D (continued 7)

DESTINATION Des`ti*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. destinatio determination: cf. F. destination destination.]

1. The act of destining or appointing.

2. Purpose for which anything is destined; predetermined end, object, or use; ultimate design.

3. The place set for the end of a journey, or to which something is sent; place or point aimed at.

Syn. — Appointment; design; purpose; intention; destiny; lot; fate; end.

DESTINE Des"tine, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Destined; p. pr. & vb. n. Destining.] Etym: [F. destiner, L. destinare; de + the root of stare to stand. See Stand, and cf. Obstinate.]

Defn: To determine the future condition or application of; to set apart by design for a future use or purpose; to fix, as by destiny or by an authoritative decree; to doom; to ordain or preordain; to appoint; — often with the remoter object preceded by to or for. We are decreed, Reserved, and destined to eternal woe. Milton. Till the loathsome opposite Of all my heart had destined, did obtain. Tennyson. Not enjoyment and not sorrow Is our destined end or way. Longfellow.

Syn. — To design; mark out; determine; allot; choose; intend; devote; consecrate; doom.

DESTINIST Des"ti*nist, n.

Defn: A believer in destiny; a fatalist. [R.]

DESTINY Des"ti*ny, n.; pl. Destinies. Etym: [OE. destinee, destene, F. destinée, from destiner. See Destine.]

1. That to which any person or thing is destined; predetermined state; condition foreordained by the Divine or by human will; fate; lot; doom. Thither he Will come to know his destiny. Shak. No man of woman born, Coward or brave, can shun his destiny. Bryant.

2. The fixed order of things; invincible necessity; fate; a resistless power or agency conceived of as determining the future, whether in general or of an individual. But who can turn the stream of destiny Spenser. Fame comes only when deserved, and then is as inevitable as destiny, for it is destiny. Longfellow. The Destinies (Anc. Myth.), the three Parcæ, or Fates; the supposed powers which preside over human life, and determine its circumstances and duration. Marked by the Destinies to be avoided. Shak.

DESTITUENT De*stit"u*ent, a. Etym: [L. destituens, p. pr. of destituere.]

Defn: Deficient; wanting; as, a destituent condition. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.

DESTITUTE Des"ti*tute, a. Etym: [L. destitutus, p. p. of destituere to set away, leave alone, forsake; de + statuere to set. See Statute.]

1. Forsaken; not having in possession (something necessary, or desirable); deficient; lacking; devoid; — often followed by of. In thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute. Ps. cxli. 8. Totally destitute of all shadow of influence. Burke.

2. Not possessing the necessaries of life; in a condition of want; needy; without possessions or resources; very poor. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented. Heb. xi. 37.

DESTITUTE Des"ti*tute, v. t.

1. To leave destitute; to forsake; to abandon. [Obs.] To forsake or destitute a plantation. Bacon.

2. To make destitute; to cause to be in want; to deprive; — followed by of. [Obs.] Destituted of all honor and livings. Holinshed.

3. To disappoint. [Obs.] When his expectation is destituted. Fotherby.

DESTITUTELY Des"ti*tute*ly, adv.

Defn: In destitution.

DESTITUTENESS Des"ti*tute*ness, n.

Defn: Destitution. [R.] Ash.

DESTITUTION Des`ti*tu"tion, n. Etym: [L. destitutio a forsaking.]

Defn: The state of being deprived of anything; the state or condition of being destitute, needy, or without resources; deficiency; lack; extreme poverty; utter want; as, the inundation caused general destitution.

DESTRER; DEXTRER Des*trer", Dex"trer, n. Etym: [OF. destrier, fr. L. dextra on the right side. The squire led his master's horse beside him, on his right hand. Skeat.]

Defn: A war horse. [Obs.] Chaucer.

DESTRIE De*strie", v. t.

Defn: To destroy. [Obs.] Chaucer.

DESTROY De*stroy", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Destroyed; p. pr. & vb. n. Destroying.] Etym: [OE. destroien, destruien, destrien, OF. destruire, F. détruire, fr. L. destruere, destructum; de + struere to pile up, build. See Structure.]

1. To unbuild; to pull or tear down; to separate virulently into its constituent parts; to break up the structure and organic existence of; to demolish. But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves. Ex. xxxiv. 13.

2. To ruin; to bring to naught; to put an end to; to annihilate; to consume. I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation. Jer. xii. 17.

3. To put an end to the existence, prosperity, or beauty of; to kill. If him by force he can destroy, or, worse, By some false guile pervert. Milton.

Syn. — To demolish; lay waste; consume; raze; dismantle; ruin; throw down; overthrow; subvert; desolate; devastate; deface; extirpate; extinguish; kill; slay. See Demolish.

DESTROYABLE De*stroy"a*ble, a.

Defn: Destructible. [R.] Plants . . . scarcely destroyable by the weather. Derham.

DESTROYER De*stroy"er, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. destruior.]

Defn: One who destroys, ruins, kills, or desolates.

DESTRUCT De*struct", v. t. Etym: [L. destructus, p. p. of destruere. See Destroy.]

Defn: To destroy. [Obs.] Mede.

DESTRUCTIBILITY De*struc`ti*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. destructibilité.]

Defn: The quality of being capable of destruction; destructibleness.

DESTRUCTIBLE De*struc"ti*ble, a. Etym: [L. destructibilis.]

Defn: Liable to destruction; capable of being destroyed.

DESTRUCTIBLENESS De*struc"ti*ble*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being destructible.

DESTRUCTION De*struc"tion, n. Etym: [L. destructio: cf. F. destruction. See Destroy.]

1. The act of destroying; a tearing down; a bringing to naught; subversion; demolition; ruin; slaying; devastation. The Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction. Esth. ix. 5. 'Tis safer to be that which we destroy Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy. Shak. Destruction of venerable establishment. Hallam.

2. The state of being destroyed, demolished, ruined, slain, or devastated. This town came to destruction. Chaucer. Thou castedst them down into destruction. Ps. lxxiii. 18.

2. A destroying agency; a cause of ruin or of devastation; a destroyer. The destruction that wasteth at noonday. Ps. xci. 6.

Syn. — Demolition; subversion; overthrow; desolation; extirpation; extinction; devastation; downfall; extermination; havoc; ruin.

DESTRUCTIONIST De*struc"tion*ist, n.

1. One who delights in destroying that which is valuable; one whose principles and influence tend to destroy existing institutions; a destructive.

2. (Theol.)

Defn: One who believes in the final destruction or complete annihilation of the wicked; — called also annihilationist. Shipley.

DESTRUCTIVE De*struc"tive, a. Etym: [L. destructivus: cf. F. destructif.]

Defn: Causing destruction; tending to bring about ruin, death, or devastation; ruinous; fatal; productive of serious evil; mischievous; pernicious; — often with of or to; as, intemperance is destructive of health; evil examples are destructive to the morals of youth. Time's destructive power. Wordsworth. Destructive distillation. See Distillation. — Destructive sorties ( (Logic), a process of reasoning which involves the denial of the first of a series of dependent propositions as a consequence of the denial of the last; a species of reductio ad absurdum. Whately.

Syn. — Mortal; deadly; poisonous; fatal; ruinous; malignant; baleful; pernicious; mischievous.

DESTRUCTIVE De*struc"tive, n.

Defn: One who destroys; a radical reformer; a destructionist.

DESTRUCTIVELY De*struc"tive*ly, adv.

Defn: In a destructive manner.

DESTRUCTIVENESS De*struc"tive*ness, n.

1. The quality of destroying or ruining. Prynne.

2. (Phren.)

Defn: The faculty supposed to impel to the commission of acts of destruction; propensity to destroy.

DESTRUCTOR De*struc"tor, n. Etym: [L., from destruere. See Destroy, and cf. Destroyer.]

Defn: A destroyer. [R.] Fire, the destructive and the artificial death of things. Boyle.

DESTRUIE De*struie", v. t.

Defn: To destroy. [Obs.] Chaucer.

DESUDATION Des`u*da"tion, n. Etym: [L. desudatio, fr. desudare to sweat greatly; de + sudare to sweat.] (Med.)

Defn: A sweating; a profuse or morbid sweating, often succeeded by an eruption of small pimples.

DESUETE De*suete", a. Etym: [L. desuetus, p. p. of desuescere to disuse.]

Defn: Disused; out of use. [R.]

DESUETUDE Des"ue*tude, n. Etym: [L. desuetudo, from desuescere, to grow out of use, disuse; de + suescere to become used or accustomed: cf. F. désuétude. See Custom.]

Defn: The cessation of use; disuse; discontinuance of practice, custom, or fashion. The desuetude abrogated the law, which, before, custom had established. Jer. Taylor.

DESULPHURATE De*sul"phu*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desulphurated; p. pr. & vb. n. Desulphurating.]

Defn: To deprive of sulphur.

DESULPHURATION De*sul`phu*ra"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. désulfuration.]

Defn: The act or process of depriving of sulphur.

DESULPHURIZE De*sul"phur*ize, v. t.

Defn: To desulphurate; to deprive of sulphur. — De*sul`phur*i*za"tion, n.

DESULTORILY Des"ul*to*ri*ly, adv.

Defn: In a desultory manner; without method; loosely; immethodically.

DESULTORINESS Des"ul*to*ri*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being desultory or without order or method; unconnectedness. The seeming desultoriness of my method. Boyle.

DESULTORIOUS Des`ul*to"ri*ous, a.

Defn: Desultory. [R.]

DESULTORY Des"ul*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. desultorius, fr. desultor a leaper, fr. desilire, desultum, to leap down; de + salire to leap. See Saltation.]

1. Leaping or skipping about. [Obs.] I shot at it [a bird], but it was so desultory that I missed my aim. Gilbert White.

2. Jumping, or passing, from one thing or subject to another, without order or rational connection; without logical sequence; disconnected; immethodical; aimless; as, desultory minds. Atterbury. He [Goldsmith] knew nothing accurately; his reading had been desultory. Macaulay.

3. Out of course; by the way; as a digression; not connected with the subject; as, a desultory remark.

Syn. — Rambling; roving; immethodical; discursive; inconstant; unsettled; cursory; slight; hasty; loose.

DESUME De*sume", v. t. Etym: [L. desumere; de + sumere to take.]

Defn: To select; to borrow. [Obs.] Sir. M. Hale.

DESYNONYMIZATION De`syn*on`y*mi*za"tion, n.

Defn: The act of desynonymizing.

DESYNONYMIZE De`syn*on"y*mize, v. t.

Defn: To deprive of synonymous character; to discriminate in use; — applied to words which have been employed as synonyms. Coleridge. Trench.

DETACH De*tach", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detached; p. pr. & vb. n. Detaching.] Etym: [F. détacher (cf. It. distaccare, staccare); pref. dé (L. dis) + the root found also in E. attach. See Attach, and cf. Staccato.]

1. To part; to separate or disunite; to disengage; — the opposite of attach; as, to detach the coats of a bulbous root from each other; to detach a man from a leader or from a party.

2. To separate for a special object or use; — used especially in military language; as, to detach a ship from a fleet, or a company from a regiment.

Syn. — To separate; disunite; disengage; sever; disjoin; withdraw;; draw off. See Detail.

DETACH De*tach", v. i.

Defn: To push asunder; to come off or separate from anything; to disengage. [A vapor] detaching, fold by fold, From those still heights. Tennyson.

DETACHABLE De*tach"a*ble, a.

Defn: That can be detached.

DETACHED De*tached", a.

Defn: Separate; unconnected, or imperfectly connected; as, detached parcels. "Extensive and detached empire." Burke. Detached escapement. See Escapement.

DETACHMENT De*tach"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. détachement.]

1. The act of detaching or separating, or the state of being detached.

2. That which is detached; especially, a body of troops or part of a fleet sent from the main body on special service. Troops . . . widely scattered in little detachments. Bancroft.

3. Abstraction from worldly objects; renunciation. A trial which would have demanded of him a most heroic faith and the detachment of a saint. J. H. Newman.

DETAIL De"tail, n. Etym: [F. détail, fr. détailler to cut in pieces, tell in detail; pref. dé- (L. de or dis-) + tailler to cut. See Tailor.]

1. A minute portion; one of the small parts; a particular; an item; - - used chiefly in the plural; as, the details of a scheme or transaction. The details of the campaign in Italy. Motley.

2. A narrative which relates minute points; an account which dwells on particulars.

3. (Mil.)

Defn: The selection for a particular service of a person or a body of men; hence, the person or the body of men so selected. Detail drawing, a drawing of the full size, or on a large scale, of some part of a building, machine, etc. — In detail, in subdivisions; part by part; item; circumstantially; with particularity.

Syn. — Account; relation; narrative; recital; explanation; narration.

DETAIL De"tail, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detailed; p. pr. & vb. n. Detailing.] Etym: [Cf. F. détailler to cut up in pieces, tell in detail. See Detail, n.]

1. To relate in particulars; to particularize; to report minutely and distinctly; to enumerate; to specify; as, he detailed all the facts in due order.

2. (Mil.)

Defn: To tell off or appoint for a particular service, as an officer, a troop, or a squadron.

Syn. — Detail, Detach. Detail respect the act of individualizing the person or body that is separated; detach, the removing for the given end or object.

DETAILER De*tail"er, n.

Defn: One who details.

DETAIN De*tain", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detained; p. pr. & vb. n. Detaining.] Etym: [F. détenir, L. detinere, detentum; de + tenere to hold. See Tenable.]

1. To keep back or from; to withhold. Detain not the wages of the hireling. Jer. Taylor.

2. To restrain from proceeding; to stay or stop; to delay; as, we were detained by an accident. Let us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for thee. Judges xiii. 15.

3. To hold or keep in custody.

Syn. — To withhold; retain; stop; stay; arrest; check; retard; delay; hinder.

DETAIN De*tain", n.

Defn: Detention. [Obs.] Spenser.

DETAINDER De*tain"der, n. (Law)

Defn: A writ. See Detinue.

DETAINER De*tain"er, n.

1. One who detains.

2. (Law) (a) The keeping possession of what belongs to another; detention of what is another's, even though the original taking may have been lawful. Forcible detainer is indictable at common law. (b) A writ authorizing the keeper of a prison to continue to keep a person in custody.

DETAINMENT De*tain"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. detenement.]

Defn: Detention. [R.] Blackstone.

DETECT De*tect", a. Etym: [L. detectus, p. p. of detegere to uncover, detect; de + tegere to cover. See Tegument.]

Defn: Detected. [Obs.] Fabyan.

DETECT De*tect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detected; p. pr. & vb. n. Detecting.]

1. To uncover; to discover; to find out; to bring to light; as, to detect a crime or a criminal; to detect a mistake in an account. Plain good intention . . . is as easily discovered at the first view, as fraud is surely detected at last. Burke. Like following life through creatures you dissect, You lose it in the moment you detect. Pope.

2. To inform against; to accuse. [Obs.] He was untruly judged to have preached such articles as he was detected of. Sir T. More.

Syn. — To discover; find out; lay bare; expose.

DETECTABLE; DETECTIBLE De*tect"a*ble, De*tect"i*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being detected or found out; as, parties not detectable. "Errors detectible at a glance." Latham.

DETECTER De*tect"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, detects or brings to light; one who finds out what another attempts to conceal; a detector.

DETECTION De*tec"tion, n. Etym: [L. detectio an uncovering, revealing.]

Defn: The act of detecting; the laying open what was concealed or hidden; discovery; as, the detection of a thief; the detection of fraud, forgery, or a plot. Such secrets of guilt are never from detection. D. Webster.

DETECTIVE De*tect"ive, a.

Defn: Fitted for, or skilled in, detecting; employed in detecting crime or criminals; as, a detective officer.

DETECTIVE De*tect"ive, n.

Defn: One who business it is so detect criminals or discover matters of secrecy.

DETECTOR De*tect"or, n. Etym: [L., a revealer.]

Defn: One who, or that which, detects; a detecter. Shak. A deathbed's detector of the heart. Young. Bank-note detector, a publication containing a description of genuine and counterfeit bank notes, designed to enable persons to discriminate between them. — Detector l. See under Lock.

DETECTOR BAR De*tect"or bar. (Railroads)

Defn: A bar, connected with a switch, longer than the distance between any two consecutive wheels of a train (45 to 50 feet), laid inside a rail and operated by the wheels so that the switch cannot be thrown until all the train is past the switch.

DETENEBRATE De*ten"e*brate, v. t. Etym: [L. de + tenebrare to make dark, fr. tenebrae darkness.]

Defn: To remove darkness from. [Obs.] Ash.

DETENT De*tent", n. Etym: [F. détente, fr. détendre to unbend, relax; pref. dé- (L. dis- or de) + tendre to stretch. See Distend.] (Mech.)

Defn: That which locks or unlocks a movement; a catch, pawl, or dog; especially, in clockwork, the catch which locks and unlocks the wheelwork in striking.

DETENTION De*ten"tion, n. Etym: [L. detentio: cf. F. détention. See Detain.]

1. The act of detaining or keeping back; a withholding.

2. The state of being detained (stopped or hindered); delay from necessity.

3. Confinement; restraint; custody. The archduke Philip . . . found himself in a sort of honorable detention at Henry's court. Hallam.

DETER De*ter", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deterred; p. pr. & vb. n. Deterring.] Etym: [L. deterrere; de + terrere to frighten, terrify. See Terror.]

Defn: To prevent by fear; hence, to hinder or prevent from action by fear of consequences, or difficulty, risk, etc. Addison. Potent enemies tempt and deter us from our duty. Tillotson. My own face deters me from my glass. Prior.

DETERGE De*terge", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deterged; p. pr. & vb. n. Deterging.] Etym: [L. detergere, detersum; de + tergere to rub or wipe off: cf. F. déterger.]

Defn: To cleanse; to purge away, as foul or offending matter from the body, or from an ulcer.

DETERGENCY De*ter"gen*cy, n.

Defn: A cleansing quality or power. De Foe.

DETERGENT De*ter"gent, a. Etym: [L. detergens, -entis, p. pr. of detergere: cf. F. détergent.]

Defn: Cleansing; purging. — n.

Defn: A substance which cleanses the skin, as water or soap; a medicine to cleanse wounds, ulcers, etc.

DETERIORATE De*te"ri*o*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deteriorated; p. pr. & vb. n. Deteriorating.] Etym: [L. deterioratus, p. p. of deteriorate to deteriorate, fr. deterior worse, prob. a comparative fr. de down, away.]

Defn: To make worse; to make inferior in quality or value; to impair; as, to deteriorate the mind. Whately. The art of war . . . was greatly deteriorated. Southey.

DETERIORATE De*te"ri*o*rate, v. i.

Defn: To grow worse; to be impaired in quality; to degenerate. Under such conditions, the mind rapidly deteriorates. Goldsmith.

DETERIORATION De*te`ri*o*ra"tion, n. Etym: [LL. deterioratio: cf. F. détérioration.]

Defn: The process of growing worse, or the state of having grown worse.

DETERIORITY De*te`ri*or"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. deterior worse. See Deteriorate.]

Defn: Worse state or quality; inferiority. "The deteriority of the diet." [R.] Ray.

DETERMENT De*ter"ment, n. Etym: [From Deter.]

Defn: The act of deterring; also, that which deters. Boyle.

DETERMINABILITY De*ter`mi*na*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality of being determinable; determinableness. Coleridge.

DETERMINABLE De*ter"mi*na*ble, a. Etym: [L. determinabilis finite. See Determine, v. t.]

Defn: Capable of being determined, definitely ascertained, decided upon, or brought to a conclusion. Not wholly determinable from the grammatical use of the words. South.

DETERMINABLENESS De*ter"mi*na*ble*ness, n.

Defn: Capability of being determined; determinability.

DETERMINACY De*ter"mi*na*cy, n.

Defn: Determinateness. [R.]

DETERMINANT De*ter"mi*nant, a. Etym: [L. determinans, p. pr. of determinare: cf. F. déterminant.]

Defn: Serving to determine or limit; determinative.

DETERMINANT De*ter"mi*nant, n.

1. That which serves to determine; that which causes determination.

2. (Math.)

Defn: The sum of a series of products of several numbers, these products being formed according to certain specified laws; thus, the determinant of the nine numbers. a, b, c,a', b', c',a'\'b7, b'\'b7, c'\'b7, is a b' c'\'b7 — a b'\'b7 c' + a' b'\'b7 c] — a' b c'\'b7 + a'\'b7 b' c. The determinant is written by placing the numbers from which it is formed in a square between two vertical lines. The theory of determinants forms a very important branch of modern mathematics.

3. (Logic)

Defn: A mark or attribute, attached to the subject or predicate, narrowing the extent of both, but rendering them more definite and precise. Abp. Thomson.

DETERMINATE De*ter"mi*nate, a. Etym: [L. determinatus, p. p. of determinare. See Determine.]

1. Having defined limits; not uncertain or arbitrary; fixed; established; definite. Quantity of words and a determinate number of feet. Dryden.

2. Conclusive; decisive; positive. The determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God. Acts ii. 23.

3. Determined or resolved upon. [Obs.] My determinate voyage. Shak.

4. Of determined purpose; resolute. [Obs.] More determinate to do than skillful how to do. Sir P. Sidney. Determinate inflorescence (Bot.), that in which the flowering commences with the terminal bud of a stem, which puts a limit to its growth; — also called centrifugal inflorescence. — Determinate problem (Math.), a problem which admits of a limited number of solutions. — Determinate quantities, Determinate equations (Math.), those that are finite in the number of values or solutions, that is, in which the conditions of the problem or equation determine the number.

DETERMINATE De*ter"mi*nate, v. t.

Defn: To bring to an end; to determine. See Determine. [Obs.] The sly, slow hours shall not determinate The dateless limit of thy dear exile. Shak.

DETERMINATELY De*ter"mi*nate*ly, adv.

1. In a determinate manner; definitely; ascertainably. The principles of religion are already either determinately true or false, before you think of them. Tillotson.

2. Resolutely; unchangeably. Being determinately . . . bent to marry. Sir P. Sidney.

DETERMINATENESS De*ter"mi*nate*ness, n.

Defn: State of being determinate.

DETERMINATION De*ter`mi*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. determinatio boundary, end: cf. F. détermination.]

1. The act of determining, or the state of being determined.

2. Bringing to an end; termination; limit. A speedy determination of that war. Ludlow.

3. Direction or tendency to a certain end; impulsion. Remissness can by no means consist with a constant determination of the will . . . to the greatest apparent good. Locke.

4. The quality of mind reaches definite conclusions; decision of character; resoluteness. He only is a well-made man who has a good determination. Emerson.

5. The state of decision; a judicial decision, or ending of controversy.

6. That which is determined upon; result of deliberation; purpose; conclusion formed; fixed resolution. So bloodthirsty a determination to obtain convictions. Hallam.

7. (Med.)

Defn: A flow, rush, or tendency to a particular part; as, a determination of blood to the head.

8. (Physical Sciences)

Defn: The act, process, or result of any accurate measurement, as of length, volume, weight, intensify, etc.; as, the determination of the ohm or of the wave length of light; the determination of the salt in sea water, or the oxygen in the air.

9. (Logic) (a) The act of defining a concept or notion by giving its essential constituents. (b) The addition of a differentia to a concept or notion, thus limiting its extent; — the opposite of generalization.

10. (Nat. Hist.)

Defn: The act of determining the relations of an object, as regards genus and species; the referring of minerals, plants, or animals, to the species to which they belong; classification; as, I am indebted to a friend for the determination of most of these shells.

Syn. — Decision; conclusion; judgment; purpose; resolution; resolve; firmness. See Decision.

DETERMINATIVE De*ter"mi*na*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. déterminatif.]

Defn: Having power to determine; limiting; shaping; directing; conclusive. Incidents . . . determinative of their course. I. Taylor. Determinative tables (Nat. Hist.), tables presenting the specific character of minerals, plants, etc., to assist in determining the species to which a specimen belongs.

DETERMINATIVE De*ter"mi*na*tive, n.

Defn: That which serves to determine. Explanatory determinatives . . . were placed after words phonetically expressed, in order to serve as an aid to the reader in determining the meaning. I. Taylor (The Alphabet).

DETERMINATOR De*ter"mi*na`tor, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: One who determines. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

DETERMINE De*ter"mine, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Determined; p. pr. & vb. n. Determining.] Etym: [F. déterminer, L. determinare, determinatum; de + terminare limit, terminus limit. See Term.]

1. To fix the boundaries of; to mark off and separate. [God] hath determined the times before appointed. Acts xvii. 26.

2. To set bounds to; to fix the determination of; to limit; to bound; to bring to an end; to finish. The knowledge of men hitherto hath been determined by the view or sight. Bacon. Now, where is he that will not stay so long Till his friend sickness hath determined me Shak.

3. To fix the form or character of; to shape; to prescribe imperatively; to regulate; to settle. The character of the soul is determined by the character of its God. J. Edwards. Something divinely beautiful . . . that at some time or other might influence or even determine her course of life. W. Black.

4. To fix the course of; to impel and direct; — with a remoter object preceded by to; as, another's will determined me to this course.

5. To ascertain definitely; to find out the specific character or name of; to assign to its true place in a system; as, to determine an unknown or a newly discovered plant or its name.

6. To bring to a conclusion, as a question or controversy; to settle authoritative or judicial sentence; to decide; as, the court has determined the cause.

7. To resolve on; to have a fixed intention of; also, to cause to come to a conclusion or decision; to lead; as, this determined him to go immediately.

8. (Logic)

Defn: To define or limit by adding a differentia.

9. (Physical Sciences)

Defn: To ascertain the presence, quantity, or amount of; as, to determine the parallax; to determine the salt in sea water.

DETERMINE De*ter"mine, v. i.

1. To come to an end; to end; to terminate. [Obs.] He who has vented a pernicious doctrine or published an ill book must know that his life determine not together. South. Estates may determine on future contingencies. Blackstone.

2. To come to a decision; to decide; to resolve; — often with on. "Determine on some course." Shak. He shall pay as the judges determine. Ex. xxi. 22.

DETERMINED De*ter"mined, a.

Defn: Decided; resolute. "Adetermined foe."" Sparks.

DETERMINEDLY De*ter"min*ed*ly, adv.

Defn: In a determined manner; with determination.

DETERMINER De*ter"min*er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, determines or decides.

DETERMINISM De*ter"min*ism, n. (Metaph.)

Defn: The doctrine that the will is not free, but is inevitably and invincibly determined by motives. Its superior suitability to produce courage, as contrasted with scientific physical determinism, is obvious. F. P. Cobbe.

DETERMINIST De*ter"min*ist, n. (Metaph.)

Defn: One who believes in determinism. Also adj.; as, determinist theories.

DETERRATION De`ter*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. de + terra earth: cf. F. déterrer to unearth.]

Defn: The uncovering of anything buried or covered with earth; a taking out of the earth or ground. Woodward.

DETERRENCE De*ter"rence, n.

Defn: That which deters; a deterrent; a hindrance. [R.]

DETERRENT De*ter"rent, a. Etym: [L. deterrens, p. pr. of deterrere. See Deter.]

Defn: Serving to deter. "The deterrent principle." E. Davis.

DETERRENT De*ter"rent, n.

Defn: That which deters or prevents.

DETERSION De*ter"sion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. détersion. See Deterge.]

Defn: The act of deterging or cleansing, as a sore.

DETERSIVE De*ter"sive, a. Etym: [Cf. détersif.]

Defn: Cleansing; detergent. — n.

Defn: A cleansing agent; a detergent.

DETERSIVELY De*ter"sive*ly, adv.

Defn: In a way to cleanse.

DETERSIVENESS De*ter"sive*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of cleansing.

DETEST De*test", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detested; p. pr. & vb. n. Detesting.] Etym: [L. detestare, detestatum, and detestari, to curse while calling a deity to witness, to execrate, detest; de + testari to be a witness, testify, testis a witness: cf. F. détester. See Testify.]

1. To witness against; to denounce; to condemn. [Obs.] The heresy of Nestorius . . . was detested in the Eastern churches. Fuller. God hath detested them with his own mouth. Bale.

2. To hate intensely; to abhor; to abominate; to loathe; as, we detest what is contemptible or evil. Who dares think one thing, and another tell, My heart detests him as the gates of hell. Pope.

Syn. — To abhor; abominate; execrate. See Hate.

DETESTABILITY De*test`a*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: Capacity of being odious. [R.] Carlyle.

DETESTABLE De*test"a*ble, a. Etym: [L. detestabilis: cf. F. détestable.]

Defn: Worthy of being detested; abominable; extremely hateful; very odious; deserving abhorrence; as, detestable vices. Thou hast defiled my sanctuary will all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations. Ezek. v. 11.

Syn. — Abominable; odious; execrable; abhorred.

DETESTABLENESS De*test"a*ble*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being detestable.

DETESTABLY De*test"a*bly, adv.

Defn: In a detestable manner.

DETESTATE De*tes"tate, v. t.

Defn: To detest. [Obs.] Udall.

DETESTATION Det`es*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. detestatio: cf. F. détestation.]

Defn: The act of detesting; extreme hatred or dislike; abhorrence; loathing. We are heartily agreed in our detestation of civil war. Burke.

DETESTER De*test"er, n.

Defn: One who detes

DETHRONE De*throne", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dethroned; p. pr. & vb. n. Dethroning.] Etym: [Pref. de- + throne: cf. F. détrôner; pref. dé- (L. dis-) + trône throne. See Throne.]

Defn: To remove or drive from a throne; to depose; to divest of supreme authority and dignity. "The Protector was dethroned." Hume.

DETHRONEMENT De*throne"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. détrônement.]

Defn: Deposal from a throne; deposition from regal power.

DETHRONER De*thron"er, n.

Defn: One who dethrones.

DETHRONIZATION De*thron`i*za"tion, n.

Defn: Dethronement. [Obs.] Speed.

DETHRONIZE De*thron"ize, v. t. Etym: [Cf. LL. dethronizare.]

Defn: To dethrone or unthrone. [Obs.] Cotgrave.

DETINUE Det"i*nue, n. Etym: [OF. detinu, detenu, p. p. of detenir to detain. See Detain.]

Defn: A person or thing detained; (Law)

Defn: a form of action for the recovery of a personal chattel wrongfully detained. Writ of detinue (Law), one that lies against him who wrongfully detains goods or chattels delivered to him, or in possession, to recover the thing itself, or its value and damages, from the detainer. It is now in a great measure superseded by other remedies.

DETONATE Det"o*nate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Detonated; p. pr. & vb. n. Detonating.] Etym: [L. detonare, v. i., to thunder down; de + tonare to thunder; akin to E. thunder. See Thunder, and cf. Detonize.]

Defn: To explode with a sudden report; as, niter detonates with sulphur.

DETONATE Det"o*nate, v. t.

Defn: To cause to explode; to cause to burn or inflame with a sudden report.

DETONATING Det"o*na`ting, a. & n.

Defn: from Detonate. Detonating gas, a mixture of two volumes of hydrogen with one volume of oxygen, which explodes with a loud report upon ignition. — Detonating powder, any powder or solid substance, as fulminate of mercury, which when struck, explodes with violence and a loud report. — Detonating primer, a primer exploded by a fuse; — used to explode gun cotton in blasting operations. — Detonating tube, a strong tube of glass, usually graduated, closed at one end, and furnished with two wires passing through its sides at opposite points, and nearly meeting, for the purpose of exploding gaseous mixtures by an electric spark, as in gas analysis, etc.

DETONATION Det`o*na"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. détonation.]

Defn: An explosion or sudden report made by the instantaneous decomposition or combustion of unstable substances' as, the detonation of gun cotton.

DETONATOR Det`o*na`tor, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, detonates.

DETONIZATION Det`o*ni*za"tion, n.

Defn: The act of detonizing; detonation.

DETONIZE Det"o*nize, v. t. & i. Etym: [See Detonate.] [imp. & p. p.Detonized; p. pr. & vb. n. Detonizing.]

Defn: To explode, or cause to explode; to burn with an explosion; to detonate.

DETORSION De*tor"sion, n.

Defn: Same as Detortion.

DETORT De*tort", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Detorting.] Etym: [L. detortus, p. p. of detorquere to turn away; de + torquere to turn about, twist: cf. F. détorquer, détordre.]

Defn: To turn form the original or plain meaning; to pervert; to wrest. Hammond.

DETORTION De*tor"tion, n.

Defn: The act of detorting, or the state of being detorted; a twisting or warping.

DETOUR De`tour", n. Etym: [F. détour, fr. détourner to turn aside; pref. dé- (L. dis-) + tourner to turn. See Turn.]

Defn: A turning; a circuitous route; a deviation from a direct course; as, the detours of the Mississippi.

DETRACT De*tract", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detracted; p. pr. & vb. n. Detracting.] Etym: [L. detractus, p. p. of detrahere to detract; de + trahere to draw: cf. F. détracter. See Trace.]

1. To take away; to withdraw. Detract much from the view of the without. Sir H. Wotton.

2. To take credit or reputation from; to defame. That calumnious critic . . . Detracting what laboriously we do. Drayton.

Syn. — To derogate; decry; disparage; depreciate; asperse; vilify; defame; traduce. See Decry.

DETRACT De*tract", v. i.

Defn: To take away a part or something, especially from one's credit; to lessen reputation; to derogate; to defame; — often with from. It has been the fashion to detract both from the moral and literary character of Cicero. V. Knox.

DETRACTER De*tract"er, n.

Defn: One who detracts; a detractor. Other detracters and malicious writers. Sir T. North.

DETRACTINGLY De*tract"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a detracting manner.

DETRACTION De*trac"tion, n. Etym: [F. détraction, L. detractio.]

1. A taking away or withdrawing. [Obs.] The detraction of the eggs of the said wild fowl. Bacon.

2. The act of taking away from the reputation or good name of another; a lessening or cheapening in the estimation of others; the act of depreciating another, from envy or malice; calumny.

Syn. — Depreciation; disparagement; derogation; slander; calumny; aspersion; censure.

DETRACTIOUS De*trac"tious, a.

Defn: Containing detraction; detractory. [R.] Johnson.

DETRACTIVE De*tract"ive, a.

1. Tending to detractor draw. [R.]

2. Tending to lower in estimation; depreciative.

DETRACTIVENESS De*tract"ive*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being detractive.

DETRACTOR De*tract"or, n. Etym: [L.: cf. F. détracteur.]

Defn: One who detracts; a derogator; a defamer. His detractors were noisy and scurrilous. Macaulay.

Syn. — Slanderer; calumniator; defamer; vilifier.

DETRACTORY De*tract"o*ry, a.

Defn: Defamatory by denial of desert; derogatory; calumnious. Sir T. Browne.

DETRACTRESS De*tract"ress, n.

Defn: A female detractor. Addison.

DETRAIN De*train", v. i. & t.

Defn: To alight, or to cause to alight, from a railway train. [Eng.] London Graphic.

DETRECT De*trect", v. t. Etym: [L. detrectare; de + tractare, intens. of trahere to draw.]

Defn: To refuse; to decline. [Obs.] "To detrect the battle." Holinshed.

DETRIMENT Det"ri*ment, n. Etym: [L. detrimentum, fr. deterere, detritum, to rub or wear away; de + terere to rub: cf. F. détriment. See Trite.]

1. That which injures or causes damage; mischief; harm; diminution; loss; damage; — used very generically; as, detriments to property, religion, morals, etc. I can repair That detriment, if such it be. Milton.

2. A charge made to students and barristers for incidental repairs of the rooms they occupy. [Eng.]

Syn. — Injury; loss; damage; disadvantage; prejudice; hurt; mischief; harm.

DETRIMENT Det"ri*ment, v. t.

Defn: To do injury to; to hurt. [Archaic] Other might be determined thereby. Fuller.

DETRIMENTAL Det`ri*men"tal, a.

Defn: Causing detriment; injurious; hurtful. Neither dangerous nor detrimental to the donor. Addison.

Syn. — Injurious; hurtful; prejudicial; disadvantageous; mischievous; pernicious.

DETRIMENTALNESS Det`ri*men"tal*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being detrimental; injuriousness.

DETRITAL De*tri"tal, a. (Geol.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or composed of, detritus.

DETRITE De*trite", a. Etym: [L. detritus, p. p.]

Defn: Worn out.

DETRITION De*tri"tion, n. Etym: [LL. detritio. See Detriment.]

Defn: A wearing off or away. Phonograms which by process long-continued detrition have reached a step of extreme simplicity. I. Taylor (The Alphabet).

DETRITUS De*tri"tus, n. Etym: [F. détritus, fr. L. detritus, p. p. of deterere. See Detriment.]

1. (Geol.)

Defn: A mass of substances worn off from solid bodies by attrition, and reduced to small portions; as, diluvial detritus.

Note: For large portions, the word débris is used.

2. Hence: Any fragments separated from the body to which they belonged; any product of disintegration. The mass of detritus of which modern languages are composed. Farrar.

DETRUDE De*trude", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detruded; p. pr. & vb. n. Detruding.] Etym: [L. detrudere, detrusum; de + trudere to thrust, push.]

Defn: To thrust down or out; to push down with force. Locke.

DETRUNCATE De*trun"cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detruncated; p. pr. & vb. n. Detruncating.] Etym: [L. detruncatus, p. p. of detruncare to cut off; de + truncare to maim, shorten, cut off. See Truncate.]

Defn: To shorten by cutting; to cut off; to lop off.

DETRUNCATION De`trun*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. detruncatio: cf. F. détroncation.]

Defn: The act of lopping or cutting off, as the head from the body.

DETRUSION De*tru"sion, n. Etym: [L. detrusio. See Detrude.]

Defn: The act of thrusting or driving down or outward; outward thrust. — De*tru"sive, a.

DETTE Dette, n.

Defn: Debt. [Obs.] Chaucer.

DETTELES Dette"les, a.

Defn: Free from debt. [Obs.] Chaucer.

DETUMESCENCE De`tu*mes"cence, n. Etym: [L. detumescere to cease swelling; de + tumescere, tumere, to swell.]

Defn: Diminution of swelling; subsidence of anything swollen. [R.] Cudworth.

DETUR De"tur, n. Etym: [L. detur let it be given.]

Defn: A present of books given to a meritorious undergraduate student as a prize. [Harvard Univ., U. S.]

DETURB De*turb", v. t. Etym: [L. deturbare.]

Defn: To throw down. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

DETURBATE De*tur"bate, v. t. Etym: [LL. deturbatus, p. p. of deturbare, fr. L. deturbare to thrust down.]

Defn: To evict; to remove. [Obs.] Foxe.

DETURBATION Det`ur*ba"tion, n.

Defn: The act of deturbating. [Obs.]

DETURN De*turn", v. t. Etym: [Pref. de- + turn. Cf. Detour.]

Defn: To turn away. [Obs.] Sir K. Digby.

DETURPATE De*tur"pate, v. t. Etym: [L. deturpare; de + turpare to make ugly, defile, turpis ugly, foul.]

Defn: To defile; to disfigure. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.

DETURPATION Det`ur*pa"tion, n.

Defn: A making foul. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.

DEUCE Deuce, n. Etym: [F. deux two, OF. deus, fr. L. duo. See Two.]

1. (Gaming)

Defn: Two; a card or a die with two spots; as, the deuce of hearts.

2. (Tennis)

Defn: A condition of the score beginning whendeuce, which decides the game.

DEUCE Deuce, n. Etym: [Cf. LL. dusius, Armor, dus, teûz, phantom, specter; Gael. taibhs, taibhse, apparition, ghost; or fr. OF. deus God, fr. L. deus (cf. Deity.)]

Defn: The devil; a demon. [A euphemism, written also deuse.] [Low]

DEUCED Deu"ced, a.

Defn: Devilish; excessive; extreme. [Low] — Deu"ced*ly, adv.

DEUSE; DEUSED Deuse, n.; Deu"sed (, a.

Defn: See Deuce, Deuced.

DEUTEROCANONICAL Deu`ter*o*ca*non"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. canonical.]

Defn: Pertaining to a second canon, or ecclesiastical writing of inferior authority; — said of the Apocrypha, certain Epistles, etc.

DEUTEROGAMIST Deu`ter*og"a*mist, n. Etym: [See Deuterogamy.]

Defn: One who marries the second time.

DEUTEROGAMY Deu`ter*og"a*my, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A second marriage, after the death of the first husband of wife; — in distinction from bigamy, as defined in the old canon law. See Bigamy. Goldsmith.

DEUTEROGENIC Deu`ter*o*gen"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Geol.)

Defn: Of secondary origin; — said of certain rocks whose material has been derived from older rocks.

DEUTERONOMIST Deu`ter*on"o*mist, n.

Defn: The writer of Deuteronomy.

DEUTERONOMY Deu`ter*on"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. Deuteronomium.] (Bibl.)

Defn: The fifth book of the Pentateuch, containing the second giving of the law by Moses.

DEUTEROPATHIA; DEUTEROPATHY Deu`ter*o*pa*thi"a, Deu`ter*op"a*thy, n. Etym: [NL. deuteropathia, fr. Gr. deutéropathie.] (Med.)

Defn: A sympathetic affection of any part of the body, as headache from an overloaded stomach.

DEUTEROPATHIC Deu`ter*o*path"ic, a.

Defn: Pertaining to deuteropathy; of the nature of deuteropathy.

DEUTEROSCOPY Deu`ter*os"co*py, n. Etym: [Gr. -scopy.]

1. Second sight. I felt by anticipation the horrors of the Highland seers, whom their gift of deuteroscopy compels to witness things unmeet for mortal eye. Sir W. Scott.

2. That which is seen at a second view; a meaning beyond the literal sense; the second intention; a hidden signification. Sir T. Browne.

DEUTEROZOOID Deu`ter*o*zo"oid, n. Etym: [Gr. zooid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the secondary, and usually sexual, zooids produced by budding or fission from the primary zooids, in animals having alternate generations. In the tapeworms, the joints are deuterozooids.

DEUTHYDROGURET Deut`hy*drog"u*ret, n. (Chem.)

Defn: Same as Deutohydroguret.

DEUTO-; DEUT- Deu"to- or Deut- (dut-) Etym: [Contr. from Gr. (Chem.)

Defn: A prefix which formerly properly indicated the second in a regular series of compound in the series, and not to its composition, but which is now generally employed in the same sense as bi- or di-, although little used.

DEUTOHYDROGURET Deu`to*hy*drog"u*ret, n. Etym: [Pref. deut-, deuto- + hydroguret.] (Chem.)

Defn: A compound containing in the molecule two atoms of hydrogen united with some other element or radical. [Obs.]

DEUTOPLASM Deu"to*plasm, n. Etym: [Pref. deuto- + Gr. (Biol.)

Defn: The lifeless food matter in the cytoplasm of an ovum or a cell, as distinguished from the active or true protoplasm; yolk substance; yolk.

DEUTOPLASTIC Deu`to*plas"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. deuto- + Gr. (Biol.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or composed of, deutoplasm.

DEUTOSULPHURET Deu`to*sul"phu*ret, n. Etym: [Pref. deuto- + sulphuret.] (Chem.)

Defn: A disulphide. [Obs.]

DEUTOXIDE Deu*tox"ide (; 104), n. Etym: [Pref. deut- + oxide.] (Chem.)

Defn: A compound containing in the molecule two atoms of oxygen united with some other element or radical; — usually called dioxide, or less frequently, binoxide.

DEUTZIA Deut"zi*a, n. Etym: [NL. Named after Jan Deutz of Holland.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of shrubs with pretty white flowers, much cultivated.

DEV; DEVA Dev, or De"va (, n. Etym: [Skr. d. Cf. Deity.] (Hind. Myth.)

Defn: A god; a deity; a divine being; an idol; a king.

DEVANAGARI De`va*na"ga*ri, n. Etym: [Skr. d; d god + nagara city, i. e., divine city.]

Defn: The character in which Sanskrit is written.

DEVAPORATION De*vap`o*ra"tion, n.

Defn: The change of vapor into water, as in the formation of rain.

DEVAST De*vast", v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. dévaster. See Devastate.]

Defn: To devastate. [Obs.] Bolingbroke.

DEVASTATE Dev"as*tate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devastated; p. pr. & vb. n. Devastating.] Etym: [L. devastatus, p. p. of devastare to devastate; de + vastare to lay waste, vastus waste. See Vast.]

Defn: To lay waste; to ravage; to desolate. Whole countries . . . were devastated. Macaulay.

Syn. — To waste; ravage; desolate; destroy; demolish; plunder; pillage.

DEVASTATION Dev`as*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dévastation.]

1. The act of devastating, or the state of being devastated; a laying waste. Even now the devastation is begun, And half the business of destruction done. Goldsmith.

2. (Law)

Defn: Waste of the goods of the deceased by an executor or administrator. Blackstone.

Syn. — Desolation; ravage; waste; havoc; destruction; ruin; overthrow.

DEVASTATOR Dev"as*ta`tor, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: One who, or that which, devastates. Emerson.

DEVASTAVIT Dev`as*ta"vit, n. Etym: [L., he has wasted.] (Law)

Defn: Waste or misapplication of the assets of a deceased person by an executor or an administrator. Bouvier.

DEVATA De"va*ta, n. Etym: [Hind., fr. Skr. d god.] (Hind. Myth.)

Defn: A deity; a divine being; a good spirit; an idol. [Written also dewata.]

DEVE Deve, a. Etym: [See Deaf.]

Defn: Deaf. [Obs.] Chaucer.

DEVELIN Dev"el*in, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The European swift. [Prov. Eng.]

DEVELOP De*vel"op, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Developed; p. pr. & vb. n. Developing.] Etym: [F. déveloper; dé- (L. dis-) + OF. voluper, voleper, to envelop, perh. from L. volup agreeably, delightfully, and hence orig., to make agreeable or comfortable by enveloping, to keep snug (cf. Voluptuous); or. perh. fr. a derivative of volvere, volutum, to roll (cf. Devolve). Cf. Envelop.] [Written also develope.]

1. To free from that which infolds or envelops; to unfold; to lay open by degrees or in detail; to make visible or known; to disclose; to produce or give forth; as, to develop theories; a motor that develops 100 horse power. These serve to develop its tenets. Milner. The 20th was spent in strengthening our position and developing the line of the enemy. The Century.

2. To unfold gradually, as a flower from a bud; hence, to bring through a succession of states or stages, each of which is preparatory to the next; to form or expand by a process of growth; to cause to change gradually from an embryo, or a lower state, to a higher state or form of being; as, sunshine and rain develop the bud into a flower; to develop the mind. The sound developed itself into a real compound. J. Peile. All insects . . . acquire the jointed legs before the wings are fully developed. Owen.

3. To advance; to further; to prefect; to make to increase; to promote the growth of. We must develop our own resources to the utmost. Jowett (Thucyd).

4. (Math.)

Defn: To change the form of, as of an algebraic expression, by executing certain indicated operations without changing the value.

5. (Photog.)

Defn: To cause to become visible, as an invisible or latent image upon plate, by submitting it to chemical agents; to bring to view. To develop a curved surface on a place (Geom.), to produce on the plane an equivalent surface, as if by rolling the curved surface so that all parts shall successively touch the plane.

Syn. — To uncover; unfold; evolve; promote; project; lay open; disclose; exhibit; unravel; disentangle.

DEVELOP De*vel"op, v. i.

1. To go through a process of natural evolution or growth, by successive changes from a less perfect to a more perfect or more highly organized state; to advance from a simpler form of existence to one more complex either in structure or function; as, a blossom develops from a bud; the seed develops into a plant; the embryo develops into a well-formed animal; the mind develops year by year. Nor poets enough to understand That life develops from within. Mrs. Browning.

2. To become apparent gradually; as, a picture on sensitive paper develops on the application of heat; the plans of the conspirators develop.

DEVELOPABLE De*vel"op*a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being developed. J. Peile. Developable surface (Math.), a surface described by a moving right line, and such that consecutive positions of the generator intersect each other. Hence, the surface can be developed into a plane.

DEVELOPER De*vel"op*er, n.

1. One who, or that which, develops.

2. (Photog.)

Defn: A reagent by the action of which the latent image upon a photographic plate, after exposure in the camera, or otherwise, is developed and visible.

DEVELOPMENT De*vel"op*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. développement.] [Written also developement.]

1. The act of developing or disclosing that which is unknown; a gradual unfolding process by which anything is developed, as a plan or method, or an image upon a photographic plate; gradual advancement or growth through a series of progressive changes; also, the result of developing, or a developed state. A new development of imagination, taste, and poetry. Channing.

2. (Biol.)

Defn: The series of changes which animal and vegetable organisms undergo in their passage from the embryonic state to maturity, from a lower to a higher state of organization.

3. (Math.) (a) The act or process of changing or expanding an expression into another of equivalent value or meaning. (b) The equivalent expression into which another has been developed.

4. (mus.)

Defn: The elaboration of a theme or subject; the unfolding of a musical idea; the evolution of a whole piece or movement from a leading theme or motive. Development theory (Biol.), the doctrine that animals and plants possess the power of passing by slow and successive stages from a lower to a higher state of organization, and that all the higher forms of life now in existence were thus developed by uniform laws from lower forms, and are not the result of special creative acts. See the Note under Darwinian.

Syn. — Unfolding; disclosure; unraveling; evolution; elaboration; growth.

DEVELOPMENTAL De*vel`op*men"tal, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or characteristic of, the process of development; as, the developmental power of a germ. Carpenter.

DEVENUSTATE Dev`e*nus"tate, v. t. Etym: [L. devenustatus, p. p. of devenustare to disfigure; de + venustus lovely, graceful.]

Defn: To deprive of beauty or grace. [Obs.]

DEVERGENCE; DEVERGENCY De*ver"gence, De*ver"gen*cy, n.

Defn: See Divergence. [Obs.]

DEVEST De*vest", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devested; p. pr. & vb. n. Devesting.] Etym: [L. devestire to undress; de + vestire to dress: cf. OF. devestir, F. dévêtir. Cf. Divest.]

1. To divest; to undress. Shak.

2. To take away, as an authority, title, etc., to deprive; to alienate, as an estate.

Note: This word is now generally written divest, except in the legal sense.

DEVEST De*vest", v. i. (Law)

Defn: To be taken away, lost, or alienated, as a title or an estate.

DEVEX De*vex", a. Etym: [L. devexus, from devehere to carry down.]

Defn: Bending down; sloping. [Obs.]

DEVEX De*vex", n.

Defn: Devexity. [Obs.] May (Lucan).

DEVEXITY De*vex"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. devexitas, fr. devexus. See Devex, a.]

Defn: A bending downward; a sloping; incurvation downward; declivity. [R.] Davies (Wit's Pilgr.)

DEVI De"vi, n.

Defn: ; fem. of Deva. A goddess.

DEVIANT De"vi*ant, a.

Defn: Deviating. [Obs.]

DEVIATE De"vi*ate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Deviated; p. pr. & vb. n. Deviating.] Etym: [L. deviare to deviate; de + viare to go, travel, via way. See Viaduct.]

Defn: To go out of the way; to turn aside from a course or a method; to stray or go astray; to err; to digress; to diverge; to vary. Thus Pegasus, a nearer way to take, May boldly deviate from the common track. Pope.

Syn. — To swerve; stray; wander; digress; depart; deflect; err.

DEVIATE De"vi*ate, v. t.

Defn: To cause to deviate. [R.] To deviate a needle. J. D. Forbes.

DEVIATION De`vi*a"tion, n. Etym: [LL. deviatio: cf. F. déviation.]

1. The act of deviating; a wandering from the way; variation from the common way, from an established rule, etc.; departure, as from the right course or the path of duty.

2. The state or result of having deviated; a transgression; an act of sin; an error; an offense.

2. (Com.)

Defn: The voluntary and unnecessary departure of a ship from, or delay in, the regular and usual course of the specific voyage insured, thus releasing the underwriters from their responsibility. Deviation of a falling body (Physics), that deviation from a strictly vertical line of descent which occurs in a body falling freely, in consequence of the rotation of the earth. — Deviation of the compass, the angle which the needle of a ship's compass makes with the magnetic meridian by reason of the magnetism of the iron parts of the ship. — Deviation of the line of the vertical, the difference between the actual direction of a plumb line and the direction it would have if the earth were a perfect ellipsoid and homogeneous, — caused by the attraction of a mountain, or irregularities in the earth's density.

DEVIATOR De"vi*a`tor, n. Etym: [L., a forsaker.]

Defn: One who, or that which, deviates.

DEVIATORY De"vi*a*to*ry, a.

Defn: Tending to deviate; devious; as, deviatory motion. [R.] Tully.

DEVICE De*vice", n. Etym: [OE. devis, devise, will, intention, opinion, invention, fr. F. devis architect's plan and estimates (in OF., division, plan, wish), devise device (in sense 3), in OF. also, division, wish, last will, fr. deviser. See Devise, v. t., and cf. Devise, n.]

1. That which is devised, or formed by design; a contrivance; an invention; a project; a scheme; often, a scheme to deceive; a stratagem; an artifice. His device in against Babylon, to destroy it. Jer. li. 11. Their recent device of demanding benevolences. Hallam. He disappointeth the devices of the crafty. Job v. 12.

2. Power of devising; invention; contrivance. I must have instruments of my own device. Landor.

3. (a) An emblematic design, generally consisting of one or more figures with a motto, used apart from heraldic bearings to denote the historical situation, the ambition, or the desire of the person adopting it. See Cognizance. (b) Improperly, an heraldic bearing. Knights-errant used to distinguish themselves by devices on their shields. Addison. A banner with this strange device -Excelsior. Longfellow.

4. Anything fancifully conceived. Shak.

5. A spectacle or show. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

6. Opinion; decision. [Obs.] Rom. of R.

Syn. — Contrivance; invention; design; scheme; project; stratagem; shift. — Device, Contrivance. Device implies more of inventive power, and contrivance more of skill and dexterity in execution. A device usually has reference to something worked out for exhibition or show; a contrivance usually respects the arrangement or disposition of things with reference to securing some end. Devices were worn by knights-errant on their shields; contrivances are generally used to promote the practical convenience of life. The word device is often used in a bad sense; as, a crafty device; contrivance is almost always used in a good sense; as, a useful contrivance.

DEVICEFUL De*vice"ful, a.

Defn: Full of devices; inventive. [R.] A carpet, rich, and of deviceful thread. Chapman.

DEVICEFULLY De*vice"ful*ly, adv.

Defn: In a deviceful manner. [R.]

DEVIL Dev"il, n. Etym: [AS. deófol, deóful; akin to G. , Goth. diabaúlus; all fr. L. diabolus the devil, Gr. gal to fall. Cf. Diabolic.]

1. The Evil One; Satan, represented as the tempter and spiritual of mankind. [Jesus] being forty days tempted of the devil. Luke iv. 2. That old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world. Rev. xii. 9.

2. An evil spirit; a demon. A dumb man possessed with a devil. Matt. ix. 32.

3. A very wicked person; hence, any great evil. "That devil Glendower." "The devil drunkenness." Shak. Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil John vi. 70.

4. An expletive of surprise, vexation, or emphasis, or, ironically, of negation. [Low] The devil a puritan that he is, . . . but a timepleaser. Shak. The things, we know, are neither rich nor rare, But wonder how the devil they got there. Pope.

5. (Cookery)

Defn: A dish, as a bone with the meat, broiled and excessively peppered; a grill with Cayenne pepper. Men and women busy in baking, broiling, roasting oysters, and preparing devils on the gridiron. Sir W. Scott.

6. (Manuf.)

Defn: A machine for tearing or cutting rags, cotton, etc. Blue devils. See under Blue. — Cartesian devil. See under Cartesian. — Devil bird (Zoöl.), one of two or more South African drongo shrikes (Edolius retifer, and E. remifer), believed by the natives to be connected with sorcery. — Devil may care, reckless, defiant of authority; — used adjectively. Longfellow. — Devil's apron (Bot.), the large kelp (Laminaria saccharina, and L. longicruris) of the Atlantic ocean, having a blackish, leathery expansion, shaped somewhat like an apron. — Devil's coachhorse. (Zoöl.) (a) The black rove beetle (Ocypus olens). [Eng.] (b) A large, predacious, hemipterous insect (Prionotus cristatus); the wheel bug. [U.S.] — Devil's darning-needle. (Zoöl.) See under Darn, v. t. — Devil's fingers, Devil's hand (Zoöl.), the common British starfish (Asterias rubens); — also applied to a sponge with stout branches. [Prov. Eng., Irish & Scot.] — Devil's riding-horse (Zoöl.), the American mantis (Mantis Carolina). — The Devil's tattoo, a drumming with the fingers or feet. "Jack played the Devil's tattoo on the door with his boot heels." F. Hardman (Blackw. Mag.). — Devil worship, worship of the power of evil; — still practiced by barbarians who believe that the good and evil forces of nature are of equal power. — Printer's devil, the youngest apprentice in a printing office, who runs on errands, does dirty work (as washing the ink rollers and sweeping), etc. "Without fearing the printer's devil or the sheriff's officer." Macaulay. — Tasmanian devil (Zoöl.), a very savage carnivorous marsupial of Tasmania (Dasyurus, or Diabolus, ursinus). — To play devil with, to molest extremely; to ruin. [Low]

DEVIL Dev"il, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deviled or Devilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Deviling or Devilling.]

1. To make like a devil; to invest with the character of a devil.

2. To grill with Cayenne pepper; to season highly in cooking, as with pepper. A deviled leg of turkey. W. Irving. deviled egg a hard-boiled egg, sliced into halves and with the yolk removed and replaced with a paste, usually made from the yolk and mayonnaise, seasoned with salt and/or spices such as paprika.

DEVIL-DIVER; DEVIL BIRD Dev"il-div`er, Dev"il bird` (, n.. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small water bird. See Dabchick.

DEVILESS Dev"il*ess, n.

Defn: A she-devil. [R.] Sterne.

DEVILET Dev"il*et, n.

Defn: A little devil. [R.] Barham.

DEVILFISH Dev"il*fish`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) A huge ray (Manta birostris or Cephaloptera vampyrus) of the Gulf of Mexico and Southern Atlantic coasts. Several other related species take the same name. See Cephaloptera. (b) A large cephalopod, especially the very large species of Octopus and Architeuthis. See Octopus. (c) The gray whale of the Pacific coast. See Gray whale. (d) The goosefish or angler (Lophius), and other allied fishes. See Angler.

DEVILING Dev"il*ing, n.

Defn: A young devil. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

DEVILISH Dev"il*ish, a.

1. Resembling, characteristic of, or pertaining to, the devil; diabolical; wicked in the extreme. "Devilish wickedness." Sir P. Sidney. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. James iii. 15.

2. Extreme; excessive. [Colloq.] Dryden.

Syn. — Diabolical; infernal; hellish; satanic; wicked; malicious; detestable; destructive. — Dev"il*ish*ly, adv. — Dev"il*ish*ness, n.

DEVILISM Dev"il*ism, n.

Defn: The state of the devil or of devils; doctrine of the devil or of devils. Bp. Hall.

DEVILIZE Dev"il*ize, v. t.

Defn: To make a devil of. [R.] He that should deify a saint, should wrong him as much as he that should devilize him. Bp. Hall.

DEVILKIN Dev"il*kin, n.

Defn: A little devil; a devilet.

DEVILMENT Dev"il*ment, n.

Defn: Deviltry. Bp. Warburton.

DEVILRY Dev"il*ry, n.; pl. Devilries (.

1. Conduct suitable to the devil; extreme wickedness; deviltry. Stark lies and devilry. Sir T. More.

2. The whole body of evil spirits. Tylor.

DEVIL'S DARNING-NEEDLE Dev"il's darn"ing-nee`dle. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A dragon fly. See Darning needle, under Darn, v. t.

DEVILSHIP Dev"il*ship, n.

Defn: The character or person of a devil or the devil. Cowley.

DEVILTRY Dev"il*try, n.; pl. Deviltries (.

Defn: Diabolical conduct; malignant mischief; devilry. C. Reade.

DEVILWOOD Dev"il*wood`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A kind of tree (Osmanthus Americanus), allied to the European olive.

DEVIOUS De"vi*ous, a. Etym: [L. devius; de + via way. See Viaduct.]

1. Out of a straight line; winding; varying from directness; as, a devious path or way.

2. Going out of the right or common course; going astray; erring; wandering; as, a devious step.

Syn. — Wandering; roving; rambling; vagrant. — De"vi*ous*ly, adv. — De"vi*ous*ness, n.

DEVIRGINATE De*vir"gin*ate, a. Etym: [L. devirginatus, p. p. of devirginare.]

Defn: Deprived of virginity. [R.]

DEVIRGINATE De*vir"gin*ate, v. t.

Defn: To deprive of virginity; to deflour. [R.] Sandys.

DEVIRGINATION De*vir`gi*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. devirginatio.]

Defn: A deflouring. [R.] Feltham.

DEVISABLE De*vis"a*ble, a. Etym: [From Devise.]

1. Capable of being devised, invented, or contrived.

2. Capable of being bequeathed, or given by will.

DEVISAL De*vis"al, n.

Defn: A devising. Whitney.

DEVISE De*vise", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devised; p. pr. & vb. n. Devising.] Etym: [OF. deviser to distribute, regulate, direct, relate, F., to chat, fr. L. divisus divided, distributed, p. p. of dividere. See Divide, and cf. Device.]

1. To form in the mind by new combinations of ideas, new applications of principles, or new arrangement of parts; to formulate by thought; to contrive; to excogitate; to invent; to plan; to scheme; as, to devise an engine, a new mode of writing, a plan of defense, or an argument. To devise curious works. Ex. CCTV. 32. Devising schemes to realize his ambitious views. Bancroft.

2. To plan or scheme for; to purpose to obtain. For wisdom is most riches; fools therefore They are which fortunes do by vows devise. Spenser.

3. To say; to relate; to describe. [Obs.] Chaucer.

4. To imagine; to guess. [Obs.] Spenser.

5. (Law)

Defn: To give by will; — used of real estate; formerly, also, of chattels.

Syn. — To bequeath; invent; discover; contrive; excogitate; imagine; plan; scheme. See Bequeath.

DEVISE De*vise", v. i.

Defn: To form a scheme; to lay a plan; to contrive; to consider. I thought, devised, and Pallas heard my prayer. Pope.

Note: Devise was formerly followed by of; as, let us devise of ease. Spenser.

DEVISE De*vise", n. Etym: [OF. devise division, deliberation, wish, will, testament. See Device.]

1. The act of giving or disposing of real estate by will; — sometimes improperly applied to a bequest of personal estate.

2. A will or testament, conveying real estate; the clause of a will making a gift of real property. Fines upon devises were still exacted. Bancroft.

3. Property devised, or given by will.

DEVISE De*vise", n.

Defn: Device. See Device. [Obs.]

DEVISEE Dev`i*see", n. (Law)

Defn: One to whom a devise is made, or real estate given by will.

DEVISER De*vis"er, n.

Defn: One who devises.

DEVISOR De*vis"or, n. (Law)

Defn: One who devises, or gives real estate by will; a testator; — correlative to devisee.

DEVITABLE Dev"i*ta*ble, a. Etym: [L. devitare to avoid; de + vitare to shun, avoid.]

Defn: Avoidable. [Obs.]

DEVITALIZE De*vi"tal*ize, v. t.

Defn: To deprive of life or vitality. — De*vi`tal*i*za"tion, n.

DEVITATION Dev`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. devitatio.]

Defn: An avoiding or escaping; also, a warning. [Obs.] Bailey.

DEVITRIFICATION De*vit`ri*fi*ca"tion, n.

Defn: The act or process of devitrifying, or the state of being devitrified. Specifically, the conversion of molten glassy matter into a stony mass by slow cooling, the result being the formation of crystallites, microbites, etc., in the glassy base, which are then called devitrification products.

DEVITRIFY De*vit"ri*fy, v. t.

Defn: To deprive of glasslike character; to take away vitreous luster and transparency from.

DEVOCALIZE De*vo"cal*ize, v. t.

Defn: To make toneless; to deprive of vowel quality. — De*vo`cal*i*za"tion, n. If we take a high vowel, such as (i) [= nearly i of bit], and devocalize it, we obtain a hiss which is quite distinct enough to stand for a weak (jh). H. Sweet.

DEVOCATION Dev`o*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. devocare to call off or away; de + vocare to call.]

Defn: A calling off or away. [R.] Hallywell.

DEVOID De*void", v. t. Etym: [OE. devoiden to leave, OF. desvuidier, desvoidier, to empty out. See Void.]

Defn: To empty out; to remove.

DEVOID De*void", a. Etym: [See Devoid, v. t.]

1. Void; empty; vacant. [Obs.] Spenser.

2. Destitute; not in possession; — with of; as, devoid of sense; devoid of pity or of pride.

DEVOIR De*voir", n. Etym: [F., fr. L. debere to owe. See Due.]

Defn: Duty; service owed; hence, due act of civility or respect; — now usually in the plural; as, they paid their devoirs to the ladies. "Do now your devoid, young knights!" Chaucer.

DEVOLUTE Dev"o*lute, v. t. Etym: [L. devolutus, p. p. of devolvere. See Devolve.]

Defn: To devolve. [Obs.] Foxe.

DEVOLUTION Dev`o*lu"tion, n. Etym: [LL. devolutio: cf. F. dévolution.]

1. The act of rolling down. [R.] The devolution of earth down upon the valleys. Woodward.

2. Transference from one person to another; a passing or devolving upon a successor. The devolution of the crown through a . . . channel known and conformable to old constitutional requisitions. De Quincey.

DEVOLVE De*volve", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devolved; p. pr. & vb. n. Devolving.] Etym: [L. devolvere, devolutum, to roll down; de + volvere to roll down; de + volvere to roll. See Voluble.]

1. To roll onward or downward; to pass on. Every headlong stream Devolves its winding waters to the main. Akenside. Devolved his rounded periods. Tennyson.

2. To transfer from one person to another; to deliver over; to hand down; — generally with upon, sometimes with to or into. They devolved a considerable share of their power upon their favorite. Burke. They devolved their whole authority into the hands of the council of sixty. Addison.

DEVOLVE De*volve", v. i.

Defn: To pass by transmission or succession; to be handed over or down; — generally with on or upon, sometimes with to or into; as, after the general fell, the command devolved upon (or on) the next officer in rank. His estate . . . devolved to Lord Somerville. Johnson.

DEVOLVEMENT De*volve"ment, n.

Defn: The act or process of devolving;; devolution.

DEVON De"von, n.

Defn: One of a breed of hardy cattle originating in the country of Devon, England. Those of pure blood have a deep red color. The small, longhorned variety, called North Devons, is distinguished by the superiority of its working oxen.

DEVONIAN De*vo"ni*an, a. (Geol.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to Devon or Devonshire in England; as, the Devonian rocks, period, or system. Devonian age (Geol.), the age next older than the Carboniferous and later than the Silurian; — called also the Age of fishes. The various strata of this age compose the Devonian formation or system, and include the old red sandstone of Great Britain. They contain, besides plants and numerous invertebrates, the bony portions of many large and remarkable fishes of extinct groups. See the Diagram under Geology.

DEVONIAN De*vo"ni*an, n.

Defn: The Devonian age or formation.

DEVORATION Dev`o*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. devoratio. See Devour.]

Defn: The act of devouring. [Obs.] Holinshed.

DEVOTARY De*vo"ta*ry, n. Etym: [See Devote, Votary.]

Defn: A votary. [Obs.] J. Gregory.

DEVOTE De*vote", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devoted; p. pr. & vb. n. Devoting.] Etym: [L. devotus, p. p. of devovere; de + vovere to vow. See Vow, and cf. Devout, Devow.]

1. To appropriate by vow; to set apart or dedicate by a solemn act; to consecrate; also, to consign over; to doom; to evil; to devote one to destruction; the city was devoted to the flames. No devoted thing that a man shall devote unto the Lord . . . shall be sold or redeemed. Lev. xxvii. 28.

2. To execrate; to curse. [Obs.]

3. To give up wholly; to addict; to direct the attention of wholly or compound; to attach; — often with a reflexive pronoun; as, to devote one's self to science, to one's friends, to piety, etc.

Thy servant who is devoted to thy fear. Ps. cxix. 38. They devoted themselves unto all wickedness. Grew. A leafless and simple branch . . . devoted to the purpose of climbing. Gray.

Syn. — To addict; apply; dedicate; consecrate; resign; destine; doom; consign. See Addict.

DEVOTE De*vote", a. Etym: [L. devotus, p. p.]

Defn: Devoted; addicted; devout. [Obs.] Milton.

DEVOTE De*vote", n.

Defn: A devotee. [Obs.] Sir E. Sandys.

DEVOTED De*vot"ed, a.

Defn: Consecrated to a purpose; strongly attached; zealous; devout; as, a devoted admirer. — De*vot"ed*ly, adv. — De*vot"ed*ness, n.

DEVOTEE Dev`o*tee", n.

Defn: One who is wholly devoted; esp., one given wholly to religion; one who is superstitiously given to religious duties and ceremonies; a bigot. While Father Le Blanc was very devout he was not a devotee. A. S. Hardy.

DEVOTEMENT De*vote"ment, n.

Defn: The state of being devoted, or set apart by a vow. [R.] Bp. Hurd.

DEVOTER De*vot"er, n.

Defn: One who devotes; a worshiper.

DEVOTION De*vo"tion, n. Etym: [F. dévotion, L. devotio.]

1. The act of devoting; consecration.

2. The state of being devoted; addiction; eager inclination; strong attachment love or affection; zeal; especially, feelings toward God appropriately expressed by acts of worship; devoutness. Genius animated by a fervent spirit of devotion. Macaulay.

3. Act of devotedness or devoutness; manifestation of strong attachment; act of worship; prayer. "The love of public devotion." Hooker.

4. Disposal; power of disposal. [Obs.] They are entirely at our devotion, and may be turned backward and forward, as we please. Godwin.

5. A thing consecrated; an object of devotion. [R.] Churches and altars, priests and all devotions, Tumbled together into rude chaos. Beau. & Fl. Days of devotion. See under Day.

Syn. — Consecration; devoutness; religiousness; piety; attachment; devotedness; ardor; earnestness.

DEVOTIONAL De*vo"tion*al, a. Etym: [L. devotionalis.]

Defn: Pertaining to, suited to, or used in, devotion; as, a devotional posture; devotional exercises; a devotional frame of mind.

DEVOTIONALIST; DEVOTIONIST De*vo"tion*al*ist, De*vo"tion*ist, n.

Defn: One given to devotion, esp. to excessive formal devotion.

DEVOTIONALITY De*vo`tion*al"i*ty, n.

Defn: The practice of a devotionalist. A. H. Clough.

DEVOTIONALLY De*vo"tion*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a devotional manner; toward devotion.

DEVOTO De*vo"to, n. Etym: [It.]

Defn: A devotee. Dr. J. Scott.

DEVOTOR De*vo"tor, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: A worshiper; one given to devotion. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

DEVOUR De*vour", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devoured; p. pr. & vb. n. Devouring.] Etym: [F. dévorer, fr. L. devorare; de + vorare to eat greedily, swallow up. See Voracious.]

1. To eat up with greediness; to consume ravenously; to feast upon like a wild beast or a glutton; to prey upon. Some evil beast hath devoured him. Gen. xxxvii. 20.

2. To seize upon and destroy or appropriate greedily, selfishly, or wantonly; to consume; to swallow up; to use up; to waste; to annihilate. Famine and pestilence shall devour him. Ezek. vii. 15. I waste my life and do my days devour. Spenser.

3. To enjoy with avidity; to appropriate or take in eagerly by the senses. Longing they look, and gaping at the sight, Devour her o'er with vast delight. Dryden.

Syn. — To consume; waste; destroy; annihilate.

DEVOURABLE De*vour"a*ble, a.

Defn: That may be devoured.

DEVOURER De*vour"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, devours.

DEVOURINGLY De*vour"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a devouring manner.

DEVOUT De*vout", a. Etym: [OE. devot, devout, F. dévot, from L. devotus devoted, p. p. of devovere. See Devote, v. t.]

1. Devoted to religion or to religious feelings and duties; absorbed in religious exercises; given to devotion; pious; reverent; religious. A devout man, and one that feared God. Acts x. 2. We must be constant and devout in the worship of God. Rogers.

2. Expressing devotion or piety; as, eyes devout; sighs devout; a devout posture. Milton.

3. Warmly devoted; hearty; sincere; earnest; as, devout wishes for one's welfare. The devout, devoutly religious persons, those who are sincerely pious.

Syn. — Holy; pure; religious; prayerful; pious; earnest; reverent; solemn; sincere.

DEVOUT De*vout", n.

1. A devotee. [Obs.] Sheldon.

2. A devotional composition, or part of a composition; devotion. [Obs.] Milton.

DEVOUTFUL De*vout"ful, a.

1. Full of devotion. [R.]

2. Sacred. [R.] To take her from austerer check of parents, To make her his by most devoutful rights. Marston.

DEVOUTLESS De*vout"less, a.

Defn: Destitute of devotion. — De*vout"less*ly, adv. — De*vout"less*ness, n.

DEVOUTLY De*vout"ly, adv.

1. In a devout and reverent manner; with devout emotions; piously. Cast her fair eyes to heaven and prayed devoutly. Shak.

2. Sincerely; solemnly; earnestly. 'T is a consummation Devoutly to be wished. Shak.

DEVOUTNESS De*vout"ness, n.

Defn: Quality or state of being devout.

DEVOVE De*vove", v. t. Etym: [See Devote, v. t.]

Defn: To devote. [Obs.] Cowley.

DEVOW De*vow", v. t. Etym: [F. dévouer, L. devovere. See Devote, v. t.]

1. To give up; to devote. [Obs.]

2. Etym: [Cf. OF. desvoer. Cf. Disavow.]

Defn: To disavow; to disclaim. [Obs.] G. Fletcher.

DEVULGARIZE De*vul"gar*ize, v. t.

Defn: To free from what is vulgar, common, or narrow. Shakespeare and Plutarch's "Lives" are very devulgarizing books. E. A. Abbott.

DEW Dew, n. Etym: [AS. deáw; akin to D. dauw, G. thau, tau, Icel. dögg, Sw. dagg, Dan. dug; cf. Skr. dhav, dhav, to flow. Dag dew.]

1. Moisture from the atmosphere condensed by cool bodies upon their surfaces, particularly at night. Her tears fell with the dews at even. Tennyson.

2. Figuratively, anything which falls lightly and in a refreshing manner. "The golden dew of sleep." Shak.

3. An emblem of morning, or fresh vigor. "The dew of his youth." Longfellow.

Note: Dew is used in combination; as, dew-bespangled, dew-drenched, dewdrop, etc.

DEW Dew, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dewed; p. pr. & vb. n. Dewing.]

Defn: To wet with dew or as with dew; to bedew; to moisten; as with dew. The grasses grew A little ranker since they dewed them so. A. B. Saxton.

DEW Dew, a. & n.

Defn: Same as Due, or Duty. [Obs.] Spenser.

DEWAR VESSEL Dew"ar ves`sel (du"er). [After Sir James Dewar, British physicist.]

Defn: A double-walled glass vessel for holding liquid air, etc., having the space between the walls exhausted so as to prevent conduction of heat, and sometimes having the glass silvered to prevent absorption of radiant heat; — called also, according to the particular shape, Dewar bulb, Dewar tube, etc.

DEWBERRY Dew"ber`ry, n. (Bot.) (a) The fruit of certain species of bramble (Rubus); in England, the fruit of R. cæsius, which has a glaucous bloom; in America, that of R. canadensis and R. hispidus, species of low blackberries. (b) The plant which bears the fruit. Feed him with apricots and dewberries. Shak.

DEWCLAW Dew"claw`, n.

Defn: In any animal, esp. of the Herbivora, a rudimentary claw or small hoof not reaching the ground. Some cut off the dewclaws [of greyhounds]. J. H. Walsh.

DEWDROP Dew"drop`, n.

Defn: A drop of dew. Shak.

DEWFALL Dew"fall`, n.

Defn: The falling of dew; the time when dew begins to fall.

DEWINESS Dew"i*ness, n.

Defn: State of being dewy.

DEWLAP Dew"lap`, n. Etym: [Dew + lap to lick.]

1. The pendulous skin under the neck of an ox, which laps or licks the dew in grazing.

2. The flesh upon the human throat, especially when with age. [Burlesque] On her withered dewlap pour the ale. Shak.

DEWLAPPED Dew"lapped`, a.

Defn: Furnished with a dewlap.

DEWLESS Dew"less, a.

Defn: Having no dew. Tennyson.

DEW-POINT Dew"-point`, n. (Meteor.)

Defn: The temperature at which dew begins to form. It varies with the humidity and temperature of the atmosphere.

DEWRET Dew"ret`, v. t. Etym: [Dew + ret, v. t.]

Defn: To ret or rot by the process called dewretting.

DEWRETTING Dew"ret`ting, n.

Defn: Dewrotting; the process of decomposing the gummy matter of flax and hemp and setting the fibrous part, by exposure on a sward to dew, rain, and sunshine.

DEWROT Dew"rot`, v. t.

Defn: To rot, as flax or hemp, by exposure to rain, dew, and sun. See Dewretting.

DEWWORM Dew"worm`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Earthworm.

DEWY Dew"y, a.

1. Pertaining to dew; resembling, consisting of, or moist with, dew. A dewy mist Went and watered all the ground. Milton. When dewy eve her curtain draws. Keble.

2. Falling gently and beneficently, like the dew. Dewy sleep ambrosial. Cowper.

3. (Bot.)

Defn: Resembling a dew-covered surface; appearing as if covered with dew.

DEXTER Dex"ter, a. Etym: [L.,; akin to Gr. dakshi (cf. daksh to be strong, suit); Goth. taihswa, OHG. zeso. Cf. Dexterous.]

1. Pertaining to, or situated on, the right hand; right, as opposed to sinister, or left. On sounding wings a dexter eagle flew. Pope.

2. (Her.)

Defn: On the right-hand side of a shield, i. e., towards the right hand of its wearer. To a spectator in front, as in a pictorial representation, this would be the left side. Dexter chief, or Dexter point (Her.), a point in the dexter upper corner of the shield, being in the dexter extremity of the chief, as A in the cut. — Dexter base, a point in the dexter lower part or base of the shield, as B in the cut.

DEXTERICAL Dex*ter"i*cal, a.

Defn: Dexterous. [Obs.]

DEXTERITY Dex*ter"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. dexteritas, fr. dexter: cf. F. dextérité. See Dexter.]

1. Right-handedness.

2. Readiness and grace in physical activity; skill and ease in using the hands; expertness in manual acts; as, dexterity with the chisel. In youth quick bearing and dexterity. Shak.

3. Readiness in the use or control of the mental powers; quickness and skill in managing any complicated or difficult affair; adroitness. His wisdom . . . was turned . . . into a dexterity to deliver himself. Bacon. He had conducted his own defense with singular boldness and dexterity. Hallam.

Syn. — Adroitness; activity; nimbleness; expertness; skill; cleverness; art; ability; address; tact; facility; aptness; aptitude; faculty. See Skill.

DEXTEROUS Dex"ter*ous, a. Etym: [L. dexter. See Dexter.] [Written also dextrous.]

1. Ready and expert in the use of the body and limbs; skillful and active with the hands; handy; ready; as, a dexterous hand; a dexterous workman.

2. Skillful in contrivance; quick at inventing expedients; expert; as, a dexterous manager. Dexterous the craving, fawning crowd to quit. Pope.

3. Done with dexterity; skillful; artful; as, dexterous management. "Dexterous sleights of hand." Trench.

Syn. — Adroit; active; expert; skillful; clever; able; ready; apt; handy; versed.

DEXTEROUSLY Dex"ter*ous*ly, adv.

Defn: In a dexterous manner; skillfully.

DEXTEROUSNESS Dex"ter*ous*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being dexterous; dexterity.

DEXTRAD Dex"trad, adv. Etym: [L. dextra the right hand + ad to.] (Anat.)

Defn: Toward the right side; dextrally.

DEXTRAL Dex"tral, a. Etym: [From Dexter.]

Defn: Right, as opposed to sinistral, or left. Dextral shell (Zoöl.), a spiral shell the whorls of which turn from left right, or like the hands of a watch when the apex of the spire is toward the eye of the observer.

DEXTRALITY Dex*tral"i*ty, n.

Defn: The state of being on the right-hand side; also, the quality of being right-handed; right-handedness. Sir T. Browne.

DEXTRALLY Dex"tral*ly

Defn: (adv. Towards the right; as, the hands of a watch rotate dextrally.

DEXTRER Dex*trer", n.

Defn: A war horse; a destrer. [Obs.] "By him baiteth his dextrer." Chaucer.

DEXTRIN Dex"trin, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dextrine, G. dextrin. See Dexter.] (Chem.)

Defn: A translucent, gummy, amorphous substance, nearly tasteless and odorless, used as a substitute for gum, for sizing, etc., and obtained from starch by the action of heat, acids, or diastase. It is of somewhat variable composition, containing several carbohydrates which change easily to their respective varieties of sugar. It is so named from its rotating the plane of polarization to the right; — called also British gum, Alsace gum, gommelin, leiocome, etc. See Achroödextrin, and Erythrodextrin.

DEXTRO- Dex"tro-.

Defn: A prefix, from L. dexter, meaning, pertaining to, or toward, the right; (Chem. & Opt.)

Defn: having the property of turning the plane of polarized light to the right; as, dextrotartaric acid.

DEXTROGEROUS Dex*trog"er*ous, a. (Physics & Chem.)

Defn: See Dextrogyrate.

DEXTROGLUCOSE Dex`tro*glu"cose`, n. Etym: [Dextro- + glucose.] (Chem.)

Defn: Same as Dextrose.

DEXTROGYRATE Dex`tro*gy"rate, a. Etym: [Dextro- + gyrate.] (Chem. & Opt.)

Defn: Same as Dextrorotatory.

DEXTRONIC Dex*tron"ic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, dextrose; as, dextronic acid. Dextronic acid, a sirupy substance obtained by the partial oxidation of various carbohydrates, as dextrose, etc.

DEXTROROTARY Dex`tro*ro"ta*ry, a. (Physics & Chem.)

Defn: See Dextrotatory.

DEXTROROTATORY Dex`tro*ro"ta*to*ry, a. Etym: [Dextro- + rotatory.] (Chem. & Opt.)

Defn: Turning, or causing to turn, toward the right hand; esp., turning the plane of polarization of luminous rays toward the right hand; as, dextrorotatory crystals, sugars, etc. Cf. Levorotatory.

DEXTRORSAL; DEXTRORSE Dex*tror"sal, Dex"trorse`, a. Etym: [L. dextrorsum, contr. fr. dextrovorsum, dextroversum, toward the right side; dexter right + versus, vorsus, p. p. of vertere, vortere, to turn.]

Defn: Turning from the left to the right, in the ascending line, as in the spiral inclination of the stem of the common morning-glóry.

Note: At present scientists predicate dextrorse or sinistrorse quality of the plant regarded objectively; formerly the plant was regarded subjectively, and what is now called dextrorse was then considered sinistrorse.

DEXTROSE Dex"trose`, n. Etym: [See Dexter.] (Chem.)

Defn: A sirupy, or white crystalline, variety of sugar, C6H12O6 (so called from turning the plane of polarization to the right), occurring in many ripe fruits. Dextrose and levulose are obtained by the inversion of cane sugar or sucrose, and hence called invert sugar. Dextrose is chiefly obtained by the action of heat and acids on starch, and hence called also starch sugar. It is also formed from starchy food by the action of the amylolytic ferments of saliva and pancreatic juice.

Note: The solid products are known to the trade as grape sugar; the sirupy products as glucose, or mixing sirup. These are harmless, but are only about half as sweet as cane or sucrose.

DEXTROUS; DEXTROUSLY; DEXTROUSNESS Dex"trous, a., Dex"trous*ly, adv., Dex"trous*ness, n.

Defn: Same as Dexterous, Dexterously, etc.

DEY Dey, n. Etym: [See Dairy.]

Defn: A servant who has charge of the dairy; a dairymaid. [Obs.] Chaucer.

DEY Dey, n.; pl. Deys. Etym: [Turk. dai, orig., a maternal uncle, then a friendly title formerly given to middle-aged or old people, especially among the Janizaries; and hence, in Algiers, consecrated at length to the commanding officer of that corps, who frequently became afterward pasha or regent of that province; hence the European misnomer of dey, as applied to the latter: cf. F. dey.]

Defn: The governor of Algiers; — so called before the French conquest in 1830.

DEYE Deye, v. i.

Defn: To die. [Obs.] Chaucer.

DEYNTE; DEYNTEE Deyn"te, Deyn"tee, n. & a.

Defn: See Dainty. [Obs.] Chaucer.

DEZINCIFICATION De*zinc`i*fi*ca"tion, n.

Defn: The act or process of freeing from zinc; also, the condition resulting from the removal of zinc.

DEZINCIFY De*zinc"i*fy, v. t. Etym: [Pref. de- + zinc + -fy.]

Defn: To deprive of, or free from, zinc.

DHOLE Dhole, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A fierce, wild dog (Canis Dukhunensis), found in the mountains of India. It is remarkable for its propensity to hunt the tiger and other wild animals in packs.

DHONY Dho"ny, n.

Defn: A Ceylonese boat. See Doni.

DHOORRA; DHOURRA; DHURRA Dhoor"ra, Dhour"ra, or Dhur"ra (, n.

Defn: Indian millet. See Durra.

DHOW Dhow, n. Etym: [Ar. dao]

Defn: A coasting vessel of Arabia, East Africa, and the Indian Ocean. It has generally but one mast and a lateen sail. [Also written dow.]

DI- Di-. Etym: [Gr. bis twice. See Two, and cf. Bi-, Dia-. The L. pref. dis- sometimes assumes the form di-. See Dis-.]

Defn: A prefix, signifying twofold, double, twice; (Chem.)

Defn: denoting two atoms, radicals, groups, or equivalents, as the case may be. See Bi-,

2.

DIA-; DI- Di"a-, Di-. Etym: [Gr. Two, and cf. 1st Di-.]

Defn: A prefix denoting through; also, between, apart, asunder, across. Before a vowel dia- becomes di-; as, diactinic; dielectric, etc.

DIABASE Di"a*base, n. Etym: [F. diabase, fr. Gr. (Min.)

Defn: A basic, dark-colored, holocrystalline, igneous rock, consisting essentially of a triclinic feldspar and pyroxene with magnetic iron; — often limited to rocks pretertiary in age. It includes part of what was early called greenstone.

DIABATERIAL Di*ab`a*te"ri*al, a. Etym: [Gr. Diabase.]

Defn: Passing over the borders. [R.] Mitford.

DIABETES Di`a*be"tes, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. Diabase.] (Med.)

Defn: A disease which is attended with a persistent, excessive discharge of urine. Most frequently the urine is not only increased in quantity, but contains saccharine matter, in which case the disease is generally fatal. Diabetes mellitus Etym: [NL., sweet diabetes], that form of diabetes in which the urine contains saccharine matter. — Diabetes insipidus Etym: [NL., lit., diabetes], the form of diabetes in which the urine contains no abnormal constituent.

DIABETIC; DIABETICAL Di`a*bet"ic, Di`a*bet"ic*al, a.

Defn: Pertaining to diabetes; as, diabetic or diabetical treatment. Quian. Diabetic sugar. (Chem.) Same as Dextrose.

DIABLERIE; DIABLEY Dia`ble*rie", Di*ab"le*y, n. Etym: [F. diablerie, fr. diable devil, L. diabolus. See Devil.]

Defn: Devilry; sorcery or incantation; a diabolical deed; mischief.

DIABOLIC; DIABOLICAL Di`a*bol"ic, Di`a*bol"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. diabolicus, Gr. diabolique. See Devil.]

Defn: Pertaining to the devil; resembling, or appropriate, or appropriate to, the devil; devilish; infernal; impious; atrocious; nefarious; outrageously wicked; as, a diabolic or diabolical temper or act. "Diabolic power." Milton. "The diabolical institution." Motley. — Di`a*bol"ic*al*ly, adv. — Di`a*bol"ic*al*ness, n.

DIABOLIFY Di`a*bol"i*fy, v. t. Etym: [L. diabolus devil + -fy.]

Defn: To ascribed diabolical qualities to; to change into, or to represent as, a devil. [R.] Farindon.

DIABOLISM Di*ab"o*lism, n.

1. Character, action, or principles appropriate to the devil.

2. Possession by the devil. Bp. Warburton.

DIABOLIZE Di*ab"o*lize, v. t.

Defn: To render diabolical. [R.]

DIABOLO Di*ab"o*lo (di*ab"o*lo), n.

Defn: An old game or sport (revived under this name) consisting in whirling on a string, fastened to two sticks, a small somewhat spool- shaped object (called the diabolo) so as to balance it on a string, toss it in the air and catch it, etc.

DIACATHOLICON Di`a*ca*thol"i*con, n. Etym: [Pref. dia- + catholicon.] (Med.)

Defn: A universal remedy; — name formerly to a purgative electuary.

DIACAUSTIC Di`a*caus"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. dia- + caustic.] (Opt.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or possessing the properties of, a species of caustic curves formed by refraction. See Caustic surface, under Caustic.

DIACAUSTIC Di`a*caus"tic, n.

1. (Med.)

Defn: That which burns by refraction, as a double convex lens, or the sun's rays concentrated by such a lens, sometimes used as a cautery.

2. (Math.)

Defn: A curved formed by the consecutive intersections of rays of light refracted through a lens.

DIACHYLON; DIACHYLUM Di*ach"y*lon, Di*ach"y*lum, n. Etym: [NL. diachylum, fr. Gr. (Med. & Chem.)

Defn: A plaster originally composed of the juices of several plants (whence its name), but now made of an oxide of lead and oil, and consisting essentially of glycerin mixed with lead salts of the fat acids.

DIACID Di*ac"id, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + acid.] (Chem.)

Defn: Divalent; — said of a base or radical as capable of saturating two acid monad radicals or a dibasic acid. Cf. Dibasic, a., and Biacid.

DIACODIUM Di`a*co"di*um, n. Etym: [L., from Gr.

Defn: A sirup made of poppies.

DIACONAL Di*ac"o*nal, a. Etym: [LL. diaconalis: cf. F. diaconal. Cf. Deacon.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a deacon.

DIACONATE Di*ac"o*nate, n. Etym: [L. diaconatus: cf. F. diaconat.]

Defn: The office of a deacon; deaconship; also, a body or board of deacons.

DIACONATE Di*ac"o*nate, a.

Defn: Governed by deacons. "Diaconate church." T. Goodwin.

DIACOPE Di*ac"o*pe, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Gram.)

Defn: Tmesis.

DIACOUSTIC Di`a*cous"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + acoustic.]

Defn: Pertaining to the science or doctrine of refracted sounds.

DIACOUSTICS Di`a*cous"tics, n. Etym: [Cf. F. diacoustique.]

Defn: That branch of natural philosophy which treats of the properties of sound as affected by passing through different mediums; — called also diaphonics. See the Note under Acoustics.

DIACRITIC; DIACRITICAL Di`a*crit"ic, Di`a*crit"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. Critic.]

Defn: That separates or distinguishes; — applied to points or marks used to distinguish letters of similar form, or different sounds of the same letter, as, a, â, ä, o, ô, etc. "Diacritical points." Sir W. Jones. A glance at this typography will reveal great difficulties, which diacritical marks necessarily throw in the way of both printer and writer. A. J. Ellis.

DIACTINIC Di`ac*tin"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + actinic.] (Physics)

Defn: Capable of transmitting the chemical or actinic rays of light; as, diactinic media.

DIADELPHIA Di`a*del"phi*a, n.; pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A Linnæan class of plants whose stamens are united into two bodies or bundles by their filaments.

DIADELPHIAN; DIADELPHOUS Di`a*del"phi*an, Di`a*del"phous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. diadelphe.] (Bot.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the class Diadelphia; having the stamens united into two bodies by their filaments (said of a plant or flower); grouped into two bundles or sets by coalescence of the filaments (said of stamens).

DIADEM Di"a*dem, n. Etym: [F. diadème, L. diadema, fr. Gr. da to bind.]

1. Originally, an ornamental head band or fillet, worn by Eastern monarchs as a badge of royalty; hence (later), also, a crown, in general. "The regal diadem." Milton.

2. Regal power; sovereignty; empire; — considered as symbolized by the crown.

3. (Her.)

Defn: An arch rising from the rim of a crown (rarely also of a coronet), and uniting with others over its center. Diadem lemur. (Zoöl.) See Indri. — Diadem spider (Zoöl.), the garden spider.

DIADEM Di"a*dem, v. t.

Defn: To adorn with a diadem; to crown. Not so, when diadem'd with rays divine. Pope. To terminate the evil, To diadem the right. R. H. Neale.

DIADROM Di"a*drom, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A complete course or vibration; time of vibration, as of a pendulum. [Obs.] Locke.

DIAERESIS; DIERESIS Di*ær"e*sis, Di*er"e*sis, n.; pl. Diæreses or Diereses. Etym: [L. diaeresis, Gr. Heresy.]

1. (Gram.)

Defn: The separation or resolution of one syllable into two; — the opposite of synæresis.

2. A mark consisting of two dots [..], placed over the second of two adjacent vowels, to denote that they are to be pronounced as distinct letters; as, coöperate, aërial.

DIAERETIC Di`æ*ret"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)

Defn: Caustic. [Obs.]

DIAGEOTROPIC Di`a*ge`o*trop"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Relating to, or exhibiting, diageotropism.

DIAGEOTROPISM Di`a*ge*ot"ro*pism, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The tendency of organs (as roots) of plants to assume a position oblique or transverse to a direction towards the center of the earth.

DIAGLYPH Di"a*glyph, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: An intaglio. Mollett.

DIAGLYPHIC; DIAGLYPHTIC Di`a*glyph"ic, Di`a*glyph"tic, a.

Defn: Represented or formed by depressions in the general surface; as, diaglyphic sculpture or engraving; — opposed to anaglyphic.

DIAGNOSE Di`ag*nose", v. t. & i.

Defn: To ascertain by diagnosis; to diagnosticate. See Diagnosticate.

DIAGNOSIS Di`ag*no"sis, n.; pl. Diagnoses. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Know.]

1. (Med.)

Defn: The art or act of recognizing the presence of disease from its signs or symptoms, and deciding as to its character; also, the decision arrived at.

2. Scientific determination of any kind; the concise description of characterization of a species.

3. Critical perception or scrutiny; judgment based on such scrutiny; esp., perception pf, or judgment concerning, motives and character. The quick eye for effects, the clear diagnosis of men's minds, and the love of epigram. Compton Reade. My diagnosis of his character proved correct. J. Payn. Differential diagnosis (Med.), the determination of the distinguishing characteristics as between two similar diseases or conditions.

DIAGNOSTIC Di`ag*nos"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. diagnostique.]

Defn: Pertaining to, or furnishing, a diagnosis; indicating the nature of a disease.

DIAGNOSTIC Di`ag*nos"tic, n.

Defn: The mark or symptom by which one disease is known or distinguished from others.

DIAGNOSTICATE Di`ag*nos"ti*cate, v. t. & i. Etym: [From Diagnostic.]

Defn: To make a diagnosis of; to recognize by its symptoms, as a disease.

DIAGNOSTICS Di`ag*nos"tics, n.

Defn: That part of medicine which has to do with ascertaining the nature of diseases by means of their symptoms or signs. His rare skill in diagnostics. Macaulay.

DIAGOMETER Di`a*gom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.]

Defn: A sort of electroscope, invented by Rousseau, in which the dry pile is employed to measure the amount of electricity transmitted by different bodies, or to determine their conducting power. Nichol.

DIAGONAL Di*ag"o*nal, a. Etym: [L. diagonalis, fr. Gr. knee: cf. F. diagonal.] (Geom.)

Defn: Joining two not adjacent angles of a quadrilateral or multilateral figure; running across from corner to corner; crossing at an angle with one of the sides. Diagonal bond (Masonry), herringbone work. See Herringbone, a. — Diagonal built (Shipbuilding), built by forming the outer skin of two layers of planking, making angles of about 45º with the keel, in opposite directions. — Diagonal cleavage. See under Cleavage. — Diagonal molding (Arch.), a chevron or zigzag molding. — Diagonal rib. (Arch.) See Cross-springer. — Diagonal scale, a scale which consists of a set of parallel lines, with other lines crossing them obliquely, so that their intersections furnish smaller subdivisions of the unit of measure than could be conveniently marked on a plain scale. — Diagonal stratification. (Geol.) Same as Cross bedding, under Cross, a.

DIAGONAL Di*ag"o*nal, n.

1. A right line drawn from one angle to another not adjacent, of a figure of four or more sides, and dividing it into two parts.

2. (Engin.)

Defn: A member, in a framed structure, running obliquely across a panel.

3. A diagonal cloth; a kind of cloth having diagonal stripes, ridges, or welts made in the weaving.

DIAGONALLY Di*ag"o*nal*ly, adv.

Defn: In a diagonal direction.

DIAGONIAL Di`a*go"ni*al, a.

Defn: Diagonal; diametrical; hence; diametrically opposed. [Obs.] Sin can have no tenure by law at all, but is rather an eternal outlaw, and in hostility with law past all atonement; both diagonal contraries, as much allowing one another as day and night together in one hemisphere. Milton.

DIAGRAM Di"a*gram, n. Etym: [Gr. diagramme. See Graphic.]

1. (Geom.)

Defn: A figure or drawing made to illustrate a statement, or facilitate a demonstration; a plan.

2. Any simple drawing made for mathematical or scientific purposes, or to assist a verbal explanation which refers to it; a mechanical drawing, as distinguished from an artistical one. Indicator diagram. (Steam Engine) See Indicator card, under indicator

DIAGRAM Di"a*gram, v. t.

Defn: To put into the form of a diagram.

DIAGRAMMATIC Di`a*gram*mat"ic, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or of the nature of, a diagram; showing by diagram. — Di`a*gram*mat"ic*ly, adv.

DIAGRAPH Di"a*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. diagraphe. See Diagram.]

Defn: A drawing instrument, combining a protractor and scale.

DIAGRAPHIC; DIAGRAPHICAL Di`a*graph"ic, Di`a*graph"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. diagraphique.]

Defn: Descriptive.

DIAGRAPHICS Di`a*graph"ics, n.

Defn: The art or science of descriptive drawing; especially, the art or science of drawing by mechanical appliances and mathematical rule.

DIAHELIOTROPIC Di`a*he`li*o*trop"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Relating or, or manifesting, diaheliotropism.

DIAHELIOTROPISM Di`a*he`li*ot"ro*pism, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A tendency of leaves or other organs of plants to have their dorsal surface faced towards the rays of light.

DIAL Di"al, n. Etym: [LL. dialis daily, fr. L. dies day. See Deity.]

1. An instrument, formerly much used for showing the time of day from the shadow of a style or gnomon on a graduated arc or surface; esp., a sundial; but there are lunar and astral dials. The style or gnomon is usually parallel to the earth's axis, but the dial plate may be either horizontal or vertical.

2. The graduated face of a timepiece, on which the time of day is shown by pointers or hands.

3. A miner's compass. Dial bird (Zoöl.), an Indian bird (Copsychus saularius), allied to the European robin. The name is also given to other related species. — Dial lock, a lock provided with one or more plates having numbers or letters upon them. These plates must be adjusted in a certain determined way before the lock can be operated. — Dial plate, the plane or disk of a dial or timepiece on which lines and figures for indicating the time are placed.

DIAL Di"al, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dialed or Dialled; p. pr. & vb. n. Dialing or Dialling.]

1. To measure with a dial. Hours of that true time which is dialed in heaven. Talfourd.

2. (Mining)

Defn: To survey with a dial. Raymond.

DIALECT Di"a*lect, n. Etym: [F. dialecte, L. dialectus, fr. Gr. Dialogue.]

1. Means or mode of expressing thoughts; language; tongue; form of speech. This book is writ in such a dialect As may the minds of listless men affect. Bunyan. The universal dialect of the world. South.

2. The form of speech of a limited region or people, as distinguished from ether forms nearly related to it; a variety or subdivision of a language; speech characterized by local peculiarities or specific circumstances; as, the Ionic and Attic were dialects of Greece; the Yorkshire dialect; the dialect of the learned. In the midst of this Babel of dialects there suddenly appeared a standard English language. Earle. [Charles V.] could address his subjects from every quarter in their native dialect. Prescott.

Syn. — Language; idiom; tongue; speech; phraseology. See Language, and Idiom.

DIALECTAL Di`a*lec"tal, a.

Defn: Relating to a dialect; dialectical; as, a dialectical variant.

DIALECTIC Di`a*lec"tic, n.

Defn: Same as Dialectics. Plato placed his dialectic above all sciences. Liddell & Scott.

DIALECTIC; DIALECTICAL Di`a*lec"tic, Di`a*lec"tic*al, a. Etym: [L. dialecticus, Gr. dialectique. See Dialect.]

1. Pertaining to dialectics; logical; argumental.

2. Pertaining to a dialect or to dialects. Earle.

DIALECTICALLY Di`a*lec"tic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a dialectical manner.

DIALECTICIAN Di`a*lec*ti"cian, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dialecticien.]

Defn: One versed in dialectics; a logician; a reasoner.

DIALECTICS Di`a*lec"tics, n. Etym: [L. dialectica (sc. ars), Gr. dialectique.]

Defn: That branch of logic which teaches the rules and modes of reasoning; the application of logical principles to discursive reasoning; the science or art of discriminating truth from error; logical discussion.

Note: Dialectics was defined by Aristotle to be the method of arguing with probability on any given problem, and of defending a tenet without inconsistency. By Plato, it was used in the following senses:

1. Discussion by dialogue as a method of scientific investigation.

2. The method of investigating the truth by analysis.

3. The science of ideas or of the nature and laws of being — higher metaphysics. By Kant, it was employed to signify the logic of appearances or illusions, whether these arise from accident or error, or from those necessary limitations which, according to this philosopher, originate in the constitution of the human intellect.

DIALECTOLOGY Di`a*lec*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Dialect + -logy.]

Defn: That branch of philology which is devoted to the consideration of dialects. Beck.

DIALECTOR Di`a*lec"tor, n.

Defn: One skilled in dialectics.

DIALING Di"al*ing, n.

1. The art of constructing dials; the science which treats of measuring time by dials. [Written also dialling.]

2. A method of surveying, especially in mines, in which the bearings of the courses, or the angles which they make with each other, are determined by means of the circumferentor.