DERIVEDe*rive", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Derived; p. pr. & vb. n. Deriving.]Etym: [F. dériver, L. derivare; de- + rivus stream, brook. SeeRival.]
1. To turn the course of, as water; to divert and distribute into subordinate channels; to diffuse; to communicate; to transmit; — followed by to, into, on, upon. [Obs.] For fear it [water] choke up the pits . . . they [the workman] derive it by other drains. Holland. Her due loves derived to that vile witch's share. Spenser. Derived to us by tradition from Adam to Noah. Jer. Taylor.
2. To receive, as from a source or origin; to obtain by descent or by transmission; to draw; to deduce; — followed by from.
3. To trace the origin, descent, or derivation of; to recognize transmission of; as, he derives this word from the Anglo-Saxon. From these two causes . . . an ancient set of physicians derived all diseases. Arbuthnot.
4. (Chem.)
Defn: To obtain one substance from another by actual or theoretical substitution; as, to derive an organic acid from its corresponding hydrocarbon.
Syn.— To trace; deduce; infer.
DERIVEDe*rive", v. i.
Defn: To flow; to have origin; to descend; to proceed; to be deduced.Shak.Power from heaven Derives, and monarchs rule by gods appointed.Prior.
DERIVEMENTDe*rive"ment, n.
Defn: That which is derived; deduction; inference. [Obs.]I offer these derivements from these subjects. W. Montagu.
DERIVERDe*riv"er, n.
Defn: One who derives.
DERKDerk, a.
Defn: Dark. [Obs.] Chaucer.
-DERM -derm. Etym: [See Derm, n.]
Defn: A suffix or terminal formative, much used in anatomical terms, and signifying skin, integument, covering; as, blastoderm, ectoderm, etc.
DERMDerm, n. Etym: [Gr. derme. See Tear, v. t.]
1. The integument of animal; the skin.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: See Dermis.
DERMADer"ma, n. Etym: [NL. See Derm.] (Anat.)
Defn: See Dermis.
DERMALDerm"al, a. Etym: [From Derm.]
1. Pertaining to the integument or skin of animals; dermic; as, the dermal secretions.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the dermis or true skin.
DERMAPTERA; DERMAPTERANDer*map"te*ra, Der*map"ter*an (, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Dermoptera, Dermopteran.
DERMATIC; DERMATINEDer*mat"ic, Der"ma*tine, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the skin.
DERMATITISDer`ma*ti"tis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -itis.] (Med.)
Defn: Inflammation of the skin.
DERMATOGENDer*mat"o*gen, n. Etym: [Gr. -gen.] (Bot.)
Defn: Nascent epidermis, or external cuticle of plants in a forming condition.
DERMATOGENDer*mat"o*gen, n. Etym: [Gr. -gen.] (Bot.)
Defn: Nascent epidermis, or external cuticle of plants in a forming condition.
DERMATOGRAPHYDer*ma*tog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy.]
Defn: An anatomical description of, or treatise on, the skin.
DERMATOIDDer"ma*toid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid: cf. F. dermatoïde. Cf. Dermoid.]
Defn: Resembling
DERMATOLOGISTDer`ma*tol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One who discourses on the skin and its diseases; one versed in dermatology.
DERMATOLOGYDer`ma*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy: cf. F. dermatologie.]
Defn: The science which treats of the skin, its structure, functions, and diseases.
DERMATOPATHICDer`ma*to*path"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to skin diseases, or their cure.
DERMATOPHYTEDer*mat"o*phyte, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A vegetable parasite, infesting the skin.
DERMESTESDer*mes"tes, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of coleopterous insects, the larvæ of which feed animal substances. They are very destructive to dries meats, skins, woolens, and furs. The most common species is D. lardarius, known as the bacon beetle.
DERMESTOIDDer*mes"toid, a. Etym: [Dermestes + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to or resembling the genus Dermestes.The carpet beetle, called the buffalo moth, is a dermestoid beetle.Pop. Sci. Monthly.
DERMICDer"mic, a.
1. Relating to the derm or skin.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the dermis; dermal.Underneath each nail the deep or dermic layer of the integument ispeculiarly modified. Huxley.Dermic remedies (Med.), such as act through the skin.
DERMISDer"mis, n. Etym: [NL. See Derm.] (Anat.)
Defn: The deep sensitive layer of the skin beneath the scarfskin or epidermis; — called also true skin, derm, derma, corium, cutis, and enderon. See Skin, and Illust. in Appendix.
DERMOBRANCHIATADer`mo*bran`chi*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of nudibranch mollusks without special gills.
DERMOBRANCHIATEDer`mo*bran"chi*ate, a. Etym: [Derm + branchiate.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the skin modified to serve as a gill.
DERMOHAEMALDer`mo*hæ"mal, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or in relation with, both dermal and hæmal structures; as, the dermohæmal spines or ventral fin rays of fishes.
DERMOIDDer"moid, a. Etym: [Derm + -oid: cf. F. dermoïde.]
Defn: Same as Dermatoid. Dermoid cyst (Med.), a cyst containing skin, or structures connected with skin, such as hair.
DERMONEURALDer`mo*neu"ral, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or in relation with, both dermal and neural structures; as, the dermoneural spines or dorsal fin rays of fishes. Owen.
DERMOPATHICDer`mo*path"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Dermatopathic.
DERMOPHYTEDer"mo*phyte, n.
Defn: A dermatophyte.
DERMOPTERADer*mop"te*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The division of insects which includes the earwigs(Forticulidæ).
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of lemuroid mammals having a parachutelike web of skin between the fore and hind legs, of which the colugo (Galeopithecus) is the type. See Colugo.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of Mammalia; the Cheiroptera. [Written alsoDermaptera, and Dermatoptera.]
DERMOPTERANDer*mop"ter*an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An insect which has the anterior pair of wings coriaceous, and does not use them in flight, as the earwig.
DERMOPTERIDer*mop"te*ri, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Dermopterygii.
DERMOPTERYGIIDer*mop`te*ryg"i*i, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of fishlike animals including the Marsipobranchiata andLeptocardia.
DERMOSKELETONDer`mo*skel"e*ton, n. Etym: [Derm + skeleton.] (Anat.)
Defn: See Exoskeleton.
DERMOSTOSISDer`mos*to"sis, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: Ossification of the dermis.
DERNDern, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: A gatepost or doorpost. [Local Eng.] C. Kingsley.
DERNDern, a. Etym: [See Dearn, a.]
1. Hidden; concealed; secret. [Obs.] "Ye must be full dern." Chaucer.
2. Solitary; sad. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
DERNEDerne, v. t. & i. Etym: [AS. dyrnan to hide. See Dern, a., Dearn, a.]
Defn: To hide; to skulk. [Scot.]He at length escaped them by derning himself in a foxearth. H.Miller.
DERNFULDern"ful, a.
Defn: Secret; hence, lonely; sad; mournful. [Obs.] "Dernful noise."Spenser.
DERNIERDer`nier", a. Etym: [F., from OF. darrein, derrain. See Darrein.]
Defn: Last; final. Dernier ressort ( Etym: [F.], last resort or expedient.
DERNLYDern"ly, adv.
Defn: Secretly; grievously; mournfully. [Obs.] Spenser.
DEROGANTDer"o*gant, a. Etym: [L. derogans, p. pr.]
Defn: Derogatory. [R.] T. Adams.
DEROGATEDer"o*gate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Derogated; p. pr. & vb. n.Derogating.] Etym: [L. derogatus, p. p. of derogare to derogate; de-+ rogare to ask, to ask the people about a law. See Rogation.]
1. To annul in part; to repeal partly; to restrict; to limit the action of; — said of a law. By several contrary customs, . . . many of the civil and canon laws are controlled and derogated. Sir M. Hale.
2. To lessen; to detract from; to disparage; to depreciate; — said of a person or thing. [R.] Anything . . . that should derogate, minish, or hurt his glory and his name. Sir T. More.
DEROGATEDer"o*gate, v. i.
1. To take away; to detract; to withdraw; — usually with from. If we did derogate from them whom their industry hath made great. Hooker. It derogates little from his fortitude, while it adds infinitely to the honor of his humanity. Burke.
2. To act beneath one-s rank, place, birth, or character; to degenerate. [R.] You are a fool granted; therefore your issues, being foolish, do not derogate. Shak. Would Charles X. derogate from his ancestors Would he be the degenerate scion of that royal line Hazlitt.
DEROGATEDer"o*gate, n. Etym: [L. derogatus, p. p.]
Defn: Diminished in value; dishonored; degraded. [R.] Shak.
DEROGATELYDer"o*gate*ly, adv.
Defn: In a derogatory manner.
DEROGATIONDer`o*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. derogatio: cf. F. dérogation.]
1. The act of derogating, partly repealing, or lessening in value; disparagement; detraction; depreciation; — followed by of, from, or to. I hope it is no derogation to the Christian religion. Locke. He counted it no derogation of his manhood to be seen to weep. F. W. Robertson.
2. (Stock Exch.)
Defn: An alteration of, or subtraction from, a contract for a sale of stocks.
DEROGATIVEDe*rog"a*tive, a.
Defn: Derogatory.— De*rog"a*tive*ly, adv. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
DEROGATORDer"o*ga`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A detractor.
DEROGATORILYDe*rog"a*to*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In a derogatory manner; disparagingly. Aubrey.
DEROGATORINESSDe*rog"a*to*ri*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being derogatory.
DEROGATORYDe*rog"a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Tending to derogate, or lessen in value; expressing derogation; detracting; injurious; — with from to, or unto. Acts of Parliament derogatory from the power of subsequent Parliaments bind not. Blackstone. His language was severely censured by some of his brother peers as derogatory to their other. Macaulay. Derogatory clause in a testament (Law), a sentence of secret character inserted by the testator alone, of which he reserves the knowledge to himself, with a condition that no will he may make thereafter shall be valid, unless this clause is inserted word for word; — a precaution to guard against later wills extorted by violence, or obtained by suggestion.
DEROTREMATADer`o*tre"ma*ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The tribe of aquatic Amphibia which includes Amphiuma, Menopoma, etc. They have permanent gill openings, but no external gills; — called also Cryptobranchiata. [Written also Derotrema.]
DERREDer"re, a.
Defn: Dearer. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DERRICKDer"rick, n. Etym: [Orig., a gallows, from a hangman named Derrick.The name is of Dutch origin; D. Diederik, Dierryk, prop. meaning,chief of the people; cf. AS. peódric, E. Theodoric, G. Dietrich. SeeDutch, and Rich.]
Defn: A mast, spar, or tall frame, supported at the top by stays or guys, with suitable tackle for hoisting heavy weights, as stones in building. Derrick crane, a combination of the derrick and the crane, having facility for hoisting and also for swinging the load horizontally.
DERRINGDer"ring, a.
Defn: Daring or warlike. [Obs.]Drad for his derring doe and bloody deed. Spenser.
DERRINGERDer"rin*ger, n. Etym: [From the American inventor.]
Defn: A kind of short-barreled pocket pistol, of very large caliber, often carrying a half-ounce ball.
DERTHDerth, n.
Defn: Dearth; scarcity. [Obs.] Spenser.
DERTROTHECADer`tro*the"ca, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The horny covering of the end of the bill of birds.
DERVISH; DERVISE; DERVIS Der"vish, Der"vise, Der"vis, n. Etym: [Per. derw, fr. OPer. derew to beg, ask alms: cf. F. derviche.]
Defn: A Turkish or Persian monk, especially one who professes extreme poverty and leads an austere life.
DERWORTHDer"worth, a. Etym: [AS. deórwurpe, lit., dearworth.]
Defn: Precious. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.
DESCANTDes"cant, n. Etym: [OF. descant, deschant, F. déchant, discant, LL.discantus, fr. L. dis + cantus singing, melody, fr. canere to sing.See Chant, and cf. Descant, v. i., Discant.]
1. (Mus.) (a) Originally, a double song; a melody or counterpoint sung above the plain song of the tenor; a variation of an air; a variation by ornament of the main subject or plain song. (b) The upper voice in part music. (c) The canto, cantus, or soprano voice; the treble. Grove. Twenty doctors expound one text twenty ways, as children make descant upon plain song. Tyndale. She [the nightingale] all night long her amorous descant sung. Milton.
Note: The term has also been used synonymously with counterpoint, or polyphony, which developed out of the French déchant, of the 12th century.
2. A discourse formed on its theme, like variations on a musical air; a comment or comments. Upon that simplest of themes how magnificent a descant! De Quincey.
DESCANTDes*cant", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Descanted; p. pr. & vb. n.Descanting.] Etym: [From descant; n.; or directly fr. OF. descanter,deschanter; L. dis- + cantare to sing.]
1. To sing a variation or accomplishment.
2. To comment freely; to discourse with fullness and particularity; to discourse at large. A virtuous man should be pleased to find people descanting on his actions. Addison.
DESCANTERDes*cant"er, n.
Defn: One who descants.
DESCENDDe*scend", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Descended; p. pr. & vb. n.Descending.] Etym: [F. descendre, L. descendere, descensum; de- +scandere to climb. See Scan.]
1. To pass from a higher to a lower place; to move downwards; to come or go down in any way, as by falling, flowing, walking, etc.; to plunge; to fall; to incline downward; — the opposite of ascend. The rain descended, and the floods came. Matt. vii. 25. We will here descend to matters of later date. Fuller.
2. To enter mentally; to retire. [Poetic] [He] with holiest meditations fed, Into himself descended. Milton.
3. To make an attack, or incursion, as if from a vantage ground; to come suddenly and with violence; — with on or upon. And on the suitors let thy wrath descend. Pope.
4. To come down to a lower, less fortunate, humbler, less virtuous, or worse, state or station; to lower or abase one's self; as, he descended from his high estate.
5. To pass from the more general or important to the particular or less important matters to be considered.
6. To come down, as from a source, original, or stock; to be derived; to proceed by generation or by transmission; to fall or pass by inheritance; as, the beggar may descend from a prince; a crown descends to the heir.
7. (Anat.)
Defn: To move toward the south, or to the southward.
8. (Mus.)
Defn: To fall in pitch; to pass from a higher to a lower tone.
DESCENDDe*scend", v. t.
Defn: To go down upon or along; to pass from a higher to a lower part of; as, they descended the river in boats; to descend a ladder. But never tears his cheek descended. Byron.
DESCENDANTDe*scend"ant, a. Etym: [F. descendant, p. pr. of descendre. Cf.Descendent.]
Defn: Descendent.
DESCENDANTDe*scend"ant, n.
Defn: One who descends, as offspring, however remotely; —correlative to ancestor or ascendant.Our first parents and their descendants. Hale.The descendant of so many kings and emperors. Burke.
DESCENDENTDe*scend"ent, a. Etym: [L. descendens, -entis, p. pr. of descendre.Cf. Descendant.]
Defn: Descending; falling; proceeding from an ancestor or source.More than mortal grace Speaks thee descendent of ethereal race. Pope.
DESCENDERDe*scend"er, n.
Defn: One who descends.
DESCENDIBILITYDe*scend`i*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being descendible; capability of being transmitted from ancestors; as, the descendibility of an estate.
DESCENDIBLEDe*scend"i*ble, a.
1. Admitting descent; capable of being descended.
2. That may descend from an ancestor to an heir. "A descendant estate." Sir W. Jones.
DESCENDINGDe*scend"ing, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to descent; moving downwards. Descending constellations or signs (Astron.), those through which the planets descent toward the south. — Descending node (Astron.), that point in a planet's orbit where it intersects the ecliptic in passing southward. — Descending series (Math.), a series in which each term is numerically smaller than the preceding one; also, a series arranged according to descending powers of a quantity.
DESCENDINGLYDe*scend"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a descending manner.
DESCENSIONDe*scen"sion, n. Etym: [OF. descension, L. descensio. See Descent.]
Defn: The act of going downward; descent; falling or sinking; declension; degradation. Oblique descension (Astron.), the degree or arc of the equator which descends, with a celestial object, below the horizon of an oblique sphere. — Right descension, the degree or arc of the equator which descends below the horizon of a right sphere at the same time with the object. [Obs.]
DESCENSIONALDe*scen"sion*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to descension. Johnson.
DESCENSIVEDe*scen"sive, a.
Defn: Tending to descend; tending downwards; descending. Smart.
DESCENSORYDe*scen"so*ry, n. Etym: [NL. descensorium: cf. OF. descensoire. SeeDescend.]
Defn: A vessel used in alchemy to extract oils.
DESCENT De*scent", n. Etym: [F. descente, fr. descendre; like vente, from vendre. See Descend.]
1. The act of descending, or passing downward; change of place from higher to lower.
2. Incursion; sudden attack; especially, hostile invasion from sea; - - often followed by upon or on; as, to make a descent upon the enemy. The United Provinces . . . ordered public prayer to God, when they feared that the French and English fleets would make a descent upon their coasts. Jortin.
3. Progress downward, as in station, virtue, as in station, virtue, and the like, from a higher to a lower state, from a higher to a lower state, from the more to the less important, from the better to the worse, etc.
2. Derivation, as from an ancestor; procedure by generation; lineage; birth; extraction. Dryden.
5. (Law)
Defn: Transmission of an estate by inheritance, usually, but not necessarily, in the descending line; title to inherit an estate by reason of consanguinity. Abbott.
6. Inclination downward; a descending way; inclined or sloping surface; declivity; slope; as, a steep descent.
7. That which is descended; descendants; issue. If care of our descent perplex us most, Which must be born to certain woe. Milton.
8. A step or remove downward in any scale of gradation; a degree in the scale of genealogy; a generation. No man living is a thousand descents removed from Adam himself. Hooker.
9. Lowest place; extreme downward place. [R.] And from the extremest upward of thy head, To the descent and dust below thy foot. Shak.
10. (Mus.)
Defn: A passing from a higher to a lower tone.
Syn. — Declivity; slope; degradation; extraction; lineage; assault; invasion; attack.
DESCRIBABLEDe*scrib"a*ble, a.
Defn: That can be described; capable of description.
DESCRIBE De*scribe", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Described; p. pr. & vb. n. Describing.] Etym: [L. describere, descriptum; de- + scribere to write: cf. OE. descriven, OF. descrivre, F. décrire. See Scribe, and cf. Descry.]
1. To represent by drawing; to draw a plan of; to delineate; to trace or mark out; as, to describe a circle by the compasses; a torch waved about the head in such a way as to describe a circle.
2. To represent by words written or spoken; to give an account of; to make known to others by words or signs; as, the geographer describes countries and cities.
3. To distribute into parts, groups, or classes; to mark off; to class. [Obs.] Passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven parts in a book. Josh. xviii. 9.
Syn. — To set forth; represent; delineate; relate; recount; narrate; express; explain; depict; portray; chracterize.
DESCRIBEDe*scribe", v. i.
Defn: To use the faculty of describing; to give a description; as,Milton describes with uncommon force and beauty.
DESCRIBENTDe*scrib"ent, n. Etym: [L. describens, p. pr. of describere.] (Geom.)
Defn: Same as Generatrix.
DESCRIBERDe*scrib"er, n.
Defn: One who describes.
DESCRIERDe*scri"er, n.
Defn: One who descries.
DESCRIPTIONDe*scrip"tion, n. Etym: [F. description, L. descriptio. SeeDescribe.]
1. The act of describing; a delineation by marks or signs.
2. A sketch or account of anything in words; a portraiture or representation in language; an enumeration of the essential qualities of a thing or species. Milton has descriptions of morning. D. Webster.
3. A class to which a certain representation is applicable; kind; sort. A difference . . . between them and another description of public creditors. A. Hamilton. The plates were all of the meanest description. Macaulay.
Syn.— Account; definition; recital; relation; detail; narrative;narration; explanation; delineation; representation; kind; sort. SeeDefinition.
DESCRIPTIVEDe*scrip"tive, a. Etym: [L. descriptivus: cf. F. descriptif.]
Defn: Tending to describe; having the quality of representing; containing description; as, a descriptive figure; a descriptive phrase; a descriptive narration; a story descriptive of the age. Descriptive anatomy, that part of anatomy which treats of the forms and relations of parts, but not of their textures. — Descriptive geometry, that branch of geometry. which treats of the graphic solution of problems involving three dimensions, by means of projections upon auxiliary planes. Davies & Peck (Math. Dict. ) — De*scrip"tive*ly, adv. — De*scrip"tive*ness, n.
DESCRIVEDe*scrive", v. t. Etym: [OF. descrivre. See Describe.]
Defn: To describe. [Obs.] Spenser.
DESCRY De*scry", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Descried; p. pr. & vb. n. Descrying.] Etym: [OE. descrien, discrien, to espy, prob. from the proclaiming of what was espied, fr. OF. descrier to proclaim, cry down, decry, F. décrier. The word was confused somewhat with OF. descriven, E. describe, OF. descrivre, from L. describere. See Decry.]
1. To spy out or discover by the eye, as objects distant or obscure; to espy; to recognize; to discern; to discover. And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. Judg. i. 23. Edmund, I think, is gone . . . to descry The strength o' the enemy. Shak. And now their way to earth they had descried. Milton.
2. To discover; to disclose; to reveal. [R.] His purple robe he had thrown aside, lest it should descry him. Milton.
Syn.— To see; behold; espy; discover; discern.
DESCRYDe*scry"
Defn: , Discovery or view, as of an army seen at a distance. [Obs.] Near, and on speedy foot; the main descry Stands on the hourly thought. Shak.
DESECATEDes"e*cate, v. t. Etym: [L. desecare to cut off.]
Defn: To cut, as with a scythe; to mow. [Obs.]
DESECRATE Des"e*crate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desecrated; p. pr. & vb. n. Desecrating.] Etym: [L. desecratus, p. p. of desecrare (also desacrare) to consecrate, dedicate; but taken in the sense if to divest of a sacred character; de- + sacrare to consecrate, fr. sacer sacred. See Sacred.]
Defn: To divest of a sacred character or office; to divert from a sacred purpose; to violate the sanctity of; to profane; to put to an unworthy use; — the opposite of consecrate. The [Russian] clergy can not suffer corporal punishment without being previously desecrated. W. Tooke. The founders of monasteries imprecated evil on those who should desecrate their donations. Salmon.
DESECRATERDes"e*cra`ter, n.
Defn: One who desecrates; a profaner. Harper's Mag.
DESECRATIONDes`e*cra"tion, n.
Defn: The act of desecrating; profanation; condition of anything desecrated.
DESECRATORDes"e*cra`tor, n.
Defn: One who desecrates. "Desecrators of the church." Morley.
DESEGMENTATIONDe*seg`men*ta"tion, n. (Anat.)
Defn: The loss or obliteration of division into segments; as, a desegmentation of the body.
DESERT De*sert", n. Etym: [OF. deserte, desserte, merit, recompense, fr. deservir, desservir, to merit. See Deserve.]
Defn: That which is deserved; the reward or the punishment justlydue; claim to recompense, usually in a good sense; right to reward;merit.According to their deserts will I judge them. Ezek. vii. 27.Andronicus, surnamed Pius For many good and great deserts to Rome.Shak.His reputation falls far below his desert. A. Hamilton.
Syn.— Merit; worth; excellence; due.
DESERTDes"ert, n. Etym: [F. désert, L. desertum, from desertus solitary,desert, pp. of deserere to desert; de- + serere to join together. SeeSeries.]
1. A deserted or forsaken region; a barren tract incapable of supporting population, as the vast sand plains of Asia and Africa are destitute and vegetation. A dreary desert and a gloomy waste. Pope.
2. A tract, which may be capable of sustaining a population, but has been left unoccupied and uncultivated; a wilderness; a solitary place. He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord. Is. li. 3.
Note: Also figuratively.Before her extended Dreary and vast and silent, the desert of life.Longfellow.
DESERTDes"ert, a. Etym: [Cf. L. desertus, p. p. of deserere, and F. désert.See 2d Desert.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a desert; forsaken; without life or cultivation; unproductive; waste; barren; wild; desolate; solitary; as, they landed on a desert island. He . . . went aside privately into a desert place. Luke ix. 10. Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, And waste its sweetness on the desert air. Gray. Desert flora (Bot.), the assemblage of plants growing naturally in a desert, or in a dry and apparently unproductive place. — Desert hare (Zoöl.), a small hare (Lepus sylvaticus, var. Arizonæ) inhabiting the deserts of the Western United States. — Desert mouse (Zoöl.), an American mouse (Hesperomys eremicus), living in the Western deserts.
DESERTDe*sert", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deserted; p. pr. & vb. n. Deserting.]Etym: [Cf. L. desertus, p. p. of deserere to desert, F. déserter. See2d Desert.]
1. To leave (especially something which one should stay by and support); to leave in the lurch; to abandon; to forsake; — implying blame, except sometimes when used of localities; as, to desert a friend, a principle, a cause, one's country. "The deserted fortress." Prescott.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: To abandon (the service) without leave; to forsake in violation of duty; to abscond from; as, to desert the army; to desert one's colors.
DESERTDe*sert", v. i.
Defn: To abandon a service without leave; to quit military service without permission, before the expiration of one's term; to abscond. The soldiers . . . deserted in numbers. Bancroft.
Syn. — To abandon; forsake; leave; relinquish; renounce; quit; depart from; abdicate. See Abandon.
DESERTERDe*sert"er (, n.
Defn: One who forsakes a duty, a cause or a party, a friend, or any one to whom he owes service; especially, a soldier or a seaman who abandons the service without leave; one guilty of desertion.
DESERTFULDe*sert"ful, a.
Defn: Meritorious. [R.] Beau. & Fl.
DESERTIONDe*ser"tion, n. Etym: [L. desertio: cf. F. désertion.]
1. The act of deserting or forsaking; abandonment of a service, a cause, a party, a friend, or any post of duty; the quitting of one's duties willfully and without right; esp., an absconding from military or naval service. Such a resignation would have seemed to his superior a desertion or a reproach. Bancroft.
2. The state of being forsaken; desolation; as, the king in his desertion.
3. Abandonment by God; spiritual despondency. The spiritual agonies of a soul under desertion. South.
DESERTLESSDe*sert"less, a.
Defn: Without desert. [R.]
DESERTLESSLYDe*sert"less*ly, adv.
Defn: Undeservedly. [R.] Beau. & Fl.
DESERTNESSDes"ert*ness, n.
Defn: A deserted condition. [R.] "The desertness of the country."Udall.
DESERTRIX; DESERTRICEDe*sert"rix, De*sert"rice, n. Etym: [L. desertrix.]
Defn: A feminine deserter. Milton.
DESERVEDe*serve", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deserved; p. pr. & vb. n. Deserving.]Etym: [OF. deservir, desservir, to merit, L. deservire to servezealously, be devoted to; de- + servire to serve. See Serve.]
1. To earn by service; to be worthy of (something due, either good or evil); to merit; to be entitled to; as, the laborer deserves his wages; a work of value deserves praise. God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth. Job xi. 6. John Gay deserved to be a favorite. Thackeray. Encouragement is not held out to things that deserve reprehension. Burke.
2. To serve; to treat; to benefit. [Obs.] A man that hath So well deserved me. Massinger.
DESERVEDe*serve", v. i.
Defn: To be worthy of recompense; — usually with ill or with well.One man may merit or deserve of another. South.
DESERVEDLYDe*serv"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: According to desert (whether good or evil); justly.
DESERVEDNESSDe*serv"ed*ness, n.
Defn: Meritoriousness.
DESERVERDe*serv"er, n.
Defn: One who deserves.
DESERVINGDe*serv"ing, n.
Defn: Desert; merit.A person of great deservings from the republic. Swift.
DESERVINGDe*serv"ing, a.
Defn: Meritorious; worthy; as, a deserving or act.— De*serv"ing*ly, adv.
DESHABILLEDes`ha*bille, n. Etym: [F. déshabillé, fr. déshabiller to undress;pref. dés- (L. dis-) + habiller to dress. See Habiliment, and cf.Dishabille.]
Defn: An undress; a careless toilet.
DESICCANTDe*sic"cant, a. Etym: [L. desiccans, p. pr. of desiccare. SeeDesiccate.]
Defn: Drying; desiccative.— n.
Defn: (Med.) A medicine or application for drying up a sore. Wiseman.
DESICCATEDes"ic*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desiccated; p. pr. & vb. n.Desiccating.] Etym: [L. desiccatus, p. p. of desiccare to dry up; de-+ siccare to dry, siccus dry. See Sack wine.]
Defn: To dry up; to deprive or exhaust of moisture; to preserve by drying; as, to desiccate fish or fruit. Bodies desiccated by heat or age. Bacon.
DESICCATEDes"ic*cate, v. i.
Defn: To become dry.
DESICCATIONDes`ic*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dessiccation.]
Defn: The act of desiccating, or the state of being desiccated.
DESICCATIVEDe*sic"ca*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. dessicatif.]
Defn: Drying; tending to dry. Ferrand.— n. (Med.)
Defn: An application for drying up secretions.
DESICCATORDes"ic*ca`tor, n.
1. One who, or that which, desiccates.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: A short glass jar fitted with an air-tight cover, and containing some desiccating agent, as sulphuric acid or calcium chloride, above which is suspended the material to be dried, or preserved from moisture.
DESICCATORYDe*sic"ca*to*ry, a.
Defn: Desiccative.
DESIDERABLEDe*sid"er*a*ble, a.
Defn: Desirable. [R.] "Good and desiderable things." Holland.
DESIDERATADe*sid`e*ra"ta, n. pl.
Defn: See Desideratum.
DESIDERATEDe*sid"er*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desiderated; p. pr. & vb. n.Desiderating.] Etym: [L. desideratus, p. p. of desiderare to desire,miss. See Desire, and cf. Desideratum.]
Defn: To desire; to feel the want of; to lack; to miss; to want. Pray have the goodness to point out one word missing that ought to have been there — please to insert a desiderated stanza. You can not. Prof. Wilson. Men were beginning . . . to desiderate for them an actual abode of fire. A. W. Ward.
DESIDERATIONDe*sid`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. desideratio.]
Defn: Act of desiderating; also, the thing desired. [R.] Jeffrey.
DESIDERATIVEDe*sid"er*a*tive, a. Etym: [L. desiderativus.]
Defn: Denoting desire; as, desiderative verbs.
DESIDERATIVEDe*sid"er*a*tive, n.
1. An object of desire.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: A verb formed from another verb by a change of termination, and expressing the desire of doing that which is indicated by the primitive verb.
DESIDERATUM De*sid`e*ra"tum, n.; pl. Desiderata. Etym: [L., fr. desideratus, p. p. See Desiderate.]
Defn: Anything desired; that of which the lack is felt; a want generally felt and acknowledge.
DESIDIOSE; DESIDIOUS De*sid"i*ose`, De*sid"i*ous, a. Etym: [L. desidiosus, fr. desidia a sitting idle, fr. desid to sit idle; de- + sed to sit.]
Defn: Idle; lazy. [Obs.]
DESIDIOUSNESSDe*sid"i*ous*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being desidiose, or indolent. [Obs.] N.Bacon.
DESIGHTDe*sight", n. Etym: [Pref. de- + sight.]
Defn: An unsightly object. [Obs.]
DESIGHTMENTDe*sight"ment, n.
Defn: The act of making unsightly; disfigurement. [R.]To substitute jury masts at whatever desightment or damage in risk.London Times.
DESIGN De*sign", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Designed; p. pr. & vb. n. Designing.] Etym: [F. désigner to designate, cf. F. dessiner to draw, dessin drawing, dessein a plan or scheme; all, ultimately, from L. designare to designate; de- + signare to mark, mark out, signum mark, sign. See Sign, and cf. Design, n., Designate.]
1. To draw preliminary outline or main features of; to sketch for a pattern or model; to delineate; to trace out; to draw. Dryden.
2. To mark out and exhibit; to designate; to indicate; to show; topoint out; to appoint.We shall see Justice design the victor's chivalry. Shak.Meet me to-morrow where the master And this fraternity shall design.Beau. & Fl.
3. To create or produce, as a work of art; to form a plan or scheme of; to form in idea; to invent; to project; to lay out in the mind; as, a man designs an essay, a poem, a statue, or a cathedral.
4. To intend or purpose; — usually with for before the remote object, but sometimes with to. Ask of politicians the end for which laws were originally designed. Burke. He was designed to the study of the law. Dryden.
Syn.— To sketch; plan; purpose; intend; propose; project; mean.
DESIGNDe*sign", v. i.
Defn: To form a design or designs; to plan. Design for, to intend to go to. [Obs.] "From this city she designed for Collin [Cologne]." Evelyn.
DESIGNDe*sign", n. Etym: [Cf. dessein, dessin.]
1. A preliminary sketch; an outline or pattern of the main features of something to be executed, as of a picture, a building, or a decoration; a delineation; a plan.
2. A plan or scheme formed in the mind of something to be done; preliminary conception; idea intended to be expressed in a visible form or carried into action; intention; purpose; — often used in a bad sense for evil intention or purpose; scheme; plot. The vast design and purposTennyson. The leaders of that assembly who withstood the designs of a besotted woman. Hallam. A . . . settled design upon another man's life. Locke. How little he could guess the secret designs of the court! Macaulay.
3. Specifically, intention or purpose as revealed or inferred from the adaptation of means to an end; as, the argument from design.
4. The realization of an inventive or decorative plan; esp., a work of decorative art considered as a new creation; conception or plan shown in completed work; as, this carved panel is a fine design, or of a fine design.
5. (Mus.)
Defn: The invention and conduct of the subject; the disposition of every part, and the general order of the whole. Arts of design, those into which the designing of artistic forms and figures enters as a principal part, as architecture, painting, engraving, sculpture. — School of design, one in which are taught the invention and delineation of artistic or decorative figures, patterns, and the like.
Syn. — Intention; purpose; scheme; project; plan; idea. — Design, Intention, Purpose. Design has reference to something definitely aimed at. Intention points to the feelings or desires with which a thing is sought. Purpose has reference to a settled choice or determination for its attainment. "I had no design to injure you," means it was no part of my aim or object. "I had no intention to injure you," means, I had no wish or desire of that kind. "My purpose was directly the reverse," makes the case still stronger. Is he a prudent man . . . that lays designs only for a day, without any prospect to the remaining part of his life Tillotson. I wish others the same intention, and greater successes. Sir W. Temple. It is the purpose that makes strong the vow. Shak.
DESIGNABLEDes"ig*na*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being designated or distinctly marked out; distinguishable. Boyle.
DESIGNATE Des"ig*nate, a. Etym: [L. designatus, p. p. of designare. See Design, v. t.]
Defn: Designated; appointed; chosen. [R.] Sir G. Buck.
DESIGNATEDes"ig*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Designated; p. pr. & vb. n.Designating.]
1. To mark out and make known; to point out; to name; to indicate; to show; to distinguish by marks or description; to specify; as, to designate the boundaries of a country; to designate the rioters who are to be arrested.
2. To call by a distinctive title; to name.
3. To indicate or set apart for a purpose or duty; — with to or for; to designate an officer for or to the command of a post or station.
Syn.— To name; denominate; style; entitle; characterize; describe.
DESIGNATIONDes`ig*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. designatio: cf. F. désignation.]
1. The act of designating; a pointing out or showing; indication.
2. Selection and appointment for a purpose; allotment; direction.
3. That which designates; a distinguishing mark or name; distinctive title; appellation. The usual designation of the days of the week. Whewell.
4. Use or application; import; intention; signification, as of a word or phrase. Finite and infinite seem . . . to be attributed primarily, in their first designation, only to those things have parts. Locke.
DESIGNATIVEDes"ig*na*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. désignatif.]
Defn: Serving to designate or indicate; pointing out.
DESIGNATORDes"ig*na`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
1. (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: An officer who assigned to each his rank and place in public shows and ceremonies.
2. One who designates.
DESIGNATORYDes"ig*na*to*ry, a.
Defn: Serving to designate; designative; indicating. [R.]
DESIGNEDLYDe*sign"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: By design; purposely; intentionally; — opposed to accidentally, ignorantly, or inadvertently.
DESIGNERDe*sign"er, n.
1. One who designs, marks out, or plans; a contriver.
2. (Fine Arts)
Defn: One who produces or creates original works of art or decoration.
3. A plotter; a schemer; — used in a bad sense.
DESIGNFULDe*sign"ful, a.
Defn: Full of design; scheming. [R.] — De*sign"ful*ness, n. [R.]Barrow.
DESIGNINGDe*sign"ing, a.
Defn: Intriguing; artful; scheming; as, a designing man.
DESIGNINGDe*sign"ing, n.
Defn: The act of making designs or sketches; the act of forming designs or plans.
DESIGNLESSDe*sign"less, a.
Defn: Without design. [Obs.] — De*sign"less*ly, adv. [Obs.]
DESIGNMENTDe*sign"ment, n.
1. Delineation; sketch; design; ideal; invention. [Obs.] For though that some mean artist's skill were shown In mingling colors, or in placing light, Yet still the fair designment was his own. Dryden.
2. Design; purpose; scheme. [Obs.] Shak.
DESILVERDe*sil"ver, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of silver; as, to desilver lead.
DESILVERIZATIONDe*sil`ver*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act or the process of freeing from silver; also, the condition resulting from the removal of silver.
DESILVERIZEDe*sil"ver*ize, v. t.
Defn: To deprive, or free from, silver; to remove silver from.
DESINENCEDes"i*nence, n. Etym: [Cf. F. désinence.]
Defn: Termination; ending. Bp. Hall.
DESINENT Des"i*nent, a. Etym: [L. desinens, p. pr. of desinere, desitum, to leave off, cease; de- + sinere to let, allow.]
Defn: Ending; forming an end; lowermost. [Obs.] "Their desinent parts, fish." B. Jonson.
DESINENTIALDes`i*nen"tial, a. Etym: [Cf. F. désinentiel.]
Defn: Terminal.Furthermore, b, as a desinential element, has a dynamic function.Fitzed. Hall.
DESIPIENT De*sip"i*ent, a. Etym: [L. desipiens, p. pr. of desipere to be foolish; de- + sapere to be wise.]
Defn: Foolish; silly; trifling. [R.]
DESIRABILITYDe*sir`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being desirable; desirableness.
DESIRABLEDe*sir"a*ble, a. Etym: [F. désirable, fr. L. desiderabilis. SeeDesire, v. t.]
Defn: Worthy of desire or longing; fitted to excite desire or a wishto possess; pleasing; agreeable.All of them desirable young men. Ezek. xxiii. 12.As things desirable excite Desire, and objects move the appetite.Blackmore.
DESIRABLENESSDe*sir"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being desirable.The desirableness of the Austrian alliance. Froude.
DESIRABLYDe*sir"a*bly, adv.
Defn: In a desirable manner.
DESIRE De*sire", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desired; p. pr. & vb. n. Desiring.] Etym: [F. désirer, L. desiderare, origin uncertain, perh. fr. de- + sidus star, constellation, and hence orig., to turn the eyes from the stars. Cf. Consider, and Desiderate, and see Sidereal.]
1. To long for; to wish for earnestly; to covet. Neither shall any man desire thy land. Ex. xxxiv. 24. Ye desire your child to live. Tennyson.
2. To express a wish for; to entreat; to request. Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord 2 Kings iv. 28. Desire him to go in; trouble him no more. Shak.
3. To require; to demand; to claim. [Obs.] A doleful case desires a doleful song. Spenser.
4. To miss; to regret. [Obs.] She shall be pleasant while she lives, and desired when she dies. Jer. Taylor.
Syn. — To long for; hanker after; covet; wish; ask; request; solicit; entreat; beg. — To Desire, Wish. In desire the feeling is usually more eager than in wish. "I wish you to do this" is a milder form of command than "I desire you to do this," though the feeling prompting the injunction may be the usage C. J. Smith.
DESIREDe*sire", n. Etym: [F. désir, fr. désirer. See Desire, v. t.]
1. The natural longing that is excited by the enjoyment or the thought of any good, and impels to action or effort its continuance or possession; an eager wish to obtain or enjoy. Unspeakable desire to see and know. Milton.
2. An expressed wish; a request; petition. And slowly was my mother brought To yield consent to my desire. Tennyson.
3. Anything which is desired; an object of longing. The Desire of all nations shall come. Hag. ii. 7.
4. Excessive or morbid longing; lust; appetite.
5. Grief; regret. [Obs.] Chapman.
Syn. — Wish; appetency; craving; inclination; eagerness; aspiration; longing.
DESIREFULDe*sire"ful, a.
Defn: Filled with desire; eager. [R.]The desireful troops. Godfrey (1594).
DESIREFULNESSDe*sire"ful*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being desireful; eagerness to obtain and possess.[R.]The desirefulness of our minds much augmenteth and increaseth ourpleasure. Udall.
DESIRELESSDe*sire"less, a.
Defn: Free from desire. Donne.
DESIRERDe*sir"er, n.
Defn: One who desires, asks, or wishes.
DESIROUSDe*sir"ous, a. Etym: [F. désireux, OF. desiros, fr. desir. SeeDesire, n.]
Defn: Feeling desire; eagerly wishing; solicitous; eager to obtain;covetous.Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him. John xvi. 19.Be not desirous of his dainties. Prov. xxiii. 3.
DESIROUSLYDe*sir"ous*ly, adv.
Defn: With desire; eagerly.
DESIROUSNESSDe*sir"ous*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being desirous.
DESISTDe*sist", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Desisted; p. pr. & vb. n. Desisting.]Etym: [L. desistere; de- + sistere to stand, stop, fr. stare tostand: cf. F. désister. See Stand.]
Defn: To cease to proceed or act; to stop; to forbear; — often withfrom.Never desisting to do evil. E. Hall.To desist from his bad practice. Massinger.Desist (thou art discern'd, And toil'st in vain). Milton.
DESISTANCEDe*sist"ance, n. Etym: [Cf. F. desistance.]
Defn: The act or state of desisting; cessation. [R.] Boyle.If fatigue of body or brain were in every case followed by desistance. . . then would the system be but seldom out of working order. H.Spencer.
DESISTIVEDe*sist"ive, a. Etym: [See Desist.]
Defn: Final; conclusive; ending. [R.]
DESITIONDe*si"tion, n. Etym: [See Desinent.]
Defn: An end or ending. [R.]
DESITIVEDes"i*tive, a.
Defn: Final; serving to complete; conclusive. [Obs.] "Desitive propositions." I. Watts.
DESITIVEDes"i*tive, n. (Logic)
Defn: A proposition relating to or expressing an end or conclusion.[Obs.] I. Watts.
DESK Desk, n. Etym: [OE. deske, the same word as dish, disk. See Dish, and cf. Disk.]
1. A table, frame, or case, usually with sloping top, but often with flat top, for the use writers and readers. It often has a drawer or repository underneath.
2. A reading table or lectern to support the book from which the liturgical service is read, differing from the pulpit from which the sermon is preached; also (esp. in the United States), a pulpit. Hence, used symbolically for "the clerical profession."
DESKDesk, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desked; p. pr. & vb. n. Desking.]
Defn: To shut up, as in a desk; to treasure.
DESKWORKDesk"work`, n.
Defn: Work done at a desk, as by a clerk or writer. Tennyson.
DESMANDes"man, n. Etym: [Cf. Sw. desman musk.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An amphibious, insectivorous mammal found in Russia (Myogale moschata). It is allied to the moles, but is called muscrat by some English writers. [Written also dæsman.]
DESMID; DESMIDIANDes"mid, Des*mid"i*an, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A microscopic plant of the family Desmidiæ, a group of unicellular algæ in which the species have a greenish color, and the cells generally appear as if they consisted of two coalescing halves.
DESMINEDes"mine, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: Same as Stilbite. It commonly occurs in bundles or tufts of crystals.
DESMOBACTERIADes`mo*bac*te"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [Gr. bacteria.]
Defn: See Microbacteria.
DESMODONTDes"mo*dont, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A member of a group of South American blood-sucking bats, of the genera Desmodus and Diphylla. See Vampire.
DESMOGNATHOUSDes*mog"na*thous, a. Etym: [Gr. desmo`s bond + (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the maxillo-palatine bones united; — applied to a group of carinate birds (Desmognathæ), including various wading and swimming birds, as the ducks and herons, and also raptorial and other kinds.
DESMOIDDes"moid, a. Etym: [Gr. desmo`s ligament + -oid.] (Anat.)
Defn: Resembling, or having the characteristics of, a ligament; ligamentous.
DESMOLOGYDes*mol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. desmo`s ligament + -logy.]
Defn: The science which treats of the ligaments. [R.]
DESMOMYARIADes`mo*my*a"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The division of Tunicata which includes the Salpæ. See Salpa.
DESOLATE Des"o*late, a. Etym: [L. desolatus, p. p. of desolare to leave alone, forsake; de- + solare to make lonely, solus alone. See Sole, a.]
1. Destitute or deprived of inhabitants; deserted; uninhabited; hence, gloomy; as, a desolate isle; a desolate wilderness; a desolate house. I will make Jerusalem . . . a den of dragons, and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant. Jer. ix. 11. And the silvery marish flowers that throng The desolate creeks and pools among. Tennyson.
2. Laid waste; in a ruinous condition; neglected; destroyed; as, desolate altars.
3. Left alone; forsaken; lonely; comfortless. Have mercy upon, for I am desolate. Ps. xxv. 16. Voice of the poor and desolate. Keble.
4. Lost to shame; dissolute. [Obs.] Chaucer.
5. Destitute of; lacking in. [Obs.] I were right now of tales desolate. Chaucer.
Syn.— Desert; uninhabited; lonely; waste.
DESOLATEDes"o*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desolated; p. pr. & vb. n.Desolating.]
1. To make desolate; to leave alone; to deprive of inhabitants; as, the earth was nearly desolated by the flood.
2. To lay waste; to ruin; to ravage; as, a fire desolates a city. Constructed in the very heart of a desolating war. Sparks.
DESOLATELYDes"o*late*ly, adv.
Defn: In a desolate manner.
DESOLATENESSDes"o*late*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being desolate.
DESOLATERDes"o*la`ter, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, desolates or lays waste. Mede.
DESOLATIONDes`o*la"tion, n. Etym: [F. désolation, L. desolatio.]
1. The act of desolating or laying waste; destruction of inhabitants; depopulation. Unto the end of the war desolations are determined. Dan. ix. 26.
2. The state of being desolated or laid waste; ruin; solitariness; destitution; gloominess. You would have sold your king to slaughter, . . . And his whole kingdom into desolation. Shak.
3. A place or country wasted and forsaken. How is Babylon become a desolation! Jer. l. 23.
Syn. — Waste; ruin; destruction; havoc; devastation; ravage; sadness; destitution; melancholy; gloom; gloominess.
DESOLATORDes"o*la`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Same as Desolater. Byron.
DESOLATORYDes"o*la*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. desolatorius.]
Defn: Causing desolation. [R.] Bp. Hall.
DESOPHISTICATEDe`so*phis"ti*cate, v. t.
Defn: To clear from sophism or error. [R.] Hare.
DESOXALICDes`ox*al"ic, a. Etym: [F. pref. des- from + E. oxalic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Made or derived from oxalic acid; as, desoxalic acid.
DESPAIR De*spair", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Despaired; p. pr. & vb. n. Despairing.] Etym: [OE. despeiren, dispeiren, OF. desperer, fr. L. desperare; de- + sperare to hope; akin to spes hope, and perh. to spatium space, E. space, speed; cf. OF. espeir hope, F. espoir. Cf. Prosper, Desperate.]
Defn: To be hopeless; to have no hope; to give up all hope orexpectation; — often with of.We despaired even of life. 2 Cor. i. 8.Never despair of God's blessings here. Wake.
Syn.— See Despond.
DESPAIRDe*spair", v. t.
1. To give up as beyond hope or expectation; to despair of. [Obs.] I would not despair the greatest design that could be attempted. Milton.
2. To cause to despair. [Obs.] Sir W. Williams.
DESPAIRDe*spair", n. Etym: [Cf. OF. despoir, fr. desperer.]