Unabridged Dictionary - Letter D
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D
D (?)
1. The fourth letter of the English alphabet, and a vocal consonent.
The English letter is from Latin, which is from Greek, which took it
from Phoenician, 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. d
uhitr. See Guide to Pronunciation, &root;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
Dab
Dab (?), 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 therd is a dab at an index. Goldsmith.
Dab
Dab, n. [Perh. so named from its quickness in diving beneath the sand.
Cf. Dabchick.] (Zo\'94l.) A name given to several species of
Pleuronectes . TheAmerican rough dab is Hippoglossoides platessoides.
Dab
Dab (?), v. i. [imp. & p.p. Dabbed (?); 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
Dab (?), n.
1. A gentle blow with the hand or some soft substance; a sudden blow
or hit; a peck.
Astratch of her clame, a dab of her beack. Hawthorne.
2. A small mass of anything soft or moist.
Dabb
Dabb (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) A large, spine-tailed lizard (Uromastix
spinipes), found in Egypt, Arabia, and Palestine; -- called also
dhobb, and dhabb.
Dabber
Dab"ber (?), 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.
Dabble
Dab"ble (?), v. t. [imp.&p.p Dabbled (?); p.pr.&vb.n. Dabbling (?).]
[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.
Dable
Dab"le, v. i.
1. To play in water, as with the hands; to paddle or splash in mud or
water.
Wher the duck dabbles 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 ferst year at Dumfries, Burns for the ferst time began
to dabble in politics. J. C. Shairp.
Dabbler
Dab"bler (?), n.
1. One who dabbles.
2. One who dips slightly into anything; a superficial meddler. "our
dabblers in politics." Swift.
Dabblingly
Dab"bling*ly (?), adv. In a dabbling manner.
Dabchick
Dab"chick` (?), n. [For dabchick. See Dap, Dip, cf. Dipchick.]
(Zo\'94l.) 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.
Daboia
Da*boi"a (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) A large and highly venomous Asiatic viper
(Daboia xanthica).
Dabster
Dab"ster, n. [Cf. Dab an expert.] One who is skilled; a master of his
business; a proficient; an adept. [Colloq.]
NOTE: &hand; Sometimes improperly used for dabbler; as, "I am but a
dabster with gentle art."
Dacapo
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
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.] (Zo\'94l.) A small European cyprinoid fish (Squalius
leuciscus or Leuciscus vulgaris); -- called also dare.
NOTE: &hand; 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.
Dachshund
Dachs"hund` (?), n. [G., from dachs badger + hund dog.] (Zo\'94l.) 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.
Dacian
Da"cian (?), a. Of or pertaining to Dacia or the Dacians. -- n. A
native of ancient Dacia.
Dacoity
Da*coit"y (?), n. The practice of gang robbery in India; robbery
committed by dacoits.
Dacotahs
Da*co"tahs (?), n. pl.; sing. Dacotan (. (Ethnol.) Same as Dacotas.
Longfellow.
Dactyl
Dac"tyl (?), n. [L. dactylus, Gr. Digit.]
1. (Pros.) A poetical foot of three sylables (\'f5 \'de \'de), one
long followed by two short, or one accented followed by two
unaccented; as, L. t\'89gm&icr;n&ecr;, E. mer"ciful; -- so called from
the similarity of its arrangement to that of the joints of a finger.
[Written also dactyle.]
2. (Zo\'94l.) (a) A finger or toe; a digit. (b) The claw or terminal
joint of a leg of an insect or crustacean.
Dactylar
Dac"tyl*ar (?), a.
1. Pertaining to dactyl; dactylic.
2. (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to a finger or toe, or to the claw of
an insect crustacean.
Dactylet
Dac"tyl*et (?), n. [Dactyl + .] A dactyl. [Obs.]
Dactylic
Dac*tyl"ic (?), a. [L. dactylicus, Gr. , fr. .] Pertaining to,
consisting chiefly or wholly of, dactyls; as, dactylic verses.
Dactylic
Dac*tyl"ic, n.
1. A line consisting chiefly or wholly of dactyls; as, these lines are
dactylics.
2. pl. Dactylic meters.
Dac-tylioglyph
Dac-tyl"i*o*glyph (?), n. [Gr. an engraver of gems; finger ring (fr.
finger) + 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.
Dactylioglyphi
Dac*tyl`i*og"ly*phi (?), n. The art or process of gem engraving.
Dactyliography
Dac*tyl`i*og"ra*phy (?), n. [Gr. finger ring + .] (Fine Arts) (a) The
art of writing or engraving upon gems. (b) In general, the literature
or history of the art.
Dactyli ology
Dac*tyl`i* ol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. finger ring + .] (Fine Arts) (a) That
branch of arch\'91ology which has to do with gem engraving. (b) That
branch of arch\'91ology which has to do with finger rings.
Dactyliomancy
Dac*tyl"i*o*man`cy (?), n. [Gr. dakty`lios + -mancy.] Divination by
means of finger rings.
Dactylist
Dac"tyl*ist (?), n. A writer of dactylic verse.
Dactylitis
Dac`tyl*i"tis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. finger + -itis.] (Med.) An
inflammatory affection of the fingers. Gross.
Dactylitis
Dac`tyl*i"tis (?), n. [Gr. finger + -logy.] The art of communicating
ideas by certai movement and positions of the fingers; -- a method of
conversing practiced by the deaf and dumb.
NOTE: &hand; Th ere are two different manual alphabets, the onehand
alphabet (which was perfected by Abb\'82 de l'Ep\'82e, who died in
1789), and the two alphabet. The latter was probably based on the
manual alphabet published by George Dalgarus of Aberdeen, in 1680.
See Illustration in Appendix.
Dactylomancy
Dac*tyl"o*man`cy (?), n. Dactylio mancy. [R.] Am. Cyc.
Dactylonomy
Dac`tyl*on"o*my (?), n. [Gr. finger + law, distribution.] The art of
numbering or counting by the fingers.
Dactylopterous
Dac`tyl*op"ter*ous (?), a. [Gr. finger + wing, fin.] (Zo\'94l.) Having
the inferior rays of the pectoral fins partially or entirely free, as
in the gurnards.
Dactylotheca
Dac`ty*lo*the"ca (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. finger, toe + case, box.]
(Zo\'94l.) The scaly covering of the toes, as in birds.
Dactylozooid
Dac`tyl*o*zo"oid (?), n. [Gr. finger + E. zooid.] (Zo\'94l.) A kind of
zooid of Siphonophora which has an elongated or even vermiform body,
with one tentacle, but no mouth. See Siphonophora.
Dad
Dad (?), n. [Prob. of Celtic origin; cf. Ir. daid, Gael. daidein, W.
tad, OL. , , Skr. t\'beta.] Father; -- a word sometimes used by
children.
I was never so bethumped withwords, Since I first called my
brother's father dad. Shak.
Dadle
Dad"le (?), 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.
Daddock
Dad"dock (?), n. [Cf. Prov. E. dad a large piece.] The rotten body of
a tree. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.
Daddy
Dad"dy (?), n. Diminutive of Dad. Dryden.
Daddy longlegs
Dad"dy long"legs` (?).
1. (Zo\'94l.) 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. (Zo\'94l.) 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
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
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.
Dado
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.
D\'91dal, D\'91dalian
D\'91"dal (?), D\'91*dal"ian (?), a. [L. daedalus cunningly wrought,
fr. Gr. ; cf. to work cunningly. The word also alludes to the mythical
D\'91dalus (Gr. , lit., the cunning worker).]
1. Cunningly or ingeniously formed or working; skillful; artistic;
ingenious.
Our bodies decked in our d\'91dalian arms. Chapman.
The d\'91dal hand of Nature. J. Philips.
The doth the d\'91dal earth throw forth to thee, Out of her
fruitful, abundant flowers. Spenser.
2. Crafty; deceitful. [R.] Keats.
D\'91dalous
D\'91d"a*lous (?), a. (Bot.) Having a variously cut or incised margin;
-- said of leaves.
D\'91mon, n., D\'91monic
D\'91"mon (?), n., D\'91*mon"ic (, a. See Demon, Demonic.
Daff
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
Daff, n. [See Daft.] A stupid, blockish fellow; a numskull. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Daff
Daff (?), v. i. To act foolishly; to be foolish or sportive; to toy.
[Scot.] Jamieson.
Daff
Daff, v. t. To daunt. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.
Daffodil
Daf"fo*dil (?), n. [OE. affodylle, prop., the asphodel, fr. LL.
affodillus (cf. D. affodille or OF. asphodile, aphodille, F.
asphod\'8ale), L. asphodelus, fr. Gr. . 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 damasc roses and daffadowndillies 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
Daft (?), a. [OE. daft, deft, deft, stupid; prob. the same word as E.
deft. See Deft.]
1. Stupid; folish; idiotic; also, delirious; insance; as, he has gone
daft.
Let us think no more of this daft business Sir W. Scott.
2. Gay; playful; frolicsome. [Scot.] Jamieson.
Daftness
Daft"ness, n. The quality of being daft.
Dag
Dag (?), 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. (Zo\'94l.) The unbrunched antler of a young deer.
Dag
Dag, n. [Of Scand. origin; cf. Sw. dagg, Icel. d\'94gg. &root;71. See
Dew.] A misty shower; dew. [Obs.]
Dag
Dag, n. [OE. dagge (cf. Dagger); or cf. AS. d\'beg what is dangling.]
A loose end; a dangling shred.
Daglocks, clotted locks hanging in dags or jags at a sheep's tail.
Wedgwood.
Dag
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
Dag, v. i. To be misty; to drizzle. [Prov. Eng.]
Dagger
Dag"ger (?), 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 (Zo\'94l.), any moth of the genus Apatalea. The larv\'91
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.
Dagger
Dag"ger, v. t. To pierce with a dagger; to stab. [Obs.]
Dagger
Dag"ger, n. [Perh. from diagonal.] A timber placed diagonally in a
ship's frame. Knight.
Dagges
Dagges (?), 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.
Daggle
Dag"gle (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Daggled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Daggling
(?).] [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.
Daggle
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.
Daggle-tail, Daggle-tailed
Dag"gle-tail` (?), Dag"gle-tailed` (?), a. Having the lower ends of
garments defiled by trailing in mire or filth; draggle-tailed.
Daggle-tail
Dag"gle-tail` (?), n. A slovenly woman; a slattern; a draggle-tail.
Daglock
Dag"lock` (?), n. [Dag a loose and + lock.] A dirty or clotted lock of
wool on a sheep; a taglock.
Dago
Da"go (?), n.; pl. Dagos (#). [Cf. Sp. Diego, E. James.] A nickname
given to a person of Spanish (or, by extension, Portuguese or Italian)
descent. [U. S.]
Dagoba
Da*go"ba (?), n. [Singhalese d\'begoba.] A dome-shaped structure built
over relics of Buddha or some Buddhist saint. [East Indies]
Dagon
Da"gon (?), [Heb. D\'begon, fr. dag a fish: cf. Gr. .] 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.
Dagon
Dag"on (?), n. [See Dag a loose end.] A slip or piece. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Dagswain
Dag"swain` (?), n. [From Dag a loose end?] Acoarse woolen fabric made
of daglocks, or the refuse of wool. "Under coverlets made of
dagswain." Holinshed.
Dag-tailed
Dag"-tailed` (?), a. [Dag a loose end + tail.] Daggle-tailed; having
the tail clogged with daglocks. "Dag-tailed sheep." Bp. Hall.
Daguerrean, Daguerreian
Da*guer"re*an (?), Da*guerre"i*an (?), a. Pertaining to Daguerre, or
to his invention of the daguerreotype.
Daguerreotype
Da*guerre"o*type, 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.
Daguerreotype
Da*guerre"o*type (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Daguerreotyped (?); p. pr. &
vb. n. Daguerreotyping (?).]
1. To produce or represent by the daguerreotype process, as a picture.
2. To impress with great distinctness; to imprint; to imitate exactly.
Daguerreotyper, Daguerreotypist
Da*guerre"o*ty`per (?), Da*guerre"o*ty`pist (?), n. One who takes
daguerreotypes.
Daguerreotypy
Da*guerre"o*ty`py (?), n. The art or process of producing pictures by
method of Daguerre.
Dahabeah
Da`ha*be"ah (?), n. [Ar.] A nile boat
Dahlia
Dah"lia (?), n.; pl. Dahlias (#). [Named after Andrew Dahl a Swedish
botanist.] (Bot.) A genus of plants native to Mexico and Central
America, of the order Composit\'91; also, any plant or flower of the
genus. The numerous varieties of cultivated dahlias bear conspicuous
flowers which differ in color.
Dahlin
Dah"lin (?), n. [From Dahlia.] (Chem.) A variety of starch extracted
from the dahlia; -- called also inulin. See Inulin.
Dailiness
Dai"li*ness (?), n. Daily occurence. [R.]
Daily
Dai"ly (?), a. [AS. d\'91gl\'c6c; d\'91g day + -l\'c6c 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.
Daily
Dai"ly, n.; pl. Dailies (. A publication which appears regularly every
day; as, the morning dailies.
Daily
Dai"ly, adv. Every day; day by day; as, a thing happens daily.
Daimio
Dai"mi*o (?), n.; pl. Daimios (#). [Jap., fr. Chin. tai ming great
name.] The title of the feudal nobles of Japan.<-- usu. written daimyo
-->
The daimios, or territorial nobles, resided in Yedo and were
divided into four classes. Am. Cyc.
Daint
Daint (?), n. [See Dainty, n.] Something of exquisite taste; a dainty.
[Obs.] -- a. Dainty. [Obs.]
To cherish him with diets daint. Spenser.
Daintify
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.
Daintily
Dain"ti*ly, adv. In a dainty manner; nicely; scrupulously;
fastidiously; deliciously; prettily.
Daintiness
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.
Daintrel
Dain"trel (?), n. [From daint or dainty; cf. OF. daintier.] Adelicacy.
[Obs.] Halliwell.
Dainty
Dain"ty (?), n.; pl. Dainties (#). [OE. deinie, dainte, deintie,
deyntee, OF. deinti\'82 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.
Dainty
Dain"ty, a. [Compar. Daintier (?); superl. Daintiest.]
1. Rare; valuable; costly. [Obs.]
Full many a deynt\'82 horse had he in stable. Chaucer.
NOTE: &hand; He nce th e pr overb "d ainty ma keth de arth," 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.
Iwould be the girdle. About her dainty, dainty waist. Tennyson.
4. Requirinig daintles. Hence; Overnice; hard to please; fastidious;
sqrupulous; 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.
Dairy
Dai"ry (?), n.;pl. Dairies (#). [OE. deierie, from deie, daie, maid;
of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. deigja maid, dairymaid, Sw. deja, orig., a
baking maid, fr. Icel. deig. 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.]
NOTE: &hand; Da iry is much used adjectively or in combination; as,
dairy farm, dairy countries, dairy house or dairyhouse, dairyroom,
dairywork, etc.
Dairying
Dai"ry*ing, n. The business of conducting a dairy.
Dairymaid
Dai"ry*maid` (?), n. A female servant whose business is the care of
the dairy.
Dairyman
Dai"ry*man (?), n.; pl. Dairymen (. A man who keeps or takes care of a
dairy.
Dairywoman
Dai"ry*wom`an (?), n.; pl. Dairywomen (. A woman who attends to a
dairy.
Dais
Da"is (d&amac;"&icr;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.
Daisied
Dai"sied (?), a. Full of daisies; adorned with daisies. "The daisied
green." Langhorne.
The grass all deep and daisied. G. Eliot.
Daisy
Dai"sy (?), n.; pl. Daisies (#). [OE. dayesye, AS. d\'91ges day's eye,
daisy. See Day, and Eye.] (Bot.) (a) A genus of low herbs (Bellis),
belonging to the family Composit\'91. The common English and classical
daisy is B. prennis, 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.
NOTE: &hand; Th e wo rd da isy 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
Dak (?), n. [Hind. .] 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 and
of a dak stage. -- To travel by dak, to travel by relays of
palanquines or other carriage, as fast as the post along a road.
Daker, Dakir
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.
Daker hen
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.] (Zo\'94l.) The corncrake or land rail.
Dakoit, n., Dakoity
Da*koit", n., Da*koit"y, n. See Dacoit, Dacoity.
Dakota group
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.
Dakotas
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
Dal (?), n. [Hind.] Split pulse, esp. of Cajanus Indicus. [East
Indies]
Dale
Dale (?), n. [AS. d\'91l; akin to LG., D., Sw., Dan., OS., & Goth.
dal, Icel. dalr, OHG. tal, G. thal, and perth. to Gr. a rotunda, Skr.
dh\'bera depth. Cf. Dell.]
1. A low place between hills; a vle or valley.
Where mountaines rise, umbrageous dales descend. Thomson.
2. A trough or spout to carry off water, as from a pump. Knight.
Dalesman
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
Dalf (?), imp. of Delve. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Dalliance
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 mnch the rein. Shak.
O, the dalliance and the wit, The flattery and the strifeTennyson.
2. Delay or procrastination. Shak.
3. Entertaining discourse. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Dailer
Dai"l*er (?), n. One Who fondles; a trifler; as, dalliers with
pleasant words. Asham.
Dallop
Dal"lop (?), n. [Etymol. unknown.] A tuft or clump. [Obs.] Tusser.
Dally
Dal"ly (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dallied (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Dallying.] [OE. , 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.
Dally
Dal"ly, v. t. To delay unnecessarily; to while away.
Dallying off the time with often skirmishes. Knolles.
Dalmania
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.
Dalmanites
Dal`ma*ni"tes (?), n. Same as Dalmania.
Dalmatian
Dal*ma"tian (?), a. Of or pertaining to Dalmatia. Dalmatian dog
(Zo\'94l.), a carriage dog, shaped like a pointer, and having black or
bluish spots on a white ground; the coach dog.
Dalmatica, n., Dalmatic
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 segno
Dal` se"gno (?). [It., from the sign.] (Mus.) A direction to go back
to the sign Segno.
Daltonian
Dal*to"ni*an (?), n. One afflicted with color blindness.
Daltonism
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
Dam (?), 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 end down, Looking the way her harmless young
one went. Shak.
2. A kind or crowned piece in the game of draughts.
Dam
Dam, n. [Akin to OLG., D., & Dan. dam, G. & Sw. damm, Icel. dammr, and
AS. fordemman to stop up, Goth. Fa\'a3rdammjan.]
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
Dam, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dammed (?); 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.
Damage
Dam"age (?), 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.
NOTE: &hand; In co mmon-law action, 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.
Damage
Dam"age, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Damages (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Damaging
(?).] [Cf. OF. damagier, domagier. See Damage, n.] To ocassion damage
to the soudness, 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.
Damage
Dam"age (?), v. i. To receive damage or harm; to be injured or
impaired in soudness or value; as. some colors in damage in sunlight.
Damageable
Dam"age*a*ble (?), a. [Cf. OF. dammageable, 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 demageable unto your royal majesty. Hakluit.
Damage feasant
Dam"age fea`sant (?). [OF. damage + F. faisant doing, p. pr. See
Feasible.] (Law) Doing injury; trespassing, as cattle. Blackstone.
Daman
Da"man (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) 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.
Damar
Dam"ar (?), n. See Dammar.
Damascene
Dam"as*cene (?), a. [L. Damascenus of Damascus, fr. Damascus the city,
Gr. . See Damask, and cf. Damaskeen, Damaskin, Damson.] Of or relating
to Damascus.
Damascene
Dam"as*cene (?), n. A kind of plume, now called damson. See Damson.
Damascene
Dam"as*cene (?), v. t. Same as Damask, or Damaskeen, v. t. "Damascened
armor." Beaconsfield. "Cast and damascened steel." Ure.
Damascus
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 damasc appearance. -- Damascus steel. See Damask
steel, under Damask, a.
Damask
Dam"ask (?), n. [From the city Damascus, L. Damascus, Gr. , Heb.
Dammesq, Ar. Daemeshq; cf. Heb. d'meseq damask; cf. It. damasco, Sp.
damasco, F. damas. Cf. Damascene, Damass\'90.]
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.
Damask
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.
Damask
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.
Damaskeen, Damasken
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.
Damaskin
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
Damass\'82
Da*mas*s\'82" (?), a. [F. damass\'82, fr. damas. See Damask.] Woven
like damask. -- n. A damass\'82 fabric, esp. one of linen.
Damassin
Dam"as*sin (?), n. [F., fr. damas. See Damask.] A kind of modified
damask or blocade.
Dam1bonite
Dam1bo*nite (?), n. [Cf. F. dambonite.] (Chem.) A white crystalline,
sugary substance obtained from an African caotchouc.
Dambose
Dam"bose (?), n. (Chem.) A crystalline vari ety of fruit sugar
obtained from dambonite.
Dame
Dame (?), 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 mother, Dan, Danger, Dangeon, Dungeon, Dominie, Don,
n., Duenna.]
1. A mistress of a family, who is a lady; a womam 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.
Damewort
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.
Damiana
Da`mi*a"na (?), n. [NL.; of uncertain origin.] (Med.) A Mexican
drug, used as an aphrodisiac.
NOTE: &hand; Th ere ar e se veral va rieties derived from different
plants, esp. from a species of Turnera and from Bigelovia veneta.
Wood & Bache.
Damianist
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.
Dammar, Dammara
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, OR Dammara,
orientalis), yielding dammar.
Dammara
Dam"ma*ra, n. (Bot.) A large tree of the order Conifer\'91, indigenous
to the East Indies and Australasia; -- called also Agathis. There are
several species.
Damn
Damn (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Damned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Damning
(?).] [OE. damnen dap), 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 censhure.
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.
NOTE: &hand; Damn is sometimes used interjectionally, imperatively,
and intensively.
Damn
Damn, v. i. To invoke damnation; to curse. 'While I inwardly damn."
Goldsmith.
Damnability
Dam`na*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality of being damnable; damnableness.
Sir T. More.
Damnable
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 dealth, And to transport him in
the mind hi is, Were damnable. Shak.
2. Odious; pernicious; detestable.
Begin, murderer; . . . leave thy damnable faces. Shak.
Damnableness
Dam"na*ble*ness, n. The state or quality of deserving damnation;
execrableness.
The damnableness of this most execrable impiety. Prynne.
Damnably
Dam"na*bly, adv.
1. In a manner to incur sever
2. Odiously; detestably; excessively. [Low]
Damnation
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 daserving of everlasting punishment. [R.]
The deep damnation of his taking-off. Shak.
Dannatory
Dan"na*to*ry (?), a. [L. damnatorius, fr. damnator a condemner.] Doo
"Damnatory invectives." Hallam.
Damned
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.
Damnific
Dam*nif"ic (?), a. [L. damnificus; damnum damage, loss + facere to
make. See Damn.] Procuring or causing loss; mischievous; injurious.
Damnification
Dam`ni*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [LL. damnificatio.] That which causes damage
or loss.
Damnify
Dam"ni*fy (?), v. t. [LL. damnificare, fr. L. damnificus: cf. OF.
damnefier. See Damnific.] To cause loss or damage to; to injure; to
imparir. [R.]
This work will ask as many more officials to make expurgations and
expunctions, that the commonwealth of learning be not damnified.
Milton.
Damning
Damn"ing (?), a. That damns; damnable; as, damning evidence of guilt.
Damningness
Damn"ing*ness, n. Tendency to bring damnation. "The damningness of
them [sins]." Hammond.
damnum
dam"num (?), n. [L.] (law) Harm; detriment, either to character or
property.
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Page 367
Damosel, Damosella, Damoiselle
Dam"o*sel (?), Dam`o*sel"la (?), Da`moi`selle" (?), n. See Damsel.
[Archaic]
Damourite
Dam"our*ite (?), n. [Ater the French chemist Damour.] (Min.) A kind of
Muscovite, or potash mica, containing water.
Damp
Damp (?), 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 prodact, formed in coal mines, old wells, pints,
etc.
Choke damp, a damp consisting principally of carboniCarbonic 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
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
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.
Dampen
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.
Dampen
Damp"en, v. i. To become damp; to deaden. Byron.
Damper
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.
Dampish
Damp"ish (?), a. Moderately damp or moist. -- Damp"ish*ly, adv. --
Damp"ish*ness, n.
Dampne
Damp"ne (?), v. t. To damn. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Dampness
Damp"ness, n. Moderate humidity; moisture; fogginess; moistness.
Damp off
Damp" off` (?). To decay and perish through excessive moisture.
Dampy
Damp"y (?), a.
1. Somewhat damp. [Obs.] Drayton.
2. Dejected; gloomy; sorrowful. [Obs.] "Dispel dampy throughts."
Haywards.
Damsel
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 gerl; a maiden.
With her train of damsels she was gone, In shady walks the
scorching heat to shum. Dryden.
Sometimes a troop of damsels glad, . . . Goes by to towered
Cameleot. Tennyson.
3. (Milling) An attachment to a millstone spindle for shaking the
hoppe
Damson
Dam"son (?), 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
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
Dan, n. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Mining) A small truck or sledge used in
coal mines.
Danaide
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.
Danaite
Da"na*ite (?), n. [Named after J. Freeman Dana.] (Min.) A
cobaltiferous variety of arsenopyrite.
Danalite
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 glicinum, containing
sulphur.
Danburite
Dan"bu*rite (?), n. (Min.) A borosilicate of lime, first found at
Danbury, Conn. It is near the topaz in form. Dana.
Dance
Dance (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Danced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dancing.]
[F. danser, fr. OHG. dans 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 rhytmically.
Jack shall pipe and Gill shall dance. Wiher.
Good shepherd, what fair swain is this Which dances with your
dauther? 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
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
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.
NOTE: &hand; Th e wo rd da nce wa s us ed ir onically, 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.
Dancer
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.
Danceress
Dan"cer*ess, n. A female dancer. [Obs.] Wyclif.
Dancett\'82
Dan`cet`t\'82" (?), a. [Cf. F. danch\'82 dancett\'82, dent tooth.]
(Her.) Deeply indented; having large teeth; thus, a fess dancett\'82
has only three teeth in the whole width of the escutcheon.
Dancing
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.
Dancy
Dan"cy (?), a. (Her.) Same as Dancett\'82.
Dandelion
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.
Dander
Dan"der (?), n. [Corrupted from dandruff.]
1. Dandruff or scurf on the head.
2. Anger or vexation; rage [Low] Halliwell.
Dander
Dan"der, v. i. [See Dandle.] To wander about; to saunter; to talk
incoherently. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
Dandi
Dan"di (?), n. [Hind. , fr. an oar.] A boatman; an oarsman. [India]
Dandie
Dan"die (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) One of a breed of small terriers; -- called
also Dandie Dinmont.
Dandified
Dan"di*fied (?), a. Made up like a dandy; having the dress or manners
of a dandy; buckish.
Dandify
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.
Dandiprat
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.
Dandle
Dan"dle (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dandled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dandling
(?).] [Cf. G. d\'84ndeln 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.
Dandler
Dan"dler (?), n. One who dandles or fondles.
Dandriff
Dan"driff (?), n. See Dandruff. Swift.
Dandruff
Dandruff (?), n. [Prob. from W. toncrust, peel, skin + AS. dr dirty,
draffy, or W. drwg bad: cf. AS. tan a letter, an eruption. &root;240.]
A scurf which forms on the head, and comes off in small or particles.
[Written also dandriff.]
Dandy
Dan"dy (?), n.; pl. Dandies (#). [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.
Dandy-cock
Dan"dy-cock` (, n. masc., Dan"dy-hen` (, n. fem. [See Dandy.] A bantam
fowl.
Dandyish
Dan"dy*ish, a. Like a dandy.
Dandyism
Dan"dy*ism (?), n. The manners and dress of a dandy; foppishness.
Byron.
Dandyise
Dan"dy*ise (?), v. t. & i. To make, or to act, like a dandy; to
dandify.
Dandyling
Dan"dy*ling (?), n. [Dandy + .] A little or insignificant dandy; a
contemptible fop.
Dane
Dane (?), n. [LL. Dani: cf. AS. Dene.] A native, or a naturalized
inhabitant, of Denmark. Great Dane. (Zo\'94l.) See Danish dog, under
Danish.
Danegeld, Danegelt
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.
Danewort
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.
NOTE: [Said to grow on spots where battles were fought against the
Danes.]
Dang
Dang (?), imp. of Ding. [Obs.]
Dang
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.
Danger
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.
Danger
Dan"ger, v. t. To endanger. [Obs.] Shak.
Dangerful
Dan"ger*ful (?), a. Full of danger; dangerous. [Obs.] --
Dan"ger*ful*ly, adv. [Obs.] Udall.
Dangerless
Dan"ger*less, a. Free from danger. [R.]
Dangerous
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.
Dangle
Dan"gle (?), 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.
Dangle
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.
Dangleberry
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.
Dangler
Dan"gler (?), n. One who dangles about or after others, especially
after women; a trifler. " Danglers at toilets." Burke.
Daniel
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.
Danish
Dan"ish (?), a. [See Dane.] Belonging to the Danes, or to their
language or country. -- n. The language of the Danes. Danish dog
(Zo\'94l.), one of a large and powerful breed of dogs reared in
Denmark; -- called also great Dane. See Illustration in Appendix.
Danite
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
Dank (?), a. [Cf. dial, Sw. dank a moist place in a field, Icel.
d\'94kk 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
Dank, n. Moisture; humidity; water. [Obs.]
Dank
Dank, n. A small silver coin current in Persia.
Dankish
Dank"ish, a. Somewhat dank. -- Dank"ish*ness, n.
In a dark and dankish vault at home. Shak.
Dannebrog
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.
Danseuse
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
Dansk (?), a. [Dan.] Danish. [Obs.]
Dansker
Dansk"er (?), n. A Dane. [Obs.]
Inquire me first what Danskers are in Paris. Shak.
Dantean
Dan*te"an (?), a. Relatingto, emanating from or resembling, the poet
Dante or his writings.
Dantesque
Dan*tesque" (?), a. [Cf. It. Dantesco.] Dantelike; Dantean. Earle.
Danubian
Da*nu"bi*an (?), a. Pertainingto, or bordering on, the river Danube.
Dap
Dap (?), 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.
Dapatical
Da*pat"ic*al (?), a. [L. dapaticus, fr. daps feast.] Sumptuous in
cheer. [Obs.] Bailey.
Daphne
Daph"ne (?), n. [L., a laurel tree, from Gr. .]
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.
Daphnetin
Daph"ne*tin (?), n. (Chem.) A colorless crystalline substance, C9H6O4,
extracted from daphnin.
Daphnia
Daph"ni*a (?), n. [NL.] (Zo\'94l.) A genus of the genus Daphnia.
Daphnin
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.
Daphnomancy
Daph"no*man`cy (?), n. [Gr. da`fnh the laurel + -mancy.] Divination by
means of the laurel.
Dapifer
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.
Dapper
Dap"per (?), a. [OE. daper; prob. fr. D. dapper brave, valiant; akin
to G. tapfer brave, OHG. taphar heavy, weighty, OSlav. dobr&ucr; 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.
Dapperling
Dap"per*ling (?), n. A dwarf; a dandiprat. [r.]
Dapple
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.
Dapple, Dappled
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.
NOTE: &hand; Th e wo rd 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.
Dapple
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.
Darbies
Dar"bies (?), n. pl. Manacles; handcuffs. [Cant]
Jem Clink will fetch you the darbies. Sir W. Scott.
NOTE: &hand; In "T he St eel Glass" by Gascoigne, printed in 1576,
occurs the line "To binde such babes in father Derbies bands."
Darby
Dar"by (?), n. A plasterer's float, having two handles; -- used in
smoothing ceilings, etc.
Darbyite
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.
Dardanian
Dar*da"ni*an (?), a. & n.[From L. Dardania, poetic name of Troy.]
Trojan.
Dare
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, gada\'a3rsta, Gr.
tharsei^n, tharrei^n, to be bold, tharsy`s bold, Skr. Dhrsh to be
bold. &root;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
NOTE: &hand; Th e pr esent te nse, I da re, 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 nopt deceide me. Shak.
Here boldly spread thy hands, no venom'd weed Dares blister them,
no slimly snail dare creep. Beau. & Fl.
NOTE: &hand; Formerly durst was also used as the present. Sometimes
the old form dare is found for durst or dared.
Dare
Dare, v. y. [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
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 C\'91sar. Shak.
Dare
Dare, v. i. [OE. darien, to lie hidden, be timid.] To lurk; to lie
hid. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Dare
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
Dare, n. [See Dace.] (Zo\'94l.) A small fish; the dace.
Dare-devil
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-deviltry
Dare"-dev`il*try (?), n; pl. Dare-deviltries (. Reckless mischief; the
action of a dare-devil.
Dareful
Dare"ful (?), a. Full af daring or of defiance; adveturous. [R.] Shak.
Darer
Dar"er (?), n. One who dares or defies.
Darg, Dargue
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. & Scott]
Daric
Dar"ic (?), n. [Gr.
1. (Antiq.) (a) A gold coin of ancient Persia, weighing usually a
little more than 128 grains, and bearing on one side of 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.
Daring
Dar"ing (?), n. Boldness; fearlessness; adventurousness; also, a
daring act.
Daring
Dar"ing, a. Bold; fearless; adventurous; as, daring spirits. --
Dar"ing*ly, adv. -- Dar"ing*ness, n.
Dark
Dark (?), 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, Irrecoverable 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
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 wherin he lived was dark, but he Cobld not want light who
taught the world oto see. Denhan.
The tenth century used to be reckoned by medi\'91val historians as
the darkest part of this intellectual night. Hallam.
4. Evincing blaxk 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.
NOTE: &hand; Da rk 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
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 mucdark, 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
Dark, v. t. To darken to obscure. [Obs.] Milton.
Darken
Dark"en (?), v. t. [Imp. & p. p. Darkened (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Darkening (?).] [AS. deorcian. See Dark, a.]
1. To make dark or black; to deprite 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.
Darken
Dark"en, v. i. To grow or darker.
Darkener
Dark"en*er (?), n. One who, or that which, darkens.
Darkening
Dark"en*ing, n. Twilight; gloaming. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Wright.
Darkful
Dark"ful (?), a. Full of darkness. [Obs.]
Darkish
Dark"ish (?), a. Somewhat dark; dusky.
Darkle
Dar"kle (?), v. i. [Freq. of dark.] To grow dark; to show
indistinctly. Thackeray.
Darkling
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.
Darkling
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.
Darkly
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.
Darkness
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.
Darksome
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.
Darky
Dark"y (?), n. A negro. [Sleng]
Darling
Dar"ling (?), n. [OE. derling, deorling, AS. de\'a2rling; de\'a2re
dear + -ling. See Dear, and -ling.] One dearly beloved; a favorite.
And can do naught but wail her darling's loss. Shak.
Darling
Dar"ling, a. Dearly beloved; regarded with especial kindness and
tenderness; favorite. "Some darling science." I. Watts. "Darling sin."
Macaulay.
Darlingtonia
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
Darn (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Darned (?); 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
stockins. Swift.
Darning last. See under Last. -- Darning needle. (a) A long, strong
needle for mending holes or rents, especially in stockings. (b)
(Zo\'94l.) Any species of dragon fly, having a long, cylindrical body,
resembling a needle. These flies are harmless and without stings.
NOTE: [In this sense, usually written with a hyphen.]
Called also devil's darning-needle.
Darn
Darn, n. A place mended by darning.
Darn
Darn, v. t. A colloquial euphemism for Damn.
Darnel
Dar"nel (?), n. [OE. darnel, dernel, of uncertain origin; cf. dial. F.
darnelle, Sw. d\'86r-repe; perh. named from a supposed intoxicating
quality of the plant, and akin to Sw. d\'86ra 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.
NOTE: &hand; Un der da rnel ou r ea rly herbalists comprehended all
kinds of cornfield weeds.
Dr. Prior.
Darner
Darn"er (?), n. One who mends by darning.
Darnex, Darnic
Dar"nex (?), Dar"nic (?), n. Same as Dornick.
Daroo
Da*roo", n. (Bot.) The Egyptian sycamore (Ficus Sycamorus). See
Sycamore.
Darr
Darr (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) The European black tern.
Darraign, Darrain
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 .
Darrein
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
Dart (?), n. [OF. dart, of German origin; cf. OHG. tart javelin, dart,
AS. dara, daro, Sw. dart dagger, Icel. darra 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. (Zo\'94l.) A fish; the dace. See Dace.
Dart sac (Zo\'94l.), a sac connected with the reproductive organs of
land snails, which contains a dart, or arrowlike structure.
Dart
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
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.
Dartars
Dar"tars (?), n. [F. dartre eruption, dandruff. A kind of scab or
ulceration on the skin of lambs.
Darter
Dart"er (?), n.
1. One who darts, or who throw darts; that which darts.
2. (Zo\'94l.) 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. (Zo\'94l.) A small fresh-water etheostomoid fish. The group
includes numerous genera and species, all of them American. See
Etheostomoid.
Dartingly
Dart"ing*ly (?), adv. Like a dart; rapidly.
Dartle
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.
Dartoic
Dar*to"ic (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the dartos.
Dartoid
Dar"toid (?), a. [Dartos + -oid.] (Anat.) Like the dartos; dartoic;
as, dartoid tissue.
Dartos
Dar"tos (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. flayed.] (Anat.) A thin layer of
peculiar contractile tissue directly beneath the skin of the scrotum.
Dartrous
Dar"trous (?), a. [F. dartreux. See Dartars.] (Med.) Relating to, or
partaking of the nature of, the disease called tetter; herpetic.
Dartroud diathesis, A morbid condition of the system predisposing to
the development of certain skin deseases, such as eczema, psoriasis,
and pityriasis. Also called rheumic diathesis, and hipretism. Piffard.
Darwinian
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.
NOTE: &hand; T his 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 survive. This is the theory of
natural selection or the survival of the fillest. He also argues
that natural selection is capable of modifying and producing
organisms fit for their circumstances. See Development theory,
under Development.
Darwinian
Dar*win"i*an, n. An advocate of Darwinism.
Darwinianism
Dar*win"i*an*ism (?), n. Darwinism.
Darwinism
Dar"win*ism (?), n. (Biol.) The theory or doctrines put forth by
Darwin. See above. Huxley.
Dase
Dase (?), v. t. See Daze. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Dasewe
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
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 gamesPope.
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
Dash, v. i. To rust 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
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 [. (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.
Dashboard
Dash"board` (?), n.
1. A board placed on the fore part of a carriage, sleigh, or other
vechicle, 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.
Dasher
Dash"er (?), 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]
Dashing
Dash"ing, a. Bold; spirited; showy.
The dashing and daring spirit is preferable to the listless. T.
Campbell.
Dashingly
Dash"ing*ly, adv. Conspicuously; showily. [Colloq.]
A dashingly dressed gentleman. Hawthorne.
Dashism
Dash"ism (?), 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.
Dashpot
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. <-- letters refer to illustration -->
NOTE: &hand; 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.
NOTE: A cataract of an engine is sometimes called a dashpot.
Dashy
Dash"y (?), a. [From Dash.] Calculated to arrest attention;
ostentatiously fashionable; showy. [Colloq.]
Dastard
Das"tard (?), n. [Prob. from Icel. d\'91str exhausted. breathless, p.
p. of d\'91sa 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.
Dastard
Das"tard, a. Meanly shrinking from danger; cowardly; dastardly. "Their
dastard souls." Addison.
Dastard
Das"tard, v. t. To dastardize. [R.] Dryden.
Dastardize
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.
Dastardliness
Das"tard*li*ness (?), n. The quality of being dastardly; cowardice;
base fear.
Dastardly
Das"tard*ly, a. Meanly timid; cowardly; base; as, a dastardly outrage.
Dastardness
Das"tard*ness, n. Dastardliness.
Dastardy
Das"tard*y (?), n. Base timidity; cowardliness.
Daswe
Das"we (?), v. i. See Dasewe [Obs.] Chaucer.
Dasymeter
Da*sym"e*ter (?), n. [Gr. 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.
Dasyp\'91dal
Das`y*p\'91"dal (?), a. (Zo\'94l.) Dasyp\'91dic.
Dasyp\'91des
Das`y*p\'91"des (?), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. hairy, shaggy + , , a
child.] (Zo\'94l.) Those birds whose young are covered with down when
hatched.
Dasyp\'91dic
Das`y*p\'91"dic (?), a. (Zo\'94l.) Pertaining to the Dasyp\'91des;
ptilop\'91dic.
Dasyure
Das"y*ure (?), n. [Gr. thick, shaggy + tail: cf. F. dasyure.]
(Zo\'94l.) A carnivorous marsupial quadruped of Australia, belonging
to the genus Dasyurus. There are several species.
Dasyurine
Das`y*u"rine (?), a. (Zo\'94l.) Pertaining to, or like, the dasyures.
Data
Da"ta (?), n. pl. [L. pl. of datum.] See Datum.
Datable
Dat"a*ble (?), a. That may be dated; having a known or ascertainable
date. "Datable almost to a year." The Century.
Dataria
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).
Datary
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
Date, n.[F. datte, L. dactylus, fr. Gr. , prob. not the same word as
finger, but of Semitic origin.] (Bot.) The fruit of the date palm;
also, the date palm itself.
NOTE: &hand; Th is fr uit is so mewhat in th e 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 Ph\'d2nix 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 (Zo\'94l.), a bivalve shell, or its
inhabitant, of the genus Pholas, and allied genera. See Pholas.
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Page 370
Date
Date (?), n. [F. date, LL. data, fr. L. datus given, p.p. of dare to
give; akin to Gr. , OSlaw. dati, Skr. d\'be. 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
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.
NOTE: &hand; 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
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.
Dateless
Date"less, a. Without date; having no fixed time.
Dater
Dat"er (?), n. One who dates.
Datiscin
Da*tis"cin (?), n. (Chem.) A white crystalline glucoside extracted
from the bastard hemp (Datisca cannabina).
Dative
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.
Dative
Da"tive, n. [L. dativus.] The dative case. See Dative, a.,
1.
Datively
Da"tive*ly, adv. As a gift. [R.]
Datolite
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.]
Datum
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.
Datura
Da*tu"ra (?), n. [NL.; cf. Skr. dhatt, Per. & Ar. tat, Tat.] (Bot.) A
genus of solanaceous plants, with large funnel-shaped flowers and a
four-celled, capsular fruit.
NOTE: &hand; Th e co mmonest sp ecies ar e th e th orn ap ple (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.
Daturine
Da*tu"rine (?), n. [From Datura.] (Chem.) Atropine; -- called also
daturia and daturina.
Daub
Daub (?), 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
Daub (?), v. i. To smear; to play the flatterer.
His conscience . . . will not daub nor flatter. South.
Daub
Daub, n.
1. A viscous, sticky application; a spot smeared or dabed; 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.
Dauber
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 flattere.
4. (Zo\'94l.) The mud wasp; the mud dauber.
Daubery, OR Daubry
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.
Daubing
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.
Daubreelite
Dau"bree*lite (?), n. [From Daubr\'82e, a French mineralogist.] (Min.)
A sulphide of chromium observed in some meteoric irons.
Dauby
Daub"y (?), a. Smeary; viscous; glutinous; adhesive. "Dauby wax."
Daughter
Daugh"ter (?), n.; pl. Daughters (#); obs. pl. Daughtren (#). [OE.
doughter, doghter, dohter, AS. dohtor, dohter; akin to OS. dohtar, D.
dochter, G. tochter, Icel. d, Sw. dotter, Dan. dotter, datter, Goth.
da\'a3htar,, OSlav. d, Russ. doche, Lith. dukt, Gr. , Zendughdhar,
Skr. duhit; possibly originally, the milker, cf. Skr. duh to milk.
&root;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 adress 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.
Daughter-in-law
Daugh"ter-in-law` (?), n.; pl. Daughters-in-law. The wife of one's
son.
Daughterliness
Daugh"ter*li*ness (?), n. The state of a daughter, or the conduct
becoming a daughter.
Daughterly
Daugh"ter*ly, a. Becoming a daughter; filial.
Sir Thomas liked her natural and dear daughterly affection towards
him. Cavendish.
Dauk
Dauk (?), v. t. See Dawk, v. t., to cut or gush.
Daun
Daun (?), n. A variant of Dan, a title of honor. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Daunt
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.
Daunter
Daunt"er (?), n. One who daunts.
Dauntless
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.
Dauphin
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.
Dauphiness, OR Dauphine
Dau"phin*ess (?), OR Dau"phine (?), n. The title of the wife of the
dauphin.
Dauw
Dauw (?), n. [D.] (Zo\'94l.) The striped quagga, or Burchell's zebra,
of South Africa (Asinus Burchellii); -- called also peechi, or peetsi.
Davenport
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.
Davidic
Da*vid"ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to David, the king and psalmist of
Israel, or to his family.
Davit
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.
Davy Jones
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.
Davy lamp
Da"vy lamp` (?). See Safety lamp, under Lamp.
Davyne
Da"vyne (?), n. [See Davyum.] (Min.) A variety of nephelite from
Vesuvius.
Davyum
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.<-- ? Europium is
152(the closest)? -->
Daw
Daw (?), n. [OE. dawe; akin to OHG. t\'beha, MHG. t\'behe, t\'behele,
G. dohle. Cf. Caddow.] (Zo\'94l.) A European bird of the Crow family
(Corvus monedula), often nesting in church towers and ruins; a
jackdaw.
The loud daw, his throat displaying, draw The whole assembly of his
fellow daws. Waller.
NOTE: &hand; Th e 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
Daw, v. i. [OE. dawen. See Dawn.] To dawn. [Obs.] See Dawn.
Daw
Daw, v. t. [Contr. fr. Adaw.]
1. To rouse. [Obs.]
2. To daunt; to terrify. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
Dawdle
Daw"dle (?), 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.
Dawdle
Daw"dle, v. t. To waste by trifling; as, to dawdle away a whole
morning.
Dawdle
Daw"dle, n. A dawdler. Colman & Carrick.
Dawdler
Daw"dler (?), n. One who wastes time in trifling employments; an
idler; a trifler.
Dawe
Dawe (?), n. [See Day.] Day. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Dawish
Daw"ish (?), a. Like a daw.
Dawk
Dawk (?), n. See Dak.
Dawk
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
Dawk, n. A hollow, crack, or cut, in timber. Moxon.
Dawn
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. d\'91g day; akin to D. dagen, G. tagen, Icel. daga, Dan. dages,
Sw. dagas. See Day.
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
Dawn, n.
1. The break of day; the first appeareance 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.
Dawsonite
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
Day (?), n. [OE. day, dai,, dei, AS. d\'91g; akin to OS., D., Dan., &
Sw. dag, G, tag, Icel. dagr, Goth. dags; cf. Skr. dah (for dhagh ?) to
burn. \'fb69. 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.
NOTE: &hand; Da y is mu ch us ed in self-explaining compounds; as,
daybreak, daylight, workday, etc.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 371
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, (Zo\'94l.), 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.
Dayaks
Day"aks (?), n. pl. (Ethnol.) See Dyaks.
Daybook
Day"book (?), 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.
Daybreak
Day"break` (?), n. The time of the first appearance of light in the
morning.
Day-coal
Day"-coal` (?), n. (Mining) The upper stratum of coal, as nearest the
light or surface.
Daydream
Day"dream` (?), n. A vain fancy speculation; a reverie; a castle in
the air; unfounded hope.
Mrs. Lambert's little daydream was over. Thackeray.
Daydreamer
Day"dream`er (?), n. One given to draydreams.
Dayflower
Day"flow`er (?), n. (Bot.) A genus consisting mostly of tropical
perennial herbs (Commelina), having ephemeral flowers.
Dayfly
Day"fly` (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) 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.<-- the Mayfly? = ephemerid of order
ephemeroptera -->
Day-labor
Day"-la`bor (?), n. Labor hired or performed by the day. Milton.
Day-laborer
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.
Daylight
Day"light` (?), 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 lily
Day" lil`y (?). (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.
Daymaid
Day"maid` (?), n. A dairymaid. [Obs.]
Daymare
Day"mare` (?), 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
Day"-net` (?), n. A net for catching small birds.
Day-peep
Day"-peep` (?), n. The dawn. [Poetic] Milton.
Daysman
Days"man (?), 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.
Dayspring
Day"spring (?), 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
Day"-star` (?), 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.
Daytime
Day"time` (?), n. The time during which there is daylight, as
distinguished from the night.
Daywoman
Day"wom`an (?), n. A dairymaid. [Obs.]
Daze
Daze (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dazed (?); 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, dysig, stupid. 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
Daze, n.
1. The state of being dazed; as, he was in a daze. [Colloq.]
2. (Mining) A glittering stone.
Dazzle
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.
Dazzle
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.
Dazzle
Daz"zle, n. A light of dazzling brilliancy.
Dazzlement
Daz"zle*ment (?), n. Dazzling flash, glare, or burst of light. Donne.
Dazzlingly
Daz"zling*ly (?), adv. In a dazzling manner.
De-
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.
Deacon
Dea"con (?), n. [OE. diakne, deakne, deken, AS. diacon, deacon, L.
diaconus, fr. Gr. 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.]
Deacon
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.
NOTE: &hand; Th e 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.
Deaconess
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.
Deaconhood
Dea"con*hood (?), n. The state of being a deacon; office of a deacon;
deaconship.
Deaconry
Dea"con*ry (?), n. See Deaconship.
Deaconship
Dea"con*ship, n. The office or ministry of a deacon or deaconess.
Dead
Dead (?), a. [OE. ded, dead, deed, AS. de\'a0d; akin to OS. d, D.
dood, G. todt, tot, Icel. dau, Sw. & Dan. d\'94d, 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
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
Dead (?), 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
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
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
Dead` beat" (?). See Beat, n., 7. [Low, U.S.]
Deadbeat
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.
Deadborn
Dead"born` (?), a. Stillborn. Pope.
Deaden
Dead"en (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deadened (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Deadening.] [From Dead; cf. AS. d 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.
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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.
Deadener
Dead"en*er (?), n. One who, or that which, deadens or checks.
Dead-eye
Dead"-eye` (?), 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.
Deadhead
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.
Deadhearted
Dead"*heart`ed (?), a. Having a dull, faint heart; spiritless;
listless. -- Dead"*heart`ed*ness, n. Bp. Hall.
Deadhouse
Dead"house` (?), n. A morgue; a place for the temporary reception and
exposure of dead bodies.
Deadish
Dead"ish, a. Somewhat dead, dull, or lifeless; deathlike.
The lips put on a deadish paleness. A. Stafford.
Deadlatch
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.
Deadlight
Dead"light` (?), n. (Naut.) A strong shutter, made to fit open ports
and keep out water in a storm.
Deadlihood
Dead"li*hood (?), n. State of the dead. [Obs.]
Deadliness
Dead"li*ness, n. The quality of being deadly.
Deadlock
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.
Deadly
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.
Deadly
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.
Deadness
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
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-reckoning
Dead"-reck`on*ing (?), n. (Naut.) See under Dead, a.
Deads
Deads (?), n. pl. (Mining) The substances which inclose the ore on
every side.
Dead-stroke
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.
Deadwood
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. <-- unproductive workers!
-->
Deadworks
Dead"works` (?), n. pl. (Naut.) The parts of a ship above the water
when she is laden.
Deaf
Deaf (?; 277), a. [OE. def, deaf, deef, AS. de\'a0f; akin to D. doof,
G. taub, Icel. daufr, Dan. d\'94v, Sw. d\'94f, Goth. daubs, and prob.
to E. dumb (the original sense being, dull as applied to one of the
senses), and perh. to Gr. 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
Deaf (?; 277), v. t. To deafen. [Obs.] Dryden.
Deafen
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.
Deafening
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.
Deafly
Deaf"ly, adv. Without sense of sounds; obscurely.
Deafly
Deaf"ly, a. Lonely; solitary. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
Deaf-mute
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-mutism
Deaf"-mut`ism (?), n. The condition of being a deaf-mute.
Deafness
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
Deal (?), n. [OE. del, deel, part, AS. d; akin to OS. d, D. & Dan.
deel, G. theil, teil, Icel. deild, Sw. del, Goth. dails. 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.
NOTE: &hand; It wa s fo rmerly li mited 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.
NOTE: &hand; Wh ole 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
Deal, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dealt (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dealing.] [OE.
delen, AS. d, fr. d share; akin to OS. d, 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 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
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.
Dealbate
De*al"bate (?), v. t. [L. dealbatus, p. p. of dealbare. See Daub.] To
whiten. [Obs.] Cockeram.
Dealbation
De`al*ba"tion (?), n. [L. dealbatio: cf. F. d\'82albation.] Act of
bleaching; a whitening. [Obs.]
Dealer
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.
Dealfish
Deal"fish` (?), n. [From deal a long, narrow plank.] (Zo\'94l.) A
long, thin fish of the arctic seas (Trachypterus arcticus).
Dealing
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
Dealth (?), n. Share dealt. [Obs.]
Deambulate
De*am"bu*late (?), v. i. [L. deambulare, deambulatum; de- + ambulare
to walk.] To walk abroad. [Obs.] Cockeram.
Deambulation
De*am`bu*la"tion (?), n. [L. deambulatio.] A walking abroad; a
promenading. [Obs.] Sir T. Elyot.
Deambulatory
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.
Deambulatory
De*am"bu*la*to*ry, n. [L. deambulatorium.] A covered place in which to
walk; an ambulatory.
Dean
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.
Deanery
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.
Deanship
Dean"ship, n. The office of a dean.
I dont't value your deanship a straw. Swift.
Dear
Dear (?), a. [Compar. Dearer (?); superl. Dearest (?).] [OE. dere,
deore, AS. de\'a2re; akin to OS. diuri, D. duur, OHG. tiuri, G.
theuer, teuer, Icel. d, 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
Dear, n. A dear one; lover; sweetheart.
That kiss I carried from thee, dear. Shak.
Dear
Dear, adv. Dearly; at a high price.
If thou attempt it, it will cost thee dear. Shak.
Dear
Dear, v. t. To endear. [Obs.] Shelton.
Dearborn
Dear"born (?), n. A four-wheeled carriage, with curtained sides.
Dear-bought
Dear"-bought` (?), a. Bought at a high price; as, dear-bought
experience.
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Deare
Deare (?), variant of Dere, v. t. & n. [Obs.]
Dearie
Dear"ie (?), n. Same as Deary. Dickens.
Dearling
Dear"ling (?), n. A darling. [Obs.] Spenser.
Dear-loved
Dear"-loved` (?), a. Greatly beloved. Shak.
Dearly
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
Dearn (?), a. [AS. derne, dyrne, dierne, hidden, secret. Cf. Derne.]
Secret; lonely; solitary; dreadful. [Obs.] Shak. -- Dearn"ly, adv.
[Obs.] Chaucer.
Dearn
Dearn, v. t. Same as Darn. [Obs.]
Dearness
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
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.
Dearticulate
De`ar*tic"u*late (?), v. t. To disjoint.
Dearworth
Dear"worth` (?), a. [See Derworth.] Precious. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.
Deary
Dear"y (?), n. A dear; a darling. [Familiar]
Deas
De"as (?), n. See Dais. [Scot.]
Death
Death (?), n. [OE. deth, dea, AS. de\'a0; akin to OS. d, D. dood, G.
tod, Icel. dau, Sw. & Dan. d\'94d, Goth. daupus; 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.
NOTE: &hand; Lo cal de ath is going on at 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 at 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 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.
NOTE: &hand; De ath 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.
(Zo\'94l.) (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 Elapid\'91, 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, Decrase, 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.
Deathbed
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.
Deathbird
Death"bird` (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) Tengmalm's or Richardson's owl (Nyctale
Tengmalmi); -- so called from a superstition of the North American
Indians that its note presages death.
Deathblow
Death"blow` (?), n. A mortal or crushing blow; a stroke or event which
kills or destroys.
The deathblow of my hope. Byron.
Deathful
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.
Deathfulness
Death"ful*ness, n. Appearance of death. Jer. Taylor.
Deathless
Death"less, a. Not subject to death, destruction, or extinction;
immortal; undying; imperishable; as, deathless beings; deathless fame.
Deathlike
Death"like` (?), a.
1. Resembling death.
A deathlike slumber, and a dead repose. Pope.
2. Deadly. [Obs.] "Deathlike dragons." Shak.
Deathliness
Death"li*ness (?), n. The quality of being deathly; deadliness.
Southey.
Deathly
Death"ly, a. Deadly; fatal; mortal; destructive.
Deathly
Death"ly, adv. Deadly; as, deathly pale or sick.
Death's-head
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 (Zo\'94l.), 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
Death's"-herb` (?), n. The deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna). Dr.
Prior.
Deathsman
Deaths"man (?), n. An executioner; a headsman or hangman. [Obs.] Shak.
Deathward
Death"ward (?), adv. Toward death.
Deathwatch
Death"watch` (?; 224), n.
1. (Zo\'94l.) (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 Psocid\'91, 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.
Deaurate
De*au"rate (?), a. [L. deauratus, p. p. of deaurare to gild; de- +
aurum gold.] Gilded. [Obs.]
Deaurate
De*au"rate (?), v. t. To gild. [Obs.] Bailey.
Deauration
De`au*ra"tion (?), n. Act of gilding. [Obs.]
Deave
Deave (?), v. t. [See Deafen.] To stun or stupefy with noise; to
deafen. [Scot.]
Debacchate
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.
Debacchation
De`bac*cha"tion (?), n. [L. debacchatio.] Wild raving or debauchery.
[R.] Prynne.
Debacle
De*ba"cle (?), n. [F. d\'82b\'83cle, fr. d\'82b\'83cler to unbar,
break loose; pref. d\'82- (prob. = L. dis) + b\'83cler 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 d\'82bris.
Debar
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.
Debarb
De*barb" (?), v. t. [Pref. de- + L. barba beard.] To deprive of the
beard. [Obs.] Bailey.
Debark
De"bark" (?), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Debarked (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Debarking.] [F. d\'82barquer; pref. d\'82- (L. dis-) + barque. See
Bark the vessel, and cf. Disbark.] To go ashore from a ship or boat;
to disembark; to put ashore.
Debarkation
De`bar*ka"tion (?), n. Disembarkation.
The debarkation, therefore, had to take place by small steamers. U.
S. Grant.
Debarment
De*bar"ment (?), n. Hindrance from approach; exclusion.
Debarrass
De*bar"rass (?), v. t. [Cf. F. d\'82barrasser. See Embarrass.] To
disembarrass; to relieve. [R.]
Debase
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.
Debased
De*based" (?), a. (Her.) Turned upside down from its proper position;
inverted; reversed.
Debasement
De*base"ment (?), n. The act of debasing or the state of being
debased. Milton.
Debaser
De*bas"er (?), n. One who, or that which, debases.
Debasingly
De*bas"ing*ly, adv. In a manner to debase.
Debatable
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.
Debate
De*bate" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Debated; p. pr. & vb. n. Debating.]
[OF. debatre, F. d\'82battre; 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.
Debate
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.
Debate
De*bate", n. [F. d\'82bat, fr. d\'82battre. 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.
Debateful
De*bate"ful (?), a. Full of contention; contentious; quarrelsome.
[Obs.] Spenser.
Debatefully
De*bate"ful*ly, adv. With contention. [Obs.]
Debatement
De*bate"ment (?), n. [Cf. OF. debatement a beating.] Controversy;
deliberation; debate. [R.]
A serious question and debatement with myself. Milton.
Debater
De*bat"er (?), n. One who debates; one given to argument; a disputant;
a controvertist.
Debate where leisure serves with dull debaters. Shak.
Debating
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.
Debatingly
De*bat"ing*ly, adv. In the manner of a debate.
Debauch
De*bauch" (?), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Debauched (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Debauching.] [F. d\'82baucher, prob. originally, to entice away from
the workshop; pref. d\'82- (L. dis- or de) + OF. bauche, bauge, hut,
cf. F. bauge lair of a wild boar; prob. from G. or Icel., cf. Icel.
b\'belkr. 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.
Debauch
De*bauch", n. [Cf. F. d\'82bauche.]
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.
Debauched
De*bauched" (?), a. Dissolute; dissipated. "A coarse and debauched
look." Ld. Lytton.
Debauchedly
De*bauch"ed*ly (?), adv. In a profligate manner.
Debauchedness
De*bauch"ed*ness, n. The state of being debauched; intemperance. Bp.
Hall.
Debauchee
Deb`au*chee" (?), n. [F. d\'82, n., properly p. p. of d\'82baucher.
See Debauch, v. t.] One who is given to intemperance or bacchanalian
excesses; a man habitually lewd; a libertine.
Debaucher
De*bauch"er (?), n. One who debauches or corrupts others; especially,
a seducer to lewdness.
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Debauchery
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.
Debauchment
De*bauch"ment (?), n. The act of corrupting; the act of seducing from
virtue or duty.
Debauchness
De*bauch"ness, n. Debauchedness. [Obs.]
Debeige
De*beige" (?), n. [F. de of + beige the natural color of wool.] A kind
of woolen or mixed dress goods. [Written also debage.]
Debel
De*bel" (?), v. t. [Cf. F. d\'82beller. See Debellate.] To conquer.
[Obs.] Milton.
Debellate
De*bel"late (?), v. t. [L. debellatus, p. p. of debellare to subdue;
de- + bellum war.] To subdue; to conquer in war. [Obs.] Speed.
Debellation
Deb`el*la"tion (?), n. [LL. debellatio.] The act of conquering or
subduing. [Obs.]
De bene esse
De be"ne es"se (?). [L.] (Law) Of well being; of formal sufficiency
for the time; conditionally; provisionally. Abbott.
Debenture
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.
NOTE: It is ap plied in En gland to de eds of mortgage given by
railway companies for borrowed money; also to municipal and other
bonds and securities for money loaned.
Debentured
De*ben"tured (?; 135), a. Entitled to drawback or debenture; as,
debentured goods.
Debile
Deb"ile (?), a. [L. debilis: cf. F. d\'82bile. See Debility.] Weak.
[Obs.] Shak.
Debilitant
De*bil"i*tant (?), a. [L. debilitants, p. pr.] (Med.) Diminishing the
energy of organs; reducing excitement; as, a debilitant drug.
Debilitate
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.
Debilitation
De*bil`i*ta"tion (?), n. [L. debilitatio: cf. F. d\'82bilitation.] The
act or process of debilitating, or the condition of one who is
debilitated; weakness.
Debility
De*bil"i*ty (?), n. [L. debilitas, fr. debilis weak, prob. fr. de- +
habilis able: cf. F. d\'82bilit\'82. 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.
Debit
Deb"it (?), n. [L. debitum what is due, debt, from debere to owe: cf.
F. d\'82bit. See Debt.] A debt; an entry on the debtor (Dr.) side of
an account; -- mostly used adjectively; as, the debit side of an
account.
Debit
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.
Debitor
Deb"it*or (?), n. [L. See Debtor.] A debtor. [Obs.] Shak.
Debituminization
De`bi*tu`mi*ni*za"tion (?), n. The act of depriving of bitumen.
Debituminize
De`bi*tu"mi*nize (?), v. t. To deprive of bitumen.
D\'82blai
D\'82`blai" (?), n. [F.] (Fort.) The cavity from which the earth for
parapets, etc. (remblai), is taken.
Debonair
Deb`o*nair" (?), a. [OE. debonere, OF. de bon aire, debonaire, of good
descent or lineage, excellent, debonair, F. d\'82bonnaire 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.
Debonairity
Deb`o*nair"i*ty (?), n. [OF. debonairet\'82, F. d\'82bonnairet\'82.]
Debonairness. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Debonairly
Deb`o*nair"ly, adv. Courteously; elegantly.
Debonairness
Deb`o*nair"ness, n. The quality of being debonair; good humor;
gentleness; courtesy. Sterne.
Debosh
De*bosh" (?), v. t. [Old form of debauch.] To debauch. [Obs.] "A
deboshed lady." Beau. & Fl.
Deboshment
De*bosh"ment (?), n. Debauchment. [Obs.]
Debouch
De*bouch" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Debouched (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Debouching.] [F. d\'82boucher; pref. d\'82- (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.
D\'82bouch\'82
D\'82`bou`ch\'82" (?), n. [F.] A place for exit; an outlet; hence, a
market for goods.
The d\'82bouch\'82s were ordered widened to afford easy egress. The
Century.
D\'82bouchure
D\'82`bou`chure" (?), n. [F.] The outward opening of a river, of a
valley, or of a strait.
D\'82bris
D\'82`bris" (?), n. [F., fr. pref. d\'82- (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.
Debruised
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
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.
Debted
Debt"ed, p. a. Indebted; obliged to. [R.]
I stand debted to this gentleman. Shak.
Debtee
Debt*ee" (?), n. (Law) One to whom a debt is due; creditor; --
correlative to debtor. Blackstone.
Debtless
Debt"less (?), a. Free from debt. Chaucer.
Debtor
Debt"or (?), n. [OE. dettur, dettour, OF. detor, detur, detour, F.
d\'82biteur, 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.
Debulliate
De*bul"li*ate (?), v. i. [Pref. d\'82- + L. bullire to boil.] To boil
over. [Obs.]
Debulition
Deb`u*li"tion (?), n. [See Debulliate.] A bubbling or boiling over.
[Obs.] Bailey.
Deburse
De*burse" (?), v. t. & i. [Pref. de + L. bursa purse.] To disburse.
[Obs.] Ludlow.
Debuscope
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.
D\'82but
D\'82`but" (?), n. [F. d\'82but, 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.
D\'82butant, n.; fem. D\'82butante
D\'82`bu`tant" (?), n.; fem. D\'82`bu`tante" (. [F., p. pr. of
d\'82buter to have the first throw, to make one's d\'82but. See
D\'82but.] A person who makes his (or her) first appearance before the
public.
Deca-
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.
Decacerata
De*cac`e*ra"ta (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. de`ka ten + ke`ras a horn.]
(Zo\'94l.) The division of Cephalopoda which includes the squids,
cuttlefishes, and others having ten arms or tentacles; -- called also
Decapoda. [Written also Decacera.] See Dibranchiata.
Decachord, Decachordon
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.
Decucuminated
Dec`u*cu"mi*na`ted (?), a. [L. decacuminare to cut off the top. See
Cacuminate.] Having the point or top cut off. [Obs.] Bailey.
Decad
Dec"ad (?), n. A decade.
Averill was a decad and a half his elder. Tennyson.
Decadal
Dec"a*dal (?), a. Pertaining to ten; consisting of tens.
Decade
Dec"ade (?), n. [F. d\'82cade, L. decas, -adis, fr. Gr. 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.
Decadence, Decadency
De*ca"dence (?), De*ca"den*cy (?), n. [LL. decadentia; L. de- + cadere
to fall: cf. F. d\'82cadence. See Decay.] A falling away; decay;
deterioration; declension. "The old castle, where the family lived in
their decadence.' Sir W. Scott.
Decadent
De*ca"dent (?), a. Decaying; deteriorating.
Decadist
Dec"a*dist (?), n. A writer of a book divided into decades; as, Livy
was a decadist. [R.]
Decagon
Dec"a*gon (?), n. [Pref. deca- + Gr. d\'82cagone.] (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.
Decagonal
De*cag"o*nal (?), a. Pertaining to a decagon; having ten sides.
Decagram, Decagramme
Dec"a*gram, Dec"a*gramme (?), n. [F. d\'82cagramme; Gr. gramme. See
Gram.] A weight of the metric system; ten grams, equal to about 154.32
grains avoirdupois.
Decagynia
Dec`a*gyn"i*a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.) A Linn\'91an order of
plants characterized by having ten styles.
Decagynian, Deccagynous
Dec`a*gyn"i*an (?), Dec*cag"y*nous (?), a. [Cf. F. d\'82cagyne.]
(Bot.) Belonging to the Decagynia; having ten styles.
Decahedral
Dec`a*he"dral (?), a. Having ten sides.
Decahedron
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. d\'82ca\'8adre.] (Geom.) A solid figure or body inclosed by ten
plane surfaces. [Written also, less correctly, decaedron.]
Decalcification
De*cal`ci*fi*ca"tion (?), n. The removal of calcareous matter.
Decalcify
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.
Decalcomania, Decalcomanie
De*cal`co*ma"ni*a (?), De*cal`co*ma"nie (?), n. [F. d\'82calcomanie.]
The art or process of transferring pictures and designs to china,
glass, marble, etc., and permanently fixing them thereto.
Decaliter, Decalitre
Dec"a*li`ter, Dec"a*li`tre (?), n. [F. d\'82calitre; Gr. 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.
Decalog
Dec"a*log (?; 115), n. Decalogue.
Decalogist
De*cal"o*gist (?), n. One who explains the decalogue. J. Gregory.
Decalogue
Dec"a*logue (?; 115), n. [F. d\'82calogue, L. decalogus, fr. Gr. Ten.]
The Ten Commandments or precepts given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai,
and originally written on two tables of stone.
Decameron
De*cam"e*ron (?), n. [It. decamerone, fr. Gr. d\'82cam\'82ron.] A
celebrated collection of tales, supposed to be related in ten days; --
written in the 14th century, by Boccaccio, an Italian.
Decameter, Decametre
Dec"a*me`ter, Dec"a*me`tre (?), n. [F. d\'82cam\'8atre; Gr. m\'8atre.
See Meter.] A measure of length in the metric system; ten meters,
equal to about 393.7 inches.
Decamp
De*camp" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Decamped (?; 215); p. pr. & vb. n.
Decamping.] [F. d\'82camper; pref. d\'82- (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.
Decampment
De*camp"ment (?), n. [Cf. F. d\'82campement.] Departure from a camp; a
marching off.
Decanal
Dec"a*nal (?; 277), a. [Cf. F. d\'82canal. 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.
Decandria
De*can"dri*a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.) A Linn\'91an class of
plants characterized by having ten stamens.
Decandrian, Decandrous
De*can"dri*an (?), De*can"drous (?), a. [Cf. F. d\'82candre.] (Bot.)
Belonging to the Decandria; having ten stamens.
Decane
Dec"ane (?), n. [See Deca-.] (Chem.) A liquid hydrocarbon, C10H22, of
the paraffin series, including several isomeric modifications.
Decangular
Dec*an"gu*lar (?), a. [Pref. deca- + angular.] Having ten angles.
Decani
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.
Decant
De*cant" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decanted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Decanting.] [F. d\'82canter (cf. It. decantare), prop., to pour off
from the edge of a vessel; pref. d\'82- (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.
Decantate
De*can"tate (?), v. t. To decant. [Obs.]
Decantation
De`can*ta"tion (?; 277), n. [Cf. F. d\'82cantation.] The act of
pouring off a clear liquor gently from its lees or sediment, or from
one vessel into another.
Decanter
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.
Decaphyllous
De*caph"yl*lous (?), a. [Pref. deca- + Gr. d\'82caphylle.] (Bot.)
Having ten leaves.
Decapitate
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.]
Decapitation
De*cap`i*ta"tion (?), n. [LL. decapitatio: cf. F. d\'82capitation.]
The act of beheading; beheading.
Decapod
Dec"a*pod (?), n. [Cf. F. d\'82capode.] (Zo\'94l.) A crustacean with
ten feet or legs, as a crab; one of the Decapoda. Also used
adjectively.
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Decapoda
De*cap"o*da (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr.
1. (Zo\'94l.) The order of Crustacea which includes the shrimps,
lobsters, crabs, etc.
NOTE: &hand; 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. (Zo\'94l.) A division of the dibranchiate cephalopods including the
cuttlefishes and squids. See Decacera.
Deccapodal, Deccapodous
Dec*cap"o*dal (?), Dec*cap"o*dous (?), a. (Zo\'94l.) Belonging to the
decapods; having ten feet; ten-footed.
Decarbonate
De*car"bon*ate (?), v. t. To deprive of carbonic acid.
Decarbonization
De*car`bon*i*za"tion (?), n. The action or process of depriving a
substance of carbon.
Decarbonize
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.
Decarbonizer
De*car"bon*i`zer (?), n. He who, or that which, decarbonizes a
substance.
Decarburization
De*car`bu*ri*za"tion (?), n. The act, process, or result of
decarburizing.
Decarbuize
De*car"bu*ize (?), v. t. To deprive of carbon; to remove the carbon
from.
Decard
De*card" (?), v. t. To discard. [Obs.]
You have cast those by, decarded them. J. Fletcher.
Decardinalize
De*car"di*nal*ize (?), v. t. To depose from the rank of cardinal.
Decastere
Dec"a*stere (?), n. [L. d\'82cast\'8are; Gr. st\'8are a stere.]
(Metric System) A measure of capacity, equal to ten steres, or ten
cubic meters.
Decastich
Dec"a*stich (?), n. [Pref. deca- + Gr. A poem consisting of ten lines.
Decastyle
Dec"a*style (?), a. [Gr. (Arch.) Having ten columns in front; -- said
of a portico, temple, etc. -- n. A portico having ten pillars or
columns in front.
Decasyllabic
Dec`a*syl*lab"ic (?), a. [Pref. deca- + syllabic: cf. F.
d\'82casyllabique, d\'82casyllable.] Having, or consisting of, ten
syllables.
Decatoic
Dec`a*to"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, decane.
Decay
De*cay" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Decayed (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Decaying.] [OF. decaeir, dechaer, decheoir, F. d\'82choir, 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.
Decay
De*cay", v. t.
1. To cause to decay; to impair. [R.]
Infirmity, that decays the wise. Shak.
2. To destroy. [Obs.] Shak.
Decay
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.
Decayed
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.
Decayer
De*cay"er (?), n. A causer of decay. [R.]
Decease
De*cease" (?), n. [OE. deses, deces, F. d\'82c\'8as, 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.
Decease
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.
Deceased
De*ceased" (?), a. Passed away; dead; gone. The deceased, the dead
person.
Decede
De*cede" (?), v. i. [L. decedere. See Decease, n.] To withdraw. [Obs.]
Fuller.
Decedent
De*ce"dent (?), a. [L. decedens, p. pr. of decedere.] Removing;
departing. Ash.
Decedent
De*ce"dent, n. A deceased person. Bouvier.
Deceit
De*ceit" (?), n. [OF. deceit, des, decept (cf. deceite, de), 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.
Deceitful
De*ceit"ful (?), a. Full of, or characterized by, deceit; serving to
mislead or insnare; trickish; fraudulent; cheating; insincere.
Harboring foul deceitful thoughts. Shak.
Deceitfully
De*ceit"ful*ly, adv. With intent to deceive.
Deceitfulness
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.
Deceitless
De*ceit"less, a. Free from deceit. Bp. Hall.
Deceivable
De*ceiv"a*ble (?), a. [F. d\'82cevable.]
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.
Deceivableness
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.
Deceivably
De*ceiv"a*bly, adv. In a deceivable manner.
Deceive
De*ceive" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deceived (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Deceiving.] [OE. deceveir, F. d\'82cevoir, 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.
Deceiver
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.
December
De*cem"ber (?), n. [F. d\'82cembre, 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.
Decemdentate
De`cem*den"tate (?), a. [L. decem ten + E. dentate.] Having ten points
or teeth.
Decemfid
De*cem"fid (?), a. [L. decem ten + root of findere to cleave.] (Bot.)
Cleft into ten parts.
Decemlocular
De`cem*loc"u*lar (?), a. [L. decem ten + E. locular.] (Bot.) Having
ten cells for seeds.
Decempedal
De*cem"pe*dal (?), a. [L. decem ten + E. pedal.]
1. Ten feet in length.
2. (Zo\'94l.) Having ten feet; decapodal. [R.] Bailey.
Decemvir
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.
NOTE: &hand; Th e 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.
Decemviral
De*cem"vi*ral (?), a. [L. decemviralis.] Pertaining to the decemvirs
in Rome.
Decemvirate
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.
Decemvirship
De*cem"vir*ship (?), n. The office of a decemvir. Holland.
Decence
De"cence (?), n. Decency. [Obs.] Dryden.
Decency
De"cen*cy (?), n.; pl. Decencies (#). [L. decentia, fr. decens: cf. F.
d\'82cence. 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.
Decene
De"cene (?), n. [L. decem ten.] (Chem.) One of the higher
hydrocarbons, C10H20, of the ethylene series.
Decennary
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.
Decennial
De*cen"ni*al (?), a. [See Decennary.] Consisting of ten years;
happening every ten years; as, a decennial period; decennial games.
Hallam.
Decennial
De*cen"ni*al, n. A tenth year or tenth anniversary.
Decennium
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.
Decennoval, Decennovary
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.
Decent
De"cent (?), a. [L. decens, decentis, p. pr. of decere to be fitting
or becoming; akin to decus glory, honor, ornament, Gr. d to grant, to
give; and perh. akin to E. attire, tire: cf. F. d\'82cent. Cf.
Decorate, Decorum, Deig.]
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.
Decentralization
De*cen`tral*i*za"tion (?), n. The action of decentralizing, or the
state of being decentralized. "The decentralization of France." J. P.
Peters.
Decentralize
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.
Deceptible
De*cep"ti*ble (?), a. Capable of being deceived; deceivable. Sir T.
Browne. -- De*cep`ti*bil"i*ty (, n.
Deception
De*cep"tion (?), n. [F. d\'82ception, 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.
Deceptious
De*cep"tious (?), a. [LL. deceptiosus.] Tending deceive; delusive.
[R.]
As if those organs had deceptious functions. Shak.
Deceptive
De*cep"tive (?), a. [Cf. F. d\'82ceptif. 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.
Deceptively
De*cep"tive*ly, adv. In a manner to deceive.
Deceptiveness
De*cep"tive*ness, n. The power or habit of deceiving; tendency or
aptness to deceive.
Deceptivity
De`cep*tiv"i*ty (?), n. Deceptiveness; a deception; a sham. [R.]
Carlyle.
Deceptory
De*cep"to*ry (?), a. [L. deceptorius, from decipere.] Deceptive. [R.]
Decern
De*cern" (?), v. t. [L. decernere. See Decree.]
1. To perceive, discern, or decide. [Obs.] Granmer.
2. (Scots Law) To decree; to adjudge.
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Decerniture
De*cern"i*ture (?; 135), n. (Scots Law) A decree or sentence of a
court. Stormonth.
Decerp
De*cerp" (?), v. t. [L. decerpere; de- + carpere to pluck.] To pluck
off; to crop; to gather. [Obs.]
Decerpt
De*cerpt" (?), a. [L. decerptus, p. p. of decerpere.] Plucked off or
away. [Obs.]
Decerptible
De*cerp"ti*ble (?), a. That may be plucked off, cropped, or torn away.
[Obs.] Bailey.
Decerption
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.
Decertation
De`cer*ta"tion (?), n. [L. decertatio, fr. decertare, decertatum; de-
+ certare to contend.] Contest for mastery; contention; strife. [R.]
Arnway.
Decession
De*ces"sion (?), n. [L. decessio, fr. decedere to depart. See Decease,
n.] Departure; decrease; -- opposed to accesion. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
Decharm
De*charm" (?), v. t. [Cf. F. d\'82charmer. See Charm.] To free from a
charm; to disenchant.
Dechristianize
De*chris"tian*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dechristianized (?); p. pr.
& vb. n. Dechristianizing.] To turn from, or divest of, Christianity.
Decidable
De*cid"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being decided; determinable.
Decide
De*cide" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decided; p. pr. & vb. n. Deciding.]
[L. dec\'c6dere; de- + caedere to cut, cut off; prob. akin to E. shed,
v.: cf. F. d\'82cider. 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.
Decide
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.
Decided
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.
Decidedly
De*cid"ed*ly, adv. In a decided manner; indisputably; clearly;
thoroughly.
Decidement
De*cide"ment (?), n. Means of forming a decision. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
Decidence
Dec"i*dence (?), n. [L. decidens falling off.] A falling off. [R.] Sir
T. Browne.
Decider
De*cid"er (?), n. One who decides.
Decidua
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.
Deciduata
De*cid`u*a"ta (?), n. pl. [NL.] (Zo\'94l.) A group of Mammalia in
which a decidua is thrown off with, or after, the fetus, as in the
human species.
Deciduate
De*cid"u*ate (?; 135), a. (Anat.) Possessed of, or characterized by, a
decidua.
Deciduity
Dec`i*du"i*ty (?), n. Deciduousness. [R.]
Deciduous
De*cid"u*ous (?; 135), a. [L. deciduus, fr. dec 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.
Deciduousness
De*cid"u*ous*ness, n. The quality or state of being deciduous.
Decigram, Decigramme
Dec"i*gram, Dec"i*gramme (?), n. [F. d\'82cigramme; pref. d\'82ci-
tenth (fr. L. decimus) + gramme.] A weight in the metric system; one
tenth of a gram, equal to 1.5432 grains avoirdupois.
Decil, Decile
Dec"il, Dec"ile (?), n. [F. d\'82cil, fr. L. decem tendecile.]
(Astrol.) An aspect or position of two planets, when they are distant
from each other a tenth part of the zodiac, or 36°.
Deciliter, Decilitre
Dec"i*li`ter, Dec"i*li`tre (?), n. [F. d\'82cilitre; pref. d\'82ci-
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.
Decillion
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.]
Decillionth
De*cil"lionth (?), a. Pertaining to a decillion, or to the quotient of
unity divided by a decillion.
Decillionth
De*cil"lionth (?), n. (a) The quotient of unity divided by a
decillion. (b) One of a decillion equal parts.
Decimal
Dec"i*mal (?), a. [F. d\'82cimal (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 -- 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.
Decimal
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.
Decimalism
Dec"i*mal*ism (?), n. The system of a decimal currency, decimal
weights, measures, etc.
Decimalize
Dec"i*mal*ize (?), v. t. To reduce to a decimal system; as, to
decimalize the currency. -- Dec`i*mal*i*za"tion (#), n.
Decimally
Dec"i*mal*ly, adv. By tens; by means of decimals.
Decimate
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.
Decimation
Dec`i*ma"tion (?), n. [L. decimatio: cf. F. d\'82cimation.]
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.
Decimator
Dec"i*ma`tor (?), n. [Cf. LL. decimator.] One who decimates. South.
D\'82cime
D\'82`cime" (?), n. [F.] A French coin, the tenth part of a franc,
equal to about two cents.
Decimeter, Decimetre
Dec"i*me`ter, Dec"i*me`tre (?), n. [F. d\'82cim\'8atre; pref. d\'82ci-
tenth (fr. L. decimus) + m\'8atre. See Meter.] A measure of length in
the metric system; one tenth of a meter, equal to 3.937 inches.
Decimosexto
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°.
Decimosexto
Dec`i*mo*sex"to, a. Having sixteen leaves to a sheet; as, a
decimosexto form, book, leaf, size.
Decine
De"cine (?; 104), n. [From L. decem ten.] (Chem.) One of the higher
hydrocarbons, C10H15, of the acetylene series; -- called also
decenylene.
Decipher
De*ci"pher (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deciphered (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Deciphering.] [Pref. de- + cipher. Formed in imitation of F.
d\'82chiffrer. 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.
Decipherable
De*ci"pher*a*ble (?), a. Capable of being deciphered; as, old writings
not decipherable.
Decipherer
De*ci"pher*er (?), n. One who deciphers.
Decipheress
De*ci"pher*ess (?), n. A woman who deciphers.
Decipherment
De*ci"pher*ment (?), n. The act of deciphering.
Decipiency
De*cip"i*en*cy (?), n. [L. decipiens, p. pr. of decipere. See
Deceive.] State of being deceived; hallucination. [Obs.] Sir T.
Browne.
Decipium
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.
Decision
De*ci"sion (?), n. [L. decisio, fr. dec\'c6dere, decisum: cf. F.
d\'82cision. 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.
Decisive
De*ci*sive (?), a. [Cf. F. d\'82cisif. 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.
Decisory
De*ci"so*ry (?), a. [Cf. F. d\'82cisoire. See Decision.] Able to
decide or determine; having a tendency to decide. [R.]
Decistere
Dec"i*stere (?), n. [F. d\'82cist\'8are; pref. d\'82ci- tenth (fr. L.
decimus) + st\'8are a stere.] (Metric System) The tenth part of the
stere or cubic meter, equal to 3.531 cubic feet. See Stere.
Decitizenize
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.
Decivilize
De*civ"i*lize (?), v. t. To reduce from civilization to a savage
state. [R.] Blackwood's Mag.
Deck
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
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.
NOTE: &hand; Th e fo llowing 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.
Deckel
Deck"el (?), n. (Paper Making) Same as Deckle.
Decker
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.
Deckle
Dec"kle (?), 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 deckle.]
Declaim
De*claim" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Declaimed (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Declaiming.] [L. declamare; de- + clamare to cry out: cf. F.
d\'82clamer. 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.
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Declaim
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.
Declaimant
De*claim"ant (?), n. A declaimer. [R.]
Declaimer
De*claim"er (?), n. One who declaims; an haranguer.
Declamation
Dec`la*ma"tion (?), n. [L. declamatio, from declamare: cf. F.
d\'82clamation. 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.
Declamator
Dec"la*ma`tor (?), n. [L.] A declaimer. [R.] Sir T. Elyot.
Declamatory
De*clam"a*to*ry (?), a. [L. declamatorius: cf. F. d\'82clamatoire.]
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.
Declarable
De*clar"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being declared. Sir T. Browne.
Declarant
De*clar"ant (?), n. [Cf. F. d\'82clarant, p. pr. of d\'82clarer.]
(Law) One who declares. Abbott.
Declaration
Dec`la*ra"tion (?), n. [F. d\'82claration, 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 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.
Declarative
De*clar"a*tive (?), a. [L. declarativus, fr. declarare: cf. F.
d\'82claratif.] Making declaration, proclamation, or publication;
explanatory; assertive; declaratory. "Declarative laws." Baker.
The "vox populi," so declarative on the same side. Swift.
Declaratively
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.
Declarator
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.
Declaratorily
De*clar"a*to*ri*ly (?), adv. In a declaratory manner.
Declaratory
De*clar"a*to*ry (?), a. [Cf. F. d\'82claratoire.] 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.
Declare
De*clare" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Declared (#); p. pr. & vb. n.
Declaring.] [F. d\'82clarer, 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.
Declare
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.
Declaredly
De*clar"ed*ly (?), adv. Avowedly; explicitly.
Declaredness
De*clar"ed*ness, n. The state of being declared.
Declarement
De*clare"ment (?), n. Declaration. [Obs.]
Declarer
De*clar"er (?), n. One who makes known or proclaims; that which
exhibits. Udall.
Declension
De*clen"sion (?), n. [Apparently corrupted fr. F. d\'82clinaison, 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.
NOTE: &hand; 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.
Declensional
De*clen"sion*al (?), a. Belonging to declension.
Declensional and syntactical forms. M. Arnold.
Declinable
De*clin"a*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. d\'82clinable. See Decline.] Capable of
being declined; admitting of declension or inflection; as, declinable
parts of speech.
Declinal
De*clin"al (?), a. Declining; sloping.
Declinate
Dec"li*nate (?), a. [L. declinatus, p. p. of declinare. See Decline.]
Bent downward or aside; (Bot.) bending downward in a curve; declined.
Declination
Dec`li*na"tion (?), n. [L. declinatio a bending aside, an avoiding:
cf. F. d\'82clination 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.
Declinator
Dec"li*na`tor (?), n. [Cf. F. d\'82clinateur. 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.
Declinatory
De*clin"a*to*ry (?; 277), a. [LL. declinatorius, fr. L. declinare: cf.
F. d\'82clinatoire.] 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.
Declinature
De*clin"a*ture (?; 135), n. The act of declining or refusing; as, the
declinature of an office.
Decline
De*cline" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Declined (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Declining.] [OE. declinen to bend down, lower, sink, decline (a noun),
F. d\'82cliner 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.
Decline
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.
NOTE: &hand; 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.
Decline
De*cline" (?), n. [F. d\'82clin. 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.
Declined
De*clined" (?), a. Declinate.
Decliner
De*clin"er (?), n. He who declines or rejects.
A studious decliner of honors. Evelyn.
Declinometer
Dec`li*nom"e*ter (?), n. [Decline + -meter.] (Physics) An instrument
for measuring the declination of the magnetic needle.
Declinous
De*clin"ous (?), a. Declinate.
Declivitous, Declivous
De*cliv"i*tous (?), De*cli"vous (?), a. Descending gradually;
moderately steep; sloping; downhill.
Declivity
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. d\'82clivit\'82. 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.
Decoct
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.
Decoctible
De*coct"i*ble (?), a. Capable of being boiled or digested.
Decoction
De*coc"tion (?), n. [F. d\'82coction, 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.
Decocture
De*coc"ture (?; 135), n. A decoction. [R.]
Decollate
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.
Decollated
De*col"la*ted (?), a. (Zo\'94l.) Decapitated; worn or cast off in the
process of growth, as the apex of certain univalve shells.
Decollation
De`col*la"tion (?), n. [L. decollatio: cf. F. d\'82collation.]
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.
D\'82collet\'82
D\'82`col`le*t\'82" (?), a. [F., p. p. of d\'82colleter to bare the
neck and shoulders; d\'82- + collet collar, fr. L. collum neck.]
Leaving the neck and shoulders uncovered; cut low in the neck, or
low-necked, as a dress.
Decolling
De*col"ling (?), n. Beheading. [R.]
By a speedy dethroning and decolling of the king. Parliamentary
History (1648).
Decolor
De*col"or (?), v. t. [Cf. F. d\'82colorer, L. decolorare. Cf.
Discolor.] To deprive of color; to bleach.
Decolorant
De*col"or*ant (?), n. [Cf. F. d\'82colorant, p. pr.] A substance which
removes color, or bleaches.
Decolorate
De*col"or*ate (?), a. [L. decoloratus, p. p. of decolorare.] Deprived
of color.
Decolorate
De*col"or*ate (?), v. t. To decolor.
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Decoloration
De*col`or*a"tion (?), n. [L. decoloratio: cf. F. d\'82coloration.] The
removal or absence of color. Ferrand.
Decolorize
De*col"or*ize (?), v. t. To deprive of color; to whiten. Turner. --
De*col`or*i*za"tion (#), n.
Decomplex
De"com*plex` (?), a. [Pref. de- (intens.) + complex.] Repeatedly
compound; made up of complex constituents.
Decomposable
De`com*pos"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being resolved into constituent
elements.
Decompose
De`com*pose" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decomposed (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Decomposing.] [Cf. F. d\'82composer. 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.
Decompose
De`com*pose", v. i. To become resolved or returned from existing
combinations; to undergo dissolution; to decay; to rot.
Decomposed
De`com*posed" (?), a. (Zo\'94l.) Separated or broken up; -- said of
the crest of birds when the feathers are divergent.
Decomposite
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.
Decomposite
De`com*pos"ite, n. Anything decompounded.
Decomposites of three metals or more. Bacon.
Decomposition
De*com`po*si"tion (?), n. [Pref. de- (in sense 3 intensive) +
composition: cf. F. d\'82composition. 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.
Decompound
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.
Decompound
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.
Decompound
De`com*pound", n. A decomposite.
Decompoundable
De`com*pound"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being decompounded.
Deconcentrate
De`con*cen"trate (?), v. t. To withdraw from concentration; to
decentralize. [R.]
Deconcentration
De*con`cen*tra"tion (?), n. Act of deconcentrating. [R.]
Deconcoct
De`con*coct" (?), v. t. To decompose. [R.] Fuller.
Deconsecrate
De*con"se*crate (?), v. t. To deprive of sacredness; to secularize. --
De*con`se*cra"tion (#), n.
Decorament
Dec"o*ra*ment (?), n. [L. decoramentum. See Decorate, v. t.] Ornament.
[Obs.] Bailey.
Decorate
Dec"o*rate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decorated (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Decorating (?).] [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.
Decoration
Dec`o*ra"tion (?), n. [LL. decoratio: cf. F. d\'82coration.]
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.]
Decorative
Dec"o*ra*tive (?), a. [Cf. F. d\'82coratif.] 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.
Decorator
Dec"o*ra`tor (?), n. [Cf. F. d\'82corateur.] One who decorates,
adorns, or embellishes; specifically, an artisan whose business is the
decoration of houses, esp. their interior decoration.
Decore
De*core" (?), v. t. [Cf. F. d\'82corer. See Decorate.] To decorate; to
beautify. [Obs.]
To decore and beautify the house of God. E. Hall.
Decorement
De*core"ment (?), n. Ornament. [Obs.]
Decorous
De*co"rous (?; 277), a. [L. dec, 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.
Decorticate
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.
Decortication
De*cor`ti*ca"tion (?), n. [L. decorticatio: cf. F. d\'82cortication.]
The act of stripping off the bark, rind, hull, or outer coat.
Decorticator
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.
Decorum
De*cor"um (?), n. [L. dec, fr. dec. 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.
Decoy
De*coy" (?), 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.
Decoy
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.
Decoy-duck
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.
Decoyer
De*coy"er (?), n. One who decoys another.
Decoy-man
De*coy"-man` (?), n.; pl. Decoy-men (. A man employed in decoying wild
fowl.
Decrease
De*crease" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Decreased (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Decreasing.] [OE. decrecen, fr. OF. decreistre, F. d\'82cro\'8ctre, 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.
Decrease
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.
Decrease
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.
Decreaseless
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.
Decreasing
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.
Decreation
De`cre*a"tion (?), n. Destruction; -- opposed to creation. [R.]
Cudworth.
Decree
De*cree" (?), n. [OE. decre, F. d\'82cret, 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 "The
decrees of Venice." Sh
There went out a decree from C\'91sar 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.
Decree
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.
Decree
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.
Decreeable
De*cree"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being decreed.
Decreer
De*cre"er (?), n. One who decrees. J. Goodwin.
Decreet
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.
Decrement
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 Ha\'81y 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.
Decrepit
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. d\'82cr\'82pit. 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.
NOTE: &hand; Sometimes incorrectly written decrepid.
Decrepitate
De*crep"i*tate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decrepitated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Decrepitating.] [Cf. F. d\'82cr\'82piter.] To roast or calcine so as
to cause a crackling noise; as, to decrepitate salt.
Decrepitate
De*crep"i*tate, v. i. To crackle, as salt in roasting.
Decrepitation
De*crep`i*ta"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. d\'82cr\'82pitation.] The act of
decrepitating; a crackling noise, such as salt makes when roasting.
Decrepitness
De*crep"it*ness (?), n. Decrepitude. [R.] Barrow.
Decrepitude
De*crep"i*tude (?), n. [Cf. F. d\'82cr\'82pitude.] The broken state
produced by decay and the infirmities of age; infirm old age.
Decrescendo
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.
Decrescent
De*cres"cent (?), a. [L. decrescens, p. pr. of decrescere. See
Decrease.] Becoming less by gradual diminution; decreasing; as, a
decrescent moon.
Decrescent
De*cres"cent, n. (Her.) A crescent with the horns directed towards the
sinister. Cussans.
Decretal
De*cre"tal (?), a. [L. decretalis, fr. decretum. See Decree.]
Appertaining to a decree; containing a decree; as, a decretal epistle.
Ayliffe.
Decretal
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.
Decrete
De*crete" (?), n. [L. decretum. See Decree.] A decree. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Decretion
De*cre"tion (?), n. [From L. decrescere, decretum. See Decrease.] A
decrease. [Obs.] Pearson.
Decretist
De*cre"tist (?), n. [LL. decretista, fr. decretum: cf. F.
d\'82cr\'82tiste. See Decree, n.] One who studies, or professes the
knowledge of, the decretals.
Decretive
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.
Decretorial
Dec`re*to"ri*al (?), a. Decretory; authoritative. Sir T. Browne.
Decretorily
Dec"re*to*ri*ly (?), adv. In a decretory or definitive manner; by
decree.
Decretory
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.
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Decrew
De*crew" (?), v. i. [F. d\'82crue, n., decrease, and d\'82cru, p. p.
of d\'82cro\'8ctre. See Decrease, and cf. Accrue.] To decrease. [Obs.]
Spenser.
Decrial
De*cri"al (?), n. [See Decry.] A crying down; a clamorous censure;
condemnation by censure.
Decrier
De*cri"er (?), n. One who decries.
Decrown
De*crown" (?), v. t. To deprive of a crown; to discrown. [R.]
Hakewill.
Decrustation
De`crus*ta"tion (?), n. [Cf. OF. d\'82crustation.] The removal of a
crust.
Decry
De*cry" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decried (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Decrying.] [F. d\'82crier, 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.
Decubation
Dec`u*ba"tion (?), n. [From L. decubare; de- + cubare. See Decumbent.]
Act of lying down; decumbence. [Obs.] Evelyn.
Decubitus
De*cu"bi*tus (?), n. [NL., fr. L. de- + cubare, to lie down: cf. F.
d\'82cubitus.] (Med.) An attitude assumed in lying down; as, the
dorsal decubitus.
Decuman
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.
Decumbence, Decumbency
De*cum"bence (?), De*cum"ben*cy (?), n. The act or posture of lying
down.
The ancient manner of decumbency. Sir T. Browne.
Decumbent
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.
Decumbently
De*cum"bent*ly, adv. In a decumbent posture.
Decumbiture
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.
Decuple
Dec"u*ple (?), a. [F. d\'82cuple, L. decuplus, fr. decem ten.]
Tenfold. [R.]
Decuple
Dec"u*ple, n. A number ten times repeated. [R.]
Decuple
Dec"u*ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decupled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Decupling
(?).] To make tenfold; to multiply by ten. [R.]
Decurion
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.
Decurionate
De*cu"ri*on*ate (?), n. [L. decurionatus, fr. decurio.] The office of
a decurion.
Decurrence
De*cur"rence (?), n. The act of running down; a lapse. [R.] Gauden.
Decurrent
De*cur"rent (?), a. [L. decurrens, -entis, p. pr. of decurrere to run
down; de- + currere to run: cf. F. d\'82current.] (Bot.) Extending
downward; -- said of a leaf whose base extends downward and forms a
wing along the stem. -- De*cur"rent*ly, adv.
Decursion
De*cur"sion (?), n. [L. decursio, fr. decurrere. See Decurrent.] A
flowing; also, a hostile incursion. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.
Decursive
De*cur"sive (?), a. [Cf. F. d\'82cursif. See Decurrent.] Running down;
decurrent.
Decursively
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.
Decurt
De*curt" (?), v. t. [L. decurtare; de- + curtare.] To cut short; to
curtail. [Obs.] Bale.
Decurtation
De`cur*ta"tion (?), n. [L. decurtatio.] Act of cutting short. [Obs.]
Decury
Dec"u*ry (?), n.; pl. Decuries (#). [L. decuria, fr. decem ten.] A set
or squad of ten men under a decurion. Sir W. Raleigh.
Decussate
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.
Decussate, Decussated
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.
Decussately
De*cus"sate*ly (?), adv. In a decussate manner.
Decussation
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.
Decussative
De*cus"sa*tive (?), a. Intersecting at acute angles. Sir T. Browne.
Decussatively
De*cus"sa*tive*ly, adv. Crosswise; in the form of an X. "Anointed
decussatively." Sir T. Browne.
Decyl
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.
Decylic
De*cyl"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Allied to, or containing, the radical decyl.
Dedalian
De*dal"ian (?), a. See D\'91dalian.
Dedalous
Ded"a*lous (?), a. See D\'91dalous.
Dedans
De*dans" (?), n. [F.] (Court Tennis) A division, at one end of a
tennis court, for spectators.
Dede
Dede (?), a. Dead. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Dedecorate
De*dec"o*rate (?), v. t. [L. dedecoratus, p. p. of dedecorare to
disgrace. See Decorate.] To bring to shame; to disgrace. [Obs.]
Bailey.
Dedecoration
De*dec`o*ra"tion (?), n. [L. dedecoratio.] Disgrace; dishonor. [Obs.]
Bailey.
Dedecorous
De*dec"o*rous (?), a. [L. dedecorus. See Decorous.] Disgraceful;
unbecoming. [R.] Bailey.
Dedentition
De`den*ti"tion (?), n. The shedding of teeth. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
Dedicate
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.
Dedicate
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.
Dedicatee
Ded`i*ca*tee" (?), n. One to whom a thing is dedicated; -- correlative
to dedicator.
Dedication
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.
Dedicator
Ded"i*ca`tor (?), n. [L.: cf. F. d\'82dicateur.] One who dedicates;
more especially, one who inscribes a book to the favor of a patron, or
to one whom he desires to compliment.
Dedicatorial
Ded`i*ca*to"ri*al (?), a. Dedicatory.
Dedicatory
Ded"i*ca*to*ry (?), a. [Cf. F. d\'82dicatoire.] Constituting or
serving as a dedication; complimental. "An epistle dedicatory."
Dryden.
Dedicatory
Ded"i*ca*to*ry, n. Dedication. [R.] Milton.
Dedimus
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.
Dedition
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.
Dedolent
Ded"o*lent (?), a. [L. dedolens, p. pr. of dedolere to give over
grieving; de- + dolere to grieve.] Feeling no compunction; apathetic.
[R.] Hallywell.
Deduce
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.
Deducement
De*duce"ment (?), n. Inference; deduction; thing deduced. [R.] Dryden.
Deducibility
De*du`ci*bil"i*ty (?), n. Deducibleness.
Deducible
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).
Deducibleness
De*du"ci*ble*ness, n. The quality of being deducible; deducibility.
Deducibly
De*du"ci*bly (?), adv. By deduction.
Deducive
De*du"cive (?), a. That deduces; inferential.
Deduct
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.
Deductible
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.
Deduction
De*duc"tion (?), n. [L. deductio: cf. F. d\'82duction.]
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.
Deductive
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.
Deductively
De*duct"ive*ly, adv. By deduction; by way of inference; by
consequence. Sir T. Browne.
Deductor
De*duc"tor (?), n. [L., a guide. See Deduce.] (Zo\'94l.) The pilot
whale or blackfish.
Deduit
De*duit" (?), n. [F. d\'82duit. Cf. Deduct.] Delight; pleasure.
[Obs.] Chaucer.
Deduplication
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
Deed (?), a. Dead. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Deed
Deed, n. [AS. d; akin to OS. d\'bed, D. & Dan. daad, G. thai, Sw.
d\'86d, Goth. d; 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.
NOTE: &hand; Th e te rm 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
Deed, v. t. To convey or transfer by deed; as, he deeded all his
estate to his eldest son. [Colloq. U. S.]
Deedful
Deed"ful (?), a. Full of deeds or exploits; active; stirring. [R.] "A
deedful life." Tennyson.
Deedless
Deed"less, a. Not performing, or not having performed, deeds or
exploits; inactive.
Deedless in his tongue. Shak.
Deed poll
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.
Deedy
Deed"y (?), a. Industrious; active. [R.] Cowper.
Deem
Deem (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deemed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Deeming.]
[OE. demen to judge, condemn, AS. d, fr. d doom; akin to OFries. d,
OS. ad, D. doemen, OHG. tuommen, Icel. d\'91ma, Sw. d\'94mma, Dan.
d\'94mme, Goth. d. 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
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
Deem, n. Opinion; judgment. [Obs.] Shak.
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Deemster
Deem"ster (?), n. [Deem + -ster; i. e., doomster. Cf. Dempster.] A
judge in the Isle of Man who decides controversies without process.
Cowell.
Deep
Deep (?), a. [Compar. Deeper (?); superl. Deepest (?).] [OE. dep,
deop, AS. de\'a2p; akin to D. diep, G. tief, Icel. dj, 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 thought 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
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.
NOTE: &hand; 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
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. 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.
Deepen
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.
Deepen
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
Deep"-fet` (?), a. Deeply fetched or drawn. [Obs.] "Deep-fet groans."
Shak.
Deep-laid
Deep"-laid` (?), a. Laid deeply; formed with cunning and sagacity; as,
deep-laid plans.
Deeply
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
Deep"-mouthed` (?), a. Having a loud and sonorous voice. "Deep-mouthed
dogs." Dryden.
Deepness
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
Deep"-read` (?), a. Profoundly book-learned. "Great writers and
deep-read men." L'Estrange.
Deep-sea
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-waisted
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
Deer (?), n. sing. & pl. [OE. der, door, animal, wild animal, AS.
de\'a2r; akin to D. dier, OFries. diar, G. thier, tier, Icel. d, Dan.
dyr, Sw. djur, Goth. dius; of unknown origin.
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. (Zo\'94l.) A ruminant of the genus Cervus, of many species, and of
related genera of the family Cervid\'91. 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.
NOTE: &hand; Th e de er 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.
NOTE: &hand; 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 (Zo\'94l.), 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.
Deerberry
Deer"ber`ry (?), n. (Bot.) A shrub of the blueberry group (Vaccinium
stamineum); also, its bitter, greenish white berry; -- called also
squaw huckleberry.
Deergrass
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 Melastomace\'91 inhabiting a temperate clime.
Deerhound
Deer"hound` (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) One of a large and fleet breed of
hounds used in hunting deer; a staghound.
Deerlet
Deer"let (?), n. [Deer + -let.] (Zo\'94l.) A chevrotain. See Kanchil,
and Napu.
Deer-neck
Deer"-neck` (?), n. A deerlike, or thin, ill-formed neck, as of a
horse.
Deerskin
Deer"skin` (?), n. The skin of a deer, or the leather which is made
from it. Hakluyt. Longfellow.
Deerstalker
Deer"stalk`er (?), n. One who practices deerstalking.
Deerstalking
Deer"stalk`ing, n. The hunting of deer on foot, by stealing upon them
unawares.
Deer's-tongue
Deer's"-tongue` (?), n. (Bot.) A plant (Liatris odoratissima) whose
fleshy leaves give out a fragrance compared to vanilla. Wood.
Dees
Dees (?), n. pl. Dice. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Dees
Dees, n. A dais. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Deesis
De*e"sis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. (Rhet.) An invocation of, or address
to, the Supreme Being.
Deess
De"ess (?), n. [F. d\'82esse, fem. of dieu god.] A goddess. [Obs.]
Croft.
Deev
Deev (?), n. (Hind. & Pers. Myth.) See Dev.
Deface
De*face" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defaced (?); 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. d\'82faire.] 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.
Defacement
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.
Defacer
De*fa"cer (?), n. One who, or that which, defaces or disfigures.
De facto
De` fac"to (?). [L.] Actually; in fact; in reality; as, a king de
facto, -- distinguished from a king de jure, or by right.
Defail
De*fail" (?), v. t. [F. d\'82faillir to fail; pref. d\'82- (L. de) +
faillir. See Fail, and cf. Default.] To cause fail. [Obs.]
Defailance
De*fail"ance (?), n. [F. d\'82faillance.] Failure; miscarriage. [Obs.]
Possibility of defailance in degree or continuance. Comber.
Defailure
De*fail"ure (?), n. Failure. [Obs.] Barrow.
Defalcate
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, 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 the [the
estimates]. Burke.
Defalcate
De*fal"cate, v. i. To commit defalcation; to embezzle money held in
trust. "Some partner defalcating, or the like." Carlyle.
Defalcation
De`fal*ca"tion (?), n. [LL. defalcatio: cf. F. d\'82falcation.]
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
Defalcator
Def"al*ca`tor (?), n. A defaulter or embezzler. [Modern]
Defalk
De*falk" (?), v. t. [F. d\'82falquer. See Defalcate.] To lop off; to
bate. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
Defamation
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.
NOTE: &hand; In modern usage, written defamation bears the title of
libel, and oral defamation that of slander.
Burrill.
Defamatory
De*fam"a*to*ry (?), a. Containing defamation; injurious to reputation;
calumnious; slanderous; as, defamatory words; defamatory writings.
Defame
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.
Defame
De*fame", n. Dishonor. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Defamer
De*fam"er (?), n. One who defames; a slanderer; a detractor; a
calumniator.
Defamingly
De*fam"ing*ly, adv. In a defamatory manner.
Defamous
Def"a*mous (?), a. Defamatory. [Obs.]
Defatigable
De*fat"i*ga*ble (?), a. [See Defatigate.] Capable of being wearied or
tired out. [R.] Glanvill.
Defatigate
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.
Defatigation
De*fat`i*ga"tion (?), n. [L. defatigatio.] Weariness; fatigue. [R.]
Bacon.
Default
De*fault" (?), n. [OE. defaute, OF. defaute, defalte, fem., F.
d\'82faut, 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 whaas, 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.
Default
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.
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.
Defaulter
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.
Defeasance
De*fea"sance (?), n. [OF. defesance, fr. defesant, F. d\'82faisant, p.
pr. of defaire, F. d\'82faire, 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.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 381
NOTE: &hand; Mo rtgages we re usually made in this manner in former
times, but the modern practice is to include the conveyance and the
defeasance in the same deed.
Defeasanced
De*fea"sanced (?), a. (Law) Liable to defeasance; capable of being
made void or forfeited.
Defeasible
De*fea"si*ble (?), a. [See Defeasance.] Capable of being annulled or
made void; as, a defeasible title. -- De*fea"si*ble*ness, n.
Defeat
De*feat" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defeated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Defeating.] [From F. d\'82fait, OF. desfait, p. p. ofe d\'82faire, 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.
Defeat
De*feat", n. [Cf. F. d\'82faite, fr. d\'82faire. 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.
Defeature
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.
Defeatured
De*fea"tured (?; 135), p. p. Changed in features; deformed. [R.]
Features when defeatured in the . . . way I have described. De
Quincey.
Defecate
Def"e*cate (?), a. [L. defaecatus, p. p. of defaecare to defecate; de-
+ faex, faecis, dregs, less.] Freed from anything that can pollute, as
dregs, lees, etc.; refined; purified.
Till the soul be defecate from the dregs of sense. Bates.
Defecate
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.
Defecate
Def"e*cate (?), v. i.
1. To become clear, pure, or free. Goldsmith.
2. To void excrement.
Defecation
Def`e*ca"tion (?), n. [L. defaecatio: cf. F. d\'82f\'82cation.]
1. The act of separating from impurities, as lees or dregs;
purification.
2. (Physiol.) The act or process of voiding excrement.
Defecator
Def"e*ca`tor (?), n. That which cleanses or purifies; esp., an
apparatus for removing the feculencies of juices and sirups. Knight.
Defect
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 -- any every foe. Pope.
Among boys little tenderness is shown to personal defects.
Macaulay.
Syn. -- Deficiency; imperfection; blemish. See Fault.
Defect
De*fect", v. i. To fail; to become deficient. [Obs.] "Defected honor."
Warner. <-- 2. Abandon one country or faction, and join another. -->
Defect
De*fect", v. t. To injure; to damage. "None can my life defect." [R.]
Troubles of Q. Elizabeth (1639).
Defectibility
De*fect`i*bil"i*ty (?), n. Deficiency; imperfection. [R.] Ld. Digby.
Jer. Taylor.
Defectible
De*fect"i*ble (?), a. Liable to defect; imperfect. [R.] "A defectible
understanding." Jer. Taylor.
Defection
De*fec"tion (?), n. [L. defectio: cf. F. d\'82fection. 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.
Defectionist
De*fec"tion*ist, n. One who advocates or encourages defection.
Defectious
De*fec"tious (?), a. Having defects; imperfect. [Obs.] "Some one
defectious piece." Sir P. Sidney.
Defective
De*fect"ive (?), a. [L. defectivus: cf. F. d\'82fectif. 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.
Defectuosity
De*fec`tu*os"i*ty (?; 135), n. [Cf. F. d\'82fectuosit\'82.] Great
imperfection. [Obs.] W. Montagu.
Defectuous
De*fec"tu*ous (?), a. [Cf. F. d\'82fectueux.] Full of defects;
imperfect. [Obs.] Barrow.
Defedation
Def`e*da"tion (?), n. [L. defoedare, defoedatum, to defile; de- +
foedare to foul, foedus foul.] The act of making foul; pollution.
[Obs.]
Defence
De*fence" (?), n. & v. t. See Defense.
Defend
De*fend" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defended; p. pr. & vb. n.
Defending.] [F. d\'82fendre, L. defendere; de- + fendere (only in
comp.) to strike; perh. akin to Gr. 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.
Defendable
De*fend"a*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. d\'82fendable.] Capable of being
defended; defensible. [R.]
Defendant
De*fend"ant (?), a. [F. d\'82fendant, p. pr. of d\'82fendre. See
Defend.]
1. Serving, or suitable, for defense; defensive. [Obs.]
With men of courage and with means defendant. Shak.
2. Making defense.
Defendant
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.
NOTE: &hand; Th e te rm 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.
Defendee
De`fen*dee" (?), n. One who is defended. [R. & Ludicrous]
Defender
De*fend"er (?), 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.
Defendress
De*fend"ress (?), n. A female defender. [R.]
Defendress of the faith. Stow.
Defensative
De*fen"sa*tive (?), n. [L. defensare, defensatum, to defend
diligently, intens. of defendere. See Defend.] That which serves to
protect or defend.
Defense, Defence
De*fense", De*fence" (?), n. [F. d\'82fense, OF. defense, fem.,
defens, masc., fr. L. defensa (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.
Defense
De*fense", v. t. To furnish with defenses; to fortify. [Obs.] [Written
also defence.]
Better manned and more strongly defensed. Hales.
Defenseless
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.
Defenser
De*fens"er (?), n. [Cf. F. d\'82fenseur, L. defensor. Cf. Defensor.]
Defender. [Obs.] Foxe.
Defensibility
De*fen`si*bil"i*ty (?), n. Capability of being defended.
Defensible
De*fen"si*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. d\'82fensable, 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.
Defensibleness
De*fen"si*ble*ness (?), n. Capability of being defended;
defensibility. Priestley.
Defensive
De*fen"sive (?), a. [Cf. F. d\'82fensif.]
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.
Defensive
De*fen"sive, n. That which defends; a safeguard.
Wars preventive, upon just fears, are true defensive. 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.
Defensively
De*fen"sive*ly, adv. On the defensive.
Defensor
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.
Defensory
De*fen"so*ry (?), a. [L. defensorius.] Tending to defend; defensive;
as, defensory preparations.
Defer
De*fer" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deferred (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Deferring.] [OE. differren, F. diff\'82rer, 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.
Defer
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.
Defer
De*fer", v. t. [F. d\'82f\'82rer 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.
Defer
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.
Deference
Def"er*ence (?), n. [F. d\'82f\'82rence. 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.
Deferent
Def"er*ent (?), a. [L. deferens, p. pr. of deferre. See 3d Defer.]
Serving to carry; bearing. [R.] "Bodies deferent." Bacon.
Deferent
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.
Deferential
Def`er*en"tial (?), a. [See Deference.] Expressing deference;
accustomed to defer.
Deferentially
Def`er*en"tial*ly, adv. With deference.
Deferment
De*fer"ment (?), n. [See 1st Defer.] The act of delaying;
postponement. [R.]
My grief, joined with the instant business, Begs a deferment.
Suckling.
Deferrer
De*fer"rer (?), n. One who defers or puts off.
Defervescence, Defervescency
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.
Defeudalize
De*feu"dal*ize (?), v. t. To deprive of the feudal character or form.
Defiance
De*fi"ance (?), n. [OF. defiance, desfiance, challenge, fr. desfier to
challenge, F. d\'82fier. 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.
Defiant
De*fi"ant (?), a. [Cf. F. d\'82fiant, p. pr. of d\'82fier. 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.
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Defiatory
De*fi"a*to*ry (?), a. [See Defy.] Bidding or manifesting defiance.
[Obs.] Shelford.
Defibrinate
De*fi"bri*nate (?), v. t. To deprive of fibrin, as fresh blood or
lymph by stirring with twigs.
Defibrination
De*fi`bri*na"tion (?), n. The act or process of depriving of fibrin.
Defibrinize
De*fi"bri*nize (?), v. t. To defibrinate.
Deficience
De*fi"cience (?), n. Same as Deficiency.
Thou in thyself art perfect, and in thee Is no deficience found.
Milton.
Deficiency
De*fi"cien*cy (?), n.; pl. Deficiencies (#). [See Deficient.] The
state of being deficient; inadequacy; want; failure; imperfection;
shortcoming; defect. "A deficiencyof 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.
Deficient
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.
Deficit
Def"i*cit (?), n. [Lit., it is wanting, 3d person pres. indic. of L.
deficere, cf. F. d\'82ficit. See Defect.] Deficiency in amount or
quality; a falling short; lack; as, a deficit in taxes, revenue, etc.
Addison.
Defier
De*fi"er (?), n. [See Defy.] One who dares and defies; a contemner;
as, a defier of the laws.
Defiguration
De*fig`u*ra"tion (?), n. Disfiguration; mutilation. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
Defigure
De*fig"ure (?), v. t. [Pref. de- (intens.) + figure.] To delineate.
[Obs.]
These two stones as they are here defigured. Weever.
Defilade
De`fi*lade" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defiladed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Defilading.] [Cf. F. d\'82filer to defile, and d\'82filade act of
defiling. See 1st Defile.] (Mil.) To raise, as a rampart, so as to
shelter interior works commanded from some higher point.
Defilading
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.
Defile
De*file" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Defiled (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Defiling.] [F. d\'82filer; pref. d\'82-, 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.
Defile
De*file", v. t. (Mil.) Same as Defilade.
Defile
De*file" (?; 277), n. [Cf. F. d\'82fil\'82, fr. d\'82filer 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.
Defile
De*file" (?), 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.
Defilement
De*file"ment (?), n. [Cf. F. d\'82filement. 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.
Defilement
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.
Defiler
De*fil"er (?), n. One who defiles; one who corrupts or violates; that
which pollutes.
Defiliation
De*fil`i*a"tion (?), n. [L. de- + filius son.] Abstraction of a child
from its parents. Lamb.
Definable
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.
Define
De*fine" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defined (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Defining.] [OE. definer, usually, to end, to finish, F. d\'82finir 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).
Define
De*fine" (?), v. i. To determine; to decide. [Obs.]
Definement
De*fine"ment (?), n. The act of defining; definition; description.
[Obs.] Shak.
Definer
De*fin"er (?), n. One who defines or explains.
Definite
Def"i*nite (?), a. [L. definitis, p. p. of definire: cf. F. d\'82fini.
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.
Definite
Def"i*nite, n. A thing defined or determined. [Obs.]
Definitely
Def"i*nite*ly, adv. In a definite manner; with precision; precisely;
determinately.
Definiteness
Def"i*nite*ness, n. The state of being definite; determinateness;
precision; certainty.
Definition
Def`i*ni"tion (?), n. [L. definitio: cf. F. d\'82finition.]
1. The act of defining; determination of the limits; as, the 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.
Definitional
Def`i*ni"tion*al (?), a. Relating to definition; of the nature of a
definition; employed in defining.
Definitive
De*fin"i*tive (?), a. [L. definitivus: cf. F. d\'82finitif.]
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.
Definitive
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.
NOTE: &hand; De finitives . . . 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).
Definitively
De*fin"i*tive*ly, adv. In a definitive manner.
Definitiveness
De*fin"i*tive*ness, n. The quality of being definitive.
Definitude
De*fin"i*tude (?), n. Definiteness. [R.]
Definitude . . . is a knowledge of minute differences. Sir W.
Hamilton.
Defix
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.
Deflagrability
Def`la*gra*bil"i*ty (?), n. (Chem.) The state or quality of being
deflagrable.
The ready deflagrability . . . of saltpeter. Boyle.
Deflagrable
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.
Deflagrate
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.
Deflagrate
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.
Deflagration
Def`la*gra"tion (?), n. [L. deflagratio: cf. F. d\'82flagration.]
1. A burning up; conflagration. "Innumerable deluges and
deflagrations." Bp. Pearson.
2. (Chem.) The act or process of deflagrating.
Deflagrator
Def"la*gra`tor (?), n. (Chem.) A form of the voltaic battery having
large plates, used for producing rapid and powerful combustion.
Deflate
De*flate" (?), v. t. [Pref. de- down + L. flare, flatus to blow.] To
reduce from an inflated condition.
Deflect
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).
Deflect
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.
Deflectable
De*flect"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being deflected.
Deflected
De*flect"ed, a.
1. Turned aside; deviating from a direct line or course.
2. Bent downward; deflexed.
Deflection
De*flec"tion (?), n. [L. deflexio, fr. deflectere: cf. F.
d\'82flexion.]
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.
Deflectionization
De*flec`tion*i*za"tion (?), n. The act of freeing from inflections.
Earle.
Deflectionize
De*flec"tion*ize (?), v. t. To free from inflections.
Deflectionized languages are said to be analytic. Earle.
Deflective
De*flect"ive (?), a. Causing deflection. Deflective forces, forces
that cause a body to deviate from its course.
Deflector
De*flect"or (?), n. (Mech.) That which deflects, as a diaphragm in a
furnace, or a come in a lamp (to deflect and mingle air and gases and
help combustion).
Deflexed
De*flexed" (?), a. Bent abruptly downward.
Deflexion
De*flex"ion (?), n. See Deflection.
Deflexure
De*flex"ure (?), n. [From L. deflectere, deflexum. See Deflect.] A
bending or turning aside; deflection. Bailey.
Deflorate
De*flo"rate (?), a. [LL. defloratus, p. p. of deflorare. See Deflour.]
(Bot.) Past the flowering state; having shed its pollen. Gray.
Defloration
Def`lo*ra"tion (?), n. [LL. defloratio: cf. F. d\'82floration.]
1. The act of deflouring; as, the defloration if 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.
Deflour
De*flour" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defloured (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Deflouring.] [F. d\'82florer, 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.
Deflourer
De*flour"er (?), n. One who deflours; a ravisher.
Deflow
De*flow" (?), v. i. [Pref. de- + flow: cf. L. defluere.] To flow down.
[Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
Deflower
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.
Deflowerer
De*flow"er*er (?), n. See Deflourer. Milton.
Defluous
Def"lu*ous (?), a. [L. defluus, fr. defluere to flow down; de- +
fluere to flow.] Flowing down; falling off. [Obs.] Bailey.
Deflux
De*flux" (?), n. [L. defluxus, fr. defluere, defluxum.] Downward flow.
[Obs.] Bacon.
Defluxion
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.
Defly
Def"ly (?), adv. Deftly. [Obs.] Spenser.
Def\'d2dation
Def`\'d2*da"tion (?), n. Defedation. [Obs.]
Defoliate, Defoliated
De*fo"li*ate (?), De*fo"li*a`ted (?). a. Deprived of leaves, as by
their natural fall.
Defoliation
De*fo`li*a"tion (?), n. [LL. defoliare, defoliatum, to shed leaves; L.
de- + folium leaf: cf. F. d\'82foliation.] The separation of ripened
leaves from a branch or stem; the falling or shedding of the leaves.
Deforce
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.
Deforcement
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.
Deforceor
De*force"or (?), n. Same as Deforciant. [Obs.]
Deforciant
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.
Deforciation
De*for`ci*a"tion (?), n. (Law) Same as Deforcement, n.
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Deforest
De*for"est (?), v. t. To clear of forests; to dis U. S. Agric.
Reports.
Deform
De*form" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deformed (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Deforming.] [L. deformare; de- + formare to form, shape, fr. forma:
cf. F. d\'82former. 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.
Deform
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.
Deformation
Def`or*ma"tion (?), n. [L. deformatio: cf. F. d\'82formation.]
1. The act of deforming, or state of anything deformed. Bp. Hall.
2. Transformation; change of shape.
Deformed
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.
Deformer
De*form"er (?), n. One who deforms.
Deformity
De*form"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Deformities (#). [L. deformitas, fr.
deformis: cf. OF. deformet\'82, deformit\'82, F. difformit\'82. 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 other 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.
Deforser
De*fors"er (?), n. [From Deforce.] [Written also deforsor.] A
deforciant. [Obs.] Blount.
Defoul
De*foul" (?), v. t. [See Defile, v. t.]
1. To tread down. [Obs.] Wyclif.
2. To make foul; to defile. [Obs.] Wyclif.
Defraud
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.
Defraudation
De`frau*da"tion (?), n. [L. defraudatio: cf. F. d\'82fraudation.] The
act of defrauding; a taking by fraud. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
Defrauder
De*fraud"er (?), n. One who defrauds; a cheat; an embezzler; a
peculator.
Defraudment
De*fraud"ment (?), n. [Cf. OF. defraudement.] Privation by fraud;
defrauding. [Obs.] Milton.
Defray
De*fray" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defrayed (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Defraying.] [F. d\'82frayer; pref. d\'82- (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.
Defrayal
De*fray"al (?), n. The act of defraying; payment; as, the defrayal of
necessary costs.
Defrayer
De*fray"er (?), n. One who pays off expenses.
Defrayment
De*fray"ment (?), n. Payment of charges.
Deft
Deft (?), a. [OE. daft, deft, becoming, mild, gentle, stupid (cf. OE.
daffe, deffe, fool, coward), AS. d\'91ft (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, do deft at his new ministry. Dryden.
Let me be deft and debonair. Byron.
Deftly
Deft"ly, adv. [Cf. Defly.] Aptly; fitly; dexterously; neatly. "Deftly
dancing." Drayton.
Thyself and office deftly show. Shak.
Deftness
Deft"ness, n. The quality of being deft. Drayton.
Defunct
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. d\'82funt. See Function.] Having finished the course of life;
dead; deceased. "Defunct organs." Shak.
The boar, defunct, lay tripped up, near. Byron.
Defunct
De*funct", n. A dead person; one deceased.
Defunction
De*func"tion (?), n. [L. defunctio performance, death.] Death. [Obs.]
After defunction of King Pharamond. Shak.
Defunctive
De*func"tive (?), a. Funereal. [Obs.] "Defunctive music." Shak.
Defuse
De*fuse" (?), v. t. [Cf. Diffuse.] To disorder; to make shapeless.
[Obs.] Shak.
Defy
De*fy" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defied (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Defying.]
[F. d\'82fier, 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.
Defy
De*fy" (?), n. A challenge. [Obs.] Dryden.
Degarnish
De*gar"nish (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Degarnished (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Degarnishing.] [F. d\'82garnir; pref. d\'82-, 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.
Degarnishment
De*gar"nish*ment (?), n. The act of depriving, as of furniture,
apparatus, or a garrison. [R.]
Degender, Degener
De*gen"der (?), De*gen"er (?), v. i. [See Degenerate.] To degenerate.
[Obs.] "Degendering to hate." Spenser.
He degenereth into beastliness. Joye.
Degeneracy
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.
Degenerate
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.
Degenerate
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.
Degenerately
De*gen"er*ate*ly (?), adv. In a degenerate manner; unworthily.
Degenerateness
De*gen"er*ate*ness, n. Degeneracy.
Degeneration
De*gen`er*a"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. d\'82g\'82n\'82ration.]
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 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.
Degenerationist
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.
Degenerative
De*gen"er*a*tive (?), a. Undergoing or producing degeneration; tending
to degenerate.
Degenerous
De*gen"er*ous (?), a. [L. degener. See Degenerate.] Degenerate; base.
[Obs.] "Degenerous passions." Dryden. "Degenerous practices." South.
Degenerously
De*gen"er*ous*ly, adv. Basely. [Obs.]
Deglazing
De*glaz"ing (?), n. The process of giving a dull or ground surface to
glass by acid or by mechanical means. Knight.
Degloried
De*glo"ried (?), a. Deprived of glory; dishonored. [Obs.] "With thorns
degloried." G. Fletcher.
Deglutinate
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.
Deglutination
De*glu`ti*na"tion (?), n. The act of ungluing.
Deglutition
Deg`lu*ti"tion (?), n. [L. deglutire to swallow down; de- + glutire to
swallow: cf. F. d\'82glutition. See Glut.] The act or process of
swallowing food; the power of swallowing.
The muscles employed in the act of deglutition. Paley.
Deglutitious
Deg`lu*ti"tious (?), a. Pertaining to deglutition. [R.]
Deglutitory
De*glu"ti*to*ry (?), a. Serving for, or aiding in, deglutition.
Degradation
Deg`ra*da"tion (?), n. [LL. degradatio, from degradare: cf. F.
d\'82gradation. 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 sidegradation 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, fro
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.
Degrade
De*grade" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Degraded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Degrading.] [F. d\'82grader, 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.
He 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.
Degrade
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.
Degraded
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. degr\'82 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.
Degradement
De*grade"ment (?), n. Deprivation of rank or office; degradation. [R.]
Milton.
Degradingly
De*grad"ing*ly, adv. In a degrading manner.
Degravation
Deg`ra*va"tion (?), n. [L. degravare, degravatum, to make heavy. See
Grave, a.] The act of making heavy. [Obs.] Bailey.
Degree
De*gree" (?), n. [F. degr\'82, 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.
NOTE: &hand; 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.
<-- by 1960 the Ph. D. was more common than the honorary degree. -->
The youth attained his bachelor's degree, and left the university.
Macaulay.
5. (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.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 384
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, a2b2c 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.
NOTE: &hand; 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 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 co\'94rdinates. 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.
Degu
De"gu (?), n. [Native name.] (Zo\'94l.) A small South American rodent
(Octodon Cumingii), of the family Octodontid\'91.
Degust
De*gust" (?), v. t. [L. degustare: cf. F. d\'82guster. See Gust to
taste.] To taste. [Obs.] Cockeram.
Degustation
Deg`us*ta"tion (?), n. [L. degustatio: cf. F. d\'82gustation.]
(Physiol.) Tasting; the appreciation of sapid qualities by the taste
organs. Bp. Hall.
Dehisce
De*hisce" (?), v. i. [L. dehiscere; de- + hiscere to gape.] To gape;
to open by dehiscence.
Dehiscence
De*his"cence (?), n. [Cf. F. d\'82hiscence.]
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.
Dehiscent
De*his"cent (?), a. [L. dehiscens, -entis, p. pr. Cf. F.
d\'82hiscent.] Characterized by dehiscence; opening in some definite
way, as the capsule of a plant.
Dehonestate
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.]
Dehonestation
De*hon`es*ta"tion (?), n. [L. dehonestatio.] A dishonoring;
disgracing. [Obs.] Gauden.
Dehorn
De*horn" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dehorned (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Dehorning.] To deprive of horns; to prevent the growth or the horns of
(cattle) by burning their ends soon after they start. See Dishorn.
"Dehorning cattle." Farm Journal (1886).
Dehors
De*hors" (?), prep. [F., outside.] (Law) Out of; without; foreign to;
out of the agreement, record, will, or other instrument.
Dehors
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.
Dehort
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.
Dehortation
De`hor*ta"tion (?), n. [L. dehortatio.] Dissuasion; advice against
something. [R.]
Dehortative
De*hort"a*tive (?), a. Dissuasive. [R.]
Dehortatory
De*hort"a*to*ry (?), a. [L. dehortatorius.] Fitted or designed to
dehort or dissuade. Bp. Hall.
Dehorter
De*hort"er (?), n. A dissuader; an adviser to the contrary. [Obs.]
Dehumanize
De*hu"man*ize (?), v. t. To divest of human qualities, such as pity,
tenderness, etc.; as, dehumanizing influences.
Dehusk
De*husk" (?), v. t. To remove the husk from. [Obs.] "Wheat dehusked
upon the floor." Drant.
Dehydrate
De*hy"drate (?), v. t. (Chem.) To deprive of water; to render free
from water; as, to dehydrate alcohol.
Dehydration
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.
Dehydrogenate
De*hy"dro*gen*ate (?), v. t. (Chem.) To deprive of, or free from,
hydrogen.
Dehydrogenation
De*hy`dro*gen*a"tion (?), n. (Chem.) The act or process or freeing
from hydrogen; also, the condition resulting from the removal of
hydrogen.
Deicide
De"i*cide (?), n. [L. deicida a deicide (in sense 2); deus god +
c\'91dere to cut, kill: cf. F. d\'82icide.]
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.
Deictic
Deic"tic (?), a. [Gr. (Logic) Direct; proving directly; -- applied to
reasoning, and opposed to elenchtic or refutative.
Deictically
Deic"tic*al*ly (?), adv. In a manner to show or point out; directly;
absolutely; definitely.
When Christ spake it deictically. Hammond.
Deific, Deifical
De*if"ic (?), De*if"ic*al (?), a. [L. deificus; deus god + facere to
make: cf. F. d\'82ifigue.] Making divine; producing a likeness to God;
god-making. "A deifical communion." Homilies.
Deification
De`i*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [LL. deificare to deify: cf. F.
d\'82ification. See Deify.] The act of deifying; exaltation to divine
honors; apotheosis; excessive praise.
Deified
De"i*fied (?), a. Honored or worshiped as a deity; treated with
supreme regard; godlike.
Deifier
De"i*fi`er (?), n. One who deifies.
Deiform
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.
Deiformity
De`i*for"mi*ty (?), n. Likeness to deity. [Obs.]
Deify
De"i*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deified (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Deifying.] [F. d\'82ifier, 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 C\'91sar 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 to extol and deify the pope. Bacon.
3. To render godlike.
By our own spirits are we deified. Wordsworth.
Deign
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
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.
NOTE: In early English deign was often used impersonally.
Him deyneth not to set his foot to ground. Chaucer.
Deignous
Deign"ous (?), a. [For disdeignous, OF. desdeignos, desdaigneus, F.
d\'82daigneux. See Disdain.] Haughty; disdainful. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Deil
Deil (?), n. Devil; -- spelt also deel. [Scot.] Deil's buckie. See
under Buckie.
Deinoceras
Dei*noc"e*ras (?), n. [NL.] (Paleon.) See Dinoceras.
Deinornis
Dei*nor"nis (?), n. [NL.] (Paleon.) See Dinornis.
Deinosaur
Dei"no*saur (?), n. [NL.] (Paleon.) See Dinosaur.
Deinotherium
Dei`no*the"ri*um (?), n. [NL.] (Paleon.) See Dinotherium.
Deintegrate
De*in"te*grate (?), v. t. [L. deintegrare to impair; de- + integrare
to make whole.] To disintegrate. [Obs.]
Deinteous, Deintevous
Dein"te*ous (?), Dein"te*vous (?), a. Rare; excellent; costly. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Deiparous
De*ip"a*rous (?), a. [L. deus a god + parere to bring forth.] Bearing
or bringing forth a god; -- said of the Virgin Mary. [Obs.] Bailey.
Deipnosophist
Deip*nos"o*phist (?), n. [Gr. One of an ancient sect of philosophers,
who cultivated learned conversation at meals.
Deis
De"is (?), n. See Dais.
Deism
De"ism (?), n. [L. deus god: cf. F. d\'82isme. 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.
NOTE: &hand; 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.
Deist
De"ist (?), n. [L. deus god: cf. F. d\'82iste. See Deity.] One who
believes in the existence of a God, but denies revealed religion; a
freethinker.
NOTE: &hand; A de ist, as de nying a revelation, is opposed to a
Christian; as, opposed to the denier of a God, whether atheist or
patheist, a deist is generally denominated theist.
Latham. Syn. -- See Infidel.
Deistic, Deistical
De*is"tic (?), 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.
Deistically
De*is"tic*al*ly, adv. After the manner of deists.
Deisticalness
De*is"tic*al*ness, n. State of being deistical.
Deitate
De"i*tate (?), a. Deified. [Obs.] Granmer.
Deity
De"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Deities (#). [OE. deite, F. d\'82it\'82, fr. L.
deitas, fr. deus a god; akin to divus divine, Jupiter, gen. Jovis,
Jupiter, dies day, Gr. d divine, as a noun, god, daiva divine, dy 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.
Deject
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.
Deject
De*ject", a. [L. dejectus, p. p.] Dejected. [Obs.]
Dejecta
De*jec"ta (?), n. pl. [NL., neut. pl. from L. dejectus, p. p.]
Excrements; as, the dejecta of the sick.
Dejected
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.
Dejecter
De*ject"er (?), n. One who casts down, or dejects.
Dejection
De*jec"tion (?), n. [L. dejectio a casting down: cf. F. d\'82jection.]
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) F\'91ces; excrement.
Ray.
Dejectly
De*ject"ly (?), adv. Dejectedly. [Obs.]
Dejectory
De*jec"to*ry (?), a. [L. dejector a dejecter.]
1. Having power, or tending, to cast down.
2. Promoting evacuations by stool. Ferrand.
Dejecture
De*jec"ture (?; 135), n. That which is voided; excrements. Arbuthnot.
Dejerate
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.
Dejeration
Dej`er*a"tion (?), n. [L. dejeratio.] The act of swearing solemnly.
[Obs.] Bp. Hall.
D\'82jeun\'82
D\'82`jeu`n\'82" (?), n. [F.] A d\'82jeuner.
Take a d\'82jeun\'82 of muskadel and eggs. B. Jonson.
D\'82jeuner
D\'82`jeu`ner" (?), n. [F. d\'82jeuner breakfast, as a verb, to
breakfast. Cf. Dinner.] A breakfast; sometimes, also, a lunch or
collation.
De jure
De` ju"re (?). [L.] By right; of right; by law; -- often opposed to be
facto.
Deka-
Dek"a- (?). (Metric System) A prefix signifying ten. See Deca-.
Dekagram
Dek"a*gram (?), n. Same as Decagram.
Dekaliter
Dek"a*li`ter (?), n. Same as Decaliter.
Dekameter
Dek"a*me`ter (?), n. Same as Decameter.
Dekastere
Dek"a*stere` (?), n. Same as Decastere.
Dekle
De"kle (?), n. (Paper Making) See Deckle.
Del
Del (?), n. [See Deal, n.] Share; portion; part. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Delaceration
De*lac`er*a"tion (?), n. [L. delacerare, delaceratum, to tear in
pieces. See Lacerate.] A tearing in pieces. [Obs.] Bailey.
Delacrymation
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.
Delactation
De`lac*ta"tion (?), n. [Pref. de- + L. lactare to suck milk, from lac
milk.] The act of weaning. [Obs.] Bailey.
Delaine
De*laine" (?), n. [See Muslin delaine, under Muslin.] A kind of fabric
for women's dresses.
Delamination
De*lam`i*na"tion (?), n. (Biol.) Formation and separation of lamin\'91
or layers; one of the methods by which the various blastodermic layers
of the ovum are differentiated.
NOTE: &hand; 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.
Delapsation
De`lap*sa"tion (?), n. See Delapsion. Ray.
Delapse
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.
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Delapsion
De*lap"sion (?), n. A falling down, or out of place; prolapsion.
Delassation
De`las*sa"tion (?), n. [L. delassare, delassatum, to tire out; de- +
lassare to tire.] Fatigue.
Able to continue without delassation. Ray.
Delate
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.
Delate
De*late", v. i. To dilate. [Obs.] Goodwin.
Delation
De*la"tion (?), n. [L. delatio accusation: cf. F. d\'82lation.]
1. Conveyance. [Obs. or Archaic]
In delation of sounds, the inclosure of them preserveth them.
Bacon.
2. (Law) Accusation by an informer. Milman.
Delator
De*la"tor (?), n. [L.] An accuser; an informer. [R.] Howell.
Delaware
Del"a*ware (?), n. (Bot.) An American grape, with compact bunches of
small, amber-colored berries, sweet and of a good flavor.
Delawares
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.
Delay
De*lay" (?), n.; pl. Delays (#). [F. d\'82lai, 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.
Delay
De*lay", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Delayed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Delaying.]
[OF. deleer, delaier, fr. the noun d\'82lai, 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.
Delay
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.
Delayer
De*lay"er (?), n. One who delays; one who lingers.
Delayingly
De*lay"ing*ly, adv. By delays. [R.] Tennyson.
Delayment
De*lay"ment (?), n. Hindrance. [Obs.] Gower.
Del credere
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.
Dele
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;.
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
Dele (?), v. t. [See Deal.] To deal; to divide; to distribute. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Deleble
Del"e*ble (?; 277), a. [L. delebilis. See 1st Dele.] Capable of being
blotted out or erased. "An impression easily deleble." Fuller.
Delectable
De*lec"ta*ble (?), a. [OF. delitable, OF. delitable, F. d\'82lectable,
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.
Delectate
De*lec"tate (?), v. t. [L. delectatus, p. p. of delectare. See
Delight.] To delight; to charm. [R.]
Delectation
De`lec*ta"tion (?), n. [L. delectatio: cf. F. d\'82lectation.] Great
pleasure; delight.
Delectus
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.
Delegacy
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.
Delegate
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.]
Delegate
Del"e*gate (?), a. [L. delegatus, p. p.] Sent to act for a represent
another; deputed; as, a delegate judge. "Delegate power." Strype.
Delegate
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.
Delegation
Del`e*ga"tion (?), n. [L. delegatio: cf. F. d\'82l\'82gation.]
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.
Delegatory
Del"e*ga*to*ry (?), a. [L. delegatorius pert. to an assignment.]
Holding a delegated position. Nash.
Delenda
De*len"da (?), n. pl. [L., fr. delere to destroy.] Things to be erased
or blotted out.
Delenifical
Del`e*nif"ic*al (?), a. [L. delenificus; delenire to soothe + facere
to make. See Lenient.] Assuaging pain. [Obs.] Bailey.
Delete
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.
Deleterious
Del`e*te"ri*ous (?), a. [LL. deleterius noxious, Gr. 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.
Deletery
Del"e*ter*y (?), a. [LL. deleterius: cf. F. d\'82l\'82t\'8are.]
Destructive; poisonous. [Obs.] "Deletery medicines." Hudibras.
Deletery
Del"e*ter*y, n. That which destroys. [Obs.]
They [the Scriptures] are the only deletery of heresies. Jer.
Taylor.
Deletion
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.
Deletitious
Del`e*ti"tious (?), a. [L. deleticius.] Of such a nature that anything
may be erased from it; -- said of paper.
Deletive
Del"e*tive (?), a. Adapted to destroy or obliterate. [R.] Evelyn.
Deletory
Del"e*to*ry (?), n. [See Delete.] That which blots out. [Obs.] "A
deletory of sin." Jer. Taylor.
Delf
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
Delf, n. Same as Delftware.
Delft
Delft (?), n. Same as Delftware.
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.
Delibate
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.]
Delibation
Del`i*ba"tion (?), n. [L. delibatio: cf. F. d\'82libation.] Act of
tasting; a slight trial. [Obs.] Berkeley.
Deliber
Del"i*ber (?), v. t. & i. To deliberate. [Obs.]
Deliberate
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 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.
Deliberate
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.
Deliberate
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,
concerning.
The woman the deliberation is lost. Addison.
Deliberately
De*lib"er*ate*ly (?), adv. With careful consideration, or
deliberation; circumspectly; warily; not hastily or rashly; slowly;
as, a purpose deliberately formed.
Deliberateness
De*lib"er*ate*ness, n. The quality of being deliberate; calm
consideration; circumspection.
Deliberation
De*lib`er*a"tion (?), n. [L. deliberatio: cf. F. d\'82lib\'82ration.]
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.
Deliberative
De*lib"er*a*tive (?), a. [L. deliberativus: cf. F. d\'82lib\'82ratif.]
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.
Deliberative
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.
Deliberatively
De*lib"er*a*tive*ly, adv. In a deliberative manner; circumspectly;
considerately.
Deliberator
De*lib"er*a`tor (?), n. One who deliberates.
Delibrate
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.
Delibration
Del`i*bra"tion (?), n. The act of stripping off the bark. [Obs.] Ash.
Delicacy
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.
Delicate
Del"i*cate (?), a. [L. delicatus pleasing the senses, voluptuous, soft
and tender; akin to deliciae delight: cf. F. d\'82licat. 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; 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; 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.
Delicate
Del"i*cate, n.
1. A choice dainty; a delicacy. [R.]
With abstinence all delicates he sees. Dryden.
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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.
Delicately
Del"i*cate*ly (?), adv. In a delicate manner.
Delicateness
Del"i*cate*ness, n. The quality of being delicate.
Delices
Del"i*ces (?), n. pl. [F. d\'82lices, fr. L. deliciae.] Delicacies;
delights. [Obs.] "Dainty delices." Spenser.
Deliciate
De*li"ci*ate (?), v. t. To delight one's self; to indulge in feasting;
to revel. [Obs.]
Delicious
De*li"cious (?), a. [OF. delicieus, F. d\'82licieux, 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.
Deliciously
De*li"cious*ly, adv. Delightfully; as, to feed deliciously; to be
deliciously entertained.
Deliciousness
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.
Delict
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.
Deligate
Del"i*gate (?), v. t. [L. deligatus, p. p. of deligare to bind up; de-
+ ligare to bind.] (Surg.) To bind up; to bandage.
Deligation
Del`i*ga"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. d\'82ligation.] (Surg.) A binding up; a
bandaging. Wiseman.
Delight
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.
Delight
De*light", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Delighted; p. pr. & vb. n. Delighting.]
[OE. deliten, OF. delitier, deleitier, F. d\'82lecter, 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.
Delight
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.
Delightable
De*light"a*ble (?), a. [See Delectable.] Capable of delighting;
delightful. [Obs.]
Many a spice delightable. Rom. of R.
Delighted
De*light"ed, a. Endowed with delight.
If virtue no delighted beauty lack. Shak.
Syn. -- Glad; pleased; gratified. See Glad.
Delightedly
De*light"ed*ly, adv. With delight; gladly.
Delighter
De*light"er (?), n. One who gives or takes delight.
Delightful
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.
Delighting
De*light"ing, a. Giving delight; gladdening. -- De*light"ing*ly, adv.
Jer. Taylor.
Delightless
De*light"less, a. Void of delight. Thomson.
Delightous
De*light"ous (?) a. [OF. delitos.] Delightful. [Obs.] Rom. of R.
Delightsome
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.
Delilah
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.
Delimit
De*lim"it (?), v. t. [L. delimitare: cf. F. d\'82limitier.] To fix the
limits of; to demarcate; to bound.
Delimitation
De*lim`i*ta"tion (?), n. [L. delimitatio: cf. F. d\'82limitation.] The
act or process of fixing limits or boundaries; limitation. Gladstone.
Deline
De*line" (?), v. t.
1. To delineate. [Obs.]
2. To mark out. [Obs.] R. North.
Delineable
De*lin"e*a*ble (?), a. Capable of being, or liable to be, delineated.
Feltham.
Delineament
De*lin"e*a*ment (?), [See Delineate.] Delineation; sketch. Dr. H.
More.
Delineate
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.]
Delineate
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.
Delineation
De*lin`e*a"tion (?), n. [L. delineatio: cf. F. d\'82lin\'82ation.]
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 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.
Delineator
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.
Delineatory
De*lin"e*a*to*ry (?), a. That delineates; descriptive; drawing the
outline; delineating.
Delineature
De*lin"e*a*ture (?; 135), n. Delineation. [Obs.]
Delinition
Del`i*ni"tion (?), n. [L. delinere to smear. See Liniment.] A
smearing. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
Delinquency
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.
Delinquent
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.
Delinquent
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.
Delinquently
De*lin"quent*ly, adv. So as to fail in duty.
Deliquate
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.
Deliquate
Del"i*quate, v. t. To cause to melt away; to dissolve; to consume; to
waste. [Obs.]
Dilapidating, or rather deliquating, his bishopric. Fuller.
Deliquation
Del`i*qua"tion (?), n. A melting. [Obs.]
Deliquesce
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.
Deliquescence
Del`i*ques"cence (?), n. [Cf. F. d\'82liquescence.] The act of
deliquescing or liquefying; process by which anything deliquesces;
tendency to melt.
Deliquescent
Del`i*ques"cent (?), a. [L. deliquescens, -entis, p. pr. of
deliquescere: cf. F. d\'82liquescent.]
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.
Deliquiate
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.
Deliquiation
De*liq`ui*a"tion (?), n. The act of deliquating.
Deliquium
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.
Deliracy
De*lir"a*cy (?), n. [See Delirate.] Delirium. [Obs.]
Delirament
De*lir"a*ment (?), n. [L. deliramentum, fr. delirare. See Delirium.] A
wandering of the mind; a crazy fancy. [Obs.] Heywood.
Delirancy
De*lir"an*cy (?), n. Delirium. [Obs.] Gauden.
Delirant
De*lir"ant (?), a. [L. delirans, -antis, p. pr. of delirare. See
Delirium.] Delirious. [Obs.] Owen.
Delirate
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.
Deliration
Del`i*ra"tion (?), n. [L. deliratio.] Aberration of mind; delirium. J.
Motley.
Deliration or alienation of the understanding. Mede.
Deliriant
De*lir"i*ant (?), n. [See Delirium.] (Med.) A poison which occasions a
persistent delirium, or mental aberration (as belladonna).
Delirifacient
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.
Delirious
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.
Delirium
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). Motley.
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.
Delit
De*lit" (?), n. Delight. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Delitable
De*lit"a*ble (?), a. Delightful; delectable. [Obs.]
Delitescence
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.
Delitescency
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.
Delitescent
Del`i*tes"cent (?), a. [L. delitescens, -entis, p. pr. of delitescere
to lie hid.] Lying hid; concealed.
Delitigate
De*lit"i*gate (?), v. i. [L. delitigare to rail. See Litigate.] To
chide; to rail heartily. [Obs.]
Delitigation
De*lit`i*ga"tion (?), n. Chiding; brawl. [Obs.]
Deliver
De*liv"er (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Delivered (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Delivering.] [F. d\'82livrer, 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. 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.
Deliver
De*liv"er, a. [OF. delivre free, unfettered. See Deliver, v. t.] Free;
nimble; sprightly; active. [Obs.]
Wonderly deliver and great of strength. Chaucer.
Deliverable
De*liv"er*a*ble (?), a. Capable of being, or about to be, delivered;
necessary to be delivered. Hale.
Deliverance
De*liv"er*ance (?), n. [F. d\'82livrance, fr. d\'82livrer.]
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.
NOTE: &hand; In th is an d 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.
Deliverer
De*liv"er*er (?), n.
1. One who delivers or rescues; a preserver.
2. One who relates or communicates.
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Deliveress
De*liv"er*ess (?), n. A female de [R.] Evelyn.
Deliverly
De*liv"er*ly, adv. Actively; quickly; nimbly. [Obs.]
Swim with your bodies, And carry it sweetly and deliverly. Beau. &
Fl.
Deliverness
De*liv"er*ness, n. Nimbleness; agility. [Obs.]
Delivery
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
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.
Della Crusca
Del"la Crus"ca (?). A shortened form of Academia della Crusca, an
academy in Florescence, Italy, founded in the 16th century, especially
for conversing the purity of the Italian language.
NOTE: &hand; Th e 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.
Dellacruscan
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.
Deloo
De"loo (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) The duykerbok.
Deloul
De*loul" (?), n. [Prob. of Arabic or Bedouin origin.] (Zo\'94l.) A
special breed of the dromedary used for rapid traveling; the swift
camel; -- called also herire, and maharik.
Delph
Delph (?), n. Delftware.
Five nothings in five plates of delph. Swift.
Delph
Delph, n. (Hydraul. Engin.) The drain on the land side of a sea
embankment. Knight.
Delphian
Del"phi*an (?), a. Delphic.
Delphic
Del"phic (?), a. [L. Delphicus, fr. Gr. 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.
Delphin, Delphine
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).
Delphin
Del"phin, n. [L. delphinus a dolphin.] (Chem.) A fatty substance
contained in the oil of the dolphin and the porpoise; -- called also
phocenin.
Delphine
Del"phine (?), a. [L. delphinus a dolphin, Gr. Pertaining to the
dolphin, a genus of fishes.
Delphinic
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.]
Delphinic
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).
Delphinine
Del"phi*nine (?; 104), n. [Cf. F. delphinine.] (Chem.) A poisonous
alkaloid extracted from the stavesacre (Delphinium staphisagria), as a
colorless amorphous powder.
Delphinoid
Del"phi*noid (?), a. [L. delphinus a dolphin + -oid.] (Zo\'94l.)
Pertaining to, or resembling, the dolphin.
Delphinoidea
Del`phi*noi"de*a (?), n. pl. [NL.] (Zo\'94l.) The division of Cetacea
which comprises the dolphins, porpoises, and related forms.
Delphinus
Del*phi"nus (?), n. [L., a dolphin, fr. Gr.
1. (Zo\'94l.) A genus of Cetacea, including the dolphin. See Dolphin,
1.
2. (Astron.) The Dolphin, a constellation near the equator and east of
Aquila.
Delta
Del"ta (?), n.; pl. Deltas (#). [Gr. Delta of the Nile.] A tract of
land shaped like the letter delta (), 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.
Deltafication
Del`ta*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [Delta + L. facere to make.] The formation
of a delta or of deltas. [R.]
Deltaic
Del*ta"ic (?), a. Relating to, or like, a delta.
Delthyris
Del*thy"ris (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. de`lta the name of the letter +
thy`ra door.] (Zo\'94l.) 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.
Deltic
Del"tic (?), a. Deltaic.
Deltidium
Del*tid"i*um (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. de`lta, the letter .] (Zo\'94l.)
The triangular space under the beak of many brachiopod shells.
Deltohedron
Del`to*he"dron (?), n. [Gr. de`lta, the letter + '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.
Deltoid
Del"toid (?), a. [Gr. deltoeidh`s delta-shaped; de`lta the name of the
letter + ei^dos form: cf. F. delto\'8bde. See Delta.] Shaped like the
Greek 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.
Deludable
De*lud"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being deluded; liable to be imposed on
gullible. Sir T. Browne.
Delude
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.
Deluder
De*lud"er (?), n. One who deludes; a deceiver; an impostor.
Deluge
Del"uge (?), n. [F. d\'82luge, 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. (Apr\'82s moi le d\'82luge.) Madame de
Pompadour.
Deluge
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 fldeluge all. Pope.
Delundung
De*lun"dung (?), n. [Native name.] (Zo\'94l.) An East Indian
carnivorous mammal (Prionodon gracilis), resembling the civets, but
without scent pouches. It is handsomely spotted.
Delusion
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.
Delusional
De*lu"sion*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to delusions; as, delusional
monomania.
Delusive
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.
Delusory
De*lu"so*ry (?) a. Delusive; fallacious. Glanvill.
Delve
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 flooDryden.
2. To dig into; to penetrate; to trace out; to fathom.
I can not delve him to the root. Shak.
Delve
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
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
The very tigers from their delves Look out. Moore.
Delver
Delv"er (?), n. One who digs, as with a spade.
Demagnetize
De*mag"net*ize (?), v. t.
1. To deprive of magnetic properties. See Magnetize.
If the bar be rapidly magnetized and demagnetized. A. Cyc.
2. To free from mesmeric influence; to demesmerize. --
De*mag`net*i*za"tion, n. -- De*mag"net*i`zer (#), n.
Demagog
Dem"a*gog (?; 115), n. Demagogue.
Demagogic, Demagogical
Dem`a*gog"ic (?), Dem`a*gog"ic*al (?), a. [Gr. d\'82magogique.]
Relating to, or like, a demagogue; factious.
Demagogism
Dem"a*gog*ism (?; 115), n. The practices of a demagogue.
Demagogue
Dem"a*gogue (?; 115), n. [Gr. act: cf. F. d\'82magogue.] 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.
Demagogy
Dem"a*gog`y (?), n. [Cf. F. d\'82magogie, Gr. Demagogism.
Demain
De*main" (?), n. [See Demesne.]
1. Rule; management. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. (Law) See Demesne.
Demand
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.
Demand
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.
Demand
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 posses;
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 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.
Demandable
De*mand"a*ble (?), a. That may be demanded or claimed. "All sums
demandable." Bacon.
Demandant
De*mand"ant (?) n. [F. demandant, p. pr. of demander.] One who
demands; the plaintiff in a real action; any plaintiff.
Demander
De*mand"er (?), n. One who demands.
Demandress
De*mand"ress (?), n. A woman who demands.
Demantoid
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.
Demarcate
De*mar"cate (?), v. t. [See Demarcation.] To mark by bounds; to set
the limits of; to separate; to discriminate. Wilkinson.
Demarcation
De`mar*ca"tion (?), n. [F. d\'82marcation; pref. d\'82- (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.
Demarch
De*march" (?), n. [F. d\'82marche. See March, n.] March; walk;
gait. [Obs.]
Demarch
De*march (?), n. [Gr. A chief or ruler of a deme or district in
Greece.
Demarkation
De`mar*ka"tion, n. Same as Demarcation.
Dematerialize
De`ma*te"ri*al*ize (?), v. t. To deprive of material or physical
qualities or characteristics.
Dematerializing matter by stripping if of everything which . . .
has distinguished matter. Milman.
Deme
Deme (?), n. [Gr.
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.
Demean
De*mean" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demeaned (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Demeaning.] [OF. demener to conduct, guide, manage, F. se
d\'82mener to struggled\'82- (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.
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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.
NOTE: &hand; Th is sense is probably due to a false etymology which
regarded the word as connected with the adjective mean.
Demean
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.
Demean
De*mean", n. [See Demesne.]
1. Demesne. [Obs.]
2. pl. Resources; means. [Obs.]
You know How narrow our demeans are. Massinger.
Demeanance
De*mean"ance (?), n. Demeanor. [Obs.] Skelton.
Demeanor
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.
Demeanure
De*mean"ure (?), n. Behavior. [Obs.] Spenser.
Demency
De"men*cy (?), n. [L. dementia, fr. demens mad. See Dement.]
Dementia; loss of mental powers. See Insanity.
Dement
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.
Dement
De*ment", a. [L. demens, -mentis.] Demented; dementate. [R.] J. H.
Newman.
Dementate
De*men"tate (?), a. [L. dementatus, p. p. See Dement, v. t.]
Deprived of reason.
Arise, thou dementate sinner! Hammond.
Dementate
De*men"tate (?) v. t. To deprive of reason; to dement. [R.] Burton.
Dementation
De`men*ta"tion (?), n. The act of depriving of reason; madness.
Whitlock.
Demented
De*ment"ed (?), a. [From Dement.] Insane; mad; of unsound mind. --
De*ment"ed*ness, n.
Dementia
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.
Demephitize
De*meph"i*tize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demephitized (?); p. pr. &
vb. n. Demephitizing.] [Cf. F. m\'82phitiser to infect with
mephitis.] To purify from mephitic. -- De*meph`i*ti*za"tion, n.
Demerge
De*merge" (?), v. t. [L. demergere.] To plunge down into; to sink;
to immerse. [Obs.]
The water in which it was demerged. Boyle.
Demerit
De*mer"it (?), n. [F. d\'82m\'82rite 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.
Demerit
De*mer"it, v. t. [Cf. F. d\'82m\'82riter 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.
Demerit
De*mer"it, v. i. To deserve praise or blame.
Demerse
De*merse" (?), v. t. [L. demersus, p. p. of demergere. See Merge.]
To immerse. [Obs.] Boyle.
Demersed
De*mersed" (?), a. (Bot.) Situated or growing under water, as
leaves; submersed.
Demersion
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.
Demesmerize
De*mes"mer*ize (?), v. t. To relieve from mesmeric influence. See
Mesmerize.
Demesne
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.
Demesnial
De*mesn"i*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to a demesne; of the nature of a
demesne.
Demi-
Dem"i- (?). [F. demi-, fr. L. dimidius half; di- = dis- + medius
middle. See Medium, and cf. Demy, Dimidiate.] A prefix, signifying
half.
Demi
De*mi" (?), n. See Demy, n.
Demibastion
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.
Demibrigade
Dem"i*bri*gade" (?), n. [Cf. F. demi-brigade.] A half brigade.
Demicadence
Dem"i*ca`dence (?) n. (Mus.) An imperfect or half cadence, falling on
the dominant instead of on the key note.
Demicannon
Dem"i*can"non (?), n. (Mil. Antiq.) A kind of ordnance, carrying a
ball weighing from thirty to thirty-six pounds. Shak.
Demicircle
Dem"i*cir`cle (?), n. [Cf. F. demi-cercle.] An instrument for
measuring angles, in surveying, etc. It resembles
Demiculverin
Dem"i*cul"ver*in (?), n. (Mil. Antiq.) A kind of ordnance, carrying a
ball weighing from nine to thirteen pounds.
Demideify
Dem"i*de"i*fy (?) v. t. To deify in part. Cowper.
Demidevil
Dem"i*dev`il (?), n. A half devil. Shak.
Demigod
Dem"i*god (?), n. A half god, or an inferior deity; a fabulous hero,
the offspring of a deity and a mortal.
Demigoddess
Dem"i*god`dess (?), n. A female demigod.
Demigorge
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.
Demigrate
Dem"i*grate (?), v. i. [L. demigrare, demigratum, to emigrate. See
De-, and Migrate.] To emigrate. [Obs.] Cockeram.
Demigration
Dem`i*gra"tion (?) n. [L. demigratio.] Emigration. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
Demigroat
Dem"i*groat` (?), n. A half groat.
Demi-isand
Dem"i-is`and (?), n. Peninsula. [Obs.] Knolles.
Demijohn
Dem"i*john (?), n. [F. dame-jeanne, i. e., Lady Jane, a corruption of
Ar. damaj\'bena, damj\'bena, prob. fr. Damaghan a town in the Persian
province of Khorassan, one famous for its glass works.] A glass vessel
or bottle with a large body and small neck, inclosed in wickerwork.
Demilance
Dem"i*lance` (?), n. A light lance; a short spear; a half pike; also,
a demilancer.
Demilancer
Dem"i*lan`cer (?), n. A soldier of light cavalry of the 16th century,
who carried a demilance.
Demilune
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.
NOTE: &hand; Ea ch crescent is made of polyhedral cells which under
some circumstances are supposed to give rise to new salivary cells.
Demiman
Dem"i*man` (?), n. A half man. [R.] Knolles.
Demimonde
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.
Deminatured
Dem"i*na"tured (?; 135), a. Having half the nature of another. [R.]
Shak.
Demiquaver
Dem"i*qua`ver (?), n. (Mus.) A note of half the length of the quaver;
a semiquaver. [R.]
Demirelief, Demirelievo
Dem`i*re*lief" (?), Dem`i*re*lie"vo (?), n. Half relief. See
Demi-rilievo.
Demrep
Dem"*rep` (?), n. [Contr. fr. demi-reputation.] A woman of doubtful
reputation or suspected character; an adventuress. [Colloq.] De
Quincey.
Demi-rilievo
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.
Demisability
De*mis`a*bil"i*ty (?), n. (Law) The state of being demisable.
Demisable
De*mis"a*ble (?), a. [From Demise.] (Law) Capable of being leased; as,
a demisable estate.
Demise
De*mise" (?), n. [F. d\'82mettre, p. p. d\'82mis, d\'82mise, to put
away, lay down; pref. d\'82- (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.
NOTE: &hand; Th e de mise 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.
Demise
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, be lease; to lease.
Demisemiquaver
Dem`i*sem"i*qua`ver (?), (Mus.) A short note, equal in time to the
half of a semiquaver, or the thirty-second part of a whole note.
Demiss
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.
Demission
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.]
Demissionary
De*mis"sion*a*ry (?), a.
1. Pertaining to transfer or conveyance; as, a demissionary deed.
2. Tending to lower, depress, or degrade.
Demissive
De*miss"ive (?), a. [See Demiss.] Downcast; submissive; humble. [R.]
They pray with demissive eyelids. Lord (1630).
Demissly
De*miss"ly, adv. In a humble manner. [Obs.]
Demisuit
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
things, no vizor to the helmet, and the like.
Demit
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.
Demitint
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.
Demitone
Dem"i*tone` (?), n. (Mus.) Semitone. [R.]
Demiurge
Dem"i*urge (?), n. [Gr. dhmioyrgo`s a worker for the people, a
workman, especially the marker 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.
Demiurgic
Dem`i*ur"gic (?), a. [Gr. Pertaining to a demiurge; formative;
creative. "Demiurgic power." De Quincey.
Demvill
Dem"*vill` (?), n. (Old Law) A half -vill, consisting of five freemen
or frankpledges. Blackstone.
Demivolt
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.
Demiwolf
Dem"i*wolf` (?), n. A half wolf; a mongrel dog, between a dog and a
wolf.
Demobilization
De*mob`i*li*za"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. d\'82mobilisation. 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.
Demobilize
De*mob"i*lize (?), v. t. [Cf. F. d\'82mobiliser.] (Mil.) To
disorganize, or disband and send home, as troops which have been
mobilized.
Democracy
De*moc"ra*cy (?), n.; pl. Democracies (#). [F. d\'82mocratie, 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.]
Democrat
Dem"o*crat (?), n. [Cf. F. d\'82mocrate.]
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.]
Democratic
Dem`o*crat"ic (?), a. [Gr. d\'82mocratique.]
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.
Democratical
Dem`o*crat"ic*al (?), a. Democratic.
The democratical was democratically received. Algernon Sidney.
Democratically
Dem`o*crat"ic*al*ly, adv. In a democratic manner.
Democratism
De*moc"ra*tism (?), n. The principles or spirit of a democracy. [R.]
Democratist
De*moc"ra*tist (?), n. A democrat. [R.] Burke.
Democratize
De*moc"ra*tize (?) v. t. To render democratic.
Democraty
De*moc"ra*ty (?), n. Democracy. [Obs.] Milton.
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Demogorgon
De`mo*gor"gon (?), n. [First me the scholiast, gorgo`s fierce, , 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.
Demography
De*mog"ra*phy (?), n. [Gr. -graphy.] The study of races, as to births,
marriages, mortality, health, etc. -- Dem`o*graph"ic, a.
Demoiselle
De`moi`selle" (?), n. [F. See Damsel.]
1. A young lady; a damsel; a lady's maid.
2. (Zo\'94l.) The Numidian crane (Antropoides virgo); -- so called on
account of the grace and symmetry of its form and movements.
3. (Zo\'94l.) A beautiful, small dragon fly of the genus Agrion.
Demolish
De*mol"ish (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demolished (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Demolishing.] [F. d\'82molir, 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; as 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.
Demolisher
De*mol"ish`er (?), n. One who, or that which, demolishes; as, a
demolisher of towns.
Demolishment
De*mol"ish*ment (?), n. Demolition.
Demolition
Dem`o*li"tion (?; 277), n. [L. demolitio, fr. demoliri: cf. F.
d\'82molition. 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.
Demolitionist
Dem`o*li"tion*ist, n. A demolisher. [R.] Carlyle.
Demon
De"mon (?), n. [F. d\'82mon, L. daemon a spirit, an evil spirit, fr.
Gr.
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 inSydenham.
2. One's genius; a tutelary spirit or internal voice; as, the demon of
Socrates. [Often written d\'91mon.]
3. An evil spirit; a devil.
That same demon that hath gulled thee thus. Shak.
Demoness
De"mon*ess (?), n. A female demon.
Demonetization
De*mon`e*ti*za"tion (?), n. The act of demonetizing, or the condition
of being demonetized.
Demonetize
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.
Demoniac, Demoniacal
De*mo"ni*ac (?), Dem`o*ni"a*cal (?; 277), a. [L. daemoniacus, fr.
daemon; cf. F. d\'82moniaque. 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.
Demoniac
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.
Demoniacally
Dem`o*ni"a*cal*ly (?), adv. In a demoniacal manner.
Demoniacism
Dem`o*ni"a*cism (?), n. The state of being demoniac, or the practices
of demoniacs.
Demonial
De*mo"ni*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to a demon. [Obs.] Cudworth.
Demonian
De*mo"ni*an (?), a. Relating to, or having the nature of, a demon.
"Demonian spirits." Milton.
Demonianism
De*mo"ni*an*ism (?), n. The state of being possessed by a demon or by
demons.
Demoniasm
De*mo"ni*asm (?), n. See Demonianism. [R.]
Demonic
De*mo"nic (?), a. [L. daemonicus, Gr. daimoniko`s.] Of or pertaining
to a demon or to demons; demoniac. "Demonic ambushes." Lowell.
Demonism
De"mon*ism (?), n. [Cf. F. d\'82monisme.] The belief in demons or
false gods.
The established theology of the heathen world . . . rested upon the
basis of demonism. Farmer.
Demonist
De"mon*ist, n. A believer in, or worshiper of, demons.
Demonize
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.
Demonocracy
De`mon*oc"ra*cy (?), n. [Gr. dai`mwn demon + kra`tos strength: cf. F.
d\'82monocratie.] The power or government of demons.
A demonocracy of unclean spirits. H. Taylor.
Demonographer
De`mon*og"ra*pher (?), n. [Demon + -graph + -er.] A demonologist. [R.]
Am. Cyc.
Demonolatry
De`mon*ol"a*try (?), n. [Gr. dai`mwn demon + latrei`a worship,
d\'82monol\'83trie.] The worship of demons.
Demonologer
De`mon*ol"o*ger (?), n. One versed in demonology. R. North.
Demonologic, Demonological
De`mon*o*log"ic (?), De`mon*o*log"ic*al (?), a. [Cf. F.
d\'82monologique.] Of or Pertaining to demonology.
Demonologist
De`mon*ol"o*gist (?), n. One who writes on, or is versed in,
demonology.
Demonology
De`mon*ol"o*gy (?; 277), n. [Demon + -logy: cf. F. d\'82monologie.] A
treatise on demons; a supposititious science which treats of demons
and their manifestations. Sir W. Scott.
Demonomagy
De`mon*om"a*gy (?), n. [Gr. dai`mwn demon + magic.] Magic in which the
aid of demons is invoked; black or infernal magic. Bp. Hurd.
Demonomania
De*mon`o*ma"ni*a (?), n. [Demon + mania.] A form of madness in which
the patient conceives himself possessed of devils.
Demonomist
De*mon"o*mist (?) n. One in subjection to a demon, or to demons. [R.]
Sir T. Herbert.
Demonomy
De*mon"o*my (?), n. [Gr. The dominion of demons. [R.] Sir T. Herbert.
Demonry
De"mon*ry (?), n. Demoniacal influence or possession. J. Baillie.
Demonship
De"mon*ship, n. The state of a demon. Mede.
Demonstrability
De*mon`stra*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality of being demonstrable;
demonstrableness.
Demonstrable
De*mon"stra*ble (?), a. [L. demonstrabilis: cf. OF. demonstrable, F.
d\'82montrable.]
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.
Demonstrableness
De*mon"stra*ble*ness, n. The quality of being demonstrable;
demonstrability.
Demonstrably
De*mon"stra*bly, adv. In a demonstrable manner; incontrovertibly;
clearly.
Cases that demonstrably concerned the public cause. Clarendon.
Demonstrance
De*mon"strance (?), n. [OF. demonstrance.] Demonstration; proof.
[Obs.] Holland.
Demonstrate
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).
Demonstrater
Dem"on*stra`ter, n. See Demonstrator.
Demonstration
Dem`on*stra"tion (?), n. [L. demonstratio: cf. F. d\'82monstration.]
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.
Demonstrative
De*mon"stra*tive (?), a. [F. d\'82monstratif, 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.
Demonstrative
De*mon"stra*tive, n. (Gram.) A demonstrative pronoun; as, "this" and
"that" are demonstratives.
Demonstratively
De*mon"stra*tive*ly (?), adv. In a manner fitted to demonstrate;
clearly; convincingly; forcibly.
Demonstrativeness
De*mon"stra*tive*ness, n. The state or quality of being demonstrative.
Demonstrator
Dem"on*stra`tor (?; 277), n. [L.: cf. F. d\'82monstrateur.]
1. One who demonstrates; one who proves anything with certainty, or
establishes it by indubitable evidence.
2. (Anat.) A teacher of practical anatomy.
Demonstratory
De*mon"stra*to*ry (?), a. Tending to demonstrate; demonstrative.
Johnson.
Demorage
De*mor"age (?; 48), n. Demurrage. [Obs.] Pepys (1663).
Demoralization
De*mor`al*i*za"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. d\'82moralisation.] 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.
Demoralize
De*mor"al*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demoralized (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Demoralizing.] [F. d\'82moraliser; pref. d\'82- (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.
Demosthenic
Dem`os*then"ic (?), a. [L. Demosthenicus: cf. F. D\'82mosth\'82nique.]
Pertaining to, or in the style of, Demosthenes, the Grecian orator.
Demotic
De*mot"ic (?), a. [Gr. d\'82motique.] 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.
Demount
De*mount" (?), v. i. To dismount. [R.]
Dempne
Demp"ne (?) v. t. To damn; to condemn. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Dempster; 215, Demster
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.
Demulce
De*mulce" (?), v. t. [L. demulcere; de- + mulcere to stroke, soothe.]
To soothe; to mollify; to pacify; to soften. [R.] Sir T. Elyot.
Demulcent
De*mul"cent (?), a. [L. demulcens, p. pr. of demulcere.] Softening;
mollifying; soothing; assuasive; as, oil is demulcent.
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 i
Demulsion
De*mul"sion (?), n. The act of soothing; that which soothes. Feltham.
Demur
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.
Demur
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.
Demur
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.
Demure
De*mure" (?), a. [Perh. from OF. de murs (i. e., de bonnes murs of
good manners); de of + murs, mours, meurs, mors, F. m, fr. L. mores
(sing. mos) manners, morals (see Moral); or more prob. fr. OF.
me\'81r, F. m\'96r mature, ripe (see Mature) in a phrase preceded by
de, as de m\'96re 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.
Demure
De*mure", v. i. To look demurely. [Obs.] Shak.
Demurely
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.
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Page 390
Demureness
De*mure"ness (?), n. The state of being demure; gravity; the show of
gravity or modesty.
Demurity
De*mur"i*ty (?), n. Demureness; also, one who is demure. Sir T.
Browne.
Demurrable
De*mur"ra*ble (?), a. That may be demurred to. Stormonth.
Demurrage
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\'bfCulloch.
NOTE: &hand; Th e te rm is al so ap plied to si milar de lays and
allowances in land carriage, by wagons, railroads, etc.
Demurral
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.
Demurrer
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.
Demy
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.
Demy
De*my", a. Pertaining to, or made of, the size of paper called demy;
as, a demy book.
Den
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
Den, v. i. To live in, or as in, a den.
The sluggish salvages that den below. G. Fletcher.
Denarcotize
De*nar"co*tize (?), v. t. To deprive of narcotine; as, to denarcotize
opium. -- De*nar`co*ti*za"tion (#), n.
Denarius
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.
Denary
Den"a*ry (?), a. [L. denarius. See 2d Denier.] Containing ten;
tenfold; proceeding by tens; as, the denary, or decimal, scale.
Denary
Den"a*ry, n.
1. The number ten; a division into ten.
2. A coin; the Anglicized form of denarius. Udall.
Denationalization
De*na`tion*al*i*za"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. d\'82nationalisation.] The or
process of denationalizing.
Denationalize
De*na"tion*al*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Denationalized (?); p. pr.
& vb. n. Denationalizing.] [Cf. F. d\'82nationaliser.] 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.
Denaturalize
De*nat"u*ral*ize (?; 135), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Denaturalized (?); p.
pr. & vb. n. Denaturalizing.] [Cf. F. d\'82naturaliser.]
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.
Denay
De*nay" (?), v. t. [See Deny.] To deny. [Obs.]
That with great rage he stoutly doth denay. Spenser.
Denay
De*nay", n. Denial; refusal. [Obs.] Shak.
Dendrachate
Den"dra*chate (?), n. [L. dendrachates; Gr. dendrachate, dendragate.]
(Min.) Arborescent or dendritic agate.
Dendriform
Den"dri*form (?), a. [Gr. -form.] Resembling in structure a tree or
shrub.
Dendrite
Den"drite (?), n. [Gr. 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.
Dendritic, Dendritical
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.
Dendroc Den`dro*c (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. (Zo\'94l.) A division of the
Turbellaria in which the digestive cavity gives off lateral branches, which are
often divided into smaller branchlets.
Dendroid, Dendroidal
Den"droid (?), Den*droid"al (?), a. [Gr. dendro\'8bde.] Resembling a
shrub or tree in form; treelike.
Dendrolite
Den"dro*lite (?), n. [Gr. -lite: cf. F. dendrolithe.] (Paleon.) A
petrified or fossil shrub, plant, or part of a plant.
Dendrologist
Den*drol"o*gist (?), n. One versed in the natural history of trees.
Dendrologous
Den*drol"o*gous (?), a. Relating to dendrology.
Dendrology
Den*drol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. -logy: cf. F. dendrologie.] A discourse or
treatise on trees; the natural history of trees.
Dendrometer
Den*drom"e*ter (?), n. [Gr. -meter: cf. F. dendrom\'8atre.] An
instrument to measure the height and diameter of trees.
Denegate
Den"e*gate (?), v. t. [L. denegatus, p. p. of denegare. See Deny.] To
deny. [Obs.]
Denegation
Den`e*ga"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. d\'82n\'82gation.] Denial. [Obs.]
Dengue
Den"gue (?), 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.
NOTE: &hand; Th is di sease, wh en 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.
Deniable
De*ni"a*ble (?), a. [See Deny.] Capable of being, or liable to be,
denied.
Denial
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