D
the fourth letter in our alphabet, as well as in the Phœnician, Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, from which last it was immediately derived—its sound the soft dental mute: (mus.) the second note in the natural scale.
Dab, dab,v.t.to strike gently with something soft or moist, to smear:—pr.p.dab′bing;pa.p.dabbed.—n.a gentle blow: a small lump of anything soft or moist: a species of flounder of light-brown colour, with small dark spots and rough, close-set scales.—ns.Dab′ber, a sort of pad for dabbing ink on engraved wood blocks or plates;Dab′chick, a small water-fowl, a kind of grebe. [First about 1300; cf. Old Dut.dabben, to pinch; Ger.tappe, a pat. Confused withDaubandTap.]
Dab, dab,n.an expert person.—n.Dab′ster(coll.). [Prob. a corr. ofAdept.]
Dabble, dab′l,v.t.to spatter with moisture.—v.i.to play in water with hands or feet: to do anything in a trifling way.—n.Dabb′ler, one who does things superficially.—adv.Dabb′lingly. [Freq. ofDab.]
Da capo, däkä′pō, a term in music, frequently placed at the end of a movement, indicating that the performer must return to the beginning of the music—usually writtenD.C.[It., 'from the beginning'—L.de, from,caput, head.]
Dace, dās,Dare, dār,Dart, därt,n.a small river fish of the carp family, and of the same genus as the roach, chub, minnow, &c. [M. E.darce—O. Fr.dars—Low L.dardus, a dart or javelin—of Teut. origin. So called from its quickness.]
Dachshund, daks′hoond,n.a badger-dog. [Ger.dachs, a badger,hund, dog.]
Dacker, dak′ėr,Daker,dā′kėr,v.i.(Scot.) to lounge, saunter.—AlsoDaik′er.
Dacoit, da-koit′,n.one of a gang of robbers in India and Burma—alsoDakoit′.—ns.Dacoit′y,Dacoit′age, robbery by gang-robbers, brigandage. [Hind.dākāīt, a robber.]
Dacryoma, dak-ri-ō′ma,n.stoppage of the tear duct. [Formed from Gr.dakry, a tear.]
Dactyl, dak′til,n.in Latin and Greek poetry, a foot of three syllables, one long followed by two short, so called from its likeness to the joints of a finger; in English, a foot of three syllables, with the first accented, asmer'rily,vi'olate.—adjs.Dac′tylar,Dactyl′ic, relating to or consisting chiefly of dactyls.—ns.Dactyl′iomancy, divination by means of a finger-ring;Dac′tylist;Dactylog′raphy, the science of finger-rings;Dactylol′ogy, the art of talking with the fingers, like the deaf and dumb. [L.dactylus—Gr.daktylos, a finger.]
Dad, dad,Daddy, dad′i,n.father, a word used by children.—n.Dadd′y-long-legs, the crane-fly, a familiar insect with long body, legs, and antennæ. [Prob. Celt., W.tad, Bret,tad,tat; cf. Gr.tata.]
Dad, dad,v.t.to throw against something: to dash.—n.a lump: a piece: a blow. [Der. unknown.]
Daddle, dad′l,v.i.to walk in an unsteady manner, as a child or very old person: to totter:—pr.p.dadd′ling;pa.p.dadd′led. [Perh. conn. withDawdle.]
Daddle, dad′l,n.(slang) the hand.
Daddock, dad′ok,n.(prov.) the heart of a rotten tree.
Dado, dā′do,n.in classical architecture, the cubic block forming the body of a pedestal: a skirting of wood along the lower part of the walls of a room, often represented merely by wall-paper, painting, &c. [It.,—L.datus(talus, a die, being understood), given or thrown forth—dāre, to give.]
Dædal, dē′dal,Dædalian,de-dā′li-an,adj.formed with art: displaying artistic skill: intricate. [From L.Dædalus, Gr.Daidalos, the mythical artist who constructed the Cretan labyrinth.]
Dæmon, dē′mon,n.a spirit holding a middle place between gods and men, like the dæmon or good genius of Socrates.—adj.Dæ′monic, supernatural: of power or intelligence more than human. [L.dæmon—Gr.daimōn, a spirit, a genius, and later a devil. SeeDemon.]
Daff, daf,v.i.to play, to play the fool.—n.Daff′ing(Scot.), foolery, gaiety. [M. E.daf, deaf, prob. Ice.dawfr(Sw.döf, Dan.döv), deaf.]
Daff, daf,v.t.(Shak.) to put off. [A variant ofDoff.]
Daffodil, daf′o-dil,Daffodilly,daf′o-dil-i,Daffodowndilly,daf′o-down-dil′i,n.a yellow flower of the lily tribe—also calledKing's spear. [M. E.affodille—O. Fr.asphodile—Gr.asphodelus; thedis prefixed accidentally.]
Daft, daft,adj.(Scot.) silly, weak-minded, insane, unreasonably merry.—adv.Daft′ly.—n.Daft′ness. [SeeDaff.]
Dag, dag,n.a dagger: a hand-gun or heavy pistol, used in the 15th and 16th centuries.—AlsoDagge. [Fr.dague; Celt.; cf. Bret.dag.]
Dagger, dag′ėr,n.a short sword for stabbing at close quarters: (print.) a mark of reference (Dagger), the double dagger (Double Dagger) being another.—At daggers drawn, in a state of hostility;Look daggers, to look in a hostile manner. [M. E.dagger—W.dagr(Ir.daigear); cf. Fr.dague.]
Daggle, dag′l,v.t.andv.i.to wet or grow wet by dragging on the wet ground.—n.Dagg′le-tail, a slattern.—adj.slatternly. [Freq. of prov. Eng.dag, to sprinkle, from a Scand. root seen in Sw.dagg.]
Dago, dā′go,n.(U.S.) a name applied loosely to Spanish- and Italian-born men. [Prob. a corr. of Sp.Diego—L.Jacobus.]
Dagoba, dag′o-ba,n.in Ceylon, a dome-like structure of solid masonry, containing relics of a Buddhist saint. [Singh.dāgaba.]
Dagon, dā′gon,n.the national god of the Philistines, half-man, half-fish. [Heb.dāgōn—dag, fish.]
Daguerreotype, da-ger′o-tīp,n.a method of taking pictures on metal plates by the light of the sun: a photograph fixed on a plate of copper by a certain process.—adj.Daguer′rēan.—n.Daguerrē′otypy, the art of daguerreotyping. [Fr., from LouisDaguerre(1789-1851).]
Dagwood.SeeDogwood.
Dahabeeah, da-ha-bē′a,n.a Nile-boat with oars, one or two masts, and lateen sails.—AlsoDahabi′eh,Dahabi′yeh. [Ar.dahabīya.]
Dahlia, dāl′i-a,n.a genus of garden plants with large flowers. [FromDahl, a Swedish botanist.]
Daidle, dā′dl,v.i.a Scotch form ofdaddle: also to draggle.—adj.Daid′ling, feeble: dawdling.
Daiker, dā′ker,v.i.(prov.) to deck out.
Daily, dā′li,adj.andadv.every day.—n.a daily paper.
Daimio, dī′myo,n.a Japanese territorial noble under the old feudal system. [Jap.]
Dainty, dān′ti,adj.pleasant to the palate: delicate: fastidious: (Spens.) elegant.—n.that which is dainty, a delicacy.—adj.Daint(Spens.).—adv.Dain′tily.—n.Dain′tiness. [M. E.deintee, anything worthy or costly. O. Fr.daintié, worthiness—L.dignitat-em—dignus, worthy.]
Dairy, dā′ri,n.the place where milk is kept, and butter and cheese made: an establishment for the supply of milk.—ns.Dai′ry-farm;Dai′rying;Dai′rymaid;Dai′ryman. [M. E.deye.—Ice.deigja, a dairymaid; orig. a kneader of dough.]
Dais, dā′is,n.a raised floor at the upper end of the dining-hall where the high table stood: a raised floor with a seat and canopy: the canopy over an altar, &c. [O. Fr.dais—Low L.discus, a table—L.discus, a quoit—Gr.diskos, a disc.]
Daisy, dā′zi,n.a common wild-flower, growing in pastures and meadows—the name given also to other plants, as theOx-eye daisy, which is a chrysanthemum.—adj.Dai′sied, covered with daisies.—n.Dai′sy-cut′ter, a fast-going horse that does not lift its feet high: a cricket-ball skimmed along the ground. [A. S.dæges eáge, day's eye, the sun.]
Dak, däk,Dawk, dawk,n.in India, the mail-post: travelling in palanquins carried by relays of bearers. [Hind.dāk, a relay of men.]
Dakoit.SeeDacoit.
Dalai-lama.SeeLama.
Dale, dāl,Dell, del,n.the low ground between hills: the valley through which a river flows.—n.Dales′man, specifically, an inhabitant of the dales of the Lake District. [Ice.dalr, Sw.dal; Ger.thal.]
Dali, dä′li,n.a timber-tree of Guiana, its wood used for staves, &c.
Dalila.SeeDelilah.
Dall, dal,n.a tile with incised surface: (pl.) rapids.
Dallop, dal′op,n.(prov.), a tuft of grass.
Dally, dal′i,v.i.to lose time by idleness or trifling: to play: to exchange caresses:—pa.p.dall′ied.—ns.Dall′iance, dallying, toying, or trifling: interchange of embraces: delay;Dall′ier, a trifler. [M. E.dalien, to play; prob. from A.S.dweligan, to err; cf. Ice.dvala, to delay, Dut.dwalen, to err; prob. conn. withdwell.]
Dalmahoy, dal′ma-hoi,n.a bushy bob-wig, worn in the 18th cent. by chemists, &c.
Dalmatian, dal-mā′shun,adj.belonging toDalmatia, a strip of Austrian territory along the Adriatic.—Dalmatian dog, the spotted coach-dog, resembling the pointer in shape.
Dalmatic, dal-mat′ik,n.a loose-fitting, wide-sleeved ecclesiastical vestment, worn specially by deacons in the R.C. Church, also sometimes by bishops. [Low L.dalmatica, a robe worn by persons of rank in the early Christian centuries, on the pattern of a dress worn inDalmatia.]
Dalt, dält,n.(Scot.) a foster-child. [Gael.dalta.]
Daltonism, dal′ton-izm,n.colour-blindness: inability to distinguish certain colours.—adj.Daltō′nian. [So called from the chemist JohnDalton(1766-1844), who had this infirmity.]
Dam, dam,n.an embankment to restrain water: the water thus confined.—v.t.to keep back water by a bank:—pr.p.dam′ming;pa.p.dammed. [Teut.; Dut.dam, Ger.damm, &c.]
Dam, dam,n.a mother, applied to quadrupeds. [A form ofdame.]
Damage, dam′āj,n.hurt, injury, loss: the value of what is lost: (coll.) cost: (pl.) the pecuniary reparation due for loss or injury sustained by one person through the fault or negligence of another.—v.t.to harm.—v.i.to take injury.—adj.Dam′ageable. [O. Fr.damage(Fr.dommage)—L.damnum, loss.]
Daman, dam′an,n.the Syrian hyrax, the cony of the Bible. [Syrian.]
Damar.Same asDammar.
Damascene, da′mas-ēn,adj.ofDamascus.—v.t.same asDamaskeen.
Damask, dam′ask,n.figured stuff, originally of silk, now of linen, cotton, or wool, the figure being woven, not printed.—v.t.to flower or variegate, as cloth.—adj.of a red colour, like that of a damask rose.—v.t.Damaskeen′, to decorate metal (esp. steel) by inlaying or encrusting on it patterns like damask in other metals: to ornament with flowery patterns, to damask.—ns.Damaskeen′ing,Damasceen′ing, the watered or striated structure seen in certain sword-blades and other weapons: the ornamental incrustation with gold and silver of steel and iron surfaces;Damaskin′, a Damascus blade: a damaskeened blade;Dam′ask-plum, the damson;Dam′ask-rose, a species of pink-rose;Dam′ask-steel, Damascus steel;Dam′assin, damask with flowered patterns in gold or silver thread.—Damascus blade, a Damascus sword, the surface marked by wavy and variegating lines. [FromDamascus, in Syria, where damask was orig. made.]
Damboard, dam′bōrd,Dambrod,dam′brod,n.(Scot.) a draughtboard, the pieces beingdams. [Fr.jeu de dames, copied by the Germans asdamenspiel, by the Swedes asdamspel, &c., perhaps from the movement of the pieces being like those of the queen (reineordame) in chess.]
Dame, dām,n.the mistress of a house: a matron: a noble lady.—ns.Dame′-school, a school for children kept by a woman;Dame's′-vī′olet, a genus of cruciferous plants, formerly cultivated by ladies in pots for its sweet scent at night. [Fr.dame—L.domina, a mistress, fem. ofdominus, a master.]
Dammar, dam′mar,n.a resin, used for making varnish, obtained from a genus of East Indian conifers.
Damn, dam,v.t.to censure or condemn: to sentence to eternal punishment: to doom.—n.an oath: a curse.—adj.Dam′nable, deserving or tending to damnation: hateful: pernicious.—n.Dam′nableness.—adv.Dam′nably.—n.Damnā′tion, condemnation: (theol.) the punishment of the impenitent in the future state: eternal punishment.—adj.Dam′natory, consigning to damnation.—p.adj.Damned, sentenced to everlasting punishment: hateful: a profane intensive, meaning merely thorough (often written d——d, and softened intodarned,dashed, &c.).—adv.very, exceedingly.—adj.Damnif′ic.—n.Damnificā′tion.—v.t.Dam′nify, to cause loss to.—adj.Dam′ning, exposing to condemnation. [Fr.damner—L.damnāre, to condemn—damnum, loss.]
Damoclean, dam-ō-clē′an,adj.likeDamocles, flatterer of Dionysius of Syracuse, taught the insecurity of happiness by being made to sit through the feast with a sword suspended by a single hair over his head.
Damosel, dam′o-sel,n.Same asDamsel.
Damp, damp,n.vapour, mist: moist air: lowness of spirits: (pl.) dangerous vapours in mines, &c.—v.t.to wet slightly: to chill: to discourage: to check: to make dull.—adj.moist, foggy: sometimes in the formDamp′y.—v.t.andv.i.Damp′en, to make or become damp or moist.—n.Damp′er, that which checks or moderates: a mechanical appliance for reducing currents, musical vibration, &c.: (Australia) a kind of unfermented bread.—adj.Damp′ish, somewhat damp.—n.Damp′ishness.—adv.Damp′ly.—n.Damp′ness.—Damping off(hort.), the death of plants from excess of moisture. [M. E.dampen; akin to Dut.damp, Ger.dampf, vapour.]
Damsel, dam′zel,n.a young unmarried woman: a girl. [O. Fr.damoisele(Fr.demoiselle), a page—Low L.domicellus, dim. of L.dominus, a lord.]
Damson, dam′zn,n.a rather small oval fruited variety of the common plum, esteemed for preserving. [Shortened fromDamascene—Damascus.]
Dan, dan,n.a title of honour equivalent to Master or Sir. [O. Fr.dan. (Sp.don; Port.dom)—L.dominus, lord. SeeDame.]
Dan, dan,n.(prov.) a box for carrying coal: a tub.
Danakil, dan′a-kil,n.the name given to the numerous nomad and fisher tribes on the coast of North-east Africa. [Ar.]
Dance, dans,v.i.to move with measured steps to music: to spring.—v.t.to make to dance or jump.—n.the movement of one or more persons with measured steps to music: the tune to which dancing is performed.—ns.Dance′-mū′sic, music specially arranged for accompanying dancing;Danc′er, one who practises dancing;Danc′ing, the act or art of moving in the dance;Danc′ing-girl, a professional dancer;Danc′ing-mas′ter, a teacher of dancing.—Dance a bear(obs.), to exhibit a performing bear;Dance attendance, to wait obsequiously;Dance of death, a series of allegorical paintings symbolising the universal power of death, represented as a skeleton;Dance upon nothing, to be hanged.—Lead a person a dance, to set him on an undertaking under false hopes: to delude.—Merry dancers, the aurora. [O. Fr.danser, from Teut.; Old High Ger.danson, to draw along.]
Dancette, dan-set′,n.(her.) a zigzag or indented line or figure: the chevron or zigzag moulding common in Romanesque architecture—alsoadj.[O. Fr.dent,dant, tooth, notch—L.dens.]
Dandelion, dan-de-lī′un,n.a common plant with a yellow flower, its leaves with jagged tooth-like edges. [Fr.dent de lion, tooth of the lion.]
Dander, dan′dėr,Daunder,dawn′dėr,v.i.(Scot.) to walk leisurely or idly. [Akin todandle.]
Dander,n.a form ofDandruff(vulg.), anger: passion.—Raise a person's dander, to put him in a temper.
Dander,n.(Scot.) furnace cinders. [Ety. dub.]
Dandle, dan′dl,v.t.to play with: to fondle or toss in the arms, as a baby. [Prob. Teut.; cf. Ger.tändeln—tand, a toy.]
Dandriff, dand′rif,Dandruff,dand′ruf,n.a scaly scurf which forms on the surface of the skin under the hair and beard. [Perh. from W.ton, surface, skin, anddrwg, bad (Skeat).]
Dandy, dan′di,n.a foppish, silly fellow: one who pays much attention to dress.—v.t.Dan′dify, to dress up as a dandy.—adv.Dan′dily, like a dandy.—ns.Dan′dy-brush, a hard brush of whalebone bristles;Dan′dy-cock, a bantam;Dan′dy-fē′ver(seeDengue);Dan′dy-horse, a velocipede.—adj.Dan′dyish.—n.Dan′dyism. [Perh. from Fr.dandin, a ninny; and prob. from root ofdandle.]
Dandy, dan′di,n.a sloop-like vessel having a jigger-mast abaft.—n.Dandy-rigged cutter.
Dandyprat, dan′di-prat,n.a dwarf: an urchin. [Ety. dub.]
Dane, dān,n.a native ofDenmark.—adj.Dan′ish, belonging to Denmark.—n.the language of the Danes—(Spens.)Danisk.
Danegeld, dān′geld,n.a tax imposed in the 10th cent., to buy off the Danes or to defend the country against them. [A.S.Dene, Danes,geid, a payment.]
Dang, dang,v.t.a minced form ofdamn.
Danger, dān′jėr,n.peril, hazard, or risk: insecurity: (obs.) power.—v.t.(Shak.) to endanger.—adj.Dan′gerous, full of danger: unsafe: insecure.—adv.Dan′gerously.—ns.Dan′gerousness;Dan′ger-sig′nal. [O. Fr.dangier, absolute power (of a feudal lord), hence power to hurt.—Low L.dominium, feudal authority—L.dominus, a lord. SeeDungeon.]
Dangle, dang′gl,v.t.to hang loosely or with a swinging motion: to follow any one about.—v.t.to make to dangle.—n.Dan′gler, one who dangles about others, esp. about women. [Scand., Dan.dangle, to dangle; cf. Ice.dingla, to swing; Sw.danka, to saunter.]
Daniel, dan′yel,n.in phraseA second Daniel, a wise judge, with reference to the interposition of the wise young Daniel to save Susannah, in one of the Apocryphal additions to the book of Daniel.
Danite, dan′īt,n.one of a secret society amongst the early Mormons. [In allusion to Gen. xlix. 16, 17.]
Dank, dangk,adj.moist, wet.—n.(Milt.) water.—adj.Dank′ish, somewhat dank or damp. [Perh. conn. withdew. See alsoDaggle.]
Dannebrog, dān′e-brog,n.the second of the Danish orders instituted by King Waldemar in 1219. [Dan., 'the Danish banner.']
Danseuse, dong-süz′,n.a female dancer: a ballet dancer. [Fr.]
Dansker, dan′skėr,n.(Shak.) a Dane.
Dantean, dan′te-an,Dantesque,dan′tesk,adj.like the poetDante: sublime: austere.—ns.Dan′tist, a Dante scholar;Dantoph′ilist, a lover of Dante.
Danton, dan′ton,v.t.(Scot.) to subdue, to daunt. [A form ofdaunt.]
Danubian, dan-ū′bi-an,adj.pertaining to or bordering on theDanube.—Danubian Principalities, a name applied to Moldavia and Wallachia.
Dap, dap,v.i.to drop the bait gently into the water.
Daphne, daf′nē,n.a genus of shrubs or small trees. [Gr.]
Dapper, dap′ėr,adj.quick: little and active: neat: spruce.—n.Dapp′erling, a dapper little fellow. [Dut.dapper, brave; cf. Ger.tapfer, quick, brave.]
Dapple, dap′l,adj.marked with spots.—v.t.to variegate with spots.—adjs.Dapp′erly(Scot.), variegated;Dapp′le-bay, of bay colour, variegated with dapples;Dapp′led;Dapp′le-gray. [SeeDimple.]
Darbies, där′biz,n.pl.(slang) handcuffs. [App. from the personal nameDarby.]
Darbyites, där′bi-īts,n.pl.a name given to the Plymouth Brethren. [From their principal founder, J. N.Darby(1800-82).]
Dare, dār,v.i.to be bold enough: to venture:—pa.t.durst.—v.t.to challenge: to defy.—n.(Shak.) boldness, a challenge.—n.Dare′-dev′il, a rash, venturesome fellow.—adj.unreasonably rash and reckless.—adjs.Dare′ful(Shak.), full of daring, adventurous;Dar′ing, bold: courageous: fearless.—n.boldness.—n.Dar′ing-do(seeDerring-doe).—adj.Dar′ing-hard′y(Shak.), foolhardy.—adv.Dar′ingly.—I dare say, I suppose. [A.S.durran, pres.dearr; Goth.daursan; akin to Gr.tharsein.]
Dare, dār,v.t.to frighten, terrify. [M. E.daren, to be in fear; cf. Dan.dirre, to tremble.]
Dare, dār. Same asDace.
Darg, darg,n.a day's work: (Scot.) a task. [Contr. fromdawerk,day-wark, day-work.]
Daric, dar′ik,n.an old gold coin larger than an English sovereign, named afterDariusI. of Persia.
Dark, därk,adj.without light: black, or somewhat black: gloomy: difficult to understand: unenlightened: secret: sinister.—n.absence of light: obscurity: a state of ignorance.—adv.(Shak.) in a state of dark.—v.t.Dark′en, to make dark: to render ignorant: to sully.—v.i.to grow dark or darker.—n.Dark′-house(Shak.), a mad-house.—adj.Dark′ish, somewhat dark: dusky.—v.i.Dark′le, to grow dark.—adv.andadj.Dark′ling, dark: in the dark.—advs.Dark′lings(poet.), in the dark;Dark′ly.—n.Dark′ness.—adj.Dark′some, dark: (poet.) gloomy.—ns.Dark′y,Dark′ey, a negro: (slang) a policeman's lantern.—Dark ages, the period of intellectual darkness in Europe, from the 5th to the 15th century.—Darken the door, to enter in at the door.—A dark horse, in racing, a horse whose capabilities are not known: a candidate about whom it is not known till the last moment that he is a candidate.—Keep dark, to be silent or secret;Keep it dark, to conceal.—The prince of darkness, Satan. [A.S.deorc.]
Darling, där′ling,n.a little dear: one dearly beloved: a favourite. [Dear, and dim. suff.-ling=l-ing.]
Darn, därn,v.t.to mend a hole by imitating the texture of the stuff.—n.the place darned.—n.Darn′ing-needle. [W.darn, a piece, a patch.]
Darn, därn,v.i.a minced form ofdamn.
Darnel, där′nel,n.an annual of the rye-grass genus, the tares of Scripture. [Prob. conn. with O. Fr.darne, stupid, from its supposed narcotic properties.]
Darraign,Darrain. SeeDerain.
Dart, därt,n.a pointed weapon for throwing with the hand: anything that pierces.—v.t.to hurl suddenly: to send or shoot forth.—v.i.to start or shoot forth rapidly—freq.Dar′tle.—adv.Dart′ingly. [O. Fr.dart; from a Low Ger. root.]
Dart.SeeDace.
Darter, därt′ėr,n.a genus of birds nearly allied to cormorants, heron-like in gait and gesture.
Dartre, där′tr,n.herpes.—adj.Dar′trous. [Fr.]
Darwinism, där′win-ism,n.the theory of the origin of species propounded by C.Darwin(1809-82).—adjs.Darwin′ian,Darwin′ical.
Dash, dash,v.t.to throw violently: to break by throwing together: to throw water suddenly: to bespatter: to destroy or frustrate: to mix or adulterate.—v.i.to strike against: to break against, as water: to rush with violence.—n.a violent striking: a rushing or violent onset: a blow: a mark(—)at a break in a sentence: ostentation: a slight admixture.—ns.Dash′-board, a board or leathern frame in front of a carriage, to keep off splashes of mud;Dash′er, one who dashes: (coll.) one who makes a great show.—adj.Dash′ing, rushing: reckless: hasty and rash: gallant.—adv.Dash′ingly.—ns.Dash′-pot, a device for preventing too sudden motion in some part of an apparatus;Dash′-wheel, a wheel-shaped box with compartments, in which cotton cloth is washed by the revolution of the wheel in liquid.—Dash off, to sketch hastily;Dash out, to knock out by striking against something. [M. E.daschen,dassen, to rush, or strike with violence—Scand.; cf. Dan.daske, to slap].
Dastard, das′tard,n.a cowardly fellow.—adj.shrinking from danger: cowardly.—adj.andadv.Das′tardly.—ns.Das′tardness,Das′tardliness,Das′tardy. [From a Scand. stemdast= Eng.dazed, and Fr. suffix-ard. SeeDaze.]
Dasymeter, da-sim′e-tėr,n.an instrument for testing the density of gases. [Gr.dasys, thick,metron, measure.]
Dasypus, das′i-pus,n.a genus of armadillos.
Dasyure, das′i-yōōr,n.a small carnivorous quadruped of Australia and Tasmania. [Formed from Gr.dasys, hairy,oura, tail.]
Data, dā′ta,n.pl.facts given or admitted from which other facts may be deduced:—sing.Dā′tum. [L.datum,data, given—dăre, to give.]
Datary, dā′ta-ri,n.an officer in the papal chancery, who dates and despatches documents, grants, &c.—n.Datā′ria, the office of such. [Low L.datarius—L.datum—dăre, to give.]
Date, dāt,n.the time of any event: a stipulated time: age, period of time.—v.t.to affix the date to.—v.t.to reckon: to begin.—adj.Date′less, without date: without fixed limit: undatable.—Out of date, antiquated;Up to date, adapted or corrected to the present time: modern. [O. Fr.date—L.datum, as indatum Romæ= given or written at Rome.]
Date, dāt,n.the fruit of the date-palm.—ns.Date′-palm,Date′-tree, the tree on which it grows, a native of the northern half of Africa and the south-west of Asia;Date′-plum;Date′-sug′ar. [Fr.datte—L.dactylus—Gr.daktylos, a finger.]
Dative, dāt′iv,adj.that is given or appointed.—n.the dative case, the oblique case of nouns, &c.—generally indicated in English bytoorfor. [L.dativus.]
Datolite, dat′ō-līt,n.a vitreous calcium borosilicate.
Datum, dā′tum (seeData).—n.Dā′tum-line, the horizontal base-line from which heights and depths are measured.
Datura, dā-tū′ra,n.a genus of plants, of which one,D. stramonium, or thorn-apple, has strongly narcotic properties.—n.Dat′urine, a poisonous alkaloid in the foregoing. [Hind.dhatūrā.]
Daub, dawb,v.t.to smear: to paint coarsely.—n.a coarse painting.—ns.Daub′er, one who daubs: a coarse painter;Daub′ery,Daub′ry(Shak.), a daubing, or crudely artful device;Daub′ing.—adj.Daub′y, sticky. [O. Fr.dauber, to plaster—L.dealbāre, to whitewash—de, down, andalbus, white.]
Daud, daud,v.t.(Scot.) to knock, thump.—n.a lump: large piece.—AlsoDawd.
Daughter, daw′tėr,n.a female child: a female descendant: woman (generally).—ns.Daugh′ter-in-law, a son's wife;Daugh′terliness;Daugh′terling, a little daughter.—adj.Daugh′terly, like or becoming a daughter. [A.S.dohtor; Scot.dochter, Ger.tochter, Gr.thygatēr.]
Daunder,Dauner. Same asDander.
Daunt, dänt, or dawnt,v.t.to frighten: to discourage: to subdue.—adj.Daunt′less, not to be daunted.—adv.Daunt′lessly.—n.Daunt′lessness.—v.t.Daun′ton, to subdue: to dare. [O. Fr.danter(Fr.dompter)—L.domitāre—domāre, to tame.]
Dauphin, daw′fin,n.the name given to the eldest son of the king of France, from 1349 down to 1830:—fem.Dau′phiness. [O. Fr.daulphin(Fr.dauphin)—L.delphinus, a dolphin. From the dolphins in the crest of Viennois.]
Daur, dawr, a Scotch form ofdare.
Dautie.SeeDawtie.
Dauw, daw,n.the South African name of Burchell's zebra.
Davenport, dā′ven-port,n.a small ornamental writing-desk. [From the maker.]
Davenport-trick, dā′ven-port-trik,n.the artifice by which a man can free himself from ropes wound round him and tied.
Davits.
Davit, dāv′it,n.one of a pair of pieces of timber or iron, projecting over a ship's side or stern, having tackle to raise a boat by. [Cf. Fr.davier, a forceps.]
Davy, dā′vi,Davy-lamp,dā′vi-lamp,n.the safety-lamp for coal-miners of Sir HumphryDavy(1778-1829).
Davy Jones, dā′vi jōnz,n.a sailor's familiar name for the (malignant) spirit of the sea, the devil; henceDavy Jones's locker, of the sea, as the grave of men drowned at sea. [Said by some to be a compound ofDuffy, a West Indian spirit name, andJonah.]
Daw, daw,v.i.an old English form ofdawn.
Daw, daw,n.a bird of the crow kind: a jackdaw.—adj.Daw′ish. [From its cry.]
Dawdle, daw′dl,v.i.to waste time by trifling: to act or move slowly.—n.Daw′dler. [Allied todandleanddandy.]
Dawk.SeeDak.
Dawn, dawn,v.i.to become day: to begin to grow light: to begin to appear.—n.daybreak: beginning.—AlsoDawn′ing. [A.S.dagian, to dawn,dæg, day.]
Dawnering= dandering. [SeeDander (1).]
Dawtie, daw′ti,n.(Scot.) a darling: a beloved child—alsoDaut′ie.—v.t.Daut, to fondle.
Day, dā,n.the time of light, from sunrise to sunset: the time from morning till night: twenty-four hours, the time the earth takes to make a revolution on her axis—this being thesolarornaturalday as distinguished from thesiderealday, between two transits of the same star: a man's period of existence or influence: a time or period.—ns.Day′-bed(Shak.), a couch or sofa;Day′-blind′ness, a defect of vision, in which objects are best seen by a dim light;Day′-book, a book in which merchants, &c., enter the transactions of every day;Day′break;Day′-coal, the upper stratum of coal;Day′-dream, a dreaming or musing while awake;Day′-fly, a fly which lives in its perfect form only for a day, one of the ephemera;Day′-lā′bour;Day′-lā′bourer;Day′light;Day′-lil′y, a flower whose blossoms last only for a day, the hemerocallis.—adj.Day′long, during the whole day.—ns.Day′-peep(Milt.), the dawn;Day′-schol′ar, a boy who attends a boarding-school during the school-hours, but boards at home;Day′-school, a school held during the day, as opposed both to a night-school and to a boarding-school;Day′-sight= night-blindness;Days′man, one who appoints a day to hear a cause: an umpire;Day′spring, dawn;Day′star, the morning star;Day′time.—adj.Day′-wea′ried(Shak.), wearied with the work of the day.—n.Day′-work.—Day by day, daily;Day of doom, the judgment day;Days of grace, three days allowed for payment of bills, &c., beyond the day named.—Name the day, to fix the day of marriage.—One of these days, an indefinite reference to the near future.—The day, the time spoken of: (Scot.) to-day;The other day, not long ago;The time of day, a greeting, as, 'to give a person the time of day,' to greet him. [A.S.dæg; Ger.tag; not conn. with L.dies.]
Dayak.SeeDyak.
Day-woman, dā′-woom′an,n.(Shak.) a dairymaid.
Daze, dāz,v.t.to stun, to stupefy. [Ice.dasa, to be breathless; cf. A.S.dwæs, foolish.]
Dazzle, daz′l,v.t.to daze or overpower with any strong light: to confound by brilliancy, beauty, or cleverness.—ns.Dazz′lement, the act of dazzling: that which dazzles;Dazz′ler;Dazz′ling.—adv.Dazz′lingly. [Freq. ofdaze.]
Deacon, dē′kn,n.in Episcopal churches, a member of the order of clergy under priests: in some Presbyterian churches, an officer, distinct from the elders, who attends to the secular affairs of the church: in Congregational and some other churches, an officer who advises the pastor, distributes the elements at the Communion, and dispenses charity: in Scotland, the master of an incorporated company:—fem.Dea′coness, a female servant of the Christian society in the time of the apostles: in a convent, a nun who has the care of the altar: one of an order of women in some Protestant churches who nurse the sick and tend the poor.—ns.Dea′conhood,Dea′conry,Dea′conship. [L.diaconus—Gr.diakonos, a servant.]
Dead-eye.
Dead, ded,adj.without life: death-like: at rest, of a ball: cold and cheerless: without vegetation: utter: unerring.—v.t.to deaden, dull.—adv.in a dead manner.—n.the time of greatest stillness, as 'the dead of night.'—adjs.Dead′-alive′,Dead′-and-alive′, dull, uneventful;Dead′-beat, quite overcome;Dead′-born, still-born.—n.pl.Dead′-clothes, clothes in which to bury the dead.—n.Dead′-col′ouring, the first broad outlines of a picture.—adjs.Dead′-do′ing(Spens.), putting to death, destructive;Dead′-drunk, completely drunk.—v.t.Dead′en, to make dead: to deprive partly of vigour or sensation: to blunt: to lessen.—ns.Dead′-eye, (naut.), a round, flattish wooden block with a rope or iron band passing round it, and pierced with three holes for a lanyard;Dead′-fall, a trap operated by a weight that, when its support is removed, falls upon and kills or holds an animal;Dead′-freight, money paid for the empty space in a ship by a person who engages to freight her, but fails to make out a full cargo;Dead′-head(U.S.), one who is allowed, without payment, to ride in a public carriage, sit in a theatre, or hold a privilege having a money value;Dead′-heat, a heat or race in which no one gains the advantage;Dead′-house, the house or room where (in hospitals, police-offices, &c.) dead bodies are kept till buried: a mortuary;Dead′-lett′er, a letter undelivered and unclaimed at the post-office: a law or ordinance which has been made but never enforced;Dead′-lev′el, a stretch of land without any rising ground: sameness;Dead′-lift, a lift made without help, leverage, &c.; hence an effort under discouraging conditions.—n.pl.Dead′-lights, storm-shutters for a cabin window.—ns.Dead′liness;Dead′-lock, the case when matters have become so complicated that all is at a complete standstill.—adj.Dead′ly, causing death: fatal: implacable.—adv.in a manner resembling death.—ns.Dead′ly-night′shade, the plant Belladonna (q.v.);Dead′-march, a piece of solemn music played at funeral processions, esp. of soldiers;Dead′-meat, the flesh of animals ready for the market.—n.pl.Dead′-men, empty bottles after a carouse.—ns.Dead′ness;Dead′-nett′le, a genus of plants of the natural orderLabiatæ, so called because they resemble nettles but do not sting;Dead′-pay, continued pay dishonestly drawn for men actually dead;Dead′-reck′oning, an estimation of a ship's place simply by the log-book;Dead′-rope, a rope not running in any block;Dead′-set, a determined and prolonged attempt;Dead′-shot, an unerring marksman.—adj.Dead′-stroke, without recoil.—ns.Dead′-wall, a wall unbroken by windows or other openings;Dead′-wa′ter, the eddy water closing in behind a ship's stern as she sails;Dead′-weight, a heavy or oppressive burden;Dead′-wind, a wind coming directly ahead or opposed to a ship's course;Dead′-wood, pieces of timber laid on the upper side of the keel at either end, useless material;Dead′-work, work, itself unprofitable, which is necessary as a preliminary, as the opening of a mine.—Dead as a door-nail, absolutely dead;Dead language, one no longer spoken;Dead-men's bells, the foxglove;Dead-men's fingers, a very common cœlenterate belonging to theActinozoa—alsoCow-papsandMermaid's glove;Dead-men's shoes, a situation formerly held by some one now dead;Dead's part(Scots law), the part of a man's movable property which he may bequeath by will, and which is not due to wife and children.—Be dead set against, to be utterly opposed to.—Put the dead wood on(U.S. slang), to gain a great advantage over. [A.S.deád; Goth.dauths, Ger.todt, from root ofdie.]
Deaf, def,adj.dull of hearing: unable to hear at all: not willing to hear: inattentive.—v.t.Deaf′en, to make deaf, partly or altogether: to stun: to render impervious to sound.—n.Deaf′ening, stuffing put into floors, partition-walls, &c. to prevent sounds from passing through.—adv.Deaf′ly.—ns.Deaf′-mute, one who is both deaf and dumb;Deaf′ness. [A.S.deáf; Dut.doof, Ger.taub.]
Deal, dēl,n.a portion; an indefinite quantity: a large quantity; the act of dividing cards: (U.S.) a bargain: a fir or pine board: timber.—v.t.to divide, to distribute: to throw about: to deliver.—v.i.to transact business: to act: to distribute cards.—pa.t.andpa.p.dealt (delt).—ns.Deal′er, one who deals: a trader;Deal′-fish, a genus of ribbon-fishes;Deal′ing, manner of acting towards others: intercourse of trade. [A.S.dǽlan—dǽl, a part; Ger.theilen—theil, a part or division. A doublet ofdole. By some, however,deal, a plank, is taken as a doublet ofthill, from A.S.thel, a plank.]
Deambulatory, dē-am′bū-la-to-ri,n.a passage or aisle round the choir and apse of a church. [L.deambulāre,-ātum, to walk about.]
Dean, dēn,n.a small valley.—AlsoDene. [A.S.denu, a valley. Cf.Den.]
Dean, dēn,n.a dignitary in cathedral and collegiate churches who presides over the other clergy: the president of faculty in a college; the chief chaplain of the Chapel Royal: the chief judge of the Court of Arches: the president of a trade-guild.—ns.Dean′ery, the office of a dean: a dean's house;Dean′ship, the office or dignity of a dean.—Dean of Arches, dean of the Court of Arches (seeArch);Dean of Faculty, president of the Faculty of Advocates in Scotland:Dean of Guild, a municipal functionary in Scotland, who has authority over building and altering of houses.—Rural dean, one who, under the bishop, has the special care and inspection of the clergy in certain parishes. [O. Fr.deien(Fr.doyen)—Low L.decanus, a chief of ten—L.decem, ten.]
Dear, dēr,adj.high in price: costly: scarce: highly valued: beloved: (Shak.), earnest, inmost.—n.one who is dear or beloved.—adv.at a high price.—adj.Dear′-bought.—n.Dear′ling(Spens.), a darling.—adj.Dear′-loved.—adv.Dear′ly.—ns.Dear′ness;Dear′y, one who is dear. [A.S.deóre,dýre; cog. with Ger.theuer.]
Dear, dēr,interj.indicating surprise, pity, or other emotion, as in 'Oh dear!' 'Dear me!' 'Dear, dear!'—prob. elliptical in 'Dear help us!' &c. [Sometimes doubtfully referred toDio mio(It. 'My God'), or to some compound of Fr.Dieu.]
Dearn,Dearnful,Dernly. SeeDern, &c.
Dearth, dėrth,n.dearness, high price: scarcity: want: famine; barrenness.—adj.Dearth′ful(Scot.), expensive.
Deasil, dē′shēl,n.(Scot.) motion according to the apparent course of the sun—opp. toWithershins.—AlsoDea′soil,Dei′sheal,Dea′siul. [Gael.]
Dearticulate, dē-ar-tik′ū-lāt,v.t.to disjoint.
Deaspirate, dē-as′pir-āt,v.t.to remove the aspirate.
Death, deth,n.state of being dead: extinction or cessation of life: manner of dying: mortality: a deadly plague: cause of death: spiritual lifelessness: the killing of the animal in hunting.—ns.Death′-add′er, a poisonous Australian snake;Death′-ag′ony, the struggle often preceding death;Death′-bed, the bed on which one dies, the last illness;Death′-bell, the passing bell;Death′-blow, a blow that causes death;Death′-damp, a cold, clammy sweat preceding death.—n.pl.Death′-dū′ties, duties paid to government on the inheritance of property, real or personal, after the death of the former owner.—n.Death′-fire, a kind of light supposed to presage death.—adjs.Death′ful,Death′ly, deadly, destructive;Death′less, never dying: everlasting.—n.Death′lessness.—adj.Death′-like(Shak.), like a dead person, deadly.—n.Death′liness.—adj.Death′-marked, marked for or by death, destined to die.—n.Death′-mask, a plaster-cast taken from the face after death.—adj.Death′-prac′tised(Shak.), threatened with death by malicious arts.—ns.Death′-rate, the proportion of deaths to the population;Death′-ratt′le, a rattling in the throat which sometimes accompanies the last uneasy breathings of a dying person;Death's′-door, the point of death;Death's′-head, the skull of a human skeleton, or a figure of it;Death's′-man(Shak.), the public executioner;Death′-stroke, a death-blow;Death′-throe, the dying agony;Death′-tō′ken(Shak.), a sign or token of impending death, a plague-spot;Death′-trap, an unsafe building, vessel, or place that shuts up its occupants to almost certain death;Death′-warr′ant, an order from the authorities for the execution of a criminal;Death′-watch, a watch by a dying person: a popular name for several insects which produce a ticking noise, specially audible in the stillness of a death-chamber;Death′-wound, a wound which caused death.—Death's′-head moth, a species of hawk-moth, having pale markings on the back of the thorax somewhat like a skull.—Be death on, to be fond of, to be good at;Be in at the death, in hunting, to be up on the animal before the dogs have killed it.—Do, orPut,to death, to kill: to cause to be killed.—Gates, orJaws,of death, death's door, the point of death.—To death, expressive of intensity, very much. [A.S.deáth; Ger.tod. SeeDeadandDie.]
Deave, dēv,v.t.(Scot.) to render deaf. [SeeDeaf.]
Deaw, dū,v.t.(Spens.) to bedew.
Debacle, de-bak′l,n.a breaking up of ice on a river: (geol.) a sudden flood of water leaving its path strewed with debris. [Fr.débâcle;de, andbâcler, to bar—L.baculus, a stick.]
Debar, de-bär′,v.t.to bar out from: to exclude: to hinder:—pr.p.debar′ring;pa.p.debarred′.—n.Debar′ment. [L.de, from, andbar.]
Debark, de-bärk′,v.t.orv.i.to land from a ship or boat: to disembark.—ns.Debarkā′tion,Debarcā′tion. [Fr.débarquer—des= L.dis, away, andbarque, a ship.]
Debarrass, de-bär′as,v.t.to disembarrass, disentangle, free. [Fr.débarrasser;de, andbarre, a bar.]
Debase, de-bās′,v.t.to lower: to make mean or of less value: to adulterate.—adj.Debased′, degraded: (her.) reversed.—n.Debase′ment, degradation.—adj.Debas′ing, tending to lower or degrade.—adv.Debas′ingly. [L.de, down, andbase, low.]
Debate, de-bāt′,n.a contention in words or argument: (obs.) strife.—v.t.to contend for in argument: (arch.) to fight for.—v.i.to deliberate: to join in debate.—adjs.Debat′able, liable to be disputed;Debate′ful(Spens.), quarrelsome.—ns.Debate′ment(Spens.,Shak.), controversy;Debat′er.—adv.Debat′ingly.—Debatable land, a tract of border land between Esk and Sark claimed both by England and Scotland. [O. Fr.debatre—L.de, andbatuĕre, to beat.]
Debauch, de-bawch′,v.t.to lead away from duty or allegiance: to corrupt with lewdness: to pervert.—v.i.to indulge in revelry.—n.a fit of intemperance or debauchery.—p.adj.Debauched′, corrupt: profligate.—adv.Debauch′edly.—ns.Debauch′edness;Deb′auchee, a libertine;Debauch′er;Debauch′ery, excessive intemperance: habitual lewdness;Debauch′ment. [O. Fr.desbaucher(Fr.débaucher), to corrupt—des= L.dis, andbaucher, to hew—baucheorbauc, a beam, a course of stones.]
Debel, de-bel′,v.t.(Milt.) to conquer in war. [Fr.débeller—L.debellāre—de, from, andbellāre, to carry on war, frombellum, war.]
Debenture, de-bent′ūr,n.a written acknowledgment of a debt: a deed of mortgage given by a railway or other company for borrowed money: a certificate entitling an exporter of imported goods to a repayment of the duty paid on their importation.—p.adj.Debent′ured, entitled to drawback or debenture, as goods. [L.debentur, there are due, 3d pers. pl. pass. ofdebēre, to owe—the first word of the receipt.]
Debilitate, de-bil′i-tāt,v.t.to make weak: to impair the strength of.—adj.Deb′ile(arch.), weak, feeble.—ns.Debilitā′tion;Debil′ity, weakness and languor: a weak action of the animal functions. [L.debilitāre,ātum—debilis, weak—de, not,habilis, able. SeeAbility.]
Debit, deb′it,n.a debt or something due: an entry on the debtor side of an account.—v.t.to charge with debt: to enter on the debtor side of an account.—n.Deb′itor(Shak.), a debtor. [L.debitum, what is due, fromdebēre, to owe.]
Debituminise, dē-bi-tū′mi-nīz,v.t.to deprive of bitumen.
Déblai, dā-blā′,n.the earth excavated from a ditch to form a parapet. [Fr.]
Debonair, deb-o-nār′,adj.of good appearance and manners: elegant: courteous: gay.—adv.Debonair′ly.—n.Debonair′ness. [Fr.de, of,bon, good,air, appearance, manner.]
Debosh, de-bosh′, an old form ofdebauch.
Debouch, de-bōōsh′,v.i.to march out from a narrow pass or confined place.—ns.Debouch′ment, the act of debouching;Debouchure′, the mouth of a river or strait. [Fr.déboucher—de, from,bouche, the mouth—L.bucca, the cheek.]
Débouché, de-boo-shā′,n.an opening, a passage: a market. [Fr.]
Debris, de-brē′,n.sing.andpl.rubbish: ruins: a mass of rocky fragments. [Fr., frombriser, akin tobruise.]
Debruised, de-brōōzd′,p.adj.(her.) surmounted or partly covered by one of the ordinaries. [O. Fr.debrusier—de, apart,brusier, to break.]
Debt, det,n.what one owes to another: what one becomes liable to do or suffer: a state of obligation or indebtedness: a duty: (B.) a sin.—p.adj.Debt′ed(Shak.), indebted, obliged to.—ns.Debt′ee, a creditor;Debt′or, one who owes a debt: the side of an account on which debts are charged.—Debt of honour, a debt not recognised by law, but binding in honour—esp. gambling and betting debts;Debt of nature, death.—Active debt, a debt due to one, as opposed toPassive debt, a debt one owes;Floating debt, miscellaneous public debt, like exchequer and treasury bills, as opposed toFunded debt, that which has been converted into perpetual annuities like consols in Britain.—In one's debt, under a pecuniary obligation to one. [O. Fr.dette—L.debitum,debēre, to owe.]
Début, de-bü′ (usounded as in Scot.gude),n.a beginning or first attempt: a first appearance before the public, as of an actor, &c.—n.Débutant′, one who makes his first appearance before the public:—fem.Débutante′. [Fr.début, a first stroke—débuter—de, from,but, aim, mark.]
Decachord, dek′a-kord,n.an ancient musical instrument with ten strings: anything having ten parts. [Gr.dekachordos—deka, ten, andchordē, a string.]
Decacuminated, dē-ka-kū′mi-nā-ted,adj.having the top cut off.
Decade, dek′ād,Decad,dek′ad,n.a group of ten, esp. a series of ten years.—adj.Dec′adal. [Fr.décade—Gr.dekas—deka, ten.]
Decadence, dek′a-dens, orde-kā′-,Dec′adency(orde-kā′-),n.state of decay: a term for a school in modern French literature not distinguished for vigour or originality.—adj.Dec′adent(orde-kā′-), decaying.—n.something decaying or decayed. [Fr.,—Low L.decadentia, from L.de, down—cadĕre, to fall.]
Decagon, dek′a-gon,n.a plane figure of ten angles and sides.—adj.Decag′onal. [Gr.deka, andgōnia, an angle.]
Decagramme,Decagram, dek′a-gram,n.a weight of ten grammes, equal to 0.353 oz. [Fr.,—Gr.deka, ten, andgramma, a weight; L.granum, a grain.]
Decagynia, dek-a-jin′i-a,n.a class of plants in the Linnæan system having ten pistils.—adjs.Decagyn′ian,Decag′ynous. [Gr.deka, ten,gynē, a woman.]
Decahedron, dek-a-hē′dron,n.a solid figure having ten faces.—adj.Decahē′dral. [Gr.deka, andhedra, a seat.]
Decalcify, de-kal′si-fī,v.i.to deprive of lime: to take the calcareous matter out of bones, teeth, &c.—n.Decalcificā′tion. [L.de, away from,calx,calcis, lime,facĕre, to make.]
Decalcomania, dē-kal-kō-mā′ni-a,n.the process of transferring pictures to marble, glass, wood, &c. [Fr.]
Decalitre, dek′a-lēt-ėr,n.a French measure, ten litres: equal to 2½ imperial gallons. [Fr.,—Gr.deka, ten, andlitra, a pound.]
Decalogue, dek′a-log,n.the ten commandments.—n.Decal′ogist. [Gr.deka, ten,logos, a discourse.]
Decameron, de-kam′e-ron,n.Boccaccio's hundred tales, supposed to be told in ten days.—adj.Decameron′ic. [From Gr.deka, ten,hēmera, a day.]
Decametre, dek′a-mēt-ėr,n.a French measure of ten metres, or 32.8 feet. [Fr.décamètre—Gr.deka, ten,metron, a measure. SeeMetre.]
Decamp, de-kamp′,v.i.to go away, esp. secretly.—n.Decamp′ment. [Fr.décamper.]
Decanal, dek′an-al,adj.pertaining to a dean or deanery.
Decandria, de-kan′dri-a,n.a class of plants in the Linnæan system having ten stamens.—adjs.Decan′drian,Decan′drous. [Gr.deka, ten, andanēr,andros, a man.]
Decangular, dek-ang′gū-lar,adj.having ten angles. [Gr.deka, ten, and L.angulus, an angle.]
Decant, de-kant′,v.t.to pour off, leaving sediment: to pour from one vessel into another.—ns.Decantā′tion;Decant′er, an ornamental bottle for holding decanted liquor. [Fr.décanter(It.decantare)—de, from, and Low L.cantus, a side or corner.]
Decaphyllous, dek-a-fil′us,adj.having ten leaves. [Gr.deka, ten,phyllon, a leaf.]
Decapitate, de-kap′i-tāt,v.t.to take the head from: to behead.—n.Decapitā′tion. [Low L.decapitāre—L.de, from, andcaput,capitis, the head.]
Decapod, dek′a-pod,n.one of the shellfish which have ten feet or claws, as the crab.—adjs.Deca′podal,Deca′podous. [Gr.deka, ten, andpous,podos, a foot.]
Decarbonate, de-kär′bon-āt,v.t.to deprive of carbon—alsoDecar′bonise,Decar′burise.—ns.Decarbonisā′tion,Decarburisā′tion. [De, from,carbon.]
Decastich, dek′a-stik,n.a poem of ten lines. [Gr.deka, ten, andstichos, a row, a verse.]
Decastyle, dek′a-stīl,n.a portico with ten columns in front. [Gr.deka, ten,stylos, a column.]
Decasyllabic, dek-a-sil-ab′ik,adj.having ten syllables. [Gr.deka, ten,syllabē, a syllable.]
Decaudate, de-kaw′dāt,v.t.to cut off the tail of. [L.de, andcauda, tail.]
Decay, dē-kā′,v.i.to fall away from a state of health or excellence: to waste away.—v.t.to cause to waste away: to impair.—n.a falling into a worse or less perfect state: a passing away: loss of fortune: (obs.) misfortune.—p.adj.Decayed′, reduced in circumstances.—n.Decayed′ness. [O. Fr.decair—L.de, fromcadĕre, to fall.]
Decease, dē-sēs′,n.death.—v.i.to die.—p.adj.Deceased′, dead. [O. Fr.deces(Fr.décès)—L.decessus—de, away,cedĕre,cessum, to go.]
Deceit, de-sēt′,n.act of deceiving: anything intended to mislead another: fraud: falseness.—adj.Deceit′ful, full of deceit: disposed or tending to deceive: insincere.—adv.Deceit′fully.—n.Deceit′fulness. [O. Fr., from L.decipĕre,deceptum, to deceive.]
Deceive, de-sēv′,v.t.to mislead or cause to err: to cheat: to disappoint.—adj.Deceiv′able, that may be deceived: exposed to imposture.—n.Deceiv′ableness.—adj.Deceiv′ably.—n.Deceiv′er. [Fr.décevoir—L.decipĕre,deceptum—de, fromcapĕre, to take, catch.]