List of Abbreviations Used in This Dictionary

Dais, dā′is, n. a raised floor at the upper end of the dining-hall where the high table stood: a raised floor with a seat and canopy: the canopy over an altar, &c. [O. Fr. dais—Low L. discus, a table—L. discus, a quoit—Gr. diskos, a disc.]

Daisy, dā′zi, n. a common wild-flower, growing in pastures and meadows—the name given also to other plants, as the Ox-eye daisy, which is a chrysanthemum.—adj. Dai′sied, covered with daisies.—n. Dai′sy-cut′ter, a fast-going horse that does not lift its feet high: a cricket-ball skimmed along the ground. [A. S. dæges eáge, day's eye, the sun.]

Dak, däk, Dawk, dawk, n. in India, the mail-post: travelling in palanquins carried by relays of bearers. [Hind. dāk, a relay of men.]

Dakoit. See Dacoit.

Dalai-lama. See Lama.

Dale, dāl, Dell, del, n. the low ground between hills: the valley through which a river flows.—n. Dales′man, specifically, an inhabitant of the dales of the Lake District. [Ice. dalr, Sw. dal; Ger. thal.]

Dali, dä′li, n. a timber-tree of Guiana, its wood used for staves, &c.

Dalila. See Delilah.

Dall, dal, n. a tile with incised surface: (pl.) rapids.

Dallop, dal′op, n. (prov.), a tuft of grass.

Dally, dal′i, v.i. to lose time by idleness or trifling: to play: to exchange caresses:—pa.p. dall′ied.—ns. Dall′iance, dallying, toying, or trifling: interchange of embraces: delay; Dall′ier, a trifler. [M. E. dalien, to play; prob. from A.S. dweligan, to err; cf. Ice. dvala, to delay, Dut. dwalen, to err; prob. conn. with dwell.]

Dalmahoy, dal′ma-hoi, n. a bushy bob-wig, worn in the 18th cent. by chemists, &c.

Dalmatian, dal-mā′shun, adj. belonging to Dalmatia, a strip of Austrian territory along the Adriatic.—Dalmatian dog, the spotted coach-dog, resembling the pointer in shape.

Dalmatic, dal-mat′ik, n. a loose-fitting, wide-sleeved ecclesiastical vestment, worn specially by deacons in the R.C. Church, also sometimes by bishops. [Low L. dalmatica, a robe worn by persons of rank in the early Christian centuries, on the pattern of a dress worn in Dalmatia.]

Dalt, dält, n. (Scot.) a foster-child. [Gael. dalta.]

Daltonism, dal′ton-izm, n. colour-blindness: inability to distinguish certain colours.—adj. Daltō′nian. [So called from the chemist John Dalton (1766-1844), who had this infirmity.]

Dam, dam, n. an embankment to restrain water: the water thus confined.—v.t. to keep back water by a bank:—pr.p. dam′ming; pa.p. dammed. [Teut.; Dut. dam, Ger. damm, &c.]

Dam, dam, n. a mother, applied to quadrupeds. [A form of dame.]

Damage, dam′āj, n. hurt, injury, loss: the value of what is lost: (coll.) cost: (pl.) the pecuniary reparation due for loss or injury sustained by one person through the fault or negligence of another.—v.t. to harm.—v.i. to take injury.—adj. Dam′ageable. [O. Fr. damage (Fr. dommage)—L. damnum, loss.]

Daman, dam′an, n. the Syrian hyrax, the cony of the Bible. [Syrian.]

Damar. Same as Dammar.

Damascene, da′mas-ēn, adj. of Damascus.—v.t. same as Damaskeen.

Damask, dam′ask, n. figured stuff, originally of silk, now of linen, cotton, or wool, the figure being woven, not printed.—v.t. to flower or variegate, as cloth.—adj. of a red colour, like that of a damask rose.—v.t. Damaskeen′, to decorate metal (esp. steel) by inlaying or encrusting on it patterns like damask in other metals: to ornament with flowery patterns, to damask.—ns. Damaskeen′ing, Damasceen′ing, the watered or striated structure seen in certain sword-blades and other weapons: the ornamental incrustation with gold and silver of steel and iron surfaces; Damaskin′, a Damascus blade: a damaskeened blade; Dam′ask-plum, the damson; Dam′ask-rose, a species of pink-rose; Dam′ask-steel, Damascus steel; Dam′assin, damask with flowered patterns in gold or silver thread.—Damascus blade, a Damascus sword, the surface marked by wavy and variegating lines. [From Damascus, in Syria, where damask was orig. made.]

Damboard, dam′bōrd, Dambrod, dam′brod, n. (Scot.) a draughtboard, the pieces being dams. [Fr. jeu de dames, copied by the Germans as damenspiel, by the Swedes as damspel, &c., perhaps from the movement of the pieces being like those of the queen (reine or dame) in chess.]

Dame, dām, n. the mistress of a house: a matron: a noble lady.—ns. Dame′-school, a school for children kept by a woman; Dame's′-vī′olet, a genus of cruciferous plants, formerly cultivated by ladies in pots for its sweet scent at night. [Fr. dame—L. domina, a mistress, fem. of dominus, a master.]

Dammar, dam′mar, n. a resin, used for making varnish, obtained from a genus of East Indian conifers.

Damn, dam, v.t. to censure or condemn: to sentence to eternal punishment: to doom.—n. an oath: a curse.—adj. Dam′nable, deserving or tending to damnation: hateful: pernicious.—n. Dam′nableness.—adv. Dam′nably.—n. Damnā′tion, condemnation: (theol.) the punishment of the impenitent in the future state: eternal punishment.—adj. Dam′natory, consigning to damnation.—p.adj. Damned, sentenced to everlasting punishment: hateful: a profane intensive, meaning merely thorough (often written d——d, and softened into darned, dashed, &c.).—adv. very, exceedingly.—adj. Damnif′ic.—n. Damnificā′tion.—v.t. Dam′nify, to cause loss to.—adj. Dam′ning, exposing to condemnation. [Fr. damner—L. damnāre, to condemn—damnum, loss.]

Damoclean, dam-ō-clē′an, adj. like Damocles, flatterer of Dionysius of Syracuse, taught the insecurity of happiness by being made to sit through the feast with a sword suspended by a single hair over his head.

Damosel, dam′o-sel, n. Same as Damsel.

Damp, damp, n. vapour, mist: moist air: lowness of spirits: (pl.) dangerous vapours in mines, &c.—v.t. to wet slightly: to chill: to discourage: to check: to make dull.—adj. moist, foggy: sometimes in the form Damp′y.—v.t. and v.i. Damp′en, to make or become damp or moist.—n. Damp′er, that which checks or moderates: a mechanical appliance for reducing currents, musical vibration, &c.: (Australia) a kind of unfermented bread.—adj. Damp′ish, somewhat damp.—n. Damp′ishness.—adv. Damp′ly.—n. Damp′ness.—Damping off (hort.), the death of plants from excess of moisture. [M. E. dampen; akin to Dut. damp, Ger. dampf, vapour.]

Damsel, dam′zel, n. a young unmarried woman: a girl. [O. Fr. damoisele (Fr. demoiselle), a page—Low L. domicellus, dim. of L. dominus, a lord.]

Damson, dam′zn, n. a rather small oval fruited variety of the common plum, esteemed for preserving. [Shortened from Damascene—Damascus.]

Dan, dan, n. a title of honour equivalent to Master or Sir. [O. Fr. dan. (Sp. don; Port. dom)—L. dominus, lord. See Dame.]

Dan, dan, n. (prov.) a box for carrying coal: a tub.

Danakil, dan′a-kil, n. the name given to the numerous nomad and fisher tribes on the coast of North-east Africa. [Ar.]

Dance, dans, v.i. to move with measured steps to music: to spring.—v.t. to make to dance or jump.—n. the movement of one or more persons with measured steps to music: the tune to which dancing is performed.—ns. Dance′-mū′sic, music specially arranged for accompanying dancing; Danc′er, one who practises dancing; Danc′ing, the act or art of moving in the dance; Danc′ing-girl, a professional dancer; Danc′ing-mas′ter, a teacher of dancing.—Dance a bear (obs.), to exhibit a performing bear; Dance attendance, to wait obsequiously; Dance of death, a series of allegorical paintings symbolising the universal power of death, represented as a skeleton; Dance upon nothing, to be hanged.—Lead a person a dance, to set him on an undertaking under false hopes: to delude.—Merry dancers, the aurora. [O. Fr. danser, from Teut.; Old High Ger. danson, to draw along.]

Dancette, dan-set′, n. (her.) a zigzag or indented line or figure: the chevron or zigzag moulding common in Romanesque architecture—also adj. [O. Fr. dent, dant, tooth, notch—L. dens.]

Dandelion, dan-de-lī′un, n. a common plant with a yellow flower, its leaves with jagged tooth-like edges. [Fr. dent de lion, tooth of the lion.]

Dander, dan′dėr, Daunder, dawn′dėr, v.i. (Scot.) to walk leisurely or idly. [Akin to dandle.]

Dander, n. a form of Dandruff (vulg.), anger: passion.—Raise a person's dander, to put him in a temper.

Dander, n. (Scot.) furnace cinders. [Ety. dub.]

Dandle, dan′dl, v.t. to play with: to fondle or toss in the arms, as a baby. [Prob. Teut.; cf. Ger. tändeln—tand, a toy.]

Dandriff, dand′rif, Dandruff, dand′ruf, n. a scaly scurf which forms on the surface of the skin under the hair and beard. [Perh. from W. ton, surface, skin, and drwg, bad (Skeat).]

Dandy, dan′di, n. a foppish, silly fellow: one who pays much attention to dress.—v.t. Dan′dify, to dress up as a dandy.—adv. Dan′dily, like a dandy.—ns. Dan′dy-brush, a hard brush of whalebone bristles; Dan′dy-cock, a bantam; Dan′dy-fē′ver (see Dengue); Dan′dy-horse, a velocipede.—adj. Dan′dyish.—n. Dan′dyism. [Perh. from Fr. dandin, a ninny; and prob. from root of dandle.]

Dandy, dan′di, n. a sloop-like vessel having a jigger-mast abaft.—n. Dandy-rigged cutter.

Dandyprat, dan′di-prat, n. a dwarf: an urchin. [Ety. dub.]

Dane, dān, n. a native of Denmark.—adj. Dan′ish, belonging to Denmark.—n. the language of the Danes—(Spens.) Danisk.

Danegeld, dān′geld, n. a tax imposed in the 10th cent., to buy off the Danes or to defend the country against them. [A.S. Dene, Danes, geid, a payment.]

Dang, dang, v.t. a minced form of damn.

Danger, dān′jėr, n. peril, hazard, or risk: insecurity: (obs.) power.—v.t. (Shak.) to endanger.—adj. Dan′gerous, full of danger: unsafe: insecure.—adv. Dan′gerously.—ns. Dan′gerousness; Dan′ger-sig′nal. [O. Fr. dangier, absolute power (of a feudal lord), hence power to hurt.—Low L. dominium, feudal authority—L. dominus, a lord. See Dungeon.]

Dangle, dang′gl, v.t. to hang loosely or with a swinging motion: to follow any one about.—v.t. to make to dangle.—n. Dan′gler, one who dangles about others, esp. about women. [Scand., Dan. dangle, to dangle; cf. Ice. dingla, to swing; Sw. danka, to saunter.]

Daniel, dan′yel, n. in phrase A second Daniel, a wise judge, with reference to the interposition of the wise young Daniel to save Susannah, in one of the Apocryphal additions to the book of Daniel.

Danite, dan′īt, n. one of a secret society amongst the early Mormons. [In allusion to Gen. xlix. 16, 17.]

Dank, dangk, adj. moist, wet.—n. (Milt.) water.—adj. Dank′ish, somewhat dank or damp. [Perh. conn. with dew. See also Daggle.]

Dannebrog, dān′e-brog, n. the second of the Danish orders instituted by King Waldemar in 1219. [Dan., 'the Danish banner.']

Danseuse, dong-süz′, n. a female dancer: a ballet dancer. [Fr.]

Dansker, dan′skėr, n. (Shak.) a Dane.

Dantean, dan′te-an, Dantesque, dan′tesk, adj. like the poet Dante: sublime: austere.—ns. Dan′tist, a Dante scholar; Dantoph′ilist, a lover of Dante.

Danton, dan′ton, v.t. (Scot.) to subdue, to daunt. [A form of daunt.]

Danubian, dan-ū′bi-an, adj. pertaining to or bordering on the Danube.—Danubian Principalities, a name applied to Moldavia and Wallachia.

Dap, dap, v.i. to drop the bait gently into the water.

Daphne, daf′nē, n. a genus of shrubs or small trees. [Gr.]

Dapper, dap′ėr, adj. quick: little and active: neat: spruce.—n. Dapp′erling, a dapper little fellow. [Dut. dapper, brave; cf. Ger. tapfer, quick, brave.]

Dapple, dap′l, adj. marked with spots.—v.t. to variegate with spots.—adjs. Dapp′erly (Scot.), variegated; Dapp′le-bay, of bay colour, variegated with dapples; Dapp′led; Dapp′le-gray. [See Dimple.]

Darbies, där′biz, n.pl. (slang) handcuffs. [App. from the personal name Darby.]

Darbyites, där′bi-īts, n.pl. a name given to the Plymouth Brethren. [From their principal founder, J. N. Darby (1800-82).]

Dare, dār, v.i. to be bold enough: to venture:—pa.t. durst.—v.t. to challenge: to defy.—n. (Shak.) boldness, a challenge.—n. Dare′-dev′il, a rash, venturesome fellow.—adj. unreasonably rash and reckless.—adjs. Dare′ful (Shak.), full of daring, adventurous; Dar′ing, bold: courageous: fearless.—n. boldness.—n. Dar′ing-do (see Derring-doe).—adj. Dar′ing-hard′y (Shak.), foolhardy.—adv. Dar′ingly.—I dare say, I suppose. [A.S. durran, pres. dearr; Goth. daursan; akin to Gr. tharsein.]

Dare, dār, v.t. to frighten, terrify. [M. E. daren, to be in fear; cf. Dan. dirre, to tremble.]

Dare, dār. Same as Dace.

Darg, darg, n. a day's work: (Scot.) a task. [Contr. from dawerk, day-wark, day-work.]

Daric, dar′ik, n. an old gold coin larger than an English sovereign, named after Darius I. of Persia.

Dark, därk, adj. without light: black, or somewhat black: gloomy: difficult to understand: unenlightened: secret: sinister.—n. absence of light: obscurity: a state of ignorance.—adv. (Shak.) in a state of dark.—v.t. Dark′en, to make dark: to render ignorant: to sully.—v.i. to grow dark or darker.—n. Dark′-house (Shak.), a mad-house.—adj. Dark′ish, somewhat dark: dusky.—v.i. Dark′le, to grow dark.—adv. and adj. Dark′ling, dark: in the dark.—advs. Dark′lings (poet.), in the dark; Dark′ly.—n. Dark′ness.—adj. Dark′some, dark: (poet.) gloomy.—ns. Dark′y, Dark′ey, a negro: (slang) a policeman's lantern.—Dark ages, the period of intellectual darkness in Europe, from the 5th to the 15th century.—Darken the door, to enter in at the door.—A dark horse, in racing, a horse whose capabilities are not known: a candidate about whom it is not known till the last moment that he is a candidate.—Keep dark, to be silent or secret; Keep it dark, to conceal.—The prince of darkness, Satan. [A.S. deorc.]

Darling, där′ling, n. a little dear: one dearly beloved: a favourite. [Dear, and dim. suff. -ling = l-ing.]

Darn, därn, v.t. to mend a hole by imitating the texture of the stuff.—n. the place darned.—n. Darn′ing-needle. [W. darn, a piece, a patch.]

Darn, därn, v.i. a minced form of damn.

Darnel, där′nel, n. an annual of the rye-grass genus, the tares of Scripture. [Prob. conn. with O. Fr. darne, stupid, from its supposed narcotic properties.]

Darraign, Darrain. See Derain.

Dart, därt, n. a pointed weapon for throwing with the hand: anything that pierces.—v.t. to hurl suddenly: to send or shoot forth.—v.i. to start or shoot forth rapidly—freq. Dar′tle.—adv. Dart′ingly. [O. Fr. dart; from a Low Ger. root.]

Dart. See Dace.

Darter, därt′ėr, n. a genus of birds nearly allied to cormorants, heron-like in gait and gesture.

Dartre, där′tr, n. herpes.—adj. Dar′trous. [Fr.]

Darwinism, där′win-ism, n. the theory of the origin of species propounded by C. Darwin (1809-82).—adjs. Darwin′ian, Darwin′ical.

Dash, dash, v.t. to throw violently: to break by throwing together: to throw water suddenly: to bespatter: to destroy or frustrate: to mix or adulterate.—v.i. to strike against: to break against, as water: to rush with violence.—n. a violent striking: a rushing or violent onset: a blow: a mark (—) at a break in a sentence: ostentation: a slight admixture.—ns. Dash′-board, a board or leathern frame in front of a carriage, to keep off splashes of mud; Dash′er, one who dashes: (coll.) one who makes a great show.—adj. Dash′ing, rushing: reckless: hasty and rash: gallant.—adv. Dash′ingly.—ns. Dash′-pot, a device for preventing too sudden motion in some part of an apparatus; Dash′-wheel, a wheel-shaped box with compartments, in which cotton cloth is washed by the revolution of the wheel in liquid.—Dash off, to sketch hastily; Dash out, to knock out by striking against something. [M. E. daschen, dassen, to rush, or strike with violence—Scand.; cf. Dan. daske, to slap].

Dastard, das′tard, n. a cowardly fellow.—adj. shrinking from danger: cowardly.—adj. and adv. Das′tardly.—ns. Das′tardness, Das′tardliness, Das′tardy. [From a Scand. stem dast = Eng. dazed, and Fr. suffix -ard. See Daze.]

Dasymeter, da-sim′e-tėr, n. an instrument for testing the density of gases. [Gr. dasys, thick, metron, measure.]

Dasypus, das′i-pus, n. a genus of armadillos.

Dasyure, das′i-yōōr, n. a small carnivorous quadruped of Australia and Tasmania. [Formed from Gr. dasys, hairy, oura, tail.]

Data, dā′ta, n.pl. facts given or admitted from which other facts may be deduced:—sing. Dā′tum. [L. datum, data, given—dăre, to give.]

Datary, dā′ta-ri, n. an officer in the papal chancery, who dates and despatches documents, grants, &c.—n. Datā′ria, the office of such. [Low L. datarius—L. datum—dăre, to give.]

Date, dāt, n. the time of any event: a stipulated time: age, period of time.—v.t. to affix the date to.—v.t. to reckon: to begin.—adj. Date′less, without date: without fixed limit: undatable.—Out of date, antiquated; Up to date, adapted or corrected to the present time: modern. [O. Fr. date—L. datum, as in datum Romæ = given or written at Rome.]

Date, dāt, n. the fruit of the date-palm.—ns. Date′-palm, Date′-tree, the tree on which it grows, a native of the northern half of Africa and the south-west of Asia; Date′-plum; Date′-sug′ar. [Fr. datte—L. dactylus—Gr. daktylos, a finger.]

Dative, dāt′iv, adj. that is given or appointed.—n. the dative case, the oblique case of nouns, &c.—generally indicated in English by to or for. [L. dativus.]

Datolite, dat′ō-līt, n. a vitreous calcium borosilicate.

Datum, dā′tum (see Data).—n. Dā′tum-line, the horizontal base-line from which heights and depths are measured.

Datura, dā-tū′ra, n. a genus of plants, of which one, D. stramonium, or thorn-apple, has strongly narcotic properties.—n. Dat′urine, a poisonous alkaloid in the foregoing. [Hind. dhatūrā.]

Daub, dawb, v.t. to smear: to paint coarsely.—n. a coarse painting.—ns. Daub′er, one who daubs: a coarse painter; Daub′ery, Daub′ry (Shak.), a daubing, or crudely artful device; Daub′ing.—adj. Daub′y, sticky. [O. Fr. dauber, to plaster—L. dealbāre, to whitewash—de, down, and albus, white.]

Daud, daud, v.t. (Scot.) to knock, thump.—n. a lump: large piece.—Also Dawd.

Daughter, daw′tėr, n. a female child: a female descendant: woman (generally).—ns. Daugh′ter-in-law, a son's wife; Daugh′terliness; Daugh′terling, a little daughter.—adj. Daugh′terly, like or becoming a daughter. [A.S. dohtor; Scot. dochter, Ger. tochter, Gr. thygatēr.]

Daunder, Dauner. Same as Dander.

Daunt, dänt, or dawnt, v.t. to frighten: to discourage: to subdue.—adj. Daunt′less, not to be daunted.—adv. Daunt′lessly.—n. Daunt′lessness.—v.t. Daun′ton, to subdue: to dare. [O. Fr. danter (Fr. dompter)—L. domitāre—domāre, to tame.]

Dauphin, daw′fin, n. the name given to the eldest son of the king of France, from 1349 down to 1830:—fem. Dau′phiness. [O. Fr. daulphin (Fr. dauphin)—L. delphinus, a dolphin. From the dolphins in the crest of Viennois.]

Daur, dawr, a Scotch form of dare.

Dautie. See Dawtie.

Dauw, daw, n. the South African name of Burchell's zebra.

Davenport, dā′ven-port, n. a small ornamental writing-desk. [From the maker.]

Davenport-trick, dā′ven-port-trik, n. the artifice by which a man can free himself from ropes wound round him and tied.

Davit, dāv′it, n. one of a pair of pieces of timber or iron, projecting over a ship's side or stern, having tackle to raise a boat by. [Cf. Fr. davier, a forceps.]

Davy, dā′vi, Davy-lamp, dā′vi-lamp, n. the safety-lamp for coal-miners of Sir Humphry Davy (1778-1829).

Davy Jones, dā′vi jōnz, n. a sailor's familiar name for the (malignant) spirit of the sea, the devil; hence Davy Jones's locker, of the sea, as the grave of men drowned at sea. [Said by some to be a compound of Duffy, a West Indian spirit name, and Jonah.]

Daw, daw, v.i. an old English form of dawn.

Daw, daw, n. a bird of the crow kind: a jackdaw.—adj. Daw′ish. [From its cry.]

Dawdle, daw′dl, v.i. to waste time by trifling: to act or move slowly.—n. Daw′dler. [Allied to dandle and dandy.]

Dawk. See Dak.

Dawn, dawn, v.i. to become day: to begin to grow light: to begin to appear.—n. daybreak: beginning.—Also Dawn′ing. [A.S. dagian, to dawn, dæg, day.]

Dawnering = dandering. [See Dander (1).]

Dawtie, daw′ti, n. (Scot.) a darling: a beloved child—also Daut′ie.—v.t. Daut, to fondle.

Day, dā, n. the time of light, from sunrise to sunset: the time from morning till night: twenty-four hours, the time the earth takes to make a revolution on her axis—this being the solar or natural day as distinguished from the sidereal day, between two transits of the same star: a man's period of existence or influence: a time or period.—ns. Day′-bed (Shak.), a couch or sofa; Day′-blind′ness, a defect of vision, in which objects are best seen by a dim light; Day′-book, a book in which merchants, &c., enter the transactions of every day; Day′break; Day′-coal, the upper stratum of coal; Day′-dream, a dreaming or musing while awake; Day′-fly, a fly which lives in its perfect form only for a day, one of the ephemera; Day′-lā′bour; Day′-lā′bourer; Day′light; Day′-lil′y, a flower whose blossoms last only for a day, the hemerocallis.—adj. Day′long, during the whole day.—ns. Day′-peep (Milt.), the dawn; Day′-schol′ar, a boy who attends a boarding-school during the school-hours, but boards at home; Day′-school, a school held during the day, as opposed both to a night-school and to a boarding-school; Day′-sight = night-blindness; Days′man, one who appoints a day to hear a cause: an umpire; Day′spring, dawn; Day′star, the morning star; Day′time.—adj. Day′-wea′ried (Shak.), wearied with the work of the day.—n. Day′-work.—Day by day, daily; Day of doom, the judgment day; Days of grace, three days allowed for payment of bills, &c., beyond the day named.—Name the day, to fix the day of marriage.—One of these days, an indefinite reference to the near future.—The day, the time spoken of: (Scot.) to-day; The other day, not long ago; The time of day, a greeting, as, 'to give a person the time of day,' to greet him. [A.S. dæg; Ger. tag; not conn. with L. dies.]

Dayak. See Dyak.

Day-woman, dā′-woom′an, n. (Shak.) a dairymaid.

Daze, dāz, v.t. to stun, to stupefy. [Ice. dasa, to be breathless; cf. A.S. dwæs, foolish.]

Dazzle, daz′l, v.t. to daze or overpower with any strong light: to confound by brilliancy, beauty, or cleverness.—ns. Dazz′lement, the act of dazzling: that which dazzles; Dazz′ler; Dazz′ling.—adv. Dazz′lingly. [Freq. of daze.]

Deacon, dē′kn, n. in Episcopal churches, a member of the order of clergy under priests: in some Presbyterian churches, an officer, distinct from the elders, who attends to the secular affairs of the church: in Congregational and some other churches, an officer who advises the pastor, distributes the elements at the Communion, and dispenses charity: in Scotland, the master of an incorporated company:—fem. Dea′coness, a female servant of the Christian society in the time of the apostles: in a convent, a nun who has the care of the altar: one of an order of women in some Protestant churches who nurse the sick and tend the poor.—ns. Dea′conhood, Dea′conry, Dea′conship. [L. diaconus—Gr. diakonos, a servant.]

Dead, ded, adj. without life: death-like: at rest, of a ball: cold and cheerless: without vegetation: utter: unerring.—v.t. to deaden, dull.—adv. in a dead manner.—n. the time of greatest stillness, as 'the dead of night.'—adjs. Dead′-alive′, Dead′-and-alive′, dull, uneventful; Dead′-beat, quite overcome; Dead′-born, still-born.—n.pl. Dead′-clothes, clothes in which to bury the dead.—n. Dead′-col′ouring, the first broad outlines of a picture.—adjs. Dead′-do′ing (Spens.), putting to death, destructive; Dead′-drunk, completely drunk.—v.t. Dead′en, to make dead: to deprive partly of vigour or sensation: to blunt: to lessen.—ns. Dead′-eye, (naut.), a round, flattish wooden block with a rope or iron band passing round it, and pierced with three holes for a lanyard; Dead′-fall, a trap operated by a weight that, when its support is removed, falls upon and kills or holds an animal; Dead′-freight, money paid for the empty space in a ship by a person who engages to freight her, but fails to make out a full cargo; Dead′-head (U.S.), one who is allowed, without payment, to ride in a public carriage, sit in a theatre, or hold a privilege having a money value; Dead′-heat, a heat or race in which no one gains the advantage; Dead′-house, the house or room where (in hospitals, police-offices, &c.) dead bodies are kept till buried: a mortuary; Dead′-lett′er, a letter undelivered and unclaimed at the post-office: a law or ordinance which has been made but never enforced; Dead′-lev′el, a stretch of land without any rising ground: sameness; Dead′-lift, a lift made without help, leverage, &c.; hence an effort under discouraging conditions.—n.pl. Dead′-lights, storm-shutters for a cabin window.—ns. Dead′liness; Dead′-lock, the case when matters have become so complicated that all is at a complete standstill.—adj. Dead′ly, causing death: fatal: implacable.—adv. in a manner resembling death.—ns. Dead′ly-night′shade, the plant Belladonna (q.v.); Dead′-march, a piece of solemn music played at funeral processions, esp. of soldiers; Dead′-meat, the flesh of animals ready for the market.—n.pl. Dead′-men, empty bottles after a carouse.—ns. Dead′ness; Dead′-nett′le, a genus of plants of the natural order Labiatæ, so called because they resemble nettles but do not sting; Dead′-pay, continued pay dishonestly drawn for men actually dead; Dead′-reck′oning, an estimation of a ship's place simply by the log-book; Dead′-rope, a rope not running in any block; Dead′-set, a determined and prolonged attempt; Dead′-shot, an unerring marksman.—adj. Dead′-stroke, without recoil.—ns. Dead′-wall, a wall unbroken by windows or other openings; Dead′-wa′ter, the eddy water closing in behind a ship's stern as she sails; Dead′-weight, a heavy or oppressive burden; Dead′-wind, a wind coming directly ahead or opposed to a ship's course; Dead′-wood, pieces of timber laid on the upper side of the keel at either end, useless material; Dead′-work, work, itself unprofitable, which is necessary as a preliminary, as the opening of a mine.—Dead as a door-nail, absolutely dead; Dead language, one no longer spoken; Dead-men's bells, the foxglove; Dead-men's fingers, a very common cœlenterate belonging to the Actinozoa—also Cow-paps and Mermaid's glove; Dead-men's shoes, a situation formerly held by some one now dead; Dead's part (Scots law), the part of a man's movable property which he may bequeath by will, and which is not due to wife and children.—Be dead set against, to be utterly opposed to.—Put the dead wood on (U.S. slang), to gain a great advantage over. [A.S. deád; Goth. dauths, Ger. todt, from root of die.]

Deaf, def, adj. dull of hearing: unable to hear at all: not willing to hear: inattentive.—v.t. Deaf′en, to make deaf, partly or altogether: to stun: to render impervious to sound.—n. Deaf′ening, stuffing put into floors, partition-walls, &c. to prevent sounds from passing through.—adv. Deaf′ly.—ns. Deaf′-mute, one who is both deaf and dumb; Deaf′ness. [A.S. deáf; Dut. doof, Ger. taub.]

Deal, dēl, n. a portion; an indefinite quantity: a large quantity; the act of dividing cards: (U.S.) a bargain: a fir or pine board: timber.—v.t. to divide, to distribute: to throw about: to deliver.—v.i. to transact business: to act: to distribute cards.—pa.t. and pa.p. dealt (delt).—ns. Deal′er, one who deals: a trader; Deal′-fish, a genus of ribbon-fishes; Deal′ing, manner of acting towards others: intercourse of trade. [A.S. dǽlan—dǽl, a part; Ger. theilen—theil, a part or division. A doublet of dole. By some, however, deal, a plank, is taken as a doublet of thill, from A.S. thel, a plank.]

Deambulatory, dē-am′bū-la-to-ri, n. a passage or aisle round the choir and apse of a church. [L. deambulāre, -ātum, to walk about.]

Dean, dēn, n. a small valley.—Also Dene. [A.S. denu, a valley. Cf. Den.]

Dean, dēn, n. a dignitary in cathedral and collegiate churches who presides over the other clergy: the president of faculty in a college; the chief chaplain of the Chapel Royal: the chief judge of the Court of Arches: the president of a trade-guild.—ns. Dean′ery, the office of a dean: a dean's house; Dean′ship, the office or dignity of a dean.—Dean of Arches, dean of the Court of Arches (see Arch); Dean of Faculty, president of the Faculty of Advocates in Scotland: Dean of Guild, a municipal functionary in Scotland, who has authority over building and altering of houses.—Rural dean, one who, under the bishop, has the special care and inspection of the clergy in certain parishes. [O. Fr. deien (Fr. doyen)—Low L. decanus, a chief of ten—L. decem, ten.]

Dear, dēr, adj. high in price: costly: scarce: highly valued: beloved: (Shak.), earnest, inmost.—n. one who is dear or beloved.—adv. at a high price.—adj. Dear′-bought.—n. Dear′ling (Spens.), a darling.—adj. Dear′-loved.—adv. Dear′ly.—ns. Dear′ness; Dear′y, one who is dear. [A.S. deóre, dýre; cog. with Ger. theuer.]

Dear, dēr, interj. indicating surprise, pity, or other emotion, as in 'Oh dear!' 'Dear me!' 'Dear, dear!'—prob. elliptical in 'Dear help us!' &c. [Sometimes doubtfully referred to Dio mio (It. 'My God'), or to some compound of Fr. Dieu.]

Dearn, Dearnful, Dernly. See Dern, &c.

Dearth, dėrth, n. dearness, high price: scarcity: want: famine; barrenness.—adj. Dearth′ful (Scot.), expensive.

Deasil, dē′shēl, n. (Scot.) motion according to the apparent course of the sun—opp. to Withershins.—Also Dea′soil, Dei′sheal, Dea′siul. [Gael.]

Dearticulate, dē-ar-tik′ū-lāt, v.t. to disjoint.

Deaspirate, dē-as′pir-āt, v.t. to remove the aspirate.

Death, deth, n. state of being dead: extinction or cessation of life: manner of dying: mortality: a deadly plague: cause of death: spiritual lifelessness: the killing of the animal in hunting.—ns. Death′-add′er, a poisonous Australian snake; Death′-ag′ony, the struggle often preceding death; Death′-bed, the bed on which one dies, the last illness; Death′-bell, the passing bell; Death′-blow, a blow that causes death; Death′-damp, a cold, clammy sweat preceding death.—n.pl. Death′-dū′ties, duties paid to government on the inheritance of property, real or personal, after the death of the former owner.—n. Death′-fire, a kind of light supposed to presage death.—adjs. Death′ful, Death′ly, deadly, destructive; Death′less, never dying: everlasting.—n. Death′lessness.—adj. Death′-like (Shak.), like a dead person, deadly.—n. Death′liness.—adj. Death′-marked, marked for or by death, destined to die.—n. Death′-mask, a plaster-cast taken from the face after death.—adj. Death′-prac′tised (Shak.), threatened with death by malicious arts.—ns. Death′-rate, the proportion of deaths to the population; Death′-ratt′le, a rattling in the throat which sometimes accompanies the last uneasy breathings of a dying person; Death's′-door, the point of death; Death's′-head, the skull of a human skeleton, or a figure of it; Death's′-man (Shak.), the public executioner; Death′-stroke, a death-blow; Death′-throe, the dying agony; Death′-tō′ken (Shak.), a sign or token of impending death, a plague-spot; Death′-trap, an unsafe building, vessel, or place that shuts up its occupants to almost certain death; Death′-warr′ant, an order from the authorities for the execution of a criminal; Death′-watch, a watch by a dying person: a popular name for several insects which produce a ticking noise, specially audible in the stillness of a death-chamber; Death′-wound, a wound which caused death.—Death's′-head moth, a species of hawk-moth, having pale markings on the back of the thorax somewhat like a skull.—Be death on, to be fond of, to be good at; Be in at the death, in hunting, to be up on the animal before the dogs have killed it.—Do, or Put, to death, to kill: to cause to be killed.—Gates, or Jaws, of death, death's door, the point of death.—To death, expressive of intensity, very much. [A.S. deáth; Ger. tod. See Dead and Die.]

Deave, dēv, v.t. (Scot.) to render deaf. [See Deaf.]

Deaw, dū, v.t. (Spens.) to bedew.

Debacle, de-bak′l, n. a breaking up of ice on a river: (geol.) a sudden flood of water leaving its path strewed with debris. [Fr. débâcle; de, and bâcler, to bar—L. baculus, a stick.]

Debar, de-bär′, v.t. to bar out from: to exclude: to hinder:—pr.p. debar′ring; pa.p. debarred′.—n. Debar′ment. [L. de, from, and bar.]

Debark, de-bärk′, v.t. or v.i. to land from a ship or boat: to disembark.—ns. Debarkā′tion, Debarcā′tion. [Fr. débarquer—des = L. dis, away, and barque, a ship.]

Debarrass, de-bär′as, v.t. to disembarrass, disentangle, free. [Fr. débarrasser; de, and barre, a bar.]

Debase, de-bās′, v.t. to lower: to make mean or of less value: to adulterate.—adj. Debased′, degraded: (her.) reversed.—n. Debase′ment, degradation.—adj. Debas′ing, tending to lower or degrade.—adv. Debas′ingly. [L. de, down, and base, low.]

Debate, de-bāt′, n. a contention in words or argument: (obs.) strife.—v.t. to contend for in argument: (arch.) to fight for.—v.i. to deliberate: to join in debate.—adjs. Debat′able, liable to be disputed; Debate′ful (Spens.), quarrelsome.—ns. Debate′ment (Spens., Shak.), controversy; Debat′er.—adv. Debat′ingly.—Debatable land, a tract of border land between Esk and Sark claimed both by England and Scotland. [O. Fr. debatre—L. de, and batuĕre, to beat.]

Debauch, de-bawch′, v.t. to lead away from duty or allegiance: to corrupt with lewdness: to pervert.—v.i. to indulge in revelry.—n. a fit of intemperance or debauchery.—p.adj. Debauched′, corrupt: profligate.—adv. Debauch′edly.—ns. Debauch′edness; Deb′auchee, a libertine; Debauch′er; Debauch′ery, excessive intemperance: habitual lewdness; Debauch′ment. [O. Fr. desbaucher (Fr. débaucher), to corrupt—des = L. dis, and baucher, to hew—bauche or bauc, a beam, a course of stones.]

Debel, de-bel′, v.t. (Milt.) to conquer in war. [Fr. débeller—L. debellāre—de, from, and bellāre, to carry on war, from bellum, war.]

Debenture, de-bent′ūr, n. a written acknowledgment of a debt: a deed of mortgage given by a railway or other company for borrowed money: a certificate entitling an exporter of imported goods to a repayment of the duty paid on their importation.—p.adj. Debent′ured, entitled to drawback or debenture, as goods. [L. debentur, there are due, 3d pers. pl. pass. of debēre, to owe—the first word of the receipt.]

Debilitate, de-bil′i-tāt, v.t. to make weak: to impair the strength of.—adj. Deb′ile (arch.), weak, feeble.—ns. Debilitā′tion; Debil′ity, weakness and languor: a weak action of the animal functions. [L. debilitāre, ātum—debilis, weak—de, not, habilis, able. See Ability.]

Debit, deb′it, n. a debt or something due: an entry on the debtor side of an account.—v.t. to charge with debt: to enter on the debtor side of an account.—n. Deb′itor (Shak.), a debtor. [L. debitum, what is due, from debēre, to owe.]

Debituminise, dē-bi-tū′mi-nīz, v.t. to deprive of bitumen.

Déblai, dā-blā′, n. the earth excavated from a ditch to form a parapet. [Fr.]

Debonair, deb-o-nār′, adj. of good appearance and manners: elegant: courteous: gay.—adv. Debonair′ly.—n. Debonair′ness. [Fr. de, of, bon, good, air, appearance, manner.]

Debosh, de-bosh′, an old form of debauch.

Debouch, de-bōōsh′, v.i. to march out from a narrow pass or confined place.—ns. Debouch′ment, the act of debouching; Debouchure′, the mouth of a river or strait. [Fr. déboucher—de, from, bouche, the mouth—L. bucca, the cheek.]

Débouché, de-boo-shā′, n. an opening, a passage: a market. [Fr.]

Debris, de-brē′, n.sing. and pl. rubbish: ruins: a mass of rocky fragments. [Fr., from briser, akin to bruise.]

Debruised, de-brōōzd′, p.adj. (her.) surmounted or partly covered by one of the ordinaries. [O. Fr. debrusier—de, apart, brusier, to break.]

Debt, det, n. what one owes to another: what one becomes liable to do or suffer: a state of obligation or indebtedness: a duty: (B.) a sin.—p.adj. Debt′ed (Shak.), indebted, obliged to.—ns. Debt′ee, a creditor; Debt′or, one who owes a debt: the side of an account on which debts are charged.—Debt of honour, a debt not recognised by law, but binding in honour—esp. gambling and betting debts; Debt of nature, death.—Active debt, a debt due to one, as opposed to Passive debt, a debt one owes; Floating debt, miscellaneous public debt, like exchequer and treasury bills, as opposed to Funded debt, that which has been converted into perpetual annuities like consols in Britain.—In one's debt, under a pecuniary obligation to one. [O. Fr. dette—L. debitum, debēre, to owe.]

Début, de-bü′ (u sounded as in Scot. gude), n. a beginning or first attempt: a first appearance before the public, as of an actor, &c.—n. Débutant′, one who makes his first appearance before the public:—fem. Débutante′. [Fr. début, a first stroke—débuter—de, from, but, aim, mark.]

Decachord, dek′a-kord, n. an ancient musical instrument with ten strings: anything having ten parts. [Gr. dekachordos—deka, ten, and chordē, a string.]

Decacuminated, dē-ka-kū′mi-nā-ted, adj. having the top cut off.

Decade, dek′ād, Decad, dek′ad, n. a group of ten, esp. a series of ten years.—adj. Dec′adal. [Fr. décade—Gr. dekas—deka, ten.]

Decadence, dek′a-dens, or de-kā′-, Dec′adency (or de-kā′-), n. state of decay: a term for a school in modern French literature not distinguished for vigour or originality.—adj. Dec′adent (or de-kā′-), decaying.—n. something decaying or decayed. [Fr.,—Low L. decadentia, from L. de, down—cadĕre, to fall.]

Decagon, dek′a-gon, n. a plane figure of ten angles and sides.—adj. Decag′onal. [Gr. deka, and gōnia, an angle.]

Decagramme, Decagram, dek′a-gram, n. a weight of ten grammes, equal to 0.353 oz. [Fr.,—Gr. deka, ten, and gramma, a weight; L. granum, a grain.]

Decagynia, dek-a-jin′i-a, n. a class of plants in the Linnæan system having ten pistils.—adjs. Decagyn′ian, Decag′ynous. [Gr. deka, ten, gynē, a woman.]

Decahedron, dek-a-hē′dron, n. a solid figure having ten faces.—adj. Decahē′dral. [Gr. deka, and hedra, a seat.]

Decalcify, de-kal′si-fī, v.i. to deprive of lime: to take the calcareous matter out of bones, teeth, &c.—n. Decalcificā′tion. [L. de, away from, calx, calcis, lime, facĕre, to make.]

Decalcomania, dē-kal-kō-mā′ni-a, n. the process of transferring pictures to marble, glass, wood, &c. [Fr.]

Decalitre, dek′a-lēt-ėr, n. a French measure, ten litres: equal to 2½ imperial gallons. [Fr.,—Gr. deka, ten, and litra, a pound.]

Decalogue, dek′a-log, n. the ten commandments.—n. Decal′ogist. [Gr. deka, ten, logos, a discourse.]

Decameron, de-kam′e-ron, n. Boccaccio's hundred tales, supposed to be told in ten days.—adj. Decameron′ic. [From Gr. deka, ten, hēmera, a day.]

Decametre, dek′a-mēt-ėr, n. a French measure of ten metres, or 32.8 feet. [Fr. décamètre—Gr. deka, ten, metron, a measure. See Metre.]