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D.

D (dē) 1. The fourth letter of the English alphabet, and a vocal consonant. The English letter is from Latin, which is from Greek, which took it from Phœnician, the probable ultimate origin being Egyptian. It is related most nearly to t and th; as, Eng. deep, G. tief; Eng. daughter, G. tochter, Gr. qyga`thr, Skr. duhitr. See Guide to Pronunciation, √178, 179, 229.

2. (Mus.) The nominal of the second tone in the model major scale (that in C), or of the fourth tone in the relative minor scale of C (that in A minor), or of the key tone in the relative minor of F.

3. As a numeral D stands for 500. in this use it is not the initial of any word, or even strictly a letter, but one half of the sign &?; (or &?; ) the original Tuscan numeral for 1000.

Dab (dăb), n. [Perh. corrupted fr. adept.] A skillful hand; a dabster; an expert. [Colloq.]

One excels at a plan or the titlepage, another works away at the body of the book, and the third is a dab at an index.
Goldsmith.

Dab, n. [Perh. so named from its quickness in diving beneath the sand. Cf. Dabchick.] (Zoöl.) A name given to several species of flounders, esp. to the European species, Pleuronectes limanda. The American rough dab is Hippoglossoides platessoides.

Dab (dăb), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dabbed (dăbd); p. pr. & vb. n. Dabbing.] [OE. dabben to strice; akin to OD. dabben to pinch, knead, fumble, dabble, and perh. to G. tappen to grope.] 1. To strike or touch gently, as with a soft or moist substance; to tap; hence, to besmear with a dabber.

A sore should . . . be wiped . . . only by dabbing it over with fine lint.
S. Sharp.

2. To strike by a thrust; to hit with a sudden blow or thrust. "To dab him in the neck." Sir T. More.

Dab (?), n. 1. A gentle blow with the hand or some soft substance; a sudden blow or hit; a peck.

A scratch of her claw, a dab of her beak.
Hawthorne.

2. A small mass of anything soft or moist.

Dabb (d&adot;b), n. (Zoöl.) A large, spine-tailed lizard (Uromastix spinipes), found in Egypt, Arabia, and Palestine; -- called also dhobb, and dhubb.

Dab"ber (dăb"b&etilde;r), n. That with which one dabs; hence, a pad or other device used by printers, engravers, etc., as for dabbing type or engraved plates with ink.

Dab"ble (dăb"b'l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dabbled (-b'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Dabbling (-b'l&ibreve;ng).] [Freq. of dab: cf. OD. dabbelen.] To wet by little dips or strokes; to spatter; to sprinkle; to moisten; to wet. "Bright hair dabbled in blood." Shak.

Dab"ble, v. i. 1. To play in water, as with the hands; to paddle or splash in mud or water.

Where the duck dabbles 'mid the rustling sedge.
Wordsworth.

2. To work in slight or superficial manner; to do in a small way; to tamper; to meddle. "Dabbling here and there with the text." Atterbury.

During the first year at Dumfries, Burns for the first time began to dabble in politics.
J. C. Shairp.

Dab"bler (dăb"bl&etilde;r), n. 1. One who dabbles.

2. One who dips slightly into anything; a superficial meddler. "our dabblers in politics." Swift.

Dab"bling*ly (?), adv. In a dabbling manner.

Dab"chick` (dăb"ch&ibreve;k`), n. [For dabchick. See Dap, Dip, cf. Dipchick.] (Zoöl.) A small water bird (Podilymbus podiceps), allied to the grebes, remarkable for its quickness in diving; -- called also dapchick, dobchick, dipchick, didapper, dobber, devil-diver, hell-diver, and pied- billed grebe.

||Da*boi"a (?), n. (Zoöl.) A large and highly venomous Asiatic viper (Daboia xanthica).

Dab"ster, n. [Cf. Dab an expert.] One who is skilled; a master of his business; a proficient; an adept. [Colloq.]

&fist; Sometimes improperly used for dabbler; as, "I am but a dabster with gentle art."

||Da`ca"po (?). [It., from [the] head or beginning.] (Mus.) From the beginning; a direction to return to, and end with, the first strain; -- indicated by the letters D. C. Also, the strain so repeated.

Dace (?), n. [Written also dare, dart, fr. F. dard dase, dart, of German origin. Dace is for an older darce, fr. an OF. nom. darz. See Dart a javelin.] (Zoöl.) A small European cyprinoid fish (Squalius leuciscus or Leuciscus vulgaris); -- called also dare.

&fist; In America the name is given to several related fishes of the genera Squalius, Minnilus, etc. The black-nosed dace is Rhinichthys atronasus the horned dace is Semotilus corporalis. For red dace, see Redfin.

||Dachs"hund` (?), n. [G., from dachs badger + hund dog.] (Zoöl.) One of a breed of small dogs with short crooked legs, and long body; -- called also badger dog. There are two kinds, the rough-haired and the smooth-haired.

Da"cian (?), a. Of or pertaining to Dacia or the Dacians. -- n. A native of ancient Dacia.

Da*coit" (d&adot;*koit"), n. [Hind. &dsdot;akait, &dsdot;ākāyat.] One of a class of robbers, in India, who act in gangs.

Da*coit"y (?), n. The practice of gang robbery in India; robbery committed by dacoits.

Da*co"tahs (?), n. pl.; sing. Dacotan (&?;). (Ethnol.) Same as Dacotas. Longfellow.

Dac"tyl (?), n. [L. dactylus, Gr. da`ktylos a finger, a dactyl. Cf. Digit.] 1. (Pros.) A poetical foot of three sylables (— ⌣ ⌣), one long followed by two short, or one accented followed by two unaccented; as, L. tëgm&ibreve;n&ebreve;, E. mer\b6ciful; -- so called from the similarity of its arrangement to that of the joints of a finger. [Written also dactyle.]

2. (Zoöl.) (a) A finger or toe; a digit. (b) The claw or terminal joint of a leg of an insect or crustacean.

Dac"tyl*ar (?), a. 1. Pertaining to dactyl; dactylic.

2. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to a finger or toe, or to the claw of an insect crustacean.

Dac"tyl*et (?), n. [Dactyl + &?;et.] A dactyl. [Obs.]

Dac*tyl"ic (?), a. [L. dactylicus, Gr. &?;, fr. &?;.] Pertaining to, consisting chiefly or wholly of, dactyls; as, dactylic verses.

Dac*tyl"ic, n. 1. A line consisting chiefly or wholly of dactyls; as, these lines are dactylics.

2. pl. Dactylic meters.

Dac*tyl"i*o*glyph (dăk*t&ibreve;l"&ibreve;*&osl;*gl&ibreve;f), n. [Gr. daktyliogly`fos an engraver of gems; dakty`lios finger ring (fr. da`ktylos finger) + gly`fein to engrave.] (Fine Arts) (a) An engraver of gems for rings and other ornaments. (b) The inscription of the engraver's name on a finger ring or gem.

Dac*tyl`i*og"ly*phy (?), n. The art or process of gem engraving.

Dac*tyl`i*og"ra*phy (?), n. [Gr. dakty`lios finger ring + -graphy.] (Fine Arts) (a) The art of writing or engraving upon gems. (b) In general, the literature or history of the art.

Dac*tyl`i*ol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. dakty`lios finger ring + -logy.] (Fine Arts) (a) That branch of archæology which has to do with gem engraving. (b) That branch of archæology which has to do with finger rings.

Dac*tyl"i*o*man`cy (?), n. [Gr. dakty`lios + -mancy.] Divination by means of finger rings.

Dac"tyl*ist (?), n. A writer of dactylic verse.

||Dac`tyl*i"tis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. da`ktylos finger + -itis.] (Med.) An inflammatory affection of the fingers. Gross.

Dac`tyl*ol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. da`ktylos finger + -logy.] The art of communicating ideas by certain movements and positions of the fingers; -- a method of conversing practiced by the deaf and dumb.

&fist; There are two different manual alphabets, the one- hand alphabet (which was perfected by Abbé de l'Epée, who died in 1789), and the two-hand alphabet. The latter was probably based on the manual alphabet published by George Dalgarus of Aberdeen, in 1680. See Illustration in Appendix.

Dac*tyl"o*man`cy (?), n. Dactyliomancy. [R.] Am. Cyc.

Dac`tyl*on"o*my (?), n. [Gr. da`ktylos finger + no`mos law, distribution.] The art of numbering or counting by the fingers.

Dac`tyl*op"ter*ous (?), a. [Gr. da`ktylos finger + &?; wing, fin.] (Zoöl.) Having the inferior rays of the pectoral fins partially or entirely free, as in the gurnards.

||Dac`ty*lo*the"ca (dăk`t&ibreve;*l&osl;*thē"k&adot;), n. [NL., fr. Gr. da`ktylos finger, toe + qh`kh case, box.] (Zoöl.) The scaly covering of the toes, as in birds.

Dac`tyl*o*zo"oid (dăk`t&ibreve;*l&osl;*zō"oid), n. [Gr. da`ktylos finger + E. zooid.] (Zoöl.) A kind of zooid of Siphonophora which has an elongated or even vermiform body, with one tentacle, but no mouth. See Siphonophora.

Dad (dăd), n. [Prob. of Celtic origin; cf. Ir. daid, Gael. daidein, W. tad, OL. tata, Gr. ta`ta, te`tta, Skr. tāta.] Father; -- a word sometimes used by children.

I was never so bethumped with words,
Since I first called my brother's father dad.
Shak.

Dad"dle (dăd"d'l), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Daddled (?), p. pr. & vb. n. Daddling.] [Prob. freq. of dade.] To toddle; to walk unsteadily, like a child or an old man; hence, to do anything slowly or feebly.

Dad"dock (?), n. [Cf. Prov. E. dad a large piece.] The rotten body of a tree. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.

Dad"dy (?), n. Diminutive of Dad. Dryden.

Dad"dy long"legs` (?). 1. (Zoöl.) An arachnidan of the genus Phalangium, and allied genera, having a small body and four pairs of long legs; -- called also harvestman, carter, and grandfather longlegs.

2. (Zoöl.) A name applied to many species of dipterous insects of the genus Tipula, and allied genera, with slender bodies, and very long, slender legs; the crane fly; -- called also father longlegs.

Dade (?), v. t. [Of. uncertain origin. Cf. Dandle, Daddle.] To hold up by leading strings or by the hand, as a child while he toddles. [Obs.]

Little children when they learn to go
By painful mothers daded to and fro.
Drayton.

Dade, v. i. To walk unsteadily, as a child in leading strings, or just learning to walk; to move slowly. [Obs.]

No sooner taught to dade, but from their mother trip.
Drayton.

Da"do (?), n.; pl. Dadoes (#). [It. dado die, cube, pedestal; of the same origin as E. die, n. See Die, n.] (Arch.) (a) That part of a pedestal included between the base and the cornice (or surbase); the die. See Illust. of Column. Hence: (b) In any wall, that part of the basement included between the base and the base course. See Base course, under Base. (c) In interior decoration, the lower part of the wall of an apartment when adorned with moldings, or otherwise specially decorated.

{ Dæ"dal (?), Dæ*dal"ian (?) }, a. [L. daedalus cunningly wrought, fr. Gr. &?;; cf. &?; to work cunningly. The word also alludes to the mythical Dædalus (Gr. &?;, lit., the cunning worker).] 1. Cunningly or ingeniously formed or working; skillful; artistic; ingenious.

Our bodies decked in our dædalian arms.
Chapman.

The dædal hand of Nature.
J. Philips.

The doth the dædal earth throw forth to thee,
Out of her fruitful, abundant flowers.
Spenser.

2. Crafty; deceitful. [R.] Keats.

Dæd"a*lous (?), a. (Bot.) Having a variously cut or incised margin; -- said of leaves.

Dæ"mon (?), n., Dæ*mon"ic (&?;), a. See Demon, Demonic.

Daff (?), v. t. [Cf. Doff.] To cast aside; to put off; to doff. [Obs.]

Canst thou so daff me? Thou hast killed my child.
Shak.

Daff, n. [See Daft.] A stupid, blockish fellow; a numskull. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Daff (d&adot;f), v. i. To act foolishly; to be foolish or sportive; to toy. [Scot.] Jamieson.

Daff, v. t. To daunt. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.

Daf"fo*dil (dăf"f&osl;*d&ibreve;l), n. [OE. affodylle, prop., the asphodel, fr. LL. affodillus (cf. D. affodille or OF. asphodile, aphodille, F. asphodèle), L. asphodelus, fr. Gr. 'asfo`delos. The initial d in English is not satisfactorily explained. See Asphodel.] (Bot.) (a) A plant of the genus Asphodelus. (b) A plant of the genus Narcissus (N. Pseudo-narcissus). It has a bulbous root and beautiful flowers, usually of a yellow hue. Called also daffodilly, daffadilly, daffadowndilly, daffydowndilly, etc.

With damask roses and daffadillies set.
Spenser.

Strow me the ground with daffadowndillies,
And cowslips, and kingcups, and loved lilies.
Spenser.

A college gown
That clad her like an April daffodilly.
Tennyson

And chance-sown daffodil.
Whittier.

Daft (d&adot;ft), a. [OE. daft, deft, deft, stupid; prob. the same word as E. deft. See Deft.] 1. Stupid; foolish; idiotic; also, delirious; insane; as, he has gone daft.

Let us think no more of this daft business
Sir W. Scott.

2. Gay; playful; frolicsome. [Scot.] Jamieson.

Daft"ness, n. The quality of being daft.

Dag (dăg), n. [Cf. F. dague, LL. daga, D. dagge (fr. French); all prob. fr. Celtic; Cf. Gael. dag a pistol, Armor. dag dagger, W. dager, dagr, Ir. daigear. Cf. Dagger.] 1. A dagger; a poniard. [Obs.] Johnson.

2. A large pistol formerly used. [Obs.]

The Spaniards discharged their dags, and hurt some.
Foxe.

A sort of pistol, called dag, was used about the same time as hand guns and harquebuts.
Grose.

3. (Zoöl.) The unbranched antler of a young deer.

Dag, n. [Of Scand. origin; cf. Sw. dagg, Icel. dögg. √71. See Dew.] A misty shower; dew. [Obs.]

Dag, n. [OE. dagge (cf. Dagger); or cf. AS. dāg what is dangling.] A loose end; a dangling shred.

Daglocks, clotted locks hanging in dags or jags at a sheep's tail.
Wedgwood.

Dag, v. t. [1, from Dag dew. 2, from Dag a loose end.] 1. To daggle or bemire. [Prov. Eng.] Johnson.

2. To cut into jags or points; to slash; as, to dag a garment. [Obs.] Wright.

Dag, v. i. To be misty; to drizzle. [Prov. Eng.]

Dag"ger (-g&etilde;r), n. [Cf. OE. daggen to pierce, F. daguer. See Dag a dagger.] 1. A short weapon used for stabbing. This is the general term: cf. Poniard, Stiletto, Bowie knife, Dirk, Misericorde, Anlace.

2. (Print.) A mark of reference in the form of a dagger [†]. It is the second in order when more than one reference occurs on a page; -- called also obelisk.

Dagger moth (Zoöl.), any moth of the genus Apatalea. The larvæ are often destructive to the foliage of fruit trees, etc. -- Dagger of lath, the wooden weapon given to the Vice in the old Moralities. Shak. -- Double dagger, a mark of reference [‡] which comes next in order after the dagger. -- To look, or speak, daggers, to look or speak fiercely or reproachfully.

Dag"ger, v. t. To pierce with a dagger; to stab. [Obs.]

Dag"ger, n. [Perh. from diagonal.] A timber placed diagonally in a ship's frame. Knight.

Dagges (dăgz), n. pl. [OE. See Dag a loose end.] An ornamental cutting of the edges of garments, introduced about a. d. 1346, according to the Chronicles of St Albans. [Obs.] Halliwell.

Dag"gle (dăg"g'l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Daggled (-g'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Daggling (-gl&ibreve;ng).] [Freq. of dag, v. t., 1.] To trail, so as to wet or befoul; to make wet and limp; to moisten.

The warrior's very plume, I say,
Was daggled by the dashing spray.
Sir W. Scott.

Dag"gle, v. i. To run, go, or trail one's self through water, mud, or slush; to draggle.

Nor, like a puppy [have I] daggled through the town.
Pope.

{ Dag"gle-tail` (dăg"g'l-tāl`), Dag"gle- tailed` (-tāld`), } a. Having the lower ends of garments defiled by trailing in mire or filth; draggle- tailed.

Dag"gle-tail` (-tāl`), n. A slovenly woman; a slattern; a draggle-tail.

Dag"lock` (-l&obreve;k`), n. [Dag a loose end + lock.] A dirty or clotted lock of wool on a sheep; a taglock.

Da"go (dā"g&osl;), n.; pl. Dagos (-gōz). [Cf. Sp. Diego, E. James.] A nickname given to a person of Spanish (or, by extension, Portuguese or Italian) descent. [U. S.]

||Da*go"ba (d&adot;*gō"b&adot;), n. [Singhalese dāgoba.] A dome- shaped structure built over relics of Buddha or some Buddhist saint. [East Indies]

Da"gon (dā"g&obreve;n), [Heb. Dāgon, fr. dag a fish: cf. Gr. Dagw`n.] The national god of the Philistines, represented with the face and hands and upper part of a man, and the tail of a fish. W. Smith.

This day a solemn feast the people hold
To Dagon, their sea idol.
Milton.

They brought it into the house of Dagon.
1 Sam. v. 2.

Dag"on (dăg"&obreve;n), n. [See Dag a loose end.] A slip or piece. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dag"swain` (?), n. [From Dag a loose end?] A coarse woolen fabric made of daglocks, or the refuse of wool. "Under coverlets made of dagswain." Holinshed.

Dag"-tailed` (?), a. [Dag a loose end + tail.] Daggle-tailed; having the tail clogged with daglocks. "Dag-tailed sheep." Bp. Hall.

{ Da*guer"re*an (d&adot;*g&ebreve;r"&ibreve;*an), Da*guerre"i*an (?), } a. Pertaining to Daguerre, or to his invention of the daguerreotype.

Da*guerre"o*type (d&adot;*g&ebreve;r"&osl;*tīp), n. [From Daguerre the inventor + - type.] 1. An early variety of photograph, produced on a silver plate, or copper plate covered with silver, and rendered sensitive by the action of iodine, or iodine and bromine, on which, after exposure in the camera, the latent image is developed by the vapor of mercury.

2. The process of taking such pictures.

Da*guerre"o*type (d&adot;*g&ebreve;r"&osl;*tīp), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Daguerreotyped (-tīpt); p. pr. & vb. n. Daguerreotyping (-tī`p&ibreve;ng).] 1. To produce or represent by the daguerreotype process, as a picture.

2. To impress with great distinctness; to imprint; to imitate exactly.

{ Da*guerre"o*ty`per (?), Da*guerre"o*ty`pist (?), } n. One who takes daguerreotypes.

Da*guerre"o*ty`py (?), n. The art or process of producing pictures by method of Daguerre.

||Da`ha*be"ah (dä`h&adot;*bē"&adot;), n. [Ar.] A Nile boat constructed on the model of a floating house, having large lateen sails.

Dah"lia (däl"y&adot; or dāl"y&adot;; 277, 106), n.; pl. Dahlias (#). [Named after Andrew Dahl a Swedish botanist.] (Bot.) A genus of plants native to Mexico and Central America, of the order Compositæ; also, any plant or flower of the genus. The numerous varieties of cultivated dahlias bear conspicuous flowers which differ in color.

Dah"lin (dä"l&ibreve;n), n. [From Dahlia.] (Chem.) A variety of starch extracted from the dahlia; -- called also inulin. See Inulin.

Dai"li*ness (?), n. Daily occurence. [R.]

Dai"ly (dā"l&ybreve;), a. [AS. dæglīc; dæg day + -līc like. See Day.] Happening, or belonging to, each successive day; diurnal; as, daily labor; a daily bulletin.

Give us this day our daily bread.
Matt. vi. 11.

Bunyan has told us . . . that in New England his dream was the daily subject of the conversation of thousands.
Macaulay.

Syn. -- Daily, Diurnal. Daily is Anglo-Saxon, and diurnal is Latin. The former is used in reference to the ordinary concerns of life; as, daily wants, daily cares, daily employments. The latter is appropriated chiefly by astronomers to what belongs to the astronomical day; as, the diurnal revolution of the earth.

Man hath his daily work of body or mind
Appointed, which declares his dignity,
And the regard of Heaven on all his ways.
Milton.

Half yet remains unsung, but narrower bound
Within the visible diurnal sphere.
Milton.

Dai"ly, n.; pl. Dailies (&?;). A publication which appears regularly every day; as, the morning dailies.

Dai"ly, adv. Every day; day by day; as, a thing happens daily.

Dai"mi*o (?), n.; pl. Daimios (#). [Jap., fr. Chin. tai ming great name.] The title of the feudal nobles of Japan.

The daimios, or territorial nobles, resided in Yedo and were divided into four classes.
Am. Cyc.

Daint (?), n. [See Dainty, n.] Something of exquisite taste; a dainty. [Obs.] -- a. Dainty. [Obs.]

To cherish him with diets daint.
Spenser.

Dain"ti*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Daintified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Daintifying.] [Dainty + -fy.] To render dainty, delicate, or fastidious. "Daintified emotion." Sat. rev.

Dain"ti*ly, adv. In a dainty manner; nicely; scrupulously; fastidiously; deliciously; prettily.

Dain"ti*ness, n. The quality of being dainty; nicety; niceness; elegance; delicacy; deliciousness; fastidiousness; squeamishness.

The daintiness and niceness of our captains
Hakluyt.

More notorious for the daintiness of the provision . . . than for the massiveness of the dish.
Hakewill.

The duke exeeded in the daintiness of his leg and foot, and the earl in the fine shape of his hands,
Sir H. Wotton.

Dain"trel (?), n. [From daint or dainty; cf. OF. daintier.] Adelicacy. [Obs.] Halliwell.

Dain"ty (?), n.; pl. Dainties (#). [OE. deinie, dainte, deintie, deyntee, OF. deintié delicacy, orig., dignity, honor, fr. L. dignitas, fr. dignus worthy. See Deign, and cf. Dignity.] 1. Value; estimation; the gratification or pleasure taken in anything. [Obs.]

I ne told no deyntee of her love.
Chaucer.

2. That which is delicious or delicate; a delicacy.

That precious nectar may the taste renew
Of Eden's dainties, by our parents lost.
Beau. & Fl.

3. A term of fondness. [Poetic] B. Jonson.

Syn. -- Dainty, Delicacy. These words are here compared as denoting articles of food. The term delicacy as applied to a nice article of any kind, and hence to articles of food which are particularly attractive. Dainty is stronger, and denotes some exquisite article of cookery. A hotel may be provided with all the delicacies of the season, and its table richly covered with dainties.

These delicacies
I mean of taste, sight, smell, herbs, fruits, and flowers,
Walks and the melody of birds.
Milton.

[A table] furnished plenteously with bread,
And dainties, remnants of the last regale.
Cowper.

Dain"ty, a. [Compar. Daintier (?); superl. Daintiest.] 1. Rare; valuable; costly. [Obs.]

Full many a deynté horse had he in stable.
Chaucer.

&fist; Hence the proverb "dainty maketh dearth," i. e., rarity makes a thing dear or precious.

2. Delicious to the palate; toothsome.

Dainty bits
Make rich the ribs.
Shak.

3. Nice; delicate; elegant, in form, manner, or breeding; well-formed; neat; tender.

Those dainty limbs which nature lent
For gentle usage and soft delicacy.
Milton.

I would be the girdle.
About her dainty, dainty waist.
Tennyson.

4. Requiring dainties. Hence: Overnice; hard to please; fastidious; squeamish; scrupulous; ceremonious.

Thew were a fine and dainty people.
Bacon.

And let us not be dainty of leave-taking,
But shift away.
Shak.

To make dainty, to assume or affect delicacy or fastidiousness. [Obs.]

Ah ha, my mistresses! which of you all
Will now deny to dance? She that makes dainty,
She, I'll swear, hath corns.
Shak.

Dai"ry (dā"r&ybreve;), n.; pl. Dairies (-r&ibreve;z). [OE. deierie, from deie, daie, maid; of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. deigja maid, dairymaid, Sw. deja, orig., a baking maid, fr. Icel. deig. √66. See Dough.] 1. The place, room, or house where milk is kept, and converted into butter or cheese.

What stores my dairies and my folds contain.
Dryden.

2. That department of farming which is concerned in the production of milk, and its conversion into butter and cheese.

Grounds were turned much in England either to feeding or dairy; and this advanced the trade of English butter.
Temple.

3. A dairy farm. [R.]

&fist; Dairy is much used adjectively or in combination; as, dairy farm, dairy countries, dairy house or dairyhouse, dairyroom, dairywork, etc.

Dai"ry*ing, n. The business of conducting a dairy.

Dai"ry*maid` (?), n. A female servant whose business is the care of the dairy.

Dai"ry*man (?), n.; pl. Dairymen (&?;). A man who keeps or takes care of a dairy.

Dai"ry*wom`an (?), n.; pl. Dairywomen (&?;). A woman who attends to a dairy.

Da"is (dā"&ibreve;s), n. [OE. deis, des, table, dais, OF. deis table, F. dais a canopy, L. discus a quoit, a dish (from the shape), LL., table, fr. Gr. &?; a quoit, a dish. See Dish.] 1. The high or principal table, at the end of a hall, at which the chief guests were seated; also, the chief seat at the high table. [Obs.]

2. A platform slightly raised above the floor of a hall or large room, giving distinction to the table and seats placed upon it for the chief guests.

3. A canopy over the seat of a person of dignity. [Obs.] Shiply.

Dai"sied (?), a. Full of daisies; adorned with daisies. "The daisied green." Langhorne.

The grass all deep and daisied.
G. Eliot.

Dai"sy (-z&ybreve;), n.; pl. Daisies (-z&ibreve;z). [OE. dayesye, AS. dæges-eáge day's eye, daisy. See Day, and Eye.] (Bot.) (a) A genus of low herbs (Bellis), belonging to the family Compositæ. The common English and classical daisy is B. perennis, which has a yellow disk and white or pinkish rays. (b) The whiteweed (Chrysanthemum Leucanthemum), the plant commonly called daisy in North America; -- called also oxeye daisy. See Whiteweed.

&fist; The word daisy is also used for composite plants of other genera, as Erigeron, or fleabane.

Michaelmas daisy (Bot.), any plant of the genus Aster, of which there are many species. -- Oxeye daisy (Bot.), the whiteweed. See Daisy (b).

Dak (d&add;k or däk), n. [Hind. &dsdot;āk.] Post; mail; also, the mail or postal arrangements; -- spelt also dawk, and dauk. [India]

Dak boat, a mail boat. Percy Smith. -- Dak bungalow, a traveler's rest- house at the end of a dak stage. -- To travel by dak, to travel by relays of palanquins or other carriage, as fast as the post along a road.

{ Da"ker (?), Da"kir (?), } n. [See Dicker.] (O. Eng. & Scots Law) A measure of certain commodities by number, usually ten or twelve, but sometimes twenty; as, a daker of hides consisted of ten skins; a daker of gloves of ten pairs. Burrill.

Da"ker hen` (?). [Perh. fr. W. crecial the daker hen; crec a sharp noise (creg harsh, hoarse, crechian to scream) + iar hen; or cf. D. duiken to dive, plunge.] (Zoöl.) The corncrake or land rail.

Da*koit", n., Da*koit"y, n. See Dacoit, Dacoity.

Da*ko"ta group` (?). (Geol.) A subdivision at the base of the cretaceous formation in Western North America; -- so named from the region where the strata were first studied.

Da*ko"tas (?), n. pl.; sing. Dacota (&?;). (Ethnol.) An extensive race or stock of Indians, including many tribes, mostly dwelling west of the Mississippi River; -- also, in part, called Sioux. [Written also Dacotahs.]

||Dal (?), n. [Hind.] Split pulse, esp. of Cajanus Indicus. [East Indies]

Dale (?), n. [AS. dæl; akin to LG., D., Sw., Dan., OS., & Goth. dal, Icel. dalr, OHG. tal, G. thal, and perh. to Gr. qo`los a rotunda, Skr. dhāra depth. Cf. Dell.] 1. A low place between hills; a vale or valley.

Where mountaines rise, umbrageous dales descend.
Thomson.

2. A trough or spout to carry off water, as from a pump. Knight.

Dales"man (?), n.; pl. Dalesmen (&?;). One living in a dale; -- a term applied particularly to the inhabitants of the valleys in the north of England, Norway, etc. Macaulay.

Dalf (?), imp. of Delve. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dal"li*ance (?), n. [From Dally.] 1. The act of dallying, trifling, or fondling; interchange of caresses; wanton play.

Look thou be true, do not give dalliance
Too much the rein.
Shak.

O, the dalliance and the wit,
The flattery and the strife!
Tennyson.

2. Delay or procrastination. Shak.

3. Entertaining discourse. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dal"li*er (?), n. One who fondles; a trifler; as, dalliers with pleasant words. Asham.

Dal"lop (dăl"l&obreve;p), n. [Etymol. unknown.] A tuft or clump. [Obs.] Tusser.

Dal"ly (-l&ybreve;), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dallied (-l&ibreve;d); p. pr. & vb. n. Dallying.] [OE. dalien, dailien; cf. Icel. pylja to talk, G. dallen, dalen, dahlen, to trifle, talk nonsense, OSw. tule a droll or funny man; or AS. dol foolish, E. dull.] 1. To waste time in effeminate or voluptuous pleasures, or in idleness; to fool away time; to delay unnecessarily; to tarry; to trifle.

We have trifled too long already; it is madness to dally any longer.
Calamy.

We have put off God, and dallied with his grace.
Barrow.

2. To interchange caresses, especially with one of the opposite sex; to use fondling; to wanton; to sport.

Not dallying with a brace of courtesans.
Shak.

Our aerie . . . dallies with the wind.
Shak.

Dal"ly, v. t. To delay unnecessarily; to while away.

Dallying off the time with often skirmishes.
Knolles.

||Dal*ma"ni*a (?), n. [From Dalman, the geologist.] (Paleon.) A genus of trilobites, of many species, common in the Upper Silurian and Devonian rocks.

||Dal`ma*ni"tes (?), n. Same as Dalmania.

Dal*ma"tian (?), a. Of or pertaining to Dalmatia.

Dalmatian dog (Zoöl.), a carriage dog, shaped like a pointer, and having black or bluish spots on a white ground; the coach dog.

Dal*mat"i*ca (?), n., Dal*mat"ic (&?;), n. [LL. dalmatica: cf. F. dalmatique.] 1. (R. C. Ch.) A vestment with wide sleeves, and with two stripes, worn at Mass by deacons, and by bishops at pontifical Mass; -- imitated from a dress originally worn in Dalmatia.

2. A robe worn on state ocasions, as by English kings at their coronation.

||Dal` se"gno (?). [It., from the sign.] (Mus.) A direction to go back to the sign &?; and repeat from thence to the close. See Segno.

Dal*to"ni*an (?), n. One afflicted with color blindness.

Dal"ton*ism (?), n. Inability to perceive or distinguish certain colors, esp. red; color blindness. It has various forms and degrees. So called from the chemist Dalton, who had this infirmity. Nichol.

Dam (dăm), n. [OE. dame mistress, lady; also, mother, dam. See Dame.] 1. A female parent; -- used of beasts, especially of quadrupeds; sometimes applied in contempt to a human mother.

Our sire and dam, now confined to horses, are a relic of this age (13th century) . . . .Dame is used of a hen; we now make a great difference between dame and dam.
T. L. K. Oliphant.

The dam runs lowing up and down,
Looking the way her harmless young one went.
Shak.

2. A king or crowned piece in the game of draughts.

Dam, n. [Akin to OLG., D., & Dan. dam, G. & Sw. damm, Icel. dammr, and AS. fordemman to stop up, Goth. Faúrdammjan.] 1. A barrier to prevent the flow of a liquid; esp., a bank of earth, or wall of any kind, as of masonry or wood, built across a water course, to confine and keep back flowing water.

2. (Metal.) A firebrick wall, or a stone, which forms the front of the hearth of a blast furnace.

Dam plate (Blast Furnace), an iron plate in front of the dam, to strengthen it.

Dam, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dammed (dămd); p. pr. & vb. n. Damming.] 1. To obstruct or restrain the flow of, by a dam; to confine by constructing a dam, as a stream of water; -- generally used with in or up.

I'll have the current in this place dammed up.
Shak.

A weight of earth that dams in the water.
Mortimer.

2. To shut up; to stop up; to close; to restrain.

The strait pass was dammed
With dead men hurt behind, and cowards.
Shak.

To dam out, to keep out by means of a dam.

Dam"age (dăm"&asl;j; 48), n. [OF. damage, domage, F. dommage, fr. assumed LL. damnaticum, from L. damnum damage. See Damn.] 1. Injury or harm to person, property, or reputation; an inflicted loss of value; detriment; hurt; mischief.

He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet and drinketh damage.
Prov. xxvi. 6.

Great errors and absurdities many commit for want of a friend to tell them of them, to the great damage both of their fame and fortune.
Bacon.

2. pl. (Law) The estimated reparation in money for detriment or injury sustained; a compensation, recompense, or satisfaction to one party, for a wrong or injury actually done to him by another.

&fist; In common-law actions, the jury are the proper judges of damages.

Consequential damage. See under Consequential. -- Exemplary damages (Law), damages imposed by way of example to others. - - Nominal damages (Law), those given for a violation of a right where no actual loss has accrued. -- Vindictive damages, those given specially for the punishment of the wrongdoer.

Syn. -- Mischief; injury; harm; hurt; detriment; evil; ill. See Mischief.

Dam"age, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Damaged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Damaging (?).] [Cf. OF. damagier, domagier. See Damage, n.] To occasion damage to the soundness, goodness, or value of; to hurt; to injure; to impair.

He . . . came up to the English admiral and gave him a broadside, with which he killed many of his men and damaged the ship.
Clarendon.

Dam"age (dăm"&asl;j), v. i. To receive damage or harm; to be injured or impaired in soundness or value; as, some colors in cloth damage in sunlight.

Dam"age*a*ble (?), a. [Cf. OF. damageable, F. dommageable for sense 2.] 1. Capable of being injured or impaired; liable to, or susceptible of, damage; as, a damageable cargo.

2. Hurtful; pernicious. [R.]

That it be not damageable unto your royal majesty.
Hakluyt.

Dam"age fea`sant (?). [OF. damage + F. faisant doing, p. pr. See Feasible.] (Law) Doing injury; trespassing, as cattle. Blackstone.

Da"man (dä"m&adot;n), n. (Zoöl.) A small herbivorous mammal of the genus Hyrax. The species found in Palestine and Syria is Hyrax Syriacus; that of Northern Africa is H. Brucei; -- called also ashkoko, dassy, and rock rabbit. See Cony, and Hyrax.

Dam"ar (?), n. See Dammar.

Dam"as*cene (dăm"as*sēn), a. [L. Damascenus of Damascus, fr. Damascus the city, Gr. Damasko`s. See Damask, and cf. Damaskeen, Damaskin, Damson.] Of or relating to Damascus.

Dam"as*cene (dăm"as*sēn), n. A kind of plum, now called damson. See Damson.

Dam`as*cene" (dăm`as*sēn"), v. t. Same as Damask, or Damaskeen, v. t. "Damascened armor." Beaconsfield. "Cast and damascened steel." Ure.

Da*mas"cus (?), n. [L.] A city of Syria.

Damascus blade, a sword or scimiter, made chiefly at Damascus, having a variegated appearance of watering, and proverbial for excellence. -- Damascus iron, or Damascus twist, metal formed of thin bars or wires of iron and steel elaborately twisted and welded together; used for making gun barrels, etc., of high quality, in which the surface, when polished and acted upon by acid, has a damask appearance. -- Damascus steel. See Damask steel, under Damask, a.

Dam"ask (dăm"ask), n. [From the city Damascus, L. Damascus, Gr. Damasko`s, Heb. Dammesq, Ar. Daemeshq; cf. Heb. d'meseq damask; cf. It. damasco, Sp. damasco, F. damas. Cf. Damascene, DamassÉ.] 1. Damask silk; silk woven with an elaborate pattern of flowers and the like. "A bed of ancient damask." W. Irving.

2. Linen so woven that a pattern in produced by the different directions of the thread, without contrast of color.

3. A heavy woolen or worsted stuff with a pattern woven in the same way as the linen damask; -- made for furniture covering and hangings.

4. Damask or Damascus steel; also, the peculiar markings or "water" of such steel.

5. A deep pink or rose color. Fairfax.

Dam"ask, a. 1. Pertaining to, or originating at, the city of Damascus; resembling the products or manufactures of Damascus.

2. Having the color of the damask rose.

But let concealment, like a worm i' the bud,
Feed on her damask cheek.
Shak.

Damask color, a deep rose-color like that of the damask rose. -- Damask plum, a small dark-colored plum, generally called damson. -- Damask rose (Bot.), a large, pink, hardy, and very fragrant variety of rose (Rosa damascena) from Damascus. "Damask roses have not been known in England above one hundred years." Bacon. -- Damask steel, or Damascus steel, steel of the kind originally made at Damascus, famous for its hardness, and its beautiful texture, ornamented with waving lines; especially, that which is inlaid with damaskeening; -- formerly much valued for sword blades, from its great flexibility and tenacity.

Dam"ask, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Damasked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Damasking.] To decorate in a way peculiar to Damascus or attributed to Damascus; particularly: (a) with flowers and rich designs, as silk; (b) with inlaid lines of gold, etc., or with a peculiar marking or "water," as metal. See Damaskeen.

Mingled metal damasked o'er with gold.
Dryde&?;.

On the soft, downy bank, damasked with flowers.
Milton.

{ Dam"as*keen` (?), Dam"as*ken (?), } v. t. [F. damaschinare. See Damascene, v.] To decorate, as iron, steel, etc., with a peculiar marking or "water" produced in the process of manufacture, or with designs produced by inlaying or incrusting with another metal, as silver or gold, or by etching, etc., to damask.

Damaskeening is is partly mosaic work, partly engraving, and partly carving.
Ure.

Dam"as*kin (?), n. [Cf. F. damasquin, adj., It. damaschino, Sp. damasquino. See Damaskeen.] A sword of Damask steel.

No old Toledo blades or damaskins.
Howell (1641).

Da*mas*sé" (?), a. [F. damassé, fr. damas. See Damask.] Woven like damask. -- n. A damassé fabric, esp. one of linen.

Dam"as*sin (dăm"as*s&ibreve;n), n. [F., fr. damas. See Damask.] A kind of modified damask or brocade.

Dam"bo*nite (-b&osl;*nīt), n. [Cf. F. dambonite.] (Chem.) A white, crystalline, sugary substance obtained from an African caoutchouc.

Dam"bose (dăm"bōs), n. (Chem.) A crystalline variety of fruit sugar obtained from dambonite.

Dame (dām), n. [F. dame, LL. domna, fr. L. domina mistress, lady, fem. of dominus master, ruler, lord; akin to domare to tame, subdue. See Tame, and cf. Dam a mother, Dan, Danger, Dungeon, Dominie, Don, n., Duenna.] 1. A mistress of a family, who is a lady; a woman in authority; especially, a lady.

Then shall these lords do vex me half so much,
As that proud dame, the lord protector's wife.
Shak.

2. The mistress of a family in common life, or the mistress of a common school; as, a dame's school.

In the dame's classes at the village school.
Emerson.

3. A woman in general, esp. an elderly woman.

4. A mother; -- applied to human beings and quadrupeds. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dame"wort` (?), n. (Bot.) A cruciferrous plant (Hesperis matronalis), remarkable for its fragrance, especially toward the close of the day; -- called also rocket and dame's violet. Loudon.

Da`mi*a"na (?), n. [NL.; of uncertain origin.] (Med.) A Mexican drug, used as an aphrodisiac.

&fist; There are several varieties derived from different plants, esp. from a species of Turnera and from Bigelovia veneta. Wood & Bache.

Da"mi*an*ist (?), n. (Eccl. Hist.) A follower of Damian, patriarch of Alexandria in the 6th century, who held heretical opinions on the doctrine of the Holy Trinity.

{ Dam"mar (?), Dam"ma*ra (?), } n. [Jav. & Malay. damar.] An oleoresin used in making varnishes; dammar gum; dammara resin. It is obtained from certain resin trees indigenous to the East Indies, esp. Shorea robusta and the dammar pine.

Dammar pine, (Bot.), a tree of the Moluccas (Agathis orientalis, or Dammara orientalis), yielding dammar.

Dam"ma*ra, n. (Bot.) A large tree of the order Coniferæ, indigenous to the East Indies and Australasia; -- called also Agathis. There are several species.

Damn (dăm), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Damned (dămd or dăm"n&ebreve;d); p. pr. & vb. n. Damning (dăm"&ibreve;ng or dăm"n&ibreve;ng).] [OE. damnen dampnen (with excrescent p), OF. damner, dampner, F. damner, fr. L. damnare, damnatum, to condemn, fr. damnum damage, a fine, penalty. Cf. Condemn, Damage.] 1. To condemn; to declare guilty; to doom; to adjudge to punishment; to sentence; to censure.

He shall not live; look, with a spot I damn him.
Shak.

2. (Theol.) To doom to punishment in the future world; to consign to perdition; to curse.

3. To condemn as bad or displeasing, by open expression, as by denuciation, hissing, hooting, etc.

You are not so arrant a critic as to damn them [the works of modern poets] . . . without hearing.
Pope.

Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer,
And without sneering teach the rest to sneer.
Pope.

&fist; Damn is sometimes used interjectionally, imperatively, and intensively.

Damn, v. i. To invoke damnation; to curse. "While I inwardly damn." Goldsmith.

Dam`na*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality of being damnable; damnableness. Sir T. More.

Dam"na*ble (?), a. [L. damnabilis, fr. damnare: cf. F. damnable. See Damn.] 1. Liable to damnation; deserving, or for which one deserves, to be damned; of a damning nature.

A creature unprepared unmeet for death,
And to transport him in the mind he is,
Were damnable.
Shak.

2. Odious; pernicious; detestable.

Begin, murderer; . . . leave thy damnable faces.
Shak.

Dam"na*ble*ness, n. The state or quality of deserving damnation; execrableness.

The damnableness of this most execrable impiety.
Prynne.

Dam"na*bly, adv. 1. In a manner to incur severe censure, condemnation, or punishment.

2. Odiously; detestably; excessively. [Low]

Dam*na"tion (?), n. [F. damnation, L. damnatio, fr. damnare. See Damn.] 1. The state of being damned; condemnation; openly expressed disapprobation.

2. (Theol.) Condemnation to everlasting punishment in the future state, or the punishment itself.

How can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Matt. xxiii. 33.

Wickedness is sin, and sin is damnation.
Shak.

3. A sin deserving of everlasting punishment. [R.]

The deep damnation of his taking- off.
Shak.

Dam"na*to*ry (dăm"n&adot;*t&osl;*r&ybreve;), a. [L. damnatorius, fr. damnator a condemner.] Dooming to damnation; condemnatory. "Damnatory invectives." Hallam.

Damned (?), a. 1. Sentenced to punishment in a future state; condemned; consigned to perdition.

2. Hateful; detestable; abominable.

But, O, what damned minutes tells he o'er
Who doats, yet doubts, suspects, yet strongly loves.
Shak.

Dam*nif"ic (?), a. [L. damnificus; damnum damage, loss + facere to make. See Damn.] Procuring or causing loss; mischievous; injurious.

Dam`ni*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [LL. damnificatio.] That which causes damage or loss.

Dam"ni*fy (dăm"n&ibreve;*fī), v. t. [LL. damnificare, fr. L. damnificus: cf. OF. damnefier. See Damnific.] To cause loss or damage to; to injure; to impair. [R.]

This work will ask as many more officials to make expurgations and expunctions, that the commonwealth of learning be not damnified.
Milton.

Damn"ing (?), a. That damns; damnable; as, damning evidence of guilt.

Damn"ing*ness, n. Tendency to bring damnation. "The damningness of them [sins]." Hammond.

||dam"num (?), n. [L.] (law) Harm; detriment, either to character or property.

{ Dam"o*sel (dăm"&osl;*z&ebreve;l), Dam`o*sel"la (-z&ebreve;l"l&adot;), ||Da`moi`selle" (d&adot;`mwä`z&ebreve;l") }, n. See Damsel. [Archaic]

Dam"our*ite (dăm"&oocr;*īt), n. [Ater the French chemist Damour.] (Min.) A kind of Muscovite, or potash mica, containing water.

Damp (dămp), n. [Akin to LG., D., & Dan. damp vapor, steam, fog, G. dampf, Icel. dampi, Sw. damb dust, and to MNG. dimpfen to smoke, imp. dampf.] 1. Moisture; humidity; fog; fogginess; vapor.

Night . . . with black air
Accompanied, with damps and dreadful gloom.
Milton.

2. Dejection; depression; cloud of the mind.

Even now, while thus I stand blest in thy presence,
A secret damp of grief comes o'er my soul.
Addison.

It must have thrown a damp over your autumn excursion.
J. D. Forbes.

3. (Mining) A gaseous product, formed in coal mines, old wells, pints, etc.

Choke damp, a damp consisting principally of carbonic acid gas; -- so called from its extinguishing flame and animal life. See Carbonic acid, under Carbonic. -- Damp sheet, a curtain in a mine gallery to direct air currents and prevent accumulation of gas. -- Fire damp, a damp consisting chiefly of light carbureted hydrogen; -- so called from its tendence to explode when mixed with atmospheric air and brought into contact with flame.

Damp (?), a. [Compar. Damper (?); superl. Dampest.] 1. Being in a state between dry and wet; moderately wet; moist; humid.

O'erspread with a damp sweat and holy fear.
Dryden.

2. Dejected; depressed; sunk. [R.]

All these and more came flocking, but with looks
Downcast and damp.
Milton.

Damp, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Damped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Damping.] [OE. dampen to choke, suffocate. See Damp, n.] 1. To render damp; to moisten; to make humid, or moderately wet; to dampen; as, to damp cloth.

2. To put out, as fire; to depress or deject; to deaden; to cloud; to check or restrain, as action or vigor; to make dull; to weaken; to discourage. "To damp your tender hopes." Akenside.

Usury dulls and damps all industries, improvements, and new inventions, wherein money would be stirring if it were not for this slug.
Bacon.

How many a day has been damped and darkened by an angry word!
Sir J. Lubbock.

The failure of his enterprise damped the spirit of the soldiers.
Macaulay.

Damp"en (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dampened (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dampening.] 1. To make damp or moist; to make slightly wet.

2. To depress; to check; to make dull; to lessen.

In a way that considerably dampened our enthusiasm.
The Century.

Damp"en, v. i. To become damp; to deaden. Byron.

Damp"er (?), n. That which damps or checks; as: (a) A valve or movable plate in the flue or other part of a stove, furnace, etc., used to check or regulate the draught of air. (b) A contrivance, as in a pianoforte, to deaden vibrations; or, as in other pieces of mechanism, to check some action at a particular time.

Nor did Sabrina's presence seem to act as any damper at the modest little festivities.
W. Black.

Damp"ish (?), a. Moderately damp or moist.

-- Damp"ish*ly, adv. -- Damp"ish*ness, n.

Damp"ne (?), v. t. To damn. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Damp"ness, n. Moderate humidity; moisture; fogginess; moistness.

Damp" off` (?). To decay and perish through excessive moisture.

Damp"y (?), a. 1. Somewhat damp. [Obs.] Drayton.

2. Dejected; gloomy; sorrowful. [Obs.] "Dispel dampy throughts." Haywards.

Dam"sel (?), n. [OE. damosel, damesel, damisel, damsel, fr. OF. damoisele, damisele, gentlewoman, F. demoiselle young lady; cf. OF. damoisel young nobleman, F. damoiseau; fr. LL. domicella, dominicella, fem., domicellus, dominicellus, masc., dim. fr. L. domina, dominus. See Dame, and cf. Demoiselle, Doncella.] 1. A young person, either male or female, of noble or gentle extraction; as, Damsel Pepin; Damsel Richard, Prince of Wales. [Obs.]

2. A young unmarried woman; a girl; a maiden.

With her train of damsels she was gone,
In shady walks the scorching heat to shun.
Dryden.

Sometimes a troop of damsels glad, . . .
Goes by to towered Camelot.
Tennyson.

3. (Milling) An attachment to a millstone spindle for shaking the hopper.

Dam"son (dăm"z'n), n. [OE. damasin the Damascus plum, fr. L. Damascenus. See Damascene.] A small oval plum of a blue color, the fruit of a variety of the Prunus domestica; -- called also damask plum.

Dan (?), n. [OE. dan, danz, OF. danz (prop. only nom.), dan, master, fr. L. dominus. See Dame.] A title of honor equivalent to master, or sir. [Obs.]

Old Dan Geoffry, in gently spright
The pure wellhead of poetry did dwell.
Spenser.

What time Dan Abraham left the Chaldee land.
Thomson.

Dan, n. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Mining) A small truck or sledge used in coal mines.

Da"na*ide (?), n. [From the mythical Danaides, who were condemned to fill with water a vessel full of holes.] (Mach.) A water wheel having a vertical axis, and an inner and outer tapering shell, between which are vanes or floats attached usually to both shells, but sometimes only to one.

Da"na*ite (?), n. [Named after J. Freeman Dana.] (Min.) A cobaltiferous variety of arsenopyrite.

Da"na*lite (?), n. [Named after James Dwight Dana.] (Min.) A mineral occuring in octahedral crystals, also massive, of a reddish color. It is a silicate of iron, zinc manganese, and glucinum, containing sulphur.

Dan"bu*rite (?), n. (Min.) A borosilicate of lime, first found at Danbury, Conn. It is near the topaz in form. Dana.

Dance (d&adot;ns), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Danced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dancing.] [F. danser, fr. OHG. dansōn to draw; akin to dinsan to draw, Goth. apinsan, and prob. from the same root (meaning to stretch) as E. thin. See Thin.] 1. To move with measured steps, or to a musical accompaniment; to go through, either alone or in company with others, with a regulated succession of movements, (commonly) to the sound of music; to trip or leap rhythmically.

Jack shall pipe and Gill shall dance.
Wither.

Good shepherd, what fair swain is this
Which dances with your daughter?
Shak.

2. To move nimbly or merrily; to express pleasure by motion; to caper; to frisk; to skip about.

Then, 'tis time to dance off.
Thackeray.

More dances my rapt heart
Than when I first my wedded mistress saw.
Shak.

Shadows in the glassy waters dance.
Byron.

Where rivulets dance their wayward round.
Wordsworth.

To dance on a rope, or To dance on nothing, to be hanged.

Dance (?), v. t. To cause to dance, or move nimbly or merrily about, or up and down; to dandle.

To dance our ringlets to the whistling wind.
Shak.

Thy grandsire loved thee well;
Many a time he danced thee on his knee.
Shak.

To dance attendance, to come and go obsequiously; to be or remain in waiting, at the beck and call of another, with a view to please or gain favor.

A man of his place, and so near our favor,
To dance attendance on their lordships' pleasure.
Shak.

Dance, n. [F. danse, of German origin. See Dance, v. i.] 1. The leaping, tripping, or measured stepping of one who dances; an amusement, in which the movements of the persons are regulated by art, in figures and in accord with music.

2. (Mus.) A tune by which dancing is regulated, as the minuet, the waltz, the cotillon, etc.

&fist; The word dance was used ironically, by the older writers, of many proceedings besides dancing.

Of remedies of love she knew parchance
For of that art she couth the olde dance.
Chaucer.

Dance of Death (Art), an allegorical representation of the power of death over all, -- the old, the young, the high, and the low, being led by a dancing skeleton. -- Morris dance. See Morris. -- To lead one a dance, to cause one to go through a series of movements or experiences as if guided by a partner in a dance not understood.

Dan"cer (?), n. One who dances or who practices dancing.

The merry dancers, beams of the northern lights when they rise and fall alternately without any considerable change of length. See Aurora borealis, under Aurora.

Dan"cer*ess, n. A female dancer. [Obs.] Wyclif.

Dan`cet`té" (?), a. [Cf. F. danché dancetté, dent tooth.] (Her.) Deeply indented; having large teeth; thus, a fess dancetté has only three teeth in the whole width of the escutcheon.

Dan"cing (?), p. a. & vb. n. from Dance.

Dancing girl, one of the women in the East Indies whose profession is to dance in the temples, or for the amusement of spectators. There are various classes of dancing girls. -- Dancing master, a teacher of dancing. -- Dancing school, a school or place where dancing is taught.

Dan"cy (?), a. (Her.) Same as Dancetté.

Dan"de*li`on (?), n. [F. dent de lion lion's tooth, fr. L. dens tooth + leo lion. See Tooth, n., and Lion.] (Bot.) A well-known plant of the genus Taraxacum (T. officinale, formerly called T. Dens-leonis and Leontodos Taraxacum) bearing large, yellow, compound flowers, and deeply notched leaves.

Dan"der (?), n. [Corrupted from dandruff.] 1. Dandruff or scurf on the head.

2. Anger or vexation; rage. [Low] Halliwell.

Dan"der, v. i. [See Dandle.] To wander about; to saunter; to talk incoherently. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

||Dan"di (?), n. [Hind. &dsdot;ān&dsdot;i, fr. &dsdot;ān&dsdot; an oar.] A boatman; an oarsman. [India]

Dan"die (?), n. (Zoöl.) One of a breed of small terriers; -- called also Dandie Dinmont.

Dan"di*fied (?), a. Made up like a dandy; having the dress or manners of a dandy; buckish.

Dan"di*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dandified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dandifying.] [Dandy + -fy.] To cause to resemble a dandy; to make dandyish.

Dan"di*prat (?), n. [Dandy + brat child.] 1. A little fellow; -- in sport or contempt. "A dandiprat hop-thumb." Stanyhurst.

2. A small coin.

Henry VII. stamped a small coin called dandiprats.
Camden.

Dan"dle (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dandled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dandling (?).] [Cf. G. dändeln to trifly, dandle, OD. & Prov. G. danten, G. tand trifly, prattle; Scot. dandill, dander, to go about idly, to trifly.] 1. To move up and down on one's knee or in one's arms, in affectionate play, as an infant.

Ye shall be dandled . . . upon her knees.
Is.&?;

2. To treat with fondness, as if a child; to fondle; to toy with; to pet.

They have put me in a silk gown and gaudy fool's cap; I as ashamed to be dandled thus.
Addison.

The book, thus dandled into popularity by bishops and good ladies, contained many pieces of nursery eloquence.
Jeffrey.

3. To play with; to put off or delay by trifles; to wheedle. [Obs.]

Captains do so dandle their doings, and dally in the service, as it they would not have the enemy subdued.
Spenser.

Dan"dler (dăn"dl&etilde;r), n. One who dandles or fondles.

Dan"driff (dăn"dr&ibreve;f), n. See Dandruff. Swift.

Dandruff (dăn"drŭf), n. [Prob. from W. toncrust, peel, skin + AS. drōf dirty, draffy, or W. drwg bad: cf. AS. tan a letter, an eruption. √240.] A scurf which forms on the head, and comes off in small scales or particles. [Written also dandriff.]

Dan"dy (dăn"d&ybreve;), n.; pl. Dandies (-d&ibreve;z). [Cf. F. dandin, ninny, silly fellow, dandiner to waddle, to play the fool; prob. allied to E. dandle. Senses 2 & 3 are of uncertain etymol.] 1. One who affects special finery or gives undue attention to dress; a fop; a coxcomb.

2. (Naut.) (a) A sloop or cutter with a jigger on which a lugsail is set. (b) A small sail carried at or near the stern of small boats; -- called also jigger, and mizzen.

3. A dandy roller. See below.

Dandy brush, a yard whalebone brush. -- Dandy fever. See Dengue. -- Dandy line, a kind of fishing line to which are attached several crosspieces of whalebone which carry a hook at each end. -- Dandy roller, a roller sieve used in machines for making paper, to press out water from the pulp, and set the paper.

Dan"dy-cock` (&?;), n. masc., Dan"dy-hen` (&?;), n. fem. [See Dandy.] A bantam fowl.

Dan"dy*ish, a. Like a dandy.

Dan"dy*ism (?), n. The manners and dress of a dandy; foppishness. Byron.

Dan"dy*ize (?), v. t. & i. To make, or to act, like a dandy; to dandify.

Dan"dy*ling (?), n. [Dandy + -ling.] A little or insignificant dandy; a contemptible fop.

Dane (?), n. [LL. Dani: cf. AS. Dene.] A native, or a naturalized inhabitant, of Denmark.

Great Dane. (Zoöl.) See Danish dog, under Danish.

{ Dane"geld` (?), Dane"gelt` (?) }, n. [AS. danegeld. See Dane, and Geld, n.] (Eng. Hist.) An annual tax formerly laid on the English nation to buy off the ravages of Danish invaders, or to maintain forces to oppose them. It afterward became a permanent tax, raised by an assessment, at first of one shilling, afterward of two shillings, upon every hide of land throughout the realm. Wharton's Law Dict. Tomlins.

Dane"wort` (?), n. (Bot.) A fetid European species of elder (Sambucus Ebulus); dwarf elder; wallwort; elderwort; -- called also Daneweed, Dane's weed, and Dane's-blood. [Said to grow on spots where battles were fought against the Danes.]

Dang (?), imp. of Ding. [Obs.]

Dang, v. t. [Cf. Ding.] To dash. [Obs.]

Till she, o'ercome with anguish, shame, and rage,
Danged down to hell her loathsome carriage.
Marlowe.

Dan"ger (?), n. [OE. danger, daunger, power, arrogance, refusal, difficulty, fr. OF. dagier, dongier (with same meaning), F. danger danger, fr. an assumed LL. dominiarium power, authority, from L. dominium power, property. See Dungeon, Domain, Dame.] 1. Authority; jurisdiction; control. [Obs.]

In dangerhad he . . . the young girls.
Chaucer.

2. Power to harm; subjection or liability to penalty. [Obs.] See In one's danger, below.

You stand within his danger, do you not?
Shak.

Covetousness of gains hath brought [them] in dangerof this statute.
Robynson (More's Utopia).

3. Exposure to injury, loss, pain, or other evil; peril; risk; insecurity.

4. Difficulty; sparingness. [Obs.] Chaucer.

5. Coyness; disdainful behavior. [Obs.] Chaucer.

In one's danger, in one's power; liable to a penalty to be inflicted by him. [Obs.] This sense is retained in the proverb, "Out of debt out of danger."

Those rich man in whose debt and danger they be not.
Robynson (More's Utopia).

-- To do danger, to cause danger. [Obs.] Shak.

Syn. -- Peril; hazard; risk; jeopardy. -- Danger, Peril, Hazard, Risk, Jeopardy. Danger is the generic term, and implies some contingent evil in prospect. Peril is instant or impending danger; as, in peril of one's life. Hazard arises from something fortuitous or beyond our control; as, the hazard of the seas. Risk is doubtful or uncertain danger, often incurred voluntarily; as, to risk an engagement. Jeopardy is extreme danger. Danger of a contagious disease; the perils of shipwreck; the hazards of speculation; the risk of daring enterprises; a life brought into jeopardy.

Dan"ger, v. t. To endanger. [Obs.] Shak.

Dan"ger*ful (?), a. Full of danger; dangerous. [Obs.] -- Dan"ger*ful*ly, adv. [Obs.] Udall.

Dan"ger*less, a. Free from danger. [R.]

Dan"ger*ous (?), a. [OE., haughty, difficult, dangerous, fr. OF. dangereus, F. dangereux. See Danger.] 1. Attended or beset with danger; full of risk; perilous; hazardous; unsafe.

Our troops set forth to-morrow; stay with us;
The ways are dangerous.
Shak.

It is dangerous to assert a negative.
Macaulay.

2. Causing danger; ready to do harm or injury.

If they incline to think you dangerous
To less than gods.
Milton.

3. In a condition of danger, as from illness; threatened with death. [Colloq.] Forby. Bartlett.

4. Hard to suit; difficult to please. [Obs.]

My wages ben full strait, and eke full small;
My lord to me is hard and dangerous.
Chaucer.

5. Reserved; not affable. [Obs.] "Of his speech dangerous." Chaucer.

-- Dan"ger*ous*ly, adv. -- Dan"ger*ous*ness, n.

Dan"gle (dă&nsm;"g'l), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dangled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dangling (?).] [Akin to Dan. dangle, dial. Sw. dangla, Dan. dingle, Sw. dingla, Icel. dingla; perh. from E. ding.] To hang loosely, or with a swinging or jerking motion.

He'd rather on a gibbet dangle
Than miss his dear delight, to wrangle.
Hudibras.

From her lifted hand
Dangled a length of ribbon.
Tennyson.

To dangle about or after, to hang upon importunately; to court the favor of; to beset.

The Presbyterians, and other fanatics that dangle after them,
are well inclined to pull down the present establishment.
Swift.

Dan"gle (?), v. t. To cause to dangle; to swing, as something suspended loosely; as, to dangle the feet.

And the bridegroom stood dangling his bonnet and plume.
Sir W. Scott.

Dan"gle*ber`ry (?), n. (Bot.) A dark blue, edible berry with a white bloom, and its shrub (Gaylussacia frondosa) closely allied to the common huckleberry. The bush is also called blue tangle, and is found from New England to Kentucky, and southward.

Dan"gler (?), n. One who dangles about or after others, especially after women; a trifler. " Danglers at toilets." Burke.

Dan"i*el (?), n. A Hebrew prophet distinguished for sagacity and ripeness of judgment in youth; hence, a sagacious and upright judge.

A Daniel come to judgment.
Shak.

Dan"ish (?), a. [See Dane.] Belonging to the Danes, or to their language or country. - - n. The language of the Danes.

Danish dog (Zoöl.), one of a large and powerful breed of dogs reared in Denmark; -- called also great Dane. See Illustration in Appendix.

Dan"ite (?), n. 1. A descendant of Dan; an Israelite of the tribe of Dan. Judges xiii. 2.

2. [So called in remembrance of the prophecy in Gen. xlix. 17, "Dan shall be a serpent by the way," etc.] One of a secret association of Mormons, bound by an oath to obey the heads of the church in all things. [U. S.]

Dank (?), a. [Cf. dial, Sw. dank a moist place in a field, Icel. dökk pit, pool; possibly akin to E. damp or to daggle dew.] Damp; moist; humid; wet.

Now that the fields are dank and ways are mire.
Milton.

Cheerless watches on the cold, dank ground.
Trench.

Dank, n. Moisture; humidity; water. [Obs.]

Dank, n. A small silver coin current in Persia.

Dank"ish, a. Somewhat dank. -- Dank"ish*ness, n.

In a dark and dankish vault at home.
Shak.

Dan"ne*brog (?), n. The ancient battle standard of Denmark, bearing figures of cross and crown.

Order of Dannebrog, an ancient Danish order of knighthood.

||Dan`seuse" (?), n. [F., fr. danser to dance.] A professional female dancer; a woman who dances at a public exhibition as in a ballet.

Dansk (?), a. [Dan.] Danish. [Obs.]

Dansk"er (?), n. A Dane. [Obs.]

Inquire me first what Danskers are in Paris.
Shak.

Dan*te"an (?), a. Relating to, emanating from or resembling, the poet Dante or his writings.

Dan*tesque" (?), a. [Cf. It. Dantesco.] Dantelike; Dantean. Earle.

Da*nu"bi*an (?), a. Pertaining to, or bordering on, the river Danube.

Dap (dăp), v. i. [Cf. Dip.] (Angling) To drop the bait gently on the surface of the water.

To catch a club by dapping with a grasshoper.
Walton.

Da*pat"ic*al (?), a. [L. dapaticus, fr. daps feast.] Sumptuous in cheer. [Obs.] Bailey.

Daph"ne (?), n. [L., a laurel tree, from Gr. da`fnh.] 1. (Bot.) A genus of diminutive Shrubs, mostly evergreen, and with fragrant blossoms.

2. (Myth.) A nymph of Diana, fabled to have been changed into a laurel tree.

Daph"ne*tin (?), n. (Chem.) A colorless crystalline substance, C9H6O4, extracted from daphnin.

||Daph"ni*a (?), n. [NL.] (Zoöl.) A genus of the genus Daphnia.

Daph"nin (?), n. [Cf. F. daphnine.] (Chem.) (a) A dark green bitter resin extracted from the mezereon (Daphne mezereum) and regarded as the essential principle of the plant. [R.] (b) A white, crystalline, bitter substance, regarded as a glucoside, and extracted from Daphne mezereum and D. alpina.

Daph"no*man`cy (?), n. [Gr. da`fnh the laurel + -mancy.] Divination by means of the laurel.

||Dap"i*fer (?), n. [L., daps a feast + ferre to bear.] One who brings meat to the table; hence, in some countries, the official title of the grand master or steward of the king's or a nobleman's household.

Dap"per (?), a. [OE. daper; prob. fr. D. dapper brave, valiant; akin to G. tapfer brave, OHG. taphar heavy, weighty, OSlav. dobrŭ good, Russ. dobrui. Cf. Deft.] Little and active; spruce; trim; smart; neat in dress or appearance; lively.

He wondered how so many provinces could be held in subjection by such a dapper little man.
Milton.

The dapper ditties that I wont devise.
Spenser.

Sharp-nosed, dapper steam yachts.
Julian Hawthorne.

Dap"per*ling (?), n. A dwarf; a dandiprat. [r.]

Dap"ple (?), n. [Cf. Icel. depill a spot, a dot, a dog with spots over the eyes, dapi a pool, and E. dimple.] One of the spots on a dappled animal.

He has . . . as many eyes on his body as my gray mare hath dapples.
Sir P. Sidney.

{ Dap"ple (?), Dap"pled (?) }, a. Marked with spots of different shades of color; spotted; variegated; as, a dapple horse.

Some dapple mists still floated along the peaks.
Sir W. Scott.

&fist; The word is used in composition to denote that some color is variegated or marked with spots; as, dapple-bay; dapple-gray.

His steed was all dapple-gray.
Chaucer.

O, swiftly can speed my dapple-gray steed.
Sir W. Scott.

Dap"ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dappled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dappling.] To variegate with spots; to spot.

The gentle day, . . .
Dapples the drowsy east with spots of gray.
Shak.

The dappled pink and blushing rose.
Prior.

Dar"bies (?), n. pl. Manacles; handcuffs. [Cant]

Jem Clink will fetch you the darbies.
Sir W. Scott.

&fist; In "The Steel Glass" by Gascoigne, printed in 1576, occurs the line "To binde such babes in father Derbies bands."

Dar"by (?), n. A plasterer's float, having two handles; -- used in smoothing ceilings, etc.

Dar"by*ite (?), n. One of the Plymouth Brethren, or of a sect among them; -- so called from John N. Darby, one of the leaders of the Brethren.

Dar*da"ni*an (?), a. & n.[From L. Dardania, poetic name of Troy.] Trojan.

Dare (?), v. i. [imp. Durst (?) or Dared (&?;); p. p. Dared; p. pr. & vb. n. Daring.] [OE. I dar, dear, I dare, imp. dorste, durste, AS. ic dear I dare, imp. dorste. inf. durran; akin to OS. gidar, gidorsta, gidurran, OHG. tar, torsta, turran, Goth. gadar, gadaúrsta, Gr. tharsei^n, tharrei^n, to be bold, tharsy`s bold, Skr. Dhrsh to be bold. √70.] To have adequate or sufficient courage for any purpose; to be bold or venturesome; not to be afraid; to venture.

I dare do all that may become a man; Who dares do more is none.
Shak.

Why then did not the ministers use their new law? Bacause they durst not, because they could not.
Macaulay.

Who dared to sully her sweet love with suspicion.
Thackeray.

The tie of party was stronger than the tie of blood, because a partisan was more ready to dare without asking why.
Jowett (Thu&?;yd.).

&fist; The present tense, I dare, is really an old past tense, so that the third person is he dare, but the form he dares is now often used, and will probably displace the obsolescent he dare, through grammatically as incorrect as he shalls or he cans. Skeat.

The pore dar plede (the poor man dare plead).
P. Plowman.

You know one dare not discover you.
Dryden.

The fellow dares not deceive me.
Shak.

Here boldly spread thy hands, no venom'd weed
Dares blister them, no slimy snail dare creep.
Beau. & Fl.

&fist; Formerly durst was also used as the present. Sometimes the old form dare is found for durst or dared.

Dare, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dared; p. pr. & vb. n. Daring.] 1. To have courage for; to attempt courageously; to venture to do or to undertake.

What high concentration of steady feeling makes men dare every thing and do anything?
Bagehot.

To wrest it from barbarism, to dare its solitudes.
The Century.

2. To challenge; to provoke; to defy.

Time, I dare thee to discover
Such a youth and such a lover.
Dryden.

Dare, n. 1. The quality of daring; venturesomeness; boldness; dash. [R.]

It lends a luster . . .
A large dare to our great enterprise.
Shak.

2. Defiance; challenge.

Childish, unworthy dares
Are not enought to part our powers.
Chapman.

Sextus Pompeius
Hath given the dare to Cæsar.
Shak.

Dare, v. i. [OE. darien, to lie hidden, be timid.] To lurk; to lie hid. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dare, v. t. To terrify; to daunt. [Obs.]

For I have done those follies, those mad mischiefs,
Would dare a woman.
Beau. & Fl.

To dare larks, to catch them by producing terror through to use of mirrors, scarlet cloth, a hawk, etc., so that they lie still till a net is thrown over them. Nares.

Dare, n. [See Dace.] (Zoöl.) A small fish; the dace.

Dare"-dev`il (?), n. A reckless fellow. Also used adjectively; as, dare-devil excitement.

A humorous dare-devil -- the very man
To suit my prpose.
Ld. Lytton.

Dare"-dev`il*try (?), n; pl. Dare-deviltries (&?;). Reckless mischief; the action of a dare-devil.

Dare"ful (?), a. Full of daring or of defiance; adventurous. [R.] Shak.

Dar"er (?), n. One who dares or defies.

{ Darg, Dargue (?) }, n. [Scot., contr. fr. day work.] A day's work; also, a fixed amount of work, whether more or less than that of a day. [Local, Eng. & Scot.]

Dar"ic (dăr"&ibreve;k), n. [Gr. dareiko`s, of Persian origin.] 1. (Antiq.) (a) A gold coin of ancient Persia, weighing usually a little more than 128 grains, and bearing on one side the figure of an archer. (b) A silver coin of about 86 grains, having the figure of an archer, and hence, in modern times, called a daric.

2. Any very pure gold coin.

Dar"ing (?), n. Boldness; fearlessness; adventurousness; also, a daring act.

Dar"ing, a. Bold; fearless; adventurous; as, daring spirits. -- Dar"ing*ly, adv. -- Dar"ing*ness, n.

Dark (därk), a. [OE. dark, derk, deork, AS. dearc, deorc; cf. Gael. & Ir. dorch, dorcha, dark, black, dusky.] 1. Destitute, or partially destitute, of light; not receiving, reflecting, or radiating light; wholly or partially black, or of some deep shade of color; not light-colored; as, a dark room; a dark day; dark cloth; dark paint; a dark complexion.

O dark, dark, dark, amid the blaze of noon,
Irrecoverably dark, total eclipse
Without all hope of day!
Milton.

In the dark and silent grave.
Sir W. Raleigh.

2. Not clear to the understanding; not easily seen through; obscure; mysterious; hidden.

The dark problems of existence.
Shairp.

What may seem dark at the first, will afterward be found more plain.
Hooker.

What's your dark meaning, mouse, of this light word?
Shak.

3. Destitute of knowledge and culture; in moral or intellectual darkness; unrefined; ignorant.

The age wherein he lived was dark, but he
Could not want light who taught the world to see.
Denhan.

The tenth century used to be reckoned by mediæval historians as the darkest part of this intellectual night.
Hallam.

4. Evincing black or foul traits of character; vile; wicked; atrocious; as, a dark villain; a dark deed.

Left him at large to his own dark designs.
Milton.

5. Foreboding evil; gloomy; jealous; suspicious.

More dark and dark our woes.
Shak.

A deep melancholy took possesion of him, and gave a dark tinge to all his views of human nature.
Macaulay.

There is, in every true woman-s heart, a spark of heavenly fire, which beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity.
W. Irving.

6. Deprived of sight; blind. [Obs.]

He was, I think, at this time quite dark, and so had been for some years.
Evelyn.

&fist; Dark is sometimes used to qualify another adjective; as, dark blue, dark green, and sometimes it forms the first part of a compound; as, dark-haired, dark-eyed, dark-colored, dark-seated, dark-working.

A dark horse, in racing or politics, a horse or a candidate whose chances of success are not known, and whose capabilities have not been made the subject of general comment or of wagers. [Colloq.] -- Dark house, Dark room, a house or room in which madmen were confined. [Obs.] Shak. -- Dark lantern. See Lantern. -- The Dark Ages, a period of stagnation and obscurity in literature and art, lasting, according to Hallam, nearly 1000 years, from about 500 to about 1500 A. D.. See Middle Ages, under Middle. -- The Dark and Bloody Ground, a phrase applied to the State of Kentucky, and said to be the significance of its name, in allusion to the frequent wars that were waged there between Indians. -- The dark day, a day (May 19, 1780) when a remarkable and unexplained darkness extended over all New England. -- To keep dark, to reveal nothing. [Low]

Dark (?), n. 1. Absence of light; darkness; obscurity; a place where there is little or no light.

Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out.
Shak.

2. The condition of ignorance; gloom; secrecy.

Look, what you do, you do it still i' th' dark.
Shak.

Till we perceive by our own understandings, we are as much in the dark, and as void of knowledge, as before.
Locke.

3. (Fine Arts) A dark shade or dark passage in a painting, engraving, or the like; as, the light and darks are well contrasted.

The lights may serve for a repose to the darks, and the darks to the lights.
Dryden.

Dark, v. t. To darken; to obscure. [Obs.] Milton.

Dark"en (därk"'n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Darkened (-'nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Darkening (-n*&ibreve;ng).] [AS. deorcian. See Dark, a.] 1. To make dark or black; to deprive of light; to obscure; as, a darkened room.

They [locusts] covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened.
Ex. x. 15.

So spake the Sovran Voice; and clouds began
To darken all the hill.
Milton.

2. To render dim; to deprive of vision.

Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see.
Rom. xi. 10.

3. To cloud, obscure, or perplex; to render less clear or intelligible.

Such was his wisdom that his confidence did seldom darkenhis foresight.
Bacon.

Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
Job. xxxviii. 2.

4. To cast a gloom upon.

With these forced thoughts, I prithee, darken not
The mirth of the feast.
Shak.

5. To make foul; to sully; to tarnish.

I must not think there are
Evils enough to darken all his goodness.
Shak.

Dark"en, v. i. To grow or darker.

Dark"en*er (?), n. One who, or that which, darkens.

Dark"en*ing, n. Twilight; gloaming. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Wright.

Dark"ful (?), a. Full of darkness. [Obs.]

Dark"ish (?), a. Somewhat dark; dusky.

Dar"kle (?), v. i. [Freq. of dark.] To grow dark; to show indistinctly. Thackeray.

Dark"ling (?), adv. [Dark + the adverbial suffix -ling.] In the dark. [Poetic]

So, out went the candle, and we were left darkling.
Shak.

As the wakeful bird
Sings darkling.
Milton.

Dark"ling, p. pr. & a. 1. Becoming dark or gloomy; frowing.

His honest brows darkling as he looked towards me.
Thackeray.

2. Dark; gloomy. "The darkling precipice." Moore.

Dark"ly, adv. 1. With imperfect light, clearness, or knowledge; obscurely; dimly; blindly; uncertainly.

What fame to future times conveys but darkly down.
Dryden.

so softly dark and darkly pure.
Byron.

2. With a dark, gloomy, cruel, or menacing look.

Looking darkly at the clerguman.
Hawthorne.

Dark"ness, n. 1. The absence of light; blackness; obscurity; gloom.

And darkness was upon the face of the deep.
Gen. i. 2.

2. A state of privacy; secrecy.

What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light.
Matt. x. 27.

3. A state of ignorance or error, especially on moral or religious subjects; hence, wickedness; impurity.

Men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
John. iii. 19.

Pursue these sons of darkness: drive them out
From all heaven's bounds.
Milton.

4. Want of clearness or perspicuity; obscurity; as, the darkness of a subject, or of a discussion.

5. A state of distress or trouble.

A day of clouds and of thick darkness.
Joel. ii. 2.

Prince of darkness, the Devil; Satan. "In the power of the Prince of darkness." Locke.

Syn. -- Darkness, Dimness, Obscurity, Gloom. Darkness arises from a total, and dimness from a partial, want of light. A thing is obscure when so overclouded or covered as not to be easily perceived. As tha shade or obscurity increases, it deepens into gloom. What is dark is hidden from view; what is obscure is difficult to perceive or penetrate; the eye becomes dim with age; an impending storm fills the atmosphere with gloom. When taken figuratively, these words have a like use; as, the darkness of ignorance; dimness of discernment; obscurity of reasoning; gloom of superstition.

Dark"some (?), a. Dark; gloomy; obscure; shaded; cheerless. [Poetic]

He brought him through a darksome narrow pass
To a broad gate, all built of beaten gold.
Spenser.

Dark"y (?), n. A negro. [Sleng]

Dar"ling (?), n. [OE. derling, deorling, AS. deórling; deóre dear + -ling. See Dear, and -ling.] One dearly beloved; a favorite.

And can do naught but wail her darling's loss.
Shak.

Dar"ling, a. Dearly beloved; regarded with especial kindness and tenderness; favorite. "Some darling science." I. Watts. "Darling sin." Macaulay.

||Dar`ling*to"ni*a (?), n. [NL. Named after Dr. William Darlington, a botanist of West Chester, Penn.] (Bot.) A genus of California pitcher plants consisting of a single species. The long tubular leaves are hooded at the top, and frequently contain many insects drowned in the secretion of the leaves.

Darn (därn), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Darned (därnd); p. pr. & vb. n. Darning.] [OE. derne, prob. of Celtic origin; cf. W. darnio to piece, break in pieces, W. & Arm. to E. tear. Cf. Tear, v. t.] To mend as a rent or hole, with interlacing stitches of yarn or thread by means of a needle; to sew together with yarn or thread.

He spent every day ten hours in his closet, in darning his stockings.
Swift.

Darning last. See under Last. -- Darning needle. (a) A long, strong needle for mending holes or rents, especially in stockings. (b) (Zoöl.) Any species of dragon fly, having a long, cylindrical body, resembling a needle. These flies are harmless and without stings. [In this sense, usually written with a hyphen.] Called also devil's darning- needle.

Darn, n. A place mended by darning.

Darn, v. t. A colloquial euphemism for Damn.

Dar"nel (?), n. [OE. darnel, dernel, of uncertain origin; cf. dial. F. darnelle, Sw. dår-repe; perh. named from a supposed intoxicating quality of the plant, and akin to Sw. dåra to infatuate, OD. door foolish, G. thor fool, and Ee. dizzy.] (Bot.) Any grass of the genus Lolium, esp. the Lolium temulentum (bearded darnel), the grains of which have been reputed poisonous. Other species, as Lolium perenne (rye grass or ray grass), and its variety L. Italicum (Italian rye grass), are highly esteemed for pasture and for making hay.

&fist; Under darnel our early herbalists comprehended all kinds of cornfield weeds. Dr. Prior.

Darn"er (?), n. One who mends by darning.

{ Dar"nex (?), Dar"nic (?), } n. Same as Dornick.

||Da*roo" (d&adot;*r&oomac;"), n. (Bot.) The Egyptian sycamore (Ficus Sycamorus). See Sycamore.

Darr (dăr), n. (Zoöl.) The European black tern.

{ Dar"raign, Dar"rain, } (?), v. t. [OF. deraisnier to explain, defend, to maintain in legal action by proof and reasonings, LL. derationare; de- + rationare to discourse, contend in law, fr. L. ratio reason, in LL., legal cause. Cf. Arraign, and see Reason.] 1. To make ready to fight; to array. [Obs.]

Darrain your battle, for they are at hand.
Shak.

2. To fight out; to contest; to decide by combat. [Obs.] "To darrain the battle." Chaucer .

Dar"rein, a. [OF. darrein, darrain, fr. an assumed LL. deretranus; L. de + retro back, backward.] (Law) Last; as, darrein continuance, the last continuance.

Dart (?), n. [OF. dart, of German origin; cf. OHG. tart javelin, dart, AS. dara&?;, daro&?;, Sw. dart dagger, Icel. darra&?;r dart.] 1. A pointed missile weapon, intended to be thrown by the hand; a short lance; a javelin; hence, any sharp-pointed missile weapon, as an arrow.

And he [Joab] took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom.
2 Sa. xviii. 14.

2. Anything resembling a dart; anything that pierces or wounds like a dart.

The artful inquiry, whose venomed dart
Scarce wounds the hearing while it stabs the heart.
Hannan More.

3. A spear set as a prize in running. [Obs.] Chaucer.

4. (Zoöl.) A fish; the dace. See Dace.

Dart sac (Zoöl.), a sac connected with the reproductive organs of land snails, which contains a dart, or arrowlike structure.

Dart, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Darted; p. pr. & vb. n. Darting.] 1. To throw with a sudden effort or thrust, as a dart or other missile weapon; to hurl or launch.

2. To throw suddenly or rapidly; to send forth; to emit; to shoot; as, the sun darts forth his beams.

Or what ill eyes malignant glances dart?
Pope.

Dart, v. i. 1. To fly or pass swiftly, as a dart.

2. To start and run with velocity; to shoot rapidly along; as, the deer darted from the thicket.

Dar"tars (?), n. [F. dartre eruption, dandruff. √240.] A kind of scab or ulceration on the skin of lambs.

Dart"er (?), n. 1. One who darts, or who throw darts; that which darts.

2. (Zoöl.) The snakebird, a water bird of the genus Plotus; -- so called because it darts out its long, snakelike neck at its prey. See Snakebird.

3. (Zoöl.) A small fresh-water etheostomoid fish. The group includes numerous genera and species, all of them American. See Etheostomoid.

Dart"ing*ly (?), adv. Like a dart; rapidly.

Dar"tle (?), v. t. & i. To pierce or shoot through; to dart repeatedly: -- frequentative of dart.

My star that dartles the red and the blue.
R. Browning.

Dar*to"ic (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the dartos.

Dar"toid (?), a. [Dartos + - oid.] (Anat.) Like the dartos; dartoic; as, dartoid tissue.

||Dar"tos (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; flayed.] (Anat.) A thin layer of peculiar contractile tissue directly beneath the skin of the scrotum.

Dar"trous (?), a. [F. dartreux. See Dartars.] (Med.) Relating to, or partaking of the nature of, the disease called tetter; herpetic.

Dartrous diathesis, A morbid condition of the system predisposing to the development of certain skin diseases, such as eczema, psoriasis, and pityriasis. Also called rheumic diathesis, and herpetism. Piffard.

Dar*win"i*an (?), a. [From the name of Charles Darwin, an English scientist.] Pertaining to Darwin; as, the Darwinian theory, a theory of the manner and cause of the supposed development of living things from certain original forms or elements.

&fist; This theory was put forth by Darwin in 1859 in a work entitled "The Origin of species by Means of Natural Selection." The author argues that, in the struggle for existence, those plants and creatures best fitted to the requirements of the situation in which they are placed are the ones that will live; in other words, that Nature selects those which are to survive. This is the theory of natural selection or the survival of the fittest. He also argues that natural selection is capable of modifying and producing organisms fit for their circumstances. See Development theory, under Development.

Dar*win"i*an, n. An advocate of Darwinism.

Dar*win"i*an*ism (?), n. Darwinism.

Dar"win*ism (?), n. (Biol.) The theory or doctrines put forth by Darwin. See above. Huxley.

Dase (dāz), v. t. See Daze. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dase"we (?), v. i. [OE. dasewen, daswen; cf. AS. dysegian to be foolish.] To become dim-sighted; to become dazed or dazzled. [Obs.] Chauscer.

Dash (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dashed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dashing.] [Of. Scand. origin; cf. Dan daske to beat, strike, Sw. & Icel. daska, Dan. & Sw. dask blow.] 1. To throw with violence or haste; to cause to strike violently or hastily; -- often used with against.

If you dash a stone against a stone in the botton of the water, it maketh a sound.
Bacon.

2. To break, as by throwing or by collision; to shatter; to crust; to frustrate; to ruin.

Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
Ps. ii. 9.

A brave vessel, . . .
Dashed all to pieces.
Shak.

To perplex and dash
Maturest counsels.
Milton.

3. To put to shame; to confound; to confuse; to abash; to depress. South.

Dash the proud gamester in his gilded car.
Pope.

4. To throw in or on in a rapid, careless manner; to mix, reduce, or adulterate, by throwing in something of an inferior quality; to overspread partially; to bespatter; to touch here and there; as, to dash wine with water; to dash paint upon a picture.

I take care to dash the character with such particular circumstance as may prevent ill-natured applications.
Addison.

The very source and fount of day
Is dashed with wandering isles of night.
Tennyson.

5. To form or sketch rapidly or carelessly; to execute rapidly, or with careless haste; -- with off; as, to dash off a review or sermon.

6. To erase by a stroke; to strike out; knock out; -- with out; as, to dash out a word.

Dash, v. i. To rush with violence; to move impetuously; to strike violently; as, the waves dash upon rocks.

[He] dashed through thick and thin.
Dryden.

On each hand the gushing waters play,
And down the rough cascade all dashing fall.
Thomson.

Dash, n. 1. Violent striking together of two bodies; collision; crash.

2. A sudden check; abashment; frustration; ruin; as, his hopes received a dash.

3. A slight admixture, infusion, or adulteration; a partial overspreading; as, wine with a dash of water; red with a dash of purple.

Innocence when it has in it a dash of folly.
Addison.

4. A rapid movement, esp. one of short duration; a quick stroke or blow; a sudden onset or rush; as, a bold dash at the enemy; a dash of rain.

She takes upon her bravely at first dash.
Shak.

5. Energy in style or action; animation; spirit.

6. A vain show; a blustering parade; a flourish; as, to make or cut a great dash. [Low]

7. (Punctuation) A mark or line [--], in writing or printing, denoting a sudden break, stop, or transition in a sentence, or an abrupt change in its construction, a long or significant pause, or an unexpected or epigrammatic turn of sentiment. Dashes are also sometimes used instead of marks or parenthesis. John Wilson.

8. (Mus.) (a) The sign of staccato, a small mark [&?;] denoting that the note over which it is placed is to be performed in a short, distinct manner. (b) The line drawn through a figure in the thorough bass, as a direction to raise the interval a semitone.

9. (Racing) A short, spirited effort or trial of speed upon a race course; -- used in horse racing, when a single trial constitutes the race.

Dash"board` (dăsh"bōrd`), n. 1. A board placed on the fore part of a carriage, sleigh, or other vehicle, to intercept water, mud, or snow, thrown up by the heels of the horses; -- in England commonly called splashboard.

2. (Naut.) (a) The float of a paddle wheel. (b) A screen at the bow af a steam launch to keep off the spray; -- called also sprayboard.

Dash"er (dăsh"&etilde;r), n. 1. That which dashes or agitates; as, the dasher of a churn.

2. A dashboard or splashboard. [U. S.]

3. One who makes an ostentatious parade. [Low]

Dash"ing, a. Bold; spirited; showy.

The dashing and daring spirit is preferable to the listless.
T. Campbell.

Dash"ing*ly, adv. Conspicuously; showily. [Colloq.]

A dashingly dressed gentleman.
Hawthorne.

Dash"ism (-&ibreve;z'm), n. The character of making ostentatious or blustering parade or show. [R. & Colloq.]

He must fight a duel before his claim to . . . dashism can be universally allowed.
V. Knox.

Dash"pot` (?), n. (Mach.) A pneumatic or hydraulic cushion for a falling weight, as in the valve gear of a steam engine, to prevent shock.

&fist; It consists of a chamber, containing air or a liquid, in which a piston (a), attached to the weight, falls freely until it enters a space (as below the openings, b) from which the air or liquid can escape but slowly (as through cock c), when its fall is gradually checked.

A cataract of an engine is sometimes called a dashpot.

Dash"y (?), a. [From Dash.] Calculated to arrest attention; ostentatiously fashionable; showy. [Colloq.]

Das"tard (?), n. [Prob. from Icel. dæstr exhausted. breathless, p. p. of dæsa to groan, lose one's breath; cf. dasask to become exhausted, and E. daze.] One who meanly shrinks from danger; an arrant coward; a poltroon.

You are all recreants and dashtards, and delight to live in slavery to the nobility.
Shak.

Das"tard, a. Meanly shrinking from danger; cowardly; dastardly. "Their dastard souls." Addison.

Das"tard, v. t. To dastardize. [R.] Dryden.

Das"tard*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dastardized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dastardizing.] To make cowardly; to intimidate; to dispirit; as, to dastardize my courage. Dryden.

Das"tard*li*ness (?), n. The quality of being dastardly; cowardice; base fear.

Das"tard*ly, a. Meanly timid; cowardly; base; as, a dastardly outrage.

Das"tard*ness, n. Dastardliness.

Das"tard*y (?), n. Base timidity; cowardliness.

Das"we (?), v. i. See Dasewe [Obs.] Chaucer.

Da*sym"e*ter (?), n. [Gr. dasy`s rough, thick + -meter.] (Physics) An instrument for testing the density of gases, consisting of a thin glass globe, which is weighed in the gas or gases, and then in an atmosphere of known density.

Das`y*pæ"dal (?), a. (Zoöl.) Dasypædic.

||Das`y*pæ"des (?), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. dasy`s hairy, shaggy + &?;, &?;, a child.] (Zoöl.) Those birds whose young are covered with down when hatched.

Das`y*pæ"dic (?), a. (Zoöl.) Pertaining to the Dasypædes; ptilopædic.

Das"y*ure (dăs"&ibreve;*ūr), n. [Gr. dasy`s thick, shaggy + o'yra` tail: cf. F. dasyure.] (Zoöl.) A carnivorous marsupial quadruped of Australia, belonging to the genus Dasyurus. There are several species.

Das`y*u"rine (?), a. (Zoöl.) Pertaining to, or like, the dasyures.

||Da"ta (?), n. pl. [L. pl. of datum.] See Datum.

Dat"a*ble (?), a. That may be dated; having a known or ascertainable date. "Datable almost to a year." The Century.

||Da*ta"ri*a (?), n. [LL., fr. L. datum given.] (R. C. Ch.) Formerly, a part of the Roman chancery; now, a separate office from which are sent graces or favors, cognizable in foro externo, such as appointments to benefices. The name is derived from the word datum, given or dated (with the indications of the time and place of granting the gift or favor).

Da"ta*ry (?), n. [LL. datarius. See Dataria.] 1. (R. C. Ch.) An officer in the pope's court, having charge of the Dataria.

2. The office or employment of a datary.

Date, n.[F. datte, L. dactylus, fr. Gr. &?;, prob. not the same word as da`ktylos finger, but of Semitic origin.] (Bot.) The fruit of the date palm; also, the date palm itself.

&fist; This fruit is somewhat in the shape of an olive, containing a soft pulp, sweet, esculent, and wholesome, and inclosing a hard kernel.

Date palm, or Date tree (Bot.), the genus of palms which bear dates, of which common species is Phœnix dactylifera. See Illust. -- Date plum (Bot.), the fruit of several species of Diospyros, including the American and Japanese persimmons, and the European lotus (D. Lotus). -- Date shell, or Date fish (Zoöl.), a bivalve shell, or its inhabitant, of the genus Pholas, and allied genera. See Pholas.

Date (?), n. [F. date, LL. data, fr. L. datus given, p. p. of dare to give; akin to Gr. &?;, OSlaw. dati, Skr. dā. Cf. Datum, Dose, Dato, Die.] 1. That addition to a writing, inscription, coin, etc., which specifies the time (as day, month, and year) when the writing or inscription was given, or executed, or made; as, the date of a letter, of a will, of a deed, of a coin. etc.

And bonds without a date, they say, are void.
Dryden.

2. The point of time at which a transaction or event takes place, or is appointed to take place; a given point of time; epoch; as, the date of a battle.

He at once,
Down the long series of eventful time,
So fixed the dates of being, so disposed
To every living soul of every kind
The field of motion, and the hour of rest.
Akenside.

3. Assigned end; conclusion. [R.]

What Time would spare, from Steel receives its date.
Pope.

4. Given or assigned length of life; dyration. [Obs.]

Good luck prolonged hath thy date.
Spenser.

Through his life's whole date.
Chapman.

To bear date, to have the date named on the face of it; -- said of a writing.

Date, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dated; p. pr. & vb. n. Dating.] [Cf. F. dater. See 2d Date.] 1. To note the time of writing or executing; to express in an instrument the time of its execution; as, to date a letter, a bond, a deed, or a charter.

2. To note or fix the time of, as of an event; to give the date of; as, to date the building of the pyramids.

&fist; We may say dated at or from a place.

The letter is dated at Philadephia.
G. T. Curtis.

You will be suprised, I don't question, to find among your correspondencies in foreign parts, a letter dated from Blois.
Addison.

In the countries of his jornal seems to have been written; parts of it are dated from them.
M. Arnold.

Date, v. i. To have beginning; to begin; to be dated or reckoned; -- with from.

The Batavian republic dates from the successes of the French arms.
E. Everett.

Date"less, a. Without date; having no fixed time.

Dat"er (?), n. One who dates.

Da*tis"cin (?), n. (Chem.) A white crystalline glucoside extracted from the bastard hemp (Datisca cannabina).

Da"tive (?), a. [L. dativus appropriate to giving, fr. dare to give. See 2d Date.] 1. (Gram.) Noting the case of a noun which expresses the remoter object, and is generally indicated in English by to or for with the objective.

2. (Law) (a) In one's gift; capable of being disposed of at will and pleasure, as an office. (b) Removable, as distinguished from perpetual; -- said of an officer. (c) Given by a magistrate, as distinguished from being cast upon a party by the law. Burril. Bouvier.

Dative executor, one appointed by the judge of probate, his office answering to that of an administrator.

Da"tive, n. [L. dativus.] The dative case. See Dative, a., 1.

Da"tive*ly, adv. As a gift. [R.]

Dat"o*lite (?), n. [From. Gr. &?; to divide + -lite; in allusion to the granular structure of a massive variety.] (Min.) A borosilicate of lime commonly occuring in glassy,, greenish crystals. [Written also datholite.]

||Da"tum (?), n.; pl. Data (#). [L. See 2d Date.] 1. Something given or admitted; a fact or principle granted; that upon which an inference or an argument is based; -- used chiefly in the plural.

Any writer, therefore, who . . . furnishes us with data sufficient to determine the time in which he wrote.
Priestley.

2. pl. (Math.) The quantities or relations which are assumed to be given in any problem.

Datum line (Surv.), the horizontal or base line, from which the heights of points are reckoned or measured, as in the plan of a railway, etc.

||Da*tu"ra (?), n. [NL.; cf. Skr. dhattūra, Per. & Ar. tatūra, Tatūla.] (Bot.) A genus of solanaceous plants, with large funnel-shaped flowers and a four-celled, capsular fruit.

&fist; The commonest species are the thorn apple (D. stramonium), with a prickly capsule (see Illust. of capsule), white flowers and green stem, and D. tatula, with a purplish tinge of the stem and flowers. Both are narcotic and dangerously poisonous.

Da*tu"rine (?), n. [From Datura.] (Chem.) Atropine; -- called also daturia and daturina.

Daub (d&add;b), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Daubed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Daubing.] [OE. dauben to smear, OF. dauber to plaster, fr. L. dealbare to whitewash, plaster; de- + albare to whiten, fr. albus white, perh. also confused with W. dwb plaster, dwbio to plaster, Ir. & OGael. dob plaster. See Alb, and cf. Dealbate.] 1. To smear with soft, adhesive matter, as pitch, slime, mud, etc.; to plaster; to bedaub; to besmear.

She took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch.
Ex. ii. 3.

2. To paint in a coarse or unskillful manner.

If a picture is daubed with many bright and glaring colors, the vulgar admire it is an excellent piece.
I. Watts.

A lame, imperfect piece, rudely daubed over.
Dryden.

3. To cover with a specious or deceitful exterior; to disguise; to conceal.

So smooth he daubed his vice with show of virtue.
Shak.

4. To flatter excessively or glossy. [R.]

I can safely say, however, that, without any daubing at all,
I am very sincerely your very affectionate, humble servant.
Smollett.

5. To put on without taste; to deck gaudily. [R.]

Let him be daubed with lace.
Dryden.

Daub (?), v. i. To smear; to play the flatterer.

His conscience . . . will not daub nor flatter.
South.

Daub, n. 1. A viscous, sticky application; a spot smeared or daubed; a smear.

2. (Paint.) A picture coarsely executed.

Did you . . . take a look at the grand picture? . . . 'T is a melancholy daub, my lord.
Sterne.

Daub"er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, daubs; especially, a coarse, unskillful painter.

2. (Copperplate Print.) A pad or ball of rags, covered over with canvas, for inking plates; a dabber.

3. A low and gross flatterer.

4. (Zoöl.) The mud wasp; the mud dauber.

{ Daub"er*y (?), or Daub"ry (?) }, n. A daubing; specious coloring; false pretenses.

She works by charms, by spells, by the figure, and such daubery as this is.
Shak.

Daub"ing, n. 1. The act of one who daubs; that which is daubed.

2. A rough coat of mortar put upon a wall to give it the appearance of stone; rough-cast.

3. In currying, a mixture of fish oil and tallow worked into leather; -- called also dubbing. Knight.

Dau"bree*lite (?), n. [From Daubrée, a French mineralogist.] (Min.) A sulphide of chromium observed in some meteoric irons.

Daub"y (?), a. Smeary; viscous; glutinous; adhesive. "Dauby wax."

Daugh"ter (?), n.; pl. Daughters (#); obs. pl. Daughtren (#). [OE. doughter, doghter, dohter, AS. dohtor, dohter; akin to OS. dohtar, D. dochter, G. tochter, Icel. dōttir, Sw. dotter, Dan. dotter, datter, Goth. daúhtar,, OSlav. dŭshti, Russ. doche, Lith. duktē, Gr. qyga`thr, Zend. dughdhar, Skr. duhit&rsdot;; possibly originally, the milker, cf. Skr. duh to milk. √68, 245.] 1. The female offspring of the human species; a female child of any age; -- applied also to the lower animals.

2. A female descendant; a woman.

This woman, being a daughter of Abraham.
Luke xiii. 16.

Dinah, the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughter of the land.
Gen. xxxiv. 1.

3. A son's wife; a daughter-in-law.

And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters.
Ruth. i. 11.

4. A term of address indicating parental interest.

Daughter, be of good comfort.
Matt. ix. 22.

Daughter cell (Biol.), one of the cells formed by cell division. See Cell division, under Division.

Daugh"ter-in-law` (?), n.; pl. Daughters-in-law. The wife of one's son.

Daugh"ter*li*ness (?), n. The state of a daughter, or the conduct becoming a daughter.

Daugh"ter*ly, a. Becoming a daughter; filial.

Sir Thomas liked her natural and dear daughterly affection towards him.
Cavendish.

Dauk (?), v. t. See Dawk, v. t., to cut or gush.

Daun (?), n. A variant of Dan, a title of honor. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Daunt (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Daunted; p. pr. & vb. n. Daunting.] [OF. danter, F. dompter to tame, subdue, fr. L. domitare, v. intens. of domare to tame. See Tame.] 1. To overcome; to conquer. [Obs.]

2. To repress or subdue the courage of; to check by fear of danger; to cow; to intimidate; to dishearten.

Some presences daunt and discourage us.
Glanvill.

Syn. -- To dismay; appall. See Dismay.

Daunt"er (?), n. One who daunts.

Daunt"less, a. Incapable of being daunted; undaunted; bold; fearless; intrepid.

Dauntless he rose, and to the fight returned.
Dryden.

-- Daunt"less*ly, adv. -- Daunt"less*ness, n.

Dau"phin (?), n. [F. dauphin, prop., a dolphin, from L. delphinus. See Dolphin. The name was given, for some reason unexplained, to Guigo, count of Vienne, in the 12th century, and was borne by succeeding counts of Vienne. In 1349, Dauphiny was bequeathed to Philippe de Valois, king of France, on condition that the heir of the crown should always hold the title of Dauphin de Viennois.] The title of the eldest son of the king of France, and heir to the crown. Since the revolution of 1830, the title has been discontinued.

{ Dau"phin*ess (?), or Dau"phine (?) }, n. The title of the wife of the dauphin.

||Dauw (?), n. [D.] (Zoöl.) The striped quagga, or Burchell's zebra, of South Africa (Asinus Burchellii); -- called also peechi, or peetsi.

Dav"en*port (?), n. [From the name of the original maker. Encyc. Dict.] A kind of small writing table, generally somewhat ornamental, and forming a piece of furniture for the parlor or boudoir.

A much battered davenport in one of the windows, at which sat a lady writing.
A. B. Edwards.

Da*vid"ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to David, the king and psalmist of Israel, or to his family.

Dav"it (?), n. [Cf. F. davier forceps, davit, cooper's instrument, G. david davit; all probably from the proper name David.] (Naut.) (a) A spar formerly used on board of ships, as a crane to hoist the flukes of the anchor to the top of the bow, without injuring the sides of the ship; -- called also the fish davit. (b) pl. Curved arms of timber or iron, projecting over a ship's side of stern, having tackle to raise or lower a boat, swing it in on deck, rig it out for lowering, etc.; -- called also boat davits. Totten.

Da"vy Jones" (?). The spirit of the sea; sea devil; -- a term used by sailors.

This same Davy Jones, according to the mythology of sailors, is the fiend that presides over all the evil spirits of the deep, and is seen in various shapes warning the devoted wretch of death and woe.
Smollett.

Davy Jones's Locker, the ocean, or bottom of the ocean. -- Gone to Davy Jones's Locker, dead, and buried in the sea; thrown overboard.

Da"vy lamp` (?). See Safety lamp, under Lamp.

Da"vyne (?), n. [See Davyum.] (Min.) A variety of nephelite from Vesuvius.

Da"vy*um (?), n. [Named after Sir Humphry Davy, the English chemist.] (Chem.) A rare metallic element found in platinum ore. It is a white malleable substance. Symbol Da. Atomic weight 154.

Daw (d&add;), n. [OE. dawe; akin to OHG. tāha, MHG. tāhe, tāhele, G. dohle. Cf. Caddow.] (Zoöl.) A European bird of the Crow family (Corvus monedula), often nesting in church towers and ruins; a jackdaw.

The loud daw, his throat
displaying, draws
The whole assembly of his fellow daws.
Waller.

&fist; The daw was reckoned as a silly bird, and a daw meant a simpleton. See in Shakespeare: -- "Then thou dwellest with daws too." (Coriolanus iv. 5, 1. 47.) Skeat.

Daw, v. i. [OE. dawen. See Dawn.] To dawn. [Obs.] See Dawn. Drayton.

Daw, v. t. [Contr. fr. Adaw.] 1. To rouse. [Obs.]

2. To daunt; to terrify. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Daw"dle (d&add;"d'l), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dawdled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dawdling (?).] [Cf. Daddle.] To waste time in trifling employment; to trifle; to saunter.

Come some evening and dawdle over a dish of tea with me.
Johnson.

We . . . dawdle up and down Pall Mall.
Thackeray.

Daw"dle, v. t. To waste by trifling; as, to dawdle away a whole morning.

Daw"dle, n. A dawdler. Colman & Carrick.

Daw"dler (?), n. One who wastes time in trifling employments; an idler; a trifler.

Dawe (?), n. [See Day.] Day. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Daw"ish (?), a. Like a daw.

||Dawk (?), n. See Dak.

Dawk, v. t. [Prov. E. dauk to cut or pierce with a jerk; cf. OE. dalk a dimple. Cf. Ir. tolch, tollachd, tolladh, a hole, crevice, toll to bore, pierce, W. tyllu.] To cut or mark with an incision; to gash. Moxon.

Dawk, n. A hollow, crack, or cut, in timber. Moxon.

Dawn (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dawned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dawning.] [OE. dawnen, dawen, dagen, daien, AS. dagian to become day, to dawn, fr. dæg day; akin to D. dagen, G. tagen, Icel. daga, Dan. dages, Sw. dagas. See Day. √71.] 1. To begin to grow light in the morning; to grow light; to break, or begin to appear; as, the day dawns; the morning dawns.

In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene . . . to see the sepulcher.
Matt. xxviii. 1.

2. To began to give promise; to begin to appear or to expand. "In dawning youth." Dryden.

When life awakes, and dawns at every line.
Pope.

Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid.
Heber,

Dawn, n. 1. The break of day; the first appearance of light in the morning; show of approaching sunrise.

And oft at dawn, deep noon, or falling eve.
Thomson.

No sun, no moon, no morn, no noon,
No dawn, no dusk, no proper time of day.
Hood.

2. First opening or expansion; first appearance; beginning; rise. "The dawn of time." Thomson.

These tender circumstances diffuse a dawn of serenity over the soul.
Pope.

Daw"son*ite (?), n. [Named after J. W. Dawson of Montreal.] (Min.) A hydrous carbonate of alumina and soda, occuring in white, bladed crustals.

Day (?), n. [OE. day, dai,, dei, AS. dæg; akin to OS., D., Dan., & Sw. dag, G, tag, Icel. dagr, Goth. dags; cf. Skr. dah (for dhagh ?) to burn. √69. Cf. Dawn.] 1. The time of light, or interval between one night and the next; the time between sunrise and sunset, or from dawn to darkness; hence, the light; sunshine.

2. The period of the earth's revolution on its axis. -- ordinarily divided into twenty-four hours. It is measured by the interval between two successive transits of a celestial body over the same meridian, and takes a specific name from that of the body. Thus, if this is the sun, the day (the interval between two successive transits of the sun's center over the same meridian) is called a solar day; if it is a star, a sidereal day; if it is the moon, a lunar day. See Civil day, Sidereal day, below.

3. Those hours, or the daily recurring period, allotted by usage or law for work.

4. A specified time or period; time, considered with reference to the existence or prominence of a person or thing; age; time.

A man who was great among the Hellenes of his day.
Jowett (Thucyd. )

If my debtors do not keep their day, . . .
I must with patience all the terms attend.
Dryden.

5. (Preceded by the) Some day in particular, as some day of contest, some anniversary, etc.

The field of Agincourt,
Fought on the day of Crispin Crispianus.
Shak.

His name struck fear, his conduct won the day.
Roscommon.

&fist; Day is much used in self-explaining compounds; as, daybreak, daylight, workday, etc.

Anniversary day. See Anniversary, n. -- Astronomical day, a period equal to the mean solar day, but beginning at noon instead of at midnight, its twenty-four hours being numbered from 1 to 24; also, the sidereal day, as that most used by astronomers. -- Born days. See under Born. -- Canicular days. See Dog day. -- Civil day, the mean solar day, used in the ordinary reckoning of time, and among most modern nations beginning at mean midnight; its hours are usually numbered in two series, each from 1 to 12. This is the period recognized by courts as constituting a day. The Babylonians and Hindoos began their day at sunrise, the Athenians and Jews at sunset, the ancient Egyptians and Romans at midnight. -- Day blindness. (Med.) See Nyctalopia. -- Day by day, or Day after day, daily; every day; continually; without intermission of a day. See under By. "Day by day we magnify thee." Book of Common Prayer. -- Days in bank (Eng. Law), certain stated days for the return of writs and the appearance of parties; -- so called because originally peculiar to the Court of Common Bench, or Bench (bank) as it was formerly termed. Burrill. - - Day in court, a day for the appearance of parties in a suit. -- Days of devotion (R. C. Ch.), certain festivals on which devotion leads the faithful to attend mass. Shipley. -- Days of grace. See Grace. -- Days of obligation (R. C. Ch.), festival days when it is obligatory on the faithful to attend Mass. Shipley. -- Day owl, (Zoöl.), an owl that flies by day. See Hawk owl. -- Day rule (Eng. Law), an order of court (now abolished) allowing a prisoner, under certain circumstances, to go beyond the prison limits for a single day. -- Day school, one which the pupils attend only in daytime, in distinction from a boarding school. -- Day sight. (Med.) See Hemeralopia. -- Day's work (Naut.), the account or reckoning of a ship's course for twenty-four hours, from noon to noon. -- From day to day, as time passes; in the course of time; as, he improves from day to day. -- Jewish day, the time between sunset and sunset. -- Mean solar day (Astron.), the mean or average of all the apparent solar days of the year. -- One day, One of these days, at an uncertain time, usually of the future, rarely of the past; sooner or later. "Well, niece, I hope to see you one day fitted with a husband." Shak. -- Only from day to day, without certainty of continuance; temporarily. Bacon. -- Sidereal day, the interval between two successive transits of the first point of Aries over the same meridian. The Sidereal day is 23 h. 56 m. 4.09 s. of mean solar time. -- To win the day, to gain the victory, to be successful. S. Butler. -- Week day, any day of the week except Sunday; a working day. -- Working day. (a) A day when work may be legally done, in distinction from Sundays and legal holidays. (b) The number of hours, determined by law or custom, during which a workman, hired at a stated price per day, must work to be entitled to a day's pay.

Day"aks (dī"ăks), n. pl. (Ethnol.) See Dyaks.

Day"book` (dā"b&oocr;k`), n. A journal of accounts; a primary record book in which are recorded the debts and credits, or accounts of the day, in their order, and from which they are transferred to the journal.

Day"break` (dā"brāk`), n. The time of the first appearance of light in the morning.

Day"-coal` (dā"kōl`), n. (Mining) The upper stratum of coal, as nearest the light or surface.

Day"dream` (-drēm`), n. A vain fancy speculation; a reverie; a castle in the air; unfounded hope.

Mrs. Lambert's little daydream was over.
Thackeray.

Day"dream`er (?), n. One given to daydreams.

Day"flow`er (-flou`&etilde;r), n. (Bot.) A genus consisting mostly of tropical perennial herbs (Commelina), having ephemeral flowers.

Day"fly` (dā"flī`), n. (Zoöl.) A neuropterous insect of the genus Ephemera and related genera, of many species, and inhabiting fresh water in the larval state; the ephemeral fly; -- so called because it commonly lives but one day in the winged or adult state. See Ephemeral fly, under Ephemeral.

Day"-la`bor (?), n. Labor hired or performed by the day. Milton.

Day"-la`bor*er (?), n. One who works by the day; -- usually applied to a farm laborer, or to a workman who does not work at any particular trade. Goldsmith.

Day"light` (-līt), n. 1. The light of day as opposed to the darkness of night; the light of the sun, as opposed to that of the moon or to artificial light.

2. pl. The eyes. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.

Day" lil`y (l&ibreve;l`&ybreve;). (Bot.) (a) A genus of plants (Hemerocallis) closely resembling true lilies, but having tuberous rootstocks instead of bulbs. The common species have long narrow leaves and either yellow or tawny-orange flowers. (b) A genus of plants (Funkia) differing from the last in having ovate veiny leaves, and large white or blue flowers.

Day"maid` (-m&amc;d`), n. A dairymaid. [Obs.]

Day"mare` (dā"mâr`), n. [Day + mare incubus.] (Med.) A kind of incubus which occurs during wakefulness, attended by the peculiar pressure on the chest which characterizes nightmare. Dunglison.

Day"-net` (-n&ebreve;t`), n. A net for catching small birds.

Day"-peep` (-pēp`), n. The dawn. [Poetic] Milton.

Days"man (dāz"măn), n. [From day in the sense of day fixed for trial.] An umpire or arbiter; a mediator.

Neither is there any daysman betwixt us.
Job ix. 33.

Day"spring` (dā"spr&ibreve;ng`), n. The beginning of the day, or first appearance of light; the dawn; hence, the beginning. Milton.

The tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us.
Luke i. 78.

Day"-star` (-stär`), n. 1. The morning star; the star which ushers in the day.

A dark place, until the day dawn, and the day- star arise in your hearts.
2 Peter i. 19.

2. The sun, as the orb of day. [Poetic]

So sinks the day-star in the ocean bed,
And yet anon repairs his drooping head,
And tricks his beams, and with new-spangled ore
Flames in the forehead of the morning sky.
Milton.

Day"time` (-tīm`), n. The time during which there is daylight, as distinguished from the night.

Day"wom`an (-w&oocr;m`an), n. A dairymaid. [Obs.]

Daze (dāz), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dazed (dāzd); p. pr. & vb. n. Dazing.] [OE. dasen, prob. from Icel. dasask to become weary, a reflexive verb; cf. Sw. dasa to lie idle, and OD. daesen to be foolish, insane, daes, dwaes, D. dwaas, foolish, insane, AS. dw&aemacr;s, dysig, stupid. √71. Cf. Dizzy, Doze.] To stupefy with excess of light; with a blow, with cold, or with fear; to confuse; to benumb.

While flashing beams do daze his feeble eyen.
Spenser.

Such souls,
Whose sudden visitations daze the world.
Sir H. Taylor.

He comes out of the room in a dazed state, that is an odd though a sufficient substitute for interest.
Dickens.

Daze, n. 1. The state of being dazed; as, he was in a daze. [Colloq.]

2. (Mining) A glittering stone.

Daz"zle (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dazzled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dazzling (?).] [Freq. of daze.] 1. To overpower with light; to confuse the sight of by brilliance of light.

Those heavenly shapes
Will dazzle now the earthly, with their blaze
Insufferably bright.
Milton.

An unreflected light did never yet
Dazzle the vision feminine.
Sir H. Taylor.

2. To bewilder or surprise with brilliancy or display of any kind. "Dazzled and drove back his enemies." Shak.

Daz"zle, v. i. 1. To be overpoweringly or intensely bright; to excite admiration by brilliancy.

Ah, friend! to dazzle, let the vain design.
Pope.

2. To be overpowered by light; to be confused by excess of brightness.

An overlight maketh the eyes dazzle.
Bacon.

I dare not trust these eyes;
They dance in mists, and dazzle with surprise.
Dryden.

Daz"zle, n. A light of dazzling brilliancy.

Daz"zle*ment (?), n. Dazzling flash, glare, or burst of light. Donne.

Daz"zling*ly (?), adv. In a dazzling manner.

De- (?). A prefix from Latin de down, from, away; as in debark, decline, decease, deduct, decamp. In words from the French it is equivalent to Latin dis- apart, away; or sometimes to de. Cf. Dis-. It is negative and opposite in derange, deform, destroy, etc. It is intensive in deprave, despoil, declare, desolate, etc.

Dea"con (dē"k'n), n. [OE. diakne, deakne, deken, AS. diacon, deacon, L. diaconus, fr. Gr. &?; a servant or minister, a minister of the church; of uncertain origin. In sense 2 prob. confused with dean.] 1. (Eccl.) An officer in Christian churches appointed to perform certain subordinate duties varying in different communions. In the Roman Catholic and Episcopal churches, a person admitted to the lowest order in the ministry, subordinate to the bishops and priests. In Presbyterian churches, he is subordinate to the minister and elders, and has charge of certain duties connected with the communion service and the care of the poor. In Congregational churches, he is subordinate to the pastor, and has duties as in the Presbyterian church.

2. The chairman of an incorporated company. [Scot.]

Dea"con (?), v. t. To read aloud each line of (a psalm or hymn) before singing it, -- usually with off. [Colloq. New. Eng.] See Line, v. t.

&fist; The expression is derived from a former custom in the Congregational churches of New England. It was part of the office of a deacon to read aloud the psalm given out, one line at a time, the congregation singing each line as soon as read; -- called, also, lining out the psalm.

Dea"con*ess (?), n. (Eccl.) A female deacon; as: (a) (Primitive Ch.) One of an order of women whose duties resembled those of deacons. (b) (Ch. of Eng. and Prot. Epis. Ch.) A woman set apart for church work by a bishop. (c) A woman chosen as a helper in church work, as among the Congregationalists.

Dea"con*hood (?), n. The state of being a deacon; office of a deacon; deaconship.

Dea"con*ry (?), n. See Deaconship.

Dea"con*ship, n. The office or ministry of a deacon or deaconess.

Dead (d&ebreve;d), a. [OE. ded, dead, deed, AS. deád; akin to OS. dōd, D. dood, G. todt, tot, Icel. dauðr, Sw. & Dan. död, Goth. daubs; prop. p. p. of an old verb meaning to die. See Die, and cf. Death.] 1. Deprived of life; -- opposed to alive and living; reduced to that state of a being in which the organs of motion and life have irrevocably ceased to perform their functions; as, a dead tree; a dead man. "The queen, my lord, is dead." Shak.

The crew, all except himself, were dead of hunger.
Arbuthnot.

Seek him with candle, bring him dead or living.
Shak.

2. Destitute of life; inanimate; as, dead matter.

3. Resembling death in appearance or quality; without show of life; deathlike; as, a dead sleep.

4. Still as death; motionless; inactive; useless; as, dead calm; a dead load or weight.

5. So constructed as not to transmit sound; soundless; as, a dead floor.

6. Unproductive; bringing no gain; unprofitable; as, dead capital; dead stock in trade.

7. Lacking spirit; dull; lusterless; cheerless; as, dead eye; dead fire; dead color, etc.

8. Monotonous or unvaried; as, a dead level or pain; a dead wall. "The ground is a dead flat." C. Reade.

9. Sure as death; unerring; fixed; complete; as, a dead shot; a dead certainty.

I had them a dead bargain.
Goldsmith. 10. Bringing death; deadly. Shak. 11. Wanting in religious spirit and vitality; as, dead faith; dead works. "Dead in trespasses." Eph. ii. 1. 12. (Paint.) (a) Flat; without gloss; -- said of painting which has been applied purposely to have this effect. (b) Not brilliant; not rich; thus, brown is a dead color, as compared with crimson. 13. (Law) Cut off from the rights of a citizen; deprived of the power of enjoying the rights of property; as, one banished or becoming a monk is civilly dead. 14. (Mach.) Not imparting motion or power; as, the dead spindle of a lathe, etc. See Spindle.

Dead ahead (Naut.), directly ahead; - - said of a ship or any object, esp. of the wind when blowing from that point toward which a vessel would go. -- Dead angle (Mil.), an angle or space which can not be seen or defended from behind the parapet. -- Dead block, either of two wooden or iron blocks intended to serve instead of buffers at the end of a freight car. -- Dead calm (Naut.), no wind at all. -- Dead center, or Dead point (Mach.), either of two points in the orbit of a crank, at which the crank and connecting rod lie a straight line. It corresponds to the end of a stroke; as, A and B are dead centers of the crank mechanism in which the crank C drives, or is driven by, the lever L. -- Dead color (Paint.), a color which has no gloss upon it. -- Dead coloring (Oil paint.), the layer of colors, the preparation for what is to follow. In modern painting this is usually in monochrome. -- Dead door (Shipbuilding), a storm shutter fitted to the outside of the quarter-gallery door. -- Dead flat (Naut.), the widest or midship frame. -- Dead freight (Mar. Law), a sum of money paid by a person who charters a whole vessel but fails to make out a full cargo. The payment is made for the unoccupied capacity. Abbott. -- Dead ground (Mining), the portion of a vein in which there is no ore. -- Dead hand, a hand that can not alienate, as of a person civilly dead. "Serfs held in dead hand." Morley. See Mortmain. -- Dead head (Naut.), a rough block of wood used as an anchor buoy. -- Dead heat, a heat or course between two or more race horses, boats, etc., in which they come out exactly equal, so that neither wins. -- Dead horse, an expression applied to a debt for wages paid in advance. [Law] -- Dead language, a language which is no longer spoken or in common use by a people, and is known only in writings, as the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. -- Dead letter. (a) A letter which, after lying for a certain fixed time uncalled for at the post office to which it was directed, is then sent to the general post office to be opened. (b) That which has lost its force or authority; as, the law has become a dead letter. -- Dead-letter office, a department of the general post office where dead letters are examined and disposed of. -- Dead level, a term applied to a flat country. -- Dead lift, a direct lift, without assistance from mechanical advantage, as from levers, pulleys, etc.; hence, an extreme emergency. "(As we say) at a dead lift." Robynson (More's Utopia). -- Dead line (Mil.), a line drawn within or around a military prison, to cross which involves for a prisoner the penalty of being instantly shot. -- Dead load (Civil Engin.), a constant, motionless load, as the weight of a structure, in distinction from a moving load, as a train of cars, or a variable pressure, as of wind. -- Dead march (Mus.), a piece of solemn music intended to be played as an accompaniment to a funeral procession. -- Dead nettle (Bot.), a harmless plant with leaves like a nettle (Lamium album). -- Dead oil (Chem.), the heavy oil obtained in the distillation of coal tar, and containing phenol, naphthalus, etc. -- Dead plate (Mach.), a solid covering over a part of a fire grate, to prevent the entrance of air through that part. -- Dead pledge, a mortgage. See Mortgage. -- Dead point. (Mach.) See Dead center. -- Dead reckoning (Naut.), the method of determining the place of a ship from a record kept of the courses sailed as given by compass, and the distance made on each course as found by log, with allowance for leeway, etc., without the aid of celestial observations. -- Dead rise, the transverse upward curvature of a vessel's floor. -- Dead rising, an elliptical line drawn on the sheer plan to determine the sweep of the floorheads throughout the ship's length. -- Dead-Sea apple. See under Apple. -- Dead set. See under Set. -- Dead shot. (a) An unerring marksman. (b) A shot certain to be made. -- Dead smooth, the finest cut made; -- said of files. -- Dead wall (Arch.), a blank wall unbroken by windows or other openings. -- Dead water (Naut.), the eddy water closing in under a ship's stern when sailing. -- Dead weight. (a) A heavy or oppressive burden. Dryden. (b) (Shipping) A ship's lading, when it consists of heavy goods; or, the heaviest part of a ship's cargo. (c) (Railroad) The weight of rolling stock, the live weight being the load. Knight. -- Dead wind (Naut.), a wind directly ahead, or opposed to the ship's course. -- To be dead, to die. [Obs.]

I deme thee, thou must algate be dead.
Chaucer.

Syn. -- Inanimate; deceased; extinct. See Lifeless.

Dead (?), adv. To a degree resembling death; to the last degree; completely; wholly. [Colloq.]

I was tired of reading, and dead sleepy.
Dickens.

Dead drunk, so drunk as to be unconscious.

Dead (d&ebreve;d), n. 1. The most quiet or deathlike time; the period of profoundest repose, inertness, or gloom; as, the dead of winter.

When the drum beat at dead of night.
Campbell.

2. One who is dead; -- commonly used collectively.

And Abraham stood up from before his dead.
Gen. xxiii. 3.

Dead, v. t. To make dead; to deaden; to deprive of life, force, or vigor. [Obs.]

Heaven's stern decree,
With many an ill, hath numbed and deaded me.
Chapman.

Dead, v. i. To die; to lose life or force. [Obs.]

So iron, as soon as it is out of the fire, deadeth straightway.
Bacon.

Dead` beat" (?). See Beat, n., 7. [Low, U.S.]

Dead"beat` (?), a. (Physics) Making a beat without recoil; giving indications by a single beat or excursion; -- said of galvanometers and other instruments in which the needle or index moves to the extent of its deflection and stops with little or no further oscillation.

Deadbeat escapement. See under Escapement.

Dead"born` (?), a. Stillborn. Pope.

Dead"en (d&ebreve;d"'n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deadened (-'nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Deadening.] [From Dead; cf. AS. d&?;dan to kill, put to death. See Dead, a.] 1. To make as dead; to impair in vigor, force, activity, or sensation; to lessen the force or acuteness of; to blunt; as, to deaden the natural powers or feelings; to deaden a sound.

As harper lays his open palm
Upon his harp, to deaden its vibrations.
Longfellow.

2. To lessen the velocity or momentum of; to retard; as, to deaden a ship's headway.

3. To make vapid or spiritless; as, to deaden wine.

4. To deprive of gloss or brilliancy; to obscure; as, to deaden gilding by a coat of size.

Dead"en*er (d&ebreve;d"'n*&etilde;r), n. One who, or that which, deadens or checks.

Dead"-eye` (d&ebreve;d"ī`), n. (Naut.) A round, flattish, wooden block, encircled by a rope, or an iron band, and pierced with three holes to receive the lanyard; -- used to extend the shrouds and stays, and for other purposes. Called also deadman's eye. Totten.

Dead"head` (?), n. 1. One who receives free tickets for theaters, public conveyances, etc. [Colloq. U. S.]

2. (Naut.) A buoy. See under Dead, a.

Dead"-heart`ed (?), a. Having a dull, faint heart; spiritless; listless. -- Dead"- heart`ed*ness, n. Bp. Hall.

Dead"house` (?), n. A morgue; a place for the temporary reception and exposure of dead bodies.

Dead"ish, a. Somewhat dead, dull, or lifeless; deathlike.

The lips put on a deadish paleness.
A. Stafford.

Dead"latch` (?), n. A kind of latch whose bolt may be so locked by a detent that it can not be opened from the inside by the handle, or from the outside by the latch key. Knight.

Dead"light` (?), n. (Naut.) A strong shutter, made to fit open ports and keep out water in a storm.

Dead"li*hood (?), n. State of the dead. [Obs.]

Dead"li*ness, n. The quality of being deadly.

Dead"lock` (?), n. 1. A lock which is not self-latching, but requires a key to throw the bolt forward.

2. A counteraction of things, which produces an entire stoppage; a complete obstruction of action.

Things are at a deadlock.
London Times.

The Board is much more likely to be at a deadlock of two to two.
The Century.

Dead"ly (?), a. 1. Capable of causing death; mortal; fatal; destructive; certain or likely to cause death; as, a deadly blow or wound.

2. Aiming or willing to destroy; implacable; desperately hostile; flagitious; as, deadly enemies.

Thy assailant is quick, skillful, and deadly.
Shak.

3. Subject to death; mortal. [Obs.]

The image of a deadly man.
Wyclif (Rom. i. 23).

Deadly nightshade (Bot.), a poisonous plant; belladonna. See under Nightshade.

Dead"ly, adv. 1. In a manner resembling, or as if produced by, death. "Deadly pale." Shak.

2. In a manner to occasion death; mortally.

The groanings of a deadly wounded man.
Ezek. xxx. 24.

3. In an implacable manner; destructively.

4. Extremely. [Obs.] "Deadly weary." Orrery. "So deadly cunning a man." Arbuthnot.

Dead"ness, n. The state of being destitute of life, vigor, spirit, activity, etc.; dullness; inertness; languor; coldness; vapidness; indifference; as, the deadness of a limb, a body, or a tree; the deadness of an eye; deadness of the affections; the deadness of beer or cider; deadness to the world, and the like.

Dead"-pay` (?), n. Pay drawn for soldiers, or others, really dead, whose names are kept on the rolls.

O you commanders,
That, like me, have no dead-pays.
Massinger.

Dead"-reck`on*ing (?), n. (Naut.) See under Dead, a.

Deads (?), n. pl. (Mining) The substances which inclose the ore on every side.

Dead"-stroke` (?), a. (Mech.) Making a stroke without recoil; deadbeat.

Dead-stroke hammer (Mach.), a power hammer having a spring interposed between the driving mechanism and the hammer head, or helve, to lessen the recoil of the hammer and reduce the shock upon the mechanism.

Dead"wood` (?), n. 1. (Naut.) A mass of timbers built into the bow and stern of a vessel to give solidity.

2. Dead trees or branches; useless material.

Dead"works` (?), n. pl. (Naut.) The parts of a ship above the water when she is laden.

Deaf (?; 277), a. [OE. def, deaf, deef, AS. deáf; akin to D. doof, G. taub, Icel. daufr, Dan. döv, Sw. döf, Goth. daubs, and prob. to E. dumb (the original sense being, dull as applied to one of the senses), and perh. to Gr. &?; (for &?;) blind, &?; smoke, vapor, folly, and to G. toben to rage. Cf. Dumb.] 1. Wanting the sense of hearing, either wholly or in part; unable to perceive sounds; hard of hearing; as, a deaf man.

Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf.
Shak.

2. Unwilling to hear or listen; determinedly inattentive; regardless; not to be persuaded as to facts, argument, or exhortation; -- with to; as, deaf to reason.

O, that men's ears should be
To counsel deaf, but not to flattery!
Shak.

3. Deprived of the power of hearing; deafened.

Deaf with the noise, I took my hasty flight.
Dryden.

4. Obscurely heard; stifled; deadened. [R.]

A deaf murmur through the squadron went.
Dryden.

5. Decayed; tasteless; dead; as, a deaf nut; deaf corn. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

If the season be unkindly and intemperate, they [peppers] will catch a blast; and then the seeds will be deaf, void, light, and naught.
Holland.

Deaf and dumb, without the sense of hearing or the faculty of speech. See Deaf-mute.

Deaf (?; 277), v. t. To deafen. [Obs.] Dryden.

Deaf"en (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deafened (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Deafening.] [From Deaf.] 1. To make deaf; to deprive of the power of hearing; to render incapable of perceiving sounds distinctly.

Deafened and stunned with their promiscuous cries.
Addison.

2. (Arch.) To render impervious to sound, as a partition or floor, by filling the space within with mortar, by lining with paper, etc.

Deaf"en*ing, n. The act or process of rendering impervious to sound, as a floor or wall; also, the material with which the spaces are filled in this process; pugging.

Deaf"ly, adv. Without sense of sounds; obscurely.

Deaf"ly, a. Lonely; solitary. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Deaf"-mute` (?), n. A person who is deaf and dumb; one who, through deprivation or defect of hearing, has either failed the acquire the power of speech, or has lost it. [See Illust. of Dactylology.]

Deaf-mutes are still so called, even when, by artificial methods, they have been taught to speak imperfectly.

Deaf"-mut`ism (?), n. The condition of being a deaf-mute.

Deaf"ness (?), n. 1. Incapacity of perceiving sounds; the state of the organs which prevents the impression which constitute hearing; want of the sense of hearing.

2. Unwillingness to hear; voluntary rejection of what is addressed to the understanding.

Nervous deafness, a variety of deafness dependent upon morbid change in some portion of the nervous system, especially the auditory nerve.

Deal (dēl), n. [OE. del, deel, part, AS. d&aemacr;l; akin to OS. dēl, D. & Dan. deel, G. theil, teil, Icel. deild, Sw. del, Goth. dails. √65. Cf. 3d Dole.] 1. A part or portion; a share; hence, an indefinite quantity, degree, or extent, degree, or extent; as, a deal of time and trouble; a deal of cold.

Three tenth deals [parts of an ephah] of flour.
Num. xv. 9.

As an object of science it [the Celtic genius] may count for a good deal . . . as a spiritual power.
M. Arnold.

She was resolved to be a good deal more circumspect.
W. Black.

&fist; It was formerly limited by some, every, never a, a thousand, etc.; as, some deal; but these are now obsolete or vulgar. In general, we now qualify the word with great or good, and often use it adverbially, by being understood; as, a great deal of time and pains; a great (or good) deal better or worse; that is, better by a great deal, or by a great part or difference.

2. The process of dealing cards to the players; also, the portion disturbed.

The deal, the shuffle, and the cut.
Swift.

3. Distribution; apportionment. [Colloq.]

4. An arrangement to attain a desired result by a combination of interested parties; -- applied to stock speculations and political bargains. [Slang]

5. [Prob. from D. deel a plank, threshing floor. See Thill.] The division of a piece of timber made by sawing; a board or plank; particularly, a board or plank of fir or pine above seven inches in width, and exceeding six feet in length. If narrower than this, it is called a batten; if shorter, a deal end.

&fist; Whole deal is a general term for planking one and one half inches thick.

6. Wood of the pine or fir; as, a floor of deal.

Deal tree, a fir tree. Dr. Prior.

Deal, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dealt (d&ebreve;lt); p. pr. & vb. n. Dealing.] [OE. delen, AS. d&aemacr;lan, fr. d&aemacr;l share; akin to OS. dēlian, D. deelen, G. theilen, teilen, Icel. deila, Sw. dela, Dan. dele, Goth. dailjan. See Deal, n.] 1. To divide; to separate in portions; hence, to give in portions; to distribute; to bestow successively; -- sometimes with out.

Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry?
Is. lviii. 7.

And Rome deals out her blessings and her gold.
Tickell.

The nightly mallet deals resounding blows.
Gay.

Hissing through the skies, the feathery deaths were dealt.
Dryden.

2. Specifically: To distribute, as cards, to the players at the commencement of a game; as, to deal the cards; to deal one a jack.

Deal, v. i. 1. To make distribution; to share out in portions, as cards to the players.

2. To do a distributing or retailing business, as distinguished from that of a manufacturer or producer; to traffic; to trade; to do business; as, he deals in flour.

They buy and sell, they deal and traffic.
South.

This is to drive to wholesale trade, when all other petty merchants deal but for parcels.
Dr. H. More.

3. To act as an intermediary in business or any affairs; to manage; to make arrangements; -- followed by between or with.

Sometimes he that deals between man and man, raiseth his own credit with both, by pretending greater interest than he hath in either.
Bacon.

4. To conduct one's self; to behave or act in any affair or towards any one; to treat.

If he will deal clearly and impartially, . . . he will acknowledge all this to be true.
Tillotson.

5. To contend (with); to treat (with), by way of opposition, check, or correction; as, he has turbulent passions to deal with.

To deal by, to treat, either well or ill; as, to deal well by servants. "Such an one deals not fairly by his own mind." Locke. -- To deal in. (a) To have to do with; to be engaged in; to practice; as, they deal in political matters. (b) To buy and sell; to furnish, as a retailer or wholesaler; as, they deal in fish. -- To deal with. (a) To treat in any manner; to use, whether well or ill; to have to do with; specifically, to trade with. "Dealing with witches." Shak. (b) To reprove solemnly; to expostulate with.

The deacons of his church, who, to use their own phrase, "dealt with him" on the sin of rejecting the aid which Providence so manifestly held out.
Hawthorne.

Return . . . and I will deal well with thee.
Gen. xxxii. 9.

De*al"bate (?), v. t. [L. dealbatus, p. p. of dealbare. See Daub.] To whiten. [Obs.] Cockeram.

De`al*ba"tion (?), n. [L. dealbatio: cf. F. déalbation.] Act of bleaching; a whitening. [Obs.]

Deal"er (?), n. 1. One who deals; one who has to do, or has concern, with others; esp., a trader, a trafficker, a shopkeeper, a broker, or a merchant; as, a dealer in dry goods; a dealer in stocks; a retail dealer.

2. One who distributes cards to the players.

Deal"fish` (?), n. [From deal a long, narrow plank.] (Zoöl.) A long, thin fish of the arctic seas (Trachypterus arcticus).

Deal"ing, n. The act of one who deals; distribution of anything, as of cards to the players; method of business; traffic; intercourse; transaction; as, to have dealings with a person.

Double dealing, insincere, treacherous dealing; duplicity. -- Plain dealing, fair, sincere, honorable dealing; honest, outspoken expression of opinion.

Dealth (?), n. Share dealt. [Obs.]

De*am"bu*late (?), v. i. [L. deambulare, deambulatum; de- + ambulare to walk.] To walk abroad. [Obs.] Cockeram.

De*am`bu*la"tion (?), n. [L. deambulatio.] A walking abroad; a promenading. [Obs.] Sir T. Elyot.

De*am"bu*la*to*ry (?), a. [Cf. LL. deambulator a traveler.] Going about from place to place; wandering; of or pertaining to a deambulatory. [Obs.] "Deambulatory actors." Bp. Morton.

De*am"bu*la*to*ry, n. [L. deambulatorium.] A covered place in which to walk; an ambulatory.

Dean (?), n. [OE. dene, deene, OF. deien, dien, F. doyen, eldest of a corporation, a dean, L. decanus the chief of ten, one set over ten persons, e. g., over soldiers or over monks, from decem ten. See Ten, and cf. Decemvir.] 1. A dignitary or presiding officer in certain ecclesiastical and lay bodies; esp., an ecclesiastical dignitary, subordinate to a bishop.

Dean of cathedral church, the chief officer of a chapter; he is an ecclesiastical magistrate next in degree to bishop, and has immediate charge of the cathedral and its estates. -- Dean of peculiars, a dean holding a preferment which has some peculiarity relative to spiritual superiors and the jurisdiction exercised in it. [Eng.] -- Rural dean, one having, under the bishop, the especial care and inspection of the clergy within certain parishes or districts of the diocese.

2. The collegiate officer in the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, England, who, besides other duties, has regard to the moral condition of the college. Shipley.

3. The head or presiding officer in the faculty of some colleges or universities.

4. A registrar or secretary of the faculty in a department of a college, as in a medical, or theological, or scientific department. [U.S.]

5. The chief or senior of a company on occasion of ceremony; as, the dean of the diplomatic corps; -- so called by courtesy.

Cardinal dean, the senior cardinal bishop of the college of cardinals at Rome. Shipley. -- Dean and chapter, the legal corporation and governing body of a cathedral. It consists of the dean, who is chief, and his canons or prebendaries. -- Dean of arches, the lay judge of the court of arches. -- Dean of faculty, the president of an incorporation or barristers; specifically, the president of the incorporation of advocates in Edinburgh. -- Dean of guild, a magistrate of Scotch burghs, formerly, and still, in some burghs, chosen by the Guildry, whose duty is to superintend the erection of new buildings and see that they conform to the law. -- Dean of a monastery, Monastic dean, a monastic superior over ten monks. -- Dean's stall. See Decanal stall, under Decanal.

Dean"er*y (?), n.; pl. Deaneries (&?;). 1. The office or the revenue of a dean. See the Note under Benefice, n., 3.

2. The residence of a dean. Shak.

3. The territorial jurisdiction of a dean.

Each archdeaconry is divided into rural deaneries, and each deanery is divided into parishes.
Blackstone.

Dean"ship, n. The office of a dean.

I dont't value your deanship a straw.
Swift.

Dear (dēr), a. [Compar. Dearer (-&etilde;r); superl. Dearest (-&ebreve;st).] [OE. dere, deore, AS. deóre; akin to OS. diuri, D. duur, OHG. tiuri, G. theuer, teuer, Icel. d&ymacr;rr, Dan. & Sw. dyr. Cf. Darling, Dearth.] 1. Bearing a high price; high-priced; costly; expensive.

The cheapest of us is ten groats too dear.
Shak.

2. Marked by scarcity or dearth, and exorbitance of price; as, a dear year.

3. Highly valued; greatly beloved; cherished; precious. "Hear me, dear lady." Shak.

Neither count I my life dear unto myself.
Acts xx. 24.

And the last joy was dearer than the rest.
Pope.

Dear as remember'd kisses after death.
Tennyson.

4. Hence, close to the heart; heartfelt; present in mind; engaging the attention. (a) Of agreeable things and interests.

[I'll] leave you to attend him: some dear cause
Will in concealment wrap me up awhile.
Shak.

His dearest wish was to escape from the bustle and glitter of Whitehall.
Macaulay.

(b) Of disagreeable things and antipathies.

In our dear peril.
Shak.

Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven
Or ever I had seen that day.
Shak.

Dear, n. A dear one; lover; sweetheart.

That kiss I carried from thee, dear.
Shak.

Dear, adv. Dearly; at a high price.

If thou attempt it, it will cost thee dear.
Shak.

Dear, v. t. To endear. [Obs.] Shelton.

Dear"born (?), n. A four-wheeled carriage, with curtained sides.

Dear"-bought` (?), a. Bought at a high price; as, dear-bought experience.

Deare (?), variant of Dere, v. t. & n. [Obs.]

Dear"ie (?), n. Same as Deary. Dickens.

Dear"ling (?), n. A darling. [Obs.] Spenser.

Dear"-loved` (?), a. Greatly beloved. Shak.

Dear"ly, adv. 1. In a dear manner; with affection; heartily; earnestly; as, to love one dearly.

2. At a high rate or price; grievously.

He buys his mistress dearly with his throne.
Dryden.

3. Exquisitely. [Obs.] Shak.

Dearn (?), a. [AS. derne, dyrne, dierne, hidden, secret. Cf. Derne.] Secret; lonely; solitary; dreadful. [Obs.] Shak. -- Dearn"ly, adv. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dearn, v. t. Same as Darn. [Obs.]

Dear"ness (?), n. 1. The quality or state of being dear; costliness; excess of price.

The dearness of corn.
Swift.

2. Fondness; preciousness; love; tenderness.

The dearness of friendship.
Bacon.

Dearth (?), n. [OE. derthe, fr. dere. See Dear.] Scarcity which renders dear; want; lack; specifically, lack of food on account of failure of crops; famine.

There came a dearth over all the land of Egypt.
Acts vii. 11.

He with her press'd, she faint with dearth.
Shak.

Dearth of plot, and narrowness of imagination.
Dryden.

De`ar*tic"u*late (?), v. t. To disjoint.

Dear"worth` (?), a. [See Derworth.] Precious. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.

Dear"y (?), n. A dear; a darling. [Familiar]

De"as (?), n. See Dais. [Scot.]

Death (d&ebreve;th), n. [OE. deth, deað, AS. deáð; akin to OS. dōð, D. dood, G. tod, Icel. dauði, Sw. & Dan. död, Goth. dauþus; from a verb meaning to die. See Die, v. i., and cf. Dead.] 1. The cessation of all vital phenomena without capability of resuscitation, either in animals or plants.

&fist; Local death is going on at all times and in all parts of the living body, in which individual cells and elements are being cast off and replaced by new; a process essential to life. General death is of two kinds; death of the body as a whole (somatic or systemic death), and death of the tissues. By the former is implied the absolute cessation of the functions of the brain, the circulatory and the respiratory organs; by the latter the entire disappearance of the vital actions of the ultimate structural constituents of the body. When death takes place, the body as a whole dies first, the death of the tissues sometimes not occurring until after a considerable interval. Huxley.

2. Total privation or loss; extinction; cessation; as, the death of memory.

The death of a language can not be exactly compared with the death of a plant.
J. Peile.

3. Manner of dying; act or state of passing from life.

A death that I abhor.
Shak.

Let me die the death of the righteous.
Num. xxiii. 10.

4. Cause of loss of life.

Swiftly flies the feathered death.
Dryden.

He caught his death the last county sessions.
Addison.

5. Personified: The destroyer of life, -- conventionally represented as a skeleton with a scythe.

Death! great proprietor of all.
Young.

And I looked, and behold a pale horse; and his name that sat on him was Death.
Rev. vi. 8.

6. Danger of death. "In deaths oft." 2 Cor. xi. 23.

7. Murder; murderous character.

Not to suffer a man of death to live.
Bacon.

8. (Theol.) Loss of spiritual life.

To be carnally minded is death.
Rom. viii. 6.

9. Anything so dreadful as to be like death.

It was death to them to think of entertaining such doctrines.
Atterbury.

And urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death.
Judg. xvi. 16.

&fist; Death is much used adjectively and as the first part of a compound, meaning, in general, of or pertaining to death, causing or presaging death; as, deathbed or death bed; deathblow or death blow, etc.

Black death. See Black death, in the Vocabulary. -- Civil death, the separation of a man from civil society, or the debarring him from the enjoyment of civil rights, as by banishment, attainder, abjuration of the realm, entering a monastery, etc. Blackstone. -- Death adder. (Zoöl.) (a) A kind of viper found in South Africa (Acanthophis tortor); -- so called from the virulence of its venom. (b) A venomous Australian snake of the family Elapidæ, of several species, as the Hoplocephalus superbus and Acanthopis antarctica. -- Death bell, a bell that announces a death.

The death bell thrice was heard to ring.
Mickle.

-- Death candle, a light like that of a candle, viewed by the superstitious as presaging death. -- Death damp, a cold sweat at the coming on of death. -- Death fire, a kind of ignis fatuus supposed to forebode death.

And round about in reel and rout,
The death fires danced at night.
Coleridge.

-- Death grapple, a grapple or struggle for life. -- Death in life, a condition but little removed from death; a living death. [Poetic] "Lay lingering out a five years' death in life." Tennyson. - - Death knell, a stroke or tolling of a bell, announcing a death. -- Death rate, the relation or ratio of the number of deaths to the population.

At all ages the death rate is higher in towns than in rural districts.
Darwin.

-- Death rattle, a rattling or gurgling in the throat of a dying person. -- Death's door, the boundary of life; the partition dividing life from death. -- Death stroke, a stroke causing death. -- Death throe, the spasm of death. -- Death token, the signal of approaching death. -- Death warrant. (a) (Law) An order from the proper authority for the execution of a criminal. (b) That which puts an end to expectation, hope, or joy. -- Death wound. (a) A fatal wound or injury. (b) (Naut.) The springing of a fatal leak. -- Spiritual death (Scripture), the corruption and perversion of the soul by sin, with the loss of the favor of God. -- The gates of death, the grave.

Have the gates of death been opened unto thee?
Job xxxviii. 17.

-- The second death, condemnation to eternal separation from God. Rev. ii. 11. -- To be the death of, to be the cause of death to; to make die. "It was one who should be the death of both his parents." Milton.

Syn. -- Death, Decease, Demise, Departure, Release. Death applies to the termination of every form of existence, both animal and vegetable; the other words only to the human race. Decease is the term used in law for the removal of a human being out of life in the ordinary course of nature. Demise was formerly confined to decease of princes, but is now sometimes used of distinguished men in general; as, the demise of Mr. Pitt. Departure and release are peculiarly terms of Christian affection and hope. A violent death is not usually called a decease. Departure implies a friendly taking leave of life. Release implies a deliverance from a life of suffering or sorrow.

Death"bed (?), n. The bed in which a person dies; hence, the closing hours of life of one who dies by sickness or the like; the last sickness.

That often-quoted passage from Lord Hervey in which the Queen's deathbed is described.
Thackeray.

Death"bird` (?), n. (Zoöl.) Tengmalm's or Richardson's owl (Nyctale Tengmalmi); -- so called from a superstition of the North American Indians that its note presages death.

Death"blow` (?), n. A mortal or crushing blow; a stroke or event which kills or destroys.

The deathblow of my hope.
Byron.

Death"ful (?), a. 1. Full of death or slaughter; murderous; destructive; bloody.

These eyes behold
The deathful scene.
Pope.

2. Liable to undergo death; mortal.

The deathless gods and deathful earth.
Chapman.

Death"ful*ness, n. Appearance of death. Jer. Taylor.

Death"less, a. Not subject to death, destruction, or extinction; immortal; undying; imperishable; as, deathless beings; deathless fame.

Death"like` (?), a. 1. Resembling death.

A deathlike slumber, and a dead repose.
Pope.

2. Deadly. [Obs.] "Deathlike dragons." Shak.

Death"li*ness (?), n. The quality of being deathly; deadliness. Southey.

Death"ly, a. Deadly; fatal; mortal; destructive.

Death"ly, adv. Deadly; as, deathly pale or sick.

Death's"-head` (?), n. A naked human skull as the emblem of death; the head of the conventional personification of death.

I had rather be married to a death's-head with a bone in his mouth.
Shak.

Death's-head moth (Zoöl.), a very large European moth (Acherontia atropos), so called from a figure resembling a human skull on the back of the thorax; -- called also death's-head sphinx.

Death's"-herb` (?), n. The deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna). Dr. Prior.

Deaths"man (?), n. An executioner; a headsman or hangman. [Obs.] Shak.

Death"ward (?), adv. Toward death.

Death"watch` (?; 224), n. 1. (Zoöl.) (a) A small beetle (Anobium tessellatum and other allied species). By forcibly striking its head against woodwork it makes a ticking sound, which is a call of the sexes to each other, but has been imagined by superstitious people to presage death. (b) A small wingless insect, of the family Psocidæ, which makes a similar but fainter sound; -- called also deathtick.

She is always seeing apparitions and hearing deathwatches.
Addison.

I did not hear the dog howl, mother, or the deathwatch beat.
Tennyson.

2. The guard set over a criminal before his execution.

De*au"rate (?), a. [L. deauratus, p. p. of deaurare to gild; de- + aurum gold.] Gilded. [Obs.]

De*au"rate (?), v. t. To gild. [Obs.] Bailey.

De`au*ra"tion (?), n. Act of gilding. [Obs.]

Deave (?), v. t. [See Deafen.] To stun or stupefy with noise; to deafen. [Scot.]

De*bac"chate (?), v. i. [L. debacchatus, p. p. of debacchari to rage; de- + bacchari to rage like a bacchant.] To rave as a bacchanal. [R.] Cockeram.

De`bac*cha"tion (?), n. [L. debacchatio.] Wild raving or debauchery. [R.] Prynne.

De*ba"cle (?), n. [F. débâcle, fr. débâcler to unbar, break loose; pref. dé- (prob. = L. dis) + bâcler to bolt, fr. L. baculum a stick.] (Geol.) A breaking or bursting forth; a violent rush or flood of waters which breaks down opposing barriers, and hurls forward and disperses blocks of stone and other débris.

De*bar" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Debarred (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Debarring.] [Pref. de- + bar.] To cut off from entrance, as if by a bar or barrier; to preclude; to hinder from approach, entry, or enjoyment; to shut out or exclude; to deny or refuse; -- with from, and sometimes with of.

Yet not so strictly hath our Lord imposed
Labor, as to debar us when we need
Refreshment.
Milton.

Their wages were so low as to debar them, not only from the comforts but from the common decencies of civilized life.
Buckle.

De*barb" (?), v. t. [Pref. de- + L. barba beard.] To deprive of the beard. [Obs.] Bailey.

De"bark" (?), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Debarked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Debarking.] [F. débarquer; pref. dé- (L. dis-) + barque. See Bark the vessel, and cf. Disbark.] To go ashore from a ship or boat; to disembark; to put ashore.

De`bar*ka"tion (?), n. Disembarkation.

The debarkation, therefore, had to take place by small steamers.
U. S. Grant.

De*bar"ment (?), n. Hindrance from approach; exclusion.

De*bar"rass (?), v. t. [Cf. F. débarrasser. See Embarrass.] To disembarrass; to relieve. [R.]

De*base" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Debased (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Debasing.] [Pref. de- + base. See Base, a., and cf. Abase.] To reduce from a higher to a lower state or grade of worth, dignity, purity, station, etc.; to degrade; to lower; to deteriorate; to abase; as, to debase the character by crime; to debase the mind by frivolity; to debase style by vulgar words.

The coin which was adulterated and debased.
Hale.

It is a kind of taking God's name in vain to debase religion with such frivolous disputes.
Hooker.

And to debase the sons, exalts the sires.
Pope.

Syn. -- To abase; degrade. See Abase.

De*based" (?), a. (Her.) Turned upside down from its proper position; inverted; reversed.

De*base"ment (?), n. The act of debasing or the state of being debased. Milton.

De*bas"er (?), n. One who, or that which, debases.

De*bas"ing*ly, adv. In a manner to debase.

De*bat"a*ble (?), a. [Cf. OF. debatable. See Debate.] Liable to be debated; disputable; subject to controversy or contention; open to question or dispute; as, a debatable question.

The Debatable Land or Ground, a tract of land between the Esk and the Sark, claimed by both England and Scotland; the Batable Ground.

De*bate" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Debated; p. pr. & vb. n. Debating.] [OF. debatre, F. débattre; L. de + batuere to beat. See Batter, v. t., and cf. Abate.] 1. To engage in combat for; to strive for.

Volunteers . . . thronged to serve under his banner, and the cause of religion was debated with the same ardor in Spain as on the plains of Palestine.
Prescott.

2. To contend for in words or arguments; to strive to maintain by reasoning; to dispute; to contest; to discuss; to argue for and against.

A wise council . . . that did debate this business.
Shak.

Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself.
Prov. xxv. 9.

Syn. -- To argue; discuss; dispute; controvert. See Argue, and Discuss.

De*bate", v. i. 1. To engage in strife or combat; to fight. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Well could he tourney and in lists debate.
Spenser.

2. To contend in words; to dispute; hence, to deliberate; to consider; to discuss or examine different arguments in the mind; -- often followed by on or upon.

He presents that great soul debating upon the subject of life and death with his intimate friends.
Tatler.

De*bate", n. [F. débat, fr. débattre. See Debate, v. t.] 1. A fight or fighting; contest; strife. [Archaic]

On the day of the Trinity next ensuing was a great debate . . . and in that murder there were slain . . . fourscore.
R. of Gloucester.

But question fierce and proud reply
Gave signal soon of dire debate.
Sir W. Scott.

2. Contention in words or arguments; discussion for the purpose of elucidating truth or influencing action; strife in argument; controversy; as, the debates in Parliament or in Congress.

Heard, noted, answer'd, as in full debate.
Pope.

3. Subject of discussion. [R.]

Statutes and edicts concerning this debate.
Milton.

De*bate"ful (?), a. Full of contention; contentious; quarrelsome. [Obs.] Spenser.

De*bate"ful*ly, adv. With contention. [Obs.]

De*bate"ment (?), n. [Cf. OF. debatement a beating.] Controversy; deliberation; debate. [R.]

A serious question and debatement with myself.
Milton.

De*bat"er (?), n. One who debates; one given to argument; a disputant; a controvertist.

Debate where leisure serves with dull debaters.
Shak.

De*bat"ing, n. The act of discussing or arguing; discussion.

Debating society or club, a society or club for the purpose of debate and improvement in extemporaneous speaking.

De*bat"ing*ly, adv. In the manner of a debate.

De*bauch" (?), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Debauched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Debauching.] [F. débaucher, prob. originally, to entice away from the workshop; pref. dé- (L. dis- or de) + OF. bauche, bauge, hut, cf. F. bauge lair of a wild boar; prob. from G. or Icel., cf. Icel. bālkr. See Balk, n.] To lead away from purity or excellence; to corrupt in character or principles; to mar; to vitiate; to pollute; to seduce; as, to debauch one's self by intemperance; to debauch a woman; to debauch an army.

Learning not debauched by ambition.
Burke.

A man must have got his conscience thoroughly debauched and hardened before he can arrive to the height of sin.
South.

Her pride debauched her judgment and her eyes.
Cowley.

De*bauch", n. [Cf. F. débauche.] 1. Excess in eating or drinking; intemperance; drunkenness; lewdness; debauchery.

The first physicians by debauch were made.
Dryden.

2. An act or occasion of debauchery.

Silenus, from his night's debauch,
Fatigued and sick.
Cowley.

De*bauched" (?), a. Dissolute; dissipated. "A coarse and debauched look." Ld. Lytton.

De*bauch"ed*ly (?), adv. In a profligate manner.

De*bauch"ed*ness, n. The state of being debauched; intemperance. Bp. Hall.

Deb`au*chee" (?), n. [F. débauché, n., properly p. p. of débaucher. See Debauch, v. t.] One who is given to intemperance or bacchanalian excesses; a man habitually lewd; a libertine.

De*bauch"er (?), n. One who debauches or corrupts others; especially, a seducer to lewdness.

De*bauch"er*y (?), n.; pl. Debaucheries (&?;). 1. Corruption of fidelity; seduction from virtue, duty, or allegiance.

The republic of Paris will endeavor to complete the debauchery of the army.
Burke.

2. Excessive indulgence of the appetites; especially, excessive indulgence of lust; intemperance; sensuality; habitual lewdness.

Oppose . . . debauchery by temperance.
Sprat.

De*bauch"ment (?), n. The act of corrupting; the act of seducing from virtue or duty.

De*bauch"ness, n. Debauchedness. [Obs.]

De*beige" (?), n. [F. de of + beige the natural color of wool.] A kind of woolen or mixed dress goods. [Written also debage.]

De*bel" (?), v. t. [Cf. F. débeller. See Debellate.] To conquer. [Obs.] Milton.

De*bel"late (?), v. t. [L. debellatus, p. p. of debellare to subdue; de- + bellum war.] To subdue; to conquer in war. [Obs.] Speed.

Deb`el*la"tion (?), n. [LL. debellatio.] The act of conquering or subduing. [Obs.]

||De be"ne es"se (?). [L.] (Law) Of well being; of formal sufficiency for the time; conditionally; provisionally. Abbott.

De*ben"ture (?; 135), n. [L. debentur they are due, fr. debere to owe; cf. F. debentur. So called because these receipts began with the words Debentur mihi.] 1. A writing acknowledging a debt; a writing or certificate signed by a public officer, as evidence of a debt due to some person; the sum thus due.

2. A customhouse certificate entitling an exporter of imported goods to a drawback of duties paid on their importation. Burrill.

It is applied in England to deeds of mortgage given by railway companies for borrowed money; also to municipal and other bonds and securities for money loaned.

De*ben"tured (?; 135), a. Entitled to drawback or debenture; as, debentured goods.

Deb"ile (?), a. [L. debilis: cf. F. débile. See Debility.] Weak. [Obs.] Shak.

De*bil"i*tant (?), a. [L. debilitants, p. pr.] (Med.) Diminishing the energy of organs; reducing excitement; as, a debilitant drug.

De*bil"i*tate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Debilitated; p. pr. & vb. n. Debilitating.] [L. debilitatus, p. p. of debilitare to debilitate, fr. debilis. See Debility.] To impair the strength of; to weaken; to enfeeble; as, to debilitate the body by intemperance.

Various ails debilitate the mind.
Jenyns.

The debilitated frame of Mr. Bertram was exhausted by this last effort.
Sir W. Scott.

De*bil`i*ta"tion (?), n. [L. debilitatio: cf. F. débilitation.] The act or process of debilitating, or the condition of one who is debilitated; weakness.

De*bil"i*ty (?), n. [L. debilitas, fr. debilis weak, prob. fr. de- + habilis able: cf. F. débilité. See Able, a.] The state of being weak; weakness; feebleness; languor.

The inconveniences of too strong a perspiration, which are debility, faintness, and sometimes sudden death.
Arbuthnot.

Syn. -- Debility, Infirmity, Imbecility. An infirmity belongs, for the most part, to particular members, and is often temporary, as of the eyes, etc. Debility is more general, and while it lasts impairs the ordinary functions of nature. Imbecility attaches to the whole frame, and renders it more or less powerless. Debility may be constitutional or may be the result or superinduced causes; Imbecility is always constitutional; infirmity is accidental, and results from sickness or a decay of the frame. These words, in their figurative uses, have the same distinctions; we speak of infirmity of will, debility of body, and an Imbecility which affects the whole man; but Imbecility is often used with specific reference to feebleness of mind.

Deb"it (?), n. [L. debitum what is due, debt, from debere to owe: cf. F. débit. See Debt.] A debt; an entry on the debtor (Dr.) side of an account; -- mostly used adjectively; as, the debit side of an account.

Deb"it, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Debited; p. pr. & vb. n. Debiting.] 1. To charge with debt; -- the opposite of, and correlative to, credit; as, to debit a purchaser for the goods sold.

2. (Bookkeeping) To enter on the debtor (Dr.) side of an account; as, to debit the amount of goods sold.

Deb"it*or (?), n. [L. See Debtor.] A debtor. [Obs.] Shak.

De`bi*tu`mi*ni*za"tion (?), n. The act of depriving of bitumen.

De`bi*tu"mi*nize (?), v. t. To deprive of bitumen.

||Dé`blai" (?), n. [F.] (Fort.) The cavity from which the earth for parapets, etc. (remblai), is taken.

Deb`o*nair" (?), a. [OE. debonere, OF. de bon aire, debonaire, of good descent or lineage, excellent, debonair, F. débonnaire debonair; de of (L. de) + bon good (L. bonus) + aire. See Air, and Bounty, and cf. Bonair.] Characterized by courteousness, affability, or gentleness; of good appearance and manners; graceful; complaisant.

Was never prince so meek and debonair.
Spenser.

Deb`o*nair"i*ty (?), n. [OF. debonaireté, F. débonnaireté.] Debonairness. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Deb`o*nair"ly, adv. Courteously; elegantly.

Deb`o*nair"ness, n. The quality of being debonair; good humor; gentleness; courtesy. Sterne.

De*bosh" (?), v. t. [Old form of debauch.] To debauch. [Obs.] "A deboshed lady." Beau. & Fl.

De*bosh"ment (?), n. Debauchment. [Obs.]

De*bouch" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Debouched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Debouching.] [F. déboucher; pref. dé- (L. dis- or de) + boucher to stop up, fr. bouche mouth, fr. L. bucca the cheek. Cf. Disembogue.] To march out from a wood, defile, or other confined spot, into open ground; to issue.

Battalions debouching on the plain.
Prescott.

||Dé`bou`ché" (?), n. [F.] A place for exit; an outlet; hence, a market for goods.

The débouchés were ordered widened to afford easy egress.
The Century.

||Dé`bou`chure" (?), n. [F.] The outward opening of a river, of a valley, or of a strait.

||Dé`bris" (?), n. [F., fr. pref. dé- (L. dis) + briser to break, shatter; perh. of Celtic origin.] 1. (Geol.) Broken and detached fragments, taken collectively; especially, fragments detached from a rock or mountain, and piled up at the base.

2. Rubbish, especially such as results from the destruction of anything; remains; ruins.

De*bruised" (?), a. [Cf. OF. debruisier to shatter, break. Cf. Bruise.] (Her.) Surmounted by an ordinary; as, a lion is debruised when a bend or other ordinary is placed over it, as in the cut.

The lion of England and the lilies of France without the baton sinister, under which, according to the laws of heraldry, they where debruised in token of his illegitimate birth.
Macaulay.

Debt (?), n. [OE. dette, F. dette, LL. debita, fr. L. debitus owed, p. p. of debere to owe, prop., to have on loan; de- + habere to have. See Habit, and cf. Debit, Due.] 1. That which is due from one person to another, whether money, goods, or services; that which one person is bound to pay to another, or to perform for his benefit; thing owed; obligation; liability.

Your son, my lord, has paid a soldier's debt.
Shak.

When you run in debt, you give to another power over your liberty.
Franklin.

2. A duty neglected or violated; a fault; a sin; a trespass. "Forgive us our debts." Matt. vi. 12.

3. (Law) An action at law to recover a certain specified sum of money alleged to be due. Burrill.

Bond debt, Book debt, etc. See under Bond, Book, etc. -- Debt of nature, death.

Debt"ed, p. a. Indebted; obliged to. [R.]

I stand debted to this gentleman.
Shak.

Debt*ee" (?), n. (Law) One to whom a debt is due; creditor; -- correlative to debtor. Blackstone.

Debt"less (?), a. Free from debt. Chaucer.

Debt"or (?), n. [OE. dettur, dettour, OF. detor, detur, detour, F. débiteur, fr. L. debitor, fr. debere to owe. See Debt.] One who owes a debt; one who is indebted; -- correlative to creditor.

[I 'll] bring your latter hazard back again,
And thankfully rest debtor for the first.
Shak.

In Athens an insolvent debtor became slave to his creditor.
Mitford.

Debtors for our lives to you.
Tennyson.

De*bul"li*ate (?), v. i. [Pref. dé- + L. bullire to boil.] To boil over. [Obs.]

Deb`ul*li"tion (?), n. [See Debulliate.] A bubbling or boiling over. [Obs.] Bailey.

De*burse" (?), v. t. & i. [Pref. de + L. bursa purse.] To disburse. [Obs.] Ludlow.

De"bu*scope (?), n. [From the inventor, Debus, a French optician + -scope.] (Opt.) A modification of the kaleidoscope; -- used to reflect images so as to form beautiful designs.

||Dé`but" (?), n. [F. début, prop., the first cast or throw at play, fr. but aim, mark. See Butt an end.] A beginning or first attempt; hence, a first appearance before the public, as of an actor or public speaker.

||Dé`bu`tant" (?), n.; fem. Dé`bu`tante" (&?;). [F., p. pr. of débuter to have the first throw, to make one's début. See Début.] A person who makes his (or her) first appearance before the public.

Dec"a- (?). [Cf. Ten.] A prefix, from Gr. de`ka, signifying ten; specifically (Metric System), a prefix signifying the weight or measure that is ten times the principal unit.

||De*cac`e*ra"ta (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. de`ka ten + ke`ras a horn.] (Zoöl.) The division of Cephalopoda which includes the squids, cuttlefishes, and others having ten arms or tentacles; -- called also Decapoda. [Written also Decacera.] See Dibranchiata.

{ Dec"a*chord (?), Dec`a*chor"don (?), } n. [Gr. deka`chordos tenstringed; de`ka ten + chordj` a string.] 1. An ancient Greek musical instrument of ten strings, resembling the harp.

2. Something consisting of ten parts. W. Watson.

Dec`a*cu"mi*na`ted (?), a. [L. decacuminare to cut off the top. See Cacuminate.] Having the point or top cut off. [Obs.] Bailey.

Dec"ad (?), n. A decade.

Averill was a decad and a half his elder.
Tennyson.

Dec"a*dal (?), a. Pertaining to ten; consisting of tens.

Dec"ade (?), n. [F. décade, L. decas, -adis, fr. Gr. &?;, fr. de`ka ten. See Ten.] A group or division of ten; esp., a period of ten years; a decennium; as, a decade of years or days; a decade of soldiers; the second decade of Livy. [Written also decad.]

During this notable decade of years.
Gladstone.

{ De*ca"dence (?), De*ca"den*cy (?), } n. [LL. decadentia; L. de- + cadere to fall: cf. F. décadence. See Decay.] A falling away; decay; deterioration; declension. "The old castle, where the family lived in their decadence." Sir W. Scott.

De*ca"dent (?), a. Decaying; deteriorating.

Dec"a*dist (?), n. A writer of a book divided into decades; as, Livy was a decadist. [R.]

Dec"a*gon (?), n. [Pref. deca- + Gr. &?; a corner or angle: cf. F. décagone.] (Geom.) A plane figure having ten sides and ten angles; any figure having ten angles. A regular decagon is one that has all its sides and angles equal.

De*cag"o*nal (?), a. Pertaining to a decagon; having ten sides.

{ Dec"a*gram, Dec"a*gramme } (?), n. [F. décagramme; Gr. de`ka ten + F. gramme. See Gram.] A weight of the metric system; ten grams, equal to about 154.32 grains avoirdupois.

||Dec`a*gyn"i*a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. de`ka ten + &?; a woman, a female.] (Bot.) A Linnæan order of plants characterized by having ten styles.

{ Dec`a*gyn"i*an (?), Dec*cag"y*nous (?), } a. [Cf. F. décagyne.] (Bot.) Belonging to the Decagynia; having ten styles.

Dec`a*he"dral (?), a. Having ten sides.

Dec`a*he"dron (?), n.; pl. E. Decahedrons (#), L. Decahedra (#). [Pref. deca- + Gr. 'e`dra a seat, a base, fr. 'e`zesthai to sit: cf. F. décaèdre.] (Geom.) A solid figure or body inclosed by ten plane surfaces. [Written also, less correctly, decaedron.]

De*cal`ci*fi*ca"tion (?), n. The removal of calcareous matter.

De*cal"ci*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decalcified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Decalcifying.] To deprive of calcareous matter; thus, to decalcify bones is to remove the stony part, and leave only the gelatin.

{ De*cal`co*ma"ni*a (?), De*cal`co*ma"nie (?), } n. [F. décalcomanie.] The art or process of transferring pictures and designs to china, glass, marble, etc., and permanently fixing them thereto.

{ Dec"a*li`ter, Dec"a*li`tre } (?), n. [F. décalitre; Gr. de`ka ten + F. litre. See Liter.] A measure of capacity in the metric system; a cubic volume of ten liters, equal to about 610.24 cubic inches, that is, 2.642 wine gallons.

Dec"a*log (?; 115), n. Decalogue.

De*cal"o*gist (?), n. One who explains the decalogue. J. Gregory.

Dec"a*logue (?; 115), n. [F. décalogue, L. decalogus, fr. Gr. &?;; de`ka ten + &?; speech, &?; to speak, to say. See Ten.] The Ten Commandments or precepts given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai, and originally written on two tables of stone.

De*cam"e*ron (?), n. [It. decamerone, fr. Gr. de`ka ten + &?; part; though quite generally supposed to be derived from &?; day: cf. F. décaméron.] A celebrated collection of tales, supposed to be related in ten days; -- written in the 14th century, by Boccaccio, an Italian.

{ Dec"a*me`ter, Dec"a*me`tre } (?), n. [F. décamètre; Gr. de`ka ten + mètre. See Meter.] A measure of length in the metric system; ten meters, equal to about 393.7 inches.

De*camp" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Decamped (?; 215); p. pr. & vb. n. Decamping.] [F. décamper; pref. dé- (L. dis) + camp camp. See Camp.] 1. To break up a camp; to move away from a camping ground, usually by night or secretly. Macaulay.

2. Hence, to depart suddenly; to run away; -- generally used disparagingly.

The fathers were ordered to decamp, and the house was once again converted into a tavern.
Goldsmith.

De*camp"ment (?), n. [Cf. F. décampement.] Departure from a camp; a marching off.

Dec"a*nal (?; 277), a. [Cf. F. décanal. See Dean.] Pertaining to a dean or deanery.

His rectorial as well as decanal residence.
Churton.

Decanal side, the side of the choir on which the dean's tall is placed. -- Decanal stall, the stall allotted to the dean in the choir, on the right or south side of the chancel. Shipley.

||De*can"dri*a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. de`ka ten + &?;, &?;, a man.] (Bot.) A Linnæan class of plants characterized by having ten stamens.

{ De*can"dri*an (?), De*can"drous (?), } a. [Cf. F. décandre.] (Bot.) Belonging to the Decandria; having ten stamens.

Dec"ane (?), n. [See Deca-.] (Chem.) A liquid hydrocarbon, C10H22, of the paraffin series, including several isomeric modifications.

Dec*an"gu*lar (?), a. [Pref. deca- + angular.] Having ten angles.

||De*ca"ni (?), a. [L., lit., of the dean.] Used of the side of the choir on which the dean's stall is placed; decanal; -- correlative to cantoris; as, the decanal, or decani, side.

De*cant" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Decanting.] [F. décanter (cf. It. decantare), prop., to pour off from the edge of a vessel; pref. dé- (L. de) + OF. cant (It. canto) edge, border, end. See Cant an edge.] To pour off gently, as liquor, so as not to disturb the sediment; or to pour from one vessel into another; as, to decant wine.

De*can"tate (?), v. t. To decant. [Obs.]

De`can*ta"tion (?; 277), n. [Cf. F. décantation.] The act of pouring off a clear liquor gently from its lees or sediment, or from one vessel into another.

De*cant"er (?), n. 1. A vessel used to decant liquors, or for receiving decanted liquors; a kind of glass bottle used for holding wine or other liquors, from which drinking glasses are filled.

2. One who decants liquors.

De*caph"yl*lous (?), a. [Pref. deca- + Gr. &?; leaf: cf. F. décaphylle.] (Bot.) Having ten leaves.

De*cap"i*tate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decapitated; p. pr. & vb. n. Decapitating.] [LL. decapitatus, p. p. of decapitare; L. de- + caput head. See Chief.] 1. To cut off the head of; to behead.

2. To remove summarily from office. [Colloq. U. S.]

De*cap`i*ta"tion (?), n. [LL. decapitatio: cf. F. décapitation.] The act of beheading; beheading.

Dec"a*pod (d&ebreve;k"&adot;*p&obreve;d), n. [Cf. F. décapode.] (Zoöl.) A crustacean with ten feet or legs, as a crab; one of the Decapoda. Also used adjectively.

||De*cap"o*da (d&esl;*kăp"&osl;*d&adot;), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. de`ka ten + poy`s, podo`s, foot.] 1. (Zoöl.) The order of Crustacea which includes the shrimps, lobsters, crabs, etc.

&fist; They have a carapace, covering and uniting the somites of the head and thorax and inclosing a gill chamber on each side, and usually have five (rarely six) pairs of legs. They are divided into two principal groups: Brachyura and Macrura. Some writers recognize a third (Anomura) intermediate between the others.

2. (Zoöl.) A division of the dibranchiate cephalopods including the cuttlefishes and squids. See Decacera.

{ De*cap"o*dal (?), De*cap"o*dous (?), } a. (Zoöl.) Belonging to the decapods; having ten feet; ten-footed.

De*car"bon*ate (?), v. t. To deprive of carbonic acid.

De*car`bon*i*za"tion (?), n. The action or process of depriving a substance of carbon.

De*car"bon*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decarbonized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Decarbonizing.] To deprive of carbon; as, to decarbonize steel; to decarbonize the blood.

Decarbonized iron. See Malleable iron. -- Decarbonized steel, homogenous wrought iron made by a steel process, as that of Bessemer; ingot iron.

De*car"bon*i`zer (?), n. He who, or that which, decarbonizes a substance.

De*car`bu*ri*za"tion (?), n. The act, process, or result of decarburizing.

De*car"bu*rize (?), v. t. To deprive of carbon; to remove the carbon from.

De*card" (?), v. t. To discard. [Obs.]

You have cast those by, decarded them.
J. Fletcher.

De*car"di*nal*ize (?), v. t. To depose from the rank of cardinal.

Dec"a*stere (?), n. [L. décastère; Gr. de`ka ten + F. stère a stere.] (Metric System) A measure of capacity, equal to ten steres, or ten cubic meters.

Dec"a*stich (?), n. [Pref. deca- + Gr. sti`chos a row, a line of writing, a verse.] A poem consisting of ten lines.

Dec"a*style (?), a. [Gr. &?;; de`ka ten + sty`los a column.] (Arch.) Having ten columns in front; -- said of a portico, temple, etc. -- n. A portico having ten pillars or columns in front.

Dec`a*syl*lab"ic (?), a. [Pref. deca- + syllabic: cf. F. décasyllabique, décasyllable.] Having, or consisting of, ten syllables.

Dec`a*to"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, decane.

De*cay" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Decayed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Decaying.] [OF. decaeir, dechaer, decheoir, F. déchoir, to decline, fall, become less; L. de- + cadere to fall. See Chance.] To pass gradually from a sound, prosperous, or perfect state, to one of imperfection, adversity, or dissolution; to waste away; to decline; to fail; to become weak, corrupt, or disintegrated; to rot; to perish; as, a tree decays; fortunes decay; hopes decay.

Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey,
Where wealth accumulates and men decay.
Goldsmith.

De*cay", v. t. 1. To cause to decay; to impair. [R.]

Infirmity, that decays the wise.
Shak.

2. To destroy. [Obs.] Shak.

De*cay", n. 1. Gradual failure of health, strength, soundness, prosperity, or of any species of excellence or perfection; tendency toward dissolution or extinction; corruption; rottenness; decline; deterioration; as, the decay of the body; the decay of virtue; the decay of the Roman empire; a castle in decay.

Perhaps my God, though he be far before,
May turn, and take me by the hand, and more -
May strengthen my decays.
Herbert.

His [Johnson's] failure was not to be ascribed to intellectual decay.
Macaulay.

Which has caused the decay of the consonants to follow somewhat different laws.
James Byrne.

2. Destruction; death. [Obs.] Spenser.

3. Cause of decay. [R.]

He that plots to be the only figure among ciphers, is the decay of the whole age.
Bacon.

Syn. -- Decline; consumption. See Decline.

De*cayed" (?), a. Fallen, as to physical or social condition; affected with decay; rotten; as, decayed vegetation or vegetables; a decayed fortune or gentleman. -- De*cay"ed*ness (#), n.

De*cay"er (?), n. A causer of decay. [R.]

De*cease" (?), n. [OE. deses, deces, F. décès, fr. L. decessus departure, death, fr. decedere to depart, die; de- + cedere to withdraw. See Cease, Cede.] Departure, especially departure from this life; death.

His decease, which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
Luke ix. 31.

And I, the whilst you mourn for his decease,
Will with my mourning plaints your plaint increase.
Spenser.

Syn. -- Death; departure; dissolution; demise; release. See Death.

De*cease", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Deceased (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Deceasing.] To depart from this life; to die; to pass away.

She's dead, deceased, she's dead.
Shak.

When our summers have deceased.
Tennyson.

Inasmuch as he carries the malignity and the lie with him, he so far deceases from nature.
Emerson.

De*ceased" (?), a. Passed away; dead; gone.

The deceased, the dead person.

De*cede" (?), v. i. [L. decedere. See Decease, n.] To withdraw. [Obs.] Fuller.

De*ce"dent (?), a. [L. decedens, p. pr. of decedere.] Removing; departing. Ash.

De*ce"dent, n. A deceased person. Bouvier.

De*ceit" (?), n. [OF. deceit, desçait, decept (cf. deceite, deçoite), fr. L. deceptus deception, fr. decipere. See Deceive.] 1. An attempt or disposition to deceive or lead into error; any declaration, artifice, or practice, which misleads another, or causes him to believe what is false; a contrivance to entrap; deception; a wily device; fraud.

Making the ephah small and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit.
Amos viii. 5.

Friendly to man, far from deceit or guile.
Milton.

Yet still we hug the dear deceit.
N. Cotton.

2. (Law) Any trick, collusion, contrivance, false representation, or underhand practice, used to defraud another. When injury is thereby effected, an action of deceit, as it called, lies for compensation.

Syn. -- Deception; fraud; imposition; duplicity; trickery; guile; falsifying; double-dealing; stratagem. See Deception.

De*ceit"ful (?), a. Full of, or characterized by, deceit; serving to mislead or insnare; trickish; fraudulent; cheating; insincere.

Harboring foul deceitful thoughts.
Shak.

De*ceit"ful*ly, adv. With intent to deceive.

De*ceit"ful*ness, n. 1. The disposition to deceive; as, a man's deceitfulness may be habitual.

2. The quality of being deceitful; as, the deceitfulness of a man's practices.

3. Tendency to mislead or deceive. "The deceitfulness of riches." Matt. xiii. 22.

De*ceit"less, a. Free from deceit. Bp. Hall.

De*ceiv"a*ble (?), a. [F. décevable.] 1. Fitted to deceive; deceitful. [Obs.]

The fraud of deceivable traditions.
Milton.

2. Subject to deceit; capable of being misled.

Blind, and thereby deceivable.
Milton.

De*ceiv"a*ble*ness, n. 1. Capability of deceiving.

With all deceivableness of unrighteousness.
2 Thess. ii. 10.

2. Liability to be deceived or misled; as, the deceivableness of a child.

De*ceiv"a*bly, adv. In a deceivable manner.

De*ceive" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deceived (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Deceiving.] [OE. deceveir, F. décevoir, fr. L. decipere to catch, insnare, deceive; de- + capere to take, catch. See Capable, and cf. Deceit, Deception.] 1. To lead into error; to cause to believe what is false, or disbelieve what is true; to impose upon; to mislead; to cheat; to disappoint; to delude; to insnare.

Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
2 Tim. iii. 13.

Nimble jugglers that deceive the eye.
Shak.

What can 'scape the eye
Of God all-seeing, or deceive his heart?
Milton.

2. To beguile; to amuse, so as to divert the attention; to while away; to take away as if by deception.

These occupations oftentimes deceived
The listless hour.
Wordsworth.

3. To deprive by fraud or stealth; to defraud. [Obs.]

Plant fruit trees in large borders, and set therein fine flowers, but thin and sparingly, lest they deceive the trees.
Bacon.

Syn. -- Deceive, Delude, Mislead. Deceive is a general word applicable to any kind of misrepresentation affecting faith or life. To delude, primarily, is to make sport of, by deceiving, and is accomplished by playing upon one's imagination or credulity, as by exciting false hopes, causing him to undertake or expect what is impracticable, and making his failure ridiculous. It implies some infirmity of judgment in the victim, and intention to deceive in the deluder. But it is often used reflexively, indicating that a person's own weakness has made him the sport of others or of fortune; as, he deluded himself with a belief that luck would always favor him. To mislead is to lead, guide, or direct in a wrong way, either willfully or ignorantly.

De*ceiv"er (?), n. One who deceives; one who leads into error; a cheat; an impostor.

The deceived and the deceiver are his.
Job xii. 16.

Syn. -- Deceiver, Impostor. A deceiver operates by stealth and in private upon individuals; an impostor practices his arts on the community at large. The one succeeds by artful falsehoods, the other by bold assumption. The faithless friend and the fickle lover are deceivers; the false prophet and the pretended prince are impostors.

De*cem"ber (d&esl;*s&ebreve;m"b&etilde;r), n. [F. décembre, from L. December, fr. decem ten; this being the tenth month among the early Romans, who began the year in March. See Ten.] 1. The twelfth and last month of the year, containing thirty-one days. During this month occurs the winter solstice.

2. Fig.: With reference to the end of the year and to the winter season; as, the December of his life.

De`cem*den"tate (?), a. [L. decem ten + E. dentate.] Having ten points or teeth.

De*cem"fid (d&esl;*s&ebreve;m"f&ibreve;d), a. [L. decem ten + root of findere to cleave.] (Bot.) Cleft into ten parts.

De`cem*loc"u*lar (?), a. [L. decem ten + E. locular.] (Bot.) Having ten cells for seeds.

De*cem"pe*dal (d&esl;*s&ebreve;m"p&esl;*dal), a. [L. decem ten + E. pedal.] 1. Ten feet in length.

2. (Zoöl.) Having ten feet; decapodal. [R.] Bailey.

De*cem"vir (?), n.; pl. E. Decemvirs (#), L. Decemviri (#). [L., fr. decem ten + vir a man.] 1. One of a body of ten magistrates in ancient Rome.

&fist; The title of decemvirs was given to various bodies of Roman magistrates. The most celebrated decemvirs framed "the laws of the Twelve Tables," about 450 B. C., and had absolute authority for three years.

2. A member of any body of ten men in authority.

De*cem"vi*ral (?), a. [L. decemviralis.] Pertaining to the decemvirs in Rome.

De*cem"vi*rate (?), n. [L. decemviratus.] 1. The office or term of office of the decemvirs in Rome.

2. A body of ten men in authority.

De*cem"vir*ship (?), n. The office of a decemvir. Holland.

De"cence (?), n. Decency. [Obs.] Dryden.

De"cen*cy (?), n.; pl. Decencies (#). [L. decentia, fr. decens: cf. F. décence. See Decent.] 1. The quality or state of being decent, suitable, or becoming, in words or behavior; propriety of form in social intercourse, in actions, or in discourse; proper formality; becoming ceremony; seemliness; hence, freedom from obscenity or indecorum; modesty.

Observances of time, place, and of decency in general.
Burke.

Immodest words admit of no defense,
For want of decency is want of sense.
Roscommon.

2. That which is proper or becoming.

The external decencies of worship.
Atterbury.

Those thousand decencies, that daily flow
From all her words and actions.
Milton.

De"cene (?), n. [L. decem ten.] (Chem.) One of the higher hydrocarbons, C10H20, of the ethylene series.

De*cen"na*ry (?), n.; pl. Decennaries (#). [L. decennium a period of ten years; decem ten + annus a year.] 1. A period of ten years.

2. (O. Eng. Law) A tithing consisting of ten neighboring families. Burrill.

De*cen"ni*al (?), a. [See Decennary.] Consisting of ten years; happening every ten years; as, a decennial period; decennial games. Hallam.

De*cen"ni*al, n. A tenth year or tenth anniversary.

||De*cen"ni*um (?), n.; pl. Decenniums (#), L. Decennia (#). [L.] A period of ten years. "The present decennium." Hallam. "The last decennium of Chaucer's life." A. W. Ward.

{ De*cen"no*val (?), De*cen"no*va*ry (?), } a. [L. decem ten + novem nine.] Pertaining to the number nineteen; of nineteen years. [R.] Holder.

De"cent (dē"sent), a. [L. decens, decentis, p. pr. of decere to be fitting or becoming; akin to decus glory, honor, ornament, Gr. dokei^n to seem good, to seem, think; cf. Skr. dāç to grant, to give; and perh. akin to E. attire, tire: cf. F. décent. Cf. Decorate, Decorum, Deign.] 1. Suitable in words, behavior, dress, or ceremony; becoming; fit; decorous; proper; seemly; as, decent conduct; decent language. Shak.

Before his decent steps.
Milton.

2. Free from immodesty or obscenity; modest.

3. Comely; shapely; well-formed. [Archaic]

A sable stole of cyprus lawn
Over thy decent shoulders drawn.
Milton.

By foreign hands thy decent limbs composed.
Pope.

4. Moderate, but competent; sufficient; hence, respectable; fairly good; reasonably comfortable or satisfying; as, a decent fortune; a decent person.

A decent retreat in the mutability of human affairs.
Burke.

-- De"cent*ly, adv. -- De"cent*ness, n.

De*cen`tral*i*za"tion (?), n. The action of decentralizing, or the state of being decentralized. "The decentralization of France." J. P. Peters.

De*cen"tral*ize (?), v. t. To prevent from centralizing; to cause to withdraw from the center or place of concentration; to divide and distribute (what has been united or concentrated); -- esp. said of authority, or the administration of public affairs.

De*cep"ti*ble (?), a. Capable of being deceived; deceivable. Sir T. Browne. -- De*cep`ti*bil"i*ty (&?;), n.

De*cep"tion (?), n. [F. déception, L. deceptio, fr. decipere, deceptum. See Deceive.] 1. The act of deceiving or misleading. South.

2. The state of being deceived or misled.

There is one thing relating either to the action or enjoyments of man in which he is not liable to deception.
South.

3. That which deceives or is intended to deceive; false representation; artifice; cheat; fraud.

There was of course room for vast deception.
Motley.

Syn. -- Deception, Deceit, Fraud, Imposition. Deception usually refers to the act, and deceit to the habit of the mind; hence we speak of a person as skilled in deception and addicted to deceit. The practice of deceit springs altogether from design, and that of the worst kind; but a deception does not always imply aim and intention. It may be undesigned or accidental. An imposition is an act of deception practiced upon some one to his annoyance or injury; a fraud implies the use of stratagem, with a view to some unlawful gain or advantage.

De*cep"tious (?), a. [LL. deceptiosus.] Tending deceive; delusive. [R.]

As if those organs had deceptious functions.
Shak.

De*cep"tive (?), a. [Cf. F. déceptif. See Deceive.] Tending to deceive; having power to mislead, or impress with false opinions; as, a deceptive countenance or appearance.

Language altogether deceptive, and hiding the deeper reality from our eyes.
Trench.

Deceptive cadence (Mus.), a cadence on the subdominant, or in some foreign key, postponing the final close.

De*cep"tive*ly, adv. In a manner to deceive.

De*cep"tive*ness, n. The power or habit of deceiving; tendency or aptness to deceive.

De`cep*tiv"i*ty (?), n. Deceptiveness; a deception; a sham. [R.] Carlyle.

De*cep"to*ry (?), a. [L. deceptorius, from decipere.] Deceptive. [R.]

De*cern" (?), v. t. [L. decernere. See Decree.] 1. To perceive, discern, or decide. [Obs.] Granmer.

2. (Scots Law) To decree; to adjudge.

De*cern"i*ture (?; 135), n. (Scots Law) A decree or sentence of a court. Stormonth.

De*cerp" (?), v. t. [L. decerpere; de- + carpere to pluck.] To pluck off; to crop; to gather. [Obs.]

De*cerpt" (?), a. [L. decerptus, p. p. of decerpere.] Plucked off or away. [Obs.]

De*cerp"ti*ble (?), a. That may be plucked off, cropped, or torn away. [Obs.] Bailey.

De*cerp"tion (?), n. 1. The act of plucking off; a cropping.

2. That which is plucked off or rent away; a fragment; a piece. Glanvill.

De`cer*ta"tion (?), n. [L. decertatio, fr. decertare, decertatum; de- + certare to contend.] Contest for mastery; contention; strife. [R.] Arnway.

De*ces"sion (?), n. [L. decessio, fr. decedere to depart. See Decease, n.] Departure; decrease; -- opposed to accesion. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.

De*charm" (?), v. t. [Cf. F. décharmer. See Charm.] To free from a charm; to disenchant.

De*chris"tian*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dechristianized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dechristianizing.] To turn from, or divest of, Christianity.

De*cid"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being decided; determinable.

De*cide" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decided; p. pr. & vb. n. Deciding.] [L. decīdere; de- + caedere to cut, cut off; prob. akin to E. shed, v.: cf. F. décider. Cf. Decision.] 1. To cut off; to separate. [Obs.]

Our seat denies us traffic here;
The sea, too near, decides us from the rest.
Fuller.

2. To bring to a termination, as a question, controversy, struggle, by giving the victory to one side or party; to render judgment concerning; to determine; to settle.

So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it.
1 Kings xx. 40.

The quarrel toucheth none but us alone;
Betwixt ourselves let us decide it then.
Shak.

De*cide", v. i. To determine; to form a definite opinion; to come to a conclusion; to give decision; as, the court decided in favor of the defendant.

Who shall decide, when doctors disagree?
Pope.

De*cid"ed (?), a. 1. Free from ambiguity; unequivocal; unmistakable; unquestionable; clear; evident; as, a decided advantage. "A more decided taste for science." Prescott.

2. Free from doubt or wavering; determined; of fixed purpose; fully settled; positive; resolute; as, a decided opinion or purpose.

Syn. -- Decided, Decisive. We call a thing decisive when it has the power or quality of deciding; as, a decisive battle; we speak of it as decided when it is so fully settled as to leave no room for doubt; as, a decided preference, a decided aversion. Hence, a decided victory is one about which there is no question; a decisive victory is one which ends the contest. Decisive is applied only to things; as, a decisive sentence, a decisive decree, a decisive judgment. Decided is applied equally to persons and things. Thus we speak of a man as decided in his whole of conduct; and as having a decided disgust, or a decided reluctance, to certain measures. "A politic caution, a guarded circumspection, were among the ruling principles of our forefathers in their most decided conduct." Burke. "The sentences of superior judges are final, decisive, and irrevocable. Blackstone.

De*cid"ed*ly, adv. In a decided manner; indisputably; clearly; thoroughly.

De*cide"ment (?), n. Means of forming a decision. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

Dec"i*dence (?), n. [L. decidens falling off.] A falling off. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

De*cid"er (?), n. One who decides.

||De*cid"u*a (?; 135), n. [NL., fr. L. deciduus. See Deciduous.] (Anat.) The inner layer of the wall of the uterus, which envelops the embryo, forms a part of the placenta, and is discharged with it.

||De*cid`u*a"ta (?), n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) A group of Mammalia in which a decidua is thrown off with, or after, the fetus, as in the human species.

De*cid"u*ate (?; 135), a. (Anat.) Possessed of, or characterized by, a decidua.

Dec`i*du"i*ty (?), n. Deciduousness. [R.]

De*cid"u*ous (?; 135), a. [L. deciduus, fr. dec&?;dere to fall off; de- + cadere to fall. See Chance.] (Biol.) Falling off, or subject to fall or be shed, at a certain season, or a certain stage or interval of growth, as leaves (except of evergreens) in autumn, or as parts of animals, such as hair, teeth, antlers, etc.; also, shedding leaves or parts at certain seasons, stages, or intervals; as, deciduous trees; the deciduous membrane.

De*cid"u*ous*ness, n. The quality or state of being deciduous.

{ Dec"i*gram, Dec"i*gramme } (?), n. [F. décigramme; pref. déci- tenth (fr. L. decimus) + gramme.] A weight in the metric system; one tenth of a gram, equal to 1.5432 grains avoirdupois.

{ Dec"il, Dec"ile } (?), n. [F. décil, fr. L. decem ten&?; cf. It. decile.] (Astrol.) An aspect or position of two planets, when they are distant from each other a tenth part of the zodiac, or 36°.

{ Dec"i*li`ter, Dec"i*li`tre } (?), n. [F. décilitre; pref. déci- tenth (L. decimus) + litre. See Liter.] A measure of capacity or volume in the metric system; one tenth of a liter, equal to 6.1022 cubic inches, or 3.38 fluid ounces.

De*cil"lion (?), n. [L. decem ten + the ending of million.] According to the English notation, a million involved to the tenth power, or a unit with sixty ciphers annexed; according to the French and American notation, a thousand involved to the eleventh power, or a unit with thirty-three ciphers annexed. [See the Note under Numeration.]

De*cil"lionth (?), a. Pertaining to a decillion, or to the quotient of unity divided by a decillion.

De*cil"lionth (?), n. (a) The quotient of unity divided by a decillion. (b) One of a decillion equal parts.

Dec"i*mal (?), a. [F. décimal (cf. LL. decimalis), fr. L. decimus tenth, fr. decem ten. See Ten, and cf. Dime.] Of or pertaining to decimals; numbered or proceeding by tens; having a tenfold increase or decrease, each unit being ten times the unit next smaller; as, decimal notation; a decimal coinage.

Decimal arithmetic, the common arithmetic, in which numeration proceeds by tens. -- Decimal fraction, a fraction in which the denominator is some power of 10, as &frac2x10;, &fract25x100;, and is usually not expressed, but is signified by a point placed at the left hand of the numerator, as .2, .25. -- Decimal point, a dot or full stop at the left of a decimal fraction. The figures at the left of the point represent units or whole numbers, as 1.05.

Dec"i*mal, n. A number expressed in the scale of tens; specifically, and almost exclusively, used as synonymous with a decimal fraction.

Circulating, or Circulatory, decimal, a decimal fraction in which the same figure, or set of figures, is constantly repeated; as, 0.354354354; - - called also recurring decimal, repeating decimal, and repetend.

Dec"i*mal*ism (?), n. The system of a decimal currency, decimal weights, measures, etc.

Dec"i*mal*ize (?), v. t. To reduce to a decimal system; as, to decimalize the currency. -- Dec`i*mal*i*za"tion (#), n.

Dec"i*mal*ly, adv. By tens; by means of decimals.

Dec"i*mate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decimated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Decimating (?).] [L. decimatus, p. p. of decimare to decimate (in senses 1 & 2), fr. decimus tenth. See Decimal.] 1. To take the tenth part of; to tithe. Johnson.

2. To select by lot and punish with death every tenth man of; as, to decimate a regiment as a punishment for mutiny. Macaulay.

3. To destroy a considerable part of; as, to decimate an army in battle; to decimate a people by disease.

Dec`i*ma"tion (?), n. [L. decimatio: cf. F. décimation.] 1. A tithing. [Obs.] State Trials (1630).

2. A selection of every tenth person by lot, as for punishment. Shak.

3. The destruction of any large proportion, as of people by pestilence or war. Milman.

Dec"i*ma`tor (?), n. [Cf. LL. decimator.] One who decimates. South.

||Dé`cime" (?), n. [F.] A French coin, the tenth part of a franc, equal to about two cents.

{ Dec"i*me`ter, Dec"i*me`tre } (?), n. [F. décimètre; pref. déci- tenth (fr. L. decimus) + mètre. See Meter.] A measure of length in the metric system; one tenth of a meter, equal to 3.937 inches.

Dec`i*mo*sex"to (?), n. [Prop., in sixteenth; fr. L. decimus tenth + sextus sixth.] A book consisting of sheets, each of which is folded into sixteen leaves; hence, indicating, more or less definitely, a size of book; - - usually written 16mo or 16°.

Dec`i*mo*sex"to, a. Having sixteen leaves to a sheet; as, a decimosexto form, book, leaf, size.

De"cine (?; 104), n. [From L. decem ten.] (Chem.) One of the higher hydrocarbons, C10H15, of the acetylene series; -- called also decenylene.

De*ci"pher (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deciphered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Deciphering.] [Pref. de- + cipher. Formed in imitation of F. déchiffrer. See Cipher.] 1. To translate from secret characters or ciphers into intelligible terms; as, to decipher a letter written in secret characters.

2. To find out, so as to be able to make known the meaning of; to make out or read, as words badly written or partly obliterated; to detect; to reveal; to unfold.

3. To stamp; to detect; to discover. [R.]

You are both deciphered, . . .
For villains.
Shak.

De*ci"pher*a*ble (?), a. Capable of being deciphered; as, old writings not decipherable.

De*ci"pher*er (?), n. One who deciphers.

De*ci"pher*ess (?), n. A woman who deciphers.

De*ci"pher*ment (?), n. The act of deciphering.

De*cip"i*en*cy (?), n. [L. decipiens, p. pr. of decipere. See Deceive.] State of being deceived; hallucination. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

De*cip"i*um (?), n. [NL., fr. L. decipere to deceive.] (Chem.) A supposed rare element, said to be associated with cerium, yttrium, etc., in the mineral samarskite, and more recently called samarium. Symbol Dp. See Samarium.

De*ci"sion (?), n. [L. decisio, fr. decīdere, decisum: cf. F. décision. See Decide.] 1. Cutting off; division; detachment of a part. [Obs.] Bp. Pearson.

2. The act of deciding; act of settling or terminating, as a controversy, by giving judgment on the matter at issue; determination, as of a question or doubt; settlement; conclusion.

The decision of some dispute.
Atterbury.

3. An account or report of a conclusion, especially of a legal adjudication or judicial determination of a question or cause; as, a decision of arbitrators; a decision of the Supreme Court.

4. The quality of being decided; prompt and fixed determination; unwavering firmness; as, to manifest great decision.

Syn. -- Decision, Determination, Resolution. Each of these words has two meanings, one implying the act of deciding, determining, or resolving; and the other a habit of mind as to doing. It is in the last sense that the words are here compared. Decision is a cutting short. It implies that several courses of action have been presented to the mind, and that the choice is now finally made. It supposes, therefore, a union of promptitude and energy. Determination is the natural consequence of decision. It is the settling of a thing with a fixed purpose to adhere. Resolution is the necessary result in a mind which is characterized by firmness. It is a spirit which scatters (resolves) all doubt, and is ready to face danger or suffering in carrying out one's determinations. Martin Luther was equally distinguished for his prompt decision, his steadfast determination, and his inflexible resolution.

De*ci*sive (?), a. [Cf. F. décisif. See Decision.] 1. Having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy; putting an end to contest or controversy; final; conclusive. "A decisive, irrevocable doom." Bates. "Decisive campaign." Macaulay. "Decisive proof." Hallam.

2. Marked by promptness and decision.

A noble instance of this attribute of the decisive character.
J. Foster.

Syn. -- Decided; positive; conclusive. See Decided.

-- De*ci"sive*ly, adv. -- De*ci"sive*ness, n.

De*ci"so*ry (?), a. [Cf. F. décisoire. See Decision.] Able to decide or determine; having a tendency to decide. [R.]

Dec"i*stere (?), n. [F. décistère; pref. déci- tenth (fr. L. decimus) + stère a stere.] (Metric System) The tenth part of the stere or cubic meter, equal to 3.531 cubic feet. See Stere.

De*cit"i*zen*ize (?), v. t. To deprive of the rights of citizenship. [R.]

We have no law -- as the French have -- to decitizenize a citizen.
Edw. Bates.

De*civ"i*lize (?), v. t. To reduce from civilization to a savage state. [R.] Blackwood's Mag.

Deck (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Decking.] [D. dekken to cover; akin to E. thatch. See Thatch.] 1. To cover; to overspread.

To deck with clouds the uncolored sky.
Milton.

2. To dress, as the person; to clothe; especially, to clothe with more than ordinary elegance; to array; to adorn; to embellish.

Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency.
Job xl. 10.

And deck my body in gay ornaments.
Shak.

The dew with spangles decked the ground.
Dryden.

3. To furnish with a deck, as a vessel.

Deck, n. [D. dek. See Deck, v.] 1. The floorlike covering of the horizontal sections, or compartments, of a ship. Small vessels have only one deck; larger ships have two or three decks.

&fist; The following are the more common names of the decks of vessels having more than one.

Berth deck (Navy), a deck next below the gun deck, where the hammocks of the crew are swung. -- Boiler deck (River Steamers), the deck on which the boilers are placed. -- Flush deck, any continuous, unbroken deck from stem to stern. -- Gun deck (Navy), a deck below the spar deck, on which the ship's guns are carried. If there are two gun decks, the upper one is called the main deck, the lower, the lower gun deck; if there are three, one is called the middle gun deck. -- Half-deck, that portion of the deck next below the spar deck which is between the mainmast and the cabin. -- Hurricane deck (River Steamers, etc.), the upper deck, usually a light deck, erected above the frame of the hull. -- Orlop deck, the deck or part of a deck where the cables are stowed, usually below the water line. -- Poop deck, the deck forming the roof of a poop or poop cabin, built on the upper deck and extending from the mizzenmast aft. -- Quarter-deck, the part of the upper deck abaft the mainmast, including the poop deck when there is one. -- Spar deck. (a) Same as the upper deck. (b) Sometimes a light deck fitted over the upper deck. -- Upper deck, the highest deck of the hull, extending from stem to stern.

2. (arch.) The upper part or top of a mansard roof or curb roof when made nearly flat.

3. (Railroad) The roof of a passenger car.

4. A pack or set of playing cards.

The king was slyly fingered from the deck.
Shak.

5. A heap or store. [Obs.]

Who . . . hath such trinkets
Ready in the deck.
Massinger.

Between decks. See under Between. -- Deck bridge (Railroad Engineering), a bridge which carries the track upon the upper chords; -- distinguished from a through bridge, which carries the track upon the lower chords, between the girders. -- Deck curb (Arch.), a curb supporting a deck in roof construction. -- Deck floor (Arch.), a floor which serves also as a roof, as of a belfry or balcony. -- Deck hand, a sailor hired to help on the vessel's deck, but not expected to go aloft. -- Deck molding (Arch.), the molded finish of the edge of a deck, making the junction with the lower slope of the roof. -- Deck roof (Arch.), a nearly flat roof which is not surmounted by parapet walls. -- Deck transom (Shipbuilding), the transom into which the deck is framed. -- To clear the decks (Naut.), to remove every unnecessary incumbrance in preparation for battle; to prepare for action. -- To sweep the deck (Card Playing), to clear off all the stakes on the table by winning them.

Deck"el (?), n. (Paper Making) Same as Deckle.

Deck"er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, decks or adorns; a coverer; as, a table decker.

2. A vessel which has a deck or decks; -- used esp. in composition; as, a single-decker; a three- decker.

Dec"kle (d&ebreve;k"k'l), n. [Cf. G. deckel cover, lid.] (Paper Making) A separate thin wooden frame used to form the border of a hand mold, or a curb of India rubber or other material which rests on, and forms the edge of, the mold in a paper machine and determines the width of the paper. [Spelt also deckel, and dekle.]

De*claim" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Declaimed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Declaiming.] [L. declamare; de- + clamare to cry out: cf. F. déclamer. See Claim.] 1. To speak rhetorically; to make a formal speech or oration; to harangue; specifically, to recite a speech, poem, etc., in public as a rhetorical exercise; to practice public speaking; as, the students declaim twice a week.

2. To speak for rhetorical display; to speak pompously, noisily, or theatrically; to make an empty speech; to rehearse trite arguments in debate; to rant.

Grenville seized the opportunity to declaim on the repeal of the stamp act.
Bancroft.

De*claim" (?), v. t. 1. To utter in public; to deliver in a rhetorical or set manner.

2. To defend by declamation; to advocate loudly. [Obs.] "Declaims his cause." South.

De*claim"ant (?), n. A declaimer. [R.]

De*claim"er (?), n. One who declaims; an haranguer.

Dec`la*ma"tion (?), n. [L. declamatio, from declamare: cf. F. déclamation. See Declaim.] 1. The act or art of declaiming; rhetorical delivery; haranguing; loud speaking in public; especially, the public recitation of speeches as an exercise in schools and colleges; as, the practice declamation by students.

The public listened with little emotion, but with much civility, to five acts of monotonous declamation.
Macaulay.

2. A set or harangue; declamatory discourse.

3. Pretentious rhetorical display, with more sound than sense; as, mere declamation.

Dec"la*ma`tor (?), n. [L.] A declaimer. [R.] Sir T. Elyot.

De*clam"a*to*ry (?), a. [L. declamatorius: cf. F. déclamatoire.] 1. Pertaining to declamation; treated in the manner of a rhetorician; as, a declamatory theme.

2. Characterized by rhetorical display; pretentiously rhetorical; without solid sense or argument; bombastic; noisy; as, a declamatory way or style.

De*clar"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being declared. Sir T. Browne.

De*clar"ant (?), n. [Cf. F. déclarant, p. pr. of déclarer.] (Law) One who declares. Abbott.

Dec`la*ra"tion (?), n. [F. déclaration, fr. L. declaratio, fr. declarare. See Declare.] 1. The act of declaring, or publicly announcing; explicit asserting; undisguised token of a ground or side taken on any subject; proclamation; exposition; as, the declaration of an opinion; a declaration of war, etc.

2. That which is declared or proclaimed; announcement; distinct statement; formal expression; avowal.

Declarations of mercy and love . . . in the Gospel.
Tillotson.

3. The document or instrument containing such statement or proclamation; as, the Declaration of Independence (now preserved in Washington).

In 1776 the Americans laid before Europe that noble Declaration, which ought to be hung up in the nursery of every king, and blazoned on the porch of every royal palace.
Buckle.

4. (Law) That part of the process or pleadings in which the plaintiff sets forth in order and at large his cause of complaint; the narration of the plaintiff's case containing the count, or counts. See Count, n., 3.

Declaration of Independence. (Amer. Hist.) See under Independence. -- Declaration of rights. (Eng. Hist) See Bill of rights, under Bill. -- Declaration of trust (Law), a paper subscribed by a grantee of property, acknowledging that he holds it in trust for the purposes and upon the terms set forth. Abbott.

De*clar"a*tive (?), a. [L. declarativus, fr. declarare: cf. F. déclaratif.] Making declaration, proclamation, or publication; explanatory; assertive; declaratory. "Declarative laws." Baker.

The "vox populi," so declarative on the same side.
Swift.

De*clar"a*tive*ly, adv. By distinct assertion; not impliedly; in the form of a declaration.

The priest shall expiate it, that is, declaratively.
Bates.

Dec"la*ra`tor (?), n. [L., an announcer.] (Scots Law) A form of action by which some right or interest is sought to be judicially declared.

De*clar"a*to*ri*ly (?), adv. In a declaratory manner.

De*clar"a*to*ry (?), a. [Cf. F. déclaratoire.] Making declaration, explanation, or exhibition; making clear or manifest; affirmative; expressive; as, a clause declaratory of the will of the legislature.

Declaratory act (Law), an act or statute which sets forth more clearly, and declares what is, the existing law.

De*clare" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Declared (#); p. pr. & vb. n. Declaring.] [F. déclarer, from L. declarare; de + clarare to make clear, clarus, clear, bright. See Clear.] 1. To make clear; to free from obscurity. [Obs.] "To declare this a little." Boyle.

2. To make known by language; to communicate or manifest explicitly and plainly in any way; to exhibit; to publish; to proclaim; to announce.

This day I have begot whom I declare
My only Son.
Milton.

The heavens declare the glory of God.
Ps. xix. 1.

3. To make declaration of; to assert; to affirm; to set forth; to avow; as, he declares the story to be false.

I the Lord . . . declare things that are right.
Isa. xlv. 19.

4. (Com.) To make full statement of, as goods, etc., for the purpose of paying taxes, duties, etc.

To declare off, to recede from an agreement, undertaking, contract, etc.; to renounce. -- To declare one's self, to avow one's opinion; to show openly what one thinks, or which side he espouses.

De*clare", v. i. 1. To make a declaration, or an open and explicit avowal; to proclaim one's self; -- often with for or against; as, victory declares against the allies.

Like fawning courtiers, for success they wait,
And then come smiling, and declare for fate.
Dryden.

2. (Law) To state the plaintiff's cause of action at law in a legal form; as, the plaintiff declares in trespass.

De*clar"ed*ly (?), adv. Avowedly; explicitly.

De*clar"ed*ness, n. The state of being declared.

De*clare"ment (?), n. Declaration. [Obs.]

De*clar"er (?), n. One who makes known or proclaims; that which exhibits. Udall.

De*clen"sion (?), n. [Apparently corrupted fr. F. déclinaison, fr. L. declinatio, fr. declinare. See Decline, and cf. Declination.] 1. The act or the state of declining; declination; descent; slope.

The declension of the land from that place to the sea.
T. Burnet.

2. A falling off towards a worse state; a downward tendency; deterioration; decay; as, the declension of virtue, of science, of a state, etc.

Seduced the pitch and height of all his thoughts
To base declension.
Shak.

3. Act of courteously refusing; act of declining; a declinature; refusal; as, the declension of a nomination.

4. (Gram.) (a) Inflection of nouns, adjectives, etc., according to the grammatical cases. (b) The form of the inflection of a word declined by cases; as, the first or the second declension of nouns, adjectives, etc. (c) Rehearsing a word as declined.

&fist; The nominative was held to be the primary and original form, and was likened to a perpendicular line; the variations, or oblique cases, were regarded as fallings (hence called casus, cases, or fallings) from the nominative or perpendicular; and an enumerating of the various forms, being a sort of progressive descent from the noun's upright form, was called a declension. Harris.

Declension of the needle, declination of the needle.

De*clen"sion*al (?), a. Belonging to declension.

Declensional and syntactical forms.
M. Arnold.

De*clin"a*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. déclinable. See Decline.] Capable of being declined; admitting of declension or inflection; as, declinable parts of speech.

De*clin"al (?), a. Declining; sloping.

Dec"li*nate (?), a. [L. declinatus, p. p. of declinare. See Decline.] Bent downward or aside; (Bot.) bending downward in a curve; declined.

Dec`li*na"tion (?), n. [L. declinatio a bending aside, an avoiding: cf. F. déclination a decadence. See Declension.] 1. The act or state of bending downward; inclination; as, declination of the head.

2. The act or state of falling off or declining from excellence or perfection; deterioration; decay; decline. "The declination of monarchy." Bacon.

Summer . . . is not looked on as a time
Of declination or decay.
Waller.

3. The act of deviating or turning aside; oblique motion; obliquity; withdrawal.

The declination of atoms in their descent.
Bentley.

Every declination and violation of the rules.
South.

4. The act or state of declining or refusing; withdrawal; refusal; averseness.

The queen's declination from marriage.
Stow.

5. (Astron.) The angular distance of any object from the celestial equator, either northward or southward.

6. (Dialing) The arc of the horizon, contained between the vertical plane and the prime vertical circle, if reckoned from the east or west, or between the meridian and the plane, reckoned from the north or south.

7. (Gram.) The act of inflecting a word; declension. See Decline, v. t., 4.

Angle of declination, the angle made by a descending line, or plane, with a horizontal plane. -- Circle of declination, a circle parallel to the celestial equator. -- Declination compass (Physics), a compass arranged for finding the declination of the magnetic needle. -- Declination of the compass or needle, the horizontal angle which the magnetic needle makes with the true north-and-south line.

Dec"li*na`tor (?), n. [Cf. F. déclinateur. See Decline.] 1. An instrument for taking the declination or angle which a plane makes with the horizontal plane.

2. A dissentient. [R.] Bp. Hacket.

De*clin"a*to*ry (?; 277), a. [LL. declinatorius, fr. L. declinare: cf. F. déclinatoire.] Containing or involving a declination or refusal, as of submission to a charge or sentence. Blackstone.

Declinatory plea (O. Eng. Law), the plea of sanctuary or of benefit of clergy, before trial or conviction; -- now abolished.

De*clin"a*ture (?; 135), n. The act of declining or refusing; as, the declinature of an office.

De*cline" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Declined (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Declining.] [OE. declinen to bend down, lower, sink, decline (a noun), F. décliner to decline, refuse, fr. L. declinare to turn aside, inflect (a part of speech), avoid; de- + clinare to incline; akin to E. lean. See Lean, v. i.] 1. To bend, or lean downward; to take a downward direction; to bend over or hang down, as from weakness, weariness, despondency, etc.; to condescend. "With declining head." Shak.

He . . . would decline even to the lowest of his family.
Lady Hutchinson.

Disdaining to decline,
Slowly he falls, amidst triumphant cries.
Byron.

The ground at length became broken and declined rapidly.
Sir W. Scott.

2. To tend or draw towards a close, decay, or extinction; to tend to a less perfect state; to become diminished or impaired; to fail; to sink; to diminish; to lessen; as, the day declines; virtue declines; religion declines; business declines.

That empire must decline
Whose chief support and sinews are of coin.
Waller.

And presume to know . . .
Who thrives, and who declines.
Shak.

3. To turn or bend aside; to deviate; to stray; to withdraw; as, a line that declines from straightness; conduct that declines from sound morals.

Yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.
Ps. cxix. 157.

4. To turn away; to shun; to refuse; -- the opposite of accept or consent; as, he declined, upon principle.

De*cline", v. t. 1. To bend downward; to bring down; to depress; to cause to bend, or fall.

In melancholy deep, with head declined.
Thomson.

And now fair Phoebus gan decline in haste
His weary wagon to the western vale.
Spenser.

2. To cause to decrease or diminish. [Obs.] "You have declined his means." Beau. & Fl.

He knoweth his error, but will not seek to decline it.
Burton.

3. To put or turn aside; to turn off or away from; to refuse to undertake or comply with; reject; to shun; to avoid; as, to decline an offer; to decline a contest; he declined any participation with them.

Could I
Decline this dreadful hour?
Massinger.

4. (Gram.) To inflect, or rehearse in order the changes of grammatical form of; as, to decline a noun or an adjective.

&fist; Now restricted to such words as have case inflections; but formerly it was applied both to declension and conjugation.

After the first declining of a noun and a verb.
Ascham.

5. To run through from first to last; to repeat like a schoolboy declining a noun. [R.] Shak.

De*cline" (?), n. [F. déclin. See Decline, v. i.] 1. A falling off; a tendency to a worse state; diminution or decay; deterioration; also, the period when a thing is tending toward extinction or a less perfect state; as, the decline of life; the decline of strength; the decline of virtue and religion.

Their fathers lived in the decline of literature.
Swift.

2. (Med.) That period of a disorder or paroxysm when the symptoms begin to abate in violence; as, the decline of a fever.

3. A gradual sinking and wasting away of the physical faculties; any wasting disease, esp. pulmonary consumption; as, to die of a decline. Dunglison.

Syn. -- Decline, Decay, Consumption. Decline marks the first stage in a downward progress; decay indicates the second stage, and denotes a tendency to ultimate destruction; consumption marks a steady decay from an internal exhaustion of strength. The health may experience a decline from various causes at any period of life; it is naturally subject to decay with the advance of old age; consumption may take place at almost any period of life, from disease which wears out the constitution. In popular language decline is often used as synonymous with consumption. By a gradual decline, states and communities lose their strength and vigor; by progressive decay, they are stripped of their honor, stability, and greatness; by a consumption of their resources and vital energy, they are led rapidly on to a completion of their existence.

De*clined" (?), a. Declinate.

De*clin"er (?), n. He who declines or rejects.

A studious decliner of honors.
Evelyn.

Dec`li*nom"e*ter (?), n. [Decline + -meter.] (Physics) An instrument for measuring the declination of the magnetic needle.

De*clin"ous (?), a. Declinate.

{ De*cliv"i*tous (?), De*cli"vous (?), } a. Descending gradually; moderately steep; sloping; downhill.

De*cliv"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Declivities (#). [L. declivitas, fr. declivis sloping, downhill; de + clivus a slope, a hill; akin to clinare to incline: cf. F. déclivité. See Decline.] 1. Deviation from a horizontal line; gradual descent of surface; inclination downward; slope; -- opposed to acclivity, or ascent; the same slope, considered as descending, being a declivity, which, considered as ascending, is an acclivity.

2. A descending surface; a sloping place.

Commodious declivities and channels for the passage of the waters.
Derham.

De*coct" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decocted; p. pr. & vb. n. Decocting.] [L. decoctus, p. p. of decoquere to boil down; de- + coquere to cook, boil. See Cook to decoct.] 1. To prepare by boiling; to digest in hot or boiling water; to extract the strength or flavor of by boiling; to make an infusion of.

2. To prepare by the heat of the stomach for assimilation; to digest; to concoct.

3. To warm, strengthen, or invigorate, as if by boiling. [R.] "Decoct their cold blood." Shak.

De*coct"i*ble (?), a. Capable of being boiled or digested.

De*coc"tion (?), n. [F. décoction, L. decoctio.] 1. The act or process of boiling anything in a watery fluid to extract its virtues.

In decoction . . . it either purgeth at the top or settleth at the bottom.
Bacon.

2. An extract got from a body by boiling it in water.

If the plant be boiled in water, the strained liquor is called the decoction of the plant.
Arbuthnot.

In pharmacy decoction is opposed to infusion, where there is merely steeping.
Latham.

De*coc"ture (?; 135), n. A decoction. [R.]

De*col"late (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decollated; p. pr. & vb. n. Decollating.] [L. decollatus, p. p. of decollare to behead; de- + collum neck.] To sever from the neck; to behead; to decapitate.

The decollated head of St. John the Baptist.
Burke.

De*col"la*ted (?), a. (Zoöl.) Decapitated; worn or cast off in the process of growth, as the apex of certain univalve shells.

De`col*la"tion (?), n. [L. decollatio: cf. F. décollation.] 1. The act of beheading or state of one beheaded; -- especially used of the execution of St. John the Baptist.

2. A painting representing the beheading of a saint or martyr, esp. of St. John the Baptist.

||Dé`col`le*té" (?), a. [F., p. p. of décolleter to bare the neck and shoulders; dé- + collet collar, fr. L. collum neck.] Leaving the neck and shoulders uncovered; cut low in the neck, or low-necked, as a dress.

De*col"ling (?), n. Beheading. [R.]

By a speedy dethroning and decolling of the king.
Parliamentary History (1648).

De*col"or (?), v. t. [Cf. F. décolorer, L. decolorare. Cf. Discolor.] To deprive of color; to bleach.

De*col"or*ant (?), n. [Cf. F. décolorant, p. pr.] A substance which removes color, or bleaches.

De*col"or*ate (?), a. [L. decoloratus, p. p. of decolorare.] Deprived of color.

De*col"or*ate (?), v. t. To decolor.

De*col`or*a"tion (?), n. [L. decoloratio: cf. F. décoloration.] The removal or absence of color. Ferrand.

De*col"or*ize (?), v. t. To deprive of color; to whiten. Turner. -- De*col`or*i*za"tion (#), n.

De"com*plex` (?), a. [Pref. de- (intens.) + complex.] Repeatedly compound; made up of complex constituents.

De`com*pos"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being resolved into constituent elements.

De`com*pose" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decomposed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Decomposing.] [Cf. F. décomposer. Cf. Discompose.] To separate the constituent parts of; to resolve into original elements; to set free from previously existing forms of chemical combination; to bring to dissolution; to rot or decay.

De`com*pose", v. i. To become resolved or returned from existing combinations; to undergo dissolution; to decay; to rot.

De`com*posed" (?), a. (Zoöl.) Separated or broken up; -- said of the crest of birds when the feathers are divergent.

De`com*pos"ite (?), a. [Pref. de- (intens.) + composite.] 1. Compounded more than once; compounded with things already composite.

2. (Bot.) See Decompound, a., 2.

De`com*pos"ite, n. Anything decompounded.

Decomposites of three metals or more.
Bacon.

De*com`po*si"tion (?), n. [Pref. de- (in sense 3 intensive) + composition: cf. F. décomposition. Cf. Decomposition.] 1. The act or process of resolving the constituent parts of a compound body or substance into its elementary parts; separation into constituent part; analysis; the decay or dissolution consequent on the removal or alteration of some of the ingredients of a compound; disintegration; as, the decomposition of wood, rocks, etc.

2. The state of being reduced into original elements.

3. Repeated composition; a combination of compounds. [Obs.]

Decomposition of forces. Same as Resolution of forces, under Resolution. -- Decomposition of light, the division of light into the prismatic colors.

De`com*pound" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decompounded; p. pr. & vb. n. Decompounding.] [Pref. de- (intens. in sense 1) + compound, v. t.] 1. To compound or mix with that is already compound; to compound a second time.

2. To reduce to constituent parts; to decompose.

It divides and decompounds objects into . . . parts.
Hazlitt.

De`com*pound", a. [Pref. de- (intens.) + compound, a.] 1. Compound of what is already compounded; compounded a second time.

2. (Bot.) Several times compounded or divided, as a leaf or stem; decomposite.

De`com*pound", n. A decomposite.

De`com*pound"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being decompounded.

De`con*cen"trate (?), v. t. To withdraw from concentration; to decentralize. [R.]

De*con`cen*tra"tion (?), n. Act of deconcentrating. [R.]

De`con*coct" (?), v. t. To decompose. [R.] Fuller.

De*con"se*crate (?), v. t. To deprive of sacredness; to secularize. -- De*con`se*cra"tion (#), n.

Dec"o*ra*ment (?), n. [L. decoramentum. See Decorate, v. t.] Ornament. [Obs.] Bailey.

Dec"o*rate (d&cr;k"&osl;*rāt), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decorated (d&cr;k"&osl;*rā`t&ebreve;d); p. pr. & vb. n. Decorating (-rā`t&ibreve;ng).] [L. decoratus, p. p. of decorare, fr. decus ornament; akin to decere to be becoming. See Decent.] To deck with that which is becoming, ornamental, or honorary; to adorn; to beautify; to embellish; as, to decorate the person; to decorate an edifice; to decorate a lawn with flowers; to decorate the mind with moral beauties; to decorate a hero with honors.

Her fat neck was ornamented with jewels, rich bracelets decorated her arms.
Thackeray.

Syn. -- To adorn; embellish; ornament; beautify; grace. See Adorn.

Decorated style (Arch.), a name given by some writers to the perfected English Gothic architecture; it may be considered as having flourished from about a. d. 1300 to a. d. 1375.

Dec`o*ra"tion (d&ebreve;k`&osl;*rā"shŭn), n. [LL. decoratio: cf. F. décoration.] 1. The act of adorning, embellishing, or honoring; ornamentation.

2. That which adorns, enriches, or beautifies; something added by way of embellishment; ornament.

The hall was celebrated for . . . the richness of its decoration.
Motley.

3. Specifically, any mark of honor to be worn upon the person, as a medal, cross, or ribbon of an order of knighthood, bestowed for services in war, great achievements in literature, art, etc.

Decoration Day, a day, May 30, appointed for decorating with flowers the graves of the Union soldiers and sailors, who fell in the Civil War in the United States; Memorial Day. [U.S.]

Dec"o*ra*tive (d&ebreve;k"&osl;*r&adot;*t&ibreve;v or -r&asl;*t&ibreve;v), a. [Cf. F. décoratif.] Suited to decorate or embellish; adorning. -- Dec"o*ra*tive*ness, n.

Decorative art, fine art which has for its end ornamentation, rather than the representation of objects or events.

Dec"o*ra`tor (-rā"t&etilde;r), n. [Cf. F. décorateur.] One who decorates, adorns, or embellishes; specifically, an artisan whose business is the decoration of houses, esp. their interior decoration.

De*core" (?), v. t. [Cf. F. décorer. See Decorate.] To decorate; to beautify. [Obs.]

To decore and beautify the house of God.
E. Hall.

De*core"ment (?), n. Ornament. [Obs.]

De*co"rous (?; 277), a. [L. decōrus, fr. decor comeliness, beauty; akin to decere. See Decent, and cf. Decorum.] Suitable to a character, or to the time, place, and occasion; marked with decorum; becoming; proper; seemly; befitting; as, a decorous speech; decorous behavior; a decorous dress for a judge.

A decorous pretext the war.
Motley.

-- De*co"rous*ly, adv. -- De*co"rous*ness, n.

De*cor"ti*cate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decorticated; p. pr. & vb. n. Decorticating.] [L. decorticatus, p. p. of decorticare to bark; de- + cortex bark.] To divest of the bark, husk, or exterior coating; to husk; to peel; to hull. "Great barley dried and decorticated." Arbuthnot.

De*cor`ti*ca"tion (?), n. [L. decorticatio: cf. F. décortication.] The act of stripping off the bark, rind, hull, or outer coat.

De*cor"ti*ca`tor (?), n. A machine for decorticating wood, hulling grain, etc.; also, an instrument for removing surplus bark or moss from fruit trees.

De*cor"um (?), n. [L. decōrum, fr. decōrus. See Decorous.] Propriety of manner or conduct; grace arising from suitableness of speech and behavior to one's own character, or to the place and occasion; decency of conduct; seemliness; that which is seemly or suitable.

Negligent of the duties and decorums of his station.
Hallam.

If your master
Would have a queen his beggar, you must tell him,
That majesty, to keep decorum, must
No less beg than a kingdom.
Shak.

Syn. -- Decorum, Dignity. Decorum, in accordance with its etymology, is that which is becoming in outward act or appearance; as, the decorum of a public assembly. Dignity springs from an inward elevation of soul producing a corresponding effect on the manners; as, dignity of personal appearance.

De*coy" (d&esl;*koi"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decoyed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Decoying.] [Pref. de- + coy; orig., to quiet, soothe, caress, entice. See Coy.] To lead into danger by artifice; to lure into a net or snare; to entrap; to insnare; to allure; to entice; as, to decoy troops into an ambush; to decoy ducks into a net.

Did to a lonely cot his steps decoy.
Thomson.

E'en while fashion's brightest arts decoy,
The heart, distrusting, asks if this be joy.
Goldsmith.

Syn. -- To entice; tempt; allure; lure. See Allure.

De*coy", n. 1. Anything intended to lead into a snare; a lure that deceives and misleads into danger, or into the power of an enemy; a bait.

2. A fowl, or the likeness of one, used by sportsmen to entice other fowl into a net or within shot.

3. A place into which wild fowl, esp. ducks, are enticed in order to take or shoot them.

4. A person employed by officers of justice, or parties exposed to injury, to induce a suspected person to commit an offense under circumstances that will lead to his detection.

De*coy"-duck` (?), n. A duck used to lure wild ducks into a decoy; hence, a person employed to lure others into danger. Beau. & Fl.

De*coy"er (?), n. One who decoys another.

De*coy"-man` (?), n.; pl. Decoy-men (&?;). A man employed in decoying wild fowl.

De*crease" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Decreased (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Decreasing.] [OE. decrecen, fr. OF. decreistre, F. décroître, or from the OF. noun (see Decrease, n.), fr. L. decrescere to grow less; de + crescere to grow. See Crescent, and cf. Increase.] To grow less, -- opposed to increase; to be diminished gradually, in size, degree, number, duration, etc., or in strength, quality, or excellence; as, they days decrease in length from June to December.

He must increase, but I must decrease.
John iii. 30.

Syn. -- To Decrease, Diminish. Things usually decrease or fall off by degrees, and from within, or through some cause which is imperceptible; as, the flood decreases; the cold decreases; their affection has decreased. Things commonly diminish by an influence from without, or one which is apparent; as, the army was diminished by disease; his property is diminishing through extravagance; their affection has diminished since their separation their separation. The turn of thought, however, is often such that these words may be interchanged.

The olive leaf, which certainly them told
The flood decreased.
Drayton.

Crete's ample fields diminish to our eye;
Before the Boreal blasts the vessels fly.
Pope.

De*crease", v. t. To cause to grow less; to diminish gradually; as, extravagance decreases one's means.

That might decrease their present store.
Prior.

De*crease", n. [OE. decrees, OF. decreis, fr. decreistre. See Decrease, v.] 1. A becoming less; gradual diminution; decay; as, a decrease of revenue or of strength.

2. The wane of the moon. Bacon.

De*crease"less, a. Suffering no decrease. [R.]

It [the river] flows and flows, and yet will flow,
Volume decreaseless to the final hour.
A. Seward.

De*creas"ing, a. Becoming less and less; diminishing. -- De*creas"ing*ly, adv.

Decreasing series (Math.), a series in which each term is numerically smaller than the preceding term.

De`cre*a"tion (?), n. Destruction; -- opposed to creation. [R.] Cudworth.

De*cree" (?), n. [OE. decre, F. décret, fr. L. decretum, neut. decretus, p. p. of decernere to decide; de- + cernere to decide. See Certain, and cf. Decreet, Decretal.] 1. An order from one having authority, deciding what is to be done by a subordinate; also, a determination by one having power, deciding what is to be done or to take place; edict, law; authoritative ru&?;&?; decision. "The decrees of Venice." Sh&?;&?;&?;.

There went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
Luke ii. 1.

Poor hand, why quiverest thou at this decree?
Shak.

2. (Law) (a) A decision, order, or sentence, given in a cause by a court of equity or admiralty. (b) A determination or judgment of an umpire on a case submitted to him. Brande.

3. (Eccl.) An edict or law made by a council for regulating any business within their jurisdiction; as, the decrees of ecclesiastical councils.

Syn. -- Law; regulation; edict; ordinance. See Law.

De*cree" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decreed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Decreeing.] 1. To determine judicially by authority, or by decree; to constitute by edict; to appoint by decree or law; to determine; to order; to ordain; as, a court decrees a restoration of property.

Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee.
Job xxii. 28.

2. To ordain by fate.

De*cree", v. i. To make decrees; - - used absolutely.

Father eternal! thine is to decree;
Mine, both in heaven and earth to do thy will.
Milton.

De*cree"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being decreed.

De*cre"er (?), n. One who decrees. J. Goodwin.

De*creet" (?), n. [Cf. Decree.] (Scots Law) The final judgment of the Court of Session, or of an inferior court, by which the question at issue is decided.

Dec"re*ment (?), n. [L. decrementum, fr. decrescere. See Decrease.] 1. The state of becoming gradually less; decrease; diminution; waste; loss.

Twit me with the decrements of my pendants.
Ford.

Rocks, mountains, and the other elevations of the earth suffer a continual decrement.
Woodward.

2. The quantity lost by gradual diminution or waste; -- opposed to increment.

3. (Crystallog.) A name given by Haüy to the successive diminution of the layers of molecules, applied to the faces of the primitive form, by which he supposed the secondary forms to be produced.

4. (Math.) The quantity by which a variable is diminished.

Equal decrement of life. (a) The decrease of life in a group of persons in which the assumed law of mortality is such that of a given large number of persons, all being now of the same age, an equal number shall die each consecutive year. (b) The decrease of life in a group of persons in which the assumed law of mortality is such that the ratio of those dying in a year to those living through the year is constant, being independent of the age of the persons.

De*crep"it (?), a. [L. decrepitus, perhaps orig., noised out, noiseless, applied to old people, who creep about quietly; de- + crepare to make a noise, rattle: cf. F. décrépit. See Crepitate.] Broken down with age; wasted and enfeebled by the infirmities of old age; feeble; worn out. "Beggary or decrepit age." Milton.

Already decrepit with premature old age.
Motley.

&fist; Sometimes incorrectly written decrepid.

De*crep"i*tate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decrepitated; p. pr. & vb. n. Decrepitating.] [Cf. F. décrépiter.] To roast or calcine so as to cause a crackling noise; as, to decrepitate salt.

De*crep"i*tate, v. i. To crackle, as salt in roasting.

De*crep`i*ta"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. décrépitation.] The act of decrepitating; a crackling noise, such as salt makes when roasting.

De*crep"it*ness (?), n. Decrepitude. [R.] Barrow.

De*crep"i*tude (?), n. [Cf. F. décrépitude.] The broken state produced by decay and the infirmities of age; infirm old age.

||De`cres*cen"do (?), a. & adv. [It.] (Mus.) With decreasing volume of sound; -- a direction to performers, either written upon the staff (abbreviated Dec., or Decresc.), or indicated by the sign.

De*cres"cent (?), a. [L. decrescens, p. pr. of decrescere. See Decrease.] Becoming less by gradual diminution; decreasing; as, a decrescent moon.

De*cres"cent, n. (Her.) A crescent with the horns directed towards the sinister. Cussans.

De*cre"tal (?), a. [L. decretalis, fr. decretum. See Decree.] Appertaining to a decree; containing a decree; as, a decretal epistle. Ayliffe.

De*cre"tal, n. [LL. decretale, neut. of L. decretalis. See Decretal, a.] 1. (R. C. Ch.) An authoritative order or decree; especially, a letter of the pope, determining some point or question in ecclesiastical law. The decretals form the second part of the canon law.

2. (Canon Law) The collection of ecclesiastical decrees and decisions made, by order of Gregory IX., in 1234, by St. Raymond of Pennafort.

De*crete" (?), n. [L. decretum. See Decree.] A decree. [Obs.] Chaucer.

De*cre"tion (?), n. [From L. decrescere, decretum. See Decrease.] A decrease. [Obs.] Pearson.

De*cre"tist (?), n. [LL. decretista, fr. decretum: cf. F. décrétiste. See Decree, n.] One who studies, or professes the knowledge of, the decretals.

De*cre"tive (?), a. [From L. decretum. See Decree, n.] Having the force of a decree; determining.

The will of God is either decretive or perceptive.
Bates.

Dec`re*to"ri*al (?), a. Decretory; authoritative. Sir T. Browne.

Dec"re*to*ri*ly (?), adv. In a decretory or definitive manner; by decree.

Dec"re*to*ry (?), a. [L. decretorius, from decretum. See Decree.] 1. Established by a decree; definitive; settled.

The decretory rigors of a condemning sentence.
South.

2. Serving to determine; critical. "The critical or decretory days." Sir T. Browne.

De*crew" (?), v. i. [F. décrue, n., decrease, and décru, p. p. of décroître. See Decrease, and cf. Accrue.] To decrease. [Obs.] Spenser.

De*cri"al (?), n. [See Decry.] A crying down; a clamorous censure; condemnation by censure.

De*cri"er (?), n. One who decries.

De*crown" (?), v. t. To deprive of a crown; to discrown. [R.] Hakewill.

De`crus*ta"tion (?), n. [Cf. OF. décrustation.] The removal of a crust.

De*cry" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decried (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Decrying.] [F. décrier, OF. descrier; pref. des- (L. dis-) + crier to cry. See Cry, and cf. Descry.] To cry down; to censure as faulty, mean, or worthless; to clamor against; to blame clamorously; to discredit; to disparage.

For small errors they whole plays decry.
Dryden.

Measures which are extolled by one half of the kingdom are naturally decried by the other.
Addison.

Syn. -- To Decry, Depreciate, Detract, Disparage. Decry and depreciate refer to the estimation of a thing, the former seeking to lower its value by clamorous censure, the latter by representing it as of little worth. Detract and disparage also refer to merit or value, which the former assails with caviling, insinuation, etc., while the latter willfully underrates and seeks to degrade it. Men decry their rivals and depreciate their measures. The envious detract from the merit of a good action, and disparage the motives of him who performs it.

Dec`u*ba"tion (?), n. [From L. decubare; de- + cubare. See Decumbent.] Act of lying down; decumbence. [Obs.] Evelyn.

||De*cu"bi*tus (?), n. [NL., fr. L. de- + cubare, to lie down: cf. F. décubitus.] (Med.) An attitude assumed in lying down; as, the dorsal decubitus.

Dec"u*man (?), a. [L. decumanus of the tenth, and by metonymy, large, fr. decem ten.] Large; chief; -- applied to an extraordinary billow, supposed by some to be every tenth in order. [R.] Also used substantively. "Such decuman billows." Gauden. "The baffled decuman." Lowell.

{ De*cum"bence (?), De*cum"ben*cy (?), } n. The act or posture of lying down.

The ancient manner of decumbency.
Sir T. Browne.

De*cum"bent (?), a. [L. decumbens, -entis, p. pr. of decumbere; de- + cumbere (only in comp.), cubare to lie down.] 1. Lying down; prostrate; recumbent.

The decumbent portraiture of a woman.
Ashmole.

2. (Bot.) Reclining on the ground, as if too weak to stand, and tending to rise at the summit or apex; as, a decumbent stem. Gray.

De*cum"bent*ly, adv. In a decumbent posture.

De*cum"bi*ture (?; 135), n. 1. Confinement to a sick bed, or time of taking to one's bed from sickness. Boyle.

2. (Astrol.) Aspect of the heavens at the time of taking to one's sick bed, by which the prognostics of recovery or death were made.

Dec"u*ple (?), a. [F. décuple, L. decuplus, fr. decem ten.] Tenfold. [R.]

Dec"u*ple, n. A number ten times repeated. [R.]

Dec"u*ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decupled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Decupling (?).] To make tenfold; to multiply by ten. [R.]

De*cu"ri*on (?), n. [L. decurio, decurionis, fr. decuria a squad of ten, fr. decem ten.] (Rom. Antiq.) A head or chief over ten; especially, an officer who commanded a division of ten soldiers.

De*cu"ri*on*ate (?), n. [L. decurionatus, fr. decurio.] The office of a decurion.

De*cur"rence (?), n. The act of running down; a lapse. [R.] Gauden.

De*cur"rent (?), a. [L. decurrens, -entis, p. pr. of decurrere to run down; de- + currere to run: cf. F. décurrent.] (Bot.) Extending downward; -- said of a leaf whose base extends downward and forms a wing along the stem. -- De*cur"rent*ly, adv.

De*cur"sion (?), n. [L. decursio, fr. decurrere. See Decurrent.] A flowing; also, a hostile incursion. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.

De*cur"sive (?), a. [Cf. F. décursif. See Decurrent.] Running down; decurrent.

De*cur"sive*ly, adv. In a decursive manner.

Decursively pinnate (Bot.), having the leaflets decurrent, or running along the petiole; -- said of a leaf.

De*curt" (?), v. t. [L. decurtare; de- + curtare.] To cut short; to curtail. [Obs.] Bale.

De`cur*ta"tion (?), n. [L. decurtatio.] Act of cutting short. [Obs.]

Dec"u*ry (?), n.; pl. Decuries (#). [L. decuria, fr. decem ten.] A set or squad of ten men under a decurion. Sir W. Raleigh.

De*cus"sate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decussated; p. pr. & vb. n. Decussating.] [L. decussatus, p. p. of decussare to cross like an X, fr. decussis (orig. equiv. to decem asses) the number ten, which the Romans represented by X.] To cross at an acute angle; to cut or divide in the form of X; to intersect; -- said of lines in geometrical figures, rays of light, nerves, etc.

{ De*cus"sate (?), De*cus"sa*ted (?), } a. 1. Crossed; intersected.

2. (Bot.) Growing in pairs, each of which is at right angles to the next pair above or below; as, decussated leaves or branches.

3. (Rhet.) Consisting of two rising and two falling clauses, placed in alternate opposition to each other; as, a decussated period.

De*cus"sate*ly (?), adv. In a decussate manner.

De`cus*sa"tion (?), n. [L. decussatio.] Act of crossing at an acute angle, or state of being thus crossed; an intersection in the form of an X; as, the decussation of lines, nerves, etc.

De*cus"sa*tive (?), a. Intersecting at acute angles. Sir T. Browne.

De*cus"sa*tive*ly, adv. Crosswise; in the form of an X. "Anointed decussatively." Sir T. Browne.

De"cyl (?), n. [L. decem ten + -yl.] (Chem.) A hydrocarbon radical, C10H21, never existing alone, but regarded as the characteristic constituent of a number of compounds of the paraffin series.

De*cyl"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Allied to, or containing, the radical decyl.

De*dal"ian (?), a. See Dædalian.

Ded"a*lous (?), a. See Dædalous.

||De*dans" (?), n. [F.] (Court Tennis) A division, at one end of a tennis court, for spectators.

Dede (?), a. Dead. [Obs.] Chaucer.

De*dec"o*rate (?), v. t. [L. dedecoratus, p. p. of dedecorare to disgrace. See Decorate.] To bring to shame; to disgrace. [Obs.] Bailey.

De*dec`o*ra"tion (?), n. [L. dedecoratio.] Disgrace; dishonor. [Obs.] Bailey.

De*dec"o*rous (?), a. [L. dedecorus. See Decorous.] Disgraceful; unbecoming. [R.] Bailey.

De`den*ti"tion (?), n. The shedding of teeth. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

Ded"i*cate (?), p. a. [L. dedicatus, p. p. of dedicare to affirm, to dedicate; de- + dicare to declare, dedicate; akin to dicere to say. See Diction.] Dedicated; set apart; devoted; consecrated. "Dedicate to nothing temporal." Shak.

Syn. -- Devoted; consecrated; addicted.

Ded"i*cate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dedicated; p. pr. & vb. n. Dedicating.] 1. To set apart and consecrate, as to a divinity, or for sacred uses; to devote formally and solemnly; as, to dedicate vessels, treasures, a temple, or a church, to a religious use.

Vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, . . . which also king David did dedicate unto the Lord.
2 Sam. viii. 10, 11.

We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. . . . But in a larger sense we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground.
A. Lincoln.

2. To devote, set apart, or give up, as one's self, to a duty or service.

The profession of a soldier, to which he had dedicated himself.
Clarendon.

3. To inscribe or address, as to a patron.

He complied ten elegant books, and dedicated them to the Lord Burghley.
Peacham.

Syn. -- See Addict.

Ded`i*ca*tee" (?), n. One to whom a thing is dedicated; -- correlative to dedicator.

Ded`i*ca"tion (?), n. [L. dedicatio.] 1. The act of setting apart or consecrating to a divine Being, or to a sacred use, often with religious solemnities; solemn appropriation; as, the dedication of Solomon's temple.

2. A devoting or setting aside for any particular purpose; as, a dedication of lands to public use.

3. An address to a patron or friend, prefixed to a book, testifying respect, and often recommending the work to his special protection and favor.

Ded"i*ca`tor (?), n. [L.: cf. F. dédicateur.] One who dedicates; more especially, one who inscribes a book to the favor of a patron, or to one whom he desires to compliment.

Ded`i*ca*to"ri*al (?), a. Dedicatory.

Ded"i*ca*to*ry (?), a. [Cf. F. dédicatoire.] Constituting or serving as a dedication; complimental. "An epistle dedicatory." Dryden.

Ded"i*ca*to*ry, n. Dedication. [R.] Milton.

||Ded"i*mus (?), n. [L. dedimus we have given, fr. dare to give. So called because the writ began, Dedimus potestatem, etc.] (Law) A writ to commission private persons to do some act in place of a judge, as to examine a witness, etc. Bouvier.

De*di"tion (?), n. [L. deditio, fr. dedere to give away, surrender; de- + dare to give.] The act of yielding; surrender. [R.] Sir M. Hale.

Ded"o*lent (?), a. [L. dedolens, p. pr. of dedolere to give over grieving; de- + dolere to grieve.] Feeling no compunction; apathetic. [R.] Hallywell.

De*duce" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deduced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Deducing.] [L. deducere; de- + ducere to lead, draw. See Duke, and cf. Deduct.] 1. To lead forth. [A Latinism]

He should hither deduce a colony.
Selden.

2. To take away; to deduct; to subtract; as, to deduce a part from the whole. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

3. To derive or draw; to derive by logical process; to obtain or arrive at as the result of reasoning; to gather, as a truth or opinion, from what precedes or from premises; to infer; -- with from or out of.

O goddess, say, shall I deduce my rhymes
From the dire nation in its early times?
Pope.

Reasoning is nothing but the faculty of deducing unknown truths from principles already known.
Locke.

See what regard will be paid to the pedigree which deduces your descent from kings and conquerors.
Sir W. Scott.

De*duce"ment (?), n. Inference; deduction; thing deduced. [R.] Dryden.

De*du`ci*bil"i*ty (?), n. Deducibleness.

De*du"ci*ble (?), a. 1. Capable of being deduced or inferred; derivable by reasoning, as a result or consequence.

All properties of a triangle depend on, and are deducible from, the complex idea of three lines including a space.
Locke.

2. Capable of being brought down. [Obs.]

As if God [were] deducible to human imbecility.
State Trials (1649).

De*du"ci*ble*ness, n. The quality of being deducible; deducibility.

De*du"ci*bly (?), adv. By deduction.

De*du"cive (?), a. That deduces; inferential.

De*duct" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deducted; p. pr. & vb. n. Deducting.] [L. deductus, p. p. of deducere to deduct. See Deduce.] 1. To lead forth or out. [Obs.]

A people deducted out of the city of Philippos.
Udall.

2. To take away, separate, or remove, in numbering, estimating, or calculating; to subtract; -- often with from or out of.

Deduct what is but vanity, or dress.
Pope.

Two and a half per cent should be deducted out of the pay of the foreign troops.
Bp. Burnet.

We deduct from the computation of our years that part of our time which is spent in . . . infancy.
Norris.

3. To reduce; to diminish. [Obs.] "Do not deduct it to days." Massinger.

De*duct"i*ble (?), a. 1. Capable of being deducted, taken away, or withdrawn.

Not one found honestly deductible
From any use that pleased him.
Mrs. Browning.

2. Deducible; consequential.

De*duc"tion (?), n. [L. deductio: cf. F. déduction.] 1. Act or process of deducing or inferring.

The deduction of one language from another.
Johnson.

This process, by which from two statements we deduce a third, is called deduction.
J. R. Seely.

2. Act of deducting or taking away; subtraction; as, the deduction of the subtrahend from the minuend.

3. That which is deduced or drawn from premises by a process of reasoning; an inference; a conclusion.

Make fair deductions; see to what they mount.
Pope.

4. That which is deducted; the part taken away; abatement; as, a deduction from the yearly rent.

Syn. -- See Induction.

De*duct"ive (?), a. [Cf. L. deductivus derivative.] Of or pertaining to deduction; capable of being deduced from premises; deducible.

All knowledge of causes is deductive.
Glanvill.

Notions and ideas . . . used in a deductive process.
Whewell.

De*duct"ive*ly, adv. By deduction; by way of inference; by consequence. Sir T. Browne.

||De*duc"tor (?), n. [L., a guide. See Deduce.] (Zoöl.) The pilot whale or blackfish.

De*duit" (?), n. [F. déduit. Cf. Deduct.] Delight; pleasure. [Obs.] Chaucer.

De*du`pli*ca"tion (?), n. [Pref. de- + duplication.] (Biol.) The division of that which is morphologically one organ into two or more, as the division of an organ of a plant into a pair or cluster.

Deed (?), a. Dead. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Deed, n. [AS. d&?;d; akin to OS. dād, D. & Dan. daad, G. thai, Sw. dåd, Goth. d&?;ds; fr. the root of do. See Do, v. t.] 1. That which is done or effected by a responsible agent; an act; an action; a thing done; -- a word of extensive application, including, whatever is done, good or bad, great or small.

And Joseph said to them, What deed is this which ye have done?
Gen. xliv. 15.

We receive the due reward of our deeds.
Luke xxiii. 41.

Would serve his kind in deed and word.
Tennyson.

2. Illustrious act; achievement; exploit. "Knightly deeds." Spenser.

Whose deeds some nobler poem shall adorn.
Dryden.

3. Power of action; agency; efficiency. [Obs.]

To be, both will and deed, created free.
Milton.

4. Fact; reality; -- whence we have indeed.

5. (Law) A sealed instrument in writing, on paper or parchment, duly executed and delivered, containing some transfer, bargain, or contract.

&fist; The term is generally applied to conveyances of real estate, and it is the prevailing doctrine that a deed must be signed as well as sealed, though at common law signing was formerly not necessary.

Blank deed, a printed form containing the customary legal phraseology, with blank spaces for writing in names, dates, boundaries, etc.

6. Performance; -- followed by of. [Obs.] Shak.

In deed, in fact; in truth; verily. See Indeed.

Deed, v. t. To convey or transfer by deed; as, he deeded all his estate to his eldest son. [Colloq. U. S.]

Deed"ful (?), a. Full of deeds or exploits; active; stirring. [R.] "A deedful life." Tennyson.

Deed"less, a. Not performing, or not having performed, deeds or exploits; inactive.

Deedless in his tongue.
Shak.

Deed" poll` (?). (Law) A deed of one part, or executed by only one party, and distinguished from an indenture by having the edge of the parchment or paper cut even, or polled as it was anciently termed, instead of being indented. Burrill.

Deed"y (?), a. Industrious; active. [R.] Cowper.

Deem (dēm), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deemed (dēmd); p. pr. & vb. n. Deeming.] [OE. demen to judge, condemn, AS. dēman, fr. dōm doom; akin to OFries. dēma, OS. adōmian, D. doemen, OHG. tuommen, Icel. dæma, Sw. dömma, Dan. dömme, Goth. dōmjan. See Doom, n., and cf. Doom, v.] 1. To decide; to judge; to sentence; to condemn. [Obs.]

Claudius . . . Was demed for to hang upon a tree.
Chaucer.

2. To account; to esteem; to think; to judge; to hold in opinion; to regard.

For never can I deem him less him less than god.
Dryden.

Deem, v. i. 1. To be of opinion; to think; to estimate; to opine; to suppose.

And deemest thou as those who pore,
With aged eyes, short way before?
Emerson.

2. To pass judgment. [Obs.] Spenser.

Deem, n. Opinion; judgment. [Obs.] Shak.

Deem"ster (dēm"st&etilde;r), n. [Deem + -ster; i. e., doomster. Cf. Dempster.] A judge in the Isle of Man who decides controversies without process. Cowell.

Deep (dēp), a. [Compar. Deeper (?); superl. Deepest (?).] [OE. dep, deop, AS. deóp; akin to D. diep, G. tief, Icel. djūpr, Sw. diup, Dan. dyb, Goth. diups; fr. the root of E. dip, dive. See Dip, Dive.] 1. Extending far below the surface; of great perpendicular dimension (measured from the surface downward, and distinguished from high, which is measured upward); far to the bottom; having a certain depth; as, a deep sea.

The water where the brook is deep.
Shak.

2. Extending far back from the front or outer part; of great horizontal dimension (measured backward from the front or nearer part, mouth, etc.); as, a deep cave or recess or wound; a gallery ten seats deep; a company of soldiers six files deep.

Shadowing squadrons deep.
Milton.

Safely in harbor
Is the king's ship in the deep nook.
Shak.

3. Low in situation; lying far below the general surface; as, a deep valley.

4. Hard to penetrate or comprehend; profound; -- opposed to shallow or superficial; intricate; mysterious; not obvious; obscure; as, a deep subject or plot.

Speculations high or deep.
Milton.

A question deep almost as the mystery of life.
De Quincey.

O Lord, . . . thy thoughts are very deep.
Ps. xcii. 5.

5. Of penetrating or far-reaching intellect; not superficial; thoroughly skilled; sagacious; cunning.

Deep clerks she dumbs.
Shak.

6. Profound; thorough; complete; unmixed; intense; heavy; heartfelt; as, deep distress; deep melancholy; deep horror. "Deep despair." Milton. "Deep silence." Milton. "Deep sleep." Gen. ii. 21. "Deeper darkness." >Hoole. "Their deep poverty." 2 Cor. viii. 2.

An attitude of deep respect.
Motley.

7. Strongly colored; dark; intense; not light or thin; as, deep blue or crimson.

8. Of low tone; full-toned; not high or sharp; grave; heavy. "The deep thunder." Byron.

The bass of heaven's deep organ.
Milton.

9. Muddy; boggy; sandy; -- said of roads. Chaucer.

The ways in that vale were very deep.
Clarendon.

A deep line of operations (Military), a long line. -- Deep mourning (Costume), mourning complete and strongly marked, the garments being not only all black, but also composed of lusterless materials and of such fashion as is identified with mourning garments.

Deep, adv. To a great depth; with depth; far down; profoundly; deeply.

Deep-versed in books, and shallow in himself.
Milton.

Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring.
Pope.

&fist; Deep, in its usual adverbial senses, is often prefixed to an adjective; as, deep-chested, deep-cut, deep-seated, deep-toned, deep-voiced, "deep-uddered kine."

Deep, n. 1. That which is deep, especially deep water, as the sea or ocean; an abyss; a great depth.

Courage from the deeps of knowledge springs.
Cowley.

The hollow deep of hell resounded.
Milton.

Blue Neptune storms, the bellowing deeps resound.
Pope.

2. That which is profound, not easily fathomed, or incomprehensible; a moral or spiritual depth or abyss.

Thy judgments are a great deep.
Ps. xxxvi. 6.

Deep of night, the most quiet or profound part of night; dead of night.

The deep of night is crept upon our talk.
Shak.

Deep"en (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deepened (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Deepening.] 1. To make deep or deeper; to increase the depth of; to sink lower; as, to deepen a well or a channel.

It would . . . deepen the bed of the Tiber.
Addison.

2. To make darker or more intense; to darken; as, the event deepened the prevailing gloom.

You must deepen your colors.
Peacham.

3. To make more poignant or affecting; to increase in degree; as, to deepen grief or sorrow.

4. To make more grave or low in tone; as, to deepen the tones of an organ.

Deepens the murmur of the falling floods.
Pope.

Deep"en, v. i. To become deeper; as, the water deepens at every cast of the lead; the plot deepens.

His blood-red tresses deepening in the sun.
Byron.

Deep"-fet` (?), a. Deeply fetched or drawn. [Obs.] "Deep-fet groans." Shak.

Deep"-laid` (?), a. Laid deeply; formed with cunning and sagacity; as, deep-laid plans.

Deep"ly, adv. 1. At or to a great depth; far below the surface; as, to sink deeply.

2. Profoundly; thoroughly; not superficially; in a high degree; intensely; as, deeply skilled in ethics.

He had deeply offended both his nobles and people.
Bacon.

He sighed deeply in his spirit.
Mark viii. 12.

3. Very; with a tendency to darkness of color.

The deeply red juice of buckthorn berries.
Boyle.

4. Gravely; with low or deep tone; as, a deeply toned instrument.

5. With profound skill; with art or intricacy; as, a deeply laid plot or intrigue.

Deep"-mouthed` (?), a. Having a loud and sonorous voice. "Deep-mouthed dogs." Dryden.

Deep"ness, n. 1. The state or quality of being deep, profound, mysterious, secretive, etc.; depth; profundity; -- opposed to shallowness.

Because they had no deepness of earth.
Matt. xiii. 5.

2. Craft; insidiousness. [R.] J. Gregory.

Deep"-read` (?), a. Profoundly book- learned. "Great writers and deep-read men." L'Estrange.

Deep"-sea` (?), a. Of or pertaining to the deeper parts of the sea; as, a deep-sea line (i. e., a line to take soundings at a great depth); deep- sea lead; deep-sea soundings, explorations, etc.

Deep"-waist`ed (?), a. (Naut.) Having a deep waist, as when, in a ship, the poop and forecastle are much elevated above the deck.

Deer (dēr), n. sing. & pl. [OE. der, deor, animal, wild animal, AS. deór; akin to D. dier, OFries. diar, G. thier, tier, Icel. d&ymacr;r, Dan. dyr, Sw. djur, Goth. dius; of unknown origin. √71.] 1. Any animal; especially, a wild animal. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Mice and rats, and such small deer.
Shak.

The camel, that great deer.
Lindisfarne MS.

2. (Zoöl.) A ruminant of the genus Cervus, of many species, and of related genera of the family Cervidæ. The males, and in some species the females, have solid antlers, often much branched, which are shed annually. Their flesh, for which they are hunted, is called venison.

&fist; The deer hunted in England is Cervus elaphus, called also stag or red deer; the fallow deer is C. dama; the common American deer is C. Virginianus; the blacktailed deer of Western North America is C. Columbianus; and the mule deer of the same region is C. macrotis. See Axis, Fallow deer, Mule deer, Reindeer.

&fist; Deer is much used adjectively, or as the first part of a compound; as, deerkiller, deerslayer, deerslaying, deer hunting, deer stealing, deerlike, etc.

Deer mouse (Zoöl.), the white- footed mouse (Hesperomys leucopus) of America. -- Small deer, petty game, not worth pursuing; -- used metaphorically. (See citation from Shakespeare under the first definition, above.) "Minor critics . . . can find leisure for the chase of such small deer." G. P. Marsh.

Deer"ber`ry (?), n. (Bot.) A shrub of the blueberry group (Vaccinium stamineum); also, its bitter, greenish white berry; -- called also squaw huckleberry.

Deer"grass` (?), n. (Bot.) An American genus (Rhexia) of perennial herbs, with opposite leaves, and showy flowers (usually bright purple), with four petals and eight stamens, -- the only genus of the order Melastomaceæ inhabiting a temperate clime.

Deer"hound` (?), n. (Zoöl.) One of a large and fleet breed of hounds used in hunting deer; a staghound.

Deer"let (?), n. [Deer + - let.] (Zoöl.) A chevrotain. See Kanchil, and Napu.

Deer"-neck` (?), n. A deerlike, or thin, ill-formed neck, as of a horse.

Deer"skin` (?), n. The skin of a deer, or the leather which is made from it. Hakluyt. Longfellow.

Deer"stalk`er (?), n. One who practices deerstalking.

Deer"stalk`ing, n. The hunting of deer on foot, by stealing upon them unawares.

Deer's"-tongue` (?), n. (Bot.) A plant (Liatris odoratissima) whose fleshy leaves give out a fragrance compared to vanilla. Wood.

Dees (?), n. pl. Dice. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dees, n. A dais. [Obs.] Chaucer.

||De*e"sis (d&esl;*ē"s&ibreve;s), n. [NL., fr. Gr. de`hsis supplication.] (Rhet.) An invocation of, or address to, the Supreme Being.

De"ess (d&esl;"&ebreve;s), n. [F. déesse, fem. of dieu god.] A goddess. [Obs.] Croft.

||Deev (?), n. (Hind. & Pers. Myth.) See Dev.

De*face" (d&esl;*fās"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defaced (-fāst"); p. pr. & vb. n. Defacing.] [OE. defacen to disfigure, efface, OF. desfacier; L. dis- + facies face. See Face, and cf. Efface.] 1. To destroy or mar the face or external appearance of; to disfigure; to injure, spoil, or mar, by effacing or obliterating important features or portions of; as, to deface a monument; to deface an edifice; to deface writing; to deface a note, deed, or bond; to deface a record. "This high face defaced." Emerson.

So by false learning is good sense defaced.
Pope.

2. [Cf. F. défaire.] To destroy; to make null. [Obs.]

[Profane scoffing] doth . . . deface the reverence of religion.
Bacon.

For all his power was utterly defaste [defaced].
Spenser.

Syn. -- See Efface.

De*face"ment (?), n. 1. The act of defacing, or the condition of being defaced; injury to the surface or exterior; obliteration.

2. That which mars or disfigures. Bacon.

De*fa"cer (?), n. One who, or that which, defaces or disfigures.

||De` fac"to (?). [L.] Actually; in fact; in reality; as, a king de facto, -- distinguished from a king de jure, or by right.

De*fail" (?), v. t. [F. défaillir to fail; pref. dé- (L. de) + faillir. See Fail, and cf. Default.] To cause to fail. [Obs.]

De*fail"ance (?), n. [F. défaillance.] Failure; miscarriage. [Obs.]

Possibility of defailance in degree or continuance.
Comber.

De*fail"ure (?), n. Failure. [Obs.] Barrow.

De*fal"cate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defalcated; p. pr. & vb. n. Defalcating.] [LL. defalcatus, p. p. of defalcare to deduct, orig., to cut off with a sickle; L. de- + falx, falcis, a sickle. See Falchion.] To cut off; to take away or deduct a part of; -- used chiefly of money, accounts, rents, income, etc.

To show what may be practicably and safely defalcated from them [the estimates].
Burke.

De*fal"cate, v. i. To commit defalcation; to embezzle money held in trust. "Some partner defalcating, or the like." Carlyle.

De`fal*ca"tion (?), n. [LL. defalcatio: cf. F. défalcation.] 1. A lopping off; a diminution; abatement; deficit. Specifically: Reduction of a claim by deducting a counterclaim; set- off. Abbott.

2. That which is lopped off, diminished, or abated.

3. An abstraction of money, etc., by an officer or agent having it in trust; an embezzlement.

Def"al*ca`tor (?), n. A defaulter or embezzler. [Modern]

De*falk" (?), v. t. [F. défalquer. See Defalcate.] To lop off; to abate. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Def`a*ma"tion (?), n. [OE. diffamacioun, F. diffamation. See Defame.] Act of injuring another's reputation by any slanderous communication, written or oral; the wrong of maliciously injuring the good name of another; slander; detraction; calumny; aspersion.

&fist; In modern usage, written defamation bears the title of libel, and oral defamation that of slander. Burrill.

De*fam"a*to*ry (?), a. Containing defamation; injurious to reputation; calumnious; slanderous; as, defamatory words; defamatory writings.

De*fame" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defamed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Defaming.] [OE. defamen, diffamen, from F. diffamer, or OF. perh. defamer, fr. L. diffamare (cf. defamatus infamous); dis- (in this word confused with de) + fama a report. See Fame.] 1. To harm or destroy the good fame or reputation of; to disgrace; especially, to speak evil of maliciously; to dishonor by slanderous reports; to calumniate; to asperse.

2. To render infamous; to bring into disrepute.

My guilt thy growing virtues did defame;
My blackness blotted thy unblemish'd name.
Dryden.

3. To charge; to accuse. [R.]

Rebecca is . . . defamed of sorcery practiced on the person of a noble knight.
Sir W. Scott.

Syn. -- To asperse; slander; calumniate; vilify. See Asperse.

De*fame", n. Dishonor. [Obs.] Chaucer.

De*fam"er (?), n. One who defames; a slanderer; a detractor; a calumniator.

De*fam"ing*ly, adv. In a defamatory manner.

Def"a*mous (?), a. Defamatory. [Obs.]

De*fat"i*ga*ble (?), a. [See Defatigate.] Capable of being wearied or tired out. [R.] Glanvill.

De*fat"i*gate (?), v. t. [L. defatigatus, p. p. of defatigare; de- + fatigare to weary. See Fatigue.] To weary or tire out; to fatigue. [R.] Sir T. Herbert.

De*fat`i*ga"tion (?), n. [L. defatigatio.] Weariness; fatigue. [R.] Bacon.

De*fault" (?), n. [OE. defaute, OF. defaute, defalte, fem., F. défaut, masc., LL. defalta, fr. a verb meaning, to be deficient, to want, fail, fr. L. de- + fallere to deceive. See Fault.] 1. A failing or failure; omission of that which ought to be done; neglect to do what duty or law requires; as, this evil has happened through the governor's default.

2. Fault; offense; ill deed; wrong act; failure in virtue or wisdom.

And pardon craved for his so rash default.
Spenser.

Regardless of our merit or default.
Pope.

3. (Law) A neglect of, or failure to take, some step necessary to secure the benefit of law, as a failure to appear in court at a day assigned, especially of the defendant in a suit when called to make answer; also of jurors, witnesses, etc.

In default of, in case of failure or lack of.

Cooks could make artificial birds and fishes in default of the real ones.
Arbuthnot.

-- To suffer a default (Law), to permit an action to be called without appearing to answer.

De*fault", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Defaulted; p. pr. & vb. n. Defaulting.] 1. To fail in duty; to offend.

That he gainst courtesy so foully did default.
Spenser.

2. To fail in fulfilling a contract, agreement, or duty.

3. To fail to appear in court; to let a case go by default.

De*fault", v. t. 1. To fail to perform or pay; to be guilty of neglect of; to omit; as, to default a dividend.

What they have defaulted towards him as no king.
Milton.

2. (Law) To call a defendant or other party whose duty it is to be present in court, and make entry of his default, if he fails to appear; to enter a default against.

3. To leave out of account; to omit. [Obs.]

Defaulting unnecessary and partial discourses.
Hales.

De*fault"er (?), n. 1. One who makes default; one who fails to appear in court when court when called.

2. One who fails to perform a duty; a delinquent; particularly, one who fails to account for public money intrusted to his care; a peculator; a defalcator.

De*fea"sance (?), n. [OF. defesance, fr. defesant, F. défaisant, p. pr. of defaire, F. défaire, to undo. See Defeat.] 1. A defeat; an overthrow. [Obs.]

After his foes' defeasance.
Spenser.

2. A rendering null or void.

3. (Law) A condition, relating to a deed, which being performed, the deed is defeated or rendered void; or a collateral deed, made at the same time with a feoffment, or other conveyance, containing conditions, on the performance of which the estate then created may be defeated.

&fist; Mortgages were usually made in this manner in former times, but the modern practice is to include the conveyance and the defeasance in the same deed.

De*fea"sanced (?), a. (Law) Liable to defeasance; capable of being made void or forfeited.

De*fea"si*ble (?), a. [See Defeasance.] Capable of being annulled or made void; as, a defeasible title. -- De*fea"si*ble*ness, n.

De*feat" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defeated; p. pr. & vb. n. Defeating.] [From F. défait, OF. desfait, p. p. ofe défaire, OF. desfaire, to undo; L. dis- + facere to do. See Feat, Fact, and cf. Disfashion.] 1. To undo; to disfigure; to destroy. [Obs.]

His unkindness may defeat my life.
Shak.

2. To render null and void, as a title; to frustrate, as hope; to deprive, as of an estate.

He finds himself naturally to dread a superior Being that can defeat all his designs, and disappoint all his hopes.
Tillotson.

The escheators . . . defeated the right heir of his succession.
Hallam.

In one instance he defeated his own purpose.
A. W. Ward.

3. To overcome or vanquish, as an army; to check, disperse, or ruin by victory; to overthrow.

4. To resist with success; as, to defeat an assault.

Sharp reasons to defeat the law.
Shak.

Syn. -- To baffle; disappoint; frustrate.

De*feat", n. [Cf. F. défaite, fr. défaire. See Defeat, v.] 1. An undoing or annulling; destruction. [Obs.]

Upon whose property and most dear life
A damned defeat was made.
Shak.

2. Frustration by rendering null and void, or by prevention of success; as, the defeat of a plan or design.

3. An overthrow, as of an army in battle; loss of a battle; repulse suffered; discomfiture; -- opposed to victory.

De*fea"ture (?; 135), n. [OF. desfaiture a killing, disguising, prop., an undoing. See Defeat, and cf. Disfeature.] 1. Overthrow; defeat. [Obs.] "Nothing but loss in their defeature." Beau. & Fl.

2. Disfigurement; deformity. [Obs.] "Strange defeatures in my face." Shak.

De*fea"tured (?; 135), p. p. Changed in features; deformed. [R.]

Features when defeatured in the . . . way I have described.
De Quincey.

Def"e*cate (?), a. [L. defaecatus, p. p. of defaecare to defecate; de- + faex, faecis, dregs, lees.] Freed from anything that can pollute, as dregs, lees, etc.; refined; purified.

Till the soul be defecate from the dregs of sense.
Bates.

Def"e*cate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defecated; p. pr. & vb. n. Defecating.] 1. To clear from impurities, as lees, dregs, etc.; to clarify; to purify; to refine.

To defecate the dark and muddy oil of amber.
Boyle.

2. To free from extraneous or polluting matter; to clear; to purify, as from that which materializes.

We defecate the notion from materiality.
Glanvill.

Defecated from all the impurities of sense.
Bp. Warburton.

Def"e*cate (?), v. i. 1. To become clear, pure, or free. Goldsmith.

2. To void excrement.

Def`e*ca"tion (?), n. [L. defaecatio: cf. F. défécation.] 1. The act of separating from impurities, as lees or dregs; purification.

2. (Physiol.) The act or process of voiding excrement.

Def"e*ca`tor (?), n. That which cleanses or purifies; esp., an apparatus for removing the feculencies of juices and sirups. Knight.

De*fect" (?), n. [L. defectus, fr. deficere, defectum, to desert, fail, be wanting; de- + facere to make, do. See Fact, Feat, and cf. Deficit.] 1. Want or absence of something necessary for completeness or perfection; deficiency; -- opposed to superfluity.

Errors have been corrected, and defects supplied.
Davies.

2. Failing; fault; imperfection, whether physical or moral; blemish; as, a defect in the ear or eye; a defect in timber or iron; a defect of memory or judgment.

Trust not yourself; but, your defects to know,
Make use of every friend -- and every foe.
Pope.

Among boys little tenderness is shown to personal defects.
Macaulay.

Syn. -- Deficiency; imperfection; blemish. See Fault.

De*fect", v. i. To fail; to become deficient. [Obs.] "Defected honor." Warner.

De*fect", v. t. To injure; to damage. "None can my life defect." [R.] Troubles of Q. Elizabeth (1639).

De*fect`i*bil"i*ty (?), n. Deficiency; imperfection. [R.] Ld. Digby. Jer. Taylor.

De*fect"i*ble (?), a. Liable to defect; imperfect. [R.] "A defectible understanding." Jer. Taylor.

De*fec"tion (?), n. [L. defectio: cf. F. défection. See Defect.] Act of abandoning a person or cause to which one is bound by allegiance or duty, or to which one has attached himself; desertion; failure in duty; a falling away; apostasy; backsliding. "Defection and falling away from God." Sir W. Raleigh.

The general defection of the whole realm.
Sir J. Davies.

De*fec"tion*ist, n. One who advocates or encourages defection.

De*fec"tious (?), a. Having defects; imperfect. [Obs.] "Some one defectious piece." Sir P. Sidney.

De*fect"ive (?), a. [L. defectivus: cf. F. défectif. See Defect.] 1. Wanting in something; incomplete; lacking a part; deficient; imperfect; faulty; -- applied either to natural or moral qualities; as, a defective limb; defective timber; a defective copy or account; a defective character; defective rules.

2. (Gram.) Lacking some of the usual forms of declension or conjugation; as, a defective noun or verb. -- De*fect"ive*ly, adv. -- De*fect"ive*ness, n.

De*fec`tu*os"i*ty (?; 135), n. [Cf. F. défectuosité.] Great imperfection. [Obs.] W. Montagu.

De*fec"tu*ous (?), a. [Cf. F. défectueux.] Full of defects; imperfect. [Obs.] Barrow.

Def`e*da"tion (?), n. [L. defoedare, defoedatum, to defile; de- + foedare to foul, foedus foul.] The act of making foul; pollution. [Obs.]

De*fence" (d&esl;*f&ebreve;ns"), n. & v. t. See Defense.

De*fend" (d&esl;*f&ebreve;nd"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defended; p. pr. & vb. n. Defending.] [F. défendre, L. defendere; de- + fendere (only in comp.) to strike; perh. akin to Gr. qei`nein to strike, and E. dint. Cf. Dint, Defense, Fend.] 1. To ward or fend off; to drive back or away; to repel. [A Latinism & Obs.]

Th' other strove for to defend
The force of Vulcan with his might and main.
Spenser.

2. To prohibit; to forbid. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Which God defend that I should wring from him.
Shak.

3. To repel danger or harm from; to protect; to secure against attack; to maintain against force or argument; to uphold; to guard; as, to defend a town; to defend a cause; to defend character; to defend the absent; -- sometimes followed by from or against; as, to defend one's self from, or against, one's enemies.

The lord mayor craves aid . . . to defend the city.
Shak.

God defend the right!
Shak.

A village near it was defended by the river.
Clarendon.

4. (Law.) To deny the right of the plaintiff in regard to (the suit, or the wrong charged); to oppose or resist, as a claim at law; to contest, as a suit. Burrill.

Syn. -- To Defend, Protect. To defend is literally to ward off; to protect is to cover so as to secure against approaching danger. We defend those who are attacked; we protect those who are liable to injury or invasion. A fortress is defended by its guns, and protected by its wall.

As birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it.
Is. xxxi. 5.

Leave not the faithful side
That gave thee being, still shades thee and protects.
Milton.

De*fend"a*ble (d&esl;*f&ebreve;nd"&adot;*b'l), a. [Cf. F. défendable.] Capable of being defended; defensible. [R.]

De*fend"ant (aant), a. [F. défendant, p. pr. of défendre. See Defend.] 1. Serving, or suitable, for defense; defensive. [Obs.]

With men of courage and with means defendant.
Shak.

2. Making defense.

De*fend"ant, n. 1. One who defends; a defender.

The rampiers and ditches which the defendants had cast up.
Spotswood.

2. (Law) A person required to make answer in an action or suit; -- opposed to plaintiff. Abbott.

&fist; The term is applied to any party of whom a demand is made in court, whether the party denies and defends the claim, or admits it, and suffers a default; also to a party charged with a criminal offense.

De`fen*dee" (d&esl;`f&ebreve;n*dē" or d&esl;*f&ebreve;nd"ē`), n. One who is defended. [R. & Ludicrous]

De*fend"er (d&esl;*f&ebreve;nd"&etilde;r), n. [Cf. Fender.] One who defends; one who maintains, supports, protects, or vindicates; a champion; an advocate; a vindicator.

Provinces . . . left without their ancient and puissant defenders.
Motley.

De*fend"ress (?), n. A female defender. [R.]

Defendress of the faith.
Stow.

De*fen"sa*tive (?), n. [L. defensare, defensatum, to defend diligently, intens. of defendere. See Defend.] That which serves to protect or defend.

{ De*fense", De*fence" } (?), n. [F. défense, OF. defense, fem., defens, masc., fr. L. defensa (cf. LL. defensum), from defendere. See Defend, and cf. Fence.] 1. The act of defending, or the state of being defended; protection, as from violence or danger.

In cases of defense 't is best to weigh
The enemy more mighty than he seems.
Shak.

2. That which defends or protects; anything employed to oppose attack, ward off violence or danger, or maintain security; a guard; a protection.

War would arise in defense of the right.
Tennyson.

God, the widow's champion and defense.
Shak.

3. Protecting plea; vindication; justification.

Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defense.
Acts xxii. 1.

4. (Law) The defendant's answer or plea; an opposing or denial of the truth or validity of the plaintiff's or prosecutor's case; the method of proceeding adopted by the defendant to protect himself against the plaintiff's action.

5. Act or skill in making defense; defensive plan or policy; practice in self defense, as in fencing, boxing, etc.

A man of great defense.
Spenser.

By how much defense is better than no skill.
Shak.

6. Prohibition; a prohibitory ordinance. [Obs.]

Severe defenses . . . against wearing any linen under a certain breadth.
Sir W. Temple.

De*fense", v. t. To furnish with defenses; to fortify. [Obs.] [Written also defence.]

Better manned and more strongly defensed.
Hales.

De*fense"less, a. Destitute of defense; unprepared to resist attack; unable to oppose; unprotected. -- De*fense"less*ly, adv. -- De*fense"less*ness, n.

De*fens"er (?), n. [Cf. F. défenseur, L. defensor. Cf. Defensor.] Defender. [Obs.] Foxe.

De*fen`si*bil"i*ty (?), n. Capability of being defended.

De*fen"si*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. défensable, LL. defensabilis, defensibilis. See Defense, and cf. Defendable.] 1. Capable of being defended; as, a defensible city, or a defensible cause.

2. Capable of offering defense. [Obs.] Shak.

De*fen"si*ble*ness (?), n. Capability of being defended; defensibility. Priestley.

De*fen"sive (?), a. [Cf. F. défensif.] 1. Serving to defend or protect; proper for defense; opposed to offensive; as, defensive armor.

A moat defensive to a house.
Shak.

2. Carried on by resisting attack or aggression; -- opposed to offensive; as, defensive war.

3. In a state or posture of defense. Milton.

De*fen"sive, n. That which defends; a safeguard.

Wars preventive, upon just fears, are true defensives.
Bacon.

To be on the defensive, To stand on the defensive, to be or stand in a state or posture of defense or resistance, in opposition to aggression or attack.

De*fen"sive*ly, adv. On the defensive.

De*fen"sor (?), n. [L. See Defenser.] 1. A defender. Fabyan.

2. (Law) A defender or an advocate in court; a guardian or protector.

3. (Eccl.) The patron of a church; an officer having charge of the temporal affairs of a church.

De*fen"so*ry (?), a. [L. defensorius.] Tending to defend; defensive; as, defensory preparations.

De*fer" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deferred (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Deferring.] [OE. differren, F. différer, fr. L. differre to delay, bear different ways; dis- + ferre to bear. See Bear to support, and cf. Differ, Defer to offer.] To put off; to postpone to a future time; to delay the execution of; to delay; to withhold.

Defer the spoil of the city until night.
Shak.

God . . . will not long defer
To vindicate the glory of his name.
Milton.

De*fer", v. i. To put off; to delay to act; to wait.

Pius was able to defer and temporize at leisure.
J. A. Symonds.

De*fer", v. t. [F. déférer to pay deference, to yield, to bring before a judge, fr. L. deferre to bring down; de- + ferre to bear. See Bear to support, and cf. Defer to delay, Delate.] 1. To render or offer. [Obs.]

Worship deferred to the Virgin.
Brevint.

2. To lay before; to submit in a respectful manner; to refer; -- with to.

Hereupon the commissioners . . . deferred the matter to the Earl of Northumberland.
Bacon.

De*fer", v. i. To yield deference to the wishes of another; to submit to the opinion of another, or to authority; -- with to.

The house, deferring to legal right, acquiesced.
Bancroft.

Def"er*ence (?), n. [F. déférence. See 3d Defer.] A yielding of judgment or preference from respect to the wishes or opinion of another; submission in opinion; regard; respect; complaisance.

Deference to the authority of thoughtful and sagacious men.
Whewell.

Deference is the most complicate, the most indirect, and the most elegant of all compliments.
Shenstone.

Syn. -- Deference, Reverence, Respect. Deference marks an inclination to yield one's opinion, and to acquiesce in the sentiments of another in preference to one's own. Respect marks the estimation that we have for another, which makes us look to him as worthy of high confidence for the qualities of his mind and heart. Reverence denotes a mingling of fear with a high degree of respect and esteem. Age, rank, dignity, and personal merit call for deference; respect should be paid to the wise and good; reverence is due to God, to the authors of our being, and to the sanctity of the laws.

Def"er*ent (?), a. [L. deferens, p. pr. of deferre. See 3d Defer.] Serving to carry; bearing. [R.] "Bodies deferent." Bacon.

Def"er*ent, n. 1. That which carries or conveys.

Though air be the most favorable deferent of sounds.
Bacon.

2. (Ptolemaic Astron.) An imaginary circle surrounding the earth, in whose periphery either the heavenly body or the center of the heavenly body's epicycle was supposed to be carried round.

Def`er*en"tial (?), a. [See Deference.] Expressing deference; accustomed to defer.

Def`er*en"tial*ly, adv. With deference.

De*fer"ment (?), n. [See 1st Defer.] The act of delaying; postponement. [R.]

My grief, joined with the instant business,
Begs a deferment.
Suckling.

De*fer"rer (?), n. One who defers or puts off.

{ De`fer*ves"cence (?), De`fer*ves"cency (?), } n. [L. defervescere to grow cool.] 1. A subsiding from a state of ebullition; loss of heat; lukewarmness.

A defervescency in holy actions.
Jer. Taylor.

2. (Med.) The subsidence of a febrile process; as, the stage of defervescence in pneumonia.

De*feu"dal*ize (?), v. t. To deprive of the feudal character or form.

De*fi"ance (?), n. [OF. defiance, desfiance, challenge, fr. desfier to challenge, F. défier. See Defy.] 1. The act of defying, putting in opposition, or provoking to combat; a challenge; a provocation; a summons to combat.

A war without a just defiance made.
Dryden.

Stood for her cause, and flung defiance down.
Tennyson.

2. A state of opposition; willingness to flight; disposition to resist; contempt of opposition.

He breathed defiance to my ears.
Shak.

3. A casting aside; renunciation; rejection. [Obs.] "Defiance to thy kindness." Ford.

To bid defiance, To set at defiance, to defy; to disregard recklessly or contemptuously. Locke.

De*fi"ant (?), a. [Cf. F. défiant, p. pr. of défier. See Defy.] Full of defiance; bold; insolent; as, a defiant spirit or act.

In attitude stern and defiant.
Longfellow.

-- De*fi"ant*ly, adv. -- De*fi"ant*ness, n.

De*fi"a*to*ry (?), a. [See Defy.] Bidding or manifesting defiance. [Obs.] Shelford.

De*fi"bri*nate (?), v. t. To deprive of fibrin, as fresh blood or lymph by stirring with twigs.

De*fi`bri*na"tion (?), n. The act or process of depriving of fibrin.

De*fi"bri*nize (?), v. t. To defibrinate.

De*fi"cience (?), n. Same as Deficiency.

Thou in thyself art perfect, and in thee
Is no deficience found.
Milton.

De*fi"cien*cy (?), n.; pl. Deficiencies (#). [See Deficient.] The state of being deficient; inadequacy; want; failure; imperfection; shortcoming; defect. "A deficiency of blood." Arbuthnot.

[Marlborough] was so miserably ignorant, that his deficiencies made him the ridicule of his contemporaries.
Buckle.

Deficiency of a curve (Geom.), the amount by which the number of double points on a curve is short of the maximum for curves of the same degree.

De*fi"cient (?), a. [L. deficiens, -entis, p. pr. of deficere to be wanting. See Defect.] Wanting, to make up completeness; wanting, as regards a requirement; not sufficient; inadequate; defective; imperfect; incomplete; lacking; as, deficient parts; deficient estate; deficient strength; deficient in judgment.

The style was indeed deficient in ease and variety.
Macaulay.

Deficient number. (Arith.) See under Abundant.

-- De*fi"cient-ly, adv.

Def"i*cit (?), n. [Lit., it is wanting, 3d person pres. indic. of L. deficere, cf. F. déficit. See Defect.] Deficiency in amount or quality; a falling short; lack; as, a deficit in taxes, revenue, etc. Addison.

De*fi"er (?), n. [See Defy.] One who dares and defies; a contemner; as, a defier of the laws.

De*fig`u*ra"tion (?), n. Disfiguration; mutilation. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

De*fig"ure (?), v. t. [Pref. de- (intens.) + figure.] To delineate. [Obs.]

These two stones as they are here defigured.
Weever.

De`fi*lade" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defiladed; p. pr. & vb. n. Defilading.] [Cf. F. défiler to defile, and défilade act of defiling. See 1st Defile.] (Mil.) To raise, as a rampart, so as to shelter interior works commanded from some higher point.

De`fi*lad"ing, n. (Mil.) The art or act of determining the directions and heights of the lines of rampart with reference to the protection of the interior from exposure to an enemy's fire from any point within range, or from any works which may be erected. Farrow.

De*file" (d&esl;*fīl"), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Defiled (-fīld"); p. pr. & vb. n. Defiling.] [F. défiler; pref. dé-, for des- (L. dis-) + file a row or line. See File a row.] To march off in a line, file by file; to file off.

De*file", v. t. (Mil.) Same as Defilade.

De*file" (d&esl;*fīl" or dē"fīl; 277), n. [Cf. F. défilé, fr. défiler to defile.] 1. Any narrow passage or gorge in which troops can march only in a file, or with a narrow front; a long, narrow pass between hills, rocks, etc.

2. (Mil.) The act of defilading a fortress, or of raising the exterior works in order to protect the interior. See Defilade.

De*file" (d&esl;*fīl"), v. t. [OE. defoulen, -foilen, to tread down, OF. defouler; de- + fouler to trample (see Full, v. t.), and OE. defoulen to foul (influenced in form by the older verb defoilen). See File to defile, Foul, Defoul.] 1. To make foul or impure; to make filthy; to dirty; to befoul; to pollute.

They that touch pitch will be defiled.
Shak.

2. To soil or sully; to tarnish, as reputation; to taint.

He is . . . among the greatest prelates of this age, however his character may be defiled by . . . dirty hands.
Swift.

3. To injure in purity of character; to corrupt.

Defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt.
Ezek. xx. 7.

4. To corrupt the chastity of; to debauch; to violate.

The husband murder'd and the wife defiled.
Prior.

5. To make ceremonially unclean; to pollute.

That which dieth of itself, or is torn with beasts, he shall not eat to defile therewith.
Lev. xxii. 8.

De*file"ment (?), n. [Cf. F. défilement. See Defile] (Mil.) The protection of the interior walls of a fortification from an enfilading fire, as by covering them, or by a high parapet on the exposed side.

De*file"ment, n. [From 3d Defile.] The act of defiling, or state of being defiled, whether physically or morally; pollution; foulness; dirtiness; uncleanness.

Defilements of the flesh.
Hopkins.

The chaste can not rake into such filth without danger of defilement.
Addison.

De*fil"er (?), n. One who defiles; one who corrupts or violates; that which pollutes.

De*fil`i*a"tion (?), n. [L. de- + filius son.] Abstraction of a child from its parents. Lamb.

De*fin"a*ble (?), a. [From Define.] Capable of being defined, limited, or explained; determinable; describable by definition; ascertainable; as, definable limits; definable distinctions or regulations; definable words. -- De*fin"a*bly, adv.

De*fine" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defined (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Defining.] [OE. definer, usually, to end, to finish, F. définir to define, L. definire to limit, define; de- + finire to limit, end, finis boundary, limit, end. See Final, Finish.] 1. To fix the bounds of; to bring to a termination; to end. "To define controversies." Barrow.

2. To determine or clearly exhibit the boundaries of; to mark the limits of; as, to define the extent of a kingdom or country.

3. To determine with precision; to mark out with distinctness; to ascertain or exhibit clearly; as, the defining power of an optical instrument.

Rings . . . very distinct and well defined.
Sir I. Newton.

4. To determine the precise signification of; to fix the meaning of; to describe accurately; to explain; to expound or interpret; as, to define a word, a phrase, or a scientific term.

They define virtue to be life ordered according to nature.
Robynson (More's Utopia).

De*fine" (?), v. i. To determine; to decide. [Obs.]

De*fine"ment (?), n. The act of defining; definition; description. [Obs.] Shak.

De*fin"er (?), n. One who defines or explains.

Def"i*nite (?), a. [L. definitis, p. p. of definire: cf. F. défini. See Define.] 1. Having certain or distinct; determinate in extent or greatness; limited; fixed; as, definite dimensions; a definite measure; a definite period or interval.

Elements combine in definite proportions.
Whewell.

2. Having certain limits in signification; determinate; certain; precise; fixed; exact; clear; as, a definite word, term, or expression.

3. Determined; resolved. [Obs.] Shak.

4. Serving to define or restrict; limiting; determining; as, the definite article.

Definite article (Gram.), the article the, which is used to designate a particular person or thing, or a particular class of persons or things; -- also called a definitive. See Definitive, n. - - Definite inflorescence. (Bot.) See Determinate inflorescence, under Determinate. -- Law of definite proportions (Chem.), the essential law of chemical combination that every definite compound always contains the same elements in the same proportions by weight; and, if two or more elements form more than one compound with each other, the relative proportions of each are fixed. Compare Law of multiple proportions, under Multiple.

Def"i*nite, n. A thing defined or determined. [Obs.]

Def"i*nite*ly, adv. In a definite manner; with precision; precisely; determinately.

Def"i*nite*ness, n. The state of being definite; determinateness; precision; certainty.

Def`i*ni"tion (?), n. [L. definitio: cf. F. définition.] 1. The act of defining; determination of the limits; as, a telescope accurate in definition.

2. Act of ascertaining and explaining the signification; a description of a thing by its properties; an explanation of the meaning of a word or term; as, the definition of "circle;" the definition of "wit;" an exact definition; a loose definition.

Definition being nothing but making another understand by words what the term defined stands for.
Locke.

3. Description; sort. [R.] "A new creature of another definition." Jer. Taylor.

4. (Logic) An exact enunciation of the constituents which make up the logical essence.

5. (Opt.) Distinctness or clearness, as of an image formed by an optical instrument; precision in detail.

Syn. -- Definition, Explanation, Description. A definition is designed to settle a thing in its compass and extent; an explanation is intended to remove some obscurity or misunderstanding, and is therefore more extended and minute; a description enters into striking particulars with a view to interest or impress by graphic effect. It is not therefore true, though often said, that description is only an extended definition. "Logicians distinguish definitions into essential and accidental. An essential definition states what are regarded as the constituent parts of the essence of that which is to be defined; and an accidental definition lays down what are regarded as circumstances belonging to it, viz., properties or accidents, such as causes, effects, etc." Whately.

Def`i*ni"tion*al (?), a. Relating to definition; of the nature of a definition; employed in defining.

De*fin"i*tive (?), a. [L. definitivus: cf. F. définitif.] 1. Determinate; positive; final; conclusive; unconditional; express.

A strict and definitive truth.
Sir T. Browne.

Some definitive . . . scheme of reconciliation.
Prescott.

2. Limiting; determining; as, a definitive word.

3. Determined; resolved. [Obs.] Shak.

De*fin"i*tive, n. (Gram.) A word used to define or limit the extent of the signification of a common noun, such as the definite article, and some pronouns.

&fist; Definitives . . . are commonly called by grammarians articles. . . . They are of two kinds, either those properly and strictly so called, or else pronominal articles, such as this, that, any, other, some, all, no, none, etc. Harris (Hermes).

De*fin"i*tive*ly, adv. In a definitive manner.

De*fin"i*tive*ness, n. The quality of being definitive.

De*fin"i*tude (?), n. Definiteness. [R.]

Definitude . . . is a knowledge of minute differences.
Sir W. Hamilton.

De*fix" (?), v. t. [L. defixus, p. p. of defigere to fix; de- + figere to fix.] To fix; to fasten; to establish. [Obs.] "To defix their princely seat . . . in that extreme province." Hakluyt.

Def`la*gra*bil"i*ty (?), n. (Chem.) The state or quality of being deflagrable.

The ready deflagrability . . . of saltpeter.
Boyle.

De*fla"gra*ble (?; 277), a. [See Deflagrate.] (Chem.) Burning with a sudden and sparkling combustion, as niter; hence, slightly explosive; liable to snap and crackle when heated, as salt.

Def"la*grate (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Deflagrated; p. pr. & vb. n. Deflagrating.] [L. deflagratus, p. p. of deflagrare to burn up; de- + flagrare to flame, burn.] (Chem.) To burn with a sudden and sparkling combustion, as niter; also, to snap and crackle with slight explosions when heated, as salt.

Def"la*grate, v. t. (Chem.) To cause to burn with sudden and sparkling combustion, as by the action of intense heat; to burn or vaporize suddenly; as, to deflagrate refractory metals in the oxyhydrogen flame.

Def`la*gra"tion (?), n. [L. deflagratio: cf. F. déflagration.] 1. A burning up; conflagration. "Innumerable deluges and deflagrations." Bp. Pearson.

2. (Chem.) The act or process of deflagrating.

Def"la*gra`tor (?), n. (Chem.) A form of the voltaic battery having large plates, used for producing rapid and powerful combustion.

De*flate" (?), v. t. [Pref. de- down + L. flare, flatus to blow.] To reduce from an inflated condition.

De*flect" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deflected; p. pr. & vb. n. Deflecting.] [L. deflectere; de- + flectere to bend or turn. See Flexible.] To cause to turn aside; to bend; as, rays of light are often deflected.

Sitting with their knees deflected under them.
Lord (1630).

De*flect", v. i. To turn aside; to deviate from a right or a horizontal line, or from a proper position, course or direction; to swerve.

At some part of the Azores, the needle deflecteth not, but lieth in the true meridian.
Sir T. Browne.

To deflect from the line of truth and reason.
Warburton.

De*flect"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being deflected.

De*flect"ed, a. 1. Turned aside; deviating from a direct line or course.

2. Bent downward; deflexed.

De*flec"tion (?), n. [L. deflexio, fr. deflectere: cf. F. déflexion.] 1. The act of turning aside, or state of being turned aside; a turning from a right line or proper course; a bending, esp. downward; deviation.

The other leads to the same point, through certain deflections.
Lowth.

2. (Gunnery) The deviation of a shot or ball from its true course.

3. (Opt.) A deviation of the rays of light toward the surface of an opaque body; inflection; diffraction.

4. (Engin.) The bending which a beam or girder undergoes from its own weight or by reason of a load.

De*flec`tion*i*za"tion (?), n. The act of freeing from inflections. Earle.

De*flec"tion*ize (?), v. t. To free from inflections.

Deflectionized languages are said to be analytic.
Earle.

De*flect"ive (?), a. Causing deflection.

Deflective forces, forces that cause a body to deviate from its course.

De*flect"or (?), n. (Mech.) That which deflects, as a diaphragm in a furnace, or a cone in a lamp (to deflect and mingle air and gases and help combustion).

De*flexed" (?), a. Bent abruptly downward.

De*flex"ion (?), n. See Deflection.

De*flex"ure (?), n. [From L. deflectere, deflexum. See Deflect.] A bending or turning aside; deflection. Bailey.

De*flo"rate (?), a. [LL. defloratus, p. p. of deflorare. See Deflour.] (Bot.) Past the flowering state; having shed its pollen. Gray.

Def`lo*ra"tion (?), n. [LL. defloratio: cf. F. défloration.] 1. The act of deflouring; as, the defloration of a virgin. Johnson.

2. That which is chosen as the flower or choicest part; careful culling or selection. [R.]

The laws of Normandy are, in a great measure, the defloration of the English laws.
Sir M. Hale.

De*flour" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defloured (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Deflouring.] [F. déflorer, LL. deflorare; L. de- + flos, floris, flower. See Flower, and cf. Deflorate.] 1. To deprive of flowers.

2. To take away the prime beauty and grace of; to rob of the choicest ornament.

He died innocent and before the sweetness of his soul was defloured and ravished from him.
Jer. Taylor.

3. To deprive of virginity, as a woman; to violate; to ravish; also, to seduce.

De*flour"er (?), n. One who deflours; a ravisher.

De*flow" (?), v. i. [Pref. de- + flow: cf. L. defluere.] To flow down. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

De*flow"er (?), v. t. [Pref. de- + flower.] Same as Deflour.

An earthquake . . . deflowering the gardens.
W. Montagu.

If a man had deflowered a virgin.
Milton.

De*flow"er*er (?), n. See Deflourer. Milton.

Def"lu*ous (?), a. [L. defluus, fr. defluere to flow down; de- + fluere to flow.] Flowing down; falling off. [Obs.] Bailey.

De*flux" (?), n. [L. defluxus, fr. defluere, defluxum.] Downward flow. [Obs.] Bacon.

De*flux"ion (?), n. [L. defluxio.] (Med.) A discharge or flowing of humors or fluid matter, as from the nose in catarrh; -- sometimes used synonymously with inflammation. Dunglison.

Def"ly (?), adv. Deftly. [Obs.] Spenser.

Def`œ*da"tion (?), n. Defedation. [Obs.]

{ De*fo"li*ate (?), De*fo"li*a`ted (?). } a. Deprived of leaves, as by their natural fall.

De*fo`li*a"tion (?), n. [LL. defoliare, defoliatum, to shed leaves; L. de- + folium leaf: cf. F. défoliation.] The separation of ripened leaves from a branch or stem; the falling or shedding of the leaves.

De*force" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deforced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Deforcing.] [OF. deforcier; de- or des- (L. de or dis-) + forcier, F. forcer. See Force, v.] (Law) (a) To keep from the rightful owner; to withhold wrongfully the possession of, as of lands or a freehold. (b) (Scots Law) To resist the execution of the law; to oppose by force, as an officer in the execution of his duty. Burrill.

De*force"ment (?), n. [OF.] (Law) (a) A keeping out by force or wrong; a wrongful withholding, as of lands or tenements, to which another has a right. (b) (Scots Law) Resistance to an officer in the execution of law. Burrill.

De*force"or (?), n. Same as Deforciant. [Obs.]

De*for"ciant (?), n. [OF. deforciant, p. pr. of deforcier. See Deforce.] (Eng. Law) (a) One who keeps out of possession the rightful owner of an estate. (b) One against whom a fictitious action of fine was brought. [Obs.] Burrill.

De*for`ci*a"tion (?), n. (Law) Same as Deforcement, n.

De*for"est (?), v. t. To clear of forests; to disforest. U. S. Agric. Reports.

De*form" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deformed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Deforming.] [L. deformare; de- + formare to form, shape, fr. forma: cf. F. déformer. See Form.] 1. To spoil the form of; to mar in form; to misshape; to disfigure.

Deformed, unfinished, sent before my time
Into this breathing world.
Shak.

2. To render displeasing; to deprive of comeliness, grace, or perfection; to dishonor.

Above those passions that this world deform.
Thomson.

De*form", a. [L. deformis; de- + forma form: cf. OF. deforme, F. difforme. Cf. Difform.] Deformed; misshapen; shapeless; horrid. [Obs.]

Sight so deform what heart of rock could long
Dry-eyed behold?
Milton.

Def`or*ma"tion (?), n. [L. deformatio: cf. F. déformation.] 1. The act of deforming, or state of anything deformed. Bp. Hall.

2. Transformation; change of shape.

De*formed" (?), a. Unnatural or distorted in form; having a deformity; misshapen; disfigured; as, a deformed person; a deformed head. -- De*form"ed*ly (#), adv. -- De*form"ed*ness, n.

De*form"er (?), n. One who deforms.

De*form"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Deformities (#). [L. deformitas, fr. deformis: cf. OF. deformeté, deformité, F. difformité. See Deform, v. & a., and cf. Disformity.] 1. The state of being deformed; want of proper form or symmetry; any unnatural form or shape; distortion; irregularity of shape or features; ugliness.

To make an envious mountain on my back,
Where sits deformity to mock my body.
Shak.

2. Anything that destroys beauty, grace, or propriety; irregularity; absurdity; gross deviation from order or the established laws of propriety; as, deformity in an edifice; deformity of character.

Confounded, that her Maker's eyes
Should look so near upon her foul deformities.
Milton.

De*fors"er (?), n. [From Deforce.] [Written also deforsor.] A deforciant. [Obs.] Blount.

De*foul" (?), v. t. [See Defile, v. t.] 1. To tread down. [Obs.] Wyclif.

2. To make foul; to defile. [Obs.] Wyclif.

De*fraud" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defrauded; p. pr. & vb. n. Defrauding.] [L. defraudare; de- + fraudare to cheat, fr. fraus, fraudis, fraud: cf. OF. defrauder. See Fraud.] To deprive of some right, interest, or property, by a deceitful device; to withhold from wrongfully; to injure by embezzlement; to cheat; to overreach; as, to defraud a servant, or a creditor, or the state; -- with of before the thing taken or withheld.

We have defrauded no man.
2 Cor. vii. 2.

Churches seem injured and defrauded of their rights.
Hooker.

De`frau*da"tion (?), n. [L. defraudatio: cf. F. défraudation.] The act of defrauding; a taking by fraud. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

De*fraud"er (?), n. One who defrauds; a cheat; an embezzler; a peculator.

De*fraud"ment (?), n. [Cf. OF. defraudement.] Privation by fraud; defrauding. [Obs.] Milton.

De*fray" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defrayed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Defraying.] [F. défrayer; pref. dé- (L. de or dis-) + frais expense, fr. LL. fredum, fridum, expense, fine by which an offender obtained peace from his sovereign, or more likely, atoned for an offense against the public peace, fr. OHG. fridu peace, G. friede. See Affray.] 1. To pay or discharge; to serve in payment of; to provide for, as a charge, debt, expenses, costs, etc.

For the discharge of his expenses, and defraying his cost, he allowed him . . . four times as much.
Usher.

2. To avert or appease, as by paying off; to satisfy; as, to defray wrath. [Obs.] Spenser.

De*fray"al (?), n. The act of defraying; payment; as, the defrayal of necessary costs.

De*fray"er (?), n. One who pays off expenses.

De*fray"ment (?), n. Payment of charges.

Deft (?), a. [OE. daft, deft, becoming, mild, gentle, stupid (cf. OE. daffe, deffe, fool, coward), AS. dæft (in derivatives only) mild, gentle, fitting, seasonable; akin to dafen, gedafen, becoming, fit, Goth. gadaban to be fit. Cf. Daft, Daff, Dapper.] Apt; fit; dexterous; clever; handy; spruce; neat. [Archaic or Poetic] "The deftest way." Shak. "Deftest feats." Gay.

The limping god, so deft at his new ministry.
Dryden.

Let me be deft and debonair.
Byron.

Deft"ly, adv. [Cf. Defly.] Aptly; fitly; dexterously; neatly. "Deftly dancing." Drayton.

Thyself and office deftly show.
Shak.

Deft"ness, n. The quality of being deft. Drayton.

De*funct" (?). a. [L. defunctus, p. p. of defungi to acquit one's self of, to perform, finish, depart, die; de + fungi to perform, discharge: cf. F. défunt. See Function.] Having finished the course of life; dead; deceased. "Defunct organs." Shak.

The boar, defunct, lay tripped up, near.
Byron.

De*funct", n. A dead person; one deceased.

De*func"tion (?), n. [L. defunctio performance, death.] Death. [Obs.]

After defunction of King Pharamond.
Shak.

De*func"tive (?), a. Funereal. [Obs.] "Defunctive music." Shak.

De*fuse" (?), v. t. [Cf. Diffuse.] To disorder; to make shapeless. [Obs.] Shak.

De*fy" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defied (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Defying.] [F. défier, OF. deffier, desfier, LL. disfidare to disown faith or fidelity, to dissolve the bond of allegiance, as between the vassal and his lord; hence, to challenge, defy; fr. L. dis- + fides faith. See Faith, and cf. Diffident, Affiance.] 1. To renounce or dissolve all bonds of affiance, faith, or obligation with; to reject, refuse, or renounce. [Obs.]

I defy the surety and the bond.
Chaucer.

For thee I have defied my constant mistress.
Beau. & Fl.

2. To provoke to combat or strife; to call out to combat; to challenge; to dare; to brave; to set at defiance; to treat with contempt; as, to defy an enemy; to defy the power of a magistrate; to defy the arguments of an opponent; to defy public opinion.

I once again
Defy thee to the trial of mortal fight.
Milton.

I defy the enemies of our constitution to show the contrary.
Burke.

De*fy" (?), n. A challenge. [Obs.] Dryden.

De*gar"nish (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Degarnished (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Degarnishing.] [F. dégarnir; pref. dé- , des- (L. dis-) + garnir to furnish. See Garnish, and cf. Disgarnish.] 1. To strip or deprive of entirely, as of furniture, ornaments, etc.; to disgarnish; as, to degarnish a house, etc. [R.]

2. To deprive of a garrison, or of troops necessary for defense; as, to degarnish a city or fort. [R.] Washington.

De*gar"nish*ment (?), n. The act of depriving, as of furniture, apparatus, or a garrison. [R.]

{ De*gen"der (?), De*gen"er (?), } v. i. [See Degenerate.] To degenerate. [Obs.] "Degendering to hate." Spenser.

He degenereth into beastliness.
Joye.

De*gen"er*a*cy (?), n. [From Degenerate, a.] 1. The act of becoming degenerate; a growing worse.

Willful degeneracy from goodness.
Tillotson.

2. The state of having become degenerate; decline in good qualities; deterioration; meanness.

Degeneracy of spirit in a state of slavery.
Addison.

To recover mankind out of their universal corruption and degeneracy.
S. Clarke.

De*gen"er*ate (?), a. [L. degeneratus, p. p. of degenerare to degenerate, cause to degenerate, fr. degener base, degenerate, that departs from its race or kind; de- + genus race, kind. See Kin relationship.] Having become worse than one's kind, or one's former state; having declined in worth; having lost in goodness; deteriorated; degraded; unworthy; base; low.

Faint-hearted and degenerate king.
Shak.

A degenerate and degraded state.
Milton.

Degenerate from their ancient blood.
Swift.

These degenerate days.
Pope.

I had planted thee a noble vine . . . : how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?
Jer. ii. 21.

De*gen"er*ate (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Degenerated; p. pr. & vb. n. Degenerating.] 1. To be or grow worse than one's kind, or than one was originally; hence, to be inferior; to grow poorer, meaner, or more vicious; to decline in good qualities; to deteriorate.

When wit transgresseth decency, it degenerates into insolence and impiety.
Tillotson.

2. (Biol.) To fall off from the normal quality or the healthy structure of its kind; to become of a lower type.

De*gen"er*ate*ly (?), adv. In a degenerate manner; unworthily.

De*gen"er*ate*ness, n. Degeneracy.

De*gen`er*a"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. dégénération.] 1. The act or state of growing worse, or the state of having become worse; decline; degradation; debasement; degeneracy; deterioration.

Our degeneration and apostasy.
Bates.

2. (Physiol.) That condition of a tissue or an organ in which its vitality has become either diminished or perverted; a substitution of a lower for a higher form of structure; as, fatty degeneration of the liver.

3. (Biol.) A gradual deterioration, from natural causes, of any class of animals or plants or any particular organ or organs; hereditary degradation of type.

4. The thing degenerated. [R.]

Cockle, aracus, . . . and other degenerations.
Sir T. Browne.

Amyloid degeneration, Caseous degeneration, etc. See under Amyloid, Caseous, etc.

De*gen`er*a"tion*ist, n. (Biol.) A believer in the theory of degeneration, or hereditary degradation of type; as, the degenerationists hold that savagery is the result of degeneration from a superior state.

De*gen"er*a*tive (?), a. Undergoing or producing degeneration; tending to degenerate.

De*gen"er*ous (?), a. [L. degener. See Degenerate.] Degenerate; base. [Obs.] "Degenerous passions." Dryden. "Degenerous practices." South.

De*gen"er*ous*ly, adv. Basely. [Obs.]

De*glaz"ing (?), n. The process of giving a dull or ground surface to glass by acid or by mechanical means. Knight.

De*glo"ried (?), a. Deprived of glory; dishonored. [Obs.] "With thorns degloried." G. Fletcher.

De*glu"ti*nate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deglutinated; p. pr. & vb. n. Deglutinating.] [L. deglutinatus, p. p. of deglutinare to deglutinate; de- + glutinare to glue, gluten glue.] To loosen or separate by dissolving the glue which unties; to unglue.

De*glu`ti*na"tion (?), n. The act of ungluing.

Deg`lu*ti"tion (?), n. [L. deglutire to swallow down; de- + glutire to swallow: cf. F. déglutition. See Glut.] The act or process of swallowing food; the power of swallowing.

The muscles employed in the act of deglutition.
Paley.

Deg`lu*ti"tious (?), a. Pertaining to deglutition. [R.]

De*glu"ti*to*ry (?), a. Serving for, or aiding in, deglutition.

Deg`ra*da"tion (?), n. [LL. degradatio, from degradare: cf. F. dégradation. See Degrade.] 1. The act of reducing in rank, character, or reputation, or of abasing; a lowering from one's standing or rank in office or society; diminution; as, the degradation of a peer, a knight, a general, or a bishop.

He saw many removes and degradations in all the other offices of which he had been possessed.
Clarendon.

2. The state of being reduced in rank, character, or reputation; baseness; moral, physical, or intellectual degeneracy; disgrace; abasement; debasement.

The . . . degradation of a needy man of letters.
Macaulay.

Deplorable is the degradation of our nature.
South.

Moments there frequently must be, when a sinner is sensible of the degradation of his state.
Blair.

3. Diminution or reduction of strength, efficacy, or value; degeneration; deterioration.

The development and degradation of the alphabetic forms can be traced.
I. Taylor (The Alphabet).

4. (Geol.) A gradual wearing down or wasting, as of rocks and banks, by the action of water, frost etc.

5. (Biol.) The state or condition of a species or group which exhibits degraded forms; degeneration.

The degradation of the species man is observed in some of its varieties.
Dana.

6. (Physiol.) Arrest of development, or degeneration of any organ, or of the body as a whole.

Degradation of energy, or Dissipation of energy (Physics), the transformation of energy into some form in which it is less available for doing work.

Syn. -- Abasement; debasement; reduction; decline.

De*grade" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Degraded; p. pr. & vb. n. Degrading.] [F. dégrader, LL. degradare, fr. L. de- + gradus step, degree. See Grade, and cf. Degree.] 1. To reduce from a higher to a lower rank or degree; to lower in rank; to deprive of office or dignity; to strip of honors; as, to degrade a nobleman, or a general officer.

Prynne was sentenced by the Star Chamber Court to be degraded from the bar.
Palfrey.

2. To reduce in estimation, character, or reputation; to lessen the value of; to lower the physical, moral, or intellectual character of; to debase; to bring shame or contempt upon; to disgrace; as, vice degrades a man.

O miserable mankind, to what fall
Degraded, to what wretched state reserved!
Milton.

Yet time ennobles or degrades each line.
Pope.

Her pride . . . struggled hard against this degrading passion.
Macaulay.

3. (Geol.) To reduce in altitude or magnitude, as hills and mountains; to wear down.

Syn. -- To abase; demean; lower; reduce. See Abase.

De*grade", v. i. (Biol.) To degenerate; to pass from a higher to a lower type of structure; as, a family of plants or animals degrades through this or that genus or group of genera.

De*grad"ed (?), a. 1. Reduced in rank, character, or reputation; debased; sunken; low; base.

The Netherlands . . . were reduced practically to a very degraded condition.
Motley.

2. (Biol.) Having the typical characters or organs in a partially developed condition, or lacking certain parts.

Some families of plants are degraded dicotyledons.
Dana.

3. [Cf. F. degré step.] (Her.) Having steps; -- said of a cross each of whose extremities finishes in steps growing larger as they leave the center; -- termed also on degrees.

De*grade"ment (?), n. Deprivation of rank or office; degradation. [R.] Milton.

De*grad"ing*ly, adv. In a degrading manner.

Deg`ra*va"tion (?), n. [L. degravare, degravatum, to make heavy. See Grave, a.] The act of making heavy. [Obs.] Bailey.

De*gree" (?), n. [F. degré, OF. degret, fr. LL. degradare. See Degrade.] 1. A step, stair, or staircase. [Obs.]

By ladders, or else by degree.
Rom. of R.

2. One of a series of progressive steps upward or downward, in quality, rank, acquirement, and the like; a stage in progression; grade; gradation; as, degrees of vice and virtue; to advance by slow degrees; degree of comparison.

3. The point or step of progression to which a person has arrived; rank or station in life; position. "A dame of high degree." Dryden. "A knight is your degree." Shak. "Lord or lady of high degree." Lowell.

4. Measure of advancement; quality; extent; as, tastes differ in kind as well as in degree.

The degree of excellence which proclaims genius, is different in different times and different places.
Sir. J. Reynolds.

5. Grade or rank to which scholars are admitted by a college or university, in recognition of their attainments; as, the degree of bachelor of arts, master, doctor, etc.

&fist; In the United States diplomas are usually given as the evidence of a degree conferred. In the humanities the first degree is that of bachelor of arts (B. A. or A. B.); the second that of master of arts (M. A. or A. M.). The degree of bachelor (of arts, science, divinity, law, etc.) is conferred upon those who complete a prescribed course of undergraduate study. The first degree in medicine is that of doctor of medicine (M. D.). The degrees of master and doctor are sometimes conferred, in course, upon those who have completed certain prescribed postgraduate studies, as doctor of philosophy (Ph. D.); but more frequently the degree of doctor is conferred as a complimentary recognition of eminent services in science or letters, or for public services or distinction (as doctor of laws (LL. D.) or doctor of divinity (D. D.), when they are called honorary degrees.

The youth attained his bachelor's degree, and left the university.
Macaulay.

6. (Genealogy) A certain distance or remove in the line of descent, determining the proximity of blood; one remove in the chain of relationship; as, a relation in the third or fourth degree.

In the 11th century an opinion began to gain ground in Italy, that third cousins might marry, being in the seventh degree according to the civil law.
Hallam.

7. (Arith.) Three figures taken together in numeration; thus, 140 is one degree, 222,140 two degrees.

8. (Algebra) State as indicated by sum of exponents; more particularly, the degree of a term is indicated by the sum of the exponents of its literal factors; thus, a2b3c is a term of the sixth degree. The degree of a power, or radical, is denoted by its index, that of an equation by the greatest sum of the exponents of the unknown quantities in any term; thus, ax4 + bx2 = c, and mx2y2 + nyx = p, are both equations of the fourth degree.

9. (Trig.) A 360th part of the circumference of a circle, which part is taken as the principal unit of measure for arcs and angles. The degree is divided into 60 minutes and the minute into 60 seconds.

10. A division, space, or interval, marked on a mathematical or other instrument, as on a thermometer. 11. (Mus.) A line or space of the staff.

&fist; The short lines and their spaces are added degrees.

Accumulation of degrees. (Eng. Univ.) See under Accumulation. -- By degrees, step by step; by little and little; by moderate advances. "I'll leave it by degrees." Shak. -- Degree of a curve or surface (Geom.), the number which expresses the degree of the equation of the curve or surface in rectilinear coördinates. A straight line will, in general, meet the curve or surface in a number of points equal to the degree of the curve or surface and no more. -- Degree of latitude (Geog.), on the earth, the distance on a meridian between two parallels of latitude whose latitudes differ from each other by one degree. This distance is not the same on different parts of a meridian, on account of the flattened figure of the earth, being 68.702 statute miles at the equator, and 69.396 at the poles. -- Degree of longitude, the distance on a parallel of latitude between two meridians that make an angle of one degree with each other at the poles -- a distance which varies as the cosine of the latitude, being at the equator 69.16 statute miles. -- To a degree, to an extreme; exceedingly; as, mendacious to a degree.

It has been said that Scotsmen . . . are . . . grave to a degree on occasions when races more favored by nature are gladsome to excess.
Prof. Wilson.

||De"gu (?), n. [Native name.] (Zoöl.) A small South American rodent (Octodon Cumingii), of the family Octodontidæ.

De*gust" (?), v. t. [L. degustare: cf. F. déguster. See Gust to taste.] To taste. [Obs.] Cockeram.

Deg`us*ta"tion (?), n. [L. degustatio: cf. F. dégustation.] (Physiol.) Tasting; the appreciation of sapid qualities by the taste organs. Bp. Hall.

De*hisce" (?), v. i. [L. dehiscere; de- + hiscere to gape.] To gape; to open by dehiscence.

De*his"cence (?), n. [Cf. F. déhiscence.] 1. The act of gaping.

2. (Biol.) A gaping or bursting open along a definite line of attachment or suture, without tearing, as in the opening of pods, or the bursting of capsules at maturity so as to emit seeds, etc.; also, the bursting open of follicles, as in the ovaries of animals, for the expulsion of their contents.

De*his"cent (?), a. [L. dehiscens, -entis, p. pr. Cf. F. déhiscent.] Characterized by dehiscence; opening in some definite way, as the capsule of a plant.

De`ho*nes"tate (?), v. t. [L. dehonestatus, p. p. of dehonestare to dishonor; de- + honestare to make honorable. Cf. Dishonest, and see Honest.] To disparage. [Obs.]

De*hon`es*ta"tion (?), n. [L. dehonestatio.] A dishonoring; disgracing. [Obs.] Gauden.

De*horn" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dehorned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dehorning.] To deprive of horns; to prevent the growth of the horns of (cattle) by burning their ends soon after they start. See Dishorn. "Dehorning cattle." Farm Journal (1886).

||De*hors" (?), prep. [F., outside.] (Law) Out of; without; foreign to; out of the agreement, record, will, or other instrument.

||De*hors", n. (Mil.) All sorts of outworks in general, at a distance from the main works; any advanced works for protection or cover. Farrow.

De*hort" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dehorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Dehorting.] [L. dehortari; de- + hortari to urge, exhort.] To urge to abstain or refrain; to dissuade. [Obs.]

The apostles vehemently dehort us from unbelief.
Bp. Ward.

"Exhort" remains, but dehort, a word whose place neither "dissuade" nor any other exactly supplies, has escaped us.
Trench.

De`hor*ta"tion (?), n. [L. dehortatio.] Dissuasion; advice against something. [R.]

De*hort"a*tive (?), a. Dissuasive. [R.]

De*hort"a*to*ry (?), a. [L. dehortatorius.] Fitted or designed to dehort or dissuade. Bp. Hall.

De*hort"er (?), n. A dissuader; an adviser to the contrary. [Obs.]

De*hu"man*ize (?), v. t. To divest of human qualities, such as pity, tenderness, etc.; as, dehumanizing influences.

De*husk" (?), v. t. To remove the husk from. [Obs.] "Wheat dehusked upon the floor." Drant.

De*hy"drate (?), v. t. (Chem.) To deprive of water; to render free from water; as, to dehydrate alcohol.

De`hy*dra"tion (?), n. (Chem.) The act or process of freeing from water; also, the condition of a body from which the water has been removed.

De*hy"dro*gen*ate (?), v. t. (Chem.) To deprive of, or free from, hydrogen.

De*hy`dro*gen*a"tion (?), n. (Chem.) The act or process of freeing from hydrogen; also, the condition resulting from the removal of hydrogen.

De"i*cide (?), n. [L. deicida a deicide (in sense 2); deus god + cædere to cut, kill: cf. F. déicide.] 1. The act of killing a being of a divine nature; particularly, the putting to death of Jesus Christ. [R.]

Earth profaned, yet blessed, with deicide.
Prior.

2. One concerned in putting Christ to death.

Deic"tic (?), a. [Gr. deiktiko`s serving to show or point out, fr. deikny`nai to show.] (Logic) Direct; proving directly; -- applied to reasoning, and opposed to elenchtic or refutative.

Deic"tic*al*ly (?), adv. In a manner to show or point out; directly; absolutely; definitely.

When Christ spake it deictically.
Hammond.

{ De*if"ic (?), De*if"ic*al (?), } a. [L. deificus; deus god + facere to make: cf. F. déifique.] Making divine; producing a likeness to God; god-making. "A deifical communion." Homilies.

De`i*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [LL. deificare to deify: cf. F. déification. See Deify.] The act of deifying; exaltation to divine honors; apotheosis; excessive praise.

De"i*fied (?), a. Honored or worshiped as a deity; treated with supreme regard; godlike.

De"i*fi`er (?), n. One who deifies.

De"i*form (?), a. [L. deus a god + -form.] 1. Godlike, or of a godlike form. Dr. H. More.

2. Conformable to the will of God. [R.] Bp. Burnet.

De`i*for"mi*ty (?), n. Likeness to deity. [Obs.]

De"i*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Deifying.] [F. déifier, LL. deificare, fr. L. deificus. See Deific, Deity, -fy.] 1. To make a god of; to exalt to the rank of a deity; to enroll among the deities; to apotheosize; as, Julius Cæsar was deified.

2. To praise or revere as a deity; to treat as an object of supreme regard; as, to deify money.

He did again so extol and deify the pope.
Bacon.

3. To render godlike.

By our own spirits are we deified.
Wordsworth.

Deign (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deigned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Deigning.] [OE. deinen, deignen, OF. degner, deigner, daigner, F. daigner, fr. L. dignari to deem worthy, deign, fr. dignus worthy; akin to decere to be fitting. See Decent, and cf. Dainty, Dignity, Condign, Disdain.] 1. To esteem worthy; to consider worth notice; - - opposed to disdain. [Obs.]

I fear my Julia would not deign my lines.
Shak.

2. To condescend to give or bestow; to stoop to furnish; to vouchsafe; to allow; to grant.

Nor would we deign him burial of his men.
Shak.

Deign, v. i. To think worthy; to vouchsafe; to condescend; - - followed by an infinitive.

O deign to visit our forsaken seats.
Pope.

Yet not Lord Cranstone deigned she greet.
Sir W. Scott.

Round turned he, as not deigning
Those craven ranks to see.
Macaulay.

In early English deign was often used impersonally.

Him deyneth not to set his foot to ground.
Chaucer.

Deign"ous (?), a. [For disdeignous, OF. desdeignos, desdaigneus, F. dédaigneux. See Disdain.] Haughty; disdainful. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Deil (dēl), n. Devil; -- spelt also deel. [Scot.]

Deil's buckie. See under Buckie.

||Dei*noc"e*ras (?), n. [NL.] (Paleon.) See Dinoceras.

||Dei*nor"nis (?), n. [NL.] (Paleon.) See Dinornis.

||Dei"no*saur (dī"n&osl;*s&add;r), n. [NL.] (Paleon.) See Dinosaur.

||Dei`no*the"ri*um (dī`n&osl;*thē"r&ibreve;*ŭm), n. [NL.] (Paleon.) See Dinotherium.

De*in"te*grate (?), v. t. [L. deintegrare to impair; de- + integrare to make whole.] To disintegrate. [Obs.]

{ Dein"te*ous (?), Dein"te*vous (?) }, a. Rare; excellent; costly. [Obs.] Chaucer.

De*ip"a*rous (d&esl;*&ibreve;p"&adot;*rŭs), a. [L. deus a god + parere to bring forth.] Bearing or bringing forth a god; -- said of the Virgin Mary. [Obs.] Bailey.

Deip*nos"o*phist (dīp*n&obreve;s"&osl;*f&ibreve;st), n. [Gr. deipnosofisth`s; dei^pnon a meal + sofisth`s a wise man, sophist.] One of an ancient sect of philosophers, who cultivated learned conversation at meals.

De"is (dē"&ibreve;s), n. See Dais.

De"ism (dē"&ibreve;z'm), n. [L. deus god: cf. F. déisme. See Deity.] The doctrine or creed of a deist; the belief or system of those who acknowledge the existence of one God, but deny revelation.

&fist; Deism is the belief in natural religion only, or those truths, in doctrine and practice, which man is to discover by the light of reason, independent of any revelation from God. Hence, deism implies infidelity, or a disbelief in the divine origin of the Scriptures.

De"ist (dē"&ibreve;st), n. [L. deus god: cf. F. déiste. See Deity.] One who believes in the existence of a God, but denies revealed religion; a freethinker.

&fist; A deist, as denying a revelation, is opposed to a Christian; as, opposed to the denier of a God, whether atheist or pantheist, a deist is generally denominated theist. Latham.

Syn. -- See Infidel.

{ De*is"tic (d&esl;*&ibreve;s"t&ibreve;k), De*is"tic*al (?), } a. Pertaining to, savoring of, or consisting in, deism; as, a deistic writer; a deistical book.

The deistical or antichristian scheme.
I. Watts.

De*is"tic*al*ly, adv. After the manner of deists.

De*is"tic*al*ness, n. State of being deistical.

De"i*tate (dē"&ibreve;*t&asl;t), a. Deified. [Obs.] Cranmer.

De"i*ty (dē"&ibreve;*t&ybreve;), n.; pl. Deities (- t&ibreve;z). [OE. deite, F. déité, fr. L. deitas, fr. deus a god; akin to divus divine, Jupiter, gen. Jovis, Jupiter, dies day, Gr. di^os divine, Zey`s, gen. Dio`s, Zeus, Skr. dēva divine, as a noun, god, daiva divine, dyō sky, day, hence, the sky personified as a god, and to the first syllable of E. Tuesday, Gael. & Ir. dia God, W. duw. Cf. Divine, Journey, Journal, Tuesday.] 1. The collection of attributes which make up the nature of a god; divinity; godhead; as, the deity of the Supreme Being is seen in his works.

They declared with emphasis the perfect deity and the perfect manhood of Christ.
Milman.

2. A god or goddess; a heathen god.

To worship calves, the deities
Of Egypt.
Milton.

The Deity, God, the Supreme Being.

This great poet and philosopher [Simonides], the more he contemplated the nature of the Deity, found that he waded but the more out of his depth.
Addison.

De*ject" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dejected; p. pr. & vb. n. Dejecting.] [L. dejectus, p. p. of dejicere to throw down; de- + jacere to throw. See Jet a shooting forth.] 1. To cast down. [Obs. or Archaic]

Christ dejected himself even unto the hells.
Udall.

Sometimes she dejects her eyes in a seeming civility; and many mistake in her a cunning for a modest look.
Fuller.

2. To cast down the spirits of; to dispirit; to discourage; to dishearten.

Nor think, to die dejects my lofty mind.
Pope.

De*ject", a. [L. dejectus, p. p.] Dejected. [Obs.]

||De*jec"ta (?), n. pl. [NL., neut. pl. from L. dejectus, p. p.] Excrements; as, the dejecta of the sick.

De*ject"ed, a. Cast down; afflicted; low-spirited; sad; as, a dejected look or countenance. -- De*ject"ed*ly, adv. -- De*ject"ed*ness, n.

De*ject"er (?), n. One who casts down, or dejects.

De*jec"tion (?), n. [L. dejectio a casting down: cf. F. déjection.] 1. A casting down; depression. [Obs. or Archaic] Hallywell.

2. The act of humbling or abasing one's self.

Adoration implies submission and dejection.
Bp. Pearson.

3. Lowness of spirits occasioned by grief or misfortune; mental depression; melancholy.

What besides,
Of sorrow, and dejection, and despair,
Our frailty can sustain, thy tidings bring.
Milton.

4. A low condition; weakness; inability. [R.]

A dejection of appetite.
Arbuthnot.

5. (Physiol.) (a) The discharge of excrement. (b) Fæces; excrement. Ray.

De*ject"ly (?), adv. Dejectedly. [Obs.]

De*jec"to*ry (?), a. [L. dejector a dejecter.] 1. Having power, or tending, to cast down.

2. Promoting evacuations by stool. Ferrand.

De*jec"ture (?; 135), n. That which is voided; excrements. Arbuthnot.

Dej"er*ate (?), v. i. [L. dejeratus, p. p. of dejerare to swear; de- + jurare to swear.] To swear solemnly; to take an oath. [Obs.] Cockeram.

Dej`er*a"tion (?), n. [L. dejeratio.] The act of swearing solemnly. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

||Dé`jeu`né" (?), n. [F.] A déjeuner.

Take a déjeuné of muskadel and eggs.
B. Jonson.

||Dé`jeu`ner" (?), n. [F. déjeuner breakfast, as a verb, to breakfast. Cf. Dinner.] A breakfast; sometimes, also, a lunch or collation.

||De` ju"re (?). [L.] By right; of right; by law; -- often opposed to de facto.

Dek"a- (?). (Metric System) A prefix signifying ten. See Deca-.

Dek"a*gram (?), n. Same as Decagram.

Dek"a*li`ter (?), n. Same as Decaliter.

Dek"a*me`ter (?), n. Same as Decameter.

Dek"a*stere` (?), n. Same as Decastere.

De"kle (?), n. (Paper Making) See Deckle.

Del (?), n. [See Deal, n.] Share; portion; part. [Obs.] Chaucer.

De*lac`er*a"tion (?), n. [L. delacerare, delaceratum, to tear in pieces. See Lacerate.] A tearing in pieces. [Obs.] Bailey.

De*lac`ry*ma"tion (?), n. [L. delacrimatio, fr. delacrimare to weep. See Lachrymation.] An involuntary discharge of watery humors from the eyes; wateriness of the eyes. [Obs.] Bailey.

De`lac*ta"tion (?), n. [Pref. de- + L. lactare to suck milk, from lac milk.] The act of weaning. [Obs.] Bailey.

De*laine" (?), n. [See Muslin delaine, under Muslin.] A kind of fabric for women's dresses.

De*lam`i*na"tion (?), n. (Biol.) Formation and separation of laminæ or layers; one of the methods by which the various blastodermic layers of the ovum are differentiated.

&fist; This process consists of a concentric splitting of the cells of the blastosphere into an outer layer (epiblast) and an inner layer (hypoblast). By the perforation of the resultant two-walled vesicle, a gastrula results similar to that formed by the process of invagination.

De`lap*sa"tion (?), n. See Delapsion. Ray.

De*lapse" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Delapsed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Delapsing.] [L. delapsus, p. p. of delabi to fall down; de- + labi to fall or side.] To pass down by inheritance; to lapse. [Obs.]

Which Anne derived alone the right, before all other,
Of the delapsed crown from Philip.
Drayton.

De*lap"sion (?), n. A falling down, or out of place; prolapsion.

De`las*sa"tion (?), n. [L. delassare, delassatum, to tire out; de- + lassare to tire.] Fatigue.

Able to continue without delassation.
Ray.

De*late" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Delated; p. pr. & vb. n. Delating.] [L. delatus, used as p. p. of deferre. See Tolerate, and cf. 3d Defer, Delay, v.] [Obs. or Archaic] 1. To carry; to convey.

Try exactly the time wherein sound is delated.
Bacon.

2. To carry abroad; to spread; to make public.

When the crime is delated or notorious.
Jer. Taylor.

3. To carry or bring against, as a charge; to inform against; to accuse; to denounce.

As men were delated, they were marked down for such a fine.
Bp. Burnet.

4. To carry on; to conduct. Warner.

De*late", v. i. To dilate. [Obs.] Goodwin.

De*la"tion (?), n. [L. delatio accusation: cf. F. délation.] 1. Conveyance. [Obs. or Archaic]

In delation of sounds, the inclosure of them preserveth them.
Bacon.

2. (Law) Accusation by an informer. Milman.

De*la"tor (?), n. [L.] An accuser; an informer. [R.] Howell.

Del"a*ware (?), n. (Bot.) An American grape, with compact bunches of small, amber-colored berries, sweet and of a good flavor.

Del"a*wares (?), n. pl.; sing. Delaware. (Ethnol.) A tribe of Indians formerly inhabiting the valley of the Delaware River, but now mostly located in the Indian Territory.

De*lay" (?), n.; pl. Delays (#). [F. délai, fr. OF. deleer to delay, or fr. L. dilatum, which, though really from a different root, is used in Latin only as a p. p. neut. of differre to carry apart, defer, delay. See Tolerate, and cf. Differ, Delay, v.] A putting off or deferring; procrastination; lingering inactivity; stop; detention; hindrance.

Without any delay, on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat.
Acts xxv. 17.

The government ought to be settled without the delay of a day.
Macaulay.

De*lay", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Delayed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Delaying.] [OF. deleer, delaier, fr. the noun délai, or directly fr. L. dilatare to enlarge, dilate, in LL., to put off. See Delay, n., and cf. Delate, 1st Defer, Dilate.] 1. To put off; to defer; to procrastinate; to prolong the time of or before.

My lord delayeth his coming.
Matt. xxiv. 48.

2. To retard; to stop, detain, or hinder, for a time; to retard the motion, or time of arrival, of; as, the mail is delayed by a heavy fall of snow.

Thyrsis! whose artful strains have oft delayed
The huddling brook to hear his madrigal.
Milton.

3. To allay; to temper. [Obs.]

The watery showers delay the raging wind.
Surrey.

De*lay", v. i. To move slowly; to stop for a time; to linger; to tarry.

There seem to be certain bounds to the quickness and slowness of the succession of those ideas, . . . beyond which they can neither delay nor hasten.
Locke.

De*lay"er (?), n. One who delays; one who lingers.

De*lay"ing*ly, adv. By delays. [R.] Tennyson.

De*lay"ment (?), n. Hindrance. [Obs.] Gower.

||Del` cred"er*e (?). [It., of belief or trust.] (Mercantile Law) An agreement by which an agent or factor, in consideration of an additional premium or commission (called a del credere commission), engages, when he sells goods on credit, to insure, warrant, or guarantee to his principal the solvency of the purchaser, the engagement of the factor being to pay the debt himself if it is not punctually discharged by the buyer when it becomes due.

De"le (?), imperative sing. of L. delere to destroy. [Cf. Delete.] (Print.) Erase; remove; -- a direction to cancel something which has been put in type; usually expressed by a peculiar form of d, thus: &dele;.

De"le, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Deleing.] [From the preceding word.] (Print.) To erase; to cancel; to delete; to mark for omission.

Dele (?), v. t. [See Deal.] To deal; to divide; to distribute. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Del"e*ble (?; 277), a. [L. delebilis. See 1st Dele.] Capable of being blotted out or erased. "An impression easily deleble." Fuller.

De*lec"ta*ble (?), a. [OF. delitable, OF. delitable, F. délectable, fr. L. delectabilis, fr. delectare to delight. See Delight.] Highly pleasing; delightful.

Delectable both to behold and taste.
Milton.

-- De*lec"ta*ble*ness, n. -- De*lec"ta*bly, adv.

De*lec"tate (?), v. t. [L. delectatus, p. p. of delectare. See Delight.] To delight; to charm. [R.]

De`lec*ta"tion (?), n. [L. delectatio: cf. F. délectation.] Great pleasure; delight.

||De*lec"tus (?), n. [L., selection, from deligere, delectum, to select.] A name given to an elementary book for learners of Latin or Greek. G. Eliot.

Del`e*ga*cy (?), n. [From Delegate, a.] 1. The act of delegating, or state of being delegated; deputed power. [Obs.]

By way of delegacy or grand commission.
Sir W. Raleigh.

2. A body of delegates or commissioners; a delegation. [Obs.] Burton.

Del"e*gate (?), n. [L. delegatus, p. p. of delegare to send, delegate; de- + legare to send with a commission, to depute. See Legate.] 1. Any one sent and empowered to act for another; one deputed to represent; a chosen deputy; a representative; a commissioner; a vicar.

2. (a) One elected by the people of a territory to represent them in Congress, where he has the right of debating, but not of voting. (b) One sent by any constituency to act as its representative in a convention; as, a delegate to a convention for nominating officers, or for forming or altering a constitution. [U.S.]

Court of delegates, formerly, the great court of appeal from the archbishops' courts and also from the court of admiralty. It is now abolished, and the privy council is the immediate court of appeal in such cases. [Eng.]

Del"e*gate (?), a. [L. delegatus, p. p.] Sent to act for or represent another; deputed; as, a delegate judge. "Delegate power." Strype.

Del"e*gate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Delegated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Delegating (?).] 1. To send as one's representative; to empower as an ambassador; to send with power to transact business; to commission; to depute; to authorize.

2. To intrust to the care or management of another; to transfer; to assign; to commit.

The delegated administration of the law.
Locke.

Delegated executive power.
Bancroft.

The power exercised by the legislature is the people's power, delegated by the people to the legislative.
J. B. Finch.

Del`e*ga"tion (?), n. [L. delegatio: cf. F. délégation.] 1. The act of delegating, or investing with authority to act for another; the appointment of a delegate or delegates.

2. One or more persons appointed or chosen, and commissioned to represent others, as in a convention, in Congress, etc.; the collective body of delegates; as, the delegation from Massachusetts; a deputation.

3. (Rom. Law) A kind of novation by which a debtor, to be liberated from his creditor, gives him a third person, who becomes obliged in his stead to the creditor, or to the person appointed by him. Pothier.

Del"e*ga*to*ry (?), a. [L. delegatorius pert. to an assignment.] Holding a delegated position. Nash.

||De*len"da (?), n. pl. [L., fr. delere to destroy.] Things to be erased or blotted out.

Del`e*nif"ic*al (?), a. [L. delenificus; delenire to soothe + facere to make. See Lenient.] Assuaging pain. [Obs.] Bailey.

De*lete" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deleted; p. pr. & vb. n. Deleting.] [L. deletus, p. p. of delere to destroy. Cf. 1st Dele.] To blot out; to erase; to expunge; to dele; to omit.

I have, therefore, . . . inserted eleven stanzas which do not appear in Sir Walter Scott's version, and have deleted eight.
Aytoun.

Del`e*te"ri*ous (?), a. [LL. deleterius noxious, Gr. dhlhth`rios, fr. dhlei^sqai to hurt, damage; prob. akin to L. delere to destroy.] Hurtful; noxious; destructive; pernicious; as, a deleterious plant or quality; a deleterious example. -- Del`e*te"ri*ous*ly, adv. -- Del`e*te"ri*ous*ness, n.

Del"e*ter*y (?), a. [LL. deleterius: cf. F. délétère.] Destructive; poisonous. [Obs.] "Deletery medicines." Hudibras.

Del"e*ter*y, n. That which destroys. [Obs.]

They [the Scriptures] are the only deletery of heresies.
Jer. Taylor.

De*le"tion (?), n. [L. deletio, fr. delere. See Delete.] Act of deleting, blotting out, or erasing; destruction. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.

A total deletion of every person of the opposing party.
Sir M. Hale.

Del`e*ti"tious (?), a. [L. deleticius.] Of such a nature that anything may be erased from it; -- said of paper.

Del"e*tive (?), a. Adapted to destroy or obliterate. [R.] Evelyn.

Del"e*to*ry (?), n. [See Delete.] That which blots out. [Obs.] "A deletory of sin." Jer. Taylor.

Delf (?), n. [AS. delf a delving, digging. See Delve.] A mine; a quarry; a pit dug; a ditch. [Written also delft, and delve.] [Obs.]

The delfts would be so flown with waters, that no gins or machines could . . . keep them dry.
Ray.

Delf, n. Same as Delftware.

Delft (?), n. Same as Delftware.

Delft"ware` (?), n. (a) Pottery made at the city of Delft in Holland; hence: (b) Earthenware made in imitation of the above; any glazed earthenware made for table use, and the like.

Del"i*bate (?), v. t. [L. delibatus, p. p. of delibare to taste; de- + libare to taste.] To taste; to take a sip of; to dabble in. [Obs.]

Del`i*ba"tion (?), n. [L. delibatio: cf. F. délibation.] Act of tasting; a slight trial. [Obs.] Berkeley.

Del"i*ber (?), v. t. & i. To deliberate. [Obs.]

De*lib"er*ate (?), a. [L. deliberatus, p. p. of deliberare to deliberate; de- + librare to weigh. See Librate.] 1. Weighing facts and arguments with a view to a choice or decision; carefully considering the probable consequences of a step; circumspect; slow in determining; -- applied to persons; as, a deliberate judge or counselor. "These deliberate fools." Shak.

2. Formed with deliberation; well-advised; carefully considered; not sudden or rash; as, a deliberate opinion; a deliberate measure or result.

Settled visage and deliberate word.
Shak.

3. Not hasty or sudden; slow. Hooker.

His enunciation was so deliberate.
W. Wirt.

De*lib"er*ate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deliberated; p. pr. & vb. n. Deliberating.] To weigh in the mind; to consider the reasons for and against; to consider maturely; to reflect upon; to ponder; as, to deliberate a question.

De*lib"er*ate, v. i. To take counsel with one's self; to weigh the arguments for and against a proposed course of action; to reflect; to consider; to hesitate in deciding; -- sometimes with on, upon, about, concerning.

The woman that deliberates is lost.
Addison.

De*lib"er*ate*ly (?), adv. With careful consideration, or deliberation; circumspectly; warily; not hastily or rashly; slowly; as, a purpose deliberately formed.

De*lib"er*ate*ness, n. The quality of being deliberate; calm consideration; circumspection.

De*lib`er*a"tion (?), n. [L. deliberatio: cf. F. délibération.] 1. The act of deliberating, or of weighing and examining the reasons for and against a choice or measure; careful consideration; mature reflection.

Choosing the fairest way with a calm deliberation.
W. Montagu.

2. Careful discussion and examination of the reasons for and against a measure; as, the deliberations of a legislative body or council.

De*lib"er*a*tive (?), a. [L. deliberativus: cf. F. délibératif.] Pertaining to deliberation; proceeding or acting by deliberation, or by discussion and examination; deliberating; as, a deliberative body.

A consummate work of deliberative wisdom.
Bancroft.

The court of jurisdiction is to be distinguished from the deliberative body, the advisers of the crown.
Hallam.

De*lib"er*a*tive, n. 1. A discourse in which a question is discussed, or weighed and examined. Bacon.

2. A kind of rhetoric employed in proving a thing and convincing others of its truth, in order to persuade them to adopt it.

De*lib"er*a*tive*ly, adv. In a deliberative manner; circumspectly; considerately.

De*lib"er*a`tor (?), n. One who deliberates.

Del"i*brate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Delibrated; p. pr. & vb. n. Delibrating.] [L. delibratus, p. p. of delibrare to delibrate; de from + liber bark.] To strip off the bark; to peel. [Obs.] Ash.

Del`i*bra"tion (?), n. The act of stripping off the bark. [Obs.] Ash.

Del"i*ca*cy (?), n.; pl. Delicacies (#). [From Delicate, a.] 1. The state or condition of being delicate; agreeableness to the senses; delightfulness; as, delicacy of flavor, of odor, and the like.

What choice to choose for delicacy best.
Milton.

2. Nicety or fineness of form, texture, or constitution; softness; elegance; smoothness; tenderness; and hence, frailty or weakness; as, the delicacy of a fiber or a thread; delicacy of a hand or of the human form; delicacy of the skin; delicacy of frame.

3. Nice propriety of manners or conduct; susceptibility or tenderness of feeling; refinement; fastidiousness; and hence, in an exaggerated sense, effeminacy; as, great delicacy of behavior; delicacy in doing a kindness; delicacy of character that unfits for earnest action.

You know your mother's delicacy in this point.
Cowper.

4. Addiction to pleasure; luxury; daintiness; indulgence; luxurious or voluptuous treatment.

And to those dainty limbs which Nature lent
For gentle usage and soft delicacy?
Milton.

5. Nice and refined perception and discrimination; critical niceness; fastidious accuracy.

That Augustan delicacy of taste which is the boast of the great public schools of England.
Macaulay.

6. The state of being affected by slight causes; sensitiveness; as, the delicacy of a chemist's balance.

7. That which is alluring, delicate, or refined; a luxury or pleasure; something pleasant to the senses, especially to the sense of taste; a dainty; as, delicacies of the table.

The merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
Rev. xviii. 3.

8. Pleasure; gratification; delight. [Obs.]

He Rome brent for his delicacie.
Chaucer.

Syn. -- See Dainty.

Del"i*cate (?), a. [L. delicatus pleasing the senses, voluptuous, soft and tender; akin to deliciae delight: cf. F. délicat. See Delight.] 1. Addicted to pleasure; luxurious; voluptuous; alluring. [R.]

Dives, for his delicate life, to the devil went.
Piers Plowman.

Haarlem is a very delicate town.
Evelyn.

2. Pleasing to the senses; refinedly agreeable; hence, adapted to please a nice or cultivated taste; nice; fine; elegant; as, a delicate dish; delicate flavor.

3. Slight and shapely; lovely; graceful; as, "a delicate creature." Shak.

4. Fine or slender; minute; not coarse; -- said of a thread, or the like; as, delicate cotton.

5. Slight or smooth; light and yielding; -- said of texture; as, delicate lace or silk.

6. Soft and fair; -- said of the skin or a surface; as, a delicate cheek; a delicate complexion.

7. Light, or softly tinted; -- said of a color; as, a delicate blue.

8. Refined; gentle; scrupulous not to trespass or offend; considerate; -- said of manners, conduct, or feelings; as, delicate behavior; delicate attentions; delicate thoughtfulness.

9. Tender; not able to endure hardship; feeble; frail; effeminate; -- said of constitution, health, etc.; as, a delicate child; delicate health.

A delicate and tender prince.
Shak.

10. Requiring careful handling; not to be rudely or hastily dealt with; nice; critical; as, a delicate subject or question.

There are some things too delicate and too sacred to be handled rudely without injury to truth.
F. W. Robertson.

11. Of exacting tastes and habits; dainty; fastidious.

12. Nicely discriminating or perceptive; refinedly critical; sensitive; exquisite; as, a delicate taste; a delicate ear for music.

13. Affected by slight causes; showing slight changes; as, a delicate thermometer.

Del"i*cate, n. 1. A choice dainty; a delicacy. [R.]

With abstinence all delicates he sees.
Dryden.

2. A delicate, luxurious, or effeminate person.

All the vessels, then, which our delicates have, -- those I mean that would seem to be more fine in their houses than their neighbors, -- are only of the Corinth metal.
Holland.

Del"i*cate*ly (?), adv. In a delicate manner.

Del"i*cate*ness, n. The quality of being delicate.

Del"i*ces (?), n. pl. [F. délices, fr. L. deliciae.] Delicacies; delights. [Obs.] "Dainty delices." Spenser.

De*li"ci*ate (?), v. t. To delight one's self; to indulge in feasting; to revel. [Obs.]

De*li"cious (?), a. [OF. delicieus, F. délicieux, L. deliciosus, fr. deliciae delight, fr. delicere to allure. See Delight.] 1. Affording exquisite pleasure; delightful; most sweet or grateful to the senses, especially to the taste; charming.

Some delicious landscape.
Coleridge.

One draught of spring's delicious air.
Keble.

Were not his words delicious?
Tennyson.

2. Addicted to pleasure; seeking enjoyment; luxurious; effeminate. [Obs.]

Others, lastly, of a more delicious and airy spirit, retire themselves to the enjoyments of ease and luxury.
Milton.

Syn. -- Delicious, Delightful. Delicious refers to the pleasure derived from certain of the senses, particularly the taste and smell; as, delicious food; a delicious fragrance. Delightful may also refer to most of the senses (as, delightful music; a delightful prospect; delightful sensations), but has a higher application to matters of taste, feeling, and sentiment; as, a delightful abode, conversation, employment; delightful scenes, etc.

Like the rich fruit he sings, delicious in decay.
Smith.

No spring, nor summer, on the mountain seen,
Smiles with gay fruits or with delightful green.
Addison.

De*li"cious*ly, adv. Delightfully; as, to feed deliciously; to be deliciously entertained.

De*li"cious*ness, n. 1. The quality of being delicious; as, the deliciousness of a repast.

2. Luxury. "To drive away all superfluity and deliciousness." Sir T. North.

De*lict" (?), n. [L. delictum fault.] (Law) An offense or transgression against law; (Scots Law) an offense of a lesser degree; a misdemeanor.

Every regulation of the civil code necessarily implies a delict in the event of its violation.
Jeffrey.

Del"i*gate (?), v. t. [L. deligatus, p. p. of deligare to bind up; de- + ligare to bind.] (Surg.) To bind up; to bandage.

Del`i*ga"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. déligation.] (Surg.) A binding up; a bandaging. Wiseman.

De*light" (?), n. [OE. delit, OF. delit, deleit, fr. delitier, to delight. See Delight, v. t.] 1. A high degree of gratification of mind; a high- wrought state of pleasurable feeling; lively pleasure; extreme satisfaction; joy.

Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Shak.

A fool hath no delight in understanding.
Prov. xviii. 2.

2. That which gives great pleasure or delight.

Heaven's last, best gift, my ever new delight.
Milton.

3. Licentious pleasure; lust. [Obs.] Chaucer.

De*light", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Delighted; p. pr. & vb. n. Delighting.] [OE. deliten, OF. delitier, deleitier, F. délecter, fr. L. delectare to entice away, to delight (sc. by attracting or alluring), intens. of delicere to allure, delight; de- + lacere to entice, allure; cf. laqueus a snare. Cf. Delectate, Delicate, Delicious, Dilettante, Elicit, Lace.] To give delight to; to affect with great pleasure; to please highly; as, a beautiful landscape delights the eye; harmony delights the ear.

Inventions to delight the taste.
Shak.

Delight our souls with talk of knightly deeds.
Tennyson.

De*light", v. i. To have or take great delight or pleasure; to be greatly pleased or rejoiced; -- followed by an infinitive, or by in.

Love delights in praises.
Shak.

I delight to do thy will, O my God.
Ps. xl. 8.

De*light"a*ble (?), a. [See Delectable.] Capable of delighting; delightful. [Obs.]

Many a spice delightable.
Rom. of R.

De*light"ed, a. Endowed with delight.

If virtue no delighted beauty lack.
Shak.

Syn. -- Glad; pleased; gratified. See Glad.

De*light"ed*ly, adv. With delight; gladly.

De*light"er (?), n. One who gives or takes delight.

De*light"ful (?), a. Highly pleasing; affording great pleasure and satisfaction. "Delightful bowers." Spenser. "Delightful fruit.>" Milton.

Syn. -- Delicious; charming. See Delicious.

-- De*light"ful*ly, adv. -- De*light"ful*ness, n.

De*light"ing, a. Giving delight; gladdening. -- De*light"ing*ly, adv. Jer. Taylor.

De*light"less, a. Void of delight. Thomson.

De*light"ous (?) a. [OF. delitos.] Delightful. [Obs.] Rom. of R.

De*light"some (?), a. Very pleasing; delightful. "Delightsome vigor." Grew.

Ye shall be a delightsome land, . . . saith the Lord.
Mal. iii. 12.

-- De*light"some*ly, adv. -- De*light"some*ness, n.

De*li"lah (?), n. The mistress of Samson, who betrayed him (Judges xvi.); hence, a harlot; a temptress.

Other Delilahs on a smaller scale Burns met with during his Dumfries sojourn.
J. C. Shairp.

De*lim"it (?), v. t. [L. delimitare: cf. F. délimiter.] To fix the limits of; to demarcate; to bound.

De*lim`i*ta"tion (?), n. [L. delimitatio: cf. F. délimitation.] The act or process of fixing limits or boundaries; limitation. Gladstone.

De*line" (d&esl;*līn"), v. t. 1. To delineate. [Obs.]

2. To mark out. [Obs.] R. North.

De*lin"e*a*ble (?), a. Capable of being, or liable to be, delineated. Feltham.

De*lin"e*a*ment (?), &?;. [See Delineate.] Delineation; sketch. Dr. H. More.

De*lin"e*ate (?), a. [L. delineatus, p. p. of delineare to delineate; de- + lineare to draw, fr. linea line. See Line.] Delineated; portrayed. [R.]

De*lin"e*ate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Delineated; p. pr. & vb. n. Delineating.] 1. To indicate by lines drawn in the form or figure of; to represent by sketch, design, or diagram; to sketch out; to portray; to picture; in drawing and engraving, to represent in lines, as with the pen, pencil, or graver; hence, to represent with accuracy and minuteness. See Delineation.

Adventurous to delineate nature's form.
Akenside.

2. To portray to the mind or understanding by words; to set forth; to describe.

Customs or habits delineated with great accuracy.
Walpole.

De*lin`e*a"tion (?), n. [L. delineatio: cf. F. délinéation.] 1. The act of representing, portraying, or describing, as by lines, diagrams, sketches, etc.; drawing an outline; as, the delineation of a scene or face; in drawing and engraving, representation by means of lines, as distinguished from representation by means of tints and shades; accurate and minute representation, as distinguished from art that is careless of details, or subordinates them excessively.

2. A delineated picture; representation; sketch; description in words.

Their softest delineations of female beauty.
W. Irving.

Syn. -- Sketch; portrait; outline. See Sketch.

De*lin"e*a`tor (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, delineates; a sketcher.

2. (Surv.) A perambulator which records distances and delineates a profile, as of a road.

De*lin"e*a*to*ry (?), a. That delineates; descriptive; drawing the outline; delineating.

De*lin"e*a*ture (?; 135), n. Delineation. [Obs.]

Del`i*ni"tion (?), n. [L. delinere to smear. See Liniment.] A smearing. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

De*lin"quen*cy (?), n.; pl. Delinquencies (#). [L. delinquentia, fr. delinquens.] Failure or omission of duty; a fault; a misdeed; an offense; a misdemeanor; a crime.

The delinquencies of the little commonwealth would be represented in the most glaring colors.
Motley.

De*lin"quent (?) a. [L. delinquens, -entis, p. pr. of delinquere to fail, be wanting in one's duty, do wrong; de- + linquere to leave. See Loan, n.] Failing in duty; offending by neglect of duty.

De*lin"quent, n. One who fails or neglects to perform his duty; an offender or transgressor; one who commits a fault or a crime; a culprit.

A delinquent ought to be cited in the place or jurisdiction where the delinquency was committed.
Ayliffe.

De*lin"quent*ly, adv. So as to fail in duty.

Del"i*quate (?), v. i. [L. deliquatus, p. p. of deliquare to clear off, de- + liquare to make liquid, melt, dissolve.] To melt or be dissolved; to deliquesce. [Obs.] Boyle.

Del"i*quate, v. t. To cause to melt away; to dissolve; to consume; to waste. [Obs.]

Dilapidating, or rather deliquating, his bishopric.
Fuller.

Del`i*qua"tion (?), n. A melting. [Obs.]

Del`i*quesce" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Deliquesced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Deliquescing.] [L. deliquescere to melt, dissolve; de- + liquescere to become fluid, melt, fr. liquere to be fluid. See Liquid.] (Chem.) To dissolve gradually and become liquid by attracting and absorbing moisture from the air, as certain salts, acids, and alkalies.

In very moist air crystals of strontites deliquesce.
Black.

Del`i*ques"cence (?), n. [Cf. F. déliquescence.] The act of deliquescing or liquefying; process by which anything deliquesces; tendency to melt.

Del`i*ques"cent (?), a. [L. deliquescens, -entis, p. pr. of deliquescere: cf. F. déliquescent.] 1. Dissolving; liquefying by contact with the air; capable of attracting moisture from the atmosphere and becoming liquid; as, deliquescent salts.

2. (Bot.) Branching so that the stem is lost in branches, as in most deciduous trees. Gray.

De*liq"ui*ate (?), v. i. [L. deliquia a flowing off, a gutter, deliquium a flowing down, fr. deliquare. See Deliquate.] To melt and become liquid by absorbing water from the air; to deliquesce. Fourcroy.

De*liq`ui*a"tion (?), n. The act of deliquiating.

||De*liq"ui*um (?), n. [L. See Deliquiate.] 1. (Chem.) A melting or dissolution in the air, or in a moist place; a liquid condition; as, a salt falls into a deliquium. [R.]

2. A sinking away; a swooning. [Obs.] Bacon.

3. A melting or maudlin mood. Carlyle.

De*lir"a*cy (?), n. [See Delirate.] Delirium. [Obs.]

De*lir"a*ment (?), n. [L. deliramentum, fr. delirare. See Delirium.] A wandering of the mind; a crazy fancy. [Obs.] Heywood.

De*lir"an*cy (?), n. Delirium. [Obs.] Gauden.

De*lir"ant (?), a. [L. delirans, - antis, p. pr. of delirare. See Delirium.] Delirious. [Obs.] Owen.

De*lir"ate (?), v. t. & i. [L. deliratus, p. p. of delirare. See Delirium.] To madden; to rave. [Obs.]

An infatuating and delirating spirit in it.
Holland.

Del`i*ra"tion (?), n. [L. deliratio.] Aberration of mind; delirium. J. Morley.

Deliration or alienation of the understanding.
Mede.

De*lir"i*ant (?), n. [See Delirium.] (Med.) A poison which occasions a persistent delirium, or mental aberration (as belladonna).

De*lir`i*fa"cient (?), a. [Delirium + L. faciens, -entis, p. pr. of facere to make.] (Med.) Producing, or tending to produce, delirium. -- n. Any substance which tends to cause delirium.

De*lir"i*ous (?), a. [From Delirium.] Having a delirium; wandering in mind; light- headed; insane; raving; wild; as, a delirious patient; delirious fancies. -- De*lir"i*ous*ly, adv. -- De*lir"i*ous*ness, n.

De*lir"i*um (?), n. [L., fr. delirare to rave, to wander in mind, prop., to go out of the furrow in plowing; de- + lira furrow, track; perh. akin to G. geleise track, rut, and E. last to endure.] 1. (Med.) A state in which the thoughts, expressions, and actions are wild, irregular, and incoherent; mental aberration; a roving or wandering of the mind, -- usually dependent on a fever or some other disease, and so distinguished from mania, or madness.

2. Strong excitement; wild enthusiasm; madness.

The popular delirium [of the French Revolution] at first caught his enthusiastic mind.
W. Irving.

The delirium of the preceding session (of Parliament).
Morley.

Delirium tremens (&?;). [L., trembling delirium] (Med.), a violent delirium induced by the excessive and prolonged use of intoxicating liquors. -- Traumatic delirium (Med.), a variety of delirium following injury.

Syn. -- Insanity; frenzy; madness; derangement; aberration; mania; lunacy; fury. See Insanity.

De*lit" (?), n. Delight. [Obs.] Chaucer.

De*lit"a*ble (?), a. Delightful; delectable. [Obs.]

Del`i*tes"cence (?), n. [See Delitescent.] 1. Concealment; seclusion; retirement.

The delitescence of mental activities.
Sir W. Hamilton.

2. (Med.) The sudden disappearance of inflammation.

Del`i*tes"cen*cy (?), n. Concealment; seclusion.

The mental organization of the novelist must be characterized, to speak craniologically, by an extraordinary development of the passion for delitescency.
Sir W. Scott.

Del`i*tes"cent (?), a. [L. delitescens, -entis, p. pr. of delitescere to lie hid.] Lying hid; concealed.

De*lit"i*gate (?), v. i. [L. delitigare to rail. See Litigate.] To chide; to rail heartily. [Obs.]

De*lit`i*ga"tion (?), n. Chiding; brawl. [Obs.]

De*liv"er (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Delivered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Delivering.] [F. délivrer, LL. deliberare to liberate, give over, fr. L. de + liberare to set free. See Liberate.] 1. To set free from restraint; to set at liberty; to release; to liberate, as from control; to give up; to free; to save; to rescue from evil actual or feared; -- often with from or out of; as, to deliver one from captivity, or from fear of death.

He that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
Ezek. xxxiii. 5.

Promise was that I
Should Israel from Philistian yoke deliver.
Milton.

2. To give or transfer; to yield possession or control of; to part with (to); to make over; to commit; to surrender; to resign; -- often with up or over, to or into.

Thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand.
Gen. xl. 13.

The constables have delivered her over.
Shak.

The exalted mind
All sense of woe delivers to the wind.
Pope.

3. To make over to the knowledge of another; to communicate; to utter; to speak; to impart.

Till he these words to him deliver might.
Spenser.

Whereof the former delivers the precepts of the art, and the latter the perfection.
Bacon.

4. To give forth in action or exercise; to discharge; as, to deliver a blow; to deliver a broadside, or a ball.

Shaking his head and delivering some show of tears.
Sidney.

An uninstructed bowler . . . thinks to attain the jack by delivering his bowl straightforward upon it.
Sir W. Scott.

5. To free from, or disburden of, young; to relieve of a child in childbirth; to bring forth; -- often with of.

She was delivered safe and soon.
Gower.

Tully was long ere he could be delivered of a few verses, and those poor ones.
Peacham.

6. To discover; to show. [Poetic]

I 'll deliver
Myself your loyal servant.
Shak.

7. To deliberate. [Obs.] Chaucer.

8. To admit; to allow to pass. [Obs.] Bacon.

Syn. -- To Deliver, Give Forth, Discharge, Liberate, Pronounce, Utter. Deliver denotes, literally, to set free. Hence the term is extensively applied to cases where a thing is made to pass from a confined state to one of greater freedom or openness. Hence it may, in certain connections, be used as synonymous with any or all of the above-mentioned words, as will be seen from the following examples: One who delivers a package gives it forth; one who delivers a cargo discharges it; one who delivers a captive liberates him; one who delivers a message or a discourse utters or pronounces it; when soldiers deliver their fire, they set it free or give it forth.

De*liv"er, a. [OF. delivre free, unfettered. See Deliver, v. t.] Free; nimble; sprightly; active. [Obs.]

Wonderly deliver and great of strength.
Chaucer.

De*liv"er*a*ble (?), a. Capable of being, or about to be, delivered; necessary to be delivered. Hale.

De*liv"er*ance (?), n. [F. délivrance, fr. délivrer.] 1. The act of delivering or freeing from restraint, captivity, peril, and the like; rescue; as, the deliverance of a captive.

He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives.
Luke iv. 18.

One death or one deliverance we will share.
Dryden.

2. Act of bringing forth children. [Archaic] Shak.

3. Act of speaking; utterance. [Archaic] Shak.

&fist; In this and in the preceding sense delivery is the word more commonly used.

4. The state of being delivered, or freed from restraint.

I do desire deliverance from these officers.
Shak.

5. Anything delivered or communicated; esp., an opinion or decision expressed publicly. [Scot.]

6. (Metaph.) Any fact or truth which is decisively attested or intuitively known as a psychological or philosophical datum; as, the deliverance of consciousness.

De*liv"er*er (?), n. 1. One who delivers or rescues; a preserver.

2. One who relates or communicates.

De*liv"er*ess (?), n. A female deliverer. [R.] Evelyn.

De*liv"er*ly, adv. Actively; quickly; nimbly. [Obs.]

Swim with your bodies,
And carry it sweetly and deliverly.
Beau. & Fl.

De*liv"er*ness, n. Nimbleness; agility. [Obs.]

De*liv"er*y, n.; pl. Deliveries (&?;). 1. The act of delivering from restraint; rescue; release; liberation; as, the delivery of a captive from his dungeon.

2. The act of delivering up or over; surrender; transfer of the body or substance of a thing; distribution; as, the delivery of a fort, of hostages, of a criminal, of goods, of letters.

3. The act or style of utterance; manner of speaking; as, a good delivery; a clear delivery.

4. The act of giving birth; parturition; the expulsion or extraction of a fetus and its membranes.

5. The act of exerting one's strength or limbs.

Neater limbs and freer delivery.
Sir H. Wotton.

6. The act or manner of delivering a ball; as, the pitcher has a swift delivery.

Dell (?), n. [AS. del, akin to E. dale; cf. D. delle, del, low ground. See Dale.] 1. A small, retired valley; a ravine.

In dells and dales, concealed from human sight.
Tickell.

2. A young woman; a wench. [Obs.]

Sweet doxies and dells.
B. Jonson.

||Del"la Crus"ca (?). A shortened form of Accademia della Crusca, an academy in Florence, Italy, founded in the 16th century, especially for conserving the purity of the Italian language.

&fist; The Accademia della Crusca (literally, academy of the bran or chaff) was so called in allusion to its chief object of bolting or purifying the national language.

Del`la*crus"can (?), a. Of or pertaining to the Accademia della Crusca in Florence.

The Dellacruscan School, a name given in satire to a class of affected English writers, most of whom lived in Florence, about a. d. 1785.

||De"loo (d&asl;"lō), n. (Zoöl.) The duykerbok.

||De*loul" (d&asl;*l&oomac;l"), n. [Prob. of Arabic or Bedouin origin.] (Zoöl.) A special breed of the dromedary used for rapid traveling; the swift camel; -- called also herire, and maharik.

Delph (?), n. Delftware.

Five nothings in five plates of delph.
Swift.

Delph, n. (Hydraul. Engin.) The drain on the land side of a sea embankment. Knight.

Del"phi*an (?), a. Delphic.

Del"phic (?), a. [L. Delphicus, fr. Gr. Delfiko`s, fr. Delfoi`, L. Delphi, a town of Phocis, in Greece, now Kastri.] (Gr. Antiq.) 1. Of or relating to Delphi, or to the famous oracle of that place.

2. Ambiguous; mysterious. "If he is silent or delphic." New York Times.

{ Del"phin, Del"phine } (?), a. [See Dauphin.] Pertaining to the dauphin of France; as, the Delphin classics, an edition of the Latin classics, prepared in the reign of Louis XIV., for the use of the dauphin (in usum Delphini).

Del"phin, n. [L. delphinus a dolphin.] (Chem.) A fatty substance contained in the oil of the dolphin and the porpoise; -- called also phocenin.

Del"phine (?), a. [L. delphinus a dolphin, Gr. delfi`s, delfi`n.] Pertaining to the dolphin, a genus of fishes.

Del*phin"ic (?), a. [See Delphin, n.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, the dolphin; phocenic.

Delphinic acid. (Chem.) See Valeric acid, under Valeric. [Obs.]

Del*phin"ic, a. [From NL. Delphinium, the name of the genus.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, the larkspur; specifically, relating to the stavesacre (Delphinium staphisagria).

Del"phi*nine (?; 104), n. [Cf. F. delphinine.] (Chem.) A poisonous alkaloid extracted from the stavesacre (Delphinium staphisagria), as a colorless amorphous powder.

Del"phi*noid (?), a. [L. delphinus a dolphin + -oid.] (Zoöl.) Pertaining to, or resembling, the dolphin.

||Del`phi*noi"de*a (?), n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) The division of Cetacea which comprises the dolphins, porpoises, and related forms.

||Del*phi"nus (?), n. [L., a dolphin, fr. Gr. delfi`s, delfi`n.] 1. (Zoöl.) A genus of Cetacea, including the dolphin. See Dolphin, 1.

2. (Astron.) The Dolphin, a constellation near the equator and east of Aquila.

Del"ta (?), n.; pl. Deltas (#). [Gr. de`lta, the name of the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet (the capital form of which is Δ, Eng. D), from the Phœnician name of the corresponding letter. The Greeks called the alluvial deposit at the mouth of the Nile, from its shape, the Delta of the Nile.] A tract of land shaped like the letter delta (Δ), especially when the land is alluvial and inclosed between two or more mouths of a river; as, the delta of the Ganges, of the Nile, or of the Mississippi.

Del`ta*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [Delta + L. facere to make.] The formation of a delta or of deltas. [R.]

Del*ta"ic (?), a. Relating to, or like, a delta.

||Del*thy"ris (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. de`lta the name of the letter Δ + thy`ra door.] (Zoöl.) A name formerly given to certain Silurian brachiopod shells of the genus Spirifer.

Delthyris limestone (Geol.), one of the divisions of the Upper Silurian rocks in New York.

Del"tic (?), a. Deltaic.

||Del*tid"i*um (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. de`lta, the letter Δ.] (Zoöl.) The triangular space under the beak of many brachiopod shells.

Del`to*he"dron (?), n. [Gr. de`lta, the letter Δ + 'e`dra seat, base.] (Crystallog.) A solid bounded by twelve quadrilateral faces. It is a hemihedral form of the isometric system, allied to the tetrahedron.

Del"toid (?), a. [Gr. deltoeidh`s delta- shaped; de`lta the name of the letter Δ + e'i^dos form: cf. F. deltoïde. See Delta.] Shaped like the Greek Δ (delta); delta-shaped; triangular.

Deltoid leaf (Bot.), a leaf in the form of a triangle with the stem inserted at the middle of the base. -- Deltoid muscle (Anat.), a triangular muscle in the shoulder which serves to move the arm directly upward.

De*lud"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being deluded; liable to be imposed on; gullible. Sir T. Browne.

De*lude" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deluded; p. pr. & vb. n. Deluding.] [L. deludere, delusum; de- + ludere to play, make sport of, mock. See Ludicrous.] 1. To lead from truth or into error; to mislead the mind or judgment of; to beguile; to impose on; to dupe; to make a fool of.

To delude the nation by an airy phantom.
Burke.

2. To frustrate or disappoint.

It deludes thy search.
Dryden.

Syn. -- To mislead; deceive; beguile; cajole; cheat; dupe. See Deceive.

De*lud"er (?), n. One who deludes; a deceiver; an impostor.

Del"uge (?), n. [F. déluge, L. diluvium, fr. diluere wash away; di- = dis- + luere, equiv. to lavare to wash. See Lave, and cf. Diluvium.] 1. A washing away; an overflowing of the land by water; an inundation; a flood; specifically, The Deluge, the great flood in the days of Noah (Gen. vii.).

2. Fig.: Anything which overwhelms, or causes great destruction. "The deluge of summer." Lowell.

A fiery deluge fed
With ever-burning sulphur unconsumed.
Milton.

As I grub up some quaint old fragment of a [London] street, or a house, or a shop, or tomb or burial ground, which has still survived in the deluge.
F. Harrison.

After me the deluge.
(Aprés moi le déluge.)
Madame de Pompadour.

Del"uge, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deluged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Deluging.] 1. To overflow with water; to inundate; to overwhelm.

The deluged earth would useless grow.
Blackmore.

2. To overwhelm, as with a deluge; to cover; to overspread; to overpower; to submerge; to destroy; as, the northern nations deluged the Roman empire with their armies; the land is deluged with woe.

At length corruption, like a general flood . . .
Shall deluge all.
Pope.

||De*lun"dung (?), n. [Native name.] (Zoöl.) An East Indian carnivorous mammal (Prionodon gracilis), resembling the civets, but without scent pouches. It is handsomely spotted.

De*lu"sion (?) n. [L. delusio, fr. deludere. See Delude.] 1. The act of deluding; deception; a misleading of the mind. Pope.

2. The state of being deluded or misled.

3. That which is falsely or delusively believed or propagated; false belief; error in belief.

And fondly mourned the dear delusion gone.
Prior.

Syn. -- Delusion, Illusion. These words both imply some deception practiced upon the mind. Delusion is deception from want of knowledge; illusion is deception from morbid imagination. An illusion is a false show, a mere cheat on the fancy or senses. It is, in other words, some idea or image presented to the bodily or mental vision which does not exist in reality. A delusion is a false judgment, usually affecting the real concerns of life. Or, in other words, it is an erroneous view of something which exists indeed, but has by no means the qualities or attributes ascribed to it. Thus we speak of the illusions of fancy, the illusions of hope, illusive prospects, illusive appearances, etc. In like manner, we speak of the delusions of stockjobbing, the delusions of honorable men, delusive appearances in trade, of being deluded by a seeming excellence.

"A fanatic, either religious or political, is the subject of strong delusions; while the term illusion is applied solely to the visions of an uncontrolled imagination, the chimerical ideas of one blinded by hope, passion, or credulity, or lastly, to spectral and other ocular deceptions, to which the word delusion is never applied." Whately.

De*lu"sion*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to delusions; as, delusional monomania.

De*lu"sive (?), a. [See Delude.] Apt or fitted to delude; tending to mislead the mind; deceptive; beguiling; delusory; as, delusive arts; a delusive dream.

Delusive and unsubstantial ideas.
Whewell.

-- De*lu"sive*ly, adv. -- De*lu"sive*ness, n.

De*lu"so*ry (?) a. Delusive; fallacious. Glanvill.

Delve (?) v. t. [imp. & p. p. Delved (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Delving.] [AS. delfan to dig; akin to OS. bidelban to bury, D. delven to dig, MHG. telben, and possibly to E. dale. Cf. Delf a mine.] 1. To dig; to open (the ground) as with a spade.

Delve of convenient depth your thrashing floor.
Dryden.

2. To dig into; to penetrate; to trace out; to fathom.

I can not delve him to the root.
Shak.

Delve, v. i. To dig or labor with a spade, or as with a spade; to labor as a drudge.

Delve may I not: I shame to beg.
Wyclif (Luke xvi. 3).

Delve, n. [See Delve, v. t., and cf. Delf a mine.] A place dug; a pit; a ditch; a den; a cave.

Which to that shady delve him brought at last.
Spenser.

The very tigers from their delves
Look out.
Moore.

Delv"er (?), n. One who digs, as with a spade.

De*mag"net*ize (?), v. t. 1. To deprive of magnetic properties. See Magnetize.

If the bar be rapidly magnetized and demagnetized.
Am. Cyc.

2. To free from mesmeric influence; to demesmerize.

-- De*mag`net*i*za"tion, n. -- De*mag"net*i`zer (#), n.

Dem"a*gog (?; 115), n. Demagogue.

{ Dem`a*gog"ic (?), Dem`a*gog"ic*al (?), } a. [Gr. dhmagwkiko`s: cf. F. démagogique.] Relating to, or like, a demagogue; factious.

Dem"a*gog*ism (?; 115), n. The practices of a demagogue.

Dem"a*gogue (?; 115), n. [Gr. dhmagwgo`s a popular leader; commonly in a bad sense, a leader of the mob; dh^mos the people + 'agwgo`s leading, fr. 'a`gein to lead; akin to E. act: cf. F. démagogue.] A leader of the rabble; one who attempts to control the multitude by specious or deceitful arts; an unprincipled and factious mob orator or political leader.

Dem"a*gog`y (?), n. [Cf. F. démagogie, Gr. dhmagwgi`a leadership of the people.] Demagogism.

De*main" (?), n. [See Demesne.] 1. Rule; management. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. (Law) See Demesne.

De*mand" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demanded; p. pr. & vb. n. Demanding.] [F. demander, LL. demandare to demand, summon, send word, fr. L. demandare to give in charge, intrust; de- + mandare to commit to one's charge, commission, order, command. Cf. Mandate, Commend.] 1. To ask or call for with authority; to claim or seek from, as by authority or right; to claim, as something due; to call for urgently or peremptorily; as, to demand a debt; to demand obedience.

This, in our foresaid holy father's name,
Pope Innocent, I do demand of thee.
Shak.

2. To inquire authoritatively or earnestly; to ask, esp. in a peremptory manner; to question.

I did demand what news from Shrewsbury.
Shak.

3. To require as necessary or useful; to be in urgent need of; hence, to call for; as, the case demands care.

4. (Law) To call into court; to summon. Burrill.

De*mand", v. i. To make a demand; to inquire.

The soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do?
Luke iii. 14.

De*mand", n. [F. demande, fr. demander. See Demand, v. t.] 1. The act of demanding; an asking with authority; a peremptory urging of a claim; a claiming or challenging as due; requisition; as, the demand of a creditor; a note payable on demand.

The demand [is] by the word of the holy ones.
Dan. iv. 17.

He that has confidence to turn his wishes into demands will be but a little way from thinking he ought to obtain them.
Locke.

2. Earnest inquiry; question; query. Shak.

3. A diligent seeking or search; manifested want; desire to possess; request; as, a demand for certain goods; a person's company is in great demand.

In 1678 came forth a second edition [Pilgrim's Progress] with additions; and then the demand became immense.
Macaulay.

4. That which one demands or has a right to demand; thing claimed as due; claim; as, demands on an estate.

5. (Law) (a) The asking or seeking for what is due or claimed as due. (b) The right or title in virtue of which anything may be claimed; as, to hold a demand against a person. (c) A thing or amount claimed to be due.

In demand, in request; being much sought after. -- On demand, upon presentation and request of payment.

De*mand"a*ble (?), a. That may be demanded or claimed. "All sums demandable." Bacon.

De*mand"ant (?) n. [F. demandant, p. pr. of demander.] One who demands; the plaintiff in a real action; any plaintiff.

De*mand"er (?), n. One who demands.

De*mand"ress (?), n. A woman who demands.

De*man"toid (?), n. [G. demant diamond + -oid.] (Min.) A yellow-green, transparent variety of garnet found in the Urals. It is valued as a gem because of its brilliancy of luster, whence the name.

De*mar"cate (?), v. t. [See Demarcation.] To mark by bounds; to set the limits of; to separate; to discriminate. Wilkinson.

De`mar*ca"tion (?), n. [F. démarcation; pref. dé- (L. de) + marquer to mark, of German origin. See Mark.] The act of marking, or of ascertaining and setting a limit; separation; distinction.

The speculative line of demarcation, where obedience ought to end and resistance must begin, is faint, obscure, and not easily definable.
Burke.

De*march" (?), n. [F. démarche. See March, n.] March; walk; gait. [Obs.]

De*march (dē"märk), n. [Gr. dh`marchos; dh^mos people + 'a`rchein to rule.] A chief or ruler of a deme or district in Greece.

De`mar*ka"tion, n. Same as Demarcation.

De`ma*te"ri*al*ize (?), v. t. To deprive of material or physical qualities or characteristics.

Dematerializing matter by stripping it of everything which . . . has distinguished matter.
Milman.

Deme (dēm), n. [Gr. dh^mos.] 1. (Gr. Antiq.) A territorial subdivision of Attica (also of modern Greece), corresponding to a township. Jowett (Thucyd.).

2. (Biol.) An undifferentiated aggregate of cells or plastids.

De*mean" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demeaned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Demeaning.] [OF. demener to conduct, guide, manage, F. se démener to struggle; pref. dé- (L. de) + mener to lead, drive, carry on, conduct, fr. L. minare to drive animals by threatening cries, fr. minari to threaten. See Menace.] 1. To manage; to conduct; to treat.

[Our] clergy have with violence demeaned the matter.
Milton.

2. To conduct; to behave; to comport; -- followed by the reflexive pronoun.

They have demeaned themselves
Like men born to renown by life or death.
Shak.

They answered . . . that they should demean themselves according to their instructions.
Clarendon.

3. To debase; to lower; to degrade; -- followed by the reflexive pronoun.

Her son would demean himself by a marriage with an artist's daughter.
Thackeray.

&fist; This sense is probably due to a false etymology which regarded the word as connected with the adjective mean.

De*mean" (?), n. [OF. demene. See Demean, v. t.] 1. Management; treatment. [Obs.]

Vile demean and usage bad.
Spenser.

2. Behavior; conduct; bearing; demeanor. [Obs.]

With grave demean and solemn vanity.
West.

De*mean", n. [See Demesne.] 1. Demesne. [Obs.]

2. pl. Resources; means. [Obs.]

You know
How narrow our demeans are.
Massinger.

De*mean"ance (?), n. Demeanor. [Obs.] Skelton.

De*mean"or (?), n. [Written also demeanour.] [For demeanure, fr. demean. See Demean, v. t.] 1. Management; treatment; conduct. [Obs.]

God commits the managing so great a trust . . . wholly to the demeanor of every grown man.
Milton.

2. Behavior; deportment; carriage; bearing; mien.

His demeanor was singularly pleasing.
Macaulay.

The men, as usual, liked her artless kindness and simple refined demeanor.
Thackeray.

De*mean"ure (?), n. Behavior. [Obs.] Spenser.

De"men*cy (?), n. [L. dementia, fr. demens mad. See Dement.] Dementia; loss of mental powers. See Insanity.

De*ment" (?), v. t. [L. dementare, fr. demens, -mentis, out of one's mind, mad; de + mens mind. See Mental, and cf. Dementate.] To deprive of reason; to make mad. [R.] Bale.

De*ment", a. [L. demens, - mentis.] Demented; dementate. [R.] J. H. Newman.

De*men"tate (?), a. [L. dementatus, p. p. See Dement, v. t.] Deprived of reason.

Arise, thou dementate sinner!
Hammond.

De*men"tate (?) v. t. To deprive of reason; to dement. [R.] Burton.

De`men*ta"tion (?), n. The act of depriving of reason; madness. Whitlock.

De*ment"ed (?), a. [From Dement.] Insane; mad; of unsound mind. -- De*ment"ed*ness, n.

||De*men"ti*a (?), n. [L., fr. demens. See Dement.] Insanity; madness; esp. that form which consists in weakness or total loss of thought and reason; mental imbecility; idiocy.

De*meph"i*tize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demephitized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Demephitizing.] [Cf. F. méphitiser to infect with mephitis.] To purify from mephitic or foul air. -- De*meph`i*ti*za"tion, n.

De*merge" (?), v. t. [L. demergere.] To plunge down into; to sink; to immerse. [Obs.]

The water in which it was demerged.
Boyle.

De*mer"it (?), n. [F. démérite demerit (in sense 2), OF. demerite demerit (in sense 1), fr. L. demerere to deserve well, LL., to deserve well or ill; de- + merere to deserve. See De-, and Merit.] 1. That which one merits or deserves, either of good or ill; desert. [Obs.]

By many benefits and demerits whereby they obliged their adherents, [they] acquired this reputation.
Holland.

2. That which deserves blame; ill desert; a fault; a vice; misconduct; -- the opposite of merit.

They see no merit or demerit in any man or any action.
Burke.

Secure, unless forfeited by any demerit or offense.
Sir W. Temple.

3. The state of one who deserves ill.

De*mer"it, v. t. [Cf. F. démériter to deserve ill. See Demerit, n.] 1. To deserve; -- said in reference to both praise and blame. [Obs.]

If I have demerited any love or thanks.
Udall.

Executed as a traitor . . . as he well demerited.
State Trials (1645).

2. To depreciate or cry down. [R.] Bp. Woolton.

De*mer"it, v. i. To deserve praise or blame.

De*merse" (?), v. t. [L. demersus, p. p. of demergere. See Merge.] To immerse. [Obs.] Boyle.

De*mersed" (?), a. (Bot.) Situated or growing under water, as leaves; submersed.

De*mer"sion (?) n. [L. demersio.] 1. The act of plunging into a fluid; a drowning.

2. The state of being overwhelmed in water, or as if in water. Ray.

De*mes"mer*ize (?), v. t. To relieve from mesmeric influence. See Mesmerize.

De*mesne" (?), n. [OE. demeine, demain, rule, demesne, OF. demeine, demaine, demeigne, domaine, power, F. domaine domain, fr. L. dominium property, right of ownership, fr. dominus master, proprietor, owner. See Dame, and cf. Demain, Domain, Danger, Dungeon.] (Law) A lord's chief manor place, with that part of the lands belonging thereto which has not been granted out in tenancy; a house, and the land adjoining, kept for the proprietor's own use. [Written also demain.] Wharton's Law Dict. Burrill.

Ancient demesne. (Eng. Law) See under Ancient.

De*mesn"i*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to a demesne; of the nature of a demesne.

Dem"i- (?). [F. demi-, fr. L. dimidius half; di- = dis- + medius middle. See Medium, and cf. Demy, Dimidiate.] A prefix, signifying half.

De*mi" (?), n. See Demy, n.

Dem"i*bas"tion (?; 106), n. [Cf. F. demi- bastion.] (Fort.) A half bastion, or that part of a bastion consisting of one face and one flank.

Dem"i*bri*gade" (?), n. [Cf. F. demi- brigade.] A half brigade.

Dem"i*ca`dence (?) n. (Mus.) An imperfect or half cadence, falling on the dominant instead of on the key note.

Dem"i*can"non (?), n. (Mil. Antiq.) A kind of ordnance, carrying a ball weighing from thirty to thirty-six pounds. Shak.

Dem"i*cir`cle (?), n. [Cf. F. demi- cercle.] An instrument for measuring angles, in surveying, etc. It resembles a protractor, but has an alidade, sights, and a compass.

Dem"i*cul"ver*in (?), n. (Mil. Antiq.) A kind of ordnance, carrying a ball weighing from nine to thirteen pounds.

Dem"i*de"i*fy (?) v. t. To deify in part. Cowper.

Dem"i*dev`il (?), n. A half devil. Shak.

Dem"i*god (?), n. A half god, or an inferior deity; a fabulous hero, the offspring of a deity and a mortal.

Dem"i*god`dess (?), n. A female demigod.

Dem"i*gorge` (?), n. [Cf. F. demi- gorge.] (Fort.) Half the gorge, or entrance into a bastion, taken from the angle of the flank to the center of the bastion.

Dem"i*grate (?), v. i. [L. demigrare, demigratum, to emigrate. See De-, and Migrate.] To emigrate. [Obs.] Cockeram.

Dem`i*gra"tion (?) n. [L. demigratio.] Emigration. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Dem"i*groat` (?), n. A half groat.

Dem"i-is`land (?), n. Peninsula. [Obs.] Knolles.

Dem"i*john (?), n. [F. dame- jeanne, i.e., Lady Jane, a corruption of Ar. damajāna, damjāna, prob. fr. Damaghan a town in the Persian province of Khorassan, once famous for its glass works.] A glass vessel or bottle with a large body and small neck, inclosed in wickerwork.

Dem"i*lance` (?), n. A light lance; a short spear; a half pike; also, a demilancer.

Dem"i*lan`cer (?), n. A soldier of light cavalry of the 16th century, who carried a demilance.

Dem"i*lune` (?), n. [F. demi- lune.] 1. (Fort.) A work constructed beyond the main ditch of a fortress, and in front of the curtain between two bastions, intended to defend the curtain; a ravelin. See Ravelin.

2. (Physiol.) A crescentic mass of granular protoplasm present in the salivary glands.

&fist; Each crescent is made of polyhedral cells which under some circumstances are supposed to give rise to new salivary cells.

Dem"i*man` (?), n. A half man. [R.] Knolles.

Dem`i*monde" (?), n. [F.; demi + monde world, L. mundus.] Persons of doubtful reputation; esp., women who are kept as mistresses, though not public prostitutes; demireps.

Literary demimonde, writers of the lowest kind.

Dem"i*na"tured (?; 135), a. Having half the nature of another. [R.] Shak.

Dem"i*qua`ver (?), n. (Mus.) A note of half the length of the quaver; a semiquaver. [R.]

{ Dem`i*re*lief" (?), Dem`i*re*lie"vo (?), } n. Half relief. See Demi- rilievo.

Dem"i*rep` (?), n. [Contr. fr. demi- reputation.] A woman of doubtful reputation or suspected character; an adventuress. [Colloq.] De Quincey.

||Dem"i-ri*lie"vo (?), n. [Pref. demi- + It. rilievo.] (Fine Arts) (a) Half relief; sculpture in relief of which the figures project from the background by one half their full roundness. (b) A work of sculpture of the above character. See Alto-rilievo.

De*mis`a*bil"i*ty (?), n. (Law) The state of being demisable.

De*mis"a*ble (?), a. [From Demise.] (Law) Capable of being leased; as, a demisable estate.

De*mise" (?), n. [F. démettre, p. p. démis, démise, to put away, lay down; pref. dé- (L. de or dis-) + mettre to put, place, lay, fr. L. mittere to send. See Mission, and cf. Dismiss, Demit.] 1. Transmission by formal act or conveyance to an heir or successor; transference; especially, the transfer or transmission of the crown or royal authority to a successor.

2. The decease of a royal or princely person; hence, also, the death of any illustrious person.

After the demise of the Queen [of George II.], in 1737, they [drawing- rooms] were held but twice a week.
P. Cunningham.

3. (Law) The conveyance or transfer of an estate, either in fee for life or for years, most commonly the latter. Bouvier.

&fist; The demise of the crown is a transfer of the crown, royal authority, or kingdom, to a successor. Thus, when Edward IV. was driven from his throne for a few months by the house of Lancaster, this temporary transfer of his dignity was called a demise. Thus the natural death of a king or queen came to be denominated a demise, as by that event the crown is transferred to a successor. Blackstone.

Demise and redemise, a conveyance where there are mutual leases made from one to another of the same land, or something out of it.

Syn. -- Death; decease; departure. See Death.

De*mise", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demised (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Demising.] 1. To transfer or transmit by succession or inheritance; to grant or bestow by will; to bequeath. "Power to demise my lands." Swift.

What honor
Canst thou demise to any child of mine?
Shak.

2. To convey; to give. [R.]

His soul is at his conception demised to him.
Hammond.

3. (Law) To convey, as an estate, by lease; to lease.

Dem`i*sem"i*qua`ver (?), n. (Mus.) A short note, equal in time to the half of a semiquaver, or the thirty-second part of a whole note.

De*miss" (?), a. [L. demissus, p. p. of demittere.] Cast down; humble; submissive. [Obs.]

He down descended like a most demiss
And abject thrall.
Spenser.

De*mis"sion (?), n. [L. demissio, fr. demittere. See Demit.] 1. The act of demitting, or the state of being demitted; a letting down; a lowering; dejection. "Demission of mind." Hammond.

Demission of sovereign authority.
L'Estrange.

2. Resignation of an office. [Scot.]

De*mis"sion*a*ry (?), a. 1. Pertaining to transfer or conveyance; as, a demissionary deed.

2. Tending to lower, depress, or degrade.

De*miss"ive (?), a. [See Demiss.] Downcast; submissive; humble. [R.]

They pray with demissive eyelids.
Lord (1630).

De*miss"ly, adv. In a humble manner. [Obs.]

Dem"i*suit` (?), n. (Mil. Antiq.) A suit of light armor covering less than the whole body, as having no protection for the legs below the thighs, no vizor to the helmet, and the like.

De*mit" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Demitting.] [L. demittere to send or bring down, to lower; de- + mittere to send. Cf. Demise.] 1. To let fall; to depress. [R.]

They [peacocks] demit and let fall the same [i. e., their train].
Sir T. Browne.

2. To yield or submit; to humble; to lower; as, to demit one's self to humble duties. [R.]

3. To lay down, as an office; to resign. [Scot.]

General Conway demitted his office.
Hume.

Dem"i*tint` (?), n. (Fine Arts) (a) That part of a painting, engraving, or the like, which is neither in full darkness nor full light. (b) The shade itself; neither the darkest nor the lightest in a composition. Also called half tint.

Dem"i*tone` (?), n. (Mus.) Semitone. [R.]

Dem"i*urge (?), n. [Gr. dhmioyrgo`s a worker for the people, a workman, especially the maker of the world, the Creator; dh`mios belonging to the people (fr. dh^mos the people) + 'e`rgon a work.] 1. (Gr. Antiq.) The chief magistrate in some of the Greek states.

2. God, as the Maker of the world.

3. According to the Gnostics, an agent or one employed by the Supreme Being to create the material universe and man.

Dem`i*ur"gic (?), a. [Gr. dhmioyrgiko`s.] Pertaining to a demiurge; formative; creative. "Demiurgic power." De Quincey.

Dem"i*vill` (?), n. (Old Law) A half vill, consisting of five freemen or frankpledges. Blackstone.

Dem"i*volt` (?), n. [Cf. F. demi- volte.] (Man.) A half vault; one of the seven artificial motions of a horse, in which he raises his fore legs in a particular manner.

Dem"i*wolf` (?), n. A half wolf; a mongrel dog, between a dog and a wolf. Shak.

De*mob`i*li*za"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. démobilisation. See Mobilization.] (Mil.) The disorganization or disarming of troops which have previously been mobilized or called into active service; the change from a war footing to a peace footing.

De*mob"i*lize (?), v. t. [Cf. F. démobiliser.] (Mil.) To disorganize, or disband and send home, as troops which have been mobilized.

De*moc"ra*cy (d&esl;*m&obreve;k"r&adot;*s&ybreve;), n.; pl. Democracies (- s&ibreve;z). [F. démocratie, fr. Gr. dhmokrati`a; dh^mos the people + kratei^n to be strong, to rule, kra`tos strength.] 1. Government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is retained and directly exercised by the people.

2. Government by popular representation; a form of government in which the supreme power is retained by the people, but is indirectly exercised through a system of representation and delegated authority periodically renewed; a constitutional representative government; a republic.

3. Collectively, the people, regarded as the source of government. Milton.

4. The principles and policy of the Democratic party, so called. [U.S.]

Dem"o*crat (d&ebreve;m"&osl;*krăt), n. [Cf. F. démocrate.] 1. One who is an adherent or advocate of democracy, or government by the people.

Whatever they call him, what care I,
Aristocrat, democrat, autocrat.
Tennyson.

2. A member of the Democratic party. [U.S.]

Dem`o*crat"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?;: cf. F. démocratique.] 1. Pertaining to democracy; favoring democracy, or constructed upon the principle of government by the people.

2. Relating to a political party so called.

3. Befitting the common people; -- opposed to aristocratic.

The Democratic party, the name of one of the chief political parties in the United States.

Dem`o*crat"ic*al (?), a. Democratic.

The democratical embassy was democratically received.
Algernon Sidney.

Dem`o*crat"ic*al*ly, adv. In a democratic manner.

De*moc"ra*tism (?), n. The principles or spirit of a democracy. [R.]

De*moc"ra*tist (?), n. A democrat. [R.] Burke.

De*moc"ra*tize (?) v. t. To render democratic.

De*moc"ra*ty (?), n. Democracy. [Obs.] Milton.

De`mo*gor"gon (dē"m&osl;*gôr*g&obreve;n or d&ebreve;m"&osl;*gôr*g&obreve;n), n. [First mentioned by Lutatius, or Lactantius Placidus, the scholiast on Statius, perh. fr. Gr. dai`mwn god, deity + gorgo`s fierce, terrible] A mysterious, terrible, and evil divinity, regarded by some as the author of creation, by others as a great magician who was supposed to command the spirits of the lower world. See Gorgon.

Orcus and Ades, and the dreaded name
Of Demogorgon.
Milton.

De*mog"ra*phy (d&esl;*m&obreve;g"r&adot;f&ybreve;), n. [Gr. dh^mos the people + - graphy.] The study of races, as to births, marriages, mortality, health, etc. -- Dem`o*graph"ic, a.

||De`moi`selle" (?), n. [F. See Damsel.] 1. A young lady; a damsel; a lady's maid.

2. (Zoöl.) The Numidian crane (Anthropoides virgo); -- so called on account of the grace and symmetry of its form and movements.

3. (Zoöl.) A beautiful, small dragon fly of the genus Agrion.

De*mol"ish (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demolished (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Demolishing.] [F. démolir, fr. L. demoliri, p. p. demolitus; de- + moliri to set a thing in motion, to work, construct, from moles a huge mass or structure. See Mole a mound, and Finish.] To throw or pull down; to raze; to destroy the fabric of; to pull to pieces; to ruin; as, to demolish an edifice, or a wall.

I expected the fabric of my book would long since have been demolished, and laid even with the ground.
Tillotson.

Syn. -- To Demolish, Overturn, Destroy, Dismantle, Raze. That is overturned or overthrown which had stood upright; that is destroyed whose component parts are scattered; that is demolished which had formed a mass or structure; that is dismantled which is stripped of its covering, as a vessel of its sails, or a fortress of its bastions, etc.; that is razed which is brought down smooth, and level to the ground. An ancient pillar is overturned or overthrown as the result of decay; a city is destroyed by an invasion of its enemies; a monument, the walls of a castle, a church, or any structure, real or imaginary, may be demolished; a fortress may be dismantled from motives of prudence, in order to render it defenseless; a city may be razed by way of punishment, and its ruins become a memorial of vengeance.

De*mol"ish`er (?), n. One who, or that which, demolishes; as, a demolisher of towns.

De*mol"ish*ment (?), n. Demolition.

Dem`o*li"tion (?; 277), n. [L. demolitio, fr. demoliri: cf. F. démolition. See Demolish.] The act of overthrowing, pulling down, or destroying a pile or structure; destruction by violence; utter overthrow; -- opposed to construction; as, the demolition of a house, of military works, of a town, or of hopes.

Dem`o*li"tion*ist, n. A demolisher. [R.] Carlyle.

De"mon (?), n. [F. démon, L. daemon a spirit, an evil spirit, fr. Gr. &?; a divinity; of uncertain origin.] 1. (Gr. Antiq.) A spirit, or immaterial being, holding a middle place between men and deities in pagan mythology.

The demon kind is of an intermediate nature between the divine and the human.
Sydenham.

2. One's genius; a tutelary spirit or internal voice; as, the demon of Socrates. [Often written dæmon.]

3. An evil spirit; a devil.

That same demon that hath gulled thee thus.
Shak.

De"mon*ess (?), n. A female demon.

De*mon`e*ti*za"tion (?), n. The act of demonetizing, or the condition of being demonetized.

De*mon"e*tize (?; see Monetary), v. t. To deprive of current value; to withdraw from use, as money.

They [gold mohurs] have been completely demonetized by the [East India] Company.
R. Cobden.

{ De*mo"ni*ac (?), Dem`o*ni"a*cal (?; 277), } a. [L. daemoniacus, fr. daemon; cf. F. démoniaque. See Demon.] 1. Pertaining to, or characteristic of, a demon or evil spirit; devilish; as, a demoniac being; demoniacal practices.

Sarcastic, demoniacal laughter.
Thackeray.

2. Influenced or produced by a demon or evil spirit; as, demoniac or demoniacal power. "Demoniac frenzy." Milton.

De*mo"ni*ac (?), n. 1. A human being possessed by a demon or evil spirit; one whose faculties are directly controlled by a demon.

The demoniac in the gospel was sometimes cast into the fire.
Bates.

2. (Eccl. Hist.) One of a sect of Anabaptists who maintain that the demons or devils will finally be saved.

Dem`o*ni"a*cal*ly (?), adv. In a demoniacal manner.

Dem`o*ni"a*cism (?), n. The state of being demoniac, or the practices of demoniacs.

De*mo"ni*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to a demon. [Obs.] Cudworth.

De*mo"ni*an (?), a. Relating to, or having the nature of, a demon. "Demonian spirits." Milton.

De*mo"ni*an*ism (?), n. The state of being possessed by a demon or by demons.

De*mo"ni*asm (?), n. See Demonianism. [R.]

De*mo"nic (?), a. [L. daemonicus, Gr. daimoniko`s.] Of or pertaining to a demon or to demons; demoniac. "Demonic ambushes." Lowell.

De"mon*ism (?), n. [Cf. F. démonisme.] The belief in demons or false gods.

The established theology of the heathen world . . . rested upon the basis of demonism.
Farmer.

De"mon*ist, n. A believer in, or worshiper of, demons.

De"mon*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demonized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Demonizing.] [Cf. LL. daemonizare to be possessed by a demon, Gr. &?;.] 1. To convert into a demon; to infuse the principles or fury of a demon into.

2. To control or possess by a demon.

De`mon*oc"ra*cy (?), n. [Gr. dai`mwn demon + kra`tos strength: cf. F. démonocratie.] The power or government of demons.

A demonocracy of unclean spirits.
H. Taylor.

De`mon*og"ra*pher (?), n. [Demon + -graph + -er.] A demonologist. [R.] Am. Cyc.

De`mon*ol"a*try (?), n. [Gr. dai`mwn demon + latrei`a worship, &?; to serve, worship: cf. F. démonolâtrie.] The worship of demons.

De`mon*ol"o*ger (?), n. One versed in demonology. R. North.

{ De`mon*o*log"ic (?), De`mon*o*log"ic*al (?), } a. [Cf. F. démonologique.] Of or pertaining to demonology.

De`mon*ol"o*gist (?), n. One who writes on, or is versed in, demonology.

De`mon*ol"o*gy (?; 277), n. [Demon + -logy: cf. F. démonologie.] A treatise on demons; a supposititious science which treats of demons and their manifestations. Sir W. Scott.

De`mon*om"a*gy (?), n. [Gr. dai`mwn demon + magei`a magic.] Magic in which the aid of demons is invoked; black or infernal magic. Bp. Hurd.

De*mon`o*ma"ni*a (?), n. [Demon + mania.] A form of madness in which the patient conceives himself possessed of devils.

De*mon"o*mist (?) n. One in subjection to a demon, or to demons. [R.] Sir T. Herbert.

De*mon"o*my (?), n. [Gr. dai`mwn demon + no`mos law.] The dominion of demons. [R.] Sir T. Herbert.

De"mon*ry (?), n. Demoniacal influence or possession. J. Baillie.

De"mon*ship, n. The state of a demon. Mede.

De*mon`stra*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality of being demonstrable; demonstrableness.

De*mon"stra*ble (?), a. [L. demonstrabilis: cf. OF. demonstrable, F. démontrable.] 1. Capable of being demonstrated; that can be proved beyond doubt or question.

The grand articles of our belief are as demonstrable as geometry.
Glanvill.

2. Proved; apparent. [Obs.] Shak.

De*mon"stra*ble*ness, n. The quality of being demonstrable; demonstrability.

De*mon"stra*bly, adv. In a demonstrable manner; incontrovertibly; clearly.

Cases that demonstrably concerned the public cause.
Clarendon.

De*mon"strance (?), n. [OF. demonstrance.] Demonstration; proof. [Obs.] Holland.

Dem"on*strate (?; 277), v. t. [L. demonstratus, p. p. of demonstrare to demonstrate; de- + monstrare to show. See Monster.] 1. To point out; to show; to exhibit; to make evident. Shak.

2. To show, or make evident, by reasoning or proof; to prove by deduction; to establish so as to exclude the possibility of doubt or denial.

We can not demonstrate these things so as to show that the contrary often involves a contradiction.
Tillotson.

3. (Anat.) To exhibit and explain (a dissection or other anatomical preparation).

Dem"on*stra`ter, n. See Demonstrator.

Dem`on*stra"tion (?), n. [L. demonstratio: cf. F. démonstration.] 1. The act of demonstrating; an exhibition; proof; especially, proof beyond the possibility of doubt; indubitable evidence, to the senses or reason.

Those intervening ideas which serve to show the agreement of any two others are called "proofs;" and where agreement or disagreement is by this means plainly and clearly perceived, it is called demonstration.
Locke.

2. An expression, as of the feelings, by outward signs; a manifestation; a show.

Did your letters pierce the queen to any demonstration of grief?
Shak.

Loyal demonstrations toward the prince.
Prescott.

3. (Anat.) The exhibition and explanation of a dissection or other anatomical preparation.

4. (Mil.) a decisive exhibition of force, or a movement indicating an attack.

5. (Logic) The act of proving by the syllogistic process, or the proof itself.

6. (Math.) A course of reasoning showing that a certain result is a necessary consequence of assumed premises; -- these premises being definitions, axioms, and previously established propositions.

Direct, or Positive, demonstration (Logic & Math.), one in which the correct conclusion is the immediate sequence of reasoning from axiomatic or established premises; -- opposed to Indirect, or Negative, demonstration (called also reductio ad absurdum), in which the correct conclusion is an inference from the demonstration that any other hypothesis must be incorrect.

De*mon"stra*tive (?), a. [F. démonstratif, L. demonstrativus.] 1. Having the nature of demonstration; tending to demonstrate; making evident; exhibiting clearly or conclusively. "Demonstrative figures." Dryden.

An argument necessary and demonstrative.
Hooker.

2. Expressing, or apt to express, much; displaying feeling or sentiment; as, her nature was demonstrative.

3. Consisting of eulogy or of invective. "Demonstrative eloquence." Blair.

Demonstrative pronoun (Gram.), a pronoun distinctly designating that to which it refers.

De*mon"stra*tive, n. (Gram.) A demonstrative pronoun; as, "this" and "that" are demonstratives.

De*mon"stra*tive*ly (?), adv. In a manner fitted to demonstrate; clearly; convincingly; forcibly.

De*mon"stra*tive*ness, n. The state or quality of being demonstrative.

Dem"on*stra`tor (?; 277), n. [L.: cf. F. démonstrateur.] 1. One who demonstrates; one who proves anything with certainty, or establishes it by indubitable evidence.

2. (Anat.) A teacher of practical anatomy.

De*mon"stra*to*ry (?), a. Tending to demonstrate; demonstrative. Johnson.

De*mor"age (?; 48), n. Demurrage. [Obs.] Pepys (1663).

De*mor`al*i*za"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. démoralisation.] The act of corrupting or subverting morals. Especially: The act of corrupting or subverting discipline, courage, hope, etc., or the state of being corrupted or subverted in discipline, courage, etc.; as, the demoralization of an army or navy.

De*mor"al*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demoralized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Demoralizing.] [F. démoraliser; pref. dé- (L. dis- or de) + moraliser. See Moralize.] To corrupt or undermine in morals; to destroy or lessen the effect of moral principles on; to render corrupt or untrustworthy in morals, in discipline, in courage, spirit, etc.; to weaken in spirit or efficiency.

The demoralizing example of profligate power and prosperous crime.
Walsh.

The vices of the nobility had demoralized the army.
Bancroft.

Dem`os*then"ic (?), a. [L. Demosthenicus: cf. F. Démosthénique.] Pertaining to, or in the style of, Demosthenes, the Grecian orator.

De*mot"ic (?), a. [Gr. dhmotiko`s, fr. dh^mos the people: cf. F. démotique.] Of or pertaining to the people; popular; common.

Demotic alphabet or character, a form of writing used in Egypt after six or seven centuries before Christ, for books, deeds, and other such writings; a simplified form of the hieratic character; -- called also epistolographic character, and enchorial character. See Enchorial.

De*mount" (?), v. i. To dismount. [R.]

Demp"ne (?) v. t. To damn; to condemn. [Obs.] Chaucer.

{ Demp"ster (?; 215), Dem"ster (?), } n. [See Deemster.] 1. A deemster.

2. (O. Scots Law) An officer whose duty it was to announce the doom or sentence pronounced by the court.

De*mulce" (?), v. t. [L. demulcere; de- + mulcere to stroke, soothe.] To soothe; to mollify; to pacify; to soften. [R.] Sir T. Elyot.

De*mul"cent (?), a. [L. demulcens, p. pr. of demulcere.] Softening; mollifying; soothing; assuasive; as, oil is demulcent.

De*mul"cent, n. (Med.) A substance, usually of a mucilaginous or oily nature, supposed to be capable of soothing an inflamed nervous membrane, or protecting it from irritation. Gum Arabic, glycerin, olive oil, etc., are demulcents.

De*mul"sion (?), n. The act of soothing; that which soothes. Feltham.

De*mur" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Demurred (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Demurring.] [OF. demurer, demorer, demourer, to linger, stay, F. demeurer, fr. L. demorari; de- + morari to delay, tarry, stay, mora delay; prob. originally, time for thinking, reflection, and akin to memor mindful. See Memory.] 1. To linger; to stay; to tarry. [Obs.]

Yet durst not demur nor abide upon the camp.
Nicols.

2. To delay; to pause; to suspend proceedings or judgment in view of a doubt or difficulty; to hesitate; to put off the determination or conclusion of an affair.

Upon this rub, the English embassadors thought fit to demur.
Hayward.

3. To scruple or object; to take exception; as, I demur to that statement.

4. (Law) To interpose a demurrer. See Demurrer, 2.

De*mur", v. t. 1. To suspend judgment concerning; to doubt of or hesitate about. [Obs.]

The latter I demur, for in their looks
Much reason, and in their actions, oft appears.
Milton.

2. To cause delay to; to put off. [Obs.]

He demands a fee,
And then demurs me with a vain delay.
Quarles.

De*mur", n. [OF. demor, demore, stay, delay. See Demur, v. i.] Stop; pause; hesitation as to proceeding; suspense of decision or action; scruple.

All my demurs but double his attacks;
At last he whispers, "Do; and we go snacks."
Pope.

De*mure" (?), a. [Perh. from OF. de murs (i. e., de bonnes murs of good manners); de of + murs, mours, meurs, mors, F. m&?;urs, fr. L. mores (sing. mos) manners, morals (see Moral); or more prob. fr. OF. meür, F. mûr mature, ripe (see Mature) in a phrase preceded by de, as de mûre conduite of mature conduct.] 1. Of sober or serious mien; composed and decorous in bearing; of modest look; staid; grave.

Sober, steadfast, and demure.
Milton.

Nan was very much delighted in her demure way, and that delight showed itself in her face and in her clear bright eyes.
W. Black.

2. Affectedly modest, decorous, or serious; making a show of gravity.

A cat lay, and looked so demure, as if there had been neither life nor soul in her.
L'Estrange.

Miss Lizzy, I have no doubt, would be as demure and coquettish, as if ten winters more had gone over her head.
Miss Mitford.

De*mure", v. i. To look demurely. [Obs.] Shak.

De*mure"ly, adv. In a demure manner; soberly; gravely; -- now, commonly, with a mere show of gravity or modesty.

They . . . looked as demurely as they could; for 't was a hanging matter to laugh unseasonably.
Dryden.

De*mure"ness (d&esl;*mūr"n&ebreve;s), n. The state of being demure; gravity; the show of gravity or modesty.

De*mur"i*ty (d&esl;*mūr"&ibreve;*t&ybreve;), n. Demureness; also, one who is demure. Sir T. Browne.

De*mur"ra*ble (d&esl;*mûr"r&adot;*b'l), a. That may be demurred to. Stormonth.

De*mur"rage (?), n. [Cf. OF. demorage delay. See Demur.] (Law) (a) The detention of a vessel by the freighter beyond the time allowed in her charter party for loading, unloading, or sailing. (b) The allowance made to the master or owner of the ship for such delay or detention.

The claim for demurrage ceases as soon as the ship is cleared out and ready for sailing.
M‘Culloch.

&fist; The term is also applied to similar delays and allowances in land carriage, by wagons, railroads, etc.

De*mur"ral (?), n. Demur; delay in acting or deciding.

The same causes of demurral existed which prevented British troops from assisting in the expulsion of the French from Rome.
Southey.

De*mur"rer (?), n. 1. One who demurs.

2. (Law) A stop or pause by a party to an action, for the judgment of the court on the question, whether, assuming the truth of the matter alleged by the opposite party, it is sufficient in law to sustain the action or defense, and hence whether the party resting is bound to answer or proceed further.

Demurrer to evidence, an exception taken by a party to the evidence offered by the opposite party, and an objecting to proceed further, on the allegation that such evidence is not sufficient in law to maintain the issue, and a reference to the court to determine the point. Bouvier.

De*my" (?), n.; pl. Demies (#). [See Demi-.] 1. A printing and a writing paper of particular sizes. See under Paper.

2. A half fellow at Magdalen College, Oxford. [Written also demi.]

He was elected into Magdalen College as a demy; a term by which that society denominates those elsewhere called "scholars," young men who partake of the founder's benefaction, and succeed in their order to vacant fellowships.
Johnson.

De*my", a. Pertaining to, or made of, the size of paper called demy; as, a demy book.

Den (?), n. [AS. denn; perh. akin to G. tenne floor, thrashing floor, and to AS. denu valley.] 1. A small cavern or hollow place in the side of a hill, or among rocks; esp., a cave used by a wild beast for shelter or concealment; as, a lion's den; a den of robbers.

2. A squalid place of resort; a wretched dwelling place; a haunt; as, a den of vice. "Those squalid dens, which are the reproach of great capitals." Addison.

3. Any snug or close retreat where one goes to be alone. [Colloq.]

4. [AS. denu.] A narrow glen; a ravine; a dell. [Old Eng. & Scotch] Shak.

Den, v. i. To live in, or as in, a den.

The sluggish salvages that den below.
G. Fletcher.

De*nar"co*tize (?), v. t. To deprive of narcotine; as, to denarcotize opium. -- De*nar`co*ti*za"tion (#), n.

||De*na"ri*us (?), n.; pl. Denarii (#). [L. See 2d Denier.] A Roman silver coin of the value of about fourteen cents; the "penny" of the New Testament; -- so called from being worth originally ten of the pieces called as.

Den"a*ry (?), a. [L. denarius. See 2d Denier.] Containing ten; tenfold; proceeding by tens; as, the denary, or decimal, scale.

Den"a*ry, n. 1. The number ten; a division into ten.

2. A coin; the Anglicized form of denarius. Udall.

De*na`tion*al*i*za"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. dénationalisation.] The act or process of denationalizing.

De*na"tion*al*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Denationalized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Denationalizing.] [Cf. F. dénationaliser.] To divest or deprive of national character or rights.

Bonaparte's decree denationalizes, as he calls it, all ships that have touched at a British port.
Cobbett.

An expatriated, denationalized race.
G. Eliot.

De*nat"u*ral*ize (?; 135), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Denaturalized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Denaturalizing.] [Cf. F. dénaturaliser.] 1. To render unnatural; to alienate from nature.

2. To renounce the natural rights and duties of; to deprive of citizenship; to denationalize. [R.]

They also claimed the privilege, when aggrieved, of denaturalizing themselves, or, in other words, of publicly renouncing their allegiance to their sovereign, and of enlisting under the banners of his enemy.
Prescott.

De*nay" (?), v. t. [See Deny.] To deny. [Obs.]

That with great rage he stoutly doth denay.
Spenser.

De*nay", n. Denial; refusal. [Obs.] Shak.

Den"dra*chate (?), n. [L. dendrachates; Gr. de`ndron a tree + &?; agate: cf. F. dendrachate, dendragate.] (Min.) Arborescent or dendritic agate.

Den"dri*form (?), a. [Gr. de`ndron tree + -form.] Resembling in structure a tree or shrub.

Den"drite (?), n. [Gr. dendri`ths, fem. dendri^tis, of a tree, fr. de`ndron a tree: cf. F. dendrite.] (Min.) A stone or mineral on or in which are branching figures resembling shrubs or trees, produced by a foreign mineral, usually an oxide of manganese, as in the moss agate; also, a crystallized mineral having an arborescent form, e. g., gold or silver; an arborization.

{ Den*drit"ic (?), Den*drit"ic*al (?), } a. Pertaining to a dendrite, or to arborescent crystallization; having a form resembling a shrub or tree; arborescent.

||Den`dro*cœ"la (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. de`ndron tree + koi^los hollow.] (Zoöl.) A division of the Turbellaria in which the digestive cavity gives off lateral branches, which are often divided into smaller branchlets.

{ Den"droid (?), Den*droid"al (?), } a. [Gr. &?; treelike; de`ndron tree + &?; form: cf. F. dendroïde.] Resembling a shrub or tree in form; treelike.

Den"dro*lite (?), n. [Gr. de`ndron tree + -lite: cf. F. dendrolithe.] (Paleon.) A petrified or fossil shrub, plant, or part of a plant.

Den*drol"o*gist (?), n. One versed in the natural history of trees.

Den*drol"o*gous (?), a. Relating to dendrology.

Den*drol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. de`ndron tree + -logy: cf. F. dendrologie.] A discourse or treatise on trees; the natural history of trees.

Den*drom"e*ter (?), n. [Gr. de`ndron tree + -meter: cf. F. dendromètre.] An instrument to measure the height and diameter of trees.

Den"e*gate (?), v. t. [L. denegatus, p. p. of denegare. See Deny.] To deny. [Obs.]

Den`e*ga"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. dénégation.] Denial. [Obs.]

Den"gue (d&ebreve;&nsm;"g&asl;), n. [See Note, below.] (Med.) A specific epidemic disease attended with high fever, cutaneous eruption, and severe pains in the head and limbs, resembling those of rheumatism; -- called also breakbone fever. It occurs in India, Egypt, the West Indies, etc., is of short duration, and rarely fatal.

&fist; This disease, when it first appeared in the British West India Islands, was called the dandy fever, from the stiffness and constraint which it grave to the limbs and body. The Spaniards of the neighboring islands mistook the term for their word dengue, denoting prudery, which might also well express stiffness, and hence the term dengue became, as last, the name of the disease. Tully.

De*ni"a*ble (?), a. [See Deny.] Capable of being, or liable to be, denied.

De*ni"al (?), n. [See Deny.] 1. The act of gainsaying, refusing, or disowning; negation; -- the contrary of affirmation.

You ought to converse with so much sincerity that your bare affirmation or denial may be sufficient.
Bp. Stillingfleet.

2. A refusal to admit the truth of a statement, charge, imputation, etc.; assertion of the untruth of a thing stated or maintained; a contradiction.

3. A refusal to grant; rejection of a request.

The commissioners, . . . to obtain from the king's subjects as much as they would willingly give, . . . had not to complain of many peremptory denials.
Hallam.

4. A refusal to acknowledge; disclaimer of connection with; disavowal; -- the contrary of confession; as, the denial of a fault charged on one; a denial of God.

Denial of one's self, a declining of some gratification; restraint of one's appetites or propensities; self- denial.

De*ni"ance (?), n. Denial. [Obs.] E. Hall.

De*ni"er (?), n. One who denies; as, a denier of a fact, or of the faith, or of Christ.

||De*nier" (?), n. [F. denier, fr. L. denarius a Roman silver coin orig. equiv. to ten asses, later, a copper, fr. deni ten by ten, fr. the root of decem ten; akin to E. ten. See Ten, and cf. Denary, Dinar.] A small copper coin of insignificant value.

My dukedom to a beggarly denier.
Shak.

Den"i*grate (?), v. t. [L. denigrare; de- + nigrare to blacken, niger black.] 1. To blacken thoroughly; to make very black. Boyle.

2. Fig.: To blacken or sully; to defame. [R.]

To denigrate the memory of Voltaire.
Morley.

Den`i*gra"tion (?), n. [L. denigratio.] 1. The act of making black. Boyle.

2. Fig.: A blackening; defamation.

The vigorous denigration of science.
Morley.

Den"i*gra`tor (?), n. One who, or that which, blackens.

Den"im (d&ebreve;n"&ibreve;m), n. [Of uncertain origin.] A coarse cotton drilling used for overalls, etc.

Den`i*tra"tion (?), n. [Pref. de- + nitrate.] A disengaging, or removal, of nitric acid.

De*ni`tri*fi*ca"tion (?), n. The act or process of freeing from nitrogen; also, the condition resulting from the removal of nitrogen.

De*ni"tri*fy (?), v. t. [Pref. de- + nitrogen + -fy.] To deprive of, or free from, nitrogen.

Den`i*za"tion (?), n. The act of making one a denizen or adopted citizen; naturalization. Hallam.

De*nize" (d&esl;*nīz"), v. t. To make a denizen; to confer the rights of citizenship upon; to naturalize. [Obs.]

There was a private act made for denizing the children of Richard Hills.
Strype.

Den"i*zen (d&ebreve;n"&ibreve;*z'n), n. [OF. denzein, deinzein, prop., one living (a city or country); opposed to forain foreign, and fr. denz within, F. dans, fr. L. de intus, prop., from within, intus being from in in. See In, and cf. Foreign.] 1. A dweller; an inhabitant. "Denizens of air." Pope.

Denizens of their own free, independent state.
Sir W. Scott.

2. One who is admitted by favor to all or a part of the rights of citizenship, where he did not possess them by birth; an adopted or naturalized citizen.

3. One admitted to residence in a foreign country.

Ye gods,
Natives, or denizens, of blest abodes.
Dryden.

Den"i*zen, v. t. 1. To constitute (one) a denizen; to admit to residence, with certain rights and privileges.

As soon as denizened, they domineer.
Dryden.

2. To provide with denizens; to populate with adopted or naturalized occupants.

There [islets] were at once denizened by various weeds.
J. D. Hooker.

Den`i*zen*a"tion (?), n. Denization; denizening. Abbott.

Den"i*zen*ize (?), v. t. To constitute (one) a denizen; to denizen. Abbott.

Den"i*zen*ship, n. State of being a denizen.

Den"mark sat"in (?). See under Satin.

Den"net (?), n. A light, open, two-wheeled carriage for one horse; a kind of gig. ("The term and vehicle common about 1825." Latham.)

De*nom"i*na*ble (?), a. Capable of being denominated or named. Sir T. Browne.

De*nom"i*nate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Denominated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Denominating (?).] [L. denominatus, p. p. of denominare to name; de- + nominare to call by name. See Nominate.] To give a name to; to characterize by an epithet; to entitle; to name; to designate.

Passions commonly denominating selfish.
Hume.

De*nom"i*nate (?), a. [L. denominatus, p. p.] Having a specific name or denomination; specified in the concrete as opposed to abstract; thus, 7 feet is a denominate quantity, while 7 is mere abstract quantity or number. See Compound number, under Compound.

De*nom`i*na"tion (?), n. [L. denominatio metonymy: cf. F. dénomination a naming.] 1. The act of naming or designating.

2. That by which anything is denominated or styled; an epithet; a name, designation, or title; especially, a general name indicating a class of like individuals; a category; as, the denomination of units, or of thousands, or of fourths, or of shillings, or of tons.

Those [qualities] which are classed under the denomination of sublime.
Burke.

3. A class, or society of individuals, called by the same name; a sect; as, a denomination of Christians.

Syn. -- Name; appellation; title. See Name.

De*nom`i*na"tion*al (?), a. Pertaining to a denomination, especially to a sect or society. "Denominational differences." Buckle.

De*nom`i*na"tion*al*ism (?), n. A denominational or class spirit or policy; devotion to the interests of a sect or denomination.

De*nom`i*na"tion*al*ist, n. One imbued with a denominational spirit. The Century.

De*nom`i*na"tion*al*ly, adv. In a denominational manner; by denomination or sect.

De*nom`i*na"tive (?), a. [Cf. F. dénominatif.] 1. Conferring a denomination or name.

2. (Logic) Connotative; as, a denominative name.

3. Possessing, or capable of possessing, a distinct denomination or designation; denominable.

The least denominative part of time is a minute.
Cocker.

4. (Gram.) Derived from a substantive or an adjective; as, a denominative verb.

De*nom`i*na"tive, n. A denominative name or term; denominative verb. Jer. Taylor. Harkness.

De*nom`i*na"tive*ly, adv. By denomination.

De*nom"i*na`tor (?), n. [Cf. F. dénominateur.] 1. One who, or that which, gives a name; origin or source of a name.

This opinion that Aram . . . was the father and denomination of the Syrians in general.
Sir W. Raleigh.

2. (Arith.) That number placed below the line in vulgar fractions which shows into how many parts the integer or unit is divided.

&fist; Thus, in ⅗, 5 is the denominator, showing that the integer is divided into five parts; and the numerator, 3, shows how many parts are taken.

3. (Alg.) That part of any expression under a fractional form which is situated below the horizontal line signifying division.

&fist; In this sense, the denominator is not necessarily a number, but may be any expression, either positive or negative, real or imaginary. Davies & Peck (Math. Dict. )

De*not"a*ble (?), a. [From Denote.] Capable of being denoted or marked. Sir T. Browne.

De*no"tate (?), v. t. [L. denotatus, p. p. of denotare.] To mark off; to denote. [Archaic]

These terms denotate a longer time.
Burton.

What things should be denotated and signified by the color.
Urquhart.

De`no*ta"tion (?), n. [L. denotatio: cf. F. dénotation.] The marking off or separation of anything. Hammond.

De*not"a*tive (?), a. Having power to denote; designating or marking off.

Proper names are preëminently denotative; telling us that such as object has such a term to denote it, but telling us nothing as to any single attribute.
Latham.

De*note" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Denoted; p. pr. & vb. n. Denoting.] [L. denotare; de- + notare to mark, nota mark, sign, note: cf. F. dénoter. See Note.] 1. To mark out plainly; to signify by a visible sign; to serve as the sign or name of; to indicate; to point out; as, the hands of the clock denote the hour.

The better to denote her to the doctor.
Shak.

2. To be the sign of; to betoken; to signify; to mean.

A general expression to denote wickedness of every sort.
Gilpin.

De*note"ment (?), n. Sign; indication. [R.]

&fist; A word found in some editions of Shakespeare.

De*not"ive (?), a. Serving to denote.

||Dé`noue`ment" (?), n. [F. dénouement, fr. dénouer to untie; pref. dé- (L. dis-) + nouer to tie, fr. L. nodus knot, perh. for gnodus and akin to E. knot.] 1. The unraveling or discovery of a plot; the catastrophe, especially of a drama or a romance.

2. The solution of a mystery; issue; outcome.

De*nounce" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Denounced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Denouncing.] [F. dénoncer, OF. denoncier, fr. L. denuntiare, denunciare; de- + nunciare, nuntiare, to announce, report, nuntius a messenger, message. See Nuncio, and cf. Denunciate.] 1. To make known in a solemn or official manner; to declare; to proclaim (especially an evil). [Obs.]

Denouncing wrath to come.
Milton.

I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish.
Deut. xxx. 18.

2. To proclaim in a threatening manner; to threaten by some outward sign or expression.

His look denounced desperate.
Milton.

3. To point out as deserving of reprehension or punishment, etc.; to accuse in a threatening manner; to invoke censure upon; to stigmatize.

Denounced for a heretic.
Sir T. More.

To denounce the immoralities of Julius Cæsar.
Brougham.

De*nounce"ment (?), n. [Cf. OF. denoncement.] Solemn, official, or menacing announcement; denunciation. [Archaic]

False is the reply of Cain, upon the denouncement of his curse.
Sir T. Browne.

De*noun"cer (?) n. One who denounces, or declares, as a menace.

Here comes the sad denouncer of my fate.
Dryden.

Dense (?), a. [L. densus; akin to Gr. &?; thick with hair or leaves: cf. F. dense.] 1. Having the constituent parts massed or crowded together; close; compact; thick; containing much matter in a small space; heavy; opaque; as, a dense crowd; a dense forest; a dense fog.

All sorts of bodies, firm and fluid, dense and rare.
Ray.

To replace the cloudy barrier dense.
Cowper.

2. Stupid; gross; crass; as, dense ignorance.

Dense"ly, adv. In a dense, compact manner.

Dense"ness, n. The quality of being dense; density.

Den*sim"e*ter (?), n. [L. densus dense + -meter: cf. F. densimètre.] An instrument for ascertaining the specific gravity or density of a substance.

Den"si*ty (d&ebreve;n"s&ibreve;*t&ybreve;), n. [L. densitas; cf. F. densité.] 1. The quality of being dense, close, or thick; compactness; -- opposed to rarity.

2. (Physics) The ratio of mass, or quantity of matter, to bulk or volume, esp. as compared with the mass and volume of a portion of some substance used as a standard.

&fist; For gases the standard substance is hydrogen, at a temperature of 0° Centigrade and a pressure of 760 millimeters. For liquids and solids the standard is water at a temperature of 4° Centigrade. The density of solids and liquids is usually called specific gravity, and the same is true of gases when referred to air as a standard.

3. (Photog.) Depth of shade. Abney.

Dent (d&ebreve;nt), n. [A variant of Dint.] 1. A stroke; a blow. [Obs.] "That dent of thunder." Chaucer.

2. A slight depression, or small notch or hollow, made by a blow or by pressure; an indentation.

A blow that would have made a dent in a pound of butter.
De Quincey.

Dent, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dented; p. pr. & vb. n. Denting.] To make a dent upon; to indent.

The houses dented with bullets.
Macaulay.

Dent, n. [F., fr. L. dens, dentis, tooth. See Tooth.] (Mach.) A tooth, as of a card, a gear wheel, etc. Knight.

Den"tal (d&ebreve;n"tal), a. [L. dens, dentis, tooth: cf. F. dental. See Tooth.] 1. Of or pertaining to the teeth or to dentistry; as, dental surgery.

2. (Phon.) Formed by the aid of the teeth; -- said of certain articulations and the letters representing them; as, d and t are dental letters.

Dental formula (Zoöl.), a brief notation used by zoölogists to denote the number and kind of teeth of a mammal. -- Dental surgeon, a dentist.

Den"tal, n. [Cf. F. dentale. See Dental, a.] 1. An articulation or letter formed by the aid of the teeth.

2. (Zoöl.) A marine mollusk of the genus Dentalium, with a curved conical shell resembling a tooth. See Dentalium.

Den"tal*ism (-&ibreve;z'm), n. The quality of being formed by the aid of the teeth.

||Den*ta"li*um (?), n. [NL., fr. L. dens, dentis, tooth.] (Zoöl.) A genus of marine mollusks belonging to the Scaphopoda, having a tubular conical shell.

Den"ta*ry (?), a. (Anat.) Pertaining to, or bearing, teeth. -- n. The distal bone of the lower jaw in many animals, which may or may not bear teeth.

{ Den"tate (d&ebreve;n"t&asl;t), Den"ta*ted (- t&asl;*t&ebreve;d), } a. [L. dentatus, fr. dens, dentis, tooth.] 1. (Bot.) Toothed; especially, with the teeth projecting straight out, not pointed either forward or backward; as, a dentate leaf.

2. (Zoöl.) Having teeth or toothlike points. See Illust. of Antennæ.

Den"tate-cil"i*ate (?), a. (Bot.) Having the margin dentate and also ciliate or fringed with hairs.

Den"tate*ly (?), adv. In a dentate or toothed manner; as, dentately ciliated, etc.

Den"tate-sin"u*ate (?), a. (Bot.) Having a form intermediate between dentate and sinuate.

Den*ta"tion (?), n. Formation of teeth; toothed form. [R.]

How did it [a bill] get its barb, its dentation?
Paley.

Dent"ed (?), a. [From Dent, v. t.] Indented; impressed with little hollows.

Dent"el (?), n. Same as Dentil.

||Den*telle" (?), n. [F.] (Bookbinding) An ornamental tooling like lace. Knight.

||Den*tel"li (?), n. pl. [It., sing. dentello, prop., little tooth, dim. of dente tooth, L. dens, dentis. Cf. Dentil.] Modillions. Spectator.

||Den"tex (?), n. [NL., cf. L. dentix a sort of sea fish.] (Zoöl.) An edible European marine fish (Sparus dentex, or Dentex vulgaris) of the family Percidæ.

||Den`ti*ce"te (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. L. dens, dentis, tooth + cetus, pl. cete, whale, Gr. &?;.] (Zoöl.) The division of Cetacea in which the teeth are developed, including the sperm whale, dolphins, etc.

Den"ti*cle (?), n. [L. denticulus a little tooth, dim. of dens, dentis, tooth. See Dental, and cf. Dentelli.] A small tooth or projecting point.

{ Den*tic"u*late (?), Den*tic"u*la`ted (?), } a. [L. denticulatus, fr. denticulus. See Denticle.] Furnished with denticles; notched into little toothlike projections; as, a denticulate leaf of calyx. -- Den*tic"u*late*ly (#), adv.

Den*tic`u*la"tion (?), n. 1. The state of being set with small notches or teeth. Grew.

2. (Bot. & Zoöl.) A diminutive tooth; a denticle.

Den*tif"er*ous (?), a. [L. dens, dentis, tooth + -ferous.] Bearing teeth; dentigerous.

Den"ti*form (?), a. [L. dens, dentis, tooth + -form: cf. F. dentiforme.] Having the form of a tooth or of teeth; tooth-shaped.

Den"ti*frice (?), n. [L. dentifricium; dens, dentis, tooth + fricare to rub: cf. F. dentifrice. See Tooth, and Friction.] A powder or other substance to be used in cleaning the teeth; tooth powder.

Den*tig"er*ous (?), a. [L. dens, dentis, tooth + -gerous.] Bearing teeth or toothlike structures.

Den"til (?), n. [LL. dentillus, for L. denticulus. Cf. Dentelli, Denticle, Dentile.] (Arch.) A small square block or projection in cornices, a number of which are ranged in an ornamental band; -- used particularly in the Ionic, Corinthian, and Composite orders.

Den`ti*la"bi*al (?), a. Formed by the teeth and the lips, or representing a sound so formed. -- n. A dentilabial sound or letter.

Den"ti*la`ted (?), a. Toothed.

Den`ti*la"tion (?), n. Dentition.

Den"ti*lave (?), n. [L. dens, dentis, tooth + lavare to wash.] A wash for cleaning the teeth.

Den"tile (?), n. [LL. dentillus, for L. denticulus. See Dentil.] (Zoöl.) A small tooth, like that of a saw.

Den`ti*lin"gual (?), a. [L. dens tooth + E. lingual.] Produced by applying the tongue to the teeth or to the gums; or representing a sound so formed. -- n. A dentilingual sound or letter.

The letters of this fourth, dentilingual or linguidental, class, viz., d, t, s, z, l, r.
Am. Cyc.

Den*til"o*quist (?), n. One who speaks through the teeth, that is, with the teeth closed.

Den*til"o*quy (?), n. [L. dens, dentis, tooth + loqui to speak.] The habit or practice of speaking through the teeth, or with them closed.

Den"ti*nal (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to dentine.

Den"tine (-t&ibreve;n), n. [Cf. F. dentine.] (Anat.) The dense calcified substance of which teeth are largely composed. It contains less animal matter than bone, and in the teeth of man is situated beneath the enamel.

Den"ti*phone (d&ebreve;n"t&ibreve;*fōn), n. [L. dens, dentis, tooth + Gr. fwnh` sound.] An instrument which, placed against the teeth, conveys sound to the auditory nerve; an audiphone. Knight.

||Den`ti*ros"ter (?), n.; pl. Dentirostres (#). [NL., fr. L. dens, dentis, tooth + rostrum bill, beak: cf. F. dentirostre.] (Zoöl.) A dentirostral bird.

Den`ti*ros"tral (?), a. (Zoöl.) Having a toothed bill; -- applied to a group of passerine birds, having the bill notched, and feeding chiefly on insects, as the shrikes and vireos. See Illust. (N) under Beak.

Den`ti*ros"trate (?), a. Dentirostral.

Den"ti*scalp (?), n. [L. dens tooth + scalpere to scrape.] An instrument for scraping the teeth.

Den"tist (?), n. [From L. dens, dentis, tooth: cf. F. dentiste. See Tooth.] One whose business it is to clean, extract, or repair natural teeth, and to make and insert artificial ones; a dental surgeon.

{ Den*tis"tic (?), Den*tis"ti*cal (?), } a. Pertaining to dentistry or to dentists. [R.]

Den"tist*ry (?), n. The art or profession of a dentist; dental surgery.

Den*ti"tion (?), n. [L. dentitio, fr. dentire to cut teeth, fr. dens, dentis, tooth. See Dentist.] 1. The development and cutting of teeth; teething.

2. (Zoöl.) The system of teeth peculiar to an animal.

Den"tize (?), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Dentized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dentizing.] [L. dens, dentis, tooth.] To breed or cut new teeth. [R.]

The old countess . . . did dentize twice or thrice.
Bacon.

Den"toid (?), a. [L. dens, dentis, tooth + -oid.] Shaped like a tooth; tooth- shaped.

Den`to*lin"gual (?), a. Dentilingual.

Den"ture (?; 135), n. [L. dens, dentis, tooth: cf. F. denture, OF. denteure.] (Dentistry) An artificial tooth, block, or set of teeth.

De*nud"ate (?), v. t. [L. denudatus, p. p. of denudare. See Denude.] To denude. [Obs. or R.]

Den`u*da"tion (?; 277), n. [L. denudatio: cf. F. dénudation.] 1. The act of stripping off covering, or removing the surface; a making bare.

2. (Geol.) The laying bare of rocks by the washing away of the overlying earth, etc.; or the excavation and removal of them by the action of running water.

De*nude" (?), v. t. [L. denudare; de- + nudare to make naked or bare, nudus naked. See Nude.] To divest of all covering; to make bare or naked; to strip; to divest; as, to denude one of clothing, or lands.

De*nun"ci*ate (?), v. t. [L. denuntiatus, denunciatus, p. p. of denuntiare, -ciare. See Denounce.] To denounce; to condemn publicly or solemnly. [R.]

To denunciate this new work.
Burke.

De*nun`ci*a"tion (?), n. [L. denuntiatio, -ciatio.] 1. Proclamation; announcement; a publishing. [Obs.]

Public . . . denunciation of banns before marriage.
Bp. Hall.

2. The act of denouncing; public menace or accusation; the act of inveighing against, stigmatizing, or publicly arraigning; arraignment.

3. That by which anything is denounced; threat of evil; public menace or accusation; arraignment.

Uttering bold denunciations of ecclesiastical error.
Motley.

De*nun"ci*a*tive (?), a. [L. denuntiativus, -ciativus, monitory.] Same as Denunciatory. Farrar.

De*nun"ci*a`tor (?), n. [L. denuntiator, -ciator, a police officer.] One who denounces, publishes, or proclaims, especially intended or coming evil; one who threatens or accuses.

De*nun"ci*a*to*ry (?), a. Characterized by or containing a denunciation; minatory; accusing; threatening; as, severe and denunciatory language.

De`nu*tri"tion (?), n. (Physiol.) The opposition of nutrition; the failure of nutrition causing the breaking down of tissue.

De*ny" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Denied (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Denying.] [OE. denien, denaien, OF. denier, deneer, F. dénier, fr. L. denegare; de- + negare to say no, deny. See Negation.] 1. To declare not to be true; to gainsay; to contradict; -- opposed to affirm, allow, or admit.

&fist; We deny what another says, or we deny the truth of an assertion, the force of it, or the assertion itself.

2. To refuse (to do something or to accept something); to reject; to decline; to renounce. [Obs.] "If you deny to dance." Shak.

3. To refuse to grant; to withhold; to refuse to gratify or yield to; as, to deny a request.

Who finds not Providence all good and wise,
Alike in what it gives, and what denies?
Pope.

To some men, it is more agreeable to deny a vicious inclination, than to gratify it.
J. Edwards.

4. To disclaim connection with, responsibility for, and the like; to refuse to acknowledge; to disown; to abjure; to disavow.

The falsehood of denying his opinion.
Bancroft.

Thou thrice denied, yet thrice beloved.
Keble.

To deny one's self, to decline the gratification of appetites or desires; to practice self- denial.

Let him deny himself, and take up his cross.
Matt. xvi. 24.

De*ny", v. i. To answer in &?;&?;&?; negative; to declare an assertion not to be true.

Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid.
Gen. xviii. 15.

De*ny"ing*ly, adv. In the manner of one denies a request. Tennyson.

De`ob*struct" (?), v. t. To remove obstructions or impediments in; to clear from anything that hinders the passage of fluids; as, to deobstruct the pores or lacteals. Arbuthnot.

De*ob"stru*ent (?), a. (Med.) Removing obstructions; having power to clear or open the natural ducts of the fluids and secretions of the body; aperient. -- n. (Med.) A medicine which removes obstructions; an aperient.

De"o*dand` (?), n. [LL. deodandum, fr. L. Deo dandum to be given to God.] (Old Eng. Law) A personal chattel which had caused the death of a person, and for that reason was given to God, that is, forfeited to the crown, to be applied to pious uses, and distributed in alms by the high almoner. Thus, if a cart ran over a man and killed him, it was forfeited as a deodand.

&fist; Deodands are unknown in American law, and in 1846 were abolished in England.

De`o*dar" (?), n. [Native name, fr. Skr. dēvadāru, prop., timber of the gods.] (Bot.) A kind of cedar (Cedrus Deodara), growing in India, highly valued for its size and beauty as well as for its timber, and also grown in England as an ornamental tree.

De"o*date` (?), n. [L. Deo to God (Deus God) + datum thing given.] A gift or offering to God. [Obs.]

Wherein that blessed widow's deodate was laid up.
Hooker.

De*o"dor*ant (?), n. A deodorizer.

De*o`dor*i*za"tion (?), n. The act of depriving of odor, especially of offensive odors resulting from impurities.

De*o"dor*ize (?), v. t. To deprive of odor, especially of such as results from impurities.

De*o"dor*i`zer (?), n. He who, or that which, deodorizes; esp., an agent that destroys offensive odors.

De*on"er*ate (?), v. t. [L. deoneratus, p. p. of deonerare. See Onerate.] To unload; to disburden. [Obs.] Cockeram.

De*on`to*log"ic*al (?), a. Pertaining to deontology.

De`on*tol"o*gist (?), n. One versed in deontology.

De`on*tol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. &?; gen. &?;, necessity, obligation (p. neut. of &?; it is necessary) + - logy.] The science which relates to duty or moral obligation. J. Bentham.

De`o*per"cu*late (?), a. (Bot.) Having the lid removed; -- said of the capsules of mosses.

De*op"pi*late (?), v. t. To free from obstructions; to clear a passage through. [Obs.] Boyle.

De*op`pi*la"tion (?), n. Removal of whatever stops up the passages. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

De*op"pi*la*tive (?), a. & n. (Med.) Deobstruent; aperient. [Obs.] Harvey.

De*or`di*na"tion (?), n. [LL. deordinatio depraved morality.] Disorder; dissoluteness. [Obs.]

Excess of riot and deordination.
Jer. Taylor.

De*os"cu*late (?), v. t. [L. deosculatus, p. p. of deosculari. See Osculate.] To kiss warmly. [Obs.] -- De*os`cu*la"tion (#), n. [Obs.]

De*ox"i*date (?), v. t. (Chem.) To deoxidize.

De*ox`i*da"tion (?), n. (Chem.) The act or process of reducing from the state of an oxide.

De*ox`i*di*za"tion (?), n. (Chem.) Deoxidation.

De*ox"i*dize (?), v. t. (Chem.) To deprive of oxygen; to reduce from the state of an oxide.

De*ox"i*di`zer (?), n. (Chem.) That which removes oxygen; hence, a reducing agent; as, nascent hydrogen is a deoxidizer.

De*ox"y*gen*ate (?), v. t. (Chem.) To deoxidize. [Obs.]

De*ox`y*gen*a"tion (?), n. (Chem.) The act or operation of depriving of oxygen.

De*ox"y*gen*ize (?), v. t. (Chem.) To deoxidize.

De*paint" (?), p. p. [F. dépeint, p. p. of dépeindre to paint, fr. L. depingere. See Depict, p. p.] Painted. [Obs.] Chaucer.

De*paint", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depainted; p. pr. & vb. n. Depainting.] 1. To paint; to picture; hence, to describe; to delineate in words; to depict. [Obs.]

And do unwilling worship to the saint
That on his shield depainted he did see.
Spenser.

In few words shall see the nature of many memorable persons . . . depainted.
Holland.

2. To mark with, or as with, color; to color.

Silver drops her vermeil cheeks depaint.
Fairfax.

De*paint"er (?) n. One who depaints. [Obs.]

De*par"dieux` (?), interj. [OF., a corruption of de part Dieu, lit., on the part of God.] In God's name; certainly. [Obs.] Chaucer.

De*part" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Departed; p. pr. & vb. n. Departing.] [OE. departen to divide, part, depart, F. départir to divide, distribute, se départir to separate one's self, depart; pref. dé- (L. de) + partir to part, depart, fr. L. partire, partiri, to divide, fr. pars part. See Part.] 1. To part; to divide; to separate. [Obs.] Shak.

2. To go forth or away; to quit, leave, or separate, as from a place or a person; to withdraw; -- opposed to arrive; -- often with from before the place, person, or thing left, and for or to before the destination.

I will depart to mine own land.
Num. x. 30.

Ere thou from hence depart.
Milton.

He which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart.
Shak.

3. To forsake; to abandon; to desist or deviate (from); not to adhere to; -- with from; as, we can not depart from our rules; to depart from a title or defense in legal pleading.

If the plan of the convention be found to depart from republican principles.
Madison.

4. To pass away; to perish.

The glory is departed from Israel.
1 Sam. iv. 21.

5. To quit this world; to die.

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace.
Luke ii. 29.

To depart with, to resign; to part with. [Obs.] Shak.

De*part", v. t. 1. To part thoroughly; to dispart; to divide; to separate. [Obs.]

Till death departed them, this life they lead.
Chaucer.

2. To divide in order to share; to apportion. [Obs.]

And here is gold, and that full great plentee,
That shall departed been among us three.
Chaucer.

3. To leave; to depart from. "He departed this life." Addison. "Ere I depart his house." Shak.

De*part", n. [Cf. F. départ, fr. départir.] 1. Division; separation, as of compound substances into their ingredients. [Obs.]

The chymists have a liquor called water of depart.
Bacon.

2. A going away; departure; hence, death. [Obs.]

At my depart for France.
Shak.

Your loss and his depart.
Shak.

De*part"a*ble (?), a. Divisible. [Obs.] Bacon.

De*part"er (?), n. 1. One who refines metals by separation. [Obs.]

2. One who departs.

De*part"ment (?), n. [F. département, fr. départir. See Depart, v. i.] 1. Act of departing; departure. [Obs.]

Sudden departments from one extreme to another.
Wotton.

2. A part, portion, or subdivision.

3. A distinct course of life, action, study, or the like; appointed sphere or walk; province.

Superior to Pope in Pope's own peculiar department of literature.
Macaulay.

4. Subdivision of business or official duty; especially, one of the principal divisions of executive government; as, the treasury department; the war department; also, in a university, one of the divisions of instruction; as, the medical department; the department of physics.

5. A territorial division; a district; esp., in France, one of the districts composed of several arrondissements into which the country is divided for governmental purposes; as, the Department of the Loire.

6. A military subdivision of a country; as, the Department of the Potomac.

De`part*men"tal (?), a. Pertaining to a department or division. Burke.

De*par"ture (?; 135), n. [From Depart.] 1. Division; separation; putting away. [Obs.]

No other remedy . . . but absolute departure.
Milton.

2. Separation or removal from a place; the act or process of departing or going away.

Departure from this happy place.
Milton.

3. Removal from the present life; death; decease.

The time of my departure is at hand.
2 Tim. iv. 6.

His timely departure . . . barred him from the knowledge of his son's miseries.
Sir P. Sidney.

4. Deviation or abandonment, as from or of a rule or course of action, a plan, or a purpose.

Any departure from a national standard.
Prescott.

5. (Law) The desertion by a party to any pleading of the ground taken by him in his last antecedent pleading, and the adoption of another. Bouvier.

6. (Nav. & Surv.) The distance due east or west which a person or ship passes over in going along an oblique line.

&fist; Since the meridians sensibly converge, the departure in navigation is not measured from the beginning nor from the end of the ship's course, but is regarded as the total easting or westing made by the ship or person as he travels over the course.

To take a departure (Nav. & Surv.), to ascertain, usually by taking bearings from a landmark, the position of a vessel at the beginning of a voyage as a point from which to begin her dead reckoning; as, the ship took her departure from Sandy Hook.

Syn. -- Death; demise; release. See Death.

De*pas"cent (?), a. [L. depascens, p. pr. of depascere; de- + pascere to feed.] Feeding. [R.]

De*pas"ture (?; 135), v. t. & i. To pasture; to feed; to graze; also, to use for pasture. [R.]

Cattle, to graze and departure in his grounds.
Blackstone.

A right to cut wood upon or departure land.
Washburn.

De*pa"tri*ate (?), v. t. & i. [L. de- + patria one's country.] To withdraw, or cause to withdraw, from one's country; to banish. [Obs.]

A subject born in any state
May, if he please, depatriate.
Mason.

De*pau"per*ate (?), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Depauperated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Depauperating (?).] [LL. depauperatus, p. p. depauperare to impoverish; L. de- + pauperare to make poor, pauper poor.] To make poor; to impoverish.

Liming does not depauperate; the ground will last long, and bear large grain.
Mortimer.

Humility of mind which depauperates the spirit.
Jer. Taylor.

De*pau"per*ate (?), a. [L. depauperatus, p. p.] (Bot.) Falling short of the natural size, from being impoverished or starved. Gray.

De*pau"per*ize (?), v. t. To free from paupers; to rescue from poverty. [R.]

De*peach" (?), v. t. [L. dépêcher. See Dispatch.] To discharge. [Obs.]

As soon as the party . . . before our justices shall be depeached.
Hakluyt.

De*pec"ti*ble (?), a. [L. depectere to comb off; de- + pectere to comb.] Tough; thick; capable of extension. [Obs.]

Some bodies are of a more depectible nature than oil.
Bacon.

De*pec`u*la"tion (?), n. [L. depeculari, p. p. depeculatus, to rob. See Peculate.] A robbing or embezzlement. [Obs.]

Depeculation of the public treasure.
Hobbes.

De*peinct" (?), v. t. [See Depaint.] To paint. [Obs.] Spenser.

De*pend" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Depended; p. pr. & vb. n. Depending.] [F. dépendre, fr. L. depend&?;re; de- + pend&?;re to hang. See Pendant.] 1. To hang down; to be sustained by being fastened or attached to something above.

And ever-living lamps depend in rows.
Pope.

2. To hang in suspense; to be pending; to be undetermined or undecided; as, a cause depending in court.

You will not think it unnatural that those who have an object depending, which strongly engages their hopes and fears, should be somewhat inclined to superstition.
Burke.

3. To rely for support; to be conditioned or contingent; to be connected with anything, as a cause of existence, or as a necessary condition; -- followed by on or upon, formerly by of.

The truth of God's word dependeth not of the truth of the congregation.
Tyndale.

The conclusion . . . that our happiness depends little on political institutions, and much on the temper and regulation of our own minds.
Macaulay.

Heaven forming each on other to depend.
Pope.

4. To trust; to rest with confidence; to rely; to confide; to be certain; -- with on or upon; as, we depend on the word or assurance of our friends; we depend on the mail at the usual hour.

But if you 're rough, and use him like a dog,
Depend upon it -- he 'll remain incog.
Addison.

5. To serve; to attend; to act as a dependent or retainer. [Obs.] Shak.

6. To impend. [Obs.] Shak.

De*pend"a*ble (?), a. Worthy of being depended on; trustworthy. "Dependable friendships." Pope.

{ De*pend"ant (?), De*pend"ance (?), n., De*pend"an*cy (?) }, n. See Dependent, Dependence, Dependency.

&fist; The forms dependant, dependance, dependancy are from the French; the forms dependent, etc., are from the Latin. Some authorities give preference to the form dependant when the word is a noun, thus distinguishing it from the adjective, usually written dependent.

De*pend"ence (?), n. [LL. dependentia, fr. L. dependens. See Dependent, and cf. Dependance.] 1. The act or state of depending; state of being dependent; a hanging down or from; suspension from a support.

2. The state of being influenced and determined by something; subjection (as of an effect to its cause).

The cause of effects, and the dependence of one thing upon another.
Bp. Burnet.

3. Mutual connection and support; concatenation; systematic inter-relation.

So dark and so intricate of purpose, without any dependence or order.
Sir T. More.

4. Subjection to the direction or disposal of another; inability to help or provide for one's self.

Reduced to a servile dependence on their mercy.
Burke.

5. A resting with confidence; reliance; trust.

Affectionate dependence on the Creator is the spiritual life of the soul.
T. Erskine.

6. That on which one depends or relies; as, he was her sole dependence.

7. That which depends; anything dependent or suspended; anything attached a subordinate to, or contingent on, something else.

Like a large cluster of black grapes they show
And make a large dependence from the bough.
Dryden.

8. A matter depending, or in suspense, and still to be determined; ground of controversy or quarrel. [Obs.]

To go on now with my first dependence.
Beau. & Fl.

De*pend"en*cy (?), n.; pl. Dependencies (&?;). 1. State of being dependent; dependence; state of being subordinate; subordination; concatenation; connection; reliance; trust.

Any long series of action, the parts of which have very much dependency each on the other.
Sir J. Reynolds.

So that they may acknowledge their dependency on the crown of England.
Bacon.

2. A thing hanging down; a dependence.

3. That which is attached to something else as its consequence, subordinate, satellite, and the like.

This earth and its dependencies.
T. Burnet.

Modes I call such complex ideas which . . . are considered as dependencies on or affections of substances.
Locke.

4. A territory remote from the kingdom or state to which it belongs, but subject to its dominion; a colony; as, Great Britain has its dependencies in Asia, Africa, and America.

&fist; Dependence is more used in the abstract, and dependency in the concrete. The latter is usually restricted in meaning to 3 and 4.

De*pend"ent (?), a. [L. dependens, -entis, p. pr. dependere. See Depend, and cf. Dependant.] 1. Hanging down; as, a dependent bough or leaf.

2. Relying on, or subject to, something else for support; not able to exist, or sustain itself, or to perform anything, without the will, power, or aid of something else; not self-sustaining; contingent or conditioned; subordinate; -- often with on or upon; as, dependent on God; dependent upon friends.

England, long dependent and degraded, was again a power of the first rank.
Macaulay.

Dependent covenant or contract (Law), one not binding until some connecting stipulation is performed. -- Dependent variable (Math.), a varying quantity whose changes are arbitrary, but are regarded as produced by changes in another variable, which is called the independent variable.

De*pend"ent, n. 1. One who depends; one who is sustained by another, or who relies on another for support of favor; a hanger-on; a retainer; as, a numerous train of dependents.

A host of dependents on the court, suborned to play their part as witnesses.
Hallam.

2. That which depends; corollary; consequence.

With all its circumstances and dependents.
Prynne.

&fist; See the Note under Dependant.

De*pend"ent*ly, adv. In a dependent manner.

De*pend"er (?), n. One who depends; a dependent.

De*pend"ing*ly, adv. As having dependence. Hale.

De*peo"ple (?), v. t. To depopulate. [Obs.]

De*per"dit (?), n. [LL. deperditum, fr. L. deperditus, p. p. of deperdere; de- + perdere to lose, destroy.] That which is lost or destroyed. [R.] Paley.

De*per"dite*ly (?), adv. Hopelessly; despairingly; in the manner of one ruined; as, deperditely wicked. [Archaic]

Dep`er*di"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. déperdition.] Loss; destruction. [Archaic] Sir T. Browne.

De*per"ti*ble (?), a. [See Depart.] Divisible. [Obs.] Bacon.

De*phlegm" (?), v. t. [Pref. de- + phlegm water; cf. F. déphlegmer, déflegmer.] (O. Chem.) To rid of phlegm or water; to dephlegmate. [Obs.] Boyle.

De*phleg"mate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dephlegmated; p. pr. & vb. n. Dephlegmating.] [See Dephlegm.] (Chem.) To deprive of superabundant water, as by evaporation or distillation; to clear of aqueous matter; to rectify; -- used of spirits and acids.

De`phleg*ma"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. déflegmation.] (Chem.) The operation of separating water from spirits and acids, by evaporation or repeated distillation; -- called also concentration, especially when acids are the subject of it. [Obs.]

De*phleg"ma*tor (?), n. An instrument or apparatus in which water is separated by evaporation or distillation; the part of a distilling apparatus in which the separation of the vapors is effected.

De*phleg"ma*to*ry (?), a. Pertaining to, or producing, dephlegmation.

De*phlegm"ed*ness (?), n. A state of being freed from water. [Obs.] Boyle.

De`phlo*gis"tic*cate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dephlogisticated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dephlogisticating.] [Pref. de- + phlosticate: cf. F. déphlogistiguer.] (O. Chem.) 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.

De*phos`phor*i*za"tion (?), n. The act of freeing from phosphorous.

De*pict" (-p&ibreve;kt"), p. p. [L. depictus, p. p. of depingere to depict; de- + pingere to paint. See Paint, and cf. Depaint, p. p.] Depicted. Lydgate.

De*pict" (d&esl;*p&ibreve;kt"), 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.

De*pic"tion (?), n. [L. depictio.] A painting or depicting; a representation.

De*pic"ture (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depictured (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Depicturing.] To make a picture of; to paint; to picture; to depict.

Several persons were depictured in caricature.
Fielding.

Dep"i*late (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depilated; p. pr. & vb. n. Depilating.] [L. depilatus, p. p. of depilare to depilate; de- + pilare to put forth hairs, pilus hair.] To strip of hair; to husk. Venner.

Dep`i*la"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. dépilation.] Act of pulling out or removing the hair; unhairing. Dryden.

De*pil"a*to*ry (?), a. [Cf. F. dépilatoire.] Having the quality or power of removing hair. -- n. An application used to take off hair.

Dep"i*lous (?), a. [Pref. de- + pilous: cf. L. depilis.] Hairless. Sir t. Browne.

De*pla"nate (?), a. [L. deplanetus, p. p. of deplanare to make level. See Plane, v. t.] (Bot.) Flattened; made level or even.

De*plant" (?), v. t. [Pref. de- + plan: cf. F. déplanter, L. deplantare to take off a twig. See Plant, v. t.] To take up (plants); to transplant. [R.]

De`plan*ta"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. déplantation.] Act of taking up plants from beds.

De*plete" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depleted; p. pr. & vb. n. Depleting.] [From L. deplere to empty out; de- + plere to fill. Forined like replete, complete. See Fill, Full, a.] 1. (Med.) 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.

De*ple"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. déplétion.] 1. The act of depleting or emptying.

2. (Med.) the act or process of diminishing the quantity of fluid in the vessels by bloodletting or otherwise; also excessive evacuation, as in severe diarrhea.

De*ple"tive (?), a. [Cf. F. déplétif.] Able or fitted to deplete. -- n. A substance used to deplete.

De*ple"to*ry (?), a. Serving to deplete.

Dep`li*ca"tion (?), n. [LL. deplicare to unfold; L. de- + plicare to fold.] An unfolding, untwisting, or unplaiting. [Obs.] W. Montagu.

Dep`loi*ta"tion (?), n. [Cf. Exploitation, Deploy.] Same as Exploitation.

De*plor`a*bil"i*ty (?), n. Deplorableness. Stormonth.

De*plor"a*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. déplorable.] 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.

De*plor"a*ble*ness, n. State of being deplorable.

De*plor"a*bly, adv. In a deplorable manner.

De*plo"rate (?), a. [L. deploratus, p. p. of deplorare. See Deplore.] Deplorable. [Obs.]

A more deplorate estate.
Baker.

Dep`lo*ra"tion (?), n. [L. deploratio: cf. F. déploration.] The act of deploring or lamenting; lamentation. Speed.

De*plore" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deplored (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Deploring.] [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.

De*plore", v. i. To lament. Gray.

De*plor"ed*ly (?), adv. Lamentably.

De*plor"ed*ness, n. The state of being deplored or deplorable. [R.] Bp. Hail.

De*plore"ment (?), n. Deploration. [Obs.]

De*plor"er (?), n. One who deplores.

De*plor"ing*ly, adv. In a deploring manner.

De*ploy" (?), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Deployed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Deploying.] [F. déployer; pref. dé&?; = dés (L. dis) + ployer, equiv. to plier to fold, fr. L. plicare. See Ply, and cf. Display.] (Mil.) 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.

{ De*ploy" (?), De*ploy"ment (?), } n. (Mil.) 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.

De*plu"mate (?), a. [LL. diplumatus, p. p. of deplumare. See Deplume.] (Zoöl.) Destitute or deprived of features; deplumed.

Dep`lu*ma"tion (?), n. [See Deplumate.] 1. The stripping or falling off of plumes or feathers. Bp. Stillingfleet

2. (Med.) A disease of the eyelids, attended with loss of the eyelashes. Thomas.

De*plume" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deplumed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Depluming.] [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.

De*po`lar*i*za"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. dépolarisation.] 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.

De*po"lar*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depolarized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Depolarizing.] [Pref. de- + polarize: cf. F. dépolarizer.] 1. (Opt.) To deprive of polarity; to reduce to an unpolarized condition.

&fist; 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.) To free from polarization, as the negative plate of the voltaic battery.

De*po"lar*i`zer (?), n. (Elec.) A substance used to prevent polarization, as upon the negative plate of a voltaic battery.

De*pol"ish (d&esl;*p&obreve;l"&ibreve;sh), v. t. To remove the polish or glaze from.

De*pol"ish*ing (d&esl;*p&obreve;l"&ibreve;sh*&ibreve;ng), n. (Ceramics) The process of removing the vitreous glaze from porcelain, leaving the dull luster of the surface of ivory porcelain. Knight.

De*pone" (d&esl;*pōn"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deponed (-pōnd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Deponing.] [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).

De*pone", v. i. 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.

De*po"nent (?), n. [L. deponenes, -entis, laying down. See Depone, v. t.] 1. (Law) One who deposes or testifies under oath; one who gives evidence; usually, one who testifies in writing.

2. (Gr. & Lat. Gram.) 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.

De*po"nent, a. [L. deponens, -entis, laying down (its proper passive meaning), p. pr. of deponere: cf. F. déponent. See Depone.] (Gram.) Having a passive form with an active meaning, as certain latin and Greek verbs.

De*pop"u*la*cy (?), n. Depopulation; destruction of population. [R.] Chapman.

De*pop"u*late (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depopulated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Depopulating (?).] [L. depopulatus, p. p. of depopulari to ravage; de- + populari to ravage, fr. populus people: cf. OF. depopuler, F. dépeupler. See People.] 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.

&fist; 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.

De*pop"u*late, v. i. To become dispeopled. [R.]

Whether the country be depopulating or not.
Goldsmith.

De*pop`u*la"tion (?), n. [L. depopulatio pillaging: cf. F. dépopulation depopulation.] 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.

De*pop"u*la`tor (?), n. [L., pillager.] One who depopulates; a dispeopler.

De*port" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deported; p. pr. & vb. n. Deporting.] [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.

De*port" (?), n. Behavior; carriage; demeanor; deportment. [Obs.] "Goddesslike deport." Milton.

De`por*ta"tion (?), n. [L. depotatio: cf. F. déportation.] 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.

De*port"ment (?), n. [F. déportement misconduct, OF., demeanor. See Deport.] Manner of deporting or demeaning one's self; manner of acting; conduct; carriage; 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.

De*por"ture (?), n. Deportment. [Obs.]

Stately port and majestical deporture.
Speed.

De*pos"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being deposed or deprived of office. Howell.

De*pos"al (?), n. The act of deposing from office; a removal from the throne. Fox.

De*pose" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deposed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Deposing.][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.

De*pose", v. i. 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.

De*pos"er (?), n. 1. One who deposes or degrades from office.

2. One who testifies or deposes; a deponent.

De*pos"it (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deposited; p. pr. & vb. n. Depositing.] [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 safe keeping; to put up; to store; as, to deposit goods in a warehouse.

3. To lodge in some one's hands for safe 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 but deem an error.
Hammond.

&fist; Both this verb and the noun following were formerly written deposite.

De*pos"it, n. [L. depositum, fr. depositus, p. p. of deponere: cf. F. dépôt, OF. depost. See Deposit, v. t., and cf. Depot.] 1. That which 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) 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; something 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 received on deposit.

De*pos"i*ta*ry (?), n.; pl. Depositaries (#). [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) One to whom goods are bailed, to be kept for the bailor without a recompense. Kent.

Dep`o*si"tion (?), n. [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.

&fist; 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) The act of laying down one's testimony in writing; also, testimony laid or taken down in writing, under oath or affirmation, before 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.

De*pos"i*tor (d&esl;*p&obreve;z"&ibreve;*t&etilde;r), n. [L., fr. deponere. See Depone.] One who makes a deposit, especially of money in a bank; -- the correlative of depository.

De*pos"i*to*ry (-t&osl;*r&ybreve;), n.; pl. Depositories (-r&ibreve;z). 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.

||De*pos"i*tum (-tŭm), n. [L.] Deposit.

De*pos"i*ture (-t&usl;r; 135), n. The act of depositing; deposition. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

De"pot (dē"p&osl;; French d&asl;*pō"; 277), n. [F. dépôt, OF. depost, fr. L. depositum a deposit. See Deposit, n.] 1. A place of deposit for the 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 received 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 passengers or freight. [U. S.]

Syn. -- See Station.

Dep"per (d&ebreve;p"p&etilde;r), a. Deeper. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dep`ra*va"tion (d&ebreve;p`r&adot;*vā"shŭn), n. [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.) Change for the worse; deterioration; morbid perversion.

Syn. -- Depravity; corruption. See Depravity.

De*prave" (d&esl;*prāv"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depraved (-prāvd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Depraving.] [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.

De*prav"ed*ly (?), adv. In a depraved manner.

De*prav"ed*ness, n. Depravity. Hammond.

De*prave"ment (-ment), n. Depravity. [Obs.] Milton.

De*prav"er (-&etilde;r), n. One who depraves or corrupts.

De*prav"ing*ly, adv. In a depraving manner.

De*prav"i*ty (?), n. [From Deprave: cf. L. pravitas crookedness, perverseness.] The state 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.

Dep"re*ca*ble (?), a. [L. deprecabilis exorable.] That may or should be deprecated. Paley.

Dep"re*cate (d&ebreve;p"r&esl;*kāt), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deprecated (- kā`t&ebreve;d); p. pr. & vb. n. Deprecating (-kā`t&ibreve;ng).] [L. deprecatus, p. p. of deprecari to avert by player, to deprecate; de- + precari to pray. See Pray.] To pray against, as an evil; to seek to avert by prayer; 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.

Dep"re*ca`ting*ly (-kā`t&ibreve;ng*l&ybreve;), adv. In a deprecating manner.

Dep`re*ca"tion (d&ebreve;p`r&esl;*kā"shŭn), n. [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.

Dep"re*ca*tive (?), a. [L. deprecativus: cf. F. déprécatif.] Serving to deprecate; deprecatory.

-- Dep"re*ca*tive*ly, adv.

Dep"re*ca`tor (?), n. [L.] One who deprecates.

Dep"re*ca*to*ry (?), a. [L. deprecatorius.] Serving to deprecate; tending to remove or avert evil by prayer; apologetic.

Humble and deprecatory letters.
Bacon.

De*pre"ci*ate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depreciated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Depreciating (?).] [L. depretiatus, depreciatus, p. p. of depretiare, -ciare, to depreciate; de- + pretiare to prize, fr. pretium price. See Price.] 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 philosophers 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.

De*pre"ci*ate, v. i. 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.

De*pre`ci*a"tion (?), n. [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.

De*pre"ci*a`tive (?), a. Tending, or intended, to depreciate; expressing depreciation; undervaluing. -- De*pre"ci*a`tive*ly, adv.

De*pre"ci*a`tor (?), n. [L.] One who depreciates.

De*pre"ci*a*to*ry (?), a. Tending to depreciate; undervaluing; depreciative.

Dep"re*da*ble (?), a. Liable to depredation. [Obs.] "Made less depredable." Bacon.

Dep"re*date (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depredated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Depredating (?).] [L. depraedatus, p. p. of depraedari to plunder; de- + praedari to plunder, praeda plunder, prey. See Prey.] 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.

Dep"re*date, v. i. To take plunder or prey; to commit waste; as, the troops depredated on the country.

Dep`re*da"tion (?), n. [L. depraedatio: cf. F. déprédation.] 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.

Dep"re*da`tor (?), n. [L. depraedator.] One who plunders or pillages; a spoiler; a robber.

Dep"re*da`to*ry (?), a. Tending or designed to depredate; characterized by depredation; plundering; as, a depredatory incursion.

De*pred"i*cate (?), v. t. [Pref. de- (intensive) + predicate.] To proclaim; to celebrate. [R.]

Dep`re*hend" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deprehended; p. pr. & vb. n. Deprehending.] [L. deprehendere, deprehensum; de- + prehendere to lay hold of, seize. See Prehensile.] 1. To take unawares 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.

Dep`re*hen"si*ble (?), a. That may be caught or discovered; apprehensible. [Obs.] Petty.

-- Dep`re*hen"si*ble*ness, n. [Obs.]

Dep`re*hen"sion (?), n. [L. deprehensio.] A catching; discovery. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

De*press" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depressed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Depressing.] [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.) 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.

De*press", a. [L. depressus, p. p.] Having the middle lower than the border; concave. [Obs.]

If the seal be depress or hollow.
Hammond.

De*press"ant (?), n. (Med.) An agent or remedy which lowers the vital powers.

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.) Having the vertical diameter shorter than the horizontal or transverse; -- said of the bodies of animals, or of parts of the bodies.

De*press"ing*ly, adv. In a depressing manner.

De*pres"sion (?), n. [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.) The angular distance of a celestial object below the horizon.

8. (Math.) The operation of reducing to a lower degree; -- said of equations.

9. (Surg.) 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 degrees 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.

De*press"ive (?), a. Able or tending to depress or cast down. -- De*press"ive*ness, n.

De*pres`so*mo"tor (?), a. (Med.) Depressing or diminishing the capacity for movement, as depressomotor nerves, which lower or inhibit muscular activity. -- n. Any agent that depresses the activity of the motor centers, as bromides, etc.

De*press"or (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, presses down; an oppressor.

2. (Anat.) 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.

Dep"ri*ment (?), a. [L. deprimens, p. pr. of deprimere. See Depress.] Serving to depress. [R.] "Depriment muscles." Derham.

De*pri"sure (?), n. [F. dépriser to undervalue; pref. dé- (L. dis-) + priser to prize, fr. prix price, fr. L. pretium. See Dispraise.] Low estimation; disesteem; contempt. [Obs.]

De*priv"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being, or liable to be, deprived; liable to be deposed.

Kings of Spain . . . deprivable for their tyrannies.
Prynne.

Dep`ri*va"tion (?), n. [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) the taking away from a clergyman his benefice, or other spiritual promotion or dignity.

&fist; Deprivation may be a beneficio or ab officio; the first takes away the living, the last degrades and deposes from the order.

De*prive" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deprived (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Depriving.] [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 minister deprived for inconformity.
Bacon.

Syn. -- To strip; despoil; rob; abridge.

De*prive"ment (?), n. Deprivation. [R.]

De*priv"er (?), n. One who, or that which, deprives.

De*pros"trate (?), a. Fully prostrate; humble; low; rude. [Obs.]

How may weak mortal ever hope to file
His unsmooth tongue, and his deprostrate style.
G. Fletcher.

De`pro*vin"cial*ize (?), v. t. To divest of provincial quality or characteristics.

Depth (s&ebreve;pth), n. [From Deep; akin to D. diepte, Icel. d&ymacr;pt, d&ymacr;pð, Goth. diupiþa.] 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) The number of simple elements which an abstract conception or notion includes; the comprehension or content.

6. (Horology) 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 a sail.

Depth"en (?), v. t. To deepen. [Obs.]

Depth"less, a. 1. Having no depth; shallow.

2. Of measureless depth; unfathomable.

In clouds of depthless night.
Francis.

De*pu"ce*late (?), v. t. [L. de + LL. pucella virgin, F. pucelle: cf. F. dépuceler.] To deflour; to deprive of virginity. [Obs.] Bailey.

De*pu"di*cate (?), v. t. [L. depudicatus, p. p. of depudicare.] To deflour; to dishonor. [Obs.]

De*pulse" (?), v. t. [L. depulsus, p. p. of depellere to drive out; de- + pellere to drive.] To drive away. [Obs.] Cockeram.

De*pul"sion (?), n. [L. depulsio.] A driving or thrusting away. [R.] Speed.

De*pul"so*ry (?), a. [L. depulsorius.] Driving or thrusting away; averting. [R.] Holland.

Dep"u*rant (?), a. & n. (Med.) Depurative.

Dep"u*rate (?), a. [LL. depuratus, p. p. of depurare to purify; L. de- + purare to purify, purus clean, pure. Cf. Depure.] Depurated; cleansed; freed from impurities. Boyle.

Dep"u*rate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depurated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Depurating (?).] To free from impurities, heterogeneous matter, or feculence; to purify; to cleanse.

To depurate the mass of blood.
Boyle.

Dep`u*ra"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. dépuration.] The act or process of depurating or freeing from foreign or impure matter, as a liquid or wound.

Dep"u*ra*tive (?), a. [Cf. F. dépuratif.] (Med.) Purifying the blood or the humors; depuratory. -- n. A depurative remedy or agent; or a disease which is believed to be depurative.

Dep"u*ra`tor (?), n. One who, or that which, cleanses.

Dep"u*ra*to*ry (?), a. [Cf. F. dépuratoire.] Depurating; tending to depurate or cleanse; depurative.

De*pure" (?), v. t. [F. dépurer. See Depurate.] 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.

De*pur"ga*to*ry (?), a. Serving to purge; tending to cleanse or purify. [Obs.] Cotgrave.

Dep`u*ri"tion (?), n. See Depuration.

Dep"u*ta*ble (?), a. Fit to be deputed; suitable to act as a deputy. Carlyle.

Dep`u*ta"tion (?), n. [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.

Dep"u*ta`tor (?), n. One who deputes, or makes a deputation. [R.] Locke.

De*pute" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deputed; p. pr. & vb. n. Deputing.] [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.

De*pute", n. A person deputed; a deputy. [Scot.]

Dep"u*tize (d&ebreve;p"&usl;*tīz), v. t. To appoint as one's deputy; to empower to act in one's stead; to depute.

Dep"u*ty (-t&ybreve;), n.; pl. Deputies (#). [F. député, fr. LL. deputatus. See Depute.] 1. One appointed as the substitute 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.

&fist; 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 legislative 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.

De*quan"ti*tate (?), v. t. [L. de- + quantitas, -atis. See Quantity.] To diminish the quantity of; to disquantity. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

De*rac"i*nate (d&esl;*răs"&ibreve;*nāt), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deracinated (-nā`t&ebreve;d); p. pr. & vb. n. Deracinating (nā`t&ibreve;ng).] [F. déraciner; pref. dé- (L. dis) + racine root, fr. an assumed LL. radicina, fr. L. radix, radicis, root.] To pluck up by the roots; to extirpate. [R.]

While that the colter rusts
That should deracinate such savagery.
Shak.

De*rac`i*na"tion (?), n. The act of pulling up by the roots; eradication. [R.]

{ De*raign", De*rain" } (?), v. t. [See Darraign.] (Old Law) To prove or to refute by proof; to clear (one's self). [Obs.]

{ De*raign"ment, De*rain"ment } (?), n. [See Darraign.] 1. The act of deraigning. [Obs.]

2. The renunciation of religious or monastic vows. [Obs.] Blount.

De*rail" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Derailed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Derailing.] To cause to run off from the rails of a railroad, as a locomotive. Lardner.

De*rail"ment (?), n. The act of going off, or the state of being off, the rails of a railroad.

De*range" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deranged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Deranging.] [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.

De*ranged" (?), a. Disordered; especially, disordered in mind; crazy; insane.

The story of a poor deranged parish lad.
Lamb.

De*range"ment (?), n. [Cf. F. dérangement.] 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.

De*ran"ger (?), n. One who deranges.

De*ray" (?), n. [OF. derroi, desroi, desrei; pref. des- (L. dis-) + roi, rei, rai, order. See Array.] Disorder; merriment. [Obs.]

||Der"bi*o (?), n. (Zoöl.) A large European food fish (Lichia glauca).

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.

Der"by*shire spar" (?). (Min.) A massive variety of fluor spar, found in Derbyshire, England, and wrought into vases and other ornamental work.

Der*do"ing (?), a. [See Dere, v. t.] Doing daring or chivalrous deeds. [Obs.] "In derdoing arms." Spenser.

Dere (?), v. t. [AS. derian to hurt.] To hurt; to harm; to injure. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dere, n. Harm. [Obs.] Robert of Brunne.

{ De*reine, De*reyne" (?) }, v. t. Same as Darraign. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Der"e*lict (?), a. [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.

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.

Der`e*lic"tion (?), n. [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) A retiring of the sea, occasioning a change of high-water mark, whereby land is gained.

De`re*li"gion*ize (?), v. t. To make irreligious; to turn from religion. [R.]

He would dereligionize men beyond all others.
De Quincey.

Dere"ling (?), n. Darling. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dere"ling (?), n. Darling. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Derf (?), a. [Icel. djafr.] Strong; powerful; fierce. [Obs.] -- Derf"ly, adv. [Obs.]

De*ride" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Derided; p. pr. & vb. n. Deriding.] [L. deridere, derisum; de- + rid&?;re to laugh. See Ridicule.] 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.

De*rid"er (?), n. One who derides, or laughs at, another in contempt; a mocker; a scoffer.

De*rid"ing*ly, adv. By way of derision or mockery.

De*ri"sion (?), n. [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.

Satan beheld their plight,
And to his mates thus in derision 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.

De*ri"sive (?), a. Expressing, serving for, or characterized by, derision. "Derisive taunts." Pope. -- De*ri"sive*ly, adv. -- De*ri"sive*ness, n.

De*ri"so*ry (?), a. [L. derisorius: cf. F. dérisoire.] Derisive; mocking. Shaftesbury.

De*riv"a*ble (?), a. [From Derive.] 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.

De*riv"a*bly, adv. By derivation.

De*riv"al (?), n. Derivation. [R.]

The derival of e from a.
Earle.

Der"i*vate (?), a. [L. derivatus, p. p. of derivare. See Derive.] Derived; derivative. [R.] H. Taylor. -- n. A thing derived; a derivative. [R.]

Der"i*vate (?), v. t. To derive. [Obs.] Huloet.

Der`i*va"tion (?), n. [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.) The operation of deducing one function from another according to some fixed law, called the law of derivation, as the operation of differentiation or of integration.

8. (Med.) A drawing of humors or fluids from one part of the body to another, to relieve or lessen a morbid process.

Der`i*va"tion*al (?), a. Relating to derivation. Earle.

De*riv"a*tive (?), a. [L. derivativus: cf. F. dérivatif.] 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.

De*riv"a*tive, n. 1. That which is derived; anything obtained or deduced from another.

2. (Gram.) 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.) 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.) An agent which is adapted to produce a derivation (in the medical sense).

5. (Math.) A derived function; a function obtained from a given function by a certain algebraic process.

&fist; Except in the mode of derivation the derivative is the same as the differential coefficient. See Differential coefficient, under Differential.

6. (Chem.) 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.

De*rive" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Derived (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Deriving.] [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.) 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.

De*rive" (?), v. i. To flow; to have origin; to descend; to proceed; to be deduced. Shak.

Power from heaven
Derives, and monarchs rule by gods appointed.
Prior.

De*rive"ment (?), n. That which is derived; deduction; inference. [Obs.]

I offer these derivements from these subjects.
W. Montagu.

De*riv"er (?), n. One who derives.

Derk (?), a. Dark. [Obs.] Chaucer.

-derm (?). [See Derm, n.] A suffix or terminal formative, much used in anatomical terms, and signifying skin, integument, covering; as, blastoderm, ectoderm, etc.

Derm (?), n. [Gr. de`rma, -atos, skin, fr. &?; to skin, flay: cf. F. derme. See Tear, v. t.] 1. The integument of animal; the skin.

2. (Anat.) See Dermis.

||Der"ma (?), n. [NL. See Derm.] (Anat.) See Dermis.

Derm"al (?), a. [From Derm.] 1. Pertaining to the integument or skin of animals; dermic; as, the dermal secretions.

2. (Anat.) Pertaining to the dermis or true skin.

||Der*map"te*ra (?), Der*map"ter*an (&?;), n. (Zoöl.) See Dermoptera, Dermopteran.

{ Der*mat"ic (?), Der"ma*tine (?), } a. [Gr. &?;, &?;, fr. &?; skin.] Of or pertaining to the skin.

Der`ma*ti"tis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. de`rma, -atos, skin + -itis.] (Med.) Inflammation of the skin.

Der*mat"o*gen (?), n. [Gr. de`rma, -atos, skin + -gen.] (Bot.) Nascent epidermis, or external cuticle of plants in a forming condition.

Der*mat"o*gen (?), n. [Gr. de`rma, -atos, skin + -gen.] (Bot.) Nascent epidermis, or external cuticle of plants in a forming condition.

Der*ma*tog"ra*phy (?), n. [Gr. de`rma, -atos, skin + -graphy.] An anatomical description of, or treatise on, the skin.

Der"ma*toid (?), a. [Gr. de`rma, -atos, skin + -oid: cf. F. dermatoïde. Cf. Dermoid.] Resembling skin; skinlike.

Der`ma*tol"o*gist (?), n. One who discourses on the skin and its diseases; one versed in dermatology.

Der`ma*tol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. de`rma, -atos, skin + -logy: cf. F. dermatologie.] The science which treats of the skin, its structure, functions, and diseases.

Der`ma*to*path"ic (?), a. [Gr. de`rma, -atos, skin + pa`qos suffering.] (Med.) Of or pertaining to skin diseases, or their cure.

Der*mat"o*phyte (d&etilde;r*măt"&osl;*fīt or d&etilde;r"m&adot;*t&osl;*fīt), n. [Gr. de`rma, -atos, skin + fyto`n plant.] (Med.) A vegetable parasite, infesting the skin.
[1913 Webster]

||Der*mes"tes (?), n. [NL., from Gr. dermhsth`s; de`rma skin + root of &?; to eat.] (Zoöl.) 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.

Der*mes"toid (?), a. [Dermestes + -oid.] (Zoöl.) Pertaining to or resembling the genus Dermestes.

The carpet beetle, called the buffalo moth, is a dermestoid beetle.
Pop. Sci. Monthly.

Der"mic (?), a. 1. Relating to the derm or skin.

2. (Anat.) 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.

||Der"mis (?), n. [NL. See Derm.] (Anat.) 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.

||Der`mo*bran`chi*a"ta (?), n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) A group of nudibranch mollusks without special gills.

Der`mo*bran"chi*ate (?), a. [Derm + branchiate.] (Zoöl.) Having the skin modified to serve as a gill.

Der`mo*hæ"mal (?), a. (Anat.) Pertaining to, or in relation with, both dermal and hæmal structures; as, the dermohæmal spines or ventral fin rays of fishes.

Der"moid (?), a. [Derm + - oid: cf. F. dermoïde.] Same as Dermatoid.

Dermoid cyst (Med.), a cyst containing skin, or structures connected with skin, such as hair.

Der`mo*neu"ral (?), a. (Anat.) Pertaining to, or in relation with, both dermal and neural structures; as, the dermoneural spines or dorsal fin rays of fishes. Owen.

Der`mo*path"ic (?), a. (Med.) Dermatopathic.

Der"mo*phyte (?), n. A dermatophyte.

||Der*mop"te*ra (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; skin + &?; wing.] 1. (Zoöl.) The division of insects which includes the earwigs (Forticulidæ).

2. (Zoöl.) 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.) An order of Mammalia; the Cheiroptera.

[Written also Dermaptera, and Dermatoptera.]

Der*mop"ter*an (?), n. (Zoöl.) An insect which has the anterior pair of wings coriaceous, and does not use them in flight, as the earwig.

||Der*mop"te*ri (?), n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) Same as Dermopterygii.

||Der*mop`te*ryg"i*i (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; skin + &?; wing, fin, dim. of &?; wing.] (Zoöl.) A group of fishlike animals including the Marsipobranchiata and Leptocardia.

Der`mo*skel"e*ton (?), n. [Derm + skeleton.] (Anat.) See Exoskeleton.

||Der`mos*to"sis (?), n. [NL., from Gr. &?; skin + &?; bone.] (Physiol.) Ossification of the dermis.

Dern (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] A gatepost or doorpost. [Local Eng.] C. Kingsley.

Dern, a. [See Dearn, a.] 1. Hidden; concealed; secret. [Obs.] "Ye must be full dern." Chaucer.

2. Solitary; sad. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Derne (?), v. t. & i. [AS. dyrnan to hide. See Dern, a., Dearn, a.] To hide; to skulk. [Scot.]

He at length escaped them by derning himself in a foxearth.
H. Miller.

Dern"ful (?), a. Secret; hence, lonely; sad; mournful. [Obs.] "Dernful noise." Spenser.

||Der`nier" (?), a. [F., from OF. darrein, derrain. See Darrein.] Last; final.

Dernier ressort (&?;) [F.], last resort or expedient.

Dern"ly (?), adv. Secretly; grievously; mournfully. [Obs.] Spenser.

Der"o*gant (?), a. [L. derogans, p. pr.] Derogatory. [R.] T. Adams.

Der"o*gate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Derogated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Derogating (?).] [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.

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.

Der"o*gate (?), n. [L. derogatus, p. p.] Diminished in value; dishonored; degraded. [R.] Shak.

Der"o*gate*ly, adv. In a derogatory manner.

Der`o*ga"tion (?), n. [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.) An alteration of, or subtraction from, a contract for a sale of stocks.

De*rog"a*tive (?), a. Derogatory. -- De*rog"a*tive*ly, adv. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

Der"o*ga`tor (?), n. [L.] A detractor.

De*rog"a*to*ri*ly (?), adv. In a derogatory manner; disparagingly. Aubrey.

De*rog"a*to*ri*ness, n. Quality of being derogatory.

De*rog"a*to*ry (?), a. 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 order.
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.

||Der`o*tre"ma*ta (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. de`ros skin + &?;, &?;, hole.] (Zoöl.) 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.]

Der"re (?), a. Dearer. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Der"rick (?), n. [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.] 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.

Der"ring, a. Daring or warlike. [Obs.]

Drad for his derring doe and bloody deed.
Spenser.

Der"rin*ger (?), n. [From the American inventor.] A kind of short-barreled pocket pistol, of very large caliber, often carrying a half-ounce ball.

Derth (?), n. Dearth; scarcity. [Obs.] Spenser.

||Der`tro*the"ca (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; beak + &?; box, case.] (Zoöl.) The horny covering of the end of the bill of birds.

{ Der"vish (?), Der"vise (?), Der"vis (?), } n. [Per. derwēsch, fr. OPer. derew to beg, ask alms: cf. F. derviche.] A Turkish or Persian monk, especially one who professes extreme poverty and leads an austere life.

Der"worth (dēr"w&etilde;rth), a. [AS. deórwurþe, lit., dearworth.] Precious. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.

Des"cant (d&ebreve;s"kănt), n. [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.

&fist; 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.

Des*cant" (d&ebreve;s*kănt"), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Descanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Descanting.] [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.

Des*cant"er (?), n. One who descants.

De*scend" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Descended; p. pr. & vb. n. Descending.] [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.) To move toward the south, or to the southward.

8. (Mus.) To fall in pitch; to pass from a higher to a lower tone.

De*scend" (?), v. t. 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.

De*scend"ant (?), a. [F. descendant, p. pr. of descendre. Cf. Descendent.] Descendent.

De*scend"ant, n. 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.

De*scend"ent (?), a. [L. descendens, -entis, p. pr. of descendre. Cf. Descendant.] Descending; falling; proceeding from an ancestor or source.

More than mortal grace
Speaks thee descendent of ethereal race.
Pope.

De*scend"er (?), n. One who descends.

De*scend`i*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality of being descendible; capability of being transmitted from ancestors; as, the descendibility of an estate.

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.

De*scend"ing, a. 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.

De*scend"ing*ly, adv. In a descending manner.

De*scen"sion (?), n. [OF. descension, L. descensio. See Descent.] 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.]

De*scen"sion*al (?), a. Pertaining to descension. Johnson.

De*scen"sive (?), a. Tending to descend; tending downwards; descending. Smart.

De*scen"so*ry (?), n. [NL. descensorium: cf. OF. descensoire. See Descend.] A vessel used in alchemy to extract oils.

De*scent" (?), n. [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) 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.) A passing from a higher to a lower tone.

Syn. -- Declivity; slope; degradation; extraction; lineage; assault; invasion; attack.

De*scrib"a*ble (?), a. That can be described; capable of description.

De*scribe" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Described (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Describing.] [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.

De*scribe", v. i. To use the faculty of describing; to give a description; as, Milton describes with uncommon force and beauty.

De*scrib"ent (?), n. [L. describens, p. pr. of describere.] (Geom.) Same as Generatrix.

De*scrib"er (?), n. One who describes.

De*scri"er (?), n. One who descries.

De*scrip"tion (?), n. [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.

De*scrip"tive (?), a. [L. descriptivus: cf. F. descriptif.] 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.

De*scrive" (?), v. t. [OF. descrivre. See Describe.] To describe. [Obs.] Spenser.

De*scry" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Descried (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Descrying.] [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.

De*scry" (?), n. 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.

Des"e*cate (?), v. t. [L. desecare to cut off.] To cut, as with a scythe; to mow. [Obs.]

Des"e*crate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desecrated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Desecrating (?).] [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.] 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.

Des"e*cra`ter (?), n. One who desecrates; a profaner. Harper's Mag.

Des`e*cra"tion (?), n. The act of desecrating; profanation; condition of anything desecrated.

Des"e*cra`tor (?), n. One who desecrates. "Desecrators of the church." Morley.

De*seg`men*ta"tion (?), n. (Anat.) The loss or obliteration of division into segments; as, a desegmentation of the body.

De*sert" (d&esl;*z&etilde;rt"), n. [OF. deserte, desserte, merit, recompense, fr. deservir, desservir, to merit. See Deserve.] 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.

Des"ert (d&ebreve;z"&etilde;rt), n. [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 which are destitute of moisture 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.

Also figuratively.

Before her extended
Dreary and vast and silent, the desert of life.
Longfellow.

Des"ert, a. [Cf. L. desertus, p. p. of deserere, and F. désert. See 2d Desert.] 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.

De*sert" (d&esl;*z&etilde;rt"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deserted; p. pr. & vb. n. Deserting.] [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.) 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.

De*sert", v. i. 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.

De*sert"er (d&esl;*z&etilde;rt"&etilde;r), n. 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.

De*sert"ful (?), a. Meritorious. [R.] Beau. & Fl.

De*ser"tion (d&esl;*z&etilde;r"shŭn), n. [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.

De*sert"less (?), a. Without desert. [R.]

De*sert"less*ly, adv. Undeservedly. [R.] Beau. & Fl.

Des"ert*ness (?), n. A deserted condition. [R.] "The desertness of the country." Udall.

{ De*sert"rix (?), De*sert"rice (?), } n. [L. desertrix.] A feminine deserter. Milton.

De*serve" (d&esl;*z&etilde;rv"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deserved (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Deserving.] [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.

De*serve" (d&esl;*z&etilde;rv"), v. i. To be worthy of recompense; -- usually with ill or with well.

One man may merit or deserve of another.
South.

De*serv"ed*ly (-z&etilde;rv"&ebreve;d*l>ycr/), adv. According to desert (whether good or evil); justly.

De*serv"ed*ness, n. Meritoriousness.

De*serv"er (?), n. One who deserves.

De*serv"ing, n. Desert; merit.

A person of great deservings from the republic.
Swift.

De*serv"ing, a. Meritorious; worthy; as, a deserving person or act. -- De*serv"ing*ly, adv.

Des`ha*bille (?), n. [F. déshabillé, fr. déshabiller to undress; pref. dés- (L. dis-) + habiller to dress. See Habiliment, and cf. Dishabille.] An undress; a careless toilet.

De*sic"cant (?), a. [L. desiccans, p. pr. of desiccare. See Desiccate.] Drying; desiccative. -- n. (Med.) A medicine or application for drying up a sore. Wiseman.

Des"ic*cate (?; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desiccated; p. pr. & vb. n. Desiccating.] [L. desiccatus, p. p. of desiccare to dry up; de- + siccare to dry, siccus dry. See Sack wine.] 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.

Des"ic*cate, v. i. To become dry.

Des`ic*ca"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. dessiccation.] The act of desiccating, or the state of being desiccated.

De*sic"ca*tive (?), a. [Cf. F. dessicatif.] Drying; tending to dry. Ferrand. -- n. (Med.) An application for drying up secretions.

Des"ic*ca`tor (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, desiccates.

2. (Chem.) 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.

De*sic"ca*to*ry (?), a. Desiccative.

De*sid"er*a*ble (?), a. Desirable. [R.] "Good and desiderable things." Holland.

||De*sid`e*ra"ta (?), n. pl. See Desideratum.

De*sid"er*ate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desiderated; p. pr. & vb. n. Desiderating.] [L. desideratus, p. p. of desiderare to desire, miss. See Desire, and cf. Desideratum.] 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.

De*sid`er*a"tion (?), n. [L. desideratio.] Act of desiderating; also, the thing desired. [R.] Jeffrey.

De*sid"er*a*tive (?), a. [L. desiderativus.] Denoting desire; as, desiderative verbs.

De*sid"er*a*tive, n. 1. An object of desire.

2. (Gram.) 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.

||De*sid`e*ra"tum (?), n.; pl. Desiderata (#). [L., fr. desideratus, p. p. See Desiderate.] Anything desired; that of which the lack is felt; a want generally felt and acknowledge.

{ De*sid"i*ose` (?), De*sid"i*ous (?), } a. [L. desidiosus, fr. desidia a sitting idle, fr. desid&?;re to sit idle; de- + sed&?;re to sit.] Idle; lazy. [Obs.]

De*sid"i*ous*ness, n. The state or quality of being desidiose, or indolent. [Obs.] N. Bacon.

De*sight" (?), n. [Pref. de- + sight.] An unsightly object. [Obs.]

De*sight"ment (?), n. The act of making unsightly; disfigurement. [R.]

To substitute jury masts at whatever desightment or damage in risk.
London Times.

De*sign" (?; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Designed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Designing.] [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.

De*sign", v. i. 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.

De*sign" (?), n. [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 purpos&?; of the King.
Tennyson.

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.) 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.

Des"ig*na*ble (?), a. Capable of being designated or distinctly marked out; distinguishable. Boyle.

Des"ig*nate (?), a. [L. designatus, p. p. of designare. See Design, v. t.] Designated; appointed; chosen. [R.] Sir G. Buck.

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; as, to designate an officer for or to the command of a post or station.

Syn. -- To name; denominate; style; entitle; characterize; describe.

Des`ig*na"tion (?), n. [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 which have parts.
Locke.

Des"ig*na*tive (?), a. [Cf. F. désignatif.] Serving to designate or indicate; pointing out.

Des"ig*na`tor (?), n. [L.] 1. (Rom. Antiq.) An officer who assigned to each his rank and place in public shows and ceremonies.

2. One who designates.

Des"ig*na*to*ry (?), a. Serving to designate; designative; indicating. [R.]

De*sign"ed*ly (?), adv. By design; purposely; intentionally; -- opposed to accidentally, ignorantly, or inadvertently.

De*sign"er (?), n. 1. One who designs, marks out, or plans; a contriver.

2. (Fine Arts) One who produces or creates original works of art or decoration.

3. A plotter; a schemer; -- used in a bad sense.

De*sign"ful (?), a. Full of design; scheming. [R.] -- De*sign"ful*ness, n. [R.] Barrow.

De*sign"ing, a. Intriguing; artful; scheming; as, a designing man.

De*sign"ing, n. The act of making designs or sketches; the act of forming designs or plans.

De*sign"less, a. Without design. [Obs.] -- De*sign"less*ly, adv. [Obs.]

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.

De*sil"ver (?), v. t. To deprive of silver; as, to desilver lead.

De*sil`ver*i*za"tion (?), n. The act or the process of freeing from silver; also, the condition resulting from the removal of silver.

De*sil"ver*ize (?), v. t. To deprive, or free from, silver; to remove silver from.

Des"i*nence (?), n. [Cf. F. désinence.] Termination; ending. Bp. Hall.

Des"i*nent (?), a. [L. desinens, p. pr. of desinere, desitum, to leave off, cease; de- + sinere to let, allow.] Ending; forming an end; lowermost. [Obs.] "Their desinent parts, fish." B. Jonson.

Des`i*nen"tial (?), a. [Cf. F. désinentiel.] Terminal.

Furthermore, b, as a desinential element, has a dynamic function.
Fitzed. Hall.

De*sip"i*ent (?), a. [L. desipiens, p. pr. of desipere to be foolish; de- + sapere to be wise.] Foolish; silly; trifling. [R.]

De*sir`a*bil"i*ty, n. The state or quality of being desirable; desirableness.

De*sir"a*ble (?), a. [F. désirable, fr. L. desiderabilis. See Desire, v. t.] 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.

De*sir"a*ble*ness, n. The quality of being desirable.

The desirableness of the Austrian alliance.
Froude.

De*sir"a*bly, adv. In a desirable manner.

De*sire" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desired (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Desiring.] [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 same. C. J. Smith.

De*sire", n. [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.

De*sire"ful (?), a. Filled with desire; eager. [R.]

The desireful troops.
Godfrey (1594).

De*sire"ful*ness, n. The state of being desireful; eagerness to obtain and possess. [R.]

The desirefulness of our minds much augmenteth and increaseth our pleasure.
Udall.

De*sire"less, a. Free from desire. Donne.

De*sir"er (?), n. One who desires, asks, or wishes.

De*sir"ous (?), a. [F. désireux, OF. desiros, fr. desir. See Desire, n.] 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.

De*sir"ous*ly, adv. With desire; eagerly.

De*sir"ous*ness, n. The state of being desirous.

De*sist" (?; 277), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Desisted; p. pr. & vb. n. Desisting.] [L. desistere; de- + sistere to stand, stop, fr. stare to stand: cf. F. désister. See Stand.] 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.

De*sist"ance (?), n. [Cf. F. desistance.] 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.

De*sist"ive (?), a. [See Desist.] Final; conclusive; ending. [R.]

De*si"tion (?), n. [See Desinent.] An end or ending. [R.]

Des"i*tive (?), a. Final; serving to complete; conclusive. [Obs.] "Desitive propositions." I. Watts.

Des"i*tive, n. (Logic) A proposition relating to or expressing an end or conclusion. [Obs.] I. Watts.

Desk (?), n. [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, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Desking.] To shut up, as in a desk; to treasure.

Desk"work` (?), n. Work done at a desk, as by a clerk or writer. Tennyson.

Des"man (d&ebreve;s"man), n. [Cf. Sw. desman musk.] (Zoöl.) An amphibious, insectivorous mammal found in Russia (Myogale moschata). It is allied to the moles, but is called muskrat by some English writers. [Written also dæsman.]

{ Des"mid (?), Des*mid"i*an (?), } n. [Gr. desmo`s chain + e'i^dos form.] (Bot.) 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.

Des"mine (?), n. [Gr. de`smh, desmo`s, bundle, fr. dei^n to bind.] (Min.) Same as Stilbite. It commonly occurs in bundles or tufts of crystals.

||Des`mo*bac*te"ri*a (d&ebreve;s`m&osl;*băk*tē"r&ibreve;*&adot;), n. pl. [Gr. desmo`s bond + E. bacteria.] See Microbacteria.

Des"mo*dont (-d&obreve;nt), n. [Gr. desmo`s bond + 'odoy`s, 'odo`ntos, tooth.] (Zoöl.) A member of a group of South American blood-sucking bats, of the genera Desmodus and Diphylla. See Vampire.

Des*mog"na*thous (?), a. [Gr. desmo`s bond + gna`qos jaw.] (Zoöl.) 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.

Des"moid (?), a. [Gr. desmo`s ligament + -oid.] (Anat.) Resembling, or having the characteristics of, a ligament; ligamentous.

Des*mol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. desmo`s ligament + -logy.] The science which treats of the ligaments. [R.]

||Des`mo*my*a"ri*a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; bond + &?; muscle.] (Zoöl.) The division of Tunicata which includes the Salpæ. See Salpa.

||Des"o*late (?), a. [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.

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.

Des"o*late*ly (?), adv. In a desolate manner.

Des"o*late*ness, n. The state of being desolate.

Des"o*la`ter (?), n. One who, or that which, desolates or lays waste. Mede.

Des`o*la"tion (?), n. [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.

Des"o*la`tor (?), n. [L.] Same as Desolater. Byron.

Des"o*la*to*ry (?), a. [L. desolatorius.] Causing desolation. [R.] Bp. Hall.

De`so*phis"ti*cate (?), v. t. To clear from sophism or error. [R.] Hare.

Des`ox*al"ic (?), a. [F. pref. des- from + E. oxalic.] (Chem.) Made or derived from oxalic acid; as, desoxalic acid.

De*spair" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Despaired (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Despairing.] [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.] 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.

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.

De*spair", n. [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.

De*spair"er (?), n. One who despairs.

De*spair"ful (?), a. Hopeless. [Obs.] Spenser.

De*spair"ing, a. Feeling or expressing despair; hopeless. -- De*spair"ing*ly, adv. -- De*spair"ing*ness, n.

De*spar"ple (?), v. t. & i. [OF. desparpeillier.] To scatter; to disparkle. [Obs.] Mandeville.

De*spatch" (?), n. & v. Same as Dispatch.

De`spe*cif"i*cate (?), v. t. [Pref. de- (intens.) + specificate.] To discriminate; to separate according to specific signification or qualities; to specificate; to desynonymize. [R.]

Inaptitude and ineptitude have been usefully despecificated.
Fitzed. Hall.

De*spec`i*fi*ca"tion (?), n. Discrimination.

De*spect" (?), n. [L. despectus, fr. despicere. See Despite, n.] Contempt. [R.] Coleridge.

De*spec"tion (?), n. [L. despectio.] A looking down; a despising. [R.] W. Montagu.

De*speed" (?), v. t. To send hastily. [Obs.]

Despeeded certain of their crew.
Speed.

De*spend" (?), v. t. To spend; to squander. See Dispend. [Obs.]

Some noble men in Spain can despend £50,000.
Howell.

Des`per*a"do (?), n.; pl. Desperadoes (#). [OSp. desperado, p. p. of desperar, fr. L. desperare. See Desperate.] A reckless, furious man; a person urged by furious passions, and regardless of consequence; a wild ruffian.

Des"per*ate (?), a. [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.

Des"per*ate, n. One desperate or hopeless. [Obs.]

Des"per*ate*ly, adv. 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.

Des"per*ate*ness n. Desperation; virulence.

Des`per*a"tion (?), n. [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.

Des`pi*ca*bil"i*ty (?), n. Despicableness. [R.] Carlyle.

Des"pi*ca*ble (?), a. [L. despicabilis, fr. despicari to despise; akin to despicere. See Despise.] 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.

Des"pi*ca*ble*ness, n. The quality of being despicable; meanness; vileness; worthlessness.

Des"pi*ca*bly (?), adv. In a despicable or mean manner; contemptibly; as, despicably stingy.

Des*pi"cien*cy (?), n. [L. despicientia. See Despise.] A looking down; despection. [Obs.]

De*spis"a*ble (?), a. [Cf. OF. despisable.] Despicable; contemptible. [R.]

De*spis"al (?), n. A despising; contempt. [R.]

A despisal of religion.
South.

De*spise" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Despised (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Despising.] [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.] 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.

De*spis"ed*ness, n. The state of being despised.

De*spise"ment (?), n. A despising. [R.] Holland.

De*spis"er (?), n. One who despises; a contemner; a scorner.

De*spis"ing*ly, adv. Contemptuously.

De*spite" (?), n. [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.]

De*spite" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Despited; p. pr. & vb. n. Despiting.] [OF. despitier, fr. L. despectare, intens. of despicere. See Despite, n.] To vex; to annoy; to offend contemptuously. [Obs.] Sir W. Raleigh.

De*spite", prep. In spite of; against, or in defiance of; notwithstanding; as, despite his prejudices.

Syn. -- See Notwithstanding.

De*spite"ful (?), a. [See Despite, and cf. Spiteful.] 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.

Des*pit"e*ous (?), a. [OE. despitous, OF. despiteus, fr. despit; affected in form by E. piteous. See Despite.] Feeling or showing despite; malicious; angry to excess; cruel; contemptuous. [Obs.] "Despiteous reproaches." Holland.

Des*pit"e*ous*ly, adv. Despitefully. [Obs.]

De*spit"ous (?), a. Despiteous; very angry; cruel. [Obs.]

He was to sinful man not despitous.
Chaucer.

- De*spit"ous*ly, adv. [Obs.]

De*spoil" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Despoiled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Despoiling.] [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.

De*spoil", n. Spoil. [Obs.] Wolsey.

De*spoil"er (?), n. One who despoils.

De*spoil"ment (?), n. Despoliation. [R.]

De*spo`li*a"tion (?), n. [L. despoliatio. See Despoil.] A stripping or plundering; spoliation. Bailey.

De*spond" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Desponded; p. pr. & vb. n. Desponding.] [L. despondēre, desponsum, to promise away, promise in marriage, give up, to lose (courage); de- + spondēre to promise solemnly. See Sponsor.] 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 the 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.

De*spond" n. Despondency. [Obs.]

The slough of despond.
Bunyan.

De*spond"ence (?), n. Despondency.

The people, when once infected, lose their relish for happiness [and] saunter about with looks of despondence.
Goldsmith.

De*spond"en*cy (?), n. 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.

De*spond"ent (?), a. [L. despondens, -entis, p. pr. of despond&?;re.] Marked by despondence; given to despondence; low-spirited; as, a despondent manner; a despondent prisoner. -- De*spond"ent*ly, adv.

De*spond"er (?), n. One who desponds.

De*spond"ing*ly, adv. In a desponding manner.

De*spon"sage (?), n. [From L. desponsus, p. p. See Despond.] Betrothal. [Obs.]

Ethelbert . . . went peaceably to King Offa for desponsage of Athilrid, his daughter.
Foxe.

De*spon"sate (?), v. t. [L. desponsatus, p. p. of desponsare, intens. of despondere to betroth. See Despond.] To betroth. [Obs.] Johnson.

Des`pon*sa"tion (?), n. [L. desponsatio: cf. OF. desponsation.] A betrothing; betrothal. [Obs.]

For all this desponsation of her . . . she had not set one step toward the consummation of her marriage.
Jer. Taylor.

De*spon"so*ry (?), n.; pl. Desponsories (&?;). A written pledge of marriage. Clarendon.

De*sport" (?), v. t. & i. See Disport.

Des"pot (?), n. [F. despote, LL. despotus, fr. Gr. despo`ths master, lord, the second part of which is akin to po`sis husband, and L. 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.

Des"po*tat (?), n. [Cf. F. despotat.] The station or government of a despot; also, the domain of a despot. Freeman.

{ Des*pot"ic (?), Des*pot"ic*al (?), } a. [Gr. &?;: cf. F. despotique.] 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.

Des"po*tism (?), n. [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.

Des"po*tist, n. A supporter of despotism. [R.]

Des"po*tize (?), v. t. To act the despot.

De*spread" (?), v. t. & i. See Dispread.

Des"pu*mate (?), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Despumated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Despumating (?).] [L. despumatus, p. p. of despumare to despume; de- + spumare to foam, froth, spuma froth, scum.] To throw off impurities in spume; to work off in foam or scum; to foam.

Des`pu*ma"tion (?), n. [L. despumatio: cf. F. despumation.] The act of throwing up froth or scum; separation of the scum or impurities from liquids; scumming; clarification.

De*spume" (?), v. t. [Cf. F. despumer. See Despumate.] To free from spume or scum. [Obs.]

If honey be despumed.
Holland.

Des"qua*mate (?), v. i. [L. desquamatus, p. p. of desquamare to scale off; de- + squama scale.] (Med.) To peel off in the form of scales; to scale off, as the skin in certain diseases.

Des`qua*ma"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. desquamation.] (Med.) The separation or shedding of the cuticle or epidermis in the form of flakes or scales; exfoliation, as of bones.

{ De*squam"a*tive (?), De*squam"a*to*ry (?), } a. Of, pertaining to, or attended with, desquamation.

De*squam"a*to*ry, n. (Surg.) An instrument formerly used in removing the laminæ of exfoliated bones.

Dess (?), n. Dais. [Obs.]

Des*sert" (?), n. [F., fr. desservir to remove from table, to clear the table; pref. des- (L. dis-) + servir to serve, to serve at table. See Serve.] 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.

Des*tem"per (?), n. [Cf. F. détrempe, fr. détremper.] A kind of painting. See Distemper.

Des"tin (?), n. [Cf. F. destin.] Destiny. [Obs.] Marston.

Des"ti*na*ble (?), a. [Cf. OF. destinable.] Determined by destiny; fated. Chaucer.

Des"ti*na*bly, adv. In a destinable manner.

Des"ti*nal (?), a. Determined by destiny; fated. [Obs.] "The order destinal." Chaucer.

Des"ti*nate (?), a. [L. destinatus, p. p. of destinare. See Destine.] Destined. [Obs.] "Destinate to hell." Foxe.

Des"ti*nate (?), v. t. To destine, design, or choose. [Obs.] "That name that God . . . did destinate." Udall.

Des`ti*na"tion (?), n. [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.

Des"tine (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Destined (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Destining.] [F. destiner, L. destinare; de + the root of stare to stand. See Stand, and cf. Obstinate.] 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.

Des"ti*nist (?), n. A believer in destiny; a fatalist. [R.]

Des"ti*ny (?), n.; pl. Destinies (#). [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.

De*stit"u*ent (?; 135), a. [L. destituens, p. pr. of destituere.] Deficient; wanting; as, a destituent condition. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.

Des"ti*tute (?), a. [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.

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.

Des"ti*tute*ly, adv. In destitution.

Des"ti*tute*ness, n. Destitution. [R.] Ash.

Des`ti*tu"tion (?), n. [L. destitutio a forsaking.] 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.

{ Des*trer" (?), Dex"trer (?) }, n. [OF. destrier, fr. L. dextra on the right side. The squire led his master's horse beside him, on his right hand. Skeat.] A war horse. [Obs.] Chaucer.

De*strie" (?), v. t. To destroy. [Obs.] Chaucer.

De*stroy" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Destroyed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Destroying.] [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.

De*stroy"a*ble (?), a. Destructible. [R.]

Plants . . . scarcely destroyable by the weather.
Derham.

De*stroy"er (?), n. [Cf. OF. destruior.] One who destroys, ruins, kills, or desolates.

De*struct" (?), v. t. [L. destructus, p. p. of destruere. See Destroy.] To destroy. [Obs.] Mede.

De*struc`ti*bil"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. destructibilité.] The quality of being capable of destruction; destructibleness.

De*struc"ti*ble (?), a. [L. destructibilis.] Liable to destruction; capable of being destroyed.

De*struc"ti*ble*ness, n. The quality of being destructible.

De*struc"tion (?), n. [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.

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.) One who believes in the final destruction or complete annihilation of the wicked; -- called also annihilationist. Shipley.

De*struc"tive (?), a. [L. destructivus: cf. F. destructif.] 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.

De*struc"tive, n. One who destroys; a radical reformer; a destructionist.

De*struc"tive*ly, adv. In a destructive manner.

De*struc"tive*ness (?), n. 1. The quality of destroying or ruining. Prynne.

2. (Phren.) The faculty supposed to impel to the commission of acts of destruction; propensity to destroy.

De*struc"tor (?), n. [L., from destruere. See Destroy, and cf. Destroyer.] A destroyer. [R.]

Fire, the destructor and the artificial death of things.
Boyle.

De*struie" (?), v. t. To destroy. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Des`u*da"tion (?), n. [L. desudatio, fr. desudare to sweat greatly; de + sudare to sweat.] (Med.) A sweating; a profuse or morbid sweating, often succeeded by an eruption of small pimples.

De*suete" (?), a. [L. desuetus, p. p. of desuescere to disuse.] Disused; out of use. [R.]

Des"ue*tude (?), n. [L. desuetudo, from desuescere, to grow out of use, disuse; de + suescere to become used or accustomed: cf. F. désuétude. See Custom.] The cessation of use; disuse; discontinuance of practice, custom, or fashion.

The desuetude abrogated the law, which, before, custom had established.
Jer. Taylor.

De*sul"phu*rate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desulphurated; p. pr. & vb. n. Desulphurating.] To deprive of sulphur.

De*sul`phu*ra"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. désulfuration.] The act or process of depriving of sulphur.

De*sul"phur*ize (?), v. t. To desulphurate; to deprive of sulphur. -- De*sul`phur*i*za"tion (#), n.

Des"ul*to*ri*ly (?), adv. In a desultory manner; without method; loosely; immethodically.

Des"ul*to*ri*ness, n. The quality of being desultory or without order or method; unconnectedness.

The seeming desultoriness of my method.
Boyle.

Des`ul*to"ri*ous (?), a. Desultory. [R.]

Des"ul*to*ry (?), a. [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.

De*sume" (?), v. t. [L. desumere; de + sumere to take.] To select; to borrow. [Obs.] Sir. M. Hale.

De`syn*on`y*mi*za"tion (?), n. The act of desynonymizing.

De`syn*on"y*mize (?), v. t. To deprive of synonymous character; to discriminate in use; -- applied to words which have been employed as synonyms. Coleridge. Trench.

De*tach" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detached (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Detaching.] [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.

De*tach", v. i. To push asunder; to come off or separate from anything; to disengage.

[A vapor] detaching, fold by fold,
From those still heights.
Tennyson.

De*tach"a*ble (?), a. That can be detached.

De*tached" (?), a. Separate; unconnected, or imperfectly connected; as, detached parcels. "Extensive and detached empire." Burke.

Detached escapement. See Escapement.

De*tach"ment (?), n. [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.

De"tail (dē"tāl or d&esl;*tāl"; 277), n. [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.) 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.

De"tail (d&esl;*tāl"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detailed (-tāld"); p. pr. & vb. n. Detailing.] [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.) 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.

De*tail"er (?), n. One who details.

De*tain" (d&esl;*tān"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detained (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Detaining.] [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.

De*tain", n. Detention. [Obs.] Spenser.

De*tain"der (-d&etilde;r), n. (Law) A writ. See Detinue.

De*tain"er (-&etilde;r), 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.

De*tain"ment (?), n. [Cf. OF. detenement.] Detention. [R.] Blackstone.

De*tect" (d&esl;*t&ebreve;kt"), a. [L. detectus, p. p. of detegere to uncover, detect; de + tegere to cover. See Tegument.] Detected. [Obs.] Fabyan.

De*tect" (d&esl;*t&ebreve;kt"), 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.

{ De*tect"a*ble (-&adot;*b'l), De*tect"i*ble (?), } a. Capable of being detected or found out; as, parties not detectable. "Errors detectible at a glance." Latham.

De*tect"er (?), n. One who, or that which, detects or brings to light; one who finds out what another attempts to conceal; a detector.

De*tec"tion (?), n. [L. detectio an uncovering, revealing.] 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.

De*tect"ive (?), a. Fitted for, or skilled in, detecting; employed in detecting crime or criminals; as, a detective officer.

De*tect"ive, n. One who business it is so detect criminals or discover matters of secrecy.

De*tect"or (?), n. [L., a revealer.] 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 lock. See under Lock.

De*ten"e*brate (?), v. t. [L. de + tenebrare to make dark, fr. tenebrae darkness.] To remove darkness from. [Obs.] Ash.

De*tent" (?), n. [F. détente, fr. détendre to unbend, relax; pref. dé- (L. dis- or de) + tendre to stretch. See Distend.] (Mech.) 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.

De*ten"tion (?), n. [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.

De*ter" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deterred (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Deterring.] [L. deterrere; de + terrere to frighten, terrify. See Terror.] 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.

De*terge" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deterged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Deterging.] [L. detergere, detersum; de + tergere to rub or wipe off: cf. F. déterger.] To cleanse; to purge away, as foul or offending matter from the body, or from an ulcer.

De*ter"gen*cy (?), n. A cleansing quality or power. De Foe.

De*ter"gent (?), a. [L. detergens, -entis, p. pr. of detergere: cf. F. détergent.] Cleansing; purging. -- n. A substance which cleanses the skin, as water or soap; a medicine to cleanse wounds, ulcers, etc.

De*te"ri*o*rate (d&esl;*tē"r&ibreve;*&osl;*rāt), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deteriorated (- rā`t&ebreve;d); p. pr. & vb. n. Deteriorating (-rā`t&ibreve;ng).] [L. deterioratus, p. p. of deteriorare to deteriorate, fr. deterior worse, prob. a comparative fr. de down, away.] 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.

De*te"ri*o*rate (d&esl;*tē"r&ibreve;*&osl;*rāt), v. i. To grow worse; to be impaired in quality; to degenerate.

Under such conditions, the mind rapidly deteriorates.
Goldsmith.

De*te`ri*o*ra"tion (?), n. [LL. deterioratio: cf. F. détérioration.] The process of growing worse, or the state of having grown worse.

De*te`ri*or"i*ty (?), n. [L. deterior worse. See Deteriorate.] Worse state or quality; inferiority. "The deteriority of the diet." [R.] Ray.

De*ter"ment (?), n. [From Deter.] The act of deterring; also, that which deters. Boyle.

De*ter`mi*na*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality of being determinable; determinableness. Coleridge.

De*ter"mi*na*ble (?), a. [L. determinabilis finite. See Determine, v. t.] Capable of being determined, definitely ascertained, decided upon, or brought to a conclusion.

Not wholly determinable from the grammatical use of the words.
South.

De*ter"mi*na*ble*ness, n. Capability of being determined; determinability.

De*ter"mi*na*cy (?), n. Determinateness. [R.]

De*ter"mi*nant (?), a. [L. determinans, p. pr. of determinare: cf. F. déterminant.] Serving to determine or limit; determinative.

De*ter"mi*nant, n. 1. That which serves to determine; that which causes determination.

2. (Math.) 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′′, b′′, c′′,
is a b′ c′′ - a b′′ c′ + a′ b′′ c] - a′ b c′′ + a′′ 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) A mark or attribute, attached to the subject or predicate, narrowing the extent of both, but rendering them more definite and precise. Abp. Thomson.

De*ter"mi*nate (?), a. [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.

De*ter"mi*nate (?), v. t. 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.

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.

De*ter"mi*nate*ness, n. State of being determinate.

De*ter`mi*na"tion (?), n. [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 which 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.) A flow, rush, or tendency to a particular part; as, a determination of blood to the head.

8. (Physical Sciences) The act, process, or result of any accurate measurement, as of length, volume, weight, intensity, 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.) 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.

De*ter"mi*na*tive (?), a. [Cf. F. déterminatif.] 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.

De*ter"mi*na*tive (?), n. 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).

De*ter"mi*na`tor (?), n. [L.] One who determines. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

De*ter"mine (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Determined (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Determining.] [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) To define or limit by adding a differentia.

9. (Physical Sciences) To ascertain the presence, quantity, or amount of; as, to determine the parallax; to determine the salt in sea water.

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.

De*ter"mined (?), a. Decided; resolute. "Adetermined foe." Sparks.

De*ter"min*ed*ly (?), adv. In a determined manner; with determination.

De*ter"min*er (?), n. One who, or that which, determines or decides.

De*ter"min*ism (?), n. (Metaph.) 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.

De*ter"min*ist, n. (Metaph.) One who believes in determinism. Also adj.; as, determinist theories.

De`ter*ra"tion (?), n. [L. de + terra earth: cf. F. déterrer to unearth.] The uncovering of anything buried or covered with earth; a taking out of the earth or ground. Woodward.

De*ter"rence (?), n. That which deters; a deterrent; a hindrance. [R.]

De*ter"rent (?), a. [L. deterrens, p. pr. of deterrere. See Deter.] Serving to deter. "The deterrent principle." E. Davis.

De*ter"rent, n. That which deters or prevents.

De*ter"sion (?), n. [Cf. F. détersion. See Deterge.] The act of deterging or cleansing, as a sore.

De*ter"sive (?), a. [Cf. détersif.] Cleansing; detergent. -- n. A cleansing agent; a detergent.

De*ter"sive*ly, adv. In a way to cleanse.

De*ter"sive*ness, n. The quality of cleansing.

De*test" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detested; p. pr. & vb. n. Detesting.] [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.

De*test`a*bil"i*ty (?), n. Capacity of being odious. [R.] Carlyle.

De*test"a*ble (?), a. [L. detestabilis: cf. F. détestable.] 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.

De*test"a*ble*ness, n. The quality or state of being detestable.

De*test"a*bly, adv. In a detestable manner.

De*tes"tate (?), v. t. To detest. [Obs.] Udall.

Det`es*ta"tion (?; 277), n. [L. detestatio: cf. F. détestation.] The act of detesting; extreme hatred or dislike; abhorrence; loathing.

We are heartily agreed in our detestation of civil war.
Burke.

De*test"er (?), n. One who detests.

De*throne" (d&esl;*thrōn"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dethroned (-thrōnd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Dethroning.] [Pref. de- + throne: cf. F. détrôner; pref. dé- (L. dis-) + trône throne. See Throne.] To remove or drive from a throne; to depose; to divest of supreme authority and dignity. "The Protector was dethroned." Hume.

De*throne"ment (?), n. [Cf. F. détrônement.] Deposal from a throne; deposition from regal power.

De*thron"er (?), n. One who dethrones.

De*thron`i*za"tion (?), n. Dethronement. [Obs.] Speed.

De*thron"ize (?), v. t. [Cf. LL. dethronizare.] To dethrone or unthrone. [Obs.] Cotgrave.

Det"i*nue (?; 277), n. [OF. detinu, detenu, p. p. of detenir to detain. See Detain.] A person or thing detained; (Law) 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.

Det"o*nate (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Detonated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Detonating (?).] [L. detonare, v. i., to thunder down; de + tonare to thunder; akin to E. thunder. See Thunder, and cf. Detonize.] To explode with a sudden report; as, niter detonates with sulphur.

Det"o*nate, v. t. To cause to explode; to cause to burn or inflame with a sudden report.

Det"o*na`ting, a. & n. 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.

Det`o*na"tion (-nā"shŭn), n. [Cf. F. détonation.] An explosion or sudden report made by the instantaneous decomposition or combustion of unstable substances; as, the detonation of gun cotton.

Det"o*na`tor (d&ebreve;t"&osl;*nā`t&etilde;r), n. One who, or that which, detonates.

Det`o*ni*za"tion (d&ebreve;t`&osl;*n&ibreve;*zā"shŭn), n. The act of detonizing; detonation.

Det"o*nize (d&ebreve;t"&osl;*nīz), v. t. & i. [See Detonate.] [imp. & p. p.Detonized (#); p. pr. & vb. n. Detonizing.] To explode, or cause to explode; to burn with an explosion; to detonate.

De*tor"sion (?), n. Same as Detortion.

De*tort" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Detorting.] [L. detortus, p. p. of detorquere to turn away; de + torquere to turn about, twist: cf. F. détorquer, détordre.] To turn form the original or plain meaning; to pervert; to wrest. Hammond.

De*tor"tion (?), n. The act of detorting, or the state of being detorted; a twisting or warping.

De`tour" (?), n. [F. détour, fr. détourner to turn aside; pref. dé- (L. dis-) + tourner to turn. See Turn.] A turning; a circuitous route; a deviation from a direct course; as, the detours of the Mississippi.

De*tract" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detracted; p. pr. & vb. n. Detracting.] [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.

De*tract", v. i. 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.

De*tract"er (?), n. One who detracts; a detractor.

Other detracters and malicious writers.
Sir T. North.

De*tract"ing*ly, adv. In a detracting manner.

De*trac"tion (?), n. [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.

De*trac"tious (?), a. Containing detraction; detractory. [R.] Johnson.

De*tract"ive (?), a. 1. Tending to detract or draw. [R.]

2. Tending to lower in estimation; depreciative.

De*tract"ive*ness, n. The quality of being detractive.

De*tract"or (?), n. [L.: cf. F. détracteur.] One who detracts; a derogator; a defamer.

His detractors were noisy and scurrilous.
Macaulay.

Syn. -- Slanderer; calumniator; defamer; vilifier.

De*tract"o*ry (?), a. Defamatory by denial of desert; derogatory; calumnious. Sir T. Browne.

De*tract"ress, n. A female detractor. Addison.

De*train" (?), v. i. & t. To alight, or to cause to alight, from a railway train. [Eng.] London Graphic.

De*trect" (?), v. t. [L. detrectare; de + tractare, intens. of trahere to draw.] To refuse; to decline. [Obs.] "To detrect the battle." Holinshed.

Det"ri*ment (d&ebreve;t"r&ibreve;*ment), n. [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.

Det"ri*ment (?), v. t. To do injury to; to hurt. [Archaic]

Other might be determined thereby.
Fuller.

Det`ri*men"tal (?), a. Causing detriment; injurious; hurtful.

Neither dangerous nor detrimental to the donor.
Addison.

Syn. -- Injurious; hurtful; prejudicial; disadvantageous; mischievous; pernicious.

Det`ri*men"tal*ness, n. The quality of being detrimental; injuriousness.

De*tri"tal (?), a. (Geol.) Pertaining to, or composed of, detritus.

De*trite" (?), a. [L. detritus, p. p.] Worn out.

De*tri"tion (?), n. [LL. detritio. See Detriment.] A wearing off or away.

Phonograms which by process long-continued detrition have reached a step of extreme simplicity.
I. Taylor (The Alphabet).

De*tri"tus (?), n. [F. détritus, fr. L. detritus, p. p. of deterere. See Detriment.] 1. (Geol.) A mass of substances worn off from solid bodies by attrition, and reduced to small portions; as, diluvial detritus.

&fist; 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.

De*trude" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detruded; p. pr. & vb. n. Detruding.] [L. detrudere, detrusum; de + trudere to thrust, push.] To thrust down or out; to push down with force. Locke.

De*trun"cate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detruncated; p. pr. & vb. n. Detruncating.] [L. detruncatus, p. p. of detruncare to cut off; de + truncare to maim, shorten, cut off. See Truncate.] To shorten by cutting; to cut off; to lop off.

De`trun*ca"tion (?), n. [L. detruncatio: cf. F. détroncation.] The act of lopping or cutting off, as the head from the body.

De*tru"sion (?), n. [L. detrusio. See Detrude.] The act of thrusting or driving down or outward; outward thrust. -- De*tru"sive, a.

Dette (?), n. Debt. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dette"les (?), a. Free from debt. [Obs.] Chaucer.

De`tu*mes"cence (?), n. [L. detumescere to cease swelling; de + tumescere, tumere, to swell.] Diminution of swelling; subsidence of anything swollen. [R.] Cudworth.

||De"tur (?), n. [L. detur let it be given.] A present of books given to a meritorious undergraduate student as a prize. [Harvard Univ., U. S.]

De*turb" (?), v. t. [L. deturbare.] To throw down. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

De*tur"bate (?), v. t. [LL. deturbatus, p. p. of deturbare, fr. L. deturbare to thrust down.] To evict; to remove. [Obs.] Foxe.

Det`ur*ba"tion (?), n. The act of deturbating. [Obs.]

De*turn" (?), v. t. [Pref. de- + turn. Cf. Detour.] To turn away. [Obs.] Sir K. Digby.

De*tur"pate (?), v. t. [L. deturpare; de + turpare to make ugly, defile, turpis ugly, foul.] To defile; to disfigure. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.

Det`ur*pa"tion (?), n. A making foul. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.

Deuce (dūs), n. [F. deux two, OF. deus, fr. L. duo. See Two.] 1. (Gaming) Two; a card or a die with two spots; as, the deuce of hearts.

2. (Tennis) A condition of the score beginning whenever each side has won three strokes in the same game (also reckoned "40 all"), and reverted to as often as a tie is made until one of the sides secures two successive strokes following a tie or deuce, which decides the game.

Deuce, n. [Cf. LL. dusius, Armor, dus, teûz, phantom, specter; Gael. taibhs, taibhse, apparition, ghost; or fr. OF. deus God, fr. L. deus (cf. Deity).] The devil; a demon. [A euphemism, written also deuse.] [Low]

Deu"ced (?), a. Devilish; excessive; extreme. [Low] -- Deu"ced*ly, adv.

Deuse (dūs), n.; Deu"sed (dū"s&ebreve;d), a. See Deuce, Deuced.

Deu`ter*o*ca*non"ic*al (?), a. [Gr. &?; second + E. canonical.] Pertaining to a second canon, or ecclesiastical writing of inferior authority; -- said of the Apocrypha, certain Epistles, etc.

Deu`ter*og"a*mist (?), n. [See Deuterogamy.] One who marries the second time.

Deu`ter*og"a*my (?), n. [Gr. &?;; &?; second + &?; wedding, marriage.] 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.

Deu`ter*o*gen"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?; second + root of &?; to be born.] (Geol.) Of secondary origin; -- said of certain rocks whose material has been derived from older rocks.

Deu`ter*on"o*mist (?), n. The writer of Deuteronomy.

Deu`ter*on"o*my (?), n. [Gr. &?;; &?; second + &?; law: cf. L. Deuteronomium.] (Bibl.) The fifth book of the Pentateuch, containing the second giving of the law by Moses.

{ ||Deu`ter*o*pa*thi"a (?), Deu`ter*op"a*thy (?), } n. [NL. deuteropathia, fr. Gr. &?; second + &?; suffering, fr. &?;, &?;, to suffer: cf. F. deutéropathie.] (Med.) A sympathetic affection of any part of the body, as headache from an overloaded stomach.

Deu`ter*o*path"ic (?), a. Pertaining to deuteropathy; of the nature of deuteropathy.

Deu`ter*os"co*py (?), n. [Gr. &?; second + -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.

Deu`ter*o*zo"oid (?), n. [Gr. &?; second + E. zooid.] (Zoöl.) 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.

Deut`hy*drog"u*ret (?), n. (Chem.) Same as Deutohydroguret.

Deu"to- (?) or Deut- (dūt-) [Contr. from Gr. &?; second.] (Chem.) 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.

Deu`to*hy*drog"u*ret (?), n. [Pref. deut-, deuto- + hydroguret.] (Chem.) A compound containing in the molecule two atoms of hydrogen united with some other element or radical. [Obs.]

Deu"to*plasm (?), n. [Pref. deuto- + Gr. &?; form.] (Biol.) The lifeless food matter in the cytoplasm of an ovum or a cell, as distinguished from the active or true protoplasm; yolk substance; yolk.

Deu`to*plas"tic (?), a. [Pref. deuto- + Gr. &?; plastic.] (Biol.) Pertaining to, or composed of, deutoplasm.

Deu`to*sul"phu*ret (?), n. [Pref. deuto- + sulphuret.] (Chem.) A disulphide. [Obs.]

Deu*tox"ide (?; 104), n. [Pref. deut- + oxide.] (Chem.) A compound containing in the molecule two atoms of oxygen united with some other element or radical; -- usually called dioxide, or less frequently, binoxide.

||Deut"zi*a (?), n. [NL. Named after Jan Deutz of Holland.] (Bot.) A genus of shrubs with pretty white flowers, much cultivated.

||Dev (?), or ||De"va (&?;), n. [Skr. d&?;va. Cf. Deity.] (Hind. Myth.) A god; a deity; a divine being; an idol; a king.

||De`va*na"ga*ri (?), n. [Skr. d&?;vanāgarī; d&?;va god + nagara city, i. e., divine city.] The character in which Sanskrit is written.

De*vap`o*ra"tion (?), n. The change of vapor into water, as in the formation of rain.

De*vast" (?), v. t. [Cf. F. dévaster. See Devastate.] To devastate. [Obs.] Bolingbroke.

Dev"as*tate (?; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devastated; p. pr. & vb. n. Devastating.] [L. devastatus, p. p. of devastare to devastate; de + vastare to lay waste, vastus waste. See Vast.] To lay waste; to ravage; to desolate.

Whole countries . . . were devastated.
Macaulay.

Syn. -- To waste; ravage; desolate; destroy; demolish; plunder; pillage.

Dev`as*ta"tion (?), n. [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) Waste of the goods of the deceased by an executor or administrator. Blackstone.

Syn. -- Desolation; ravage; waste; havoc; destruction; ruin; overthrow.

Dev"as*ta`tor (?), n. [L.] One who, or that which, devastates. Emerson.

||Dev`as*ta"vit (?), n. [L., he has wasted.] (Law) Waste or misapplication of the assets of a deceased person by an executor or an administrator. Bouvier.

||De"va*ta (?), n. [Hind., fr. Skr. d&?;va god.] (Hind. Myth.) A deity; a divine being; a good spirit; an idol. [Written also dewata.]

Deve (?), a. [See Deaf.] Deaf. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dev"el*in (?), n. (Zoöl.) The European swift. [Prov. Eng.]

De*vel"op (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Developed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Developing.] [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.) To change the form of, as of an algebraic expression, by executing certain indicated operations without changing the value.

5. (Photog.) 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 plane (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.

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.

De*vel"op*a*ble (?), a. 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.

De*vel"op*er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, develops.

2. (Photog.) 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.

De*vel"op*ment (?), n. [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.) 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.) 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.

De*vel`op*men"tal (?), a. Pertaining to, or characteristic of, the process of development; as, the developmental power of a germ. Carpenter.

Dev`e*nus"tate (?), v. t. [L. devenustatus, p. p. of devenustare to disfigure; de + venustus lovely, graceful.] To deprive of beauty or grace. [Obs.]

{ De*ver"gence (?), De*ver"gen*cy (?), } n. See Divergence. [Obs.]

De*vest" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devested; p. pr. & vb. n. Devesting.] [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.

&fist; This word is now generally written divest, except in the legal sense.

De*vest", v. i. (Law) To be taken away, lost, or alienated, as a title or an estate.

De*vex" (?), a. [L. devexus, from devehere to carry down.] Bending down; sloping. [Obs.]

De*vex", n. Devexity. [Obs.] May (Lucan).

De*vex"i*ty (?), n. [L. devexitas, fr. devexus. See Devex, a.] A bending downward; a sloping; incurvation downward; declivity. [R.] Davies (Wit's Pilgr.)

||De"vi (?), n.; fem. of Deva. A goddess.

De"vi*ant (?), a. Deviating. [Obs.]

De"vi*ate (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Deviated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Deviating (?).] [L. deviare to deviate; de + viare to go, travel, via way. See Viaduct.] 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.

De"vi*ate, v. t. To cause to deviate. [R.]

To deviate a needle.
J. D. Forbes.

De`vi*a"tion (?), n. [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.) 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.

De"vi*a`tor (?), n. [L., a forsaker.] One who, or that which, deviates.

De"vi*a*to*ry (?), a. Tending to deviate; devious; as, deviatory motion. [R.] Tully.

De*vice" (?), n. [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.

De*vice"ful (?), a. Full of devices; inventive. [R.]

A carpet, rich, and of deviceful thread.
Chapman.

De*vice"ful*ly, adv. In a deviceful manner. [R.]

Dev"il (?), n. [AS. deófol, deóful; akin to G. &?;eufel, Goth. diabaúlus; all fr. L. diabolus the devil, Gr. &?; the devil, the slanderer, fr. &?; to slander, calumniate, orig., to throw across; &?; across + &?; to throw, let fall, fall; cf. Skr. 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) 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.) 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]

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.

Dev"il-div`er (?), Dev"il bird` (&?;), n.. (Zoöl.) A small water bird. See Dabchick.

Dev"il*ess (?), n. A she- devil. [R.] Sterne.

Dev"il*et (?), n. A little devil. [R.] Barham.

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.

Dev"il*ing, n. A young devil. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

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.

Dev"il*ism (?), n. The state of the devil or of devils; doctrine of the devil or of devils. Bp. Hall.

Dev"il*ize (?), v. t. 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.

Dev"il*kin (?), n. A little devil; a devilet.

Dev"il*ment (?), n. Deviltry. Bp. Warburton.

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.

Dev"il's darn"ing-nee`dle. (Zoöl.) A dragon fly. See Darning needle, under Darn, v. t.

Dev"il*ship, n. The character or person of a devil or the devil. Cowley.

Dev"il*try (?), n.; pl. Deviltries (&?;). Diabolical conduct; malignant mischief; devilry. C. Reade.

Dev"il*wood` (?), n. (Bot.) A kind of tree (Osmanthus Americanus), allied to the European olive.

De"vi*ous (?), a. [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.

De*vir"gin*ate (?), a. [L. devirginatus, p. p. of devirginare.] Deprived of virginity. [R.]

De*vir"gin*ate (?), v. t. To deprive of virginity; to deflour. [R.] Sandys.

De*vir`gi*na"tion (?), n. [L. devirginatio.] A deflouring. [R.] Feltham.

De*vis"a*ble (?), a. [From Devise.] 1. Capable of being devised, invented, or contrived.

2. Capable of being bequeathed, or given by will.

De*vis"al (?), n. A devising. Whitney.

De*vise" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devised (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Devising.] [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) To give by will; -- used of real estate; formerly, also, of chattels.

Syn. -- To bequeath; invent; discover; contrive; excogitate; imagine; plan; scheme. See Bequeath.

De*vise", v. i. To form a scheme; to lay a plan; to contrive; to consider.

I thought, devised, and Pallas heard my prayer.
Pope.

&fist; Devise was formerly followed by of; as, let us devise of ease. Spenser.

De*vise" (?), n. [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.

De*vise" (?), n. Device. See Device. [Obs.]

Dev`i*see" (?), n. (Law) One to whom a devise is made, or real estate given by will.

De*vis"er (?), n. One who devises.

De*vis"or (?), n. (Law) One who devises, or gives real estate by will; a testator; -- correlative to devisee.

Dev"i*ta*ble (?), a. [L. devitare to avoid; de + vitare to shun, avoid.] Avoidable. [Obs.]

De*vi"tal*ize (?), v. t. To deprive of life or vitality. -- De*vi`tal*i*za"tion (#), n.

Dev`i*ta"tion (?), n. [L. devitatio.] An avoiding or escaping; also, a warning. [Obs.] Bailey.

De*vit`ri*fi*ca"tion (?), n. 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.

De*vit"ri*fy (?), v. t. To deprive of glasslike character; to take away vitreous luster and transparency from.

De*vo"cal*ize (?), v. t. 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.

Dev`o*ca"tion (?), n. [L. devocare to call off or away; de + vocare to call.] A calling off or away. [R.] Hallywell.

De*void" (?), v. t. [OE. devoiden to leave, OF. desvuidier, desvoidier, to empty out. See Void.] To empty out; to remove.

De*void", a. [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.

||De*voir" (?), n. [F., fr. L. debere to owe. See Due.] 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.

Dev"o*lute (?), v. t. [L. devolutus, p. p. of devolvere. See Devolve.] To devolve. [Obs.] Foxe.

Dev`o*lu"tion (?), n. [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.

De*volve" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devolved (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Devolving.] [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.

De*volve", v. i. 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.

De*volve"ment (?), n. The act or process of devolving;; devolution.

De"von (?), n. 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.

De*vo"ni*an (?), a. (Geol.) 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.

De*vo"ni*an, n. The Devonian age or formation.

Dev`o*ra"tion (?), n. [L. devoratio. See Devour.] The act of devouring. [Obs.] Holinshed.

De*vo"ta*ry (?), n. [See Devote, Votary.] A votary. [Obs.] J. Gregory.

De*vote" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devoted; p. pr. & vb. n. Devoting.] [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.

De*vote" (?), a. [L. devotus, p. p.] Devoted; addicted; devout. [Obs.] Milton.

De*vote", n. A devotee. [Obs.] Sir E. Sandys.

De*vot"ed, a. Consecrated to a purpose; strongly attached; zealous; devout; as, a devoted admirer. -- De*vot"ed*ly, adv. -- De*vot"ed*ness, n.

Dev`o*tee" (?), n. 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.

De*vote"ment (?), n. The state of being devoted, or set apart by a vow. [R.] Bp. Hurd.

De*vot"er (?), n. One who devotes; a worshiper.

De*vo"tion (?), n. [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.

De*vo"tion*al (?), a. [L. devotionalis.] Pertaining to, suited to, or used in, devotion; as, a devotional posture; devotional exercises; a devotional frame of mind.

{ De*vo"tion*al*ist, De*vo"tion*ist, } n. One given to devotion, esp. to excessive formal devotion.

De*vo`tion*al"i*ty (?), n. The practice of a devotionalist. A. H. Clough.

De*vo"tion*al*ly (?), adv. In a devotional manner; toward devotion.

||De*vo"to (?), n. [It.] A devotee. Dr. J. Scott.

De*vo"tor (?), n. [L.] A worshiper; one given to devotion. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

De*vour" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devoured (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Devouring.] [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.

De*vour"a*ble (?), a. That may be devoured.

De*vour"er (?), n. One who, or that which, devours.

De*vour"ing*ly, adv. In a devouring manner.

De*vout" (?), a. [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.

De*vout", n. 1. A devotee. [Obs.] Sheldon.

2. A devotional composition, or part of a composition; devotion. [Obs.] Milton.

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.

De*vout"less, a. Destitute of devotion. -- De*vout"less*ly, adv. - - De*vout"less*ness, n.

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.

De*vout"ness, n. Quality or state of being devout.

De*vove" (?), v. t. [See Devote, v. t.] To devote. [Obs.] Cowley.

De*vow" (?), v. t. [F. dévouer, L. devovere. See Devote, v. t.] 1. To give up; to devote. [Obs.]

2. [Cf. OF. desvoer. Cf. Disavow.] To disavow; to disclaim. [Obs.] G. Fletcher.

De*vul"gar*ize (?), v. t. To free from what is vulgar, common, or narrow.

Shakespeare and Plutarch's "Lives" are very devulgarizing books.
E. A. Abbott.

Dew (dū), n. [AS. deáw; akin to D. dauw, G. thau, tau, Icel. dögg, Sw. dagg, Dan. dug; cf. Skr. dhav, dhāv, to flow. √72. Cf. 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.

&fist; Dew is used in combination; as, dew- bespangled, dew-drenched, dewdrop, etc.

Dew, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dewed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dewing.] 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, a. & n. Same as Due, or Duty. [Obs.] Spenser.

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.

Dew"claw` (?), n. 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.

Dew"drop` (?), n. A drop of dew. Shak.

Dew"fall` (?), n. The falling of dew; the time when dew begins to fall.

Dew"i*ness (?), n. State of being dewy.

Dew"lap` (?), n. [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.

Dew"lapped` (?), a. Furnished with a dewlap.

Dew"less, a. Having no dew. Tennyson.

Dew"-point` (?), n. (Meteor.) The temperature at which dew begins to form. It varies with the humidity and temperature of the atmosphere.

Dew"ret` (?), v. t. [Dew + ret, v. t.] To ret or rot by the process called dewretting.

Dew"ret`ting, n. 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.

Dew"rot` (?), v. t. To rot, as flax or hemp, by exposure to rain, dew, and sun. See Dewretting.

Dew"worm` (?), n. (Zoöl.) See Earthworm.

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.) Resembling a dew-covered surface; appearing as if covered with dew.

Dex"ter (?), a. [L.,; akin to Gr. &?;, &?;, Skr. dakshi&?;a (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.) 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.

Dex*ter"i*cal (?), a. Dexterous. [Obs.]

Dex*ter"i*ty (?), n. [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.

Dex"ter*ous (?), a. [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.

Dex"ter*ous*ly (?), adv. In a dexterous manner; skillfully.

Dex"ter*ous*ness, n. The quality of being dexterous; dexterity.

Dex"trad (?), adv. [L. dextra the right hand + ad to.] (Anat.) Toward the right side; dextrally.

Dex"tral (?), a. [From Dexter.] 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.

Dex*tral"i*ty (?), n. The state of being on the right-hand side; also, the quality of being right- handed; right-handedness. Sir T. Browne.

Dex"tral*ly (&?;), adv. Towards the right; as, the hands of a watch rotate dextrally.

Dex*trer" (?), n. A war horse; a destrer. [Obs.] "By him baiteth his dextrer." Chaucer.

Dex"trin (?), n. [Cf. F. dextrine, G. dextrin. See Dexter.] (Chem.) 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.

Dex"tro- (?). A prefix, from L. dexter, meaning, pertaining to, or toward, the right; (Chem. & Opt.) having the property of turning the plane of polarized light to the right; as, dextrotartaric acid.

Dex*trog"er*ous (?), a. (Physics & Chem.) See Dextrogyrate.

Dex`tro*glu"cose` (?), n. [Dextro- + glucose.] (Chem.) Same as Dextrose.

Dex`tro*gy"rate (?), a. [Dextro- + gyrate.] (Chem. & Opt.) Same as Dextrorotatory.

Dex*tron"ic (?), a. (Chem.) 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.

Dex`tro*ro"ta*ry (?), a. (Physics & Chem.) See Dextrotatory.

Dex`tro*ro"ta*to*ry (?), a. [Dextro- + rotatory.] (Chem. & Opt.) 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.

{ Dex*tror"sal (?), Dex"trorse` (?), } a. [L. dextrorsum, contr. fr. dextrovorsum, dextroversum, toward the right side; dexter right + versus, vorsus, p. p. of vertere, vortere, to turn.] Turning from the left to the right, in the ascending line, as in the spiral inclination of the stem of the common morning-glory.

&fist; 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.

Dex"trose` (d&ebreve;ks"trōs`), n. [See Dexter.] (Chem.) 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.

&fist; 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 sugar or sucrose.

Dex"trous (?), a., Dex"trous*ly, adv., Dex"trous*ness, n. Same as Dexterous, Dexterously, etc.

Dey (?), n. [See Dairy.] A servant who has charge of the dairy; a dairymaid. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dey (?), n.; pl. Deys (#). [Turk. dāi, 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.] The governor of Algiers; -- so called before the French conquest in 1830.

Deye (?), v. i. To die. [Obs.] Chaucer.

{ Deyn"te, Deyn"tee (?) }, n. & a. See Dainty. [Obs.] Chaucer.

De*zinc`i*fi*ca"tion (?), n. The act or process of freeing from zinc; also, the condition resulting from the removal of zinc.

De*zinc"i*fy (?), v. t. [Pref. de- + zinc + -fy.] To deprive of, or free from, zinc.

||Dhole (?), n. (Zoöl.) 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.

||Dho"ny (?), n. A Ceylonese boat. See Doni.

||Dhoor"ra, ||Dhour"ra, or Dhur"ra (&?;), n. Indian millet. See Durra.

||Dhow (?), n. [Ar. dāo?] 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- (?). [Gr. di`s- twice; akin to &?; two, L. bis twice. See Two, and cf. Bi-, Dia-. The L. pref. dis- sometimes assumes the form di-. See Dis-.] A prefix, signifying twofold, double, twice; (Chem.) denoting two atoms, radicals, groups, or equivalents, as the case may be. See Bi-, 2.

{ Di"a- (?), Di- }. [Gr. dia` through; orig., dividing into two parts; akin to &?; two. See Two, and cf. 1st Di-.] A prefix denoting through; also, between, apart, asunder, across. Before a vowel dia-becomes di-; as, diactinic; dielectric, etc.

Di"a*base (?), n. [F. diabase, fr. Gr. &?; a crossing or passing over, fr. &?;; &?; + &?; to go; -- so called by Brongniart, because it passes over to diorite.] (Min.) 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.

Di*ab`a*te"ri*al (?), a. [Gr. &?; &?; (sc. &?;) offerings before crossing the border, fr. &?; to pass over. See Diabase.] Passing over the borders. [R.] Mitford.

Di`a*be"tes (?), n. [NL., from Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to pass or cross over. See Diabase.] (Med.) 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 [NL., sweet diabetes], that form of diabetes in which the urine contains saccharine matter. -- ||Diabetes insipidus [NL., lit., diabetes], the form of diabetes in which the urine contains no abnormal constituent.

{ Di`a*bet"ic (?), Di`a*bet"ic*al (?), } a. Pertaining to diabetes; as, diabetic or diabetical treatment. Quian.

Diabetic sugar. (Chem.) Same as Dextrose.

{ ||Dia`ble*rie" (?), Di*ab"le*y (?), } n. [F. diablerie, fr. diable devil, L. diabolus. See Devil.] Devilry; sorcery or incantation; a diabolical deed; mischief.

{ Di`a*bol"ic (?), Di`a*bol"ic*al (?), } a. [L. diabolicus, Gr. &?; devilish, slanderous: cf. F. diabolique. See Devil.] 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.

Di`a*bol"i*fy (?), v. t. [L. diabolus devil + -fy.] To ascribed diabolical qualities to; to change into, or to represent as, a devil. [R.] Farindon.

Di*ab"o*lism (?), n. 1. Character, action, or principles appropriate to the devil.

2. Possession by the devil. Bp. Warburton.

Di*ab"o*lize (?), v. t. To render diabolical. [R.]

Di`a*ca*thol"i*con (?), n. [Pref. dia- + catholicon.] (Med.) A universal remedy; -- name formerly to a purgative electuary.

Di`a*caus"tic (?), a. [Pref. dia- + caustic.] (Opt.) Pertaining to, or possessing the properties of, a species of caustic curves formed by refraction. See Caustic surface, under Caustic.

Di`a*caus"tic, n. 1. (Med.) 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.) A curved formed by the consecutive intersections of rays of light refracted through a lens.

{ ||Di*ach"y*lon (?), ||Di*ach"y*lum (?), } n. [NL. diachylum, fr. Gr. &?; very juicy; dia` thoroughly + &?; juice.] (Med. & Chem.) 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.

Di*ac"id (?), a. [Pref. di- + acid.] (Chem.) Divalent; -- said of a base or radical as capable of saturating two acid monad radicals or a dibasic acid. Cf. Dibasic, a., and Biacid.

||Di`a*co"di*um (?), n. [L., from Gr. &?; &?; from poppy heads; dia` through, from + &?; head, a poppy head.] A sirup made of poppies.

Di*ac"o*nal (?), a. [LL. diaconalis: cf. F. diaconal. Cf. Deacon.] Of or pertaining to a deacon.

Di*ac"o*nate (?), n. [L. diaconatus: cf. F. diaconat.] The office of a deacon; deaconship; also, a body or board of deacons.

Di*ac"o*nate, a. Governed by deacons. "Diaconate church." T. Goodwin.

||Di*ac"o*pe (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?; a cutting in two; dia` through + &?;.] (Gram.) Tmesis.

Di`a*cous"tic (?), a. [Pref. di- + acoustic.] Pertaining to the science or doctrine of refracted sounds.

Di`a*cous"tics (?), n. [Cf. F. diacoustique.] 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.

{ Di`a*crit"ic (?), Di`a*crit"ic*al (?), } a. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to separate, distinguish; dia` through + &?; to separate. See Critic.] That separates or distinguishes; -- applied to points or marks used to distinguish letters of similar form, or different sounds of the same letter, as, ā, ă, ä, ō, &obreve;, 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.

Di`ac*tin"ic (?), a. [Pref. di- + actinic.] (Physics) Capable of transmitting the chemical or actinic rays of light; as, diactinic media.

||Di`a*del"phi*a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?; brother.] (Bot.) A Linnæan class of plants whose stamens are united into two bodies or bundles by their filaments.

{ Di`a*del"phi*an (?), Di`a*del"phous (?), } a. [Cf. F. diadelphe.] (Bot.) 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).

Di"a*dem (?), n. [F. diadème, L. diadema, fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to bind round; dia` through, across + &?; to bind; cf. Skr. dā 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.) 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.

Di"a*dem, v. t. 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.

Di"a*drom (?), n. [Gr. &?; a running through; dia` through + &?;, used as inf. aor. of &?; to run.] A complete course or vibration; time of vibration, as of a pendulum. [Obs.] Locke.

{ Di*ær"e*sis, Di*er"e*sis } (?; 277), n.; pl. Diæreses or Diereses (#). [L. diaeresis, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to divide; dia` through, asunder + &?; to take. See Heresy.] 1. (Gram.) The separation or resolution of one syllable into two; -- the opposite of synæresis.

2. A mark consisting of two dots [¨aut;], placed over the second of two adjacent vowels, to denote that they are to be pronounced as distinct letters; as, coöperate, aërial.

Di`æ*ret"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?; dividing.] (Med.) Caustic. [Obs.]

Di`a*ge`o*trop"ic (?), a. [Gr. dia` through, at variance + &?; earth + &?; turning.] (Bot.) Relating to, or exhibiting, diageotropism.

Di`a*ge*ot"ro*pism (?), n. (Bot.) The tendency of organs (as roots) of plants to assume a position oblique or transverse to a direction towards the center of the earth.

Di"a*glyph (?), n. [Gr. &?; to engrave; dia` through + &?; to carve.] An intaglio. Mollett.

{ Di`a*glyph"ic (?), Di`a*glyph"tic (?), } a. Represented or formed by depressions in the general surface; as, diaglyphic sculpture or engraving; -- opposed to anaglyphic.

Di`ag*nose" (?), v. t. & i. To ascertain by diagnosis; to diagnosticate. See Diagnosticate.

Di`ag*no"sis (?), n.; pl. Diagnoses (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to distinguish; dia` through, asunder + &?; to know. See Know.] 1. (Med.) 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 of, 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.

Di`ag*nos"tic (?), a. [Gr. &?; able to distinguish, fr. &?;: cf. F. diagnostique.] Pertaining to, or furnishing, a diagnosis; indicating the nature of a disease.

Di`ag*nos"tic, n. The mark or symptom by which one disease is known or distinguished from others.

Di`ag*nos"ti*cate (?), v. t. & i. [From Diagnostic.] To make a diagnosis of; to recognize by its symptoms, as a disease.

Di`ag*nos"tics (?), n. 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.

Di`a*gom"e*ter (?), n. [Gr. &?; to transmit + -meter.] 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.

Di*ag"o*nal (?), a. [L. diagonalis, fr. Gr. &?; from to angle; dia` through + &?; an angle; perh. akin to E. knee: cf. F. diagonal.] (Geom.) 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 45° 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.

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.) 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.

Di*ag"o*nal*ly, adv. In a diagonal direction.

Di`a*go"ni*al (?), a. 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.

Di"a*gram (?), n. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to mark out by lines; dia` through + &?; to draw, write: cf. F. diagramme. See Graphic.] 1. (Geom.) 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

Di"a*gram, v. t. To put into the form of a diagram.

Di`a*gram*mat"ic (?), a. Pertaining to, or of the nature of, a diagram; showing by diagram. -- Di`a*gram*mat"ic*ly (#), adv.

Di"a*graph (?), n. [Gr. &?; to draw: cf. F. diagraphe. See Diagram.] A drawing instrument, combining a protractor and scale.

{ Di`a*graph"ic (?), Di`a*graph"ic*al (?), } a. [Cf. F. diagraphique.] Descriptive.

Di`a*graph"ics (?), n. The art or science of descriptive drawing; especially, the art or science of drawing by mechanical appliances and mathematical rule.

Di`a*he`li*o*trop"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?; through, at variance + &?; sun + &?; turning.] (Bot.) Relating or, or manifesting, diaheliotropism.

Di`a*he`li*ot"ro*pism (?), n. (Bot.) A tendency of leaves or other organs of plants to have their dorsal surface faced towards the rays of light.

Di"al (?), n. [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.

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) To survey with a dial. Raymond.

Di"a*lect (?), n. [F. dialecte, L. dialectus, fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to converse, discourse. See 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.

Di`a*lec"tal (?), a. Relating to a dialect; dialectical; as, a dialectical variant.

Di`a*lec"tic (?), n. Same as Dialectics.

Plato placed his dialectic above all sciences.
Liddell & Scott.

{ Di`a*lec"tic (?), Di`a*lec"tic*al (?), } a. [L. dialecticus, Gr. &?;: cf. F. dialectique. See Dialect.] 1. Pertaining to dialectics; logical; argumental.

2. Pertaining to a dialect or to dialects. Earle.

Di`a*lec"tic*al*ly (?), adv. In a dialectical manner.

Di`a*lec*ti"cian (?), n. [Cf. F. dialecticien.] One versed in dialectics; a logician; a reasoner.

Di`a*lec"tics (?), n. [L. dialectica (sc. ars), Gr. &?; (sc. &?;): cf. F. dialectique.] 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.

&fist; 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.

Di`a*lec*tol"o*gy (?), n. [Dialect + -logy.] That branch of philology which is devoted to the consideration of dialects. Beck.

Di`a*lec"tor (?), n. One skilled in dialectics.

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.

Di"al*ist, n. A maker of dials; one skilled in dialing.

||Di*al"la*ge (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; interchange, change, fr. &?; to interchange.] (Rhet.) A figure by which arguments are placed in various points of view, and then turned to one point. Smart.

Di"al*lage (?; 277), n. [Gr. &?; change, alluding to the change and inequality of luster between the natural joints of the mineral.] (Min.) A dark green or bronze-colored laminated variety of pyroxene, common in certain igneous rocks.

Di"al*lel (?), a. [Gr. &?; crossing.] Meeting and intersecting, as lines; not parallel; -- opposed to parallel. [Obs.] Ash.

Di*al"lyl (?), n. (Chem.) A volatile, pungent, liquid hydrocarbon, C6H10, consisting of two allyl radicals, and belonging to the acetylene series.

Di`a*log"ic*al (?), a. [Gr. &?; belonging to discourse.] Relating to a dialogue; dialogistical. Burton.

Di`a*log"ic*al*ly, adv. In the manner or nature of a dialogue. Goldsmith.

Di*al"o*gism (?), n. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?;: cf. F. dialogisme. See Dialogue.] An imaginary speech or discussion between two or more; dialogue. Fulke.

Di*al"o*gist (?), n. [L. dialogista: cf. F. dialogiste.] 1. A speaker in a dialogue.

2. A writer of dialogues. P. Skelton.

{ Di*al`o*gis"tic (?), Di*al`o*gis"tic*al (?), } a. [Gr. &?;.] Pertaining to a dialogue; having the form or nature of a dialogue. -- Di*al`o*gis"tic*al*ly, adv.

Di*al"o*gite (?), n. [From Gr. &?; an arguing.] (Min.) Native carbonate of manganese; rhodochrosite.

Di*al"o*gize (?), v. t. [Gr. &?;: cf. F. dialogiser.] To discourse in dialogue. Fotherby.

Di"a*logue (?; 115), n. [OE. dialogue, L. dialogus, fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to converse, dia` through + &?; to speak: cf. F. 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.

Di"a*logue, v. i. [Cf. F. dialoguer.] To take part in a dialogue; to dialogize. [R.] Shak.

Di"a*logue, v. t. To express as in dialogue. [R.]

And dialogued for him what he would say.
Shak.

Di`al*y*pet"al*ous (?), a. [Gr. dia` through, asunder + &?; to loose + &?; leaf.] (Bot.) Having separate petals; polypetalous.

||Di*al"y*sis (?), n.; pl. Dialyses (#). [L., separation, fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to part asunder, dissolve; dia` through + &?; to loose.] 1. (Gram.) Diæresis. See Diæresis, 1.

2. (Rhet.) Same as Asyndeton.

3. (Med.) (a) Debility. (b) A solution of continuity; division; separation of parts.

4. (Chem.) The separation of different substances in solution, as crystalloids and colloids, by means of their unequal diffusion, especially through natural or artificial membranes.

Di`a*lyt"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?;. See Dialysis.] 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.

Di*al"y*zate (?), n. (Chem.) The material subjected to dialysis.

Di`a*ly*za"tion (?), n. (Chem.) The act or process of dialysis.

Di"a*lyze (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dialyzed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dialyzing.] (Chem.) To separate, prepare, or obtain, by dialysis or osmose; to pass through an animal membrane; to subject to dialysis. [Written also dialyse.]

Di"a*lyzed (?), a. Prepared by diffusion through an animal membrane; as, dialyzed iron.

Di"a*ly`zer (?), n. The instrument or medium used to effect chemical dialysis.

Di`a*mag"net (?), n. [Pref. dia- + magnet.] A body having diamagnetic polarity.

Di`a*mag*net"ic (?), a. 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.

Di`a*mag*net"ic, n. 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.

Di`a*mag*net"ic*al*ly (?), adv. In the manner of, or according to, 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.

Di`a*man*tif"er*ous (?), a. [F. diamant diamond + -ferous.] Yielding diamonds.

Di`a*man"tine (?), a. Adamantine. [Obs.]

Di*am"e*ter (?), n. [F. diamètre, L. diametros, fr. Gr. &?;; dia` through + &?; measure. See 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.

&fist; In an elongated object the diameter is usually taken at right angles to the longer axis.

3. (Arch.) 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.

Di*am"e*tral (?), a. [Gr. F. diamétral.] 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.

Di*am"e*tral, n. A diameter. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Di*am"e*tral*ly, adv. Diametrically.

{ 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.

Di*am"e*tric*al*ly, adv. In a diametrical manner; directly; as, diametrically opposite.

Whose principles were diametrically opposed to his.
Macaulay.

Di*am"ide (?; 104), n. [Pref. di- + amide.] (Chem.) 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.

Di*am"i*do- (&?;), a. (Chem.) A prefix or combining form of Diamine. [Also used adjectively.]

Di*am"ine (?; 104), n. [Pref. di- + amine.] (Chem.) A compound containing two amido groups united with one or more basic or positive radicals, -- as contrasted with a diamide.

&fist; 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.

Di"a*mond (?; 277), n. [OE. diamaund, diamaunt, F. diamant, corrupted, fr. L. adamas, the hardest iron, steel, diamond, Gr. &?;. Perh. the corruption is due to the influence of Gr. &?; transparent. See Adamant, Tame.] 1. A precious stone or gem excelling in brilliancy and beautiful play of prismatic colors, and remarkable for extreme hardness.

&fist; 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.) A pointed projection, like a four-sided pyramid, used for ornament in lines or groups.

5. (Baseball) The infield; the square space, 90 feet on a side, having the bases at its angles.

6. (Print.) The smallest kind of type in English printing, except that called brilliant, which is seldom seen.

&fist; 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.

Di"a*mond (?; 277), a. Resembling a diamond; made of, or abounding in, diamonds; as, a diamond chain; a diamond field.

Di"a*mond-back` (?), n. (Zoöl.) The salt-marsh terrapin of the Atlantic coast (Malacoclemmys palustris).

Di"a*mond*ed, a. 1. Having figures like a diamond or lozenge.

2. Adorned with diamonds; diamondized. Emerson.

Di"a*mond*ize (?), v. t. To set with diamonds; to adorn; to enrich. [R.]

Diamondizing of your subject.
B. Jonson.

Di"a*mond-shaped` (?), a. Shaped like a diamond or rhombus.

Di*am"y*lene (?), n. [Pref. di- + amylene.] (Chem.) A liquid hydrocarbon, C10H20, of the ethylene series, regarded as a polymeric form of amylene.

Di"an (?), a. Diana. [Poetic]

Di*a"na (?), n. [L. Diana.] (Myth.) 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).

||Di*an"dri*a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?;, &?;, a man, a male.] (Bot.) A Linnæan class of plants having two stamens.

Di*an"dri*an (?), a. Diandrous.

Di*an"drous (?), n. [Cf. F. diandre.] (Bot.) Of or pertaining to the class Diandria; having two stamens.

||Di*a"ni*um (?), n. [NL., fr. L. Diana; either as the name of the Roman goddess, or from its use in OE. as a name of silver.] (Chem.) Same as Columbium. [Obs.]

Di`a*no*et"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?;; dia` through + &?; to revolve in the mind.] (Metaph.) 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.

Di`a*noi*al"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. &?; thought + -logy.] The science of the dianoetic faculties, and their operations. Sir W. Hamilton.

Di*an"thus (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, gen. &?;, Zeus + 'a`nqos flower.] (Bot.) A genus of plants containing some of the most popular of cultivated flowers, including the pink, carnation, and Sweet William.

Di"a*pase (?), n. Same as Diapason. [Obs.]

A tuneful diapase of pleasures.
Spenser.

Di"a*pasm (?), n. [L. diapasma, Gr. &?;, fr. &?;; dia` through + &?; to sprinkle: cf. F. diapasme.] Powdered aromatic herbs, sometimes made into little balls and strung together. [Obs.]

Di`a*pa"son (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. diapasw^n (i. e., "h dia` pasw^n chordw^n symfoni`a the concord of the first and last notes, the octave); dia` through + pasw^n, gen. pl. of pa^s all: cf. F. diapason. Cf. Panacea.] 1. (Gr. Mus.) 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.

||Di`a*pe*de"sis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a leaping or oozing through, fr. &?; to leap through; dia` through + &?; to leap.] (Med.) 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.

||Di`a*pen"te (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?; a fifth; dia` through + &?; five: cf. F. diapente.] 1. (Anc. Mus.) The interval of the fifth.

2. (Med.) A composition of five ingredients.

Di"a*per (?), n. [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) 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.

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).

Di"a*per, v. i. To draw flowers or figures, as upon cloth. "If you diaper on folds." Peacham.

Di"a*per*ing, n. Same as Diaper, n., 2.

Di"a*phane (?), n. [Cf. F. diaphane diaphanous. See Diaphanous.] A woven silk stuff with transparent and colored figures; diaper work.

Di"a*phaned (?), a. [Cf. OF. diaphaner to make transparent. See Diaphanous.] Transparent or translucent. [R.]

Di`a*pha*ne"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. diaphanéité. See Diaphanous.] The quality of being diaphanous; transparency; pellucidness.

Di`a*phan"ic (?), a. [See Diaphanous.] Having power to transmit light; transparent; diaphanous.

Di*aph"a*nie (?), n. The art of imitating stained glass with translucent paper.

Di`a*pha*nom"e*ter (?), n. [Gr. &?; transparent + -meter.] An instrument for measuring the transparency of the air.

Di`a*phan"o*scope (?), n. [Gr. &?; transparent + -scope.] (Photog.) A dark box constructed for viewing transparent pictures, with or without a lens.

Di`a*phan"o*type (?), n. [Gr. &?; transparent + -type.] (Photog.) A colored photograph produced by superimposing a translucent colored positive over a strong uncolored one.

Di*aph"a*nous (?), a. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to show or shine through; dia` through + &?; to show, and in the passive, to shine: cf. F. diaphane. See Phantom, and cf. Diaphane, Diaphanic.] 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.

Di*aph"a*nous*ly, adv. Translucently.

Di*aph`e*met"ric (?), a. [Gr. dia` through + &?; touch + &?; measure.] (Physiol.) Relating to the measurement of the tactile sensibility of parts; as, diaphemetric compasses. Dunglison.

{ Di`a*phon"ic (?), Di`a*phon"ic*al (?) }, a. [Gr. dia` through + &?; sound, tone.] Diacoustic.

Di`a*phon"ics (?), n. The doctrine of refracted sound; diacoustics.

||Di`a*pho*re"sis (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to carry through, to throw off by perspiration; dia` through + &?; to carry.] (Med.) Perspiration, or an increase of perspiration.

{ Di`a*pho*ret"ic (?), Di`a*pho*ret"ic*al (?), } a. [L. diaphoreticus, Gr. &?;: cf. F. diaphorétique. See Diaphoresis.] Having the power to increase perspiration.

Di`a*pho*ret"ic, n. (Med.) A medicine or agent which promotes perspiration.

&fist; Diaphoretics differ from sudorifics; the former only increase the insensible perspiration, the latter excite the sensible discharge called sweat. Parr.

Di"a*phote (?), n. [Pref. dia- + Gr. &?;, light.] (Elec.) An instrument designed for transmitting pictures by telegraph. Fallows.

Di"a*phragm (?), n. [L. diaphragma, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to fence by a partition wall; dia` through + &?;, &?;, to fence, inclose; prob. akin to L. fareire to stuff: cf. F. diaphragme. See Farce.] 1. A dividing membrane or thin partition, commonly with an opening through it.

2. (Anat.) The muscular and tendinous partition separating the cavity of the chest from that of the abdomen; the midriff.

3. (Zoöl.) A calcareous plate which divides the cavity of certain shells into two parts.

4. (Opt.) 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.) A partition in any compartment, for various purposes.

Diaphragm pump, one in which a flexible diaphragm takes the place of a piston.

Di`a*phrag*mat"ic (?), a. [Cf. F. diaphragmatique.] Pertaining to a diaphragm; as, diaphragmatic respiration; the diaphragmatic arteries and nerves.

Di*aph"y*sis (?), n. [Gr. &?; a growing through; dia` through + &?; to bring forth.] 1. (Bot.) An abnormal prolongation of the axis of inflorescence.

2. (Anat.) The shaft, or main part, of a bone, which is first ossified.

Di`ap*no"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?; outlet for the wind, exhalation, fr. &?; to blow through; dia` through + &?; to blow, breathe: cf. F. diapnoïque.] (Med.) Slightly increasing an insensible perspiration; mildly diaphoretic. -- n. A gentle diaphoretic.

Di*ap`o*phys"ic*al (?), a. (Anat.) Pertaining to a diapophysis.

||Di`a*poph"y*sis (?), n. [NL. See Dia-, and Apophysis.] (Anat.) The dorsal transverse, or tubercular, process of a vertebra. See Vertebra.

Di"arch*y (?), n. [Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?; to rule.] A form of government in which the supreme power is vested in two persons.

{ Di*a"ri*al (?), Di*a"ri*an (?), } a. [See Diary.] Pertaining to a diary; daily.

Di"a*rist (?), n. One who keeps a diary.

{ Di`ar*rhe"a, Di`ar*rhœ"a }, (dī`ar*rē"&adot;), n. [L. diarrhoea, Gr. dia`rroia, fr. dia`rrei^n to flow through; dia` + "rei^n to flow; akin to E. stream. See Stream.] (Med.) 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.

{ Di`ar*rhe"al, Di`ar*rhœ"al } a. (Med.) Of or pertaining to diarrhea; like diarrhea.

{ Di`ar*rhet"ic, Di`ar*rhœt"ic } (?), a. (Med.) Producing diarrhea, or a purging.

Di`ar*thro"di*al (?), a. (Anat.) Relating to diarthrosis, or movable articulations.

||Di`ar*thro"sis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to joint, articulate; dia` through, asunder + &?; to fasten by a joint, 'a`rqron joint.] (Anat.) A form of articulation which admits of considerable motion; a complete joint; abarticulation. See Articulation.

Di"a*ry (?), n.; pl. Diaries (#). [L. diarium, fr. dies day. See Deity.] 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.

Di"a*ry, a. lasting for one day; as, a diary fever. [Obs.] "Diary ague." Bacon.

Di"a*spore (?), n. [From Gr. &?; a scattering; dia` through, asunder + &?; to sow, scatter like seed: cf. F. diaspore.] (Min.) 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.

Di"a*stase (?), n. [Gr. &?; separation, fr. &?;, &?; to stand apart; dia` through + &?;, &?;, to stand, set: cf. F. diastase. Cf. Diastasis.] (Physiol. Chem.) A soluble, nitrogenous ferment, capable of converting starch and dextrin into sugar.

&fist; 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.

Di`a*sta"sic (?), a. Pertaining to, or consisting of, diastase; as, diastasic ferment.

||Di*as"ta*sis (?), n. [NL. See Diastase.] (Surg.) A forcible separation of bones without fracture.

Di`a*stat"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?; separative. See Diastase.] (Physiol. Chem.) 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.

Di"a*stem (?), n. [L. diastema, Gr. &?;, fr. &?;: cf. F. diastème.] (a) Intervening space; interval. (b) (Anc. Mus.) An interval.

||Di`a*ste"ma (?), n. [L. See Diastem.] (Anat.) A vacant space, or gap, esp. between teeth in a jaw.

Di*as"ter (?), n. [Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?; star.] (Biol.) 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.

||Di*as"to*le (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to put asunder, to separate; dia` through + &?; to set, to place.] 1. (Physiol.) The rhythmical expansion or dilatation of the heart and arteries; -- correlative to systole, or contraction.

2. (Gram.) A figure by which a syllable naturally short is made long.

Di`as*tol"ic (?), a. (Physiol.) Of or pertaining to diastole.

Di"a*style (?), n. [L. diastylus, Gr. &?;; dia` through, asunder + &?; pillar, column: cf. F. diastyle.] (Arch.) See under Intercolumniation.

||Di`a*tes"sa*ron (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?; (sc. &?;); dia` through + &?;, gen. of &?; four (sc. &?;.).] 1. (Anc. Mus.) The interval of a fourth.

2. (Theol.) A continuous narrative arranged from the first four books of the New Testament.

3. An electuary compounded of four medicines.

Di`a*ther"mal (?), a. [Gr. &?; thoroughly warm; dia` through + &?; warm, hot. Cf. Diathermous.] Freely permeable by radiant heat.

{ Di`a*ther"man*cy (?), Di`a*ther`ma*ne"i*ty (?), } n. [See Diathermanous.] The property of transmitting radiant heat; the quality of being diathermous. Melloni.

Di`a*ther"ma*nism (?), n. The doctrine or the phenomena of the transmission of radiant heat. Nichol.

Di`a*ther"ma*nous (?), a. [Gr. &?; to warm through; dia` through + &?; to warm, &?; warm.] Having the property of transmitting radiant heat; diathermal; -- opposed to athermanous.

Di`a*ther"mic (?), a. Affording a free passage to heat; as, diathermic substances. Melloni.

Di`a*ther*mom"e*ter (?), n. [Gr. &?; warm + -meter. See Diathermal.] (Physics) An instrument for examining the thermal resistance or heat- conducting power of liquids.

Di`a*ther"mous (?), a. Same as Diathermal.

||Di*ath"e*sis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to place separately, arrange; dia` through, asunder + &?; to place, put.] (Med.) Bodily condition or constitution, esp. a morbid habit which predisposes to a particular disease, or class of diseases.

Di`a*thet"ic (?), a. Pertaining to, or dependent on, a diathesis or special constitution of the body; as, diathetic disease.

Di"a*tom (dī`&adot;*t&obreve;m), n. [Gr. dia`tomos cut in two. See Diatomous.] 1. (Bot.) 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.

Di`a*tom"ic (dī`&adot;*t&obreve;m"&ibreve;k), a. [Pref. di- + atomic.] (Chem.) (a) Containing two atoms. (b) Having two replaceable atoms or radicals.

Di*at"o*mous (?), a. [Gr. dia`tomos cut through, fr. diate`mnein to cut through; dia` through + te`mnein to cut. Cf. Diatom.] (Min.) Having a single, distinct, diagonal cleavage; -- said of crystals. Mohs.

Di`a*ton"ic (dī`&adot;*t&obreve;n"&ibreve;k), a. [L. diatonicus, diatonus, Gr. &?;, &?;, fr. &?; to stretch out; dia` through + &?; to stretch: cf. F. diatonique. See Tone.] (Mus.) 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.

Di`a*ton"ic*al*ly (?), adv. In a diatonic manner.

Di"a*tribe (?; 277), n. [L. diatriba a learned discussion, Gr. &?;, prop., a wearing away of time, fr. &?; to rub away, spend time; dia` through + &?; to rub: cf. L. terere, F. trite: cf. F. diatribe.] 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.

Di*at"ri*bist (?), n. One who makes a diatribe or diatribes.

||Di`a*try"ma (?), n. [NL., from Gr. dia` through + &?; hole.] (Paleon.) An extinct eocene bird from New Mexico, larger than the ostrich.

{ Di`a*zeuc"tic (?), Di`a*zeu"tic (?), } a. [Gr. &?; disjunctive, fr. &?; to disjoin; dia` through, asunder + &?; to join, yoke.] (Anc. Mus.) 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.]

Di*az"o- (&?;). [Pref. di- + azo-] (Chem.) 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.

&fist; 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.

Di*az"o*tize (?), v. t. (Chem.) To subject to such reactions or processes that diazo compounds, or their derivatives, shall be produced by chemical exchange or substitution.

Dib (?), v. i. To dip. [Prov. Eng.] Walton.

Dib, n. 1. One of the small bones in the knee joints of sheep uniting the bones above and below the joints.

2. pl. A child's game, played with dib bones.

Di*ba"sic (?), a. [Pref. di- + basic.] (Chem.) 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.

&fist; 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.

Di`ba*sic"i*ty (?), n. (Chem.) The property or condition of being dibasic.

Dib"ber (?), n. A dibble. Halliwell.

Dib"ble (?), n. [See Dibble, v. i.] A pointed implement used to make holes in the ground in which no set out plants or to plant seeds.

Dib"ble, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dibbled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dibbling (?).] [Freq. of Prov. E. dib, for dip to thrust in. See Dip.] To dib or dip frequently, as in angling. Walton.

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.

Dib"bler (?), n. One who, or that which, dibbles, or makes holes in the ground for seed.

||Di*bran`chi*a"ta (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?; gills.] (Zoöl.) 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.

Di*bran"chi*ate (?), a. (Zoöl.) Having two gills. -- n. One of the Dibranchiata.

Dibs (?), n. A sweet preparation or treacle of grape juice, much used in the East. Johnston.

Dib"stone` (?; 110), n. A pebble used in a child's game called dibstones. Locke.

Di*bu"tyl (?), n. [Pref. di- + butyl.] (Chem.) A liquid hydrocarbon, C8H18, of the marsh-gas series, being one of several octanes, and consisting of two butyl radicals. Cf. Octane.

Di*ca"cious (?), a. [L. dicax, dicacis, fr. dicere to say.] Talkative; pert; saucy. [Obs.]

Di*cac"i*ty (?), n. [L. dicacitas: cf. F. dicacité. See Dicacious.] Pertness; sauciness. [Obs.]

Di*cal"cic (?), a. [Pref. di- + calcic.] (Chem.) Having two atoms or equivalents of calcium to the molecule.

Di`car*bon"ic (?), a. [Pref. di- + carbonic.] (Chem.) Containing two carbon residues, or two carboxyl or radicals; as, oxalic acid is a dicarbonic acid.

Di"cast (?), n. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to judge, &?; right, judgment, justice.] A functionary in ancient Athens answering nearly to the modern juryman.

Di*cas"ter*y (?), n. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; juryman. See Dicast.] A court of justice; judgment hall. [R.] J. S. Mill.

Dice (?), n.; pl. of Die. 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, 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.

Dice"box` (?), n. A box from which dice are thrown in gaming. Thackeray.

||Di*cen"tra (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?; spur.] (Bot.) 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.]

Di*ceph"a*lous (?), a. [Gr. &?;; di- = di`s- twice + &?; head.] Having two heads on one body; double-headed.

Di"cer (?), n. A player at dice; a dice player; a gamester.

As false as dicers' oaths.
Shak.

Dich (?), v. i. To ditch. [Obs.]

Di*chas"tic (?), a. [Gr. &?; to part asunder, fr. &?; in two, asunder, fr. di`s- twice.] (Biol.) Capable of subdividing spontaneously.

Di`chla*myd"e*ous (?), a. [Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?;, &?;, a cloak.] (Bot.) Having two coverings, a calyx and in corolla.

Di*chlo"ride (?), n. [Pref. di- + chloride.] (Chem.) Same as Bichloride.

Di*chog"a*mous (?), a. (Bot.) Manifesting dichogamy.

Di*chog"a*my (?), n. [Gr. &?; in two, asunder + &?; marriage.] (Bot.) 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.

Di*chot"o*mist (?), n. One who dichotomizes. Bacon.

Di*chot"o*mize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dichotomized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dichotomizing (?).] [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.) To exhibit as a half disk. See Dichotomy, 3. "[The moon] was dichotomized." Whewell.

Di*chot"o*mize, v. i. To separate into two parts; to branch dichotomously; to become dichotomous.

Di*chot"o*mous (?), a. [L. dichotomos, Gr. &?;; &?; in two, asunder + diate`mnein to cut.] Regularly dividing by pairs from bottom to top; as, a dichotomous stem. -- Di*chot"o*mous*ly, adv.

Di*chot"o*my (?), n. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?;: cf. F. 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.) That phase of the moon in which it appears bisected, or shows only half its disk, as at the quadratures.

4. (Biol.) 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) 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.

Di*chro"ic (?), a. [See Dichroism.] Having the property of dichroism; as, a dichroic crystal.

Di*chro"i*scope (?), n. Same as Dichroscope.

Di"chro*ism (?), n. [Gr. &?; two- colored; di- = di`s- twice + &?; color.] (Opt.) 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.

Di"chro*ite (?), n. [See Dichroism.] (Min.) Iolite; -- so called from its presenting two different colors when viewed in two different directions. See Iolite.

Di`chro*it"ic (?), a. Dichroic.

Di*chro"mate (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of chromic acid containing two equivalents of the acid radical to one of the base; -- called also bichromate.

Di`chro*mat"ic (?), a. [Pref. di- + chromatic: cf. Gr. &?;.] 1. Having or exhibiting two colors.

2. (Zoöl.) Having two color varieties, or two phases differing in color, independently of age or sex, as in certain birds and insects.

Di*chro"ma*tism (?), n. The state of being dichromatic.

Di*chro"mic (?), a. [Gr. &?; two- colored; di- = di`s- twice + &?; color.] 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.

Di"chro*ous (?), a. Dichroic.

Di"chro*scope (?), n. [Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?; color + &?; to view.] An instrument for examining the dichroism of crystals.

Di`chro*scop"ic (?), a. Pertaining to the dichroscope, or to observations with it.

Di"cing (?), n. 1. An ornamenting in squares or cubes.

2. Gambling with dice. J. R. Green.

Dick*cis"sel (?), n. (Zoöl.) The American black-throated bunting (Spiza Americana).

Dick"ens (?), n. or interj. [Perh. a contr. of the dim. devilkins.] The devil. [A vulgar euphemism.]

I can not tell what the dickens his name is.
Shak.

Dick"er (?), n. [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.

Dick"er, v. i. & t. To negotiate a dicker; to barter. [U.S.] "Ready to dicker. and to swap." Cooper.

{ 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.]

Di*clin"ic (?), a. [Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?; to incline.] (Crystallog.) Having two of the intersections between the three axes oblique. See Crystallization.

Dic"li*nous (?), a. [Gr. &?; = &?; bed.] Having the stamens and pistils in separate flowers. Gray.

Di*coc"cous (?), a. [Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?; grain, seed.] (Bot.) Composed of two coherent, one-seeded carpels; as, a dicoccous capsule.

Di*cot`y*le"don (d&isl;*k&obreve;t`&ibreve;*lē"dŭn), n. [Pref. di- + cotyledon.] (Bot.) A plant whose seeds divide into two seed lobes, or cotyledons, in germinating.

Di*cot`y*le"don*ous (-l&ebreve;d"ŭn*ŭs), a. (Bot.) Having two cotyledons or seed lobes; as, a dicotyledonous plant.

{ Di"cro*tal (?), Di"cro*tous (?), } a. [Gr. &?; a double beating.] Dicrotic.

Di*crot"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?; = &?; to knock, beat.] (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.

Di"cro*tism (?), n. (Physiol.) A condition in which there are two beats or waves of the arterial pulse to each beat of the heart.

||Dic"ta (?), n. pl. [L.] See Dictum.

||Dic*ta"men (?), n. [LL., fr. dictare to dictate.] A dictation or dictate. [R.] Falkland.

||Dic*tam"nus (?), n. [L. See Dittany.] (Bot.) A suffrutescent, D. Fraxinella (the only species), with strong perfume and showy flowers. The volatile oil of the leaves is highly inflammable.

Dic"tate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dictated; p. pr. & vb. n. Dictating.] [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.

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.

Dic"tate (?), n. [L. dictatum. See Dictate, v. t.] 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.

Dic*ta"tion (?), n. [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 dictation.

Dic*ta"tor (?), n. [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.

Dic`ta*to"ri*al (?), a. [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.

Dic`ta*to"ri*an (?), a. Dictatorial. [Obs.]

Dic*ta"tor*ship (?), n. The office, or the term of office, of a dictator; hence, absolute power.

Dic"ta*to*ry (?), a. [L. dictatorius.] Dogmatical; overbearing; dictatorial. Milton.

Dic*ta"tress (?), n. A woman who dictates or commands.

Earth's chief dictatress, ocean's mighty queen.
Byron.

Dic*ta"trix (?), n. [L.] A dictatress.

Dic*ta"ture (?; 135), n. [L. dictatura: cf. F. dictature.] Office of a dictator; dictatorship. [R.] Bacon.

Dic"tion (?), n. [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.] 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.

Dic`tion*al"ri*an (?), n. A lexicographer. [R.]

Dic"tion*a*ry (?), n.; pl. Dictionaries (#). [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.

||Dic"tum (?), n.; pl. L. Dicta (#), E. Dictums (#). [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.

Dic*ty"o*gen (?), n. [Gr. &?; a net + -gen.] (Bot.) A plant with net-veined leaves, and monocotyledonous embryos, belonging to the class Dictyogenæ, proposed by Lindley for the orders Dioscoreaceæ, Smilaceæ, Trilliaceæ, etc.

Di*cy"a*nide (?), n. [Pref. di- + cyanogen.] (Chem.) A compound of a binary type containing two cyanogen groups or radicals; -- called also bicyanide.

||Di`cy*e"ma*ta (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?; an embryo.] (Zoöl.) An order of worms parasitic in cephalopods. They are remarkable for the extreme simplicity of their structure. The embryo exists in two forms.

Di`cy*e"mid (?), a. (Zoöl.) Like or belonging to the Dicyemata. -- n. One of the Dicyemata.

Di*cyn"o*dont (?), n. [Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?; dog + 'odoy`s, 'odo`ntos, tooth.] (Paleon.) 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 (?), imp. of Do.

{ Di*dac"tic (?), Di*dac"tic*al (?), } a. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to teach; akin to L. docere to teach: cf. F. didactique. See Docile.] 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.

Di*dac"tic, n. A treatise on teaching or education. [Obs.] Milton.

Di*dac"tic*al*ly, adv. In a didactic manner.

Di*dac"ti*cism (?), n. The didactic method or system.

Di`dac*tic"i*ty (?), n. Aptitude for teaching. Hare.

Di*dac"tics (?), n. The art or science of teaching.

Di*dac"tyl (?), n. [Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?; finger, toe: cf. F. didactyle.] (Zoöl.) An animal having only two digits.

Di*dac"tyl*ous (?), a. (Zoöl.) Having only two digits; two-toed.

Di"dal (?), n. A kind of triangular spade. [Obs.]

Di"dap`per (?), n. [For divedapper. See Dive, Dap, Dip, and cf. Dabchick.] (Zoöl.) See Dabchick.

Di*das"ca*lar (?), a. Didascalic. [R.]

Di`das*cal"ic (?), a. [L. didascalius, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to teach: cf. F. didascalique.] Didactic; preceptive. [R.] Prior.

Did"dle (?), v. i. [Cf. Daddle.] To totter, as a child in walking. [Obs.] Quarles.

Did"dle, v. t. [Perh. from AS. dyderian to deceive, the letter r being changed to l.] To cheat or overreach. [Colloq.] Beaconsfield.

Did"dler (?), n. 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.

||Di*del"phi*a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; = &?; matrix, uterus.] (Zoöl.) The subclass of Mammalia which includes the marsupials. See Marsupialia.

Di*del"phi*an (?), a. (Zoöl.) Of or relating to the Didelphia. -- n. One of the Didelphia.

Di*del"phic (?), a. (Zoöl.) Having the uterus double; of or pertaining to the Didelphia.

Di*del"phid (?), a. (Zoöl.) Same as Didelphic.

Di*del"phid, n. (Zoöl.) A marsupial animal.

Di*del"phous (?), a. (Zoöl.) Didelphic.

Di*del"phyc (?), a. (Zoöl.) Same as Didelphic.

||Di*del"phys (?), n. [NL. See Didelphia.] (Zoöl.) 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.

Di"dine (?), a. (Zoöl.) Like or pertaining to the genus Didus, or the dodo.

Di"do (?), n.; pl. Didos (&?;). 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.

||Di*do"ni*a (?), n. [NL. So called in allusion to the classical story of Dido and the bull's hide.] (Geom.) The curve which on a given surface and with a given perimeter contains the greatest area. Tait.

{ Di"drachm (?), Di*drach"ma (?), } n. [Gr. &?;; di- = di`s- twice + &?; a drachm.] A two-drachma piece; an ancient Greek silver coin, worth nearly forty cents.

Didst (?), the 2d pers. sing. imp. of Do.

Di*duce"ment (?), n. Diduction; separation into distinct parts. Bacon.

Di*duc"tion (?), n. [L. diductio, fr. diducere, diductum, to draw apart; di- = dis- + ducere to lead, draw.] The act of drawing apart; separation.

Di"dym (?), n. (Chem.) See Didymium.

Di*dym"i*um (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; twin.] (Chem.) 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.

Did"y*mous (d&ibreve;d"&ibreve;*mŭs), a. [Gr. di`dymos twofold, twin.] (Bot.) Growing in pairs or twins.

||Did`y*na"mi*a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?; power.] (Bot.) A Linnæan class of plants having four stamens disposed in pairs of unequal length.

||Did`y*na"mi*an (?), a. Didynamous.

Di*dyn"a*mous (?), a. (Bot.) Of or pertaining to the Didynamia; containing four stamens disposed in pairs of unequal length.

Die (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Died (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dying.] [OE. deyen, dien, of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. deyja; akin to Dan. döe, Sw. dö, Goth. diwan (cf. Goth. afd&?;jan to harass), OFries. d&?;ia 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.) 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, n.; pl. in 1 and (usually) in 2, Dice (dīs); in 4 & 5, Dies (dīz). [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.) 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.

Di*e"cian (?), a., Di*e"cious (&?;), a. (Bot.) See Diœcian, and Diœcious.

Di*e"dral (?), a. The same as Dihedral.

||Di`e*ge"sis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to narrate; dia` through + &?; to lead.] A narrative or history; a recital or relation.

Di`e*lec"tric (?), n. [Pref. dia- + electric.] (Elec.) 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.

||Di*el"y*tra (?), n. (Bot.) See Dicentra.

||Di`en*ceph"a*lon (?), n. [NL. See Dia-, and Encephalon.] (Anat.) The interbrain or thalamencephalon; -- sometimes abbreviated to dien. See Thalamencephalon.

||Di*er"e*sis (?), n. [NL.] Same as Diæresis.

Die"sink`er (?), n. An engraver of dies for stamping coins, medals, etc.

Die"sink`ing, n. The process of engraving dies.

||Di"es I"ræ (?). Day of wrath; -- the name and beginning of a famous mediæval Latin hymn on the Last Judgment.

||Di"e*sis (?), n.; pl. Dieses (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to let go through, dissolve; dia` through + &?; to let go, send.] 1. (Mus.) A small interval, less than any in actual practice, but used in the mathematical calculation of intervals.

2. (Print.) The mark ‡; -- called also double dagger.

||Di"es ju*rid"i*cus (?); pl. Dies juridici (#). [L.] (Law) A court day.

||Di"es non" (?). [L. dies non juridicus.] (Law) A day on which courts are not held, as Sunday or any legal holiday.

Die"stock` (?), n. A stock to hold the dies used for cutting screws.

Di"et (?), n. [F. diète, L. diaeta, fr. Gr. &?; manner of living.] 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.

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.

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.

Di"et, n. [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 day&?; and Reichstag.] 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.

Di`e*ta"ri*an (?), n. One who lives in accordance with prescribed rules for diet; a dieter.

Di"et*a*ry (?), a. Pertaining to diet, or to the rules of diet.

Di"et*a*ry, n.; pl. Dietaries (&?;). A rule of diet; a fixed allowance of food, as in workhouse, prison, etc.

Di"et*er (?), n. One who diets; one who prescribes, or who partakes of, food, according to hygienic rules.

{ Di`e*tet"ic (?), Di`e*tet"ic*al (?), } a. [Gr. &?;: cf. F. diététique. See Diet.] Of or performance to diet, or to the rules for regulating the kind and quantity of food to be eaten.

Di`e*tet"ic*al*ly, adv. In a dietetical manner.

Di`e*tet"ics (?), n. 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.

Di`e*tet"ist, n. A physician who applies the rules of dietetics to the cure of diseases. Dunglison.

Di*eth`yl*am"ine (?), n. [Pref. di- + ethylamine.] (Chem.) A colorless, volatile, alkaline liquid, NH(C2H5)2, having a strong fishy odor resembling that of herring or sardines. Cf. Methylamine.

Di*et"ic (?), a. Dietetic.

Di*et"ic*al (?), a. Dietetic. [R.] Ferrand.

Di"et*ine (?), n. [Cf. F. diétine.] A subordinate or local assembly; a diet of inferior rank.

{ Di"et*ist (?), Di`e*ti"tian (?), } n. One skilled in dietetics. [R.]

Dif*fame` (?), n. [See Defame.] Evil name; bad reputation; defamation. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dif*far`re*a"tion (?), n. [L. diffarreatio; dif- = farreum a spelt cake. See Confarreation.] A form of divorce, among the ancient Romans, in which a cake was used. See Confarreation.

Dif"fer (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Differed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Differing.] [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.

Dif"fer, v. t. To cause to be different or unlike; to set at variance. [R.]

But something 'ts that differs thee and me.
Cowley.

Dif"fer*ence (?), n. [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 he chooseth with vile difference
To be a beast, and lack intelligence.
Spenser.

5. (Her.) 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) The quality or attribute which is added to those of the genus to constitute a species; a differentia.

7. (Math.) 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.

Dif"fer*ence (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Differenced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Differencing.] 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.

Dif"fer*ent (?), a. [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.

&fist; Different is properly followed by from. Different to, for different from, is a common English colloquialism. Different than is quite inadmissible.

||Dif`fer*en"ti*a (?), n.; pl. Differentiæ (#). [L. See Difference.] (Logic) The formal or distinguishing part of the essence of a species; the characteristic attribute of a species; specific difference.

Dif`fer*en"tial (?), a. [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.) Of or pertaining to a differential, or to differentials.

3. (Mech.) 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.

Dif`fer*en"tial, n. 1. (Math.) An increment, usually an indefinitely small one, which is given to a variable quantity.

&fist; 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.

Dif`fer*en"tial*ly (?), adv. In the way of differentiation.

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.) To obtain the differential, or differential coefficient, of; as, to differentiate an algebraic expression, or an equation.

Dif`fer*en"ti*ate, v. i. (Biol.) To acquire a distinct and separate character. Huxley.

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) The act of distinguishing or describing a thing, by giving its different, or specific difference; exact definition or determination.

3. (Biol.) 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.) The supposed act or tendency in being of every kind, whether organic or inorganic, to assume or produce a more complex structure or functions.

Dif`fer*en"ti*a`tor (?), n. One who, or that which, differentiates.

Dif"fer*ent*ly (?), adv. In a different manner; variously.

Dif"fer*ing*ly, adv. In a differing or different manner. Boyle.

Dif"fi*cile (?), a. [L. difficilis: cf. F. difficile. See Difficult.] Difficult; hard to manage; stubborn. [Obs.] -- Dif"fi*cile*ness, n. [Obs.] Bacon.

Dif`fi*cil"i*tate (?), v. t. To make difficult. [Obs.] W. Montagu.

Dif"fi*cult (?), a. [From Difficulty.] 1. Hard to do or to make; beset with difficulty; attended with labor, trouble, or pains; not easy; arduous.

&fist; 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.

Dif"fi*cult, v. t. To render difficult; to impede; to perplex. [R.] Sir W. Temple.

Dif"fi*cult*ate (?), v. t. To render difficult; to difficilitate. [Obs.] Cotgrave.

Dif"fi*cult*ly, adv. With difficulty. Cowper.

Dif"fi*cult*ness, n. Difficulty. [R.] Golding.

Dif"fi*cul*ty (?), n.; pl. Difficulties (#). [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 and 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.

Dif*fide" (?), v. i. [L. diffidere. See Diffident.] To be distrustful. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Dif"fi*dence (?), n. [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 address.
W. Irving.

Syn. -- Humility; bashfulness; distrust; suspicion; doubt; fear; timidity; apprehension; hesitation. See Humility, and Bashfulness.

Dif"fi*den*cy (?), n. See Diffidence. [Obs.]

Dif"fi*dent (?), a. [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.

Dif"fi*dent*ly, adv. In a diffident manner.

To stand diffidently against each other with their thoughts in battle array.
Hobbes.

Dif*find (?), v. t. [L. diffindere, diffissum; dif- = dis- + findere to split.] To split. [Obs.] Bailey.

Dif*fine" (?), v. t. To define. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dif*fin"i*tive (?), a. [For definitive.] Definitive; determinate; final. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.

Dif*fis"sion (?), n. [See Diffind.] Act of cleaving or splitting. [R.] Bailey.

Dif*fla"tion (?), n. [LL. difflatio, fr. L. difflare, difflatum, to disperse by blowing.] A blowing apart or away. [Obs.] Bailey.

{ Dif"flu*ence (?), Dif"flu*en*cy (?), } n. A flowing off on all sides; fluidity. [R.]

Dif"flu*ent (?), a. [L. diffluens, p. pr. of diffluere to flow off; dif- = dis- + fluere to flow.] Flowing apart or off; dissolving; not fixed. [R.] Bailey.

Dif"form` (?), a. [Cf. F. difforme, fr. L. dif- = dis- + forma form. Cf. Deform.] 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.

Dif*form"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. difformité. See Difform, Deformity.] Irregularity of form; diversity of form; want of uniformity. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Dif*fract" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Diffracted; p. pr. & vb. n. Diffracting.] [L. diffractus, p. p. of diffringere to break in pieces; dif- = dis- + frangere to break. See Fracture.] To break or separate into parts; to deflect, or decompose by deflection, a&?; rays of light.

Dif*frac"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. diffraction.] (Opt.) 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.

Dif*frac"tive (?), a. That produces diffraction.

{ Dif*fran"chise (?), Dif*fran"chise*ment (?) }. See Disfranchise, Disfranchisement.

Dif*fus"ate (?), n. (Chem.) Material which, in the process of catalysis, has diffused or passed through the separating membrane.

Dif*fuse" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Diffused (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Diffusing.] [L. diffusus, p. p. of diffundere to pour out, to diffuse; dif- = dis- + fundere to pour. See Fuse to melt.] 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.

Dif*fuse", v. i. To pass by spreading every way, to diffuse itself.

Dif*fuse" (?), a. [L. diffusus, p. p.] 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.

Dif*fused" (?), a. 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.

Dif*fuse"ly (?), adv. In a diffuse manner.

Dif*fuse"ness, n. 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.

Dif*fus"er (?), n. One who, or that which, diffuses.

Dif*fu`si*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality of being diffusible; capability of being poured or spread out.

Dif*fu"si*ble (?), a. 1. Capable of flowing or spreading in all directions; that may be diffused.

2. (Physiol.) Capable of passing through animal membranes by osmosis.

Dif*fu"si*ble*ness, n. Diffusibility.

Dif*fu"sion (?), n. [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.) 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.

Dif*fu"sive (?), a. [Cf. F. diffusif.] Having the quality of diffusing; capable of spreading every way by flowing; spreading widely; widely reaching; copious; diffuse. "A plentiful and diffusive perfume." Hare.

Dif*fu"sive*ly, adv. In a diffusive manner.

Dif*fu"sive*ness, n. 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.

Dif`fu*siv"i*ty (?), n. Tendency to become diffused; tendency, as of heat, to become equalized by spreading through a conducting medium.

Dig (d&ibreve;g), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dug (dŭg) or Digged (d&ibreve;gd); p. pr. & vb. n. Digging. -- Digged is archaic.] [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. √67.] 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.

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) 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, 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.]

Dig"a*mist (?), n. [Gr. &?; = &?; twice + &?; to marry. Cf. Bigamist.] One who marries a second time; a deuterogamist. Hammond.

Di*gam"ma (?), n. [Gr. &?;; &?; = &?; twice + ga`mma the letter Γ. So called because it resembled two gammas placed one above the other.] (Gr. Gram.) A letter (&?;, &?;) of the Greek alphabet, which early fell into disuse.

&fist; 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.

{ Di*gam"mate (?), Di*gam"mated (?), } a. Having the digamma or its representative letter or sound; as, the Latin word vis is a digammated form of the Greek 'i`s. Andrews.

Dig"a*mous (?), a. Pertaining to a second marriage, that is, one after the death of the first wife or the first husband.

Dig"a*my (?), n. [Gr. &?; a second marriage; di- = di`s- twice + &?; marriage. Cf. Bigamy.] Act, or state, of being twice married; deuterogamy. [R.]

Di*gas"tric (?), a. [Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?; belly: cf. F. 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.

||Di*ge"ne*a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?; race, offspring.] (Zoöl.) A division of Trematoda in which alternate generations occur, the immediate young not resembling their parents.

Di*gen"e*sis (?), n. [Pref. di- + genesis.] (Biol.) The faculty of multiplying in two ways; -- by ova fecundated by spermatic fluid, and asexually, as by buds. See Parthenogenesis.

Dig"e*nous (?), a. [Pref. di- + -genous.] (Biol.) Sexually reproductive.

Digenous reproduction. (Biol.) Same as Digenesis.

Dig"er*ent (?), . [L. digerens, p. pr. of digerere. See Digest.] Digesting. [Obs.] Bailey.

Di*gest" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Digested; p. pr. & vb. n. Digesting.] [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.) 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.) 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.) 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.

Di*gest" (?), v. i. 1. To undergo digestion; as, food digests well or ill.

2. (Med.) To suppurate; to generate pus, as an ulcer.

Di"gest (?), n. [L. digestum, pl. digesta, neut., fr. digestus, p. p.: cf. F. digeste. See Digest, v. t.] That which is digested; especially, that which is worked over, classified, and arranged under proper heads or titles; esp. (Law), 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.

Di*gest"ed*ly (?), adv. In a digested or well-arranged manner; methodically.

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.

Di*gest`i*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality of being digestible.

Di*gest"i*ble (?), a. [F. digestible, L. digestibilis.] Capable of being digested.

Di*gest"i*ble*ness, n. The quality of being digestible; digestibility.

Di*ges"tion (?; 106), n. [F. digestion, L. digestio.] 1. The act or process of digesting; reduction to order; classification; thoughtful consideration.

2. (Physiol.) The conversion of food, in the stomach and intestines, into soluble and diffusible products, capable of being absorbed by the blood.

3. (Med.) Generation of pus; suppuration.

Di*gest"ive (?), a. [F. digestif, L. digestivus.] 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.

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.]

Di*gest"or (?), n. See Digester.

Di*ges"ture (?; 135), n. Digestion. [Obs.] Harvey.

Dig"ga*ble (?), a. Capable of being dug.

Dig"ger (?), n. One who, or that which, digs.

Digger wasp (Zoöl.), any one of the fossorial Hymenoptera.

Dig"gers (?), n. pl.; sing. Digger. (Ethnol.) A degraded tribe of California Indians; -- so called from their practice of digging roots for food.

Dig"ging (?), n. 1. The act or the place of excavating.

2. pl. Places where ore is dug; especially, certain localities in California, Australia, and elsewhere, at which gold is obtained. [Recent]

3. pl. Region; locality. [Low]

Dight (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dight or Dighted; p. pr. & vb. n. Dighting.] [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.

Dight"er (?), n. One who dights. [Obs.]

Dig"it (d&ibreve;j"&ibreve;t), n. [L. digitus finger; prob. akin to Gr. da`ktylos, of uncertain origin; possibly akin to E. toe. Cf. Dactyl.] 1. (Zoöl.) 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.) 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.

&fist; By some authorities the symbol 0 is not included with the digits.

4. (Anat.) 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.

Dig"it, v. t. To point at or out with the finger. [R.]

Dig"i*tal (d&ibreve;j"&ibreve;*tal), a. [L. digitals.] Of or pertaining to the fingers, or to digits; done with the fingers; as, digital compression; digital examination.

Dig"i*ta`lin (?), n. [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.

Dig`i*ta"lis (?), n. [NL.: cf. F. digitale. So named (according to Linnæus) from its finger-shaped corolla.] 1. (Bot.) A genus of plants including the foxglove.

2. (Med.) The dried leaves of the purple foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), used in heart disease, disturbance of the circulation, etc.

Dig"i*tate (?), v. t. [LL. digitatus, p. p. of digitare, fr. L. digitus. See Digit.] To point out as with the finger. [R.] Robinson (Eudoxa).

{ Dig"i*tate (?), Dig"i*ta`ted (?) }, a. [L. digitatus having fingers.] (Bot.) 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.

Dig`i*ta"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. digitation.] A division into fingers or fingerlike processes; also, a fingerlike process.

Dig"i*ti*form (?), a. [L. digitus a finger + -form.] Formed like a finger or fingers; finger-shaped; as, a digitiform root.

Dig"i*ti*grade (?), a. [L. digitus finger, toe + gradi to step, walk: cf. F. digitigrade.] (Zoöl.) Walking on the toes; -- distinguished from plantigrade.

Dig"i*ti*grade, n. (Zoöl.) 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.

Dig`i*ti*par"tite (?), a. [L. digitus finger + partite.] (Bot.) Parted like the fingers.

Dig"i*tize (?), v. t. [Digit + -ize.] To finger; as, to digitize a pen. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

Dig`i*to"ri*um (?), n. [NL., fr. L. digitus a finger.] A small dumb keyboard used by pianists for exercising the fingers; -- called also dumb piano.

Dig"i*tule (?), n. [L. digitulus, dim. of digitus.] (Zoöl.) A little finger or toe, or something resembling one.

Di*gla"di*ate (?), v. i. [L. digladiari; di- = dis- + gladius a sword.] To fight like gladiators; to contend fiercely; to dispute violently. [Obs.]

Digladiating like Æschines and Demosthenes.
Hales.

Di*gla`di*a"tion (?), n. Act of digladiating. [Obs.] "Sore digladiations and contest." Evelyn.

Di*glot"tism (?), n. [Gr. &?; speaking two languages; di- = di`s- twice + &?; tongue. See Glottis.] Bilingualism. [R.] Earle.

Di"glyph (?), n. [Gr. &?;; di- = di`s- twice + &?; to hollow out, carve.] (Arch.) A projecting face like the triglyph, but having only two channels or grooves sunk in it.

Dig*na"tion (?), n. [L. dignatio.] The act of thinking worthy; honor. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.

Digne (?), a. [F., fr. L. dignus. See Design.] 1. Worthy; honorable; deserving. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. Suitable; adequate; fit. [Obs.] Chaucer.

3. Haughty; disdainful. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dig`ni*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [See Dignify.] The act of dignifying; exaltation.

Dig"ni*fied (?), a. Marked with dignity; stately; as, a dignified judge.

Dig"ni*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dignified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dignifying.] [OF. dignifier, fr. LL. dignificare; L. dignus worthy + ficare (in comp.), facere to make. See Deign, and Fact.] To invest with dignity or honor; to make illustrious; to give distinction to; to exalt in rank; to honor.

Your worth will dignify our feast.
B. Jonson.

Syn. -- To exalt; elevate; prefer; advance; honor; illustrate; adorn; ennoble.

Dig"ni*ta*ry (?), n.; pl. Dignitaries (#). [Cf. F. dignitaire, fr. L. dignitas.] 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.

Dig"ni*ty (?), n.; pl. Dignities (#). [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 mien, manner, style, etc.

A letter written with singular energy and dignity of thought and language.
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.

Dig*no"tion (?), n. [L. dignoscere to distinguish; di- = dis- + gnoscere, noscere, to learn to know.] Distinguishing mark; diagnostic. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Dig"o*nous (?), a. [Gr. &?; = &?; double + &?; an angle.] Having two angles. Smart.

Di"gram (?), n. [Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?; letter.] A digraph.

Di"graph (?), n. [Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?; a writing, &?; to write.] Two signs or characters combined to express a single articulated sound; as ea in head, or th in bath.

Di*graph"ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to a digraph. H. Sweet.

Di*gress" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Digressed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Digressing.] [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.

Di*gress", n. Digression. [Obs.] Fuller.

Di*gres"sion (?), n. [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.) The elongation, or angular distance from the sun; -- said chiefly of the inferior planets. [R.]

Di*gres"sion*al (?), a. Pertaining to, or having the character of, a digression; departing from the main purpose or subject. T. Warton.

Di*gress"ive (?), a. [Cf. F. digressif.] Departing from the main subject; partaking of the nature of digression. Johnson.

Di*gress"ive*ly, adv. By way of digression.

Digue (?), n. [F. See Dike.] A bank; a dike. [Obs.] Sir W. Temple.

||Di*gyn"i*a (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?; a woman, a female.] (Bot.) A Linnæan order of plants having two styles.

{ Di*gyn"i*an (?), Dig"y*nous (?), } a. [Cf. F. digyne.] (Bot.) Of or pertaining to the Digynia; having two styles.

Di*he"dral (?), a. [Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?; a seat, bottom, base, fr. &?; to sit. Cf. Diedral.] 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.

Di*he"dron (?), n. [See Dihedral.] A figure with two sides or surfaces. Buchanan.

Di`hex*ag"o*nal (?), a. [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.

Di`i*amb" (?), n. A diiambus.

Di`i*am"bus (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;; di- = di`s- twice + &?;. See Lambus.] (Pros.) A double iambus; a foot consisting of two iambuses (&?; &?; &?; &?;).

Di*i"o*dide (?; 104), n. [Pref. di- + iodine.] (Chem.) A compound of a binary type containing two atoms of iodine; -- called also biniodide.

Di`i*sat"o*gen (?), n. [Pref. di- + isatine + -gen.] (Chem.) A red crystalline nitrogenous substance of artificial production, which by reduction passes directly to indigo.

Di*ju"di*cant (?), n. [L. dijudicans, p. pr.] One who dijudicates. [R.] Wood.

Di*ju"di*cate (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dijudicated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dijucating (?).] [L. dijudicatus, p. p. of dijudicare to decide; di- = dis- + judicare to judge.] To make a judicial decision; to decide; to determine. [R.] Hales.

Di*ju`di*ca"tion (?), n. [L. dijudicatio.] The act of dijudicating; judgment. [R.] Cockeram.

||Di"ka (?), n. [Native West African name.] 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 (dī), n. [OE. dic, dike, diche, ditch, AS. dīc dike, ditch; akin to D. dijk dike, G. deich, and prob. teich pond, Icel. dīki dike, ditch, Dan. dige; perh. akin to Gr. tei^chos (for qei^chos) wall, and even E. dough; or perh. to Gr. ti^fos pool, marsh. Cf. 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.) A wall-like mass of mineral matter, usually an intrusion of igneous rocks, filling up rents or fissures in the original strata.

Dike, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Diked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Diking.] [OE. diken, dichen, AS. dīcian 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, v. i. To work as a ditcher; to dig. [Obs.]

He would thresh and thereto dike and delve.
Chaucer.

Dik"er (?), n. 1. A ditcher. Piers Plowman.

2. One who builds stone walls; usually, one who builds them without lime. [Scot.]

Di*lac"er*ate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dilacerated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dilacerating (?).] [L. dilaceratus, p. p. of dilacerare to tear apart; di- = dis- + lacerare to tear.] To rend asunder; to tear to pieces. Sir T. Browne.

Di*lac`er*a"tion (?), n. [L. dilaceratio: cf. F. dilacération.] The act of rending asunder. Arbuthnot.

Di*la"ni*ate (?), v. t. [L. dilaniatus, p. p. of dilaniare to dilacerate; di- = dis- + laniare to tear to pieces.] To rend in pieces; to tear. [R.] Howell.

Di*la`ni*a"tion (?), n. A rending or tearing in pieces; dilaceration. [R.]

Di*lap"i*date (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dilapidated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dilapidating (?).] [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.

Di*lap"i*date, v. i. To get out of repair; to fall into partial ruin; to become decayed; as, the church was suffered to dilapidate. Johnson.

Di*lap"i*da`ted (?), a. Decayed; fallen into partial ruin; injured by bad usage or neglect.

A deserted and dilapidated buildings.
Cooper.

Di*lap`i*da"tion (?), n. [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) The pulling down of a building, or suffering it to fall or be in a state of decay. Burrill.

Di*lap"i*da`tor (?), n. [Cf. F. dilapidateur.] One who causes dilapidation. Strype.

Di*la`ta*bil"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. dilatabilité.] The quality of being dilatable, or admitting expansion; -- opposed to contractibility. Ray.

Di*lat"a*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. dilatable.] 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.

Dil`a*ta"tion (?), n. [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&?; sides; the state of being dilated; dilation.

3. (Anat.) A dilation or enlargement of a canal or other organ.

||Dil`a*ta"tor (?), n. [NL. Cf. L. dilatator a propagator.] (Anat.) A muscle which dilates any part; a dilator.

Di*late" (?; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dilated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dilating (?).] [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.

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.

Di*late", a. Extensive; expanded. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Di*lat"ed, a. 1. Expanded; enlarged. Shak.

2. (Bot.) Widening into a lamina or into lateral winglike appendages.

3. (Zoöl.) Having the margin wide and spreading.

Di*lat"ed*ly, adv. In a dilated manner. Feltham.

Di*lat"er (?), n. One who, or that which, dilates, expands, or enlarges.

Di*la"tion (?), n. [L. dilatio. See Dilatory.] Delay. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Di*la"tion, n. [From dilate, v., cf. Dilatation, Dilator.] 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.

Di*lat"ive (?), a. Causing dilation; tending to dilate, on enlarge; expansive. Coleridge.

Dil`a*tom"e*ter (?), n. [Dilate + -meter.] (Physiol.) An instrument for measuring the dilatation or expansion of a substance, especially of a fluid.

Di*lat"or (?), n. [See Dilate.] 1. One who, or that which, widens or expands.

2. (Anat.) A muscle that dilates any part.

3. (Med.) An instrument for expanding a part; as, a urethral dilator.

Dil"a*to*ri*ly (?), adv. With delay; tardily.

Dil"a*to*ri*ness, n. The quality of being dilatory; lateness; slowness; tardiness; sluggishness.

Dil"a*to*ry (?), a. [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 his adversary.
Motley.

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.

Dil"do (?), n. A burden in popular songs. [Obs.]

Delicate burthens of dildos and fadings.
Shak.

Dil"do, n. (Bot.) A columnar cactaceous plant of the West Indies (Cereus Swartzii).

Di*lec"tion (?), n. [L. dilectio: dilection. See Diligent.] Love; choice. [Obs.] T. Martin.

Di*lem"ma (?), n. [L. dilemma, Gr. &?;; di- = di`s- twice + &?; to take. See Lemma.] 1. (Logic) An argument which presents an antagonist with two or more alternatives, but is equally conclusive against him, whichever alternative he chooses.

&fist; 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 &?;lude his claim by a 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.

Dil"et*tant` (?), a. Of or pertaining to dilettanteism; amateur; as, dilettant speculation. Carlyle.

Dil`et*tant" (?), n. A dilettante.

Though few art lovers can be connoisseurs, many are dilettants.
Fairholt.

||Dil`et*tan"te (?), n.; pl. Dilettanti (#). [It., prop. p. pr. of dillettare to take delight in, fr. L. delectare to delight. See Delight, v. t.] 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.

Dil`et*tan"te*ish (?), a. Somewhat like a dilettante.

Dil`et*tan"te*ism (?), n. The state or quality of being a dilettante; the desultory pursuit of art, science, or literature.

Dil`et*tant"ish (?), a. Dilettanteish.

Dil`et*tant"ism (?), n. Same as Dilettanteism. F. Harrison.

Dil"i*gence (?), n. [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) 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.

||Di`li*gence" (?), n. [F.] A four-wheeled public stagecoach, used in France.

Dil"i*gen*cy (?), n. [L. diligentia.] Diligence; care; persevering endeavor. [Obs.] Milton.

Dil"i*gent (?), a. [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.

Dil"i*gent*ly, adv. 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 (d&ibreve;l), n. [AS dile; akin to D. dille, OHG. tilli, G. dill, dille, Sw. dill, Dan. dild.] (Bot.) 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 dillseed. Dr. Prior.

Dill, v. t. [OE. dillen, fr. dul dull, a.] To still; to calm; to soothe, as one in pain. [Obs.]

Dil"ling (d&ibreve;l"l&ibreve;ng), n. A darling; a favorite. [Obs.]

Whilst the birds billing,
Each one with his dilling.
Drayton.

Dil*lu"ing (d&ibreve;l*lū"&ibreve;ng), n. (Min.) A process of sorting ore by washing in a hand sieve. [Written also deluing.]

Dil"ly (d&ibreve;l"l&ybreve;), n. [Contr. fr. diligence.] A kind of stagecoach. "The Derby dilly." J. H. Frere.

Dil"ly-dal`ly (?), v. i. [See Dally.] To loiter or trifle; to waste time.

Di*log"ic*al (?), a. Ambiguous; of double meaning. [Obs.] T. Adams.

Dil"o*gy (?), n.; pl. Dilogies (#). [L. dilogia, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; doubtful; di- = di`s- twice + &?; to speak.] (Rhet.) An ambiguous speech; a figure in which a word is used an equivocal sense. [R.]

Di*lu"cid (?), a. [L. dilucidus, fr. dilucere to be light enough to distinguish objects apart. See Lucid.] Clear; lucid. [Obs.] Bacon. -- Di*lu"cid*ly, adv. [Obs.] -- Di`lu*cid"i*ty (#), n. [Obs.]

Di*lu"ci*date (?), v. t. [L. dilucidatus, p. p. of dilucidare.] To elucidate. [Obs.] Boyle.

Di*lu`ci*da"tion (?), n. [L. dilucidatio.] The act of making clear. [Obs.] Boyle.

Dil"u*ent (?), a. [L. diluens, p. pr. diluere. See Dilute.] Diluting; making thinner or weaker by admixture, esp. of water. Arbuthnot.

Dil"u*ent, n. 1. That which dilutes.

2. (Med.) An agent used for effecting dilution of the blood; a weak drink.

There is no real diluent but water.
Arbuthnot.

Di*lute" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Diluted; p. pr. & vb. n. Diluting.] [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.

Di*lute" (?), v. i. To become attenuated, thin, or weak; as, it dilutes easily.

Di*lute" (?), a. [L. dilutus, p. p.] Diluted; thin; weak.

A dilute and waterish exposition.
Hopkins.

Di*lut"ed (?), a. Reduced in strength; thin; weak. -- Di*lut"ed*ly, adv.

Di*lute"ness (?), n. The quality or state of being dilute. Bp. Wilkins.

Di*lut"er (?), n. One who, or that which, dilutes or makes thin, more liquid, or weaker.

Di*lu"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. dilution.] The act of diluting, or the state of being diluted. Arbuthnot.

Di*lu"vi*al (?), a. [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.) 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.

Di*lu"vi*al*ist, n. One who explains geological phenomena by the Noachian deluge. Lyell.

Di*lu"vi*an (?), a. [Cf. F. diluvien.] Of or pertaining to a deluge, esp. to the Noachian deluge; diluvial; as, of diluvian origin. Buckland.

Di*lu"vi*ate (?), v. i. [L. diluviare.] To run as a flood. [Obs.] Sir E. Sandys.

Di*lu"vi*um (?), n.; pl. E. Diluviums (#), L. Diluvia (#). [L. diluvium. See Dilute, Deluge.] (Geol.) A deposit of superficial loam, sand, gravel, stones, etc., caused by former action of flowing waters, or the melting of glacial ice.

&fist; The accumulation of matter by the ordinary operation of water is termed alluvium.

Dim (?), a. [Compar. Dimmer (?); superl. Dimmest (?).] [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.

&fist; Obvious compounds: dim-eyed; dim-sighted, etc.

Syn. -- Obscure; dusky; dark; mysterious; imperfect; dull; sullied; tarnished.

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, v. i. To grow dim. J. C. Shairp.

Dim"ble (?), n. [Prob. orig., a cavity, and the same word as dimple. See Dimple.] A bower; a dingle. [Obs.] Drayton.

Dime (?), n. [F. dîme tithe, OF. disme, fr. L. decimus the tenth, fr. decem ten. See Decimal.] 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.

Di*men"sion (?), n. [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.) The degree of manifoldness of a quantity; as, time is quantity having one dimension; volume has three dimensions, relative to extension.

4. (Alg.) 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.) 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.

Di*men"sion*al (?), a. Pertaining to dimension.

Di*men"sioned (?), a. Having dimensions. [R.]

Di*men"sion*less (?), a. Without dimensions; having no appreciable or noteworthy extent. Milton.

Di*men"si*ty (?), n. Dimension. [R.] Howell.

Di*men"sive (?), a. Without dimensions; marking dimensions or the limits.

Who can draw the soul's dimensive lines?
Sir J. Davies.

||Dim"e*ra (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?; part.] (Zoöl.) (a) A division of Coleoptera, having two joints to the tarsi. (b) A division of the Hemiptera, including the aphids.

Dim"er*an (?), n. (Zoöl.) One of the Dimera.

Dim"er*ous (?), a. [Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?; part.] Composed of, or having, two parts of each kind.

&fist; A dimerous flower has two sepals, two petals, two stamens, and two pistils.

Dim"e*ter (?), a. [L. dimeter, Gr. &?;; di- = di`s- twice + &?; measure.] Having two poetical measures or meters. -- n. A verse of two meters.

Di*meth"yl (?), n. [Pref. di- + methyl.] (Chem.) Ethane; -- sometimes so called because regarded as consisting of two methyl radicals. See Ethane.

Di*met"ric (?), a. [See Dimeter, a.] (Crystallog.) Same as Tetragonal. Dana.

Dim`i*ca"tion (?), n. [L. dimicatio, fr. dimicare to fight.] A fight; contest. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Di*mid"i*ate (?), a. [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.

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.) To represent the half of; to halve.

Di*mid`i*a"tion (?), n. [L. dimidiatio.] The act of dimidiating or halving; the state of being dimidiate.

Di*min"ish (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Diminished (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Diminishing.] [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.) 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.

Di*min"ish, v. i. To become or appear less or smaller; to lessen; as, the apparent size of an object diminishes as we recede from it.

Di*min"ish*a*ble (?), a. Capable of being diminished or lessened.

Di*min"ish*er (?), n. One who, or that which, diminishes anything. Clerke (1637).

Di*min"ish*ing*ly, adv. In a manner to diminish.

Di*min"ish*ment (?), n. Diminution. [R.] Cheke.

Di*min`u*en"do (?), adv. [It., p. pr. of diminuere to diminish.] (Mus.) In a gradually diminishing manner; with abatement of tone; decrescendo; -- expressed on the staff by Dim., or Dimin., or the sign.

Di*min"u*ent (?), a. [L. diminuens, p. pr. of diminuere. See Diminish.] Lessening. Bp. Sanderson.

Dim`i*nu"tal (?), a. Indicating or causing diminution. Earle.

Dim"i*nute (?), a. Small; diminished; diminutive. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.

Dim"i*nute*ly, adv. Diminutively. [Obs.]

Dim`i*nu"tion (?), n. [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) Omission, inaccuracy, or defect in a record.

4. (Mus.) 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.

Di*min`u*ti"val (?), a. Indicating diminution; diminutive. "Diminutival forms" [of words]. Earle. -- n. A diminutive. Earle.

Di*min"u*tive (?), a. [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.

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.) 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.

&fist; The word sometimes denotes a derivative verb which expresses a diminutive or petty form of the action, as scribble.

Di*min"u*tive*ly, adv. In a diminutive manner.

Di*min"u*tive*ness, n. The quality of being diminutive; smallness; littleness; minuteness.

Dim"ish (?), a. See Dimmish.

Di*mis"sion (?), n. [L. dimissio. See Dimit, and cf. Dismission.] Leave to depart; a dismissing. [Obs.] Barrow.

Dim"is*so*ry (?; 277), a. [L. dimissorius: cf. F. dimissoire. See Dimit.] 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.

Di*mit" (?), v. t. [L. dimittere to send away, le&?; go; di- = dis- + mittere to send. See Dismiss.] To dismiss, let go, or release. [Obs.]

Dim"i*ty (?), n. [Prob. fr. Gr. &?; of double thread, dimity; di- = di`s- twice + &?; a thread of the warp; prob. through D. diemet, of F. dimite, démitte. Cf. Samite.] 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.

Dim"ly, adv. In a dim or obscure manner; not brightly or clearly; with imperfect sight.

{ Dim"mish (?), Dim"my (?), } a. Somewhat dim; as, dimmish eyes. "Dimmy clouds." Sir P. Sidney.

Dim"ness, n. [AS. dimness.] 1. The state or quality &?; being dim; lack of brightness, clearness, or distinctness; dullness; obscurity.

2. Dullness, or want of clearness, of vision or of intellectual perception. Dr. H. More.

Syn. -- Darkness; obscurity; gloom. See Darkness.

Di"morph` (?), n. [Gr. &?; two-formed; di`s- twice (see Di-) + &?; form.] (Crystallog.) Either one of the two forms of a dimorphous substance; as, calcite and aragonite are dimorphs.

Di*mor"phic (?), a. Having the property of dimorphism; dimorphous.

Di*mor"phism (?), n. [Cf. F. dimorphisme.] 1. (Biol.) 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.) Crystallization in two independent forms of the same chemical compound, as of calcium carbonate as calcite and aragonite.

Di*mor"phous (?), a. [Cf. F. dimorphe.] 1. (Biol.) Characterized by dimorphism; occurring under two distinct forms, not dependent on sex; dimorphic.

2. (Crystallog.) Crystallizing under two forms fundamentally different, while having the same chemical composition.

Dim"ple (?), n. [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.

Dim"ple, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dimpled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dimpling (?).] To form dimples; to sink into depressions or little inequalities.

And smiling eddies dimpled on the main.
Dryden.

Dim"ple, v. t. To mark with dimples or dimplelike depressions. Shak.

Dim"ple*ment (?), n. The state of being dimpled, or marked with gentle depressions. [R.]

The ground's most gentle dimplement.
Mrs. Browning.

Dim"ply (?), a. Full of dimples, or small depressions; dimpled; as, the dimply pool. Thomson.

Dim"-sight`ed (?), a. Having dim sight; lacking perception. -- Dim"-sight`ed*ness, n.

||Dim"y*a (?), Dim`y*a"ri*a (&?;), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; = &?; + &?; to close.] (Zoöl.) An order of lamellibranchiate mollusks having an anterior and posterior adductor muscle, as the common clam. See Bivalve.

Dim`y*a"ri*an (?), a. (Zoöl.) Like or pertaining to the Dimya. -- n. One of the Dimya.

Dim"y*a*ry (?), a. & n. (Zoöl.) Same as Dimyarian.

Din (?), n. [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.] 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, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dinned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dinning.] [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, v. i. To sound with a din; a ding.

The gay viol dinning in the dale.
A. Seward.

di*naph"thyl (?), n. [Pref. di- + naphthylene.] (Chem.) A colorless, crystalline hydrocarbon, C20H14, obtained from naphthylene, and consisting of a doubled naphthylene radical.

Di"nar (dī"n&etilde;r or d&esl;*när"), n. [Ar. dīnār, from Gr. dhna`rion, fr. L. denarius. See Denier.] 1. A petty money of accounts of Persia.

2. An ancient gold coin of the East.

di"nar*chy (?), n. See Diarchy.

Dine (dīn), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dined (dīnd); p. pr. & vb. n. Dining.] [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&?;jeuner.] 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, 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.

Din"er (?), n. One who dines.

Din"er-out` (?), n. One who often takes his dinner away from home, or in company.

A brilliant diner-out, though but a curate.
Byron.

Di*net"ic*al (?), a. [Gr. &?; to whirl round.] Revolving on an axis. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Ding (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dinged (?), Dang (Obs.), or Dung (Obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. Dinging.] [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, 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, n. A thump or stroke, especially of a bell.

Ding"dong` (?), n. [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.) An attachment to a clock by which the quarter hours are struck upon bells of different tones.

{ Din"gey (?), Din"gy, Din"ghy }, n. [Bengalee dingi.] 1. A kind of boat used in the East Indies. [Written also dinghey.] Malcom.

2. A ship's smallest boat.

Din"gi*ly (?), adv. In a dingy manner.

Din"gi*ness, n. Quality of being dingy; a dusky hue.

Din"gle (?), n. [Of uncertain origin: cf. AS. ding prison; or perh. akin to dimble.] A narrow dale; a small dell; a small, secluded, and embowered valley.

Din"gle-dan`gle (?), adv. In a dangling manner.

Din"go (?), n. (Zoöl.) 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.

Ding"thrift` (?), n. A spendthrift. [Obs.]

Wilt thou, therefore, a drunkard be,
A dingthrift and a knave?
Drant.

Din"gy (?), a. [Compar. Dingier (?); superl. Dingiest.] [Prob. fr. dung. Cf. Dungy.] Soiled; sullied; of a dark or dusky color; dark brown; dirty. "Scraps of dingy paper." Macaulay.

||Di*nich"thys (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; terrible + &?; fish.] (Paleon.) 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.

Din"ing (?), n. & a. from Dine, a.

&fist; Used either adjectively or as the first part of a compound; as, dining hall or dining-hall, dining room, dining table, etc.

Dink (?), a. [Etymol. uncertain.] Trim; neat. [Scot.] Burns. -- Dink"ly, adv.

Dink, v. t. To deck; -- often with out or up. [Scot.]

Din"mont (?), n. (Zoöl.) A wether sheep between one and two years old. [Scot.]

Din"ner (?), n. [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.

&fist; 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.

Din"ner*less, a. Having no dinner. Fuller.

Din"ner*ly, a. Of or pertaining to dinner. [R.]

The dinnerly officer.
Copley.

||Di*noc"e*ras (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; terrible + &?;, &?;, horn.] (Paleon.) A genus of large extinct Eocene mammals from Wyoming; -- called also Uintatherium. See Illustration in Appendix.

&fist; 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.

||Di*nor"nis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; terrible + &?; bird.] (Paleon.) A genus of extinct, ostrichlike birds of gigantic size, which formerly inhabited New Zealand. See Moa. [Written also Deinornis.]

{ Di"no*saur (?), Di`no*sau"ri*an (?), } n. [Gr. &?; terrible + &?; lizard.] (Paleon.) One of the Dinosauria. [Written also deinosaur, and deinosaurian.]

||Di`no*sau"ri*a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; terrible + &?; lizard.] (Paleon.) 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.

{ Di"no*there (?), ||Di`no*the"ri*um (?), } n. [NL. dinotherium, fr. Gr. deino`s terrible + qhri`on beast.] (Paleon.) 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.

Din*ox"ide (?), n. (Chem.) Same as Dioxide.

Din"some (?), a. Full of din. [Scot.] Burns.

Dint (?), n. [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, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dinted; p. pr. & vb. n. Dinting.] To make a mark or cavity on or in, by a blow or by pressure; to dent. Donne. Tennyson.

Di*nu`mer*a"tion (?), n. [L. dinumeratio; di- = dis- + numerare to count, fr. numerus number.] Enumeration. [Obs.] Bullokar.

Di*oc"e*san (?; 277), a. [LL. dioecesanus: cf. F. diocésain.] Of or pertaining to a diocese; as, diocesan missions.

Di*oc"e*san, n. 1. A bishop, viewed in relation to his diocese; as, the diocesan of New York.

2. pl. The clergy or the people of a diocese. Strype.

Di"o*cese (?), n.; pl. Dioceses (#). [OE. diocise, OF. diocise, F. diocése, L. dioecesis, fr. Gr. &?; housekeeping, administration, a province, a diocese, fr. &?; to keep house, manage; dia` through + &?; to manage a household, &?; a house. See Economy.] (Eccl.) The circuit or extent of a bishop's jurisdiction; the district in which a bishop exercises his ecclesiastical authority. [Frequently, but improperly, spelt diocess.]

Di`o*ce"se*ner (?), n. One who belongs to a diocese. [Obs.] Bacon.

Di"o*don (?), n. [Gr. di- = di`s- twice + 'odoy`s, 'odo`ntos, a tooth: cf. F. diodon.] 1. (Zoöl.) 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. Called also porcupine fishes, and sea hedgehogs.

2. (Zoöl.) A genus of whales.

Di"o*dont (?), a. (Zoöl.) Like or pertaining to the genus Diodon. -- n. A fish of the genus Diodon, or an allied genus.

||Di*œ"ci*a (d&isl;*ē"sh&ibreve;*&adot;), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. di = di`s twice + o'i^kos a house.] 1. (Bot.) A Linnæan class of plants having the stamens and pistils on different plants.

2. (Zoöl.) 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.

{ Di*œ"cian (?), Di*œ"cious (?), } a. (Biol.) Having the sexes in two separate individuals; -- 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 monœcious.

Di*œ"cious*ly, adv. (Biol.) In a diœcious manner.

Diœciously hermaphrodite (Bot.), having flowers structurally perfect, but practically diœcious, -- those on one plant producing no pollen, and those on another no ovules.

Di*œ"cious*ness, n. (Biol.) The state or quality of being diœcious.

Di*œ"cism (?), n. (Biol.) The condition of being diœcious.

Di*og"e*nes (?), n. 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.

Di*oi"cous (?), a. See Diœcious.

||Di*om`e*de"a (?), n. [NL.] (Zoöl.) A genus of large sea birds, including the albatross. See Albatross.

||Di`o*næ"a (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a name of Aphrodite.] (Bot.) An insectivorous plant. See Venus's flytrap.

Di`o*ny"sian (?), a. 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.

Di`o*phan"tine (?), a. 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.

Di*op"side (?), n. [Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?; a sight, fr. the root of &?; I shall see: cf. F. diopside.] (Min.) A crystallized variety of pyroxene, of a clear, grayish green color; mussite.

Di*op"tase (?), n. [Gr. &?; = dia` through + &?; to see: cf. F. dioptase.] (Min.) A hydrous silicate of copper, occurring in emerald-green crystals.

{ Di*op"ter (?), ||Di*op"tra (?), } n. [L. dioptra, fr. Gr. &?;. See 2d Dioptric.] An optical instrument, invented by Hipparchus, for taking altitudes, leveling, etc.

||Di*op"tre (?), n. [F. See 2d Dioptric.] (Optics) 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.

Di*op"tric (?), a. (Optics) Of or pertaining to the dioptre, or to the metric system of numbering glasses. -- n. A dioptre. See Dioptre.

{ Di*op"tric (?), Di*op"tric*al (?), } a. [Gr. &?; belonging to the use of the &?;; &?; = dia` through + the root of &?; I shall see: cf. F. dioptrique.] 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.

Di*op"trics (?), n. [Gr. &?; &?;: cf. F. dioptrique.] (Optics) 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.

Di*op"try (?), n. (Optics) A dioptre.

Di`o*ra"ma (?), n. [Gr. &?; to see through; &?; = dia` through + &?; to see; cf. &?; that which is seen, a sight: cf. F. 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.

Di`o*ram"ic (?), a. Pertaining to a diorama.

Di"o*rism (?), n. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to distinguish; &?; = dia` through + &?; to divide from, fr. &?; a boundary.] Definition; logical direction. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Di`o*ris"tic (?), a. [Gr. &?;.] Distinguishing; distinctive; defining. [R.] -- Di`o*ris"tic*al*ly (#), adv. [R.] Dr. H. More.

Di"o*rite (?), n. [Cf. F. diorite. See Diorism.] (Min.) An igneous, crystalline in structure, consisting essentially of a triclinic feldspar and hornblende. It includes part of what was called greenstone.

Di`o*rit"ic (?), a. Containing diorite.

Di`or*thot"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?;; &?; = &?; + &?; to set straight.] Relating to the correcting or straightening out of something; corrective.

||Di`os*co"re*a (?), n. [NL. Named after Dioscorides the Greek physician.] (Bot.) A genus of plants. See Yam.

||Di*o"ta (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?; two- handled; di- = di`s- twice + &?;, &?;, ear, handle.] (Rom. Antiq.) A vase or drinking cup having two handles or ears.

Di*ox"ide (?; 104), n. [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.

Di`ox*in"dol (?), n. [Pref. di- + oxygen + indol.] (Chem.) A white, crystalline, nitrogenous substance obtained by the reduction of isatin. It is a member of the indol series; -- hence its name.

Dip (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dipped (?) or Dipt (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Dipping.] [OE. dippen, duppen, AS. dyppan; akin to Dan. dyppe, Sw. doppa, and to AS. d&?;pan to baptize, OS. d&?;pian, 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, 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, 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.

Di*pas"chal (?), a. [Pref. di- + paschal.] Including two passovers. Carpenter.

Dip"chick` (?), n. (Zoöl.) See Dabchick.

Di*pet"al*ous (?), a. [Pref. di- + petalous.] (Bot.) Having two petals; two- petaled.

Di*phe"nyl (?), n. [Pref. di- + phenyl.] (Chem.) A white crystalline substance, C6H5.C6H5, obtained by leading benzene through a heated iron tube. It consists of two benzene or phenyl radicals united.

Diph*the"ri*a (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; leather (hence taken in the sense of membrane): cf. &?; to make soft, L. depsere to knead.] (Med.) 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.

{ Diph*the"ri*al (?), Diph*ther"ic (?), } a. Relating to diphtheria; 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.

Diph"thong (?; 115, 277), n. [L. diphthongus, Gr. &?;; di- = di`s- twice + &?; voice, sound, fr. &?; to utter a sound: cf. F. 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.

Diph"thong, v. t. To form or pronounce as a diphthong; diphthongize. [R.]

Diph*thon"gal (?; 115), a. Relating or belonging to a diphthong; having the nature of a diphthong. -- Diph*thon"gal*ly, adv.

Diph*thon"gal*ize (?; 115), v. t. To make into a diphthong; to pronounce as a diphthong.

Diph`thon*ga"tion (?), n. See Diphthongization.

Diph*thong"ic (?; 115), a. Of the nature of diphthong; diphthongal. H. Sweet.

Diph`thong*i*za"tion (?), n. The act of changing into a diphthong. H. Sweet.

Diph"thong*ize (?), v. t. & i. To change into a diphthong, as by affixing another vowel to a simple vowel. "The diphthongized long vowels." H. Sweet.

Diph`y*cer"cal (?), a. [Gr. difyh`s double (di- = di`s- twice + fy`ein to produce) + ke`rkos tail.] (Anat.) Having the tail fin divided into two equal parts by the notochord, or end of the vertebral column; protocercal. See Protocercal.

Diph`y*gen"ic (-j&ebreve;n"&ibreve;k), a. [Gr. difyh`s of double form + - genic.] (Zoöl.) Having two modes of embryonic development.
[1913 Webster]

Diph"yl*lous (d&ibreve;f"&ibreve;l*lŭs or d&isl;*f&ibreve;l"-), a. [Gr. di- = di`s- twice + fy`llon leaf: cf. F. diphylle.] (Bot.) Having two leaves, as a calyx, etc.
[1913 Webster]

Diph"y*o*dont (?), a. [Gr. &?; double (di- = di`s- twice + &?; to produce) + 'odoy`s, 'odo`ntos, tooth.] (Anat.) Having two successive sets of teeth (deciduous and permanent), one succeeding the other; as, a diphyodont mammal; diphyodont dentition; -- opposed to monophyodont. -- n. An animal having two successive sets of teeth.

Diph`y*o*zo"oid (?), n. [Gr. &?; of double from + E. zooid.] (Zoöl.) One of the free-swimming sexual zooids of Siphonophora.

Di*pla"nar (?), a. [Pref. di- + plane.] (Math.) Of or pertaining to two planes.

Di*plei"do*scope (?), n. [Gr. &?; double + &?; image + -scope.] (Astron.) 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.

Dip`lo*blas"tic (?), a. [Gr. &?; doublet + -blast + -ic.] (Biol.) Characterizing the ovum when it has two primary germinal layers.

Dip`lo*car"di*ac (?), a. [Gr. &?; double + E. cardiac.] (Anat.) Having the heart completely divided or double, one side systemic, the other pulmonary.

||Dip`lo*coc"cus (?), n.; pl. Diplococci (#). [NL., fr. Gr. diplo`os twofold + ko`kkos grain, seed.] (Biol.) A form of micrococcus in which cocci are united in a binary manner. See Micrococcus.

||Dip"lo*ë (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; fold, fr. &?; twofold, double.] (Anat.) The soft, spongy, or cancellated substance between the plates of the skull.

Dip`lo*et"ic (?), a. (Anat.) Diploic.

Dip`lo*gen"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?; double + the root of &?; to produce.] Partaking of the nature of two bodies; producing two substances. Wright.

Di*plo"ic (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the diploë.

Dip"loid (?), n. [Gr. &?; twofold + -oid.] (Crystallog.) A solid bounded by twenty- four similar quadrilateral faces. It is a hemihedral form of the hexoctahedron.

Di*plo"ma (?), n.; pl. Diplomas (#). [L., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to double, fr. &?; twofold. See Double.] 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.

Di*plo"ma*cy (?), n. [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.

{ Dip"lo*mat (?), Dip"lo*mate (?) }, n. [F. diplomate.] A diplomatist.

Dip"lo*mate (?), v. t. To invest with a title or privilege by diploma. [R.] Wood.

Dip`lo*ma"tial (?), a. Diplomatic. [R.]

{ Dip`lo*mat"ic (?), Dip`lo*mat"ic*al (?), } a. [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.

Dip`lo*mat"ic, n. A minister, official agent, or envoy to a foreign court; a diplomatist.

Dip`lo*mat"ic*al*ly, adv. According to the rules of diplomacy; in the manner of a diplomatist; artfully.

Dip`lo*mat"ics (?), n. The science of diplomas, or the art of deciphering ancient writings, and determining their age, authenticity, etc.; paleography.

Di*plo"ma*tism (?), n. Diplomacy. [R.]

Di*plo"ma*tist (?), n. [Cf. F. diplomatiste a student of diplomatics.] A person employed in, or skilled in, diplomacy; a diplomat.

In ability, Avaux had no superior among the numerous able diplomatists whom his country then possessed.
Macaulay.

{ ||Di*plo"pi*a (?), Dip"lo*py (?), } n. [NL. diplopia, from Gr. &?; double + the root of &?; sight: cf. F. diplopie.] (Med.) The act or state of seeing double.

&fist; 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.

Dip"lo*pod (?), n. (Zoöl.) One of the Diplopoda.

||Di*plop"o*da (?), n. pl. [Gr. &?; double + -poda.] (Zoöl.) An order of myriapods having two pairs of legs on each segment; the Chilognatha.

Dip`lo*stem"o*nous (?), a. [Gr. &?; double + &?; the warp, a thread.] (Bot.) Having twice as many stamens as petals, as the geranium. R. Brown.

Dip`lo*stem"o*ny (?), n. (Bot.) The condition of being diplostemonous.

||Dip*neu"mo*na (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; = &?; lung.] (Zoöl.) A group of spiders having only two lunglike organs. [Written also Dipneumones.]

||Dip"no*i (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; &?; with two breathing apertures; di- = di`s- twice + &?; breath.] (Zoöl.) 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.

Dip"o*dy (?), n.; pl. Dipodies (#). [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; two-footed; di- = di`s- twice + &?;, &?;, foot.] (Pros.) Two metrical feet taken together, or included in one measure. Hadley.

Trochaic, iambic, and anapestic verses . . . are measured by dipodies.
W. W. Goodwin.

Di*po"lar (?), a. [Pre. di- + polar. Cf. Bipolar.] Having two poles, as a magnetic bar.

Dip"pel's oil` (?). (Chem.) [From the name of the inventor.] See Bone oil, under Bone.

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.

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.

Di`pris*mat"ic (?), a. [Prefix di- + prismatic.] Doubly prismatic.

Di`pro*par"gyl (?), n. [Prefix di- + propargyl.] (Chem.) 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.

Di*pro"pyl (?), n. [Pref. di- + propyl.] (Chem.) One of the hexane paraffins, found in petroleum, consisting of two propyl radicals. See Hexane.

||Di*pro"to*don (?), n. [Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?; first + 'odoy`s, 'odo`ntos, tooth.] (Paleon.) 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.

Dip"sas (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; thirst.] 1. A serpent whose bite was fabled to produce intense thirst. Milton.

2. (Zoöl.) A genus of harmless colubrine snakes.

Dip*set"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?;.] Tending to produce thirst. Wright.

Dip`so*ma"ni*a (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; thirst + &?; mania.] (Med.) A morbid an uncontrollable craving (often periodic) for drink, esp. for alcoholic liquors; also improperly used to denote acute and chronic alcoholism.

Dip`so*ma"ni*ac (?), n. One who has an irrepressible desire for alcoholic drinks.

Dip`so*ma*ni"a*cal (?), a. Of or pertaining to dipsomania.

||Dip*so"sis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; thirst.] (Med.) Excessive thirst produced by disease.

||Dip"te*ra (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; with two wings, di- = di`s- twice + &?; feather, wing: cf. F. diptère.] (Zoöl.) 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.

Dip"ter*al (?), a. 1. (Zoöl.) Having two wings only; belonging to the order Diptera.

2. (Anc. Arch.) Having a double row of columns on each on the flanks, as well as in front and rear; -- said of a temple.

Dip"ter*an (?), n. (Zoöl.) An insect of the order Diptera.

||Dip`te*ro*car"pus (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; with two wings + &?; fruit.] (Bot.) 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.

Dip"ter*ous (?), a. 1. (Zoöl.) Having two wings, as certain insects; belonging to the order Diptera.

2. (Bot.) Having two wings; two- winged.

Dip`ter*yg"i*an (?), a. [Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?; a fin, dim. of &?; wing.] (Zoöl.) Having two dorsal fins; -- said of certain fishes.

Dip"tote (?), n. [Gr. &?;; di- = di`s- twice + &?; falling, fr. &?; to fall: cf. F. diptote.] (Gram.) A noun which has only two cases. Andrews.

Dip"tych (?), n. [L. diptycha, pl., fr. Gr. &?; folded, doubled; di- = di`s- twice + &?; to fold, double up.] 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.

Di*pyre" (?), n. [Gr. di- = di`s- twice fire.] (Min.) A mineral of the scapolite group; -- so called from the double effect of fire upon it, in fusing it, and rendering it phosphorescent.

Di`py*re"nous (?), a. [Pref. di- + pyrene.] (Bot.) Containing two stones or nutlets.

Di*pyr"i*dine (?; 104), n. [Pref. di- + pyridine.] (Geom.) A polymeric form of pyridine, C10H10N2, obtained as a colorless oil by the action of sodium on pyridine.

Di*pyr"i*dyl (?), n. [Pref. di- + pyridine + -yl.] (Chem.) A crystalline nitrogenous base, C10H8N2, obtained by the reduction of pyridine.

Di*ra`di*a"tion (?), n. [Pref. di- + radiation.] The emission and diffusion of rays of light.

Dire (dīr), a. [Compar. Direr (?); superl. Direst.] [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.

Di*rect" (?), a. [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 nowhere, 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.) 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.

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.

Di*rect" (?), v. i. To give direction; to point out a course; to act as guide.

Wisdom is profitable to direct.
Eccl. x. 10.

Di*rect", n. (Mus.) A character, thus [&?;], placed at the end of a staff on the line or space of the first note of the next staff, to apprise the performer of its situation. Moore (Encyc. of Music).

Di*rect"-act`ing (?), a. (Mach.) 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.

Di*rect"er (?), n. One who directs; a director.

Directer plane (Geom.), the plane to which all right-lined elements in a warped surface are parallel.

Di*rec"tion (?), n. [L. directio: cf. F. direction.] 1. The act of directing, of aiming, regulating, guiding, or ordering; guidance; management; superintendence; administration; as, the direction o&?; public affairs or of a bank.

I do commit his youth
To your direction.
Shak.

All nature is but art, unknown to thee;
ll chance, 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.) 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.

Di*rect"ive (?), a. [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.

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.

&fist; 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.

Di*rect"ness (?), n. The quality of being direct; straightness; straightforwardness; immediateness.

Di*rect"or (?), n. [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.) A part of a machine or instrument which directs its motion or action.

4. (Surg.) 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.

Di*rect"o*rate (?), n. [Cf. F. directorat.] The office of director; also, a body of directors taken jointly.

Di*rec*to"ri*al (?), a. [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.

Di*rect"or*ship (?), n. The condition or office of a director; directorate.

Di*rect"o*ry (?), a. [L. directorius.] Containing directions; enjoining; instructing; directorial.

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. [Cf. F. directoire.] 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.

Di*rect"ress, n. A woman who directs. Bp. Hurd.

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.

Dire"ful (?), a. [Dire + - ful.] Dire; dreadful; terrible; calamitous; woeful; as, a direful fiend; a direful day. -- Dire"ful*ly, adv. -- Dire"ful*ness, n.

Dire"ly, adv. In a dire manner. Drayton.

Di*rempt" (?; 215), a. [L. diremptus, p. p. of dirimere to take apart, separate; di- = dis- + emere to buy, orig., to take.] Divided; separated. [Obs.] Stow.

Di*rempt", v. t. To separate by force; to tear apart. [Obs.] Holinshed.

Di*remp"tion (?), n. [L. diremptio.] A tearing apart; violent separation. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Dire"ness (?), n. [Dire- + - ness.] Terribleness; horror; woefulness. Shak.

Di*rep"tion (?), n. [L. direptio, fr. diripere to tear asunder, plunder; di- = dis- + rapere to seize and carry off.] The act of plundering, despoiling, or snatching away. [R.] Speed.

Di*rep*ti"tious (?), a. Characterized by direption. [R.] Encyc. Dict.

Di*rep*ti"tious*ly, adv. With plundering violence; by violent injustice. [R.] Strype.

Dirge (?), n. [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.] 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.

Dirge"ful (?), a. Funereal; moaning.

Soothed sadly by the dirgeful wind.
Coleridge.

Dir"i*ge (?), n. [L. See Dirge.] 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.

Dir"i*gent (?), a. [L. dirigens, p. pr. of dirigere. See Direct, a.] Directing. Baxter.

Dir"i*gent, n. (Geom.) 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.

Dir"i*gi*ble (?), a. Capable of being directed; steerable; as, a dirigible balloon.

Dir"i*ment (?), a. [L. dirimens, p. pr. of dirimere. See Dirempt.] (Law) Absolute.

Diriment impediment (R. C. Ch.), an impediment that nullifies marriage.

Dirk (?), n. [Ir. duirc.] A kind of dagger or poniard; -- formerly much used by the Scottish Highlander.

Dirk knife, a clasp knife having a large, dirklike blade.

Dirk, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dirked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dirking.] To stab with a dirk. Sir W. Scott.

Dirk, a. [See Dark, a.] Dark. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dirk, v. t. To darken. [Obs.] Spenser.

Dirk"ness, n. Darkness. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dirl (?), v. i. & t. [Cf. Drill, Thrill.] To thrill; to vibrate; to penetrate. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Dirt (?), n. [OE. drit; kin to Icel. drit excrement, drīta to dung, OD. drijten to dung, AS. gedrītan.] 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, v. t. To make foul of filthy; to dirty. Swift.

Dirt"i*ly (?), adv. In a dirty manner; foully; nastily; filthily; meanly; sordidly.

Dirt"i*ness, n. The state of being dirty; filthiness; foulness; nastiness; baseness; sordidness.

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.

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.

Di*rup"tion (?), n. [L. diruptio, fr. dirumpere. See Disrupt, a.] Disruption.

Dis- (?; 258). 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.

&fist; 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`s- twice. See Di-.

||Dis (?), n. [L.] The god Pluto. Shak.

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.

Dis*a"ble (?), a. Lacking ability; unable. [Obs.] "Our disable and unactive force." Daniel.

Dis*a"ble (?; 277), 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) 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.

Dis*a"ble*ment (?), n. Deprivation of ability; incapacity. Bacon.

Dis`a*buse" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disabused (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disabusing.] [Pref. dis- + abuse; cf. F. désabuser.] 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.

Dis`ac*com"mo*date (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + accommodate.] To put to inconvenience; to incommode. [R.] Bp. Warburton.

Dis`ac*com`mo*da"tion (?), n. A state of being unaccommodated or unsuited. [R.] Sir M. Hale.

Dis`ac*cord" (?), v. i. [Cf. F. désaccorder to cause discord.] To refuse to assent. [Obs.] Spenser.

Dis`ac*cord", n. Disagreement. Pop. Sci. Monthly.

Dis`ac*cord"ant (?), a. Not accordant. Fabyan.

Dis`ac*cus"tom (?), v. t. [Cf. F. désaccoutumer.] To destroy the force of habit in; to wean from a custom. Johnson.

Dis`a*cid"i*fy (?), v. t. To free from acid.

Dis`ac*knowl"edge (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disacknowledged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disacknowledging.] To refuse to acknowledge; to deny; to disown. [Obs.] South.

Dis`ac*quaint" (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + acquaint: cf. OF. desacointier.] To render unacquainted; to make unfamiliar. [Obs.]

While my sick heart
With dismal smart
Is disacquainted never.
Herrick.

Dis`ac*quaint"ance (?), n. Neglect of disuse of familiarity, or familiar acquaintance. [Obs.] South.

Dis*ac"ryl (?), n. [Pref. dis- (Gr. di`s- twice) + acrolein + -yl.] (Chem.) A white amorphous substance obtained as a polymeric modification of acrolein.

Dis`a*dorn" (?), v. t. To deprive of ornaments. Congreve.

Dis`ad*vance" (?; 61), v. t. & i. [Pref. dis- + advance: cf. OF. desavancier.] To draw back, or cause to draw back. [Obs.] Spenser.

Dis`ad*van"tage (?; 48, 61), n. [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.

Dis`ad*van"tage, v. t. [Cf. F. désavantager.] To injure the interest of; to be detrimental to.

Dis`ad*van"tage*a*ble (?), a. Injurious; disadvantageous. [Obs.] Bacon.

Dis*ad`van*ta"geous (?), a. [Cf. F. désavantageux.] 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.

Dis`ad*ven"ture (?; 135), n. [Pref. dis- + adventure: cf. OF. desaventure.] Misfortune; mishap. [Obs.] Sir W. Raleigh.

Dis`ad*ven"tur*ous (?), a. Unprosperous; unfortunate. [Obs.] Spenser.

Dis`ad*vise" (?), v. t. To advise against; to dissuade from. [R.] Boyle.

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.

Dis`af*fect"ed, a. Alienated in feeling; not wholly loyal. J. H. Newman. -- Dis`af*fect"ed*ly, adv. -- Dis`af*fect"ed*ness, n.

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.

Dis`af*fec"tion*ate (?), a. Not disposed to affection; unfriendly; disaffected. [R.] Blount.

Dis`af*firm" (?), v. t. 1. To assert the contrary of; to contradict; to deny; -- said of that which has been asserted.

2. (Law) To refuse to confirm; to annul, as a judicial decision, by a contrary judgment of a superior tribunal.

Dis`af*firm"ance (?), n. 1. The act of disaffirming; denial; negation.

2. (Law) Overthrow or annulment by the decision of a superior tribunal; as, disaffirmance of judgment.

Dis*af`fir*ma"tion (?), n. The act of disaffirming; negation; refutation.

Dis`af*for"est (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disafforested; p. pr. & vb. n. Disafforesting.] [Pref. dis- + afforest: cf. OF. desaforester.] (Eng. Law) 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.

Dis*ag"gre*gate (?), v. t. To destroy the aggregation of; to separate into component parts, as an aggregate mass.

Dis*ag`gre*ga"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. désagrégation.] The separation of an aggregate body into its component parts.

Dis`a*gree" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Disagreed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disageeing.] [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 to 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.

&fist; Usually followed by with, sometimes by to, rarely by from; as, I disagree to your proposal.

Syn. -- To differ; vary; dissent.

Dis`a*gree"a*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. désagréable.] 1. Not agreeable, conformable, or congruous; contrary; unsuitable.

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 senses; displeasing; unpleasant.

That which is disagreeable to one is many times agreeable to another, or disagreeable in a less degree.
Wollaston.

Dis`a*gree"a*ble*ness, n. The state or quality of being; disagreeable; unpleasantness.

Dis`a*gree"a*bly, adv. In a disagreeable manner; unsuitably; offensively.

Dis`a*gree"ance (?), n. Disagreement. [Obs.]

Dis`a*gree"ment (?), n. [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.

Dis`a*gre"er (?), n. One who disagrees. Hammond.

Dis`al*liege" (?), v. t. To alienate from allegiance. [Obs. & R.] Milton.

Dis`al*low" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disallowed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disallowing.] [Pref. dis- + allow: cf. OF. desalouer, desloer, to blame, dissuade.] 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.

&fist; This verb was sometimes followed by of; as, "What follows, if we disallow of this?" Shak. See Allow.

Syn. -- To disapprove; prohibit; censure; reject.

Dis`al*low"a*ble (?), a. Not allowable; not to be suffered. Raleigh. -- Dis`al*low"a*ble*ness, n.

Dis`al*low"ance (?), n. The act of disallowing; refusal to admit or permit; rejection.

Syn. -- Disapprobation; prohibition; condemnation; censure; rejection.

Dis`al*ly" (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + ally: cf. F. désaltier.] To part, as an alliance; to sunder. [R.] "Disallied their nuptials." Milton.

Dis*an"chor (?), v. t. & i. [Pref. dis- + anchor: cf. F. désancrer.] To raise the anchor of, as a ship; to weigh anchor. [Obs.] Heywood.

Dis`an*gel"ic*al (?), a. Not angelical. [R.] "Disangelical nature." Coventry.

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.

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.

Dis`an*nex" (?), v. t. To disunite; to undo or repeal the annexation of. State Trials (1608).

Dis`an*nul" (?), v. t. To annul completely; to render void or of no effect.

For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it?
Isaiah xiv. 27.

&fist; The prefix in this word an its derivatives is intensive, and not negative.

Dis`an*nul"ler (?), n. One who disannuls.

Dis`an*nul"ment (?), n. Complete annulment.

Dis`a*noint" (?), v. t. To invalidate the consecration of; as, to disanoint a king. [Obs.] Milton.

Dis`ap*par"el (?), v. t. [See Apparel, v. t.] [Pref. dis- + apparel: cf. OF. desapareiller.] To disrobe; to strip of apparel; to make naked.

Drink disapparels the soul.
Junius (1635).

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.

Dis`ap*pear"ance (?), n. The act of disappearing; cessation of appearance; removal from sight; vanishing. Addison.

Dis`ap*pend"en*cy (?), n. A detachment or separation from a former connection. [R.]

Dis`ap*pend"ent (?), a. Freed from a former connection or dependence; disconnected. [R.]

Dis`ap*point" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disapointed; p. pr. & vb. n. Disappointing.] [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 expected, 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.

&fist; 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.

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.

Dis`ap*point"ment (?), n. [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 than our pleasure in the fruition of them.
Addison.

In disappointment thou canst bless.
Keble.

2. That which disappoints.

Syn. -- Miscarriage; frustration; balk.

Dis`ap*pre"ci*ate (?), v. t. [See Appreciate.] To undervalue; not to esteem. -- Dis`ap*pre`ci*a"tion (#), n.

Dis*ap`pro*ba"tion (?), n. [Pref. dis- + approbation: cf. F. désapprobation. Cf. Disapprove.] 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.

Dis*ap"pro*ba`to*ry (?), a. Containing disapprobation; serving to disapprove.

Dis`ap*pro"pri*ate (?), a. (Law) Severed from the appropriation or possession of a spiritual corporation.

The appropriation may be severed, and the church become disappropriate, two ways.
Blackstone.

Dis`ap*pro"pri*ate (?), v. t. 1. To release from individual ownership or possession. Milton.

2. (Law) 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.

Dis`ap*pro`pri*a"tion (?), n. The act of disappropriating.

Dis`ap*prov"al (?), n. Disapprobation; dislike; censure; adverse judgment.

Dis`ap*prove (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disapproved (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disapproving.] [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.

&fist; This verb is often followed by of; as, to disapprove of an opinion, of such conduct. See Approve.

Dis`ap*prov"er (?), n. One who disapproves.

Dis`ap*prov"ing*ly, adv. In a disapproving manner.

Dis"ard (?), n. See Dizzard. [Obs.] Burton.

Dis*arm" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disarming (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disarming.] [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.

Dis*arm"a*ment (?), n. [Cf. F. désarmement.] The act of disarming.

Dis*ar"ma*ture (?; 135), n. [Pref. dis- + armature.] The act of divesting of armature. [R.]

Dis*armed" (?), a. 1. Deprived of arms.

2. (Her.) Deprived of claws, and teeth or beaks. Cussans.

Dis*arm"er (?), n. One who disarms.

Dis`ar*range" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disarranged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disarranging.] [Pref. dis- + arrange: cf. F. désarranger.] To unsettle or disturb the order or due arrangement of; to throw out of order.

Dis`ar*range"ment (?), n. The act of disarranging, or the state of being disarranged; confusion; disorder. Cowper.

Dis`ar*ray" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disarrayed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disarraying.] [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.

Dis`ar*ray" (?), n. [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.

Dis`ar*ray"ment (?), n. Disorder. [R.] Feltham.

Dis`ar*tic"u*late (?), v. t. To sunder; to separate, as joints. -- Dis`ar*tic`u*la"tion (#), n.

Dis`ar*tic"u*la`tor (?), n. One who disarticulates and prepares skeletons.

Dis`as*sent" (?), v. i. To dissent. [Obs.]

Dis`as*sent", n. Dissent. [Obs.] E. Hall.

Dis`as*sent"er (?), n. One who disassents; a dissenter. [Obs.] State Trials (1634).

Dis*as`si*du"i*ty (?), n. Want of assiduity or care. [R.] Sir H. Wotton.

Dis`as*sim"i*late (?), v. t. (Physiol.) To subject to disassimilation.

Dis`as*sim`i*la"tion (?), n. (Physics) 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.

Dis`as*sim"i*la*tive (?), a. (Physiol.) Having power to disassimilate; of the nature of disassimilation.

Disassimilative processes constitute a marked feature in the life of animal cells.
McKendrick.

Dis`as*so"ci*ate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disassociated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disassociating (?).] To disconnect from things associated; to disunite; to dissociate. Florio.

Dis*as"ter (?), n. [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.

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.

Dis*as"ter*ly, adv. Disastrously. [Obs.] Drayton.

Dis*as"trous (?), a. [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.

Dis`at*tire" (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + attire: cf. OF. desatirier.] To unrobe; to undress. Spenser.

Dis`aug*ment" (?), v. t. To diminish. [R.]

Dis*au"thor*ize (?), v. t. To deprive of credit or authority; to discredit. [R.] W. Wotton.

Dis`a*vaunce" (?), v. t. [Cf. Disadvance.] To retard; to repel; to do damage to. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dis`a*ven"ture (?; 135), n. [See Disadventure, Adventure.] Misfortune. [Obs.] Spenser.

Dis`a*ven"tur*ous (?), a. Misadventurous; unfortunate. [Obs.] Spenser.

Dis`a*vouch" (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + avouch. Cf. Disavow.] To disavow. [R.] Daniel.

Dis`a*vow" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disavowed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disavowing.] [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, and 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.

Dis`a*vow"al (?), n. The act of disavowing, disclaiming, or disowning; rejection and denial.

An earnest disavowal of fear often proceeds from fear.
Richardson.

Dis`a*vow"ance (?), n. Disavowal. [Obs.] South.

Dis`a*vow"er (?), n. One who disavows.

Dis`a*vow"ment (?), n. Disavowal. [R.] Wotton.

Dis*band" (?; see Dis-), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disbanded; p. pr. & vb. n. Disbanding.] [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.

Dis*band", v. i. 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.

Dis*band"ment (?), n. The act of disbanding.

Dis*bar" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disbarred (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disbarring.] (Law) To expel from the bar, or the legal profession; to deprive (an attorney, barrister, or counselor) of his status and privileges as such. Abbott.

Dis*bark" (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + bark a small ship: cf. OF. desbarquer, F. débarquer. Cf. Debark, Disembark.] To disembark. Pope.

Dis*bark", v. t. [Pref. dis- + bark rind.] To strip of bark; to bark. [R.] Boyle.

Dis*bar"ment (?), n. Act of disbarring.

Dis*base" (?), v. t. [Cf. Debase.] To debase or degrade. [Obs.]

Nor you nor your house were so much as spoken of before I disbased myself.
B. Jonson.

Dis`be*come" (?), v. t. To misbecome. [Obs.] Massinger.

Dis*be*lief" (?), n. 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.

Dis`be*lieve" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disbelieved (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disbelieving.] 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.

Dis`be*liev"er (?), n. One who disbelieves, or refuses belief; an unbeliever. Specifically, one who does not believe the Christian religion. I. Watts.

Dis*bench" (?), v. t. 1. To drive from a bench or seat. [R.] Shak.

2. (Eng. Law) To deprive (a bencher) of his privileges. Mozley & W.

Dis*bend (?), v. t. To unbend. [Obs.] Stirling.

Dis*bind" (?), v. t. [Cf. Disband.] To unbind; to loosen. [Obs.] Mede.

Dis*blame" (?), v. t. [OE. desblamen, OF. desblasmer; pref. des- (L. dis-) + blasmer, F. blâmer, to blame.] To clear from blame. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dis*bod"ied (?), a. Disembodied. [R.]

Dis`bos*ca"tion (?), n. [Pref. dis- + F. bosquet grove.] Converting forest land into cleared or arable land; removal of a forest. Sir W. Scott.

Dis*bow"el (?), v. t. [See Bowel, v. t.] To disembowel. [R.] Spenser.

Dis*branch" (?), v. t. [See Branch, v.] To divest of a branch or branches; to tear off. Shak.

Dis*bud" (?), v. t. [See Bud, v.] (Hort.) To deprive of buds or shoots, as for training, or economizing the vital strength of a tree.

Dis*bur"den (?), v. t. [See Burden, v. t.] [Cf. Disburthen.] 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.

Dis*bur"den, v. i. To relieve one's self of a burden; to ease the mind. Milton.

Dis*bur"geon (?), v. t. To strip of burgeons or buds; to disbud. [R.] Holland.

Dis*burse" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disbursed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disbursing.] [OF. desbourser, F. débourser; pref. des- (L. dis-) + bourse purse. See Burse, and cf. Dispurse.] 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.

Dis*burse"ment (?), n. [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.

Dis*burs"er (?), n. One who disburses money.

Dis*bur"then (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disburthened (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disburthening.] [Cf. Disburden.] To disburden; to relieve of a load. [Archaic]

Disc (?), n. [See Disk, Dish.] A flat round plate; (Biol.) A circular structure either in plants or animals; as, a blood disc, a germinal disc, etc. Same as Disk.

Dis*cage" (?), v. t. To uncage. [R.] Tennyson.

Disc"al (?), a. Pertaining to, or resembling, a disk; as, discal cells.

Dis*cal"ce*ate (?), v. t. [L. discalceatus unshod; dis- + calceus shoe.] To pull off shoes or sandals from. [Obs.] Cockeram.

Dis*cal"ce*at`ed (?), a. Deprived off shoes or sandals; unshod; discalced.

Dis*cal`ce*a"tion (?), n. The act of pulling off the shoes or sandals. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Dis*calced" (?), a. Unshod; barefooted; -- in distinction from calced. "The foundation of houses of discalced friars." Cardinal Manning's St. Teresa.

Dis*camp" (?), v. t. [See Decamp.] To drive from a camp. [Obs.] Holland.

Dis*can"dy (?), v. i. To melt; to dissolve; to thaw. [Obs.]

Dis"cant (?), n. See Descant, n.

Dis*ca*pac"i*tate (?), v. t. To deprive of capacity; to incapacitate. [R.]

Dis*card" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discarded; p. pr. & vb. n. Discarding.] 1. (Card Playing) 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.

Dis*card", v. i. (Card Playing) To make a discard.

Dis*card", n. (Card Playing) The act of discarding; also, the card or cards discarded.

Dis*car"dure (?; 135), n. Rejection; dismissal. [R.] Hayter.

Dis*car"nate (?), a. [L. dis- + carnatus fleshy, fr. caro, carnis, flesh.] Stripped of flesh. [Obs.] "Discarnate bones." Glanvill.

Dis*case" (?), v. t. To strip; to undress. Shak.

Dis*cede" (?), v. i. [L. discedere; dis- + cedere to yield.] To yield or give up; to depart. [Obs.]

I dare not discede from my copy a tittle.
Fuller.

Dis*cept" (?), v. i. [L. disceptare.] To debate; to discuss. [R.]

One dissertates, he is candid;
Two must discept, -- has distinguished.
R. Browning.

Dis`cep*ta"tion (?), n. [L. disceptatio.] Controversy; disputation; discussion. [Archaic]

Verbose janglings and endless disceptations.
Strype.

Dis`cep*ta"tor (?), n. [L.] One who arbitrates or decides. [R.] Cowley.

Dis*cern" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discerned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Discerning.] [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.

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.

Dis*cern"ance (?), n. Discernment. [Obs.]

Dis*cern"er (?), n. 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.

Dis*cern"i*ble (?), a. [L. discernibilis.] 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.

Dis*cern"i*ble*ness, n. The quality of being discernible.

Dis*cern"i*bly, adv. In a manner to be discerned; perceptibly; visibly. Hammond.

Dis*cern"ing, a. Acute; shrewd; sagacious; sharp-sighted. Macaulay.

Dis*cern"ing*ly, adv. In a discerning manner; with judgment; judiciously; acutely. Garth.

Dis*cern"ment (?), n. [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.

Dis*cerp" (?), v. t. [L. discerpere, discerptum; dis- + carpere to pluck.] 1. To tear in pieces; to rend. [R.] Stukeley.

2. To separate; to disunite. [R.] Bp. Hurd.

{ Dis*cerp`i*bil"i*ty (?), Dis*cerp`ti*bil"i*ty (?) }, n. Capability or liableness to be discerped. [R.] Wollaston.

{ Dis*cerp"i*ble (?), Dis*cerp"ti*ble (?) }, a. [See Discerp.] Capable of being discerped. [R.]

Dis*cerp"tion (?), n. [L. discerptio.] The act of pulling to pieces, or of separating the parts. Bp. Hall.

Dis*cerp"tive (?), a. Tending to separate or disunite parts. Encys. Dict.

Dis*ces"sion (?), n. [L. discessio, fr. discedere, discessum. See Discede.] Departure. [Obs.]

Dis*charge" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discharged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Discharging.] [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 execute, as an office, or part.

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.

Dis*charge", v. i. 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.

Dis*charge", n. [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.

Dis*char"ger (?), n. 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.

Dis*chev"ele (?), a. Disheveled. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dis*church" (?), v. t. To deprive of status as a church, or of membership in a church. Bp. Hall.

Dis*cide" (?), v. t. [L. discidere; dis- + caedere to cut.] To divide; to cleave in two. [Obs.] Spenser.

Dis*cif"er*ous (?), a. [Disc- + -ferous.] Bearing disks.

{ Dis`ci*flo"ral (?), Dis`ci*flo"rous (?), } a. [See Disk, and Floral.] (Bot.) Bearing the stamens on a discoid outgrowth of the receptacle; -- said of a subclass of plants. Cf. Calycifloral.

Dis"ci*form (?), a. Discoid.

||Dis*ci"na (?), n. [NL., fr. L. discus disk, Gr. &?;.] (Zoöl.) A genus of Branchiopoda, having a disklike shell, attached by one valve, which is perforated by the peduncle.

Dis*cinct (?), a. [L. discinctus, p. p. of discingere to ungird; dis- + cingere to gird.] Ungirded; loosely dressed. [R.] Sir W. Scott.

Dis*cind" (?), v. t. [L. discindere; dis- + scindere to cut, split.] To part; to divide. [Obs.] Boyle.

Dis*ci"ple (?), n. [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).] 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.

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.

Dis*ci"ple*ship, n. The state of being a disciple or follower in doctrines and precepts. Jer. Taylor.

Dis*ci"pless (?), n. A female disciple. [Obs.]

Dis"ci*plin*a*ble (?), a. [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.

Dis"ci*plin*a*ble*ness, n. The quality of being improvable by discipline. Sir M. Hale.

Dis"ci*plin*al (?), a. Relating to discipline. Latham.

Dis"ci*plin*ant (?), n. [See Discipline.] (Eccl. Hist.) A flagellant. See Flagellant.

Dis`ci*plin*a"ri*an (?), a. Pertaining to discipline. "Displinarian system." Milman.

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.]

Dis"ci*plin*a*ry (?), a. [LL. disciplinarius flogging: cf. F. disciplinaire.] 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.

Dis`ci*pline (?), n. [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 us.
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.) The enforcement of methods of correction against one guilty of ecclesiastical offenses; reformatory or penal action toward a church member.

8. (R. C. Ch.) Self-inflicted and voluntary corporal punishment, as penance, or otherwise; specifically, a penitential scourge.

9. (Eccl.) A system of essential rules and duties; as, the Romish or Anglican discipline.

Syn. -- Education; instruction; training; culture; correction; chastisement; punishment.

Dis"ci*pline (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disciplined (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disciplining.] [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.

Dis"ci*plin*er (?), n. One who disciplines.

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) 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.

Dis*claim", v. t. To disavow or renounce all part, claim, or share. Blackstone.

Disclaim in, Disclaim from, to disown; to disavow. [Obs.] "Nature disclaims in thee." Shak.

Dis*claim"er (?), n. 1. One who disclaims, disowns, or renounces.

2. (Law) 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.

Dis`cla*ma"tion (?), n. A disavowing or disowning. Bp. Hall.

Dis*clame" (?), v. t. To disclaim; to expel. [Obs.] "Money did love disclame." Spenser.

Dis*claun"der (?), v. t. [From OE. disclaundre, n., for sclandre, esclandre, OF. esclandre. See Sclaundre, Slander.] To injure one's good name; to slander. [Obs.]

Dis*cloak" (?), v. t. To take off a cloak from; to uncloak. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Dis*close" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disclosed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disclosing.] [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.

Dis*close", n. Disclosure. [Obs.] Shak. Young.

Dis*closed" (?), p. a. (Her.) Represented with wings expanded; -- applied to doves and other birds not of prey. Cussans.

Dis*clos"er (?), n. One who discloses.

Dis*clo"sure (?; 135), n. [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.

Dis*cloud" (?), v. t. To clear from clouds. [Archaic] Fuller.

Dis*clout" (?), v. t. To divest of a clout. [R.]

Dis*clu"sion (?), n. [L. disclusio, fr. discludere, disclusum, to separate. See Disclose.] A shutting off; exclusion. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Dis*coast" (?), v. i. [Pref. dis- + coast: cf. It. discostare.] 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.

Dis`co*blas"tic (?), a. [Gr. &?; disk + &?; to grow.] (Biol.) 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.

||Dis*cob"o*lus (?), n.; pl. Discoboli (#). [L., fr. Gr. &?;; &?; a discu + &?; to throw.] (Fine Arts) (a) A thrower of the discus. (b) A statue of an athlete holding the discus, or about to throw it.

&fist; The Discobolus of Myron was a famous statue of antiquity, and several copies or imitations of it have been preserved.

Dis`co*dac"tyl (?), n. [See Discodactylia.] (Zoöl.) One of the tree frogs.

||Dis`co*dac*tyl"i*a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; disk + &?; finger.] (Zoöl.) A division of amphibians having suctorial disks on the toes, as the tree frogs.

Dis`co*dac"tyl*ous (?), a. (Zoöl.) Having sucking disks on the toes, as the tree frogs.

Dis`co*her"ent (?), a. Incoherent. [R.]

Dis"coid (?), a. [Gr. &?; quoit-shaped, &?; a round plate, quoit + &?; form, shape: cf. F. discoïde. See Disk.] 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.

Dis"coid, n. Anything having the form of a discus or disk; particularly, a discoid shell.

Dis*coid"al (?), a. [Cf. F. discoïdal.] Disk-shaped; discoid.

Dis"co*lith (?), n. [Gr. &?; a round plate + -lith.] (Biol.) 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 &frac1x50000; of an inch in its longest diameter.

Dis*col"or (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discolored (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Discoloring.] [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.
Watts.

Dis*col"or*ate (?), v. t. To discolor. [R.] Fuller.

Dis*col`or*a"tion (?), n. [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.

Dis*col"ored (?), a. 1. Altered in color; stained.

2. Variegated; of divers colors. [R.]

That ever wore discolored arms.
Chapman.

Dis*com"fit (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discomfited; p. pr. & vb. n. Discomfiting.] [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&?; to throw into perplexity and dejection; to disconcert.

Well, go with me and be not so discomfited.
Shak.

Syn. -- To defeat; overthrow; overpower; vanquish; conquer; baffle; frustrate; confound; discourage.

Dis*com"fit, a. Discomfited; overthrown. [Obs.]

Dis*com"fit, n. Rout; overthrow; discomfiture.

Such a discomfit as shall quite despoil him.
Milton.

Dis*com"fi*ture (?; 135), n. [OF. desconfiture, F. déconfiture. See Discomfort, v. t., and cf. Comfiture.] 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.

Dis*com"fort (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discomforted; p. pr. & vb. n. Discomforting.] [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 of quiet enjoyment; to make uneasy; to pain; as, a smoky chimney discomforts a family.

Dis*com"fort, n. [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.

Dis*com"fort*a*ble (?), a. [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.]

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.

Dis`com*mend"a*ble (d&ibreve;s`k&obreve;m*m&ebreve;nd"&adot;*b'l), a. Deserving, disapprobation or blame. -- Dis`com*mend"a*ble*ness, n.

Dis*com`men*da"tion (?), n. Blame; censure; reproach. [R.] Ayliffe.

Dis`com*mend"er (?), n. One who discommends; a dispraiser. Johnson.

Dis`com*mis"sion (?), v. t. To deprive of a commission or trust. [R.] Laud.

Dis*com"mo*date (?), v. t. [L. dis- + commodatus, p. p. of commodare to make fit or suitable, fr. commodus fit, commodious. See Commodious, and cf. Discommode.] To discommode. [Obs.] Howell.

Dis`com*mode" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discommoded; p. pr. & vb. n. Discommoding.] [See Discommodate.] To put inconvenience; to incommode; to trouble. [R.]

Syn. -- To incommode; annoy; inconvenience.

Dis`com*mo"di*ous (?), a. Inconvenient; troublesome; incommodious. [R.] Spenser.

-- Dis`com*mo"di*ous*ly, adv. -- Dis`com*mo"di*ous*ness, n.

Dis`com*mod"i*ty (?), n. Disadvantage; inconvenience. Bacon.

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) To deprive of commonable quality, as lands, by inclosing or appropriating. Burrill.

Dis`com*mu"ni*ty (?), n. 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.

Dis*com"pa*ny (?), v. t. To free from company; to dissociate. [R.]

It she be alone now, and discompanied.
B. Jonson.

Dis`com*plex"ion (?), v. t. To change the complexion or hue of. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

Dis`com*pli"ance (?), n. Failure or refusal to comply; noncompliance.

A compliance will discommend me to Mr. Coventry, and a discompliance to my lord chancellor.
Pepys.

Dis`com*pose" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discomposed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Discomposing.] [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.

Dis`com*posed" (?), a. Disordered; disturbed; disquieted. -- Dis`com*pos"ed*ly (#), adv. -- Dis`com*pos"ed*ness, n.

Dis*com`po*si"tion (?), n. Inconsistency; discordance. [Obs.] Donne.

Dis`com*po"sure (?; 135), n. 1. The state of being discomposed; disturbance; disorder; agitation; perturbation.

No discomposure stirred her features.
Akenside.

2. Discordance; disagreement of parts. [Obs.] Boyle.

Dis*compt" (?), v. t. [See Discount.] To discount. See Discount. Hudibras.

Dis`con*cert" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disconcerted; p. pr. & vb. n. Disconcerting.] [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.

Dis`con*cert" (?), n. Want of concert; disagreement. Sir W. Temple.

Dis`con*cer"tion (?), n. The act of disconcerting, or state of being disconcerted; discomposure; perturbation. [R.] State Trials (1794).

Dis`con*du"cive (?), a. Not conductive; impeding; disadvantageous. [R.]

Dis`con*form"a*ble (?), a. Not conformable.

Disconformable in religion from us.
Stow (1603).

Dis`con*form"i*ty (?), n. 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.

Dis`con*gru"i*ty (?), n. Incongruity; disagreement; unsuitableness. Sir M. Hale.

Dis`con*nect" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disconnected; p. pr. & vb. n. Disconnecting.] 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.

Dis`con*nec"tion (?), n. 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.

Dis*con"se*crate (?), v. t. To deprive of consecration or sacredness. [R.]

Dis`con*sent" (d&ibreve;s`k&obreve;n*s&ebreve;nt"), v. i. To differ; to disagree; to dissent. [Obs.] Milton.

Dis*con"so*la`cy (?), n. The state of being disconsolate. [Obs.] Barrow.

Dis*con"so*late (?), n. Disconsolateness. [Obs.] Barrow.

Dis*con"so*late (?), a. [LL. disconsolatus; L. dis- + consolatus, p. p. of consolari to console. See Console, v. t.] 1. Destitute of consolation; deeply dejected and dispirited; hopelessly sad; comfortless; filled with grief; as, a bereaved and disconsolate parent.

One morn a Peri at the gate
Of Eden stood disconsolate.
Moore.

The ladies and the knights, no shelter nigh,
Were dropping wet, disconsolate and wan.
Dryden.

2. Inspiring dejection; saddening; cheerless; as, the disconsolate darkness of the winter nights. Ray.

Syn. -- Forlorn; melancholy; sorrowful; desolate; woeful; hopeless; gloomy.

-- Dis*con"so*late*ly, adv. -- Dis*con"so*late*ness, n.

Dis*con"so*la`ted (?), a. Disconsolate. [Obs.]

A poor, disconsolated, drooping creature.
Sterne.

Dis*con`so*la"tion (&?;), n. Dejection; grief. [R.] Bp. Hall.

Dis`con*tent" (d&ibreve;s`k&obreve;n*t&ebreve;nt"), a. Not content; discontented; dissatisfied. Jer. Taylor.

Passion seemed to be much discontent, but Patience was very quiet.
Bunyan.

Dis`con*tent", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discontented; p. pr. & vb. n. Discontenting.] To deprive of content; to make uneasy; to dissatisfy. Suckling.

Dis`con*tent", n. 1. Want of content; uneasiness and inquietude of mind; dissatisfaction; disquiet.

Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this sun of York.
Shak.

The rapacity of his father's administration had excited such universal discontent.
Hallam

2. A discontented person; a malcontent. [R.]

Thus was the Scotch nation full of discontents.
Fuller.

Dis*con`ten*ta"tion (?), n. Discontent. [Obs.] Ascham.

Dis`con*tent"ed (?), p. p. & a. Dissatisfied; uneasy in mind; malcontent.

And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him.
1 Sam. xxii. 2.

-- Dis`con*tent"ed*ly, adv. -- Dis`con*tent"ed*ness, n.

Dis`con*tent"ful (?), a. Full of discontent. [R.]

Dis`con*tent"ing, a. 1. Discontented. [Obs.] Shak.

2. Causing discontent; dissatisfying. Milton.

Dis`con*tent"ive (?), a. Relating or tending to discontent. [R.] "Pride is ever discontentive." Feltham.

Dis`con*tent"ment (?), n. The state of being discontented; uneasiness; inquietude. Bacon.

Dis`con*tin"u*a*ble (?), a. Admitting of being discontinued. [R.]

Dis`con*tin"u*ance (?), n. 1. The act of discontinuing, or the state of being discontinued; want of continued connection or continuity; breaking off; cessation; interruption; as, a discontinuance of conversation or intercourse; discontinuance of a highway or of travel.

2. (Law) (a) A breaking off or interruption of an estate, which happened when an alienation was made by a tenant in tail, or other tenant, seized in right of another, of a larger estate than the tenant was entitled to, whereby the party ousted or injured was driven to his real action, and could not enter. This effect of such alienation is now obviated by statute in both England and the United States. (b) The termination of an action in practice by the voluntary act of the plaintiff; an entry on the record that the plaintiff discontinues his action. (c) That technical interruption of the proceedings in pleading in an action, which follows where a defendant does not answer the whole of the plaintiff's declaration, and the plaintiff omits to take judgment for the part unanswered. Wharton's Law Dict. Burrill.

Syn. -- Cessation; intermission; discontinuation; separation; disunion; disjunction; disruption; break.

Dis`con*tin`u*a"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. discontinuation.] Breach or interruption of continuity; separation of parts in a connected series; discontinuance.

Upon any discontinuation of parts, made either by bubbles or by shaking the glass, the whole mercury falls.
Sir I. Newton.

Dis`con*tin"ue (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discontinued (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Discontinuing.] [Cf. F. discontinuer.] To interrupt the continuance of; to intermit, as a practice or habit; to put an end to; to cause to cease; to cease using, to stop; to leave off.

Set up their conventicles again, which had been discontinued.
Bp. Burnet.

I have discontinued school
Above a twelvemonth.
Shak.

Taught the Greek tongue, discontinued before in these parts the space of seven hundred years.
Daniel.

They modify and discriminate the voice, without appearing to discontinue it.
Holder.

Dis`con*tin"ue, v. i. 1. To lose continuity or cohesion of parts; to be disrupted or broken off. Bacon.

2. To be separated or severed; to part.

Thyself shalt discontinue from thine heritage.
Jer. xvii. 4.

Dis`con*tin`u*ee" (?), n. (Law) One whose possession of an estate is broken off, or discontinued; one whose estate is subject to discontinuance.

Dis`con*tin"u*er (?), n. One who discontinues, or breaks off or away from; an absentee.

He was no gadder abroad, not discontinuer from his convent for a long time.
Fuller.

Dis*con`ti*nu"i*ty (?), n. Want of continuity or cohesion; disunion of parts. "Discontinuity of surface." Boyle.

Dis`con*tin"u*or (?), n. (Law) One who deprives another of the possession of an estate by discontinuance. See Discontinuance, 2.

Dis`con*tin"u*ous (?), a. 1. Not continuous; interrupted; broken off.

A path that is zigzag, discontinuous, and intersected at every turn by human negligence.
De Quincey.

2. Exhibiting a dissolution of continuity; gaping. "Discontinuous wound." Milton.

Discontinuous function (Math.), a function which for certain values or between certain values of the variable does not vary continuously as the variable increases. The discontinuity may, for example, consist of an abrupt change in the value of the function, or an abrupt change in its law of variation, or the function may become imaginary.

Dis`con*ven"ience (?), n. Unsuitableness; incongruity. [Obs.] Bacon.

Dis`con*ven"ient (?), a. Not convenient or congruous; unsuitable; ill-adapted. [Obs.] Bp. Reynolds.

||Dis*coph"o*ra (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; disk + &?; to bear.] (Zoöl.) A division of acalephs or jellyfishes, including most of the large disklike species. -- Dis*coph"o*rous (#), a.

Dis"cord` (?), n. [OE. discord, descord, OF. discorde, descorde, F. discorde, from L. discordia, fr. discors, - cordis, discordant, disagreeable; dis- + cor, cordis, heart; cf. F. discord, n., and OF. descorder, discorder, F. discorder, to discord, L. discordare, from discors. See Heart, and cf. Discord, v. i.] 1. Want of concord or agreement; absence of unity or harmony in sentiment or action; variance leading to contention and strife; disagreement; -- applied to persons or to things, and to thoughts, feelings, or purposes.

A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Prov. vi. 19.

Peace to arise out of universal discord fomented in all parts of the empire.
Burke.

2. (Mus.) Union of musical sounds which strikes the ear harshly or disagreeably, owing to the incommensurability of the vibrations which they produce; want of musical concord or harmony; a chord demanding resolution into a concord.

For a discord itself is but a harshness of divers sounds m&?;&?;&?;ing.
Bacon.

Apple of discord. See under Apple.

Syn. -- Variance; difference; opposition; contrariety; clashing; dissension; contention; strife; disagreement; dissonance.

Dis*cord" (?), v. i. [OE. discorden, descorden, from the French. See Discord, n.] To disagree; to be discordant; to jar; to clash; not to suit. [Obs.]

The one discording with the other.
Bacon.

Dis*cord"a*ble (?), a. [Cf. OF. descordable.] That may produce discord; disagreeing; discordant. [R.] Halliwell.

{ Dis*cord"ance (?), Dis*cord"an*cy (?), } n. [Cf. F. discordance.] State or quality of being discordant; disagreement; inconsistency.

There will arise a thousand discordances of opinion.
I. Taylor.

Dis*cord"ant (?), a. [OE. discordant, descordaunt, OF. descordant, discordant, F. discordant, p. pr. of discorder, OF. also, descorder. See Discord, n.] 1. Disagreeing; incongruous; being at variance; clashing; opposing; not harmonious.

The discordant elements out of which the emperor had compounded his realm did not coalesce.
Motley.

2. [See Discord, n., 2.] (Mus.) Dissonant; not in harmony or musical concord; harsh; jarring; as, discordant notes or sounds.

For still their music seemed to start
Discordant echoes in each heart.
Longfellow.

3. (Geol.) Said of strata which lack conformity in direction of bedding, either as in unconformability, or as caused by a fault.

Syn. -- Disagreeing; incongruous; contradictory; repugnant; opposite; contrary; inconsistent; dissonant; harsh; jarring; irreconcilable.

-- Dis*cord"ant*ly, adv. -- Dis*cord"ant*ness, n. [R.]

Dis*cord"ful (?), a. Full of discord; contentious. [Obs.] "His discordful dame." Spenser.

Dis*cord"ous (?), a. Full of discord. [Obs.]

Dis*cor"po*rate (?), a. Deprived of the privileges or form of a body corporate. [Obs.] Jas. II.

Dis*cor`re*spond"ent (?), a. Incongruous. W. Montagu.

Dis*cost" (?), v. i. Same as Discoast. [Obs.]

Dis*coun"sel (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + counsel: cf. OF. desconseiller.] To dissuade. [Obs.] Spenser.

Dis"count` (?; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discounted; p. pr. & vb. n. Discounting.] [OF. desconter, descompter, to deduct, F. décompter to discount; pref. des- (L. dis-) + conter, compter. See Count, v.] 1. To deduct from an account, debt, charge, and the like; to make an abatement of; as, merchants sometimes discount five or six per cent for prompt payment of bills.

2. To lend money upon, deducting the discount or allowance for interest; as, the banks discount notes and bills of exchange.

Discount only unexceptionable paper.
Walsh.

3. To take into consideration beforehand; to anticipate and form conclusions concerning (an event).

4. To leave out of account; to take no notice of. [R.]

Of the three opinions (I discount Brown's).
Sir W. Hamilton.

Dis"count` (?; 277), v. i. To lend, or make a practice of lending, money, abating the discount; as, the discount for sixty or ninety days.

Dis"count` (?), n. [Cf. F. décompte. See Discount, v. t.] 1. A counting off or deduction made from a gross sum on any account whatever; an allowance upon an account, debt, demand, price asked, and the like; something taken or deducted.

2. A deduction made for interest, in advancing money upon, or purchasing, a bill or note not due; payment in advance of interest upon money.

3. The rate of interest charged in discounting.

At a discount, below par, or below the nominal value; hence, colloquially, out of favor; poorly esteemed; depreciated. -- Bank discount, a sum equal to the interest at a given rate on the principal (face) of a bill or note from the time of discounting until it become due. -- Discount broker, one who makes a business of discounting commercial paper; a bill broker. -- Discount day, a particular day of the week when a bank discounts bills. -- True discount, the interest which, added to a principal, will equal the face of a note when it becomes due. The principal yielding this interest is the present value of the note.

Dis*count"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being, or suitable to be, discounted; as, certain forms are necessary to render notes discountable at a bank.

Dis*coun"te*nance (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discountenanced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Discountenancing (?).] [Pref. dis- + countenance: cf. OF. descontenancer, F. décontenancer.] 1. To ruffle or discompose the countenance of; to put of countenance; to put to shame; to abash.

How would one look from his majestic brow . . .
Discountenance her despised!
Milton.

The hermit was somewhat discountenanced by this observation.
Sir W. Scott.

2. To refuse to countenance, or give the support of one's approval to; to give one's influence against; to restrain by cold treatment; to discourage.

A town meeting was convened to discountenance riot.
Bancroft.

Dis*coun"te*nance, n. Unfavorable aspect; unfriendly regard; cold treatment; disapprobation; whatever tends to check or discourage.

He thought a little discountenance on those persons would suppress that spirit.
Clarendon.

Dis*coun"te*nan*cer (?), n. One who discountenances; one who disfavors. Bacon.

Dis"count`er (?), n. One who discounts; a discount broker. Burke.

Dis*cour"age (?; 48), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discouraged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Discouraging (?).] [Pref. dis- + courage: cf. OF. descoragier, F. décourager: pref. des- (L. dis-) + corage, F. courage. See Courage.] 1. To extinguish the courage of; to dishearten; to depress the spirits of; to deprive of confidence; to deject; -- the opposite of encourage; as, he was discouraged in his undertaking; he need not be discouraged from a like attempt.

Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
Col. iii. 21.

2. To dishearten one with respect to; to discountenance; to seek to check by disfavoring; to deter one from; as, they discouraged his efforts.

Syn. -- To dishearten; dispirit; depress; deject; dissuade; disfavor.

Dis*cour"age, n. Lack of courage; cowardliness.

Dis*cour"age*a*ble (?), a. Capable of being discouraged; easily disheartened. Bp. Hall.

Dis*cour"age*ment (?), n. [Cf. OF. descouragement, F. découragement.] 1. The act of discouraging, or the state of being discouraged; depression or weakening of confidence; dejection.

2. That which discourages; that which deters, or tends to deter, from an undertaking, or from the prosecution of anything; a determent; as, the revolution was commenced under every possible discouragement. "Discouragements from vice." Swift.

Dis*cour"a*ger (?), n. One who discourages.

The promoter of truth and the discourager of error.
Sir G. C. Lewis.

Dis*cour"a*ging (?), a. Causing or indicating discouragement. -- Dis*cour"a*ging*ly, adv.

Dis*coure" (?), v. t. To discover. [Obs.]

That none might her discoure.
Spenser.

Dis*course" (?), n. [L. discursus a running to and fro, discourse, fr. discurrere, discursum, to run to and fro, to discourse; dis- + currere to run: cf. F. discours. See Course.] 1. The power of the mind to reason or infer by running, as it were, from one fact or reason to another, and deriving a conclusion; an exercise or act of this power; reasoning; range of reasoning faculty. [Obs.]

Difficult, strange, and harsh to the discourses of natural reason.
South.

Sure he that made us with such large discourse,
Looking before and after, gave us not
That capability and godlike reason
To fust in us unused.
Shak.

2. Conversation; talk.

In their discourses after supper.
Shak.

Filling the head with variety of thoughts, and the mouth with copious discourse.
Locke.

3. The art and manner of speaking and conversing.

Of excellent breeding, admirable discourse.
Shak.

4. Consecutive speech, either written or unwritten, on a given line of thought; speech; treatise; dissertation; sermon, etc.; as, the preacher gave us a long discourse on duty.

5. Dealing; transaction. [Obs.]

Good Captain Bessus, tell us the discourse
Betwixt Tigranes and our king, and how
We got the victory.
Beau. & Fl.

Dis*course" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Discoursed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Discoursing.] 1. To exercise reason; to employ the mind in judging and inferring; to reason. [Obs.] "Have sense or can discourse." Dryden.

2. To express one's self in oral discourse; to expose one's views; to talk in a continuous or formal manner; to hold forth; to speak; to converse.

Bid me discourse, I will enchant thine ear.
Shak.

3. To relate something; to tell. Shak.

4. To treat of something in writing and formally.

Dis*course", v. t. 1. To treat of; to expose or set forth in language. [Obs.]

The life of William Tyndale . . . is sufficiently and at large discoursed in the book.
Foxe.

2. To utter or give forth; to speak.

It will discourse most eloquent music.
Shak.

3. To talk to; to confer with. [Obs.]

I have spoken to my brother, who is the patron, to discourse the minister about it.
Evelyn.

Dis*cours"er (?), n. 1. One who discourse; a narrator; a speaker; an haranguer.

In his conversation he was the most clear discourser.
Milward.

2. The writer of a treatise or dissertation.

Philologers and critical discoursers.
Sir T. Browne.

Dis*cours"ive (?), a. [See Discursive.] 1. Reasoning; characterized by reasoning; passing from premises to consequences; discursive. Milton.

2. Containing dialogue or conversation; interlocutory.

The epic is everywhere interlaced with dialogue or discoursive scenes.
Dryden.

3. Inclined to converse; conversable; communicative; as, a discoursive man. [R.]

Dis*cours"ive, n. The state or quality of being discoursive or able to reason. [R.] Feltham.

Dis*cour"te*ous (?; see Courteous, 277), a. [Pref. dis- + courteous: cf. OF. discortois.] Uncivil; rude; wanting in courtesy or good manners; uncourteous. -- Dis*cour"te*ous*ly, adv. -- Dis*cour"te*ous*ness, n.

Dis*cour"te*sy (?), n. [Pref. dis- + courtesy: cf. OF. descourtoisie.] Rudeness of behavior or language; ill manners; manifestation of disrespect; incivility.

Be calm in arguing; for fierceness makes
Error a fault, and truth discourtesy.
Herbert.

Dis*court"ship (?), n. Want of courtesy. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Disc"ous (?), a. [L. discus disk. See Disk.] Disklike; discoid.

Dis*cov"e*nant (?), v. t. To dissolve covenant with.

Dis*cov"er (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discovered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Discovering.] [OE. discoveren, discuren, descuren, OF. descovrir, descouvrir, F. découvrir; des- (L. dis-) + couvrir to cover. See Cover.] 1. To uncover. [Obs.]

Whether any man hath pulled down or discovered any church.
Abp. Grindal.

2. To disclose; to lay open to view; to make visible; to reveal; to make known; to show (what has been secret, unseen, or unknown).

Go, draw aside the curtains, and discover
The several caskets to this noble prince.
Shak.

Prosperity doth best discover vice; but adversity doth best discover virtue.
Bacon.

We will discover ourselves unto them.
1 Sam. xiv. 8.

Discover not a secret to another.
Prov. xxv. 9.

3. To obtain for the first time sight or knowledge of, as of a thing existing already, but not perceived or known; to find; to ascertain; to espy; to detect.

Some to discover islands far away.
Shak.

4. To manifest without design; to show.

The youth discovered a taste for sculpture.
C. J. Smith.

5. To explore; to examine. [Obs.]

Syn. -- To disclose; bring out; exhibit; show; manifest; reveal; communicate; impart; tell; espy; find; out; detect. -- To Discover, Invent. We discover what existed before, but remained unknown; we invent by forming combinations which are either entirely new, or which attain their end by means unknown before. Columbus discovered America; Newton discovered the law of gravitation; Whitney invented the cotton gin; Galileo invented the telescope.

Dis*cov"er, v. i. To discover or show one's self. [Obs.]

This done, they discover.
Decker.

Nor was this the first time that they discovered to be followers of this world.
Milton.

Dis*cov`er*a*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality of being discoverable. [R.] Carlyle.

Dis*cov"er*a*ble (?), a. Capable of being discovered, found out, or perceived; as, many minute animals are discoverable only by the help of the microscope; truths discoverable by human industry.

Dis*cov"er*er (?), n. 1. One who discovers; one who first comes to the knowledge of something; one who discovers an unknown country, or a new principle, truth, or fact.

The discoverers and searchers of the land.
Sir W. Raleigh.

2. A scout; an explorer. Shak.

Dis*cov"er*ment, n. Discovery. [Obs.]

Dis*cov"ert (?), a. [Cf. F. découvert uncovered, OF. descovert. See Discover, Covert.] (Law) Not covert; not within the bonds of matrimony; unmarried; -- applied either to a woman who has never married or to a widow.

Dis*cov"ert, n. An uncovered place or part. [Obs.]

At discovert, uncovered. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dis*cov"er*ture (?; 135), n. [Pref. dis- + coverture: cf. OF. descoverture.] 1. Discovery. [Obs.]

2. (Law) A state of being released from coverture; freedom of a woman from the coverture of a husband.

Dis*cov"er*y (?), n.; pl. Discoveries (&?;). 1. The action of discovering; exposure to view; laying open; showing; as, the discovery of a plot.

2. A making known; revelation; disclosure; as, a bankrupt is bound to make a full discovery of his assets.

In the clear discoveries of the next [world].
South.

3. Finding out or ascertaining something previously unknown or unrecognized; as, Harvey's discovery of the circulation of the blood.

A brilliant career of discovery and conquest.
Prescott.

We speak of the "invention" of printing, the discovery of America.
Trench.

4. That which is discovered; a thing found out, or for the first time ascertained or recognized; as, the properties of the magnet were an important discovery.

5. Exploration; examination. [Obs.]

Dis*cra"dle (?), v. t. To take from a cradle. [R.]

This airy apparition first discradled
From Tournay into Portugal.
Ford.

Dis*cred"it (?), n. [Cf. F. discrédit.] 1. The act of discrediting or disbelieving, or the state of being discredited or disbelieved; as, later accounts have brought the story into discredit.

2. Hence, some degree of dishonor or disesteem; ill repute; reproach; -- applied to persons or things.

It is the duty of every Christian to be concerned for the reputation or discredit his life may bring on his profession.
Rogers.

Syn. -- Disesteem; disrepute; dishonor; disgrace; ignominy; scandal; disbelief; distrust.

Dis*cred"it, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discredited; p. pr. & vb. n. Discrediting.] [Cf. F. discréditer.] 1. To refuse credence to; not to accept as true; to disbelieve; as, the report is discredited.

2. To deprive of credibility; to destroy confidence or trust in; to cause disbelief in the accuracy or authority of.

An occasion might be given to the . . . papists of discrediting our common English Bible.
Strype.

2. To deprive of credit or good repute; to bring reproach upon; to make less reputable; to disgrace.

He. . . least discredits his travels who returns the same man he went.
Sir H. Wotton.

Dis*cred"it*a*ble (?), a. Not creditable; injurious to reputation; disgraceful; disreputable. -- Dis*cred"it*a*bly, adv.

Dis*cred"it*or (?), n. One who discredits.

Dis*creet" (?), a. [Compar. Discreeter (?); superl. Discreetest.] [F. discret, L. discretus separated (whence the meaning reserved, prudent), p. p. of discernere. See Discern, and cf. Discrete.] 1. Possessed of discernment, especially in avoiding error or evil, and in the adaptation of means to ends; prudent; sagacious; judicious; not rash or heedless; cautious.

It is the discreet man, not the witty, nor the learned, nor the brave, who guides the conversation, and gives measures to society.
Addison.

Satire 's my weapon, but I 'm too discreet
To run amuck, and tilt at all I meet.
Pope.

The sea is silent, the sea is discreet.
Longfellow.

2. Differing; distinct. [Obs.] Spenser.

-- Dis*creet"ly, adv. -- Dis*creet"ness, n.

{ Dis*crep"ance (?; 277), Dis*crep"an*cy (?), } n.; pl. -ances (#), -ancies (#). [L. disrepantia: cf. OF. discrepance. See Discrepant.] The state or quality of being discrepant; disagreement; variance; discordance; dissimilarity; contrariety.

There hath been ever a discrepance of vesture of youth and age, men and women.
Sir T. Elyot.

There is no real discrepancy between these two genealogies.
G. S. Faber.

Dis*crep"ant (?), a. [L. discrepans, -antis, p. pr. of discrepare to sound differently or discordantly; dis- + crepare to rattle, creak: cf. OF. discrepant. See Crepitate.] Discordant; at variance; disagreeing; contrary; different.

The Egyptians were . . . the most oddly discrepant from the rest in their manner of worship.
Cudworth.

Dis*crep"ant, n. A dissident. J. Taylor.

Dis*crete" (?), a. [L. discretus, p. p. of discernere. See Discreet.] 1. Separate; distinct; disjunct. Sir M. Hale.

2. Disjunctive; containing a disjunctive or discretive clause; as, "I resign my life, but not my honor," is a discrete proposition.

3. (Bot.) Separate; not coalescent; -- said of things usually coalescent.

Discrete movement. See Concrete movement of the voice, under Concrete, a. -- Discrete proportion, proportion where the ratio of the means is different from that of either couplet; as, 3:6::8:16, 3 bearing the same proportion to 6 as 8 does to 16. But 3 is not to 6 as 6 to 8. It is thus opposed to continued or continual proportion; as, 3:6::12:24. -- Discrete quantity, that which must be divided into units, as number, and is opposed to continued quantity, as duration, or extension.

Dis*crete", v. t. To separate. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Dis*crete"ly, adv. Separately; disjunctively.

Dis*cre"tion (?), n. [F. discrétion, L. discretio separation, difference, discernment, fr. discernere, discretum. See Discreet, Discern.] 1. Disjunction; separation. [Obs.] Mede.

2. The quality of being discreet; wise conduct and management; cautious discernment, especially as to matters of propriety and self-control; prudence; circumspection; wariness.

The better part of valor is discretion.
Shak.

The greatest parts without discretion may be fatal to their owner.
Hume.

3. Discrimination.

Well spoken, with good accent and good discretion.
Shak.

4. Freedom to act according to one's own judgment; unrestrained exercise of choice or will.

At discretion, without conditions or stipulations.

{ Dis*cre"tion*al (?), Dis*cre"tion*a*ry (?), }[Cf. F. discrétionnaire.] Left to discretion; unrestrained except by discretion or judgment; as, an ambassador with discretionary powers.

{ Dis*cre"tion*al*ly (?), Dis*cre"tion*a*ri*ly (?), } adv. At discretion; according to one's discretion or judgment.

Dis*cre"tive (?), a. [L. discretivus. See Discrete.] Marking distinction or separation; disjunctive.

Discretive proposition (Logic & Gram.), one that expresses distinction, opposition, or variety, by means of discretive particles, as but, though, yet, etc.; as, travelers change their climate, but not their temper.

Dis*cre"tive*ly, adv. In a discretive manner.

Dis*crim"i*na*ble (?), a. Capable of being discriminated. [Obs.] Bailey.

Dis*crim"i*nal (?), a. [L. discriminalis serving to divide.] In palmistry, applied to the line which marks the separation between the hand and the arm.

Dis*crim"i*nant (?), n. [L. discriminans, p. pr. of discriminare.] (Math.) The eliminant of the n partial differentials of any homogenous function of n variables. See Eliminant.

Dis*crim"i*nate (?), a. [L. discriminatus, p. p. of discriminare to divide, separate, fr. discrimen division, distinction, decision, fr. discernere. See Discern, and cf. Criminate.] Having the difference marked; distinguished by certain tokens. Bacon.

Dis*crim"i*nate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discriminated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Discriminating (?).] To set apart as being different; to mark as different; to separate from another by discerning differences; to distinguish. Cowper.

To discriminate the goats from the sheep.
Barrow.

Dis*crim"i*nate (?), v. i. 1. To make a difference or distinction; to distinguish accurately; as, in judging of evidence, we should be careful to discriminate between probability and slight presumption.

2. (a) To treat unequally. (b) (Railroads) To impose unequal tariffs for substantially the same service.

Dis*crim"i*nate*ly (?), adv. In a discriminating manner; distinctly.

Dis*crim"i*nate*ness, n. The state of being discriminated; distinctness.

Dis*crim"i*na`ting (?), a. Marking a difference; distinguishing. -- Dis*crim"i*na`ting*ly, adv.

And finds with keen discriminating sight,
Black's not so black; -- nor white so very white.
Canning.

Dis*crim`i*na"tion (?), n. [L. discriminatio the contrasting of opposite thoughts.] 1. The act of discriminating, distinguishing, or noting and marking differences.

To make an anxious discrimination between the miracle absolute and providential.
Trench.

2. The state of being discriminated, distinguished, or set apart. Sir J. Reynolds.

3. (Railroads) The arbitrary imposition of unequal tariffs for substantially the same service.

A difference in rates, not based upon any corresponding difference in cost, constitutes a case of discrimination.
A. T. Hadley.

4. The quality of being discriminating; faculty of nicely distinguishing; acute discernment; as, to show great discrimination in the choice of means.

5. That which discriminates; mark of distinction.

Syn. -- Discernment; penetration; clearness; acuteness; judgment; distinction. See Discernment.

Dis*crim"i*na*tive (?), a. 1. Marking a difference; distinguishing; distinctive; characteristic.

That peculiar and discriminative form of life.
Johnson.

2. Observing distinctions; making differences; discriminating. "Discriminative censure." J. Foster. "Discriminative Providence." Dr. H. More.

Dis*crim"i*na*tive*ly, adv. With discrimination or distinction. J. Foster.

Dis*crim"i*na`tor (?), n. [LL.] One who discriminates.

Dis*crim"i*na*to*ry (?), a. Discriminative.

Dis*crim"i*nous (?), a. [LL. discriminosus, fr. L. discrimen the dangerous, decisive moment. See Discriminate, a.] Hazardous; dangerous. [Obs.] Harvey.

Dis*crive" (?), v. t. [OF. descrivre. See Describe.] To describe. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dis*crown" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discrowned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Discrowning.] To deprive of a crown.

The end had crowned the work; it not unreasonably discrowned the workman.
Motley.

Dis*cru"ci*ate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discruciated; p. pr. & vb. n. Discruciating.] [L. discruciatus, p. p. of discruciare. See Cruciate.] To torture; to excruciate. [Obs.]

Discruciate a man in deep distress.
Herrick.

Dis*cu"bi*to*ry (?), a. [L. discumbere, discubitum, to lie down, recline at table; dis- + cumbere (in comp.) to lie down.] Leaning; fitted for a reclining posture. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Dis*cul"pate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disculpated; p. pr. & vb. n. Disculpating.] [LL. disculpatus, p. p. of disculpare to disculpate; dis- + L. culpare to blame, culpa fault.] To free from blame or the imputation of a fault; to exculpate.

I almost fear you think I begged it, but I can disculpate myself.
Walpole.

Dis`cul*pa"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. disculpation.] Exculpation. Burke.

Dis*cul"pa*to*ry (?), a. Tending to exculpate; exculpatory.

Dis*cum"ben*cy (?), n. [From L. discumbens, p. pr. of discumbere. See Discubitory.] The act of reclining at table according to the manner of the ancients at their meals. Sir T. Browne.

Dis*cum"ber (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + cumber: cf. OF. descombrer.] To free from that which cumbers or impedes; to disencumber. [Archaic] Pope.

Dis*cure" (?), v. t. [See Discover.] To discover; to reveal; to discoure. [Obs.]

I will, if please you it discure, assay
To ease you of that ill, so wisely as I may.
Spenser.

Dis*cur"rent (?), a. Not current or free to circulate; not in use. [Obs.] Sir E. Sandys.

Dis*cur"sion (?), n. [LL. discursio a running different ways. See Discourse.] The act of discoursing or reasoning; range, as from thought to thought. Coleridge.

Dis*cur"sist, n. A discourser. [Obs.] L. Addison.

Dis*cur"sive (?), a. [Cf. F. discursif. See Discourse, and cf. Discoursive.] 1. Passing from one thing to another; ranging over a wide field; roving; digressive; desultory. "Discursive notices." De Quincey.

The power he [Shakespeare] delights to show is not intense, but discursive.
Hazlitt.

A man rather tacit than discursive.
Carlyle.

2. Reasoning; proceeding from one ground to another, as in reasoning; argumentative.

Reason is her being,
Discursive or intuitive.
Milton.

-- Dis*cur"sive*ly, adv. -- Dis*cur"sive*ness, n.

Dis*cur`so*ry (?), a. Argumentative; discursive; reasoning. [R.] Bp. Hall.

Dis*cur"sus (?), n. [L.] (Logic) Argumentation; ratiocination; discursive reasoning.

Dis"cus (?), n.; pl. E. Discuses (#), L. Disci (#). [L. See Disk.] 1. (a) A quoit; a circular plate of some heavy material intended to be pitched or hurled as a trial of strength and skill. (b) The exercise with the discus.

&fist; This among the Greeks was one of the chief gymnastic exercises and was included in the Pentathlon (the contest of the five exercises). The chief contest was that of throwing the discus to the greatest possible distance.

2. A disk. See Disk.

Dis*cuss" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discussed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Discussing.] [L. discussus, p. p. of discutere to strike asunder (hence came the sense to separate mentally, distinguish); dis- + quatere to shake, strike. See Quash.] 1. To break to pieces; to shatter. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

2. To break up; to disperse; to scatter; to dissipate; to drive away; -- said especially of tumors.

Many arts were used to discuss the beginnings of new affection.
Sir H. Wotton.

A pomade . . . of virtue to discuss pimples.
Rambler.

3. To shake; to put away; to finish. [Obs.]

All regard of shame she had discussed.
Spenser.

4. To examine in detail or by disputation; to reason upon by presenting favorable and adverse considerations; to debate; to sift; to investigate; to ventilate. "We sat and . . . discussed the farm . . . and the price of grain." Tennyson. "To discuss questions of taste." Macaulay.

5. To deal with, in eating or drinking. [Colloq.]

We sat quietly down and discussed a cold fowl that we had brought with us.
Sir S. Baker.

6. (Law) To examine or search thoroughly; to exhaust a remedy against, as against a principal debtor before proceeding against the surety. Burrill.

Syn. -- To Discuss, Examine, Debate. We speak of examining a subject when we ponder it with care, in order to discover its real state, or the truth respecting it. We speak of discussing a topic when we examine it thoroughly in its distinct parts. The word is very commonly applied to matters of opinion. We may discuss a subject without giving in an adhesion to any conclusion. We speak of debating a point when we examine it in mutual argumentation between opposing parties. In debate we contend for or against some conclusion or view.

Dis*cuss"er (?), n. One who discusses; one who sifts or examines. Wood.

Dis*cus"sion (?), n. [L. discussio a shaking, examination, discussion: cf. F. discussion.] 1. The act or process of discussing by breaking up, or dispersing, as a tumor, or the like.

2. The act of discussing or exchanging reasons; examination by argument; debate; disputation; agitation.

The liberty of discussion is the great safeguard of all other liberties.
Macaulay.

Discussion of a problem or an equation (Math.), the operation of assigning different reasonable values to the arbitrary quantities and interpreting the result. Math. Dict.

Dis*cus"sion*al (?), a. Pertaining to discussion.

Dis*cuss"ive (?), a. [Cf. F. discussif.] 1. (Med.) Able or tending to discuss or disperse tumors or coagulated matter.

2. Doubt-dispelling; decisive. [R.]

A kind of peremptory and discussive voice.
Hopkins.

Dis*cuss"ive, n. (Med.) A medicine that discusses or disperses morbid humors; a discutient.

Dis*cu"tient (?), a. [L. discutiens, p. pr. of discutere. See Discuss.] (Med.) Serving to disperse morbid matter; discussive; as, a discutient application. -- n. An agent (as a medicinal application) which serves to disperse morbid matter. "Foment with discutiens." Wiseman.

Dis*dain" (?; 277), n. [OE. desdain, disdein, OF. desdein, desdaing, F. dédain, fr. the verb. See Disdain, v. t.] 1. A feeling of contempt and aversion; the regarding anything as unworthy of or beneath one; scorn.

How my soul is moved with just disdain!
Pope.

Often implying an idea of haughtiness.

Disdain and scorn ride sparkling in her eyes.
Shak.

2. That which is worthy to be disdained or regarded with contempt and aversion. [Obs.]

Most loathsome, filthy, foul, and full of vile disdain.
Spenser.

3. The state of being despised; shame. [Obs.] Shak.

Syn. -- Haughtiness; scorn; contempt; arrogance; pride. See Haughtiness.

Dis*dain" (?; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disdained (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disdaining.] [OE. disdainen, desdainen, OF. desdeigner, desdaigner, F. dédaigner; des- (L. dis-) + daigner to deign, fr. L. dignari to deem worthy. See Deign.] 1. To think unworthy; to deem unsuitable or unbecoming; as, to disdain to do a mean act.

Disdaining . . . that any should bear the armor of the best knight living.
Sir P. Sidney.

2. To reject as unworthy of one's self, or as not deserving one's notice; to look with scorn upon; to scorn, as base acts, character, etc.

When the Philistine . . . saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth.
1 Sam. xvii. 42.

'T is great, 't is manly to disdain disguise.
Young.

Syn. -- To contemn; despise; scorn. See Contemn.

Dis*dain", v. i. To be filled with scorn; to feel contemptuous anger; to be haughty.

And when the chief priests and scribes saw the marvels that he did . . . they disdained.
Genevan Testament (Matt. xxi. 15).

Dis*dained" (?), a. Disdainful. [Obs.]

Revenge the jeering and disdained contempt
Of this proud king.
Shak.

Dis*dain"ful (?), a. Full of disdain; expressing disdain; scornful; contemptuous; haughty.

From these
Turning disdainful to an equal good.
Akenside.

-- Dis*dain"ful*ly, adv. -- Dis*dain"ful*ness, n.

Dis*dain"ish*ly, adv. Disdainfully. [Obs.] Vives.

Dis*dain"ous (?), a. [OF. desdeignos, desdaigneux, F. dédaigneux.] Disdainful. [Obs.] Rom. of R.

Dis*dain"ous*ly, adv. Disdainfully. [Obs.] Bale.

Dis*de"i*fy (?), v. t. To divest or deprive of deity or of a deific rank or condition. Feltham.

Dis*deign" (?), v. t. To disdain. [Obs.]

Guyon much disdeigned so loathly sight.
Spenser.

Dis*di"a*clast (?), n. [Gr. di`s- twice + diakla^n to break in twain; dia` through + kla^n to break.] (Physiol.) One of the dark particles forming the doubly refracting disks of muscle fibers.

Dis*di`a*pa"son (?), n. [Pref. dis- (Gr. &?;) + diapason.] (Anc. Mus.) An interval of two octaves, or a fifteenth; -- called also bisdiapason.

Dis*ease" (?), n. [OE. disese, OF. desaise; des- (L. dis-) + aise ease. See Ease.] 1. Lack of ease; uneasiness; trouble; vexation; disquiet. [Obs.]

So all that night they passed in great disease.
Spenser.

To shield thee from diseases of the world.
Shak.

2. An alteration in the state of the body or of some of its organs, interrupting or disturbing the performance of the vital functions, and causing or threatening pain and weakness; malady; affection; illness; sickness; disorder; -- applied figuratively to the mind, to the moral character and habits, to institutions, the state, etc.

Diseases desperate grown,
By desperate appliances are relieved.
Shak.

The instability, injustice, and confusion introduced into the public counsels have, in truth, been the mortal diseases under which popular governments have every where perished.
Madison.

Disease germ. See under Germ.

Syn. -- Distemper; ailing; ailment; malady; disorder; sickness; illness; complaint; indisposition; affection. -- Disease, Disorder, Distemper, Malady, Affection. Disease is the leading medical term. Disorder mean&?; much the same, with perhaps some slight reference to an irregularity of the system. Distemper is now used by physicians only of the diseases of animals. Malady is not a medical term, and is less used than formerly in literature. Affection has special reference to the part, organ, or function disturbed; as, his disease is an affection of the lungs. A disease is usually deep- seated and permanent, or at least prolonged; a disorder is often slight, partial, and temporary; malady has less of a technical sense than the other terms, and refers more especially to the suffering endured. In a figurative sense we speak of a disease mind, of disordered faculties, and of mental maladies.

Dis*ease", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Diseased (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Diseasing.] 1. To deprive of ease; to disquiet; to trouble; to distress. [Obs.]

His double burden did him sore disease.
Spenser.

2. To derange the vital functions of; to afflict with disease or sickness; to disorder; -- used almost exclusively in the participle diseased.

He was diseased in body and mind.
Macaulay.

Dis*eased" (?), a. Afflicted with disease.

It is my own diseased imagination that torments me.
W. Irving.

Syn. -- See Morbid.

Dis*eas"ed*ness (?), n. The state of being diseased; a morbid state; sickness. [R.] T. Burnet.

Dis*ease"ful (?), a. 1. Causing uneasiness. [Obs.]

Disgraceful to the king and diseaseful to the people.
Bacon.

2. Abounding with disease; producing diseases; as, a diseaseful climate. [R.]

Dis*ease"ful*ness, n. The quality of being diseaseful; trouble; trial. [R.] Sir P. Sidney.

Dis*ease"ment (?), n. Uneasiness; inconvenience. [Obs.] Bacon.

Dis*edge" (?), v. t. To deprive of an edge; to blunt; to dull.

Served a little to disedge
The sharpness of that pain about her heart.
Tennyson.

Dis*ed"i*fy (?), v. t. To fail of edifying; to injure. [R.]

Dis*eld"er (?), v. t. To deprive of an elder or elders, or of the office of an elder. [Obs.] Fuller.

Di*sel"e*nide (?; 104), n. [Pref. di- + selenide.] (Chem.) A selenide containing two atoms of selenium in each molecule.

Dis`em*bark" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disembarked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disembarking.] [Pref. dis- + embark: cf. F. désembarquer.] To remove from on board a vessel; to put on shore; to land; to debark; as, the general disembarked the troops.

Go to the bay, and disembark my coffers.
Shak.

Dis`em*bark" (?), v. i. To go ashore out of a ship or boat; to leave a ship; to debark.

And, making fast their moorings, disembarked.
Cowper.

Dis*em`bar*ka"tion (?), n. The act of disembarking.

Dis`em*bark"ment (?), n. Disembarkation. [R.]

Dis`em*bar"rass (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disembarrassed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disembarrassing.] [Pref. dis- + embarrass: cf. F. désembarasser.] To free from embarrassment, or perplexity; to clear; to extricate.

To disembarrass himself of his companion.
Sir W. Scott.

Dis`em*bar"rass*ment (?), n. Freedom or relief from impediment or perplexity.

Dis`em*bay" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disembayed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disembaying.] [Pref. dis- + embay.] To clear from a bay. Sherburne.

Dis`em*bel"lish (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + embellish: cf. F. désembellir.] To deprive of embellishment; to disadorn. Carlyle.

Dis`em*bit"ter (?), v. t. To free from

Dis`em*bod"ied (?), a. Divested of a body; ceased to be corporal; incorporeal.

The disembodied spirits of the dead.
Bryant.

Dis`em*bod"i*ment (?), n. The act of disembodying, or the state of being disembodied.

Dis`em*bod"y (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disembodied (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disembodying.] 1. To divest of the body or corporeal existence.

Devils embodied and disembodied.
Sir W. Scott.

2. (Mil.) To disarm and disband, as a body of soldiers. Wilhelm.

Dis`em*bogue" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disembogued (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disemboguing.] [Sp. desembocar; pref. des- (L. dis-) + embocar to put into the mouth, fr. en (L. in) + boca mouth, fr. L. bucca cheek. Cf. Debouch, Embogue.] 1. To pour out or discharge at the mouth, as a stream; to vent; to discharge into an ocean, a lake, etc.

Rolling down, the steep Timavus raves,
And through nine channels disembogues his waves.
Addison.

2. To eject; to cast forth. [R.] Swift.

Dis`em*bogue", v. i. To become discharged; to flow out; to find vent; to pour out contents.

Volcanos bellow ere they disembogue.
Young.

Dis`em*bogue"ment (?), n. The act of disemboguing; discharge. Mease.

Dis`em*bos"som (?), v. t. To separate from the bosom. [R.] Young.

Dis`em*bow"el (d&ibreve;s`&ebreve;m*bou"&ebreve;l), v. t. [See Embowel.] 1. To take or let out the bowels or interior parts of; to eviscerate.

Soon after their death, they are disemboweled.
Cook.

Roaring floods and cataracts that sweep
From disemboweled earth the virgin gold.
Thomson.

2. To take or draw from the body, as the web of a spider. [R.] "Her disemboweled web." J. Philips.

Dis`em*bow"el*ment (?), n. The act of disemboweling, or state of being disemboweled; evisceration.

Dis`em*bow"ered (?), a. Deprived of, or removed from, a bower. [Poetic] Bryant.

Dis`em*bran"gle (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + em = en (L. in) + brangle.] To free from wrangling or litigation. [Obs.] Berkeley.

Dis`em*broil" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disembroiled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disembroiling.] [Pref. dis- + embroil.] To disentangle; to free from perplexity; to extricate from confusion.

Vaillant has disembroiled a history that was lost to the world before his time.
Addison.

Dis`em*ploy" (?), v. t. To throw out of employment. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.

Dis`em*ploy"ment (?), n. The state of being disemployed, or deprived of employment.

This glut of leisure and disemployment.
Jer. Taylor.

Dis`em*pow"er (?), v. t. To deprive of power; to divest of strength. H. Bushnell.

Dis`en*a"ble (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + enable.] To disable; to disqualify.

The sight of it might damp me and disenable me to speak.
State Trials (1640).

Dis`en*am"or (?), v. t. To free from the captivity of love. Shelton.

Dis`en*chained" (?), a. Freed from restraint; unrestrained. [Archaic] E. A. Poe.

Dis`en*chant" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disenchanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Disenchanting.] [Pref. dis- + enchant: cf. F. désenchanter.] To free from enchantment; to deliver from the power of charms or spells; to free from fascination or delusion.

Haste to thy work; a noble stroke or two
Ends all the charms, and disenchants the grove.
Dryden.

Dis`en*chant"er (?), n. One who, or that which, disenchants.

Dis`en*chant"ment (?), n. [Pref. dis- + enchantment: cf. F. désenchantement.] The act of disenchanting, or state of being disenchanted. Shelton.

Dis`en*charm" (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + en (L. in) + charm.] To free from the influence of a charm or spell; to disenchant. [R.] Jer. Taylor.

Dis`en*close (?), v. t. See Disinclose.

Dis`en*cour"age*ment (?), n. Discouragement. [Obs.] Spectator.

Dis`en*crese" (?), v. i. [Pref. dis- + OE. encrese, E. increase.] To decrease. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dis`en*crese", n. Decrease. [Obs.]

Dis`en*cum"ber (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disencumbered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disencumbering.] [Pref. dis- + encumber: cf. F. désencombrer.] To free from encumbrance, or from anything which clogs, impedes, or obstructs; to disburden. Owen.

I have disencumbered myself from rhyme.
Dryden.

Dis`en*cum"brance (?), n. Freedom or deliverance from encumbrance, or anything burdensome or troublesome. Spectator.

Dis`en*dow" (?), v. t. To deprive of an endowment, as a church. Gladstone.

Dis`en*dow"ment (?), n. The act of depriving of an endowment or endowments.

[The] disendowment of the Irish Church.
G. B. Smith.

Dis`en*fran"chise (?), v. t. To disfranchise; to deprive of the rights of a citizen. -- Dis`en*fran"chise*ment (#), n.

Dis`en*gage" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disengaged (#); p. pr. & vb. n. Disengaging.] [Pref. dis- + engage: cf. F. désengager.] To release from that with which anything is engaged, engrossed, involved, or entangled; to extricate; to detach; to set free; to liberate; to clear; as, to disengage one from a party, from broils and controversies, from an oath, promise, or occupation; to disengage the affections a favorite pursuit, the mind from study.

To disengage him and the kingdom, great sums were to be borrowed.
Milton.

Caloric and light must be disengaged during the process.
Transl. of Lavoisier.

Syn. -- To liberate; free; loose; extricate; clear; disentangle; detach; withdraw; wean.

Dis`en*gage", v. i. To release one's self; to become detached; to free one's self.

From a friends's grave how soon we disengage!
Young.

Dis`en*gaged" (?), a. Not engaged; free from engagement; at leisure; free from occupation or care; vacant. -- Dis`en*ga"ged*ness (#), n.

Dis`en*gage"ment (?), n. [Pref. dis- + engagement: cf. F. désengagement.] 1. The act of disengaging or setting free, or the state of being disengaged.

It is easy to render this disengagement of caloric and light evident to the senses.
Transl. of Lavoisier.

A disengagement from earthly trammels.
Sir W. Jones.

2. Freedom from engrossing occupation; leisure.

Disengagement is absolutely necessary to enjoyment.
Bp. Butler.

Dis`en*ga"ging (?), a. Loosing; setting free; detaching.

Disengaging machinery. See under Engaging.

Dis`en*no"ble (?), v. t. To deprive of that which ennobles; to degrade.

An unworthy behavior degrades and disennobles a man.
Guardian.

Dis`en*roll" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Disenrolled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disenrolling.] To erase from a roll or list. [Written also disenrol.] Donne.

Dis`en*san"i*ty (?), n. [Pref. dis- + en (L. in) + sanity.] Insanity; folly. [Obs.]

What tediosity and disensanity
Is here among!
Beau. & Fl.

Dis`en*shroud"ed (?), a. Freed from a shroudlike covering; unveiled.

The disenshrouded statue.
R. Browning.

Dis`en*slave" (?), v. t. To free from bondage or slavery; to disenthrall.

He shall disenslave and redeem his soul.
South.

Dis`en*tail" (?), v. t. (Law) To free from entailment.

Dis`en*tan"gle (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disentangled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disentangling (?).] 1. To free from entanglement; to release from a condition of being intricately and confusedly involved or interlaced; to reduce to orderly arrangement; to straighten out; as, to disentangle a skein of yarn.

2. To extricate from complication and perplexity; disengage from embarrassing connection or intermixture; to disembroil; to set free; to separate.

To disentangle truth from error.
Stewart.

To extricate and disentangle themselves out of this labyrinth.
Clarendon.

A mind free and disentangled from all corporeal mixtures.
Bp. Stillingfleet.

Syn. -- To loose; extricate; disembarrass; disembroil; clear; evolve; disengage; separate; detach.

Dis`en*tan"gle*ment (?), n. The act of disentangling or clearing from difficulties. Warton.

Dis`en*ter" (?), v. t. See Disinter.

Dis`en*thrall" (?), v. t. [See Enthrall.] To release from thralldom or slavery; to give freedom to; to disinthrall. [Written also disenthral.] Milton.

Dis`en*thrall"ment (?), n. Liberation from bondage; emancipation; disinthrallment. [Written also disenthralment.]

Dis`en*throne" (?), v. t. To dethrone; to depose from sovereign authority. Milton.

Dis`en*ti"tle (?), v. t. To deprive of title or claim.

Every ordinary offense does not disentitle a son to the love of his father.
South.

Dis`en*tomb" (?), v. t. To take out from a tomb; a disinter.

Dis`en*trail" (?), v. t. To disembowel; to let out or draw forth, as the entrails. [Obs.]

As if he thought her soul to disentrail.
Spenser.

Dis`en*trance" (?), v. t. To awaken from a trance or an enchantment. Hudibras.

Dis`en*twine" (?), v. t. To free from being entwined or twisted. Shelley.

Di*sep"al*ous (?), a. [Pref. di- + sepalous.] (Bot.) Having two sepals; two- sepaled.

Dis*ert" (?), a. [L. disertus, for dissertus, p. p.: cf. F. disert. See Dissert.] Eloquent. [Obs.]

Dis*er"ti*tude (?), n. [L. disertitud&?;.] Eloquence. [Obs.]

Dis*ert"y (?), adv. Expressly; clearly; eloquently. [Obs.] Holland.

Dis`es*pouse" (?), v. t. To release from espousal or plighted faith. [Poetic] Milton.

Dis`es*tab"lish (?), v. t. To unsettle; to break up (anything established); to deprive, as a church, of its connection with the state. M. Arnold.

Dis`es*tab"lish*ment (?), n. 1. The act or process of unsettling or breaking up that which has been established; specifically, the withdrawal of the support of the state from an established church; as, the disestablishment and disendowment of the Irish Church by Act of Parliament.

2. The condition of being disestablished.

Dis`es*teem" (?), n. Want of esteem; low estimation, inclining to dislike; disfavor; disrepute.

Disesteem and contempt of the public affairs.
Milton.

Dis`es*teem", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disesteemed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disesteeming.] 1. To feel an absence of esteem for; to regard with disfavor or slight contempt; to slight.

But if this sacred gift you disesteem.
Denham.

Qualities which society does not disesteem.
Ld. Lytton.

2. To deprive of esteem; to bring into disrepute; to cause to be regarded with disfavor. [Obs.]

What fables have you vexed, what truth redeemed,
Antiquities searched, opinions disesteemed?
B. Jonson.

Dis`es*teem"er (?), n. One who disesteems. Boyle.

Dis*es`ti*ma"tion (?), n. Disesteem.

Dis*ex"er*cise (?), v. t. To deprive of exercise; to leave untrained. [Obs.]

By disexercising and blunting our abilities.
Milton.

Dis*fame" (?), n. Disrepute. [R.] Tennyson.

Dis*fan"cy (?), v. t. To dislike. [Obs.]

Dis*fash"ion (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + fashion. See Fashion, and cf. Defeat.] To disfigure. [Obs.] Sir T. More.

Dis*fa"vor (?), n. [Pref. dis- + favor: cf. OF. disfaveur, F. défaveur.] [Written also disfavour.] 1. Want of favor of favorable regard; disesteem; disregard.

The people that deserved my disfavor.
Is. x. 6 (1551).

Sentiment of disfavor against its ally.
Gladstone.

2. The state of not being in favor; a being under the displeasure of some one; state of unacceptableness; as, to be in disfavor at court.

3. An unkindness; a disobliging act.

He might dispense favors and disfavors.
Clarendon.

Dis*fa"vor, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disfavored (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disfavoring.] 1. To withhold or withdraw favor from; to regard with disesteem; to show disapprobation of; to discountenance.

Countenanced or disfavored according as they obey.
Swift.

2. To injure the form or looks of. [R.] B. Jonson.

Dis*fa"vor*a*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. défavorable.] Unfavorable. [Obs.] Stow.

Dis*fa"vor*a*bly, adv. Unpropitiously. [Obs.]

Dis*fa"vor*er (?), n. One who disfavors. Bacon.

Dis*fea"ture (?; 135), v. t. [Cf. Defeature.] To deprive of features; to mar the features of. [R.]

Dis*fel"low*ship (?), v. t. [See Fellowship, v. t.] To exclude from fellowship; to refuse intercourse with, as an associate.

An attempt to disfellowship an evil, but to fellowship the evildoer.
Freewill Bapt. Quart.

Dis*fig`u*ra"tion (?), n. [See Disfigure, and cf. Defiguration.] The act of disfiguring, or the state of being disfigured; defacement; deformity; disfigurement. Gauden.

Dis*fig"ure (?; 135), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disfigured (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disfiguring.] [OF. desfigurer, F. défigurer; pref. des- (L. dis-) + figurer to fashion, shape, fr. L. figurare, fr. figura figure. See Figure, and cf. Defiguration.] To mar the figure of; to render less complete, perfect, or beautiful in appearance; to deface; to deform.

Disfiguring not God's likeness, but their own.
Milton.

Syn. -- To deface; deform; mar; injure.

Dis*fig"ure, n. Disfigurement; deformity. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dis*fig"ure*ment (?), n. 1. Act of disfiguring, or state of being disfigured; deformity. Milton.

2. That which disfigures; a defacement; a blot.

Uncommon expressions . . . are a disfigurement rather than any embellishment of discourse.
Hume.

Dis*fig"ur*er (?), n. One who disfigures.

Dis*flesh" (?), v. t. To reduce the flesh or obesity of. [Obs.] Shelton.

Dis*for"est (?), v. t. 1. To disafforest. Fuller.

2. To clear or deprive of forests or trees.

Dis*for`es*ta"tion (?), n. The act of clearing land of forests. Daniel.

Dis*form"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. Deformity.] Discordance or diversity of form; unlikeness in form.

Uniformity or disformity in comparing together the respective figures of bodies.
S. Clarke.

Dis*fran"chise (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disfranchised (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disfranchising.] [Cf. Diffranchise.] To deprive of a franchise or chartered right; to dispossess of the rights of a citizen, or of a particular privilege, as of voting, holding office, etc.

Sir William Fitzwilliam was disfranchised.
Fabyan (1509).

He was partially disfranchised so as to be made incapable of taking part in public affairs.
Thirlwall.

Dis*fran"chise*ment (?), n. The act of disfranchising, or the state of being disfranchised; deprivation of privileges of citizenship or of chartered immunities.

Sentenced first to dismission from the court, and then to disfranchisement and expulsion from the colony.
Palfrey.

Dis*fri"ar (d&ibreve;s*frī"&etilde;r), v. t. To depose or withdraw from the condition of a friar. [Obs.]

Many did quickly unnun and disfriar themselves.
Fuller.

Dis*frock" (d&ibreve;s*fr&obreve;k"), v. t. To unfrock.

Dis*fur"nish (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disfurnished (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disfurnishing.] [Pref. dis- + furnish.] To deprive of that with which anything is furnished (furniture, equipments, etc.); to strip; to render destitute; to divest.

I am a thing obscure, disfurnished of
All merit, that can raise me higher.
Massinger.

Dis*fur"nish*ment (?), n. The act of disfurnishing, or the state of being disfurnished. Daniel.

Dis*fur"ni*ture (?; 135), n. The act of disfurnishing, or the state of being disfurnished. [Obs.]

Dis*fur"ni*ture, v. t. To disfurnish. [R.] East.

Dis*gage" (?), v. t. To free from a gage or pledge; to disengage. [Obs.] Holland.

Dis*gal"lant (?), v. t. To deprive of gallantry. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Dis*gar"land (?), v. t. To strip of a garland. [Poetic] "Thy locks disgarland." Drummond.

Dis*gar"nish (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + garnish. See Degarnish.] To divest of garniture; to disfurnish; to dismantle. Bp. Hall.

Dis*gar"ri*son (?), v. t. To deprive of a garrison. Hewyt.

Dis*gav"el (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disgaveled (?) or Disgaveled; p. pr. & vb. n. Disgaveling.] [See Gavelkind.] (Eng. Law) To deprive of that principal quality of gavelkind tenure by which lands descend equally among all the sons of the tenant; -- said of lands. Burrill.

Dis*gest" (?), v. t. To digest. [Obs.] Bacon.

Dis*ges"tion (?; 106), n. Digestion. [Obs.]

Dis*glo"ri*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disglorified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disglorifying.] To deprive of glory; to treat with indignity. [R.]

Disglorified, blasphemed, and had in scorn.
Milton.

Dis*glo"ry (?), n. Dishonor. [Obs.]

To the disglory of God's name.
Northbrooke.

Dis*gorge" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disgorged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disgorging.] [F. dégorger, earlier desgorger; pref. dé-, des- (L. dis- ) + gorge. See Gorge.] 1. To eject or discharge by the throat and mouth; to vomit; to pour forth or throw out with violence, as if from the mouth; to discharge violently or in great quantities from a confined place.

This mountain when it rageth, . . . casteth forth huge stones, disgorgeth brimstone.
Hakluyt.

They loudly laughed
To see his heaving breast disgorge the briny draught.
Dryden.

2. To give up unwillingly as what one has wrongfully seized and appropriated; to make restitution of; to surrender; as, he was compelled to disgorge his ill-gotten gains.

Dis*gorge", v. i. To vomit forth what anything contains; to discharge; to make restitution.

See where it flows, disgorging at seven mouths
Into the sea.
Milton.

Dis*gorge"ment (?), n. [Cf. F. dégorgement.] The act of disgorging; a vomiting; that which is disgorged. Bp. Hall.

Dis*gos"pel (?), v. i. To be inconsistent with, or act contrary to, the precepts of the gospel; to pervert the gospel. [Obs.] Milton.

Dis*grace" (?; 277), n. [F. disgrâce; pref. dis- (L. dis-) + grâce. See Grace.] 1. The condition of being out of favor; loss of favor, regard, or respect.

Macduff lives in disgrace.
Shak.

2. The state of being dishonored, or covered with shame; dishonor; shame; ignominy.

To tumble down thy husband and thyself
From top of honor to disgrace's feet?
Shak.

3. That which brings dishonor; cause of shame or reproach; great discredit; as, vice is a disgrace to a rational being.

4. An act of unkindness; a disfavor. [Obs.]

The interchange continually of favors and disgraces.
Bacon.

Syn. -- Disfavor; disesteem; opprobrium; reproach; discredit; disparagement; dishonor; shame; infamy; ignominy; humiliation.

Dis*grace", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disgraced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disgracing (?).] [Cf. F. disgracier. See Disgrace, n.] 1. To put out of favor; to dismiss with dishonor.

Flatterers of the disgraced minister.
Macaulay.

Pitt had been disgraced and the old Duke of Newcastle dismissed.
J. Morley.

2. To do disfavor to; to bring reproach or shame upon; to dishonor; to treat or cover with ignominy; to lower in estimation.

Shall heap with honors him they now disgrace.
Pope.

His ignorance disgraced him.
Johnson.

3. To treat discourteously; to upbraid; to revile.

The goddess wroth gan foully her disgrace.
Spenser.

Syn. -- To degrade; humble; humiliate; abase; disparage; defame; dishonor; debase.

Dis*grace"ful (?), a. Bringing disgrace; causing shame; shameful; dishonorable; unbecoming; as, profaneness is disgraceful to a man. -- Dis*grace"ful*ly, adv. -- Dis*grace"ful*ness, n.

The Senate have cast you forth disgracefully.
B. Jonson.

Dis*gra"cer (?), n. One who disgraces.

Dis*gra"cious (?), a. [Cf. F. disgracieux.] Wanting grace; unpleasing; disagreeable. Shak.

Dis*gra"cive (?), a. Disgracing. [Obs.] Feltham.

Dis`gra*da"tion (?), n. (Scots Law) Degradation; a stripping of titles and honors.

Dis*grade" (?), v. t. To degrade. [Obs.] Foxe.

Dis*grad"u*ate (?; 135), v. t. To degrade; to reduce in rank. [Obs.] Tyndale.

Dis"gre*gate (?), v. t. [L. disgregare; dis- + gregare to collect, fr. grex, gregis, flock or herd.] To disperse; to scatter; -- opposite of congregate. [Obs.]

Dis`gre*ga"tion (?), n. (Physiol.) The process of separation, or the condition of being separate, as of the molecules of a body.

Dis*grun"tle (?), v. t. To dissatisfy; to disaffect; to anger. [Colloq.]

Dis*guise" (?; 232), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disguised (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disguising.] [OE. desguisen, disgisen, degisen, OF. desguisier, F. déguiser; pref. des- (L. dis-) + guise. See Guise.] 1. To change the guise or appearance of; especially, to conceal by an unusual dress, or one intended to mislead or deceive.

Bunyan was forced to disguise himself as a wagoner.
Macaulay.

2. To hide by a counterfeit appearance; to cloak by a false show; to mask; as, to disguise anger; to disguise one's sentiments, character, or intentions.

All God's angels come to us disguised.
Lowell.

3. To affect or change by liquor; to intoxicate.

I have just left the right worshipful, and his myrmidons, about a sneaker of five gallons; the whole magistracy was pretty well disguised before I gave them the ship.
Spectator.

Syn. -- To conceal; hide; mask; dissemble; dissimulate; feign; pretend; secrete. See Conceal.

Dis*guise", n. 1. A dress or exterior put on for purposes of concealment or of deception; as, persons doing unlawful acts in disguise are subject to heavy penalties.

There is no passion which steals into the heart more imperceptibly and covers itself under more disguises, than pride.
Addison.

2. Artificial language or manner assumed for deception; false appearance; counterfeit semblance or show.

That eye which glances through all disguises.
D. Webster.

3. Change of manner by drink; intoxication. Shak.

4. A masque or masquerade. [Obs.]

Disguise was the old English word for a masque.
B. Jonson.

Dis*guis"ed*ly (?), adv. In disguise.

Dis*guis"ed*ness, n. The state of being disguised.

Dis*guise"ment (?), n. Disguise. [R.] Spenser.

Dis*guis"er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, disguises. Shak.

2. One who wears a disguise; an actor in a masquerade; a masker. [Obs.] E. Hall.

Dis*guis"ing, n. A masque or masquerade. [Obs.]

Dis*gust" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disgusted; p. pr. & vb. n. Disgusting.] [OF. desgouster, F. dégoûter; pref. des- (L. dis-) + gouster to taste, F. goûter, fr. L. gustare, fr. gustus taste. See Gust to taste.] To provoke disgust or strong distaste in; to cause (any one) loathing, as of the stomach; to excite aversion in; to offend the moral taste of; -- often with at, with, or by.

To disgust him with the world and its vanities.
Prescott.

Ærius is expressly declared . . . to have been disgusted at failing.
J. H. Newman.

Alarmed and disgusted by the proceedings of the convention.
Macaulay.

Dis*gust", n. [Cf. OF. desgoust, F. dégoût. See Disgust, v. t.] Repugnance to what is offensive; aversion or displeasure produced by something loathsome; loathing; strong distaste; -- said primarily of the sickening opposition felt for anything which offends the physical organs of taste; now rather of the analogous repugnance excited by anything extremely unpleasant to the moral taste or higher sensibilities of our nature; as, an act of cruelty may excite disgust.

The manner of doing is more consequence than the thing done, and upon that depends the satisfaction or disgust wherewith it is received.
Locke.

In a vulgar hack writer such oddities would have excited only disgust.
Macaulay.

Syn. -- Nausea; loathing; aversion; distaste; dislike; disinclination; abomination. See Dislike.

Dis*gust"ful (?), a. Provoking disgust; offensive to the taste; exciting aversion; disgusting.

That horrible and disgustful situation.
Burke.

Dis*gust"ful*ness, n. The state of being disgustful.

Dis*gust"ing, a. That causes disgust; sickening; offensive; revolting. -- Dis*gust"ing*ly, adv.

Dish (d&ibreve;sh), n. [AS. disc, L. discus dish, disc, quoit, fr. Gr. di`skos quoit, fr. dikei^n to throw. Cf. Dais, Desk, Disc, Discus.] 1. A vessel, as a platter, a plate, a bowl, used for serving up food at the table.

She brought forth butter in a lordly dish.
Judg. v. 25.

2. The food served in a dish; hence, any particular kind of food; as, a cold dish; a warm dish; a delicious dish. "A dish fit for the gods." Shak.
[1913 Webster]

Home-home dishes that drive one from home.
Hood.

3. The state of being concave, or like a dish, or the degree of such concavity; as, the dish of a wheel.

4. A hollow place, as in a field. Ogilvie.

5. (Mining) (a) A trough about 28 inches long, 4 deep, and 6 wide, in which ore is measured. (b) That portion of the produce of a mine which is paid to the land owner or proprietor.

Dish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dished (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dishing.] 1. To put in a dish, ready for the table.

2. To make concave, or depress in the middle, like a dish; as, to dish a wheel by inclining the spokes.

3. To frustrate; to beat; to ruin. [Low]

To dish out. 1. To serve out of a dish; to distribute in portions at table. 2. (Arch.) To hollow out, as a gutter in stone or wood. -- To dish up, to take (food) from the oven, pots, etc., and put in dishes to be served at table.

Dis`ha*bil"i*tate (?), v. t. [Cf. Disability.] To disqualify. [R.]

Dis`ha*bille" (?), n. [See Deshabille.] An undress; a loose, negligent dress; deshabille.

They breakfast in dishabille.
Smollett.

Dis*hab"it (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + habit to inhabit.] To dislodge. [Obs.]

Those sleeping stones . . . from their fixed beds of lime
Had been dishabited.
Shak.

Dis*hab"it*ed, p. a. Rendered uninhabited. "Dishabited towns." R. Carew.

Dis`ha*bit"u*ate (?; 135), v. t. To render unaccustomed.

Dis*ha"ble (?), v. t. 1. To disable. [Obs.]

2. To disparage. [Obs.]

She oft him blamed . . . and him dishabled quite.
Spenser.

Dis*hal"low (?), v. t. To make unholy; to profane. Tennyson.

Nor can the unholiness of the priest dishallow the altar.
T. Adams.

Dis`har*mo"ni*ous (?), a. Unharmonious; discordant. [Obs.] Hallywell.

Dis*har"mo*ny (?), n. Want of harmony; discord; incongruity. [R.]

A disharmony in the different impulses that constitute it [our nature].
Coleridge.

Dis*haunt" (?), v. t. To leave; to quit; to cease to haunt. Halliwell.

Dish"cloth` (?; 115), n. A cloth used for washing dishes.

Dish"clout` (?), n. A dishcloth. [Obsolescent]

Dis*heart" (?), v. t. To dishearten. [Obs.]

Dis*heart"en (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disheartened (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disheartening.] [Pref. dis- + hearten.] To discourage; to deprive of courage and hope; to depress the spirits of; to deject.

Regiments . . . utterly disorganized and disheartened.
Macaulay.

Syn. -- To dispirit; discourage; depress; deject; deter; terrify.

Dis*heart"en*ment (?), n. Discouragement; dejection; depression of spirits.

Dis*heir" (?), v. t. [Cf. Disherit.] To disinherit. [Obs.] Dryden.

Dis*helm" (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + helm helmet.] To deprive of the helmet. [Poetic]

Lying stark,
Dishelmed and mute, and motionlessly pale.
Tennyson.

Dis*her"i*son (?), n. [See Disherit.] The act of disheriting, or debarring from inheritance; disinhersion. Bp. Hall.

Dis*her"it (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disherited; p. pr. & vb. n. Disheriting.] [F. déshériter; pref. dés- (L. dis-) + hériter to inherit. See Inherit, and cf. Dusheir, Disinherit.] To disinherit; to cut off, or detain, from the possession or enjoyment of an inheritance. [Obs.] Spenser.

Dis*her"it*ance (?), n. [Cf. OF. desheritance.] The act of disinheriting or state of being disinherited; disinheritance. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

Dis*her"it*or (?), n. (Law) One who puts another out of his inheritance.

Di*shev"el (d&ibreve;*sh&ebreve;v"'l or - &ebreve;l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disheveled (?) or Dishevelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Disheveling or Dishevelling.] [OF. descheveler, F. décheveler, LL. discapillare; dis- + L. capillus the hair of the head. See Capillary.] 1. To suffer (the hair) to hang loosely or disorderly; to spread or throw (the hair) in disorder; -- used chiefly in the passive participle.

With garments rent and hair disheveled,
Wringing her hands and making piteous moan.
Spenser.

2. To spread loosely or disorderly.

Like the fair flower disheveled in the wind.
Cowper.

Di*shev"el, v. i. To be spread in disorder or hang negligently, as the hair. [R.] Sir T. Herbert.

Di*shev"ele (?), p. p. & a. Disheveled. [Obs.]

Dishevele, save his cap, he rode all bare.
Chaucer.

Di*shev"eled (?), a. 1. Hanging in loose disorder; disarranged; as, disheveled hair.

2. Having the hair in loose disorder.

The dancing maidens are disheveled Mænads.
J. A. Symonds.

dish"ful (?), n.; pl. dishfuls (&?;). As much as a dish holds when full.

Dish"ing, a. Dish-shaped; concave.

Dis*hon"est (?), a. [Pref. dis- + honest: cf. F. déshonnête, OF. deshoneste.] 1. Dishonorable; shameful; indecent; unchaste; lewd. [Obs.]

Inglorious triumphs and dishonest scars.
Pope.

Speak no foul or dishonest words before them [the women].
Sir T. North.

2. Dishonored; disgraced; disfigured. [Obs.]

Dishonest with lopped arms the youth appears,
Spoiled of his nose and shortened of his ears.
Dryden.

3. Wanting in honesty; void of integrity; faithless; disposed to cheat or defraud; not trustworthy; as, a dishonest man.

4. Characterized by fraud; indicating a want of probity; knavish; fraudulent; unjust.

To get dishonest gain.
Ezek. xxii. 27.

The dishonest profits of men in office.
Bancroft.

Dis*hon"est, v. t. [Cf. OF. deshonester.] To disgrace; to dishonor; as, to dishonest a maid. [Obs.]

I will no longer dishonest my house.
Chapman.

Dis*hon"est*ly, adv. In a dishonest manner.

Dis*hon"es*ty (?), n. [Cf. OF. deshonesté, F. déshonnêteté.] 1. Dishonor; dishonorableness; shame. [Obs.] "The hidden things of dishonesty." 2 Cor. iv. 2.

2. Want of honesty, probity, or integrity in principle; want of fairness and straightforwardness; a disposition to defraud, deceive, or betray; faithlessness.

3. Violation of trust or of justice; fraud; any deviation from probity; a dishonest act.

4. Lewdness; unchastity. Shak.

Dis*hon"or (d&ibreve;s*&obreve;n"&etilde;r or d&ibreve;z-), n. [OE. deshonour, dishonour, OF. deshonor, deshonur, F. déshonneur; pref. des- (L. dis-) + honor, honur, F. honneur, fr. L. honor. See Honor.] [Written also dishonour.]

1. Lack of honor; disgrace; ignominy; shame; reproach.

It was not meet for us to see the king's dishonor.
Ezra iv. 14.

His honor rooted in dishonor stood.
Tennyson.

2. (Law) The nonpayment or nonacceptance of commercial paper by the party on whom it is drawn.

Syn. -- Disgrace; ignominy; shame; censure; reproach; opprobrium.

Dis*hon"or (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dishonored (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dishonoring.] [OE. deshonouren, F. déshonorer; pref. dés- (L. dis-) + honorer to honor, fr. L. honorare. See Honor, v. t.] [Written also dishonour.] 1. To deprive of honor; to disgrace; to bring reproach or shame on; to treat with indignity, or as unworthy in the sight of others; to stain the character of; to lessen the reputation of; as, the duelist dishonors himself to maintain his honor.

Nothing . . . that may dishonor
Our law, or stain my vow of Nazarite.
Milton.

2. To violate the chastity of; to debauch. Dryden.

3. To refuse or decline to accept or pay; -- said of a bill, check, note, or draft which is due or presented; as, to dishonor a bill exchange.

Syn. -- To disgrace; shame; debase; degrade; lower; humble; humiliate; debauch; pollute.

Dis*hon"or*a*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. déshonorable.] 1. Wanting in honor; not honorable; bringing or deserving dishonor; staining the character, and lessening the reputation; shameful; disgraceful; base.

2. Wanting in honor or esteem; disesteemed.

He that is dishonorable in riches, how much more in poverty!
Ecclus. x. 31.

To find ourselves dishonorable graves.
Shak.

-- Dis*hon"or*a*ble*ness, n. -- Dis*hon"or*a*bly, adv.

Dis*hon"or*a*ry (?), a. Bringing dishonor on; tending to disgrace; lessening reputation. Holmes.

Dis*hon"or*er (?), n. One who dishonors or disgraces; one who treats another indignity. Milton.

Dis*horn" (?), v. t. To deprive of horns; as, to dishorn cattle. "Dishorn the spirit." Shak.

Dis*horse" (?), v. t. To dismount. Tennyson.

Dis*house" (?), v. t. To deprive of house or home. "Dishoused villagers." James White.

Dis*hu"mor (?), n. Ill humor. [Obs.]

Dis*hu"mor, v. t. To deprive of humor or desire; to put out of humor. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Dish"wash`er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, washes dishes.

2. (Zoöl.) A European bird; the wagtail.

Dish"wa`ter (?), n. Water in which dishes have been washed. "Suds and dishwater." Beau. & Fl.

Dis`il*lu"sion (?), n. The act or process of freeing from an illusion, or the state of being freed therefrom. Lowell.

Dis`il*lu"sion, v. t. To free from an illusion; to disillusionize.

Dis`il*lu"sion*ize (?), v. t. To disenchant; to free from illusion. "The bitter disillusionizing experience of postnuptial life." W. Black.

Dis`il*lu"sion*ment (?), n. The act of freeing from an illusion, or the state of being freed therefrom.

Dis`im*bit"ter (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + imbitter. Cf. Disembitter.] To free from bitterness.

Dis`im*park" (?), v. t. To free from the barriers or restrictions of a park. [R.] Spectator.

Dis`im*pas"sioned (?), a. Free from warmth of passion or feeling.

Dis`im*prove" (?), v. t. To make worse; -- the opposite of improve. [R.] Jer. Taylor.

Dis`im*prove", v. i. To grow worse; to deteriorate.

Dis`im*prove"ment (?), n. Reduction from a better to a worse state; as, disimprovement of the earth.

Dis`in*car"cer*ate (?), v. t. To liberate from prison. [R.] Harvey.

Dis*in`cli*na"tion (?), n. The state of being disinclined; want of propensity, desire, or affection; slight aversion or dislike; indisposition.

Disappointment gave him a disinclination to the fair sex.
Arbuthnot.

Having a disinclination to books or business.
Guardian.

Syn. -- Unwillingness; disaffection; alienation; dislike; indisposition; distaste; aversion; repugnance.

Dis`in*cline" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disinclined (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disinclining.] To incline away the affections of; to excite a slight aversion in; to indispose; to make unwilling; to alienate.

Careful . . . to disincline them from any reverence or affection to the Queen.
Clarendon.

To social scenes by nature disinclined.
Cowper.

Dis`in*close" (?), v. t. [Cf. Disenclose.] To free from being inclosed.

Dis`in*cor"po*rate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disincorporated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disincorporating (?).] 1. To deprive of corporate powers, rights, or privileges; to divest of the condition of a corporate body.

2. To detach or separate from a corporation. Bacon.

Dis`in*cor"po*rate (?), a. Separated from, or not included in, a corporation; disincorporated. Bacon.

Dis`in*cor`po*ra"tion (?), n. Deprivation of the rights and privileges of a corporation. T. Warton.

Dis`in*fect" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disinfected; p. pr. & vb. n. Disinfecting.] To free from infectious or contagious matter; to destroy putrefaction; to purify; to make innocuous.

When the infectious matter and the infectious matter and the odoriferous matter are one . . . then to deodorize is to disinfect.
Ure.

Dis`in*fect"ant (?), n. That which disinfects; an agent for removing the causes of infection, as chlorine.

Dis`in*fec"tion (?), n. The act of disinfecting; purification from infecting matter.

Dis`in*fect"or (?), n. One who, or that which, disinfects; an apparatus for applying disinfectants.

Dis`in*flame" (?), v. t. To divest of flame or ardor. Chapman.

Dis*in`ge*nu"i*ty (?), n. Disingenuousness. [Obs.] Clarendon.

Dis`in*gen"u*ous (?), a. 1. Not noble; unbecoming true honor or dignity; mean; unworthy; as, disingenuous conduct or schemes.

2. Not ingenuous; wanting in noble candor or frankness; not frank or open; uncandid; unworthily or meanly artful.

So disingenuous as not to confess them [faults].
Pope.

-- Dis`in*gen"u*ous*ly, adv. T. Warton. -- Dis`in*gen"u*ous*ness, n. Macaulay.

Dis`in*hab"it*ed (?), a. Uninhabited. [Obs.]

Dis`in*her"i*son (?), n. [See Disinherit, v. t., and cf. Disherison.] Same as Disherison. Bacon.

Dis`in*her"it (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disinherited; p. pr. & vb. n. Disinheriting.] [Cf. Disherit, Disheir.] 1. To cut off from an inheritance or from hereditary succession; to prevent, as an heir, from coming into possession of any property or right, which, by law or custom, would devolve on him in the course of descent.

Of how fair a portion Adam disinherited his whole posterity!
South.

2. To deprive of heritage; to dispossess.

And disinherit Chaos, that reigns here.
Milton.

Dis`in*her"it*ance (?), n. The act of disinheriting, or the condition of being; disinherited; disherison.

Dis`in*hume" (?), v. t. To disinter. [R.]

Dis`in*sure" (?), v. t. To render insecure; to put in danger. [Obs.] Fanshawe.

Dis*in"te*gra*ble (?), a. Capable of being disintegrated, or reduced to fragments or powder.

Argillo-calcite is readily disintegrable by exposure.
Kirwan.

Dis*in"te*grate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disintegrated; p. pr. & vb. n. Disintegrating.] [L. dis- + integratus, p. p. of integrare to renew, repair, fr. integer entire, whole. See Integer.] To separate into integrant parts; to reduce to fragments or to powder; to break up, or cause to fall to pieces, as a rock, by blows of a hammer, frost, rain, and other mechanical or atmospheric influences.

Marlites are not disintegrated by exposure to the atmosphere, at least in six years.
Kirwan.

Dis*in"te*grate, v. i. To decompose into integrant parts; as, chalk rapidly disintegrates.

Dis*in`te*gra"tion (?), n. (a) The process by which anything is disintegrated; the condition of anything which is disintegrated. Specifically (b) (Geol.) The wearing away or falling to pieces of rocks or strata, produced by atmospheric action, frost, ice, etc.

Society had need of further disintegration before it could begin to reconstruct itself locally.
Motley.

Dis*in"te*gra`tor (?), n. (Mech.) A machine for grinding or pulverizing by percussion.

Dis`in*ter" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disinterred (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disinterring.] 1. To take out of the grave or tomb; to unbury; to exhume; to dig up.

2. To bring out, as from a grave or hiding place; to bring from obscurity into view. Addison.

Dis*in"ter*ess (?), v. t. [F. désintéresser to deprive of interest in; pref. dés- (L. dis-) + intéresser to interest, fr. L. interesse to import, concern. See Interest, and cf. Disinterest.] To deprive or rid of interest in, or regard for; to disengage. [Obs.]

Dis*in"ter*ess*ment (?), n. [Cf. F. désintéressement.] Disinterestedness; impartiality; fairness. [Obs.] Prior.

Dis*in"ter*est (?), p. a. Disinterested. [Obs.]

The measures they shall walk by shall be disinterest and even.
Jer. Taylor.

Dis*in"ter*est, n. 1. What is contrary to interest or advantage; disadvantage. [Obs.] Glanvill.

2. Indifference to profit; want of regard to private advantage; disinterestedness. [Obs.] Johnson.

Dis*in"ter*est, v. t. To divest of interest or interested motives. [Obs.] Feltham.

Dis*in"ter*est*ed, a. [Cf. Disinteressed.] Not influenced by regard to personal interest or advantage; free from selfish motive; having no relation of interest or feeling; not biased or prejudiced; as, a disinterested decision or judge.

The happiness of disinterested sacrifices.
Channing.

Syn. -- Unbiased; impartial; uninterested; indifferent.

Dis*in"ter*est*ed*ly, adv. In a disinterested manner; without bias or prejudice.

Dis*in"ter*est*ed*ness, n. The state or quality of being disinterested; impartiality.

That perfect disinterestedness and self- devotion of which man seems to be incapable, but which is sometimes found in woman.
Macaulay.

Dis*in"ter*est*ing, a. Uninteresting. [Obs.] "Disinteresting passages." Bp. Warburton.

Dis`in*ter"ment (?), n. The act of disinterring, or taking out of the earth; exhumation.

Dis`in*thrall" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disinthralled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disinthralling.] [Pref. dis- + inthrall. Cf. Disenthrall.] To free from thralldom; to disenthrall. [Written also disinthral.]

Dis`in*thrall"ment (?), n. A releasing from thralldom or slavery; disenthrallment. [Written also disinthralment.]

Dis*in"tri*cate (?), v. t. To disentangle. [R.] "To disintricate the question." Sir W. Hamilton.

Dis`in*ure" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disinured (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disinuring.] [Pref. dis- + inure.] To render unaccustomed or unfamiliar.

We are hindered and disinured . . . towards the true knowledge.
Milton.

Dis`in*ves"ti*ture (?; 135), n. The act of depriving of investiture. [Obs.] Ogilvie.

Dis`in*vig"or*ate (?), v. t. To enervate; to weaken. [R.] Sydney Smith.

Dis`in*volve" (?), v. t. To uncover; to unfold or unroll; to disentangle. [R.] Dr. H. More.

Dis*jec"tion (?), n. [L. disjicere, disjectum, to throw asunder, disperse; dis- + jacere to throw.] Destruction; dispersion. Bp. Horsley.

Dis*join" (d&ibreve;s*join"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disjoined (-joind"); p. pr. & vb. n. Disjoining.] [OF. desjoindre, F. disjoindre, déjoindre, fr. L. disjungere; dis- + jungere to join. See Join, and cf. Disjoint, Disjunct.] To part; to disunite; to separate; to sunder.

That marriage, therefore, God himself disjoins.
Milton.

Never let us lay down our arms against France, till we have utterly disjoined her from the Spanish monarchy.
Addison.

Windmill Street consisted of disjoined houses.
Pennant.

Syn. -- To disunite; separate; detach; sever; dissever; sunder; disconnect.

Dis*join", v. i. To become separated; to part.

Dis*joint" (?), a. [OF. desjoint, p. p. of desjoindre. See Disjoin.] Disjointed; unconnected; -- opposed to conjoint. Milton.

Dis*joint", n. [From OF. desjoint, p. p. of desjoindre. See Disjoint, v. t.] Difficult situation; dilemma; strait. [Obs.] "I stand in such disjoint." Chaucer.

Dis*joint", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disjointed; p. pr. & vb. n. Disjointing.] 1. To separate the joints of; to separate, as parts united by joints; to put out of joint; to force out of its socket; to dislocate; as, to disjoint limbs; to disjoint bones; to disjoint a fowl in carving.

Yet what could swords or poisons, racks or flame,
But mangle and disjoint the brittle frame?
Prior.

2. To separate at junctures or joints; to break where parts are united; to break in pieces; as, disjointed columns; to disjoint an edifice.

Some half-ruined wall
Disjointed and about to fall.
Longfellow.

3. To break the natural order and relations of; to make incoherent; as, a disjointed speech.

Dis*joint", v. i. To fall in pieces. Shak.

Dis*joint"ed, a. Separated at the joints; disconnected; incoherent. -- Dis*joint"ed*ly, adv. -- Dis*joint"ed*ness, n.

Dis*joint"ly, adv. In a disjointed state. Sandys.

Dis*ju`di*ca"tion (?), n. Judgment; discrimination. See Dijudication. [Obs.] Boyle.

Dis*junct" (d&ibreve;s*jŭ&nsm;kt"), a. [L. disjunctus, p. p. of disjungere to disjoin. See Disjoin, and cf. Disjoint.] 1. Disjoined; separated. [R.]

2. (Zoöl.) Having the head, thorax, and abdomen separated by a deep constriction.

Disjunct tetrachords (Mus.), tetrachords so disposed to each other that the gravest note of the upper is one note higher than the acutest note of the other.

Dis*junc"tion (?), n. [L. disjunctio.] 1. The act of disjoining; disunion; separation; a parting; as, the disjunction of soul and body.

2. A disjunctive proposition. Coleridge.

Dis*junc"tive (?), a. [L. disjunctivus: cf. F. disjonctif.] 1. Tending to disjoin; separating; disjoining.

2. (Mus.) Pertaining to disjunct tetrachords. "Disjunctive notes." Moore (Encyc. of Music).

Disjunctive conjunction (Gram.), one connecting grammatically two words or clauses, expressing at the same time an opposition or separation inherent in the notions or thoughts; as, either, or, neither, nor, but, although, except, lest, etc. -- Disjunctive proposition, one in which the parts are connected by disjunctive conjunctions; as it is either day or night. -- Disjunctive syllogism (Logic), one in which the major proposition is disjunctive; as, the earth moves in a circle or an ellipse; but in does not move in a circle, therefore it moves in an ellipse.

Dis*junc"tive, n. (a) (Gram.) A disjunctive conjunction. (b) (Logic) A disjunctive proposition.

Dis*junc"tive*ly, adv. In a disjunctive manner; separately. Dr. H. More.

Dis*junc"ture (?; 135), n. The act of disjoining, or state of being disjoined; separation. Fuller.

Disk (d&ibreve;sk), n. [L. discus, Gr. di`skos. See Dish.] [Written also disc.] 1. A discus; a quoit.

Some whirl the disk, and some the javelin dart.
Pope.

2. A flat, circular plate; as, a disk of metal or paper.

3. (Astron.) The circular figure of a celestial body, as seen projected of the heavens.

4. (Biol.) A circular structure either in plants or animals; as, a blood disk; germinal disk, etc.

5. (Bot.) (a) The whole surface of a leaf. (b) The central part of a radiate compound flower, as in sunflower. (c) A part of the receptacle enlarged or expanded under, or around, or even on top of, the pistil.

6. (Zoöl.) (a) The anterior surface or oral area of cœlenterate animals, as of sea anemones. (b) The lower side of the body of some invertebrates, especially when used for locomotion, when it is often called a creeping disk. (c) In owls, the space around the eyes.

Disk engine, a form of rotary steam engine. -- Disk shell (Zoöl.), any species of Discina.

Dis*kind"ness (?), n. Unkindness; disservice. [R.] A. Tucker.

Disk"less (?), a. Having no disk; appearing as a point and not expanded into a disk, as the image of a faint star in a telescope.

Dis*lade" (?), v. t. To unlade. [Obs.] Heywood.

Dis*leal" (?), a. [See Disloyal, Leal.] Disloyal; perfidious. [Obs.] "Disleal knight." Spenser.

Dis*leave" (?), v. t. To deprive of leaves. [R.]

The cankerworms that annually that disleaved the elms.
Lowell.

Dis*like" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disliked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disliking.] 1. To regard with dislike or aversion; to disapprove; to disrelish.

Every nation dislikes an impost.
Johnson.

2. To awaken dislike in; to displease. "Disliking countenance." Marston. "It dislikes me." Shak.

Dis*like", n. 1. A feeling of positive and usually permanent aversion to something unpleasant, uncongenial, or offensive; disapprobation; repugnance; displeasure; disfavor; -- the opposite of liking or fondness.

God's grace . . . gives him continual dislike to sin.
Hammond.

The hint malevolent, the look oblique,
The obvious satire, or implied dislike.
Hannah More.

We have spoken of the dislike of these excellent women for Sheridan and Fox.
J. Morley.

His dislike of a particular kind of sensational stories.
A. W. Ward.

2. Discord; dissension. [Obs.] Fairfax.

Syn. -- Distaste; disinclination; disapprobation; disfavor; disaffection; displeasure; disrelish; aversion; reluctance; repugnance; disgust; antipathy. -- Dislike, Aversion, Reluctance, Repugnance, Disgust, Antipathy. Dislike is the more general term, applicable to both persons and things and arising either from feeling or judgment. It may mean little more than want of positive liking; but antipathy, repugnance, disgust, and aversion are more intense phases of dislike. Aversion denotes a fixed and habitual dislike; as, an aversion to or for business. Reluctance and repugnance denote a mental strife or hostility something proposed (repugnance being the stronger); as, a reluctance to make the necessary sacrifices, and a repugnance to the submission required. Disgust is repugnance either of taste or moral feeling; as, a disgust at gross exhibitions of selfishness. Antipathy is primarily an instinctive feeling of dislike of a thing, such as most persons feel for a snake. When used figuratively, it denotes a correspondent dislike for certain persons, modes of acting, etc. Men have an aversion to what breaks in upon their habits; a reluctance and repugnance to what crosses their will; a disgust at what offends their sensibilities; and are often governed by antipathies for which they can give no good reason.

Dis*like"ful (?), a. Full of dislike; disaffected; malign; disagreeable. [Obs.] Spenser.

Dis*like"li*hood (?), n. The want of likelihood; improbability. Sir W. Scott.

Dis*lik"en (?), v. t. To make unlike; to disguise. [Obs.] Shak.

Dis*like"ness, n. Unlikeness. [R.] Locke.

Dis*lik"er (?), n. One who dislikes or disrelishes.

Dis*limb" (?), v. t. To tear limb from limb; to dismember. [Obs.] Bailey.

Dis*limn" (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + limn.] To efface, as a picture. [Obs.] Shak.

Dis*link" (?), v. t. To unlink; to disunite; to separate. [R.] Tennyson.

Dis*live" (?), v. t. To deprive of life. [Obs.]

Telemachus dislived Amphimedon.
Chapman.

Dis"lo*cate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dislocated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dislocating (?).] [LL. dislocatus, p. p. of dislocare; dis- + locare to place, fr. locus place. See Locus.] To displace; to put out of its proper place. Especially, of a bone: To remove from its normal connections with a neighboring bone; to put out of joint; to move from its socket; to disjoint; as, to dislocate your bones. Shak.

After some time the strata on all sides of the globe were dislocated.
Woodward.

And thus the archbishop's see, dislocated or out of joint for a time, was by the hands of his holiness set right again.
Fuller.

Dis"lo*cate (?), a. [LL. dislocatus, p. p.] Dislocated. Montgomery.

Dis`lo*ca"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. dislocation.] 1. The act of displacing, or the state of being displaced. T. Burnet.

2. (Geol.) The displacement of parts of rocks or portions of strata from the situation which they originally occupied. Slips, faults, and the like, are dislocations.

3. (Surg.) The act of dislocating, or putting out of joint; also, the condition of being thus displaced.

Dis*lodge" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dislodged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dislodging.] [OF. deslogier, F. déloger; pref. des- (L. dis-) + OF. logier, F. loger. See Lodge.] 1. To drive from a lodge or place of rest; to remove from a place of quiet or repose; as, shells resting in the sea at a considerate depth are not dislodged by storms.

2. To drive out from a place of hiding or defense; as, to dislodge a deer, or an enemy.

The Volscians are dislodg'd.
Shak.

Dis*lodge", v. i. To go from a place of rest. [R.]

Where Light and Darkness in perpetual round
Lodge and dislodge by turns.
Milton.

Dis*lodge", n. Dwelling apart; separation. [R.]

Dis*lodg"ment (?), n. [Cf. F. délogement, OF. deslogement.] The act or process of dislodging, or the state of being dislodged.

Dis*loign" (?), v. t. [OF. desloignier. See Eloign.] To put at a distance; to remove. [Obs.]

Low-looking dales, disloigned from common gaze.
Spenser.

Dis*loy"al (?), a. [Pref. dis- + loyal: cf. OF. desloial, desleal, F. déloyal. See Loyal.] Not loyal; not true to a sovereign or lawful superior, or to the government under which one lives; false where allegiance is due; faithless; as, a subject disloyal to the king; a husband disloyal to his wife.

Without a thought disloyal.
Mrs. Browning.

Syn. -- Disobedient; faithless; untrue; treacherous; perfidious; dishonest; inconstant; disaffected.

Dis*loy"al*ly, adv. In a disloyal manner.

Dis*loy"al*ty (?), n. [Pref. dis- + loyalty: cf. OF. desloiauté, deslealté, F. déloyauté.] Want of loyalty; lack of fidelity; violation of allegiance.

Dis*mail" (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + mail: cf. OF. desmaillier.] To divest of coat of mail. Spenser.

Dis"mal (?), a. [Formerly a noun; e. g., "I trow it was in the dismalle." Chaucer. Of uncertain origin; but perh. (as suggested by Skeat) from OF. disme, F. dîme, tithe, the phrase dismal day properly meaning, the day when tithes must be paid. See Dime.] 1. Fatal; ill-omened; unlucky. [Obs.]

An ugly fiend more foul than dismal day.
Spenser.

2. Gloomy to the eye or ear; sorrowful and depressing to the feelings; foreboding; cheerless; dull; dreary; as, a dismal outlook; dismal stories; a dismal place.

Full well the busy whisper, circling round,
Convey'd the dismal tidings when he frowned.
Goldsmith.

A dismal description of an English November.
Southey.

Syn. -- Dreary; lonesome; gloomy; dark; ominous; ill- boding; fatal; doleful; lugubrious; funereal; dolorous; calamitous; sorrowful; sad; joyless; melancholy; unfortunate; unhappy.

Dis"mal*ly, adv. In a dismal manner; gloomily; sorrowfully; uncomfortably.

Dis"mal*ness, n. The quality of being dismal; gloominess.

Dis*man" (?), v. t. To unman. [Obs.] Feltham.

Dis*man"tle (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dismantled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dismantling (?).] [F. démanteler, OF. desmanteler; pref: des- (L. dis-) + manteler to cover with a cloak, defend, fr. mantel, F. manteau, cloak. See Mantle.] 1. To strip or deprive of dress; to divest.

2. To strip of furniture and equipments, guns, etc.; to unrig; to strip of walls or outworks; to break down; as, to dismantle a fort, a town, or a ship.

A dismantled house, without windows or shutters to keep out the rain.
Macaulay.

3. To disable; to render useless. Comber.

Syn. -- To demo&?;sh; raze. See Demol&?;sh.

Dis*march" (?), v. i. To march away. [Obs.]

Dis*mar"ry (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + marry: cf. OF. desmarier, F. démarier.] To free from the bonds of marriage; to divorce. [Obs.] Ld. Berners.

Dis*mar"shal (?), v. t. To disarrange; to derange; to put in disorder. [R.] Drummond.

Dis*mask" (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + mask: cf. F. démasquer.] To divest of a mask. Shak.

Dis*mast" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dismasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Dismasting.] [Pref. dis- + mast: cf. F. démâter.] To deprive of a mast of masts; to break and carry away the masts from; as, a storm dismasted the ship.

Dis*mast"ment (?), n. The act of dismasting; the state of being dismasted. [R.] Marshall.

Dis*maw" (?), v. t. To eject from the maw; to disgorge. [R.] Shelton.

Dis*may" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dismayed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dismaying.] [OE. desmaien, dismaien, OF. esmaier; pref. es- (L. ex) + OHG. magan to be strong or able; akin to E. may. In English the pref. es- was changed to dis- (L. dis-). See May, v. i.] 1. To disable with alarm or apprehensions; to depress the spirits or courage of; to deprive or firmness and energy through fear; to daunt; to appall; to terrify.

Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed.
Josh. i. 9.

What words be these? What fears do you dismay?
Fairfax.

2. To render lifeless; to subdue; to disquiet. [Obs.]

Do not dismay yourself for this.
Spenser.

Syn. -- To terrify; fright; affright; frighten; appall; daunt; dishearthen; dispirit; discourage; deject; depress. -- To Dismay, Daunt, Appall. Dismay denotes a state of deep and gloomy apprehension. To daunt supposes something more sudden and startling. To appall is the strongest term, implying a sense of terror which overwhelms the faculties.

So flies a herd of beeves, that hear, dismayed,
The lions roaring through the midnight shade.
Pope.

Jove got such heroes as my sire, whose soul
No fear could daunt, nor earth nor hell control.
Pope.

Now the last ruin the whole host appalls;
Now Greece has trembled in her wooden walls.
Pope.

Dis*may", v. i. To take dismay or fright; to be filled with dismay. [Obs.] Shak.

Dis*may", n. [Cf. OF. esmai, F. émoi. See Dismay, v. t.] 1. Loss of courage and firmness through fear; overwhelming and disabling terror; a sinking of the spirits; consternation.

I . . . can not think of such a battle without dismay.
Macaulay.

Thou with a tiger spring dost leap upon thy prey,
And tear his helpless breast, o'erwhelmed with wild dismay.
Mrs. Barbauld.

2. Condition fitted to dismay; ruin. Spenser.

Syn. -- Dejection; discouragement; depression; fear; fright; terror; apprehension; alarm; affright.

Dis*may"ed*ness (?), n. A state of being dismayed; dejection of courage; dispiritedness.

Dis*may"ful (?), a. Terrifying. Spenser.

||Disme (?), n. [OF. See Dime.] A tenth; a tenth part; a tithe. Ayliffe.

Dis*mem"ber (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dismembered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dismembering.] [OF. desmembrer, F. démembrer; pref. des- (L. dis) + OF. & F. membre limb. See Member.] 1. To tear limb from limb; to dilacerate; to disjoin member from member; to tear or cut in pieces; to break up.

Fowls obscene dismembered his remains.
Pope.

A society lacerated and dismembered.
Gladstone.

By whose hands the blow should be struck which would dismember that once mighty empire.
Buckle.

2. To deprive of membership. [Obs.]

They were dismembered by vote of the house.
R. North.

Syn. -- To disjoint; dislocate; dilacerate; mutilate; divide; sever.

Dis*mem"ber*ment (?), n. [Cf. OF. desmembrement, F. démembrement.] The act of dismembering, or the state of being dismembered; cutting in piece; m&?;tilation; division; separation.

The Castilians would doubtless have resented the dismemberment of the unwieldy body of which they formed the head.
Macaulay.

Dis*met"tled (?), a. Destitute of mettle, that is, or fire or spirit. [R.] Llewellyn.

Dis*miss" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dismissed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dismissing.] [L. dis- + missus, p. p. of mittere to send: cf. dimittere, OF. desmetre, F. démettre. See Demise, and cf. Dimit.] 1. To send away; to give leave of departure; to cause or permit to go; to put away.

He dismissed the assembly.
Acts xix. 41.

Dismiss their cares when they dismiss their flock.
Cowper.

Though he soon dismissed himself from state affairs.
Dryden.

2. To discard; to remove or discharge from office, service, or employment; as, the king dismisses his ministers; the matter dismisses his servant.

3. To lay aside or reject as unworthy of attentions or regard, as a petition or motion in court.

Dis*miss", n. Dismission. [Obs.] Sir T. Herbert.

Dis*miss"al (?), n. Dismission; discharge.

Officeholders were commanded faithfully to enforce it, upon pain of immediate dismissal.
Motley.

Dis*mis"sion (?), n. [Cf. L. dimissio.] 1. The act dismissing or sending away; permission to leave; leave to depart; dismissal; as, the dismission of the grand jury.

2. Removal from office or employment; discharge, either with honor or with disgrace.

3. Rejection; a setting aside as trivial, invalid, or unworthy of consideration.

Dis*miss"ive (?), a. Giving dismission.

Dis*mort"gage (?; 48), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dismortaged; p. pr. & vb. n. Dismortgaging (?).] To redeem from mortgage. [Obs.] Howell.

Dis*mount" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dismounted; p. pr. & vb. n. Dismounting.] [Pref. dis- + mount: cf. OF. desmonter, F. démonter.] 1. To come down; to descend. [Poetic]

But now the bright sun ginneth to dismount.
Spenser.

2. To alight from a horse; to descend or get off, as a rider from his beast; as, the troops dismounted.

Dis*mount", v. t. 1. To throw or bring down from an elevation, place of honor and authority, or the like.

Dismounted from his authority.
Barrow.

2. To throw or remove from a horse; to unhorse; as, the soldier dismounted his adversary.

3. (Mech.) To take down, or apart, as a machine.

4. To throw or remove from the carriage, or from that on which a thing is mounted; to break the carriage or wheels of, and render useless; to deprive of equipments or mountings; -- said esp. of artillery.

Dis*nat"u*ral*ize (?), v. t. To make alien; to deprive of the privileges of birth. Locke.

Dis*na"tured (?; 135), a. [Pref. dis- + nature: cf. OF. desnaturé, F. dénaturé.] Deprived or destitute of natural feelings; unnatural. [Obs.] Shak.

Dis`o*be"di*ence (?), n. Neglect or refusal to obey; violation of a command or prohibition.

He is undutiful to him other actions, and lives in open disobedience.
Tillotson.

Dis`o*be"di*en*cy (?), n. Disobedience.

Dis`o*be"di*ent (?), a. [Pref. dis- + obedient. See Disobey, Obedient.] 1. Neglecting or refusing to obey; omitting to do what is commanded, or doing what is prohibited; refractory; not observant of duty or rules prescribed by authority; -- applied to persons and acts.

This disobedient spirit in the colonies.
Burke.

Disobedient unto the word of the Lord.
1 Kings xiii. 26.

2. Not yielding.

Medicines used unnecessarily contribute to shorten life, by sooner rendering peculiar parts of the system disobedient to stimuli.
E. Darwin.

Dis`o*be"di*ent*ly, adv. In a disobedient manner.

Dis`o*bei"sance (?), n. [F. désobéissance.] Disobedience. [Obs.] E. Hall.

Dis`o*bei"sant (?), a. [F. désobéissant.] Disobedient. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dis`o*bey" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disobeyed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disobeying.] [F. désobéir; pref. dés- (L. dis-) + obéir. See Obey, and cf. Disobedient.] Not to obey; to neglect or refuse to obey (a superior or his commands, the laws, etc.); to transgress the commands of (one in authority); to violate, as an order; as, refractory children disobey their parents; men disobey their Maker and the laws.

Not to disobey her lord's behest.
Tennyson.

Dis`o*bey", v. i. To refuse or neglect to obey; to violate commands; to be disobedient.

He durst not know how to disobey.
Sir P. Sidney.

Dis`o*bey"er (?), n. One who disobeys.

Dis*ob`li*ga"tion (?), n. 1. The act of disobliging.

2. A disobliging act; an offense. [Obs.] Clarendon.

3. Release from obligation. Jer. Taylor.

Dis*ob"li*ga*to*ry (?), a. Releasing from obligation. "Disobligatory power." Charles I.

Dis`o*blige" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disobliged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disobliging.] [Pref. dis- + oblige: cf. F. désobliger.] 1. To do an act which contravenes the will or desires of; to offend by an act of unkindness or incivility; to displease; to refrain from obliging; to be unaccommodating to.

Those . . . who slight and disoblige their friends, shall infallibly come to know the value of them by having none when they shall most need them.
South.

My plan has given offense to some gentlemen, whom it would not be very safe to disoblige.
Addison.

2. To release from obligation. [Obs.]

Absolving and disobliging from a more general command for some just and reasonable cause.
Milton.

Dis`o*blige"ment (?), n. Release from obligation. [Obs.]

Dis`o*bli"ger (?), n. One who disobliges.

Dis`o*bli"ging (?), a. 1. Not obliging; not disposed to do a favor; unaccommodating; as, a disobliging person or act.

2. Displeasing; offensive. [Obs.] Cov. of Tongue.

-- Dis`o*bli"ging*ly, adv. -- Dis`o*bli"ging*ness, n.

Dis*oc"ci*dent (?), v. t. To turn away from the west; to throw out of reckoning as to longitude. [Obs.] Marvell.

Dis*oc`cu*pa"tion (?), n. The state of being unemployed; want of occupation. [R.]

Dis`o*pin"ion (?), n. Want or difference of belief; disbelief. [Obs.] Bp. Reynolds.

Dis*op"pi*late (?), v. t. [L. dis- + oppilatus, p. p. of oppilare to shut up.] To open. [Obs.] Holland.

Dis*orb" (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + orb.] To throw out of the proper orbit; to unsphere. Shak.

Dis*ord" (?), n. Disorder. [Obs.] Holland.

Dis`or*deined" (?), a. [See Ordain.] Inordinate; irregular; vicious. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dis*or"der (?), n. [Pref. dis- + order: cf. F. désordre.] 1. Want of order or regular disposition; lack of arrangement; confusion; disarray; as, the troops were thrown into disorder; the papers are in disorder.

2. Neglect of order or system; irregularity.

From vulgar bounds with brave disorder part,
And snatch a grace beyond the reach of art.
Pope.

3. Breach of public order; disturbance of the peace of society; tumult. Shak.

4. Disturbance of the functions of the animal economy or of the soul; sickness; derangement. "Disorder in the body." Locke.

Syn. -- Irregularity; disarrangement; confusion; tumult; bustle; disturbance; disease; illness; indisposition; sickness; ailment; malady; distemper. See Disease.

Dis*or"der, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disordered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disordering.] 1. To disturb the order of; to derange or disarrange; to throw into confusion; to confuse.

Disordering the whole frame or jurisprudence.
Burke.

The burden . . . disordered the aids and auxiliary rafters into a common ruin.
Jer. Taylor.

2. To disturb or interrupt the regular and natural functions of (either body or mind); to produce sickness or indisposition in; to discompose; to derange; as, to disorder the head or stomach.

A man whose judgment was so much disordered by party spirit.
Macaulay.

3. To depose from holy orders. [Obs.] Dryden.

Syn. -- To disarrange; derange; confuse; discompose.

Dis*or"dered (?), a. 1. Thrown into disorder; deranged; as, a disordered house, judgment.

2. Disorderly. [Obs.] Shak.

-- Dis*or"dered*ly, adv. -- Dis*or"dered*ness, n.

Dis*or"der*li*ness (?), n. The state of being disorderly.

Dis*or"der*ly (?), a. 1. Not in order; marked by disorder; disarranged; immethodical; as, the books and papers are in a disorderly state.

2. Not acting in an orderly way, as the functions of the body or mind.

3. Not complying with the restraints of order and law; tumultuous; unruly; lawless; turbulent; as, disorderly people; disorderly assemblies.

4. (Law) Offensive to good morals and public decency; notoriously offensive; as, a disorderly house.

Syn. -- Irregular; immethodical; confused; tumultuous; inordinate; intemperate; unruly; lawless; vicious.

Dis*or"der*ly, adv. In a disorderly manner; without law or order; irregularly; confusedly.

Withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly.
2 Thess. iii. 6.

Savages fighting disorderly with stones.
Sir W. Raleigh.

Dis*or"di*nance (?), n. Disarrangement; disturbance. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dis*or"di*nate (?), a. Inordinate; disorderly. [Obs.] "With disordinate gestures." Prynne.

Dis*or"di*nate*ly, adv. Inordinately. [Obs.] E. Hall.

Dis*or`di*na"tion (?), n. The state of being in disorder; derangement; confusion. [Obs.] Bacon.

Dis*or`gan*i*za"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. désorganisation. See Disorganize, v. t.] 1. The act of disorganizing; destruction of system.

2. The state of being disorganized; as, the disorganization of the body, or of government.

The magazine of a pawnbroker in such total disorganization, that the owner can never lay his hands upon any one article at the moment he has occasion for it.
Sir W. Scott.

Dis*or"gan*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disorganized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disorganizing (?).] [Pref. dis- + organize: cf. F. désorganiser.] To destroy the organic structure or regular system of (a government, a society, a party, etc.); to break up (what is organized); to throw into utter disorder; to disarrange.

Lyford . . . attempted to disorganize the church.
Eliot (1809).

Dis*or"gan*i`zer (?), n. One who disorganizes or causes disorder and confusion.

Dis*o"ri*ent (?), v. t. To turn away from the east; to confuse as to which way is east; to cause to lose one's bearings. [R.] Bp. Warburton.

Dis*o"ri*en*tate (?), v. t. To turn away from the east, or (figuratively) from the right or the truth. [R.]

Dis*own" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disowned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disowning.] 1. To refuse to own or acknowledge as belonging to one's self; to disavow or deny, as connected with one's self personally; as, a parent can hardly disown his child; an author will sometimes disown his writings.

2. To refuse to acknowledge or allow; to deny.

Then they, who brother's better claim disown,
Expel their parents, and usurp the throne.
Dryden.

Syn. -- To disavow; disclaim; deny; abnegate; renounce; disallow.

Dis*own"ment (?), n. Act of disowning. [R.]

Dis*ox"i*date (?), v. t. (Chem.) To deoxidate; to deoxidize. [R.]

Dis*ox`i*da"tion (?), n. (Chem.) Deoxidation. [R.]

Dis*ox"y*gen*ate (?), v. t. (Chem.) To deprive of oxygen; to deoxidize. [R.]

Dis*ox`y*gen*a"tion (?), n. (Chem.) Deoxidation. [R.]

Dis*pace" (?), v. i. [Pref. dis- asunder, different ways, to and fro + pace.] To roam. [Obs.]

In this fair plot dispacing to and fro.
Spenser.

Dis*pair" (?), v. t. To separate (a pair). [R.]

I have . . . dispaired two doves.
Beau. & Fl.

Dis*pand" (?), v. t. [L. dispandere to spread out; pref. dis- + pandere, pansum, to spread out.] To spread out; to expand. [Obs.] Bailey.

Dis*pan"sion (?), n. [See Dispand.] Act of dispanding, or state of being dispanded. [Obs.]

Dis*par"a*dised, a. Removed from paradise. [R.] Cockeram.

Dis*par"age (?; 48), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disparaged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disparaging (?).] [OF. desparagier, F. déparager, to marry unequally; pref. des- (L. dis-) + F. parage extraction, lineage, from L. par equal, peer. See Peer.] 1. To match unequally; to degrade or dishonor by an unequal marriage. [Obs.]

Alas! that any of my nation
Should ever so foul disparaged be.
Chaucer.

2. To dishonor by a comparison with what is inferior; to lower in rank or estimation by actions or words; to speak slightingly of; to depreciate; to undervalue.

Those forbidding appearances which sometimes disparage the actions of men sincerely pious.
Bp. Atterbury.

Thou durst not thus disparage glorious arms.
Milton.

Syn. -- To decry; depreciate; undervalue; underrate; cheapen; vilify; reproach; detract from; derogate from; degrade; debase. See Decry.

Dis"pa*rage` (?), n. Inequality in marriage; marriage with an inferior. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dissuaded her from such a disparage.
Spenser.

Dis*par"age*ment (?), n. [Cf. OF. desparagement.] 1. Matching any one in marriage under his or her degree; injurious union with something of inferior excellence; a lowering in rank or estimation. [Eng.]

And thought that match a foul disparagement.
Spenser.

2. Injurious comparison with an inferior; a depreciating or dishonoring opinion or insinuation; diminution of value; dishonor; indignity; reproach; disgrace; detraction; -- commonly with to.

It ought to be no disparagement to a star that it is not the sun.
South.

Imitation is a disparagement and a degradation in a Christian minister.
I. Taylor.

Syn. -- Indignity; derogation; detraction; reproach; dishonor; debasement; degradation; disgrace.

Dis*par"a*ger (?), n. One who disparages or dishonors; one who vilifies or disgraces.

Dis*par"a*ging*ly (?), adv. In a manner to disparage or dishonor; slightingly.

Dis"pa*rate (?), a. [L. disparatus, p. p. of disparare to part, separate; dis- + parare to make ready, prepare.] 1. Unequal; dissimilar; separate.

Connecting disparate thoughts, purely by means of resemblances in the words expressing them.
Coleridge.

2. (Logic) Pertaining to two coördinate species or divisions.

Dis"pa*rates (?), n. pl. Things so unequal or unlike that they can not be compared with each other.

Dis`pa*ri"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. disparition.] Act of disappearing; disappearance. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Dis*par"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Disparities (#). [LL. disparitas, fr. L. dispar unlike, unequal; dis- + par equal: cf. F. disparité. See Par, Peer.] Inequality; difference in age, rank, condition, or excellence; dissimilitude; -- followed by between, in, of, as to, etc.; as, disparity in, or of, years; a disparity as to color.

The disparity between God and his intelligent creatures.
I. Taylor.

The disparity of numbers was not such as ought to cause any uneasiness.
Macaulay.

Syn. -- Inequality; unlikeness; dissimilitude; disproportion; difference.

Dis*park" (?), v. t. 1. To throw (a park or inclosure); to treat (a private park) as a common.

The Gentiles were made to be God's people when the Jews' inclosure was disparked.
Jer. Taylor.

2. To set at large; to release from inclosure.

Till his free muse threw down the pale,
And did at once dispark them all.
Waller.

Dis*par"kle (?), v. t. [OF. desparpeillier.] To scatter abroad. [Obs.] Holland.

Dis*part" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disparted; p. pr. & vb. n. Disparting.] [Pref. dis- + part: cf. OF. despartir.] To part asunder; to divide; to separate; to sever; to rend; to rive or split; as, disparted air; disparted towers. [Archaic]

Them in twelve troops their captain did dispart.
Spenser.

The world will be whole, and refuses to be disparted.
Emerson.

Dis*part", v. i. To separate, to open; to cleave.

Dis*part", n. 1. (Gun.) The difference between the thickness of the metal at the mouth and at the breech of a piece of ordnance.

On account of the dispart, the line of aim or line of metal, which is in a plane passing through the axis of the gun, always makes a small angle with the axis.
Eng. Cys.

2. (Gun.) A piece of metal placed on the muzzle, or near the trunnions, on the top of a piece of ordnance, to make the line of sight parallel to the axis of the bore; -- called also dispart sight, and muzzle sight.

Dis*part" (?), v. t. 1. (Gun.) To make allowance for the dispart in (a gun), when taking aim.

Every gunner, before he shoots, must truly dispart his piece.
Lucar.

2. (Gun.) To furnish with a dispart sight.

Dis*pas"sion (?), n. Freedom from passion; an undisturbed state; apathy. Sir W. Temple.

Dis*pas"sion*ate (?), a. 1. Free from passion; not warped, prejudiced, swerved, or carried away by passion or feeling; judicial; calm; composed.

Wise and dispassionate men.
Clarendon.

2. Not dictated by passion; not proceeding from temper or bias; impartial; as, dispassionate proceedings; a dispassionate view.

Syn. -- Calm; cool; composed serene; unimpassioned; temperate; moderate; impartial; unruffled.

-- Dis*pas"sion*ate*ly, adv. -- Dis*pas"sion*ate*ness, n.

Dis*pas"sioned (?), a. Free from passion; dispassionate. [R.] "Dispassioned men." Donne.

Dis*patch" (?; 224), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dispatched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dispatching.] [OF. despeechier, F. dépêcher; prob. from pref. des- (L. dis-) + (assumed) LL. pedicare to place obstacles in the way, fr. L. pedica fetter, fr. pes, pedis, foot. See Foot, and cf. Impeach, Despatch.] [Written also despatch.] 1. To dispose of speedily, as business; to execute quickly; to make a speedy end of; to finish; to perform.

Ere we put ourselves in arms, dispatch we
The business we have talked of.
Shak.

[The] harvest men . . . almost in one fair day dispatcheth all the harvest work.
Robynson (More's Utopia).

2. To rid; to free. [Obs.]

I had clean dispatched myself of this great charge.
Udall.

3. To get rid of by sending off; to send away hastily.

Unless dispatched to the mansion house in the country . . . they perish among the lumber of garrets.
Walpole.

4. To send off or away; -- particularly applied to sending off messengers, messages, letters, etc., on special business, and implying haste.

Even with the speediest expedition
I will dispatch him to the emperor's cou&?;&?;.
Shak.

5. To send out of the world; to put to death.

The company shall stone them with stones, and dispatch them with their swords.
Ezek. xxiii. 47.

Syn. -- To expedite; hasten; speed; accelerate; perform; conclude; finish; slay; kill.

Dis*patch", v. i. To make haste; to conclude an affair; to finish a matter of business.

They have dispatched with Pompey.
Shak.

Dis*patch", n. [Cf. OF. despeche, F. dépêche. See Dispatch, v. t.] [Written also despatch.] 1. The act of sending a message or messenger in haste or on important business.

2. Any sending away; dismissal; riddance.

To the utter dispatch of all their most beloved comforts.
Milton.

3. The finishing up of a business; speedy performance, as of business; prompt execution; diligence; haste.

Serious business, craving quick dispatch.
Shak.

To carry his scythe . . . with a sufficient dispatch through a sufficient space.
Paley.

4. A message dispatched or sent with speed; especially, an important official letter sent from one public officer to another; -- often used in the plural; as, a messenger has arrived with dispatches for the American minister; naval or military dispatches.

5. A message transmitted by telegraph. [Modern]

Dispatch boat, a swift vessel for conveying dispatches; an advice boat. -- Dispatch box, a box for carrying dispatches; a box for papers and other conveniences when traveling.

Syn. -- Haste; hurry; promptness; celerity; speed. See Haste.

Dis*patch"er (?), n. One who dispatches.

Dis*patch"ful (?), a. Bent on haste; intent on speedy execution of business or any task; indicating haste; quick; as, dispatchful looks. Milton.

Dis*patch"ment (?), n. [Cf. OF. despechement.] The act of dispatching. [Obs.] State Trials (1529).

Dis"pa*thy (?), n.; pl. Dispathies (#). [Pref. dis- + Gr. &?; passion. See Pathos.] Lack of sympathy; want of passion; apathy. [R.]

Many discrepancies and some dispathies between us.
Southey.

Dis*pau"per (?), v. t. To deprive of the claim of a pauper to public support; to deprive of the privilege of suing in forma pauperis.

Dis*pau"per*ize (?), v. t. To free a state of pauperism, or from paupers. J. S. Mill.

Dis*peed" (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + speed.] To send off with speed; to dispatch. [Obs.] Knolles.

Then they dispeeded themselves of the Cid and of their mother-in-law, Do&?;a Ximena.
Southey.

Dis*pel" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dispelled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dispelling.] [L. dispellere; dis- + pellere to push, drive. See Pulse a beating.] To drive away by scattering, or so to cause to vanish; to clear away; to banish; to dissipate; as, to dispel a cloud, vapors, cares, doubts, illusions.

[Satan] gently raised
their fainting courage, and dispelled their fears.
Milton.

I saw myself the lambent easy light
Gild the brown horror, and dispel the night.
Dryden.

Dis*pence" (?), v. i. & n. See Dispense. [Obs.]

Dis*pend" (?), v. t. [OF. despendre, L. dispendere to weigh out, dispense; dis- + pendere to weigh. See Pension, Spend, and cf. Dispense.] To spend; to lay out; to expend. [Obs.] Spenser.

Able to dispend yearly twenty pounds and above.
Fuller.

Dis*pend"er (?), n. One who dispends or expends; a steward. [Obs.] Wyclif (1 Cor. iv. 1).

Dis*pen"sa*ble (?), a. [LL. dispensabilis. See Dispense.] 1. Capable of being dispensed or administered.

2. Capable of being dispensed with. Coleridge.

Dis*pen"sa*ble*ness, n. Quality of being dispensable.

Dis*pen"sa*ry (?), n.; pl. Dispensaries (#). [Cf. F. dispensaire.] 1. A place where medicines are prepared and dispensed; esp., a place where the poor can obtain medical advice and medicines gratuitously or at a nominal price.

2. A dispensatory. Pope.

Dis`pen*sa"tion (?), n. [F. dispensation, L. dispensatio.] 1. The act of dispensing or dealing out; distribution; often used of the distribution of good and evil by God to man, or more generically, of the acts and modes of his administration.

To respect the dispensations of Providence.
Burke.

2. That which is dispensed, dealt out, or appointed; that which is enjoined or bestowed; especially (Theol.), A system of principles, promises, and rules ordained and administered; scheme; economy; as, the Patriarchal, Mosaic, and Christian dispensations.

Neither are God's methods or intentions different in his dispensations to each private man.
Rogers.

3. The relaxation of a law in a particular case; permission to do something forbidden, or to omit doing something enjoined; specifically, in the Roman Catholic Church, exemption from some ecclesiastical law or obligation to God which a man has incurred of his own free will (oaths, vows, etc.).

A dispensation was obtained to enable Dr. Barrow to marry.
Ward.

Dis*pen"sa*tive (?), a. [Cf. F. dispensatif.] Granting dispensation.

Dis*pen"sa*tive*ly, adv. By dispensation. Wotton.

Dis"pen*sa`tor (?), n. [L.] A distributer; a dispenser. Bacon.

Dis*pen"sa*to*ri*ly (?), adv. In the way of dispensation; dispensatively.

Dis*pen"sa*to*ry (?), a. [L. dispensatorius relating to management. See Dispense, v. t.] Granting, or authorized to grant, dispensations. "Dispensatory power." Bp. Rainbow.

Dis*pen"sa*to*ry, n.; pl. Dispensatories (&?;). A book or medicinal formulary containing a systematic description of drugs, and of preparations made from them. It is usually, but not always, distinguished from a pharmacopœia in that it issued by private parties, and not by an official body or by government.

Dis*pense" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dispensed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dispensing.] [F. dispenser, L. dispensare, intens. of dispendere. See Dispend.] 1. To deal out in portions; to distribute; to give; as, the steward dispenses provisions according directions; Nature dispenses her bounties; to dispense medicines.

He is delighted to dispense a share of it to all the company.
Sir W. Scott.

2. To apply, as laws to particular cases; to administer; to execute; to manage; to direct.

While you dispense the laws, and guide the state.
Dryden.

3. To pay for; to atone for. [Obs.]

His sin was dispensed
With gold, whereof it was compensed.
Gower.

4. To exempt; to excuse; to absolve; -- with from.

It was resolved that all members of the House who held commissions, should be dispensed from parliamentary attendance.
Macaulay.

He appeared to think himself born to be supported by others, and dispensed from all necessity of providing for himself.
Johnson.

Dis*pense", v. i. 1. To compensate; to make up; to make amends. [Obs.]

One loving hour
For many years of sorrow can dispense.
Spenser.

2. To give dispensation.

He [the pope] can also dispense in all matters of ecclesiastical law.
Addis & Arnold (Cath. Dict. )

To dispense with. (a) To permit the neglect or omission of, as a form, a ceremony, an oath; to suspend the operation of, as a law; to give up, release, or do without, as services, attention, etc.; to forego; to part with. (b) To allow by dispensation; to excuse; to exempt; to grant dispensation to or for. [Obs.] "Conniving and dispensing with open and common adultery." Milton. (c) To break or go back from, as one's word. [Obs.] Richardson.

Dis*pense", n. [Cf. F. dispense dispensation. See Dispense, v. t.] Dispensation; exemption. [Obs.]

Dis*pense", n. [OF. despense, F. dépense.] Expense; profusion; outlay. [Obs.]

It was a vault built for great dispense.
Spenser.

Dis*pens"er (?), n. One who, or that which, dispenses; a distributer; as, a dispenser of favors.

Dis*peo"ple (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dispeopled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dispeopling (?).] [Pref. dis- + people: cf. F. dépeupler.] To deprive of inhabitants; to depopulate.

Leave the land dispeopled and desolate.
Sir T. More.

A certain island long before dispeopled . . . by sea rivers.
Milton.

Dis*peo"pler (?), n. One who, or that which, dispeoples; a depopulator. Gay.

Dis*perge" (?), v. t. [L. dispergere. See Disperse.] To sprinkle. [Obs.]

Di*sper"mous (d&isl;*sp&etilde;r"mŭs), a. [Gr. di- = dis + spe`rma seed, fr. spei`rein to sow: cf. F. disperme.] (Bot.) Containing only two seeds; two- seeded.

Dis*per"ple (?), v. t. [OF. desparpeulier.] To scatter; to sprinkle. [Obs.]

Odorous water was
Disperpled lightly on my head and neck.
Chapman.

Dis*per"sal (?), n. The act or result of dispersing or scattering; dispersion. Darwin.

Dis*perse" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dispersed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dispersing.] [L. dispersus, p. p. of dispergere to strew, scatter. See Sparse.] 1. To scatter abroad; to drive to different parts; to distribute; to diffuse; to spread; as, the Jews are dispersed among all nations.

The lips of the wise disperse knowledge.
Prov. xv. 7.

Two lions, in the still, dark night,
A herd of beeves disperse.
Cowper.

2. To scatter, so as to cause to vanish; to dissipate; as, to disperse vapors.

Dispersed are the glories.
Shak.

Syn. -- To scatter; dissipate; dispel; spread; diffuse; distribute; deal out; disseminate.

Dis*perse", v. i. 1. To separate; to go or move into different parts; to vanish; as, the company dispersed at ten o'clock; the clouds disperse.

2. To distribute wealth; to share one's abundance with others.

He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor.
Ps. cxii. 9.

Dis*persed" (?), a. Scattered. -- Dis*pers"ed*ly (#), adv. -- Dis*pers"ed*ness, n.

Dispersed harmony (Mus.), harmony in which the tones composing the chord are widely separated, as by an octave or more.

Dis*perse"ness (?), n. Dispersedness. [Obs.]

Dis*pers"er (?), n. One that disperses.

Dis*per"sion (?), n. [Cf. F. dispersion.] 1. The act or process of scattering or dispersing, or the state of being scattered or separated; as, the Jews in their dispersion retained their rites and ceremonies; a great dispersion of the human family took place at the building of Babel.

The days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished.
Jer. xxv. 34.

2. (Opt.) The separation of light into its different colored rays, arising from their different refrangibilities.

Dispersion of the optic axes (Crystallog.), the separation of the optic axes in biaxial crystals, due to the fact that the axial angle has different values for the different colors of the spectrum.

Dis*pers"ive (?), a. Tending to disperse.

Dispersive power (Opt.), the relative effect of a material in separating the different rays of light by refraction, as when the substance is formed into a prism.

-- Dis*pers"ive*ness, n.

Dis*per"son'*ate (?), v. t. To deprive of personality or individuality. [R.]

We multiply; we dispersonate ourselves.
Hare.

Dis*pir"it (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dispirited; p. pr. & vb. n. Dispiriting.] [Pref. dis- + spirit.] 1. To deprive of cheerful spirits; to depress the spirits of; to dishearten; to discourage.

Not dispirited with my afflictions.
Dryden.

He has dispirited himself by a debauch.
Collier.

2. To distill or infuse the spirit of. [Obs. or R.]

This makes a man master of his learning, and dispirits the book into the scholar.
Fuller.

Syn. -- To dishearten; discourage; deject; damp; depress; cast down; intimidate; daunt; cow.

Dis*pir"it*ed, a. Depressed in spirits; disheartened; daunted. -- Dis*pir"it*ed*ly, adv. -- Dis*pir"it*ed, n.

Dis*pir"it*ment (?), n. Depression of spirits; discouragement. [R.]

Procter, in evident distress and dispiritment, was waiting the slow conclusion of this.
Carlyle.

Dis*pit"e*ous (?), a. [Pref. dis- + piteous. Cf. Despiteous.] Full of despite; cruel; spiteful; pitiless. Spenser. -- Dis*pit"e*ous*ly, adv. [Obs.]

Dis*place" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Displaced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Displacing.] [Pref. dis- + place: cf. F. déplacer.] 1. To change the place of; to remove from the usual or proper place; to put out of place; to place in another situation; as, the books in the library are all displaced.

2. To crowd out; to take the place of.

Holland displaced Portugal as the mistress of those seas.
London Times.

3. To remove from a state, office, dignity, or employment; to discharge; to depose; as, to displace an officer of the revenue.

4. To dislodge; to drive away; to banish. [Obs.]

You have displaced the mirth.
Shak.

Syn. -- To disarrange; derange; dismiss; discard.

Dis*place"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being displaced.

Dis*place"ment (?), n. [Cf. F. déplacement.] 1. The act of displacing, or the state of being displaced; a putting out of place.

Unnecessary displacement of funds.
A. Hamilton.

The displacement of the sun by parallax.
Whewell.

2. The quantity of anything, as water, displaced by a floating body, as by a ship, the weight of the displaced liquid being equal to that of the displacing body.

3. (Chem.) The process of extracting soluble substances from organic material and the like, whereby a quantity of saturated solvent is displaced, or removed, for another quantity of the solvent.

Piston displacement (Mech.), the volume of the space swept through, or weight of steam, water, etc., displaced, in a given time, by the piston of a steam engine or pump.

Dis*pla"cen*cy (?), n. [LL. displacentia, for L. displicentia, fr. displicere to displease; dis- + placere to please. See Displease, and cf. Displeasance.] Want of complacency or gratification; envious displeasure; dislike. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Dis*pla"cer (?), n. 1. One that displaces.

2. (Chem.) The funnel part of the apparatus for solution by displacement.

Dis*plant" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Di&?;planted; p. pr. & vb. n. Displanting.] [Pref. dis- + plant: cf. OF. desplanter, F. déplanter.] 1. To remove (what is planted or fixed); to unsettle and take away; to displace; to root out; as, to displant inhabitants.

I did not think a look,
Or a poor word or two, could have displanted
Such a fixed constancy.
Beau. & Fl.

2. To strip of what is planted or settled; as, to displant a country of inhabitants. Spenser.

Dis`plan*ta"tion (?), n. The act of displanting; removal; displacement. Sir W. Raleigh.

Dis*plat" (?), v. t. To untwist; to uncurl; to unplat. [Obs.] Hakewill.

Dis*play" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Displayed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Displaying.] [OE. displaien, desplaien, OF. despleier, desploier, F. déployer; pref. des- (L. dis-) + pleier, ploier, plier, F. ployer, plier, to fold, bend, L. plicare. See Ply, and cf. Deploy, Splay.] 1. To unfold; to spread wide; to expand; to stretch out; to spread.

The northern wind his wings did broad display.
Spenser.

2. (Mil.) To extend the front of (a column), bringing it into line. Farrow.

3. To spread before the view; to show; to exhibit to the sight, or to the mind; to make manifest.

His statement . . . displays very clearly the actual condition of the army.
Burke.

4. To make an exhibition of; to set in view conspicuously or ostentatiously; to exhibit for the sake of publicity; to parade.

Proudly displaying the insignia of their order.
Prescott.

5. (Print.) To make conspicuous by large or prominent type.

6. To discover; to descry. [Obs.]

And from his seat took pleasure to display
The city so adorned with towers.
Chapman.

Syn. -- To exhibit; show; manifest; spread out; parade; expand; flaunt.

Dis*play", v. i. To make a display; to act as one making a show or demonstration. Shak.

Dis*play", n. 1. An opening or unfolding; exhibition; manifestation.

Having witnessed displays of his power and grace.
Trench.

2. Ostentatious show; exhibition for effect; parade.

He died, as erring man should die,
Without display, without parade.
Byron.

Dis*played" (?), a. 1. Unfolded; expanded; exhibited conspicuously or ostentatiously.

2. (Her.) With wings expanded; -- said of a bird of pray, esp. an eagle.

3. (Print.) Set with lines of prominent type interspersed, to catch the eye.

Dis*play"er (?), n. One who, or that which, displays.

Dis"ple (?), v. t. To discipline; to correct. [Obs.]

And bitter Penance, with an iron whip,
Was wont him once to disple every day.
Spenser.

Dis*pleas"ance (?), n. [OF. desplaisance, F. déplaisance. Cf. Displacency.] Displeasure; discontent; annoyance. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dis*pleas"ant (?), a. [OF. desplaisant, F. déplaisant. See Displease.] Unpleasing; offensive; unpleasant. [Obs.] Speed. -- Dis*pleas"ant*ly, adv. [Obs.] Strype. -- Dis*pleas"ant*ness, n. [Obs.]

Dis*please" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Displeased (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Displeasing.] [OF. desplaisir, whence F. déplaisir displeasure; pref. des- (L. dis- ) + plaisir to please. See Please, and cf. Displeasure.] 1. To make not pleased; to excite a feeling of disapprobation or dislike in; to be disagreeable to; to offend; to vex; -- often followed by with or at. It usually expresses less than to anger, vex, irritate, or provoke.

God was displeased with this thing.
1 Chron. xxi. 7.

Wilt thou be displeased at us forever?
Psalms lxxxv. 5 (Bk. of Com. Prayer).

This virtuous plaster will displease
Your tender sides.
J. Fletcher.

Adversity is so wholesome . . . why should we be displeased therewith?
Barrow.

2. To fail to satisfy; to miss of. [Obs.]

I shall displease my ends else.
Beau. & Fl.

Syn. -- To offend; disgust; vex; annoy; dissatisfy; chafe; anger; provoke; affront.

Dis*please", v. i. To give displeasure or offense. [Obs.]

Dis*pleas"ed*ly (?), adv. With displeasure. [R.]

Dis*pleas"ed*ness, n. Displeasure. [R.] South.

Dis*pleas"er (?), n. One who displeases.

Dis*pleas"ing, a. Causing displeasure or dissatisfaction; offensive; disagreeable. -- Dis*pleas"ing*ly, adv. -- Dis*pleas"ing*ness, n. Locke.

Dis*pleas"ure (?; 135), n. [Pref. dis- + pleasure: cf. OF. desplaisir, F. déplaisir. Cf. Displease.] 1. The feeling of one who is displeased; irritation or uneasiness of the mind, occasioned by anything that counteracts desire or command, or which opposes justice or a sense of propriety; disapprobation; dislike; dissatisfaction; disfavor; indignation.

O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
Ps. vi. 1.

Undoubtedly he will relent, and turn
From his displeasure.
Milton.

2. That which displeases; cause of irritation or annoyance; offense; injury.

Hast thou delight to see a wretched man
Do outrage and displeasure to himself?
Shak.

3. State of disgrace or disfavor; disfavor. [Obs.]

He went into Poland, being in displeasure with the pope for overmuch familiarity.
Peacham.

Syn. -- Dissatisfaction; disapprobation; disfavor; distaste; dislike; anger; hate; aversion; indignation; offense.

Dis*pleas"ure (?; 135), v. t. To displease. [Obs.] Bacon.

Dis*plen"ish (?), v. t. To deprive or strip, as a house of furniture, or a barn of stock. [Scot.]

{ Dis"pli*cence (?), Dis"pli*cen*cy (?), } n. [L. displicentia. See Displacency.] Dislike; dissatisfaction; discontent. [Obs.] W. Montagu.

Dis*plode" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disploded; p. pr. & vb. n. Disploding.] [L. displodere, displosum; dis- + plodere, plaudere, to clap, strike, beat.] To discharge; to explode.

In posture to displode their second tire
Of thunder.
Milton.

Dis*plode", v. i. To burst with a loud report; to explode. "Disploding engines." Young.

Dis*plo"sion (?), n. Explosion.

The vast displosion dissipates the clouds.
Young.

Dis*plo"sive (?), a. Explosive.

Dis*plume" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Displumed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Displuming.] [Pref. dis- + plume: cf. OF. desplumer, F. déplumer.] To strip of, or as of, a plume, or plumes; to deprive of decoration; to dishonor; to degrade.

Displumed, degraded, and metamorphosed.
Burke.

Dis"po*line (?), n. (Chem.) One of several isomeric organic bases of the quinoline series of alkaloids.

Dis*pond" (?), n. See Despond.

Di*spon"dee (?), n. [L. dispondeus, Gr. &?;; di- = di`s- twice + &?; spondee.] (Gr. &?; Lat. Pros.) A double spondee; a foot consisting of four long syllables.

Dis*pone" (?), v. t. [L. disponere. See Disposition.] 1. (Her.) To dispose.

2. To dispose of. Chaucer.

3. (Scots Law) To make over, or convey, legally.

He has disponed . . . the whole estate.
Sir W. Scott.

Dis`po*nee" (?), n. (Scots Law) The person to whom any property is legally conveyed.

Dis*pon"er (?), n. (Scots Law) One who legally transfers property from himself to another.

Dis*ponge" (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + sponge.] To sprinkle, as with water from a sponge. [Poetic & Rare] [Written also dispunge.]

O sovereign mistress of true melancholy,
The poisonous damp of night disponge upon me
. Shak.

Dis*pope" (?), v. t. To refuse to consider as pope; to depose from the popedom.

One whom they disposed.
Tennyson.

Di*spor"ous (?), a. [Pref. di- + sporous.] (Biol.) Having two spores.

Dis*port" (?), n. [OF. desport, deport. See Disport, v. i., and cf. Sport.] Play; sport; pastime; diversion; playfulness. Milton.

Dis*port", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Disported; p. pr. & vb. n. Disporting.] [OF. se desporter; pref. des- (L. dis-) + F. porter to carry; orig. therefore, to carry one's self away from work, to go to amuse one's self. See Port demeanor, and cf. Sport.] To play; to wanton; to move in gayety; to move lightly and without restraint; to amuse one's self.

Where light disports in ever mingling dyes.
Pope.

Childe Harold basked him in the noontide sun,
Disporting there like any other fly.
Byron.

Dis*port", v. t. [OF. desporter. See Disport, v. i.] 1. To divert or amuse; to make merry.

They could disport themselves.
Buckle.

2. To remove from a port; to carry away. Prynne.

Dis*port"ment (?), n. Act of disporting; diversion; play. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Dis*pos"a*ble (?), a. [From Dispose.] Subject to disposal; free to be used or employed as occasion may require; not assigned to any service or use.

The great of this kingdom . . . has easily afforded a disposable surplus.
Burke.

Dis*pos"al (?), n. [From Dispose.] 1. The act of disposing, or disposing of, anything; arrangement; orderly distribution; a putting in order; as, the disposal of the troops in two lines.

2. Ordering; regulation; adjustment; management; government; direction.

The execution leave to high disposal.
Milton.

3. Regulation of the fate, condition, application, etc., of anything; the transference of anything into new hands, a new place, condition, etc.; alienation, or parting; as, a disposal of property.

A domestic affair of great importance, which is no less than the disposal of my sister Jenny for life.
Tatler.

4. Power or authority to dispose of, determine the condition of, control, etc., especially in the phrase at, or in, the disposal of.

The sole and absolute disposal of him an his concerns.
South.

Syn. -- Disposition; dispensation; management; conduct; government; distribution; arrangement; regulation; control.

Dis*pose" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disposed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disposing.] [F. disposer; pref. dis- + poser to place. See Pose.] 1. To distribute and put in place; to arrange; to set in order; as, to dispose the ships in the form of a crescent.

Who hath disposed the whole world?
Job xxxiv. 13.

All ranged in order and disposed with grace.
Pope.

The rest themselves in troops did else dispose.
Spenser.

2. To regulate; to adjust; to settle; to determine.

The knightly forms of combat to dispose.
Dryden.

3. To deal out; to assign to a use; to bestow for an object or purpose; to apply; to employ; to dispose of.

Importuned him that what he designed to bestow on her funeral, he would rather dispose among the poor.
Evelyn.

4. To give a tendency or inclination to; to adapt; to cause to turn; especially, to incline the mind of; to give a bent or propension to; to incline; to make inclined; -- usually followed by to, sometimes by for before the indirect object.

Endure and conquer; Jove will soon dispose
To future good our past and present woes.
Dryden.

Suspicions dispose kings to tyranny, husbands to jealousy, and wise men to irresolution and melancholy.
Bacon.

To dispose of. (a) To determine the fate of; to exercise the power of control over; to fix the condition, application, employment, etc. of; to direct or assign for a use.

Freedom to order their actions and dispose of their possessions and persons.
Locke.

(b) To exercise finally one's power of control over; to pass over into the control of some one else, as by selling; to alienate; to part with; to relinquish; to get rid of; as, to dispose of a house; to dispose of one's time.

More water . . . than can be disposed of.
T. Burnet.

I have disposed of her to a man of business.
Tatler.

A rural judge disposed of beauty's prize.
Waller.

Syn. -- To set; arrange; order; distribute; adjust; regulate; adapt; fit; incline; bestow; give.

Dis*pose" (?), v. i. To bargain; to make terms. [Obs.]

She had disposed with Cæsar.
Shak.

Dis*pose", n. 1. Disposal; ordering; management; power or right of control. [Obs.]

But such is the dispose of the sole Disposer of empires.
Speed.

2. Cast of mind; disposition; inclination; behavior; demeanor. [Obs.]

He hath a person, and a smooth dispose
To be suspected.
Shak.

Dis*posed" (?), p. a. 1. Inclined; minded.

When he was disposed to pass into Achaia.
Acts xviii. 27.

2. Inclined to mirth; jolly. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

Well disposed, in good condition; in good health. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dis*pos"ed*ness (?), n. The state of being disposed or inclined; inclination; propensity. [R.]

Dis*pose"ment (?), n. Disposal. [Obs.] Goodwin.

Dis*pos"er (?), n. One who, or that which, disposes; a regulator; a director; a bestower.

Absolute lord and disposer of all things.
Barrow.

Dis*pos"ing*ly, adv. In a manner to dispose.

Dis*pos"it*ed (?), a. [See Disposition.] Disposed. [Obs.] Glanvill.

Dis`po*si"tion (?), n. [F. disposition, dispositio, fr. disponere to dispose; dis- + ponere to place. See Position, and cf. Dispone.] 1. The act of disposing, arranging, ordering, regulating, or transferring; application; disposal; as, the disposition of a man's property by will.

Who have received the law by the disposition of angels.
Acts vii. 53.

The disposition of the work, to put all things in a beautiful order and harmony, that the whole may be of a piece.
Dryden.

2. The state or the manner of being disposed or arranged; distribution; arrangement; order; as, the disposition of the trees in an orchard; the disposition of the several parts of an edifice.

3. Tendency to any action or state resulting from natural constitution; nature; quality; as, a disposition in plants to grow in a direction upward; a disposition in bodies to putrefaction.

4. Conscious inclination; propension or propensity.

How stands your disposition to be married?
Shak.

5. Natural or prevailing spirit, or temperament of mind, especially as shown in intercourse with one's fellow-men; temper of mind. "A man of turbulent disposition." Hallam. "He is of a very melancholy disposition." Shak.

His disposition led him to do things agreeable to his quality and condition wherein God had placed him.
Strype.

6. Mood; humor.

As I perchance hereafter shall think meet
To put an antic disposition on.
Shak.

Syn. -- Disposal; adjustment; regulation; arrangement; distribution; order; method; adaptation; inclination; propensity; bestowment; alienation; character; temper; mood. -- Disposition, Character, Temper. Disposition is the natural humor of a person, the predominating quality of his character, the constitutional habit of his mind. Character is this disposition influenced by motive, training, and will. Temper is a quality of the fiber of character, and is displayed chiefly when the emotions, especially the passions, are aroused.

Dis`po*si"tion*al (?), a. Pertaining to disposition.

Dis`po*si"tioned (?), a. Having (such) a disposition; -- used in compounds; as, well- dispositioned.

Dis*pos"i*tive (?), a. [Cf. F. dispositif.] 1. Disposing; tending to regulate; decretive. [Obs.]

His dispositive wisdom and power.
Bates.

2. Belonging to disposition or natural, tendency. [Obs.] "Dispositive holiness." Jer. Taylor.

Dis*pos"i*tive*ly, adv. In a dispositive manner; by natural or moral disposition. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Do dispositively what Moses is recorded to have done literally, . . . break all the ten commandments at once.
Boyle.

Dis*pos"it*or (?), n. [L. See Disposition.] 1. A disposer.

2. (Astrol.) The planet which is lord of the sign where another planet is. [Obs.] Crabb.

Dis`pos*sess" (?; see Possess), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dispossessed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dispossessing.] [Pref. dis- + possess: cf. F. déposséder.] To put out of possession; to deprive of the actual occupancy of, particularly of land or real estate; to disseize; to eject; -- usually followed by of before the thing taken away; as, to dispossess a king of his crown.

Usurp the land, and dispossess the swain.
Goldsmith.

Dis`pos*ses"sion (?), n. [Cf. F. dépossession.] 1. The act of putting out of possession; the state of being dispossessed. Bp. Hall.

2. (Law) The putting out of possession, wrongfully or otherwise, of one who is in possession of a freehold, no matter in what title; -- called also ouster.

Dis`pos*sess"or (?), n. One who dispossesses. Cowley.

Dis*post" (?), v. t. To eject from a post; to displace. [R.] Davies (Holy Roode).

Dis*po"sure (?), n. [From Dispose.] 1. The act of disposing; power to dispose of; disposal; direction.

Give up
My estate to his disposure.
Massinger.

2. Disposition; arrangement; position; posture. [Obs.]

In a kind of warlike disposure.
Sir H. Wotton.

Dis*prais"a*ble (?), a. Blamable. [R.]

Dis*praise" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dispraised (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dispraising.] [OE. dispreisen, OF. desprisier, despreisier, F. dépriser; pref. des- (L. dis-) + prisier, F. priser, to prize, praise. See Praise, and cf. Disprize, Depreciate.] To withdraw praise from; to notice with disapprobation or some degree of censure; to disparage; to blame.

Dispraising the power of his adversaries.
Chaucer.

I dispraised him before the wicked, that the wicked might not fall in love with him.
Shak.

Dis*praise", n. [Cf. OF. despris. See Dispraise, v. t.] The act of dispraising; detraction; blame censure; reproach; disparagement. Dryden.

In praise and in dispraise the same.
Tennyson.

Dis*prais"er (?), n. One who blames or dispraises.

Dis*praising*ly, adv. By way of dispraise.

Dis*pread" (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + spread.] To spread abroad, or different ways; to spread apart; to open; as, the sun dispreads his beams. Spenser.

Dis*pread", v. i. To extend or expand itself. [R.]

While tyrant Heat, dispreading through the sky.
Thomson.

Dis*pread"er (?), n. One who spreads abroad.

Dispreaders both of vice and error.
Milton.

Dis*prej"u*dice (?), v. t. To free from prejudice. [Obs.] W. Montagu.

Dis`pre*pare" (?), v. t. To render unprepared. [Obs.] Hobbes.

Dis*prince" (?), v. t. To make unlike a prince. [R.]

For I was drench'd with ooze, and torn with briers, . . .
And, all one rag, disprinced from head to heel.
Tennyson.

Dis*pris"on (?), v. t. To let loose from prison, to set at liberty. [R.] Bulwer.

Dis*priv"i*lege (?), v. t. To deprive of a privilege or privileges. [R.]

Dis*prize" (?), v. t. [Cf. Dispraise.] To depreciate. [R.] Cotton (Ode to Lydia).

Dis`pro*fess" (?), v. t. To renounce the profession or pursuit of.

His arms, which he had vowed to disprofess.
Spenser.

Dis*prof"it (?), n. Loss; damage. Foxe.

Dis*prof"it, v. i. & i. To be, or to cause to be, without profit or benefit. [Obs. or Archaic] Bale.

Dis*prof"it*a*ble (?), a. Unprofitable. [Obs.]

Dis*proof" (?), n. [Pref. dis- + proof. Cf. Disprove.] A proving to be false or erroneous; confutation; refutation; as, to offer evidence in disproof of a statement.

I need not offer anything farther in support of one, or in disproof of the other.
Rogers.

Dis*prop"er*ty (?), v. t. To cause to be no longer property; to dispossess of. [R.] Shak.

Dis`pro*por"tion (?), n. [Pref. dis- + proportion: cf. F. disproportion.] 1. Want of proportion in form or quantity; lack of symmetry; as, the arm may be in disproportion to the body; the disproportion of the length of a building to its height.

2. Want of suitableness, adequacy, or due proportion to an end or use; unsuitableness; disparity; as, the disproportion of strength or means to an object.

Dis`pro*por"tion, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disproportioned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disproportioning.] To make unsuitable in quantity, form, or fitness to an end; to violate symmetry in; to mismatch; to join unfitly.

To shape my legs of an unequal size;
To disproportion me in every part.
Shak.

A degree of strength altogether disproportioned to the extent of its territory.
Prescott.

Dis`pro*por"tion*a*ble (?), a. Disproportional; unsuitable in form, size, quantity, or adaptation; disproportionate; inadequate. -- Dis`pro*por"tion*a*ble*ness, n. Hammond. -- Dis`pro*por"tion*a*bly, adv.

Dis`pro*por"tion*al (?), a. Not having due proportion to something else; not having proportion or symmetry of parts; unsuitable in form, quantity or value; inadequate; unequal; as, a disproportional limb constitutes deformity in the body; the studies of youth should not be disproportional to their understanding.

Dis`pro*por`tion*al"i*ty (?), n. The state of being disproportional. Dr. H. More.

Dis`pro*por"tion*al*ly, adv. In a disproportional manner; unsuitably in form, quantity, or value; unequally.

Dis`pro*por"tion*ate (?), a. Not proportioned; unsymmetrical; unsuitable to something else in bulk, form, value, or extent; out of proportion; inadequate; as, in a perfect body none of the limbs are disproportionate; it is wisdom not to undertake a work disproportionate means. - - Dis`pro*por"tion*ate*ly, adv. -- Dis`pro*por"tion*ate*ness, n.

Dis*pro"pri*ate (?), v. t. [L. dis- + propriare to appropriate, fr. proprius one's own, proper.] To cancel the appropriation of; to disappropriate. [R.]

Dis*prov"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being disproved or refuted. Boyle.

Dis*prov"al (?), n. Act of disproving; disproof. [R.]

Dis*prove" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disproved (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disproving.] [Pref. dis- + prove: cf. OF. desprover.] 1. To prove to be false or erroneous; to confute; to refute.

That false supposition I advanced in order to disprove it.
Atterbury.

2. To disallow; to disapprove of. [Obs.] Stirling.

Dis*prov"er (?), n. One who disproves or confutes.

Dis`pro*vide" (?), v. t. Not to provide; to fail to provide. [Obs.] Boyle.

Dis*punct" (?), a. Wanting in punctilious respect; discourteous. [Obs.]

That were dispunct to the ladies.
B. Jonson.

Dis*punct", v. t. [See 1st Dispunge.] To expunge. [Obs.] Foxe.

Dis*punge" (?), v. t. [L. dispungere to prick apart, i. e., check off the debts and credits of an account; dis- + pungere to prick.] To expunge; to erase. [Obs.]

Dis*punge", v. t. See Disponge. [Obs.]

Dis*pun"ish*a*ble (?), a. Without penal restraint; not punishable. [R.] Swift.

Dis*pur"pose (?), v. t. To dissuade; to frustrate; as, to dispurpose plots. [R.] A. Brewer.

Dis*purse" (?), v. t. To disburse. [Obs.] Shak.

Dis`pur*vey" (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + purvey: cf. OF. desporveoir, F. dépourvoir.] To disfurnish; to strip. [Obs.] Heywood.

Dis`pur*vey"ance (?), n. Want of provisions; &?;ack of food. [Obs.] Spenser.

Dis`pu*ta*ble (?; 277), a. [L. disputabilis: cf. F. disputable. See Dispute, v. i.] 1. Capable of being disputed; liable to be called in question, controverted, or contested; or doubtful certainty or propriety; controvertible; as, disputable opinions, propositions, points, or questions.

Actions, every one of which is very disputable.
Jer. Taylor.

2. Disputatious; contentious. [Obs.] Shak.

Dis`pu*ta*ble*ness, n. State of being disputable.

Dis`pu*tac"i*ty (?), n. [See Dispute, v. i.] Proneness to dispute. [Obs.] Bp. Ward.

Dis"pu*tant (?), a. [L. disputants, p. pr. of disputare: cf. F. disputant. See Dispute, v. i.] Disputing; engaged in controversy. Milton.

Dis"pu*tant, n. One who disputes; one who argues in opposition to another; one appointed to dispute; a controvertist; a reasoner in opposition.

A singularly eager, acute, and pertinacious disputant.
Macaulay.

Dis`pu*ta"tion (?), n. [OE. desputeson, disputacion, OF. desputeison, F. disputation, fr. L. disputatio. See Dispute, v. i.] 1. The act of disputing; a reasoning or argumentation in opposition to something, or on opposite sides; controversy in words; verbal contest respecting the truth of some fact, opinion, proposition, or argument.

2. A rhetorical exercise in which parties reason in opposition to each other on some question proposed.

Dis`pu*ta"tious (?), a. Inclined to dispute; apt to civil or controvert; characterized by dispute; as, a disputatious person or temper.

The Christian doctrine of a future life was no recommendation of the new religion to the wits and philosophers of that disputations period.
Buckminster.

-- Dis`pu*ta"tious*ly, adv. -- Dis`pu*ta"tious*ness, n.

Dis*put"a*tive (?), a. [L. disputativus.] Disposed to dispute; inclined to cavil or to reason in opposition; as, a disputative temper. I. Watts.

Dis*pute" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Disputed; p. pr. & vb. n. Disputing.] [OE. desputen, disputen, OF. desputer, disputer, F. disputer, from L. disputare, disputatum; dis- + putare to clean; hence, fig., to clear up, set in order, reckon, think. See Putative, Pure.] To contend in argument; to argue against something maintained, upheld, or claimed, by another; to discuss; to reason; to debate; to altercate; to wrangle.

Therefore disputed [reasoned, Rev. Ver.] he in synagogue with the Jews.
Acts xvii. 17.

Dis*pute", v. t. 1. To make a subject of disputation; to argue pro and con; to discuss.

The rest I reserve it be disputed how the magistrate is to do herein.
Milton.

2. To oppose by argument or assertion; to attempt to overthrow; to controvert; to express dissent or opposition to; to call in question; to deny the truth or validity of; as, to dispute assertions or arguments.

To seize goods under the disputed authority of writs of assistance.
Bancroft.

3. To strive or contend about; to contest.

To dispute the possession of the ground with the Spaniards.
Prescott.

4. To struggle against; to resist. [Obs.]

Dispute it [grief] like a man.
Shak.

Syn. -- To controvert; contest; gainsay; doubt; question; argue; debate; discuss; impugn. See Argue.

Dis*pute", n. [Cf. F. dispute. See Dispute, v. i.] 1. Verbal controversy; contest by opposing argument or expression of opposing views or claims; controversial discussion; altercation; debate.

Addicted more
To contemplation and profound dispute.
Milton.

2. Contest; struggle; quarrel. De Foe.

Beyond dispute, Without dispute, indisputably; incontrovertibly.

Syn. -- Altercation; controversy; argumentation; debate; discussion; quarrel; disagreement; difference; contention; wrangling. See Altercation.

Dis*pute"less, a. Admitting no dispute; incontrovertible. Bailey.

Dis*put"er (?), n. One who disputes, or who is given to disputes; a controvertist.

Where is the disputer of this world?
1 Cor. i. 20.

Dis*pu"ti*son (?), n. [See Disputation.] Dispute; discussion. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dis*qual`i*fi*ca"tion (?), n. 1. The act of disqualifying, or state of being disqualified; want of qualification; incompetency; disability; as, the disqualification of men for holding certain offices.

2. That which disqualifies; that which incapacitates or makes unfit; as, conviction of crime is a disqualification of a person for office; sickness is a disqualification for labor.

I must still retain the consciousness of those disqualifications which you have been pleased to overlook.
Sir J. Shore.

Dis*qual"i*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disqualified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disqualifying.] 1. To deprive of the qualities or properties necessary for any purpose; to render unfit; to incapacitate; -- with for or from before the purpose, state, or act.

My common illness disqualifies me for all conversation; I mean my deafness.
Swift.

Me are not disqualified by their engagements in trade from being received in high society.
Southey.

2. To deprive of some power, right, or privilege, by positive restriction; to disable; to debar legally; as, a conviction of perjury disqualifies a man to be a witness.

Dis*quan"ti*ty (?), v. t. To diminish the quantity of; to lessen. [Obs.] Shak.

Dis*qui"et (?), a. Deprived of quiet; impatient; restless; uneasy. [R.] Shak.

Dis*qui"et, n. Want of quiet; want of tranquility in body or mind; uneasiness; restlessness; disturbance; anxiety. Swift.

Dis*qui"et, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disquieted; p. pr. & vb. n. Disquieting.] To render unquiet; to deprive of peace, rest, or tranquility; to make uneasy or restless; to disturb.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul, and why art thou disquieted within me?
Ps. xlii. 11.

As quiet as these disquieted times will permit.
Sir W. Scott.

Syn. -- To harass; disturb; vex; fret; excite; agitate.

Dis*qui"et*al (?), n. The act of disquieting; a state of disquiet. [Obs.]

[It] roars and strives 'gainst its disquietal.
Dr. H. More.

Dis*qui"et*er (?), n. One who, or that which, disquiets, or makes uneasy; a disturber.

Dis*qui"et*ful (?), a. Producing inquietude or uneasiness. [R.] Barrow.

Dis*qui"et*ive (?), a. Tending to disquiet. [R.]

Dis*qui"et*ly, adv. In a disquiet manner; uneasily; as, he rested disquietly that night. [R.] Wiseman.

Dis*qui"et*ment (?), n. State of being disquieted; uneasiness; harassment. [R.] Hopkins.

Dis*qui"et*ness, n. Disturbance of quiet in body or mind; restlessness; uneasiness. Hooker.

Dis*qui"et*ous (?), a. Causing uneasiness. [R.]

So distasteful and disquietous to a number of men.
Milton.

Dis*qui"et*tude (?), n. Want of peace or tranquility; uneasiness; disturbance; agitation; anxiety.

Fears and disquietude, and unavoidable anxieties of mind.
Abp. Sharp.

Dis`qui*si"tion (?), n. [L. disquisitio, fr. disquirere to inquire diligently, investigate; dis- + quaerere to seek. See Quest.] A formal or systematic inquiry into, or discussion of, any subject; a full examination or investigation of a matter, with the arguments and facts bearing upon it; elaborate essay; dissertation.

For accurate research or grave disquisition he was not well qualified.
Macaulay.

Dis`qui*si"tion*al (?), a. Pertaining to disquisition; of the nature of disquisition.

Dis`qui*si"tion*a*ry (?), a. Pertaining to disquisition; disquisitional.

Dis*quis"i*tive (?), a. Relating to disquisition; fond of discussion or investigation; examining; inquisitive.

Dis*quis`i*to"ri*al (?), a. Disquisitory.

Dis*quis"i*to*ry (?), a. Of or pertaining to disquisition; disquisitive. Ed. Rev.

Dis*range" (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + range: cf. OF. desrengier, F. dérangier. See Derange, Disrank.] To disarrange. [Obs.] Wood.

Dis*rank" (?; see Dis-), v. t. [Cf. Derange.] 1. To degrade from rank. [Obs.]

2. To throw out of rank or into confusion. Decker.

Dis*rate" (?), v. t. To reduce to a lower rating or rank; to degrade. Marryat.

Dis*ray" (?), variant of Disarray. [Obs.] Holland.

Dis*re"al*ize (?), v. t. To divest of reality; to make uncertain. [Obs.] Udall.

Dis`re*gard" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disregarded; p. pr. & vb. n. Disregarding.] Not to regard; to pay no heed to; to omit to take notice of; to neglect to observe; to slight as unworthy of regard or notice; as, to disregard the admonitions of conscience.

Studious of good, man disregarded fame.
Blackmore.

Dis`re*gard", n. The act of disregarding, or the state of being disregarded; intentional neglect; omission of notice; want of attention; slight.

The disregard of experience.
Whewell.

Dis`re*gard"er (?), n. One who disregards.

Dis`re*gard"ful (?), a. Neglect; negligent; heedless; regardless.

Dis`re*gard"ful*ly, adv. Negligently; heedlessly.

Dis*rel"ish (?; see Dis-), n. 1. Want of relish; dislike (of the palate or of the mind); distaste; a slight degree of disgust; as, a disrelish for some kinds of food.

Men love to hear of their power, but have an extreme disrelish to be told of their duty.
Burke.

2. Absence of relishing or palatable quality; bad taste; nauseousness. Milton.

Dis*rel"ish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disrelished (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disrelishing.] 1. Not to relish; to regard as unpalatable or offensive; to feel a degree of disgust at. Pope.

2. To deprive of relish; to make nauseous or disgusting in a slight degree. Milton.

Dis`re*mem"ber (?), v. t. To fail to remember; to forget. [Obs. or Archaic]

Dis`re*pair" (?), n. A state of being in bad condition, and wanting repair.

The fortifications were ancient and in disrepair.
Sir W. Scott.

Dis*rep`u*ta*bil"i*ty (?), n. The state of being disreputable. [R.]

Dis*rep"u*ta*ble (?), a. Not reputable; of bad repute; not in esteem; dishonorable; disgracing the reputation; tending to bring into disesteem; as, it is disreputable to associate familiarly with the mean, the lewd, and the profane.

Why should you think that conduct disreputable in priests which you probably consider as laudable in yourself?
Bp. Watson.

Syn. -- Dishonorable; discreditable; low; mean; disgraceful; shameful.

Dis*rep"u*ta*bly, adv. In a disreputable manner.

Dis*rep`u*ta"tion (?), n. Loss or want of reputation or good name; dishonor; disrepute; disesteem. "A disreputation of piety." Jer. Taylor.

Dis`re*pute" (?), n. Loss or want of reputation; ill character; disesteem; discredit.

At the beginning of the eighteenth century astrology fell into general disrepute.
Sir W. Scott.

Syn. -- Disesteem; discredit; dishonor; disgrace.

Dis`re*pute", v. t. To bring into disreputation; to hold in dishonor. [R.]

More inclined to love them than to disrepute them.
Jer. Taylor.

Dis`re*spect" (?), n. Want of respect or reverence; disesteem; incivility; discourtesy.

Impatience of bearing the least affront or disrespect.
Pope.

Dis`re*spect", v. t. To show disrespect to.

We have disrespected and slighted God.
Comber.

Dis`re*spect`a*bil"i*ty (?), n. Want of respectability. Thackeray.

Dis`re*spect"a*ble (?), a. Not respectable; disreputable. M. Arnold.

Dis`re*spect"er (?), n. One who disrespects.

Dis`re*spect"ful (?), a. Wanting in respect; manifesting disesteem or lack of respect; uncivil; as, disrespectful behavior. -- Dis`re*spect"ful*ly, adv. -- Dis`re*spect"ful*ness, n.

Dis`re*spect"ive (?), a. Showing want of respect; disrespectful. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Dis*rev"er*ence (?), v. t. To treat irreverently or with disrespect. [Obs.] Sir T. More.

Dis*robe" (?; see Dis-), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Disrobed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disrobing.] To divest of a robe; to undress; figuratively, to strip of covering; to divest of that which clothes or decorates; as, autumn disrobes the fields of verdure.

Two great peers were disrobed of their glory.
Sir H. Wotton.

Dis*rob"er (?), n. One who, or that which, disrobes.

Dis*roof" (?), v. t. To unroof. [R.] Carlyle.

Dis*root" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disrooted; p. pr. & vb. n. Disrooting.] To tear up the roots of, or by the roots; hence, to tear from a foundation; to uproot.

A piece of ground disrooted from its situation by subterraneous inundations.
Goldsmith.

Dis*rout" (?), v. i. [Cf. OF. desrouter, F. dérouter.] To put to rout. Taylor (1630).

Dis*rud"der (?), v. t. To deprive of the rudder, as a ship.

Dis*ru"li*ly (?), adv. In a disorderly manner. [Obs.] Rom. of R.

Dis*ru"ly (?), a. Unruly; disorderly. [Obs.]

Dis*rupt" (?), a. [L. disruptus, diruptus, p. p. of disrumpere, to break or burst asunder; dis- + rumpere to break, burst. See Rupture.] Rent off; torn asunder; severed; disrupted.

Dis*rupt", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disrupted; p. pr. & vb. n. Disrupting.] To break asunder; to rend. Thomson.

Dis*rup"tion (?), n. [L. disruptio, diruptio.] The act or rending asunder, or the state of being rent asunder or broken in pieces; breach; rent; dilaceration; rupture; as, the disruption of rocks in an earthquake; disruption of a state.

Dis*rupt"ive (?), a. Causing, or tending to cause, disruption; caused by disruption; breaking through; bursting; as, the disruptive discharge of an electrical battery. Nichol.

Dis*rup"ture (?), n. Disruption. [R.] Jefferson.

Dis*sat`is*fac"tion (?), n. The state of being dissatisfied, unsatisfied, or discontented; uneasiness proceeding from the want of gratification, or from disappointed wishes and expectations.

The ambitious man has little happiness, but is subject to much uneasiness and dissatisfaction.
Addison.

Syn. -- Discontent; discontentment; displeasure; disapprobation; distaste; dislike.

Dis*sat`is*fac"to*ry (?), a. Causing dissatisfaction; unable to give content; unsatisfactory; displeasing.

To have reduced the different qualifications in the different States to one uniform rule, would probably have been as dissatisfactory to some of the States, as difficult for the Convention.
A. Hamilton.

-- Dis*sat`is*fac"to*ri*ness (#), n.

Dis*sat"is*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dissatisfied (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dissatisfying.] To render unsatisfied or discontented; to excite uneasiness in by frustrating wishes or expectations; to displease by the want of something requisite; as, to be dissatisfied with one's fortune.

The dissatisfied factions of the autocracy.
Bancroft.

Dis*seat" (?), v. t. To unseat. [R.] Shak.

Dis*sect" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dissected; p. pr. & vb. n. Dissecting.] [L. dissectus, p. p. of dissecare; dis- + secare to cut. See Section.] 1. (Anat.) To divide into separate parts; to cut in pieces; to separate and expose the parts of, as an animal or a plant, for examination and to show their structure and relations; to anatomize.

2. To analyze, for the purposes of science or criticism; to divide and examine minutely.

This paragraph . . . I have dissected for a sample.
Atterbury.

Dis*sect"ed (?), a. 1. Cut into several parts; divided into sections; as, a dissected map.

2. (Bot.) Cut deeply into many lobes or divisions; as, a dissected leaf.

Dis*sect"i*ble (?), a. Capable of being dissected, or separated by dissection. Paley.

Dis*sect"ing, a. 1. Dividing or separating the parts of an animal or vegetable body; as, a dissecting aneurism, one which makes its way between or within the coats of an artery.

2. Of or pertaining to, or received during, a dissection; as, a dissecting wound.

3. Used for or in dissecting; as, a dissecting knife; a dissecting microscope.

Dis*sec"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. dissection.] 1. The act of dissecting an animal or plant; as, dissection of the human body was held sacrilege till the time of Francis I.

2. Fig.: The act of separating or dividing for the purpose of critical examination.

3. Anything dissected; especially, some part, or the whole, of an animal or plant dissected so as to exhibit the structure; an anatomical so prepared.

Dissection wound, a poisoned wound incurred during the dissection of a dead body.

Dis*sect"or (?), n. [Cf. F. dissecteur.] One who dissects; an anatomist.

Dis*seize" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disseized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disseizing.] [Pref. dis- + seize: cf. F. dessaisir.] (Law) To deprive of seizin or possession; to dispossess or oust wrongfully (one in freehold possession of land); -- followed by of; as, to disseize a tenant of his freehold. [Written also disseise.]

Which savage beasts strive as eagerly to keep and hold those golden mines, as the Arimaspians to disseize them thereof.
Holland.

Dis`sei*zee" (?), n. (Law) A person disseized, or put out of possession of an estate unlawfully; -- correlative to disseizor. [Written also disseisee.]

Dis*sei"zin (?), n. [OF. dessaisine.] (Law) The act of disseizing; an unlawful dispossessing and ouster of a person actually seized of the freehold. [Written also disseisin.] Blackstone.

Dis*sei"zor (?), n. (Law) One who wrongfully disseizes, or puts another out of possession of a freehold. [Written also disseisor.] Blackstone.

Dis*sei"zor*ess, n. (Law) A woman disseizes.

Dis*sei"zure (?; 135), n. Disseizin. Speed.

Dis*sem"blance (?), n. [Cf. F. dissemblance. See Dissemble.] Want of resemblance; dissimilitude. [R.] Osborne.

Dis*sem"blance, n. [Dissemble + -ance.] The act or art of dissembling; dissimulation. [Obs.]

Dis*sem"ble (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dissembled; p. pr. & vb. n. Dissembling (?).] [OF. dissembler to be dissimilar; pref. dis- (L. dis-) + F. sembler to seem, L. simulare to simulate; cf. L. dissimulare to dissemble. See Simulate, and cf. Dissimulate.] 1. To hide under a false semblance or seeming; to feign (something) not to be what it really is; to put an untrue appearance upon; to disguise; to mask.

Dissemble all your griefs and discontents.
Shak.

Perhaps it was right to dissemble your love,
But -- why did you kick me down stairs?
J. P. Kemble.

2. To put on the semblance of; to make pretense of; to simulate; to feign.

He soon dissembled a sleep.
Tatler.

Syn. -- To conceal; disguise; cloak; cover; equivocate. See Conceal.

Dis*sem"ble, v. i. To conceal the real fact, motives, intention, or sentiments, under some pretense; to assume a false appearance; to act the hypocrite.

He that hateth dissembleth with his lips.
Prov. xxvi. 24.

He [an enemy] dissembles when he assumes an air of friendship.
C. J. Smith.

Dis*sem"bler (?), n. One who dissembles; one who conceals his opinions or dispositions under a false appearance; a hypocrite.

It is the weakest sort of politicians that are the greatest dissemblers.
Bacon.

Priests, princes, women, no dissemblers here.
Pope.

Syn. -- Dissembler, Hypocrite. A person is called a dissembler with reference to his concealment of his real character, and a hypocrite with reference to his assumption of a false character. But hypocrite is the stronger word, being commonly used to characterize a person who is habitually insincere and false, especially one who makes professions of goodness when his aims are selfish and his life corrupt.

Dis*sem"bling (?), a. That dissembles; hypocritical; false. -- Dis*sem"bling*ly, adv.

Dis*sem"i*nate (?), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Disseminated; p. pr. & vb. n. Disseminating.] [L. disseminatus, p. p. of disseminare to disseminate; dis- + seminare to sow, semen seed. See Seminary.] 1. To sow broadcast or as seed; to scatter for growth and propagation, like seed; to spread abroad; to diffuse; as, principles, ideas, opinions, and errors are disseminated when they are spread abroad for propagation.

2. To spread or extend by dispersion.

A nearly uniform and constant fire or heat disseminated throughout the body of the earth.
Woodward.

Syn. -- To spread; diffuse; propagate; circulate; disperse; scatter.

Dis*sem"i*na`ted (?), p. a. (Min.) Occurring in small portions scattered through some other substance.

Dis*sem`i*na"tion (?), n. [L. disseminatio: cf. F. dissémination.] The act of disseminating, or the state of being disseminated; diffusion for propagation and permanence; a scattering or spreading abroad, as of ideas, beliefs, etc.

The universal dissemination of those writings.
Wayland.

Dis*sem"i*na*tive (?), a. Tending to disseminate, or to become disseminated.

The effect of heresy is, like the plague, infectious and disseminative.
Jer. Taylor.

Dis*sem"i*na`tor (?), n. [L.] One who, or that which, disseminates, spreads, or propagates; as, disseminators of disease.

Dis*sen"sion (?), n. [L. dissensio: cf. F. dissension. See Dissent.] Disagreement in opinion, usually of a violent character, producing warm debates or angry words; contention in words; partisan and contentious divisions; breach of friendship and union; strife; discord; quarrel.

Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them.
Acts xv. 2.

Debates, dissension, uproars are thy joy.
Dryden.

A seditious person and raiser-up of dissension among the people.
Robynson (More's Utopia).

Dis*sen"sious (?), a. Disposed to discord; contentious; dissentious. [R.] Ascham. -- Dis*sen"sious*ly, adv. Chapman.

Dis*sent" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dissented; p. pr. & vb. n. Dissenting.] [L. dissentire, dissentum; dis- + sentire to feel, think. See Sense.] 1. To differ in opinion; to be of unlike or contrary sentiment; to disagree; -- followed by from.

The bill passed . . . without a dissenting voice.
Hallam.

Opinions in which multitudes of men dissent from us.
Addison.

2. (Eccl.) To differ from an established church in regard to doctrines, rites, or government.

3. To differ; to be of a contrary nature. Hooker.

Dis*sent", n. 1. The act of dissenting; difference of opinion; refusal to adopt something proposed; nonagreement, nonconcurrence, or disagreement.

The dissent of no small number [of peers] is frequently recorded.
Hallam.

2. (Eccl.) Separation from an established church, especially that of England; nonconformity.

It is the dissidence of dissent and the protestantism of the Protestant religion.
Burke.

3. Contrariety of nature; diversity in quality. [Obs.]

The dissent of the metals.
Bacon.

Syn. -- Disagreement; variance; difference; nonconcurrence; nonconformity.

Dis`sen*ta"ne*ous (?), a. [L. dissentaneus.] Disagreeing; contrary; differing; -- opposed to consentaneous. [R.] Barrow.

Dis"sen*ta*ny (?), a. Dissentaneous; inconsistent. [Obs.] Milton.

Dis`sen*ta"tion (?), n. Dissension. [Obs.] W. Browne.

Dis*sent"er (?), n. 1. One who dissents; one who differs in opinion, or declares his disagreement.

2. (Eccl.) One who separates from the service and worship of an established church; especially, one who disputes the authority or tenets of the Church of England; a nonconformist.

Dissenters from the establishment of their several countries.
Burke.

Robert Brown is said to have the first formal dissenter.
Shipley.

&fist; "The word is commonly applied only to Protestants. The Roman Catholics are generally referred to as a distinct class." Brande & C.

Dis*sent"er*ism (?), n. The spirit or principles of dissenters. Ed. Rev.

Dis*sen"ti*ate (?), v. t. To throw into a state of dissent. [R.] Feltham.

Dis*sen"tient (?), a. [L. dissentiens, p. pr. of dissentire. See Dissent, v. i.] Disagreeing; declaring dissent; dissenting. -- n. One who dissents. Macaulay.

Dis*sen"tious (?), a. Marked by dissensions; apt to breed discord; quarrelsome; contentious; factious. -- Dis*sen"tious*ly, adv.

Dis*sent"ive (?), a. Disagreeing; inconsistent. [Obs.] Feltham.

Dis*sep"i*ment (?), n. [L. dissaepimentum, fr. dissaepire; dis- + saepire to hedge in, inclose.] 1. A separating tissue; a partition; a septum.

2. (Bot.) One of the partitions which divide a compound ovary into cells.

3. (Zoöl.) One of the transverse, calcareous partitions between the radiating septa of a coral.

Dis*sert" (?), v. i. [L. dissertus, p. p. of disserere; dis- + serere to join, connect: cf. F. disserter. See Series.] To discourse or dispute; to discuss. [R.]

We have disserted upon it a little longer than was necessary.
Jeffrey.

Dis"ser*tate (?), v. i. [L. dissertatus, p. p. of dissertare to discuss, intents, fr. disserere. See Dissert.] To deal in dissertation; to write dissertations; to discourse. [R.] J. Foster.

Dis`ser*ta"tion (?), n. [L. dissertatio: cf. F. dissertation.] A formal or elaborate argumentative discourse, oral or written; a disquisition; an essay; a discussion; as, Dissertations on the Prophecies.

Dis`ser*ta"tion*al (?), a. Relating to dissertations; resembling a dissertation.

Dis`ser*ta"tion*ist, n. A writer of dissertations.

Dis"ser*ta`tor (?), n. [L.: cf. F. dissertateur.] One who writers a dissertation; one who discourses. Boyle.

Dis*sert"ly (?), adv. See Disertly. [Obs.]

Dis*serve" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Di&?;&?;&?;&?;&?; (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disserving.] [Pref. dis- + serve: cf. F. desservir.] To fail to serve; to do injury or mischief to; to damage; to hurt; to harm.

Have neither served nor disserved the interests of any party.
Jer. Taylor.

Dis*serv"ice (?), n. [Pref. dis- + service: cf. F. desservice.] Injury; mischief.

We shall rather perform good offices unto truth than any disservice unto their relators.
Sir T. Browne.

Dis*serv"ice*a*ble (?), a. Calculated to do disservice or harm; not serviceable; injurious; harmful; unserviceable. Shaftesbury. -- Dis*serv"ice*a*ble*ness, n. Norris. -- Dis*serv"ice*a*bly, adv.

Dis*set"tle (?), v. t. To unsettle. [Obs.]

Dis*set"tle*ment (?), n. The act of unsettling, or the state of being unsettled. Marvell.

Dis*sev"er (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dissevered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dissevering.] [OE. dessevrer; pref. des- (L. dis-) + sevrer to sever, F. sevrer to wean, L. separate to separate. In this word the prefix is intensive. See Dis-, and Sever.] To part in two; to sever thoroughly; to sunder; to disunite; to separate; to disperse.

The storm so dissevered the company . . . that most of therm never met again.
Sir P. Sidney.

States disserved, discordant, belligerent.
D. Webster.

Dis*sev"er, v. i. To part; to separate. Chaucer.

Dis*sev"er*ance (?), n. [OF. dessevrance.] The act of disserving; separation.

Dis*sev`er*a"tion (?), n. The act of disserving; disseverance. [Obs.]

Dis*sev"er*ment (?), n. [Cf. OF. dessevrement.] Disseverance. Sir W. Scott.

Dis*shad"ow (?), v. t. To free from shadow or shade. [Obs.] G. Fletcher.

Dis*sheathe" (?), v. i. To become unsheathed. [Obs.] Sir W. Raleigh.

Dis*ship" (?), v. t. To dismiss from service on board ship. [Obs.] Hakluyt.

Dis*shiv"er (?), v. t. & i. To shiver or break in pieces. [Obs.]

Dis"si*dence (?), n. [L. dissidentia: cf. F. dissidence. See Dissident, a.] Disagreement; dissent; separation from the established religion. I. Taylor.

It is the dissidence of dissent.
Burke.

Dis"si*dent (?), a. [L. dissidens, -entis, p. pr. of dissidere to sit apart, to disagree; dis- + sedere to sit: cf. F. dissident. See Sit.] No agreeing; dissenting; discordant; different.

Our life and manners be dissident from theirs.
Robynson (More's Utopia).

Dis"si*dent, n. (Eccl.) One who disagrees or dissents; one who separates from the established religion.

The dissident, habituated and taught to think of his dissidenc&?; as a laudable and necessary opposition to ecclesiastical usurpation.
I. Taylor.

Dis"si*dent*ly, adv. In a dissident manner.

{ Dis*sil"i*ence (?; 106), Dis*sil"i*en*cy (?), } n. The act of leaping or starting asunder. Johnson.

Dis*sil"i*ent (?), a. [L. dissiliens, -entis, p. pr. of dissilire to leap asunder: dis- + salire to leap.] Starting asunder; bursting and opening with an elastic force; dehiscing explosively; as, a dissilient pericarp.

Dis`si*li"tion (?), n. The act of bursting or springing apart. [R.] Boyle.

Dis*sim"i*lar (?), a. [Pref. dis- + similar: cf. F. dissimilaire.] Not similar; unlike; heterogeneous; as, the tempers of men are as dissimilar as their features.

This part very dissimilar to any other.
Boyle.

Dis*sim`i*lar"i*ty (?), n. Want of resemblance; unlikeness; dissimilitude; variety; as, the dissimilarity of human faces and forms. Sir W. Jones.

Dis*sim"i*lar*ly (?), adv. In a dissimilar manner; in a varied style.

With verdant shrubs dissimilarly gay.
C. Smart.

Dis*sim"i*late (?), v. t. To render dissimilar.

Dis*sim`i*la"tion (?), n. The act of making dissimilar. H. Sweet.

Dis*sim"i*le (?), n. [L. dissimile, neut. of dissimilis unlike.] (Rhet.) Comparison or illustration by contraries.

Dis`si*mil"i*tude (?), n. [L. dissimilitudo, fr. dissimilis: cf. F. dissimilitude.] 1. Want of resemblance; unlikeness; dissimilarity.

Dissimilitude between the Divinity and images.
Stillingfleet.

2. (Rhet.) A comparison by contrast; a dissimile.

Dis*sim"u*late (?), a. [L. dissimulatus, p. p. of dissimulare. See Dissemble.] Feigning; simulating; pretending. [Obs.] Henryson.

Dis*sim"u*late (?), v. i. To dissemble; to feign; to pretend.

Dis*sim`u*la"tion (?), n. [L. dissimulatio: cf. F. dissimulation.] The act of dissembling; a hiding under a false appearance; concealment by feigning; false pretension; hypocrisy.

Let love be without dissimulation.
Rom. xii. 9.

Dissimulation . . . when a man lets fall signs and arguments that he is not that he is.
Bacon.

Simulation is a pretense of what is not, and dissimulation a concealment of what is.
Tatler.

Dis*sim"u*la`tor (?), n. [L.] One who dissimulates; a dissembler.

Dis*sim"ule (?), v. t. & i. [F. dissimuler. See Dissimulate.] To dissemble. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dis*sim"u*ler (?), n. A dissembler. [Obs.]

Dis*sim"u*lour (?), n. [OF. dissimuleur.] A dissembler. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dis"si*pa*ble (?), a. [L. dissipabilis.] Capable of being scattered or dissipated. [R.]

The heat of those plants is very dissipable.
Bacon.

Dis"si*pate (d&ibreve;s"s&ibreve;*pāt), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dissipated; p. pr. & vb. n. Dissipating.] [L. dissipatus, p. p. of dissipare; dis- + an obsolete verb sipare, supare. to throw.] 1. To scatter completely; to disperse and cause to disappear; -- used esp. of the dispersion of things that can never again be collected or restored.

Dissipated those foggy mists of error.
Selden.

I soon dissipated his fears.
Cook.

The extreme tendency of civilization is to dissipate all intellectual energy.
Hazlitt.

2. To destroy by wasteful extravagance or lavish use; to squander.

The vast wealth . . . was in three years dissipated.
Bp. Burnet.

Syn. -- To disperse; scatter; dispel; spend; squander; waste; consume; lavish.

Dis"si*pate, v. i. 1. To separate into parts and disappear; to waste away; to scatter; to disperse; to vanish; as, a fog or cloud gradually dissipates before the rays or heat of the sun; the heat of a body dissipates.

2. To be extravagant, wasteful, or dissolute in the pursuit of pleasure; to engage in dissipation.

Dis"si*pa`ted (d&ibreve;s"s&ibreve;*pā`t&ebreve;d), a. 1. Squandered; scattered. "Dissipated wealth." Johnson.

2. Wasteful of health, money, etc., in the pursuit of pleasure; dissolute; intemperate.

A life irregular and dissipated.
Johnson.

Dis`si*pa"tion (?), n. [L. dissipatio: cf. F. dissipation.] 1. The act of dissipating or dispersing; a state of dispersion or separation; dispersion; waste.

Without loss or dissipation of the matter.
Bacon.

The famous dissipation of mankind.
Sir M. Hale.

2. A dissolute course of life, in which health, money, etc., are squandered in pursuit of pleasure; profuseness in vicious indulgence, as late hours, riotous living, etc.; dissoluteness.

To reclaim the spendthrift from his dissipation and extravagance.
P. Henry.

3. A trifle which wastes time or distracts attention.

Prevented from finishing them [the letters] a thousand avocations and dissipations.
Swift.

Dissipation of energy. Same as Degradation of energy, under Degradation.

Dis"si*pa*tive (?), a. Tending to dissipate.

Dissipative system (Mech.), an assumed system of matter and motions in which forces of friction and resistances of other kinds are introduced without regard to the heat or other molecular actions which they generate; -- opposed to conservative system.

Dis`si*pa*tiv"i*ty (?), n. The rate at which palpable energy is dissipated away into other forms of energy.

Dis"site (?), a. [L. dissitus.] Lying apart. [Obs.]

Lands far dissite and remote asunder.
Holland.

Dis*slan"der (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- (intens.) + slander.] To slander. [Obs.] Legend of Dido.

Dis*slan"der, n. Slander. [Obs.] E. Hall.

Dis*slan"der*ous (?), a. Slanderous. [Obs.]

Dis*so`cia*bil"i*ty (?), n. Want of sociability; unsociableness. Bp. Warburton.

Dis*so"cia*ble (?), a. [L. dissociabilis, fr. dissociare: cf. F. dissociable. See Dissociate.] 1. Not well associated or assorted; incongruous.

They came in two and two, though matched in the most dissociable manner.
Spectator.

2. Having a tendency to dissolve social connections; unsuitable to society; unsociable.

Dis*so"cial (?), a. [Pref. dis- + social: cf. L. dissocialis. See Dissociate, v. t.] Unfriendly to society; contracted; selfish; as, dissocial feelings.

Dis*so"cial*ize (?), v. t. To render unsocial.

Dis*so"ci*ate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dissociated; p. pr. & vb. n. Dissociating.] [L. dissociatus, p. p. of dissociare to dissociate; dis- + sociare to unite, associate, socius companion. See Social.] To separate from fellowship or union; to disunite; to disjoin; as, to dissociate the particles of a concrete substance.

Before Wyclif's death in 1384, John of Gaunt had openly dissociated himself from the reformer.
A. W. Ward.

Dis*so`ci*a"tion (?; 106), n. [L. dissociatio: cf. F. dissociation.] 1. The act of dissociating or disuniting; a state of separation; disunion.

It will add infinitely dissociation, distraction, and confusion of these confederate republics.
Burke.

2. (Chem.) The process by which a compound body breaks up into simpler constituents; -- said particularly of the action of heat on gaseous or volatile substances; as, the dissociation of the sulphur molecules; the dissociation of ammonium chloride into hydrochloric acid and ammonia.

Dis*so"ci*a*tive (?), a. Tending or leading to dissociation.

Dis`so*lu*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality of being dissoluble; capacity of being dissoluble; capacity of being dissolved by heat or moisture, and converted into a fluid.

Dis"so*lu*ble (?), a. [L. dissolubilis: cf. F. dissoluble. See Dissolve, and cf. Dissolvable.] 1. Capable of being dissolved; having its parts separable by heat or moisture; convertible into a fluid. Woodward.

2. Capable of being disunited.

Dis"so*lu*ble*ness, n. The quality of being dissoluble; dissolubility. Boyle.

Dis"so*lute (?), a. [L. dissolutus, p. p. of dissolvere: cf. F. dissolu. See Dissolve.] 1. With nerves unstrung; weak. [Obs.] Spenser.

2. Loosed from restraint; esp., loose in morals and conduct; recklessly abandoned to sensual pleasures; profligate; wanton; lewd; debauched. "A wild and dissolute soldier." Motley.

Syn. -- Uncurbed; unbridled; disorderly; unrestrained; reckless; wild; wanton; vicious; lax; licentious; lewd; rakish; debauched; profligate.

Dis"so*lute*ly (?), adv. In a dissolute manner.

Dis"so*lute*ness, n. State or quality of being dissolute; looseness of morals and manners; addictedness to sinful pleasures; debauchery; dissipation.

Chivalry had the vices of dissoluteness.
Bancroft.

Dis`so*lu"tion (?), n. [OE. dissolucioun dissoluteness, F. dissolution, fr. L. dissolutio, fr. dissolvere. See Dissolve.] 1. The act of dissolving, sundering, or separating into component parts; separation.

Dissolutions of ancient amities.
Shak.

2. Change from a solid to a fluid state; solution by heat or moisture; liquefaction; melting.

3. Change of form by chemical agency; decomposition; resolution.

The dissolution of the compound.
South.

4. The dispersion of an assembly by terminating its sessions; the breaking up of a partnership.

Dissolution is the civil death of Parliament.
Blackstone.

5. The extinction of life in the human body; separation of the soul from the body; death.

We expected
Immediate dissolution.
Milton.

6. The state of being dissolved, or of undergoing liquefaction.

A man of continual dissolution and thaw.
Shak.

7. The new product formed by dissolving a body; a solution. Bacon.

8. Destruction of anything by the separation of its parts; ruin.

To make a present dissolution of the world.
Hooker.

9. Corruption of morals; dissipation; dissoluteness. [Obs. or R.] Atterbury.

Dis*solv`a*bil"i*ty (?), n. Capacity of being dissolved; solubility. Richardson.

Dis*solv"a*ble (?), a. [From Dissolve, cf. Dissoluble.] Capable of being dissolved, or separated into component parts; capable of being liquefied; soluble. -- Dis*solv"a*ble*ness, n.

Though everything which is compacted be in its own nature dissolvable.
Cudworth.

Such things as are not dissolvable by the moisture of the tongue.
Sir I. Newton.

Dis*solv"a*tive (?), n. Having the power to dissolve anything; solvent. [Obs.] Frampton.

Dis*solve" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dissolved (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dissolving.] [L. dissolvere, dissolutum; dis- + solvere to loose, free. See Solve, and cf. Dissolute.] 1. To separate into competent parts; to disorganize; to break up; hence, to bring to an end by separating the parts, sundering a relation, etc.; to terminate; to destroy; to deprive of force; as, to dissolve a partnership; to dissolve Parliament.

Lest his ungoverned rage dissolve the life.
Shak.

2. To break the continuity of; to disconnect; to disunite; to sunder; to loosen; to undo; to separate.

Nothing can dissolve us.
Shak.

Down fell the duke, his joints dissolved asunder.
Fairfax.

For one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another.
The Declaration of Independence.

3. To convert into a liquid by means of heat, moisture, etc.,; to melt; to liquefy; to soften.

As if the world were all dissolved to tears.
Shak.

4. To solve; to clear up; to resolve. "Dissolved the mystery." Tennyson.

Make interpretations and dissolve doubts.
Dan. v. 16.

5. To relax by pleasure; to make powerless.

Angels dissolved in hallelujahs lie.
Dryden.

6. (Law) To annul; to rescind; to discharge or release; as, to dissolve an injunction.

Syn. -- See Adjourn.

Dis*solve", v. i. 1. To waste away; to be dissipated; to be decomposed or broken up.

2. To become fluid; to be melted; to be liquefied.

A figure
Trenched in ice, which with an hour's heat
Dissolves to water, and doth lose his form.
Shak.

3. To fade away; to fall to nothing; to lose power.

The charm dissolves apace.
Shak.

Dis*solv"ent (?), a. [L. dissolvens, -entis, p. pr. of dissolvere.] Having power to dissolve power to dissolve a solid body; as, the dissolvent juices of the stomach. Ray.

Dis*solv"ent, n. 1. That which has the power of dissolving or melting other substances, esp. by mixture with them; a menstruum; a solvent.

Melted in the crucible dissolvents.
A. Smith.

The secret treaty of December acted as an immediate dissolvent to the truce.
Mothley.

2. (Med.) A remedy supposed capable of dissolving concretions in the body, such as calculi, tubercles, etc.

Dis*solv"er (?), n. One who, or that which, has power to dissolve or dissipate.

Thou kind dissolver of encroaching care.
Otway.

Dis*solv"ing, a. Melting; breaking up; vanishing. -- Dis*solv"ing*ly, adv.

Dissolving view, a picture which grows dim and is gradually replaced by another on the same field; -- an effect produced by magic lanterns.

Dis"so*nance (?), n. [L. dissonantia: cf. F. dissonance.] 1. A mingling of discordant sounds; an inharmonious combination of sounds; discord.

Filled the air with barbarous dissonance.
Milton.

2. Want of agreement; incongruity. Milton.

Dis"so*nan*cy (?), n. Discord; dissonance.

Dis"so*nant (?), a. [L. dissonans, -antis, p. pr. of dissonare to disagree in sound, be discordant; dis- + sonare to sound: cf. F. dissonant. See Sonant.] 1. Sounding harshly; discordant; unharmonious.

With clamor of voices dissonant and loud.
Longfellow.

2. Disagreeing; incongruous; discrepant, -- with from or to. "Anything dissonant to truth." South.

What can be dissonant from reason and nature than that a man, naturally inclined to clemency, should show himself unkind and inhuman?
Hakewill.

Dis*spir"it (?), v. t. See Dispirit.

Dis*suade" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dissuaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Dissuading.] [L. dissuadere, dissuasum; dis- + suadere to advise, persuade: cf. F. dissuader. See Suasion.] 1. To advise or exhort against; to try to persuade (one from a course). [Obsolescent]

Mr. Burchell, on the contrary, dissuaded her with great ardor: and I stood neuter.
Goldsmith.

War, therefore, open or concealed, alike
My voice dissuades.
Milton.

2. To divert by persuasion; to turn from a purpose by reasons or motives; -- with from; as, I could not dissuade him from his purpose.

I have tried what is possible to dissuade him.
Mad. D' Arblay.

Dis*suad"er (?), n. One who dissuades; a dehorter.

Dis*sua"sion (?), n. [L. dissuasio: cf. F. dissuasion. See Dissuade.] 1. The act of dissuading; exhortation against a thing; dehortation.

In spite of all the dissuasions of his friends.
Boyle.

2. A motive or consideration tending to dissuade; a dissuasive.

Dis*sua"sive (?), a. Tending to dissuade or divert from a measure or purpose; dehortatory; as, dissuasive advice. -- n. A dissuasive argument or counsel; dissuasion; dehortation. Prynne. -- Dis*sua"sive*ly, adv.

Dis*sua"so*ry (?), n. A dissuasive. [R.]

This virtuous and reasonable person, however, has ill luck in all his dissuasories.
Jeffrey.

Dis*sun"der (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dissundered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dissundering.] [Pref. dis- (intens) + sunder.] To separate; to sunder; to destroy. [R.] Chapman.

Dis*sweet"en (?), v. t. To deprive of sweetness. [R.] Bp. Richardson.

Dis`syl*lab"ic (d&ibreve;s`s&ibreve;l*lăb"&ibreve;k), a. [Cf. F. dissyllabique. See Dissylable.] Consisting of two syllables only; as, a dissyllabic foot in poetry. B. Jonson.

Dis`syl*lab`i*fi*ca"tion (?), n. A forming into two syllables.

Dis`syl*lab"i*fy (?), v. t. [Dissyllable + -fly.] To form into two syllables. Ogilvie.

Dis*syl"la*bize (?), v. t. To form into two syllables; to dissyllabify.

Dis*syl"la*ble (?; 277), n. [F. dissyllabe, L. disyllabus, adj., of two syllables, fr. Gr. &?;; di- = di`s- twice + &?; syllable. See Syllable.] A word of two syllables; as, pa- per.

Dis`sym*met"ric*al (?), a. Not having symmetry; asymmetrical; unsymmetrical.

Dis*sym"me*try (?), n. [Pref. dis- + symmetry.] Absence or defect of symmetry; asymmetry.

Dis*sym"pa*thy (?), n. Lack of sympathy; want of interest; indifference. [R.]

Dis"tad (?), adv. [Distal + L. ad toward.] (Anat.) Toward a distal part; on the distal side of; distally.

Dis"taff (?), n.; pl. Distaffs (#), rarely Distaves (#). [OE. distaf, dysestafe, AS. distaef; cf. LG. diesse the bunch of flax on a distaff, and E. dizen. See Staff.] 1. The staff for holding a bunch of flax, tow, or wool, from which the thread is drawn in spinning by hand.

I will the distaff hold; come thou and spin.
Fairfax.

2. Used as a symbol of the holder of a distaff; hence, a woman; women, collectively.

His crown usurped, a distaff on the throne.
Dryden.

Some say the crozier, some say the distaff was too busy.
Howell.

&fist; The plural is regular, but Distaves occurs in Beaumont & Fletcher.

Descent by distaff, descent on the mother's side. -- Distaff Day, or Distaff's Day, the morrow of the Epiphany, that is, January 7, because working at the distaff was then resumed, after the Christmas festival; -- called also Rock Day, a distaff being called a rock. Shipley.

Dis*tain" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distained (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Distaining.] [OE. desteinen, OF. desteindre to take away the color, F. déteindre; pref. des- (L. dis-) + F. teindre to tinge, dye, L. tingere. See Tinge, and cf. Stain.] To tinge with a different color from the natural or proper one; to stain; to discolor; to sully; to tarnish; to defile; -- used chiefly in poetry. "Distained with dirt and blood." Spenser.

[She] hath . . . distained her honorable blood.
Spenser.

The worthiness of praise distains his worth.
Shak.

Dis"tal (?), a. [From Distant.] (Physiol.) (a) Remote from the point of attachment or origin; as, the distal end of a bone or muscle; -- opposed to proximal. (b) Pertaining to that which is distal; as, the distal tuberosities of a bone.

Dis"tal*ly, adv. (Anat.) Toward a distal part.

Dis"tance (?), n. [F. distance, L. distantia.] 1. The space between two objects; the length of a line, especially the shortest line joining two points or things that are separate; measure of separation in place.

Every particle attracts every other with a force . . . inversely proportioned to the square of the distance.
Sir I. Newton.

2. Remoteness of place; a remote place.

Easily managed from a distance.
W. Irving.

'T is distance lends enchantment to the view.
T. Campbell.

[He] waits at distance till he hears from Cato.
Addison.

3. (Racing) A space marked out in the last part of a race course.

The horse that ran the whole field out of distance.
L'Estrange.

&fist; In trotting matches under the rules of the American Association, the distance varies with the conditions of the race, being 80 yards in races of mile heats, best two in three, and 150 yards in races of two-mile heats. At that distance from the winning post is placed the distance post. If any horse has not reached this distance post before the first horse in that heat has reached the winning post, such horse is distanced, and disqualified for running again during that race.

4. (Mil.) Relative space, between troops in ranks, measured from front to rear; -- contrasted with interval, which is measured from right to left. "Distance between companies in close column is twelve yards." Farrow.

5. Space between two antagonists in fencing. Shak.

6. (Painting) The part of a picture which contains the representation of those objects which are the farthest away, esp. in a landscape.

&fist; In a picture, the Middle distance is the central portion between the foreground and the distance or the extreme distance. In a perspective drawing, the Point of distance is the point where the visual rays meet.

7. Ideal disjunction; discrepancy; contrariety. Locke.

8. Length or interval of time; period, past or future, between two eras or events.

Ten years' distance between one and the other.
Prior.

The writings of Euclid at the distance of two thousand years.
Playfair.

9. The remoteness or reserve which respect requires; hence, respect; ceremoniousness.

I hope your modesty
Will know what distance to the crown is due.
Dryden.

'T is by respect and distance that authority is upheld.
Atterbury.

10. A withholding of intimacy; alienation; coldness; disagreement; variance; restraint; reserve.

Setting them [factions] at distance, or at least distrust amongst themselves.
Bacon.

On the part of Heaven,
Now alienated, distance and distaste.
Milton.

11. Remoteness in succession or relation; as, the distance between a descendant and his ancestor.

12. (Mus.) The interval between two notes; as, the distance of a fourth or seventh.

Angular distance, the distance made at the eye by lines drawn from the eye to two objects. -- Lunar distance. See under Lunar. -- North polar distance (Astron.), the distance on the heavens of a heavenly body from the north pole. It is the complement of the declination. -- Zenith distance (Astron.), the arc on the heavens from a heavenly body to the zenith of the observer. It is the complement of the altitude. -- To keep one's distance, to stand aloof; to refrain from familiarity.

If a man makes me keep my distance, the comfort is he keeps his at the same time.
Swift.

Dis"tance (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distanced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Distancing (?).] 1. To place at a distance or remotely.

I heard nothing thereof at Oxford, being then miles distanced thence.
Fuller.

2. To cause to appear as if at a distance; to make seem remote.

His peculiar art of distancing an object to aggrandize his space.
H. Miller.

3. To outstrip by as much as a distance (see Distance, n., 3); to leave far behind; to surpass greatly.

He distanced the most skillful of his contemporaries.
Milner.

Dis"tan*cy (?), n. Distance. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Dis"tant (?), a. [F., fr. L. distans, -antis, p. pr. of distare to stand apart, be separate or distant; dis- + stare to stand. See Stand.] 1. Separated; having an intervening space; at a distance; away.

One board had two tenons, equally distant.
Ex. xxxvi. 22.

Diana's temple is not distant far.
Shak.

2. Far separated; far off; not near; remote; -- in place, time, consanguinity, or connection; as, distant times; distant relatives.

The success of these distant enterprises.
Prescott.

3. Reserved or repelling in manners; cold; not cordial; somewhat haughty; as, a distant manner.

He passed me with a distant bow.
Goldsmith.

4. Indistinct; faint; obscure, as from distance.

Some distant knowledge.
Shak.

A distant glimpse.
W. Irving.

5. Not conformable; discrepant; repugnant; as, a practice so widely distant from Christianity.

Syn. -- Separate; far; remote; aloof; apart; asunder; slight; faint; indirect; indistinct.

Dis*tan"tial (?), a. Distant. [Obs.]

More distantial from the eye.
W. Montagu.

Dis"tant*ly (?), adv. At a distance; remotely; with reserve.

Dis*taste" (?), n. 1. Aversion of the taste; dislike, as of food or drink; disrelish. Bacon.

2. Discomfort; uneasiness.

Prosperity is not without many fears and distastes, and adversity is not without comforts and hopes.
Bacon.

3. Alienation of affection; displeasure; anger.

On the part of Heaven,
Now alienated, distance and distaste.
Milton.

Syn. -- Disrelish; disinclination; dislike; aversion; displeasure; dissatisfaction; disgust.

Dis*taste", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Distasting.] 1. Not to have relish or taste for; to disrelish; to loathe; to dislike.

Although my will distaste what it elected.
Shak.

2. To offend; to disgust; to displease. [Obs.]

He thought in no policy to distaste the English or Irish by a course of reformation, but sought to please them.
Sir J. Davies.

3. To deprive of taste or relish; to make unsavory or distasteful. Drayton.

Dis*taste" (?), v. i. To be distasteful; to taste ill or disagreeable. [Obs.]

Dangerous conceits are, in their natures, poisons,
Which at the are scarce found to distaste.
Shak.

Dis*taste"ful (?), a. 1. Unpleasant or disgusting to the taste; nauseous; loathsome.

2. Offensive; displeasing to the feelings; disagreeable; as, a distasteful truth.

Distasteful answer, and sometimes unfriendly actions.
Milton.

3. Manifesting distaste or dislike; repulsive. "Distasteful looks." Shak.

Syn. -- Nauseous; unsavory; unpalatable; offensive; displeasing; dissatisfactory; disgusting.

- Dis*taste"ful*ly, adv. -- Dis*taste"ful*ness, n.

Dis*taste"ive (?), a. Tending to excite distaste. [Obs.] -- n. That which excites distaste or aversion. [Obs.] Whitlock.

Dis*tas"ture (?; 135), n. Something which excites distaste or disgust. [Obs.] Speed.

Dis*tem"per (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distempered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Distempering.] [OF. destemprer, destremper, to distemper, F. détremper to soak, soften, slake (lime); pref. des- (L. dis-) + OF. temprer, tremper, F. tremper, L. temperare to mingle in due proportion. See Temper, and cf. Destemprer.] 1. To temper or mix unduly; to make disproportionate; to change the due proportions of. [Obs.]

When . . . the humors in his body ben distempered.
Chaucer.

2. To derange the functions of, whether bodily, mental, or spiritual; to disorder; to disease. Shak.

The imagination, when completely distempered, is the most incurable of all disordered faculties.
Buckminster.

3. To deprive of temper or moderation; to disturb; to ruffle; to make disaffected, ill-humored, or malignant. "Distempered spirits." Coleridge.

4. To intoxicate. [R.]

The courtiers reeling,
And the duke himself, I dare not say distempered,
But kind, and in his tottering chair carousing.
Massinger.

5. (Paint.) To mix (colors) in the way of distemper; as, to distemper colors with size. [R.]

Dis*tem"per, n. [See Distemper, v. t., and cf. Destemprer.] 1. An undue or unnatural temper, or disproportionate mixture of parts. Bacon.

&fist; This meaning and most of the following are to be referred to the Galenical doctrine of the four "humors" in man. See Humor. According to the old physicians, these humors, when unduly tempered, produce a disordered state of body and mind.

2. Severity of climate; extreme weather, whether hot or cold. [Obs.]

Those countries . . . under the tropic, were of a distemper uninhabitable.
Sir W. Raleigh.

3. A morbid state of the animal system; indisposition; malady; disorder; -- at present chiefly applied to diseases of brutes; as, a distemper in dogs; the horse distemper; the horn distemper in cattle.

They heighten distempers to diseases.
Suckling.

4. Morbid temper of the mind; undue predominance of a passion or appetite; mental derangement; bad temper; ill humor. [Obs.]

Little faults proceeding on distemper.
Shak.

Some frenzy distemper had got into his head.
Bunyan.

5. Political disorder; tumult. Waller.

6. (Paint.) (a) A preparation of opaque or body colors, in which the pigments are tempered or diluted with weak glue or size (cf. Tempera) instead of oil, usually for scene painting, or for walls and ceilings of rooms. (b) A painting done with this preparation.

Syn. -- Disease; disorder; sickness; illness; malady; indisposition; ailment. See Disease.

Dis*tem"per*ance (?), n. Distemperature. [Obs.]

Dis*tem"per*ate (?), a. [LL. distemperatus, p. p.] 1. Immoderate. [Obs.] Sir W. Raleigh.

2. Diseased; disordered. [Obs.] Wodroephe.

Dis*tem"per*ate*ly, adv. Unduly. [Obs.]

Dis*tem"per*a*ture (?; 135), n. 1. Bad temperature; intemperateness; excess of heat or cold, or of other qualities; as, the distemperature of the air. [Obs.]

2. Disorder; confusion. Shak.

3. Disorder of body; slight illness; distemper.

A huge infectious troop
Of pale distemperatures and foes to life.
Shak.

4. Perturbation of mind; mental uneasiness.

Sprinkled a little patience on the heat of his distemperature.
Sir W. Scott.

Dis*tem"per*ment (?), n. Distempered state; distemperature. [Obs.] Feltham.

Dis*tend" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distended; p. pr. & vb. n. Distending.] [L. distendere, distentum, distensum; dis- + tendere to stretch, stretch out: cf. F. distendre to distend, détendre to unbend. See Tend, and cf. Detent.] 1. To extend in some one direction; to lengthen out; to stretch. [R.]

But say, what mean those colored streaks in heaven
Distended as the brow of God appeased?
Milton.

2. To stretch out or extend in all directions; to dilate; to enlarge, as by elasticity of parts; to inflate so as to produce tension; to cause to swell; as, to distend a bladder, the stomach, etc.

The warmth distends the chinks.
Dryden.

Syn. -- To dilate; expand; enlarge; swell; inflate.

Dis*tend", v. i. To become expanded or inflated; to swell. "His heart distends with pride." Milton.

Dis*ten`si*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality or capacity of being distensible. [R.]

Dis*ten"si*ble (?), a. Capable of being distended or dilated.

Dis*ten"sion (?), n. Same as Distention.

Dis*ten"sive (?), a. Distending, or capable of being distended.

Dis*tent" (?), a. [L. distentus, p. p. See Distend.] Distended. [Poetic] Thomson.

Dis*tent", n. Breadth. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.

Dis*ten"tion (?), n. [L. distentio: cf. F. distension.] 1. The act of distending; the act of stretching in breadth or in all directions; the state of being Distended; as, the distention of the lungs.

2. Breadth; extent or space occupied by the thing distended.

Dis*ter" (?), v. t. [L. dis- + terra earth, country; cf. Sp. & Pg. desterrar.] To banish or drive from a country. [Obs.] Howell.

Dis*ter"mi*nate (?), a. [L. disterminatus, p. p. of disterminare to limit. See Terminate.] Separated by bounds. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Dis*ter`mi*na"tion (?), n. [L. disterminatio.] Separation by bounds. [Obs.] Hammond.

Dis"thene (?), n. [Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?; force: cf. F. disthène.] (Min.) Cyanite or kyanite; -- so called in allusion to its unequal hardness in two different directions. See Cyanite.

Dis*throne" (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + throne: cf. OF. desthroner, F. détroner.] To dethrone. [Obs.]

Dis*thron"ize (?), v. t. To dethrone. [Obs.] Spenser.

Dis"tich (?), n. [L. distichon, Gr. &?;, neut. of &?; with two rows, of two verses; di- = di`s- twice + &?; row, verse, fr. &?; to ascend; akin to AS. stīgan to ascend: cf. F. distique. See Stirrup.] (Pros.) A couple of verses or poetic lines making complete sense; an epigram of two verses.

{ Dis"tich (?), Dis"tich*ous (?), } a. [Gr. &?;. See Distich, n.] Disposed in two vertical rows; two- ranked.

Dis"tich*ous*ly, adv. In a distichous manner.

Dis*til" (?), v. t. & i. See Distill.

Dis*till" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Distilled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Distilling.] [F. distiller, from L. destillare, destillatum; de + stillare to drop, stilla a drop, prob. fr. stiria frozen drop, icicle; prob. akin to stare, E. stand. Cf. Still, n. & v., Instill.] [Written also distil.] 1. To drop; to fall in drops; to trickle.

Soft showers distilled, and suns grew warm in vain.
Pope.

2. To flow gently, or in a small stream.

The Euphrates distilleth out of the mountains of Armenia.
Sir W. Raleigh.

3. To practice the art of distillation. Shak.

Dis*till", v. t. 1. To let fall or send down in drops.

Or o'er the glebe distill the kindly rain.
Pope.

The dew which on the tender grass
The evening had distilled.
Drayton.

2. To obtain by distillation; to extract by distillation, as spirits, essential oil, etc.; to rectify; as, to distill brandy from wine; to distill alcoholic spirits from grain; to distill essential oils from flowers, etc.; to distill fresh water from sea water. "Distilling odors on me." Tennyson.

3. To subject to distillation; as, to distill molasses in making rum; to distill barley, rye, corn, etc.

4. To dissolve or melt. [R.]

Swords by the lightning's subtle force distilled.
Addison.

Dis*till"a*ble (?), a. (Chem.) Capable of being distilled; especially, capable of being distilled without chemical change or decomposition; as, alcohol is distillable; olive oil is not distillable.

Dis*till"ate (?), n. (Chem.) The product of distillation; as, the distillate from molasses.

Dis`til*la"tion (?), n. [F. distillation, L. destillatio.] 1. The act of falling in drops, or the act of pouring out in drops.

2. That which falls in drops. [R.] Johnson

3. (Chem.) The separation of the volatile parts of a substance from the more fixed; specifically, the operation of driving off gas or vapor from volatile liquids or solids, by heat in a retort or still, and the condensation of the products as far as possible by a cool receiver, alembic, or condenser; rectification; vaporization; condensation; as, the distillation of illuminating gas and coal, of alcohol from sour mash, or of boric acid in steam.

&fist; The evaporation of water, its condensation into clouds, and its precipitation as rain, dew, frost, snow, or hail, is an illustration of natural distillation.

4. The substance extracted by distilling. Shak.

Destructive distillation (Chem.), the distillation, especially of complex solid substances, so that the ultimate constituents are separated or evolved in new compounds, -- usually requiring a high degree of heat; as, the destructive distillation of soft coal or of wood. -- Dry distillation, the distillation of substances by themselves, or without the addition of water or of other volatile solvent; as, the dry distillation of citric acid. -- Fractional distillation. (Chem.) See under Fractional.

Dis*til"la*to*ry (?), a. [Cf. F. distillatoire.] Belonging to, or used in, distilling; as, distillatory vessels. -- n. A distillatory apparatus; a still.

Dis*till"er (?), n. 1. One who distills; esp., one who extracts alcoholic liquors by distillation.

2. The condenser of a distilling apparatus.

Dis*till"er*y (?), n.; pl. Distilleries (#). [F. distillerie.] 1. The building and works where distilling, esp. of alcoholic liquors, is carried on.

2. The act of distilling spirits. [R.] Todd.

Dis*till"ment (?), n. Distillation; the substance obtained by distillation. [Obs.] Shak.

Dis*tinct" (?), a. [L. distinctus, p. p. of distinguere: cf. F. distinct. See Distinguish.] 1. Distinguished; having the difference marked; separated by a visible sign; marked out; specified. [Obs.]

Wherever thus created -- for no place
Is yet distinct by name.
Milton.

2. Marked; variegated. [Obs.]

The which [place] was dight
With divers flowers distinct with rare delight.
Spenser.

3. Separate in place; not conjunct; not united by growth or otherwise; -- with from.

The intention was that the two armies which marched out together should afterward be distinct.
Clarendon.

4. Not identical; different; individual.

To offend, and judge, are distinct offices.
Shak.

5. So separated as not to be confounded with any other thing; not liable to be misunderstood; not confused; well- defined; clear; as, we have a distinct or indistinct view of a prospect.

Relation more particular and distinct.
Milton.

Syn. -- Separate; unconnected; disjoined; different; clear; plain; conspicuous; obvious.

Dis*tinct" (?), v. t. To distinguish. [Obs.] Rom. of R.

Dis*tinc"tion (?), n. [L. distinctio: cf. F. distinction.] 1. A marking off by visible signs; separation into parts; division. [Obs.]

The distinction of tragedy into acts was not known.
Dryden.

2. The act of distinguishing or denoting the differences between objects, or the qualities by which one is known from others; exercise of discernment; discrimination.

To take away therefore that error, which confusion breedeth, distinction is requisite.
Hooker.

3. That which distinguishes one thing from another; distinguishing quality; sharply defined difference; as, the distinction between real and apparent good.

The distinction betwixt the animal kingdom and the inferior parts of matter.
Locke.

4. Estimation of difference; regard to differences or distinguishing circumstance.

Maids, women, wives, without distinction, fall.
Dryden.

5. Conspicuous station; eminence; superiority; honorable estimation; as, a man of distinction.

Your country's own means of distinction and defense.
D. Webster.

Syn. -- Difference; variation, variety; contrast; diversity; contrariety; disagreement; discrimination; preference; superiority; rank; note; eminence.

Dis*tinc"tive (?), a. [Cf. F. distinctif.] 1. Marking or expressing distinction or difference; distinguishing; characteristic; peculiar.

The distinctive character and institutions of New England.
Bancroft.

2. Having the power to distinguish and discern; discriminating. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Dis*tinc"tive*ly, adv. With distinction; plainly.

Dis*tinc"tive*ness, n. State of being distinctive.

Dis*tinct"ly (?), adv. 1. With distinctness; not confusedly; without the blending of one part or thing another; clearly; plainly; as, to see distinctly.

2. With meaning; significantly. [Obs.]

Thou dost snore distinctly;
There's meaning in thy snores.
Shak.

Syn. -- Separately; clearly; plainly; obviously.

Dis*tinct"ness, n. 1. The quality or state of being distinct; a separation or difference that prevents confusion of parts or things.

The soul's . . . distinctness from the body.
Cudworth.

2. Nice discrimination; hence, clearness; precision; as, he stated his arguments with great distinctness.

Syn. -- Plainness; clearness; precision; perspicuity.

Dis*tinc"ture (?), n. Distinctness. [R.]

Dis*tin"guish (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distinguished (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Distinguishing.] [F. distinguer, L. distinguere, distinctum; di- = dis- + stinguere to quench, extinguish; prob. orig., to prick, and so akin to G. stechen, E. stick, and perh. sting. Cf. Extinguish.] 1. Not set apart from others by visible marks; to make distinctive or discernible by exhibiting differences; to mark off by some characteristic.

Not more distinguished by her purple vest,
Than by the charming features of her face.
Dryden.

Milton has distinguished the sweetbrier and the eglantine.
Nares.

2. To separate by definition of terms or logical division of a subject with regard to difference; as, to distinguish sounds into high and low.

Moses distinguished the causes of the flood into those that belong to the heavens, and those that belong to the earth.
T. Burnet.

3. To recognize or discern by marks, signs, or characteristic quality or qualities; to know and discriminate (anything) from other things with which it might be confounded; as, to distinguish the sound of a drum.

We are enabled to distinguish good from evil, as well as truth from falsehood.
Watts.

Nor more can you distinguish of a man,
Than of his outward show.
Shak.

4. To constitute a difference; to make to differ.

Who distinguisheth thee?
1 Cor. iv. 7. (Douay version).

5. To separate from others by a mark of honor; to make eminent or known; to confer distinction upon; -- with by or for."To distinguish themselves by means never tried before." Johnson.

Syn. -- To mark; discriminate; differentiate; characterize; discern; perceive; signalize; honor; glorify.

Dis*tin"guish, v. i. 1. To make distinctions; to perceive the difference; to exercise discrimination; -- with between; as, a judge distinguishes between cases apparently similar, but differing in principle.

2. To become distinguished or distinctive; to make one's self or itself discernible. [R.]

The little embryo . . . first distinguishes into a little knot.
Jer. Taylor.

Dis*tin"guish*a*ble (?), a. 1. Capable of being distinguished; separable; divisible; discernible; capable of recognition; as, a tree at a distance is distinguishable from a shrub.

A simple idea being in itself uncompounded . . . is not distinguishable into different ideas.
Locke.

2. Worthy of note or special regard. Swift.

Dis*tin"guish*a*ble*ness (?), n. The quality of being distinguishable.

Dis*tin"guish*a*bly, adv. So as to be distinguished.

Dis*tin"guished (?), a. 1. Marked; special.

The most distinguished politeness.
Mad. D' Arblay.

2. Separated from others by distinct difference; having, or indicating, superiority; eminent or known; illustrious; -- applied to persons and deeds.

Syn. -- Marked; noted; famous; conspicuous; celebrated; transcendent; eminent; illustrious; extraordinary; prominent. -- Distinguished, Eminent, Conspicuous, Celebrated, Illustrious. A man is eminent, when he stands high as compared with those around him; conspicuous, when he is so elevated as to be seen and observed; distinguished, when he has something which makes him stand apart from others in the public view; celebrated, when he is widely spoken of with honor and respect; illustrious, when a splendor is thrown around him which confers the highest dignity.

Dis*tin"guish*ed*ly (?), adv. In a distinguished manner. [R.] Swift.

Dis*tin"guish*er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, distinguishes or separates one thing from another by marks of diversity. Sir T. Browne.

2. One who discerns accurately the difference of things; a nice or judicious observer. Dryden.

Dis*tin"guish*ing, a. Constituting difference, or distinction from everything else; distinctive; peculiar; characteristic.

The distinguishing doctrines of our holy religion.
Locke.

Distinguishing pennant (Naut.), a special pennant by which any particular vessel in a fleet is recognized and signaled. Simmonds.

Dis*tin"guish*ing*ly, adv. With distinction; with some mark of preference. Pope.

Dis*tin"guish*ment (?), n. Observation of difference; distinction. Graunt.

Dis*ti"tle (?), v. t. To deprive of title or right. [R.] B. Jonson.

||Dis"to*ma (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?; mouth.] (Zoöl.) A genus of parasitic, trematode worms, having two suckers for attaching themselves to the part they infest. See 1st Fluke, 2.

Dis*tort" (?), a. [L. distortus, p. p. of distorquere to twist, distort; dis- + torquere to twist. See Torsion.] Distorted; misshapen. [Obs.]

Her face was ugly and her mouth distort.
Spenser.

Dis*tort", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Distorting.] 1. To twist of natural or regular shape; to twist aside physically; as, to distort the limbs, or the body.

Whose face was distorted with pain.
Thackeray.

2. To force or put out of the true posture or direction; to twist aside mentally or morally.

Wrath and malice, envy and revenge, do darken and distort the understandings of men.
Tillotson.

3. To wrest from the true meaning; to pervert; as, to distort passages of Scripture, or their meaning.

Syn. -- To twist; wrest; deform; pervert.

Dis*tort"er (?), n. One who, or that which, distorts.

Dis*tor"tion (?), n. [L. distortio: cf. F. distortion.] 1. The act of distorting, or twisting out of natural or regular shape; a twisting or writhing motion; as, the distortions of the face or body.

2. A wresting from the true meaning. Bp. Wren.

3. The state of being distorted, or twisted out of shape or out of true position; crookedness; perversion.

4. (Med.) An unnatural deviation of shape or position of any part of the body producing visible deformity.

Dis*tort"ive (?), a. Causing distortion.

Dis*tract" (?), a. [L. distractus, p. p. of distrahere to draw asunder; dis- + trahere to draw. See Trace, and cf. Distraught.] 1. Separated; drawn asunder. [Obs.]

2. Insane; mad. [Obs.] Drayton.

Dis*tract", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distracted, old p. p. Distraught; p. pr. & vb. n. Distracting.] 1. To draw apart or away; to divide; to disjoin.

A city . . . distracted from itself.
Fuller.

2. To draw (the sight, mind, or attention) in different directions; to perplex; to confuse; as, to distract the eye; to distract the attention.

Mixed metaphors . . . distract the imagination.
Goldsmith.

3. To agitate by conflicting passions, or by a variety of motives or of cares; to confound; to harass.

Horror and doubt distract
His troubled thoughts.
Milton.

4. To unsettle the reason of; to render insane; to craze; to madden; -- most frequently used in the participle, distracted.

A poor mad soul; . . . poverty hath distracted her.
Shak.

Dis*tract"ed, a. Mentally disordered; unsettled; mad.

My distracted mind.
Pope.

Dis*tract"ed*ly, adv. Disjointedly; madly. Shak.

Dis*tract"ed*ness, n. A state of being distracted; distraction. Bp. Hall.

Dis*tract"er (?), n. One who, or that which, distracts away.

Dis*tract"ful (?), a. Distracting. [R.] Heywood.

Dis*tract"i*ble (?), a. Capable of being drawn aside or distracted.

Dis*tract"ile (?), a. (Bot.) Tending or serving to draw apart.

Dis*tract"ing, a. Tending or serving to distract.

Dis*trac"tion (?), n. [L. distractio: cf. F. distraction.] 1. The act of distracting; a drawing apart; separation.

To create distractions among us.
Bp. Burnet.

2. That which diverts attention; a diversion. "Domestic distractions." G. Eliot.

3. A diversity of direction; detachment. [Obs.]

His power went out in such distractions as
Beguiled all species.
Shak.

4. State in which the attention is called in different ways; confusion; perplexity.

That ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
1 Cor. vii. 35.

5. Confusion of affairs; tumult; disorder; as, political distractions.

Never was known a night of such distraction.
Dryden.

6. Agitation from violent emotions; perturbation of mind; despair.

The distraction of the children, who saw both their parents together, would have melted the hardest heart.
Tatler.

7. Derangement of the mind; madness. Atterbury.

Syn. -- Perplexity; confusion; disturbance; disorder; dissension; tumult; derangement; madness; raving; franticness; furiousness.

Dis*trac"tious (?), a. Distractive. [Obs.]

Dis*trac"tive (?), a. Causing perplexity; distracting. "Distractive thoughts." Bp. Hall.

Dis*train" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distrained (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Distraining.] [OE. destreinen to force, OF. destreindre to press, oppress, force, fr. L. distringere, districtum, to draw asunder, hinder, molest, LL., to punish severely; di- = stringere to draw tight, press together. See Strain, and cf. Distress, District, Distraint.] 1. To press heavily upon; to bear down upon with violence; hence, to constrain or compel; to bind; to distress, torment, or afflict. [Obs.] "Distrained with chains." Chaucer.

2. To rend; to tear. [Obs.]

Neither guile nor force might it [a net] distrain.
Spenser.

3. (Law) (a) To seize, as a pledge or indemnification; to take possession of as security for nonpayment of rent, the reparation of an injury done, etc.; to take by distress; as, to distrain goods for rent, or of an amercement. (b) To subject to distress; to coerce; as, to distrain a person by his goods and chattels.

Dis*train", v. i. To levy a distress.

Upon whom I can distrain for debt.
Camden.

Dis*train"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being, or liable to be, distrained. Blackstone.

Dis*train"er (?), n. Same as Distrainor.

Dis*train"or (?), n. (Law) One who distrains; the party distraining goods or chattels. Blackstone.

Dis*traint" (?), n. [OF. destrainte distress, force.] (Law) The act or proceeding of seizing personal property by distress. Abbott.

||Dis`trait" (?), a. [F. See Distract.] Absent-minded; lost in thought; abstracted.

Dis*traught" (?), p. p. & a. [OE. distract, distrauht. See Distract, a.] 1. Torn asunder; separated. [Obs.] "His greedy throat . . . distraught." Spenser.

2. Distracted; perplexed. "Distraught twixt fear and pity." Spenser.

As if thou wert distraught and mad with terror.
Shak.

To doubt betwixt our senses and our souls
Which are the most distraught and full of pain.
Mrs. Browning.

Dis*traught"ed, a. Distracted. [Obs.] Spenser.

Dis*tream" (?), v. i. [Pref. dis- (intens.) + stream.] To flow. [Poetic]

Yet o'er that virtuous blush distreams a tear.
Shenstone.

Dis*tress" (?), n. [OE. destresse, distresse, OF. destresse, destrece, F. détresse, OF. destrecier to distress, (assumed) LL. districtiare, fr. L. districtus, p. p. of distringere. See Distrain, and cf. Stress.] 1. Extreme pain or suffering; anguish of body or mind; as, to suffer distress from the gout, or from the loss of friends.

Not fearing death nor shrinking for distress.
Shak.

2. That which occasions suffering; painful situation; misfortune; affliction; misery.

Affliction's sons are brothers in distress.
Burns.

3. A state of danger or necessity; as, a ship in distress, from leaking, loss of spars, want of provisions or water, etc.

4. (Law) (a) The act of distraining; the taking of a personal chattel out of the possession of a wrongdoer, by way of pledge for redress of an injury, or for the performance of a duty, as for nonpayment of rent or taxes, or for injury done by cattle, etc. (b) The thing taken by distraining; that which is seized to procure satisfaction. Bouvier. Kent. Burrill.

If he were not paid, he would straight go and take a distress of goods and cattle.
Spenser.

The distress thus taken must be proportioned to the thing distrained for.
Blackstone.

Abuse of distress. (Law) See under Abuse.

Syn. -- Affliction; suffering; pain; agony; misery; torment; anguish; grief; sorrow; calamity; misfortune; trouble; adversity. See Affliction.

Dis*tress", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distressed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Distressing.] [Cf. OF. destrecier. See Distress, n.] 1. To cause pain or anguish to; to pain; to oppress with calamity; to afflict; to harass; to make miserable.

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed.
2 Cor. iv. 8.

2. To compel by pain or suffering.

Men who can neither be distressed nor won into a sacrifice of duty.
A. Hamilton.

3. (Law) To seize for debt; to distrain.

Syn. -- To pain; grieve; harass; trouble; perplex; afflict; worry; annoy.

Dis*tress"ed*ness, n. A state of being distressed or greatly pained.

Dis*tress"ful (?), a. Full of distress; causing, indicating, or attended with, distress; as, a distressful situation. "Some distressful stroke." Shak. "Distressful cries." Pope. -- Dis*tress"ful*ly, adv.

Dis*tress"ing (d&ibreve;s*tr&ebreve;s"&ibreve;ng), a. Causing distress; painful; unpleasant.

Dis*tress"ing, adv. In a distressing manner.

Dis*trib"u*ta*ble (?), a. Capable of being distributed. Sir W. Jones.

Dis*trib"u*ta*ry (?), a. Tending to distribute or be distributed; that distributes; distributive.

Dis*trib"ute (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distributed; p. pr. & vb. n. Distributing.] [L. distributus, p. p. of distribuere to divide, distribute; dis- + tribuere to assign, give, allot. See Tribute.] 1. To divide among several or many; to deal out; to apportion; to allot.

She did distribute her goods to all them that were nearest of kindred.
Judith xvi. 24.

2. To dispense; to administer; as, to distribute justice. Shak.

3. To divide or separate, as into classes, orders, kinds, or species; to classify; to assort, as specimens, letters, etc.

4. (Printing) (a) To separate (type which has been used) and return it to the proper boxes in the cases. (b) To spread (ink) evenly, as upon a roller or a table.

5. (Logic) To employ (a term) in its whole extent; to take as universal in one premise.

A term is said to be distributed when it is taken universal, so as to stand for everything it is capable of being applied to.
Whately.

Syn. -- To dispense; deal out; apportion; allot; share; assign; divide.

Dis*trib"ute, v. i. To make distribution.

Distributing to the necessity of saints.
Rom. xii. 13.

Dis*trib"u*ter (?), n. One who, or that which, distributes or deals out anything; a dispenser. Addison.

Dis*trib"u*ting, a. That distributes; dealing out.

Distributing past office, an office where the mails for a large district are collected to be assorted according to their destination and forwarded.

Dis`tri*bu"tion (?), n. [L. distributio: cf. F. distribution.] 1. The act of distributing or dispensing; the act of dividing or apportioning among several or many; apportionment; as, the distribution of an estate among heirs or children.

The phenomena of geological distribution are exactly analogous to those of geography.
A. R. Wallace.

2. Separation into parts or classes; arrangement of anything into parts; disposition; classification.

3. That which is distributed. "Our charitable distributions." Atterbury.

4. (Logic) A resolving a whole into its parts.

5. (Print.) The sorting of types and placing them in their proper boxes in the cases.

6. (Steam Engine) The steps or operations by which steam is supplied to and withdrawn from the cylinder at each stroke of the piston; viz., admission, suppression or cutting off, release or exhaust, and compression of exhaust steam prior to the next admission.

Geographical distribution, the natural arrangements of animals and plants in particular regions or districts.

Syn. -- Apportionments; allotment; dispensation; disposal; dispersion; classification; arrangement.

Dis`tri*bu"tion*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to distribution. Huxley.

Dis`tri*bu"tion*ist, n. A distributer. [R.] Dickens.

Dis*trib"u*tive (?), a. [Cf. F. distributif.] 1. Tending to distribute; serving to divide and assign in portions; dealing to each his proper share. "Distributive justice." Swift.

2. (Logic) Assigning the species of a general term.

3. (Gram.) Expressing separation; denoting a taking singly, not collectively; as, a distributive adjective or pronoun, such as each, either, every; a distributive numeral, as (Latin) bini (two by two).

Distributive operation (Math.), any operation which either consists of two or more parts, or works upon two or more things, and which is such that the result of the total operation is the same as the aggregated result of the two or more partial operations. Ordinary multiplication is distributive, since a × (b + c) = ab + ac, and (a + b) × c = ac + bc. -- Distributive proportion. (Math.) See Fellowship.

Dis*trib"u*tive, n. (Gram.) A distributive adjective or pronoun; also, a distributive numeral.

Dis*trib"u*tive*ly, adv. By distribution; singly; not collectively; in a distributive manner.

Dis*trib"u*tive*ness, n. Quality of being distributive.

Dis"trict (?), a. [L. districtus, p. p.] Rigorous; stringent; harsh. [Obs.]

Punishing with the rod of district severity.
Foxe.

Dis"trict, n. [LL. districtus district, fr. L. districtus, p. p. of distringere: cf. F. district. See Distrain.] 1. (Feudal Law) The territory within which the lord has the power of coercing and punishing.

2. A division of territory; a defined portion of a state, town, or city, etc., made for administrative, electoral, or other purposes; as, a congressional district, judicial district, land district, school district, etc.

To exercise exclusive legislation . . . over such district not exceeding ten miles square.
The Constitution of the United States.

3. Any portion of territory of undefined extent; a region; a country; a tract.

These districts which between the tropics lie.
Blackstone.

Congressional district. See under Congressional. -- District attorney, the prosecuting officer of a district or district court. -- District court, a subordinate municipal, state, or United States tribunal, having jurisdiction in certain cases within a judicial district. -- District judge, one who presides over a district court. -- District school, a public school for the children within a school district. [U.S.]

Syn. -- Division; circuit; quarter; province; tract; region; country.

Dis"trict, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Districted; p. pr. & vb. n. Districting.] To divide into districts or limited portions of territory; as, legislatures district States for the choice of representatives.

Dis*tric"tion (?), n. [L. districtio a stretching out.] Sudden display; flash; glitter. [R.]

A smile . . . breaks out with the brightest distriction.
Collier.

Dis"trict*ly (?), adv. Strictly. [Obs.] Foxe.

||Dis*trin"gas (?), n. [L., that you distrain, fr. distringere. See Distrain.] (Law) A writ commanding the sheriff to distrain a person by his goods or chattels, to compel a compliance with something required of him.

Dis*trou"ble (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- (intens.) + trouble.] To trouble. [Obs.] Spenser.

Dis*trust" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distrusted; p. pr. & vb. n. Distrusting.] [Cf. Mistrust.] To feel absence of trust in; not to confide in or rely upon; to deem of questionable sufficiency or reality; to doubt; to be suspicious of; to mistrust.

Not distrusting my health.
2 Mac. ix. 22.

To distrust the justice of your cause.
Dryden.

He that requireth the oath doth distrust that other.
Udall.

Of all afraid,
Distrusting all, a wise, suspicious maid.
Collins.

&fist; Mistrust has been almost wholly driven out by distrust. T. L. K. Oliphant.

Dis*trust", n. 1. Doubt of sufficiency, reality, or sincerity; want of confidence, faith, or reliance; as, distrust of one's power, authority, will, purposes, schemes, etc.

2. Suspicion of evil designs.

Alienation and distrust . . . are the growth of false principles.
D. Webster.

3. State of being suspected; loss of trust. Milton.

Dis*trust"er (?), n. One who distrusts.

Dis*trust"ful (?), a. 1. Not confident; diffident; wanting confidence or thrust; modest; as, distrustful of ourselves, of one's powers.

Distrustful sense with modest caution speaks.
Pope.

2. Apt to distrust; suspicious; mistrustful. Boyle.

-- Dis*trust"ful*ly, adv. -- Dis*trust"ful*ness, n.

Dis*trust"ing, a. That distrusts; suspicious; lacking confidence in. -- Dis*trust"ing*ly, adv.

Dis*trust"less, a. Free from distrust. Shenstone.

Dis*tune" (?), v. t. To put out of tune. [Obs.]

Dis*turb" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disturbed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disturbing.] [OE. desturben, destourben, OF. destorber, desturber, destourber, fr. L. disturbare, disturbatum; dis- + turbare to disturb, trouble, turba disorder, tumult, crowd. See Turbid.] 1. To throw into disorder or confusion; to derange; to interrupt the settled state of; to excite from a state of rest.

Preparing to disturb
With all-cofounding war the realms above.
Cowper.

The bellow's noise disturbed his quiet rest.
Spenser.

The utmost which the discontented colonies could do, was to disturb authority.
Burke.

2. To agitate the mind of; to deprive of tranquillity; to disquiet; to render uneasy; as, a person is disturbed by receiving an insult, or his mind is disturbed by envy.

3. To turn from a regular or designed course. [Obs.]

And disturb
His inmost counsels from their destined aim.
Milton.

Syn. -- To disorder; disquiet; agitate; discompose; molest; perplex; trouble; incommode; ruffle.

Dis*turb", n. Disturbance. [Obs.] Milton.

Dis*turb"ance (?), n. [OF. destorbance.] 1. An interruption of a state of peace or quiet; derangement of the regular course of things; disquiet; disorder; as, a disturbance of religious exercises; a disturbance of the galvanic current.

2. Confusion of the mind; agitation of the feelings; perplexity; uneasiness.

Any man . . . in a state of disturbance and irritation.
Burke.

3. Violent agitation in the body politic; public commotion; tumult.

The disturbance was made to support a general accusation against the province.
Bancroft.

4. (Law) The hindering or disquieting of a person in the lawful and peaceable enjoyment of his right; the interruption of a right; as, the disturbance of a franchise, of common, of ways, and the like. Blackstone.

Syn. -- Tumult; brawl; commotion; turmoil; uproar; hubbub; disorder; derangement; confusion; agitation; perturbation; annoyance.

Dis`tur*ba"tion (?), n. [L. disturbatio.] Act of disturbing; disturbance. [Obs.] Daniel.

Dis*turb"er (?), n. [Cf. OF. destorbeor.] 1. One who, or that which, disturbs of disquiets; a violator of peace; a troubler.

A needless disturber of the peace of God's church and an author of dissension.
Hooker.

2. (Law) One who interrupts or incommodes another in the peaceable enjoyment of his right.

Dis*turn" (?), v. t. [OF. destourner, F. détourner. See Detour.] To turn aside. [Obs.] Daniel.

Dis"tyle (?), a. [Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?; pillar: cf. F. distyle.] (Arch.) Having two columns in front; -- said of a temple, portico, or the like.

Distyle in antis, having columns between two antæ. See Anta.

Di*sul"phate (?), n. [Pref. di- + sulphate.] (Chem.) (a) A salt of disulphuric or pyrosulphuric acid; a pyrosulphate. (b) An acid salt of sulphuric acid, having only one equivalent of base to two of the acid.

Di*sul"phide (?; 104), n. [Pref. di- + sulphide.] (Chem.) A binary compound of sulphur containing two atoms of sulphur in each molecule; -- formerly called disulphuret. Cf. Bisulphide.

Di*sul"phu*ret (?), n. [Pref. di- + sulphuret.] (Chem.) See Disulphide.

Di`sul*phu"ric (?), a. [Pref. di- + sulphuric.] (Chem.) Applied to an acid having in each molecule two atoms of sulphur in the higher state of oxidation.

Disulphuric acid, a thick oily liquid, H2S2O7, called also Nordhausen acid (from Nordhausen in the Harts, where it was originally manufactured), fuming sulphuric acid, and especially pyrosulphuric acid. See under Pyrosulphuric.

Dis*u"ni*form (?), a. Not uniform. [Obs.]

Dis*un"ion (?), n. [Pref. dis- + union: cf. F. désunion.] 1. The termination of union; separation; disjunction; as, the disunion of the body and the soul.

2. A breach of concord and its effect; alienation.

Such a disunion between the two houses as might much clou&?; the happiness of this kingdom.
Clarendon.

3. The termination or disruption of the union of the States forming the United States.

I have not accustomed myself to hang over the precipice of disunion.
D. Webster.

Dis*un"ion*ist, n. An advocate of disunion, specifically, of disunion of the United States.

Dis`u*nite" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disunited; p. pr. & vb. n. Disuniting.] 1. To destroy the union of; to divide; to part; to sever; to disjoin; to sunder; to separate; as, to disunite particles of matter.

2. To alienate in spirit; to break the concord of.

Go on both in hand, O nations, never be disunited, be the praise . . . of all posterity!
Milton.

Dis`u*nite", v. i. To part; to fall asunder; to become separated.

The joints of the body politic do separate and disunite.
South.

Dis`u*nit"er (?), n. One who, or that which, disjoins or causes disunion.

Dis*u"ni*ty (?), n. A state of separation or disunion; want of unity. Dr. H. More.

Dis*us"age (?), n. Gradual cessation of use or custom; neglect of use; disuse. [R.] Hooker.

Dis*use" (?; see Dis-), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disused (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disusing.] 1. To cease to use; to discontinue the practice of.

2. To disaccustom; -- with to or from; as, disused to toil. "Disuse me from . . . pain." Donne.

Dis*use" (?), n. Cessation of use, practice, or exercise; inusitation; desuetude; as, the limbs lose their strength by disuse.

The disuse of the tongue in the only . . . remedy.
Addison.

Church discipline then fell into disuse.
Southey.

Dis*u"til*ize (?), v. t. To deprive of utility; to render useless. [R.] Mrs. Browning.

Dis*val`u*a"tion (?), n. Disesteem; depreciation; disrepute. Bacon.

Dis*val"ue (?; see Dis-), v. t. To undervalue; to depreciate. Shak.

Dis*val"ue, n. Disesteem; disregard. B. Jonson.

Dis`van*ta"geous (?), a. [Pref. dis- + vantage.] Disadvantageous. [Obs.] "Disadvantageous ground." Drayton.

Dis*vel"op (?), v. t. To develop. [Obs.]

Dis*ven"ture (?; 135), n. A disadventure. [Obs.] Shelton.

Dis*vouch" (?), v. t. To discredit; to contradict. [Obs.] Shak.

Dis*warn" (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- (intens.) + warn.] To dissuade from by previous warning. [Obs.]

Dis*wit"ted (?), a. Deprived of wits or understanding; distracted. [Obs.] Drayton.

Dis*wont" (?), v. t. To deprive of wonted usage; to disaccustom. [R.] Bp. Hall.

Dis*work"man*ship (?), n. Bad workmanship. [Obs.] Heywood.

Dis*wor"ship (?), v. t. To refuse to worship; to treat as unworthy. [Obs.] Sir T. More.

Dis*wor"ship, n. A deprivation of honor; a cause of disgrace; a discredit. [Obs.] Milton.

Dis*worth" (?), v. t. To deprive of worth; to degrade. [Obs.] Feltham.

Dis*yoke" (?), v. t. To unyoke; to free from a yoke; to disjoin. [Poetic] R. Browning.

Dit (?), n. [Ditty.] 1. A word; a decree. [Obs.]

2. A ditty; a song. [Obs.]

Dit, v. t. [AS. dyttan, akin to Icel. ditta.] To close up. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Di*ta"tion (?), n. [L. ditare to enrich, fr. dis, ditis, same as dives, rich.] The act of making rich; enrichment. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Ditch (?; 224), n.; pl. Ditches (#). [OE. dich, orig. the same word as dik. See Dike.] 1. A trench made in the earth by digging, particularly a trench for draining wet land, for guarding or fencing inclosures, or for preventing an approach to a town or fortress. In the latter sense, it is called also a moat or a fosse.

2. Any long, narrow receptacle for water on the surface of the earth.

Ditch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ditched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Ditching.] 1. To dig a ditch or ditches in; to drain by a ditch or ditches; as, to ditch moist land.

2. To surround with a ditch. Shak.

3. To throw into a ditch; as, the engine was ditched and turned on its side.

Ditch, v. i. To dig a ditch or ditches. Swift.

Ditch"er (?), n. One who digs ditches.

Dite (?), v. t. [See Dight.] To prepare for action or use; to make ready; to dight. [Obs.]

His hideous club aloft he dites.
Spenser.

Di*ter"e*bene (?), n. [Pref. di- + terebene.] (Chem.) See Colophene.

{ Di*the"cal (?), Di*the"cous (?), } a. [Pref. di- + theca.] (Bot.) Having two thecæ, cells, or compartments.

Di"the*ism (?), n. [Pref. di- + theism: cf. F. dithéisme.] The doctrine of those who maintain the existence of two gods or of two original principles (as in Manicheism), one good and one evil; dualism.

Di"the*ist, n. One who holds the doctrine of ditheism; a dualist. Cudworth.

{ Di`the*is"tic (?), Di`the*is"tic*al (?), } a. Pertaining to ditheism; dualistic.

Di`thi*on"ic (?), a. [Pref. di- + -thionic.] (Chem.) Containing two equivalents of sulphur; as, dithionic acid.

Dithionic acid (Chem.), an unstable substance, H2S2O6, known only in its solutions, and in certain well-defined salts.

Dith"y*ramb (?), n. [L. dithyrambus, Gr. &?; a kind of lyric poetry in honor of Bacchus; also, a name of Bacchus; of unknown origin: cf. F. dithyrambe.] A kind of lyric poetry in honor of Bacchus, usually sung by a band of revelers to a flute accompaniment; hence, in general, a poem written in a wild irregular strain. Bentley.

Dith`y*ram"bic (?), a. [L. dithyrambicus, Gr. &?;: cf. F. dithyrambique.] Pertaining to, or resembling, a dithyramb; wild and boisterous. "Dithyrambic sallies." Longfellow. -- n. A dithyrambic poem; a dithyramb.

Dith`y*ram"bus (?), n. [L.] See Dithyramb.

Di"tion (?), n. [L. ditio, dicio: cf. F. dition.] Dominion; rule. [Obs.] Evelyn.

Di"tion*a*ry (?), a. Under rule; subject; tributary. [Obs.] Chapman.

Di"tion*a*ry, n. A subject; a tributary. [Obs.] Eden.

Di"to*kous (?), a. [Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?; a bringing forth, offspring.] (Zoöl.) (a) Having two kinds of young, as certain annelids. (b) Producing only two eggs for a clutch, as certain birds do.

Di*tol"yl (?), n. [Pref. di- + tolyl.] (Chem.) A white, crystalline, aromatic hydrocarbon, C14H14, consisting of two radicals or residues of toluene.

Di"tone` (?), n. [Gr. &?; of two tones; di- = di`s- twice + &?; tone.] (Mus.) The Greek major third, which comprehend two major tones (the modern major third contains one major and one minor whole tone).

Di`tri*chot"o*mous (?), a. [Pref. di- + trichotomous.] 1. Divided into twos or threes.

2. (Bot.) Dividing into double or treble ramifications; -- said of a leaf or stem. [R.] Loudon.

Di`tro*che"an (?), a. (Pros.) Containing two trochees.

Di*tro"chee (?), n. [L. ditrochaeus, Gr. &?;; di- = di`s- twice + &?; trochee.] (Pros.) A double trochee; a foot made up of two trochees.

Dit"ro*ite (?), n. [Named from Ditro in Transylvania.] (Min.) An igneous rock composed of orthoclase, elæolite, and sodalite.

Ditt (?), n. See Dit, n., 2. [Obs.] Spenser.

Dit*tan"der (?), n. [See Dittany.] (Bot.) A kind of peppergrass (Lepidium latifolium).

Dit"ta*ny (?), n. [OE. dytane, detane, dytan, OF. ditain, F. dictame, L. dictamnum, fr. Gr. di`ktamnon , di`ktamnos, a plant growing in abundance on Mount Dicte in Crete. Cf. Dittander.] (Bot.) (a) A plant of the Mint family (Origanum Dictamnus), a native of Crete. (b) The Dictamnus Fraxinella. See Dictamnus. (c) In America, the Cunila Mariana, a fragrant herb of the Mint family.

Dit"tied (?), a. [From Ditty.] Set, sung, or composed as a ditty; -- usually in composition.

Who, with his soft pipe, and smooth-dittied song.
Milton.

Dit"to (?), n.; pl. Dittos (&?;). [It., detto, ditto, fr. L. dictum. See Dictum.] The aforesaid thing; the same (as before). Often contracted to do., or to two "turned commas" ("), or small marks. Used in bills, books of account, tables of names, etc., to save repetition.

A spacious table in the center, and a variety of smaller dittos in the corners.
Dickens.

Dit"to, adv. As before, or aforesaid; in the same manner; also.

Dit*tol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. dittologi`a. Attic form of dissologi`a repetition of words: &?; twofold + &?; to speak.] A double reading, or twofold interpretation, as of a Scripture text. [R.]

Dit"ty (?), n.; pl. Ditties (#). [OE. dite, OF. ditié, fr. L. dictatum, p. p. neut. of dictare to say often, dictate, compose. See Dictate, v. t.] 1. A saying or utterance; especially, one that is short and frequently repeated; a theme.

O, too high ditty for my simple rhyme.
Spenser.

2. A song; a lay; a little poem intended to be sung. "Religious, martial, or civil ditties." Milton.

And to the warbling lute soft ditties sing.
Sandys.

Dit"ty, v. i. To sing; to warble a little tune.

Beasts fain would sing; birds ditty to their notes.
Herbert.

Dit"ty-bag`, n. A sailor's small bag to hold thread, needles, tape, etc.; -- also called sailor's housewife.

Dit"ty-box` (?), n. A small box to hold a sailor's thread, needless, comb, etc.

Di*u"re*ide (?), n. [Di- + ureide.] (Chem.) One of a series of complex nitrogenous substances regarded as containing two molecules of urea or their radicals, as uric acid or allantoin. Cf. Ureide.

||Di`u*re"sis (?), n. [NL. See Diuretic.] (Med.) Free excretion of urine.

Di`u*ret"ic (?), a. [L. diureticus, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to make water; &?; through + &?; to make water, fr. &?; urine: cf. F. diurétique.] (Med.) Tending to increase the secretion and discharge of urine. -- n. A medicine with diuretic properties.

Diuretic salt (Med.), potassium acetate; -- so called because of its diuretic properties.

Di`u*ret"ic*al (?), a. Diuretic. [Obs.] Boyle.

Di`u*ret"ic*al*ness, n. The quality of being diuretical; diuretic property.

||Di*ur"na (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. L. diurnus belonging to the day.] (Zoöl.) A division of Lepidoptera, including the butterflies; -- so called because they fly only in the daytime.

Di*ur"nal (?), a. [L. diurnalis, fr. dies day. See Deity, and cf. Journal.] 1. Relating to the daytime; belonging to the period of daylight, distinguished from the night; -- opposed to nocturnal; as, diurnal heat; diurnal hours.

2. Daily; recurring every day; performed in a day; going through its changes in a day; constituting the measure of a day; as, a diurnal fever; a diurnal task; diurnal aberration, or diurnal parallax; the diurnal revolution of the earth.

Ere twice the horses of the sun shall bring
Their fiery torcher his diurnal ring.
Shak.

3. (Bot.) Opening during the day, and closing at night; -- said of flowers or leaves.

4. (Zoöl.) Active by day; -- applied especially to the eagles and hawks among raptorial birds, and to butterflies (Diurna) among insects.

Diurnal aberration (Anat.), the aberration of light arising from the effect of the earth's rotation upon the apparent direction of motion of light. -- Diurnal arc, the arc described by the sun during the daytime or while above the horizon; hence, the arc described by the moon or a star from rising to setting. -- Diurnal circle, the apparent circle described by a celestial body in consequence of the earth's rotation. -- Diurnal motion of the earth, the motion of the earth upon its axis which is described in twenty-four hours. -- Diurnal motion of a heavenly body, that apparent motion of the heavenly body which is due to the earth's diurnal motion. -- Diurnal parallax. See under Parallax. -- Diurnal revolution of a planet, the motion of the planet upon its own axis which constitutes one complete revolution.

Syn. -- See Daily.

Di*ur"nal (?), n. [Cf. F. diurnal a prayerbook. See Diurnal, a.] 1. A daybook; a journal. [Obs.] Tatler.

2. (R. C. Ch.) A small volume containing the daily service for the "little hours," viz., prime, tierce, sext, nones, vespers, and compline.

3. (Zoöl.) A diurnal bird or insect.

Di*ur"nal*ist, n. A journalist. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Di*ur"nal*ly, adv. Daily; every day.

Di*ur"nal*ness, n. The quality of being diurnal.

Di`ur*na"tion (?), n. 1. Continuance during the day. [Obs.]

2. (Zoöl.) The condition of sleeping or becoming dormant by day, as is the case of the bats.

Di`u*tur"nal (?), a. [L. diuturnus, fr. diu a long time, by day; akin to dies day.] Of long continuance; lasting. [R.] Milton.

Di`u*tur"ni*ty (?), n. [L. diuturnitas.] Long duration; lastingness. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

Di`va*ga"tion (?), n. [L. divagari to wander about; di- = dis- + vagari to stroll about: cf. F. divagation. See Vagary.] A wandering about or going astray; digression.

Let us be set down at Queen's Crawley without further divagation.
Thackeray.

Div"a*lent (?), a. [Pref. di- + L. valens, valentis, p. pr. See Valence.] (Chem.) Having two units of combining power; bivalent. Cf. Valence.

Di*van" (?), n. [Per. dīwān a book of many leaves, an account book, a collection of books, a senate, council: cf. Ar. daiwān, F. divan.] 1. A book; esp., a collection of poems written by one author; as, the divan of Hafiz. [Persia]

2. In Turkey and other Oriental countries: A council of state; a royal court. Also used by the poets for a grand deliberative council or assembly. Pope.

3. A chief officer of state. [India]

4. A saloon or hall where a council is held, in Oriental countries, the state reception room in places, and in the houses of the richer citizens. Cushions on the floor or on benches are ranged round the room.

5. A cushioned seat, or a large, low sofa or couch; especially, one fixed to its place, and not movable.

6. A coffee and smoking saloon. [Colloq.]

Di*var"i*cate (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Divaricated; p. pr. & vb. n. Divaricating.] [L. divaricatus, p. p. of divaricare to stretch apart; di- = dis- + varicare to straddle, fr. varicus straddling, fr. varus stretched outwards.] 1. To part into two branches; to become bifid; to fork.

2. To diverge; to be divaricate. Woodward.

Di*var"i*cate, v. t. To divide into two branches; to cause to branch apart.

Di*var"i*cate (?), a. [L. divaricatus, p. p.] 1. Diverging; spreading asunder; widely diverging.

2. (Biol.) Forking and diverging; widely diverging; as the branches of a tree, or as lines of sculpture, or color markings on animals, etc.

Di*var"i*cate*ly, adv. With divarication.

Di*var`i*ca"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. divarication.] 1. A separation into two parts or branches; a forking; a divergence.

2. An ambiguity of meaning; a disagreement of difference in opinion. Sir T. Browne.

3. (Biol.) A divergence of lines of color sculpture, or of fibers at different angles.

Di*var`i*ca"tor (?), n. (Zoöl.) One of the muscles which open the shell of brachiopods; a cardinal muscle. See Illust. of Brachiopoda.

Di*vast" (?), a. Devastated; laid waste. [Obs.]

Dive (dīv), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dived (dīvd), colloq. Dove (dōv), a relic of the AS. strong forms deáf, dofen; p. pr. & vb. n. Diving.] [OE. diven, duven, AS. d&ymacr;fan to sink, v. t., fr. dūfan, v. i.; akin to Icel. d&ymacr;fa, G. taufen, E. dip, deep, and perh. to dove, n. Cf. Dip.] 1. To plunge into water head foremost; to thrust the body under, or deeply into, water or other fluid.

It is not that pearls fetch a high price because men have dived for them.
Whately.

&fist; The colloquial form dove is common in the United States as an imperfect tense form.

All [the walruses] dove down with a tremendous splash.
Dr. Hayes.

When closely pressed it [the loon] dove . . . and left the young bird sitting in the water.
J. Burroughs.

2. Fig.: To plunge or to go deeply into any subject, question, business, etc.; to penetrate; to explore. South.

Dive (?), v. t. 1. To plunge (a person or thing) into water; to dip; to duck. [Obs.] Hooker.

2. To explore by diving; to plunge into. [R.]

The Curtii bravely dived the gulf of fame.
Denham.

He dives the hollow, climbs the steeps.
Emerson.

Dive, n. 1. A plunge headforemost into water, the act of one who dives, literally or figuratively.

2. A place of low resort; a dispreputable bar or nightclub; a dingy hotel; a joint. [Slang]

The music halls and dives in the lower part of the city.
J. Hawthorne.

Dive"dap`per (?), n. [See Dive, Didapper.] (Zoöl.) A water fowl; the didapper. See Dabchick.

Di*vel" (?), v. t. [L. divellere; dit- = dis- + vellere to pluck.] To rend apart. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Di*vel"lent (?), a. [L. divellens, p. pr.] Drawing asunder. [R.]

Di*vel"li*cate (?), v. t. [L. di- = vellicatus, p. p. of vellicare to pluck, fr. vellere to pull.] To pull in pieces. [Obs. or R.]

Div"er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, dives.

Divers and fishers for pearls.
Woodward.

2. Fig.: One who goes deeply into a subject, study, or business. "A diver into causes." Sir H. Wotton.

3. (Zoöl.) Any bird of certain genera, as Urinator (formerly Colymbus), or the allied genus Colymbus, or Podiceps, remarkable for their agility in diving.

&fist; The northern diver (Urinator imber) is the loon; the black diver or velvet scoter (Oidemia fusca) is a sea duck. See Loon, and Scoter.

Di"verb (?), n. [L. diverbium the colloquial part of a comedy, dialogue; di- = dis- + verbum word.] A saying in which two members of the sentence are contrasted; an antithetical proverb. [Obs.]

Italy, a paradise for horses, a hell for women, as the diverb goes.
Burton.

Di*ver"ber*ate (?), v. t. [L. diverberatus, p. p. of diverberare to strike asunder; di- = dis- + verberare. See Verberate.] To strike or sound through. [R.] Davies (Holy Roode).

Di*ver`ber*a"tion (?), n. A sounding through.

Di*verge" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Diverged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Diverging.] [L. di- = dis- + vergere to bend, incline. See Verge.] 1. To extend from a common point in different directions; to tend from one point and recede from each other; to tend to spread apart; to turn aside or deviate (as from a given direction); -- opposed to converge; as, rays of light diverge as they proceed from the sun.

2. To differ from a typical form; to vary from a normal condition; to dissent from a creed or position generally held or taken.

Di*verge"ment (?), n. Divergence.

{ Di*ver"gence (?), Di*ver"gen*cy (?), } n. [Cf. F. divergence.] 1. A receding from each other in moving from a common center; the state of being divergent; as, an angle is made by the divergence of straight lines.

Rays come to the eye in a state of divergency.
&?;&?;&?;&?;&?;&?;.

2. Disagreement; difference.

Related with some divergence by other writers.
Sir G. C. Lewis.

Di*ver"gent (?), a. [Cf. F. divergent. See Diverge.] 1. Receding farther and farther from each other, as lines radiating from one point; deviating gradually from a given direction; -- opposed to convergent.

2. (Optics) Causing divergence of rays; as, a divergent lens.

3. Fig.: Disagreeing from something given; differing; as, a divergent statement.

Divergent series. (Math.) See Diverging series, under Diverging.

Di*ver"ging, a. Tending in different directions from a common center; spreading apart; divergent.

Diverging series (Math.), a series whose terms are larger as the series is extended; a series the sum of whose terms does not approach a finite limit when the series is extended indefinitely; -- opposed to a converging series.

Di*ver"ging*ly (?), adv. In a diverging manner.

Di"vers (?), a. [F. divers, L. diversus turned in different directions, different, p. p. of divertere. See Divert, and cf. Diverse.] 1. Different in kind or species; diverse. [Obs.]

Every sect of them hath a divers posture.
Bacon.

Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds.
Deut. xxii. 9.

2. Several; sundry; various; more than one, but not a great number; as, divers philosophers. Also used substantively or pronominally.

Divers of Antonio's creditors.
Shak.

&fist; Divers is now limited to the plural; as, divers ways (not divers way). Besides plurality it ordinarily implies variety of kind.

Di"verse (?; 277), a. [The same word as divers. See Divers.] 1. Different; unlike; dissimilar; distinct; separate.

The word . . . is used in a sense very diverse from its original import.
J. Edwards.

Our roads are diverse: farewell, love! said she.
R. Browning.

2. Capable of various forms; multiform.

Eloquence is a great and diverse thing.
B. Jonson.

Di*verse" (?), adv. In different directions; diversely.

di*verse" (d&ibreve;*v&etilde;rs"), v. i. To turn aside. [Obs.]

The redcross knight diverst, but forth rode Britomart.
Spenser.

Di"verse*ly (?), adv. 1. In different ways; differently; variously. "Diversely interpreted." Bacon.

How diversely love doth his pageants play.
Spenser.

2. In different directions; to different points.

On life's vast ocean diversely we sail.
Pope.

Di*verse"ness (?), n. The quality of being diverse.

Di*ver`si*fi`a*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality or capacity of being diversifiable. Earle.

Di*ver"si*fi`a*ble (?), a. Capable of being diversified or varied. Boyle.

Di*ver`si*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [See Diversify.] 1. The act of making various, or of changing form or quality. Boyle.

2. State of diversity or variation; variegation; modification; change; alternation.

Infinite diversifications of tints may be produced.
Adventurer.

Di*ver"si*fied (?), a. Distinguished by various forms, or by a variety of aspects or objects; variegated; as, diversified scenery or landscape.

Di*ver"si*fi`er (?), n. One who, or that which, diversifies.

Di*ver"si*form (?), a. [L. diversus diverse + -form.] Of a different form; of varied forms.

Di*ver"si*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Diversified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Diversifying.] [F. diversifier, LL. diversificare, fr. L. diversus diverse + ficare (in comp.), akin to facere to make. See Diverse.] To make diverse or various in form or quality; to give variety to; to variegate; to distinguish by numerous differences or aspects.

Separated and diversified on from another.
Locke.

Its seven colors, that diversify all the face of nature.
I. Taylor.

Di`ver*sil"o*quent (?), a. [L. diversus diverse + loquens, p. pr. of loqui to speak.] Speaking in different ways. [R.]

Di*ver"sion (?), n. [Cf. F. diversion. See Divert.] 1. The act of turning aside from any course, occupation, or object; as, the diversion of a stream from its channel; diversion of the mind from business.

2. That which diverts; that which turns or draws the mind from care or study, and thus relaxes and amuses; sport; play; pastime; as, the diversions of youth. "Public diversions." V. Knox.

Such productions of wit and humor as expose vice and folly, furnish useful diversion to readers.
Addison.

3. (Mil.) The act of drawing the attention and force of an enemy from the point where the principal attack is to be made; the attack, alarm, or feint which diverts.

Syn. -- Amusement; entertainment; pastime; recreation; sport; game; play; solace; merriment.

Di*ver"si*ty (?), n.; pl. Diversities (#). [F. diversité, L. diversitas, fr. diversus. See Diverse.] 1. A state of difference; dissimilitude; unlikeness.

They will prove opposite; and not resting in a bare diversity, rise into a contrariety.
South.

2. Multiplicity of difference; multiformity; variety. "Diversity of sounds." Shak. "Diversities of opinion." Secker.

3. Variegation. "Bright diversities of day." Pope.

Syn. -- See Variety.

Di`ver*siv"o*lent (?), a. [L. diversus diverse + volens, -entis, p. pr. of velle to wish.] Desiring different things. [Obs.] Webster (White Devil).

Di*ver"so*ry (?), a. Serving or tending to divert; also, distinguishing. [Obs.]

Di*ver"so*ry, n. [L. diversorium, deversorium, an inn or lodging.] A wayside inn. [Obs. or R.] Chapman.

Di*vert" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Diverted; p. pr. & vb. n. Diverting.] [F. divertir, fr. L. divertere, diversum, to go different ways, turn aside; di- = dis- + vertere to turn. See Verse, and cf. Divorce.] 1. To turn aside; to turn off from any course or intended application; to deflect; as, to divert a river from its channel; to divert commerce from its usual course.

That crude apple that diverted Eve.
Milton.

2. To turn away from any occupation, business, or study; to cause to have lively and agreeable sensations; to amuse; to entertain; as, children are diverted with sports; men are diverted with works of wit and humor.

We are amused by a tale, diverted by a comedy.
C. J. Smith.

Syn. -- To please; gratify; amuse; entertain; exhilarate; delight; recreate. See Amuse.

Di*vert", v. i. To turn aside; to digress. [Obs.]

I diverted to see one of the prince's palaces.
Evelyn.

Di*vert"er (?), n. One who, or that which, diverts, turns off, or pleases.

Di*vert"i*ble (?), a. Capable of being diverted.

Di*ver"ti*cle (?), n. [L. diverticulum, deverticulum, a bypath, fr. divertere to turn away.] 1. A turning; a byway; a bypath. [Obs.] Hales.

2. (Anat.) A diverticulum.

Div`er*tic"u*lar (?), a. (Anat.) Pertaining to a diverticulum.

||Div`er*tic"u*lum (?), n.; pl. Diverticula (#). [L. See Diverticle.] (Anat.) A blind tube branching out of a longer one.

||Di*ver`ti*men"to (?), n.; pl. -ti (#). [It.] (Mus.) A light and pleasing composition.

Di*vert"ing (?), a. Amusing; entertaining. -- Di*vert"ing*ly, adv. -- Di*vert"ing*ness, n.

Di*vert"ise (?), v. t. [F. divertir, p. pr. divertissant.] To divert; to entertain. [Obs.] Dryden.

Di*vert"ise*ment (?), n. [Cf. the next word.] Diversion; amusement; recreation. [R.]

||Di`ver`tisse`ment" (?), n. [F.] A short ballet, or other entertainment, between the acts of a play. Smart.

Di*vert"ive (?), a. [From Divert.] Tending to divert; diverting; amusing; interesting.

Things of a pleasant and divertive nature.
Rogers.

Di"ves (?), n. [L., rich.] The name popularly given to the rich man in our Lord's parable of the "Rich Man and Lazarus" (Luke xvi. 19-31). Hence, a name for a rich worldling.

Di*vest" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Divested; p. pr. & vb. n. Divesting.] [LL. divestire (di- = dis- + L. vestire to dress), equiv. to L. devestire. It is the same word as devest, but the latter is rarely used except as a technical term in law. See Devest, Vest.] 1. To unclothe; to strip, as of clothes, arms, or equipage; -- opposed to invest.

2. Fig.: To strip; to deprive; to dispossess; as, to divest one of his rights or privileges; to divest one's self of prejudices, passions, etc.

Wretches divested of every moral feeling.
Goldsmith.

The tendency of the language to divest itself of its gutturals.
Earle.

3. (Law) See Devest. Mozley & W.

Di*vest"i*ble (?), a. Capable of being divested.

Di*vest"i*ture (?; 135), n. The act of stripping, or depriving; the state of being divested; the deprivation, or surrender, of possession of property, rights, etc.

Di*vest"ment (?), n. The act of divesting. [R.]

Di*ves"ture (?; 135), n. Divestiture. [Obs.]

Div"et (?), n. See Divot.

Di*vid"a*ble (?), a. [From Divide.] 1. Capable of being divided; divisible.

2. Divided; separated; parted. [Obs.] Shak.

Di*vid"ant (?), a. Different; distinct. [Obs.] Shak.

Di*vide" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Divided; p. pr. & vb. n. Dividing.] [L. dividere, divisum; di- = dis- + root signifying to part; cf. Skr. vyadh to pierce; perh. akin to L. vidua widow, and E. widow. Cf. Device, Devise.] 1. To part asunder (a whole); to sever into two or more parts or pieces; to sunder; to separate into parts.

Divide the living child in two.
1 Kings iii. 25.

2. To cause to be separate; to keep apart by a partition, or by an imaginary line or limit; as, a wall divides two houses; a stream divides the towns.

Let it divide the waters from the waters.
Gen. i. 6.

3. To make partition of among a number; to apportion, as profits of stock among proprietors; to give in shares; to distribute; to mete out; to share.

True justice unto people to divide.
Spenser.

Ye shall divide the land by lot.
Num. xxxiii. 54.

4. To disunite in opinion or interest; to make discordant or hostile; to set at variance.

If a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom can not stand.
Mark iii. 24.

Every family became now divided within itself.
Prescott.

5. To separate into two parts, in order to ascertain the votes for and against a measure; as, to divide a legislative house upon a question.

6. (Math.) To subject to arithmetical division.

7. (Logic) To separate into species; - - said of a genus or generic term.

8. (Mech.) To mark divisions on; to graduate; as, to divide a sextant.

9. (Music) To play or sing in a florid style, or with variations. [Obs.] Spenser.

Syn. -- To sever; dissever; sunder; cleave; disjoin; disunite; detach; disconnect; part; distribute; share.

Di*vide", v. i. 1. To be separated; to part; to open; to go asunder. Milton.

The Indo-Germanic family divides into three groups.
J. Peile.

2. To cause separation; to disunite.

A gulf, a strait, the sea intervening between islands, divide less than the matted forest.
Bancroft.

3. To break friendship; to fall out. Shak.

4. To have a share; to partake. Shak.

5. To vote, as in the British Parliament, by the members separating themselves into two parties (as on opposite sides of the hall or in opposite lobbies), that is, the ayes dividing from the noes.

The emperors sat, voted, and divided with their equals.
Gibbon.

Di*vide", n. A dividing ridge of land between the tributaries of two streams; a watershed.

Di*vid"ed, a. 1. Parted; disunited; distributed.

2. (Bot.) Cut into distinct parts, by incisions which reach the midrib; -- said of a leaf.

Di*vid"ed*ly, adv. Separately; in a divided manner.

Div"i*dend (?), n. [L. dividendum thing to be divided, neut. of the gerundive of dividere: cf. F. dividende.] 1. A sum of money to be divided and distributed; the share of a sum divided that falls to each individual; a distribute sum, share, or percentage; -- applied to the profits as appropriated among shareholders, and to assets as apportioned among creditors; as, the dividend of a bank, a railway corporation, or a bankrupt estate.

2. (Math.) A number or quantity which is to be divided.

Div"i*dent (?), n. Dividend; share. [Obs.] Foxe.

Di*vid"er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, divides; that which separates anything into parts.

2. One who deals out to each his share.

Who made me a judge or a divider over you?
Luke xii. 14.

3. One who, or that which, causes division.

Hate is of all things the mightiest divider.
Milton.

Money, the great divider of the world.
Swift.

4. pl. An instrument for dividing lines, describing circles, etc., compasses. See Compasses.

&fist; The word dividers is usually applied to the instrument as made for the use of draughtsmen, etc.; compasses to the coarser instrument used by carpenters.

Di*vid"ing (?), a. That divides; separating; marking divisions; graduating.

Dividing engine, a machine for graduating circles (as for astronomical instruments) or bars (as for scales); also, for spacing off and cutting teeth in wheels. -- Dividing sinker. (Knitting Mach.). See under Sinker.

Di*vid"ing*ly (?), adv. By division.

||Di"vi-di"vi (?), n. [Native name.] (Bot.) A small tree of tropical America (Cæsalpinia coriaria), whose legumes contain a large proportion of tannic and gallic acid, and are used by tanners and dyers.

Di*vid"u*al (?; 135), a. [See Dividuous.] Divided, shared, or participated in, in common with others. [R.] Milton.

Di*vid"u*al*ly, adv. By dividing. [R.]

Di*vid"u*ous (?), a. [L. dividuus divisible, divided, fr. dividere.] Divided; dividual. [R.]

He so often substantiates distinctions into dividuous, selfsubsistent.
Coleridge.

Div`i*na"tion (?), n. [L. divinatio, fr. divinare, divinatum, to foresee, foretell, fr. divinus: cf. F. divination. See Divine.] 1. The act of divining; a foreseeing or foretelling of future events; the pretended art discovering secret or future by preternatural means.

There shall not be found among you any one that . . . useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter.
Deut. xviii. 10.

&fist; Among the ancient heathen philosophers natural divination was supposed to be effected by a divine afflatus; artificial divination by certain rites, omens, or appearances, as the flight of birds, entrails of animals, etc.

2. An indication of what is future or secret; augury omen; conjectural presage; prediction.

Birds which do give a happy divination of things to come.
Sir T. North.

Div"i*na`tor (?), n. [L. See Divination.] One who practices or pretends to divination; a diviner. [R.] Burton.

Di*vin"a*to*ry (?), a. [Cf. F. divinatoire.] Professing, or relating to, divination. "A natural divinatory instinct." Cowley.

Di*vine" (?), a. [Compar. Diviner (&?;); superl. Divinest.] [F. divin, L. divinus divine, divinely inspired, fr. divus, dius, belonging to a deity; akin to Gr. &?;, and L. deus, God. See Deity.] 1. Of or belonging to God; as, divine perfections; the divine will. "The immensity of the divine nature." Paley.

2. Proceeding from God; as, divine judgments. "Divine protection." Bacon.

3. Appropriated to God, or celebrating his praise; religious; pious; holy; as, divine service; divine songs; divine worship.

4. Pertaining to, or proceeding from, a deity; partaking of the nature of a god or the gods. "The divine Apollo said." Shak.

5. Godlike; heavenly; excellent in the highest degree; supremely admirable; apparently above what is human. In this application, the word admits of comparison; as, the divinest mind. Sir J. Davies. "The divine Desdemona." Shak.

A divine sentence is in the lips of the king.
Prov. xvi. 10.

But not to one in this benighted age
Is that diviner inspiration given.
Gray.

6. Presageful; foreboding; prescient. [Obs.]

Yet oft his heart, divine of something ill,
Misgave him.
Milton.

7. Relating to divinity or theology.

Church history and other divine learning.
South.

Syn. -- Supernatural; superhuman; godlike; heavenly; celestial; pious; holy; sacred; preëminent.

Di*vine", n. [L. divinus a soothsayer, LL., a theologian. See Divine, a.] 1. One skilled in divinity; a theologian. "Poets were the first divines." Denham.

2. A minister of the gospel; a priest; a clergyman.

The first divines of New England were surpassed by none in extensive erudition.
J. Woodbridge.

Di*vine", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Divined (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Divining.] [L. divinare: cf. F. deviner. See Divination.] 1. To foresee or foreknow; to detect; to anticipate; to conjecture.

A sagacity which divined the evil designs.
Bancroft.

2. To foretell; to predict; to presage.

Darest thou . . . divine his downfall?
Shak.

3. To render divine; to deify. [Obs.]

Living on earth like angel new divined.
Spenser.

Syn. -- To foretell; predict; presage; prophesy; prognosticate; forebode; guess; conjecture; surmise.

Di*vine", v. i. 1. To use or practice divination; to foretell by divination; to utter prognostications.

The prophets thereof divine for money.
Micah iii. 11.

2. To have or feel a presage or foreboding.

Suggest but truth to my divining thoughts.
Shak.

3. To conjecture or guess; as, to divine rightly.

Di*vine"ly, adv. 1. In a divine or godlike manner; holily; admirably or excellently in a supreme degree.

Most divinely fair.
Tennyson.

2. By the agency or influence of God.

Divinely set apart . . . to be a preacher of righteousness.
Macaulay.

Di*vine"ment (?), n. Divination. [Obs.]

Di*vine"ness, n. The quality of being divine; superhuman or supreme excellence. Shak.

Di*vin"er (?), n. 1. One who professes divination; one who pretends to predict events, or to reveal occult things, by supernatural means.

The diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain.
Zech. x. 2.

2. A conjecture; a guesser; one who makes out occult things. Locke.

Di*vin"er*ess, n. A woman who divines. Dryden.

Div"ing (?), a. That dives or is used or diving.

Diving beetle (Zoöl.), any beetle of the family Dytiscidæ, which habitually lives under water; -- called also water tiger. -- Diving bell, a hollow inverted vessel, sometimes bell-shaped, in which men may descend and work under water, respiration being sustained by the compressed air at the top, by fresh air pumped in through a tube from above. -- Diving dress. See Submarine armor, under Submarine. -- Diving stone, a kind of jasper.

Di*vin"i*fy (?), v. t. [L. divinus divine + -fy.] To render divine; to deify. [Obs.] "Blessed and divinified soul." Parth. Sacra (1633).

Di*vin"ing (?), a. That divines; for divining.

Divining rod, a rod, commonly of witch hazel, with forked branches, used by those who pretend to discover water or metals under ground.

Di*vin"ing*ly, adv. In a divining manner.

Div`i*nis"tre (?), n. A diviner. [Obs.] " I am no divinistre." Chaucer.

Di*vin"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Divinities (#). [F. divinité, L. divinitas. See Divine, a.] 1. The state of being divine; the nature or essence of God; deity; godhead.

When he attributes divinity to other things than God, it is only a divinity by way of participation.
Bp. Stillingfleet.

2. The Deity; the Supreme Being; God.

This the divinity that within us.
Addison.

3. A pretended deity of pagans; a false god.

Beastly divinities, and droves of gods.
Prior.

4. A celestial being, inferior to the supreme God, but superior to man.

God . . . employing these subservient divinities.
Cheyne.

5. Something divine or superhuman; supernatural power or virtue; something which inspires awe.

They say there is divinity in odd numbers.
Shak.

There's such divinity doth hedge a king.
Shak.

6. The science of divine things; the science which treats of God, his laws and moral government, and the way of salvation; theology.

Divinity is essentially the first of the professions.
Coleridge.

Case divinity, casuistry.

Div`i*ni*za"tion (?), n. A making divine. M. Arnold.

Div"i*nize (?), v. t. To invest with a divine character; to deify. [R.] M. Arnold.

Man had divinized all those objects of awe.
Milman.

Di*vis`i*bil"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. divisibilité.] The quality of being divisible; the property of bodies by which their parts are capable of separation.

Divisibility . . . is a primary attribute of matter.
Sir W. Hamilton.

Di*vis"i*ble (?), a. [L. divisibilis, fr. dividere: cf. F. divisible. See Divide.] Capable of being divided or separated.

Extended substance . . . is divisible into parts.
Sir W. Hamilton.

Divisible contract (Law), a contract containing agreements one of which can be separated from the other. -- Divisible offense (Law), an offense containing a lesser offense in one of a greater grade, so that on the latter there can be an acquittal, while on the former there can be a conviction.

-- Di*vis"i*ble*ness, n. -- Di*vis"i*bly, adv.

Di*vis"i*ble, n. A divisible substance. Glanvill.

Di*vi"sion (?), n. [F. division, L. divisio, from dividere. See Divide.] 1. The act or process of diving anything into parts, or the state of being so divided; separation.

I was overlooked in the division of the spoil.
Gibbon.

2. That which divides or keeps apart; a partition.

3. The portion separated by the divining of a mass or body; a distinct segment or section.

Communities and divisions of men.
Addison.

4. Disunion; difference in opinion or feeling; discord; variance; alienation.

There was a division among the people.
John vii. 43.

5. Difference of condition; state of distinction; distinction; contrast. Chaucer.

I will put a division between my people and thy people.
Ex. viii. 23.

6. Separation of the members of a deliberative body, esp. of the Houses of Parliament, to ascertain the vote.

The motion passed without a division.
Macaulay.

7. (Math.) The process of finding how many times one number or quantity is contained in another; the reverse of multiplication; also, the rule by which the operation is performed.

8. (Logic) The separation of a genus into its constituent species.

9. (Mil.) (a) Two or more brigades under the command of a general officer. (b) Two companies of infantry maneuvering as one subdivision of a battalion. (c) One of the larger districts into which a country is divided for administering military affairs.

10. (Naut.) One of the groups into which a fleet is divided.

11. (Mus.) A course of notes so running into each other as to form one series or chain, to be sung in one breath to one syllable.

12. (Rhet.) The distribution of a discourse into parts; a part so distinguished.

13. (Biol.) A grade or rank in classification; a portion of a tribe or of a class; or, in some recent authorities, equivalent to a subkingdom.

Cell division (Biol.), a method of cell increase, in which new cells are formed by the division of the parent cell. In this process, the cell nucleus undergoes peculiar differentiations and changes, as shown in the figure (see also Karyokinesis). At the same time the protoplasm of the cell becomes gradually constricted by a furrow transverse to the long axis of the nuclear spindle, followed, on the completion of the division of the nucleus, by a separation of the cell contents into two masses, called the daughter cells. -- Long division (Math.), the process of division when the operations are mostly written down. -- Short division (Math.), the process of division when the operations are mentally performed and only the results written down; -- used principally when the divisor is not greater than ten or twelve.

Syn. -- compartment; section; share; allotment; distribution; separation; partition; disjunction; disconnection; difference; variance; discord; disunion.

Di*vi"sion*al (?), a. That divides; pertaining to, making, or noting, a division; as, a divisional line; a divisional general; a divisional surgeon of police.

Divisional planes (Geol.), planes of separation between rock masses. They include joints.

Di*vi"sion*al*ly, adv. So as to be divisional.

Di*vi"sion*a*ry (?), a. Divisional.

Di*vi"sion*or (?), n. One who divides or makes division. [Obs.] Sheldon.

Di*vi"sive (?), a. [Cf. F. divisif.] 1. Indicating division or distribution. Mede.

2. Creating, or tending to create, division, separation, or difference.

It [culture] is after all a dainty and divisive quality, and can not reach to the depths of humanity.
J. C. Shairp.

-- Di*vi"sive*ly, adv. -- Di*vi"sive*ness, n. Carlyle.

Di*vi"sor (?), n. [L., fr. dividere. See Divide.] (Math.) The number by which the dividend is divided.

Common divisor. (Math.) See under Common, a.

Di*vorce" (?), n. [F. divorce, L. divortium, fr. divortere, divertere, to turn different ways, to separate. See Divert.] 1. (Law) (a) A legal dissolution of the marriage contract by a court or other body having competent authority. This is properly a divorce, and called, technically, divorce a vinculo matrimonii. "from the bond of matrimony." (b) The separation of a married woman from the bed and board of her husband -- divorce a mensa et toro (or thoro), "from bed and board."

2. The decree or writing by which marriage is dissolved.

3. Separation; disunion of things closely united.

To make divorce of their incorporate league.
Shak.

4. That which separates. [Obs.] Shak.

Bill of divorce. See under Bill.

Di*vorce", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Divorced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Divorcing.] [Cf. F. divorcer. See Divorce, n.] 1. To dissolve the marriage contract of, either wholly or partially; to separate by divorce.

2. To separate or disunite; to sunder.

It [a word] was divorced from its old sense.
Earle.

3. To make away; to put away.

Nothing but death
Shall e'er divorce my dignities.
Shak.

Di*vorce"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being divorced.

Di*vor`cee" (?), n. A person divorced.

Di*vorce"less (?), a. Incapable of being divorced or separated; free from divorce.

Di*vorce"ment (?), n. Dissolution of the marriage tie; divorce; separation.

Let him write her a divorcement.
Deut. xxiv. 1.

The divorcement of our written from our spoken language.
R. Morris.

Di*vor"cer, n. The person or cause that produces or effects a divorce. Drummond.

Di*vor"ci*ble (?), a. Divorceable. Milton.

Di*vor"cive (?), a. Having power to divorce; tending to divorce. "This divorcive law." Milton.

Div"ot (?), n. A thin, oblong turf used for covering cottages, and also for fuel. [Scot.] Simmonds.

Di*vul"gate (?), a. [L. divulgatus, p. p. of divulgare. See Divulge.] Published. [Obs.] Bale.

Di*vul"gate (?), v. t. To divulge. [Obs.] Foxe.

Div"ul*ga`ter (?), n. A divulger. [R.]

Div`ul*ga"tion (?), n. [L. divulgatio: cf. F. divulgation.] The act of divulging or publishing. [R.]

Secrecy hath no use than divulgation.
Bp. Hall.

Di*vulge" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Divulged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Divulging.] [F. divulguer, L. divulgare; di- = dis- + vulgare to spread among the people, from vulgus the common people. See Vulgar.] 1. To make public; to several or communicate to the public; to tell (a secret) so that it may become generally known; to disclose; -- said of that which had been confided as a secret, or had been before unknown; as, to divulge a secret.

Divulge not such a love as mine.
Cowper.

2. To indicate publicly; to proclaim. [R.]

God . . . marks
The just man, and divulges him through heaven.
Milton.

3. To impart; to communicate.

Which would not be

To them [animals] made common and divulged.
Milton.

Syn. -- To publish; disclose; discover; uncover; reveal; communicate; impart; tell.

Di*vulge", v. i. To become publicly known. [R.] "To keep it from divulging." Shak.

Di*vul"sive (?), a. Tending to pull asunder, tear, or rend; distracting.

Dix"ie (d&ibreve;ks"&ybreve;), n. A colloquial name for the Southern portion of the United States, esp. during the Civil War. [U.S.]

Diz"en (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dizened (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dizening.] [Perh. orig., to dress in a foolish manner, and allied to dizzy: but cf. also OE. dysyn (Palsgrave) to put tow or flax on a distaff, i. e., to dress it. Cf. Distaff.] 1. To dress; to attire. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

2. To dress gaudily; to overdress; to bedizen; to deck out.

Like a tragedy queen, he has dizened her out.
Goldsmith.

To-morrow when the masks shall fall
That dizen Nature's carnival.
Emerson.

Dizz (d&ibreve;z), v. t. [See Dizzy.] To make dizzy; to astonish; to puzzle. [Obs.] Gayton.

Diz"zard (d&ibreve;z"z&etilde;rd), n. [See Dizzy, and cf. Disard.] A blockhead. [Obs.] [Written also dizard, and disard.] -- Diz"zard*ly, adv. [Obs.]

Diz"zi*ly (d&ibreve;z"z&ibreve;*l&ybreve;), adv. In a dizzy manner or state.

Diz"zi*ness, n. [AS. dysigness folly. See Dizzy.] Giddiness; a whirling sensation in the head; vertigo.

Diz"zy (d&ibreve;z"z&ybreve;), a. [Compar. Dizzier (-z&ibreve;*&etilde;r); superl. Dizziest.] [OE. dusi, disi, desi, foolish, AS. dysig; akin to LG. düsig dizzy, OD. deuzig, duyzig, OHG. tusig foolish, OFries. dusia to be dizzy; LG. dusel dizziness, duselig, dusselig, D. duizelig, dizzy, Dan. dösig drowsy, slepy, döse to make dull, drowsy, dös dullness, drowsiness, and to AS. dw&aemacr;s foolish, G. thor fool. √71. Cf. Daze, Doze.] 1. Having in the head a sensation of whirling, with a tendency to fall; vertiginous; giddy; hence, confused; indistinct.

Alas! his brain was dizzy.
Drayton.

2. Causing, or tending to cause, giddiness or vertigo.

To climb from the brink of Fleet Ditch by a dizzy ladder.
Macaulay.

3. Without distinct thought; unreflecting; thoughtless; heedless. "The dizzy multitude." Milton.

Diz"zy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dizzied (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dizzying.] To make dizzy or giddy; to give the vertigo to; to confuse.

If the jangling of thy bells had not dizzied thy understanding.
Sir W. Scott.

||Djer*eed" (?) or Djer*rid" (&?;), n. [F. djerid, fr. Ar. See Jereed.] (a) A blunt javelin used in military games in Moslem countries. (b) A game played with it. [Written also jereed, jerrid, etc.]

||Djin"nee (?), n.; pl. Jjinn (&?;) or Djinns (&?;). See Jinnee, Jinn.

Do. (&?;), n. An abbreviation of Ditto.

Do (dō), n. (Mus.) A syllable attached to the first tone of the major diatonic scale for the purpose of solmization, or solfeggio. It is the first of the seven syllables used by the Italians as manes of musical tones, and replaced, for the sake of euphony, the syllable Ut, applied to the note C. In England and America the same syllables are used by many as a scale pattern, while the tones in respect to absolute pitch are named from the first seven letters of the alphabet.

Do (d&oomac;), v. t. or auxiliary. [imp. Did (d&ibreve;d); p. p. Done (ducr/n); p. pr. & vb. n. Doing (d&oomac;"&ibreve;ng). This verb, when transitive, is formed in the indicative, present tense, thus: I do, thou doest (d&oomac;"&ebreve;st) or dost (dŭst), he does (dŭz), doeth (d&oomac;"&ebreve;th), or doth (dŭth); when auxiliary, the second person is, thou dost. As an independent verb, dost is obsolete or rare, except in poetry. "What dost thou in this world?" Milton. The form doeth is a verb unlimited, doth, formerly so used, now being the auxiliary form. The second pers, sing., imperfect tense, is didst (d&ibreve;dst), formerly didest (d&ibreve;d"&ebreve;st).] [AS. dōn; akin to D. doen, OS. duan, OHG. tuon, G. thun, Lith. deti, OSlav. dēti, OIr. dénim I do, Gr. tiqe`nai to put, Skr. dhā, and to E. suffix -dom, and prob. to L. facere to do, E. fact, and perh. to L. -dere in some compounds, as addere to add, credere to trust. √65. Cf. Deed, Deem, Doom, Fact, Creed, Theme.] 1. To place; to put. [Obs.] Tale of a Usurer (about 1330).

2. To cause; to make; -- with an infinitive. [Obs.]

My lord Abbot of Westminster did do shewe to me late certain evidences.
W. Caxton.

I shall . . . your cloister do make.
Piers Plowman.

A fatal plague which many did to die.
Spenser.

We do you to wit [i. e., We make you to know] of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia.
2 Cor. viii. 1.

&fist; We have lost the idiom shown by the citations (do used like the French faire or laisser), in which the verb in the infinitive apparently, but not really, has a passive signification, i. e., cause . . . to be made.

3. To bring about; to produce, as an effect or result; to effect; to achieve.

The neglecting it may do much danger.
Shak.

He waved indifferently 'twixt doing them neither good not harm.
Shak.

4. To perform, as an action; to execute; to transact to carry out in action; as, to do a good or a bad act; do our duty; to do what I can.

Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work.
Ex. xx. 9.

We did not do these things.
Ld. Lytton.

You can not do wrong without suffering wrong.
Emerson.

Hence: To do homage, honor, favor, justice, etc., to render homage, honor, etc.

5. To bring to an end by action; to perform completely; to finish; to accomplish; -- a sense conveyed by the construction, which is that of the past participle done. "Ere summer half be done." "I have done weeping." Shak.

6. To make ready for an object, purpose, or use, as food by cooking; to cook completely or sufficiently; as, the meat is done on one side only.

7. To put or bring into a form, state, or condition, especially in the phrases, to do death, to put to death; to slay; to do away (often do away with), to put away; to remove; to do on, to put on; to don; to do off, to take off, as dress; to doff; to do into, to put into the form of; to translate or transform into, as a text.

Done to death by slanderous tongues.
Shak.

The ground of the difficulty is done away.
Paley.

Suspicions regarding his loyalty were entirely done away.
Thackeray.

To do on our own harness, that we may not; but we must do on the armor of God.
Latimer.

Then Jason rose and did on him a fair
Blue woolen tunic.
W. Morris (Jason).

Though the former legal pollution be now done off, yet there is a spiritual contagion in idolatry as much to be shunned.
Milton.

It ["Pilgrim's Progress"] has been done into verse: it has been done into modern English.
Macaulay.

8. To cheat; to gull; to overreach. [Colloq.]

He was not be done, at his time of life, by frivolous offers of a compromise that might have secured him seventy- five per cent.
De Quincey.

9. To see or inspect; to explore; as, to do all the points of interest. [Colloq.]

10. (Stock Exchange) To cash or to advance money for, as a bill or note.

&fist; (a) Do and did are much employed as auxiliaries, the verb to which they are joined being an infinitive. As an auxiliary the verb do has no participle. "I do set my bow in the cloud." Gen. ix. 13. [Now archaic or rare except for emphatic assertion.]

Rarely . . . did the wrongs of individuals to the knowledge of the public.
Macaulay.

(b) They are often used in emphatic construction. "You don't say so, Mr. Jobson. -- but I do say so." Sir W. Scott. "I did love him, but scorn him now." Latham. (c) In negative and interrogative constructions, do and did are in common use. I do not wish to see them; what do you think? Did Cæsar cross the Tiber? He did not. "Do you love me?" Shak. (d) Do, as an auxiliary, is supposed to have been first used before imperatives. It expresses entreaty or earnest request; as, do help me. In the imperative mood, but not in the indicative, it may be used with the verb to be; as, do be quiet. Do, did, and done often stand as a general substitute or representative verb, and thus save the repetition of the principal verb. "To live and die is all we have to do." Denham. In the case of do and did as auxiliaries, the sense may be completed by the infinitive (without to) of the verb represented. "When beauty lived and died as flowers do now." Shak. "I . . . chose my wife as she did her wedding gown." Goldsmith.

My brightest hopes giving dark fears a being.
As the light does the shadow.
Longfellow.

In unemphatic affirmative sentences do is, for the most part, archaic or poetical; as, "This just reproach their virtue does excite." Dryden.

To do one's best, To do one's diligence (and the like), to exert one's self; to put forth one's best or most or most diligent efforts. "We will . . . do our best to gain their assent." Jowett (Thucyd.). -- To do one's business, to ruin one. [Colloq.] Wycherley. -- To do one shame, to cause one shame. [Obs.] -- To do over. (a) To make over; to perform a second time. (b) To cover; to spread; to smear. "Boats . . . sewed together and done over with a kind of slimy stuff like rosin." De Foe. -- To do to death, to put to death. (See 7.) [Obs.] -- To do up. (a) To put up; to raise. [Obs.] Chaucer. (b) To pack together and envelop; to pack up. (c) To accomplish thoroughly. [Colloq.] (d) To starch and iron. "A rich gown of velvet, and a ruff done up with the famous yellow starch." Hawthorne. -- To do way, to put away; to lay aside. [Obs.] Chaucer. -- To do with, to dispose of; to make use of; to employ; -- usually preceded by what. "Men are many times brought to that extremity, that were it not for God they would not know what to do with themselves." Tillotson. -- To have to do with, to have concern, business or intercourse with; to deal with. When preceded by what, the notion is usually implied that the affair does not concern the person denoted by the subject of have. "Philology has to do with language in its fullest sense." Earle. "What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? 2 Sam. xvi. 10.

Do (?), v. i. 1. To act or behave in any manner; to conduct one's self.

They fear not the Lord, neither do they after . . . the law and commandment.
2 Kings xvii. 34.

2. To fare; to be, as regards health; as, they asked him how he did; how do you do to- day?

3. [Perh. a different word. OE. dugen, dowen, to avail, be of use, AS. dugan. See Doughty.] To succeed; to avail; to answer the purpose; to serve; as, if no better plan can be found, he will make this do.

You would do well to prefer a bill against all kings and parliaments since the Conquest; and if that won't do; challenge the crown.
Collier.

To do by. See under By. -- To do for. (a) To answer for; to serve as; to suit. (b) To put an end to; to ruin; to baffle completely; as, a goblet is done for when it is broken. [Colloq.]

Some folks are happy and easy in mind when their victim is stabbed and done for.
Thackeray.

-- To do withal, to help or prevent it. [Obs.] "I could not do withal." Shak. -- To do without, to get along without; to dispense with. - - To have done, to have made an end or conclusion; to have finished; to be quit; to desist. -- To have done with, to have completed; to be through with; to have no further concern with. -- Well to do, in easy circumstances.

Do, n. 1. Deed; act; fear. [Obs.] Sir W. Scott.

2. Ado; bustle; stir; to do. [R.]

A great deal of do, and a great deal of trouble.
Selden.

3. A cheat; a swindle. [Slang, Eng.]

||Do"ab (?), [Pers. & Hind. doāb, prop., two waters.] A tongue or tract of land included between two rivers; as, the doab between the Ganges and the Jumna. [India] Am. Cyc.

Do"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being done. Carlyle.

Do"-all` (?), n. General manager; factotum.

Under him, Dunstan was the do-all at court, being the king's treasurer, councilor, chancellor, confessor, all things.
Fuller.

Do"and (?), p. pr. Doing. [Obs.] Rom. of R.

Doat (?), v. i. See Dote.

Dob"ber (?), n. 1. (Zoöl.) See Dabchick.

2. A float to a fishing line. [Local, U. S.]

Dob"bin (?), n. 1. An old jaded horse. Shak.

2. Sea gravel mixed with sand. [Prov. Eng.]

Dob"chick` (?), n. (Zoöl.) See Dabchick.

Dob"son (?), n. (Zoöl.) The aquatic larva of a large neuropterous insect (Corydalus cornutus), used as bait in angling. See Hellgamite.

Dob"ule (?), n. (Zoöl.) The European dace.

Do"cent (?), a. [L. docens, - entis, p. pr. of docere to teach.] Serving to instruct; teaching. [Obs.]

||Do*ce"tæ (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. &?; to appear.] (Eccl. Hist.) Ancient heretic