DICEDice, n.; pl. of Die.
Defn: Small cubes used in gaming or in determining by chance; also, the game played with dice. See Die, n. Dice coal, a kind of coal easily splitting into cubical fragments. Brande & C.
DICEDice, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Diced; p. pr. & vb. n. Dicing.]
1. To play games with dice. I . . . diced not above seven times a week. Shak.
2. To ornament with squares, diamonds, or cubes.
DICEBOXDice"box`, n.
Defn: A box from which dice are thrown in gaming. Thackeray.
DICENTRADi*cen"tra, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of herbaceous plants, with racemes of two-spurred or heart-shaped flowers, including the Dutchman's breeches, and the more showy Bleeding heart (D. spectabilis). [Corruptly written dielytra.]
DICEPHALOUSDi*ceph"a*lous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Having two heads on one body; double-headed.
DICERDi"cer, n.
Defn: A player at dice; a dice player; a gamester.As false as dicers' oaths. Shak.
DICHDich, v. i.
Defn: To ditch. [Obs.]
DICHASTICDi*chas"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Capable of subdividing spontaneously.
DICHLAMYDEOUSDi`chla*myd"e*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having two coverings, a calyx and in corolla.
DICHLORIDEDi*chlo"ride, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + chloride.] (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Bichloride.
DICHOGAMOUSDi*chog"a*mous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Manifesting dichogamy.
DICHOGAMYDi*chog"a*my, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The condition of certain species of plants, in which the stamens and pistil do not mature simultaneously, so that these plants can never fertilize themselves.
DICHOTOMISTDi*chot"o*mist, n.
Defn: One who dichotomizes. Bacon.
DICHOTOMIZEDi*chot"o*mize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dichotomized; p. pr. & vb. n.Dichotomizing.] Etym: [See Dichotomous.]
1. To cut into two parts; to part into two divisions; to divide into pairs; to bisect. [R.] The apostolical benediction dichotomizes all good things into grace and peace. Bp. Hall.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: To exhibit as a half disk. See Dichotomy,
3. "[The moon] was dichotomized." Whewell.
DICHOTOMIZEDi*chot"o*mize, v. i.
Defn: To separate into two parts; to branch dichotomously; to become dichotomous.
DICHOTOMOUSDi*chot"o*mous, a. Etym: [L. dichotomos, Gr.
Defn: Regularly dividing by pairs from bottom to top; as, adichotomous stem.— Di*chot"o*mous*ly, adv.
DICHOTOMYDi*chot"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. dichotomie. See Dichotomous.]
1. A cutting in two; a division. A general breach or dichotomy with their church. Sir T. Browne.
2. Division or distribution of genera into two species; division into two subordinate parts.
3. (Astron.)
Defn: That phase of the moon in which it appears bisected, or shows only half its disk, as at the quadratures.
4. (Biol.)
Defn: Successive division and subdivision, as of a stem of a plant or a vein of the body, into two parts as it proceeds from its origin; successive bifurcation.
5. The place where a stem or vein is forked.
6. (Logic)
Defn: Division into two; especially, the division of a class into two subclasses opposed to each other by contradiction, as the division of the term man into white and not white.
DICHROICDi*chro"ic, a. Etym: [See Dichroism.]
Defn: Having the property of dichroism; as, a dichroic crystal.
DICHROISCOPEDi*chro"i*scope, n.
Defn: Same as Dichroscope.
DICHROISMDi"chro*ism, n. Etym: [Gr. (Opt.)
Defn: The property of presenting different colors by transmitted light, when viewed in two different directions, the colors being unlike in the direction of unlike or unequal axes.
DICHROITEDi"chro*ite, n. Etym: [See Dichroism.] (Min.)
Defn: Iolite; — so called from its presenting two different colors when viewed in two different directions. See Iolite.
DICHROITICDi`chro*it"ic, a.
Defn: Dichroic.
DICHROMATEDi*chro"mate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of chromic acid containing two equivalents of the acid radical to one of the base; — called also bichromate.
DICHROMATICDi`chro*mat"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + chromatic: cf. Gr.
1. Having or exhibiting two colors.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having two color varieties, or two phases differing in color, independently of age or sex, as in certain birds and insects.
DICHROMATISMDi*chro"ma*tism, n.
Defn: The state of being dichromatic.
DICHROMICDi*chro"mic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Furnishing or giving two colors; — said of defective vision, in which all the compound colors are resolvable into two elements instead of three. Sir J. Herschel.
DICHROOUSDi"chro*ous, a.
Defn: Dichroic.
DICHROSCOPEDi"chro*scope, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: An instrument for examining the dichroism of crystals.
DICHROSCOPICDi`chro*scop"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the dichroscope, or to observations with it.
DICINGDi"cing, n.
1. An ornamenting in squares or cubes.
2. Gambling with dice. J. R. Green.
DICKCISSELDick*cis"sel, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The American black-throated bunting (Spiza Americana).
DICKENSDick"ens, n. or interj. Etym: [Perh. a contr. of the dim. devilkins.]
Defn: The devil. [A vulgar euphemism.]I can not tell what the dickens his name is. Shak.
DICKERDick"er, n. Etym: [Also daker, dakir; akin to Icel. dekr, Dan. deger,G. decher; all prob. from LL. dacra, dacrum, the number ten, akin toL. decuria a division consisting of ten, fr. decem ten. See Ten.]
1. The number or quantity of ten, particularly ten hides or skins; a dakir; as, a dicker of gloves. [Obs.] A dicker of cowhides. Heywood.
2. A chaffering, barter, or exchange, of small wares; as, to make a dicker. [U.S.] For peddling dicker, not for honest sales. Whittier.
DICKERDick"er, v. i. & t.
Defn: To negotiate a dicker; to barter. [U.S.] "Ready to dicker. and to swap." Cooper.
DICKEY; DICKYDick"ey, Dick"y, n.
1. A seat behind a carriage, for a servant.
2. A false shirt front or bosom.
3. A gentleman's shirt collar. [Local, U. S.]
DICLINICDi*clin"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Crystallog.)
Defn: Having two of the intersections between the three axes oblique.See Crystallization.
DICLINOUSDic"li*nous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Having the stamens and pistils in separate flowers. Gray.
DICOCCOUSDi*coc"cous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Composed pf two coherent, one-seeded carpels; as, a dicoccous capsule.
DICOTYLEDONDi*cot`y*le"don, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + cotyledon.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant whose seeds divide into two seed lobes, or cotyledons, in germinating.
DICOTYLEDONOUSDi*cot`y*le"don*ous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having two cotyledons or seed lobes; as, a dicotyledonous plant.
DICROTAL; DICROTOUSDi"cro*tal, Di"cro*tous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Dicrotic.
DICROTIC Di*crot"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.) (a) Of or pertaining to dicrotism; as, a dicrotic pulse. (b) Of or pertaining to the second expansion of the artery in the dicrotic pulse; as, the dicrotic wave.
DICROTISMDi"cro*tism, n. (Physiol.)
Defn: A condition in which there are two beats or waves of the arterial pulse to each beat of the heart.
DICTADic"ta, n. pl. Etym: [L.]
Defn: See Dictum.
DICTAGRAPHDic"ta*graph.
Defn: Var. of Dictograph.
DICTAMENDic*ta"men, n. Etym: [LL., fr. dictare to dictate.]
Defn: A dictation or dictate. [R.] Falkland.
DICTAMNUSDic*tam"nus, n. Etym: [L. See Dittany.] (Bot.)
Defn: A suffrutescent, D. Fraxinella (the only species), with strong perfume and showy flowers. The volatile oil of the leaves is highly inflammable.
DICTAPHONEDic"ta*phone, n. [Dictate + -phone, as in telephone.]
Defn: A form of phonographic recorder and reproducer adapted for use in dictation, as in business.
DICTATEDic"tate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dictated; p. pr. & vb. n. Dictating.]Etym: [L. dictatus, p. p. of dictare, freq. of dicere to say. SeeDiction, and cf. Dight.]
1. To tell or utter so that another may write down; to inspire; to compose; as, to dictate a letter to an amanuensis. The mind which dictated the Iliad. Wayland. Pages dictated by the Holy Spirit. Macaulay.
2. To say; to utter; to communicate authoritatively; to deliver (a command) to a subordinate; to declare with authority; to impose; as, to dictate the terms of a treaty; a general dictates orders to his troops. Whatsoever is dictated to us by God must be believed. Watts.
Syn. — To suggest; prescribe; enjoin; command; point out; urge; admonish.
DICTATEDic"tate, v. i.
1. To speak as a superior; to command; to impose conditions (on). Who presumed to dictate to the sovereign. Macaulay.
2. To compose literary works; to tell what shall be written or said by another. Sylla could not skill of letters, and therefore knew not how to dictate. Bacon.
DICTATEDic"tate, n. Etym: [L. dictatum. See Dictate, v. t.]
Defn: A statement delivered with authority; an order; a command; an authoritative rule, principle, or maxim; a prescription; as, listen to the dictates of your conscience; the dictates of the gospel. I credit what the Grecian dictates say. Prior.
Syn.— Command; injunction; direction suggestion; impulse; admonition.
DICTATIONDic*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. dictatio.]
1. The act of dictating; the act or practice of prescribing; also that which is dictated. It affords security against the dictation of laws. Paley.
2. The speaking to, or the giving orders to, in an overbearing manner; authoritative utterance; as, his habit, even with friends, was that of dictatio.
DICTATORDic*ta"tor, n. Etym: [L.]
1. One who dictates; one who prescribes rules and maxims authoritatively for the direction of others. Locke.
2. One invested with absolute authority; especially, a magistrate created in times of exigence and distress, and invested with unlimited power. Invested with the authority of a dictator, nay, of a pope, over our language. Macaulay.
DICTATORIALDic`ta*to"ri*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. dictatorial.]
1. Pertaining or suited to a dictator; absolute. Military powers quite dictatorial. W. Irving.
2. Characteristic of a dictator; imperious; dogmatical; overbearing;as, a dictatorial tone or manner.— Dic`ta*to"ri*al*ly, adv.— Dic`ta*to"ri*al*ness, n.
DICTATORIANDic`ta*to"ri*an, a.
Defn: Dictatorial. [Obs.]
DICTATORSHIPDic*ta"tor*ship, n.
Defn: The office, or the term of office, of a dictator; hence, absolute power.
DICTATORYDic"ta*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. dictatorius.]
Defn: Dogmatical; overbearing; dictatorial. Milton.
DICTATRESSDic*ta"tress, n.
Defn: A woman who dictates or commands.Earth's chief dictatress, ocean's mighty queen. Byron.
DICTATRIXDic*ta"trix, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A dictatress.
DICTATUREDic*ta"ture, n. Etym: [L. dictatura: cf. F. dictature.]
Defn: Office of a dictator; dictatorship. [R.] Bacon.
DICTION Dic"tion, n. Etym: [L. dicto a saying, a word, fr. dicere, dictum, to say; akin to dicare to proclaim, and to E. teach, token: cf. F. diction. See Teach, and cf. Benison, Dedicate, Index, Judge, Preach, Vengeance.]
Defn: Choice of words for the expression of ideas; the construction, disposition, and application of words in discourse, with regard to clearness, accuracy, variety, etc.; mode of expression; language; as, the diction of Chaucer's poems. His diction blazes up into a sudden explosion of prophetic grandeur. De Quincey.
Syn. — Diction, Style, Phraseology. Style relates both to language and thought; diction, to language only; phraseology, to the mechanical structure of sentences, or the mode in which they are phrased. The style of Burke was enriched with all the higher graces of composition; his diction was varied and copious; his phraseology, at times, was careless and cumbersome. "Diction is a general term applicable alike to a single sentence or a connected composition. Errors in grammar, false construction, a confused disposition of words, or an improper application of them, constitute bad diction; but the niceties, the elegancies, the peculiarities, and the beauties of composition, which mark the genius and talent of the writer, are what is comprehended under the name of style." Crabb.
DICTIONALRIANDic`tion*al"ri*an, n.
Defn: A lexicographer. [R.]
DICTIONARYDic"tion*a*ry, n.; pl. Dictionaries. Etym: [Cf. F. dictionnaire. SeeDiction.]
1. A book containing the words of a language, arranged alphabetically, with explanations of their meanings; a lexicon; a vocabulary; a wordbook. I applied myself to the perusal of our writers; and noting whatever might be of use to ascertain or illustrate any word or phrase, accumulated in time the materials of a dictionary. Johnson.
2. Hence, a book containing the words belonging to any system or province of knowledge, arranged alphabetically; as, a dictionary of medicine or of botany; a biographical dictionary.
DICTOGRAPHDic"to*graph, n. [L. dictum a thing said + E. -graph.]
Defn: A telephonic instrument for office or other similar use, having a sound-magnifying device enabling the ordinary mouthpiece to be dispensed with. Much use has been made of it for overhearing, or for recording, conversations for the purpose of obtaining evidence for use in litigation.
The makers of this instrument spell it dictograph.
DICTUM Dic"tum, n.; pl. L. Dicta, E. Dictums. Etym: [L., neuter of dictus, p. p. of dicere to say. See Diction, and cf. Ditto.]
1. An authoritative statement; a dogmatic saying; an apothegm. A class of critical dicta everywhere current. M. Arnold.
2. (Law) (a) A judicial opinion expressed by judges on points that do not necessarily arise in the case, and are not involved in it. (b) (French Law) The report of a judgment made by one of the judges who has given it. Bouvier. (c) An arbitrament or award.
DICTYOGENDic*ty"o*gen, n. Etym: [Gr. -gen.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant with netveined leaves, and monocotyledonous embryos, belonging to the class Dictyogenæ, proposed by Lindley for the orders Dioscoreaceæ, Smilaceæ, Trilliaceæ, etc.
DICYANIDEDi*cy"a*nide, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + cyanogen.] (Chem.)
Defn: A compound of a binary type containing two cyanogen groups or radicals; — called also bicyanide.
DICYEMATADi`cy*e"ma*ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of worms parasitic in cephalopods. They are remarkable for the extreme simplicity of their structure. The embryo exists in two forms.
DICYEMIDDi`cy*e"mid, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or belonging to the Dicyemata.— n.
Defn: One of the Dicyemata.
DICYNODONTDi*cyn"o*dont, n. Etym: [Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: One of a group of extinct reptiles having the jaws armed with a horny beak, as in turtles, and in the genus Dicynodon, supporting also a pair of powerful tusks. Their remains are found in triassic strata of South Africa and India.
DIDDid, imp.
Defn: of Do.
DIDACTIC; DIDACTICAL Di*dac"tic, Di*dac"tic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. docere to teach: cf. F. didactique. See Docile.]
Defn: Fitted or intended to teach; conveying instruction; preceptive;instructive; teaching some moral lesson; as, didactic essays."Didactical writings." Jer. Taylor.The finest didactic poem in any language. Macaulay.
DIDACTICDi*dac"tic, n.
Defn: A treatise on teaching or education. [Obs.] Milton.
DIDACTICALLYDi*dac"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a didactic manner.
DIDACTICISMDi*dac"ti*cism, n.
Defn: The didactic method or system.
DIDACTICITYDi`dac*tic"i*ty, n.
Defn: Aptitude for teaching. Hare.
DIDACTICSDi*dac"tics, n.
Defn: The art or science of teaching.
DIDACTYLDi*dac"tyl, n. Etym: [Gr. didactyle.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An animal having only two digits.
DIDACTYLOUSDi*dac"tyl*ous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having only two digits; two-toed.
DIDALDi"dal, n.
Defn: A kind of triangular spade. [Obs.]
DIDAPPERDi"dap`per, n. Etym: [For divedapper. See Dive, Dap, Dip, and cf.Dabchick.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Dabchick.
DIDASCALARDi*das"ca*lar, a.
Defn: Didascalic. [R.]
DIDASCALICDi`das*cal"ic, a. Etym: [L. didascalius, Gr. didascalique.]
Defn: Didactic; preceptive. [R.] Prior.
DIDDLEDid"dle, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Daddle.]
Defn: To totter, as a child in walking. [Obs.] Quarles.
DIDDLE Did"dle, v. t. Etym: [Perh. from AS. dyderian to deceive, the letter r being changed to l.]
Defn: To cheat or overreach. [Colloq.] Beaconsfield.
DIDDLERDid"dler, n.
Defn: A cheat. [Colloq.] Jeremy Diddler, a character in a play by James Kenney, entitled "Raising the wind." The name is applied to any needy, tricky, constant borrower; a confidence man.
DIDELPHIADi*del"phi*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The subclass of Mammalia which includes the marsupials. SeeMarsupialia.
DIDELPHIANDi*del"phi*an, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or relating to the Didelphia.— n.
Defn: One of the Didelphia.
DIDELPHICDi*del"phic, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the uterus double; of or pertaining to the Didelphia.
DIDELPHIDDi*del"phid, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Didelphic.
DIDELPHIDDi*del"phid, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A marsupial animal.
DIDELPHOUSDi*del"phous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Didelphic.
DIDELPHOUSDi*del"phous, n. Etym: [NL. See Didelphia.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Formerly, any marsupial; but the term is now restricted to anAmerican genus which includes the opossums, of which there are manyspecies. See Opossum. [Written also Didelphis.] See Illustration inAppendix. Cuvier.
DIDELPHYCDi*del"phyc, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Didelphic.
DIDELPHYSDi*del"phys, n. [NL. See Didelphia.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Formerly, any marsupial; but the term is now restricted to anAmerican genus which includes the opossums, of which there are manyspecies. See Opossum. [Written also Didelphis.] See Illustration inAppendix. Cuvier.
DIDINEDi"dine, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the genus Didus, or the dodo.
DIDODi"do, n.; pl. Didos (.
Defn: A shrewd trick; an antic; a caper. To cut a dido, to play a trick; to cut a caper; — perhaps so called from the trick of Dido, who having bought so much land as a hide would cover, is said to have cut it into thin strips long enough to inclose a spot for a citadel.
DIDONIA Di*do"ni*a, n. Etym: [NL. So called in allusion to the classical story of Dido and the bull's hide.] (Geom.)
Defn: The curve which on a given surface and with a given perimeter contains the greatest area. Tait.
DIDRACHM; DIDRACHMADi"drachm, Di*drach"ma, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A two-drachma piece; an ancient Greek silver coin, worth nearly forty cents.
DIDSTDidst
Defn: , the 2d pers. sing. imp. of Do.
DIDUCEMENTDi*duce"ment, n.
Defn: Diduction; separation into distinct parts. Bacon.
DIDUCTION Di*duc"tion, n. Etym: [L. diductio, fr. diducere, diductum, to draw apart; di- = dis- + ducere to lead, draw.]
Defn: The act of drawing apart; separation.
DIDYMDi"dym, n. (Chem.)
Defn: See Didymium.
DIDYMIUMDi*dym"i*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: A rare metallic substance usually associated with the metal cerium; — hence its name. It was formerly supposed to be an element, but has since been found to consist of two simpler elementary substances, neodymium and praseodymium. See Neodymium, and Praseodymium.
DIDYMOUSDid"y*mous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Growing in pairs or twins.
DIDYNAMIADid`y*na"mi*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A Linnæan class of plants having four stamens disposed in pairs of unequal length.
DIDYNAMIANDid`y*na"mi*an, a.
Defn: Didynamous.
DIDYNAMOUSDi*dyn"a*mous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Didynamia; containing four stamens disposed in pairs of unequal length.
DIE Die, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Died; p. pr. & vb. n. Dying.] Etym: [OE. deyen, dien, of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. deyja; akin to Dan. döe, Sw. dö, Goth. diwan (cf. Goth. afd to harass), OFries. d to kill, OS. doian to die, OHG. touwen, OSlav. daviti to choke, Lith. dovyti to torment. Cf. Dead, Death.]
1. To pass from an animate to a lifeless state; to cease to live; to suffer a total and irreparable loss of action of the vital functions; to become dead; to expire; to perish; — said of animals and vegetables; often with of, by, with, from, and rarely for, before the cause or occasion of death; as, to die of disease or hardships; to die by fire or the sword; to die with horror at the thought. To die by the roadside of grief and hunger. Macaulay. She will die from want of care. Tennyson.
2. To suffer death; to lose life. In due time Christ died for the ungodly. Rom. v. 6.
3. To perish in any manner; to cease; to become lost or extinct; tobe extinguished.Letting the secret die within his own breast. Spectator.Great deeds can not die. Tennyson.
4. To sink; to faint; to pine; to languish, with weakness,discouragement, love, etc.His heart died within, and he became as a stone. 1 Sam. xxv. 37.The young men acknowledged, in love letters, that they died forRebecca. Tatler.
5. To become indifferent; to cease to be subject; as, to die to pleasure or to sin.
6. To recede and grow fainter; to become imperceptible; to vanish; —often with out or away.Blemishes may die away and disappear amidst the brightness.Spectator.
7. (Arch.)
Defn: To disappear gradually in another surface, as where moldings are lost in a sloped or curved face.
8. To become vapid, flat, or spiritless, as liquor. To die in the last ditch, to fight till death; to die rather than surrender. "There is one certain way," replied the Prince [William of Orange] " by which I can be sure never to see my country's ruin, — I will die in the last ditch." Hume (Hist. of Eng. ). — To die out, to cease gradually; as, the prejudice has died out.
Syn.— To expire; decease; perish; depart; vanish.
DIE Die, n.; pl. in 1 and (usually) in 2, Dice (dis); in 4 & 5, Dies (diz). Etym: [OE. dee, die, F. dé, fr. L. datus given, thrown, p. p. of dare to give, throw. See Date a point of time.]
1. A small cube, marked on its faces with spots from one to six, and used in playing games by being shaken in a box and thrown from it. See Dice.
2. Any small cubical or square body. Words . . . pasted upon little flat tablets or dies. Watts.
3. That which is, or might be, determined, by a throw of the die; hazard; chance. Such is the die of war. Spenser.
4. (Arch.)
Defn: That part of a pedestal included between base and cornice; the dado.
5. (Mach.) (a) A metal or plate (often one of a pair) so cut or shaped as to give a certain desired form to, or impress any desired device on, an object or surface, by pressure or by a blow; used in forging metals, coining, striking up sheet metal, etc. (b) A perforated block, commonly of hardened steel used in connection with a punch, for punching holes, as through plates, or blanks from plates, or for forming cups or capsules, as from sheet metal, by drawing. (c) A hollow internally threaded screw-cutting tool, made in one piece or composed of several parts, for forming screw threads on bolts, etc.; one of the separate parts which make up such a tool. Cutting die (Mech.), a thin, deep steel frame, sharpened to a cutting edge, for cutting out articles from leather, cloth, paper, etc. — The die is cast, the hazard must be run; the step is taken, and it is too late to draw back; the last chance is taken.
DIECIAN; DIECIOUSDi*e"cian, a., Di*e"cious, a. (Bot.)
Defn: See Dioecian, and Dioecious.
DIEDRALDi*e"dral, a.
Defn: The same as Dihedral.
DIEGESISDi`e*ge"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
Defn: A narrative or history; a recital or relation.
DIELECTRICDi`e*lec"tric, n. Etym: [Pref. dia- + electric.] (Elec.)
Defn: Any substance or medium that transmits the electric force by a process different from conduction, as in the phenomena of induction; a nonconductor. separating a body electrified by induction, from the electrifying body.
DIELYTRADi*el"y*tra, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Dicentra.
DIENCEPHALONDi`en*ceph"a*lon, n. Etym: [NL. See Dia-, and Encephalon.] (Anat.)
Defn: The interbrain or thalamencephalon; — sometimes abbreviated to dien. See Thalamencephalon.
DIERESISDi*er"e*sis, n. Etym: [NL.]
Defn: Same as Diæresis.
DIESEL ENGINE; DIESEL MOTOR Die"sel en`gine or mo`tor. [After Dr. Rudolf Diesel, of Munich, the inventor.]
Defn: A type of internal-combustion engine in which the air drawn in by the suction stroke is so highly compressed that the heat generated ignites the fuel (usually crude oil), the fuel being automatically sprayed into the cylinder under pressure. The Diesel engine has a very high thermal efficiency.
DIESINKERDie"sink`er, n.
Defn: An engraver of dies for stamping coins, medals, etc.
DIESINKINGDie"sink`ing, n.
Defn: The process of engraving dies.
DIES IRAEDi"es I"ræ.
Defn: Day of wrath; — the name and beginning of a famous mediævalLatin hymn on the Last Judgment.
DIESISDi"e*sis, n.; pl. Dieses. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
1. (Mus.)
Defn: A small interval, less than any in actual practice, but used in the mathematical calculation of intervals.
2. (Print.)
Defn: The mark ||; — called also double dagger.
DIES JURIDICUSDi"es ju*rid"i*cus; pl. Dies juridici. Etym: [L.] (Law)
Defn: A court day.
DIES NONDi"es non". Etym: [L. dies non juridicus.] (Law)
Defn: A day on which courts are not held, as Sunday or any legal holiday.
DIESTOCKDie"stock`, n.
Defn: A stock to hold the dies used for cutting screws.
DIETDi"et, n. Etym: [F. diète, L. diaeta, fr. Gr.
1. Course of living or nourishment; what is eaten and drunk habitually; food; victuals; fare. "No inconvenient diet." Milton.
2. A course of food selected with reference to a particular state of health; prescribed allowance of food; regimen prescribed. To fast like one that takes diet. Shak. Diet kitchen, a kitchen in which diet is prepared for invalids; a charitable establishment that provides proper food for the sick poor.
DIETDi"et, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dieted; p. pr. & vb. n. Dieting.]
1. To cause to take food; to feed. [R.] Shak.
2. To cause to eat and drink sparingly, or by prescribed rules; to regulate medicinally the food of. She diets him with fasting every day. Spenser.
DIETDi"et, v. i.
1. To eat; to take one's meals. [Obs.] Let him . . . diet in such places, where there is good company of the nation, where he traveleth. Bacon.
2. To eat according to prescribed rules; to ear sparingly; as, the doctor says he must diet.
DIET Di"et, n. Etym: [F. diète, LL. dieta, diaeta, an assembly, a day's journey; the same word as diet course of living, but with the sense changed by L. dies day: cf. G. tag dayReichstag.]
Defn: A legislative or administrative assembly in Germany, Poland, and some other countries of Europe; a deliberative convention; a council; as, the Diet of Worms, held in 1521.
DIETARIANDi`e*ta"ri*an, n.
Defn: One who lives in accordance with prescribed rules for diet; a dieter.
DIETARYDi"et*a*ry, a.
Defn: Pertaining to diet, or to the rules of diet.
DIETARYDi"et*a*ry, n.; pl. Dietaries (.
Defn: A rule of diet; a fixed allowance of food, as in workhouse, prison, etc.
DIETERDi"et*er, n.
Defn: One who diets; one who prescribes, or who partakes of, food, according to hygienic rules.
DIETETIC; DIETETICALDi`e*tet"ic, Di`e*tet"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. diététique. See Diet.]
Defn: Of or performance to diet, or to the rules for regulating the kind and quantity of food to be eaten.
DIETETICALLYDi`e*tet"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dietetical manner.
DIETETICSDi`e*tet"ics, n.
Defn: That part of the medical or hygienic art which relates to dietor food; rules for diet.To suppose that the whole of dietetics lies in determining whether ornot bread is more nutritive than potatoes. H. Spencer.
DIETETISTDi`e*tet"ist, n.
Defn: A physician who applies the rules of dietetics to the cure of diseases. Dunglison.
DIETHYLAMINEDi*eth`yl*am"ine, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + ethylamine.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless, volatile, alkaline liquid, NH(C2H5)2, having a strong fishy odor resembling that of herring or sardines. Cf. Methylamine.
DIETICDi*et"ic, a.
Defn: Dietetic.
DIETICALDi*et"ic*al, a.
Defn: Dietetic. [R.] Ferrand.
DIETINEDi"et*ine, n. Etym: [Cf. F. diétine.]
Defn: A subordinate or local assembly; a diet of inferior rank.
DIETIST; DIETITIANDi"et*ist, Di`e*ti"tian, n.
Defn: One skilled in dietetics. [R.]
DIFFAMEDif*fame`, n. Etym: [See Defame.]
Defn: Evil name; bad reputation; defamation. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DIFFARREATION Dif*far`re*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. diffarreatio; dif- = farreum a spelt cake. See Confarreation.]
Defn: A form of divorce, among the ancient Romans, in which a cake was used. See Confarreation.
DIFFERDif"fer, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Differed; p. pr. & vb. n. Differing.]Etym: [L. differre; dif- = dis- + ferre to bear, carry: cf. F.différer. See 1st Bear, and cf. Defer, Delay.]
1. To be or stand apart; to disagree; to be unlike; to be distinguished; — with from. One star differeth from another star in glory. 1 Cor. xv. 41. Minds differ, as rivers differ. Macaulay.
2. To be of unlike or opposite opinion; to disagree in sentiment; — often with from or with.
3. To have a difference, cause of variance, or quarrel; to dispute; to contend. We 'll never differ with a crowded pit. Rowe.
Syn. — To vary; disagree; dissent; dispute; contend; oppose; wrangle. — To Differ with, Differ from. Both differ from and aiffer with are used in reference to opinions; as, "I differ from you or with you in that opinion."" In all other cases, expressing simple unlikeness, differ from is used; as, these two persons or things differ entirely from each other. Severely punished, not for differing from us in opinion, but for committing a nuisance. Macaulay. Davidson, whom on a former occasion we quoted, to differ from him. M. Arnold. Much as I differ from him concerning an essential part of the historic basis of religion. Gladstone. I differ with the honorable gentleman on that point. Brougham. If the honorable gentleman differs with me on that subject, I differ as heartily with him, and shall always rejoice to differ. Canning.
DIFFERDif"fer, v. t.
Defn: To cause to be different or unlike; to set at variance. [R.]But something 'ts that differs thee and me. Cowley.
DIFFERENCEDif"fer*ence, n. Etym: [F. différence, L. differentia.]
1. The act of differing; the state or measure of being different or unlike; distinction; dissimilarity; unlikeness; variation; as, a difference of quality in paper; a difference in degrees of heat, or of light; what is the difference between the innocent and the guilty Differencies of administration, but the same Lord. 1 Cor. xii. 5.
2. Disagreement in opinion; dissension; controversy; quarrel; hence, cause of dissension; matter in controversy. What was the difference It was a contention in public. Shak. Away therefore went I with the constable, leaving the old warden and the young constable to compose their difference as they could. T. Ellwood.
3. That by which one thing differs from another; that which distinguishes or causes to differ;; mark of distinction; characteristic quality; specific attribute. The marks and differences of sovereignty. Davies.
4. Choice; preference. [Obs.] That now be chooseth with vile difference To be a beast, and lack intelligence. Spenser.
5. (Her.)
Defn: An addition to a coat of arms to distinguish the bearings of two persons, which would otherwise be the same. See Augmentation, and Marks of cadency, under Cadency.
6. (Logic)
Defn: The quality or attribute which is added to those of the genus to constitute a species; a differentia.
7. (Math.)
Defn: The quantity by which one quantity differs from another, or the remainder left after subtracting the one from the other. Ascensional difference. See under Ascensional.
Syn. — Distinction; dissimilarity; dissimilitude; variation; diversity; variety; contrariety; disagreement; variance; contest; contention; dispute; controversy; debate; quarrel; wrangle; strife.
DIFFERENCEDif"fer*ence, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Differenced; p. pr. & vb. n.Differencing.]
Defn: To cause to differ; to make different; to mark as different; to distinguish. Thou mayest difference gods from men. Chapman. Kings, in receiving justice and undergoing trial, are not differenced from the meanest subject. Milton. So completely differenced by their separate and individual characters that we at once acknowledge them as distinct persons. Sir W. Scott.
DIFFERENTDif"fer*ent, a. Etym: [L. differens, -entis, p. pr. of differre: cf.F. différent.]
1. Distinct; separate; not the same; other. "Five different churches." Addison.
2. Of various or contrary nature, form, or quality; partially or totally unlike; dissimilar; as, different kinds of food or drink; different states of health; different shapes; different degrees of excellence. Men are as different from each other, as the regions in which they are born are different. Dryden.
Note: Different is properly followed by from. Different to, for different from, is a common English colloquialism. Different than is quite inadmissible.
DIFFERENTIADif`fer*en"ti*a, n.; pl. Differentiæ. Etym: [L. See Difference.](Logic)
Defn: The formal or distinguishing part of the essence of a species; the characteristic attribute of a species; specific difference.
DIFFERENTIALDif`fer*en"tial, a. Etym: [Cf. F. différentiel.]
1. Relating to or indicating a difference; creating a difference; discriminating; special; as, differential characteristics; differential duties; a differential rate. For whom he produced differential favors. Motley.
2. (Math.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to a differential, or to differentials.
3. (Mech.)
Defn: Relating to differences of motion or leverage; producing effects by such differences; said of mechanism. Differential calculus. (Math.) See under Calculus. — Differential coefficient, the limit of the ratio of the increment of a function of a variable to the increment of the variable itself, when these increments are made indefinitely small. — Differential coupling, a form of slip coupling used in light machinery to regulate at pleasure the velocity of the connected shaft. — Differential duties (Polit. Econ.), duties which are not imposed equally upon the same products imported from different countries. — Differential galvanometer (Elec.), a galvanometer having two coils or circuits, usually equal, through which currents passing in opposite directions are measured by the difference of their effect upon the needle. — Differential gearing, a train of toothed wheels, usually an epicyclic train, so arranged as to constitute a differential motion. — Differential motion, a mechanism in which a simple differential combination produces such a change of motion or force as would, with ordinary compound arrangements, require a considerable train of parts. It is used for overcoming great resistance or producing very slow or very rapid motion. — Differential pulley. (Mach.) (a) A portable hoisting apparatus, the same in principle as the differential windlass. (b) A hoisting pulley to which power is applied through a differential gearing. — Differential screw, a compound screw by which a motion is produced equal to the difference of the motions of the component screws. — Differential thermometer, a thermometer usually with a U-shaped tube terminating in two air bulbs, and containing a colored liquid, used for indicating the difference between the temperatures to which the two bulbs are exposed, by the change of position of the colored fluid, in consequence of the different expansions of the air in the bulbs. A graduated scale is attached to one leg of the tube. — Differential windlass, or Chinese windlass, a windlass whose barrel has two parts of different diameters. The hoisting rope winds upon one part as it unwinds from the other, and a pulley sustaining the weight to be lifted hangs in the bight of the rope. It is an ancient example of a differential motion.
DIFFERENTIALDif`fer*en"tial, n.
1. (Math.)
Defn: An increment, usually an indefinitely small one, which is given to a variable quantity.
Note: According to the more modern writers upon the differential and integral calculus, if two or more quantities are dependent on each other, and subject to increments of value, their differentials need not be small, but are any quantities whose ratios to each other are the limits to which the ratios of the increments approximate, as these increments are reduced nearer and nearer to zero.
2. A small difference in rates which competing railroad lines, in establishing a common tariff, allow one of their number to make, in order to get a fair share of the business. The lower rate is called a differential rate. Differentials are also sometimes granted to cities.
3. (Elec.) (a) One of two coils of conducting wire so related to one another or to a magnet or armature common to both, that one coil produces polar action contrary to that of the other. (b) A form of conductor used for dividing and distributing the current to a series of electric lamps so as to maintain equal action in all. Knight. Partial differential (Math.), the differential of a function of two or more variables, when only one of the variables receives an increment. — Total differential (Math.), the differential of a function of two or more variables, when each of the variables receives an increment. The total differential of the function is the sum of all the partial differentials.
DIFFERENTIALLYDif`fer*en"tial*ly, adv.
Defn: In the way of differentiation.
DIFFERENTIATEDif`fer*en"ti*ate, v. t.
1. To distinguish or mark by a specific difference; to effect a difference in, as regards classification; to develop differential characteristics in; to specialize; to desynonymize. The word then was differentiated into the two forms then and than. Earle. Two or more of the forms assumed by the same original word become differentiated in signification. Dr. Murray.
2. To express the specific difference of; to describe the properties of (a thing) whereby it is differenced from another of the same class; to discriminate. Earle.
3. (Math.)
Defn: To obtain the differential, or differential coefficient, of; as, to differentiate an algebraic expression, or an equation.
DIFFERENTIATEDif`fer*en"ti*ate, v. i. (Biol.)
Defn: To acquire a distinct and separate character. Huxley.
DIFFERENTIATIONDif`fer*en`ti*a"tion, n.
1. The act of differentiating. Further investigation of the Sanskrit may lead to differentiation of the meaning of such of these roots as are real roots. J. Peile.
2. (Logic)
Defn: The act of distinguishing or describing a thing, by giving its different, or specific difference; exact definition or determination.
3. (Biol.)
Defn: The gradual formation or production of organs or parts by a process of evolution or development, as when the seed develops the root and the stem, the initial stem develops the leaf, branches, and flower buds; or in animal life, when the germ evolves the digestive and other organs and members, or when the animals as they advance in organization acquire special organs for specific purposes.
4. (Metaph.)
Defn: The supposed act or tendency in being of every kind, whether organic or inorganic, to assume or produce a more complex structure or functions.
DIFFERENTIATORDif`fer*en"ti*a`tor, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, differentiates.
DIFFERENTLYDif"fer*ent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a different manner; variously.
DIFFERINGLYDif"fer*ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a differing or different manner. Boyle.
DIFFICILEDif"fi*cile, a. Etym: [L. difficilis: cf. F. difficile. SeeDifficult.]
Defn: Difficult; hard to manage; stubborn. [Obs.] —Dif"fi*cile*ness, n. [Obs.] Bacon.
DIFFICILITATEDif`fi*cil"i*tate, v. t.
Defn: To make difficult. [Obs.] W. Montagu.
DIFFICULTDif"fi*cult, a. Etym: [From Difficulty.]
1. Hard to do or to make; beset with difficulty; attended with labor, trouble, or pains; not easy; arduous.
Note: Difficult implies the notion that considerable mental effort or skill is required, or that obstacles are to be overcome which call for sagacity and skill in the agent; as, a difficult task; hard work is not always difficult work; a difficult operation in surgery; a difficult passage in an author. There is not the strength or courage left me to venture into the wide, strange, and difficult world, alone. Hawthorne.
2. Hard to manage or to please; not easily wrought upon; austere; stubborn; as, a difficult person.
Syn. — Arduous; painful; crabbed; perplexed; laborious; unaccommodating; troublesome. See Arduous.
DIFFICULTDif"fi*cult, v. t.
Defn: To render difficult; to impede; to perplex. [R.] Sir W. Temple.
DIFFICULTATEDif"fi*cult*ate, v. t.
Defn: To render difficult; to difficilitate. [Obs.] Cotgrave.
DIFFICULTLYDif"fi*cult*ly, adv.
Defn: With difficulty. Cowper.
DIFFICULTNESSDif"fi*cult*ness, n.
Defn: Difficulty. [R.] Golding.
DIFFICULTYDif"fi*cul*ty, n.; pl. Difficulties. Etym: [L. difficultas, fr.difficilis difficult; dif- = dis- + facilis easy: cf. F. difficulté.See Facile.]
1. The state of being difficult, or hard to do; hardness; arduousness; — opposed to easiness or facility; as, the difficulty of a task or enterprise; a work of difficulty. Not being able to promote them [the interests of life] on account of the difficulty of the region. James Byrne.
2. Something difficult; a thing hard to do or to understand; that which occasions labor or perplexity, and requires skill perseverance to overcome, solve, or achieve; a hard enterprise; an obstacle; an impediment; as, the difficulties of a science; difficulties in theology. They lie under some difficulties by reason of the emperor's displeasure. Addison.
3. A controversy; a falling out; a disagreement; an objection; a cavil. Measures for terminating all local difficulties. Bancroft.
4. Embarrassment of affairs, especially financial affairs; — usually in the plural; as, to be in difficulties. In days of difficulty and pressure. Tennyson.
Syn. — Impediment; obstacle; obstruction; embarrassment; perplexity; exigency; distress; trouble; trial; objection; cavil. See Impediment.
DIFFIDEDif*fide", v. i. Etym: [L. diffidere. See Diffident.]
Defn: To be distrustful. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
DIFFIDENCEDif"fi*dence, n. Etym: [L. diffidentia.]
1. The state of being diffident; distrust; want of confidence; doubt of the power, ability, or disposition of others. [Archaic] That affliction grew heavy upon me, and weighed me down even to a diffidence of God's mercy. Donne.
2. Distrust of one's self or one's own powers; lack of self-reliance; modesty; modest reserve; bashfulness. It is good to speak on such questions with diffidence. Macaulay. An Englishman's habitual diffidence and awkwardness of adress. W. Irving.
Syn. — Humility; bashfulness; distrust; suspicion; doubt; fear; timidity; apprehension; hesitation. See Humility, and Bashfulness.
DIFFIDENCYDif"fi*den*cy, n.
Defn: See Diffidence. [Obs.]
DIFFIDENTDif"fi*dent, a. Etym: [L. diffidens, -entis, p. pr. of diffidere;dif- = dis + fidere to trust; akin to fides faith. See Faith, and cf.Defy.]
1. Wanting confidence in others; distrustful. [Archaic] You were always extremely diffident of their success. Melmoth.
2. Wanting confidence in one's self; distrustful of one's own powers; not self-reliant; timid; modest; bashful; characterized by modest reserve. The diffident maidens, Folding their hands in prayer. Longfellow.
Syn. — Distrustful; suspicious; hesitating; doubtful; modest; bashful; lowly; reserved.
DIFFIDENTLYDif"fi*dent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a diffident manner. To stand diffidently against each other with their thoughts in battle array. Hobbes.
DIFFIND Dif*find, v. t. Etym: [L. diffindere, diffissum; dif- = findere to split.]
Defn: To split. [Obs.] Bailey.
DIFFINEDif*fine", v. t.
Defn: To define. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DIFFINITIVEDif*fin"i*tive, a. Etym: [For definitive.]
Defn: Definitive; determinate; final. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.
DIFFISSIONDif*fis"sion, n. Etym: [See Diffind.]
Defn: Act of cleaving or splitting. [R.] Bailey.
DIFFLATION Dif*fla"tion, n. Etym: [LL. difflatio, fr. L. difflare, difflatum, to disperse by blowing.]
Defn: A blowing apart or away. [Obs.] Bailey.
DIFFLUENCE; DIFFLUENCYDif"flu*ence, Dif"flu*en*cy, n.
Defn: A flowing off on all sides; fluidity. [R.]
DIFFLUENT Dif"flu*ent, a. Etym: [L. diffluens, p. pr. of diffluere to flow off; dif- = dis- + fluere to flow.]
Defn: Flowing apart or off; dissolving; not fixed. [R.] Bailey.
DIFFORM Dif"form`, a. Etym: [Cf. F. difforme, fr. L. dif- = dis- + forma form. Cf. Deform.]
Defn: Irregular in form; — opposed to uniform; anomalous; hence, unlike; dissimilar; as, to difform corolla, the parts of which do not correspond in size or proportion; difform leaves. The unequal refractions of difform rays. Sir I. Newton.
DIFFORMITYDif*form"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. difformité. See Difform, Deformity.]
Defn: Irregularity of form; diversity of form; want of uniformity.[Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
DIFFRACTDif*fract", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Diffracted; p. pr. & vb. n.Diffracting.] Etym: [L. diffractus, p. p. of diffringere to break inpieces; dif- = dis- + frangere to break. See Fracture.]
Defn: To break or separate into parts; to deflect, or decompose by deflection, a
DIFFRACTIONDif*frac"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. diffraction.] (Opt.)
Defn: The deflection and decomposition of light in passing by the edges of opaque bodies or through narrow slits, causing the appearance of parallel bands or fringes of prismatic colors, as by the action of a grating of fine lines or bars. Remarked by Grimaldi (1665), and referred by him to a property of light which he called diffraction. Whewell. Diffraction grating. (Optics) See under Grating. — Diffraction spectrum. (Optics) See under Spectrum.
DIFFRACTIVEDif*frac"tive, a.
Defn: That produces diffraction.
DIFFRANCHISE; DIFFRANCHISEMENTDif*fran"chise, Dif*fran"chise*ment.
Defn: See Disfranchise, Disfranchisement.
DIFFUSATEDif*fus"ate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: Material which, in the process of catalysis, has diffused or passed through the separating membrane.
DIFFUSEDif*fuse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Diffused; p. pr. & vb. n. Diffusing.]Etym: [L. diffusus, p. p. of diffundere to pour out, to diffuse; dif-= dis- + fundere to pour. See Fuse to melt.]
Defn: To pour out and cause to spread, as a fluid; to cause to flow on all sides; to send out, or extend, in all directions; to spread; to circulate; to disseminate; to scatter; as to diffuse information. Thence diffuse His good to worlds and ages infinite. Milton. We find this knowledge diffused among all civilized nations. Whewell.
Syn. — To expand; spread; circulate; extend; scatter; disperse; publish; proclaim.
DIFFUSEDif*fuse", v. i.
Defn: To pass by spreading every way, to diffuse itself.
DIFFUSEDif*fuse", a. Etym: [L. diffusus, p. p.]
Defn: Poured out; widely spread; not restrained; copious; full; esp.,of style, opposed to concise or terse; verbose; prolix; as, a diffusestyle; a diffuse writer.A diffuse and various knowledge of divine and human things. Milton.
Syn.— Prolix; verbose; wide; copious; full. See Prolix.
DIFFUSEDDif*fused", a.
Defn: Spread abroad; dispersed; loose; flowing; diffuse.It grew to be a widely diffused opinion. Hawthorne.— Dif*fus"ed*ly, adv.— Dif*fus"ed*ness, n.
DIFFUSELYDif*fuse"ly, adv.
Defn: In a diffuse manner.
DIFFUSENESSDif*fuse"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being diffuse; especially, in writing, the use of a great or excessive number of word to express the meaning; copiousness; verbosity; prolixity.
DIFFUSERDif*fus"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, diffuses.
DIFFUSIBILITYDif*fu`si*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being diffusible; capability of being poured or spread out.
DIFFUSIBLEDif*fu"si*ble, a.
1. Capable of flowing or spreading in all directions; that may be diffused.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: Capable of passing through animal membranes by osmosis.
DIFFUSIBLENESSDif*fu"si*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Diffusibility.
DIFFUSIONDif*fu"sion, n. Etym: [L. diffusio: cf. F. diffusion.]
1. The act of diffusing, or the state of being diffused; a spreading; extension; dissemination; circulation; dispersion. A diffusion of knowledge which has undermined superstition. Burke.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: The act of passing by osmosis through animal membranes, as in the distribution of poisons, gases, etc., through the body. Unlike absorption, diffusion may go on after death, that is, after the blood ceases to circulate.
Syn. — Extension; spread; propagation; circulation; expansion; dispersion.
DIFFUSIVEDif*fu"sive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. diffusif.]
Defn: Having the quality of diffusing; capable of spreading every way by flowing; spreading widely; widely reaching; copious; diffuse. "A plentiful and diffusive perfume." Hare.
DIFFUSIVELYDif*fu"sive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a diffusive manner.
DIFFUSIVENESSDif*fu"sive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being diffusive or diffuse;extensiveness; expansion; dispersion. Especially of style:Diffuseness; want of conciseness; prolixity.The fault that I find with a modern legend, it its diffusiveness.Addison.
DIFFUSIVITYDif`fu*siv"i*ty, n.
Defn: Tendency to become diffused; tendency, as of heat, to become equalized by spreading through a conducting medium.
DIG Dig, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dug or Digged (; p. pr. & vb. n. Digging. — Digged is archaic.] Etym: [OE. diggen, perh. the same word as diken, dichen (see Dike, Ditch); cf. Dan. dige to dig, dige a ditch; or akin to E. 1st dag.
1. To turn up, or delve in, (earth) with a spade or a hoe; to open, loosen, or break up (the soil) with a spade, or other sharp instrument; to pierce, open, or loosen, as if with a spade. Be first to dig the ground. Dryden.
2. To get by digging; as, to dig potatoes, or gold.
3. To hollow out, as a well; to form, as a ditch, by removing earth; to excavate; as, to dig a ditch or a well.
4. To thrust; to poke. [Colloq.] You should have seen children . . . dig and push their mothers under the sides, saying thus to them: Look, mother, how great a lubber doth yet wear pearls. Robynson (More's Utopia). To dig down, to undermine and cause to fall by digging; as, to dig down a wall. — To dig from, out of, out, or up, to get out or obtain by digging; as, to dig coal from or out of a mine; to dig out fossils; to dig up a tree. The preposition is often omitted; as, the men are digging coal, digging iron ore, digging potatoes. — To dig in, to cover by digging; as, to dig in manure.(b) To entrench oneself so as to give stronger resistance; — used of warfare. Also figuratively, esp. in the phrase to dig in one's heels.