Historical source · 1908
Thomas Davidson (editor). Read this edition’s full extracted entries and its original proposals. Publication here preserves a source; it does not endorse every claim.
Coverage: the complete A–Z main-entry clusters and dictionary Addenda. Derivative words remain within their original entry clusters. Non-dictionary appendices and standalone illustrations are excluded.
United States Publisher marks these historical texts public domain in the USA. Transformed book text excludes Gutenberg branding; source attribution is a bibliographic acknowledgment. No non-US public-domain determination is made. Rights statement ↗
Desecrate, des′e-krāt, v.t. to divert from a sacred purpose: to profane.—ns. Desecrat′er, -or, Desecrā′tion, act of desecrating: profanation. [L. desecrāre, -ātum—de, away from, and sacrāre, to make sacred—sacer, sacred.
English · e-37683-7381Desert, de-zėrt′, n. the reward or punishment deserved: claim to reward: merit—adj. Desert′less, without merit. [See Deserve.]
English · e-37683-7382Desert, de-zėrt′, v.t. to leave: to forsake.—v.i. to run away: to quit a service, as the army, without permission.—ns. Desert′er, one who deserts or quits a service without permission; Deser′tion, act of deserting: state
English · e-37683-7383Desert, dez′ėrt, adj. deserted: desolate: uninhabited: uncultivated: a desolate or barren place: a wilderness: a solitude. [O. Fr. desert—L. desertum, deserĕre, to desert, unbind.]
English · e-37683-7384Deserve, de-zėrv′, v.t. to earn by service: to merit.—v.i. to be worthy of reward.—adj. Deserv′ing, worthy.—n. desert.—advs. Deserv′ingly, Deserv′edly, according to desert: justly. [Fr.,—L. deservīre—de, inten., servīre,
English · e-37683-7385Deshabille, des-a-bil′, n. an undress: a careless toilet. [Fr. déshabillé, undressed—des = L. dis = un, not, and habiller, to dress.]
English · e-37683-7386Desiccate, de-sik′āt, or des′i-kāt, v.t. to dry up.—v.i. to grow dry.—adjs. Desic′cant, Desic′cative, drying: having the power of drying.—n. an application that tends to dry up sores.—n. Desiccā′tion, the act of desiccat
English · e-37683-7387Desiderate, de-sid′ėr-āt, v.t. to long for or earnestly desire a thing: to want or miss.—n. Desiderā′tion, the act of desiderating: the thing desiderated.—adj. Desid′erative, implying desire, as in desiderative verb.—n.
English · e-37683-7388Desightment, dē-sīt′ment, n. disfigurement.
English · e-37683-7389 · brief source recordDesign, de-zīn′, or de-sīn′, v.t. to draw: to form a plan of: to contrive: to intend.—n. a drawing or sketch: a plan in outline: a plan or scheme formed in the mind: plot: intention.—adj. Design′able.—v.t. Des′ignāte, to
English · e-37683-7390Desilver, de-sil′vėr, v.t. to deprive of silver: to extract the silver from—also Desil′verise.—n. Desilverisā′tion.
English · e-37683-7391 · brief source recordDesine, de-sīn′, v.t. (Spens.) to denote.
English · e-37683-7392 · brief source recordDesipience, de-sip′i-ens, n. (rare) silliness, nonsense.—adj. Desip′ient, foolish. [L. desipiens, desipĕre, to be foolish, de-, neg., sapĕre, to be wise.]
English · e-37683-7393Desire, de-zīr′, v.t. to long for the possession of: to wish for: to request, ask: (B.) to regret.—v.i. to be in a state of desire.—n. an earnest longing for: eagerness to obtain: a prayer or request: the object desired:
English · e-37683-7394Desist, de-sist′, v.i. to stop: to forbear.—ns. Desist′ance, -ence, a desisting. [Fr.,—L. desistĕre—de, away, and sistĕre, to cause to stand.]
English · e-37683-7395Desk, desk, n. a sloping table for the use of writers or readers, often fitted with drawers, &c.: a shut-up writing-box: a pulpit or lectern.—n. Desk′-work, work done at a desk, professional labours of a clerk or author.
English · e-37683-7396Desman, des′man, n. a kind of musk-rat, found in Russia and the Pyrenees. [Sw. desman, musk; Ice. des, musk.]
English · e-37683-7397 · brief source recordDesmid, des′mid, n. one of a group of microscopic algæ. [Formed as a dim. of Gr. desmos, a chain.]
English · e-37683-7398 · brief source recordDesmine, des′min, n. a zeolitic mineral occurring in clusters. [Gr. desmos, a band.]
English · e-37683-7399 · brief source recordDesmodium, des-mō′di-um, n. a genus of leguminous plants to which the D. gyrans, or telegraph plant, belongs. [Gr. desmos, chain, eidos, form.]
English · e-37683-7400Desmoid, des′moid, adj. arranged in bundles. [Gr. desmos, a chain, a bundle, and eidos, form.]
English · e-37683-7401 · brief source recordDesmology, des-mol′o-ji, n. the anatomy of the ligaments.—ns. Desmog′raphy, the description of these; Desmot′omy, their dissection. [Gr. desmos, a ligament, and logia, a discourse.]
English · e-37683-7402Desolate, des′o-lāt, v.t. to make solitary: to deprive of inhabitants: to lay waste.—adj. solitary: destitute of inhabitants: laid waste.—adv. Des′olately.—ns. Des′olateness; Desolat′er, -or; Desolā′tion, waste: destruct
English · e-37683-7403Despair, de-spār′, v.i. to be without hope: to despond.—n. want of hope: utter hopelessness: that which causes despair.—adj. Despair′ful (Spens.).—p.adj. Despair′ing, apt to despair: full of despair.—adv. Despair′ingly.
English · e-37683-7404Despatch, de-spach′, Dispatch, dis-pach′, v.t. to send away hastily: to send out of the world: to put to death: to dispose of: to perform speedily.—v.i. (Shak.) to make haste.—n. a sending away in haste: dismissal: rapid
English · e-37683-7405Desperado, des-pėr-ā′dō, n. a desperate fellow: one reckless of danger: a madman:—pl. Desperā′dos. [Sp. desesperado—L. desperātus.]
English · e-37683-7406Desperate, des′pėr-āt, adj. in a state of despair: hopeless: beyond hope: fearless of danger: rash: furious.—adv. Des′perately.—ns. Des′perateness, Desperā′tion, state of despair: disregard of danger: fury. [See Despair.
English · e-37683-7407Despicable, des′pi-ka-bl, adj. deserving to be despised: contemptible: worthless.—ns. Des′picableness, Despicabil′ity.—adv. Des′picably. [L. despicĕre, to despise.]
English · e-37683-7408Despight, de-spīt′, an old form of despite.
English · e-37683-7409 · brief source recordDespise, de-spīz′, v.t. to look down upon with contempt: to scorn.—adj. Despis′able.—ns. Despī′sal, contempt; Despis′edness (Milt.); Despis′er. [O. Fr. despiz, despire—L. despicĕre—de, down, specĕre, to look.]
English · e-37683-7410Despite, de-spīt′, n. a looking down upon with contempt: violent malice or hatred.—prep. in spite of: notwithstanding.—adj. Despite′ful.—adv. Despite′fully.—n. Despite′fulness.—adj. Despit′eous (Spens.). [O. Fr. despit (
English · e-37683-7411Despoil, de-spoil′, v.t. to spoil completely: to strip: to bereave: to rob.—ns. Despoil′er; Despoliā′tion, Despoil′ment. [O. Fr. despoiller (mod. dépouiller)—L. despoliāre—de, inten., and spolium, spoil.]
English · e-37683-7412Despond, de-spond′, v.i. to lose hope or courage: to despair.—ns. Despond′ence, Despond′ency, state of being without hope: dejection.—adj. Despond′ent, desponding: without courage or hope: sad.—advs. Despond′ently; Despo
English · e-37683-7413Despot, des′pot, n. one invested with absolute power: a tyrant.—n. Des′potat, a territory governed by a despot.—adjs. Despot′ic, -al, pertaining to or like a despot: having absolute power: tyrannical.—adv. Despot′ically.
English · e-37683-7414Despumate, de-spū′māt, or des′pū-māt, v.i. to throw off in foam or scum.—n. Despumā′tion. [L. despumāre, -ātum—de, off, and spuma, foam.]
English · e-37683-7415Desquamate, des′kwa-māt, v.i. to scale off.—n. Desquamā′tion, a scaling off: the separation of the cuticle or skin in scales.—adjs. Desquam′ative, Desquam′atory. [L. desquamāre, -ātum—de, off, and squama, a scale.]
English · e-37683-7416Desse, des, n. (Spens.) a dais.
English · e-37683-7417 · brief source recordDessert, dez-ėrt′, n. fruits, confections, &c., served at the close of an entertainment after the rest has been taken away.—ns. Dessert′-serv′ice, the dishes used for dessert; Dessert′-spoon, a spoon smaller than a table
English · e-37683-7418Dessiatine, Dessyatine, des′ya-tin, n. a Russian measure of land, 2.7 English acres. [Russ. desyatina, a measure of land, a tenth; desyati, ten.]
English · e-37683-7419Destemper. See Distemper (1).
English · e-37683-7420 · brief source recordDestine, des′tin, v.t. to ordain or appoint to a certain use or state: to fix: to doom—also Des′tinate (obs.).—ns. Destinā′tion, the purpose or end to which anything is destined or appointed: end: purpose: design: fate:
English · e-37683-7421Destitute, des′ti-tūt, adj. left alone: forsaken: in want, needy—v.t. to forsake: to deprive.—n. Destitu′tion, the state of being destitute: deprivation of office: poverty. [L. destituĕre, -ūtum—de, away, and statuĕre, t
English · e-37683-7422Destroy, de-stroy′, v.i. to unbuild or pull down: to overturn: to ruin: to put an end to:—pr.p. destroy′ing:—pa.p. destroyed′.—n. Destroy′er. [O. Fr. destruire (Fr. détruire)—L. destruĕre, destructum—de, down, and struĕr
English · e-37683-7423Destruction, de-struk′shun, n. act of destroying: overthrow: physical or moral ruin: death: a destructive plague.—adj. Destruc′tible, liable to be destroyed.—ns. Destructibil′ity, Destruc′tibleness.—n. Destruc′tionist, o
English · e-37683-7424Desudation, des-ū-dā′shun, n. a violent sweating: an eruption of small pimples on children. [L. desudāre, -ātum, de, inten., and sudāre, to sweat.]
English · e-37683-7425Desuetude, des′we-tūd, n. disuse: discontinuance of custom, habit, or practice. [L. desuetudo—desuētum, desuescĕre—de, neg., and suescĕre, to become used.]
English · e-37683-7426Desulphur, de-sul′fur, v.t. to free of sulphur: to take sulphur out of the ore—also Desul′phurāte, Desul′phurise.—n. Desulphurā′tion.
English · e-37683-7427Desultory, des′ul-tor-i, adj. jumping from one thing to another: without rational or logical connection: rambling: hasty: loose.—adv. Des′ultorily.—n. Des′ultoriness. [L. desultorius, of or pertaining to a vaulter, incon
English · e-37683-7428Detach, de-tach′, v.t. to unfasten: to take from or separate: to withdraw: to send off on special service.—v.i. to separate one's self.—adj. Detach′able.—p.adj. Detached′, unconnected: separate: free from care, passion,
English · e-37683-7429Detail, de-tāl′, v.t. to relate minutely: to enumerate: to set apart for a particular service.—v.i. to give details about anything.—n. (de-tāl′, or dē′tāl) a small part: an item: a particular account.—adj. Detailed′, giv
English · e-37683-7430Detain, de-tān′, v.t. to hold from or back: to stop: to keep: to keep in custody.—ns. Detain′er, one who detains: (law) the holding of what belongs to another: a warrant to a sheriff to keep in custody a person already i
English · e-37683-7431Detect, de-tekt′, v.t. (lit.) to uncover—hence to discover: to find out.—adjs. Detect′able, Detect′ible.—ns. Detect′er, -or, one who detects: an apparatus for detecting something, as a detector-lock, which shows if it ha
English · e-37683-7432Detention, de-ten′shun, n. act of detaining: state of being detained: confinement: delay.—n. Detent′, something to check motion: a catch, esp. in a clock or watch. [See Detain.]
English · e-37683-7433Deter, de-tėr′, v.t. to frighten from: to hinder or prevent:—pr.p. deter′ring; pa.p. deterred′.—n. Deter′ment. [L. deterrēre—de, from, terrēre, to frighten.]
English · e-37683-7434Deterge, de-tėrj′, v.t. to wipe off; to cleanse (as a wound).—ns. Deterg′ence, Deterg′ency.—adj. Deterg′ent, cleansing: purging.—n. that which cleanses. [L. detergēre, detersum—de, off, and tergere, to wipe.]
English · e-37683-7435Deteriorate, de-tē′ri-o-rāt, v.t. to make worse.—v.i. to grow worse.—p.adj. Detē′riorated, spoilt: of inferior quality.—n. Deteriorā′tion, the act of making worse: the state of growing worse.—adj. Detē′riorative.—n. Dete
English · e-37683-7436Determine, dē-tėr′min, v.t. to put terms or bounds to: to limit: to fix or settle the form or character of: to influence; to put an end to: to define.—v.i. to come to a decision: to resolve.—adj. Deter′minable, capable o
English · e-37683-7437Deterrent, de-tėr′ent, adj. serving to deter.—n. anything that deters or prevents. [See Deter.]
English · e-37683-7438 · brief source recordDetersion, de-tėr′shun, n. act of cleansing. [See Deterge.]
English · e-37683-7439 · brief source recordDetersive, de-tėr′siv, n. Same as Detergent.
English · e-37683-7440 · brief source recordDetest, de-test′, v.t. to hate intensely.—adj. Detest′able, worthy of being detested: extremely hateful: abominable.—n. Detest′ableness.—adv. Detest′ably.—n. Detestā′tion, extreme hatred. [Fr.,—L. detestāri—de, inten., a
English · e-37683-7441Dethrone, de-thrōn′, v.t. to remove from a throne.—ns. Dethrone′ment; Dethronisā′tion.
English · e-37683-7442 · brief source recordDetonate, det′o-nāt, v.i. to explode.—v.t. to cause to explode.—ns. Detonā′tion, an explosion with report; Det′onator, a detonating substance: an apparatus for the explosion of a detonating substance, as a percussion-cap
English · e-37683-7443Detort, de-tort′, v.t. to distort.—ns. Detor′sion, Detor′tion. [L. detorquēre, detortum; de, away, and torquere, twist.]
English · e-37683-7444Detour, de-tōōr′, n. a winding: a circuitous way. [Fr. dé, for L. dis, asunder, and tour, a turning.]
English · e-37683-7445 · brief source recordDetract, de-trakt′, v.t. to take away, abate: to defame.—v.i. to take away reputation (with from): to reduce in degree: diminish.—ns. Detract′er, -or:—fem. Detract′ress.—adv. Detract′ingly.—n. Detrac′tion, depreciation:
English · e-37683-7446Detrain, de-trān′, v.t. to set down out of a railway train, as troops.—v.i. to come out of a train.
English · e-37683-7447 · brief source recordDetriment, det′ri-ment, n. diminution: damage: loss.—adj. Detriment′al. [L. detrimentum—de, off, and terĕre, tritum, to rub.]
English · e-37683-7448Detritus, de-trī′tus, n. a mass of substance gradually rubbed or worn off solid bodies: an aggregate of broken or loosened fragments, esp. of rock.—n. Detri′tion, a wearing away. [L.,—de, off, and terĕre, tritum, to rub.
English · e-37683-7449Detrude, de-trōōd′, v.t. to thrust down.—n. Detru′sion. [L. de, down, and trudĕre, to thrust]
English · e-37683-7450 · brief source recordDetruncate, de-trung′kāt, v.t. to cut off from the trunk: to lop off: to shorten.—n. Detruncā′tion. [L. detruncāre, -ātum—de, off, truncāre, lop.]
English · e-37683-7451Detumescence, dē-tū-mes′ens, n. diminution of swelling—opp. to Intumescence.
English · e-37683-7452 · brief source recordDeuce, dūs, n. a card or die with two spots: (lawn tennis) a term denoting that each side has gained three points ('forty all').—n. Deuce′-ace, a throw of two dice, one of which turns up deuce and the other ace. [Fr. deu
English · e-37683-7453Deuce, dūs, n. the devil—in exclamatory phrases.—adj. Deuced (dū′sed, or dūst), devilish: excessive.—adv. confoundedly.
English · e-37683-7454 · brief source recordDeuterocanonical, dū′tėr-o-ka-non′ik-al, adj. pertaining to a second canon of inferior authority—the O. T. Apocrypha and the N. T. Antilegomena. [Gr. deuteros, second, kanōn, rule.]
English · e-37683-7455Deuterogamy, dū-tėr-og′a-mi, n. second marriage, esp. of the clergy, after the death of the first wife.—n. Deuterog′amist, one who allows such. [Gr. deuteros, second, gamos, marriage.]
English · e-37683-7456Deuteronomy, dū-tėr-on′o-mi, or dū′tėr-on-o-mi, n. the fifth book of the Pentateuch, containing a repetition of the decalogue and laws given in Exodus.—adjs. Deuteronom′ic, -al.—ns. Deuteron′omist, Deu′tero-Isā′iah, the
English · e-37683-7457Deuteroscopy, dū-tėr-os′ko-pi, n. second-sight. [Gr. deuteros, second, skopia—skopein, to look.]
English · e-37683-7458 · brief source recordDeutoplasm, dū′tō-plasm, n. secondary, nutritive plasm, or food-yolk.—adjs. Deutoplas′mic, Deutoplas′tic.
English · e-37683-7459 · brief source recordDeutoxide, dūt-oks′īd, n. an old name for a compound of two parts of oxygen with one of a base. [Gr. deuteros, second, and oxide.]
English · e-37683-7460Deutzia, dewt′si-a, or doit′si-a, n. a genus of saxifragaceous plants with panicles of white flowers, introduced from China and Japan. [Named after Deutz, a Dutch naturalist.]
English · e-37683-7461Devall, de-val′, v.i. (Scot.) to cease.—n. a stop.
English · e-37683-7462 · brief source recordDevanagari, dā-va-nä′ga-ri, n. the character in which Sanskrit is usually written and printed. [Sans. 'town-script of the gods,' a term app. coined by an Indian scholar.]
English · e-37683-7463Devaporation, dē-vap-ō-rā′shun, n. the change of vapour into water.
English · e-37683-7464 · brief source recordDevastate, dev′as-tāt, v.t. to lay waste: to plunder.—ns. Devastā′tion, act of devastating: state of being devastated: havoc; Devastā′vit, a waste of the estate of a deceased person by the executor. [L. devastāre, ātum—d
English · e-37683-7465Develop, dē-vel′op, v.t. to unroll: to unfold: to lay open by degrees: to promote the growth of: (phot.) to make the latent picture visible by chemical applications.—v.i. to grow into: to open out: to evolve:—pr.p. devel
English · e-37683-7466Devest, de-vest′, v.t. (law) to alienate: to deprive of: to strip. [A form of divest.]
English · e-37683-7467 · brief source recordDeviate, dē′vi-āt, v.i. to go from the way: to turn aside from a certain course: to err.—v.t. to cause to diverge.—ns. Deviā′tion, a going out of the way: a turning aside; error; Dē′viator, one who deviates.—Deviation of
English · e-37683-7468Device, de-vīs′, n. that which is devised or designed: contrivance: power of devising: genius: (her.) the emblem borne upon a shield: a picture of some kind, with a motto illustrative of a man's life or character, borne
English · e-37683-7469Devil, dev′l, v.t. (cook.) to season highly and broil.—v.i. to perform another man's drudgery (esp. to devil for a barrister).
English · e-37683-7470Devil, dev′l, n. the supreme spirit of evil, Satan: any evil spirit: a false god: a very wicked person: a fellow, as in 'Poor devil:' an expletive, in 'What the devil,' &c.—ns. Dev′ildom; Dev′iless; Dev′ilet; Dev′il-fish
English · e-37683-7471Devious, dē′vi-us, adj. from or out of the way: roundabout: erring.—adv. Dē′viously.—n. Dē′viousness. [L. devius. See Deviate.]
English · e-37683-7472Devise, de-vīz′, v.t. to imagine: to scheme: to contrive: to give by will: to bequeath.—v.i. to consider, scheme.—n. act of bequeathing: a will: property bequeathed by will.—adj. Devis′able.—ns. Devis′al; Devisē[e]′, one
English · e-37683-7473Devitalise, de-vī′ta-līz, v.t. to deprive of vitality or life-giving qualities.—n. Devitalisā′tion.
English · e-37683-7474 · brief source recordDevitrify, de-vit′ri-fī, v.t. to take away or greatly diminish the vitreous quality of.—n. Devitrificā′tion, loss or diminution of the vitreous nature.
English · e-37683-7475Devocalise, de-vō′ka-līz, v.t. to make voiceless: to reduce the vowel element in a sound or syllable.
English · e-37683-7476 · brief source recordDevoid, de-void′, adj. destitute: free from. [O. Fr. desvoidier, des—L. dis-, away, voidier—L. viduāre, viduus, deprived.]
English · e-37683-7477Devoir, dev-wawr′, n. what is due, duty: service: an act of civility. [Fr.,—L. debēre, to owe.]
English · e-37683-7478 · brief source recordDevolution, dev-ol-ū′shun, n. a passing from one person to another. [See Devolve.]
English · e-37683-7479 · brief source recordDevolve, de-volv′, v.t. to roll down: to hand down: to deliver over.—v.i. to roll down: to fall or pass over.—n. Devolve′ment. [L. devolvĕre, -volūtum—de, down, volvĕre, -ūtum, to roll.]
English · e-37683-7480Devonian, de-vō′ni-an, adj. belonging to Devonshire: belonging to a system of geological strata which abound in Devonshire, closely corresponding to Old Red Sandstone.
English · e-37683-7481Devonport, dev′on-pōrt, n. a small ornamental writing-table, fitted with drawers, &c.
English · e-37683-7482 · brief source recordDevonshire cream = Clotted cream. See Clot.
English · e-37683-7483 · brief source recordDevote, de-vōt′, v.t. to vow: to set apart or dedicate by solemn act: to doom: to give up wholly.—adj. Devōt′ed, given up, as by a vow: doomed: strongly attached: zealous.—adv. Devōt′edly.—ns. Devōt′edness; Devotēē′, one
English · e-37683-7484Devour, de-vowr′, v.t. to swallow greedily: to eat up: to consume or waste with violence or wantonness: to destroy: to gaze intently on.—n. Devour′er.—adj. Devour′ing.—adv. Devour′ingly.—n. Devour′ment. [O. Fr. devorer—L
English · e-37683-7485Devout, de-vowt′, adj. given up to religious thoughts and exercises: pious: solemn: earnest.—adv. Devout′ly.—n. Devout′ness. [O. Fr. devot—L. devotus. See Devote.]
English · e-37683-7486Dew, dū, n. moisture deposited from the air on cooling, esp. at night, in minute specks upon the surface of objects: early freshness (esp. in Dew of his youth).—v.t. to wet with dew: to moisten.—ns. Dew′berr′y, a kind of
English · e-37683-7487Dew, dū, n. an obsolete spelling of due.
English · e-37683-7488 · brief source recordDewan, dē-wan′, n. in India, a financial minister, the native steward of a business-house.—ns. Dewan′i, Dewan′ny, the office of dewan. [Hind.]
English · e-37683-7489Dewitt, dē-wit′, v.t. to lynch—from the fate of Jan and Cornelius De Witt in Holland in 1672.
English · e-37683-7490 · brief source recordDewlap, dū′lap, n. the pendulous skin under the throat of oxen, dogs, &c.: the fleshy wattle of the turkey.—adjs. Dew′lapped, Dew′lapt. [Prob. dew and A.S. læppa, a loose hanging piece.]
English · e-37683-7491Dexter, deks′tėr, adj. on the right-hand side: right: (her.) of that side of the shield on the right-hand side of the wearer, to the spectator's left.—n. Dexter′ity, right-handedness: cleverness: readiness and skill: adr
English · e-37683-7492Dextrine, deks′trin, n. starch altered by the action of acids, diastase, or heat till it loses its gelatinous character, so called because when viewed through polarised light it turns the plane of polarisation to the rig
English · e-37683-7493Dey, dā, n. a dairy-maid. [See Dairy.]
English · e-37683-7494 · brief source recordDey, dā, n. a name given to the pasha or governor of Algiers before the French conquest. [Turk, dái, orig. a maternal uncle, a familiar title of the chief of the Janizaries.]
English · e-37683-7495Dharma, där′ma, n. the righteousness that underlies the law: the law. [Sans.]
English · e-37683-7496 · brief source recordDhobie, dō′bi, n. an Indian washerman. [Hind.]
English · e-37683-7497 · brief source recordDhole, dōl, n. the Indian wild dog. [Ind. word.]
English · e-37683-7498 · brief source recordDhooly, dōō′li, n. a covered litter.—Also Doo′lie. [Hind. doli.]
English · e-37683-7499 · brief source recordDhow, dow, n. a native vessel on the eastern African and western Indian coasts, with lateen sails: an Arab slaver.
English · e-37683-7500 · brief source recordDhurra. Same as Durra.
English · e-37683-7501 · brief source recordDiabase, dī′a-bās, n. a compact igneous rock, an altered form of basalt—included under the popular names greenstone and trap.—adj. Diabā′sic.
English · e-37683-7502Diabaterial, dī-a-ba-tē′ri-al, adj. crossing the boundaries. [Gr. diabatos—dia, across, bainein, to go.]
English · e-37683-7503 · brief source recordDiabetes, dī-a-bē′tēz, n. a disease marked by a morbid and excessive discharge of urine.—adjs. Diabet′ic, -al. [Gr., from diabainein, dia, through, and bainein, to go.]
English · e-37683-7504Diablerie, Diablery, di-ab-le-rē′, n. magic: the black art: sorcery. [Fr.,—diable. See Devil.]
English · e-37683-7505 · brief source recordDiabolic, -al, dī-a-bol′ik, -al, adj. devilish.—adv. Diabol′ically.—v.t. Diab′olise, to render devilish.—ns. Diab′olism, devilish conduct: sorcery or black magic; Diabol′ogy, the doctrine of devils. [L.,—Gr. diabolikos,
English · e-37683-7506Diacatholicon, dī-a-ka-thol′i-kon, n. a purgative electuary.
English · e-37683-7507 · brief source recordDiacaustic, dī-a-kaws′tik, adj. pertaining to curves formed by the intersections of rays of refracted light.—n. a curve so formed. [Formed from Gr. dia, through, and caustic.]
English · e-37683-7508Diachastic, dī-a-kas′tik, adj. cleaving apart. [Gr.]
English · e-37683-7509 · brief source recordDiachylon, dī-ak′i-lon, Diachylum, dī-ak′i-lum, n. common sticking-plaster. [Gr. diachylos—dia, and chylos, juice.]
English · e-37683-7510 · brief source recordDiachyma, dī-ak′i-ma, n. the parenchyma of leaves. [Gr. dia, through, chyma, juice.]
English · e-37683-7511 · brief source recordDiacodium, dī-a-kō′di-um, n. a syrup of poppies. [L.,—Gr. dia, through, kōdeia, a poppy-head.]
English · e-37683-7512 · brief source recordDiaconate, dī-ak′o-nāt, n. the office of a deacon.—adj. Diac′onal, pertaining to a deacon.
English · e-37683-7513 · brief source recordDiaconicon, dī-a-kon′i-kon, n. a sacristy for sacred vessels, in a Greek church, on the south side of the bema or sanctuary.
English · e-37683-7514Diacoustic, dī-a-kows′tik, adj. pertaining to the refraction of sound through various mediums.—n. Diacous′tics, the branch of physics which deals with refracted sounds. [Formed from Gr. dia, through, and acoustics.]
English · e-37683-7515Diacritic, -al, dī-a-krit′ik, -al, adj. distinguishing between—used of marks or points attached to the letters of various languages. [Gr. diakritikos, diakrinein—dia, between, and krinein, to distinguish. See Critic.]
English · e-37683-7516Diactine, dī-ak′tin, adj. having two rays.—Also Diac′tinal.
English · e-37683-7517 · brief source recordDiactinic, dī-ak-tin′ik, adj. capable of transmitting the actinic rays of the sun.
English · e-37683-7518 · brief source recordDiadelphous, dī-a-del′fus, adj. grouped together in two sets—of the stamens of plants.—n. Dī′adelph. [Formed from Gr. di-, double, and adelphos, brother.]
English · e-37683-7519Diadem, dī′a-dem, n. a band or fillet worn round the head as a badge of royalty: a crown: royalty.—adj. Dī′ademed, wearing a diadem.—Diadem spider, the common garden spider—from its markings. [O. Fr. diademe—L. diadema—G
English · e-37683-7520Diadexis, dī-a-dek′sis, n. (path.) the transformation of one disease into another, differing both in location and character. [Gr.]
English · e-37683-7521Diadochi, dī-ad′o-kī, n. the generals who became monarchs of the various kingdoms (Syria, Egypt, &c.) into which the empire of Alexander the Great split after his death (323 B.C.). [Gr. diadochos, succeeding, a successor
English · e-37683-7522Diadrom, dī′a-drom, n. a course or passing: a vibration. [Gr.]
English · e-37683-7523 · brief source recordDiæresis, Dieresis, dī-ēr′e-sis, n. a mark (¨) placed over one of two vowels to show that each is to be pronounced separately, as aërial:—pl. Diær′eses, Dier′eses. [Gr.,—dia, apart, hairein, to take.]
English · e-37683-7524Diaglyph, dī′a-glif, n. an intaglio. [Gr.]
English · e-37683-7525 · brief source recordDiagnosis, dī-ag-nō′sis, n. the distinguishing a disease by means of its symptoms: a brief description:—pl. Diagnō′ses.—v.t. Dī′agnose, to ascertain from symptoms, as a disease.—adj. Dīagnos′tic, distinguishing: characte
English · e-37683-7526Diagometer, dī-a-gom′e-tėr, n. a form of electroscope for ascertaining conducting power. [Gr. diagein, to conduct, metron, a measure.]
English · e-37683-7527Diagonal, dī-ag′o-nal, adj. through the corners, or from an angle to an opposite angle of a four or many sided figure.—n. a straight line so drawn.—adv. Diag′onally.—Diagonal scale, a scale for laying down small fraction
English · e-37683-7528Diagram, dī′a-gram, n. a figure or plan drawn in outline to illustrate any statement: a record traced by an automatic indicator.—adj. Diagrammat′ic.—adv. Diagrammat′ically.—n. Dī′agraph, an instrument for enabling unskil
English · e-37683-7529Diaheliotropic, dī-a-hē-li-ō-trop′ik, adj. (bot.) turning transversely to the light.—n. Diaheliot′ropism. [Gr. dia, across, and heliotropic.]
English · e-37683-7530Dial, dī′al, n. an instrument for showing the time of day by the sun's shadow: a timepiece: the face of a watch or clock: a circular plate on which a movable index shows the degree of pressure, &c.—v.t. to measure, as wi
English · e-37683-7531Dialect, dī′a-lekt, n. a variety or form of a language peculiar to a district: a non-literary vernacular: a peculiar manner of speaking.—adj. Dialect′al.—adv. Dialect′ally.—ns. Dialect′icism; Dialectol′ogist; Dialectol′o
English · e-37683-7532Dialectic, -al, dī-a-lek′tik, -al, adj. pertaining to dialect or to discourse: pertaining to dialectics: logical.—ns. Dialec′tic, Dialect′ics, art of discussing: that branch of logic which teaches the rules and modes of
English · e-37683-7533Diallage, dī-al′a-jē, n. (rhet.) a figure of speech by which arguments, after having been considered from various points of view, are all brought to bear upon one point. [Gr.]
English · e-37683-7534Diallage, dī′al-āj, n. a mineral nearly allied to augite, brown, gray, or green in colour, laminated in structure, with a metallic lustre when broken across.—adjs. Diallag′ic, Dial′lagoid. [Gr. diallagē, change—dia, betw
English · e-37683-7535Dialogite, dī-al′ō-jīt, n. a rose-red carbonate of manganese—also Rhodochrosite.
English · e-37683-7536 · brief source recordDialogue, dī′a-log, n. conversation between two or more persons, esp. of a formal or imaginary nature.—v.i. and v.t. (Shak.) to put into dialogue form.—adjs. Dialog′ic, Dialogist′ic, -al (-loj-), in the form of a dialogu
English · e-37683-7537Dialuric, dī-a-lū′rik, adj. pertaining to alloxan and uric acid.—n. Dialū′rate, a salt of dialuric acid.
English · e-37683-7538 · brief source recordDialysis, dī-al′i-sis, n. (chem.) the separation of substances by diffusion through a membranous septum or partition: diæresis: dissolution:—pl. Dial′yses.—adj. Dialys′able.—v.t. Dī′alyse, to separate by dialysis.—n. Dī′
English · e-37683-7539Diamagnetic, dī-a-mag-net′ik, adj. cross-magnetic—applied to any substance, such as a rod of bismuth or glass, which, when suspended between the poles of a magnet, arranges itself across the line joining the poles (a rod
English · e-37683-7540Diamantiferous, dī-a-man-tif′er-us, adj. yielding diamonds. [Fr. diamantifère.]
English · e-37683-7541 · brief source recordDiamesogamous, dī-a-me-sog′a-mus, adj. (bot.) fertilised by intermediary means.
English · e-37683-7542 · brief source recordDiameter, dī-am′e-tėr, n. the measure through or across: a straight line passing through the centre of a circle or other figure, terminated at both ends by the circumference.—adjs. Diam′etral, Diamet′ric, -al, in the dir
English · e-37683-7543Diamond, dī′a-mond, n. the most valuable of all gems, and the hardest of all substances: a four-sided figure with two obtuse and two acute angles: one of the four suits of cards: one of the smallest kinds of English prin
English · e-37683-7544Diana, di-ā′na, or dī-an′a, n. an ancient Italian goddess of light, the moon-goddess, representative of chastity and hunting, afterwards identified with the Greek Artemis.—Diana of the Ephesians, a goddess of fertility w
English · e-37683-7545Diandria, dī-an′dri-a, n. a class of plants in the Linnæan system having two stamens.—n. Dian′der, a plant with two stamens.—adjs. Dian′drian, Dian′drous. [Gr. dis, twice, double, anēr, andros, a man.]
English · e-37683-7546Dianodal, dī-a-nō′dal, adj. (math.) passing through a node.
English · e-37683-7547 · brief source recordDianoetic, dī-a-nō-et′ik, adj. capable of thought, thinking: belonging to the ratiocinative faculties of the mind. [Gr. dianoētikos—dia, through, noein, to think.]
English · e-37683-7548Dianthus, dī-an′thus, n. the genus of herbaceous flowers to which carnations and pinks belong. [Gr. dianthēs—dis, di-, two, anthos, a flower.]
English · e-37683-7549Diapason, dī-a-pā′zon, n. a whole octave: a harmony: a full volume of various sounds in concord: correct pitch: the two foundation-stops of an organ (open and stopped diapason)—(Spens.) Dī′apase. [Gr. dia, through, and p
English · e-37683-7550Diapedesis, dī-a-pe-dē′sis, n. (physiol.) the migration of white blood-corpuscles through the walls of the blood-vessels without apparent rupture.—adj. Diapedet′ic. [Gr., dia, through, pēdan, to leap.]
English · e-37683-7551Diapente, dī-a-pen′tē, n. (mus.) the interval of a fifth: a composition in pharmacy of five ingredients. [Gr.]
English · e-37683-7552 · brief source recordDiaper, dī′a-pėr, n. unbleached linen cloth woven in slightly defined figures, used for towels, &c.: a pattern for ornamentation, woven, not coloured, in textiles: a floral or geometric pattern in low relief in architect
English · e-37683-7553Diaphanous, dī-af′a-nus, adj. shining or appearing through, transparent, clear—also Diaphan′ic.—ns. Dī′aphane, a diaphanous figured silk fabric; Diaphanom′eter, an instrument for testing the transparency of the air; Diap
English · e-37683-7554Diaphonics, dī-a-fon′iks, n. Same as Diacoustics. [Gr. dia, through, phonē, sound.]
English · e-37683-7555 · brief source recordDiaphoretic, dī-a-fo-ret′ik, adj. promoting perspiration.—n. a sudorific or medicine that increases perspiration.—n. Diaphorē′sis, perspiration artificially induced. [Gr.,—diaphorein, to carry off—dia, through, pherein,
English · e-37683-7556Diaphragm, dī′a-fram, n. a thin partition or dividing membrane: the midriff, a structure separating the chest from the abdomen: a metal plate with a central hole, for cutting off side-rays in a camera, &c.—adjs. Diaphrag
English · e-37683-7557Diaphysis, dī-af′i-sis, n. (bot.) an abnormal elongation of the axis of a flower or of an inflorescence: (anat.) the continuity of a bone between its two ends. [Gr. dia, through, phyesthai, to grow.]
English · e-37683-7558Diaplasis, dī-ap′la-sis, n. (surg.) reduction, of a dislocation, &c.—adj. Diaplas′tic. [Gr.]
English · e-37683-7559 · brief source recordDiapnoic, dī-ap-nō′ik, adj. producing slight perspiration—also Diapnot′ic—n. a mild diaphoretic.
English · e-37683-7560 · brief source recordDiapositive, dī-a-poz′i-tiv, n. a transparent photographic positive, such as a lantern slide.
English · e-37683-7561 · brief source recordDiapyetic, dī-a-pī-et′ik, adj. producing suppuration.—n. a medicine with this property.—n. Diapyē′sis, suppuration. [Gr.]
English · e-37683-7562Diarchy, dī′ar-ki, n. a form of government in which two persons are jointly vested with supreme power—less correctly Dī′narchy. [Formed from Gr. di-, two, archein, to rule.]
English · e-37683-7563Diarrhœa, Diarrhea, dī-a-rē′a, n. a persistent purging or looseness of the bowels.—adjs. Diarrhœ′al, Diarrhœ′ic, Diarrhœt′ic (also -rhē′al, -rhē′ic, -rhet′ic). [Gr. diarroia—dia, through, and rhein, to flow.]
English · e-37683-7564Diarthrosis, dī-ar-thrō′sis, n. the general name for all forms of articulation which admit of the motion of one bone upon another, free arthrosis—including Enarthrosis, Ginglymus, and Cyclarthrosis. [Gr.]
English · e-37683-7565Diary, dī′a-ri, n. a daily record: a journal.—adjs. Diā′rial, Diā′rian.—v.t. or v.i. Dī′arise.—n. Dī′arist, one who keeps a diary. [L. diarium.]
English · e-37683-7566Diascordium, dī-a-skor′di-um, n. an electuary prepared with scordium or water-germander. [Gr. dia, through, and skordion.]
English · e-37683-7567Diaskeuast, dī-as-kew′ast, n. a reviser: an interpolator.—n. Diaskeu′asis, reviewing. [Gr. diaskeuazein, to make ready—dia, through, skeuos, a tool.]
English · e-37683-7568Diaspora, dī-as′por-a, n. dispersion, used collectively for the dispersed Jews after the Babylonian captivity, and also in the apostolic age for the Jews living outside of Palestine. [Gr. dia, through, speirein, to scatt
English · e-37683-7569Diaspore, dī′a-spōr, n. a grayish, infusible hydrate of aluminium.
English · e-37683-7570 · brief source recordDiastaltic, dī-a-stal′tik, adj. (Greek mus.) dilated, extended: bold. [Gr., diastellein, to expand.]
English · e-37683-7571 · brief source recordDiastase, dī′as-tās, n. a peculiar ferment developed during the germination of all seeds, which has the power of converting starch into dextrine and then into sugar.—adj. Diastat′ic—adv. Diastat′ically. [Gr. diastasis, d
English · e-37683-7572Diastasis, dī-as′ta-sis, n. (surg.) separation of bones without fracture. [Gr.]
English · e-37683-7573 · brief source recordDiastema, dī-a-stē′ma, n. a natural space between two consecutive teeth, or series of teeth.—adj. Diastemat′ic. [Gr.]
English · e-37683-7574 · brief source recordDiastole, dī-as′to-lē, n. dilation of the heart, auricles, and arteries—opp. to Systole, or contraction of the same: the protracting of a short syllable, as before a pause.—adj. Diastol′ic. [Gr. diastolē—dia, asunder, an
English · e-37683-7575Diastyle, dī′a-stīl, adj. (archit.) marked by wide intercolumniation. [Gr.]
English · e-37683-7576 · brief source recordDiatessaron, dī-a-tes′a-rōn, n. a harmony of the four gospels, esp. the earliest, that of Tatian (prob. 110-180 A.D.): (mus.) the interval of a fourth: an electuary of four ingredients. [Gr., for dia tessarōn, through, o
English · e-37683-7577Diathermal, dī-a-thėr′mal, adj. letting heat through, permeable by radiating heat—also Diather′manous, Diather′mous, Diather′mic.—ns. Diather′mance, -cy. [Gr. dia, through, thermos, heat.]
English · e-37683-7578Diathesis, dī-ath′e-sis, n. a particular condition or habit of body, esp. one predisposing to certain diseases: a habit of mind.—adj. Diathet′ic. [Gr.,—dia, asunder, tithenai, to place.]
English · e-37683-7579Diatom, dī′a-tom, n. one of an order of microscopic unicellular algæ, of the Diatomaceæ.—adj. Diatomā′ceous.—n. Diat′omite, diatomaceous earth. [Gr. diatomos—dia, through, temnein, to cut.]
English · e-37683-7580A historical dictionary can preserve useful evidence and superseded analyses at the same time. These records retain their source identity; no parent edge, sound law, first-use date or confidence score is generated from a sentence’s position.
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