Defn: A special breed of the dromedary used for rapid traveling; the swift camel; — called also herire, and maharik.
DELPHDelph, n.
Defn: Delftware.Five nothings in five plates of delph. Swift.
DELPHDelph, n. (Hydraul. Engin.)
Defn: The drain on the land side of a sea embankment. Knight.
DELPHIANDel"phi*an, a.
Defn: Delphic.
DELPHIC Del"phic, a. Etym: [L. Delphicus, fr. Gr. Delphi, a town of Phocis, in Greece, now Kastri.] (Gr. Antiq.)
1. Of or relating to Delphi, or to the famous oracle of that place.
2. Ambiguous; mysterious. "If he is silent or delphic." New York Times.
DELPHIN; DELPHINEDel"phin, Del"phine, a. Etym: [See Dauphin.]
Defn: Pertaining to the dauphin of France; as, the Delphin classics, an edition of the Latin classics, prepared in the reign of Louis XIV., for the use of the dauphin (in usum Delphini).
DELPHINDel"phin, n. Etym: [L. delphinus a dolphin.] (Chem.)
Defn: A fatty substance contained in the oil of the dolphin and the porpoise; — called also phocenin.
DELPHINEDel"phine, a. Etym: [L. delphinus a dolphin, Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to the dolphin, a genus of fishes.
DELPHINICDel*phin"ic, a. Etym: [See Delphin, n.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, the dolphin; phocenic.Delphinic acid. (Chem.) See Valeric acid, under Valeric. [Obs.]
DELPHINICDel*phin"ic, a. Etym: [From NL. Delphinium, the name of the genus.](Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, the larkspur; specifically, relating to the stavesacre (Delphinium staphisagria).
DELPHININEDel"phi*nine (; 104), n. Etym: [Cf. F. delphinine.] (Chem.)
Defn: A poisonous alkaloid extracted from the stavesacre (Delphinium staphisagria), as a colorless amorphous powder.
DELPHINOIDDel"phi*noid, a. Etym: [L. delphinus a dolphin + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, the dolphin.
DELPHINOIDEADel`phi*noi"de*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The division of Cetacea which comprises the dolphins, porpoises, and related forms.
DELPHINUSDel*phi"nus, n. Etym: [L., a dolphin, fr. Gr.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of Cetacea, including the dolphin. See Dolphin,
1.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: The Dolphin, a constellation near the equator and east ofAquila.
DELSARTE; DELSARTE SYSTEMDel*sarte", n., or Delsarte system.
Defn: A system of calisthenics patterned on the theories of François Delsarte (1811 — 71), a French teacher of dramatic and musical expression.
DELTADel"ta, n.; pl. Deltas. Etym: [Gr. Delta of the Nile.]
Defn: A tract of land shaped like the letter delta (as, the delta of the Ganges, of the Nile, or of the Mississippi.
DELTA CONNECTIONDelta connection. (Elec.)
Defn: One of the usual forms or methods for connecting apparatus to a three-phase circuit, the three corners of the delta or triangle, as diagrammatically represented, being connected to the three wires of the supply circuit.
DELTA CURRENTDelta current. (Elec.)
Defn: The current flowing through a delta connection.
DELTAFICATIONDel`ta*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Delta + L. facere to make.]
Defn: The formation of a delta or of deltas. [R.]
DELTAICDel*ta"ic, a.
Defn: Relating to, or like, a delta.
DELTHYRIS Del*thy"ris, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. de`lta the name of the letter thy`ra door.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A name formerly given to certain Silurian brachiopod shells of the genus Spirifer. Delthyris limestone (Geol.), one of the divisions of the Upper Silurian rocks in New York.
DELTICDel"tic, a.
Defn: Deltaic.
DELTIDIUMDel*tid"i*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. de`lta, the letter (Zoöl.)
Defn: The triangular space under the beak of many brachiopod shells.
DELTOHEDRONDel`to*he"dron, n. Etym: [Gr. de`lta, the letter 'e`dra seat, base.](Crystallog.)
Defn: A solid bounded by twelve quadrilateral faces. It is a hemihedral form of the isometric system, allied to the tetrahedron.
DELTOID Del"toid, a. Etym: [Gr. deltoeidh`s delta-shaped; de`lta the name of the letter ei^dos form: cf. F. deltoïde. See Delta.]
Defn: Shaped like the Greek Deltoid leaf (Bot.), a leaf in the form of a triangle with the stem inserted at the middle of the base. — Deltoid muscle (Anat.), a triangular muscle in the shoulder which serves to move the arm directly upward.
DELUDABLEDe*lud"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being deluded; liable to be imposed on gullible. SirT. Browne.
DELUDEDe*lude", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deluded; p. pr. & vb. n. Deluding.]Etym: [L. deludere, delusum; de- + ludere to play, make sport of,mock. See Ludicrous.]
1. To lead from truth or into error; to mislead the mind or judgment of to beguile; to impose on; to dupe; to make a fool of. To delude the nation by an airy phantom. Burke.
2. To frustrate or disappoint. It deludes thy search. Dryden.
Syn.— To mislead; deceive; beguile; cajole; cheat; dupe. See Deceive.
DELUDERDe*lud"er, n.
Defn: One who deludes; a deceiver; an impostor.
DELUGEDel"uge, n. Etym: [F. déluge, L. diluvium, fr. diluere wash away; di-= dis- + luere, equiv. to lavare to wash. See Lave, and cf.Diluvium.]
1. A washing away; an overflowing of the land by water; an inundation; a flood; specifically, The Deluge, the great flood in the days of Noah (Gen. vii.).
2. Fig.: Anything which overwhelms, or causes great destruction. "The deluge of summer." Lowell. A fiery deluge fed With ever-burning sulphur unconsumed. Milton. As I grub up some quaint old fragment of a [London] street, or a house, or a shop, or tomb or burial ground, which has still survived in the deluge. F. Harrison. After me the deluge. (Aprés moi le déluge.) Madame de Pompadour.
DELUGEDel"uge, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deluged; p. pr. & vb. n. Deluging.]
1. To overflow with water; to inundate; to overwhelm. The deluged earth would useless grow. Blackmore.
2. To overwhelm, as with a deluge; to cover; to overspread; to overpower; to submerge; to destroy; as, the northern nations deluged the Roman empire with their armies; the land is deluged with woe. At length corruption, like a general fldeluge all. Pope.
DELUNDUNGDe*lun"dung, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An East Indian carnivorous mammal (Prionodon gracilis), resembling the civets, but without scent pouches. It is handsomely spotted.
DELUSIONDe*lu"sion n. Etym: [L. delusio, fr. deludere. See Delude.]
1. The act of deluding; deception; a misleading of the mind. Pope.
2. The state of being deluded or misled.
3. That which is falsely or delusively believed or propagated; false belief; error in belief. And fondly mourned the dear delusion gone. Prior.
Syn. — Delusion, Illusion. These words both imply some deception practiced upon the mind. Delusion is deception from want of knowledge; illusion is deception from morbid imagination. An illusion is a false show, a mere cheat on the fancy or senses. It is, in other words, some idea or image presented to the bodily or mental vision which does not exist in reality. A delusion is a false judgment, usually affecting the real concerns of life. Or, in other words, it is an erroneous view of something which exists indeed, but has by no means the qualities or attributes ascribed to it. Thus we speak of the illusions of fancy, the illusions of hope, illusive prospects, illusive appearances, etc. In like manner, we speak of the delusions of stockjobbing, the delusions of honorable men, delusive appearances in trade, of being deluded by a seeming excellence. "A fanatic, either religious or political, is the subject of strong delusions; while the term illusion is applied solely to the visions of an uncontrolled imagination, the chimerical ideas of one blinded by hope, passion, or credulity, or lastly, to spectral and other ocular deceptions, to which the word delusion is never applied." Whately.
DELUSIONALDe*lu"sion*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to delusions; as, delusional monomania.
DELUSIVEDe*lu"sive, a. Etym: [See Delude.]
Defn: Apt or fitted to delude; tending to mislead the mind;deceptive; beguiling; delusory; as, delusive arts; a delusive dream.Delusive and unsubstantial ideas. Whewell.— De*lu"sive*ly, adv.— De*lu"sive*ness, n.
DELUSORYDe*lu"so*ry a.
Defn: Delusive; fallacious. Glanvill.
DELVEDelve v. t. [imp. & p. p. Delved; p. pr. & vb. n. Delving.] Etym:[AS. delfan to dig; akin to OS. bidelban to bury, D. delven to dig,MHG. telben, and possibly to E. dale. Cf. Delf a mine.]
1. To dig; to open (the ground) as with a spade. Delve of convenient depth your thrashing flooDryden.
2. To dig into; to penetrate; to trace out; to fathom. I can not delve him to the root. Shak.
DELVEDelve, v. i.
Defn: To dig or labor with a spade, or as with a spade; to labor as adrudge.Delve may I not: I shame to beg. Wyclif (Luke xvi. 3).
DELVEDelve, n. Etym: [See Delve, v. t., and cf. Delf a mine.]
Defn: A place dug; a pit; a ditch; a den; a cave.Which to that shady delve him brought at lastThe very tigers from their delves Look out. Moore.
DELVERDelv"er, n.
Defn: One who digs, as with a spade.
DEMAGNETIZEDe*mag"net*ize, v. t.
1. To deprive of magnetic properties. See Magnetize. If the bar be rapidly magnetized and demagnetized. A. Cyc.
2. To free from mesmeric influence; to demesmerize.— De*mag`net*i*za"tion, n.— De*mag"net*i`zer, n.
DEMAGOGDem"a*gog, n.
Defn: Demagogue.
DEMAGOGIC; DEMAGOGICALDem`a*gog"ic, Dem`a*gog"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. démagogique.]
Defn: Relating to, or like, a demagogue; factious.
DEMAGOGISMDem"a*gog*ism, n.
Defn: The practices of a demagogue.
DEMAGOGUEDem"a*gogue, n. Etym: [Gr. act: cf. F. démagogue.]
Defn: A leader of the rabble; one who attempts to control the multitude by specious or deceitful arts; an unprincipled and factious mob orator or political leader.
DEMAGOGYDem"a*gog`y, n. Etym: [Cf. F. démagogie, Gr.
Defn: Demagogism.
DEMAINDe*main", n. Etym: [See Demesne.]
1. Rule; management. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. (Law)
Defn: See Demesne.
DEMANDDe*mand", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demanded; p. pr. & vb. n. Demanding.]Etym: [F. demander, LL. demandare to demand, summon, send word, fr.L. demandare to give in charge, intrust; de- + mandare to commit toone's charge, commission, order, command. Cf. Mandate, Commend.]
1. To ask or call for with authority; to claim or seek from, as by authority or right; to claim, as something due; to call for urgently or peremptorily; as, to demand a debt; to demand obedience. This, in our foresaid holy father's name, Pope Innocent, I do demand of thee. Shak.
2. To inquire authoritatively or earnestly; to ask, esp. in a peremptory manner; to question. I did demand what news from Shrewsbury. Shak.
3. To require as necessary or useful; to be in urgent need of; hence, to call for; as, the case demands care.
4. (Law)
Defn: To call into court; to summon. Burrill.
DEMANDDe*mand", v. i.
Defn: To make a demand; to inquire.The soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we doLuke iii. 14.
DEMANDDe*mand", n. Etym: [F. demande, fr. demander. See Demand, v. t.]
1. The act of demanding; an asking with authority; a peremptory urging of a claim; a claiming or challenging as due; requisition; as, the demand of a creditor; a note payable on demand. The demand [is] by the word of the holy ones. Dan. iv. 17. He that has confidence to turn his wishes into demands will be but a little way from thinking he ought to obtain them. Locke.
2. Earnest inquiry; question; query. Shak.
3. A diligent seeking or search; manifested want; desire to posses; request; as, a demand for certain goods; a person's company is in great demand. In 1678 came forth a second edition [Pilgrim's Progress] with additions; and the demand became immense. Macaulay.
4. That which one demands or has a right to demand; thing claimed as due; claim; as, demands on an estate.
5. (Law) (a) The asking or seeking for what is due or claimed as due. (b) The right or title in virtue of which anything may be claimed; as, to hold a demand against a person. (c) A thing or amount claimed to be due.
DEMANDABLEDe*mand"a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be demanded or claimed. "All sums demandable." Bacon.
DEMANDANTDe*mand"ant n. Etym: [F. demandant, p. pr. of demander.]
Defn: One who demands; the plaintiff in a real action; any plaintiff.
DEMANDERDe*mand"er, n.
Defn: One who demands.
DEMANDRESSDe*mand"ress, n.
Defn: A woman who demands.
DEMANTOIDDe*man"toid, n. Etym: [G. demant diamond + -oid.] (Min.)
Defn: A yellow-green, transparent variety of garnet found in the Urals. It is valued as a gem because of its brilliancy of luster, whence the name.
DEMARCATEDe*mar"cate, v. t. Etym: [See Demarcation.]
Defn: To mark by bounds; to set the limits of; to separate; to discriminate. Wilkinson.
DEMARCATION De`mar*ca"tion, n. Etym: [F. démarcation; pref. dé- (L. de) + marquer to mark, of German origin. See Mark.]
Defn: The act of marking, or of ascertaining and setting a limit;separation; distinction.The speculative line of demarcation, where obedience ought to end andresistance must begin, is faint, obscure, and not easily definable.Burke.
DEMARCHDe*march", n. Etym: [F. démarche. See March, n.]
Defn: March; walk; gait. [Obs.]
DEMARCHDe*march, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A chief or ruler of a deme or district in Greece.
DEMARKATIONDe`mar*ka"tion, n.
Defn: Same as Demarcation.
DEMATERIALIZEDe`ma*te"ri*al*ize, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of material or physical qualities orcharacteristics.Dematerializing matter by stripping if of everything which . . . hasdistinguished matter. Milman.
DEMEDeme, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: A territorial subdivision of Attica (also of modern Greece), corresponding to a township. Jowett (Thucyd).
2. (Biol.)
Defn: An undifferentiated aggregate of cells or plastids.
DEMEAN De*mean", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demeaned; p. pr. & vb. n. Demeaning.] Etym: [OF. demener to conduct, guide, manage, F. se démener to struggledé- (L. de) + mener to lead, drive, carry on, conduct, fr. L. minare to drive animals by threatening cries, fr. minari to threaten. See Menace.]
1. To manage; to conduct; to treat. [Our] clergy have with violence demeaned the matter. Milton.
2. To conduct; to behave; to comport; — followed by the reflexive pronoun. They have demeaned themselves Like men born to renown by life or death. Shak. They answered . . . that they should demean themselves according to their instructions. Clarendon.
3. To debase; to lower; to degrade; — followed by the reflexivepronoun.Her son would demean himself by a marriage with an artist's daughter.Thackeray.
Note: This sense is probably due to a false etymology which regarded the word as connected with the adjective mean.
DEMEANDe*mean", n. Etym: [OF. demene. See Demean, v. t.]
1. Management; treatment. [Obs.] Vile demean and usage bad. Spenser.
2. Behavior; conduct; bearing; demeanor. [Obs.] With grave demean and solemn vanity. West.
DEMEANDe*mean", n. Etym: [See Demesne.]
1. Demesne. [Obs.]
2. pl.
Defn: Resources; means. [Obs.]You know How narrow our demeans are. Massinger.
DEMEANANCEDe*mean"ance, n.
Defn: Demeanor. [Obs.] Skelton.
DEMEANOR De*mean"or, n. [Written also demeanour.] Etym: [For demeanure, fr. demean. See Demean, v. t.]
1. Management; treatment; conduct. [Obs.] God commits the managing so great a trust . . . wholly to the demeanor of every grown man. Milton.
2. Behavior; deportment; carriage; bearing; mien. His demeanor was singularly pleasing. Macaulay. The men, as usual, liked her artless kindness and simple refined demeanor. Thackeray.
DEMEANUREDe*mean"ure, n.
Defn: Behavior. [Obs.] Spenser.
DEMENCYDe"men*cy, n. Etym: [L. dementia, fr. demens mad. See Dement.]
Defn: Dementia; loss of mental powers. See Insanity.
DEMENT De*ment", v. t. Etym: [L. dementare, fr. demens, -mentis, out of one's mind, mad; de + mens mind. See Mental, and cf. Dementate.]
Defn: To deprive of reason; to make mad. [R.] Bale.
DEMENTDe*ment", a. Etym: [L. demens, -mentis.]
Defn: Demented; dementate. [R.] J. H. Newman.
DEMENTATEDe*men"tate, a. Etym: [L. dementatus, p. p. See Dement, v. t.]
Defn: Deprived of reason.Arise, thou dementate sinner! Hammond.
DEMENTATEDe*men"tate v. t.
Defn: To deprive of reason; to dement. [R.] Burton.
DEMENTATIONDe`men*ta"tion, n.
Defn: The act of depriving of reason; madness. Whitlock.
DEMENTEDDe*ment"ed, a. Etym: [From Dement.]
Defn: Insane; mad; of unsound mind.— De*ment"ed*ness, n.
DEMENTIADe*men"ti*a, n. Etym: [L., fr. demens. See Dement.]
Defn: Insanity; madness; esp. that form which consists in weakness or total loss of thought and reason; mental imbecility; idiocy.
DEMEPHITIZEDe*meph"i*tize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demephitized; p. pr. & vb. n.Demephitizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. méphitiser to infect with mephitis.]
Defn: To purify from mephitic.— De*meph`i*ti*za"tion, n.
DEMERGEDe*merge", v. t. Etym: [L. demergere.]
Defn: To plunge down into; to sink; to immerse. [Obs.]The water in which it was demerged. Boyle.
DEMERIT De*mer"it, n. Etym: [F. démérite demerit (in sense 2), OF. demerite demerit (in sense 1), fr. L. demerere to deserve well, LL., to deserve well or ill; de- + merere to deserve. See De-, and Merit.]
1. That which one merits or deserves, either of good or ill; desert. [Obs.] By many benefits and demerits whereby they obliged their adherents, [they] acquired this reputation. Holland.
2. That which deserves blame; ill desert; a fault; a vice; misconduct; — the opposite of Ant: merit. They see no merit or demerit in any man or any action. Burke. Secure, unless forfeited by any demerit or offense. Sir W. Temple.
3. The state of one who deserves ill.
DEMERIT De*mer"it, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. démériter to deserve ill. See Demerit, n.]
1. To deserve; — said in reference to both praise and blame. [Obs.] If I have demerited any love or thanks. Udall. Executed as a traitor . . . as he well demerited. State Trials (1645).
2. To depreciate or cry down. [R.] Bp. Woolton.
DEMERITDe*mer"it, v. i.
Defn: To deserve praise or blame.
DEMERSEDe*merse", v. t. Etym: [L. demersus, p. p. of demergere. See Merge.]
Defn: To immerse. [Obs.] Boyle.
DEMERSEDDe*mersed", a. (Bot.)
Defn: Situated or growing under water, as leaves; submersed.
DEMERSIONDe*mer"sion n. Etym: [L. demersio.]
1. The act of plunging into a fluid; a drowning.
2. The state of being overwhelmed in water, or as if in water. Ray.
DEMESMERIZEDe*mes"mer*ize, v. t.
Defn: To relieve from mesmeric influence. See Mesmerize.
DEMESNE De*mesne", n. Etym: [OE. demeine, demain, rule, demesne, OF. demeine, demaine, demeigne, domaine, power, F. domaine domain, fr. L. dominium property, right of ownership, fr. dominus master, proprietor, owner. See Dame, and cf. DEmain, Domain, Danger, Dungeon.] (Law)
Defn: A lord's chief manor place, with that part of the lands belonging thereto which has not been granted out in tenancy; a house, and the land adjoining, kept for the proprietor's own use. [Written also demain.] Wharton's Law Dict. Burrill. Ancient demesne. (Eng. Law) See under Ancient.
DEMESNIALDe*mesn"i*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a demesne; of the nature of a demesne.
DEMI- Dem"i-. Etym: [F. demi-, fr. L. dimidius half; di- = dis- + medius middle. See Medium, and cf. Demy, Dimidiate.]
Defn: A prefix, signifying half.
DEMIDe*mi", n.
Defn: See Demy, n.
DEMIBASTIONDem"i*bas"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. demi-bastion.] (Fort.)
Defn: A half bastion, or that part of a bastion consisting of one face and one flank.
DEMIBRIGADEDem"i*bri*gade", n. Etym: [Cf. F. demi-brigade.]
Defn: A half brigade.
DEMICADENCEDem"i*ca`dence n. (Mus.)
Defn: An imperfect or half cadence, falling on the dominant instead of on the key note.
DEMICANNONDem"i*can"non, n. (Mil. Antiq.)
Defn: A kind of ordnance, carrying a ball weighing from thirty to thirty-six pounds. Shak.
DEMICIRCLEDem"i*cir`cle, n. Etym: [Cf. F. demi-cercle.]
Defn: An instrument for measuring angles, in surveying, etc. It resembles
DEMICULVERINDem"i*cul"ver*in, n. (Mil. Antiq.)
Defn: A kind of ordnance, carrying a ball weighing from nine to thirteen pounds.
DEMIDEIFYDem"i*de"i*fy v. t.
Defn: To deify in part. Cowper.
DEMIDEVILDem"i*dev`il, n.
Defn: A half devil. Shak.
DEMIGODDem"i*god, n.
Defn: A half god, or an inferior deity; a fabulous hero, the offspring of a deity and a mortal.
DEMIGODDESSDem"i*god`dess, n.
Defn: A female demigod.
DEMIGORGEDem"i*gorge`, n. Etym: [Cf. F. demi-gorge.] (Fort.)
Defn: Half the gorge, or entrance into a bastion, taken from the angle of the flank to the center of the bastion.
DEMIGRATEDem"i*grate, v. i. Etym: [L. demigrare, demigratum, to emigrate. SeeDe-, and Migrate.]
Defn: To emigrate. [Obs.] Cockeram.
DEMIGRATIONDem`i*gra"tion n. Etym: [L. demigratio.]
Defn: Emigration. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
DEMIGROATDem"i*groat`, n.
Defn: A half groat.
DEMI-ISLANDDem"i-is`land, n.
Defn: Peninsula. [Obs.] Knolles.
DEMIJOHN Dem"i*john, n. Etym: [F. dame-jeanne, i. e., Lady Jane, a corruption of Ar. damajana, damjana, prob. fr. Damaghan a town in the Persian province of Khorassan, one famous for its glass works.]
Defn: A glass vessel or bottle with a large body and small neck, inclosed in wickerwork.
DEMILANCEDem"i*lance`, n.
Defn: A light lance; a short spear; a half pike; also, a demilancer.
DEMILANCERDem"i*lan`cer, n.
Defn: A soldier of light cavalry of the 16th century, who carried a demilance.
DEMILUNEDem"i*lune`, n. Etym: [F. demi-lune.]
1. (Fort.)
Defn: A work constructed beyond the main ditch of a fortress, and in front of the curtain between two bastions, intended to defend the curtain; a ravelin. See Ravelin.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: A crescentic mass of granular protoplasm present in the salivary glands.
Note: Each crescent is made of polyhedral cells which under some circumstances are supposed to give rise to new salivary cells.
DEMIMANDem"i*man`, n.
Defn: A half man. [R.] Knolles.
DEMIMONDEDem`i*monde", n. Etym: [F.; demi + monde world, L. mundus.]
Defn: Persons of doubtful reputation; esp., women who are kept as mistresses, though not public prostitutes; demireps. Literary demimonde, writers of the lowest kind.
DEMINATUREDDem"i*na"tured, a.
Defn: Having half the nature of another. [R.] Shak.
DEMIQUAVERDem"i*qua`ver, n. (Mus.)
Defn: A note of half the length of the quaver; a semiquaver. [R.]
DEMIRELIEF; DEMIRELIEVODem`i*re*lief", Dem`i*re*lie"vo, n.
Defn: Half relief. See Demi-rilievo.
DEMIREPDem"i*rep`, n. Etym: [Contr. fr. demi-reputation.]
Defn: A woman of doubtful reputation or suspected character; an adventuress. [Colloq.] De Quincey.
DEMI-RILIEVO Dem"i-ri*lie"vo, n. Etym: [Pref. demi- + It. rilievo.] (Fine Arts) (a) Half relief; sculpture in relief of which the figures project from the background by one half their full roundness. (b) A work of sculpture of the above character. See Alto-rilievo.
DEMISABILITYDe*mis`a*bil"i*ty, n. (Law)
Defn: The state of being demisable.
DEMISABLEDe*mis"a*ble, a. Etym: [From Demise.] (Law)
Defn: Capable of being leased; as, a demisable estate.
DEMISEDe*mise", n. Etym: [F. démettre, p. p. démis, démise, to put away,lay down; pref. dé- (L. de or dis-) + mettre to put, place, lay, fr.L. mittere to send. See Mission, and cf. Dismiss, Demit.]
1. Transmission by formal act or conveyance to an heir or successor; transference; especially, the transfer or transmission of the crown or royal authority to a successor.
2. The decease of a royal or princely person; hence, also, the death of any illustrious person. After the demise of the Queen [of George II.], in 1737, they [drawing-rooms] were held but twice a week. P. Cunningham.
3. (Law)
Defn: The conveyance or transfer of an estate, either in fee for life or for years, most commonly the latter. Bouvier.
Note: The demise of the crown is a transfer of the crown, royal authority, or kingdom, to a successor. Thus, when Edward IV. was driven from his throne for a few months by the house of Lancaster, this temporary transfer of his dignity was called a demise. Thus the natural death of a king or queen came to be denominated a demise, as by that event the crown is transferred to a successor. Blackstone. Demise and redemise, a conveyance where there are mutual leases made from one to another of the same land, or something out of it.
Syn.— Death; decease; departure. See Death.
DEMISEDe*mise", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demised; p. pr. & vb. n. Demising.]
1. To transfer or transmit by succession or inheritance; to grant or bestow by will; to bequeath. "Power to demise my lands." Swift. What honor Canst thou demise to any child of mine Shak.
2. To convey; to give. [R.] His soul is at his conception demised to him. Hammond.
3. (Law)
Defn: To convey, as an estate, be lease; to lease.
DEMISEMIQUAVERDem`i*sem"i*qua`ver, (Mus.)
Defn: A short note, equal in time to the half of a semiquaver, or the thirty-second part of a whole note.
DEMISSDe*miss", a. Etym: [L. demissus, p. p. of demittere.]
Defn: Cast down; humble; submissive. [Obs.]He down descended like a most demiss And abject thrall. Spenser.
DEMISSIONDe*mis"sion, n. Etym: [L. demissio, fr. demittere. See Demit.]
1. The act of demitting, or the state of being demitted; a letting down; a lowering; dejection. "Demission of mind." Hammond. Demission of sovereign authority. L'Estrange.
2. Resignation of an office. [Scot.]
DEMISSIONARYDe*mis"sion*a*ry, a.
1. Pertaining to transfer or conveyance; as, a demissionary deed.
2. Tending to lower, depress, or degrade.
DEMISSIVEDe*miss"ive, a. Etym: [See Demiss.]
Defn: Downcast; submissive; humble. [R.]They pray with demissive eyelids. Lord (1630).
DEMISSLYDe*miss"ly, adv.
Defn: In a humble manner. [Obs.]
DEMISUITDem"i*suit`, n. (Mil. Antiq.)
Defn: A suit of light armor covering less than the whole body, as having no protection for the legs below the things, no vizor to the helmet, and the like.
DEMITDe*mit", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Demitting.]Etym: [L. demittere to send or bring down, to lower; de- + mittere tosend. Cf. Demise.]
1. To let fall; to depress. [R.] They [peacocks] demit and let fall the same [i. e., their train]. Sir T. Browne.
2. To yield or submit; to humble; to lower; as, to demit one's self to humble duties. [R.]
3. To lay down, as an office; to resign. [Scot.] General Conway demitted his office. Hume.
DEMI-TASSEDe*mi"-tasse", n. [F., half cup.]
Defn: A small cup for, or of, black coffee.
DEMITINT Dem"i*tint`, n. (Fine Arts) (a) That part of a painting, engraving, or the like, which is neither in full darkness nor full light. (b) The shade itself; neither the darkest nor the lightest in a composition. Also called half tint.
DEMITONEDem"i*tone`, n. (Mus.)
Defn: Semitone. [R.]
DEMIURGE Dem"i*urge, n. Etym: [Gr. dhmioyrgo`s a worker for the people, a workman, especially the marker of the world, the Creator; dh`mios belonging to the people (fr. dh^mos the people) + 'e`rgon a work.]
1. (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: The chief magistrate in some of the Greek states.
2. God, as the Maker of the world.
3. According to the Gnostics, an agent or one employed by the Supreme Being to create the material universe and man.
DEMIURGICDem`i*ur"gic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to a demiurge; formative; creative. "Demiurgic power." De Quincey.
DEMIVILLDem"i*vill`, n. (Old Law)
Defn: A half-vill, consisting of five freemen or frankpledges.Blackstone.
DEMIVOLTDem"i*volt`, n. Etym: [Cf. F. demi-volte.] (Man.)
Defn: A half vault; one of the seven artificial motions of a horse, in which he raises his fore legs in a particular manner.
DEMIWOLFDem"i*wolf`, n.
Defn: A half wolf; a mongrel dog, between a dog and a wolf.
DEMOBILIZATIONDe*mob`i*li*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. démobilisation. SeeMobilization.] (Mil.)
Defn: The disorganization or disarming of troops which have previously been mobilized or called into active service; the change from a war footing to a peace footing.
DEMOBILIZEDe*mob"i*lize, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. démobiliser.] (Mil.)
Defn: To disorganize, or disband and send home, as troops which have been mobilized.
DEMOCRACY De*moc"ra*cy, n.; pl. Democracies. Etym: [F. démocratie, fr. Gr. dhmokrati`a; dh^mos the people + kratei^n to be strong, to rule, kra`tos strength.]
1. Government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is retained and directly exercised by the people.
2. Government by popular representation; a form of government in which the supreme power is retained by the people, but is indirectly exercised through a system of representation and delegated authority periodically renewed; a constitutional representative government; a republic.
3. Collectively, the people, regarded as the source of government. Milton.
4. The principles and policy of the Democratic party, so called. [U.S.]
DEMOCRATDem"o*crat, n. Etym: [Cf. F. démocrate.]
1. One who is an adherent or advocate of democracy, or government bythe people.Whatever they call him, what care I, Aristocrat, democrat, autocrat.Tennyson.
2. A member of the Democratic party. [U.S.]
DEMOCRATICDem`o*crat"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. démocratique.]
1. Pertaining to democracy; favoring democracy, or constructed upon the principle of government by the people.
2. Relating to a political party so called.
3. Befitting the common people; — opposed to aristocratic. The Democratic party, the name of one of the chief political parties in the United States.
DEMOCRATICALDem`o*crat"ic*al, a.
Defn: Democratic.The democratical was democratically received. Algernon Sidney.
DEMOCRATICALLYDem`o*crat"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a democratic manner.
DEMOCRATISMDe*moc"ra*tism, n.
Defn: The principles or spirit of a democracy. [R.]
DEMOCRATISTDe*moc"ra*tist, n.
Defn: A democrat. [R.] Burke.
DEMOCRATIZEDe*moc"ra*tize v. t.
Defn: To render democratic.
DEMOCRATYDe*moc"ra*ty, n.
Defn: Democracy. [Obs.] Milton.
DEMOGORGONDe`mo*gor"gon, n. Etym: [First me the scholiast, gorgo`s fierce,
Defn: , A mysterious, terrible, and evil divinity, regarded by some as the author of creation, by others as a great magician who was supposed to command the spirits of the lower world. See Gorgon. Orcus and Ades, and the dreaded name Of Demogorgon. Milton.
DEMOGRAPHYDe*mog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy.]
Defn: The study of races, as to births, marriages, mortality, health,etc.— Dem`o*graph"ic, a.
DEMOISELLEDe`moi`selle", n. Etym: [F. See Damsel.]
1. A young lady; a damsel; a lady's maid.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Numidian crane (Antropoides virgo); — so called on account of the grace and symmetry of its form and movements.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A beautiful, small dragon fly of the genus Agrion.
DEMOLISH De*mol"ish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demolished; p. pr. & vb. n. Demolishing.] Etym: [F. démolir, fr. L. demoliri, p. p. demolitus; de- + moliri to set a thing in motion, to work, construct, from moles a huge mass or structure. See Mole a mound, and Finish.]
Defn: To throw or pull down; to raze; to destroy the fabric of; to pull to pieces; to ruin; as, to demolish an edifice, or a wall. I expected the fabric of my book would long since have been demolished, and laid even with the ground. Tillotson.
Syn. — To Demolish, Overturn, Destroy, Dismantle, Raze. That is overturned or overthrown which had stood upright; that is destroyed whose component parts are scattered; that is demolished which had formed a mass or structure; that is dismantled which is stripped of its covering, as a vessel of its sails, or a fortress of its bastions, etc.; that is razed which is brought down smooth, and level to the ground. An ancient pillar is overturned or overthrown as the result of decay; as city is destroyed by an invasion of its enemies; a monument, the walls of a castle, a church, or any structure, real or imaginary, may be demolished; a fortress may be dismantled from motives of prudence, in order to render it defenseless; a city may be razed by way of punishment, and its ruins become a memorial of vengeance.
DEMOLISHERDe*mol"ish`er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, demolishes; as, a demolisher of towns.
DEMOLISHMENTDe*mol"ish*ment, n.
Defn: Demolition.
DEMOLITION Dem`o*li"tion, n. Etym: [L. demolitio, fr. demoliri: cf. F. démolition. See Demolish.]
Defn: The act of overthrowing, pulling down, or destroying a pile or structure; destruction by violence; utter overthrow; — opposed to construction; as, the demolition of a house, of military works, of a town, or of hopes.
DEMOLITIONISTDem`o*li"tion*ist, n.
Defn: A demolisher. [R.] Carlyle.
DEMONDe"mon, n. Etym: [F. démon, L. daemon a spirit, an evil spirit, fr.Gr.
1. (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: A spirit, or immaterial being, holding a middle place between men and deities in pagan mythology. The demon kind is of an inSydenham.
2. One's genius; a tutelary spirit or internal voice; as, the demon of Socrates. [Often written dæmon.]
3. An evil spirit; a devil. That same demon that hath gulled thee thus. Shak.
DEMONESSDe"mon*ess, n.
Defn: A female demon.
DEMONETIZATIONDe*mon`e*ti*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of demonetizing, or the condition of being demonetized.
DEMONETIZEDe*mon"e*tize (; see Monetary), v. t.
Defn: To deprive of current value; to withdraw from use, as money.They [gold mohurs] have been completely demonetized by the [EastIndia] Company. R. Cobden.
DEMONIAC; DEMONIACAL De*mo"ni*ac, Dem`o*ni"a*cal, a. Etym: [L. daemoniacus, fr. daemon; cf. F. démoniaque. See Demon.]
1. Pertaining to, or characteristic of, a demon or evil spirit; devilish; as, a demoniac being; demoniacal practices. Sarcastic, demoniacal laughter. Thackeray.
2. Influenced or produced by a demon or evil spirit; as, demoniac or demoniacal power. "Demoniac frenzy." Milton.
DEMONIACDe*mo"ni*ac, n.
1. A human being possessed by a demon or evil spirit; one whose faculties are directly controlled by a demon. The demoniac in the gospel was sometimes cast into the fire. Bates.
2. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of a sect of Anabaptists who maintain that the demons or devils will finally be saved.
DEMONIACALLYDem`o*ni"a*cal*ly, adv.
Defn: In a demoniacal manner.
DEMONIACISMDem`o*ni"a*cism, n.
Defn: The state of being demoniac, or the practices of demoniacs.
DEMONIALDe*mo"ni*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a demon. [Obs.] Cudworth.
DEMONIANDe*mo"ni*an, a.
Defn: Relating to, or having the nature of, a demon. "Demonian spirits." Milton.
DEMONIANISMDe*mo"ni*an*ism, n.
Defn: The state of being possessed by a demon or by demons.
DEMONIASMDe*mo"ni*asm, n.
Defn: See Demonianism. [R.]
DEMONICDe*mo"nic, a. Etym: [L. daemonicus, Gr. daimoniko`s.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a demon or to demons; demoniac. "Demonic ambushes." Lowell.
DEMONISMDe"mon*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. démonisme.]
Defn: The belief in demons or false gods. The established theology of the heathen world . . . rested upon the basis of demonism. Farmer.
DEMONISTDe"mon*ist, n.
Defn: A believer in, or worshiper of, demons.
DEMONIZEDe"mon*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demonized; p. pr. & vb. n.Demonizing.] Etym: [Cf. LL. daemonizare to be possessed by a demon,Gr.
1. To convert into a demon; to infuse the principles or fury of a demon into.
2. To control or possess by a demon.
DEMONOCRACYDe`mon*oc"ra*cy, n. Etym: [Gr. dai`mwn demon + kra`tos strength: cf.F. démonocratie.]
Defn: The power or government of demons.A demonocracy of unclean spirits. H. Taylor.
DEMONOGRAPHERDe`mon*og"ra*pher, n. Etym: [Demon + -graph + -er.]
Defn: A demonologist. [R.] Am. Cyc.
DEMONOLATRY De`mon*ol"a*try, n. Etym: [Gr. dai`mwn demon + latrei`a worship, démonolâtrie.]
Defn: The worship of demons.
DEMONOLOGERDe`mon*ol"o*ger, n.
Defn: One versed in demonology. R. North.
DEMONOLOGIC; DEMONOLOGICALDe`mon*o*log"ic, De`mon*o*log"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. démonologique.]
Defn: Of or Pertaining to demonology.
DEMONOLOGISTDe`mon*ol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One who writes on, or is versed in, demonology.
DEMONOLOGYDe`mon*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Demon + -logy: cf. F. démonologie.]
Defn: A treatise on demons; a supposititious science which treats of demons and their manifestations. Sir W. Scott.
DEMONOMAGYDe`mon*om"a*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. dai`mwn demon + magic.]
Defn: Magic in which the aid of demons is invoked; black or infernal magic. Bp. Hurd.
DEMONOMANIADe*mon`o*ma"ni*a, n. Etym: [Demon + mania.]
Defn: A form of madness in which the patient conceives himself possessed of devils.
DEMONOMISTDe*mon"o*mist n.
Defn: One in subjection to a demon, or to demons. [R.] Sir T.Herbert.
DEMONOMYDe*mon"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The dominion of demons. [R.] Sir T. Herbert.
DEMONRYDe"mon*ry, n.
Defn: Demoniacal influence or possession. J. Baillie.
DEMONSHIPDe"mon*ship, n.
Defn: The state of a demon. Mede.
DEMONSTRABILITYDe*mon`stra*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being demonstrable; demonstrableness.
DEMONSTRABLEDe*mon"stra*ble, a. Etym: [L. demonstrabilis: cf. OF. demonstrable,F. démontrable.]
1. Capable of being demonstrated; that can be proved beyond doubt orquestion.The grand articles of our belief are as demonstrable as geometry.Glanvill.
2. Proved; apparent. [Obs.] Shak.
DEMONSTRABLENESSDe*mon"stra*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being demonstrable; demonstrability.
DEMONSTRABLYDe*mon"stra*bly, adv.
Defn: In a demonstrable manner; incontrovertibly; clearly.Cases that demonstrably concerned the public cause. Clarendon.
DEMONSTRANCEDe*mon"strance, n. Etym: [OF. demonstrance.]
Defn: Demonstration; proof. [Obs.] Holland.
DEMONSTRATE Dem"on*strate, v. t. Etym: [L. demonstratus, p. p. of demonstrare to demonstrate; de- + monstrare to show. See Monster.]
1. To point out; to show; to exhibit; to make evident. Shak.
2. To show, or make evident, by reasoning or proof; to prove by deduction; to establish so as to exclude the possibility of doubt or denial. We can not demonstrate these things so as to show that the contrary often involves a contradiction. Tillotson.
3. (Anat.)
Defn: To exhibit and explain (a dissection or other anatomical preparation).
DEMONSTRATERDem"on*stra`ter, n.
Defn: See Demonstrator.
DEMONSTRATIONDem`on*stra"tion, n. Etym: [L. demonstratio: cf. F. démonstration.]
1. The act of demonstrating; an exhibition; proof; especially, proof beyond the possibility of doubt; indubitable evidence, to the senses or reason. Those intervening ideas which serve to show the agreement of any two others are called "proofs;" and where agreement or disagreement is by this means plainly and clearly perceived, it is called demonstration. Locke.
2. An expression, as of the feelings, by outward signs; amanifestation; a show.Did your letters pierce the queen to any demonstration of grief Shak.Loyal demonstrations toward the prince. Prescott.
3. (Anat.)
Defn: The exhibition and explanation of a dissection or other anatomical preparation.
4. (Mil.) a decisive exhibition of force, or a movement indicating an attack.
5. (Logic)
Defn: The act of proving by the syllogistic process, or the proof itself.
6. (Math.)
Defn: A course of reasoning showing that a certain result is a necessary consequence of assumed premises; — these premises being definitions, axioms, and previously established propositions. Direct, or Positive, demonstration (Logic & Math.), one in which the correct conclusion is the immediate sequence of reasoning from axiomatic or established premises; — opposed to Indirect, or Negative, demonstration (called also reductio ad absurdum), in which the correct conclusion is an inference from the demonstration that any other hypothesis must be incorrect.
DEMONSTRATIVEDe*mon"stra*tive, a. Etym: [F. démonstratif, L. demonstrativus.]
1. Having the nature of demonstration; tending to demonstrate; making evident; exhibiting clearly or conclusively. "Demonstrative figures." Dryden. An argument necessary and demonstrative. Hooker.
2. Expressing, or apt to express, much; displaying feeling or sentiment; as, her nature was demonstrative.
3. Consisting of eulogy or of invective. "Demonstrative eloquence." Blair. Demonstrative pronoun (Gram.), a pronoun distinctly designating that to which it refers.
DEMONSTRATIVEDe*mon"stra*tive, n. (Gram.)
Defn: A demonstrative pronoun; as, "this" and "that" are demonstratives.
DEMONSTRATIVELYDe*mon"stra*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a manner fitted to demonstrate; clearly; convincingly; forcibly.
DEMONSTRATIVENESSDe*mon"stra*tive*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being demonstrative.
DEMONSTRATORDem"on*stra`tor, n. Etym: [L.: cf. F. démonstrateur.]
1. One who demonstrates; one who proves anything with certainty, or establishes it by indubitable evidence.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: A teacher of practical anatomy.
DEMONSTRATORYDe*mon"stra*to*ry, a.
Defn: Tending to demonstrate; demonstrative. Johnson.
DEMORAGEDe*mor"age (; 48), n.
Defn: Demurrage. [Obs.] Pepys (1663).
DEMORALIZATIONDe*mor`al*i*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. démoralisation.]
Defn: The act of corrupting or subverting morals. Especially: The act of corrupting or subverting discipline, courage, hope, etc., or the state of being corrupted or subverted in discipline, courage, etc.; as, the demoralization of an army or navy.
DEMORALIZEDe*mor"al*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demoralized; p. pr. & vb. n.Demoralizing.] Etym: [F. démoraliser; pref. dé- (L. dis- or de) +moraliser. See Moralize.]
Defn: To corrupt or undermine in morals; to destroy or lessen the effect of moral principles on; to render corrupt or untrustworthy in morals, in discipline, in courage, spirit, etc.; to weaken in spirit or efficiency. The demoralizing example of profligate power and prosperous crime. Walsh. The vices of the nobility had demoralized the army. Bancroft.
DEMOSTHENICDem`os*then"ic, a. Etym: [L. Demosthenicus: cf. F. Démosthénique.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or in the style of, Demosthenes, the Grecian orator.
DEMOTEDe*mote", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demoted; p. pr. & vb. n. Demoting.][Pref. de- + mote, as in promote; cf. L. demovere to remove.]
Defn: To reduce to a lower grade, as in school.
DEMOTICDe*mot"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. démotique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the people; popular; common. Demotic alphabet or character, a form of writing used in Egypt after six or seven centuries before Christ, for books, deeds, and other such writings; a simplified form of the hieratic character; — called also epistolographic character, and enchorial character. See Enchorial.
DEMOTICSDe*mot"ics, n.
Defn: The department of knowledge relative to the care and culture of the people; sociology in its broadest sense; — in library cataloguing.
DEMOUNTDe*mount", v. i.
Defn: To dismount. [R.]
DEMOUNTABLEDe*mount"a*ble, [See De-; Mount.]
Defn: Capable of being dismounted; — said of a form of rim, for an automobile wheel, which can be removed with its tire from the wheel.
DEMPNEDemp"ne v. t.
Defn: To damn; to condemn. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DEMPSTER; DEMSTERDemp"ster, Dem"ster, n. Etym: [See Deemster.]
1. A deemster.
2. (O. Scots Law)
Defn: An officer whose duty it was to announce the doom or sentence pronounced by the court.
DEMULCE De*mulce", v. t. Etym: [L. demulcere; de- + mulcere to stroke, soothe.]
Defn: To soothe; to mollify; to pacify; to soften. [R.] Sir T. Elyot.
DEMULCENTDe*mul"cent, a. Etym: [L. demulcens, p. pr. of demulcere.]
Defn: Softening; mollifying; soothing; assuasive; as, oil is demulcent.
DEMULCENTDe*mul"cent, n. (Med.)
Defn: A substance, usually of a mucilaginous or oily nature, supposed to be capable of soothing an inflamed nervous membrane, or protecting i
DEMULSIONDe*mul"sion, n.
Defn: The act of soothing; that which soothes. Feltham.
DEMUR De*mur", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Demurred; p. pr. & vb. n. Demurring.] Etym: [OF. demurer, demorer, demourer, to linger, stay, F. demeurer, fr. L. demorari; de- + morari to delay, tarry, stay, mora delay; prob. originally, time for thinking, reflection, and akin to memor mindful. See Memory.]
1. To linger; to stay; to tarry. [Obs.] Yet durst not demur nor abide upon the camp. Nicols.
2. To delay; to pause; to suspend proceedings or judgment in view of a doubt or difficulty; to hesitate; to put off the determination or conclusion of an affair. Upon this rub, the English embassadors thought fit to demur. Hayward.
3. To scruple or object; to take exception; as, I demur to that statement.
4. (Law)
Defn: To interpose a demurrer. See Demurrer, 2.
DEMURDe*mur", v. t.
1. To suspend judgment concerning; to doubt of or hesitate about. [Obs.] The latter I demur, for in their looks Much reason, and in their actions, oft appears. Milton.
2. To cause delay to; to put off. [Obs.] He demands a fee, And then demurs me with a vain delay. Quarles.
DEMURDe*mur", n. Etym: [OF. demor, demore, stay, delay. See Demur, v. i.]
Defn: Stop; pause; hesitation as to proceeding; suspense of decisionor action; scruple.All my demurs but double his attacks; At last he whispers, "Do; andwe go snacks." Pope.
DEMURE De*mure", a. Etym: [Perh. from OF. de murs (i. e., de bonnes murs of good manners); de of + murs, mours, meurs, mors, F. m, fr. L. mores (sing. mos) manners, morals (see Moral); or more prob. fr. OF. meür, F. mûr mature, ripe (see Mature) in a phrase preceded by de, as de mûre conduite of mature conduct.]
1. Of sober or serious mien; composed and decorous in bearing; of modest look; staid; grave. Sober, steadfast, and demure. Milton. Nan was very much delighted in her demure way, and that delight showed itself in her face and in her clear bright eyes. W. Black.
2. Affectedly modest, decorous, or serious; making a show of gravity. A cat lay, and looked so demure, as if there had been neither life nor soul in her. L'Estrange. Miss Lizzy, I have no doubt, would be as demure and coquettish, as if ten winters more had gone over her head. Miss Mitford.
DEMUREDe*mure", v. i.
Defn: To look demurely. [Obs.] Shak.
DEMURELYDe*mure"ly, adv.
Defn: In a demure manner; soberly; gravely; — now, commonly, with a mere show of gravity or modesty. They . . . looked as demurely as they could; for 't was a hanging matter to laugh unseasonably. Dryden.
DEMURENESSDe*mure"ness, n.
Defn: The state of being demure; gravity; the show of gravity or modesty.
DEMURITYDe*mur"i*ty, n.
Defn: Demureness; also, one who is demure. Sir T. Browne.
DEMURRABLEDe*mur"ra*ble, a.
Defn: That may be demurred to. Stormonth.
DEMURRAGE De*mur"rage, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. demorage delay. See Demur.] (Law) (a) The detention of a vessel by the freighter beyond the time allowed in her charter party for loading, unloading, or sailing. (b) The allowance made to the master or owner of the ship for such delay or detention. The claim for demurrage ceases as soon as the ship is cleared out and ready for sailing. M`Culloch.
Note: The term is also applied to similar delays and allowances in land carriage, by wagons, railroads, etc.
DEMURRALDe*mur"ral, n.
Defn: Demur; delay in acting or deciding. The same causes of demurral existed which prevented British troops from assisting in the expulsion of the French from Rome. Southey.
DEMURRERDe*mur"rer, n.
1. One who demurs.
2. (Law)
Defn: A stop or pause by a party to an action, for the judgment of the court on the question, whether, assuming the truth of the matter alleged by the opposite party, it is sufficient in law to sustain the action or defense, and hence whether the party resting is bound to answer or proceed further. Demurrer to evidence, an exception taken by a party to the evidence offered by the opposite party, and an objecting to proceed further, on the allegation that such evidence is not sufficient in law to maintain the issue, and a reference to the court to determine the point. Bouvier.