.
4. To thrust; to poke. [Colloq.] You should have seen children . . . dig and push their mothers under the sides, saying thus to them: Look, mother, how great a lubber doth yet wear pearls. Robynson (More's Utopia). To dig down, to undermine and cause to fall by digging; as, to dig down a wall. -- To dig from, out of, out, or up, to get out or obtain by digging; as, to dig coal from or out of a mine; to dig out fossils; to dig up a tree. The preposition is often omitted; as, the men are digging coal, digging iron ore, digging potatoes. -- To dig in, to cover by digging; as, to dig in manure.(b) To entrench oneself so as to give stronger resistance; -- used of warfare. Also figuratively, esp. in the phrase to dig in one's heels.
DIG Dig, v. i.
1. To work with a spade or other like implement; to do servile work; to delve. Dig for it more than for hid treasures. Job iii. 21. I can not dig; to beg I am ashamed. Luke xvi. 3.
2. (Mining)
Defn: To take ore from its bed, in distinction from making excavations in search of ore.
3. To work like a digger; to study ploddingly and laboriously. [Cant, U.S.]
DIG Dig, n.
1. A thrust; a punch; a poke; as, a dig in the side or the ribs. See Dig, v. t.,
4. [Colloq.]
2. A plodding and laborious student. [Cant, U.S.]
DIGAMIST Dig"a*mist, n. Etym: [Gr. Bigamist.]
Defn: One who marries a second time; a deuterogamist. Hammond.
DIGAMMA Di*gam"ma, n. Etym: [Gr. gammas placed one above the other.] (Gr. Gram.)
Defn: A letter (
Note: This form identifies it with the Latin F, though in sound it is said to have been nearer V. It was pronounced, probably, much like the English W.
DIGAMMATE; DIGAMMATED Di*gam"mate, Di*gam"mated, a.
Defn: Having the digamma or its representative letter or sound; as, the Latin word vis is a digammated form of the Greek . Andrews.
DIGAMOUS Dig"a*mous, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a second marriage, that is, one after the death of the first wife or the first husband.
DIGAMY Dig"a*my, n. Etym: [Gr. Bigamy.]
Defn: Act, or state, of being twice married; deuterogamy. [R.]
DIGASTRIC Di*gas"tric, a. Etym: [Gr. digastrique.] (Anat.) (a) Having two bellies; biventral; -- applied to muscles which are fleshy at each end and have a tendon in the middle, and esp. to the muscle which pulls down the lower jaw. (b) Pertaining to the digastric muscle of the lower jaw; as, the digastric nerves.
DIGENEA Di*ge"ne*a, n.; pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of Trematoda in which alternate generations occur, the immediate young not resembling their parents.
DIGENESIS Di*gen"e*sis, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + genesis.] (Biol.)
Defn: The faculty of multiplying in two ways; -- by ova fecundated by spermatic fluid, and asexually, as by buds. See Parthenogenesis.
DIGENOUS Dig"e*nous, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + -genous.] (Biol.)
Defn: Sexually reproductive. Digenous reproduction. (Biol.) Same as Digenesis.
DIGERENT Dig"er*ent, . Etym: [L. digerens, p. pr. of digerere. See Digest.]
Defn: Digesting. [Obs.] Bailey.
DIGEST Di*gest", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Digested; p. pr. & vb. n. Digesting.] Etym: [L. digestus, p. p. of digerere to separate, arrange, dissolve, digest; di- = dis- + gerere to bear, carry, wear. See Jest.]
1. To distribute or arrange methodically; to work over and classify; to reduce to portions for ready use or application; as, to digest the laws, etc. Joining them together and digesting them into order. Blair. We have cause to be glad that matters are so well digested. Shak.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: To separate (the food) in its passage through the alimentary canal into the nutritive and nonnutritive elements; to prepare, by the action of the digestive juices, for conversion into blood; to convert into chyme.
3. To think over and arrange methodically in the mind; to reduce to a plan or method; to receive in the mind and consider carefully; to get an understanding of; to comprehend. Feelingly digest the words you speak in prayer. Sir H. Sidney. How shall this bosom multiplied digest The senate's courtesy Shak.
4. To appropriate for strengthening and comfort. Grant that we may in such wise hear them [the Scriptures], read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them. Book of Common Prayer.
5. Hence: To bear comfortably or patiently; to be reconciled to; to brook. I never can digest the loss of most of Origin's works. Coleridge.
6. (Chem.)
Defn: To soften by heat and moisture; to expose to a gentle heat in a boiler or matrass, as a preparation for chemical operations.
7. (Med.)
Defn: To dispose to suppurate, or generate healthy pus, as an ulcer or wound.
8. To ripen; to mature. [Obs.] Well-digested fruits. Jer. Taylor.
9. To quiet or abate, as anger or grief.
DIGEST Di*gest", v. i.
1. To undergo digestion; as, food digests well or ill.
2. (Med.)
Defn: To suppurate; to generate pus, as an ulcer.
DIGEST Di"gest, n. Etym: [L. digestum, pl. digesta, neut., fr. digestus, p. p.: cf. F. digeste. See Digest, v. t.]
Defn: That which is digested; especially, that which is worked over, classified, and arranged under proper heads or titles; esp. (Law),
Defn: a compilation of statutes or decisions analytically arranged. The term is applied in a general sense to the Pandects of Justinian (see Pandect), but is also specially given by authors to compilations of laws on particular topics; a summary of laws; as, Comyn's Digest; the United States Digest. A complete digest of Hindu and Mahommedan laws after the model of Justinian's celebrated Pandects. Sir W. Jones. They made a sort of institute and digest of anarchy, called the Rights of Man. Burke.
DIGESTEDLY Di*gest"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a digested or well-arranged manner; methodically.
DIGESTER Di*gest"er, n.
1. One who digests.
2. A medicine or an article of food that aids digestion, or strengthens digestive power. Rice is . . . a great restorer of health, and a great digester. Sir W. Temple.
3. A strong closed vessel, in which bones or other substances may be subjected, usually in water or other liquid, to a temperature above that of boiling, in order to soften them.
DIGESTIBILITY Di*gest`i*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being digestible.
DIGESTIBLE Di*gest"i*ble, a. Etym: [F. digestible, L. digestibilis.]
Defn: Capable of being digested.
DIGESTIBLENESS Di*gest"i*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being digestible; digestibility.
DIGESTION Di*ges"tion, n. Etym: [F. digestion, L. digestio.]
1. The act or process of digesting; reduction to order; classification; thoughtful consideration.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: The conversion of food, in the stomach and intestines, into soluble and diffusible products, capable of being absorbed by the blood.
3. (Med.)
Defn: Generation of pus; suppuration.
DIGESTIVE Di*gest"ive, a. Etym: [F. digestif, L. digestivus.]
Defn: Pertaining to digestion; having the power to cause or promote digestion; as, the digestive ferments. Digestive cheese and fruit there sure will be. B. Jonson. Digestive apparatus, the organs of food digestion, esp. the alimentary canal and glands connected with it. -- Digestive salt, the chloride of potassium.
DIGESTIVE Di*gest"ive, n.
1. That which aids digestion, as a food or medicine. Chaucer. That digestive [a cigar] had become to me as necessary as the meal itself. Blackw. Mag.
2. (Med.) (a) A substance which, when applied to a wound or ulcer, promotes suppuration. Dunglison. (b) A tonic. [R.]
DIGESTOR Di*gest"or, n.
Defn: See Digester.
DIGESTURE Di*ges"ture, n.
Defn: Digestion. [Obs.] Harvey.
DIGGABLE Dig"ga*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being dug.
DIGGER Dig"ger, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, digs. Digger wasp (Zoöl.), any one of the fossorial Hymenoptera.
DIGGERS Dig"gers, n. pl.; sing. Digger. (Ethnol.)
Defn: A degraded tribe of California Indians; -- so called from their practice of digging roots for food.
DIGGING Dig"ging, n.
1. The act or the place of excavating.
2. pl.
Defn: Places where ore is dug; especially, certain localities in California, Australia, and elsewhere, at which gold is obtained. [Recent]
3. pl.
Defn: Region; locality. [Low]
DIGHT Dight, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dight or Dighted; p. pr. & vb. n. Dighting.] Etym: [OF. dihten, AS. dihtan to dictate, command, dispose, arrange, fr. L. dictare to say often, dictate, order; cf. G. dichten to write poetry, fr. L. dictare. See Dictate.]
1. To prepare; to put in order; hence, to dress, or put on; to array; to adorn. [Archaic] "She gan the house to dight." Chaucer. Two harmless turtles, dight for sacrifice. Fairfax. The clouds in thousand liveries dight. Milton.
2. To have sexual intercourse with. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DIGHTER Dight"er, n.
Defn: One who dights. [Obs.]
DIGIT Dig"it, n. Etym: [L. digitus finger; prob. akin to Gr. toe. Cf. Dactyl.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the terminal divisions of a limb appendage; a finger or toe. The ruminants have the "cloven foot," i. e., two hoofed digits on each foot. Owen.
2. A finger's breadth, commonly estimated to be three fourths of an inch.
3. (Math.)
Defn: One of the ten figures or symbols, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, by which all numbers are expressed; -- so called because of the use of the fingers in counting and computing.
Note: By some authorities the symbol 0 is not included with the digits.
4. (Anat.)
Defn: One twelfth part of the diameter of the sun or moon; -- a term used to express the quantity of an eclipse; as, an eclipse of eight digits is one which hides two thirds of the diameter of the disk.
DIGIT Dig"it, v. t.
Defn: To point at or out with the finger. [R.]
DIGITAL Dig"i*tal, a. Etym: [L. digitals.]
Defn: Of or performance to the fingers, or to digits; done with the fingers; as, digital compression; digital examination.
DIGITALIN Dig"i*tal`in, n. Etym: [Cf. F. digitaline.] (a) (Med.) Any one of several extracts of foxglove (Digitalis), as the "French extract," the "German extract," etc., which differ among themselves in composition and properties. (b) (Chem.) A supposedly distinct vegetable principle as the essential ingredient of the extracts. It is a white, crystalline substance, and is regarded as a glucoside.
DIGITALIS Dig`i*ta"lis, n. Etym: [NL.: cf. F. digitale. So named (according to Linnæus) from its finger-shaped corolla.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants including the foxglove.
2. (Med.)
Defn: The dried leaves of the purple foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), used in heart disease, disturbance of the circulation, etc.
DIGITATE Dig"i*tate, v. t. Etym: [LL. digitatus, p. p. of digitare, fr. L. digitus. See Digit.]
Defn: To point out as with the finger. [R.] Robinson (Eudoxa).
DIGITATE; DIGITATED Dig"i*tate, Dig"i*ta`ted, a. Etym: [L. digitatus having fingers.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having several leaflets arranged, like the fingers of the hand, at the extremity of a stem or petiole. Also, in general, characterized by digitation. -- Dig"i*tate*ly, adv.
DIGITATION Dig`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. digitation.]
Defn: A division into fingers or fingerlike processes; also, a fingerlike process.
DIGITIFORM Dig"i*ti*form, a. Etym: [L. digitus a finger + -form.]
Defn: Formed like a finger or fingers; finger-shaped; as, a digitiform root.
DIGITIGRADE Dig"i*ti*grade, a. Etym: [L. digitus finger, toe + gradi to step, walk: cf. F. digitigrade.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Walking on the toes; -- distinguished from plantigrade.
DIGITIGRADE Dig"i*ti*grade, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An animal that walks on its toes, as the cat, lion, wolf, etc.; -- distinguished from a plantigrade, which walks on the palm of the foot.
DIGITIPARTITE Dig`i*ti*par"tite, a. Etym: [L. digitus finger + partite.] (Bot.)
Defn: Parted like the fingers.
DIGITIZE Dig"i*tize, v. t. Etym: [Digit + -ize.]
Defn: To finger; as, to digitize a pen. [R.] Sir T. Browne. computers to convert (information, a signal, an image) into a form expressible in binary notation
DIGITORIUM Dig`i*to"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. digitus a finger.]
Defn: A small dumb keyboard used by pianists for exercising the fingers; -- called also dumb piano.
DIGITULE Dig"i*tule, n. Etym: [L. digitulus, dim. of digitus.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A little finger or toe, or something resembling one.
DIGLADIATE Di*gla"di*ate, v. i. Etym: [L. digladiari; di- = dis- + gladius a sword.]
Defn: To fight like gladiators; to contend fiercely; to dispute violently. [Obs.] Digladiating like Æschines and Demosthenes. Hales.
DIGLADIATION Di*gla`di*a"tion, n.
Defn: Act of digladiating. [Obs.] "Sore digladiations and contest." Evelyn.
DIGLOTTISM Di*glot"tism, n. Etym: [Gr. Glottis.]
Defn: Bilingualism. [R.] Earle.
DIGLYPH Di"glyph, n. Etym: [Gr. (Arch.)
Defn: A projecting face like the triglyph, but having only two channels or grooves sunk in it.
DIGNATION Dig*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. dignatio.]
Defn: The act of thinking worthy; honor. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
DIGNE Digne, a. Etym: [F., fr. L. dignus. See Design.]
1. Worthy; honorable; deserving. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. Suitable; adequate; fit. [Obs.] Chaucer.
3. Haughty; disdainful. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DIGNIFICATION Dig`ni*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [See Dignify.]
Defn: The act of dignifying; exaltation.
DIGNIFIED Dig"ni*fied, a.
Defn: Marked with dignity; stately; as, a dignified judge.
DIGNIFY Dig"ni*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dignified; p. pr. & vb. n. Dignifying.] Etym: [OF. dignifier, fr. LL. d; L. dignus worthy + ficare (in comp.), facere to make. See Deign, and Fact.]
Defn: To invest with dignity or honor; to make illustrious; to give distinction to; to exalt in rank; to honor. Your worth will dignity our feast. B. Jonson.
Syn. -- To exalt; elevate; prefer; advance; honor; illustrate; adorn; ennoble.
DIGNITARY Dig"ni*ta*ry, n.; pl. Dignitaries. Etym: [Cf. F. dignitaire, fr. L. dignitas.]
Defn: One who possesses exalted rank or holds a position of dignity or honor; especially, one who holds an ecclesiastical rank above that of a parochial priest or clergyman.
DIGNITY Dig"ni*ty, n.; pl. Dignities. Etym: [OE. dignete, dignite, OF. digneté, dignité, F. dignité, fr. L. dignitas, from dignus worthy. See Dainty, Deign.]
1. The state of being worthy or honorable; elevation of mind or character; true worth; excellence.
2. Elevation; grandeur. The dignity of this act was worth the audience of kings. Shak.
3. Elevated rank; honorable station; high office, political or ecclesiastical; degree of excellence; preferment; exaltation. Macaulay. And the king said, What honor and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this Esth. vi. 3. Reuben, thou art my firstborn, . . . the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power. Gen. xlix. 3.
4. Quality suited to inspire respect or reverence; loftiness and grace; impressiveness; stateliness; -- said of A letter written with singular energy and dignity of thought Macaulay.
5. One holding high rank; a dignitary. These filthy dreamers . . . speak evil of dignities. Jude. 8.
6. Fundamental principle; axiom; maxim. [Obs.] Sciences concluding from dignities, and principles known by themselves. Sir T. Browne.
Syn. -- See Decorum. To stand upon one's dignity, to have or to affect a high notion of one's own rank, privilege, or character. They did not stand upon their dignity, nor give their minds to being or to seeming as elegant and as fine as anybody else. R. G. White.
DIGNOTION Dig*no"tion, n. Etym: [L. dignoscere to distinguish; di- = dis- + gnoscere, noscere, to learn to know.]
Defn: Distinguishing mark; diagnostic. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
DIGONOUS Dig"o*nous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Having two angles. Smart.
DIGRAM Di"gram, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A digraph.
DIGRAPH Di"graph, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Two signs or characters combined to express a single articulated sound; as ea in head, or th in bath.
DIGRAPHIC Di*graph"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a digraph. H. Sweet.
DIGRESS Di*gress", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Digressed; p. pr. & vb. n. Digressing.] Etym: [L. digressus, p. p. of digredi to go apart, to deviate; di- = dis- + gradi to step, walk. See Grade.]
1. To step or turn aside; to deviate; to swerve; especially, to turn aside from the main subject of attention, or course of argument, in writing or speaking. Moreover she beginneth to digress in latitude. Holland. In the pursuit of an argument there is hardly room to digress into a particular definition as often as a man varies the signification of any term. Locke.
2. To turn aside from the right path; to transgress; to offend. [R.] Thy abundant goodness shall excuse This deadly blot on thy digressing son. Shak.
DIGRESS Di*gress", n.
Defn: Digression. [Obs.] Fuller.
DIGRESSION Di*gres"sion, n. Etym: [L. digressio: cf. F. digression.]
1. The act of digressing or deviating, esp. from the main subject of a discourse; hence, a part of a discourse deviating from its main design or subject. The digressions I can not excuse otherwise, than by the confidence that no man will read them. Sir W. Temple.
2. A turning aside from the right path; transgression; offense. [R.] Then my digression is so vile, so base, That it will live engraven in my face. Shak.
3. (Anat.)
Defn: The elongation, or angular distance from the sun; -- said chiefly of the inferior planets. [R.]
DIGRESSIONAL Di*gres"sion*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or having the character of, a digression; departing from the main purpose or subject. T. Warton.
DIGRESSIVE Di*gress"ive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. digressif.]
Defn: Departing from the main subject; partaking of the nature of digression. Johnson.
DIGRESSIVELY Di*gress"ive*ly, adv.
Defn: By way of digression.
DIGUE Digue, n. Etym: [F. See Dike.]
Defn: A bank; a dike. [Obs.] Sir W. Temple.
DIGYNIA Di*gyn"i*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A Linnæan order of plants having two styles.
DIGYNIAN; DIGYNOUS Di*gyn"i*an, Dig"y*nous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. digyne.] (Bot.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Digynia; having two styles.
DIHEDRAL Di*he"dral, a. Etym: [Gr. Diedral.]
Defn: Having two plane faces; as, the dihedral summit of a crystal. Dihedral angle, the angular space contained between planes which intersect. It is measured by the angle made by any two lines at right angles to the two planes.
DIHEDRON Di*he"dron, n. Etym: [See Dihedral.]
Defn: A figure with two sides or surfaces. Buchanan.
DIHEXAGONAL Di`hex*ag"o*nal, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + hexagonal.] (a) Consisting of two hexagonal parts united; thus, a dihexagonal pyramid is composed of two hexagonal pyramids placed base to base. (b) Having twelve similar faces; as, a dihexagonal prism.
DIIAMB Di`i*amb", n.
Defn: A diiambus.
DIIAMBUS Di`i*am"bus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Lambus.] (Pros.)
Defn: A double iambus; a foot consisting of two iambuses (
DIIODIDE Di*i"o*dide (; 104), n. Etym: [Pref. di- + iodine.] (Chem.)
Defn: A compound of a binary type containing two atoms of iodine; -- called also biniodide.
DIISATOGEN Di`i*sat"o*gen, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + isatine + -gen.] (Chem.)
Defn: A red crystalline nitrogenous substance or artificial production, which by reduction passes directly to indigo.
DIJUDICANT Di*ju"di*cant, n. Etym: [L. dijudicans, p. pr.]
Defn: One who dijudicates. [R.] Wood.
DIJUDICATE Di*ju"di*cate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dijudicated; p. pr. & vb. n. Dijucating.] Etym: [L. dijudicatus, p. p. of dijudicare to decide; di- = dis- + judicare to judge.]
Defn: To make a judicial decision; to decide; to determine. [R.] Hales.
DIJUDICATION Di*ju`di*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. dijudicatio.]
Defn: The act of dijudicating; judgment. [R.] Cockeram.
DIKA Di"ka, n. Etym: [Native West African name.]
Defn: A kind of food, made from the almondlike seeds of the Irvingia Barteri, much used by natives of the west coast of Africa; -- called also dika bread.
DIKE Dike, n. Etym: [OE. dic, dike, diche, ditch, AS. d dike, ditch; akin to D. dijk dike, G. deich, and prob. teich pond, Icel. d dike, ditch, Dan. dige; perh. akin to Gr. dough; or perh. to Gr. Ditch.]
1. A ditch; a channel for water made by digging. Little channels or dikes cut to every bed. Ray.
2. An embankment to prevent inundations; a levee. Dikes that the hands of the farmers had raised . . . Shut out the turbulent tides. Longfellow.
3. A wall of turf or stone. [Scot.]
4. (Geol.)
Defn: A wall-like mass of mineral matter, usually an intrusion of igneous rocks, filling up rents or fissures in the original strata.
DIKE Dike, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Diked; p. pr. & vb. n. Diking.] Etym: [OE. diken, dichen, AS. dician to dike. See Dike.]
1. To surround or protect with a dike or dry bank; to secure with a bank.
2. To drain by a dike or ditch.
DIKE Dike, v. i.
Defn: To work as a ditcher; to dig. [Obs.] He would thresh and thereto dike and delve. Chaucer.
DIKER Dik"er, n.
1. A ditcher. Piers Plowman.
2. One who builds stone walls; usually, one who builds them without lime. [Scot.]
DILACERATE Di*lac"er*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dilacerated; p. pr. & vb. n. Dilacerating.] Etym: [L. dilaceratus, p. p. of dilacerare to tear apart; di- = dis- + lacerare to tear.]
Defn: To rend asunder; to tear to pieces. Sir T. Browne.
DILACERATION Di*lac`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. dilaceratio: cf. F. dilacération.]
Defn: The act of rending asunder. Arbuthnot.
DILANIATE Di*la"ni*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. dilaniatus, p. p. of dilaniare to dilacerate; di- = dis- + laniare to tear to pieces.]
Defn: To rend in pieces; to tear. [R.] Howell.
DILANIATION Di*la`ni*a"tion, n.
Defn: A rending or tearing in pieces; dilaceration. [R.]
DILAPIDATE Di*lap"i*date, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dilapidated; p. pr. & vb. n. Dilapidating.] Etym: [L. dilapidare to scatter like stones; di- = dis- + lapidare to throw stones, fr. lapis a stone. See Lapidary.]
1. To bring into a condition of decay or partial ruin, by misuse or through neglect; to destroy the fairness and good condition of; -- said of a building. If the bishop, parson, or vicar, etc., dilapidates the buildings, or cuts down the timber of the patrimony. Blackstone.
2. To impair by waste and abuse; to squander. The patrimony of the bishopric of Oxon was much dilapidated. Wood.
DILAPIDATE Di*lap"i*date, v. i.
Defn: To get out of repair; to fall into partial ruin; to become decayed; as, the church was suffered to dilapidate. Johnson.
DILAPIDATED Di*lap"i*da`ted, a.
Defn: Decayed; fallen into partial ruin; injured by bad usage or neglect. A deserted and dilapidated buildings. Cooper.
DILAPIDATION Di*lap`i*da"tion, n. Etym: [L. dilapidatio: cf. F. dilapidation.]
1. The act of dilapidating, or the state of being dilapidated, reduced to decay, partially ruined, or squandered. Tell the people that are relived by the dilapidation of their public estate. Burke.
2. Ecclesiastical waste; impairing of church property by an incumbent, through neglect or by intention. The business of dilapidations came on between our bishop and the Archibishop of York. Strype.
3. (Law)
Defn: The pulling down of a building, or suffering it to fall or be in a state of decay. Burrill.
DILAPIDATOR Di*lap"i*da`tor, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dilapidateur.]
Defn: One who causes dilapidation. Strype.
DILATABILITY Di*la`ta*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dilatabilité.]
Defn: The quality of being dilatable, or admitting expansion; -- opposed to contractibility. Ray.
DILATABLE Di*lat"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. dilatable.]
Defn: Capable of expansion; that may be dilated; -- opposed to contractible; as, the lungs are dilatable by the force of air; air is dilatable by heat.
DILATATION Dil`a*ta"tion, n. Etym: [OE. dilatacioun, F. dilatation, L. dilatatio, fr. dilatare. See Dilate, and cf. 2d Dilation.]
1. Prolixity; diffuse discourse. [Obs.] "What needeth greater dilatation" Chaucer.
2. The act of dilating; expansion; an enlarging on al
3. (Anat.)
Defn: A dilation or enlargement of a canal or other organ.
DILATATOR Dil`a*ta"tor, n. Etym: [NL. Cf. L. dilatator a propagator.] (Anat.)
Defn: A muscle which dilates any part; a dilator.
DILATE Di*late", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dilated; p. pr. & vb. n. Dilating.] Etym: [L. dilatare; either fr. di- = dis- + latus wide, not the same word as latus, used as p. p. of ferre to bear (see Latitude); or fr. dilatus, used as p. p. of differre to separate (see Delay, Tolerate, Differ, and cf. Dilatory): cf. F. dilater.]
1. To expand; to distend; to enlarge or extend in all directions; to swell; -- opposed to contract; as, the air dilates the lungs; air is dilated by increase of heat.
2. To enlarge upon; to relate at large; to tell copiously or diffusely. [R.] Do me the favor to dilate at full What hath befallen of them and thee till now. Shak.
Syn. -- To expand; swell; distend; enlarge; spread out; amplify; expatiate.
DILATE Di*late", v. i.
1. To grow wide; to expand; to swell or extend in all directions. His heart dilates and glories in his strength. Addison.
2. To speak largely and copiously; to dwell in narration; to enlarge; -- with on or upon. But still on their ancient joys dilate. Crabbe.
DILATE Di*late", a.
Defn: Extensive; expanded. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
DILATED Di*lat"ed, a.
1. Expanded; enlarged. Shak.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Widening into a lamina or into lateral winglike appendages.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the margin wide and spreading.
DILATEDLY Di*lat"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dilated manner. Feltham.
DILATER Di*lat"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, dilates, expands, o r enlarges.
DILATION Di*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. dilatio. See Dilatory.]
Defn: Delay. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
DILATION Di*la"tion, n. Etym: [From dilate, v., cf. Dilatation, Dilator.]
Defn: The act of dilating, or the state of being dilated; expansion; dilatation. Mrs. Browning. At first her eye with slow dilation rolled. Tennyson. A gigantic dilation of the hateful figure. Dickens.
DILATIVE Di*lat"ive, a.
Defn: Causing dilation; tending to dilate, on enlarge; expansive. Coleridge.
DILATOMETER Dil`a*tom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Dilate + -meter.] (Physiol.)
Defn: An instrument for measuring the dilatation or expansion of a substance, especially of a fluid.
DILATOR Di*lat"or, n. Etym: [See Dilate.]
1. One who, or that which, widens or expands.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: A muscle that dilates any part.
3. (Med.)
Defn: An instrument for expanding a part; as, a urethral dilator.
DILATORILY Dil"a*to*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: With delay; tardily.
DILATORINESS Dil"a*to*ri*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being dilatory; lateness; slowness; tardiness; sluggishness.
DILATORY Dil"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. dilatorius, fr. dilator a delayer, fr. dilatus, used as p. p. of differe to defer, delay: cf. F. dilatoire. See Dilate, Differ, Defer.]
1. Inclined to defer or put off what ought to be done at once; given the procrastination; delaying; procrastinating; loitering; as, a dilatory servant.
2. Marked by procrastination or delay; tardy; slow; sluggish; -- said of actions or measures. Alva, as usual, brought his dilatory policy to bear upon hiMotley. Dilatory plea (Law), a plea designed to create delay in the trial of a cause, generally founded upon some matter not connected with the merits of the case.
Syn. -- Slow; delaying; sluggish; inactive; loitering; behindhand; backward; procrastinating. See Slow.
DILDO Dil"do, n.
Defn: A burden in popular songs. [Obs.] Delicate burthens of dildos and fadings. Shak.
DILDO Dil"do, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A columnar cactaceous plant of the West Indies (Cereus Swartzii).
DILECTION Di*lec"tion, n. Etym: [L. dilectio: dilection. See Diligent.]
Defn: Love; choice. [Obs.] T. Martin.
DILEMMA Di*lem"ma, n. Etym: [L. dilemma, Gr. Lemma.]
1. (Logic)
Defn: An argument which presents an antagonist with two or more alternatives, but is equally conclusive against him, whichever alternative he chooses.
Note: The following are instances of the dilemma. A young rhetorician applied to an old sophist to be taught the art of pleading, and bargained for a certain reward to be paid when he should gain a cause. The master sued for his reward, and the scholar endeavored to dilemma. "If I gain my cause, I shall withhold your pay, because the judge's award will be against you; if I lose it, I may withhold it, because I shall not yet have gained a cause." "On the contrary," says the master, "if you gain your cause, you must pay me, because you are to pay me when you gain a cause; if you lose it, you must pay me, because the judge will award it." Johnson.
2. A state of things in which evils or obstacles present themselves on every side, and it is difficult to determine what course to pursue; a vexatious alternative or predicament; a difficult choice or position. A strong dilemma in a desperate case! To act with infamy, or quit the place. Swift. Horns of a dilemma, alternatives, each of which is equally difficult of encountering.
DILETTANT Dil"et*tant`, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to dilettanteism; amateur; as, dilettant speculation. Carlyle.
DILETTANT Dil`et*tant", n.
Defn: A dilettante. Though few art lovers can be connoisseurs, many are dilettants. Fairholt.
DILETTANTE Dil`et*tan"te, n.; pl. Dilettanti. Etym: [It., prop. p. pr. of dillettare to take delight in, fr. L. delectare to delight. See Delight, v. t.]
Defn: An admirer or lover of the fine arts; popularly, an amateur; especially, one who follows an art or a branch of knowledge, desultorily, or for amusement only.
The true poet is not an eccentric creature, not a mere artist living only for art, not a dreamer or a dilettante, sipping the nectar of existence, while he keeps aloof from its deeper interests. J. C. Shairp.
DILETTANTEISH Dil`et*tan"te*ish, a.
Defn: Somewhat like a dilettante.
DILETTANTEISM Dil`et*tan"te*ism, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being a dilettante; the desultory pursuit of art, science, or literature.
DILETTANTISH Dil`et*tant"ish, a.
Defn: Dilettanteish.
DILETTANTISM Dil`et*tant"ism, n.
Defn: Same as Dilettanteism. F. Harrison.
DILIGENCE Dil"i*gence, n. Etym: [F. diligence, L. diligentia.]
1. The quality of being diligent; carefulness; careful attention; -- the opposite of negligence.
2. Interested and persevering application; devoted and painstaking effort to accomplish what is undertaken; assiduity in service. That which ordinary men are fit for, I am qualified in; and the best of me is diligence. Shak.
3. (Scots Law)
Defn: Process by which persons, lands, or effects are seized for debt; process for enforcing the attendance of witnesses or the production of writings. To do one's diligence, give diligence, use diligence, to exert one's self; to make interested and earnest endeavor. And each of them doth all his diligence To do unto the festé reverence. Chaucer.
Syn. -- Attention; industry; assiduity; sedulousness; earnestness; constancy; heed; heedfulness; care; caution. -- Diligence, Industry. Industry has the wider sense of the two, implying an habitual devotion to labor for some valuable end, as knowledge, property, etc. Diligence denotes earnest application to some specific object or pursuit, which more or less directly has a strong hold on one's interests or feelings. A man may be diligent for a time, or in seeking some favorite end, without meriting the title of industrious. Such was the case with Fox, while Burke was eminent not only for diligence, but industry; he was always at work, and always looking out for some new field of mental effort. The sweat of industry would dry and die, But for the end it works to. Shak. Diligence and accuracy are the only merits which an historical writer ascribe to himself. Gibbon.
DILIGENCE Di`li*gence", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A four-wheeled public stagecoach, used in France.
DILIGENCY Dil"i*gen*cy, n. Etym: [L. diligentia.]
Defn: Diligence; care; persevering endeavor. [Obs.] Milton.
DILIGENT Dil"i*gent, a. Etym: [F. diligent, L. diligens, -entis, p. pr. of diligere, dilectum, to esteem highly, prefer; di- = dis- + legere to choose. See Legend.]
1. Prosecuted with careful attention and effort; careful; painstaking; not careless or negligent. The judges shall make diligent inquisition. Deut. xix. 18.
2. Interestedly and perseveringly attentive; steady and earnest in application to a subject or pursuit; assiduous; industrious. Seest thou a man diligent in his business he shall stand before kings. Prov. xxii. 29. Diligent cultivation of elegant literature. Prescott.
Syn. -- Active; assiduous; sedulous; laborious; persevering; attentive; industrious.
DILIGENTLY Dil"i*gent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a diligent manner; not carelessly; not negligently; with industry or assiduity. Ye diligently keep commandments of the Lord your God. Deut. vi. 17.
DILL Dill, n. Etym: [AS dile; akin to D. dille, OHG. tilli, G. dill, dille, Sw. dill, Dan. dild.] (Bot.)
Defn: An herb (Peucedanum graveolens), the seeds of which are moderately warming, pungent, and aromatic, and were formerly used as a soothing medicine for children; -- called also dill-seed. Dr. Prior.
DILL Dill, v. t. Etym: [OE. dillen, fr. dul dull, a.]
Defn: To still; to calm; to soothe, as one in pain. [Obs.]
DILLING Dil"ling, n.
Defn: A darling; a favorite. [Obs.] Whilst the birds billing, Each one with his dilling. Drayton.
DILLUING Dil*lu"ing, n. (Min.)
Defn: A process of sorting ore by washing in a hand sieve. [Written also deluing.]
DILLY Dil"ly, n. Etym: [Contr. fr. diligence.]
Defn: A kind of stagecoach. "The Derby dilly." J. H. Frere.
DILLY-DALLY Dil"ly-dal`ly, v. i. Etym: [See Dally.]
Defn: To loiter or trifle; to waste time.
DILOGICAL Di*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Ambiguous; of double meaning. [Obs.] T. Adams.
DILOGY Dil"o*gy, n.; pl. Dilogies. Etym: [L. dilogia, Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: An ambiguous speech; a figure in which a word is used an equivocal sense. [R.]
DILUCID Di*lu"cid, a. Etym: [L. dilucidus, fr. dilucere to be light enough to distinguish objects apart. See Lucid.]
Defn: Clear; lucid. [Obs.] Bacon. -- Di*lu"cid*ly, adv. [Obs.] -- Di`lu*cid"i*ty, n. [Obs.]
DILUCIDATE Di*lu"ci*date, v. t. Etym: [L. dilucidatus, p. p. of dilucidare.]
Defn: To elucidate. [Obs.] Boyle.
DILUCIDATION Di*lu`ci*da"tion, n. Etym: [L. dilucidatio.]
Defn: The act of making clear. [Obs.] Boyle.
DILUENT Dil"u*ent, a. Etym: [L. diluens, p. pr. diluere. See Dilute.]
Defn: Diluting; making thinner or weaker by admixture, esp. of water. Arbuthnot.
DILUENT Dil"u*ent, n.
1. That which dilutes.
2. (Med.)
Defn: An agent used for effecting dilution of the blood; a weak drink. There is no real diluent but water. Arbuthnot.
DILUTE Di*lute", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Diluted; p. pr. & vb. n. Diluting.] Etym: [L. dilutus, p. p. of diluere to wash away, dilute; di- = dis- + luere, equiv. to lavare to wash, lave. See Lave, and cf. Deluge.]
1. To make thinner or more liquid by admixture with something; to thin and dissolve by mixing. Mix their watery store. With the chyle's current, and dilute it more. Blackmore.
2. To diminish the strength, flavor, color, etc., of, by mixing; to reduce, especially by the addition of water; to temper; to attenuate; to weaken. Lest these colors should be diluted and weakened by the mixture of any adventitious light. Sir I. Newton.
DILUTE Di*lute", v. i.
Defn: To become attenuated, thin, or weak; as, it dilutes easily.
DILUTE Di*lute", a. Etym: [L. dilutus, p. p.]
Defn: Diluted; thin; weak. A dilute and waterish exposition. Hopkins.
DILUTED Di*lut"ed, a.
Defn: Reduced in strength; thin; weak. -- Di*lut"ed*ly, adv.
DILUTENESS Di*lute"ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being dilute. Bp. Wilkins.
DILUTER Di*lut"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, dilutes or makes thin, more liquid, or weaker.
DILUTION Di*lu"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dilution.]
Defn: The act of diluting, or the state of being diluted. Arbuthnot.
DILUVIAL Di*lu"vi*al, a. Etym: [L. diluvialis. fr. diluvium.]
1. Of or pertaining to a flood or deluge, esp. to the great deluge in the days of Noah; diluvian.
2. (Geol.)
Defn: Effected or produced by a flood or deluge of water; -- said of coarse and imperfectly stratified deposits along ancient or existing water courses. Similar unstratified deposits were formed by the agency of ice. The time of deposition has been called the Diluvian epoch.
DILUVIALIST Di*lu"vi*al*ist, n.
Defn: One who explains geological phenomena by the Noachian deluge. Lyell.
DILUVIAN Di*lu"vi*an, a. Etym: [Cf. F. diluvien.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a deluge, esp. to the Noachian deluge; diluvial; as, of diluvian origin. Buckland.
DILUVIATE Di*lu"vi*ate, v. i. Etym: [L. diluviare.]
Defn: To run as a flood. [Obs.] Sir E. Sandys.
DILUVIUM Di*lu"vi*um, n.; pl. E. Diluviums, L. Diluvia. Etym: [L. diluvium. See Dilute, Deluge.] (Geol.)
Defn: A deposit of superficial loam, sand, gravel, stones, etc., caused by former action of flowing waters, or the melting of glacial ice.
Note: The accumulation of matter by the ordinary operation of water is termed alluvium.
DIM Dim, a. [Compar. Dimmer; superl. Dimmest.] Etym: [AS. dim; akin to OFries. dim, Icel. dimmr: cf. MHG. timmer, timber; of uncertain origin.]
1. Not bright or distinct; wanting luminousness or clearness; obscure in luster or sound; dusky; darkish; obscure; indistinct; overcast; tarnished. The dim magnificence of poetry. Whewell. How is the gold become dim! Lam. iv. 1. I never saw The heavens so dim by day. Shak. Three sleepless nights I passed in sounding on, Through words and things, a dim and perilous way. Wordsworth.
2. Of obscure vision; not seeing clearly; hence, dull of apprehension; of weak perception; obtuse. Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow. Job xvii. 7. The understanding is dim. Rogers.
Note: Obvious compounds: dim-eyed; dim-sighted, etc.
Syn. -- Obscure; dusky; dark; mysterious; imperfect; dull; sullied; tarnished.
DIM Dim, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dimmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Dimming.]
1. To render dim, obscure, or dark; to make less bright or distinct; to take away the luster of; to darken; to dull; to obscure; to eclipse. A king among his courtiers, who dims all his attendants. Dryden. Now set the sun, and twilight dimmed the ways. Cowper.
2. To deprive of distinct vision; to hinder from seeing clearly, either by dazzling or clouding the eyes; to darken the senses or understanding of. Her starry eyes were dimmed with streaming tears. C. Pitt.
DIM Dim, v. i.
Defn: To grow dim. J. C. Shairp.
DIMBLE Dim"ble, n. Etym: [Prob. orig., a cavity, and the same word as dimple. See Dimple.]
Defn: A bower; a dingle. [Obs.] Drayton.
DIME Dime, n. Etym: [F. dîme tithe, OF. disme, fr. L. decimus the tenth, fr. decem ten. See Decimal.]
Defn: A silver coin of the United States, of the value of ten cents; the tenth of a dollar. Dime novel, a novel, commonly sensational and trashy, which is sold for a dime, or ten cents.
DIMENSION Di*men"sion, n. Etym: [L. dimensio, fr. dimensus, p. p. of dimetiri to measure out; di- = dis- + metiri to measure: cf. F. dimension. See Measure.]
1. Measure in a single line, as length, breadth, height, thickness, or circumference; extension; measurement; -- usually, in the plural, measure in length and breadth, or in length, breadth, and thickness; extent; size; as, the dimensions of a room, or of a ship; the dimensions of a farm, of a kingdom. Gentlemen of more than ordinary dimensions. W. Irving. Space of dimension, extension that has length but no breadth or thickness; a straight or curved line. -- Space of two dimensions, extension which has length and breadth, but no thickness; a plane or curved surface. -- Space of three dimensions, extension which has length, breadth, and thickness; a solid. -- Space of four dimensions, as imaginary kind of extension, which is assumed to have length, breadth, thickness, and also a fourth imaginary dimension. Space of five or six, or more dimensions is also sometimes assumed in mathematics.
2. Extent; reach; scope; importance; as, a project of large dimensions.
3. (Math.)
Defn: The degree of manifoldness of a quantity; as, time is quantity having one dimension; volume has three dimensions, relative to extension.
4. (Alg.)
Defn: A literal factor, as numbered in characterizing a term. The term dimensions forms with the cardinal numbers a phrase equivalent to degree with the ordinal; thus, a2b2c is a term of five dimensions, or of the fifth degree.
5. pl. (Phys.)
Defn: The manifoldness with which the fundamental units of time, length, and mass are involved in determining the units of other physical quantities. Thus, since the unit of velocity varies directly as the unit of length and inversely as the unit of time, the dimensions of velocity are said to be length ÷ time; the dimensions of work are mass × (length)2 ÷ (time)2; the dimensions of density are mass ÷ (length)3. Dimension lumber, Dimension scantling, or Dimension stock (Carp.), lumber for building, etc., cut to the sizes usually in demand, or to special sizes as ordered. -- Dimension stone, stone delivered from the quarry rough, but brought to such sizes as are requisite for cutting to dimensions given.
DIMENSIONAL Di*men"sion*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to dimension.
DIMENSIONED Di*men"sioned, a.
Defn: Having dimensions. [R.]
DIMENSIONLESS Di*men"sion*less, a.
Defn: Without dimensions; having no appreciable or noteworthy extent. Milton.
DIMENSITY Di*men"si*ty, n.
Defn: Dimension. [R.] Howell.
DIMENSIVE Di*men"sive, a.
Defn: Without dimensions; marking dimensions or the limits. Who can draw the soul's dimensive lines Sir J. Davies.
DIMERA Dim"e*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.) (a) A division of Coleoptera, having two joints to the tarsi. (b) A division of the Hemiptera, including the aphids.
DIMERAN Dim"er*an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Dimera.
DIMEROUS Dim"er*ous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Composed of, or having, two parts of each kind.
Note: A dimerous flower has two sepals, two petals, two stamens, and two pistils.
DIMETER Dim"e*ter, a. Etym: [L. dimeter, Gr.
Defn: Having two poetical measures or meters. -- n.
Defn: A verse of two meters.
DIMETHYL Di*meth"yl, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + methyl.] (Chem.)
Defn: Ethane; -- sometimes so called because regarded as consisting of two methyl radicals. See Ethane.
DIMETRIC Di*met"ric, a. Etym: [See Dimeter, a.] (Crystallog.)
Defn: Same as Tetragonal. Dana.
DIMICATION Dim`i*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. dimicatio, fr. dimicare to fight.]
Defn: A fight; contest. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
DIMIDIATE Di*mid"i*ate, a. Etym: [L. dimidiatus, p. p. of dimidiare to halve, fr. dimidius half. See Demi-.]
1. Divided into two equal parts; reduced to half in shape or form.
2. (Biol.) (a) Consisting of only one half of what the normal condition requires; having the appearance of lacking one half; as, a dimidiate leaf, which has only one side developed. (b) Having the organs of one side, or half, different in function from the corresponding organs on the other side; as, dimidiate hermaphroditism.
DIMIDIATE Di*mid"i*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dimidiated; p. pr. & vb. n. Dimidiating.]
1. To divide into two equal parts. [Obs.] Cockeram.
2. (Her.)
Defn: To represent the half of; to halve.
DIMIDIATION Di*mid`i*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. dimidiatio.]
Defn: The act of dimidiating or halving; the state of being dimidiate.
DIMINISH Di*min"ish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Diminished; p. pr. & vb. n. Diminishing.] Etym: [Pref. di- (= L. dis-) + minish: cf. L. diminuere, F. diminuer, OE. diminuen. See Dis-, and Minish.]
1. To make smaller in any manner; to reduce in bulk or amount; to lessen; -- opposed to augment or increase. Not diminish, but rather increase, the debt. Barrow.
2. To lessen the authority or dignity of; to put down; to degrade; to abase; to weaken. This doth nothing diminish their opinion. Robynson (More's Utopia). I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations. Ezek. xxix. 15. O thou . . . at whose sight all the stars Hide their diminished heads. Milton.
3. (Mus.)
Defn: To make smaller by a half step; to make (an interval) less than minor; as, a diminished seventh.
4. To take away; to subtract. Neither shall ye diminish aught from it. Deut. iv. 2. Diminished column, one whose upper diameter is less than the lower. -- Diminished, or Diminishing, scale, a scale of gradation used in finding the different points for drawing the spiral curve of the volute. Gwilt. -- Diminishing rule (Arch.), a board cut with a concave edge, for fixing the entasis and curvature of a shaft. -- Diminishing stile (Arch.), a stile which is narrower in one part than in another, as in many glazed doors.
Syn. -- To decrease; lessen; abate; reduce; contract; curtail; impair; degrade. See Decrease.
DIMINISH Di*min"ish, v. i.
Defn: To become or appear less or smaller; to lessen; as, the apparent size of an object diminishes as we recede from it.
DIMINISHABLE Di*min"ish*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being diminished or lessened.
DIMINISHER Di*min"ish*er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, diminishes anything. Clerke (1637).
DIMINISHINGLY Di*min"ish*ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a manner to diminish.
DIMINISHMENT Di*min"ish*ment, n.
Defn: Diminution. [R.] Cheke.
DIMINUENDO Di*min`u*en"do, adv. Etym: [It., p. pr. of diminuere to diminish.] (Mus.)
Defn: In a gradually diminishing manner; with abatement of tone; decrescendo; -- expressed on the staff by Dim., or Dimin., or the sign.
DIMINUENT Di*min"u*ent, a. Etym: [L. diminuens, p. pr. of diminuere. See Diminish.]
Defn: Lessening. Bp. Sanderson.
DIMINUTAL Dim`i*nu"tal, a.
Defn: Indicating or causing diminution. Earle.
DIMINUTE Dim"i*nute, a.
Defn: Small; diminished; diminutive. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
DIMINUTELY Dim"i*nute*ly, adv.
Defn: Diminutively. [Obs.]
DIMINUTION Dim`i*nu"tion, n. Etym: [L. diminutio, or perh. rather deminutio: cf. F. diminution. See Diminish.]
1. The act of diminishing, or of making or becoming less; state of being diminished; reduction in size, quantity, or degree; -- opposed to augmentation or increase.
2. The act of lessening dignity or consideration, or the state of being deprived of dignity; a lowering in estimation; degradation; abasement. The world's opinion or diminution of me. Eikon Basilike. Nor thinks it diminution to be ranked In military honor next. Philips.
3. (Law)
Defn: Omission, inaccuracy, or defect in a record.
4. (Mus.)
Defn: In counterpoint, the imitation of, or reply to, a subject, in notes of half the length or value of those the subject itself.
Syn. -- Decrease; decay; abatement; reduction; deduction; decrement.
DIMINUTIVAL Di*min`u*ti"val, a.
Defn: Indicating diminution; diminutive. "Diminutival forms" [of words]. Earle. -- n.
Defn: A diminutive. Earle.
DIMINUTIVE Di*min"u*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. L. deminutivus, F. diminutif.]
1. Below the average size; very small; little.
2. Expressing diminution; as, a diminutive word.
3. Tending to diminish. [R.] Diminutive of liberty. Shaftesbury.
DIMINUTIVE Di*min"u*tive, n.
1. Something of very small size or value; an insignificant thing. Such water flies, diminutives of nature. Shak.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: A derivative from a noun, denoting a small or a young object of the same kind with that denoted by the primitive; as, gosling, eaglet, lambkin. Babyisms and dear diminutives. Tennyson.
Note: The word sometimes denotes a derivative verb which expresses a diminutive or petty form of the action, as scribble.
DIMINUTIVELY Di*min"u*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a diminutive manner.
DIMINUTIVENESS Di*min"u*tive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being diminutive; smallness; littleness; minuteness.
DIMISH Dim"ish, a.
Defn: See Dimmish.
DIMISSION Di*mis"sion, n. Etym: [L. dimissio. See Dimit, and cf. Dismission.]
Defn: Leave to depart; a dismissing. [Obs.] Barrow.
DIMISSORY Dim"is*so*ry, a. Etym: [L. dimissorius: cf. F. dimissoire. See Dimit.]
Defn: Sending away; dismissing to another jurisdiction; granting leave to depart. Letters dimissory (Eccl.), letters given by a bishop dismissing a person who is removing into another diocese, and recommending him for reception there. Hook.
DIMIT Di*mit", v. t. Etym: [L. dimittere to send away, ledi- = dis- + mittere to send. See Dismiss.]
Defn: To dismiss, let go, or release. [Obs.]
DIMITY Dim"i*ty, n. Etym: [Prob. fr. Gr. diemet, of F. dimite, démitte. Cf. Samite.]
Defn: A cotton fabric employed for hangings and furniture coverings, and formerly used for women's under-garments. It is of many patterns, both plain and twilled, and occasionally is printed in colors.
DIMLY Dim"ly, adv.
Defn: In a dim or obscure manner; not brightly or clearly; with imperfect sight.
DIMMISH; DIMMY Dim"mish, Dim"my, a.
Defn: Somewhat dim; as, dimmish eyes. "Dimmy clouds." Sir P. Sidney.
DIMNESS Dim"ness, n. Etym: [AS. dimness.]
1. The state or quality
2. Dullness, or want of clearness, of vision or of intellectual perception. Dr. H. More.
Syn. -- Darkness; obscurity; gloom. See Darkness.
DIMORPH Di"morph`, n. Etym: [Gr. Di-) + (Crystallog.)
Defn: Either one of the two forms of a dimorphous substance; as, calcite and aragonite are dimorphs.
DIMORPHIC Di*mor"phic, a.
Defn: Having the property of dimorphism; dimorphous.
DIMORPHISM Di*mor"phism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dimorphisme.]
1. (Biol.)
Defn: Difference of form between members of the same species, as when a plant has two kinds of flowers, both hermaphrodite (as in the partridge berry), or when there are two forms of one or both sexes of the same species of butterfly. Dimorphism is the condition of the appearance of the same species under two dissimilar forms. Darwin.
2. (Crystallog.)
Defn: Crystallization in two independent forms of the same chemical compound, as of calcium carbonate as calcite and aragonite.
DIMORPHOUS Di*mor"phous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. dimorphe.]
1. (Biol.)
Defn: Characterized by dimorphism; occurring under two distinct forms, not dependent on sex; dimorphic.
2. (Crystallog.)
Defn: Crystallizing under two forms fundamentally different, while having the same chemical composition.
DIMPLE Dim"ple, n. Etym: [Prob. a nasalized dim. of dip. See Dip, and cf. Dimble.]
1. A slight natural depression or indentation on the surface of some part of the body, esp. on the cheek or chin. Milton. The dimple of her chin. Prior.
2. A slight indentation on any surface. The garden pool's dark surface . . . Breaks into dimples small and bright. Wordsworth.
DIMPLE Dim"ple, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dimpled; p. pr. & vb. n. Dimpling.]
Defn: To form dimples; to sink into depressions or little inequalities. And smiling eddies dimpled on the main. Dryden.
DIMPLE Dim"ple, v. t.
Defn: To mark with dimples or dimplelike depressions. Shak.
DIMPLEMENT Dim"ple*ment, n.
Defn: The state of being dimpled, or marked with gentle depressions. [R.] The ground's most gentle dimplement. Mrs. Browning.
DIMPLY Dim"ply, a.
Defn: Full of dimples, or small depressions; dimpled; as, the dimply pool. Thomson.
DIM-SIGHTED Dim"-sight`ed, a.
Defn: Having dim sight; lacking perception. -- Dim"-sight`ed*ness, n.
DIMYA; DIMYARIA Dim"y*a, Dim`y*a"ri*a (, n.; pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of lamellibranchiate mollusks having an anterior and posterior adductor muscle, as the common clam. See Bivalve.
DIMYARIAN Dim`y*a"ri*an, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the Dimya. -- n.
Defn: One of the Dimya.
DIMYARY Dim"y*a*ry, a. & n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Dimyarian.
DIN Din, n. Etym: [AS. dyne, dyn; akin to Icel. dynr, and to AS. dynian to resound, Icel. dynja to pour down like hail or rain; cf. Skr. dhuni roaring, a torrent, dhvan to sound. Cf. Dun to ask payment.]
Defn: Loud, confused, harsh noise; a loud, continuous, rattling or clanging sound; clamor; roar. Think you a little din can daunt mine ears Shak. He knew the battle's din afar. Sir W. Scott. The dust and din and steam of town. Tennyson.
DIN Din, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dinned; p. pr. & vb. n. Dinning.] Etym: [AS. dynian. See Din, n.]
1. To strike with confused or clanging sound; to stun with loud and continued noise; to harass with clamor; as, to din the ears with cries.
2. To utter with a din; to repeat noisily; to ding. This hath been often dinned in my ears. Swift. To din into, to fix in the mind of another by frequent and noisy repetitions. Sir W. Scott.
DIN Din, v. i.
Defn: To sound with a din; a ding. The gay viol dinning in the dale. A. Seward.
DINAPHTHYL Di*naph"thyl, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + naphthylene.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless, crystalline hydrocarbon, C20H14, obtained from naphthylene, and consisting of a doubled naphthylene radical.
DINAR Di"nar, n. Etym: [Ar. d, from Gr. denarius. See Denier.]
1. A petty money of accounts of Persia.
2. An ancient gold coin of the East.
DINARCHY Di"nar*chy, n.
Defn: See Diarchy.
DINE Dine, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dined; p. pr. & vb. n. Dining.] Etym: [F. dîner, OF. disner, LL. disnare, contr. fr. an assumed disjunare; dis- + an assumed junare (OF. juner) to fast, for L. jejunare, fr. jejunus fasting. See Jejune, and cf. Dinner, D.]
Defn: To eat the principal regular meal of the day; to take dinner. Now can I break my fast, dine, sup, and sleep. Shak. To dine with Duke Humphrey, to go without dinner; -- a phrase common in Elizabethan literature, said to be from the practice of the poor gentry, who beguiled the dinner hour by a promenade near the tomb of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, in Old Saint Paul's.
DINE Dine, v. t.
1. To give a dinner to; to furnish with the chief meal; to feed; as, to dine a hundred men. A table massive enough to have dined Johnnie Armstrong and his merry men. Sir W. Scott.
2. To dine upon; to have to eat. [Obs.] "What will ye dine." Chaucer.
DINER Din"er, n.
Defn: One who dines.
DINER-OUT Din"er-out`, n.
Defn: One who often takes his dinner away from home, or in company. A brilliant diner-out, though but a curate. Byron.
DINETICAL Di*net"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Revolving on an axis. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
DING Ding, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dinged, Dang (Obs.), or Dung (Obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. Dinging.] Etym: [OE. dingen, dengen; akin to AS. dencgan to knock, Icel. dengja to beat, hammer, Sw. dänga, G. dengeln.]
1. To dash; to throw violently. [Obs.] To ding the book a coit's distance from him. Milton.
2. To cause to sound or ring. To ding (anything) in one's ears, to impress one by noisy repetition, as if by hammering.
DING Ding, v. i.
1. To strike; to thump; to pound. [Obs.] Diken, or delven, or dingen upon sheaves. Piers Plowman.
2. To sound, as a bell; to ring; to clang. The fretful tinkling of the convent bell evermore dinging among the mountain echoes. W. Irving.
3. To talk with vehemence, importunity, or reiteration; to bluster. [Low]
DING Ding, n.
Defn: A thump or stroke, especially of a bell.
DINGDONG Ding"dong`, n. Etym: [See Ding.]
1. The sound of, or as of, repeated strokes on a metallic body, as a bell; a repeated and monotonous sound.
2. (Horol.)
Defn: An attachment to a clock by which the quarter hours are struck upon bells of different tones.
DINGDONG THEORY Ding"dong` the"o*ry. (Philol.)
Defn: The theory which maintains that the primitive elements of language are reflex expressions induced by sensory impressions; that is, as stated by Max Müller, the creative faculty gave to each general conception as it thrilled for the first time through the brain a phonetic expression; -- jocosely so called from the analogy of the sound of a bell induced by the stroke of the clapper.
DINGEY; DINGY; DINGHY Din"gey, Din"gy, Din"ghy, n. Etym: [Bengalee dingi.]
1. A kind of boat used in the East Indies. [Written also dinghey.] Malcom.
2. A ship's smallest boat.
DINGILY Din"gi*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dingy manner.
DINGINESS Din"gi*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being dingy; a dusky hue.
DINGLE Din"gle, n. Etym: [Of uncertain origin: cf. AS. ding prison; or perh. akin to dimble.]
Defn: A narrow dale; a small dell; a small, secluded, and embowered valley.
DINGLE-DANGLE Din"gle-dan`gle, adv.
Defn: In a dangling manner.
DINGO Din"go, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A wild dog found in Australia, but supposed to have introduced at a very early period. It has a wolflike face, bushy tail, and a reddish brown color.
DINGTHRIFT Ding"thrift`, n.
Defn: A spendthrift. [Obs.] Wilt thou, therefore, a drunkard be, A dingthrift and a knave Drant.
DINGY Din"gy, a. [Compar. Dingier; superl. Dingiest.] Etym: [Prob. fr. dung. Cf. Dungy.]
Defn: Soiled; sullied; of a dark or dusky color; dark brown; dirty. "Scraps of dingy paper." Macaulay.
DINICHTHYS Di*nich"thys, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of large extinct Devonian ganoid fishes. In some parts of Ohio remains of the Dinichthys are abundant, indicating animals twenty feet in length.
DINING Din"ing, n. & a.
Defn: from Dine, a.
Note: Used either adjectively or as the first part of a compound; as, dining hall or dining-hall, dining room, dining table, etc.
DINK Dink, a. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: Trim; neat. [Scot.] Burns. -- Dink"ly, adv.
DINK Dink, v. t.
Defn: To deck; -- often with out or up. [Scot.]
DINMONT Din"mont, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A wether sheep between one and two years old. [Scot.]
DINNER Din"ner, n. Etym: [F. dîner, fr. dîner to dine. See Dine.]
1. The principal meal of the day, eaten by most people about midday, but by many (especially in cities) at a later hour.
2. An entertainment; a feast. A grand political dinner. Tennyson.
Note: Dinner is much used, in an obvious sense, either adjectively or as the first part of a compound; as, dinner time, or dinner-time, dinner bell, dinner hour, etc.
DINNERLESS Din"ner*less, a.
Defn: Having no dinner. Fuller.
DINNERLY Din"ner*ly, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to dinner. [R.] The dinnerly officer. Copley.
DINOCERAS Di*noc"e*ras, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of large extinct Eocene mammals from Wyoming; -- called also Uintatherium. See Illustration in Appendix.
Note: They were herbivorous, and remarkable for three pairs of hornlike protuberances on the skull. The males were armed with a pair of powerful canine tusks.
DINORNIS Di*nor"nis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of extinct, ostrichlike birds of gigantic size, which formerly inhabited New Zealand. See Moa. [Written also Deinornis.]
DINOSAUR; DINOSAURIAN Di"no*saur, Di`no*sau"ri*an, n. Etym: [Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: One of the Dinosauria. [Written also deinosaur, and deinosaurian.]
DINOSAURIA Di`no*sau"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: An order of extinct mesozoic reptiles, mostly of large size (whence the name). Notwithstanding their size, they present birdlike characters in the skeleton, esp. in the pelvis and hind limbs. Some walked on their three-toed hind feet, thus producing the large "bird tracks," so-called, of mesozoic sandstones; others were five-toed and quadrupedal. See Illust. of Compsognathus, also Illustration of Dinosaur in Appendix.
DINOTHERE; DINOTHERIUM Di"no*there, Di`no*the"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL. dinotherium, fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A large extinct proboscidean mammal from the miocene beds of Europe and Asia. It is remarkable fora pair of tusks directed downward from the decurved apex of the lower jaw.
DINOXIDE Din*ox"ide, n. (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Dioxide.
DINSOME Din"some, a.
Defn: Full of din. [Scot.] Burns.
DINT Dint, n. Etym: [OE. dint, dent, dunt, a blow, AS. dynt; akin to Icel. dyntr a dint, dynta to dint, and perh. to L. fendere (in composition). Cf. 1st Dent, Defend.]
1. A blow; a stroke. [Obs.] "Mortal dint." Milton. "Like thunder's dint." Fairfax.
2. The mark left by a blow; an indentation or impression made by violence; a dent. Dryden. Every dint a sword had beaten in it [the shield]. Tennyson.
3. Force; power; -- esp. in the phrase by dint of. Now you weep; and, I perceive, you feel The dint of pity. Shak. It was by dint of passing strength That he moved the massy stone at length. Sir W. Scott.
DINT Dint, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dinted; p. pr. & vb. n. Dinting.]
Defn: To make a mark or cavity on or in, by a blow or by pressure; to dent. Donne. Tennyson.
DINUMERATION Di*nu`mer*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. dinumeratio; di- = dis- + numerare to count, fr. numerus number.]
Defn: Enumeration. [Obs.] Bullokar.
DIOCESAN Di*oc"e*san, a. Etym: [LL. dioecesanus: cf. F. diocésain.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a diocese; as, diocesan missions.
DIOCESAN Di*oc"e*san, n.
1. A bishop, viewed in relation to his diocese; as, the diocesan of New York.
2. pl.
Defn: The clergy or the people of a diocese. Strype.
DIOCESE Di"o*cese, n.; pl. Dioceses. Etym: [OE. diocise, OF. diocise, F. diocése, L. dioecesis, fr. Gr. Economy.] (Eccl.)
Defn: The circuit or extent of a bishop's jurisdiction; the district in which a bishop exercises his ecclesiastical authority. [Frequently, but improperly, spelt diocess.]
DIOCESENER Di`o*ce"se*ner, n.
Defn: One who belongs to a diocese. [Obs.] Bacon.
DIODON Di"o*don, n. Etym: [Gr. diodon.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of spinose, plectognath fishes, having the teeth of each jaw united into a single beaklike plate. They are able to inflate the body by taking in air or water, and, hence, are called globefishes, swellfishes, etc. fishes, and sea hedgehogs.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of whales.
DIODONT Di"o*dont, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the genus Diodon. -- n.
Defn: A fish of the genus Diodon, or an allied genus.
DIOECIA Di*oe"ci*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A Linnæan class of plants having the stamens and pistils on different plants.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A subclass of gastropod mollusks in which the sexes are separate. It includes most of the large marine species, like the conchs, cones, and cowries.
DIOECIAN; DIOECIOUS Di*oe"cian, Di*oe"cious, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Having the sexes in applied to plants in which the female flowers occur on one individual and the male flowers on another of the same species, and to animals in which the ovum is produced by one individual and the sperm cell by another; -- opposed to monoecious.
DIOECIOUSLY Di*oe"cious*ly, adv. (Biol.)
Defn: In a dioecious manner. Dioeciously hermaphrodite (Bot.), having flowers structurally perfect, but practically dioecious, -- those on one plant producing no pollen, and those on another no ovules.
DIOECIOUSNESS Di*oe"cious*ness, n. (Biol.)
Defn: The state or quality of being dioecious.
DIOECISM Di*oe"cism, n. (Biol.)
Defn: The condition of being dioecious.
DIOGENES Di*og"e*nes, n.
Defn: A Greek Cynic philosopher (412-323 B. C.) who lived much in Athens and was distinguished for contempt of the common aims and conditions of life, and for sharp, caustic sayings. Diogenes' crab (Zoöl.), a species of terrestrial hermit crabs (Cenobita Diogenes), abundant in the West Indies and often destructive to crops. -- Diogenes' tub, the tub which the philosopher Diogenes is said to have carried about with him as his house, in which he lived.
DIOICOUS Di*oi"cous, a.
Defn: See Dioecious.
DIOMEDEA Di*om`e*de"a, n. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of large sea birds, including the albatross. See Albatross.
DIONAEA Di`o*næ"a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: An insectivorous plant. See Venus's flytrap.
DIONYSIA Di`o*ny"si*a, n. pl. [L., fr. Gr. .] (Class. Antiq.)
Defn: Any of the festivals held in honor of the Olympian god Dionysus. They correspond to the Roman Bacchanalia; the greater Dionysia were held at Athens in March or April, and were celebrated with elaborate performances of both tragedies and comedies.
DIONYSIAC Di`o*ny"si*ac, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Dionysus or to the Dionysia; Bacchic; as, a Dionysiac festival; the Dionysiac theater at Athens.
DIONYSIAN Di`o*ny"sian, a.
Defn: Relating to Dionysius, a monk of the 6th century; as, the Dionysian, or Christian, era. Dionysian period, a period of 532 years, depending on the cycle of the sun, or 28 years, and the cycle of the moon, or 19 years; -- sometimes called the Greek paschal cycle, or Victorian period.
DIOPHANTINE Di`o*phan"tine, a.
Defn: Originated or taught by Diophantus, the Greek writer on algebra. Diophantine analysis (Alg.), that branch of indeterminate analysis which has for its object the discovery of rational values that satisfy given equations containing squares or cubes; as, for example, to find values of x and y which make x2 + y2 an exact square.
DIOPSIDE Di*op"side, n. Etym: [Gr. diopside.] (Min.)
Defn: A crystallized variety of pyroxene, of a clear, grayish green color; mussite.
DIOPTASE Di*op"tase, n. Etym: [Gr. dioptase.] (Min.)
Defn: A hydrous silicate of copper, occurring in emerald-green crystals.
DIOPTER; DIOPTRA Di*op"ter, Di*op"tra, n. Etym: [L. dioptra, fr. Gr. Dioptric.]
Defn: An optical instrument, invented by Hipparchus, for taking altitudes, leveling, etc.
DIOPTRE Di*op"tre, n. Etym: [F. See 2d Dioptric.] (Optics)
Defn: A unit employed by oculists in numbering glasses according to the metric system; a refractive power equal to that of a glass whose principal focal distance is one meter.
DIOPTRIC Di*op"tric, a. (Optics)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the dioptre, or to the metric system of numbering glasses. -- n.
Defn: A dioptre. See Dioptre.
DIOPTRIC; DIOPTRICAL Di*op"tric, Di*op"tric*al, a. Etym: [Gr. dioptrique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to dioptrics; assisting vision by means of the refraction of light; refractive; as, the dioptric system; a dioptric glass or telescope. "Dioptrical principles." Nichol. Dioptric curve (Geom.), a Cartesian oval. See under Cartesian.
DIOPTRICS Di*op"trics, n. Etym: [Gr. dioptrique.] (Optics)
Defn: The science of the refraction of light; that part of geometrical optics which treats of the laws of the refraction of light in passing from one medium into another, or through different mediums, as air, water, or glass, and esp. through different lenses; -- distinguished from catoptrics, which refers to reflected light.
DIOPTRY Di*op"try, n. (Optics)
Defn: A dioptre.
DIORAMA Di`o*ra"ma, n. Etym: [Gr. diorama. Cf. Panorama.]
1. A mode of scenic representation, invented by Daguerre and Bouton, in which a painting is seen from a distance through a large opening. By a combination of transparent and opaque painting, and of transmitted and reflected light, and by contrivances such as screens and shutters, much diversity of scenic effect is produced.
2. A building used for such an exhibition.
DIORAMIC Di`o*ram"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a diorama.
DIORISM Di"o*rism, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Definition; logical direction. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
DIORISTIC Di`o*ris"tic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Distinguishing; distinctive; defining. [R.] -- Di`o*ris"tic*al*ly, adv. [R.] Dr. H. More.
DIORITE Di"o*rite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. diorite. See Diorism.] (Min.)
Defn: An igneous, crystalline in structure, consisting essentially of a triclinic feldspar and hornblende. It includes part of what was called greenstone.
DIORITIC Di`o*rit"ic, a.
Defn: Containing diorite.
DIORTHOTIC Di`or*thot"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Relating to the correcting or straightening out of something; corrective.
DIOSCOREA Di`os*co"re*a, n. Etym: [NL. Named after Dioscorides the Greek physician.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants. See Yam.
DIOTA Di*o"ta, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: A vase or drinking cup having two handles or ears.
DIOXIDE Di*ox"ide (; 104), n. Etym: [Pref. di- + oxide.] (Chem.) (a) An oxide containing two atoms of oxygen in each molecule; binoxide. (b) An oxide containing but one atom or equivalent of oxygen to two of a metal; a suboxide. [Obs.] Carbon dioxide. See Carbonic acid, under Carbonic.
DIOXINDOL Di`ox*in"dol, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + oxygen + indol.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white, crystalline, nitrogenous substance obtained by the reduction of isatin. It is a member of the indol series; -- hence its name.
DIP Dip, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dipped or Dipt (p. pr. & vb. n. Dipping.] Etym: [OE. dippen, duppen, AS. dyppan; akin to Dan. dyppe, Sw. doppa, and to AS. d to baptize, OS. d, D. doopen, G. taufen, Sw. döpa, Goth. daupjan, Lith. dubus deep, hollow, OSlav. dupl hollow, and to E. dive. Cf. Deep, Dive.]
1. To plunge or immerse; especially, to put for a moment into a liquid; to insert into a fluid and withdraw again. The priest shall dip his finger in the blood. Lev. iv. 6. [Wat'ry fowl] now dip their pinions in the briny deep. Pope. While the prime swallow dips his wing. Tennyson.
2. To immerse for baptism; to baptize by immersion. Book of Common Prayer. Fuller.
3. To wet, as if by immersing; to moisten. [Poetic] A cold shuddering dew Dips me all o'er. Milton.
4. To plunge or engage thoroughly in any affair. He was . . . dipt in the rebellion of the Commons. Dryden.
5. To take out, by dipping a dipper, ladle, or other receptacle, into a fluid and removing a part; -- often with out; as, to dip water from a boiler; to dip out water.
6. To engage as a pledge; to mortgage. [Obs.] Live on the use and never dip thy lands. Dryden. Dipped candle, a candle made by repeatedly dipping a wick in melted tallow. -- To dip snuff, to take snuff by rubbing it on the gums and teeth. [Southern U. S.] -- To dip the colors (Naut.), to lower the colors and return them to place; -- a form of naval salute.
DIP Dip, v. i.
1. To immerse one's self; to become plunged in a liquid; to sink. The sun's rim dips; the stars rush out. Coleridge.
2. To perform the action of plunging some receptacle, as a dipper, ladle. etc.; into a liquid or a soft substance and removing a part. Whoever dips too deep will find death in the pot. L'Estrange.
3. To pierce; to penetrate; -- followed by in or into. When I dipt into the future. Tennyson.
4. To enter slightly or cursorily; to engage one's self desultorily or by the way; to partake limitedly; -- followed by in or into. "Dipped into a multitude of books." Macaulay.
5. To incline downward from the plane of the horizon; as, strata of rock dip.
6. To dip snuff. [Southern U.S.]
DIP Dip, n.
1. The action of dipping or plunging for a moment into a liquid. "The dip of oars in unison." Glover.
2. Inclination downward; direction below a horizontal line; slope; pitch.
3. A liquid, as a sauce or gravy, served at table with a ladle or spoon. [Local, U.S.] Bartlett.
4. A dipped candle. [Colloq.] Marryat. Dip of the horizon (Astron.), the angular depression of the seen or visible horizon below the true or natural horizon; the angle at the eye of an observer between a horizontal line and a tangent drawn from the eye to the surface of the ocean. -- Dip of the needle, or Magnetic dip, the angle formed, in a vertical plane, by a freely suspended magnetic needle, or the line of magnetic force, with a horizontal line; -- called also inclination. -- Dip of a stratum (Geol.), its greatest angle of inclination to the horizon, or that of a line perpendicular to its direction or strike; -- called also the pitch.
DIPASCHAL Di*pas"chal, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + paschal.]
Defn: Including two passovers. Carpenter.
DIPCHICK Dip"chick`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Dabchick.
DIPETALOUS Di*pet"al*ous, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + petalous.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having two petals; two-petaled.
DIPHENYL Di*phe"nyl, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + phenyl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white crystalline substance, C6H5.C6H5, obtained by leading benzene through a heated iron tube. It consists of two benzene or phenyl radicals united.
DIPHTHERIA Diph*the"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. membrane): cf. depsere to knead.] (Med.)
Defn: A very dangerous contagious disease in which the air passages, and especially the throat, become coated with a false membrane, produced by the solidification of an inflammatory exudation. Cf. Group.
DIPHTHERIAL; DIPHTHERIC Diph*the"ri*al, Diph*ther"ic, a.
Defn: Relating to diphtheria; diphtheritic.
DIPHTHERITIC Diph`the*rit"ic, a. (Med.)
1. Pertaining to, or connected with, diphtheria.
2. Having characteristics resembling those of diphtheria; as, diphtheritic inflammation of the bladder.
DIPHTHONG Diph"thong (; 115, 277), n. Etym: [L. diphthongus, Gr. diphthongue.] (Orthoëpy) (a) A coalition or union of two vowel sounds pronounced in one syllable; as, ou in out, oi in noise; -- called a proper diphthong. (b) A vowel digraph; a union of two vowels in the same syllable, only one of them being sounded; as, ai in rain, eo in people; -- called an improper diphthong.
DIPHTHONG Diph"thong, v. t.
Defn: To form or pronounce as a diphthong; diphthongize. [R.]
DIPHTHONGAL Diph*thon"gal, a.
Defn: Relating or belonging to a diphthong; having the nature of a diphthong. -- Diph*thon"gal*ly, adv.
DIPHTHONGALIZE Diph*thon"gal*ize, v. t.
Defn: To make into a diphthong; to pronounce as a diphthong.
DIPHTHONGATION Diph`thon*ga"tion, n.
Defn: See Diphthongization.
DIPHTHONGIC Diph*thong"ic, a.
Defn: Of the nature of diphthong; diphthongal. H. Sweet.
DIPHTHONGIZATION Diph`thong*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of changing into a diphthong. H. Sweet.
DIPHTHONGIZE Diph"thong*ize, v. t. & i.
Defn: To change into a diphthong, as by affixing another vowel to a simple vowel. "The diphthongized long vowels." H. Sweet.
DIPHYCERCAL Diph`y*cer"cal, a. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Having the tail fin divided into two equal parts by the notochord, or end of the vertebral column; protocercal. See Protocercal.
DIPHYGENIC Diph`y*gen"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. -genic.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having two modes of embryonic development.
DIPHYLLOUS Diph"yl*lous, a. Etym: [Gr. diphylle.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having two leaves, as a calyx, etc.
DIPHYODONT Diph"y*o*dont, a. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Having two successive sets of teeth (deciduous and permanent), one succeeding the other; as, a diphyodont mammal; diphyodont dentition; -- opposed to monophyodont. -- n.
Defn: An animal having two successive sets of teeth.
DIPHYOZOOID Diph`y*o*zo"oid, n. Etym: [Gr. zooid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the free-swimming sexual zooids of Siphonophora.
DIPLANAR Di*pla"nar, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + plane.] (Math.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to two planes.
DIPLEIDOSCOPE Di*plei"do*scope, n. Etym: [Gr. -scope.] (Astron.)
Defn: An instrument for determining the time of apparent noon. It consists of two mirrors and a plane glass disposed in the form of a prism, so that, by the reflections of the sun's rays from their surfaces, two images are presented to the eye, moving in opposite directions, and coinciding at the instant the sun's center is on the meridian.
DIPLEX Di"plex, a. [Pref. di- + -plex, as in duplex.] (Teleg.)
Defn: Pertaining to the sending of two messages in the same direction at the same time. Diplex and contraplex are the two varieties of duplex.
DIPLOBLASTIC Dip`lo*blas"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. -blast + -ic.] (Biol.)
Defn: Characterizing the ovum when it has two primary germinal layers.
DIPLOCARDIAC Dip`lo*car"di*ac, a. Etym: [Gr. cardiac.] (Anat.)
Defn: Having the heart completely divided or double, one side systemic, the other pulmonary.
DIPLOCOCCUS Dip`lo*coc"cus, n.; pl. Diplococci. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: A form of micrococcus in which cocci are united in a binary manner. See Micrococcus.
DIPLOE Dip"lo*ë, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The soft, spongy, or cancellated substance between the plates of the skull.
DIPLOETIC Dip`lo*et"ic, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Diploic.
DIPLOGENIC Dip`lo*gen"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Partaking of the nature of two bodies; producing two substances. Wright.
DIPLOGRAPH Dip"lo*graph, n. [Gr. double + -graph.]
Defn: An instrument used for double writing, as one for producing embossed writing for the blind and ordinary writing at the same time. -- Dip`lo*graph"ic*al (#), a. -- Dip*log"ra*phy (#), n.
DIPLOIC Di*plo"ic, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the diploë.
DIPLOID Dip"loid, n. Etym: [Gr. -oid.] (Crystallog.)
Defn: A solid bounded by twenty-four similar quadrilateral faces. It is a hemihedral form of the hexoctahedron.
DIPLOMA Di*plo"ma, n.; pl. Diplomas. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Double.]
Defn: A letter or writing, usually under seal, conferring some privilege, honor, or power; a document bearing record of a degree conferred by a literary society or educational institution.
DIPLOMACY Di*plo"ma*cy, n. Etym: [F. diplomatie. This word, like supremacy, retains the accent of its original. See Diploma.]
1. The art and practice of conducting negotiations between nations (particularly in securing treaties), including the methods and forms usually employed.
2. Dexterity or skill in securing advantages; tact.
3. The body of ministers or envoys resident at a court; the diplomatic body. [R.] Burke.
DIPLOMAT; DIPLOMATE Dip"lo*mat, Dip"lo*mate, n. Etym: [F. diplomate.]
Defn: A diplomatist.
DIPLOMATE Dip"lo*mate, v. t.
Defn: To invest with a title o [R.] Wood.
DIPLOMATIAL Dip`lo*ma"tial, a.
Defn: Diplomatic. [R.]
DIPLOMATIC; DIPLOMATICAL Dip`lo*mat"ic, Dip`lo*mat"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. diplomatique.]
1. Pertaining to diplomacy; relating to the foreign ministers at a court, who are called the diplomatic body.
2. Characterized by tact and shrewdness; dexterous; artful; as, diplomatic management.
3. Pertaining to diplomatics; paleographic. Astle.
DIPLOMATIC Dip`lo*mat"ic, n.
Defn: A minister, official agent, or envoy to a foreign court; a diplomatist.
DIPLOMATICALLY Dip`lo*mat"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: According to the rules of diplomacy; in the manner of a diplomatist; artfully.
DIPLOMATICS Dip`lo*mat"ics, n.
Defn: The science of diplomas, or the art of deciphering ancient writings, and determining their age, authenticity, etc.; paleography.
DIPLOMATISM Di*plo"ma*tism, n.
Defn: Diplomacy. [R.]
DIPLOMATIST Di*plo"ma*tist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. diplomatiste a student of diplomatics.]
Defn: A person employed in, or skilled in, diplomacy; a diplomat. In ability, Avaux had no superior among the numerous able diplomatics whom his country then possessed. Macaulay.
DIPLOPIA; DIPLOPY Di*plo"pi*a, Dip"lo*py, n. Etym: [NL. diplopia, from Gr. diplopie.] (Med.)
Defn: The act or state of seeing double.
Note: In crossed or heteronymous diplopia the image seen by the right eye is upon the left hand, and that seen by the left eye is upon the right hand. In homonymous diplopia the image seen by the right eye is on the right side, that by the left eye on the left side. In vertical diplopia one image stands above the other.
DIPLOPOD Dip"lo*pod, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Diplopoda.
DIPLOPODA Di*plop"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [Gr. -poda.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of myriapods having two pairs of legs on each segment; the Chilognatha.
DIPLOSTEMONOUS Dip`lo*stem"o*nous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having twice as many stamens as petals, as the geranium. R. Brown.
DIPLOSTEMONY Dip`lo*stem"o*ny, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The condition of being diplostemonous.
DIPNEUMONA Dip*neu"mo*na, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of spiders having only two lunglike organs. [Written also Dipneumones.]
DIPNOI Dip"no*i, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of ganoid fishes, including the living genera Ceratodus and Lepidosiren, which present the closest approximation to the Amphibia. The air bladder acts as a lung, and the nostrils open inside the mouth. See Ceratodus, and Illustration in Appendix.
DIPODY Dip"o*dy, n.; pl. Dipodies. Etym: [Gr. (Pros.)
Defn: Two metrical feet taken together, or included in one measure. Hadley. Trochaic, iambic, and anapestic verses . . . are measured by dipodies. W. W. Goodwin.
DIPOLAR Di*po"lar, a. Etym: [Pre. di- + polar. Cf. Bipolar.]
Defn: Having two poles, as a magnetic bar.
DIPPEL'S OIL Dip"pel's oil`. (Chem.) Etym: [From the name of the inventor.]
Defn: See Bone oil, under Bone.
DIPPER Dip"per, n.
1. One who, or that which, dips; especially, a vessel used to dip water or other liquid; a ladle.
2. (Zoöl.) (a) A small grebe; the dabchick. (b) The buffel duck. (c) The water ouzel (Cinolus aquaticus) of Europe. (d) The American dipper or ouzel (Cinclus Mexicanus). The Dipper (Astron.), the seven principal stars in the constellation of the Great Bear; popularly so called from their arrangement in the form of a dipper; -- called also Charles's Wain. See Ursa Major, under Ursa.
DIPPING Dip"ping, n.
1. The act or process of immersing.
2. The act of inclining downward.
3. The act of lifting or moving a liquid with a dipper, ladle, or the like.
4. The process of cleaning or brightening sheet metal or metalware, esp. brass, by dipping it in acids, etc.
5. The practice of taking snuff by rubbing the teeth or gums with a stick or brush dipped in snuff. [U.S.] Dipping needle, a magnetic needle suspended at its center of gravity, and moving freely in a vertical plane, so as to indicate on a graduated circle the magnetic dip or inclination.
DIPRISMATIC Di`pris*mat"ic, a. Etym: [Prefix di- + prismatic.]
Defn: Doubly prismatic.
DIPROPARGYL Di`pro*par"gyl, n. Etym: [Prefix di- + propargyl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A pungent, mobile, volatile liquid, C6H6, produced artificially from certain allyl derivatives. Though isomeric with benzine, it is very different in its chemical relations. Called also dipropinyl.
DIPROPYL Di*pro"pyl, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + propyl.] (Chem.)
Defn: One of the hexane paraffins, found in petroleum, consisting of two propyl radicals. See Hexane.
DIPROTODON Di*pro"to*don, n. Etym: [Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: An extinct Quaternary marsupial from Australia, about as large as the hippopotamus; -- so named because of its two large front teeth. See Illustration in Appendix.
DIPSAS Dip"sas, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
1. A serpent whose bite was fabled to produce intense thirst. Milton.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of harmless colubrine snakes.
DIPSETIC Dip*set"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Tending to produce thirst. Wright.
DIPSEY; DIPSIE; DIPSY Dip"sey, Dip"sie, Dip"sy, a.
Defn: Deep-sea; as, a dipsey line; a dipsy lead. [Sailor's Cant]
DIPSEY; DIPSIE; DIPSY Dip"sey, Dip"sie, Dip"sy, n.
1. A sinker attached to a fishing line; also, a line having several branches, each with such a sinker, used in deep-sea fishing. [Local, U. S.]
2. (Naut.) A deep-sea lead. [Rare]
DIPSOMANIA Dip`so*ma"ni*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A morbid an uncontrollable craving (often periodic) for drink, esp. for alcoholic liquors; also improperly used to denote acute and chronic alcoholism.
DIPSOMANIAC Dip`so*ma"ni*ac, n.
Defn: One who has an irrepressible desire for alcoholic drinks.
DIPSOMANIACAL Dip`so*ma*ni"a*cal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to dipsomania.
DIPSOSIS Dip*so"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Excessive thirst produced by disease.
DIPTERA Dip"te*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. diptère.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An extensive order of insects having only two functional wings and two balancers, as the house fly, mosquito, etc. They have a suctorial proboscis, often including two pairs of sharp organs (mandibles and maxillæ) with which they pierce the skin of animals. They undergo a complete metamorphosis, their larvæ (called maggots) being usually without feet.
DIPTERAL Dip"ter*al, a.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having two wings only; belonging to the order Diptera.
2. (Anc. Arch.)
Defn: Having a double row of columns on each on the flanks, as well as in front and rear; -- said of a temple.
DIPTERAN Dip"ter*an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An insect of the order Diptera.
DIPTEROCARPUS Dip`te*ro*car"pus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of trees found in the East Indies, some species of which produce a fragrant resin, other species wood oil. The fruit has two long wings.
DIPTEROUS Dip"ter*ous, a.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having two wings, as certain insects; belonging to the order Diptera.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Having two wings; two-winged.
DIPTERYGIAN Dip`ter*yg"i*an, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having two dorsal fins; -- said of certain fishes.
DIPTOTE Dip"tote, n. Etym: [Gr. diptote.] (Gram.)
Defn: A noun which has only two cases. Andrews.
DIPTYCH Dip"tych, n. Etym: [L. diptycha, pl., fr. Gr.
1. Anything consisting of two leaves. Especially: (a) (Roman Antiq.) A writing tablet consisting of two leaves of rigid material connected by hinges and shutting together so as to protect the writing within. (b) A picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets connected by hinges. See Triptych.
2. A double catalogue, containing in one part the names of living, and in the other of deceased, ecclesiastics and benefactors of the church; a catalogue of saints.
DIPYRE Di*pyre", n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A mineral of the scapolite group; -- so called from the double effect of fire upon it, in fusing it, and rendering it phosphorescent.
DIPYRENOUS Di`py*re"nous, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + pyrene.] (Bot.)
Defn: Containing two stones or nutlets.
DIPYRIDINE Di*pyr"i*dine (; 104), n. Etym: [Pref. di- + pyridine.] (Geom.)
Defn: A polymeric form of pyridine, C10H10N2, obtained as a colorless oil by the action of sodium on pyridine.
DIPYRIDYL Di*pyr"i*dyl, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + pyridine + -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A crystalline nitrogenous base, C10H8N2, obtained by the reduction of pyridine.
DIRADIATION Di*ra`di*a"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + radiation.]
Defn: The emission and diffusion of rays of light.
DIRE Dire, a. [Compar. Direr; superl. Direst.] Etym: [L. dirus; of uncertain origin.]
1. Ill-boding; portentous; as, dire omens.
2. Evil in great degree; dreadful; dismal; horrible; terrible; lamentable. Dire was the tossing, deep the groans. Milton. Gorgons and hydras and chimeras dire. Milton.
DIRECT Di*rect", a. Etym: [L. directus, p. p. of dirigere to direct: cf. F. direct. See Dress, and cf. Dirge.]
1. Straight; not crooked, oblique, or circuitous; leading by the short or shortest way to a point or end; as, a direct line; direct means. What is direct to, what slides by, the question. Locke.
2. Straightforward; not of crooked ways, or swerving from truth and openness; sincere; outspoken. Be even and direct with me. Shak.
3. Immediate; express; plain; unambiguous. He howhere, that I know, says it in direct words. Locke. A direct and avowed interference with elections. Hallam.
4. In the line of descent; not collateral; as, a descendant in the direct line.
5. (Astron.)
Defn: In the direction of the general planetary motion, or from west to east; in the order of the signs; not retrograde; -- said of the motion of a celestial body. Direct action. (Mach.) See Direct-acting. -- Direct discourse (Gram.), the language of any one quoted without change in its form; as, he said "I can not come;" -- correlative to indirect discourse, in which there is change of form; as, he said that he could not come. They are often called respectively by their Latin names, oratio directa, and oratio obliqua. -- Direct evidence (Law), evidence which is positive or not inferential; -- opposed to circumstantial, or indirect, evidence. -- This distinction, however, is merely formal, since there is no direct evidence that is not circumstantial, or dependent on circumstances for its credibility. Wharton. -- Direct examination (Law), the first examination of a witness in the orderly course, upon the merits. Abbott. -- Direct fire (Mil.), fire, the direction of which is perpendicular to the line of troops or to the parapet aimed at. -- Direct process (Metal.), one which yields metal in working condition by a single process from the ore. Knight. -- Direct tax, a tax assessed directly on lands, etc., and polls, distinguished from taxes on merchandise, or customs, and from excise.
DIRECT Di*rect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Directed; p. pr. & vb. n. Directing.]
1. To arrange in a direct or straight line, as against a mark, or towards a goal; to point; to aim; as, to direct an arrow or a piece of ordnance.
2. To point out or show to (any one), as the direct or right course or way; to guide, as by pointing out the way; as, he directed me to the left-hand road. The Lord direct your into the love of God. 2 Thess. iii. 5. The next points to which I will direct your attention. Lubbock.
3. To determine the direction or course of; to cause to go on in a particular manner; to order in the way to a certain end; to regulate; to govern; as, to direct the affairs of a nation or the movements of an army. I will direct their work in truth. Is. lxi. 8.
4. To point out to with authority; to instruct as a superior; to order; as, he directed them to go. I 'll first direct my men what they shall do. Shak.
5. To put a direction or address upon; to mark with the name and residence of the person to whom anything is sent; to superscribe; as, to direct a letter.
Syn. -- To guide; lead; conduct; dispose; manage; regulate; order; instruct; command.
DIRECT Di*rect", v. i.
Defn: To give direction; to point out a course; to act as guide. Wisdom is profitable to direct. Eccl. x. 10.
DIRECT Di*rect", n. (Mus.)
Defn: A character, thus [ Moore (Encyc. of Music).
DIRECT-ACTING Di*rect"-act`ing, a. (Mach.)
Defn: Acting directly, as one part upon another, without the intervention of other working parts. Direct-acting steam engine, one in which motion is transmitted to the crank without the intervention of a beam or lever; -- also called direct-action steam engine. -- Direct-acting steam pump, one in which the steam piston rod is directly connected with the pump rod; -- also called direct-action steam pump.
DIRECT ACTION Direct action. (Trade unions)
Defn: See Syndicalism, below.
DIRECT-COUPLED Di*rect"-cou"pled, a.
Defn: Coupled without intermediate connections, as an engine and a dynamo.
Direct-coupled antenna (Wireless Teleg.), an antenna connected electrically with one point of a closed oscillation circuit in syntony with it and earthed.
DIRECT CURRENT Direct current. (Elec.) (a) A current flowing in one direction only; -- distinguished from alternating current. When steady and not pulsating a direct current is often called a continuous current. (b) A direct induced current, or momentary current of the same direction as the inducing current, produced by stopping or removing the latter; also, a similar current produced by removal of a magnet.
DIRECTER Di*rect"er, n.
Defn: One who directs; a director. Directer plane (Geom.), the plane to which all right-lined elements in a warped surface are parallel.
DIRECTION Di*rec"tion, n. Etym: [L. directio: cf. F. direction.]
1. The act of directing, of aiming, regulating, guiding, or ordering; guidance; management; superintendence; administration; as, the direction o. I do commit his youth To your direction. Shak. All nature is but art, unknown to thee;direction, which thou canst not see. Pope.
2. That which is imposed by directing; a guiding or authoritative instruction; prescription; order; command; as, he grave directions to the servants. The princes digged the well . . . by the direction of the law giver. Numb. xxi. 18.
3. The name and residence of a person to whom any thing is sent, written upon the thing sent; superscription; address; as, the direction of a letter.
4. The line or course upon which anything is moving or aimed to move, or in which anything is lying or pointing; aim; line or point of tendency; direct line or course; as, the ship sailed in a southeasterly direction.
5. The body of managers of a corporation or enterprise; board of directors.
6. (Gun.)
Defn: The pointing of a piece with reference to an imaginary vertical axis; -- distinguished from elevation. The direction is given when the plane of sight passes through the object. Wilhelm.
Syn. -- Administration; guidance; management; superintendence; oversight; government; order; command; guide; clew. Direction, Control, Command, Order. These words, as here compared, have reference to the exercise of power over the actions of others. Control is negative, denoting power to restrain; command is positive, implying a right to enforce obedience; directions are commands containing instructions how to act. Order conveys more prominently the idea of authority than the word direction. A shipmaster has the command of his vessel; he gives orders or directions to the seamen as to the mode of sailing it; and exercises a due control over the passengers.
DIRECTIVE Di*rect"ive, a. Etym: [LL. directivus: cf. F. directif.]
1. Having power to direct; tending to direct, guide, or govern; showing the way. Hooker. The precepts directive of our practice in relation to God. Barrow.
2. Able to be directed; manageable. [Obs.] Swords and bows Directive by the limbs. Shak.
DIRECTLY Di*rect"ly, adv.
1. In a direct manner; in a straight line or course. "To run directly on." Shak. Indirectly and directly too Thou hast contrived against the very life Of the defendant. Shak.
2. In a straightforward way; without anything intervening; not by secondary, but by direct, means.
3. Without circumlocution or ambiguity; absolutely; in express terms. No man hath hitherto been so impious as plainly and directly to condemn prayer. Hooker.
4. Exactly; just. Stand you directly in Antonius' way. Shak.
5. Straightforwardly; honestly. I have dealt most directly in thy affair. Shak.
6. Manifestly; openly. [Obs.] Desdemona is directly in love with him. Shak.
7. Straightway; next in order; without delay; immediately. "Will she go now to bed' Directly.'" Shak.
8. Immediately after; as soon as. Directly he stopped, the coffin was removed. Dickens.
Note: This use of the word is common in England, especially in colloquial speech, but it can hardly be regarded as a well-sanctioned or desirable use. Directly proportional (Math.), proportional in the order of the terms; increasing or decreasing together, and with a constant ratio; -- opposed to inversely proportional.
Syn. -- Immediately; forthwith; straightway; instantly; instantaneously; soon; promptly; openly; expressly. -- Directly, Immediately, Instantly, Instantaneously. Directly denotes, without any delay or diversion of attention; immediately implies, without any interposition of other occupation; instantly implies, without any intervention of time. Hence, "I will do it directly," means, "I will go straightway about it." "I will do it immediately," means, "I will do it as the very next thing." "I will do it instantly," allows not a particle of delay. Instantaneously, like instantly, marks an interval too small to be appreciable, but commonly relates to physical causes; as, the powder touched by fire instantaneously exploded.
DIRECTNESS Di*rect"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being direct; straightness; straightforwardness; immediateness.
DIRECT NOMINATION Direct nomination. (Political Science)
Defn: The nomination or designation of candidates for public office by direct popular vote rather than through the action of a convention or body of elected nominating representatives or delegates. The term is applied both to the nomination of candidates without any nominating convention, and, loosely, to the nomination effected, as in the case of candidates for president or senator of the United States, by the election of nominating representatives pledged or instructed to vote for certain candidates dssignated by popular vote.
DIRECTOIRE STYLE Di`rec`toire" style. (Dressmaking)
Defn: A style of dress prevalent at the time of the French Directory, characterized by great extravagance of design and imitating the Greek and Roman costumes.
DIRECTOR Di*rect"or, n. Etym: [Cf. F. directeur.]
1. One who, or that which, directs; one who regulates, guides, or orders; a manager or superintendent. In all affairs thou sole director. Swift.
2. One of a body of persons appointed to manage the affairs of a company or corporation; as, the directors of a bank, insurance company, or railroad company. What made directors cheat in South-Sea year Pope.
3. (Mech.)
Defn: A part of a machine or instrument which directs its motion or action.
4. (Surg.)
Defn: A slender grooved instrument upon which a knife is made to slide when it is wished to limit the extent of motion of the latter, or prevent its injuring the parts beneath.
DIRECTORATE Di*rect"o*rate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. directorat.]
Defn: The office of director; also, a body of directors taken jointly.
DIRECTORIAL Di*rec*to"ri*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. directorial.]
1. Having the quality of a director, or authoritative guide; directive.
2. Pertaining to: director or directory; specifically, relating to the Directory of France under the first republic. See Directory, 3. Whoever goes to the directorial presence under this passport. Burke.
DIRECTORSHIP Di*rect"or*ship, n.
Defn: The condition or office of a director; directorate.
DIRECTORY Di*rect"o*ry, a. Etym: [L. directorius.]
Defn: Containing directions; enjoining; instructing; directorial.
DIRECTORY Di*rect"o*ry, n.; pl. Directories (.
1. A collection or body of directions, rules, or ordinances; esp., a book of directions for the conduct of worship; as, the Directory used by the nonconformists instead of the Prayer Book.
2. A book containing the names and residences of the inhabitants of any place, or of classes of them; an address book; as, a business directory.
3. Etym: [Cf. F. directoire.]
Defn: A body of directors; board of management; especially, a committee which held executive power in France under the first republic.
4. Direction; guide. [R.] Whitlock.
DIRECT PRIMARY Direct primary. (Political Science)
Defn: A primary by which direct nominations of candidates for office are made.
DIRECTRESS Di*rect"ress, n.
Defn: A woman who directs. Bp. Hurd.
DIRECTRIX Di*rect"rix, n.; pl. E. Directrixes (, L. Directrices (.
1. A directress. [R.] Jer. Taylor.
2. (Geom.) (a) A line along which a point in another line moves, or which in any way governs the motion of the point and determines the position of the curve generated by it; the line along which the generatrix moves in generating a surface. (b) A straight line so situated with respect to a conic section that the distance of any point of the curve from it has a constant ratio to the distance of the same point from the focus.
DIREFUL Dire"ful, a. Etym: [Dire + -ful.]
Defn: Dire; dreadful; terrible; calamitous; woeful; as, a direful fiend; a direful day. -- Dire"ful*ly, adv. -- Dire"ful*ness, n.
DIRELY Dire"ly, adv.
Defn: In a dire manner. Drayton.
DIREMPT Di*rempt", a. Etym: [L. diremptus, p. p. of dirimere to take apart, separate; di- = dis- + emere to buy, orig., to take.]
Defn: Divided; separated. [Obs.] Stow.
DIREMPT Di*rempt", v. t.
Defn: To separate by force; to tear apart. [Obs.] Holinshed.
DIREMPTION Di*remp"tion, n. Etym: [L. diremptio.]
Defn: A tearing apart; violent separation. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
DIRENESS Dire"ness, n. Etym: [Dire- + -ness.]
Defn: Terribleness; horror; woefulness. Shak.
DIREPTION Di*rep"tion, n. Etym: [L. direptio, fr. diripere to tear asunder, plunder; di- = dis- + rapere to seize and carry off.]
Defn: The act of plundering, despoiling, or snatching away. [R.] Speed.
DIREPTITIOUS Di*rep*ti"tious, a.
Defn: Characterized by direption. [R.] Encyc. Dict.
DIREPTITIOUSLY Di*rep*ti"tious*ly, adv.
Defn: With plundering violence; by violent injustice. [R.] Strype.
DIRGE Dirge, n. Etym: [Contraction of Lat. dirige, direct thou (imperative of dirigere), the first word of a funeral hymn (Lat. transl. of Psalm v. 8) beginning, "Dirige, Domine, in conspectu tuo vitam meam." See Direct, a., and cf. Dirige.]
Defn: A piece of music of a mournful character, to accompany funeral rites; a funeral hymn. The raven croaked, and hollow shrieks of owls Sung dirges at her funeral. Ford.
DIRGEFUL Dirge"ful, a.
Defn: Funereal; moaning. Soothed sadly by the dirgeful wind. Coleridge.
DIRIGE Dir"i*ge, n. Etym: [L. See Dirge.]
Defn: A service for the dead, in the Roman Catholic Church, being the first antiphon of Matins for the dead, of which Dirige is the first word; a dirge. Evensongs and placebo and dirige. Wyclif. Resort, I pray you, unto my sepulture To sing my dirige with great devotion. Lamentation of Mary Magdalene.
DIRIGENT Dir"i*gent, a. Etym: [L. dirigens, p. pr. of dirigere. See Direct, a.]
Defn: Directing. Baxter.
DIRIGENT Dir"i*gent, n. (Geom.)
Defn: The line of motion along which a describent line or surface is carried in the genesis of any plane or solid figure; a directrix. Hutton.
DIRIGIBLE Dir"i*gi*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being directed; steerable; as, a dirigible balloon.
DIRIMENT Dir"i*ment, a. Etym: [L. dirimens, p. pr. of dirimere. See Dirempt.] (Law)
Defn: Absolute. Diriment impediment (R. C. Ch.), an impediment that nullifies marriage.
DIRK Dirk, n. Etym: [Ir. duirc.]
Defn: A kind of dagger or poniard; -- formerly much used by the Scottish Highlander. Dirk knife, a clasp knife having a large, dirklike blade.
DIRK Dirk, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dirked; p. pr. & vb. n. Dirking.]
Defn: To stab with a dirk. Sir W. Scott.
DIRK Dirk, a. Etym: [See Dark, a.]
Defn: Dark. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DIRK Dirk, v. t.
Defn: To darken. [Obs.] Spenser.
DIRKNESS Dirk"ness, n.
Defn: Darkness. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DIRL Dirl, v. i. & t. Etym: [Cf. Drill, Thrill.]
Defn: To thrill; to vibrate; to penetrate. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
DIRT Dirt, n. Etym: [OE. drit; kin to Icel. drit excrement, drita to dung, OD. drijten to dung, AS. gedritan.]
1. Any foul of filthy substance, as excrement, mud, dust, etc.; whatever, adhering to anything, renders it foul or unclean; earth; as, a wagonload of dirt. Whose waters cast up mire and dirt. Is. lvii. 20.
2. Meanness; sordidness. Honors . . . thrown away upon dirt and infamy. Melmoth.
3. In placer mining, earth, gravel, etc., before washing. Dirt bed (Geom.), a layer of clayey earth forming a stratum in a geological formation. Dirt beds are common among the coal measures. -- Dirt eating. (a) The use of certain kinds of clay for food, existing among some tribes of Indians; geophagism. Humboldt. (b) (Med.) Same as Chthonophagia. -- Dirt pie, clay or mud molded by children in imitation of pastry. Otway (1684). -- To eat dirt, to submit in a meanly humble manner to insults; to eat humble pie.
DIRT Dirt, v. t.
Defn: To make foul of filthy; to dirty. Swift.
DIRTILY Dirt"i*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dirty manner; foully; nastily; filthily; meanly; sordidly.
DIRTINESS Dirt"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being dirty; filthiness; foulness; nastiness; baseness; sordidness.
DIRTY Dirt"y, a. [Compar. Dirtier; superl. Dirtiest.]
1. Defiled with dirt; foul; nasty; filthy; not clean or pure; serving to defile; as, dirty hands; dirty water; a dirty white. Spenser.
2. Sullied; clouded; -- applied to color. Locke.
3. Sordid; base; groveling; as, a dirty fellow. The creature's at his dirty work again. Pope.
4. Sleety; gusty; stormy; as, dirty weather. Storms of wind, clouds of dust, an angry, dirty sea. M. Arnold.
Syn. -- Nasty; filthy; foul. See Nasty.
DIRTY Dirt"y, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dirtied; p. pr. & vb. n. Dirtying.]
1. To foul; to make filthy; to soil; as, to dirty the clothes or hands.
2. To tarnish; to sully; to scandalize; -- said of reputation, character, etc.
DIRUPTION Di*rup"tion, n. Etym: [L. diruptio, fr. dirumpere. See Disrupt, a.]
Defn: Disruption.
DIS- Dis- (; 258)
Defn: .
1. A prefix from the Latin, whence F. dés, or sometimes dé-, dis-. The Latin dis- appears as di- before b, d, g, l, m, n, r, v, becomes dif- before f, and either dis- or di- before j. It is from the same root as bis twice, and duo, E. two. See Two, and cf. Bi-, Di-, Dia-. Dis- denotes separation, a parting from, as in distribute, disconnect; hence it often has the force of a privative and negative, as in disarm, disoblige, disagree. Also intensive, as in dissever.
Note: Walker's rule of pronouncing this prefix is, that the s ought always to be pronounced like z, when the next syllable is accented and begins with "a flat mute [b, d, v, g, z], a liquid [l, m, n, r], or a vowel; as, disable, disease, disorder, disuse, disband, disdain, disgrace, disvalue, disjoin, dislike, dislodge, dismay, dismember, dismiss, dismount, disnatured, disrank, disrelish, disrobe." Dr. Webster's example in disapproving of Walker's rule and pronouncing dis- as diz in only one (disease) of the above words, is followed by recent orthoëpists. See Disable, Disgrace, and the other words, beginning with dis-, in this Dictionary.
2. A prefix from Gr. Di-.
DIS Dis, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: The god Pluto. Shak.
DISABILITY Dis`a*bil"i*ty, n.; pl. Disabilities (.
1. State of being disabled; deprivation or want of ability; absence of competent physical, intellectual, or moral power, means, fitness, and the like. Grossest faults, or disabilities to perform what was covenanted. Milton. Chatham refused to see him, pleading his disability. Bancroft.
2. Want of legal qualification to do a thing; legal incapacity or incompetency. The disabilities of idiocy, infancy, and coverture. Abbott.
Syn. -- Weakness; inability; incompetence; impotence; incapacity; incompetency; disqualification. -- Disability, Inability. Inability is an inherent want of power to perform the thing in question; disability arises from some deprivation or loss of the needed competency. One who becomes deranged is under a disability of holding his estate; and one who is made a judge, of deciding in his own case. A man may decline an office on account of his inability to discharge its duties; he may refuse to accept a trust or employment on account of some disability prevents him from entering into such engagements.
DISABLE Dis*a"ble, a.
Defn: Lacking ability; unable. [Obs.] "Our disable and unactive force." Daniel.
DISABLE Dis*a"ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disabled; p. pr. & vb. n. Disabling.]
1. To render unable or incapable; to destroy the force, vigor, or power of action of; to deprive of competent physical or intellectual power; to incapacitate; to disqualify; to make incompetent or unfit for service; to impair. A Christian's life is a perpetual exercise, a wrestling and warfare, for which sensual pleasure disables him. Jer. Taylor. And had performed it, if my known offense Had not disabled me. Milton. I have disabled mine estate. Shak.
2. (Law)
Defn: To deprive of legal right or qualification; to render legally incapable. An attainder of the ancestor corrupts the blood, and disables his children to inherit. Blackstone.
3. To deprive of that which gives value or estimation; to declare lacking in competency; to disparage; to undervalue. [Obs.] "He disabled my judgment." Shak.
Syn. -- To weaken; unfit; disqualify; incapacitate.
DISABLEMENT Dis*a"ble*ment, n.
Defn: Deprivation of ability; incapacity. Bacon.
DISABUSE Dis`a*buse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disabused; p. pr. & vb. n. Disabusing.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + abuse; cf. F. désabuser.]
Defn: To set free from mistakes; to undeceive; to disengage from fallacy or deception; to set right. To undeceive and disabuse the people. South. If men are now sufficiently enlightened to disabuse themselves or artifice, hypocrisy, and superstition, they will consider this event as an era in their history. J. Adams.
DISACCOMMODATE Dis`ac*com"mo*date, v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + accommodate.]
Defn: To put to inconvenience; to incommode. [R.] Bp. Warburton.
DISACCOMMODATION Dis`ac*com`mo*da"tion, n.
Defn: A state of being unaccommodated or unsuited. [R.] Sir M. Hale.
DISACCORD Dis`ac*cord", v. i. Etym: [Cf. F. désaccorder to cause discord.]
Defn: To refuse to assent. [Obs.] Spenser.
DISACCORD Dis`ac*cord", n.
Defn: Disagreement. Pop. Sci. Monthly.
DISACCORDANT Dis`ac*cord"ant, a.
Defn: Not accordant. Fabyan.
DISACCUSTOM Dis`ac*cus"tom, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. désaccoutumer.]
Defn: To destroy the force of habit in; to wean from a custom. Johnson.
DISACIDIFY Dis`a*cid"i*fy, v. t.
Defn: To free from acid.
DISACKNOWLEDGE Dis`ac*knowl"edge, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disacknowledged; p. pr. & vb. n. Disacknowledging.]
Defn: To refuse to acknowledge; to deny; to disown. [Obs.] South.
DISACQUAINT Dis`ac*quaint", v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + acquaint: cf. OF. desacointier.]
Defn: To render unacquainted; to make unfamiliar. [Obs.] While my sick heart With dismal smart Is disacquainted never. Herrick.
DISACQUAINTANCE Dis`ac*quaint"ance, n.
Defn: Neglect of disuse of familiarity, or familiar acquaintance. [Obs.] South.
DISACRYL Dis*ac"ryl, n. Etym: [Pref. dis- (Gr. acrolein + -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white amorphous substance obtained as a polymeric modification of acrolein.
DISADORN Dis`a*dorn", v. t.
Defn: To deprive of ornaments. Congreve.
DISADVANCE Dis`ad*vance" (; 61), v. t. & i. Etym: [Pref. dis- + advance: cf. OF. desavancier.]
Defn: To draw back, or cause to draw back. [Obs.] Spenser.
DISADVANTAGE Dis`ad*van"tage (; 48, 61), n. Etym: [Cf. F. désavantage.]
1. Deprivation of advantage; unfavorable or prejudicial quality, condition, circumstance, or the like; that which hinders success, or causes loss or injury. I was brought here under the disadvantage of being unknown by sight to any of you. Burke. Abandoned by their great patron, the faction henceforward acted at disadvantage. Palfrey.
2. Loss; detriment; hindrance; prejudice to interest, fame, credit, profit, or other good. They would throw a construction on his conduct, to his disadvantage before the public. Bancroft.
Syn. -- Detriment; injury; hurt; loss; damage.
DISADVANTAGE Dis`ad*van"tage, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. désavantager.]
Defn: To injure the interest of; to be detrimental to.
DISADVANTAGEABLE Dis`ad*van"tage*a*ble, a.
Defn: Injurious; disadvantageous. [Obs.] Bacon.
DISADVANTAGEOUS Dis*ad`van*ta"geous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. désavantageux.]
Defn: Attended with disadvantage; unfavorable to success or prosperity; inconvenient; prejudicial; -- opposed to advantageous; as, the situation of an army is disadvantageous for attack or defense. Even in the disadvantageous position in which he had been placed, he gave clear indications of future excellence. Prescott. -- Dis*ad`van*ta"geous*ly, adv. -- Dis*ad`van*ta"geous*ness, n.
DISADVENTURE Dis`ad*ven"ture, n. Etym: [Pref. dis- + adventure: cf. OF. desaventure.]
Defn: Misfortune; mishap. [Obs.] Sir W. Raleigh.
DISADVENTUROUS Dis`ad*ven"tur*ous, a.
Defn: Unprosperous; unfortunate. [Obs.] Spenser.
DISADVISE Dis`ad*vise", v. t.
Defn: To advise against; to dissuade from. [R.] Boyle.
DISAFFECT Dis`af*fect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disaffected; p. pr. & vb. n. Disaffecting.]
1. To alienate or diminish the affection of; to make unfriendly or less friendly; to fill with discontent and unfriendliness. They had attempted to disaffect and discontent his majesty's late army. Clarendon.
2. To disturb the functions of; to disorder. It disaffects the bowels. Hammond.
3. To lack affection for; to be alienated from, or indisposed toward; to dislike. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
DISAFFECTED Dis`af*fect"ed, a.
Defn: Alienated in feeling; not wholly loyal. J. H. Newman. -- Dis`af*fect"ed*ly, adv. -- Dis`af*fect"ed*ness, n.
DISAFFECTION Dis`af*fec"tion, n.
1. State of being disaffected; alienation or want of affection or good will, esp. toward those in authority; unfriendliness; dislike. In the making laws, princes must have regard to . . . the affections and disaffections of the people. Jer. Taylor.
2. Disorder; bad constitution. [R.] Wiseman.
Syn. -- Dislike; disgust; discontent; unfriendliness; alienation; disloyalty; hostility.
DISAFFECTIONATE Dis`af*fec"tion*ate, a.
Defn: Not disposed to affection; unfriendly; disaffected. [R.] Blount.
DISAFFIRM Dis`af*firm", v. t.
1. To assert the contrary of; to contradict; to deny; -- said of that which has been asserted.
2. (Law)
Defn: To refuse to confirm; to annul, as a judicial decision, by a contrary judgment of a superior tribunal.
DISAFFIRMANCE Dis`af*firm"ance, n.
1. The act of disaffirming; denial; negation.
2. (Law)
Defn: Overthrow or annulment by the decision of a superior tribunal; as, disaffirmance of judgment.
DISAFFIRMATION Dis*af`fir*ma"tion, n.
Defn: The act of disaffirming; negation; refutation.
DISAFFOREST Dis`af*for"est, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disafforested; p. pr. & vb. n. Disafforesting.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + afforest: cf. OF. desaforester.] (Eng. Law)
Defn: To reduce from the privileges of a forest to the state of common ground; to exempt from forest laws. By charter 9 Henry III. many forests were disafforested. Blackstone.
DISAGGREGATE Dis*ag"gre*gate, v. t.
Defn: To destroy the aggregation of; to separate into component parts, as an aggregate mass.
DISAGGREGATION Dis*ag`gre*ga"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. désagrégation.]
Defn: The separation of an aggregate body into its component parts.
DISAGREE Dis`a*gree", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Disagreed; p. pr. & vb. n. Disageeing.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + agree: cf. F. désagréer to displease.]
1. To fail to accord; not to agree; to lack harmony; to differ; to be unlike; to be at variance. They reject the plainest sense of Scripture, because it seems disagree with what they call reason. Atterbury.
2. To differ in opinion; to hold discordant views; to be at controversy; to quarrel. Who shall decide, when doctors disagree Pope.
3. To be unsuited; to have unfitness; as, medicine sometimes disagrees with the patient; food often disagrees with the stomach or the taste.
Note: Usually followed by with, sometimes by to, rarely by from; as, I disagree to your proposal.
Syn. -- To differ; vary; dissent.
DISAGREEABLE Dis`a*gree"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. désagréable.]
1. Not agreeable, conformable, or congruous; Preach you truly the doctrine which you have received, and each nothing that is disagreeable thereunto. Udall.
2. Exciting repugnance; offensive to the feelings or That which is disagreeable to one is many times agreeable to another, or disagreeable in a less degree. Wollaston.
DISAGREEABLENESS Dis`a*gree"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being; disagreeable; unpleasantness.
DISAGREEABLY Dis`a*gree"a*bly, adv.
Defn: In a disagreeable manner; unsuitably; offensively.
DISAGREEANCE Dis`a*gree"ance, n.
Defn: Disagreement. [Obs.]
DISAGREEMENT Dis`a*gree"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. désagrément disagreeable circumstance, disagreeableness.]
1. The state of disagreeing; a being at variance; dissimilitude; diversity.
2. Unsuitableness; unadaptedness. [R.]
3. Difference of opinion or sentiment.
4. A falling out, or controversy; difference.
Syn. -- Difference; diversity; dissimilitude; unlikeness; discrepancy; variance; dissent; misunderstanding; dissension; division; dispute; jar; wrangle; discord.
DISAGREER Dis`a*gre"er, n.
Defn: One who disagrees. Hammond.
DISALLIEGE Dis`al*liege", v. t.
Defn: To alienate from allegiance. [Obs. & R.] Milton.
DISALLOW Dis`al*low", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disallowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Disallowing.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + allow: cf. OF. desalouer, desloer, to blame, dissuade.]
Defn: To refuse to allow; to deny the force or validity of; to disown and reject; as, the judge disallowed the executor's charge. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God. 1 Pet. ii. 4. That the edicts of Cæsar we may at all times disallow, but the statutes of God for no reason we may reject. Milton.
Note: This verb was sometimes followed by of; as, "What follows, if we disallow of this" Shak. See Allow.
Syn. -- To disapprove; prohibit; censure; reject.
DISALLOWABLE Dis`al*low"a*ble, a.
Defn: Not allowable; not to be suffered. Raleigh. -- Dis`al*low"a*ble*ness, n.
DISALLOWANCE Dis`al*low"ance, n.
Defn: The act of disallowing; refusal to admit or permit; rejection.
Syn. -- Disapprobation; prohibition; condemnation; censure; rejection.
DISALLY Dis`al*ly", v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + ally: cf. F. désaltier.]
Defn: To part, as an alliance; to sunder. [R.] "Disallied their nuptials." Milton.
DISANCHOR Dis*an"chor, v. t. & i. Etym: [Pref. dis- + anchor: cf. F. désancrer.]
Defn: To raise the anchor of, as a ship; to weigh anchor. [Obs.] Heywood.
DISANGELICAL Dis`an*gel"ic*al, a.
Defn: Not angelical. [R.] "Disangelical nature." Coventry.
DISANIMATE Dis*an"i*mate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disanimated; p. pr. & vb. n. Disanimating.]
1. To deprive of life. [R.] Cudworth.
2. To deprive of spirit; to dishearten. Shak.
DISANIMATION Dis*an`i*ma"tion, n.
1. Privation of life. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
2. The state of being disanimated or discouraged; depression of spirits.
DISANNEX Dis`an*nex", v. t.
Defn: To disunite; to undo or repeal the annexation of. State Trials (1608).
DISANNUL Dis`an*nul", v. t.
Defn: To annul completely; to render void or of no effect. For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul Isaiah xiv. 27.
Note: The prefix in this word an its derivatives is intensive, and not negative.
DISANNULLER Dis`an*nul"ler, n.
Defn: One who disannuls.
DISANNULMENT Dis`an*nul"ment, n.
Defn: Complete annulment.
DISANOINT Dis`a*noint", v. t.
Defn: To invalidate the consecration of; as, to disanoint a king. [Obs.] Milton.
DISAPPAREL Dis`ap*par"el, v. t. Etym: [See Apparel, v. t.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + apparel: cf. OF. desapareiller.]
Defn: To disrobe; to strip of apparel; to make naked. Drink disapparels the soul. Junius (1635).
DISAPPEAR Dis`ap*pear", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Disappeared; p. pr. & vb. n. Disappearing.]
1. To cease to appear or to be perceived; to pass from view, gradually or suddenly; to vanish; to be no longer seen; as, darkness disappears at the approach of light; a ship disappears as she sails from port.
2. To cease to be or exist; as, the epidemic has disappeared.
DISAPPEARANCE Dis`ap*pear"ance, n.
Defn: The act of disappearing; cessation of appearance; removal from sight; vanishing. Addison.
DISAPPEARING Dis`ap*pear"ing,
Defn: p. pr. & vb. n. of Disappear.
Disappearing carriage (Ordnance), a carriage for heavy coast guns on which the gun is raised above the parapet for firing and upon discharge is lowered behind the parapet for protection. The standard type of disappearing carriage in the coast artillery of the United States army is the Buffington-Crozier carriage, in which the gun trunnions are secured at the upper and after ends of a pair of heavy levers, at the lower ends of which is attached a counterweight of lead. The levers are pivoted at their middle points, which are, with the top carriage, permitted restrained motion along the slightly inclined chassis rails. The counterweight is held in place by a pawl and ratchet. When the gun is loaded the pawl is released and the counterweight sinks, raising the gun to the firing position above the parapet. The recoil following the discharge returns the gun to the loading position, the counterweight rising until the pawl engages the ratchet.
DISAPPENDENCY Dis`ap*pend"en*cy, n.
Defn: A detachment or separation from a former connection. [R.]
DISAPPENDENT Dis`ap*pend"ent, a.
Defn: Freed from a former connection or dependence; disconnected. [R.]
DISAPPOINT Dis`ap*point", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disapointed; p. pr. & vb. n. Disappointing.] Etym: [OF. desapointier, F. désappointer; pref. des- (L. dis-) + apointier, F. appointier, to appoint. See Appoint.]
1. To defeat of expectation or hope; to hinder from the attainment of that which was excepted, hoped, or desired; to balk; as, a man is disappointed of his hopes or expectations, or his hopes, desires, intentions, expectations, or plans are disappointed; a bad season disappoints the farmer of his crops; a defeat disappoints an enemy of his spoil. I was disappointed, but very agreeably. Macaulay.
Note: Disappointed of a thing not obtained; disappointed in a thing obtained.
2. To frustrate; to fail; to hinder of result. His retiring foe Shrinks from the wound, and disappoints the blow. Addison.
Syn. -- To tantalize; fail; frustrate; balk; baffle; delude; foil; defeat. See Tantalize.
DISAPPOINTED Dis`ap*point"ed, a.
1. Defeated of expectation or hope; balked; as, a disappointed person or hope.
2. Unprepared; unequipped. [Obs.] Cut off even in the blossoms of my sin, Unhouseled, disappointed, unaneled. Shak.
DISAPPOINTMENT Dis`ap*point"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. désappointement.]
1. The act of disappointing, or the state of being disappointed; defeat or failure of expectation or hope; miscarriage of design or plan; frustration. If we hope for things of which we have not thoroughly considered the value, our disappointment will be greater our pleasure in the fruition of them. Addison. In disappointment thou canst bless. Keble.
2. That which disappoints.
Syn. -- Miscarriage; frustration; balk.
DISAPPRECIATE Dis`ap*pre"ci*ate, v. t. Etym: [See Appreciate.]
Defn: To undervalue; not to esteem. -- Dis`ap*pre`ci*a"tion, n.
DISAPPROBATION Dis*ap`pro*ba"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. dis- + approbation: cf. F. désapprobation. Cf. Disapprove.]
Defn: The act of disapproving; mental condemnation of what is judged wrong, unsuitable, or inexpedient; feeling of censure. We have ever expressed the most unqualified disapprobation of all the steps. Burke.
DISAPPROBATORY Dis*ap"pro*ba`to*ry, a.
Defn: Containing disapprobation; serving to disapprove.
DISAPPROPRIATE Dis`ap*pro"pri*ate, a. (Law)
Defn: Severed from the appropriation or possession of a spiritual corporation. The appropriation may be severed, and the church become disappropriate, two ways. Blackstone.
DISAPPROPRIATE Dis`ap*pro"pri*ate, v. t.
1. To release from individual ownership or possession. Milton.
2. (Law)
Defn: To sever from appropriation or possession a spiritual corporation. Appropriations of the several parsonages . . . would heave been, by the rules of the common law, disappropriated. Blackstone.
DISAPPROPRIATION Dis`ap*pro`pri*a"tion, n.
Defn: The act of disappropriating.
DISAPPROVAL Dis`ap*prov"al, n.
Defn: Disapprobation; dislike; censure; adverse judgment.
DISAPPROVE Dis`ap*prove, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disapproved; p. pr. & vb. n. Disapproving.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + approve: cf. F. déapprouver. Cf. Disapprobation.]
1. To pass unfavorable judgment upon; to condemn by an act of the judgment; to regard as wrong, unsuitable, or inexpedient; to censure; as, to disapprove the conduct of others.
2. To refuse official approbation to; to disallow; to decline to sanction; as, the sentence of the court-martial was disapproved by the commander in chief.
Note: This verb is often followed by of; as, to disapprove of an opinion, of such conduct. See Approve.
DISAPPROVER Dis`ap*prov"er, n.
Defn: One who disapproves.
DISAPPROVINGLY Dis`ap*prov"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a disapproving manner.
DISARD Dis"ard, n.
Defn: See Dizzard. [Obs.] Burton.
DISARM Dis*arm", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disarming; p. pr. & vb. n. Disarming.] Etym: [OE. desarmen, F. désarmer; pref. dés- (L. dis-) + armer to arm. See Arm.]
1. To deprive of arms; to take away the weapons of; to deprive of the means of attack or defense; to render defenseless. Security disarms the best-appointed army. Fuller. The proud was half disarmed of pride. Tennyson.
2. To deprive of the means or the disposition to harm; to render harmless or innocuous; as, to disarm a man's wrath.
DISARMAMENT Dis*arm"a*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. désarmement.]
Defn: The act of disarming.
DISARMATURE Dis*ar"ma*ture, n. Etym: [Pref. dis- + armature.]
Defn: The act of divesting of armature. [R.]
DISARMED Dis*armed", a.
1. Deprived of arms.
2. (Her.)
Defn: Deprived of claws, and teeth or beaks. Cussans.
DISARMER Dis*arm"er, n.
Defn: One who disarms.
DISARRANGE Dis`ar*range", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disarranged; p. pr. & vb. n. Disarranging.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + arrange: cf. F. désarranger.]
Defn: To unsettle or disturb the order or due arrangement of; to throw out of order.
DISARRANGEMENT Dis`ar*range"ment, n.
Defn: The act of disarranging, or the state of being disarranged; confusion; disorder. Cowper.
DISARRAY Dis`ar*ray", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disarrayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Disarraying.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + array, v.: cf. OF. desarroyer, desarreier.]
1. To throw into disorder; to break the array of. Who with fiery steeds Oft disarrayed the foes in battle ranged. Fenton.
2. To take off the dress of; to unrobe. So, as she bade, the witch they disarrayed. Spenser.
DISARRAY Dis`ar*ray", n. Etym: [Cf. F. désarroi.]
1. Want of array or regular order; disorder; confusion. Disrank the troops, set all in disarray. Daniel.
2. Confused attire; undress. Spenser.
DISARRAYMENT Dis`ar*ray"ment, n.
Defn: Disorder. [R.] Feltham.
DISARTICULATE Dis`ar*tic"u*late, v. t.
Defn: To sunder; to separate, as joints. -- Dis`ar*tic`u*la"tion, n.
DISARTICULATOR Dis`ar*tic"u*la`tor, n.
Defn: One who disarticulates and prepares skeletons.
DISASSENT Dis`as*sent", v. i.
Defn: To dissent. [Obs.]
DISASSENT Dis`as*sent", n.
Defn: Dissent. [Obs.] E. Hall.
DISASSENTER Dis`as*sent"er, n.
Defn: One who disassents; a dissenter. [Obs.] State Trials (1634).
DISASSIDUITY Dis*as`si*du"i*ty, n.
Defn: Want of as siduity or care. [R.] Sir H. Wotton.
DISASSIMILATE Dis`as*sim"i*late, v. t. (Physiol.)
Defn: To subject to disassimilation.
DISASSIMILATION Dis`as*sim`i*la"tion, n. (Physics)
Defn: The decomposition of complex substances, within the organism, into simpler ones suitable only for excretion, with evolution of energy, -- a normal nutritional process the reverse of assimilation; downward metabolism. The breaking down of already existing chemical compounds into simpler ones, sometimes called disassimilation. Martin.
DISASSIMILATIVE Dis`as*sim"i*la*tive, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Having power to disassimilate; of the nature of disassimilation. Disassimilative processes constitute a marked feature in the life of animal cells. McKendrick.
DISASSOCIATE Dis`as*so"ci*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disassociated; p. pr. & vb. n. Disassociating.]
Defn: To disconnect from things associated; to disunite; to dissociate. Florio.
DISASTER Dis*as"ter, n. Etym: [F. désastre; pref. dés- (L. dis-) + astre star, fr. L. astrum; a word of astrological origin. See Aster, Astral, Star.]
1. An unpropitious or baleful aspect of a planet or star; malevolent influence of a heavenly body; hence, an ill portent. [Obs.] Disasters in the sun. Shak.
2. An adverse or unfortunate event, esp. a sudden and extraordinary misfortune; a calamity; a serious mishap. But noble souls, through dust and heat, Rise from disaster and defeat The stronger. Longfellow.
Syn. -- Calamity; misfortune; mishap; mischance; visitation; misadventure; ill luck. See Calamity.
DISASTER Dis*as"ter, v. t.
1. To blast by the influence of a baleful star. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.
2. To bring harm upon; to injure. [R.] Thomson.
DISASTERLY Dis*as"ter*ly, adv.
Defn: Disastrously. [Obs.] Drayton.
DISASTROUS Dis*as"trous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. désastreux. See Disaster.]
1. Full of unpropitious stellar influences; unpropitious; ill-boding. [Obs.] The moon In dim eclipse, disastrous twilight sheds. Milton.
2. Attended with suffering or disaster; very unfortunate; calamitous; ill-fated; as, a disastrous day; a disastrous termination of an undertaking. Wherein I spake of most disastrous chances. Shak. -- Dis*as"trous*ly, adv. -- Dis*as"trous*ness, n.
DISATTIRE Dis`at*tire", v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + attire: cf. OF. desatirier.]
Defn: To unrobe; to undress. Spenser.
DISAUGMENT Dis`aug*ment", v. t.
Defn: To diminish. [R.]
DISAUTHORIZE Dis*au"thor*ize, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of credit or authority; to discredit. [R.] W. Wotton.
DISAVAUNCE Dis`a*vaunce", v. t. Etym: [Cf. Disadvance.]
Defn: To retard; to repel; to do damage to. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DISAVENTURE Dis`a*ven"ture, n. Etym: [See Disadventure, Adventure.]
Defn: Misfortune. [Obs.] Spenser.
DISAVENTUROUS Dis`a*ven"tur*ous, a.
Defn: Misadventurous; unfortunate. [Obs.] Spenser.
DISAVOUCH Dis`a*vouch", v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + avouch. Cf. Disavow.]
Defn: To disavow. [R.] Daniel.
DISAVOW Dis`a*vow", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disavowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Disavowing.] Etym: [F. désavouer; pref. dés- (L. dis-) + avouer to avow. See Avow, and cf. Disavouch.]
1. To refuse strongly and solemnly to own or acknowledge; to deny responsibility for, approbation of, an the like; to disclaim; to disown; as, he was charged with embezzlement, but he disavows the crime. A solemn promise made and disavowed. Dryden.
2. To deny; to show the contrary of; to disprove. Yet can they never Toss into air the freedom of my birth, Or disavow my blood Plantagenet's. Ford.
DISAVOWAL Dis`a*vow"al, n.
Defn: The act of disavowing, disclaiming, or disowning; rejection and denial. An earnest disavowal of fear often proceeds from fear. Richardson.
DISAVOWANCE Dis`a*vow"ance, n.
Defn: Disavowal. [Obs.] South.
DISAVOWER Dis`a*vow"er, n.
Defn: One who disavows.
DISAVOWMENT Dis`a*vow"ment, n.
Defn: Disavowal. [R.] Wotton.
DISBAND Dis*band" (; see Dis-), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disbanded; p. pr. & vb. n. Disbanding.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + band: cf. OF. desbander, F. débander, to unbind, unbend. See Band, and cf. Disbend, Disbind.]
1. To loose the bands of; to set free; to disunite; to scatter; to disperse; to break up the organization of; especially, to dismiss from military service; as, to disband an army. They disbanded themselves and returned, every man to his own dwelling. Knolles.
2. To divorce. [Obs.] And therefore . . . she ought to be disbanded. Milton.
DISBAND Dis*band", v. i.
Defn: To become separated, broken up, dissolved, or scattered; especially, to quit military service by breaking up organization.
When both rocks and all things shall disband. Herbert. Human society would in a short space disband. Tillotson.
DISBANDMENT Dis*band"ment, n.
Defn: The act of disbanding.
DISBAR Dis*bar", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disbarred; p. pr. & vb. n. Disbarring.] (Law)
Defn: To expel from the bar, or the legal profession; to deprive (an attorney, barrister, or counselor) of his status and privileges as such. Abbott.
DISBARK Dis*bark", v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + bark a small ship: cf. OF. desbarquer, F. débarquer. Cf. Debark, Disembark.]
Defn: To disembark. Pope.
DISBARK Dis*bark", v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + bark rind.]
Defn: To strip of bark; to bark. [R.] Boyle.
DISBARMENT Dis*bar"ment, n.
Defn: Act of disbarring.
DISBASE Dis*base", v. t. Etym: [Cf. Debase.]
Defn: To debase or degrade. [Obs.] Nor you nor your house were so much as spoken of before I disbased myself. B. Jonson.
DISBECOME Dis`be*come", v. t.
Defn: To misbecome. [Obs.] Massinger.
DISBELIEF Dis*be*lief", n.
Defn: The act of disbelieving;; a state of the mind in which one is fully persuaded that an opinion, assertion, or doctrine is not true; refusal of assent, credit, or credence; denial of belief. Our belief or disbelief of a thing does not alter the nature of the thing. Tillotson. No sadder proof can be given by a man of his own littleness that disbelief in great men. Carlyle.
Syn. -- Distrust; unbelief; incredulity; doubt; skepticism. -- Disbelief, Unbelief. Unbelief is a mere failure to admit; disbelief is a positive rejection. One may be an unbeliever in Christianity from ignorance or want of inquiry; a unbeliever has the proofs before him, and incurs the guilt of setting them aside. Unbelief is usually open to conviction; disbelief is already convinced as to the falsity of that which it rejects. Men often tell a story in such a manner that we regard everything they say with unbelief. Familiarity with the worst parts of human nature often leads us into a disbelief in many good qualities which really exist among men.
DISBELIEVE Dis`be*lieve", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disbelieved; p. pr. & vb. n. Disbelieving.]
Defn: Not to believe; to refuse belief or credence to; to hold not to be true or actual. Assertions for which there is abundant positive evidence are often disbelieved, on account of what is called their improbability or impossibility. J. S. Mill.
DISBELIEVER Dis`be*liev"er, n.
Defn: One who disbelieves, or refuses belief; an unbeliever. Specifically, one who does not believe the Christian religion. I. Watts.
DISBENCH Dis*bench", v. t.
1. To drive from a bench or seat. [R.] Shak.
2. (Eng. Law)
Defn: To deprive (a bencher) of his privileges. Mozley & W.
DISBEND Dis*bend, v. t.
Defn: To unbend. [Obs.] Stirling.
DISBIND Dis*bind", v. t. Etym: [Cf. Disband.]
Defn: To unbind; to loosen. [Obs.] Mede.
DISBLAME Dis*blame", v. t. Etym: [OE. desblamen, OF. desblasmer; pref. des- (L. dis-) + blasmer, F. blâmer, to blame.]
Defn: To clear from blame. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DISBODIED Dis*bod"ied, a.
Defn: Disembodied. [R.]
DISBOSCATION Dis`bos*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. dis- + F. bosquet grove.]
Defn: Converting forest land into cleared or arable land; removal of a forest. Sir W. Scott.
DISBOWEL Dis*bow"el, v. t. Etym: [See Bowel, v. t.]
Defn: To disembowel. [R.] Spenser.
DISBRANCH Dis*branch", v. t. Etym: [See Branch, v.]
Defn: To divest of a branch or branches; to tear off. Shak.
DISBUD Dis*bud", v. t. Etym: [See Bud, v.] (Hort.)
Defn: To deprive of buds or shoots, as for training, or economizing the vital strength of a tree.
DISBURDEN Dis*bur"den, v. t. Etym: [See Burden, v. t.] Etym: [Cf. Disburthen.]
Defn: To rid of a burden; to free from a load borne or from something oppressive; to unload; to disencumber; to relieve. He did it to disburden a conscience. Feltham. My mediations . . . will, I hope, be more calm, being thus disburdened. Hammond.
Syn. -- To unload; unburden; discharge; free.
DISBURDEN Dis*bur"den, v. i.
Defn: To relieve one's self of a burden; to ease the mind. Milton.
DISBURGEON Dis*bur"geon, v. t.
Defn: To strip of burgeons or buds; to disbud. [R.] Holland.
DISBURSE Dis*burse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disbursed; p. pr. & vb. n. Disbursing.] Etym: [OF. desbourser, F. débourser; pref. des- (L. dis- ) + bourse purse. See Burse, and cf. Dispurse.]
Defn: To pay out; to expend; -- usually from a public fund or treasury. The duty of collecting and disbursing his revenues. Macaulay. Disbursing officer, an officer in any department of the public service who is charged with the duty of paying out public money.
DISBURSEMENT Dis*burse"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. déboursement.]
1. The act of disbursing or paying out. The disbursement of the public moneys. U. S. Statutes.
2. That which is disbursed or paid out; as, the annual disbursements exceed the income.
DISBURSER Dis*burs"er, n.
Defn: One who disburses money.
DISBURTHEN Dis*bur"then, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disburthened; p. pr. & vb. n. Disburthening.] Etym: [Cf. Disburden.]
Defn: To disburden; to relieve of a load. [Archaic]
DISC Disc, n. Etym: [See Disk, Dish.]
Defn: A flat round plate; (Biol.)
Defn: a circular structure either in plants or animals; as, a blood disc, a germinal disc, etc. Same as Disk.
DISCAGE Dis*cage", v. t.
Defn: To uncage. [R.] Tennyson.
DISCAL Disc"al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, a disk; as, discal cells.
DISCALCEATE Dis*cal"ce*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. discalceatus unshod; dis- + calceus shoe.]
Defn: To pull off shoes or sandals from. [Obs.] Cockeram.
DISCALCEATED Dis*cal"ce*at`ed, a.
Defn: Deprived off shoes or sandals; unshod; discalced.
DISCALCEATION Dis*cal`ce*a"tion, n.
Defn: The act of pulling off the shoes or sandals. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
DISCALCED Dis*calced", a.
Defn: Unshod; barefooted; -- in distinction from calced. "The foundation of houses of discalced friars." Cardinal Manning's St. Teresa.
DISCAMP Dis*camp", v. t. Etym: [See Decamp.]
Defn: To drive from a camp. [Obs.] Holland.
DISCANDY Dis*can"dy, v. i.
Defn: To melt; to dissolve; to thaw. [Obs.]
DISCANT Dis"cant, n.
Defn: See Descant, n.
DISCAPACITATE Dis*ca*pac"i*tate, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of capacity; to incapacitate. [R.]
DISCARD Dis*card", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discarded; p. pr. & vb. n. Discarding.]
1. (Card Playing)
Defn: To throw out of one's hand, as superfluous cards; to lay aside (a card or cards).
2. To cast off as useless or as no longer of service; to dismiss from employment, confidence, or favor; to discharge; to turn away. They blame the favorites, and think it nothing extraordinary that the queen should . . . resolve to discard them. Swift.
3. To put or thrust away; to reject. A man discards the follies of boyhood. I. Taylor.
Syn. -- To dismiss; displace; discharge; cashier.
DISCARD Dis*card", v. i. (Card Playing)
Defn: To make a discard.
DISCARD Dis*card", n. (Card Playing)
Defn: The act of discarding; also, the card or cards discarded.
DISCARDURE Dis*car"dure, n.
Defn: Rejection; dismissal. [R.] Hayter.
DISCARNATE Dis*car"nate, a. Etym: [L. dis- + carnatus fleshy, fr. caro, carnis, flesh.]
Defn: Stripped of flesh. [Obs.] "Discarnate bones." Glanvill.
DISCASE Dis*case", v. t.
Defn: To strip; to undress. Shak.
DISCEDE Dis*cede", v. i. Etym: [L. discedere; dis- + cedere to yield.]
Defn: To yield or give up; to depart. [Obs.] I dare not discede from my copy a tittle. Fuller.
DISCEPT Dis*cept", v. i. Etym: [L. disceptare.]
Defn: To debate; to discuss. [R.] One dissertates, he is candid; Two must discept, -- has distinguished. R. Browning.
DISCEPTATION Dis`cep*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. disceptatio.]
Defn: Controversy; disputation; discussion. [Archaic] Verbose janglings and endless disceptations. Strype.
DISCEPTATOR Dis`cep*ta"tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who arbitrates or decides. [R.] Cowley.
DISCERN Dis*cern", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discerned; p. pr. & vb. n. Discerning.] Etym: [F. discerner, L. discernere, discretum; dis- + cernere to separate, distinguish. See Certain, and cf. Discreet.]
1. To see and identify by noting a difference or differences; to note the distinctive character of; to discriminate; to distinguish. To discern such buds as are fit to produce blossoms. Boyle. A counterfeit stone which thine eye can not discern from a right stone. Robynson (More's Utopia).
2. To see by the eye or by the understanding; to perceive and recognize; as, to discern a difference. And [I] beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding. Prov. vii. 7. Our unassisted sight . . . is not acute enough to discern the minute texture of visible objects. Beattie. I wake, and I discern the truth. Tennyson.
Syn. -- To perceive; distinguish; discover; penetrate; discriminate; espy; descry; detect. See Perceive.
DISCERN Dis*cern", v. i.
1. To see or understand the difference; to make distinction; as, to discern between good and evil, truth and falsehood. More than sixscore thousand that cannot discern between their right hand their left. Jonah iv. 11.
2. To make cognizance. [Obs.] Bacon.
DISCERNANCE Dis*cern"ance, n.
Defn: Discernment. [Obs.]
DISCERNER Dis*cern"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, discerns, distinguishes, perceives, or judges; as, a discerner of truth, of right and wrong. A great observer and discerner of men's natures. Clarendon.
DISCERNIBLE Dis*cern"i*ble, a. Etym: [L. discernibilis.]
Defn: Capable of being discerned by the eye or the understanding; as, a star is discernible by the eye; the identity of difference of ideas is discernible by the understanding. The effect of the privations and sufferings . . . was discernible to the last in his temper and deportment. Macaulay.
Syn. -- Perceptible; distinguishable; apparent; visible; evident; manifest.
DISCERNIBLENESS Dis*cern"i*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being discernible.
DISCERNIBLY Dis*cern"i*bly, adv.
Defn: In a manner to be discerned; perceptibly; visibly. Hammond.
DISCERNING Dis*cern"ing, a.
Defn: Acute; shrewd; sagacious; sharp-sighted. Macaulay.
DISCERNINGLY Dis*cern"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a discerning manner; with judgment; judiciously; acutely. Garth.
DISCERNMENT Dis*cern"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. discernement.]
1. The act of discerning.
2. The power or faculty of the mind by which it distinguishes one thing from another; power of viewing differences in objects, and their relations and tendencies; penetrative and discriminate mental vision; acuteness; sagacity; insight; as, the errors of youth often proceed from the want of discernment.
Syn. -- Judgment; acuteness; discrimination; penetration; sagacity; insight. -- Discernment, Penetration, Discrimination. Discernment is keenness and accuracy of mental vision; penetration is the power of seeing deeply into a subject in spite of everything that intercepts the view; discrimination is a capacity of tracing out minute distinctions and the nicest shades of thought. A discerning man is not easily misled; one of a penetrating mind sees a multitude of things which escape others; a discriminating judgment detects the slightest differences.
DISCERP Dis*cerp", v. t. Etym: [L. discerpere, discerptum; dis- + carpere to pluck.]
1. To tear in pieces; to rend. [R.] Stukeley.
2. To separate; to disunite. [R.] Bp. Hurd.
DISCERPIBILITY; DISCERPTIBILITY Dis*cerp`i*bil"i*ty, Dis*cerp`ti*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Capability or liableness to be discerped. [R.] Wollaston.
DISCERPIBLE; DISCERPTIBLE Dis*cerp"i*ble, Dis*cerp"ti*ble, a. Etym: [See Discerp.]
Defn: Capable of being discerped. [R.]
DISCERPTION Dis*cerp"tion, n. Etym: [L. discerptio.]
Defn: The act of pulling to pieces, or of separating the parts. Bp. Hall.
DISCERPTIVE Dis*cerp"tive, a.
Defn: Tending to separate or disunite parts. Encys. Dict.
DISCESSION Dis*ces"sion, n. Etym: [L. discessio, fr. discedere, discessum. See Discede.]
Defn: Departure. [Obs.]
DISCHARGE Dis*charge", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discharged; p. pr. & vb. n. Discharging.] Etym: [OE. deschargen, dischargen, OF. deschargier, F. décharger; pref. des- (L. dis) + chargier, F. charger. See Charge.]
1. To relieve of a charge, load, or burden; to empty of a load or cargo; to unburden; to unload; as, to discharge a vessel.
2. To free of the missile with which anything is charged or loaded; to let go the charge of; as, to discharge a bow, catapult, etc.; especially, said of firearms, -- to fire off; to shoot off; also, to relieve from a state of tension, as a Leyden jar. The galleys also did oftentimes, out of their prows, discharge their great pieces against the city. Knolles. Feeling in other cases discharges itself in indirect muscular actions. H. Spencer.
3. To of something weighing upon or impeding over one, as a debt, claim, obligation, responsibility, accusation, etc.; to absolve; to acquit; to clear. Discharged of business, void of strife. Dryden. In one man's fault discharge another man of his duty. L'Estrange.
4. To relieve of an office or employment; to send away from service; to dismiss. Discharge the common sort With pay and thanks. Shak. Grindal . . . was discharged the government of his see. Milton.
5. To release legally from confinement; to set at liberty; as, to discharge a prisoner.
6. To put forth, or remove, as a charge or burden; to take out, as that with which anything is loaded or filled; as, to discharge a cargo.
7. To let fly, as a missile; to shoot. They do discharge their shot of courtesy. Shak.
8. To set aside; to annul; to dismiss. We say such an order was "discharged on appeal." Mozley & W. The order for Daly's attendance was discharged. Macaulay.
9. To throw off the obligation of, as a duty or debt; to relieve one's self of, by fulfilling conditions, performing duty, trust, and the like; hence, to perform or ex Had I a hundred tongues, a wit so large As could their hundred offices discharge. Dryden.
10. To send away (a creditor) satisfied by payment; to pay one's debt or obligation to. [Obs.] If he had The present money to discharge the Jew. Shak.
11. To give forth; to emit or send out; as, a pipe discharges water; to let fly; to give expression to; to utter; as, to discharge a horrible oath.
12. To prohibit; to forbid. [Scot. Obs.] Sir W. Scott. Discharging arch (Arch.), an arch over a door, window, or other opening, to distribute the pressure of the wall above. See Illust. of Lintel. -- Discharging piece, Discharging strut (Arch.), a piece set to carry thrust or weight to a solid point of support. -- Discharging rod (Elec.), a bent wire, with knobs at both ends, and insulated by a glass handle. It is employed for discharging a Leyden jar or an electrical battery. See Discharger.
Syn. -- See Deliver.
DISCHARGE Dis*charge", v. i.
Defn: To throw off or deliver a load, charge, or burden; to unload; to emit or give vent to fluid or other contents; as, the water pipe discharges freely. The cloud, if it were oily or fatty, would not discharge. Bacon.
DISCHARGE Dis*charge", n. Etym: [Cf. F. décharge. See Discharge, v. t.]
1. The act of discharging; the act of relieving of a charge or load; removal of a load or burden; unloading; as, the discharge of a ship; discharge of a cargo.
2. Firing off; explosive removal of a charge; explosion; letting off; as, a discharge of arrows, of artillery.
3. Act of relieving of something which oppresses or weighs upon one, as an obligation, liability, debt, accusation, etc.; acquittance; as, the discharge of a debtor.
4. Act of removing, or getting rid of, an obligation, liability, etc.; fulfillment, as by the payment of a debt, or the performance of a trust or duty. Indefatigable in the discharge of business. Motley. Nothing can absolve us from the discharge of those duties. L'Estrange.
5. Release or dismissal from an office, employment, etc.; dismission; as, the discharge of a workman by his employer.
6. Legal release from confinement; liberation; as, the discharge of a prisoner.
7. The state of being discharged or relieved of a debt, obligation, office, and the like; acquittal. Too secure of our discharge From penalty. Milton.
8. That which discharges or releases from an obligation, liability, penalty, etc., as a price of ransom, a legal document. Death, who sets all free, Hath paid his ransom now and full discharge. Milton.
9. A flowing or issuing out; emission; vent; evacuation; also, that which is discharged or emitted; as, a rapid discharge of water from the pipe. The hemorrhage being stopped, the next occurrence is a thin serous discharge. S. Sharp.
Charge and discharge. (Equity Practice) See under Charge, n. -- Paralytic discharge (Physiol.), the increased secretion from a gland resulting from the cutting of all of its nerves.
DISCHARGER Dis*char"ger, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, discharges. Specifically, in electricity, an instrument for discharging a Leyden jar, or electrical battery, by making a connection between the two surfaces; a discharging rod.
DISCHEVELE Dis*chev"ele, a.
Defn: Disheveled. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DISCHURCH Dis*church", v. t.
Defn: To deprive of status as a church, or of membership in a church. Bp. Hall.
DISCIDE Dis*cide", v. t. Etym: [L. discidere; dis- + caedere to cut.]
Defn: To divide; to cleave in two. [Obs.] Spenser.
DISCIFEROUS Dis*cif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Disc- + -ferous.]
Defn: Bearing disks.
DISCIFLORAL; DISCIFLOROUS Dis`ci*flo"ral, Dis`ci*flo"rous, a. Etym: [See Disk, and Floral.] (Bot.)
Defn: Bearing the stamens on a discoid outgrowth of the receptacle; - - said of a subclass of plants. Cf. Calycifloral.
DISCIFORM Dis"ci*form, a.
Defn: Discoid.
DISCINA Dis*ci"na, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. discus disk, Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of Branchiopoda, having a disklike shell, attached by one valve, which is perforated by the peduncle.
DISCINCT Dis*cinct, a. Etym: [L. discinctus, p. p. of discingere to ungird; dis- + cingere to gird.]
Defn: Ungirded; loosely dressed. [R.] Sir W. Scott.
DISCIND Dis*cind", v. t. Etym: [L. discindere; dis- + scindere to cut, split.]
Defn: To part; to divide. [Obs.] Boyle.
DISCIPLE Dis*ci"ple, n. Etym: [OE. disciple, deciple, OF. disciple, fr. L. discipulus, fr. discere to learn (akin to docere to teach; see Docile) + prob. a root meaning to turn or drive, as in L. pellere to drive (see Pulse).]
Defn: One who receives instruction from another; a scholar; a learner; especially, a follower who has learned to believe in the truth of the doctrine of his teacher; an adherent in doctrine; as, the disciples of Plato; the disciples of our Savior. The disciples, or The twelve disciples, the twelve selected companions of Jesus; -- also called the apostles. -- Disciples of Christ. See Christian, n., 3, and Campbellite.
Syn. -- Learner; scholar; pupil; follower; adherent.
DISCIPLE Dis*ci"ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discipled; p. pr. & vb. n. Discipling.]
1. To teach; to train. [Obs.] That better were in virtues discipled. Spenser.
2. To punish; to discipline. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
3. To make disciples of; to convert to doctrines or principles. [R.] Sending missionaries to disciple all nations. E. D. Griffin.
DISCIPLESHIP Dis*ci"ple*ship, n.
Defn: The state of being a disciple or follower in doctrines and precepts. Jer. Taylor.
DISCIPLESS Dis*ci"pless, n.
Defn: A female disciple. [Obs.]
DISCIPLINABLE Dis"ci*plin*a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. disciplinable. See Discipline.]
1. Capable of being disciplined or improved by instruction and training.
2. Liable or deserving to be disciplined; subject to disciplinary punishment; as, a disciplinable offense.
DISCIPLINABLENESS Dis"ci*plin*a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being improvable by discipline. Sir M. Hale.
DISCIPLINAL Dis"ci*plin*al, a.
Defn: Relating to discipline. Latham.
DISCIPLINANT Dis"ci*plin*ant, n. Etym: [See Discipline.] (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: A flagellant. See Flagellant.
DISCIPLINARIAN Dis`ci*plin*a"ri*an, a.
Defn: Pertaining to discipline. "Displinarian system." Milman.
DISCIPLINARIAN Dis`ci*plin*a"ri*an, n.
1. One who disciplines; one who excels in training, especially with training, especially with regard to order and obedience; one who enforces rigid discipline; a stickler for the observance of rules and methods of training; as, he is a better disciplinarian than scholar.
2. A Puritan or Presbyterian; -- because of rigid adherence to religious or church discipline. [Obs.]
DISCIPLINARY Dis"ci*plin*a*ry, a. Etym: [LL. disciplinarius flogging: cf. F. disciplinaire.]
Defn: Pertaining to discipline; intended for discipline; corrective; belonging to a course of training. Those canons . . . were only disciplinary. Bp. Ferne. The evils of the . . . are disciplinary and remedial. Buckminster.
DISCIPLINE Dis`ci*pline, n. Etym: [F. discipline, L. disciplina, from discipulus. See Disciple.]
1. The treatment suited to a disciple or learner; education; development of the faculties by instruction and exercise; training, whether physical, mental, or moral. Wife and children are a kind of discipline of humanity. Bacon. Discipline aims at the removal of bad habits and the substitution of good ones, especially those of order, regularity, and obedience. C. J. Smith.
2. Training to act in accordance with established rules; accustoming to systematic and regular action; drill. Their wildness lose, and, quitting nature's part, Obey the rules and discipline of art. Dryden.
3. Subjection to rule; submissiveness to order and control; habit of obedience. The most perfect, who have their passions in the best discipline, are yet obliged to be constantly on their guard. Rogers.
4. Severe training, corrective of faults; instruction by means of misfortune, suffering, punishment, etc. A sharp discipline of half a century had sufficed to educate Macaulay.
5. Correction; chastisement; punishment inflicted by way of correction and training. Giving her the discipline of the strap. Addison.
6. The subject matter of instruction; a branch of knowledge. Bp. Wilkins.
7. (Eccl.)
Defn: The enforcement of methods of correction against one guilty of ecclesiastical offenses; reformatory or penal action toward a church member.
8. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: Self- inflicted and voluntary corporal punishment, as penance, or otherwise; specifically, a penitential scourge.
9. (Eccl.)
Defn: A system of essential rules and duties; as, the Romish or Anglican discipline.
Syn. -- Education; instruction; training; culture; correction; chastisement; punishment.
DISCIPLINE Dis"ci*pline, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disciplined; p. pr. & vb. n. Disciplining.] Etym: [Cf. LL. disciplinarian to flog, fr. L. disciplina discipline, and F. discipliner to discipline.]
1. To educate; to develop by instruction and exercise; to train.
2. To accustom to regular and systematic action; to bring under control so as to act systematically; to train to act together under orders; to teach subordination to; to form a habit of obedience in; to drill. Ill armed, and worse disciplined. Clarendon. His mind . . . imperfectly disciplined by nature. Macaulay.
3. To improve by corrective and penal methods; to chastise; to correct. Has he disciplined Aufidius soundly Shak.
4. To inflict ecclesiastical censures and penalties upon.
Syn. -- To train; form; teach; instruct; bring up; regulate; correct; chasten; chastise; punish.
DISCIPLINER Dis"ci*plin*er, n.
Defn: One who disciplines.
DISCLAIM Dis*claim", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disclaimed; p. pr. & vb. n. Disclaiming.]
1. To renounce all claim to deny; ownership of, or responsibility for; to disown; to disavow; to reject. He calls the gods to witness their offense; Disclaims the war, asserts his innocence. Dryden. He disclaims the authority of Jesus. Farmer.
2. To deny, as a claim; to refuse. The payment was irregularly made, if not disclaimed. Milman.
3. (Law)
Defn: To relinquish or deny having a claim; to disavow another's claim; to decline accepting, as an estate, interest, or office. Burrill.
Syn. -- To disown; disavow; renounce; repudiate.
DISCLAIM Dis*claim", v. t.
Defn: To disavow or renounce all part, claim, or share. Blackstone. Disclaim in, Disclaim from, to disown; to disavow. [Obs.] "Nature disclaims in thee." Shak.
DISCLAIMER Dis*claim"er, n.
1. One who disclaims, disowns, or renounces.
2. (Law)
Defn: A denial, disavowal, or renunciation, as of a title, claim, interest, estate, or trust; relinquishment or waiver of an interest or estate. Burrill.
3. A public disavowal, as of pretensions, claims, opinions, and the like. Burke.
DISCLAMATION Dis`cla*ma"tion, n.
Defn: A disavowing or disowning. Bp. Hall.
DISCLAME Dis*clame", v. t.
Defn: To disclaim; to expel. [Obs.] "Money did love disclame." Spenser.
DISCLAUNDER Dis*claun"der, v. t. Etym: [From OE. disclaundre, n., for sclandre, esclandre, OF. esclandre. See Sclaundre, Slander.]
Defn: To injure one's good name; to slander. [Obs.]
DISCLOAK Dis*cloak", v. t.
Defn: To take off a cloak from; to uncloak. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
DISCLOSE Dis*close", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disclosed; p. pr. & vb. n. Disclosing.] Etym: [OE. desclosen, disclosen, fr. disclos, desclos, not shut in, open, OF. desclos, p. p. of desclore to open, F. déclore; pref. des- (L. dis-) + clore to shut, fr. L. claudere to shut. See Close, and cf. Disclusion.]
1. To unclose; to open; -- applied esp. to eggs in the sense of to hatch. The ostrich layeth her eggs under sand, where the heat of the discloseth them. Bacon.
2. To remove a cover or envelope from;; to set free from inclosure; to uncover. The shells being broken, . . . the stone included in them is thereby disclosed and set at liberty. Woodward.
3. To lay open or expose to view; to cause to appear; to bring to light; to reveal. How softly on the Spanish shore she plays, Disclosing rock, and slope, and forest brown! Byron. Her lively looks a sprightly mind disclose. Pope.
4. To make known, as that which has been kept secret or hidden; to reveal; to expose; as, events have disclosed his designs. If I disclose my passion, Our friendship 's an end. Addison.
Syn. -- To uncover; open; unveil; discover; reveal; divulge; tell; utter.
DISCLOSE Dis*close", n.
Defn: Disclosure. [Obs.] Shak. Young.
DISCLOSED Dis*closed", p. a. (Her.)
Defn: Represented with wings expanded; -- applied to doves and other birds not of prey. Cussans.
DISCLOSER Dis*clos"er, n.
Defn: One who discloses.
DISCLOSURE Dis*clo"sure, n. Etym: [See Disclose, v. t., and cf. Closure.]
1. The act of disclosing, uncovering, or revealing; bringing to light; exposure. He feels it [his secret] beating at his heart, rising to his throat, and demanding disclosure. D. Webster.
2. That which is disclosed or revealed. Were the disclosures of 1695 forgotten Macaulay.
DISCLOUD Dis*cloud", v. t.
Defn: To clear from clouds. [Archaic] Fuller.
DISCLOUT Dis*clout", v. t.
Defn: To divest of a clout. [R.]
DISCLUSION Dis*clu"sion, n. Etym: [L. disclusio, fr. discludere, disclusum, to separate. See Disclose.]
Defn: A shutting off; exclusion. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
DISCOAST Dis*coast", v. i. Etym: [Pref. dis- + coast: cf. It. discostare.]
Defn: To depart; to quit the coast (that is, the side or border) of anything; to be separated. [Obs.] As far as heaven and earth discoasted lie. G. Fletcher. To discoast from the plain and simple way of speech. Barrow.
DISCOBLASTIC Dis`co*blas"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Applied to a form of egg cleavage seen in osseous fishes, which occurs only in a small disk that separates from the rest of the egg.
DISCOBOLUS Dis*cob"o*lus, n.; pl. Discoboli. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Fine Arts) (a) A thrower of the discus. (b) A statue of an athlete holding the discus, or about to throw it
Note: The Discobolus of Myron was a famous statue of antiquity, and several copies or imitations of it have been preserved.
DISCODACTYL Dis`co*dac"tyl, n. Etym: [See Discodactylia.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the tree frogs.
DISCODACTYLIA Dis`co*dac*tyl"i*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of amphibians having suctorial disks on the toes, as the tree frogs.
DISCODACTYLOUS Dis`co*dac"tyl*ous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having sucking disks on the toes, as the tree frogs.
DISCOHERENT Dis`co*her"ent, a.
Defn: Incoherent. [R.]
DISCOID Dis"coid, a. Etym: [Gr. discoïde. See Disk.]
Defn: Having the form of a disk, as those univalve shells which have the whorls in one plane, so as to form a disk, as the pearly nautilus. Discoid flower (Bot.), a compound flower, consisting of tubular florets only, as a tansy, lacking the rays which are seen in the daisy and sunflower.
DISCOID Dis"coid, n.
Defn: Anything having the form of a discus or disk; particularly, a discoid shell.
DISCOIDAL Dis*coid"al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. discoïdal.]
Defn: Disk-shaped; discoid.
DISCOLITH Dis"co*lith, n. Etym: [Gr. -lith.] (Biol.)
Defn: One of a species of coccoliths, having an oval discoidal body, with a thick strongly refracting rim, and a thinner central portion. One of them measures about
DISCOLOR Dis*col"or, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discolored; p. pr. & vb. n. Discoloring.] Etym: [OE. descolouren, OF. descolorer, F. décolorer, fr. L. dis- + cololare, coloratum, to color, color color. See Color.] [Written also discolour.]
1. To alter the natural hue or color of; to change to a different color; to stain; to tinge; as, a drop of wine will discolor water; silver is discolored by sea water.
2. To alter the true complexion or appearance of; to put a false hue upon. To discolor all your ideas. Wat
DISCOLORATE Dis*col"or*ate, v. t.
Defn: To discolor. [R.] Fuller.
DISCOLORATION Dis*col`or*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. decoloration.]
1. The act of discoloring, or the state of being discolored; alteration of hue or appearance. Darwin.
2. A discolored spot; a stain. Arbuthnot.
DISCOLORED Dis*col"ored, a.
1. Altered in color;
2. Variegated; of divers colors. [R.] That ever wore discolored arms. Chapman.
DISCOMFIT Dis*com"fit, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discomfited; p. pr. & vb. n. Discomfiting.] Etym: [OF. desconfit, p. p. of desconfire, F. déconfire; fr. L. dis- + conficere to make ready, prepare, bring about. See Comfit, Fact.]
1. To scatter in fight; to put to rout; to defeat. And his proud foes discomfit in victorious field. Spenser.
2. To break up and frustrate the plans of; to balk Well, go with me and be not so discomfited. Shak.
Syn. -- To defeat; overthrow; overpower; vanquish; conquer; baffle; frustrate; confound; discourage.
DISCOMFIT Dis*com"fit, a.
Defn: Discomfited; overthrown. [Obs.]
DISCOMFIT Dis*com"fit, n.
Defn: Rout; overthrow; discomfiture. Such as discomfort as shall quite despoil him. Milton.
DISCOMFITURE Dis*com"fi*ture, n. Etym: [OF. desconfiture, F. déconfiture. See Discomfort, v. t., and cf. Comfiture.]
Defn: The act of discomfiting, or the state of being discomfited; rout; overthrow; defeat; frustration; confusion and dejection. Every man's sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture. 1 Sam. xiv. 20. A hope destined to end . . . in discomfiture and disgrace. Macaulay.
DISCOMFORT Dis*com"fort, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discomforted; p. pr. & vb. n. Discomforting.] Etym: [OF. desconforter, F. déconforter, to discourage; pref. des- (L dis-) + conforter. See Comfort.]
1. To discourage; to deject. His funeral shall not be in our camp, Lest it discomfort us. Shak.
2. To destroy or disturb the comfort of; to deprive oas, a smoky chimney discomforts a family.
DISCOMFORT Dis*com"fort, n. Etym: [OF. desconfort, F. déconfort. See Discomfort, v. t.]
1. Discouragement. [Obs.] Shak.
2. Want of comfort; uneasiness, mental or physical; disturbance of peace; inquietude; pain; distress; sorrow. "An age of spiritual discomfort." M. Arnold. Strive against all the discomforts of thy sufferings. Bp. Hall.
DISCOMFORTABLE Dis*com"fort*a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. desconfortable.]
1. Causing discomfort; occasioning uneasiness; making sad. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.
2. Destitute of comfort; uncomfortable. [R.] A labyrinth of little discomfortable garrets. Thackeray. -- Dis*com"fort*a*ble*ness, n. [Obs.]
DISCOMMEND Dis`com*mend", v. t.
1. To mention with disapprobation; to blame; to disapprove. [R.] Spenser. By commending something in him that is good, and discommending the same fault in others. Jer. Taylor.
2. To expose to censure or ill favor; to put out of the good graces of any one. A compliance will discommend me to Mr. Coventry. Pepys.
DISCOMMENDABLE Dis`com*mend"a*ble, a.
Defn: Deserving, disapprobation or blame. -- Dis`com*mend"a*ble*ness, n.
DISCOMMENDATION Dis*com`men*da"tion, n.
Defn: Blame; censure; reproach. [R.] Ayliffe.
DISCOMMENDER Dis`com*mend"er, n.
Defn: One who discommends; a dispraiser. Johnson.
DISCOMMISSION Dis`com*mis"sion, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of a commission or trust. [R.] Laud.
DISCOMMODATE Dis*com"mo*date, v. t. Etym: [L. dis- + commodatus, p. p. of commodare to make fit or suitable, fr. commodus fit, commodious. See Commodious, and cf. Discommode.]
Defn: To discommode. [Obs.] Howell.
DISCOMMODE Dis`com*mode", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discommoded; p. pr. & vb. n. Discommoding.] Etym: [See Discommodate.]
Defn: To put inconvenience; to incommode; to trouble. [R.]
Syn. -- To incommode; annoy; inconvenience.
DISCOMMODIOUS Dis`com*mo"di*ous, a.
Defn: Inconvenient; troublesome; incommodious. [R.] Spenser. -- Dis`com*mo"di*ous*ly, adv. -- Dis`com*mo"di*ous*ness, n.
DISCOMMODITY Dis`com*mod"i*ty, n.
Defn: Disadvantage; inconvenience. Bacon.
DISCOMMON Dis*com"mon, v. t.
1. To deprive of the right of common. [R.] Bp. Hall.
2. To deprive of privileges. [R.] T. Warton.
3. (Law)
Defn: To deprive of commonable quality, as lands, by inclosing or appropriating. Burrill.
DISCOMMUNITY Dis`com*mu"ni*ty, n.
Defn: A lack of common possessions, properties, or relationship. Community of embryonic structure reveals community of descent; but dissimilarity of embryonic development does not prove discommunity of descent. Darwin.
DISCOMPANY Dis*com"pa*ny, v. t.
Defn: To free from company; to dissociate. [R.] It she be alone now, and discompanied. B. Jonson.
DISCOMPLEXION Dis`com*plex"ion, v. t.
Defn: To change the complexion or hue of. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
DISCOMPLIANCE Dis`com*pli"ance, n.
Defn: Failure or refusal to comply; noncompliance. A compliance will discommend me to Mr. Coventry, and a discompliance to my lord chancellor. Pepys.
DISCOMPOSE Dis`com*pose", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discomposed; p. pr. & vb. n. Discomposing.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + compose: cf. OF. decomposer, F. décomposer.]
1. To disarrange; to interfere with; to disturb; to disorder; to unsettle; to break up. Or discomposed the headdress of a prude. Pope.
2. To throw into disorder; to ruffle; to destroy the composure or equanimity; to agitate. Opposition . . . discomposeth the mind's serenity. Glanvill.
3. To put out of place or service; to discharge; to displace. [Obs.] Bacon.
Syn. -- To disorder; derange; unsettle; disturb; disconcert; agitate; ruffle; fret; vex.
DISCOMPOSED Dis`com*posed", a.
Defn: Disordered; disturbed; disquieted. -- Dis`com*pos"ed*ly, adv. -- Dis`com*pos"ed*ness, n.
DISCOMPOSITION Dis*com`po*si"tion, n.
Defn: Inconsistency; discordance. [Obs.] Donne.
DISCOMPOSURE Dis`com*po"sure, n.
1. The state of being discomposed; disturbance; disorder; agitation; perturbation. No discomposure stirred her features. Akenside.
2. Discordance; disagreement of parts. [Obs.] Boyle.
DISCOMPT Dis*compt", v. t. Etym: [See Discount.]
Defn: To discount. See Discount. Hudibras.
DISCONCERT Dis`con*cert", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disconcerted; p. pr. & vb. n. Disconcerting.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + concert: cf. OF. desconcerter, F. déconcerter.]
1. To break up the harmonious progress of; to throw into disorder or confusion; as, the emperor disconcerted the plans of his enemy.
2. To confuse the faculties of; to disturb the composure of; to discompose; to abash. The embrace disconcerted the daughter-in-law somewhat, as the caresses of old gentlemen unshorn and perfumed with tobacco might well do. Thackeray.
Syn. -- To discompose; derange; ruffle; confuse; disturb; defeat; frustrate.
DISCONCERT Dis`con*cert", n.
Defn: Want of concert; disagreement. Sir W. Temple.
DISCONCERTION Dis`con*cer"tion, n.
Defn: The act of disconcerting, or state of being disconcerted; discomposure; perturbation. [R.] State Trials (1794).
DISCONDUCIVE Dis`con*du"cive, a.
Defn: Not conductive; impeding; disadvantageous. [R.]
DISCONFORMABLE Dis`con*form"a*ble, a.
Defn: Not conformable. Disconformable in religion from us. Stow (1603).
DISCONFORMITY Dis`con*form"i*ty, n.
Defn: Want of conformity or correspondence; inconsistency; disagreement. Those . . . in some disconformity to ourselves. Milton. Disagreement and disconformity betwixt the speech and the conception of the mind. Hakewill.
DISCONGRUITY Dis`con*gru"i*ty, n.
Defn: Incongruity; disagreement; unsuitableness. Sir M. Hale.
DISCONNECT Dis`con*nect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disconnected; p. pr. & vb. n. Disconnecting.]
Defn: To dissolve the union or connection of; to disunite; to sever; to separate; to disperse. The commonwealth itself would . . . be disconnected into the dust and powder of individuality. Burke. This restriction disconnects bank paper and the precious metals. Walsh.
DISCONNECTION Dis`con*nec"tion, n.
Defn: The act of disconnecting, or state of being disconnected; separation; want of union. Nothing was therefore to be left in all the subordinate members but weakness, disconnection, and confusion. Burke.
DISCONSECRATE Dis*con"se*crate, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of consecration or sacredness. [R.]
DISCONSENT Dis`con*sent", v. i.
Defn: To differ; to disagree; to dissent. [Obs.] Milton.
DISCONSOLACY Dis*con"so*la`cy, n.
Defn: The state of being disconsolate. [Obs.] Barrow.
DISCONSOLATE Dis*con"so*late, n.
Defn: Disconsolateness. [Obs.] Barrow.