List of Abbreviations Used in This Dictionary

Diallage, dī-al′a-jē, n. (rhet.) a figure of speech by which arguments, after having been considered from various points of view, are all brought to bear upon one point. [Gr.]

Diallage, dī′al-āj, n. a mineral nearly allied to augite, brown, gray, or green in colour, laminated in structure, with a metallic lustre when broken across.—adjs. Diallag′ic, Dial′lagoid. [Gr. diallagē, change—dia, between, allassein, to change—allos, other.]

Dialogite, dī-al′ō-jīt, n. a rose-red carbonate of manganese—also Rhodochrosite.

Dialogue, dī′a-log, n. conversation between two or more persons, esp. of a formal or imaginary nature.—v.i. and v.t. (Shak.) to put into dialogue form.—adjs. Dialog′ic, Dialogist′ic, -al (-loj-), in the form of a dialogue.—v.i. Dial′ogise (′oj-), to discourse in dialogue.—n. Dial′ogist (′oj-), a speaker in, or writer of, a dialogue. [Fr.,—L. dialogus—Gr. dialogos, a conversation—dialegesthai, to discourse.]

Dialuric, dī-a-lū′rik, adj. pertaining to alloxan and uric acid.—n. Dialū′rate, a salt of dialuric acid.

Dialysis, dī-al′i-sis, n. (chem.) the separation of substances by diffusion through a membranous septum or partition: diæresis: dissolution:—pl. Dial′yses.—adj. Dialys′able.—v.t. Dī′alyse, to separate by dialysis.—n. Dī′alyser.—adj. Dialyt′ic. [Gr. dialysis—dia, asunder, lyein, to loose.]

Diamagnetic, dī-a-mag-net′ik, adj. cross-magnetic—applied to any substance, such as a rod of bismuth or glass, which, when suspended between the poles of a magnet, arranges itself across the line joining the poles (a rod of iron or of sealing-wax so held arranges itself parallel to the line joining the poles, and is said to be Paramagnetic).—adv. Diamagnet′ically.—n. Diamag′netism, the form of magnetic action possessed by diamagnetic bodies: the branch of magnetism which deals with diamagnetic phenomena. [Gr. dia, through, magnētēs, magnēs, a magnet.]

Diamantiferous, dī-a-man-tif′er-us, adj. yielding diamonds. [Fr. diamantifère.]

Diamesogamous, dī-a-me-sog′a-mus, adj. (bot.) fertilised by intermediary means.

Diameter, dī-am′e-tėr, n. the measure through or across: a straight line passing through the centre of a circle or other figure, terminated at both ends by the circumference.—adjs. Diam′etral, Diamet′ric, -al, in the direction of a diameter: pertaining to the diameter: like the opposite ends of the diameter (as in diametrical opposition).—advs. Diam′etrally, in a diametral manner; Diamet′rically, exactly.—Tactical diameter, the space covered by a steamer in turning 180° out of her original course. [Through Fr. and L. from Gr. diametros—dia, through, metrein, to measure.]

Diamond, dī′a-mond, n. the most valuable of all gems, and the hardest of all substances: a four-sided figure with two obtuse and two acute angles: one of the four suits of cards: one of the smallest kinds of English printing type.—adj. resembling diamonds: made of diamonds: marked with diamonds: lozenge-shaped, rhombic.—ns. Dī′amond-bee′tle, a beautiful sparkling South American weevil; Dī′amond-cut′ting, diamond-setting; Dī′amond-drill, an annular borer whose bit is set with borts; Dī′amond-dust, Dī′amond-pow′der, the powder made by the friction of diamonds on one another in the course of polishing.—adjs. Dī′amonded, furnished with diamonds; Diamondif′erous, yielding diamonds.—n. Dī′amond-wheel, a wheel covered with diamond-dust and oil for polishing diamonds and other precious stones.—Diamond cut diamond, the case of an encounter between two very sharp persons.—Rough diamond, an uncut diamond: a person of great worth, though of rude exterior and unpolished manners. [M. E. adamaunt—O. Fr. adamant—L. adamanta, accus. of adamas—Gr. adamas, adamantos, adamant—a, not, damaein, to tame.]

Diana, di-ā′na, or dī-an′a, n. an ancient Italian goddess of light, the moon-goddess, representative of chastity and hunting, afterwards identified with the Greek Artemis.—Diana of the Ephesians, a goddess of fertility worshipped at Ephesus.

Diandria, dī-an′dri-a, n. a class of plants in the Linnæan system having two stamens.—n. Dian′der, a plant with two stamens.—adjs. Dian′drian, Dian′drous. [Gr. dis, twice, double, anēr, andros, a man.]

Dianodal, dī-a-nō′dal, adj. (math.) passing through a node.

Dianoetic, dī-a-nō-et′ik, adj. capable of thought, thinking: belonging to the ratiocinative faculties of the mind. [Gr. dianoētikos—dia, through, noein, to think.]

Dianthus, dī-an′thus, n. the genus of herbaceous flowers to which carnations and pinks belong. [Gr. dianthēs—dis, di-, two, anthos, a flower.]

Diapason, dī-a-pā′zon, n. a whole octave: a harmony: a full volume of various sounds in concord: correct pitch: the two foundation-stops of an organ (open and stopped diapason)—(Spens.) Dī′apase. [Gr. dia, through, and pasōn, gen. pl. of pas, all—part of the Gr. phrase, dia pasōn chordōn symphōnia, concord through all the notes.]

Diapedesis, dī-a-pe-dē′sis, n. (physiol.) the migration of white blood-corpuscles through the walls of the blood-vessels without apparent rupture.—adj. Diapedet′ic. [Gr., dia, through, pēdan, to leap.]

Diapente, dī-a-pen′tē, n. (mus.) the interval of a fifth: a composition in pharmacy of five ingredients. [Gr.]

Diaper, dī′a-pėr, n. unbleached linen cloth woven in slightly defined figures, used for towels, &c.: a pattern for ornamentation, woven, not coloured, in textiles: a floral or geometric pattern in low relief in architecture, often repeated over a considerable surface.—v.t. to variegate with figures, as diaper.—n. Dī′apering. [O. Fr. diaspre, diapre—Low L. diasprus—Byzantine Gr. diaspros, dia, through, aspros, white.]

Diaphanous, dī-af′a-nus, adj. shining or appearing through, transparent, clear—also Diaphan′ic.—ns. Dī′aphane, a diaphanous figured silk fabric; Diaphanom′eter, an instrument for testing the transparency of the air; Diaphan′oscope, a darkened box for viewing transparent positive photographs; Diaphan′otype, a picture produced by colouring on the back a positive lightly printed on translucent paper, and placing this exactly over a strong duplicate print.—adv. Diaph′anously.—ns. Diaph′anousness, Diaphanē′ity. [Gr. diaphanes—dia, through, and phainein, to show, shine.]

Diaphonics, dī-a-fon′iks, n. Same as Diacoustics. [Gr. dia, through, phonē, sound.]

Diaphoretic, dī-a-fo-ret′ik, adj. promoting perspiration.—n. a sudorific or medicine that increases perspiration.—n. Diaphorē′sis, perspiration artificially induced. [Gr.,—diaphorein, to carry off—dia, through, pherein, to bear.]

Diaphragm, dī′a-fram, n. a thin partition or dividing membrane: the midriff, a structure separating the chest from the abdomen: a metal plate with a central hole, for cutting off side-rays in a camera, &c.—adjs. Diaphragmat′ic, Diaphrag′mal.—n. Diaphragmatī′tis, inflammation of the diaphragm. [Gr. diaphragma—dia, across, phragnynai, to fence.]

Diaphysis, dī-af′i-sis, n. (bot.) an abnormal elongation of the axis of a flower or of an inflorescence: (anat.) the continuity of a bone between its two ends. [Gr. dia, through, phyesthai, to grow.]

Diaplasis, dī-ap′la-sis, n. (surg.) reduction, of a dislocation, &c.—adj. Diaplas′tic. [Gr.]

Diapnoic, dī-ap-nō′ik, adj. producing slight perspiration—also Diapnot′ic—n. a mild diaphoretic.

Diapositive, dī-a-poz′i-tiv, n. a transparent photographic positive, such as a lantern slide.

Diapyetic, dī-a-pī-et′ik, adj. producing suppuration.—n. a medicine with this property.—n. Diapyē′sis, suppuration. [Gr.]

Diarchy, dī′ar-ki, n. a form of government in which two persons are jointly vested with supreme power—less correctly Dī′narchy. [Formed from Gr. di-, two, archein, to rule.]

Diarrhœa, Diarrhea, dī-a-rē′a, n. a persistent purging or looseness of the bowels.—adjs. Diarrhœ′al, Diarrhœ′ic, Diarrhœt′ic (also -rhē′al, -rhē′ic, -rhet′ic). [Gr. diarroia—dia, through, and rhein, to flow.]

Diarthrosis, dī-ar-thrō′sis, n. the general name for all forms of articulation which admit of the motion of one bone upon another, free arthrosis—including Enarthrosis, Ginglymus, and Cyclarthrosis. [Gr.]

Diary, dī′a-ri, n. a daily record: a journal.—adjs. Diā′rial, Diā′rian.—v.t. or v.i. Dī′arise.—n. Dī′arist, one who keeps a diary. [L. diarium.]

Diascordium, dī-a-skor′di-um, n. an electuary prepared with scordium or water-germander. [Gr. dia, through, and skordion.]

Diaskeuast, dī-as-kew′ast, n. a reviser: an interpolator.—n. Diaskeu′asis, reviewing. [Gr. diaskeuazein, to make ready—dia, through, skeuos, a tool.]

Diaspora, dī-as′por-a, n. dispersion, used collectively for the dispersed Jews after the Babylonian captivity, and also in the apostolic age for the Jews living outside of Palestine. [Gr. dia, through, speirein, to scatter.]

Diaspore, dī′a-spōr, n. a grayish, infusible hydrate of aluminium.

Diastaltic, dī-a-stal′tik, adj. (Greek mus.) dilated, extended: bold. [Gr., diastellein, to expand.]

Diastase, dī′as-tās, n. a peculiar ferment developed during the germination of all seeds, which has the power of converting starch into dextrine and then into sugar.—adj. Diastat′ic—adv. Diastat′ically. [Gr. diastasis, division—dia, through, histanai, stēnai, to stand.]

Diastasis, dī-as′ta-sis, n. (surg.) separation of bones without fracture. [Gr.]

Diastema, dī-a-stē′ma, n. a natural space between two consecutive teeth, or series of teeth.—adj. Diastemat′ic. [Gr.]

Diastole, dī-as′to-lē, n. dilation of the heart, auricles, and arteries—opp. to Systole, or contraction of the same: the protracting of a short syllable, as before a pause.—adj. Diastol′ic. [Gr. diastolē—dia, asunder, and stellein, to place.]

Diastyle, dī′a-stīl, adj. (archit.) marked by wide intercolumniation. [Gr.]

Diatessaron, dī-a-tes′a-rōn, n. a harmony of the four gospels, esp. the earliest, that of Tatian (prob. 110-180 A.D.): (mus.) the interval of a fourth: an electuary of four ingredients. [Gr., for dia tessarōn, through, or composed of four.]

Diathermal, dī-a-thėr′mal, adj. letting heat through, permeable by radiating heat—also Diather′manous, Diather′mous, Diather′mic.—ns. Diather′mance, -cy. [Gr. dia, through, thermos, heat.]

Diathesis, dī-ath′e-sis, n. a particular condition or habit of body, esp. one predisposing to certain diseases: a habit of mind.—adj. Diathet′ic. [Gr.,—dia, asunder, tithenai, to place.]

Diatom, dī′a-tom, n. one of an order of microscopic unicellular algæ, of the Diatomaceæ.—adj. Diatomā′ceous.—n. Diat′omite, diatomaceous earth. [Gr. diatomos—dia, through, temnein, to cut.]

Diatomic, dī-a-tom′ik, adj. consisting of two atoms. [Gr. di-, dis, two, and atom.]

Diatomous, dī-at′ō-mus, adj. having crystals with one distinct diagonal cleavage.

Diatonic, dī-a-ton′ik, adj. proceeding by the tones and intervals of the natural scale in music.—adv. Diaton′ically. [Gr.,—dia, through, tonos, tone.]

Diatribe, dī′a-trīb, n. a continued discourse or disputation: an invective harangue.—n. Dī′atrībist, a writer or utterer of such. [Gr. diatribē—dia, through, tribein, to rub, wear away.]

Dib, dib, v.i. to dip, as in angling:—pr.p. dib′bing; pa.p. dibbed. [A form of dab.]

Dib, dib, n. one of the small bones of a sheep's leg: (pl.) a children's game, played by throwing up such small bones or stones (Dib′-stones) from the palm and catching them on the back of the hand—(Scot.) Chuckie-stanes, or Chucks: (slang) money.

Dibasic, dī-bā′sik, adj. having two bases: of acids, with two atoms of hydrogen replaceable by a base or bases. [Gr. di-, two, and basic.]

Dibble, dib′l, n. a pointed tool used for making holes to put seed or plants in—also Dibb′er.—v.t. Dibb′le, to plant with a dibble.—v.i. to make holes: to dip, as in angling.—n. Dibb′ler. [Freq. of dib, a form of dab.]

Dibranchiata, dī-brang-ki-ā′ta, n. one of the two orders of cephalopoda, having two gills.—adj. Dibran′chiate. [Gr. di-, two, branchia, gills.]

Dicacity, dik-as′i-ti, n. raillery, pert speech.—adj. Dicā′cious. [L. dicax, sarcastic.]

Dicast, Dikast, dī′kast, n. one of the 6000 Athenians annually chosen to act as judges.—n. Dicas′tery, their court. [Gr. dikastēs, dikē, justice.]

Dicatalectic, dī-kat-a-lek′tik, adj. doubly catalectic, both at the middle and end of the verse. [Gr. di-, double. See Catalectic.]

Dice, pl. of Die, 2 (q.v.).—v.i. to play with dice.

Dice-coal, dīs′-kōl, n. a kind of coal which readily splits into cubical pieces.

Dicentra, dī-sen′tra, n. a genus of plants including the flower Bleeding-heart (D. spectabilis).—Also Diel′ytra. [Gr. di-, double, kentron, a point.]

Dicephalous, dī-sef′a-lus, adj. two-headed. [Gr. dikephalos—di-, double, kephalē, a head.]

Dichastasis, dī-kas′ta-sis, n. spontaneous subdivision.—adj. Dichas′tic. [Gr.]

Dichlamydeous, dī-kla-mid′ē-us, adj. having both a calyx and a corolla.

Dichogamy, dī-kog′a-mi, n. an arrangement for preventing the self-fertilisation of hermaphrodite flowers, the stamens and stigmas ripening at different times.—adj. Dichog′amous. [Gr. dicha, in two, gamos, marriage.]

Dichord, dī′kord, n. an ancient two-stringed lute.

Dichotomy, dī-kot′o-mi, n. a division into two parts.—v.t. and v.i. Dichot′omise.—adj. Dichot′omous.—adv. Dichot′omously. [Gr., from dicha, in two, and temnein, to cut.]

Dichroism, dī′krō-izm, n. the property of showing different colours when viewed in different directions exhibited by doubly refracting crystals.—adjs. Dichrō′ic, Dichrois′tic.—n. Dī′chroscope, an instrument for testing the dichroism of crystals.—adj. Dichroscop′ic.

Dichromatism, dī-krō′ma-tizm, n. (zool.) the quality of presenting, in different individuals, two different colours or systems of colouration.—adj. Dichromat′ic.

Dichromism, dī-krō′mizm, n. an inability to distinguish more than two of the primary colours.—adj. Dichrō′mic.

Dicht, diht, v.t. (Scot.) to wipe.

Dick, dik, n. (slang) fine words, for Dictionary: for Declaration, as 'to take one's dick,' and prob. 'up to dick' = excellent, also properly.

Dickens, dik′enz, n. the deuce, the devil, as in 'What the dickens.'—Play the dickens with, to play the deuce with. [For devil, confused with Dickon = Richard.]

Dicker, dik′ėr, n. (Amer.) petty trade by barter, &c.—v.i. to haggle. [Prob. the obs. dicker, the number ten, esp. of hides or skins.]

Dickey, Dicky, dik′i, n. a leathern apron for a gig, &c.: the driver's seat in a carriage: a seat for servants at the back of a carriage: a false shirt-front. [Perh. from dick, a prov. Eng. word for a leathern apron; Prob. Dut. dek, a cover.]

Dicky, dickey, dik′i, n. (East Anglian) an ass.—n. Dick′y-bird, a small bird. [From Dick, familiar of Richard—like Jack, in jackass.]

Diclinic, dī-klin′ik, adj. (crystal.) having two of the intersections of the axes oblique.—Also Dī′clinate, Dī′clinous.

Diclinous, dī′kli-nus, adj. having the stamens and pistils in separate flowers.—n. Dī′clinism. [Gr. di-, asunder, and klinē, a bed.]

Dicoccous, dī-kok′us, adj. (bot.) formed of two cocci.

Dicœlous, dī-sē′lus, adj. cupped or hollowed at both ends.

Dicotyledon, dī-kot-i-lē′don, n. a plant having two seed-lobes.—adj. Dicotylē′donous. [Gr. di-, two, and cotyledon.]

Dicrotic, dī-krot′ik, adj. double-beating—also Dī′crotous.—n. Dī′crotism. [Gr., di-, two, krotos, beat.]

Dictate, dik′tāt, v.t. to tell another what to say or write: to communicate with authority: to point out: to command—(arch. Dict).—n. an order, rule, or direction: impulse.—ns. Dictā′tion, act, art, or practice of dictating: overbearing command; Dictā′tor, one invested for a time with absolute authority—originally an extraordinary Roman magistrate:—fem. Dictā′tress, Dictātrix.—adj. Dictatō′rial, like a dictator: absolute: authoritative.—adv. Dictatō′rially.—ns. Dictā′torship, Dic′tature.—adj. Dic′tatory. [L. dictāre, -ātum—dicĕre, to say.]

Diction, dik′shun, n. a saying or speaking: manner of speaking or expressing: choice of words: style. [L., from dicĕre, dictum, to say.]

Dictionary, dik′shun-a-ri, n. a book containing the words of a language alphabetically arranged, with their meanings, etymology, &c.: a lexicon: a work containing information on any department of knowledge, alphabetically arranged. [Low L. dictionarium. See Diction.]

Dictum, dik′tum, n. something said: a saying: an authoritative saying:—pl. Dic′ta. [L.]

Dictyogen, dik′ti-o-jen, n. a plant with net-veined leaves. [Gr. diktyon, a net; -genēs, producing.]

Dicynodont, di-sin′o-dont, n. an extinct reptile, allied to tortoises on one hand and mammals on the other. [Formed from Gr. di-, two, cyōn, dog, and odous, odontos, tooth.]

Did, did, Didst, didst, pa.t. of Do.

Didache, did′a-kē, n. the Teaching of the Twelve Apostles (see under Apostle). [Gr., 'teaching.']

Didactic, -al, di-dak′tik, -al, adj. fitted or intended to teach: instructive: perceptive.—adv. Didac′tically.—n. Didac′ticism.—n.pl. Didactics, the art or science of teaching. [Gr. didaktikos—didaskein, to teach; akin to L. doc-ēre, disc-ĕre.]

Didactyl, dī-dak′til, adj. having only two digits—also Didac′tylous.—n. Didac′tyl, an animal with two toes only on each foot.

Didapper, did′ap-ėr, n. a water-bird that is constantly dipping or diving under water—also called the Dabchick. [A compound of dive and dapper (which is a variant of dipper). See Dip and Dive.]

Didascalic, did-as-kal′ik, adj. didactic.

Didder, did′ėr, v.i. (prov.) to shake.

Diddle, did′l, v.t. to cajole, swindle.—n. Didd′ler.

Didecahedral, dī-dek-a-hē′dral, adj. (crystal.), having five planes on each extremity.

Didelphia, dī-del′fi-a, n.pl. the marsupialia, or marsupial implacental mammals, one of the three sub-classes of Mammalia.—adjs. Didel′phian, Didel′phic. [Gr. di-, double, delphys, womb.]

Dido, dī′dō, n. (slang) an antic caper.—Cut up didoes, to behave in an extravagant way.

Didodecahedral, dī-do-dek-a-hē′dral, adj. of a six-sided-prism, truncated on the lateral edges, and acuminated on the extremities with six planes.

Didrachma, dī-drak′ma, n. a double drachma.

Diduction, dī-duk′shun, n. separation by withdrawing one part from the other.

Didunculus, di-dung′kū-lus, n. a remarkable genus of pigeons—the tooth-billed pigeon of Samoa.

Didymium, dī-dim′i-um, n. a supposed element discovered in 1841, so named from being, as it were, twin brother of lanthamum.

Didymous, did′i-mus, adj. twin.

Didynamia, did-i-nā′mi-a, n. a class of plants in the Linnæan system having in the flower four stamens in pairs of unequal length.—adjs. Didynā′mian, Didyn′amous. [Gr. di-, double, dynamis, strength.]

Die, dī, v.i. to lose life: to perish: to wither: to languish: to become insensible:—pr.p. dy′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. died (dīd).—adj. Die′-away′, languishing.—Die away, to disappear by degrees, become gradually inaudible; Die game, to keep up one's spirit to the last; Die hard, to struggle hard against death, to be long in dying; Die off, to die quickly or in large numbers; Die out, to become extinct, to disappear. [From a Scand. root seen in Ice. deyja, Dan. d[ö]e, Scot. dee; akin to Mid. High Ger. touwen, whence Ger. tod, todt. The A.S. word is steorfan, whence our starve.]

Die, dī, n. a small cube used in gaming by being thrown from a box: any small cubical body: hazard:—pl. Dice (dīs).—n. Dice′-box.—adj. Diced, ornamented with square or diamond-shaped figures.—ns. Dice′-play; Dice′-play′er, Dī′cer; Dī′cing-house.—The die is cast, the question is decided. [O. Fr. det, pl. dez (Prov. dat, It. dado), from Low L. dadus—L. dātus, given or cast (talus, a piece of bone used in play, being understood). Doublets, dado, date.]

Die, dī, n. a stamp for impressing coin, &c.: the cubical part of a pedestal:—pl. Dies (dīz).—ns. Die′-sink′er; Die′-sink′ing, the engraving of dies; Die′-stock, a contrivance for holding the dies used in screw-cutting; Die′-work, ornamentation of a metal surface by impressions with a die. [See above.]

Dieb, dēb, n. a jackal of northern Africa.

Diegesis, dī-e-jē′sis, n. (rhet.) in an oration, the narration of the facts. [Gr.]

Dielectric, dī-e-lek′trik, adj. non-conducting: transmitting electric effects without conducting.—n. a substance through which electric force acts. [Gr. dia, through, and electric.]

Dielytra, dī-el′i-tra, n. an erroneous name for dicentra.

Diesis, dī′e-sis, n. (mus.) the difference in tone between a major and a minor semitone: (print.) the double dagger (‡).

Dies Iræ, dī′ēz ī′rē, n. the name given (from the opening words) to a famous hymn on the last judgment (c. 1250 A.D.). [L., 'day of wrath.']

Dies non, dī′ēz non, a day on which law courts may not be held. [From L. dies non juridicus, same as dies nefastus, an unlawful day.]

Diet, dī′et, n. mode of living, with especial reference to food: food prescribed by a physician: allowance of provisions.—v.t. to furnish with food.—v.i. to eat: to take food according to rule.—n. Dietā′rian, one who observes prescribed rules for diet.—adj. Dī′etary, pertaining to diet or the rules of diet.—n. course of diet: allowance of food, esp. in large institutions.—ns. Dī′et-drink, medicated liquor; Dī′eter (Shak.), one who diets or prepares food by rule.—adjs. Dietet′ic, -al, pertaining to diet.—adv. Dietet′ically.—ns. Dietet′ics, rules for regulating diet; Dietet′ist, one who lays stress on diet; Dī′etist, an authority on diet. [Fr. diète—Low L. diæta—Gr. diaita, mode of living, diet.]

Diet, dī′et, n. an assembly of princes and delegates, the chief national council in several countries in Europe: (Scots law) the proceedings under a criminal libel: a clerical or ecclesiastical function in Scotland, a diet of worship.—n. Dī′etine, a minor or local diet.—Desert the diet, to abandon criminal proceedings under a particular libel—in Scotch usage. [O. Fr. diete—Low L. diæta—Gr. diaita; or acc. to Littré, from L. dies, a (set) day, with which usage cf. Ger. tag, a day, reichstag.]

Diffarreation, di-far-ē-ā′shun, n. the parting of a cake of spelt—a ceremony at a Roman divorce. [L.]

Differ, dif′ėr, v.i. to be unlike, distinct, or various (used by itself, or followed by with, from, to): to disagree (with from, with): to fall out, dispute (with):—pr.p. diff′ering; pa.p. diff′ered.—ns. Diff′erence, Diff′erency (Shak.), dissimilarity: the quality distinguishing one thing from another: a contention or quarrel: the point in dispute: the excess of one quantity or number over another: (her.) the modification of an achievement of arms to indicate the wearer's relation to the head of the house, as by marks of cadency.—v.t. to make a difference between things.—adj. Diff′erent, distinct: separate: unlike: not the same (with from, not to).—n. Differen′tia (logic), the characteristic quality or attribute of a species.—adj. Differen′tial, creating a difference: special: (math.) pertaining to a quantity or difference infinitely small (see Calculus).—adv. Differen′tially.—v.t. Differen′tiāte, to make different: to create a difference between: to classify as different.—v.i. to become different by specialisation: (math.) to obtain the differential or differential coefficient of.—n. Differentiā′tion, the act of distinguishing or describing a thing by giving its differentia: exact definition: a change by which organs or structures become specialised or modified: (math.) the act or process of differentiating.—adv. Diff′erently.—Differential gear, gear for communicating differential motion; Differential motion, an apparatus by which the difference of two velocities is communicated, as in the Differential screw, a combination of male and female screws; Differential thermometer, a thermometer for marking minute differences of temperature. [L. differre—dif (= dis), apart, ferre, to bear.]

Difficult, dif′i-kult, adj. not easy: hard to be done: requiring labour and pains: hard to please: not easily persuaded.—adv. Diff′icultly.—n. Diff′iculty, laboriousness: obstacle: objection: that which cannot be easily understood or believed: embarrassment of affairs: a quarrel. [The adj. was formed from difficulty, in place of the old form difficile. Fr. difficulté—L. difficultas = difficilitas—difficilis—dif (= dis), neg., and facilis, easy.]

Diffident, dif′i-dent, adj. wanting faith in: distrustful of one's self: modest: bashful.—n. Diff′idence, want of confidence: want of self-reliance: modesty: bashfulness.—adv. Diff′idently. [L., pr.p. of diffidĕre, to distrust—dif (= dis), neg., fīdĕre, to trust—fĭdes, faith.]

Diffluent, dif′loo-ent, adj. tending to flow away readily.

Difform, dif′orm, adj. not uniform, irregular in form.—n. Diffor′mity.

Diffract, dif-frakt′, v.t. to break or separate into parts, as rays of light.—n. Diffrac′tion, a name for certain phenomena connected with light passing through a narrow opening or by the edge of an opaque body: the spreading of the rays, with interference phenomena, coloured and other.—adj. Diffrac′tive.—n. Diffrangibil′ity.—adj. Diffran′gible. [L. diffringĕre, diffractum—dis, asunder, frangĕre, to break.]

Diffuse, dif-ūz′, v.t. to pour out all round: to send out in all directions: to scatter: to circulate: to publish.—v.i. to spread, as a liquid does.—pa.p. and adj. Diffused′, spread widely: loose.—adv. Diffus′edly.—ns. Diffus′edness; Diffus′er; Diffusibil′ity.—adj. Diffus′ible, that may be diffused.—ns. Diffū′sion, a spreading or scattering abroad: extension: distribution: in the case of gases or liquids in contact, mixture through each other; Diffū′sion-tube, an instrument for determining the rate of diffusion for different gases.—adj. Diffus′ive, extending: spreading widely.—adv. Diffus′ively.—n. Diffus′iveness. [L. diffundĕre, diffūsum—dif (= dis), asunder, fundĕre, to pour out.]

Diffuse, dif-ūs′, adj. diffused: widely spread: wordy: not concise.—adv. Diffuse′ly.—n. Diffuse′ness.

Dig, dig, v.t. to excavate: to turn up the earth: to cultivate with a spade: to poke or thrust, as one's elbow into another's side, or spurs into a horse.—v.i. to till the ground; to occupy one's self in digging; (U.S. slang) to study hard:—pr.p. dig′ging; pa.t. and pa.p. dug, (B.) digged.—n. a thrust, a poke: (U.S. slang) a hard student.—adj. Dig′gable, that may be dug.—n. Dig′ger, a person or animal that digs: a machine for digging, as a steam-digger.—n.pl. Dig′gings, places where mining is carried on, esp. for gold: (slang, orig. American) lodgings, rooms.—Dig in, to cover over by digging: to work hard; Dig out (U.S. slang), to decamp.—Digger Indians, degraded Indian tribes of California and Nevada, who live by digging roots. [Prob. O. Fr. diguer, to dig; of Teut. origin.]

Digamma, dī-gam′ma, n. an obsolete letter of the Greek alphabet, having the force of our W. [So called from its form (Digamma), like one capital Γ (gamma) placed over another.]

Digamy, dig′a-mi, n. a second marriage.—n. Dig′amist.—adj. Dig′amous (bot.), androgynous. [Gr. dis, twice, and gamos, marriage.]

Digastric, dī-gas′trik, adj. double-bellied, or fleshy at each end, as is one of the muscles of the lower jaw. [Gr. di-, double, gastēr, the belly.]

Digenesis, dī-jen′e-sis, n. reproduction by two methods, a sexual followed by an assexual.—adj. Digenet′ic.

Digest, di-jest′, v.t. to dissolve food in the stomach: to soften by heat and moisture: to distribute and arrange: to prepare or classify in the mind: to think over.—v.i. to be dissolved in the stomach: to be softened by heat and moisture.—adv. Digest′edly.—n. Digest′er, one who digests: a close vessel in which by heat and pressure strong extracts are made from animal and vegetable substances.—n. Digestibil′ity.—adj. Digest′ible, that may be digested.—n. Diges′tion, the dissolving of the food in the stomach: orderly arrangement: exposing to slow heat, &c.—adj. Digest′ive, pertaining to digestion: promoting digestion.—adv. Digest′ively. [L. digerĕre, digestum, to carry asunder or dissolve—di (= dis), asunder, and gerĕre, to bear.]

Digest, dī′jest, n. a body of laws collected and arranged, esp. the Justinian code of civil laws. [L. digesta, neut. pl. of digestus, pa.p. of digerĕre, to carry apart, to arrange.]

Dight, dīt, adj. disposed, adorned.—adv. finely.—Also Dight′ly. [A.S. dihtan, to arrange, prescribe, from L. dictāre, to dictate, whence Ger. dichten, to write poetry, and the Scotch verb dight, to dress, used of stones, flour, &c.]

Digit, dij′it, n. a finger's breadth or ¾ inch: from the habit of counting on the fingers, any one of the nine numbers: the twelfth part of the diameter of the sun or moon.—adj. Dig′ital, pertaining to the fingers.—n. finger: a key of a piano, &c.—ns. Digitā′lia, Dig′italine, Dig′italin, the active principles of digitalis; Digitā′lis, a genus of plants, including the foxglove; Digitā′ria, a genus of grasses with digitate spikes.—adjs. Digitate, -d, consisting of several finger-like sections.—adv. Dig′itately.—n. Digitā′tion, finger-like arrangement: a finger-like process.—adj. Digit′iform, formed like fingers; Dig′itigrade, walking on the toes.—n. an animal that walks on its toes, as the lion—opp. to Plantigrade.—ns. Dig′itigradism; Digitō′rium, a small portable instrument used for making the fingers flexible for piano-playing. [L. digitus, a finger or toe, akin to Gr. daktylos.]

Diglyph, dī′glif, n. (archit.) an ornament consisting of a double groove.

Dignify, dig′ni-fī, v.t. to invest with honour: to exalt:—pr.p. dig′nifying; pa.p. dig′nified.—n. Dignificā′tion.—adj. Dig′nified, marked with dignity: exalted: noble: grave. [Low L. dignificāre—dignus, worthy, facĕre, to make.]

Dignity, dig′ni-ti, n. the state of being dignified: elevation of mind or character: grandeur of mien: elevation in rank, place, &c.: degree of excellence: preferment: high office: a dignitary.—n. Dig′nitary, one in a dignified position or rank, esp. in the church. [Fr. dignité—L. dignitas—dignus, worthy.]

Digraph, dī′graf, n. two letters expressing but one sound, as ph in digraph. [Gr. di-, twice, graphē, a mark, a character—graphein, to write.]

Digress, di-gres′, v.i. to step aside or go from the main subject: to introduce irrelevant matter.—n. Digres′sion, a going from the main point: a part of a discourse not upon the main subject.—adjs. Digres′sional, Digress′ive, of the nature of a digression: departing from the main subject.—adv. Digress′ively. [L. digredi, digressus—di, aside, gradi, to step. See Grade.]

Digynia, dī-jin′i-a, n. an order of plants having in the flower two styles or a deeply cleft style.—adjs. Digyn′ian, Dig′ynous. [Gr. dis, twice, and gynē, a woman.]

Dihedral, dī-hē′dral, adj. having two sides, or two plane faces—also Diē′dral.—n. Dihē′dron. [Gr. di-, two, hedra, a seat.]

Dihexagonal, dī-heks-ag′ō-nal, adj. twelve-sided.

Dihexahedral, dī-heks-a-hē′dral, adj. pertaining to a six-sided prism having three planes on the extremities.—n. Dihexahē′dron.

Dijudicate, dī-jōō′di-kāt, v.t. and v.i. to judge between two: to decide.—n. Dijudicā′tion. [L. di, asunder, and judicāre, judge.]

Dike, dīk, n. a trench, or the earth dug out and thrown up: a ditch: a mound raised to prevent inundation: in Scotland, a wall (Dry-stane dike, a wall without mortar; Fail-dike, a wall of turf), sometimes even a thorn-hedge: (geol.) a wall-like mass of igneous rock in the fissures of stratified rocks.—v.t. to surround with a dike or bank. [A.S. díc; Dut. dijk, Ger. teich, a pond; perh. conn. with Gr. teichos, a wall or rampart. See Dig, Ditch.]

Dilacerate, di-las′ėr-āt, v.t. to rend or tear asunder.—n. Dilacerā′tion. [L. di, asunder, and lacerate.]

Dilapidate, di-lap′i-dāt, v.t. to pull stone from stone: to lay waste: to suffer to go to ruin.—adj. Dilap′idated, in ruins.—ns. Dilapidā′tion, the state of ruin: impairing of church property during an incumbency: (pl.) money paid at the end of an incumbency by the incumbent or his heirs for the purpose of putting the parsonage, &c. in good repair for the succeeding incumbent; Dilap′idator. [L. dilapidāre—di, asunder, lapis, lapidis, a stone.]

Dilate, di-lāt′, v.t. to spread out in all directions: to enlarge: the opposite of contract.—v.i. to widen: to swell out: to speak at length.—ns. Dilātabil′ity, Dilāt′ancy, Dilatā′tion, Dilā′tion, expansion.—adjs. Dilāt′able, that may be dilated or expanded; Dilā′tant.—ns. Dī′latātor, Dilāt′or, Dilāt′er.—adj. Dilāt′ive. [L. dilatus (used as pa.p. of differre), from di (= dis), apart, and latus, borne.]

Dilatory, dil′a-tor-i, adj. slow: given to procrastination: loitering: tending to delay.—adv. Dil′atorily.—n. Dil′atoriness. [L. dilatorius, extending or putting off (time). See Dilate.]

Dilemma, di-lem′a, n. a form of argument in which the maintainer of a certain proposition is committed to accept one of two alternative propositions each of which contradicts his original contention: a position where each of two alternative courses (or of all the feasible courses) is eminently undesirable: a trying practical difficulty. The argument was called a 'horned syllogism,' and the victim compared to a man certain to be impaled on one or other of the horns of an infuriated bull, hence the Horns of a dilemma: the usual phrase Landed in a dilemma is, or suggests, a mixed metaphor.—adj. Dilemmat′ic. [L.,—Gr. dilēmma—di-, twice, double, lēmma, an assumption—lambanein, to take.]

Dilettante, dil-et-an′te, n. one who loves the fine arts, but in a superficial way and without serious purpose (the amateur usually practises them): a dabbler in art, science, or literature:—pl. Dilettan′ti (′tē).—adj. Dilettan′tish.—ns. Dilettan′tism, Dilettan′teism. [It., pr.p. of dilettare, to take delight in—L. delectāre, to delight.]

Diligent, dil′i-jent, adj. steady and earnest in application: industrious.—n. Dil′igence, steady application: industry: (Scots law) a warrant to produce witnesses, books, &c., or a process by which persons or goods are attached: a French or continental stage-coach (also pronounced dē-lē-zhongs)—also Dill′y.—adv. Dil′igently. [Fr.,—diligens, -entis, pr.p. of L. diligĕre, to choose.]

Dill, dil, n. an umbelliferous annual, the seeds used in medicine.—n. Dill′-wa′ter, a stomachic and carminative. [A.S. dile; Ger. and Sw. dill.]

Dilling, dil′ing, n. a darling: the youngest child, the weakling of a litter.

Dilly-bag, dil′i-bag, n. an Australian native-made rush or bark-bag.—Also Dill′i, Dill′y.

Dilly-dally, dil′i-dal′i, v.i. to loiter, trifle. [A kind of reduplication of dally. Cf. Shilly-shally.]

Dilogy, dil′ō-ji, n. repetition: intentional ambiguity.—adj. Dilog′ical.

Dilucidate, di-lū′si-dāt, v.t. (obs.) to elucidate.—adj. Dilū′cid.—n. Dilucidā′tion.

Dilute, dil-ūt′, v.t. to make thinner or more liquid: to diminish the strength, flavour, &c. of, by mixing, esp. with water.—v.i. to become mixed.—adj. diminished in strength by mixing with water.—adj. Dil′uent, diluting.—n. that which dilutes.—ns. Dilute′ness; Dilū′tion. [L. diluĕre, dilūtum—di, away from, luĕre, to wash.]

Diluvium, dil-ū′vi-um, n. an inundation or flood: (geol.) a deposit of sand, gravel, &c. made by extraordinary currents of water—also Dilū′vion.—adjs. Dilū′vial, Dilū′vian, pertaining to a flood, esp. that in the time of Noah: caused by a deluge: composed of diluvium.—n. Dilū′vialist, one who explains geological phenomena by the Flood. [L. diluvium—diluĕre.]

Dim, dim, adj. not bright or distinct: obscure: mysterious: not seeing clearly.—v.t. to make dark: to obscure.—v.i. to become dim:—pr.p. dim′ming; pa.p. dimmed.—adv. Dim′ly.—adj. Dim′mish, somewhat dim.—n. Dim′ness. [A.S. dim; akin to Ice. dimmr, dark, and Ger. dämmerung, twilight.]

Dime, dīm, n. the tenth part of an American dollar, 10 cents, nearly equal to 5d.—Dime museum, a cheap show; Dime novel, a cheap novel, usually sensational. [Fr., orig. disme, from L. decima (pars, a part, being understood), a tenth part.]

Dimension, di-men′shun, n. usually in pl., measure in length, breadth, and thickness (the three dimensions of space): extent: size.—adjs. Dimen′sional, concerning dimension (one-dimensional, two-dimensional, three-dimensional space = space of one, two, three dimensions); Dimen′sioned, having dimension; Dimen′sionless.—Dimension work, masonry in stones of specified size.—Fourth dimension, an additional dimension attributed to space by a hypothetical speculation. [Fr.,—L. dimensio—dimetīri, dimensus—di(= dis), apart, metīri, to measure.]

Dimerous, dim′e-rus, adj. consisting of two parts: (bot.) with two members in each whorl: (entom.) having two-jointed tarsi.—n. Dim′erism. [Gr., di-, double, meros, a part.]

Dimeter, dim′e-tėr, adj. containing two metres or measures.—n. a verse of two measures. [L.,—Gr. dimetros—di-, twice, metron, a measure.]

Dimethylaniline, di-meth-il-an′i-lin, n. an oily liquid: aniline heated with methyl alcohol and hydrochloric acid—from which dyes are obtained. [L. di-, twice, methyl, and aniline.]

Dimetric, dī-met′rik, adj. (crystal.) tetragonal.

Dimidiate, di-mid′i-āt, adj. divided into halves: having a shape that appears as if halved.—v.t. (her.) to represent the half of.—n. Dimidiā′tion. [L. dimidiāre, -ātum, to halve—dimidius; half—dis, twice, medius, the middle.]

Diminish, di-min′ish, v.t. to make less: to take a part from: to degrade.—v.i. to grow or appear less: to subside.—adj. Dimin′ishable.—p.adj. Dimin′ished, made smaller, humbled: (mus.) lessened by a half-step, as an interval.—adv. Dimin′ishingly. [Coined by adding di to the word minish, an imitation of L. diminuĕre—di = dis, apart, minuĕre, to make less.]

Diminuendo, di-min-ū-en′dō, adv. (mus.) a direction to let the sound die away, marked thus Diminuendo symbol. [It.,—L. diminuendus, fut. part. pass. of diminuĕre, diminūtum, to lessen.]

Diminution, dim-in-ū′shun, n. a lessening: degradation.—adj. Dimin′utive, of a diminished size: small: contracted.—n. (gram.) a word formed from another to express a little one of the kind.—adv. Dimin′utively.—n. Dimin′utiveness.

Dimissory, dim′is-or-i, adj. sending away or giving leave to depart to another jurisdiction. [L. dimissorius—dimittĕre, dimissum.]

Dimity, dim′i-ti, n. a kind of stout white cotton cloth, striped or figured in the loom by weaving with two threads. [Through the L., from Gr. dimitos—di-, twice, mitos, a thread.]

Dimorphism, dī-mor′fizm, n. (bot.) a state in which two forms of flower, leaf, &c. are produced by the same species of plant: the property of crystallising in two forms.—adjs. Dimor′phic, Dimor′phous. [Gr. di-, twice, morphē, form.]

Dimple, dim′pl, n. a small hollow: a small natural depression on the face.—v.i. to form dimples.—v.t. to mark with dimples.—p.adj. Dim′pled.—n. Dim′plement.—adj. Dim′ply. [Dim. of dip, with inserted m. Another dim. is dapple.]

Dimyarian, dim-i-ā′ri-an, adj. double-muscled (of bivalve shells like the clam)—also Dim′yary.—n.pl. Dimyā′ria. [Gr. di-, two, mys, a muscle.]

Din, din, n. a loud continued noise.—v.t. to assail (the ears) with noise: to annoy with clamour: to obtrude noisily (as to din one's complaints into their ears):—pr.p. din′ning; pa.p. dinned.—adj. Din′ful. [A.S. dyn, dyne; cf. Ice. dynr, Dan. dön, noise.]

Dinanderie, dē-nong′de-rē, n. domestic utensils of copper, esp. such as are quaint and artistic—applied also to Indian and Levantine brass-ware. [Fr., from Dinant in Belgium.]

Dinar, dē-när′, n. an ancient Arab gold coin of 65 grains weight. [L. denarius.]

Dinarchy. See Diarchy.

Dindle. See Dinnle.

Dine, dīn, v.i. to take dinner.—v.t. to give a dinner to.—n. (obs.) dinner-time.—ns. Din′er-out, one who goes much to dinner-parties; Dinette′, a preliminary dinner, luncheon; Din′ing-hall; Din′ing-room; Din′ing-tā′ble.—Dine out, to dine elsewhere than at home; Dine with Duke Humphrey, to go without a meal, like those who, unable to procure a dinner, loitered about Duke Humphrey's Walk in Old St Paul's. [O. Fr. disner (Fr. dîner)—Low L. disjunāre, for disjejunāre, to break one's fast—L. dis-, and jejunus, fasting (cf. Déjeuner). Others explain disnare as from decenāre—L. de, inten., and cenāre, to dine.]

Ding, ding, v.t. to throw, dash, or hurl: to beat: (arch.) to urge or enforce: (Scot.) to defeat, non-plus—also, as v.i., to be defeated: to descend, fall, as of continued heavy rain or snow falling.—Ding doun (Scot.), to knock or throw down. [M. E. dingen; cf. Ice. dengja, Sw. dänga, to bang.]

Ding, ding, v.i. to ring, keep sounding.—v.t. to reiterate to a wearisome degree.—n. Ding′-dong, the sound of bells ringing: monotony: sameness. [Imit. Cf. Ring.]