2. (Crystallog.)
Defn: Crystallization in two independent forms of the same chemical compound, as of calcium carbonate as calcite and aragonite.
DIMORPHOUSDi*mor"phous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. dimorphe.]
1. (Biol.)
Defn: Characterized by dimorphism; occurring under two distinct forms, not dependent on sex; dimorphic.
2. (Crystallog.)
Defn: Crystallizing under two forms fundamentally different, while having the same chemical composition.
DIMPLEDim"ple, n. Etym: [Prob. a nasalized dim. of dip. See Dip, and cf.Dimble.]
1. A slight natural depression or indentation on the surface of some part of the body, esp. on the cheek or chin. Milton. The dimple of her chin. Prior.
2. A slight indentation on any surface. The garden pool's dark surface . . . Breaks into dimples small and bright. Wordsworth.
DIMPLEDim"ple, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dimpled; p. pr. & vb. n. Dimpling.]
Defn: To form dimples; to sink into depressions or littleinequalities.And smiling eddies dimpled on the main. Dryden.
DIMPLEDim"ple, v. t.
Defn: To mark with dimples or dimplelike depressions. Shak.
DIMPLEMENTDim"ple*ment, n.
Defn: The state of being dimpled, or marked with gentle depressions.[R.]The ground's most gentle dimplement. Mrs. Browning.
DIMPLYDim"ply, a.
Defn: Full of dimples, or small depressions; dimpled; as, the dimply pool. Thomson.
DIM-SIGHTEDDim"-sight`ed, a.
Defn: Having dim sight; lacking perception.— Dim"-sight`ed*ness, n.
DIMYA; DIMYARIADim"y*a, Dim`y*a"ri*a (, n.; pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of lamellibranchiate mollusks having an anterior and posterior adductor muscle, as the common clam. See Bivalve.
DIMYARIANDim`y*a"ri*an, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the Dimya.— n.
Defn: One of the Dimya.
DIMYARYDim"y*a*ry, a. & n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Dimyarian.
DIN Din, n. Etym: [AS. dyne, dyn; akin to Icel. dynr, and to AS. dynian to resound, Icel. dynja to pour down like hail or rain; cf. Skr. dhuni roaring, a torrent, dhvan to sound. Cf. Dun to ask payment.]
Defn: Loud, confused, harsh noise; a loud, continuous, rattling orclanging sound; clamor; roar.Think you a little din can daunt mine ears Shak.He knew the battle's din afar. Sir W. Scott.The dust and din and steam of town. Tennyson.
DIN Din, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dinned; p. pr. & vb. n. Dinning.] Etym: [AS. dynian. See Din, n.]
1. To strike with confused or clanging sound; to stun with loud and continued noise; to harass with clamor; as, to din the ears with cries.
2. To utter with a din; to repeat noisily; to ding. This hath been often dinned in my ears. Swift. To din into, to fix in the mind of another by frequent and noisy repetitions. Sir W. Scott.
DINDin, v. i.
Defn: To sound with a din; a ding.The gay viol dinning in the dale. A. Seward.
DINAPHTHYLDi*naph"thyl, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + naphthylene.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless, crystalline hydrocarbon, C20H14, obtained from naphthylene, and consisting of a doubled naphthylene radical.
DINARDi"nar, n. Etym: [Ar. d, from Gr. denarius. See Denier.]
1. A petty money of accounts of Persia.
2. An ancient gold coin of the East.
DINARCHYDi"nar*chy, n.
Defn: See Diarchy.
DINE Dine, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dined; p. pr. & vb. n. Dining.] Etym: [F. dîner, OF. disner, LL. disnare, contr. fr. an assumed disjunare; dis- + an assumed junare (OF. juner) to fast, for L. jejunare, fr. jejunus fasting. See Jejune, and cf. Dinner, D.]
Defn: To eat the principal regular meal of the day; to take dinner. Now can I break my fast, dine, sup, and sleep. Shak. To dine with Duke Humphrey, to go without dinner; — a phrase common in Elizabethan literature, said to be from the practice of the poor gentry, who beguiled the dinner hour by a promenade near the tomb of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, in Old Saint Paul's.
DINEDine, v. t.
1. To give a dinner to; to furnish with the chief meal; to feed; as, to dine a hundred men. A table massive enough to have dined Johnnie Armstrong and his merry men. Sir W. Scott.
2. To dine upon; to have to eat. [Obs.] "What will ye dine." Chaucer.
DINERDin"er, n.
Defn: One who dines.
DINER-OUTDin"er-out`, n.
Defn: One who often takes his dinner away from home, or in company.A brilliant diner-out, though but a curate. Byron.
DINETICALDi*net"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Revolving on an axis. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
DING Ding, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dinged, Dang (Obs.), or Dung (Obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. Dinging.] Etym: [OE. dingen, dengen; akin to AS. dencgan to knock, Icel. dengja to beat, hammer, Sw. dänga, G. dengeln.]
1. To dash; to throw violently. [Obs.] To ding the book a coit's distance from him. Milton.
2. To cause to sound or ring. To ding (anything) in one's ears, to impress one by noisy repetition, as if by hammering.
DINGDing, v. i.
1. To strike; to thump; to pound. [Obs.] Diken, or delven, or dingen upon sheaves. Piers Plowman.
2. To sound, as a bell; to ring; to clang. The fretful tinkling of the convent bell evermore dinging among the mountain echoes. W. Irving.
3. To talk with vehemence, importunity, or reiteration; to bluster. [Low]
DINGDing, n.
Defn: A thump or stroke, especially of a bell.
DINGDONGDing"dong`, n. Etym: [See Ding.]
1. The sound of, or as of, repeated strokes on a metallic body, as a bell; a repeated and monotonous sound.
2. (Horol.)
Defn: An attachment to a clock by which the quarter hours are struck upon bells of different tones.
DINGDONG THEORYDing"dong` the"o*ry. (Philol.)
Defn: The theory which maintains that the primitive elements of language are reflex expressions induced by sensory impressions; that is, as stated by Max Müller, the creative faculty gave to each general conception as it thrilled for the first time through the brain a phonetic expression; — jocosely so called from the analogy of the sound of a bell induced by the stroke of the clapper.
DINGEY; DINGY; DINGHYDin"gey, Din"gy, Din"ghy, n. Etym: [Bengalee dingi.]
1. A kind of boat used in the East Indies. [Written also dinghey.] Malcom.
2. A ship's smallest boat.
DINGILYDin"gi*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dingy manner.
DINGINESSDin"gi*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being dingy; a dusky hue.
DINGLE Din"gle, n. Etym: [Of uncertain origin: cf. AS. ding prison; or perh. akin to dimble.]
Defn: A narrow dale; a small dell; a small, secluded, and embowered valley.
DINGLE-DANGLEDin"gle-dan`gle, adv.
Defn: In a dangling manner.
DINGODin"go, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A wild dog found in Australia, but supposed to have introduced at a very early period. It has a wolflike face, bushy tail, and a reddish brown color.
DINGTHRIFTDing"thrift`, n.
Defn: A spendthrift. [Obs.]Wilt thou, therefore, a drunkard be, A dingthrift and a knave Drant.
DINGY Din"gy, a. [Compar. Dingier; superl. Dingiest.] Etym: [Prob. fr. dung. Cf. Dungy.]
Defn: Soiled; sullied; of a dark or dusky color; dark brown; dirty."Scraps of dingy paper." Macaulay.
DINICHTHYSDi*nich"thys, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of large extinct Devonian ganoid fishes. In some parts of Ohio remains of the Dinichthys are abundant, indicating animals twenty feet in length.
DININGDin"ing, n. & a.
Defn: from Dine, a.
Note: Used either adjectively or as the first part of a compound; as, dining hall or dining-hall, dining room, dining table, etc.
DINKDink, a. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: Trim; neat. [Scot.] Burns.— Dink"ly, adv.
DINKDink, v. t.
Defn: To deck; — often with out or up. [Scot.]
DINMONTDin"mont, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A wether sheep between one and two years old. [Scot.]
DINNERDin"ner, n. Etym: [F. dîner, fr. dîner to dine. See Dine.]
1. The principal meal of the day, eaten by most people about midday, but by many (especially in cities) at a later hour.
2. An entertainment; a feast. A grand political dinner. Tennyson.
Note: Dinner is much used, in an obvious sense, either adjectively or as the first part of a compound; as, dinner time, or dinner-time, dinner bell, dinner hour, etc.
DINNERLESSDin"ner*less, a.
Defn: Having no dinner. Fuller.
DINNERLYDin"ner*ly, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to dinner. [R.]The dinnerly officer. Copley.
DINOCERASDi*noc"e*ras, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of large extinct Eocene mammals from Wyoming; — called also Uintatherium. See Illustration in Appendix.
Note: They were herbivorous, and remarkable for three pairs of hornlike protuberances on the skull. The males were armed with a pair of powerful canine tusks.
DINORNISDi*nor"nis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of extinct, ostrichlike birds of gigantic size, which formerly inhabited New Zealand. See Moa. [Written also Deinornis.]
DINOSAUR; DINOSAURIANDi"no*saur, Di`no*sau"ri*an, n. Etym: [Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: One of the Dinosauria. [Written also deinosaur, and deinosaurian.]
DINOSAURIADi`no*sau"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: An order of extinct mesozoic reptiles, mostly of large size (whence the name). Notwithstanding their size, they present birdlike characters in the skeleton, esp. in the pelvis and hind limbs. Some walked on their three-toed hind feet, thus producing the large "bird tracks," so-called, of mesozoic sandstones; others were five-toed and quadrupedal. See Illust. of Compsognathus, also Illustration of Dinosaur in Appendix.
DINOTHERE; DINOTHERIUMDi"no*there, Di`no*the"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL. dinotherium, fr. Gr.(Paleon.)
Defn: A large extinct proboscidean mammal from the miocene beds of Europe and Asia. It is remarkable fora pair of tusks directed downward from the decurved apex of the lower jaw.
DINOXIDEDin*ox"ide, n. (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Dioxide.
DINSOMEDin"some, a.
Defn: Full of din. [Scot.] Burns.
DINT Dint, n. Etym: [OE. dint, dent, dunt, a blow, AS. dynt; akin to Icel. dyntr a dint, dynta to dint, and perh. to L. fendere (in composition). Cf. 1st Dent, Defend.]
1. A blow; a stroke. [Obs.] "Mortal dint." Milton. "Like thunder's dint." Fairfax.
2. The mark left by a blow; an indentation or impression made by violence; a dent. Dryden. Every dint a sword had beaten in it [the shield]. Tennyson.
3. Force; power; — esp. in the phrase by dint of. Now you weep; and, I perceive, you feel The dint of pity. Shak. It was by dint of passing strength That he moved the massy stone at length. Sir W. Scott.
DINTDint, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dinted; p. pr. & vb. n. Dinting.]
Defn: To make a mark or cavity on or in, by a blow or by pressure; to dent. Donne. Tennyson.
DINUMERATION Di*nu`mer*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. dinumeratio; di- = dis- + numerare to count, fr. numerus number.]
Defn: Enumeration. [Obs.] Bullokar.
DIOCESANDi*oc"e*san, a. Etym: [LL. dioecesanus: cf. F. diocésain.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a diocese; as, diocesan missions.
DIOCESANDi*oc"e*san, n.
1. A bishop, viewed in relation to his diocese; as, the diocesan of New York.
2. pl.
Defn: The clergy or the people of a diocese. Strype.
DIOCESE Di"o*cese, n.; pl. Dioceses. Etym: [OE. diocise, OF. diocise, F. diocése, L. dioecesis, fr. Gr. Economy.] (Eccl.)
Defn: The circuit or extent of a bishop's jurisdiction; the district in which a bishop exercises his ecclesiastical authority. [Frequently, but improperly, spelt diocess.]
DIOCESENERDi`o*ce"se*ner, n.
Defn: One who belongs to a diocese. [Obs.] Bacon.
DIODONDi"o*don, n. Etym: [Gr. diodon.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of spinose, plectognath fishes, having the teeth of each jaw united into a single beaklike plate. They are able to inflate the body by taking in air or water, and, hence, are called globefishes, swellfishes, etc. fishes, and sea hedgehogs.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of whales.
DIODONTDi"o*dont, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the genus Diodon.— n.
Defn: A fish of the genus Diodon, or an allied genus.
DIOECIADi*oe"ci*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A Linnæan class of plants having the stamens and pistils on different plants.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A subclass of gastropod mollusks in which the sexes are separate. It includes most of the large marine species, like the conchs, cones, and cowries.
DIOECIAN; DIOECIOUSDi*oe"cian, Di*oe"cious, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Having the sexes in applied to plants in which the female flowers occur on one individual and the male flowers on another of the same species, and to animals in which the ovum is produced by one individual and the sperm cell by another; — opposed to monoecious.
DIOECIOUSLYDi*oe"cious*ly, adv. (Biol.)
Defn: In a dioecious manner. Dioeciously hermaphrodite (Bot.), having flowers structurally perfect, but practically dioecious, — those on one plant producing no pollen, and those on another no ovules.
DIOECIOUSNESSDi*oe"cious*ness, n. (Biol.)
Defn: The state or quality of being dioecious.
DIOECISMDi*oe"cism, n. (Biol.)
Defn: The condition of being dioecious.
DIOGENESDi*og"e*nes, n.
Defn: A Greek Cynic philosopher (412-323 B. C.) who lived much in Athens and was distinguished for contempt of the common aims and conditions of life, and for sharp, caustic sayings. Diogenes' crab (Zoöl.), a species of terrestrial hermit crabs (Cenobita Diogenes), abundant in the West Indies and often destructive to crops. — Diogenes' tub, the tub which the philosopher Diogenes is said to have carried about with him as his house, in which he lived.
DIOICOUSDi*oi"cous, a.
Defn: See Dioecious.
DIOMEDEADi*om`e*de"a, n. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of large sea birds, including the albatross. SeeAlbatross.
DIONAEADi`o*næ"a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: An insectivorous plant. See Venus's flytrap.
DIONYSIADi`o*ny"si*a, n. pl. [L., fr. Gr. .] (Class. Antiq.)
Defn: Any of the festivals held in honor of the Olympian godDionysus. They correspond to the Roman Bacchanalia; the greaterDionysia were held at Athens in March or April, and were celebratedwith elaborate performances of both tragedies and comedies.
DIONYSIACDi`o*ny"si*ac, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Dionysus or to the Dionysia; Bacchic; as, aDionysiac festival; the Dionysiac theater at Athens.
DIONYSIANDi`o*ny"sian, a.
Defn: Relating to Dionysius, a monk of the 6th century; as, the Dionysian, or Christian, era. Dionysian period, a period of 532 years, depending on the cycle of the sun, or 28 years, and the cycle of the moon, or 19 years; — sometimes called the Greek paschal cycle, or Victorian period.
DIOPHANTINEDi`o*phan"tine, a.
Defn: Originated or taught by Diophantus, the Greek writer on algebra. Diophantine analysis (Alg.), that branch of indeterminate analysis which has for its object the discovery of rational values that satisfy given equations containing squares or cubes; as, for example, to find values of x and y which make x2 + y2 an exact square.
DIOPSIDEDi*op"side, n. Etym: [Gr. diopside.] (Min.)
Defn: A crystallized variety of pyroxene, of a clear, grayish green color; mussite.
DIOPTASEDi*op"tase, n. Etym: [Gr. dioptase.] (Min.)
Defn: A hydrous silicate of copper, occurring in emerald-green crystals.
DIOPTER; DIOPTRADi*op"ter, Di*op"tra, n. Etym: [L. dioptra, fr. Gr. Dioptric.]
Defn: An optical instrument, invented by Hipparchus, for taking altitudes, leveling, etc.
DIOPTREDi*op"tre, n. Etym: [F. See 2d Dioptric.] (Optics)
Defn: A unit employed by oculists in numbering glasses according to the metric system; a refractive power equal to that of a glass whose principal focal distance is one meter.
DIOPTRICDi*op"tric, a. (Optics)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the dioptre, or to the metric system of numbering glasses. — n.
Defn: A dioptre. See Dioptre.
DIOPTRIC; DIOPTRICALDi*op"tric, Di*op"tric*al, a. Etym: [Gr. dioptrique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to dioptrics; assisting vision by means of the refraction of light; refractive; as, the dioptric system; a dioptric glass or telescope. "Dioptrical principles." Nichol. Dioptric curve (Geom.), a Cartesian oval. See under Cartesian.
DIOPTRICSDi*op"trics, n. Etym: [Gr. dioptrique.] (Optics)
Defn: The science of the refraction of light; that part of geometrical optics which treats of the laws of the refraction of light in passing from one medium into another, or through different mediums, as air, water, or glass, and esp. through different lenses; — distinguished from catoptrics, which refers to reflected light.
DIOPTRYDi*op"try, n. (Optics)
Defn: A dioptre.
DIORAMADi`o*ra"ma, n. Etym: [Gr. diorama. Cf. Panorama.]
1. A mode of scenic representation, invented by Daguerre and Bouton, in which a painting is seen from a distance through a large opening. By a combination of transparent and opaque painting, and of transmitted and reflected light, and by contrivances such as screens and shutters, much diversity of scenic effect is produced.
2. A building used for such an exhibition.
DIORAMICDi`o*ram"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a diorama.
DIORISMDi"o*rism, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Definition; logical direction. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
DIORISTICDi`o*ris"tic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Distinguishing; distinctive; defining. [R.] —Di`o*ris"tic*al*ly, adv. [R.] Dr. H. More.
DIORITEDi"o*rite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. diorite. See Diorism.] (Min.)
Defn: An igneous, crystalline in structure, consisting essentially of a triclinic feldspar and hornblende. It includes part of what was called greenstone.
DIORITICDi`o*rit"ic, a.
Defn: Containing diorite.
DIORTHOTICDi`or*thot"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Relating to the correcting or straightening out of something; corrective.
DIOSCOREA Di`os*co"re*a, n. Etym: [NL. Named after Dioscorides the Greek physician.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants. See Yam.
DIOTADi*o"ta, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: A vase or drinking cup having two handles or ears.
DIOXIDE Di*ox"ide (; 104), n. Etym: [Pref. di- + oxide.] (Chem.) (a) An oxide containing two atoms of oxygen in each molecule; binoxide. (b) An oxide containing but one atom or equivalent of oxygen to two of a metal; a suboxide. [Obs.] Carbon dioxide. See Carbonic acid, under Carbonic.
DIOXINDOLDi`ox*in"dol, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + oxygen + indol.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white, crystalline, nitrogenous substance obtained by the reduction of isatin. It is a member of the indol series; — hence its name.
DIP Dip, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dipped or Dipt (p. pr. & vb. n. Dipping.] Etym: [OE. dippen, duppen, AS. dyppan; akin to Dan. dyppe, Sw. doppa, and to AS. d to baptize, OS. d, D. doopen, G. taufen, Sw. döpa, Goth. daupjan, Lith. dubus deep, hollow, OSlav. dupl hollow, and to E. dive. Cf. Deep, Dive.]
1. To plunge or immerse; especially, to put for a moment into a liquid; to insert into a fluid and withdraw again. The priest shall dip his finger in the blood. Lev. iv. 6. [Wat'ry fowl] now dip their pinions in the briny deep. Pope. While the prime swallow dips his wing. Tennyson.
2. To immerse for baptism; to baptize by immersion. Book of Common Prayer. Fuller.
3. To wet, as if by immersing; to moisten. [Poetic] A cold shuddering dew Dips me all o'er. Milton.
4. To plunge or engage thoroughly in any affair. He was . . . dipt in the rebellion of the Commons. Dryden.
5. To take out, by dipping a dipper, ladle, or other receptacle, into a fluid and removing a part; — often with out; as, to dip water from a boiler; to dip out water.
6. To engage as a pledge; to mortgage. [Obs.] Live on the use and never dip thy lands. Dryden. Dipped candle, a candle made by repeatedly dipping a wick in melted tallow. — To dip snuff, to take snuff by rubbing it on the gums and teeth. [Southern U. S.] — To dip the colors (Naut.), to lower the colors and return them to place; — a form of naval salute.
DIPDip, v. i.
1. To immerse one's self; to become plunged in a liquid; to sink. The sun's rim dips; the stars rush out. Coleridge.
2. To perform the action of plunging some receptacle, as a dipper, ladle. etc.; into a liquid or a soft substance and removing a part. Whoever dips too deep will find death in the pot. L'Estrange.
3. To pierce; to penetrate; — followed by in or into. When I dipt into the future. Tennyson.
4. To enter slightly or cursorily; to engage one's self desultorily or by the way; to partake limitedly; — followed by in or into. "Dipped into a multitude of books." Macaulay.
5. To incline downward from the plane of the horizon; as, strata of rock dip.
6. To dip snuff. [Southern U.S.]
DIPDip, n.
1. The action of dipping or plunging for a moment into a liquid. "The dip of oars in unison." Glover.
2. Inclination downward; direction below a horizontal line; slope; pitch.
3. A liquid, as a sauce or gravy, served at table with a ladle or spoon. [Local, U.S.] Bartlett.
4. A dipped candle. [Colloq.] Marryat. Dip of the horizon (Astron.), the angular depression of the seen or visible horizon below the true or natural horizon; the angle at the eye of an observer between a horizontal line and a tangent drawn from the eye to the surface of the ocean. — Dip of the needle, or Magnetic dip, the angle formed, in a vertical plane, by a freely suspended magnetic needle, or the line of magnetic force, with a horizontal line; — called also inclination. — Dip of a stratum (Geol.), its greatest angle of inclination to the horizon, or that of a line perpendicular to its direction or strike; — called also the pitch.
DIPASCHALDi*pas"chal, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + paschal.]
Defn: Including two passovers. Carpenter.
DIPCHICKDip"chick`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Dabchick.
DIPETALOUSDi*pet"al*ous, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + petalous.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having two petals; two-petaled.
DIPHENYLDi*phe"nyl, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + phenyl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white crystalline substance, C6H5.C6H5, obtained by leading benzene through a heated iron tube. It consists of two benzene or phenyl radicals united.
DIPHTHERIA Diph*the"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. membrane): cf. depsere to knead.] (Med.)
Defn: A very dangerous contagious disease in which the air passages, and especially the throat, become coated with a false membrane, produced by the solidification of an inflammatory exudation. Cf. Group.
DIPHTHERIAL; DIPHTHERICDiph*the"ri*al, Diph*ther"ic, a.
Defn: Relating to diphtheria; diphtheritic.
DIPHTHERITICDiph`the*rit"ic, a. (Med.)
1. Pertaining to, or connected with, diphtheria.
2. Having characteristics resembling those of diphtheria; as, diphtheritic inflammation of the bladder.
DIPHTHONG Diph"thong (; 115, 277), n. Etym: [L. diphthongus, Gr. diphthongue.] (Orthoëpy) (a) A coalition or union of two vowel sounds pronounced in one syllable; as, ou in out, oi in noise; — called a proper diphthong. (b) A vowel digraph; a union of two vowels in the same syllable, only one of them being sounded; as, ai in rain, eo in people; — called an improper diphthong.
DIPHTHONGDiph"thong, v. t.
Defn: To form or pronounce as a diphthong; diphthongize. [R.]
DIPHTHONGALDiph*thon"gal, a.
Defn: Relating or belonging to a diphthong; having the nature of adiphthong.— Diph*thon"gal*ly, adv.
DIPHTHONGALIZEDiph*thon"gal*ize, v. t.
Defn: To make into a diphthong; to pronounce as a diphthong.
DIPHTHONGATIONDiph`thon*ga"tion, n.
Defn: See Diphthongization.
DIPHTHONGICDiph*thong"ic, a.
Defn: Of the nature of diphthong; diphthongal. H. Sweet.
DIPHTHONGIZATIONDiph`thong*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of changing into a diphthong. H. Sweet.
DIPHTHONGIZEDiph"thong*ize, v. t. & i.
Defn: To change into a diphthong, as by affixing another vowel to a simple vowel. "The diphthongized long vowels." H. Sweet.
DIPHYCERCALDiph`y*cer"cal, a. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Having the tail fin divided into two equal parts by the notochord, or end of the vertebral column; protocercal. See Protocercal.
DIPHYGENICDiph`y*gen"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. -genic.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having two modes of embryonic development.
DIPHYLLOUSDiph"yl*lous, a. Etym: [Gr. diphylle.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having two leaves, as a calyx, etc.
DIPHYODONTDiph"y*o*dont, a. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Having two successive sets of teeth (deciduous and permanent), one succeeding the other; as, a diphyodont mammal; diphyodont dentition; — opposed to monophyodont. — n.
Defn: An animal having two successive sets of teeth.
DIPHYOZOOIDDiph`y*o*zo"oid, n. Etym: [Gr. zooid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the free-swimming sexual zooids of Siphonophora.
DIPLANARDi*pla"nar, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + plane.] (Math.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to two planes.
DIPLEIDOSCOPEDi*plei"do*scope, n. Etym: [Gr. -scope.] (Astron.)
Defn: An instrument for determining the time of apparent noon. It consists of two mirrors and a plane glass disposed in the form of a prism, so that, by the reflections of the sun's rays from their surfaces, two images are presented to the eye, moving in opposite directions, and coinciding at the instant the sun's center is on the meridian.
DIPLEXDi"plex, a. [Pref. di- + -plex, as in duplex.] (Teleg.)
Defn: Pertaining to the sending of two messages in the same direction at the same time. Diplex and contraplex are the two varieties of duplex.
DIPLOBLASTICDip`lo*blas"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. -blast + -ic.] (Biol.)
Defn: Characterizing the ovum when it has two primary germinal layers.
DIPLOCARDIACDip`lo*car"di*ac, a. Etym: [Gr. cardiac.] (Anat.)
Defn: Having the heart completely divided or double, one side systemic, the other pulmonary.
DIPLOCOCCUSDip`lo*coc"cus, n.; pl. Diplococci. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: A form of micrococcus in which cocci are united in a binary manner. See Micrococcus.
DIPLOEDip"lo*ë, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The soft, spongy, or cancellated substance between the plates of the skull.
DIPLOETICDip`lo*et"ic, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Diploic.
DIPLOGENICDip`lo*gen"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Partaking of the nature of two bodies; producing two substances. Wright.
DIPLOGRAPHDip"lo*graph, n. [Gr. double + -graph.]
Defn: An instrument used for double writing, as one for producing embossed writing for the blind and ordinary writing at the same time. — Dip`lo*graph"ic*al (#), a. — Dip*log"ra*phy (#), n.
DIPLOICDi*plo"ic, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the diploë.
DIPLOIDDip"loid, n. Etym: [Gr. -oid.] (Crystallog.)
Defn: A solid bounded by twenty-four similar quadrilateral faces. It is a hemihedral form of the hexoctahedron.
DIPLOMADi*plo"ma, n.; pl. Diplomas. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Double.]
Defn: A letter or writing, usually under seal, conferring some privilege, honor, or power; a document bearing record of a degree conferred by a literary society or educational institution.
DIPLOMACY Di*plo"ma*cy, n. Etym: [F. diplomatie. This word, like supremacy, retains the accent of its original. See Diploma.]
1. The art and practice of conducting negotiations between nations (particularly in securing treaties), including the methods and forms usually employed.
2. Dexterity or skill in securing advantages; tact.
3. The body of ministers or envoys resident at a court; the diplomatic body. [R.] Burke.
DIPLOMAT; DIPLOMATEDip"lo*mat, Dip"lo*mate, n. Etym: [F. diplomate.]
Defn: A diplomatist.
DIPLOMATEDip"lo*mate, v. t.
Defn: To invest with a title o [R.] Wood.
DIPLOMATIALDip`lo*ma"tial, a.
Defn: Diplomatic. [R.]
DIPLOMATIC; DIPLOMATICALDip`lo*mat"ic, Dip`lo*mat"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. diplomatique.]
1. Pertaining to diplomacy; relating to the foreign ministers at a court, who are called the diplomatic body.
2. Characterized by tact and shrewdness; dexterous; artful; as, diplomatic management.
3. Pertaining to diplomatics; paleographic. Astle.
DIPLOMATICDip`lo*mat"ic, n.
Defn: A minister, official agent, or envoy to a foreign court; a diplomatist.
DIPLOMATICALLYDip`lo*mat"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: According to the rules of diplomacy; in the manner of a diplomatist; artfully.
DIPLOMATICSDip`lo*mat"ics, n.
Defn: The science of diplomas, or the art of deciphering ancient writings, and determining their age, authenticity, etc.; paleography.
DIPLOMATISMDi*plo"ma*tism, n.
Defn: Diplomacy. [R.]
DIPLOMATIST Di*plo"ma*tist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. diplomatiste a student of diplomatics.]
Defn: A person employed in, or skilled in, diplomacy; a diplomat. In ability, Avaux had no superior among the numerous able diplomatics whom his country then possessed. Macaulay.
DIPLOPIA; DIPLOPYDi*plo"pi*a, Dip"lo*py, n. Etym: [NL. diplopia, from Gr. diplopie.](Med.)
Defn: The act or state of seeing double.
Note: In crossed or heteronymous diplopia the image seen by the right eye is upon the left hand, and that seen by the left eye is upon the right hand. In homonymous diplopia the image seen by the right eye is on the right side, that by the left eye on the left side. In vertical diplopia one image stands above the other.
DIPLOPODDip"lo*pod, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Diplopoda.
DIPLOPODADi*plop"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [Gr. -poda.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of myriapods having two pairs of legs on each segment; the Chilognatha.
DIPLOSTEMONOUSDip`lo*stem"o*nous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having twice as many stamens as petals, as the geranium. R.Brown.
DIPLOSTEMONYDip`lo*stem"o*ny, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The condition of being diplostemonous.
DIPNEUMONADip*neu"mo*na, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of spiders having only two lunglike organs. [Written also Dipneumones.]
DIPNOIDip"no*i, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of ganoid fishes, including the living genera Ceratodus and Lepidosiren, which present the closest approximation to the Amphibia. The air bladder acts as a lung, and the nostrils open inside the mouth. See Ceratodus, and Illustration in Appendix.
DIPODYDip"o*dy, n.; pl. Dipodies. Etym: [Gr. (Pros.)
Defn: Two metrical feet taken together, or included in one measure.Hadley.Trochaic, iambic, and anapestic verses . . . are measured bydipodies. W. W. Goodwin.
DIPOLARDi*po"lar, a. Etym: [Pre. di- + polar. Cf. Bipolar.]
Defn: Having two poles, as a magnetic bar.
DIPPEL'S OILDip"pel's oil`. (Chem.) Etym: [From the name of the inventor.]
Defn: See Bone oil, under Bone.
DIPPERDip"per, n.
1. One who, or that which, dips; especially, a vessel used to dip water or other liquid; a ladle.
2. (Zoöl.) (a) A small grebe; the dabchick. (b) The buffel duck. (c) The water ouzel (Cinolus aquaticus) of Europe. (d) The American dipper or ouzel (Cinclus Mexicanus). The Dipper (Astron.), the seven principal stars in the constellation of the Great Bear; popularly so called from their arrangement in the form of a dipper; — called also Charles's Wain. See Ursa Major, under Ursa.
DIPPINGDip"ping, n.
1. The act or process of immersing.
2. The act of inclining downward.
3. The act of lifting or moving a liquid with a dipper, ladle, or the like.
4. The process of cleaning or brightening sheet metal or metalware, esp. brass, by dipping it in acids, etc.
5. The practice of taking snuff by rubbing the teeth or gums with a stick or brush dipped in snuff. [U.S.] Dipping needle, a magnetic needle suspended at its center of gravity, and moving freely in a vertical plane, so as to indicate on a graduated circle the magnetic dip or inclination.
DIPRISMATICDi`pris*mat"ic, a. Etym: [Prefix di- + prismatic.]
Defn: Doubly prismatic.
DIPROPARGYLDi`pro*par"gyl, n. Etym: [Prefix di- + propargyl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A pungent, mobile, volatile liquid, C6H6, produced artificially from certain allyl derivatives. Though isomeric with benzine, it is very different in its chemical relations. Called also dipropinyl.
DIPROPYLDi*pro"pyl, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + propyl.] (Chem.)
Defn: One of the hexane paraffins, found in petroleum, consisting of two propyl radicals. See Hexane.
DIPROTODONDi*pro"to*don, n. Etym: [Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: An extinct Quaternary marsupial from Australia, about as large as the hippopotamus; — so named because of its two large front teeth. See Illustration in Appendix.
DIPSASDip"sas, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
1. A serpent whose bite was fabled to produce intense thirst. Milton.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of harmless colubrine snakes.
DIPSETICDip*set"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Tending to produce thirst. Wright.
DIPSEY; DIPSIE; DIPSYDip"sey, Dip"sie, Dip"sy, a.
Defn: Deep-sea; as, a dipsey line; a dipsy lead. [Sailor's Cant]
DIPSEY; DIPSIE; DIPSYDip"sey, Dip"sie, Dip"sy, n.
1. A sinker attached to a fishing line; also, a line having several branches, each with such a sinker, used in deep-sea fishing. [Local, U. S.]
2. (Naut.) A deep-sea lead. [Rare]
DIPSOMANIADip`so*ma"ni*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A morbid an uncontrollable craving (often periodic) for drink, esp. for alcoholic liquors; also improperly used to denote acute and chronic alcoholism.
DIPSOMANIACDip`so*ma"ni*ac, n.
Defn: One who has an irrepressible desire for alcoholic drinks.
DIPSOMANIACALDip`so*ma*ni"a*cal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to dipsomania.
DIPSOSISDip*so"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Excessive thirst produced by disease.
DIPTERADip"te*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. diptère.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An extensive order of insects having only two functional wings and two balancers, as the house fly, mosquito, etc. They have a suctorial proboscis, often including two pairs of sharp organs (mandibles and maxillæ) with which they pierce the skin of animals. They undergo a complete metamorphosis, their larvæ (called maggots) being usually without feet.
DIPTERALDip"ter*al, a.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having two wings only; belonging to the order Diptera.
2. (Anc. Arch.)
Defn: Having a double row of columns on each on the flanks, as well as in front and rear; — said of a temple.
DIPTERANDip"ter*an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An insect of the order Diptera.
DIPTEROCARPUSDip`te*ro*car"pus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of trees found in the East Indies, some species of which produce a fragrant resin, other species wood oil. The fruit has two long wings.
DIPTEROUSDip"ter*ous, a.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having two wings, as certain insects; belonging to the orderDiptera.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Having two wings; two-winged.
DIPTERYGIANDip`ter*yg"i*an, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having two dorsal fins; — said of certain fishes.
DIPTOTEDip"tote, n. Etym: [Gr. diptote.] (Gram.)
Defn: A noun which has only two cases. Andrews.
DIPTYCHDip"tych, n. Etym: [L. diptycha, pl., fr. Gr.
1. Anything consisting of two leaves. Especially: (a) (Roman Antiq.) A writing tablet consisting of two leaves of rigid material connected by hinges and shutting together so as to protect the writing within. (b) A picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets connected by hinges. See Triptych.
2. A double catalogue, containing in one part the names of living, and in the other of deceased, ecclesiastics and benefactors of the church; a catalogue of saints.
DIPYREDi*pyre", n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A mineral of the scapolite group; — so called from the double effect of fire upon it, in fusing it, and rendering it phosphorescent.
DIPYRENOUSDi`py*re"nous, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + pyrene.] (Bot.)
Defn: Containing two stones or nutlets.
DIPYRIDINEDi*pyr"i*dine (; 104), n. Etym: [Pref. di- + pyridine.] (Geom.)
Defn: A polymeric form of pyridine, C10H10N2, obtained as a colorless oil by the action of sodium on pyridine.
DIPYRIDYLDi*pyr"i*dyl, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + pyridine + -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A crystalline nitrogenous base, C10H8N2, obtained by the reduction of pyridine.
DIRADIATIONDi*ra`di*a"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + radiation.]
Defn: The emission and diffusion of rays of light.
DIRE Dire, a. [Compar. Direr; superl. Direst.] Etym: [L. dirus; of uncertain origin.]
1. Ill-boding; portentous; as, dire omens.
2. Evil in great degree; dreadful; dismal; horrible; terrible;lamentable.Dire was the tossing, deep the groans. Milton.Gorgons and hydras and chimeras dire. Milton.
DIRECT Di*rect", a. Etym: [L. directus, p. p. of dirigere to direct: cf. F. direct. See Dress, and cf. Dirge.]
1. Straight; not crooked, oblique, or circuitous; leading by the short or shortest way to a point or end; as, a direct line; direct means. What is direct to, what slides by, the question. Locke.
2. Straightforward; not of crooked ways, or swerving from truth and openness; sincere; outspoken. Be even and direct with me. Shak.
3. Immediate; express; plain; unambiguous. He howhere, that I know, says it in direct words. Locke. A direct and avowed interference with elections. Hallam.
4. In the line of descent; not collateral; as, a descendant in the direct line.
5. (Astron.)
Defn: In the direction of the general planetary motion, or from west to east; in the order of the signs; not retrograde; — said of the motion of a celestial body. Direct action. (Mach.) See Direct-acting. — Direct discourse (Gram.), the language of any one quoted without change in its form; as, he said "I can not come;" — correlative to indirect discourse, in which there is change of form; as, he said that he could not come. They are often called respectively by their Latin names, oratio directa, and oratio obliqua. — Direct evidence (Law), evidence which is positive or not inferential; — opposed to circumstantial, or indirect, evidence. — This distinction, however, is merely formal, since there is no direct evidence that is not circumstantial, or dependent on circumstances for its credibility. Wharton. — Direct examination (Law), the first examination of a witness in the orderly course, upon the merits. Abbott. — Direct fire (Mil.), fire, the direction of which is perpendicular to the line of troops or to the parapet aimed at. — Direct process (Metal.), one which yields metal in working condition by a single process from the ore. Knight. — Direct tax, a tax assessed directly on lands, etc., and polls, distinguished from taxes on merchandise, or customs, and from excise.
DIRECTDi*rect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Directed; p. pr. & vb. n. Directing.]
1. To arrange in a direct or straight line, as against a mark, or towards a goal; to point; to aim; as, to direct an arrow or a piece of ordnance.
2. To point out or show to (any one), as the direct or right course or way; to guide, as by pointing out the way; as, he directed me to the left-hand road. The Lord direct your into the love of God. 2 Thess. iii. 5. The next points to which I will direct your attention. Lubbock.
3. To determine the direction or course of; to cause to go on in a particular manner; to order in the way to a certain end; to regulate; to govern; as, to direct the affairs of a nation or the movements of an army. I will direct their work in truth. Is. lxi. 8.
4. To point out to with authority; to instruct as a superior; to order; as, he directed them to go. I 'll first direct my men what they shall do. Shak.
5. To put a direction or address upon; to mark with the name and residence of the person to whom anything is sent; to superscribe; as, to direct a letter.
Syn. — To guide; lead; conduct; dispose; manage; regulate; order; instruct; command.
DIRECTDi*rect", v. i.
Defn: To give direction; to point out a course; to act as guide.Wisdom is profitable to direct. Eccl. x. 10.
DIRECTDi*rect", n. (Mus.)
Defn: A character, thus [ Moore (Encyc. of Music).
DIRECT-ACTINGDi*rect"-act`ing, a. (Mach.)
Defn: Acting directly, as one part upon another, without the intervention of other working parts. Direct-acting steam engine, one in which motion is transmitted to the crank without the intervention of a beam or lever; — also called direct-action steam engine. — Direct-acting steam pump, one in which the steam piston rod is directly connected with the pump rod; — also called direct-action steam pump.
DIRECT ACTIONDirect action. (Trade unions)
Defn: See Syndicalism, below.
DIRECT-COUPLEDDi*rect"-cou"pled, a.
Defn: Coupled without intermediate connections, as an engine and a dynamo.
Direct-coupled antenna (Wireless Teleg.), an antenna connected electrically with one point of a closed oscillation circuit in syntony with it and earthed.
DIRECT CURRENT Direct current. (Elec.) (a) A current flowing in one direction only; — distinguished from alternating current. When steady and not pulsating a direct current is often called a continuous current. (b) A direct induced current, or momentary current of the same direction as the inducing current, produced by stopping or removing the latter; also, a similar current produced by removal of a magnet.
DIRECTERDi*rect"er, n.
Defn: One who directs; a director. Directer plane (Geom.), the plane to which all right-lined elements in a warped surface are parallel.
DIRECTIONDi*rec"tion, n. Etym: [L. directio: cf. F. direction.]
1. The act of directing, of aiming, regulating, guiding, or ordering; guidance; management; superintendence; administration; as, the direction o. I do commit his youth To your direction. Shak. All nature is but art, unknown to thee;direction, which thou canst not see. Pope.
2. That which is imposed by directing; a guiding or authoritative instruction; prescription; order; command; as, he grave directions to the servants. The princes digged the well . . . by the direction of the law giver. Numb. xxi. 18.
3. The name and residence of a person to whom any thing is sent, written upon the thing sent; superscription; address; as, the direction of a letter.
4. The line or course upon which anything is moving or aimed to move, or in which anything is lying or pointing; aim; line or point of tendency; direct line or course; as, the ship sailed in a southeasterly direction.
5. The body of managers of a corporation or enterprise; board of directors.
6. (Gun.)
Defn: The pointing of a piece with reference to an imaginary vertical axis; — distinguished from elevation. The direction is given when the plane of sight passes through the object. Wilhelm.
Syn. — Administration; guidance; management; superintendence; oversight; government; order; command; guide; clew. Direction, Control, Command, Order. These words, as here compared, have reference to the exercise of power over the actions of others. Control is negative, denoting power to restrain; command is positive, implying a right to enforce obedience; directions are commands containing instructions how to act. Order conveys more prominently the idea of authority than the word direction. A shipmaster has the command of his vessel; he gives orders or directions to the seamen as to the mode of sailing it; and exercises a due control over the passengers.
DIRECTIVEDi*rect"ive, a. Etym: [LL. directivus: cf. F. directif.]
1. Having power to direct; tending to direct, guide, or govern; showing the way. Hooker. The precepts directive of our practice in relation to God. Barrow.
2. Able to be directed; manageable. [Obs.] Swords and bows Directive by the limbs. Shak.
DIRECTLYDi*rect"ly, adv.
1. In a direct manner; in a straight line or course. "To run directlyon." Shak.Indirectly and directly too Thou hast contrived against the very lifeOf the defendant. Shak.
2. In a straightforward way; without anything intervening; not by secondary, but by direct, means.
3. Without circumlocution or ambiguity; absolutely; in express terms. No man hath hitherto been so impious as plainly and directly to condemn prayer. Hooker.
4. Exactly; just. Stand you directly in Antonius' way. Shak.
5. Straightforwardly; honestly. I have dealt most directly in thy affair. Shak.
6. Manifestly; openly. [Obs.] Desdemona is directly in love with him. Shak.
7. Straightway; next in order; without delay; immediately. "Will she go now to bed' Directly.'" Shak.
8. Immediately after; as soon as. Directly he stopped, the coffin was removed. Dickens.
Note: This use of the word is common in England, especially in colloquial speech, but it can hardly be regarded as a well-sanctioned or desirable use. Directly proportional (Math.), proportional in the order of the terms; increasing or decreasing together, and with a constant ratio; — opposed to inversely proportional.
Syn. — Immediately; forthwith; straightway; instantly; instantaneously; soon; promptly; openly; expressly. — Directly, Immediately, Instantly, Instantaneously. Directly denotes, without any delay or diversion of attention; immediately implies, without any interposition of other occupation; instantly implies, without any intervention of time. Hence, "I will do it directly," means, "I will go straightway about it." "I will do it immediately," means, "I will do it as the very next thing." "I will do it instantly," allows not a particle of delay. Instantaneously, like instantly, marks an interval too small to be appreciable, but commonly relates to physical causes; as, the powder touched by fire instantaneously exploded.
DIRECTNESSDi*rect"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being direct; straightness; straightforwardness; immediateness.
DIRECT NOMINATIONDirect nomination. (Political Science)
Defn: The nomination or designation of candidates for public office by direct popular vote rather than through the action of a convention or body of elected nominating representatives or delegates. The term is applied both to the nomination of candidates without any nominating convention, and, loosely, to the nomination effected, as in the case of candidates for president or senator of the United States, by the election of nominating representatives pledged or instructed to vote for certain candidates dssignated by popular vote.
DIRECTOIRE STYLEDi`rec`toire" style. (Dressmaking)
Defn: A style of dress prevalent at the time of the French Directory, characterized by great extravagance of design and imitating the Greek and Roman costumes.
DIRECTORDi*rect"or, n. Etym: [Cf. F. directeur.]
1. One who, or that which, directs; one who regulates, guides, or orders; a manager or superintendent. In all affairs thou sole director. Swift.
2. One of a body of persons appointed to manage the affairs of a company or corporation; as, the directors of a bank, insurance company, or railroad company. What made directors cheat in South-Sea year Pope.
3. (Mech.)
Defn: A part of a machine or instrument which directs its motion or action.
4. (Surg.)
Defn: A slender grooved instrument upon which a knife is made to slide when it is wished to limit the extent of motion of the latter, or prevent its injuring the parts beneath.
DIRECTORATEDi*rect"o*rate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. directorat.]
Defn: The office of director; also, a body of directors taken jointly.
DIRECTORIALDi*rec*to"ri*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. directorial.]
1. Having the quality of a director, or authoritative guide; directive.
2. Pertaining to: director or directory; specifically, relating to the Directory of France under the first republic. See Directory, 3. Whoever goes to the directorial presence under this passport. Burke.
DIRECTORSHIPDi*rect"or*ship, n.
Defn: The condition or office of a director; directorate.
DIRECTORYDi*rect"o*ry, a. Etym: [L. directorius.]
Defn: Containing directions; enjoining; instructing; directorial.
DIRECTORYDi*rect"o*ry, n.; pl. Directories (.
1. A collection or body of directions, rules, or ordinances; esp., a book of directions for the conduct of worship; as, the Directory used by the nonconformists instead of the Prayer Book.
2. A book containing the names and residences of the inhabitants of any place, or of classes of them; an address book; as, a business directory.
3. Etym: [Cf. F. directoire.]
Defn: A body of directors; board of management; especially, a committee which held executive power in France under the first republic.
4. Direction; guide. [R.] Whitlock.
DIRECT PRIMARYDirect primary. (Political Science)
Defn: A primary by which direct nominations of candidates for office are made.
DIRECTRESSDi*rect"ress, n.
Defn: A woman who directs. Bp. Hurd.
DIRECTRIXDi*rect"rix, n.; pl. E. Directrixes (, L. Directrices (.
1. A directress. [R.] Jer. Taylor.
2. (Geom.) (a) A line along which a point in another line moves, or which in any way governs the motion of the point and determines the position of the curve generated by it; the line along which the generatrix moves in generating a surface. (b) A straight line so situated with respect to a conic section that the distance of any point of the curve from it has a constant ratio to the distance of the same point from the focus.
DIREFULDire"ful, a. Etym: [Dire + -ful.]
Defn: Dire; dreadful; terrible; calamitous; woeful; as, a direfulfiend; a direful day.— Dire"ful*ly, adv.— Dire"ful*ness, n.
DIRELYDire"ly, adv.
Defn: In a dire manner. Drayton.
DIREMPT Di*rempt", a. Etym: [L. diremptus, p. p. of dirimere to take apart, separate; di- = dis- + emere to buy, orig., to take.]
Defn: Divided; separated. [Obs.] Stow.
DIREMPTDi*rempt", v. t.
Defn: To separate by force; to tear apart. [Obs.] Holinshed.
DIREMPTIONDi*remp"tion, n. Etym: [L. diremptio.]
Defn: A tearing apart; violent separation. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
DIRENESSDire"ness, n. Etym: [Dire- + -ness.]
Defn: Terribleness; horror; woefulness. Shak.
DIREPTION Di*rep"tion, n. Etym: [L. direptio, fr. diripere to tear asunder, plunder; di- = dis- + rapere to seize and carry off.]
Defn: The act of plundering, despoiling, or snatching away. [R.]Speed.
DIREPTITIOUSDi*rep*ti"tious, a.
Defn: Characterized by direption. [R.] Encyc. Dict.
DIREPTITIOUSLYDi*rep*ti"tious*ly, adv.
Defn: With plundering violence; by violent injustice. [R.] Strype.
DIRGE Dirge, n. Etym: [Contraction of Lat. dirige, direct thou (imperative of dirigere), the first word of a funeral hymn (Lat. transl. of Psalm v. 8) beginning, "Dirige, Domine, in conspectu tuo vitam meam." See Direct, a., and cf. Dirige.]